Lexington, KY - Chester Weber of Ocala, FL bested a field of five international drivers to win the CAI-A Live Oak CDE held March 16-19. Weber was named the USEF National Four-in-Hand Champion for 2006 and won his fourth consecutive Vanderbilt Trophy from the USET Foundation. Reserve Champion was Tucker S. Johnson of Hobe Sound, FL. When asked about his fourth consecutive National Championship win Weber replied, “I am fortunate enough to have a superb group of horses and a wonderful crew.”...

Lexington, KY – The USEF has announced the show jumping team which will represent the United States at the CSIO to be held in Wellington, FL, March 8-12. Team members are as follows: • Margie Engle on Hidden Creek’s Perin, a 16 year old Westphalian gelding, owned by the Hidden Creek Farm of Oak Creek, Wisconsin. • Kent Farrington on Madison, a 10 year old Dutch Warmblood mare, owned by Alexa Weeks, of Southport, Connecticut. • McLain Ward of Brewster, New York on Sapphire, an 11 year old...

(Lexington, KY) – The USEF announced today that two horse-and-rider combinations have been named to the Show Jumping Short List for the World Equestrian Games, to be held in Aachen Germany, August 20-September 3. They are as follows: • McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, with Sapphire, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, owned by owned by Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Harrison’s Double H Farm; • Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, with Authentic, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, owned by Abigail Wexner....

American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) President Fred Sarver has named ASHA Director Nancy Boone of Concord, NC, the liaison from the Board of Directors to the newly formed Charter Club Council. The Charter Club Council was formed to create more efficient communication channels between ASHA Charter Clubs and the ASHA Board of Directors. Twenty individuals have been selected to form the new Charter Club Council. Two council members from each United States Equestrian Federation-sanctioned...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Scott Hassler as the National Young Horse Dressage Coach, as part of the highly successful Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program. The establishment of this coaching position is an illustration of the Federation’s continuing initiatives to support and emphasize structured development of future FEI-level dressage horses and riders. Hassler is the Training Director at the...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), in conjunction with the United States Dressage Federation (USDF), is pleased to announce that the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia, will host the inaugural FEI North American Junior Championships for Dressage in 2006, along with the traditional FEI North American Young Riders’ Championships, August 1-6, 2006. The 2006 FEI North American Young Riders’ Championships will continue to honor its tradition as the...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation held another Cocktails and Conversation event on Sunday, November 6, to raise awareness and gain support for the high-performance programs of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). The event was hosted by Sherry and Allen Adams of Plano, TX. Sherry is the ambassador to the USEF for the discipline of reining. The party was the perfect example of Texan hospitality, from the catering by Breakfast to Banquets, to the lovely Adams’ home....

(Lexington, KY) - Gil Merrick joined the USEF as Director of Dressage Sport Programs on October 11th. Mr. Merrick will be based in the Lexington Headquarters and report directly to Jim Wolf, Executive Director of Sport Programs in our Gladstone office. In addition to his experience in showing and training dressage horses, Mr. Merrick has a strong career background in the management of international businesses most specifically in internal operations, financial planning, growth management and...

The equine industry’s work on behalf of unwanted horses continued to gain momentum this week as representatives from twenty organizations met to advance the efforts that began at the nation’s first Unwanted Horse Summit in Washington, DC, in April. Gathering on September 21 at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) headquarters in Schaumburg, IL, the group focused on solidifying its mission and building a long-term organizational structure. The important roles of education and owner...

Lexington, KY – In preparing for a solid U.S. Vaulting Team for the 2006 World Equestrian Games, the USEF Vaulting High Performance Committee has announced three new hires, all vaulting professionals who will work tirelessly to prepare our athletes for the rigorous competition that awaits them in Aachen, Germany in 2006. This will be the first time that our U.S. High Performance Vaulters have had the advantage of such rigorous team leadership and instruction. Adrienne Stang has been named...