Breaking US Equestrian news releases contain the latest information regarding the organization, national championships, U.S. athletes and teams in international competition, breed news, and important member alerts. Manage the news you receive at the US Equestrian Preference Center.

Barteau in Top 10 in Individual; Goes on to Freestyle at FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final for Young Riders in Germany

by By Joanie Morris | 12/18/2009 1:27:00 PM

Lexington, KY – US dressage Young Rider Kassandra Barteau placed ninth in the Individual test at the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final for Young Riders in Frankfurt, Germany on Friday, December 18. Riding GP Raymeister, a 10-year-old Holsteiner stallion owned by Grand Prix Equestrian and Ginna Frantz, the 21-year-old from Maple Park, IL is contesting her first FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final for Young Riders. She improved on her 10th place position in the Team test – to go forward to Saturday’s...

2009 American Morgan Horse Association Awardees Announced

by By the American Morgan Horse Association | 12/17/2009 1:00:00 PM

The American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) is pleased to recognize the following members who will receive top awards at its annual convention, which will take place in Lexington, KY, February 17-20. Man and Woman of the Year Awards honor those individuals for their continued support of the breed. This year's honorees are Roger Barricklow and Connie Barker. Nicole Nicholson will be awarded the Cecil Brown Memorial Sportsmanship Award, which is given to a Morgan exhibitor who has displayed...

Talented American Paint Horse Wins National Reining Horse Open Futurity

by By Michelle Reichert | 12/17/2009 11:01:00 AM

A talented American Paint Horse stallion, Gunnatrashya, captured the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Open Futurity title in Oklahoma City recently, outscoring over 400 horses entered in the open division of this event, according to NRHA officials. The Paint stallion won with an outstanding score of 228.5, earning $125,000 in prize money. This is only the second time in history that an American Paint Horse has won this prestigious event. Gunnatrashya now joins RR Star, who won the...

Appaloosa Horse Club Proud to Announce 2009 Hall of Fame Inductees

by By Karisa Sawyer | 12/17/2009 10:49:00 AM

The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) is proud to announce the induction of five pillars of the Appaloosa community into the Hall of Fame: Victoria Ennis of Kingston, OK; former ApHC Director Ward Fenton of Worden, MT; and Karen Grimm of Minden, NV, as well as Appaloosa stallion Maid’s Dream, owned by Dal Porto Ranch in Brentwood, Calif. Ennis was inducted for making her mark in the Appaloosa industry, though racing was her specialty. After becoming a member in 1985, Ennis cultivated a breeding...

Erica Sessa Wins Training Jumper Division at the ESP Holiday Festival I Show

by By JRPR | 12/15/2009 4:27:00 PM

Erica Sessa and Lightly Frosted started the holidays in festive style, winning the Training Jumper division at the Equestrian Sport Productions Holiday Festival I Show. Sessa, who raised the Quarter Horse/Arabian cross herself, rode the eight-year-old gelding to the championship in the division sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center in Ocala. “They had a nice, smooth but very fast ride,” said Sessa’s trainer, Marianne Pack, of Competition Farm in Ft....

Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge Kicks Off with Wins from Gunderson, Page, Wilcox, and Roffman

by By JRPR | 12/15/2009 4:23:00 PM

Mikala Munter Gundersen and Festivo Win Equilite Sponsored Class International dressage trainer and competitor Mikala Munter Gundersen was in the ribbons at the Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge, winning the USEF Third Level Test 3 with Christine DeHerrera’s Westphalian gelding Festivo. The class was sponsored by Equilite, makers of Sore No More, Herbal Blends and Botanical Animal Flower Essences, and Gundersen took home a giant tote filled with Equilite products. “Christine, who owns...

Riders Announced for the Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session

by By Whitney Allen | 12/15/2009 3:57:00 PM

The inaugural Emerging Athletes Program (EAP) National Training Session (level 3) will take place January 8-10, 2010, in Reno, NV, at Maplewood Stables, Inc., owned by Julie Winkel. The top 12 finalists will spend three days focused on displaying their riding, horsemanship and stable management skills. Finalists for Reno in Alphabetical Order 1. Alexa Anthony, Richmond, WA 2. Carly Anthony, Redmond, WA 3. Hayley Barnhill, Collierville, TN 4. Nelson Bierwirth, Roswell, NM 5. Arden Cone, Landrum,...

2009 Evening of Equestrians at the United States Hunter Jumper Association's Annual Meeting

by By Whitney Allen | 12/15/2009 3:49:00 PM

The highlight of the Tuesday's events at the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Annual Meeting was the Evening of Equestrians awards ceremony, sponsored by the Rudin Family, that recognized members and their horses for their achievements throughout the year. USHJA Officers Beth Miner, Chrystine Tauber, and Alvin Topping helped President Bill Moroney present awards to deserving members. Among the awards presented Tuesday night was the USHJA Lifetime Achievement Award. Larry Langer...

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation Awards Amanda Warrington Grant to Heather Morris

by By Jennifer Wood | 12/15/2009 2:28:00 PM

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is pleased to announce that they have awarded the Amanda Warrington Grant to three-day event rider Heather Morris of Lewisville, TX. The Amanda Warrington Grant is awarded through the Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund. The Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund was established by Amanda's family in her memory with the purpose of helping provide financial assistance to a developing event rider who has been identified as a rider with great talent and ability...

Brookwood Farm Hosts Successful Five-Day Clinic with Ray Texel

by By Rebecca Walton | 12/15/2009 1:59:00 PM

Recently, Brookwood Farm hosted a unique five-day clinic with renowned rider and trainer Ray Texel that featured many different learning techniques. The clinic was held November 18-22, 2009, and while many clinics are two or three days, this longer format gave Texel and the participants more time to develop a unique rapport while working through many different challenges. Brookwood Farm is owned by trainers Rush and Caroline Weeden, who also hosted the 2009 $25,000 Chicago Hunter Derby. "One...