Welcome to a different kind of blog from WDAA. The purpose of this post is to allow the reader "into the heads" of both a trainer/judge/competitor, Karen Abbattista and her student, Deborah Herbert, a Florida WDAA member. We would like to share with you some moments in Deb's journey as she pursues her riding goals with her AQHA mare "GenuineArcticSpring", barn name "Belle". Please enjoy as you follow along with these posts that we consider interesting or challenging moments on her journey...

GCT Estoril (GCT Press Office) Estoril, Protugal - There was joy and heartbreak tonight as Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann seized his first Grand Prix win as Portuguese rider Luciana Diniz narrowly missed out on a home victory. After one of the toughest Grand Prix of the season so far, in sizzling temperatures in Estoril, von Eckermann and Gotha came out on top with Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos the only other combination to jump three clear rounds. The local crowd went wild with excitement...

Ammeretto and David Beisel (Tricia Booker Photography) Traverse City, MI - Ammaretto and David Beisel cruised to the blue ribbon in the $2,500 CMJ Sporthorse 1.40m Jumper Speed Stake, one of Thursday's featured classes at Horse Shows by the Bay. Over a Chris Brandt-designed track, Beisel and the bay Dutch Warmblood (Numero Uno--Ranna) jumped clear in 63.61 seconds as the 11th of 12 competitors in the ring. Beisel, of Goshen, OH, has ridden the 8-year-old stallion for the past five years and...

Sarah Tyndall and Jack Black (Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Halifax, MA - The Plymouth Rock Hunter/Jumper Classic ended today with the much-anticipated $10,000 Fieldstone 3'3" Hunter Derby and both the Child and Adult Hunter Classics. The derby has always been both a competitor and crowd favorite at the Fieldstone Show Park in Halifax, MA, and today's class was no exception. Riding to two impressive scores and the blue ribbon in the derby were Emily Bickford and KEC Kool Kat....

John Pearce and Johnny B Good (Mary Adelaide Brakenridge) Parker, CO - A crowd of spectators gathered to watch spectacular show jumping at the much-anticipated $30,000 Nutrena Summer in the Rockies III Grand Prix in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena at the Colorado Horse Park on a perfect Colorado Saturday afternoon. In the first round of the event, 19 horse and rider combinations battled it out over international course designer Alan Wade's track, attempting to progress to...

Alex Granato and Gangsta sail over the oxer in the Olympic Stadium en route to the win in the $35,000 Outback Steakhouse Grand Prix Saturday night (Flashpoint Photography) Conyers, GA - It was not an easy walkabout as the top twenty seven jumper riders tackled the course designed by Manuel Esparanza of Mexico, at the Georgia International Horse Park during the $35,000 Outback Steakhouse Grand Prix during the Atlanta Summer Classics sm . Only six were invited back for the jump-off and it was...

2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze riding Wang Chung M2S scored victory in the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup on Sunday, June 9, at the Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament in Calgary, AB (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, Alberta – 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze was in the winner’s circle after claiming the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup on Sunday, June 9, at the Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament in Calgary, AB. While Lamaze has...

Eduardo Menezes and Calavda in the Jump-off (apturedMomentPhoto.com) Del Mar, CA - On two gorgeous southern California afternoons, two fabulous rides earned the lead in the high performance victory gallops for the $60,000 Grand Prix of California, sponsored by Equ Lifestyle and presented by Ferrari & Maserati of San Diego, and the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, both on the grass Grand Prix Field. The competition was fierce with almost forty entries in both classes. Before the...

Kent Farrington and Zidane (Phelps Media Group, Inc.) Lexington, KY - Capturing a ribbon was no easy task during today's $20,000 Bluegrass Classic at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. Forty-two entries gathered at the Rolex Stadium to compete in the 1.45m Open Jumper event, but when 23 qualified for the tiebreaker the results came down to a foot race. Besting the clock and the course was Kent Farrington aboard Zidane, breaking the beam at 38.879 to take home the winning prize. Ramiro...

Reed Kessler and Mika (Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Lexington, KY - The top horses and riders from across the country have returned to the Kentucky Horse Park this week for the start of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. The first day of competition kicked off with the Open Jumper divisions in the Rolex Stadium. Olympian Reed Kessler led the way in the 1.45m Open Jumper class aboard Mika with a double clear effort, while the victory in the 1.40m Open Jumper speed...