The HorseTV Channel recently announced its June premiere lineup featuring world-class competitions, breed documentaries and training and magazine series from the Western and English worlds. “We focus on presenting family-friendly programming that is as diverse as our audience,” said Rachel Falleroni, Head of Programming for The HorseTV Channel. “Our viewers enjoy their favorite programs while also discovering new and intriguing elements of the horse world.” The American Quarter Horse...

Sally Ike has been named Managing Director of Show Jumping Sport Programs for the USEF. She will continue to be based at the Gladstone, NJ, office and will report directly to Jim Wolf, Executive Director of Sport Programs. In addition to being an experienced international competitor, Ike has 17 years of experience as a discipline director and Chef de Mission with the international teams programs. She competed for the U.S Equestrian Teams in three-day eventing, and was a member of the 1968...

The United States Equestrian Federation is excited to announce the appointment of Scott Hassler of Colora, MD, as the USEF National Young Horse Dressage Coach. Pursuant to this appointment, USEF will be immediately putting together two young horse training sessions in March--one in Wellington, FL, and another in Burbank, CA. Applications are now being accepted for four-, five-, six-, or seven-year-old young horses for this exciting training opportunity. Application deadline is Friday, March 3,...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation announced that in 2005 it awarded $1.9 million to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) in support of its high-performance programs: dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping and vaulting. The grant was made possible by the generous donations of contributors in response to the USET Foundation’s successful fundraising efforts. “I can’t thank the wonderful and generous contributors to the USET Foundation enough,”...

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Dressage Committee is pleased to announce the launch of a new dressage championship program in 2006, the "Passage Cup." Designed to assist and encourage today's Young Riders as they transition to the Senior Grand Prix, the Passage Cup will shed much-needed light on tomorrow's stars--today. "With this exciting new program, we're looking to 'bridge the gap' for our talented dressage riders who are graduating from the Young Rider ranks to High...

Hilltop Farm announces an exciting addition to their International Frozen Semen Program for 2006: Cyrano de Bergerac, a very successful show jumping stallion under Franke Sloothaak. Cyrano de Bergerac (Coriano-Ricardo-Labrador) is a Baden Wurtenburg stallion with a star-studded pedigree and ample international success as a show jumper. As a young stallion, he won the qualification for the German National Championships (the Bundeschampionat) with a score of 9.0, under Franke Sloothaak. The pair...

Mike Ferrara (Lexington, KY) - Throughout the year there are many competitions which are extremely valuable to the various USEF breed organizations but are a challenge to organize due to required expenses. The USEF wishes to support the widest possible network of shows for its breed members and enthusiasts by announcing a new Outreach Grant program. A total of $125,000 has been budgeted in 2006 for grants to financially challenged breed competitions which meet the grant requirements and are...

The Education Department at the Kentucky Horse Park wants to make better caretakers out of horse owners, and consequently better horses. To that end, they will offer a variety of equine classes and programs for both adults and youngsters in 2006. Equine professionals and novices will benefit from courses on a wide variety of topics, designed to make participants better horsemen and horsewomen. John Nicholson, Executive Director of the park, noted “As the Horse Capital of the World, we have a...

The Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) and the American Vaulting Association (AVA) have combined efforts to create the Recreational Vaulting Certification program. Vaulting is gymnastics and dance in harmony with the moving horse. As a competitive sport, it is stylized and disciplined. As a recreational activity and teaching aid it is enormously adaptable in scope and application. The goal of the Recreational Vaulting Coach (RVC) certification clinics are to provide the vaulting community...

(Lexington, KY) - Gil Merrick joined the USEF as Director of Dressage Sport Programs on October 11th. Mr. Merrick will be based in the Lexington Headquarters and report directly to Jim Wolf, Executive Director of Sport Programs in our Gladstone office. In addition to his experience in showing and training dressage horses, Mr. Merrick has a strong career background in the management of international businesses most specifically in internal operations, financial planning, growth management and...