All posts by Associate Editor

Seraphim12 Foundation Redefines the Relationship between Horse and Man

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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4,800 Fourth-Graders from Central Kentucky to Attend a Live Equine Presentation Created Just for Them

Photo by www.jennifermunson.com.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 23, 2012) – The Kentucky Horse Park will welcome 4,800 fourth-graders to the Alltech Arena on March 29 to watch an original, live equine show, written and choreographed exclusively for them. The show is a highlight of a reading program created by the Kentucky Horse Park Literacy Program, which the students have been participating in since last year.

Approximately 6,000 students from 55 schools in Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Grant, Madison, Montgomery, Scott, and Woodford counties are in enrolled in this year’s Kentucky Horse Park Literacy Program, which combines horse-themed books and experiences with live horses to inspire a life-long love of horses and reading.

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Cesar Parra’s Piaffe Performance Continues Winning Ways at 2012 Palm Beach Dressage Derby

Dr. Cesar Parra with Nicolas Torres and Silver Label at the 2012 Palm Beach Dressage Derby. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Cesar Parra)

Wellington, FL (March 23, 2012) – Piaffe Performance’s team of riders, headed by Dr. Cesar Parra, has already had many successes on Florida’s winter dressage circuit, and the group of riders and horses recently added a list of wins to their resumes during the 2012 Palm Beach Dressage Derby, held at Equestrian Estates. Piaffe Performance always has a large group of supporters wearing their colors, and during this year’s Derby the fan club had plenty to cheer about as Parra’s team took home blue ribbons in most of the major divisions, from Young Riders to Pony Tests to the FEI level classes.

Parra debuted a number of new horses during the prestigious CDI competition, including his new Grand Prix mount Van the Man and Simply Nymphenburg, a young prospect from Europe.  Van the Man, who is owned by Michael and Sarah Davis, handily won the Open Grand Prix class and FEI Test of Choice with scores over 70%, while Simply Nymphenburg scored an 81% in the FEI 6-year-old test and won his 2nd Level class with a 74%.  “Van the Man has such potential and our success at the Derby proves he is a horse to watch,” said Parra.  “Simply Nymphenburg is one of the best young prospects I’ve ever seen, and I am thrilled to have the chance to bring him along in his dressage career.”

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Victoria Colvin Wins 5th Annual George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championships

Michelle Navarro-Grau and Tibetano Capture Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge, Hillary Jean and D’Amour Win Low Adult 2’6″ Hunters

Victoria Colvin and VIP Z. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 23, 2012 – The 5th Annual George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championships were held on Friday evening in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. A feature event for the junior riders at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, the victory gallop was led by 14-year-old Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL.

Tonight’s class was held in three rounds with thirty-four riders competing in round one, the top 13 coming back for round two, and the top four returning for the third and final round. The course walk and schooling were the sole responsibility of the riders. Competitors were allowed no contact with their trainers during the class and were responsible for time management, warm up, and schooling of their own horses with the assistance of one groom.

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20th Annual Live Oak International Is Underway in Ocala

Chester Weber (picsofyou.com)

The 20th Annual Live Oak International got underway today on the serene grounds of Live Oak Plantation, also home to leading Thoroughbred breeding and training facility, Live Oak Stud in Ocala Florida. The Live Oak International represents the very best that combined driving competition has to offer and the event traditionally attracts the best drivers from around the world.  “This really is the premier event in the country,” according to the Technical Delegate Ed Young and U.S. Driving Team Chef d’Equipe, “they really go over and above here; the grounds are turned out to the nines.” In addition to the stellar driving competition, Live Oak International has added FEI CSI** Show Jumping to its roster on its 20th anniversary.  For the first time in 2012, jumpers will compete; initially on Friday afternoon in the $15,000 EyeD Welcome Stake, and then again on Saturday afternoon in a $50,000 Grand Prix.  The event this year boasted a wishful waiting list of entrants who were eager to get into the competition, but the event is full and running at capacity.

The driving event started this morning, and in total, 41 FEI and Intermediate dressage scores were turned in today.

