For Derby fans, the first Saturday in May will have passed, but the scent of roses will linger, May 6-9, as the Kentucky Horse Park hosts the blossoming talents of the best college-age riders in America for the 43rd Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) National Championships. Now in its 43rd year, the IHSA was the 1967 brainchild of a then-18-year-old sophomore named Bob Cacchione, and his Fairleigh Dickinson University professor, Jack Fritz, the quintessential Captain John “Jack” H....

Olympian Bernie Traurig Olympian Bernie Traurig, one of the most respected and sought-after clinicians in the country, will be offering a clinic at the Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Center, in Ocala on February 5-7. Presented by Global Connection, a portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit Horses and Heroes. The legendary Traurig, who represented the United States Equestrian Team both at home and abroad, reached the top of the sport in all three of the...

The Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC) has published a handbook entitled Best Practices: How Your Organization Can Help Unwanted Horses . The handbook is part of the UHC’s continuing effort to get the horse community more involved in solving the problem of unwanted horses. If the horse community is to succeed in lessening the problem of unwanted horses, more organizations and more events, large and small, regardless of their breed or discipline, must institute activities and programs to deal with...

The Stephens College Department of Equestrian Studies was host to an International Saddle Seat Invitational competition with South Africa. The event, which took place December 11-12, was patterned after the Saddle Seat World Cup competition, which consists of five countries fielding two teams each. Saddle seat is typically an individual discipline, so team competition requires strategy, which enhances the challenge. South Africa brought two teams to Stephens for the event—a three-gaited...

Eva Salomon Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announced today that Eva Salomon has accepted a position as the Managing Director and Chef D'Equipe for Dressage for the United States. A Swedish National, Salomon’s resume makes her impeccably suited for this position. She served as the FEI Director of Dressage from 2003-2009, worked with the Swedish Federation from 1984-1989, and then served on the Swedish Dressage Committee from 1992-2000, including Chef d' Equipe...

Judgement, Olympic Gold Medalist Beezie Madden's long-time partner, will make his final appearance before fans in a ceremony to be held on Sunday, November 1, during the Animal Planet Sporthorse Cup at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Touranment. The storied 18-year-old dark bay stallion is a two-time winner of the Cup, and arguably one of the most successful American-bred stallions in show jumping history. Madden, who has ridden the horse to world fame, will ride Judgement once again into...

The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. (USEF) is pleased to announce the launch of the USEF Dressage Youth/Pony Pilot Program for Fall 2009.This program is designed to seek out, educate and assist the development of the young riders, and will be under the direction of Lendon Gray, appointed by the USEF Dressage High Performance Committee. “I am thrilled that USEF is going to help to develop the best equitation and riding skills in our younger riders,” Gray said. “It is so much easier to...

Lexington, KY - "Safety" is one of the most important words in the equestrian vocabulary. And to that point, the combined efforts of University of Kentucky HealthCare, the university’s College of Agriculture, Kentucky Horse Park organizations and other businesses have kicked off an education awareness campaign entitled "Saddle Up Safely." The announcement was made at the Kentucky Horse Park today, and dignitaries and equestrians were on hand to take part and promote the importance of safe...

The Elite Hanoverian stallion Fielding (Fred Astair x Lessing), bred by Autumn Hill Farm and Kate Palmquist, has already accomplished a lot in a short career. As a three-year-old in 2007, Fielding finished fifth at his 100-day test, earned the coveted Class 1 status with his 125 points overall, and achieved the highest finish for a North American-bred stallion. In the fall of 2008 he moved to Hilltop Farm to stand as a Guest Stallion for the 2009 season. Paired with Hilltop Farm trainer Michael...

On the first day of competition at the ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals presented by Dietrich Insurance, 56 horses and riders put it all on the line for their chance at the coveted Derby Finals Champion title. The top 25 horses from this morning’s round are invited to Saturday evening’s round two classic course and were given $1,000. The top 12 horses from round two will compete for overall derby final’s champion honors and a share of the $100,000 prize money. This...