Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

Region 5 Dressage Riders are First Champions Crowned at 2008 FEI CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Colorado Horse Park Presented By Gotham North

After all the dressage horses sailed through the first horse inspection on Tuesday, Wednesday brought the first championship day at the 2008 FEI CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Colorado Horse Park Presented By Gotham North. The junior dressage riders led the way and their division showcased stylish performances throughout the junior team test.

Region 5 prevailed in a close battle that came down to the last rotation of riders.

Brandi Roenick and Pretty Lady, who won the Junior National Dressage Championships at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions in June, scored 67.9% to lead Region 5 to the Junior Championship presented by Platinum Performance and the United States Dressage Federation.

The Media Guide with the list of horses and riders with some background information can be found by visiting www.usef.org/documents/mediaGuides/USEF_NAYJRC_2008.pdf.

The addition of reining to the NAJYRC line up has many excited about the inaugural year. To help share the experience, two of the reining competitors are blogging about their journey in the “Road to NAJYRC: A Rider's Journey to Parker, CO”. The blogs can be found by visiting www.usef.org/ContentPage2.aspx?id=intreining.

White Withdraws Northern Spy; O’Connor and Mandiba Named to 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in Eventing

Heidi White has withdrawn Northern Spy from the U.S. Olympic Team in eventing for veterinary reasons. Following the selection procedures, the USEF named replacement horse-and-rider combination Karen O’Connor and Mandiba to the U.S. Olympic Team in eventing.

This will be O’Connor’s fourth Olympic Games.

Morse Withdraws Kingston; Barisone and Neruda to Head to Hong Kong as Traveling Replacement for U.S. Olympic Team in Dressage

Leslie Morse has withdrawn Kingston from the U.S. Olympic Team in dressage for veterinary reasons. Following the selection procedures, the USEF named replacement horse-and-rider combination Michael Barisone and Neruda as the traveling replacement for the U.S. Olympic Team in dressage.

Don’t miss a second of the equestrian portion of the 2008 Olympic Games. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has just launched TeamUSA, a website offering equestrian coverage of the 2008 Olympic Games. The road to the Olympic Games has been a journey for these horses and riders and the site will provide some insight about who they are, how they got here and will provide all the latest news from Hong Kong, along with photos, results and rider bios. Follow the adventures of two USEF staffers: Brian Sosby, Editor of equestrian magazine, and Joanie Morris, High-Performance Communications Manager, who will be blogging about their adventures in Hong Kong.

TeamUSA can be found at www.usef.org/teamusa/home.aspx.

The Youth National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (Youth Nationals) is under way through Saturday, August 2, in Albuquerque, NM, at the Expo. The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) of Aurora, CO, produces the week-long event, which is in its 16th year, and features top-level horse show competition, a shopping expo, the annual Youth Convention—all of which bring in an estimated $11.2 million to Albuquerque.

The human and animal kingdoms may be enjoying a quiet summer/winter weekend, depending on the hemisphere, but it is a key one for the horses taking part in the equestrian events of the 2008 Olympic Games. On Friday, July 25, the first horses left from Europe (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) and the United States (Atlanta, GA) on three flights to Hong Kong.

The final week of the 2008 Atlanta Summer Classics did not disappoint competitors or spectators. With everything from the naming of Junior Poobah to hunter champions to grand prix arena thrills.

USEF Announces Approval of Kentucky Horse Park To Host 2009-2011 National Pony Championships

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that the USEF Executive Committee recently approved the Kentucky Horse Park as the host of the 2009-2011 USEF National Pony Championships (Pony Finals). The Kentucky Horse Park has successfully hosted Pony Finals for the last three years. The tentative show dates are August 5-9, 2009; August 11-15, 2010; and August 10-14, 2011.

An almost completely unknown German team swept to victory at the sixth leg of the 2008 Samsung Super League with FEI series in Hickstead. It was also a special day for Great Britain. To the delight of the home crowd a new star was born in the shape of super-talented 22-year-old Charlotte Platt who completed the only double-clear of the competition to help her side to secure joint-runner-up spot with Sweden.

Most of us have a story about our favorite pony; Meehan Shirey of West Palm Beach, FL, certainly does. She showed several ponies during the Colorado Circuit Opener (July 9-13), including catch-rides on three mounts plus four of her own. "Biloxi Blue is my favorite pony," Shirey said. "I like him because he’s very easy and has a whole lot of personality."

