All posts by Associate Editor

The $25,000 HITS Grand Prix and $2,500 Devoucoux Hunter Prix Highlight Competition for Opening Week at HITS Ocala

© ESI Photography. Andres Rodriguez and Davinci in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

OCALA, FL (January 24, 2011) – The Ocala January Classic came to an end on Sunday and was highlighted by the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, and the $2,500 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, the first qualifiers of 2011 for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix and the Diamond Mills $500,000 3’3″ Hunter Prix Final, respectively.

Andres Rodriguez of Boca Raton, Florida, and Andres Olivares’ Davinci took home the victory in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. The class saw 33 starters take the field on a course designed by Jerry Dougherty of Bokeelia, Florida, that produced six clear rounds for the jump-off.

The first clear round of the class came early, when Paul Halpern of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Amanda Weaver’s Sevastian K, second in the order, jumped clean. Two trips later, eventual winner Rodriguez and Davinci forced a jump-off with a clear effort of their own. The next 20 trips saw team after team fail to overcome the course with rails down across the field.

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In Memoriam: Elizabeth “Liz” Day (GBR/RSA), 1954-2010

FEI Group IX Deputy Chair Loses Battle against Cancer

Lausanne (SUI), 25 January 2011 – Elizabeth “Liz” Day of South Africa, Deputy Chair of Geographical Group IX, international judge in Dressage, Eventing and Para Dressage, and member of the management committee of the South African National Equestrian Federation (SANEF), passed away just before Christmas after losing her courageous battle against cancer. Her many friends will miss her energy, passion, wise advice, tolerant attitude and sense of humour.

Liz was British born but spent most of her adult life in South Africa. An accountant by profession, she connected with horses at an early age and Dressage became her passion. As a rider, she won the KZN Medium Championships on a Basuto/Thoroughbred pony and recalled this as one of her greatest triumphs.

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Peter Leone’s Lionshare Farm Wins Classic Equine Stall and Tack Room Award at 2011 Winter Equestrian Festival

Wellington, FL (January 25, 2011) – Thanks to a “classic” look of green draperies, tiled floors, potted plants and framed photos – as well as a few extras such as snaffle bits holding back the curtains – Peter Leone’s Lionshare Farm took home the Classic Equine Stall and Tack Room Award during the second week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. Sponsored by Classic Equine Equipment, a nationally recognized leader in quality horse stall systems and stable accessories, Lionshare won a teak braiding stool from Classic Equine Equipment and Idlewild Furnishing, Classic Equine’s South Florida distributor.

Leone was thrilled to win the Classic Equine Stall and Tack Room Award and said he was proud of his team that helped make it possible. “Our stabling area at WEF is the same location that George Morris had with his famed Hunterdon when they competed in Wellington, so we are very proud to have this spot,” Leone said. “Another interesting thing about our stabling area is that our colors are green, burgundy and yellow and some of our actual equipment is from the original Still Meadows Farm. They owned the Gold Medal Olympic horse, Calypso, ridden by Melanie Smith.”

Lionshare, a full horse show and sale facility, hails from Greenwich, Connecticut, but Leone said they look forward to their time in Florida every year. “The Winter Equestrian Festival is the best competition of the year,” he said. “The best riders from North and South America and Europe come here to compete.”

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Motivation from Moshi 48, by Jane Savoie

I heard someone reading a book out loud to her horse the other day. It was by “Shakespeare”. He must be a very wise fellow. He said, “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.” I believe that to be very true.

There is great power in stories. There are stories that teach us about the past, help us imagine the future, and take our thoughts on journeys to places our bodies couldn’t possibly go. The power of story has been recognized for millennia. A story can move a heart, a mind, and an entire world. The pen may truly be more powerful than the sword.

The stories you tell yourself shape your life in the most profound way. How you talk to yourself, the stories you ruminate and chew on as you think about the day, literally shape how you feel. The stores you tell and re-tell in your mind about yourself, your position in life, your body, and your experiences, actually become your life!

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Cynthia Mulvaney and Dory Tuohey Selected as Cover Artists for 2011 HITS Thermal and HITS Ocala Official Show Programs

'A League of Its Own’ oil on linen by Cynthia Mulvaney adorns the cover of the 2011 HITS Thermal Official Show Program.

SAUGERTIES, NY (January 24, 2011) — HITS, Inc. is pleased to announce that submissions from Cynthia Mulvaney and Dory Tuohey were selected to be the cover art for the 2011 HITS Thermal and HITS Ocala Official Show Programs.

