The 2009 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) opened Wednesday to rave reviews for the $10-million makeover of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Opening day in almost perfect weather with temperatures reaching a high of about 80 degrees F (27 degrees Celsius) saw 854 hunter and jumper trips in 10 competition arenas. The annual George H. Morris Horsemanship Clinic filled another arena. Although the premiere jumper rings, International, DeNemethy and Mogavero arenas drew 231 entries...

Lexington, KY— Following the decision of the General Assembly FEI Registration has been mandatory for all riders and horses competing in FEI competitions since January 1, 2006. Beginning January 1, 2009, any points acquired at a Competition where the rider or horse are not registered for that Competition year will not be included in the cumulative points. Competitions may not let these riders and/ or horses compete. However, registration is not required for riders and horses who participate...

For the second year in a row Friesian horses from all over the United States converged at the very center of the country in beautiful Lake St. Louis, MO. One horse and rider, Bernhard and Christiane Henrichs even traveled all the way from Germany to compete in a variety of classes, winning among others, the Prix St George test in dressage. This year the event was held in honor of International Friesian Show Horse Association (IFSHA) founder and longtime breeder Dr. Genevieve de Montremare who...

Each October since 1973, Morgan horses, owners, trainers and exhibitors descend upon Oklahoma City for the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show. This year's competition brought nearly 1,200 horses from 46 U.S. States, Austria, Canada and Great Britain to vie for titles in a variety of disciplines, including English pleasure, hunter pleasure, carriage driving, dressage and reining. The week-long show, held October 4-11 at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, included virtually...

The Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS) is a historical horse show that benefits a wonderful equestrian organization. BIHS is one of the oldest horse shows in the country, heading into its 62nd year. All proceeds are donated to the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center. This year, the show will be held September 17-21, 2008. BIHS is an USEF AA rated event. Unlike other high-ranking equestrian events that cater to the more talented riders and prominent divisions, BIHS does not. The staff does an...

The final week of the 2008 Atlanta Summer Classics did not disappoint competitors or spectators. With everything from the naming of Junior Poobah to hunter champions to grand prix arena thrills. Hardin Towell kicked off the final week of action with a victory in Thursday evening’s Lucky Sevens Welcome Stake presented by Flashpoint Media Services. A strong field of competitors took on-course designer Allen Rheinheimer. “It was pretty straight forward. Not overly technical.” Towell who won last...

Lexington, KY - The Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials concluded the 2008 qualifying season with competitions held across the country in Illinois, California and North Carolina to select the U.S. representatives for the 2008 FEI World Breeding Championships to be held in Verden, Germany, July 31 – August 3, 2008. The first Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trial was held at CDI 3*/Y/J Wayne & Dressage at Lamplight in Wayne, IL, May 16 – 18, 2008. Champion Five-Year-Old...

Diana DeRosa (Karen O'Connor and Theodore O'Connor at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.) It is with great sadness that the United States Equestrian Federation reports that super pony Theodore O’Connor was humanely euthanized Wednesday, May 28, as a result of an injury sustained in an accident at Karen and David O’Connor’s barn in The Plains, VA. The 13-year-old eventing pony defied odds and gravity throughout his career. Standing only 14.1 hands, the...

HITS is pleased to report that last week it received unanimous support from attendees of the 2008 USEF World Cup Riders Meeting held at The Oaks in San Juan Capistrano, CA, to once again host four FEI World Cup™ Qualifiers at the 2009 HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal. HITS has successfully run the World Cup classes at its West Coast circuit since 1991, giving riders on the West Coast an opportunity to qualify for the prestigious World Cups year after year right in their own backyard....

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...