On October 22, members of the International Olympic Committees (IOC) Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad - Beijing 2008 and of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) toured the Olympic Village and equestrian venues in Sha Tin and Sheung Shui on the last day of their visit to the Olympic co-host city of Hong Kong. The IOC delegation, headed by Commission Chairman Hein Verbruggen, arrived on October 21 for a two-day visit to see for...

Photo by Mike Ferrara (Champions, reserve champions and top tens will be crowned at this year's U.S. Arabian Nationals for the final time in Albuquerque, NM. ) The 41st annual U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (U.S. Nationals) is set for one final farewell on October 18-27 at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM. Since 1967, Albuquerque has hosted the U.S. Nationals 19 times. Beginning in 2008, the U.S. Nationals begins a three-year contract in Tulsa, OK. Marking this...

The inaugural Lexington Combined Driving Classic, held October 4–7, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, was a resounding success. Fifty-nine competitors braved unseasonably warm temperatures and a bit of rain on the first day of dressage to compete for top honors in 13 classes. Three years from now, also at the Kentucky Horse Park, the world championships in four-in-hand driving and seven other disciplines will be contested at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010. Each phase of...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that Kristen Posner of Lexington, KY, has been selected as the first recipient of the USDF Youth Volunteer of the Year Award. This prestigious award, sponsored by the USDF Youth Executive Board, honors one outstanding youth volunteer who has contributed on a national and local basis to the USDF and dressage. In 2007, Posner volunteered at numerous events, including the Mid-South Eventing and Dressage Association (MSEDA) Musical...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) has announced the newly revamped business membership available for the 2008 membership year, December 1, 2007 to November 30, 2008. The USDF Business Membership (BM), which previously was divided into two levels, has been combined into one to provide a better value package that is more cost effective to the member. BM dues will now be $175, and benefits will include member discount rates at USDF events, a 10% trade show booth discount, a 15%...

HITS has announced plans for a special open house event, November 10 and 11, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, CA. The event is open to the public and will feature tours of the property to highlight the renovations and refinements that are completed, or scheduled to be completed, for the 2008 HITS Desert Circuit, which begins in early January. Visitors will have an opportunity to see first-hand the new grand prix footing installed by Bart Poels (Footing Specialist...

The Race For Education, American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation and Platinum Performance have established a one-year scholarship designed to support veterinary students intending to enter equine veterinary medicine. The scholarship will also reward leadership and participation in Student Chapters of the AAEP (SCAAEP). While providing financial aid to students in their fourth year of veterinary school, the Winner's Circle Scholarship will help to offset the escalating cost...

With the completion of Wednesday's veterinary inspections, the 19th annual Dansko Fair Hill International Festival in the Country, is set to begin competition Thursday morning. This year's Festival features competition in two equestrian disciplines, as well as a wide array of family entertainment and attractions, at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in the beautiful countryside of Fair Hill, MD. The Festival features the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Eventing CCI***...

The FEI wishes to announce “On to Hong Kong,” a workshop to assist national federations to prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong. The event, to be organized by the FEI’s Welfare Sub-committee, will take place in Lausanne, Switzerland, from February 16-18, 2008. The objective of the workshop will be to promote the health and welfare of the horses by making the information collected at the August 2007 Test Event available to all Federation officials, veterinarians, riders, chefs...

The United States Dressage Federation’s (USDF) Youth Executive Board is pleased to announce the winners of the USDF Youth Convention Scholarships for the 2007 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention. This year’s winners are Ryan Michelle Eskridge, Jillian Kemenosh, Katherine Greene and Shari Wolke. Applicants are judged on such qualities as participation in USDF or dressage-related activities, written communication skills, desire to learn, ability to utilize knowledge, and the manner in which they plan...