All posts by Associate Editor

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, FEI

HSBC FEI Classics: Fox-Pitt Swoops to Conquer at Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

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William Fox-Pitt (GBR), the new world number one in the HSBC Rankings, heads the field after the first day of Dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 1 September 2011 – William Fox-Pitt (GBR), the new world number one, is on top again, this time at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR), the second-last leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, where he leads after the first day of Dressage on a mark of 39.7.

Fox-Pitt (GBR), who is wearing the special armband as leader of the HSBC Rankings, has posted the only sub-40 mark so far on his first ride, Catherine Witt’s 11-year-old Parklane Hawk, winner of the Blenheim CCI3* (GBR) last year.

The British pair led Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and the attractive grey Avebury by 2.3 penalties. Elizabeth Power (IRL) and the ex-racehorse Kilpatrick River, back in action after their fall at Badminton (GBR) in May and making their debut at Burghley, are third. Mary King (GBR), current leader in the HSBC FEI Classics, is fourth on Apache Sauce.

Fox-Pitt, who has been penalised for one error of course, halting at the wrong marker, described scoring in the 30s as a “psychological boost”. He says of the New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred by Grosvenor: “He has a superb brain and a lovely trot. He’s all the things you dream about in a horse.”

Fox-Pitt, Nicholson and King, who have decades of experience at Burghley between them, are viewing with interest the new-look Cross Country course, designed by Mark Phillips (GBR) to have a more traditional look in honour of the event’s 50th birthday.

Continue reading HSBC FEI Classics: Fox-Pitt Swoops to Conquer at Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials →

Community/Charity, Equestrian Assistance, Equine Assisted Therapy, EQUUS Foundation, Phelps Media Group

The EQUUS Foundation Announces 2011 Grant Awards

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WESTPORT, CT – August 31, 2011 – The Board of Directors of The EQUUS Foundation, Inc. is pleased to announce the award of over $270,000 in grant awards to 72 charitable organizations that are improving the quality of life for horses and the people who benefit from their unique ability to empower, teach, and heal.

“Each year, the number of worthy charities applying for grants has increased, and this year was no exception. The selection process was very difficult,” said Jenny Belknap Kees, Board Chairman. “Organizations complete an extensive application to insure that the donations we receive from individuals and organizations, event attendance, and our named grant program, are well spent.”

The Michele E. Arnhold Grant was established by the family of Michele E. Arnhold in 2008 in memory of Michele’s life-long passion, her pursuit of excellence and her commitment and contribution to the equestrian sport. The EQUUS Foundation selected the American Institute for Neuro-Integrative Development to receive the 2011 grant to underwrite the cost of providing therapeutic riding instruction to students with neuro-biologically based learning and developmental disabilities at the Giant Steps School in Southport, Connecticut.

The program, which started as a pilot in 2007, is held at the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, Connecticut, which donates the use of its facilities and horses. The Bridgeport Police Mounted Unit also supports the program by donating larger horses for the older children involved.

Continue reading The EQUUS Foundation Announces 2011 Grant Awards →

Championships, Competitions, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI

FEI Open European Driving Championships for Four-In-Hand Return after 30 Years

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Györgyi Bardos of Hungary, pictured right, is the individual FEI European Driving Four-in-Hand Championship title holder. He won the last edition of the event held in 1981.

Lausanne (SUI), 1 September 2011 – The FEI Open European Driving Championships for Four-in-Hand are back on the FEI calendar for the first time since 1981. Outdoor Brabant, formally known as Breda Hippique, is proud to host the seventh edition of these Championships, which will be held on the traditional show grounds of the Prinsenhoeve Estate in Breda, The Netherlands, from 1 to 4 September 2011.

Breda has hosted the only national team competition (CAIO) for Four-in-Hand in The Netherlands for many years. In 1995, Breda hosted the first ever European Driving Championships for Four-in-Hand ponies as well as the FEI World Para Equestrian Driving Championships in 2010.

The FEI European Driving Championships for Four-in-Hand were first organised in 1971 in Budapest (HUN) and were held every two years until 1981 at which stage they were discontinued.

The titleholder is Györgyi Bardos from Hungary, the individual winner of the last 1981 Championships which took place in Zug, Switzerland.

This year’s edition is open to European and non-European drivers. The competition counts as a qualifier for the indoor FEI World Cup Driving, which is held during the winter season. Only competitors from Europe can claim the individual and team medals.

