Category Archives: Community/Charity

*Featured/Spotlights, Breeds, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Events, JRPR

Youth Wins Shetland Pony in American Shetland Pony Congress Essay Contest

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Jada Wright was the lucky winner of the ASPC's Youth Essay Contest at the Annual Shetland Pony Congress Show in Oklahoma. (Photo by Washburn Photography)

Ardmore, OK (August 19, 2010) – The annual Shetland Pony Congress Show, a competition highlighting the best small equines in the country, turned out to be a big event for one young member. Jada Wright, of Byars, Oklahoma, wrote the winning essay for the American Shetland Pony Club’s (ASPC) Youth Essay Contest, and took her own American Shetland Pony home from the show.

Jackie Tyler, of Emerald Glenn Farm in Woodville, Wisconsin, donated a two-year-old gelding named Naughty By Nature EGF to the youth essay contest and was pleased that Jada won the contest. “She was really happy about winning,” Tyler said.

Tyler, who also donated the winning pony to last year’s youth essay contest, said she decided to donate Naughty By Nature because he is a good prospect for a youth, has great brains and attitude and also has lots of color. “I enjoy giving a pony to a child who wants to really and truly work with it and show it. I think it makes children turn into better adults,” Tyler said. “A child learns to take the good with the bad when looking after a pony or horse. The pony can give you a bad time but you still have to keep going, no matter the weather or if you don’t feel good. You still have to get out there and take care of your pony.”

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Associations/Breeds, Breeds, Championships, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Events, JRPR

USEF Awards Shetland Members with High Point Awards at 2010 Shetland Pony Congress Show

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USEF members were awarded USEF Shetland Member High Point Awards by Lori Nelson (far right), Assistant Executive Director of National Associates from the USEF, at the 2010 Shetland Pony Congress Show in Ardmore, OK. (Photo courtesy of Terri Washburn)

Ardmore, OK (August 17, 2010) – United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) members were given special recognition at the Shetland Pony Congress Show, where they not only topped their divisions but were also awarded USEF Shetland Member High Point Awards by the United States Equestrian Federation. Lori Nelson, Assistant Executive Director of the USEF, presented the awards to the winners at the 2010 Shetland Pony Congress Show held this month in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

The winners received special ribbons from the USEF and a gift certificate to the show vendor, Stitches and Ink. The winners included: Denise Johnson, Champion in Adult Roadster High Point Award and Kim Herron, Reserve Champion; Alicia Harris, Champion in Adult Pleasure Driving High Point Award and Cheryl Manahan, Reserve Champion; and Julie Zander, Champion in Overall Youth High Point Award and Macy Plemmons, Reserve Champion.

“The USEF Shetland Member High Point Awards for Shetland Congress were created to provide awareness about the partnership between the Shetland breed and USEF and to thank the members for their support,” said Johnny Robb, Director of Marketing for the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC). “All of the winners were really excited and we are so pleased that the USEF is committed to our breed and our members.”

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Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, JRPR, Products/Services

Chester Weber Awards Silent Auction Winner with a Charles Owen Helmet at Iron Horse CDE

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Combined Driver Chester Weber presents Mary Sheerin with a certificate for a new Charles Owen helmet. (Photo courtesy of Laurie Excell)

Caledonia, IL (August 13, 2010) – USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion Chester Weber is a strong proponent of wearing helmets, and during the recent Iron Horse CDE he and his team not only wore their Charles Owen helmets, but Weber stepped into the spotlight as a presenter during the silent auction. Weber presented Mary Sheerin, of Lexington, Kentucky, with a certificate for a Charles Owen helmet after Sheerin won the bid for the helmet during a silent auction to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

During the Iron Horse CDE, in which Weber won the Four-In-Hand division, Weber joined forces with two of his sponsors, Charles Owen and SUCCEED, to auction off a Charles Owen helmet certificate during the competitor’s party silent auction. Weber is encouraging all drivers to wear helmets in a Drivers4Helmets campaign, a spin on SUCCEED’s Riders4Helmets campaign.

