This weeks blog comes to you from beautiful British Columbia Canada. I try to bring you news and fun stuff no matter where I am in the world. I have a perfect opportunity to share a Western Dressage story from a reader that has a Canadian link and I think you will enjoy it. Remember, if you would like to share your story, send it to me via email at [email protected]. When the perfect moment comes, I will share your story too! Dear Ms. Binder, In the USEF Weekly Newsletter for...

Laura Kraut and Cherry Knoll Farm's Cedric set a blazing time of 42.53 seconds, riding to the victory in the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Switzerland. (SportFot/GCT) Lausanne, Switzerland - The GCT championship race intensified dramatically tonight with only five points between Edwina Tops-Alexander and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson after one of the most electrifying Grand Prix of the season. American rider Laura Kraut won the first-ever Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Switzerland on the...

Darragh Kenny and Lipton De L’Othain won the $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m class on Wednesday, August 1, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Week five of the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival kicked off on Wednesday, August 1, with the Manchester & the Mountains Horse Show at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT. Ireland’s Darragh Kenny and Lipton De L’Othain, owned by The Wannahave Group, were the winners in the highlight...

Sabine Schut-Kery rode "Sanceo" to another victory in the Markel/USEF Western Dressage Selection Trial at the Dressage at Flintridge CDI*/Y/J (Jennifer M. Keeler) Burbank, CA - The final rounds of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Western Selection Trial held at Dressage at Flintridge CDI*/Y/J in La Cañada-Flintridge, CA treated spectators and officials alike to beautiful tests showcasing spectacular talent. In the six-year-old division, defending Selection Trial champion "Sanceo"...

Lexington, KY - This weekend horses and riders will take their first steps toward earning a chance to represent the U.S. at the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Dressage, to be held in Verden, Germany, in La Cañada Flintridge, California. Six horses will contest the 2012 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Western Selection Trials in the five-year-old division while one entry will show in the six-year-old division. These selection trials are being held in conjunction...

Aurora, CO - Darker N Bey (NV Beau Bey x Spot N The Dark) and Leprachaun SCR (Pachole x Bekkah Ambrielle) were both recently recognized with Ambassador Awards for outstanding achievement in representing the Arabian horse community to the general public. The two geldings achieved unique accomplishments that showcased the breed outside the show ring. Darker N Bey “Darker” connects with children and senior citizens at camps, horse shows, and charity events, but perhaps relates best to...

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Cantano (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum rode to an exciting one-two finish on Thursday afternoon in the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Michaels-Beerbaum topped the class aboard Cantano and finished second riding Checkmate 4, both owned by Octavia Farms LLC. Other wins for the day went to Johannes Ehning and Cayenne 162 in the $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic and...

Paul O'Shea and Primo Level (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival had a very exciting day of competition on Saturday with a full schedule of hunters and jumpers. In the International Arena, the night session hosted two classes that highlighted power and speed. In the $35,000 Hermès Puissance, Paul O'Shea (IRL) rode Primo Level, owned by Michael Hayden, to win in four rounds of the high jump competition. Lauren Tisbo and Welinde were the fastest...

Olympic Champions Eric Lamaze and Hickstead. Photo: Cealy Tetley, www.tetleyphoto.com. Verona, Italy – Hickstead, the horse that Canada’s Eric Lamaze rode to the Individual Gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, has died at the age of 15. Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, and Hickstead were competing in the World Cup Grand Prix in Verona, Italy, on Sunday, November 6. Upon completion of their round, the pair were walking out of the arena when Hickstead collapsed and died. An autopsy...

Canada's YR Reining Gold team, l-r: Lisa Hiebert, Kylie Wasiuta, Jessica Green, Nancy Pratch (Photo: Diana De Rosa). Lexington, KY - High-quality runs and terrific scores from a field of top-quality reining horses and the continent's most elite junior and young rider athletes made for a spectacular night at the 2011 SmartPak Reining Team Championships at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North. Canada reclaimed the top of the...