Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

Two Americans Qualify for the Musical Freestyle at the 2006 WEG; Eventers and Vaulters Move Along in Their Medal Bids

To say it was tough competition today in the dressage grand prix special at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) would be a gross understatement. But two Americans made it look like a walk in the park. American’s Guenter Seidel and Steffen Peters, who are now both poised to enter a showdown among the top 15 dressage riders that have made the cut to move forward to Saturday’s final dressage phase–the musical freestyle–in a battle to see who will take home dressage’s top honor and the title of world champion.

The top 30 riders from the grand prix were showcased, minus Debbie McDonald and Brentina, who had to give up their spot yesterday when they decided Brentina’s minor injury was enough reason to keep her out of the individual competition. This left only the two Americans, Seidel and Peters.

Eventers, Vaulters Take the Stages at Aachen 2006 WEG; Dressage Star Brentina Withdrawn from Individual Competition

A brand new cross-country course awaits the eventers as they begin their first of three phases at the 2006 WEG. But before they can take to the new course (which will be contested in the short format without steeplechase), there are two days of dressage. And if the morning of the first day is any indication, it will be a cold and wet ride. In addition, it was the first day of a series of compulsories for the vaulting squads vying for medals.

But perhaps the biggest news of the day was the surprising decision to pull dressage star Brentina from the individual dressage competition at the 2006 WEG. During an afternoon press conference, Idaho’s Debbie McDonald was candid about the horse’s injury and the tentative future of the 15-year-old Hanoverian mare that has stood as one of the country’s most-loved international dressage stars for some time.

Vaulting Compulsories
If vibrant colors and loud crowds are what you seek, vaulting is the discipline to be at. Today got off to a very rainy start in the Deutsche Bank Stadium 3 for compulsories for individual women, teams and individual men. It doesn’t matter what country you’re from or what discipline you’re affiliated with, prepare to stand up and scream—loudly, but be sure not to talk during the competition or you will be shushed.

USA’s Megan Benjamin got off to a beautiful start by winning the compulsories phase with a score of 8.015 on the horse Leonardo that she co-owns, longed by Lasse Kristensen from Denmark. Benjamin also has the honor of being the only American in Aachen competing as both an individual and also a part of the F.A.M.E. team.

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.

In an effort to adapt to the reality of the modern sporting scene, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) had taken the decision to change the name of the FEI World Equestrian Games to FEI Games™ in view of the event’s next edition in 2010. The objectives behind the new brand were to clarify the ownership of the competition and to enhance its marketability by creating a clear and strong identification.

Calling all USEF members…The lesson this school year is choosing a Cash Rewards 0% APR Visa® !

The kids are going back to school and the interest payments are going away with the United States Equestrian Federation Cash Rewards Visa Platinum Card, now offering 0% APR for 12 months* on purchases and balance transfers! When you study the benefits of this great card, you’ll find no interest payments until next summer. So, whether you use your United States Equestrian Federation Cash Rewards Visa for new clothes and supplies this fall, USEF event registration or for a sunny escape this winter, switch now and save. Plus, you’ll earn cash back with every net purchase!

The USEF Cash Rewards Visa ® Platinum card provides great benefits, including no annual fee and up to 1% cash back annually. In addition, a percentage of every purchase will benefit USEF.

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

California Equestrian and his Morgan Horse to be Featured at the 2006 World Equestrian Games

The American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) is pleased to announce that the famed Morgan horse Santa Fe Renegade (Gradell’s Vigilante X Sable N’ Mink) and his trainer, Eitan Beth-Halachmy, will be the main attraction during the closing ceremonies of the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, on September 3. Santa Fe Renegade is owned by Bernice Ericksmoen of Granite Bay, CA.

The event-filled ceremony will take place before 50,000 spectators and be televised worldwide in more than 140 countries. The National Broadcast Company (NBC) will be televising the event in the United States. As the main attraction, the pair will present a 10-minute performance in cowboy dressage. Cowboy dressage blends classical dressage with the speed and excitement of Western reining, creating a new and exciting style of dressage rarely seen by European horse enthusiasts.

