Twelve of the nation’s most talented junior dressage riders will be invited to enter the venerable Dixon Oval at the 31st Dressage at Devon for the 2005 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Junior Dressage Team Championship. The late September event will be the culmination of a year-long qualifying period in which juniors, ages 14-18, ride to their best scores in international level tests. In this competition, the riders will be divided into three teams; all four members of each team will...

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is pleased to announce that NRHA Hall of Famer Smart Chic Olena has become an NRHA Three Million Dollar Sire. Owned by Jim Babcock, of Valley View, TX, he joins Hollywood Dun It and Topsail Whiz as the third sire to achieve this distinction. In NRHA competition, Smart Chic Olena's 376 money-earning offspring have reached an earnings total of $3,033,204.60, with average earnings of $4,513.70. Not surprising, his highest money-earning offspring to...

Courtesy University of South Carolina (University of South Carolina's equestrian team after winning the NCAA National Championship.) Winning the Hunt Seat Division with 40 points, the University of South Carolina’s (USC) Equestrian team clinched its first national title in varsity equestrian on April 16. Overall, South Carolina tallied 60 points to second place University of Georgia’s 51 points (the two-time defending champion). Texas A & M University finished third, and...

Dover Saddlery has announced the opening of its latest store in Plaistow, NH. An authentic New England post and beam barn has been restored to reflect the ambiance of a premium horse stable, while offering equestrians the finest selection of products for horse and rider at all levels of competition. The store will offer customers tax-free shopping seven days a week on thousands of brand name equestrian products. Merchandise will be displayed over four floors, with the top floor entirely devoted...

Proving again that Morgans are among the some of the finest driving horses in the world, Fred Merriam drove Nicholas Mercede's Gaitwood Lightwing, a 1995 bay gelding, to finish first in the FEI Single Horse Division. Lisa Singer finished first in the FEI Pairs Division driving Mimi Torrington's chestnut geldings, Count On Me and LR Ami Bengali. Sara Schmitt was first in the FEI Single Pony Division driving her High Country Doc, a 1996 bay, who also had the best marathon score. Suzy Stafford was...

The Kentucky Horse Park has announced its Youth Riding Program schedule for 2005. The program will introduce kids and teens, ages 10-18, to a sport that could bring a lifetime of enjoyment. Participants in the Youth Riding Program will learn to catch, lead, groom and tack horses. They will also learn the basics of stall management and balanced seat riding. The four sessions this summer will take place May 31-June 3 ($120), June 6-10 ($150), June 13-17 ($150) and June 20-24 ($150), from 9 a.m....

Wellington, FL – In a night that would prove golden for our Irish friends, a young team led by famed Chef d’Equipe Eddie Macken set the standard for the Samsung Nation’s Cup at CSIO Wellington March 11, shutting out even the closest contenders by a roomy eight points. Riders Darragh Karrins, Jennifer Crooks, Conor Swail and Kevin Babington earned the Gold medal with a team total of 12 faults, split between two rounds. Babington and It’s Morado were in fact the only horse and rider pair able to...

While most of us only dream of running a four-star course, the next best thing is experiencing it through the eyes and insights of Olympian equestrians! Attendees of the 2005 Rolex Kentucky CCI**** can do just that at the SmartPak Equine-sponsored course walk with Kim Severson and Amy Tryon. Severson and Tryon will offer their tips and tactics for riding the toughest cross country course in the U.S. Everyone is welcome to attend this incredible opportunity; just sign up at the SmartPak booth in...

The West Coast Active Riders (WCAR) organization has many members competing at the Indio Desert Circuit horse shows in Indio, CA. Richard Spooner is currently one of the most successful West Coast grand prix riders, and he is the original founder of the West Coast Active Riders organization. The Indio Desert Circuit is only in its third week of competition, but Richard Spooner has won the majority of prizes in the grand prix competitions. In the $30,000 Ariat Grand Prix on Friday, February 4,...

Lexington, KY – As announced by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) earlier this week, German Olympian Ludger Beerbaum filed an appeal on February 3 with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision taken by the FEI Judicial Committee. The FEI Judicial Committee disqualified Beerbaum and his horse, Goldfever 3, from the Athens Olympic Games Show Jumping competitions—competitions in which the pair helped lead the German team to a Gold medal victory. As...