The Colorado Horse Park announced that Olympic Gold medalist and president of the United States Equestrian Federation® David O’ Connor has signed on as course designer for the Park’s three-day events and horse trials. O’Connor brings a lifetime of knowledge of eventing and horsemanship to this position. In addition, his persona as the head of national governing body for equestrian sports adds luster to his skills and talents. “We are extremely fortunate to have David O’Connor join the Colorado...

In September 2005, a dedicated group of Egyptian Arabian enthusiasts met in Lexington, VA, at the Arabian Sport Horse Nationals. Realizing the need for an organization that would meet the needs of owners, breeders and trainers of the Egyptian Arabian sport horse, they formed the Egyptian Arabian Sport Horse Alliance, Inc. (EASHA). One of EASHA's main goals is to increase public awareness of the Egyptian Arabian's athletic ability. The organization will offer encouragement to local association...

Over the weekend of April 29-May 1, 2006, at a dressage competition in Beaufort, Luxembourg, American breeder Susan Thomas had the joy of watching her homebred stallion Patriot win several S-level classes at his first international dressage competition. Patriot is by Thomas Farm's stallion Pharaoh (Parabol-Almeo-Zeus) and was produced by embryo transfer out of Thomas Farm's accomplished grand prix mare Safir (by Diamond). Thomas sent her young stallion to Oliver Luze at Gestut Tannenhof in the...

It's official! Lil Ruf Peppy, owned by Green Valley Ranch in Aubrey, TX, has just been named the National Reining Horse Association's 11th Million Dollar Sire. At the start of the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) held recently in Katy, TX, Lil Ruf Peppy was less than $3,000 short of the Million Dollar milestone. Limited and Intermediate Open Classic finalists Lil Santana, Pop Tart and Dry Ruf joined forces to put their sire over the top. Lil Ruf Peppy, bred by the King Ranch, Inc, hit...

In an early announcement, Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) has decided to consolidate their dual auctions into one large party on Friday, December 1, 2006, at Keeneland Entertainment Center in Lexington, KY. CandyLand Farm, owned by TCA founders, Herb and Ellen Moelis, was the location for the past 16 years and attended by nearly 400 people each year, with last year's event grossing close to $2,000,000. The format will be the same, with the over 300-season telephone auction preceding...

The U.S. Eventing Association has announced that Lamplight Equestrian Center will host the 2007-2009 American Eventing Championships, the national championships for the sport of eventing, which includes all levels of recognized competition, beginner novice through advanced. Lamplight Equestrian Center, which is located in Wayne, IL, a suburb of Chicago, is co-owned by Tom Moxley and Stephen Cooper, and is the site of more than 20 equestrian competitions each year including two horse trials,...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is pleased to announce that their 2006 Limited Edition Breyer Model horse will be based on show jumper and Olympic Team Gold Medalist Authentic. Authentic, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, is ridden by Beezie Madden, and together they have accumulated huge victories in the past two years. Authentic was a member of the 2004 Athens Olympic Gold Medal Team. In 2005, his clutch performance in Aachen, Germany, secured the victory for the...

The Swiss team will be first into the ring when the second leg of the 2006 Samsung Super League with FEI series gets underway tomorrow at 1:15 p.m. local time in Aachen, Germany. The ORDER OF GO tomorrow is as follows: 1. Switzerland; 2, The Netherlands; 3, Great Britain; 4, USA, 5, Germany; 6, France; 7, Ireland; 8, Sweden. The U.S got off to a good start today as Margie Engle on Hidden Creek's Perin won the Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia with no faults in a time of 75.26. Jeffrey Welles of...

The Mission Pacific Vaulting Selection Trials were held May 13-14 in Somis, CA, and with only two more selection trials before the short list is named, the competition is tight, especially among the women. A seasoned athlete at age 18, Megan Benjamin of Saratoga, CA, led the women with a strong score of 8.608 on her horse, Faronia, a 17-hand Dutch Warmblood. Fifteen-year-old Elizabeth Osborn of Menlo Park, CA; 22-year-old Mary McCormick of Woodside, CA; and 16-year-old Ali Divita of Redwood...

Matthew Williams of Lexington, KY, development manager of the American Saddlebred Horse Association, has been promoted to the new position of director of development and communications, effective immediately, according to Alan F. Balch, ASHA Executive Secretary. “Since Matthew joined us not quite a year ago now, his performance has been exceptional,” Balch said. “He was a champion in the Saddlebred show ring, and he’s been a champion in his professional life with us as well. Although we’re...