Air Force Flight Surgeon, Captain Amy Coleman, in Iraq. (Courtesy Major Mark Seldes) When the Air Force Called Her to Serve in Iraq, This Soldier Kept her Mind on a Future Flight—of Olympic Proportion Colonel Gayle O’Rear and Captain Amy Coleman with Poseidon Courtesy John Fernald The call to serve in Iraq came as a welcome challenge for Captain Amy Coleman. The 29-year-old Flight Surgeon was ready to serve her country and help her fallen comrades, no matter the cost. “There...

United Arab Emirates — The four horse and rider teams and two individual teams riding for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) at the 2005 FEI World Endurance Championship (WEC) have passed the fitness inspection—now it’s a waiting game as each rests up for an early morning start on January 27. The four riders named to the U.S. squad: Carol Giles of Prineville, OR; Beverly Gray, of Park City, UT; Michele Roush, DVM, of French Corral, CA and Dennis Summers of Gifford,...

Entering its sixth year of competition, the Winter Equestrian Festival Equitation Championship for the R.W. Mutch Trophy is a showcase for the season’s top young riders. This year’s championship will be held during the CSIO**** United States – CN Finale on Saturday, March 12, 2005. The competition takes place in the afternoon as the featured event in the Grand Hunter Ring. The R. W. Mutch Educational Foundation sponsors the R. W. Equitation Classic. The trophy is named for Ronnie Mutch, a...

USEF Honors its Stars of 2004 at Athletes’ Luncheon and Pegasus Awards Dinner Louisville, KY —Friday proved to be a day of widespread celebration at the 2005 USEF Annual Meeting as two special events brought audiences to their feet with thunderous applause and accolades for athletes and honorees. During the Friday Recognition Luncheon in honor of Athletes and Owners, the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation presented the coveted Whitney Stone Memorial Cup to one of the...

Lexington, KY —As the year comes to a close, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the 2004 Equestrians of Honor. Of these seven honorees, one will be selected by the USEF membership, as the 2004 USEF Equestrian of the Year. On-line voting begins today, and all members in good standing are invited to log on to www.usef.org to cast their votes. Just click on the “Equestrian of the Year” icon on the right side of our homepage. The seven finalists...

The 121st National Horse Show enjoyed it’s third successful year at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, FL and this year the Nations top hunter, jumpers and dressage horses shared the limelight with some little stars--Shetland ponies and miniature horses. During the Family Festival held at the show on December 4-5, Shetland ponies and miniature horses strutted their stuff in four educational demonstrations hosted for spectators. “I think most people were impressed by the...

Lexington, KY —The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) names Howard B. Simpson of Lake Forrest, IL, the winner of the 2004 Perpetual Sportsmanship Award. Given in memory of Walter Bourchier Devereux, III, the Perpetual Sportsmanship Award honors the horseman or horsewoman who “exemplifies the ideal of good sportsmanship through commitment, dedication and service to USEF throughout his or her career.” Mr. Simpson has done just that, spending years promoting good...

Lexington, KY —Without further ado, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to unveil the new and improved 2005 Rule Book, designed to help set the tone for the coming competition year with not only a brand new look, but also complete with easy-to-understand modifications. This latest edition represents the first stage of a massive reorganization project, led by the Ad Hoc Rules Reorganization Committee. The central goal of this project is to provide the best customer...

Lexington, KY —In a move designed to standardize drug testing fees across the country, the United States Equestrian Federation announces a new plan to restructure fees for competitions in California. This restructuring will finally put California on equal footing with the other 49 states—while eliminating confusion for exhibitors and organizers alike. The USEF and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) now jointly announce the elimination of different fees for...

Allyson Blais and Rocca K were the first of four to go clean over a tough, twisting course designed by Pierre Jolicoeur. The pair went on to top of the field of 30 in the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Children’s Jumper Finals, held at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA. “The first course was very difficult. You would think you were turning right and you would have to turn left,” explained Blais, 16, who went third in the order and was followed by numerous knockdowns,...