Dream Street Stallion, Starlight, swept the top honors for a breeding stallion at the United States Dressage Federation’s (USDF) annual awards banquet hosted in Orlando, FL. Starlight was awarded the USDF All-Breeds Dressage Sport Horse Breeding Horse Of The Year. The seven-year-old black Oldenburg stallion is owned and shown by Rick Silvia of Dream Street Stallions. Silvia was also informed that Starlight’s score was the highest median score ever recorded. Silvia was awarded both a perpetual...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced the winner of the 2007 USDF Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by The Paddock Saddlery, at the 2007 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, Higgins was presented with a perpetual trophy, which is permanently on display in the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of...

The United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) has implemented an Equitation Awards program through its Affiliate Organizations Medal Classes primarily offered at local and unrecognized horse shows. The goal of this program is to increase the USHJA membership and outreach in the equestrian community, by further informing and educating individuals who partake in equestrian sports at the unrecognized and local horse show level and demonstrating that USHJA has something to offer them through...

Of all the awards the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) offers, it is the Volunteer of the Year Award, that is deemed the most prestigious. The 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Shelby French of Sweet Briar, VA, on December 13, at the USHJA Evening of Equestrians Dinner. French has been instrumental in developing grassroots outreach programs, has traveled to the Lexington office for program meetings, has been a member of the Board of Directors, co-chaired the...

“The Campaign for the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) National Education Center (NEC) has been a big success. We have also made a very good start towards building a long-term endowment,” announced USDF President Sam Barish during the Adequan/USDF Annual Convention, held in Orlando Florida, November 27-December 2. USDF has been tremendously successful in its first capital campaign effort, having secured campaign commitments of over $4.1 million that, when paid, will fully satisfy all...

Jeff Wonnell, a lifelong consummate horseman who assisted with the introduction of the Friesian breed to the Federation, passed away on November 21, 2007, from injuries related to an accidental fall at his Branson West, MO, home. He was 86. For the past seven decades, Wonnell’s accomplishments were as a horseman, trainer, mentor, breeder and friend, each documented by countless championships and the horses he was responsible for breeding and showing. Wonnell never ceased to serve the equine...

As the year comes to a close, the United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF) is pleased to announce the 2007 Equestrians of Honor. Of these seven honorees, one will be selected as the 2007 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 Friday, January 11. The Annual Meeting will be held January 9-13 at the Louisville Marriott Downtown in...

The tally has just begun, and your votes 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. Merely weeks away from the 2008 USEF Annual Meeting, 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 Brentina (2005...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to congratulate all of the winners of the 2007 General Member Organization (GMO) Awards, which were presented during the Board of Governor’s General Assembly at the 2007 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention at the end of November. These awards are given annually to recognize outstanding GMO newsletter and website layout and design, first person experience articles, general interest articles, and volunteers. Also included are the winners of the...

The American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation, Inc., recognized Ashlee E. Watts, DVM, of Ithaca, NY, as the recipient of the 2007 AAEP Foundation Research Fellow on December 3 during the AAEP 53rd Annual Convention in Orlando, FL. The scholarship, in the amount of $5,000, emphasizes the importance of equine research and is awarded to a researcher who is completing a residency or graduate program while conducting equine research. Dr. Watts is currently a resident in Large Animal...