Karen O'Connor placed first on Mandiba and second on RF Amber Eyes in the CIC** at the Jersey Fresh competition in Allentown, New Jersey. She was also fifth in the CCI*** on Veronica at the same event. O'Connor is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER) and uses the KER products Restore SR, EO-3, and Bio-Bloom PS to support her horses' efforts. Restore RS, an electrolyte, replaces substances lost in sweat during intense exercise. EO-E supplies omega-3 fatty acids, compounds that minimize inflammatory conditions in horses. Bio•Bloom™ PS is a prescription strength dual-action supplement designed to promote and maintain healthy skin, coat, and hoof condition.

Phillip Dutton won the Jersey Fresh CCI*** on Mystery Whisper, qualifying the pair for this summer's Olympic Games in London. Mystery Whisper, a 12-year-old Warmblood gelding, led after dressage and cross-country, and claimed the victory with a good stadium round. Dutton, who is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), uses RiteTrac and Restore SR to keep his horses in good shape for their training and competition schedule. Rite-Trac supports gastrointestinal health and pH balance, while Restore SR provides electrolytes that are depleted by intense exercise.

At the Kentucky Spring Horse Show held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Louise Serio had the top placing in a class of 30 riders in the initial $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby. The contest was the first of six National Hunter Derbies sponsored by Hallway Feeds. Riders in the series compete not just for ribbons, but also for a $10,000 leading rider bonus.

Serio rode Corvine, a five-year-old horse owned by Timothy Wicks, in the class, and won the blue ribbon despite the fact that she had not competed on Corvine prior to this show.

The Hunter Derby series is sponsored by Hallway Feeds, a Team Member of Kentucky Equine Research (KER). KER Sport Horse Nutrition is a sustaining sponsor of the Hallway Feeds Kentucky Spring and Summer Horse Show Series.

At the recent Equestrian NSW CCI*** Three-Day Event in Sydney, Australia, Megan Jones was in third place at the end of the dressage phase and maintained that position throughout her cross-country ride. In the stadium jumping phase, her mount Kirby Park Allofasudden knocked down one rail to slip to fifth place out of fifteen riders who completed the event. In an extremely close finish, Jones was only two points behind the eventual champion.

At the same event, Jones claimed a first-place finish on Kirby Park Irish Empress in the Equitak Excel CIC*.

Jones is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research.

At the Southern Pines Combined Driving Event in Raeford, North Carolina, Shelly Temple claimed second place out of 10 competitors in the Preliminary Single Pony division. Combined driving competition includes a dressage test, a marathon (cross-country course with obstacles), and a cones course that combines precision and speed. Temple drove Duralin, an eight-year-old pony owned by Ted Bliss, to the placing.

Temple is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research. She said, "I am pleased to use KER-Flex oral joint supplement for my horses. Carriage driving can be hard on a horse's joints. KER-Flex is crucial to managing their health and helping to minimize problems."

To add to her impressive achievements, world-class eventer and KER-sponsored rider Megan Jones was recently named Coach of the Year at Equestrian Australia's 2011 Sport Achievement Awards of Excellence. A well-respected coach, mentor, and role model, Megan has achieved many accomplishments during her career. Megan coaches the South Australian State Interschool's team, and the elite athletes on that squad speak highly of her dedication and passion. A role model of many young Australian athletes, Megan's coaching skills were evidenced when she trained Grace Bowman, who competed in the 2010 World Para-Equestrian Games.  

Adding to her list of accomplishments, the Olympic silver medalist established Kirby Park Stud in South Australia, which focuses on breeding, training, and competing high-quality performance horses. Among the horses at Kirby Park Stud is Kirby Park Irish Jester, named Equestrian Federation (EA) South Australia Eventing Horse of the Year and leader of the FEI World Rankings in 2009.

Megan feeds her horses KER-formulated Barastoc feeds from Ridley AgriProducts, as well as nutritional supplements by KER. Megan is a great supporter of KER products, "Full-fat, no grain, plenty of energy. I can't rave enough about Equi-Jewel! Kirby Park Irish Jester was diagnosed with stress founder from international travel in 2010, but he has now returned to work and competition at the four-star level. He did it on Equi-Jewel and Barastoc Competitor feed. He gets all of the energy he needs from those feeds, and I have no fears of him foundering again."

Victory Salute, the mount of top para-equestrian Georgia Bruce, was inducted into the Equestrian Australia (EA) Hall of Fame at the Sport Achievement Awards of Excellence Gala this month. The EA Hall of Fame honors those who contribute exceptionally to the equestrian sport, from the grassroots to the international level. Victory Salute and Australian rider Brett Parbery are the record holders for highest scores achieved by an Australian combination in international competition in all three Grand Prix competitions. KER-sponsored rider Georgia Bruce rode Victory Salute to two bronze medals at the 2008 Paralympic Games.

The Al Reef-RM Williams Endurance Festival, run by long-time KER clients and supporters Peter and Penny Toft, won the title of Event of the Year at Equestrian Australia's 2011 Sport Achievement Awards of Excellence this month. The Endurance Festival featured the FEI*** National Championships and was the largest endurance ride in Australia in 2011, attracting a record number of entries from multiple countries. In addition to this, the event was designated as a Tom Quilty Cup qualifier and doubled as a qualifier for the 2012 World Endurance Championships.

The Endurance Festival and competition was broadcast to a global audience though a live webcast. International officials were offered a unique opportunity to partake in the Australasian Endurance Forum held in conjunction with the festival and competition. Peter Huntington, B.V.Sc., KER's director of nutrition, presented the latest research in endurance horse nutrition during this forum, and KER nutritionist Clarissa Brown-Douglas, Ph.D., attended the festival and competition to provide on-the-spot nutrition advice for riders.

Australia's most successful international endurance rider and KER-sponsored equestrian, Meg Wade was presented with the Against All Odds Award, a special recognition given by the FEI in recognition of Meg's struggle back from a devastating and career-changing head injury in 2009.

Meg spent 30 days in a coma and six weeks in intensive care after falling from her horse. Meg's accident left her with permanent brain injuries, with doctors concluding at the time that she may never ride again. Despite the grave prognosis, Meg was determined to get back in the saddle. In 2010, Meg rode in her favorite event, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup. She rode five kilometres of the event, which allowed her to maintain a very important promise to herself: to not let a near-fatal accident keep her out of the saddle.

Amongst her many accomplishments, Meg has three team World Championship bronze medals, has been named Australia's Endurance Rider of the Year nine times, and has won the Tom Quilty Gold Cup four times. Currently, Meg and her partner run Castlebar Endurance Arabians, where they take great pride in breeding and producing internationally competitive endurance horses. Meg said, "Feeding is a major part of the management, so this is where we use KER's expertise."