FEI Anti-Doping and Medication Commission Chair Arne Ljungqvist, FEI First Vice President Sven Holmberg and FEI Secretary General Alexander McLin met on December 16 to plot the way forward for the Commission recently established by the FEI General Assembly . The subject matter to be addressed by the Commission’s members is vast and falls into the broad categories of policy, legislation, education, communication, prevention, evidence, prosecution, adjudication, and financing. The Commission’s...

The American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) 54th Annual Convention united equine practitioners across the globe in San Diego, CA, December 6-10. As the world’s largest meeting for equine veterinarians, the convention provided quality education to 3,201 veterinarians, students and veterinary technicians. Total convention attendance was 6,579. David Foley, AAEP Executive Director, considered the third largest AAEP convention turnout a success in the midst of a staggering economy. “In...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced the winner of the 2008 USDF Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by The Paddock Saddlery, at the 2008 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention. This award recognizes a USDF member who, through consistent and cumulative volunteer activities, has demonstrated exceptional commitment towards carrying out USDF’s mission. As the winner, Jenkins was presented with a perpetual trophy, which is permanently on display in the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of...

Lexington, KY— As the year comes to a close, the United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF) is pleased to announce the 2008 Equestrians of Honor. Of these seven honorees, one will be selected as the 2008 USEF Equestrian of the Year, one of USEF’s most prestigious awards. All of the Equestrians of Honor will be recognized during the Annual Pegasus Awards Dinner at the USEF Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 17. The Annual Meeting will be held January 14-18 at the Hilton...

Lexington, KY— This year’s USEF Horses of Honor have been decided and your vote will be an integral part of deciding which of the nation’s leading equines will be named the Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year. With the 2009 USEF Annual Meeting around the corner, all heads are turning to five finalists in anticipation of which horse will be adorned with the title of Horse of the Year—one of the most prestigious awards the USEF bestows. This year’s winner will join dressage superstar...

Photo by Howard Schatzberg (Jessica Moctezuma on CH A Magic Surprise.) Lexington, KY –The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces that Jessica Moctezuma has been selected as the USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year. Moctezuma will be honored during the USEF’s Annual Meeting, January 14-18, 2009 in Cincinnati, OH, as part of the Pegasus Awards held Saturday evening. The Ruth O’Keefe Meredith Trophy was established in 1985 to honor a junior equestrian who has made...

This is a reminder that the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will conduct a seminar for licensed competition management serving both secretaries and managers. The early registration deadline is December 14 and early registrants receive a discount. The early registration price is $100. After December 14, the cost is $125. This seminar will be held in conjunction with the USEF Annual Meeting in Cincinnati on Friday, January 16, 2009, and will feature information that all competitions...

The stallion Hickstead, winner of Individual Gold and Team Silver medals at the 2008 Olympic Games under Canada’s Eric Lamaze, is now offered for breeding for the first time in North America. Hickstead is a 1996 brown Dutch Warmblood stallion standing 16 hands-high. Sired by Hamlet, his dam is Jomara by the well-known and recently deceased stallion, Ekstein. Hickstead’s bloodlines also feature such prominent show jumping names as Nimmerdor, Notaris, Ulft, Le Mexico and Joost. Based on his...

During the USEF Dressage Performance Standards Open Forum held December 4 as part of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Annual Convention, it was clear that the majority of attendees support some form of performance standards for dressage, mirroring the support shown in a USEF online survey conducted in early 2008. However, in consideration of concerns which have been expressed by membership, and sensitivity to the current state of the economy, the USEF Dressage Committee has voted to...

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) announced that its only Triple Crown winner this year, WGC CH Breaking News, has been named Horse of the Year. The connections of the Horse of the Year will be honored at the ASHA Annual Convention during the Saddlebred Ball, Saturday evening, February 14, 2009, at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort and Spa in Lexington, KY. Rider/trainer Peter Cowart of West Wind Stables in Statesville, NC, will also be awarded with the Five-Gaited World’s Grand...