Parker & Texas Checkmate (Tricia Booker Photography) Katy, Texas. - Paige Parker, of Baylor University, rose to the top of the Collegiate Invitational today with three consistent performances on three different horses. The Invitational was one of the featured events of the concluding day of the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show I. The event, presented by Max Bowl and the Boatright, Dougherty and Roberts families, brought eight student athletes together for head-to-head competition on catch rides....

Show season is rolling all over the country. Let the games begin indeed! Western Dressage tests are being ridden in competitive venues all over, especially in the more temperate areas of the nation. Not the northeast! Riders are already sending test sheets in to the “NAWD Trax” year end award program. IPHDA has already completed 2 cycles of virtual shows with entries due for the March V show on Monday April 1st. USEF Morgan tests have been ridden in the first dressage schooling show...

Jessica Stitt and On the Hour. (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Jessica Stitt took home both champion and reserve champion prizes with her geldings On the Hour and Taken in the FarmVet Amateur/Owner 3'3" 18-35 division at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Competition for the division wrapped up on the last day of week one of the FTI WEF in the Equine Tack and Nutritionals Ring 6. On day one of competition for the division, Stitt and On the Hour placed first...

The twenty first in a series of blog post from Michelle Binder As this blog has progressed, I have tried to bring awareness about Western Dressage to the equestrian community at large. Now I am going to encourage you to do some research on your own. By now you know that there are several organizations promoting the development of the sport. At this point the question we hear most often from people all over is: “What is the difference?” To some it seems that the differences that...

Updated standings for the Western Country Pleasure Invitational Class at the World’s Championship Horse Show are now online on the American Saddlebred Horse Association’s website at www.saddlebred.com. The standings can be found under the “About the Breed” menu on the “KSF World’s Championship” tab, or by going to www.saddlebred.com/wchs-results. The document is under the heading, “Western Country Pleasure Invitational Standings.” This is a new page dedicated to the World’s Championship Horse...

Fulton, Mo. – After impressive showings at the U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team Trials, 12 riders were chosen to represent the United States at the 2018 Saddle Seat World Cup. Thirty-two aspiring athletes from 18 states tried out at William Woods University on Saturday. Twenty riders competed in the three-gaited section and 12 riders competed in the five-gaited. Each phase consisted of one rail ride and one pattern ride on an unfamiliar horse. After the Trials, six riders from each section...

Fulton, Mo. - After impressive showings at the Saddle Seat World Cup Team Trials, 12 riders were chosen to represent the United States at the 2016 Saddle Seat World Cup. Thirty-two aspiring athletes, 20 in three-gaited competition and 12 in five-gaited, from 27 states tried out at William Woods University on Saturday. Each phase consisted of one rail ride and one pattern ride on unfamiliar horses. After the trials were complete six riders for each section were selected to the 2016 U.S. Saddle...

Fulton, Mo. – After impressive showings at the Saddle Seat World Cup Team Trials, 12 riders were chosen to represent the United States at the 2014 Saddle Seat World Cup. Thirty-two aspiring athletes, twenty in three gaited competition and twelve in five-gaited, from twenty-six states tried-out at William Woods University on Saturday. They rode two phases in a chilly but snow and ice free atmosphere. Each phase consisted of one rail ride and one pattern ride on unfamiliar horses. After the...

Last week I posted a virtual show entry video from an amazingly brave woman who continues to allow me to use her material for examples in this blog. Her courage and generosity inspire me and I hope that her open heart and willingness to be visible inspire you too. I hope that some of you readers are able to identify with her as a peer, a rider struggling to understand riding and training her stock horse and that you professionals at least respect her courage. Reaction to the video has been...

Waco, TX - The Texas A&M equestrian team will be the 2012 NCEA Overall National Champions. The finals in both Hunter Seat and Western competition will be contested later today but the Aggies are guaranteed at least a second place finish in both disciplines. It will be the program’s second National Championship. The success of the Aggie Western team is no surprise. They came into Extraco Events Center the #1 seed and defending National Champion. The team stayed true to form with wins...