Welcome to 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 challenging moments on their journey...

Ammeretto and David Beisel (Tricia Booker Photography) Traverse City, MI - David Beisel and Ammeretto saved their best for last. After winning the first class they contested during the 2013 Horse Shows by the Bay Series on July 4, they finally picked up their second blue ribbon today during the $30,000 D-Braider Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix. "It was worth the wait, for sure," said Beisel, who also notched his first grand prix win aboard the 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Numero...

Pablo Barrios and Zara Leandra (Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Lexington, KY - The top riders in the country gathered to compete for the winning prize in tonight's $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, but in the 15-horse jump-off only the fastest and most accurate would have the chance at the prize money. Venezuela's Pablo Barrios and Zara Leandra scored the lion's share of the cash after making a mad dash across the finish line in a scorching 43.662 seconds for the win. The...

Brittini Raflowitz and Elios rode to the top of the $5,000 GGT Footing Welcome Stake leader board at Equifest I, riding to the only double-clear effort of the class. Wayne, IL - Accuracy was key for Brittini Raflowitz and Elios this afternoon during the $5,000 GGT Footing Welcome Stake at Equifest I. The pair out jumped all fellow contenders as the only ones to post a double-clear effort, eventually leading the victory gallop in the Lamplight Equestrian Center's Grand Prix Ring. David...

McLain Ward and Cadence (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Calgary, Alberta - Despite having first ridden Cadence last week, McLain Ward had confidence in his new mount. They have had a string of top finishes at the 'Canada One' and 'North American' Tournaments, and today was their first victory. Ward was one of three that made it into the jump-off in the $50,000 Akita Drilling Cup 1.50m out of 36 entries. He was the first to go and put in an efficient round in 36.52 seconds with...

Mark Bluman of Colombia rode G&C Lagran to victory in the $10,000 Open Welcome, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Thursday, July 4, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT - Mark Bluman of Colombia won the $10,000 Open Welcome, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, held Thursday, July 4, at the Vermont Summer Festival. The six-week equestrian competition is running July 2 through August 11 at Harold Beebe Farm in East...

Matt Cyphert and Lochivar Parker, CO - Summer in the Rockies III kicked off Wednesday with exciting show jumping action in the Kathy and Brad Coors Family Grand Prix Arena. Highlights of the day included the 1.30m and 1.40m Open Jumpers and the Young Jumper Divisions. McLain Ward has called Alan Wade his favorite course designer in the whole world. And here at the Colorado Horse Park's Summer in the Rockies III, the jumper competitors got their first taste of the Irish course designer's...

Wannahave stretches over the open water with McLain Ward (Spruce Meadows Media Services) Clagary, Alberta - The $33,000 McDaniel & Associates 1.45m Derby had 24 entries, and six of those were able to clear the course without faults. The track, designed by Werner Deeg of Germany, featured 16 numbered obstacles and 19 jumping efforts, including the grob, open water, dry ditch combination, and jumping off a bank. Speeding around by six seconds faster than the next competitors were McLain Ward...

Jonathan Holling of the United States, pictured here riding Downtown Harrison, will attempt to defend his title at the Volvo Bromont CCI*** Three Day Event to be held June 6 to 9, 2013, in Bromont, Quebec. (Cealy Tetley, www.tetleyphoto.com) Bromont, Quebec – The 2013 Volvo CCI3* Bromont Three Day Event, The Todd Sandler Challenge, gets underway at the Bromont Olympic Horse Park in Bromont, Quebec, on June 6, concluding on June 9. Over the past 27 years, Bromont has attained elite status...

Meagan Nusz and Vesuvius (Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Lexington, KY - The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows came to a close Sunday with amateur rider Meagan Nusz claiming her second major victory. During the 16-horse jump-off in the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic, Nusz piloted Vesuvius to the winning clear time to lead the victory gallop during the Kentucky Spring Classic. Ramiro Quintana of Argentina was hot on her heels, qualifying three mounts for the tiebreaker and...