All posts by Associate Editor

Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, JRPR

Kelley Farmer Rides into the Winner’s Circle in Hunter Classes Sponsored by The Sanctuary during Third Week of FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival

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Kelley Farmer won the Championship in the First Year Green Hunters with Cinema, pictured with Larry Glefke, and the Championship in the Regular Conformation Hunters with Nanook during the third week of the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival. (Photo courtesy of Sportfot.com)

Wellington, FL (February 16, 2012) – Hunter trainer Kelley Farmer has been in the hunter spotlight for many years, and the Virginia based rider rode into the winner’s circle during the third week of the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival capturing the Championship in the First Year Green Hunters and the Regular Conformation Hunters. The Sanctuary at PBIEC, a world-class rehab and conditioning facility located on the grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, sponsors the hunter divisions.

Farmer, who rides and trains out of Larry Glefke’s Lane Change Farm in Keswick, Virginia, piloted Cinema to the Championship in the First Year Greens and Nanook to the Regular Conformation Hunter Championship. “Kelley is a phenomenal rider and we are always thrilled when she wins classes that we sponsor,” said Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center in Ocala. “The Sanctuary is dedicated to supporting the equestrian community, which is why we enjoy sponsoring classes and divisions at the Winter Equestrian Festival.”

Continue reading Kelley Farmer Rides into the Winner’s Circle in Hunter Classes Sponsored by The Sanctuary during Third Week of FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival →

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press

Kentucky Horse Park to Offer State-Wide Horse Grooming Contest

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Photo (c) www.jennifermunson.com

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 15, 2012) – The Kentucky Horse Park is pleased to announce a new state-wide horse grooming contest to be held on March 31.

The contest will to provide 4-H Clubs, Future Farmers of America, United States Pony Clubs, and other youth groups an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to work together in a safe and humane manner to groom and prepare horses for showing.  Both senior and junior divisions will be offered, and champion and reserve champion awards will be given.

Participants will need to dust off their grooming supplies and get in groom-ready shape. The Kentucky Horse Park will provide the horses, and park staff will make sure the animals are all in need of a good grooming before the contest.  Teams of three will be assigned a horse and then given 30 minutes to brush, dust, detangle and polish their way to the champion groom team honors.  The contest also will include a written test on general horse knowledge as well as a showmanship class at the end of the day, to show off all of the polished ponies.

This is sure to be good, “clean” family fun and a great opportunity to kick off the summer show season, which is just around the corner.

For complete details and a registration packet, please contact Sheila Forbes at Sheila.Forbes@ky.gov or 859-233-4305.

Cindy Rullman
859-259-4209
Cindy.Rullman@ky.gov

Eventing/H.T., FEI, FEI

FEI Nations Cup Eventing Debuts at Fontainebleau

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Lausanne (SUI), 15 February 2012 – The FEI’s first team Eventing series, the FEI Nations Cup Eventing 2012, will début at Fontainebleau (FRA) on 22-25 March 2012.

The brand new six-leg series, which will take place on a trial basis this year, is open to all nations fielding one team composed of 3 or 4 riders at each leg.

The FEI Nations Cup Eventing 2012 will be run under FEI Eventing rules at CICO and CCIO 3* level and riders will accumulate points under a dedicated system created for the new series.

Houghton Hall (GBR) will host the second leg on 24-27 May, followed by Strzegom (POL) on 1-3 June 2012 and Aachen (GER) on 3-8 July. The series then heads to Montelibretti (ITA) on 21-23 September, with the last leg in Boekelo (NED) on 11-14 October.

Continue reading FEI Nations Cup Eventing Debuts at Fontainebleau →

Community/Charity, Competitions, Competitions, Jacksonville Winter Series, Teri's Editorials

Jacksonville Winter Series – Hunter Derby Jan. 14, 2012

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Jennifer Alfano on Jersey Boy © Teri Rehkopf, HorsesintheSouth.com

I finally got to see an indoor hunter derby under the lights at the huge covered arena at the Clay County Agricultural Center in Green Cove Springs, FL (just south of Jacksonville) at the annual Jacksonville Winter Series.  I missed it last year due to other commitments I had, but made it to the USHJA $25,000 International Hunter Derby this year. Read more about the derby and the Jax Winter Series here.

