Alexandra Lawson is a 19-year-old freshman at Purdue University from North Salem, Indiana. She is a member of the three-gaited section of the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. I've spent most of my life in the small farm communities of Danville and North Salem, Indiana. My parents and maternal grandparents are grain farmers - farming about 5,000 acres in the surrounding area. When you grow up in farm country, you just naturally get involved with FFA and 4-H, and it was through 4-H that...

Jenny Taylor and the 2012 World Champion Park Saddle, PLS High Pine Picasso (© Stephen Kinney/AMHA) Oklahoma City, OK - David and Cindy Vogels had a lot to celebrate Sunday evening when their homebred AMHF I've Got A Secret won both the World Champion Senior Gelding and World Champion Gelding honors with trainer Robert Kellert. The two-year-old FRF Supreme Judge was the World Champion Junior Gelding with John Hufferd showing for Fire Run Farm. In a switch, the World Champion Junior Mare,...

I knew, when accepting this job in December, 2011 that I was under-qualified. My writing credentials are fine enough, I have editing experience, a media background, and a good education. My deficiency was that I knew very little about horses and even less about equestrian sports. Compared to my USEF colleagues, I was in a state of almost complete ignorance. I’ve twice been on group trail rides in western Colorado. Adding that to the rest of my riding experience I’d been on a horse...

Alma Perkins & Charisma It was a day to remember in Benton, Louisiana, as Alma Perkins became the 100th member of The Dressage Foundation's Century Club on May 5, 2012. The journey to this special milestone began in 1996, when noted dressage judge and instructor, Dr. Max Gahwyler, suggested that The Dressage Foundation create a program to encourage older dressage riders to remain active in the sport. It was decided that to become a member of the Century Club, the ages of the horse and...

FEI President, HRH Princess Haya (Photo by Edouard Churchod/FEI) Lusanne, SUI - FEI President, HRH Princess Haya, announced today that the Saudi Equestrian Fund will finance the revitalisation of the FEI Nations Cup™ series. Announcing the agreement at the opening of the FEI Sports Forum in Lausanne (SUI) today, Princess Haya informed delegates that the Saudi Equestrian Fund will provide full financial support for the 2012 series and has also agreed to a five-year title sponsorship...

Bradenton, FL - The American Gold Cup, one of the world's most prestigious show jumping events, returns to action in September at its new home at Old Salem Farm, in North Salem, NY. The show is scheduled for September 12th through the 16th, 2012, with the famed $200,000 American Gold Cup as the highlight event on the final Sunday. Old Salem Farm, in New York's Westchester County, is a premier equestrian venue, offering state-of-the-art facilities, surrounded by 120 gorgeous acres. In...

Cardi (Team Cardi LLC) Welsh Cob stallion North Forks Cardi recently piaffed and passaged his way to four impressive wins in Intermediaire II classes at the Festival of the Horse and the Golden State Dressage Show. Competing against all breeds in a field traditionally dominated by warmblood horses, this eleven year old Welsh Cob stallion, standing 14.3 1/2 hands high, produced his best ever score of 67% and also qualified for the Grand Prix Freestyle, earning a 62% for their Grand Prix ride....

Lexington, KY - A strong field of 14 drivers is set to contest the USEF National Single Horse Championship this weekend at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, NC. Held in conjunction with the Southern Pines CDE, competition will run April 13-15 and will be doubly important as it also serves as a Selection Trial for the 2012 Singles World Driving Championship, which will be held in Lezirias, P Robin Groves drives for her second National Championship title this weekend. (Picsofyou.com) ortugal,...

Southern Saddlebred Sales – New Auction Scheduled for April 27-28 After 120 years in business, Tattersalls in Lexington, KY is closing its doors. Since 1986, Teater Saddlebred Enterprises, Inc has handled the Saddlebred auction, but Ed and Suzie Teater have announced their retirement. This creates a void in the ASB industry for a public auction. James and Jackie Hale, who own and operate a successful Saddlebred training stable in Alabama and specialize in consignment sales, have plans for...

The $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm doesn’t start for another 8 hours but everything is already in full swing at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Horses and riders are busy jumping in every ring and many of the riders that will compete tonight are busy schooling and competing their younger and greener prospects. I saw Pan American double gold medalist Chris McCrea jumping a classy looking 8-year-old owned by her mother Candy Tribble earlier this morning. I...