All posts by Associate Editor

Hunt Tosh Pilots Say Again to Multiple Hunter Wins on Day One of Tampa Bay Classic

Hunt Tosh and Say Again earned top honors in the Green Conformation Hunters at the Tampa Bay Classic. Photo By: Elsie Vieira/PMG

Tampa, FL – March 28, 2012 – The Tampa Equestrian Series, held at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center in Tampa, FL, is off to a great start in its first day of competition. The hunter ring was especially prominent today with a consistent string of winning horse and rider combinations. It was Hunt Tosh who stole the show today, he swept the over fences in multiple divisions aboard his talented mounts, and caught the judges’ eyes with consistency, pace and execution.

The day began with the Green Conformation Hunters, taking on their hunter and handy courses with nothing short of confidence and skill. The well-crafted pattern of the course, designed by Keith Bollotte, was evident as Tosh directed Say Again, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler, to each fence with perfect striding. The handy round included a trot fence that steadily led to a bending line, followed by an ending roll back. Tosh has had numerous wins with Say Again in their short amount of time together, and he was quick to acknowledge his mounts tenacity.

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Amanda Steege Sets the Standard Topping Hunter Results for Tampa Bay Classic

Amanda Steege and Caschmier rode to the top of the hunter results during the Tampa Bay Classic's second day of competition. Photo By: Elizabeth Vieira/PMG

Tampa, FL – March 29, 2012 – Today saw immense competition as the hunters turned the second day of the Tampa Bay Classic into a nail biter. Although Hunt Tosh piloted his mount Say Again into the spotlight yesterday with his sweeping wins in the over fences, it was Amanda Steege who came out on top earning four hunter championships today. Adrienne Iverson also was awarded the tricolor championship aboard Maximus, taking the top honors in the second day of the Pre-Green Hunters.

The morning commenced with a competitive class of Pre-Green Hunters, completing the division for the first week of the Tampa Equestrian Series. Submerged in a group of talented horse and rider teams, it was Iverson who would take the championship honors. She directed Maximus, owned by Redfield Farm, to a triplet of winning rides. Under the direction of trainer Emil Spadone, Iverson managed to seal her spot at the top in the first day of the Tampa Bay Classic.

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Nevada’s Wild Horses Need Your Help

Comments Needed for the Desatoya Herd & Other News

Wild horses of Nevada

Dear Wild Horse & Burro Defenders;
Please help the Desatoya Wild Horse herd in central Nevada by commenting on the helicopter stampede and removal plan in which the vast majority of wild horse families would lose their freedom later this year. As many as 500 horses could be removed from their legally designated Wild Horse Herd Management Area of over 160,000 acres. BLM is only allowing for 127-180 wild horses, while permitting the year round grazing of 600 head of privately owned livestock.

Instead of preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for just the wild horse removal, BLM has included this wild horse action as part of a habitat restoration project EA. The “restoration” plan calls for the cutting of pinyon, juniper and sagebrush to improve the habitat for threatened populations of sage grouse. Yes, that’s right — destroying sagebrush habitat to help struggling sage grouse populations. It is easy to conclude that the “restoration” might also create more grazing land for welfare cattle. Livestock damage is the major cause of declining sage grouse populations throughout the West.

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Save the Date: April 27 – Thoroughbred Racing Meets Thoroughbred Sport Horses

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation, The Jockey Club, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Keeneland are bringing the racing industry and the sport horse world together in April. On Friday April 27, the last day of Keeneland’s Spring Race Meet and during the 2012 Rolex Kentucky CCI4* presented by Bridgestone, Keeneland is hosting a reception for stakeholders from both industries.

In 2012, The Jockey Club launched an important initiative called the Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.). This program is designed to encourage the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of careers in racing or breeding. T.I.P. offers sponsorship for Thoroughbred-only classes and divisions and high point Thoroughbred awards at open horse shows and competitions, a Thoroughbred of the Year Award and a Young Rider of the Year Award.

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So8ths/Nikon Three-Day Event to Showcase Nation’s Finest Eventing Riders and Clinicians

Rebecca Howard. Photo by Diana De Rosa

If you haven’t been tracking the progress of the second annual So8ths/Nikon Three-Day Event in the “Heart of the Carolinas,” May 3-6, 2012, then it’s time you take notice. Why? Because some of the most talented Eventing riders and trainers are doing just that. They think so highly of this event that is focused on amateur riders and training-level horses that they are donating their time. They will serve as clinicians to the first event that will showcase all three of the lower levels (Beginner Novice, Novice and Training) as recognized three-day events.  In the past Training has been recognized at the three-day level but it was only this past February that BN and N were added into the fold by the U.S. Eventing Association.

