The eighth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Western Dressage is a big up and coming equestrian discipline right now. I believe this is the right time for the sport to emerge as a reality and the interest level proves that the idea has been around for a long time. When I started talking to everyone about it, I was surprised! In our area, a Western Dressage Facebook page was started and we had 130 members within about 2 days! That was so important because it showed how much...

The Dressage Foundation's Continuing Education for Dressage Instructors Fund, established by Maryal Barnett, has awarded grants to five individuals to attend the United States Dressage Federation's Instructor Certification Program. Kalli Bowles (CA), Megan Dischler (WI), Heather McCullough (NC), Colleen Reid (CA) and Alejandro Salazar (CA) each received a $1,250 grant to further their education as instructors. "The Grant Selection Committee felt that these applicants were well...

A retired couple from Western New York and their two young Thoroughbreds are poised to pick up a pair of championships at the Career2 Grand Finale, to be held at the Millbrook Horse Trials in Millbrook, N.Y., Aug. 2-5. Career2 is the new program created to promote eventing as a second career opportunity for retired racehorses. Linda and Jack Walnes of Avon, N.Y., lead the Beginner/Novice and Novice Divisions as Career2 heads into the Grand Finale. Mr. Walnes is also vying for a championship in...

Reining Junior Team Gold - USA Southeast on their victory lap (Waltenberry) Lexington, KY - The Reining Team Championship competition was tightly contested today at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC) with Team USA South-Central claiming the top of the podium in Young Rider Competition and Team USA Southeast in the Gold position for Juniors. The NAJYRC runs through Sunday, July 22, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY....

Katie Tyler and Galliard won the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search during the opening week of the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT - The future stars of show jumping are out in full force at the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival horse show running July 4 through August 12 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT. The six-week festival is hosting a Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search competition each Friday. Open to riders under the age of 21...

Bobbi Carlton riding the six-year-old Kir Royal (USEF Archive) Lexington, KY - Finishing up the Markel/USEF Young Horse training and observation sessions for 2012, Rosebrook Farm in Georgetown, MA hosted the final scheduled session of the year on June 28-29. Scott Hassler, the USEF Young Horse Coach, once again led the session in the eastern region with a wealth of successful young horses. "I was particularly excited to come to this area of the country because it is such a strong, active region....

Lexington, KY - In its largest round of grant funding to date, USA Equestrian Trust has awarded nearly $240,000 to 11 equine non-profits that applied by the first of the foundation's two 2012 application deadlines. The $239,780 in grants is an increase of 21 percent compared to 2011. That mirrored the continued dramatic jump in interest in the Trust's grants program, which saw applications rise 38 percent. The Trust's leadership approved an expansion of the program earlier this...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is now accepting letters of intent from competition managers to host the 2013 Dressage Seat Medal Finals. These Finals will take place in the summer of 2013 and are traditionally scheduled for late August. The purpose of the Dressage Seat Medal presented by Dressage Today program is to promote and reward correct seat, position and use of aids in dressage for youth riders. The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) oversees the...

Laurie Weiser and EM Roseblume (WNC Photography) The Dressage Foundation is pleased to announce that the inaugural recipient of its Elysium Farm Fund for U.S. Breeder Excellence grant is Laurie Weiser, DVM, owner of Blume Farm Hanoverians (NC). The Elysium Farm Fund for U.S. Breeder Excellence, established at The Dressage Foundation in 2011 by Abbey Henderson, provides financial assistance to breeders to pursue educational opportunities related to breeding that will advance their careers,...

Lexington, KY - The search is underway for nominees for the 2012 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Youth Sportsman's Award. The award recognizes young equestrians who exhibit exceptional leadership potential, serve as positive role models for their peers, demonstrate an ongoing commitment and dedication to the promotion of equestrian sport, are involved in their community, and exemplify positive sportsmanship principles. The overall winner of the 2012 USEF Youth Sportsman's...