All posts by Associate Editor

Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Scott Brash and Intertoy Z Win $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic

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Lauren Henry and Esteban La Paz Receive Top Tricolor in Coldwell Banker Children’s Hunter 15-17

Scott Brash and Intertoy Z. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 25, 2012 – Week eleven of the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday with a victory for Great Britain’s Scott Brash and Intertoy Z in the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. The pair won over Ben Maher (GBR) and Quiet Easy 4 and Cian O’Connor (IRL) and KEC Alligator Alley in second and third.

Today’s course in the International Arena was set by Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England. The 1.50m class brought 40 entries to the ring in the first round, but none were able to clear the course without fault. Thirteen entries finished the round with four fault scores, and a jump-off was held to break the tie.

In the 13-horse jump-off, only four jumped clear, and their times were the deciding factor. Ben Maher and Mrs. Phillips’ Quiet Easy 4 were the first to clear the course and stopped the clock in 40.854 seconds, which finished second.

Continue reading Scott Brash and Intertoy Z Win $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, FEI

Germany Triumphs at First Leg of FEI Nations Cup Eventing

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Germany’s Michael Jung clinched 1st, 2nd and 3rd on Cross Country at the first leg of the FEI Nations Cup Eventing in Fontainebleau. Photo: PSV J. Morel

Lausanne (SUI), 26 March 2012 – Reigning World and European Champion Michael Jung led Germany to a convincing victory at the first leg of the FEI Nations Cup Eventing held in Fontainebleau, France.

Jung had three rides and dominated the contest from the outset, finishing at the head of the field with his Badminton entry, Leopin, after adding just two Cross Country time penalties to his first-phase mark of 37.4.

Jung’s teammates Andreas Ostholt (Franco Jeas, individual seventh) and Andreas Dibowski (FRH Fantasia, 22nd) completed with a healthy margin of 14.8 penalties ahead of The Netherlands.

France netted third on 226.2 penalties after Australia, which was on target for second following the Dressage, dropped out of the reckoning when Wendy Schaeffer was eliminated on the Cross Country.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Driving, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

Live Oak International Ends with a Ninth USEF National Championship for Chester Weber

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Chester Weber on his victory lap with wife My at his side. (picsofyou.com)

A picture perfect day in Ocala Florida provided the idyllic backdrop for the conclusion of competition at the Live Oak International Combined Driving Event.  Taking the lead the first day and never looking back, Chester Weber and the team he co-owns with Jane Forbes Clark concluded their performance by putting in a solid round in the cones competition, thereby earning Weber an unprecedented ninth National Four-in-Hand Championship title.  “It is very nice to have it back,” says Weber of the trophy. And perhaps the win is even more noteworthy given the fact that this was Weber’s first competition with this new team.  “I am so thankful for Jane Clark’s support and participation, and for helping me put this combination together,” Weber noted. “I’m really excited about the future.”

Topping other classes in the FEI Division, Australian Janelle Marshall turned in a total score of 126.39 to come away with the win in the Single Pony class.  Jennifer Matheson maintained her lead in the FEI Pony Pairs competition, and Lisa Stroud put in a double clear performance to secure her win in the FEI Pony Teams with a score of 150.28.

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Community/Charity, Rescue/Protection Sources

Study Exposes Real Reasons behind Decline of Horse Industry

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Chicago (EWA) – The Equine Welfare Alliance has released the first comprehensive analysis of economic forces that have caused major shrinkage of the horse industry in recent few years. The study analyzes the cost of alfalfa, grass hay, corn and gasoline as well as the impact of the extended recession, and explains why breed registries have seen an approximately 50% reduction in foal registrations since 2007.

While all sectors of the economy have been hammered by the economic conditions this new study shows that the horse industry has also suffered hyper-inflation of its costs. The combination has been devastating.

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Competitions, Kentucky Horse Shows, Olympic Games, Show Jumping, USEF

Long List Named for US Show Jumping Team for 2012 Olympic Games

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Wellington, FL – Following the conclusion of the USEF Selection Trials for the U.S. Show Jumping Team, the USEF has named the following athlete/horse combinations to the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games.

