American Horse Council ((L to R) Ben Gibbs on Peaches, David O’Connor on a U.S. Park Police horse, Kendall Jennings on a Quarter Horse and members of the U.S. Park Police Mounted Unit in Washington D.C.) The horse industry in the United States contributes $39 billion in direct economic impact to the U.S. economy and supports 1.4 million jobs on a full-time basis, according to a new study released today by the American Horse Council (AHC). When indirect and induced spending are included, the...

SusanJStickle.com (George Williams and Rocher) Gladstone, NJ – George Williams of Delaware, Ohio and his comeback mount Rocher (1991 Westfalen mare), have made their way to the center of the national stage, claiming the title at the 2005 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship, Presented by Paul Miller Auto Group, Inc. on Friday. Clear favorites from the start, the pair earned a 70.333% in the USEF Grand Prix on Thursday, a 73.84% in the USEF Grand Prix...

Lili Weik Photography Jimmy Torano and Marcel - Winners of the $150,000 Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship (Lili Weik Photography) Saugerties, NY – With only one time fault to speak of in the second round of Sunday’s competition, Jimmy Torano of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and his mount Marcel, out-jumped 14 competitors to take home the Championship trophy, $30,000 in prize money, and the elegant Rolex watch at the $150,000 Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship in...

www.BobTarr.com (Currency DC and Susan Dutta captured the five-year-old division at the USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage Eastern Selection Trials Championship.) The USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage Program continued this past weekend with the third of three official Selection Trials at CDI Three-Star/Y Raleigh and Capital Dressage Classic, held June 3–5 in Raleigh, NC. This USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage Eastern Selection Trial for the FEI World Breeding Championships showcased the...

Courtesy Spanish Riding School (One of the Lipizzaner stallions performing at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria.) UPDATE: New Contact Information for Spanish Riding School Tickets For the first time in more than a decade, the Spanish Riding School of Vienna will make a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the United States, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of U.S. General George Patton’s rescue of Europe’s beloved Lipizzaner stallions. This amazing tour of dancing horses will...

Courtesy of Karina Benish (Karina and Hawkeye) He was the ugliest male I had ever seen in my life. He had a bloody wound on his nose, hair six inches long on his chest, and he weighed about 700-800 pounds—400 shy of his best weight. His name was Hawkeye, and he was my partner for more than 14 years. Hawkeye was a mustang horse, and it was he who taught me what it is to trust. Horses, in my opinion, given good care and a little attention, are high up in Maslow’s hierarchy. Since...

Bob Langrish (Schuyler Riley on Ilian during the Samsung Super League competition in Rome, Italy.) Samsung Super League at Rome, Italy Rome, Italy – It was another close-call head-on attack by U.S. lady riders in a near-repeat performance that ended with a strong second place finish in Rome, Friday. Together, Beezie Madden, Anne Kursinski, Schuyler Riley and Laura Kraut gave us something to cheer about again—a performance that now puts them in a face-off challenge with Great...

Jan Gyllensten (Debbie McDonald and Brentina placed third at the FEI World Cup Dressage Final Presented by Offield Farms. ) The FEI World Cup Dressage Final Presented by Offield Farms will be televised on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) on Monday, June 6 at 3 p.m. EST, an hour earlier than originally scheduled. The one-hour broadcast offers dressage fans and horse lovers across the United States the rare opportunity to view the world’s best riders, including American sweetheart Debbie...

Flashpoint Photography (Kim Severson and Winsome Adante: Runaway Winners of the 2005 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Farnam) For the third time in four years, Kim Severson and her Winsome Adante know the thrill of taking the championship title at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Posting a final score of 38.2, the pair blew away the competition in an already wind-blown show jumping arena. “For me competing is sort of like eating, it’s a necessity,” said the newly...

Diana DeRosa (Meredith Beerbaum and Shutterfly, champions of the 2005 FEI Budweiser World Cup Jumping Final) Las Vegas, Nevada – There were many times during the 2005 FEI World Cup Finals when one had to take a reality check and pinch themselves just to be certain they weren’t at the NBA play-offs instead of an equestrian event. Anyone who loves sport, whether they have ever been interested in horses or not, would have enjoyed the pure entertainment value of this week’s...