Bonifatius (Shannon Brinkman/USEF) Greenwich, UK - The four American horses presented before the Para-Equestrian Dressage Ground Jury in the main arena at the 2012 Olympic Games were deemed sound and fit to compete at Wednesday's Horse Inspection. The U.S. will be represented by two veteran riders and two rising stars, when competition begins Thursday with the Team Tests. A total of 15 teams and 19 individuals will be representing their countries. At the Horse Inspection 77 horses were...

Wayne, IL - The 2012 USEF National Dressage Championships came to a conclusion Sunday at the Lamplight Equestrian Center with champions crowned across three divisions. Intermittent rain could not dampen spirits as final competition was held in the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today, the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships and the USEF National Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage Championship presented by The Dutta Corp. and Performance Sales...

The U.S. Endurance Team (Donna Shifflette) Newmarket, UK – A true championship test awaits some of the best endurance riders from around the world in Euston Park near Newmarket, Suffolk, UK for the Longines FEI World Endurance Championship. The 160-km race will take place on August 25 across the English countryside where riders will encounter heathland, forest tracks, river meadows, and open farmland. The United States will be represented by five riders, who aim to bring back both team...

Wayne, IL - The 2012 USEF National Dressage Championships got underway Thursday in Ring 2 at the Lamplight Equestrian Center with competition held in the Young Horse, Developing Horse and Medal Final divisions. In the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship Five-Year-Old division Alice Tarjan and Elfenfeuer jumped out to the early lead after the Preliminary Test. While in the USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix Dressage Championship supported by Hilda Gurney and Carol Lavell Lisa...

London, England - Passports in hand and the final tack box loaded, the United States Paralympic Equestrian Team is on their way to London. Chef d'Equipe Missy Ransehousen and equestrians Rebecca Hart, top ten FEI Paralympian Jonathan Wentz, Donna Ponessa, and Dale Dedrick will shortly accompany their horses when they arrive in the United Kingdom. From the logistics of international travel to the intense competition, the United States Para-Equestrian Dressage Team has a lot to look forward...

Lexington, KY - The best vaulters from across the U.S. are ready to begin competition at the FEI World Vaulting Championship at the Pole Europeen du Cheval in Le Mans, France from August 16-19, 2012. Vaulters will be vying for World Championship titles in the Individual Female, Individual Male, Pas de Duex, and Team competitions. The recently crowned Gold Individual Female National Vaulting Champion Mary McCormick (Woodside, CA) hopes to continue her success in France. Having also won the...

The ninth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Western Dressage is a new and growing discipline in the horse world. People are talking about it everywhere. At North American Western Dressage we answer questions every day about what it is, how you do it, what you wear, what your horse wears, bits, reins, helmets, levels of tests and competition, movements and how you do them and a myriad of other things. Answering these questions could be a full time job for any one of our...

Taylor Johnson and Legato Zionsville, IN - Taylor Johnson of Carmel, IN, dodged raindrops and caught some rays Friday while scoring big wins during day four of the Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show. Johnson, 14, racked up the ribbons in the Junior Hunter Classic, Junior Hunter Stake, the Child Hunter Classic (NAL and WIHS), and the Junior Hunter 15 and Under Stake. When asked if she thought she was having a good show, she just shrugged her shoulders and answered, "I guess." Johnson won the...

Christian Heineking and NKH Selena dashed to the top of the leaderboard in the 1.40m Open Jumper speed class at the Kentucky Summer Classic. (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Lexington, KY - The first day of the Kentucky Summer Classic was filled with exciting jumper action in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park. This afternoon, competitors had the opportunity to showcase their speed in the 1.40m Open Jumpers and show off their talents navigating the 1.35 Open Jumpers. Christian Heineking led the...

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere (Shannon Brinkman) Greenwich, UK - The first day of Eventing Dressage at the 2012 Olympic Games featured three of the five American horses. Boyd Martin was the very first rider in the ring on Otis Barbotiere and made the most of his first Olympic experience, having the best test of the horse's career so far. The venue is stunning and although the arena proved full of atmosphere, the three U.S. combinations handled the occasion admirably. Judged by the Ground...