The Illinois Hunter Jumper Association (IHJA) would like to thank everyone involved with their 2009 year-end banquet, which was held on November 21, 2009, at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumburg, IL. One of the main sponsors of the 2009 IHJA Banquet was WeatherTech.com, owned by David Mac Neil. WeatherTech.com is the online source for MacNeil Automotive Products, a company that designs, engineers and manufactures automotive accessories for cars, trucks, sport utility...

The international sport of reining will host the world’s premiere event for reiners—the 2009 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show, November 26 through December 5, at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, OK. The $1.9-million show features the NRHA Futurity—the premiere event for three-year-old reining horses. At the end of the Open Finals on Saturday, December 5, one entry is guaranteed a check for $125,000 as...

Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends, is pleased to announce the opening of his organization’s first satellite facility for retired Thoroughbreds. Cabin Creek, a 40-acre farm just outside Saratoga in Greenfield Center, NY, will begin receiving horses immediately. An official opening and celebration is planned for July 22, 2010. This premiere auxiliary space will be named in honor of trainer Bobby Frankel, who passed away last week after a battle with leukemia. A native New...

How can Kentucky's children become better readers? By reading about a horse, to a horse. The Kentucky Horse Park's International Museum of the Horse is partnering with The Black Stallion Literacy Foundation (BSLF) to offer the widely acclaimed Black Stallion Literacy Project in the spring of 2010 to first and fourth graders in Fayette, Bourbon, Madison, Clark, Scott, Woodford and Jessamine counties. The BSLF helps children discover the joys of reading and the excitement of learning through the...

Registration is now open for one of the finest annual training opportunities in the U.S. for first responders, emergency medical technicians, veterinarians, firefighters, and other emergency/rescue personnel—the Technical Large-Animal Emergency Rescue (LAR) Training provided cooperatively by USRider and Eastern Kentucky University (EKU). Two rescue training seminars have been scheduled for March 2010. The first course, scheduled for March 22-24, 2010, is open to the public, with emphasis...

Exhibitors at the 2009 Arabian Sport Horse National (SHN) Championships raked in extra prize money for their accomplishments, courtesy of the SHN Payback Program for the second consecutive year. Founded in 2007, the SHN Payback Program was implemented by a group of longtime Arabian breeders and riders. By offering cash rewards, the group has been able to encourage interest and enthusiasm in the Sport Horse Nationals show, as well as the breeding of Arabians specifically for the sport-type...

The American Paint Horse Association’s (APHA) annual convention and membership meeting concluded recently in Colorado Springs, CO, where 107 leaders of the association met to elect the group’s executive committee, decide on rule change proposals and work within committees to continue to advance the popular horse breed organization. APHA’s newly elected executive committee now includes: • President Linda Vance, Winlock, WA • President-elect Dr. Travis Titlow, Lincoln, CA • Vice President Scot...

Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP), the manager of the Winter Equestrian Festival, has released the finalized dates for the competitions commencing on January 13 and running through April 4, 2010. As in the past two years, the Festival will feature 12 weeks of AA USEF competition showcasing some of the world's top Olympic riders and awarding major prize money at one of the premiere equestrian facilities in the world. Once again, the Festival will feature the Battle of the Sexes, the Nations Cup...

The World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., announced the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) as the Official Reining Breed Sponsor. Reining will be one of eight world championships contested at the Games, which will be held at Lexington’s Kentucky Horse Park on September 25-October 10, 2010. As the Official Reining Breed Sponsor, AQHA will assist with the promotion and coverage of reining during the 2010 Games, and will be featured in the Equine Village. In addition, reining will be...

The United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Derby Series was created to bring show hunters to the international level, to increase spectator, media and sponsorship interest and to bring tradition and basic riding principles back to the sport of showing hunters. Over the past 18 months, during the inaugural year of the USHJA International Hunter Derby, this effort has been wildly successful with the help of our sponsors and show managers as well as the owners,...