All posts by Associate Editor

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Alejandro Karolyi and Vichy Are Fastest to Win Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge

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Christel Weller and Kallaway Secure Tricolor in Horseware Ireland Adult Amateur 3’3 Hunters in One Day

Alejandro Karolyi and Vichy. © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 27, 2012 – The Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge had a class full of competitors going against the clock, but the fastest by almost six seconds was Alejandro Karolyi (VEN) on Vichy, owned by Torrey Pines Stable.

Week three of the FTI WEF runs Wednesday, January 25, through Sunday, January 29, and is sponsored by Horseware Ireland. The highlight jumper classes in week three are the $55,000 Nespresso Battle of the Sexes on Saturday, January 28, as well as the $50,000 Horseware Ireland CSI 2* Grand Prix on Sunday, January 29.

Forty-five entries showed in today’s $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge over a course set by Olaf Petersen Sr. of Germany. Karolyi and Vichy went midway through the class and set a time of 63.926 seconds, which no one would come close to with a clear round. The next fastest pair was Caribe and Steve Schaefer, who posted a time of 69.044 seconds. Third place went to Lauren Hough on Clip Z, who was clear in 69.623 seconds.

Continue reading Alejandro Karolyi and Vichy Are Fastest to Win Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge →

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

Ravel Repeats at 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach

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Steffen Peters and Ravel celebrate (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

West Palm Beach, FL – Before a packed house at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, defending champions Steffen Peters and Ravel scored the first victory of the 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI4* presented by the International Polo Club Palm 81.383% in the process.

The marquis event brought some of the very best from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and Charlotte Dujardin, from Great Britain, made a hard charge at the victory with Valegro scoring 78.468 %. But Peters never flinched in the pressure of being the final rider in the ring. He impressed the judges (and gave the crowd what they came for).

“Sometimes it’s a little hard to put it into words,” said Peters after his ride. “First I have to give a big thank you to my buddy Ravel; it’s a personal best for us. It’s amazing to think he keeps getting better after all these years.”

Continue reading Ravel Repeats at 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach →

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

Steffen Peters Sets New Grand Prix Record at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach

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Steffen Peters and Ravel, Grand Prix winners at the 2012 WDM Palm Beach. Photo credit Sue Stickle

Wellington, FL (January 27, 2012) – American Steffen Peters took a step toward defending his 2011 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach title by winning the WDM Palm Beach Nürnberger Grand Prix test with a record-shattering score of 81.383%. Not only is that a personal best result in a CDI Grand Prix for Peters and Akiko Yamazaki’s 14 year old KWPN gelding, it is also the highest score ever attained in a WDM Palm Beach Grand Prix.

“I started to have the feeling I got from Ravel tonight in the last couple of weeks,” said Peters after his decisive victory over the international field of 16 competitors. “I had this feeling at a show two weeks ago in California, but I had to risk it a bit more here. Ravel feels even stronger than last year and more supple. It was a blast to ride.”

Continue reading Steffen Peters Sets New Grand Prix Record at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group

World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Grand Prix Order of Go

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Wellington, FL (January 27, 2012) – Following the draw for order of go at the WDM Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, the competition for Friday afternoon’s Nürnberger Grand Prix is as follows:

2:00 PM Carl Hester (GBR) Wie Atlantico De Ymas
2:09 PM Yvonne Losos de Muñiz (DOM) Liebling II
2:18 PM Heather Blitz (USA) Paragon
2:27 PM Pierre St Jacques (USA) Lucky Tiger
2:36 PM Ashley Holzer (CAN) Breaking Dawn
2:45 PM James Koford (USA) Pharaoh
2:54 PM ***Break*** ***Break***

3:10 PM Minna Telde (SWE) Deinhardt
3:19 PM Todd Flettrich (USA) Otto
3:28 PM Jacqueline Brooks (CAN) Gran Gesto
3:37 PM Adrienne Lyle (USA) Wizard
3:46 PM Per Sandgaard (SWE) Lomumba Havdal
3:55 PM Victoria Winter (CAN) Proton

Continue reading World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Grand Prix Order of Go →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, Para-Equestrian

United States Takes Early Lead in Team Competition at 2012 Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3*

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Grade Ib Jonathan Wentz (USA) and NTEC Jabriel. Photo © Lindsay Y McCall

Wellington, FL – January 26, 2012 – Week two at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center began for Para-Equestrian Dressage riders Thursday, January 26, at the 2012 Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3. Canada and the United States of America went head to head in the team competition resulting in an early lead for the United States. With top scores reaching the 70% mark, the United States showcased their determination and progression over the past year. In addition to the U.S.A. and Canada, other countries represented were Bermuda, Finland, Ireland, Japan, and Mexico making up a total of 29 horse and rider combinations to display their top Team Tests. Representing the ground jury was Katherine Lucheschi (ITA), Hanneke Gerritsen (NED), and Carlos Lopes (POR). The Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3* is an opportunity for riders to increase their world ranking and to qualify for the 2012 London Paralympic Selection Trials.

Representing the United States was Mary Jordan (Grade IV) of Wells, ME aboard Sebastian, Dale Dedrick (Grade II) from Ann Arbor, MI on Bonifatius, Rebecca Hart (Grade II) of Erie, PA aboard Lord Ludger and Jonathan Wentz (Grade Ib) on NTEC Jabriel from Richardson,TX.  At the helm of United States team is Chef d’Equipe Missy Ransehousen.

