An exciting benefit to being a member of the Morgan Dressage Association (MDA) is the Annual Scholarship Awards. Each year, the association intends to award up to eight scholarships in the amount of $500-$750 each in three categories to MDA members: training/first level; second/third level; fourth level and above, with the larger amount considered for riders and Morgans competing at the FEI level. Scholarships will be awarded across the categories, distributed based on qualified applicants. A...

This year marks the inception of the Tristanne Weber Childress Memorial American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Youth of the Year Contest Sportsmanship Award. A Morgan horse trainer, Tristanne Weber Childress of Siler City, NC, passed away March 17, 2008, following a short illness at the age of 34. This award, funded by donations from friends and family, will be presented to the AMHA Youth of the Year contestant who best exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship. The winner will be selected by...

Don’t miss the final tour stop of 2008 as master horseman Chris Cox brings his Ride the Journey tour to Albuquerque, NM. Gear up for a memorable two-day learning experience as Cox takes to the arena on October 18 and 19 at Expo New Mexico. Two-time Road to the Horse Champion and popular clinician, Cox knows how to share a lifetime of knowledge in ways that inspire and enlighten. His approach to horsemanship is all about building a willing, working partnership on a firm foundation. Cox’ RFD-TV...

Hilary M. Clayton, BVMS, PhD, MRCVS, will be the speaker at the Dressage at Devon Forum on Wednesday, September 24. With "The Bio-Mechanics of the Horse," participants will enjoy a brief lecture as well as a lively question and answer discussion session. A gourmet boxed dinner and soft drinks will be served. There will also be a cash bar. The lecture, "Fitness Training to Maximize Dressage Performance," will address the fitness requirements of dressage horses at different levels of training,...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced the start of its “Going Green” Campaign. The campaign was developed to manage costs in a tough economy and support worldwide environmental efforts while continuing to provide the best in member benefits and services. The first major step in the effort was the launch of the USDF website last fall, which has allowed USDF to provide extensive information and services to its members online, reducing paper usage, shipping costs, and staff...

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 Kentucky State Fair has announced that all entries in park and pleasure sections whose confirmed records demonstrate competition within the official qualifying period including at least three shows with six or more classes, and who have been properly entered by the deadlines specified in the official prize list, have been accepted. According to Scarlett Mattson, Horse Show Manager, "We're very pleased to be able to accept all the Park and Pleasure entries we received as of the entry closing...

The American Saddle Horse Breeders Futurity of Wisconsin announced that it will once again host the American Saddlebred Horse Association’s National Pleasure Equitation Championship. The national championship attracts exhibitors from across the United States and is a “must do” for the most accomplished pleasure equitation competitors. The competition includes rail work followed by a workout. Competitors are scored using a numerical scale by each of the three judges. Scores for rail work and the...

David O’Connor, President of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), Olympic Gold medalist, Pam American Games and World Equestrian Games medalist, has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the American Horse Council (AHC). In 2004, O’Connor officially retired from international competition and was elected as president of USEF for the 2005-2009 term, and has now been re-elected for another four-year term. As president, he works closely with the FEI, the international governing body...

Lexington, KY – To assist breed shows with financial challenges, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) offers the 2008 Outreach Grant program, which provides assistance to various USEF breed competitions. And even though the competition season is under way, it’s not too late to apply for a USEF grant. The USEF grant program assists financially challenged breed competitions that meet the grant requirements and are approved by the USEF. The grants are available on a first come, first...