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...

A report on the Olympic Test Event held in Hong Kong in August was presented at the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Bureau meeting in Dubai. The goal of this essential event was to review the venue, layout and procedures for the three Olympic disciplines. Main issues requiring further work were lighting in the main arena; press officer and media operations; veterinary issues and confirmation of a weather protocol designed with Hong Kong Observatory; and communication between the FEI...

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...

Congress has recessed for the Thanksgiving holidays and will return the week of December 3. At that time, the Senate will again take up the 2007 Farm Bill (H.R. 2419). The Senate has been considering the bill for several weeks but has been unable to reach agreement on how it will proceed. Democrats and Republicans differ on how many amendments should be allowed to be offered. Nearly 200 amendments have been filed that various Senators wish to offer when the Senate returns to the bill after the...

The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce and congratulate its new USDF Associate and Certified Instructors. The USDF Instructor Certification Program is designed to set a standard of excellence in dressage training and instruction in the United States and to educate dressage riders, instructors and aspiring instructors. New USDF Associate Instructors include; Valerie Dunaway of Spotsylvania, VA; Janet Reed of San Diego, CA; Estelle Price of Ortega, NY; Claudia...

Farnam’s Platform® Feed kicked off the initial phase of their Emergency Stall Card Program with Florida Horse Parks and show managers. Customized Emergency Stall Cards are provided to the horse parks for exhibitors to hang on their horse’s stall with contact information in case of an emergency. Cards are also available to show managers to include with competitors’ number packets. Show managers in Florida, Illinois and Oklahoma participated in the initial phase of the program. “There is nothing...

U.S. endurance competitors were up to the task at the World Endurance Championship Test Event in Teregganu, Malaysia, November 10-11, 2007. Despite torrential rain and muddy conditions, two American combinations finished in the top ten. Kathy Brunjes from Maine riding her own Theatric finished fifth, just inches in front of her fellow countryman John Crandell III. Crandell, from Virginia, was sixth riding Heraldic. Interestingly, these geldings are ¾ siblings. They are both by Statistic and...

Photo by Howard Schatzberg (Brittany McGinnis and Amandari) Lexington, KY – Brittany McGinnis of Fishers, IN, riding American Saddlebred Amandari, was crowned champion of the 2007 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Saddle Seat Medal Final, held November 17, as part of the United Professional Horsemen’s Association American Royal National Championship Horse Show in Kansas City, MO. McGinnis topped the class of 24 entries in the two-phase competition that required both rail...

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the National Affiliate Working Group (NAWG) committee is pleased to announce that Kirsten Kimbler is the winner of the 2007 Youth Sportsman’s Award. Selected from an outstanding group of young adults, Kimbler, of Aberdeen, SD, has demonstrated an ongoing commitment and dedication to the USEF and her affiliate organizations and has served as a role model for her peers. Kimbler, 18, was nominated by two associations, the American...

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Dancing With the Equestrian Stars After Party event that follows Jumping Under the Stars, phase one of the Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Finals presented by Equine Motorcoach, www.equinemotorcoach.com , at the National Horse Show, www.nhs.org , in Wellington, FL, December 5-9, 2007. The National Horse Show has offered banners in the arena, promotional distribution, invitations to parties and tickets to the show and the event. Dancing with The...