On Saturday, February 28, the Penn-Ohio Futurity offered an opportunity to learn training tips from accomplished horseman Bret Day, of Grey Ridge Farm in Versailles, KY. The training clinic was held at Champions Center in Springfield, OH. Day is well known in the Saddlebred community, partly for his involvement with the United Professional Horsemen’s Association (UPHA). Notable horses trained by Bret Day include WC Bono, WC Mahvelous Guy, WC Hallelujah Chorus, WC Go Big Blue and many other...

The American Show Pony Registry (ASPR) has again added $6,000 in incentive prize money for ASPR classes to be held at the 2009 World Championship Show July 22-25 in Columbus, OH, and the 2009 National Shetland Pony Congress July 28-August 2 in Cloverdale, IN. The American Show Pony Registry is a division of the American Shetland Pony Club. The additional incentive money was generously donated by supporters of the ASPR and raised with the assistance of the ASPR committee. The money will be...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) Show Jumping Developing Rider Program is getting into full swing with several initiatives underway for the 2009 season. The Developing Rider Tour will return to Europe this summer and applications for the Tour are now being accepted. Applications can be found on the USEF website: https://www.usef.org/Contentpage2.aspx?id=hpjumping. Applications are due March 20, 2009 and the horse/rider combinations for the tour will selected off...

California show jumping superstar Joie Gatlin was quick to wear out her welcome at HITS Arizona when she captured the blue aboard SunCal's King in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix to conclude Week II, the Kachina Classic at the Pima County Fairgrounds, in Tucson, AZ. "I think everyone in Tucson was happy to see me come, and I think they are even happier to see me go," joked Gatlin. The California girl got the best of 28 riders in the first round and an additional 13 that advanced to the jump-off...

It is with profound sadness that the Paso Fino Horse Association (PFHA) announces the death of the legendary Paso Fino stallion, Capuchino, who passed away on January 23, 2009, in Ocala, FL, at the age of 28 years old. Although Capuchino's unfortunate passing has saddened Paso Fino lovers everywhere, his lifetime achievements and indelible contributions to the breed will live on forever. Inducted in 1999 into the PFHA Hall of Fame and later crowned PFHA Horse of the Millennium, Capuchino was...

Lexington, KY – A silent auction held by the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) raised over $5,000 in proceeds to benefit the USHJA Foundation and the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). The silent auction was held at the USHJA Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN, which took place December 8-11. Winning bids of the 28 donated items were announced at the Evening of Equestrians Awards Ceremony on December 10. The USHJA Foundation promotes the hunter and jumper...

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...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has determined the following dates and locations for the 2009 USEF Dressage Championships: • Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Central Selection Trial: May 15 – 17, 2009, Dressage at Lamplight May, Wayne, IL • Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Western Selection Trial: May 22 – 24, 2009, Dressage at Flintridge, Flintridge-La Canada, CA • Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Eastern Selection Trial: May 29 – 31, 2009, Capital Dressage...

Get ready for the ride of a lifetime as Appaloosas and exhibitors from throughout the world gather to compete for prestigious World Championship titles at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, TX, October 24-November 1. Bring the entire family to watch exceptional Appaloosas demonstrate their versatile skills and abilities in 164 classes. From reining and cutting to pleasure riding and halter, Appaloosas are found in every discipline. The competition in the classes is certainly...

California dressage rider Jan Ebeling and the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Rafalca won the dressage World Cup qualifier at Saugerties CDI-W show in upstate New York this past weekend with a score of 71.700%. This result came after their victory in the grand prix on Saturday. Ebeling was delighted with the mare who, "didn't really have any mistakes," in the grand prix freestyle. "She was really, really super, and it was definitely a confidence builder." The test, which is ridden to music from the...