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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Jennifer Alfano and Rose Hill Win Big in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala V

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OCALA, FL (February 18, 2013) – Jennifer Alfano got down to business at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida, and won the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix this weekend. Alfano of Buffalo, New York and Sharon O’Neill’s Rose Hill rode to a sweet victory and a $2,800 winner’s check. Sweeter than usual, however, the win marked a storied return back to the competition ring for Rose Hill.

“She is only eight years old and underwent colic surgery last May,” said Alfano of the Warmblood mare that carried her to the blue. “She just started showing again and I am really excited to have her back.”

The scenery changed this week for hunter prix riders as they moved to the main hunter ring and showed over a course designed by Doug Russell of Ocala, Florida.

Alfano was second going into the final round after a score of 86, right behind Winn Alden of Bristow, Virginia aboard Barbara Sheffield’s Cameo Appearance with an 87. Alfano was tenth to return in a 12-horse second round and rode to an impressive 89, which was just enough to deliver the win. Alfano also piloted Rose Hill to a second and third-place finish in two HITS Ocala Devoucoux Hunter Prix earlier in the circuit.

Despite the chilly weather that rolled in and prompted some frisky antics from several horses during the class, Alfano admits that Rose Hill was focused and pretty unflappable throughout the day.

“She walked right into the new ring and got it done,” said Alfano of Rose Hill. “She is so easy and fun – she is the kind of horse that everyone wants in their barn.”

After an 86 in round two gave him a total score of 173, just two points below Alfano, Alden and Cameo Appearance finished second. Amanda Steege has already been in the Devoucoux Hunter Prix money several times this season and rode to third yesterday with Susan Darragh’s Zidane. They boasted an overall score of 167.5.

Another familiar face in the top five with two wins already pocketed, Shachine Belle of Farmington, Connecticut and Robin Swinderman’s INXS finished fourth with a score of 166.75. Paul Mathews of Somerset, Virginia fell just short of Belle and rounded out the top five with a 166.5 on Terry Morrison’s Carino.

With four more qualifying opportunities for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final during the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, Alfano is hopeful that Rose Hill is the horse to get her to HITS Championship Weekend this fall. “She’s a perfect horse for that class. She shows in the 3’6” Performance Division and was champion this week, so she is really getting back into form.  We definitely hope to qualify and ride in the $500,000 class in Saugerties,” she said.

$1,500 HITS Hunter Prix

Amy Zettler of Aldie, Virginia bested 52 to pilot her own Glad Rags to the top of the $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix this weekend at HITS Ocala. After a second-place finish last week, Zettler is sitting near the top of the rider standings for September’s HITS $250,000 Hunter Prix Final.

©ESI Photography. Amy Zettler rode to the win in the $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix aboard Glad Rags
©ESI Photography. Amy Zettler rode to the win in the $1,500 HITS Hunter Prix aboard Glad Rags

Meghan Kaupp of Pittsford, New York was second aboard Serenity Farm’s Q and Lena Rae Reeb of Weston, Connecticut finished third with Jamie Ringel’s Private Ryan. After a win in last year’s HITS Children Hunter Pony Final, Reeb is looking forward to a triumphant return to Saugerties, New York this year and an appearance in the HITS Hunter Prix Final during HITS Championship Weekend.

Lynn Seithel of Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina rode Louse Petz’s Wellington to fourth and Marge Sidman of Marstons Mills, Massachusetts capped the top five with her own Robinlanta.

About Devoucoux
Devoucoux, makers of fine French saddles, is proud to be the title sponsor of each and every qualifying Hunter Prix leading up to the phenomenal Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. The Devoucoux Hunter Prix will be a featured event at all HITS horse shows this season as riders from around the country set out to qualify for the third-annual Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final, which will take place September 7-8 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

About Diamond Mills Hotel & Tavern
Just 100 miles outside of New York City, nestled in the Village of Saugerties, Diamond Mills is a 30-room luxury hotel featuring stellar accommodations, fine dining at The Tavern and full-service events at a state-of-the art Special Events Center. Diamond Mills is a proud member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, an unsurpassed collection of over 520 luxury hotels around the world. Saugerties’ newest luxury hotel is also the proud sponsor of the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final, which will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson as part of the HITS Championship Weekend. For more information about Diamond Mills or the special VIP packages available to HITS-on-the-Hudson exhibitors, please visit DiamondMillsHotel.com or call 845.247.0700.

