For the first time ever, the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) will combine the National Endurance Ride and National Competitive Trail Ride into one week of exciting competition, which will include American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC)-sanctioned rides, October 27-31, at Lake Carl Blackwell in Stillwater, OK. Competition begins Tuesday, October 27, with the AHA National Championship 100-Mile Endurance Ride, coupled with three coinciding AERC endurance rides— a 100-mile, a 50-mile and a...

Oklahoma City, OK—Record setting triple-digit temperatures and blazing hot scores were the buzz at the 2009 AdequanÒ/USEF National Reining Championships presented by Equine Motorcoach in Oklahoma City, OK. Held during the annual NRHA Derby, the championships determined the nation’s top reining horses and riders after a year of qualification. Using portable fans and high-powered misters to cut the heat for competing horses, the event was able to care for the horses and athletes alike in the...

Oklahoma City, OK—A very strong turnout for the 2009 AdequanÒ/USEF National Youth Reining Championships presented by Equine Motorcoach made for a competitive field in all three age divisions and an excellent display of reining among the nation’s best young riders. Earlier in the day, Lyndsay Jordan of Georgetown, KY, slid and spun her way to the 2009 NCAA Collegiate Reining Championship, and her strong effort at the AdequanÒ/USEF National Youth Reining Championship was equally impressive,...

Lexington, KY— The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces a new contest for 2009 designed to let USEF members vote for their “Favorite USEF Breed Competition.” The idea behind this contest is to award and promote the USEF licensed breed competitions for their efforts in running a show so well that exhibitors want to call it their favorite. Also, this contest gives exhibitors the opportunity to provide positive feedback about the competitions to the USEF. “When we created this...

Riders hoping to qualify for the 51st Washington International Horse Show still have time to earn points that will allow them to compete at one of the country’s leading equestrian competitions. Show officials announced the 2009 qualifying periods for hunter, jumper and equitation classes. Entries will close on Tuesday, September 1, 2009. The 51st annual Washington International will be held October 20-25, 2009, at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Complete details on qualifying criteria as...

The American Hackney Horse Society Foundation (AHHSF) will be offering three $2,500 college scholarships. These scholarships will be awarded to the selected students based on financial need, academic success and a commitment to the Hackney breed, whether present, past or future. The first scholarship is funded by the Al Haugen Memorial and is awarded on an annual basis to incoming freshman. The second scholarship is funded by the AHHSF and is awarded on an annual basis to an incoming freshman....

After a second-place finish on Thursday in the grand prix, Catherine Haddad and Cadillac rose to the occasion on Friday with a win in the grand prix special at the Vidauban CDI*** in France. This marked the sixth grand prix win for Haddad and her 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood this year. The annual show at Vidauban, which has traditionally been a jumping show, added international dressage to the schedule this year, and the competition did not disappoint. Taking place over three days, the...

The Executive Committee periodically meets to review and approve extraordinary rule changes and rule clarifications. You can find summaries of rules approved by visiting www.usef.org/contentpage2.aspx?id=rulebook . These rule changes have also been incorporated into the online rulebook. The online rulebook is continually updated with new rule changes and corrections; it is always the most complete version of the rules.

Have you ever wanted to learn more about the Hanoverian horse? In response to membership inquiries, the American Hanoverian Society (AHS) is currently developing a Breed Orientation Seminar that will tentatively be held November 3-6, 2009, in the Sacramento, CA, area. In order to test the financial viability of this developmental program, the AHS needs to gauge the level of interest in such a seminar. The seminar requires a minimum of attendees and is open to the AHS membership and others with...

The Public Auction Task Force of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has developed recommendations regarding the use of radiographic reports as part of the pre-purchase exams that are conducted on horses for sale at public auctions. The goal of the task force is to promote ethical practices during the sales process, particularly at Thoroughbred auctions. “We view our recommendations as a ‘best practices’ approach that is applicable to veterinarians as well as buyers and...