Lexington, KY— The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces that bid packets are now available for any artist interested in becoming the “Official Artist of the USEF Pony Finals” for 2009. The USEF Pony Finals National Championships is a five-day championship which draws young riders from across the country competing for the title of four championships— USEF National Pony Hunter Finals, USEF National Green Hunter Pony Finals, USEF National Pony Medal and the USEF National Pony...

Esther Fiddes and her Morgan gelding, LBF Hickory Smoke, competed in the Kay Fullerton Memorial NEATO 25-Mile Competitive Trail Ride in Marlborough, Connecticut, November 2. The pair earned a perfect score of 100, the ride championship, and the high-score American Morgan Horse Association (AmHA) Morgan Award. Fiddes and "Pokey" have had a very successful season, earning many high ride scores and top Morgan awards. This ride certainly was the highlight of their year.

Wilbur "Sug" Utz, American Saddlebred trainer and owner of Blue Ridge Stables in Raytown, MO, died Wednesday, November 5, 2008. He was 90 years old. Sug, son of Emil and Sudie Utz, was born and raised on a farm outside Maysville in northwest Missouri. Coming from a horse training family, Sug learned his craft at his father’s side, along with his three brothers. Two of his brothers, Don and Jay, similar to Sug, went on to become world’s champion caliber Saddlebred men. They were all exciting...

Over 140 riders and their families, and members of the Board of Directors of the National Horse Show attended the EQUUS Foundation "Deal or No Deal" event at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament and National Horse Show on Halloween, Friday, October 31, 2008, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Oncenter Ballroom. Hosted by Bates Saddles, the event featured many of the top junior riders competing in the coveted Maclay Finals as the Deal or No Deal Suitcase Models. Alexa Anthony, Carly...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Kassidy Peacock of Helotes, TX, has been selected as the recipient of the 2008 USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by The Paddock Saddlery and sponsored by the USDF Youth Executive Board. This prestigious award honors one outstanding youth volunteer who has contributed on a national and local basis to the USDF and dressage. As the recipient of this award, Peacock's name will be engraved on a perpetual trophy,...

Friends of Sound Horses (FOSH) has announced the details of the second national conference to focus on ending soring of Tennessee Walking Horses and all gaited horse breeds. The conference is being held March 20-21, 2008, at the Paramount Plaza Hotel in Gainesville, FL. Soring is a cruel and illegal practice used to create a winning gait for the show ring. The purpose of the conference is to bring together a wide complement of experts, research and resources to address alternatives and...

The latest addition to the Hilltop Farm Guest Stallion Program, Hit Parade (Show Star x Ehrentusch), owned by Savoire Faire Stables, competed at the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Region 7 Championships & CDS Annual Championships this October and was truly one of the "hits" of the show with his second-level championship win in both the USDF Horse of the Year and the CDS Horse of the Year Championships. The CDS Championship title was awarded based on the averages of Friday and Saturday...

Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Alysheba stepped off of a horse van on October 31, and into a new life at the Kentucky Horse Park. After spending the last eight years in the royal stables of HM King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Alysheba returned to the state where he was foaled, as a generous gesture from the king. Frank McGovern, general manager of the king’s Janadria Farm, was at the park to turn Alysheba over to the park’s executive director, John Nicholson, who accepted the horse...

The American Saddlebred Registry (ASR) Sweepstakes total payout of over $210,000 in 2008 tops the 15-year high of $199,424 in 2007 and is the most prize money awarded in one year since the Sweepstakes’ all-time high set in 1992. Coupled with its futurities, American Saddlebred Registry prize programs distributed close to half-a-million dollars ($473,744) over the course of approximately three weeks during the Kentucky State Fair (August 17-23) in Louisville and the All American Horse Classic...

Majestic Gaits KWPN Elite Dutch Warmblood mare Torette R (Silvano x Flemmingh) became Grand Champion of the New England Dressage Association (NEDA) Great American United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Breeders Championship Show in Saugerties, NY. Torette R also became the USDF New England series Bred Mare Champion. Kathy Hickerson, the owner of Torette R and Majestic Gaits bought the mare from VDL Stud in Holland after she was #4 National Mare in Holland. Hickerson said, "This was very...