Wayne, IL - The 2012 USEF National Dressage Championships got underway Thursday in Ring 2 at the Lamplight Equestrian Center with competition held in the Young Horse, Developing Horse and Medal Final divisions. In the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship Five-Year-Old division Alice Tarjan and Elfenfeuer jumped out to the early lead after the Preliminary Test. While in the USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix Dressage Championship supported by Hilda Gurney and Carol Lavell Lisa...

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...

The Rolex One to Watch – August 2012 The Rolex One to Watch for August 2012 is awarded to Katie Monahan Prudent (USA). Monahan Prudent divides her time between Rosières aux Salines (FRA) and Plain Bay Farm, which she runs with her husband in Middleburg, Virginia (USA). During the month of July, the 54-year-old jumped from 361st to 244th – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 117 places. Monahan Prudent spent much of her early career training at Cherry Blossom Farm in Virginia,...

Lauren Hough & Ohlala (Sportfot/GCT) Early Friday in Valkenswaard and the first opportunity to see show jumping’s elite riders as they build up to tomorrow’s VDL Groep Grand Prix. USA rider Lauren Hough set off at a cracking pace on Ohlala round the beautiful main grass arena and held onto her clear round lead in a time of 60.55. Lauren, from New York, is currently in 17th place in the GCT 2012 ranking. She had no trouble with the course designed by Uliano Vezzani and jumped a...

Kelley Farmer and Taken win both rounds to take the USHJA International Hunter Derby Zionsville, IN - Kelley Farmer and Taken stole the show on the Grand Prix Field at the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show held on the grounds of Wild Air Farms. Not only is Taken a pro when it comes to the Derby, he took his owner, Jessica Stitt of Elburn, IL, to the championship win in the Amateur 3'3" class in Traverse City, MI, just one week ago....

Jeffery Welles and Laracon (Tammy Hardy Photography) Hampton Falls, NH – There were four exciting show jumping classes hosted Saturday at The Jumper Classic®, presented by Fidelity Investments® and Audi of America. In the $12,000 Speed Derby, Jeffery Welles of Brewster, NY, and Laracon, owned by Amanda Gunthel, were fastest for first place. Located in the beautiful town of Hampton Falls, NH, at the Silver Oak Equestrian Center, The Jumper Classic is New England’s premier...

Tracy Magness and Tarco Van Ter Moude won the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix on Saturday, August 11, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Tracy Magness, of Hughesville, MD, rode M/M John Bartko’s Tarco Van Ter Moude to victory in the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix, on Saturday, August 11, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival. In a ten-horse jump-off, Magness had the only clear round to...

Valentino and Aleece Jarman Capture Overall Green Grand Hunter Pony Championship at 2012 US Pony Finals Aleece Jarman Charms the Judges with Valentino, riding to Overall Green Grand Pony Hunter Championship Madeline Schaefer and Frosted capture the Green Grand Pony Hunter Reserve Championship Lexington, KY- The fences were set as the second day of the Green Pony Hunter divisions entered the ring to showcase their talent over fences. The 2012 US National Hunter Pony Championships presented by...

Steffen Peters and Ravel (Shannon Brinkman) Greenwich, UK - It was an historic day at Greenwich Park. Less than 24 hours after the British Show Jumping Team won it's first Olympic Team Gold medal in 60 years, the British Dressage Team won it's first Olympic medal ever, and it was Gold. They finished on a score of 79.979 to win Gold over Germany. The Netherlands won Bronze.The U.S. Dressage Team made a valiant run at a Team medal at Greenwich Park with some strong performances, but it...

The eighth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Western Dressage is a big up and coming equestrian discipline right now. I believe this is the right time for the sport to emerge as a reality and the interest level proves that the idea has been around for a long time. When I started talking to everyone about it, I was surprised! In our area, a Western Dressage Facebook page was started and we had 130 members within about 2 days! That was so important because it showed how much...