This year’s FEI Children’s International Jumping Final will be held at Spruce Meadows in Canada, October 23-28, 2006. The Final for children between the ages of 12 and 14 as defined by FEI rules, brings together riders from various nations around the world, not only to compete, but also to meet their peers from other cultures. The Oaks Blenheim Fall Tournament, September 13-17, 2006, will be the last qualifying competition in the U.S. for the Children’s Final. More information about the...

The nine-year-old Brazilian-bred mare Shakira Do Jacare beat both the field of 32 and the stormy weather to take first prize in the Week Two Horses Helping Horses Lucky Sevens Welcome Classic. The Classic, presented by The Plaid Horse Magazine , was a repeat victory for Shakira and owner/rider Sergio Campos, having bested last week’s field of 35. “The course was a lot of fun,” Campos said of Buddy Brown’s challenging field, which utilized natural obstacles, such as hills and banks, causing many...

Many items are needed for the 2006 American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Annual Auction, which will take place Wednesday, August 23, and Thursday, August 24, in the Mary Room of the Executive West Hotel during the Kentucky State Fair World’s Championship Horse Show. The theme of this year’s auction is “ASHA Youth – Past, Present and Future.” Last year more than $100,000 was raised as a result of items, such as a premium terrace box at the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, a Tommy Lovell...

How to increase funding for equine research was the primary focus of a collaborative equine research summit held in Lexington, KY, April 19-20. Hosted by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation, Inc., over 35 leading researchers, industry leaders and funding agencies gathered to develop a blueprint for future success in the equine research field. While the amount of money dedicated to equine research by the racing industry, private foundations, universities and...

Lexington, KY – Jamie Saults, who was USEF Director of Reining for three years, has returned to manage the USEF Endurance High-Performance program through this summer’s 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. Jamie takes the program over from Mary Lutz, Director of Endurance and Para-Equestrian, who tragically died in a riding accident on June 9th. Jamie left the USEF in 2005 to dive into the world of political campaigns but is glad to be back in the horse world. “I have loved...

Lexington, KY – Ariat International, the leading equestrian footwear and apparel manufacturer, has created a collection of high-performance athletic gear for our nation’s top equestrian athletes that debuted last weekend at the 2006 Adequan®/USEF Open Reining Championship. Members of the newly-announced U.S. Reining Team sponsored by Adequan® were able to try on the gear and be the first team to do so. Through the newly-signed sponsorship, Ariat became the “Official Apparel Supplier” of United...

There will be no shortage of top-level horses and riders competing when the Maui Jim Horse Trials get under way on Thursday, July 6, at Lamplight Equestrian Center on North Dunham Road in Wayne, IL. The four-day event has attracted a record number of entries ranging from such far away spots as Vancouver, California, Texas, Virginia and North Carolina. This popular competition is in its second year of being designated as a United States Eventing Association Gold Cup Event, marking it as one of...

Matt Mills and Easy Otie Whiz (Waltenberry) Lexington, KY – It was a night of upsets at the Kentucky Horse Park during the 2006 Adequan®/United States Equestrian Federation® Open Reining Championship, which was also the selection trial for the U.S Reining Team for this summer’s World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. Twenty-seven of the finest reiners our nation has to offer competed in what many believed was one of the most competitive reining competitions ever held. The...

Ian Barnard and Got It Dun (Waltenberry) Lexington, KY – It was a good day to be a first timer at the 2006 United States Equestrian Federation® Youth Reining Championship. The winners in all three divisions were first-timers to the Championship. Taking the title in the 13 and under division was McKenzie Lantz, 13, from Fremont, MI with a score of 213.5. The blue ribbon winner in the 14-18 division was Ian Barnard, 17, of Kendallville, IN with the high score of 221. The gold medal...

Two American Saddlebred geldings, Kobada’s Jacq Of Times and Canyonleigh Stargazer, have been sold to the members of the ruling family of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Kobada’s Jacq Of Times (nicknamed JT) was sold by Australian Kevin Sayer of Mountain Breeze Stud, Mount Hunter, New South Wales, to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, supreme ruler of Dubai. The 15.3-hand bay gelding is presently in quarantine in northern Australia. His record in 2004 and 2005 includes winning...