Lexington, KY- The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Executive Committee has approved the dates and locations for the following 2008 USEF Hunter National Championships. • The 2008 USEF Pony Finals National Championships will be August 13–17 in Lexington, KY. Five championships will make up Pony Finals, including the Adequan®/USEF National Pony Jumper Championship (Individual); the Adequan®/USEF National Pony Jumper Championship (Team); Wild Horsefeathers/USEF National Green Hunter Pony...

Callan Solem and her mount Mianta were up to the challenge in Sunday's $50,000 Duggan Equipment Grand Prix as they secured the blue ribbon and $15,000 in prize money for Quiet Winter Farm at HITS Ocala. Solem and her mount Mianta had the fastest double-clear round on course designer Leopoldo Palacios' track. The pair got the best of 42 starters in the first round and seven combinations in the jump-off. Mianta is 14 and also won the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix on February 3. Solem's win also snaps...

Marilyn Payne will host a Spalding Labs/United States Eventing Association (USEA) Young Event Horse (YEH) judging seminar at Galway Downs on March 27, which will be held in conjunction with the Continuing Education Clinics program that will be happening that weekend. The seminar will start at 1 p.m. and will tentatively end at 5 p.m. Those that have already signed up for the CEC program can attend for free. Those that wish to sign up just for the YEH seminar will pay a $50 fee, payable to the...

In a continuing effort to embrace the foundation level of the horse show industry, the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) is proud to announce the addition of a Riding Instructor Award category to the Affiliate Sportsmanship Awards Program. This program currently recognizes a junior, amateur and professional from each of our affiliate associations. The goal of the Affiliate Riding Instructor Award is to recognize those individuals who are dedicated to teaching and provide riders...

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 Saddlebred community has lost two renowned horsemen. Both Dale Pugh and Edward C. Barham left behind significant accomplishments; their presence cannot be replaced. Pugh, who was born on April 10, 1917, died February 11 at the Veteran’s Home in Mexico, MO. Pugh served in the United States Navy during World War II, but was mostly known for his long career as a professional horseman. Pugh began training horses at the Callaway Hills Stable in New Bloomfield in the 60's, and had a hand in...

Many of the country's best horses and hunter riders will compete at the Tampa Equestrian Festival, held from March 19-April 6 at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL. Horses that compete in the hunter divisions demonstrate the qualities that are essential in the sport of foxhunting, including the ability to carry the rider safely and comfortably over obstacles found in the hunt field. The sport has evolved into judging horses' form over jumps and the...

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced the team of four horse-and-rider combinations who will represent the United States at the CSIO Wellington presented by CN. The $75,000 Nations Cup team competition will take place under the lights at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL on Friday, March 7. The following combinations have been named: Rider/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner Hillary Dobbs/20/Sussex, NJ/Quincy...

Iron Spring Farm’s UB40 continues to make a name for himself in both North America and Europe. Two UB40 sons were selected for performance testing at the 2008 KWPN Stallion Keuring held in s’ Hertogenbosch last week. One three-year-old son bred by A.A. van de Koppel, Amigo out of Tolanda (Elite) by Krack C, finished in the reserve championship position in the dressage stallion category. Amigo is a beautiful, modern-type with a gorgeous head and neck and uphill build. The result is incredible...

Kathy Hickerson at Majestic Gaits announced the arrival in New Hampshire of Hanoverian stallion Schroeder (Sandro Hit x Esmeralda, by Escudo I) from Germany. Schroeder was bought at the prestigious Hanoverian Elite Stallion Auction in 2006 and completed his 70-day stallion performance test at Gestut Redfin in Germany in October 2007. Hickerson is very excited to have Schroeder in the United States. He has a fabulous character, trainability and bloodlines. He is so nice to work with and has...