LOXAHATCHEE, Florida, Mar. 3

Courtney King-Dye, a United States Olympic team rider, fell from a horse that slipped while schooling at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W Wednesday and was helicoptered to the hospital with a skull fracture.

Her husband, Jason, her father, longtime coach Lendon Gray, a two-time Olympian, and others were at the hospital where her condition was being closely monitored.

The fall occurred when the legs slipped from under the horse.

The Trauma Hawk helicopter flew her to a hospital in West Palm Beach.

Doctors were keeping her sedated while closely monitoring her condition that was described as a skull fracture with some slight bleeding from the brain.

Courtney, 32, is based at Bel Air Farm in Millbrook, New York, during the summer and in Wellington, Florida during the winter.

On Idocus, she represented the USA for the first time at the World Cup in Las Vegas in 2007 then again in The Netherlands in 2008.

She rode Harmony’s Mythilus for the USA at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong in 2008.

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Giving Back With Elizabeth Walter, Giving Away FREE Dressage Saddle, & Flying Horses

Hubert, North Carolina February 25, 2010 Tune in. Tack up.® with HorseGirlTV® to watch this months interview with horse flight agent, Humberto Rivera. One might think it’s a huge ordeal and while there is a certain amount of paperwork and dealings with the USDA and import country rules and regs, flying horses is NOT too hard! Angelea had an opportunity to talk with flight agent Humberto Rivera literally before taking off (the flight with her, her horse and Picollo that is!) on her adventure to The Netherlands to train with Anky van Grunsven. http://www.horsegirltv.com/blog/?p=1099

HorseGirl Of The Month: February’s HorseGirl Of The Month is Miss Elizabeth Walter. HorseGirlTV® interviewed Elizabeth is a true inspiration to girls, women and horsegirls worldwide! Recently featured on the Today’s Show, Elizabeth Walters from Florence, Alabama joined Marlo Thomas in a heartwarming segment to help kick off the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s 6th annual Thanks and Giving campaign. Elizabeth is an accomplished junior national equestrian, a patient at the world-renowned children’s research hospital. Read on to find out more about this amazing young lady and dedicated equestrian! To be considered just join Team HorseGirlTV online (for FREE) at http://www.horsegirltv.com/join.php. All interviewees receive great products from our supporters!

Giveaways: HorseGirlTV® and Equestrian Collections have teamed up to give away an Anky Remy Carriet Dressage Saddle http://bit.ly/8iUgLN Drawing and announcement will be held February 28! It’s coming soon so get your last minute entries in!

About HorseGirlTV
HorseGirlTV® is the leading equine-based Internet series hosted by Angelea Kelly Walkup producing educational and entertaining webisodes. The goal at HorseGirlTV® is to educate the equine community while simultaneous entertaining and educating mainstreams audiences exposing the wonderful world of horses to the world thus enriching and expanding our industry. HorseGirlTV® is equine entertainment for the wired generation! Website address: www.HorseGirlTV.com.

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Wild Riders Making a Difference for Horse Use on Public Lands

By Sarah Wynne Jackson

Only ten months ago, Back Country Horsemen of America and The Wilderness Society came together to form a partnership called Wild Riders, a group dedicated to preserving our traditional and historical ability to ride horses on public lands. In that short time, Wild Riders is already changing the landscape.

Coming Together for a Common Cause

The partnership is a natural one. Back Country Horsemen of America is dedicated to protecting our right to ride on public lands. If our wildernesses aren’t preserved, where will we ride? Founded in 1935, The Wilderness Society’s mission is to protect our wildernesses and inspire Americans to care for our wild places.

A number of The Wilderness Society’s founders and early leaders were horse folks who explored our country’s spectacular wild places with their constant equine companions.

