Lexington, KY - Chester Weber of Ocala, FL bested a field of five international drivers to win the CAI-A Live Oak CDE held March 16-19. Weber was named the USEF National Four-in-Hand Champion for 2006 and won his fourth consecutive Vanderbilt Trophy from the USET Foundation. Reserve Champion was Tucker S. Johnson of Hobe Sound, FL. When asked about his fourth consecutive National Championship win Weber replied, “I am fortunate enough to have a superb group of horses and a wonderful crew.”...

(Lexington, KY) – The USEF announced today that two horse-and-rider combinations have been named to the Show Jumping Short List for the World Equestrian Games, to be held in Aachen Germany, August 20-September 3. They are as follows: • McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, with Sapphire, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, owned by owned by Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Harrison’s Double H Farm; • Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, with Authentic, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, owned by Abigail Wexner....

The United States Eventing Association has announced that the 2006 Maui Jim Horse Trials in Wayne, IL, will again be part of the Adequan Gold Cup Series of events, thus designating it as one of the 12 “premier” eventing competitions in the United States. Maui Jim Horse Trials, who recently entered into a five-year sponsorship agreement with Maui Jim, Inc., the Peoria-based manufacturer of high-end sunglasses, will offer riders a new look for the July 7-9 competition. A long unused parcel of...

The Pennsylvania Futurity has announced that it will officially be changing its name to more accurately reflect the region and participants to the Penn-Ohio Futurity. In a combined effort to resume its rightful place as a nursery for fine American Saddlebreds, the exhibitors and breeders from the states of Pennsylvania and Ohio have merged forces to promote the Penn-Ohio Futurity as one of the nation's most progressive and responsive futurities. The Ohio Limited Breeders and the Penn-Ohio...

This week a bill was filed in the Kentucky State Legislature that would benefit the horse industry in Kentucky. House Bill 263 calls for removing the sales tax that is charged on equine products, such as feed, grooming products, bedding supplies and many other items. For more information, or to voice your opinion about this bill, you can contact your legislator: By mail: Capitol Annex, Frankfort, KY 40601 By phone: (800) 373-7181 (Legislative Message Line); (877) 287-3134 (Spanish Line) This...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), in conjunction with the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), is pleased to announce that the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia, will host the inaugural FEI North American Junior Championships for Dressage in 2006, along with the traditional FEI North American Young Riders’ Championships, August 1-6, 2006. The 2006 FEI North American Young Riders’ Championships will continue to honor its tradition as the...

When the nation’s best equestrians converge on Wellington, FL, for the 122nd National Horse Show and Family Festival beginning on November 30, 2005, among them will be the elite of the Amateur Owner Jumper and Junior Jumper divisions. The top ranked riders from the year-long Show Jumping Hall of Fame Series have once again been invited to compete in a head-to-head battle in Florida in their special year-end championships at the 122nd National Horse Show (NHS) and Family Festival. The Show...

Lexington, KY – The 2006 United States Equestrian Federation Annual Meeting, previously scheduled to take place in New Orleans, has been relocated to Cincinnati, OH, at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. The dates for the convention will remain January 11–15. “We were very much looking forward to meeting in New Orleans but USEF was one of hundreds of organizations that had to relocate their convention as a result of the devastating hurricane. The Netherland Plaza is a beautiful Art Deco...

Lexington, KY – Craig Schmersal of Menifee, California, and Tim McQuay of Tioga, Texas will represent the United States in the 2005 FEI World Reining Masters Series Final in Manerbio, Italy, September 24. Each, a master, in his own right, Schmersal was a member of the Gold Medal U.S. team at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, while McQuay is the NRHA’s all-time leading money earner. Schmersal took the Gold medal and Championship title August 27, riding Tidal Wave...

Craig Schmersal and Tidal Wave Jack, Winners of the 2005 Adequan/USEF Open Reining Championship (Waltenberry Photography) Lexington, KY – With swift and calculated moves, amazing 360-degree spins and stop-on-a-dime sliding stops that left an unabashed crowd going wild, Craig Schmersal and Tidal Wave Jack claimed their landmark USEF Gold medal and trophy in one fell swoop at the 2005 Adequan/USEF Open Reining Championship on Saturday, August 27, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington....