The tally has just begun, and your votes will be an integral part of deciding which of the nation’s leading equines will be named the Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year. Merely weeks away from the 2008 USEF Annual Meeting, all heads are turning to five finalists in anticipation of which horse will be adorned with the title of Horse of the Year—one of the most prestigious awards the USEF bestows. This year’s winner will join dressage superstar Brentina (2005...

The Equestrian Land Conservation Resource (ELCR), the only national organization that advances the conservation of land for horse-related activities, has opened its new headquarters in the Kentucky Horse Park. The impending loss of open land for horse activities has reached crisis proportions, according to the ELCR. As an organization that has helped more people work more effectively to ensure continued access to equestrian friendly land. now the ELCR will work “hand in hoof” with the more than...

Alfred University in Alfred, NY, dedicated The Bromeley-Daggett Equestrian and the Maris Cuneo Equstrrian Park on October 20, 2006. The 400-acre center is the result of significant contributions by Catherine Bromeley Dagget and Peter Cuneo, as well as several other alumnae. The center supports the Alfred University (AU) equestrian program which provides education in all equestrian disciplines including dressage, arena jumping, cross-country, Western disciplines and driving. AU has active...

"Beautiful Music and Breathtaking Horses" take center stage in the The Symphony of Horses 2006. The Marion Therapeutic Riding Association (MTRA) is producing its third amazing evening of world-class horses and riders performing to the Central Florida Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Dr. Susan Robinson. The production of 2002 and 2004 thrilled sold-out crowds to the benefit of the non-profit therapeutic horseback riding program. The 2006 performance will be held Sunday evening, December 10,...

Mike Ferrara (Leslie Lurkin of Rochester, MN, after his win with Melissa LOA in the Half-Arabian Mare Breeding Saddle Pleasure AAOTH at the 40th Annual U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show. ) The 40th annual U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (U.S. Nationals) bid a final farewell to Louisville from October 12-21, 2006, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KY. It was the last time the show will be held in this particular venue....

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) Sport Horse National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Show (Sport Horse Nationals) made its debut in Nampa, ID, from September 20-24, 2006, at the Idaho Horse Park in its first northwest appearance. Horses competed in 69 classes in four divisions: sport horse in-hand and under-saddle, dressage, pleasure carriage driving and hunter/jumper. Besides the competition, the show featured clinics by hunter/jumper trainer Linda Allen and dressage notable Hilda...

Flat tires are the leading cause of disablements involving horse trailers. USRider is involved in a research project with Dr. Tomas Gimenez to test the benefits (if any) of using air vs. nitrogen to inflate tow vehicle and horse trailer tires. An electronic air pressure monitoring system is being used to assist with the research. During the research, Dr. Gimenez and USRider have noted significant safety benefits resulting from using this system. “At USRider, we are all about safety when it...

The first American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) regional champions were named from the Northeastern regions made up of USEF Regions 11 and 12 at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA, October 19-October 22. In the open divisions, Whimsicality and Michael Richardson won the Five-Gaited Regional Championship, I’m Sky High and Francis A. Garone won the three-gaited championship and Definitely Dianna and Kaye Bowles Durnell won the fine harness championship. In the amateur...

The multi-U.S. National Champion Andalusian stallion, Davido MC, died on May 2, 2005, of an aortic aneurism, while breeding a mare at Selwood Park Stable, in Elkhorn, WI. Davido MC was owned by Gareth A. Selwood for 12 of the horse's 15 years and was bred by Music City Andalusians of Nashville, TN. He was sired by the imported 2000 USEF Leading Andalusian Sire, Ofendido VII, and out of the imported Poseido V daughter, Huerfana. Davido MC qualified for and showed at a record 11 consecutive...

Three days of seminars, one-on-one consultations and networking opportunities for equine business managers, stable owners, trainers, coaches and instructors are right around the corner. The National Riding Instructors Convention takes place October 20-23, 2005, in Orlando, FL, and the American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA) has announced the line-up of major speakers. This year’s keynote speaker is Susan Harris, best known for her work as a Senior Centered Riding instructor and...