Lexington, KY – Reining joined the FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in 2008 with huge success. 2009 promises to be even more exciting with the addition of SmartPak Equine as the Title Sponsor of Reining. The North American Young Rider Championships will feature the best Reiners, aged 18-21, vying for FEI medals at the Kentucky Horse Park as part of the 2009 Adequan FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North. This Championship will...

American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Youth Scholarship applications will be due at the end of this month, on Thursday, April 30. Applications can be found on the ASHA website at www.asha.net/Youth-Scholarships along with additional documents and information. The purpose of these scholarships is to encourage, support and recognize participation in all aspects of the American Saddlebred industry, as well as to strengthen the American Saddlebred industry and breed through education. Four...

Riders taking part in the "Intro to Eventing" clinic at The Oaks Equestrian Center, home to the inaugural O’Connor Signature Facility, not only learned the basics of eventing but also had a chance to test out the world-class cross-country course designed by Olympians David and Karen O’Connor. Rhonda Gailey, Resident Equestrian Facility Manager of The Oaks Equestrian Center, taught the two-day Intro to Eventing clinic. “We had an excellent response for the clinic. Everyone who attended learned a...

The 2009 American Saddlebred Registry (ASR) Futurity nomination forms and general provisions are now available on the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) website at www.asha.net/Prize-forms . The deadline to nominate mares and stallions for 2009 foals is April 15, 2009. This year’s nominations consist of two new additions. Stallions and mares registered with any foreign registry approved by ASR will now be accepted for sire and dam nominations. If registered with an approved foreign...

Combined Driver Chester Weber continued his winning streak at the prestigious Live Oak International Combined Driving event by driving away the winner of the Four-In-Hand FEI Horse Team. The world-class qualifying competition draws top competitors to Ocala, FL, each year, and is considered to be one of the premiere combined driving events in North America. Weber, who has his sights set on qualifying for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in the four-in-hand division, won all three...

The Three Phase Event Gaited Horse Versatility Competition is three weeks away, and organizers wanted to remind everyone that the deadline for entries is midnight, April 1, 2009. Check the website at www.threephaseevent.org for an entry form, dressage tests, and hotel information. There will be new challenges to the stadium obstacle course, and new zigs and zags to the cross-country course that will keep everyone moving. We are please to announce that our dressage judge, Betty Ortlieb, is...

Lexington, KY— The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has selected the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show as the first competition to receive the honor and designation of a USEF Heritage Competition. Known as one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious horse competitions, Pin Oak has been holding charity horse shows for 64 years and has raised close to $4 million for the Texas Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House of Houston. “As the first USEF-designated Heritage Competition, the...

The American Vaulting Association celebrated the 40th anniversary of its founding and presented its most prestigious awards to its members at its Annual Convention last week. Suzanne Detol, a longtime AVA member, FEI (O) level judge, coach and lunger, was presented the coveted AVA Lifetime Achievement Award for her entire scope of vast contributions over the past 35 years. A former vaulter herself, Detol chairs the AVA’s Technical Committee and Judges Program, and has run the organization’s...

Christie Little, age nine, of Harrington, DE, is the winner of the Morgan horse, "Cash," or CBMF Walk The Line, as part of an essay contest sponsored by the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) and Team Morgan. Cash was generously donated to the contest by Ann Hailey of Copper Beech Morgans in New Albany, OH, which promoted the Morgan breed and raised funds for Team Morgan to travel to and host international equitation competitions. A fourth grader, Little has worked with her family's...

Combined driver Chester Weber continued his goal of qualifying for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games by winning the FEI division for four-in-hand horses at the Sunshine State FEI Combined Driving Event held at the Florida Horse Park. Weber, who was recently named a 2008 Equestrian of Honor by the United States Equestrian Federation, was pleased with his weekend, which included a first place in the dressage, FEI horse team and the marathon course. While Team Weber dominated the...