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."...

WHAT: Interview with Mary Jordan, Equestrian and multiple sclerosis (MS) patient, competing in the 2009 FEI European and Open Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships WHO & WHY: Jordan’s story of managing her MS to compete in the sport she loves is an inspiration to many and has gained media interest throughout the United States. Her competitive resilience so touched one Dutch family that they loaned her a horse to be able to compete in the championships. In 2002, Jordan was first diagnosed with...

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 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...

Lexington, KY— The 2009 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today ® concluded this weekend, July 17-19, in the beautiful setting of the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL. Riders came from across the country to compete for the championship in two age divisions—13 & under and 14-18. The purpose of the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Program is to promote and reward excellence in equitation, including correct seat, position, and use of aids...

The American Association of Equine Practitioners’ debut fall meeting, Focus on Ophthalmology, October 1-3 in Raleigh, NC, invites equine practitioners to explore new innovations in the treatment and diagnosis of conditions affecting the equine eye. Ocular trauma, infection and disease can lead to some of the most expensive and devastating conditions in horses. Equine veterinarians treating sport, work or show horses must be well-versed in the diagnosis and field treatment of eye conditions to...

The excitement of cutting horse competition returns to the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum July 13–August 2 with the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Summer Cutting Spectacular presented by Great American Insurance. The event lists 1,775 entries vying for more than $2 million in prize money. Classes are divided between a classic challenge competition for five- and six-year-old horses and a derby for four-year-old horses. The Summer Cutting Spectacular is the third leg of the prestigious...