John Deere is the “Official Equipment Sponsor” of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, as announced today by the World Games 2010 Foundation. The Games will be held September 25-October 10, 2010, in Lexington, KY. “On behalf of the Federation Equestre Internationale, we are pleased to have John Deere Company partnering with our sport as the official equipment provider of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games,” said FEI President HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein. As part of the...

The 2008 FEI General Assembly week got underway on Monday, November 17, in Buenos Aires, Argentina and is set to run through Saturday, November 22. An impressive number of meetings are scheduled for the week, including the General Assembly on Thursday, November 21, as well as informative sessions and forums with guest speakers on the current issues facing the sport today. A Brief Glance at the Program Monday: Bureau Meeting I Tuesday: Regional Group Meetings Wednesday: Regional Group Meetings...

The audience cheered even more enthusiastically when Will Simpson entered the arena aboard Archie Bunker to contest the $50,000 Los Angeles National Grand Prix. The 2008 Olympic Gold medalist did not disappoint as he piloted Archie Bunker to one of just four clear rounds during the featured class at the LA National, November 12-16. Olaf Petersen, Jr., designed a challenging course for the 34 horse field that served as a West Coast League World Cup Qualifier. "This was a difficult course. This...

The 2008 Trail Blazer Festival took place at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara, CA, November 14-16, 2008. The festival had many speakers, exhibits and other events. One of the events participated in by Rocky Mountain, Paso Fino, American Saddlebred, Icelandic, Kiger Mustang, Mangalarga Marchador, Morgan, Arabian, Mustang, Quarter Horse, Peruvian, and Tennessee Walker horses was the “Battle of the Breeds,” which was a unique trail competition held between a select group of horses that...

Lexington, KY— For the second year, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will host the Youth Convention, which will take place Saturday, January 17, 2009 in Cincinnati, OH. Held in conjunction with the USEF Annual Meeting, this one-day event features many notable speakers including experts in the equine industry and equine-related careers. The convention will unite youth from around the country and help to grow equine interest and participation. Registration is still available for the...

With little equines on their minds, members of The American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) and the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) recently met for their 2008 national convention in Branson. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), who has been strong supporter of the ASPC throughout 2008, hosted a luncheon during the convention for all the attendees and conducted the USEF Shetland Pony Committee meeting. One of the highlights of the convention was a drawing during the awards banquet...

The American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Board of Directors has approved a grant program in an effort to help struggling United States Equestrian Federation-licensed Morgan shows. Ten percent of the net from the 2009 AMHA Stallion Service Auction will be available through the grant program on a first-come, first-served basis. Maximum grant per show is $1,000. To be considered for a 2009 USEF-rated Morgan Show Grant through AMHA, please download the application . It must be completed and...

Lifelong horseman Marty Mueller of French Lick, IN, died Friday morning, November 14, 2008, at age 96. During his life, he built a reputation as one of the top trainers of American Saddlebreds. Mueller was raised in the famous resort area of Indiana known as ”The Valley,” where his father was the head gardener at the fabled West Baden Springs Hotel. Marty grew up watching the horses at L. S. Dickey’s French Lick Springs Resort Stables, and he began working at Dickey’s as a stable boy,...

Canada’s Olympians had a rough go of it in the $50,000 Weston Canadian Open for International Jumpers at Toronto’s Royal Horse Show on November 14th. Americans McLain Ward and Laura Kraut, hot off their Team Gold at the Olympics, took first and third respectively, with Britain’s Michael Whitaker narrowly edging into the second position. Ward, with his 16-year-old veteran campaigner Goldika 559, executed the course in style, taking almost the identical route that teammate Kraut had taken 15...

Lexington, KY – The US show jumping team of Ashlee Bond and Cadett 7, Rebecca Johanson-Hofmann and Corona, Michelle Spadone and Melisimo, and Kirsten Coe and Starlight put on an impressive display at the CSIO Buenos Aires to win the Nations Cup over the Argentineans on their home turf. The US team finished on eight faults, ahead of Argentina (10) and Chile (24). All of the US riders contributed to the effort, with Johanson-Hofmann jumping two immaculate clears. Bond, Spadone and Coe all had one...