Every year I get to see the  hunter classes and the grand prix jumping, but I haven’t seen a hunter derby other than what I can see online. I was really cool and not what I expected – a lot faster! Hard to shoot pictures and figure out a good spot to be in, but I got a few good shots anyway.

I was really great to see some of the hunter riders here that we put articles online about. It’s amazing that some of these riders can do so many different horses all in one class, too! Kelly Farmer rode 6 horses; Jennifer Alfano, who won the class on Jersey Boy, rode 4 horses; Liza Boyd rode 2 horses. Talk about being in shape – what athletes these women are. They are all winners in my eyes, including the 15 year old young lady that rode!

As usual, the North Florida Hunter Jumper Association put on a great dinner before the show with viewing access to the whole ring. I will definitely be making it to the next hunter derby that we have in close proximity.

Kelly Farmer on Bases Loaded © Teri Rehkopf, HorsesintheSouth.com

We are overwhelmed with shows in our area and I wish I could go see them all. On my list next is to go to a combined driving show. Here’s hoping we have good weather since these aren’t in a nice covered arena. I have been shooting pictures in the covered arena during a rain with the wind blowing hard and gotten slightly wet and cold. That’s no fun, lol. We Floridians aren’t used to the cold. It went from 21 degrees in the morning 2 days ago back up to 78 degrees today!

This weekend is my dressage club’s schooling show and it’s supposed to rain. We desperately need the rain here as we are so dry and my pastures need it, but can’t it be when it’s not the day of a show?

Competitions, Dressage, Events

Starting Lists for the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W and National Show at 2012 Global Dressage Festival Available for Viewing

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James Koford and Pharaoh. Photo: www.SusanJStickle.com

Wellington, FL – February 14, 2012 – The starting lists for the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W, presented by the United States P.R.E. Association, and National Show are now available for viewing on the website www.globaldressagefestival.com under the link for dressage show information and ride times on the main homepage.  This second event of the 2012 Global Dressage Festival (GDF) circuit takes place February 16-19 at The Stadium section of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).

The CDI classes are filled to capacity featuring international and national riders that include: Ashley Holzer, Evi Strasser, and Jacqueline Brooks of Canada, Tinne Vilhelmlson-Silfven of Sweden, Mikala Gundersen of Denmark, and Ilse Schwarz of Australia. Some of the U.S. riders that are entered are: Heather Blitz, Adrienne Lyle, James Koford, Shawna Harding, Todd Flettrich, and Susan Dutta.

Continue reading Starting Lists for the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W and National Show at 2012 Global Dressage Festival Available for Viewing →

Contributors/Press, Equine Assisted Therapy, Publications/Media

Equine Therapy and Intra-Family Violence: Are There Benefits? by Claire Dorotik

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Intra-Family violence can be one of the most challenging issues to treat in therapy. Much of the complexity results not only from the family’s likely mistrust of the system and the professionals that are a part of it — particularly in cases where Child Protective Services may have already intervened — but also, the prevalence of co-occurring disorders, such as addictions.

Often, these families will minimize the extent of the violence, possibly target one family member as the “problem” or offer the therapist platitudes — compliance in the service of resistance — that obfuscate the reality of the situation. While the therapist may suspect the violence is much more severe than is presented and gently confront the family, they may become defensive, increase resistance, or leave the therapy all-together. This dynamic combined with the family’s general mistrust of therapeutic settings places the therapist in a very difficult bind.

