(Lexington, KY) - The Task Force formed by USEF to review current safety procedures at USEF licensed competitions has recently made certain recommendations as part of an effort to monitor safety standards in equestrian sport. In formulating the following recommendations, the Task Force collaborated with other sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, as to how those sports address safety issues. This Task Force went beyond its mission as it also made recommendations that address accident...

When Laurie Jakubauskas entered the Tavern on the Green Ring at the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic on Friday, September 7, it was readily apparent that they were the ones to watch. Despite the withering heat, both were fresh and eager to go. It's no surprise that they won their classes back-to-back. First to go was Vixen, who captured the blue in the $750 Five-Year-Old Jumpers. Vixen is a very fast mare who just started jumping in April. "She can't go slowly. She's fun and is similar to...

Capitol Hill with Kenneth Wheeler, Sr. (Jordan Koepke) It was like déjà vu this year at the Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF National Hunter Breeding Championship presented by Vita-Flex as Kenneth Wheeler, Sr., handled a colt that would become the overall champion. With last year’s win with Spanish Spear still in Wheeler’s memory, it was another of his two-year-olds that would capture the title again for his Cismont Manor Farm. This year's Best Young Horse in the Sallie B....

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the approval of Digital Angel Corporation’s (formerly Destron Fearing) Life-Chip equine radio frequency identification (RFID) injectable transponder for use in horses. The industry expects that in the future additional companies will apply for USDA approval of equine microchips to be developed and sold in the U.S. Microchips are a valuable tool to the equine industry to identify horses, whether as proof of ownership if lost or...

The box office of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final 2008 in Göteborg (SWE) was opened on Monday, September 3, 2007. The telephone lines of the Scandinavium arena, where the Final will be held from April 24-27, 2008, were taken by storm, and 25,000 tickets were gone in an instant. The most popular fixture is Sunday, April 27, 2008, with as much as 40% of the tickets already booked. So in order to see this exciting competition marking the 30th anniversary of the FEI World Cup™ Jumping...

Over 550 entries have been received for this year’s Wellpride American Eventing Championships (AEC), a new record for this national championships for the Olympic equestrian sport of eventing, which will be held September 13-16 at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL. Not only has this year’s Wellpride AEC set a record for entries, it has also set a record for national and international representation, with riders coming from 42 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, five...

After an absence of many years, the thrilling sport of combined driving returns this October to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. The three distinct phases of combined driving—driven dressage, the cross-country marathon, and obstacle (“cones”) driving—were originally modeled after the ridden sport of three-day eventing. This year’s event—the Lexington Combined Driving Classic—will be held October 5–7. Three years from now, also at the Kentucky Horse Park, the...

At the New York State Fair Horse Show in Syracuse, NY, Jennifer Reid of Wellington, FL, took home the Adult Amateur 18-35 Hunter championship on her mount Sweet Emotion. Reid and the talented black mare won three out of five classes in the division. They were third and fourth in the remaining two classes. Sweet Emotion won the under saddle class in the adult hunter division as well as the $500 open hunter under saddle class. Reid also piloted Playtime to the reserve championship in the division....

Michigan State University's (MSU's) My Horse University (MHU) online curricula are not only useful tools for individuals who want to learn more about horse selection and evaluation and welfare and behavior, but the two online learning programs can also be incorporated into youth and adult group experiences. Through MHU's horse welfare and behavior program, participants can learn about horse behavior and how it can influence the way they interact with horses. It's appropriate for audiences from...

Fresh from her dual grand prix wins at Sport Horse International, Tami Hoag and her mare, Feliki did it again...this time winning the grand prix and the grand prix freestyle at the recent Cool August Nights Dressage competition in Burbank, CA. The pair won the grand prix musical freestyle on Friday night, August 24, under the lights during the “Dressage Goes to Rio Extravaganza.” “Feliki was absolutely the best she's ever been,” said Hoag about Feliki’s performance. Several hundred spectators...