Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

The rain held off for most of the day for the finale of the Jersey Fresh Three-Day Event, but everyone appreciated the break in the weather. Sally Ike’s show jumping tracks proved challenging yet fair and major changes in the standings of each division would unfold as the day went on.

There were plenty of surprises in the Advanced Horse Trials division, which was serving as a selection division for the Pan American Games for both the U.S. and Canadian riders. Seventeen horses show jumped, but only nine were jumping for awards, as more than half the field opted to not run cross country.

Of the remaining horses in the division, clear rounds were very difficult to find. Bonnie Mosser had jumped clean with Jenga (who didn’t run cross country) but almost came unseated at the final fence in the process. She picked up a rail on her second horse, Close the Deal, to end up winning the class.

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The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is pleased to announce that Bonnie Mosser and Merloch were presented with the 2007 Gladstone Trophy on Sunday at the Jersey Fresh CCI***, which ran from May 31-June 3.

The Gladstone Trophy is awarded to the highest-placed American rider at the USEF CCI*** Spring Championship, held at the Jersey Fresh CCI***. In addition to being the highest-placed American, Mosser was also the overall victor of the division, finishing on a score of 48.7.

The Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials concluded the 2007 qualifying season for the FEI World Breeding Championships at the CDI-W/Y/J Raleigh and Capital Dressage Classic, June 1–3 in Raleigh, NC.

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They say a week is a long time in politics, but the fortunes of international show jumpers can be equally unpredictable as last week's Samsung Super League with FEI winners from Great Britain found out on Friday when failing to complete the third leg of the 2007 series in St. Gallen, Switzerland, where The Netherlands recorded a resounding victory. The U.S. sustained a noble drive and ended up third.

Weekend European Success for American Show Jumpers

There were American show jumpers at three different European horse shows over the weekend of June 1-3 and strong performances were turned in at each venue. The highlight of the weekend was U.S. riders winning classes in two different countries on Saturday.

Youngsters Can Brush Up on Their Horse Sense at Animal Planet Kids’ Day at Lake Placid Horse Shows

The annual Animal Planet Kids’ Day at the Lake Placid and I Love New York Horse Shows returns again this year, combining kids, horses and tons of fun. The Lake Placid Horse Shows will be held at the North Elba Showgrounds in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains of Lake Placid, NY, June 26–July 8, 2007.

Animal Planet Kids’ Day is scheduled for Friday, July 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and will include activities such as a stable tour, jumper course walk, farrier visit and question-and-answer seminar on safety in and out of the ring. There will also be a raffle, giveaways and an autograph session with a top grand rix rider. The day continues a long-standing tradition of the Lake Placid Horse Shows giving back to the local community.

The new Ariat

USA

“Look of the Team” merchandise is now available at the USEF online store. Visit the store online to check out the latest Ariat USA men’s and women’s polos and vests!

Protect yourself and your horse and ICE your cell phone. ICE stands for In Case of Emergency. ICE is an international designation that emergency medical technicians and emergency responders will look for on your personal cell phone, in your Contacts, if you are injured and unable to speak, or respond to questions, as a result of any type of accident or debilitating illness.

Take a few minutes to make the entries: ICE in your cell phone for yourself, and ICE HORSE for your horses. In the first entry, after entering the word: ICE, list the person’s name and phone number whom you would have emergency caretakers call and notify in case you are found injured or unconscious. Do the same with the name and phone number of your veterinarian or the person you would want contacted to make decisions about your horses.

United States Dressage Federation Announces Reduction in Membership Processing Time

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced that through improved technology, internal processing of online membership and horse registration applications has been reduced from the former two-week processing window to approximately three days. USDF members who renew a membership or register a horse online will now have the ability to access their updated cards on the USDF website at www.usdf.org the second day after online submission (mailed applications may require extra processing time).

CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships Presented by Gotham North Welcome 2007 Sponsors

An unprecedented line-up of sponsors are giving their support to the 2007 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC), presented by Gotham North. The 2007 NAJYRC will be held at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA, July 31–August 5.

The NAJYRC is the premier equestrian event in North America for junior and young riders, ages 14-21. Many young equestrians travel from around the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands for a chance to compete for team and individual championships in the Olympic equestrian disciplines of dressage, show jumping and eventing. The NAJYRC operates under the rules of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the international governing body for equestrian sport. In addition to the championship competition in dressage, show jumping and eventing, this year’s NAJYRC will also feature demonstrations of another FEI discipline, vaulting.

