Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) announced that it has agreed to acquire the stock of Farnam Companies, Inc., for approximately $287 million, plus $4 million for the purchase of related real property. Based in Phoenix, AZ, Farnam is a leading manufacturer and marketer of innovative health care products primarily for horses, household pets and livestock sold through over-the-counter and veterinary channels. In addition to the internationally recognized Farnam umbrella brand, Farnam’s...

The 2005 USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage National Championships turned into a landmark for the ISR-Oldenburg Registry N.A. and its breeders. The prestigious FEI final of the five-year-old dressage horses was dominated by U.S.-bred and even more by ISR-Oldenburg N.A. horses. In the past, most of the horses which made it to the National Finals were imported. For the first time ever in 2005 the majority of the finalists were U.S.-bred horses (eight of 13). "I think I was more excited about the...

Stephen B. Macfarlane, 59, died following surgery in Louisville on January 11. Macfarlane had spent his lifetime as a multi-faceted horseman, winning championship titles in American Saddlebred, Roadster, Pony and coaching competitions. Macfarlane had just returned to Kentucky from his winter home in Ft. Meyers, FL. He had been taking blood-thinning medication for a diagnostic procedure scheduled later this week, when he suffered a head injury resulting in edema that could not be controlled...

PhelpsPhotos.com (Brentina and Debbie McDonald) (Cincinnati, Ohio)—Among the regalia of the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) annual meeting and black tie gala, Dressage Champion Brentina was named the inaugural Farnam®/ Platform™ • USEF Horse of the Year, the first time one horse has been selected among all breeds and disciplines as the year’s most exceptional horse. Owned by Peggy Thomas of Hailey, Idaho, Brentina is one of the most successful horses in the history of U.S. Dressage...

Peter Wylde and the nine-year-old Holsteiner mare Quo Vadis, owned by Sagamore Farms, Inc., have recently been making their mark on the international show jumping stage. They finished second at the FEI World Cup Grand Prix at CSI-W Geneva in December, beating out Marcus Ehning of Germany, the current leader of the FEI Gandini World Rankings, and 2005 World Cup victor Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, also of Germany. “It was a huge thrill," said Wylde. "I am especially proud as I have had this horse...

FEI Test Score Sheets: The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has made all FEI tests available for download on their website at www.horsesport.org . These score sheets are formatted in a multi-page, letter-size paper layout. Therefore, USEF will no longer mass-produce and stock inventory of FEI test score sheets. However, USEF will continue to make the traditional legal-size colored sheets available for purchase on an "on-demand" basis for a reduced cost of $0.25 per test. USEF will be...

Monica Christian of Brookville, OH, has been selected as the 2005 Arabian Horse Association (AHA) Youth of the Year by AHA out of a field of 17 nominees. The high school senior from Region 14 also serves as the Arabian Horse Youth Association (AHYA) Treasurer, a position she was elected to at the annual AHYA Convention in July of 2005. AHA honors one outstanding youth member annually with this award, which is based on an individual’s achievements and contributions to the Arabian horse industry,...

The USET Foundation still has a few models remaining of the 2005 Limited Edition Breyer Model Horse, Winsome Adante. This one of a kind present is available for holiday delivery. The USET Foundation announced earlier this year that Winsome Adante, owned by Plain Dealing Farm of Scottsville, VA, and ridden by Kim Severson, was chosen as the 2005 USET Foundation Breyer model horse. Winsome Adante, an 11-year-old English-bred Thoroughbred gelding, is the tenth Breyer model in this popular series....

Votes Due by December 30 Attn: All Publications, Stations, Independent News Media Websites Please select three horses from the list below, whom you feel are most deserving of the inaugural 2005 Farnam®/ Platform™ • USEF Horse of the Year title, one of the most prestigious awards the USEF offers. The five finalists for Horse of the Year are: Authentic, owned by Abigail Wexner; Brentina, owned by Peggy Thomas; Cefnoakpark Bouncer, owned by Sybil Humphreys, WR Sonaskada+//, owned by...

Iron Spring Farm's young KWPN stallion Sir Sinclair has been awarded the 2005 United States Dressage Federation (USDF) FEI Six-Year-Old Horse of the Year Championship. This title follows the 2005 USEF/Markel FEI Six-Year-Old Championship as well as first place in the FEI Six-Year-Old class at Dressage at Devon, where Sir Sinclair and Belinda Nairn-Wertman earned a 8.7 from FEI "O" Judge Linda Zang and FEI "I" Judge Jennie Loriston-Clarke. "We are very proud of Sir Sinclair," said Mary Alice...