The United States Tent Pegging Association (USTPA) will be holding selection trials for eligible riders to compete for a position on the USTPA international competition team. Those selected for the team will be representing the United States at FEI-sanctioned events overseas and in the continental United States. Tent Pegging is an International Equestrian Federation (FEI) recognized discipline and one of the more popular high-performance equestrian sports worldwide. For information on Tent...

Todd Minikus of the United States flew to victory riding Flier in the $60,000 CN World Cup Grand Prix held Wednesday, November 10, at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON, Canada. From the original starting field of 23 riders, only five advanced to the jump-off over the course set by Olympic master Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela. Minikus of Wellington, FL, was one of only two riders to post double-clear rounds in the jump-off, stopping the timers a full two seconds ahead of second-placed...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association has not published an official register since 1988. That will all change in 2005. ASHA has teamed with Harris Publishing to release the American Saddle Horse Register for all registered foals in 2004. Each horse will be listed with his or her registration number, foaling date, city and state of breeding, as well as the first, second and third sires and dams. The publication will also include the names of the more than 45,000 Saddlebreds that have been...

Lexington, KY —Effective December 1, 2004, the USEF Equine Drugs and Medications Rule permits the therapeutic use of Surpass®, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory product (NSAID) recently approved by the FDA for use in horses. This is a topical preparation of 1% diclofenac cream, from IDEXX Pharmaceuticals. The rule change, which was adopted by the Executive Committee on November 16, 2004, establishes a quantitative restriction, i.e., maximum permitted plasma concentration, similar to...

Lexington, KY —The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the debut of the new Vaulting Individual Ranking List . More than two years in the making, and for the first time in history, the List provides an up-to-date ranking of the United States’ best vaulters at any given moment in time. “This is an exciting step forward for vaulting, which will enhance and encourage interest in the sport significantly,” said Sally Ike, Director of Vaulting...

Lexington, KY --The nations’ best reiners will be coming to the heart of Kentucky in 2005, as a result of the combined efforts of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). The USEF Open Reining Championship will be the headliner class at Fiesta in the Park—a new show that offers reining and hunter-jumper events, side by side in the Kentucky Horse Park. The show, slated for August...

Margie Engle Takes Home the Syracuse Cup In the end, it was just one rail that kept Beezie Madden from her first Syracuse Cup win at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament in Syracuse, NY, November 3-7. In the Syracuse Cup’s unique three-phase competition, it was Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, riding Nobility and Animagus that claimed the title for 2004. Engle went faultless through all three phases. Second was Laura Kraut and Madden was third. Seven riders in all qualified to compete....

As much as we love every facet of equestrian competition, we all know the costs can start to add up—especially when it comes time to take on the world in international competition. That’s why the Active Pony Drivers Committee is making it their mission to raise funds to help support the ponies and drivers going to the 2005 World Pony Driving Championships in Catton Park, England. “We want to do our part for fund-raising,” says Katie Whaley, who is heading up the project. “We’re really proud...

Temecula, CA —Adding only four show jumping penalties to their dressage score, Shannon Lilley of San Jose, CA, and High Mountain Road , owned by Dayna Lynd-Pugh of Tres Pinos, CA, won the USEF National One Star Eventing Championship and the Richard D. Collins Trophy, with a total score of 52.3. The Championship took place at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event and Horse Trials in Temecula, CA, November 4-7. Claiming another victory over the weekend was Jamie Lawrence of...

Lexington, KY – The USEF Search Committee for the new Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe has developed a job description for the position after soliciting important input from owners and riders at two forums, one in Del Mar, California on October 1st, and the other in Syracuse, New York held on November 7th. Eric Straus, Chairman of the Search Committee, emphasized that this position will be different than ever before because it is, “a generational change, a functional change. We are...