John Deere Announces Additional Discount Program for USEF MemberPerks: The John Deer Partner Program for Lawn and Garden

John Deere has made it even easier for USEF MemberPerks members to save money on John Deere equipment. In addition to the current program that allows USEF MemberPerks members to save up to 23% on new John Deere equipment to be used at equine facilities, John Deere has announced the John Deere Partner Program for Lawn and Garden. Discounts are now available toward the purchase of a variety of John Deere equipment for members’ and their families’ personal home use, including lawn and garden tractors, riding and walk-behind mowers, Gator utility vehicles, commercial mowing equipment and compact utility tractors. Discounts valid only at John Deere dealerships. Call today for your discount coupon*.

Through the John Deere Partner Program, USEF MemberPerks members are eligible to redeem two coupons per member every calendar year. Anytime you have a John Deere equipment interest, please call toll-free at (877) 576-6872 to make sure you receive the most current information on equipment discounts before you purchase from the dealership.

*Discount coupons can not be used in conjunction with other discounts provided through their current national agricultural program.

United States Eventing Association/Spalding Labs Young Event Horse Series Divisions Run at River Glen and Millbrook Horse Trials

The River Glen Horse Trials over the weekend of August 4-6 in New Market, TN, held one of the final United States Eventing Association (USEA)/Spalding Labs Young Event Horse competitions of the summer before the championships take place Friday, October 6, at the Morven Park Three-day Event and Advanced Horse Trials in Leesburg, VA.

Attention all juniors interested in competing in the 2007 Adequan/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships (Prix des States). Please check your zone’s criteria and qualifying period under the Jumping Discipline page of the USEF website at www.usef.org/content/equestrianSports/disciplines/allJumping.php

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

The Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America (WPCSA) and the Welsh Pony & Cob Foundation, Inc. (WPCF), are pleased to announce the purchase of permanent quarters. Coincidentally, this major purchase takes place during the centennial year of the formation of the WPCSA. The new property, located in Stephens City, VA, is suitable for current office functions, storage and potential expansion. Through “home” ownership, overhead costs will be significantly reduced. Savings will benefit members, breeders and owners through new educational materials, programs and enhanced services. Not only will the new facility strengthen the WPCSA's and WPCF's ability to serve the Welsh owners and the breed, it will also save funds that can then be used to directly benefit members.

Major Robert Borg, Sarah (Sally) Swift, and Roemer to be Inducted into the Roemer Foundation/United States Dressage Federation's Hall of Fame

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) will induct Major Robert Borg, Sarah (Sally) Swift, and Roemer into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame at the Salute Gala on November 30, 2006, at the USDF National Convention & Symposium in Kansas City, MO. Inclusion in the Hall of Fame is an honor bestowed on horses and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of dressage in the U.S.

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.

Have you ever wished that the crew of the popular reality show, Extreme Makeover, would show up at your barn to send you away on an exotic vacation while they demolished your ramshackle tack room and built you a brand new one? You would return, tanned and blissful, anxious to see the results, yet apprehensive. How could even the most gifted craftsmen redesign your cluttered tack room to be something that is both attractive and useful?

As the crew unveils your new tack room, tears of joy and gratitude would stream down your face. You’d be speechless, of course, as no words could express your appreciation. The rebuild crew would begin to cry, too, as would the home viewers, as well, because they all understand how much you have been suffering. It would be one of the most heart-felt episodes ever aired.

Wake up, dreamer. No one is going to rescue you from your tack room. You will have to do it yourself.

Putting on a horse show is not an easy task. It takes many people with a multitude of talents to pull it off. The bigger the show, the more people that are needed, however every show has a basic staff. But what do all these people do? How did they get to be the show announcer, the judge or the ringmaster? Below is a brief description of the most prevalent positions at a show.

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.