Since its inception in 2005 the United States, the Markel/USEF Dressage Young Horse Program has helped develop a depth to American Dressage that benefits breeders, riders, trainers, and a program for the future. The third Markel/USEF Dressage Training Session of 2013 was in New England at the lovely Rosebrook Farm, Georgetown, Mass, April 13 and 14. A well-rounded group of 13 quality young horses selected for the session worked with USEF Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler. "I got exactly what I wanted from the clinic, not only a better understanding of how to better train my horse but how to improve my training and riding techniques with all the young horses that come through my barn,” said participant Dee Loveless. “The clinic was very educational and the selection of horses and riders could not have been better. There was a very good variety of talented horses and riders participating in the clinic, all with different areas that needed improvement."

Wellington, FL  – Dr. Cesar Parra, owner of Piaffe Performance Farms was proud to present the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award during Wellington Nations Cup CDI 3* to the man who originally inspired the award, John McGinty. This was an unprecedented move on Parra’s part to give the award to one of his own Piaffe Performance Team members, but Parra explained that there is nobody who deserves the award more than McGinty. “I think John is one of the biggest fans of our sport that I know,” Parra said. “He loves dressage.  He breathes dressage. He’s all about dressage. Really, it’s amazing to see how hard he works and all the enthusiasm he puts into it,” Parra added.

In 2012, Ayden Uhlir and her horse, Sjapoer, a 13-year-old KWPN(Contango x Jenia/Wolfgang) entered the Festival of Champions in first place (with no drop score). They were the only Junior division horse and rider team to score above seventy. At NAJYRC they won an individual Gold Medal, took the Freestyle bronze medal, and helped to bring Region 9 its first ever Junior division team medal, a top honor bronze. The 18-year-old Texan continues to work hard with Jeremy Steinberg. An ever ambitious person, Uhlir works for the dream in a prepared and attainable way. She said, “This year we hope for a repeat performance in the Young Rider division. I am a senior in high school and I just turned 18." Accepted next year to four schools, University of Washington, Seattle University, Washington State and Cornell, Uhlir said, "I intend to go to school at Seattle University and study sports psychology. I decided against Cornell at least for now so I can stay and train with Jeremy."

Tim Hadaway, London 2012 Equestrian Competition Manager at Greenwich Park and the man widely credited for the success of last year’s Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events, has joined the FEI staff as Director of the newly created Games and Championships Department. The new Director’s role will be mainly to ensure that all FEI technical requirements for Games and Championships are delivered. He will liaise with the FEI Departments as well as Organising Committees and his priorities at this stage are the FEI World Equestrian Games™, and Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Olympic Games. He will also work on the creation of a best practices handbook for the operational delivery of equestrian competitions. His immediate priority will be to work closely with the organisers of next year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy (FRA).