The thirteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder With growth comes ‘growing pains.’ The situation surrounding Western Dressage becomes more complicated with each passing day. More and more shows are offering WD classes with tests from several sources. YouTube watchers see a huge variation in the WD videos presented there. At least three different rulebooks now grace cyberspace and you can read articles and letters to the editor in national and local magazines. The...

Scott Stewart and Dedication took top honors during the Classic Hunter Round of the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Lexington, KY - The crème de la crème of the hunter world gathered at the Rolex Stadium for the first day of the long awaited 2012 $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals. All the attention turned toward the classic hunt course that decorated the Rolex Stadium at the Bluegrass...

Lexington, KY - More than 500 of the very best ponies in the U.S. are in Lexington, Kentucky right now to compete at the 2012 US Pony Finals. Starting Tuesday they will be ridden into competition at the Kentucky Horse Park by youth riders from around the country. Over the next six days riders will take aim at the US Hunter Pony Championships presented by Sallee Horse Vans in Small, Medium, and Large Regular Hunter and Green Hunter sections and at an overall Regular and Green Hunter championship....

I knew, when accepting this job in December, 2011 that I was under-qualified. My writing credentials are fine enough, I have editing experience, a media background, and a good education. My deficiency was that I knew very little about horses and even less about equestrian sports. Compared to my USEF colleagues, I was in a state of almost complete ignorance. I’ve twice been on group trail rides in western Colorado. Adding that to the rest of my riding experience I’d been on a horse...

Lexington, KY - The search is underway for nominees for the 2012 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Youth Sportsman's Award. The award recognizes young equestrians who exhibit exceptional leadership potential, serve as positive role models for their peers, demonstrate an ongoing commitment and dedication to the promotion of equestrian sport, are involved in their community, and exemplify positive sportsmanship principles. The overall winner of the 2012 USEF Youth Sportsman's...

Sabine Schut-Kery rode "Sanceo" to another victory in the Markel/USEF Western Dressage Selection Trial at the Dressage at Flintridge CDI*/Y/J (Jennifer M. Keeler) Burbank, CA - The final rounds of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Western Selection Trial held at Dressage at Flintridge CDI*/Y/J in La Cañada-Flintridge, CA treated spectators and officials alike to beautiful tests showcasing spectacular talent. In the six-year-old division, defending Selection Trial champion "Sanceo"...

Mette Rosencrantz enjoyed her three CDI class wins with "Mosegaards Rico" at Woodside. (Jennifer M. Keeler) Woodside, C A - Despite the pressure of National Championships in Gladstone, NJ hovering less than one month away, beautiful weather and a spectacular setting in California allowed dressage riders and horses to enjoy themselves at the Woodside Spring Dressage CDI*/Y/J in Woodside, CA, May 18 - 20, 2012. As a valuable qualifier for the Northern California region, horses and riders competed...

Devon, PA - The Brandywine Valley Summer Series horse shows presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) is pleased to announce that the hunter/jumper competition's prize list is currently available online. The prize list and entry blanks are posted at www.brandywinevalleysummerseries.com . Entries for the Brandywine Valley Summer Series close on June 1, 2012. Held at the prestigious Devon Show Grounds, the Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by THIS will be a summer...

A guest blog post from Katie Shoultz You touch the future when you embrace the youth. In keeping with this spirit, the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) has a sharp focus on the future with their efforts to engage younger generations in equestrian sports. The IEA was established to promote horsemanship skills in the middle and secondary education level. The 2011-2012 competition year marks the Association’s 10th Anniversary with their yearly National Finals set to take place...

The 20th Annual Live Oak International got underway today on the serene grounds of Live Oak Plantation, also home to leading Thoroughbred breeding and training facility, Live Oak Stud in Ocala Florida. The Live Oak International represents the very best that combined driving competition has to offer and the event traditionally attracts the best drivers from around the world. "This really is the premier event in the country," according to the Technical Delegate Ed Young and U.S. Driving Team...