All posts by Associate Editor

Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation

Scott Stewart Garners Multiple Championship Wins in WCHR Hunter Week

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Scott Stewart dominated the First Year Green Hunter division during week six at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, earning the championship aboard Inclusive. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – February 17, 2011 – The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival continued on Thursday with World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) hunter competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All of the rated professional hunter divisions concluded today and awarded championship honors for week six. Champion and reserve champion horses will qualify to compete in the WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Classic Spectacular on Friday evening, showcasing the hunters on an international stage.

No surprise as a qualifier for Friday night’s classic, four-time WCHR Professional Champion Scott Stewart earned multiple championship awards today with his string of talented horses. Stewart dominated the First Year Green Hunter division, earning the championship aboard Inclusive and the reserve championship aboard Reality, owned by Krista Weisman. Inclusive, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding, finished first in both classes over fences today and earned first and second place ribbons on Wednesday. Reality, an eight-year-old Mecklenberg stallion by D’Olympic, earned second in both classes today and placed third on Wednesday.

Stewart first rode Inclusive to victory in the Future Hunter division at the 2010 Capital Challenge Horse Show this past fall and expects great things from the horse this year. Along with showing in the First Years with Stewart, Inclusive also competes in the Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under division with rider Victoria Colvin and has earned championship honors with both riders.

Continue reading Scott Stewart Garners Multiple Championship Wins in WCHR Hunter Week →

Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Show Jumping

Jumping Radio Show Episode 50 – Course Design & Sporthorse Auction

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International Course Designer Richard Jeffery joins Brianne Goutal and Chris this week from Wellington. Nona Garson tells us about her Intercontinental Sporthorse Auction. Join us right here…

Jumping Radio Episode 50 – Show Notes and Links:

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Contributors/Press, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Racing Sources, Training/Clinics, Western/Reining

Stable Scoop Episode 131 by Omega Alpha – Bob Avila and Zebras and Trains

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Glenn and Helena chat with Sammi Jo Stohler about her wild commercial shoot with her zebra on the train tracks and two time winner of the World’s Greatest Horseman Bob Avila joins us to chat about business, horses and life. Listen in…

Stable Scoop Episode 131 – Show Notes and Links:

  • Host: Glenn the Geek
  • Co-Host: Helena Bee
  • Guest: Sammi Jo Stohler is one of the premier Zebra trainers in the United States. Learn all about these striped wonders. – www.zebraguru.com
  • Guest: Two time winner of the World’s Greatest Horseman and AQHA legend Bob Avila. Visit his website at www.bobavila.net.

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Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Eventing/H.T., Media/Radio/TV Sources

Eventing Radio Episode 119 by Bit of Britain – Australian Eventing, Rolex and PRO

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Australian Eventing has a new National Performance Director and Team Coach in Prue Barrett and we hear about her plans for leading the team on its journey to the 2012 London Olympic Games. Rolex Kentucky 3DE Director of Competition Christina Gray tells us what’s in store for this year’s event. Plus news of a new scholarship from PRO… and Bobby Costello is back in the co-host chair. Tune in right here…

Eventing Radio Episode 119 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Wild Horse Sources

Breaking News: Congress Approves $2 Million Tax Cut for the BLM!

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Dear Friends & Supporters,
It’s a great day for the mustangs! Yesterday afternoon, Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) went on the floor of Congress with an amendment to a voice vote to cut the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro budget by $2 million dollars.

It was voted on and approved! This is HUGE news and is sure to send a message to agency officials that the American people will not let their actions go unnoticed.

“Indiana Republican Dan Burton says his amendment is intended to send a signal to agency officials that most Americans want the mustangs treated more humanely on public lands across the West,” as told to the Associated Press.

Here is the full article from yesterday’s vote.

Please be sure to write to Rep. Burton and thank him for going out of his way for our mustangs! Click here!

We also want you to see this powerful video created and produced by Ginger Kathrens of The Cloud Foundation.  Please be advised that some of these images are disturbing, but unfortunately, that is the truth to these government roundups. Please watch all the way through.

