Category Archives: Equinium Sports Mktg.

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Equinium Sports Mktg.

Team Bronze for Hamilcar Interagro and Malin Morén at 2022 South American Games

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Malin Morén and Hamilcar Interagro (Photo by Cora Causemann)

Asunción, Paraguay (October 21, 2022) – Hamilcar Interagro and Uruguay’s Malin Morén delivered exceptional tests at the Prix St. Georges and intermediaire I level during the 2022 South American Games, held October 1-15 in Asunción, Paraguay, to help earn Team Bronze. Along with teammates Agustina Bravo, Guillermina Birenbaum, and Carolin Mallmann, Morén and Hamilcar Interagro (Bungo Interagro x Tiffany Interagro) posted a score of 126.589 to take Bronze. As a precursor to the 2023 Pan American Games set to be held next fall in Santiago, Chile, these Games once again prove the mettle of the Interagro Lusitano on the world’s stage.

Bred in Itapira, São Paulo, Brazil on the tropical breeding and training center of Interagro Lusitanos, Hamilcar Interagro was sold by Interagro as a yearling in 2012. His lineage includes Ofensor (MV), arguably the most influential and iconic modern Lusitano stallion, Novilheiro (MV), and Yacht (SA). Hamilcar sire, Bungo Interagro, competed through the international FEI level in dressage, and boasted spectacular movement and conformation. Hamilcar Interagro clearly inherited his sire’s talent for dressage, and with Morén in the irons the pair danced their way through the Prix St. Georges, Intermediaire I, and Intermediaire I Freestyle in Paraguay. Their freestyle featured upbeat music by Ed Sheeran and earned scores as high as 72% from individual judges on the panel.

“Hamilcar Interagro is the most wonderful horse to ride,” said Morén. “His gaits are fantastic, especially his extended trot and collected work. It’s been very easy for him to learn new things and to quickly advance to higher levels in dressage. He is the perfect companion on the show grounds. I think he knows how beautiful he is and loves getting applause from the audience. In Odesur 2022, he proved that he is ready for the bigger competitions. He is a very special horse with a big heart and a mind made to compete!”

For more information on Interagro Lusitanos, Interagro’s horses for sale, or the Lusitano bloodlines, visit Interagro’s website at www.lusitano-interagro.com.

Media contact:
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

Competitions, Equinium Sports Mktg., Show Jumping, Tryon

Podium Finish for Gabriela Reutter and Maharees Rock in Tyron Summer 5 FEI CSI2*

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Gabriela Reutter and Maharees Rock (Photo by Nicole Schultz)

Mill Spring, NC (July 21, 2022) – Gabriela Reutter of Lumière Horses found herself on the podium this week at Tryon International Equestrian Center. She and her Grand Prix mount, Maharees Rock (OBOS Quality x Ballysimon), put in their second top 3 FEI CSI finish of the summer during Tryon Summer 5’s $75,000 Grand Prix CSI2-star out of 50 entries. The pair has been proving their mettle at the top of the sport, once again delivering a top finish after doing the same in Traverse City’s CSI3-star in June. The 2010 Irish Sport Horse mare also known as Rocky has been with Reutter for three years, making her FEI debut and subsequent top placings under Reutter’s guidance.

Reutter’s success at Tryon also marks her first podium finish in a nighttime Grand Prix, cheered on by a stadium full of spectators. Their double clear effort and jump off time of 40.21 secured their spot on the podium for Chile, finishing third behind USA’s Caitlyn Connors (37.86) and Colombia’s Roberto Teran Tafur (38.76). Reutter and Rocky also jumped to 4th out of 44 entries in the $6,000 1.40m earlier in the week.

“It was incredibly special to finish 3rd in a CSI2-star class, and to stand on the podium under the stadium lights,” said Reutter. “The evening classes have an amazing atmosphere, and I was so pleased with Rocky’s performance. She has amazing athleticism and scope, and when we are working together and on our game, she really delivers for me.”

