The twentieth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder This week is all about news, news and more news. Never a dull moment in Western Dressage! This just out via a press release from WDAA: “The WDAA has been guided throughout by the leadership, strategy, and policies of its Board of Directors and Advisory Board, both of which are volunteer positions and provide their services without funding. Each are comprised of distinguished professionals from all facets of the equine...

Leigh Cofer and Breaking News made headlines with their NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic victory at the Kentucky Summer Classic. (Ashley N. Williams/PMG) Lexington, KY - August 5, 2012 -It was the championship day for the Adult Amateur Divisions at the Kentucky Summer Classic. Riders and their top mounts approached the Stonelea Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park for the final day of the show, examining the courses as they prepared. The Adult Amateurs did not disappoint as they vied for the top...

Leslie Howard et Lennox Lewis 2 Credit Normand St-Jacques Bromont - American rider Leslie Howard, who won the first FEI Open Jumper 1m50 this week, presented by the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, enjoys victory again in the Desjardins Speed Derby, winning with a comfortable six-second margin. A high-energy course The Speed Derby's course, built in two rings, added a challenge for the horses by using the walkway to cross over. Twenty-two horse/rider teams...

Laura Kraut and Cedric won the 23'000 € 1.55 m Syndicaat van de Rotterdamse Havenbedrijven Prix at the Rotterdam CHIO. (Erin Cowgill) Rotterdam, Netherlands - June 22, 2012 - Laura Kraut and Cedric could not be stopped on Thursday, June 21, 2012, as they emerged the victors of the qualifying 23'000 € 1.55 m Syndicaat van de Rotterdamse Havenbedrijven Prix. The Concours Hippique International Officiel (CHIO) has seen some of the world's greatest competitors vie for the prestigious...

The final Markel/USEF Young Horse Training Session of 2012 will take place June 28-29 at Rosebrook Farm in Georgetown, MA. Led by USEF Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler, the session is expected to include ten horse/rider combinations. This training session is open auditors and will include a lecture and open discussion with Hassler. Those interested in auditing should contact USEF Director of National Dressage, Hallye Griffin, at [email protected]. The calendar of the 2013 Markel/USEF Young Horse...

Tracy Fenney on course in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia. Fenney and MTM Farm’s MTM Centano picked up a win and the first qualifying opportunity for the 2012 $1 Million Grand Prix. ESI Photography. CULPEPER, VA – After posting a top-20 finish in the 2011 Pfizer Million, Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, TX, wasted no time in preparing for next year’s $1 Million Grand Prix. On Sunday, she and MTM Farm’s MTM Centano rode to victory in the...

Saugerties, NY - Hunter riders at HITS-on-the-Hudson can now breathe easy with the first two rounds of the first ever Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final complete. The buzz, however, will pick back up tomorrow for the final two rounds when the first ever winner of the historic class will be crowned. “We saw a great group of riders today,” said HITS President and CEO Tom Struzzieri. “And the best obviously rose to the top." Jenny Karazissis of Calabasas, California stole...

Bridgehampton, NY — After communicating with the National Weather Service and the Town of Southampton's head of emergency management monitoring Hurricane Irene, the Hampton Classic has announced that activities scheduled for its Opening Day on Sunday, August 28 will not be taking place. The Classic plans to re-schedule most competitions scheduled for Opening Day for other times later in the week. A revised time schedule will be posted on the Hampton Classic website (www.hamptonclassic....

Aurora, CO - The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) National Distance Championship is less than a week away and will include five days of competition, August 23-27, 2011. This year's championship will be held in conjunction with the AERC National Championship Ride in Ft. Stanton, New Mexico. The AHA 70-mile Competitive Trail Ride will be August 23-24, the AERC 100 mile Championship will be held August 25, and the AERC 55 Mile Championship will be held August 27. Post Entry Fees have been...

Lillie Keenan with her overall Grand Champion award with Don Stewart's Confidentialand overall Reserve Grand Champion award with Chansonette Farm LLC’s Madison at the 2011 USEF Junior Hunter Championship - East Coast (ESI Photography). Saugerties, NY — After three rounds of competition, Lillie Keenan of New York, NY, returned to the Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium at HITS-on-the-Hudson to accept champion awards with not one, but two horses in the 2011 USEF National Junior...