Congressional Appeal to Halt the Roundups

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13274

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, HITS, Show Jumping

HITS Thermal Mid-Circuit Report: Kyle King’s Birthday Ride

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© Flying Horse Photography. Kyle King and Corrine Super's Capone I.

THERMAL, CA (February 17, 2011) — Kyle King (Ocala, Florida) celebrated his birthday with a bang when he rode Corrine Super’s Capone I to a triumph in Sunday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California.

Winning Sunday’s feature class was extra remarkable for the birthday boy, who won the Grand Prix with the largest starting field to date at the 2011 HITS Desert Circuit. They were the top horse-and-rider combination out of the 49 horses that challenged International Course Designer Florencio Hernandez’ (Mexico City, Mexico) first-round course which featured 12 obstacles and 15 efforts, including a trio of double combinations in a time allowed of 79 seconds.

Thirteen riders took a shot at Hernandez’ first-round course and failed until accomplished equestrian Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Westlake Village, California) and Octavia Farms’ Lancaster 144 made it all the way home clear. Three trips later, Mexico’s John Perez (Cruz Manca, Coajimaipa, Mexico) and his own La Cantera Catrin wowed the crowd watching the action in the Strongid C 2X Stadium with a clear round of their own to force a jump-off.

Continue reading HITS Thermal Mid-Circuit Report: Kyle King’s Birthday Ride →

Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Media/Radio/TV Sources

Dressage Radio Episode 91 – British Team Dressage

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Richard Davison, World Class Performance Manager for British Dressage, shares with us the team’s progress, prospects and expectations leading up to the 2011 European Championships and 2012 London Olympic Games. Mary Lauritsen is in the co-host seat from sunny Florida. Listen in right here…

Dressage Radio Episode 91 – Show Notes and Links:

  • Host: Chris Stafford
  • Co-host: Mary Lauritsen
  • Photo Credit: Jo Prestwich
  • Guest: Richard Davison, World Class Performance Manager, British Dressage
  • News: U.S. to Send Young Riders to Aachen
  • News: Wellington Classic Spring Dressage
  • News: World Dressage Masters, Palm Beach, March 9-11, 2011, European Entries
    • Tinne Vilhelmsson (SWE) – a five time Olympian who represented Sweden at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Vilhelmsson has already tasted victory at the site of the WDM Palm Beach. Riding Favourit, she won the Grand Prix Freestyle at the Gold Coast Opener CDI-W at the Jim Brandon Center on January 22, 2011.
    • Anne Van Olst (DEN) – at her fourth Olympic Games in 2008, Van Olst was a member of the Danish team that won the bronze medal. A veteran of multiple European Championships, the two-time Danish Champion helped her team to finish fifth at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
    • Michal Rapcewicz (POL) – when Rapcewicz competed at the 2009 World Cup Dressage Final in Las Vegas, he made history as the first Polish rider ever to compete in the Final. He has also represented his country at the Olympics and World Equestrian Games.
    • Valentina Truppa (ITA) – a two-time European Young Rider Champion and three-time Young Rider World Cup Champion, Truppa is Italy’s top dressage competitor and a rising star in the international dressage world. This will be her first time in North America.
    • Anja Ploenzke (GER) – the leader of the WDM rankings following the WDM Hickstead in 2010, Ploenzke is a past bronze medalist at the German Dressage Championships.
    • Christa Laarakkers (NED) – this will be the second WDM appearance for Laarakkers, who is also campaigning in the World Cup Dressage Western European League 2010/11 season.
  • Link: EQUISKETCH – handy App where you can create, study and even animate your test
  • Link: Audible.com – free e-book and 14 day trial
  • Link: Hallway Feeds iPhone App Promo – free download at iTunes


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Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Training/Clinics

Classical Dressage Master Walter Zettl Teaches Private Clinic at Pat Parelli University

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Classical Dressage Master Walter Zettl taught a private dressage clinic at Pat Parelli University in Ocala, Florida. Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Inc., founded by Pat and Linda Parelli, uses the same gentle and common sense techniques that Zettl uses in his approach to teaching dressage. (Photos courtesy of Coco Photography)

Ocala, FL (February 17, 2011) – Classical Dressage Master Walter Zettl has spent his life on the forefront of the dressage world, from coaching Olympic riders to producing DVDs and books that have become staples in dressage libraries the world over. Zettl has joined forces with Pat and Linda Parelli, founders of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, Inc., and recently taught a private dressage clinic at the Parellis’ Ocala facility.

