The American Horse Council (AHC) reports that the recently passed Senate Farm Bill includes several key provisions that would benefit the horse industry. The $286 billion bill, which passed the Senate on December 14 by a vote of 79 to 14, now includes the Equine Equity Act. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) offered this bill as an amendment to the Farm Bill, and it was accepted without objection. This provision would: (1) shorten the capital gains holding period for horses from 24 months to 12...

American Saddlebred Sweepstakes prize program payments are due Thursday, January 31, for the three-year-old and four-year-old sweepstakes. Nomination forms can be found on the sweepstakes homepage at https://www.asha.net/Prize-Sweepstakes . Nomination forms for the two-year-old sweepstakes will be available in May. Information for the Kentucky Breeders Incentive Fund can be found on the KSOBA Charter Club page at https://www.asha.net/ksoba . The following payments are due Thursday, January 31:...

LEXINGTON, KY— National Diversity Solutions (NDS) has been selected to manage the supplier recruitment, registration and qualification process for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. "The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games represent a tremendous opportunity for our state and the Central Kentucky region," said D. Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer for National Diversity Solutions, which is a Lexington, KY-based certified minority owned business. "We are honored to be selected as a...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) announced its annual award winners, based on ballots tabulated from its board of directors. Nominees for each award are received from the general membership and committee volunteers, screened by the executive committee of the association, and voted on by the full board from the candidates selected. The awards are presented at the Saddlebred Ball, to be held at Keeneland Entertainment Center, Saturday evening, February 16, 2008. Honorees by award...

The Equestrian Aid Foundation (EAF) is delighted to announce the First Annual Celebrity Roast honoring the birthdays of two icons in the horse industry. George Morris, legendary hunter/jumper guru, and Jessica Ransehausen, a driving force in American dressage, are both turning 70. This birthday celebration will bring together equestrians, fans and well wishers to roast these two legends at a bash to benefit the Equestrian Aid Foundation/Ride for Hope. Announcer extraordinaire Peter Doubleday...

The Paddock Saddlery has teamed up with Markel Insurance to bring back the Adult Amateur Winter Dressage Championships for amateur riders competing on the winter dressage circuit in Wellington, FL. This championship recognizes the success of amateur riders who often find themselves competing against some of the country’s top professionals. Adult amateurs from training level to grand prix are eligible to compete for the 2008 Markel Adult Amateur Winter Dressage Championships. Five years ago, the...

Diane Carney of Telluride Farm led several of her students to top placings this weekend at the Ledge Winter Classic, held January 3-6 at the Ledges Sporting Horses indoor facility in Roscoe, IL. Catie Hope, 16, took home the championship in the Large Junior Hunter division aboard her new mount, Caped Crusader. The pair took a first and a sixth place over fences and won the under saddle for the tricolor. They also placed third in the $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic. Hope's consistency followed her...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association's (ASHA) Annual Meeting and Youth Conference will be held Thursday–Friday, February 14-16, at the Embassy Suites in Lexington. The weekend ends with the annual Saddlebred Ball at Keeneland Race Course. Open meetings and forums with committees begin Thursday, as is customary, and the Charter Club Council will also conduct a workshop. Thursday evening is highlighted by a Welcome Reception sponsored by the FEI & Emerging Disciplines Committee. Friday...

The Board of Directors of Fair Hill International, Inc. (FHI), has voted not to host a combined driving event at the Dansko Fair Hill International when it returns to the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Fair Hill, MD, October 16-18, 2008. The board made the decision with great reluctance at the recommendation of Fair Hill International Co-President Lana Wright. While Wright reported to the Board that the National Advanced Combined Driving Championships held at Fair Hill in 2007...

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) announced the results of its December 7 stallion season auction. The grand total for the fundraising effort when all seasons are totaled is estimated to be approximately $4,000,000. The live and silent auctions combined totaled approximately $3.9 million. When KEEP finalizes all of the private seasons, the total will top $4 million. “What a tremendous success for KEEP and the horse industry. I want to thank all of the stallion managers, farm managers...