(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...

Heidi White leads the Americans in the dressage phase of eventing at the 2006 WEG in Aachen, Germany. (Bob Langrish) (Aachen, Germany)—A brand new cross-country course awaits the eventers as they begin their first of three phases at the 2006 WEG. But before they can take to the new course (which will be contested in the short format without steeplechase), there are two days of dressage. And if the morning of the first day is any indication, it will be a cold and wet ride. In addition, it...

Governor Donald Carcieri signed into law a bill designed to protect and inform Rhode Islanders who ride horses with equestrian instructors. The bill, introduced in the House by Representative Carol Mumford R-Scituate, mandates any person who holds themselves out to be an equestrian professional and taking compensation for lessons must be certified in first aid. It also mandates equestrian facilities to have on premises and on the trailer during events a fully operational first aid kit. The law...

Endurance riders from around the country will face the test of time and terrain when they compete for national titles at the 2006 American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) National Championship in October. The championship, sponsored by Gulf Coast 4 Star Trailers, will be held October 20-22 in Fort Valley, VA, on the trails of the historic Old Dominion Endurance Ride. The Old Dominion, first held in 1973, is considered by many to be the most prestigious endurance competition in the eastern...

Breeders have more opportunity to bring recognition to their stallions, mares and offspring through the recent expansion of the International Jumper Futurity (IJF) Program, which now includes the International Dressage Futurity (IDF). The IJF and IDF now provide a platform for the four-year-old, awarding youngsters in sport whose sires have been nominated to the program and whose breeders/owners nominated the individual as a youngster. The IJF's four-year-old program is open to horses who have...

The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park are now officially scheduled for September 25 to October 10, 2010. The official name of the games has also been finalized as the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. “We’ll have a great deal more information to share in the coming weeks,” said John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park and President of the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., “but for the time-being, we want to get this on everyone’s calendars and...

John Deere has made it even easier for USEF MemberPerks members to save money on John Deere equipment. In addition to the current program that allows USEF MemberPerks members to save up to 23% on new John Deere equipment to be used at equine facilities, John Deere has announced the John Deere Partner Program for Lawn and Garden. Discounts are now available toward the purchase of a variety of John Deere equipment for members’ and their families’ personal home use, including lawn and garden...

Further tickets are on sale for the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, for 2006. Tickets are even available for the extremely popular dressage and show-jumping finals. Up-to-date information can be obtained at www.aachen2006.de and tickets can be ordered from the hotline +49-(0)241-917-1111. "The web details are updated several times a day, so all of the information there really is completely up-to-date," explained Michael Mronz, member and spokesman of the Organizing Committee for...

The Unwanted Horse Coalition, which started as the Unwanted Horse Summit during the American Horse Council’s annual convention in April, 2005, is being folded into the American Horse Council (AHC), announced Nick Nicholson, AHC Chairman. “The issue of ‘unwanted horses’ has faced this industry for some time,” said Nicholson, President of Keeneland Association. “It is an important and challenging national issue that faces all breeds and all activities in the horse world. Putting this initiative...

The finals for the Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities (LIHSSRD) will be held on Monday, August 28, of the Hampton Classic Horse Show. The LIHSSRD finals mark the first time in the horse show’s three-decade history that competition will be held on Monday. Admission will be free on this day when all of the shops in the Hampton Classic’s popular Boutique Garden and Stable Row will be open for business. The show series, created by HorseAbility, was founded to provide riders...