Bob Bell, President of the Classic Company, announced, "It’s official," referring to the return of the John Deere-USEF Memberperks bonus program, which will award a new Gator to the high-scoring adult amateur hunter on the final week of the Atlanta Fall Classics in November. Bell had pitched the idea for rewarding the adult group to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and various committees in late 2005. “I just felt this is a group of exhibitors that so often is overlooked and that...

In their second year of competition, the Global Champions Tour (GCT) has grown in size, prize money and prestige. With over five-million U.S. dollars in prize money and one-and-a-half hours of live television coverage by Eurosport of each €300,000 grand prix, the Global Champions Tour is truly taking the sport of show jumping to the next level. The Global Champions Tour covers three continents and involves eight of the world’s most prestigious independent outdoor show jumping events: Palm Beach...

The Board of Directors of the American Shetland Pony Club announced that they will again offer a $10,000 scholarship to any registered American Shetland Pony who earns the title of Champion Small Pony Hunter at the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Pony Finals to be hosted in August. “The $10,000 incentive prize was designed to encourage participation and reward success,” explained Zona Schneider, Operations Director of the American Shetland Pony Club Executive Committee. “Today...

A free trip for two to the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup™; Finals in Las Vegas will be awarded to one lucky winner of a contest being offered through the Finals’ producer Las Vegas Events, Inc., the equestrian website EquiSearch.com and Animal Planet, the cable television network that will broadcast coverage of the World Cup Finals. The Rolex FEI World Cup™ Finals in both jumping and dressage return to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, April 18-22. In 2005, the Jumping and Dressage Finals were...

Meeting by teleconference, the 2007 directors of the American Saddlebred Registry elected officers on Tuesday, March 6. The nine directors are Joan Hamilton (Kentucky), David Howard (Tennessee), Dr. Rick Luft (Wisconsin), Spencer Mains (North Carolina), Mary Ann Pardieck (Indiana), Dr. Alan Raun (Iowa), Fred Sarver (Kentucky), Anne Stafford (Tennessee) and Judith Werner (Illinois). After discussion on each position, the following were elected unanimously: Joan Hamilton as president, David...

It has been more than 21 days since the last horse left the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center (EMC) in Leesburg, VA, prior to a report of neurological equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1) on the premises. On Tuesday, March 13, State Veterinarian Dr. Richard Wilkes announced that, except for four quarantined premises, the state’s horse community may resume normal activities. Immediately upon the report of EHV-1, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) quarantined 10...

Iron Spring Farm’s popular Friesian stallion Goffert 369 was euthanized Tuesday, February 13, 2007. The Grand Prix competitor colicked, and although every effort was made to save him, the damage was irreparable. Goffert 369, known as “Herbie,” was a beloved spokesman for the Friesian breed. Known for his tremendous athletic ability and intelligence, Goffert had a fan base around the world. In 2004, he performed at the 125th Anniversary Celebration of the Friesian Studbook where more than 10,000...

The statistics regarding the American Saddlebred Registry (ASR) Sweepstakes nominations and continuing eligibility are encouraging, with increases in numbers across the board. In the Three-Year-Old Sweepstakes, the rise in yearling nominations was a modest 2.58%. However, two-year-olds continuing eligibility rose 30.67% from 150 in 2006 to 196 in 2007, while three-year-olds continuing eligibility increased by 64 from 71 to 135, up 90.14%. In the four-year-old sweepstakes, three-year-old...

Artesan+++// (Khemosabi++++// x Obsession JD), a nine-year-old purebred Arabian gelding owned by Susie McArthur of Kentfield, CA, ranked as the top horse among a field of more than 3,000 Arabians, Half-Arabians and Anglo-Arabians to become the 2006 Arabian Horse Association (AHA) High Point Horse. To reach this pinnacle, the gelding had to accumulate the highest number of points in the Horse Achievement Awards program during 2006. He racked up 457.5 points in his year of competing in dressage,...

Randi Muster 2007 (Todd Minikus and Pavarotti were the highest-placed members of the U.S. team in the $150,000 CN U.S. Open Jumper Championship, Presented by Cosequin.) Wellington, Florida—In another action-packed day of horse sport, Canada’s Mario Deslauriers emerged victorious in the $150,000 CN U.S. Open Jumper Championship, Presented by Cosequin, held Sunday, March 11, in Wellington, FL. A total of 39 riders attempted to win the final event of the CSIO5* CN Wellington Open...