Excellence in equestrian sport does not come easy. It takes an amazing sense of dedication, incredible skill and a courageous heart. And in 2009, five horses (and their riders, drivers and handlers) have shown the world exactly those qualities. For each of them, their hard work and brilliant talent has garnered them a nomination for the United States Equestrian Federation's highest honor bestowed upon a horse - the Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year Award. The five nominees represent the...

Looking to participate in one of the United States Eventing Association's (USEA) many programs? Check out the newest calendar additions for the following series, with more dates to be added in the coming months. Spalding Labs/USEA Young Event Horse Series The USEA Spalding Labs Young Event Horse (YEH) Series may be best described as an equine talent search. The series gives owners and breeders the opportunity to showcase the potential of their four- and five-year-old horses while encouraging...

The United States Equestrian Federation has partnered with Harris Connect, a Virginia-based publisher of directories, to produce the 2010 USEF Membership Directory. The directory will enable USEF members to keep in touch with old friends, trainers and competitors. To ensure that the most up-to-date directory is printed, Harris Connect is mailing postcards to the members of the Federation asking them to respond to a toll-free number with their information. Those members not responding will...

Though the Spalding Labs United States Eventing Association (USEA) Young Event Horse West Coast Championships ran until the sun set at the Galway Downs International Three-Day and Horse Trials, spectators were treated to performances by some of the best young event prospects in the country. Robyn Fisher rode Rose Sullivan’s Clair de Lune SE, a Holsteiner Stallion by Contendor and out of L’Vienna Z, and scored an 83.90% to win the Five-Year-Old Championship, while she also rode her own Dutch...

The Future Event Horse and Young Event Horse competitions at The Ark in Monroe, NC, that were originally scheduled for Friday, October 9, have been moved to Sunday, October 11. Please see The Ark's website at www.whynotanamericanark.com for updated information and times, or contact Dr. Abbey Dondanville at [email protected] Click on the series logos on the USEA homepage for more information on the Young and Future Event Horse classes at .

Dave and Dena Lopez, of Double D Ranch, LLC, are taking the slogan of the United Professional Horsemen's Association (UPHA) to another level as they are planning a special fundraising event for the UPHA Dewey Henderson Benevolent Fund. This IRS 501(c)(3) fund was established in memory of long-time horseman, Dewey Henderson, to benefit UPHA members in need because of health issues, fires, theft, injury or accidents. Only 200 tickets will be sold for the “Kentucky brunch” prepared by Chef Cameron...

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...