Category Archives: Competitions

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI

Gal Drawn Sixth to Go in Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Grand Prix

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Leipzig (GER), 27 April 2011 – Defending champion Edward Gal (NED) will be sixth to go in the Grand Prix as the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final gets underway in Leipzig, Germany tomorrow.  The draw took place this evening, and the order of go will be as follows:

1, Kompliment (Sergey Pusko) UKR; 2, Weinzauber (Robert Acs) HUN; 3, Rafalca (Jan Ebeling) USA; 4, Skovlunds Mas Guapo (Mikaela Lindh) FIN; 5, Ekwador (Katarzyna Milczarek) POL; 6, Sisther de Jeu (Edward Gal) NED; 7, Come on 111 (Shawna Harding) USA; 8, Leo Af Magnushof (Nina Hoffmann) SWE; 9, Apollo van het Vijverhof (Jeroen Devroe) BEL; 10, Damon Hill NRW (Helen Langehanenberg) GER; 11, Hiscox Artemis (Richard Davison) GBR; 12, Watermill Scandic HBC (Patrik Kittel) SWE; 13, Wiyamaro (Catherine Haddad-Staller) USA; 14, Jerich Parzival (Adelinde Cornelissen) NED; 15, Satchmo (Isabell Werth) GER; 16, Exquis Nadine (Hans Peter Minderhoud) NED; 17, Herzruf’s Erbe (Ulla Salzgeber) GER; 18, Digby (Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein) DEN.

The competition begins at 18.00 local time, and Gal competes in the first tranche of riders with the 12-year-old mare Sisther de Jeu. However the winner of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2010/2011 title is expected to emerge from the second group which includes his team-mate Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival, the combination who dominated the Western European League qualifying rounds, and German stars Isabell Werth and Ulla Salzgeber who are both double-winners of this prestigious series.

Continue reading Gal Drawn Sixth to Go in Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Grand Prix →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Show Jumping, Vaulting

Four FEI World Cup Finals under One Roof – Watch the Action Live on FEI TV

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Leipzig (GER), 27 April 2011 – For the first time in history four FEI World Cup Finals will take place under one roof. Watch high quality, uninterrupted LIVE coverage on FEI TV according to the following timetable (all times are in GMT):

Thursday 28 April
Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final I – 13.10 GMT – 15.15 GMT
Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Grand Prix Qualifier – 15.55 GMT – 19.05 GMT

Friday 29 April
Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final II – 12.40 GMT – 15.15 GMT
FEI World Cup Driving Qualifier – 19.40 GMT – 20.25 GMT

Saturday 30 April
FEI World Cup Vaulting Final – 09.35 GMT – 11.15 GMT
Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Freestyle Part One – 15.55 GMT – 17.45 GMT
Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Freestyle Part Two – 18.40 GMT – 19.55 GMT

Sunday 1 May
FEI World Cup Driving Final – 09.25 GMT – 10.45 GMT
Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping III – 11.40 GMT – 15.00 GMT

Continue reading Four FEI World Cup Finals under One Roof – Watch the Action Live on FEI TV →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Kentucky Three-Day, Show Jumping

Triumphant Todd Flies to Kentucky in Hunt for Further HSBC FEI Classics Points

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Lexington, KY (USA), 27 April 2011 – Mark Todd (NZL) has flown to the US for this weekend’s Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event (April 28 – May 1) in a bid to keep up momentum in the HSBC FEI Classics.

Todd interrupted celebrations for his magnificent win at Badminton last weekend and within 24 hours was on a plane en route to Kentucky, where today he will trot up NZB Grass Valley, a horse that knows its way around the Kentucky Horse Park having been a key member of New Zealand’s bronze medal team at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games last year.

Both Todd and fellow traveller Mary King (GBR), third at Badminton, have said that the lure of the generous prize-money on offer in the HSBC FEI Classics is making them plan their CCI4* seasons carefully.

King, a member of Britain’s triumphant gold medal team last year, is making a two-pronged attack: she rides her home-bred mare Kings Temptress, seventh at Burghley last year, and the exciting prospect Fernhill Urco, a horse that had clocked up useful CCI3* results before spending most of last year on the sidelines.

Other overseas visitors in the 53-strong field are former (2006) Kentucky winner Clayton Fredericks (AUS) with the German-bred mare Be My Guest, third at Burghley last year, and William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Oliver Townend (GBR) who have three HSBC FEI Classics titles between them.

Continue reading Triumphant Todd Flies to Kentucky in Hunt for Further HSBC FEI Classics Points →

Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, Kentucky Three-Day, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Show Jumping, USEF, Western/Reining

Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup to Air LIVE on USEFNetwork.com

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Lexington, KY – Join USEFNetwork.com for two days of LIVE, world-class reining, with the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup, April 29-30, 2011. The CRI5* and the Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment World Freestyle Championship will air live from the Alltech Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, featuring reiners from around the world, including U.S. favorites Tim McQuay, Craig Schmersal, Tom McCutcheon and Shawn Flarida, all members of the Gold Medal-winning 2010 Adequan U.S. Reining Team.

