The answer to this question is a simple, but detailed one. The Western Dressage Association® of America chose to pursue and become a nonprofit organization for many reasons, including fulfillment of our educational mission, greater opportunities for private funding and benefits of tax exemption… but the primary motivation was for YOU! When an organization applies for nonprofit status it states that it is declaring that its association is motivated by other goals then making a profit....

What is the equestrian demographic in North America? Surveys reveal it consists of women who, after a career, raising children, or both, have either returned to riding or are pursuing it as a life long dream. I fall into this demographic, having returned after both a career and children, and once again after major surgery. But where do we go to find training, a supportive community and a purpose in this endeavor? After much exploration, I was lucky enough to find Western Dressage through the...

Woodside, CA - James Alliston survived a bittersweet day at the Woodside International Horse Trials, presented by Equine Insurance of California and Professional’s Choice. It was a day of both exciting victory and disconcerting defeat for him. Alliston, of Castro Valley, Calif., did win the CIC3*, but with Tivoli (52.6), not with Jumbo’s Jake, the horse who’d been leading after the first day’s dressage and show jumping. And he also won the CIC2* on Mojo. Jolie Wentworth...

Lexington, KY- Pair and Pony drivers completed their first phase of USEF National Championship competition Thursday afternoon under beautiful, sunny skies at the event held in conjunction with the Kentucky Classic CDE. Performing their dressage tests in front of the Ground Jury composed of Klaus Christ, Diana Brownlie and Martha Hanks-Nicoll, 18 American competitors made their first steps toward claiming National Titles. In the USEF National Pairs Championship, Misdee Wrigley-Miller has jumped...

Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo win 2010 American Gold Cup. (Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com) North Salem, NY - When the American Gold Cup makes it much anticipated return this year at Old Salem Farm in North Salem NY, it will be a star-studded lineup of world-class show jumpers that will compete for the 2012 title. The show, now just a couple of weeks away, is scheduled for September 12th through the 16th, 2012, with the famed $200,000 American Gold Cup as the highlight event on the final...

The Kentucky Horse Park Welcomes Pint-sized Mounts to a Fierce Competition Tomorrow begins the Green Pony Hunters Over Fences, Medium Ponies Compete in the Under Saddle Phase Lexington, KY – August 7, 2012 – The Walnut Ring was alive with families and friends supporting young competitors and their pony mounts, as the 2012 US Pony Finals and the US Hunter Pony Championships presented by Sallee Horse Vans got underway with its first day at the Kentucky Horse Park. Today, the top...

Steffen Peters and Ravel (Shannon Brinkman) Greenwich, UK - It was an historic day at Greenwich Park. Less than 24 hours after the British Show Jumping Team won it's first Olympic Team Gold medal in 60 years, the British Dressage Team won it's first Olympic medal ever, and it was Gold. They finished on a score of 79.979 to win Gold over Germany. The Netherlands won Bronze.The U.S. Dressage Team made a valiant run at a Team medal at Greenwich Park with some strong performances, but it...

Emma Wujek pictured on Simsalabim. Traverse City, MI - On the eve of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games Opening in London, England, Emma Wujek, a promising 11-year-old ambitious equestrian prodigy, showcased the natural polish, style and intensity of a seasoned equitation champion. These traits helped her capture the win in the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (T.H.I.S.) National Children's Medal yesterday at the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival in Traverse City, Michigan. The large...

Ken Berkley and Waminka claimed victory in the $10,000 Vermont Bird Place & Sky Watch Open Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, July 19, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Ken Berkley of Flemington, NJ, captured victory in the $10,000 Vermont Bird Place & Sky Watch Open Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, July 19, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East...

The third in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder I promised you last week I would share more about the informal surveys that have helped give Western Dressage a voice through NAWD, and given me good stuff to share with you. While we believe there is much common ground to be found between western and dressage, there are differences between Western Dressage and BOTH parent disciplines. As Western Dressage continues to develop into a unique discipline in this country it is imperative...