Generous sponsors make this year’s finale extra special.

photos: MGO Photography

This years’ Area VI Eventing Championships took place Oct. 20-21 at the Fresno County Horse Park. “We welcomed sponsorship for the first time,’ says Area VI chairman Chris Scarlett. “We can’t thank them enough for their generous support and for working with the Fresno County Horse Park’s John Marshall to make the competition a very special event. They have started the ball rolling on making the Area Championships a year-end goal. The Fresno County Horse Park and the crew with course designer Bert Wood made the championship cross-country courses more challenging for the riders contesting the championships.”

Meet Our Trainers.

The Inland Empire Hunter Jumper Association is supported by a number of professional trainers, barns and riding academies located throughout Southern California. Their programs range from beginners on lesson horses to riders new to the hunter/jumper show scene to dedicated show competitors chasing points at the county and higher circuit level to older adult riders enjoying the schooling process. No matter your riding level, horse owner or not, competitor or casual rider, IEHJA has a trainer for you. Whether you live in the San Bernardino Mountains, the deserts of Riverside, San Diego or Riverside counties or you call urban Orange and Los Angeles counties home, there is a IEHJA trainer near you.

United States Dressage Federation Region 7 FEI JR/YR Clinic with George Williams gives tomorrow’s stars many tools.

by Cassidy Gallman

It seems like everyone these days is talking about the future of horse sports. There are thoughts, theories and hypotheses about what the future holds and what the future will look like. Well, Whitney Houston sang, “the kids are our future,” and if she is correct then the future of dressage is here.

Golden Anniversary California Dressage Society Championship has many highlights.

photos: Jennifer M. Keeler

In 1967, the idea of the California Dressage Society (CDS) was born among friends gathered in a living room. One of their main objectives was to create an annual showcase event where competitors could gather to pursue their passion. The Championship show has grown from its debut with 67 entries paying $5 per class to the 50th anniversary show this year where 330 competitors rode for more than $30,000 in prize money.

Top Competition is showcased at the six San Fernando Hunter Jumper Association Medal Finals.

by Regina Antonioli

Over a hundred junior and amateur riders showed up to compete in the San Fernando Hunter Jumper Association’s six medal finals. Positioning itself as a bridge between the grass roots and premiere levels of equestrian sports, the SFHJA Medals have varying degrees of difficulty and fence heights, with riders ranging in age from under 10 to over 60.

Young talent shines at Southern edition of long running annual tradition.

by Kristin Young, CDS director. Photos: Terri Miller

Hosting the CDS Southern Junior/Young Rider Championship, Aug. 12-13, with the San Diego Summer Show provided a fun and cool atmosphere for the kids. The ever-popular CDS San Diego Annual International Party Friday night allowed the junior/young riders to mingle with adult amateur and open riders in a fun way. Thanks to Sara Mosqueda from the CDS Inland Communities Chapter we had a beautiful cake to celebrate the 50th year of CDS. Saturday night the CDS Junior Ice Cream Social was open to all competitors. The CDS Inland Communities Chapter provided an ice cream sundae bar along with root beer floats or adult floats for those over 21.

Dressage shows off its young & fun side.

photos courtesy of Tamara Torti

CDS may be celebrating its 50th year, but the “golden” glow recently was all about the kids at the Junior/Young Riders Championships. These scenes are from the Northern Championships, held in late July at Rancho Murieta.

National Advisory Board of the National Collegiate Equestrian Association announces leadership changes & new member.

The National Collegiate Equestrian’s Association’s National Advisory Board announces the new leadership structure approved this summer. Tom O’Mara and John Hull will assume the position as co-chairs of the NAB for the next two years. Ongoing support from past co-chair Kelly Chapman will provide for an effective transition as she will remain as a member of the NAB. David May’s term on the NAB expires after serving as one of the primary architects of the NAB. Chapman and May were integral in the establishment of the NAB and provided the structure and network to support the growth of NCAA Equestrian toward championship status. “The NCEA truly appreciates the early efforts of David May and Kelly Chapman in building the NAB into a recognized entity. We are excited about the leadership transition and look forward to working closely with John Hull and Tom O’Mara,” said Dr. Leah Fiorentino, Executive Director of the NCEA.

Dressage and Ballet.

by Gay Weaver, reprinted from Dressage Letters July 1972

Ballet and dressage are often compared to one another and indeed both emerged from the same sources, the Italian and French courts of the 16th and 17th centuries. One such comparison is made with the pas de deux, one of several terms that still exist in both disciplines, meaning a series of movements for two people.

More Perks in the Horsemastership Scholarship Program

Every year, the Los Angeles Hunter Jumper Association awards $5,000 in college scholarships to the three competitors with the highest overall score across the three phases  of its Horsemastership Scholarship Program. It consists of a written test, a hands-on stable management test, and a riding test. This competition is open to all junior members of LAHJA. Junior members of LAHJA who are interested in the Horsemastership Scholarship Program should sign up now and start studying—the written test must be completed by September 1.