McLain Ward and Zhum CW (© ManciniPhotos) Wellington, FL - Equestrian Sport Productions' Holiday and Horses competition began on Wednesday, November 28, at the beautiful Palm Beach International Equestrian Center with a win for McLain Ward aboard Ilan Ferder and Missy Clark's Zhum CW in the $10,000 Welcome Stake. The Holiday and Horses show will have top classes each day through December 2 and is rated CSI 2*-W, Jumper 5*, and "AA". On Thursday riders will compete in the $33,000 Holiday...

Hunter Chancellor, winner of the 2012 USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final, riding Imagine My Surprise. (Howard Schatzberg) Kansas City, MO - In an extremely competitive USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final at the United Professional Horsemen's Association (UPHA) American Royal National Championship, Hunter Chancellor (Evansville, IN) demonstrated precise equitation skills in her rail and pattern work on Steven Chancellor's Imagine My Surprise to take the Championship title. After earning Reserve...

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...

Las Vegas, NV - The $50,000 Fisker Automotive World Cup Grand Prix was the pinnacle of the Las Vegas National beginning with a fiery opening ceremony act. Welcoming the local crowds, fans and competitors was a one-of-a-kind fire infused performance that set the stage for some hot competition. Thirty-five rounds of international talent prepared to take on German course designer, Olaf Petersen Jr.'s World Cup Qualifying test. From an early stage it looked as if the young stars were taking...

Lexington, KY - President Lee Vulgaris announced this week that the Paso Fino Horse Association (PFHA) has officially named Sally Walker as its new Executive Director. The association president stated that Walker was chosen to serve as the organization’s Director from over 70 candidates elicited through a nationwide search. Walker comes to PFHA with extensive leadership experience in the nonprofit, corporate, and private business worlds. She is also a lifelong horsewoman. Most recently,...

Kent Farrington and Uceko speed to victory in Saturday's $75,000 Ricoh Big Ben Challenge to close out the 90th Royal Horse Show. Farrington earned the prestigious Leading International Rider title for 2012. (©BenRadvanyi.com) Toronto, ON – America’s Kent Farrington (Wellington, FL) took top honours for the second night in a row at the 90th Royal Horse Show, closing out the International jumper division with a win in the $75,000 Ricoh Big Ben Challenge. Farrington was awarded the...

Ashley Holzer and Pop Art danced their way out of competition tonight by once again winning at the Royal. The $20,000 Dominion Regalia Royal Invitational Dressage Cup Freestyle to Music was their last competition together. (BenRadvanyi.com) Toronto, ON – It was Ashley Holzer’s night to shine, and shine she did, with her long-time partner Pop Art piaffing and passaging to one last victory together at the 90th Royal Horse Show. While the scores for tonight’s $20,000 Dominion...

Lexington, KY – The second and final USEF Elite Youth Dressage Training Session for 2012 concluded Sunday in Chino Hills, California. The two-day intensive training session was made possible by a generous donation from Kristen McDonald and the Marquis George MacDonald Foundation. The gracious hosts of the Western U.S. session were David and Alisa Wilson, owners of W Farms. Participants in the USEF Elite Youth Dressage Training Session (USEF Archive) The invitation-only training session...

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...

David Rudder and Phind the Treasure (Brooke Jacobs with Jacobs Photography) Lexington, KY - Saturday night at the 129th Edition of the Alltech National Horse Show, the American Saddlebred Divisions concluded their amateur division championships of Three Gaited, Park Horse and Five Gaited. The return of the Saddle Horses to the Alltech National Horse Show at the Alltech Arena in Lexington, KY has been met with much enthusiasm. Kentucky is a hub of some of the most celebrated trainers in the...