Part 2 in a five-part series about the exciting new discipline of western dressage More and more western riders are thinking about trying the exciting new discipline of western dressage. While the progressive training principles of dressage can be a benefit to any horse's development, riders will discover that trotting down the centerline of a dressage arena is a very different experience than they may be used to for a western pleasure or reining show. The first and most obvious difference...

Jacob Arnold will begin a mentorship under Chester Weber in January 2014 (PicsofYou.com) Ocala, Fla. - New year. New opportunities. Just ask Jacob Arnold, who begins a mentorship under Chester Weber in January 2014 as the inaugural apprentice driver in the Live Oak Combined Driving, Inc. Developing Driver Program. “Though Live Oak Combined Driving has always been involved in the ongoing development of many drivers, this new program will begin with Jacob Arnold as the first apprentice...

Celebrating the accomplishments of 2013 and planning for even more in 2014 – those were the items on the agenda when the Western Dressage Association® of America held its fourth annual meeting Oct. 31-Nov. 1 in Tulsa, Okla. WDAA President Guy E. Brown welcomed 40+ attendees from 14 States and Canada. Listening to the list of accomplishments in 2013 was a perfect lead in to two days of planning and prioritizing projects for the coming year. • Adopted and published WDAA Rules and...

Waco, Tx. - Many changes were seen in the latest National Collegiate Equestrian Association national team rankings, released Monday by the NCEA Selection Committee, including a new No. 1 team in Baylor. The Bears move into the nation’s top spot with a 5-1 overall record, most recently defeating Oklahoma State. South Carolina, which is 5-2 on the season and is coming off a 12-6 win against Auburn, checks in at No. 2 nationally. Auburn, with a 3-1 record and a win against previous No....

Lexington, KY - The United States Federation's High Performance Working Group has approved the recommendation of DiAnn Langer as the U.S. Show Jumping Young Rider Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor. Both the Search Committee, chaired by Eric Straus, and the USEF Show Jumping High DiAnn Langer (USEF Archive) Performance Committee recommended Langer for this new position. Langer is tasked with developing and implementing a pipeline for the USEF Show Jumping discipline and will begin her...

Jim, Harry, and Carolyn Sebring with CBMF Crown Prince, the 2013 World Champion Park Harness. (Photo © Abbie Trexler) Shelburne, Vt. - The best of the best in the Morgan breed was celebrated in Oklahoma City for the 2014 edition of the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show®, October 12-19. Since 1973, this show has represented the pinnacle of achievement in the Morgan horse world. More than 1,000 of the world's finest Morgan horses from across the United States,...

Randolph College/USEF National Junior Jumper Individual Championship (©alcookphoto.com) New Cumberland, Pa. - Following four rounds of jumping in the $7,500 Randolph College/USEF National Junior Jumper Individual Championship at the 68th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show Lillie Keenan of New York, N.Y., again proved why she is considered one of the top up-and-coming talents in the sport of jumping. Riding her dual Gold medalist from the 2013 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young...

Harrisburg, Pa. – The team from Zone 5 hoped to defend their championship title from last year and they did just that Friday night in the 2013 Randolph College/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships. Not far behind, Zone 2 claimed the Silver medal and Zone 1 took the Bronze. Held during the 68th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show, the championships follow a modified Nations Cup format. Teams jumped the same course twice with one drop score permitted from each round. Alan...

Lexington, Ky .- The High Performance Dressage Owners Task Force is pleased to announce the launch of its new website, ExperienceDressage.com. The website was created in order to create partnerships between riders and owners with the goal of winning medals in championships such as the Olympic Games, FEI World Equestrian Games, Pan American Games and at the most prestigious competitions throughout the world. ExperienceDressage.com offers opportunities for individuals to become involved with the...

Lexington, Kentucky - Two USEF National Champions will be determined this weekend during the Kentucky Classic CDE at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Seven drivers will guide single horses in search of the USEF Singles National Championship and three talented veterans will compete with teams of four in search of the USEF National Four-in-Hand Driving Championship. USEF National Single Horse Championship With only one returning Single Horse Champion in the field, the USEF National...