This special section, Drugs and Medications Corner, will feature a series of articles from the USEF’s Drugs and Medications Program and the veterinary community to communicate the latest news to better educate the equine community. Let me start by saying that I’m a strong supporter of legitimate, medically valid compounding pharmacy practice. If used prudently, the practice of compounding plays an important role in veterinary medicine and in your horse’s health. Many horses...

The New England Equitation Championships (NEEC) will return to the Eastern States Exposition Coliseum in West Springfield, MA, October 15-18, with all the excitement, camaraderie and keen competition it is known for. Judges Bob Crandall, Mindy Darst, Jimmy Lee, Randy Roy, Christine Tauber and Andrea Wells will preside over this year’s competition as well as the ever-popular Challenge of the States sponsored by the friends and family of Grazing Fields Farm. Fran Dotoli and Dr. Kate Chope will...

The 2008/2009 ASG Software Solutions/United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Derby Qualifying Series was brought to a close this past weekend at the Devon Horse Show in Devon, PA, and the Memorial Day Classic in Burbank, CA. The 18-month series will culminate at the Hunter Derby Finals on August 21-22, 2009, at the Kentucky Horse Park. The top 75 horses based on earnings will be invited to Lexington to compete for an unprecedented $100,000 in prize money. Forty-five...

Photo by PhelpsPhotos.com (Rebecca Hart and Norteassa) Lexington, KY – Rebecca Hart has had quite an eventful year. In 2008, she won her first National Championship aboard Norteassa in May, 2008, and then the pair went on to Hong Kong to compete in the 2008 Paralympic Games and barely missed winning an Individual medal. This year, Hart bested 16 other riders to defend her title as 2009 Cavalor/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion. The...

Laura Kraut and Cedric (Shannon Brinkman) by Joanie Morris Lexington, KY – Tomorrow, the first horse in the ring of the very first Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ will be representing the United States in La Baule, France. The 10 best Jumping teams in the world go head-to-head to kick off the prestigious summer tour. Christine McCrea will lead it off for the U.S., the Fairfield, CT rider will ride Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stable’s Vegas – fresh from a good performance at...

Entries for the 2009 American Hunter Pony Classic are now being accepted. The auction of selected pony hunters will be held in conjunction with the USEF Pony Finals National Championships. The deadline for entries is June 15, 2009. The 2009 American Hunter Pony Classic will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2009. A preview of ponies and a cookout is scheduled for Tuesday. The 2008 American Hunter Pony Classic established international records in several major categories. New World Records were...

(Lake Erie College, Painesville OH)— Becket Run Equestrian Team of Hamilton, OH, won the Hunt Seat Upper School National Championship at the sixth annual Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) National Finals held April 18-20, 2009 at the Lake Erie College Equestrian Center in Ohio. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School of Atlanta, GA, earned the Middle School Championship title. The Knights Equestrian Team of Hinton, VI, became the reserve champion team in the hunt seat upper school...

Attention Children Jumper Riders: The U.S. will have two qualifiers for this year’s Final, which is slated to be held in Singapore, December 6-13, 2009. The Final for Children between the ages of 12 and 14 as defined by FEI rules brings together riders from various nations around the world not only to compete but also to meet their peers from other cultures. The U.S. qualifiers for this final will be held at the American Gold Cup in Moreland Hills, OH, September 9-13, 2009, and at the Del Mar...

The World Games 2010 Foundation will begin activities for the much anticipated 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games this summer when the Kentucky Cup Reining—the official test event for the discipline of reining—will slide into the new indoor arena at the Kentucky Horse Park this July. A four-star FEI event, the Kentucky Cup Reining offers a similar format to the Games in both nations cup competitions and individual championships. Nations expected to field teams include Brazil,...

Steffen Peters and Ravel (Shannon Brinkman) Lexington, KY – For the first time, a US Dressage Rider has been named by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) as the Athlete of the Month. Steffen Peters was honored for his effort in Las Vegas, NV at the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Final. Riding Ravel, for longtime supporter Akiko Yamazaki, Peters made history. The pair earned the best score of their career together in the Freestyle (84.95%) and brought down the house at the Thomas &...