Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces the 2008 Emerson Burr Horsemanship Awards Program and application process for horse shows who are interested in offering the program to young equestrians for the upcoming competition season. Opportunities to participate in the Emerson Burr program will be offered in each of the 1-10 continental zones and also at the 2008 USEF Pony Finals National Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. This program is open to Ponies,...

Jeff Wonnell, a lifelong consummate horseman who assisted with the introduction of the Friesian breed to the Federation, passed away on November 21, 2007, from injuries related to an accidental fall at his Branson West, MO, home. He was 86. For the past seven decades, Wonnell’s accomplishments were as a horseman, trainer, mentor, breeder and friend, each documented by countless championships and the horses he was responsible for breeding and showing. Wonnell never ceased to serve the equine...

Judy Guden, the owner of Sagacious HF, ridden by Lauren Sammis to Team Gold and Individual Silver medals at this year's Pan American Games, died Friday night. Guden had been undergoing treatment for breast cancer for many months. "Judy Guden passed from this world tonight in the loving arms of her friends and family!" family friends Monica Sinks and Ed Borreson reported. Lauren Sammis was given the ride on the eight-year-old KWPN Sagacious HF—the initials standing for the name of Al and...

There is a new kid on the block. Oldenburg (GOV) stallion Rosall, by Rosario out of Akzent II mare is just over from Germany, and he won the blue at Devon in the four-year-old stallion Materiale class. His very accomplished grand prix rider, Jessica Jo Tate, is thrilled with him, and very proud of the way he handled his week at Devon. Tate, now training/riding some very successful young horses, said, "He is always the gentleman, always easy to work with, and his work ethic and character are...

Founder of the Half Saddlebred Registry, Roberta Nye Busch, 89, of Medina, OH, died Monday, November 12, 2007. In 1970, Busch purchased a 15-year-old stallion named Flying Eagle Peavine. When owners of other breeds bred their mares to her American Saddlebred stallion, Busch perceived the need for a recording organization for these half-Saddlebreds. Thus, in 1971, she established the Half Saddlebred Registry and remained as its administrator for 25 years from her home in Coshocton,...

U.S. endurance competitors were up to the task at the World Endurance Championship Test Event in Teregganu, Malaysia, November 10-11, 2007. Despite torrential rain and muddy conditions, two American combinations finished in the top ten. Kathy Brunjes from Maine riding her own Theatric finished fifth, just inches in front of her fellow countryman John Crandell III. Crandell, from Virginia, was sixth riding Heraldic. Interestingly, these geldings are ¾ siblings. They are both by Statistic and...

Show jumper Laura Kraut continued her successful European tour with a convincing win in the £30,000 Equestrian Sportsman Grand Prix at the Northern Ireland International Horse Show in Belfast, Ireland, held over the weekend of October 25-28. Riding Anthem, a 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by The Summit Syndicate, Kraut blazed around the jump-off course, besting England show jumping legend Michael Whitaker and Wonamia van den Aard by more than two seconds. Thirty-three quality combinations...

The lovely Warmblood gelding Brunello and Liza Towell-Boyd achieved the trifecta of the indoor circuit by taking home the championship ribbons in the regular working hunter division at the Capital Challenge Horse Show, the Washington International Horse Show and the final leg of the indoor championships, The Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA, on October 24. Trainer Jack Towell and daughter Towell-Boyd, 28, of Finally Farm in Camden, SC, who piloted Carolyn Clarke Morrison’s...

In order to provide a unique benefit to USEF competitions and help promote the submission of electronic results, USEF has launched the 2007 Computer Hardware Grant Program. In 2007, USEF upgraded all workstations throughout the entire organization, and instead of disposing of these workstations, they are being offered to competitions that may have a use for them. Even though these workstations are three years old, they are excellent for running Windows XP, but lack the resources to fully run...

Elkton, MD – The weather blew through the Mid-Atlantic region on Friday night and cross country/ marathon day at the USEF National Championships at the Dansko Fair Hill International boasted perfect conditions and terrain. Phillip Dutton, the overnight leader in the CCI*** Championships had to wait until the very end of the day to maintain his lead with Ann Jones’ The Foreman and put on a cross country clinic with the 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. The Foreman, who won the event...