It all came down to speed in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, CA. Eduardo Menezes and Cruschka who had the speed and rode to the win (Flying Horse Photography) Thermal, CA – It was by all accounts a stellar kick-off to the 2013 HITS Desert Circuit Friday, as 38 horse and rider combinations tested themselves in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Crisp weather and a light drizzle did...

Adrienne Lyle (Mary Cornelius) The Board of Directors of The Dressage Foundation announced that, for the first time, two recipients have been chosen to receive a $25,000 Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize in the same year. Adrienne Lyle (ID) and her horse, Wizard, along with Sharon McCusker (MA) and her horse, Wrigley, were selected because they display the characteristics and qualities of being talented, committed, qualified riders whose plans are to reach and excel at the elite,...

Lexington, KY- The dressage world turns its focus to Wellington, Florida this week as many top competitors from throughout the world wi Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 (SusanJStickle.com) ll go head-to-head at the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by Wellington Classic Dressage. This prestigious event will take place once again at the Palm Beach County Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, January 24-26. The United States has a strong presence in this year’s competition as five Americans...

Lexington, KY - To reach the highest level of excellence in equestrian sport requires talent, perseverance, a tremendous spirit and often, unwavering courage. In 2012, six horses have shown the world those qualities and more. On January 18, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will bestow two of them with the prestigious title of Horse of the Year, the highest honor the USEF awards a horse. Again this year both a national and international horse will win. The six champions have earned...

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...

Lauren Hough and Ohlala (©ManciniPhotos) Wellington, FL - The Holiday and Horses CSI 2*-W show continued Thursday with another big class for show jumpers, the $33,000 Holiday and Horses Opener Grand Prix presented by Horse Gym USA. The grand prix is a FEI ROLEX ranking class, and the winning amount of points Thursdya went to Lauren Hough and Ohlala. They were the only double clear round to capture victory. The Holiday and Horses show continues through December 2 and is rated CSI 2*-W, Jumper...

The twenty first in a series of blog post from Michelle Binder As this blog has progressed, I have tried to bring awareness about Western Dressage to the equestrian community at large. Now I am going to encourage you to do some research on your own. By now you know that there are several organizations promoting the development of the sport. At this point the question we hear most often from people all over is: “What is the difference?” To some it seems that the differences that...

Lexington, KY- Four U.S. riders head to Argentina this week to take part in FEI Nations Cup competition at the prestigious CSIO-W Buenos Aires. The show running November 6-11 hosts the final Nations Cup for the U.S. jumpers to compete in for 2012. American riders Charlie Jacobs, Quentin Judge, Catherine Pasmore and Alison Robitaille will be under the guidance of Norman Dello Joio as he provides veteran leadership in the role of Chef d’Equipe. Due to rain, Nations Cup competition has been...

James Alliston and Tivoli (Amy McCool) Temecula, CA - Start calling James Alliston “Mr. Galway Downs.” The Galway Downs International Three-Day Event has offered a CCI3* for the last three years. Alliston finished third in 2010, finished first and seventh in 2011, and this year he finished first, second and sixth. Alliston, of Castro Valley, Calif., rode Tivoli to first place (53.4) Jumbo’s Jake, the horse he won with in 2011 and finished third with in 2010, to second place...

Temecula, CA - James Alliston, who won the featured CCI3* at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event in 2011, has jumped into first and second places after cross-country day at this year’s event. With a faultless round on Tivoli, Alliston has taken over the lead (49.4), and by guiding Jumbo’s Jake, the horse he rode to victory last year, home just 2 seconds slow, he’s also taken over second place (52.6). Michael Pollard and Schoensgreen Hanni, the dressage leaders,...