America's leading chefs are partnering with the world's most prestigious equestrian competition to showcase the country's rich culinary heritage for 16 nights during the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, with Cookin' in the Bluegrass: A Celebrity Chef Dinner Series. The James Beard Foundation has partnered with the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games for Cookin' in the Bluegrass. This dinner series will occur each night from September 25-October 10, 2010...

HITS, Inc., is pleased to announce that the Arizona Winter Circuit will be AA-rated for hunters during the final week of the circuit. The first five weeks of the circuit will continue to be A-rated. The Arizona Desert Finals will take place March 10-14 to close out the six-week HITS Arizona Circuit, which starts its first week on February 3. The new AA-rating will feature increased prize money for nine different hunter divisions as well as increased prize money offered in the Fast Lane Farms...

HITS, Inc., is pleased to announce that one of their competitions has won a national award from the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA). The HITS Ocala Winter Classic, which was held on February 3-8, 2009, was selected as the USHJA "A/AA" rated Member's Choice award-winning competition for Zone 4. "We are honored that our Zone 4 exhibitors selected the HITS Ocala Winter Classic for this award," said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. "I'm proud that their experience at HITS...

While many events are making cut backs in prize money, Bob Bell and Janet McCarroll, co-managers of the 2010 Gulf Coast Winter Series, were ecstatic to announce an increase to the High Junior and Amateur Owner Jumpers this season. Over $100,000 will be awarded during the six-week 2010 winter series. “That is a lot!” a happy Bell commented. The high section will offer $2,000 per class, and on the weekends there will be a $15,000 High Jumper Classic. “This is for each and every week!” said Bell....

Last year the United States Hunter Jumper Association proposed a rule change to the point structure for the professional hunter divisions to effectively go from deciding champions based on points earned to money won. USEF, the governing body of equestrian sports, passed this rule in January of 2009 with a December 1 start date. Bob Bell, President of Classic Company and the show organizer for the Jacksonville Winter Series, has decided to use the new rule to make some giant changes to the...

By Sarah Conrad (Kathy Hopkins with Cutter, a Thoroughbred at the KHP.) ClubEquestrian.com introduces a new blog titled “Kentucky Horse Park: Making Strides to Help Horses.” Meet Cutter, a big Thoroughbred gelding with tons of personality, who is recovering from injuries so he can find a new home; Truffles, a sweet bay Thoroughbred filly who has just begun training; June Bug, an Appaloosa mare that started life on a Canadian PMU farm; And finally, two Thoroughbred broodmares—Cream Top and...

Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY, will host a two-day clinic with two-time Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward. On December 5-6, riders eager to learn from the accomplished show jumping veteran will be able to do so at Old Salem Farm. Ward helped the United States show jumping team win Gold medals at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, and has won major titles at some of the most prestigious horse shows in the world, including the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic Horse Show and...

For the third year in a row, the National Equestrian Centre in Lake St Louis, MO, was home for a week to some of the best Friesian horses in the world. Judges for the International Friesian Show Horse Association (IFSHA) World and Grand National Championship Horse Show were Lois Heyerdahl for dressage and sport horse in-hand divisions while the carriage pleasure driving horses were pinned by Audrey Bostwick. Three USEF Friesian judges—Gary Mullen, Todd Trushel and Dr. Walter de la...

Equestrian Sport Productions has begun the upgrade of both the Gene Mische Grand Hunter Arena and the Rost Arena with the world class "Poels" Footing that is currently installed in the Magavoro, Denemethy, and the International Arenas. Work commenced this week and will be completed by mid-December well in advance of Week 1 of the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which begins on January 13, 2010. Equestrian Services International, LLC, a Bart Poels Footing Company, will be installing the...

The American Association of Equine Practitioners’ Foundation has announced the release of its new study assessing the opinions of AAEP members regarding priorities in equine health care research. The second study of its kind, the 2009 AAEP Membership Equine Research Study was conducted to assist the equine industry in directing its financial support of equine research projects. Study results indicate that the equine body systems of highest research priority are musculoskeletal,...