The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC), in partnership with the Kentucky Hunter Jumper Association (KHJA), announced a new program to reward KHJA members competing on rescued horses in 2009. A $300 cash prize will be given to the KHJA competitor riding a rescued horse with the greatest accumulation of points in 2009. Year end points are tallied by KHC, and the 2009 rescue horse high-point winner will be recognized at the 2010 KHJA banquet and at the KHC Annual Conference. Any KHJA member who competes...

This is a reminder that the United States Equestrian Federation will be conducting two Combined Judges' Clinics for Saddlebred, saddle seat equitation, Hackney and Roadster judges and applicants. The first clinic will be held in conjunction with the United Professional Horsemen's Association Convention on January 7, 2009, in Hilton Head, SC. Space is still available for your registration, but please send your application in soon to avoid being shut out! The second clinic will be held at William...

The 2009 United Professional Horsemen's Association (UPHA) and American Hackney Horse Society Annual Convention will be held at the Westin Resort and Spa in Hilton Head Island, SC, Thursday, January 8, through Saturday, January 10, 2009. A special room rate of $99 is available per night ($119 for an ocean view) with reference to the convention. Visit www.uphaonline.com/resources/2009_convention/convention_registration.pdf for the convention registration and schedule of events. To download the...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Junior Exhibitor Youth Driving Challenge funded by Elisabeth Goth Chelberg, held its finals in November during the American Royal in Kansas City, MO. Cash prizes, medals, and ribbons were awarded to three in the Show Pleasure Driving Challenge and in the Fine Harness Driving Challenge, for the second year in a row, CH Cary’s Moonraker took home first place. The winners are as follows: Show Pleasure Driving Challenge Horse, rider, owner, place...

FEI Anti-Doping and Medication Commission Chair Arne Ljungqvist, FEI First Vice President Sven Holmberg and FEI Secretary General Alexander McLin met on December 16 to plot the way forward for the Commission recently established by the FEI General Assembly . The subject matter to be addressed by the Commission’s members is vast and falls into the broad categories of policy, legislation, education, communication, prevention, evidence, prosecution, adjudication, and financing. The Commission’s...

Attention junior and young riders in Zones 3, 5, 7, 9 and 10 interested in competing at next year’s North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) for Show Jumping. Please check your zone’s criteria and qualifying period for the 2009 FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships under the Jumping Discipline page of the USEF website. Please direct questions to Jennifer Haydon, Director of Show Jumping for National Programs, at [email protected] or (859) 225-6911.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) 54th Annual Convention united equine practitioners across the globe in San Diego, CA, December 6-10. As the world’s largest meeting for equine veterinarians, the convention provided quality education to 3,201 veterinarians, students and veterinary technicians. Total convention attendance was 6,579. David Foley, AAEP Executive Director, considered the third largest AAEP convention turnout a success in the midst of a staggering economy. “In...

Anky van Grunsven, the most successful musical freestyle competitor in the history of dressage, Holland's Edward Gal who captivated American audiences at the World Cup Finals, and USA Olympian Steffen Peters are among riders to confirm their participation in the inaugural $140,000 Exquis World Dressage Masters CDI***** in Wellington, January 28-31, 2009. Olympians Ashley Holzer of Canada and Hans Peter Minderhoud of The Netherlands have also committed to the event at the Palm Beach...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has approved the following modifications to the Selection Procedures for CSIO/CSI Competitions, aka “the USEF Computer List”. The following changes (noted in bold/italics) became effective on December 1, 2008. CONSEQUENCE LANGUAGE • If a competitor withdraws from a CSI***/CSIO*** and above (US, CAN, MEX are excluded) more than three (3) times in one year after Athlete Services has sent the competitor’s invitation request to the...

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved the sports competitions programme for the first Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to be held in Singapore in 2010, as well as the qualification system for each event. Showjumping, the sole discipline representing equestrian sport, will see a total of 30 riders between 17 and 18 years of age competing on borrowed horses at the Singapore Turf Club. The qualification system is available at www.fei....