The twenty first in a series of blog post from Michelle Binder As this blog has progressed, I have tried to bring awareness about Western Dressage to the equestrian community at large. Now I am going to encourage you to do some research on your own. By now you know that there are several organizations promoting the development of the sport. At this point the question we hear most often from people all over is: “What is the difference?” To some it seems that the differences that...

The eleventh in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder If I go to a restaurant and order lemonade, I do not expect to receive a glass of ice water with a lemon wedge on the rim of the glass. When I am thinking about what western dressage is to me, I envision a discipline as fully flavored as that glass of lemonade. In fact, my vision for the future of western dressage as an independent and unique equestrian discipline may be more like strawberry lemonade! As a dressage instructor and...

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...

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....

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce that the 2024 Robert Dover USEF Horsemastership Clinic Week (RDHCW) will take place January 3-7, 2024, at the Adequan ® Global Dressage Festival showgrounds in Wellington, Fla. Twenty athletes will be invited to participate, including up to two wild card spots. Invitations have been extended to the following athletes: The highest-placed U.S. individual medalists from the 2023 FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) in the Young...

Lexington, Ky. -- US Equestrian has announced the combinations selected for the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors will now compete as individuals on September 2 in Castelsagrat, France, due to a combination withdrawal. The U.S. will be led by Chef d’Equipe Lisanne Dorion with support from Dr. Olivia Rudolphi as veterinarian. Fine Cut Gold, a 2011 Arabian mare owned by Valerie Kanavy and Wendy MacCoubrey, and ridden by Alex Shampoe (Colorado Springs, Colo.), has...