Category Archives: Winter Equestrian Festival

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

McGuigan and Capall Zidane, Rodriguez and Aberdeen, Leone and Wayfarer Win Adequan Young Jumper Finals

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Ronan McGuigan and Capall Zidane. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 30, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival hosted the Adequan Young Jumper Finals today in the International Arena for three age groups. The $20,000 Adequan 8-Year-Old Young Jumper Final victory went to Ronan McGuigan (IRL) and Capall Zidane. Andres Rodriguez (VEN) and Aberdeen took the top spot in the $20,000 Adequan 7-Year-Old Young Jumper Final. Riding Lionshare Farm’s Wayfarer, Peter Leone (USA) won the $15,000 Adequan 6-Year-Old Young Jumper Final. In the Rost Arena, Arriana Boardman of New York City won the Horseware Ireland Adult Amateur 3’3″ Hunter championship with Red Carpet.

Sponsored by FTI Consulting, Inc., the final week of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will feature the highlight grand prix of the season, the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5*, on Saturday, March 31. The USHJA International Hunter Derby will host the top 25 on the grass field at The Stadium on Sunday, April 1.

Continue reading McGuigan and Capall Zidane, Rodriguez and Aberdeen, Leone and Wayfarer Win Adequan Young Jumper Finals →

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

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum Rules $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 12

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Johannes Ehning and Cayenne 162 Win $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic; Darrin Dlin and Janou Top $10,000 Adequan 5-Year-Old Young Jumper Final; Hayley Barnhill and Surf’s Up Lead Performance Working Hunter 3’3″ Division

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Checkmate 4. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 29, 2012 – Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum rode to an exciting one-two finish on Thursday afternoon in the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Michaels-Beerbaum topped the class aboard Cantano and finished second riding Checkmate 4, both owned by Octavia Farms LLC. Other wins for the day went to Johannes Ehning and Cayenne 162 in the $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic and Darrin Dlin and Janou in the $10,000 Adequan 5-Year-Old Young Jumper Final. In the hunters, Hayley Barnhill and Surfs Up were presented championship honors in the Performance Working Hunter 3’3″ division.

Sponsored by FTI Consulting, Inc., the final week of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will feature the highlight grand prix of the season, the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5*, on Saturday, March 31. The USHJA International Hunter Derby will host the top 25 on the grass field at The Stadium on Sunday, April 1.

Continue reading Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum Rules $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping

Pessoa and HH Palouchin Dominate in $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic

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Rodrigo Pessoa and HH Palouchin. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 28, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival began the 12th and final week of competition today with the $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic. Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and HH Palouchin, owned by Double H Farm, are familiar faces in the winner’s circle and were able to speed to victory in today’s class. Richard Spooner (USA) and Molly Ohrstrom’s Billy Bianca were second, while Darragh Kerins (IRL) and Hot Wheels finished third.

Sponsored by FTI Consulting, Inc., the final week of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will feature the highlight grand prix of the season, the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5*, on Saturday, March 31. The USHJA International Hunter Derby will host the top 25 on the grass field at The Stadium on Sunday, April 1.

Continue reading Pessoa and HH Palouchin Dominate in $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic →

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

Charlotte Jacobs Finishes WEF Circuit with High Junior Jumper Championship

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Charlotte Jacobs and Cyrina Z winning the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic. Photo By: SportFot

East Aurora, NY and Wellington, FL – March 28, 2012 – The winter show season has come to a close for young rider Charlotte Jacobs of North Star Ventures, but during her last week of competition she captured top honors in the jumper and equitation rings. Over the past 11 weeks, Jacobs competed at the Winter Equestrian Festival aboard her talented string of mounts under the tutelage of Missy Clark and John Brennan of North Run. During Week 11, Jacobs won the High Junior Jumper championship aboard her newest horse, Cyrina Z.

During Saturday’s speed class, Jacobs piloted Cyrina Z to a fault free effort that claimed the second place honors. On Sunday, the pair stepped it up for the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic. With a beautiful, clear first round they advanced to the jump-off with three other riders. They lowered the height of just one fence and their four-fault score led the way to earn the blue ribbon victory. Jacobs and Cyrina Z’s excellent performance throughout the division was eventually honored with the High Junior Jumper Championship.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, JRPR

Erynn Ballard Wins Hunter Championship during Week Eight of WEF

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Erynn Ballard and Timber Ridge were in the winner’s circle during the eighth week of the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival after being victorious in the Sanctuary hunter divisions. (Photo courtesy of Sportfot.com)

Wellington, FL (March 27, 2012) – Erynn Ballard, a Canadian rider and trainer, cruised to victory in the Regular Conformation Hunters aboard Timber Ridge during the eighth week of the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival, capturing the championship in the division. The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, a world-class rehab and conditioning facility located in Ocala, Florida, sponsors the Regular Conformation Hunters as well as the First Year Green, Second Year Green and Green Conformation classes.

Ballard is one of Canada’s most talented equestrian show jumpers and trainers. She has become one of the most recognized names in the industry due to her consistent wins in the show ring as well as her exceptional training methods. Ballard trains out of her Looking Back Farm in Ontario, Canada.

