After a second-place finish on Thursday in the grand prix, Catherine Haddad and Cadillac rose to the occasion on Friday with a win in the grand prix special at the Vidauban CDI*** in France. This marked the sixth grand prix win for Haddad and her 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood this year. The annual show at Vidauban, which has traditionally been a jumping show, added international dressage to the schedule this year, and the competition did not disappoint. Taking place over three days, the...

Gladstone, NJ – After a four day battle, the rain finally won at the 2009 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions, and collectively the Ground Jury and the management decided that, in the best interest of the horses, the competition was suspended after the Young Riders rode first thing Sunday morning. This meant that Leslie Morse was crowned USEF National Grand Prix Champion for the fifth time. Morse GP Raymeister (SusanJStickle.com) and her beloved 15-year-old Swedish...

Gladstone, NJ - The rain just couldn’t help itself. After a dry day on Friday, the 2009 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions at the USET Foundation Headquarters – like much of the rest of the country, was again, drenched. The Grand Prix Freestyle, which was expected to be the highlight of the weekend – didn’t disappoint. But Adrienne Lyle surprised a few (including herself) by ending up on top of the leader board with Wizard. “Basically,...

Six-year-old Bijoux, owned by Janet Rolfs and ridden by Missy Fladland, is off to a phenomenal start to her young dressage career. Among her many honors, her most recent victory includes taking the reserve champion title at the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Central Selection Trials. The young Hanoverian mare (Bugatti Hilltop x Whimiscal L), bred by Margaret Drury, started her performance career only a year and a half ago as a coming five-year-old in the fall of 2007. After seven months of...

Starlight, the stunning black Oldenburg stallion owned by Rick Rockefeller-Silvia’s Dream Street Stallions, is now in Europe under the tutelage of Karin Rehbein where he is sure to wow European fans with his amazing movement and outstanding looks. Prior to returning to Europe, Starlight won rave reviews from judges at Devon when he was crowned Devon’s Grand Champion Stallion in 2008. “Starlight has had an illustrious career so far—multiple Horse of The Year titles, the Championship at...

Dave and Dena Lopez, of Double D Ranch, LLC, are taking the slogan of the United Professional Horsemen's Association (UPHA) to another level as they are planning a special fundraising event for the UPHA Dewey Henderson Benevolent Fund. This IRS 501(c)(3) fund was established in memory of long-time horseman, Dewey Henderson, to benefit UPHA members in need because of health issues, fires, theft, injury or accidents. Only 200 tickets will be sold for the “Kentucky brunch” prepared by Chef Cameron...

The Public Auction Task Force of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has developed recommendations regarding the use of radiographic reports as part of the pre-purchase exams that are conducted on horses for sale at public auctions. The goal of the task force is to promote ethical practices during the sales process, particularly at Thoroughbred auctions. “We view our recommendations as a ‘best practices’ approach that is applicable to veterinarians as well as buyers and...

Norman Brinker, who served as an alternate with the United States show jumping team at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki, passed away due to pneumonia while on vacation in Colorado. Brinker was born in Denver, CO, on June 3, 1931, to Kathryn and Eugene Brinker. He helped his family at a young age by buying and selling horses and a variety of other jobs. He attended the New Mexico Military Institute in high school, served in the Navy, and graduated from San Diego State University in 1957....

Lexington, KY – As part of an ongoing series of structural changes designed to offer increased service to members while streamlining efficiency, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces the creation of its new Education Department, effective June 1, 2009. The Education Department, formerly a part of Licensed Officials, will strive to improve service to the membership through the expansion of educational opportunities for competitors and licensed officials alike, offering...

The All American Cup (AAC) is set to host the 2009 AAC Stallion Review. The event will take place on Friday, July 10, and will include a tour to several notable Saddlebred stables to view AAC stallions, broodmares and foals. Tour participants will meet at the American Saddlebred Museum, located at the Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington, KY. A continental breakfast will be available for tour guests at the museum from 6:00-7:30 a.m. While at the museum, those in attendance will have the...