The NCEA regular season is almost over. There’s not a lot going on this weekend, but the one major conference matchup is a good one. No.3 Oklahoma State University vs. No.8 Kansas State University This marquee matchup of Big 12 rivals is a fitting way to close out the conference’s season, and get a glimpse of what’s to come in the Big 12 championship and the NCEA Championship. Oklahoma State is the higher ranked team, and the favorite here, and a win for the Cowgirls would...

This weeks blog comes to you from beautiful British Columbia Canada. I try to bring you news and fun stuff no matter where I am in the world. I have a perfect opportunity to share a Western Dressage story from a reader that has a Canadian link and I think you will enjoy it. Remember, if you would like to share your story, send it to me via email at [email protected]. When the perfect moment comes, I will share your story too! Dear Ms. Binder, In the USEF Weekly Newsletter for...

The meeting of No.1 and No.2 is the highlight of this weekend's NCEA schedule. Overall there's a lot to follow on Saturday and Sunday. My brief preview of all the scheduled NCEA competition this week is below. No.1 University of Georgia vs. No2. Auburn University Indy Roper and the No.2 Auburn Tigers head to Bishop, GA to take on the No.1 Georgia Bulldogs (Danielle Long - Sophomore at Auburn) These two teams were separated by 1 point in the latest coaches poll and both are in the middle...

How can you practice anything on your horse when there’s six inches of snow on the ground, it’s below freezing, the wind is blowing, and you’re not blessed with an indoor arena? Here in Colorado, we often have beautiful, sunny days where we can exercise our horses outdoors for hours. On other days, not so much. As a friend of mine said, "it’s not how you ride your horse; it’s how you live your life." He was referring to work you can do off your horse, such as...

What is the equestrian demographic in North America? Surveys reveal it consists of women who, after a career, raising children, or both, have either returned to riding or are pursuing it as a life long dream. I fall into this demographic, having returned after both a career and children, and once again after major surgery. But where do we go to find training, a supportive community and a purpose in this endeavor? After much exploration, I was lucky enough to find Western Dressage through the...

Alexandra Lawson is a 19-year-old freshman at Purdue University from North Salem, Indiana. She is a member of the three-gaited section of the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. I've spent most of my life in the small farm communities of Danville and North Salem, Indiana. My parents and maternal grandparents are grain farmers - farming about 5,000 acres in the surrounding area. When you grow up in farm country, you just naturally get involved with FFA and 4-H, and it was through 4-H that...

Emily Chapman is an 18-year-old from Tucson, Arizona who will be attending the University of Kentucky in the Spring of 2013. She is a member of the three-gaited section of the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. There is a misconception that equitation is easy, and that the riders who show in this division simply “sit pretty” on a horse. So people often ask why I chose to compete in the equitation division over other divisions. Well, because one of the primary goals of equitation...

Nick Maupin is a 19-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin majoring in Business Marketing and plans to graduate in 2015. From Sussex, Wisconsin, he is on the five-gaited section of the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. It would not surprise any member of the Saddle Seat world to hear me say that the discipline is generally, along with Saddle Seat Equitation, a female dominated sport. Quite possibly the only time one will see a male majority in a class is in the Open divisions. Not...

Wayne, IL - Champions were crowned in four divisions Saturday at the Lamplight Equestrian Center as the Developing Horse Grand Prix, Five-Year-Old , Four-Year-Old and 13 & Under equitation competition wrapped up. In the USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix Championship supported by Hilda Gurney and Carol Lavell, Lisa Wilcox and Pikko del Cerro HU proved unbeatable as they cruised to victory by a decisive margin. Claiming the 2012 Five-Year-Old title was Lientje Schueler and Regalo, while...

Tulsa, OK – The Global Reining Sport Group, proud owners and producers of the Ariat Tulsa Reining Classic are thrilled to announce that the 2012 ATRC will once again play host to the highly-esteemed 2012 Adequan/USEF National Reining Championship. Offering major prize money, fabulous national championship trophies and awards, and major bragging rights as the 2012 US National Champion in the sport of Reining, the Adequan/USEF National Reining Championship is a welcome addition to the 2012...