Each year HITS issues an open call for artists to submit their equine-themed work to be considered for the program covers. This year’s submission produced lots of exceptional artwork to choose from, with Mulvaney’s and Tuohey’s work, winning out over 50 submissions.

Mulvaney’s ‘A League of Its Own’, an original oil painting on linen, was selected as the artwork for the HITS Thermal Official Show Program. This highly-detailed piece captures the power, energy and movement of a horse cantering while turned out, providing a beautifully realistic image for the cover of this year’s show program.

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Lusitanos on Focus – Equine Photography Workshop in Portugal

Internationally acclaimed equestrian photographer Paula da Silva teaches international equine photography workshop in Portugal, in May 2011

The internationally acclaimed equestrian photographer Paula da Silva is going to teach an international equine photography workshop from 30th April to 4th May 2011, in Portugal.

This year’s theme will be the Lusitano horse and Portuguese equestrian traditions. The participants of the workshop will get to visit some of the most charismatic places related to the Lusitano horse, where they will be able to photograph several aspects of Lusitano horse breeding, High School work, etc.

Registrations close in the end of January. For more information, please visit the website www.lusitanosonfocus.com and the Facebook page “Lusitanos on Focus” (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lusitanos-on-Focus/100736449986516).

Asta Torokvei Takes Top Honors in the Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal

Asta Torokvei and Riverdale are the winners of the Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal during the second week of the 2011 FTI WEF. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 23, 2011 – Week Two of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs from January 12 through April 3, came to a successful close today. While many hunter and jumper divisions finished the week, so did numerous equitation classes. The Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal was among those equitation classes awarding riders today.

Canadian rider Asta Torokvei, aboard Nancy Torokvei’s entry, Riverdale, was the winner of the Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal on Sunday during the second week of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. The pair topped a field of ten adult amateur riders for the equitation win.

Torokvei, who has been showing Riverdale for her mother, hopes to give Riverdale more experience in the ring before her mother begins showing him. “I’ve been showing him just one day a week in the equitation so that he can get in the ring and see the jumps,” said Torokvei.

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Take the Reins with Rate My Horse PRO Trial Membership

Virginia Beach, Virginia (January 24, 2011) – It’s time to take the reins and rate your horse professionals. Rate My Horse PRO is offering a 24-Hour No Risk Trial Membership. This limited time offer is to celebrate the site’s upcoming Grand Launch when ratings go live.

Beginning Monday, January 24, 2011 guests can register for full site access to add and rate their PROs. If new members are not happy with what their $5 identity verification fee provides, they have the opportunity to cancel within 24 hours of registering and receive a full refund. Rate My Horse PRO Media Relations Coordinator Debbie Hanson says, “We have had many requests for a trial period. We’re proud to be able to extend this limited time offer without compromising the validity of the ratings or the security of our members.”

The $5 fee members pay is for identity verification. Rate My Horse PRO is the first company to introduce this feature to the online ratings world. The process ensures the validity of the ratings by prohibiting users from being able to manipulate the ratings. It is also one of several security features in place to protect the site’s professional members who are being rated.

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Jade Hunter, Sire of Azeri, Euthanized

Jade Hunter at Old Friends. Photo by Rick Capone

GEORGETOWN, KY – JANUARY 24, 2011 – Jade Hunter, multiple GR1 winner and sire of Horse of the Year Azeri, was humanely euthanized Sunday afternoon (January 23) at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute due to complications from colic.

The 27-year-old stallion had been pensioned at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY, since 2009.

“Jade Hunter was a very proud and confident stallion with an intelligence that matched his beauty,” said Old Friends president and founder Michael Blowen. “It’s very hard on all his caretakers to lose him and Polish Navy [who died Jan. 6] so close together.”

Bred in Kentucky, Jade Hunter (Mr. Prospector-Jadana (IRE), by Pharly) was bought for $700,000 by Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stud at the 1985 Keeneland yearling sale and raced in both Europe and North America.

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Tip of the Week – Get Joints

If the joints don’t move well, the body doesn’t move well.  The ability to flex, extend and rotate the joints in the horse’s legs and spine sets the parameters for that athlete’s ability.

Many things contribute to joint problems such as nutritional imbalances, GI problems, trauma (acute or chronic), genetic pre-disposition, conformation, poor shoeing/trimming, metabolic disorders, normal “wear and tear,” and infections (systemic or in the joint).

A simple sprained fetlock as a yearling that isn’t treated appropriately can start the cartilage deterioration that will progress into arthritis and cause lameness a few years later.

Aggressive effective treatment of all joint injuries and continual preventative care are key to long term joint health, especially in the equine athlete.

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