David Blake and Park Lane (Mary Adelaide Brakenridge for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Lexington, KY - David Blake piloted the up-and-coming young horse Park Lane to a win in the $5,000 1.40m Open Jumpers to kick off the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show's jumper divisions. Earlier in the day, Christi Israel rode Bull Run's Zino Platinum to first place in the 1.35m Open Jumpers. The $5,000 1.40m Open Jumpers was run as a speed class over the course designed by Allen Rheinheimer....

I guess the beginning is a great place to start. I grew up in Maine, the oldest of five, to a father who was in the military and a mother who was a housewife until the youngest of my siblings was in Junior-High school. We grew up on the other side of middle-class, OK, we were poor. I grew up watching spaghetti westerns in black and white on Saturday afternoons. I always loved the intrigue of being a Cowboy, pushing cattle up the Chisholm Trail, fighting bad guys and Indians. Next to the pony...

Amy Lewis and Sir Steinerman (David Honor) Lexington, KY - The final Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Session of Spring 2013 wrapped up Sunday at Oak Hill Farm in Lockport, Illinois. The two-day training session featured 11 horses between the ages of four and six and was once again led by USEF Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler. “We had a terrific training session at Oak Hill Farm in Illinois. There was once again a nice balance of U.S.-bred and imported horses,” said Hassler....

One of the many wonders of Western Dressage is about the Journey. This Journey is one of education, growth, fun, friendships and of course, horses. Western heritage commonly references the tales shared out on the trail and around the campfire. These tales could be life changing experiences, important lessons, new knowledge, or just general fun. The Western Dressage Association® of America is inviting members to share the stories of their Western Dressage Journey. The WDAA is looking for...

Lars Petersen and Marietta (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL - Lars Petersen (DEN) and Mariett emerged victorious from Saturday night's FEI Grand Prix Freestyle 5*. The class was showcased under the lights of The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) during the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) Wellington 5*, presented by Diamante Farms. Second place went to Steffen Peters and Legolas 92, and Tina Konyot rode Calecto V to third place. Judges for the class...

The top three teams with Artisan Farms' Carlene Ziegler and ringmaster Cliff Haines (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Thursday's competition concluded in the International Arena at PBIEC with the $20,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Team Event, held in a Nations Cup format shown over two rounds of competition. With five teams of four competing, Team 5 was the winner. The team, made up of Wilton Porter riding Sleepy P Ranch LLC's Paloubet, Catherine Pasmore riding Freddy Star, Eugenio...

Andrew Bourns and Gatsby (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival concluded its seventh week of competition, sponsored by Hermès, with action at two parts of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Sunday. At The Stadium, Irish riders Andrew Bourns, Darragh Kenny, and Shane Sweetnam swept the top three in the $50,000 Hermès Jumper Derby with a win for Bourns and his mount Gatsby. In the International Arena, Praise and Sheila Motley...

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...

What is the next frontier in the equestrian world? According to Dr. Jim Warson, Equestrian Medicine Specialist and author of The Rider’s Pain Free Back , “its rider health and development. The horses are as good as they are going to be in our lifetimes, so this is where the action is. Rider health and conditioning make us worthy of the horses that we spend so much time and money on”. Dr. Jim Warson with his beautiful horse, Gallahad Golden Warrior, “Trigger” Dr....

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...