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,...

Devon, PA – The competition continued today with classes including the FEI Intermediaire I, the FEI Young Rider Individual Text, Fourth Level tests, FEI Team Test Ponies and the highly anticipated FEI Grand Prix Freestyle. The Riders Jacqueline Brooks and D-Niro (Hoof Print Images) “This night is my favorite. I’m thrilled to have won,” said Jacqueline Brooks, winner of the Grand Prix Freestyle. She’s only been riding D-Niro since February of 2011 but has already...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the new Dressage Rider Tests Program for the 2013 competition year. Designed and drafted by a joint working group from the USEF Dressage Committee and appointees from the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), these tests are available for use by riders at Training, First, and Seconds Levels. While neither these tests nor their subsequent scores are a requirement to progress through the levels, they are...

Wayne, IL - The 2012 USEF National Dressage Championships came to a conclusion Sunday at the Lamplight Equestrian Center with champions crowned across three divisions. Intermittent rain could not dampen spirits as final competition was held in the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today, the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships and the USEF National Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage Championship presented by The Dutta Corp. and Performance Sales...

The second in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder I started formal riding lessons when I was four years old. English riding lessons. The doctors told my mom it would be good for me. It was 1969. The Academy where I learned is now a national historic landmark. By the time I was 6, I was riding with double reins. My introduction to western riding came when my parents purchased a POA stallion for me the summer of my sixth year. That pony could buck my dad off! ‘Nuff said. When...

Devon, PA – The world-famous Breed Division at Dressage at Devon continued today. With some of the most stunning horses from around the world competing, it was Rheporter, Dazzle, Rabiola and Doctor Wendell MF who treated spectators to the final feast for the eyes, floating around the Dixon Oval as they competed for top honors in the Grand Championship. It was déjà vu when Rabiola won the Four-Year-Old and Older Broodmare’s class. The mare by Metall out of Fabiola by...

Becky Broussard's Legacy Rides on with Record Number of Competitors Registered for the West's Largest Equestrian Competition July 21-24, 2011 Kalispell, Mont. - A record 503 competitors are registered to compete in the 10th Anniversary of The Event at Rebecca Farm where many of the world's best horses and riders, as well as promising young competitors, will compete July 21-24, 2011. The Event is the largest equestrian triathlon in the U.S. and a selection trial for the 2012 London...

Kirsten Coe has recently arrived in Europe to prepare for the 2011 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final. Coe will be riding fiance Ilan Ferder's Tristan in Leipzig, Germany. Kirsten will be blogging for The Chronicle of the Horse about her experiences preparing for and at her first FEI World Cup Final. We Finally Made It to Europe! All The Math Paid Off

Photo Courtesy American Connemara Pony Society On two weekends at the end of June and beginning of July there were three United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)-recognized Connemara shows or divisions in USEF-recognized shows. On June 26, the West Coast Connemara Show was held in Pasa Robles, CA, and this year included a USEF- and United States Dressage Federation-recognized dressage show and a USEF-recognized in-hand breed show. Marynell Eyles was the judge for the in-hand and performance...

Wayne, Ill. – The penultimate day of the 2023 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions crowned six new national champions in the developing Prix St. Georges, Grand Prix, 4-year-old, 5-year-old, pony rider, and young adult Brentina Cup divisions. The USEF Children Dressage National Championship also held the first of its two-round national championship, which will conclude on Sunday. Sabine Schut-Kery and Sonnenberg's Jersey. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Markel/USEF Developing Horse...