All posts by Associate Editor

Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Endurance Riding, Eventing/H.T., Events, Hunter/Equitation, Para-Equestrian, Show Jumping, USEF, Vaulting, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

52 Weeks in the Pursuit of Excellence

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With every eye on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, 2010 was the Year of the Horse in the United States as the world arrived on our doorstep in Lexington, KY, for 16 days of competition, demonstration and fun. It took years of planning and didn’t kick off until the end of the ninth month of the year.

Here is how 2010 unfolded before, during and after the Equestrian Event that stopped the American Equestrian community in its tracks. Anyone who makes a life with horses knows it’s not only about the few days a year when the world is watching – it is about every day of every year.

January: 2010 began with honoring the champions from the previous year at the 2010 USEF Annual Meeting. Dressage superstar Steffen Peters repeated as Equestrian of the Year. It was a monumental task to get him from a horse show in California to Louisville, but it was all worth it when he was there, in person, to accept his Dressage award. The night before, his beloved horse, Ravel, was honored as the Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year after storming through 2009 winning on both sides of this country (including the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final) and sweeping the CHIO Aachen in Germany – a first for an American combination. Owner Akiko Yamazaki was on hand to collect the award honoring America’s champion of 2009. Find the details here: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5264&star=true and http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=5265&star=true. There would be even bigger plans for this pair in 2010.

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Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Training/Clinics, USEF

USEF Network Will Broadcast George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session

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Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation will be showcasing one of the greatest opportunities for young jumping riders to kick off the 2011 USEF Network broadcast schedule.

The Fifth Annual George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session, presented by the USEF in 2011, will take place January 4-8, 2011 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. This exclusive opportunity is offered to 12 of the nation’s best rising stars, and they will spend four days learning from the U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe George Morris and several other legends of the sport.

The morning riding sessions will be available for the first time on the USEFNetwork.com, the same free online resource that provided wall-to-wall coverage for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Please join the USEF and take advantage of this opportunity to learn remotely from some of the best at: www.USEFNetwork.com.

For more information, and the complete schedule, please visit: http://www.usef.org/documents/disciplines/jumper/AuditorSchedule.pdf.

Awards, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, USEF

Kathryn Clapp Named USEF SmartPak Adult Amateur Hunter Leading Rider for 2010

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Kathryn Clapp and Donnerkind. Photo by Al Cook.

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is proud to announce that the SmartPak Adult Amateur Hunter Leading Rider for 2010 is Kathryn Clapp of Charlottesville, VA. Clapp earned the honor aboard her equine partner Donnerkind, a 16.1-hand dark brown Hannoverian owned by Thomas Bishop’s The Barracks Farm also in Charlotteville.

Based on accumulative points during the 2010 competition year, the SmartPak Adult Amateur Hunter Ranking List, the award comes with a prize from the USEF and SmartPak. Clapp’s accumulation of 1,000 points earned her the prize by a wide margin.

Clapp, 24, said, “This past year has been one of the best opportunities of my life. He was a great horse and a lot of fun, and I want to thank all the people that helped me get there.”

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Awards, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Endurance Riding, Events, USEF

Kelsey Kimbler Named 2010 USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year

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2010 Junior Equestrian, Kelsey Kimbler. Photo by Paschal Karl.

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce Kelsey Kimbler as the 2010 Junior Equestrian of the Year. This highest of honor offered to a junior equestrian comes on the heels of another big honor Kelsey earned earlier this month – the 2010 USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award, sponsored by Breyer Animal Creations. This puts Kelsey in elite company, as one of only a handful of junior equestrians to accomplish both feats in the same year.

“My sister Kirsten won this award in 2007 and I’ve always looked up to her. When she won, I decided ‘That’s my next goal!'” Kimbler related. “It has been a whirlwind experience.”

The 17-year-old high school senior has shown an unwavering commitment to her sport. As a young child, she started in the show ring with walk-trot. Soon after, she continued her riding with endurance and has never looked back. Kimbler has won the AERC Junior National Hundred Mile Award twice in its four years of existence. This award is given to the junior rider who completes the most 100-mile rides in one year. Kimbler holds the record for being the only junior to complete five such endurance rides in one year. She also has represented the AHA Youth Association as her region’s delegate and through involvement in 4-H events with her Arabians. She was nominated by both the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) and the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC).

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Awards, Breeds, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Events, USEF

Saddlebred Showman Don Harris Honored with 2010 USEF Lifetime Achievement Award

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Don Harris and CH Imperator. Photo by Sargent/ASHA Archive.

Lexington, KY – In the American Saddlebred world, few names rise to a level of royalty in quite the way that the name of Don Harris has. During more than five decades of training and competition, his fan following has exponentially increased. Those who know him attribute it to three things: impeccable training, consummate showmanship and perhaps most importantly and most simply, sincere kindness. Now, after this lifetime as an ambassador for one of America’s few original breeds, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce that Harris, of Cox’s Creek, KY, has been selected to receive the organization’s highest honor – the USEF Lifetime Achievement Award and the Jimmy A. Williams Trophy.

Through the years, Harris has had a hand in the development of some of the most prominent American Saddlebreds ever known: CH Imperator, CH Giddy-Up-Go, CH Protege, CH Sultan’s Starina and CH Finisterre’s Gift of Love. Among his wins are repeat Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championships, the Three-Gaited World’s Grand Championship and numerous reserves. In addition to making a name for himself in American Saddlebred circles throughout the United States, Harris garnered international attention by sharing news of the breed abroad, helping to influence sales to enthusiasts in Germany, South Africa and Haiti.

