Hilltop Farm announces an exciting addition to their International Frozen Semen Program for 2006: Cyrano de Bergerac, a very successful show jumping stallion under Franke Sloothaak. Cyrano de Bergerac (Coriano-Ricardo-Labrador) is a Baden Wurtenburg stallion with a star-studded pedigree and ample international success as a show jumper. As a young stallion, he won the qualification for the German National Championships (the Bundeschampionat) with a score of 9.0, under Franke Sloothaak. The pair...

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) has totally revamped its International Arabian Breeders Sweepstakes (Sweepstakes) program to rally excitement surrounding the breeding and showing of Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. Sweepstakes was initiated in 1983 and has served a broad spectrum of the Arabian horse industry, providing almost $4 million in annual prize money at regional and national shows and financial incentives to stallion owners. The new program expands Sweepstakes role...

The 2005 USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage National Championships turned into a landmark for the ISR-Oldenburg Registry N.A. and its breeders. The prestigious FEI final of the five-year-old dressage horses was dominated by U.S.-bred and even more by ISR-Oldenburg N.A. horses. In the past, most of the horses which made it to the National Finals were imported. For the first time ever in 2005 the majority of the finalists were U.S.-bred horses (eight of 13). "I think I was more excited about the...

(Lexington, KY) – USEF members are invited to obtain updates and weigh-in on issues at an International Forum, Saturday, February 4 in Wellington, FL. The forum will provide updates on news concerning upcoming international events and issues. Among the topics of discussions are the following: • 2006 World Equestrian Games planning and hospitality • 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong • 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky • 2012 Olympic Games in London • FEI Strategic Planning...

Mike Ferrara (Lexington, KY) - Throughout the year there are many competitions which are extremely valuable to the various USEF breed organizations but are a challenge to organize due to required expenses. The USEF wishes to support the widest possible network of shows for its breed members and enthusiasts by announcing a new Outreach Grant program. A total of $125,000 has been budgeted in 2006 for grants to financially challenged breed competitions which meet the grant requirements and are...

The AAEP Foundation, Inc., announced the availability of additional funds to aid horses affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, as well as other natural disasters. The Foundation’s Equine Disaster Relief Fund was established last September to assist groups or individuals that are treating, housing, transporting or feeding horses that have been impacted by a natural disaster. Donations of $25,000 each have been made thus far by the Foundation to the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association...

Stephen B. Macfarlane, 59, died following surgery in Louisville on January 11. Macfarlane had spent his lifetime as a multi-faceted horseman, winning championship titles in American Saddlebred, Roadster, Pony and coaching competitions. Macfarlane had just returned to Kentucky from his winter home in Ft. Meyers, FL. He had been taking blood-thinning medication for a diagnostic procedure scheduled later this week, when he suffered a head injury resulting in edema that could not be controlled...

The details for the Saddlebred Summit, the 2006 ASHA Annual Meeting and Youth Conference, can be found on the Association's website at www.asha.net/ASHA-Annual-Meeting . The Saddlebred Summit will take place in Lexington, KY, February 16-18, at the Embassy Suites of Lexington. A complete schedule of events and event descriptions can also be found online. Highlights include the ASHA Open Members Forum, Open Committee Meetings and the Saddlebred Ball at the Keeneland Entertainment Center, where...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Charter Club Council has been formed to create more efficient communication channels between ASHA Charter Clubs and the ASHA Board of Directors. Twenty individuals have been selected to form the new Charter Club Council. Two council members from each United States Equestrian Federation-sanctioned region were selected from the submitted nominations. Regions one and two, three and four, and six and seven were grouped together respectively. Two...

The Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) has recently developed a new certification program -- the Equine Facilities Manager (EFM) program. This program is done as a 2.5 day clinic to certify four levels of stable employees: - Stable Worker- Qualified to work in a barn under the supervision of a manager - Stable Manager- Qualified to manage a small private stable of up to 10 head and 1-2 employees - Herd Manager- Qualified to manage a public equine facility of up to 35 head and 3-4...