Mexico will be the first of eight teams to start in the FEI Nations Cup presented by CN at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Friday night, February 27. A sellout crowd is expected to pack the newly created spectator sections of the International Arena in which the only Nations Cup in the United States will be held under lights beginning at 6:30 p.m. The first horse is scheduled to be in the ring at 7 p.m. for the event, which is a highlight of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival...

Lendon Gray, President and CEO of The Dressage Foundation, announced that Jan Brons of Wellington, FL, has won the 2009 “Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize.” The purpose of the prize, established at The Dressage Foundation, is to provide financial assistance for coaching and training to a talented, committed, qualified rider whose plan is to reach and excel at the elite, international standards of high-performance dressage. “A strong field of applicants applied for this important new prize,...

Lexington, KY— Due to the current economic climate, three Presidential Modifications were approved by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) February 17, 2009, which will effect the 2009 competition year for Hunters. The changes to the rules are as follows: 1. HU112.5: This will allow for the combining of the Green and Regular Working Hunter Sections at AA competitions when there are not enough to fill. This was approved at the USEF Annual Meeting to go into effect 12.1.09, in an effort...

From the USEF Show Jumping Department Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has approved the following modifications to the Selection Procedures for CSIO/CSI Competitions, aka “the USEF Computer List”. These changes will become effective on March 1, 2009. The following additions or changes have been made to the Selection Procedures: Under Classes to Count, Page 9: FEI (CSI/CSI-W, CSIO) – Classes at CSI’s, CSI-W’s, and CSIO’s in the United States and Canada meeting the...

The San Antonio Saddle Horse Association (SASHA) will host its annual Charity Horse Show on Friday, March 6, though Sunday, March 8, 2009, at the San Antonio Rose Palace in San Antonio, TX, to benefit their local, non-profit Visitation House of San Antonio. The Visitation House is a transitional housing program for homeless women and their children. The mission of the Visitation House Transitional Housing Program is to assist women in ending the cycle of poverty and homelessness in their lives...

Lexington, KY – Pending final FEI approval, the USEF is announcing the following date and location for the 2009 North American Junior/Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC). The USEF has received Preliminary approval from the FEI and is awaiting final word from the FEI Bureau. As the competition season is getting into full swing, the USEF is providing the following information to so Juniors, Young Riders and their Chefs can plan accordingly. Pending this approval, the NAJYRC will be held at the...

The American Horse Council (AHC) has announced that the focus of this year’s National Issues Forum will be the “Welfare of the Horse.” The Forum will be held June 16, 2009, in Washington, DC, as part of the AHC’s annual meeting. Over the last year, concerns about the welfare of horses used in racing, showing, recreation, or work have been raised by our fans, the general public, the media, and Congress. Such concerns have been expressed before, but perhaps not as broadly as now. “Those involved...

Lexington, KY – The USEF will be hosting a Para-Equestrian Dressage Training Session March 18-19 2009 in Woodinville, WA. The Training Session is designed to help riders who have various disabilities learn more about competing in Dressage at a National or International Level and will be hosted by the Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center. US Assistant Coach, Sharon Schneidman, will be conducting the Training Session. Sharon has earned a USDF Gold Medal, has a winning resume at the FEI levels...

Wellington, FL – The Exquis World Dressage Masters finale showcased the world’s best dressage riders under the lights in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Club on Saturday night. The temperature was unseasonably low but the quality of dressage was seriously high. The reigning Olympic Champion, Anky van Grunsven, lived dangerously in the Grand Prix on Friday, she only qualified for the Freestyle when Michael Barisone opted for the Grand Prix Special...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has launched its search for the next Dressage Chef d’Equipe/National Coach. The USEF has undertaken the task of outlining and redefining the role that the next US Dressage Chef d’Equipe/National Coach will play in the US Dressage program. With input from a variety of stakeholders, the job description has been finalized. The High Performance dressage athletes played a major role in defining this position and their recommendations...