“America’s Horse,” the American Quarter Horse Association’s award-winning television series will be heading to Manerbio, Italy, for the 2005 FEI World Reining Masters Finals presented by the Arcese Group and the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE) this coming September. The show will air October 23 on www.aqha.com and on the United States channel, TVG Network. “America’s Horse” has been at the forefront of reining competition television coverage, including the 2002 World Equestrian...

(Lexington, KY) – The United States Equestrian Federation has established the Hurricane Equine Relief Fund to assist those agencies working directly with the equine victims and refugees from Hurricane Katrina. The money will be used to support efforts to deliver food, veterinary services, and shelter for horses and ponies in the hurricane stricken areas. All donations are tax deductible, and gifts of any size are appreciated. Donations can be made online at www.usef.org, click on the Hurricane...

Photos.com Nearly 4000 e-mails and hundreds of phone calls received (Lexington, KY) - Thousands of individuals responded to yesterday’s USEF appeal for donations of shelter and much-needed services for the equine refugees of Hurricane Katrina. E-mails came from all sections of the United States and Canada and ranged from offers of 350 stalls in San Antonio to two pint-size stalls for Miniature horses in the Midwest. Because of this huge response, only e-mails, not voicemails or phone calls,...

Lexington, KY – Craig Schmersal of Menifee, California, and Tim McQuay of Tioga, Texas will represent the United States in the 2005 FEI World Reining Masters Series Final in Manerbio, Italy, September 24. Each, a master, in his own right, Schmersal was a member of the Gold Medal U.S. team at the 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, while McQuay is the NRHA’s all-time leading money earner. Schmersal took the Gold medal and Championship title August 27, riding Tidal Wave...

Lexington, KY – Riding Topsail Ma Cee Blair, 13-year-old Jordan Brown of Selma, North Carolina, took home the Championship title and Gold medal in the 13 and under division at the inaugural 2005 USEF Youth Reining Championship, presented by Markel and Hagyard-Davidson-McGee on Sunday, August 28, at the Kentucky Horse Park, with a winning score of 210. “It was exciting!” said Brown. “It’s a big honor to win. It’s something I’ll remember all my life....

Craig Schmersal and Tidal Wave Jack, Winners of the 2005 Adequan/USEF Open Reining Championship (Waltenberry Photography) Lexington, KY – With swift and calculated moves, amazing 360-degree spins and stop-on-a-dime sliding stops that left an unabashed crowd going wild, Craig Schmersal and Tidal Wave Jack claimed their landmark USEF Gold medal and trophy in one fell swoop at the 2005 Adequan/USEF Open Reining Championship on Saturday, August 27, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington....

Aachen, Germany - The United States dressage team finished in third place behind a history-making Dutch team that beat Germany on Thursday to win the nations’ team competition at the World Equestrian Festival. The U.S. riders, Steffen Peters of San Diego, CA, on Floriano; and George Williams of Delaware, OH, on Rocher, had led the standings in the grand prix after the first of two days of competition. But, the powerful Dutch and German teams, which included Olympic Individual and Team Gold...

Aachen, Germany - Aug. 25 – The United States show jumping team claimed a victory and a fourth place finish Thursday on the eve of the Samsung Super League Nations Cup competition at the World Equestrian Festival. Jeffrey Welles, of Ridgefield, CT, piloted his nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Sampras, to victory in the Youngsters Cup, while Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc, WI, finished fourth on the Dutch Warmblood gelding, Anthem, in the Preis von Nordrhein-Westfalen. Welles and Sampras finished in...

Ramiro Quintana won the testing Speed Challenge at the American Gold Cup last year, and he will return with the same mare, Carousel, to defend his title at this year’s event, September 15-18, at the Devon show grounds in Devon, PA. The Speed Challenge is a very exciting class, which pits professionals against juniors and amateurs, and Quintana, who also won this event four years ago, placed first and third in last year’s event. The five top professionals from their qualifying class on Fast...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation has announced the team for the eighth and final leg of the 2005 Samsung Super League, CSIO Barcelona, Spain, September 15-18. The team members are listed below in alphabetical order: Lauren Hough of Wellington, FL, with Casadora (1996 Dutch Warmblood mare, owned by Laura Davies Mateo). Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc, WI, with Anthem (1991 KWPN Dutch Warmblood gelding, owned by the Summit Syndicate). Christine Tribble of Wellington, FL,...