Grand Prix dressage rider Shiwon Green has been named among a lineup of "Helmet Heroes" for her work in promoting helmet wearing and safety among horse riders. She is sponsored by NRM, a Team Member of Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

Shiwon was among the first top-level riders to swap a helmet for the sport's traditional top hat early in 2011.  

Shiwon Green and Gosh

Since Green made the change, top German rider Isabell Werth has also made the move to wearing a safety helmet, declaring, "Horses are not pieces of sports equipment but living beings. Since you never know if they might react differently under saddle than expected, I decided to ride with a helmet from now on." Werth was also named a Helmet Hero for 2011.

The campaign has the official endorsement of the USEF as well as support from leading equestrians in various disciplines.

Australian show jumper Chris Chugg has been selected to represent Australia at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games with his horse Vivant. Chugg is one of several WEG competitors proudly sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

Chugg and Vivant have been based in Europe for the past year, where they have collected a number of wins and placings on the Grand Prix and World Cup circuits.    

Chris and his wife Helen have been vigilant with Vivant's diet and have ensured that he is never without his supplements, which include KERx EquiShure, KERx EO·3, Glucos-A-Flex, Restore, and Preserve.

Everyone at KER would like to wish Chris and Vivant every success at the WEG.

Other KER equestrians competing at WEG include eventers Phillip Dutton and Karen O'Connor, driver Chester Weber, and para-dressage riders Grace Bowman and Mary Jordan. Australian eventer Megan Jones was also selected but her horse is unable to compete.

Brook Dobbin and GP Shine

Sponsored rider Brook Dobbin and his longtime jumping partner GP Shine claimed the Victorian Showjumping Club's most prestigious title at the recent annual awards night. The combination won the Horse of The Year title for the second consecutive year. Brooke and his wife Angela have overcome the horrors of the Victorian bushfires earlier this year.Fortunately, all of their horses survived the emergency, with only fencing and pasture being lost to the Black Saturday disaster.

KER Ambassador Caroline Wagner has been dominating the Dressage circuit of late. Caroline and her beautiful warmblood W.S. Nevada won both the Prix St Georges and the Intermediate tests at January's Yarra Valley Dressage Club Championships with an amazing high score of 63.83%. This feat lead to them being declared the Jackpot Winner for most successful combination at the championships.

Caroline and her young horse W.S. Donatello have also been regularly competing and recorded a 6th place in the Novice division of the Victorian Dressage Club competition.

It has been a pleasure to be involved in Caroline's progression from a highly successful Show rider to a rider to watch in her new discipline of Dressage. No doubt the triumphs will continue for Caroline and her team of horses!

Dressage and Jumping With the Stars, the ninth annual young horse event held at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre was held on the 10th and 11th of November. KER had a stong team competing at the event with some exciting results.

Glenwood Park Dollar Bug won the Four Year Old Young Jumper class last year and continued on this year to take first place after round one in the Five Year Old Class ridden again this year by KER Ambassador Angela Dobbin.

Chris Chugg rode the Australian Sporthorse Breeders exciting imported stallion 'ASB Conquistador'. After the first round of the Five-Year-Old class judged by German legend, Franke Sloothaak, they did brilliantly with second place and a score of 16.5.

Chris also rode in the World Cup Qualifier class at the same event. His talented, imported eight-year-old mare by Indorado, Alondra had her first ever World Cup start and finished with an impressive eighth place. Chris's veteran champion Diamond B Ego came second in the same class with a quick 41.27 second clear round.

Talented Junior rider and KER star of the Future, Emma Smith, jumped a super round with Moonstone to be in equal second place in the Seven-Year-Old Young Showjumper class after round one.

Chris Chugg and Diamond B Ego

Chris Chugg completed a successful trip to Canberra for the ACT Showjumping Titles on the 4th of November. Chirs took his young mare, Alondra, to the event in the lead up to her World Cup debut the next week at Dressage and Jumping With the Stars.

Chris and Alondra put in two suberb rounds in the Senior class to finish an overall first and to be crowned 2006 ACT Senior Showjumping Champion. Congratulations Chris!

Chris Chugg and Alondra

Megan Jones had a big night at the Three Day Event Ball where she won the Anna Savage Best and Fairest Award for the second time (2002 was the first) and her horse, Kirby Park Irish Jester won the inaugural Peppermint Grove Event Horse of the Year Award. Well done Megan for taking out both these prestigious awards!

The Adelaide International Three Day Event took place over the weekend. KER Ambassadors Megan Jones and Olivia Bunn used the opportunity to take their young horses to the event.

Megan show jumped clear riding her Kirby Park Allofasudden to take second place in the CIC** Division 2 with 56.70 penalties, just 0.50 off Wendy Schaeffer in 1st place after a pretty spectacular looking near fall!!

After finishing the Dressage in 1st place, Megan and Kirby Park Joy were unlucky to have one stop in her jumping round to finish the weekend in 8th place. Another great performance by Megan with these two young horses.

Olivia Bunn had three rides over the weekend. Fourteenth after the dressage phase, Olivia Bunn riding Nikki France's 'Klimax' worked their way up to fifth place in the CCI****. With two rides in the CCI** Olivia finished 4th on up and coming GV Tuscany with 55.60 penalties. Great to see Olivia back at the top again!

Megan Jones and Kirby Park Allofasudden Cross Country

Breaking an amazing medal drought at the World Equestrian Games, despite success at the Olympics, the Australian Eventing Team came in just ahead of the USA for 3rd place. The team was comprised of Ringwould Jaguar & Sonja Johnson, Ben Along Time & Clayton Fredericks, Master Monarch & Andrew Hoy and KER Ambassador Megan Jones & Kirby Park Irish Jester. Congratulations must go out to Clayton Fredericks especially for his individual Silver medal!

Congratulations to all involved in the 2006 WEG! Team Bronze is fantastic!