Reutter also campaigned three top jumper prospects during Tryon Summer 5. Lumière Horses’ Here I Am Z, who was imported by Reutter from South America in 2020 placed 2nd and 3rd in the Open 1.30m Jumpers. Known as Hero around the barn, this sporty bay gelding has been placing consistently in the 1.30m divisions with Reutter and would make an exceptional Junior mount. Reutter also jumped the gray mare Joselind L.A.T., a.k.a. Jojo, to a 3rd, 5th, and 13th finish in the 1.15m & 1.20m divisions, and took Billy Lincoln, a new import, to a double clear finish in the $2,000 1.30m Open Jumper to finish 10th in their first show together.

Jojo and Hero are offered for sale and available for trial this week at Tryon International Equestrian Center.

Reutter’s passion for equestrian sport began at a young age, and has since taken her to the upper echelons of show jumping. Combining talent, horsemanship, and dedication to her dreams, she rides with the aspiration of representing Chile at the pinnacle of show jumping sport. Born in Santiago, Chile, Gaby began riding at only four years old. At 17, she moved to the United States to pursue a professional show jumping career. Since 2014, she has ridden under the guidance of Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist Chris Kappler, and completed her undergraduate degree in Economics and Business Studies at NYU.

To date, Gaby is currently the #1 female Chilean show jumper, and has multiple top finishes in international FEI classes, including her Nations Cup accomplishments, European tour, the U25 Grand Prix divisions, and victory in an FEI 4-star event. She currently campaigns her anchor show jumper, Maharees Rock (a.k.a. Rocky), and a string of sales horses. Her international equestrian CV also includes Spruce Meadows, The Hampton Classic, and several junior/young rider South American Games. She and Rocky were in the top 3 in the $30,000 Pilates Rock Grand Prix during WEF 1, and in 2018, Reutter received her certificate of capability for the Pan American Games following a top 3 finish in the FEI 3-star 1.50m Captive One Classic.

For more information on Reutter, her horses, and Lumière, visit www.LumiereHorses.com.

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

Art/Photography, Equinium Sports Mktg.

Olympian Dani Waldman Strikes a Pose for Ifat Zohar Photography

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Waldman and her Olympic partner Queensland in an image that was used in multiple magazine covers.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands (October 26, 2021) – Ifat Zohar’s photography thrives at the intersection of fantasy, reminiscence, and passion; this summer that intersection was stunningly bisected by an Olympic equestrian and her journey to the upper echelons of the sport. Dani Waldman, formerly Goldstein, has been a longtime friend of Zohar; the pair met via their connections with the Israeli Equestrian Federation, and the merging of art, sport, and brilliance has yielded some breathtaking imagery. From Renaissance style equine portraits to scenes straight from a fantasy novel, Zohar and Waldman’s creative minds have combined to create some of the most striking portraits of an Olympian athlete.

Waldman has long been known on the equestrian and mainstream media circuits for both her skill in the saddle and her own trademark feathered mane. She and the 12-year-old gelding Queensland made their Olympic debut this summer in Tokyo, where she rode for Israel. Her sessions with Zohar were inspired by a parallel appreciation for animals (especially horses), fashion, and a flair for the scintillating. The resulting work has been dazzling, right down to her Olympic portraits for Team Israel.

“Ifat has the ability to capture a moment in time and turn an ordinary photograph into art,” said Waldman. “Her work is truly reminiscent of the great masters of painting! Branded imagery like Ifat’s is key to anyone’s public image — recognizability and consistency helps people identify you and creates a sense of unity for an athlete or artist. Ifat’s very unique and recognizable style sets her apart from typical photographers; she is able to capture that unique bond between animal and human by bringing out the emotions rather than just a pretty image.”

Of her many shoots with Zohar, Waldman struggles to pick a favorite image or moment: “There are so many to choose from, but I love the ‘La vie en Rose’ image perhaps the most.” Zohar’s work with Waldman has also been used in multiple publications across the United States and Europe, as well as in photography competitions. One image of Waldman with a white peacock was chosen to represent The Netherlands in a 2022 World Challenge Photography Competition by the Dutch national photographers association (DuPho), a major honor.

