December 1, 2008 marked the start of another show season and the launch of the United States Hunter Jumper Association’s (USHJA) newest program—the Members Choice Awards. Developed by the Show Standards Committee, the Members Choice Awards give exhibitors and participants the unique opportunity to vote for the competition they feel is the best in their zone, at the level they compete. The goal of the program is to promote exhibitor friendly competitions and reward excellence based on the...

Dover Saddlery is pleased to announce that Dobbin, owned and ridden by Dover Saddlery employee Corinne Ashton, has been named 2008 Horse of the Year, by the United States Eventing Association. Dobbin, a 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding is owned and ridden by Corinne Ashton who works part time in customer service at Dover Saddlery, near her home in Princeton, MA. Ashton enjoys answering customers’ questions about eventing products while her co-workers love to follow Dobbin’s successful career...

Chicago 2016 Presents Bid Plan to European Olympic Committees CHICAGO - The delegation from Chicago 2016 traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, this week to present Chicago's vision for the Olympic and Paralympic Games at the European Olympic Committees (EOC) XXXVII General Assembly. The delegation, including Honorary Chairman of Chicago 2016 and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago 2016 Chairman and CEO Patrick G. Ryan met with sport leaders from across Europe to discuss Chicago's bid for the...

Lexington, KY – The USEF has named the 2009 Eventing Training List. These horse/rider combinations will be invited to participate in training sessions to be held at various locations throughout the country. These sessions will be conducted by USEF Eventing Coach Capt. Mark Phillips and are currently being scheduled. Riders and horses are listed alphabetically: Rider / Age / Hometown / Horse / Sex/ Breed / Age / Owner A List William Coleman / 25 / Gordonsville, VA / Twizzel / G / Westfalen/ 12 /...

Mark Leone, George Morris, Mason Phelps and Susie Schoellkopf have signed on again as judges for the 2009 Equestrian Idol Musical Talent Show to benefit The EQUUS Foundation, Inc. New this year, the event will be held at the International Polo Club Palm Beach on Friday (not Saturday) evening, February 6, 2009, in Wellington, FL. Featuring musical performances by talented equestrians, including returning performers, Heather Caristo, Hillary Dobbs, Patricia Griffith, Casey Hodges, Brian...

The World Wealth Report by Merrill Lynch/Capgemini estimates that only 0.15% of the world's population have achieved "millionaire" status. In the world of reining, only 11 competitors have crested the millionaire peak—until now. Craig Johnson of Middletown, NY, is unofficially among the elite few National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Million Dollar Riders with $1,000,093.97 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings. Johnson is the 12th NRHA member to become an NRHA Million Dollar Rider. Johnson, an...

On September 25, at the “Half-Way There” celebration marking the two-years remaining until the opening of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park, park Executive Director John Nicholson announced several major horse shows that have just signed contracts to hold their events in 2009 in the new indoor arena, which is currently under construction. Nicholson stated, “Kentucky’s investment in our new indoor arena is already paying off. For several years the managers of 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...

Popular clinician and horse trainer Clinton Anderson is opening the doors to his new Downunder Horsemanship Facility and marking 10 years of business. Located in the heart of cowboy country, the new office complex sits on the edge of Stephenville, TX, on Highway 377 North. The public is invited to attend the facility’s Grand Opening and 10th Year Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday, September 30. The festivities, which include refreshments, tours, a ribbon cutting and live music entertainment...

Lexington, KY - Heidi White has withdrawn Northern Spy from the U.S. Olympic Team in eventing for veterinary reasons. Following the selection procedures, the USEF named replacement horse-and-rider combination Karen O’Connor/Mandiba to the U.S. Olympic Team in eventing. This will be O’Connor’s fourth Olympic Games. The following horse/rider combinations have been named to the 2008 US Olympic Team in Eventing: Rider/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner (in alphabetical order): Phillip...