Entering its sixth year of competition, the Winter Equestrian Festival Equitation Championship for the R.W. Mutch Trophy is a showcase for the season’s top young riders. This year’s championship will be held during the CSIO**** United States – CN Finale on Saturday, March 12, 2005. The competition takes place in the afternoon as the featured event in the Grand Hunter Ring. The R. W. Mutch Educational Foundation sponsors the R. W. Equitation Classic. The trophy is named for Ronnie Mutch, a...

Lexington, KY —Aaron Ralston captured the win in the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Open Reining Championship Qualifier at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO on Monday, January 10. The International Reining Competition (CRI) was the second in the USEF series, but the first for the Carbondale, CO resident, who defeated a group of veterans on Smart Paul Olena. “It’s amazing to be able to compete with the likes of these guys,” said Ralston. “I...

USEF Honors its Stars of 2004 at Athletes’ Luncheon and Pegasus Awards Dinner Louisville, KY —Friday proved to be a day of widespread celebration at the 2005 USEF Annual Meeting as two special events brought audiences to their feet with thunderous applause and accolades for athletes and honorees. During the Friday Recognition Luncheon in honor of Athletes and Owners, the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation presented the coveted Whitney Stone Memorial Cup to one of the...

USEF President and Pegasus Awards Dinner emcee David O'Connor presents the Equestrian of the Year Trophy to the 2004 winner Kim Severson. (Dr. Mike Tomlinson) Friday proved to be a day of widespread celebration at the 2005 USEF Annual Meeting as two special events brought audiences to their feet with thunderous applause and accolades for the national, international and Olympic-level athletes that were saluted for their competitive efforts and hard work in 2004. In addition, those honored during...

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...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) has announced its 2005 Individual Annual Award winners with Marty Mueller, Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Groves and Ray Sheffield receiving top honors. The winners will be recognized at the 2005 American Saddlebred Annual Meeting during the American Saddlebred Ball and Annual Prize Giving on Saturday, February 19, at the Keeneland Race Course Entertainment Center. Seven individuals will be honored at the Ball with the Association’s most prestigious...

Beezie Madden on Authentic (Diana DeRosa) Authentic Top U.S. Money-Winning Horse; Aaron Vale Top U.S. Rider in Money Won Lexington, KY – The year-end report of the USEF Computer List is an important comprehensive annual analysis of the show jumping performances of U.S. and foreign riders in dozens of statistical categories. 2004 has proven to be a banner year for show jumping with a record amount of prize money up for grabs. In 2004, the total money won worldwide at Grand Prix events...

The December 14 landslide approval by Oklahoma City voters to increase the hotel/motel occupancy tax has ensured Oklahoma City will have the world-class facilities befitting the "Horse Show Capital of the World." Raising the current hotel/motel occupancy tax from 2% to 5.5% is estimated to generate $4.5 million annually, which will be dedicated to funding an estimated $55 million in proposed improvements to the horse show facilities at the Oklahoma State Fair Park. "First and foremost, I want...

For 2005 the FEI has recognized the CCI** as a CIM, as defined in Appendix D of the FEI General Regulations. Due to this classification, under FEI General Rules, Article 139.2, horses taking part in CIMs in their country of residence are not required to have an FEI passport. Therefore the passport requirements are as follows (the star designation applies to CICs and CCIs): • All horses entered in a *** or **** competition regardless of location must have an FEI passport. • All U.S. owned horses...

Oklahoma City, OK —Setting the pace for the rest of the world, the two reiners representing the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) made history December 2, winning the first Gold and Silver Medals ever awarded at the inaugural FEI World Reining Masters, presented by Netjets. Bringing home the Gold in the open division, Todd Crawford of Blanchard, OK, and Matt Dillon Dun It (owned by 3 Peaks Ranch) finished with a top score of 220.5. The win entitled the pair to $17,906.25 in...