Photo by Ken Braddick (A frisky Satchmo with rider Isabell Werth during the vet check.) All 16 horses that were presented for veterinary inspection were passed Wednesday to start in the €100,000 (US$138,000) Exquis World Dressage Masters at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Three German combinations, three Dutch, six from the U.S., three from Canada and one pair from Denmark will perform in the €10,000 (US$14,000) Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe Grand Prix at 1 p.m. It is the only...

Lexington, KY – You don’t have to be a record-setting quarterback, point guard or track star to letter in high school sports anymore. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is writing a new chapter in the recognition of high school sports — one that honors Equestrian athletes. The USEF’s High School Equestrian Athlete program will offer specially designed emblems and pins, exclusively for equestrian athletes in grades 9-12. “High school equestrians have earned their place among the most...

HITS, Inc., is pleased to announce that one of their competitions has won a national award from the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA). The HITS Ocala Winter Classic, which was held on February 3-8, 2009, was selected as the USHJA "A/AA" rated Member's Choice award-winning competition for Zone 4. "We are honored that our Zone 4 exhibitors selected the HITS Ocala Winter Classic for this award," said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. "I'm proud that their experience at HITS...

The Kentucky-born trotter Mr. Muscleman, a winner of $3,582,823, has a new home at the Kentucky Horse Park. He arrived on October 16, and will take up residence in the Hall of Champions along with the other breed ambassadors. The nine-year-old Standardbred was foaled at Brittany Farms in Versailles, KY. John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park, said, "The Kentucky Horse Park is considered 'hallowed ground' in the Standardbred world, as it was built on the former Walnut Hall...

The dual sportswoman, who combines careers as a three-day eventer and trainer with that of a professional race car driver and performance driving coach, won the Open Pre-Novice category of the British Eventing Horse Trials at Tweseldown riding her horse Donovan (Intrepid). The event marked a return to competition for Donovan who has missed the past four months due to a muscle injury. What was planned as a gentle return to action became a complete domination of the Open Pre-Novice category as...

The American Bus Association (ABA) has announced that "A Gift from the Desert: The Art, History and Culture of the Arabian Horse," an upcoming blockbuster exhibition in the Kentucky Horse Park's International Museum of the Horse, and the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games have been designated as two of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2010 by an elite tourism industry selection committee. Inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as a supplement to the September/October issue of...

Renowned trio of George Morris, Ian Millar, and Courtney King-Dye team for "first time" educational opportunity in Syracuse An equestrian dream team of George Morris, Ian Millar, and Courtney King-Dye will lead an educational clinic "How It's Done—Dressage and Jumping, Presented by Practical Horseman Magazine " to highlight the opening night of the 2009 Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring the 126th National Horse Show, on October 28. It is the first time the three, each...

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 Chincoteague pony herd is thought to be descended from animals aboard a wrecked 16th century Spanish ship, but today the herd is getting 21st century health care. Again this year, the herd is receiving donated vaccinations and deworming products from Merial, maker of Recombitek® Equine West Nile Virus (WNV) vaccine, Imrab® rabies vaccine and Zimecterin® Gold (ivermectin/praziquantel). These products represent health care technology used by top equine competitors—but even wild ponies...

The Vermont Summer Festival, New England’s largest “AA” rated hunter/jumper horse show, returns to East Dorset, VT, from July 1-August 9, 2009. Offering more than $750,000 in prize money, the Vermont Summer Festival is the richest sporting event based on purse in the state. The competition attracts the best athletes, including Olympic medalists, from across the country and around the globe to vie for top honors. The first five Sundays feature a $30,000 grand prix, culminating with the $50,000...