This year is well under way and plans for the 2008 Paso Fino Horse Association (PFHA) Grand National show are already in the works. "Celebracion del Paso Fino" is the theme for Nationals this year. We all gather at the shows, participate in parades and trail rides, not only to see old friends and meet new people but to celebrate this wonderful breed. It is my hope that this year and every year will be about the grace, beauty and fire of the Paso Fino. Judges for the 2008 National Show are:...

Allan Ehrlick from Campbellville, Ontario, Canada, took home top honors for this year’s Amateur High-Point Achievement Award with 451 points. Ehrlick showed four horses in 10 shows—three purebreds and one Half-Arabian. Most of his points were earned on Dal-Apollo, (Sea Ben Ben Bilal x Rudaynah), a 13-year-old purebred gelding who earned Ehrlick two national championships, two reserve national championships and six Top 10s at the 2007 Sport Horse Nationals in Lexington, VA, and Canadian...

Morgan trainer Tristanne Weber Childress, 34, of Siler City, NC, passed away March 17, 2008, following a short illness. Weber was born and raised in Colorado where she attended Evergreen High School before moving to Tulsa, OK, to train with her Morgan horses. She attended college while beginning her career as a professional horse trainer. Horses and her husband, Ed Childress, were her passion. Prior to opening her own training facility, Silhouette Training Stables, Weber was trainer at...

Wellington, FL – Nine teams contested the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup CSIO 5**** presented by CN on March 7 at a festive Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. In a night off from the USEF Selection Trials for Show Jumping, which continue on Sunday afternoon, the Nations Cup brought out true international flavor. Fans, bands and patriotism showed up to support the different teams and be part of the action including a very vocal Irish contingency. They were rewarded for their...

Laura Kraut and Cedric Remain High Atop the Leaderboard at the USEF Selection Trials in Show Jumping (Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com) Wellington, FL – The third leg of the USEF Selection Trials for Show Jumping got underway between the raindrops at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL on March 5, 2008. With 30 riders left in the mix for Short List for the 2008 Olympic Games, the third of five trials was for Selection Trial horses only. Sponsored by Equine Motor...

Jeffery Welles and Armani Remain Perfect in the USEF Selection Trials for Show Jumping (Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com) By Joanie Morris Wellington, FL - The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center played host to the second leg of the USEF Selection Trials for Show Jumping sponsored by Equine Motorcoach and Hong Kong Tourism as part of the $100,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier and Zada Enterprises LLC Masters Cup. 68 horses lined up on Sunday March 2, 2008, 42 of which were vying for selection....

Wellington, FL - Regardless of discipline, things look pretty good when all four members of the Gold Medal winning team from the 2004 Olympic Games line up to vie for a spot on the team in 2008. Hello show jumpers. Reigning Gold medalists: Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Peter Wylde and Chris Kappler are among the 41 entered in the USEF Selection Trials for the 2008 Olympic Team in Show Jumping to take place at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL February 28- March 9....

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Ad Hoc Committee on Selection has approved naming the horse/rider combinations of Authentic/Beezie Madden and Sapphire/McLain Ward to Beezie Madden and Authentic (Bob Langrish) the Show Jumping Short List for the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong August 8-24, 2008. Per the USEF Selection Procedure for the Show Jumping Team, the Selectors have the discretion to recommend up to four of the 10 horse/rider combinations to the Short List...

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) is proud to name DA Al Capone+// (Ebony Masterpiece x Rabaska) owned by Cheryl Van Deusen of New Smyrna Beach, FL, as its 2007 Distance Horse of the Year. “Alvin” is an 11-year-old purebred Arabian gelding that was chosen for his excellence in endurance. Alvin’s most recent accomplishment was his selection as one of four horses to represent the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Team at the European Endurance Championships in Portugal. As the winner...

HITS is pleased to announce that the Stallion Services Department of the Equine Medical Center of Ocala, FL, will offer the Leading Mare Award to the mare that finishes the highest in the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group on Sunday, March 16, at HITS Ocala. The award consists of a free embryo transfer, which will be performed by Dr. Corey Miller, head of reproduction at the Ocala-based veterinary hospital. Any mare based in the United States...