The twenty first in a series of blog post from Michelle Binder It was an exciting weekend for western dressage in the Pacific Northwest November 2-4. On Friday the Washington State Horsemen (WSH) voted to add Western Dressage as a new discipline on the roster of events offered by the organization statewide. WD has been added as a sub-category of dressage and will utilize NAWD Official Rules and Tests for the 2013 show season so WD classes may now be added to any WSH approved Dressage show...

Bridgehampton, NY - Even though the Grand Prix Ring at the 37th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show is hosting five Olympic gold medalists and many other international stars this week, Friday morning’s jumper classes belonged to two teenagers whose eyes are set on similar accomplishments. Luis Larrazabal, 19, won the $15,000 Speed Derby, presented by Sotheby’s, and Victoria Colvin, 14, won the $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Welcome Stake. Riding G&C Lepanto, Larrazabal, a native of...

Bridgehampton, NY - The Hampton Classic hosted the championship finals for the Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities on Monday, with riders in three divisions competing for year-end titles. In the advanced independent division, Todd Pritscher, 30, of Yaphank, N.Y., riding Robin Hood, won the championship over Joe Penzel, 19, of Huntington, N.Y., riding Diamond. In the beginner independent division, Tiffany Kahles, 18, of East Meadow, N.Y., riding Gryffindor, won the...

Lexington, KY - The best vaulters from across the U.S. are ready to begin competition at the FEI World Vaulting Championship at the Pole Europeen du Cheval in Le Mans, France from August 16-19, 2012. Vaulters will be vying for World Championship titles in the Individual Female, Individual Male, Pas de Duex, and Team competitions. The recently crowned Gold Individual Female National Vaulting Champion Mary McCormick (Woodside, CA) hopes to continue her success in France. Having also won the...

Lexington, KY - In its largest round of grant funding to date, USA Equestrian Trust has awarded nearly $240,000 to 11 equine non-profits that applied by the first of the foundation's two 2012 application deadlines. The $239,780 in grants is an increase of 21 percent compared to 2011. That mirrored the continued dramatic jump in interest in the Trust's grants program, which saw applications rise 38 percent. The Trust's leadership approved an expansion of the program earlier this...

Bridgehampton, NY — Philip Richter of Bedford, NY, won the $25,000 Carolex Show Jumping Derby riding Ray Ray, owned by Coker Farm, Inc., at the 36th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show in Bridgehampton, NY, on Sunday. “It’s the best win I’ve ever had in my life,” said Richter. “It’s so exciting!” The top 30 horses from Friday’s $10,000 Sotheby’s International Realty Welcome Stake qualified for the Derby and Richter rode two out of the...

Bridgehampton, NY — Samantha Schaefer, 18, of Westminster, MD, won the Sam Edelman Equitation Championship for the second consecutive year with a practically perfect final round riding Pioneer, owned by Heritage Farm, at the 36th annual Hampton Classic Horse Show in Bridgehampton, NY, on Thursday. Schaefer received a score of 98 out of 100 points in the final round and would have received a perfect score if it had not been for one minor mistake at the final fence according to Chrystine...

HH Narcos Du Marais owned by Double H Farm and ridden by Christina Kelly winner of the $32,500 Fairfield Grand Prix and the Callari Cup presented by Wells Fargo Advisors. From left to right: John E. Franzreb III, Catherine Herman, Laura Totten, Michel Nischan, George N. Venizelos, Alison Ashman, Jennifer Ross, and Lynn Coakley (Reflections Photography). Westport, CT - Christina Kelly aboard HH Narcos Du Marais owned by Double H Farm emerged victorious over a field of 24 competitors at the...

Lexington, KY - The 2011 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series will culminate with a $50,000 Championship Final. The Final - the $50,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Championship presented by Sleepy P Ranch, Deeridge Farm and Chansonette Farm - will be held on Saturday, November 5, as part of the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th edition, CSI-W Lexington 4*, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, November 2-6. The Alltech National Horse Show will invite 20...

Eventing Tamra Smith stormed to victory with Mar de Amor by nearly 14 points in the CIC3* at the Twin Rivers Ranch in California. The pair won the dressage and never looked back, adding just a few time faults on both the cross country and the show jumping. Their final score was 53.6. Barbara Crabo and Eveready II were second on a score of 67.3 after picking up 13.6 time faults on the cross country, and Pam Fisher and Sea Lion rounded out the top three on the strength of a clear show jumping...