Lexington, KY – As part of an ongoing series of structural changes designed to offer increased service to members while streamlining efficiency, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces the creation of its new Education Department, effective June 1, 2009. The Education Department, formerly a part of Licensed Officials, will strive to improve service to the membership through the expansion of educational opportunities for competitors and licensed officials alike, offering...

On Friday, May 29 2009, just two days after having seen the exciting final match for the crown of European club football, Italian capital Rome will be back in the spotlight of international top level sport by hosting the second leg of the 100th anniversary edition of team jumping’s most important annual competition, the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™. Thanks to FEI TV, fans across the U.S. won’t have to miss a moment of the action following their favorite American jumpers across Europe. Four of the...

Recipient of the 2008 USEF/Performance Horse Registry Leading Breeder Award, Sheila Varian enjoyed much success at the 54th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. With more than 2,500 Arabians competing, there were 50 horses bred by Varian Arabians that placed in nearly every discipline. Varian Arabians remains the leading farm in production of national, regional and Scottsdale champions. Here are the statistics for horses bred by Varian Arabians for the 2009 Scottsdale show: Varian Arabians...

The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series enjoyed a great start to the 2009 season at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. The series will see classes at more than 100 horse shows across the country before culminating in year-end championships at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring the 126th National Horse Show in Syracuse, NY, in October. The Series hosts separate divisions for junior and amateur-owner riders in two...

HorseTV announced that an agreement had been reached with the Saugerties, NY-based HITS (Horse Shows in the Sun) organization for nose-to-tail broadcast coverage of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, February 3-March 15. On February 3, 2009, HorseTV Live, the live broadcast component of the HorseTV.com television portal, will make equestrian industry history by providing simultaneous coverage of six active rings of competition for the entire six weeks of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, including the...

If horses could talk, humans would certainly hear some amazing tales. The stories told by Jamaica, the 17-year-old combined driving horse that helped his owner Chester Weber win a Silver medal at the FEI World Championships in The Netherlands, would be some of the most inspiring. At first glance, the high-spirited champion combined driving horse bears little resemblance to the carriage horse in the childhood story Black Beauty . That’s until you learn that the gelding was rescued from a...

The Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center recently held a very successful clinic featuring the renowned rider and trainer, George H. Morris, who is currently the U.S. Show Jumping Chef d'Equipe. The clinic was held over three days and hosted three different groups of riders: intermediate, advanced, and jumpers. The clinic was scheduled and organized by Susie Schoellkopf, Director of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center and head trainer of SBS Farms, Inc., at the Buffalo Equestrian Center. Riding...

The audience cheered even more enthusiastically when Will Simpson entered the arena aboard Archie Bunker to contest the $50,000 Los Angeles National Grand Prix. The 2008 Olympic Gold medalist did not disappoint as he piloted Archie Bunker to one of just four clear rounds during the featured class at the LA National, November 12-16. Olaf Petersen, Jr., designed a challenging course for the 34 horse field that served as a West Coast League World Cup Qualifier. "This was a difficult course. This...

Hanover Shoe Farms, the most prolific Standardbred breeding farm in the world, will be honored with the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) 2008 award for outstanding service in equine welfare, the Lavin Cup. The Lavin Cup, named for former AAEP President A. Gary Lavin, VMD, will be presented to a representative of Hanover Shoe Farms on December 9 at the AAEP’s 54th Annual Convention in San Diego. Each year the Lavin Cup is awarded to a non-veterinary individual or organization...

History repeated itself as Kent Farrington and Upchiqui won the $75,000 Budweiser Prix de Penn National for the second time on closing night of the 2008 Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Suspense is the essence of competition. Farrington faced 28 very tough competitors to repeat this win. The seventh of 10 clean trips in the first round, Farrington knew speed would be a prime factor in the jump-off. “Upchiqui is an exceptionally fast horse,” said Farrington, 20. “ He’s a great horse. He covers...