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
September 4, 2008

By Stacey Meier

Lexington, KY- With two phases of competition on both sides of the country, it was Foxy's Magic Gift who earned the title of Overall Grand Champion of the 2008 Sallie B. Wheeler/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Hunter Breeding Championship. Even though it was his first time showing in the Hunter Breeding Championship, Foxy's Magic Gift proved that he has a promising career ahead of him by winning Best Young Horse in the Hunter Breeding Championship - East Coast along with the title of Best Hunter Breeding Yearling Colt/Gelding.

The USEF Hunter Breeding Championship showcases some of the best hunter breeding horses in the country. As in the past, the championship took place on both coasts- the West Coast phase was held at the Show Park All Seasons Summer Tournament in Del Mar, CA on August 27 and the East Coast phase of the championship was held at the Warrenton Horse Show on August 30. From there, the West and East Coast competitors are compared to determine the Overall Best Young Horse.

Owned and bred by John W. Kelly, Jr., Foxy's Magic Gift (Absolut x Autumn's Magic Fox, by Castle Magic) is a chestnut Thoroughbred gelding and was shown by handler Oliver Brown. With his win of Overall Grand Hunter Breeding Champion, Foxy's Magic Gift was awarded the Dave Kelley Perpetual Trophy and as his breeder, Kelly was awarded the J. Arthur Reynolds Memorial Trophy.

Taking Overall Reserve Champion was Capitol Hill, who was also the Reserve Champion of the East Coast phase of the Hunter Breeding Championship. Capitol Hill's accomplishments solidify him as a top hunter breeding horse as he was also Best Young Horse in 2007. Capitol Hill (Nob Hill x Pardon Me Mister, by Mr. Inspector) is an American Warmblood stallion bred by Diana Dodge and owned by Cismont Manor Farm.

The Best Young Horse - West Coast went to Wow (Popeye K x Holy Cow, by Fire Jade), a Thoroughbred/Warmblood-cross filly owned and bred by Leslie Nelson-Pinkerton and handled by Richard Taylor. Taking Reserve Champion of the West Coast was Pops Panda (Paparrazzo x Wyvern, by Wetherson) owned and bred by Lisa Stroway and handled by Carleton Brooks.

The Leading Sire award went to Popeye K on the West Coast and on the East Coast, the leading sire was Absolut.

For more information, please contact Marion Maybank, USEF's Director of Hunter Disciplines at (859) 225-2033 or via email at mmaybank@usef.org. 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.