Category Archives: Awards

Associations/Breeds, Awards, Community/Charity, USEF, Western/Reining

More Than $10,000 Awarded to Young Reiners

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Oklahoma City, OK – Members of the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) are the future of the sport of Reining. With this in mind, the Reining Horse Sports Foundation (RHSF) has long been committed to providing leadership and scholarship opportunities to youth members. At this time the RHSF is awarding $10,500 in academic and need based scholarships for seven youth members.

Youth members from the United States and Canada submitted applications for the RHSF Scholarships in 2011. Recipients were determined by a committee based on academic achievement, future goals, involvement in NRHyA and NRHA, and financial need.

“The RHSF scholarship program is the perfect way to contribute to the future leaders of the reining industry. NRHyA is fortunate to work with such an outstanding group of young adults, and we look forward to watching the scholarship recipients’ future successes unfold,” said Shianne Megel, Supervisor of the RHSF & Youth Programs.

Christine Gordon of Colorado, Helen Lauth of Minnesota, and Samantha Belcher of Colorado were each awarded $2,000 in RHSF scholarship monies. Gordon attends Colorado Christian University and majors in music and math. Lauth will return to South Dakota State University as a member of their equestrian team, majoring in park & recreation management. Belcher plans to attend the University of Georgia where she will continue to compete in Reining as a member of their equestrian team.

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Awards, Breeds, Competitions, USEF

Time to Cast Your Votes in the 2011 USEF My Favorite Breed Competition Contest

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Lexington, KY – Every horse show exhibitor has a competition they most look forward to each year. For some exhibitors, the anticipation is due to outstanding facilities, while for others it’s management going far beyond the call of duty to make the show a memorable and fun experience for all involved. Still others say it’s the excellent competition that draws them to a particular show. Whatever the case may be, there is no doubt about it – there are some shows that rise above the rest and become exhibitor favorites. For the second year in a row, the United States Equestrian Federation has honored two favorite competitions chosen by the exhibitors in the 2010 Favorite Breed Competition Contest. This year, top honors went to the Blue Ridge Classic Horse Show in Asheville, NC, and the Penn Marydel Welsh Show in Bel Air, MD.

The contest was created in 2009, providing a competitive outlet for exhibitors to rally in support of their favorite breed competitions across the country. The top vote earners for each of 11 breeds were recognized as individual winners, earning a plaque, and bragging rights to go with it. These “favorite” competitions were then entered into a drawing to determine the Grand and Reserve Prize winners.

The Blue Ridge Classic Horse Show, voted best amongst the competitions featuring American Saddlebreds, was drawn as the Grand Prize winner for 2010, and was awarded a pizza party for the competitors at this year’s show, featuring 65 large pizzas, plates full of brownies, and iced tea and lemonade to wash it down.

“Blue Ridge Classic is very exhibitor friendly,” said one competitor who voted for the show. “It has a wonderful staff and they are very thoughtful toward the exhibitor’s needs.”

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Awards, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, USHJA

Sarah Milliren Captures the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup at HITS-on-the-Hudson

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©ESI Photography. Sarah Milliren captured this year's prestigious USHJA/Essex Classic Hunterdon Cup at the 2011 USEF National Junior Hunter Championships - East Coast aboard Don Stewart's War Eagle.

SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK (August 3, 2011) — Sarah Milliren of Sapula, Oklahoma was all smiles when the number 515 – her number – was announced as the winner of Tuesday’s USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup, the jewel of the equitation competition at the USEF National Junior Hunter Championship – East Coast at HITS Saugerties.

Milliren, trained by Bibby Hill and Don Stewart, rode to victory in the three-round class aboard Stewart’s War Eagle. According to Milliren, her smiles were both of joy and a little bit of shock as Lillie Keenan of New York, New York was pinned second aboard Catherine Cowie’s Vidarco.

“I was so surprised when we won the class – I thought Lillie had it,” said Milliren. “I have never won anything like this before, so it is really exciting.”

She finished the first round with a score of 85 to sit sixth, and then scored an impressive 90 points in the second round, which placed her in third with a total of 175 points going in for the final test.

Milliren posted a score of 89 points in the third-round test of eight fences. Per the specifications of the class, judges Hap Hansen and Russell Frey had riders switch horses, to serve as the deciding factor for the class. Milliren, therefore, rode Scott Stewart’s Vip Z to the blue, originally ridden in the class by Victoria Colvin of Loxchatchee, Florida. Milliren, however, couldn’t deny her original mount the credit he was due.

“[War Eagle] made the course seem simple,” she added. “He was amazing and I could not have asked for a better performance from him.”

