Neville Bardos and Sjoerd Named 2011 Horses of the Year by the United States Equestrian Federation

Cincinnati, OH – For the first time ever, USEF crowned two horses with its highest honor, one from an International Discipline and one from a National Discipline. Neville Bardos and Sjoerd were named 2011 Horses of the Year at tonight’s USEF annual Horse of the Year celebration. Honored for their accomplishments in 2011 their roads through the last 12 months, while both exceptional, have been very different. Videos of all of the Horses of Honor are available here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/USEFAnnualMeeting2012 Neville Bardos – Eventing He shouldn’t have lived.
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Trotting into 2012

By Sarah Dodge for Sean O’Keefe Events Happy New Year to all our SOE friends out there! 2011 was surely a fabulous year for Sean O’Keefe Events, and we’re looking forward to making 2012 even more eventful and beautiful. We’re already off to a trotting start with the upcoming second annual Sidelines Tetrathlon benefiting the Equestrian Aid Foundation happening February 5th, 2012 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The event is chalk full of dressage, show jumping, reining, and a lively polo match to round out the event’s horse activities. The evening will feature enticing culinary fare from local chefs Dustin Parfitt of Oli’s, Clay Carnes of The Grille, and Darryl Moiles of the Four Seasons Resort of the Palm Beaches. Along with food from these talented and passionate chefs, the event will also include tastings from other local restaurants including the International Polo Club Catering, Field of Greens, Top Notch Catering, White Horse Tavern, Pangea Bistro, Taylor Made Café, and Christy’s New York Cheesecake. Needless to say, this event will fill your belly and engage your senses in every way possible
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Five Questions for Eduardo Tame

Eduardo Tame spends time in Mexico City and at the house his father bought in Houston Texas.  He’s a writer and served as press officer for the 2011 Guadalajara Pan American Games.  He rides three horses a day and enjoys … [Read more]

Tomato, Tomahhhhto.

One man’s vision is another man’s abomination, as recent events have proven true in the tiny equestrian village and/or burgeoning international equestrian hub that we all call Wellington. If you’ve been living under a rock these past months, now is the time to crawl out of it and Google “Global Dressage Festival.”  Mark Bellissimo and Wellington Equestrian Partners know how to garner attention, and when they announced plans for a sweeping international-caliber competition facility for dressage back in March 2011, heads swiveled so fast around the globe that you could hear the whiplash.
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Kya Endreson

 

Kya Endreson, a quiet spoken working student from the Outer Banks of North Carolina, showed the dressage world what she was capable of at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions when she claimed her first National … [Read more]

On Course With Schaefer Raposa

Successful junior rider Schaefer Raposa is a star in the show ring and the talented equestrian has learned the horse business from the best possible source – her family.  Schaefer is the daughter of equestrians David and Kara Raposa and … [Read more]

Richard Lamb: A Well-Balanced Horseman

Horses have taken Richard Lamb around the world.  His most recent adventure took place at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico where he coached the US Pentathletes:  Margaux Isaksen (individual women’s gold medal), Suzanne Stettinius, Dennis Bowsher and … [Read more]

2nd annual Jump for HomeSafe set for January 28th at PBIEC

Paige Johnson named event chairperson [Wellington, Fl]  With philanthropist and equestrian, Paige Johnson, as event chairperson, the 2 nd  annual Jump for HomeSafe  will be entertaining hundreds of people Saturday, January 28, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) during the Winter Equestrian Festival’s Nepresso $55,000 Battle of the Sexes.  Proceeds of the event will support HomeSafe, a non-profit organization helping victims of domestic violence and child abuse. Each year HomeSafe serves more than fifteen-thousand infants, children and families in Palm Beach County and South Florida. Jump for HomeSafe  is a fun, energetic cocktail party taking place inside the newly expanded Wellington Tent at the PBIEC.  Attendees will enjoy a three-hour cocktail party, including hors d’oeuvres, open bar, silent auction, entertainment, special guests, reserved outdoor seating to watch Battle of the Sexes, and horseless jump competitions (with awards) for children. “I am honored to host this charity event for HomeSafe, and hope to bring awareness to as many people as possible about the overwhelming presence of child abuse and domestic violence in this country,” said Paige Johnson, chairperson for  Jump for HomeSafe .  “We’re truly ecstatic to have Paige Johnson as the chairperson of HomeSafe’s charity equestrian event,” said Matthew Ladika, CEO of HomeSafe
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Helmets Required for all Levels of Equine Canada Dressage Competition in 2012

[December 27, 2011] Equine Canada and Dressage Canada are taking an industry-wide leadership role by requiring all dressage riders to wear helmets in competition. Commencing in 2012, a national rule change will require all riders to wear helmets for all levels of Equine Canada sanctioned dressage competition.  The rule for January 1, 2012 is SAFETY HEADGEAR All riders, regardless of age or level or competition, must wear ASTM/SEI or BSI/BS EN approved protective headgear at all times when mounted at any EC-sanctioned Dressage competition at the event location. “I am very proud of our Dressage Committee for taking this step,” said Equine Canada president Michael Gallagher. “I believe we are the first national federation in the world to introduce this rule across all levels, and I can guarantee we will not be the last.” This change for 2012 is a modification to the rule that was put in place in May 2011 where all riders competing in Fourth Level and below, FEI Young Horse Tests, Material and equitation classes at Bronze, Silver and Gold shows had to wear helmets. This rule also included non-competing riders as well. “Helmet use is an important step and component in the safety for all our members,” said John Harris, chair of Equine Canada Board’s Task Force on Safety.
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Duplicating Greatness? Clones and Sport Horse Breeding

Put the best mare to the best stallion and hope for the best sums up the gamble of breeding.  The hopes and dreams that arise during 11 months of gestation escalate when that spindly, splay-legged foal enters the world.  To … [Read more]