Photo by Javan Schaller/Courtesy AHA (Patrick Swayze and Tammen) Patrick Swayze, a passionate and valued member of the Arabian horse community died from pancreatic cancer complications at the age of 57. Swayze was known to most as a dancer and actor in films such as “Dirty Dancing,” “Roadhouse” and “Ghost.” To the Arabian horse community he was an accomplished and giving horseman. An active participant at Arabian shows throughout the late '80s and early...

Lexington, KY – Somehow Sapphire keeps getting better. Already the owner of two Olympic Team Gold medals from 2004 and 2008 with rider McLain Ward, the 14-year-old Belgian mare continues to add Sapphire and McLain Ward (Anthony Trollope/stockimageservices.com ) accolades to her sparkling resume across the globe. This time it was the CN International at the Spruce Meadows Masters. One of the most prestigious (and richest – worth $1m CAD) Grand Prixes on the planet, Sapphire and Ward...

The success continued more than 1000 miles away in Belgium where, as the lone American, she swept the CSI-YJPCH-A Nieuwpoort, August 21-23. Kessler won two classes each day. On Friday she was the fastest of three clear rounds in the Speed Class. With Ice d’Ancoeur she zoomed to victory, almost six seconds faster than Julian Kok from Holland. She then had another convincing win in the 1.30m class with Ligist, where she was again lightning fast and was only one of two clears in the four horse...

The Buffalo International Horse Show (BIHS) began its first day of competition on September 9 for the 63rd annual show. The BIHS is held at the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BTRC) and runs from September 9-13 in downtown Buffalo, NY. The horse show will host a number of special classes in their large indoor arena, including hunter classics. The BIHS is pleased to welcome trainers Sandy Lobel and Amanda Steege and amateur rider Penelope Ayres, who have traveled the farthest to come to the...

The United States Equestrian Federation and The EQUUS Foundation have joined together to create an industry-wide award. The inaugural presentation of The EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award will take place at the 2010 USEF Pegasus Awards Dinner during the Federation’s Annual Meeting in January. The EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award (presented by the United States Equestrian Federation) is a celebration of the humanitarian achievements made by a member of the equestrian world. Specifically,...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to welcome featured presenter Jan Brink to the 2009 Adequan/USDF National Symposium. The symposium will take place December 5-6, 2009 in Austin, TX. In addition to the two days of the riding symposium, there will also be a symposium lecture by Brink on Saturday night at the Renaissance Austin Hotel, host hotel for the Adequan/USDF Annual Convention being held from December 2-4. In addition to his many Swedish National Championships, Brink...

Lexington, KY – The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is renowned as the toughest cross country track in the world. 2009 didn’t disappoint. Phillip Dutton and TruLuck (Kit Houghton/FEI ) Capt. Mark Phillips course required both bravery and accuracy, there were problems around the track and the most troublesome fence: Land Rover Discovery Valley (fence 6) caught out more than 20 horses and riders. American pair Phillip Dutton and TruLuck weren’t among them. The most dependable...

On September 18, 2009, the Kentucky National Indoor Horse Show will make history with the $50,000 CSI-W Lexington Grand Prix. This World Cup Qualifier will be the very first grand prix held in the new indoor arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. The arena was constructed for the upcoming 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, as well as many future equestrian competitions at the park. The $50,000 CSI-W Lexington Grand Prix will kick off at 7:30 p.m., and general admission tickets are free to the...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) website will once again provide a live streaming video webcast of the 2009 All American Horse Classic (AAHC), set to take place beginning Tuesday, September 8, through Saturday, September 12, in Indiana, at the Indianapolis State Fairgrounds. Registration to view the webcast may be completed via the ASHA website at www.asha.net/video . The fee to view the Webcast is $15 per day/location. A discount is available to ASHA members, resulting in fees...

This past weekend, Canterbury Farm in Hampshire, IL, hosted a clinic for the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Emerging Athletes Program. Held on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6, the clinic was conducted by renowned equestrians Melanie Smith Taylor and Ray Texel. Diane Carney of Hampshire, IL, was the on-site coordinator for the event, which was a Level II Training Session. The clinic was part of the Emerging Athletes Program, an educational program that focuses on...