Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

After five second-place finishes with five different horses at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Farnam, Phillip Dutton brought last year’s runner-up, Connaught, back to the Kentucky Horse Park and won convincingly with a masterful clear round in the show jumping.

In recent months, several accidents have hit the sport of eventing. These incidents have united all eventing riders who care deeply about the horses, their welfare and the image of the sport in a quest to better understand what might be contributing to these occurrences.

This week USEF President David O’Connor was joined by USEA President Kevin Baumgatner in calling for a USEF/USEA Safety Summit to be held in Lexington, KY, June 7-8, 2008.

This spate of accidents has raised important and potentially troubling questions for those of us who govern the sport: Why are so many riders and horses having accidents? Is there more that can be done to make cross country safer? Is the sport just too dangerous?

There is no question that eventing is a demanding and, yes, risky sport. Riders cross undulating terrain at high speed and jump a series of challenging fences – all while atop a 1,000-pound horse. So there is a constant need for us to ensure that every precaution is being taken to reduce the risk of injury to riders and horses.

Although we have implemented several measures to improve safety over the last year, clearly more needs to be done. In the coming days and weeks, we will be redoubling our efforts to identify additional steps we can take to make sure that riders and horses can compete as safely as possible. We would like to ask your help in this effort – whether you’re a rider, trainer, coach, veterinarian, or simply a horse enthusiast.

We invite each and every one of you to the USEF/USEA Safety Summit to be held in Lexington, KY, June 7-8. We will break the issue of safety down and examine the causes and potential solutions with some of the best minds in the game. In the meantime, if you have immediate thoughts about how we can improve the safety of cross-country, please email them to us at safetythoughts@usef.org .

It's been five days since Laine's fall and with each new day we've been blessed with signs of progress. One of the emotional elements of healthcare management is to prepare families for both good and bad days. The proverbial emotional roller coaster ride. So, far our setbacks have been few and Laine's forward steps have been consistent. One backward step came about last night when Laine's fever suddenly spiked up to nearly 103. It was determined that she had an infection and a case of pneumonia; both being complications that are quite common with a lung injury of this sort. They started her on three separate antibiotics and her fever has already come down significantly as a result.

The good news is that Laine's lungs continue to gain strength and her doctors have again lowered the level of assistance being contributed by the ventilator. At one point, Laine was drawing almost all her own breaths. It turned out to be a bit premature, so they went back to the previous settings. Laine's jaw surgery is now scheduled for first thing Friday morning. The plan is to plate the lower jaw line and then reset the right upper jawbone and then wiring it all together.

Mark you calendar! Don't miss the showdown in Lexington when NBC Sports airs highlights of the 2008 Rolex Equestrian Championship presented by Kentucky–Unbridled Spirit. The broadcast is scheduled to air on Sunday, May 4, from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Rolex Kentucky is undoubtedly the most prestigious three-day event in the United States and one of the three Grand Slam eventing competitions attracting the top riders and horses in the world. Don't miss the broadcast, May 4, on NBC.

Four Riders Named to USEF Show Jumping Developing/Young Rider Tour

The USEF has named the following four horse/rider combinations to the 2008 Show Jumping Developing/Young Rider Tour based off their ranking on the April 25, 2008 USEF Computer List.

Oregon rider Rich Fellers improved his overnight third place ranking in the Rolex FEI World Cup Final in Goteborg, Sweden, to finish second overall, just two penalties behind Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Shutterfly.

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One-Day Educational Event Dedicated to the Arabian Sport Horse Offered in Michigan

Have you ever wondered what those dressage classes are at your breed shows and wanted to try a couple but didn't have a clue how to prepare for them? Well, now's your chance to give it a go on your Arabian Sport Horse. Come and join fellow Arabian Sport Horse owners/riders for a fun-filled day on Sunday, June 1, 2008, from noon to 4 p.m. at Brilliant Reflection Farm in Ortonville, MI. The event is called "Demystifying Dressage for the Arabian Sport Horse Crowd."

The Kentucky Horse Park announced several major horse shows that have already signed contracts or are confirmed to host their events beginning in 2009 in the new indoor arena, which is currently under construction.

This Saturday night, May 3, the Equidome at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center will come alive for the 10th Annual Fiesta of the Spanish Horse extravaganza, where magnificent Spanish horses join celebrities, musicians, dancers and other entertainers to raise funds for cancer research.

Book your advertising space in the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions Program. This prestigious dressage competition takes place in June in San Juan Capistrano, CA. For more information, contact Kim Russell at (859) 225-6938 or krussell@usef.org.

United States Hunter Jumper Association's High-Performance International Hunter Derbies Inspire Equestrians in Hawaii

After learning about the success of the United States Hunter Jumper Association's (USHJA) International Hunter Derbies, a group of enthusiastic equestrians in Hawaii are following in the same hunter footsteps in honor of true horsemanship. They are holding a class with a format similar to that of the International Hunter Derbies as a gift to their graduating high school seniors. The class will be held on Mother's Day, May 11, 2008.

