2012 is nearly over. Show season is winding down and Western dressage organizations are gathering feedback from judges and competitors alike about tests, rules, shows and all things western dressage. Late fall is time for annual meetings for everyone and WD is on agendas all over the country. NAWD and WDAA are busy analyzing data and perfecting tests and rulebooks before the 2013 show season starts so more news will be coming from these fronts very soon. USEF and USDF will have more information...

Reed Kessler and Ligist with ringmaster John Franzreb, Andrea King and Emanuel Andrade of Hollow Creek Farm, and WIHS Executive Director Bridget Love Meehan. (Shawn McMillen Photography) Washington D.C. - The $20,000 International Open Jumper Gambler’s Choice Costume Class, sponsored by Hollow Creek Farm, is always an exciting event at WIHS, especially with Barn Night and thousands of young fans cheering on the riders. In tonight’s class, 18-year-old Reed Kessler, of Lexington, KY,...

Newlands and Portela Top Amateur-Owner Hunter Championships; Montross, Caslin, and Vale Are Best in Jumpers Washington, D.C. – Day two of the 2012 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) featured the presentation of championship honors in the professional and amateur-owner hunter divisions at Verizon Center in downtown Washington D.C. This year’s professional World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Scott Stewart continued his winning season with multiple division tricolors, the...

Grand Prix de Penn National Kent Farrington and Uceko (Al Cook) Harrisburg, PA - Kent Farrington and Uceko, owned by RCG Farm, thrilled the crowd with a lightning fast ride in the jump-off to win the $85,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix de Penn National at the 67th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Saturday evening. It was the third win in the prestigious event for Farrington, but the Wellington, FL resident went early in the line-up and was not convinced that his clear round time of 37.95...

PNHS 2012 Grand Champion Hunter Exupery and Clark. (Al Cook) Harrisburg, PA - Exupery, owned by Steven Borders of San Marcos, CA, and shown by Tommi Clark, was named the Pennsylvania National Grand Hunter Champion at the 67th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Thursday. The Grand Champion Hunter award was presented to the horse that accumulated the most points in the Green Conformation Hunter, Regular Conformation Hunter, Green Working Hunter, or High Performance Working Hunter...

L to R: Cliff Haines, Penny Denegre and Garnet, Didi Hornberger and Richard Hornberger. (Al Cook) Harrisburg, PA - Garnet and Penny Denegre of Middleburg, VA, shone the brightest in the Ladies' Hunter Sidesaddle Division, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Hornberger. The pair won all three classes and was crowned the Ladies' Hunter Sidesaddle Champion at the 67th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Wednesday. The Reserve Champion was Nu Moon, owned and shown by Susan Michele...

Fair Hill, MD - Many of the nation’s top horses and riders are set to compete in the 24th annual Dansko Fair Hill International, October 18-21 at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in the scenic countryside of Fair Hill, MD. With world-class equestrian action, a full schedule of fun family activities, and fabulous shopping and dining opportunities, the 2012 Dansko Fair Hill International is a "must see" event. Returning to this year’s Dankso Fair Hill International is...

The seventeenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Last weekend we attended the second Western Dressage classes held here in the Inland Northwest. We rode the NAWD tests through Level 4. The tests are wonderful and the dressage spectators were very interested in how the WD tests are both similar and different from the USEF tests ridden in the USDF shows. The judge was super and even though the day was very long for her, very positive about the work saying "I enjoyed judging...

Victory in the final leg at Boekelo (NED) clinched the overall win for Germany in the first FEI Nations Cup Eventing (left to right): Michael Jung, Bettina Hoy, Julia Krajewski and Ingrid Klimke with Chef d'Equipe Hans Melzer (Jon Stroud/FEI) The German team produced yet another first-rate performance to win at Boekelo (NED), the final leg of the inaugural FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing, and rounded off what has been an outstanding year for the country’s senior riders with a comfortable...

Presentation: L to R: Cliff Haines, Scott Stewart, Dr. Betsee Parker, For the Laughter, Meredith Darst, Tim Bolton, Mindy Darst and Jorge Delara. (Al Cook) For the Laughter, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker of Middleburg, VA and shown by Meredith Darst, was awarded the Grand Pony Hunter Championship, sponsored by the Bedard Family, at the 67th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Saturday afternoon. There were cheers and tears at the presentation as Dr. Parker was overcome with emotion over the...