Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Hearing Committee has issued its first decision imposing penalties pursuant to the Equine Drugs & Medications Penalty Guidelines that went into effect January 1, 2016. The Penalty Guidelines recommend ranges of penalties for violations of the Drugs & Medications rules with regard to particular categories of forbidden substances. Substances in Category IV, which include GABA, contain the most serious penalties. The Penalty...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that Robert Ridland will continue to serve as the Chef D’Equipe and Technical Advisor for U.S. Show Jumping. Ridland will continue to play an important role, alongside the Show Jumping Managing Director, in the development and implementation of show jumping plans for the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team and will help grow programs for developing and elite athletes. “After an outstanding four...

Lexington, Ky . – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that Diamante Farms, located in Wellington, Fla., has been accepted into the USEF Elite Training Center Designation Program. The program allows venue owners, who have hosted at least one USEF sanctioned team, developing rider or horse training session, in one of the eight FEI disciplines, within the last year to apply for Elite Training Center status. These venues have been instrumental in providing...

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce Alexandra “Lexie” Ferris as the winner of the 2016 USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award. The USEF Youth Sportsman's Award is designed to identify potential future leaders in the equine industry and provides an opportunity for the USEF to recognize outstanding youth members for their achievements. A fourth generation horsewoman from Ipswich, Mass., Ferris was nominated by the American...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the five recipients of the USEF Higher Education Equestrian Scholarship for graduating high school seniors presented by Elisabeth Goth. In its second year, the scholarship program was created to support students who intend to continue their equestrian careers during college, either through an equestrian-related degree or by riding on an intercollegiate equestrian team. Each recipient receives a $1,000 grant...

Lexington, Ky. – Parry Thomas was not simply the sharp business mastermind that revolutionized the city of Las Vegas, Nev. The equestrian community knew him as the passionate owner whose love of horses helped inspire and impact the sport of dressage. Surrounded by his supportive family, Thomas passed away peacefully on Friday, August 26, 2016, at his cherished River Grove Farm in Hailey, Idaho, at the age of 95. No one could have predicted the success that would significantly leave a...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the recipients of Land Rover/USEF Eventing Competition Grants for The Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International CCI3*, October 13-16, 2016, in Elkton, Md. The following athlete-and-horse combinations have been awarded Land Rover/USEF Eventing Competition Grants (in alphabetical order): Amber Levine (Rohnert Park, Calif.) and her own Carry On, a 2007 KWPN gelding Heather Morris (Wildomar, Calif.) and Team Express...

Parket, Colo. - In 2013, it was little more than a dream. Then, the fledgling Western Dressage Association® of America hosted the first Western Dressage World Championship Show, which drew 42 horses and 167 entries. Now in its fourth year, the Western Dressage World Show is nothing short of a celebration. Hosted for the first time by WDAA at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., the show has attracted 213 horses and 830 entries, a 34 percent increase over 2015. Twenty-seven states, three...

Lexington, Ky. - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the appointment of notable industry expert, Dr. Cornelius E. Uboh, as Laboratory Director of the USEF Equine Research and Testing Laboratory in Lexington, Ky. Prior to accepting the position with the USEF, Uboh served for 27 years as the Bureau Director of the Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Laboratory in West Chester, Pa. He was also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmacy in...

Samorin, Slovakia – The United States’ Meg Sleeper and Tom Hagis gave a strong effort across a rugged five-loop course at the 2016 Longines FEI World Endurance Championships for Seniors on Saturday. Although they rode with confidence, they were unable to overcome the vigorous challenges the course presented and were pulled at vet checks along the way. Spain won the Team Gold medal while Spain’s Jaume Punti took the Individual Gold medal, finishing the course with a time of...