The American Horse Council (AHC) has announced that the focus of this year’s National Issues Forum will be the “Welfare of the Horse.” The Forum will be held June 16, 2009, in Washington, DC, as part of the AHC’s annual meeting. Over the last year, concerns about the welfare of horses used in racing, showing, recreation, or work have been raised by our fans, the general public, the media, and Congress. Such concerns have been expressed before, but perhaps not as broadly as now. “Those involved...

Lexington, KY – The US show jumping riders had their first training session on their borrowed horses at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney, Australia. The four riders all spent some time getting to know their borrowed horses and found both the horses and their Australian owners and riders very accommodating. Each nation is invited to bring four athletes between the ages of 15-20 and the four promising young stars representing the US are: Mavis Spencer, 17, from Santa Monica,...

Lexington, KY – In its inaugural year, the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize members whose involvement in the sport, and the USHJA itself, has benefited the industry. On December 10, Beth Miner and Alvin Topping were honored with the prestigious award at the 2008 Evening of Equestrians Dinner during the USHJA Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN. Both Miner and Topping have an illustrious history with the USHJA and took a prominent...

Lexington, KY – Mindy Darst was named Volunteer of the Year by the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) at the USHJA Evening of Equestrians on December 10, 2008. Evening of Equestrians is the USHJA’s awards ceremony held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting which took place at the Hilton Downtown in Nashville, TN, December 8-11. The Volunteer of the Year Award is given to an individual who donates their time to develop and implement programs in the organization. Darst was selected...

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced that Elizabeth Osborn of the Woodside Vaulters equestrian vaulting club has won the prestigious title of Vaulter of the Year. Osborn’s coach, Isabelle Bibbler Parker, was named USEF Coach of the Year. Osborn and Parker will receive their awards on January 16 at a ceremony during the USEF’s Annual Meeting in Cincinnati, OH. The USEF, based in Lexington, KY, is the national governing body of equestrian sport in the U.S. Osborn is the...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the National Affiliate Working Group (NAWG) committee is pleased to announce that Madeleine Genereux is the winner of the 2008 USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award sponsored by Breyer Animal Creations®. Genereux was selected from an outstanding group of young adults from across the country. Genereux, of Mahtomedi, MN, was nominated by the United States Hunter/Jumper Association for her passion and commitment to the sport along with...

Whitney Weeks and Subliem emerged as the winners of the 2008 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series Year-End Championship at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring the 125th National Horse Show in Syracuse, NY. Weeks' win followed the completion of the 2008 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, which included classes at 109 horse shows across the nation. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame conducts the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, held under...

Whitney Weeks, Victoria Birdsall, Josephina Nor and Samantha Harrison emerged as champions of the 2008 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series conducted its largest series ever in 2008, with classes at 109 horse shows across the nation. This gave competitors an abundance of opportunities to accumulate points throughout the year. The Series featured separate divisions for amateur-owner and junior riders with standings kept separately...

The 54th Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) will be held in San Diego, CA, December 6-10, continuing its long history of providing unsurpassed professional development for equine veterinarians. More than 4,000 practitioners, veterinary students and technicians attend the convention each year, making it the largest equine veterinary meeting in the world. The San Diego Convention Center will be the primary location for convention events. Program Chair...

Last year when two-time Horse of the Year John Henry passed away at the age of 32, five hundred fans from across the country attended his memorial service, thousands watched that same service on a live television broadcast, and thousands of others sent letters of condolence. On October 8, the one-year anniversary of John Henry’s death, the Kentucky Horse Park and the organizers of the John Henry Memorial Fund will dedicate a permanent memorial to one of the Thoroughbred racing industry’s...