There are nearly seven million horses in the United States, according to the American Horse Council. Each one of these horses is literally one hoof away from success or failure, contentment or pain, life or death, and farriers are positioned to determine the difference. Perhaps more than anyone else (except the horses themselves), farriers know that healthy hooves are critical to horses’ well-being; hooves make the horse. That certainty is what brought a record-breaking crowd of 1,800 to the...

The annual convention of the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) was a resounding success. Nearly 350 people went west to enjoy this week-long event held in Phoenix, AZ, February 7-12, 2005. The week was filled with exciting demonstrations and captivating seminars, as well as the AMHA Board of Directors quarterly meeting. The annual stallion service auction brought in more than $50,000, which for the most part goes to support the Association’s ten regional shows. At the Board of Directors...

The Phelps Media Group, Inc. (PMG), a public relations firm based in Wellington, FL, announced the signing of the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation as their newest client. The United States Equestrian Team Foundation supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America's elite and developing international high-performance horses and athletes in partnership with the U.S. Equestrian Federation. PMG has been hired to coordinate all aspects of public...

A life-sized bronze sculpture of Bruce Davidson and Eagle Lion jumping into the Head of the Lake will likely be unveiled at the Kentucky Horse Park this Fall or at the 2006 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Artist Jean Clagett is hard at work creating the sculpture, which will feature a highlighted patina, and be mounted in the lake at the Kentucky Horse Park in front of a water obstacle, with the horse’s front feet in the water and jets splashing. The presence of this beautiful piece of art will...

USEF President and Pegasus Awards Dinner emcee David O'Connor presents the Equestrian of the Year Trophy to the 2004 winner Kim Severson. (Dr. Mike Tomlinson) Friday proved to be a day of widespread celebration at the 2005 USEF Annual Meeting as two special events brought audiences to their feet with thunderous applause and accolades for the national, international and Olympic-level athletes that were saluted for their competitive efforts and hard work in 2004. In addition, those honored during...

Courtesy Seelbach Hilton Hotel (The Seelbach Hilton Hotel is the location for the 2005 USEF Annual Meeting.) In a place where equine traditions run deep and Southern hospitality is the rule, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) gathered its members from far and wide to host its 2005 Annual Meeting. Scheduled across five days, the event lays the foundation for a panorama of meetings, think-tank forums and boardroom sessions. In addition, the much-anticipated award programs provide...

The city of Tampa, FL, will once again play host to the final weeks of the Winter Equestrian Festival, beginning March 23, 2005 at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds, I. 4 and Orient Road in Tampa. The festival, the nation’s oldest and largest equestrian extravaganza, is celebrating its 33rd season of equestrian excellence. The 2005 Winter Equestrian Festival kicks off in Wellington, FL, on January 26, at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club and will conclude with...

Scott E. Palmer, VMD, of Clarksburg, NJ, was installed as the 51st president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) during the group’s annual convention in Denver, CO, December 4-8. Dr. Palmer is the owner of New Jersey Equine Clinic in Clarksburg, where he has practiced for nearly 30 years. He has received international recognition for his studies in minimally invasive surgical techniques and laser surgery, and twice has been named the New Jersey Association of Equine...

Lexington, KY —Meagan Drew may not have started out as a cookie cutter equestrian, but then again, her break-the-mold approach may have been the leg up she needed to claim success in and out of the show ring. “I cleaned stalls two summers in a row every day so I could ride horses and take lessons,” says the 18 year old Drew. “It wasn’t my mom writing a check—it was something I had to do. It made me appreciate the lessons I did get and it made me work harder....

Gladstone, New Jersey (December 21, 2004) – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation (USET Foundation) announced that the Festival of Champions would not be held in 2005. The main reason for the decision was the need for the USET Foundation to focus its efforts and resources on a new fundraising campaign to be launched in 2005. Foundation officials stressed that, while the fundraising efforts must take precedence over the Festival of Champions, steps are being taken to properly plan for a...