Olympian Debbie McDonald filled the house as this year's featured clinician at the New England Dressage Association's (NEDA) Annual Fall Symposium. The annual event, which has hosted such leading clinicians as Anky van Grunsven, Klaus Balkenhol and Ingrid Klimke, draws hundreds of riders and trainers from throughout the Northeastern U.S. With her popular partner, the Hanoverian mare Brentina, McDonald, a member of the 2008 and 2004 U.S. Olympic Dressage Teams, is one of America's most...

A three-time Grand National Champion American Shetland Pony was recently donated to the Arabian Nights dinner show in Orlando, proving that the Shetland Pony can be a star going from the show ring to show business. The pony was donated by the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) and will join more than 60 other horses at Arabian Nights, becoming the first-ever ambassador of the Shetland Pony breed to appear at the attraction. Tap Dance Kid, known as Dancer, was the 2008 American Shetland Pony...

Lexington, KY - The final United States Equestrian Federation National Eventing Championship of the year wrapped up the season at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event. Held in Temecula, CA (concurrently with the CCI**) on November 1-2. Juniors and Young Riders shone in the 2008 USEF National Junior/Young Rider CCI* Team Championship-West. The team made up of three riders from Area I and VI, triumphed in the long format CCI* over the team from Area VII to claim the Championship. Suzy...

Lexington, KY - A replacement horse/rider combination has been named to represent the United States at the CSIO Buenos Aires November 12-16. The four horse/rider combinations and alternates were selected based on their ranking on the October 3, 2008 USEF Computer List. Rebecca Johanson-Hofmann/Corona were the first ranked alternate and have replaced Georgina Bloomberg/Cim Christo. Rider/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner Michelle Spadone/25/Califon, NJ/Melisimo/14/Royal Dutch...

Scores of Iberian horses, along with their riders, handlers and owners, assembled at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth, TX, October 13-18 for the International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Association’s (IALHA) 2008 National Championship Horse Show. Last week’s competition drew nearly 150 Andalusian, Lusitano and Half-Andalusian horses, and included hundreds of participants from across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Affectionately known as the Horse of Kings, the versatile...

Equestrian Sport Productions announced Tuesday that its Fall Circuit shows will be held at the South Grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The "A"-rated three-star Jumper Fall Circuit 2 for this Friday through Sunday will be held at the South Grounds, as will Fall Circuit 3, which is scheduled for October 31-November 2 and the Fall Circuit Finale scheduled for November 7-9. Major reconstruction around the International Arena, installation of new footing at several...

The World Games 2010 Foundation announced it will hold a series of test competitions to prepare for the world championships coming to the Kentucky Horse Park in 2010 at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The competitions, each named “The Kentucky Cup,” will begin in 2009 and run through the 2010 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. All events will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park. The schedule is as follows: Date/Discipline/Competition Level —July 15-20, 2009: Reining CRI****...

Harrisburg, PA – With 274 riders vying for the title of 2008 Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final, making the top twenty-five is tough enough. But Kels Annabelle Bonham bested the competition to take the championship title, making her last year in the Medal Finals even more special. This was Bonham’s fourth time riding in the Medal Finals and she rode early in the order of go. Judges Alex Jayne and Tammy Provost put her at the top of their card and she stayed there until the conclusion of the...

Lexington, KY – A mutual decision has been made not to renew the contract of USEF National Dressage Coach Klaus Balkenhol which expires at the end of 2008. The decision between Balkenhol and the USEF’s High Performance Dressage Committee means that his role as Chef d’Equipe, National Dressage Coach and Technical Advisor to the Committee shall be concluded according to the terms of the existing contract on December 31, 2008. In recognition of Balkenhol’s excellent service to the USEF over the...

Horse enthusiasts at our 2008 Extravaganza can plan on three action-packed days of everything equestrian from October 31-November 2 at the Richmond Raceway Complex in Richmond, VA. With multiple arenas of non-stop clinics and demonstrations, some of the best clinicians in the country, an exciting Trainer Challenge, an acclaimed seminar series with some of the leading equine practitioners in the country, and America's Ultimate Horse Idol competition, equestrians of all levels and interests can...