Megan Brincks

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee voted on June 13 to eliminate funding for federal meat inspections at horse slaughter facilities. If it makes its way through the entire legislative process, this would effectively stop efforts to resume horse slaughter in the United States.

The amendment, introduced by Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., and Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., forbids the U.S. Department of Agriculture to inspect horse-processing plants in the 2014 fiscal year.

With a fourth-placed finish by U.S. Team Stars at the $100,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows on June 13 in Calgary, Alberta, the United States is now qualified to send a team to the inaugural Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final in Spain this September.

Upperville, Va.—June 9   

The jump crew at the $75,000 Upperville Jumper Classic got quite a workout picking up poles when no horse jumped a clean first round.

When the three 4-faulters returned for the jump-off, it looked like it might be more of the same. Kyle Timm had a rail aboard Wadisson, leaving the crowd wondering if they would see a clear round at all.

But then Angel Karolyi gave the crowd what they'd been waiting for: a clean go aboard Amigo.

Incantation came into Robin Fairclough’s life by chance when she was a junior rider, but the black Thoroughbred made a big impression.

“He came to us for a client, for Andrea Kenyon, to ride,” said Fairclough. Kenyon was the daughter of New Jersey horse show announcer Thomas G. Kenyon. But Incantation had a good spook to him, so Fairclough took him in junior and regular hunter classes during the 1973 season and into 1974.

“He was always a super jumper. He could be a little spooky, but he always jumped in really good form,” said Fairclough.

After a successful junior weekend at the Devon Horse Show, Tori Colvin returned to take top honors on Betsee Parker’s Inclusive in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.

Colvin and “Captain” led after the first round with a score of 187 after taking all four high options on Allen Rheinheimer’s course.

In her first year as a professional, Kaitlin Campbell piloted her Rocky W to a win in the $50,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake at the Devon Horse Show, and she did it against some of the top riders in the world.

Nineteen horses contested the course designed by Olaf Petersen of Germany, and a solid showing of eight returned for the shortened jump off. The technical course was to be expected in the second-largest money class of Devon, and it proved difficult to make the time and ride clear even for the seasoned professionals.

In 1961, Bernie Traurig’s future looked bright. The teenager from Syosset, N.Y., had won the ASPCA Maclay Finals and the AHSA Medal Finals aboard Troublemaker, but no one yet knew if he’d go on in the sport. His father had college in mind for his son, while all Traurig could think about was horses.

It took a Thoroughbred named Gimlet to cement Traurig’s path and propel him to success in the hunters before he even turned 18.

Off-the-track Thoroughbreds have skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years, and a program held in conjunction with the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** set out with the mission to prove the versatility and adaptability of Thoroughbreds in a second—or third—career.

Harrisburg, Pa. – May 2 

Two riders from St. Lawrence University (N.Y.) won blue ribbons in the first day of competition at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championships, putting them in good contention for a second consecutive Collegiate Cup.

Katherine Figueroa won the first team class, novice equitation on the flat, which she also won in 2012. The strong start for St. Lawrence continued later in the day.

After traveling to Europe several times in search of a young horse to bring up through the dressage ranks, Jessica Wisdom found her Grand Prix horse in the form of a 14.3 ½ hand Welsh Cob stallion.

“I’m just some kid from the back tracks. Nobody got us here. And I did it on a pony,” said Jessica Wisdom of North Forks Cardi, a 12-year-old she co-owns with Cynthia Miller.

This year, Cardi made his CDI Grand Prix debut and even topped the freestyle at the Golden State CDI*** (Calif.) on April 4-7.