The United States Dressage Federation’s (USDF) Youth Executive Board is pleased to announce the winners of the USDF Youth Convention Scholarships for the 2007 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention. This year’s winners are Ryan Michelle Eskridge, Jillian Kemenosh, Katherine Greene and Shari Wolke. Applicants are judged on such qualities as participation in USDF or dressage-related activities, written communication skills, desire to learn, ability to utilize knowledge, and the manner in which they plan...

It's considered the most prestigious show on the East Coast, if not the entire U.S., and only the best of the best emerge as winners at the inimitable Dressage at Devon. Courtney King of New Milford, CT, wrapped up her weekend with more wins than any other competitor showing in the performance division. With five world-class mounts under saddle, King came down the centerline 11 times and galloped the honor round of victory five times at the 33rd Annual Dressage at Devon CDI-W/Y/J presented by...

An active and well-known member of the Saddlebred community, Shan Ellis Donaldson, died on Tuesday, September 25, 2007, at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, KY. She was 60. The Georgetown, KY, native became an equestrian at an early age, and her love of horses led to her parents, R. E. Ellis Jr., DMD, and Martha “Perkie” Ellis, founding the Longview Riding Camp. Shan and her husband of 40 years, Jamie Donaldson, started their own horse photography business. For many years, Shan could be found...

Mansfield, ON, Canada - If Phillip Dutton keeps up this winning business, they'll have to stop him at the Canadian border next year so that someone else can have a shot at winning. For the second year in a row Dutton, from West Grove, PA was the overall winner at the Wits End CIC-W*** in Mansfield, ON September 28-30. Last year he won the event riding Tru Luck and this year he was partnered with Acorn Hill Farm's handsome chestnut gelding Woodburn, who was previously successful with Emily...

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,...

Lexington, Kentucky – The Youth Council is pleased to announce the completed panel of Star Power athletes for the Inaugural Youth Council Convention to be held January 18, 2008 in Louisville, KY. These representatives of the USEF recognized breeds and disciplines have been high profile successful competitors for many years. Karen O’Connor will represent the Eventing discipline. Her most recent successes have been astride the notable Theodore O’Connor, a pony who has accomplished feats that have...

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....

Laura Chapot and Cilthe Z had the fastest double-clear round in the $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties on Thursday, September 6, to secure $7,500 in prize money for owners Harold Vogel and Mary Chapot. Chapot has been riding the eight-year-old mare for just over a year. It was only Cilthe Z's third grand prix, but she has now won two of them thanks to a victory in Monmouth two weeks ago. Course Designer Jerry Dougherty trimmed the field down to four riders for the jump-off. Going first...

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...

(Lexington, KY) – Maria Partlow, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communication has announced that she will retire effective October 1st, 2007. She has been with the USEF since March of 2004. “This is a life decision and one I have thought a great deal about,” she said. “My mother died very unexpectedly earlier this year, and her passing made me reflect on how fleeting life is and about how I want to spend the future. Although I love working at the USEF, I want to get up every morning,...