Scott Hassler at a Markel/USEF Young Horse Training Session (USEF Archive) Lexington, Ky. - Scott Hassler who has served as the USEF Young Horse Dressage Coach since 2006 has announced he will be stepping down from the position on May 1, 2015 in order to spend more time with his family and focus on his competitive career. "It has truly been an honor to serve in this capacity, as I have so much passion and belief in the value of this program and its long-term impact on our sport. We have...

Part of the joy of Saddleseat is the tradition, and there are few finals where that’s as true as in the NHS “Good Hands” Finals, held annually at the MidAmerica Mane Event Horse Show. The “Good Hands” Final began in 1883 in Madison Square Garden, billed as ‘ America’s Oldest Indoor Horse Show ’. In the 131 years since, a lot has changed. When that first final took place, football still didn’t have a forward pass and basketball didn’t...

Lexington, Ky. - Perhaps no competitor had more fun with her performance than the Second Level Open Freestyle Champion Morgan Barrows (Monroe, Wash., Region 6) riding Janice Davis' Oldenburg gelding San Corazon. Their Billy Idol-themed freestyle was rewarded with a top score of 74.678%. "I had a blast! I want to go out there again," said Barrows, who has been partnered with her mount for less than a year. "I originally saw him at a friend's farm in Sweden when he was three. Later when...

Temecula, Calif. - Nicci Guzetta, on Queen of Spades, and Tamra Smith, on Irish Blend, won divisions of the Training Level Three-Day Event at the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event. Smith, of Murrieta, Calif., and Irish Blend added nothing to their dressage score of 38.3 to win division A, over Kristen Schalk on Comet’s Flight (38.6) and Max Gerdes on Rhythm Royale (40.4). Guzetta, of San Jose, Calif., stood third after two days, but a faultless show jumping round vaulted her to...

Demaskus Devon, PA – Since our last glimpse of Damaskus (Don Principe x Raureif), he has proven to be quite a star, winning the Hanovarian inspection in a field of 19. He took it all in stride but his owner, Catherine Haddad Staller, was probably a bit more excited. “I am thrilled,” she said. “He showed very well.” But for Damaskus, life remains uncomplicated, spending most of his time in the pasture, playing and resting and staying close to mom. But for those...

Lexington, Ky. - The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA), a nonprofit breed and membership association headquartered at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, which also oversees the American Saddlebred Registry, seeks a dynamic leader to serve as the Executive Director of the organization. Requirements: • Extensive experience in the American Saddlebred industry, as well as passion/vision for the industry • Strong background in a managerial role (including knowledge of...

Kent Farrington with Willow (standing in for Voyeur) at the Prize Giving. Aachen, Germany - What a spectacular round: Kent Farrington won the Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe. The 33-year-old literally flew to victory with his 12-year-old KWPN gelding Voyeur – very much in keeping with the new Top Level Sponsor. The scoreboard showed the unbelievable time of 47.82 seconds as the US-American crossed the finish line of the 410-metre long jump-off course with its eight obstacles. 17 horses...

Through a grant from the USA Equestrian Trust, AMHA is seeking to develop an online homeschool program to teach reading, writing, history, science, and math through the use of horsemanship and the Morgan horse. Homeschooling is a type of education where children learn outside of a school setting under the supervision of their parents. The family determines what is to be learned and how it is to be taught, while following whatever government regulations apply in that state or country. Today...

Evan Coluccio and Fabled, winners of today's $35,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby (The Book) Mumford, N.Y. - Evan Coluccio and Fabled's ride Sunday marked several firsts - including Fabled's first win in a hunter derby and the first ever USHJA International Hunter Derby victory at the Genesee Country Village & Museum. Coluccio and Fabled bested a field of the nation's leading hunter horses and riders to win the $35,000 USHJA International Derby at The Derby at the Geneseee...

Lexington, Ky. - School is almost out, but the new year of the USEF High School Equestrian Athlete program is about to begin. If you know a high schooler that rides, remind them to sign up for the 2014-2015 season today. They’ll be ready to get recognized for their hard work as equestrians, and they’ll save $5 on the application fee if they sign up before June 1. After June 1, the price to apply will increase to $15. Interested students can log into their My USEF My Way account and...