Showplace Productions, one of the top horse show production and management companies in the United States, is pleased to announce the dates of their 2009 Showplace Spring Spectacular Horse Show Series. The two weeks of shows will be held on June 2-7 and June 9-14, 2009, at the beautiful Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL. The two weeks of top competition bring riders from around the country to the Chicago suburbs for great prize money, superb footing and course design, and a wonderful...

The inaugural $50,000 CN Palm Beach Jumping Derby will be held Sunday, February 15 with some of the world's top riders racing around a 1,000-meter course that includes a Devil's Dyke and a newly created signature obstacle called the Palm Maze. Built on top of the world-famous grass Polo Field One at the original Palm Beach Polo Stadium—considered by many to be among the finest grass surfaces for horse sports anywhere in the world—the course offers 19 obstacles (23 efforts) over...

The admired stallion Hickstead, winner of Individual Gold and Team Silver medals at the 2008 Olympic Games under Canada’s Eric Lamaze, has been approved for breeding based on performance by the Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association (CWHBA), the American Holsteiner Horse Association (AHHA), and the KWPN of North America breed associations. In addition to his performance at the 2008 Olympic Games, Hickstead’s long list of accomplishments include winning the richest event in show jumping,...

Press release provided by the American Hackney Horse Society Foundation. Lexington, KY— The American Hackney Horse Society Foundation’s (AHHSF) goal is to preserve the past, promote the future and improve the breed of the American Hackney. To help accomplish this goal, the AHHSF announces the 2009 Adult Amateur Driving Challenge to help promote the showing of five-year-old and older Hackney ponies by adult amateurs at the smaller shows in a designated area. There are 15 competitions...

The Syracuse Sporthorse Invitational featuring The National Horse Show held an informal meeting on January 28 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Club. The meeting, led by a panel made up of Leo Conroy, John Madden and Mason Phelps, was held as a forum to help the organizing committee gain information and feedback from the professionals concerning all aspects of the Syracuse/National Horse Show. The group, made up of mostly hunter riders and trainers, had an overall feeling that last...

Isabelle Leibler and her German Sport Pony, Going West, won the FEI Pony Individual class at the ESP Wellington Dressage Show recently, and the pair also rode away with special recognition from the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC). Leibler, who trains with Lars Petersen, won the class with a score of 63.474%. Leibler, who just started in the FEI division, purchased her pony five years ago in Europe. Her mother, Rene Leibler, said she believes ponies are ideal for children in dressage. “On...

The focus groups formed by FEI Anti Doping and Medication Commission members, selected experts and FEI staff have begun their work. Four working groups were created: Lab Group, Legal Group, List Group, and Communications and Education Group. Three groups—Lab, Legal and List—met on January 29-30 and February 4, respectively. The remaining group—Communications and Education—will meet on February 9. The groups' composition and main tasks are as follows: Lab Group The main...

The fundraising Gala Celebration of the Mid South Eventing and Dressage Association on January 31, 2009, was an overwhelming success, fetching more than $40,000 from the live and silent auctions for the Kentucky Horse Park. Over 200 guests attended this new event at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Lexington with Guest of Honor David O'Connor accompanied by prominent figures from the horse world. Proceeds from the evening sponsored by Fort Dodge Animal Health are being donated to the horse park's...

Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) invites proposals to investigate the therapeutic effects of horses on humans. The Foundation's broad research agenda includes basic research as well as clinical studies that will ultimately impact physical and mental health and the quality of life for people with disabilities who are involved with equine-assisted activities/therapies. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis, taking into account scientific merit, scientific and clinical significance...

HorseTV announced that an agreement had been reached with the Saugerties, NY-based HITS (Horse Shows in the Sun) organization for nose-to-tail broadcast coverage of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, February 3-March 15. On February 3, 2009, HorseTV Live, the live broadcast component of the HorseTV.com television portal, will make equestrian industry history by providing simultaneous coverage of six active rings of competition for the entire six weeks of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, including the...