The International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC), in partnership with the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), has launched a major new initiative to recognize the world’s best rider according to the Rolex Rankings. Starting at the 2009 Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final in Paris, the leading rider will wear a green and gold armband featuring the words "Number 1, The Rolex Rankings" at FEI Jumping events throughout 2010. The Rolex Rankings are updated every week and officially released at the start of...

Oklahoma City, OK – The National Reining Horse Association will once again host the $100,000 added 2009 FEI World Reining Masters Final during the 2009 NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championship Show in Oklahoma City on December 3. The competition brings 20 riders from 18 countries to Oklahoma City along with many international visitors. Set to return are Austrian rider Rudi Kronsteiner and Rosanne Sternberg’s Smart Spook, 2007 and 2008 open and restricted division champions....

A national Welfare Code of Practice has been endorsed by the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Quarter Horse Association, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the United States Equestrian Federation and the U.S. Trotting Association. The Welfare Code of Practice, drafted by the American Horse Council, outlines in generic terms what it means for an organization to be committed to the responsible breeding, training, care,...

The SmartPak Equine/United States Eventing Association (USEA) Area II Adult Riders Training Three-Day Event, October 22-25, at Waredaca Farm in Laytonsville, MD, hosted 37 riders in three divisions. The event was a huge success with all but two riders completing the exciting long-format course. When it came time for the award ceremonies, it was three grey horses that earned the blue ribbons. D.C. McBroom aboard Twain won the A division on a 35.30 having added no additional penalties to their...

For the third year in a row, the National Equestrian Centre in Lake St Louis, MO, was home for a week to some of the best Friesian horses in the world. Judges for the International Friesian Show Horse Association (IFSHA) World and Grand National Championship Horse Show were Lois Heyerdahl for dressage and sport horse in-hand divisions while the carriage pleasure driving horses were pinned by Audrey Bostwick. Three USEF Friesian judges—Gary Mullen, Todd Trushel and Dr. Walter de la...

Lexington, KY – The Eventing High Performance Training Lists have been revised for the 2010 season. Horse/Rider combinations will be invited to participate in training sessions this winter with Mark Phillips. It is anticipated that training sessions will be held in California, Florida, and South Carolina; dates will be finalized and published in December. A List riders may also receive training grants. Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner A List Will Coleman/26/Gordonsville,...

The United States Equestrian Federation’s Saddle Seat Medal Final will be held Saturday, November 21, 2009, at the United Professional Horsemen’s Association’s American Royal National Championship in Kansas City, MO. This medal final brings together the best saddle seat equitation riders from across the country that will perform for a prestigious judging panel comprised of Maria Gilman, Brooke Jacobs and Sally Lindabury. To qualify for the competition, competitors must be 17 years and under who...

As the show season draws to a close, five professionals who regularly attend Langer Equestrian Group (LEG) shows are making plans to head off to Maui for some much needed rest and recreation, courtesy of LEG. The company sponsors the Maui Trainer Incentive as a way to not only encourage participation at the shows, but reward professionals for their efforts, support and success. Larry Langer, President and CEO of LEG, started the Trainer Incentive because professionals are the hardest working...

Melissa Jackson and Wellington Capture Grand Prix Win Sponsored By the Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center Melissa Jackson and her 12-year-old Hanoverian, Wellington, captured the win in the Grand Prix at the Wellington Classic Dressage’s Autumn Challenge of Champions show, held in conjunction with the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Region 3 Dressage Championships. The Grand Prix was sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, and...

While their senior counterparts strutted their stuff down the centerlines in the CCI** and CCI*** divisions at the Fair Hill International Horse Trials, four- and five-year-old stars-to-be were flashing their talents in the Spalding Labs/United States Eventing Association (USEA) Young Event Horse (YEH) East Coast Championships. Youngsters from around the eastern United States gathered to show their potential in conformation, dressage, and jumping in their own championship division, which ran in...