Known for her stunning work with both domestic and fantastic fauna, Zohar combines themes of old-world indulgence, elegant theatrics, and a closeness to nature to create her visual masterpieces. An award-winning photographer originally from Israel, Zohar’s work has been featured in numerous publications, including those for the biggest equestrian events of 2021, and stands out as a new breed of modern portraitist.

Zohar’s portrait studio work is inspired by the old masters’ love for storytelling, and their use of light and dark to add depth and dimension to their subjects. Ifat’s signature portraiture technique breathes art into her images of people and the animals they love. “I was looking for a better way to tell my clients’ stories with their pets, a more artistic way to timelessly capture their relationships,” said Zohar. “During my shoot, I am not just creating beautiful portraits but also capturing the unique connection, personality, character, and emotions of each animal and their humans.”

Originally from Israel, Zohar is now based full time in The Netherlands. Her creative portraits include Fine Art, human & animal themes, commissioned work, and character portraiture. The uniqueness of her work has earned her numerous accolades and exhibitions: 2 nominations in the international Fine Art Photography Awards (2021), Finalist in the 2020 “One Eye Photography Awards”, winner of the 2019 Benelux Photo Master award competition, and the 2019 Bronze Rise International Photography Award, to name a few.

Visit www.IZIPhotoArt.com for examples of her work, or contact ifatphoto@gmail.com, WhatsApp: +31.(0)6.13.33.83.31 for more information.

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

Art/Photography, Equinium Sports Mktg., Products/Services

Breathing Art into Pet Portraiture: Ifat Zohar Photography

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Amsterdam, The Netherlands (August 4, 2021) – Somewhere at the intersection of fantasy, reminiscence, and passion lives Ifat Zohar’s portraiture. Known for her stunning work with both domestic and fantastic fauna, Zohar combines themes of old-world indulgence, elegant theatrics, and a closeness to nature to create her visual masterpieces. An award-winning photographer originally from Israel, Zohar’s work has been featured in numerous publications, including those for the biggest equestrian events of 2021, and stands out as a new breed of modern portraitist.

Zohar’s portrait studio work is inspired by the old masters’ love for storytelling, and their use of light and dark to add depth and dimension to their subjects. Ifat’s signature portraiture technique breathes art into her images of people and the animals they love.

“I was looking for a better way to tell my clients’ stories with their pets, a more artistic way to timelessly capture their relationships,” said Zohar. “During my shoot, I am not just creating beautiful portraits but also capturing the unique connection, personality, character, and emotions of each animal and their humans.”

Zohar is now based full time in The Netherlands. Her creative portraits include Fine Art, human & animal themes, commissioned work, and character portraiture. The uniqueness of her work has earned her numerous accolades and exhibitions: 2 nominations in the international Fine Art Photography Awards (2021), Finalist in the 2020 “One Eye Photography Awards”, winner of the 2019 Benelux Photo Master award competition, and the 2019 Bronze Rise International Photography Award, to name a few.

Visit www.IZIPhotoArt.com for examples of her work, or contact ifatphoto@gmail.com, WhatsApp: +31.(0)6.13.33.83.31 for more information.

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

Equinium Sports Mktg., Show Jumping

Gabriela Reutter Scores Back-to-Back FEI 2* Victories at WEF 11

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Reutter and Atticus Diamante (Photo courtesy of Sportfot)

Wellington, Florida (March 31, 2021) – Chile’s Gabriela Reutter and Lumiere Horses’ Atticus Diamant dominated in two shining rounds that bested a field of top competitors in one of the most highly anticipated weeks of the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival. Reutter and the 2009 Selle Français gelding (Diamant De Semilly x Vas Y Donc Longane) have been streamlining their partnership with exceptional results under the guidance of double Olympic Medalist Chris Kappler. The pair’s quick double clear efforts were belied by an obvious ease and grace over the courses and their subsequent jump-offs. Lumiere Horses, Reutter’s barn & brand, specializes in developing horses of all levels for international competition and recently imported three horses to the US this season, and one of the recent imports, Here I Am Z, jumped to 4 out of 5 blue ribbons in his first week of schooling shows in the US.

