The new outdoor stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park officially opened on Wednesday afternoon, April 22. John Nicholson, Executive Director of the park, along with special guests Governor and Mrs. Steven L. Beshear, welcomed a crowd of government officials, business leaders, equestrian and tourism industry representatives, and the public. The new outdoor stadium is one major component of a master capital improvement plan that will allow the Kentucky Horse Park to continue to attract large horse...

After another year of success in the show ring, the University of Kentucky’s (UK) Equestrian Team will defend its 2008 national championship title, April 23-25, in Murfreesboro, TN, at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championships. This year’s competition is hosted by Middle Tennessee State University. UK’s hunt seat team was again named high-point team in the region and will compete as a team for the third year in a row. The team also will be represented by the high-point...

Lexington, KY – The USEF has named the following horse/rider combinations for the 2009 Pan American Endurance Championships to be held in Costa Azul, Uruguay on April 24, 2009. The following horse/rider combinations will represent the US at the Pan American Championships: Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Breed/Age/Sex/Owner Valerie Kanavy/62/Fort Valley, VA/LM Francesa Pharr/Arabian/10/M/Valerie Kanavy Gabrielle Mann/35/Bolinas, CA/CM Big Easy/Arabian/14/G/Gabrielle Mann Stephen Rojek/64/South...

Connaught is Back to Defend his Title (Mike McNally ) Lexington, KY – The 12th Rolex/USEF National CCI**** Eventing Championship got underway Wednesday, April 22 with the first horse inspection at the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Fifty-one horses were presented before the Ground Jury of David Lee, Nicoli Fife and Marilyn Payne. Dr. Catherine Kohn is serving as the Veterinary Delegate for the 2009 competition. Of those 52, two of which were held for a second look by the Ground...

Globalization has a special meaning for Oldenburg breeders and owners as an American breeder presented yet again the highest-priced horse at an Oldenburg Auction at the 70th Elite Anniversary Auction in Vechta, Germany, and Nancy Holowesko of Crosiadore Farm is featured in the international "Achievements of 2008" published by the Oldenburg Verband. The wonderful and powerful-moving approved stallion, Somerset, bred by Holly Simensen was the highest-priced horse at the 2009 Spring Elite Auction...

When Katherine Cook took her three young Lusitano stallions to their first dressage show at Rocking Horse Stable in Altoona, FL, on April 4, 2009, her goals were “to get them on and off the trailers, in and out of new environments and see how they would do.” The Brazilian-bred Interagro Farm well-mannered stallions not only made a big impression on the central Florida equestrian show crowd, they scored well with the dressage judges, as well. Cook’s newest acquisition, a four-year-old golden...

Pleasure, Park, and Western Country Pleasure Invitational qualifying points standings are now posted on the American Saddlebred Horse Association’s (ASHA) website at www.asha.net/WCHS-Results . The standings will update on a next-day basis whenever competition results are entered into ASHA's database. It should be noted that the first qualifying requirement prior to review of point totals accumulated is that any horse entered in show pleasure, country pleasure, or park at the Kentucky State...

Balmullo’s Azalea (Concord River Roaringwater Bay x Courtney’s April Frolic, by Custusha’s Cashel Rock), shown as Ooh La La and ridden by young rider and new owner Sara Powell of Lexington, KY, qualified for the 2009 USEF Pony Finals at their first "A" rated show together. The pair were champions, winning all over fences classes as well as the conformation class, in the large pony division at the USEF "A" rated Lakeside Arena Winter Series show. Powell, who is 15, and Ooh La La are currently...

With $30,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs, riders from up and down the West Coast are aiming their horses for the inaugural Preliminary Challenge at the Event at Woodside on May 22-24. The Woodside organizers are offering two divisions for the Preliminary Challenge: the Horse section is open to riders of any level on horses that have never competed at the intermediate level or above; the Rider section is open to all horses with riders who have never competed at the intermediate level or...

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, set to return to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, April 23-26, will feature a Who's Who of the world's best eventing horses and riders. The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, a part of the HSBC FEI Classics™ Series, will run a CCI**** and the 12th championship for the United States Equestrian Team Foundation Pinnacle Cup, signifying the zenith in eventing competition in the United States. The event draws over 100,000 spectators and...