In support of its mission to end the abuse of high-stepping show Tennessee Walking Horses, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) announced its sponsorship of the first National Walking Horse Association Youth Leadership Conference, taking place this week at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Attendees from around the country, ages 11 to 17, will have the opportunity to hone their leadership skills and learn about the horse industry. “The best way to effect large-scale change in...

The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), one of the world's leading equestrian events, has reached an agreement with Verizon Center in Washington, DC, to extend its contract through 2009. "We're thrilled to be able to extend our contract with the Washington International Horse Show for another year," said Washington Sports and Entertainment Chairman Abe Pollin. "The horse show is one of our longest tenured events dating back to the Capital Centre in 1975 and being able to extend the...

The USET Foundation is pleased to announce that it is funding the 2008 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Show Jumping Developing/Young Rider Tour, which is part of the long-term high performance strategy to develop the best possible United States equestrian teams for the future. The funds for the 2008 USEF Show Jumping Developing/Young Rider Tour were raised by the USET Foundation, thanks to generous donations from individuals who understand the value and importance of providing the...

Today the Kentucky Horse Park announced several major horse shows that have already signed contracts or are confirmed to host their events beginning in 2009 in the new indoor arena, which is currently under construction. John Nicholson, Executive Director of the park, stated, “Kentucky’s investment in our new indoor arena is already paying off. For several years the managers of a number of prestigious shows have expressed an interest in holding their events at the Kentucky Horse Park, if there...

Allan Ehrlick from Campbellville, Ontario, Canada, took home top honors for this year’s Amateur High-Point Achievement Award with 451 points. Ehrlick showed four horses in 10 shows—three purebreds and one Half-Arabian. Most of his points were earned on Dal-Apollo, (Sea Ben Ben Bilal x Rudaynah), a 13-year-old purebred gelding who earned Ehrlick two national championships, two reserve national championships and six Top 10s at the 2007 Sport Horse Nationals in Lexington, VA, and Canadian...

Statement by David O’Connor: Recent injuries and the media coverage of those injuries and our sport give us all reason to pause and reflect on the evolution and safety of equestrian sport and in particular Eventing. Many of us have devoted our professional lives to the joy of partnering with the horse and skillfully riding a course. Underlying the fun and excitement of the sport, for that matter any sport, is reasonable risk with the assumption of reasonable safety. In fact, our sport is...

In addition to a new premiere location in Hampton Falls, NH, the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic welcomes a new course designer, Linda Allen of Salinas, CA. Allen will design the grand prix ring, which will feature the $75,000 Fidelity Investments AGA Grand Prix, the $10,000 Welcome Stake, the $10,000 Speed Stake and $15,000 Mohegan Sun Derby, just to name a few of the classes. There will be a total of over 20 classes held in the grand prix ring. Allen has more than 30 years of experience...

In the first 10 days since the launch of a new web-based volunteer registry system, nearly 4,000 new volunteers have already signed up online for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The World Games 2010 Foundation estimates that at least 6,000 volunteers will be needed to work before and during the Games, to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park from September 25-October 10, 2010 in Lexington, KY. “The response we have received is heartwarming and overwhelming,” said Cathy Rutter,...

The World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., has announced Lloyd Landkamer as the dressage discipline manager for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, in addition to his current duties as the para-equestrian discipline manager. Landkamer is one of eight managers responsible for planning, managing and directing the World Championship competitions in eight equestrian sports and communicating with the FEI and participating national federations. The managers will work on a contract basis with the...

Short's Sports & Events, a division of Short's Travel Management, has chosen Event Home Leasing to be Short's official private property rental provider for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010. Event Home Leasing (EHL) is based in Louisville, KY, and is owned and operated by Dana and Charles Martin. The Event Home Leasing group has several years of experience in private home and property rentals. Dana served as the Player Accommodation Chairman for the 1996 and 2000 PGA Championships at...