Courtesy Mancini Photos (Kelley Farmer and Habana) Kelley Farmer and Habana repeated their victory in the Baby Green Hunter division, sponsored by Draper Equine Therapy, at the Equestrian Sport Productions New Year’s Show. It was the second victory in the Baby Green Hunter Championship during the winter show circuit for Farmer and the four-year-old gelding Habana, who is owned by the Spencer Ranch, home of Popeye K, the 2008 and 2009 USEF Hunter Breeding Sire of the Year. “It is very exciting...

Have you noticed that traffic signals are looking a little different these days? What you’re seeing is the effort to save money and energy. Cities across the United States are replacing their incandescent traffic lights with energy-efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs). While these new lights provide brighter lights that last much longer and save a lot of energy, it’s also becoming evident that they have a hazardous downside. The bulbs burn so coolly that snow and ice don’t melt. Rather they...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) would like to congratulate the 11-year-old 16.3-hand Dutch Warmblood gelding Ravel, owned by Akiko Yamazaki of Woodside, CA, and ridden by Steffen Peters of San Diego, CA, for being named 2009 Adequan/United States Dressage Federation Grand Prix Horse of the Year. Ravel’s median score of 75.574% made him the top horse in the United States competing at this level and the recipient of USDF’s highest honor. Ravel was recognized at the 2009 Adequan/USDF...

The inaugural United States Hunter Jumper Association's (USHJA) Emerging Athletes Program National Training Session (level 3) will take place January 8-10, 2010, in Reno, NV at Maplewood Stables, Inc., owned by Julie Winkel. The top 12 finalists will spend three days focused on displaying their riding, horsemanship and stable management skills. Finalists for Reno in Alphabetical Order 1. Alexa Anthony, Richmond, WA 2. Carly Anthony, Redmond, WA 3. Hayley Barnhill, Collierville, TN 4. Nelson...

The inaugural Emerging Athletes Program (EAP) National Training Session (level 3) will take place January 8-10, 2010, in Reno, NV, at Maplewood Stables, Inc., owned by Julie Winkel. The top 12 finalists will spend three days focused on displaying their riding, horsemanship and stable management skills. Finalists for Reno in Alphabetical Order 1. Alexa Anthony, Richmond, WA 2. Carly Anthony, Redmond, WA 3. Hayley Barnhill, Collierville, TN 4. Nelson Bierwirth, Roswell, NM 5. Arden Cone, Landrum,...

Cavalor show jumping rider Hillary Dobbs found the perfect way to usher in the holiday season—by winning the Holiday & Horses $50,000 Grand Prix and FEI World Cup Qualifier at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. Cavalor, the world's leading equine nutrition company for high-performance horses, announced Dobbs as the company's first "Cavalor Young Champion" earlier this year. "We are extremely proud of Hillary's recent victory in the Holiday & Horses Grand...

Registrations are still being accepted for the EQUUS Foundation/United States Equestrian Federation Youth Convention scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2010, at the Louisville Marriott Downtown in Louisville, KY. The convention unites youth from around the country and helps to nurture and develop a growing interest in equestrian sport. This all-day event will include a Star Power Panel of top athletes from USEF-recognized breeds and disciplines who will speak with the youth about their...

The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) has been researching and studying the sport of dressage for the past nine years. Through the efforts of countless individuals, including input from staff at the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), dressage will become an AQHA-approved event beginning January 1, 2010. AQHA-registered horses, shown by exhibitors who are current individual members of AQHA, will be eligible to earn points at...

The inaugural $25,000 Chicago Hunter Derby was a huge success this year, bringing top-notch hunter competition to the Midwest for a special one-day event that raised more than $60,000 for the Children's Memorial Hospital. The Chicago Hunter Derby was hosted by Chicago Equestrians for a Cause (CEC) and was held on August 30, 2009, at Annali Farm in Antioch, IL. Children's Memorial Hospital is one of Chicago's most precious civic assets. As Illinois' only freestanding hospital exclusively for...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Charles “Chuck” Smith has received the 2009 USDF Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by The Paddock Saddlery. This award recognizes a USDF member who, through consistent and cumulative volunteer activities, has demonstrated exceptional commitment towards carrying out USDF’s mission. As the winner, Smith will be presented with a perpetual trophy, which is permanently on display in the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame,...