Recently on the NAWD Facebook page, discussion has centered on the terms “connection” and “collection” with riders, trainers and instructors piping in with comments. If you have not checked in with the Facebook discussions on the websites for all the organizations, I encourage you to do so. All of these comments are so valuable! This is a critical conversation and is truly at the root of the discussion that surrounds WD videos that are currently out there. Dressage...

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...

Eric Lamaze and Wang Chung M2S (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Canada's Eric Lamaze was in the winner's circle on Friday with a win in the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class during week eleven of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Lamaze and Wang Chung M2S, owned by Morningside Stud and Torrey Pines Stable, beat a field of top horses and riders in the day's highlight Longines FEI world ranking event. Also showing on Friday, Lillie Keenan was the winner of...

Last week I gave you some wonderful numbers that show the tremendous growth we have seen in Western Dressage over the last year. Almost 200 shows and events are already scheduled for 2013… 200! All those events are the brainchildren of people who want to help develop WD in their area. Most riders start by going to audit or participate in a clinic first or by becoming familiar with different philosophies and approaches to western dressage via the FaceBook pages or investigating the...

Susan Dutta and Currency DC (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL - The WEF Dressage Classic, CDI 3* presented by Today's Equestrian & Fellows at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) continued today with classes for the Large Tour and Small Tour. Susan Dutta and Currency DC won the FEI Grand Prix Special, while Kim Herslow and Rosmarin won their second class in a row in the FEI Intermediaire-1. The CDI 3* and National competition wrap up with tomorrow's classes. The next show...

Kathleen Raine with Breanna (Lindsay McCall for HorseGirlTV.com) Del Mar, CA - Accuracy, elasticity, and quality describe the championship rides in Saturday’s 2013 Rancho Valencia Dressage Affaire CDI-YJ3*. Steffen Peters and Dutch Warmblood, Vaya Con Dios, earned the FEI Intermediaire I Test championship solidifying the dressage partnership for this past show jumper. Twenty year-old Amelia Child and Veto garnered the win in the FEI Young Rider Individual Test adding a top score to her...

Daniel Deusser and Cornet d'Amour (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Saturday night's $300,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI 5*, presented by The Bainbridge Companies, was an incredible display of world-class talent as Germany's Daniel Deusser, Brazil's Alvaro de Miranda and Great Britain's Ben Maher and Nick Skelton topped an all-star cast during the highlight event for week nine of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Forty-five entries showed in the...

Del Mar, CA - The 2013 Rancho Valencia Dressage Affaire CDI-YJ3* launched into action at the Del Mar Horse Park on Thursday, March 7th. The main Rancho Valencia arena maintained a constant horse-in horse-out repetition and the exciting FEI Jog marked the official start of the CDI competition. With an eerie sky threatening rain throughout the morning, the FEI Jog was moved ahead of schedule. Eighteen horses stepped forward passing without hesitation preparing them for Friday’s (CDI) FEI...

Christine McCrea and Zerly (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - Christine McCrea (USA) and Candy Tribble's Zerly beat an all-star international field in Thursday's $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 during the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival's (FTI WEF) CSI-W 5* week sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies. McCrea and Zerly won the largest portion of prize money in the richest purse ever offered in the 24-year history of the WEF Challenge Cup series over Olympic...

The Western States Cowboy Dressage weekend in Medford Oregon was held February 16 and 17. It was a very informative and educational weekend with Eitan Beth-Halachmy and a great cast of presenters that included renowned veterinarian Dr. Robert Miller, Modern Vaquero cowboy Jeff Sanders and VERY brave riders from all over the northwest. The event was presented by the Oregon Western Dressage Association, an affiliate of WDAA, despite the split between WDAA and Cowboy Dressage last fall. It was...