Last week I posted a virtual show entry video from an amazingly brave woman who continues to allow me to use her material for examples in this blog. Her courage and generosity inspire me and I hope that her open heart and willingness to be visible inspire you too. I hope that some of you readers are able to identify with her as a peer, a rider struggling to understand riding and training her stock horse and that you professionals at least respect her courage. Reaction to the video has been...

Thanks to everyone who took the time to send emails to USEF and for sharing your thoughts and feelings about the direction Western Dressage should take. It is so important to hear and listen to different ideas from all directions as the discipline develops. At this point all there is to do is continue to ride and train and show, and most important, to have fun with our horses. With another show coming up this weekend for us, I have put a lot of thought into the questions the last show brought...

From its inception, the Western Dressage Association® of America has maintained a focus on education. Our member’s quest for knowledge to learn Western Dressage is why the WDAA continues to create opportunities that will benefit the partnership of horse and rider. Just in the last few months, several exciting offerings have become available that will further pave the Western Dressage Journey for all. In May, WDAA joined HorseShow.com ’s new Online Coaching program to offer a...

Note to Self: 1. Prepare classical instructor that you will be appearing before him in western tack and riding an Appaloosa stallion, NOT your third level Westfalen import and 2. Don’t ride in a clinic without a photographer A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…. I got a book from the library called The Schooling of the Western Horse by John Richard Young. It was published in 1945 (practically the dark ages) and outlined progressive training for western horses. Critically...

Waco, TX - The NCEA National Championship tournament got underway Thursday with the opening rounds of Western and Hunter Seat competition. The top four seeded teams in each bracket had byes to round two, so the Sixteen other teams competed Thursday for a chance to face them. Most succesful were the South Dakota State Jackrabbits and defending champion Texas A&M Aggies. The Aggies came in defending an overall National championship, and four straight Western championships. Their Western team...

Lexington, KY – Three members of the United States’ 2010 Gold Medal World Championship team and four-time Grammy Award winner Lyle Lovett highlight the list of riders from the U.S., Canada and Italy entered to compete in the 2013 Kentucky Reining Cup which returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, April 26-27. The event is held alongside the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Land Rover, America’s only Four Star Eventing competition, April 25-28. Tom...

Lexington, KY - Land Rover North America and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announced today that they will continue their longstanding partnership through 2016. Land Rover, the leader in world-class sport utility vehicles, will remain the official vehicle sponsor of the USEF as well as title sponsor of the Land Rover United States Eventing Team and the Land Rover Competition and Training Grant Program for Eventing Riders. "The Land Rover brand is distinguished for combining...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and United States Eventing Association (USEA) are pleased to announce the introduction of the Eventing 18/Advancing Athletes program, a new joint initiative beginning in 2013. The goal of this program is to build a foundation of future horsemen and women that will hopefully go on to represent the United States. This is an important step in the Athlete Pipeline. Selection into the program will be based on talent, competitiveness,...

Ocala, FL - The 2013 USEF National Pairs Championship concluded Sunday afternoon at the Live Oak International with the influential cones phase. Under blustery conditions and the threat of severe storms, the field of four went to task in the John Deere Arena. Misdee Wrigley-Miller (Lakewood Ranch, FL) travelled to Live Oak with her sights set on securing her first USEF National Pairs Championship. The 2013 USEF National Pairs Champion Misdee Wrigley-Miller (Picsofyou.com) 2011 FEI World Pair...

Ocala, FL - The USEF National Pairs Championship got underway Thursday morning at Live Oak International, as the first phase competition was held in conjunction with the FEI Grand Oaks Resort and Carriage Museum Driven Dressage. Misdee Wrigley-Miller has kicked-off her bid to claim her first Misdee Wrigley-Miller (Picsofyou.com) National Title by gaining the early lead following the dressage on a score of 41.41. Wrigley-Miller (Lakewood Ranch, FL) drove with extreme confidence and poise to set...