Lexington, KY — Every year USA Equestrian Trust provides grants to equine non-profits. This year a total of $198,822 was awarded to 10 projects. More than 61 percent of 2011 grant funds went to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) with the bulk of that going to its Equine Health Research Fund, which coordinates research to benefit all equine breeds and disciplines. Other monies went to programs of merit to help people with disabilities, create or expand educational opportunities...

Culpepper, VA — With all new footing in the Grand Prix ring and beautiful weather, the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia, was well suited to highlight the Showday National. Kevin Babington of Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, could not have asked for much more, as he captured the first place honors aboard his own Mark Q. Sunday's course was designed by Jerry Dougherty of Bokeelia, Florida. Four riders went...

Saugerties, NY — HITS is proud to announce the debut of the first-ever Culpeper Horse Owners' Event, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, which will take place at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, VA, on July 8, from 4:30-9 p.m., during Pfizer Animal Health Weekend. Commonwealth Park is located at 13256 Commonwealth Parkway. Prior to the start of the event, guests will be able to watch the some of the top High-Performance riders in the country compete in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open...

Calgary, Alberta, Canada - Twenty-one riders entered in the Nexen Cup Derby on the final day of the Spruce Meadows National, providing great excitement for the 36,000 fans in attendance. Even the sun came to play just in time for the start of the competition. Eduardo Menezes (BRA) entered the ring, eighth in the order of go, on his 13-year-old gelding, Percynality. Menezes had a 4-fault round, but time caught up and he finished with a total of 5 faults. Fans flocked to the International ring to...

McLain Ward and Oh' D Eole (ESI Photography). Saugerties, NY — Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward is on the road to the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix after a big win aboard his own Oh’ D Eole in Sunday’s $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, to highlight HITS-on-the-Hudson I. Ward, of Brewster, NY, won the inaugural Pfizer Million last year and has his sights set on this year’s event on Sunday, September 11. “This was a good...

Suzanne Markham received money from the Renee Isler Dressage Support Fund (Photo by Susan J. Stickle). Lincoln, NE - The Dressage Foundation's Renee Isler Dressage Support Fund continues to provide significant funding to young riders and professionals. In March and April, the Isler Fund awarded nearly $3,000 to selected applicants. The purpose of the Renee Isler Dressage Support Fund is two-fold. First, money is set aside to provide assistance to riders accepted into the FEI USDF Jr/YR...

Buck Davidson and Titanium at the jog. Photo by Joanie Morris/USEF Archives. Lexington, KY - The weather has been the topic of conversation at the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone as a rain-plagued Kentucky was battered once again on Wednesday morning. But the show goes on at the Kentucky Horse Park. The first horse inspection was delayed one hour from its rescheduled 10 a.m. start time and about halfway through the inspection the sun even began to shine. Due to...

The American Horse Council is pleased to announce that the new, up-to-date 2011 Horse Owners and Breeders Tax Handbook is hot off the presses! No one involved with the horse industry should be without the Horse Owners and Breeders Tax Handbook. Topics covered in the Handbook include: • Business versus hobby-including summaries of important court decisions; • Passive loss rules; • Forms of doing business; • Record keeping and accounting rules; • Sales, Exchanges and...

6:30 p.m. - Performance by Hall of Fame Kristin Hardin jumping, National Champion Kit Hall western roping and reining, National Champion dressage, and performances by the Gold Coast Arabian HC horses and riders 7 p.m. - Cocktail Reception 7:30 p.m. Film Premiere - "A Gift From the Desert: The Arabian Horse" A soaring panorama of the horse that began in Arabia and went on to create Empires and champions today in every category. Filmed on location in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Great Britain, Kentucky,...

Joel Kiesner. (Photo by Stuart Vesty.) Welcome to the second of many features profiling various people in equestrian sport - athletes, trainers and more. The profiles are published regularly in the United States Equestrian Federation's Week in Review e-newsletter. This week meet Joel Kiesner, whose lifelong experience has evolved into training methods focused on maximizing the best assets and talent of the Arabian horse. His exceptional talent and abilities have resulted in numerous awards -...