Morton, IL- In a gesture of goodwill, the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) is sending a gift of two American Shetland Ponies to the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation to salute their efforts for hosting the 2008 equestrian events of the Olympics. The two Shetland riding ponies are currently in quarantine in Lexington, KY, awaiting their flight to Hong Kong scheduled for June 6. The two show ponies will fly from Chicago to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Equestrian Federation (HKEF) will host a special...

When Randy Weaver was diagnosed with colon cancer, priorities were adjusted. Randy moved reconnecting with horses up on his list. A light that had shined in his life long ago was now important to illuminate again. He’d shown horses in his youth. He knew then about Louisville. What do you do when you’re faced with cancer? If you fight and win that battle, as Randy did, do you resume as normal? I imagine you examine your entirety, life as a whole, and reflect on the things that have brought you...

June 15th, the second day of the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions, got underway with the Brentina Cup. Organized for young adults and named for Debbie McDonald's World Cup Champion mare, the Brentina Cup is open to Steffen Peters (phelpsphoto.com) riders 21-25 years of age. Performing the Intermediaire II test, the horses in the Brentina Cup are developing their skills for the highest level of dressage competition. The second horse of the day filled up the ring with...

Beth Noteman of Genoa, IL, earned the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) Amateur of the Year title by the prodigious amount of showing and winning she accomplished in 2006. She competed on her 11-year-old Arabian liver chestnut stallion HSA Haleys Comet++++// (Skamper x OK Ellazella) aka Liver or Big Guy, who was the recipient of the AHA Horse of the Year title in 2001. Noteman earned 665.5 points during 2006 in the Amateur Achievement Awards (AAA) program, which boosted her to the top spot. She...

Randi Muster (McLain Ward and Sapphire) It came down to a four-rider jump-off speed round at the 2006 Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship at the 123rd National Horse Show in Wellington, FL, on Sunday afternoon. And in a finish befitting the championships sponsor—Rolex—the crowds counted split seconds in the final speed test. When the last rider left the course and the points were tallied, McLain Ward and his Sapphire bested all challengers to win the title in a suspenseful, yet...

The Nominating Committee of the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) will be meeting in October to finalize its recommendations to the Association’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors for candidates as director for terms commencing in 2007. The Association’s bylaws govern the election procedures each year, explained Alan F. Balch, Executive Secretary. Visit www.saddlebred.com/files/bylaws.pdf to view the Association’s bylaws, in particular Article III, Part II. “The Nominating...

Beezie Madden and Authentic made the final four cut in show jumping's Rolex World Championship. (Bob Langrish) The show jumpers returned to day four of five in a hotly contested race to the medal podium. America’s Beezie Madden and Authentic have dazzled the legions of show jumping fans that have traveled to Aachen to witness the very best of the best. Today’s two-round go was the decisive test of which four horse-and-rider pairs were asked to return for one last round on Sunday....

Amber Siegelman and The Waterboy Sailing To The Gold Medal (PhelpsPhotos.com/USEF Archives ) Lexington, KY – When Amber Siegelman was the last to go in the jump-off at the 2006 Adequan/USEF National Pony Jumper Individual Championship, you would have thought you were at a Western event by the sounds of the crowd. All night the crowd was clucking on horses to help them over the fences. But, when Siegelman’s ride looked to be the only clean of the five in the jump-off, the crowd got...

The Equine Species Working Group (ESWG) has developed an informational booklet titled NAIS and Horses: the Facts Surrounding the National Animal Identification System as it Applies to the Horse Industry in the U.S. This booklet was put together in an effort to answer the many questions and concerns that have been raised from the equine industry on the very important and difficult issue of the potential application of the national ID system to horses. The booklet addresses the following topics:...

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA)/Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) held their 16th annual charity stallion season and art auction on Saturday, December 3. The event was held at CandyLand Farm in Delaware and audiocast to Cross Gate Gallery in Lexington, KY. With 700 people participating, the gross total raised was $1,900,000. Unsold seasons are now being offered, potentially bringing the total to over $2,000,000. Highlights in the sale of 210 stallion seasons include...