All posts by Associate Editor

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, Para-Equestrian, Phelps Media Group, World Equestrian Games

The United States Para-Dressage Riders Earn Top Honors at WindReach International Para-Dressage CPEDI 3*

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WindReach International Para-Dressage CPEDI3*

Thousand Oaks, CA – June 2, 2010 – This year is the most exciting calendar year for the United States Para-Equestrian Team in history.  It will be the first time ever that the Para-Dressage team will compete with all of the equestrian disciplines at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Lexington, KY.  The hopeful WEG riders first stop this summer was May 28-30, 2010, in Ashburn, Ontario, Canada.  While in Canada riders earned top scores for their performances including the Silver Medal for the United States.  Riders used this show as their last big qualifier for the 2010 World Equestrian Games Selection Trials scheduled for June 24-27, 2010 held at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois.

The Para-Equestrian’s journey to Ashburn, Ontario, Canada was to compete at the WindReach International Para-Dressage CPEDI3* and WindReach EC Gold Para-Dressage Competition.  This FEI event was an official qualifier for WEG.

Continue reading The United States Para-Dressage Riders Earn Top Honors at WindReach International Para-Dressage CPEDI 3* →

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Phelps Media Group

Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, Hosts SPEAKS Program at the Kentucky Horse Park

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Lexington, KY – June 2, 2010 – On Friday, May 21, 2010, third graders from Simmons Elementary School in Woodford County, Kentucky, had a chance of a lifetime. The young children visited the spectacular Kentucky Horse Park as part of the SPEAKS program. The acronym stands for Supporting and Promoting Equine Awareness in Kentucky Schools (SPEAKS) program. The SPEAKS program is a way to take equine education to the next level. Bobby Murphy, who has been the main component of spreading the SPEAKS vision, visited Simmons Elementary School in December 2009 and found that the program can be just as effective in the classroom as it could be at the Kentucky Horse Park.  Five months later he fulfilled his promise to bring the children to the Kentucky Horse Park for this wonderful opportunity.

Representatives from Young Professionals Committee of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA), ambassadors from Just World International, and young riders from the Kentucky Spring Classic were present to teach the children many basics about the sport and what makes horses so important in their lives. Continue reading Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, Hosts SPEAKS Program at the Kentucky Horse Park →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Pablo Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11 Win $25,000 BC Timberframe Grand Prix at Thunderbird Show Park

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Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11. All Photos © 2010 Totem Photographics

Langley, BC, Canada – June 1, 2010 – Pablo Barrios of Wellington, FL, took the top prize in the $25,000 Timberframe Grand Prix on Sunday, May 30, at the Canadian Premier Tournament at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. Barrios rode G&C Quick Star 11 to the win. G&C Farm’s state-of-the-art jumper facility is based in Wellington, FL, and owned by Gustavo Mirabal.

Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11, a 12-year-old KWPN mare by Quick Star x Grannus, went 16th in a class of 32 entries. In the jump-off, they went fifth out of eight. “There were only two double clear in the jump-off,” Barrios remembered. “I had the opportunity to watch Rich Fellers, and I watched his jump-off. He had one down, but at that point I still had to go fast because I had two or three after me and I didn’t know how fast they could go. I went pretty fast.”

Continue reading Pablo Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11 Win $25,000 BC Timberframe Grand Prix at Thunderbird Show Park →

Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, JRPR

Mystery Writer & Grand Prix Dressage Rider Tami Hoag Relocates to Florida Year Round

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"Traveling from coast to coast is for the birds," says Tami Hoag, taking a little time out to enjoy a few parrots in her new year round residence in tropical Florida.

Wellington, FL (June 2, 2010) – New York Times bestselling mystery writer and Grand Prix dressage rider Tami Hoag has traveled from coast to coast each year to live the winters in Florida and the summers in California. This year marks a big change for Hoag as she has decided to stay in Wellington year round.

Hoag will continue to create her thrilling and heart-stopping murder mystery New York Times Bestsellers while she trains and competes in Florida. “The stress of traveling back and forth is a lot for the horses and this is a great opportunity to settle in and make Wellington home. The best resources are available in the area including boarding, training and showing,” said Hoag.

Hoag released her latest mystery novel Deeper Than the Dead this year and it quickly became Hoag’s fifteenth New York Times bestseller. Hoag is in full swing with the sequel to Deeper Than the Dead called Secrets to the Grave. “It is already scheduled to go on sale in December of 2010, so no time to dilly-dally. My day consists of riding in the morning, the gym in the afternoon, and working in the evenings,” Hoag said.

Continue reading Mystery Writer & Grand Prix Dressage Rider Tami Hoag Relocates to Florida Year Round →

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

Todd Minikus and Pavarotti Win the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, Presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Saugerties

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© ESI Photography. Todd Minikus and Pavarotti in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health

SAUGERTIES, NY (June 1, 2010) — The $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, was the perfect stage as Pavarotti, with Todd Minikus in the irons, took home the win in Sunday’s class to highlight HITS-on-the-Hudson I.

“It was a good first round,” said Minikus, of Loxahatchee, Florida, who competed and placed in his third Pfizer Million Grand Prix qualifier. “The jumps were big enough and challenging. The second vertical downhill and the line across the middle had good rideability questions.”

Minikus and Little Annie were the first of 30 horse-and-rider teams to take to the field designed by Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Paehl, Germany. The team had a rail down on the second fence, which would also prove troublesome for four other riders in the first round.

