Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation is announcing an exciting contest for Saddle Seat riders, sponsored by Freedman's Harness and Saddlery. From today, May 1, through May 19, contestants are asked to create a short video that answers the question, "What would it mean to you to be on a Saddle Seat World Cup team?" From the submitted videos, a panel of judges will select 10 finalists. Those ten finalists will be announced on June 2, and for 15 days the general public will...

Lyon, France - Valuable World Cup points were at stake Saturday evening in the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final as riders vied for a place in Monday's final competition. Thirty-eight riders took on Frank Rothenberger’s 13 obstacle track in the Lyon Eurexpo with a total of 21 returning for the jump-off. Riders within the top 30 placings following Saturday’s round qualified to jump in Monday's final competition and of those entries eight will be representing the United...

Ainsley Vince and Frieda (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The sun rose over Deeridge Farms as trailers and cars rolled through the opened gateway and down the winding path lined with beautifully manicured banyan and royal palm trees. The fog lifted from the grand prix field to reveal the course that would challenge over 50 horses for the $24,950 Wellington Turf Tour Invitational Grand Prix Finale. Saturday, it was Ainsley Vince of Canada who dominated the field, riding to the top of the leader...

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces on their way to winning the CIC3* at Red Hills International, part of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup and PRO Tour Series (StockImageServices.com photo) From www.useventing.com . Tallahassee, Fla. - Boyd Martin drove away in a brand new Mercedes SUV after winning the Red Hills International Horse Trials CIC3*. Martin and Trading Aces galloped through the finish line and stopped the clock with just 6.40 time penalties to add to his dressage score of 41.4, which was enough...

McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - After topping Saturday's $25,000 Nutrena Jumper Classic at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, the brand new partnership of McLain Ward (USA) and Double H Farm's HH Carlos Z went on to their second victory of the week in Sunday's $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. The class saw 52 entries with six to jump-off. Laura Kraut and MH Sporthorse's Andretti S were first to jump-off and incurred 16...

Wellington, Fla. - Freestyle Medalists (SusanJStickle.com) The Wellington Nations Cup CDIO3* sponsored by Stillpoint Farm, held in conjunction with the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, came to a conclusion on Friday evening in front of a packed house with riders vying for Individual medals in Freestyle competition. Small Tour and Big Tour combinations went head-to-head, with the Ground Jury of Anne Gribbons, Gabriel Armando, Cesar Torrente, Lorraine MacDonald, and Bo Jena judging all...

Stephanie Sedlacko and Jennifer Alfano rode to the first place finish in the American Saddlebred Hunter Challenge (Brooke Jacobs) Lexington, Ky. - It's not every day that you see riders compete over their first hunter course during a national championship, but when four world champion American Saddlebred trainers take the reins of a hunter and grand prix and professional hunter riders take the reins of an American Saddlebred, it makes for a night of fun and excitement. It was a...

Welcome to the fourth installment of 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...

Elkton, Md. - The Dutta Corp Fair Hill International hosts top U.S. combinations this week in Elkton, Md., as competitors vie for national titles at the CCI2* and CCI3* levels. The prestigious competition celebrates its 25th anniversary as it hosts 114 entries at the international levels, with 95 setting their sights on USEF National Championships, October 17-20, 2013. Wednesday afternoon hosted the first Veterinary Inspection; the CCI3* will be contested by 45 competitors, while in the CCI2*,...

Gladstone, N.J. - The 2013 Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals East officially got underway on Saturday at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Headquarters with competitors completing the first two phases of competition. In the morning, judges Ronnie Beard and Anne Kursinski tested riders on the flat in the Dick and Jane Brown Arena and in the afternoon competitors returned to demonstrate their skill over a gymnastics course. At the end of the first day of competition, Lillie Keenan...