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Contributors/Press, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Training/Clinics

Stable Scoop Episode 125 by Omega Alpha – Science of Motion with Jean Luc Cornille

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Today Helena and Jenn take on Jean Luc Cornille and his fascinating Science of Motion philosophy of horsemanship. Tune in to find out what’s making Jenn’s brain cells sweat…

Stable Scoop Episode 125 – Show Notes and Links:

_____________________________________

Listen, Download or Subscribe:

listennow125

Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group, Polo

SAVE THE DATE! 2011 Challenge of the Americas Fast Facts

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Team International. Photo Credit: Susan Stickle

Wellington, FL – January 7, 2011 – Mark your calendars now for the 2011 Challenge of the Americas.

EVENT: The Tenth Annual Challenge of the Americas Competition and Gala

WHAT: An International Musical Grand Prix Dressage Quadrille Team Challenge and Polo Extravaganza. The Challenge Gala, an elegant evening of dinner and dancing, will get underway immediately following the “The Challenge of the Americas” competition. An awards presentation will be featured and guests will have the chance to meet and socialize with riders and judges.

WHERE: The International Polo Club Palm Beach
3667 120th Avenue South
Wellington, FL 33414

WHEN: Saturday, March 12, 2011

PRESENTING SPONSOR: The International Polo Club Palm Beach

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Contributors/Press, Rescue/Protection Sources

ASPCA Rescues More than 100 Starving, Neglected Horses in Arkansas

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On December 9, 2010, members of the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response (FIR) Team arrived at a farm in rural Fulton County, Arkansas, to rescue more than 100 neglected horses. Most of the horses were starving, and many had open wounds, untreated fractures, infections and other ailments.

The ASPCA, called to the scene after a seven-month investigation by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, immediately set to work to provide the horses with food, water and veterinary care, and has continued to work day and night to care for the horses. Many team members missed holidays with their families to stay and care for the horses, and the group even endured severe Arkansas weather to ring in the new year by the animals’ side. “There is no doubt in any of our minds that this is where we belong — we owe these animals a second chance,” says Kat Destreza, ASPCA Southeast Director of Field Investigations and Response.

The team’s round-the-clock work mucking and stripping stalls, maintaining a strict feeding and watering schedule, and administering medications (and lots of carrots) has paid off. Most of the horses are responding well to veterinary care, and they’re regaining strength every day. “The horses are still under quarantine and are not yet available for adoption,” says Kyle Held, ASPCA Midwest Director of Field Investigations and Response, “but we’re hoping once they become available, the community will open their arms and offer these beautiful animals permanent homes.”

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Racing

Stakes Winner Polish Navy Euthanized at Old Friends

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GEORGETOWN, KY – JANUARY 6, 2011 – Polish Navy, the Ogden Phipps homebred and GR1 winner, was humanely euthanized this morning at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement facility in Georgetown, KY.  He was suffering from complications from a hip injury.

Michael Blowen, Old Friends President and Founder, made the announcement this afternoon.

“Polish Navy injured his hip several weeks ago and was taken to Hagyard’s where he received excellent diagnostic care,” said Blowen. “Unfortunately, he just never recovered. Dr. Doug Byars visited with this great old horse several times and, in consultation with Old Friends, advised us that Polish Navy’s time had come.”

The 27-year-old stallion had been pensioned at Old Friends since 2009.

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Contributors/Press, Publications/Media

NO SECRET SO CLOSE: A True Story of a Father’s Murder, a Mother’s Betrayal, a Family Torn Apart, and the Horses That Turned It All Around, by Claire Dorotik M.A.

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NO SECRET SO CLOSE is the story of a the most unthinkable betrayal humanly possible — at only 24 years old, Claire Dorotik’s father has been murdered, her mother arrested, and now, in a sinister twist of fate, Claire’s mother points the finger at Claire, accusing her of killing her own father. Battling the feelings of loss, abandonment, terror, and dissociation, and also learning about them, Claire struggles to stay in her master’s program for psychotherapy. However, when Claire’s brothers also betray her and side with her mother, Claire is left all alone to care for the 18 horses she and her mother owned. As the story unfolds, what is revealed is the horses’ amazing capacity for empathy in the face of human trauma, and the almost psychic ability to provide the author with what had been taken from her. Arising from these horrifying circumstances, the most unthinkable heroes — the horses — show Claire that life is still worth living.

Excerpt from NO SECRET SO CLOSE:

We approached the house in a tense silence. Inadvertently, I glanced at the stalls underneath. I had long since made a habit of averting my eyes from them, focusing instead on the stairs. They were just too eerie. The old wooden stairs creaked as we stepped up them simultaneously, as if, at any moment, they might give way, sending us plummeting down.

Reaching the deck overlooking the riding arena, I gazed out, wishing I could be out there.

“Come on, Claire,” Alex snapped, pulling the sliding glass door open.

Continue reading NO SECRET SO CLOSE: A True Story of a Father’s Murder, a Mother’s Betrayal, a Family Torn Apart, and the Horses That Turned It All Around, by Claire Dorotik M.A. →