The second in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder I started formal riding lessons when I was four years old. English riding lessons. The doctors told my mom it would be good for me. It was 1969. The Academy where I learned is now a national historic landmark. By the time I was 6, I was riding with double reins. My introduction to western riding came when my parents purchased a POA stallion for me the summer of my sixth year. That pony could buck my dad off! ‘Nuff said. When...

Caroline Roffman and Pie (Susan J. Stickle) Gladstone, NJ - The 2012 USEF Dressage Festival of Champions came to a close Sunday with National Champions being crowned in Intermediaire I and Young Adult “Brentina Cup” competition in the Dick and Jane Brown Arena at the USET Foundation Headquarters. Intermediaire I Freestyles and the FEI Young Rider Grand Prix were presented to the Ground Jury of Lois Yukins, Hilda Gurney, Jane Weatherwax, Axel Steiner and Janet Foy. Caroline Roffman...

Gladstone, NJ - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) approved the Show Jumping FEI Nominated Entries for the 2012 Olympic Games. From the Nominated Entries, the team of four and a traveling reserve will be entered on the Definite Entry on July 6th. The ranked order of the athlete/horse combinations for the FEI Nominated Entries is as follows: 1. Rich Fellers and Mollie and Harry Chapman's Flexible 2. Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Ranch's Coral Reef Via Volo 3. Reed Kessler on...

Gladstone, NJ - The following change has been made to the USEF Short List for the US Eventing Team: Henley House Stables’ Remington XXV, ridden by Boyd Martin, was added to the Short List and will ship to the England on Sunday with the 11 horses previously Short Listed by the USEF. The Updated Nominated Entry and Short List in Alphabetical Order (the shortlisted combinations are designated below in bold type and a star next to their name): Will Coleman on Jim Wildasin's Twizzel* Tiana...

Lexington, KY - The fourth and final USEF Observation Event for the US Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games wrapped up a selection process that started with the Selection Trials in March. The $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows in Calgary hosted 12 Long-Listed American combinations out of the 37 starters who took on Bob Ellis' course. At the culmination of the class, Rich Fellers took top honors again, he was fastest of the seven which jumped first round clears....

Gladstone, NJ - While the Dick and Jane Brown Arena at the USET Foundation Headquarters belonged to the Grand Prix riders Saturday morning, the afternoon session was all about the up-and-coming stars of the sport at the USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. In the National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship, Caroline Roffman and Pie maintained their strangle-hold on the lead. While, Young Adult "Brentina Cup" competitors got their first taste of competition in Gladstone with Brian Hafner...

Gladstone, NJ - Pending the approval of the USEF High Performance Working Group and the USEF Executive Commitee, the FEI Nominated Entry for the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2012 Olympic Games is as follows. Athletes and horse are listed in ranked order based on the results from the 2012 USEF Selection Trials & Grand Prix National Championship: 1/3. Steffen Peters and Four Winds Farm's Legolas 92 AND Ravel* 2. Tina Konyot and her own Calecto V 4. Jan Ebeling and Ann Romney, Beth Meyers,...

Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 (Susan J. Stickle) Gladstone, NJ - Four years ago, Steffen Peters and Ravel, then an inexperienced 10-year-old, won the 2008 Grand Prix National Dressage Championship at the Festival of Champions in California. That performance earned the pair a trip to the Olympic Games where they were fourth. Four years, an FEI World Cup title, a CHIO Aachen victory and two Bronze medals at the FEI World Equestrian Games later - Ravel was granted permission by the USEF selectors...

Hagen, Germany - The four members of the 2012 Show Jumping European Young Rider Tour headed into Saturday's Nation Cup at the CSIOJY Hagen looking to showcase the form that had propelled them to top results throughout the week. The U.S. had their work cut-out for them as the top 11 European Young Rider teams lined-up in the first round, making their task even more difficult they had drawn first. The team of Catherine Pasmore, Alise Oken, Annie Cook and Lydia Ulrich produced a solid effort;...

Riders in the 1.45 meter, $32,000 AltaGas Cup had their work cut out for them. The course, designed by Bob Ellis (GBR), that stretched over 535 meters with 14 jumping efforts, saw 64 horse/rider combinations over the one round. In the end, Reed Kessler (USA) came out on top, with a time of 57.20. This win adds to the list for Kessler, who is looking for a spot on the 2012 US Olympic team. After placing 3rd in the Olympic trial competition yesterday, 17 year old Kessler is optimistic this win...