With little equines on their minds, members of The American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) and the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) recently met for their 2008 national convention in Branson. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), who has been strong supporter of the ASPC throughout 2008, hosted a luncheon during the convention for all the attendees and conducted the USEF Shetland Pony Committee meeting. One of the highlights of the convention was a drawing during the awards banquet...

The American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Board of Directors has approved a grant program in an effort to help struggling United States Equestrian Federation-licensed Morgan shows. Ten percent of the net from the 2009 AMHA Stallion Service Auction will be available through the grant program on a first-come, first-served basis. Maximum grant per show is $1,000. To be considered for a 2009 USEF-rated Morgan Show Grant through AMHA, please download the application . It must be completed and...

Hanover Shoe Farms, the most prolific Standardbred breeding farm in the world, will be honored with the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) 2008 award for outstanding service in equine welfare, the Lavin Cup. The Lavin Cup, named for former AAEP President A. Gary Lavin, VMD, will be presented to a representative of Hanover Shoe Farms on December 9 at the AAEP’s 54th Annual Convention in San Diego. Each year the Lavin Cup is awarded to a non-veterinary individual or organization...

The latest addition to the Hilltop Farm Guest Stallion Program, Hit Parade (Show Star x Ehrentusch), owned by Savoire Faire Stables, competed at the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Region 7 Championships & CDS Annual Championships this October and was truly one of the "hits" of the show with his second-level championship win in both the USDF Horse of the Year and the CDS Horse of the Year Championships. The CDS Championship title was awarded based on the averages of Friday and Saturday...

Attention juniors and young riders in Zone 4 interested in competing at next year’s FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) for show jumping. Please check your zone’s selection procedures for the NAJYRC under the Jumping Discipline page of the USEF website at www.usef.org/Contentpage2.aspx?id=natjumping . Please direct questions to Jennifer Haydon, Director of Show Jumping for National Programs, at [email protected] or (859) 225-6911.

Lexington, KY – A group of cross country course designers including USEF President and licensed course designer, David O’Connor, are taking another step in their continuing commitment to Eventing safety. O’Connor and other course designers and builders will join with faculty and students at the University of Kentucky, forming a multidisciplinary team to develop and demonstrate additional frangible technology for cross-country fences. Frangible technology, often referred to as “breakaway...

The third episode in “The World Sporthorse Championships” series on Animal Planet airs this Saturday, October 4, at 3 p.m. ET. Featured in this episode is America's most prestigious show jumping event, The FTI Hampton Classic Grand Prix, from the Hampton Horse Show Grounds in Bridgehampton, Long Island. Busy Saturday? The program will re-air on Sunday morning (October 5) at 10 a.m. ET, so be sure to tune in and see America's top horses and riders compete for this prestigious title! And mark...

On Saturday, November 1, the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) Horse Expo will be offered at the University of Connecticut, highlighting the 2008 NARHA National Conference and Annual Meeting. Organized for professionals and people interested in equine-assisted activities and therapies for people with special needs, the expo will offer hands-on learning opportunities in an out of the classroom and into the arena setting. From sessions on “Connecting Horse and Human...

The Reining Horse Sports Foundation (RHSF) honors leadership and achievement within the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) each year. The RHSF recently awarded five $1,000 scholarships to current National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) and former NRHyA members based on financial need and academic achievement. The 2008 RHSF Scholarship winners are: Ian Barnard, Brandon Boyle, Allison Byrd, Ashley Fuchs and Helen Lauth. Ian Barnard, from Kendallville, IN, majors in pre-veterinary...

A packed schedule of world-class show jumping competition, educational opportunities, vendors, exhibitors and children's activities comes to Syracuse's Oncenter Complex, October 29-November 1. The Sporthorse Tournament will feature the top-ranked U.S. riders, included appearances by all members of the 2008 Gold-medal Olympic show jumping team. An international field of competitors will all vie for the Budweiser World Cup Qualifier of Syracuse and the Animal Planet Sporthorse Cup (featured...