Connemaras

The Vermont Summer Festival, New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show, returns to East Dorset, VT, from July 1-August 9, 2009. Offering more than $750,000 in prize money, the Vermont Summer Festival is the richest sporting event based on purse in the state. The competition attracts the best athletes, including Olympic medalists, from across the country and around the globe to vie for top honors. The first five Sundays feature a $30,000 grand prix, culminating with the $50,000...

People Helping Horses (PHH) Founder and Executive Director Gretchen Salstrom was recently made aware of the need in the community to serve children with disabilities through therapeutic riding. After careful consideration and much discussion, Salstrom and the PHH Board of Directors agreed to partner with NARHA certified instructor Laurie Grow in the launch of a new program, Leg Up for Kids Therapeutic Riding. The program officially commenced on April 1, 2009. It is run at Half Trak Farm, a...

Since its inception just five years ago, the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) has experienced unprecedented growth and has quickly become the largest recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). Albeit the USEF’s largest affiliate, USHJA is also one of the only affiliates to not have its own headquarters. But that is changing. On September 24, 2008, the USHJA celebrated two landmark occasions: the launch of the “Building For Growth” Capital Campaign and...

Harrisburg, PA – With 274 riders vying for the title of 2008 Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final, making the top twenty-five is tough enough. But Kels Annabelle Bonham bested the competition to take the championship title, making her last year in the Medal Finals even more special. This was Bonham’s fourth time riding in the Medal Finals and she rode early in the order of go. Judges Alex Jayne and Tammy Provost put her at the top of their card and she stayed there until the conclusion of the...

Each October since 1973, Morgan horses, owners, trainers and exhibitors descend upon Oklahoma City for the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show. This year's competition brought nearly 1,200 horses from 46 U.S. States, Austria, Canada and Great Britain to vie for titles in a variety of disciplines, including English pleasure, hunter pleasure, carriage driving, dressage and reining. The week-long show, held October 4-11 at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, included virtually...

The Mid-America Horse Show Association is pleased to announce that the Mid-America Mane Event's Ladies Five-Gaited Stake on Saturday evening, October 25, has been designated a United Professional Horsemen's Association (UPHA) Pink Ribbon Class. The UPHA Pink Ribbon Class was created in 2007 to focus awareness and raise money for breast cancer research via Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world's largest source of non-profit funds dedicated to curing breast cancer at every stage. This year's...

Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Winner Hannah Selleck (AC Custom Photo) From a Press Release by Marnye Langer Burbank, California – The Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals West concluded with the stadium jumping phase and the ride-off among the top four riders. The track proved challenging and a number of riders were eliminated for refusals and falls. “The five-stride to the four-stride to the bank caused problems for lots of horses,” said eventual winner Hannah...

Jarantow, Poland ­– Team USA set their goal after yesterday's marathon to improve their individual placing and team placing at the World Driving Championship on the last Team USA in Poland (Jacqueline Zimmermann) competition day. They succeeded! The USA Team climbed to 11th place in the final team standings, thanks to the very good results of the US drivers in the final and decisive cones competition. The last competition turned out to be a thrilling and exciting competition in...

Leslie Berndl and Koopman's Lightning Rod (Jacqueline Zimmermann, Hippoevent) Today was marathon day at the World Championship Single Driving in Jarantow, Poland and it was a true festival for the driving sport. Thousands of enthusiastic spectators visited the marathon site and enjoyed a high quality and accident-free marathon with lots of action. The very tough, but horse friendly and fairly built, marathon course was very demanding for both horses and their drivers at this high level. Donna...

Raul de Leon was awarded the designation of Master Instructor by the American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA) in July. A former Cuban junior jumping champion, de Leon furthered his career in the U.S., working closely with former United States Equestrian Team coach Bertalan de Nemethy and eventually settling on Long Island. From 1994 to 1990, de Leon served as co-director of the Westmoreland Davis Equestrian Institute at Morven Park with his friend and former student, 1976 Olympic...

Once again, geographic restraints will no longer keep horse sport fans from enjoying the Capital Challenge or the Washington International horse shows. Using today’s streaming video technology, Equestriansport.tv is bringing the show to you. Visit www.equestriansport.tv and you will be face-to-face with the action in several rings. See the arena, the judges, the presenters, and of course, the horses and their riders. There is no longer a need to rely on a friend’s description; instead, see it...

The remainder of the Chiacchia family arrived in Tallahassee today to attend the benefit for Darren tomorrow evening at the Dover Farm. Darren walked with a more steady gait today, and more frequent moments of clarity were noted with his cognitive functioning. Darren is expected to be transferred to a neurological rehabilitation facility in Buffalo, NY on Thursday. The special medical flight had been arranged, and Darren’s mother will accompany him. Darren’s grandmother was laid to rest today...