Dressage It was Dressage Week in San Diego, CA as part of the Del Mar National Horse Show. The Del Mar National CDI3* featured some of the top riders on the West coast including Steffen Peters who dominated both the Grand Prix and Intermediaire-I. Aboard Akiko Yamazaki's superstar Ravel, Peters won the Grand Prix and put in a near flawless effort in the Grand Prix Freestyle to win by 10 points with a score of 81.300%. Susan Blinks and Robin Hood were first in the Grand Prix Special with a score...

Coming in as draw 22 on Boom Shernic, by Boomernic out of She And Chic Dunit, Craig Schmersal knew the leading score was a 227. From the moment he and the six-year-old stallion ran to the dirt-churning stop, the crowd's attention was riveted. When the score—a 228—was announced, the hoots, hollers, and whistles were deafening. The waiting began at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) in the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX. Jordan Larson and Stop Like A Dream...

The North American Anglo-Arabian Horse Association (NAAAHA) will again be honoring Anglo-Arabian horses competing at Youth Nationals and Sport Horse Nationals in 2010. The top winning Anglos in all classes at each show will be awarded an embroidered cooler and neck ribbon, with a gold trophy also going to the Supreme Champions. NAAAHA is again conducting their High Point Award Program for Anglo-Arabians that compete in Working Hunter, Jumper, Eventing., Dressage, Sport Horse, Conformation,...

Photo by Shakota (A trip to Olympic Reserve rider Michael Barisone's farm provided another fun and educational field trip while showcasing several KWPN dressage horses in action.) The KWPN of North America (Royal Dutch Warmblood Studbook) is proud to announce that Rabobank, N.A. has become a major strategic partner in the support of North American sport horse breeders. The sponsorship includes prize money for a wide variety of champions, a new breeders awards program, the Rabobank Star Breeders...

Congratulations to all the reining athletes from the U.S. who have successfully qualified for the USEF Selection Trial for the Adequan U.S. Reining Team. Competing at competitions throughout the United States, the high-performance reining competitors listed below have successfully met the qualification criteria to be able to advance to the Official Selection Trial—the place and time where the Adequan U.S. Reining Team will be selected for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG)....

Photo by Jessica Nemzoff/PMG (Phillip Dutton and Woodburn.) The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is pleased to announce Phillip Dutton of West Grove, PA, and Aiken, SC, as the 2010 recipient of the USET Foundation Pinnacle Cup. Awarded annually, the Pinnacle Cup went to the highest-placing American competitor at the prestigious Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone. Dutton was honored with the award after securing second-place honors aboard Woodburn, who is...

Photo by Al Cook (Kels Bonham from Savannah College of Art and Design won the Overall High-Point Individual title.) The American National Riding Commission’s (ANRC) Nationals were held April 16–18 at Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA. Judges included Bill Moroney of Keedysville, MD, and Anne Kenan of Dahlonega, GA. Savannah College of Art and Design took home the team victory over hometown Sweet Briar College. The University of Virginia team came in third, followed by Goucher College and...

Mattie Rohs of Alpharetta, GA, became the first 2010 American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) National Youth of the Year Finalist after winning the senior division at the Citrus Cup Youth of the Year contest earlier this month. Rohs competed with seven other seniors to win the title. Rohs will represent Citrus Cup this fall at the National Youth of the Year Finals held in conjunction with the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show. Other top-placing individuals included senior...

In recent months, the USEF Dressage Department has received many inquiries regarding use of protective headgear in USEF/USDF-Licensed Dressage Competitions. “Protective headgear” is defined as a helmet which is ASTM/SEI-approved and has a secured harness. USEF General Rule GR801.6-.7 states: “6. Except as may otherwise be mandated by local law, the Federation strongly encourages all riders, while riding anywhere on the competition grounds, to wear protective headgear with harness secured which...

Photo by Jon Kassel (Grand Prix Course at the sold out Alliant Energy Center Arena .) The 10,000 seat John Deere Coliseum at Madison's Alliant Energy Center was standing room only Saturday night as five of 38 entries passed the course's first test and were asked back for the tie-breaking round. Ultimately it was the feisty chestnut mare Happy Z and Ohio's Wilhelm Genn who laid down an unbeatable jump-off track for the win. Laura Linback and As di Villagana, competing last, also put in a...