The Welsh stallion Carolinas Red Fox passed away on the morning of November 15 due to complications from Cushings disease and laminitis. The 1985 Welsh Section B stallion by Carolinas Purple Emperor (Solway Master Bronze x Eden Blue Bunting) out of Downland Dresden (Downland Chevalier x Downland Dignity) was imported from Wales as a yearling by Nancy Jane Reed of Land's End Farm in Centreville, MD. Red Fox had numerous wins on the line in England before arriving in the States. With limited...

At the 2005 U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Horse Show, the Arabian Breeder's Association (ABA) presented its Lifetime Breeder's Award to Sheila Varian of Varian Arabians. Varian has made her mark in the Arabian horse community. Her breeding program has risen to worldwide acclaim, and she is currently the leading breeder of Arabians in the United States and Canada. She has been awarded Arabian Breeder of the Year by the Arabian Professional and Amateur Horseman's Association four times....

For the second year in a row, the United States hosted the FEI Children’s International Jumping Final. Held at the lovely Hummingbird Nest Ranch, just north of Los Angeles, 32 of the highest ranked riders aged 12-14 congregated for a week of competition and camaraderie from November 22-27. Venezuela’s Noel Vanososte conceived of the idea to have children’s jumper riders compete in a championship format as he watched developing riders in South America. After experimenting with various formats,...

Lexington, KY -- In an exciting new format, Pikcasso (2003 Hanoverian gelding by Pikadero and out of Miss Kilkee, owned and bred by Barbara Dunning and handled by Ted Fieger) was named Best Young Horse at the 2005 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF Hunter Breeding National Championships, presented by VitaFlex. This marked the inaugural year of an East-meets-West format in the Hunter Breeding Championship. Beginning in Del Mar, CA, on Wednesday, August 31, judges Rick Abbott and Dale Pederson judged the...

The Dutch Warmblood Studbook in North America (NA/WPN), a department of the Royal Warmblood Studbook of The Netherlands (KWPN), will be holding its annual "Keuring" tour (inspection and evaluation of breeding stock) from September 7-22, 2005. The tour includes two sites in Canada and ten in the U.S. All locations offer classes for young horses, mares, geldings and stallions. Classes for stallion approval are offered only at Iron Spring Farm (PA), DG Bar Ranch (CA) and Oakwood Stables in...

The Chatsworth International Horse Trials cross-country course has been modified to challenge the riders, perhaps more than the horses, in the FEI World Cup Qualifier (CIC***-W) to be held at Chatsworth, GA, April 8-10. The course for the FEI World Cup Qualifying event (CIC***W) will be run over 3600 meters with 30 numbered fences and 40 jumping efforts. “Most of the fences that seemed to cause too much trouble last year will be changed a bit to make it a bit more rider friendly.” said...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) announced that results for the year ending December 31, 2004, marked record highs in several areas. Net earnings for the year were $148,938 compared to $24,032 the previous year, prior to consideration of unrealized gains in investments either year, on revenues of $1.575 million in 2004 versus $1.473 million in the prior year. Including unrealized gains in investments, earnings doubled, from approximately $90,000 to nearly $181,000. Membership in...

Todd Minikus of the United States flew to victory riding Flier in the $60,000 CN World Cup Grand Prix held Wednesday, November 10, at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto, ON, Canada. From the original starting field of 23 riders, only five advanced to the jump-off over the course set by Olympic master Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela. Minikus of Wellington, FL, was one of only two riders to post double-clear rounds in the jump-off, stopping the timers a full two seconds ahead of second-placed...

Many of the west's top horses and riders will converge on the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, September 22-26, 2004, for a week of top hunter/jumper competition. The $40,000 Grand Prix of Los Angeles will run on Saturday evening, September 25, and a capacity crowd is expected for this American Grandprix Association event and qualifier for the 2005 World Cup Finals. The World Cup Finals will be held in Las Vegas, NV, next spring. Richard Spooner, who has an early lead in the World Cup standings,...

The Grand Prix Special was ahead for the dressage riders at Markopoulo Equestrian Center today, and an early morning start saw them performing in the Second Qualifier. Twenty-five riders and their mounts posted scores leading into Wednesday’s final day of dressage and the Final Grand Prix Freestyle. And at the end of Wednesday, we will know who will be awarded the 2004 Athens Olympics Individual medals. The U.S. team is coming off their successful bid for a Team medal. They took home the Bronze...