Rule Changes Address Safety Concerns at Recognized Competitions Lexington, KY – Consistent with one of the primary missions of the United States Equestrian Federation, which is to ensure the safety and welfare of both horses and riders, two important rule changes were approved at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors held in Louisville, Kentucky on January 16th . These changes should significantly contribute to safety at recognized USEF competitions. They involve the operation of...

USEF Archive/Geoff Oliver Bugbee (USEF President David O'Connor at the 2005 Annual Meeting.) Lexington, KY – Yesterday at the 2005 Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, the Board of Directors of the United States Equestrian Federation overwhelmingly approved all of the rule changes relating to the recommendations of the Competition Date Task Force. The Task Force has been working for 10 months on a major overhaul of the current “mileage rule” which dictates how competition...

USEF Honors its Stars of 2004 at Athletes’ Luncheon and Pegasus Awards Dinner Louisville, KY —Friday proved to be a day of widespread celebration at the 2005 USEF Annual Meeting as two special events brought audiences to their feet with thunderous applause and accolades for athletes and honorees. During the Friday Recognition Luncheon in honor of Athletes and Owners, the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation presented the coveted Whitney Stone Memorial Cup to one of the...

USEF President and Pegasus Awards Dinner emcee David O'Connor presents the Equestrian of the Year Trophy to the 2004 winner Kim Severson. (Dr. Mike Tomlinson) Friday proved to be a day of widespread celebration at the 2005 USEF Annual Meeting as two special events brought audiences to their feet with thunderous applause and accolades for the national, international and Olympic-level athletes that were saluted for their competitive efforts and hard work in 2004. In addition, those honored during...

Lexington, KY - Contrary to media reports, no change in the disposition of the medals in the 2004 Olympic Team Show Jumping competition has yet been made by the Federation Equestre International (FEI) the international governing body of equestrian sport or by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The USEF has not been notified of any change in the medals. The German rider on the gold medal winning team whom the FEI Judicial Committee has disqualified from the competition still has the...

Today, the United States Equestrian Team Foundation (USET Foundation) announced that Chris Kappler, one of the world’s most successful show-jumping riders, is the recipient of the 2005 Whitney Stone Memorial Cup. For the past 25 years, the USET Foundation has honored an individual who has achieved a distinguished record in international competition while also serving as an ambassador for the USET Foundation and equestrian sports. “We are proud to award the 2005 Whitney Stone Memorial Cup to...

Courtesy Seelbach Hilton Hotel (The Seelbach Hilton Hotel is the location for the 2005 USEF Annual Meeting.) In a place where equine traditions run deep and Southern hospitality is the rule, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) gathered its members from far and wide to host its 2005 Annual Meeting. Scheduled across five days, the event lays the foundation for a panorama of meetings, think-tank forums and boardroom sessions. In addition, the much-anticipated award programs provide...

The Vaccinations Task Force of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has released recommendations for the administration of the West Nile virus vaccine. Recommendations for the vaccine’s use are based on the age, type and level of activity of the horse. The new West Nile virus guidelines are a supplement to the AAEP’s “Guidelines for Vaccination of Horses” that was released in 2001. The guidelines are intended to serve as a reference for veterinarians as they employ vaccines...

The city of Tampa, FL, will once again play host to the final weeks of the Winter Equestrian Festival, beginning March 23, 2005 at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds, I. 4 and Orient Road in Tampa. The festival, the nation’s oldest and largest equestrian extravaganza, is celebrating its 33rd season of equestrian excellence. The 2005 Winter Equestrian Festival kicks off in Wellington, FL, on January 26, at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club and will conclude with...

The United States Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce that it will host a training session for Long Listed Drivers. Drivers on the 2005 Long Lists are invited to participate in training sessions with Belgium driver, Mia Allo, January 31–February 2, 2005 at Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, FL. Mia Allo has been driving in competitions for over 20 years. She has been driving pony four-in-hands since 1986. Multiple winner of the Belgian National Championships. Mia is a judge and course...