USEF Announces New Partnership with Succeed® as “Official Digestive Conditioning Product”

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces a new partnership and multi-year agreement with Freedom Health, LLC’s Succeed®, an equine digestive conditioning program as the “Official Digestive Conditioning Product of the USEF.” In addition, Succeed® Digestive Conditioning Program® is being supplied to the United States Equestrian Team as they prepare for Hong Kong.

Week Two at Horse Shows by the Bay wrapped up yesterday with the feature event, the $25,000 Grand Traverse Bay Grand Prix. Scott Lenkart of Delano, MN, continued his great success at the equestrian festival when he and Impulsive took the top prize over Kirsten Coe on Starlight and David Beisel with Moet Walk.

Margie Engle and Henrik Gundersen Draw Even in the $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix; Laura Chapot and Church Road Capture the Blue in the $50,000 Strongid® C 2X™ Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties

After a very competitive first round, both Henrik Gundersen and Margie Engle decided that they would keep their eight-year-olds fresh for Sunday's $50,000 Strongid® C 2X ™ Grand Prix, ending Friday's $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix in a first-place tie.

United States Dressage Federation Announces 2008 Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Senior Athletic Achievement Award Winners

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Christine Eidson of St. Andrews Presbyterian College (NC); Danielle Aamodt of Centenary College (NJ); and Heather Ajzenman of Mount Holyoke College (MA) are the recipients of the 2008 USDF Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Membership Organization (IMO) Senior Athletic Achievement Awards.

Back Country Horsemen of America Stands Up for Land Issues That Affect Horseback Riders

Did you know that some wilderness management agencies are trying to restrict the use of horses on public lands? Or that the U.S. Forest Service is planning new trail classifications, which might limit our activities? Did you hear about the new bill that could eliminate the current fees for accessing undeveloped federal land?

The outcome of these kinds of concerns can have far-reaching consequences, yet they often come and go with little public awareness. But Back Country Horsemen of America (BCHA) knows, and has been taking a stand right from the start.

The USEF has named the following horse-and-rider combinations for selection for CSIO Spruce Meadows, September 3-7, 2008. Selection is according to the selection procedure for CSIO/CSI competition, aka the "USEF Computer List," and is based on ranking on the July 25, 2008 list.

The Hong Kong Equestrian Federation (HKEF) in conjunction with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and ING Corporation, hosted an extraordinary “Hand- Over” ceremony on July 10th in Hong Kong to receive two ponies the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) donated to salute Hong Kong’s efforts in hosting the 2008 Equestrian Olympics.

The popular Gold Coast Horse Show Series wrapped up its fifth show of the seven-show season on July 20 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Exhibitors entered over 300 horses, attracted by the wide range of classes, the convenient schedule and outstanding staff. Laura Mormann especially appreciates the scheduling since she attends college near San Francisco. All of her classes are on one day so she is able to commute. "All my classes are on Saturday," she said. "I’m all done showing in one day.

Ponies will be the stars at two Langer Equestrian Group (LEG) shows this fall. The Woodside Labor Day Classic (August 29-September 1) features both the Northern California Pony Hunter Final and the Woodside Pony Equitation Championship, in addition to a full selection of pony hunter and equitation classes. Shaw’s Saddlery sponsors the Woodside Pony Equitation Championship and offers great prizes to top finishers. The winner will receive a gift certificate toward a new saddle, along with embroidered dress sheets for the top three, and a special prize for the winning trainer.

FEI Offers Post-Arrival Elective Testing at the 2008 Olympic and Para-Olympic Games in Hong Kong

For the first time in the history of anti-doping and medication control at the Olympic Games, Post-Arrival Elective Testing (PAET) will be made available to the participants in the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events held in Hong Kong. The objective of this procedure is to minimize inadvertent medication violations at the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events by assisting the competitors to determine whether or not residues of legitimate medications are present in urine samples collected from their competition horses immediately upon their arrival in Hong Kong.

Live Webcasts of Vermont Summer Festival Competition Available

Productions East Video and Nicker Network, in association with todocast.tv, are pleased to offer live webcasts of the Vermont Summer Festival Horse Shows.

To watch live action from the Vermont Summer Festival, simply visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.

Everything panned out as expected for show jumping Hall-of-Famer and Olympic Gold medalist Joe Fargis in the $10,000 Hickey-Freeman & Bobby Jones/Betsey Johnson Open Welcome Stake, Presented by Manchester Design Outlets, at the Vermont Summer Festival held at the Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.

