This week I want to update you about some exciting new programs coming in 2013 for Western Dressage enthusiasts. As this discipline continues to develop, more tests are available, more shows are available, and more award programs vie for participation. The show and clinic calendars are filling up for the year and so much is happening. In January our local WSH Zone added year end awards for Western Dressage following the inclusion of Western Dressage as a subdivision of Dressage on the...

Lexington, KY - The Search Committee formed by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to assist in hiring the next Technical Advisor/Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. Dressage Team has approved the job description for the position. The Search Committee is composed of: Eric Straus, Chairman Janet Foy Catherine Haddad-Staller Susan Dutta Anne Kursinski David O’Connor The job description can be found at https://www.usef....

The Western Dressage world is abuzz with dressage talk. The hot topic of the moment seems to be progressive training, especially as it has to do with pyramids and scales. Pyramids are extremely stable structures that rely on strong, broad foundations and which rise to a point, a pinnacle if you will that represents a point of focus. Without the foundation, the pyramid loses strength. The intrinsic nature of the structure itself necessitates culmination in a point. The pyramid is the perfect...

Today’s post comes from Sin City, Las Vegas Nevada. Since I am here in the region of Southwest Western Dressage, I decided to write the blog as an interview with someone from the Las Vegas equestrian community who was doing Western Dressage. So I opened up the phone book to call a local barn. Every barn number but one was disconnected or no longer in service. The one that was working was a casino! So I called a feed store, thinking that at the feed store would be someone who knew someone...

Happy New Year everyone! I am glad to be here and since it is obvious that the Earth did not tip over on its axis turning our mountains into oceans and our oceans into mountains, I have to wonder what 2013 will bring to Western Dressage. Maybe the better question is “What will Western Dressage bring to the world?” Indeed it is an intriguing question when put this way. As our fledgling discipline begins to feather out, the directions in which western dressage may fly continue to...

Happy Holidays! Tis the season and all my best to everyone. This time of year we are especially grateful for all the perfections we find our lives are blessed with. Wishing all of you the very best of holiday seasons. Thank you for reading and supporting the development of western dressage. It was a very exciting time for representatives from North American Western Dressage to attend the USDF Annual Convention in New Orleans December 5-8. President Jen Johnson and Board member Jennifer Collman...

The twenty first in a series of blog post from Michelle Binder As this blog has progressed, I have tried to bring awareness about Western Dressage to the equestrian community at large. Now I am going to encourage you to do some research on your own. By now you know that there are several organizations promoting the development of the sport. At this point the question we hear most often from people all over is: “What is the difference?” To some it seems that the differences that...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is accepting applications for the position of Eventing Chef d'Equipe/Technical Advisor which will become available in 2013. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2011. Potential applicants may contact the Chairman of the Search Committee with any questions. Eric Straus can be reached at [email protected]. The application can be found here: https://usef.org/documents/highPerformance/eventing/jobs/application.pdf The job...

Today’s course must have been tricky. The time was tight. It started out at 82 seconds allowed, and Lauren was the first in the ring of today’s 119 riders—a TOUGH spot to be in. After Lauren’s round they upped the time allowed to 84 seconds, which was still quite tight for many riders. Rails were falling all over the course and many feet/hooves landed in the water. It was obviously tough and technical. So many of yesterday’s stars didn’t do so hot today. It...

The Executive Committee met Monday, May 17th and approved several clarifications that take effect immediately. You can find compilations of the rule changes passed to date online at www.usef.org/_IFrames/RuleBook/Changes/2010.aspx . These documents are in easy-to-print PDF format for members to use. Please feel free to print them out and tuck them into your rule book. If you have the USB flash drive, please be sure to update it. USEF works hard to make the latest rule changes available to...