A total of 15 riders from 10 nations will compete at the 25th anniversary final of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage series at 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, later this month. The 2008/2009 series champion, Steffen Peters of the U.S., will not be defending his title, but two spots still remain open for riders from the North American league which has just one last qualifier remaining. The Western European League line-up is already decided following last weekend's final qualifying leg in...

During the USEF Annual Meeting, the Safety Committee voted to provide Driving Competition Accident Guidelines to all competitions with driving classes, affiliates, and any other interested parties. The USEF Legal Counsel has reviewed the guidelines and approved them for distribution. The Driving Competition Accident Guidelines represent a recommended approach to the special safety considerations inherent in driving activities and do not represent new procedural requirements or rule change...

In these tough economic times, nearly every horse owner is trying to pinch pennies. When watching your wallet, it’s also important to remember that trimming many veterinary expenses may cost you more in the end. “Horses can be very expensive animals to own and maintain,” said April Knudson, DVM, Manager, Merial Veterinary Services. “So it’s no surprise that, even in a relatively strong economy, horse owners look for the most inexpensive ways to care for their animals. However, the urge to trim...

On Monday, January 25, 2010, the American Saddlebred Museum temporarily closed its doors to the public. During the closure, a complete renovation of the current exhibit space will take place. When the Showplace for Saddlebreds building addition opens in late March, the entire attraction will sport a new look. Originally, the facility’s grand opening was scheduled to be held during the American Saddlebred Horse Association's (ASHA) Annual Convention, however, weather and other delays now...

Photo by SusanJStickle.com (Steffen Peters and Ravel) Wellington, FL – Somehow it keeps getting better. After just collecting the United States Equestrian Federation's Horse and Rider of the Year accolades for 2009, US dressage superstars Steffen Peters and Ravel ran their streak to six major wins with a convincing effort at the Grand Prix at the 2010 Exquis World Dressage Masters. Ravel, a 12-year-old KWPN gelding (Contango-Hautain) owned by Akiko Yamazaki’s Four Winds Farm appeared even...

Photo by Robbi Meisel (Wilhelm Genn and Happy Z) The third week of competition at the 2010 Jacksonville Winter Series got in full swing with the $5,000 Open Jumper Classic being won by Lebanon, Ohio’s Wilhelm Genn, as both owner and rider, piloting the brilliant mare Happy Z. Presented by Farm House Tack, the Jumper Classic served as a prelim to the next evening’s featured event, the $25,000 Marco Family Foundation benefitting H.O.R.S.E. Therapies, a nonprofit therapeutic equine program to air...

Would you like to try out the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Young Event Horse (YEH) format, but worry about getting your horse ready by age four? The Florida Horse Park March YEH is offering a YEH competition for horses of any age. The high value of an inexpensive and easy outing to let any horse or a rider "sample" eventing in a one-day jump-out setting, with real expert evaluation of potential of the horse tossed in, will be offered Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at the Florida Horse...

Bob Bell, President of The Classic Company, announced new additions to the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Fall Classic to be held at Foothills Equestrian Center in Tryon, NC, September 24-25, 2010. The competition will host a new championship for equitation riders broken into age groups. “Both Carol [Kent, also of Classic Company] and I remember when there were not that many equitation classes and the age group equitation was very important at our A-rated events. We feel that with...

On January 18, 2010, upon recommendation from the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Registry Committee, the following motion was passed by the AMHA Board and goes into effect immediately. This is an addendum to the February 2009 motion removing the Certificate of Service requirement from the registration application, effective January 1, 2010. Certificate of Service Grandfather Clause All foals born in 2009 and prior will require the stallion owner's signature in the Certificate of...

Have you noticed that traffic signals are looking a little different these days? What you’re seeing is the effort to save money and energy. Cities across the United States are replacing their incandescent traffic lights with energy-efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs). While these new lights provide brighter lights that last much longer and save a lot of energy, it’s also becoming evident that they have a hazardous downside. The bulbs burn so coolly that snow and ice don’t melt. Rather they...