All posts by Associate Editor

Richard Spooner and Cristallo Capture Alltech NHS $250,000 Grand Prix CSI-W Victory

Richard Spooner and Cristallo won the Alltech National Horse Show $250,000 Grand Prix CSI-W. Photo By: Shawn McMillen

Lexington, KY – November 5, 2011 – The Open Jumper action at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, wrapped up tonight with a fast-paced jump-off during the Alltech National Horse Show $250,000 Grand Prix CSI-W. Richard Spooner and Cristallo set the pace with tidy inside turns and a clear effort, beating Great Britain’s Nick Skelton aboard Carlo 273 by just three-tenths of a second. Jessica Springsteen and Cincinatti Le Silla rounded out the three as the fastest four-fault combination during the short course.

Richard Jeffery set a large, technical track for tonight’s first round to challenge the horse and rider combinations. It included a triple bar, an oxer-oxer double combination, and a challenging vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination going towards the gate. Only five riders managed to complete the course with all fences in place and return for the short course. They began over an oxer-vertical double combination before making a very sharp inside turn to a second oxer. Riders then had a long gallop to a single vertical before making another sharp turn to the wall. Finally, they made a right turn to a vertical-oxer double combination before galloping home over the last wide oxer.

Continue reading Richard Spooner and Cristallo Capture Alltech NHS $250,000 Grand Prix CSI-W Victory

Lillie Keenan & Vanhattan Ride to Top of Show Jumpers Hall of Fame Championship at Alltech NHS

Lillie Keenan and Vanhattan won the $50,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship. By: Shawn McMillen

Lexington, KY – November 5, 2011 – This evening hosted an array of talented Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumper riders as they vied for the top honors at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. The $50,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship put riders and horses to the test as the qualifying riders competed for the coveted winning honors. This was the first time in the history of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame series that such a large purse was offered. It was Lillie Keenan who rode Vanhattan to the top of the leaderboard for the third consecutive night and led the victory gallop.

The course this evening was designed by Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England, and he built it with several oxers, a double combination, a triple combination, roll backs, and several bending lines. Out of the original field of 31 qualifying riders, only five rode clear and continued into the jump-off. The short course challenged the horse and rider combinations beginning over a standalone vertical designed to look like a traditional starting gate from the Keeneland racetrack. From there, the course continued over a vertical-oxer combination headed toward the in-gate. A sharp right turn upon landing from the oxer had the riders quickly showing over the second oxer of the outside vertical-oxer combination. With a hard right rollback, a single green vertical led to the Alltech oxer where riders then raced to finish over the Muhammad Ali skinny vertical and trip the timers.

Continue reading Lillie Keenan & Vanhattan Ride to Top of Show Jumpers Hall of Fame Championship at Alltech NHS

Olivia Esse and Illusion Crowned Junior Hunter Grand Champions at Alltech National Horse Show

Olivia Esse and Illusion won the Junior Hunter Grand Champions at the Alltech National Horse Show. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

[Lexington, KY] – November 5, 2011 – Today the Junior Hunters showcased their talent during the stake classes this afternoon in the Alltech Arena during the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. Olivia Esse and her talented mount Illusion garnered the Small Junior 16-17 Championship award for their efforts throughout the division. The duo also was presented with the Junior Hunter Grand Champion award for their excellent placings over the last two days.

Illusion with Olivia Esse of Pasadena, CA, in the irons earned the top call for their score of 83.00 points in the Moyer Family $7,500 Small Junior 16-17 Hunter Stake this afternoon. Coupled with their top honors yesterday, they scored the division’s championship tricolor. Esse also earned the reserve championship honors aboard her younger and more recent mount, Clooney.

“I made it a point to come from California and be a part of this show, especially since this is probably going to be my last Indoors as I am going away to college next year, so this win really holds a lot of significance. I was hoping that I would be able to earn both the championship awards, but I didn’t want to get too worked up about it,” Esse explained. “It really feels great to earn such a coveted award like Grand Champion overall at a show that holds so much history, tradition and prestige.”

Continue reading Olivia Esse and Illusion Crowned Junior Hunter Grand Champions at Alltech National Horse Show

2011 America’s Favorite Equestrians – and the Winners Are…

WESTPORT, CT – November 5, 2011 – Jenny Belknap Kees, Chairman of the Board of The EQUUS Foundation and John Long, President of the United States Equestrian Federation, announced “America’s Favorite Equestrians” for 2011representing the disciplines of Driving, Dressage, Endurance, Eventing, Jumping, Para-Dressage, Reining and Vaulting at their Victory Celebration on Friday, November 4, 2011, at the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky.

The program was established by the two organizations to recognize the heroes in our equestrian sport and to build grass roots support within the equestrian community for the many worthy causes supported by The EQUUS Foundation on behalf of horse welfare and the people who benefit from the horse’s unique ability to empower, teach and heal.

“One of the best actions we have taken in recent years is to partner with The EQUUS Foundation,” said John Long. “We look forward to continuing to build our relationship in the future.”

Continue reading 2011 America’s Favorite Equestrians – and the Winners Are…

Sterling Graburn Leads after Dressage Phase at USEF National Single Horse Championship at Katydid

Lexington, KY – An exciting day of dressage in Aiken, SC, showcased some of the very best in the U.S. vying for USEF National Single Horse Championship honors at the Katydid CDE.

After all but one of 19 horses passed inspection – Wilson Groves’ UVM Worthy was deemed unfit to compete – Sterling Graburn (Georgetown, KY) drove to the lead in Friday’s dressage competition phase, on a score of 43.09. Kate Shields (Middleburg, VA) was in second on a score of 45.87 followed by Olof Larsson (Ocala, FL) who finished on a score of 46.72.

A fairly new event in the growing driving community of Aiken, this marks the first USEF National Championship held at Katydid.

The drivers will now turn their focus to Saturday’s marathon which begins at 9 a.m. ET.

Complete results are available at: http://drivingnews.us/results/results2011/Katydid/KD11-Dressage100.pdf.

Visit www.USEFNetwork.com for photos, articles and information about the U.S. drivers throughout the event.

For more information on combined driving programs please contact Elizabeth Staller at estaller@usef.org.

Laura Sexton and Zoom Awarded Amateur-Owner Hunter Grand Championship at Alltech NHS

Laura Sexton and Zoom awarded Amateur-Owner Hunter Grand Championship at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

[Lexington, KY] – November 4, 2011 – The Amateur-Owner Hunters took center stage today in the Alltech Arena during the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. Laura Sexton and her talented mount Zoom captured the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunters Championship with three blue ribbons over the last two days. The duo was also awarded the Grand Champion Amateur Owner Hunter title for their excellent efforts in the ring.

The Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunters were the first to compete today, and during the final stake class Debbie Perkins of New Canaan, CT, showed Whispering to a score 83 to win the blue ribbon. Their win today and third place finish in yesterday’s over fences class garnered them the division’s reserve championship prize. Tracy Scheriff-Muser of Wellington, FL, and Macallan were the day’s big winners, taking home the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter Championship. They placed first in yesterday’s over fences class and also earned two second place ribbons and third place ribbons.

“Macallan is the sweetest horse I’ve ever had, which is really funny because he’s a stallion,” commented Scheriff-Muser after her win. “He’s just been such a pleasure to own and ride. Sometimes he’s too lazy, but I’ll take that over crazy. He’s so slow and comfortable; I get excited every time I get to show him because he’s so fun.”