Continue reading FEI Open European Driving Championships for Four-In-Hand Return after 30 Years →

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Webinars

Healthy Horse Tip – What to Do When the Panic Is On!

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Hurricane, Fire, Toxicity, Infectious Disease: KAM’s Next FREE Webinar – September 26, 2011

September 1, 2011 — KAM’s Equine Learning Circle FREE webinars have covered numerous topics such as gut health, feed and supplements, teeth, joints, worming, fungus and so much more.  The response has been extremely positive with lots more to come.  The next webinar on September 26 will focus on preparing for an emergency situation.  Take a moment now and sign up for this next free webinar by going to www.kamanimalservices.com.

In this webinar the panelists will talk about infectious disease, hurricane evacuation, fire and smoke, environmental toxicity and biosecurity.  When we are faced with any of these situations it’s critical that we be prepared for the “worst.”  This webinar will guide you through the steps you need to take to be prepared.

Title: When the Panic Is On – What to Do!
Date: Monday, September 26, 2011
Time: 5:30 PM PST, 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM CST, 8:30 PM EST

Continue reading Healthy Horse Tip – What to Do When the Panic Is On! →

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Pan American Games, USEF, USEF

Entries Confirmed for the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

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Lexington, KY – With six USEF National Dressage Championships and selection for U.S. Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games on the line, the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions is the place to be September 8-11, 2011.

The USET Foundation Headquarters plays host to the prestigious event in Gladstone, NJ which is headlined by the Grand Prix National Dressage Championships and the Intermediaire I National Dressage Championship (which also serves as the USEF Selection Trial for the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games).

Returning to vie for the title in the Grand Prix is Ravel. The most decorated American dressage horse in history makes his first trip to compete at Gladstone for owners Akiko Yamazaki and Four Winds Farms. With Steffen Peters, the 13-year-old Dutch gelding was the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Grand Prix Champion (contested in California), the 2009 Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year, he won the FEI World Cup Dressage Final in 2009 and swept the CHIO Aachen that same year, he was also double Individual Bronze medalist at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Peters (San Diego, CA) will be looking to add another National Championship title to the horse’s resume – and 2011 marks a first for Ravel as well as a return for Peters. Peters hasn’t competed at Gladstone since he won the 2007 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Grand Prix National Championships with Lombardi.

Continue reading Entries Confirmed for the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, USEF

Six Americans Take On the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

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Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos. Photo: Shannon Brinkman/USEF

Lexington, KY – This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials which means there was no better place to showcase the first grant recipients of the Land Rover Competition and Training Grants awarded to three of the six U.S. eventing riders in attendance.

Leading the charge, fresh from being named to the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the 2011 Pan American Games after his second place performance at the Mandatory Outing at Richland Park in Michigan last weekend, is Michael Pollard (Dalton, GA).

He may have been the last American to arrive in the U.K but he arrives on top form. In addition to his second place finish on Schoensgreen Hanni, he also won an Advanced division on DV8 and was second in the CIC2* on Jude’s Law.

His attention now turns to Icarus, a 13-year-old former racehorse owned by his wife Nathalie and his mother-in-law Meike Hanssens. Pollard is no stranger to top-level competition.  With Icarus, he scored a 19th place finish at the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* presented by Bridgestone in April. He completed his first CCI4* in 2002 and was the Young Rider of the Year in 2001. He is also the CEO of Cavalor North America.

“It feels great to arrive (at Burghley),” said Pollard. “A large part of the work is done just getting here. Now we all just need to show our best.”

Continue reading Six Americans Take On the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, USEF

Young American Dressage Superstar Endel Ots Heads to the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions on Toscano

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Endel Ots, who rides with Danish Olympian Lars Petersen, is headed to the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions with Kristin and Steve Cooper’s KWPN gelding Toscano. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)

Wellington, FL (September 1, 2011) – American dressage rider Endel Ots has built up quite a successful resume for a 26-year-old, and the young dressage star has no plans of slowing down. Ots, who rides with Danish Olympian Lars Petersen, is headed to the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions with Kristin and Steve Cooper’s KWPN gelding Toscano.  Ots will be the youngest competitor in the Intermediaire I Pan American Games Selection Trials.

Ots, who is originally from Wisconsin, said he received a call from the Coopers, of Lamplight Equestrian Center, while he was in Germany. “I was training with Hubertus Schmidt when I got the call from Lamplight to ride and show their horses,” Ots said. “I had talked to Caroline Roffman about training with Lars, who was one of my childhood idols, and she spoke highly of him so I moved to Wellington with Toscano to begin training.”

