The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Youth and Auction Committees have announced that the ASHA Youth Auction will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2009, during the World’s Championship Horse Show. The auction will be held at the new Crowne Plaza Louisville (formerly The Executive West Hotel) in Crowne Room A (formerly The Mary Room). Bid Numbers may be obtained beginning at noon on Wednesday, August 26, and bidding on silent auction items will begin at this time. Silent bidding...

The Executive Committee periodically meets to review and approve extraordinary rule changes and rule clarifications. You can find summaries of rules approved by visiting www.usef.org/_IFrames/RuleBook/Changes/2009.aspx . These rule changes have also been incorporated into the online rulebook. The online rulebook is continually updated with new rule changes and corrections; it is always the most complete version of the rules.

U.S. high-performance rider George Williams and Elizabeth (Betsy) B. Juliano are pleased to announce the formation of a new venture between Juliano’s Havensafe Farm in Middlefield, OH, and Wellington, FL, and Williams Dressage, LLC. George Williams, following years of successful competition at the national level, garnered international attention and respect with the recently retired black Westfalen mare Rocher. Together they set records at Dressage at Devon and brought crowds in both the U.S....

The Vermont Summer Festival, New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show, returns to East Dorset, VT, from July 1-August 9, 2009. Offering more than $750,000 in prize money, the Vermont Summer Festival is the richest sporting event based on purse in the state. The competition attracts the best athletes, including Olympic medalists, from across the country and around the globe to vie for top honors. The first five Sundays feature a $30,000 grand prix, culminating with the $50,000...

The Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse introduced to the public the 2009 Raffle Horse, Maravilla RSDP. The winning ticket for this two-year-old grey filly, a pure Spanish Horse with her registration document in hand, will be won in a drawing on Thanksgiving Day (November 26, 2009). Being young, this filly is offered with ground training, good manners and an exceptional pedigree. She will remain in training during 2009. In the new year, with her new owner, she will be of age to begin her...

Lexington, KY – The following five horse/rider combinations have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to the 2009 Show Jumping Tour One. These horse/rider combinations were selected based on their ranking on the April 3, 2009 USEF Computer List. These horse/rider combinations will compete at CSIO5* La Baule, France, May 14-17; CSIO5* Rome, Italy, May 28-31; and the CSIO5* St. Gallen, Switzerland, June 4-7. These are the first three competitions of the prestigious Meydan...

Content provided by Julie Bennett, Baylor University WACO, Texas— For the third straight season, Baylor and Waco will host the Varsity Equestrian National Championships (VENC) at the Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo Complex. The eighth annual championships are on Thursday, April 16 and continue through Saturday, April 18. The event is open to the public and no admission will be charged. Varsity equestrian is divided into two areas: hunter seat and western. The University of Georgia claimed the...

A group of six young equestrians traveled to Middelburg, South Africa, in March as Team Morgan 2009 to compete in an international saddle seat competition. Team Morgan is an international multi-discipline competition program for Morgan youth ages 14-21. Its mission is to promote the breed through international competition and provide educational experiences to Morgan youth. Team Morgan 2009 was comprised of Lyssa Bomgaars of Walled Lake, MI; Brynne Cummings of South Woodstock, CT; Kelsey Irvine...

The Horse Park of New Jersey announced the cancellation of the Garden State Combined Driving Event, scheduled to be held at the Horse Park, May 29-30. The Horse Park has hosted the popular event since 1992. The current economic climate in the United States has put a pall on all non-essential spending. "It's all about meeting expenses," said organizer Heather Walker. "Garden State must be self-supporting, as it has been for as long as I have been associated with the event. However, sponsorships...

Lexington, KY – Reining joined the FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in 2008 with huge success. 2009 promises to be even more exciting with the addition of SmartPak Equine as the Title Sponsor of Reining. The North American Young Rider Championships will feature the best Reiners, aged 18-21, vying for FEI medals at the Kentucky Horse Park as part of the 2009 Adequan FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North. This Championship will...