The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that 43 USDF members successfully completed the USDF “L” Education Program between May and November of 2008. The USDF “L” Education Program is designed to prepare candidates to enter the United States Equestrian Federation “r” Judges Training Program, to qualify individuals to judge schooling shows, and to give competitors, trainers, and instructors greater insight into the evaluative techniques of judging dressage. The program...

Lifelong horseman Art Gottfried passed away on Sunday, December 21, in the presence of his immediate family. Gottfried is survived by Rosalie, his wife of many years, his children, grandchildren, and his beloved dog, Ralphie. Gottfried was well known throughout the hunter/jumper sport for his lifelong involvement, and he was probably best known as a USEF Steward. Services for Gottfried were held on Friday, December 26, at the McCormick & Sons Mortuary in Laguna Hills. Rosalie asks that any...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association's (ASHA) Annual Convention and Youth Conference will be held Thursday, February 12, through Saturday, February 14, at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort and Spa in Lexington, KY. With registration set to begin on Thursday morning, the convention will consist of open meetings, forums, youth events, and multiple vendor exhibits, culminating in Saturday night’s Saddlebred Ball, also set to be held onsite at the Griffin Gate Marriott. Thursday afternoon the...

A well-known member of the Saddlebred community, Jimmy Miller, died on Saturday, December 27, 2008. A private graveside service was held on Monday, December 29. Miller, a resident of Ashland, MO, has long been associated with World’s Champion road horses and ponies. His record of successful road ponies may very well be without equal and include World’s Champions: Adiamo, Free Willy, Lamborghini, and Dun-Haven Infatuation—just to mention a few. Likewise, Miller’s stellar lineup of road...

The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC), in partnership with the Kentucky Hunter Jumper Association (KHJA), announced a new program to reward KHJA members competing on rescued horses in 2009. A $300 cash prize will be given to the KHJA competitor riding a rescued horse with the greatest accumulation of points in 2009. Year end points are tallied by KHC, and the 2009 rescue horse high-point winner will be recognized at the 2010 KHJA banquet and at the KHC Annual Conference. Any KHJA member who competes...

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved the sports competitions programme for the first Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to be held in Singapore in 2010, as well as the qualification system for each event. Showjumping, the sole discipline representing equestrian sport, will see a total of 30 riders between 17 and 18 years of age competing on borrowed horses at the Singapore Turf Club. The qualification system is available at www.fei....

The finalized membership of the FEI Dressage Task Force is as follows: —Frank Kemperman (NED), chairman and representative of the event organizers; —Richard Davison (GBR), riders representative; —Robert Dover (USA), trainers representative; —Alain Francqueville (FRA), chef d’équipe —Katrina Wuest (GER), judges representative; —Elizabeth Max-Theurer (AUT), owners representative The aim of having this representation is to enable the key stakeholder groups to...

A group of fuzzy and adorable Miniature horses became instant fan favorites when they marched in the 75th Annual McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day parade in downtown Chicago on Thanksgiving Day. Lennie Bertrand, of Bertrand’s Miniature Horse Ranch, brought 21 Miniature horses to march in the parade much to the delight of the 400,000 plus spectators who came out to enjoy Chicago’s favorite tradition. Bertrand said it was his 11th year to bring his Miniature horses to the parade, and he had friends...

Lexington, KY – The USEF has named the 2009 Eventing Training List. These horse/rider combinations will be invited to participate in training sessions to be held at various locations throughout the country. These sessions will be conducted by USEF Eventing Coach Capt. Mark Phillips and are currently being scheduled. Riders and horses are listed alphabetically: Rider / Age / Hometown / Horse / Sex/ Breed / Age / Owner A List William Coleman / 25 / Gordonsville, VA / Twizzel / G / Westfalen/ 12 /...

The Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament is pleased to offer a special opportunity to meet the 2008 Gold medal U.S. Olympic show jumping team. On Friday, October 31, at 5 p.m., the team will make their first and only public appearance together since the Olympics. McLain Ward, Beezie Madden, Laura Kraut and Will Simpson, along with their alternate teammate Anne Kurskinsi, and their Chef d 'Equipe George Morris, will share their insights into bringing home the Gold. Syracuse University...