Joel Kiesner. (Photo by Stuart Vesty.) Welcome to the second of many features profiling various people in equestrian sport - athletes, trainers and more. The profiles are published regularly in the United States Equestrian Federation's Week in Review e-newsletter. This week meet Joel Kiesner, whose lifelong experience has evolved into training methods focused on maximizing the best assets and talent of the Arabian horse. His exceptional talent and abilities have resulted in numerous awards -...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will resume broadcasting live equestrian events to viewers across the country later this week on its premier multi-media platform USEFNetwork.com. Fifteen days of action-packed and on-demand programming will launch the 2011 broadcast season starting with the WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Classic Spectacular on Friday, February 18. The tentative schedule for USEF Network through May 1, 2011, is listed below. Please note that all times are...

Lexington, KY - The Kentucky Horse Park is pleased to announce the return of Cross Country Schooling Days for riders who want to work their horses on the park's world-famous course. Cross Country Schooling Days are a fundraiser for the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and cost only $35 per session. Proceeds raised through this event help the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation continue to maintain and improve the facilities and grounds year-round for all equine competitors at the Kentucky Horse Park....

Oklahoma City, OK – Members of the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) are the future of the sport of Reining and the equine industry. Leaders at Stephens College in Columbia, MO, have recognized this and have designed a scholarship program to attract dedicated and passionate students. Stephens will offer an outstanding incoming female NRHyA member a tremendous opportunity to obtain an equestrian-based, liberal arts education with the assistance of a 2011-2012 academic year $5,000...

Lexington, KY - The Eventing High Performance Training Lists have been revised for the 2011 season. These riders will be invited to participate in training sessions this winter with Capt. Mark Phillips. The Eventing Selectors and High Performance Committee revised the approach to the training lists with the objective of being successful at the 2012 London Olympic Games. It is anticipated the new structure will allow more focus on the riders themselves, and allow more exposure for some of the...

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Due to an overwhelming response from United States Eventing Association (USEA) members, the Saturday, December 12, room block is full for the Annual Meeting and Convention December 8-12 at the Weston Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. According to the convention Web site: "We will be able to offer our USEA members a fantastic room rate at the Hampton Inn and Suites, which is just over a mile away from the Kierland, and offers free 24/7 shuttle service to the...

Jordan Koepke Photography (Holden was named Best Young Horse - East and overall winner of the Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF National Hunter Breeding Championship.) The Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF National Hunter Breeding Championship could not have asked for better conditions on either coast. The week began with the famed sunny skies and breezes that Southern California is known for at the Showpark All Seasons Horse Show at the Del Mar Horse Park. There 13 contestants showed up to prove who is the best of...

Photo by Diana Hadsall (Williams and Don Bailey at Dressage by the Bay. ) When asked what George Williams thought of the setting in the Grand Prix Ring on Friday night of the $5,000 Dressage by the Bay FEI Freestyle competition, one word summed it up—atmospheric. That's because a large crowd of dressage enthusiasts lined the amphitheatre-like arena to watch horses and riders perform choreographed routines to music. Williams earned the highest score of the evening (72.25%) on Betsy...

Denisha Sproul Photography/USEF Archive Lexington, KY - The 2010-2011 year is already underway for the USEF High School Equestrian Athlete program and students are encouraged to sign up now to count their summer practice and competition hours towards their goal of lettering as a USEF High School Equestrian Athlete. The program is now in its second year, and is tracking more than 2,200 students who have earned, or are in the process of earning their letters and pins. "This is becoming the new...

Arriving in Florida is always an adventure. Despite running laps between Lexington and Wellington this year, this was my first trip to Ocala, which of course means flying into Orlando. Which of course meant that I was the only person on my flight and in the airport without Disney World on the brain. Ocala and Lexington are locked in a fierce battle for bragging rights over which one really is the horse capital of the world. There are farms of every possible variety when you drive around this...