Updating the International Equestrian Federation’s (FEI) Reining Strategic Plan, establishing a timetable for continental and world championships and a review of the FEI Rules for Reining were among the points discussed at the FEI Reining Committee meeting held on May 30-31 in Tioga, TX. The FEI Reining Strategic Plan, approved last year by the committee, was updated with action plans and timelines developed for each of the five objectives. These include having reining fully integrated into the...

Glenn Moody, a highly respected hunter course designer and riding instructor, will join the riding program teaching staff at Sweet Briar College for the 2006/2007 academic year. Last August, Moody retired from teaching and coaching at The Barracks, home of the University of Virginia riding team, to focus on course designing and judging. “We were fortunate to have him teach a hugely successful clinic at Sweet Briar last December,” said riding director Shelby French. “We told him then that if he...

Michael Matz and Kentucky Derby 132 Winner Barbaro (Anne M. Eberhardt ) Lexington, KY – Imagine having an Olympic Silver medal of your very own. Imagine winning the greatest horse race in the world - the Kentucky Derby. To achieve either is a milestone in any horse lover’s life. To do both is almost unthinkable. That is unless you are Michael Matz, who has created his own exclusive club. And it has exactly one member. The 132nd Kentucky Derby was an exceptional day for this former...

Even before the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) began on Tuesday, April 18, the 2006 event was already having an impact at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX. More than 300 Classic entries arrived in Katy for a chance to compete for $240,000 in guaranteed added money and a total payout over $1 million. In true NRBC style, decorations went up, along with sponsors' banners, and the show grounds were embellished with flowers and greenery. Trainers and riders from across the...

Just before the start of Dressage at Devon’s freestyle competition on October 15, Dr. Richard Louis Stevens of Thousand Oaks, CA, took center stage and was honored with the 2005 Marty Simensen Memorial Trophy for his work in the area of equine rescue after a natural disaster. Dr. Stevens has created communication systems and evacuation plans that facilitate the movement of horses out of areas hit by natural disaster. He has also made it possible for horse owners to evacuate areas under threat...

Iron Spring Farm has just imported one of the most popular young stallions in Holland, UB40. A four-year-old son of Olivi by Jazz, UB40 placed third in the championship keuring for dressage horses at the 2004 KWPN stallion show in Holland and received excellent scores for his gaits and dressage potential during his performance test. UB40's first foals were recently inspected and also received excellent scores and remarks from the inspectors. His foal, Armstrong M., was the high-selling foal...

Lexington, KY – At their semi-annual meeting yesterday, The Board of Directors of the United States Equestrian Federation unanimously re-elected David O’Connor as USEF President. His new term will run from January 2005 to January 2009. O’Connor has served as USEF President since July, 2003. The USEF was created by the joining of the former USA Equestrian and the United States Equestrian Team and O’Connor has been instrumental in the transition to the new organization. He has an extensive list...

Ellen Di Bella receiving her 2019 U.S. Equesrtian Federation Lifetime Achievement Award (John Nation) Lexington, Ky. - Ellen DiBella’s influence on equestrian sport cannot be understated. She devoted her life to inspiring others, created opportunities for equestrians and their horses, and worked for every horse to be valued and cherished. DiBella passed away the evening of August 20, 2023. A resident of Parker, Colorado, Ellen was born July 26, 1944 to Edwin and Jane McCauley. She...

Thermal, Calif. - The last of three USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Finals of 2022 took place on November 12 at National Sunshine Series II with 35 junior equestrians competing in a unique three-phase final. Ella Dyson emerged victorious with Cetello in the USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – West with consistent performances and impressive scores. “It feels so surreal, and so exciting,” Dyson said of her champion title. “I am so honored to have won and...

Jumping athletes were put to the ultimate test Saturday as they competed for individual honors in the Gotham North FEI North American Youth Championships for Jumping, presented by USHJA. Over two rounds, the Children’s and Pre-Juniors attempted to record clear efforts to their overall scores and emerge on the podium. In the Children’s, Rylynn Conway (Zone 2 – Fair Haven, N.J.) took the gold medal after a tiebreaking jump-off, while in the Pre-Junior category, Lawson Whitaker...