The seventh in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Before we learn to read we must learn the ABC’s. William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle (1593-1676) suggested an analogy between the education of a child and horse trainers who made unrealistic demands on young horses. Centuries ago he asked, ‘I would fain ask such stupid people, whether, by beating a boy, they could teach him to read, without first showing him his alphabet?’1 Systematic progressive training is not...

Maggie Ridenour Traverse City, MI - The final Saturday afternoon of the Horse Shows by the Bay Hunter/Jumper Series kicked off with the featured HJAM Junior and Adult Medal Finals. After one course walk prior to the three hotly contested Finals, Horse Shows by the Bay held a moment of silence to honor the recent passing of Richard A. Cram, Sr., a legendary Michigan horseman. His son, Rick Cram, Jr., provided a tribute to his dad that was read to the large crowd gathered to pay respects to a...

Jimmy Toon and Tigger won the $5,000 NEHJA Hunter Derby on Thursday, July 26, during week four of the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Jimmy Toon of South Salem, NY, rode Jane Clark’s Tigger to victory in the $5,000 3’3” NEHJA Hunter Derby on Thursday, July 26, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. The six-week Vermont Summer Festival continues in East Dorset, VT, through August 12, 2012. The...

Victoria Colvin and Inclusive lead USEF East Coast Junior Hunter Finals on day one of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Lexington, KY - The Kentucky Horse Park was filled with anticipation as the top Junior riders in the nation gathered for the first day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show to vie for the championship honors in the 2012 USEF East Coast Junior Hunter Finals. The entire year of competition has led to this point in their Junior career, with some continuing their...

Alison Robitaille and Cover Girl 27 Traverse City, MI - Ideal conditions and a bright blue sky set the stage for the $30,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City today at Horse Shows by the Bay in scenic Traverse City, Michigan. Series I came to a close this afternoon reading like a textbook edition of stellar competition with the last chapter highlighting an amazing performance by Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone's Cover Girl 27 and Alison Robitaille. A field of 21 competitors challenged the first of...

Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo (Shannon Brinkman) Devon, PA - All eyes will be on the Devon Horse Show this week as 13 of the top jumping combinations in the U.S. compete in the third of four 2012 U.S. Show Jumping Team Observation Events. Horses and riders on the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games will jump in Thursday's Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon and Saturday's Open Jumper Stake. Beezie Madden will be extremely busy this week as she...

Lexington,KY - The second of four 2012 US Show Jumping Team Observation Events takes place this weekend at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show held at the Kentucky Horse Park. Fifteen members of the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games are set to contest two Observation Event classes. On Friday, these combinations will jump alongside other entries in the $50,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic and will return to the Rolex Stadium Sunday afternoon to try and top an open...

Allison Springer and Arthur (Photo by Shannon Brinkman) Lexington, KY - On the second day of dressage at the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone the results proved true to form. Familiar pair Allison Springer and Arthur topped the first phase scoring 39.8 - the only effort to break 40. Great Britain's William Fox-Pitt Parklane Hawk cruised to second place with a score of 41.3 and Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen settled into third with a lovely effort at the...

Winners from NAJYRC 2011 (Brant Gamma) Lexington, KY - Less than four months before the Opening Ceremonies for the 2012 Championships planning is already well underway. Five disciplines (a total of 9 championships for juniors and young riders) will take part in the only FEI Championship to be held annually in North America. This year the event will run July 17-22, 2012. Schedule: The Tentative Competition Schedule for competitors is available here: https://www.youngriders.org/Schedule.aspx and...

Lexington, KY – Tom McCutcheon, Craig Schmersal, Tim McQuay and Shawn Flarida, the four riders who won the team Gold Medal for the United States at the 2010 Reining World Championships, head an impressive list of entries in the second annual Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup, April 27-28 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. The Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup (AKRC) is held during the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, which runs April 26-29. The AKRC features the...