In keeping in the tradition of promoting the best in equestrian sport, the Capital Challenge Horse Show is pleased to announce the addition of an expanded $45,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper division. Celebrating its 15th year, the 2008 Capital Challenge kicks off on September 27 and runs through October 5 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Manager Oliver Kennedy said of the expansion, “We have always had a great turnout of junior/amateur-owner riders from across North America, and by expanding this...

The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), one of the world's leading equestrian events, has reached an agreement with Verizon Center in Washington, DC, to extend its contract through 2009. "We're thrilled to be able to extend our contract with the Washington International Horse Show for another year," said Washington Sports and Entertainment Chairman Abe Pollin. "The horse show is one of our longest tenured events dating back to the Capital Centre in 1975 and being able to extend the...

Lexington, KY - The Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials concluded the 2008 qualifying season with competitions held across the country in Illinois, California and North Carolina to select the U.S. representatives for the 2008 FEI World Breeding Championships to be held in Verden, Germany, July 31 – August 3, 2008. The first Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trial was held at CDI 3*/Y/J Wayne & Dressage at Lamplight in Wayne, IL, May 16 – 18, 2008. Champion Five-Year-Old...

More than 168 of Kentucky’s horses of various breeds have been provided with shelter and other humane assistance this year thanks to the Kentucky Equine Humane Center (KyEHC). The KyEHC is a first-of-its-kind facility, established with the specific goal of providing owners with a humane option when they need to give up their horses. Horses receive protection from abuse, neglect, and slaughter. The Center is located on a tranquil 72-acre horse farm just outside of Lexington, KY, it serves as a...

The Equestrian Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) is pleased to welcome four new members to its Equestrian Partners program. The diversity of these organizations demonstrates that all horse enthusiasts, despite their geographic location, breed preference or preferred discipline, are engaging in the most critical issue facing horsemen across the country—saving land for horses and horse-related activity. The Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) is a national organization founded for the...

The USEF Executive Committee met on Monday, May 19, 2008 and approved the following rule changes for immediate implementation. These rule changes were submitted by the USEF Eventing Technical Committee with the support of the USEA Eventing Standards Task Force. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY the first fall of competitor, at obstacles, on the Cross-Country course will result in Elimination. 1) EV141.1 (b) Cross-Country Scoring b. Falls - (1) First fall of competitor 65 penalties Elimination (2) First...

Today the Kentucky Horse Park announced several major horse shows that have already signed contracts or are confirmed to host their events beginning in 2009 in the new indoor arena, which is currently under construction. John Nicholson, Executive Director of the park, stated, “Kentucky’s investment in our new indoor arena is already paying off. For several years the managers of a number of prestigious shows have expressed an interest in holding their events at the Kentucky Horse Park, if there...

At the Kentucky International Equine Summit Olympic Gold medalist David O’Connor urged the disparate elements of America’s horse industry to work in concert to improvement promotion in the sport. He said that the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) gives America’s horse community a unique opportunity to reach a large segment of the public. The WEG is to be held in September in Lexington, Ky. He made his remarks on Tuesday at the Kentucky International Equine Summit, sponsored jointly...

29 April 2008 Dear Members of the Equestrian Community, This past weekend at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day, Laine Ashker suffered a serious fall during the cross-country stage of the competition. She is currently in critical condition at the University of Kentucky hospital in Lexington. Laine’s horse and another involved in a separate accident had to be euthanized. These accidents come just a month after Darren Chiacchia, an Olympic rider, had a serious fall at an event in Tallahassee, Florida....

Lexington, KY ­– Oregon rider Rich Fellers improved his overnight third place ranking in the Rolex FEI World Cup Final today in Goteborg, Sweden to finish second overall just two penalties behind Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Shutterfly. A former Californian – but now riding for Germany ­– Michaels-Beerbaum won the Final in 200 and Shutterfly was the 2007 FEI Horse of the Year. Riding Harry and Mollie Chapman’s Irish Sport Horse stallion Flexible, Fellers had four faults in the first round of...