Welcome to 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 moments on her journey...

Parker, CO - Exciting show jumping action kicked off the first day of competition at Summer in the Rockies V in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena at the Colorado Horse Park. Brazilian course designer Anderson Lima welcomed horse and rider combinations to Week V of the "AA"-Rated series with courses that offered interesting options for shaving off time. Thirty riders and their mounts jumped around the 1.30m track. Hunter Holloway and Julie Dodd's Libra were the first to go...

Kelley Farmer and Taken jumping to back-to-back blue ribbons in Thursday's High Performance Hunter division of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. (Emily Riden) Lexington, KY - Fresh off wins in Lexington, Virginia, Kelley Farmer made the trip to Lexington, Kentucky and once again topped the leader board during the first day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. Farmer swept the field of top hunter riders in both of today's High Performance Hunter classes aboard Taken, kicking off the five-days...

Tim McQuay and Mega Watt Shine (Shannon Brinkman) Lexington, KY - The reining world descends on the Kentucky Horse Park this weekend as many of the best in the sport have come to Lexington to compete in the 2013 Kentucky Reining Cup. Held in conjunction with the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, competition will be held April 26-27 in the Alltech Arena. On Friday, CRI3* Open FEI Reining competition will begin at 6:00 pm ET, while Saturday's Reining World Freestyle...

Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Irish show jumper Shane Sweetnam is on a roll during week five of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) with a set of back to back wins in Friday's $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed and jump-off classes to follow up a victory in Thursday's $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic. All three wins were on Spy Coast Farm owned horses - the 1.45m aboard Everly Chin de la Pomme and Friday's 1.40m speed aboard...

How do good ideas happen? By great people putting their minds together – and that’s what happened when Frances Carbonnel, Cliff Swanson, and Neide Cooley got together last August to work on the Educational Program for the Western Dressage Association® of Colorado. I had the pleasure of speaking with Frances about how the Train The Trainers clinic came into being. “We decided we needed some videos to help people understand what the gaits are for Western Dressage,”...

Isabelle Terry receives her awards from Show Jumping Hall of Fame Executive Director Marty Bauman. (McCool Photgraphy) Lexington, KY - Isabelle Terry of Dallas, TX and Chakira won the inaugural Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series West Coast Championship, held at the Las Vegas National Horse Show on November 17. Prior to the Championship Final in Las Vegas, the 2012 West Conference regular season came to a close following the L.A. National Horse Show. Lauren Kay and Siendifie topped...

Elkton, MD - The Dansko Fair Hill International CCI once again boasts top quality fields in both two- and three-star competition. The annual fall championship, running October 18-21, is always a fixture of the eventing calendar and will again crown USEF National Two- and Three-Star Eventing Champions. USEF National Three-Star Eventing Championship A total of 34 horses were presented and accepted without incident at the First Horse Inspection Wednesday and 30 of those are in the running for the...

Scott Stewart won the Regular Conformation Championship with recently acquired mount Showman at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show.Photo (Ashley N. Williams/PMG) Lexington, KY - It was perfect weather at the Stonelea Arena for greeting champions into the winner's circle Thursday at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Professional Hunters Divisions wrapped up the two-day competition with one name resounding above others. While, Hunt Tosh and Rosalynn earned an...

Jeffery Welles and Laracon (Tammy Hardy Photography) Hampton Falls, NH – There were four exciting show jumping classes hosted Saturday at The Jumper Classic®, presented by Fidelity Investments® and Audi of America. In the $12,000 Speed Derby, Jeffery Welles of Brewster, NY, and Laracon, owned by Amanda Gunthel, were fastest for first place. Located in the beautiful town of Hampton Falls, NH, at the Silver Oak Equestrian Center, The Jumper Classic is New England’s premier...