Wednesday began Reutter’s consecutive wins with a first round clear effort in the $6,000 1.45m Cabana Coast 2-star, one of only 15 to go to the jump-off out of a field of 49. Their winning time of 68.59 seconds was nearly 4 seconds faster than the second place effort. Atticus Diamant, a.k.a. Monty, has been in Reutter’s string for more than 3 years, and is the horse that first took her to the 2-star level. Thursday brought another win for Reutter in the $6,000 CabanaCoast 1.40m Jumpers CSI2*, besting a 10-horse-and-rider line-up to produce the fastest of five double-clear rounds. She and Monty cleared the jump-off timers in 26.75 seconds.

“We put in a lot of prep, especially for this Stadium arena at Global, and it was great to win twice,” said Reutter. “I like the stadium because it keeps big horses like him contained. He jumps rounder even though we’re going fast, so I wanted to make sure that he was in front of my leg. He had 2 weeks off and was very fresh, and was really jumping amazing. The other day he didn’t get to ride in his awards presentation; I had my other horse sub in, so I think he was a little jealous and wanted his chance too!”

She continued, “It’s awesome to win twice! I really wanted to win again. He’s my heart horse, and I feel super connected with him. It’s almost like we’re thinking the same thing at the same time, and we are good at compensating for one another. I really wanted this for both of us, mostly because he deserves it. We haven’t had two wins in one week like this, so it’s a great feeling.”

Reutter’s passion for equestrian sport began at a young age, and has since taken her to the upper echelons of show jumping. Combining talent, horsemanship, and dedication to her dreams, she rides with the aspiration of representing Chile at the pinnacle of show jumping sport. Born in Santiago, Chile, Gaby began riding at only four years old. At 17, she moved to the United States to pursue a professional show jumping career. Since 2014, she has ridden under the guidance of Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist Chris Kappler, and completed her undergraduate degree in Economics and Business Studies at NYU.

To date, Gaby has multiple top finishes in international FEI classes, from the U25 Grand Prix divisions to victory in an FEI 4-star event. She currently campaigns her two show jumpers, Atticus Diamant (a.k.a. Monty) and Maharees Rock (a.k.a. Rocky), at the FEI level. Both had excellent results during WEF 2020. Her international equestrian CV also includes Spruce Meadows, The Hampton Classic, and several junior/young rider South American Games. She and Rocky were in the top 3 in the $30,000 Pilates Rock Grand Prix during WEF 1, and in 2018, Reutter received her certificate of capability for the Pan American Games following a top 3 finish in the FEI 3-star 1.50m Captive One Classic.

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

Dressage, Equinium Sports Mktg., Hunter/Equitation

Fuqua Earns USDF Silver Medal Same Week as a Top Finish in WEF 6’s Hunter Spectacular

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Fuqua and Grand Remo in the 2021 WCHR Peter Weatherhill Hunter Spectacular (Photo by Elegant Equus Photography)

Atlanta, GA (March 6, 2021) – Kat Fuqua attained in just a week what many top professionals rarely achieve: victory at the international level in two very distinct disciplines. Thirteen-year-old Fuqua was one of the top 3 Juniors jumping with the pros in the $50,0000 WCHR Peter Weatherhill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular during week 6 of the Winter Equestrian Festival with her multiple Horse of the Year Champion Grand Remo, finishing just out of the top 12 under the training of Jimmy Torano, JET Show Stable. She then flew to her hometown of Atlanta for a two week break, but not quite. She and the aptly named KWPN Dream Girl rode an FEI Prix St. Georges test at the Atlanta Olympic Equestrian Park, earning their final required score for their USDF Silver Medal.

