Meeting by teleconference, the 2007 directors of the American Saddlebred Registry elected officers on Tuesday, March 6. The nine directors are Joan Hamilton (Kentucky), David Howard (Tennessee), Dr. Rick Luft (Wisconsin), Spencer Mains (North Carolina), Mary Ann Pardieck (Indiana), Dr. Alan Raun (Iowa), Fred Sarver (Kentucky), Anne Stafford (Tennessee) and Judith Werner (Illinois). After discussion on each position, the following were elected unanimously: Joan Hamilton as president, David...

Iron Spring Farm’s popular Friesian stallion Goffert 369 was euthanized Tuesday, February 13, 2007. The Grand Prix competitor colicked, and although every effort was made to save him, the damage was irreparable. Goffert 369, known as “Herbie,” was a beloved spokesman for the Friesian breed. Known for his tremendous athletic ability and intelligence, Goffert had a fan base around the world. In 2004, he performed at the 125th Anniversary Celebration of the Friesian Studbook where more than 10,000...

The Morgan breed was celebrated and heralded in Atlanta, GA, at the 2007 American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Convention February 14-17. For the first time in its 26-year history, many Morgan enthusiasts and speakers couldn’t make the event due to poor weather and cancelled flights. “Our theme this year was ‘The Morgan: A Passion That Lasts a Lifetime,’” said Convention co-chairman Barbara Goda. “I think this also follows closely with the people who surround the Morgan horse. Our Morgan...

The Animal Planet television network will televise a special 90-minute broadcast of the 2007 Rolex FEI World CupTM Finals on Saturday, May 12, beginning at 9:00 p.m. (EDT). The telecast will include the finals in both jumping and dressage. Las Vegas, the world’s premier city for exciting entertainment, will once again be the backdrop for the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Finals in both jumping and dressage when they return to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, April 18-22. In 2005, the FEI World Cup...

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) has announced a strategic plan to re-align the NRHA, creating a National Governing Body for reining affiliates and its members in the United States. This new affiliate organization is currently named Reining USA. The worldwide governing body for reining will remain under the name NRHA. This strategic plan, endorsed by the NRHA Executive Board, was presented on February 16, to the attendees of the NRHA Annual Convention in St. Louis, MO. A final vote...

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has named its 2007 Equestrian of the Year—Mindy Darst. The winner raised over $52,000 to support the society’s mission, and more than $125,000 was raised by the equestrian community in total. The Equestrian of the Year fundraising program is a multi-discipline campaign benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The equestrian who raises the most amount of money wins the title, a trophy, a $1,000 gift certificate from EuroAmerican Saddlery and their photo on...

The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC), a statewide association for all horse owners and enthusiasts, is establishing an All-Breed Advisory Council, which will provide a unified voice for all breeds owners in Kentucky. The Council had its first organizational meeting at the end of February. “The Kentucky Horse Council recognizes the wealth of horse breeds owned by Kentuckians throughout our Commonwealth. This all-breed council will enable each of the breeds to identify common horse ownership and...

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) has announced that the Arabian Breeders Sweepstakes (Sweepstakes) program has paid more than $2.7 million in Sweepstakes prize money, Breeders Incentive and Nominated Sire payback to owners and breeders out of a $3.1-million pot of available prize money for 2006. More than $1.2 million was paid to owners who enrolled their horses in the annual Points program. More members received Sweepstakes earnings in 2006 than ever before. Payouts involved 5,922 horses...

An exciting new program for potential hunter and hunter seat equitation judges was approved at the January 2007 USEF Board Meeting, with an effective date of April 1, 2007. The purpose of the mentor program is to assist qualified horsemen in the pursuit of a USEF judges’ license in the hunter and hunter seat equitation divisions. An additional component is to assist ‘r’ judges in obtaining ‘R’ status in hunter, hunter seat equitation, and hunter breeding. Information about and an application to...

The Paso Fino Horse Association (PFHA) hosted it’s annual judges and stewards clinic in Ocala, FL, February 2-4, 2007. Friday evening, three Applicant Judges attended a four-hour workshop that addressed calling classes and show etiquette. They ended the evening with a written test and a gait test. The next day 21 certified judges and stewards joined the applicants to learn more about illegal tack, ring management, positive judging, equitation and determining a horse's age by...