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Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Show Jumping

Death of Canadian Olympian Walter Pady

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12 August 2010 – The FEI deeply regrets the death this week of 1952 Helsinki Olympian and former Chair of the Canadian Equestrian Team, 77-year-old Walter Pady, following a car accident in Ontario.

Initially identified as an Eventing talent and a member of Canada’s first Olympic equestrian team in the three-day event competition in Helsinki (FIN), Mr Pady switched to Jumping and scored a number of top placings during Canada’s first European show jumping tour in 1954.

At the end of his competitive career, Mr Pady dedicated himself to Canadian equestrianism. Chairman of the Canadian Jumping team for 10 years, he was then chair of the Canadian Equestrian Team in the 1980s, contributing hugely to the development of Canadian horse sport.

The FEI expresses its condolences to Mr Pady’s family and friends.

Media Contact:

Grania Willis
FEI Director Press Relations
Tel: +41 787 506 142
Email: grania.willis@fei.org

Community/Charity, Conferences, Contributors/Press, Events, Products/Services, WHIN

The Black Stallion Literacy Foundation to Participate at Women’s Horse Industry Conference

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The Women’s Horse Industry Association is pleased to announce that The Black Stallion Literacy Foundation will participate at the 2nd Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky September 22-23, 2010.

The Black Stallion Literacy Foundation program is available for children in the lower elementary grades and the upper elementary grades.  Books are given to children to keep forever; in the lower elementary program, usually first grade, they are given Little Black a Pony and Little Black Goes to the Circus. After receiving their first book, the children are taken to a farm and learn how to care for a horse.  They meet the characters in the book and then read to a horse!

Upper elementary students, usually fourth and fifth graders, are given the hardback book, The Black Stallion.  Schools, a copy of the movie, The Black Stallion, and a complete curriculum that teachers truly admire and utilize.  As a reward for reading their book, these children are treated to an amazing equestrian show, the Black Stallion Show featuring performers from Arabian Nights, from Kissimmee, Florida. The show is the professional horse show that encourages children to read, brings the book to life and encourages children to read more of the books by Walter Farley.

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Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Training/Clinics

Very Exciting News from Team Poulsen!

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I have VERY exciting news for you! I have purchased a farm in Wellington, Florida to be able to continue to give my clients and horses the best possible training facility and “home away from home” as possible. I’ve been working on this special project since last April, and it’s finally done.

I am going to be offering a special rate for the first season of operation at our new facility, as well as offering month to month full care and training for those who can not afford the full season.  After talking to numerous people about their needs and budgets, I have found over the years that a lot of you would love to take the opportunity to come to Fl for training. But due to the traditional billing of seasonal stalls, it’s just not feasible.

Of course, stall priority will be given to those horses who would like a stall for the entire season. But I am determined to offer training and full care at an affordable price for those who would like only 2 or 3 months instead of the entire season. I feel that this is a service that has been overlooked in Wellington.

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Breeds, Community/Charity, Events

‘Foals from the Heart’ Auction Benefits JustWorld Initiatives

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The ‘Foals from the Heart’ auction, run by Vincent Desmarez and his family, raised €11,140 for JustWorld International. Photo credit: Sportfot

August 9, 2010 – Laventie, France – Equestrians across the world are joining the movement to help those less fortunate, as evidenced by a breeding auction held in France that raised €11,140 to benefit JustWorld International initiatives.  JustWorld International is a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization working as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world by helping underprivileged children.

The ‘Foals from the Heart’ auction is run each year by Vincent Desmarez, father of JustWorld Amateur Ambassador Tiphaine Desmarez of France.  Vincent presented JustWorld with a check for €11,140 in a special presentation held prior to the start of the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix at CSI5* Chantilly, France, on Saturday, July 17.  JustWorld Ambassadors Julia Tops of Canada, Luciana Diniz of Portugal and France’s own Kevin Staut accepted the check on behalf of JustWorld.  Staut, who is the reigning European Champion and currently ranked the number one show jumping rider in the world, also acted as the ‘Foals from the Heart’ spokesperson.