Each hunter division during WEF 6, including the ponies, horses, Juniors, and professionals, awards the best in class; the Champion and Reserve Champion of the divisions at 3’6″ and above are invited to compete in Saturday night’s prestigious Hunter Spectacular, an honor for riders of any level. Fuqua qualified as the top World Hunter rider that week for the second year in a row. In 2020 she rode Champion Cornell 22 and Reserve Champion Consent with the top professionals in the spectacular. This year she once again improved upon her previous performances, scoring 85, 83, and 80 with Grand Remo. Finishing 16th out of 32 top world Champions, Fuqua could not rest on her laurels in the hunter arena.

Back at her home Collecting Gaits Farm in Atlanta, Fuqua changed gears and core competencies to school her FEI dressage horse Dream Girl with trainer Jason Canton. The trio, plus Kat’s parents, ventured to the Good Horseman Spring Show at the Centennial Olympic Equestrian Center in Conyers, site of the 1996 Atlanta Games. Having only first debuted officially in dressage in 2020, Fuqua’s training has nevertheless been dressage based from day one. Under Canton’s tutelage, the pair received their Bronze Medal in 2020 and competed at the US Dressage Festival of Champions as their fourth show ever. On February 28th in Atlanta, Fuqua and Dream Girl were the Champion FEI JR/YR, Reserve Champion FEI rider, received their second score required to for their USDF Silver Medal in the FEI Prix St. Georges, and won the class with a 66.324%.

“Kat has that versatility to swap from upper level dressage to international hunters with ease,” said Canton, himself a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist since 1988. “It’s been really interesting to teach her to hone those aids for a completely different discipline.”

“I’m really proud and happy with my results in the Spectacular,” said Fuqua. “It’s been my goal to compete in that class since 2017, and I’m so proud of Remo and how we have progressed. Dream Girl really is a dream, it’s been really fun and good for my riding to try new things and learn different techniques. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to ride and show as much as I do, and to have the support from my family and trainers.”

With 2020 drawing at a close, Fuqua also racked up numerous USEF Horse of the Year (HOY) awards in January, and kicked off a series of wins with her new equitation horse. Consent was 2020 USEF Horse of the Year Grand Champion Junior Hunter 15 & Under and Horse of the Year Champion Small Junior Hunter. Grand Remo won both 2020 USEF Horse of the Year Champion Large Junior Hunter and Horse of the Year Reserve Champion Junior Hunter. At the 2020 National Horse Show, Kat also cleaned up in the hunters, taking National Grand Junior Champion, Large Junior Champion 15 & Under, and Small Junior Champion 15 & Under.

Kat Fuqua’s passion for horses is reflected not only in her highly decorated, multi-discipline results, but also in the joy and dedication she shows each time she swings into the saddle. Based out of Atlanta, Georgia and under the guidance of trainer Jimmy Torano for hunter/jumpers and Jason Canton for dressage, every aspect of Fuqua’s riding, training, and show career reflects a unique ardor for equines and horse sport. She balances her equestrian lifestyle with attendance as a full-time 7th grade student at Holy Innocence Episcopal School and takes pride in developing alongside her horses. In addition to riding, Kat enjoys spending time with her school friends and her favorite subject is French.

For more information on Kat Fuqua (pronounced foo-quay), visit her website at www.KatFuqua.com.

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

Equinium Sports Mktg., Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Sydney Shulman Gallops Ardente Printaniere to Victory in $37k Dever Golf Cars 1.45m Speed CSI4*

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Sydney Shulman and Ardente Printaniere ©Anne Gittins Photography.

Wellington, FL – November 28, 2020 – The ESP Holiday & Horses CSI4* continued for its penultimate day of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Saturday, November 28, with the $37,000 Dever Golf Cars 1.45m Speed CSI4*. Jumping to two top-five placings in the class, Sydney Shulman (ISR) finished the day on a high note with a victory on Jill Shulman’s Ardente Printaniere and a fifth-place result aboard the same owner’s Villamoura.

