Thanks to everyone who took the time to send emails to USEF and for sharing your thoughts and feelings about the direction Western Dressage should take. It is so important to hear and listen to different ideas from all directions as the discipline develops. At this point all there is to do is continue to ride and train and show, and most important, to have fun with our horses. With another show coming up this weekend for us, I have put a lot of thought into the questions the last show brought...

Lillie Keenan and Pumped Up Kicks jump their way to a win in the $125,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Saugerties over the weekend (©ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY – Lillie Keenan and Pumped Up Kicks were pumped up just enough Sunday afternoon to win the $125,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis. The 15-year-old rider and Chansonette Farm, LLC’s Pumped Up Kicks closed out three weeks of spring shows at HITS-on-the-Hudson...

Tuesday June 11, 3013 will be the last day USEF will hear comments via email regarding the choice of organizations that will represent Western Dressage as the official recognized affiliate organization. This is a critical time in the development of the discipline and your input is very important whether you are a western rider, a dressage enthusiast, judge, breeder, trainer, or participant in any aspect of the equine industry. NAWD President Jen Johnson shares the following food for thought:...

Sharon White of the United States riding Don Sheffield leads the CCI2* division following the opening phase of dressage competition at the Volvo Bromont CCI*** Three Day Event taking place June 6 to 9, 2013, in Bromont, Quebec (Photo by Cealy Tetley) Bromont, Quebec – The 2013 Volvo CCI3* Bromont Three Day Event, The Todd Sandler Challenge, opened on Thursday, June 6, at the Bromont Olympic Horse Park in Bromont, Quebec, with the first of two days of dressage competition. The CCI2*, one...

Saumur, France - Competition officially kicked off Thursday at the Saumur CCI3* with 17 combinations performing their dressage tests. U.S. entries and Land Rover Competition Grant recipients Hannah Sue Burnett and Marilyn Little rose to the occasion as they propelled themselves into the top five following the first day of competition. Burnett (The Plains, VA) and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot were the penultimate combination of the day but proved worth the wait as they scored 48.60 to...

Note to Self: 1. Prepare classical instructor that you will be appearing before him in western tack and riding an Appaloosa stallion, NOT your third level Westfalen import and 2. Don’t ride in a clinic without a photographer A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…. I got a book from the library called The Schooling of the Western Horse by John Richard Young. It was published in 1945 (practically the dark ages) and outlined progressive training for western horses. Critically...

Hope Glynn and C.R. Haribo (CapturedMomentPhoto.com) Del Mar, CA - On Friday, Joe Lombardo's inviting derby course offered the riders long flowing options in the Classic Round and some tight turns with a challenging trot jump in the Handy Round. Judged by the honorable Debbie Sands, Betty Oare, Frank Willard and Steve Wall, the high performance hunter class had thirty-eight entries. Top score in the Classic Round went to Blenheim Spring Derby winner Nick Haness on Gelato with a total of...

Riders (from left) Hawley Bennett-Awad, Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin and Lindsey Jordan visit with Donte Proffitt (10) of London, Ky. (Michelle Dunn photo) Lexington, KY - Three riders who’ll be competing in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Land Rover, and one rider who’ll be competing in the Kentucky Reining Cup spent Tuesday afternoon visiting with children undergoing treatment at the Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington. "Rolex Kentucky" returns to the...

Susan Artes on Zamiro (Maria Morgan) La Canada Flintridge, CA - Twelve riders rode clear into the jump off. Entering with two horses Susan Artes atop Zamiro put down two spectacular clean rounds in tonight's $25,000 Grand Prix, part of the GGT Footing Grand Prix Series! Returning after eighteen years Susan Hutchison entered the $25,000 Grand Prix with three horses, all of which soared into the jump off. Jumping clear both rounds she placed second, third, and fifth. Full results of the class...

Heather Blitz and Paragon (Susan J. Stickle) Wellington, FL - Blitz and Paragon finished first in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDIO 3* with a 72.313%, narrowly beating fellow American Cesar Parra and Van the Man who finished second with a 72.208%. Shelly Francis (USA) and Doktor rounded out the top three with a final score of 70.646%. Judges for the class were: Linda Zang at E, Anne Gribbons at H, Mirabel Alonso at C, Joan Macartney at M, and Evi Eisenhardt at B. The three-day, three-test format...