The tension is mounting as the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ series arrives in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, this week. This event marks the halfway stage of the team challenge, which pits 10 great show jumping nations against each other in an eight-leg battle for survival in the premiership of the sport. The USA holds the lead after scoring a superb back-to-back double at Rome and St Gallen over the past few weeks, but the pressure continues, and there is no time to rest on their laurels as they face...

Would you like to test drive or ride a Morgan horse? Now is your opportunity to do it for free! From now until December 31, 2009, facilities from around the country, in conjunction with the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA), are generously offering a unique opportunity for a free riding or driving lesson on a Morgan horse. The coupon is good for new students and one free lesson per person at participating Morgan farms. Limit one coupon per family. If you have always wanted to be...

LEXINGTON, KY– The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) would like to notify competitions, managers, stewards, instructors and exhibitors of a rule change that became effective April 20, 2009. The new addition to Equitation rule EQ119 states “At all World and National Championships and Finals, competitors must be allowed ample access to the competition arena in order to walk on foot the posted workout. A minimum of ½ hour is recommended.” Competitions are asked to plan accordingly to...

Norman Brinker, who served as an alternate with the United States show jumping team at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki, passed away due to pneumonia while on vacation in Colorado. Brinker was born in Denver, CO, on June 3, 1931, to Kathryn and Eugene Brinker. He helped his family at a young age by buying and selling horses and a variety of other jobs. He attended the New Mexico Military Institute in high school, served in the Navy, and graduated from San Diego State University in 1957....

The 64th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show (PNHS), set to return October 8-17, to the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg, is expanding the size of classes in four popular hunter divisions. Always a favorite among the nation's best riders, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show is increasing the approximate number of entries that it will accept in the Pony Hunter and Junior Hunter divisions from 27 to 30. It will also increase the approximate number of entries it will accept in...

The AMHA/AMHI Building Committee will hold two fundraisers in the coming months including raffle for 16 x 24 original oil painting by Jeanne Mellin Herrick for building repairs to the Shelburne, VT, headquarters. Raffle tickets will be available from committee members beginning next week and the winner will be drawn in October. The committee is also sponsoring a Wii bowling competition at the New England and Mass Morgan shows. Participants will purchase a pass to play all week long at the show...

On Friday, May 29 2009, just two days after having seen the exciting final match for the crown of European club football, Italian capital Rome will be back in the spotlight of international top level sport by hosting the second leg of the 100th anniversary edition of team jumping’s most important annual competition, the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™. Thanks to FEI TV, fans across the U.S. won’t have to miss a moment of the action following their favorite American jumpers across Europe. Four of the...

Karen Healey Stables spent the holiday weekend at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center competing at the Memorial Day Classic Horse Show, held May 21-25, 2009. Healey's students showed in the hunter, jumper, and equitation divisions throughout the weekend and earned top placings in all three disciplines. The Memorial Day Classic had an exciting equitation team challenge over the weekend that provided a fun opportunity for each team, which was made up of one professional, one amateur, and one junior...

Doug Payne, an acclaimed rider and board member of the Professional Riders Organization, won the Virginia Horse Trials CCI* this past weekend. His win included an impressive dressage score in the long format event that secured his victory. “I was thrilled with Running Order’s performance,” said Payne of the seven-year-old Irish gelding owned by Stone Hill Farm. “He is the ideal horse for the longer format, and I know he’ll continue to excel to the top of the sport.” Payne chose to compete in...

Hilltop is proud to announce that it will once again be hosting inspections for both the American Hanoverian Society on August 8 and the ISR/OldenburgNA Registry on August 28-29. Inspections not only offer the breeding community the opportunity to receive approval and input from top registry officials but also offer educational opportunities for all sport horse enthusiasts to learn more about each registry's requirements and ideal conformation and movement for sport horses today. During...