As with all new things, as they develop, there are certain glitches and bugs that inevitably crop up. NAWD reviewed its 2012 tests for 2013 and has corrected errors and last week the WDAA announced that there were errors in calculating the point totals on some of their tests. An important notice to competitors who have ridden USEF Morgan Tests at 2013 shows came out in the WDAA newsletter and emails to members. They “…discovered minor errors in preparing the WDAA Western Dressage...

Shawn Flarida & Wimps Quixote Cody (Shannon Brinkman) Lexington, KY - Shawn Flarida earned the winner’s share of the $100,000 Kentucky Reining Cup at the Kentucky Horse Park, riding Wimps Quixote Cody to a score of 226.5. Andrea Fappani rode Star For The Chicks to second place (224.5), and Tom McCutcheon rode Pretty Peppy Chec to third place (221.0). This was the third consecutive year that Flarida, of Springfield, Ohio, has won the Kentucky Reining Cup, which began in 2011....

McLain Ward and Super Trooper de Ness (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - McLain Ward (USA) and the powerful black stallion Super Trooper de Ness emerged victorious in the $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 on Thursday, March 28, as part of the twelfth and final week of competition at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Competing at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, Ward topped U.S. riders Charlie Jacobs, Christine...

Auburn finished up last weekend, and now all four SEC equestrian teams are through with regular season competition. Oklahoma State & Kansas State both picked up wins against South Carolina, setting up a season ending clash in Manhattan on Saturday. My quick recap of the weekend's NCEA action is below. No.8 Kansas State University def. No.4 South Carolina University Kansas State needed a win. After climbing to No.4 in the rankings, they had lost three straight, including a couple of ugly...

Four NCEA matchups over President’s Day weekend yielded two razor thin victories and two blow outs. Thursday’s matchup between No.2 Auburn and No.4 South Carolina was arguably the most exciting of the spring season thus far. My recap of that and the other NCEA matches from the weekend is below. No.2 Auburn University def. No.4 South Carolina University 10-9 Indy Roper, shown here riding Glenda, set an SEC season high score in reining to help lead the Tigers over the Gamecocks 10-9...

Facebook is an unending super highway of material for use in a myriad of applications. I am always amazed by several things. First, how we can consider people we have never seen or maybe even spoken to directly as “friends.” Second, how we are able to use social networking to very positive effects from fund raising for good causes to arranging emergency transportation for rescue horses. Third, how easy it is to learn from so many people who are willing to share really great...

Janne Rumbough and Junior (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, FL - The 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) began this week with the National Opener Show on January 22-23. Dressage riders from all levels turned out to compete and get experience in the main Global Arena. The judge for the show was Margaret Freeman. The AGDF continues next week with the Wellington Dressage CDI-W presented by The Dutta Corp. on January 31 - February 3, which kicks off the international dressage season at the...

Lexington, KY - In October 2012, for the very first time, the US Saddle Seat Young Rider Team application process got under way. 60 Applications were received from around the country, and from multiple Saddle Seat Breed members. After an extensive review the following 12 riders were selected to be part of the 2013 US Saddle Seat Young Rider Team. Three-Gaited Caroline Cherry/15/Encinitas, CA Courtney McGinnis/15/Fishers, IN Allison Schuh/18/Seymour, WI Kristen Smith/19/Crestwood, KY Lila...

The twenty fourth in a series of blog posts from Michelle Binder North American Western Dressage receives all kinds of questions at the website and on our FaceBook page. Last week Jen Johnson shared the following in a post and it generated a huge amount of material for consideration. She posted: “I received an email last night from a **** judge who had the following concerns about Western Dressage..... “The problem is that the western horse is going to have to be much quicker in...

Temecula, CA — A decorated field of riders and horses will be vying for the top prizes at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event Nov. 1-4, with three Olympians competing in the CCI3*, as well as the 2011 defending champion and a Pan Am games gold medalist. Equine Insurance of California, Land Rover Professional’s Choice and the Professional Riders Organization are the presenting sponsors of the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event. A portion of all tickets sales will...