Dutch Warmblood gelding Ravel, owned by Akiko Yamazaki of Woodside, Calif., and ridden by Steffen Peters of San Diego, Calif., was named the 2009 Adequan/U.S. Dressage Federation Grand Prix Horse of the Year. Ravel’s median score of 75.574% made him the top horse in the United States competing at this level and the recipient of USDF’s highest honor.

Ravel was recognized at

Calder Casino & Race Course lifted a virus-related quarantine Dec. 21, allowing 60 horses to resume normal training and racing.

The quarantine was enacted at the Miami Gardens, Fla., track in late November, after one horse was diagnosed with equine herpesvirus-1.

Horses are now permitted to ship to Calder for racing.

“While the quarantine w

Just in time for Christmas, more than 250 horses have found new homes via their free listings on TheHorse.com’s adoption service.

The service is a bulletin board on which owners can list any horse (of any breed!) offered for free to a good home. It also features resources on horse adoption. Interested individuals cont

Two “Moneigh” paintings created by Zenyatta will be available for sale in ReRun’s eBay store December 26, 2009. On that day Zenyatta, the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner with an unbroken 14 for 14 win record, will make her final appearance at Santa Anita Racetrack’s Opening Day in a parade before fans. There will also be a special Winners Circle ceremony to honor her spect

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is supporting the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in a court battle over the planned Dec. 28 removal of about 2,700 wild mustangs from the Calico Mountain Complex Herd Management Area to long-term holding facilities.

On Dec. 16, animal advocates asked a federal court judge to forbid the round-up on grounds that it violates federal law. BLM Spokesm

You’re planning to take your horse to a big event several hundred miles away. To reach your destination, you might travel through states you’ve never before visited. Since equine transportation regulations vary from state to state, how will you know if you are in compliance each time you cross a state line? To help equestrians keep up with these requirements, USRider is providing up-

Heavy rainfall in South Florida Dec. 18 forced officials at Gulfstream Park to take immediate action to protect horses and people. About 600 horses were relocated to other area stabling facilities and there was an evacuation of one backstretch dormitory.

After identifying a lack of reliability and repeatability in experienced veterinarians’ evaluation of lameness, a group of vets have challenged the industry to search for and develop “a more objective and reliable method of lameness evaluation for us in the field,” and noted that such efforts “should be encouraged and supported.”

Duke, a gray Percheron/Thoroughbred cross police horse in the Lancaster, Pa., mounted unit, was rushed to the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center on Dec. 16 for emergency colic surgery. Duke is expected to make a full recovery and return to duty in about three months.

The San Diego mounted police unit is being disbanded and the horses sold due to budget deficits, according to an article at SignOnSanDiego.com. In January all eight mounted police horses and most of the equipment will be auctioned off.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) will sponsor a new business education workshop Feb. 5-6, 2010, in Dallas, Texas. The meeting, which offers essential skills for building a successful equine practice in the 21st century, is sponsored by AAEP Educational Partner Boehringer-Ingelheim.