During the FEI Bureau Meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 15-16, 2007, the following items were brought to the attention of the Bureau for information and approval following the two meetings of the FEI Dressage Committee held in Turin, Italy, May 14-15 and September 3, 2007. 1) Safety at Prize-Giving Ceremonies: Due to the increased safety risk for riders and horses, the International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC) proposed that new recommendations should be made for prize-giving...

During the FEI Bureau Meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 15-16, 2007, a number of important items were brought to the attention of the Bureau for information and approval further to the two meetings of the FEI Jumping Committee held in Windsor, Great Britain, on May 14, and Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 9, 2007. A summary of the main items follows. 1) Hypersensitization-Protocol for Thermography: The following protocol for thermographic and clinical examinations during...

The October Food & Wine Magazine vineyard that was designated "Napa's Best Winery Tours" and winner of the "Best of Napa Valley Tourism Award" by Global Network of Great Wine Capitals is showing its hospitality to guests at the National Horse Show in Wellington, FL. Guests attending the Dancing with the Equestrian Stars After-Party on Friday, December 7, will be treated to Chateau Chevalier Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc wines from Spring Mountain Vineyard. The after-party follows the...

One of the stallions available in this year's American Hanoverian Society Service Auction is Worthy Opponent (Waikiki-SPS Hoheit/Hohenstein), the highest-placing Hanoverian stallion at the recent 100-Day Stallion Performance Test at Paxton Farm. Bidding will open in mid-January and ends Sunday, February 17, 2008. A link to the bidding site will be provided on the American Hanoverian Society's website at www.hanoverian.org when the auction opens in mid-January. The annual AHS Stallion Service...

The new Fabulous Futurity Program passed by the Paso Fino Horse Association's (PFHA) Board of Directors is open to all breeders and owners of Paso Finos. The board of directors approved a motion to allow late nomination of weanlings to the Fabulous Futurity program. Prior to this motion being approved, a weanling had to be nominated by November 1 of its weanling year. If he was not nominated by that time, the owner's only option to nominate it into the program was anytime prior to July of its...

Three American Saddlebred names recognizable to many in the Saddlebred community have died within the last three weeks: Denmark’s Radiant Society (BHF), Phi Slama Jama and CH Sultan’s Hot Copy. On Tuesday, October 23, Denmark’s Radiant Society (BHF) died at age 30. She had been owned by Dr. and Mrs. Simon Fredricks of Simbara Farms of Houston, TX, since 1979. Denmark’s Radiant Society (BHF) (CH Ronald Reagan x Denmark’s Society Sue [BHF]) was the 1980 Three-Year-Old Fine Harness World’s...

The American Riding Instructors Association's (ARIA) National Riding Instructors Convention will be held December 2-5, 2007, at the Naples Grande Resort in Naples, FL. The convention is open to all riding instructors, as well as those who want to learn more about the profession. For the first time, the convention has been expanded to give targeted information to stable owners and managers as well as riding instructors. More than 20 speakers from around the world are scheduled. An awards...

A report on the Olympic Test Event held in Hong Kong in August was presented at the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Bureau meeting in Dubai. The goal of this essential event was to review the venue, layout and procedures for the three Olympic disciplines. Main issues requiring further work were lighting in the main arena; press officer and media operations; veterinary issues and confirmation of a weather protocol designed with Hong Kong Observatory; and communication between the FEI...

Zada Enterprises, LLC, 6th Annual Dressage at the National will be held December 7-9, 2007, at the 124th National Horse Show & Family Festival in Wellington, FL. Presented in a two-ring showcase at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club, the dressage show will feature top international riders in the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) classes, including Denmark's Lars Petersen and Mikala Gundersen; Colombia's Marco Bernal; USA's Melissa Taylor; Bent Jensen and Susan Dutta. New this year at...

Congress has recessed for the Thanksgiving holidays and will return the week of December 3. At that time, the Senate will again take up the 2007 Farm Bill (H.R. 2419). The Senate has been considering the bill for several weeks but has been unable to reach agreement on how it will proceed. Democrats and Republicans differ on how many amendments should be allowed to be offered. Nearly 200 amendments have been filed that various Senators wish to offer when the Senate returns to the bill after the...