The thirteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder With growth comes ‘growing pains.’ The situation surrounding Western Dressage becomes more complicated with each passing day. More and more shows are offering WD classes with tests from several sources. YouTube watchers see a huge variation in the WD videos presented there. At least three different rulebooks now grace cyberspace and you can read articles and letters to the editor in national and local magazines. The...

Laura Kraut and Cherry Knoll Farm's Cedric set a blazing time of 42.53 seconds, riding to the victory in the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Switzerland. (SportFot/GCT) Lausanne, Switzerland - The GCT championship race intensified dramatically tonight with only five points between Edwina Tops-Alexander and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson after one of the most electrifying Grand Prix of the season. American rider Laura Kraut won the first-ever Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Switzerland on the...

Rusty Stewart and Bristol San Juan Capistrano, CA - The Blenheim Indoor Arena was bursting at its seams this evening during the $50,000 Blenheim World Cup Grand Prix, presented by Summit General Insurance Agency. Spectators filed in by the bus loads and with standing room only, equestrian fans of all ages got to witness the veteran rider Rusty Stewart and his incredible 10-year-old mount Bristol ride a perfect round and win his second consecutive World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix. The pair has...

Becky Holder and Courageous Comet (Hannah Bennett/USEA Photo) Fairburn, GA - The Merial Advanced division at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Bit of Britain wrapped up today with the show jumping phase at Chattahoochee Hills. Mark Donovan's tough course had riders incurring numerous jump and time penalties with just five double clear rounds in the division. Becky Holder (Palmetto, GA) and Courageous Comet had one rail down but held onto their lead to win the...

Donna Ponessa (West Windsor, NY) had a long time to wait before she was able to make her debut at the 2012 Paralympic Games. But she made it worth the wait as she piloted Wes Dunham’s Western Rose to a score of 70.235% in front of the Ground Jury of Kjell Myhre, Sarah Rodger, Gudrun Hofinga, Freddy Leyman and Anne Prain. Riding in Grade 1a competition, Ponessa produced a steady, rhythmic test with the 9-year-old Oldenburg mare to earn fifth place. Western Rose is well Donna Ponessa and...

Andrew Welles and Tornado Zionsville, IN - The 2012 Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show and Country Fair continued on Friday with cooler weather and a momentary, passing shower. The horses were feeling fresh and ready for competition at Wild Air Farms in Zionsville, IN. Exhibitors and guests enjoyed the annual Paws to Applause dog show mid-day and exciting show jumping action in the jumper arena and the Russell Fortune Arena all day long. The coveted $30,0000 Mr. and Mrs. Russell Fortune Jr....

Verden, Germany - Competition came to a close at the FEI World Dressage Championships for Young Horses in Verden, Germany with the final championship tests. The lone entry to compete for the United States on Sunday was Jennifer Hoffman and Florentinus V, competing in the six-year-old championship. In Sunday's International Final, the Prize of Privatbrauerei Wittingen, the pair finished a valiant 13th after a long week of competition. In Friday's Prize of Mrs. Madeleine Winter-Schulze, a...

Darragh Kenny and Tonic triumphed in the $10,000 Kenneth Cole Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, July 26, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT – Ireland’s Darragh Kenny and Tonic jumped to victory in the $10,000 Kenneth Cole Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, July 26 at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. The six-week Vermont Summer Festival is...

Laura Kraut and Cedric scored top ribbons at the international horse show Jumping Chantilly 2012. Kraut also earned the Leading Lady Rider award. (Sydney Masters) Chantilly, France - Laura Kraut and Cedric continue to jump their way to the top of the European standings. The competition was fierce at the international horse show Jumping Chantilly France 2012 this past weekend. From July 19-22 the sport's most renowned riders picked up the reins to compete for the top prizes. Kraut guided...

Layla Choate and Plus One Chex (Waltenberry Photography) Oklahoma City, OK - Youth reiners in three age groups competed in the USEF National Youth Reining Championships at the NRHA Derby in Oklahoma City Saturday evening. Layla Choate, Elizabeth Cosper, and Karl Johnson left the Adequan Arena with titles. In the 19-21 age division there was no lack of drama. When competition ended with Layla Choate (Hazel, KY) and Plus One Chex and Michael Pope (Theodore, AL) and Whizota locked in a tie at the...