Kentucky International Equine Summit Ends With Essential Call for Unity Within the Industry

At the Kentucky International Equine Summit Olympic Gold medalist David O’Connor urged the disparate elements of America’s horse industry to work in concert to improvement promotion in the sport. He said that the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) gives America’s horse community a unique opportunity to reach a large segment of the public. The WEG is to be held in September in Lexington, Ky. He made his remarks on Tuesday at the Kentucky International Equine Summit, sponsored jointly by the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky.

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.

Kentucky Spring Horse Shows Focus on Future and 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™

The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, will be held this year during the weeks of May 7-11 and May 14-18, 2008. The shows attract the nation's very best hunter and jumper competitors, and this year the park is buzzing with excitement as it prepares to play host to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG).

From the April 2008 issue of EQUESTRIAN magazine:
Fire Safety: Making Every Moment Count
By Laurie Loveman

It was just plain luck that Joe Fisher couldn’t sleep in the muggy heat of a July night. At 1:00 a.m., Fisher glanced out his bedroom window and saw flames coming from the upper level of his horse barn. He roused his wife and kids, dialed 911 to report the fire, and in pajamas and slippers, he and his family ran to the barn and were able to lead their five horses and two goats to safety, turning them out into a pasture about 100 feet from the barn.

While the Fishers were evacuating their barn (including “capturing” the two barn cats and putting them on the screened-in back porch of their house), the 911 operator was notifying the fire department. Only one firefighter was in the firehouse, which, because it was all volunteer, was not usually staffed at night. That firefighter
alerted the rest of the fire department members by pager and climbed into the driver’s seat of the fire truck. According to department rules, he couldn’t leave the station until another firefighter was with him, but there was barely any delay since a second firefighter showed up within minutes of the page and together the two firefighters made their way to the scene of the fire. At the same time, two more firefighters arrived at the station and responded with the water tanker. The fire chief, hearing the radio traffic and knowing what to expect at the Fisher property, called for mutual aid from two neighboring fire departments. Other firefighters, responding from home since they carried their firefighting gear in their private vehicles, arrived on scene within minutes. Still, with all the available help and everything going smoothly, the firefighters barely had water on the blaze when the roof and walls collapsed, leaving the barn a raging bonfire resting on its foundation.

Chicago 2016 Announces New Equestrian Venue: Well-Established Equestrian Facility, Tempel Farms, Offers Land and Facilities for Olympic Bid

Chicago 2016, the organization bidding for the privilege to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, announced that Tempel Farms, an internationally renowned equestrian facility in Lake County, IL, will be the proposed site for the Olympic Equestrian Complex. Tempel Farms is well known to the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), and its participation is expected to strengthen Chicago’s concept for the Games significantly.

The World Games 2010 Foundation and NBC Sports announced NBC as the official network broadcast partner for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, September 25-October 10, 2010.

United States Hunter Jumper Association is Proud to Announce the 2008 Trainer's Symposium Dates, Locations and New Format

The United States Hunter Jumper Association Trainer's Symposiums offer attendees a rare opportunity to participate in practical training sessions and roundtable discussions with top professionals in the industry. The new schedule offers three days of hunters, equitation and jumpers. Each of the disciplines is broken into sections: i.e. junior hunters, intermediate equitation and junior/amateur owner jumpers. The sections will have three to four demonstration riders for the clinician to work and explain different techniques, exercises and tips for various levels of riders and horses. This is a great opportunity for professionals to exchange thoughts and ideas on training exercises, training aids and business practices.

The Adequan/United States Eventing Association (USEA) Gold Cup Series comes to the Woodside Horse Trials on May 23-25, and it will be an excellent opportunity for rising riders and their horses to earn valuable points in the year-long series at the advanced and intermediate levels of eventing.

The American Horse Council’s (AHC) 2008 National Issues Forum will be held June 15-18, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Monday, June 16, will include various committee meetings and an opening reception, with the National Issues Forum, and an awards luncheon and Congressional reception on Capitol Hill to be held on Tuesday, June 17. This year’s National Issues Forum will focus on how the horse industry and individual members can be involved in the 2008 federal elections. “With a third of the Senate and all the members of the House of Representatives up for reelection, there is an opportunity for the horse industry to be involved in that process,” said Jay Hickey, President of the American Horse Council.

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)

A few riders that have now qualifed on the West Coast:
— Julia Mancini
— Alyssa Mansfield
— Hilary Marx
— Lawson Mayfield

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

This Spring, take a break from interest payments!

Take a vacation from interest payments with the Visa® card that offers 0% APR for nine billing cycles*! With the United States Equestrian Federation Visa Platinum Card, every dollar you spend is interest free until next winter. Whether you use your United States Equestrian Federation Visa for everyday purchases or that major purchase you’ve been waiting to buy, now is the time to switch. Plus, you’ll benefit our organization and earn great rewards with every purchase!

0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for nine 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 (800) 853-5576, etc. 9244.

Hurry. Offer ends June 30, 2008.

*Click product name for terms and conditions: Platinum, Cash Rewards, Select 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 nine 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 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.

Finally Phillip! Dutton Wins 2008 Rolex Kentucky CCI**** After Being Runner-Up Five Times Previously

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Four Riders Named to USEF Show Jumping Developing/Young Rider Tour