Cassandra Roberts of the USA Southeast and Viktory Banner finishing the 75-mile endurance race (Brant Gamma Photography) Lexington, KY - Four teams were fielded for this year's endurance race and it was a great opportunity for young riders to experience the FEI competition and what they can do for their country in the future. Leading the Gold medal-winning team for the USA Southeast was Cassandra Roberts (16, Bronson, FL) on Viktory Banner, who also won the Individual Gold medal with a...

Olympic gold medalist Peter Wylde guided Lewin 5 to victory in the $30,000 Vermont Summer Special Grand Prix on July 6 at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Peter Wylde made his first trip to Manchester, VT, a winning one by claiming victory in the $30,000 Vermont Summer Special Grand Prix on July 6. The six-week Vermont Summer Festival is running July 2 through August 11 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT. A veteran of the...

Lauren Crooks and Navare D'Oriolles (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, Alberta - The finish of the $33,000 Westjet Cup 1.45m could not have been any closer, with only one-thousandth of a second separating first and second place. With the slimmest margin of victory, Lauren Crooks (USA) and Navare D'Oriolles, a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Derby Rouge x Le Gregol owned by Beatrice Mack, scored their first international victory at Spruce Meadows. Crooks was one of eight...

Alicen Divita (Shannon Brinkman) Lexington, KY - The U.S. effort at the 2013 CHIO Aachen kicks off Friday as vaulters take center stage at the historic German venue. The United States will be represented by six athletes across three divisions in CVIO3* competition held June 20-23. Alicen Divita, Elizabeth Ioannou, and Mary Garrett will look to earn top Individual Female honors, while in Individual Male competition Kristian Roberts is the sole U.S. representative. In Pas de Deux competition,...

Sonoma, CA - Chelsea Jones exceeded her own expectations on Saturday evening by finishing 1-2 in the $15,000 Stübben Grand Prix during the Sonoma Horse Park’s HMI June Classic. The 26-year-old young professional qualified for the jumpoff aboard both her mounts, but with five other strong pairs joining her for the second round, she knew that the jumpoff wouldn’t be a cakewalk. So it was much to her surprise when the cards fell in her favor – not once, but twice. Early in...

(Lindsay McCall) Lyman, ME - One term often used in reference to future medal winning U.S. high-performance equestrians, is the word 'development'. By further educating and integrating the athletes, judges, trainers, and supporters from all levels will help develop and evolve each discipline. The 2013 U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Symposium created the platform to accomplish this task. At the Carlisle Academy Integrative Equine Therapy & Sports in Lyman, Maine, internationally...

Margie Engle and Royce (Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Lexington, KY - Scope and stride proved to be the key to the win for Margie Engle and Royce during the $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, presented by Audi of Lexington, during the Kentucky Spring Classic. The pair out jumped 12 other horse and rider combinations during the tiebreaker to claim the winning prize with a double clear effort. Charlie Jayne captured the second place award with Chill R Z, while...

Sandy Ferrell and Mariano (The Book LLC) North Salem, NY – The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show continued in its second week with Wednesday's competition and presentation for the Grand Hunter Championship. Mariano, the champion of the Green Conformation division, scored the most points for the top title with rider Sandy Ferrell for owner Stephanie Riggio. Winston and Brooke Baldwin-deGrazia rode Winston to the win in the $1,000 USHJA Pre-Green Incentive class. In the jumper ring,...

Katie Dinan and Vancouver (The Book LLC) North Salem, NY - After a week of final exams at Harvard University, Katie Dinan came to Old Salem Farm ready to get back on her horse and in the ring. She and her trusty partner of five years, Vancouver, galloped to victory on the grass Grand Prix Field in the $10,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. She and Vancouver, a 15-year-old gelding by Voltaire II, beat a list of 33 competitors and five in the jump-off after they finished in the fastest...

Although some of you may think Western Dressage is new; when I discovered the Western Dressage Association of America was formed 2 years ago, my first thought was “there is actually a name for it?” For well over 30 years, I have taught riders the wisdom of dressage to Western riders. Through the years, I have been contacted to resolve issues with horses and riders working on games, pleasure and reining. I have always addressed the issues the same. Learn the basics, understand the...