PhelpsPhotos.com (Brentina and Debbie McDonald) (Cincinnati, Ohio)—Among the regalia of the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) annual meeting and black tie gala, Dressage Champion Brentina was named the inaugural Farnam®/ Platform™ • USEF Horse of the Year, the first time one horse has been selected among all breeds and disciplines as the year’s most exceptional horse. Owned by Peggy Thomas of Hailey, Idaho, Brentina is one of the most successful horses in the history of U.S. Dressage...

Governor Ernie Fletcher and United States Equestrian Federation President David O'Connor answered questions about the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games after the announcement was made that Kentucky had won the bid. (Marc Manning) First Time Outside of Europe, the United States Will Host World’s Largest Equestrian Competition at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky LEXINGTON, KY – For the first time, the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) will be held outside of Europe in 2010,...

Nathalie Bouckaert Pollard on West Farthing during the Fair Hill International Three-Day Event (Shawn Hamilton) Fair Hill, MD – Nathalie Bouckaert Pollard proved the leader in the third day of eventing at Fair Hill, finishing the show jumping course of the 2005 USEF National Three-Star Eventing Championship to exuberant applause. The final ride on the 12-year-old British Sport Horse gelding, West Farthing, was good enough to clinch the overall win at the 2005 championship, which took...

Craig Schmersal and Tim McQuay after their Gold- and Silver-medal wins at the $100,000 FEI World Reining Masters Finals. (Andrea Bonaga) Manerbio, Italy – September 25 – The much awaited second $100,000 FEI World Reining Masters Finals, presented by the Arcese Group and the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation, saw a full house and was truly a tribute to the sport of reining. Craig Schmersal, riding Tidal Wave Jack, received a standing ovation from the enthusiastic crowd, who had a...

Courtesy Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine (Dr. Shannon Gonsoulin (LSU Grad) and a helper rescuing a Miniature Horse and loading it into a trailer.) Word from the Louisiana State University Veterinary School about the overall situation at the LaMar Dixon Expo Center which has been the large animal evacuation center, is positive. Dr. Rustin Moore, Director of Equine Health Studies at LSU, reports that they now have approximately 275 horses at the center and because...

Photos.com ( ) Lexington, KY – Mississippi horse owners affected by Hurricane Katrina now have a new lifeline to help through the United States Equestrian Federation. As of Thursday, September 8, USEF will have a dedicated phone line to take emergency calls from Mississippians in need of emergency assistance for their horses. The USEF Mississippi Emergency Hotline number is (859) 225-2051 , and will be operational daily from 8:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., until the need has subsided. This...

Michael Bowling (Carlswald Prince's Dominoe and Lionel Ferreira) Carlswald Prince's Dominoe, trained and ridden by Lionel Ferreira, defeated 11 others in Wednesday night's Five-Gaited Gelding Stake, a class in which defending Five-Gaited World's Grand Champion CH Boucheron did not place, at the Saddlebred World's Championship Horse Show. Carlswald Prince's Dominoe won the Lexington Junior League Horse Show Five-Gaited Grand Championship in July. CH Boucheron had not shown...

PhelpsPhotos.com (Lauren Hogan on High Fashion) (Lexington, KY) – Although storms and much-needed rain poured down on the Bluegrass State Saturday, a young lady from the Sunshine State took home a treasure trove of silver, a Pessoa Saddle, and a Blue Ribbon Cooler appliquéd with their new accolades. Lauren Hogan, 13, and High Fashion, a seven-year-old medium pony mare, won with a score of 1033 points. High Fashion is owned by Laura King-Kaplan, and Lauren is trained by Bill Schaub of Orlando,...

Jan Gyllensten (Riders at the Las Vegas World Invitational will compete for $1-million in prize money.) Officials of the Las Vegas World Invitational (LVWI) announced the international field of 25 top-ranked riders who were invited to compete for $1-million in prize money, show jumping's richest purse, on October 14-15, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Seven riders were invited from the United States, seven from Germany, three from Great Britain, two from Switzerland and one...

Bob Langrish (Laura Kraut and Anthem at Hickstead.) Kraut wins Queen Elizabeth Cup, Welles wins King George V Cup, U.S. Team second in Nations Cup, Madden wins Longines Prize for Elegance (Lexington, KY) – Despite what U.S. Chef d’Equipe George Morris calls a “bittersweet show,” the United States’ show jumping riders staged a spectacular performance in Hickstead this past weekend, demonstrating that they remain a solid world power with which to be reckoned. They...