 |
|||||||||
|
|
Animal Planet’s Horse Power Expands Audience for Equestrian Sport The USEF has welcomed a new audience of horse lovers thanks to the recent success of Animal Planet’s new six-week series, Horse Power—Road to the Maclay. More than six million unique viewers of all ages tuned in to Animal Planet to watch the series, which began February 1. More than 9 million unique viewers tuned into the three horse-themed programs on Animal Planet: Trail Mix, Horse Power and the Sporthorse Cup. Animal Planet is distributed in an estimated 87 million households and 160 countries. Particular ratings strength for Horse Power was among women and showed substantial growth for Animal Planet versus the same time slot in the first quarter of 2005. Ratings for women 12-17 grew 77%, persons 18-24 gained 38% and women 18-34 grew 186%. The audience for the Animal Planet Sporthorse Cup (March 8) also saw a 21% ratings gains among women 12-17 compared to 2005. For the full story, click here.
Four Olympic Veterans Battle for $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational Title A gorgeous Tampa evening greeted the throngs of show jumping fans that turned out for the 34th edition of America’s greatest test of show jumping, the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational at Raymond James Stadium. The star studded line-up for the Saturday night showcase of the 2006 Winter Equestrian Festival ran the gamut of equestrian talent and experience. From the riders, both young and not so young, making their very first appearance, to 14 Olympic veterans with years of show jumping experience on their resumes, they were all there to challenge for the top prize of $60,000, the biggest first place check offered in United States show jumping. For the full story, click here. USDF Announces 2006 Young Rider Graduate Program Weekend Seminar The United States Dressage Federation (USDF), in conjunction with the United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF), will host a weekend educational seminar for recent graduates of the USDF Young Rider Program. The seminar will be held October 20-22, 2006, at the USDF National Education Center at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Seminar participants, ranging in age from 21 to 25, will include amateurs, professionals and future high-performance riders in the sport of dressage. The purpose of the program is to provide graduates of the USDF Young Rider Program with information and support for an easier transition into the adult equestrian world. For the full story, click here. 2006 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event to Air on NBC on Sunday, May 7, 5-6 p.m. Television advertising spots are still available. For information, contact Scott Carling at scarling@usef.org or (859) 225-6928. Beginner Novice Qualifications Modified for 2006 American Eventing Championships Recently the United States Eventing Association (USEA) announced that a Beginner Novice division would be offered at the 2006 American Eventing Championships (AEC), on a trial basis. At that time qualifications were published for those hoping to compete in this division. For the full story, click here. 
Olympic Stars Competing in the Forks Farm Horse Trials at Outdoor Heritage Days The Forks Farm Horse Trials in Norwood, NC, is underway until April 9 as part of Outdoor Heritage Days with a marquee list of riders competing in this world-class event, including five-time Olympic veteran Bruce Davidson, Sr.; three-time U.S. Olympian Karen O’Connor and Pan American Individual Gold medalist and U.S. Olympic Team Bronze medalist Darren Chiacchia. Also participating are some of the brightest new stars in the Olympic sport of eventing. For the full story, click here. Watch the Grand Prix of the Desert on TV The finale of the Indio Circuit, the $150,000 Grand Prix of the Desert, is scheduled to air on April 10, on Fox Sports NY at 11 a.m. EST, Fox Sports Florida at 9 a.m. EST, and Fox Sports West 10 a.m. PST, to a total of 20 million homes in these markets. Friesians in the Bluegrass: FHANA Moves Headquarters to Kentucky Horse Park The Friesian Horse Association of North America (FHANA) is proud to announce that they are relocating their headquarters from Sisters, OR, to Lexington, KY. This move will enable the Friesian to increase its visibility in the North American equine industry. Plans are to locate their offices in the National Horse Center at the Kentucky Horse Park. This relocation will also provide an opportunity for the Friesian to be showcased during the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park. Arabian Horse Association Announces USDF All Breeds Awards The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) announces the recipients of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) All-Breeds Awards. These awards are presented to individual horses from participating registries that meet the requirements of the program. Awards are given for training, first, second, third, fourth, Prix St. Georges, intermediate I, intermediate II and grand prix in both Arabian and Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian categories. For the full story, click here. Official Measuring Sticks Available Through USEF The USEF has obtained a limited supply of the official measurement sticks that are now available to stewards, technical delegates and competitions. The sticks have metric measurements on one side, hands on the other side. Each stick is numbered and comes with a zippered carrying case. Cost of the stick is $350, with shipping and handling fees of $25, for a total cost of $375. An order form can be downloaded from the USEF website at www.usef.org/documents/competitions/measurementStick.pdf or by contacting the Licensed Officials Department. The sticks will be sent via FedEx, with a four to five weekday delivery schedule. Matz and For The Moment Honored With Induction Into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame For the full story, click here. Fisher Wins FEI World Cup Qualifier at Galway Downs Robyn Fisher, 26, of Topanga, CA, was the wire-to-wire winner of the FEI World Cup Qualifier (CIC***-W) at Galway Downs, CA, on April 2, on her 11-year-old Holsteiner Thoroughbred gelding, Le Samurai, with a score of 75.6. Fisher finished each of the three days as the top rider in dressage, cross-country and jumping. She also won the CIC** on Lady Calido, a 10-year-old Holsteiner, and received prize money totaling more than $6,000 for winning both classes. For the full story, click here. Georgetown College's Equine Scholars Program Officially Opens New Campus Headquarters Georgetown College President William H. Crouch, Jr., and Kentucky Horse Park Executive Director John Nicholson cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the Equine Scholars Center, which will serve as the central offices for Georgetown College’s Equine Scholars Program. For the full story, click here. 2006 Atlanta Spring Classics Week Two Begins With Sequels Showcase, Ltd., based in Canton, GA, ended their 2005 show season on a high note as owner-rider Terry Brown, partnered with her 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding Sequel, were awarded Farnam®/Platform™ USEF National Horse of the Year titles in Second Year Green Working Hunter, Regular Working Hunter and Horse of the Year Grand Champion in Regular Hunters. They seem to be headed right back to the top in 2006 as their winning continued with the championship in the Regular Working Hunter division for both weeks of the Atlanta Spring Classics. For the full story, click here. Do You Have News for the American Breeder News E-newsletter? 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. New Jumper Classes Added to Devon Schedule Jumpers have always been a major part of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, and this year, with three new sections, these terrific athletes will add even more excitement to the oldest and most prestigious outdoor show in the country. Devon, held May 25-June 3, benefits Bryn Mawr Hospital, to which it has donated over $11.4-million over its four decades of association. Jumper classes are held daily throughout the 10 days, culminating in two grand prix classes, held Thursday and Saturday evenings, but there is also a potpourri of equestrian disciplines, from hunters to elegant side saddle competitions, high stepping gaited horses and carriages of all types, plus exciting exhibitions. For the full story, click here. 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. VISION STATEMENT 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. ©2006, United States Equestrian Federation®, Inc. |
|
|
|||||
