Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8483
Tel: (859) 258-2472
Fax (859) 231-6662
Web site: www.usef.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2008

By Stacey Meier and Melissa Davis

Lexington, KY- This year's USEF Horses of Honor have been decided and your vote will be an integral part of deciding which of the nation's leading equines will be named the Farnam(r)/Platform(tm) USEF Horse of the Year.

With the 2009 USEF Annual Meeting around the corner, all heads are turning to five finalists in anticipation of which horse will be adorned with the title of Horse of the Year-one of the most prestigious awards the USEF bestows. This year's winner will join dressage superstar Brentina (2005 winner) jumping superstar Authentic (2006 winner) and the late eventing great Theodore O'Connor (2007 winner).

All of the finalists for Horse of the Year will be recognized during the Horse of the Year gala at the USEF Annual Meeting on Friday, January 16, with the Farnam(r)/Platform(tm) USEF Horse of the Year Award topping off the evening. The Annual Meeting will be held January 14-18 in Cincinnati, OH. For more information about the Annual Meeting, visit www.usef.org and click on the "2009 Annual Meeting" link near the bottom of the homepage.

Any USEF member can vote for the Farnam(r)/Platform(tm) USEF Horse of the Year. Voting is now open so go to www.usef.org and scroll down to the end of the page where there will be a Horse of the Year voting link on the bottom left corner of the homepage. Voting for Horse of the Year will close on January 9, 2009 at 5 p.m. EST.

Adams Fire - 1/18/2002 Half-Arabian Owned by Starline Arabians, LLC

Adams Fire is a supremely gifted individual. His dominance and bar-raising performances in the show arena is evidenced by his eight National Championships in three years of showing. It is also evidenced in the way he wins, with seven of his eight National Championship titles being unanimous. In 2008, Adam carried three different riders- a youth, an adult amateur, and a professional- to unanimous National Championships. This is a testament not only to his physical talents, but his intelligence and willing temperament. Adam is pleased to accommodate different riding styles and adapt to diverse needs. He is a blend of physical and mental attributes that nears perfection.

Adam has the distinction of being crowned the 2008 U.S. National Champion in Half- Arabian English Pleasure Open after a spectacular class, followed by a work-off of three outstanding entries. The entire crowd rose to their feet and cheered the first U.S. Nationals work-off in 30 years as Adams Fire emerged victorious!

Adam represents 50% Arabian blood. In the historical tradition of Arabian blood being used to enhance other breeds, Adam is an exceptional representative. The refined beauty, intelligence, responsiveness, and agility possessed by the Arabian horse, and lent to other breeds over the millennium, are unmistakable every day in Adams Fire.

2008 Accomplishments:

* 2008 Unanimous U.S. Youth National Champion Half-Arabian English Pleasure

* 2008 Unanimous U.S. National Champion Half-Arabian English Pleasure Adult Amateur Owner to Ride

* 2008 Unanimous U.S. National Champion Half-Arabian English Pleasure Open

Previous Accomplishments:

* 2007 Unanimous U.S. National Half-Arabian English Pleasure Driving Horse

* 2007 U.S. National Champion Half-Arabian English Pleasure Adult Amateur Owner to Ride (1st, 1st, 2nd)

* 2006 Unanimous U.S. National Champion Half-Arabian English Pleasure Junior Horse

* 2006 Unanimous Canadian National Champion Half-Arabian English Pleasure Junior Horse

* 2005 Unanimous U.S. National Champion Half-Arabian English Pleasure Futurity Horse at three years old

Dante FQ 5/8/2001 Friesian Friesian Quest, LLC

Dante FQ was born and raised by his breeder and owner Friesian Quest, LLC, Tammy and Robert Hildreth DVM, in Southern California. As a three-year-old stallion, Dante made his first USEF-recognized show debut at the 2004 International Friesian Horse Show Association Western States Regional's, winning not only the In-Hand Champion Stallion three-to-six-years of age, but going on to win the 2004 IFSHA Western States Regional Grand Show Champion In-Hand. In 2005, Dante was introduced to the discipline of saddle seat, ending his first show season as the 2005 USEF Reserve National Champion Friesian Saddle Seat and In-Hand Horse of the Year. In 2006, Dante, then working Saddle Seat Pleasure, earned USEF National Champion in Saddle Seat and USEF National Champion Specialty Horse of the Year. Dante ended his saddle seat career winning the 2007 IFSHA Grand National Championship Show World Champion Park Horse & Senior Stallion

In-Hand titles.

