The American Saddlebred Registry (ASR) Sweepstakes, held during the All American Horse Classic in Indianapolis September 5-9, had a 24% increase in its total payout from 2005 to 2006. The 2006 total payout was $172,822 compared to $139,434 one year before. The biggest increase came in the four-year-old division, which paid winners $45,959 for a 51% increase from the previous year’s total of $30,376. The 2006 four-year-old payout is the highest since 1992. Another increase came in the...

The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., recently awarded $250,000 in grants to charitable organizations that promote the positive use of the horse for the benefit of the general public and the equestrian sport as a whole. The “all volunteer” EQUUS Foundation raises funds from two annual events—one held in February during the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, and the the Benefit Luncheon held in June in conjunction with the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show in Westport, CT....

Ten million dollars in equine research funding is needed to unlock the mysteries of the devastating equine disease known as laminitis, announced the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation, Inc. The life-threatening injury to Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro and the subsequent development of laminitis in the horse’s left hind foot has highlighted the prevalence and severity of the disease, which affects horses around the globe. Members of the AAEP have identified laminitis...

Lexington, KY— The fourth annual USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals were held during the Golden State Dressage Warm-Up and Cool-Down Show in Rancho Murieta, CA, July 28-30. Junior dressage riders from across the country competed in their respective age divisions of 13 & under and 14 to 18 years of age. The purpose of the Dressage Seat Medal Program is to promote and reward excellence in equitation, including correct seat, position and use of aids in the sport of dressage. Junior riders in these...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF) is pleased to announce the team headed to Mensport, Hellendoorn, The Netherlands, for the 2006 FEI World Carriage Driving Championships for Drivers with Disabilities. This year's event will be held September 6-10 (the event is staged every two years). This year, the USEF Para-Equestrian High-Performance Committee has been working closely with the United States Driving for the Disabled (USDFD) in preparing for the competition. Team...

The HorseTV Channel’s August premieres feature diverse selections, including the revealing new international series, Spirit of the Equestrian , and the final PRCA rodeo in the network’s original series, Rodeo Nation: Pushing The Barrier . “Viewers will enjoy a much needed break from the summer heat at The HorseTV Channel this August as we introduce intriguing new series and experience the captivating conclusion to others,” said Rachel Falleroni, head of programming for The HorseTV Channel....

Mighty, mild and marvelous, the rare Cleveland Bay is Breyer's newest equine sculpture. This British breed is on the critically endangered list of the Rare Breed Survival Trust, along with the Bengal tiger, the snow leopard and the giant panda. Less than 550 Cleveland Bays are thought to exist today, and only 220 are mares of breeding age. Sculpted by artist Karen Gerhardt, the Breyer Cleveland Bay is depicted mid-trot and captures the strength, power and substance of this rare breed....

Lexington, KY-The United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF) announced today that Ed Young of Geneseo, NY, will serve as the chef d’equipe for its 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games Four-in-Hand Driving Team in Aachen, Germany, this summer. His experience includes officiating as a technical delegate, scoring, organizing, competing and volunteering. He also assumes the position of show manager for the Walnut Hill Driving Competition in Pittsford, NY. He holds credentials as a technical delegate...

(Lexington, KY) – The USEF Board of Directors met in Lexington, KY, on July 11 and addressed a relatively light agenda with few proposed bylaw or rule changes. In their respective reports, USEF President David O’Connor and Chief Executive Officer John Long announced that a new strategic planning process will begin in the next several months with the objective of guiding the Federation for the next decade. It will address such issues as grassroots support and development; the rule creation and...

Lexington For its 10th anniversary, the 2006 USEF National Junior Dressage Team Championship returned to the West Coast for another exciting showcase of some of America’s most talented young dressage riders, hosted by Pebble Beach Dressage and CDI*** in Pebble Beach, California, July 6-9, 2006. This Championship is sponsored by Collecting Gaits Farm, the Dutta Corporation and Performance Sales International. Three teams of four riders, ages 14 to 18, from all across the country, competed over...