The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces that sales of their Horses Inspire Olympic Rings have raised in excess of $40,000 for the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC). Over the next couple of months, that number is expected to double. The Horses Inspire Olympic Rings are bracelets made of red, white, and blue rings imprinted with “achieve,” “believe,” and “dream,” held together by a Team USA and an Olympic Rings clasp. Passion clasps may be added to...

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced the hiring of James Lawson as the organization’s Business Manager for the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) MemberPerks program, which is administered by NTRA Advantage. Based at the NTRA’s Lexington headquarters, Lawson will oversee USEF MemberPerks, which offers significant savings on products and services from John Deere, Sherwin-Williams, UPS, Toshiba, Office Depot, Office Max, Equine Travel Advantage, FarmVet.com and...

Chester Weber and his Team in Aachen (My Elisabeth Weber ) By Joanie Morris Lexington, KY - The USEF has approved the following drivers for the Short List to represent the U.S. at the 2008 Four-in-Hand World Driving Championships to be held in Beesd, The Netherlands, September 3-7, 2008. Name/Age/Hometown Horse/Sex/Age/Breed/Owner James Fairclough/49/Newton, NJ Charlie Brown/G/10/Holsteiner/Jane Clark Levin/G/10/Austrian Warmblood/Jane Clark Kavango V. Falkenstein/G/9/Swiss/Jane Clark Othello M....

Courtesy World Games 2010 Foundation (An artist's rendering of the Kentucky Horse Park's planned outdoor stadium.) The World Games 2010 Foundation and the Kentucky Horse Park released the first renderings of the Kentucky Horse Park venue plans for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, as well as the artistic renderings of a permanent indoor arena and outdoor stadium. “While these venue plans may experience some changes between now and 2010, these tentative layouts already...

Twenty-five national and state-based equine protection, placement and rescue organizations gathered Tuesday for the second Homes for Horses Coalition Conference to discuss the re-homing of at-risk horses in America. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Animal Welfare Institute jointly sponsored the conference. The coalition, formed in 2007, is dedicated to ending horse slaughter and other forms of equine abuse while promoting growth, collaboration and professionalism in the...

The newest addition to the international reining scene, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Reining Championships, is showing a world of support, literally. Twenty countries from four continents are entered to compete in the September 11-14, 2008, competition in Manerbio, Italy. Teams and individuals from these countries are to compete in the inaugural World Championships, a brand new event hosted by the FEI. In the past, a World Reining Championship has only been offered during...

Each year, the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) honors several outstanding junior members for their high achievements in academic success, extracurricular activities, and most importantly for their involvement with and dedication to the American Saddlebred Horse. This year, five ASHA Scholarships, totaling $5,000 each, will be awarded, including the Youth to Youth Scholarship. The Youth to Youth Scholarship is given to an individual who has participated in ASHA Youth activities,...

The qualifying season is now under way for the 2009 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Dressage Championships for the Junior, Young Rider, and Young Adult “Brentina Cup” divisions. Selection procedures and qualifying competition lists are now available on the National Dressage Page of USEF.org. Please note the age range for the USEF Young Adult “Brentina Cup” division has been expanded for 2009. Riders between the ages of 20 and 28 years old are now eligible to participate in this program. For...

Richard Johnson of Great Britain has been appointed to the new position of FEI Director of Communications following an extensive and open international search. Johnson, who is currently Head of Media of The Children’s Society, will join the FEI on September 1. The Children’s Society is a leading charity dedicated to the care of young people and is a benchmark for media relations in that sector. With 14 years’ experience, working in the charitable/not-for-profit sector for organizations with...

Ballindaggin, the stately 23-year-old New York-bred chestnut who swept the 1987 New York Stallion Series and defeated an international field in the 1988 Molson Export Challenge, was humanely euthanized on July 22 at the Hagyard Equine Institute. A multiple stakes winner of $946,894 in just 14 starts, Ballindaggin was recently diagnosed by Dr. Doug Byars as suffering from severe back problems brought on by degenerative arthritis. The decision to euthanize was made in consultation with Dr. Byars,...