Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

Television Broadcast of FEI World Cup Dressage Final Critical to Sport’s Future

The FEI World Cup Dressage Final Presented by Offield Farms will be televised on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) on Monday, June 6 at 3 p.m. EST, an hour earlier than originally scheduled. The one-hour broadcast offers dressage fans and horse lovers across the United States the rare opportunity to view the world’s best riders, including American sweetheart Debbie McDonald.

With more than 11,000 spectators at the sold-out freestyle performance, which matches the beauty and precision of traditional dressage with the fan-thrilling appeal of choreographed horse/rider dance routines set to music, the event made history for the Olympic sport. Not only were the scores of the top riders the highest ever awarded, but also the American television broadcast, which was secured with the sponsorship from Offield Farms, will allow millions of horse lovers to take part in an event that was the sensation of the horse world.

U.S. Team Announced for Second Leg of 2005 Samsung Super League

The USEF has announced the team for the second European show jumping tour—a series of three international competitions, including a stop on the 2005 Samsung Super League circuit. This team will compete in the Super League competition at CSIO Rotterdam, The Netherlands (June 16-19); CSIO Lummen, Belgium (June 30-July 3) and CSIO Falsterbo, Sweden (July 7-10).

For more information on the Samsung Super League, including the latest news, rider biographies, the competition schedule and results, click here.

Accomplished dressage athlete and Olympic hopeful Carol J. Plough suddenly passed away in Riverside, CA, on Monday, May 16, 2005. The USEF and its members join the equestrian world in expressing deepest sympathy to her family and friends.

Known as an accomplished horsewoman with a natural gift for putting people at ease, Carol was well-loved in and out of the dressage ring. In 2004, Carol was long-listed for the USEF Olympic Dressage Team with Komo (1997 KWPN chestnut gelding, owned by Kathy Pavlich), and the pair continued to compete internationally with mounting success.

For the full story, click here.

For the preliminary plan for review of the 2006-2008 license applications, click here. The plan may be modified if necessary to address needs that may develop in connection with the date rotation matter. These applications will be reviewed in a month by month fashion, starting with December 2005 competitions, beginning the week of May 23, 2005.

The May feature item of the month is the ladies’ frost pink polo shirt, which is this year's hot color. Same great polo you love in a fresh new color for Spring. Click here to order this item.

From now until May 31, purchase $50 or more on USEF merchandise and you’ll receive a FREE USEF magnet. Click here to enter the official USEF online store.

HITS-On-The-Hudson Announces Details of the Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship

Tom Struzzieri, owner and President of Horse Shows In The Sun (HITS), and his staff hosted a press conference on May 16 at the HITS-on-the-Hudson show grounds in Saugerties, NY. Members of the press received details of the $150,000 Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship, followed by a tour of the new HITS High-Performance Horse Complex.

Footing Experts Meet to Discuss Future Championship Arena Footing

FEI representatives met with leading footing specialists in Windsor, England, on May 16 for a brainstorming session which will likely provide the criteria upon which all future championship arena footing is to be based. The meeting, which drew riding surface experts from around the world, was a proactive response to the report of the FEI Working Group assigned to assess problems associated with footing after the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Don't miss out on a great opportunity. Advertise in the July/August Dressage issue of EQUESTRIAN. Advertising space closes on May 31. For more information, contact Crissi White at (859) 225-6936 or cwhite@usef.org.

Ponies and Pros at the Two-Week Legacy Cup Conclude First Week with Tuscany, Jivago, Take Away, Nassau and Polaroid Taking Top Honors

In the first week of the two-week Legacy Cup, while Jennifer Waxman and Tuscany took the lead in the Pony Hunter division and Lauren Bass on Jivago dominated in the Restricted Pro 3’6” division, it was a Take Away victory for Havens Schatt in the Pro 3’6” division. Schatt also dominated in the Pro 3’ division, winning the Finals on Nassau, who also won the Pre-Green Incentive. Additionally, she won the Walter J. Lee Perpetual Trophy and the Leading Trainer Award for Week One. Michael Tokaruk and Polaroid were the big winners in the Restricted Pro 3’ division. The Legacy Cup took place for the second year in a row at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows in Lexington, KY. The first week ran May 11-15, and the show runs through May 22.

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Enroll in USEF Memberperks to save up to 16% on FedEx shipping services, free to USEF members. Whether you need a letter delivered the next day or a box delivered within a week, FedEx has a shipping service that’s right for you. It’s a benefit offered free of charge to all USEF members. Simply call (877) 576-6872 to enroll and to find out about other discount programs also available.

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) will hold its National Convention & Symposium, November 30-December 4, 2005, in Los Angeles, CA. The convention will be shortened by one day, with governance meetings beginning on Wednesday, November 30. This change in format will reduce participant expense and time requirements without compromising USDF work accomplished. It will also allow more members to participate in business and governance meetings, USDF University educational sessions, awards presentations and social activities.

It's about a love of horses. It all comes down to that common denominator. And whether your interest is in the Arabian or the Welsh Pony, those who love horses and competing at Federation-recognized horse shows have another common denominator that comes to mind--membership in the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).

It is a bond among our more than 86,000 members, and that membership has never been more exciting and beneficial than now.

The report detailing the work of those who participated in the nation’s first-ever Unwanted Horse Summit is now available from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). The Summit was hosted on April 19, 2005, in Washington, D.C., by the AAEP with the purpose of identifying long-term solutions designed to improve the quality of life of unwanted horses.

Steve Simon’s Custom Crome has reached an National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) milestone. Custom Crome's sons and daughters have excelled in the NRHA show pen and moved their sire to the prestigious NRHA Million Dollar Sire list. That list includes NRHA Hall of Fame members Hollywood Dun It, Topsail Whiz, Smart Chic Olena, Topsail Cody, Hollywood Jac 86, Be Aech Enterprise, Reminic, Gallo Del Cielo and Shining Spark.

Bill Horn was the first to make a cool $1,000,000 competing in NRHA events. Horn reached that milestone in 1995. Tim McQuay followed suit in 1997, followed by Duane Latimer and Shawn Flarida in 2003, then Todd Bergen in 2004. The National Reining Horse Association is proud to add one more name to this prestigious Million Dollar Rider list: Dell Hendricks.

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.