Do you struggle to get your boots shiny for competition? Perhaps you’ve given up and think, ‘Oh well my boots look okay.’ Have you ever looked at someone’s boots and said, “WOW” and wonder how they get them so shiny? Well, you too can have those amazing boots that others say, “WOW!” ShowRingShine - the boot care kit designed by Shannon Peters to creates a mirror shine on new or old boots, to breathe life into cracked, dull or stiff boots, and to protect your boots’ rich, supple leather. A winning path to boot shine, Shannon said, “Once a person understands the step by step system and implements it into a routine, they will get the best possible shine. Once that routine is down, the results are amazing. People don't always understand why they can't get their boots shiny for a competition, because that's the only time they polish them. There is a better way.” ShowRingShine will go to Aachen with Steffen, to make sure his boots look the best!

The FEI Nations Cup Dressage Series pilot program kicks off this weekend in Vidauban, France with teams from 5 countries going for the title at the CDIO3*! Catherine Haddad has settled back into the US and NJ.com has a nice article/interview on what she is up to and what she hope to achieve now that she is back on American soil. Eurodressage.com has a piece written about "letting go" when riders lose the ride and how they move on. Love your mare and considering breeding her via embryo transfer? Choose the recipient well. A study shows how the size matters in the outcome of your foal! Pull up and chair and tune in Saturday to the running of the 138th Preakness Cup where Orb will attempt to become the winner the first Triple Crown title since 1978.

This week the Domain Equestre de Grands Pins, at Vidauban in the south-east of France, plays host to the opening leg of the much-anticipated pilot season for FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage Friday, 17 May. A total of five countries will field teams for this CDIO3* competition which will be followed by three further events over the coming months. The CDIO5* fixtures at Rotterdam (NED) and Aachen (GER) will stage legs on 20 and 27 June respectively, and the series will draw to a close at Hickstead CDIO3* (GBR) on Sunday 4 August.

Sabine Schut-Kery and her PRE (Pura Raza Espanola) Marques XXXVI she co-owns with Rhea Scott got the spring season off with a grand slam at the Del Mar National Dressage Show (April 26-29) dominating the FEI Division in the National show winning all three Prix St Georges classes. With up to 25 horses in each class, Schut-Kery and the 9-year-old stallion earned not only some of the highest scores on record for a PRE at that level but also for the show winning the High Point Award. Scoring a 70.7, 75, and 79.2% they impressed different judges in each class, including Stephen Clarke. “Every rider's dream is to have one time that special horse that is able to do the job with ease and good quality, “ said Sabine. “I consider myself blessed to have two amazing stallions, Marques and Alice Womble-Heitman's Sanceo .” After their big weekend, the California Santa Ana Winds kicked up devastating fires threatening many homes, farms and horses in their region. Sabine and her husband went into rescue mode evacuating all the horses.