WHAT: Interview with Mary Jordan, Equestrian and multiple sclerosis (MS) patient, competing in the 2009 FEI European and Open Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships WHO & WHY: Jordan’s story of managing her MS to compete in the sport she loves is an inspiration to many and has gained media interest throughout the United States. Her competitive resilience so touched one Dutch family that they loaned her a horse to be able to compete in the championships. In 2002, Jordan was first diagnosed with...

Anne Gribbons is set to take on position of USEF Dressage Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor (USEF Archive/PhelpsPhoto.com) The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that pending successful contract negotiations, Anne Gribbons will be named as USEF Dressage Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor through 2012. Gribbons will fill the role for dressage that Capt. Mark Phillips and George Morris fill for the Olympic disciplines of eventing and show jumping respectively. The...

Doug Payne, acclaimed rider and board member of the Professional Riders Organization, won top honors at the Millbrook Horse Trials this past weekend in New York. Payne's placings included three wins. "To date, I have not had an event which went so smoothly," Payne said. "And I can't say enough about the horses this weekend." Payne competed with eight horses in six divisions. "I'm excited that several of these horses will be competing for years to come," Payne continued. "Hopefully, their...

HITS, Inc., is pleased to announce the horse show dates for its 2010 HITS Arizona Winter Circuit. Next year marks the 20th Anniversary of this HITS circuit and, once again, the circuit will run for six consecutive weeks beginning on Wednesday, February 3, and continuing until Sunday, March 14, 2010. As always, the HITS Arizona Winter Circuit will feature a wide variety of hunter/jumper divisions with classes for every level of rider from short stirrup to high performance. Some of this season's...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) has added additional items to its Youth Auction, held annually during the Kentucky State Fair (KSF) and World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS). Among the items up for bid at the 2009 ASHA Youth Auction are two tickets to the sold out Taylor Swift concert, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 30. Included with the concert tickets is a night's stay at the Crowne Plaza hotel on the evening of the concert. Another "big ticket" item that will be up...

For the first time in many years the Arabian East Coast Championships were not held in Quentin, PA; the competition was held at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA, July 29-August 2. The move resulted in double the number of entries and classes offered. Familiar faces welcomed exhibitors to the new location and all it had to offer. Two indoor arenas gave main ring and sport horse entries plenty of warm-up area out of the weather. For the working western and over fences horses, there were...

The USEF Education Department has established a weekly blog on ClubEquestrian.com to share information with members. “Equine U” provides interesting and helpful information about the Federation and also anything relating to horse ownership, competing at all levels and all things equestrian. USEF will post articles from various guest writers as well as from staff's own experiences at competitions, clinics, and seminars. Check it out at www.clubequestrian.com/blogs/equineu/default.aspx . In...

The deadline to submit a Declaration of Intent to Show for the 2009 American Saddlebred Registry (ASR) Futurity is 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2009. Nominated horses entered to compete in ASR Futurity classes at the 2009 World’s Championship Horse Show (WCHS) must have a signed Declaration of Intent to Show completed and submitted, and the starting fee paid for each entry to the ASR Futurity Secretary, by 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2009. Prepayment for declarations may be sent to the ASR...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce and congratulate its new USDF Certified Instructors from the testing held July 18-19 at Post Oak Farm in Gainesville, GA. The USDF Instructor Certification program is designed to set a standard of excellence in dressage training and instruction in the United States and to educate dressage riders, instructors, and aspiring instructors. New USDF Certified Instructors include Donna Gatchell of Nokesville, VA; Ana Gilmour of...

Marilyn E. Smith passed away on Friday, August 7. Smith was born May 14, 1939, in Fort Wayne, IN. For the past six years, she was the office manager at Hamilton Family Medical Center in Hamilton, IN Smith was a graduate of Stephens College in Columbia, MO, and Indiana University, and had a Master's Degree in Education. She taught second grade at Slocum Elementary School. Smith had been President of the Junior Division of the Fort Wayne Women's Club, and was the current president of the Phi Mu...