“She’s older; she’s 15. I bought her from Maarten Huygens and McLain Ward a little over five years ago,” commented Shulman of the winning 2006 Belgian Sporthorse mare by Joyeux Ardent x Ramiro. “She’s wonderful. She’s a bit unconventional but she’s super fast, super consistent, and you can really count on her. She has had some injuries over the years, so she has been on and off a bit. I really want to thank my grooms, Lily Stanbridge and Merri West. They take amazing care of her and she’s quite difficult because she’s unconventional to manage, but they’ve done an amazing job bringing her back from the injuries. They really deserve a lot of the credit.”

For the first and only round of riding in the $37,000 Dever Golf Cars 1.45m Speed CSI4*, course designer Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) challenged the 65 entries with a track of 15 efforts. Sixth in the order, Shulman and Villamoura set the pace as the pathfinders with the first clear trip in 63.29 seconds. Though the leaders were overtaken for a short time by Kent Farrington (USA) and Austria 2, the winners of Wednesday’s $37,000 Holiday & Horses 1.45m Opener CSI4*, Shulman made sure to put herself at the top of the leaderboard once again with her second ride aboard Ardente Printaniere. The duo stopped the clock without any faults in a time of 61.62 seconds as the 39th in the order, leaving 26 partnerships left to chase them down.

“The first horse I rode was Villamoura, who is a speed demon,” reflected Shulman on her two rides. “I got jumped loose in the tack yesterday, so today I went for a little more conservative round on her. The winning horse, we call her Prima, only has one way of going and is a bit unconventional, so you kind of just leave her alone and let her do her thing. Most of the time it works out like today. I didn’t think Kent was beatable, so I really had nothing to lose and just tried to do the least amount of strides. She’s a massive mare and she covers the ground, so I was just hoping that she would stay careful enough, which she did.”

Though the remainder of the pack aimed to eclipse the Israeli partnership, none were able to pass their leading time, solidifying Shulman and Ardente Printaniere as the winners. Shulman’s mount has already seen respectable success this year as the winner of the $10,000 Hermes U25 Welcome CSI3* during Week Six of the 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival and the second-place finisher in the $72,900 Staller Grand Prix CSI2* this past summer in Traverse City, MI. In Saturday’s speed class, Ellen Whitaker (GBR) jumped into second place riding her own Jack Van’t Kattenheye in a clear time of 62.19 seconds, and Farrington and Austria 2 held on for the third spot.

“I’m grateful that we can continue to do what we love to do,” noted Shulman of competing under COVID protocols. “I’m really thankful to the show for allowing it to be safe and feel comfortable to do our job and to have the shows. I think we actually ended up showing more than we would have with FEI shows prior to COVID, so I really feel lucky that we can be outside and be with the horses every day and still compete. It’s a little bit different, but I think everyone is being respectful so we can continue to show.”

Run in the DeNemethy Ring, the $2,550 1.35m Jumper Speed Stake, presented by Cabana Coast, ran concurrently with the CSI4* class in the International Arena in the morning. Run over one round, the contest gave competitors just one chance to try to cross the timer quickly without any faults, and Annie Bolling of Fair Hope, AL made use of her opportunity with the fastest ride on her own Mykonos SCF. As the second-to-last pair to ride, they were up against a leading clear time of 66.16 seconds, but improved upon that time with ease to break the beam fault-free in 64.54 seconds to capture victory. Maggie Jayne of Elgin, IL and Alex Jayne’s Arizona ODF claimed second place with their time of 66.16 seconds, and Dana Gattuso of Stockton, NJ rode her own Halocia to third position in a clear time of 74.09 seconds.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Equinium Sports Mktg., Show Jumping, Tryon

Lumiere Horses’ Grand Prix Talent Alight during Tryon Fall 3, 4, 5

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Reutter and Maharees Rock.

Mill Spring, NC (November 4, 2020) – Gabriela Reutter has been carefully nurturing both her horses’ skills as well as her own at the upper echelons of the sport. In three weeks of showing weeks at Tryon International Equestrian Center, Reutter faced a set of challenges, including a particularly difficult 3-star Grand Prix that rode like a 5-star during the Fall 5 and heavy competition from over 100 horses. Reutter and her mounts stepped up to the proverbial plate to finish their time in Mill Spring on high notes. Both her FEI horses, Atticus Diamant and Maharees Rock, are poised to jump into 2021 at the top of their game.

