Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

After three days of competition at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL, Rebecca Hart and Norteassa claimed the title of the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) 2008 National Para Equestrian Championships.

With a final score of 72.473, 24-year-old Hart from Erie, PA, couldn’t stop smiling after winning the championship.

“I think he (Norteassa) was really good,” said Hart. “He was really focused and was listening to me. I could not have asked for more from him.”

The United States Equestrian Federation has approved the following horse/rider combinations to the Eventing Short List for the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, August 8-14, 2008.

A relentless downpour disrupted the program of competitions at the Piazza di Siena in Rome Thursday afternoon, but spirits remained high amongst the teams preparing for Friday's second leg of the 2008 Samsung Super League with FEI series in which the Swedish side will be pathfinders.

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Amelia McArdle was giddy after winning the Non Pro 3’6” Finals on MVP, which was a combined class of juniors and amateurs. She won the Junior Finals as well as the Leading Non Pro 3’6” Rider honors. Lavari ridden by Tracy Scheriff won the Non Pro 3’6” Amateur Finals and Leading Amateur Rider award. Emily Wygod and North Shore were the big winners in the Non Pro 3’ Finals (Go Round, Finals and Amateurs). Jennifer Waxman and Ulone won the Non Pro 3’ Junior Finals. Brittni Raflowitz and Mind Your Step dominated in the pony hunters. Havens Schatt won the Leading Trainer Award after she and her students totaled $10,424.

Competitions bring together people and horses from different corners of the country, but they also can bring disease. Ensuring horses are properly vaccinated before show season can help protect competing horses and prevent loss of performance.

“Horses can be exposed to disease in the stable, during the trip or through contact with other horses,” said Dr. Frank Hurtig, Director, Veterinary Services, Merial. “There is a good chance of illness any time animals from different backgrounds are commingled. Sometimes, these signs appear quickly and can even prevent horses from entering the show ring at all. Vaccination is key to protecting against disease, and healthy horses compete better than sick ones.”

Show jumper Laura Kraut, who won the USEF Selection Trials for Show Jumping in March and the $500,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte (NC) in April, continued her winning ways in Europe over the weekend of May 17-18.

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce Airowear as the official supplier of safety vests for the 2008 U.S. eventing team. Airowear is providing their latest vest, the Outlyne, to all riders selected to the team. These vests were selected for their safety standards—they conform to the highest BETA 2000 standards, the system used to rate safety vests. The Airowear vests are also well suited for the weather conditions in Hong Kong, they are flexible and perforated to help keep riders comfortable and cool.

New Draft and Survey for USEF Dressage Performance Standards Proposal Now Available

The USEF Dressage Committee has released a new draft of the Performance Standards Proposal for review and feedback from United States Dressage Federation (USDF) and USEF members. This proposal would establish a qualification process for competing at fourth level and above at USEF-licensed dressage competitions beginning with the 2011 competition year.

The committee invites USEF and USDF members to review the new draft, and then log in through the USEF website to fill out an online survey. This survey will be used to collect member feedback and comments, which will be reviewed by the committee members at their July 1–2, 2008, meeting.

Please visit this link for more information, and click on “Dressage Performance Standards Proposal Information.”

For more information, please contact Jennifer Keeler, USEF Director of Dressage, National Programs, at jkeeler@usef.org.

2009 Adequan/USEF National Pony Jumper Championships Selection Procedures Approved

Attention all juniors interested in competing in the 2009 Adequan/USEF National Pony Jumper Championships. The 2009 Adequan/USEF National Pony Jumper Championships selection procedures and qualifying periods have been approved and are now available on the Jumping Discipline page of the USEF website at http://www.usef.org/Contentpage2.aspx?id=natjumping.

Please direct questions to Jennifer Haydon, Director of Show Jumping for National Programs at jhaydon@usef.org or (859) 225-6911.

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is now accepting bids to host the 2009 USEF National Pony Championships (Pony Finals). This bid will be for a three-year contract with up to two additional one-year options. To request a bid packet, please contact USEF Director of Hunter and Collegiate Activities Marion Maybank at (859) 225-2033 or via e-mail at mmaybank@usef.org. Bids are due in the office by the close of business on Friday, June 20, 2008. Any request received after this time will not be considered.

The American Morgan Horse Association's "Team Morgan" is conducting an essay contest to promote the Morgan horse to equine-minded youth across the country and to raise funds for Team Morgan to travel to and host international equitation competitions. Copper Beech Morgans has graciously and generously offered the grand prize, a Morgan foal or young horse.

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.

The University of Kentucky’s (UK) College of Agriculture is celebrating national championships by two of its collegiate equine teams. Riders from its equestrian and dressage teams nabbed top honors in their respective competitions.

Update on Travel and Quarantine Requirements for the 2008 Olympic/Paralympic Games

Horses scheduled to travel to Hong Kong for the 2008 Olympic Games will soon fall within the 60-day supervisory period—and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) would like to take this opportunity to remind all concerned that the health certificate which must be used states that the horses must be resident in a country listed by AFCD (the HKG Veterinary Authorities) and under veterinary supervision during the last 60 days prior to entering pre-export quarantine. An explanatory memo produced by the Transporting Agent Peden Bloodstock can be found on the FEI website underlining in detail the requirements that these horses must meet. This also means that movement of these horses must be recorded from now on, as their movement profile will have to be certified on the health certificate; an example is also provided on the FEI website.

Through sponsorships to the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), the CRI which the 2008 Adequan/USEF National Open Reining Championship presented by Equine Motorcoach is running within will have $25,000 added money. The NRHA Derby is the host competition for the USEF Reining Championships, which include the Open, USEF National CRI* Reining Championship, and the USEF National Youth Reining Championships. The Derby will showcase the nation’s best reiners at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City, OK, June 23-28, 2008.

Theodore O’Connor, the 2007 Farnam/Platform® USEF Horse of the Year, known as Teddy to his adoring fans, and his rider Karen O’Connor, were honored with a special treat at the 2008 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. The special treat was a pail of Platform® Treats with the winning pair pictured on the label.

On Sunday, May 18, Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, led her third victory gallop in two weeks at the Kentucky Spring Classic. She piloted Hidden Creek's Pamina L to another incredible finish in the $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix CSI***, topping a field of 36 entries for the win. They took home top honors in the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic Grand Prix CSI*** on Thursday, May 15, and they sealed the win on Sunday, May 11, in the $55,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix CSI***.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) summer continuing education meetings—Focus on the First Year of Life and the 16th annual Practice Management Seminar—will be held July 27-29 in Austin, TX, at the Hilton Austin. Attendees can participate in both meetings’ sessions for one registration fee.

C. Marvin Harwood, Sr., a 2007 recipient of the United States Equestrian Federation’s Pegasus Medal of Honor along with his wife of 55 years, Marjorie, has passed away at the age of 89, on May 10, in St. Louis, MO.

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:
— Jacquiline Lubrano
— Laura Pfeiffer
— Shelby Wakeman

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

A few riders that have now qualifed on the West Coast:
— Hilary McNerney
— Lindsey Mohr
— Marguerite Mole
— Chelsea Moss

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

This Spring, take a break from interest payments!

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No annual fee
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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.

Rebecca Hart Wins 2008 USEF National Para Equestrian Championships