Aldo Leopold helped found The Wilderness Society and is highly respected by Back Country Horsemen of America for his hard work in the preservation of our wilderness lands. Leopold spent many a day in the saddle in his early years as a young forest ranger in the wilds of eastern Arizona, near the Blue River. Longtime leader and inspiration to many generations of conservation-minded citizens, Mardy Murie is known as the grandmother of the conservation movement. Murie, on her faithful horse Lady, traveled extensively in undeveloped lands conducting research on elk herds with her naturalist husband Olaus.

As stated so succinctly by Bart Koehler, The Wilderness Society’s Senior Wilderness Campaigns Director, at the first BCHA/TWS meeting: “You will hear echoes of your history in our history. Our historic TWS leaders would not have gotten where they needed to go without horses, mules, and pack trains. This is true for both their wild destinations and for striving towards the landmark legislation we know as The Wilderness Act.”

Snap Into Action

Immediately after joining forces, Wild Riders developed a comprehensive action plan. Their goal: to ensure that traditional, historical, and responsible pack and saddle stock use in wilderness areas is recognized, protected, supported, and sustained consistent with the capabilities of the land.

Wild Riders will review current public lands management policies to ensure our future enjoyment of wilderness areas with horses. They will also look for opportunities to restore access for horseback riding and pack trains where they are appropriate on public lands.

As new wildernesses areas are designated as public lands, Wild Riders will be there from the beginning, promoting the sustainable use of horses. Back Country Horsemen representatives local to the new wilderness will be involved with the planning process and advise Wild Riders regarding the best ways to make sure horses and mules are allowed on the new wilderness areas.

Open communication from Wild Riders with decision makers, such as key legislators and agency managers, will encourage them to do their part in preserving our ability to ride on public lands. Joint letters explain Wild Riders’ position point by point, while on-the-ground meetings and organized rides demonstrate their message clearly.

All in a Day’s Work

One of the Wild Riders’ first projects was joint advocacy in support of the Forest Service Legacy Roads and Trails Remediation (LRTR) program, as provided in the House-passed Interior and Environment Appropriations Act for 2010.

The LRTR program provides a very important and urgently needed source of funding to restore healthy watersheds and improve recreational opportunities in our national forests. The U.S. Forest Service lacks the resources necessary to properly manage their more than 380,000 miles of roads and 153,000 miles of trails, of which 32,000 miles are in wilderness areas.

The LRTR enabled the Forest Service to decommission more than 500 miles of obsolete roads and to maintain an additional 2,600 miles of recreation trails last year. However, many thousands of miles of other road decommissioning and trail improvements are still needed, including repair of significant storm damage and deferred replacement of historic trail infrastructure that has not been addressed.

Congress appropriated $50 million for the Legacy Roads and Trails Remediation program in 2009, a number that fell short of meeting the need. A large increase in LRTR funding for road decommissioning and other remediation work was needed for 2010 to accomplish essential watershed restoration work, improve water quality and fish habitat, and help defend national forest resources against the expected impacts of global climate change.

Back Country Horsemen of America and The Wilderness Society as Wild Riders wrote a joint letter to senators and congressmen, encouraging the provision of $100 million in funding to the Forest Service for the LRTR in 2010 as a wise investment that would greatly benefit the public and our environment. Wild Riders are very pleased with the resulting $90 million budget for LRTR this year.

About Back Country Horsemen of America

BCHA is a non-profit corporation made up of state organizations, affiliates, and at large members. Their efforts have brought about positive changes in regards to the use of horses and stock in the wilderness and public lands.

If you want to know more about Back Country Horsemen of America or become a member, visit their website: www.backcountryhorse.com, call 888-893-5161, or write PO Box 1367, Graham, WA 98338-1367. The future of horse use on public lands is in our hands! Find out more about The Wilderness Society at www.wilderness.org.

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The Horseman’s Card Adds New Partners to V.I.P. Benefits Program

Lexington, KY (Feb. 25, 2010) – The Horseman’s Card®, created in 1992, is the VISA® card with horse power! At no additional cost to the cardholder, each time The Horseman’s Card is used a contribution is made to the world-renowned Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center.

