The schedule for the fourth USEF Horsemastership Training Session on January 5-9, 2010, in Wellington, FL, has been set, with auditing of mounted and educational sessions open to the public free of charge.

Auditors will have the opportunity to get firsthand exposure to the highest level of training conducted by Morris, the legendary horseman and chef d'équipe of the Olympic Gold-medal show jumping team in 2009 in Hong Kong.

The selected riders - Jacqueline Lubrano, Jessica Springsteen, Zazou Hoffman, Christy Distefano, Matthew Metell, Theodore Boris, Jennifer Waxman, Reed Kessler, Chase Boggio and Victoria Birdsall - will participate in mounted sessions at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

The mounted sessions will run from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday through Saturday. On Tuesday, riders will focus on flat work (walk, trot and canter); Wednesday and Thursday, riders will focus on gymnastics; Friday, the training will continue with flat work with no stirrups; the training will conclude on Saturday with jumping instruction.

"Excellent horsemanship is as vital to being a competitor as is riding ability. We hope that people will take advantage of this opportunity to learn for free from some of the experts in our industry about what putting your horse first really means, and we are proud to be a small part of this with George," said John Madden, Chairman, Syracuse Invitational Organizing Committee.

Auditors are also invited to attend the daily educational sessions. On Tuesday, at 1:00 p.m. Anne Kursinski, former Olympian and USA Team rider, will present "The Heart of a Champion" followed at 2:00 p.m. with a veterinary session with Dr. Tim Ober, the USA Equestrian Team Veterinarian. On Wednesday, Dr. Mary Beth Gordon, of Purina Mills, will conduct a nutrition session on Feeding the Athletic Horse: How to Get A Nutritional Advantage at 2:30 p.m. On Thursday at 1:00 p.m., Allyn Mann, of Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, will lecture on Joint Health and Maintenance.

The educational sessions will conclude on Friday with the ASPCA All Star Equine Anti-Cruelty Summit & Panel Discussion led by ASPCA President Ed Sayres at 1:00 p.m. Panelists include: From the ASPCA, Ed Sayres, Dr. Melinda Merck, Dr. Pamela Corey, Joseph Pentangelo; World Class/Olympic Riders and Trainers, John Madden, Beezie Madden, Anne Kursinski, USEF and Brianne Goutal; Steve Nislick from www.ny-class.org and Jennifer Swanson from www.purethoughtshorserescue.com. Following the discussion, auditors will have the opportunity to visit the display and tour of the ASPCA's Mobile Animal Crime Scene Unit, the only one of its kind, and exhibition of rescued horses and dogs available for adoption.

The USEF Horsemastership Training Session has been made possible by support from The EQUUS Foundation, Practical Horseman, the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament, Purina Mills, Adequan, ASPCA, Equestrian Sports Productions, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the USET Foundation and the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA).

For additional information on the USEF Horsemastership Training Session, contact Connie Sawyer at [email protected].