Tickets for the 50th anniversary of the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) are now on sale. The WIHS is the highlight of the equestrian calendar and one of the most prestigious competitions in North America. It features the top hunters and jumpers, including Olympic champions, competing for more than $400,000 in prize money. The event will take place Tuesday through Sunday, October 21-26, 2008, at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Two sessions are held daily Tuesday though Saturday and...

William Moyer, DVM, has been named the 2009 vice president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Dr. Moyer, of College Station, TX, will join the Executive Committee next year and then serve as AAEP president in 2011. Moyer is professor of sports medicine and head of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He also serves on the board of directors of the College of Veterinary Medicine and is...

This year marks the inception of the Tristanne Weber Childress Memorial American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Youth of the Year Contest Sportsmanship Award. A Morgan horse trainer, Tristanne Weber Childress of Siler City, NC, passed away March 17, 2008, following a short illness at the age of 34. This award, funded by donations from friends and family, will be presented to the AMHA Youth of the Year contestant who best exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship. The winner will be selected by...

A trailer full of clothing, blankets and other items to help victims of widespread flooding in Haiti has been sent from Wellington to Miami for shipment to the devastated nation. "We have had a tremendous response so far," said Katherine Bellissimo, who initiated the collection effort. She is a partner in Wellington Equestrian Partners that owns the management company, Equestrian Sport Productions, of the Wellington horse shows. "The tremendous response to the needs of the flood victims has...

California dressage rider Jan Ebeling and the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Rafalca won the dressage World Cup qualifier at Saugerties CDI-W show in upstate New York this past weekend with a score of 71.700%. This result came after their victory in the grand prix on Saturday. Ebeling was delighted with the mare who, "didn't really have any mistakes," in the grand prix freestyle. "She was really, really super, and it was definitely a confidence builder." The test, which is ridden to music from the...

Lexington, KY— The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces that the Executive Committee has recently approved the Show Jumping Selection Procedures for the Australian Youth Olympic Festival which will be held January 14-18, 2009 at the Sydney International Equestrian Center. Athletes from across the world will be competing in this international competition. The Australian Youth Olympic Festival is a multi-sport event that follows the structure of Olympic Games as closely as...

Attention junior and young riders in Zone 8 interested in competing at next year’s FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) for show jumping: Please check your zone’s selection procedures for the 2009 NAJYRC on the jumping discipline page of the USEF website at www.usef.org/Contentpage2.aspx?id=natjumping . Please direct questions to Jennifer Haydon, Director of Show Jumping for National Programs, at [email protected] or (859) 225-6911.

A strong international field descends on the stylish French seaside town of Deauville, France, this week to contest the HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing Final in what should be the most competitive finale yet. It all starts on September 18 with the first horse inspection. The 2008 FEI World Cup™ eventing standings leader Kevin McNab of Australia, will be making his first competitive visit to Europe, and has earned the right to pole position, while the Australian challenge is completed...

Lexington, KY - The World Endurance Championship Definite Entries and Alternates were named after the final Training Session in Williston, Florida on September 13. All 12 nominated entries participated under the guidance of Chef d’ Equipe and three-time World Champion Becky Grand Hart. The Veterinary Panel examined the horses and the Endurance Selectors observed the horse/rider combinations as they completed a 38 mile course. The following horse/rider combinations were selected to represent the...

On November 13-16, 2008, the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) will sponsor a breed booth at the East Coast Equine Affaire event, being held at the Eastern States Exposition Center in West Springfield, MA. Equine Affaire, the nation's premiere national equine exposition and equestrian gathering, organizes four days of clinics, seminars, demonstrations and exhibits, with an expected attendance of tens of thousands of horse people. "The ASHA booth will feature the versatility of the...