All posts by Associate Editor

Breeds

Parade of Breeds and Petting Zoo at Why Not an American Ark

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The U.S. Equine Rescue League (USERL) will hold their Third Annual Parade of Breeds and Fall Festival on Saturday, October 23, 2010 from 10:00 .m. until 3:00 p.m. at Why Not an American Ark (WNAA) at 1126 Charlie Williams Rd., Monroe, NC 28112 www.wnaaa.com.

WNAA is an equestrian center that also houses a petting zoo that provides a rare opportunity to interact with and learn about a variety of animals including camels, zebras, wallabys, Patagonia cavis, turkeys, geese, ducks, a baby mule, a baby yak, a baby bison, bunnies, and guinea pigs. There are over forty (49) types of animals that visitors will get to meet, in addition to the beautiful horses taking part in the Parade of Breeds. So far in the line up there are Fresians, the extremely rare Akhal Tekes, and Andalusian, Irish Sport Horses, Thoroughbreds and a Quarter Horse that does tricks. There will also be an opportunity following the Parade of Breeds, held at 1:00 p.m. sharp, to meet the horses and talk to their handlers.

In addition to the Parade of Breeds and ongoing guided tours of the petting zoo, there will be a silent auction and BBQ lunch served to raise money to help the rescue horses of the USERL.

Continue reading Parade of Breeds and Petting Zoo at Why Not an American Ark →

Classic Company, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Tri State Equitation Finals Highlight 20th Anniversary of Tryon Fall Classics

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Mary Mitchener & Little Man Tate. All photos ©Flashpoint Photography

Tryon, NC — September 25, 2010 — A family type atmosphere enveloped the ring, complete with loud cheering and picnic cloths spread around as the 2010 Tri State Equitation Finals crowned champions Saturday afternoon in the spotlighted event celebrating 20 years of the Tryon Fall Classic.

Currently held at the Foothills Equestrian Center, the Fall Classic, one of the earliest USEF A rated horse shows in the tri state area, was created two decades ago by Bob Bell and Carol Kent. Both Bell and Kent recall a time when age group equitation classes were a dominate section of A rated events. “Reviving the Age Group Equitation is something I believe will help make our young riders stronger competitors when they do head to the big equitation classics and finals at shows like Washington International, Harrisburg, and even the ASPCA Maclay Championships. Given the current economic crunch many riders are feeling there are probably several who won’t be traveling to the big Indoor circuits as they did in the past, but we wanted to recognize their excellence at our Fall show in Tryon,” Bell said. He explained the focus of Classic Company’s Tri State Equitation was on top riders from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, “to honor their achievements this season and to aid those riders who will be heading to Indoors by providing a tune up opportunity.”

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12208

Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

Team USA Wins First Gold Medal of 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

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Lexington, Ky., Sept. 26, 2010 — The powerhouse team from the United States took the gold medal at the FEI Reining World Championship, presented by John Deere. Their victory made it a three-peat, since they’ve been victorious in each World Equestrian Games that has included reining.

Belgium won the team silver medal, while Italy earned the bronze.

The order of finish for the remaining top-10 teams was: Austria, Canada, Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands, Great Britain and Mexico.

U.S. Reining chef d’equipe Jeff Petska noted how tough the competition was at this year’s World Games, but he said the United States “brought a bunch of heavyweights to a heavyweight fight.”

Continue reading Team USA Wins First Gold Medal of 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, Racing Sources, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

Team USA Takes Gold at FEI World Reining Championship

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The American Quarter Horse Journal — During the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, the powerhouse team from the United States took the gold medal September 26, 2010, at the FEI World Reining Championship presented by John Deere, making it a three-peat, with team wins in every World Equestrian Games in which reining has been included.

Belgium won the team silver medal, while Italy earned the bronze. The order of finish for the remaining top-10 teams is: Austria, Canada, Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands, Great Britain and Mexico.

U.S. Reining Chef d’Equipe Jeff Petska noted how tough the competition was at this year’s games, but he says the United States “brought a bunch of heavyweights to a heavyweight fight.”

Continue reading Team USA Takes Gold at FEI World Reining Championship →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Endurance Riding, Events, FEI, World Equestrian Games

Spain’s Ponton Flies to Endurance World Championship, Presented by Meydan

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Lexington, Ky., Sept. 27, 2010 — Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton of Spain, riding Nobby, literally out-galloped her rivals to win the individual gold medal at the Endurance World Championships, presented by Meydan, at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

But HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on Ciel Oriental, and his son, HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, on SAS Alexis, sprinted through the finish line only 1:55 later to claim the silver and bronze individual medals and lead the United Arab Emirates to their first team gold medal at a World Equestrian Games.

Ponton completed the last loop at an average speed of 29.44 kilometers per hour, while her UAE competitors chased her at an average speed of 31.66 kph. Ponton’s average time throughout the 100-mile race was a speedy 21.07 kph.

