Randi Muster (Meredith "Maddy" Darst and Highlands Make Believe were named Medium Pony Grand Champions.) Lexington, KY - August 13, 2010 - It was another hot day at the Kentucky Horse Park, but that did not slow down the exciting competition at the 2010 United States Equestrian Federation Pony Finals National Championships. The top ponies and riders gathered at the Walnut Ring to showcase their talent. The pony action began with the Large Pony Hunter model and under saddle phases, and was...

As completion of the Morgan Horse Pavilion at the Kentucky Horse Park approaches, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held in honor of the progress of the pavilion on July 9, 2010. The ceremony took place during the Bluegrass Morgan Classic Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park. Hosting the ceremony during the show allowed many members of the Morgan community an opportunity to view the pavilion. Prior to the ribbon cutting ceremony, a founders' society reception was held. This closed reception...

The American Horse Council (AHC) invites all recreational riders and equestrians to attend the AHC Recreation Forum Tuesday, June 22, 2010, from 1:00–5:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency hotel on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The recreation forum will emphasize issues of importance to recreational riders around the country. The highlight of the program will be two panel discussions. The first panel will focus on building better relationships between equestrians and local federal land mangers and...

The second Gold Coast show of the season ran April 9-11 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, giving the chance for everyone from beginners to seasoned competitors a chance to compete and have some great fun and keen competition. Carolyn Biava of First Field Farm and her crew had a great show, garnering numerous ribbons and several championships to boot. However, perhaps her biggest success story for this show had nothing to do with ribbons. Biava’s student, Dale Winters, suffered a brain...

Many of the country's top horses and riders will once again return to Chicago to compete at Showplace Production's horse shows this year as pursuit of the coveted $60,000 Showplace Leading Rider Series begins for the 2010 season. Returning for its fourth consecutive year, the Leading Rider Series has made an exciting addition to its lineup this year, adding six divisions of leading hunter awards along with the previous jumper honors.The 2010 Leading Rider Series will offer $32,500 in jumper...

If you are a non-profit equine organization in need of a grant then don’t delay. Go to www.trusthorses.org/grant/request.html and fill out a grant application from USA Equestrian Trust (USAET) Grant Program. The deadline of May 4 at 5 p.m. EST is fast approaching. “While no public charity can make grants to every deserving group, USA Equestrian Trust encourages any non-profit in the equestrian community who needs assistance to consider completing the grant application,” commented Alan F. Balch,...

Breeders of the American Holsteiner Horse Association (AHHA) have accomplished something likely never done before by a domestic studbook. In the $40,000 Jack Daniels Grand Prix at the Denver Stock Show in January, AHHA-bred horses earned three of the top four prizes. The winner, Lt. Kijie (Sandstone Laurinn/Jasmin/Carolus, breeder Sandstone Horse Sales), was followed by Southern Pride (South Pacific/Caretino, breeder Joan Irvine Smith and The Oaks) in third and Ceonta (Cassini/Celina/Corofino,...

The American Horse Council (AHC) is pleased to announce the availability of a new brochure, done in partnership with AHC sponsors Nutrena, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, and the American Farrier’s Association. As many of us are aware, the plight of the neglected horse continues to worsen. As more horse owners step in to help, many are looking for guidance, as they have cared for horses but may not have experience with horses in this particular state before. The Caregiver’s Guide to...

Photo by Amy McCool (Kassandra Barteau and GP Raymeister ) Lexington, KY – Before a packed house at the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final for Young Riders in Frankfurt, Germany, American rider Kassandra Barteau saved her best performance for last with GP Raymeister and finished second in the ‘B Group’ of the Freestyle. In her last year of Young Rider competition, the 21-year-old from Maple Park, IL and the 10-year-old Holsteiner stallion owned by Grand Prix Equestrian and Ginna Frantz, scored 68....

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Kariel Swanfeldt of Ayer, MA, has been selected as the recipient of the 2009 USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by The Paddock Saddlery and sponsored by the USDF Youth Executive Board. This prestigious award honors one outstanding youth volunteer who has contributed on a national and local basis to USDF and dressage. As the recipient of this award, Swanfeldt’s name will be engraved on a perpetual trophy,...