Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

New USEF Opportunity Classes Offer More Showing Options for Exhibitors and Competition Management

In an effort to allow more flexibility and more classes at USEF licensed competitions and to get more people involved in showing horses, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has initiated new opportunities for exhibitors to compete at particular competitions. A new rule was approved by the Executive Committee on February 20, 2007, with an effective date of April 1, 2007.

This new rule, GR331 Opportunity classes, applies to breed-restricted, Western regular or local breed-restricted and/or Western competitions. This rule also allows for additional benefits through the USEF and will help to engage new exhibitors.

As part of the long-term high-performance strategy to develop the best possible United States’ Equestrian Teams for the future, the USEF announced a 2007 Show Jumping Developing Young Rider Tour. The goal is to send three riders between the ages of 18 and 25 and two senior riders to the CSI*** Pforzheim, Germany, June 1-3; CSIO**** Hamina, Finland, June 15-17; and CSIO**** in Drammen, Norway, June 21-24.

Equisure Continues Partnership with USEF as Official Insurance Provider for Members

As part of the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) commitment to its members, and in partnership with Equisure, Inc., the “Official Insurance Provider to USEF members,” announce the continuation of a $1-million personal excess liability coverage and up to $30,000 accidental death policy for Senior or Life Members and an accidental death benefit limited to $3,750 for insured persons under the age of 18 years old.

2007 Winter Equestrian Festival Week Eight, CN Worldwide Wellington Final CSI*****, March 14-March 18

As the 2007 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington drew to a close, fans of show jumping were treated to fantastic sport once again. The stars and stripes flew tall in the Internationale Arena and as the "Star Spangled Banner" played and one of America’s favorite riders took home the top prize. Ten-time AGA Rider of the Year Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, and her veteran partner Hidden Creek’s Perin raced to the win in the €25,000 Medium Tour Final 1.50 m Classic at the CN Worldwide Wellington Finale, CSI*****. Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil and Double H Farm’s Rufus finished second, and Ingrid Norman’s Ivoire du Rouet and Francois Mathy of Belgium were third.

Las Vegas may be focused on the FEI World Cup Finals for show jumping and dressage, but for the second time it will also showcase the sport of hunters; this time as a rematch. On April 21, 2007, at 3:00 p.m. the World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) World Cup Team Hunter Challenge will take place at the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas. The Challenge pits four of the top U.S. hunter riders against four of the top European jumper riders on world-class horses that will be on loan for this special occasion.

A steward or technical delegate has many duties at a show, including protecting the interests of exhibitors, judges and competition management; investigating and acting upon alleged rule violations; reporting any misrepresentation of entries; supervising time-outs; measuring of horses and ponies for competition and much more. It can be a very rewarding experience that includes making new friends and traveling to new and interesting destinations.

Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series Continues at Southern Pines; Ashton and Dobbin Take the Advanced, and Dutton Wins CIC** on Loose ‘N Cool

Over 300 eventers competed March 16-18 at the Southern Pines Horse Trials II, battling not only each other, but also freezing cold, howling winds and pouring rain—often all at the same time. Competitors from training level through advanced braved this unseasonably miserable weather, with temperatures dropping into the 20s on Sunday at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, NC, which also hosted the second Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series event of 2007.

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Full Coverage DVDs Available of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Finals in Las Vegas

Fans wanting to bring home the excitement of every ride of the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Finals in Las Vegas will be able to do so with full-coverage DVDs. DVDs of the dressage and jumping finals will be available for each of Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s sessions and will include every minute of action from that session from the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Finals, April 18-22, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

“What a week! Couldn’t ask for better!” is how Bob Bell the co-chairman of the Gulf Coast Winter Classics put it simply. Concluding the five-week Gulf Coast Winter Series on a high note, the $25,000 Gulf Coast Sunshine Jumper Classic and the much sought after $10,000 Budweiser Grand Prix Rider bonus were both awarded to Wilhelm Genn of Lebanon, OH. “I’ve had a great time here!” Genn shouted from his victory gallop aboard winning mount Happy Z.

Beautifully Hand-Crafted USEF Leather Bags Made Exclusively by Freedman Harness, Canada

Call toll free today to order your USEF Leather Bags at (877) 256-7674 or visit www.freedmanharness.com.

National Reining Horse Association Reiner Named Finalist for Prestigious Award

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) congratulates Temecula Toy Boy, owned by Tara Carlson of Temecula, CA, for being named first runner-up for a prestigious award. Each year, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) recognizes outstanding American Quarter Horses with the MD Barns Silver Spur Award. The award honors those Quarter Horses who have made a significant impact on the lives of others or who have been cast into the public spotlight through outstanding accomplishments.

Temecula Toy Boy has an unusual story. When the gelding was two, he severely injured his right eye in an accident while playing in a pasture. Unfortunately, his eye had to be removed. Then a few years later, Toy suffered a bout with colic and had to have another surgery to save his life.

Equestrian Land Conservation Resource Moves National Headquarters to Kentucky Horse Park

The Equestrian Land Conservation Resource (ELCR), the only national organization that advances the conservation of land for horse-related activities, has opened its new headquarters in the Kentucky Horse Park. The impending loss of open land for horse activities has reached crisis proportions, according to the ELCR. This organization that has helped more people work more effectively to ensure continued access to equestrian friendly land, and now, the ELCR will work “hand in hoof” with the more than 30 other national and regional equine organizations headquartered at the Kentucky Horse Park’s National Horse Center to raise awareness of the land crisis among horse and land owners everywhere.

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Watch All Eight Rings of the Winter Equestrian Festival Live from Wellington, FL, on Your Computer from Anywhere in the World

Productions East Video, Stadium Jumping, Inc., the United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF) and LiveBroadcast.TV will be presenting eight channels of live video webcasting of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) 2007 in Wellington, FL, and continuing in Tampa, FL, January 24–April 7, 2007.

This year’s Winter Equestrian Festival, the nation’s longest, consecutively running equestrian sporting event, celebrates its 35th year in Florida, and will offer more than $4-million in prize money.

The United States Equestrian Federation®, Inc. (USEF), as the National Equestrian Federation of the U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping, and vaulting, as well as 20 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition. As the country's largest multi-breed organization, the Federation has over 86,000 members and recognizes more than 2,800 competitions nationwide each year. It governs all aspects of competition, including educating and licensing all judges, stewards and technical delegates who officiate at these shows.

The vision of USEF is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America, promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grass roots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its horses, and embracing this vision, to be the best national equestrian federation in the world.