Lexington, KY— The 2009 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today ® concluded this weekend, July 17-19, in the beautiful setting of the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL. Riders came from across the country to compete for the championship in two age divisions—13 & under and 14-18. The purpose of the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Program is to promote and reward excellence in equitation, including correct seat, position, and use of aids...

The 2009 Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT, is gearing up for another exciting summer of equestrian competition. The six-week circuit will run from July 1-August 9 at Harold Beebe Farm, and in addition to great hunter and jumper competition, the Manchester and the Mountains area will play host to all of the exhibitors and their families. The Vermont Summer Festival offers six consecutive weeks of competition, which makes it the longest horse show circuit offered in the Northeast. Many...

The Certificate of Service has long been part of the process used to register a Morgan horse. The purpose of the Certificate of Service has always been for the stallion owner to certify the mating that produced the foal. This certification was used as an additional tool to verify the accuracy of the pedigree represented on the registration. As such, the Morgan Horse Registry was based on the mare and stallion owner’s certification that the pedigree was accurate as presented. In the 1980s, the...

When vaccination time rolls around, do you know what to expect after your horse’s immunizations? Every horse owner expects their vaccinated horse to be protected from disease, but some horse owners don’t expect to see a reaction that may occur after a vaccination. “Vaccines can save time, money and may even save your horse’s life,” says April Knudson, DVM, manager, Veterinary Services, Merial. “Understanding the risk from vaccination can probably save you a few hours of worrying, but it’s...

After a successful inaugural sale in 2008, the Aiken Event Horse Sale (AEHS) is only a few days away, and already over 30 horses have been entered for presentation at this prestigious event. The sale takes place over two days, March 2-3, and is designed to bring buyers and sellers together in a fun, convenient, and enjoyable setting right in the midst of one of the most equestrian-friendly areas of the United States—Aiken, SC. The online sales catalogue is posted up on the AEHS website at...

For the 2009 breeding season, Flyinge, the Swedish National Stud, will include the KWPN stallion Lingh (Flemmingh x Columbus, by Uppercut xx) in its breeding program. Lingh has already arrived in Flyinge, a town in Southern Sweden just 48 miles from Copenhagen, Denmark. Throughout his performance career, Lingh has been one of the highest FEI-ranked dressage stallions in the world. He has had exceptional successes and numerous placings in international grand prix with Edward Gal and Karin...

The Reining Horse Sports Foundation (RHSF) honors leadership and achievement within the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) each year. The RHSF recently awarded five $1,000 scholarships to current National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) and former NRHyA members based on financial need and academic achievement. The 2008 RHSF Scholarship winners are: Ian Barnard, Brandon Boyle, Allison Byrd, Ashley Fuchs and Helen Lauth. Ian Barnard, from Kendallville, IN, majors in pre-veterinary...

FEI-level rider Luis Denizard is asking his peers, friends, acquaintances and other dressage enthusiasts to come together during 2008 to support the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association's (NARHA) Horses for Heroes, a program that helps wounded veterans through equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT). Many of the Horses for Heroes participants have lost limbs fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Riding horses helps improve their strength and balance. Working with the horses...

Did you know that some wilderness management agencies are trying to restrict the use of horses on public lands? Or that the U.S. Forest Service is planning new trail classifications, which might limit our activities? Did you hear about the new bill that could eliminate the current fees for accessing undeveloped federal land? The outcome of these kinds of concerns can have far-reaching consequences, yet they often come and go with little public awareness. But Back Country Horsemen of America...

MaxWest Environmental Systems, Inc.m and Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA) have announced a partnership to convert horse waste into renewable energy. Signed on June 19, the partnership will reduce horse waste while generating "green" energy for the Ocala/Marion County community. Ocala/Marion County is home to 431 Thoroughbred breeding and training farms covering more than 70,000 acres of Florida's prime, mineral-rich pastures. Since 1945, FTBOA has represented the...