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...

One of the fundamental strengths of the European breeding system is the ability to show young horses affordably and in classes that are designed to show off a horse's talent, while simultaneously building their exposure and their confidence. The Young Horse Championships, the Bundeschampionat, the "Cycle Classique," the Pavo Cup, are all celebrated events for which European breeders aspire, develop and prepare their young horses. But the foundation of these high profile events is the smaller,...

The Varsity Equestrian National Championships took place in Waco, TX, April 15–17 at the Heart of Texas Fair Complex. Chrystine Tauber and R. Scot Evans served as the Hunter Seat judges with Tom McBeath and Lisa Moden officiating over the Western portion. University of Georgia won the Hunter Seat championship and Texas A&M University took the victory in the Western pen. Both teams were third in the discipline that they did not win, thus creating a tie for the Overall Champion. This led to a...

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...

2009 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final Champion Jean Mutrux (Photo Credit: Howard Schatzberg) Lexington, KY - Sponsorship opportunities are now available for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final, scheduled for July 9, 2010. A title sponsorship and reception sponsorship are both available, in addition to all levels of supporting sponsorships. Initially developed to showcase a discipline rich in tradition, the USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur...

Photo by Stock Image Services (Beezie Madden and Danny Boy) Lexington, KY - Beezie Madden, of Cazenovia, NY, showed why she's one of the best show jumpers in the world in tonight's $60,000 Kentucky Cup Grand Prix at the Kentucky Horse Park. She guided Danny Boy to a jump-off time of 38.37 seconds to defeat the three other riders who qualified for the deciding round. Canadian international star Beth Underhill, of King Township, Ontario, grabbed second place on Top Gun (39.56), and Laura Teodori,...

Photo by mdunnphoto.com ((l-r) Chris von Martels, Tina Konyot and Jacqueline Brooks) Lexington, KY - Sashaying in to KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and The Cherry Tree," Tina Konyot's big black horse Calecto V showed their partnership has reached new heights with a decisive win in the 2010 Kentucky Cup CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle, scoring 76.25%. Chris von Martels on Naomi (70.20%) rode into second place, with Jacqueline Brooks on Balmoral close behind in third (67.35%). "It was great fun [out...

So here it is, my 13th time at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Who would have thought that when I went to my first Rolex in 1997 that I would end up only missing one between then and now (the 2009 event). My Rolex experiences started out as a day-trip jaunt from Western Kentucky University where I was attending school. It was my first year of college and an equine photographer that my friend, Laura, and I had met told us about the event. Since I was studying photojournalism at the time, I...

As a member of the press, I especially enjoy press conferences. Of course, prior to these events I try to think of things that I’d like to ask or have explained in more detail than what is on the surface. Today, the World Equestrian Games Foundation held a press conference during a lunch break of the first day of dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event to bring the press up-to-date on preparations for the big event. One thing I especially enjoy about press conferences is the...

Boyd Martin at the Jog With Remington XXV (USEF Photo) Lexington, KY – With Wednesday at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day-Event presented by Bridgestone comes the first horse inspection – which christens the official start of the competition. Running also as a Test Event for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the eventing riders at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event this year have the company of some of the top dressage and jumping riders as Test Events for those disciplines run...