Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) announced that it has agreed to acquire the stock of Farnam Companies, Inc., for approximately $287 million, plus $4 million for the purchase of related real property. Based in Phoenix, AZ, Farnam is a leading manufacturer and marketer of innovative health care products primarily for horses, household pets and livestock sold through over-the-counter and veterinary channels. In addition to the internationally recognized Farnam umbrella brand, Farnam’s...

If your competition offers the Young Horse Tests and you would like to draw more interest from Young Horse competitors, become an official "qualifying competition." By simply using the title of the program (and logo if possible) in your prize list and/or show program, your competition will be placed on the Markel/USEF Young Horse Qualifying Competition list on the Young Horse page of the Federation website. Exhibitors will refer to our new list of qualifiers when planning their show schedules,...

The Pennsylvania Futurity has announced that it will officially be changing its name to more accurately reflect the region and participants to the Penn-Ohio Futurity. In a combined effort to resume its rightful place as a nursery for fine American Saddlebreds, the exhibitors and breeders from the states of Pennsylvania and Ohio have merged forces to promote the Penn-Ohio Futurity as one of the nation's most progressive and responsive futurities. The Ohio Limited Breeders and the Penn-Ohio...

The Mid-Atlantic Lipizzan Association (MALA), based in the mid-Atlantic region, named Holly Covey of Greenwood, DE, to the MALA 2005 Trainer Appreciation Award for 2005. Covey has handled both the champion and reserve champion Lipizzans at the 2005 Dressage at Devon breeding show, and also handled the champion Lipizzan at the 2005 Fair Hill DSHB Show. In addition, she helped coordinate Lipizzan horse entries, groom and assisted MALA members in the barn area at the shows. ~~~

This week a bill was filed in the Kentucky State Legislature that would benefit the horse industry in Kentucky. House Bill 263 calls for removing the sales tax that is charged on equine products, such as feed, grooming products, bedding supplies and many other items. For more information, or to voice your opinion about this bill, you can contact your legislator: By mail: Capitol Annex, Frankfort, KY 40601 By phone: (800) 373-7181 (Legislative Message Line); (877) 287-3134 (Spanish Line) This...

Anthem earned his "Supreme" status with 86.500 at his Inspection in Randall, MN, in August of 2005. Anthem was sired by Alano, out of Megan, both Holsteiners, and bred by Diane Kilmer, VA. The American Warmblood Society (AWS) is a non-profit Horse Registry founded in 1983 dedicated to talented Sport horses from the grassroots through the highest levels. As one of the Full Members of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH), the AWS promotes, represents, records and registers...

Lexington, KY – Following a star-studded performance that warmed our hearts at the Athens Olympic Games more than a year ago, U.S. show jumpers Chris Kappler, Beezie Madden, McLain Ward and Peter Wylde will finally be awarded their Olympic Gold medals at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 5, just before the Gold Coast Jumper Classic Grand Prix at Circuit Finale in Wellington, FL. In addition, Kappler will be officially awarded the Individual Silver. “This is truly something for all of...

(Gladstone, NJ) – Stand-out coaches George Morris and Kim Severson will share recognition as United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) 2005 Coaches of the Year, as part of the Coaching Recognition Program, developed by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). Both will go on to become candidates for the USOC 2005 Coach of the Year. Selected for the tremendous strides he made in his first year of leading U.S. Show Jumping athletes, George Morris has received the 2005 USEF National...

The Penn-Ohio Futurity offers a rare experience for a hands-on clinic with Jim Aikman. Aikman has been a leader in the Saddlebred community for decades and is undoubtedly one of, if not, the most successful colt man ever. Currently, he spends most of his time promoting his passion for American Saddlebred colts via the wildly successful All American Cup. He has won dozens of futurities and untold amounts of prize money. His technique is tried and true and works every time it's tried. Aikman...

Renowned Victory (Rory), by Rotspon out of Victory at Concord, ends the 2005 year as the Performance Horse Registry's Dressage Sport Horse Breeding (DSHB) National Champion and Zone Three Champion. In addition, the two-year-old filly bred by Sarah Needham ended the year in first place for two-year-old fillies Oldenburg GOV All Breeds Awards and in sixth place in the USDF Two-Year-Old Fillies DSHB. Rory also qualified for the Cosequin Breeders Championship at Devon. Last year, she was second in...