Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

NBC has changed the time for the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event broadcast to 2:00 - 3:00 p.m this Sunday, May 7. It was previously scheduled to air at 5:00 pm. The change was made because of the National Hockey League play-offs now involving only West Coast teams. The play-offs were originally scheduled to air just prior to the Rolex broadcast.

Trainer's Path to Derby Full of Remarkable Moments; Plane Crash and Olympic Medal Part of Matz's Past

Just because his life experiences are extraordinary doesn't mean he likes to talk about them, which is understandable. Michael Matz isn't like that. Heroes never are. For one thing, "It happened a long time ago," Matz said recently..

And even if, so far, he's "lived a pretty full life," that's a blessing, not an excuse to gloat. "I'm not good with those things," Matz said.

But he is good with horses, and on Saturday the 55-year-old trainer will be saddling one of the favorites when the undefeated Barbaro tries to win the 132nd Kentucky Derby.

This after Matz was part of a U.S. equestrian team that won the Silver medal in show jumping in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, an event at which the Pennsylvania native was chosen to carry the U.S. flag in the closing ceremonies. He was chosen at least in part because of his heroics during a 1989 plane crash.

For the full story, click here.
For those that want to wish Michael Matz luck in the Kentucky Derby, please e-mail matzbarbaro@usef.org.

Tucker Johnson of Hobe Sound, FL, took first in the FEI Driving Four-in-Hand class at the USEF 2006 CAI-B Oldwick at Cedar Lane Farm, held April 28-30. Johnson and his team of Warmbloods posted scores of 54.66 in dressage, 88.51 in marathon and 6.00 in cones. James Fairclough of Newton, NJ, and James Richards of Atlanta, GA, were second and third, respectively. This four-in-hand competition was one of several selection trials for the 2006 FEI World Games to be held late this August in Aachen, Germany.

Farnam Promotion Benefits U.S. Team at FEI World Equestrian Games; Win a Free Trip to the FEI Games

Who would have thought that the pursuit of controlling that nasty fly problem in your horse’s stable could send you on a trip to Aachen, Germany? Better yet, that you would be doing your part to help the U.S. Team gain the Gold at the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG)?

Farnam Companies, Inc., has committed to donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of its popular fly control products in a unique partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to help send the U.S. team to the FEI World Equestrian Games taking place in August and September 2006. As an additional incentive to customers to purchase its products, Farnam is holding a sweepstakes, with the grand prize a trip for two to attend the 2006 games in Aachen, Germany, August 27-September 4. The trip includes airfare, hotel accommodations for seven nights, daily WEG tickets, and $500 spending money. Other valuable prizes will also be awarded. All entries must be received by Farnam by July, 14, 2006.

A team of the top United States show jumpers prepared on Wednesday, May 3, to launch the defense of their Samsung Super League championship at this French coastal resort city. The U.S. won it's first ever elite Nations Cup victory at this same show a year ago, which also marked the first major team event under the leadership of George Morris as chef d’ equipe. The Americans followed the win at La Baule with victory in Aachen, Germany, and high enough placings at the other six two-round events, to clinch the title of the elite circuit of the eight top show jumping nations. The other seven Super League teams this year are Germany, Great Britain, France, Ireland, The Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.

USA's Kent Farrington and Madison Stay the Course for Win in KL Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

It was a vindicating story for the USA team’s youngest representative at the 2006 FEI World Cup Jumping Final. Kent Farrington and the incredible mare Madison set an unbeatable pace and captured the win in the KL Grand Prix over five other combinations in the jump-off.

In a rare show of emotion, Germany's Marcus Ehning threw his arms around Sandro Boy's neck and punched the air in delight after claiming the FEI World Cup Jumping trophy for the second time in his career at the Putra Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Joint-leader after the first two final competitions, he held his ground to win the day with the stallion Sandro Boy whose spectacular jumping kept the spectators enthralled throughout the week of competition.

SPECIAL LIMITED TIME OFFER: 0% APR on Purchases for One Year with the United States Equestrian Federation® Visa® Platinum Card*

This spring, it’s out with the old and in with the new when you use the United States Equestrian Federation Visa Platinum Card, now offering 0% APR for one year*! With this exclusive card, every dollar you spend is interest free until next year. Use your USEF Visa for everyday purchases, home improvement projects, family vacations or that special purchase you’ve been waiting to make. Plus, you’ll earn reward points with every purchase. Spring clean your wallet and make sure you carry the correct USEF Visa card with the US Bank logo on the backside.

The United States Equestrian Federation Select Rewards Visa Platinum card provides great benefits, including no annual fee, your choice of rewards and 1,000 bonus points with your first purchase. In addition, a percentage of every purchase will support USEF programs and initiatives.

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

As a reminder to all junior dressage riders, the 2006 USEF Junior Dressage Team Championship, sponsored by Collecting Gaits Farm, the Dutta Corporation and Performance Sales International, will be held at Pebble Beach Dressage and CDI***, July 6–9. In order to be eligible for this championship program, an Application of Intent must be submitted to the USEF office by Monday, May 15. Applications are available on the Federation website at www.usef.org/content/equestrianSports/disciplines/international/2005-JR-Dressage-Team-Champ.php. For more information, contact Jennifer Keeler, National Director of Dressage, at jkeeler@usef.org.

