Courtesy University of South Carolina (University of South Carolina's equestrian team after winning the NCAA National Championship.) Winning the Hunt Seat Division with 40 points, the University of South Carolina’s (USC) Equestrian team clinched its first national title in varsity equestrian on April 16. Overall, South Carolina tallied 60 points to second place University of Georgia’s 51 points (the two-time defending champion). Texas A & M University finished third, and...

Dover Saddlery has announced the opening of its latest store in Plaistow, NH. An authentic New England post and beam barn has been restored to reflect the ambiance of a premium horse stable, while offering equestrians the finest selection of products for horse and rider at all levels of competition. The store will offer customers tax-free shopping seven days a week on thousands of brand name equestrian products. Merchandise will be displayed over four floors, with the top floor entirely devoted...

Proving again that Morgans are among the some of the finest driving horses in the world, Fred Merriam drove Nicholas Mercede's Gaitwood Lightwing, a 1995 bay gelding, to finish first in the FEI Single Horse Division. Lisa Singer finished first in the FEI Pairs Division driving Mimi Torrington's chestnut geldings, Count On Me and LR Ami Bengali. Sara Schmitt was first in the FEI Single Pony Division driving her High Country Doc, a 1996 bay, who also had the best marathon score. Suzy Stafford was...

The Kentucky Horse Park has announced its Youth Riding Program schedule for 2005. The program will introduce kids and teens, ages 10-18, to a sport that could bring a lifetime of enjoyment. Participants in the Youth Riding Program will learn to catch, lead, groom and tack horses. They will also learn the basics of stall management and balanced seat riding. The four sessions this summer will take place May 31-June 3 ($120), June 6-10 ($150), June 13-17 ($150) and June 20-24 ($150), from 9 a.m....

The West Coast Active Riders (WCAR) organization has many members competing at the Indio Desert Circuit horse shows in Indio, CA. Richard Spooner is currently one of the most successful West Coast grand prix riders, and he is the original founder of the West Coast Active Riders organization. The Indio Desert Circuit is only in its third week of competition, but Richard Spooner has won the majority of prizes in the grand prix competitions. In the $30,000 Ariat Grand Prix on Friday, February 4,...

Lexington, KY – As announced by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) earlier this week, German Olympian Ludger Beerbaum filed an appeal on February 3 with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision taken by the FEI Judicial Committee. The FEI Judicial Committee disqualified Beerbaum and his horse, Goldfever 3, from the Athens Olympic Games Show Jumping competitions—competitions in which the pair helped lead the German team to a Gold medal victory. As...

The 2005 WIHS Equitation and WIHS Pony Equitation Finals, to be held during the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), October 25-30, 2005 at the MCI Center in downtown Washington, DC, will accept 30 riders in the WIHS Equitation Finals and 25 riders in the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals. Qualifying is based on points accumulated in WIHS Equitation qualifying classes held at shows starting on or after September 1, 2004, through shows starting on before August 31, 2005. Letters of invitation...

Margie Engle Takes Home the Syracuse Cup In the end, it was just one rail that kept Beezie Madden from her first Syracuse Cup win at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament in Syracuse, NY, November 3-7. In the Syracuse Cup’s unique three-phase competition, it was Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, riding Nobility and Animagus that claimed the title for 2004. Engle went faultless through all three phases. Second was Laura Kraut and Madden was third. Seven riders in all qualified to compete....

Reminder: Salicylates (Aspirin) The 2004 FEI General Assembly agreed to change the threshold for salicylates in line with the proposals submitted by the Veterinary Committee. The previous thresholds for salicylates were 750 ug/ml in urine and 6.5 ug/ml in plasma. Experiences in testing have indicated that abuse of salicylates was possible by administration of low doses without exceeding the threshold. An extensive study on 650 samples for the salicylate content and a subsequent bio-statistical...

Lindsey Mohr, 15, of Long Valley, NJ, dominated the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Children’s Hunter Finals on October 18 at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA. Riding Lion King, Mohr led both rounds with scores of an 87 and an 88. “This is one of the toughest competitions,” said Mohr. “Everyone has a great eye and there is always a great match between horse and rider.” Thirty-one horses qualified to compete at the Farm Show Complex, and through the use of the numerical...