Dressage at Devon is pleased to be the first horse show in the United States to offer a foal championship. The foal championship, sponsored by Hassler Dressage, will be a part of the event’s extensive breed division, which takes place September 23-25. The foal championship was added for a number of reasons. Because their ever-changing conformation can impact their movement, foals will be on a more equal ground when judged against each other. “It is always difficult to judge foals against other...

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which has been campaigning to ban the slaughter of American horses for food exports, hailed a decision by the United States Supreme Court denying the foreign-owned horse slaughter industry’s final appeal to resume slaughtering horses. The decision upholds a federal appeals’ court ruling that Illinois can ban slaughtering horses and the sale of horsemeat for human consumption. The slaughter plants had claimed that the Illinois law at issue was...

David Holmes of Great Britain has been appointed to the key position of FEI Executive Director, Sports. In this role, Holmes will lead the FEI Sports Departments and manage their planning, financial, and operational activities. He will monitor the liaison with the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, and the Organizing Committees in charge of the Olympic, Paralympic, and Youth Olympic Games and will coordinate the FEI World Equestrian Games, Regional Games,...

Diamante Farms of Wellington, FL, is pleased to announce that Michelle Gibson will compete Don Angelo, the farm's eight-year-old Oldenburg stallion, at the 2008 USEF National Intermediaire I Championship during the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions. The event will be held in San Juan Capistrano, CA, on June 21-22 and June 27-29, with the Intermediaire I championship scheduled for the second weekend. Gibson, a 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games Team Bronze medalist, is head trainer at...

The Dressage Foundation proudly announced, following a special meeting of its Board of Directors, that Lendon Gray will become the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Dressage Foundation, effective September 1, 2008. "Her appointment grows out of a Management Transition Plan that has been conducted over the past year by the Foundation's Board and Staff, to replace John Boomer, President and CEO, and his wife, Lynn, Administrative Director, who, as sole staff members, have led,...

The American Horse Council (AHC) reports that the recently passed Senate Farm Bill includes several key provisions that would benefit the horse industry. The $286 billion bill, which passed the Senate on December 14 by a vote of 79 to 14, now includes the Equine Equity Act. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) offered this bill as an amendment to the Farm Bill, and it was accepted without objection. This provision would: (1) shorten the capital gains holding period for horses from 24 months to 12...

The lovely Warmblood gelding Brunello and Liza Towell-Boyd achieved the trifecta of the indoor circuit by taking home the championship ribbons in the regular working hunter division at the Capital Challenge Horse Show, the Washington International Horse Show and the final leg of the indoor championships, The Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA, on October 24. Trainer Jack Towell and daughter Towell-Boyd, 28, of Finally Farm in Camden, SC, who piloted Carolyn Clarke Morrison’s...

Allentown, PA—Dressage for the CCI*** at the Jersey Fresh Three-Day Event got underway Thursday at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown. The first two horses in the ring put in quality performances, and by the lunch break, they continued to hold the top two places. Veteran U.S. team riders Karen O’Connor (aboard Allstar) and Stephen Bradley (aboard From) got the division underway. Bradley held the lead well through the halfway point of the day on a score of 46.5. O’Connor...

SusanJStickle.com (Michelle Gibson on Lex Barker) Gladstone, NJ – The women ruled the scoreboards today taking all five classes with back-to-back wins for Rebecca Hart and Michelle Gibson. After the unexpected downpour during yesterday’s last class, the ideal weather set the tone for some spectacular rides at all levels. Local Ana Digironimo won the first class of the day, the FEI Young Rider Prix St. Georges Test with a score of 56.15%. Digironimo, of Turnersville, NJ, rode her...

As part of its effort to expand the USEF Dressage Developing Program, the USEF High Performance Dressage Committee has elected to appoint a USEF Dressage Developing Coach(s) for the remainder of 2006 through December 31, 2007, and is seeking qualified candidates to fill this position. The primary responsibilities for a developing coach will be to increase awareness and visibility of the USEF dressage developing program; further the education of riders, trainers and owners about specific aspects...