Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

Cast Your Vote! USEF Now Accepting Votes for the Farnam®/Platform™ • 2006 USEF Horse of the Year

The tally has just begun and your votes will be an integral part of deciding which of the nation’s leading equines will be named the Farnam®/Platform™ • USEF Horse of the Year. Merely weeks away from the 2007 USEF Annual Meeting, all heads are turning to five finalists in anticipation of which horse will be adorned with the title—one of the most prestigious awards the USEF bestows.

These five stand-outs are among the very finest in our sport and each is worthy of the highest consideration for this celebrated honor. Place your vote today.

AGA Championship and Christmas Festival Horse Show Cancelled Due to Disease Outbreak in Wellington

In light of the apparent outbreak of an infectious equine disease within the equestrian community of Wellington, Stadium Jumping, Inc., has announced that this weekend’s American Grand Prix Association's (AGA) National Championship and the Christmas Festival Horse Show have been cancelled.

“Until we know more about this situation and get further advice from the veterinarians and professionals that are on the scene and on top of this emergency, it would be irresponsible for us to move forward with this weekend’s competition,” said Stadium Jumping, Inc., President Eugene R. Mische.

The United States Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup teams have successfully defended their double-Gold-medal performances from 2004. Team USA proudly captured the coveted World Cup trophies in both the three-gaited and five-gaited events.

The new Parys Indoor Arena in South Africa was the host site for the International Saddle Seat World Cup, held December 4-10, 2006. Approximately 50 Americans made the trip to South Africa for the weeklong event.

The new Parys Indoor Arena in South Africa was the host site for the International Saddle Seat World Cup, held December 4-10, 2006. Approximately 50 Americans made the trip to South Africa for the weeklong event.

The United States teams, which were selected at a trials event held at William Woods University this past March, turned in exceptional rides, just like the 2004 teams, which captured the Gold medals and coveted World Cup trophies in both the three-gaited and five-gaited divisions when the event was hosted at Lexington’s famed Kentucky Horse Park in October of 2004.

Members Invited to USEF Annual Meeting; Some Committees Will Convene in Executive Session

The 2007 USEF Annual Meeting will return to Louisville, KY, at the Seelbach Hilton from January 10-14. All USEF members are invited to attend this important event.

During the four-day event, the Board of Directors of the Federation meets several times to address a long agenda of topics, including election of new officers and directors, approving the next year’s budget, presentation of various departmental reports, rule changes and other items. The board meetings are open to USEF members and the press.

The following horse-and-rider combinations have been named to the 2007 USEF Eventing Winter Training List. These horse-and-rider combinations will be invited to participate in the winter training sessions to be held at various locations throughout the country. The sessions will be conducted by USEF Three-Day Eventing Coach Captain Mark Philips. USEF Dressage Coach Klaus Balkenhol and United States Show Jumping Team rider Laura Kraut will also provide training in their respective disciplines in several of these sessions.

Transfer balances while leaving the interest payments behind, with the United States Equestrian Federation® Visa Platinum Card, now offering…

Wrap up great holiday memories with this unique card, knowing you’ll pay no interest on balance transfers until next winter. The U.S. Equestrian Federation Visa is perfect for stuffing stockings at home, or for taking the whole family to grandma’s house. Plus, you’ll benefit our international teams and earn great rewards with every purchase!

The U.S. Equestrian Federation® Visa Platinum Card also provides great benefits, including:

This Visa Platinum card issued by U.S. Bank is now the only card that supports the U.S. Equestrian Federation. Upon receiving your new card, the U.S. 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.

The creditor and issuer of the Visa Platinum card is the U.S. Bank National Association ND.

Vonita Bowers of Spring, TX, will become the Director of Endurance for the USEF effective immediately. Bowers will be based in the Gladstone, NJ High-Performance office until mid-summer and then will be permanently based at the USEF National Headquarters in Lexington, KY.

Dr. Stephen Schumacher Named Chief Administrator of Testing Programs for USEF Drugs and Medications Program

The USEF announced that Dr. Stephen Schumacher of Columbus, OH, has been selected to become the Chief Administrator of Testing Programs for the USEF Drugs and Medications Program.

Dr. Schumacher received his B.S. degree from The Citadel College in South Carolina, and is a graduate of the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Veterinary Medicine. While at Ohio State, he participated in cardiovascular surgical research for the OSU Heart Transplant Program, and anesthesiology and cardiohemodynamic research for the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

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The new USEF long sleeve tees will make the perfect gift! This Forrest Green unisex long sleeve tee is made of 6.1 oz. heavyweight 100% pre-shrunk cotton, with double needle stitching at the neck and a hemmed bottom. USEF is screen printed on the front chest. Be sure to stop by the USEF Online S tore for all of your holiday needs.

Local Humane Society Creates Fund to Help Rescued Horses in Sharpsburg Maryland

At 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday December 5, the warrant served at the property at 4040 Mills Road in Sharpsburg, MD, was completed. The owner is free to return to her property. Of the horses impounded, 22 horses remain on the property at this time. The horses are still under the oversight of the Humane Society of Washington County, MD (HSWC).

