Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

After a nearly hour-long break because of inclement weather, McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, and his veteran mount Sapphire returned to the ring to complete their first round-course. Their clear trip in the first round and one time fault in the jump-off gave them the win in the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational, CSI***, presented by The Tampa Tribune and Sweetbay Supermarket. Richard Spooner and Cristallo finished second, while Christine McCrea and Promised Land were third.

Heidi White-Carty and her longtime partner Northern Spy were able to post a double-clear show jumping round in the CIC***-W division at The Fork Horse Trials, taking home the Adequan United States Eventing Association (USEA) Gold Cup advanced division trophy. After a long and very stormy weekend, with the grounds crew working around the clock to make sure the footing was ideal, the conditions of the course were excellent, the ground was lush and springy, and rave reviews came in droves. All in all, it was a very rewarding day for the sport of eventing.

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The Varsity Equestrian National Championships (VENC) announced the collegiate teams that have been selected and seeded for this year’s competition, in conjunction with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA).

Qualifying Criteria for U.S. Riders for the CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championships Now Available

Qualifying criteria for riders hoping to compete in the 2008 CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) at the Colorado Horse Park Presented by Gotham North, is now available.

Book your advertising space in the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions Program. This prestigious dressage competition takes place in June in San Juan Capistrano, CA. For more information, contact Kim Russell at (859) 225-6938 or krussell@usef.org.

Closing Day Features Invitational Classics at CN Winter Equestrian Festival; Records Set at This Year's Festival

The 12-week CN Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), presented by Zimmerman Advertising, came to a close on Sunday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Preliminary Dressage Award Standings and Archived Award Results Available Online

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced that 2008 preliminary award standings for the Adequan/USDF Year-End Awards, including the Adequan/USDF All-Breeds Awards, are now available on the USDF website, as well as archived award results for the previous two competition seasons. Anyone who logs into the USDF site can access the most up-to-date award standings and monitor these standings throughout the competition year. Archived results are available only to those individuals who are logged into the USDF website and have a participating or business membership (PM/BM).

Take advantage of one of the many USEF MemberPerks privileges by using Hertz for all of your travel needs. Simply use your USEF/Hertz discount CDP# 15757 each time you place a reservation, and instantly qualify for member discounts in the

U.S.

and around the world. For low web rates, special offers and free membership to Hertz #1Club®, visit their website at www.hertz.com or call (800) 654-2200.

Celebrating its 112th year, the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is increasing the prize money in its signature class, the Budweiser Devon Grand Prix, to $100,000.

A new class, the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby has been added to the schedule, and the two-round event will be held as the last class of the evening on Sunday, May 25. The first round of 20 horses will be shown over a hunter classic type course, and the top 12 scoring horses from Round One will then compete over a handy hunter type course.

Martin Atock, Managing Director of the official Olympic horse transportation company, Peden, tells a tale that contrasts the sophistication of 21st Century equine flight management with the less complicated methods employed in earlier times.

In 1990, he was travelling to a show with a team of American horses and U.S. Chef d'Equipe Frank Chapot was on the flight.

"Frank asked to visit the cockpit to have a look around, and he stood between the pilot and co-pilot chatting about how much things have changed over the years in terms of transportation and the rules and regulations and conditions," Atock said. Chapot, a six-time Olympian who went on to become a much-respected course designer and judge, then astonished his listeners as he recalled his trip to the Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1956.

"He said that when the aircraft landed in Stockholm, it taxied in and the doors were immediately opened and the horses walked straight down the ramp onto the tarmac. The saddles and bridles were unloaded from the back of the aircraft and the horses were tacked up—right there on the apron—and were ridden to the Olympic venue, which was miles away!"

The 2008 Charlotte Jumper Classic starts their competition on Friday, April 11, and runs through Sunday, April 13, when the $500,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte, CSI***** will be held at 3 p.m. This year, the list of riders attending the Charlotte Jumper Classic is the Who's Who of the sport of show jumping.

The discipline of endurance is undergoing a full review of its rules. One of the key innovations introduced in new rules, which will come in force on January 1, 2009, is the emphasis put on the education of all officials involved in the discipline, be they judges, technical delegates and veterinarians.

