Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the continuation of a multi-year partnership with Markel Insurance to sponsor the USEF Young Horse Dressage Program. This sponsorship also includes the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage National Championships and the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials. “Markel came on board to sponsor this program early in our strategy to build our developing horse and rider programs which are critical to our...

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...

(Lexington, KY) - Following a record year of participation in 2006, the United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.® announces the release of updated information for the 2007 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program. The Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program promotes the importance of selective breeding and correct training of horses in the United States, and encourages participation of breeders, riders, and trainers of young horses in dressage competition. The purposes of this program are to...

Just how smart is a horse, anyway? While much research has been done on horses, hardly any has been on "horse smarts," or equine intelligence. Fascinating discoveries will be made with the airing of a program on RFD-TV, on Jan. 16, 17 and 21, 2007. The program, "The Horse Show" with Rick Lamb, is broadcast on Dish Network, Direct TV, Mediacom and National Cable. Tune in to see horses identify colors, pick out letters, numbers—even play cards! Inspired by the book Beautiful Jim Key (2005,...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that 38 USDF members successfully completed the USDF “L” Education Program from August to November 2006. The USDF “L” Education Program is designed to prepare candidates to enter the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) “r” Judges Training Program, to qualify individuals to judge schooling shows, and to give competitors, trainers and instructors greater insight into the evaluative techniques of judging dressage. The...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Board of Directors voted in July and again in October of 2006 and approved the inclusion of Hunter Country Pleasure in the Saddlebred Record Champion program. The ASHA is currently working on a project to award points retroactive to 1992, when the country pleasure division first became a part of the Saddlebred Record program. "Based on lengthy discussion in the Pleasure Committee and at the board level on a couple of occasions, our leadership...

(Lexington, KY) - After 28 years of loyal service, the most tenured USEF staff member, Dr. John G. Lengel, has decided to retire. Dr. Lengel started working for the Equine Drugs and Medications Program as a testing technician and then testing veterinarian in the early to mid 1970’s. He was appointed the administrator of the program in 1978, succeeding Dr. Jordan Woodcock, the program’s first administrator. In addition, he served as the AHSA Executive Vice-President at the main office in New...

Lexington, KY – There is still time to contact your affiliate and submit a nomination for the USEF Youth Council and the USEF Youth Sportsman’s Charter Award. The deadline for USEF to receive nominations from the affiliates for the Youth Council is October 16, 2006, and the deadline for the USEF to receive nominations from the affiliates for the Youth Sportsman’s Charter Award is October 31, 2006. Both programs require that nominations be received by USEF from the USEF-recognized association....

The HorseTV Channel recently announced its June premiere lineup featuring world-class competitions, breed documentaries and training and magazine series from the Western and English worlds. “We focus on presenting family-friendly programming that is as diverse as our audience,” said Rachel Falleroni, Head of Programming for The HorseTV Channel. “Our viewers enjoy their favorite programs while also discovering new and intriguing elements of the horse world.” The American Quarter Horse...

Sally Ike has been named Managing Director of Show Jumping Sport Programs for the USEF. She will continue to be based at the Gladstone, NJ, office and will report directly to Jim Wolf, Executive Director of Sport Programs. In addition to being an experienced international competitor, Ike has 17 years of experience as a discipline director and Chef de Mission with the international teams programs. She competed for the U.S Equestrian Teams in three-day eventing, and was a member of the 1968...