For the ninth consecutive year, Phillip Dutton earned the title of United States Eventing Association Leading Rider in 2008. Finishing in second place, more than 100 points behind the leader, was Dutton's student Boyd Martin. Dutton's horses are fueled with feeds designed by Kentucky Equine Research and distributed by Pennfield Feeds, a KER Team Member. Both KER and Pennfield sponsor Dutton and wish him continued success in 2009.

Lexington, KY-- The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announces the new partnership with Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies as the "Official Horse Feed of the USEF." Pennfield is a widely respected, family-owned feed company in Pennsylvania that has been serving the eastern seaboard states since 1919 and has partnered with Kentucky Equine Research (KER) for their unparalleled nutritional expertise since 1996. Known for using only the finest, most consistent feed ingredients and precise manufacturing techniques that ensure top quality "fixed formula" feeds, Pennfield has earned the trust of world-class trainers and competitors throughout the equine industry.

"Earning the respect of partners like KER and now USEF speaks volumes on what Pennfield Feed is all about," explains Jeff Katelan, national sales and marketing manager of Pennfield Country Life Products. "From day one, Pennfield has been a company that prides itself on always putting the horse first and on caring about the well-being of the horse as much as the riders do. It was our founding partner's mission almost a hundred years ago and it's still our mission today. So it's a great honor to be recognized as the 'Official Horse Feed' of an organization that values and protects the well-being of the riding community the way USEF is known to do."

In addition, Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies, KER and the USEF will be hosting an eight-city "That's a Promise" East Coast tour. This event will bring equestrian fans together with Olympic riders to celebrate and explore the meaning of "promise", which is "to develop the full power (potential) of yourself and your horses and living up to the promise (principle) that you make to your horses to care for them to the best of your ability." The tour will kick off at the Wellington show grounds in February and will follow the competitive season northward up the coast.

Each "That's a Promise" gala will feature the attendance of one or more top riders who rely on Pennfield to fuel their horses top efforts, including multi-Olympic medalists Phillip Dutton, Karen and David O'Connor and Bruce Davidson; U.S. Four-in-Hand Driving Champion Chester Weber; 2008 U.S. Dressage Team alternate Michael Barisone; and other top riders. Attendees will be able to mingle with these riders in a relaxed setting, obtain autographs and help support the USEF Young Riders program by bidding on unique silent auction items donated by USEF and others in the riding community.

All are welcome to attend, though seating will be limited to approximately 200, depending on venue. Reservations may be made by calling Beth Ann Parise at 717-295-8735 and more information may be found at www.thatsapromisetour.com. A $10 donation is requested per attendee, with 100% forwarded to the North American Junior and Young Rider program.

By Stacey Meier

The most important nutrient for horses is one that is rarely added to feeds: water. Though it is often overlooked in discussions involving equine nutrition, water should be considered the fi rst-limiting nutrient of all horses, as they cannot survive for as many days without water as they can without feed.