Shawn Cassidy of Kingston, TN, was the one to beat in the pony hunter divisions at the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show I. The 84th Annual Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show was held from August 1-5, 2007, at the L.M. Tate Horse Show Grounds at the Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve in Blowing Rock, NC. In the Small/Medium Green Pony Hunter division, Cassidy rode First Impression, owned by Katie Dinan, LLC, to the championship with three firsts and two seconds. Cassidy earned both the tricolor and...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced that three Olympians will headline a stellar group of speakers for the USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate Program, to be held January 18-20, 2008, in West Palm Beach, FL: Debbie McDonald, USEF National Developing Rider Coach, 2004 U.S. Olympic Dressage Team Bronze medalist and winner of the 2003 World Cup Dressage Final; Lisa Wilcox, 2004 U.S. Olympic Dressage Team Bronze medalist and 2002 World Equestrian Games Team Silver medalist; and Carol...

Last weekend, eight American vaulters competed at CVI Krumke** in Northern Germany. In the women's division, three American vaulters took the podium—a first for Americans at a foreign CVI. Alicen Divita of Woodside Vaulters (CA) placed first, followed by Mary McCormick of Mt. Eden Vaulters (CA) in second. Third went to Alicen's teammate, Elizabeth Osborn. The competition was very tight between the three top Americans. Each vaulter was in first place from one of the three judges, with...

Lexington, VA—August 2, 2007—Canada won the Junior Dressage team Gold Medal at the 2007 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC), presented by Gotham North and UlcerGard, at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA. Canada earned its Gold Medal with a combined score of 204.450 points. The team consists of Jade Deter of Kemptville, Ontario who scored 69.750% on Mastermind, Jaimie Holland of Caledon, Ontario, who scored 67.800% on Fleurina, Sara Regehr...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation announced a change to the horse-and-rider combinations it will be sending to Hong Kong for the test event at the Sha Tin race course in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. The test event will be held at the CCI** level August 11-13, 2007. Buck Davidson, 30, from Ocala, FL, will ride Cassandra Segal’s 7-year-old Irish Thoroughbred Ballynoe Castle RM. This combination was second at the Jersey Fresh CCI** in June and were the winners of the...

Former United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) steward of many years, Iris McNeil of Lexington, Virginia, age 88, died Monday, July 23, 2007. A graveside service will be held Thursday, July 26 at 2:00 p.m. at the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery in Lexington, Virginia. Flowers may be sent in care of the Harrison Funeral Home, 714 Main Street, Lexington, VA 24450. The funeral home may be reached at (540) 463-2912. Florists in the area include Jefferson Florist, (540) 463-9841, and University...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced the riders selected to represent the United States in dressage at the 2007 CN North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC) to be held July 31-August 5, 2007, at the Virginia Horse Center, in Lexington, VA. A total of 64 International Equestrian Federation (FEI) junior and young riders will represent all nine USDF regions. USDF Region 1 Junior Team: Bonnie Efird and Magie Noir, Elizabeth Kelemen and Palomos, Jillian...

The 2007 Nominating Committee of the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) held its first formal meeting during the Lexington Junior League Horse show last week under the direction of Chairman Paul Treiber. Also on the committee are Nelson Green, Corky Robertson, Suzi Teater and Misdee Wrigley. The duty of the committee is to prepare recommendations for ASHA directors to be elected to three-year terms beginning in February 2008. The Nominating Committee directed the staff of the...

The complete starting list for the 2007 FEI World Pony Driving Championship for Singles, Pairs and Four-in-Hand is now official. The event takes place in Dorthealyst, Denmark, July 18-22. Sixteen nations representing three continents will take part in the event. The United States of America sends a full team of two singles, two pairs and two four-in-hands. With two exceptions, the Americans will bring European ponies: Dartmoor, Welsh, Connemara and a German sports pony, making it a total of 18...

Kentucky livestock producers and horse owners in need of hay can call the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s toll-free Hay Hotline to find farmers with hay to sell. The Hay Hotline number is (888) 567-9589. Growers with hay to sell also may call the number. Producers who call the number to buy or sell will be listed on the Hay Hotline page on the Department’s website at www.kyagr.com. “These services could make the difference between holding on to livestock or having to sell,” Agriculture...