(Lexington, KY) – Maria Partlow, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communication has announced that she will retire effective October 1st, 2007. She has been with the USEF since March of 2004. “This is a life decision and one I have thought a great deal about,” she said. “My mother died very unexpectedly earlier this year, and her passing made me reflect on how fleeting life is and about how I want to spend the future. Although I love working at the USEF, I want to get up every morning,...

U.S. Sends Teams to Samsung Super League Final and Spruce Meadows Masters Lexington, KY - The U.S. is fielding a formidable team for one of the most prestigious show jumping challenges in the world, the Spruce Meadows Masters. More than 50,000 spectators turn out over the weekend to watch some of the world’s best show jumpers vie for over $2 million in prize money. The U.S. show jumpers will be fighting a war on two fronts with the top riders divided between the Masters in Calgary,...

Lexington, KY – John Long, Chief Executive Officer of the United States Equestrian Federation, announced today that Walter Herd will join the USEF as Director of Special Projects, effective September 4. A graduate of Centre College in Danville, KY, and a native of Louisville, KY, Herd recently retired from the United States Army as a Special Forces Colonel after 24 years in a variety of management and leadership positions. His responsibilities included commanding Special Forces units, ranging...

The American Horse Council (AHC) will host a National Issues Forum at Keeneland Race Track in Lexington, KY, on November 2, 2007. The AHC’s National Issues Forum provides an excellent opportunity for all horse enthusiasts and industry participants to gain insight and knowledge about national topics directly affecting the equine community in the United States. The AHC has announced that the key topics slated for discussion at the November 2 forum will include: - Immigration issues facing the...

Bob Bell, President of the horse show management firm The Classic Company, is delighted to announce that the 2007 Atlanta Fall Classic, held annually at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, will expand from two exciting weeks to three (October 31-November 18). In addition, the super-sized show will offer four supplementary Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) point-eligible classes. According to Bell, the option to boost the Atlanta show and offer the additional WIHS...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced the dates for the 2007 Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Dressage Championships: -USDF Region 1 (October 25-28) at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA, -USDF Region 2 (September 27-30) at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL, -USDF Region 3 (October 20-21) at the HITS Post Time Farm-Commercial Show Grounds in Ocala, FL, -USDF Region 4 (October 12-14) at The National Equestrian Center in Lake St. Louis, MO, -USDF...

The FEI has announced the departure of its secretary general, Michael Stone. On August 24, Stone tendered his resignation to the president, and the first and second vice presidents in Lausanne, Switzerland. This was accepted, and has been approved by the Bureau. Stone has worked for the FEI for 10 years in various positions, culminating in his appointment in August 2006 as secretary general, the chief executive of the organization. The FEI and Stone accept that the resignation has come about...

Formal registration of all competitions offering Saddlebred classes by the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) is now under way. This step comes with the Kentucky State Fair World’s Championship Horse Show having announced that ASHA will administer point-keeping records on its behalf for its 2008 Pleasure and Park Horse sections. Those qualifying requirements can be viewed at www.asha.net/files/ksfwchs_pleasure_park_requirements_08.pdf . “All exhibitors and competition managements need...

Tickets for the world-class Wachovia Securities American Gold Cup, September 19-23, at the Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field are now on sale. This premiere show jumping competition features Olympians, as well as top local riders, competing for more than $200,000 in prize money. Advance general admission tickets are now on sale at the guest relations counter at Eton Chagrin Boulevard (28601 Chagrin Boulevard in Woodmere) and Crocker Park (25 Main Street in Westlake), as well as at Schneider...

The Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic, the only American Grand Prix Association grand prix show jumping event in New England, will be presented by Animal Planet this year at the show grounds in South Hamilton, MA, September 5-9, 2007. As presenting sponsor, Animal Planet will provide one of the jumps in the grand prix course by Olympic course designer Richard Jeffrey. Animal Planet programming has included equestrian events, such as the Sporthorse Cup and the Rolex FEI World Cup Finals, and...