There was only one clean round, and it was ridden by Richard Spooner on Quirino in the $50,000 HBO World Cup Grand Prix of Del Mar presented by Mary’s Tack and Feed, a World Cup qualifying event. Spooner rode three horses in the grand prix, but it was his outstanding clear round on Quirino, owned by Oscany, Inc., of Los Angeles, which won, and also gave Spooner valuable points towards a spot representing the United States in the World Cup Finals to be held in Malaysia in 2006. Mariano Alario on...

The American Saddlebred Registry Sweepstakes, held during the All American Horse Classic in Indianapolis, September 6-10, had a 14% increase in its total payout from 2004 to 2005. The 2005 total payout was $139,434 compared to $122,353 one year before. The biggest increase came in the two-year-old division, which paid winners $38,629 for a 74% increase from the previous year's total of $22,155. The $38,629 paid in the two-year-old division is the most since at least 1995. Registrar Alan F....

Burbank, CA – With nary a misstep, Alex Maida, was picked as the winner of the grueling 2005 USEF West Coast Talent Search. The class was held in conjunction with the Los Angeles International Jumping Festival at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, September 21-25. Thirty-eight junior riders qualified throughout the year for a spot in the two-day four-phase finals. On Wednesday afternoon riders were allowed into the Equidome for a practice round and the class started in earnest the next...

Lexington, KY — Merial, a world leader in animal healthcare, has joined the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) as its newest corporate partner. Though the partnership may be new, USEF athletes and veterinarians have depended on Merial for years, as its trusted products have long been used by USEF team horses as they travel to events both nationally and internationally. Through this partnership, we are pleased to announce that ULCERGARD™ and GASTROGARD® (omeprazole) from...

Reiners and reining enthusiasts from all over the world are pouring into the little town of Manerbio, Italy, where, in the wonderful Palasturla facility, the finals of the second $100,000 FEI World Reining Masters Finals, presented by the Arcese Group and the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE) will be held on Saturday 24 at 9 p.m. The event is run concurrently with the 2005 Italian Reining Horse Association Maturity. On Friday afternoon at 5.30 pm the FEI Strategic Plan Open...

A special performance by the Tempel Lipizzans to benefit the United States Dressage Federation's (USDF) Capital Campaign is planned for Sunday, September 25, at 2 p.m. This exclusive event, sponsored by Land Rover, will include highlights of the Tempel Lipizzans performance featuring live commentary about the history of the 425-year-old Lipizzan breed as well as an explanation of some of the movements performed. Following the 45-minute performance, guests will have the opportunity to ask...

Equestrian vaulting combines the strength of gymnastics with the beauty of dance on the back of a moving horse. It is one of the seven recognized disciplines in international equestrian sports. Vaulting is also used to develop basic equitation and in many therapeutic programs. Have you ever considered what vaulting might be able to add to your riding program? Would you need to train a horse for a vaulting club? Do you want to know what the judge is seeing when scoring vaulters? Whether you are...

Lexington, KY – A flawless double clear ride in Barcelona, Spain was one of the deciding factors in determining which team would go home as 2005 Samsung Super League Champions. As it happens, the U.S. Show Jumping Team was destined to take home that title—a title that more than a dozen U.S. riders worked for all summer long, and a title that came down to one last Nations Cup competition at CSIO Barcelona. As for the double-clear round that helped clinch the overall season win, we...

In a brilliant display of skill and finesse, Sara Schmitt, of Glen Gardner, NJ, drove her Morgan stallion, High Country Doc, to one of only a few clean and clear rounds in the cones phase at The Laurels at Landhope and her first national championship. The last in the order of go on Sunday, September 11, Schmitt had some wiggle room. Ahead by only four points under the new rules where a ball down is now a three-point penalty instead of five. This gave her a small margin of error, one that could...

Iron Spring Farm has just imported one of the most popular young stallions in Holland, UB40. A four-year-old son of Olivi by Jazz, UB40 placed third in the championship keuring for dressage horses at the 2004 KWPN stallion show in Holland and received excellent scores for his gaits and dressage potential during his performance test. UB40's first foals were recently inspected and also received excellent scores and remarks from the inspectors. His foal, Armstrong M., was the high-selling foal...