Edited Press Release

The U.S. Equestrian Federation has awarded training and competition grants to 10 dressage athlete/horse combinations. These grants will help these combinations take part in CDI competitions throughout Europe in preparation for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (France). Grants were awarded based on international competition experience and the athlete’s prospect of contributing to a team or individual medal at the 2014 WEG.

The following 10 combinations have been awarded grants (listed in alphabetical order): 

The Washington International Horse Show (D.C.)  announced an agreement with Monumental Sports & Entertainment to remain at the Verizon Center through 2016. 

WIHS attracts more than 20,000 spectators to the six-day show as well as more than 500 horses from around the world to compete.

Purina Animal Nutrition has pledged up to $150,000 in free feed to rescue shelters through its continuing partnership with A Home For Every Horse. A Home for Every Horse is a program dedicated to finding homes for horses in need of adoption or fostering. For the second year in a row, Purina has pledged a base donation of $125,000. From April 16 to August 21, Purina will donate an additional $1 for every new “Like” or “Share” it receives through Facebook, up to $25,000, for a potential total of $150,000 in free feed.

The U.S. Equestrian Federation's Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of Robert Dover as the next chef d'equipe/technical advisor for the U.S. Dressage Team, pending the successful negotiation of a contract with John Long, USEF CEO, and James Wolf, USEF Executive Director of Sport Programs.

Writer, teacher, photographer and lifelong horseman Patrick Smithwick has been awarded the seventh annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award for his 2012 autobiographical work Flying Change: A Year Of Racing And Family And Steeplechasing. The book is a follow-up to Racing My Father: Growing Up With A Riding Legend, a former finalist for the award in 2006. Smithwick received a $10,000 check and Irish crystal trophy during an awards reception at Castleton Lyons farm in Lexington, Ky.

On April 11, the Fédération Equestre Internationale announced eight FEI Solidarity Program ambassadors. The FEI Solidarity ambassadors have formed a partnership to promote and develop the global equestrian disciplines governed by the FEI.

The ambassadors are: 

The organizing committee for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, is working to recruit 3,000 volunteers from all over the world. These volunteers will be on hand as 1,000 competitors and horses compete in front of an expected 500,000 spectators during the 15 days of competition from Aug. 23 to Sept. 7.

Volunteers will help in the areas of hospitality, communication, transport, technology, health and safety and more. To volunteer one must be 18 or older (as of May 31, 2014), and willing to support the four guiding principles of the organization.

On April 20, the Centered Riding community will celebrate the life and accomplishments of Sally Swift (1913-2009), founder of Centered Riding and a long-time resident of Brattleboro, Vt. At the celebration of the centenary of her birth, instructors and students of her trail-blazing approach to riding will gather at the Putney Inn to honor her.

On April 3, the first 2013 U.S. Equestrian Federation Developing Dressage Training Session took place at Havensafe Farm South in Wellington, Fla. Riders worked with USEF Developing Dressage Coach Debbie McDonald over the course of two days. On the first day, riders brought recent tests for review. The following day, combinations worked with McDonald to identify movements in the test that needed improvement or areas where greater points could be earned.

The following pairs participated in the training sessions:

On April 8, HITS announced a third $1 million grand prix class, this one in Ocala, Fla. The Ocala $1 Million Grand Prix, to be held next March, will join the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties, N.Y., and the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix in Thermal, Calif., to form the Triple Crown Challenge of Show Jumping.

The Ocala $1 Million Grand Prix will take place at the conclusion of the 10-week HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. HITS Post Time Farm will soon start construction on a new jumping field to host the event.