Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

Winsome Adante to be Honored in Official Retirement Ceremony at the 2008 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Farnam

The only three-time winner of the CCI**** at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, eventing legend Winsome Adante will grace the Sheila C. Johnson Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington one final time. He will be honored by the Rolex Kentucky organizer Equestrian Events, Inc., and his fans in an official retirement ceremony at the 2008 event on Sunday, April 27.

Owned by Plain Dealing Farm in Scottsville, VA, and ridden by Kim Severson, Winsome Adante is the only horse to win the nation’s only CCI**** more than once, and he is undefeated at the competition. Officially retiring him at Rolex Kentucky was the obvious choice.

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USEF Names Capt. Mark Phillips and Melanie Smith-Taylor 2007 Coaches of the Year

Two important individuals made huge contributions to the success of the United States Equestrian Federation’s international riders in 2007. Capt. Mark Phillips and Melanie Smith-Taylor were instrumental in the achievements of the eventing and show jumping teams, respectively.

The sport of eventing must reach new heights in education, experimentation, data collection and communication in its quest to reduce—or even eliminate—the risk of tragic accidents. These were the main themes to emerge during the weekend from the FEI Safety Forum in Copenhagen, Denmark, chaired by Olympic champion David O’Connor and attended by delegates from a remarkable 22 National Federations, their minds focused by the unprecedented nine rider deaths – seven of them in national competitions – in cross-country falls across the world in 2007.

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has selected the six competitions that will be required to take heel measurements from the first- and fourth-place ponies in roadster and Hackney roadster pony championships.

This weekend, the first two USEF/North American Juniors and Young Riders' Championships qualifying competitions of 2008 for the USEF National Dressage Championship Programs kick off the new year in West Palm Beach, FL, and Tucson, AZ, with FEI junior, young rider, “Brentina Cup”, young horse and developing horse divisions.

Scott Stewart rode the seven-year-old Castlewalk to a win last Thursday in the First Year Green Working Hunters at the CN Winter Equestrian Festival presented by Zimmerman Advertising at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center—the first of 12 weeks of competition in Wellington, FL.

Todd Flettrich Returns to U.S. Following Successful European Training and Dressage Show Tour

Todd Flettrich of Coatesville, PA, and Wellington, FL, has returned to the United States after a six-month stint in Europe where he resided in Germany and trained with German Olympic Team Gold medalist Hubertus Schmidt. Flettrich brought seven horses with him to Europe, ranging from FEI five-year-olds to grand prix. Aboard his grand prix mount Amadeus, a nine-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding owned by Cherry Knoll Farm, Flettrich competed in a tour of four European dressage shows. Flettrich is currently in Wellington preparing to compete in the upcoming Concours de Dressage International (CDI) competitions on the Florida winter circuit. His goal is to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Selection Trials.

American Saddlebred Sweepstakes Payments Due January 31; Nomination Forms Available Online

American Saddlebred Sweepstakes prize program payments are due Thursday, January 31, for the three-year-old and four-year-old sweepstakes. Nomination forms can be found on the sweepstakes homepage at http://www.asha.net/Prize-Sweepstakes. Nomination forms for the two-year-old sweepstakes will be available in May.

USET Foundation Announces Extraordinary Items for Live Auction at "Hong Kong by Night," an Olympic Benefit Gala

Excitement and fundraising will soar as bidders vie for three once-in-a-lifetime live auction packages offered by the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation at its "Hong Kong by Night" Olympic benefit gala that will be held on February 8, 2008, at the International Polo Club in Wellington, FL.

Grand Prix de Santa Fe, Santa Fe’s most prestigious horse show, is pleased to announce the donation of $35,000 in net proceeds from its 2007 annual show-jumping event to New Mexico social service and equestrian non-profit organizations. Beneficiaries include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern New Mexico, New Mexico Suicide Intervention Project, Silver Bullet Productions, Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust, Santa Fe Pro Musica’s Youth Programs, The Horse Shelter and Rancho Corazon Riders.

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.

