Prize List The preliminary Prize list for the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan and USDF Dressage in the Bluegrass competition is now posted . Declarations Declarations are now being accepted for the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan. The horse/rider combination must declare their intention to participate by the closing date for their Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Championshipsp. There is no fee to declare, but horse/rider combinations must declare at the level(s) and...

Lillie Keenan and Clearway jump their way to the top of the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup (ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY – Lillie Keenan of New York, New York and Clearway, owned by Heritage Farm, Inc. were the ones to shine during day two of the U.S. Junior Hunter National Championship – East Coast at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York. The pair topped a field of 65 to win the prestigious USHJA / Essex Classics Hunterdon Equitation Cup. Keenan led the first round...

As you know I occasionally receive a story from a Western Dressage rider and this week I would like to share with you the story behind a beautiful magazine cover photo that appeared recently in Paint Horse Journal and which featured coverage of Western Dressage. The photo was of Katrina Sanders and her Paint horse Pirate. Here is what Katrina shares with western dressage enthusiasts this week: “Thank you so much for offering to feature my photo in your blog! I am honored and so grateful...

Western horses jog. English horses trot. Dressage horses trot. Everyone knows that. What does that mean for the western dressage horse? The western jog was a gait that could be ridden for long distances over the range or on the trail that horses could sustain without exhaustion and which could be sat comfortably. The trot is a gait that covers more ground at a reasonable tempo. To deal with the dynamics of the gait and to unload the horses back, some riders learned to post. Western riders bred...

Ocala, FL – With two $1 million grand prix scheduled for 2013, HITS, Inc. upped the ante for 2014 by announcing the addition of a third ground-breaking class. The Ocala $1 Million Grand Prix, to be held next March and will join the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties, New York and the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix in Thermal, California next year to form the Triple Crown Challenge of Show Jumping. The Ocala $1 Million Grand Prix will take place at the conclusion of the now...

The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Rider Team (Laura Elcock) Fulton, MO - The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Rider Team swept the competition at the U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational over the weekend against international teams from South Africa and Canada. The three teams met for the competition at William Woods University, and the U.S. young riders were excellent during the two days of Three- and Five-gaited competition. After the first day of competition, the U.S. team led South Africa and Canada in...

Ocala, FL - Following an exciting marathon day at the Live Oak International, Lisa Singer has grabbed the lead in the 2013 USEF National Pairs Championship with a score of 133.07. Drivers had near perfect weather as they contested the second phase of competition held on the picturesque Live Oak Plantation. Lisa Singer (Picsofyou.com) 0 Singer (Chadds Ford, PA) drove consistently over the championship level course which hosted seven intricate obstacles. Using the experienced gained representing...

No.8 Kansas State University def. Oklahoma State University The Wildcats were looking to prove that they were back on top of their game. It appears as though they are. A huge question mark just a few weeks ago, Kansas State now looks like a team to watch heading into the big 12 championship and NCEA National Championship. Their 11-8 decision Saturday was vengeance for an early season loss to the Cowgirls, and a confidence booster. It was an even match, but K-State Hunter and Western teams got...

The thirteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder With growth comes ‘growing pains.’ The situation surrounding Western Dressage becomes more complicated with each passing day. More and more shows are offering WD classes with tests from several sources. YouTube watchers see a huge variation in the WD videos presented there. At least three different rulebooks now grace cyberspace and you can read articles and letters to the editor in national and local magazines. The...

Scott Stewart and Dedication took top honors during the Classic Hunter Round of the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Lexington, KY - The crème de la crème of the hunter world gathered at the Rolex Stadium for the first day of the long awaited 2012 $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals. All the attention turned toward the classic hunt course that decorated the Rolex Stadium at the Bluegrass...