Caledon, Ont. – The final team medals in equestrian competition at the 2015 Pan American Games were decided this afternoon with the U.S. team taking the Team Bronze medal. The Nations Cup proved extremely competitive over both rounds of competition with clear rounds coming at a premium. The team comprised of Georgina Bloomberg, Kent Farrington, Lauren Hough, and McLain Ward finished on a total of 12 faults. The home nation of Canada won Team Gold on seven faults and Argentina took home...

Lyon, France - The seven American riders that headed into the third and final leg of the 2014 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final produced determined efforts over two rounds to close out their week in Lyon. Frank Rothenberger set two demanding 13-obstacle tracks that produced a great shake-up of the leaderboard throughout the afternoon in Lyon’s Eurexpo. Twenty-seven of the world’s best horse-and-rider combinations started in Monday’s first round with 22, including all seven...

Lyon, France - Valuable World Cup points were at stake Saturday evening in the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final as riders vied for a place in Monday's final competition. Thirty-eight riders took on Frank Rothenberger’s 13 obstacle track in the Lyon Eurexpo with a total of 21 returning for the jump-off. Riders within the top 30 placings following Saturday’s round qualified to jump in Monday's final competition and of those entries eight will be representing the United...

Lyon, France - The 2014 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final got underway on Friday evening at the Lyon Eurexpo, with 40 of the world’s best horse-and-rider combinations from 20 nations going to task over Frank Rothenberger’s 13 obstacle track. Of the talented field that lined-up to contest the Speed Leg 11 were representing the United States and looking to bring the World Cup title back across Beezie Madden and Simon (Kendall Bierer/PhelpsSports.com) the Atlantic for the third time...

The twenty fourth in a series of blog posts from Michelle Binder North American Western Dressage receives all kinds of questions at the website and on our FaceBook page. Last week Jen Johnson shared the following in a post and it generated a huge amount of material for consideration. She posted: “I received an email last night from a **** judge who had the following concerns about Western Dressage..... “The problem is that the western horse is going to have to be much quicker in...

The twenty first in a series of blog post from Michelle Binder It was an exciting weekend for western dressage in the Pacific Northwest November 2-4. On Friday the Washington State Horsemen (WSH) voted to add Western Dressage as a new discipline on the roster of events offered by the organization statewide. WD has been added as a sub-category of dressage and will utilize NAWD Official Rules and Tests for the 2013 show season so WD classes may now be added to any WSH approved Dressage show...

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...

The ninth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Western Dressage is a new and growing discipline in the horse world. People are talking about it everywhere. At North American Western Dressage we answer questions every day about what it is, how you do it, what you wear, what your horse wears, bits, reins, helmets, levels of tests and competition, movements and how you do them and a myriad of other things. Answering these questions could be a full time job for any one of our...

The sixth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder When on a horse, I wear a riding helmet. My students wear riding helmets. I ride and show western and dressage. The helmet/hat quandary, style vs. safety, the tradition or common sense conversation is therefore a subject near and dear to my heart. On March 22, 2012, I went into the hay barn to get a bale of hay to feed lunch in the barn. To make a long story short, despite my usual care in tipping bales, as I turned to leave the...

The fifth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Last week I poked a little fun at what western dressage riders are wearing for both schooling and show. This week I want to bring you the reality of the situation from manufacturers who give us the products that will ultimately be seen in rings around the country. Last week I showed you the proposed North American Western Dressage rules for WD show attire. Since the requirements state that riders must wear a long-sleeved shirt with...