2008 marked the beginning of an amazing transition for Dante of Friesian Quest, now a fully mature 17.2 hand stallion. Dante FQ was awarded 1st Premie and FPZV Approved/Licensed Stallion and at the 2008 IFSHA World and Grand National Championships, this phenomenal horse ended the 2008 show season with 25 championship and Reserve Championship titles.

2008 Accomplishments:

2008 International Friesian Show Horse Association Awards Program Accomplishments:

* 2008 IFSHA Grand Champion Friesian All-Round High Point

* 2008 IFSHA Friesian Dressage Champion

* 2008 IFSHA Friesian Hunter and Hack Champion

* 2008 IFSHA World & Grand National Championship Horse Show - Lake St. Louis, MO:

* Purebred Friesian IFSHA World & Grand National High Point Recipient * 10 Championship and Reserve Championship Titles in halter, dressage hack, hunter pleasure and hack

Previous Accomplishments:

2007- IFSHA World Champion Senior Stallion

2007- IFSHA World Champion Park Horse

2006- National Champion Friesian Saddle Seat Horse of the Year

2006- USEF National Champion Friesian Specialty Horse of the Year

Flexible 1/1/1996 Jumper Owned by Harry and Mollie Chapman 5~

The diminutive Irish stallion has come back from four serious injuries, two potentially career ending to have the year of his life in 2008. He started off by winning three $50,000 grand prix three weeks in a row in January and February and one in March (all at Thermal in California), which prepared him for the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final in Sweden. He then jumped to second overall against the world's best horses at the Final in March- a huge accomplishment.

Flexible then took his campaign north of the Border and was successful at Spruce Meadows in Calgary all summer. In June he won a grand prix at the CSI**** and in July he won the Pengrowth Cup at the CSI*****. In September he capped off his banner year by representing the U.S. as an integral part of the Nations Cup team. The U.S. team won what is considered to be one of the most prestigious Nations Cup in the world at the CSIO*****.

2008 Accomplishments:

* 2008 Winner of the Desert Circuit II FEI IHP $50,000 Grand Prix CSI-W

* 2008 Winner of the Desert Circuit III FEI IHP $50,000 Grand Prix CSI-W

* 2008 Winner of the Desert Circuit IV FEI IHP $50,000 Grand Prix CSI-W

* 2008 2nd Place Rolex FEI World Cup

* 2008 Part of the winning American Team at the five-star Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows

Prior Accomplishments:

* 2007 Winner of the Desert Circuit II- Level 7 Jumper Championship

* 2007 Winner of the PCHA Jimmy Williams Classic Level 7

* 2007 Winner of the Country Classic IHP $40,000 Wild Turkey Farm-Grand Prix

*2007 Winner of the FEI IHP $50,000 Los Angeles National Grand Prix

Jamaica - 3/8/1991 Driving, Dutch Warmblood Owned by Chester C. Weber

Jamaica is a very athletic horse with lots of energy and fabulous gaits. He is used in the wheel in dressage and in the left lead in marathon and cones. His finicky personality and bold nature gives him the key to be a top horse in the sport. He has a lot of international experience, including six U.S. National Championships, two FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) and a total of four world championships (from 2002 to 2008).

Jamaica was sent at a young age to the slaughter house, possibly because of his strong personality. Belgian driver and FEI official Mark Wentein bought Jamaica from a meat dealer for almost nothing and ran a horse and carriage business in the city of Bruges and Jamaica was put to work there.

