Lexington, KY Most of you familiar with Irishman, Niall Grimes, are also aware of the heart attack he suffered last Friday, September 28th, while in Lexington, at the Kentucky National Horse Show. You may have also heard or read intermittent updates since and wondered about their validity. The number and variety of these reports speak to Niall's popularity, our hopes for his recovery, and our fears otherwise. With that in mind we regret to report that his battle has been lost. Most likely a...

The 61st Annual Buffalo International Horse Show concluded on Sunday afternoon at the Buffalo Equestrian Center in Buffalo, NY. Jennifer Alfano swept the professional hunter divisions, Wednesday and Thursday, proving to be unbeatable. She started off her morning with the tricolor in the First Year Green Hunters aboard Violets Are Blue, owned by Helen Lenahan. In the Second Year Green Hunters, Alfano and Rock Star proved again that they were the pair to beat. Over the two days of competition,...

The American Horse Council (AHC) wants to ensure that the American horse industry is properly accounted for in the upcoming census. There are three ways in which horse owners can participate in the USDA’s 2007 Census of Agriculture: 1. If a farm received a survey for census participation in the past (the last census was taken in 2002), the farm will be mailed a survey that can be filled in and mailed back. 2. If a farm was not part of the 2002 Census, the owner can fill out a basic USDA census...

Four more qualifiers were held this past weekend as junior riders around the country try and qualify for this year's ASPCA Maclay National Championship, which will be held on October 31-November 4, 2007, at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament in Syracuse, NY. Hanna Botney of St. Louis, MO, was the winner of Region 5, while Alisha Davis of Littleton, CO, captured the win in Region 6. The top spot in Region 7 went to O.J. Berkes of Bellevue, WA. Tina DiLandri of La Jolla, CA, won the...

The inaugural Evergreen Invitational hosted a high-performance hunter demonstration on Friday, September 14, and six horses and riders showed spectators what the true sport of hunters is all about. Diane Carney, a Chicago-area trainer, has taken a special interest in the high-performance hunter movement and is part of the United State Hunter Jumper Association's High-Performance Hunter committee. She, along with others, including trainer Rush Weeden, coordinated this weekend's event. M.K....

The American Saddlebred Horse Association’s (ASHA) Nominating Committee has been provided with names of over 140 individuals to consider for positions on the association’s board of directors. The deadline of September 14 just passed for suggestions from the general membership and the American Saddlebred community. “There were 49 individuals suggested this year alone,” said Charlotte Tevis, Administration Manager. “We also keep the suggestions that members made in previous years, and the...

It was a “typical day” at the office for Chester Weber as he went out and captured yet another USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship, his fifth in a row. Yet, Weber, of Ocala, FL, had some top-notch competition to challenge him as two previous five-time winners sought to win their sixth title. Both Tucker Johnson of Hobe Sound, FL, and James Fairclough of Newton, NJ, have accomplished what Weber has done, but neither has had the reign that Weber has maintained over the past five years. This...

Jason Canton and Grandioso (By PhelpsPhotos.com ) By Stacey Meier Lexington, KY – With three championships left to go in the final day, it was Christopher Hickey and U.S. bred Cabana Boy who swept the five-year-old championship division and Jason Canton and Grandioso who won the six-year-old championship division of the 2007 Markel/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Young Horse Dressage Championship presented by Collecting Gaits Farm. Beginning with the five-year-old...

Kent Farrington may have had a different horse in the $75,000 Fidelity Investments AGA Grand Prix this year but he still had the same magic touch conquering world renowned course designer Richard Jeffery's challenging course. A field of 30 riders entered the grand prix with seven riders advancing to the jump-off. The Ultimate Resort skinny jump with a roll back to the Fidelity Investments triple combination proved the most challenging elements of the course coming down consistently throughout...

When Laurie Jakubauskas entered the Tavern on the Green Ring at the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic on Friday, September 7, it was readily apparent that they were the ones to watch. Despite the withering heat, both were fresh and eager to go. It's no surprise that they won their classes back-to-back. First to go was Vixen, who captured the blue in the $750 Five-Year-Old Jumpers. Vixen is a very fast mare who just started jumping in April. "She can't go slowly. She's fun and is similar to...