Members of the Professional Riders Organization (PRO) took top honors at the Waredaca Horse Trials in Maryland this weekend, with PRO riders winning six divisions. In a crowded field of competitors, PRO founder Phillip Dutton walked away with first-, second- and third-place finishes in Open Intermediate. Dutton is currently ranked second in the nation behind fellow PRO founder Buck Davidson. Boyd Martin, a PRO board member who also competed at Waredaca, is ranked third. Overall, the top five...

The issue of team relegation from the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ is currently being discussed. Following the final leg of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ at the Royal Dublin Horse Show on August 7, two teams—Great Britain and Belgium—tied for second-to-last place and were consequently faced with relegation from the series as the rules provide for relegation for the ninth- and 10th-placed teams. The interpretation of the rules could lead to two different relegation outcomes. Hence the case...

The FEI Open and European Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships began on Wednesday, August 19, marking a historic achievement for Norway as it will be the first time a European equestrian Championship is held on Norwegian soil, and also the first time a European summer sport championship is held there. The event takes place at the Epona Riding Centre, established in 2005 and near Kristiansand on the south coast of Norway, providing a magnificent backdrop for the event. Cato Zahl Pedersen, an...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) announces the new leadership for the 2009-10 Charter Club Council. Leading the council will be Susan Vine of Boxborough, MA, as Chair, with Carol Reedy of Roanoke, VA, and Bridget McNeese of Houston, TX, as Vice Co-Chairs. To date, Council membership remains unchanged. Council representatives listed by region may be found on the Charter Club section of the ASHA website at www.asha.net/ASHA-Charter-Clubs . In addition, ASHA is pleased to present...

Lexington, KY—Suzy Stafford has won the Individual Bronze medal in the Single Pony class at the FEI World Combined Pony Driving Championships in Greven-Bockholt, Germany. Team USA finished fourth in the nations competition, which was won by host nation Germany. Stafford was in second position after the dressage and the marathon, but the very difficult cones course kept her from keeping the Silver medal. Stafford passed the finish line just a fraction too late to make the time allowed, but...

Surrounded by the beauty of the Kentucky Horse Park, First Lady Jane Beshear presented a proclamation declaring Saturday, August 15, 2009, as the Fifth Annual Hats Off To Kentucky's Horse Industry Day. "I can not think of a better way to celebrate our signature horse industry than to invite everyone to attend a day of festivities at the Kentucky Horse Park," said First Lady Beshear. "I encourage all Kentuckians to join in the fun on Saturday for the Hats Off to Kentucky's Horse Industry Day."...

Beginning Thursday, August 6, 2009, the Professional Riders Organization (PRO) will host a series of events at the Millbrook Horse Trials in Pine Plains, NY. On Thursday and Friday, PRO will host guided course walks led by PRO riders, including Danny Warrington, Bobby Costello and Sharon White. Following the course walks on Thursday, PRO will host a reception to welcome competitors and spectators and discuss PRO's mission and membership benefits. On Sunday, PRO will sponsor Advanced Show...

The Fifth International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot is pleased to announce that farrier Michael Wildenstein will be a featured speaker at this year's event. Wildenstein will be conducting a workshop on Foot Management Strategies for Laminitis with Dr. Mike Steward. The conference will be held November 6-8, 2009, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, FL. The goals of the Fifth International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the...

The North American Young Riders Endurance ride took place on Friday, July 24. It was run concurrently with the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) and for the first time all three North American countries were represented. Held in the rolling hills of Henryville, IN, riders competed against the clock for team and individual medals. Heavy rains left the ride’s 75-mile course a bit more treacherous, requiring riders to be extra cautious. The Individual Gold and Silver...

Kaitlyn McMorris and Clifton Peekachu (Brant Gamma) Lexington, KY—Cross-country day has come and gone at the USEA North American Junior & Young Rider Eventing Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. It was a day full of athletic horses cruising around the course and strong riders enjoying every minute of it. The start time was delayed an hour due to strong storms that moved through the area, but the weather improved as the competition went on. The course, designed by Olympic Gold...