The multi-U.S. National Champion Andalusian stallion, Davido MC, died on May 2, 2005, of an aortic aneurism, while breeding a mare at Selwood Park Stable, in Elkhorn, WI. Davido MC was owned by Gareth A. Selwood for 12 of the horse's 15 years and was bred by Music City Andalusians of Nashville, TN. He was sired by the imported 2000 USEF Leading Andalusian Sire, Ofendido VII, and out of the imported Poseido V daughter, Huerfana. Davido MC qualified for and showed at a record 11 consecutive...

Lexington, KY – A recent study profiling the USEF membership (18 and over) provides data important for advertising sales for the Federation’s publications, and is a tremendous asset in USEF efforts to obtain more sponsorship and commercial participation for equestrian sport. These efforts help fund current USEF programs; create new programs; and fund the international teams. Sport sponsorship is a hugely competitive arena and the USEF now has its own proprietary data to assist in...

For the second time, Daniel Straumann and his team organized the World Reining Trophy (WRT) at the HorseAcademy facility in Mooslargue, France. There was a total purse of more than $100,000. Shawn Flarida called the show "one of the best reining events of the world"–-and this was before his success in the Open. Judges were Bob Mayhew, of Great Britain; Sylvia Katschker, of Austria, and Jörg Bös, of Germany. Altogether 157 horses had been nominated--many of them from France. And it turned out to...

In a nail biting finish, Cathy Weischhoff from Lexington, KY, and her Thoroughbred gelding, Ocotillo, jumped a textbook show jumping round to win the Advanced Horse Trials at Maui Jim Wayne, July 8-10, in Wayne, IN. This was a Gold Cup division which kicked off the mid-western section of the series. Second was Ursula Brush (who trains with Weischoff) riding Bru Maguire. The CIC** Division, also part of the USEA Gold Cup series, was won by Olympic veteran, Karen O'Connor on Mr. Ripley, owned...

Lexington, KY – The USEF has announced the team members and ponies which will be competing at the 2005 FEI World Combined Pony Driving Championships in Catton Park, England this week. The competition begins on Wednesday, July 13th, with the official inspection of ponies, followed by two days of dressage, the Marathon on Saturday, and Obstacle Driving on Sunday. United States Team Members are as follows: Sara Schmitt of Glen Gardner, NJ, with High Country Doc (1996 Morgan stallion, owned...

The 2005 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Breeders Derby should be remembered for a long time, and not only because of the huge numbers of horses and riders. One of the two major NRHA Germany events, the Breeders Derby counted 132 horses in the Breeders Derby classes alone. Last year, there were 84 entries. Altogether, there were more than 900 starts compared to last year's 680. Reining obviously is growing more and more attractive. And it seems as if very slowly, even TV gets...

Photos.com (The city of Hong Kong, China. ) The Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr. Patrick Ho, welcomed the International Olympic Committee's decision to name Hong Kong as the venue for the equestrian events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The announcement came on June 8. Dr. Ho also thanked the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) for its confidence in Hong Kong. "I believe that Hong Kong people are taking a favorable and positive view towards this...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation today announced the launch of their newly designed website at www.uset.org . The new site offers the latest and most up-to-date news on all USET Foundation-related activities, a calendar of events, an extensive photo gallery and information about the foundation and its trustees and staff. There is a history of the USET and its home base at historic Hamilton Farm. In addition, there is a link directory and complete information on contributing...

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...

The horse industry is huge, competitive and powerful. But do you know just how huge and powerful we are? According to the American Horse Council's 1996 industry study, the horse industry impacts the United States Gross Domestic Product by $112.1 billion. It provides 1.4 million jobs and pays $1.9 billion in taxes. How competitive is our business? There are approximately 87 breed registries and associations; the largest of which has more than 161,000 members. So how does the 10,000-member...