Continue reading Spain’s Ponton Flies to Endurance World Championship, Presented by Meydan →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, FEI, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

2010 Radio Show Episode 111 by SUCCEED – USA Wins Gold in Reining

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Daily radio coverage of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games continues with a wrap up of the day’s events. We recap reining with Aaron Ralston and look forward to driving with Chester Weber. Listen in…

2010 Radio Show Episode 111 by SUCCEED – Show Notes and Links:

  • Hosts: Samantha Clark and Glenn the Geek
  • Location: The International Equestrian Festival in downtown Lexington.
    Recording at 7:00 PM every night. Stop down and join us.
  • Guest: Aaron Ralston on the USA Team win.
  • Guest: Chester Weber on the upcoming driving competition.
  • Guest: Monty Roberts on the Opening Ceremonies.
  • Coverage: Follow all the coverage of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on the Horse Radio Network.

_________________________________________

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Endurance Riding, Events, FEI, World Equestrian Games

Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 Endurance Championship Report

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Spain's Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton and Nobby on their way to securing individual gold in the Endurance Championship at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA today. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

MIGHTY MARIA WINS ENDURANCE GOLD, UAE SCOOP TEAM TITLE by Louise Parkes

Lexington, 26 September – Spain’s Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton and her super-horse, Nobby, wrote their names into the history books of the sport of Endurance today when adding the individual gold medal at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky to their 2008 World Championship and 2009 European Championship titles.  The hat-trick has never been done before, and Nobby’s extraordinary recovery-rate proved key to their success once again. But Ponton herself is something of a super-woman.  Only seven weeks ago she gave birth to her daughter, Maria, yet she had the stamina, skill, physical fitness and concentration to win the coveted title against the sharpest competition today.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took the silver medal with Ciel Oriental while his son, His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan Bin Al Maktoum took bronze, and it was no surprise when the UAE claimed the team title as His HE Sheikh Hamdan joined with HE Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum to finish well ahead of the French in silver medal position and Germany in bronze.

Continue reading Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 Endurance Championship Report →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 Reining Team Championship Report

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The US team claimed team gold for the third consecutive time in the Reining Championship at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA today. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHTS TAKE TEAM REINING TITLE FOR THE THIRD TIME by Louise Parkes

Lexington, 26 September – The host nation and defending double-champions from the USA scooped the first gold medals of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games when spinning, slide-stopping and galloping to a convincing victory in the Reining Team Championship at The Horse Park in Kentucky today.  They dominated the leaderboard when filling first, third, fourth and ninth places and their final score of 674.5 left them almost 10 points clear of Belgium in silver medal position while Italy took bronze.  And it was an historic moment for the Belgians as they claimed their first World Championship title in this discipline.

“We were always trying for third place, so silver is a dream come true!” said Belgium’s Cira Baeck afterwards.  However the team effort produced by the Americans was exceptional and, as US Chef d’Equipe Jeff Petska said, “we came here under a lot of pressure – reining is a big sport on our home soil, but my boys really rose to the occasion.”

Continue reading Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 Reining Team Championship Report →

Breeds, Community/Charity, Events, Publications/Media, World Equestrian Games

Documentary Film Chronicles the Heart and Soul of the Thoroughbred Horse Industry

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Beyond the Stone Fences spotlights Kentucky Thoroughbred horse farms

Lexington, Kentucky (September 2, 2010) – At a time when worldwide attention is focused on Kentucky for the upcoming World Equestrian Games, juxtaposed by the adverse effects of the economic downturn on the state’s equine industry, a new documentary film tells the story of the Kentucky’s Thoroughbred horse farms. Produced by Lexington-based High Impact Productions, the thirty-minute Beyond the Stone Fences details the majesty, as well as the daily operations, of six regional horse farms.

Premiering nationally on the cable network HRTV, Monday, September 20 at 10:30 p.m. ET, Beyond the Stone Fences features lush, never-before-seen high definition footage and exclusive interviews with farm owners, operators and staff from Lexington’s Calumet, Donamire, Crestwood and Mt. Brilliant Farms; Winstar Farm in Versailles; and Three Chimneys Farm in Midway. The film will also air on Kentucky’s PBS affiliate, KET, beginning Sunday, September 5 at 10:30 p.m. ET.

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Community/Charity, Events

Meet Josie the Amputee Horse & Dr. Ric Redden a the International Equestrian Festival

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Renowned and innovative veterinarian is special guest on October 5

Lexington, KY (September 22, 2010) – On October 5, beginning at 1:30 p.m., Dr. Ric Redden will present a demonstration with Josie the Amputee Mare. Showcased in the International Equestrian Festival’s Ecotrack Park, Redden will change the horse’s prosthetic leg to provide viewers an overview of the options and advancements in equine prosthetics. As part of the Festival’s special series, Dr. Redden will also present more than six hours of lectures:

*       3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Evaluating and Treating Angular Deformities in Foals – Learn Dr. Redden’s method of assessing foot and flight leg alignment and when and how to treat various deformities.

*       4:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Diagnosing and Shoeing the Navicular Horse – A discussion of history, radiographs, clinical workup and efficient therapeutic shoeing.

*       5:30 – 7:00 p.m. – How to Manage Club Feed and the Opposite Foot which often has a Crushed Heel – Lecture on understanding and managing club feet in foals, sport horses and broodstock.

*       7:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Understanding and Treating the Laminitic Case – Learn about the urgent need for accurate assessment and subsequent treatment plan, and how venograms make the difference between success and failure.

Continue reading Meet Josie the Amputee Horse & Dr. Ric Redden a the International Equestrian Festival →