Trakehners International and Friends Host Darren Chiacchia Online Auction Fundraiser

Trakehners International and friends have joined together to host an online auction to raise funds for Darren Chiacchia, the international event rider who was critically injured in a fall on course at Red Hills Horse Trials on March 15, 2008. All bids are paid to the Equestrian Aid Foundation in Darren Chiacchia’s name and are tax-deductible.

Pletcher Claims Second $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Challenge Derby Win in a Row Aboard Argentum

After winning the Hunter Derby at Pin Oak, Peter Pletcher and Argentum took home the Gold for the second time in two weeks, winning the $10,000 United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Challenge Derby Classic at the Spring Gathering Horse Show in the Houston suburb of Katy, TX.

As part of the continuing efforts to expand the base of young people contributing to the leadership and promotion of equestrian sports, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces the Third Annual Youth Sportsman’s Award. This awards program recognizes youths who are members of both the USEF and their recognized national affiliate. These candidates need to demonstrate an ongoing commitment and dedication to the USEF and their affiliate organization by serving as a role model for their peers and through the promotion of the horse.

The United States Equestrian Team (USEF) Foundation is proud to announce that Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, NJ, is this year's winner of the Maxine Beard Show Jumping Developing Rider Award. The USET Foundation awarded the rising young equestrian this honor because of her competitive record to date and because of her promise for the future.

The Dressage Foundation proudly announced, following a special meeting of its Board of Directors, that Lendon Gray will become the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Dressage Foundation, effective September 1, 2008.

Remember to take advantage of the USEF MemberPerks Program. USEF MemberPerks offers substantial cost savings on products and services from John Deere, Dodge, Office Max, UPS and many more!

For more information, please call (877) 576-6872 or fax (859) 422-9407, or visit USEF.org's MemberPerks page.

Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search
Qualified Riders

The Talent Search program is a very demanding show jumping competition, which attracts the nation’s top young riders in head-to-head competition. The qualifying period for the 2008 events began September 1, 2007.

Learn more about the program today.

East Coast Riders
(October 4-5, 2008, USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals,
Gladstone, NJ)

A few riders that have now qualifed on the East Coast:
— Anna Becker
— Brittany Hurst
— Kathleen Mahoney

West Coast Championship
(September 17-20, Los Angeles International, Burbank, CA)

A few riders that have now qualifed on the West Coast:
— Robert Lee
— Victoria Lee
— Caroline Lichtenberg
— Christina Lin

To see the list of all qualified riders,
visit the 2007/2008 Ranking List online.

This Spring, take a break from interest payments!

Take a vacation from interest payments with the Visa® card that offers 0% APR for nine billing cycles*! With the United States Equestrian Federation Visa Platinum Card, every dollar you spend is interest free until next winter. Whether you use your United States Equestrian Federation Visa for everyday purchases or that major purchase you’ve been waiting to buy, now is the time to switch. Plus, you’ll benefit our organization and earn great rewards with every purchase!

0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for nine billing cycles*

The United States Equestrian Federation Visa® Platinum Card also provides great benefits, including:

No annual fee
Your choice of benefits and rewards
A percentage of every purchase goes directly to the United States Equestrian Federation

This Visa Platinum card issued by U.S. Bank is now the only card that supports the United States Equestrian Federation. Upon receiving your new card, the United States Equestrian Federation receives a payment from U.S. Bank and then we will continue to receive a percentage of each net purchase you make on your card. This helps us fund our international teams.

Click here to apply today or call (800) 853-5576, etc. 9244.

Hurry. Offer ends June 30, 2008.

*Click product name for terms and conditions: Platinum, Cash Rewards, Select Rewards. We may change APRs, fees, and other Account terms in the future based on your experience with other creditors or U.S. Bank National Association, N.D. and its affiliates according to the Cardmember Agreement and applicable law. The introductory rate does not apply to cash advances and is valid for the first nine billing cycles. The rate will end early and increase to the APR for Purchases and Balance Transfers or to a Delinquency Rate APR if your Account is delinquent, over the limit or closed. We apply your payments to balances with lower APRs first.

The creditor and issuer of the Visa Platinum card is the U.S. Bank National Association ND.

The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation® is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its human and equine athletes.

Tampa Equestrian Festival Week Three Wrap-Up