All posts by Associate Editor

Preparation Is 90% of Success, by Claire Dorotik

Dust settled as the leather fringe of well-worn chaps flung in the wind and the young cowboy pulled his horse to a quick stop. Then, clutching his reins in frustration, he looked up at the sky and shook his head. His horse had taken the wrong lead… again. (The horse’s lead describes the leg he leads off of when cantering. For example to canter to the right, the horse must be on the right lead, and the left lead to go left. When on the incorrect lead, the horse has trouble cantering in a balanced way.) “Well hold up just a second,” a steady voice broke the silence, and the young cowboy turned toward a lean man resting easily on his horse, who stood resting a hind leg and dozing off. “Do you know how to prepare him to take the right lead?”

The younger rider shook his head, and looked quizzically at the older horseman. “No.”

“See the preparation is the most important part,” the older cowboy’s soft blue eyes looked intently at the young man, who had turned his horse to face him.

Continue reading Preparation Is 90% of Success, by Claire Dorotik

Committed to Fostering the American Hunter Jumper Forward Riding System, Bernie Traurig Offers Free EquestrianCoach.com Memberships to Coaches at the CPI

Bernie Traurig judged the CPI on a chilly Saturday in Wellington, FL

Wellington, FL – January 16, 2012 – World-class equestrian, founder and president of EquestrianCoach.com, Bernie Traurig, judged the hunt seat divisions of the College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) along with Scott Hofstetter, Nona Garson and Linda Andrisani. Robert Dover judged the dressage competition, a new addition to the event in its second year. The CPI was held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL with the mounted competition on an uncharacteristically cool Saturday.

The goal of the CPI is to prepare junior high and high school riders for the format of college equestrian competition, encourage academics and horsemanship and to provide riders with the resources to continue equestrian learning during college.

“I really like the format of this show and collegiate competition in general. It gives young people a new opportunity after their junior years,” said Traurig.

Continue reading Committed to Fostering the American Hunter Jumper Forward Riding System, Bernie Traurig Offers Free EquestrianCoach.com Memberships to Coaches at the CPI

Jacksonville Winter Series Week 1 Recap

Photos: El Grecco & Robert Lee

The Jacksonville Winter Series is off to a great start with two spectacular Exhibitor Parties hosted by Chad & Brooke Watridge of Ridgewater Show Stables & Sweet Sensations of Green Cove Springs.  The 4-H had a great turnout for their auction and all who attended had a wonderful time.

A huge thank you to all our Barns, Trainers & Exhibitors who showed at Week 1 and a special congratulations to all of our Champions & Reserve Champions.

A-Rated Division Champions & Reserves.  The full list of results is fully searchable at Horse Shows Online.

Conformation Hunter
MJ, Owned by Kevin & Mary Euphemia
Thoughtful, Owned by Keri Guanciale

Performance Working Hunter 3’6” & 3’9”
Quincy & Sportin Life, both owned by Lindsay Wolf

Continue reading Jacksonville Winter Series Week 1 Recap

FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival Week One Wrap-up and Week Two Upcoming Events

Wellington, FL – January 16, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has put week one in the books. It was a week of great competition and everyone at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center can look forward to an exciting second week of competition.

The first week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Surpass. The second week of the FTI WEF runs from Wednesday, January 18, through Sunday, January 22, and is sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty. 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 Two – Don’t Miss These Exciting and Fun Activities!

The Ride & Learn Series is composed of weekly mounted riding clinics that will be conducted by some of the most well-known and experienced professionals in the business. The cost to ride in the clinic is $125, and auditing is free. These clinics will take place every Tuesday, beginning the second week of the FTI WEF with a clinic by Patricia Griffith in the International Arena on January 17. Space to ride in the clinics is limited, so contact Rosemary Bertin at 561-371-9598 cubbybertin@comcast.net to join in.

Continue reading FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival Week One Wrap-up and Week Two Upcoming Events

Children’s Writing Campaign Building Groundswell of Support

January 16, 2012 – Chicago (EWA) – The Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA) children’s letter writing campaign to end horse slaughter, first announced on January 5th, has now received the support of The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) Humane Education Committee.

The Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA) was contacted by the committee to offer their support and to obtain additional information on the campaign. The committee enclosed a letter from one of their teachers with an email voicing support from Senator Joe Lieberman.

The EWA will provide information to help support, update and expand lesson plans developed by the committee. The plans can be found on the EWA’s new Children’s Page, along with fun and educational videos about famous horses.

