Gladstone, NJ - Following the approval of the USEF High Performance Working Group and the USEF Executive Commitee, the FEI Nominated Entry for the U.S. Para-Equestrian Team for the 2012 Paralympic Games is as follows. Athletes and horse are listed in ranked order based on the results from the 2012 USEF Selection Trials & National Para-Equestrian Championship: 1. Rebecca Hart and Jessica Ransehousen’s Lord Ludger 2. Jonathan Wentz and Kai Handt’s NTEC Richter Scale 3. Donna...

Lexington, KY - In its largest round of grant funding to date, USA Equestrian Trust has awarded nearly $240,000 to 11 equine non-profits that applied by the first of the foundation's two 2012 application deadlines. The $239,780 in grants is an increase of 21 percent compared to 2011. That mirrored the continued dramatic jump in interest in the Trust's grants program, which saw applications rise 38 percent. The Trust's leadership approved an expansion of the program earlier this...

“Extravaganza” is one of the most important shows of the Paso Fino breed during the competition season. This year, 2012, is the 28th Anniversary of the show and for the first time it will be held at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jacksonville Equestrian Center is among the best venues in the Nation and second to none in Florida! The debut of this show in Jacksonville will accompany the presentation of $10,000.00 in prize money!!! The Extravaganza...

Steve Stephens, co-course designer at the 2008 Olympic Games, will be one of six featured grand prix course designers during the 2012 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. East Dorset, VT – Six of the best course designers in the sport of show jumping will be showcasing their work in the grand prix ring during the Vermont Summer Festival running July 4 through August 12, 2012, in East Dorset, Vermont. New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show, the...

Charles Town, WV - The Pony Finals Auction is in its 18th year, returns to the U.S. Pony Finals in Lexington, Kentucky. The auction will be held in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park on August 11, 2012. The U.S. Pony Finals will be held August 7 through August 12. The Pony Finals anchors seven weeks of shows produced by Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC that includes the Kentucky Summer Series, the U.S. National Junior Hunter Championships and the Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young...

Gladstone, NJ - The following change has been made to the USEF Nominated Entry for the US Dressage Team: Owner Cherry Knoll Farm and rider Todd Flettrich made the decision to withdraw Otto from the selection process and no longer wish to have him considered for the team. As a result, the updated ranked order of eligible combinations is as follows: 1/3. Steffen Peters and Four Winds Farm's Legolas 92 AND Ravel* 2. Tina Konyot and her own Calecto V 4. Jan Ebeling and Ann Romney, Beth Meyers,...

Asheville, NC -- Piedmont Paso Fino Horse Association will celebrate the 30th Annual Piedmont Classic at Asheville ALIVE 2012 at the Western NC Agriculture Center on June 21 -24, 2012. The Paso Fino Horse eloquently combines Spanish heritage and American tradition to present “Los Caballos de Paso Fino” – the horses with the fine walk. Voted “Best in Breed Competition” for 2010 and 2011 by USEF (United States Equestrian Federation). Asheville ALIVE 2012 promises to...

Great Britain's Guy Williams and Richi Rich 111 cleared 7ft 1in to share the honors in the Alltech Christmas Puissance at Olympia in London, England (Alltech) Lexington, KY - June 18, 2012 - The Alltech National Horse Show announced today that this year's already exciting Open Jumper schedule has been enhanced even further with the addition of the $50,000 Alltech Puissance class to be held on Friday evening. Following a successful debut last year, the second edition of the Alltech National...

John Pearce and Johnny B Good (Flying Horse Photography) Parker, CO -John Pearce had a winning week at the Colorado Horse Park during Summer in the Rockies II. First clinching the victory in the $10,000 Open Welcome Stake and then again during the $25,000 Littleton Equine Medical Center and Platinum Performance Grand Prix when he finished first and second. Twenty-two talented pairs faced the challenging Danny Foster course, but only three turned in phenomenal, clear, first-round performances....

The second in a series of guest blog posts from Michelle Binder I started formal riding lessons when I was four years old. English riding lessons. The doctors told my mom it would be good for me. It was 1969. The Academy where I learned is now a national historic landmark. By the time I was 6, I was riding with double reins. My introduction to western riding came when my parents purchased a POA stallion for me the summer of my sixth year. That pony could buck my dad off! ‘Nuff said. When...