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...

Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends, is pleased to announce the opening of his organization’s first satellite facility for retired Thoroughbreds. Cabin Creek, a 40-acre farm just outside Saratoga in Greenfield Center, NY, will begin receiving horses immediately. An official opening and celebration is planned for July 22, 2010. This premiere auxiliary space will be named in honor of trainer Bobby Frankel, who passed away last week after a battle with leukemia. A native New...

The Kentucky-born trotter Mr. Muscleman, a winner of $3,582,823, has a new home at the Kentucky Horse Park. He arrived on October 16, and will take up residence in the Hall of Champions along with the other breed ambassadors. The nine-year-old Standardbred was foaled at Brittany Farms in Versailles, KY. John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park, said, "The Kentucky Horse Park is considered 'hallowed ground' in the Standardbred world, as it was built on the former Walnut Hall...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Eventing High Performance program congratulates the following horse and rider combinations for their acceptance into the 2010 Developing Rider Program. To be considered for the program, riders either submitted an application, or were recommended by a Talent Spotter, indicated by TS . Applications were reviewed by the Talent Spotters and approved by the Eventing High Performance Committee. Rider/Age/Hometown/Horse/Sex/Breed/Age/Owner...

Young equine enthusiasts from around the country are expected to attend the EQUUS Foundation/USEF Youth Convention on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Louisville, KY. The Youth Convention, now in its third year, is held in conjunction with the USEF Annual Meeting for the purpose of uniting youth as well as for growing equine interest and participation. Attendees will learn to become better horsemen, develop awareness of educational opportunities to pursue a career in the equine industry, and gain...

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that Louisville, KY, will once again play host to the USEF Annual Meeting. This event will take place January 13–17 at the Louisville Marriott Downtown,located at 280 West Jefferson Street. The hotel features 616 guest rooms and over 50,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. This four-diamond property offers contemporary design and unparalleled guest service. It provides pedway connection to Louisville’s bustling Fourth Street Live...

Arenus-sponsored rider Kassandra Barteau of Maple Park, IL, and her horse GP Raymeister have topped the United States rankings for the FEI World Cup® Dressage Final for Young Riders. As a result, both have been invited to compete in Frankfurt, Germany, for the FEI World Cup Dressage Final for Young Riders, December 17-20, 2009. Barteau and her horse earned the sole United States Young Rider slot for the FEI competition in Frankfurt by averaging 73.375% in their two best test rides in the FEI...

Registration is now open for one of the finest annual training opportunities in the U.S. for first responders, emergency medical technicians, veterinarians, firefighters, and other emergency/rescue personnel—the Technical Large-Animal Emergency Rescue (LAR) Training provided cooperatively by USRider and Eastern Kentucky University (EKU). Two rescue training seminars have been scheduled for March 2010. The first course, scheduled for March 22-24, 2010, is open to the public, with emphasis...

Lexington, KY - It was weather fit for neither man nor beast. But, it was not going to stand in the way of the determined horse-and-rider combinations that made their way to the Kentucky Cup Endurance - the official test event for the discipline of endurance riding and the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The day promised two international-level competitions consisting of a 75-mile and a 100-mile race through Bluegrass farmland. But, that would change halfway through the event for those...

Lexington, KY - "Safety" is one of the most important words in the equestrian vocabulary. And to that point, the combined efforts of University of Kentucky HealthCare, the university’s College of Agriculture, Kentucky Horse Park organizations and other businesses have kicked off an education awareness campaign entitled "Saddle Up Safely." The announcement was made at the Kentucky Horse Park today, and dignitaries and equestrians were on hand to take part and promote the importance of safe...