Jennifer Alfano and Candid (Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Lexington, KY - The eyes of the hunter world are glued on the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show this week as the country's top horses and riders converge for the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship Finals and the inaugural USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program Championship. Today riders utilized the first day of the World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) week show, running now through Sunday, August 18, to prepare for the...

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...

Ammeretto and David Beisel (Tricia Booker Photography) Traverse City, MI - David Beisel and Ammeretto saved their best for last. After winning the first class they contested during the 2013 Horse Shows by the Bay Series on July 4, they finally picked up their second blue ribbon today during the $30,000 D-Braider Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix. "It was worth the wait, for sure," said Beisel, who also notched his first grand prix win aboard the 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Numero...

Mark Bluman of Colombia rode G&C Lagran to victory in the $10,000 Open Welcome, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, July 4, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT - Mark Bluman of Colombia won the $10,000 Open Welcome, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, held Thursday, July 4, at the Vermont Summer Festival. The six-week equestrian competition is running July 2 through August 11 at Harold Beebe Farm in East...

Buenos Dias, Julie Wolfert, and Buenos Aires Parker, CO - Julie Wolfert, the leader after the first two phases in the CCI* and Open Intermediate divisions at the Colorado Horse Park CCI*, Training 3-Day and Horse Trials, stayed consistent in Sunday's show jumping and claimed victory in both divisions. Solid rounds with Buenos Dias in the CCI* and Buenos Aires in Open Intermediate secured her the double wins. Wolfert had a single knockdown with each horse, but excellent dressage scores on...

Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin 'N Juice were first in the CIC3* (Sherry Stewart photographer) Temecula, CA - Hawley Bennett-Awad is no stranger to victory at Galway Downs, and this spring she and Linda Paine’s superstar mare Gin ‘N Juice have gone perfectly, winning their first two outings of the year. They made it three-for-three by flying to victory (50.1 penalties) in the CIC3* at the Galway Downs International Horse Trials. Tivoli and James Alliston (55.3) moved in to second behind...

R-Star and Kristi Nunnink lead the CIC3* (Sherry Stewart) Temecula, CA - Kristi Nunnink and R-Star captured the overnight lead in the CIC3* at the Galway Downs International Horse Trials with a strong dressage performance and a double-clear show jumping round to score 47.3 penalties. Double-clean show jumping rounds were rare in all three international divisions Friday. “I actually kind of thought [the show jumping] was a little small when I walked it,” said Nunnink, from Auburn,...

Lars Petersen and Mariett claimed first place in the Grand Prix (Susan J. Stickle) Loxahatchee, FL - Lars Petersen and Mariett are making a habit of winning top honors at the International Horse Sport (IHS) show grounds. This time, the pair clinched today's Grand Prix at the International Horse Sport Champions Cup CDI-W with a 73.745%. Just two weeks ago, they were double winners in the same venue at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W, collecting first place in both the Grand Prix and...

Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL - The WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3* presented by Today's Equestrian & Fellows wrapped up competition Sunday at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. The highlight class was the FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle, with Caroline Roffman (USA) and Her Highness O taking the top prize. The Florida Youth Championships presented by Dressage4kids and sponsored by PanaCavallo wrapped up with awards in four divisions, and the...

The top three teams with Artisan Farms' Carlene Ziegler and ringmaster Cliff Haines (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Thursday's competition concluded in the International Arena at PBIEC with the $20,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Team Event, held in a Nations Cup format shown over two rounds of competition. With five teams of four competing, Team 5 was the winner. The team, made up of Wilton Porter riding Sleepy P Ranch LLC's Paloubet, Catherine Pasmore riding Freddy Star, Eugenio...