The 2008/2009 ASG Software Solutions/United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Derby Qualifying Series was brought to a close this past weekend at the Devon Horse Show in Devon, PA, and the Memorial Day Classic in Burbank, CA. The 18-month series will culminate at the Hunter Derby Finals on August 21-22, 2009, at the Kentucky Horse Park. The top 75 horses based on earnings will be invited to Lexington to compete for an unprecedented $100,000 in prize money. Forty-five...

The Morgan Open High-Point Award is sponsored by the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) and is available to open equestrian competitions around the country. Currently more than 150 events will be offering the award to competitors exhibiting with a registered Morgan. Congratulations to Wayne Tolbert riding Windstorm Sienna (Funquest King Ofancy x Homestretch Brandie), who won high-score honors riding in the open heavyweight division at the Spanish Trial Competitive Trail Ride held on March...

Hilltop Farm is excited to report on the early show season successes of some of our stallions. Fielding (Fred Astair x Lessing, by Banter), a five-year-old stallion owned and bred by Autumn Hill Farm made his United States Equestrian Federation debut under Michael Bragdell on April 18-19 at the Virginia Dressage Association (VADA)/Nova Spring Dressage Show. The pair handily won all three of their first level tests with scores up to 68.571%. The young stallion displayed his excellent composure,...

Shelley Van den Neste of Sunrise Farms Sport Horses continues to find success in the show ring, recently visiting the winner’s circle at two North Florida dressage shows. Ezmarelde La Biladora, owned by Brooke Horan of Vertu Sport Horses in Park City, UT, and Van den Neste earned the high point in first level at Jacksonville’s Horse Shows in the Park. Van den Neste has long been a fan of the 16.1-hand bay mare with the long, graceful catlike walk and ground-covering trot. “Ezmarelde has the...

Photo by PhelpsPhotos.com (Rebecca Hart and Norteassa) Lexington, KY – Rebecca Hart has had quite an eventful year. In 2008, she won her first National Championship aboard Norteassa in May, 2008, and then the pair went on to Hong Kong to compete in the 2008 Paralympic Games and barely missed winning an Individual medal. This year, Hart bested 16 other riders to defend her title as 2009 Cavalor/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion. The...

As September 2010 and the opening of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY, steadily approach, the American Saddlebred Museum is preparing for the arrival of the world at its front door. The museum plans to showcase the American Saddlebred horse in worldclass fashion for this unprecedented opportunity. The intention is to send international guests home full of enthusiasm and excitement about this wonderful and versatile breed. Along with construction of a new wing and...

Laura Kraut and Cedric (Shannon Brinkman) by Joanie Morris Lexington, KY – Tomorrow, the first horse in the ring of the very first Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ will be representing the United States in La Baule, France. The 10 best Jumping teams in the world go head-to-head to kick off the prestigious summer tour. Christine McCrea will lead it off for the U.S., the Fairfield, CT rider will ride Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stable’s Vegas – fresh from a good performance at...

U.S. high-performance rider George Williams and Elizabeth (Betsy) B. Juliano are pleased to announce the formation of a new venture between Juliano’s Havensafe Farm in Middlefield, OH, and Wellington, FL, and Williams Dressage, LLC. George Williams, following years of successful competition at the national level, garnered international attention and respect with the recently retired black Westfalen mare Rocher. Together they set records at Dressage at Devon and brought crowds in both the U.S....

Wilhelm Genn became the first rider to reach the World Equestrian Brands/United States Hunter Jumper Association’s (USHJA) Rider Recognition Program’s elite $1 Million Club after a successful campaign at the Lake St. Louis Hunter Jumper Show, April 1-5, 2009. Genn rode Happy Z, Chantal and Loredo, to third-, fourth- and sixth-place finishes in the $25,000 Grand Prix, to push him over the $1-million mark. “It’s a great program that World Equestrian Brands sponsors,” Genn said of the USHJA Rider...

The American Horse Council (AHC) is working to preserve the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program (RTP). If Congress does not take action this year this program could no longer be available to recreational riders. The RTP provides funding directly to the states for recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. It was created in 1991 as part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and...