Continue reading Sarah Milliren Captures the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup at HITS-on-the-Hudson →

Awards, Community/Charity, Products/Services, Racing, WHIN

Mike and Martha Borchetta to Receive WHINNY Awards

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Nashville, TN – July 29, 2011 – The Women’s Horse Industry Network, the largest business network in the world for women working in the equine industry, is pleased to announce that Mike and Martha Borchetta will receive WHINNY awards for their efforts and involvement in the equine industry. The WHINNY awards are given to high profile individuals who help save horses and promote the equine industry overall.

Mike Borchetta is a music industry icon and one of the most widely known and respected professionals in the music industry. His illustrious career spans over 50 years and along the way he has helped many of today’s biggest superstars get their start. He booked his first concert when he was in the 11th grade: Bo Diddley. By the time he was 19 he had moved to Los Angeles and become a record promoter. During the years that followed, Borchetta held many jobs in the music industry and it wasn’t long before he became the President of Curb Records. One of the first acts he signed to his label was Tim McGraw. He is now the president of Lofton Creek Records and working with his wife, Martha.

Martha is a former music manager and they worked together in the music industry. When the two of them married, it was a marriage made in heaven. They have seven children and all of them have worked or are working in the music industry. Racing horses started out as a hobby but understanding these two people, it wasn’t long before it became a little more than that. Martha and Mike are now, well known breeders/owners in the thoroughbred industry with some pretty impressive credentials.

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Awards, Community/Charity, Events, FEI

Six Days Left to Nominate Equestrian Heroes for FEI Awards 2011

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Lausanne (SUI), 25 July 2011 – The equestrian community has only six more days to nominate its heroes for the five categories of the FEI Awards 2011.

Nominations for Best Athlete, HSBC Rising Star, Against All Odds, Development and Best Groom have so far arrived from France, Great Britain, Australia, The Netherlands, Canada, Africa, Italy, Mexico, Germany, the USA, South Africa, Cambodia, Norway, Malaysia, Thailand, Sweden, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, Belgium and Ireland.

FEI Secretary General and CEO Ingmar De Vos said: “Anyone who loves horse sport is welcome to send nominations, but I very much hope that the 133 National Federations affiliated to the FEI will, over the next few days, seize this rare opportunity to shine a spotlight on their athletes and grooms, as well as on people and organisations that are working to take the pleasure of equestrianism to others.”

The winners of the FEI Awards will receive their awards in November at a gala evening at the Copacabana Palace Hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Nominations are open until 31 July at www.feiawards.org.

Media contact:
Olivia Robinson
Publications Manager
FEI Corporate Communications
Tel: +41 (0) 21 310 47 23
Email: olivia.robinson@fei.org

Awards, Breeds, Community/Charity, Products/Services, WHIN

Well Known Country Music Icon, Lacy J. Dalton, Wins Whinny Award

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Nashville, TN – July 13, 2011 – Well known country music icon, Lacy J. Dalton, has been awarded a “Whinny” award for her efforts to save and preserve lands for wild horses. The award will be presented by the Women’s Horse Industry at their annual meeting October 6-8 at the Radisson Hotel Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee.

Dalton, whose credentials in music are substantial, has put her energy, money and name behind the Let ’em Run Foundation.

The Let ’em Run Foundation is working with other organizations to begin to set aside huge tracts of land for these horses, to help manage the herds and to fence off areas where they should not roam. The group’s dream is to create the “Comstock Wild Horse Sanctuary” where these horses can be preserved, protected and allowed to run free for our children and our children’s children.

“We are very pleased to award Lacy a Whinny for her efforts. More and more people are starting to understand the need to preserve areas for our wild horses and organizations like this and people like Lacy are making this happen. She is to be applauded for her efforts by everyone who cares about wild horses,” states WHIA Executive Director, Catherine Masters.

Lacy is presently recording 2 new CDs. The first, called “Songs of the New West”, is a collection of Outlaw Country songs which include many as yet unrecorded songs by Lacy and friends, along with classics like “Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones and “Friend of the Devil” by the Grateful Dead. In addition, fueled by feelings generated by what Lacy describes as a “Thermonuclear Divorce” from longtime husband and partner Aaron Anderson, she is working on a CD called “What Don’t Kill You Makes You Strong” after its title track.

The awards will be given out on October 6 in Nashville, Tennessee at the Rhythm and Hooves benefit to save horses. The event will raise funds for three equine charities: The Cloud Foundation, The Equestrian Aid Foundation and NetPosse.com. The benefit will be a part of the WHIA’s Annual conference (October 6-8 at the Radisson Hotel Opryland) where women from around the world will gather to exchange information and business.

For additional information on the WHIA and its upcoming conference and benefit, please visit Women’s Horse Industry or call 615-730-7833.

