Exhibitors at the recent Sport Horse National (SHN) Championships were pleasantly surprised by the news that they won some unexpected cash at the show. Where did their windfall come from? Less than one year ago, the SHN Payback Program was born by a group of longtime Arabian breeders and riders. By offering cash rewards, the group hopes to encourage interest and enthusiasm in the Sport Horse Nationals show, as well as the breeding of Arabians specifically for the sport-type disciplines of...

Sixteen days of eight world championships are officially scheduled for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The competition schedule was released on September 22 by the World Games 2010 Foundation. A detailed competition schedule is now available online. "This schedule is certain to provide an exciting variety of top sport on each of the 16 days of the Games," said Competition Director Kate Jackson. "Spectators will find events of interest every day and will be entertained by the beauty...

The American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Youth Department is preparing some exciting events for this year's Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show. Applications to participate in AMHA Youth Club Contests are due September 15. If you are planning to attend the Grand National, please be sure to check out the amazing displays our youth present for these contests. Also occurring during the show are both the National Youth of the Year Contest and the National Morgan Judging...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Laura Noyes and her Trakehner gelding, Syncro, were awarded this year’s Fiona Baan Pursuit of Excellence Memorial Trophy. Noyes is originally from Falmouth, ME, but now lives in Delaware, OH, where she is a student at Ohio Wesleyan University and trains with George Williams. When asked how she felt about being awarded this prestigious trophy Noyes exclaimed, “Winning the Fiona Baan trophy is more than I ever expected of my...

In support of its mission to end the abuse of high-stepping show Tennessee Walking Horses, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) announced its sponsorship of the first National Walking Horse Association Youth Leadership Conference, taking place this week at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Attendees from around the country, ages 11 to 17, will have the opportunity to hone their leadership skills and learn about the horse industry. “The best way to effect large-scale change in...

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...

The USET Foundation is pleased to announce that it is funding the 2008 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Show Jumping Developing/Young Rider Tour, which is part of the long-term high performance strategy to develop the best possible United States equestrian teams for the future. The funds for the 2008 USEF Show Jumping Developing/Young Rider Tour were raised by the USET Foundation, thanks to generous donations from individuals who understand the value and importance of providing the...

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...

Allan Ehrlick from Campbellville, Ontario, Canada, took home top honors for this year’s Amateur High-Point Achievement Award with 451 points. Ehrlick showed four horses in 10 shows—three purebreds and one Half-Arabian. Most of his points were earned on Dal-Apollo, (Sea Ben Ben Bilal x Rudaynah), a 13-year-old purebred gelding who earned Ehrlick two national championships, two reserve national championships and six Top 10s at the 2007 Sport Horse Nationals in Lexington, VA, and Canadian...

Statement by David O’Connor: Recent injuries and the media coverage of those injuries and our sport give us all reason to pause and reflect on the evolution and safety of equestrian sport and in particular Eventing. Many of us have devoted our professional lives to the joy of partnering with the horse and skillfully riding a course. Underlying the fun and excitement of the sport, for that matter any sport, is reasonable risk with the assumption of reasonable safety. In fact, our sport is...