After being sold to Chester Weber, Jamaica became one of the most respected driving horses in the world, and in 2010, Jamaica is expected to be the lynchpin in Weber's team at the WEG.

2008 Accomplishments (in the team - age 17):

* Individual Silver Medal, World Four-In-Hand Championships

* Winner of dressage at World Four-In-Hand Championships

* Winner of CAI-A Riesenbeck

* Winner of dressage at CIA-A Riesenbeck

* Winner of International Driving Derby

* 3rd at CAIO Aachen

* USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion

Prior Accomplishments:

* Used in the wheel in dressage, in the left lead in marathon and cones

* 2002 Team Silver Medal, WEG, Jerez, Spain

* 2004, 2006 (WEG Aachen), 2008 Competed in World Championships

* 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 USEF National Championship Winner

* 2004 Winner of the German International Driving Derby

* Saved from slaughter by a case of ringworm

* Worked in Bruges, Belgium, as a carriage horse for tourists

Tiziano - 5/20/2000 Hunter Owned by Stone Hill Farm

Tiziano, an eight-year old Royal Dutch Warmblood, has taken the 2008 show season by storm. Racking up victories at the top hunter/jumper shows in the U.S. with his rider, Jessica Springsteen, the pair is nearly flawless. Tiziano was purchased from Europe as an equitation horse but did so well in the hunters that Springsteen and her trainer Stacia Madden decided to make it his full-time career. Over the past few years Tiziano has become one of the best junior horses on the circuit.

With wins at top shows, including the Hampton Classic, Devon, HITS, a reserve finish at the Washington International $15,000 WIHS Hunter Derby Classic and a Large Junior Hunter Championship at The Syracuse International Sporthorse Tournament, it seems that there is no holding back this unstoppable chestnut gelding.

2008 Accomplishments:

* WEF 2/Palm Beach Equine Clinic/Adequan AA-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion

* WEF 3 Smart For Life-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion

* WEF 7 Zada Enterprises, LLC-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion

* WEF 10 Suncast Corporation-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion

* WEF 11 Penta Water-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion

* Garden State Large Junior Working Hunter-15 & Under Champion

* Devon Large Junior 15 & Under Hunter Champion, Overall Large Junior Hunter Champion, Devon Grand Junior Hunter Champion

* HITS on the Hudson II-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion

* I Love New York-Large Junior Working Hunter 15 & Under Champion

* HITS on the Hudson IV-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion

* HITS on the Hudson V-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion

* New York Horse and Pony-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Circuit Champion

* Hampton Classic Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion

* Washington International Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion, Grand Champion Junior Hunter, $15,000 WIHS Hunter Derby Classic-2nd Place

* Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament-Large Junior Hunter Champion

Prior Accomplishments:

* 2007 Littlewood Circuit Finale-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion

* 2007 Kilkenny/IEH Internationale-Large Junior Working Hunter 15 & Under Reserve Champion

* 2007 Wellington Open-Large Junior Working Hunter 15 & Under Reserve Champion

* 2007 Tampa Bay Classic-Large Junior Working Hunter 15 & Under Reserve Champion

* 2007 HITS on the Hudson II-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion

* 2007 Monmouth County August 1-Large Junior Hunter Champion

* 2007 Hampton Classic-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion

* 2007 Washington International Horse Show-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Reserve Champion

* 2007 Pennsylvania National-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Reserve Champion

* 2006 Kilkenny/IEH Internationale-Children Working Hunter- Horse 14 & Under Reserve Champion

* 2006 Wellington Open-Children Working Hunter and Horse 14 & Under Champion

* 2006 HITS on the Hudson III-Large Junior Hunter 16-17 Reserve Champion

* 2006 Monmouth County Aug 1-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion

* 2006 Hampton Classic-Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Reserve Champion

For more information, please contact Melissa Davis, USEF Marketing Coordinator, at mdavis@usef.org or (859) 225-6944.

ENDS

The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation(r) is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its human and equine athletes.