For Immediate Release: December 21, 2006 HITS Contact: Kristen Vale 845-246-8833 (Ocala, Fl) -You may have heard about the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) outbreak in Florida. We want you to know that we are Virus-Free at HITS Ocala and the shows are on schedule. We are taking pro-active measures and ask that you comply with the following: Until at least January 15th, the following protocol must be followed for all horses entering the HITS Ocala show grounds: Vet Check Protocol 1. Anyone entering...

The 52nd Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), held December 2-6 in San Antonio, TX, set a new attendance record for the association’s flagship event, as 6,842 veterinary professionals, guests and exhibitors participated. The previous attendance record of 6,284 was set at the 2004 Annual Convention in Denver, CO. "We were overwhelmed with the positive response to this year's convention. A fantastic and extremely practical program, coupled with a very...

The Gifted Fund was seeded with donations from Carol Lavell, received in special remembrance of her great dressage horse, Gifted. The Fund has grown steadily over the years and now provides scholarships each year to benefit adult amateurs. These scholarships enable adult amateurs to set aside quality time in concentrated training with a horse they own, with a trainer of choice, away from the daily pressures of job and family. The recipients chosen to train in 2007 are listed below. Each...

Horses Unlimited, one of the premier sport horse breeding establishments in the United States, hosted three inspections this fall for the Oldenburg Registry of North American/International Sport Horse Registry (OLD/ISR,) the Rheinland Pfalz Saar International (RPSI) and the American Hanoverian Society (AHS.) “We are very fortunate to be able to host these inspections,” said the CEO of Horses Unlimited, Anne Sparks Whitten. “The inspectors are always willing to share their knowledge and...

Lexington, KY — The United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF) is now accepting entries for the 2006 Pegasus Awards for Media. Bronze Pegasus statues will be presented in 10 categories to honor outstanding achievements in the coverage of equestrian sport, issues or lifestyle in the United States. This year’s categories include: • Best Publication of the Year • Best Specialized Publication of the Year • Best News Article • Best Feature Article • Best Website • Best Television News Broadcast •...

International Friesian Show Horse Association's (IFSHA) Grand National Horse Show Manager, Gareth A. Selwood, is pleased to announce that the third annual International Friesian Show Horse Association’s Grand National Horse Show will be held November 10-12, 2006, at the incredible “state of the art” South Coast Casino and Equestrian Center in South Las Vegas, NV. Room block pricing for Friesian enthusiasts can be seen at www.southcoastcasino.com . The facility is located in the heart of the...

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is proud to announce the newest inductees to the USEA Eventing Hall of Fame. The official induction will take place during a gala dinner at the USEA Annual Meeting and Convention in St. Louis, MO, on December 8, 2006. The ceremony will honor eventing greats, both horse and human. The USEA is proud to include Edward “Denny” Emerson, Michael Page, Karen Stives and the horses Kilkenny and Biko into the Hall of Fame. Edward E. “Denny” Emerson is a...

Flat tires are the leading cause of disablements involving horse trailers. USRider is involved in a research project with Dr. Tomas Gimenez to test the benefits (if any) of using air vs. nitrogen to inflate tow vehicle and horse trailer tires. An electronic air pressure monitoring system is being used to assist with the research. During the research, Dr. Gimenez and USRider have noted significant safety benefits resulting from using this system. “At USRider, we are all about safety when it...

Beginning January 1, 2007, the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) will issue Performance Permits to ApHC-registered, non-characteristic (N) Appaloosas. Permits allow all non-characteristic Appaloosas, regardless of parentage or age, to show in ApHC-approved and sponsored events, as well as race with results counting toward ApHC race awards. Once a permit is issued, it remains in effect for the life of the horse, regardless of ownership changes. Performance Permits eliminate the current Certified...

The Unwanted Horse Coalition, which started as the Unwanted Horse Summit during the American Horse Council’s annual convention in April, 2005, is being folded into the American Horse Council (AHC), announced Nick Nicholson, AHC Chairman. “The issue of ‘unwanted horses’ has faced this industry for some time,” said Nicholson, President of Keeneland Association. “It is an important and challenging national issue that faces all breeds and all activities in the horse world. Putting this initiative...