Burbank, CA – With nary a misstep, Alex Maida, was picked as the winner of the grueling 2005 USEF West Coast Talent Search. The class was held in conjunction with the Los Angeles International Jumping Festival at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, September 21-25. Thirty-eight junior riders qualified throughout the year for a spot in the two-day four-phase finals. On Wednesday afternoon riders were allowed into the Equidome for a practice round and the class started in earnest the next...

Reiners and reining enthusiasts from all over the world are pouring into the little town of Manerbio, Italy, where, in the wonderful Palasturla facility, the finals of the second $100,000 FEI World Reining Masters Finals, presented by the Arcese Group and the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE) will be held on Saturday 24 at 9 p.m. The event is run concurrently with the 2005 Italian Reining Horse Association Maturity. On Friday afternoon at 5.30 pm the FEI Strategic Plan Open...

A special performance by the Tempel Lipizzans to benefit the United States Dressage Federation's (USDF) Capital Campaign is planned for Sunday, September 25, at 2 p.m. This exclusive event, sponsored by Land Rover, will include highlights of the Tempel Lipizzans performance featuring live commentary about the history of the 425-year-old Lipizzan breed as well as an explanation of some of the movements performed. Following the 45-minute performance, guests will have the opportunity to ask...

Equestrian vaulting combines the strength of gymnastics with the beauty of dance on the back of a moving horse. It is one of the seven recognized disciplines in international equestrian sports. Vaulting is also used to develop basic equitation and in many therapeutic programs. Have you ever considered what vaulting might be able to add to your riding program? Would you need to train a horse for a vaulting club? Do you want to know what the judge is seeing when scoring vaulters? Whether you are...

In a brilliant display of skill and finesse, Sara Schmitt, of Glen Gardner, NJ, drove her Morgan stallion, High Country Doc, to one of only a few clean and clear rounds in the cones phase at The Laurels at Landhope and her first national championship. The last in the order of go on Sunday, September 11, Schmitt had some wiggle room. Ahead by only four points under the new rules where a ball down is now a three-point penalty instead of five. This gave her a small margin of error, one that could...

Iron Spring Farm has just imported one of the most popular young stallions in Holland, UB40. A four-year-old son of Olivi by Jazz, UB40 placed third in the championship keuring for dressage horses at the 2004 KWPN stallion show in Holland and received excellent scores for his gaits and dressage potential during his performance test. UB40's first foals were recently inspected and also received excellent scores and remarks from the inspectors. His foal, Armstrong M., was the high-selling foal...

The stewards of The Jockey Club have approved revisions to the Principal Rules and Requirements of The American Stud Book ("Rules"), adding provisions regarding inspections of Thoroughbreds by representatives of The Jockey Club's Registry Department. According to The Jockey Club's Registrar Rick Bailey, the rule changes relate primarily to the increasing numbers of Thoroughbred foals reported as born in the first several days of January, and a concern as to whether these foaling dates are being...

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...

Sally Glassman bested a field of twelve to claim the $10,000 Mid Atlantic Farm Credit Quentin Riding Club Fall Horse Show Mini Prix Sunday evening, September 4. Held in the historic Main Ring at the Quentin Riding Club, Glassman and the mare, Ginger Watt, cruised home clear in 25.407 seconds. The Kindle Hill Farm of Gwynedd Valley, PA, owns Ginger Watt. For the win, Glassman received the winner’s check of $2,500 and an engraved glass ice bucket as a keeper for the “Heaven Sent” Memorial Mini...

Stadium Jumping, Inc., the management company for the 2006 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), is pleased to announce that FTI Consulting of Annapolis, MD, is sponsoring the $200,000 FTI Rider Challenge. The FTI Rider Challenge will be held during the 2006 WEF, from January 25 to March 12 at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, FL. The FTI Rider Challenge will be a rider bonus pool for $200,000 in which the riders will receive points based on the number of riders in the seven...