Today’s post comes from Sin City, Las Vegas Nevada. Since I am here in the region of Southwest Western Dressage, I decided to write the blog as an interview with someone from the Las Vegas equestrian community who was doing Western Dressage. So I opened up the phone book to call a local barn. Every barn number but one was disconnected or no longer in service. The one that was working was a casino! So I called a feed store, thinking that at the feed store would be someone who knew someone...

Happy Holidays! Tis the season and all my best to everyone. This time of year we are especially grateful for all the perfections we find our lives are blessed with. Wishing all of you the very best of holiday seasons. Thank you for reading and supporting the development of western dressage. It was a very exciting time for representatives from North American Western Dressage to attend the USDF Annual Convention in New Orleans December 5-8. President Jen Johnson and Board member Jennifer Collman...

DRESSAGE OPTIONS FOR TESTS FOR U25 The Dressage Committee has made following clarification: Organising Committees will have four options for starting possibilities at CDI-U25 events: • Intermediate II – Young rider Grand Prix 16-25 • Intermediate II – Grand Prix Freestyle • Young Rider Grand Prix 16-25 – Grand Prix Freestyle • Intermediate II – Young Rider Grand Prix 16-25 – Grand Prix Freestyle Please be aware that there is no specific GP...

Lexington, KY - The final coaches poll of the fall NCEA season was released Wednesday and, despite two losses heading into the winter break, South Carolina (4-2, 3-0 SEC) managed to hold onto the top spot. The Gamecocks started the season red hot by earning wins over Oklahoma State, Auburn, Georgia, and Texas A&M. It was that victory over Auburn (3-1, 2-1 SEC), on October 4th in Columbia, that likely gave South Carolina the edge with voters. Six of eleven first place votes went to the...

The twenty second in a series of blog post from Michelle Binder With the Holiday, I have just a short newsy blog for readers this week. I for one am looking forward to what the New Year brings in all areas, especially video submissions for the virtual shows. It is an exciting and challenging time for everyone involved on all fronts, a time that requires courage, flexibility, willingness to share and learn from one another, as well as patience as WD emerges over time. Like Edison with the light...

The sixteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder In an attempt to acknowledge the current diversity within the discipline, show organizers have started offering exhibitors the opportunity to ride ANY test they want to ride, from any organization that has published tests. A buffet of western dressage is now available with something for everyone. The show organizers want to meet the needs of the competitors and in so doing really have taken the first step toward acceptance and...

Small but mighty: pony "Donar's Diablo" won the CDS Training Level Open Horse of the Year title, with rider Kelly Phillips and owner Kim Crandall. (Jennifer M. Keeler) Burbank,CA - Final championship ribbons were presented Sunday in Burbank, CA for the 45th Anniversary California Dressage Society Championship Show Presented By HorseShow.com, held in conjunction with the CDS Young Horse Futurity (including the Cal-Bred Futurity), the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 7 Dressage...

McLain Ward and Antares F won the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon Middleburg, VA - Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) announced today that the $200,000 Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge will return again next season. Debuting this season, the Triple Crown Challenge offered a unique test with a spectacular $200,000 top prize for any show jumping rider that could put together back to back to back wins at three of the nation's most prestigious grand prix events on the same...

USA Team 2012 (Left to Right, top to bottom) Chef d'Equipe Missy Ransehousen, Jon Wentz, Rebecca Hart, Dale Dedrick and Donna Ponessa (Lindsay Yosay McCall) London, England - "It has been exciting to compete at the home of Para-Dressage," was the phrase echoed among athletes at the 2012 Paralympic Equestrian Games. It was Great Britain that developed Para-Dressage from the grass roots first and created an entire Para-Equestrian culture. It was Great Britain who aligned with their able-bodied...

Lexington, KY – Eduardo Sanchez Navarro of Mexico has been named the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Rider of the Month for August. Navarro competes in the West Conference Amateur-Owner Division of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series aboard Virgo. The month of August was a successful for Navarro and his riding partner, as they earned second place finishes at the Showpark August Festival and the Showpark Summer Classic, as well as a fourth place finish at the Blenheim Summer...