PBS hits the trail for the next series of experiential history television events with Texas Ranch House , an eight-part series that will challenge a group of 20 intrepid time travelers to experience the exhilaration and exhaustion of life in the Old West. Producers Thirteen/WNET New York and Wall To Wall saddle up once more, riding high on viewer and critical acclaim for previous projects. “ Texas Ranch House promises to take the hands-on history strand to a new cultural depth,” said Jody...

Roosendaal, The Netherlands – Steffen Peters wrapped up a fantastic three days of competition at CDI4* Roosendaal on Sunday. He and Rosamunde placed third in the Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 77.250% to end to the competition on a high note. The maturing combination had incredible rhythm and energy, executing graceful half-passes and pirouettes, in their relatively new Freestlyle. Peters was joined by U.S. compatriots Laura Graves and Guenter Seidel during CDI4* Roosendaal as the...

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that Boyd Martin has been awarded a Land Rover Grant to compete at the Luhmuhlen CCI4* in Luhmuhlen, Germany, June 12-15, 2014. Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) will ride the Shamwari 4 Syndicate LLC’s Shamwari 4. Shamwari 4 is a 2002 Hanoverian gelding. Martin, the winner of the 2003 Adelaide CCI4*, relocated to the U.S. in 2007 from his native Australia and in 2009 began riding under the American flag....

Mae Chase-Dunn (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Endurance Athletes Association) Lexington, Kentucky - The U.S. was represented well at the Pan American Endurance Championship in Trinidad, Uruguay. On September 27, Mae Chase-Dunn tackled the 120km race in the Senior division while McCamey Kimbler and Mallory Capps contested the Young Riders/Juniors division under the guidance of Chef d'Equipe Emmett Ross. "Since the U.S. was unable to field a full team for either division, the riders competed as...

Well fall is under way and I am trying to clear a little writer’s block. The last shows of the year are winding down. We are headed for the last ones in our area the last two weekends of the month. Fall is time to evaluate progress and prepare for next season. Some of us set goals for training, some for clinics, some for next year’s show season. We look at our feeding programs, exercise programs, breeding programs and whatever else we are running. I always find myself thinking ahead...

As you know I occasionally receive a story from a Western Dressage rider and this week I would like to share with you the story behind a beautiful magazine cover photo that appeared recently in Paint Horse Journal and which featured coverage of Western Dressage. The photo was of Katrina Sanders and her Paint horse Pirate. Here is what Katrina shares with western dressage enthusiasts this week: “Thank you so much for offering to feature my photo in your blog! I am honored and so grateful...

Western Dressage clinics are rolling all over the nation. Here in the Pacific Northwest one clinic series has been endorsed by our USDF Region 6 Director, Donna Longacre. Her lifetime of experience in the dressage world combined with her judging experience in both dressage and western disciplines makes her uniquely qualified to comment on Western Dressage training and judging. I am so excited to have created a clinic series that carries such an endorsement as I continue to try to present...

This weeks blog comes to you from beautiful British Columbia Canada. I try to bring you news and fun stuff no matter where I am in the world. I have a perfect opportunity to share a Western Dressage story from a reader that has a Canadian link and I think you will enjoy it. Remember, if you would like to share your story, send it to me via email at [email protected]. When the perfect moment comes, I will share your story too! Dear Ms. Binder, In the USEF Weekly Newsletter for...

I am thrilled to say the Cowboy Dressage Judges Orientation was a huge success on Friday, February 15th in Medford, OR. A stellar cast of presenters spoke on various topics to fifty plus attendees, most of whom were women. I was surprised there were not more men since it is Cowboy Dressage, but was very happy to see that at least seven states were represented including two individuals from as far away as Wisconsin. Beginning with the video called “From Then to Now” and proceeding to...

The seventeenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Last weekend we attended the second Western Dressage classes held here in the Inland Northwest. We rode the NAWD tests through Level 4. The tests are wonderful and the dressage spectators were very interested in how the WD tests are both similar and different from the USEF tests ridden in the USDF shows. The judge was super and even though the day was very long for her, very positive about the work saying "I enjoyed judging...