The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Charles “Chuck” Smith has received the 2009 USDF Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by The Paddock Saddlery. This award recognizes a USDF member who, through consistent and cumulative volunteer activities, has demonstrated exceptional commitment towards carrying out USDF’s mission. As the winner, Smith will be presented with a perpetual trophy, which is permanently on display in the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame,...

Photo USEF Archives (Top equestrian athletes sign autographs at the USEF booth.) This weekend the USEF highlighted its new National Affiliation with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) during a presentation of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) disciplines at the AQHA World Championship Show. Bobby Murphy of Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, was brought in as the producing director for the USEF showcase, which was held on Friday, November 20. The event showcased the...

A national Welfare Code of Practice has been endorsed by the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Quarter Horse Association, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the United States Equestrian Federation and the U.S. Trotting Association. The Welfare Code of Practice, drafted by the American Horse Council, outlines in generic terms what it means for an organization to be committed to the responsible breeding, training, care,...

Congratulations to the winner of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Youth Sportsman’s Award, Amanda Horn, and runner-up, Seraphin Michael Millon. Horn will be presented an award at the USHJA Annual Meeting at the Evening of Equestrians dinner on Tuesday, December 8. As the USHJA nominee, Horn’s application has been selected by the USHJA and recommended to USEF to compete for the USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award. As a National Affiliate Award winner she will be recognized during the...

Lexington, KY- The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has made changes to the following High Performance Show Jumping initiatives: Appendix A of the former Selection Procedure for CSIO/CSI Competitions has been renamed the Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking List Guidelines and has been overhauled to make it easier for all interested parties to use. The Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking List Guidelines can be found at: https://www.usef....

The Old Dominion Horse Show in Manakin Sabot, VA, was the site for the inaugural competition for ponies nominated to the North American Pony Futurity (NAPF) Registry incentive program. A parade of lovely young ponies competed in hand, divided by ages and genders. USEF “R” Hunter Breeding judges Joe Dotoli (of Vermont) and Beth Neilsen (of Colorado) evaluated the youngsters at the walk and trot prior to standing for conformation. Amateur and pro handlers were equally represented with Tim Foster...

The international sport of reining will host the world’s premiere event for reiners—the 2009 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show, November 26 through December 5, at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, OK. The $1.9-million show features the NRHA Futurity—the premiere event for three-year-old reining horses. At the end of the Open Finals on Saturday, December 5, one entry is guaranteed a check for $125,000 as...

Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends, is pleased to announce the opening of his organization’s first satellite facility for retired Thoroughbreds. Cabin Creek, a 40-acre farm just outside Saratoga in Greenfield Center, NY, will begin receiving horses immediately. An official opening and celebration is planned for July 22, 2010. This premiere auxiliary space will be named in honor of trainer Bobby Frankel, who passed away last week after a battle with leukemia. A native New...

Stolen Horse International, aka NetPosse.com, will launch its NetPosse Crime Watch pilot program to help form closer links with horse farm owners and the crimes committed on the farm. The NetPosse Crime Watch team is working on setting up an early warning system so that owners and riders can be contacted with information about possible crimes in their area. Sometimes information comes to the attention of Stolen Horse International that is not a crime but is suspicious. This information can be...

Lassergut Reine, bred and born in the United States and registered, inspected, and branded with the American Warmblood Registry qualified for and competed in the 2009 FEI/World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) World Championships for Young Eventing Horses (Mondial du Lion) Le Lion d’Angers in France held October 15–18, 2009. Lassergut Reine, now owned by Benoît Debrus of Belgium, was ridden by Eric Vigeanel of France and successfully completed the three days, finishing in the money....