The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has released the list of riders that will receive training grants this spring. Included on the list are several top riders sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER) or one of its Team Member companies.

Considerable expense is involved in managing, training, and transporting horses between event sites in various states and overseas. Grants and sponsorships help to defray some of these costs, allowing riders to follow training and competition plans that bring their horses to a peak of condition in time for important international competitions such as the Olympic Games.

Listed on this year's USEF grant tally are:

Phillip Dutton (with horses Ben, Mighty Nice, and William Penn) sponsored by KER

Karen O'Connor (with horse Mr. Mendicott) sponsored by KER

Buck Davidson (with horses Absolute Liberty, Ballynoe Castle RM, and The Apprentice) sponsored by Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies, a KER Team Member

These riders count on the products and nutrition supplements designed by KER to meet the requirements of the hard-working equine athletes in their charge, allowing them to train and compete at the highest levels in their sport.

Two prestigious races held in India in late January were won by horses that are fed by Himalayan Horse Feeds, a Kentucky Equine Research (KER) Team Member.

The Grade I Golconda Derby Stakes held at Malakpet Race Course on January 29 was won by Southern Bay, who has had numerous previous successes. Southern Bay is trained by S. Ganapathy and was ridden by Chris Hayes.

Two days prior to this, the Winter Derby at Bangalore was won by Toroloco. This was the second year in a row that a horse from trainer Irfan Ghatala's stable had won this Grade I race.

C. Mano, managing director of MANO Equestrian Services Pte. Ltd. in Singapore, has been chosen to receive the Top 100 Singapore Excellence Award 2011 & 2012 as well as the Successful Entrepreneur Award. Mano was honored at a recognition ceremony held in December.

Mano began to expand his equine business several years ago in order to provide an array of feeds and supplements to local clients and also to several overseas markets. His company deals in a full line of equine-related goods and services but has added feed supplement choices as well as products in the nutritional, animal health, and pharmaceutical lines. As part of this expanded business effort, he sought out and began an association with partner companies that were successful in the fields of research and development of equine health and pharmaceutical products.

To promote the equine industry, Mano has set up sponsorships, participated in exhibitions and seminars, and become involved in community projects and events. He has provided leadership by serving on the Board of Directors of the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry; is a patron and member of the Executive Council of Narpani Pearavai; and is active in the work of the Tamil Language Learning & Promotion Committee. He is also the current chairperson of Woodlands E Terrace Estate.

In his nearly twenty years of association with Kentucky Equine Research (KER), Mano has become one of KER's top international customers. As KER's agent in Southeast Asia, he distributes the company's products to clients in various phases of the equine industry throughout India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia as well as Singapore. He keeps in touch with the latest research through KER publications and electronic media, and often attends the KER Nutrition Conference to discuss developments in equine nutrition management.

Kentucky Equine Research salutes C. Mano for his entrepreneurial achievements and his commitment to spreading knowledge about equine management. 

Equestrian Australia (EA) has announced the 2012 National Squads. Megan Jones and her nine-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Kirby Park Allofasudden have been selected for the Eventing National "A" squad. The Elite- and "A" Squad-listed combinations for dressage, eventing, jumping, and para-equestrian will form the Shadow Teams for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Brett Mace, Equestrian Australia's High Performance Manager, explained the composition of the Shadow Teams. "Elite-listed combinations are presently the front-runners for the Olympic and Paralympic teams," he said.  "However, I am sure our "A" Squad members will make the most of every opportunity to claim a place on the team through exceptional performances in the lead-up to London. Through the National Performance Directors and selection panels, we will continue to monitor our combinations at major events prior to nominations being due to the Australian Paralympic Committee and the Australian Olympic Committee in May and June."

Megan Jones is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER) and Barastoc, a KER Team Member. Jones and Kirby Park Allofasudden have had a consistent season and will certainly be looking to catch the selectors' eye at events in the near future.

NRM-sponsored rider Vanessa Way is making the big trip from her home town of Oakura, New Zealand, to London as part of her campaign for the upcoming Olympic Games.