Members of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) just need to log in at www.usdf.org to gain even more benefits from their annual membership. When members log in, they can take advantage of the new site and update their own profile, check scores and obtain information pre-sorted for them based on their home region, as well as access breeder and owner information on horses, access all the USDF dressage tests, free as downloadable documents, and renew their membership with the click of one button.

Hurry! You still have a little time left to congratulate your favorite rider, horse or trainer!

The March issue of EQUESTRIAN magazine featuring the 2007 Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year award winners is coming soon. Book your space now and receive unprecedented low rates just for USEF members. This is a great opportunity to showcase their achievements with an ad that will be seen by over 90,000 people in this special keepsake issue. But you better hurry! The space deadline has been extended to January 30. For more information, contact Crissi White at (859) 225-6936 or cwhite@usef.org.

McLain Ward and Lauren Hough Achieve Big Wins During Opening Week of the Jacksonville Winter Series

The opening week of the 2008 Jacksonville Winter Series got off with a warm welcome to exhibitors, especially McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, with new mount Phillipa, who won the $24,777 Lucky Sevens Welcome Jumper Classic sponsored by Privett and Associates.

The American Horse Council (AHC) reports that the recently passed Senate Farm Bill includes several key provisions that would benefit the horse industry.

The $286 billion bill, which passed the Senate on December 14 by a vote of 79 to 14, now includes the Equine Equity Act. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) offered this bill as an amendment to the Farm Bill, and it was accepted without objection. This provision would: (1) shorten the capital gains holding period for horses from 24 months to 12 months; and (2) place all racehorses in the three-year category for depreciation purposes.

Dressage Training Online Offers the 2007 FEI Level Trainer’s Conference Online

DressageTrainingOnline.com, the exclusive Internet host partner to the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), currently has the 2007 FEI Level Trainers’ Conference available in its entirety online. The conference was hosted by Swedish star Jan Brink. Brink has been to numerous world championships, including the Olympics, World Equestrian Games, World Cups and all of the top international shows.

HITS and Equine Medical Center Announce Leading Mare Award for the 2008 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit

HITS is pleased to announce that the Stallion Services Department of the Equine Medical Center of Ocala, FL, will offer the Leading Mare Award to the mare that finishes the highest in the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group on Sunday, March 16, at HITS Ocala.

The award consists of a free embryo transfer, which will be performed by Dr. Corey Miller, head of reproduction at the Ocala-based veterinary hospital. Any mare based in the United States who competes in the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group is eligible for the award.

The following is an update on our collective progress toward the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

General/Milestones
On December 29, we celebrated the “1,000 Day Countdown” to the Games’ Opening Ceremonies and turned on two Countdown Clocks in downtown Lexington on the pedways crossing Vine and Main Streets on either side of Broadway. We also took part in a halftime presentation at the University of Kentucky basketball game that afternoon. The events were well attended by the media (with six television stations included), and we received a significant number of published stories in state, regional and national publications, including an Associated Press story picked up by both msnbc.com and usatoday.com. We also had a great deal of other “year-end” update coverage.

Masters Division Sponsored by The World Holds Senior Appeal at the 2008 Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic

The 2008 Masters Division, sponsored by The World, has higher stakes at The Jumper Classic's new location in Hampton Falls, NH. Last year Elisabeth Clarke LaMotte of West Grove, PA, and her horse, Sky High, captured the blue ribbon in the $2,000 Master's Classic presented by The World. Reining champion and original founder of the Jumper Classic, Donald Little of Ipswich, MA, relinquished first place to LaMotte, though both shared the hometown advantage. LaMotte is originally from Hamilton, the show's location for many years.

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)

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

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

Winter Wakeup Call!

Beat the winter blues with the Visa® card that offers 0% APR for twelve billing cycles*! With the United States Equestrian Federation Visa Platinum Card, you can book that weekend getaway you’ve been wanting to take. Or use it for whatever perks up your winter pace—from a day at the spa to a night out on the town. Plus, you’ll benefit our organization and earn great rewards with every purchase!

0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles*

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 here to apply today or call 1-800-853-5576, ext. 9197.

Hurry, offer ends March 31, 2008.

*Click product name for terms and conditions: Platinum, Cash Rewards, Select Rewards, College 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 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 nearly 90,000 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.