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...

Bettina Loy and "Carette MG" win the CDS Young Horse Futurity for Five-Year-Olds. (Jennifer M. Keeler) Burbank, CA - Exhibitors at the 45th Anniversary California Dressage Society Championship Show Presented By HorseShow.com continued to enjoy a unique championship experience and atmosphere on Saturday at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, CA. The wildly popular and lucrative CDS Horse of the Year program classes continued, in conjunction with the CDS Young Horse Futurity (including...

Jonathan Wentz cheering on his team at the 2012 London Paralympics (Lindsay Yosay McCall) Richardson, TX - The equestrian community grieves today as we remember Jonathan Wentz who passed away over the weekend at the young age of 21. Jonathan was a delightful person and an inspiration to all. He will be greatly missed among his family and friends. Jonathan was in his final year at Southern Methodist University where he was well-respected among the staff and students. Born with Cerebral Palsy he...

Michael Hughes wins the Region 1 ASPCA Maclay Regionals (Anne Gittins Photography) It was a full weekend for junior riders as the final four regions concluded their ASPCA Maclay Regionals. The anticipation was tangible as the nation's top riders competed for the chance to attend the prestigious ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals during the Alltech National Horse Show this fall at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Michael Hughes captured the first place honors for Region 1, with Lillie...

Laura Kraut and Cherry Knoll Farm's Cedric set a blazing time of 42.53 seconds, riding to the victory in the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Switzerland. (SportFot/GCT) Lausanne, Switzerland - The GCT championship race intensified dramatically tonight with only five points between Edwina Tops-Alexander and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson after one of the most electrifying Grand Prix of the season. American rider Laura Kraut won the first-ever Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Switzerland on the...

A favorite with WIHS audiences is Nick Skelton, London Olympic Team Gold Medalist. Shown here winning the 2011 WIHS President's Cup Grand Prix with Carlo 273. (Diana DeRosa) Washington, D.C., - The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), is pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for its 2012 competition, running October 23-28, 2012, at Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C. Full ticket information can be found by visiting www.wihs.org/tickets/ . The WIHS is one of the most...

The top junior riders from throughout the country will also travel to Lamplight to display their skill in the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today . Riders will be split into two divisions 13 & Under and 14-18 as they demonstrate their mastery of equitation in the dressage ring. Rebecca Blake (FireandEarthPhoto.com) The 13 & Under championship showcases a field of eight from all parts of the United States. Max Brockway of Enumclaw, Washington will be riding in his...

Weber’s dressage score was a 36.86, a huge lead over the second place of 50.82 and the third place score of 53.25. (www.hippoevent.at) Altenfelden, Germany – Combined Driver Chester Weber, the nine-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, showed off his outstanding dressage abilities during the 2012 Altenfelden International Driving Event, handily driving away with the top four-in-hand dressage score. Weber’s dressage score was a 36.86, a huge lead over the second place of 50.82...

Morton, IL - The American Shetland Pony Club, Inc., one of the oldest breed registries in the United States, is not sitting on its laurels in 2012. Instead, this multi-faceted and multi-breed association is boldly expanding some of its offerings and upgrading other programs or division for a fresh new approach this year. The American Shetland Pony Club, Inc., (ASPC) was established in 1888 to govern the then-burgeoning interest in Shetlands in the United States. ASPC is one of this...

Wellington, FL - Riders from the United States and several nations competed in the $15,000 Wellington Dressage Classic CDI3*, presented by the Chesapeake Dressage Institute, and National Show held March 15-18 at the Global Dressage Festival (GDF)Stadium show grounds in Wellington, FL. On Thursday, March 15, the first day of the National Show, Anna Marek, of Morriston, FL, rode Voyager to victory in the Intermediare 1- Open class with a score of 68.816%. Marek was also the high score winner of...