Part 2 in a five-part series about the exciting new discipline of western dressage More and more western riders are thinking about trying the exciting new discipline of western dressage. While the progressive training principles of dressage can be a benefit to any horse's development, riders will discover that trotting down the centerline of a dressage arena is a very different experience than they may be used to for a western pleasure or reining show. The first and most obvious difference...

Don Auriello and Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (Susan J. Stickle) Wellington, Fla. - January 10, 2014 - The Adequan Global Dressage Festival kicked off the "Friday Night Stars" series with an exciting FEI Grand Prix Freestyle competition and full spectator stands at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Leading the way was Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) on Don Auriello, who won with a score of 81.575%. Lars Petersen (DEN) and Mariett scored 76.925% for second place. Fellow Dane...

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello (SusanJStickle.com) Wellington, Fla - Swedish rider Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello topped the FEI Grand Prix, sponsored by MTICA Farm, with a winning score of 77.670% during the first day of competition for the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). Danish riders filled out the top three for the class, with Lars Petersen and Mariett finishing second with a 72.880% and Mikala Munter Gundersen taking home third place with a score of 69....

Jacob Arnold will begin a mentorship under Chester Weber in January 2014 (PicsofYou.com) Ocala, Fla. - New year. New opportunities. Just ask Jacob Arnold, who begins a mentorship under Chester Weber in January 2014 as the inaugural apprentice driver in the Live Oak Combined Driving, Inc. Developing Driver Program. “Though Live Oak Combined Driving has always been involved in the ongoing development of many drivers, this new program will begin with Jacob Arnold as the first apprentice...

Kent Farrington and Blue Angel (Sportfot www.us.sportfot.com) Palm Beach, Fla. - Kent Farrington (USA) and Robin Parsky's Blue Angel added another victory to their roster of recent wins with a top finish in Sunday's $125,000 Trump Invitational Grand Prix, presented by Rolex. Held at The Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, FL, the second annual event brought together many of the best in equestrian show jumping for a day of great competition and charity fundraising, set on the lawn of Mr....

Lexington, Ky. - The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has announced revised and new dressage tests that will come into effect January 1, 2014. The FEI has revised its Intermediate II, Grand Prix, and Grand Prix Special, which will be applied at the start of the 2014 competition season. Additionally, a Medium Tour has been announced to assist horse-and-rider combinations transition from the Small Tour to the Big Tour. The Medium Tour will utilize the newly introduced...

Lexington, Ky. - The schedule for the 2014 USEF Horsemastership Training Session presented by USHJA is now available. Mounted sessions will be broadcast live by USEF Network at www.USEFNetwork.com presented by SmartPak . See the complete schedule here . Profiles of the twelve riders invited to participate in the Training Session, sponsored in 2014 by Equestrian Sport Productions and Active Interest Media-publishers of Practical Horseman, are available here . In its eighth year, this prestigious...

A five-part series to learn more about the exciting new discipline of Western Dressage Part 1: What is Western Dressage? When most equestrians think of "dressage", they envision the graceful harmony of beautiful horses with riders clad in top hats and tails, dancing together through musical freestyles in an Olympic stadium. But now, an increasing number of competitors entering dressage arenas will be wearing Western hats and boots with their horses outfitted in stock saddles. What's going...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and Heritage Gloves have signed an agreement ensuring that Heritage will remain the USEF's officially endorsed glove manufacturer. Heritage Gloves will continue to be the "Official Riding Gloves of the United States Equestrian Federation" and USEF members will continue to benefit from the support of a premier equestrian brand. More than three decades of experience in manufacturing and innovation have helped Heritage make gloves...

Lexington, Ky. - In 2013, Land Rover, the official automotive partner of the USEF, continued its unfailing support of the U.S. eventing program, awarding $208,000 in Competition Grants and a further $56,500 toward Training Grants. Eighteen horse-and-rider combinations from the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team received funding to compete at seven prestigious competitions in both Europe and the United States. "I feel very fortunate to have received travel grants from Land Rover for two of my horses,...