The American Horse Council (AHC) reports that the recently passed Senate Farm Bill includes several key provisions that would benefit the horse industry. The $286 billion bill, which passed the Senate on December 14 by a vote of 79 to 14, now includes the Equine Equity Act. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) offered this bill as an amendment to the Farm Bill, and it was accepted without objection. This provision would: (1) shorten the capital gains holding period for horses from 24 months to 12...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is pleased to announce that Paul Long of Mahwah, NJ, has been named assistant director of development. Long will assist USET Foundation Executive Director Bonnie B. Jenkins in accomplishing the Foundation's mission of raising funds to support equestrian athletes, promote international excellence, and build for the future. Long was a member of the USET Foundation National Advisory Council from 1993 until 2005. He earned his B.A. from Drew...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) invite licensed dressage competitions to apply to become an official “qualifying competition” for the 2009/2010 USEF Dressage Developing Programs and the 2009/2010 FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Dressage Championships (NAJYRC) Program. The USEF Developing Programs & the NAJYRC Program include the following: · USEF National Championships for Juniors, Young Riders, & Young...

The deadlines for entries for the first three weeks of the CN Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) have been extended, announced Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC (ESP). The WEF prize list of the schedule of events for the 12 weeks at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center has been available online since December 19, 2007, only four days after ESP took over operational management of WEF. The extended Wellington WEF series and additional sponsorship to bring prize money to a record $5...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce and congratulate its new USDF Certified Instructors. The USDF Instructor Certification Program is designed to set a standard of excellence in dressage training and instruction in the United States and to educate dressage riders, instructors and aspiring instructors. New USDF Certified Instructors include; Meaghan Byrne of Beverly, MA; Nancy Burba of St. Gabriel, LA; Lisa Bukowski of Stillwater, MN; Jontelle Forbus of Staunton,...

Of all the awards the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) offers, it is the Volunteer of the Year Award, that is deemed the most prestigious. The 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Shelby French of Sweet Briar, VA, on December 13, at the USHJA Evening of Equestrians Dinner. French has been instrumental in developing grassroots outreach programs, has traveled to the Lexington office for program meetings, has been a member of the Board of Directors, co-chaired the...

“The Campaign for the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) National Education Center (NEC) has been a big success. We have also made a very good start towards building a long-term endowment,” announced USDF President Sam Barish during the Adequan/USDF Annual Convention, held in Orlando Florida, November 27-December 2. USDF has been tremendously successful in its first capital campaign effort, having secured campaign commitments of over $4.1 million that, when paid, will fully satisfy all...

Tammy Provost of Zionsville, IN, won the inaugural 2008 United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Derby Class on Friday, December 7, at the Lake St. Louis Holiday Series, in Lake St. Louis, MO, managed by Tommy McIntyre. Aboard Daquiri, owned by Penny Cooper, Provost soared to the top against a field of 27. The two-round format consisted of a handy hunter and classic round, which asked competitors to navigate through the challenging courses of bending lines, banks and...

The American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation, Inc., recognized Ashlee E. Watts, DVM, of Ithaca, NY, as the recipient of the 2007 AAEP Foundation Research Fellow on December 3 during the AAEP 53rd Annual Convention in Orlando, FL. The scholarship, in the amount of $5,000, emphasizes the importance of equine research and is awarded to a researcher who is completing a residency or graduate program while conducting equine research. Dr. Watts is currently a resident in Large Animal...

Lexington, KY – Plans are under way for the 2008 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Youth Convention and registration is open, but space is limited for the convention. Already, over half of the available spots have been filled for the first annual Youth Convention, which will be held January 12 in Louisville, KY. Along with the schedule, the break-out sessions have been finalized. The Youth Convention will feature many notable speakers, including experts in the equine industry as well...