All posts by Associate Editor

Langehanenberg Leads German Whitewash at Neumunster

Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW won the penultimate qualifying leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League series at Neumunster. Photo: FEI/Thomas Hellmann.

Neumunster (GER), 19 February 2012 – Helen Langehanenberg had the biggest smile of all as she headed a German whitewash at the eighth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 Western European League series at Neumunster, Germany today.  Host nation riders filled five of the top six places, led by the 29-year-old from Havixbek and her popular stallion, Damon Hill NRW, while yesterday’s Grand Prix winners, Isabell Werth and El Santo NRW, had to settle for runner-up spot this time out.

One of the biggest cheers of the morning was reserved for third-placed Uta Graf and her very handsome stallion Le Noir who really rose to the occasion in the intense atmosphere that undermined many of the other contenders, while Dorothee Schneider and the mare, Diva Royal, slotted into fourth.

Last of the 15 horse-and-rider combinations into the arena, it was Denmark’s Lone Jorgensen and FBW De Vito who broke the German stranglehold at the top end of the scoreboard when lining up fifth ahead of Germany’s double Olympic team gold medallist Nadine Capellman riding Girasol.

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Reed Kessler Dominates $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 6

Laurie Stevens/Iceman, Elizabeth Faraci/Paramour Top FarmVet Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3″ Divisions

Reed Kessler and Cylana. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – February 17, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival featured events at two facilities today. At the Stadium, the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 6 had grand prix competition with Reed Kessler of Armonk, NY, taking three of the top four spots. She scored the win with Cylana, was third on Ligist, and fourth with Pacha de Nantuel. Tina Fletcher (GBR) and Unique IX were second. In the International Arena, the FarmVet Amateur-Owner 3’3″ divisions awarded age division championships to Laurie Stevens on Iceman and Elizabeth Faraci and Paramour.

Week six of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Equine Couture/Tuff Rider will run February 15-19. The week is full of exciting events, including Saturday night’s USHJA WCHR Hunter Spectacular of Palm Beach, and Sunday’s $50,000 G&C Farm Jumper Derby held at The Stadium. The 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.

Continue reading Reed Kessler Dominates $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 6

Victoria Colvin and Way Cool Jump to the Top of the $50,000 WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular

Victoria Colvin and Way Cool. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – February 18, 2012 – The $50,000 WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular was held under the lights at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival on Saturday night with an exciting victory for 14-year-old Victoria Colvin riding Dr. Betsee Parker’s Way Cool. The pair edged out last year’s winners, Louise Serio and Bryan Baldwin’s Castle Rock, who finished second. Colvin also took home third place honors riding Inclusive, owned by Scott Stewart. Elizabeth Boyd and Brunello finished fourth after a win in the first round.

Week six of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Equine Couture/Tuff Rider will run through February 19. The $50,000 G&C Farm Jumper Derby is the highlight event on Sunday at The Stadium at 3 p.m. The 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.

Continue reading Victoria Colvin and Way Cool Jump to the Top of the $50,000 WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven Wins FEI Grand Prix Freestyle under the Lights at Global Dressage Festival

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello. Photos: SusanJStickle.com

Wellington, FL – February 19, 2012 – Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven of Sweden captured her second victory on Don Auriello at the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W, presented by the United States P.R.E. Association, this time in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle under the lights on Saturday. The nighttime atmosphere at the Global Dressage Festival (GDF) was filled with excitement for the world cup event that featured twelve entries from five different nations.

The electric atmosphere was great for the crowd, but it made things a little more difficult for Vilhelmson-Silfven who scored 76.350%. “I am super pleased,” said Vilhelmson-Silfven. “He was a bit more tense here in the dark, but it was good practice for me. I had a better feeling with him today than yesterday. The facility has made a huge difference. It’s very nice.”

James Koford of Wellington, FL rode Pharaoh to second place with a score of 73.450%. Koford was thrilled with his finish because he hopes to use the prize money from this competition and his victory in the freestyle at the first GDF to pay for World Cup Final expenses, should he receive an invitation.

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Yvonne Losos de Muñiz and Liebling II Win Rock Star Freestyle Award from Cunningham & Cunningham at Wellington Classic Spring Challenge

Yvonne Losos de Muñiz and her equine partner Liebling II won the Grand Prix Freestyle at the Wellington Classic Spring Challenge. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (February 17, 2012) – With seven championship medals to her name, including the Individual Bronze Medals from the 2003 and 2007 Pan American Games, Yvonne Losos de Muñiz and her equine partner Liebling II danced their way to victory in the Grand Prix Freestyle at the Wellington Classic Spring Challenge at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. Thanks to a beautiful musical performance, Losos de Muñiz and Liebling not only won the class but also won the Rock Star Award from Cunningham & Cunningham Livestock, Inc.

Losos de Muñiz, who rides for the Dominican Republic, was thrilled to ride away with the blue ribbon and the Rock Star Freestyle Award. “Our freestyle was a lot smoother and more forward than usual. We have a few glitches to iron out, but it’s coming along nicely and I was pleased with how it all went,” she said.

