Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

USEF Offers Horse Enthusiasts a New Way to Support Equestrian Teams with a Credit Card from U.S. Bank

The United States Equestrian Federation® has partnered with U.S. Bank to offer members a new way to support USEF equestrian teams in their quest to compete in international competition, including the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, with the new United States Equestrian Federation Visa® Platinum Card from U.S. Bank.

“When our members sign up for a new card under the USEF—U.S. Bank credit card partnership, they can rest assured our USEF equestrian athletes will benefit financially, not only with the initial activation, but with every purchase they make thereafter. All this, with no annual fee,” said David O’Connor, President of USEF.

For the full story, click here.

Galway Downs to Host World Cup Series Equestrian Event

The FEI Eventing World Cup at the Galway Downs International Horse Trials will have something for everyone when the three-day equestrian event opens on March 31.

More than 350 riders from seven countries and their horses will compete for more than $35,000 in cash and prizes at Galway Downs, a world class equestrian facility in Temecula that has hosted the prestigious World Cup Series events for the past three years.

For the full story, click here.

Canada Beats United States in $75,000 CN Nations Cup Jump-Off at Winter Equestrian Festival

Show jumping teams from 10 countries took the field for two rounds of show jumping in the 2006 $75,000 CN Nations Cup at the Winter Equestrian Festival, but in the end the title was decided in a jump-off off between two riders from the two top teams.

A record Friday night crowd of 12,101 fans filled every nook and cranny at the Internationale Arena to witness the fifth edition of the Nations Cup, under the lights at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club.

For the full list, click here.

Sonja Keating Named USEF Associate General Counsel

Sonja Keating has been named as Associate General Counsel for the USEF. She was previously associated with the Lexington office of the Cincinnati-based law firm of Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP, where she practiced in the litigation department. A native of Lexington, Keating attended Transylvania University for her undergraduate degree and then obtained her J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1996. Keating will work closely with Julie Goodman, General Counsel and Senior Vice President. Their office is located at the Lexington headquarters.

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Becker College New Presenting Sponsor of USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals

Becker College, with campuses in Worcester and Leicester, MA, has joined title sponsor Pessoa, as one of the major sponsors of the USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final. As the presenting sponsor, Becker College will receive national exposure in the equestrian world. The annual October event will now be known as the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals presented by Becker College.

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Newly Created Carriage Pleasure Driving Committee Holds Inaugural Meeting

The inaugural meeting of the newly created Carriage Pleasure Driving Committee was held on March 7, 2006, at the USEF Lexington office. The focus of this committee is to develop more opportunities for growth with a broader range of competitions to attend; to monitor and support new rules brought forward from the discipline affiliate, the American Driving Society; and to promote and expand the Horse of the Year and high-point awards. There are 19 members of this new affiliate committee.

For the full story, click here.

Meeting by teleconference, the 2006 American Saddlebred Registry Board of Directors elected officers on Monday, March 13. The nine directors are Joan Hamilton (Kentucky), David Howard (Tennessee), Dr. Rick Luft (Wisconsin), Spencer Mains (North Carolina), Mary Ann Pardieck (Indiana), Dr. Alan Raun (Iowa), Jim Ruwoldt (Georgia), Fred Sarver (Kentucky) and Anne Stafford (Tennessee).

A p residential modification in the application of EQ118.16(e)1 has been granted for the 2006 competition year. This presidential modification changes the previous restriction that required nine-year-old riders to canter if they had already shown in the walk/trot division for two competition years in he 10 & Under UPHA Challenge Cup Championship. The rule as it will apply for the 2006 competition year reads:

10 & Under Walk/Trot Challenge Cup. Open to riders 10 years of age and under. A walk and trot rider must canter after the beginning of their nine-year-old competition year if they have shown in as many as three competition years in that division.

If you have any questions regarding this presidential modification, please contact the Federation's Breeds & Western Department at (859) 225-6986.

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From the February 2006 issue of EQUESTRIAN magazine: A Day in the Life of a Farrier

The blacksmith shop is a legendary place, with its blazing forge and heavy tools where horseshoes and other ironwork are crafted. While most farriers today work out of a mobile shoeing unit in a pickup truck or tagalong trailer, there is still a certain mystique to the fire flaming in a forge, or the metallic ring of a hammer clinking against the anvil.

While the smithy and his shop are the stuff of legends, today’s horseshoers are an integral part of any competition horse’s success, keeping them sound, balanced and moving correctly. The job of a horseshoer, or farrier, is one that takes both skill and physical strength. Since most farriers are self-employed, it also takes a certain amount of business savvy and people skills to run a successful horseshoeing practice.

We visited with three farriers from different parts of the United States and found out what a “typical” day in their lives is like. Dr. Tia Nelson, 44, is based in Helena , MT, where she has a veterinary practice and horseshoeing business. Todd Danielson, 50, of Mill Spring, NC, who has been shoeing horses since 1980, is a farrier with an apprentice. R.T. Goodrich, 50, of Petaluma, CA, runs a multi-farrier practice out of Petaluma, along with his wife, Bunny, also a farrier.

USEF Emerson Burr Horsemanship Awards Program to be Held at the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Horse Show to Benefit The EQUUS Foundation

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will conduct its Emerson Burr Horsemanship Awards Program at the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show to benefit The EQUUS Foundation on June 20-24, 2006, in Westport, CT.

For the full story, click here.

If you have news you would like to contribute for the American Breeder News e-newsletter, a monthly news source about sport horse breeding in North America, brought to you by the Performance Horse Registry and the USEF, please review the “Guidelines for Releases” or e-mail press-ready releases to news@usef.org.

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.