The eighteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder The latest addition to the Western Dressage information network is a new Facebook page dedicated exclusively to calendar events around the nation. The new page is called, appropriately, “Western Dressage Shows & Events” and is maintained by Vaquero Training Center in Connecticut. The page is designed to keep Western Dressage enthusiasts informed about what is going on all over the country. It is a brand new FB...

Victory in the final leg at Boekelo (NED) clinched the overall win for Germany in the first FEI Nations Cup Eventing (left to right): Michael Jung, Bettina Hoy, Julia Krajewski and Ingrid Klimke with Chef d'Equipe Hans Melzer (Jon Stroud/FEI) The German team produced yet another first-rate performance to win at Boekelo (NED), the final leg of the inaugural FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing, and rounded off what has been an outstanding year for the country’s senior riders with a comfortable...

Steffen Peters and Ravel (Shannon Brinkman) Greenwich, UK - It was an historic day at Greenwich Park. Less than 24 hours after the British Show Jumping Team won it's first Olympic Team Gold medal in 60 years, the British Dressage Team won it's first Olympic medal ever, and it was Gold. They finished on a score of 79.979 to win Gold over Germany. The Netherlands won Bronze.The U.S. Dressage Team made a valiant run at a Team medal at Greenwich Park with some strong performances, but it...

Greenwich, UK - Clear rounds were the order of the day in the First Individual Qualifier for Jumping in the main arena at Greenwich Park. Of the 75 starters in the Olympic Show Jumping Competition, 32 jumped clear rounds. Of those, two belonged to American riders Rich Fellers and McLain Ward. Reed Kessler added just one time fault at her first Olympic Games meaning the USA heads to the Team Competition with a strong start. Team Competition begins Sunday, August 5. Chef d'Equipe George...

Morocco and Lisa Goldman. Traverse City, MI - Opening Day of the 2012 London Olympic Games was celebrated in Red, White and Blue fashion yesterday during the final Saturday evening of the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival in Traverse City, Michigan. Spectators and Grand Prix riders competing in the $30,000 D-Braider Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix participated in a "Good Luck Send-Off" for the U.S. Show Jumping Team competing at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Video and electronic...

Cosmo and Laura Pfeiffer. Traverse City, MI - After observing Laura Pfeiffer win the featured 1.35-meter Open Jumper class on Wednesday during the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival, you might have believed that Pfeiffer could have done it with one hand tied behind her back. Because she almost did. During the jump-off, as Pfeiffer tackled what would become the decisive and winning turn with her mount Cosmo, she had an equipment malfunction. "I think the difference was the tight, tight...

Jonathan Holling of the United States won the Volvo Bromont CCI3* Three Day Event, The Todd Sandler Challenge, with Downtown Harrison. Representatives of title sponsor Volvo Canada presented Holling with the Todd Sandler Trophy. (Cealy Tetley) Bromont, Quebec – Jonathan Holling of the United States won the 2012 Volvo Bromont CCI3* Three Day Event, The Todd Sandler Challenge, on Sunday, June 10, in Bromont, Quebec. The CIC3* division was won by Karen O’Connor of the United States. It...

Temecula, CA - With two phases of competition complete, Great Britain’s James Alliston has a tight hold on the top placings in the CIC3*. He took a decisive lead in the dressage aboard India McEvoy’s Jumbo’s Jake, and then he added no penalties in the show jumping to lead the division with 45.6 penalties. He’s also standing third with his younger horse (and last fall’s second-placed CCI2* horse), Tivoli (53.7). Holding down second is Jolie Wentworth of Martinez,...

Lexington, KY - The nation's top saddle seat riders will compete in the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team Selection Trials held at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri on March 31, 2012 in hopes of earning a spot on the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. The Saddle Seat World Cup consists of a three-gaited and a five-gaited competition. At these Trials five team members and one alternate will be selected for each team. Athletes selected will represent the United States in...

Christel Weller and Kallaway Secure Tricolor in Horseware Ireland Adult Amateur 3'3 Hunters in One Day Alejandro Karolyi and Vichy (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - The Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge had a class full of competitors going against the clock, but the fastest by almost six seconds was Alejandro Karolyi (VEN) on Vichy, owned by Torrey Pines Stable. Week three of the FTI WEF runs Wednesday, January 25, through Sunday, January 29, and is sponsored by Horseware Ireland . The...