Of all the awards the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) offers, it is the Volunteer of the Year Award, that is deemed the most prestigious. The 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Shelby French of Sweet Briar, VA, on December 13, at the USHJA Evening of Equestrians Dinner. French has been instrumental in developing grassroots outreach programs, has traveled to the Lexington office for program meetings, has been a member of the Board of Directors, co-chaired the...

Tammy Provost of Zionsville, IN, won the inaugural 2008 United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Derby Class on Friday, December 7, at the Lake St. Louis Holiday Series, in Lake St. Louis, MO, managed by Tommy McIntyre. Aboard Daquiri, owned by Penny Cooper, Provost soared to the top against a field of 27. The two-round format consisted of a handy hunter and classic round, which asked competitors to navigate through the challenging courses of bending lines, banks and...

The American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation, Inc., recognized Ashlee E. Watts, DVM, of Ithaca, NY, as the recipient of the 2007 AAEP Foundation Research Fellow on December 3 during the AAEP 53rd Annual Convention in Orlando, FL. The scholarship, in the amount of $5,000, emphasizes the importance of equine research and is awarded to a researcher who is completing a residency or graduate program while conducting equine research. Dr. Watts is currently a resident in Large Animal...

Lexington, KY – Plans are under way for the 2008 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Youth Convention and registration is open, but space is limited for the convention. Already, over half of the available spots have been filled for the first annual Youth Convention, which will be held January 12 in Louisville, KY. Along with the schedule, the break-out sessions have been finalized. The Youth Convention will feature many notable speakers, including experts in the equine industry as well...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce and congratulate its new USDF Associate and Certified Instructors. The USDF Instructor Certification Program is designed to set a standard of excellence in dressage training and instruction in the United States and to educate dressage riders, instructors and aspiring instructors. New USDF Associate Instructors include; Valerie Dunaway of Spotsylvania, VA; Janet Reed of San Diego, CA; Estelle Price of Ortega, NY; Claudia...

The third International Olympic Committee (IOC) International Athletes Forum took place October 27-28, 2007, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The initiative for this biannual event was launched five years ago by the IOC Athletes Commission of which HRH Princess Haya, FEI President, IOC member in the UAE, is also a member. The Athletes Commission is the link between the IOC and the active athletes and ensures that their needs are met. The Forum was attended by the IOC President Jacques Rogge....

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) reported that it has funded 503 horse-related organizations and their activities across Kentucky over the past three years totaling $352,627. KEEP created this local funding program as part of its grassroots efforts to help horse organizations around the state. The grants program is divided into four categories: 4-H clubs, horse shows, equine associations and equine education programs at Kentucky colleges and universities. Each category has a funding...

On November 10, NickerTV charges out of the gate with an initial offering of 26 different equestrian channels all dedicated to a variety of horse-oriented themes and subjects. Nicker Network will be the first Internet-based, on-demand multi-channel television network targeted to the horse world. Each channel will have its own selection of programs, with new ones being added to the rosters on a regular basis. Programs will be available for viewing at no cost, with additional options for viewers...

The World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., announced the launch of an advance registration program for trade show spaces at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, scheduled to take place at the Kentucky Horse Park September 25-October 10, 2010. The advance registration program will begin in October and will allow vendors to secure priority status for selecting a final exhibit location on the Kentucky Horse Park grounds once plans have been finalized. Approximately 400 vendors from around the...

Michigan State University's (MSU's) My Horse University (MHU) online curricula are not only useful tools for individuals who want to learn more about horse selection and evaluation and welfare and behavior, but the two online learning programs can also be incorporated into youth and adult group experiences. Through MHU's horse welfare and behavior program, participants can learn about horse behavior and how it can influence the way they interact with horses. It's appropriate for audiences from...