The Morgan breed was celebrated and heralded in Atlanta, GA, at the 2007 American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Convention February 14-17. For the first time in its 26-year history, many Morgan enthusiasts and speakers couldn’t make the event due to poor weather and cancelled flights. “Our theme this year was ‘The Morgan: A Passion That Lasts a Lifetime,’” said Convention co-chairman Barbara Goda. “I think this also follows closely with the people who surround the Morgan horse. Our Morgan...

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has named its 2007 Equestrian of the Year—Mindy Darst. The winner raised over $52,000 to support the society’s mission, and more than $125,000 was raised by the equestrian community in total. The Equestrian of the Year fundraising program is a multi-discipline campaign benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The equestrian who raises the most amount of money wins the title, a trophy, a $1,000 gift certificate from EuroAmerican Saddlery and their photo on...

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) has announced a strategic plan to re-align the NRHA, creating a National Governing Body for reining affiliates and its members in the United States. This new affiliate organization is currently named Reining USA. The worldwide governing body for reining will remain under the name NRHA. This strategic plan, endorsed by the NRHA Executive Board, was presented on February 16, to the attendees of the NRHA Annual Convention in St. Louis, MO. A final vote...

Two U.S. riders have been invited to participate in the February 17 FEI*** 160-km HH The President of the UAE Endurance Cup ride in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) top-ranked endurance riders, Susan Summers, riding Mags Motivator, and Dr. Meg Sleeper, DVM, riding Shyrocco Troilus, will make the trip to Abu Dhabi to compete at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba. A strong field of UAE and international riders is expected to...

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Animal Health Surveillance System (NAHSS) is a network of many Federal and State government agencies integrated into a comprehensive and coordinated system of animal health monitoring and surveillance. The overall goal of the system is to collect, collate and analyze animal health information and to promptly distribute this information. The program is intended to improve the protection of the national animal health and to increase...

Attention Children Jumper Riders! This year’s FEI Children’s International Jumping Final will be held in Jalapa, Mexico, December 3-8, 2007. The Final for Children between the ages of 12 and 14 as defined by FEI rules brings together riders from various nations around the world not only to compete but also to meet their peers from other cultures. Qualifiers for this final will be held at the Florida Classic/WCHR Spectacular February 21-25, 2007, and the Oaks Blenheim Fall Tournament September...

The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC), the national governing body for endurance riding in the United States, will hold its 2007 annual convention in Sparks, NV. The two-day program of seminars, informational meetings and a free trade show is set for February 23-24 at John Ascuaga’s Nugget. Leading experts in equine health care and endurance-related fields will be featured at several seminar sessions. Other highlights of the AERC's convention will include a trade show featuring vendors...

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) announced its 2007 National Awards Dinner will be held at John G. Sikura’s Hill 'n' Dale Farms on Saturday, September 8, 2007. This marks the first time that the event will be held on a Saturday. “Hill ‘n’ Dale is honored to host the 22nd Annual TOBA Awards Dinner,” said John G. Sikura, owner of Hill ‘n’ Dale. “We congratulate all the national award winners on their achievement. It is the contributory success of each state which makes TOBA...

Beezie Madden (center) accepted the Farnam/Platform Horse of the Year Award on behalf of owner Abigail Wexner. Pictured with Madden are USEF President David O'Connor (left) and Farnam's Chris Jacobi. (Geoff Oliver Bugbee/USEF Archives) At the final social event of the 2007 Annual Meeting in Louisville, KY, the much-anticipated Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year Awards celebrated the equestrian world’s hardest working athletes—the horses—from across the spectrum...

—It was standing room only during the much-anticipated Pegasus Awards where the equestrian world’s brightest stars gathered to be honored and celebrate achievements from 2006, as well as a lifetime. Beezie Madden was named as the Equestrian of the Year during the evening’s ceremonies. Madden, who brought home two medals from the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen, Germany, this past fall, accepted her awards to a standing ovation. “There are so many people I...