Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

Horse-and-Rider Combinations Announced for FEI World Para-Dressage Championships; Lynn Seidemann Named 2007 USEF National Para-Equestrian Champion

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named the horse-and-rider combinations that will represent the United States at the 2007 FEI World Para-Dressage Championships. The announcement follows the 2007 USEF National Para-Equestrian Championships and World Championship Selection Trial, which was held on May 13 in conjunction with the Paxton Farm Spring Classic II & CDI***/Y.

One of the most prestigious reining competitions in the world is coming back to Oklahoma City. The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) just received word from the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sports, that the 2007 FEI World Reining Masters will be held during the 2007 NRHA Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show November 22-December 1, 2007, at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. The Masters competition will be held on Thursday, November 29.

Samsung Super League Gets Underway in La Baule, France

The U.S. show jumping eam got off to a slow start in the first leg of the 2007 Samsung Super League in La Baule, France, but with seven competitions remaining, it's anybody’s game. The U.S. squad put in impressive performances on Thursday, and Todd Minikus won the Prix Ministère de l'Agriculture, a power and speed class, with Pavoratti by almost two seconds. Beezie Madden (Authentic) and Laura Kraut (Miss Independent) also jumped double-clean in the class.

The United States Equestrian Federation has selected its show jumping squad for the second leg of the Samsung Super League Tour. Selection for the CSIO’s in Rotterdam (NED), June 21-24, and Aachen (GER), July 3-8, is based on rider rankings from the May 11, 2007, USEF Computer List. George Morris will serve as the chef d’equipe.

The new Ariat

USA

“Look of the Team” merchandise is now available at the USEF online store. Visit the store online to check out the latest Ariat USA men’s and women’s polos and vests!

The inaugural USEF National Developing Horse Dressage Championship (for seven- to nine-year-old horses at the Prix St. George level) will be held in Lexington, KY, September 14–16, 2007. This championship is sponsored by the Dutta Corporation and Performance Sales International. The qualifying period ends on August 20, and the final qualifying competitions for June, July and August 2007 have now been announced. A complete list of these designated competitions is available online.

Sell your horse, congratulate a rider or publicize your farm. The July/August issue of EQUESTRIAN is the hunter/jumper issue. USEF members receive special rates. For more information, contact Kim Russell at (859) 225-6938 or krussell@usef.org.

United States Eventing Association/Spalding Labs Young Event Horse Series Events Run at Winona and MCTA Horse Trials

The United States Eventing Association (USEA)/Spalding Labs Young Event Horse (YEH) Series is well underway, with many lovely up-and-coming event prospects heading out to the cross-country course to strut their stuff.

A YEH event held at the Winona Horse Trials in Winona, OH, on May 11 welcomed a group of youngsters, including Anne Kaufman’s palomino Thoroughbred stallion Pegasus Pure Gold (Billionair—Pontenise), who came back to defend his title and win the five-year-old division with a score of 83.60 after winning the four-year-old division last year. In a close second with 79.64 was Pam Kimmel’s Something Special, who is by Mark Todd’s advanced-level stallion Aberjack.

The first week of the two-week all-hunter Legacy Cup ran May 10-13 as part of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows in Lexington, KY. It is a unique event because it focuses on being different than the other typical hunter competitions. The first week focused on the 3’ and 3’6” pro hunter and pony hunter divisions. The Legacy Cup runs through May 19 with the second week showcasing the Non Pro divisions.

The 33rd annual Dressage at Devon offers more than $50,000 in prize money and awards over six days of competition. The event, held at the historic Devon Showground September 25-30, 2007, is considered to be one of the most prestigious dressage and sport horse breeding shows outside of Europe. With competitors that include the likes of Olympians Carol Lavell, Lars Petersen and Robert Dover, Dressage at Devon draws more than 35,000 spectators and 700 horses each year, making it one of the largest horse shows in the United States.

West Coast riders aiming for this summer’s Pan Am Games will be in action during the Woodside Horse Trials at the Horse Park at Woodside, May 25-27. Capt. Mark Phillips, the U.S. eventing team’s chef d’equipe, along with other officials of the United States Equestrian Federation, will be there to assess the candidates’ performance.

Ann Crick Badgett, of Madisonville, KY, formerly of Greenville, KY, died on Monday, May 7, 2007, at Regional Medical Center in Madisonville. She was 63.

Badgett was born August 23, 1943 in Calhoun, KY, to Chester and Elizabeth Muster Hile. She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Jerry Lee Crick, on June 20, 1989; and her second husband, J. Rodgers Badgett, on June 6, 2005. She is survived by her two daughters, Cara Meadows of Hendersonville, TN, and Reagan Robertson of Destin, FL, and two grandchildren.

World Games 2010 Foundation Announces Weekly Radio Show on 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

The World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., the organizers of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, will launch a new weekly radio show this month. The weekly talk show, “The 2010 Countdown Show,” will air Sundays from noon to 1:00 p.m. on Clear Channel’s 630 AM WLAP, with the inaugural broadcast scheduled for May 20. “The 2010 Countdown Show” is the result of a partnership with Clear Channel Broadcasting.

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.

Do some serious spring cleaning 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 12 months*! With this exclusive card, every dollar you spend is interest free until next year, allowing you to purchase those new items you’ve been waiting to buy. So whether you use your United States Equestrian Federation Visa for everyday purchases, or that special purchase, switch now and save.

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 product name for terms and conditions: Platinum, Cash Rewards, Select Rewards, College Rewards. Offer not applicable for the College Rewards Visa Card. 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 12 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 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.