Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

Foxy’s Magic Gift Wins 2008 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF National Hunter Breeding Championship

With two phases of competition on both sides of the country, it was Foxy’s Magic Gift who earned the title of Overall Grand Champion of the 2008 Sallie B. Wheeler/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Hunter Breeding Championship. Even though it was his first time showing in the Hunter Breeding Championship, Foxy’s Magic Gift proved that he has a promising career ahead of him by winning Best Young Horse in the Hunter Breeding Championship—East Coast along with the title of Best Hunter Breeding Yearling Colt/Gelding.

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Stephanie Early and Colleen Akin Win Their Divisions in the 2008 USEF Dressage Seat Medal Final Presented by Dressage Today®

The 2008 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today® was held August 29-30 at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL. Riders came from across the country to compete for the championship in two age divisions—13 and under and 14-18 division.

The purpose of the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Program is to promote and reward excellence in equitation, including correct seat, position, and use of aids in the sport of dressage. Junior riders in these finals qualified last year by competing in the Dressage Seat Medal Semi-Final classes held at each of the 2007 USDF Regional Championships, with the top two competitors in each age division being eligible for the finals. This year’s judging panel of Janet Foy, Melissa Creswick and William Solyntjes were given the job of testing the riders and their skills; each age division rose to that occasion making the judge’s job even harder.

In the 13 and under division, Stephanie Early of Salinas, CA, topped 10 other riders with a score of 80.333 to take the Gold medal riding the borrowed horse Sarasanna GP, owned by Ginna Frantz. This was Early’s first time competing at the Finals after qualifying for the championship at the Region 7 semi-finals. Early took home the Hart Trophy along with a Wintec Dressage Saddle.

Team USA set their goal after the marathon to improve their individual placing and team placing at the World Driving Championship on the last competition day.

They succeeded!

The USA Team climbed to 11th place in the final team standings, thanks to the very good results of the U.S. drivers in the final and decisive cones competition. The last competition turned out to be a thrilling and exciting competition in which time was the deciding factor. Thousands of carriage driving fans closely followed the competition on Sunday.

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The 51st Annual Canadian National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (Canadian Nationals), affectionately known as "The Royal Red," went off without a hitch, August 18-23, 2008, at IPSCO Place in Regina, Saskatchewan. Canadian Nationals comes on the heels of Youth Nationals, also produced by the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) of Aurora, CO, which was equally successful despite nationwide economic woes.

Do you have an event you want to promote? Do you know of an exciting equine event—whether it be a training seminar or clinic, a horse health care seminar, a continuing education event for equine professionals, an expo, a trail ride, a charity event/fundraiser or an equine social event? If so, fill out our online form to add your event to the ClubEquestrian.com Calendar, one of the most comprehensive online equestrian event calendars out there.

The USEF would like to invite you to list your equine business to its new online Professional Directory. The listing is FREE. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get your name out there to those who may need your products or services.

The U.S. Reining Team is currently in Manerbio, Italy, for the 2008 FEI World Reining Championship. Blogging from the event is Courtney Barnett, USEF Director of Reining Programs.

United States Dressage Federation Announces Robert Dover and Fiona Baan as 2008 Hall of Fame Inductees

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) will induct Robert Dover and Fiona Baan into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame (HOF) at the Salute Gala on December 4, 2008, during the Adequan/USDF Annual Convention in Denver, CO. Induction into the HOF is an honor bestowed on those who have made outstanding contributions to dressage in the United States through their achievements, creativity, originality, vision and sustained effort.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav, the Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Veterinary Medicine and team members of the Equine Health Studies Program have developed a call center in an effort to respond to the potential needs of horse owners in southern Louisiana. The telephone number for horse owners in need is (225) 578-9501. This helpline will function from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through the coming weekend and perhaps longer if the need is evident. A secondary number exclusively dedicated to this purpose is (225) 578-9062.

The First Million Dollar Pony Auction: 2008 American Hunter Pony Classic Sets New Records

The 2008 American Hunter Pony Classic established international records in several major categories. “This was a great auction. The bidding was competitive right from the beginning of the sale,” said Tim Jennings, Marketing Director of Professional Auction Services, Inc. “The catalog featured the best group of ponies the sale has ever offered.”

