The seventeenth in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder Last weekend we attended the second Western Dressage classes held here in the Inland Northwest. We rode the NAWD tests through Level 4. The tests are wonderful and the dressage spectators were very interested in how the WD tests are both similar and different from the USEF tests ridden in the USDF shows. The judge was super and even though the day was very long for her, very positive about the work saying "I enjoyed judging...

Nick Maupin is a 19-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin majoring in Business Marketing and plans to graduate in 2015. From Sussex, Wisconsin, he is on the five-gaited section of the 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. It would not surprise any member of the Saddle Seat world to hear me say that the discipline is generally, along with Saddle Seat Equitation, a female dominated sport. Quite possibly the only time one will see a male majority in a class is in the Open divisions. Not...

Victory in the final leg at Boekelo (NED) clinched the overall win for Germany in the first FEI Nations Cup Eventing (left to right): Michael Jung, Bettina Hoy, Julia Krajewski and Ingrid Klimke with Chef d'Equipe Hans Melzer (Jon Stroud/FEI) The German team produced yet another first-rate performance to win at Boekelo (NED), the final leg of the inaugural FEI Nations Cup™ Eventing, and rounded off what has been an outstanding year for the country’s senior riders with a comfortable...

Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Equitation Medal Finals Presentation. (Al Cook) Harrisburg, PA - Meg O'Mara of Rumson, NJ, bested a field of 257 junior riders to win the prestigious Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Equitation Medal Finals, presented by Randolph College, at the 67th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Sunday. It was an emotional time for O'Mara. The announcer just finished naming Lillie Keenan of New York, NY, the Reserve Champion. When she realized that the Championship title was...

Dana Scott USEF Champion and KM Whatever RV Dana Scott of Wilton, CT, captured the gold medal riding KM Whatever RV in the $7,500 Randolph College/USEF National Junior Jumper Individual Championship at the 67th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Saturday evening. The 17- year-old rider was nearly perfect finishing with a score of only two faults. "I got a little lucky," said Scott. "Everyone here has a really fantastic horse, everyone here has a fabulous team behind them and everyone...

Boekelo, The Netherlands - Every member of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team that entered the show jumping arena at the Military Boekelo CCIO3* Sunday leapt up the leaderboard and helped the U.S. team improve to 6th place in the final Nations Cup standings. Leading the way for the Americans were Jonathan Holling and Downtown Harrison. Holling (Ocala, FL) and Constance Ann Holling's Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding were just shy of a double clear round. They jumped flawlessly, but came in just...

Boekelo, The Netherlands - They had some adverse conditions to deal with Saturday, but the members of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team were able to maintain their place in the standings after navigating a soggy cross country course at the Military Boekelo CCIO3*. Leading the Nations Cup team were Jennie Brannigan and Nina Gardner's Cambalda. The pair jumped clean over the course while adding 10 time faults and rising in the standings to 52nd overall. "It was quite muddy and heavy by the...

Presentation: L to R: Cliff Haines, Scott Stewart, Dr. Betsee Parker, For the Laughter, Meredith Darst, Tim Bolton, Mindy Darst and Jorge Delara. (Al Cook) For the Laughter, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker of Middleburg, VA and shown by Meredith Darst, was awarded the Grand Pony Hunter Championship, sponsored by the Bedard Family, at the 67th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Saturday afternoon. There were cheers and tears at the presentation as Dr. Parker was overcome with emotion over the...

Abigail McArdle of the Zone 5 Team on Cosma 20. (Al Cook) Harrisburg, PA - The Zone 5 team captured the gold medal in the $15,000 Randolph College/USEF Prix de States Team Championship at the 67th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Friday evening. The team members were: Kalvin Dobbs of Tallahassee, FL riding Winde; Abigail McArdle of Barrington Hills, IL on Cosma 20; Lillie Ross of Wheaton, IL aboard Pako; and Catherine Tyree of Chicago, IL on Wetter. Following a modified Nation's...

Boekelo, The Netherlands- The Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team stands eighth in FEI Nations Cup competition as they head into Saturday’s cross country at the Military Boekelo CCIO3*. The final two members of the Nations Cup team, Jennie Brannigan and Jon Holling, performed their dressage today in front of the Ground Jury of Sue Stewart, Eric Lieby, and Helen Christie. All riders on Friday had to contend with heavy rain throughout the day but the weather didn’t deter Holling (Ocala, FL)...