Wilbur "Sug" Utz, American Saddlebred trainer and owner of Blue Ridge Stables in Raytown, MO, died Wednesday, November 5, 2008. He was 90 years old. Sug, son of Emil and Sudie Utz, was born and raised on a farm outside Maysville in northwest Missouri. Coming from a horse training family, Sug learned his craft at his father’s side, along with his three brothers. Two of his brothers, Don and Jay, similar to Sug, went on to become world’s champion caliber Saddlebred men. They were all exciting...

In October 2008, international para-equestrian driver Diane Kastama lost her equine driving partner, Jasper. The 13-year-old Welsh Cob gelding was loved by many. Kastama met Jasper with his tandem and pair mate, Rupert, at the World Championships in 2004. After leasing the gelding for the competition, Kastama found she couldn't leave him in Scotland. Purchasing the cobs, they came back stateside to take on the combined driving world. Not only was Jasper her competitive partner, but they teamed...

A crowd favorite at the 2008 Road to the Horse, Tommy Garland will return in 2009 applying his CPR method in his quest to win this prestigious competition. Garland's method is all about confidence, patience and respect when working with and training horses. Garland is considered one of the best trainers and showmen in the world of Arabians and Half-Arabians and was named the Western Pleasure Trainer of the Year in 2002 by the Arabian Professionals and Amateur Horseman's Association. When he...

Three Phase Event, Inc., hosted it’s first Training, Education and Development (T.E.D.) clinic on dressage for gaited horses and riders, September 5, at the Kentucky Equestrian Center, in Winchester, KY. The full-day schedule included a lecture/demonstration and a full afternoon of dressage tests. The clinician, Betty Ortlieb, a United States Dressage Federation judge, presided over the event and was warmly welcomed by all who attended. During the morning session, two riders demonstrated some...

The human and animal kingdoms may be enjoying a quiet summer/winter weekend, depending on the hemisphere, but it is a key one for the horses taking part in the equestrian events of the 2008 Olympic Games. On Friday, July 25, the first horses left from Europe (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) and the United States (Atlanta, GA) on three flights to Hong Kong. All 33 horses—coming from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Korea, The Netherlands, and Switzerland—accompanied by 15 attendants...

Twenty-five national and state-based equine protection, placement and rescue organizations gathered Tuesday for the second Homes for Horses Coalition Conference to discuss the re-homing of at-risk horses in America. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Animal Welfare Institute jointly sponsored the conference. The coalition, formed in 2007, is dedicated to ending horse slaughter and other forms of equine abuse while promoting growth, collaboration and professionalism in the...

The United States Equestrian Federation’s Board of Directors held its annual mid-year meeting on June 24 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, KY. Several important decisions regarding the immediate future of the Federation’s governance were addressed, as well as important and exciting marketing initiatives and the designation of the first horse show to receive the new “Heritage” designation. Current President David O’Connor was re-elected for a second four-year term....

Lexington, KY – To assist breed shows with financial challenges, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) offers the 2008 Outreach Grant program, which provides assistance to various USEF breed competitions. And even though the competition season is under way, it’s not too late to apply for a USEF grant. The USEF grant program assists financially challenged breed competitions that meet the grant requirements and are approved by the USEF. The grants are available on a first come, first...

At the Lucky Sevens Welcome Stake, which kicked off week II of the Atlanta Summer Classic, the crowd was left singing the praises of Troubadour. With the Leary, GA, based Mariano Bedoya Guido at the controls, the young gelding bested the field of 28, including eleven in the jump-off round, with two clear rounds and a sizzling jump-off time of 30.33 seconds. “I liked this course very much, it looked not too big, but it was very technical,” said Guido of the Allen Rheinheimer designed challenge....

The World Games 2010 Foundation announced that Premier Equestrian, LLC, will provide equipment for the dressage and driving competition venues as an official vendor of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. “The World Games 2010 Foundation first viewed our new Brentina Dressage Arena at Devon,” said Premier Equestrian President Heidi Zorn. “The aesthetics and the safety features of the Brentina Arena are perfect for the world-class competition at the World Equestrian Games. We couldn’t be...