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...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce the addition of USEF Elite Youth Dressage Training Sessions in the Fall of 2012 and Spring of 2013. These sessions will be led by USEF Youth Coach Jeremy Steinberg and will be a unique opportunity for up and coming youth athletes to hone their riding and horsemanship skills. These training sessions have been made possible through a generous donation from Kristen McDonald and the Marquis George MacDonald Foundation....

Wayne, IL - The USEF Dressage National Championships continued Friday at Lamplight Equestrian Center, with competitors producing top class results for a second straight day. The first tests, counting for 40% of the overall Championship scores, were held in the Six-Year-Old division of the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Championship and the USEF National Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage Championship presented by The Dutta Corp. and Performance Sales International. In the Six-Year-Old...

Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy captured the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals Championship at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Lexington, KY - It was a night that will be well remembered, and a win well deserved. The Rolex Stadium was packed at the Kentucky Horse Park as the Handy Round brought the 2012 $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals to a close during the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. One of the industry's most successful hunter...

Lauren Hough & Ohlala (Sportfot/GCT) Early Friday in Valkenswaard and the first opportunity to see show jumping’s elite riders as they build up to tomorrow’s VDL Groep Grand Prix. USA rider Lauren Hough set off at a cracking pace on Ohlala round the beautiful main grass arena and held onto her clear round lead in a time of 60.55. Lauren, from New York, is currently in 17th place in the GCT 2012 ranking. She had no trouble with the course designed by Uliano Vezzani and jumped a...

Le Mans, France - The U.S. vaulters are off to a solid start at the FEI World Vaulting Championship. The U.S. representatives in the Individual Male and Female divisions started off the competition performing the first round of Compulsories on Thursday. In the Individual Male Championship division, Gabe Aniello (Redwood City, CA) currently sits in 11th place, leading the U.S. male vaulters. Vaulting on Forrest Cump and lunged by Agnes Forst, Aniello scored a 6.928 in his first round...

Aaron Vale and Wodka L Photo by Carrie Wirth Zionsville, IN - Much-needed rain came to the Zionsville, IN, area on Thursday and added a few puddles and a few delays but did not detract from the festivities and competition at the 2012 Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show and Country Fair at picturesque Wild Air Farms in Zionsville, IN. Guests and exhibitors enjoyed live music on the grounds wafting from the annual Charity Garden Party. Course designer, Phil DeVita, built a technical track in...

Yasmin Rizvi and Roxbury Crowned Overall Medium Pony Hunter Grand Champions Lili Hymowitz and Trillville claimed the Overall Medium Pony Hunter Grand Reserve Championship Yasmin Rizvi and Roxbury won the Overall Medium Pony Hunter Championship at the 2012 US National Pony Hunter Championship. (Shawn McMillen Photography) Lexington, KY - The young riders and their miniature mounts lined the ramp leading to the Walnut Ring Thursday morning at the Kentucky Horse Park. The third day of the 2012 US...

Leigh Cofer and Breaking News made headlines with their NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic victory at the Kentucky Summer Classic. (Ashley N. Williams/PMG) Lexington, KY - August 5, 2012 -It was the championship day for the Adult Amateur Divisions at the Kentucky Summer Classic. Riders and their top mounts approached the Stonelea Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park for the final day of the show, examining the courses as they prepared. The Adult Amateurs did not disappoint as they vied for the top...

Christian Heineking and NKH Selena dashed to the top of the leaderboard in the 1.40m Open Jumper speed class at the Kentucky Summer Classic. (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Lexington, KY - The first day of the Kentucky Summer Classic was filled with exciting jumper action in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park. This afternoon, competitors had the opportunity to showcase their speed in the 1.40m Open Jumpers and show off their talents navigating the 1.35 Open Jumpers. Christian Heineking led the...