Sydney Hutchins and Gaudi. (Shawn McMillen Photography) Upper Marlboro, MD – Forty-one qualifiers contested this year's THIS National Children's Medal Finals. After the initial round, the top 10 returned for a second round. Thirteen-year-old Sydney Hutchins of Westlake Village, CA, led from start to finish on Gaudi, owned by Taylor Harris (who, coincidentally, is not related to the sponsor). She scored a 90.5 in the first round and an 86.7 in the second round for a winning total...

Lillie Keenan and Clearway (Shawn McMillen Photography) Upper Marlboro, MD – The Capital Challenge Equitation Championship Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com, hosted three equitation finals today, starting with the North American Junior Equitation Championship, in which Lillie Keenan took home the big win on Clearway, owned by Heritage Farm. Sydney Hutchins was victorious in the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children's Medal Finals, while Annie Finch won the blue...

Devon, PA – The competition continued today with classes including the FEI Intermediaire I, the FEI Young Rider Individual Text, Fourth Level tests, FEI Team Test Ponies and the highly anticipated FEI Grand Prix Freestyle. The Riders Jacqueline Brooks and D-Niro (Hoof Print Images) “This night is my favorite. I’m thrilled to have won,” said Jacqueline Brooks, winner of the Grand Prix Freestyle. She’s only been riding D-Niro since February of 2011 but has already...

Champion Megan MacPherson and reserve champion Hannah von Heidegger with Caraneen Smith of Bigeq.com (Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. ) Upper Marlboro, MD – The Capital Challenge Horse Show opened up competition today at the Show Place Arena. This is the first day of the Capital Challenge Equitation Championship Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com. The Capital Challenge Horse Show runs through Sunday, October 7. The North American Junior Flat Equitation Championship is a fun and competitive class...

Devon, PA - Friday was the first full day of performance classes plus wonderful exhibitions by Aussie horseman Guy McLean and the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association Quadrille. “Remember Hope; this is your dream to do dressage at Devon,” said Guy McLean to his horse, Hope, explaining to the audience that following his performance last year they had a conversation that ended with a commitment by both horse and rider to perform dressage in the Dixon. Later on the Delaware...

Winner of Hanovarian class Age 2 and under Francheska AH (Project Marketing) Devon, PA - Dressage at Devon attendees were treated to an amazing array of individual breed classes in the world’s largest open Breed Show. From Andulusians to Gypsy Vanners, and Hanovarians to Knabstruppers, each breed had the opportunity to show off its unique qualities. In the Hanovarian – Age 2 and under, Francheska AH (Fielding/SPS Malena), bred and owned by Kate Palmquist, took home the blue. In the...

Tony Suraci on stage as The Highwayman (Galway Downs Press Office) Temecula, CA - Riders and fans will see an even more attractive competition site when they return to the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event on Nov. 1-4. More than 500 new trees now further enhance the grounds, and 15 acres of grass polo fields have been installed in the center of the racetrack. But the trees are just the beginning of the steps organizer Robert Kellerhouse has taken to make the Galway Downs International...

Damocles HLF was awarded the My Dave Perpetual Memorial Trohpy (Hoof Print Images) S eptember 25, 2012 - The sun was shining all day for the first day of Dressage at Devon 2012. Days 1 – 3 are the world-renowned Breed Show with Young Horse/Sport Horse, Mature Horse/Breeding Horse, and Under Saddle Classes for horses 3 years and up. Weighting of scores for Young Horse classes is based 60% on movement, 30% on confirmation, and 10% on general impression. While all the classes are exciting...

The fourteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder The last several weeks I’ve talked about how to get started in western dressage. If you are curious, you’ve checked out the website, taken advantage of the free basic membership by becoming a member, read the rules, reviewed the tests, read the articles, participated in the Forum discussions, found WD groups on Facebook, visited YouTube and chatted with your friends about it. Maybe you’ve contacted your local...

Margaret Collins and Samy Jacksonville, FL - September 22, 2012 - In its second day, the first Southeast Medal Finals received accolades from sponsors, competitors, trainers, family and spectators. It was a day to remember for great fun and top competition. Today's highlight was the evening class of 31 juniors competing over a technical and challenging course in the Southeast Medal Finals Class. The course began on the far end of the stadium with a single oxer on the short end and continued...