Maharees Rock (aka Rocky), made a particularly impressive showing at Tryon. The relatively green Irish Sport Horse mare put in a single rail round in the pair’s first ever FEI Ranking class during Fall 4, and had a strong showing in a seriously challenging National Grand Prix during Fall 5. The particularly advanced qualifier left many horses and riders struggling to find their stride, even for seasoned competitors, but Rocky impressed Reutter with her poise and maturity. Rocky also put in a 4 fault round for 13th in Fall 3’s 1.40m Power & Speed, as well as two rails in the 1.45m Welcome.

Atticus Diamant (aka Monty), an 11-year-old Selle Français gelding by the famous show jumping stallion Diamant de Semilly, kicked off the Fall Series 3 FEI two-star with one down in the 1.45m Welcome, followed by an 8th place finish in the Fall Series 4 FEI 3-star 1.40m Power & Speed. During Fall 5, he was 4th in the FEI 1.40m Power & Speed.

Both horses jumped Fall 5’s challenging qualifier. The lack of shows during the middle of the year created a high demand for the Fall 5 three-star Grand Prix, and as such the technicality of the course was reflected in the qualifier. Even Olympian McLain Ward commented on the resulting level of competition as less than ideal: “It’s a tough situation. It’s a three-star event, but because of the state of the world and our sport right now, you have over 100 [competing] today,” he analyzed. “To me, that was a 5-star 1.55m track… you saw a lot of horses today who were surprised by it.”

Reutter agreed, stating that while she was impressed with how both horses handled the unexpected complexity, it was definitely a challenge. “This was an especially careful, difficult track. Monty went before Rocky and I wasn’t as aware of how much of a challenge the course would be. I was a bit more prepared after riding the track the first time, and was better able to guide Rocky. Rocky really stepped up and had an amazing go; she was super mature and I’m so impressed with how she handled the track.”

Reutter and her Lumiere mounts will head to Wellington in November, and she has her sights set on the ESP Holiday Series, including a National and 4-star week.

Reutter’s passion for equestrian sport began at a young age, and has since taken her to the upper echelons of show jumping. Combining talent, horsemanship, and dedication to her dreams, she rides with the aspiration of representing Chile at the pinnacle of show jumping sport. Born in Santiago, Chile, Gaby began riding at only four years old. At 17, she moved to the United States to pursue a professional show jumping career. Since 2014, she has ridden under the guidance of Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist Chris Kappler, and is completing her undergraduate degree in Economics and Business Studies at NYU.

To date, Gaby has multiple top finishes in international FEI classes, from the U25 Grand Prix divisions to victory in an FEI 4-star event. She currently campaigns her two show jumpers, Atticus Diamant (aka Monty) and Maharees Rock (aka Rocky), at the FEI level. Both had excellent results during WEF 2020. Her international equestrian CV also includes Spruce Meadows, The Hampton Classic, and several junior/young rider South American Games. In 2018, Reutter received her certificate of capability for the Pan American Games following a top 3 finish in the FEI 3-star 1.50m Captive One Classic.

For more information on Reutter, her horses, and Lumiere, visit www.LumiereHorses.com.

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

Championships, Dressage, Equinium Sports Mktg.

Amy Speck-Kern and Team Deliver Top Finishes at Region 3

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Mynanke A and Amy Speck-Kern (Photo by Gwen Poulin)

Ocala, FL (October 24, 2020) – New faces and old faces at Excel Dressage came together this October at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala. Excel’s founder and Grand Prix rider Amy Speck-Kern and her team qualified 4 horses at levels from Training to Intermediaire I for the Championships, and closed out a rollercoaster 2020 with top finishes. A number of Excel imports also made their mark at Regionals, and the final scores resulted in all of Excel’s horses and riders qualifying for the 2021 Dressage Finals.

