Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

Addison Phillips Wins Inaugural United States Hunter Jumper Association's Hunterdon Cup Equitation Class presented by World Equestrian Brands

Addison Phillips of New York, NY, won the inaugural United States Hunter Jumper Association's (USHJA) Hunterdon Cup Equitation Class presented by World Equestrian Brands on Tuesday, July 25, 2006. Phillips, trained by Andre Dignelli, owner of Heritage Farm, rode to victory aboard her 11-year-old bay Warmblood gelding, Icon. Competing against 25 other riders and navigating her way through three rounds, with the last round requiring her to switch horses with another competitor, Phillips displayed the confidence, skill and style the judges were looking for.

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Members of the F.A.M.E. Vaulting Team Are on a Roll, Racking up More Championship Titles as They Prepare for Aachen

The United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF)/American Vaulting Association (AVA) National Vaulting Championship was held in City of Industry, CA, July 27-30, with members of the F.A.M.E. (Free Artists Mt. Eden) Team winning championship titles as they prepare to head to Aachen, Germany, for the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).

American Saddlebred Horse Association Announces Regional Championship Competitions for 2006 and 2007

At its meeting on Monday, July 31, the Executive Committee of the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) for the first time designated regional championship competitions throughout the United States, for both 2006 and 2007.

The initiative to develop both regional championship competitions for the entire nation and an annual Regional High Score Awards Program was announced after leadership meetings held in October 2005, and has been under consideration by the newly formed Charter Club Council since early this year. The Regional High Score Awards Program is expected to begin for the 2007 competition year.

David O’ Connor Offers Course Walks Over His Newly Designed Cross-Country Courses at the Colorado Horse Park

Olympic Gold medalist David O’ Connor is offering a course walk of his newly designed cross-country courses at the Colorado Horse Park on Saturday, September 16, 2006 in Parker, CO. Riders and non-riders alike are welcome to join O'Connor for his insights into the design of the courses, as well as his suggestions for how to successfully complete the course. The event includes a walk of the new courses, a lecture and a question and answer session. All participants will also receive an autographed poster of O’Connor.

Canada Team West Wins Young Riders Team Dressage as Competition Begins at 2006 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships

Canada Team West won the Gold medal in the Young Riders Dressage Team Championship that highlighted the first day of competition at the 2006 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC) at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA.

The NAJYRC is the premier equestrian competition in North America for juniors and young riders. Young equestrians come from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands to vie for team and individual medals in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage and eventing. This year marks the first time that fully-recognized championships for junior riders (ages 14-18) are being held, along with those for young riders (ages 16-21).

Get Your Team U.S.A. World Equestrian Games Lapel Pin Before Supplies Run Out

Limited edition U.S.A. 2006 World Equestrian Games pins are now available! Get your limited edition lapel pin and show your support for Team U.S.A. Pin measures 1 ½” length x ½” width.Quantity is limited, so order now! $5 each. Order online through the United States Equestrian Federation® at www.usef.org/content/formsPubs/lapelpins.php.

Wilhelm Genn Returns to the Winner’s Circle at Horse Shows By The Bay, Series III

Wilhelm Genn continued his winning ways at Horse Shows by the Bay Series III by claiming the victory in the D-Braider $25,000 Cherry Capital Classic. Genn and his horse, Ariado, bested a field of 20 to take home the win to Lebanon, OH, going double-clear in a time of 37.186 seconds in the three-horse jump-off round. Local hometown favorite, Melissa Anne Hirt, posted the only other double-clear round, but was over six seconds slower on Jessica Speiser’s mount, Mighty Mess. Woodland Hill’s Bella Diamond, ridden by Sean Steffee, was quicker than Hirt, but dropped one rail to finish third. Sunday’s grand prix course was designed by South Carolina’s Michel Vaillencourt.

Governor Carcieri Signs Equestrian Safety Bill into Law for Rhode Island; New Measure to Protect Riders

Governor Donald Carcieri signed into law a bill designed to protect and inform Rhode Islanders who ride horses with equestrian instructors. The bill, introduced in the House by Representative Carol Mumford R-Scituate, mandates any person who holds themselves out to be an equestrian professional and taking compensation for lessons must be certified in first aid. It also mandates equestrian facilities to have on premises and on the trailer during events a fully operational first aid kit. The law now puts riding instructors and riding schools, as it relates to first aid certifications, at the same level mandated for all other coaches in all other sports.

