The twenty first in a series of blog post from Michelle Binder It was an exciting weekend for western dressage in the Pacific Northwest November 2-4. On Friday the Washington State Horsemen (WSH) voted to add Western Dressage as a new discipline on the roster of events offered by the organization statewide. WD has been added as a sub-category of dressage and will utilize NAWD Official Rules and Tests for the 2013 show season so WD classes may now be added to any WSH approved Dressage show...

Meg O’Mara won the Shalanno Farms Style of Riding Trophy (Shawn McMillen) Bridgehampton, NY - Meg O’Mara, of Rumson, N.J., was the recipient of the 2012 Shalanno Farms Style of Riding Trophy at the 37th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show. O’Mara won the $25,000 David Yurman Show Jumping Derby and the High Junior Jumper Championship on Sinatra IV. The Shalanno Farms Style of Riding Trophy is awarded to the junior jumper rider who best exemplifies the American style of equitation as...

Bridgehampton, NY - Even though the Grand Prix Ring at the 37th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show is hosting five Olympic gold medalists and many other international stars this week, Friday morning’s jumper classes belonged to two teenagers whose eyes are set on similar accomplishments. Luis Larrazabal, 19, won the $15,000 Speed Derby, presented by Sotheby’s, and Victoria Colvin, 14, won the $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Welcome Stake. Riding G&C Lepanto, Larrazabal, a native of...

Bridgehampton, NY - The Hampton Classic hosted the championship finals for the Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities on Monday, with riders in three divisions competing for year-end titles. In the advanced independent division, Todd Pritscher, 30, of Yaphank, N.Y., riding Robin Hood, won the championship over Joe Penzel, 19, of Huntington, N.Y., riding Diamond. In the beginner independent division, Tiffany Kahles, 18, of East Meadow, N.Y., riding Gryffindor, won the...

Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Reveille on race day (Merri Melde-Endurance.net) Newmarket, UK – Saturday, August 25 started out pleasant at Euston Park, but throughout the day the weather deteriorated into heavy downpours and severe thunderstorms. Due to the extreme weather, officials had to call the race off for the safety of the horses and riders. In an unusual finish to an endurance race, several riders were placed based on the position they were in at the time that the race was called, but...

Lexington, KY - The best vaulters from across the U.S. are ready to begin competition at the FEI World Vaulting Championship at the Pole Europeen du Cheval in Le Mans, France from August 16-19, 2012. Vaulters will be vying for World Championship titles in the Individual Female, Individual Male, Pas de Duex, and Team competitions. The recently crowned Gold Individual Female National Vaulting Champion Mary McCormick (Woodside, CA) hopes to continue her success in France. Having also won the...

Upper Marlboro, MD – The Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS) is pleased to announce that the 2012 prize lists were mailed out and the PDF is available for download on the official horse show website www.capitalchallenge.org . In addition to the entry blank, also available for download are: the feed and bedding pre-order forms; stabling request forms; and the schedule of events. The Capital Challenge Horse Show will be held for it’s 19th year at the Prince George’s Equestrian...

The Welsh Pony & Cob Society of America is pleased to announce a brand-new awards program that carries with it a title of distinction that will last a lifetime - the Welsh of the Year Award. This exciting new program is designed to promote ownership, encourage involvement and spotlight the achievements of extraordinary Welsh breed individuals. Nominations submitted throughout the year will culminate in the selection of the top winner by WPCSA membership to be awarded at the Society’s...

Lexington, KY - In its largest round of grant funding to date, USA Equestrian Trust has awarded nearly $240,000 to 11 equine non-profits that applied by the first of the foundation's two 2012 application deadlines. The $239,780 in grants is an increase of 21 percent compared to 2011. That mirrored the continued dramatic jump in interest in the Trust's grants program, which saw applications rise 38 percent. The Trust's leadership approved an expansion of the program earlier this...

Burbank, CA - Beautiful horses and talented riders will gather at the historic and picturesque Flintridge Riding Club in La Cañada-Flintridge, CA, for this weekend's CDI*/Y/J dressage competition, May 24 - 27, 2012. Officiating for the weekend's competition will be esteemed international judges Eddy de Wolff (4* USA), Lilo Fore (4* USA), Lois Yukins (4* USA), and Jane Weatherwax (4* USA). In addition to excellent open and FEI competition across a variety of levels, Dressage at...