The inaugural Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup will take place alongside the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, April 28 – May 1, the only CCI4* eventing competition in the United States.

Broadcast Schedule for the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup:

April 29:          LIVE CRI5*, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EDT
April 30:          LIVE Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment World Freestyle Championship, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. EDT

Broadcast Schedule for the Rolex Equestrian Championships presented by Land Rover:

April 28:          LIVE Dressage on USEFNetwork.com
April 29:          LIVE Dressage on USEFNetwork.com
April 30:          LIVE Cross-Country on USEFNetwork.com
May 1:              LIVE Show Jumping on USEFNetwork.com (off air from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT)
LIVE Show Jumping and highlights on NBC Sports, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT

All broadcast times subject to change.

To find out more about the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, visit www.rk3de.org. To find out more about the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup, visit www.kentuckyreining.com.

United States Equestrian Federation | 4047 Iron Works Parkway | Lexington | KY | 40511

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping, Vaulting

Shutterfly Joins the Leipzig Line-Up

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News from 2010/2011 FEI World Cup Finals by Louise Parkes

Lausanne (SUI), 26 April 2011 – Three-time Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping champion, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, has decided to compete her great gelding, Shutterfly, at the 2010/2011 final which opens at Leipzig, Germany tomorrow, 27 April.  Originally entered with Checkmate and Kismet, Meredith has substituted the latter for the 18 year old veteran who helped her secure the prestigious title at Las Vegas (USA) in 2005 and 2009 and at Gothenburg (SWE) in 2008. This means that not only is the German rider vying for a record-breaking fourth series victory, but Shutterfly may also go into the record books as the first horse to claim the honours on four occasions.  The only other horse to win three titles was Rodrigo Pessoa’s legendary stallion Baloubet du Rouet who scored a spectacular back-to-back hat-trick for his Brazilian rider between 1998 and 2000.

Some facts and figures about the 2010/2011 FEI World Cup Finals at Leipzig:

For the first time in the history of international equestrian sport, four finals will take place under one roof between 27 April and 1 May – Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping, Reem Acra FEI World Cup dressage, FEI World Cup Driving and FEI World Cup Vaulting.
Leipzig staged its first national event in 1998 and in 2002 held its first international show – the FEI World Cup Jumping final – Germany’s Otto Becker reigned supreme on that occasion with Dobel’s Cento.
Leipzig, the trade and cultural capital of eastern Germany, is closely associated with world-famous literary figure Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who studied law at Leipzig University.
A total of 50 competitions will take place at the Leipziger Messe exhibition centre between 27 April and 1 May.
The total prizemoney for the Finals is €1.6 million.
A total of 31 nations will compete in all four FEI World Cup events.
21 nations will be represented in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final.
There are 11 lady riders amongst the 43 starters in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final.
Course designer for the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final is Frank Rothenberger.
German footing expert, Oliver Hoberg, will ensure excellent ground conditions for horses and riders.
Stable Management has been allocated to Team Australia.
100,000 visitors are expected to attend the event – at the 2010 Leipzig fixture a total of 70,000 spectators turned up over the four-day fixture.
Three halls – each sized 21,000 square metres, will be in use during the final.
Hall 1 – 9,500 seats, arena size 40/80 metres, Hall 2 – 3,000 seats, Hall 3 – stabling for 900 horses, 750 of these are allocated for competition horses.
President of the Organising Committee is Volker Wulff.

FEI Media Contacts:
Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Leipzig Media Contact:
Andreas Kerstan
andreas.kerstan@comtainment.de
+49 4307 827970

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping, USEF, Vaulting

Twenty Americans Head to FEI World Cup Finals in Leipzig, Germany

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Shawna Harding and Come On III. Photo: SusanJStickle.com

Lexington, KY – The United States will have strong representation in Germany for the 2011 FEI World Cup Finals (April 27 – May 1), with 20 of the country’s best riders ready to leave their mark on Leipzig. For the first time the World Cup Finals in dressage, driving, jumping and vaulting will all be held under one roof, with the US sending competitors to vie for top honors in the dressage and jumping. The US will also use the Leipzig Exhibition Hall to showcase up-and-coming jumping riders in the European Youngster Cup Finals and the CSI3*.

With three riders competing in the 2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final, the US is poised to excel on the world stage. The American effort will be led by Catherine Haddad and her own Winyamaro. Based in Germany, the pair punched their ticket to the Finals by finishing fifth in the Western European League, which is widely known as the toughest Reem Acra World Cup Qualifying League.

