Caitlyn Shiels and S&L Downtown finished first in the Six, Seven and Eight-Year-Old Young Jumper class during the opening week of the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – The next generation of grand prix horses took center stage during the first three weeks of the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival horse show, running July 4 through August 12 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT. Five-Year-Old, Six-Year-Old and Seven and...

Cosmo and Laura Pfeiffer. Traverse City, MI - Although Laura Pfeiffer has collected many blue ribbons during the Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival, there was one that had eluded her since the series started: the $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix. Her wait ended today, however, when she guided Fox Meadow Farm's Cosmo to the top and bested a field of 30 horse-and-rider combinations to capture the $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix, sponsored by Positive Step Farm. "I've been...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 11, 2012 12 for '12 media teleconference series concludes Thursday Final call to feature five-time Olympian equestrian Karen O'Connor, Paralympic track & field world-record holder April Holmes, USOC Chief of Sport Alan Ashley at 3 p.m. ET COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The United States Olympic Committee's 12 for '12 media teleconference series will conclude on Thursday, July 12 and feature two athletes ready to represent the U.S. in London - Olympic...

Lexington, KY - The upcoming Olympic Games in London have made U.S. representation at CHIO Aachen this week scarce, but the riders and horses that did make it to Germany have been on top of their game. Lauren Hough has been one of those riders and Saturday morning she was impressive once again in winning the Sparkasse Youngsters Cup Finale and finishing atop the Youngsters Cup standings. See final Sparkasse Youngsters Cup standings here . The Sparkasse Youngsters Cup is a series of two...

The fourth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Every day I head out to the barn to work. Like other trainers, I work outside in temperatures from 0 to 100 7 days a week, almost 365 days a year, from dawn till dark and sometimes longer. As a professional trainer and riding instructor I am called on to muck stalls, fix fence, buck hay, dump grain, rake footing, fill water buckets, sweep the aisle, clean tack, change bandages, medicate, lead beginners, longe riders, heft children...

Bridget Hallman and Do Tell won the Amateur-Owner Hunter Grand Championship at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series (Rebecca Walton/PMG) Devon, PA - The blistering heat did not slow down the Amateur riders as they took over the Dixon Oval at the Devon Show Grounds during the Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS). Bridget Hallman and Do Tell dominated the Amateur-Owner 36 & Over Hunters to eventually claim the Amateur-Owner Hunter Grand...

The third in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder I promised you last week I would share more about the informal surveys that have helped give Western Dressage a voice through NAWD, and given me good stuff to share with you. While we believe there is much common ground to be found between western and dressage, there are differences between Western Dressage and BOTH parent disciplines. As Western Dressage continues to develop into a unique discipline in this country it is imperative...

The second in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder I started formal riding lessons when I was four years old. English riding lessons. The doctors told my mom it would be good for me. It was 1969. The Academy where I learned is now a national historic landmark. By the time I was 6, I was riding with double reins. My introduction to western riding came when my parents purchased a POA stallion for me the summer of my sixth year. That pony could buck my dad off! ‘Nuff said. When...

Lexington, KY - The fourth and final USEF Observation Event for the US Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games wrapped up a selection process that started with the Selection Trials in March. The $200,000 CN Performance Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows in Calgary hosted 12 Long-Listed American combinations out of the 37 starters who took on Bob Ellis' course. At the culmination of the class, Rich Fellers took top honors again, he was fastest of the seven which jumped first round clears....

Gladstone, NJ - While the Dick and Jane Brown Arena at the USET Foundation Headquarters belonged to the Grand Prix riders Saturday morning, the afternoon session was all about the up-and-coming stars of the sport at the USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. In the National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship, Caroline Roffman and Pie maintained their strangle-hold on the lead. While, Young Adult "Brentina Cup" competitors got their first taste of competition in Gladstone with Brian Hafner...