The gavel fell with a resounding boom at the 2008 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA)/Markel Insurance Futurity Prospect Sale in Oklahoma City, OK, on December 6. The $240,000 winning bid was the largest purchase price ever witnessed at an NRHA sale. Hip 3023, Peppy Superboom, was purchased by The Bucket List Syndicate. Peppy Superboom was consigned by Schmersal Reining Horses, who also consigned the top-selling horse in the NRHA/Markel Insurance Marketplace Sale. The 2006 sorrel colt is...

The stallion Hickstead, winner of Individual Gold and Team Silver medals at the 2008 Olympic Games under Canada’s Eric Lamaze, is now offered for breeding for the first time in North America. Hickstead is a 1996 brown Dutch Warmblood stallion standing 16 hands-high. Sired by Hamlet, his dam is Jomara by the well-known and recently deceased stallion, Ekstein. Hickstead’s bloodlines also feature such prominent show jumping names as Nimmerdor, Notaris, Ulft, Le Mexico and Joost. Based on his...

The North American Anglo-Arabian Horse Association (NAAAHA) has announced the winners of its 2008 High-Point Program for Anglo-Arabians that compete in working hunter, jumper, eventing, dressage, sport horse, conformation, endurance and competitive trail. All shows and rides, whether rated or unrated, counted towards these awards. Hunter/Jumper Champion: FF Irish Vodka/Collier McLeod Reserve: Diamond Jim Kelly/Beth Thomas Third: One More Round/Alexis Starer-Doughty Fourth: Foreign Policy/Kaylan...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) announced that its only Triple Crown winner this year, WGC CH Breaking News, has been named Horse of the Year. The connections of the Horse of the Year will be honored at the ASHA Annual Convention during the Saddlebred Ball, Saturday evening, February 14, 2009, at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort and Spa in Lexington, KY. Rider/trainer Peter Cowart of West Wind Stables in Statesville, NC, will also be awarded with the Five-Gaited World’s Grand...

Every competitive horse owner knows that showtime is stressful. However, stress from training to trailering can affect horses, too. Horses can continue feeling the stress even after stepping off the trailer. Situations such as increased stall time—especially at an unfamiliar facility—and limited turnout, along with training and competing, can often lead to Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS). In fact, 63% of nonracing competitive horses can suffer from EGUS. EGUS can diminish the...

Tara Gamble of Edmonton, Alberta, is the new president of the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA). Gamble has over 17 years of industry teaching experience instructing Western, English and jumping lessons. She is a CHA Master Clinic Instructor and was awarded Clinic Instructor of the Year in 2006, and is a certified Site Visitor and Site Visitor Trainer, which is used for the accreditation of equestrian facilities. Gamble was recently designated a professional horseman with the American...

The 34th Hampton Classic Horse Show will be held one week earlier than usual in 2009, running from Sunday, August 23, through Sunday, August 30. The date change, due to the USEF Competition Calendar rotation, is in effect for this year only and means that the horse show will not end on Labor Day weekend as it usually does. "We wanted to be sure to give exhibitors, vendors, sponsors and spectators notice of this change in date in order to make their plans now," said Executive Director Shanette...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation awards many prestigious trophies throughout the year to various equestrian disciplines. One of the most coveted is the Fritz Cup, which is given to the national champion in show jumping every year. In 2008, the award was given to Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, for her win in the Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship presented by Equine Motorcoach. Veteran rider Margie Engle was the most consistent over the two rounds of competition...

The finalized membership of the FEI Dressage Task Force is as follows: —Frank Kemperman (NED), chairman and representative of the event organizers; —Richard Davison (GBR), riders representative; —Robert Dover (USA), trainers representative; —Alain Francqueville (FRA), chef d’équipe —Katrina Wuest (GER), judges representative; —Elizabeth Max-Theurer (AUT), owners representative The aim of having this representation is to enable the key stakeholder groups to...

Wellington, FL – The second and final leg of the Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship presented by Equine Motorcoach showcased some of the country’s best horses and riders. Todd Minikus won the first leg on Friday night with Pavarotti but Sunday brought a whole new challenge. 35 riders went to task in Sunday’s $60,000 Holiday & Horses FEI World Cup Qualifier which included riders from six nations and featured the final USEF National Championship of 2008. Veteran...