Thermal, CA - January 25, 2011- Today marks the beginning of the 2011 show jumping season on the West Coast, as exhibitors from around the world are flocking to Southern California to participate in world-class equestrian competition at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, CA. This season will be extra special as the HITS is celebrating its 20th Anniversary of hosting world-class equestrian competition in the Coachella Valley. "We are looking forward to showing in the desert," said HITS...

The USEF Annual Meeting celebrated 2010’s champions and Reining superstars Tom McCutcheon and Gunners Special Nite were honored for an outstanding year of achievement. They were the only U.S. pair to win two Gold medals at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Gunners Special Nite, owned by Sarah Wilemen, was voted USEF Horse of the Year for his achievements and the following night, McCutcheon won the top honor (Equestrian of the Year) for himself. It was an outstanding accomplishment...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is accepting applications for the position of Eventing Chef d'Equipe/Technical Advisor which will become available in 2013. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2011. Potential applicants may contact the Chairman of the Search Committee with any questions. Eric Straus can be reached at [email protected]. The application can be found here: http://usef.org/documents/highPerformance/eventing/jobs/application.pdf The job...

Lexington, KY - The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) has announced that the ASHA Regional Championships have been discontinued, effective in 2011. This change allows for more focus to be placed on the new ASHA High Point Awards program being implemented in the 2011 competition year. The ASHA High Point Awards program, an initiative of the Charter Club Council, recognizes Saddlebred and Half Saddlebred achievement, not only in the traditional show ring, but also in a wide range of...

Wellington, FL - January 24, 2011 - The second week of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued successfully at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. In addition to 12 rings of hunter, jumper, and equitation competition, there was plenty happening on the grounds. Here are upcoming events at the FTI WEF: Exhibitor Party at the White Horse Tavern, sponsored by Equine Couture/Tuff Rider- Friday, January 28 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pick up your ticket at the stabling office or in...

Fairfield, CT — In poker it’s called re-shuffling the deck, and when the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) announced at the start of the 2010 semester that it had realigned its nine Zones to eight - changing the geography of its competitive regions and impacting coaching strategies - it promised to make the road to the 2011 IHSA National Championships, May 5-8, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, an interesting one. With Regional and Zone Championships, and Western...

Dr. Tim Holekamp was elected President of the American Trakehner Association at its 36th annual convention in Jacksonville, FL. Holekamp and his wife Cheryl own New Spring Farm in Columbia, MO, and are possibly best known for their acclaimed Trakehner stallion Windfall*Pg*, a U.S. Olympic team bronze medalist. “We started in 1984 with two Trakehner mares that we bought at the ATA auction in Columbus, Ohio,” said Holekamp, explaining that it took just one trip to an ATA convention for him to...

Lexington, KY - The Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) Regional Conferences are being held around the continent this year. These educational events are open to the public and provide horses for participants to ride with top instructors. Press are invited to attend. Other are being added to the below list all the time at http://www.cha-ahse.org/regions.htm . Region 1 (British Columbia, WA, Western MT, ID, OR, Alberta) Conference –– Canyonview Equestrian Center in Silverton, OR - February...

John Long and Craig Ferrell, M.D. (Riders4Helmet) Lexington, KY - The Riders4Helmets Helmet Safety Symposium held this month in Wellington, FL, was deemed a huge success by participants at the event. Representatives from USEF, USDF, USEA, USHJA, Racing, Polo, Helmet Manufacturers, Helmet Testing Authorities, Leading Equestrians and Medical Experts came together at the symposium with the goal of improving rider safety and went away pledging to work together across the disciplines to do just that....

Lexington, KY - The Pegasus Awards Dinner is now available through Video on Demand on USEFNetwork.com . The gala was live-streamed from the 2011 USEF Annual Meeting in Lexington, providing equestrian fans an opportunity to watch in real-time as the Lifetime Achievement Award, Equestrian of the Year, Junior Equestrian of the Year, Pegasus Medals of Honor, and other prestigious honors were awarded throughout the evening. USEFNetwork.com is the Federation's new multi-media platform, featuring live...