The United States Dressage Federation’s (USDF) Youth Executive Board is pleased to announce the winners of the USDF Youth Convention Scholarships for the 2007 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention. This year’s winners are Ryan Michelle Eskridge, Jillian Kemenosh, Katherine Greene and Shari Wolke. Applicants are judged on such qualities as participation in USDF or dressage-related activities, written communication skills, desire to learn, ability to utilize knowledge, and the manner in which they plan...

With the competition season drawing to a close, final nominations from its membership for the American Saddlebred Horse Association’s (ASHA) individual awards are due at ASHA no later than the close of business Wednesday, October 31, 2007. Each year, the association’s highest honors are presented at the annual Saddlebred Ball, which will be held once again at the Keeneland Entertainment Center to top off the ASHA Annual Meeting, on Saturday evening, February 16, 2008. All of the...

Lexington, KY - The USEF named the team of riders and horses selected to represent the U.S. at the 2007 FEI Reining Masters to be held in Oklahoma City, OK on November 29 during the NRHA Futurity. Both Casey Hinton and Gabe Hutchins will be representing the U.S. for the first time. Hinton, 46, of Whitesboro, TX has been named with both Mr Boomerjac and Bueno Starlight. Mr Boomerjac, a 14-year-old palomino Quarter Horse stallion owned by Robert LaPorta and George Easterday, has lifetime earnings...

The following rule changes were approved by the Executive Committee on September 17, 2007, with an effective date of October 1, 2007. Bold/italic format indicates new text. Strikethrough indicates deleted text. EQ105 Conditions Governing Competitors in USEF Medal Classes. [Chapter EQ. Equitation Division] Effective 10/1/07: 3. A contestant’s legal residence at the time they apply for membership is maintained throughout the year. 3. 4. A rider can enter Medal classes anywhere in the United...

At an agreement signing ceremony on Sunday, September 30, Kowloon Shangri-La has been appointed as the Olympic and Paralympic families Hotel for the equestrian events to be held in Hong Kong next August and September. Deputy Director of Games Services of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), Xiang Ping, presided over and witnessed the signing. CEO of the Equestrian Company, Lam Woon-Kwong, and General Manager of Kowloon Shangri-La, Mark Heywood signed the...

An active and well-known member of the Saddlebred community, Shan Ellis Donaldson, died on Tuesday, September 25, 2007, at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, KY. She was 60. The Georgetown, KY, native became an equestrian at an early age, and her love of horses led to her parents, R. E. Ellis Jr., DMD, and Martha “Perkie” Ellis, founding the Longview Riding Camp. Shan and her husband of 40 years, Jamie Donaldson, started their own horse photography business. For many years, Shan could be found...

Lexington, KY Most of you familiar with Irishman, Niall Grimes, are also aware of the heart attack he suffered last Friday, September 28th, while in Lexington, at the Kentucky National Horse Show. You may have also heard or read intermittent updates since and wondered about their validity. The number and variety of these reports speak to Niall's popularity, our hopes for his recovery, and our fears otherwise. With that in mind we regret to report that his battle has been lost. Most likely a...

If you like a saddle seat horse, the National Show Horse (NSH) Finals was the place to be September 19-22. This was the 24th year for this show that was held at the beautiful Springfield, Illinois State Fairground. The judging panel of Nancy Becker, Scott Brumfield, and Richard Wright did an outstanding job of awarding this year’s many National Championships. Offering National Show Horse, All Breed, and Show Horse Alliance classes, the show is considered to be one of the most fun shows of the...

Lexington, Kentucky – The Youth Council is pleased to announce the completed panel of Star Power athletes for the Inaugural Youth Council Convention to be held January 18, 2008 in Louisville, KY. These representatives of the USEF recognized breeds and disciplines have been high profile successful competitors for many years. Karen O’Connor will represent the Eventing discipline. Her most recent successes have been astride the notable Theodore O’Connor, a pony who has accomplished feats that have...

Creating a solid base to any structure will ensure that further up the line the order and overall cohesiveness is maintained. Indeed, to not sound too cryptic, good foundations are a must when you want to continue building onwards and upwards. As part of the FEI Development Strategy, ensuring this very cohesiveness at the base, a workshop for FEI Tutors was held in Geneva, Switzerland, just under two months ago—with an objective of bringing the tutors together and solidifying both their...