Welcome to 2008!

We start off our Spring Series with a bang, as we host the final West Coast Qualifier for the World Cup Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden as well as two North American Young Rider Trials. During our Spring Classic I and June Classic II shows we will host the newly created USHJA International Hunter Challenge Derby.

In addition, and back by popular demand, we will once again present the Open Equitation Classic at the Spring Classic III Horse Show, to be followed the next evening by the exhibitor party and the Grand Prix. But what might be the most interesting event of the entire year will take place on the main Grand Prix field immediately following the Spring Classic II Grand Prix...
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Tammy Talks

The Handy Hunter

  With so much excitement in the air over the USHJA Hunter Challenge these days, I thought it might be valuable to understand what a Handy Hunter is all about.

  I spoke with a few of our top professionals on the growing popularity of the Handy Hunter.
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Laura Listens

Ronnie Mutch Equitation Classic

  The newly added championship week at the 2008 HITS Desert Circuit brought many exciting new classes. One of them was the prestigious Ronnie Mutch Equitation Classic, which has previously been held at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida. To qualify for the classic, riders had to have won a USET, USEF, ASPCA Maclay, or WIHS medal class at any of this year's winter circuits.

  This class is unique in that it does not allow the riders to communicate with their trainers during the time that the class is being held. The riders are also judged in the schooling ring. This year's winner, Carly Anthony, was gracious enough to answer a few questions for us regarding this special class.
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At the Back Gate

Tidbits of Trivia

Researched and compiled by Tammy Chipko

  There are 1.9 million horse owners in the US.

  The practice of mounting a horse from the left side began in ancient Greece. Warriors always carried their weapons on their left side, which made mounting on the right side impossible.

  Did you know that most horses are right- or left-handed, just like people? They tend to have both a good side and a bad side. Hopefully their bad side is your good side and vice versa!

  Know the difference between a blaze, a stripe and a snip? While a blaze covers the forehead and face, a stripe extends down the face and isn’t wider than the nasal bones. A snip is just a patch of white between the horse’s nostrils.
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