Lexington, KY - The first Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Session of 2013 wrapped up Sunday at Shannondale Farm in Alpharetta, Georgia. A diverse group of young dressage horses, representing a multitude of breeds and varied levels of experience, were selected for the training session with USEF Young Horse Dressage Coach Scott Hassler. Scott Hassler instructs Sandie Gaines-Beddard and Flairance (Chris Hutchings) Hassler commented, “We had another very successful training session...

Chrevi's Capital and David Marcus. (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL - The 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued Friday at The Stadium for the Wellington Dressage CDI-W presented by The Dutta Corp. Under the lights, the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle dazzled with international riders going for the win. For the second day in a row, the top two spots were held by the same rider/horse combinations. The blue ribbon went to David Marcus (CAN) riding Chrevi's Capital (Chrevi's...

Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic Wellington, FL - Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic added a brilliant victory in today's Gold Coast Opener Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W to their win in Friday's Grand Prix CDI-W, both at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. The pair of strong showings establishes them as top contenders in the World Dressage Masters (WDM) CDI5* Palm Beach at Jim Brandon, which will take place January 24-26. WDM will be far from a walkover, however. Kittel and Watermill...

Westport, CT - The EQUUS Foundation and the American Association of Equine Practioners (AAEP) Foundation joinly established the EQUUS Foundation Research Fellowship program in 2011 to emphasize the importance of equine research, to reward researchers for their contributions, and to meet the increasing need to train future equine veterinary researchers. Two equine researchers were presented with the 2012 EQUUS Foundation Research Fellows for their work to advance veterinary knowledge during the...

Temecula, CA - The Galway Downs International Three-Day event got underway this morning with the first horse inspection for the four divisions, followed by dressage for 30 of the 49 starters in the CCI1*. Competition continues on Friday with the completion of the CCI1* dressage, before all the horses in the training three-day event, the CCI2* and the featured CCI3* perform in the dressage ring. The early leader in the CCI1* is Julie Flettner, of Petaluma, Calif., on Ping Pong, who scored 42.5...

Devon, PA - Friday was the first full day of performance classes plus wonderful exhibitions by Aussie horseman Guy McLean and the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association Quadrille. “Remember Hope; this is your dream to do dressage at Devon,” said Guy McLean to his horse, Hope, explaining to the audience that following his performance last year they had a conversation that ended with a commitment by both horse and rider to perform dressage in the Dixon. Later on the Delaware...

Tony Suraci on stage as The Highwayman (Galway Downs Press Office) Temecula, CA - Riders and fans will see an even more attractive competition site when they return to the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event on Nov. 1-4. More than 500 new trees now further enhance the grounds, and 15 acres of grass polo fields have been installed in the center of the racetrack. But the trees are just the beginning of the steps organizer Robert Kellerhouse has taken to make the Galway Downs International...

The eleventh in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder If I go to a restaurant and order lemonade, I do not expect to receive a glass of ice water with a lemon wedge on the rim of the glass. When I am thinking about what western dressage is to me, I envision a discipline as fully flavored as that glass of lemonade. In fact, my vision for the future of western dressage as an independent and unique equestrian discipline may be more like strawberry lemonade! As a dressage instructor and...

The ninth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Western Dressage is a new and growing discipline in the horse world. People are talking about it everywhere. At North American Western Dressage we answer questions every day about what it is, how you do it, what you wear, what your horse wears, bits, reins, helmets, levels of tests and competition, movements and how you do them and a myriad of other things. Answering these questions could be a full time job for any one of our...

Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince get some serious height over the CWD fence in Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Saugerties. (ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY – Laura Chapot just extended her impressive mid-summer winning streak with another victory in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS-on-the-Hudson. Friday’s triumph marked the fourth consecutive win for Chapot in the last two weeks and the...