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...

Diederique Van Der Knaap and Clive won the $10,000 SJHOF High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic on Sunday, August 5, at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Week five of the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival concluded on Sunday, August 5, with two exciting Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics featured in the grand prix ring at Harold Beebe Farm. Diederique Van Der Knaap, of New York, NY, rode Clive to victory in the $10,000 SJHOF...

Megan Davis and Modern rode to the top of the Large 16-17 Junior Hunter standings, taking home the championship award at the Kentucky Summer Classic. (Ashley N. Williams/PMG) Lexington, KY - August 3, 2012 - The morning riding conditions were pleasant for both rider and horse as the weather stayed bright but over-casted at the Stonelea Arena for the fourth day of the Kentucky Summer Classic. It was a championship day as participants prepare to take on the last three classes of their respective...

Kaitlin Campbell and Rocky W rode to the top finish in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Kentucky Summer Classic. (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Lexington, KY - The Rolex Stadium was alive with the nation's top horse and rider combinations gathering to compete beneath the lights in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic during the Kentucky Summer Classic. Kaitlin Campbell and Rocky W topped tonight's seven-horse jump-off with a beautiful double-clear effort. Campbell also was the last...

Jan Ebeling and Rafalca (Shannon Brinkman) Greenwich, UK - Olympic Dressage got underway on Thursday in the main arena at Greenwich Park and the British put on an incredible display in front of an enthusiastic crowd. They had two riders to go in based on their draw and ended up taking the lead of the five teams who had two horses to compete on the first day. The United States drew sixth, meaning that only Jan Ebeling and Rafalca took to the arena on the first day for the U.S. Everyone is...

Laura Chapot and Umberto on course in the $75,000 Chartis Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY – HITS-on-the-Hudson has been dubbed The Chapot Show as Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey won her third Grand Prix in a row when she produced the only double-clear ride in Sunday’s $75,000 Chartis Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Last Sunday during HITS-on-the-Hudson IV, Chapot won the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by...

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere (Shannon Brinkman) Greenwich, UK - The first day of Eventing Dressage at the 2012 Olympic Games featured three of the five American horses. Boyd Martin was the very first rider in the ring on Otis Barbotiere and made the most of his first Olympic experience, having the best test of the horse's career so far. The venue is stunning and although the arena proved full of atmosphere, the three U.S. combinations handled the occasion admirably. Judged by the Ground...

Laura Chapot and Umberto glide effortlessly over a Liverpool in Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Saugerties. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY - Just five days after an exciting win in last week’s $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, Laura Chapot found herself holding another blue ribbon thanks to an impressive victory in today’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS-on-the-Hudson....

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation has named the team for the 2012 Paralympic Games. The four athletes representing the U.S. in London turned heads at the Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship and Selection Trial held in Gladstone, NJ in June. The following two U.S. team veterans and two rising stars will compose the team: Rebecca Hart (Unionville, PA) and Jessica Ransehousen's Lord Ludger Jonathan Wentz (Richardson, TX) and Kai Handt's NTEC Richter Scale...

Paige Johnson and Chiron S won the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Lexington, KY - Thunderstorms plagued the Kentucky Horse Park as riders gathered beneath the lights of the Rolex Stadium to compete in the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. Paige Johnson proved to be the best of the best, controlling the jump-off with one of only seven double-clear efforts aboard Chiron S to lead the victory gallop. Shane...