The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has amended its import rules to allow noncompetitive entertainment horses to be temporarily brought into the U.S. from countries affected with the venereal disease, Contagious Equine Metritis. The final rule, titled Temporary Importation of Horses: Noncompetitive Entertainment Horses From Countries Affected with Contagious Equine Metritis, is effective July 7, 2008. Noncompetitive entertainment horses are those that participate in performances or...

Horse enthusiasts in 4-H District 5 Area will soon be able to enjoy permanent seating at the Mighty Mustang Arena in Green County because of funding from the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC). The Horse Council $10,000 grant supports the materials and construction of bleachers, which will seat as many as 320 spectators at the new facility. Despite the fact that no seating was previously available, over 3,000 area horse owners and 4-H club members used the partially completed arena in the past year....

David Holmes of Great Britain has been appointed to the key position of FEI Executive Director, Sports. In this role, Holmes will lead the FEI Sports Departments and manage their planning, financial, and operational activities. He will monitor the liaison with the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, and the Organizing Committees in charge of the Olympic, Paralympic, and Youth Olympic Games and will coordinate the FEI World Equestrian Games, Regional Games,...

A 2007 registered Anglo-Arabian colt is being raffled off as a benefit for the Sport Horse Nationals Payback Program. Willis and Karin Foley of Solar Hill Sport Horses in Orange, VA, have generously donated their homebred colt, known as SH Deseo, to the program to show their support for this ground-breaking program. He is sired by CW Soxx and is out of Hips and Haws. “We totally support a program like this that rewards excellence in sport horse breeding.” said Karin Foley. “We are just putting...

The North American Anglo-Arabian Horse Association (NAAAHA) will again be honoring Anglo-Arabian horses competing at Youth Nationals and Sport Horse Nationals in 2008. The Top Five winning Anglos in all classes at each show will be awarded an embroidered cooler and neck ribbon; the Supreme Champions will also receive a gold trophy. NAAAHA has also implemented a High Point Program for Anglo-Arabians that compete in working hunter, jumper, eventing, dressage, Sport Horse, conformation, endurance...

Lexington, KY - This spring, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) hired Eric Stauffer of Middleburg, VA, as the Managing Director of Driving. Stauffer, a native of Northeastern Pennsylvania, has been riding all his life. He got his start in the pony hunters then moved on to the pony jumpers - riding on the A circuit in the Devon, PA, area. He was then introduced to eventing by Sally Graburn, mother of Sterling (the current National Singles Driving Champion). Stauffer moved to the...

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) announced the results of its December 7 stallion season auction. The grand total for the fundraising effort when all seasons are totaled is estimated to be approximately $4,000,000. The live and silent auctions combined totaled approximately $3.9 million. When KEEP finalizes all of the private seasons, the total will top $4 million. “What a tremendous success for KEEP and the horse industry. I want to thank all of the stallion managers, farm managers...

Jeff Wonnell, a lifelong consummate horseman who assisted with the introduction of the Friesian breed to the Federation, passed away on November 21, 2007, from injuries related to an accidental fall at his Branson West, MO, home. He was 86. For the past seven decades, Wonnell’s accomplishments were as a horseman, trainer, mentor, breeder and friend, each documented by countless championships and the horses he was responsible for breeding and showing. Wonnell never ceased to serve the equine...

The World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., and The Rolex Company announced that Rolex, the leading maker of luxury wristwatches, has signed on to become the "Official Timepiece of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games." "Having Rolex become a partner of the Games is exciting and tremendously important to our event," stated Jack Kelly, CEO of the World Games Foundation, Inc. "They have been such an integral part of equestrian sport for so many years, and it is only fitting that they be one of...

Dean and Alexandra Rheinheimer, known for their production of Horse Shows by the Bay, were two of six individuals last Thursday to receive a 2007 Community Champions Award from the Traverse City, MI, Convention and Visitors Bureau (TCVB). Acknowledged during the 26th Annual TCVB Meeting and Reception at the Grand Traverse Resort, the Rheinheimers were given a plaque for their "uncommon vision and public spirit" in bringing an event to the Traverse City area that "advanced the economic health...