Lexington, KY – The US show jumping riders had their first training session on their borrowed horses at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney, Australia. The four riders all spent some time getting to know their borrowed horses and found both the horses and their Australian owners and riders very accommodating. Each nation is invited to bring four athletes between the ages of 15-20 and the four promising young stars representing the US are: Mavis Spencer, 17, from Santa Monica,...

Lexington, KY – Mindy Darst was named Volunteer of the Year by the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) at the USHJA Evening of Equestrians on December 10, 2008. Evening of Equestrians is the USHJA’s awards ceremony held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting which took place at the Hilton Downtown in Nashville, TN, December 8-11. The Volunteer of the Year Award is given to an individual who donates their time to develop and implement programs in the organization. Darst was selected...

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced that Elizabeth Osborn of the Woodside Vaulters equestrian vaulting club has won the prestigious title of Vaulter of the Year. Osborn’s coach, Isabelle Bibbler Parker, was named USEF Coach of the Year. Osborn and Parker will receive their awards on January 16 at a ceremony during the USEF’s Annual Meeting in Cincinnati, OH. The USEF, based in Lexington, KY, is the national governing body of equestrian sport in the U.S. Osborn is the...

Tara Gamble of Edmonton, Alberta, is the new president of the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA). Gamble has over 17 years of industry teaching experience instructing Western, English and jumping lessons. She is a CHA Master Clinic Instructor and was awarded Clinic Instructor of the Year in 2006, and is a certified Site Visitor and Site Visitor Trainer, which is used for the accreditation of equestrian facilities. Gamble was recently designated a professional horseman with the American...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation awards many prestigious trophies throughout the year to various equestrian disciplines. One of the most coveted is the Fritz Cup, which is given to the national champion in show jumping every year. In 2008, the award was given to Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, for her win in the Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Championship presented by Equine Motorcoach. Veteran rider Margie Engle was the most consistent over the two rounds of competition...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the National Affiliate Working Group (NAWG) committee is pleased to announce that Madeleine Genereux is the winner of the 2008 USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award sponsored by Breyer Animal Creations®. Genereux was selected from an outstanding group of young adults from across the country. Genereux, of Mahtomedi, MN, was nominated by the United States Hunter/Jumper Association for her passion and commitment to the sport along with...

The United States Dressage Federation’s (USDF) Youth Executive Board is pleased to announce the winners of the USDF Youth Convention Scholarship Program for the 2008 Adequan/USDF National Convention and Symposium. This year’s winners are Arielle Perry, Jannike Gray, and Jessica Rose Deimler. The Youth Executive Board annually awards scholarships of up to $1,000 each to help defray the expenses associated with attending the annual convention. Applicants are judged on such qualities as...

Considering the present situation, the Chairman of the FEI Dressage Committee today decided to present her resignation, which has been accepted by the FEI. The FEI Bureau wants to thank the chair for the good work she has been doing during almost eight years of contribution she has made to the development of the dressage sport during this time. Mariette Withages will present the Dressage Committee report to the General Assembly.

Olympian Debbie McDonald filled the house as this year's featured clinician at the New England Dressage Association's (NEDA) Annual Fall Symposium. The annual event, which has hosted such leading clinicians as Anky van Grunsven, Klaus Balkenhol and Ingrid Klimke, draws hundreds of riders and trainers from throughout the Northeastern U.S. With her popular partner, the Hanoverian mare Brentina, McDonald, a member of the 2008 and 2004 U.S. Olympic Dressage Teams, is one of America's most...

Majestic Gaits KWPN Elite Dutch Warmblood mare Torette R (Silvano x Flemmingh) became Grand Champion of the New England Dressage Association (NEDA) Great American United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Breeders Championship Show in Saugerties, NY. Torette R also became the USDF New England series Bred Mare Champion. Kathy Hickerson, the owner of Torette R and Majestic Gaits bought the mare from VDL Stud in Holland after she was #4 National Mare in Holland. Hickerson said, "This was very...