Created in 1987 and located in Lexington, Ky., the Gluck Center’s mission is scientific discovery, education, and dissemination of knowledge of the benefit of the health and welfare of horses. It is one of only three centers in the world dedicated exclusively to researching the diseases and physiological problems of the horse. The Horseman’s Card, through its unique contribution program, has generated thousands of dollars for this worthy institution.

As a cardholder in The Horseman’s Card V.I.P. Benefits Program, you are part of a win-win situation. Whether buying feed for your horse, supplies for your farm, jewelry, gifts or collectibles, you save when you make your purchase using the Horseman’s Card. Plus, you will be one of thousands who are giving to the Gluck Center, as a donation is made each time the Horseman’s Card is used.

Two companies whose products range from basic supplements to “gifts” for horse and human have recently joined The Horseman’s Card’s V.I.P. Benefits Program:

Gift Horse Baskets is an online shop that evolved out of caring for horses and the desire to create a family-centered lifestyle in the heart of Virginia’s hunt country. Gift Horse Baskets create practical and unique specialty gift collections tailored to the equestrian enthusiast, with the best gear, tools and treats available. Baskets are handsomely packaged in usable, practical, barn-savvy containers and shipped within the U.S for gift-giving ease for birthdays, prize premiums, thank-yous, etc. Visit www.horsebaskets.com or call (866) 843-0510. Use your Horseman’s Card to receive a 10% discount off your order.

Fit Dog Nutrition is a premium dog supplements company that caters to canine owners who put a great deal of time, care and effort into providing their dogs with the healthiest life possible. Compare their active ingredients to what you use now and you’ll find that Fit Dog’s supplements contain substantially more active ingredients for less money. Horseman’s Card members receive 5% off Fit Dog Supplements. Call toll-free at (866) 955-1314 or visit www.fitdognutrition.com.

For more information about the rates, fees, and other costs and benefits associated with the use of The Horseman’s Card, or to apply by phone, call (800) 932-2775 (mention code UAAQA2) or apply online at www.horsemanscard.com.

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Veterinary Students Awarded Scholarships from Hiscox Insurance/American Live Stock and the AAEP Foundation

Eight veterinary students committed to a future in equine practice have been selected to receive $2,500 scholarships from Hiscox Insurance Inc. /American Live Stock Inc. and the AAEP Foundation. The annual scholarships are presented to fourth-year veterinary students who are proven leaders at their veterinary schools, advocates for equine welfare and academic achievers.

The 2009 scholarship recipients are:

Vanessa Gant Bradley – University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

Erin Contino – Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Hayley Lang – Western College of Veterinary Medicine

Rachel Roemer – Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Johanna Rosenfield – The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Kathryn Smith – University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine

Jill Westerholm – Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine

Gabe Young – Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Since 1989, the AAEP Foundation has collaborated with American Live Stock Inc., which was acquired by Hiscox Insurance Inc. in 2009, to offer an annual scholarship program. In the past 20 years, the program has allocated nearly $300,000 to assist veterinary students in their pursuit of a career in equine medicine.

Veterinary students are nominated for the scholarships by representatives from their colleges with supporting references from AAEP members and clinical instructors. In addition to academic excellence, recipients are evaluated by their leadership abilities leadership and involvement in activities to benefit the health and welfare horses. Each accredited college or school of veterinary medicine may nominate one fourth-year veterinary student who plans to enter private equine practice and develops its own criteria for nomination.

Based in Geneva , IL , Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. is an admitted insurance company authorized to do business in all 50 states and the District of Columbia . Hiscox Insurance Company Inc.’s main business is animal mortality and professional indemnity insurance. American Live Stock Inc. is a licensed insurance intermediary for admitted business and underwrites and places business with Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best.

The AAEP Foundation, Inc. (www.aaepfoundation.org), a 501(c) (3) organization, was created in 1994 as the charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. The AAEP Foundation’s mission is to improve the health and welfare of the horse through support of research, education, benevolence and the equine community.

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