Congratulations to all the reining athletes from the U.S. who have successfully qualified for the USEF Selection Trial for the Adequan U.S. Reining Team. Competing at competitions throughout the United States, the high-performance reining competitors listed below have successfully met the qualification criteria to be able to advance to the Official Selection Trial—the place and time where the Adequan U.S. Reining Team will be selected for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG)....

Photo by Jessica Nemzoff/PMG (Phillip Dutton and Woodburn.) The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is pleased to announce Phillip Dutton of West Grove, PA, and Aiken, SC, as the 2010 recipient of the USET Foundation Pinnacle Cup. Awarded annually, the Pinnacle Cup went to the highest-placing American competitor at the prestigious Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone. Dutton was honored with the award after securing second-place honors aboard Woodburn, who is...

The Varsity Equestrian National Championships took place in Waco, TX, April 15–17 at the Heart of Texas Fair Complex. Chrystine Tauber and R. Scot Evans served as the Hunter Seat judges with Tom McBeath and Lisa Moden officiating over the Western portion. University of Georgia won the Hunter Seat championship and Texas A&M University took the victory in the Western pen. Both teams were third in the discipline that they did not win, thus creating a tie for the Overall Champion. This led to a...

Photo by Al Cook (Kels Bonham from Savannah College of Art and Design won the Overall High-Point Individual title.) The American National Riding Commission’s (ANRC) Nationals were held April 16–18 at Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA. Judges included Bill Moroney of Keedysville, MD, and Anne Kenan of Dahlonega, GA. Savannah College of Art and Design took home the team victory over hometown Sweet Briar College. The University of Virginia team came in third, followed by Goucher College and...

Mattie Rohs of Alpharetta, GA, became the first 2010 American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) National Youth of the Year Finalist after winning the senior division at the Citrus Cup Youth of the Year contest earlier this month. Rohs competed with seven other seniors to win the title. Rohs will represent Citrus Cup this fall at the National Youth of the Year Finals held in conjunction with the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show. Other top-placing individuals included senior...

In recent months, the USEF Dressage Department has received many inquiries regarding use of protective headgear in USEF/USDF-Licensed Dressage Competitions. “Protective headgear” is defined as a helmet which is ASTM/SEI-approved and has a secured harness. USEF General Rule GR801.6-.7 states: “6. Except as may otherwise be mandated by local law, the Federation strongly encourages all riders, while riding anywhere on the competition grounds, to wear protective headgear with harness secured which...

Photo Courtesy USHJA (The headquarters of the United States Hunter Jumper Association.) When a horse and rider present an elegant partnership it’s called great equitation. When two equestrian organizations—the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) and the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA)—join forces, it’s called a winning combination. “Speaking on behalf of the IHSA membership, I am confident in saying that I believe this relationship will greatly enhance both...

Photo by Jon Kassel (Grand Prix Course at the sold out Alliant Energy Center Arena .) The 10,000 seat John Deere Coliseum at Madison's Alliant Energy Center was standing room only Saturday night as five of 38 entries passed the course's first test and were asked back for the tie-breaking round. Ultimately it was the feisty chestnut mare Happy Z and Ohio's Wilhelm Genn who laid down an unbeatable jump-off track for the win. Laura Linback and As di Villagana, competing last, also put in a...

Online store continues to raise funds and awareness in support of injured dressage star. The Courtney King-Dye Medical Fund eBay store is now featuring new helmet wearing campaign t-shirts, designed by Jeri Bryant, a single mom and dressage fan based in southern California. The t-shirts feature the slogan “Strap One On—Everyone’s Doing It” in an eye-catching graphic treatment. The Courtney King-Dye Medical Fund eBay store was established last month by King-Dye’s long-time sponsor Succeed®...

The deadline to submit renewals for American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) youth clubs and charter clubs, as well as ASHA Youth Scholarship applications, is Friday, April 30. The purpose of ASHA scholarships is to encourage, support and recognize participation in all aspects of the American Saddlebred industry, as well as to strengthen the American Saddlebred industry and breed through education. Scholarships are awarded only to high school graduates or those students whose graduation is...