The Stephens College Department of Equestrian Studies was host to an International Saddle Seat Invitational competition with South Africa. The event, which took place December 11-12, was patterned after the Saddle Seat World Cup competition, which consists of five countries fielding two teams each. Saddle seat is typically an individual discipline, so team competition requires strategy, which enhances the challenge. South Africa brought two teams to Stephens for the event—a three-gaited...

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the 2010 triple point competitions for the Saddlebred, Roadster, and Hackney/Harness divisions. Each year, the corresponding breed/discipline committees vote to assign “triple point” status to a competition in each of the 12 regions. Points won at any of these designated competitions will count as triple points for the Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year program. For more information on USEF triple point competitions,...

The 2009 winners of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Members Choice Awards Program were announced, Wednesday, December 9, 2009, at the USHJA Annual Meeting in St. Petersburg, FL. Lynn Walsh, Chair of the Show Standards Committee, gave a brief overview of the program and announced the winners. Winners were selected in two categories; AA- and A-rated competitions, as well as B- and C-rated competitions. Winners will receive a banner, which can be displayed at their competition,...

The inaugural United States Hunter Jumper Association's (USHJA) Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session (level 3) will take place January 8-10, 2010, in Reno, NV at Maplewood Stables, Inc., owned by Julie Winkel. The top 12 finalists will spend three days focused on displaying their riding, horsemanship and stable management skills. Finalists for Reno in Alphabetical Order 1. Alexa Anthony, Richmond, WA 2. Carly Anthony, Redmond, WA 3. Hayley Barnhill, Collierville, TN 4. Nelson...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation Holiday Fundraiser, presented by Succeed® and Wellington Classic Dressage, was a great success as spectators had the opportunity to experience the one-of-a-kind equestrian event featuring performances, exhibitions and team competitions with Olympians and many top equestrian stars. A benefit for the USET Foundation, the fundraiser was held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, on December 11-12, 2009. Through generous...

The final shows have been posted and the 2009 Performance Horse Registry’s (PHR) Silver Stirrup Award winners have been announced. One of the Hunter winners include Krishna Buyalos’s beautiful two-year-old filly, Outstanding. This bay filly is by Popeye K and out of Delilah. She was bred in California by Leslie Nelson. She is the winner of the Hunter Breeding Award. The Anglo-Trakehner gelding Unbelievable (Zarr x Rhapsody II) took home the award for the best Green Working Hunter. The Jumper...

Photo by Ken Braddick (Steffen Peters and Ravel) Lexington, KY – Talk about busy. 2009 has been a whirlwind, new champions of all kinds, title defenders, legends and innovators made headlines this year. The line between winning and losing has become increasingly fine as all the USEF competitors in every discipline continue to up their game, hone their skills and make the US Team proud both locally and across the globe. With the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) looming on the...

Photo by Amy McCool (Kassandra Barteau and GP Raymeister ) Lexington, KY – Before a packed house at the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final for Young Riders in Frankfurt, Germany, American rider Kassandra Barteau saved her best performance for last with GP Raymeister and finished second in the ‘B Group’ of the Freestyle. In her last year of Young Rider competition, the 21-year-old from Maple Park, IL and the 10-year-old Holsteiner stallion owned by Grand Prix Equestrian and Ginna Frantz, scored 68....

Photo by Sportfot.com (Lucy Davis and True Love ) Lexington, KY – Seventeen-year-old Lucy Davis jumped clear when it mattered most in the European Youngster Cup at CSI Frankfurt in Germany December 17-20, to win the prestigious competition with the only clear round in the final round. Riding True Love, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood owned by Old Oak Farm, Davis (Los Angeles, CA) jumped clear in the Preliminary round, with the eighth fastest time, and then had one fence down in the next round –...

Eva Salomon Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announced today that Eva Salomon has accepted a position as the Managing Director and Chef D'Equipe for Dressage for the United States. A Swedish National, Salomon’s resume makes her impeccably suited for this position. She served as the FEI Director of Dressage from 2003-2009, worked with the Swedish Federation from 1984-1989, and then served on the Swedish Dressage Committee from 1992-2000, including Chef d' Equipe...