The Gold United States Para-Equestrian Team (Pictured Left to Right: USEF Director Pam Lane, Chef d'equipe Missy Ransehousen, Rebecca Hart, Erin Alberda, Mary Jordan, and in front is Donna Ponessa). Photo: Hope Hand/USPEA. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - When the United States Para-Equestrian Team flew Down Under for the 2011 Melbourne CPEDI3* (held at Werribee Park National Equestrian Center), they were prepared to give it their all. This competition was not just about top scores but it was...

Dr. Karen Nyrop Canadian-based performance horse practitioner Karen Nyrop, DVM, will join the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ board of directors as a director-at-large during the 57th Annual Convention. Dr. Nyrop will be formally inducted to the position during the Nov. 21 President’s Luncheon, with her term ending in 2014. Dr. Nyrop specializes in English performance horse care with a focus on lameness, pre-purchase exams and exercise physiology. She graduated from...

New Orleans, LA – After decades of discussion, debate and consternation, the current increment system—the way points are calculated when a horse places in a class at a rated competition—was successfully revamped. “It’s something that’s not happened in our lifetimes,” noted United States Hunter Jumper Association President Bill Moroney with a smile. “This is a massive change. The beauty of this system is how easily it’s understood. This rule...

Sascha Mills. Photo: Laurie Revard. Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce Sascha Mills as the winner of the 2011 USEF Youth Sportsman's Award. Mills was selected from an outstanding group of youth representing their respective recognized breed and discipline affiliates from across the country. An avid Morgan competitor from Goldsby, OK, she was nominated by the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA). "Winning this award is such an honor,"...

Oklahoma City, OK – The 2011 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) $540,000-added Open Futurity finals was held at the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship (NAAC) Show at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This year’s riders were mounted on world-class reining horses all aiming for the $150,000 championship purse and their share of NRHA Corporate Partner and Futurity Sponsor awards. Nomination Program Impact The NRHA...

Mary Jordan and Sebastian. Photo: Lindsay Y McCall for the United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA). Thousand Oaks, CA - With a Team Gold under their belt earned at the 2011 CPEDI3*in Mexico City, the United States Para-Equestrian Team takes to the air headed to beautiful Melbourne, Australia. The 2011 CPEDI3* in Werribee, Victoria, Australia, begins Thursday, December 8, with a horse inspection, followed by the Team Test on Friday, Individual Test on Saturday, and finally the...

Isabelle Leibler and her own Watson 108 are set to represent the US at the FEI Young Rider Dressage World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, held Dec. 14-18. The 2011 Gold medalists from the Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North and National Young Rider Dressage Champions at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Championships travelled to Germany and will spend some time training prior to competition before competition gets underway. Travel...

Lexington, KY - Charlie Jacobs, Christina Kelly, Josephina Nor-Lantzman, and Lauren Croquenois emerged as champions in the regular season of the 2011 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series conducted its 2011 series with classes at approximately 100 horse shows across the nation, giving competitors an abundance of opportunities to accumulate points throughout the year. The Series featured separate divisions for amateur-owner and...

Oklahoma City, OK – The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) rolled into the second day of competition at the 2011 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show being held now through December 3 at Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. Friday’s runs consisted of the first go, second section of the $540,000 added NRHA Open Futurity, plus the first two classes of the Adequan North American Affiliate Championship Show. Dell Hendricks took over...

USEF High Performance Vaulting Clinic. Photo courtesy Tom Hogye. Saratoga, CA - “Sit on your butt! Move with the horse. Enjoy the movement of his canter. Use your ankles when you mount”. “If you can do that a wee bit more... Lovely.” And so it was with Petr Eim, 2008 Men’s Individual World Champion, from his home in Brno, Czech Republic, and Joanne (Joey) Eccles, from Great Britain, 2010 Champion, World Equestrian Games, as they brought their remarkable talent of...