The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Laura Noyes and her Trakehner gelding, Syncro, were awarded this year’s Fiona Baan Pursuit of Excellence Memorial Trophy. Noyes is originally from Falmouth, ME, but now lives in Delaware, OH, where she is a student at Ohio Wesleyan University and trains with George Williams. When asked how she felt about being awarded this prestigious trophy Noyes exclaimed, “Winning the Fiona Baan trophy is more than I ever expected of my...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces the winners of the 2008 Emerson Burr Horsemanship Awards sponsored by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, along with the winner of the Buttons and Bows Sportsmanship Award and the winner of the Short Stop Perpetual Trophy. All of these special awards took place at the 2008 USEF National Pony Finals at the Kentucky Horse Park. With pony riders competing in each age division, the winners of the Emerson Burr Awards were Madeline...

Grand prix dressage rider Suzanne Dansby Bollman has returned to the FEI arena with her equine partner Cooper with great success. Bollman is a top international competitor that has been long- or short-listed with the USET for seven consecutive years. Cooper and Bollman have accumulated many impressive wins in their six years together. Two years ago, the pair was the U.S. team alternate at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Germany. This summer, Bollman and Cooper competed for the first time in...

Twenty-one National Walking Horse Association (NWHA) youth members from across the country attended the First NWHA Youth Leadership Conference held at the Kentucky Horse Park. July 14-16. "The conference was everything we had hoped it would be for the youth and more," stated Tami Steinbrecher, Chair of the Youth Committee. The conference offered workshops on developing leadership skills, effective public speaking, equine first aid and horse judging and included two interactive clinics on...

The human and animal kingdoms may be enjoying a quiet summer/winter weekend, depending on the hemisphere, but it is a key one for the horses taking part in the equestrian events of the 2008 Olympic Games. On Friday, July 25, the first horses left from Europe (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) and the United States (Atlanta, GA) on three flights to Hong Kong. All 33 horses—coming from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Korea, The Netherlands, and Switzerland—accompanied by 15 attendants...

The very first International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Reining Championship will be held in Manerbio, Italy, September 11-14, 2008, at the Palasturla facility. The FEI competition will be organized by the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE), with the technical support of the Italian Reining Horse Association (IRHA). Invitations have been formally extended to all Foreign National Federations (NF) with the ability to enter one team. Each team can be comprised of a minimum of three...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces the winners of the 2008 Emerson Burr Horsemanship Awards Program for Zone 1 and Zone 3, which were recently held at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, CT, and the Deep Run Horse Show in Manakin-Sabot, VA. At the Fairfield County Hunt Club, winners of the Zone 1 Emerson Burr Award were Savanna Hajdasz, Lillie Keenan, Dana Koebbe and Kate Tarbell-Littman. The written portion of the test was administered by Lynn...

The record books for the sport of reining have seen several additions this year, including the most recent change moving Topsail Whiz to the top of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) All-Time Leading Sire standings, the creation of the first-ever International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Reining Championships and the first-ever consecutive champions of the NRHA Open Futurity, National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) and NRHA Derby with Arcese Quarter Horses USA’s Wimpys Little...

In keeping in the tradition of promoting the best in equestrian sport, the Capital Challenge Horse Show is pleased to announce the addition of an expanded $45,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper division. Celebrating its 15th year, the 2008 Capital Challenge kicks off on September 27 and runs through October 5 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Manager Oliver Kennedy said of the expansion, “We have always had a great turnout of junior/amateur-owner riders from across North America, and by expanding this...

Ariat International, Inc., is proud to announce that Beezie Madden won the overall title at the 2008 Spruce Meadows National Tournament and was named the 2008 Spruce Meadows Canadian Champion. Madden won both events on the last day of the National, including the $40,000 ATCO Structures Double Slalom on Conquest II and the $175,000 Nexen Cup Derby on Judgement. Madden's performance at the Derby is legendary. She is the only rider in the history of the event to master the course without incurring...