I have been promising to update readers on current trends in the Western Dressage world. One way of keeping track of what WD is doing, where it is going and who is doing it is to track events. NAWD, CD and WDAA all maintain calendars of clinics and shows around the country. By analyzing those calendars we have a simple method of tracking what is happening. The information is limited by the fact that show and clinic organizers must report their event to the organization for inclusion on these...

Lexington, KY - The applications of intent for eight of the USEF Dressage National Championships are now available on usef.org. National Championship competition will be held at different venues through the U.S. in 2013. The first championship of the year will be the 2013 Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com in August followed by the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by the Dutta Corp. in October. Applications of Intent...

The Western States Cowboy Dressage weekend in Medford Oregon was held February 16 and 17. It was a very informative and educational weekend with Eitan Beth-Halachmy and a great cast of presenters that included renowned veterinarian Dr. Robert Miller, Modern Vaquero cowboy Jeff Sanders and VERY brave riders from all over the northwest. The event was presented by the Oregon Western Dressage Association, an affiliate of WDAA, despite the split between WDAA and Cowboy Dressage last fall. It was...

The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Rider Team enjoyed a successful first training session in New Orleans New Orleans, LA - In preparation for the 2013 US Saddle Seat Invitational, to be held April 5-6, 2013 at William Woods University, the US Saddle Seat Young Rider Team attended their first training session on March 1-3 at Cascade Stables in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was the first time the riders and coaches could all come together to work and train as a team. It afforded riders an opportunity to...

Devin Ryan and Calissandro tackle the CWD obstacle on a course designed by Olympic designer Steve Stephens in yesterday's $35,000 CWD Grand Prix in Gulfport (Flashpoint Photography) Gulfport, MS - CWD sponsored rider Devin Ryan from Long Valley, New Jersey aboard his own Calissandro, won the $35,000 CWD Grand Prix yesterday at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic in Gulfport, Mississippi. Calissandro is a nine year old American-bred Holsteiner by Conejo purchased as a two year old by Ryan. Ryan has...

This weeks blog comes to you from beautiful British Columbia Canada. I try to bring you news and fun stuff no matter where I am in the world. I have a perfect opportunity to share a Western Dressage story from a reader that has a Canadian link and I think you will enjoy it. Remember, if you would like to share your story, send it to me via email at [email protected]. When the perfect moment comes, I will share your story too! Dear Ms. Binder, In the USEF Weekly Newsletter for...

Facebook is an unending super highway of material for use in a myriad of applications. I am always amazed by several things. First, how we can consider people we have never seen or maybe even spoken to directly as “friends.” Second, how we are able to use social networking to very positive effects from fund raising for good causes to arranging emergency transportation for rescue horses. Third, how easy it is to learn from so many people who are willing to share really great...

Havens Schatt and Sons Souci. (Anne Gittins Photography) Wellington, FL - Sons Souci and Havens Schatt earned championship honors in the Equine Tack & Nutritionals First Year Green Hunter division during week three of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). This will be the third week one of Schatt's mounts has collected championship titles. Caroline Moran's Bacardi, ridden and trained by Schatt, has been division champion weeks one and two at the FTI WEF. Schatt...

Today’s post comes from Sin City, Las Vegas Nevada. Since I am here in the region of Southwest Western Dressage, I decided to write the blog as an interview with someone from the Las Vegas equestrian community who was doing Western Dressage. So I opened up the phone book to call a local barn. Every barn number but one was disconnected or no longer in service. The one that was working was a casino! So I called a feed store, thinking that at the feed store would be someone who knew someone...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has elected a new Endurance Eligible Athlete Committee. Endurance Eligible Athlete Committee Melody Blittersdorf, Vice Chair Kyle Gibbon Carolyn Hock Suzanne Hayes Suzanne Hedgecock Valerie Kanavy, Chair Joseph Mattingley Margaret Sleeper, Athlete Representative to the Endurance High Performance Committee Deborah Reich Heather Reynolds Stephen Rojek For further information regarding the USEF High Performance Endurance Program visit;...