STUTTGART, Germany — American sisters Cassidy, 20, and Kimberly, 18, Palmer secured a pas de deux victory last month at the FEI World Cup Vaulting 2013/2014 leg at the Stuttgart German Masters, recording the first American win in FEI World Cup Vaulting history.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) last week announced that the 11-year-old, 17-hand, Westfalen gelding, Legolas, owned by Akiko Yamazaki’s Four Winds Farm LLC, and ridden by Steffen Peters, is the 2013 Adequan/USDF Grand Prix Horse of the Year. Legalos’ median score of 75.926 percent made him the top horse in the United States competing at this level and the recipient of USDF’s highest honor for the second year in a row.

Two of the six scheduled USEF Dressage Observation and Strategic Planning Sessions wrapped up late November in California, led by Robert Dover, the USEF Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor.

SHELBURNE, Vt. — There was a long list of Californians who won competition in the show ring at the 2013 American Morgan Horse Association Grand Nationals and World Championship Show (related article, page 18). Outside the arena, another Californian took home some prestigious recognition.

The 2013 AMHA Youth of the Year is Mackenzie Meier of Lenexa, Kan., and Sydney Cheong of Los Angeles is the reserve champion.

The contestants participated in a rigorous, four-part test throughout the course of two days. Included are a written exam, an oral presentation and interview, a ridden or driven horsemanship pattern, and a judging division with a reasons portion. The winner of this prestigious contest earns a custom-designed awards package valued at $2,500 and is generously sponsored by the Cynthia Elaine Epperson Trust. Meier placed first in the oral presentation, written exam, and the judging division, and received second place in the horsemanship pattern. Cheong, a senior at Harvard-Westlake School, also was in the show ribbons, winning the Horsemanship Pattern division. She also has earned a custom-designed awards package for her accomplishment.

A new category of rules referred to as “Prohibited Practices” has been introduced to the USEF Rule Book and took effect Dec. 1, 2013, the USEF announced last week.

AMARILLO, Texas — The American Quarter Horse Association on Sept. 23 filed notice of appeal to overturn a jury verdict that the AQHA had violated antitrust laws by excluding cloned Quarter Horses from its registry.

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Ashlee Bond went double-clear on Chela L-S to capture the Grand Prix of Huntington Beach Aug. 10, moving her up into third place in the GGT Series standings.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congress has left Washington for their annual five week August recess. During this time they will be back in their home states and districts meeting with constituents and holding town halls. The American Horse Council says this is an excellent time to connect with your Senators or Representative either at an event or one-on-one, without taking a trip to Washington.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Horse Council and other groups that advocate recreational trails use are urging people to voice disapproval of an amendment that would strip all funding from the Recreational Trails Program (RTP).

FORT WORTH, Texas – The future looks bright for Californians in the American Paint Horse Association, as a pair of competitors from the Golden State returned from the Will Rogers Memorial Center with respective AjPHA Youth World Championship and Reserve honors.

Ally Fink of Coronado, riding Gallant Zippo, won the All-Around Novice Youth World Championship, taking home a $1,000 scholarship, a Western trophy saddle courtesy of Blue Ribbon Custom Tack; embroidered arena bag from Big D; splint boots and bell boots from Purina; a embroidered deluxe stall bag courtesy of APHA; and a 16″ x 20″ photograph of her choice, courtesy of Larry Williams Photography.