Welcome to the fifth nstallment of a different kind of blog from WDAA! The purpose of this post is to allow the reader "into the heads" of both a trainer/judge/competitor, Karen Abbattista and her student, Deborah Herbert, a Florida WDAA member. We would like to share with you some moments in Deb's journey as she pursues her riding goals with her AQHA mare "GenuineArcticSpring", barn name "Belle". Please enjoy as you follow along with these posts that we consider interesting or challenging...

Holly Shepherd and Triompf claim the $35,000 Grand Prix de Lamplight victory with speedy tie breaking jump-off (Kendall Bierer/PMG) Wayne, IL - The resounding cheers and applause could be heard throughout the Lamplight Equestrian Center as six horse and rider combinations faced off in today's $35,000 Grand Prix de Lamplight, presented by Saddler's Row. It came down to a battle of speed as each consecutive rider bested the next, but it was Holly Shepherd and Triompf that came away the...

Kristi Nunnink & R-Star after winning the Event at Rebecca Farm CIC3* (USEA) Kalispel, MT - R-Star has done it again. For the second consecutive year, this grey Holsteiner mare by Riverman, has won the CIC3* at The Event at Rebecca Farm rising from fifth after cross-country to first with an accurately ridden round over the Marc Donovan designed show jumping course. Katie Ruppel and Houdini took down just one rail to move up to second ahead of Katie Groesbeck and Oz The Tin Man who moved...

Margaret O'Meara rode Voice of Reason to the top of the Amateur-Owner 3'3" Hunter Championship, also capturing the reserve championship with Casino (Ashley N. Williams/PMG) Wayne, IL - It was the perfect weather at Lamplight Equestrian Center to welcome champions into the winner's circle for the conclusion of Equifest I. The Amateur-Owner Hunters and Junior Hunter divisions wrapped up the weeklong competition. Samantha Hall and Beyond Time took home the Junior Hunter Championship, while...

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...

Susan Treabess and Kamiakin (Lindsay McCall) Rancho Murieta, CA - As the Pura Raza Espanol, Kamiakin, made its way down to X on the centerline, Susan Treabess (USA) cracked a smile. The Golden State Dressage Classic CPEDI3* crowd erupted in cheering for the stallion and his Grade IV rider who had just completed an outstanding freestyle. After three days of Para-Dressage competition in front of judges Alison King (HK) FEI 4*, David Schmutz (USA) FEI 4* and Lorraine Stubbs (CAN) FEI 4*, Susan...

David Oliynyk and Generous swept the first day of the Performance Working Hunters (Phelps Media Group) Halifax, MA - Beautifully set courses greeted hunter exhibitors for the first day of the Fieldstone Spring Festival. The professional hunter divisions kicked off the competition in the two main hunter rings, where David Oliynyk, Thomas Hern, and Kristen Bumpus all rode their mounts to top honors in the Performance Working Hunter and Pre-Green Hunter divisions. Competitors were thrilled to...

Major equestrian competitions attended by U.S. athletes, both domestic and overseas, are listed in this weekly preview. Please look below to find competition listings by discipline* and breed. We hope you will follow the competitions that most interest you, but check Equestrian Weekly on Monday for a report of any top finishes by U.S. Equestrians. *lists of competitions in all international disciplines will include only FEI competitions or USEF Championships within the USA and international FEI...

Andre Thieme and Contanga 3 were the fastest of two clear rounds in the jump-off of the $100,000 Sullivan GMC Truck Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, and will return to Germany with a win (Flying Horse Photography) Ocala, FL – Andre Thieme didn’t think it was Contanga 3’s day when they were one of nine pairs to return to jump off Sunday in the $100,000 Sullivan GMC Truck Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, at HITS Ocala. “I...

I have been promising to update readers on current trends in the Western Dressage world. One way of keeping track of what WD is doing, where it is going and who is doing it is to track events. NAWD, CD and WDAA all maintain calendars of clinics and shows around the country. By analyzing those calendars we have a simple method of tracking what is happening. The information is limited by the fact that show and clinic organizers must report their event to the organization for inclusion on these...