Jacqueline Beck and Kiss of the Zodiak, winners of the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final-Junior. (Photo by Howard Schatzberg) Lexington, KY – Jacqueline Beck riding her American Saddlebred Kiss of the Zodiac bested 19 other riders to win the 2008 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Saddle Seat Medal Final-Junior. The championship was held November 22 as part of the United Professional Horsemen’s Association (UPHA) American Royal National Championship Horse Show in Kansas City, MO....

The 2008 Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament featuring the 125th National Horse Show was held the week of October 29-November 2, 2008, and proved to be a grand success and a winning combination. Earlier in the year, the Board of Directors for the National Horse Show Association of America, Ltd. approved with a unanimous vote to move the 125th National Horse Show to the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament in Syracuse, NY. The goal of relocating the show was to find a better date...

Whitney Weeks, Victoria Birdsall, Josephina Nor and Samantha Harrison emerged as champions of the 2008 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series conducted its largest series ever in 2008, with classes at 109 horse shows across the nation. This gave competitors an abundance of opportunities to accumulate points throughout the year. The Series featured separate divisions for amateur-owner and junior riders with standings kept separately...

Chicago 2016 Presents Bid Plan to European Olympic Committees CHICAGO - The delegation from Chicago 2016 traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, this week to present Chicago's vision for the Olympic and Paralympic Games at the European Olympic Committees (EOC) XXXVII General Assembly. The delegation, including Honorary Chairman of Chicago 2016 and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago 2016 Chairman and CEO Patrick G. Ryan met with sport leaders from across Europe to discuss Chicago's bid for the...

The 2008 FEI General Assembly week got underway on Monday, November 17, in Buenos Aires, Argentina and is set to run through Saturday, November 22. An impressive number of meetings are scheduled for the week, including the General Assembly on Thursday, November 21, as well as informative sessions and forums with guest speakers on the current issues facing the sport today. A Brief Glance at the Program Monday: Bureau Meeting I Tuesday: Regional Group Meetings Wednesday: Regional Group Meetings...

The audience cheered even more enthusiastically when Will Simpson entered the arena aboard Archie Bunker to contest the $50,000 Los Angeles National Grand Prix. The 2008 Olympic Gold medalist did not disappoint as he piloted Archie Bunker to one of just four clear rounds during the featured class at the LA National, November 12-16. Olaf Petersen, Jr., designed a challenging course for the 34 horse field that served as a West Coast League World Cup Qualifier. "This was a difficult course. This...

With little equines on their minds, members of The American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) and the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) recently met for their 2008 national convention in Branson. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), who has been strong supporter of the ASPC throughout 2008, hosted a luncheon during the convention for all the attendees and conducted the USEF Shetland Pony Committee meeting. One of the highlights of the convention was a drawing during the awards banquet...

Late registration remains for the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Dressage Technical Delegate Clinic that will be held in conjunction with the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Annual Convention on Saturday, December 6. Panelists who will serve as leaders for this presentation are Lisa Gorretta and Loretta Berg Waltner. USEF will also offer a Dressage TD Pony Measurement Certification on Saturday evening, December 6 (classroom), and Sunday, December 7 (practical-off site). A...

Hanover Shoe Farms, the most prolific Standardbred breeding farm in the world, will be honored with the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) 2008 award for outstanding service in equine welfare, the Lavin Cup. The Lavin Cup, named for former AAEP President A. Gary Lavin, VMD, will be presented to a representative of Hanover Shoe Farms on December 9 at the AAEP’s 54th Annual Convention in San Diego. Each year the Lavin Cup is awarded to a non-veterinary individual or organization...

Wilbur "Sug" Utz, American Saddlebred trainer and owner of Blue Ridge Stables in Raytown, MO, died Wednesday, November 5, 2008. He was 90 years old. Sug, son of Emil and Sudie Utz, was born and raised on a farm outside Maysville in northwest Missouri. Coming from a horse training family, Sug learned his craft at his father’s side, along with his three brothers. Two of his brothers, Don and Jay, similar to Sug, went on to become world’s champion caliber Saddlebred men. They were all exciting...