Lexington, KY— The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the 2009 triple point competitions for the Saddlebred, Roadster and Hackney/Harness divisions. Each year, the corresponding discipline committees vote to assign “triple point” status to a competition in each of the 12 regions. Points won at any of these designated competitions will count as triple points for the Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year program. Saddlebred Division Region 1 #317874 UPHA Chapter...

The American Saddlebred Registry (ASR) Sweepstakes total payout of over $210,000 in 2008 tops the 15-year high of $199,424 in 2007 and is the most prize money awarded in one year since the Sweepstakes’ all-time high set in 1992. Coupled with its futurities, American Saddlebred Registry prize programs distributed close to half-a-million dollars ($473,744) over the course of approximately three weeks during the Kentucky State Fair (August 17-23) in Louisville and the All American Horse Classic...

For the past several years, the American Saddlebred International Youth Program (ASIYP) has conducted their annual competition in conjunction with the United Professional Horsemen’s Association (UPHA) Chapter 10 Saddlebred Fall Horse Show. Competitors must ride in their age group equitation class, participate in junior judging and showmanship at halter, ride in a pattern class, plus complete a written test and hippology stations. Separate ribbons are awarded in each of these classes and there...

The Sport Horse Nationals Payback Program purchases of discounted breeding services to the many stallions enrolled for 2009 will commence on September 1, 2008. Purchases are conducted on a first-come-first-served basis at 50% of the stallion’s advertised fee for 2009. Included are world class Warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, Arabians, Anglo-Arabians, Saddlebreds, Welsh, Friesians, Hackneys and others. Many are national or world champions, or have sired champions. The total number of stallions...

Lexington, KY—EQUESTRIAN magazine, the official publication of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) since 1937, has recently been honored at the American Horse Publications (AHP) Annual Awards Program held in Saratoga Springs, NY, on June 21. AHP members were named finalists in the 2008 AHP Annual Awards Contest for material published in 2007. This year’s contest included 105 AHP members and 1,092 entries. A select panel of 29 industry judges reviewed the classes and critiqued the...

The discipline of endurance is undergoing a full review of its rules. One of the key innovations introduced in new rules, which will come in force on January 1, 2009, is the emphasis put on the education of all officials involved in the discipline, be they judges, technical delegates and veterinarians. A significant contribution towards this new development will be brought by the agreement that was recently concluded between the FEI and Hydra Properties of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)....

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing High Performance Committee has approved the following horse and rider combinations to participate in the Developing Riders Program to be instructed by World Equestrian Games Individual Bronze medalist Amy Tryon. The Developing Riders Program is available to riders of any age who aspire to compete at the highest levels of the sport. To qualify, each horse/rider combination must have completed a CCI** or above. Precedence is given...

Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) stallion owners now have a unique opportunity to increase the presence of the Appaloosa horse internationally. The intent of this new program is to help Appaloosa stallion owners increase the volume of exports as well as expand the breeding options for international affiliate members. The ApHC Board of Directors voted at their March 2007 meeting to approve an International Registration Incentive Program (IRIP) that will create a much needed avenue for Appaloosa...

An exciting new program for potential hunter and hunter seat equitation judges was approved at the January 2007 USEF Board Meeting, with an effective date of April 1, 2007. The purpose of the mentor program is to assist qualified horsemen in the pursuit of a USEF judges’ license in the hunter and hunter seat equitation divisions. An additional component is to assist ‘r’ judges in obtaining ‘R’ status in hunter, hunter seat equitation, and hunter breeding. Information about and an application to...

Riding For Reading, a non-profit organization (501 (c)3) dedicated to promoting reading, literacy, and education through equestrian sports and activities, is pleased to announce that it has received two important grants to augment its 2007 budget. The Equus Foundation selected Riding For Reading as a recipient of one of its 2007 grants, and the United States Hunter Jumper Association also provided a grant. These grants will be used to help fund Riding For Reading’s equestrian based literacy...