All posts by Associate Editor

2011 $25,000 Franktown Meadows Hunter Derby to Benefit ALS of Nevada

Reno, NV – June 27, 2011 – The 2011 $25,000 Franktown Meadows USHJA International Hunter Derby is pleased to announce that this year’s prestigious event will benefit ALS of Nevada. The Franktown Meadows Hunter Derby will take place at the Franktown Meadows Equestrian Facility in Carson City, Nevada, on September 5, 2011. The event will showcase the best horse and rider combinations in the country as they compete for the winning title over the beautiful derby course in front of an eager crowd.

ALS of Nevada is an independent, not-for-profit organization that serves to improve the lives of those living with and fighting ALS throughout Nevada. The organization was founded in 1998, and its goal is to help patients and families live as normal a life as possible. ALS of Nevada conducts support group meetings for patients, caregivers, and family members. They also aid patients through the loan of equipment and free clinics. ALS of Nevada is an advocate and supports scientific research for the prevention, alleviation, care, treatment, and cure of ALS. ALS of Nevada works to increase awareness of ALS throughout the government in an effort to expand support of research and elicit programs that will make treatments and care accessible and affordable to all patients.

ALS is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and is always fatal. It can happen to anyone, without warning and with or without family history. ALS affects voluntary action, and patients in later stages are often totally paralyzed. The financial burden to families with ALS can be over $200,000 a year and much of the needed assistance is not covered by standard medical plans or Medicare.

Executive Director of ALS of Nevada, Megan Testa, has been working with ALS of Nevada for ten years. She has fulfilled the role as Executive Director for five years and will be attending the event for the first time this year.

Continue reading 2011 $25,000 Franktown Meadows Hunter Derby to Benefit ALS of Nevada

Connemaras Take the Stage in Upperville, Virginia

Thurman Shammy (Photo courtesy of Pat Brescia).

Upperville, VA – The Connemara Division at the famous Upperville Colt and Horse show on June 11 was the largest there has been since the division was initiated several years ago with as many as eight ponies in most of the classes.

In the Purebred Mares, 3 and Over, Thurman Shammy took the blue while Oakfields Fuchsia was in second and Ridgetop Harriette in third.

In the Purebred Stallions and Geldings, 3 and Over, Ridgetop Windy City was first with Sycamore Ridge Irish Envoy in second and Stitch in Time in third. Windy City was the Champion In-Hand with Thurman Shammy in Reserve.

In the two ridden classes for Purebred Connemaras, Oakfields Hazel Sparrow and Oakfields Fuchsia were in first and second with Ridgetop Harriette and Ridgetop Ringo and Hunter Hack, respectively.

© Copyright 2011 United States Equestrian Federation

USET Foundation Awards Amanda Warrington Grant to Heather Morris

Heather Morris, here on Slate River. Photo by Anthony Trollope/ Stock Image Services.com.

Gladstone, NJ – The USET Foundation is pleased to announce that it has awarded the Amanda Warrington Grant to Eventing rider Heather Morris of Lewisville, TX. The Amanda Warrington Grant is awarded through the Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund, and Morris was the recipient of the grant in 2009 as well.

The Amanda Pirie Warrington Fund was established by Amanda’s family in her memory with the purpose of helping provide financial assistance to a developing event rider who has been identified as a rider with great talent and ability to represent the United States in the future.

The Grant Committee selects a recipient that they believe will benefit from the opportunity of continuing their training with top coaches and competing against the world’s best horse and rider combinations in three-day eventing, which is one of three Olympic equestrian disciplines. The Committee report was then considered and ratified by the USET Foundation Executive Committee.

As the recipient of the grant, Morris will receive up to $5,000 to help offset expenses associated with her training over the next year.

Morris competes with her three top horses: Slate River, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by The Team Express Syndicate, Sportsfield Maisie Grey, a nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare owned by Cherye Huber, and First Mark, a 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Lynne Partridge. Morris was just recently named to the USEF Eventing High Performance’s 2011 Developing Rider List.

Continue reading USET Foundation Awards Amanda Warrington Grant to Heather Morris

10 Questions with Arabian Trainer Michael Byatt

Michael Byatt with World and U.S. National Champion Stallion Dakharo (USEF Archives).

Thank you USEF Facebook fans for these questions for Arabian trainer Michael Byatt. For the next “10 Questions With…” visit www.facebook.com/USEquestrian. Next to be featured is dressage superstar Guenter Seidel.

Michael Byatt
Arabian trainer and internationally-renowned halter showman
USEF 2010 Equestrian of Honor
New Ulm, TX

Mallory Krumm of Nicholasville, KY: What made you want to show horses? As a child, I loved doing anything that involved horses. One aspect of that was attending horse shows, which, in turn, made me want to participate and compete in horse shows. At the point that I began, it really made no difference what the competition was, be it egg and spoon, or park. I just wanted to be there. I believe to answer your question fairly it would be, I just wanted to be there – to be at horse shows – to be with horses.

