The University of Minnesota is performing a study on tying up in Morgan horses. One cause for tying up in horses of all breeds is type 1 Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM), for which there is now a genetic test that uses blood or hair roots. (For more information about the test, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/lab/Advances_in_PSSM.html .) However, there are horses that appear to have a type 2 form of PSSM, which, at present, can only be diagnosed by muscle biopsy. The University of Minnesota is...

Lexington, KY— The United States Equestrian Federation announces the approval of a Rule Change by the Executive Committee that is effective immediately for Rule GR1211.5b. The change to the rule is the following: GR1211 Appointment of Officials and Employees. [Chapter 12. Competition Officials, Employees and Volunteers] Effective immediately: 5. Qualified Medical Personnel. (Exception: Eventing - see EV113.4) b. Competitions using more than three performance areas simultaneously and all first...

Effective immediately and until December 31, 2009, registration fees at the National Show Horse Registry (NSHR) for National Show Horses will be $250 for horses three months and older whose sire is NSHR Lifetime Nominated and $500 for horses three months and older whose sire is not NSHR Lifetime Nominated. Effective immediately and until December 31, 2009, the transfer fee of a National Show Horse will be no more than $100 regardless of the number of interim owners as long as the current owner...

Lexington, KY – The following changes to the CSI/CSIO aka the USEF Computer List will become effective March 17, 2009. Changes in Bold/Italics/Underlined and Strikethrough . • Page 3, 2nd paragraph under SELECTION of the Selection Procedure for CSIO/CSI Competition Discretionary Selection: “However, with the approval of the Show Jumping High Performance Committee and the Executive Committee or these committees’ designees, the chef d’Equipe shall have the authority...

Lexington, KY – The 2009 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) ParaEquestrian Dressage National Championships will be held at the Lamplight Equestrian enter in Chicago, IL May 14-17. This National Championship will be held concurrently with the Lamplight CDI; and for the first time ever in the US, a CPEDI3* will be held. This is the highest level of FEI ParaEquestrian Dressage. ParaEquestrian Dressage riders will also be able to earn their FEI Certificate of Capability, which is required...

Those interested in owning DVDs of the championship dressage and jumping competition at the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals can now place their advance orders online at www.thesporthouse.com . The Rolex FEI World Cup Finals return to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, April 15-19, featuring the world's best horses and riders competing for the title of FEI World Cup Champion in the two Olympic disciplines of show jumping and dressage. The "Live and Unedited" DVDs feature all the...

The Unwanted Horse Coalition’s (UHC) National Speaker Program is up and running. If you are an equine group with an upcoming event and would like to have someone speak about the UHC, what it does and the problem of unwanted horses, the UHC has a program to provide you with this support. The UHC has volunteers across the country who may be able to attend your event and present information from the Coalition. If you have an equine-related event coming up, please contact the UHC to request a...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has launched its search for the next Dressage Chef d’Equipe/National Coach. The USEF has undertaken the task of outlining and redefining the role that the next US Dressage Chef d’Equipe/National Coach will play in the US Dressage program. With input from a variety of stakeholders, the job description has been finalized. The High Performance dressage athletes played a major role in defining this position and their recommendations...

Morgan enthusiasts may want to consider attending the 21st annual New York Stallion Service Auction in Saratoga Springs, NY. The day is full of activities for the whole family. Services to 39 of the breed's finest stallions will be auctioned off as well as a photo shoot donated by Debbie Uecker-Keough and full page ads in the New England Show Program , The Morgan Horse magazine, and Saddle Horse Report . Jeanne Mellin Herrick also has generously donated a piece of her artwork. The day begins at...

A meeting of the Eventing Safety Officers, appointed by the National Federations in the framework of the global Eventing Safety Programme the FEI is developing, took place on January 24-25 at Hartpury, United Kingdom. The meeting was very productive as it allowed the representatives of 25 National Federations to make presentations on the integration of the 2008 Copenhagen Safety Forum recommendations, new safety ideas, practical actions and level of development of the sport and concerns typical...