American Horse Council to Hold Meeting to Address the National Animal Identification System, EVA and Other National Issues

The American Horse Council (AHC) will be holding an issues forum in Austin, TX, to discuss current issues facing the horse industry, such as the National Animal Identification System and its impact on horse owners. This meeting will also address the recent equine viral arteritis (EVA) outbreak, new developments in taxes for horse owners and breeders, the Unwanted Horse Coalition and access to trails. The meeting will conclude with an “Ask the Experts” panel.

USEF Now Accepting Nominations for 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award – The Jimmy A. Williams Trophy

The United States Equestrian Federation® is now accepting nominations for the 2006 USEF Lifetime Achievement Award. The USEF Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual whose “lifetime experience and accomplishments exemplify uncommon devotion to the sport of competition with horses and whose equestrian career and horsemanship have continually elevated the sport’s excellence.” This year’s honoree will be presented the Jimmy A. Williams Trophy during the 2007 USEF Annual Meeting in Louisville, KY.

Karen Cudmore Wins $60,000 AGA Grand Prix of Denver; Peter Pletcher Claims Third Working Hunter Classic

Karen Cudmore had her good luck charm in the stands during the $60,000 American Grandprix Association (AGA) Grand Prix of Denver presented by Dillard’s and Ariat. It seems whenever friend and judge Dale Pederson is at a show, Cudmore brings home the winning paycheck. The grand prix at the Colorado Horse Park was no exception. Not only did Cudmore finish in first place with Ocelot, she took the yellow ribbon with Southern Pride.

“It’s official!” Bob Bell, Co-Chair of the Gulf Coast Classic Company confirmed the big news this afternoon that the Winter Classics would be returning to their home at the Harrison County Equestrian Center in Gulfport, MS, for the 2007 season.

The five-week series had been displaced and relocated to Pensacola, FL, for 2006 due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina to much of the Gulf Coast region. Ironically, the show grounds were spared any major damages, yet the trouble laid in the hotels and restaurants that support the event.

From the July/August 2006 issue of EQUESTRIAN magazine
The "How To" Issue

Have you ever asked yourself, "How Do I...?" Of course you have. And you're not alone. EQUESTRIAN magazine has compiled a series of features on a wide variety of topics which offers some good advice, instruction and fun reading.

When it comes to the horse world and its many organizations, associations and equestrian-specific words, the acronym quickly becomes a familiar, yet sometimes confusing, part of the mix. Acronyms—or initialisms—are those abbreviations that help save space when printing long names, or time when speaking of the endless number of breed and discipilines that together form the Federation and its many friends. And for some riders, the use of abbreviations is the “trick up their sleeves” in helping them remember their test patterns!

Wordsmiths and editors squabble over the two words used to define these abbreviations. To some, the word “acronym” should be used for those abbreviations that can be pronounced like a word, such as NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). And the word “initialism” is reserved for those abbreviations that are pronounced as the names of the individual letters that make up the shortened form, such as SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test).

2006 American Endurance Ride Conference National Championship Hits the Trails of the Historic Old Dominion Endurance Ride

Endurance riders from around the country will face the test of time and terrain when they compete for national titles at the 2006 American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) National Championship in October. The championship, sponsored by Gulf Coast 4 Star Trailers, will be held October 20-22 in Fort Valley, VA, on the trails of the historic Old Dominion Endurance Ride. The Old Dominion, first held in 1973, is considered by many to be the most prestigious endurance competition in the eastern United States.

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The HorseTV Channel’s August premieres feature diverse selections, including the revealing new international series, Spirit of the Equestrian, and the final PRCA rodeo in the network’s original series, Rodeo Nation: Pushing The Barrier.

“Viewers will enjoy a much needed break from the summer heat at The HorseTV Channel this August as we introduce intriguing new series and experience the captivating conclusion to others,” said Rachel Falleroni, head of programming for The HorseTV Channel.

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.