This special section, Drugs and Medications Corner, will feature a series of articles from the USEF’s Drugs and Medications Program and the veterinary community to communicate the latest news to better educate the equine community. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are a class of agents best recognized for anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain suppression) properties. An important clinical use of this class of medication is to improve patient status and minimize pain....

Jocelyn Wiese and Lamborghini (Susan J. Stickle Photography ) By Joanie Morris Gladstone, NJ – Under the banner of a chilly relentless rain, the 2009 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions got underway on Thursday, June 18. The “Brentina Cup” Riders (aged 20-28) were the first of five groups of horses and riders vying for National Championships titles. The nine “Brentina Cup” Riders were the only division to get a performance in as the rest of...

The Executive Committee periodically meets to review and approve extraordinary rule changes and rule clarifications. You can find summaries of rules approved by visiting www.usef.org/contentpage2.aspx?id=rulebook . These rule changes have also been incorporated into the online rulebook. The online rulebook is continually updated with new rule changes and corrections; it is always the most complete version of the rules.

Have you ever wanted to learn more about the Hanoverian horse? In response to membership inquiries, the American Hanoverian Society (AHS) is currently developing a Breed Orientation Seminar that will tentatively be held November 3-6, 2009, in the Sacramento, CA, area. In order to test the financial viability of this developmental program, the AHS needs to gauge the level of interest in such a seminar. The seminar requires a minimum of attendees and is open to the AHS membership and others with...

Six-year-old Bijoux, owned by Janet Rolfs and ridden by Missy Fladland, is off to a phenomenal start to her young dressage career. Among her many honors, her most recent victory includes taking the reserve champion title at the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Central Selection Trials. The young Hanoverian mare (Bugatti Hilltop x Whimiscal L), bred by Margaret Drury, started her performance career only a year and a half ago as a coming five-year-old in the fall of 2007. After seven months of...

Starlight, the stunning black Oldenburg stallion owned by Rick Rockefeller-Silvia’s Dream Street Stallions, is now in Europe under the tutelage of Karin Rehbein where he is sure to wow European fans with his amazing movement and outstanding looks. Prior to returning to Europe, Starlight won rave reviews from judges at Devon when he was crowned Devon’s Grand Champion Stallion in 2008. “Starlight has had an illustrious career so far—multiple Horse of The Year titles, the Championship at...

Well-known Region II American Connemara Pony Society (ACPS) Connemara trainer and rider Carol Kozlowski won three divisions of the Genesee Valley Riding and Driving Club (GVRDC) Spring Event on Sunday, June 7, 2009, in Geneseo, Livingston County, NY, on three different horses, including two of her own Connemara crosses. The GVRDC Spring Event offered an opportunity for riders and trainers to safely condition and prepare their mounts for upcoming two-day events. Being held for the first time as...

Gladstone, NJ - This summer the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Eventing High Performance will be holding training sessions for A-List, B-List, and Developing Riders. The sessions will be conducted by U.S. Chef d’Equipe Mark Phillips, and are open to the public. Auditors are welcome. We anticipate the hours of the training sessions to be approximately between 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Sessions will be held at the following locations: July 21-22—Rebecca Farm, Kalispell, MT July...

Two classes of Connemaras competed in the Connemara breeding division in-hand classes at the June Upperville Colt and Horse Show. Catherine Mack was the judge. In the Connemara Mares, Eight and Under, first place went to Ridgetop Harriette (Aladdin’s Denver x *Cloud Shadows, by Windy Day), owned by Marynell Eyles and shown by Paula Moore. In second was Thurman Keepsake (Landgate Bluebeard x Tre Awain Sileach, by Tre Awain DeValera), owned by Barbara Byrd and shown by Mary McMillan. Third place...

Once again, Region XV will host their Firecracker Classic/AHA Region XV Championship Show at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA, on July 1-5, 2009. Their motto is “Dollars Galore and Much More!” The competition management at this competition looked at the payout in prize money several years ago and determined only 30% of the exhibitors won prize money. They wanted to distribute monies over more exhibitors so decided they would have to come up with some creative ways to “spread the...