Continue reading Todd Minikus and Pavarotti Win the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, Presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Saugerties →

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

Tryon May Classic and Summer Updates

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The Tryon May Classic was a great success again this year. I am not sure it was the sterling silver trophies, the great footing, the small numbers in the classes, the mimosa served ringside on Sunday or just the fact that Harmond Field and Tryon being a great place for horse shows, but everyone seemed to have a good time.  For those who attended, thanks for your support and hope to see you again next year.

Grand Champion Hunter – The Irene Acker Trophy was won by Cezanne, owned and shown by Lillian Hahn.

The Gordon Wright Amateur Trophy was also won by: Lily and Cezanne.  Lily told me during the photo shoot receiving the trophy that this show was a great show to get ready for Devon next weekend. Best of luck for Lily and Cezanne.

Continue reading Tryon May Classic and Summer Updates →

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

Margie Engle Wins the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson I

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© ESI Photography. Margie Engle and Hidden Creek's Pamina L on course in Friday's $25,000 HITS Grand Prix

SAUGERTIES, NY (May 29, 2010) — Margie Engle and Hidden Creek’s Pamina L, owned by Hidden Creek Farm, won the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, in the first Pfizer Million Grand Prix qualifier at HITS Saugerties on Friday which doubled as a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

“It was a very nice opening course,” said Engle, of West Palm Beach, Florida. “It was big enough, with some tight combinations.”

Engle and Hidden Creek’s Pamina L were one of 32 horse-and-rider teams to take the field on a course designed by International Course Designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. which saw an outstanding 10 riders return for the jump-off.

Continue reading Margie Engle Wins the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson I →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Endurance Riding, Events, FEI

French Individuals Dominate in Compiegne, but Belgium Leaves with Top Team Honours

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29 May 2010 – The World Endurance Festival in Compiegne, due to celebrate its 10th anniversary in August, could not have asked for anything more when hosting the CEIO3* 160km on Friday 28 May. Rain prior to the competition provided an excellent preparation for the soft, sandy tracks generating perfect going for the 62 riders who set out on this world famous course.

Weather on the day could not have been better with a dry day and sunny skies, but a top temperature of just 19 degrees, which proved to be ideal for the horses and riders and was reflected in the competitive speeds and high completion rate of over 60%.

Combinations representing eight nations, many of whom were aiming to qualify for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky this coming autumn, set off to complete the 160kms. The traditional European nations fielded the highest number of competitors, with 43 riders from France, alongside combinations from Spain, Italy, Belgium and Switzerland. Taking on the Europeans were some riders from a little further afield, namely Abdullah Halim Alihan (MAS), Rafael Salvador (BRA) and Jennifer Poling (USA).

Continue reading French Individuals Dominate in Compiegne, but Belgium Leaves with Top Team Honours →

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

Meydan FEI Nations Cup – Round 2 in Rome

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FEI TV – Go to www.feitv.org for live coverage, event reports, highlights programmes and interviews.

FABULOUS FRENCH MAKE IT A DOUBLE IN ROME

Rome, 28 May 2010 – The French team forged further ahead on the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup leaderboard with a supremely confident second successive victory in Rome, Italy today.  In a contest that included the Italian team who were not challenging for points as they are ineligible for this year’s Meydan series, it was the British who lined up second ahead of Ireland and Spain in equal-third.  Germany finished fifth ahead of the USA in sixth while Italy claimed seventh spot, Switzerland finished eighth and the Swedish team was ninth.

Once again The Netherlands and Poland enjoyed a short afternoon as neither qualified for the second round of competition, and, in an alarming turn of events for the reigning World Champions from Holland, they are now languishing at the very bottom of the leaderboard along with the rookie Polish side and in grave danger of losing their elevated status as Meydan series contenders.

Continue reading Meydan FEI Nations Cup – Round 2 in Rome →

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, FEI, Phelps Media Group, Training/Clinics, World Equestrian Games

Todd Flettrich and Otto Participate in Steffen Peters Clinic

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Todd Flettrich and Otto. Photo by Ken Braddick.

Wellington, FL – May 28, 2010 – Dressage rider Todd Flettrich rode in a Steffen Peters clinic at Carol Cohen’s Two Swans Farm recently, continuing to stay at the top of his game in preparation for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). Based in Coatesville, PA, and Wellington, FL, Flettrich has had a fantastic season with his mount Otto, a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Rambo X Rampal), owned by Cherry Knoll Farm. The pair has earned several top placings throughout the country and is qualified to compete in the Selection Trials for the Games, which will determine who rides on the Team in Lexington, KY, this fall.

Flettrich spent two winters training with Steffen Peters in California earlier in his career, and was thrilled to have the opportunity to get some tips from the renowned rider during this important show season. “I think that Steffen is a super rider and trainer, and I feel that he has so much to offer to the sport,” Flettrich noted. “Steffen commented on similar things that I work on with Hubertus [Schmidt] and Oded [Shimoni], but he doesn’t see us on a regular basis, so his attention was brought right to our problems and he addressed them quickly. I rode Otto the first day in a snaffle and I rode him the next day in a double, and I thought the horse went great. Everything Steffen said was very helpful and I feel like I got so much out of working with him.”

Continue reading Todd Flettrich and Otto Participate in Steffen Peters Clinic →