The American Trakehner Association (ATA) is finalizing plans for its 36th annual convention to be held November 11-13, 2010, in Jacksonville, FL. The ATA annual convention activities include a membership meeting, mare and stallion inspections, Horse of the Year Awards, a breed show, jumper Calcutta and much more—all centered on the versatile Trakehner horse. Registration information can be found on the ATA website at www.americantrakehner.com . All the horse-related activities and...

After a full investigation into the facts surrounding the disqualification of Sapphire (McLain Ward) at the FEI World Cup Final in Geneva, the FEI has determined that the horse was incorrectly eliminated from the second round on 16 April 2010, however, Sapphire’s disqualification from the final round of the World Cup remains in place. McLain Ward will immediately be awarded all ranking points and prize money related to his second place finish in the second round of the FEI World Cup Final. This...

The World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Emerging Pro Division will now be tracked as one group rather than two groups divided by height. Like the other WCHR divisions, riders will earn points on their highest-placed horse at a WCHR member event, regardless of whether those points were earned from the pre-green or rated sections. The top 10 in the National standings after the divisions at Capital Challenge, plus the top six from each region will be invited to participate in the Emerging Pro...

Riders4helmets website aims to encourage more equestrians to wear helmets Leading equine digestive health product Succeed® has teamed up with helmet advocate Jeri Bryant to launch an online helmet awareness campaign— www.riders4helmets.com . The campaign is designed to educate equestrians on the benefits of wearing helmets. The Equestrian Medical Safety Association (EMSA) states that head injuries account for approximately 60% of deaths resulting from equestrian accidents. Approximately...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that GMOs now have the ability to submit membership roster entries online by logging onto the USDF website. This new program allows GMOs to submit their member updates in a more efficient manner, eliminating the need to e-mail or mail hard copy. When a GMO representative logs onto the USDF website, they will be able to view the previous year’s membership roster. Members for the new year can then be selected from the previous...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) has announced a partnership with the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, set to launch on Monday, March 22, 2010. ASHA will be working with the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., to simultaneously promote the 2010 WEG and the American Saddlebred breed, by providing ASHA members the opportunity to purchase tickets and daily hospitality passes for the Games, with a percentage of the sales going back the breed organization, to assist ASHA’s...

Steffen Peters and Ravel, Anky van Grunsven and Salinero and Isabell Werth and Satchmo joined 15 other horse-and-rider combinations Monday to prepare for the Exquis World Dressage Masters Palm Beach this week that kicks off the 2010 lineup of the globe's richest dressage competitions. Anky van Grunsven watched her first ever polo game Sunday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, Isabell Werth worked Satchmo at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center while her sister, Claudia, wheeled...

The 2010 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions will return to Gladstone, NJ, August 6-8 and August 13–15. This Festival of Champions will once again feature the National Championships for the Grand Prix, Intermediaire I, Young Adult “Brentina Cup,” Young Rider, and Junior divisions, in addition to the USEF Selection Trials for the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2010 Alltech™ FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). Junior, Young Rider, and “Brentina Cup” applications and selection...

The Interntational Equestrian Federation (FEI) is pleased to announce that its official video website FEI TV ( www.feitv.org ) has stretched its wings to conquer new ground, becoming the first and only equestrian channel available on Perform’s e-Player platform. This exciting development allows selected and specifically packaged FEI TV content to be accessed, watched and enjoyed for free by the millions of daily users of over 350 international websites and online portals of mass media...

The American Association of Equine Practitioners’ Foundation has announced the release of its new study assessing the opinions of AAEP members regarding priorities in equine health care research. The second study of its kind, the 2009 AAEP Membership Equine Research Study was conducted to assist the equine industry in directing its financial support of equine research projects. Study results indicate that the equine body systems of highest research priority are musculoskeletal,...