Lexington, KY— The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces a new contest for 2009 designed to let USEF members vote for their “Favorite USEF Breed Competition.” The idea behind this contest is to award and promote the USEF licensed breed competitions for their efforts in running a show so well that exhibitors want to call it their favorite. Also, this contest gives exhibitors the opportunity to provide positive feedback about the competitions to the USEF. “When we created this...

Have you ever wanted to learn more about the Hanoverian horse? In response to membership inquiries, the American Hanoverian Society (AHS) is currently developing a Breed Orientation Seminar that will tentatively be held November 3-6, 2009, in the Sacramento, CA, area. In order to test the financial viability of this developmental program, the AHS needs to gauge the level of interest in such a seminar. The seminar requires a minimum of attendees and is open to the AHS membership and others with...

The Vermont Summer Festival, New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show, returns to East Dorset, VT, from July 1-August 9, 2009. Offering more than $750,000 in prize money, the Vermont Summer Festival is the richest sporting event based on purse in the state. The competition attracts the best athletes, including Olympic medalists, from across the country and around the globe to vie for top honors. The first five Sundays feature a $30,000 grand prix, culminating with the $50,000...

The American Hanoverian Society (AHS) announced that the association will recognize Silver Creek Farms in Broken Arrow, OK, as a central stallion testing station in the United States and furthermore will support their first 70-day test that will be held this fall. During a March 18 teleconference call in which the full board participated, AHS Executive Director Hugh Bellis-Jones and Mare and Stallion Committee Chair Suzanne Quarles reported on their recent visit to the facility during the...

The Three Phase Event Gaited Horse Versatility Competition is three weeks away, and organizers wanted to remind everyone that the deadline for entries is midnight, April 1, 2009. Check the website at www.threephaseevent.org for an entry form, dressage tests, and hotel information. There will be new challenges to the stadium obstacle course, and new zigs and zags to the cross-country course that will keep everyone moving. We are please to announce that our dressage judge, Betty Ortlieb, is...

Board Members of the American Shagya Arabian Verband, Inc. (ASAV), have a new and truly innovative program that will give mare owners the chance to breed their mares for a stud fee of only $200. This promotion will bring attention to this amazing breed and assist those with limited budgets a chance to compete in today's market. Details can be found at www.shagyaregistry.com . The Shagya is very rare with only about 150 in the U.S. and about 1,500 in the world. It is an Arabian-based breed since...

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, set to return to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, April 23-26, is pleased to announce that NBC will broadcast a one-hour program on the CCI**** on Sunday, May 3. This marks the sixth straight year that NBC is airing coverage of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. In addition to the NBC telecast, the final round of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event will air live on Sunday, April 26, on Universal Sports Network (USN), a new member of the NBC family of...

The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series enjoyed a great start to the 2009 season at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. The series will see classes at more than 100 horse shows across the country before culminating in year-end championships at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring the 126th National Horse Show in Syracuse, NY, in October. The Series hosts separate divisions for junior and amateur-owner riders in two...

The Morgan breed was celebrated and heralded in Sacramento, CA, at the 2009 American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Convention, February 18-21. "We were delighted with every aspect of the convention," said AMHA Executive Director Julie M. Broadway. "The weather cooperated for great farm tours, attendance was strong, and all the seminars were well attended. Each party was fun and upbeat, and fundraising was very successful! Everything was smooth and seamless, and a great time was had by all."...

Mexico will be the first of eight teams to start in the FEI Nations Cup presented by CN at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Friday night, February 27. A sellout crowd is expected to pack the newly created spectator sections of the International Arena in which the only Nations Cup in the United States will be held under lights beginning at 6:30 p.m. The first horse is scheduled to be in the ring at 7 p.m. for the event, which is a highlight of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival...