Famed publisher William Randolph Hearst, who also established an important horse breeding operation, is credited with having first coined the name “Morab” for the distinct breed of horses that are Arabian and Morgan crosses. He bred his Arabian stallions to Morgan mares to produce horses which were sure-footed, fast and versatile. Consequently, they were well suited to the rough and varied terrain of his San Simeon ranch near the Pacific Coast of California. More than six generations later, the...

It was hot in St. Louis on August 2-5 for the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) National Shetland Pony Congress, but the ponies who came to compete were even hotter. Some 480 ponies trekked to the new show site, the National Equestrian Center in Lake St. Louis. After almost a decade of hosting the show in Rantoul, IL, show officials were very pleased with the number of entries the new show location attracted. “With a new location, soaring gasoline prices and record temperatures, we were...

Olympic medalists David O’Connor and Lisa Wilcox are set to contribute their equestrian expertise to The HorseTV Channel’s coverage of the ultimate equestrian competition - the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen, Germany. O’Connor and Wilcox will deliver extensive interviews with top competitors and present feature stories, giving viewers a rare glimpse into behind-the-scenes action at the WEG. The Games take place from August 20 to September 3 and feature the world’s best...

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Philip Craven and International Equestrian Federation (FEI) President HRH The Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón have signed an agreement for the transfer of governance of equestrian for persons with a physical disability from the IPC to the FEI. The transfer ceremony took place at the FEI General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 2 and will come into full effect on July 1 with the IPC Governing Board accepting the provisional membership...

(Lexington, KY) As approved by the 2005 FEI General Assembly, an annual FEI registration is now mandatory for all riders and horses competing in FEI events. This would include the following disciplines: Dressage, Reining, Show Jumping, Driving, Endurance and Vaulting, Paraequestrian and Eventing. The fee requirement will take effect on January 1, 2006 and it is renewable annually. Fees are $15.00 for each horse and $15.00 per rider. This registration is in addition to acquiring a passport or...

An online auction will begin on September 1 and run through September 15 to benefit Jan Michael, grandson of Philadelphia-based racehorse trainer Don White. Jan Michael was born prematurely on February 3 of this year with extensive complications, including a cleft lip and palate leaving him unable to swallow, necessitating stomach tube feeding and constant aspiration to prevent choking to death. Proceeds from the auction will be used to pay for home nursing care and other health care costs not...

On October 20, 2005, the American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA) will host an American Riding Instructors Certification Program (ARICP) Test Center in conjunction with its National Riding Instructors Convention in Orlando, FL. The convention, October 20-23, features seminars, workshops and one-on-one consultations for instructors, equine business managers, stable owners, trainers and coaches. Those registering for both the convention and the ARICP Test Center pay a discount rate. The...

Lexington, KY – After an illustrious career in judging and competition management, the well-respected Karen Homer-Brown will be expanding her service to the sport horse industry yet again, as she takes on the title of Assistant Executive Director of National Sport Programs at the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). “I’m thrilled to be on board at the USEF," says Homer-Brown. "This is a chance to better serve the industry in which I have devoted a large portion of my life. I’ve enjoyed...

Members of the show jumping team that won the Silver medal at last summer’s Olympic Games in Athens will compete in the jumper divisions and in two thrilling grand prix classes at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, which runs May 26-June 4. In a thrilling duel for this year’s top honors, Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, NJ, Open Jumper Champion for four of the last six years, will take on Olympians Chris Kappler of Hunterdon in Pittstown, NJ, Open Jumping Leading Rider at Devon two years...

At the United States Equestrian Federation Board Meeting on July 6th, the Directors approved a new USEF recognized affiliate, the International Friesian Show Horse Association (IFSHA). The purpose of this non-profit organization, based in Clovis, California, is to provide a USEF recognized show circuit for the Friesian horse which will help increase the recognition of the breed and help ensure competitive consistency for exhibitors and competitors. This is the first new recognized affiliate...