All posts by Associate Editor

Associations/Breeds, Competitions, Events, USEF, Western/Reining

NRHA Derby Added Money More Than Doubles to $615,000

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Nomination Program brings nearly $375,000 more to the Derby!

Oklahoma City, Okla. – The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Board of Directors recently discussed major changes to the 2012 NRHA Derby (June 25-30 in Oklahoma City, Okla.). These changes and enhancements for 2012 include massive increases in added money due to the NRHA Nomination Program, an increase in the number of Level 4 and Level 3 Non Pro finalists and granting five- and six-year-olds the ability to compete for Nomination Program added money (excluding Nominator Incentives). Find more details on these and other items below.

March 1 Entry Deadline Approaching

The entry deadline for the NRHA Derby is March 1. Conditions and entry forms can be found at nrhaderby.com.

Continue reading NRHA Derby Added Money More Than Doubles to $615,000 →

Dressage, Events, Olympic Games, USEF

USEF Dressage Kicks Off 2012 with USET/USEF Pre-Olympic Games Clinics and USEF Developing Dressage Clinic

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Heather Blitz, Betsy Juliano, Anne Gribbons, James Kofford on Pharaoh and Steffen Peters (USEF Archive)

Lexington, KY – Continuing with preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games, the United States Equestrian Team Foundation (USET) and United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) kicked off 2012 with two training sessions for Dressage Olympic hopefuls. Betsy Juliano graciously opened the doors of her Havensafe Farm South to riders in Wellington, FL, January 6-8. The following weekend, Steffen Peters hosted a session for West coast riders at his Arroyo Del Mar farm in San Diego, CA. Also taking place in California, the first USEF Developing Dressage Clinic of 2012 was held at Epona Farms, owned by Michael and Linda Fowler in Thousand Oaks, CA.

The USET/USEF pre-Olympic Games clinics, made possible by a gift from Betsy Juliano to the USET Foundation, featured instruction from USEF Technical Advisor and Coach Anne Gribbons and Olympian Steffen Peters. At the Florida clinic were seven horses (six riders) including 2011 Pan American Games Team Gold and Individual Silver medalists Heather Blitz and Paragon. Over three days the combinations worked with Peters and Gribbons individually, rode the Olympic Grand Prix Special and reviewed video of the tests with Gribbons.

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Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF

Ravel Repeats World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Win

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Steffen Peters and Ravel (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

West Palm Beach, FL – The 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI4* presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach ended as it began with American dressage superstar Steffen Peters and Ravel storming to their second consecutive sweep of the event. Their dramatic freestyle was very difficult and they were rewarded by the judges with a score of 83.70% and recognized with a standing ovation from the crowd. It was a narrow victory, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin gave Peters and Ravel a lot to handle but they held on by 5/100ths of a point.

“What an amazing ride,” said Peters. “Thanks again to my buddy Ravel.”

Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven was third on a score of 78.250% with Favourit.

Peters (San Diego, CA) and Ravel’s incredibly difficult transitions, including from canter pirouette to piaffe to walk, were seamless. Ravel’s half-pass has amazing reach at both the trot and the canter and the one- time changes on the centerline were effortless. The all-around brilliance gave this pair the edge – making them back-to-back World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Champions.

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Awards, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Events

Kentucky Horse Council Recognizes Outstanding Service to Industry at Annual Convention

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Lexington, KY, January 31, 2012 – At their annual banquet on January 13, 2012, The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) presented awards for excellence in support to the equine industry.

The 2011 KHC Volunteer of the Year is Brian Rogers of Mercer County. Brian has always willingly volunteered to help with booths, set up for events, and transport materials when needed.  An emergency room employee at the UK Hospital, Brian has a busy and changing work schedule, but tries to arrange his schedule to be available to volunteer. He is also a volunteer President of the Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen, and in his spare time drives to Auburn, Alabama where his wife is attending Vet School.

The 2011 KHC Horsemen’s Hero was presented to Tom Tuck of Murray, Kentucky.  Tom and his wife Theo have worked with the Murray State University Rodeo Team for many years, both before and after they both retired.  He supports the student team in fund-raising, transports their rodeo equipment and horses to competitions around the country, and works with what he and Theo call “our kids” while they practice and organize their student rodeo team.  Tom has also volunteered to help with trail development in the Western part of Kentucky.

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Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival: Week Three Wrap-up and Week Four Upcoming Events

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Wellington, FL – January 30, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival finished its third week of competition with success for hunter, jumpers, and equitation riders. The third week of the FTI WEF was sponsored by Horseware Ireland. The fourth week, sponsored by Adequan, is on February 1-5. The 2012 FTI 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.

Upcoming Events for Week Four – Don’t Miss These Exciting and Fun Activities!

The Lunch & Learn Series, presented by World Development Group, will continue this week on Thursday, February 2, at The Wellington Club. Admission is free and lunch is provided. No prior equestrian knowledge is required to attend the events. This week’s class, “Degenerative Joint Disease in the Equine Athlete,” features speaker Dr. Victoria Maxwell and is sponsored by Adequan. Every attendee at the Lunch & Learn Series will be entered to win a grand prize.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Auctions, Awards, Benefits, Community/Charity, EQUUS Foundation, Events, Phelps Media Group

USET Foundation’s “An English Country Evening” Benefit Raises over One Million Dollars

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Tom Tisbo, Jeannie Tisbo, Bruce Springsteen, Hunter Julo, Hunter Harrison, Kaitlin Creel, Keith Creel and Ginger Creel. Photos By: Phelps Media Group

Wellington, FL – January 30, 2012 – On Friday, January 27, 2012, the United States Equestrian Team Foundation hosted a benefit event at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. With over 500 guests in attendance, “An English Country Evening” featured honorary chairs NBC Today Show host Matt Lauer and his wife Annette, an avid equestrian. The celebratory evening included award presentations, an elegant dinner, and a lively auction, which helped raise over one million dollars for the USET Foundation.

