Reprinted with permission from Cowboy Dressage Newsletter: August 2-4, 2013 “Build It and They Will Come” “Cowboy Dressage Competition debuted at Rancho Murieta Gold N Grand Horse Show Aug 2-4. Gold N Grand is known on the west coast for being the premier open horse show at one of the west’s top equine facilities. A record number of 183 entries for one discipline made history. It was Cowboy Dressage. This does not happen by accident. It happens because of hard work, a...

Show season keeps moving forward and the scores keep coming in. At the last WSH show, the high score rider, Linda Coates-Markle, received a whopping 76% on NAWD Level 3 Test 1 (that is the western equivalent of USDF First Level) riding her Quarter Horse mare. Once again, this last weekend, shows featuring Western Dressage classes were held all over the country and WD riders on both sides of the nation received the highest Phyllis Ray and Starr in the warm-up (Darcia Drapeau) scores recorded at...

A couple weeks ago a friend and I attended a WSH Dressage Show halfway across the state to ride the NAWD tests. The weather was gorgeous, the drive uneventful, the horses well behaved. The show was at a beautiful facility, with a qualified judge I trust to evaluate our western dressage horses. My stallion was perfectly behaved even in the warm-up area with the little ponies and their tiny children. Sounds like a perfect horse show weekend huh? It was, but for one thing. I was confused! For the...

Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run's Eternal (Mary Adelaide Brakenridge) Parker, CO - Summer in the Rockies II Grand Prix, presented by Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance, was well attended and spectators lined the grass bleachers and VIP area on a mild summer day. Much needed rain could be seen far in the distance but Mother Nature held off the showers with perfect timing, letting go in a brief downpour as the victory gallop ended. Brian Curry, Vice President and General...

Kent Farrington and Blue Angel (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, AB – The 2013 Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments began Wednesday, and riding on new turf footing, riders contested four FEI-level competitions. For the third year in a row, Kent Farrington (USA) captured victory in the $33,000 ATB Financial Cup 1.50m, this year with Blue Angel. In the $33,000 Enbridge Cup 1.45m, McLain Ward (USA) was victorious with Super Trooper de Ness. Christine McCrea (USA) and Romantovich Take One...

Lexington, KY – Entries are currently being taken for the 19th Annual Pony Finals Auction held Saturday, August 10, 2013 in conjunction with the US Pony Finals in Lexington, Kentucky at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Pony Finals Auction has long been regarded as the premier auction in the world for buying ponies to compete at the highest levels. It has produced numerous ponies that have gone on to win championships at the Pony Finals and other major shows around the country. Auction Date -...

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...

South Carolina's Western team pulled the only upset of the day Friday and kept the Gamecocks in contention for the overall National Championship (Cory Burkarth) Waco, TX - The top teams at the NCEA Championship showed their strength Friday during the quarterfinal round of the NCEA National Championship Tournament. The only upset of the day was a minor one, and it belonged to the fifth seeded South Carolina Western team which took a 5-3 descision over fourth seeded TCU. The Gamecocks jumped out...

Lexington, KY – Land Rover and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event are increasing their partnership as Land Rover becomes the presenting sponsor of the prestigious equestrian event. The company will continue to be title sponsor of the Land Rover Tailgate and presenting sponsor of the NBC telecast of the Rolex Equestrian Championships presented by Land Rover. In its new role as presenting sponsor of the event, it will honor the top U.S. rider who comes closest to the optimum time on the...

McLain Ward and Zander (Sportfot) Wellington, FL - McLain Ward (USA) and his promising young mount Zander were the winners in Saturday night's $100,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final during week eleven of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) in Wellington. The pair led a high-speed jump-off over second place finishers Janne Friederike Meyer of Germany aboard Cellagon Lambrasco and third place duo Pablo Barrios of Venezuela riding Zara Leandra....