Heather Heineman of Middletown, Ohio: Why did you decide to work with the Arabian breed? It was an accident. Truly it could have been any horse, any breed. I love Arabian horses, but horses were my primary love. I had a neighbor (Ethel Ortenburger) that owned Arabians and she exposed me to the breed.

Continue reading 10 Questions with Arabian Trainer Michael Byatt

The Equine Practice Rounds – My Turn to Trim the Toes, by Geoff Tucker, DVM

There was a brief time when I worked for another practice and honestly, the boss and I didn’t get along. One of the favorite things he would do was to send employees he didn’t like out to do things that were not in our scope of being an equine practitioner.

It was a hot summer day in upstate New York and in the lazy afternoon heat of the practice vehicle I had fallen asleep. That was OK because I was 30 minutes early for the appointment I had been assigned. The snickers from my fellow employees had not distracted me from what had looked like an easy afternoon.

I was in such a deep sleep that I could have been in another world. I had parked across the street from a two story red brick colonial house in an upscale community. There was no evidence of any farming. Not even a vegetable patch let alone a fence for animals. I had been asked to trim the toes of a pot bellied pig and I had checked the address several times to be sure I was in the right place.

I was surprised by the owner just returning from work in the city. She woke me from my depths of sleep with a smart wave and brilliant smile. She was dressed in a bright red patterned skirt, a white fluffy blouse, stockinged legs, and smooth black high heels. Sparkling jewelry accented her arms and neck and her hair and make up had not weathered from her day at the office. She did not look like the usual “barn girl” I see every day.

Continue reading The Equine Practice Rounds – My Turn to Trim the Toes, by Geoff Tucker, DVM

Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival Starts This Week!

First Horse to Trot Down Center Line This Thursday – Updated Dressage Class Schedule & Order of GO Now Online!

Hampton Green Farm's Idolo Americano. Photo Credit: Diana Hadsall

Traverse City, MI – June 27, 2011 – The first of thousands of horses are due to arrive this week for the opening leg of the five week Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival. Kicking things off this Thursday is the production of Northern Michigan’s only rated Dressage show: Dressage by the Bay Summer Series 1 and 2.  The first ride will get underway at 8 a.m.

Following the three days of what is commonly called “horse ballet” will be four weeks of action-packed hunter/jumper competition commencing Wednesday, July 6th.

Feature events of this week’s show include Friday evening’s $5,000 FEI Musical Freestyle, where ten of the event’s best horse/rider combinations are expected to individually perform their routine to choreographed music. Scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is Molon Excavating Inc’s KIDS’ DAY, which promises many fun, family-oriented activities.

The public is welcome to attend this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or close.  Admission is $10 per person per day, except on Saturday when children of all ages gain entry for free. Courtesy of Hampton Green Farm, proceeds from the gate will be donated back to local 4-H.

For more information please visit www.horseshowsbythebay.com or call 231-267-3700.

Continue reading Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival Starts This Week!

Jessie Lang and C. Quito Win $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

C. Quito claimed the blue ribbon in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby during Summer in the Rockies III. Photo credit: Flying Horse Photography

 

Bjorn Ikast Makes It Three in a Row in the $30,000 Gesco Grand Prix

Parker, CO — The third week of the Colorado Summer Circuit ended with big money classes! Jessie Lang riding Margot Snowdon’s C. Quito brought home the blue ribbon and the winning check to Wyoming in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Amateur rider Rachel Boggus bested the pros in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. And in the $30,000 Gesco Grand Prix, Bjorn Ikast made it three in a row by leading the victory gallop in the Prix for the third consecutive week.

$10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
Hunter riders got the opportunity to ride their Derbies over the big, permanent Linda Allen designed Derby field at The Colorado Horse Park. With banks and hilly terrain, riders were able to show off their horse’s brilliance in an inviting setting over the Skip Bailey-designed courses.

“The course was so beautifully put together,” said Jessie Lang, rider of C. Quito, a nine-year-old approved BWP (Belgian) stallion. The son of Parco (by Darco) won both rounds by a nice margin. After a successful indoor season last fall, including the Regular Conformation Hunter Championship at Harrisburg, C. Quito has had a light show season in 2011 to accommodate his busy breeding schedule this spring. The stallion was obviously in top form, earning a 90 from one judging panel in the handy round and bonus points in both rounds, to finish with a 382 overall.

In between his first and second rounds, C. Quito went over to the Adult Amateur ring with his owner Margot Snowdon, laying down trips that earned him first and fourth place ribbons in that division.