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, Pan American Games, Show Jumping, USEF

Ten Medals for Equestrian Team USA at the 2011 Pan American Games

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The U.S. Sweep in Dressage (Photo: Rick Mitchell)

It was an epic adventure in Mexico for the United States Equestrian Federation’s Dressage, Eventing and Jumping Teams. They won a record 10 medals across the three disciplines and cemented a solid foundation for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Bookended by double Gold medalists Steffen Peters, who rode the Hlavacek’s Weltino’s Magic to record scores in the dressage ring at the Guadalajara Country Club, and Christine McCrea, who jumped five immaculate rounds on Windsor Show Stables’ Romantovich Take One at the same venue 10 days later, the U.S. won at every turn.

The dressage team of Peters, Heather Blitz, Marissa Festerling and Cesar Parra got the winning going – they cruised to Team Gold over Canada and Colombia – and then reinforced it with a sweep of the individual medals for Peters, Blitz and Festerling. The standard was extraordinary and with each test, a new challenge was handed over. Personal bests were the order of the day for the freestyles, Blitz and her Paragon made Olympic veteran Peters work for every point, after they wowed the crowd at their first Team Championship. Festerling commandeered a terrific Bronze medal effort out of a very energetic Big Tyme and also stood on the podium for the second time at her first championship.

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Community/Charity, Driving, JRPR, Products/Services

Combined Driver Chester Weber Joins European Website Panel

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Chester Weber and his team competing at the CAI Riesenbeck. (Photo courtesy of My Elisabeth Weber)

Ocala, FL (November 4, 2011) – The European equestrian website HorsUs has asked combined driver Chester Weber to join their panel of famous equestrians. Weber will take part in the website’s “Ask It” panel where he will answer questions sent it by fans of the website www.HorsUs.eu. As the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, Weber has a vast amount of experience he will be able to share on the website.

“I am looking forward to seeing the questions that I have to answer,” Weber said. “I know that each member of the panel answers five questions sent in by visitors to the website and I think this is a great way for riders and drivers to get help with specific challenges they may be facing with their own horses.” Australian Combined Driver Boyd Exell, a contemporary of Weber’s, is also part of the “Ask It” panel.

Weber, a highly competitive driver who is known for setting goals and accomplishing them, said he likes the idea of equine enthusiasts getting the chance to get assistance from professionals. “Thanks to websites like HorsUs, the public has access to the best competitors without the need for them to travel to clinics,” Weber said, adding that he enjoys sharing his experience and expertise with others. “I love the sport of combined driving and anytime I can help someone with a question, I am happy to do so. Our sport will only grow through education and I want to be part of that process.”

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Dressage, Para-Equestrian, Training/Clinics

International Dressage Trainer Sabine Rijssenbeek

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Sabine Rijssenbeek coach of Para-Equestrian Eleanor Brimmer at the 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian National Championships in Saugerties, NY. Photo © 2011 Lindsay Y McCall

Tucson, AZ – November 3, 2011 – Warm winters, kind equestrians and the west coast competitions and clinics are what first attracted trainer Sabine Rijssenbeek to Tucson, Arizona.  In 2006 Sabine landed in Phoenix, Arizona to give a clinic at a Dutch breeding facility.  Her impressive background as a rider, manager, and trainer in Holland attracted many competitive equestrians to her clinic. Three months later Sabine was asked back for her second clinic where she met a rider looking for a horse from The Netherlands. It would not be long before Sabine landed in the United States with a horse in hand from the Netherlands and a suitcase to stay for three months in Tucson, Arizona. Sabine became popular for her training skills not only in Arizona but all over the United States including California, Texas, and Minnesota.  Since graduating with a Master’s degree from Deurne University in the Netherlands in 1975, Sabine has worked hard managing and training over 400 horses in Great Britain, Holland, and the United States. Her unique skills in both dressage and show jumping have created exciting professional paths for her including teaching a Para-Equestrian Dressage competitor in FEI events.

“What started as three weeks to help train this horse I brought to Arizona from The Netherlands, turned into a three month stay.  I loved Arizona, I was captivated by the equestrians, and I could not resist the horses; Of course I wanted to stay,” noted Sabine.

Continue reading International Dressage Trainer Sabine Rijssenbeek →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Scott Stewart and Dedication Win Grand Champion Hunter Title at Alltech National Horse Show

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Scott Stewart and Dedication won the Grand Champion Hunter Title at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

[Lexington, KY] – November 3, 2011 – Today marked the second day of competition at the Alltech National Horse, 128th Edition, and it was the professional hunter divisions that took center stage this afternoon as they completed their under saddle and stake classes. Scott Stewart earned the highest honor of the day with his First Year Green Working Hunter mount, Dedication, owned by Fashion Farm of New York, NY. After scoring three blue ribbons, the duo took home the division’s tricolor and was eventually honored with the Grand Champion Hunter Award.

