The fourth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Every day I head out to the barn to work. Like other trainers, I work outside in temperatures from 0 to 100 7 days a week, almost 365 days a year, from dawn till dark and sometimes longer. As a professional trainer and riding instructor I am called on to muck stalls, fix fence, buck hay, dump grain, rake footing, fill water buckets, sweep the aisle, clean tack, change bandages, medicate, lead beginners, longe riders, heft children...

Lexington,KY - The fourth and final USEF Observation Event for the 2012 US Show Jumping Team highlights this week's schedule at Spruce Meadows in Calgary. Eleven riders from the USEF Show Jumping Long List have one more chance to prove their mettle as they vie for a spot on the 2012 Olympic Team. Thursday's Husky Energy Classic serves as the first of the two classes designated by the USEF for observation, and the second is Saturday's CN Performance Grand Prix. Both classes are held...

The first in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder My first pony ride was in 1967. I was 18 months old. It must have stuck with me because I rode horses forever after that. I have been a professional in the equestrian industry since 1989 and my parents have supported my horseback riding activities all my life. Recently, seeking that formerly ever present support, I shared with my mom my desire to get involved in Western Dressage. Imagine my surprise when she exclaimed “Western...

Louise Serio and Corvine continue to lead the $15,000 Hallway Feeds Leading Rider Bonus standings as of Saturday, May 19, 2012, during the second derby in the series, held during the Kentucky Spring Classic. (Shawn McMillen Photography/PMG) Lexington KY - Professional rider Louise Serio continues to hold the lead after the second part of the 2012 $45,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby came to a conclusion on Saturday, May 19, 2012 during the Kentucky Spring Classic. The Hallway Feeds...

From left to fight: Craig Collins, Equestrian Management Group; MPP Sylvia Jones (Dufferin-Caledon); Charles Sousa, Ontario Minister responsible for the Pan/Parapan American Games; Ian Troop, Chief Executive Officer for TO2015; Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport); MP David Tilson (Dufferin-Caledon); Regional Councillor Richard Whitehead of Town of Caledon; and Mike Gallagher, President of Equine Canada (ShootPhoto.ca) Palgrave, Ontario - Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave, Ontario, was the...

Rich Fellers and Flexible (Susan J. Stickle/PhelpsSports.com) Del Mar, CA - The first of four Observation Events for the U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team gets underway this weekend at the Del Mar National Horse Show, held May 1-6, 2012. Horses and riders on the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games will jump Friday in the $50,000 Surfside Grand Prix presented by ShowBiz Magazine and Saturday in the $100,000 Hermes Grand Prix of Del Mar presented by Intuit. Five...

Donna Ponessa (USA) Grade Ia and Silvano (Photo by Lindsay Y McCall) Katy, TX - April 27, 2012- Friday's Para-Equestrian Dressage competition at the Houston Dress Society (HDS) Spring Classic I & II CPEDI3* included the Team Test competition. Each horse and rider combination put forward their best technical execution of their respective test in Grade Ia, Ib, II, III and IV. Friday's FEI Ground Jury included Kathy Amos-Jacob (FRA), David Schmutz (USA), and Carlos Lopes (POR). For the...

Waco, TX - The Texas A&M equestrian team will be the 2012 NCEA Overall National Champions. The finals in both Hunter Seat and Western competition will be contested later today but the Aggies are guaranteed at least a second place finish in both disciplines. It will be the program’s second National Championship. The success of the Aggie Western team is no surprise. They came into Extraco Events Center the #1 seed and defending National Champion. The team stayed true to form with wins...

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...

Traverse City, MI - Horse Sports by the Bay, Inc., is excited to announce an increase in prize money for the High and Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics during Series II and Series III of the 2012 Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival. Thanks to additional sponsor support, each classic will now include an increased purse of $12,000 and $7,500, respectively, offering riders an even greater opportunity to earn fabulous prize money and points toward year-end awards. Additional money has...