Lexington, KY - The U.S. Dressage Team heads to the Hickstead CDIO3* with high expectations this week as they look to continue the momentum that has been building throughout the summer. Four talented riders; Shelly Francis, Arlene “Tuny” Page, Kathleen Raine and Guenter Seidel Shelly Francis and Doktor (SusanJStickle.com) compose the Nations Cup team, while David Blake will ride in Grand Prix competition as an individual. Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Francis will also ride...

Welcome to a different kind of blog from WDAA! The purpose of this post is to allow the reader "into the heads" of both a trainer/judge/competitor, Karen Abbattista and her student, Deborah Herbert, a Florida WDAA member. We would like to share with you some moments in Deb's journey as she pursues her riding goals with her AQHA mare "GenuineArcticSpring", barn name "Belle". Please enjoy as you follow along with these posts that we consider interesting or challenging moments on their journey...

Lexington, KY - A talented team of jumpers descend upon Hickstead, England this week to represent the U.S. at the CSIO5* Hickstead. The prestigious competition will run August 1-4 and hosts the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup of Great Britain presented by Longines on Friday, August 2nd. The U.S. will be represented by three veterans as Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, and Richard Spooner all look to score top honors throughout the week. Additionally, young rising stars Reed Kessler and Katie Dinan make...

Lexington, KY - At the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Board of Directors mid-year meeting on Monday, July 22nd, some significant rule and bylaw changes were brought to the table. The changes concerned horse welfare, the structure of the USEF Board of Directors, and the discipline of western dressage. Each of the changes brought forth received a majority vote to approve and a summary of each change is detailed below. Horse Welfare Changes Two important Proposed Extraordinary Rule...

Ammeretto and David Beisel (Tricia Booker Photography) Traverse City, MI - David Beisel and Ammeretto saved their best for last. After winning the first class they contested during the 2013 Horse Shows by the Bay Series on July 4, they finally picked up their second blue ribbon today during the $30,000 D-Braider Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix. "It was worth the wait, for sure," said Beisel, who also notched his first grand prix win aboard the 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Numero...

Samantha Segedy and Nandino (Tricia Booker Photography) Traverse City, MI - Even though Samantha Segedy stood third with Nandino after the Classic Round of the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Walgreens, she didn't return for the Handy Round seeking a victory. Instead, Segedy's goal was to give Mrs. Ellen Malson's 5-year-old Brandenberg gelding more experience in the show ring. "I told his owner before the Handy Round that even if he drops in placing my goal was to...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that Charlotte Jorst (Reno, NV) and Vitalis will represent the U.S. at the 2013 FEI World Breeding Championships for Dressage Young Horses. The annual championship will once again be held in Verden, Germany, August 7-11. The combination will compete against many of the best up-and-coming dressage horses in the six-year-old division. Vitalis (Vivaldi x Tolivia/Donnerschwee) is a 2007 Dutch Warmblood stallion...

Lexington, KY- Five talented endurance riders have travelled to Tarbes, France to represent the U.S. at the FEI World Endurance Championship for Juniors and Young Riders. The United States will be looking to secure a podium finish at the prestigious competition, which will be held on July 27, The U. S. Team (US Endurance Athletes Association, Inc) 2013. Leading the U.S. effort in France are Mary Kathryn Clark and Mustafa Tehrani’s 12-year-old Arabian gelding Chasing The Wind. Clark...

Overall Grand Champion Samantha Sommers and Small Affair at the 2013 US Junior Hunter National Championships - West (Captured Moment Photography) Lexington, KY – The top junior hunter riders on the west coast met at Showpark Facility in Del Mar, CA, July 22-23 for the 2013 US Junior Hunter National Championships – West. The riders were separated into 15 & Under and 16-17 divisions, as well as Small Junior Hunter and Large Junior Hunter, and competed in three phases: Classic...

Tatiana Dzavik and Dahlia Lexington, KY - Perfect weather greeted riders as competition got underway during the Kentucky Summer Series at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Open Jumper riders gathered at the Rolex Stadium, where the first 1.40m Open Jumper class focused on speed and Tatiana Dzavik had the winning key with Dahlia. She topped Shane Sweetnam and Fineman by just 3/10ths of a second to claim the blue ribbon. The final event of the day was the 1.40m Open Jumper Table 2 Section 2b jump-off...