“An English Country Evening” was held in the Special Events Pavilion at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, which was transformed into a beautiful English country garden by designer Reed McIlvaine (Renny and Reed), and included an exquisite dinner by Ken Rose catering. USET Foundation President Jane Forbes Clark, Board of Trustee Members Robin Parsky and Bruce Duchossois, and Executive Director Bonnie Jenkins all helped organize the very successful event.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Rescue/Protection Sources

Calls Needed Today in Support of Ban on Hauling Horses in Double-Deck Trailers

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House Committee to Consider Bill on Thursday

Monday, January 30, 2012 – At long last, a ban on the use of trailers with more than one level for hauling horses is on the verge of being considered by Congress… It is also on the verge of being derailed. While language clearly banning ALL hauling of horses by double-deck trailers is included in the Surface Transportation Extension Act, opponents are trying to undermine this modest yet important legislation.

Support for banning the use of double-deck trailers is strong, and includes the American Veterinary Medical Association, National Black Farmers Association, Animal Welfare Institute and Veterinarians for Equine Welfare. Equine rescue, humane, and professional organizations realize it is cruel and dangerous to haul horses on double-deck trailers. Even the U.S. Department of Agriculture has come out against their use: “We do not believe that equines can be safely and humanely transported on a conveyance that has an animal cargo space divided into two or more stacked levels.” (9 CFR Parts 70 and 88). In fact, USDA has prohibited using these trailers for transporting horses to slaughter, but its rule doesn’t cover horses being transported for any other purposes – or those supposedly being hauled for another purpose. All horses, irrespective of where they are going, deserve this important protection, and the language included in the Surface Transportation Extension Act will provide it.

Continue reading Calls Needed Today in Support of Ban on Hauling Horses in Double-Deck Trailers →

Contributors/Press, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Publications/Media, Racing

Equine Therapy on the T.V.? by Claire Dorotik

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With America’s endless fascination with horse racing, and his own personal history with the sport, it’s no surprise that David Milch decided to introduce a new HBO series with horses right at the heart. Boasting such fame as Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte, Kevin Dunn, and even real life former jockey, Gary Stevens, “Luck” promises a thrilling ride.

While many books such as Seabiscuit, Ruffian, Wild Ride, and Secretariat have offered the public a glimpse into the inner workings of the thoroughbred racing industry, never before has a television series revolved around it.

And this time, not just the details of the pick six, trifecta, and boxed bets are revealed, but the intricate relationships that comprise life at the track are given their due time as well, as viewers are introduced to “Ace” played by Dustin Hoffman as the ex-con race horse owner trying to make his way back onto the track.

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Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Polo, Show Jumping

EQUUS Foundation’s Fete Cheval – Fun for All & All for Fun!

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McLain Ward and Louise Serio at the 2011 Fete Cheval. Photo courtesy of Phelps Media Group.

WESTPORT, CT – January 30, 2012 – With equestrians representing the dressage, eventing, hunter, jumper, and polo communities, the EQUUS Foundation’s signature event at the Winter Equestrian Festival, Fete Cheval, promises to be the most entertaining event for horse enthusiasts this season in Wellington, Florida.

The Fete Cheval presented by Spy Coast Farm will be held on Friday, March 9, 2012, and feature cocktails, an auction, dinner in the exclusive International Club with a ringside view of the evening’s entertainment in the International Arena.

“What makes the Fete Cheval so unique is that it is all about fun, and lets very serious riders demonstrate their natural competitive spirit in games that they all recall from their youth,” said Elizabeth Press, co-chairing the event with Hillary Dobbs and Patricia Keenan, ” – games like Musical Stalls, Sit a Buck, and others.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Para-Equestrian

Para-Equestrian CPEDI3* Freestyles Finalize Two Exciting Weeks at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center

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Jody Schloss (CAN) Grade 1a and Inspector Rebus. Photo © Lindsay Y McCall

Wellington, FL – January 29, 2012 – Over two weeks, Para-Equestrian Dressage riders competed in front of F.E.I. judges Katherine Lucheschi (ITA), Hanneke Gerritsen (NED), and Carlos Lopes (POR), and Marc Urban (BEL) at two CPEDI3* events . This was the first time that Noreen O’Sullivan and her staff graciously hosted two consecutive CPEDI3* competitions (Gold Coast Dressage Opener and Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge) at the beautiful Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. For Para-Equestrian Dressage teams this was the last opportunity to raise the F.E.I. world rankings in hopes of being qualified for the 2012 London Paralympics. For individuals this was a chance to gain input from F.E.I. judges, increase World Para-Equestrian rankings for London, and earn a qualifying score for the 2012 Paralympic Selection Trials. As the evening came to a close on Sunday, 28 horse and rider combinations put forward their best competition freestyles. Participation was far reaching including riders from United States, Canada, Ireland, Bermuda, Mexico, Finland, and Japan.

Continue reading Para-Equestrian CPEDI3* Freestyles Finalize Two Exciting Weeks at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center →