Continue reading Children’s Writing Campaign Building Groundswell of Support

Nick Skelton and Unique Win $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic

Debbie Kelly and Sheldon Cooper Win Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51+ Championship

Nick Skelton and Unique. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 15, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival concluded competition for week one today. In the International Arena, the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic was the main event. Nick Skelton (GBR) continued his solid week of success and capped it with a win on Unique, owned by Beverley Widdowson. Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Wannahave, owned by The Wannahave Group, finished second, while Alexa Pessoa (USA) on Madison was third.

The first week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Surpass. The second week of the FTI WEF runs from Wednesday, January 18, through Sunday, January 22, and is sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty. 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.

Continue reading Nick Skelton and Unique Win $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic

Pensacola Highlights and Lots of News!

I just returned from the USEF Annual meeting in Cincinnati, so I missed the first week in Pensacola but I understand they had a great week.  The following are the highlights and at the bottom of this page is lots of BIG NEWS.

This year we made some changes to our schedules so that the Classics are held on Saturday instead of Sunday.  That made it so everyone was able to make their getaway flights since the show ended earlier.  Classic Company will continue this “Classic” schedule with all their shows this year.

The week started out with a great party hosted by Pensacola Sports Association hosted an “Iron Chef” party with the finest chefs from the area and everyone was talking about it the next day.

Continue reading Pensacola Highlights and Lots of News!

Beezie Madden and Simon Take First “Saturday Night Lights” Victory in $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix

Spandau and Schaefer Raposa Garner Marley Goodman Small Junior Hunter 16-17 Championship

Beezie Madden and Simon. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 14, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) hosted its first “Saturday Night Lights” event this evening with the $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix. Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden (USA) and new mount Simon, owned by Abigail Wexner, took home the blue ribbon. Nick Skelton (GBR) and Beverley Widdowson’s Unique finished second, while Cian O’Connor (IRL) rode Blue Loyd, owned by Ashkirk Ltd and Cian O’Connor, to third place.

In the first round of the grand prix, Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward fell with Oh D’ Eole at the 8b obstacle. Ward was taken out of the ring to an ambulance and transported to Wellington Regional Medical Center, where he is being attended by specialists for a fractured kneecap. Oh D’ Eole was examined by veterinarians and is unhurt.

Continue reading Beezie Madden and Simon Take First “Saturday Night Lights” Victory in $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix

Diamonds in the Rough Neigh Days (Updated)

We at Diamonds in the Rough equine rescue are putting together our 2nd annual Neigh Days on April 21, 2012. We are looking for cash sponsors and product donations for our raffles and silent auctions. We also would like to invite you to be a vendor at our event. If you could please find it in your hearts to help out our rescue horses, contact us at 804-815-4286 or email LauraD.DITR@gmail.com or mail to 5654 Kings Ridge Rd. Gloucester, VA 23061. Please read below our sponsor levels and about our 501(3)(C) rescue group. Thank you!

Neigh Days Spring of 2012

To be just a vendor – $300 if you are selling products, $100 for information only booths. Free to rescue groups. (We do ask that those rescue groups that are having booths please promote our event to help generate a large crowd.)

Continue reading Diamonds in the Rough Neigh Days (Updated)

FEI Children’s International Classics Final 2011

VASCONCELLOS SCOOPS DOUBLE-GOLD FOR BRAZIL by Louise Parkes

Brazil's Sarah Vasconcellos claimed Team and Individual gold riding Cornwall Chief at the FEI Children's International Classics Final 2011 in Hong Kong. Photo: FEI/Kenneth Chan.

Hong Kong (CHN), 14 January 2012 – Brazil’s Sarah Vasconcellos clinched her second gold medal of the Championships when taking the Individual title on the final day of the FEI Children’s International Classics Final in Hong Kong today.  Silver went to the host nation’s Arianna Ladd, while South Africa’s Cameron Dawson was the well-deserved recipient of the bronze.  Vasconcellos also helped the Happy Diamonds side to gold in the Team competition, ably supported by Russia’s Nikita Pomogalova, Venezuela’s Victoria Karm and Hong Kong’s Michelle Li.

The youthful enthusiasm and sporting spirit of the competitors, all aged between 12 and 14 years, permeated the event which took place at the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Beas River Country Club – venue for the eventing discipline during the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.  The 20 competitors representing 15 National Federations – Brazil, Hong Kong, South Africa, France, Germany, Ecuador, Paraguay, Venezuela, China, Syria, New Zealand, Guatemala, Russia, Mexico and Canada – rode horses belonging to the Hong Kong Jockey Club, many of which are leased to individuals who generously permitted their mounts to take part in this important challenge.

Continue reading FEI Children’s International Classics Final 2011