Lightning struck Tylord Farm in Benson, VT, during the early hours of June 14 in the form of a violent summer storm. Fire raged through their stallion barn/indoor arena, destroying the structure and killing all six horses stabled inside, including world-acclaimed Trakehner stallion, Enrico Caruso. Other horses losing their lives in the fire included Laiken's last son, Emelio; Trinidad, a three-year-old gelding by Leonardo da Vinci; and Lilli Bieler's young stallion, Leonardo da Vinci, also by...

Photos.com (The city of Hong Kong, China. ) The Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr. Patrick Ho, welcomed the International Olympic Committee's decision to name Hong Kong as the venue for the equestrian events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The announcement came on June 8. Dr. Ho also thanked the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) for its confidence in Hong Kong. "I believe that Hong Kong people are taking a favorable and positive view towards this...

The CN North American Young Riders’ Championships (NAYRC), presented by Adequan, will host vaulting demonstrations at the 2005 competition, which takes place July 26-31 at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA. Founded in 1995 by Priscilla G. Faulkner, the Friendship Vaulting Team is the ambassador program for the AVA promoting vaulting as an exciting equestrian sport throughout the United States. Providing a live vaulting demonstration at the 2005 NAYRC, the Friendship Team will perform...

The Reining Horse Sports Foundation (RHSF) recognizes the importance of growing reining worldwide. That growth begins with great leaders. Great leaders begin with our youth, which is why the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) delegate elections and Youth Team Tournament Scholarship Reining are being held this year at the NRHA European Affiliate Championship in Deurne, The Netherlands. “Having European representation among the officers of the NRHyA is truly a milestone in the...

Rapid growth of vaulting in the eastern United States has resulted in more recognized vaulting competitions for area athletes this season. Region IX of the American Vaulting Association (AVA), covering all states from Maine to Mississippi, will be hosting the first East Coast Regional Vaulting Championships July 15-17, 2005, at Fairfax County’s Frying Pan Park, in Herndon, VA. The competition is recognized by the United States Equestrian Federation and the AVA and will contribute to national...

Allentown, NJ — Jessica Blackmon of Valley View, Texas, and Marlee O’Neil of Chester, Vermont, were named champions in their respective age divisions at the 2005 USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals in Allentown, New Jersey, May 27-29. The third-annual Finals took place at the Horse Park of New Jersey, and played host to 23 of the country’s best junior dressage riders, who competed in two age divisions: 13 & under and 14 to 18 years of age. The 17-year-old Blackmon and...

FEI representatives met with leading footing specialists in Windsor, England, on May 16 for a brainstorming session which will likely provide the criteria upon which all future championship arena footing is to be based. The meeting, which drew riding surface experts from around the world, was a proactive response to the report of the FEI Working Group assigned to assess problems associated with footing after the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. The round table discussion covered many areas, including...

Santa Fe will host the second annual New Mexico Grand Prix on Memorial Weekend 2005, May 28-29. The event takes place on the Polo Fields of the Santa Fe Horse Park. A huge step toward the goal of making Santa Fe a premiere equestrian destination, this major sporting event will feature top riders from all over the country who will compete for prize money. The event will attract equine professionals, amateur exhibitors, horse lovers, owners and riders, tourists and spectators. Proceeds from the...

Lexington, KY – Universities and colleges that compete in Division I and Division II NCAA equestrian sports throughout the United States now have the added resources of a newly launched website. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) join in support of the efforts of www.varsityequestrian.com, the official site of Varsity Equestrian sports. Designed to enhance the knowledge and awareness of equestrian competition at the university...

The all-time leading sire in national reining horse history, Hollywood Dun It, was humanely put down on March 30. The 22-year-old buckskin stallion had been suffering from severe health problems escalated by his continuing battle with testicular cancer. According to Tim and Colleen McQuay, who owned Hollywood Dun It along with partner Jennifer Easton, the decision to put him down was a difficult one. Tim noted, “He’s been a part of our family, and a part of our lives, for a lot of years. None...