To everyone that likes, tweets, posts, and shares with USEF, USEF Network, and Equestrian Magazine, I have a lot of fun doing what I do, and if it weren't for you, well, it wouldn't be as much fun. I'd love to reward each and every one of you just for interacting with us, but I'm just one social media guy. So instead let's have some fun (and give one of you a prize while we're at it). The first ever Andrew Minnick Social Media Gratitude Contest (name pending personal...

Emily Hogye vaulting on Stanford on her way to 1st place in the Region II Gold Women's Division (Jerry Yang) American Vaulting Association (AVA) Region II is home to some of the U.S.'s most storied and successful vaulting clubs. The Northern California, Northern Nevada region has produced National Champions, FEI World Cup competitors, and numerous U.S. representatives at international competitions around the world. It's no surprise then that the regional championship in this stronghold...

Team Weber on the marathon couse at Beekbergen. (Rinaldo de Craen) Ocala, FL - With his signature flourish in the dressage phase at the Beekbergen CAI-A4, July 18-21, in The Netherlands, nine-time U.S. national driving champion Chester Weber set an early lead (32.97) with an Ultra-good performance. As in Koos de Ronde's Ultra, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding that Team Weber has had their eye on for the last two years but, like any top professional athlete, it was a matter of waiting until Ultra...

Lexington, KY - The search is underway for 2013 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Youth Sportsman's Award nominees. The award recognizes young equestrians who exhibit exceptional leadership potential, serve as positive role models for their peers, demonstrate an ongoing commitment and dedication to the promotion of equestrian sport, are involved in their community, and exemplify positive sportsmanship principles. The overall winner of the 2013 USEF Youth Sportsman's Award will...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has updated the entry for the Hickstead CDIO3*. Due to veterinary reasons, Caroline Roffman has withdrawn Hyperion Farm, Inc’s Sagacious HF. The combination were to compete as individuals and serve as alternates for the U.S. Dressage Team at the competition held August 1-4, 2013. The following four combinations have been named to the U.S. Dressage Team for the Hickstead CDIO3* (listed in Alphabetical Order): Shelly Francis...

USEF Network is broadcasting the New England Morgan Horse Show live from the Tri-County Fairgrounds all week. Full coverage from every day of the show (through Saturday July 27) will be streamed live on the USEF Network coverage page: https://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2013NewEnglandMorganHorseShow/ .The #NEMHS is now in it's seventy-fourth year. A full schedule of classes each day will include classic pleasure driving, classic pleasure saddle, english pleasure, equitation, hunter...

McLain Ward and Love jumping their way to a win in the $50,000 Horze-Equestrian Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Saugerties (©ESI Photography) Saugerties, NY - Love conquered all this weekend at HITS Saugerties. McLain Ward and his new mount Love beat a star-studded crowd to pick up the top prize in the $50,000 Horze-Equestrian Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis. After only two days in the country, Love – a nine-year-old Selle Francais import from France – arrived at...

This rule change introduces a new category of rules called Prohibited Practices to the USEF Rule Book. It will take effect December 1, 2013: 1. No injectable substances may be administered to any horse or pony within 12 hours prior to competing, with the following three exceptions subject to paragraph 2 below: a. Therapeutic fluids, which amount must consist of a minimum of 10L of polyionic fluids; and which must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and guidelines....

This rule change becomes effective on August 1, 2013, and concerns the actions taken should a horse or pony collapse at a USEF Licensed Competition. This rule change proposal has been commonly referred to as the “Collapse Rule” and is the first to be presented in the formation of an Over-Arching Catastrophic Incident Protocol. GR 843 Mandatory Reporting & Cooperation of Horse/Pony Collapse This rule applies to collapses of horses/ponies. For purposes of this rule, a "collapse"...

At the Beekbergen CAI-A4 this weekend U.S. driving heavyweight Chester Weber earned another top international finish. In the cones phases on Sunday, Weber held onto a podium placing with a 4th place finish. That led to a final score of 127.86, good enough for 3rd place behind two other four-in-hand drivers that know the podium very well, Australia's Boyd Excell, and Koos de Ronde of The Netherlands. Weber grabbed an early lead with a characteristic standout performance in the Dressage phase....