Pau, France - The 2013 FEI Pony World Driving Championships kicked off Thursday with the first of two days of driven dressage. Pair Pony and Pony Team drivers took their first steps toward world titles as they performed their tests in front of the Ground Jury composed of Klaus Christ, Anne-Marie Turbe, Jennifer Matheson (Mary Phelps-phelpsphotos.com) Diana Brownlie, and Dot Wilcoxson. U.S. competitors got off to a strong start with all four drivers cruising into the top 12 in their respective...

Emma Kurtz and True Love (Shawn McMillen Photography) Washington, D.C. - Young riders competed in the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals at the Washington International Horse Show Sunday afternoon with a win going to 13-year-old Emma Kurtz of Hudson, OH, riding True Love. Trained by Amanda Lyerly and Mike Rheinheimer, Kurtz scored an 86 over fences and moved from second to first with her ride in the work-off under saddle to take the lead. She was presented The Jane Marshall Dillon Memorial Perpetual...

TDF Board Member Joseph Carr and Fund Creator Janine Malone presenting the Patsy Albers Award to Kathleen Raine and Breanna (Susan J. Stickle) Lexington, Ky .– The Dressage Foundation is proud to announce that Kathleen Raine (CA) is the first recipient of the Patsy Albers Award, established in 2012 in special remembrance of Patsy. The $500 award provides financial support for continuing education and training to a High Performance rider. Kathleen Raine of Murrieta, CA, is a Grand Prix...

Mandy Porter and Chaya Cristalle, Winner of the 6 Year Old Jumpers (Captured Moment Photography) Del Mar, Calif. - Del Mar International World Cup Week gets underway Wednesday, and despite the stubborn fog, competition was a perfect way to kick things off. The Del Mar Arena saw plenty of jumper action, with the 1.10m and the 1.20m classes both boasting exceptionally large turnouts. Over in the San Diego Arena, hunters reigned, while the Durante Arena hosted a mix of hunter and jumper classes....

Chester Weber in the Bowl hazard at the Kentucky Classic CDE (Pics of You) After a narrow victory in the marathon, Chester Weber is poised to earn a record setting tenth National Championship. Weber (Ocala, Florida) was first four-in-hand driver on the marathon course with the team of his own and Jane Clark's Boris, Splash, Boy W, and Ultra. To the delight of a flock fans following him from hazard to hazard, he proved to be the day's best. Weber's 98.40 gave him a slight edge over...

Leslie Berndl (Pics of You) Lexington, KY – A good crowd turned out at the Kentucky Horse Park Saturday to watch the marathon phase of the Kentucky Classic CDE. When the driving was done and the spectators had left Leslie Berndl had taken a big step into the lead in the single horse division. Berndl (Newcastle, California) started off hot Saturday morning with Dutch Warmblood gelding Umico and her consistent driving over the entire course helped her take the lead in the division. Berndl...

Kate Shields (Pics of You) Lexington, Kentucky - Advanced dressage tests at the Kentucky Classic CDE, which is hosting the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Singles and Four-in-Hand Driving National Championships, were held Thursday afternoon at the Kentucky Horse Park. When they were over Kate Shields was atop the single horse leaderboard, and Chester Weber set himself up for a tenth four-in-hand national championship. USEF National Single Horse Championship Kate Shields (Middleburg,...

Katherine Schmidt won point in equitation over fences and on the flat for South Carolina. On the flat she was named most outstanding player. (Juan Blas) The South Carolina equestrian team wasn’t just dominant at Fresno State on Friday, it was record setting. The Gamecock western team won 9-1, and their hunter seat team won 8-2. The resulting 17-3 win means that South Carolina has now scored 32 points over two matches, and improved to 2-0 after winning at Kansas State to open the NCEA...

Lexington, Kentucky - The United States heads into the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final as the winner of the North American League and will look to again showcase its winning form. Teams from 18 nations have traveled to Barcelona, Spain, to contest the inaugural Final, which is held in conjunction with CSIO5* Barcelona, September 26-29, 2013. Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland brings a group of steely veterans and rising stars to Spain. Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Reed Kessler, Lucy...

(Paws and Rewind, LLC) Skillman, NJ - Twenty fiver horses and riders took on Alan Wade's course Sunday in the $30,000 Grand Prix of Princeton. Five clear rounds were produced. Faults came in a few places, but the majority faulted at the challenging triple combination. Laura Chapot looked unbeatable aboard the super fast Umberto. Chelsea Moss and Lorena 90 would prove it could be done and took over the lead with an amazing round that got the crowd cheering. Laura and Umberto finished in...