With summer just around the corner, now is the time to vaccinate horses against Potomac horse fever (PHF). “Horse owners need to be aware of the disease and its seasonality,” said Dr. Julia Wilson, DVM, Associate Professor, Large Animal Medicine, University of Minnesota. PHF is a potentially deadly disease that can cause mild depression, anorexia, diarrhea and abortion in pregnant mares. Some horses also may develop severe toxemia, and up to 40% of horses with PHF will develop laminitis. PHF is...

This year, more than $180,000 will be offered from the Kentucky Breeders Incentive Program, for Kentucky-bred American Saddlebreds exhibited by members of the Kentucky Saddlebred Owners and Breeders Association (KSOBA), a charter club of the American Saddlebred Horse Association. The Fine Harness Open Championship at the Kentucky Spring Premier Horse Show, held at the Kentucky Horse Park beginning Thursday, April 30, is the first 2009 class to receive a supplement from the Kentucky Breeders...

Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) is now offering the Recreational Vaulting Coach Certification as a stand-alone certification clinic. This clinic was designed in conjunction with the American Vaulting Association (AVA). Prior to approval of the change by the CHA Board of Directors in March of this year, it was required by the participant to either hold an instructor certification or attend a “standard equivalency test out” prior to the vaulting clinic. Since so many excellent vaulting...

Lexington, KY – It was tight at the top of the leaderboard at the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event but the first three places remained unchanged, as Lucinda Fredericks, Bettina Hoy and Buck Davidson each jumped immaculate clear show jumping rounds. Fredericks, who took over the lead from Hoy after the cross country, had all kinds of horse left in the brand new main arena at the Kentucky Horse Park and Headley Britannia bounded around Richard Jeffrey’s track, giving the pair their...

My Boy Bobby and Buck Davidson, Best for the US (Stockimageservices.com) By Joanie Morris Lexington, KY – The American riders had some catching up to do after the first day of dressage at the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. The European riders swept the top three places after Thursday and the US riders returned on Friday to find only a little bit of room at the top of the leaderboard. Germany’s Bettina Hoy wasn’t going to be bested in the main stadium at the Kentucky...

Jolie Sexson and Killian O'Connor Lead the Americans (Stockimageservices.com) Lexington, KY – The 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event got off to a flying start at the Kentucky Horse Park. In the spectacular brand-new Main Stadium, 24 of the field of 50 went to task in the dressage ring. With a Rolex Watch, plenty of prize money and the Rolex/USEF National Championship on the line, the competition proved to be tough. Twenty foreign riders are taking on the Americans in 2009, many taking...

Lexington, KY – The USEF has named the following horse/rider combinations for the 2009 Pan American Endurance Championships to be held in Costa Azul, Uruguay on April 24, 2009. The following horse/rider combinations will represent the US at the Pan American Championships: Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Breed/Age/Sex/Owner Valerie Kanavy/62/Fort Valley, VA/LM Francesa Pharr/Arabian/10/M/Valerie Kanavy Gabrielle Mann/35/Bolinas, CA/CM Big Easy/Arabian/14/G/Gabrielle Mann Stephen Rojek/64/South...

Globalization has a special meaning for Oldenburg breeders and owners as an American breeder presented yet again the highest-priced horse at an Oldenburg Auction at the 70th Elite Anniversary Auction in Vechta, Germany, and Nancy Holowesko of Crosiadore Farm is featured in the international "Achievements of 2008" published by the Oldenburg Verband. The wonderful and powerful-moving approved stallion, Somerset, bred by Holly Simensen was the highest-priced horse at the 2009 Spring Elite Auction...

Pleasure, Park, and Western Country Pleasure Invitational qualifying points standings are now posted on the American Saddlebred Horse Association’s (ASHA) website at www.asha.net/WCHS-Results . The standings will update on a next-day basis whenever competition results are entered into ASHA's database. It should be noted that the first qualifying requirement prior to review of point totals accumulated is that any horse entered in show pleasure, country pleasure, or park at the Kentucky State...

With $30,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs, riders from up and down the West Coast are aiming their horses for the inaugural Preliminary Challenge at the Event at Woodside on May 22-24. The Woodside organizers are offering two divisions for the Preliminary Challenge: the Horse section is open to riders of any level on horses that have never competed at the intermediate level or above; the Rider section is open to all horses with riders who have never competed at the intermediate level or...