Lexington, KY - Honors for the best in U.S. sport horse owners, breeders and sires were presented at the Performance Horse Registry’s (PHR) Annual Silver Stirrup Awards during the first of many celebrations hosted at the 2011 United States Equestrian Federation’s Annual Meeting held at the Downtown Hyatt in Lexington from January 19-23. Also on Thursday, the inaugural American Performance Horse Awards and the USEF/ Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Horses in Sport Awards were also bestowed.

Attendants from across the country applauded the horse owners and breeders. Among the many awards was one presented by familiar PHR and Silver Stirrup Awards sponsors Joan Irvine Smith and The Oaks. The winner of the South Pacific Award for Leading U.S.-based Jumper Sire, Lio Calyon (Holliostro x Zoellnerin), is owned by Wild Turkey Farm in Woodside, CA.

The Performance Horse Registry came to the USEF via the Jockey Club in 2000. Today, it serves several purposes: first, it is the main source of complete pedigree data on horses at the Federation. It also serves as a registry for horses that do not fit into the typical breed registry format. Many horses enter the PHR to do both: get their horse’s entire pedigree recorded with the Federation, and obtain identification papers for their horses. Those horses competing in USEF-licensed competitions can be nominated for the Silver Stirrup Awards.

New for this year’s program are the American Performance Horse Awards and the USEF/Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Horses in Sport Awards. The American Performance Horse program was launched in 2010 to help promote breeding in the U.S. More than 2,000 horses enrolled in the first year. Dr. Tom Riddle of the famed Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital contacted the USEF with the idea of honoring second-career Thoroughbreds. The goal was to honor horses that have crossed over successfully from a career at the track to a career in the show arena.

To learn more about the 2011 USEF Annual Meeting and view a complete schedule of events and award programs, visit www.usef.org.

ENDS