What makes Southern 8ths Farm, Chesterfield, SC, so special is that this 300-acre paradise is like a mini-Rolex in that it has some of the best facilities in the nation, which are often only reserved for the upper lever riders. Here you have 45 permanent stalls, regulation size arenas, over three miles of manicured Roads & Tracks, a huge airy indoor arena and so much more.

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Teams Announced for the Third Annual International Gay Polo Tournament

2011 International Gay Polo Tournament Teams

Wellington, FL – March 28, 2012 – Marc and Melissa Ganzi, owners of Grand Champions Polo Club and Honorary Chairpersons for the Third Annual International Gay Polo Tournament, are pleased to announce the following professional players who will anchor the four teams:

Jason Crowder, rated 6 goals, literally grew up on a polo field. As a child he lived in a condo on the edge of the main field at Santa Barbara Polo Club. He played on the undefeated Lucchese team that swept the 20-goal series. Crowder was crowned MVP of the 2011 Pacific Coast Open, a true hometown hero. Crowder currently plays for the Piaget Polo Team in the 20-goal series.

Nic Roldan, rated 7 is one of the top professional polo players in the world and holds many of the highest accolades in the sport including being the youngest player to ever win the U.S. Open Polo Championship at age 15. Roldan is a brand ambassador for luxury Swiss watchmaker Piaget and a Wilhelmina model.

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USEF Names 2012 Show Jumping European Young Rider & Junior Rider Tour

Lexington, KY – The following riders and horses have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to the 2012 Show Jumping European Young Rider and Junior Rider Tour. These combinations were selected based on the criteria outlined in the Selection Procedures for the 2012 Show Jumping Young Rider and Junior Rider Tour. The Selection Procedures can be found here:

http://usef.org/documents/highPerformance/showJumping/2011YRTourSP_FINAL.pdf
http://usef.org/documents/highPerformance/showJumping/2011JRTourSP_FINAL.pdf

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Pessoa and HH Palouchin Dominate in $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic

Rodrigo Pessoa and HH Palouchin. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 28, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival began the 12th and final week of competition today with the $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic. Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and HH Palouchin, owned by Double H Farm, are familiar faces in the winner’s circle and were able to speed to victory in today’s class. Richard Spooner (USA) and Molly Ohrstrom’s Billy Bianca were second, while Darragh Kerins (IRL) and Hot Wheels finished third.

Sponsored by FTI Consulting, Inc., the final week of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will feature the highlight grand prix of the season, the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5*, on Saturday, March 31. The USHJA International Hunter Derby will host the top 25 on the grass field at The Stadium on Sunday, April 1.

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Impressive Field Set to Contest CEI3* 160km Team Trial

Lexington, KY – This weekend the United States’ top endurance riders will vie for a chance to represent the U.S. at the 2012 FEI World Endurance Championship. Saturday, March 31st riders will compete in the CEI3* 160km Team Trial held at the Priefert Ranch in Mt. Pleasant, TX. Every attempt has been made to replicate the course and environment of the upcoming Championship at these Trials. Saturday’s race is expected to be an excellent showing of the nation’s finest endurance horses.

In accordance with the selection procedures, upon completion of the Team Trial, the top 20 horses in addition to any wild-cards granted by Chef d’Equipe Emmett Ross, will be named to the Long List. The 2012 FEI World Endurance Championship will take place August 25, 2012 in Euston Park, Thetford (GBR).

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Charlotte Jacobs Finishes WEF Circuit with High Junior Jumper Championship

Charlotte Jacobs and Cyrina Z winning the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic. Photo By: SportFot

East Aurora, NY and Wellington, FL – March 28, 2012 – The winter show season has come to a close for young rider Charlotte Jacobs of North Star Ventures, but during her last week of competition she captured top honors in the jumper and equitation rings. Over the past 11 weeks, Jacobs competed at the Winter Equestrian Festival aboard her talented string of mounts under the tutelage of Missy Clark and John Brennan of North Run. During Week 11, Jacobs won the High Junior Jumper championship aboard her newest horse, Cyrina Z.

During Saturday’s speed class, Jacobs piloted Cyrina Z to a fault free effort that claimed the second place honors. On Sunday, the pair stepped it up for the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic. With a beautiful, clear first round they advanced to the jump-off with three other riders. They lowered the height of just one fence and their four-fault score led the way to earn the blue ribbon victory. Jacobs and Cyrina Z’s excellent performance throughout the division was eventually honored with the High Junior Jumper Championship.

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