Boekelo, The Netherlands- The United States sent two Land Rover Competition and Training Grant recipients down the centerline Thursday at the Military Boekelo CCIO3* in front of the Ground Jury composed of Sue Stewart, Eric Lieby, and Helen Christie. Leading the U.S. effort in FEI Nations Cup Eventing competition are Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen. The pair performed a pleasing test to score 46.2 and stand in 11th place following the first day of dressage. Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen...

Lexington, KY - A strong contingent of U.S. horses and riders are set to compete in FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing competition this weekend at the Military Boekelo-Enschede CCIO3*, October 11-14. The team of Jennie Brannigan, Phillip Dutton, Jon Holling and Clark Montgomery are competing at the premiere Dutch competition as part of the Land Rover Competition and Training Grants program. Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda (Picsofyou.com) Boekelo, the sixth and final competition in the inaugural FEI...

Rebecca Hart receiving 2012 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship Award from Ann Romney. Photograph (c)Sue Stickle Photography at SusanJStickle.com New York, NY - On Wednesday October 10th, U.S. Paralympian Rebecca Hart of Unionville, Penn. will be showcased on ABC's Good Morning America. Hart will accompany Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney in New York's Times Square. Mrs. Romney and Rebecca Hart will be speaking about how horses have...

The sixteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder In an attempt to acknowledge the current diversity within the discipline, show organizers have started offering exhibitors the opportunity to ride ANY test they want to ride, from any organization that has published tests. A buffet of western dressage is now available with something for everyone. The show organizers want to meet the needs of the competitors and in so doing really have taken the first step toward acceptance and...

The fifteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Last weekend our barn attended the first Western Dressage classes in our area. It was a beautiful day to ride in a beautiful venue at a facility where the idea of western dressage has been warmly accepted. It was such a nice feeling to share space with dressage riders and enthusiasts, most of whom were very curious about the discipline. We rode all the North American Western Dressage Tests through Level 4 and found the tests...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the new Dressage Rider Tests Program for the 2013 competition year. Designed and drafted by a joint working group from the USEF Dressage Committee and appointees from the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), these tests are available for use by riders at Training, First, and Seconds Levels. While neither these tests nor their subsequent scores are a requirement to progress through the levels, they are...

The fourteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder The last several weeks I’ve talked about how to get started in western dressage. If you are curious, you’ve checked out the website, taken advantage of the free basic membership by becoming a member, read the rules, reviewed the tests, read the articles, participated in the Forum discussions, found WD groups on Facebook, visited YouTube and chatted with your friends about it. Maybe you’ve contacted your local...

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...

Rusty Stewart and Bristol San Juan Capistrano, CA - The Blenheim Indoor Arena was bursting at its seams this evening during the $50,000 Blenheim World Cup Grand Prix, presented by Summit General Insurance Agency. Spectators filed in by the bus loads and with standing room only, equestrian fans of all ages got to witness the veteran rider Rusty Stewart and his incredible 10-year-old mount Bristol ride a perfect round and win his second consecutive World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix. The pair has...

Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy win the $50,000 Chicago International Hunter Derby.(Aullmyn Photography) Antioch, IL - Jersey Boy and Jennifer Alfano have been red hot since their recent victory as the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals held in Kentucky last month. Their fire did not stop burning as they blazed the way to the top of the $50,000 Chicago International Hunter Derby, presented by Canadian National Railroad. Alfano and Jersey Boy not only took the first place prize, but...