Last week I gave you some wonderful numbers that show the tremendous growth we have seen in Western Dressage over the last year. Almost 200 shows and events are already scheduled for 2013… 200! All those events are the brainchildren of people who want to help develop WD in their area. Most riders start by going to audit or participate in a clinic first or by becoming familiar with different philosophies and approaches to western dressage via the FaceBook pages or investigating the...

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Bella Donna were the ones to beat in the at HITS Thermal in the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach (©Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA - With a first-place prize of $350,000 on the line, Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum rose to the occasion, piloting Bella Donna to a paycheck she will not soon forget as winner of the first-ever AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach. The best...

Thermal, CA - The fine tuning of an official rider’s list for the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach, was completed during last night’s rider meeting at HITS Desert Horse Park. With the touch-down of the East Coast manger’s picks in California, the final order of go was drawn and revealed that Candice King of Wellington, Florida will clip the hypothetical ribbon of the first-ever West Coast $1 million grand prix aboard Campbell VDL.....

Greg Crolick and Carson on their way to a win in the $10,000 USHJA Hunter Derby at HITS Ocala (ESI Photography) Ocala, FL - Hunter riders basked in their fair share of the spotlight this weekend at HITS Ocala with a $10,000 USHJA Hunter Derby and another round of HITS Championship Weekend qualifiers in the $5,000 Devoucoux and $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix. Greg Crolick, hailing from Auburn Hills, Michigan dominated the $10,000 USHJA Hunter Derby, riding to first with Carson, owned by Orchard Lake...

The Western States Cowboy Dressage weekend in Medford Oregon was held February 16 and 17. It was a very informative and educational weekend with Eitan Beth-Halachmy and a great cast of presenters that included renowned veterinarian Dr. Robert Miller, Modern Vaquero cowboy Jeff Sanders and VERY brave riders from all over the northwest. The event was presented by the Oregon Western Dressage Association, an affiliate of WDAA, despite the split between WDAA and Cowboy Dressage last fall. It was...

Daniel Deusser and Mouse (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Week nine of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), featuring CSIW-5* competition sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies, began on Wednesday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) with a win for Germany's Daniel Deusser and Mouse in the highlight $33,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m, a Longines FEI world ranking class. Week nine of FTI WEF competition, sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies, runs March...

Jared Petersen and Titus 2:11 have been unstoppable the last few weeks at HITS Ocala. After two $50,000 grand prix wins in a row, the pair rode to victory in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis (ESI Photography) Ocala, FL - Jared Petersen and his father, Derek, were walking on air yesterday afternoon. Their excitement not only stemmed from the fact that Jared had just piloted Titus 2:11 to a win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, but also because it was...

Beezie Madden and Simon (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - The powerhouse U.S. show jumping team of Kent Farrington, Reed Kessler, Laura Kraut, and Beezie Madden earned victory in Friday night's $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ presented by G&C Farm, at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Teams representing seven different countries participated in the evening's competition with a win for Team USA over Canada in second and Germany in third. Week...

McLain Ward and Rothchild (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Week six of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, sponsored by Spy Coast Farm, concluded on Sunday with a win for McLain Ward (USA) and Sagamore Farm's Rothchild in the $33,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, a Longines FEI world ranking class. Fifty-eight entries showed over the 1.50m track, set by Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge. Seventeen went clear in round one to qualify for a tie-breaking...

Peter Wylde and Zidane (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - The fifth week of competition at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) began on Wednesday, February 6, with a win for Peter Wylde and Zidane in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class. The pair also topped the class during week three and Wylde hopes to continue their success in the Rolex FEI World ranking classes coming up in the remaining weeks. Week five of the FTI WEF circuit, sponsored by Adequan®, will run...