New world records were set for the average sale price at $16,317 and gross sales at $1,143,000, both 21% increases from 2007. Other records were set for average price for the top ten ponies sold at $44,300; the highest-priced two-year-old pony sold at auction at $37,500; the second highest-priced three-year-old pony sold at auction at $42,000; and the highest-priced three-year-old pony filly sold at auction at $41,500. Ponies sold to buyers from 21 states and Canada.

Training-Level Three-Day Creates New Excitement at Galway Downs International Three-Day Event

A new educational competition is giving West Coast riders another reason to eagerly anticipate this year's Galway Downs International Three-Day Event, which will be held October 30-November 2.

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) will once again present one of the most prestigious reining competitions in the world—the 2008 FEI World Reining Masters. The event will be held during the 2008 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show on December 4 at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City.

Lauren Hough and Unicum Run Away With the $40,000 Avalon Saddlery Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper

Lauren Hough and her mount Unicum closed out the Constitution Classic at HITS Culpeper when the duo posted the fastest double-clear effort in the $40,000 Avalon Saddlery Grand Prix to win the blue ribbon. Course Designer Ken Krome trimmed a field of 21 starters in the first round down to just four in a jump-off that saw Hough dominate the round when she won the class by nearly six seconds.

Kicking things off in the jump-off was Maryland's Tracy Magness and her grand prix horse Tarco Van Ter Moude. Magness and her 12-year-old Belgium-bred horse had a rail down near the end of Krome's six-obstacle jump-off track to finish in fourth place for owners Mr. and Mrs. John Bartko.

Additional Live Saddlebred Video Webcast Announced from Wisconsin Futurity Horse Festival; Webcast from All American Horse Classic Under Way

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) has announced plans to add live streaming video of the Wisconsin Futurity Horse Festival to its schedule. The event will take place Wednesday, September 17, through Sunday, September 21, 2008, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI.

Tickets on Sale Now for Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament Featuring the 125th National Horse Show

Tickets for the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring the 125th National Horse Show in downtown Syracuse, NY, are now on sale to the public. One of the nation's premiere international equestrian competitions, the Sporthorse Tournament will feature the top-ranked U.S. riders and international competitors who will all vie for the Budweiser World Cup Qualifier of Syracuse and the Animal Planet Sporthorse Cup that will be broadcast on Animal Planet on January 10, 2009.

Melissa Doddridge Wins 2008 USEF National Junior Hunter Championships - West Coast

The 2008 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Junior Hunter Championships-West Coast was conducted in three phases over the course of two days. The first two phases, the Under Saddle and the Handy Hunter, were held on August 12, and the third phase, the Classic Round, was held on August 13.

Dressage Rider Laura Noyes Awarded Fiona Baan Pursuit of Excellence Memorial Trophy

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Laura Noyes and her Trakehner gelding, Syncro, were awarded this year’s Fiona Baan Pursuit of Excellence Memorial Trophy. Noyes is originally from Falmouth, ME, but now lives in Delaware, OH, where she is a student at Ohio Wesleyan University and trains with George Williams.

The richest team show jumping event in the world, the $350,000 BMO Nations' Cup, takes place on Saturday, September 6, at Canada’s premiere show jumping event, the Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament near Calgary, Alberta.

The World Games 2010 Foundation announced that Kathleen Spears has been selected as Director of Finance for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Spears brings to the Foundation her experience in public and industry accounting, with an emphasis in equine industry accounting and finance.

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:
— Annie Davidson
— Paige Dekko
— Anthony Desiderio
— Christy Distefano
— Alexandra Dupont
— Alyssa Ericson
— Molly Forlines
— Luara Griffith
— Morgan Hale
— Olivia Jack
— Faye Keegan
— Anders Keitz

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

A few riders that have now qualifed on the West Coast:
— Chris Nelson
— Jacquelyn O'Connell
— Ali Ohringer
— Sophie Onody
— Marion Osier
— Stephen Pellett
— Henry Pfeiffer
— Mary Podgorak-Miller
— Karen Polle
— Brianna Raab
— Ashley Regan
— Chelsea Renier
— Grace Rogers
— Aley Russell
— Kate Salzman
— Ryan Sassmannshausen

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.