Chester Weber and his team during the 2013 Live Oak International (PicsofYou.com) Ocala, Fla. - Never has an international-level equestrian competition in the Sunshine State offered so much for so many. The Live Oak International CAI/CSI-W 2*, March 19-23, at Live Oak Plantation, will provide spectators the chance to watch some of the sport’s most celebrated equestrian athletes. Top athletes entered to compete include 2012 British Olympic Team Gold Medalist Ben Maher, 2012 Olympic Bronze...

Lexington, Ky. - Ten riders from across the country started the 2014 season off right as the first participants in the training sessions with U.S. Team Coach David O'Connor for the Eventing 18/Advancing Athletes program. Created in 2013 by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and United States Eventing Association (USEA), the goal of the program is to build a foundation of future horsemen and women that will hopefully go on to represent the United States. Selection into the...

Shelburne, Vermont - The 2013 Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show® is shaping up to be another monumental event in the show's 40-year history. More than 1,000 of the world's finest Morgan horses from across the United States, Canada, and overseas will meet in Oklahoma City, October 12-19 to compete for $250,000-plus in prize money. Since 1973, this show has represented the pinnacle of achievement in the Morgan horse world. Matt Kwapich of Bernalillo, New...

Lexington, KY - The 2013 US National Pony Jumper Championship, held as part of the US Pony Finals, came to an exciting conclusion on Friday night with Individual titles up for grabs. Twenty-one competitors came back to jump a fourth round over Marc Donovan’s testing course. A single rail Individual Medalists (Shawn McMillen Photography) separated the top 11 riders heading into Friday’s final round and a fourth round would not be enough as competitors would need to jump off for all...

Overall Grand Champion Samantha Sommers and Small Affair at the 2013 US Junior Hunter National Championships - West (Captured Moment Photography) Lexington, KY – The top junior hunter riders on the west coast met at Showpark Facility in Del Mar, CA, July 22-23 for the 2013 US Junior Hunter National Championships – West. The riders were separated into 15 & Under and 16-17 divisions, as well as Small Junior Hunter and Large Junior Hunter, and competed in three phases: Classic...

Note to self: The Boy Scout motto “Be Prepared” applies to many things. When teaching a WD clinic be prepared for anything! This week’s blog comes from Vancouver Washington on the Columbia River where the “Discover Western Dressage” clinic is being held as a fundraiser for Silver Buckle Ranch. The Buckle is a non-profit youth ranch that houses Clark County’s disabled riding program. It is a pleasure to be here and to know that the clinic proceeds will be used...

Suzy Satfford (Picsofyou.com) Raeford, NC - The first day of competition at the Southern Pines CDE came to a close with pony drivers taking their first steps towards earning National Titles as they performed their dressage tests. National Championship competitors were fortunate to enjoy sunny skies, as CDE competitors following the lunch break were met with a deluge of rain. In the USEF National Combined Driving Single Pony Championship Suzy Stafford leads the field after scoring 45.23 in the...

Lexington, KY - The first of the USEF Town Hall Meetings series was hosted by Equestrian Sport Productions at their FTI Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds on March 27, 2013. Federation representatives joined prominent industry owners, trainers, and veterinarians to discuss topical issues contributing to unprecedented public scrutiny relating to medication and treatment of performance horses. Media articles have brought focus to both therapeutic techniques and medication practices in...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and United States Eventing Association (USEA) are pleased to announce the introduction of the Eventing 18/Advancing Athletes program, a new joint initiative beginning in 2013. The goal of this program is to build a foundation of future horsemen and women that will hopefully go on to represent the United States. This is an important step in the Athlete Pipeline. Selection into the program will be based on talent, competitiveness,...

There wasn’t a whole lot of NCEA team competition last week (many teams took the week off while they were represented at the WEF Collegiate Equitation Challenge ), but some top teams are back in action this weekend. Check below for my take on each of the NCEA Matchups that'll be happening in the coming days. No.2 Auburn University vs. No.4 South Carolina University South Carolina heads to Auburn to try and rein in a reeling season. Working with three straight losses, and coming off...