Tom McCutcheon and Darlins Not Painted (Art & Light/FEI). Bökeberg, Sweden – Set in a beautiful arena and in front of a capacity crowd, the 2011 FEI World Reining Final had an electric atmosphere at Bökebergs Gård, Sweden, just outside of Malmö. The best reining horses in the world contested the highly coveted title, and Tom McCutcheon of the United States was flawless in his effort to top the podium. Riding Darlins Not Painted to an extraordinary score...

Frankfort, KY — A large mosquito infestation is expected in Kentucky this year after a rainy spring. Mosquitoes can carry West Nile Virus, and Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer encourages horse owners to talk to their veterinarians about vaccinating their horses for the virus. “Since 2003, no horses known to have been properly vaccinated have gotten West Nile in Kentucky,” Commissioner Farmer said. “Kentucky had 513 equine cases of West Nile in 2002, the first full...

Jhesika Wills. (Photo by Carolynn Bunch). Lincoln, NE – Four advanced young riders have been selected for the 2011 Olympic Dream Program that annually sends young riders to Europe for an intensive 10-day dressage experience. The program is administered and funded annually by The Dressage Foundation (TDF). On May 2, an independent Selection Committee, after reviewing dozens of applications, chose Mary Bahniuk Lauritsen (MA), Jhesika Wells (WA), Kathryn Butt (SC) and Laura DeCesari (AZ) to...

Shawn Flarida and KR Lil Conquistador. Photo by Anthony Trollope. Lexington, KY - Cool and breezy weather provided a welcome change at the Kentucky Horse Park Thursday - perhaps the calm before the proverbial storm we'll see Friday and Saturday nights as the 2011 Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup gets ready to unleash a roster of star-studded talent in the Alltech Arena. Twenty horses were presented during Thursday's reining horse inspection at the Alltech Arena; all horses were accepted and...

University of Kentucky Saddle Seat Team, 2011 ISSRA Champions. Photo by Tim Holahan. Morehead, KY - The Intercollegiate Saddle Seat Riding Association (ISSRA) hosted its 3rd National Championship Horse Show on April 3, 2011 at Morehead State University. Josie Forbes from Nicholasville, Kentucky served as the judge for the show. Riders from teams including Eastern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Morehead State University competed...

Lexington, KY — The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone is proud to honor America's military heroes with free admission on "Military Appreciation Day" on Friday, April 29, 2011. All current and former military personnel, in uniform or showing a military ID, and their families, will be given free admission to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event on Friday, April 29. There will be an announcement recognizing the military personnel in attendance and their contributions...

The American Horse Council is pleased to announce that the new, up-to-date 2011 Horse Owners and Breeders Tax Handbook is hot off the presses! No one involved with the horse industry should be without the Horse Owners and Breeders Tax Handbook. Topics covered in the Handbook include: • Business versus hobby-including summaries of important court decisions; • Passive loss rules; • Forms of doing business; • Record keeping and accounting rules; • Sales, Exchanges and...

Jonathan Wentz on NTEC Ritcher Scale with trainer/sponsor Kai Handt and USPEA President Hope Hand. (Lindsay McCall) Del Mar, CA – Closing day of the 2011 Dressage Affaire (CDI3* W/Y/J & CPEDI3*) arrived at the beautiful Del Mar Horsepark on Sunday, March 13, 2011. The para-equestrian dressage riders could breathe a sigh a relief with the two qualifying days of the Team Test and Individual Championship Test completed. Sunday was the day for each rider from the United States, Canada and Mexico to...

LA Pomeroy (IHSA Executive Director Bob Cacchione.) Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation and The EQUUS Foundation are pleased to announce the winner of the EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award. Bob Cacchione, Executive Director of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), was selected from more than 20 nominees to receive this distinctive honor. The award will be presented January 22, 2011, at the USEF Pegasus Awards Dinner during the Federation's Annual Meeting...

Coming in as draw 22 on Boom Shernic, by Boomernic out of She And Chic Dunit, Craig Schmersal knew the leading score was a 227. From the moment he and the six-year-old stallion ran to the dirt-churning stop, the crowd's attention was riveted. When the score—a 228—was announced, the hoots, hollers, and whistles were deafening. The waiting began at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) in the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX. Jordan Larson and Stop Like A Dream...