The World Wealth Report by Merrill Lynch/Capgemini estimates that only 0.15% of the world's population have achieved "millionaire" status. In the world of reining, only 11 competitors have crested the millionaire peak—until now. Craig Johnson of Middletown, NY, is unofficially among the elite few National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Million Dollar Riders with $1,000,093.97 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings. Johnson is the 12th NRHA member to become an NRHA Million Dollar Rider. Johnson, an...

For five days during the National Walking Horse Association (NWHA)’s 2008 National Championship Horse Show in Murfreesboro, TN, 339 sound, naturally-gaited Tennessee Walking Horses—more than at any previous NWHA National Show—showcased the versatility, athleticism and natural gaits that distinguish the breed, earning their way into the final day’s championship rounds. More than 1,600 entries competed in 153 classes ranging from rail, driving and dressage, to Western riding, water...

For the second year in a row Friesian horses from all over the United States converged at the very center of the country in beautiful Lake St. Louis, MO. One horse and rider, Bernhard and Christiane Henrichs even traveled all the way from Germany to compete in a variety of classes, winning among others, the Prix St George test in dressage. This year the event was held in honor of International Friesian Show Horse Association (IFSHA) founder and longtime breeder Dr. Genevieve de Montremare who...

The 2009 HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing Final has been awarded to the Polish venue of Strzegom and will take place August 21-23, subject to contract. It is the first time since the inception of the series in 2002 that the final will travel to Eastern Europe. Strzegom, which lies in southwestern Poland, has been part of the series since its early stages and has in the past organized several qualifiers. The Toyota Hilux Horse Trials at Strzegom were one of the 16 FEI World Cup ™ Eventing qualifiers...

Hillary Dobbs, last year's Leading Open Jumper Rider, returned to defend her title at the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) and retained it for the second consecutive year. The 19-year-old equestrian did this by taking the blue ribbon in the $20,000 Gambler's Choice aboard Marengo, her horse that won two classes last year. A rising star in the show jumping world and full time Harvard student, Dobbs of Sussex, NJ, and Palm Beach, FL, is the daughter of CNN reporter Lou Dobbs. Dobbs...

A three-time Grand National Champion American Shetland Pony was recently donated to the Arabian Nights dinner show in Orlando, proving that the Shetland Pony can be a star going from the show ring to show business. The pony was donated by the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) and will join more than 60 other horses at Arabian Nights, becoming the first-ever ambassador of the Shetland Pony breed to appear at the attraction. Tap Dance Kid, known as Dancer, was the 2008 American Shetland Pony...

The American Morgan Horse Institute (AMHI) Board of Trustees adopted a resolution to build an American Morgan Horse Pavilion at the Kentucky Horse Park with a targeted opening of Spring 2010. The AMHA offices and the National Museum of the Morgan Horse will remain headquartered in Shelburne, VT. “This is a landmark decision for the Morgan world,” remarked Bob Morgan, President of AMHI, and a member of the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation Board. “The Pavilion will showcase the Morgan breed and...

The Bates Year-End Awards were presented at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring the 125th National Horse Show on Saturday, November 1. Jessica Springsteen took the Gold, Chelsea Moss the Silver and Victoria Birdsall the Bronze. The top ten riders as of the end of the ranking year (October 31, 2008) are as follows: Rank, Rider, Points, City, State, Trainer 1. Jessica Springsteen, 28,324, Colts Neck, NJ, Stacia Madden 2. Chelsea Moss, 27,425, Medford, NJ, Stacia Madden 3....

Results of a United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) online survey conducted in May and June 2008 concerning the USEF Dressage Performance Standards Proposal showed that 65% of the over 1,250 respondents feel that there should be a proficiency requirement in order to advance through the levels in dressage competition. In addition, 56% of respondents indicate that the levels of proficiency identified in the draft proposal were appropriate. Important concerns about the USEF Dressage...

Katharine Brunjes and Theatric (Genie Stewart-Spears ) Lexington, KY – 160 km on horseback is no easy feat. But 142 riders from 34 nations will undertake the task when the FEI World Endurance Championships get underway in Terengganu, Malaysia November 6-9, 2008. The US has six horse/rider combinations in Malaysia under the guidance of three-time World Champion Becky Hart, who is serving as Chef d’Equipe. The team includes another multiple world champion: Valarie Kanavy. She is hot...