54th Annual Washington International Horse Show Hosts Opening Day with Professional and Amateur-Owner Hunters Washington, D.C. – The 54th Annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) hosted its opening day on Tuesday, October 23, with a full day of hunter competition at Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C. The professional and amateur-owner riders showed throughout the day in the first classes of their divisions and conclude their competition for championship honors on...

Jonathan Wentz and NTEC Richter Scale finished fifth in Monday's Grade1b Freestyle (Shannon Brinkman) Greenwich, UK - The United States spent much of Monday on the edge of their seats as riders produced top class performances throughout the day at the 2012 Paralympic Games. American riders came within slim margins of vaulting themselves onto the medal podium as they earned their best scores of the week. Both Rebecca Hart and Jonathan Wentz rode their best tests of the Games to jump to the top...

Grade 1b rider Jonathan Wentz talks about his Team Test Thursday afternoon; Jonathan Wentz (Richardson, TX) and Kai Handt's NTEC Richter Scale scored 70.364. Here are Jonathan's thoughts; On his test : “It was super; the accuracy was astounding. Richter was moving really forward; he loves this cold weather and rain. It’s good conditions for him. The walk tour was great and we will look to improve on that.” On his favorite part of the test: “The halts. Richter has...

Lexington, Ky - The second edition of the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, KY, is set for October 30 through November 4, 2012. The show will once again be held at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. In addition to world-class show jumping and the country's best and most competitive hunter divisions, the show will also feature one of the nation's longest running and most coveted national championships, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty...

Hi Lite and Madeline Schaefer Live the High Life, Taking Grand Pony Hunter Championship Lili Hymowitz and Rafael Pose for the Grand Pony Hunter Reserve Championship Photo Lexington, KY – It was the crowning of the champions today at the Kentucky Horse Park as the 2012 US Pony Finals and US National Pony Hunter Champions completed their fifth day of competition. It was the Large Pony Hunter Over Fences that dawned on the Walnut Arena early this morning, and Madeline Schaefer and Hi Lite...

Kelley Farmer and On Q Zionsville, IN - August 7, 2012- Kelley Farmer showed a strong start aboard On Q opening day of the Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show Tuesday, Aug. 7. She placed in the blue ribbons riding the 6-year-old stallion owned by CH Farm in Delano, MN, in the First Year Green Working Hunter, First Year Green Handy Hunter and won a red in the Green Working Hunter Under Saddle Class. "The stallion was great. We think he is going to be very special," she bubbled. "We're very...

Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper over the last fence. (Shannon Brinkman) Greenwich, UK - The U.S. Olympic Eventing Team climbed into fifth place with three strong cross country rounds around Sue Benson's testing cross country course against the stunning backdrop of Greenwich Park. Germany continues to lead the team effort on a score of 124.7 followed closely by Great Britain (130.2) and Sweden (131.4). New Zealand is on a score of 133.4 in fourth and the USA's score of 155.2 has them...

The seventh in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Before we learn to read we must learn the ABC’s. William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle (1593-1676) suggested an analogy between the education of a child and horse trainers who made unrealistic demands on young horses. Centuries ago he asked, ‘I would fain ask such stupid people, whether, by beating a boy, they could teach him to read, without first showing him his alphabet?’1 Systematic progressive training is not...

Jimmy Toon and Tigger won the $5,000 NEHJA Hunter Derby on Thursday, July 26, during week four of the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Jimmy Toon of South Salem, NY, rode Jane Clark’s Tigger to victory in the $5,000 3’3” NEHJA Hunter Derby on Thursday, July 26, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. The six-week Vermont Summer Festival continues in East Dorset, VT, through August 12, 2012. The...

The third in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder I promised you last week I would share more about the informal surveys that have helped give Western Dressage a voice through NAWD, and given me good stuff to share with you. While we believe there is much common ground to be found between western and dressage, there are differences between Western Dressage and BOTH parent disciplines. As Western Dressage continues to develop into a unique discipline in this country it is imperative...