Lexington, KY – A group of U.S. eventers has returned from Germany after competing in the Luhmühlen CCI 4*, June 15-19, the first CCI four-star to take place on continental Europe. Up against stiff competition from European riders trying to qualify for the upcoming European Championships in Blenheim, England, the four USEF-sponsored Talent Tour riders joined several individual U.S. riders for a positive experience abroad—just the learning experience that was intended for the...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation has announced the team for the third European show jumping tour—a series of three stops on the 2005 Samsung Super League circuit. This team will compete at CSIO Hickstead, Great Britain (July 28-31), CSIO Dublin, Ireland (August 3-7) and CSIO Aachen, Germany (August 23-28). The team members are listed below in alphabetical order: Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc, WI, with Miss Independent (1997 Dutch Warmblood mare; owned by Passmore...

Lexington, KY – One of the nation’s leaders in the fight against degenerative joint disease in equines, the veterinarian-trusted name of Adequan® (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) has joined the United States Equestrian Federation family in a multi-faceted sponsorship. Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of the flagship equine health product, Adequan®, has stepped forward as title sponsor for three USEF championships for the 2005 competition season: the 2005 USEF National...

Boise, Idaho – Three-time Olympic show jumper Kathy Kusner was welcomed as one of the newest honorees to the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame, June 8. Kusner joined fellow honorees Drew Bledsoe (Dallas Cowboys quarterback) and Louis Zamperini (1936 Olympic runner) for the induction ceremonies at the Boise Center on the Grove in Boise, Idaho. All were singled out for their efforts as role models and humanitarians at the 11th annual induction ceremonies. “I don’t need to...

Lexington, KY – The USEF ParaEquestrian High Performance Committee has named the 2005 ParaEquestrian Advanced Rider List based on scores that the riders submitted to fulfill the published criteria. Those riders, in ranked order, are: Robin Brueckmann of Summerfield, NC, and Richmond (1997 Hanoverian gelding, owned by Robin Brueckmann) Barbara Grassmyer of Placerville, CA, and Mibis (1994 Dutch gelding, owned by Barbara Grassmyer) Rebecca Hart of Erie, PA, and Nordkap (1992 Hanoverian...

Allentown, NJ — Jessica Blackmon of Valley View, Texas, and Marlee O’Neil of Chester, Vermont, were named champions in their respective age divisions at the 2005 USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals in Allentown, New Jersey, May 27-29. The third-annual Finals took place at the Horse Park of New Jersey, and played host to 23 of the country’s best junior dressage riders, who competed in two age divisions: 13 & under and 14 to 18 years of age. The 17-year-old Blackmon and...

Carol J. Plough May 5, 1955 – May 16, 2005 Lexington, KY – Accomplished dressage athlete and Olympic hopeful Carol J. Plough suddenly passed away in Riverside, California on Monday, May 16, 2005. The United States Equestrian Federation and its members join the equestrian world in expressing deepest sympathy to her family and friends. Known as an accomplished horsewoman with a natural gift for putting people at ease, Carol was well-loved in and out of the dressage ring. In 2004, Carol was...

Bloomberg Leading Rider La Baule, France – The U.S. Show Jumping Team arrived in La Baule, France last week, locked, loaded and ready. Not only did they handily win the first Samsung Super League Nations Cup of the season by four faults over Great Britain, but team members also won three other classes and were well placed throughout the show. And at the end of the four days of competition it was the United States’ team member, New York City’s Georgina Bloomberg, 22, who was...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation is pleased to bring the trusted name of Farnam and its new line of Platform™ horse feeds and supplements on board in an exclusive four-year partnership that will propel the ever-popular Horse of the Year awards program to a new level of excellence. Under the new partnership, the program will now be called Farnam®/ Platform™ • USEF Horse of the Year, and will expand on a number of levels, including the creation of...

Diana DeRosa (Debbie McDonald riding Brentina during the Grand Prix portion of the 2005 FEI World Cup Dressage Final) Las Vegas, NV —As some predicted long before Thursday’s qualifying Grand Prix, the Dutch made a fantastic showing during the first leg of the 2005 FEI World Cup Dressage Final, April 21, proving their powerhouse precision is not to be underestimated. Edward Gal finished first on Geldnet Lingh with a total of 78.625. Ironically Gal’s score surpassed that of his...