The First Year Green Working Hunters were the first to complete their stake class today and wrapped up their second day of competition. Stewart and Dedication showed brilliantly over Richard Jeffery’s courses to earn three first place ribbons and a second place ribbon, which included a win in the stake class with a score of 88. They picked up the championship award, while Tammy Provost and Libretto, owned by Alliy Moyer of Carmel, IN, earned the reserve championship honors. With their impressive effort in all four classes, Stewart and Dedication returned to the ring at the end of the day to receive the prestigious Grand Champion Hunter title.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

McLain Ward & Rothchild Race to Win $75,000 Double H Farm Open Jumpers at Alltech NHS

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McLain Ward and Rothchild won the $75,000 Double H Farm Open Jumpers at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. Photo By: Shawn McMillen

[Lexington, KY] – November 3, 2011 – It was an incredible night of competition at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, as 14 of 35 entries qualified for the jump-off during the $75,000 Double H Farm International Open Jumper class. There was one quick round after another, but at the end of the night it was McLain Ward and Rothchild, owned by Sagamore Farm of Oyster Bay, NY, who posted a double clear effort in 36.10 seconds and led the victory gallop. Pan American Individual and Team Gold Medalist Christine McCrea of East Windsor, CT, followed in second aboard Avenir with a fault-free effort in 37.72 seconds, while Lauren Hough and Quick Study, owned by Laura Mateo, were third after setting the pace at a clean 37.73 seconds.

For tonight’s first round, Richard Jeffery challenged riders with 15 obstacles that included an oxer-vertical double combination, a triple bar-oxer double combination, and a final vertical-vertical double combination going towards the gate. Fourteen horse and rider combinations cleared the opening round to compete during the tiebreaker, which proved to be a far more difficult task. The jump-off began with an oxer-vertical bending line followed by the oxer-vertical double combination. Riders then made a tight inside turn to a tall vertical before making a bending line across the middle. They finally turned left and headed home over a wide oxer.

Continue reading McLain Ward & Rothchild Race to Win $75,000 Double H Farm Open Jumpers at Alltech NHS →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Kaitlin Campbell Rides to the Top of the Leaderboard in the $10,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Welcome Stake at Alltech National Horse Show

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Kaitlin Campbell and Rocky W earned the top honors for their blazing fast round during the Chansonette Farm $10,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Welcome Stake. Photos By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington, KY – November 3, 2011 – The exciting jumper action continued tonight at the Alltech National Horse Show as the best Junior and Amateur-Owner riders gathered at the Alltech Arena to compete in the evening’s Welcome Stakes. Kaitlin Campbell and Rocky W took the winning honors during the Chansonette Farm $10,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Welcome, and Lillie Keenan earned the top call during the Sleepy P Ranch $10,000 Junior Jumper Welcome.

The Chansonette Farm $10,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Welcome Stake kicked off tonight’s festivities with talented horse and rider combinations vying for the winning honors. The class showcased 21 of the top competitors riding for the highest honors. The speed course consisted of 11 obstacles that tested both horse and rider alike in the time allowed of 68 seconds. The course began over a single vertical reminiscent of a mountain range, bending to an oxer at the far end of the ring. A left hand turn brought the rider to another single vertical and an oxer. With a right turn, riders then took a vertical on the outside and then quickly took the oxer set at a diagonal in the center of the ring, bending to a vertical. A left hand turn then introduced the Alltech triple bar-vertical double combination on the outside where riders then had to make a left rollback to a vertical and a sharp right to the outside Keeneland vertical-oxer combination, where they then turned right over the final Louisville slugger oxer to trip the beam.

Continue reading Kaitlin Campbell Rides to the Top of the Leaderboard in the $10,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Welcome Stake at Alltech National Horse Show →

Awards, Breeds, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Wellington Classic Dressage

Calamus Interagro Wins Interagro Lusitano High Score Award at Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge

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Marcel van der Burgh and the Lusitano stallion, Calamus Interagro, won the High Point Lusitano Award at the Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge Show. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (November 4, 2011) – International rider and trainer Marcel van der Burgh, a native of Holland who now operates out of Loxahatchee, Florida, rode the five-year-old Lusitano stallion Calamus Interagro to the High Score Lusitano Award during the Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge Show. Sponsored by Interagro Lusitanos, the largest breeder and exporter of Lusitano horses in the world, the High Score Lusitano Award recognizes the highest scoring Lusitano during a dressage competition and highlights the dynamic and competitive Lusitano breed.

Calamus was bred at Interagro Farms in Brazil and imported to the United States during Interagro’s 2011 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction. The handsome stallion was purchased by a Michigan rider and put into training with van der Burgh. “Calamus is very rideable and easy going, especially for a stallion. I really like the Lusitano breed as they are sensitive but still great for amateurs,” he said. “Our goal with Calamus is to train him up through the levels and have his owner ride and compete him.”

Continue reading Calamus Interagro Wins Interagro Lusitano High Score Award at Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge →