A five-part series to learn more about the exciting new discipline of Western Dressage Part 1: What is Western Dressage? When most equestrians think of "dressage", they envision the graceful harmony of beautiful horses with riders clad in top hats and tails, dancing together through musical freestyles in an Olympic stadium. But now, an increasing number of competitors entering dressage arenas will be wearing Western hats and boots with their horses outfitted in stock saddles. What's going...

Lexington, Ky. - USA Equestrian Trust has awarded $55,000 in grants to help fund four projects by equine non-profits. The awards come on top of nearly $210,000 awarded in May for 10 projects by equine non-profits. Since the inception of the Trust’s grants program, the organization has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants. The projects funded as part of the grants period ending in October were: American Saddlebred Horse Association ($10,000) to help redesign its database of registered...

Lexington, Ky. - In 2013, Land Rover, the official automotive partner of the USEF, continued its unfailing support of the U.S. eventing program, awarding $208,000 in Competition Grants and a further $56,500 toward Training Grants. Eighteen horse-and-rider combinations from the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team received funding to compete at seven prestigious competitions in both Europe and the United States. "I feel very fortunate to have received travel grants from Land Rover for two of my horses,...

2002 Paralympian Gold Medal Sled Hockey Team and Marine Patt Sapp; James Wentz; Christin Wentz; Tina Wentz; Vice President of the United States Olympian and Paralympian Association and 1984 Olympian Joan Hansen; and USPEA's President and Paralympian Hope Hand (Lindsay Yosay McCall) Richardson, Texas - In November 2013, the United States Olympian and Paralympian Association, Southwest Chapter, donated $1,000 to the United States Para-Equestrian Association's Jonathan Wentz Memoria...

The International Arena hosts top competition for the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla - Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) is pleased to announce the highlights of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The 12-week circuit held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, will run January 8 through March 30, 2014, awarding over $8 million in prize money....

On the podium after the Champion's Challenge (CHI-W Geneve) Geneva, Switzerland – Kent Farrington won the biggest class of the day at CHI-Geneva for a second straight night on Saturday. In the when he and Robin Parsky’s Blue Angel rode two crisp, clear rounds and finished ahead of the competition in the jump-off. A time of 41.02s was the winner for Farrington, the put him ahead of 2nd place finishers Patrice Delaveau and Lacrimoso HDC, 41.38s, and fellow American’s Reed...

Jeremy Reynolds and RR Gold Dust Rising (Becky Pearman Photography) Bronson, Fla. – After dark in northern Florida Friday night Jeremy Reynolds and RR Gold Dust Rising were first across the finish line of the 160km USEF North American Endurance Team Challenge Race. They finished their ride through the Goethe State Forest in 8hrs 20minutes 22seconds, or 19.39kpm. The individual race was an FEI CEI3* competition. Nicki Meuten and Not Tonight were 2nd. Young Rider Kelsey Russell was 3nd on...

Kent Farrington and Willow (CHI-Geneve) Geneva, Switzerland – Kent Farrington and Amalya Investment’s 10-year-old KWPN Gelding Willow were the big winners at CHI-Geneva on Friday night. With two clear rounds, the second a speedy jump-off in 33.89s, Kent and Willow beat out world No.2 Scott Brash of Great Britain on Cella and Ireland’s Dermott Lennon on Loughview Lou-Lou in the Credit Suisse Grand Prix, a qualifier for Saturday's Champions' Challenge presented by Rolex...

Lexington, Ky. - Voting is now open for the coveted 2013 USEF Equestrian of the Year award. Following decades of tradition, the winner will again be announced when the horse world meets at the United States Equestrian Federation's annual Pegasus Awards gala. This year's gala will be held on Friday, January 10, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Lexington in Lexington, Ky., and broadcast live on the USEFNetwork presented by Smartpak. Known as the USEF Equestrians of Honor, eight stars of...

Lexington, Ky. - To reach the highest level of excellence in equestrian sport requires talent, perseverance, a tremendous spirit and often, unwavering courage. In 2013, six horses have shown the world these qualities and more. On January 11, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will bestow two of them with the prestigious title of Horse of the Year, the highest honor the USEF awards a horse. Again this year, both a national and international horse will be crowned. The six champions...