All posts by Associate Editor

Let’s Dance – Classic Company to Debut Musical Freestyle Hunt Seat Equitation Championship

Olivia Hostetter and Cinzano ©Flashpoint Photography
Olivia Hostetter and Cinzano ©Flashpoint Photography

Conyers, GA — March 31, 2010 — Classic Company’s president Bob Bell announced the first ever Musical Freestyle Hunt Seat Equitation Championship will premiere at the upcoming Atlanta Summer Classics, June 16-27, in the former Olympic Grand Prix arena of the Georgia International Horse Park.

The idea came to Bell while outside a schooling ring on an off day of his show, sitting in a golf cart chatting on his phone the sound of a nearby stereo drifted over causing his attention to shift towards the horse and rider working over the fences to the beat of the music playing. “I saw the look of pure enjoyment on the rider’s face. Both horse and rider were having a great time with the music as a backdrop to their workout, so it started me on a quest to recreate that fun in our class offerings,” Bell mused.

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Chester Weber Breaks Own Record, Wins Eighth Straight USEF National Four-In-Hand Championship at Live Oak

Chester Weber broke his own record, winning the United States Four-in-Hand National Championship for an eighth time in a row at the recent Live Oak International competition. (Photo courtesy of My Elisabeth Weber)
Chester Weber broke his own record, winning the United States Four-in-Hand National Championship for an eighth time in a row at the recent Live Oak International competition. (Photo courtesy of My Elisabeth Weber)

Ocala, FL (March 31, 2010) – Combined Driver Chester Weber continued his title as “record-breaking champion” during the Live Oak International competition, breaking his own record by winning the USEF National Four-In-Hand Championship for a record eight years in a row. Weber’s win took place at the prestigious Live Oak event in Ocala, Florida, during a weekend filled with thousands of fans, bad weather and an incident on course that required Weber to utilize his nerves of steel and vast driving experience.

Weber and his team turned in flawless dressage and cones performances, but Weber faced an incident on the marathon that he described as the longest 45 seconds of the year. “We had a very competitive marathon, winning four of the first five hazards and finishing second in number four by tenths of a second,” Weber said. “Then came the ‘Gulch,’ a signature hazard for Live Oak. We split the two lead horses on a post and it took us 45 seconds to get them going again. It was bad luck to split them on a post but good luck to get them free without needing a navigator to get down to get them free, because that costs additional penalties. The horses remained calm the entire time awaiting the direction to move, but it was the longest 45 seconds of the last year for me, and some slight confusion for them.”

Continue reading Chester Weber Breaks Own Record, Wins Eighth Straight USEF National Four-In-Hand Championship at Live Oak

New Online FEI Prohibited Substances Database Now Available

FEI_CleanSport-logo-200Lausanne (SUI), 29 March 2010 – The FEI is pleased to announce the launch of the online FEI Prohibited Substances Database which is now available on www.feicleansport.org. The purpose of this new database is to provide clear guidance on the substances included in the Equine Prohibited Substances List coming into effect on 5 April 2010.

Under the new Equine Anti Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations, anything prohibited in competition, no matter how the substance is classified, is called a “Prohibited Substance”. Doping substances, which have no place in equine sport, are called “Banned Substances,” while medication substances that are commonly used in equine medicine but prohibited in competition, are called “Controlled Medication Substances.”

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Sapphire and McLain Ward Repeat Huge Victory in $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* at 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival

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Rodrigo Pessoa Wins $100,000 FTI Rider Challenge


Wellington, FL – March 27, 2010 – Tonight’s $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* drew the largest crowd in the history of equestrian sport in Wellington. More than 9,000 spectators came to see who would win one of the biggest show jumping purses in North America. Sapphire, ridden by McLain Ward (USA) and owned by Ward and Blue Chip Bloodstock, came home with the win and repeated their victory from last year over Laura Kraut (USA) and Cedric, owned by Happy Hill Farm, and Todd Minikus (USA) with his own Pavarotti.

Tonight’s class was also the final qualifier for the $100,000 FTI Rider Challenge, where the top four riders of the circuit were awarded with bonus checks. The top four riders were Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), who earned $50,000, Pablo Barrios (VEN) who received $25,000, McLain Ward, who took home $15,000, and Laura Kraut, who received $10,000.

Continue reading Sapphire and McLain Ward Repeat Huge Victory in $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* at 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2009/2010 – Round 13 at ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Casall La Silla scorched to victory in the last qualifying leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series at 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands today.  Photo: Kit Houghton.
Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Casall La Silla scorched to victory in the last qualifying leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series at 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands today. Photo: Kit Houghton.

FEI TV – Re-live the excitement of today’s competition and enjoy highlights, interviews and archive footage at www.feitv.org.