Continue reading Laura Sexton and Zoom Awarded Amateur-Owner Hunter Grand Championship at Alltech NHS

Kent Farrington & Up Chiqui Dominate $60k Spy Coast Farm Open Jumper Speed Stake at Alltech NHS

Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui dominated the $60,000 Spy Coast Farm Open Jumper Speed Stake. Photo By: Shawn McMillen

Lexington, KY – November 4, 2011 – The jumper action continued this evening at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, and speed was the name of the game as riders competed in the $60,000 Spy Coast Farm Open Jumper Speed Stake. The speedy veteran pair of Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui dominated the class with blazing time, beating second place finishers Nicholas Dello Joio and Notre Star De La Nutria by almost four seconds. Great Britain’s Scott Brash and Bon Ami rounded out the top three with a quick and clear effort.

Richard Jeffery designed a technical course for tonight’s event, which featured an option fence, multiple rollbacks, a vertical-vertical double combination, and an oxer-vertical double combination. “I thought it was a very fast track, meaning that all of us were going to be taking basically the same lines,” eventual winner Kent Farrington remarked. “It came down to the faster mover, turning even shorter on the rollbacks, because there weren’t too many places to play to your horse’s strength.”

Although he was fifth in the order, Farrington of Chicago, IL, and Up Chiqui, owned by Boone, Dobbs and Farrington, entered the ring ready to win during tonight’s speed competition. The duo has always been known for their quick rounds, and tonight they lived up to the hype. They raced around the technical course with ease, never touching a rail. The pair broke the beam at an incredible 57.35 seconds, setting a pace that would not be caught and eventually leading the victory gallop.

Continue reading Kent Farrington & Up Chiqui Dominate $60k Spy Coast Farm Open Jumper Speed Stake at Alltech NHS

2012 George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session Presented by USHJA and Adequan: Promoting the Importance of Excellent Horsemastership

2011 George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session. Photo: USEF Archives

Lexington, KY – Mark your calendars and plan to attend the 2012 George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session presented by the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) and Adequan. The sixth annual George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session will be held on January 3-7, 2012, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL.

The following 12 riders will be invited to participate:

  • The North American Young Riders Individual Champion from the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North
  • The North American Junior Rider Individual Champion from the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North
  • The 2011 Randolph College/USEF National Jr. Jumper Individual Champion
  • The champion and reserve champion of the 2011 Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals-East
  • The champion and reserve champion of the 2011 Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals-West
  • Two riders from the USHJA Emerging Athlete Program
  • Three Wild Card riders chosen by George Morris.

Continue reading 2012 George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session Presented by USHJA and Adequan: Promoting the Importance of Excellent Horsemastership

Watch the Quick Look YouTube – Southern Eighths/Nikon Three-Day Video

In 2010 the first Southern Eighths/Nikon Three-Day Event took place to raving reviews.  Now relive all the action in this second “quick look” video produced by nFocus Pictures and visible on Southern Eighths’ YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/So8ths.

To view this video just click on this link: http://tinyurl.com/2010-So8ths-Nikon.  It will take less than three minutes for you to watch a quick sampling of all the fun which took place at this inaugural event from the clinics to the competition day and all the fun in between.  This video just might inspire you to join in on the fun when the next recognized USEA Long Format event takes place May 3-6, 2012.

If you have time to spare, view the longer 10 minute video also available on the So8ths YouTube channel.

Continue reading Watch the Quick Look YouTube – Southern Eighths/Nikon Three-Day Video

Equestrian Sport Productions to Host Dressage at Holiday and Horses Competition

Wellington, FL – November 4, 2011 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) is pleased to announce the addition of dressage to this year’s Fall Circuit at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Dressage at Holiday and Horses will be held November 18-20, 2011, at the main show grounds of the PBIEC.

Dressage at Holiday and Horses will be a USEF/USDF Level Two competition. The show will be a Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Qualifier and will host classes for the USDF/Dover Adult Amateur Medal Program.

Judges will include William Solynjes ‘S’ and Marlene Schneider ‘S’ with Technical Delegate Linda Lester ‘r’.

“Entries are now open and we look forward to welcoming our dressage friends back to the PBIEC,” said ESP President Michael Stone.

Continue reading Equestrian Sport Productions to Host Dressage at Holiday and Horses Competition