January is time for new beginnings. A fresh start. It's also the time each year when the administrators, movers-and-shakers, the USEF general membership and the media gather together for a long weekend of meetings, discussions, debates and several of the year's most anticipated galas. It's known as the USEF Annual Meeting, and it's now underway in Louisville, KY. As is tradition, Wednesday night serves as the Welcome Reception where everyone has a chance to party before the real...

Yann Candele and Redefin. (Photo by Sportfot©.) Wellington, FL - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) held its second day of competition today with the first of 12 weekly WEF Challenge Cup grand prix classes. Canada's Yann Candele and Redefin, owned by Susan Grange, were the fastest double clear combination to earn the top prize. Held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, the 2011 WEF will hold 12 consecutive weeks of competition for its winter show...

Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister. (Photo by Stock Images. ) Gladstone, NJ - The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2011 Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy will be talented eventing rider Tiana Coudray. Each year this award is presented to a Young Rider in one of the Olympic disciplines who exemplifies both sportsmanship and horsemanship. In 2010 Coudray had a banner year, winning the Jersey Fresh CCI*** and the Galway Downs International...

Lexington, KY - The Kentucky Horse Park is pleased to announce the return of Cross Country Schooling Days for riders who want to work their horses on the park's world-famous course. Cross Country Schooling Days are a fundraiser for the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and cost only $35 per session. Proceeds raised through this event help the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation continue to maintain and improve the facilities and grounds year-round for all equine competitors at the Kentucky Horse Park....

Lexington, KY - There is still time to sign up for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and University of California Davis Extension's online continuing education program in Equine Event Management, which begins January 18. USEF members receive a 10 percent enrollment discount and scholarships are available as well. The first of its kind, this specialized studies program brings together UC Davis' expertise in distance education and the expertise of USEF, the National Governing...

‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands - During the KWPN Stallion Show 2011 in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands approximately 35 KWPN stallions will be for sale at the KWPN Select Sale auction on Feburary 5. Jumping On Wednesday, February 2, the event kicks off with the first group of jumper stallions performing in the oval viewing pen during the second round viewing. At the end of the afternoon is the third annual KWPN College, an educational session conducted in English and created especially for...

Hosts Tuny and David Page and Kim and Fredrick Boyer w/Steffen Peters and Todd Flettrich (Photo by Heather Bellock/PMG) Wellington, FL - Tuny and David Page and Kim and Fredrick Boyer hosted a cocktail reception on January 8 for the United States Equestrian Team Foundation at the Page residence in Wellington, FL. The evening's events were held to honor those who support the sport of Dressage through the USET Foundation and give them the opportunity to meet and mingle with the athletes who...

Wellington, FL - Equestrian Sport Productions is introducing a new two-part educational component to the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The two new series, the "Lunch & Learn" and "Ride & Learn," are designed to provide all FTI WEF participants and members of the Wellington community with creative and informative opportunities for further developing their skills and knowledge of the sport as a whole. The Lunch & Learn series will begin on January 20, and will take place every...

Nick Skelton and Unique (Photo © Sportfot, Official Sport Photographer of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival) Wellington, FL - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) began its competition January 12 with opening jumper classes in the International Arena. To start the year off right, Nick Skelton (GBR) was back in the saddle and in the winner's circle with Unique, owned by Beverly Widdowson, in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers. The first week of the FTI WEF runs through January 16. The...

In the first of regular blogs from the USEF High Performance Eventing Riders 2006 World Equestrian Games and 2003 Pan American Games veteran, Will Faudree, talks about dressage practice, dog shows and new horses. See https://www.willfaudree.com/index.html for more information about Will. For a list of riders on the 2011 Eventing High Performance Training List please click here: https://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=6447&star=true . From Will: 2011 is upon us and I am...