Ben Maher and Diva (Phelps Media Group, Inc.) Wellington, Fla. - The sun was getting low in the sky at the Ridge at Wellington as Britain's Olympic Gold Medalist Ben Maher entered the Grand Prix Field. Aboard his most recent mount Diva, Maher, the number two ranked rider in the Longines World Rankings, tackled the track and climbed to the top of the leader board for today's 1.40m Wellington Turf Tour. It was a moment that marked a solid beginning for the pair-their first win as a team....

Wayne, IL - The 2013 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com came to a thrilling conclusion on Saturday with two newly minted National Champions. Top Six-Year-Olds and Developing Prix St. Georges horses put their best efforts forward in Lamplight Equestrian Center’s Championship Arena in front of the judging panel of Lilo Fore, Anne Gribbons and Sandy Osborne. In the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Six-Year-Old National...

Richard Spooner and Cristallo (Stefano Grasso/Longines GLobal Champions Tour) Monte Carlo, Monaco - Richard Spooner and Cristallo electrified Monte-Carlo Saturday night winning the Riviera Grand Prix for the third time in a record triple. In a spectacular jump off in front of a full house the US rider left William Funnell on Billy Congo in second place and Edwina Tops-Alexander on Guccio in third and shook up the ranking for the 2013 Longines Global Champions Tour series. In a dramatic shift,...

Although some of you may think Western Dressage is new; when I discovered the Western Dressage Association of America was formed 2 years ago, my first thought was “there is actually a name for it?” For well over 30 years, I have taught riders the wisdom of dressage to Western riders. Through the years, I have been contacted to resolve issues with horses and riders working on games, pleasure and reining. I have always addressed the issues the same. Learn the basics, understand the...

Lexington, KY - The third Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Session of 2013 wrapped up Sunday at Rosebrook Farm in Georgetown, Massachusetts. The two-day clinic featured 13 horses between the ages of four and six and was once again taught by USEF Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler. “It was nice to visit the New England area a second time for a Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Session. Participation from the auditors, owners, breeders and trainers who attended was...

This is a truly thrilling time to be a part of Western Dressage and the Western Dressage Association® of America! I recently had the opportunity to chat with Cliff Swanson, who has been instrumental in many facets of the program, including authoring and editing the new tests, working with the Rules Committee, developing the Train The Trainers™ Program and conducting a wonderful series of Skill Set Clinics. Cliff also sits on the Advisory Board for the WDAA. According to Cliff,...

Temecula, CA - Michael Pollard, of Dalton, Ga., rode Schoensgreen Hanni to a narrow lead in the dressage phase of the CCI3* at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event. Scoring 46.4 penalties, Pollard just eclipsed Phillip Dutton on Atlas (47.0). Hawley Bennett-Awad stands a close third on Five O’Clock Somewhere (48.2) and McKenna Shea is fourth on Landioso (48.4). “I was happy. It was probably the best dressage test we’ve done at a CCI. [We] just had a little bobble in...

Melissa Feller and Serafino (Shawn McMillen Photography) Upper Marlboro, MD - Twenty-eight-year-old Melissa Feller of Lincoln Park, NJ, rode Serafino for owner Elisabeth McFadden to the win in the $5,000 WCHR Emerging Pro Challenge. Feller rides for trainer Robert Beck and has been training with him since she was 10 years old. This is her second year as a professional and she stated that Capital Challenge is her favorite horse show. Feller won the Ariat National Adult Medal Finals in 2010....

The first in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder My first pony ride was in 1967. I was 18 months old. It must have stuck with me because I rode horses forever after that. I have been a professional in the equestrian industry since 1989 and my parents have supported my horseback riding activities all my life. Recently, seeking that formerly ever present support, I shared with my mom my desire to get involved in Western Dressage. Imagine my surprise when she exclaimed “Western...

Scott Brash and Intertoy Z (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - March 25, 2012 - Week eleven of the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday with a victory for Great Britain's Scott Brash and Intertoy Z in the $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. The pair won over Ben Maher (GBR) and Quiet Easy 4 and Cian O'Connor (IRL) and KEC Alligator Alley in second and third. Today's course in the International Arena was set by Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth,...