Way and her 14-year-old New Zealand-bred Hanoverian, KH Arvan, had a successful year in 2011, claiming Horse of The Year in Hastings in March and competing in Sydney later in the year to successfully qualify a New Zealand team for London.

The final team will be selected in June. At present, Way is one of the top contenders for a position and is determined to make it a reality. Often called one of the hardest-working people in New Zealand dressage, Way is using all her savings and taking a job in England so she can be trained by Carl Hester.

Hester is sponsored by Saracen Feeds, a Kentucky Equine Research (KER) Team Member in the U.K. Way will be based at his yard in Gloucester and will ride his horses in return for personal dressage training from the elite rider. She will train with Hester right up to the 2012 Olympic Games. KER wishes Way and KH Arvan the best of luck in their campaign.  

Though it's still winter, Lisa Coulter and her horses are already prepping for the spring reining competitions. She plans to compete all four of her horses--Western Whiz, Whiz It A Chic, Yellow Jersey, and Hollywood Aces--at the Arizona Sun Circuit events in Scottsdale. At this venue, several shows take place simultaneously with classes beginning as early as 7:15 a.m., a schedule that can easily stress human and equine participants.

Throughout the rest of the spring season, the Scottsdale Reining Classic in Arizona in March and the National Reining Breeders' Classic in Texas in April will sharpen Coulter and her horses as they get ready for the Kentucky Reining Cup to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in late April. Coulter plans to show Yellow Jersey in this FEI-approved competition.

Coulter is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER). She is happy with the results she has gotten from KER's products EO-3, an omega-3 fatty acid supplement, and Synovate HA, which supports the health of joints and connective tissue.

Chester Weber is a top international four-in-hand driver sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER) and its Team Member, Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies. In a newsletter wrapping up his achievements for 2011, Weber reported that he was chosen as a USEF Equestrian of Honor. He also was awarded the Becky Grand Hart Trophy given by the USEF to the best competitor in international driving, endurance, reining, vaulting, or para-equestrian competition.

Driving a team that included three new horses, Weber sewed up a victory at the 2011 Katydid CDE in Aiken, South Carolina by winning each phase of the event. In addition, he served as chef d'equipe for the U.S. drivers at the FEI Pony World Driving Championships in Lipica, Slovenia. His support helped the U.S. drivers bring home individual and team medals from the prestigious competition.

Mary Jordan rode two horses in the Gold Coast Dressage Opener CPEDI three-star competition at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida. The FEI dressage event included 23 para-equestrian riders from seven countries. The event is one of a pair of competitions on successive weekends in which para-equestrians can earn qualifying scores for this summer's Paralympic Games in London.

Jordan had the first ride of the competition on Sebastian. She was pleased with the horse's performance but said she is looking to produce even more out of him. She also rode tests on P Sparrow Socks. At the close of competition, Jordan had achieved individual scores above 60, the cutoff for qualification, with both horses. Despite good performances by all riders, the U.S. team finished in second place behind a strong Canadian team.

Jordan, who is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), uses several KER supplements to keep her competition horses in top shape. RiteTrac, a digestive tract conditioner; EO-3, an omega-3 fatty acid supplement; and KER-Flex, a joint health product, have been part of Jordan's management plan to allow her horses to perform to their maximum potential.

The Rocking Horse Winter Horse Trials series will be held in Ocala, Florida, beginning in late January and continuing through the spring. These shows are USEA/USEF recognized and offer competition from Beginner-novice to the Intermediate or Advanced level. Kentucky Equine Research is a sponsor of this competition series. Interested persons can go to www.useventing.com or www.evententries.com to get more information.

The Second Annual Salute to Driving event will be held in Aiken and Windsor, South Carolina, on February 18 to 20, 2012. The event is being held to help raise awareness and educate different audiences about the discipline of driving. Proceeds will go to benefit High Performance Driving programs for the United States Equestrian Team Foundation.

Many activities, including silent and live auctions, are scheduled during the event. One of the live auction items going up for bidding is a lesson with top driver Chester Weber during this year's Live Oak driving competition. Weber, who is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER) and Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies, a KER Team Member, is a perennial four-in-hand driving champion. Weber counts on feed products and nutritional supplements supplied by these companies to keep his competition horses fit and in good body condition.