RAVEL and Steffen Peters (Shannon Brinkman) Las Vegas, NV – Steffen Peters always knew how good Ravel was. After the 11-year-old Dutch gelding’s performance in the Rolex FEI World Cup Final Grand Prix, he stamped himself as one of the best dressage horses on the globe. Beating nine-time (and defending) World Cup champion Anky van Grunsven (on IPS Painted Black) and Isabell Werth (on Satchmo) in the process, Peters won with a commanding score of 77.914% With the highest score of...

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) recently bestowed two distinct horses, Tsarina Bint RII and WH Bodacious, with the honor of being named Arabian ambassadors. The Ambassador Award, presented annually, recognizes Arabians, Half-Arabians and Anglo-Arabians for outstanding achievement in representing the Arabian Horse community to the general public. Tsarina Bint RII (PRI Ibn Masriyyah x Normandie), owned by McKenzie Rae Jenkins of Gallatin, TN, is a 13-year-old Half-Arabian bay mare. Jenkins...

Since its inception just five years ago, the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) has experienced unprecedented growth and has quickly become the largest recognized affiliate of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). Albeit the USEF’s largest affiliate, USHJA is also one of the only affiliates to not have its own headquarters. But that is changing. On September 24, 2008, the USHJA celebrated two landmark occasions: the launch of the “Building For Growth” Capital Campaign and...

The Horse Park of New Jersey announced the cancellation of the Garden State Combined Driving Event, scheduled to be held at the Horse Park, May 29-30. The Horse Park has hosted the popular event since 1992. The current economic climate in the United States has put a pall on all non-essential spending. "It's all about meeting expenses," said organizer Heather Walker. "Garden State must be self-supporting, as it has been for as long as I have been associated with the event. However, sponsorships...

The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC), serving as a central coordination point for Kentucky equine rescue efforts to support horses affected by natural disasters, recently purchased feed for horses displaced by the flooding in Minnesota and North Dakota. The KHC U.S. Disaster Relief Fund was initiated in September 2008 and provided feed for Texas horses affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Hannah. “Many horses from Moorhead, MN, have been evacuated to higher ground in Fargo, ND, indefinitely,” remarked...

The University of Minnesota is performing a study on tying up in Morgan horses. One cause for tying up in horses of all breeds is type 1 Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM), for which there is now a genetic test that uses blood or hair roots. (For more information about the test, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/lab/Advances_in_PSSM.html .) However, there are horses that appear to have a type 2 form of PSSM, which, at present, can only be diagnosed by muscle biopsy. The University of Minnesota is...

Riders taking part in the "Intro to Eventing" clinic at The Oaks Equestrian Center, home to the inaugural O’Connor Signature Facility, not only learned the basics of eventing but also had a chance to test out the world-class cross-country course designed by Olympians David and Karen O’Connor. Rhonda Gailey, Resident Equestrian Facility Manager of The Oaks Equestrian Center, taught the two-day Intro to Eventing clinic. “We had an excellent response for the clinic. Everyone who attended learned a...

The American Hanoverian Society (AHS) announced that the association will recognize Silver Creek Farms in Broken Arrow, OK, as a central stallion testing station in the United States and furthermore will support their first 70-day test that will be held this fall. During a March 18 teleconference call in which the full board participated, AHS Executive Director Hugh Bellis-Jones and Mare and Stallion Committee Chair Suzanne Quarles reported on their recent visit to the facility during the...

The Three Phase Event Gaited Horse Versatility Competition is three weeks away, and organizers wanted to remind everyone that the deadline for entries is midnight, April 1, 2009. Check the website at www.threephaseevent.org for an entry form, dressage tests, and hotel information. There will be new challenges to the stadium obstacle course, and new zigs and zags to the cross-country course that will keep everyone moving. We are please to announce that our dressage judge, Betty Ortlieb, is...

Lexington, KY— The United States Equestrian Federation announces the approval of a Rule Change by the Executive Committee that is effective immediately for Rule GR1211.5b. The change to the rule is the following: GR1211 Appointment of Officials and Employees. [Chapter 12. Competition Officials, Employees and Volunteers] Effective immediately: 5. Qualified Medical Personnel. (Exception: Eventing - see EV113.4) b. Competitions using more than three performance areas simultaneously and all first...