Lexington, KY —Last year, course designer Richard Jeffery of Dorsett, UK, set a record at the United States Equestrian Federation. He was the first to have been awarded Course Designer of the Year , on six separate occasions. Once again, Jeffery adds to that record winning streak, receiving the Mr. & Mrs. William C. Cox Memorial Trophy for a seventh time. In addition to the 2004 award, Jeffery enjoyed the title in 1989, 1990, 1994, 1999, 2002 and 2003. “He sets a pretty tough...

Lexington, KY —As the 2004 Horse of the Year season comes to a close, the Federation gears up for a new year of competition with the release of the 2005 Triple Point Competitions, for the Hackney/Harness, Roadster, and Saddlebred divisions. Each year, the corresponding discipline committees vote to assign triple point status to one competition in each of the twelve regions. Points won at these designated competitions are tripled, and will be applied to the standings for the 2005 USEF...

EQUESTRIAN magazine will publish its annual photo gallery and roster of national, zone, regional and district Horse of the Year champions in the March 2005 issue. Owners of Horse of the Year champions are invited to submit photos for publication in the photo gallery. Final standings will be available on the website on December 20, 2004. The mailing of notification letters will begin on December 20 as well. There is no charge for publication of these roster photos. Photo Guidelines • Color...

Equine Influenza is a viral respiratory disease that is highly contagious to susceptible horses. Outbreaks of the disease are occurring with increased frequency worldwide despite the widespread use of vaccines. The highly contagious nature of equine influenza means that it has the potential to seriously compromise international movement of horses. For a number of years the FEI rules have required an annual booster vaccination, but recent research indicates that, for many vaccines protection...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Annual Meeting and Youth Conference is set for Thursday through Saturday, February 17-19, at the Embassy Suites in Lexington, KY. The Annual Meeting is the one time each year when the membership meets formally and directly with the Association’s leadership. This year’s open forum is titled “Brainstorming the Future of The Saddlebred.” Leaders of the Association and other leading breeders, owners, professionals, experts, amateurs and those with...

Entering its sixth year of competition, the Winter Equestrian Festival Equitation Championship for the R.W. Mutch Trophy is a showcase for the season’s top young riders. This year’s championship will be held during the CSIO**** United States – CN Finale on Saturday, March 12, 2005. The competition takes place in the afternoon as the featured event in the Grand Hunter Ring. The R. W. Mutch Educational Foundation sponsors the R. W. Equitation Classic. The trophy is named for Ronnie Mutch, a...

On August 5-7, 2005, the Over the Walls Horse Trials will take place in Hardwick, MA. Riders and spectators alike will enjoy the marvelous facilities and beautiful grounds at Great Meadowbrook Farm, the site of the event. With top-notch competition taking place, a trade fair with numerous booths offering an abundance of equine products and gifts for sale, everyone will find something to enjoy. Eventing is the equestrian version of a triathlon: one rider and one horse compete together in...

Lexington, KY —Aaron Ralston captured the win in the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Open Reining Championship Qualifier at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO on Monday, January 10. The International Reining Competition (CRI) was the second in the USEF series, but the first for the Carbondale, CO resident, who defeated a group of veterans on Smart Paul Olena. “It’s amazing to be able to compete with the likes of these guys,” said Ralston. “I...

Rule Changes Address Safety Concerns at Recognized Competitions Lexington, KY – Consistent with one of the primary missions of the United States Equestrian Federation, which is to ensure the safety and welfare of both horses and riders, two important rule changes were approved at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors held in Louisville, Kentucky on January 16th . These changes should significantly contribute to safety at recognized USEF competitions. They involve the operation of...

USEF Archive/Geoff Oliver Bugbee (USEF President David O'Connor at the 2005 Annual Meeting.) Lexington, KY – Yesterday at the 2005 Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, the Board of Directors of the United States Equestrian Federation overwhelmingly approved all of the rule changes relating to the recommendations of the Competition Date Task Force. The Task Force has been working for 10 months on a major overhaul of the current “mileage rule” which dictates how competition...