Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

World Vaulting Championships Update; Team USA Wins Bronze, Women Have Two Top-Ten Placings

In the final day of competition at the World Vaulting Championships in Brno, Czech Republic, Team USA took home a bronze medal, while two U.S. women placed in the top ten in the Individual competition.

Dark Side of the Moon, a composite team made up of vaulters from FACE, Mt. Eden, Woodside and Shooting Stars vaulting clubs, finished in third place, with the Germans once again taking the Gold, and the Austrian team taking the Silver. U.S. team members include Megan Benjamin, Emily Hogye, Mari Inouye, Devon Maitozo, Elizabeth Osborn, Rosey Ross, and Annalise VanVranken, as well as equine partner Leonardo and longeur Lasse Kristensen of Hvejsel, Denmark. Four of the seven members—Benjamin, Maitozo, Ross and VanVranken—were members of the Silver-medal winning Team USA at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen in 2006. Ross is a three-time team medal winner, having won a Bronze with Team USA/CoastLine at the 2004 World Championships in Stadl Paura, Austria, in 2004. Maitozo and Benjamin are both former FEI World Equestrian Games Vaulting Champions (Maitozo in 1998, and Benjamin in 2006).

Medals Awarded at 2008 CN FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Colorado Horse Park presented by Gotham North

The CN FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships at the Colorado Horse Park presented by Gotham North finished with a three-hour closing ceremonies at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado. The four-day championship competition wrapped up with the junior and young rider musical freestyles in dressage, stadium jumping in eventing, the individual finals in show jumping, and the individual finals in reining.

For continuous coverage of the equestrian events at the 2008 Olympics, please visit our TeamUSA site or USEF.org.

Curtain Opens on the Equestrian Events of the 2008 Olympic Games

On August 5, the equestrian events of the 2008 Olympic Games were presented to an array of distinguished guests gathered to honor the achievements to date and the sporting successes that will undoubtedly unfold with the Hong Kong skyline as the backdrop.

The FEI President HRH Princess Haya and FEI Secretary General Alex McLin attended the dinner at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Beijing Clubhouse, where notable guests such as International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge and former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, as well as former FEI President Doña Pillar and representatives from BOCOG, the Equestrian Company, the Hong Kong Government and the Hong Kong Jockey Club, were also united to support the great endeavors and efforts that have characterized the lead-up and preparations for the events in Hong Kong.

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.

USET Foundation Lauds NBC's Decision to Stream Olympics Live on Web; 2008 Marks the First Time Equestrian Events Will be Available in Their Entirety

The 2008 Summer Olympics marks the first time equestrian enthusiasts will get to watch the competition in dressage, eventing and show jumping from start-to-finish, thanks to NBC's decision to stream 2,200 hours of live coverage of 25 sports at www.NBCOlympics.com.

2008 USEF Junior Hunter National Championship-East Coast Kicks Off at HITS Saugerties

In the days between HITS-on-the-Hudson V and VI, HITS is hosting the 2008 USEF Junior Hunter National Championship for the East Coast. It’s the fourth consecutive year that the event has taken to the rings at HITS Saugerties and competition kicked off with the WIHS Equitation Classic, the USEF/Pessoa Medal and the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Medal.

Weber Wins; Johnson Third in Impressive Efforts at German Fahrderby, Riesenbeck CAI-A 2008

Driver Chester Weber continued his stellar European campaign over the weekend with a convincing win at the German Fahrderby in Riesenbeck, Germany. The Fahrderby (Driving Derby) is a unique competition which consists of six separate phases.

The American Hackney Horse Society Announces Location Change for Annual Membership Meeting

The American Hackney Horse Society (AHHS) has announced a change in location for their Annual General Membership Meeting during the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville, August 17-23. Due to ongoing renovations at the Executive West Hotel, the meeting will be held in South Wing C, Room 105, of the Kentucky Expo center.

New $5,000 Hunter Class to Challenge Emerging Professional Riders at the Capital Challenge Horse Show

The management of the Capital Challenge Horse Show has once again introduced an innovative class to their competitive show. Held this year September 27 through October 5 at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD, the prestigious event will feature an exciting new $5,000 hunter class for emerging professionals.

American Tory Smith and Australian Kevin McNab Take FEI World Cup Eventing Qualifiers

With only two more FEI World Cup™ qualifiers to run in the 2008 season, Australia’s Kevin McNab has sensationally swept into a huge lead in the FEI World Cup™ rankings, after scoring a one-two at his local qualifier in Warwick, Australia.

A popular member of the local Queensland Eventing Committee, McNab, 30, now has 220 points, 60 clear of his nearest rival, Clark Montgomery (USA) with 160.

The highlight class of the third week at Horse Shows by the Bay was the $25,000 D-BRAIDER Cherry Capital Classic Grand Prix, which was held on Saturday, August 2. The class was generously sponsored by Karin Flint and D-BRAIDER.

Written and Hippology Tests Online for the 2008 American Saddlebred International Youth Program Competition

For the past several years, the American Saddlebred International Youth Program (ASIYP) has conducted their annual competition in conjunction with the United Professional Horsemen’s Association (UPHA) Chapter 10 Saddlebred Fall Horse Show. Competitors must ride in their age group equitation class, participate in junior judging and showmanship at halter, ride in a pattern class, plus complete a written test and hippology stations. Separate ribbons are awarded in each of these classes and there is a top ten award in 10 and under, 11-13 and 14-17 age divisions, with $100 awarded to the high-point winner in each age group.

