Welcome to the third installment of a different kind of blog from WDAA! The purpose of this post is to allow the reader "into the heads" of both a trainer/judge/competitor, Karen Abbattista and her student, Deborah Herbert, a Florida WDAA member. We would like to share with you some moments in Deb's journey as she pursues her riding goals with her AQHA mare "GenuineArcticSpring", barn name "Belle". Please enjoy as you follow along with these posts that we consider interesting or challenging...

Holly Shepherd and Triompf claim the $35,000 Grand Prix de Lamplight victory with speedy tie breaking jump-off (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Wayne, IL - The resounding cheers and applause could be heard throughout the Lamplight Equestrian Center as six horse and rider combinations faced off in today's $35,000 Grand Prix de Lamplight, presented by Saddler's Row. It came down to a battle of speed as each consecutive rider bested the next, but it was Holly Shepherd and Triompf that came away the...

Caroline Martin aboard Quantum Solace on their way to the Eventing CCI2* Individual Gold medal (Brant Gamma Photos) Lexington, KY – The 2013 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC) finished Sunday after another fantastic week of top competition for Junior and Young Riders. Eventing was the focus of the final day with Team and Individual Medals for CCI1* and CCI2* riders. In the CCI2*, Caroline Martin (Area III) and Quantum...

Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run's Eternal (Mary Adelaide Brakenridge) Parker, CO - The crown jewel of the Summer in the Rockies six-week series, the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix, was held on Saturday afternoon. It was Military Day at the Colorado Horse Park, honoring and welcoming military and first responders to enjoy family activities and great show jumping. Title sponsor Parker Adventist Hospital was on hand for helmet fittings and distribution of free riding helmets to...

Dressage Young Rider Freestyle medalists: Jamie Pestana (Reg 7) - Silver; Ayden Uhlir (Reg 6) - Gold; Tanya Strasser Shostak (CAN) - Bronze (SusanJStickle.com) Lexington, KY – On Saturday afternoon, dressage riders competed for their Freestyle Individual medals in the Rolex Stadium at the 2013 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC). Ayden Uhlir (Region 6) and Sjapoer won their second Individual Gold medal of the week in the...

Traverse City, MI - Martien van der Hoeven may be just getting to know Zeldenrust Z, but their relationship proved strong enough to generate a commanding victory in the $2,500 CMJ Sporthorse 1.40m Speed Stake, the featured jumper class Thursday at Horse Shows by the Bay. Van der Hoeven, of Augusta Pines Farm in Spring, TX, went second-to-last with Zeldenrust Z in the 13-horse field and topped speedsters David Beisel and Ammeretto for the blue ribbon by 1.3 seconds. As the only competitor to...

Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run's Eternal (Carrie Wirth/Mary Adelaide Brakenridge Phelps Media Group) Parker, CO - Brazilian course designer Anderson Lima built what appeared to be a straightforward course for the $40,000 Holiday Inn of Parker Grand Prix for Summer in the Rockies V, considered the peak week of the summer series at the Colorado Horse Park. But the course was tougher than appearances let on. "I decided to do a more technical course than a really big course, which meant they had...

Artemis and Ali Wolff (Arian Booker Photography) Traverse City, MI - Ali Wolff qualified two mounts for the jump-off in the $10,000 Great Lakes Golf Cars Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix, but it turned out she only needed one ride to clinch the win. After concluding her first round performance aboard Lanoo, Wolff discovered he was missing a shoe. Unfortunately, no one could find it, and he was unable to return for the seven-horse tiebreaker. Thankfully, Wolff's...

Reed Kessler and Wolf S (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, Alberta - The 'North American' Tournament continued today, and it was Reed Kessler (USA) and Wolf S who took the highlight victory of the day in the $50,000 Lafarge Cup 1.50m over Lauren Tisbo (USA) with Catharina 9. Frances Land (USA) and Vieanne were very fast to win the $33,000 Pepsi Challenge 1.45m as the first ones in the jump-off. The 'North American' Tournament continues through Sunday, July 7, and features...

Leslie Howard raises the impressive trophy with Rich Kruger, Chairman, President, and CEO of Imperial Oil (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, Alberta – The 'Canada One' Tournament came to a close today with two top competitions in the Meadows on the Green at Spruce Meadows. The highlight of the week, the $100,000 ESSO Challenge 1.60m CSI-W, was an exciting finish for Leslie Howard (USA) and Tic Tac, who took the top prize. Pablo Barrios (VEN) and Zara Leandra were victorious...