Lexington, KY —Meagan Drew may not have started out as a cookie cutter equestrian, but then again, her break-the-mold approach may have been the leg up she needed to claim success in and out of the show ring. “I cleaned stalls two summers in a row every day so I could ride horses and take lessons,” says the 18 year old Drew. “It wasn’t my mom writing a check—it was something I had to do. It made me appreciate the lessons I did get and it made me work harder....

The 121st National Horse Show enjoyed it’s third successful year at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, FL and this year the Nations top hunter, jumpers and dressage horses shared the limelight with some little stars--Shetland ponies and miniature horses. During the Family Festival held at the show on December 4-5, Shetland ponies and miniature horses strutted their stuff in four educational demonstrations hosted for spectators. “I think most people were impressed by the...

Courtesy NRHA/Waltenberry (Todd Crawford on Matt Dillon Dun It) As the NRHA Futurity & North American Affiliate Championship Show continues, horses and riders showing in the FEI World Reining Masters Finals were officially received for the FEI general horse inspection on Wednesday, December 1. Traditionally, the NRHA Futurity & Championship Show has been the annual meeting ground for reining enthusiasts from all over the world. But this year is even more special. The first-ever $100,000...

Lexington, KY —The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) names Howard B. Simpson of Lake Forrest, IL, the winner of the 2004 Perpetual Sportsmanship Award. Given in memory of Walter Bourchier Devereux, III, the Perpetual Sportsmanship Award honors the horseman or horsewoman who “exemplifies the ideal of good sportsmanship through commitment, dedication and service to USEF throughout his or her career.” Mr. Simpson has done just that, spending years promoting good...

Lexington, KY —Effective December 1, 2004, the USEF Equine Drugs and Medications Rule permits the therapeutic use of Surpass®, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory product (NSAID) recently approved by the FDA for use in horses. This is a topical preparation of 1% diclofenac cream, from IDEXX Pharmaceuticals. The rule change, which was adopted by the Executive Committee on November 16, 2004, establishes a quantitative restriction, i.e., maximum permitted plasma concentration, similar to...

Mike Ferrara (Apollopalooza was named Arabian Park Horse champion for the fourth time, and was ridden by Carmelle Rooker.) The 38th annual U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (U.S. Nationals) held at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center in Louisville, KY, from October 7-16, 2004, named national champion, reserve and top ten winners in 104 classes. The show attracted more than 3,000 entries from across the United States and Canada representing 47 states and four Canadian...

Lexington, KY —Avoiding the pitfalls of some soggy weekend weather, Stephen Rogers and Leslie Chelstrom rode to victory during the USEF National Junior and USEF National Amateur Eventing Championships, held at the Kentucky Horse Park, October 20-24. After scoring a 63.3 in dressage, Rogers, a 17 year old Dallas, Texas native, rode 9 year old Australian Thoroughbred gelding Kelecyn Applause through double-clear cross-country and show jumping rounds to win the Harry T. Peters Trophy with a...

The Paso Fino Horse Association’s 32nd Annual Grand National Horse Show was held, September 19-25 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, GA. Employees of the fairgrounds put forth the extra effort to get stalls prepared for those needing to arrive early to escape the wrath of Hurricane Ivan and to remain during Hurricane Jeanne. Though the weather kept a few people away, 822 horses and more than 1,700 entries, ridden by youth and adults, were slated to compete for a...

Lexington, KY—An outstanding field of five and six-year-old horses held audiences captive at the Kentucky Horse Park over the weekend. September 10th through 12th, horses and riders from across the nation gathered for the 2004 USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage National Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. Nineteen five-year-olds and 15 six-year-olds, including a record 12 United States-bred horses, vied for the prize—the Dr. Edgar Hotz Memorial Trophy, which commemorates the top young...

The United States won more equestrian medals than any other team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens with a total of 5 medals from six possible opportunities. For the second time in US Olympic Equestrian history, and the first time in an Olympic games outside of the United States, the US Equestrian Team won team medals in each discipline, Eventing, Dressage and Show Jumping. This was achieved only once before in the 1996 Atlanta Games. 2004 was also the third time the US has won 5 Olympic...