Lexington, Ky. - At the USEF Year End Awards Gala Saturday night Abigail Wexner's Simon and Janet Peterson and Liza Boyd's Brunello were named International Horse of the Year and National Horse of the Year respectively. Voting was open to the public in December and both horses, already fan favorites, were rewarded for their tremendous results throughout 2013 with support from voters. International Horse of the Year Simon (Mr. Blue x Naline) 1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding Owner: Abigail...

Prohibited Practices A new category of rules referred to as Prohibited Practices has been introduced to the USEF Rule Book which will take effect December 1, 2013. The first rule to be adopted in this category is commonly referred to as the "12 Hour Rule." It was introduced in March of 2013 by the USEF Veterinary Committee and following extensive feedback from USEF Technical Committees, Working Groups, and from attendees at USEF Town Hall Meetings held in Florida in March, and via interactive...

Woodside, California - Lauren Billys, of Sanger, Calif., guided Ballingowan Ginger to a four-fault show jumping round to grab the lead (51.0) in the CIC3* at the Woodside International Horse Trials. Debbie Rosen, of Calabasas, Calif., stands second on The Alchemyst (54.5), and Jolie Wentworth, of Crockett, Calif., stands third on Good Knight (58.2). The Woodside International Horse Trials are the first event in the 2013/2014 season of the Adequan/USEA Gold Cup Series. Billys, 25, and...

Barbara Ann Merryman and El Paso (Randi Muster) Jacksonville, FL - The third day of the 2013 Southeast Medal Finals was another busy day at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. Highlights included the Children's Adult Jumper Championship, the Phelps Media Group Junior Medal with an astounding number of entries in its second year- over 60 entries, and the Southeast Adult Medal Final. For the second year in a row, Dr. Juan Gamboa and his incredible horse, Partizan, captured the lead of the...

Caitlin Boyle following her win in the IHJA Junior Medal Finals (Emily Riden) Wayne, IL - The long anticipated Illinois Hunter Jumper Association (IHJA) "A" Medal Finals sponsored by Barrington Saddlery, were the highlight of the Grand Prix Ring today at the Showplace Fall Classic Championship Horse Show at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. An all day slow rain didn't stop competitors since the new GGT footing was perfect in the rain. Popular course designer Skip Bailey of Wellington, FL,...

Wayne, IL - The 2013 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com continued on Friday with the second and final day of Qualifying Classes. Promising Six-Year-Olds and Developing Prix St. Georges Horses showcased their talents in front of the judging panel of Janet Foy, Bill Warren and Linda Zang in Lamplight Equestrian Centers’ Championship Arena. In the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Six-Year-Old National Championships presented by...

Wayne, IL - The 2013 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com kicked off Thursday at the Lamplight Equestrian Center under intermittently stormy skies. The first three of five divisions completed their Qualifying Classes in front of the judging panel comprised of Janet Foy, Bill Warren, and Linda Zang. In the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Four-Year-Old National Championships presented by HorseShow.com Rebellienne, HVH holds the lead...

The Welsh Pony & Cob Society of America is pleased to announce its High Score winners at the 2013 Pony Hunter Finals. Due to the success of this program, the awards were again expanded this year to include Partbred Welsh (25% Welsh) as well as Purebred and Half Welsh. Also new this year was the addition of ribbons for the top four Welsh in each of the green divisions. The highest scoring Purebred Welsh and the highest Scoring Half/Part Bred Welsh in both the green and the regular divisions...

Welcome to the third installment of a different kind of blog from WDAA! The purpose of this post is to allow the reader "into the heads" of both a trainer/judge/competitor, Karen Abbattista and her student, Deborah Herbert, a Florida WDAA member. We would like to share with you some moments in Deb's journey as she pursues her riding goals with her AQHA mare "GenuineArcticSpring", barn name "Belle". Please enjoy as you follow along with these posts that we consider interesting or challenging...

Amanda Steege guided Tony Arena’s Majestic to the High Performance Hunter Championship title during WCHR week at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT - World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) competition took place throughout the third week of competition, held July 17-21, at the Vermont Summer Festival, attracting the East Coast’s top hunter riders as they prepare for WCHR Finals this fall. Professionals were among the first to...