Other Sanctuary sponsored champions during week eight of the Winter Equestrian Festival included: Peter Pletcher who won the First Year Green Championship on Westbrooke; Shawn Casady aboard Paul Stuart, winners of the Green Conformation Hunters: and Christa Endicott who captured the Second Year Green Championship on Come Monday.

Continue reading Erynn Ballard Wins Hunter Championship during Week Eight of WEF →

Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Scott Brash and Intertoy Z Win $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic

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Lauren Henry and Esteban La Paz Receive Top Tricolor in Coldwell Banker Children’s Hunter 15-17

Scott Brash and Intertoy Z. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 25, 2012 – Week eleven of the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday with a victory for Great Britain’s Scott Brash and Intertoy Z in the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. The pair won over Ben Maher (GBR) and Quiet Easy 4 and Cian O’Connor (IRL) and KEC Alligator Alley in second and third.

Today’s course in the International Arena was set by Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England. The 1.50m class brought 40 entries to the ring in the first round, but none were able to clear the course without fault. Thirteen entries finished the round with four fault scores, and a jump-off was held to break the tie.

In the 13-horse jump-off, only four jumped clear, and their times were the deciding factor. Ben Maher and Mrs. Phillips’ Quiet Easy 4 were the first to clear the course and stopped the clock in 40.854 seconds, which finished second.

Continue reading Scott Brash and Intertoy Z Win $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

Engle and Kessler Tie for the 2012 USEF National Show Jumping Championship

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Reed Kessler and Cylana (Photos: SportFot)

Wellington, FL – Both youth and experience prevailed at the 2012 USEF National Show Jumping Championship at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and with three horse/rider combinations tied at the end of the third round, the race for the overall title was wide open. It was standing room only for the second-to-last Saturday night of the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, and Alan Wade’s courses continued to prove influential and challenging in the fourth and final round.

The battle between youth and experience was between Margie Engle, one of the winningest veterans on the Grand Prix circuit, and 17-year-old Reed Kessler, who is only eligible to jump in the senior ranks for the first time in 2012. In the end Engle and Kessler were tied at the end of four rounds and decided between themselves not to jump off to determine a single winner. The result meant that Kessler won her first title and Engle was crowned National Champion for the third time.

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

Victoria Colvin Wins 5th Annual George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championships

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Michelle Navarro-Grau and Tibetano Capture Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge, Hillary Jean and D’Amour Win Low Adult 2’6″ Hunters

Victoria Colvin and VIP Z. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 23, 2012 – The 5th Annual George Morris Excellence in Equitation Championships were held on Friday evening in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. A feature event for the junior riders at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, the victory gallop was led by 14-year-old Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL.

Tonight’s class was held in three rounds with thirty-four riders competing in round one, the top 13 coming back for round two, and the top four returning for the third and final round. The course walk and schooling were the sole responsibility of the riders. Competitors were allowed no contact with their trainers during the class and were responsible for time management, warm up, and schooling of their own horses with the assistance of one groom.

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

Engle, Fellers, and Kessler Share the Lead after Three Rounds in USEF Selection Trials

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Skelton Continues Winning Streak in $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 11 with Big Star, Farmer and Taken Win High Performance Working Hunters

Reed Kessler and Cylana. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 22, 2012 – Margie Engle and Indigo, Rich Fellers and Flexible, and Reed Kessler and Cylana are all tied at the top of the standings after round #3 of the USEF Selection Trials, which are being held to determine the riders that will represent the United States Show Jumping Team in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Riders showed in round #1 on Wednesday afternoon and round #2 earlier in the day on Thursday. The scores from all three rounds will carry over to Saturday evening when competitors will compete in a fourth and final round. This event also serves as the USEF National Show Jumping Championships, a return to the event that was last held in 2008.

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Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, JRPR

Trainer Jeff Gogul Rides to Championship on Rosebud in Hunter Class Sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center

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Jeff Gogul and Rosebud were in the winner’s circle during the seventh week of the 2012 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival after being victorious in the Sanctuary hunter divisions. (Photo courtesy of Sportfot.com)

Wellington, FL (March 21, 2012) — Hunter trainer Jeff Gogul, who owns Flagship, LTD Farm in Ohio, rode Rosebud to the Championship in the First Year Green Working Hunter division during the seventh week of the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival. The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, a world-class rehab and conditioning facility located in Ocala, Florida, sponsors the class as well as the Second Year Green, Green Conformation and Regular Conformation classes.

Gogul has more than 20 years of training experience to his name, having consistently trained horses and students to local, region and national championships in the hunter, jumper and equitation rings. A USEF “r” Judge, Gogul is well known for his success in Wellington. He has been the trainer and rider of the Littlewood Circuit Champion Pre-Green Hunter, the co-trainer of the WEF Circuit Champion Modified Children’s Jumper and the trainer for multiple years of the WEF Circuit Champion 3’3” Adult Amateur. Gogul’s success in the Big Eq ranks are also proven, as his students have ridden away with the ASPCA Maclay National Championship, the Hunter Seat Medal National Championship and the National Children’s Medal Championship.

Continue reading Trainer Jeff Gogul Rides to Championship on Rosebud in Hunter Class Sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center →