(Lexington, VA) – The Virginia Horse Center was host to the Virginia Horse Trials and CCI* during the Memorial Day weekend. Divisions ran from Intermediate to Beginner Novice, and Connemaras were evident in ribbon winners in many divisions on many levels. Dornin North, of Berryville, VA, rode Mitford, a half-bred gelding by Aladdin’s Denver out of a Thoroughbred mare, to win the dressage and go clean in stadium in the Open Preliminary Division, only to have the horse slip on cross country,...

On Friday, May 29 2009, just two days after having seen the exciting final match for the crown of European club football, Italian capital Rome will be back in the spotlight of international top level sport by hosting the second leg of the 100th anniversary edition of team jumping’s most important annual competition, the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™. Thanks to FEI TV, fans across the U.S. won’t have to miss a moment of the action following their favorite American jumpers across Europe. Four of the...

Karen Healey Stables spent the holiday weekend at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center competing at the Memorial Day Classic Horse Show, held May 21-25, 2009. Healey's students showed in the hunter, jumper, and equitation divisions throughout the weekend and earned top placings in all three disciplines. The Memorial Day Classic had an exciting equitation team challenge over the weekend that provided a fun opportunity for each team, which was made up of one professional, one amateur, and one junior...

The Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W/Y is pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 Challenge Series Awards. Jennifer Huber, riding her own Al Pacino, claimed the Adult Amateur Grand Prix High Score Award with a 67.872%, as well as the overall Grand Prix/Grand Prix Special Award. These special prizes are awarded at each level to the horse/amateur rider combinations with the highest average score at both the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W/Y and Dressage at Equestrian Estates horse shows....

Doug Payne, an acclaimed rider and board member of the Professional Riders Organization, won the Virginia Horse Trials CCI* this past weekend. His win included an impressive dressage score in the long format event that secured his victory. “I was thrilled with Running Order’s performance,” said Payne of the seven-year-old Irish gelding owned by Stone Hill Farm. “He is the ideal horse for the longer format, and I know he’ll continue to excel to the top of the sport.” Payne chose to compete in...

This special section, Drugs and Medications Corner, will feature a series of articles from the USEF’s Drugs and Medications Program and the veterinary community to communicate the latest news to better educate the equine community. Let me start by saying that I’m a strong supporter of legitimate, medically valid compounding pharmacy practice. If used prudently, the practice of compounding plays an important role in veterinary medicine and in your horse’s health. Many horses...

Before you hit the show circuit this season, be sure to do your part to keep horses, other animals and competitors safe by including a rabies vaccination at your pre-event health exam. Vaccinations can do more than just help horses—they can help protect horse owners from disease, too. “Owners sometimes forget diseases that affect their horses or cattle may also affect anyone that has contact with their animal,” said April Knudson, DVM, manager, Veterinary Services, Merial. “In fact,...

The New England Equitation Championships (NEEC) will return to the Eastern States Exposition Coliseum in West Springfield, MA, October 15-18, with all the excitement, camaraderie and keen competition it is known for. Judges Bob Crandall, Mindy Darst, Jimmy Lee, Randy Roy, Christine Tauber and Andrea Wells will preside over this year’s competition as well as the ever-popular Challenge of the States sponsored by the friends and family of Grazing Fields Farm. Fran Dotoli and Dr. Kate Chope will...

The USA's Catherine Haddad on Cadillac was reserve champion behind Sander Marijnissen of The Netherlands on Moedwil in the Exquis World Dressage Masters Grand Prix Special to Music CDI***** in Munich, Germany on Saturday, May 23. Marijnissen and the 15-year-old gelding were the unanimous choice of the five judges for first place and gave the pair a score of 71.500%. The USA's Haddad on her 12-year-old Danish warmblood gelding scored 68.292% for second place with Imke Schellekens-Bartels of The...

Lexington, KY – A Gold medal winner from last summer’s Olympic Games, Laura Kraut put the riders on the European tour on notice that she was on form again in 2009. At CSIO5* Barcelona, Kraut blazed to a major victory with a lightning fast jump-off round on her wonderful 18-year-old veteran, Anthem. One of 44 entries in the Grand Prix, the pair bested a top class field including Individual Gold Medalists from the 2008 Olympic Games, Canadian Eric Lamaze and Hickstead. Anthem, who has been an...