Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will be well represented at the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final April 24-28 as 11 American show jumpers will head to Göteborg, Sweden for the 2013 Final. After 25 North American World Cup Qualifying Events throughout the 2012-2013 season, the following riders have qualified in this order in their respective Leagues: East: Kent Farrington (Wellington, FL) will ride R.C.G. Farm's Uceko Uceko is a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding...

Lauren Barwick (CAN) and Off To Paris (Lindsay McCall) Wellington, FL - Opening day at the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival WEF Dressage Classic CPEDI3*, presented by Today's Equestrian and Fellows, showcased many of North America's top Para-Dressage riders. Equestrians from Canada and the U.S. competed in the Team Test completing their first of three days of para-dressage tests. The friendly but competitive atmosphere between the countries was illustrated among the riders as they...

Wellington, FL- The International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center belonged to the future of the sport as Young Riders, Juniors and Child Riders went to task over beautifully built courses by Anthony D'Ambrosio. The first rounds of the three FEI Nations Cup competitions, which The U.S. Young Rider Team stood atop the podium (Sportfot) were being held as part of CSIO Wellington, were jumped during the windy afternoon session, with riders returning for a second round...

Jacob Pope completes the Final Test at the Alltech National Horse Show aboard Patrick to win the coveted ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals (Rebecca Walton/PMG) Lexington, KY - It was another fairytale day for Jacob Pope of Columbia, MD, during the 2012 Maclay National Championship for the ASCPA Alfred B. Maclay Horsemanship Classes. The Alltech National Horse Show, 129th Edition, welcomed 152 riders for the prestigious event. At the end of the day, it was 18-year-old Pope whose horsemanship...

The eighteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder The latest addition to the Western Dressage information network is a new Facebook page dedicated exclusively to calendar events around the nation. The new page is called, appropriately, “Western Dressage Shows & Events” and is maintained by Vaquero Training Center in Connecticut. The page is designed to keep Western Dressage enthusiasts informed about what is going on all over the country. It is a brand new FB...

Samantha Harrison was crowned the winner of the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals West (Flying Horse Photography) Los Angeles, CA - After three days and numerous tests, Samantha Harrison (La Canada, CA) found herself leading the victory gallop of the 2012 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals West. The win was made even more sweet for the Oklahoma State University junior and member of the NCEA Equestrian team. "Winning means so much to me because...

Lexington, Ky - The second edition of the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, KY, is set for October 30 through November 4, 2012. The show will once again be held at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. In addition to world-class show jumping and the country's best and most competitive hunter divisions, the show will also feature one of the nation's longest running and most coveted national championships, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty...

Leslie Howard and Lennox Lewis 2 Win $15,000 Equine Insurance Speed Stake Presented by Great American Insurance Group Candice King and Kismet 50 (Tammy Hardy Photography) Hampton Falls, NH – More than 5,000 spectators came to watch the final day of The Jumper Classic®, presented by Fidelity Investments® and Audi of America. Held at the Silver Oak Equestrian Center, The Jumper Classic had their two final highlight classes of the week. In the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix,...

The seventh in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Before we learn to read we must learn the ABC’s. William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle (1593-1676) suggested an analogy between the education of a child and horse trainers who made unrealistic demands on young horses. Centuries ago he asked, ‘I would fain ask such stupid people, whether, by beating a boy, they could teach him to read, without first showing him his alphabet?’1 Systematic progressive training is not...

The first in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder My first pony ride was in 1967. I was 18 months old. It must have stuck with me because I rode horses forever after that. I have been a professional in the equestrian industry since 1989 and my parents have supported my horseback riding activities all my life. Recently, seeking that formerly ever present support, I shared with my mom my desire to get involved in Western Dressage. Imagine my surprise when she exclaimed “Western...