The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation announced that in 2005 it awarded $1.9 million to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) in support of its high-performance programs: dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping and vaulting. The grant was made possible by the generous donations of contributors in response to the USET Foundation’s successful fundraising efforts. “I can’t thank the wonderful and generous contributors to the USET Foundation enough,”...

The United States Eventing Association has announced that the 2006 Maui Jim Horse Trials in Wayne, IL, will again be part of the Adequan Gold Cup Series of events, thus designating it as one of the 12 “premier” eventing competitions in the United States. Maui Jim Horse Trials, who recently entered into a five-year sponsorship agreement with Maui Jim, Inc., the Peoria-based manufacturer of high-end sunglasses, will offer riders a new look for the July 7-9 competition. A long unused parcel of...

The 2005 National Pleasure Horse Award winners have been named in eight divisions, all of which are based on a high-point scoring system. All registered American Saddlebreds are eligible for these awards without payment of additional fees. The National Pleasure Horse Awards are based on a formula that favors horses that are consistent winners across the country. The system, which crowns eight champions, is based on the USEF rating of the show and the number of entries in the class. The complete...

The 2005 USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage National Championships turned into a landmark for the ISR-Oldenburg Registry N.A. and its breeders. The prestigious FEI final of the five-year-old dressage horses was dominated by U.S.-bred and even more by ISR-Oldenburg N.A. horses. In the past, most of the horses which made it to the National Finals were imported. For the first time ever in 2005 the majority of the finalists were U.S.-bred horses (eight of 13). "I think I was more excited about the...

Mike Ferrara (Lexington, KY) - Throughout the year there are many competitions which are extremely valuable to the various USEF breed organizations but are a challenge to organize due to required expenses. The USEF wishes to support the widest possible network of shows for its breed members and enthusiasts by announcing a new Outreach Grant program. A total of $125,000 has been budgeted in 2006 for grants to financially challenged breed competitions which meet the grant requirements and are...

Stephen B. Macfarlane, 59, died following surgery in Louisville on January 11. Macfarlane had spent his lifetime as a multi-faceted horseman, winning championship titles in American Saddlebred, Roadster, Pony and coaching competitions. Macfarlane had just returned to Kentucky from his winter home in Ft. Meyers, FL. He had been taking blood-thinning medication for a diagnostic procedure scheduled later this week, when he suffered a head injury resulting in edema that could not be controlled...

It's official! The 2006 USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals will be held at the Golden State Warm Up I & II, July 28-30, 2006, in Rancho Murieta, CA. Junior riders qualified for these Finals by competing in the 2005 USEF Dressage Seat Medal Semi-Final classes held at each of the 2005 Great American/USDF Regional Championships, with the top two competitors in each age division being invited to the 2006 Medal Finals. For more information, contact Jennifer Keeler, National Director of Dressage, at...

Danielle Torano, Alex Parrish, Tracy Kenly and Lauren Hester emerged as champions of the 2005 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series. The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series conducted its largest series ever in 2005, with classes at 94 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 separate standings kept for East and...

(Lexington, KY) – When the clouds cleared on August 30th, the full aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was shockingly revealed, and before the Gulf area could even assess all the damage another cruel blow was struck by Hurricane Rita. Almost immediately after Katrina, an unprecedented outpouring of assistance from the equestrian community across the United States and Canada resulted in thousands of emails to the USEF with offers of shelter for horses and inquiries about sending much needed...

Tallahassee's Red Hills Horse Trials, Inc., which began nearly a decade ago and has grown into one of the nation's top eventing equestrian competitions, will have a change in leadership following the March 2006 event. Red Hills Co-Organizers, Sallie Ausley and Sylvia Ochs, announced this week they will step down from their leadership roles following the March 2006 Trials. An initial search to locate an individual or individuals to succeed the co-organizers proved unsuccessful and it appeared...