Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian Federation's Weekly E-Newsletter

FF Irish Vodka+++// and Collier McLeod
Photo Courtesy AHA/Don Stine

Arabian Horse Association Names 2008 High-Point Horse

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) is proud to announce FF Irish Vodka+++//, owned by Collier McLeod of Augusta, GA, as its 2008 High-Point Horse. FF Irish Vodka, a 10-year-old Anglo-Arabian ended the year with 487.5 points earned in working hunter, hunter hack, sport horse under saddle, dressage and in-hand classes.

McLeod, who also picked up the Youth Amateur Achievement Award for the year, rode “Guinness” to three national championships at Canadian Nationals and several Top 10s at both Youth Nationals and Sport Horse Nationals. McLeod had some help from a couple of women who are no strangers to the Achievement Awards program, Tracy Ratliff Lord and Cynthia Cubbage, both of whom rode last year’s winner, DA Durado++++//, also helped Guinness earn his 487.5 points. “The three of us go to shows together. I ride DA [Durado] too,” said McLeod. “Everyone works together as sort of a team effort.”

McLeod says she had her sights set on the Achievement Awards program when she bought Guinness in 2007. “I actually bought Guinness with the intention of putting in a really good show year before leaving for college. I was aiming for this award,” said McLeod.

American Morgan Horse Association Honored Its Own at Annual Convention

American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) members and Morgan enthusiasts enjoyed themselves in the sun and fun in Sacramento February 18-21 at the annual convention. Between the seminars, auctions, and farm tours, they also took the time to honor some of those who have donated and committed their time and devotion to the Morgan breed on Friday evening.

Missouri State Fair and St. Louis National Charity Added to the 2009 American Saddlebred Registry Grand National Competition Schedule

The 2009 American Saddlebred Registry Grand National competition schedule has been revised to include the Missouri State Fair, August 12-15, and the St. Louis National Charity, September 23-26. The designated Grand National Class for the Missouri State Fair is the Five-Gaited Championship. Likewise, the Western Country Pleasure Championship will serve as the Grand National Class for the St. Louis National Charity.

USEF Accepting Photography Bids for 2009 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships

The United States Equestrian Federation is now accepting bids from photographers who would like to be named “Official Photographers for the 2009 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships.” The North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) is the only FEI Championship held annually in North America and showcases the very best juniors and young riders on the North American continent. For the first time ever, NAJYRC will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, which will be home to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

The Garden State Combined Driving Event, presented annually by the Horse Park of New Jersey at Stone Tavern, Inc., is trying something new this year. In light of the financial difficulties being faced across the country, and in an effort to reduce expenses for exhibitors, the organizer has decided to compress the competition into a two-day format. The dressage phase of the competition will be held on Saturday, May 30, beginning at approximately 10:00 a.m., and the marathon and cones phases will be on Sunday, May 31, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Drivers will have the option of having their horses inspected on Friday afternoon or early Saturday morning.

Endurance riders from across the U.S. and Canada made their way to Louisville, KY, for the American Endurance Ride Conference’s 2008 convention, held February 20-21 at the Galt House Hotel.

The convention, which included educational seminars, “hot topics” workshops, trade show, meetings for international competitors, a class for veterinarians, and a dance, concluded with a heartfelt and tearful national awards banquet.

American Show Pony Registry Continues $6,000 Prize Money Incentive Program for 2009

The American Show Pony Registry (ASPR) has again added $6,000 in incentive prize money for ASPR classes to be held at the 2009 World Championship Show July 22-25 in Columbus, OH, and the 2009 National Shetland Pony Congress July 28-August 2 in Cloverdale, IN. The American Show Pony Registry is a division of the American Shetland Pony Club.

The Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W/Y outdoes itself every year, and this year’s 26th annual event February 26–March 1 is no exception. From the world-class competition in the CDI, to the fun social activities like the Taste of the Derby and the Competitor’s Party hosted by Purina Mills, the Derby is the one event on every dressage aficionado’s calendar. In excess of $20,000 in purses and awards will be distributed during the show. Riders will also get their first scores for the Challenge Series Awards that will culminate during Dressage at Equestrian Estates at the end of March.

Attention high-performance dressage riders: The National Dressage Championship Application of Intent initial deadline is approaching. Please note that the $50 application fee deadline for the Collecting Gaits/USEF National Grand Prix and Intermediaire I Dressage Championship is March 16, 2009. Any application received after March 16, 2009, but before March 31, 2009, will be required to pay a $300 late application fee. The application of intent can be found on the USEF Dressage High-Performance page on the USEF website at www.usef.org/Contentpage2.aspx?id=dressage.

Stimulus Act Impacts Horse Industry

The 2009 Stimulus Act signed into law by President Barack Obama contains provisions that impact the horse industry, the American Horse Council said in a February 24 memorandum to the industry.

The measure contains the bigger write-off for horses and other property purchased and placed in service during 2009, the AHC said. The benefits were part of 2008 tax stimulus legislation, but they expired at the end of 2008.

New Shows Bring New Revenue; Kentucky Horse Park's Indoor Arena is Already Attracting Business to the Commonwealth

Five months before its scheduled completion date, the Kentucky Horse Park has already booked events in the new indoor arena well into 2014.

John Nicholson, Executive Director of the park, stated, “For the last decade we have needed a new indoor arena to stay competitive with the country’s growing demand for equestrian competition facilities and to enhance our ability to attract large events to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Our expectations were very high for this arena, so I am especially happy to report that five months before completion, those expectations have already been exceeded by the number of large events which have contracted with us and by several others which are pending."

Good news awaits when you renew your membership online for 2009! If you were an amateur, professional or junior member in 2007 or 2008, you will be able to renew online using our new Quick Renewal. Just log in to your My USEF Account and select the Quick Renew option. All of your membership information will be there. All you have to do is review it; edit it, if necessary; submit payment; and print out a copy of your 2009 card.

In addition, the membership process has been further streamlined by doing away with the breed/discipline dues. The new USEF Competing Equestrian Membership due for all Senior Active and Junior Active members is $55. With that, you will be able to participate at all USEF Licensed Competitions, as well as receive automatic insurance and MemberPerks.

There are also two new member categories for individuals not participating in USEF Licensed Competitions. The USEF Equestrian ($35) includes the automatic insurance and access to the MemberPerks program, while the Club Equestrian ($15) includes access to MemberPerks.

If you have any questions about the new memberships, please call one of our Customer Care Agents at (859) 258-2472.

Once your membership has been processed you will be sent a membership card as well as key fobs. You are required to present proof of current USEF membership in order to compete in USEF Licensed Competitions. If you do not have your membership card, a key fob or a copy of your membership card, you will be required to pay a $30 non-refundable non-member fee. You can print a copy of your card from www.usef.org. Please note, effective 12/01/08 you will no longer be able to sign a membership affidavit in lieu of paying the non-member fee.

Your USEF membership also verifies your amateur status. If you wish to compete in amateur classes and you have not presented proof of USEF membership with Amateur Certification, you will also be charged the non-member amateur fee of $30.

Competitions that are also recognized by an Affiliate organization may require membership in the Affiliate organization to be eligible to compete. You may be required to show proof of membership in the Affiliate organization, e.g. USHJA, USDF, USEA, AHA, AMHA, ASHA, IALHA, AHHS, IFSHA and others.

USEF Membership information can be verified online, however, should the competition office not have the opportunity to verify your membership information online, you will be assessed the relevant non-member fees.

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.