Show season keeps moving forward and the scores keep coming in. At the last WSH show, the high score rider, Linda Coates-Markle, received a whopping 76% on NAWD Level 3 Test 1 (that is the western equivalent of USDF First Level) riding her Quarter Horse mare. Once again, this last weekend, shows featuring Western Dressage classes were held all over the country and WD riders on both sides of the nation received the highest Phyllis Ray and Starr in the warm-up (Darcia Drapeau) scores recorded at...

Ian Millar and Dixson (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, Alberta - The 'Canada One' Tournament had three feature competitions in the Meadows on the Green today with winners from three different countries. Canada's 10-time Olympian, Ian Millar, took the win in the $33,000 Duncan Ross Cup 1.50m with Dixson. In her first international win at Spruce Meadows, Lauren Crooks (USA) and Navare D'Oriolles were fastest in the $33,000 Westjet Cup 1.45m. Conor Swail of Ireland rode...

A couple weeks ago a friend and I attended a WSH Dressage Show halfway across the state to ride the NAWD tests. The weather was gorgeous, the drive uneventful, the horses well behaved. The show was at a beautiful facility, with a qualified judge I trust to evaluate our western dressage horses. My stallion was perfectly behaved even in the warm-up area with the little ponies and their tiny children. Sounds like a perfect horse show weekend huh? It was, but for one thing. I was confused! For the...

John Pearce and Chianto (Flying Horse Photography) Parker, CO - The Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena was christened on the first week of the Colorado Horse Park's Summer in the Rockies in a ceremony during the $30,000 Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix. A field of 12 horse and rider combinations accepted the challenge of Hector Loyola's technical track, but it was Canadian John Pearce who expertly navigated the jump-off round, besting the rest with long-time partner...

Beezie Madden and Mademoiselle negotiate the table bank (The Book LLC) North Salem, NY - The $20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem featured a field of 35 competitors as they galloped through a course of 15 numbered obstacles and 18 efforts on a course that included the Devil's Dyke and table bank designed by Anthony D'Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. Any rails down added four seconds to a rider's final time, so speed was imperative in today's class. Going 29th in the order, Beezie Madden...

Shane Smith & Shepherd Star (Shannon Brinkman) Lexington, KY For the second time in three years, Shane Brown won the World Championship Freestyle Reining tonight at the Kentucky Horse Park. He rode Shepherd Star to the title, receiving 228 points from the three judges. Brown’s score put him just 1 point ahead of three riders who tied for second with a score of 227—Aaron Ralston on Blue Taris Glo, Drake Johnson on Sonic Chic Dream, and Pete Kyle on A Ruf Gal. The winners split a...

Lexington, KY- The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that 10 dressage athlete/horse combinations have been awarded training and competition grants to be used in 2013. These grants were awarded in order for the combinations to take part in CDI competitions throughout Europe in preparation for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Grants were awarded based on international competition experience and athlete’s prospect of contributing to a Team or...

Lexington, KY - The focus of U.S. dressage this week will be firmly on The Stadium in Wellington, Florida for the Wellington Nations Cup CDIO3* presented by Stillpoint Farm. Held in conjunction with the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, America’s only CDIO will run April 11-14. The United States will look to secure a repeat victory after claiming top honors in 2012. The home nation will be represented by two teams; each composed of two Grand Prix (Big Tour) combinations and two Prix...

FEI World Cup Vaulting Final in Braunschweig, Germany from March 17-19, 2013 Top world champions battled for medals, in what was considered the most fierce competition this year. Europe is the hot spot for vaulting, where championships are often sold out and Braunschweig brought for an electrifying atmosphere. A total of 7 nations France, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany and the USA sent their most talented hopefuls, as well as their top leading vaulters. In the...

Aaron Vale dominated the Open Jumper divisions on the second day of the Tampa Bay Classic. He guided Kryptonite to the 1.40m victory in only 42.398 seconds (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Tampa, FL - The course was the talk of the day Thursday at the Tampa Bay Classic, as each consecutive rider was faced with a technical track that tested the best of their abilities. Riders gathered at the Covered Arena early this morning, and the cold weather only added to the mounting anticipation as some of the...