The eighth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Western Dressage is a big up and coming equestrian discipline right now. I believe this is the right time for the sport to emerge as a reality and the interest level proves that the idea has been around for a long time. When I started talking to everyone about it, I was surprised! In our area, a Western Dressage Facebook page was started and we had 130 members within about 2 days! That was so important because it showed how much...

Greenwich, UK - Hard luck continued for the U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team as they rallied for a sixth place finish in the Team Championship at Greenwich Park. American anchor rider Rich Fellers said "Clear rounds win medals" and today that proved true as Great Britain won Team Gold for the first time since 1952. They did it in classic style in front of a home crowd of 20,000 fans, jumping off with Holland for the Gold medal. It was a masterful effort by the home team. Saudi Arabia won Bronze....

Mary McCormick, winner of the Gold Individual Female Championships (Lynne Owens/VaultingPhotos.com) Lexington, KY - Top vaulters from throughout the U.S. flocked to the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park to stake their claim on 2012 USEF/AVA National Vaulting Championship honors, August 2-5, 2012. A total of 10 national titles were on the line, as Gold, Silver and Bronze sections were held in Individual Female and Male Championships. Additionally, National Championship competition was...

Leigh Cofer and Breaking News made headlines with their NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic victory at the Kentucky Summer Classic. (Ashley N. Williams/PMG) Lexington, KY - August 5, 2012 -It was the championship day for the Adult Amateur Divisions at the Kentucky Summer Classic. Riders and their top mounts approached the Stonelea Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park for the final day of the show, examining the courses as they prepared. The Adult Amateurs did not disappoint as they vied for the top...

Diederique Van Der Knaap and Clive won the $10,000 SJHOF High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic on Sunday, August 5, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Week five of the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival concluded on Sunday, August 5, with two exciting Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics featured in the grand prix ring at Harold Beebe Farm. Diederique Van Der Knaap, of New York, NY, rode Clive to victory in the $10,000 SJHOF...

Greenwich, UK - Rich Fellers (Sherwood, OR) and Flexible continued adding to their clear round tally today at the Olympic Games by securing the U.S. team’s position in the second round of the Nations Cup with an immaculate effort. Team USA’s score of eight faults means that they are tied with Brazil for equal seventh place. The top eight teams from today’s jumping go forward to tomorrow, led by the team from Saudi Arabia who are carrying one time fault forward to tomorrow....

Shawn Casady Bolero won the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby at the Kentucky Summer Classic. (Ashley N. Williams/PMG) Lexington, KY - The Stonelea Arena was bustling today as it saw six divisions stretching the length of the day. Lined with sponsor bulletins, the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby turned out a crowd as well as promised top riders and steep competition. Out of 29 riders, Shawn Casady once again emerged as victor, this time upon Bolero, scoring 178....

Blythe Marano and Urban won the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix at the Kentucky Summer Classic. (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Lexington, KY - The applause and excitement could be heard resounding throughout the Kentucky Horse Park [yesterday night] as the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix got underway in the Rolex Stadium. It was the fifth day of the Kentucky Summer Classic, and the nation's top riders gathered to show under the bright lights of the stadium for a share in the prize money,...

Fairfield, CT - Just in time for the start of a new semester, the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) has announced the launch of its revamped website at: www.ihsainc.com . “We are updating the design and navigation to make things simpler and fresher. This new site will also be much more mobile-friendly,” says 2012 IHSA Oregon State national champion team assistant western coach, Carrie Hertel. The all-volunteer IHSA Website Committee consists of Hertel, Lori Cramer, Jen...

Paul O’Shea and Instant Karma won the $30,000 Manchester & the Mountains Grand Prix on Saturday, August 4, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Ireland’s Paul O’Shea and Instant Karma were the winners in the $30,000 Manchester & the Mountains Grand Prix, sponsored by Purina Horse Feed, on Saturday, August 4, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival. In a three-horse jump-off, O’Shea and Instant Karma...