Carter Anderson and The Blu Mountie (Emily Riden) Lexington, KY - The 2013 USEF Pony Finals kick off on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, and as the Kentucky Summer Classic came to a conclusion today, young riders took advantage of the perfect weather and the opportunity to prepare in the rings at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Kentucky Summer Classic, which ran July 30 to August 4, offered a wide array of pony divisions and classes, including the WIHS Small Pony Equitation and the WIHS Large Pony...

Shane Sweetnam and Solerina (Phelps Media Group, Inc. International) Lexington, KY - For the second week in a row, the Irish had all the luck, specifically Shane Sweetnam during the $50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington, at the Kentucky Summer Classic. This time he was aboard Solerina for the win, shaving valuable seconds off his jump-off time to beat fellow countryman Richie Moloney and Carrabis Z, who placed second. Sweetnam's winning mount from last...

McKayla Langmeier guided Czar-Z to victory in the $5,000 NEHJA Hunter Derby on August 1 at the Vermont Summer Festival, held in East Dorset, VT. (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT - Thirteen-year-old McKayla Langmeier, of East Granby, CT, and Czar-Z added another hunter derby win to their record after topping the $5,000 NEHJA Hunter Derby at the Vermont Summer Festival on Thursday evening, August 1. The pair collected the first hunter derby victory of their career during the 2011...

Happy Z and Wilhelm Genn (Tricia Booker Photogra[hy) Traverse City, MI - Happy Z has an affinity for Horse Shows by the Bay. The flashy chestnut won the first grand prix of her venerable career eight years ago in Traverse City, and she returned today to log her 55th victory in the $30,000 Grand Prix of the Great Lakes. "At this point, I appreciate every good class, where before you take things for granted," said owner and rider Wilhelm Genn. "Now, she doesn't have to win, just jump well,...

Devin Ryan guided Zosja to victory in the $30,000 Otter Creek Grand Prix, presented by the Inns at Equinox, on July 20 at the Vermont Summer Festival in (East Dorset, VT) East Dorset, VT - Devin Ryan and Zosja were declared the winners of the $30,000 Otter Creek Grand Prix, presented by the Inns at Equinox, on Saturday afternoon at the Vermont Summer Festival. Ryan and Zosja were the only double-clear round of the day, laying down a steady and careful second trip to secure them the victory....

Cassandra Roberts of the USA Southeast and Viktory Banner finishing the 75-mile endurance race (Brant Gamma Photography) Lexington, KY - Four teams were fielded for this year's endurance race and it was a great opportunity for young riders to experience the FEI competition and what they can do for their country in the future. Leading the Gold medal-winning team for the USA Southeast was Cassandra Roberts (16, Bronson, FL) on Viktory Banner, who also won the Individual Gold medal with a...

Jumping Young Rider Team Gold medalists from Zone 2: Lillie Keenan, Michael Hughes, Gabrielle Bausano, and Mattias Tromp (Sportfot) Lexington, KY – There were four Team medal competitions today at the 2013 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC). In the Jumping, Zone 2 won both the the Young Rider and Junior Golds. USA took Gold in the Junior division of Reining, while the Young Riders from Canada were best. The NAJYRC continues...

Calgary, Alberta – Five weeks of world-class competition wrapped up at Spruce Meadows on Sunday afternoon with a fantastic win for Ireland’s Conor Swail and Lansdowne in the $400,000 Spruce Meadows ‘Pan American’ Grand Prix. The final event of the summer featured a five-horse jump-off with a win for the Irish, Colombia’s Daniel Bluman and Sancha LS in second and fellow Irishman Cameron Hanley and Antello in third. Canada’s Peter Grant set the track on Sunday...

Canada’s Carly Morrison riding Duvel won the $10,000 SJHOF High Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic on Sunday (David Mullinix Photography) East Dorset, VT - Canada’s Carly Morrison and Connecticut’s Wendy Collins were the two big winners on Sunday, July 7, at the Vermont Summer Festival running July 2 through August 11 at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT. Morrison took the win in the $10,000 SJHOF High Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic riding Duvel while Collins emerged victorious in the...

Thanks to everyone who took the time to send emails to USEF and for sharing your thoughts and feelings about the direction Western Dressage should take. It is so important to hear and listen to different ideas from all directions as the discipline develops. At this point all there is to do is continue to ride and train and show, and most important, to have fun with our horses. With another show coming up this weekend for us, I have put a lot of thought into the questions the last show brought...