Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui (Randi Muster) Wellington, FL – The only clear round in the second leg of the Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship presented by Equine Motorcoach wasn’t enough to wrestle the title away from the consistently impressive combination of Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui. They were the fastest of the four faulters on Sunday, but their stellar performance in the first round on Friday compounded into the best score over the two days. Last year’s...

Lexington, KY – Plans are under way for the 2008 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Youth Convention and registration is open, but space is limited for the convention. Already, over half of the available spots have been filled for the first annual Youth Convention, which will be held January 12 in Louisville, KY. Along with the schedule, the break-out sessions have been finalized. The Youth Convention will feature many notable speakers, including experts in the equine industry as well...

The American Horse Council (AHC) is reminding all members of the horse-owning community to participate in the 2007 Census of Agriculture being conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA census, taken every five years, is a count of U.S. farms, ranches and the people who operate them. A link to the Census can be found on the front page of the AHC’s website at www.horsecouncil.org or at https://www.agcounts.usda.gov/cgi-bin/counts . The USDA reports that the 2007 Census of...

Lexington, KY—Kathy Meyer, longtime officer and administrator of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and professional sport events marketer, has been named Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the USEF, effective January 13, 2008. She fills the position vacated by the retirement of Maria Partlow earlier this fall. Meyer has a lengthy and experienced career in high-end sports and special events management. In addition, she has almost two decades of firsthand...

Oklahoma City, OK - The 2007 FEI World Reining Masters drew riders from fifteen countries to the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds on November 29, but two riders from the United States that caught the judges attention - equally. Not to be outdone by the home team an Austrian rider answered their challenge with an equally stellar performance. This meant that at the end of the competition Americans Casey Hinton and Gabe Hutchins were tied with Rudi Kronsteiner for first place on a score of 221. Under...

There is a new kid on the block. Oldenburg (GOV) stallion Rosall, by Rosario out of Akzent II mare is just over from Germany, and he won the blue at Devon in the four-year-old stallion Materiale class. His very accomplished grand prix rider, Jessica Jo Tate, is thrilled with him, and very proud of the way he handled his week at Devon. Tate, now training/riding some very successful young horses, said, "He is always the gentleman, always easy to work with, and his work ethic and character are...

Three American Saddlebred names recognizable to many in the Saddlebred community have died within the last three weeks: Denmark’s Radiant Society (BHF), Phi Slama Jama and CH Sultan’s Hot Copy. On Tuesday, October 23, Denmark’s Radiant Society (BHF) died at age 30. She had been owned by Dr. and Mrs. Simon Fredricks of Simbara Farms of Houston, TX, since 1979. Denmark’s Radiant Society (BHF) (CH Ronald Reagan x Denmark’s Society Sue [BHF]) was the 1980 Three-Year-Old Fine Harness World’s...

U.S. endurance competitors were up to the task at the World Endurance Championship Test Event in Teregganu, Malaysia, November 10-11, 2007. Despite torrential rain and muddy conditions, two American combinations finished in the top ten. Kathy Brunjes from Maine riding her own Theatric finished fifth, just inches in front of her fellow countryman John Crandell III. Crandell, from Virginia, was sixth riding Heraldic. Interestingly, these geldings are ¾ siblings. They are both by Statistic and...

Beginning December 1, 2007, all U.S. competitors must present either a U.S. National Passport or an FEI passport at lower level FEI events in the U.S. The following events are considered lower level FEI events (CSI 1*/2*, CDI 1*/2*, CCI or CIC 1*/2*, CRI 1*/2*, CAI-B, CVI 1*). FEI Passports are still required at upper level FEI events and events outside the competitor’s home country. GR1309.4 U.S. Competitors competing in their own country in an FEI-sanctioned event, not requiring an FEI...

Lexington, KY -- Kristina Harrison-Naness, riding in only her second overseas show on Rociero 4, and veteran rider Debbie McDonald on her up-and-coming star, Felix, braved horrendous weather conditions at the CDI**** Oldenburg in Germany November 9-11. These athletes were recipients of United States Equestrian Federation European Training Grants. Harrison-Naness and the diminutive Andalusian Rociero 4 put in a brave performance in the cold and fiercely windy conditions to finish second by less...