FORT WORTH, Texas — The National Reined Cow Horse Association is moving its first Premier Event of 2014, the Celebration of Champions, to Fort Worth, Texas. The event will take place Feb. 14 – 22, 2014, in the Will Rogers Equestrian Center.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House Appropriations Committee voted in June to block funding for inspections at prospective horse slaughter plants, which if it survives the entire legislative process, would halt any effort to resume slaughter for these animals on U.S. soil. The committee backed, by a voice vote, an amendment to the agriculture appropriations bill offered by Reps. Jim Moran, D-Va., and Bill Young, R-Fla., to forbid spending by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on inspections U.S. horse slaughter plants in Fiscal Year 2014. A similar spending prohibition was put in place in 2005, however it was not renewed in 2011, leading to the opportunity for horse slaughter plants to reopen in the U.S at the estimated annual expense of 5 million taxpayer dollars.

SIMI VALLEY – NRHA Million Dollar Rider and NRCHA World’s Great Horseman Randy Paul started a new chapter in his brilliant career March 1 when he moved into Bob and Laura Day’s Day Creek Ranch in Simi Valley.

Paul, who has trained non pro Laura Day and a variety of her horses in recent years including NRBC finalist Easy Slider, will focus on both reining and reined cow horse at the 260-acre Day Creek facility, which also is the home of eventing trainer Michelle Emmermann and hunter-jumper trainer Stacie Ryan.

“I am happy to be here,” said Paul, the 2009 NRCHA World’s Greatest winner on Smokeelan. “I enjoy it. Laura and her gang here are fun to be around, and I think we’re going to have a lot of success.”

DEL MAR – Equidae will present four half-hour performances during the San Diego County Fair on June 22-23 with shows at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily at the San Diego Arena behind the Del Mar Arena.

VISTA — Tom Ramoss, a horseman and fifth-generation Californian once responsible for driving 50,000 cattle on land that is now Camp Pendleton, will be inducted into the Vista Hall of Fame on May 18 because of his contributions to the city. He will be inducted along with three others, including Judge Leon Bone, avocado grower Robert Elsinger and Russian immigrant John Slivkoff.

SENECA FALLS, N.Y. — Julie Krone, legendary jockey and San Diego County horsewoman who is ready to embark on a chapter of natural horsemanship, will be inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame this fall alongside fellow inductees Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic Leader, and Betty Ford, the former first lady.

DEL MAR — Published reports earlier this month detailed bankruptcy details of the defunct Valitar show that closed in Del Mar last November, and although $600,000 has been recovered by a federal bankruptcy court, employees, acts and vendors are still heavily owed.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — After the media frenzy which surrounded U.S. Dressage Team member Jan Ebeling at last summer’s Olympic Games, he and his mount Rafalca enjoyed a quiet winter away from the spotlight. The well-deserved vacation obviously benefited both rider and horse as they put in strong winning performances at the Festival of the Horse & CDI 3*/Y/J held March 27-30 at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park.

BRAUNSCHWEIG, Germany — The FEI World Cup Vaulting Final wrapped-up March 17 with France and Italy earning the top spots in the Men’s and Women’s Finals, respectively. A total of seven nations took part in the two Finals and, demonstrating the growth of the sport over the past few years, the United States was represented for the first time by male vaulter Gabe Aniello.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Three popular California USEF eventing competitions are among 19 nationwide that have been approved by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) as Targeted CNs.