It should come as no surprise that horse show numbers are down. The question is: What can be done to increase participation and to accommodate all ability levels? Earlier this year, the American Quarter Horse Association Executive Committee appointed a task force to review and address AQHA’s show initiatives, with an eye toward increasing participation in AQHA-approved events.

A total of 411,023 tickets were sold to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games This includes tickets sold in 63 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Preliminary estimates show approximately 70% of sales came from outside Kentucky.

The words “middle-aged, overweight, and sedentary” do not describe a healthy horse. They do, however, describe a growing number of horses. As the obesity epidemic spreads to the equine population, researchers are learning more about its association with metabolic disorders. A free, live webcast called “Equine Metabolic Syndrome”

Studies show that the leading factor in roadside breakdowns is tires. Additionally, as temperatures cool across the country, tire pressures will decrease. Given these facts, USRider reminds equestrians and others who travel with horses to perform periodic air pressure checks on both their vehicle and trailer tires. “As the weather patterns transition to cooler temperatures no

National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) received an award for “Efforts on Behalf of the Industry” from a leading research-based, nutrition industry publication, Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ), this year at the annual NBJ Summit in Dana Point, Calif. Bill Bookout, president of NASC, the nonprofit industry trade association leading the charge for national regulation of

The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) announced Oct. 15 that all blood and urine samples taken from horses competing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games were negative for all prohibited substances. Under FEI Veterinary Regulations, samples from a minimum of 5% of competing horses are tested, but almost 11% of the 752 horses competing in Kentucky were tested.

State veterinarian Robert C. Stout was honored as the Kentucky Veterinarian of the Year by the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association on Oct. 9 during the Mid-America Veterinary Conference in Louisville. “Dr. Stout’s dedication to veterinary medicine and Kentucky agriculture makes him more than worthy of this award,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. &quo

“With fall moving steadily toward winter, this is the time of the year when weak batteries reveal themselves as the temperature drops,” says Mark Cole, managing member for USRider, the national provider of roadside emergency assistance for equestrians. While USRider and other motor plans are available to assist motorists when their batteries fail, USRider provides some c

Following the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has announced that the following teams have qualified to compete in the 2012 London Olympics (Great Britain, as the host country, automatically qualify for all three events):

Dressage: The Netherlands, Germany, and U.S.A. Eventing: Canada, New Z

There will be an all-new class of superstar horses on display at the Dec. 2-11 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, including one nicknamed “Vegas.” His registered name is RA Sonoita Silver, but owner Turtle Powell calls him Vegas. This seems fitting enough, given that Powell splurged four years ago, paying Terry Thompson $25,000 to get a team roping heading

Great Britain continued its historical domination of the Para Dressage World Championships by taking the team gold, and sweeping all three individual medals in the Grade Ia division, as well as the individual gold and silver in grade Ib. These medals follow Wednesday’s gold-medal performance by Sophie Wells, bringing to seven the total British medal count in para dressage at the Alltech

The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) takes place Oct.26-31 in the nation’s capital, and plans are already in the works to ensure the footing is up to the standard demanded by internationally ranked riders and their horses.

“Hosting a horse show in the center of a major metropolitan city is very different from a putting on a show in the country,” explained Eric Straus, WIHS CEO. “We

Fall’s arrival means it’s time to get your horse and farm ready for winter. Here are some seasonal tips which can help the horse owner transition their horses from one season to another.

Germany was nearly perfect Show Jumping World Championships Oct. 6, presented by Rolex, and they rode off with the team gold medal (17.8 faults). France jumped up to the silver medal (24.32), and Belgium climbed up to the bronze medal (24.7) at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

British riders have traditionally dominated the medals at the Para Dressage World Championships, and Sophie Wells lived up to that history by taking individual gold in the grade IV individual test, aboard the flashy chestnut Dutch Warmblood, Pinocchio. Her score of 71.677 percent gave her the definitive lead over the Netherlands’ Frank Hosmar, and Denmark’s Henrik Weber Sibbesen Oct. 7

A group of talented fourth-year veterinary students preparing for careers in equine sports medicine are assisting with the care of elite competition horses during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Thirty-three student members of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) were selected by their veterinary schools to participate in externships during the Game