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...

The Show Place Arena offers one of the best indoor horse show environments in the United States (Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.) Upper Marlboro, MD – The Capital Challenge Horse Show kicked off hunter competition today at the Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. Within its span of two decades, the Capital Challenge Horse Show has set itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter competition among its many other advancements in the industry. The show...

McLain Ward & Rothchild (Beatrice Scudo) Barcelona, Spain – With Friday’s disappointment behind them, the U.S. Nations Cup Jumping team was determined to jump well at CSIO5* Barcelona on Saturday. The day wasn’t without its ups and downs, or its thrills and disappointments, but it ended with a hard fought U.S. win in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final Consolation Round. The U.S. team had the advantage of being the last in the order of go. McLain Ward (Brewster,...

Maggie Jayne and Manneken du Cory won the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake with a speedy round (Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Wayne, IL - The highlight of the Grand Prix ring Thursday was the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake at the Showplace Productions' Fall Classic Championship Horse Show, running September 10-15. With an impressive double clear round, Maggie Jayne and Manneken du Cory earned the Welcome Stake victory gallop at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. In the Junior/Amateur-Owner...

Wayne, IL - The first three of five 2013 Markel/USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage National Championships presented by HorseShow.com National Titles were awarded Saturday at the Lamplight Equestrian Center, in Developing Grand Prix and Four and Five-Year-Old divisions. All competitors rode in front of the star-studded panel of Lilo Fore, Anne Gribbons and Sandy Osborne. In the Markel/USEF Developing Grand Prix Horse Dressage National Championship presented by HorseShow.com, Zandor...

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces land after the final show jumping fence after putting in one of only eight double clear rounds (Hannah Bennet/USEA) Richland, MI - The weather gods were smiling on the CIC3* riders Friday afternoon at Richland Park as they took to the showjumping ring to tackle Mark Donovan’s proper three-star course. As inconvenient as the deluge was Thursday afternoon, it provided perfectly softened footing for the horses to spring off of Friday, and they needed every extra...

Michael Renker and Wicked ( Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Halifax, MA - The beautiful New England weather continued as competition in the Junior and Amateur-Owner Hunters concluded during the Fieldstone Summer Showcase II. Lisa Foster and Castlewood proved that they had all the answers in the Amateur-Owner Hunters, winning both over fences classes for the championship award. McKayla Langmeier and Czar-Z were also victorious in both of their over fences classes to take home the Junior...

Paul O'Shea and Skara Glen's Sienna (Anne Gittins) Halifax, MA - Sixteen horse and rider combinations gathered on the Grand Prix Field at the Fieldstone Show Park this afternoon to compete for the winning honors in the $7,500 South Shore Equine Clinic Welcome Stake. Penny Brennan and Japan once again stole the show, capturing the first place and defending their title for the second day of the Fieldstone Summer Showcase II. Brennan also piloted Dare Devil to the second place price, outriding...

Scott Steward and Garfield (Shawn McMillen Photography) Lexington, KY - It really was déjà vu all over again for Scott Stewart. For the third consecutive year, Stewart claimed victory in the Classic Hunter Round of the $160,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship. This time, his winning mount was Rose Hill Farm's Garfield, and their scores of 90, 92 and 92 for a 286 total was unmatched after a field of 89 horses contested Friday's course in the Kentucky Horse...

Mark Bluman celebrates winning the $10,000 Sir Ruly, Inc., Open Jumper Awards with the Torano Family. From left to right: Danielle Torano, Natalia Torano, Maria Teresa Torano, Mark Bluman and Jimmy Torano. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT - Colombia’s Mark Bluman, 22, closed out the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT, on a high note after winning the $10,000 Sir Ruly, Inc., Open Jumper Awards with 137 points. As the leading rider at this year’s event, Bluman was...