Continue reading Equine Therapy and Intra-Family Violence: Are There Benefits? by Claire Dorotik →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Phelps Media Group

Dressage under the Stars Gears Up for This Evening’s Opening Night

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Vitor Silva from Sons of the Wind Lusitanos performed a Quadrille at last year's Dressage under the Stars. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Wellington, FL – February 15, 2012 – The long-anticipated Dressage under the Stars will get underway in Wellington tonight, February 15, 2012. The prestigious event will take place at the Palm Beach Polo and Hunt Club located within Greenview Cove on South Shore Boulevard opening at 6:30 pm, where attendees will be able to enjoy cocktails and dinner while watching the musical freestyles of the top dressage riders.

Media personality Steve Williams is ecstatic to bring the event back to Wellington for its fourth season, and provide the opportunity for the equestrian and non-equestrian communities to come together to witness the beauty of freestyle Dressage beneath the night sky. With even larger prize money and thrilling themed nights, the crowds are sure to be blown away.

Continue reading Dressage under the Stars Gears Up for This Evening’s Opening Night →

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

Daniel Geitner and Living Color Top the Field of the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala

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©ESI Photography. Daniel Geitner and Living Color on their way to winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala.

OCALA, FL (February 14, 2012) – Not only did Daniel Geitner enter the hunter ring at HITS Ocala this weekend with the biggest horse, he left with the biggest prize. He and Robin Hughes’ Living Color took one giant stride towards September’s Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final with a win in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Post Time Farm.

Living Color – standing at 18 hands tall – carried Geitner to a high-score of 87 in the first round and duplicated that score in the second round for an overall score of 174. Aside from beating out 57 competitors on Sunday, Geitner also piloted Living Color to a High-Performance Hunter Championship this week at HITS Ocala.

“This course was really nice. Sometimes it’s hard for him [Living Color] to navigate the smaller rings, but he handled it well,” said Geitner, who hails from Aiken, South Carolina. “He is handy for a big horse, has a great temperament and Robin [Hughes] takes it slow with him, so he is ready for just about anything.”

Continue reading Daniel Geitner and Living Color Top the Field of the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala →

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Events

Kentucky Horse Park to Offer New Interactive Exhibits for Children

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Educational Kids’ Barn to Open in Former Draft Horse Barn

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 14, 2012) – The Kentucky Horse Park will open something akin to a school in a barn, to engage school-age children in discovering the wonder of horses. The new attraction is a joint project between the public and private sectors and it will be the first attraction at the park that is dedicated solely to children.  The Kids’ Barn will feature interactive exhibits, while the park’s education department staff will host daily hands-on activities with the park’s resident horses.

“Children have a tremendous curiosity and natural affinity for horses, and since one of the most important missions of the Kentucky Horse Park is to raise awareness of – and interest in – horses, our new Kids’ Barn will be a wonderful expression of our dedication to that goal,” said John Nicholson, executive director of the park. “It will expand their knowledge and appreciation of horses and the horse industry in a fun and memorable way, through lots of hands-on interactions and other learning experiences.”

Continue reading Kentucky Horse Park to Offer New Interactive Exhibits for Children →

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

John Bragg and Stephanie Ray’s Castle Hill Are Two-For-Two at HITS Thermal

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©Flying Horse Photography. John Bragg and Stephanie Ray’s Castle Hill banked another Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final qualifier on Sunday as they cruised to victory in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

THERMAL, CA (February 14, 2012) – John Bragg of Laguna Beach, California continued his roll at HITS Thermal when he posted the top score in both rounds of the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix aboard Stephanie Ray’s Castle Hill to capture the feature class for hunters on Sunday at Desert Circuit III.

Bragg was impressive in the popular hunter prix that featured 40 horse-and-rider combinations in the first round on a course set by Rian Beals. The seasoned hunter rider brought home an 88 in the first round and set the stage for some tight competition. In the second round, Bragg and Castle Hill nailed down their second consecutive victory in the Devoucoux class when they scored an 85 for a total score of 173 and the blue ribbon. More importantly, Bragg earned valuable leverage in an effort to qualify for the Diamond Mills 500,000 Hunter Prix Final that will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York this fall.

Continue reading John Bragg and Stephanie Ray’s Castle Hill Are Two-For-Two at HITS Thermal →