Speck-Kern’s newest young superstar is Mynanke A (Hennessy x Ferro), aka Maya, who since her arrival from Holland in July has won each of her tests and finished 3rd out of 18 in her fourth show ever, the 2020 Regional Championships. Speck-Kern piloted Maya to a 74.569% in the Training Level Open, and one the Training Level Test 3 Open class with a 75.345%. Hand-selected by Speck-Kern earlier this year in The Netherlands, Maya has proven herself to be a focused and talented competitor despite being on the brink of turning 4 years old.

Excel’s student and business partner Katie Hoog of Stal Hoog in Loxahatchee, Florida rode the 14-year-old Zhivago (Obelisk x Fruhling) to a 6th place finish in the Intermediaire 1 Freestyle Championship with a 69.038%. A relatively new partnership, Hoog and Zhivago clicked immediately, qualifying for the Regional Championships with a Freestyle set to the music of Portugal. The Man, Justin Bieber, Kygo, and Selena Gomez. Another of Hoog’s horses, Gimmick (Oscar x Olivi), ridden by Wellington-based trainer Caleb Scroggins, danced to Reserve Champion in the First Level Freestyle with a score of 73.901%. Gimmick and Scroggins also finished 7th overall in the Training Level Open Championship with a 70.776%. Hoog’s sister, Sarah Hoog, rode her own US bred Federer (Fidertanz x Rubentein) to12th place in the First Level AA Championship with a 65.417%.

Two Excel alums also joined in the competition at Regionals. Marilyn Mannroe, a horse selected by Speck-Kern for friend Emily Kiefner, finished 8th in the First Level AA Championship with a 66.459% and 3rd in the Training Level AA Championship with a 71.982%. At the Region 2 Championships, an Excel Dressage/Stal Hoog import, Esteban (Rosseau x Naturel), won the AA Prix St. Georges Championship with a 67.353.

For more information on Amy Speck-Kern, Excel Dressage, or its services, visit www.ExcelDressage.com.

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

Equinium Sports Mktg., Publications/Media

Babington, Garson, & Martinez: ARM’s First eQuest Podcast

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Wellington, FL (September 4, 2020) – The end of August marked the beginning of a new collaboration of equestrian minds in the form of the first recording of Athletes Risk Management’s eQuest podcast. Featuring three highly regarded international show jumpers, eQuest debuted from the living room of Olympian Kevin Babington, and discussed topics based on program’s theme, ‘classical horsemanship in modern times.’ With the support of Athletes Risk Management and sponsor Wellington Agricultural Services, eQuest will serve as a source of roundtable discussions and unfiltered conversations about the sport, horsemanship, and how the classical principles of riding can be applied to the modern competitive arena.

The August 31 recording featured Olympians Kevin Babington and Nona Garson as the focus and hosts of the podcast as they discussed the surreal feeling of a perfect ride, whether it’s under the stadium lights at Aachen or in the training arena. Geoff Wight, President of Athletes Risk Management, served as moderator and Antonio Martinez, a Venezuelan Grand Prix rider, gave unique insights on his equestrian upbringing in South America as well as his recent back to back wins in the Welcome and Wellington Agricultural Services Grand Prix just a few weeks ago at ESP. Nona Garson joined the discussion by phone from her New Jersey training and show facility, the Ridge at Riverview.

From left to right: Geoff Wight of ARM, Olympian Kevin Babington, and Antonio Martinez

“The horse is the great equalizer,” said Garson. “Some days you have an amazing ride in the Grand Prix and the next you fall off the same horse; it’s a funny sport like that.” Garson and Babington also agreed that when it all comes together in what they describe as “the best two minutes of your life,” it’s a magical experience, but that years of hard work and sweat are what get you there.

Click here to watch eQuest #1 on YouTube.

Click here to listen to eQuest #1 on Podbean.

Additional episodes of eQuest are in the works and will include guests and guest hosts from around the equestrian community. Follow ARM’s social media to get updates on each new episode’s drop date, and let us know if you have any ideas for quests or sponsors.

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com