The 121st National Horse Show enjoyed it’s third successful year at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, FL and this year the Nations top hunter, jumpers and dressage horses shared the limelight with some little stars--Shetland ponies and miniature horses. During the Family Festival held at the show on December 4-5, Shetland ponies and miniature horses strutted their stuff in four educational demonstrations hosted for spectators. “I think most people were impressed by the...

Gail Abele of Highland Village, TX, has been named the 2004 USDF/Dover Adult Medal National Champion. Awarded for the first time in 2004, the year-end award is presented jointly by the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) and Dover Saddlery as part of the USDF/Dover Adult Medal program, which is designed to acknowledge and reward adult amateurs riding at Second Level. To be eligible for the year-end award, a rider must win at least three USDF/Dover Adult Medals, which were presented at over...

Courtesy NRHA/Waltenberry (Todd Crawford on Matt Dillon Dun It) As the NRHA Futurity & North American Affiliate Championship Show continues, horses and riders showing in the FEI World Reining Masters Finals were officially received for the FEI general horse inspection on Wednesday, December 1. Traditionally, the NRHA Futurity & Championship Show has been the annual meeting ground for reining enthusiasts from all over the world. But this year is even more special. The first-ever $100,000...

Lexington, KY —The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) names Howard B. Simpson of Lake Forrest, IL, the winner of the 2004 Perpetual Sportsmanship Award. Given in memory of Walter Bourchier Devereux, III, the Perpetual Sportsmanship Award honors the horseman or horsewoman who “exemplifies the ideal of good sportsmanship through commitment, dedication and service to USEF throughout his or her career.” Mr. Simpson has done just that, spending years promoting good...

Lexington, KY —Adding their names to a long list of respected breeders from across the country, Diana Dodge of Montpelier Station, VA, and Herb Kohler of LaGrange, KY, have been named the winners of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) 2004 Ellen Scripps Davis Memorial Breeders’ Award. Given in memory of American Saddlebred owner and breeder Ellen Scripps Davis, the Award recognizes an individual who consistently breeds outstanding show horses. The award also honors the...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation officially announced that it has retained GráficaGroup as its Public Relations Agency of Record. The USET Foundation, based in Gladstone, New Jersey, supports American equestrian athletes competing in national and international competitions, including the World Equestrian Games, the Pan American Games, and the Olympics. Gráfica ( www.grafica.com ) is a nationally ranked, full-service, fully integrated advertising and public relations agency...

Lexington, KY —Effective December 1, 2004, the USEF Equine Drugs and Medications Rule permits the therapeutic use of Surpass®, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory product (NSAID) recently approved by the FDA for use in horses. This is a topical preparation of 1% diclofenac cream, from IDEXX Pharmaceuticals. The rule change, which was adopted by the Executive Committee on November 16, 2004, establishes a quantitative restriction, i.e., maximum permitted plasma concentration, similar to...

Mike Ferrara (Apollopalooza was named Arabian Park Horse champion for the fourth time, and was ridden by Carmelle Rooker.) The 38th annual U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (U.S. Nationals) held at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center in Louisville, KY, from October 7-16, 2004, named national champion, reserve and top ten winners in 104 classes. The show attracted more than 3,000 entries from across the United States and Canada representing 47 states and four Canadian...

The Paso Fino Horse Association’s 32nd Annual Grand National Horse Show was held, September 19-25 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, GA. Employees of the fairgrounds put forth the extra effort to get stalls prepared for those needing to arrive early to escape the wrath of Hurricane Ivan and to remain during Hurricane Jeanne. Though the weather kept a few people away, 822 horses and more than 1,700 entries, ridden by youth and adults, were slated to compete for a...

Lexington, KY—An outstanding field of five and six-year-old horses held audiences captive at the Kentucky Horse Park over the weekend. September 10th through 12th, horses and riders from across the nation gathered for the 2004 USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage National Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. Nineteen five-year-olds and 15 six-year-olds, including a record 12 United States-bred horses, vied for the prize—the Dr. Edgar Hotz Memorial Trophy, which commemorates the top young...