With little equines on their minds, members of The American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) and the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) recently met for their 2008 national convention in Branson. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), who has been strong supporter of the ASPC throughout 2008, hosted a luncheon during the convention for all the attendees and conducted the USEF Shetland Pony Committee meeting. One of the highlights of the convention was a drawing during the awards banquet...

The American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Board of Directors has approved a grant program in an effort to help struggling United States Equestrian Federation-licensed Morgan shows. Ten percent of the net from the 2009 AMHA Stallion Service Auction will be available through the grant program on a first-come, first-served basis. Maximum grant per show is $1,000. To be considered for a 2009 USEF-rated Morgan Show Grant through AMHA, please download the application . It must be completed and...

The USEF Dressage Committee invites all members of the dressage community to participate in an open forum on Thursday, December 4, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. local time during the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Annual Convention in Denver, CO. The Dressage Committee hopes for as much input as possible on the Performance Standards Rule Change Proposal during this open forum. We also would like to further discuss the challenges for regions outside the major competition areas, and also review...

Lifelong horseman Marty Mueller of French Lick, IN, died Friday morning, November 14, 2008, at age 96. During his life, he built a reputation as one of the top trainers of American Saddlebreds. Mueller was raised in the famous resort area of Indiana known as ”The Valley,” where his father was the head gardener at the fabled West Baden Springs Hotel. Marty grew up watching the horses at L. S. Dickey’s French Lick Springs Resort Stables, and he began working at Dickey’s as a stable boy,...

Late registration remains for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Dressage Technical Delegate Clinic that will be held in conjunction with the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Annual Convention on Saturday, December 6. Panelists who will serve as leaders for this presentation are Lisa Gorretta and Loretta Berg Waltner. USEF will also offer a Dressage TD Pony Measurement Certification on Saturday evening, December 6 (classroom), and Sunday, December 7 (practical-off site). A...

Canada’s Olympians had a rough go of it in the $50,000 Weston Canadian Open for International Jumpers at Toronto’s Royal Horse Show on November 14th. Americans McLain Ward and Laura Kraut, hot off their Team Gold at the Olympics, took first and third respectively, with Britain’s Michael Whitaker narrowly edging into the second position. Ward, with his 16-year-old veteran campaigner Goldika 559, executed the course in style, taking almost the identical route that teammate Kraut had taken 15...

Lexington, KY – The USEF has named the 2009 Eventing Training List. These horse/rider combinations will be invited to participate in training sessions to be held at various locations throughout the country. These sessions will be conducted by USEF Eventing Coach Capt. Mark Phillips and are currently being scheduled. Riders and horses are listed alphabetically: Rider / Age / Hometown / Horse / Sex/ Breed / Age / Owner A List William Coleman / 25 / Gordonsville, VA / Twizzel / G / Westfalen/ 12 /...

Representatives of the French Equestrian Federation formally presented to the FEI President, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, the Candidacy Book outlining the bid of the French region of Basse Normandie, Northern France, to host the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games. “The Basse Normandie region has put forward a very serious bid, which has the support of the president of the French Republic and the French government,” said Christian Paillot, Vice President of the French Equestrian Federation....

Lexington, KY – The US show jumping team of Ashlee Bond and Cadett 7, Rebecca Johanson-Hofmann and Corona, Michelle Spadone and Melisimo, and Kirsten Coe and Starlight put on an impressive display at the CSIO Buenos Aires to win the Nations Cup over the Argentineans on their home turf. The US team finished on eight faults, ahead of Argentina (10) and Chile (24). All of the US riders contributed to the effort, with Johanson-Hofmann jumping two immaculate clears. Bond, Spadone and Coe all had one...

Lexington, KY— In official communication received today, the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) has notified all National Federations that NEW dressage tests have been issued for the following levels, effective January 1, 2009: • Prix St. Georges • Intermediaire I • Intermediaire I Freestyle • Intermediaire II • Grand Prix • Grand Prix Special • Grand Prix Freestyle • All Junior Tests (including Preliminary, Team, Individual, & Freestyle Tests) • All Young Rider Tests (including...