The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced that three Olympians will headline a stellar group of speakers for the USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate Program, to be held January 18-20, 2008, in West Palm Beach, FL: Debbie McDonald, USEF National Developing Rider Coach, 2004 U.S. Olympic Dressage Team Bronze medalist and winner of the 2003 World Cup Dressage Final; Lisa Wilcox, 2004 U.S. Olympic Dressage Team Bronze medalist and 2002 World Equestrian Games Team Silver medalist; and Carol...

The Kentucky Horse Council announced a new program to assist those horses whose owners cannot provide adequate feed due to temporary financial setbacks. The Equine Safety Net program is designed to provide a 30-day supply of feed for horses when the owner is having temporary financial difficulties and is unable to supply adequate nutrition. This program is for individuals only, and is not intended for professional equine businesses. The applicants can apply for feed for a maximum of two horses,...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced that the USDF/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Young Rider Graduate Program will be held at the Hilton Palm Beach Airport Hotel in West Palm Beach, FL, January 18-20, 2008. The USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate program, with funding support provided by The Dressage Foundation, is designed to bridge the gap between young rider status and the professional world of international competition, teaching, training and equine business...

Lexington, KY – In an effort to continue to grow and promote young rider competitions, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has partnered with Platinum Performance, Inc. to develop a special co-branded identity for the Platinum Performance / USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Program. As the USEF’s “Official Sports Nutrition Supplement Company” and the title sponsor of the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Program that includes championships on both the East and West Coasts, Platinum...

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...

(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...