When the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announced its 2005 champions, the list included Hilltop Farm's elite Hanoverian stallion Contucci as the 2005 USEF Leading Sire Dressage Breeding. Contucci's accumulated points of 766 were more than double the #2 ranked sire, who accumulated 331 points. The title of USEF Leading Owner Dressage Breeding was also awarded to Hilltop Farm, likely due to many of Contucci's offspring successes. Since 2004, Contucci has been represented in the USEF...

Marc Manning (Becky Holder and Courageous Comet tackle the Head of the Lake on the cross-country phase.) It was a big and challenging course that greeted the 59 horse-and-rider combinations going into Saturday’s grueling cross-country phase at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Farnam. And while many Kentuckians’ minds were on next weekend’s Kentucky Derby and the “most exciting two minutes in sports,” the eventing world and tens of thousands of...

Showcase, Ltd., based in Canton, GA, ended their 2005 show season on a high note as owner-rider Terry Brown, partnered with her 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding Sequel, were awarded Farnam®/Platform™ USEF National Horse of the Year titles in Second Year Green Working Hunter, Regular Working Hunter and Horse of the Year Grand Champion in Regular Hunters. They seem to be headed right back to the top in 2006 as their winning continued with the championship in the Regular Working Hunter division for...

Langer Equestrian Group, Inc., jumped into the new year with record entries at the LAEC Opener, January 20-22. The USEF A-rated show attracted over 300 horses and riders to the first major show of the new year. "We've had really great weather, and I think that everyone could get their horses out and were looking forward to a nice show," said Langer Equestrian Group President Larry Langer. The new show season attracts new faces and new horses. Archie Cox found another winner to add to his string...

Lexington, KY – When asked to choose one word that best describes who she is, Teal Dowling pauses, laughs a little and gives a word that all who know her would heartily agree with. The word would have to be “original,” she told the panel of judges in her interview as a finalist for 2005 USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year. The delightful 18-year-old from Spring Prairie, Wisconsin does her best to live up to that word, charting her own course as she navigates life and the world...

As an exceptional representation of the Friesian breed, there is no question why 11-year-old Goffert 369, owned by Iron Spring Farm, is a part of Breyer's new line of Traditional models for 2006. This striking and athletic stallion is captured in Breyer's newest sculpture, created by Kathleen Moody, in a graceful extended trot. A natural showman, Goffert excels in the grand prix dressage ring with his stunning and versatile movements. Foaled in 1994, Goffert is a 16.3-hand breeding stallion...

Lexington, KY – A flawless double clear ride in Barcelona, Spain was one of the deciding factors in determining which team would go home as 2005 Samsung Super League Champions. As it happens, the U.S. Show Jumping Team was destined to take home that title—a title that more than a dozen U.S. riders worked for all summer long, and a title that came down to one last Nations Cup competition at CSIO Barcelona. As for the double-clear round that helped clinch the overall season win, we...

On September 15, 2005, the nine-year-old Friesian Otte 375, an approved FPS breeding stallion, passed awy due to an inoperable injury. He was owned by Sonja R. Zinke and Terri Matera of Cherry Valley, CA, and stood at Sunshine Horse Ranch. Otte 375 combined excellent performance, remarkable quality and stellar character. In 2004, Otte 375 was given the title of Ride and Drive Champion in The Netherlands. In December 2002 he earned the title Grand Champion in The Netherlands' Z1 Dressage Level....

The American Hanoverian Society (AHS) announced the establishment of a new Jumper Breeding Program. A cooperative effort between the AHS and the two regional Hanoverian breeding clubs in Canada, the Jumper Breeding Program is intended to promote the breeding of high-quality Hanoverian show jumping horses in North America. The Jumper Breeding Program is based in part on the successful experience of the Programm Hannoveraner Springpferdezucht (PHS) in Germany, which was created in 1993 by the...

Two sales will be held in conjunction with the 2005 Paso Fino Horse Association (PFHA) Grand National Championship Show, September 18-24, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, in Perry, GA. The Eighth Annual Grand National Horse Sale will be held, Thursday, September 22, at 6 p.m. in the Beef and Dairy Arena. The sale is open to registered Paso Finos of all ages. The Fabulous Futurity Auction will be held Friday, September 23, at 6 p.m. and is open to two-year-old registered Paso...