The final count was 74 live horses located on the property. In addition, there were five skeletal remains, three carcasses buried in a field, one dead foal and one dead yearling. One horse died in transit to veterinary care. No horses have been euthanized.

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is pleased to announce NRHA professional Tom McCutcheon has reached a major milestone in his career. McCutcheon is now part of an elite distinction only a few reiners have reached in their lifetime. McCutcheon just topped one million dollars in NRHA Lifetime Earnings. The reiner from Aubrey, TX, becomes the latest to join the NRHA Million Dollar Rider Club with $1,004,881.75 in lifetime earnings.

2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Announces Athlete's Advisory Committee

In order to ensure that the needs and concerns of the equestrian world’s best athletes are addressed at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., the organization in charge of putting on the Games, has formed an athlete’s advisory committee. This committee will provide input to Games organizers from some of the equestrian world’s most experienced athletes.

2006 United States Eventing Association Year-End Award Winners Celebrated at Annual Convention

Almost 450 members of the United States Eventing Association (USEA) made their way to St. Louis, MO, for the 2006 USEA Annual Meeting and Convention, held December 6-9, at the Hyatt at Union Station and presented by Nutrena.

Over the weekend, the association proudly honored the recipients of its 2006 year-end awards at the annual luncheon, sponsored by Maui Jim Sunglasses.

National Reining Horse Youth Association Elects New Youth Officers; Raises $60,000 at the 2006 NRHA Futurity

The National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) is looking forward to continuing the Year of the Youth into 2007 and beyond with a newly elected officer team. The NRHyA recently held its annual youth meeting during the 2006 NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City, OK. During that meeting, the youth members elected officers for the next year and also learned new ways to become involved in one of the largest growing equine youth organizations in the world.

USET Foundation Awards Fritz Cup to McLain Ward for Win in Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation awards many beautiful trophies throughout the year to various equestrian disciplines. One of the most coveted is the Fritz Cup, which is given to the national champion in show jumping every year. In 2006, the award was given to McLain Ward, who piloted Sapphire to the win in the Rolex/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Show Jumping Championship at the 123rd National Horse Show and Family Festival on December 3.

Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher recently unveiled a prototype of highway signs that will be placed in prominent locations throughout Kentucky promoting the state as the home of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The project is a joint effort between the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Kentucky Commerce Cabinet’s Department of Tourism and 2010 World Equestrian Games officials.

The Gifted Fund at The Dressage Foundation Helps Adult Amateurs; Recipients Who Will Train During 2007 are Announced

The Gifted Fund was seeded with donations from Carol Lavell, received in special remembrance of her great dressage horse, Gifted. The Fund has grown steadily over the years and now provides scholarships each year to benefit adult amateurs. These scholarships enable adult amateurs to set aside quality time in concentrated training with a horse they own, with a trainer of choice, away from the daily pressures of job and family. The recipients chosen to train in 2007 are listed at the llink below. Each scholarship recipient is required to prepare and submit a written report of the training experience to be shared with others. These reports contain much information, which you can read on the Foundation website at www.dressagefoundation.org. The menu located at the top of the home page lists Funds & Programs. Click on this tab to access the Gifted Fund.

Veronica Holt Named 2006 United States Dressage Federation Volunteer of the Year

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) named Veronica Holt of Elizabeth, CO, the 2006 USDF Volunteer of the Year at the annual Salute Gala in Kansas City, MO, on November 30, 2006. Winners of the USDF Volunteer of the Year award receive their name on a perpetual trophy housed in the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame, a trophy to take home and a $500 gift certificate, all presented by The Paddock Saddlery, sponsor of the USDF Volunteer of the Year Award.

The World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., has added Marty Mathews as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Foundation’s signature event, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010, which is to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in the fall of 2010. Mathews’ primary roles with the 2010 Games will be handling all financial and accounting duties, as well as developing and managing the overall Games ticket program.

Trail Riding Television Show Inviting Riders to Join Them on Its 2007 Grand Tour

The national television show, Best of America by Horseback, has announced its dates and schedule for its 2007 Grand Tour of America, inviting trail riders from all over to ride with the host and crew on location while filming for their television show. As of December 1, 2006; trail riders that have ridden with Tom Seay and the Best of America by Horseback crew, have a cumulative total of 33,502 miles ridden. By Saturday, September 8, 2007, while filming in Arcadia, ME, they expect to surpass the 100,000-mile mark.

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that 38 USDF members successfully completed the USDF “L” Education Program from August to November 2006. The USDF “L” Education Program is designed to prepare candidates to enter the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) “r” Judges Training Program, to qualify individuals to judge schooling shows, and to give competitors, trainers and instructors greater insight into the evaluative techniques of judging dressage. The program also serves to provide continuing education for licensed judges.

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.