Continue reading Jessie Lang and C. Quito Win $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

Jung Rockets to Third Place in FEI World Cup Eventing Rankings

Reigning World Champion Michael Jung (GER) has established his position in the 2011 FEI World Cup Eventing rankings after Strzegom (POL).

Lausanne (SUI), 28 June 2011 – Reigning World Champion Michael Jung (GER) has established his position on the 2011 FEI World Cup Eventing rankings after scoring an emphatic one-two at Strzegom (POL), the fourth leg of the series.

In a remarkable record, Jung, the reigning Series Champion from 2010 and winner of the 2009 FEI World Cup Eventing Final in Strzegom was winning at this leading Polish venue for the third consecutive time.

The German rider was in first and second position throughout the competition, only swapping the order of his horses in the final phase when Leopin, which had been re-routed after retiring the previous weekend in Luhmühlen CCI4*, jumped clear to take the top spot. Leopin was the only horse to achieve the optimum Cross Country time and, with his faultless Jumping round, was the only horse in the competition to complete on his Dressage score.

The Cross-Country leader, La Biosthetique Sam, the brilliant horse on which Jung won individual gold at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games last year, as well as the Luhmühlen CCI4*, the FEI World Cup Eventing Final and a European bronze medal in 2009, faulted just once in the final phase to drop to second place.

Continue reading Jung Rockets to Third Place in FEI World Cup Eventing Rankings

West Palm Beach Hosts Most Successful Season Ever for International Dressage

(L) Noreen O'Sullivan, Steffen Peters, Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven , Tina Konyot, John Goodman. Photo Credit: Lynndee Kemmet

Thousands of horses and riders converged in West Palm Beach Florida from around the world to compete once again this winter, making this season the richest and most successful season ever for Dressage in Florida.  The ever-popular Wellington Classic Dressage (WCD) and Gold Coast Dressage Association (GCDA) shows at the beautiful Palm Beach County Jim Brandon Equestrian Center were joined this year by International Horse Sport Palm Beach (IHS) shows at the Equestrian Estates Horse Park.  Combined, these three Dressage organizations host more than 23 weeks of competitions year-round, including 6 International CDI competitions.

The premiere event of the winter season was clearly the World Dressage Masters CDI5* Series Presented by Axel Johnson Group.  The World Dressage Masters is one of the richest Dressage Series internationally, with only 4-6 shows hosted around the world, each boasting over 100,000 Euros in Prize Money (approximately $140,000).  The WDM CDI5*Palm Beach Show was hosted March 9-12, 2011 by Wellington Classic Dressage, with International Polo Club as Presenting Sponsor.  “We are honored to host this very prestigious show for 2011 and beyond, and to work with the WDM team and IPC to make this year’s event a resounding success,” stated John Flanagan, Managing Partner for Wellington Classic Dressage.  What an honor too, that America’s top rider, Steffen Peters on Ravel, owned by Akiko Yamazaki, took home the top prize by winning the WDM Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 84.53%, followed by Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven on Favourit with 77.90%, and US Rider Tina Konyot and Calecto V with 76.65%.  The 2012 WDM CDI5* Palm Beach is slated for January 26th-29th, 2012.

Wellington Classic Dressage’s eleven-show series kicked off high season with the Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge in December and wrapped up the winter season with the Wellington Classic Challenge III on the 1st of May.  The WCD series is held at the very popular Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, which boosts excellent footing and stabling, several competition rings, including a covered arena, riding trails and a Western Events area on over 111 acres.   Gold Coast Dressage Association, the local GMO hosted their centerpiece show also at Jim Brandon, the GCDA Opener CDIW.  International Horse Sport hosted Florida’s traditional favorite and longest-running CDI, the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDIW, as well as 4 other shows at the beautiful Horse Park at Equestrian Estates in nearby Loxahatchee, which this year underwent many upgrades and improvements.

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New Rules and Criteria for USDF Freestyles! by Ruth Hogan Poulsen

Quick tips and facts about the new Freestyle requirements!

1.  There is a maximum time limit but NO minimum time.  Maximum time limit for all USDF freestyles is 5 minutes.  Your time begins when your horse moves off after the entry salute and ends at the final salute.

2.  One point will be deducted from the total artistic score for exceeding the time limit.

3. Movements done above your level will be penalized by a four point deduction from the technical score for each “clearly forbidden” movement done.

4.  The rider must enter the arena within 45 seconds of the signal from the judge and within 20 seconds of the start of the music or will be eliminated.

5.  Halt and salute are now judged at the beginning and end of a freestyle.  The halt with a salute must be facing “c”.

Continue reading New Rules and Criteria for USDF Freestyles! by Ruth Hogan Poulsen