The ninth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Western Dressage is a new and growing discipline in the horse world. People are talking about it everywhere. At North American Western Dressage we answer questions every day about what it is, how you do it, what you wear, what your horse wears, bits, reins, helmets, levels of tests and competition, movements and how you do them and a myriad of other things. Answering these questions could be a full time job for any one of our...

The sixth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder When on a horse, I wear a riding helmet. My students wear riding helmets. I ride and show western and dressage. The helmet/hat quandary, style vs. safety, the tradition or common sense conversation is therefore a subject near and dear to my heart. On March 22, 2012, I went into the hay barn to get a bale of hay to feed lunch in the barn. To make a long story short, despite my usual care in tipping bales, as I turned to leave the...

The fifth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Last week I poked a little fun at what western dressage riders are wearing for both schooling and show. This week I want to bring you the reality of the situation from manufacturers who give us the products that will ultimately be seen in rings around the country. Last week I showed you the proposed North American Western Dressage rules for WD show attire. Since the requirements state that riders must wear a long-sleeved shirt with...

The fourth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Every day I head out to the barn to work. Like other trainers, I work outside in temperatures from 0 to 100 7 days a week, almost 365 days a year, from dawn till dark and sometimes longer. As a professional trainer and riding instructor I am called on to muck stalls, fix fence, buck hay, dump grain, rake footing, fill water buckets, sweep the aisle, clean tack, change bandages, medicate, lead beginners, longe riders, heft children...

McLain Ward and Sapphire (Shannon Brinkman/USEF) Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Ad Hoc Committee on Selection has approved naming McLain Ward with both Antares F and Sapphire to the Show Jumping Long List for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Due to the fact that Ward will not be able to compete in the Selection Trials because of an injury he sustained in January 2012, the USEF Selectors in consultation with Chef d'Equipe George Morris and Team Veterinarian...

February 18-19 California: There is a bit of a lighter schedule, I'm sure the West Coasters would love a good show of support!! Shannon Lilley, Max McManamy, and MacKenna Shea will all be getting instruction from Capt Phillips the mornings of Saturday Feb 18th and Sunday February 19th February 20-21 Aiken Schedule for Monday February 20th 1030 Mighty Nice/ Neville 1115 Ben/ Otis 1200 Mystery Whisper/ Wolf 1245 William Penn/ Nevada Bay 1330 LUNCH/ Twizzel flat w CMP 1415 Donner/ Ballylaffin...

Isabelle Leibler and her own Watson 108 are set to represent the US at the FEI Young Rider Dressage World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, held Dec. 14-18. The 2011 Gold medalists from the Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North and National Young Rider Dressage Champions at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Championships travelled to Germany and will spend some time training prior to competition before competition gets underway. Travel...

Oklahoma City, OK – The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma continued today with two Adequan® NAAC championship classes, the second go-round, second section of the $540,000-added NRHA Open Futurity and the first go-round, third section of the $260,000-added Cinch / NRHA Non Pro Futurity. Michael Boyle marked Tuesday’s highest score, a 222.5, aboard Darling 888...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) welcomes SmartPak Equine as the presenting sponsor of USEF Network, the Federation's multi-media platform featuring live and on-demand video, news, photography, competition information and select coverage from shows and events across the country. "We are positively thrilled to be partnering with U.S. Equestrian Federation to help grow the already successful USEF Network," said Colby Balazs, SmartPak Vice President of Marketing....

During the Sponsor’s Welcome Party, Allison seemed to be on a roll. Not only did she pick up the prize for the Style Award for the best dressed woman at the first horse inspection for which she won a pair of new Dubarry boots. Later in the evening, she proved just how aligned the stars were for her when during the lucky draw for a new Rolex watch, she happened to win that, too! “So far, so good!” Allison laughed. “But, I do want to win one of these the hard way,...