The United States Eventing Association/Spalding Labs Young Event Horse Series Continues at Waredaca Horse Trials

The United States Eventing Association (USEA)/Spalding Labs Young Event Horse (YEH) Series continued tests this past Friday, June 1, at the Waredaca Horse Trials, held at Gretchen and Robert Butts' eventing facility in Laytonsville, MD. Though the temperatures were pushing 90 degrees, a large turnout of competitors arrived at the event eager to compete. Eight youngsters competed in the four-year-old division, and nine competed in the five-year-old division, with some having shown at YEH events earlier in the season. Rosemarie Merle-Smith's M-S Reddy Fox topped the four-year-old class with his score of 71.15. Fresh from his fourth-place finish at the MCTA Young Event Horse test on May 4, the flashy Appaloosa/Quarter Horse/Thoroughbred gelding stood out from the usual plethora of chestnuts, grays and bays with his unique snowflake Appaloosa blanket coloring.

In 1995, Michael Matz, who is most recently known for having trained the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, had another career. Matz was an extremely successful show jumper. After winning another Gold medal at the Pan American Games in Argentina, he returned to the United States, where he and his horse, Rhum IV, won the Upperville Colt & Horse Show (UCHS) Jumper Classic, one of the most prestigious awards in the U.S., which Matz had won three times in prior years. Rhum and Matz went on to place second in the 1996 Olympics, where the pair earned a Team Silver medal. Matz is the only rider to have won the Upperville Jumper Classic an unprecedented five times.

Dressage Young Horse Riders and Owners: Don't Miss This Championship Opportunity

As a reminder to all riders and owners of four-, five- and six-year-old dressage horses, the 2007 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships, presented by Collecting Gaits Farm, will once again be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, September 14–17 in Lexington, KY. In order to be eligible for this championship program, an Application of Intent must be submitted to the USEF office. The initial deadline is almost here—JUNE 15. Applications are available on the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program webpage at www.usef.org under "Breeds & Disciplines," then "Disciplines," then "Dressage," then "National Dressage." For more information, contact Jennifer Keeler, National Director of Dressage, at jkeeler@usef.org.

The Hampton Classic Horse Show has completed a series of upgrades to its stabling areas in direct response to the unprecedented rainfall during the 2006 event. The horse show has invested almost $250,000 to renovate and upgrade the stabling areas, focusing on new and enhanced drainage, including 20 new dry wells and 40 new catch basins. The tent pads have also been built up and the roadways between the tents improved.

Beautifully Hand-Crafted USEF Leather Bags Made Exclusively by Freedman Harness, Canada

Call toll free today to order your USEF Leather Bags at (877) 256-7674 or visit www.freedmanharness.com.

The Colorado Horse Park CCI* Three Day Event victory gallop was led by 17-year-old Anisa Tracy of Parker, CO. The local young rider bested a field of professionals and other experienced adults after three days of intense competition that included dressage, cross-country and jumping. Finishing second was her sister, 14-year-old Kendyl Tracy. The sisters have now qualified for the CN North American Junior and Young Riders Championships (NAJYRC) to be held later this summer.

Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II Participates as a Member Show of Inaugural $80,000 Rider Bonus Program

Showplace Productions is pleased to announce that the Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II horse show, held from June 19-24, at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL, is part of the $80,000 Rider Bonus series. The highlight of the spring show is the $50,000 Wachovia Securities Grand Prix on Saturday, June 23, which will feature some of the best show jumpers in the Midwest.

Do some serious spring cleaning with the United States Equestrian Federation Visa® Platinum Card

This spring it’s out with the old and in with the new when you use the United States Equestrian Federation Visa® Platinum Card, now offering 0% APR for 12 months*! With this exclusive card, every dollar you spend is interest free until next year, allowing you to purchase those new items you’ve been waiting to buy. So whether you use your United States Equestrian Federation Visa for everyday purchases, or that special purchase, switch now and save.

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 product name for terms and conditions: Platinum, Cash Rewards, Select Rewards, College Rewards. Offer not applicable for the College Rewards Visa Card. 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 12 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 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.

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.