All posts by Associate Editor

Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Round 2

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DUTCH DOMINATE IN ROME by Louise Parkes

The Dutch team won the second leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup at the Piazza di Siena in Rome (ITA) today. L to R: Eric van der Vleuten, Harrie Smolders, Chef d'Equipe Rob Ehrens, Jeroen Dubbeldam and Gerco Schroder. Photo: FEI/Bruno di Lorenzo.

Rome (ITA), 27 May 2011 – The Netherlands secured a convincing victory in the second leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup series in Rome (ITA) today where the Belgians were runners-up ahead of the Irish in third.

This was only the second time for a Dutch side to come out on top at the Piazza di Siena, and two of today’s team – Jeroen Dubbeldam and Eric van der Vleuten – were also on the winning side back in 2004.  The smoothness of their success was such that anchorman Dubbeldam did not have to return to the arena in round two because the result was already decided, and the Dutch now go to the next leg at St Gallen (SUI) next Friday lying third on the leaderboard, while the Belgians are in second and the Irish retain the driving seat.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Giovanni Bussu’s 12-fence track provided plenty of food for thought, with faults evenly spread but the open water proving the bogey of the day.

The French were in charge at the half-way stage, counting just two time faults when both Penelope Leprevost (Mylord Carthago HN) and Simon Delestre (Couletto) missed the 80-second time limit in otherwise faultless runs, and anchorman Michel Robert (Kellemoi de Pepita) went clear.  The Belgians were next in line carrying five while the USA was in third carrying eight.  The Dutch and British were lying joint-fourth with nine faults apiece but the Irish had already accumulated 13, so seemed unlikely to repeat their spectacular win at the opening leg in La Baule two weeks ago.

Continue reading FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Round 2 →

Breeds, Wild Horse Sources

Cloud’s Birthday! Plus Other News

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Cloud on day of his birth with his Palomino mother. Photos copyright (C) The Cloud Foundation.

Help us celebrate Cloud’s 16th!

Dear Friends of Cloud and our Freedom Fund horses;
As many of you may or may not know, Cloud’s birthday is fast approaching! On May 29th, he will celebrate his “Sweet 16th.” It’s hard to believe that so much time has elapsed since I first saw him totter out of the trees with his mother! He has endured a lot over the years – harsh winters, predation, three helicopter roundups, bait trapping, and the loss of many members of his family. But he has survived and is still one of the top stallions in the Pryor Mountains, just like his father, Raven, was years earlier, and like his son, Bolder, is today. We hope you’ll take the time to wish him a “Happy Birthday” this Sunday!

Sierra in the Pryors with a young foal

On a separate, less celebratory note, our sweet Freedom Fund mare, Sierra, was injured and is now at the vet’s office in Billings. A tiny, quarter-sized puncture wound just above her hoof slowly turned infectious, and Sierra began limping. She had an operation two weeks ago to clean out the infected area, but she will need a second operation in order to clean out necrotic cartilage. She’s a smart girl and has been very calm throughout the whole experience. The vet techs are in love with her, and have taught her how to lead and to stay calm while the veterinarian changes her bandages. We’re very proud of how she is handling all this. As you can imagine, the cost for her treatment is quite high.

Continue reading Cloud’s Birthday! Plus Other News →

Media/Radio/TV Sources, Show Jumping

Jumping Radio Episode 64 – New Zealand’s Rising Star, Katie McVean

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New Zealand’s Rising Star Katie McVean has been following in her father’s footsteps in the international arena and former USET rider Melanie Smith unfolds the USHJA Emerging Athlete Program. Tune in right here.

Jumping Radio Episode 64 – Show Notes and Links:

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Eventing/H.T., Media/Radio/TV Sources

Eventing Radio Episode 143 by Bit of Britain – British Week

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It’s British Invasion Week on the show as we welcome Horse & Hound and also hear from Chatsworth World Cup winner Emily Baldwin. Plus Kit Houghton tells us what’s behind the new multi-media website, Visions of the Horse. Tune in to hear the all-British episode…

Eventing Radio Episode 143 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Draw Report, Round 2

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IT’S ALL EYES ON THE IRISH IN ROME by Louise Parkes

Larkhill Cruiser – Cian O'connor (IRL) - A member of the winning team. Copyright: Christoph Bricot/FEI

Rome, 26 May 2011 – The Irish team are hot favourites to win the second leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup series in Rome (ITA) tomorrow, but they got the worst of the draw today and so will be first into the ring as the action gets underway in the stunning surroundings of the Piazza di Siena.  A total of nine teams will line out in this leg of the elite eight-nation tournament, as the host country makes a guest appearance on home turf.

