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 her journey...

Ashlee Bond and Agrostar shined in round one and braved the rain in round two for their win in Saturday’s $33,000 ASHCOR Technologies Cup (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, AB – Ashlee Bond (USA) and Agrostar earned an exciting victory in the $33,000 ASHCOR Technologies Cup 1.50m competition on Saturday during day three of the ‘Pan American’ Tournament at Spruce Meadows. The pair led a five-horse jump-off out of 37 competitors to win over Canada’s Kara Chad and...

Lexington, KY – The country’s best adult amateur saddle seat equitation riders are ready to compete in the USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final. Taking place at the historic Red Mile Race Track in Lexington, Kentucky, the Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show plays host to the USEF Championship on Friday, July 12. Riding before judges Chuck Herbert, James Nichols, and Barbe Smith, riders will demonstrate their skills that have qualified them for the Final. The American...

Zenith UHS and Aaron Vale (Tricia Booker Photography) Traverse City, MI - When Aaron Vale jumped to the victory in today's $2,500 CMJ Sporthorse 1.40m Jumper Speed Stake, he also edged closer to the top of the $10,000 Hagyard Leading Jumper Rider Cash Bonus Award standings. The 6.25 points he accrued for first place with 2VR Showjumpers' Zenith UHS--added to last week's point total of 91--puts him just behind Yann Candele, last week's victor in the $30,000 Danny & Ron's...

Lexington, KY- The USEA and USEF are pleased to announce the riders selected for the Eventing 18/Advancing Athletes program. A total of 10 riders have been chosen from around the country to participate in the new initiative designed to build a foundation of future athletes destined for high performance teams. The riders are: Brynn Littlehale – Saratoga, CA David Pawlak – Boyce, VA Patience (Viola) O'Neal – Spokane, WA Adrian Jones – Schamong, NJ Rowdie Adams –...

Lexington, KY - The following athletes have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to represent the U.S. in Nations Cup competition at the CSIO5* Gijon, August 28-September 2, 2013 in Gijon, Spain. The five following athletes will represent the U.S. at the CSIO5* Gijon: Reed Kessler (Lexington, KY) Lauren Hough (Wellington, FL) Kirsten Coe (Royal Palm Beach, FL) Saer Coulter (San Francisco, CA) Lucy Davis (Los Angeles, CA) Horses will be named following the submission of...

GCT Estoril (GCT Press Office) Estoril, Protugal - There was joy and heartbreak tonight as Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann seized his first Grand Prix win as Portuguese rider Luciana Diniz narrowly missed out on a home victory. After one of the toughest Grand Prix of the season so far, in sizzling temperatures in Estoril, von Eckermann and Gotha came out on top with Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos the only other combination to jump three clear rounds. The local crowd went wild with excitement...

Artemis and Ali Wolff (Arian Booker Photography) Traverse City, MI - Ali Wolff qualified two mounts for the jump-off in the $10,000 Great Lakes Golf Cars Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix, but it turned out she only needed one ride to clinch the win. After concluding her first round performance aboard Lanoo, Wolff discovered he was missing a shoe. Unfortunately, no one could find it, and he was unable to return for the seven-horse tiebreaker. Thankfully, Wolff's...

Lexington, KY – The USEF Eventing High Performance Committee has approved the following High Performance Summer/Fall Training Lists for the 2013 season. World Class Combinations that currently possess the ability to be competitive anywhere in the world. The combinations listed on the World Class List will receive Land Rover Training Grants. Will Coleman (Charlottesville, VA) and Four Star Eventing Group’s OBOS O’Reilly OBOS O’Reilly is a 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding...

Lexington, KY - The following athletes have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to represent the U.S. in Nations Cup competition at the CSIO5* Hickstead, July 30-August 4, 2013 in Hickstead, England and at the CSIO5* Dublin August 6-11, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. CSIO5* Hickstead The five following athletes will represent the U.S. at the CSIO5* Hickstead: Reed Kessler (Lexington, KY) Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, NY) McLain Ward (Brewster, NY) Katie Dinan (Wellington, FL)...