Lexington, KY – The Varsity Equestrian National Championships (VENC) announced the collegiate teams that have been selected and seeded for this year’s competition, in conjunction with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). A total of twelve schools were chosen for both the hunter seat and Western divisions to compete at the National Championships. The selected teams will compete April 17-19 in Waco, Texas at the Heart O’ Texas Fair...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced that it has created a new Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed to enable members and businesses to receive the most up-to-date USDF news and headlines. RSS is an internet protocol that transmits a news feed in real time and is automatically updated as new items become available. These feeds make it possible for people to keep up with all of the current news and happenings at USDF on their personal webpages or homepage, with RSS capabilities....

The University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm in Weybridge, VT, has received a pledge of $1 million from the Amy E. Tarrant Foundation. The gift, the largest ever to the historic facility, will be used to create an Amy E. Tarrant Endowed Fund for the Morgan Horse Farm, with $800,000 to establish the endowment and $200,000 designated for current operating needs. Earnings on the endowment will provide funding for the farm in perpetuity. "We are so very grateful to Amy Tarrant for her gift," said...

Lexington, KY - The USEF Dressage High Performance Committee is introducing a new 12-Month Grand Prix Ranking List for the 2008 competition year. This new ranking list format will track all U.S. horse/rider combinations competing at the FEI Grand Prix level at any CDI, as well as the 2007 High Performance qualifying competitions, and insures a more accurate reflection of the current top competitors. The 12-Month Grand Prix Ranking List will be maintained by USEF staff and will report all FEI...

Lexington, KY – With the 2008 competition season just beginning, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) recognizes that the rising cost of show expenses can often hinder breed shows. To assist competitions with expenses, the USEF offers the Outreach Grant program, which provides financial assistance to various USEF breed competitions. The USEF grant program assists financially challenged breed competitions that meet the grant requirements and are approved by the USEF. The grants are...

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) is pleased to introduce a new Arabian Horse Foundation to meet the growing needs of the Arabian horse community. The foundation will fund previously unsupported areas, such as general education, equine research and disaster relief. Donors will have the option to designate their contributions to a particular category. “This foundation will provide, for the first time, a way for donors to select how they want their gift to be used,” said Larry Kinneer,...

President of the Equestrian Committee (Hong Kong) of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang and members of the committee toured the Hong Kong Olympic and Paralympic Village and core equestrian venue in Sha Tin on March 4. They inspected the progress of construction works in relation to the competition venue and supporting facilities for the equestrian events to be staged in Hong Kong. The committee visited the...

In an effort to support the needs of the horse and horse owner in Kentucky, the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC), in partnership with the Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners and the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association, has established a hotline (866-634-0030) for Kentucky horse owners. The hotline is a network to connect resources—hay and other equine feed, vet and feed funding, rescue facilities—with Kentuckians who need those resources. Designed as a tool for all horse...

Lexington, KY - For the first time, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has established the Endurance National Training List. Competitors have earned points over the last year at pre-determined ranking trials. Points are earned by the riders—not horses. The athletes’ best two performances were used in establishing their ranking. The top 25 riders make up the National Training List. Additionally, the top three members of the Gold Medal FEI Team at the Zones Team Endurance...

For the third consecutive year, Wachovia Securities, one of the nation's largest full service retail brokerage firms, will return as the title sponsor for the American Gold Cup, to be held Wednesday, September 17, through Sunday, September 21, 2008, at the Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field in Moreland Hills. The Wachovia Securities American Gold Cup attracts riders who compete for more than $200,000 in prize money in 23 different show jumping classes where the object is to jump obstacles without...