Aboard Kimber, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Hidden Trails Farm, Fargis crossed the finish line quickest and without fault. In addition to bragging rights and $3,000 in prize money, Fargis also earned a $1,000 gift certificate to Hickey-Freeman & Bobby Jones.

The Saddle Club™ Girls Are Back! The Fun Begins September 2 ON TVOKids

Millions of kids have been waiting for the new adventures of Carole, Stevie and Lisa, the girls who formed the Saddle Club and their favorite horses—Starlight, Belle and Prancer. Now, their wait is almost over! Series three, The Saddle Club Rides Again!, of the international hit TV series based on the popular books by Bonnie Bryant will premiere Tuesday, September 2, at 6 p.m., on TVOKids (also 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday).

From the July/August 2008 issue of equestrian magazine:
Putting Our Stamp on It

The horse has always been an important icon and had a presence in many world cultures from
coins to coats-of-arms. One such place horses can be found around the world is on the humble,
but important, postage stamp.

Long before anyone ever dreamt of e-mail, there was a system in place for getting messages delivered over distances. Of course, horses were the engine in the delivering of letters and documents. But these parcels and envelopes didn’t carry what we think of as postage stamps. Instead, they were hand-stamped or “postmarked” using inks detailing the month and day on which the letter or package left its destination for delivery.

It wasn’t until the mid 19th Century that the actual first postage stamp, showing the profile of Queen Victoria, was created by the
British. Known as the “Penny Black,” it rolled off the presses in 1840 and changed the way the world would handle pre-paid delivery of postal materials.

Fidelity Investments Grand Prix a Full Day of Entertainment in Hampton Falls, NH

The exciting equestrian sport of grand prix show jumping comes to Hampton Falls, NH, on the first Sunday in September with a full day of entertainment at the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic. The nation's top riders and horses will vie for the largest prize in show jumping in New England on Sunday, September 7, during the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix. The day begins with the $15,000 Equine Insurance Services Speed Stake, Presented by Great American.

Date Change Announced for $20,000 ASG/USHJA International Hunter Derby at Kentucky Summer Horse Shows

The date of the $20,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby has been changed to take place on Friday evening, August 1, at 5:30 pm. The time and date for the event have been changed so that more competitors will be able to attend the class. The event will coincide with a complimentary dinner for all exhibitors in the Spectator Tent at the newly resurfaced Walnut Ring.

Tim Hadaway has been appointed as the London 2012 Organizing Committee’s Sport Competition Manager for equestrian events at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. These will take place at Greenwich Park in southeast London.

Remember to take advantage of the USEF MemberPerks Program. USEF MemberPerks offers substantial cost savings on products and services from John Deere, 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.

Watch Equestrian Michael Plumb's Induction into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame This Sunday on NBC

The 2008 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Allstate, will air this coming Sunday, August 3, from 1:30-3:00 p.m. ET on NBC.

The NBC broadcast features 67 minutes of content from the spectacular June 19 Induction Ceremony.

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)

A few riders that have now qualifed on the East Coast:
— Alexandra Arute
— Alexandra Biederman
— Alexandra Cheng
— Hasbrouck Donovan
— Katie Hagerty

West Coast Championship
(September 17-20, 2008 Los Angeles International, Burbank, CA)

A few riders that have now qualifed on the West Coast:
— Alexandra Cheng
— Lindsay Clark
— Anna Cooley
— Madeline Cooley
— Danielle Cooper
— Abigail Crowell
— Rachel Crown
— Carolyn Curcio
— Gabriella D'Alessio
— Annie Davidson
— Paige Dekko
— Jennifer Delman
— Nicole Devoe
— Tina DiLandri
— Christy Distefano

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

The Smart Money This School Year is Choosing the United States Equestrian Federation Visa®

The kids are going back to school, and the interest payments are going away with the United States Equestrian Federation Visa Platinum Card, now offering a low introductory rate on purchases and balance transfers*! When you study the benefits of this great card, you’ll find there is a low introductory rate until 2009. So, whether you use your United States Equestrian Federation Visa for new clothes and supplies this fall or for a family vacation this winter, switch now and save. Plus, you’ll benefit USEF and earn great rewards with every purchase.

Save 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 continues to receive a percentage of each net purchase made on your card. This helps USEF continue to fund important programs and activities.

Click here to apply today or call (800) 853-5576, ext. 9244.

Hurry; offer ends September 30, 2008.

*Click product name for terms and conditions: Signature, 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.