San Juan Capistrano, CA – Veteran Olympic Judge Axel Steiner was doing color commentary at the trials today and described Robert Dover’s ride on FBW Kennedy as “one of the nicest Grand Prix rides in the United States.” The enthusiastic applause of the knowledgeable crowd indicated they agreed. Their score of 76.292% leads Gunter Seidel on Aragon, who had a score of 72.375%. Seidel was also third on Nikolaus 7 with a score of 71.458%. Steffan Peters on Floriano was fourth with 71.333%. “You...

Wayne, Ill. – The U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions ended on Sunday with the remaining divisions crowning their champions. Rebekah Mingari earned the National Champion and Reserve National Champion titles in the AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage division with Allure S and Elzarma TF, respectively. Suzannah Rogers and Adrenaline Rush SBF took home the USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Champion title. AGCO/USEF Young Rider Dressage National Championship Rebekah Mingari and Allure S (Photo...

McKayla Langmeier (RJ Walton/PhelpsSports.com) Lexington, Ky. - It is no secret that being drawn to go first in any major equitation championship is less than desirable. But when that rider is someone who knows her horse and knows her job, the results can be flawless. At 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, 15-year-old McKayla Langmeier nailed the technical course presented by judges Chris Kappler and Ralph Caristo at the CP National Horse Show. Her performance left them in awe, and it made her the...

Nicolas Pizarro and Temascaltepec (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) began its eleventh week of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Wednesday with a win for Mexico's Nicolas Pizarro and Temascaltepec in the $34,000 1.45m FEI speed class. The pair was first to go and set an unbeatable pace that led the way through 60 competitors. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Beluga finished second; Heather Caristo-Williams (USA) and...

Lauren Hough and Böckmanns Lazio (Sportfot) Wellington, Fla. - - Lauren Hough led the victory gallop in an exciting top four finish for the women of USA in Saturday night's $100,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 4* at the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Hough and Böckmanns Lazio topped a six-horse jump-off over Laura Kraut and Nouvelle (2nd), Lucy Davis and Barron (3rd), Lillie Keenan and Pumped Up Kicks (4th), Ben Maher and Urico (5th), and Kent...

Conor Swail raises his trophy with George Lidgett, Chief Operating Officer, Americas, ATCO Structures & Logistics (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, Alberta - In a great display of horsemanship, Ireland's Conor Swail guided both of his horses to the top of the leaderboard in the $50,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup 1.50m. There were 41 entries in the class, and 14 in the jump-off. Swail went fifth in the order on Lansdowne in the jump-off and with a daring approach to the...

Valkenswaard, The Netherlands - U.S. star Laura Kraut is the new ranking leader after a Grand Prix full of drama was won in triumphant style by Alvaro de Miranda on AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno. The shake up sets the stage for a thrilling final stage of the championship series at next month’s leg in Lausanne. The Brazilian champion set the arena on fire shaving a full four seconds off the time of Frenchman Simon Delestre. Dutch home rider Gerco Schroder had the capacity crowd on the edge...

Welcome to the third installment of 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...

Laura Linback rode to the top of the Open Jumper leader board for the opening day of Equifest II, taking the 1.40m Open Jumper victory with Whittaker MVNZ (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Wayne, IL - The top horses and riders from across the country returned to the Lamplight Equestrian Center for Equifest II. The first day of competition commenced with the Open Jumper divisions in the Grand Prix Ring. Local resident Laura Linback led the way to the $5,000 1.40m Open Jumper class, as well as the $500 1.25m...

Woodside, CA - James Alliston survived a bittersweet day at the Woodside International Horse Trials, presented by Equine Insurance of California and Professional’s Choice. It was a day of both exciting victory and disconcerting defeat for him. Alliston, of Castro Valley, Calif., did win the CIC3*, but with Tivoli (52.6), not with Jumbo’s Jake, the horse who’d been leading after the first day’s dressage and show jumping. And he also won the CIC2* on Mojo. Jolie Wentworth...