The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce the new USDF Breeder of the Year Award program, which will be initiated for the 2006 competition season, which started October 1, 2005. This is a year-end award, based on performance in a given competition year. Breeders of dressage performance horses and breeders of dressage in-hand horses will be able to vie for top honors. Scott Hassler, Chairperson of the USDF Sport Horse Committee, stated, "Over the last few years, a...

The West Coast Active Riders Organization kicked off the start of their World Cup qualifier season with the $50,000 Grand Prix of Showpark in Del Mar, CA, held on September 3, 2005. Mario Onate took top honors with his own mount, Banco Del Bajio Otelo. The United States riders who earned World Cup points include Gabriella Salick and her gray stallion, Sandstone Laurin, of Sandstone Horse Sales, LLC; Mike Endicott with Farrokh Moshar’s bay gelding, Lennongrad; and Joie Gatlin with Canyon...

Equestrian vaulting combines the strength of gymnastics with the beauty of dance on the back of a moving horse. It is one of the seven recognized disciplines in international equestrian sports. Vaulting is also used to develop basic equitation and in many therapeutic programs. Have you ever considered what vaulting might be able to add to your riding program? Would you need to train a horse for a vaulting club? Do you want to know what the judge is seeing when scoring vaulters? Whether you are...

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) announces that it will return to the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in 2006 to hold its annual flagship event, the U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (U.S. Nationals). Two factors were key to the decision: 1. Overwhelming requests by AHA members who were vehement in their desire to have one last opportunity to show at the Kentucky venue, and 2. Re-negotiations between the Kentucky State Fair Board and AHA regarding the...

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is protecting Kentucky's multi-billion-dollar stake in its equine and cattle industries from an outbreak of vesicular stomatitis (VS) that has spread through four southwestern states. The Department has expanded its VS embargo to 20 counties in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Four counties were added to Kentucky's embargo on July 27 after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed cases in La Plata and Mesa counties in Colorado, Rio Arriba...

Recognizing that arena soil is one of the most basic and important factors required to ensure a successful equestrian/agricultural event, the American Royal Association, a 106-year old institution, unveiled new footing for all its fall and year-round events. The Royal experienced significant growth in its horse shows last year with some events increasing nearly 40%. After last year’s fall show, the American Royal formed a Footing Task Force to address the needs of its exhibitors. “Excellent...

Tom Struzzieri, Owner and President of Horse Shows In The Sun (HITS), and his staff hosted a press conference on May 16 at the HITS-on-the-Hudson show grounds in Saugerties, NY. Members of the press received details of the $150,000 Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship, followed by a tour of the new HITS High-Performance Horse Complex. Struzzieri was joined by Maurice Hinchey, US Congressman for the 22nd District of New York; David Cornstein, Chairman of the New York State Olympic Games...

Diana DeRosa (Debbie McDonald riding Brentina during the Grand Prix portion of the 2005 FEI World Cup Dressage Final) Las Vegas, NV —As some predicted long before Thursday’s qualifying Grand Prix, the Dutch made a fantastic showing during the first leg of the 2005 FEI World Cup Dressage Final, April 21, proving their powerhouse precision is not to be underestimated. Edward Gal finished first on Geldnet Lingh with a total of 78.625. Ironically Gal’s score surpassed that of his...

Today, the United States Equestrian Team Foundation (USET Foundation) announced that Chris Kappler, one of the world’s most successful show-jumping riders, is the recipient of the 2005 Whitney Stone Memorial Cup. For the past 25 years, the USET Foundation has honored an individual who has achieved a distinguished record in international competition while also serving as an ambassador for the USET Foundation and equestrian sports. “We are proud to award the 2005 Whitney Stone Memorial Cup to...

Courtesy NRHA/Waltenberry (Todd Crawford on Matt Dillon Dun It) As the NRHA Futurity & North American Affiliate Championship Show continues, horses and riders showing in the FEI World Reining Masters Finals were officially received for the FEI general horse inspection on Wednesday, December 1. Traditionally, the NRHA Futurity & Championship Show has been the annual meeting ground for reining enthusiasts from all over the world. But this year is even more special. The first-ever $100,000...