Recently on the NAWD Facebook page, discussion has centered on the terms “connection” and “collection” with riders, trainers and instructors piping in with comments. If you have not checked in with the Facebook discussions on the websites for all the organizations, I encourage you to do so. All of these comments are so valuable! This is a critical conversation and is truly at the root of the discussion that surrounds WD videos that are currently out there. Dressage...

Lexington, KY - The third Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Session of 2013 wrapped up Sunday at Rosebrook Farm in Georgetown, Massachusetts. The two-day clinic featured 13 horses between the ages of four and six and was once again taught by USEF Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler. “It was nice to visit the New England area a second time for a Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Session. Participation from the auditors, owners, breeders and trainers who attended was...

Lexington, KY – Land Rover and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event are increasing their partnership as Land Rover becomes the presenting sponsor of the prestigious equestrian event. The company will continue to be title sponsor of the Land Rover Tailgate and presenting sponsor of the NBC telecast of the Rolex Equestrian Championships presented by Land Rover. In its new role as presenting sponsor of the event, it will honor the top U.S. rider who comes closest to the optimum time on the...

Western Dressage clinics are rolling all over the nation. Here in the Pacific Northwest one clinic series has been endorsed by our USDF Region 6 Director, Donna Longacre. Her lifetime of experience in the dressage world combined with her judging experience in both dressage and western disciplines makes her uniquely qualified to comment on Western Dressage training and judging. I am so excited to have created a clinic series that carries such an endorsement as I continue to try to present...

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...

Auburn, AL – No. 6 South Carolina captured the first-ever Southeastern Conference Equestrian Championship, defeating No. 2 Auburn, 10-8, on Saturday at the Auburn University Horse Center. The Gamecocks (8-6), the event’s No. 2 seed, defeated the top-seeded Tigers (11-3) 6-4 in hunter seat and tied 4-4 in western. South Carolina advanced to the championship round following a 10-7 win against third-seeded Georgia on Friday. Saturday’s SEC Equestrian Championship marked the first...

Last week I gave you some wonderful numbers that show the tremendous growth we have seen in Western Dressage over the last year. Almost 200 shows and events are already scheduled for 2013… 200! All those events are the brainchildren of people who want to help develop WD in their area. Most riders start by going to audit or participate in a clinic first or by becoming familiar with different philosophies and approaches to western dressage via the FaceBook pages or investigating the...

I have been promising to update readers on current trends in the Western Dressage world. One way of keeping track of what WD is doing, where it is going and who is doing it is to track events. NAWD, CD and WDAA all maintain calendars of clinics and shows around the country. By analyzing those calendars we have a simple method of tracking what is happening. The information is limited by the fact that show and clinic organizers must report their event to the organization for inclusion on these...

The U.S. Saddle Seat Young Rider Team enjoyed a successful first training session in New Orleans New Orleans, LA - In preparation for the 2013 US Saddle Seat Invitational, to be held April 5-6, 2013 at William Woods University, the US Saddle Seat Young Rider Team attended their first training session on March 1-3 at Cascade Stables in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was the first time the riders and coaches could all come together to work and train as a team. It afforded riders an opportunity to...

Devin Ryan and Calissandro tackle the CWD obstacle on a course designed by Olympic designer Steve Stephens in yesterday's $35,000 CWD Grand Prix in Gulfport (Flashpoint Photography) Gulfport, MS - CWD sponsored rider Devin Ryan from Long Valley, New Jersey aboard his own Calissandro, won the $35,000 CWD Grand Prix yesterday at the Gulf Coast Winter Classic in Gulfport, Mississippi. Calissandro is a nine year old American-bred Holsteiner by Conejo purchased as a two year old by Ryan. Ryan has...