The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., recently awarded $250,000 in grants to charitable organizations that promote the positive use of the horse for the benefit of the general public and the equestrian sport as a whole. The “all volunteer” EQUUS Foundation raises funds from two annual events—one held in February during the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, and the the Benefit Luncheon held in June in conjunction with the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show in Westport, CT....

The American Horse Council (AHC) will be holding an Issues Forum in Austin, TX, to discuss current issues facing the horse industry, such as the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) and its impact on horse owners. Dr. Bob Hillman (Texas State Veterinarian and Executive Director of the Texas Animal Health Commission), Neil Hammerschmidt (USDA APHIS Veterinary Services Animal Identification Coordinator) and Equine Species Working Group members Dr. Billy Smith (Executive Director of...

Horses from across the United States have gathered at the Kentucky Horse Park for the 2006 USEF/Markel National Young Horse Dressage Championships, being held this weekend, September 8-10, in Lexington, KY. This prestigious competition, proudly sponsored by Markel Insurance, includes outstanding fields of five- and six-year-olds vying for the Dr. Edgar Hotz Memorial Trophy. Also, for the first time these championships will include a four-year-old division. The ground jury includes officials...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation® announces the formation of the USEF Youth Council, designed to encourage and support existing affiliate youth programs. The goal will be to create the most varied board possible with members from each and every USEF national affiliate. This first-ever council will be made up of youth members, 21 years of age and under, and they must be active in their affiliate’s youth club, organization or young rider program. Applicants should also have...

It was hot in St. Louis on August 2-5 for the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) National Shetland Pony Congress, but the ponies who came to compete were even hotter. Some 480 ponies trekked to the new show site, the National Equestrian Center in Lake St. Louis. After almost a decade of hosting the show in Rantoul, IL, show officials were very pleased with the number of entries the new show location attracted. “With a new location, soaring gasoline prices and record temperatures, we were...

(Aachen, Germany)—The United States Equestrian Federation announced today that Brentina and Debbie McDonald will withdraw from the remainder of the dressage competition at the World Equestrian Games due to a veterinary concern. Team vet Dr. Tim Ober said, “Brentina had a slight swelling after the competition on Wednesday. While a diagnosis is pending further evaluation by USEF veterinary staff Debbie McDonald and Klaus Balkenhol have decided it is not in the best interest of Brentina to ask her...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF) announced the newest addition to www.usef.org – the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) content area. Found online at www.usef.org/weg2006, this interactive media tool includes a description of each of the seven international disciplines that will be represented at the WEG in Aachen, Germany, August 20-September 3, as well as bios on the more than 40 U.S. athletes. The U.S. athletes range in age from 10 to 63. In addition, more...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF) is pleased to announce the team headed to Mensport, Hellendoorn, The Netherlands, for the 2006 FEI World Carriage Driving Championships for Drivers with Disabilities. This year's event will be held September 6-10 (the event is staged every two years). This year, the USEF Para-Equestrian High-Performance Committee has been working closely with the United States Driving for the Disabled (USDFD) in preparing for the competition. Team...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF) announced today the four horse-and-rider combinations that will compete in Aachen, Germany, in the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). Four ranked alternates were also named. The WEG will take place August 20-September 3, with dressage being held August 22-26. The 2006 WEG U.S. dressage team (listed in alphabetical order) is as follows: •Debbie McDonald of Hailey, ID, riding Brentina, a 15-year-old Hanoverian mare, owned by Mr....

Lexington For its 10th anniversary, the 2006 USEF National Junior Dressage Team Championship returned to the West Coast for another exciting showcase of some of America’s most talented young dressage riders, hosted by Pebble Beach Dressage and CDI*** in Pebble Beach, California, July 6-9, 2006. This Championship is sponsored by Collecting Gaits Farm, the Dutta Corporation and Performance Sales International. Three teams of four riders, ages 14 to 18, from all across the country, competed over...