Continue reading United States Takes Early Lead in Team Competition at 2012 Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3* →

Awards, Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, JRPR, Products/Services, Show Jumping

Russian Olympian Ljubov Kochetova Wins Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award during First Week of Winter Equestrian Festival

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Ljubov Kochetova. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (January 26, 2012) – Russian Olympian Ljubov Kochetova showed off her upbeat attitude while competing a five-year-old Westphalian gelding named Corrado during the first week of the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival, and her positive attitude helped her take home the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award. Sponsored by Premier Equestrian, LLC, a leading supplier of dressage arenas, horse jumps, arena footing and stable accessories, the Premier Sportsmanship Award is presented to a barn or rider who displays a high level of sportsmanship during a show and the winner receives a gift certificate for $100 worth of Premier products.

Kochetova, who was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, competed in the 2008 Olympics aboard Ilion Kilen. She said she currently has her sights set on the 2012 Olympics in London. “We are still in the middle of the race to see who will compete in the Olympics,” she said.

Kochetova was pleased to win the Premier Sportsmanship Award. “I am very grateful to Premier,” she said. “Corrado is a very young and inexperienced horse so if he wins anything I am thrilled.”

Continue reading Russian Olympian Ljubov Kochetova Wins Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award during First Week of Winter Equestrian Festival →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group

Schedule Change at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach

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Wellington, FL (January 26, 2012) – Following Ashley Holzer’s winning ride with Pop Art in the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CDI3*, a qualifier for the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, competition organizer Wellington Classic Dressage and the WDM management found themselves faced with a sports issue that has necessitated a decision to amend the schedule of the show.

American Heather Blitz on Paragon, second in the CDI3* Grand Prix behind Holzer and Pop Art, is one of the two riders who would have been eligible to be invited for the 5* WDM Palm Beach. Holzer, and third placed Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven of Sweden on Divertimento, are already competing in the WDM Palm Beach on other horses and are not permitted to enter with a second horse. Invitations were therefore extended to Blitz, who placed second in the CDI3*, and James Koford of the US, who finished fourth on Pharaoh.

Continue reading Schedule Change at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Nick Skelton and Carlo 273 Repeat Victory in $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 3

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Jimmy Torano and Bentley Bring Home the Pre Green Hunter Level 1 3′ Division Championship

Nick Skelton and Carlo 273. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 26, 2012 – For the second week in a row, Nick Skelton and Beverley Widdowson’s Carlo 273 led the victory gallop in the Thursday afternoon $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Grand Prix in Wellington. Today’s class was the third in the series at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 1, 2012.

Week three of the FTI WEF runs Wednesday, January 25, through Sunday, January 29, and is sponsored by Horseware Ireland. The highlight jumper classes in week three are the $55,000 Nespresso Battle of the Sexes on Saturday, January 28, as well as the $50,000 Horseware Ireland CSI 2* Grand Prix on Sunday, January 29.

Continue reading Nick Skelton and Carlo 273 Repeat Victory in $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 3 →

Equestrian Assistance, Equine Assisted Therapy, WHIN

Horses4Heroes

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As the president/founder/executive director of Horses4Heroes, Inc., I am pleased and proud to introduce our horseback riding organization to all troops, combat veterans, and military families!

As you may or may not have heard, NARHA/PATH, the creator of the Horses for Heroes program, therapeutic riding for Wounded Warriors, has abandoned the use of the name Horses for Heroes and will be re-branding this therapeutic riding program. The other Horses4Heroes, our organization is able-bodied, affordable horseback riding for returning combat veterans and the entire family, which also needs healing and therapeutic interactions with horses!  In addition, we serve all active duty military personnel, First Responders, critical care and hospice nurses and others who have physically dangerous and emotionally demanding jobs.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping

Rolf-Gӧran Bengtsson Claims the Green & Gold

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Rolf-Gӧran Bengtsson wearing the Green & Gold at the ninth qualifying leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping in Leipzig (GER). Photo: Karl-Heinz Frieler / ROLEX

Swedish show jumper Rolf-Gӧran Bengtsson has claimed the coveted Green & Gold armband from Canadian rider and Rolex Testimonee, Eric Lamaze, after he was crowned the Number One rider in the world according to the latest Rolex Rankings. Bengtsson is the first ever Swede to become the number one ranked rider in the world.

Lamaze originally held the Green & Gold between July and August 2010, and also between June and December 2011; however, following impressive performances at the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping qualifiers in Lyon (first place), Stuttgart (third place) and Geneva (second place), Bengtsson soon staked his claim to the Number One spot.

Bengtsson’s great run of recent form also includes fourth place in the Grand Prix at the CSI5* in Abu Dhabi (UAE); fourth place at the CSI5* in Paris (FRA); and fifth place in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping qualifier in London Olympia (UK). Not forgetting his individual victory at the FEI European Championships in Madrid (ESP), Bengtsson had a truly remarkable 2011; his achievements were duly recognised when he won Sweden’s most prestigious sports award at the Swedish Sports Gala 2012.

Continue reading Rolf-Gӧran Bengtsson Claims the Green & Gold →