Randi Muster (McLain Ward) Lexington, KY – Exactly three-quarters of the way through a series of 12 qualifying competitions for the East Coast League, the dust of a heated race to the 2005 FEI World Cup Show Jumping Final is quickly starting to settle. Just as quickly, a clear trend in leaders begins to unfold, and Brewster, New York’s McLain Ward seems determined to lead the way to Las Vegas on April 20. Heading up a varied group of more than 60 riders, Ward holds onto the...

Scene from the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix, May 30, 2004. (Courtesy HITS and Fionn Reilly/Ulster Publishing) Lexington, KY – Following a hotly contested open to the 2005 competition season in the warmer climates, and a highly-anticipated fight for the prize at the World Cup Finals in April, claiming the title of U.S. National Champion will be yet another challenge facing some of equestrian sport’s best athletes in June. Truly a headliner competition for the United States Equestrian...

View of the show jumping course at the 2003 World Cup Finals. (Jan Gyllensten) Some of the world’s best riders and horses are placing their bets on Las Vegas this year, eager to see if their scores from earlier qualifying competitions will be enough to earn a ticket to the entertainment capital of the world in April. If they make the final cut, they’ll join the ranks of dozens of world-class athletes, each hoping their skill, combined with Lady Luck, will earn the coveted title of...

Air Force Flight Surgeon, Captain Amy Coleman, in Iraq. (Courtesy Major Mark Seldes) When the Air Force Called Her to Serve in Iraq, This Soldier Kept her Mind on a Future Flight—of Olympic Proportion Colonel Gayle O’Rear and Captain Amy Coleman with Poseidon Courtesy John Fernald The call to serve in Iraq came as a welcome challenge for Captain Amy Coleman. The 29-year-old Flight Surgeon was ready to serve her country and help her fallen comrades, no matter the cost. “There...

U.S. Endurance Team at first inspection. (Jan Mansfield ) United Arab Emirates - Two of the six riders representing the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) completed the 100-mile 2005 FEI World Endurance Championship on January 27 at Dubai International City in Dubai, UAE. The highest place finisher was Becky Harris of Medina, OH, who came in 20th place with a ride time of 8:47:03 on GA Tyfa Mynte. Carolyn Hock of Riverside, CA and GT Sando were 56th with a ride time of 11:10:13....

USEF Archive/Geoff Oliver Bugbee (USEF President David O'Connor at the 2005 Annual Meeting.) Lexington, KY – Yesterday at the 2005 Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, the Board of Directors of the United States Equestrian Federation overwhelmingly approved all of the rule changes relating to the recommendations of the Competition Date Task Force. The Task Force has been working for 10 months on a major overhaul of the current “mileage rule” which dictates how competition...

USEF President and Pegasus Awards Dinner emcee David O'Connor presents the Equestrian of the Year Trophy to the 2004 winner Kim Severson. (Dr. Mike Tomlinson) Friday proved to be a day of widespread celebration at the 2005 USEF Annual Meeting as two special events brought audiences to their feet with thunderous applause and accolades for the national, international and Olympic-level athletes that were saluted for their competitive efforts and hard work in 2004. In addition, those honored during...

Courtesy Seelbach Hilton Hotel (The Seelbach Hilton Hotel is the location for the 2005 USEF Annual Meeting.) In a place where equine traditions run deep and Southern hospitality is the rule, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) gathered its members from far and wide to host its 2005 Annual Meeting. Scheduled across five days, the event lays the foundation for a panorama of meetings, think-tank forums and boardroom sessions. In addition, the much-anticipated award programs provide...

Beezie Madden on Authentic (Diana DeRosa) Authentic Top U.S. Money-Winning Horse; Aaron Vale Top U.S. Rider in Money Won Lexington, KY – The year-end report of the USEF Computer List is an important comprehensive annual analysis of the show jumping performances of U.S. and foreign riders in dozens of statistical categories. 2004 has proven to be a banner year for show jumping with a record amount of prize money up for grabs. In 2004, the total money won worldwide at Grand Prix events...

USEF Archive ( ) For the past nine months the USEF Competition Date Approval Task Force has worked on a major overhaul of the current “Mileage Rule” which dictates how competition dates are awarded to horse show organizers. As the Task Force examined the process it became apparent that several other important issues involved in the awarding of dates were critical to the improvement of equestrian competition in the United States. These involved the licensing of competitions; establishment and...