Category Archives: Jump Media

Championships, Hunter/Equitation, Jump Media, Show Jumping

WCHR Qualification Guidelines for 2020 Capital Challenge Horse Show Announced

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Cassandra Kahle and Monday Balous, winners of the 2019 $30,000 WCHR Professional Challenge. Photo by Jump Media.

Upper Marlboro, MD – The Capital Challenge Horse Show will welcome the country’s top hunter horses and riders for the year-end finale of the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Program, to be held on September 28 – October 4, 2020, at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Due to the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic, adjustments have been made to the WCHR Program’s qualification requirements at Capital Challenge Horse Show and regional and national standings protocols for 2020 only.

As in the past, WCHR members – including Professionals, Developing Professionals, Amateur Owners, Adult Amateurs, Juniors, Children’s, and Pony riders – will continue to qualify for national and regional awards by earning points at member events held throughout the country. The top nationally and regionally ranked riders in each category will qualify and come together to compete in year-end challenge classes, which are held annually at Capital Challenge.

The changes made to these standings and qualification protocols for 2020 are as follows:

  • A WCHR member’s top two member events will count toward their regional and national standings. (Previously, a rider’s top four member events were counted toward these standings.)
  • A WCHR member may request one region change prior to August 31. Regional points are not retroactive, and no region change requests will be accepted once the final member event has begun in the member’s originally declared region.
  • The top 10 nationally ranked riders in each category, as well as the top 10 regionally ranked riders from each region and in each category, will be invited to compete in their respective WCHR challenge class at the 2020 Capital Challenge Horse Show. (In prior years, only the top six regionally ranked riders in each category qualified to compete at Capital Challenge.)
  • The top four to six riders competing in the Professional, Developing Professional, Amateur Owner, Adult Amateur, Junior, Children’s, and Pony divisions at the Capital Challenge Horse Show that are not already pre-qualified will additionally be accepted into their respective challenge classes.
  • Points earned at all WCHR member events are based on the WCHR increment chart and count toward the national and regional standings. This year, points earned in the WCHR challenge classes at Capital Challenge will be doubled.

The WCHR Program was founded in 1992 as a component of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA), recognizing and celebrating the hunter rider. Full details, specifications, and standings can be found by visiting www.USHJA.org.

Learn more about the Capital Challenge Horse Show by visiting www.capitalchallenge.org.

Emily Randolph
Jump Media
emily@jumpmediallc.com

Hunter/Equitation, Jump Media, Show Jumping

True North Stables Returns Home to Begin Summer Show Season

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Caitlyn Shiels and Cassius competing at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival in Traverse City, MI. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Chicago, Illinois – When shelter-in-place orders were announced surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the True North Stables team made the decision to extend its time in Wellington, FL for the health and safety of its riders and horses. Now, as restrictions are beginning to ease, the True North team, led by trainer Caitlyn Shiels, has returned home to Illinois, and Shiels is eager to get back in the show ring.

“Staying in Florida [after the Winter Equestrian Festival] was not initially our plan, but it ended up working out well, given the circumstances,” explained Shiels. “Our horses were able to relax after a great winter season, and we were able to get to know a few new sales horses. Now, they’re all fresh and ready to get back in the ring, and we’re really excited to be back up north in Illinois!”

True North Stables will kick off its summer show season at the HITS Chicago Showplace Spring Spectacular III, to be held June 17-21, at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, IL.

While there, True North will have several young horses available for trial; more information on the horses currently available can be obtained by emailing Shiels at inquire@truenorthstables.com.

Learn more by visiting www.TrueNorthStables.com.

Emily Randolph
Jump Media
emily@jumpmediallc.com

Equestrian Assistance, Jump Media, Olympic Games

A Message from the USET Foundation

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Gladstone, NJ – As the world navigates through these uncertain times, the USET Foundation continues to focus on its mission and the support of our athletes as they move forward in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Now, more than ever, they need our support and we will continue doing the important work of fundraising to help our U.S. teams achieve their goals and dreams.

