Lexington, KY – Renewing their partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), GumBits continues their support of the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions and the 2008 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Championship, presented by Collecting Gaits Farm. GumBits, which specializes in manufacturing equine products, partnered with the USEF last year to support the Federation’s dressage programs. The contributions of GumBits will help to support the prominent...

The National Horse Show Association of America is pleased to announce the dates and locations for this year's ASPCA Maclay Regional competitions. The horse shows' qualifying classes determine which riders will compete in this year's ASPCA Maclay National Championship, which will be held at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament, featuring the 125th National Horse Show. The show will run from October 29-November 2, 2008, at the Oncenter Complex in Syracuse, NY. The ASPCA Maclay...

Lexington, KY – The Varsity Equestrian National Championships (VENC) announced the collegiate teams that have been selected and seeded for this year’s competition, in conjunction with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). A total of twelve schools were chosen for both the hunter seat and Western divisions to compete at the National Championships. The selected teams will compete April 17-19 in Waco, Texas at the Heart O’ Texas Fair...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 3, 2008 By Joanie Morris and Stacey Meier Lexington, KY - Continuing the successful partnership that delivered a host of dressage championships last year for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), Collecting Gaits Farm renew their commitment to dressage as the title sponsor of the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions. To be held in San Juan Capistrano, CA on two separate weekends, June 20-22 and June 27-29, this year the Dressage...

Lexington, KY— The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has established a goal of providing more accessible applicant clinic sessions to be held during the 2008 competition year for individuals interested in becoming a licensed steward with the Federation. Two applicant sessions will accompany the continuing education clinic for Category 1 and Category 2 stewards. The remaining applicant sessions will be one-day each and will be held in differing geographic areas as listed: March 27-30,...

Lexington, KY- The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Executive Committee has approved the dates and locations for the following 2008 USEF Hunter National Championships. • The 2008 USEF Pony Finals National Championships will be August 13–17 in Lexington, KY. Five championships will make up Pony Finals, including the Adequan®/USEF National Pony Jumper Championship (Individual); the Adequan®/USEF National Pony Jumper Championship (Team); Wild Horsefeathers/USEF National Green Hunter Pony...

The Polk County Economic Development Commission will present the Second Annual National Equine Economic Development Summit from April 17-19, 2008, at the famed Biltmore Estate, in Asheville, NC. This year's conference, themed "The New Ruralism," promises to establish a new dialogue in land conservation and rural-based economies. It will bring together policy makers, community and equine industry leaders from across the country in an effort to strike a balance between equestrian and commercial...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association and American Saddlebred Registry, which will conduct their annual convention this week in Lexington, KY, announced audited results for the year ending December 31, 2007. Prize program revenue increased a robust 15.1% to $610,375, well up from the previous year’s mark of $530,155. On a combined basis, 2007 net income for the two corporations was the second highest in history, at $175,982, dipping 9.4% from the previous year’s all-time high of $194,166,...

Lexington, KY - The USEF High Performance Reining Committee has innovative plans for 2008. Chaired by Jerry Kimmel and boasting a prolific group of reining experts, the committee is focusing on fundraising and promotions of its programs. Looming on the radar screen are the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010 in Lexington, KY, which marks the first time the Games have been held outside of Europe. The U.S. Reining Team will be attempting to defend the Team Gold Medals won at the past two...

The American Horse Council (AHC) reports that the recently passed Senate Farm Bill includes several key provisions that would benefit the horse industry. The $286 billion bill, which passed the Senate on December 14 by a vote of 79 to 14, now includes the Equine Equity Act. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) offered this bill as an amendment to the Farm Bill, and it was accepted without objection. This provision would: (1) shorten the capital gains holding period for horses from 24 months to 12...