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USPRE Celebrates the Spanish Breed as Sponsor of $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W at 2012 Global Dressage Festival

Caroline Roffman and Pie, winners of the FEI Prix St. Georges at the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W, presented by the USPRE. Presenters L to R: Alexander Zilo, Kim Boyer, Mary Magee, Joan Mack, Aliza Korash & Hilda Gurney

Wellington, FL – February 17, 2012 – True to its name, the Global Dressage Festival is bringing together the best elements of dressage from all over the world. The international influence is apparent not only in terms of riders but in terms of horses. A Spanish flare is taking center ring with the P.R.E. breed. As a sponsor of the Global Dressage Festival the USPRE is showcasing this pure Spanish breed which is elegantly entering the spotlight and winning top dressage honors.

The Vice President of the USPRE Alexander Zilo comments, “The fundamental mission of USPRE is to celebrate and promote the versatility of the Pure Spanish Horse (P.R.E.), the Horse of Kings, in every equestrian sport sector and to maintain its heritage with Spain.  Known for its intelligence, proud bearing, docile temperament and breathtaking beauty, the P.R.E. horse is well suited for every level of riding. USPRE has chosen to be a founding sponsor of Global Dressage as it is destined to be the world’s leading marketing and promotion vehicle in Dressage.”

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Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven Wins FEI Grand Prix at $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello

Wellington, FL – February 17, 2012 – The FEI Grand Prix at the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W, presented by the United States P.R.E. Association, was truly an international event as the top three places went to three different nations on Friday.  Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven won the event at the Global Dressage Festival, Ashley Holzer of Canada was second, and Todd Flettrich finished as highest placed American rider in third place.

Vilhelmson-Silfven scored a 72.681% on Don Auriello, which was impressive since this is his first show in Florida this season. The pair performed the test in a relaxed steady tempo, as if on air, with steadiness and ease.

“There is lots of atmosphere here. It’s like a really, really big show,” said Vilhelmson-Silfven of the newly built Stadium section of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC.)

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Andres Rodriguez and Caballito Win the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix at HITS Ocala

©ESI Photography. Andres Rodriguez and Caballito edged out Tracy Fenney by a split second to win Thursday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

OCALA, FL (February 17, 2012) – Andres Rodriguez and Caballito, owned by ARAO Enterprises LLC, won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health on Thursday at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala to kick off a weekend of action-packed show jumping. High-Performance riders were out in full force yesterday as International Course Designer Martin Otto of Munster, Germany made his debut designing courses in the Grand Prix field at HITS Ocala.

Rodriguez, originally of Venezuela and now residing in Wellington, Florida, was one of 16 to make it to the jump-off from the original 39 horse-and-rider combinations.

“The course was friendly,” he said. “Everyone wants to see a jump off with people going as fast as they can and I’m glad there was a jump off that the crowd could get into, because that’s what makes this sport exciting”.

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Atlanta Spring Classic 2012

Our Spring Shows, The Atlanta Spring Classics, starts on March 21 and runs until April 1st.  Our spring shows are USEF AA rated and we host a $25,000 Grand Prix each week. For the past few years these shows has been light and our grand prix has had less than 20 entries.  Being a light show, this is a great opportunity for barns seeking AA points and easier jumper money to join us and reap the rewards of a smaller AA show.

I want to remind you that the closing date for Atlanta Spring is February 25th.  Although many have learned to ignore the closing date of our shows, Classic Company does offer a $25 per stall savings if paid by closing date.  We know that with a two week show $50 is a savings on each stall price so we do encourage exhibitors to enter early. One of the Classic Company’s sponsors does make making your entries easy.  Equestrian Connect allows you to do your entries online and makes the process so easy and accurate.  I would suggest a visit to www.equestrianconnect.com and see what they have to offer.

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What Does It Look and Feel Like When Your Horse Is on the Bit? by Jane Savoie

Many riders are confused about how to tell if their horses are honestly on the bit. Below is a description of what it looks and feels like when your horse is honestly connected.

What Does It Look Like?

  • Hindquarters: You want to see active hindquarters and your horse stepping well under himself.
  • Back: Just behind the saddle, the back should look round, not dipped and hollow.
  • Neck: If you’re sitting on your horse and looking at his neck, it should be widest at the base, just in front of the withers, and get progressively narrower toward his ears. If you’re looking at your horse’s neck from the side and you see a dip 4 or 5 inches in front of the withers (or a narrow area when viewed from above), that’s a visual signal that he is not really ‘through’ and connected. If the neck is widest in middle, or widest up by the ears, then your horse is being pulled into a frame instead of being correctly connected from back to front. He should get ‘pumped up’ or ‘bloom’ at the base of the neck, meaning it’s the widest point.
  • Poll: Ideally, the poll is the highest point.
  • Nose: The nose should be 5 degrees in front of the vertical.

Continue reading What Does It Look and Feel Like When Your Horse Is on the Bit? by Jane Savoie