The Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) selected the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine to receive funding for the first ever Equine Consortium for Genetic Research grant. The goal of the grant is to bring together the world’s best researchers in a focused, collaborative effort to improve equine health. The consortium grant, led by University of Minnesota professors Jim Mickelson and Stephanie Valberg, received the highest score out of 27 multi-institutional applications...

Waltenberry (Kelly Zweifel and Master Snapper) After turning in a spectacular performance that earned a masterful score of 232 (that’s an average of better than 77), Kelly Zweifel, Italy, won the Open, Intermediate Open and Limited Open divisions of the 2006 NRHA Derby on Master Snapper (Snapper Cal Bar) owned by Impresa Agricola Cuoghi. Zweifel is the first woman to win the Open Division of this prestigious event. And, while Master Snapper is not the first European-owned Derby Champion,...

The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC), the national governing body for endurance riding in the United States, will hold its annual convention in Texas for the first time in 2006. The two-day program of seminars, informational meetings and a free trade show is set for February 24-25 at the Crowne Plaza Riverwalk in San Antonio. Leading experts in equine health care and endurance-related fields will be featured at several seminar sessions. Other highlights of the AERC's convention will...

2004 Olympic Show Jumping Gold Medalists: McLain Ward, Beezie Madden, Chris Kappler and Peter Wylde. (Photo by Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com) Wellington, FL – It was a perfect star spangled afternoon in the Internationale Arena at the Palm Beach Polo and Equestrian Club as Silver turned to Gold when the 2004 Olympic Team Gold medals were awarded to the United States Show Jumping Team. The 2004 Athens Olympic team of Peter Wylde, residing in Maastricht, The Netherlands; McLain Ward of...

(Lexington, KY) – USEF members are invited to obtain updates and weigh-in on issues at an International Forum, Saturday, February 4 in Wellington, FL. The forum will provide updates on news concerning upcoming international events and issues. Among the topics of discussions are the following: • 2006 World Equestrian Games planning and hospitality • 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong • 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky • 2012 Olympic Games in London • FEI Strategic Planning...

The 2006 All American Cup and Bluegrass Futurity stallion service auctions are both set for January, and feature several prominent Saddlebred sires. The 2006 All American Cup Stallion Service Auction will take place Saturday, January 21, at 4:30 p.m. at Claudia Sanders Restaurant in Shelbyville, KY. A total of 175 stallion services will be available, in which the offspring produced by these stallion services are eligible for the All American Cup. The 2005 All American Weanling Cup awarded...

The Youth National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (Youth Nationals) is celebrating its 13th anniversary in Albuquerque, NM, at Expo New Mexico on July 23-30, 2005. The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) of Aurora, CO, produces the weeklong event that features top-level competition, a shopping expo, the annual youth convention and daily activities. This year's show features more than 1,000 horses from across the United States, competing in 124 classes in a wide variety of...

Following closely on the heels of the nation’s first-ever Unwanted Horse Summit in Washington, DC, on April 19, a National Steering Committee has been named to perform the organizational work necessary to keep the project moving forward. In a conference call on June 8 involving all participants in the Summit, the following representatives were selected to serve on the Steering Committee: -Dr. Tom Lenz, American Association of Equine Practitioners (chair) -Dr. Andrew Lang, American Society for...

USEF Honors its Stars of 2004 at Athletes’ Luncheon and Pegasus Awards Dinner Louisville, KY —Friday proved to be a day of widespread celebration at the 2005 USEF Annual Meeting as two special events brought audiences to their feet with thunderous applause and accolades for athletes and honorees. During the Friday Recognition Luncheon in honor of Athletes and Owners, the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation presented the coveted Whitney Stone Memorial Cup to one of the...

Kansas City, MO —Kelsey Nicole Smith, 17, of Delafield, Wisconsin, was crowned champion of the 2004 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Saddle Seat Medal Finals, held November 20, as part of the UPHA/American Royal National Championship Horse Show in Kansas City, Missouri. Riding Chimere (Chestnut American Saddlebred mare, Periaptor—RHR Fury’s Wild Flame), Smith topped the class of 31 entries in the two-phase competition that required both rail work and patterns in both...