The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) has announced the dates and locations for the 2011 Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Dressage Championships: USDF Region 1 (October 20-23) at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA; USDF Region 2 (September 22-25) at Majestic Farm in Batavia, OH; USDF Region 3 (October 14-16) at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, FL; USDF Region 4 (September 9-11) at the North Iowa Fair Grounds in Mason City, IA; USDF Region 5 (November 4-6) at WestWorld of...

The Texas Rose Horse Park will host a Trainer Symposium, October 25-27, in Tyler, TX. Melanie Smith Taylor, Jeff Cook and Sandy Ferrell will present sessions on hunters, jumpers and equitation with topics ranging from training exercises to business practices. Members will have the opportunity to participate in practical training sessions and round table discussions with top professionals in the industry. To view a complete schedule of the event, visit www.ushja....

Summer is the perfect time to get yearlings, two-year-olds, and three-year-olds exposed to the competition atmosphere by participating in the Irish Draught Horse Society of North American (IDHSNA)/United States Eventing Association (USEA) Future Event Horse (FEH) Series. On Friday, July 17, the Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, MD, is hosting a Future Event Horse competition. For more information contact Carolyn Mackintosh at (301) 514-0111, fax (301) 874-0968, or email...

Lexington, KY -- Kristina Harrison-Naness, riding in only her second overseas show on Rociero 4, and veteran rider Debbie McDonald on her up-and-coming star, Felix, braved horrendous weather conditions at the CDI**** Oldenburg in Germany November 9-11. These athletes were recipients of United States Equestrian Federation European Training Grants. Harrison-Naness and the diminutive Andalusian Rociero 4 put in a brave performance in the cold and fiercely windy conditions to finish second by less...

Last week I posted a virtual show entry video from an amazingly brave woman who continues to allow me to use her material for examples in this blog. Her courage and generosity inspire me and I hope that her open heart and willingness to be visible inspire you too. I hope that some of you readers are able to identify with her as a peer, a rider struggling to understand riding and training her stock horse and that you professionals at least respect her courage. Reaction to the video has been...

July 31 through August 4 Murieta Equestrian Center in Rancho Murieta California will be the site for the 2013 “Gold N Grand Cowboy Dressage Show.” The show sports 42 classes with competitive divisions for open, amateur and youth riders who will be riding walk/jog and walk/jog/lope and Cowboy Challenge tests. As of this writing, there were 165 rides scheduled in three days! Such a fabulous turnout for Cowboy Dressage in Northern California. Show official Michele Dodge will oversee 3...

Note to self: The Boy Scout motto “Be Prepared” applies to many things. When teaching a WD clinic be prepared for anything! This week’s blog comes from Vancouver Washington on the Columbia River where the “Discover Western Dressage” clinic is being held as a fundraiser for Silver Buckle Ranch. The Buckle is a non-profit youth ranch that houses Clark County’s disabled riding program. It is a pleasure to be here and to know that the clinic proceeds will be used...

Thanks to everyone who took the time to send emails to USEF and for sharing your thoughts and feelings about the direction Western Dressage should take. It is so important to hear and listen to different ideas from all directions as the discipline develops. At this point all there is to do is continue to ride and train and show, and most important, to have fun with our horses. With another show coming up this weekend for us, I have put a lot of thought into the questions the last show brought...

Tuesday June 11, 3013 will be the last day USEF will hear comments via email regarding the choice of organizations that will represent Western Dressage as the official recognized affiliate organization. This is a critical time in the development of the discipline and your input is very important whether you are a western rider, a dressage enthusiast, judge, breeder, trainer, or participant in any aspect of the equine industry. NAWD President Jen Johnson shares the following food for thought:...

Note to Self: 1. Prepare classical instructor that you will be appearing before him in western tack and riding an Appaloosa stallion, NOT your third level Westfalen import and 2. Don’t ride in a clinic without a photographer A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…. I got a book from the library called The Schooling of the Western Horse by John Richard Young. It was published in 1945 (practically the dark ages) and outlined progressive training for western horses. Critically...