Randi Muster (McLain Ward and Sapphire) It came down to a four-rider jump-off speed round at the 2006 Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship at the 123rd National Horse Show in Wellington, FL, on Sunday afternoon. And in a finish befitting the championships sponsor—Rolex—the crowds counted split seconds in the final speed test. When the last rider left the course and the points were tallied, McLain Ward and his Sapphire bested all challengers to win the title in a suspenseful, yet...

Mike Ferrara (Leslie Lurkin of Rochester, MN, after his win with Melissa LOA in the Half-Arabian Mare Breeding Saddle Pleasure AAOTH at the 40th Annual U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show. ) The 40th annual U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (U.S. Nationals) bid a final farewell to Louisville from October 12-21, 2006, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KY. It was the last time the show will be held in this particular venue....

Georgetown College President William H. Crouch, Jr., and Kentucky Horse Park Executive Director John Nicholson cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the Equine Scholars Center, which will serve as the central offices for Georgetown College’s Equine Scholars Program. The ceremony also honored Larry Smith, who recently retired as the volunteer executive director, for all of the time and hard work he contributed to make the program a success. The program, which pairs students’ academic...

Allyson Blais and Rocca K were the first of four to go clean over a tough, twisting course designed by Pierre Jolicoeur. The pair went on to top of the field of 30 in the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Children’s Jumper Finals, held at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA. “The first course was very difficult. You would think you were turning right and you would have to turn left,” explained Blais, 16, who went third in the order and was followed by numerous knockdowns,...

Lindsey Mohr, 15, of Long Valley, NJ, dominated the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Children’s Hunter Finals on October 18 at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA. Riding Lion King, Mohr led both rounds with scores of an 87 and an 88. “This is one of the toughest competitions,” said Mohr. “Everyone has a great eye and there is always a great match between horse and rider.” Thirty-one horses qualified to compete at the Farm Show Complex, and through the use of the numerical...

Sarah Hamilton from strategic communications consulting firm Kivvit gave a presentation on social media to kick off Friday’s Workshop Sessions. She reviewed the basics, different platforms, strengths and weaknesses of social media, and best practices. Hamilton concluded by fielding questions from the audience for a thoroughly informative session. Social media is a communication tool “Social media is just one tool in a larger communications and marketing external relations plan that...

Paragon He’s only eight years old but he’s the talk of the dressage world. Yesterday people came to watch him school because they had seen him on YouTube and they wanted to see him in person. Luckily for the U.S. he’s on our team at the 2011 Pan American Games, after claiming reserve championship honors at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. Owned and ridden by Heather Blitz, the lanky 18- plus-hand chestnut gelding has jaw-dropping movement in...

Atherton, Calif. - One of the highlights of the Menlo Charity Horse Show is the USHJA International Hunter Derby Presented by Dr. Daryl K. Hoffman, this anxiously anticipated class on Thursday afternoon is steeped in tradition never ever disappoints. John French and Center Court (Alden Corrigan Media) “The Menlo Horse Show, in general, is a very special show, it’s unique event held in the middle of a beautiful residential neighborhood. Menlo is a gorgeous show, with great jumps and...

Daniel Bedoya and Quattro (Phelps Media Group) Lexington, KY - July 23, 2015 - Standing at 18 hands with a large stride to match his height, Daniel Bedoya's Quattro has the ability to leave strides out all over the course, and that is exactly what he did on Thursday night at the Kentucky Horse Park. Bedoya and Quattro bested 10 other contenders in the jump-off in Rolex Stadium to win the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic. A total of 42 horse-and-rider combinations competed over the first...

Welcome to the fourth installment of a different kind of blog from WDAA! The purpose of this post is to allow the reader "into the heads" of both a trainer/judge/competitor, Karen Abbattista and her student, Deborah Herbert, a Florida WDAA member. We would like to share with you some moments in Deb's journey as she pursues her riding goals with her AQHA mare "GenuineArcticSpring", barn name "Belle". Please enjoy as you follow along with these posts that we consider interesting or...