The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Animal Health Surveillance System (NAHSS) is a network of many Federal and State government agencies integrated into a comprehensive and coordinated system of animal health monitoring and surveillance. The overall goal of the system is to collect, collate and analyze animal health information and to promptly distribute this information. The program is intended to improve the protection of the national animal health and to increase...

Attention Children Jumper Riders! This year’s FEI Children’s International Jumping Final will be held in Jalapa, Mexico, December 3-8, 2007. The Final for Children between the ages of 12 and 14 as defined by FEI rules brings together riders from various nations around the world not only to compete but also to meet their peers from other cultures. Qualifiers for this final will be held at the Florida Classic/WCHR Spectacular February 21-25, 2007, and the Oaks Blenheim Fall Tournament September...

(Lexington, KY)—The World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc, which was established to plan organize and conduct the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, has a new home—2010 World Games Way—as well as a new telephone number (859-255-2010) and a new nine-digit ZIP code (40511-2010). The building housing the Games’ staff is a renovated barn on the old Spindletop property, off Iron Works Pike, is owned by the state and is being leased to the Foundation. It originally served as the office for the...

It was a stars-and-stripes win as four top riders from the United States took the Nations Cup in CSIO Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Friday, November 10. The team of Eliza Shuford, Chris Kappler, Carolyn Kelly and Brianne Goutal beat out riders from four other countries—Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Sweden. This team was named only for this competition, and was under the direction of U.S. Chef d’Equipe George Morris. Riding in their first Nations Cup, the first round saw Young Rider rookie Kelly go...

Smith Lilly and his gifted mount, He’s The Man (CH Man On The Town X Perfect), were the judges’ unanimous winners of the Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship in Louisville’s Freedom Hall on Saturday evening, August 26. Having won the Five-Gaited Gelding Stake earlier in the week, the pair wowed the audience from the moment they came into the arena, with the trademark Louisville roar growing with every pass down a straightaway. In his comments to the show ring announcer, Smith was appreciative...

The 2006 American Hunter Pony Classic Auction, held during the USEF Pony Finals National Championships, posted major increases in nearly every category. Statistically, the 2006 sale ranks as the best American Hunter Pony Classic ever and possibly the best pony auction ever held in North America. “This was a great auction. The buyers were active from beginning to end,” said Tim Jennings, Marketing Director of Professional Auction Services, Inc. “The catalog included the best group of ponies the...

By Bob Langrish (Beezie Madden and Authentic in the Main Stadium in Aachen, Germany.) (Aachen, Germany)— The 16 efforts put in front of the 116 show jumpers going round during the 1st qualifier and speed class for the individual and team FEI World Championships in Aachen were a bit more than a few could handle. And for Team USA, there were few bumps along the road translating into less than a handful of downed rails in a windy Main Stadium. Over the day, six horses were eliminated, and...

Steffen Peters finished fourth yesterday in the grand prix special with a 75.200%, just out of the medals. They finished sixth tonight in the musical freestyle on a score of 78.600%. (Bob Langrish) Crowds were spilling out of the 2006 World Equestrian Games on Saturday, with record crowds jamming not only the dressage freestyle, but the cross-country course, as well as the show grounds. Across the day, more than 44,000 fans of eventing were on-hand; 40,000 tickets were sold (and 60,000 were on...

(Aachen, Germany)—The United States Equestrian Federation announced today that Brentina and Debbie McDonald will withdraw from the remainder of the dressage competition at the World Equestrian Games due to a veterinary concern. Team vet Dr. Tim Ober said, “Brentina had a slight swelling after the competition on Wednesday. While a diagnosis is pending further evaluation by USEF veterinary staff Debbie McDonald and Klaus Balkenhol have decided it is not in the best interest of Brentina to ask her...

Photo by Bob Langrish (Guenter Seidel and Aragon on the first day of dressage competition.) Aachen, Germany—Europeans know how to do dressage. Each country brought their best to the table today, including their fans. The crowd was filled with foam fingers, waving flags, funny hats and colorful scarves. It looked more like an American football game and sounded like it when certain competitors finished their test and left the stadium. The rain held off, the sun tried unsuccessfully to break...