Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy win the $50,000 Chicago International Hunter Derby.(Aullmyn Photography) Antioch, IL - Jersey Boy and Jennifer Alfano have been red hot since their recent victory as the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals held in Kentucky last month. Their fire did not stop burning as they blazed the way to the top of the $50,000 Chicago International Hunter Derby, presented by Canadian National Railroad. Alfano and Jersey Boy not only took the first place prize, but...

A final assessment has been carried out on the all-weather footing at Greenwich Park, and given approval by the FEI. Debbie Jevans, LOCOG Director of Sport, who was present at the assessment, commented: “With support from the FEI, the contractors and our own team have done a great job to get the make-up of the surface right, and we now believe this will be a world class surface for the equestrian athletes in a stunning Olympic venue.” The surface was changed after last year’s...

Each month Classic Equine Equipment will spotlight an equine charitable organization through their newsletter, "Little Bits," in an effort to increase awareness of those people and groups that give back to our hooved companions. Any "Little Bits" reader who submits to Classic Equine Equipment proof of donation to the organization within 30 days of newsletter publication will be matched at a rate of 25%. Classic Equine Equipment will donate a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $1,000 each month to...

Katie Poag (Regine Kraft) February 16, 2012 - The Dressage Foundation's Continuing Education for Dressage Instructors Fund has awarded a $1,250 grant to Katie Poag (SC) to participate in the United States Dressage Federation's Instructor Certification Program. "I am excited to continue my education through the wonderful program that USDF offers to instructors to make their teaching clear and concise following all aspects of the training scale," said Katie. "From the workshops and...

Endurance photo finish on a hot Kentucky summer day. Photo: SusanJStickle.com. Lexington, KY - For first time in the event's history, the Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North played host to the North American Young Rider Endurance Championship. The competition included both CEI2* and CEI4* divisions which were completed yesterday, and team medals were presented today in both divisions. CEI4* In the CEI4* divisions, Team USA...

Today’s speed competition course looked a little bit like a Hunter Derby Finals course. I don’t know that they used any of the same jumps, but it really brought me back to Derby Finals. It was a great-looking course and used the entire stadium. The course theme was “The Nature of Kentucky” according to course designer Conrad Homfeld. It included a Kentucky Folk Art fence, a Natural Arch fence, a Kentucky Fence Line (which caused quite a few problems), a Farm Entrance...

Spring may have been slow in coming to California this year, but the Woodside Spring Preview started off with a bang. A combination of beautiful weather, a wide range of classes, and a great facility brought in record numbers of entries to fill some very large and exciting classes. The show served as a selection trial for the Zone 10 Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championship (NAJYRC) teams, and the main jumper ring was a veritable “who’s who” of top jumper riders comprising...

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) has announced a strategic plan to re-align the NRHA, creating a National Governing Body for reining affiliates and its members in the United States. This new affiliate organization is currently named Reining USA. The worldwide governing body for reining will remain under the name NRHA. This strategic plan, endorsed by the NRHA Executive Board, was presented on February 16, to the attendees of the NRHA Annual Convention in St. Louis, MO. A final vote...

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) announces that its new program, Leg Up: A Ready-to-Use Lesson Series About Arabian Horses. Leg Up is available for 4-H leaders, teachers, scout troops and anyone else with a need for fun, effective lessons about horses geared to young people. There’s no cost to try it, and each Leg Up lesson plan is a compact and comprehensive presentation suitable for youth. Plans may be used “as is” or modified to suit a group’s age or knowledge. Leg Up is already prepared...

Skinner & Company of Louisville, KY, is producing an important documentary film to raise awareness of equine rescue in disaster situations, specifically focusing on the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Skinner & Company is requesting that anyone who has videos and/or photographs of the following, or knows of someone else, please contact them at the contact information below. Here are some ideas of video/film/or photos that the company would like to see: -Actual storm/ hurricane footage...