Craig Schmersal and Tim McQuay after their Gold- and Silver-medal wins at the $100,000 FEI World Reining Masters Finals. (Andrea Bonaga) Manerbio, Italy – September 25 – The much awaited second $100,000 FEI World Reining Masters Finals, presented by the Arcese Group and the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation, saw a full house and was truly a tribute to the sport of reining. Craig Schmersal, riding Tidal Wave Jack, received a standing ovation from the enthusiastic crowd, who had a...

Lexington, KY – In a world competition that turned out nothing short of legendary, American reining superstars Craig Schmersal and Tim McQuay won the Gold and Silver Medals respectively, at the 2005 FEI World Reining Masters Final competition in Manerbio, Italy on September 24. Riding Tidal Wave Jack, Schmersal turned in a score of 231.5, earning a Gold Medal and one of the highest scores on record. Coming in second with a score of 224, Tim McQuay and Mister Montana Nic earned the Silver...

(Lexington, KY) – All donations made to the USEF Equine Relief Fund from today, September 23, 2005, forward will be used to assist victims of any 2005 hurricane including Katrina, Rita or any others that could occur. The Fund will assist those agencies working directly with the equine victims and refugees from hurricanes. Every dollar of the money donated to the fund will be used to support efforts to deliver food, veterinary services, and shelter for horses and ponies in the stricken areas....

(BATON ROUGE¬, LA) - Still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Southern Louisiana braces for the oncoming power of Hurricane Rita. In anticipation of this Category 5 Hurricane, the Louisiana State University Hurricane Equine Rescue Operation has reinstated the horse rescue hotline at: (225) 578 – 9501 Anyone having knowledge of horses in need of evacuation or rescue due to the hurricane is encouraged to contact a Hurricane Equine Rescue Operation representative at this number....

(Austin, TX) – The Texas Animal Health Commission has set up an emergency hotline to provide pet owners with information on available shelters by county. The number is: (800) 550-8242 and operates Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pre-selected shelters are currently open and have been receiving evacuating horses and other animals. Lists of available shelters/stabling are also available thru local emergency management and the Texas Animal Health Commission. These are published on their web...

Lexington, KY — Merial, a world leader in animal healthcare, has joined the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) as its newest corporate partner. Though the partnership may be new, USEF athletes and veterinarians have depended on Merial for years, as its trusted products have long been used by USEF team horses as they travel to events both nationally and internationally. Through this partnership, we are pleased to announce that ULCERGARD™ and GASTROGARD® (omeprazole) from...

Lexington, KY – In preparing for a solid U.S. Vaulting Team for the 2006 World Equestrian Games, the USEF Vaulting High Performance Committee has announced three new hires, all vaulting professionals who will work tirelessly to prepare our athletes for the rigorous competition that awaits them in Aachen, Germany in 2006. This will be the first time that our U.S. High Performance Vaulters have had the advantage of such rigorous team leadership and instruction. Adrienne Stang has been named...

Reiners and reining enthusiasts from all over the world are pouring into the little town of Manerbio, Italy, where, in the wonderful Palasturla facility, the finals of the second $100,000 FEI World Reining Masters Finals, presented by the Arcese Group and the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE) will be held on Saturday 24 at 9 p.m. The event is run concurrently with the 2005 Italian Reining Horse Association Maturity. On Friday afternoon at 5.30 pm the FEI Strategic Plan Open...

Lexington, KY – The 2006 United States Equestrian Federation Annual Meeting, previously scheduled to take place in New Orleans, has been relocated to Cincinnati, OH, at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. The dates for the convention will remain January 11–15. “We were very much looking forward to meeting in New Orleans but USEF was one of hundreds of organizations that had to relocate their convention as a result of the devastating hurricane. The Netherland Plaza is a beautiful Art Deco...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced the winners of its Senior Athletic/Academic Achievement Award. The award was established to recognize senior USDF Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Members (IMs) who have a 3.5 or better grade point average (GPA). The 2005 winners are James Marcotte of the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY, and Ashley Wolfe of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. To be eligible for the Senior Athletic/Academic Achievement Award, senior IMs must have at...