Ots’ hard work with Toscano paid off and the gelding was undefeated at the Lamplight show. “He won all his classes with a 70.2% in the Intermediaire I and a 74% in the Prix St. George, in front of Olympic Judge Linda Zang. He is in top shape heading to Gladstone,” Ots said.

While Ots is thrilled to be riding Toscano, he has proven that he has a gift for taking young horses and training them from scratch to championship titles. “I love nothing more than working with young horses and bringing them along and into their own.  I also enjoy riding seasoned FEI horses and working with young riders and adult amateurs to help them accomplish their goals,” Ots said, adding that he has years of experience teaching everyone from beginners to adult amateurs. “I coached my sister to a Bronze medal at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships and to top place finishes at Gladstone.”

Continue reading Young American Dressage Superstar Endel Ots Heads to the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions on Toscano →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., FEI, FEI

William Fox-Pitt Moves Up to World Number One in HSBC Rankings

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William Fox-Pitt (GBR) has overtaken team mate Mary King at the head of the HSBC Rankings. Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 1 September 2011 – William Fox-Pitt (GBR) has taken over from team mate Mary King as world number one in the HSBC Rankings. The British rider, who is competing at the second last leg of the HSBC FEI Classics at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials this week, is now seven points clear of King and will be wearing the HSBC armband at Burghley.

Both Fox-Pitt and King were part of the British team that secured bronze at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships in Luhmühlen (GER) last weekend, but King failed to finish after a Cross Country fall.

Newly crowned European champion Michael Jung, who picked up team and individual gold in Luhmühlen, has moved up from ninth to fifth in the HSBC Rankings behind Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Piggy French (GBR) who remain in third and fourth.

Mary King was the first rider to wear the new HSBC armband when it was launched at the beginning of July this year. She remained out in front last month before being overtaken by Fox-Pitt in the new rankings published today. The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2011 Eventing season will receive a 50,000 USD bonus.

Continue reading William Fox-Pitt Moves Up to World Number One in HSBC Rankings →

Competitions, Equestrian Assistance, Eventing/H.T., Events, USEF

USEF Awards Four Developing Grants to Eventing Riders

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Lexington, KY – Four Developing Grants have been awarded to USEF Eventing Riders to compete at the Boekelo CCI3* in The Netherlands. This event runs October 6-9, 2011.

The following horse/rider combinations have been awarded developing grants:

Boyd Martin (Cochranville, PA) and the Otis Barbotiere Syndicate’s Otis Barbotiere
Otis Barbotiere is a 9-year-old Selle Francais gelding

Karen O’Connor (The Plains, VA) and Team Rebecca, LLC’s Veronica
Veronica is a 9-year-old KWPN mare

Allie Slusher (Auburn, CA) and her own and Christie Campbell’s Last Call
Last Call is a 12-year-old Mecklenburg mare

Tamra Smith (Murietta, CA) and Leigh Mesher’s Mar de Amor
Mar de Amor is an 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding

The purpose of these grants is to provide developing riders and/or horses the opportunity to compete overseas and gain international experience and exposure.

Martin also received a Land Rover Competition and Training Grant with Remington XXV earlier this month. Read more about that here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/news/7434/2011/8/10/usef_awards_120000_in_land_rover.aspx.

For information about the event, please visit: http://www.military-boekelo.nl/.

Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, Pan American Games, USEF

USEF Names 2011 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the Pan American Games

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Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named 2011 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the Pan American Games. The Pan American Games will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico October 14-30, 2011.

Held at the CCI2*, five horses will compete for both team and individual classification, with the best three scores to count for the team score.

The following horse/rider combinations have been named to the 2011 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team (in alphabetical order):

Hannah Sue Burnett (The Plains, VA) and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot
Harbour Pilot is an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding

Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Sharon Will’s Absolute Liberty
Absolute Liberty is an 8-year-old Thoroughbred x Oldenburg mare

Jonathan Holling (Ocala, FL) and Constance Holling’s Downtown Harrison
Downtown Harrison is a 7-year-old Trakehner x Thoroughbred gelding

Shannon Lilley (Gilroy, CA) and The Lilley Group’s Ballingowan Pizzaz
Ballingowan Pizzaz is a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding

Michael Pollard (Dalton, GA) and Nathalie Pollard’s Schoensgreen Hanni
Schoensgreen Hanni is an 8-year-old German Sport Horse mare

Continue reading USEF Names 2011 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the Pan American Games →