The twelveth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Every day I field calls from people wanting to know more about Western Dressage. What is it? How do I find out more about it? Can anyone do it? Is it hard? Who teaches Western Dressage? Are there shows? Last weekend a few of our riders were invited to do a Western Dressage demonstration at the local dressage show. What struck me was the feeling of being out of place amongst my dressage friends because we were wearing our western...

Lexington, KY – Eduardo Sanchez Navarro of Mexico has been named the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Rider of the Month for August. Navarro competes in the West Conference Amateur-Owner Division of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series aboard Virgo. The month of August was a successful for Navarro and his riding partner, as they earned second place finishes at the Showpark August Festival and the Showpark Summer Classic, as well as a fourth place finish at the Blenheim Summer...

Tulsa, OK – Clearing the first major hurdle at the Adequan/USEF National Open Reining Championship, and after a year of qualifying for the chance to compete for the championship title, all riders cleared the jog today at the Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic in Tulsa, OK. Concurrent with the Open division held on Friday, August 31st, the Adequan/USEF National Reining Championship will feature the nation’s most elite horse and rider combinations all vying for the gold medal and the top of...

Bridgehampton, NY - Irish rider Ronan McGuigan scored a narrow victory on Capall Zidane in Wednesday morning’s $7,500 Wolffer Estate 1.4m Open Jumper class, but McLain Ward, a two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist, galloped to victory on Lucky Lord 20 in the afternoon’s $7,500 Equinimity 1.45m Open Jumper class, presented by Ariat. McGuigan, 38, now lives in Far Hills, N.J., and with a time of 55.46 seconds, he topped an Irish sweep, as Shane Sweetnam took second on Elastique (56.50)...

Today was all about familarization. For me I had my second day in London and a second day navigating around. It was much more successful; I got to and from the venue with no wrong turns. That’s not to say that there weren’t delays and extended pauses where I questioned my next move but I never actually went the wrong way. Sometimes it’s all about the small victories! Once at the venue, I was greeted by extremely nice and helpful volunteers and military officials. Not enough...

Bridgehampton, NY - Molly Ashe-Cawley, of Wellington, Fla., rode Kennzo to first place in both rounds of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by MeadowView Farms, to earn the blue ribbon on the first day of the Hampton Classic. Their total score of 373.5 edged out teenage sensations Victoria Colvin on Inclusive (368.75) and Lillie Keenan on Monterrey (368.0). Colvin also finished 11th on Listen (271.0) and 12th on VIP Z (268.0) in the 35-horse field. This was first time that...

Yesterday’s Longines FEI World Endurance Championship held at Euston Park near Thetford, Suffolk, UK (25th August 2012) was described as a “showcase” for the sport. The race was won by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum riding Madji Du Pont, in a ride time of 7hr00min45sec at an average speed of 22.82km/hr. The first three riders home were all from the United Arab Emirates which also won the team competition taking gold ahead of France with Oman emerging as a new force...

Laura Chapot and Umberto on course in the $75,000 Chartis Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY – HITS-on-the-Hudson has been dubbed The Chapot Show as Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey won her third Grand Prix in a row when she produced the only double-clear ride in Sunday’s $75,000 Chartis Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Last Sunday during HITS-on-the-Hudson IV, Chapot won the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by...

Leslie Howard et Lennox Lewis 2 Credit Normand St-Jacques Bromont - American rider Leslie Howard, who won the first FEI Open Jumper 1m50 this week, presented by the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, enjoys victory again in the Desjardins Speed Derby, winning with a comfortable six-second margin. A high-energy course The Speed Derby's course, built in two rings, added a challenge for the horses by using the walkway to cross over. Twenty-two horse/rider teams...

Syona Shah and Corhil Andante were crowned the winners of the Adirondack-Green Mountain Challenge at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT - Syona Shah of Lexington, MA, was crowned the winner of the Adirondack-Green Mountain Challenge at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. The six-week equestrian competition is taking place at Harold Beebe Farm from July 4 through August 12, 2012. The Adirondack-Green Mountain Challenge counts...