Equine Influenza is a viral respiratory disease that is highly contagious to susceptible horses. Outbreaks of the disease are occurring with increased frequency worldwide despite the widespread use of vaccines. The highly contagious nature of equine influenza means that it has the potential to seriously compromise international movement of horses. For a number of years the FEI rules have required an annual booster vaccination, but recent research indicates that, for many vaccines protection...

Following a review of the requirements to qualify for an “Independent Director” seat on the USEF Board of Directors, an amendment to Bylaw 303 has been proposed to clarify who is eligible to serve as an Independent Director. The proposed amendment to the USEF Bylaw 303 will be considered by the USEF Board of Directors following a 21-day consultation period during which time we will receive, review, and consider feedback. The draft can be found here . All Senior Active members are...

In an effort to ensure best governance practices, USEF Governance Committee has recommended amendments to the Bylaws. The proposed amendments to the USEF Bylaws will be considered by the USEF Board of Directors following a 21-day consultation period during which time we will receive, review, and consider feedback. The draft can be found on the “About Us” page at www.usef.org . VIEW USEF PROPOSED BYLAW AMENDMENTS All Senior Active members are invited to comment on the proposed...

Eastern Selection Trial 5-year-old champion Lauren Chumley and Somer Hit (Photo by Pics of You). The Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials 2011 qualifying season concluded last week at the Eastern Selection Trials in Leesburg, Va. The top five 5-year-olds and top five 6-year-olds that earned a minimum score of 7.8 from the three competitions will make up the short list of horses moving forward to the 2011 Markel/USEF Dressage National Championship at Lamplight in Wayne,...

Lincoln, NE – The Dressage Foundation is pleased to announce that the annual Major Anders Lindgren Scholarship has recently been revised to provide scholarships to a greater number of qualified dressage instructors. Major Anders Lindgren was an accomplished dressage rider, having won the 1971 Swedish Dressage Championship and ridden on the Swedish Olympic Team in 1972. He also won the Scandinavian Eventing Championship in 1959. Lindgren's contribution to American dressage was large, as he was...

Burbank, CA – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will hold two judges clinics during the Fiesta of the Spanish Horse, an annual benefit and horse show held May 4-8, 2011, at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. A USEF Friesian Judges’ Clinic will be May 5 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clinic, held at the Courtyard Los Angeles Burbank Airport and L.A. Equestrian Center, will be open to licensed Friesian judges, applicants and those interested in becoming licensed. Attendance fulfills...

Expaned Grants for Dressage Instructors Available from the Dressage Foundation Beginning in 2011, additional grant funding will be available from the Continuing Education for Dressage Instructors Fund, originally created by Maryal Barnett. “This fund has provided much needed support to USDF GMOs hosting educational clinics for instructors. However, I want to see it do more," said Maryal Barnett. "I want to encourage more individuals to pursue their Instructor Certification credentials." The...

Photo Courtesy American Vaulting Association (Patti Skipton of Warm Beach Vaulters received the AVA's Trainer for the Year Award for 2009.) At their recent Annual Convention, the American Vaulting Association (AVA) presented Lifetime Achievement Awards, the highest award of the AVA, to Jeffrey Ashton Moore and Jan F. Garrod, whose efforts over the past 40 years have been instrumental to the recognition, growth and continued high standards of the sport of equestrian vaulting. At the same event,...

Photo by Gary Pirnat (USC Mascot Traveler, owned by Joanne Asman.) The popular Fiesta of the Spanish Horse, an annual benefit and horse show to support cancer research, will be held May 5-9, 2010, at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. This year marks the 12th annual Fiesta of the Spanish Horse, a revered Southern California equestrian tradition that raises funds for cancer research organizations. It also plays an important role in integrating communities by honoring horses and people steeped in...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) has announced a membership dues and horse registration fee increase for the 2011 membership year, which begins December 1, 2010. At the 2009 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention in Austin, TX, the following dues and fees were approved by the Board of Governors (BOG); 1-year Participating Membership (PM)-$75, Youth PM-$60, 5-Year PM-$300, Life PM-$1,500, Business Membership-$200, Group Member Organization (GMO) Membership-$20, GMO Supporting Family...