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Engle, Fellers, and Kessler Share the Lead after Three Rounds in USEF Selection Trials

Skelton Continues Winning Streak in $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 11 with Big Star, Farmer and Taken Win High Performance Working Hunters

Reed Kessler and Cylana. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 22, 2012 – Margie Engle and Indigo, Rich Fellers and Flexible, and Reed Kessler and Cylana are all tied at the top of the standings after round #3 of the USEF Selection Trials, which are being held to determine the riders that will represent the United States Show Jumping Team in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Riders showed in round #1 on Wednesday afternoon and round #2 earlier in the day on Thursday. The scores from all three rounds will carry over to Saturday evening when competitors will compete in a fourth and final round. This event also serves as the USEF National Show Jumping Championships, a return to the event that was last held in 2008.

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Engle, Fellers and Kessler Tied at the Top of the 2012 USEF National Show Jumping Championships/USEF Selection Trials for the U.S. Show Jumping Team

Mario Deslauriers and Urico (Photo: SportFot)

Wellington, FL – Two rounds of jumping for the USEF National Show Jumping Championships took place on Thursday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center – and for the 30 horses returning for the penultimate round, there was also selection for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games on the line. Alan Wade’s course was a serious one this evening, and it was compared to some of the biggest championship tracks in the world.

Clear rounds were hard to come by in both rounds: in the Trial 3 no one managed a fault free performance, but fellow New Yorkers Mario Deslauriers on Jane Clark’s Urico and Brianne Goutal on Remarkable Farms’ Nice de Prissey respectively finished with one time fault. This performance put Deslauriers into the fourth place spot in the trial rankings (on nine faults) with a three-way tie for the lead on eight.

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Round Two with Reining Featured Riders!

You won’t want to miss these featured riders this year competing alongside crowd favorite Lyle Lovett during their return to the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup April 27th and 28th. This rock star team promises to dazzle the audience with galloping, spins and slides. You never know what other guest riders may try their hand at Reining again this year!

Lisa Coulter

It is warm and sunny in Scottsdale Arizona and I am thrilled that I chose to ride here this winter. We have not had many cool days and the sky is always blue… makes for great moods in people and horses! My lineup of horses for this year’s show season are feeling fresh and ready. I have had the opportunity to ride at Randy Pauls this winter and it has been great…
Click here to read more about Lisa!

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Kate Conover and Peron Win the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala

©ESI Photography. Kate Conover and Peron on course in Sunday's $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

OCALA, FL (March 21, 2012) – Kate Conover of Ocala, Florida and Redfield Farm’s Peron captured the grand finale for hunter riders at HITS Ocala when they scored the top prize in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix to put a bow on the 2012 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit.

“It was a challenging course that was set in the grand hunter ring,” said Conover. “There were lots of new jumps out there that we had not seen throughout the circuit and they were a nice touch.”

The two-round classic featured 51 horse-and-rider pairs on a course designed by Doug Russell of Ocala, Florida. At the end of the first round, it was Megan Edrick of Ocala, Florida and Liz Hudspeth’s Fairfax in the lead with a first round score of 87. In the second round, Edrick received a 76 for a total of 167 points, which would eventually finish in ninth place.

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Trainer Jeff Gogul Rides to Championship on Rosebud in Hunter Class Sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center

Jeff Gogul and Rosebud were in the winner’s circle during the seventh week of the 2012 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival after being victorious in the Sanctuary hunter divisions. (Photo courtesy of Sportfot.com)

Wellington, FL (March 21, 2012) — Hunter trainer Jeff Gogul, who owns Flagship, LTD Farm in Ohio, rode Rosebud to the Championship in the First Year Green Working Hunter division during the seventh week of the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival. The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, a world-class rehab and conditioning facility located in Ocala, Florida, sponsors the class as well as the Second Year Green, Green Conformation and Regular Conformation classes.

Gogul has more than 20 years of training experience to his name, having consistently trained horses and students to local, region and national championships in the hunter, jumper and equitation rings. A USEF “r” Judge, Gogul is well known for his success in Wellington. He has been the trainer and rider of the Littlewood Circuit Champion Pre-Green Hunter, the co-trainer of the WEF Circuit Champion Modified Children’s Jumper and the trainer for multiple years of the WEF Circuit Champion 3’3” Adult Amateur. Gogul’s success in the Big Eq ranks are also proven, as his students have ridden away with the ASPCA Maclay National Championship, the Hunter Seat Medal National Championship and the National Children’s Medal Championship.

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