Kristina Sprehe and Despardos will not be competing at the 2013 German Dressage Championships in Balve, Germany, on 6 - 9 June 2013. In principle Balve is a mandatory selection trial for German team selection for the 2013 European Championships in Herning. Sprehe's 12-year old Hanoverian licensed stallion Desperados (by De Niro x Wolkenstein II) injured himself during a schooling session at the 2013 World Cup Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden, at the end of April. Although the injury was not severe and the black stallion is back in training, Balve will be too heavy a show at this moment with three competition classes. Chair of the German DOKR Dressage Selection committee Klaus Röser commented that "after a discussion with the trainer, team trainer, rider, owner and team vet as well as with the members of the dressage selection committee, it has been decided not to compete at the German Championships for the welfare of the horse."

John McGinty recognized the opportunity created by the collaborative effort of the Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training (ESDCTA) 2013 CDI*/*** Memorial Day Dressage Show and Centerline Events CDI Saugerties August 15-18, to expand competitive options for FEI level Adult Amateur riders by encouraging their participation in CDI’s at the 1* level.  While he was the only entry in the Adult Amateur Sweepstakes, McGinty and his mount, Playboy, a 16 year old Dutch Warmblood (by Jet Set D, out of Kalusja, by Rex Magna) McGinty is very supportive of this program, and could be considered a pioneer for the program. McGinty has been a tireless advocate for Adult Amateur dressage and hopes to see Adult Amateurs get their own division on the international level. He maintains, "We are the backbone of the sport...and we're given the least recognition of any group...I want amateurs to not think they can't do it...We need them in the sport and we need them in the show ring. " One could say McGinty lives life to the fullest. He's not just a man of many interests but is quite accomplished in several of them as well. His pursuits include long distance running, dancing, singing, and acting. A typical day for him begins with walking his dogs, then driving to the barn to ride one or two horses. By mid-day he's at work (as a senior financial advisor). Evenings after work include either one hour of running or at times, musical or acting rehearsals.

Bogota, Columbia – Columbian National Champion dressage rider Cesar Torrente is to become the first FEI 2* Judge promoted to FEI 3* through the new, and very rigorous FEI system. Torrente has been working toward this honor for over 2 years by participating in the Education System for FEI Judges, which was established by the FEI in July 2010. This elaborate system, which has a prerequisite of showing at the FEI level, required Torrente to comply with Judges Seminars, Shadow-Judging, FEI Qualification Courses for his promotion, and Refresher Seminars to maintain his status; all while being supervised by the Dressage Committee and the FEI. “It has been a very time consuming journey that has taken me to so many countries, seminars and courses,” Torrente says, “It has been a wonderful experience to sit and learn from the best judges in the world on different continents. As a result, now I can judge up to Grand Prix level in FEI CDI’s and in National Competitions as well,” he adds.

With many riders seeking GMO-free foods for themselves, their families, pets, and horses, it is important to understand just how wide and deep the penetration of GMO’s are in our food supply. Feeds, foods, and supplements containing Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), flavorings, Vitamin E from soy, B-2, B-12, some amino acids, some yeasts, maltodextrin, modified food starch, xanthan, hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, MSG (Glutamic Acid) citric acid, soy protein isolate, autolyzed yeast extract, and some digestive enzymes are in most cases derived from GMO raw material. Several biotech companies have recently received patents to produce vitamin A (beta carotene) and other vitamins from Genetically modified microorganisms.