Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and United States Eventing Association (USEA) are pleased to announce the introduction of the Eventing 18/Advancing Athletes program, a new joint initiative beginning in 2013. The goal of this program is to build a foundation of future horsemen and women that will hopefully go on to represent the United States. This is an important step in the Athlete Pipeline. Selection into the program will be based on talent, competitiveness,...

I have been promising to update readers on current trends in the Western Dressage world. One way of keeping track of what WD is doing, where it is going and who is doing it is to track events. NAWD, CD and WDAA all maintain calendars of clinics and shows around the country. By analyzing those calendars we have a simple method of tracking what is happening. The information is limited by the fact that show and clinic organizers must report their event to the organization for inclusion on these...

There wasn’t a whole lot of NCEA team competition last week (many teams took the week off while they were represented at the WEF Collegiate Equitation Challenge ), but some top teams are back in action this weekend. Check below for my take on each of the NCEA Matchups that'll be happening in the coming days. No.2 Auburn University vs. No.4 South Carolina University South Carolina heads to Auburn to try and rein in a reeling season. Working with three straight losses, and coming off...

Today’s post comes from Sin City, Las Vegas Nevada. Since I am here in the region of Southwest Western Dressage, I decided to write the blog as an interview with someone from the Las Vegas equestrian community who was doing Western Dressage. So I opened up the phone book to call a local barn. Every barn number but one was disconnected or no longer in service. The one that was working was a casino! So I called a feed store, thinking that at the feed store would be someone who knew someone...

Las Vegas, NV - The $50,000 Fisker Automotive World Cup Grand Prix was the pinnacle of the Las Vegas National beginning with a fiery opening ceremony act. Welcoming the local crowds, fans and competitors was a one-of-a-kind fire infused performance that set the stage for some hot competition. Thirty-five rounds of international talent prepared to take on German course designer, Olaf Petersen Jr.'s World Cup Qualifying test. From an early stage it looked as if the young stars were taking...

Elkton, MD - The Dansko Fair Hill International CCI wrapped up Sunday as National Titles were awarded in both two and three-star competition. Competitors tackled Sally Ike’s challenging show jumping courses under uncharacteristically sunny, beautiful skies. Hannah Sue Burnett held her nerve to win the CCI3* National Title with Harbour Pilot to win her third Fair Hill crown (the 26-year-old has two CCI3* victories and one win in the CCI2*). In the USEF National Two-Star Eventing...

The sixteenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder In an attempt to acknowledge the current diversity within the discipline, show organizers have started offering exhibitors the opportunity to ride ANY test they want to ride, from any organization that has published tests. A buffet of western dressage is now available with something for everyone. The show organizers want to meet the needs of the competitors and in so doing really have taken the first step toward acceptance and...

Woodside, CA - The Woodside International Horse Trials, presented by Equine Insurance of California and Professional’s Choice, will get underway on Friday, Oct. 5, with 37 horses starting in the three international divisions. The Woodside International Horse Trials are held at the Horse Park at Woodside. Dressage for the featured C IC3* starts at 12:30 p.m. and concludes at 2:00 p.m., before judges Wayne Quarles and Loris Henry of the USA. The 11 horses in the CIC3* —from the USA,...

Woodside, CA - Derek di Grazia has done a substantial redesign of his cross-country course for the Woodside International Horse Trials, which will take place on Oct. 5-7, presented by Professional’s Choice and Equine Insurance of California. Di Grazia says he’s changed five combinations on the course for the featured CIC3* division, and he’s also made numerous alterations for the CIC2* and CIC1* divisions. “Because we did quite a bit last year, when Woodside became an...

Lexington, KY - The season has yet to begin but there is already drama atop the NCEA coaches poll . Last year’s overall NCEA National Champion Texas A&M Aggies are deadlocked in the #1 position with the university of Georgia Bulldogs. They won’t be tied there for long though. On September 30th the Aggies and Bulldogs will meet in the first ever official SEC Women’s Equestrian showdown. Equestrian was made an official SEC sport over the offseason and this matchup of...