Welcome to a different kind of blog from WDAA! The purpose of this post is to allow the reader "into the heads" of both a trainer/judge/competitor, Karen Abbattista and her student, Deborah Herbert, a Florida WDAA member. We would like to share with you some moments in Deb's journey as she pursues her riding goals with her AQHA mare "GenuineArcticSpring", barn name "Belle". Please enjoy as you follow along with these posts that we consider interesting or challenging moments on their journey...

Sarah Tyndall and Jack Black (Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Halifax, MA - The Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic ended today with the much-anticipated $10,000 Fieldstone 3'3" Hunter Derby and both the Child and Adult Hunter Classics. The derby has always been both a competitor and crowd favorite at the Fieldstone Show Park in Halifax, MA, and today's class was no exception. Riding to two impressive scores and the blue ribbon in the derby were Emily Bickford and KEC Kool Kat....

Ashlee Bond and Cadett 7 (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, Alberta - Ashlee Bond and her veteran partner Cadett 7, a 16-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Cor de la Bryere x Capitol I owned by Little Valley Farm, flew through the 16 numbered obstacles on today's course for the $60,000 TransCanada Parcours de Chasse 1.45m to take the top prize in 100.059 seconds. John Perez (COL) and Utopia set the early winning pace and finished second in 103.505 seconds. Third place went to Francois...

McLain Ward (The Book, LLC) Devon, PA - The 2013 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair has featured a little of everything. A little rain, plenty of sunshine, record-breaking 90 degree temperatures, light snow, and even jumper rider Mclain Ward winning a Saddlebred class. But nothing could have been more business as usual as the hours ticked down to the Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon. The boxes began filling with spectators armed with picnic baskets and wine and cheese plates from the Garden...

North Salem, New York - Stadium Jumping, Inc. and Old Salem Farm announced today that the 43rd annual American Gold Cup Grand Prix, a CSI4*-World Cup Qualifying competition, will air on NBC Sports Network in a one hour presentation on Sunday, Sept. 22, at 4:30 pm ET. The televised event will provide national high-profile exposure for the event, the sport of show jumping and highlight Westchester County and Old Salem Farm as premier equestrian sports destinations. "Last year it was an all-star...

Meagan Nusz and Dynamo (Phelps Media Group) Lexington, KY - It took precise riding and a talented mount to be at the top of the standings during today's $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. Richard Jeffery's challenging track yielded only two clear rounds, but set the stage for a speedy jump-off between Meagan Nusz and Reed Kessler. Nusz had all the answers aboard Dynamo to capture the top honors. The duo clocked in just fractions ahead of Kessler, who was...

Reed Kessler and Mika (Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Lexington, KY - The top horses and riders from across the country have returned to the Kentucky Horse Park this week for the start of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. The first day of competition kicked off with the Open Jumper divisions in the Rolex Stadium. Olympian Reed Kessler led the way in the 1.45m Open Jumper class aboard Mika with a double clear effort, while the victory in the 1.40m Open Jumper speed...

Chester Weber, the nine-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, will donate two days of training during the silent auction at the upcoming Salute To Driving USET fund raiser. He is shown here competing in 2011 at the CAI Altenfelden (Marie de Ronde-Oudemans ) Ocala, FL – Decorated combined driver Chester Weber will donate a package for Two Days of Training at the United States Equestrian Team’s “Salute to Driving” Fundraiser. The benefit is designed to...

Michael Hughes continues to prove that age doesn’t matter in the show ring. The junior rider piloted Luxina to a win in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, this weekend at HITS Ocala and topped some of the country’s biggest names in show jumping (ESI Photography) Ocala, FL – Michael Hughes, 17, topped a star-studded field on Sunday in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Ocala IV. Hughes of Allendale, NJ had two rides in Sunday’s main event and...

Alise Oken and Teirra. (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Week four of the2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by Fidelity Investments®, concluded on Sunday afternoon with a win for 21-year-old Alise Oken and Hi Hopes Farm, LLC's Teirra in the $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela set the courses for week four jumper competition in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC)....