As with all new things, as they develop, there are certain glitches and bugs that inevitably crop up. NAWD reviewed its 2012 tests for 2013 and has corrected errors and last week the WDAA announced that there were errors in calculating the point totals on some of their tests. An important notice to competitors who have ridden USEF Morgan Tests at 2013 shows came out in the WDAA newsletter and emails to members. They “…discovered minor errors in preparing the WDAA Western Dressage...

Shane Smith & Shepherd Star (Shannon Brinkman) Lexington, KY For the second time in three years, Shane Brown won the World Championship Freestyle Reining tonight at the Kentucky Horse Park. He rode Shepherd Star to the title, receiving 228 points from the three judges. Brown’s score put him just 1 point ahead of three riders who tied for second with a score of 227—Aaron Ralston on Blue Taris Glo, Drake Johnson on Sonic Chic Dream, and Pete Kyle on A Ruf Gal. The winners split a...

Todd Minikus and Quality Girl (Mancini Photos) Wellington, FL - Equestrian Sport Productions LLC (ESP) wrapped up its second week of spring competition April 10-14 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with an exciting victory for Todd Minikus and Quality Girl in the $25,000 ESP Spring 2 Grand Prix. Minikus also won the $10,000 Open Jumper Stake earlier in the week riding Legacy Stables' Tuxedo. The week's jumper courses in the International Arena...

Western Dressage clinics are rolling all over the nation. Here in the Pacific Northwest one clinic series has been endorsed by our USDF Region 6 Director, Donna Longacre. Her lifetime of experience in the dressage world combined with her judging experience in both dressage and western disciplines makes her uniquely qualified to comment on Western Dressage training and judging. I am so excited to have created a clinic series that carries such an endorsement as I continue to try to present...

Peter Breakwell and Lucas (McCool) San Juan Capistrano, CA - The $40,000 Blenheim Spring Classic I Grand Prix, presented by the Orange County Register, welcomed twenty-two horse and rider participants onto the International Field at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. The Peters were in stride Sunday - Peter Cottontail handled Easter brunch for exhibitors, Canadian Peter Holmes set an inviting course and New Zealander Peter Breakwell took home the top prize. Seven riders piloted their mounts...

Darragh Kenny and Any Given Sunday Wellington, FL - The grass was freshly cut, the vibrant and colorful jumps were set and music was playing in the background for the ninth week of The Ridge's 1.40m Grand Prix Invitational Series. Eleven went clear over Pierre Jolicouer's course, but no one could catch up to Darragh Kenny in the jump off. Aboard Any Given Sunday, the two were on a mission to claim first place and were not about to let anyone stop them. After completing the first round...

The Western States Cowboy Dressage weekend in Medford Oregon was held February 16 and 17. It was a very informative and educational weekend with Eitan Beth-Halachmy and a great cast of presenters that included renowned veterinarian Dr. Robert Miller, Modern Vaquero cowboy Jeff Sanders and VERY brave riders from all over the northwest. The event was presented by the Oregon Western Dressage Association, an affiliate of WDAA, despite the split between WDAA and Cowboy Dressage last fall. It was...

Lexington, KY - The second Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Session of 2013 wrapped up Sunday at Oak Hill Ranch in Folsom, Louisiana. The picturesque ranch is a leader in U.S. sport horse breeding and provided a great environment for educating the area’s up-and-coming Kim Gentry and Leonardo (Oak Hill Ranch) young horses and their riders. The open training session was led by USEF Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler. “This is the first time we have held a training session in...

Jared Petersen and Titus 2:11 have been unstoppable the last few weeks at HITS Ocala. After two $50,000 grand prix wins in a row, the pair rode to victory in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis (ESI Photography) Ocala, FL - Jared Petersen and his father, Derek, were walking on air yesterday afternoon. Their excitement not only stemmed from the fact that Jared had just piloted Titus 2:11 to a win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, but also because it was...

Jamie Taylor was queen of the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix this week and HITS Thermal. She was both first and second, riding Grand Noir to the top (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - It was twice the talent and double helpings of prize money at the top of this weekend’s $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix class results as Jamie Taylor of Tarzana, California rode to first place on Grand Noir, owned by Inspiration Farms, and second on Natasha Ledon’s Conteros. Taylor Ann Adams of...