The first in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder My first pony ride was in 1967. I was 18 months old. It must have stuck with me because I rode horses forever after that. I have been a professional in the equestrian industry since 1989 and my parents have supported my horseback riding activities all my life. Recently, seeking that formerly ever present support, I shared with my mom my desire to get involved in Western Dressage. Imagine my surprise when she exclaimed “Western...

Wellington, FL - Christopher Hickey of Colora, MD rode Balissa HTF to the highest score of the day at the Global Dressage Festival National 2 Horse Show on Wednesday. The pair scored 75.323% in the USEF First Level Test 3-Open at the Stadium show grounds of the Global Dressage Festival (GDF). Mary Ambrose of Canada and Ming Dynasty were reserve high score receiving 71.757% in the USEF Fourth Level Test 2- Open. Balissa HTF is a Hanoverian owned and bred by Jane MacElree of Hilltop Farm in...

Kraut Wins $100,000 FTI Consulting Rider Challenge, Skelton Takes $50,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Bonus, Lamaze Triumphs In $32,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Final Wellington, FL - March 31, 2012 - Twenty-two-year-old Daniel Bluman, of Colombia, jumped to an exciting victory on Saturday night in the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Over 7,000 fans filled the stands to see the best...

Wellington, FL - Yvonne Losos de Muniz of the Dominican Republic received one of the highest scores on Dondolo Las Marismas at the West Palm Beach National Show on Saturday. The pair won the Freestyle with 77.875% at the Stadium show grounds of the Global Dressage Festival. (GDF) "It was amazing! It felt like one of the best tests I have ever done with him," said Losos de Muniz. "It was so smooth and he was with me the whole way. I have not had such a good ride with him in a long time. It was...

Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star (Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com) Wellington, FL and East Aurora, NY - March 11, 2012 - Charlie Jacobs of Deeridge Farm proved himself as an all-weather rider during Week IX of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Thunderstorms approaching the International Ring caused Saturday's $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Amateur-Owner Classic to be split into two days, but not before Charlie Jacobs and CMJ Sport Horse's Flaming Star produced a...

Steffen Peters won the Grand Prix Special at the Burbank CDI-W/Y/J and showed why "Legolas" could be his next superstar. (Jennifer M. Keeler) Burbank, CA - A curious crowd gathered to watch Steffen Peters and his potential new superstar "Legolas" passage to victory for the second day in a row at the Mid-Winter Dressage Fair CDI-W/Y/J in Burbank, CA, the first Olympic Games qualifying competition of the year on the West Coast. In the shortened Olympic Grand Prix Special Test, Peters and Four...

Lincoln, Neb. Major General Jonathan R. Burton, Chairman of The Dressage Foundation Board of Directors, proudly announces the opening of The Dressage Foundation’s Equestrian Fundraising School, offering lessons in fundraising and giving. “The School has been in the planning and development stage for the past two years, and its inaugural class of students began on January 3, 2012.” “The Dressage Foundation has a growing family of funds that awards grants and scholarships...

Wellington, FL - The inaugural event of the 2012 Global Dressage Festival (GDF) was a great success featuring the $50,000 Wellington Dressage CDI-W, presented by Magnolia Farm, and National Show, which took place February 2-5. The GDF continues with the Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W and National Show, presented by the United States PRE Association, February 16-19 at the newly constructed venue that extends the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) show grounds. Opening day of the...

(Left to Right: USA Chef d'Equipe Missy Ransehousen, Dale Dedrick, MD, Rebecca Hart, Mary Jordan, Jonathan Wentz, and Kai Handt (Lindsay McCall) Wellington, FL - Over two weeks, Para-Equestrian Dressage riders competed in front of F.E.I. judges Katherine Lucheschi (ITA), Hanneke Gerritsen (NED), and Carlos Lopes (POR), and Marc Urban (BEL) at two CPEDI3* events . This was the first time that Noreen O'Sullivan and her staff graciously hosted two consecutive CPEDI3* competitions (Gold Coast...

Lexington, KY - To reach the highest level of excellence in equestrian sport takes talent, perseverance, a tremendous spirit and often, unwavering courage. In 2011, six horses have shown the world those qualities and more. And on January 13, 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. This year - a change from years past - both a national and international horse will win. The...