Ballindaggin, the stately 23-year-old New York-bred chestnut who swept the 1987 New York Stallion Series and defeated an international field in the 1988 Molson Export Challenge, was humanely euthanized on July 22 at the Hagyard Equine Institute. A multiple stakes winner of $946,894 in just 14 starts, Ballindaggin was recently diagnosed by Dr. Doug Byars as suffering from severe back problems brought on by degenerative arthritis. The decision to euthanize was made in consultation with Dr. Byars,...

The very first International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Reining Championship will be held in Manerbio, Italy, September 11-14, 2008, at the Palasturla facility. The FEI competition will be organized by the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE), with the technical support of the Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA). Invitations have been formally extended to all Foreign National Federations (NF) with the ability to enter one team. Each team can be comprised of a minimum of three...

The 2008 Nominating Committee of the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) held its first, formal meeting during the Lexington Junior League Horse show, under the direction of Chairwoman Barbara Molland. Also on the committee are Nancy Becker, Vicki Gillenwater, Scott Matton, and Carol Reedy. The duty of the committee is to prepare recommendations for ASHA directors to be elected to three-year terms beginning in February 2009. The Nominating Committee directed the staff of the...

The United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) is proud to announce the creation of the Emerging Athletes Program. This program supports continuing efforts to bring educational and developmental opportunities to the grassroots members of the sport. The USHJA Emerging Athletes Program consists of a system of identifying and nurturing talented young riders. The program’s mission is to provide these riders with the support and assistance necessary to facilitate the opportunity to reach their...

Save December 5-7 on your calendars this year for Lynn Palm's Women LUV Horses® retreat in City of Industry, CA. The event is sponsored by many major leaders in the horse industry, and will include some thrilling events, including the new America's Greatest HorseWoman Challenge. This first-of-its-kind event will highlight women trainers, by invitation only, who have been top 10 winners of any 2008 Mustang Makeover Challenges in the U.S. Last year Palm launched the first ever, original Women LUV...

Lexington, KY – U.S. show jumper Hillary Dobbs went to Falsterbo Horse Show in Sweden to jump in Europe for the first time. The 20-year-old Harvard University student may have been looking for some experience. She also found a big win. Riding Corlett, she was one of two US riders to jump in the Swedbank Derby. It was her first attempt at a Derby class in her first European show, but no one would have ever guessed. “She was just brilliant,” said Chef d'Equipe Melanie Smith Taylor. “She was the...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) has announced plans for a new online auction to be held on EBay during early August prior to the Kentucky State Fair. In addition, a new live auction will be held on Friday evening at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds. According to Mary Anne Cronan, President of the ASHA, changes in the association’s schedule of traditional fundraisers at the World’s Championship Horse Show were made because of ongoing remodeling and construction at the Executive...

The record books for the sport of reining have seen several additions this year, including the most recent change moving Topsail Whiz to the top of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) All-Time Leading Sire standings, the creation of the first-ever International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Reining Championships and the first-ever consecutive champions of the NRHA Open Futurity, National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) and NRHA Derby with Arcese Quarter Horses USA’s Wimpys Little...

Lexington, KY - The USEF is currently accepting bids for facilities to host the 2009 and/or 2010 National Reining Championships. These are very important years for the high-performance reining programs as the United States prepares to host the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games for the first time in 2010. The National Reining Championships includes: The USEF National Open Reining Championship, USEF National Youth Reining Championship (13 & Under, 14-18 and 19 -21) and the USEF National CRI*...

Daniel Geitner of the Aiken, SC-based DFG Stables, chalks up another one. At the Sixth Annual Tryon Riding Hunt Club Horse Show, Geitner and Sympa, owned by Mrs. Charles Bostwick, led the victory gallop in the weekend’s $15,000 Equestrian Sports Productions Grand Prix. A field of 20 took on JP Goddard’s 15-effort challenge on Saturday, but only eleven returned for the seven-effort jump-off round, including Geitner aboard Sympa and also Snook, owned by Sara Stumburg. Geitner piloted both of the...