Lexington, KY - The first of the USEF Town Hall Meetings series was hosted by Equestrian Sport Productions at their FTI Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds on March 27, 2013. Federation representatives joined prominent industry owners, trainers, and veterinarians to discuss topical issues contributing to unprecedented public scrutiny relating to medication and treatment of performance horses. Media articles have brought focus to both therapeutic techniques and medication practices in...

Daniel Bluman and Apardi (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - The $20,000 Adequan 8-Year-Old Jumper Classic Final was the last class of the day with a win for Colombia's Daniel Bluman and Apardi, a KWPN stallion by Corland x Kannan, owned by Ricardo & Alberto Simhon. Sixty-seven entries showed in the class with 12 clear rounds to advance to the jump-off where only three were able to jump double clear. Bluman and Apardi completed the short course in the winning 39.640 seconds. Laura Kraut and...

Havens Schatt and Kaepernick (Anne Gitttins Photography) Wellington, FL - Kaepernick and Havens Schatt took home the championship prize in the Perfect Products Pre-Green Hunter Level 1 division during the final week of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The five-year-old Warmblood gelding is owned by Schatt's client, Debbie Stevens. Kaepernick and Schatt were first, third, and third over fences and placed fourth under saddle. Reserve champion was Ransom, ridden by Nick...

This week I want to update you about some exciting new programs coming in 2013 for Western Dressage enthusiasts. As this discipline continues to develop, more tests are available, more shows are available, and more award programs vie for participation. The show and clinic calendars are filling up for the year and so much is happening. In January our local WSH Zone added year end awards for Western Dressage following the inclusion of Western Dressage as a subdivision of Dressage on the...

Caitlin Silliman riding Catch A Star in a jumping lesson at the Florida session (USEF Archives). Lexington, KY - The USEF Eventing Team Coach David O'Connor conducted the first two training sessions of 2013 for the redesigned USEF Developing Riders/Eventing 25 Program. The first session took place January 21-24 at Flying Tail Farms at Red Fox Farm in Gilroy, CA for West Coast riders, followed by the second session on January 27-February 1 at Meredyth South in Ocala, FL. The sessions...

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...

Wellington, FL -On Saturday night, the participants, parents and supporters of the USEF Horsemastership Training Session gathered with the USET Foundation and Karen Lloyd, who graciously hosted a dinner at her lovely Palm Beach Polo home in Wellington, FL. This year's riders participated in a five-day clinic at the Palm Beach International Equestrian center with former U.S. Chef d'Equipe USEF. The 12 riders selected for the clinic included Gabrielle Bausano, Olivia Champ, Meg...

Lexington, KY - The 2013 Markel/USEF National Young and Developing Horse Dressage Championships presented by HorseShow.com will host up-and-coming dressage horses over five divisions of National Championship competition. Four-, five- and six-year-olds will vie for national titles in their respective Young Horse Championships. While developing horses have the option to compete in Prix St. Georges or Grand Prix Championships. Markel has supported the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program since...

The twenty third in a series of blog post from Michelle Binder I began this Western Dressage Blog specifically as a blog for NAWD to help raise public awareness about WD groups other than WDAA. I saw a need for publicity specific to that organization. I also saw a need for a forum that presented the reality that other organizations with different missions and goals regarding WD existed. USEF has not licensed Western Dressage as an independent discipline so at this time there is no officially...

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...