Devon, PA - Another gorgeous day at Dressage at Devon as the 2013 breed show continued. Friesians Take Their Place Over the past few years, Friesians have become more popular in the dressage world and, with feathers flying, made their way into the winner’s circle more than once in the 2013 Dressage at Devon Breed Show. Jupiter ISF (Maeije 440 x Cleo van het Binnenveld), bred by Iron Spring Farm was Reserve Champion in the Devon Colt/Gelding Championship. He also placed third in the Great...

Sonoma, PA - Peter Breakwell of New Zealand took top honors on Sunday, September 22nd in Sonoma Horse Park’s marquee class, winning the $25,000 Balancing Tonic Grand Prix to close out the 2013 SHP Finale, the final show of the popular facility’s seven-week season. Just a week after winning the $20,000 Stable Mix Grand Prix aboard his veteran show jumper Lucas, Breakwell took a new mount to the winners circle in Finnley 5, a 9-year-old Westfalian gelding that was jumping in just his...

Welcome to the fifth nstallment of a different kind of blog from WDAA! The purpose of this post is to allow the reader "into the heads" of both a trainer/judge/competitor, Karen Abbattista and her student, Deborah Herbert, a Florida WDAA member. We would like to share with you some moments in Deb's journey as she pursues her riding goals with her AQHA mare "GenuineArcticSpring", barn name "Belle". Please enjoy as you follow along with these posts that we consider interesting or challenging...

Valkenswaard, Germany - CSI Valkenswaard has been kind to U.S. riders over the last two days. Eight classes have seen Americans atop the leaderboard and they've been near the top in others. Below is a quick breakdown of CSI2* and CSI1* classes with links to full results. CSI1* Friday Alexandra Crown started things well for the U.S contingent with a win in the Special Invitational against the clock. She and her own Quadrant finished first, Alexandra Cherubini and Lovelite LLC's Equifit...

Thanks to everyone who took the time to send emails to USEF and for sharing your thoughts and feelings about the direction Western Dressage should take. It is so important to hear and listen to different ideas from all directions as the discipline develops. At this point all there is to do is continue to ride and train and show, and most important, to have fun with our horses. With another show coming up this weekend for us, I have put a lot of thought into the questions the last show brought...

The Western Dressage Association® of America (WDAA) has designed Western Dressage Rules to be utilized across various breeds that are either affiliated with or operate independently of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). Bitting requirements differ across the breed shows and events that host more than just Western Dressage. In order to design a universally inclusive discipline across all breeds and encourage equestrians to explore Western Dressage; WDAA felt obliged to respect...

Note to Self: 1. Prepare classical instructor that you will be appearing before him in western tack and riding an Appaloosa stallion, NOT your third level Westfalen import and 2. Don’t ride in a clinic without a photographer A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…. I got a book from the library called The Schooling of the Western Horse by John Richard Young. It was published in 1945 (practically the dark ages) and outlined progressive training for western horses. Critically...

Heather Blitz and Paragon (Susan J. Stickle) Wellington, FL - Blitz and Paragon finished first in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDIO 3* with a 72.313%, narrowly beating fellow American Cesar Parra and Van the Man who finished second with a 72.208%. Shelly Francis (USA) and Doktor rounded out the top three with a final score of 70.646%. Judges for the class were: Linda Zang at E, Anne Gribbons at H, Mirabel Alonso at C, Joan Macartney at M, and Evi Eisenhardt at B. The three-day, three-test format...

Shelly Francis and Danilo (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL - Shelly Francis (USA) and Danilo clinched another FEI Prix St Georges victory on Friday afternoon with a score of 72.579% in the class presented by Peacock Ridge. Francis and Danilo were the only pair to break 70% in the class of nearly twenty competitors. Judges for the class were: Cesar Torrente at E, Stephen Clarke at H, Anne Gribbons at C, Lilo Fore at M, and Raphael Saleh at B. Brittany Fraser (CAN) and All In secured a second...

Show season is rolling all over the country. Let the games begin indeed! Western Dressage tests are being ridden in competitive venues all over, especially in the more temperate areas of the nation. Not the northeast! Riders are already sending test sheets in to the “NAWD Trax” year end award program. IPHDA has already completed 2 cycles of virtual shows with entries due for the March V show on Monday April 1st. USEF Morgan tests have been ridden in the first dressage schooling show...