Hilltop Farm is proud to announce the Oldenburg Horse Breeders Society (GOV) approval of our newly imported stallion, Bugatti Hilltop. Bugatti Hilltop (Bergamon - Rubinstein - Donnerhall) has added another credential to his record with his recent approval by the GOV. Purchased by Hilltop Farm as a coming three-year-old, Bugatti passed his 70-day test in Germany with the impressive score of 140.62 in the dressage phase. Bugatti was competed from the Bundeschampionat through Intermediaire I by...

Kathy Hickerson at Majestic Gaits announced the arrival in New Hampshire of Hanoverian stallion Schroeder (Sandro Hit x Esmeralda, by Escudo I) from Germany. Schroeder was bought at the prestigious Hanoverian Elite Stallion Auction in 2006 and completed his 70-day stallion performance test at Gestut Redfin in Germany in October 2007. Hickerson is very excited to have Schroeder in the United States. He has a fabulous character, trainability and bloodlines. He is so nice to work with and has...

Lexington, KY - On January 13, the final day of the USEF Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors considered rule change proposals for all breeds and disciplines. Included in this review was the much-discussed “performance standards” proposal from the Dressage Committee, which would establish a qualification process for competing at certain levels at USEF-Licensed Dressage Competitions. After extensive discussion, the Board voted to officially table the proposal until the next USEF Annual Meeting...

Responding to an incredible demand for a personal copy of Robert Dover's successful reality series, the producers of Search for the Next American Equestrian Star: Dressage have made available the entire series via digital download from the show’s website: www.americanequestrianstar.tv . The full five-episode series, plus over 35 minutes of never-before-seen footage is available as a holiday special for $34.95 (regular price is $39.95.) Viewers also have the option of an online viewing-only...

The October Food & Wine Magazine vineyard that was designated "Napa's Best Winery Tours" and winner of the "Best of Napa Valley Tourism Award" by Global Network of Great Wine Capitals is showing its hospitality to guests at the National Horse Show in Wellington, FL. Guests attending the Dancing with the Equestrian Stars After-Party on Friday, December 7, will be treated to Chateau Chevalier Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc wines from Spring Mountain Vineyard. The after-party follows the...

Farnam’s Platform® Feed kicked off the initial phase of their Emergency Stall Card Program with Florida Horse Parks and show managers. Customized Emergency Stall Cards are provided to the horse parks for exhibitors to hang on their horse’s stall with contact information in case of an emergency. Cards are also available to show managers to include with competitors’ number packets. Show managers in Florida, Illinois and Oklahoma participated in the initial phase of the program. “There is nothing...

With three Americans competing at "Porsche Dressage Trophy," a German national indoor dressage tournament held in Paderborn, Germany, on November 2-4, Todd Flettrich of Coatesville, PA, and Wellington, FL, rode Amadeus to third place in the grand prix special, earning the distinction of being the highest-placed American in the FEI classes at the show. "Amadeus did everything I asked. He was very good," said Flettrich of his grand prix special ride, which held the lead for most of the class. "I...

An active and well-known member of the Saddlebred community, Shan Ellis Donaldson, died on Tuesday, September 25, 2007, at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, KY. She was 60. The Georgetown, KY, native became an equestrian at an early age, and her love of horses led to her parents, R. E. Ellis Jr., DMD, and Martha “Perkie” Ellis, founding the Longview Riding Camp. Shan and her husband of 40 years, Jamie Donaldson, started their own horse photography business. For many years, Shan could be found...

Horses Unlimited’s grand prix dressage stallion Galant du Serein has been euthanized. The 13-year-old bay Selle Francais stallion was suffering from laminitis as a result of complications from an injury sustained during hernia surgery in April. Every effort was made to save the Olympic dressage horse, but when the laminitis became too painful, the decision was made to let Galant go. “This is heartbreaking,” said Anne Sparks Whitten, owner of Horses Unlimited. “Galant had a zeal for life and to...

Meeting by teleconference, the 2007 directors of the American Saddlebred Registry elected officers on Tuesday, March 6. The nine directors are Joan Hamilton (Kentucky), David Howard (Tennessee), Dr. Rick Luft (Wisconsin), Spencer Mains (North Carolina), Mary Ann Pardieck (Indiana), Dr. Alan Raun (Iowa), Fred Sarver (Kentucky), Anne Stafford (Tennessee) and Judith Werner (Illinois). After discussion on each position, the following were elected unanimously: Joan Hamilton as president, David...