Parker, CO—July 22—Karen Cudmore had her good luck charm in the stands during the $60,000 American Grandprix Association (AGA) Grand Prix of Denver presented by Dillard’s and Ariat. It seems whenever friend and judge Dale Pederson is at a show, Cudmore brings home the winning paycheck. The grand prix at the Colorado Horse Park was no exception. Not only did Cudmore finish in first place with Ocelot, she took the yellow ribbon with Southern Pride. Six horses advanced to the jump-off over Jack...

Governor Donald Carcieri signed into law a bill designed to protect and inform Rhode Islanders who ride horses with equestrian instructors. The bill, introduced in the House by Representative Carol Mumford R-Scituate, mandates any person who holds themselves out to be an equestrian professional and taking compensation for lessons must be certified in first aid. It also mandates equestrian facilities to have on premises and on the trailer during events a fully operational first aid kit. The law...

Endurance riders from around the country will face the test of time and terrain when they compete for national titles at the 2006 American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) National Championship in October. The championship, sponsored by Gulf Coast 4 Star Trailers, will be held October 20-22 in Fort Valley, VA, on the trails of the historic Old Dominion Endurance Ride. The Old Dominion, first held in 1973, is considered by many to be the most prestigious endurance competition in the eastern...

Gulfport, MS –“It’s official!” Bob Bell, Co-Chair of the Gulf Coast Classic Company, confirmed the big news this afternoon that the Winter Classics would be returning to their home at the Harrison County Equestrian Center in Gulfport, MS, for the 2007 season. The five-week series had been displaced and relocated to Pensacola, FL, for 2006 due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina to much of the Gulf Coast region. Ironically, the show grounds were spared any major damages, yet the...

Olympic Gold medalist David O’ Connor is offering a course walk of his newly designed cross-country courses at the Colorado Horse Park on Saturday, September 16, 2006 in Parker, CO. Riders and non-riders alike are welcome to join O'Connor for his insights into the design of the courses, as well as his suggestions for how to successfully complete the course. The event includes a walk of the new courses, a lecture and a question and answer session. All participants will also receive an...

At its meeting on Monday, July 31, the Executive Committee of the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) for the first time designated regional championship competitions throughout the United States, for both 2006 and 2007. The initiative to develop both regional championship competitions for the entire nation and an annual Regional High Score Awards Program was announced after leadership meetings held in October 2005, and has been under consideration by the newly formed Charter Club...

When the dust settled after the record-breaking NRHA Derby Finals on May 20, 2006, in Oklahoma City, OK, one more milestone was added to the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) record books. Topsail Whiz became the second stallion to achieve the NRHA Four Million Dollar Sire distinction. Owned by Bob Loomis Quarter Horses, Inc., of Marietta, OK, Topsail Whiz first became an NRHA Million Dollar Sire in 2001. In 2003, he earned Two Million Dollar Sire status and was inducted into the NRHA...

Mighty, mild and marvelous, the rare Cleveland Bay is Breyer's newest equine sculpture. This British breed is on the critically endangered list of the Rare Breed Survival Trust, along with the Bengal tiger, the snow leopard and the giant panda. Less than 550 Cleveland Bays are thought to exist today, and only 220 are mares of breeding age. Sculpted by artist Karen Gerhardt, the Breyer Cleveland Bay is depicted mid-trot and captures the strength, power and substance of this rare breed....

The always innovative National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) has announced a new program for the reining industry--the NRBC Mare Bonus. "The NRBC has always focused on the breeding programs," noted NRBC Secretary/Treasurer Cheryl Magoteaux. "Although the emphasis is often on the stallions, mares that perform and produce are the backbone of this industry. The officers and board of directors of the NRBC are excited to create a venue where performing mares are rewarded. This will create...

Breeders have more opportunity to bring recognition to their stallions, mares and offspring through the recent expansion of the International Jumper Futurity (IJF) Program, which now includes the International Dressage Futurity (IDF). The IJF and IDF now provide a platform for the four-year-old, awarding youngsters in sport whose sires have been nominated to the program and whose breeders/owners nominated the individual as a youngster. The IJF's four-year-old program is open to horses who have...