USEF Rule GR342 outlines the procedure for submitting proposed rule changes for consideration at the January 2007 Annual Meeting. All proposals from the general membership must be submitted to the office of the Federation in writing on the official form for proposed rule changes by June 1. Proposed rule changes can be submitted online at www.usef.org/content/rules/RulesDisplay.php?page=3. As an alternative, the form can be downloaded from this same online location, printed, and either faxed or mailed to the USEF's Kentucky office at 4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington KY 40511. Contact Mary Smith at msmith@usef.org if you have any questions about the form or the rule change process.

According to Kentucky Congressman Ed Whitfield's office, more than 90,000 American horses were slaughtered in this country last year by three foreign-owned plants for human consumption overseas. In addition, some 35,000 more were exported for slaughter abroad. In recent years, diverse organizations and groups have made strides in rescuing horses from the slaughterhouse, often retraining them or adopting them out for successful second careers or simply as pasture companions. But the need is still great. Now, the Kentucky Equine Humane Center (KEHC) proposes to establish a first-of-its-kind equine shelter, much like animal shelters operated by local humane societies, in Lexington, KY.

The Kentucky Equine Humane Center’s mission is to provide humane treatment and shelter while working as a clearinghouse to seek adoptive homes for all of Kentucky’s unwanted horses, regardless of breed. The center also is committed to educate the public and raise awareness for responsible equine ownership so that fewer horses end up in crisis.

Logo For FEI GAMES 2010 Kentucky Introduced; World Equestrian Championships Will Be Held in Fall 2010

Anticipation grows daily throughout Kentucky, the nation and the equestrian world, for the FEI Games, the World Equestrian Championships to be held in the fall of 2010 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. The World Games Foundation, the organizing committee for the 2010 Games, and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI, the organization representing equestrian sport internationally) took the first step in marketing the FEI Games by introducing the official name of the Games and the logo.

The Equine Species Working Group (ESWG) has developed an informational booklet titled NAIS and Horses: the Facts Surrounding the National Animal Identification System as it Applies to the Horse Industry in the U.S.

This booklet was put together in an effort to answer the many questions and concerns that have been raised from the equine industry on the very important and difficult issue of the potential application of the national ID system to horses. The booklet addresses the following topics: history of the National Animal Information System (NAIS), why the horse industry should be involved in developing an acceptable NAIS, equine diseases of concern, methods of equine identification, potential benefits, current status of the NAIS, frequently asked questions and a list of Equine Species Working Group members.

Longtime American Saddlebred benefactor Joe Stopher, 91, of Louisville, KY, died Thursday April 27, 2006 at Baptist Hospital East. Stopher was the Kentucky State Fair Board Member in Charge of the World’s Championship Horse Show from 1968 to 1996; in that time, the show grew in size and prestige. He also served as a member of the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Board of Directors, and as legal counsel for the Association. He was also a member of the board of directors for both the American Horse Shows Association (now United States Equestrian Federation) and American Saddlebred Museum.

For the full story, click here.

The 61st annual Del Mar National Horse Show wraps up its third and final week with Hunter/Jumper Week, May 2–7.

Coming on the heels of Western Week (April 20-23) and Dressage Week (April 27-30), Hunter/Jumper Week features the Del Mar National’s showcase event, the $100,000 HBO Grand Prix of Del Mar, an American Grandprix Association event, on Saturday, May 6, at 7 p.m. All Hunter/Jumper Week events are open to the public and staged at the Del Mar Equestrian Center on the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

The judges for the 34th Annual Paso Fino Horse Association (PFHA) Grand National Championship Show were selected at the spring meeting of the PFHA's Board of Directors, held April 29, in Atlanta, GA. The five judges selected are Rex Bradley of Louisiana, MO; Carmen Cepero of Miami, FL; Mike Cuming of Wichita, KS; Guillermo Iglesias of Doral, FL and Don Schanche of Marco Island, FL

Biltmore Estate Summer Classics Offers Children a Fun Way to Prepare for the USEF Pony Finals

The Supreme Kahuna Pony Classic will be debuting during Week One of the 2006 Biltmore Estate Summer Classics. Providing not only a fun time with great rewards, but also a perfect way to prepare for the USEF Pony Finals, as the event will follow a similar format.

HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan Elected as the 13th FEI President

The General Assembly of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) elected HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan as the 13th FEI President. The other contenders for the position were HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark and Freddy Serpieri of Greece.

Lisa Wilcox Settles in Florida; Planning Three-Day Clinic at Florida Horse Park

"She's warming up now and should be on any minute," said Mary Phelps about Olympian Lisa Wilcox's first dressage show in the United States since returning from a 12-year stint abroad. It was not only Wilcox's first show since returning, it was her first time showing in Florida, as well.

A crowd was gathered around the warm-up area, and spectators were securing spots in the covered viewing area to watch her performance aboard Dolomit in the FEI Test for Six-Year-Olds at the Gold Coast Grand Finale I in Wellington, FL, April 15. The anticipation was almost tangible.

GPA Speed Air Helmet Added to Approved Safety Helmets List
From the USEF Safety Committee

The latest updated SEI helmet list has the GPA Speed Air Helmet on it. This list was last updated on April 19, 2006.

For those who would like to see photos of this helmet, please visit www.gpa-sport.com/us-gpa.htm, click on "NEWS GPA" in the upper right-hand corner, scroll down to "Speed Air Helmet on GPA Website" and click on the link in the last sentence in this section, "For further information, click here."

For the latest listing of equestrian helmets, visit www.seinet.org/CPL/astm1163_04a.htm. If you click on the names of most of the manufacturers, you will be taken to the website which has photos of many of the approved helmets available.

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.