Few dressage tests generate excitement like the young horse classes, where all the hopes, dreams, and possibilities for future equine dressage stars are on display. One program in particular can boast of a proven track record for identifying and rewarding talented youngsters capable of performing on a national and international stage: the California Dressage Society's Young Horse Futurity. When Alice Homble-Heitman's brown Hanoverian stallion "Sanceo" (San Remo x Rivera by Ramiro's...

Lexington, KY - It is with great sadness that the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) learned that Woodburn, owned by Ann Jones and Mardie Faucett, was euthanized last night. Woodburn appeared to have suffered major internal bleeding at home, the cause of which is unknown. More information will be available after an autopsy. Woodburn and Phillip Dutton represented the United States at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, where they contributed to the fourth place effort of the...

Final Preparations My horse Verdicci and I have less than one week left to prepare for the 2011 FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships! I can’t wait to represent Region 5 on the Young Rider Dressage team! I have dreamed of being a Young Rider ever since I was twelve years old, so four years later it is great to finally be stepping up to the “big leagues” after competing in the Junior division for the past three years. It is especially great since I thought I...

So it’s that time of year again! Junior and Young Rider competitors throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are gathering for the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in Lexington, Kentucky July 25-31. I am from Alpharetta, Georgia, so I compete for Zone 4, consisting of riders from the southeastern states. Zone 4 is sending both a Young Rider and Junior team. The Young Rider team is: Chase Boggio with Hennessy, Jordan Coyne with Lazaro, Liza Finsness with Ormsby Hill, and...

Oklahoma City, OK - A highlight of Thursday’s competition at the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby Show was the inaugural $15,000-added 7 & Up Non Pro Derby, which featured 25 entries aboard their experienced reining horses, age seven and older. Samantha Griffin of De Winton, Alberta, Canada, and Dun Playin Tag dominated the 7 & Up Non Pro Derby by scoring a 225 – 5.5 points ahead of the competition. The seven-year-old gelding, owned by her father Lance Griffin...

Lexington, KY - The USEF has announced that the Mandatory Outing for Eventing for the 2011 Pan American Games will be held at the Richland Park Horse Trials in Richland, Michigan, August 25-28, 2011. The event will run a separate division for the USEF Short Listed riders. Their division will include the FEI CCI2* dressage test and the Advanced Cross Country and Jumping tracks. The USEF will name a partial Short List for the Games after the Bromont CCI, which will be held June 9-12, 2011. The...

Lexington, KY - The schedule for the 2011 American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Junior Exhibitor Driving Challenge has been updated, with events added in April and September. Driving Challenge classes have been added to the Oklahoma Centennial, which is set to take place beginning today, April 14, through Sunday, April 17, and the Oregon State Fair Horse Show, which is scheduled for Thursday, September 1, through Sunday, September 4. The events currently scheduled for 2011 range from...

Rodrigo Pessoa and HH Ashley (Courtesy of the Washington International Horse Show) Oct. 28, 2010 –Brazilian show jumping superstar Rodrigo Pessoa blazed to wins in Thursday’s open jumper classes. Dressed as a Formula One race car driver, he and Palouchin de Ligny won the $20,000 Gambler's Choice Costume Class, and earlier, with HH Ashley, he won the $30,000 class. Plus Kristin Glover and Chase Boggio winners. $20,000 Gambler’s Choice Costume Class (Thursday Evening) The Gambler's Choice Costume...

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...

Spring may have been slow in coming to California this year, but the Woodside Spring Preview started off with a bang. A combination of beautiful weather, a wide range of classes, and a great facility brought in record numbers of entries to fill some very large and exciting classes. The show served as a selection trial for the Zone 10 Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championship (NAJYRC) teams, and the main jumper ring was a veritable “who’s who” of top jumper riders comprising...