Awards, Community/Charity, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, USEF

USHJA Sportsmanship Award

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Dear NFJHA Members:
We are still taking nominations for the Youth Sportsman’s Award. The primary goals of the USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award are to identify potential future leaders in the equine industry and to recognize youth for their achievements.

Nominees must be age 17 or under as of December 1 of the current competition year, and active members in good standing with NFHJA, USEF, and USHJA. They are to demonstrate an ongoing commitment and dedication to the USEF and USHJA, by promoting the equestrian sport, exhibiting characteristics that exemplify positive sportsmanship principles and to serve as a role model for his or her peers. Nominees may participate at any level of competition, including local, state or national levels.

Please submit your nomination to info@nfhja.com and include a brief explanation of why you have chosen to nominate him or her.

You may visit http://www.ushja.org/content/awards/youth/youth-sportsman.aspx to learn more.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

NFHJA
PO Box 24031
Jacksonville, FL 32241-4031
904-866-496-1626 (fax)
info@nfhja.com

Awards, Events, FEI

HSBC Continues Its Support of FEI’s Rising Star Award

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Lausanne (SUI), 15 July 2011 – HSBC is for the third consecutive year supporting the Rising Star category of the awards scheme organised by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the governing body of equestrian sport.

The HSBC Rising Star category of the FEI Awards rewards an equestrian athlete aged between 14 and 21 who demonstrates outstanding sporting talent and commitment in any of the FEI-regulated disciplines (Jumping, Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage, Eventing, Driving and Para-Equestrian Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining).

HSBC is a platinum partner of the FEI in the discipline of Eventing. It is title sponsor of the FEI Classics series, which unites the five elite-level competitions staged between April to October, and the FEI European Eventing Championships, which will this year take place in Luhmühlen (GER) from 25 to 28 August.

In addition, HSBC is committed to the development of sport through investment in youth and education in local communities around the world. It supports junior and young rider schemes in the hope that participants will go on to represent their countries at the highest level.

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Awards, Benefits, Community/Charity, Conferences, Equestrian Aid Found., WHIN, Wild Horse Sources

Willie Nelson and Family Win WHINNY Awards

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Nashville, TN – July 12, 2011 – It’s become not only a mission with a passion, but one that has members of the Nelson family standing up and doing whatever they can to stop the slaughter of horses.

Willie Nelson has been an advocate against the slaughter of wild horses for years and of the almost 70 horses he owns, 25-30 were rescued directly from slaughter. He believes it’s our job to protect them and makes it a point to support many of the groups that work in this area. His passion and advocacy
is being shared by his family.

His daughter Amy and granddaughter Raelyn have joined in the fight testifying against the slaughter of horses and are making it a point to work with the State of Tennessee’s legislative branch to keep the dialog about any laws concerning these issues open.

“Here’s another great example of someone with high visibility taking the time to support this cause and who brings along not only his family but thousands of fans around the world to join him. There’s a reason why people like Willie Nelson. The man shows his dedication to horses and doing the right thing every day of his life. Willie definitely walks the talk,” states WHIA Executive Director, Catherine Masters.

The Whinnys are an awards program set up by the Women’s Horse Industry Association. The awards will be given out on October 6 in Nashville, Tennessee at the Rhythm and Hooves benefit to save horses. The event will raise funds for three equine charities: The Cloud Foundation, The Equestrian Aid Foundation and NetPosse.com. The benefit will be a part of the WHIA’s Annual conference (October 6-8 at the Radisson Hotel Opryland) where women in the horse industry will gather to exchange information and business.

For additional information on the WHIA and its upcoming conference and benefit, please visit Women’s Horse Industry or call 615-730-7833.

Awards, Community/Charity, Competitions, Equine Assisted Therapy, FEI, Western/Reining

Actor and Horse-Lover William Shatner Endorses FEI’s Star Date in Rio

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Lausanne (SUI), 6 July 2011 – Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, author and horse-lover William Shatner is supporting the HSBC Rising Star category of the FEI Awards, the scheme organised annually by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the governing body of horse sport, to celebrate equestrian heroes.

Shatner’s role as Captain James T. Kirk in the science fiction TV series Star Trek, which was first broadcast in 1966, made him a cultural icon and earned him worldwide fame. His more recent role as Denny Crane in The Practice and Boston Legal earned him two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.

The actor breeds and shows American Saddlebreds and Quarter Horses and spearheads the Hollywood Charity Horse Show, which brings together world-class Reining horses and riders to raise money for a therapeutic riding organisation that works with severely disabled children.

Speaking of the HSBC Rising Star category of the FEI Awards, which is open to equestrian athletes aged 14 to 21 who demonstrate outstanding sporting talent and commitment, Shatner commented:

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