The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) held its annual World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS) Junior Judging Contest on Tuesday, August 25, at Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY. Horse show judging is an important part of ASHA Youth Programs, as these contests are an educational way for young people to learn about judging in a fun environment, while being educated about class specifications and show procedures for judging American Saddlebreds. Any individual, age 17 and under, was...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) announces the new leadership for the 2009-10 Charter Club Council. Leading the council will be Susan Vine of Boxborough, MA, as Chair, with Carol Reedy of Roanoke, VA, and Bridget McNeese of Houston, TX, as Vice Co-Chairs. To date, Council membership remains unchanged. Council representatives listed by region may be found on the Charter Club section of the ASHA website at www.asha.net/ASHA-Charter-Clubs . In addition, ASHA is pleased to present...

Once again, Region XV will host their Firecracker Classic/AHA Region XV Championship Show at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA, on July 1-5, 2009. Their motto is “Dollars Galore and Much More!” The competition management at this competition looked at the payout in prize money several years ago and determined only 30% of the exhibitors won prize money. They wanted to distribute monies over more exhibitors so decided they would have to come up with some creative ways to “spread the...

Summer is the perfect time to get yearlings, two-year-olds, and three-year-olds exposed to the competition atmosphere by participating in the Irish Draught Horse Society of North American (IDHSNA)/United States Eventing Association (USEA) Future Event Horse (FEH) Series. On Friday, July 17, the Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, MD, is hosting a Future Event Horse competition. For more information contact Carolyn Mackintosh at (301) 514-0111, fax (301) 874-0968, or email...

Last weekend, Will Coleman, 26, of Gordonsville, VA, had a spectacular event aboard Twizzel, a 13-year-old Westphalian gelding owned by Tivoli Farm, at the Luhmuhlen CCI**** in Germany. A rollercoaster year has finally culminated in a fantastic four-star finish for this talented duo. After Twizzel (Argentines x Lady Bedford) suffered an unfortunate injury at the Southern Pines Advanced Horse Trials in March, Coleman was forced to scratch his longtime partner from the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day...

From the USEF Show Jumping Department Lexington, KY – Five horse/rider combinations have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to the final leg of the 2009 Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ Tour. These horse/rider combinations were selected based on their ranking on the June 5, 2009 USEF Computer List. The following horse/rider combinations will compete at: CSIO5* Falsterbo, CSIO5* Hickstead and CSIO5* Dublin. They will benefit from the guidance of Chef d’Equipe George Morris while...

Lexington, KY – Five horse/rider combinations have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to the second leg of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ Tour. These horse/rider combinations were selected based on their ranking on the May 8, 2009 USEF Computer List. The following horse/rider combinations will compete at two of the biggest European shows: CSIO5* Rotterdam, The Netherlands, June 18-21 and CSIO5* Aachen, Germany, June 30-July 5. They will benefit from the guidance of Chef...

The United States Hunter Jumper Association's (USHJA) Emerging Athletes Program (EAP) is set to hold its first two training sessions. This weekend, April 4-5, Fox Chase Farm in Middleburg, VA, will host Zone 3's Level I Training Session. The following week, the Westbrook Hunt Club will open its facility for the Zone 1 training session. Both training sessions will be taught by clinician and Olympian Melanie Smith Taylor who will work with participants in three different sections divided by...

The 2009 American Saddlebred Registry Grand National prize program schedule of competitions has been announced. This year, the Grand National features 32 shows offering 61 classes with over $138,000 offered in prize money for Grand National-eligible American Saddlebreds. The schedule is available at www.asha.net/asr-gn_showschedule . In addition, competitions that have traditionally supported the Grand National were entered into a drawing for three Grand National Championship Stakes. The...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that 43 USDF members successfully completed the USDF “L” Education Program between May and November of 2008. The USDF “L” Education Program is designed to prepare candidates to enter the United States Equestrian Federation “r” Judges Training Program, to qualify individuals to judge schooling shows, and to give competitors, trainers, and instructors greater insight into the evaluative techniques of judging dressage. The program...