The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Kassandra Barteau and Gina Frantz’s Holsteiner stallion, GP Raymeister, were awarded this year’s Fiona Baan Pursuit of Excellence Memorial Trophy. Kassandra is originally from Orlando, FL, but now lives in Maple Park, IL. In her last year as a young rider, Barteau earned the title of Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Young Rider Champion. She was a member of the Silver medal-winning Young Rider Team representing Region 2....

Taylor Ann Adams bested the top junior talent in the nation by winning the 2009 Essex Classics/United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Hunterdon Cup Equitation Class in Saugerties, NY. Adams of Memphis, TN, secured her victory in the third and final round of the prestigious equitation class after switching mounts with reserve champion Quincy Hayes. “Quincy helped me out in the schooling area before the final round,” Adams said. “Her horse was a lot of horse for me to ride and completely...

Hi Hopes Farm, of Charlotte, NC, took home multiple tricolor ribbons and trophies after a successful two weeks of competition at the 86th Annual Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show. Lucille Oken received the Jennifer Cox Memorial Trophy for high-point rider showing horses and ponies. Alise Oken took home the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter championship award after her excellent performance with her top mount, Take Away. Alise and Lucille Oken both train under the tutelage of top instructors Steve...

Pony rider Emma Cullen and green medium pony, Silver Slippers, at the 2009 USEF Pony Finals. (USEF Archive/Randi Muster) Lexington, KY—It was a day many young riders have been waiting to come for months, and it was well worth the wait judging by their excited faces. The 2009 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships welcomed this year’s roster of ponies and their energetic riders who made the grade and were invited to participate in what is certainly the...

From the USEF Show Jumping Department Lexington, KY – Four horse/rider combinations have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to represent the U.S. at the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows. These horse/rider combinations were selected based on their ranking on the July 31, 2009 USEF Computer List. CSIO5* Spruce Meadows will take place September 9-13 in Calgary, Alberta. Ashlee Bond/24/Hidden Hills, CA/Cadett 7/12/Holsteiner/G/Little Valley Farms Richard Spooner/39/Agua Dulce,...

The Swedish Warmblood Association of North America (SWANA) is pleased to announce their 2009 Inspection Tour. The international team of Swedish judges includes Jan-Ove Olsson of the Stallion Committee and Lasse Berglund, jumping judge. The Inspections are fun and educational. Everyone is welcome to come enjoy the horses and learn; the Swedish judges are very good about explaining what they are looking at; always with an eye to finding the best points of a horse and explaining the Swedish sytem...

Beginning Thursday, August 6, 2009, the Professional Riders Organization (PRO) will host a series of events at the Millbrook Horse Trials in Pine Plains, NY. On Thursday and Friday, PRO will host guided course walks led by PRO riders, including Danny Warrington, Bobby Costello and Sharon White. Following the course walks on Thursday, PRO will host a reception to welcome competitors and spectators and discuss PRO's mission and membership benefits. On Sunday, PRO will sponsor Advanced Show...

Event: The High Roller Reining Classic, Benefiting the Equestrian Aid Foundation—September 4-12, 2009 What: The High Roller Reining Classic (HRRC) is the international "crown jewel" of western riding competition, and will feature the world's top reiners competing for over $200,000 in added money and prizes. The competition is managed and produced by Brumley Management Group, LLC, a promoter of reining competition in the western region of the United States. Reining is the only western...

Lexington, KY – Due to an unprecedented number of ponies entered in the Regular Pony Division, the following schedule change has been made. The Small Regular Ponies will Model and Hack on Thursday (Aug 6)afternoon following the completion of the Green Ponies Over Fences. The Medium and Large Regular Ponies will Model and Hack on Friday (Aug 7) as scheduled, and the Small Ponies will go Over Fences following the completion of the Large Pony division on Friday. The Welcome Party has been...

Lexington, KY – As the 2009 USEF Pony Finals National Championships get underway at the Kentucky Horse Park this week, the Pony Medal Final will have a new title sponsor. Equisport Insurance will sponsor one of the most coveted pony championships of the year; the Equisport Insurance/USEF Pony Medal Final is the only equitation class offered during Pony Finals and annually features some of the very best pony riders in the nation. “This is a great partnership,” said John Long USEF CEO. “Equisport...