The record books for the sport of reining have seen several additions this year, including the most recent change moving Topsail Whiz to the top of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) All-Time Leading Sire standings, the creation of the first-ever International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Reining Championships and the first-ever consecutive champions of the NRHA Open Futurity, National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) and NRHA Derby with Arcese Quarter Horses USA’s Wimpys Little...

Texas' Tracy Fenney continued her unprecedented run at HITS shows in 2008 with an impressive win in the $40,000 Strongid® C 2X™ Grand Prix to conclude a record-breaking week of show jumping during the Showday National at Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, VA. Fenney and her mount S&L Willie outlasted a field of 20 riders in the first round and seven pairs in the jump-off to capture the blue ribbon and $12,000 in first-place prize money for MTM Farm. Fenney, who competed at the HITS Ocala Winter...

In December of 2007, the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Board of Directors unanimously approved the creation of the United States Hunter Jumper Association Foundation. The USHJA Foundation is an independent organization, developed in response to the requests of members to support the programs of the USHJA, while creating and implementing additional initiatives to benefit the sport. The programs that the new USHJA Foundation will be supporting include educational scholarships...

Dressage judge Betsy Berrey was the featured speaker at this month's Shop Talk. Michelle Hundt and Betsy Rebar-Sell, co-owners of Sho Clothes, hosted the third in a series of monthly discussions at the Sho Room in Wellington, FL. The Gold Coast Dressage Association (GCDA) co-sponsors the event with Sho Clothes to provide local equestrians the opportunity to learn from top professionals in the area. Betsy Berrey is a well-respected "S" judge who often officiates at dressage shows on the winter...

U.S. four-in-hand driving champion Chester Weber maintained a full schedule at the World Equestrian Festival held July 1-6 in Aachen, Germany. In addition to competing successfully, Weber spent time signing autographs at the Life Data Labs, Inc.®, display. Fresh off another undefeated year in the United States, Weber traveled to Europe in June to begin preparations for his European tour including CHIO Aachen, CAI-A Riesenbeck July 31- August 3, and culminating with the World Championship Teams...

The American Saddle Horse Breeders Futurity of Wisconsin announced that it will once again host the American Saddlebred Horse Association’s National Pleasure Equitation Championship. The national championship attracts exhibitors from across the United States and is a “must do” for the most accomplished pleasure equitation competitors. The competition includes rail work followed by a workout. Competitors are scored using a numerical scale by each of the three judges. Scores for rail work and the...

Independence Day wasn’t the only hot event in Parker, CO, as four weeks of outstanding horse shows kicked off with the Colorado Circuit Preview at the Colorado Horse Park July 3-6. The jumpers were fast and furious during this preview show, giving us all a glimpse of things to come in the weeks ahead. Continuing their winning streak from the spring shows, Amanda and Emily McConnell were superstars in the Junior Jumpers. Amanda, riding A Twist of China, finished in a three-way tie for champion...

The 32nd Annual National Youth Horse Leaders Symposium, presented by the American Youth Horse Council (AYHC), will be held on March 27-29, 2009 in Lincoln, NE. The University of Nebraska will host the event. The 2009 event will boast more than two-dozen internationally and nationally respected presenters assembled to share their keys to successful youth horse programming and horse management. Attendees will find resources, referrals, and networking to improve their ability to help connect kids...

The FEI has awarded the 2010 Final of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping to Geneva, Switzerland. This event, which will be held April 14-18, 2010, is the second FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final to take place in the Swiss city after a first in 1996. “The FEI is looking forward to another outstanding Final,” said John Roche, Director of the FEI World Cup™ Jumping. “It is a great recognition for all of us on the organizing committee and our 700 volunteers,” commented Geneva CSI-W...

Twenty-six riders from first grade through twelfth grade trotted into the ring for the Riding For Reading Class at the Golden Gate Classic held at the Horse Park at Woodside, July 4. This is the first class of the summertime Riding For Reading Classes, and the organizers could not have been happier. “It was great to see so many riders in the class,” said Riding For Reading Treasurer Kelly Scarinci. “The classes have grown and the riders seem to really like it.” If smiling faces were any...