The twentieth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder This week is all about news, news and more news. Never a dull moment in Western Dressage! This just out via a press release from WDAA: “The WDAA has been guided throughout by the leadership, strategy, and policies of its Board of Directors and Advisory Board, both of which are volunteer positions and provide their services without funding. Each are comprised of distinguished professionals from all facets of the equine...

The sixteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder In an attempt to acknowledge the current diversity within the discipline, show organizers have started offering exhibitors the opportunity to ride ANY test they want to ride, from any organization that has published tests. A buffet of western dressage is now available with something for everyone. The show organizers want to meet the needs of the competitors and in so doing really have taken the first step toward acceptance and...

Lexington, KY- The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named four athlete/horse combinations to represent the U.S. at CSIO-W Buenos Aires in Argentina. This CSIO will take place November 6-11, 2012. The United States will be represented by the following combinations: Charlie Jacobs (Boston, MA) on CMJ Sporthorse’s Flaming Star and Deeridge Farms’ Leap of Joy. Flaming Star is a 13-year-old Irish gelding Leap of Joy is an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Quentin Judge...

The fifteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Last weekend our barn attended the first Western Dressage classes in our area. It was a beautiful day to ride in a beautiful venue at a facility where the idea of western dressage has been warmly accepted. It was such a nice feeling to share space with dressage riders and enthusiasts, most of whom were very curious about the discipline. We rode all the North American Western Dressage Tests through Level 4 and found the tests...

The fourteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder The last several weeks I’ve talked about how to get started in western dressage. If you are curious, you’ve checked out the website, taken advantage of the free basic membership by becoming a member, read the rules, reviewed the tests, read the articles, participated in the Forum discussions, found WD groups on Facebook, visited YouTube and chatted with your friends about it. Maybe you’ve contacted your local...

Rusty Stewart and Bristol San Juan Capistrano, CA - The Blenheim Indoor Arena was bursting at its seams this evening during the $50,000 Blenheim World Cup Grand Prix, presented by Summit General Insurance Agency. Spectators filed in by the bus loads and with standing room only, equestrian fans of all ages got to witness the veteran rider Rusty Stewart and his incredible 10-year-old mount Bristol ride a perfect round and win his second consecutive World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix. The pair has...

The twelveth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Every day I field calls from people wanting to know more about Western Dressage. What is it? How do I find out more about it? Can anyone do it? Is it hard? Who teaches Western Dressage? Are there shows? Last weekend a few of our riders were invited to do a Western Dressage demonstration at the local dressage show. What struck me was the feeling of being out of place amongst my dressage friends because we were wearing our western...

The tenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder The development of Western Dressage as a discipline is very exciting to riders, trainers, breeders and exhibitors alike. North American Western Dressage is dedicated to finding common ground between the two disciplines, educating riders from all backgrounds, and to making dressage concepts accessible to western riders without minimizing the importance of the training pyramid nor sacrificing the principles that are fundamental to...

OCALA, FL - Tracy Fenney banked her eighth Grand Prix of the qualifying season with a win in yesterday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health , aboard MTM Farm’s MTM Centano to become eligible for her third appearance in the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix . No stranger to Pfizer Million glory, Fenney appeared in HITS-on-the-Hudson’s big ticket class in both 2010 and 2011 with two top twenty finishes to show for it. Fenney, of Flower Mound, Texas leads...

Lincoln, NE - G. Lowell Boomer of Lincoln, NE, died Sunday, November 20, 2011. Lowell was born on October 12, 1911, in Burwell, Nebraska, to George R, and Grace Y Boomer. Lowell graduated Lincoln High School, and attended the University of Nebraska School of Music, Lincoln. While in High School, he won first place on the clarinet in a Lincoln Music contest playing “Concertino” by Weber. He then went on to win the contests at the State, Regional and National levels. He played...