These combinations have been ranked in the following order:

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Classic Company, Classic Company, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Atlanta Spring Classic I – Cherry Blossom Week

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We finished our first week of Atlanta today with great weather and lots of entries.  We were very lucky this week when the giant storms made their way east; they split and went north and south of the show grounds and we had only minutes of rain instead of hours.

At the top of the Grand Prix ring, the city of Conyers hosts the Cherry Blossom Festival.  This year, I was told, the crowds were heading towards the record books.  It’s been great to share our week with the city and the festival.

The winner of the Cherry Blossom $25,000 Grand Prix was Robert Lee aboard his mount El Grecco. Robert was also second on his other horse Acrobat.  I also have to add that Robert shows in the Amateur Owner Hunters and was Reserve Champion on his horse Shock Top. A man for all seasons.  Congrats Robert – glad you are showing at our shows this spring.

Continue reading Atlanta Spring Classic I – Cherry Blossom Week →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

Engle and Kessler Tie for the 2012 USEF National Show Jumping Championship

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Reed Kessler and Cylana (Photos: SportFot)

Wellington, FL – Both youth and experience prevailed at the 2012 USEF National Show Jumping Championship at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and with three horse/rider combinations tied at the end of the third round, the race for the overall title was wide open. It was standing room only for the second-to-last Saturday night of the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, and Alan Wade’s courses continued to prove influential and challenging in the fourth and final round.

The battle between youth and experience was between Margie Engle, one of the winningest veterans on the Grand Prix circuit, and 17-year-old Reed Kessler, who is only eligible to jump in the senior ranks for the first time in 2012. In the end Engle and Kessler were tied at the end of four rounds and decided between themselves not to jump off to determine a single winner. The result meant that Kessler won her first title and Engle was crowned National Champion for the third time.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Driving, Events, USEF

Live Oak International Marathon Phase Wraps Up

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Chester Weber in Position to Win a 9th USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship

Chester Weber (Picsofyou.com)

Ocala, FL – Record crowds turned out Saturday to watch the marathon phase of the Live Oak International Combined Driving event.  Harmut Kaufmann’s course challenged the 78 drivers who tackled the technical and option-filled hazards along the route.

On a marathon score of 80.86, Chester Weber has secured a formidable lead in his bid for a record-breaking ninth USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship title.  “My team was fantastic today,” explained Weber following his quick round. “This is the first time with this combination.  With ‘Boy’, who I drove at Kentucky, as the right lead horse and ‘Nick’, who is owned by Jane Forbes Clark, on the left, the team performed just as I had hoped they would,” Weber added, “and of course my wheelers ‘Para’ and ‘Splash’ are always very good; they are like driving a car.”  The National Championship will be awarded on Sunday after completion of the obstacle phase.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press

Kentucky Horse Council Awarded Kentucky Proud Partner in Excellence

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Lexington, KY, March 22, 2012 – The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) has awarded the Kentucky Proud Partner in Excellence to the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) in recognition of their commitment to the growth and sustainability of agriculture in the Commonwealth.

“Extending the Kentucky Proud program to equines has always been a Kentucky Horse Council goal,” remarked Anna Zinkhon, President of the Kentucky Horse Council. “The horse industry provides a significant contribution to direct farm impact in the Commonwealth, so we were delighted to work with the Department of Agriculture to get the equine Kentucky Proud program initiated.  We are honored by this Partner of Excellence Award and plan to continue our active involvement in with the Agriculture Department in the Kentucky Proud Program.”

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Phelps Media Group

Seraphim12 Foundation Redefines the Relationship between Horse and Man

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Wellington – March 23, 2011 – The Seraphim12 Foundation is writing a new history for horses around the world as the team fights imposing legislation and raises awareness through actions and education. Seraphim12 represents the essence of the bond that exists between horse and human, a bond that should never be broken. Conceptualized by lifelong equestrians, Manda Kalimian and Pamela Polk head up the Seraphim12 Foundation, reconstructing the bridge that interconnects horses with humans.

In a world where horses are mostly seen for financial value and usefulness, people have forgotten the power and sensitivity horses provide, acting as a mirror to reflect back to us, who we are and who we can be. It was three and a half years ago when Kalimian realized that slaughterhouses were still in existence, an e-mail from a rescue organization changed her world – she knew that she needed to do something.

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