Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

Riding early in the competition can be a disadvantage. Not for 26-year-old Kent Farrington on Upchiqui who won the $65,000 Budweiser Prix de Penn National going away. Eleven horses qualified for the jump-off from a field of 32. Farrington decided he wasn’t going to back off.

Full galloping the length of the arena from a high spread, he turned, taking another oxer of nearly 5’ at a surgically slim angle, wheeling around at the ring’s end to hurtle over a vertical and open gallop back down the ring to launch over the last oxer. It electrified the crowd. He stopped the clock at 37.24 seconds. Now the wait started, nine others were aiming at his time.

USEF Announces U.S. Riders and Staff for the World Endurance Championships Test Event in Malaysia

The United States Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce that the following riders have been invited and have elected to compete at the World Endurance Championship Test Event in Malaysia, November 9-11, 2007. Unlike the championships (scheduled for November 2008) where the Federation sends a team based on a selection procedure that is recommended by the High-Performance Discipline Committee and approved by the Federation, riders attending the test event were invited by the Organizing Committee. The test event serves the purpose of proving that the course and the infrastructure and organization of the Organizing Committee are up to the standards of a World Endurance Championships.

Sporthorse Tournament Brings Family Fun, Equestrian Expo and Educational Clinics to Downtown Syracuse

A packed schedule of world-class show jumping competition, educational opportunities, vendors, exhibitors and children's activities comes to the Oncenter Complex, October 31-November 4. New additions to this year's Sporthorse Tournament include equine professional development opportunities for the more serious-minded, all this on top of equestrian competition that gets fans into the action. One of the nation's premiere international show jumping 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 presented by Time Warner Cable. In addition, the finest junior riders in the U.S. will contest the National Horse Show ASPCA Maclay Championship. The action will take place at the Oncenter Complex in downtown Syracuse.

Grassroots Funding Helps Make a Difference; KEEP is Working to Grow Horse Industry

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) reported that it has funded 503 horse-related organizations and their activities across Kentucky over the past three years totaling $352,627. KEEP created this local funding program as part of its grassroots efforts to help horse organizations around the state. The grants program is divided into four categories: 4-H clubs, horse shows, equine associations and equine education programs at Kentucky colleges and universities. Each category has a funding limit and specific criteria applicants must meet to be considered.

Laura Kraut Continues on an International Roll with Anthem at Northern Ireland International Horse Show

Show jumper Laura Kraut continued her successful European tour with a convincing win in the £30,000 Equestrian Sportsman Grand Prix at the Northern Ireland International Horse Show in Belfast, Ireland, held over the weekend of October 25-28.

The third International Olympic Committee (IOC) International Athletes Forum took place October 27-28, 2007, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The initiative for this biannual event was launched five years ago by the IOC Athletes Commission of which HRH Princess Haya, FEI President, IOC member in the UAE, is also a member. The Athletes Commission is the link between the IOC and the active athletes and ensures that their needs are met.

Read More...

Come enjoy down-home Alberta hospitality in the scenic foothills of the Rocky Mountains, July 30–August 4, 2008. Alberta has been selected by CaLDRA and Endurance Canada to host the 2008 Competitive Trail, Endurance and Ride N’ Tie Canadian National Championships.

Although the final leg of the FEI Nations Cup series does not take place until next week in Buenos Aires, Irish show jumping is already celebrating the return to the premiere Samsung Super League with FEI in 2008.

After a determined and successful 2007 campaign, the Irish advantage at the top of the FEI Nations Cup league table is unassailable, so the FEI can confirm that Ireland will line out alongside Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, Sweden, the United States, The Netherlands and Belgium when the new season begins next May.

Take advantage of one of the many USEF MemberPerks privileges by using Hertz for all of your travel needs. Simply use your USEF/Hertz discount CDP# 15757 each time you place a reservation, and instantly qualify for member discounts in the

U.S.

and around the world. For low web rates, special offers and free membership to Hertz #1Club®, visit their website at www.hertz.com or call (800) 654-2200.

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

Two young women stand in the practice arena. Few years separate
them. Yet already, one of them is a professional trainer, rider and
teacher. Thanks to a solid college education, she is living her dreams.
The other, a USEF jumper on the A circuit, longs to be a professional
equestrian. But self-confidence eludes her.

“I know I can do better,” she tells her teacher with a frown. Seventeen, the young woman hopes to earn the kind of scholarship and college experience the other has earned.

Day after day, the two come to this Illinois barn to practice. Laura Baldine tells her student the very truths that won her the scholarship that paved the way to the life she now has.

“Remember, you are not just a number. There are always people who will turn you down. But if you don’t keep trying, you won’t get to where you want to go,” Baldine said to the younger woman.

Every year, thousands of equestrian students across the country apply for admission to colleges so that they can put their passion, knowledge and skills to use in the professional horse world. Along the way, thousands receive financial assistance. After overcoming rejection and battling her own self doubt, Baldine, who nailed down an annual $8,000 academic scholarship to Findlay University in Ohio, refers to herself as “one of the lucky ones.”

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)

Riders are still qualifying.

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

A few riders that have qualifed on the West Coast:

— Kristen Cassone
— Alisha Davis
— Michael Desiderio
— Iris Keenan

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

Take a holiday from interest payments!

Leave the interest payments behind this holiday season with the United States Equestrian Federation Visa® Platinum Card, now offering 0% APR for twelve billing cycles*! Wrap up great holiday memories with this unique card, knowing you’ll pay no interest until next winter. The United States Equestrian Federation Visa is perfect for holiday shopping, but you need to switch now to save. Plus, you’ll benefit our organization and earn great rewards with every purchase!

0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 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 we will continue to receive a percentage of each net purchase you make on your card. This helps us fund our international teams.

Click here to apply today or call (800) 853-5576, x9164.

Hurry, offer ends December 31, 2007.

*Click product name for terms and conditions: Platinum, Cash Rewards, Select Rewards, College 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 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 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.