Lexington, KY – Tucker Johnson staked his claim to a top spot in next year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games with an impressive third place finish out of 25 teams at the CAI-A4 Donaueschingen in Germany. Driving in an international competition for the first time since the World Championships in Beesd 2008, Johnson won the dressage, finished eighth in the marathon but retained third place overall with a strong performance in the cones. In a strong field, which included two former world...

Last year the Capital Challenge Horse Show offered a new event to the schedule—the Emerging Pro Challenge. The Challenge class was designed for professionals who may be knocking on a door that is typically opened by riders like Scott Stewart, Louise Serio, Peter Pletcher and a handful of other hunter riders who have graced the Show Place Arena with top scores on numerous horses. The $5,000 Emerging Pro Challenge was designed to give riders competing in the professional divisions (future...

Horse owners around the world are being asked to participate in an online questionnaire to help researchers better assess the issues of parasite control and anthelmintic (dewormer) resistance. The study is part of a collaborative effort between equine parasitologists in the United Sates, Denmark, and Germany. Horse owners can find the survey at survey.2ask.de/71d74fafbf0c4562/survey.html . Topics include parasite control strategies, drug resistance, factors behind parasite control decisions,...

In these tough economic times, many people are finding the quality warmblood they want is difficult to afford. Con Brio Farms, LLC, has just introduced a new program that could make it a little easier. In addition, those who find themselves with an unused stallion breeding to use, but no mare can also benefit. Con Brio Farms, LLC, has been breeding Dutch Warmbloods, Oldenburgs and Hanoverians for 25 years, and their production record makes them one of only five breeders in the U.S., including...

The 2009 American Saddlebred Reference Directory , the breed’s most comprehensive publication each year, goes into the mail this week and is now also available electronically on the association’s website to all active ASHA members. Just visit www.saddlebred.com/members/reference.php and log in. Once a member has logged in, instructions are provided. The reference directory physical copy has been mailed to all active ASHA members by USPS book rate mail. In the meantime, the association is...

A strong international field descends on the stylish French seaside town of Deauville, France, this week to contest the HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing Final in what should be the most competitive finale yet. It all starts on September 18 with the first horse inspection. The 2008 FEI World Cup™ eventing standings leader Kevin McNab of Australia, will be making his first competitive visit to Europe, and has earned the right to pole position, while the Australian challenge is completed...

This year’s prestigious Lexington Junior League Horse Show opened Monday evening, July 7, with a star-studded cast of the best American Saddlebreds in the world, among nearly a thousand horses and ponies entered for competition at The Red Mile. Two of the three reigning Saddlebred World’s Grand Champions, Grande Gil and CH Along Came A Spider, will meet all comers in the first jewel of the breed’s Triple Crown of competitions. Other shows in the Triple Crown are the Kentucky State Fair World’s...

The Queen City Classic returns April 9-13, 2008, for the spring show season with a new location and USEF AA-rated classes, including a $25,000 Hunter Challenge. This year’s event will be held in Monroe, NC, at the “Why Not an American Ark” Equestrian Facility, located outside of the Charlotte area. “We are delighted to have the Queen City Classic coming to the Ark. To bring such an event to this part of Charlotte is great for the area,” commented Jeff Wylie of the facility. The show grounds...

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...

In the first 10 days since the launch of a new web-based volunteer registry system, nearly 4,000 new volunteers have already signed up online for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The World Games 2010 Foundation estimates that at least 6,000 volunteers will be needed to work before and during the Games, to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park from September 25-October 10, 2010 in Lexington, KY. “The response we have received is heartwarming and overwhelming,” said Cathy Rutter,...