The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which has been campaigning to ban the slaughter of American horses for food exports, hailed a decision by the United States Supreme Court denying the foreign-owned horse slaughter industry’s final appeal to resume slaughtering horses. The decision upholds a federal appeals’ court ruling that Illinois can ban slaughtering horses and the sale of horsemeat for human consumption. The slaughter plants had claimed that the Illinois law at issue was...

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) proudly presents the 2008 NRHA Derby at Oklahoma State Fair Park June 23-28. The Derby is one of two major events presented by NRHA each year in Oklahoma City. It is the association’s premiere event for the world’s best four-, five-, and six-year-old reining horses, their exhibitors, and their owners. The 2008 NRHA Derby is a great experience for all horse lovers. Bring the whole family for plenty of reining excitement with free admission Monday,...

Gladstone, NJ – Several area Pony Clubs will gather at the Oaks Blenheim Show Grounds in San Juan Capistrano, CA, on Thursday, June 26, to hear Olympian Charlotte Bredahl-Baker give a presentation entitled “Real Athletes Show Respect.” This USOC-sponsored event will be held in conjunction with the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Selection Trials for Dressage at Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions, and will highlight the importance of good sportsmanship in competition....

Oklahoma, OK – Billed as “The New Breed Of Luxury” and designated as the official horse transport vehicle of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the new Equine Motorcoach™ is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The all-in-one RV and horse transport is on display at the 2008 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby at the Oklahoma State Fair Park. The NRHA Derby is the host competition USEF Reining Championships, which include the Open, USEF National CRI* Reining Championship, and the...

Ravel and Steffen Peters (Amy McCool) San Juan Capistrano, CA – Overnight leader Steffen Peters returned to the Oaks Blenheim ring with Ravel in the USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship and the USEF Selection Trial for Dressage, and made it quite clear that he was not going to relinquish his lead. Owned by Akiko Yamazaki, Ravel, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding took some of the much more experienced horses to task and never looked in danger of making a mistake. The elegant...

Steffen Peters and Ravel (Amy McCool) San Juan Capistrano, CA – Day one of the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions was highlighted by the afternoon performances of the 12 best horses in the country competing in the USEF Selection Trials for the 2008 Olympic Team in Dressage. Serving also as the National Grand Prix Dressage Championship, the class featured four Olympic veterans. San Diego rider and Olympic veteran Steffen Peters had plenty of fans on hand to watch him...

Lexington, KY- The first day’s competition at CSIO Rotterdam, The Netherlands got off to a great start for the US riders participating there. For the US, McLain Ward won an unprecedented two classes in one day - the Deloitte/AKD Prixsen van Wijmen Prize on Blue Chip Bloodstock’s Goldika and the Dura Vermeer Groep Prize on Larioso, also owned by Blue Chip Bloodstock. Beezie Madden also had a good day, finishing with good ribbons in all three classes (a 2nd with Abigail Wexner’s Authentic, 4th...

Chicago, IL - Legends define themselves. Mike Plumb defined himself with eight Olympic Games. He defined the sport of Eventing for four decades - but tonight the US Olympic Hall of Fame will define him as a legend - across all sports. The first Equestrian in history will be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame tonight, June 19, at the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theatre in downtown Chicago. He will stand on the stage with fellow sporting icons: John Morgan, Bruce Baumgarder, Joan Benoit...

Lexington, KY- The 2008 CN North American Junior and Young Rider Championship (NAJYRC), presented by Gotham North, will be held at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, CO, on July 30-August 3, 2008. Reining has officially been added to the NAJYRC this year. In preparation for the NAJYRC, two up-and-coming young riders are blogging about their experiences. Jackie Hoyt, 15, of Malius, NY is looking to qualify with her horse Anuther Smart Winner a.k.a Tyson. Hoyt and Tyson have been together for...

The upcoming Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show, June 24-28, 2008, on the grounds of the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, CT, is filled with activities for the entire community to enjoy. The show is open to the public with no admission fees and features more than 700 riders competing in 200 classes over five days. The show benefits The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) grant giving foundation that seeks to raise public awareness of the value of the horse in society...