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 Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Junior Exhibitor Youth Driving Challenge, funded by Elisabeth Goth Chelberg, held its finals in November during the American Royal in Kansas City. Cash prizes, trophies and ribbons were awarded to seven competitors in the Show Pleasure Driving Challenge and to two in the Fine Harness Driving Challenge. The winners are as follow: Show Pleasure Driving Challenge Place, horse, registration number, rider, owner 1st: CH Advantage Me 93840; Aliyah...

Lexington, KY ­– The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that Lizzy Chesson has been promoted to the position of Director of Show Jumping High Performance Activities. Chesson, 30, is deeply rooted in international equestrian sports. She groomed for her mother and was part of two World Championship Driving Teams in that capacity and in 1999 she was selected to drive a pair of horses in the World Pair Championship in Hungary. “Lizzy has been a great addition to the...

Lexington, KY – Plans are under way for the 2008 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Youth Convention and registration is open, but space is limited for the convention. Already, over half of the available spots have been filled for the first annual Youth Convention, which will be held January 12 in Louisville, KY. Along with the schedule, the break-out sessions have been finalized. The Youth Convention will feature many notable speakers, including experts in the equine industry as well...

Dean and Alexandra Rheinheimer, known for their production of Horse Shows by the Bay, were two of six individuals last Thursday to receive a 2007 Community Champions Award from the Traverse City, MI, Convention and Visitors Bureau (TCVB). Acknowledged during the 26th Annual TCVB Meeting and Reception at the Grand Traverse Resort, the Rheinheimers were given a plaque for their "uncommon vision and public spirit" in bringing an event to the Traverse City area that "advanced the economic health...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce the promotion of Sara Ike to the position of Managing Director of Eventing. Ike has worked at the USEF Gladstone office since 2003, and has served as the Eventing High Performance Director since March of 2007. Prior to that appointment she was the Director of Vaulting. In 2007 she was the Team Leader for the Eventing team which swept the medals at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She also traveled to...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation is pleased to announce the promotion of Sara Ike to the position of Managing Director of Eventing. Ike has worked at the USEF Gladstone office since 2003, and has served as the Eventing High Performance Director since March of 2007. Prior to that appointment she was the Director of Vaulting. In 2007 she was the Team Leader for the Eventing team which swept the medals at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She also traveled to...

The American Riding Instructors Association's (ARIA) National Riding Instructors Convention will be held December 2-5, 2007, at the Naples Grande Resort in Naples, FL. The convention is open to all riding instructors, as well as those who want to learn more about the profession. For the first time, the convention has been expanded to give targeted information to stable owners and managers as well as riding instructors. More than 20 speakers from around the world are scheduled. An awards...

Zada Enterprises, LLC, 6th Annual Dressage at the National will be held December 7-9, 2007, at the 124th National Horse Show & Family Festival in Wellington, FL. Presented in a two-ring showcase at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club, the dressage show will feature top international riders in the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) classes, including Denmark's Lars Petersen and Mikala Gundersen; Colombia's Marco Bernal; USA's Melissa Taylor; Bent Jensen and Susan Dutta. New this year at...

Bella Casa Linens, importers of custom bedding and linens, is dressing the Equine Motorcoach for its American debut. Bella Casa Linens owner Debra Howard has a daughter who competes and rides horses with Coach principal, Julie Calzone. Howard is a top interior designer and represents some of the finest bedding and linen manufacturers from Europe. “I’ve watched Julie and her partners, Tom and Carolyn Stinnett, bring this beautiful horse transport and motorcoach to fruition for America,” said...