This article was originally published at www.useventing.com . Leesburg, Va. - In her announcement of the appointments to the task force, Ms. Pitts stated, “I believe all of us share in the belief that one of the USEA's primary concerns should always be the improvement of safety in our sport.” The USEA, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and the sport as a whole have made tremendous strides in the past two...

Lexington, Kentucky - The United States heads into the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final as the winner of the North American League and will look to again showcase its winning form. Teams from 18 nations have traveled to Barcelona, Spain, to contest the inaugural Final, which is held in conjunction with CSIO5* Barcelona, September 26-29, 2013. Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland brings a group of steely veterans and rising stars to Spain. Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Reed Kessler, Lucy...

The eighteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder The latest addition to the Western Dressage information network is a new Facebook page dedicated exclusively to calendar events around the nation. The new page is called, appropriately, “Western Dressage Shows & Events” and is maintained by Vaquero Training Center in Connecticut. The page is designed to keep Western Dressage enthusiasts informed about what is going on all over the country. It is a brand new FB...

The seventh in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Before we learn to read we must learn the ABC’s. William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle (1593-1676) suggested an analogy between the education of a child and horse trainers who made unrealistic demands on young horses. Centuries ago he asked, ‘I would fain ask such stupid people, whether, by beating a boy, they could teach him to read, without first showing him his alphabet?’1 Systematic progressive training is not...

Chef d'Equipe Missy Ransehousen, Dale Dedrick, MD, Rebecca Hart, Mary Jordan, Jonathan Wentz, and coach Kai Handt, USA Team that earned the needed first place over Canada in Wellington, Florida January 2012 (Lindsay McCall) Lexington, KY - Coming off of a strong performance at the recent Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3* Team Qualifier for the Paralympics in Wellington, FL USA's Para-Dressage team has earned a spot at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. "It's very...

SAUGERTIES, NY – Just as Marshall & Sterling League action reached its peak at the National Finals, riders entered the Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium on Saturday to compete for the popular Farnam Adult Medal. Elysse Ruschmeyer of South Glastonbury, Conneticut aboard her own Arktis was crowned the winner of the Farnam Adult Medal. She topped a field of 41 riders who competed all year in hopes of qualifying for the finals. Ruschmeyer also rode to a top-five finish in the Hudson...

SAUGERTIES, NY – In the midst of the Marshall & Sterling League National Finals, HITS-on-the-Hudson rolled out the red carpet on Saturday afternoon for the prestigious 2011 National PHA Medal Final. Like many of the classes held in Saugerties this week, the PHA Medal Final took place in the famous Strongid® C 2X Stadium where Rebekah Chenelle of Hebron, Connecticut emerged as the big winner after she topped the field of 25 riders. “We love coming to these Finals,” said...

SAUGERTIES, NY – On a beautiful and sunny Friday morning, 30 qualified riders took to the Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, NY to compete for the Marshall & Sterling Adult Working Hunter Championship. In the end, Lindsay Lynch and Bethany Greskovich’s Brother Bear stood in the winner’s circle to accept the honors. Lynch, of Medford, New Jersey, was one of 30 competitors who competed in the Adult Hunter Division over courses designed...

Samantha Schaefer and Lyn Pedersen's Mahalo on course during the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final (ESI Photography). Saugerties, NY – All bets were off Sunday morning as judges cards were wiped clean from Saturday’s first two rounds of the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final and the top 25 riders advanced to the final two rounds in the Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium at HITS-on-the-Hudson. With an impressive fourth-round score of 92.33 and a total score of 178.08,...

Andre Thieme on course with his own Aragon Rouet at the 2011 Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix (ESI Photography). Saugerties, NY - As the rain subsided at HITS-on-the-Hudson on Sunday, some of the best equestrians in the world took to the course of the second-ever Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. But, after a plane-ride from Germany, upwards of $20,000 in travel expenses and a long week of nerves it was Andre Thieme who will cash the coveted $350,000 winner’s check. During the qualifying season...