The World Equestrian Festival, perhaps the largest single week's horse show in the world, began Wednesday in Aachen, Germany, with the United States announcing a top team for the Samsung Super League. Aachen CHIO has added championship vaulting to the lineup of show jumping, dressage and four-in-hand driving that will be contested by 145 athletes from 23 nations on more than 400 horses, in front of what is expected to be well above 300,000 spectators during the five days of competition. For...

Marc Manning (Australian Andrew Hoy on Master Monarch) Rails fell like raindrops during the final day of the 2006 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Farnam at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, on Sunday, April 30. The performances were as unpredictable as the weather, which opened the door for Australia’s Andrew Hoy and his Master Monarch to prove they were indeed the masters of the three-day CCI**** grueling showdown. The pair was atop the leaderboard and winners of one of...

Margie Engle on Wapino (Ken Braddick/Phelps Media Group) Wellington, FL – The order of finish from day-to-day at the World Equestrian Games Selection Trials changes about as quickly as the weather has through the three trials, yet one thing remains the same…Margie Engle continues to shine. Currently Engle and Lauren Hough are tied for first place with five total faults while Engle is also a close second place with nine total faults on her second mount, Hidden Creek’s Wapino....

This week a bill was filed in the Kentucky State Legislature that would benefit the horse industry in Kentucky. House Bill 263 calls for removing the sales tax that is charged on equine products, such as feed, grooming products, bedding supplies and many other items. For more information, or to voice your opinion about this bill, you can contact your legislator: By mail: Capitol Annex, Frankfort, KY 40601 By phone: (800) 373-7181 (Legislative Message Line); (877) 287-3134 (Spanish Line) This...

It is with great sadness that the USEF ParaEquestrian community acknowledges the tragic death of Margo O’Callahan, of Seattle, WA. O’Callahan was killed in a car accident on Sunday, December 18, near the Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, where she rode for much of her adult life. O’Callahan’s dog, Eddie, was also killed in the accident, which is still under investigation at this time. Overcoming multiple strokes and an accident which left her with a broken hip,...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce the four athletes who have been named to the 2006 USEF ParaEquestrian Advanced Rider List. The following rider/horse combinations have completed the requirements for inclusion on the list and are as follows: • Rebecca Hart and Nordkap (Bay Hanoverian gelding) – 68.917% • Robin Brueckmann and Richmond (Gray Hanoverian gelding) – 67.636% • Lynn Seidemann and Ryan (Sorrel Quarter Horse...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation has announced that Wellington, Florida will play host to its prestigious two-in-one championships, the 2006 USEF National Grand Prix Freestyle Championship/U.S. League Final. The Championships will run concurrently March 16-19, 2006, during the Wellington CDI-W. Following in tradition, the U.S. League Final is earmarked as the selection for the U.S. competitors who will ride in the 2006 FEI World Cup Dressage Final, scheduled to take...

Craig Schmersal had four horses to show at the Southwest Reining Horse Association (SWRHA) Futurity and Horse Show in Ardmore, OK, in October. He had Commanders Nic and Im Genuinely Smart for Open and Novice Horse Open competition. He had two three-year-olds for the SWRHA Futurity, Wrangle Whiz and Conquistadors Star. All four horses earned NRHA paychecks. After the show, Schmersal, his wife Ginger and their sons Chris and Nick drove to their new home and training facility in Overbrook, OK,...

(Lexington, KY) As approved by the 2005 FEI General Assembly, an annual FEI registration is now mandatory for all riders and horses competing in FEI events. This would include the following disciplines: Dressage, Reining, Show Jumping, Driving, Endurance and Vaulting, Paraequestrian and Eventing. The fee requirement will take effect on January 1, 2006 and it is renewable annually. Fees are $15.00 for each horse and $15.00 per rider. This registration is in addition to acquiring a passport or...

Karen Kroon of Cheyenne, WY, won the 2005 FEI North American Endurance Championship CEIO**** at the 17th annual Fair Hill International Festival in the Country in Elkton, MD, October 9-10. Kroon won the continental championship’s Individual Gold medal by finishing the 100-mile ride in a time of 11:45:30 on Rokket, her 11-year-old bay Arabian gelding. Dominique Freeman of La Honda, CA, who finished in 11:45:50 seconds on Jayel Super, a 13-year-old bay Arabian gelding owned by Stagg and Cheryl...