The order-of-go for tomorrow’s competition is as follows: 1, Ireland; 2, France; 3, USA; 4, The Netherlands; 5, Denmark; 6, Germany; 7, Italy; 8, Great Britain; 9, Belgium.

PROSPECTS
Discussing team prospects this evening, Belgian Chef d’Equipe, Philipp Guerdat, said that “everyone has a chance, but the Irish are very strong because they have been winning everywhere!”  Robert Splaine’s side stormed to victory in the opening leg of the FEI Nations Cup in La Baule, France two weeks ago, and then another Irish selection topped the podium at the FEI Promotional League in Copenhagen, Denmark a week later.  It seems they are the hottest team in town.

Continue reading FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Draw Report, Round 2 →

Awards, Breeds, USEF

Steffen Peters Shares Tips for Identifying Superstars at the KWPN-NA Annual Meeting

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Plus How Totilas Impacts Modern Breeding, the Road to Grand Prix with Idocus, and Other Hot Topics

Cor Loeffen and Steffen Peters answered questions about identifying talented horses. Photo by Monica Sakurai.

Sutherlin, OR – If your goal is to breed, own or ride the next Ravel, Totilas, Judgement ISF, Idocus, or Popeye K, the KWPN-NA Annual Meeting added to your inspiration. With insights from Olympic medalist Steffen Peters and renowned breeder and KWPN judge Cor Loeffen, along with networking with some of the world’s biggest and best KWPN horse breeders, the event was the largest in recent years. Two hundred enthusiastic equestrians gathered in Visalia, California to discuss and debate the best way to produce and manage superstar equines.

Longtime breeder, Scot Tolman of Spofford, NH, attends the KWPN-NA Annual Meeting in search of adding even more knowledge to his 20-plus years of breeding Dutch horses. “The breeders lead the KWPN; it’s an evolving studbook. Ravel and Totilas are shaping the breeding of dressage horses,” he says. “As breeders, we must be aware of what is happening in sport and [understand] what [qualities] stallions are producing.”

Conversations throughout the meeting always turned to particular stallion and mare lines and the traits they are known for producing. Scot referenced Jazz. Although the stallion has produced 40 Grand Prix horses, Jazz is often recognized only for producing hot temperaments. Scot continues, “Sometimes people hyper-focus on one trait. You can’t knock down horses because of one trait. You have to grasp the big picture.”

Continue reading Steffen Peters Shares Tips for Identifying Superstars at the KWPN-NA Annual Meeting →

Community/Charity, Events, Fundraisers, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

HITS to Host 2nd Annual Fundraiser for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society during HITS-on-the-Hudson II

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© ESI Photography. Margie Engle won the 2010 $25,000 HITS Grand Prix to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Engle was congratulated by HITS' Lisa Engel and Tony Hitchcock as well as survivor Zack Swart and family, Karen von Bachella, and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Volunteers Melissa Signor and friends.

SAUGERTIES, NY (May 26, 2011) — HITS, Inc., is pleased to once again join forces with the Upstate New York/Vermont Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to host a second annual fundraiser to support their mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, while improving the quality of life for patients and their families.

On Friday, June 3 the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, will be a charitable class to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Similar to last year’s event, HITS will help to raise money by engaging with exhibitors and spectators to pledge a donation for every clear jump the horse and rider combination of their choice completes in Friday’s feature class. Donations raised during the class will go directly to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which will provide funding for much-needed research and patient services. The top three riders who earn the most in donations will receive a prize.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. Since the first funding in 1954, LLS has awarded more than $680 million in research funding. Last year, HITS exhibitors helped raise over $3,200 during its one-day fundraiser.