California’s Jan Ebeling returns to World Cup stage with his partner from the 2009 Finals, Raflaca. The pair won most recently at the Festival of the Horse CDI-W in March. Shawna Harding and Come On III make their FEI World Cup Final debut, they look to capitalize on the consistent form they displayed throughout the winter season. Under the guidance of Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons, these three riders will compete in a field of 18 competitors from 11 countries, including former FEI World Cup Champions Edward Gal, Isabel Werth and Ulla Salzgeber.

Continue reading Twenty Americans Head to FEI World Cup Finals in Leipzig, Germany →

*Featured/Spotlights, Auctions, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, Fundraisers, JRPR, World Equestrian Games

Chester Weber Pays It Forward (and Back!) When His WEG Winning Ribbon Is Returned to Him

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Chester Weber donated his signed winning 2010 WEG ribbon to a fund raising event and donated the proceeds to the Humane Society. (Photo courtesy of My Elizabeth Weber)

Ocala, FL (April 21, 2011) – Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion who has competed for the U.S. in three World Equestrian Games, thought he was bidding farewell to his 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Silver Medal ribbon when he donated the signed ribbon to a fund raising event. Weber considered it a “pay it forward” act, knowing that the proceeds from the ribbon were going to benefit the Humane Society of Marion County, Florida, in Weber’s hometown.

Weber said he felt content knowing his winning ribbon would be auctioned off on eBay and ultimately make a difference in the lives of the shelter animals. “I figured if the ribbon could raise money for a good cause, it would be much better than having it hang in my tack room,” he said.

What Weber didn’t expect, however, was for his ribbon to come back to him. While Weber’s attempts at “paying it forward” were acknowledged by fans everywhere, one fan took it a step further and bought the ribbon and returned it to Weber.

Continue reading Chester Weber Pays It Forward (and Back!) When His WEG Winning Ribbon Is Returned to Him →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, Hunter/Equitation, Maclay, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping, USEF, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

Eric L. Straus Named to National Horse Show Association Board of Directors to Fill Term of the Late Eugene R. Mische

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Lexington, KY – April 19, 2011 – The National Horse Show Association of America Ltd. announced today that Eric L. Straus has been appointed to the Board of Directors to fill out the term held by the late Eugene R. Mische.

Straus brings a wealth of talent and experience to the National Horse Show Board of Directors.

Straus is a recognized USEF judge, steward and FEI show jumping steward. Recently, at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Straus served as the FEI Honorary Chief Steward General for Reining and previously officiated at the World Equestrian Games in 2002 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, and again in 2006 in Aachen Germany. He was Chief Judge for Modern Pentathlon at the 1996 Olympic Games and the 1987 Pan American Games.

Straus is a Trustee and Executive Committee member of the American Horse Council in Washington, D.C., and is Secretary and Executive Committee member of the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation. He also served as Executive Director of the United States Equestrian Federation in 1996-1997.

Continue reading Eric L. Straus Named to National Horse Show Association Board of Directors to Fill Term of the Late Eugene R. Mische →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Eventing/H.T., Events, Kentucky Three-Day, Media/Radio/TV Sources

Eventing Radio Episode 133 by Bit of Britain – The Fork Report and Four Star Previews

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The Fork Horse Trials was the final run for the four star combinations heading to Badminton and Rolex and Chris had a chance to catch up with Rebecca Howard, Buck Davidson, Karen O’Connor, Phllip Dutton, Sinead Halpin, and Susan Beebee about their preparation. Bobby Costello takes a close look from the co-host chair; take a listen right here…

Eventing Radio Episode 133 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 – Final Preview

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Marcus Ehning (GER) celebrates being crowned Rolex FEI World Cup 2010 champion in Geneva (SUI) with joint runners up Pius Schwizer of Switzerland (left) and Ludger Beerbaum of Germany (right). Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI

CAN MARCUS OR MEREDITH MAKE IT A RECORD FOURTH TITLE? by Louise Parkes

Lausanne (SUI), 15 April 2011 – With less than two weeks to go to the Rolex FEI World Cup 2010/2011 Jumping Final in Leipzig (GER), excitement is at fever pitch and speculation is rife about whether defending champion Marcus Ehning or his German compatriot Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, can secure a historic fourth victory.

Just four riders have been three-time winners throughout the 32 seasons of this most prestigious indoor tournament, which brings together the leading competitors from 14 leagues staged all around the globe.

Two of those won’t make it to this year’s 33rd annual grand finale as Austria’s Hugo Simon, the first man to hold the coveted trophy aloft back in 1979 and winner again in 1996 and 1997, didn’t make the cut and Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa, who proved unbeatable between 1998 and 2000, has already said he won’t be making the trip to Leipzig.

That leaves only Ehning and Michaels-Beerbaum, members of Germany’s gold medal winning team at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and multiple champions in their own right, in contention for a record-breaking fourth success.

Continue reading Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 – Final Preview →