“Walter has been working with us for several years and is very natural in his approach and says teaching Parelli students is a luxury because so much is already in place, even if some of the students ride in a western saddle,” said Linda Parelli, adding that she and her husband Pat and several Mastery Students rode in the clinic with Zettl. “Walter really likes it that Pat and I take part in his clinics and ride in lessons with him. He likes it that we are constantly furthering our education.”

While the Parellis have built their Natural Horsemanship program based on in-depth equine psychology and common sense communication techniques between the horse and rider, which ultimately leads to success, these are the same principles Zettl has been using for years. “Walter puts the horse’s needs first and figures out if the horse needs calming, or motivation and energy, when being ridden,” Linda said. “Walter uses psychology and zero force, and tries to understand things from the horse’s point of view. He is always saying ‘gentle, gentle’ and loves that Parelli people already have a great relationship with their horse.”

Continue reading Classical Dressage Master Walter Zettl Teaches Private Clinic at Pat Parelli University →

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Equine Assisted Therapy, Events, Fundraisers, JRPR

Pat Parelli Joins Star-Studded Line-Up of Judges for Vinceremos “Buck Off” Mechanical Bull Riding Contest

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Pat Parelli will put his rodeo knowledge to work for a great cause when he joins Robert Dover, Margie Engle, and other judges during VTRC’s Mechanical Bull Riding Contest. (Photo by Hubbell Photography)

Wellington, FL (February 16, 2011) – There’s no bull about it that Pat Parelli, the founder of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, understands the relationship between a horse and rider. As a former rodeo bareback bronc rider, Parelli will put his rodeo knowledge to work for a great cause when he joins Robert Dover, Margie Engle, and an esteemed panel of judges during the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center’s Mechanical Bull Riding Contest.

Parelli, who won the Bareback Rookie of the Year title in 1972, will help judge the “Final Buck Off” during the Vinceremos Dinner and Auction at the International Polo Club on February 18th. The “Buck Off” competition will take place during a Vinceremos benefit and auction entitled “My First Pony”.

Vinceremos, located in Loxahatchee near the famed grounds of the Winter Equestrian Festival, uses horses and therapy to enhance the lives of special needs people in Palm Beach County.

Continue reading Pat Parelli Joins Star-Studded Line-Up of Judges for Vinceremos “Buck Off” Mechanical Bull Riding Contest →

Awards, Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, JRPR, Show Jumping

Laura Kraut and Cedric Do It Again and Win Grand Prix and Sanctuary Peak Performance Award during WEF

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Olympic stars Laura Kraut and Cedric won The Sanctuary Peak Performance Award for the second week in a row at the 2011 FTI WEF. (Photo courtesy of Sportfot)

Wellington, FL (February 15, 2011) – Gold Medal Olympian Laura Kraut and her Olympic partner Cedric turned on the speed and the power during the $150,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, presented by Spy Coast Farm, to ride away the victor in the class that featured six other Olympians. During the fifth week of the prestigious 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, Kraut and Cedric also rode away, for the second week in a row, as the winner of The Sanctuary Peak Performance Award.

Sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, the Peak Performance Award is presented to the winner of the Grand Prix. “I heard Laura said that she and Cedric went as fast as they could go and turned as tight as possible, and I believe it,” said Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary. “It was an amazing jump-off and Laura and Cedric certainly gave it their all and deserved to ride into the winner’s circle.”

McDuffee also congratulated Kraut on her second Sanctuary Peak Performance Award. “The competition was extremely tough in the Grand Prix, with 40 riders starting including seven Olympians and a field of world-class riders. For the second week in a row, Laura and Cedric were phenomenal and we look forward to seeing them at our new Sanctuary facility located on the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center show grounds.”

Continue reading Laura Kraut and Cedric Do It Again and Win Grand Prix and Sanctuary Peak Performance Award during WEF →