An exciting benefit to being a member of the Morgan Dressage Association (MDA) is the Annual Scholarship Awards. Each year, the association intends to award up to eight scholarships in the amount of $500-$750 each in three categories to MDA members: training/first level; second/third level; fourth level and above, with the larger amount considered for riders and Morgans competing at the FEI level. Scholarships will be awarded across the categories, distributed based on qualified applicants. A...

The Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS) is a historical horse show that benefits a wonderful equestrian organization. BIHS is one of the oldest horse shows in the country, heading into its 62nd year. All proceeds are donated to the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center. This year, the show will be held September 17-21, 2008. BIHS is an USEF AA rated event. Unlike other high-ranking equestrian events that cater to the more talented riders and prominent divisions, BIHS does not. The staff does an...

The American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Youth Department is preparing some exciting events for this year's Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show. Applications to participate in AMHA Youth Club Contests are due September 15. If you are planning to attend the Grand National, please be sure to check out the amazing displays our youth present for these contests. Also occurring during the show are both the National Youth of the Year Contest and the National Morgan Judging...

Even tropical storm Hanna could not stop the competition at The Laurels at Landhope, September 5-7 in West Grove, PA. With hard ground from a dry summer, drivers in the advanced, intermediate, and preliminary divisions got through dressage, but some had concerns that the hard going would be too rough for them. "If there was anything that had me worried, it was that we wouldn't get the rain. I would have scratched. I was not going to sacrifice my 'A' team to the ground," said Lisa Stroud after...

The 2008 United States Eventing Association(USEA)/EMCO Future Event Horse (FEH) Championships will be held at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA on October 1 at 11 a.m. in the same venue and ring as last year. The entry fee is $85, stabling is $40/day, and the grounds fee is $20/day (which is not applicable if stabling overnight). Send entries to Shannon Pedlar at 41793 Tutt Lane, Leesburg, VA 20176, or call Pedlar at (703) 777-8776 for more information. USEA will not be providing professional...

Tickets for the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring the 125th National Horse Show in downtown Syracuse, NY, are now on sale to the public. One of the nation's premiere international equestrian competitions, the Sporthorse Tournament will feature the top-ranked U.S. riders and international competitors who will all vie for the Budweiser World Cup Qualifier of Syracuse and the Animal Planet Sporthorse Cup that will be broadcast on Animal Planet on January 10, 2009. This year...

Grand prix dressage rider Suzanne Dansby Bollman has returned to the FEI arena with her equine partner Cooper with great success. Bollman is a top international competitor that has been long- or short-listed with the USET for seven consecutive years. Cooper and Bollman have accumulated many impressive wins in their six years together. Two years ago, the pair was the U.S. team alternate at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Germany. This summer, Bollman and Cooper competed for the first time in...

Calling it one of the most significant welfare issues affecting any equine breed or discipline, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) issued recommendations for eliminating the abusive practice within the Tennessee Walking Horse industry known as soring. Soring is the infliction of pain to create an extravagant or exaggerated gait in horses for training or show purposes. Even though soring is prohibited by the federal Horse Protection Act of 1970, some within the industry...

Lexington, KY— The final leg of the three-day Adequan/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) 2008 National Pony Jumper Individual Championship was fast-paced and highly competitive as 25 young riders came back on Saturday night to compete in head-to-head competition. Over a more challenging course with larger fences than the team competition the night before, it was 10-year-old Jessica Pyfer and Sosha who went triple clear to win the 2008 Adequan/USEF National Pony Jumper Individual...

Lexington, KY— Last year, eleven-year-old Lillie Keenan made history by being the first young rider to sweep the small, medium and large divisions of the 2007 Wild Horsefeathers/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Pony Hunter Finals. Keenan almost repeated history again this year by winning the Medium and Large Pony divisions, securing her the Champion and Reserve title. Keenan bested 292 competitors with a top score of 1077 aboard Dogwood Hill’s German Warmblood gelding...