Fear of the unknown often darkens our dream of buying the young horse that will become the next show star. Perhaps we are drawn to this idea by the harmony that arises between human and equine when raising a horse from his first years; possibly it's the chance to be able to buy him before he costs six figures. But will this charming youngster transform into that fancy show horse we had envisioned? Here is a way to peek into a crystal ball. Start from the bottom up — your bottom line Clearly...

Photo by ESI Photography (Emma Kennedy, the owner and rider of Summer Hill, captured Sunday's $5,000 Pony Commotion. ) The Ocala Winter Finals wrapped up another exciting week of show jumping that included two of the four remaining qualifying grand prix classes this winter for the Pfizer Million at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, FL. Maryland’s Tracy Magness captured the win in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, aboard Mr. and Mrs. John Barko’s Tarco Van Ter Moude for...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce the new USDF Breeder of the Year Award program, which will be initiated for the 2006 competition season, which started October 1, 2005. This is a year-end award, based on performance in a given competition year. Breeders of dressage performance horses and breeders of dressage in-hand horses will be able to vie for top honors. Scott Hassler, Chairperson of the USDF Sport Horse Committee, stated, "Over the last few years, a...

Laura Linback and Whittaker MVNZ on course in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer (ESI Photography). Culpeper, VA --- Laura Linback of Mundelin, IL, and Woodrun's Whittaker MVNZ, whom they call "Fred" in the barn, had an amazing week at HITS Culpeper. Last Friday, they captured the win in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix and successfully followed up with a big win in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Jerry Dougherty of Bokeelia, Florida was...

Photo Courtesy Andalusian-Lusitano Alliance Iberian horse enthusiasts all over the country are busy preparing their horses for what is sure to be the most important gathering, celebration and competition offered to date in the United States for the Andalusian, Lusitano and Pura Raza Española. Six days of competition will be offered for both purebred and part-bred horses in a myriad of classes in all disciplines at the Andalusian-Lusitano Alliance U.S. Grand National Championships. Horses may...

Lexington, KY -The qualification period for the 2008 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program and for the 2008 USEF National Developing Horse Dressage Championship (sponsored by the Dutta Corporation and Performance Sales International) begins on January 1, 2008. In a new qualification format for these programs, only designated “qualifying competitions” held during the qualification period runs from January 1-August 15, 2008, may be used to obtain scores towards selection trials and national...

USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship Wayne, Ill. - Heather Blitz and Praestemarkens Quatero won the FEI Prix St. Georges Test with a score of 72.853% to kick off the first day of competition at the 2018 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions. Blitz and (Wellington, Fla.) and her nine-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding performed a lovely test to take the early lead in the USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship. Jennifer Baumert (Wellington, Fla.) and Handsome, Betsy...

Lexington, KY - The 2011 American Saddlebred Reference Directory is now available online, via the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) website. The American Saddlebred Reference Directory is the breed’s most comprehensive publication each year, and the only breed publication distributed to the entire ASHA membership. The publication will soon be distributed to ASHA members, and in the meantime, ASHA members can log in and access the electronic version of the Reference Directory at...

As a reminder to all dressage riders, the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions will be held in San Juan Capistrano, CA, over the weekends of June 20–22 and June 27–29. This Festival of Champions will feature the national championships for the Intermediaire I, Young Adult “Brentina Cup”, Young Rider and Junior divisions, and will be held in conjunction with the USEF Selection Trials for Dressage. Division ranking lists are currently posted on the USEF website, but in...

On October 18-27, 2007, the U.S. National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show will bid farewell to Albuquerque, NM, and celebrate a weeks worth of riveting competition for both amateur and professional riders or handlers who will be competing in halter, native costume, reining, working cow, cutting, trail, show hack, sidesaddle, park horse, driving, and English, Western and hunter classes. The U.S. Nationals ranks as the most prestigious North American championship in the Arabian...