BENGTSSON BAGS THE HONOURS IN THE LAST QUALIFIER AT ‘S-HERTOGENBOSCH

‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) 28 March 2010 – Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson scorched to victory in the last qualifying leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands today when pipping Ireland’s Jessica Kuerten by the smallest of margins.  In a thrilling 16-horse jump-off that kept spectators rooted to their seats it was Kuerten who seemed to have set an impossibly fast target for the rest when eighth to go against the clock.  But the coolest of cool Swedes cruised home to shave one-tenth of a second off her time when last to go with his 11 year old stallion Casall la Silla.

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Black Stallion Show Coming to Kentucky Horse Park

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LEXINGTON, KY (March 23, 2010) The world famous Arabian Nights from Kissimmee, FL will bring The Black Stallion Show for a one-time only performance to the Kentucky Horse Park on Tuesday May 11 at 7pm in the new Indoor Arena.

The show features a variety of breeds performing rarely-seen liberty acts.  The Black Stallion from the Walter Farley classic will be among the highly trained horses that are included in the show.

World-class equine performer Clay Maier and his spectacular Friesians, now permanent members of the Kentucky Horse Park family, will also give a pre-program performance.

Admission is only $10.  Children age 6 and under will be admitted free of charge.

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Greenwich Park Approved as the Venue of the 2012 Olympic Events

London (GBR), 24 March 2010 – Last night (Tuesday, 23 March) the Greenwich Council’s Planning Committee voted in favour of the planning application submitted by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) for the temporary use of land at Greenwich Park, the National Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Naval College and Blackheath Circus Field for the London 2012 Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon events.

“The FEI is thrilled by the decision of the Greenwich Council’s Planning Committee in regard to the planning application for Greenwich Park,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya declared.

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Animal Awareness Releases New iPhone App

Animal Awareness recently launched its new iPhone App that is currently available for download through the iTunes store. Photo Courtesy of the Client.
Animal Awareness recently launched its new iPhone App that is currently available for download through the iTunes store. Photo Courtesy of the Client.

Wellington, FL – March 24, 2010 – Animal Awareness is pleased to announce that its new iPhone App is now available at the iTunes store. This new app will offer many of the exciting features that are currently included on the Animal Awareness website, and will allow users to customize information specifically for their pet. Animal Awareness is an exciting new website founded by Licensed Massage Therapist Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt that helps develop home care procedures for canines and equines.

The features on the new Animal Awareness iPhone App will include access to a large collection of articles that cover many topics pertaining to the home care of animal ailments, including arthritis and muscle injuries. Sample tutorial videos will also be available, as well as the ability to setup a consultation with Hourdebaigt directly from the device. The App can also be customized so that users can track their animal’s vital information such as weight, medications, vet appointments, and teeth examinations.

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An International Day of Rallies for America’s Beloved Herds

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DC, LA, London, Las Vegas: March for Mustangs This Thursday!

Dear Supporters,
I just returned from the Arrowheads and after much long distance glassing with binoculars and spotting scope I was able to spot Cloud and his family with his little daughter, Jasmine; Flint and his family including young Jasper, as well as Bolder and his family with his pale buckskin filly, Jewel. All looked great from about a mile away across deep Big Coulee Canyon. I’ll be sending out more details and photos from this winter trip soon.

For now, I’d like to be the first to tell you that this Thursday, March 25th, the March for Mustangs will take place not only by the White House in Washington DC but on the Las Vegas Strip, by the Los Angeles Federal Building and in front of the US Embassy in London! In D.C. we’re honored to have award-winning actress and advocate, Wendie Malick speak to the crowd at the rally. Wendie will be joined by long time advocate and advisor on the original 1971 Wild Horse and Burro Act, Hope Ryden; author RT Fitch, Filmmaker James Kleinert and many, many more! We are especially pleased to announce that country music artist Clay Canfield will be at the rally to sing his incredible song “Wild Horses” and more before we march to the BLM office with signs and banners.

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SUCCEED Establishes eBay Store to Raise Funds for Courtney King-Dye Medical Fund

kingdye002900Aurora, OH (March 22, 2010) — An eBay store to aid with Courtney King-Dye’s medical expenses has been established by King-Dye’s long time sponsor, SUCCEED Digestive Conditioning Program. The store can be found at http://stores.ebay.com/Courtney-King-Dye-Medical-Fund and features a variety of items donated by individuals in the equestrian community. 100% of the net proceeds from sales of all items at this store will go to the Courtney King-Dye Medical Fund.

King-Dye, a top dressage rider who competed for the US team in the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, suffered a serious head injury March 3, while schooling one of her horses in Loxahatchee, FL. She remains in a coma.

Items that have been donated to the eBay store to date include: an oil painting (“Summer Piaffe”) by award winning artist Ivetta Harte, Templeton Thompson-autographed CDs, dressage DVDs, a breeding to Holsteiner stallion Contester II, Jeanne Lambrecht bracelets, EquestrianProfessional.com memberships, and an Exquisite Equestrian Custom Wool Blanket. Individuals interested in donating items to the store should email Lyndsey White at lwhite@freedomhealthllc.com or call Freedom Health, the makers of SUCCEED, at 330-562-0888.

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