A link to this article had been printed with the permission of Nancy Jaffer and USHJA's In Stride magazine. It's Time to Deal with the Drug Culture - In Stride March 2013

I am thrilled to say the Cowboy Dressage Judges Orientation was a huge success on Friday, February 15th in Medford, OR. A stellar cast of presenters spoke on various topics to fifty plus attendees, most of whom were women. I was surprised there were not more men since it is Cowboy Dressage, but was very happy to see that at least seven states were represented including two individuals from as far away as Wisconsin. Beginning with the video called “From Then to Now” and proceeding to...

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...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the winners of two prestigious awards in the discipline of Endurance, the Maggy Price Endurance Excellence Award and the Brunjes Junior/Young Rider Trophy. The awards will be presented at the USEF Horse of the Year Awards gala and dinner on Friday, January 18, 2013 at the Louisville Marriott Downtown in Louisville, Kentucky. Heather Reynolds (left) riding Riverwatch at the 2012 Longines FEI World Endurance...

This is a truly thrilling time to be a part of Western Dressage and the Western Dressage Association® of America! I recently had the opportunity to chat with Cliff Swanson, who has been instrumental in many facets of the program, including authoring and editing the new tests, working with the Rules Committee, developing the Train The Trainers™ Program and conducting a wonderful series of Skill Set Clinics. Cliff also sits on the Advisory Board for the WDAA. According to Cliff,...

The thirteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder With growth comes ‘growing pains.’ The situation surrounding Western Dressage becomes more complicated with each passing day. More and more shows are offering WD classes with tests from several sources. YouTube watchers see a huge variation in the WD videos presented there. At least three different rulebooks now grace cyberspace and you can read articles and letters to the editor in national and local magazines. The...

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...

The top junior riders from throughout the country will also travel to Lamplight to display their skill in the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today . Riders will be split into two divisions 13 & Under and 14-18 as they demonstrate their mastery of equitation in the dressage ring. Rebecca Blake (FireandEarthPhoto.com) The 13 & Under championship showcases a field of eight from all parts of the United States. Max Brockway of Enumclaw, Washington will be riding in his...

a guest blog post fom Mary Cox The following three ideas may take being somewhat adventuresome but trust me, the result will make it all worth it ! First, research a local stone fabricator in your area. A fabricator makes the template and cuts the stone for granite, marble or stone countertops. Once you’ve located one, pay them a visit and remember to put on your best “I’m a Tack Hoarder – help me” face. Then ask them very sweetly if you can do some “Dumpster...

A guest blog post from Katie Shoultz You touch the future when you embrace the youth. In keeping with this spirit, the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) has a sharp focus on the future with their efforts to engage younger generations in equestrian sports. The IEA was established to promote horsemanship skills in the middle and secondary education level. The 2011-2012 competition year marks the Association’s 10th Anniversary with their yearly National Finals set to take place...