“It was so great that Kevin supported our initiative to help JustWorld,” said Vincent’s son, Thomas Desmarez.  “When he was out on the grand prix field at Chantilly and spoke about the important work that JustWorld is doing, it all came together.  It is wonderful to have such a big name behind such a worthy cause.  It attracted all sorts of attention and local press.”

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Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping, Uncategorized

FEI Awards – “One in 1.3 Billion Rider” Encourages Equestrian World to Send Nominations

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Alex Hua Tian, Chinese Olympic Eventing rider and winner of the FEI's 2009 HSBC Rising Star Award (photo: Kit Houghton)

10 August 2010 – China’s first Olympic Eventing rider Alex Hua Tian is urging the equestrian community to make its nominations for the five-category 2010 FEI Awards.

Hua Tian, whom the Chinese media dubbed the “one in 1.3 billion” in the run-up to the Beijing 2008 Olympics, won the FEI’s HSBC Rising Star Award last year. The award rewards a rider aged between 14 and 21 who demonstrates significant talent and outstanding commitment. The judging panel, chaired by FEI President HRH Princess Haya, selected Hua Tian for his riding skills and the unwavering dedication that enabled him to cope with intense press scrutiny and pressure before and during the 2008 Olympic Games.

“I was deeply moved to have been nominated by my instructors, Nicola Ward, a New Zealander who, with her Irish Husband, John, taught me in Hong Kong when I was eight years old and by Tamara Weal, who taught me in England when I was 11,” said Hua Tian. “I am sure that in every Pony Club, Riding Club or community there must be many outstanding young riders, who would be hugely inspired to have their passion and dedication encouraged by being nominated for the FEI Awards. I know I was.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Breeds, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Events, JRPR

Make-A-Wish Foundation Helps Seven-Year-Old’s Dream to Show at AMHR Miniature Horse Nationals Come True

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Alexis shows her minis Mandy, Pretty and Pie in Canada. (Photos courtesy of Tammy Close)

Ontario, Canada (August 9, 2010) – Alexis Close may only be seven years old, but she has big dreams when it comes to her American Miniature Horses. Alexis, who was born with a heart defect and had a heart transplant when she was only 16 months old, asked the Make-A-Wish Foundation and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto for a trip to the 2010 annual American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) National Championship Show in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“Her doctors and the transplant team keep asking her if she wanted to go to Disney World, but she doesn’t want to do that. Her dream is to go to the Nationals with her minis,” said Tammy Close, Alexis’s mom. “We have never been to the Nationals but I can see Alexis making it a yearly adventure with a trailer full of minis.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Competitions, Disciplines, Events, Training/Clinics, Western/Reining

Lincoln High Student Named Florida Horseman of the Year

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Morgan Burns, a Lincoln High School Senior and student athlete, was recognized as the State of Florida’s 2010 4-H Horseman of the Year at the State Horse Show held in Tampa in July.

Criteria for consideration of the prestigious title and award include more than just showing horses. It is to recognize and promote the total involvement and development of the 4-H member in all aspects of the Florida 4-H program. There are over 2600 youth involved in the Florida 4-H Horse program. Competitors have to be involved with community service, leadership projects, and be well rounded individuals. Besides submitting project books and an intensive application detailing all individual accomplishments, there is a personal interview at the University of Florida. Only 6 students from around the state made it to the interview stage.  As winner of the Horseman of the Year award, Morgan received a plaque, cash and a college scholarship.

Morgan has been the 4-H Area A Horse Show High Point All-Around Champion for the past five years and won National and Championship titles with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), and the Palomino Horse Breeders Association (PHBA).

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=11551