Jimmy Torano could not have been happier with his winning performance in the $10,000 Escada/Theory Open Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, on Friday, August 1, at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT.

Magic Cruise, an eight-year-old Belgian-bred mare owned by SCNC Investments, Inc., has been knocking on the door of the “big” classes for some time now. According to Torano, Friday’s win marked a highlight for this special mare.

“She is a very straightforward horse. I can really count on her to be consistent,” said Torano of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. “She’s been doing well in a lot of the bigger classes here in Vermont, but this is her biggest win.”

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced the start of its “Going Green” Campaign. The campaign was developed to manage costs in a tough economy and support worldwide environmental efforts while continuing to provide the best in member benefits and services.

Top Hunter, Jumper and Equitation Trainers Headed to Colorado for the United States Hunter Jumper Association Trainers Symposium

The United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) is proud to offer a USHJA Trainers Symposium, September 8-10, 2008, at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, CO. This is your chance as riders and trainers to watch, listen and ask questions from some of the top trainers in the country. The clinicians include Alison Firestone Robitalle, Valerie Renihan and Kitty Barker.

Dressage at Devon Announces Dressage with Experts Line-Up Offering Audio Commentary

Betsy Steiner and Kathy Connelly will be among the experts offering audio commentary to Dressage with the Experts participants at the upcoming Dressage at Devon, September 23-28. Dressage with the Experts allows participants to listen, through radio-equipped audio headsets to what a top trainer or judge is saying about what is going on before them, hoof fall by hoof fall in the arena. It is an opportunity for those who know little about the sport to increase their understanding of the movements, and a chance for the seasoned spectator to gain insight into the nuances of the discipline. The process is enhanced by the real-time posting of scores for each movement on the electronic scoreboard. Dressage with the Experts is sponsored by Hampton Green Farm.

The feature classes of the week at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show were the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, the ASG Software Solutions United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Derby, and the $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix. Top honors in both grand prix events went to Debbie Stephens. Aaron Vale won the International Hunter Derby by just one point.

United States Hunter Jumper Association Tad Coffin Zone III Equitation Finals Highlight August Shows at HITS Culpeper

When show jumping returns to HITS Culpeper for two consecutive weeks in late August, all eyes will be on the third annual United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Tad Coffin Zone III Junior Equitation Finals that will take place on August 23 during the Winston National.

Tickets are now selling for the annual Saddlebred Raffle, with winners to be drawn at random during the Kentucky State Fair World’s Championship Horse Show.

Tyler Morris moved to Aiken, SC, from Lafayette, NJ, where he trained with Robin Fairclough of Newton, NJ, and Top Brass Farm in 2007, when he transferred to Aiken County Pony Club. He represented the Carolina Region at the United States Pony Clubs Show Jumping Championships in Lexington, KY, last year and this year in Lexington, VA, July 24-27, 2008. And he won the Vieva Perrin Memorial Award for Horsemanship both years.

Prize List Available for the 2008 Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament Featuring the 125th National Horse Show

The Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring the 125th National Horse Show announces the publication of the 2008 prize list. Held October 29-November 2, the Syracuse Invitational welcomes the National Horse Show to Syracuse along with top-ranked equestrians from across the U.S. and from around the world to compete in the War Memorial at the Oncenter Complex. Besides the highest level of competition, competitors and spectators alike enjoy shopping, entertainment and dining along with the rich history and tradition that the National Horse Show brings with it.

Margie Engle and Hidden Creek's Coroya Z win the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix

America's most successful grand prix rider, Margie Engle, has no idea how many career wins that she has and likes it that way. "If I started keeping track, I would stop winning them," said Engle, after she navigated the fastest double-clear round aboard Hidden Creek's Coroya Z in Sunday's $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Smith Barney, at HITS Saugerties.

A lifetime horseman and trainer, Carl Knee, passed away at age 76 on July 22, 2008.

He trained many outstanding riders and horses, but it was a team effort that gave Knee his greatest joy. He coached the Canadian Equestrian Team for the 1976 Summer Olympic Games. Michel Vaillancourt won the Silver medal in the individual jumping event.

From the July/August 2008 issue of equestrian magazine:
We Are the Champions: Individual American Medalists at the Olympics

Since the time of the ancient Games, horses participated in chariot races as far back as the 7th Century BC. With such a time-honored tradition, one might think that when the Modern Olympics were born in 1896, horses would have been given a competitive spot in the very first contests held. This was not the case.

Some 15 centuries after the fires of the Ancient Greek Olympics were extinguished, a Frenchman and educator by the name of Baron Pierre de Coubertin rallied like-minded men of his day to organize and found the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) and thus
the birth of the Modern Olympics
came about.

Three-day eventing, dressage and show jumping are today’s three
equestrian disciplines. However, they have not always been the only equestrian disciplines to grace the Olympic playing field. In fact, polo, vaulting and a few jumping competitions were the first equestrian sports to be seen on the Modern Olympic stage.

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.

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:
— Amber Henter
— Michael Hughes
— Christina Lin
— Kelly Lively
— Alyssa Mansfield

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

A few riders that have now qualifed on the West Coast:
— Adrienne Dixon
— Hasbrouck Donovan
— Melissa Doddridge
— Margie Earle
— Samantha Elser
— Megan Fellows
— Liza Finsness
— Lulianna Fischer
— Matti Fisher
— Bridget Fitzgerald
— Tiffany Fong
— Emily Gardner
— Zoe Glassman
— Leylan Gleeson
— Phoebe Goldenberg

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.