The FEI Task Force Chairmen met for four days, February 21-24, to agree on the final recommendations for the new FEI Endurance Rules for 2009 and onwards. Far reaching changes are recommended by the task force that has consulted widely with all those involved in the discipline over the last year following their creation immediately after the FEI World Endurance Forum held in Paris in February 2007. FEI Technical Committee members will now have an opportunity to review the task force proposals...

In an effort to support the needs of the horse and horse owner in Kentucky, the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC), in partnership with the Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners and the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association, has established a hotline (866-634-0030) for Kentucky horse owners. The hotline is a network to connect resources—hay and other equine feed, vet and feed funding, rescue facilities—with Kentuckians who need those resources. Designed as a tool for all horse...

The Classic Shetland Stallion Sweepstakes Auction is an annual event hosted by the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) to promote the Classic Shetland Pony. This year the program is being offered in a new format. The ASPC Classic Sweepstakes Committee announced their plans to hold the entire 2008 auction online. The ASPC, established in 1888, recognizes four distinct types of ponies: the Classic Shetland Pony, the Modern Shetland Pony and two types of pony crosses, the American Show Pony and the...

The launch of the P.R.E. Mundial worldwide registry for the Pure Spanish Horse went off without a hitch this week, as the PREA staff of The Foundation in Albuquerque, NM, went into full swing to rush the first batch of cartas to their owners. Horses were registered who were born in five different countries—Germany, Costa Rica, Spain, Mexico and the United States—making a truly worldwide beginning for the new registry. All hands were on deck with two of the directors of The...

The American Show Pony Registry (ASPR) Committee added $6,000 in incentive prize money for the ASPR classes at the World Championship Show and Shetland Pony Congress for 2008. The American Show Pony Registry is a division of the American Shetland Pony Club. The American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) was established in 1888 and today offers registration recordings and award programs for a number of small equines, including American Shetland Ponies, American Miniature Horses and several Shetland Pony...

The Carolina Horse Park is pleased to announce it will be hosting its second annual five-day eventing clinic on March 24-28, 2008. Twelve world class clinicians will train participants over the Carolina Horse Park's six championship-level cross-country courses and its outstanding dressage and show jumping arenas. This session is geared for training level combinations and above. Novice riders ready to move up to training level will also benefit from this week of intensive learning. In addition,...

The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is pleased to announce that it awarded grants totaling $2,295,000 to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) for high-performance programs in 2007. The USET Foundation funding provided support, in whole or in part, for athletes in seven high-performance disciplines to participate in national and international events. The high-performance disciplines are dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping and vaulting. "The...

Jane Beshear was announced as the latest addition to the 2010 World Equestrian Games Foundation Board of Directors. She was elected unanimously by the board. “I am pleased to be able to offer my equine experience to the World Equestrian Games Foundation Board as we move toward 2010,” said Beshear. “This event is an excellent opportunity for the state of Kentucky, and I am honored to lend my experience to help make it a success.” Beshear, an avid horsewoman for nearly 30 years, offers vast...

The popular Fiesta of the Spanish Horse Annual Benefit Horse Show to support cancer research has been scheduled for May 1-4, 2008, at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Spanish horses from across the United States will be competing in a multi-breed show that will be free to the public. The Saturday evening, May 3, show and equestrian exhibitions will begin at 6 p.m. in the Equidome. There will a lot of Paso Finos from the California region participating in this event. For more information,...

Hong Kong The FEI held an informational pre-Olympic workshop in Lausanne, Switzerland, on February 17, 2008 furthering their dedication to ensuring horse health and welfare at the 2008 Olympic Games to be held August 8-24 in Hong Kong. The workshop was designed to follow-up on the data collection and research conducted at the test event in Hong Kong in August 2007. There was a wide range of panelists and speakers, including veterinarians, shipping agents, BOCOG representatives and FEI staff....