Continue reading HITS to Host 2nd Annual Fundraiser for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society during HITS-on-the-Hudson II →

Driving, JRPR

Champion Driver Suzy Stafford to Judge Brandywine Valley Driving Club’s Continuous Driving Schooling Event

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Suzy Stafford will be judging the Brandywine Valley Driving Club’s Continuous Driving Schooling Event on May 28th at Canvasback Farm in Port Deposit, Maryland. (Photo courtesy of Linda Gallo)

Chester County, PA (May 26, 2011) – Gold medalist Suzy Stafford, who has been long-listed for the 2011 FEI World Pony Driving Championships with her registered half Arabian mare Miss Josephine, will be judging the Brandywine Valley Driving Club’s Continuous Driving Schooling Event on May 28th at Canvasback Farm in Port Deposit, Maryland. Stafford, an award-winning international driver, operates Stafford Carriage Driving out of Chester County in Pennsylvania and Aiken, South Carolina.

“I am really looking forward to being part of the Brandywine Valley Driving Club’s (BVDC) Continuous Driving Schooling Event. This is a great way for me to give back to the local driving club,” Stafford said. “I will be able to give advice and tips in a non-threatening and relaxed atmosphere. I am hoping that everyone learns a great deal during the day.”

The Continuous Driving Schooling Event is a fun, low-key schooling event for everyone from new to accomplished drivers. “It will be a great event for new drivers because they can enjoy this relaxed event without feeling pressure. My goal is to give them plenty of friendly encouragement, teach them as much as possible throughout the day and help them fall in love with driving just as I have,” Stafford said.

Continue reading Champion Driver Suzy Stafford to Judge Brandywine Valley Driving Club’s Continuous Driving Schooling Event →

Events, Racing Sources

Adequan Select World Qualifying Deadline Extended

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The American Quarter Horse Journal – Due to the recent outbreak of equine herpesvirus-1, many horse shows have experienced reduced exhibitor numbers and some shows – particularly National Cutting Horse Association events – have been canceled. As a result, the AQHA Executive Committee has extended to June 26 the Adequan Select World Championship Show qualifying period, which was to end May 31. This step is in addition to lowering the Adequan Select World qualifying points, which the Executive Committee announced on May 18.

Additionally, due to the cancellations of all cutting events through June 5, qualifying points for Select cutting have been lowered to one-half point, and AQHA will continue to monitor future cancellations based on NCHA’s recommendations.

“Several major shows held this last weekend experienced drastically reduced exhibitor numbers,” said AQHA President Peter J. Cofrancesco III. “Major shows in California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Montana, Texas, Washington, Alberta and other states or provinces have had low exhibitor turn out and some in those locations have already canceled shows scheduled for this weekend.

Continue reading Adequan Select World Qualifying Deadline Extended →

Community/Charity, FEI, Show Jumping

In Memoriam: Joaquín Pérez de las Heras (MEX) 1936 – 2011

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Joaquín Pérez de las Heras, the Mexican double Olympic bronze medallist who has died at the age of 75.

Lausanne (SUI), 26 May 2011 – Joaquín Pérez de las Heras (MEX), double bronze medallist at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and with a professional jumping career spanning over 30 years, passed away on Friday, 20 May at the age of 75. His wife Joan and his daughter Katya were by his side.

Mr Pérez was widely tipped by the international equestrian community as a medal contender in Moscow having already competed at three previous Olympic Games in Mexico (1968), Munich (1972) and Montreal (1976). He had also enjoyed a highly successful European tour in the months running up the 1980 Games.

Riding the American-bred Alimony he clinched individual bronze and team bronze with compatriots Jesús Gómez Portugal, Alberto Valdes and Gerardo Tazzer in the Central Lenin Stadium, now part of Moscow’s Luzhniki Olympic complex.

Mr Pérez was born in Ameca, Jalisco in central-western Mexico in 1936. At the age of 11 he became hooked on jumping after riding Arete (MEX), the horse ridden by Lieutenant Colonel Humberto Mariles (MEX) to double gold at the 1948 Olympic Games in London (GBR), a feat unequalled by any other Mexican sportsman at the time.

Continue reading In Memoriam: Joaquín Pérez de las Heras (MEX) 1936 – 2011 →