The 24th annual Wisconsin Futurity American Saddlebred Limited Breeder’s Stallion Service Auction will be held Saturday, January 17, 2009, at the Marriott Milwaukee West located in Waukesha, WI. A special room rate of $89 is available at the hotel with reference to the Wisconsin Futurity. Hotel phone is (877) 651-7666. The evening begins at 4:00 p.m. (CST). For the complete schedule of events, visit www.wisconsinsaddlebred.com . For people unable to attend, advance written bids will be accepted....

The Palm Beach Steeplechase was declared a huge success by spectators, owners, jockeys and officials in its inaugural running at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Saturday, November 29.. In almost perfect South Florida weather of clear blue skies and temperatures of almost 80 degrees, a crowd estimated at close to 4,000 celebrated the beginning of the winter equestrian circuit. In addition to five races with total prize money of $180,000 and sanctioned by the National...

Dover Saddlery is pleased to announce that Dobbin, owned and ridden by Dover Saddlery employee Corinne Ashton, has been named 2008 Horse of the Year, by the United States Eventing Association. Dobbin, a 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding is owned and ridden by Corinne Ashton who works part time in customer service at Dover Saddlery, near her home in Princeton, MA. Ashton enjoys answering customers’ questions about eventing products while her co-workers love to follow Dobbin’s successful career...

Both Bugatti Hilltop and Festrausch saw their "stardom" grow this year as each earned additional stars from the ISR/OldenburgNA. Earning his star in the "Success of Offspring" category, Bugatti completes his fifth star and joins Parabol (Paradox I x Waldschuetz) in being one of only four stallions in the U.S. to earn the five-star ranking. Bugatti's quickly growing number of offspring are truly storming the dressage scene with horses such as Marcia Richardson's Bocaccio IOF's (Bugatti x...

Canada’s Olympians had a rough go of it in the $50,000 Weston Canadian Open for International Jumpers at Toronto’s Royal Horse Show on November 14th. Americans McLain Ward and Laura Kraut, hot off their Team Gold at the Olympics, took first and third respectively, with Britain’s Michael Whitaker narrowly edging into the second position. Ward, with his 16-year-old veteran campaigner Goldika 559, executed the course in style, taking almost the identical route that teammate Kraut had taken 15...

Wilbur "Sug" Utz, American Saddlebred trainer and owner of Blue Ridge Stables in Raytown, MO, died Wednesday, November 5, 2008. He was 90 years old. Sug, son of Emil and Sudie Utz, was born and raised on a farm outside Maysville in northwest Missouri. Coming from a horse training family, Sug learned his craft at his father’s side, along with his three brothers. Two of his brothers, Don and Jay, similar to Sug, went on to become world’s champion caliber Saddlebred men. They were all exciting...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Kassidy Peacock of Helotes, TX, has been selected as the recipient of the 2008 USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by The Paddock Saddlery and sponsored by the USDF Youth Executive Board. This prestigious award honors one outstanding youth volunteer who has contributed on a national and local basis to the USDF and dressage. As the recipient of this award, Peacock's name will be engraved on a perpetual trophy,...

In October 2008, international para-equestrian driver Diane Kastama lost her equine driving partner, Jasper. The 13-year-old Welsh Cob gelding was loved by many. Kastama met Jasper with his tandem and pair mate, Rupert, at the World Championships in 2004. After leasing the gelding for the competition, Kastama found she couldn't leave him in Scotland. Purchasing the cobs, they came back stateside to take on the combined driving world. Not only was Jasper her competitive partner, but they teamed...

Lexington, KY - New Jersey show jumping rider Jessica Siuda stormed to victory in Belgium to score her first career Grand Prix win at the CSI** 's-Gravenwezel (Belgium) aboard Robin. Siuda, 25, was one of three (out of 43 starters) to go forward into the jump-off, she then was the first rider in the ring for the second round. Siuda and Robin put in a clean and very fast round and the other combinations in the jump-off had rails down trying to catch the pair. Robin, a 10-year-old KWPN gelding,...

History repeated itself as Kent Farrington and Upchiqui won the $75,000 Budweiser Prix de Penn National for the second time on closing night of the 2008 Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Suspense is the essence of competition. Farrington faced 28 very tough competitors to repeat this win. The seventh of 10 clean trips in the first round, Farrington knew speed would be a prime factor in the jump-off. “Upchiqui is an exceptionally fast horse,” said Farrington, 20. “ He’s a great horse. He covers...