Dressage News Notes - Brought to you by Back On Track

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro (Photo: Eurodressage.com)

The U.S. will go up against some of the best in the world this weekend at the CDIO3* Hickstead Nations Cup which is the next stop in the U.S. team's Summer European tour! Looking for your next dressage partner? Be sure to read the article at Eurodressage about finding your next horse! Equine Guelph in Canada has a great new tool that helps you determine your horse's risk of having colic - check it out and see where your horse stands. Breed registries both here and abroad are watching a case in Texas where it has been determined that the American Quarter Horse Association has been ruled that it must register cloned horses. The Dressage Foundation has another member in its Century Club - check out who it is and just what age the horse/rider combination is...This week the is another busy weekend for shows in the US! The north has the Weatogue Stables Dressage in Salisbury, CT, the Children of the America's Dressage Invitational in Concord, MA, the Dressage at Stockade I and II in Glenville, NY, the Dressage at the Bucks County Horse Park IV in Revere, PA and the Fall Breed and Dressage Show at Maplewood Warmbloods in Middletown, NY. The mid west has the Sorensen Park Dressage August I and II in East Troy, WI, the Fields & Fences August Dressage Fest in Gurnee, IL and the Bara Trac II Dressage in Mason City, IA. The south has one in Florida with the Summer Sizzler 2 in Canterbury. In middle America we have the Dressage in the Rockies I, II and III in Parker, CO and the Powderhouse Dressage Explosion in Clinton, MT. Out west we have the Dressage at Lake Oswego Hunt in Lake Oswego, OR, the Summervale Dressage Festival I and II in Roy, WA, the Dressage at Mission Pacific in Somis, CA and the Yarra Yarra Dressage August in Pleasanton, CA. Alaska rounds out the weekend with the ADA Biggest Event in Anchorage.

The CDIO3* Hickstead Nations Cup is set to begin this week August 1-4 in Great Britain! The US is well represented with three of the horse/rider combinations competing in Europe - Shelly Francis, Kathleen Raine, and David Blake! The U.S. Team has been in Europe sharpening their skills at prestigious competitions against some of the best in the world in hopes of future medal wins. Read about the Hickstead squad's bio's here! Good luck to the Team!

We have all been there as horse owners - having to find that perfect partner that you hope will be the right match for you. Eurodressage has a great article on finding the right horse with different top riders giving their take on the process. There is discussion on what they look for when on the search for their next ride as well as discussing whether horses have a gender preference. It is informative for anyone shoppig for their next great match! Read the full article here!

Equine Guelph in Canada has declared 2013 the "Year od Colic Prevention" and has come up with a free Colic Risk Calculator that takes about 10 minutes to complete. After answering a series of questions in 10 categories the calculator will give you the percentage of risk and shows where improvment can be made. Read the entire article and take the "test" to see your horse's risk for this sometimes fatal problem.

Breed registires have closely been watching a case in Texas where the power house American Quarter Horse Association was sued and ruled against for refusing to register cloned horses. A jury ruled that the AQHA was "violating state and federal antitrust laws" by banning the cloned horses. Read more about why the AQHA feels it is not in violation and see what the next step is in this case being watched by mulitple registries both her in the U.S. as well as abroad. Check it out!

Another member has been added to the elite list of The Dressage Foundation's Century Club! 81 year old Ruth Crannell rode down centerline at Silverwood Farm in Camp Lake, WI on the 26 year old Thoroughbred St. George! The Century Club is for a horse/rider team whos combined age is over 100 that competes in a recognized show. Ruth had been interested in going for the Century Club after reading about it but her own horse being only 12 did not qualify the combination but a kind stranger made the dream possible! Read more here!