Per the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee: “Despite the ever-changing nature of coronavirus, its global impact, and the hypothetical scenarios that have entered the conversation, the USOPC has not been given any information to suggest that the Tokyo 2020 Games will not go ahead as scheduled and as planned. We, like the athletes who are training to compete at their very best in Tokyo, are focused on being prepared to support our Olympic and Paralympic teams in Japan. It remains our great hope that Team USA athletes – having dedicated an incalculable amount of time and effort in hopes of representing the United States in the Olympic and Paralympic Games – will have the opportunity to live out their athletic dreams in Tokyo.”

As our athletes continue to prepare this spring and heading into the summer, their entire support network surrounding them remains engaged. We are resolute in continuing to do our part to support US Equestrian’s high performance sport and hope that you will join the team in “Raising the Bar” for our U.S. athletes.

USET Foundation has taken measures to address the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the team working in Gladstone. Aiming toward our fundraising goals, we remain open and are available by phone and e-mail. We encourage our friends and supporters to stay informed through the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We hope that you will join us in our support of America’s teams, not only in this championship year, but going forward, as we plan for future games and build the pipeline of young athletes moving up in equestrian sport. Our athletes are determined to make their mark on history, and we are committed to supporting them throughout their journeys by providing the necessary resources for their success.

Learn more at www.uset.org.

Contact: Emily Randolph
emily@jumpmediallc.com
www.jumpmediallc.com

Jump Media

World Equestrian Center to Suspend Competition at Ohio Facility

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WILMINGTON, Ohio – The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created an unprecedented situation that is rapidly evolving with an unknown outcome.

Our first priority is the health and safety of our exhibitors, staff, and officials. After careful consideration, World Equestrian Center management has elected to close after competition ends on Sunday, March 15. The facility will remain closed for the next week and we will continue to address the closures week by week. We will proactively issue updates regarding our reopening.

During this time, will continue to pay our officials and our staff.

World Equestrian Center management will monitor the situation and work with federal, state, and local health agencies to assess our options for reopening.

Exhibitors who were slated to attend events at World Equestrian Center in the next two weeks will receive an email from management.

Please email General Manager TJ Campbell at tj.campbell@wec.net with questions.

For more information, please visit www.wec.net.

Contact: Emily Daily
edaily@jumpmediallc.com
www.jumpmediallc.com

Awards, Jump Media, Show Jumping

Beezie Madden Dominates Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Standings During WEF Nine

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Beezie Madden riding Darry Lou. Photo by Jump Media.

Wellington, FL – Beezie Madden won her first Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award of the season on Saturday night, March 7, during week nine, presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate, at the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.

A four-time U.S. Olympic medalist, Madden led the week-nine standings from wire to wire after finishing second in the $137,000 Equinimity WEF CSI5* Challenge Cup Round 9, and placing fourth in the $401,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate CSI5* Grand Prix. Both finishes came aboard Darry Lou, 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Nabab de Reve) owned by Abigail Wexner.

“It’s always great to be recognized for consistency throughout the week, and the prizes are super,” said Madden, who also won a Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award during week three of the 2019 WEF season. “It’s nice to have a unique award to keep things interesting, and I’ve always loved winning it.

“[Darry Lou] had a great week,” continued Madden, 56, of Cazenovia, NY. “This was the first week where I expected him to be fit enough and had enough competitions under his belt to be able to produce some good rounds. I’m really pleased with what he did; he tried really hard tonight and was fabulous all week.”

Throughout WEF, the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award, given in memory of fellow realtor and horseman Dale Lawler, is presented weekly to the high-score female rider based on performances in the weekly WEF Challenge Cup Series and grand prix events. During the 12th and final week of competition, the Martha Jolicoeur Overall Leading Lady Rider Award will be presented to the female rider who accumulates the most points throughout the season. So far this season, Lillie Keenan, Jessica Springsteen, Adrienne Sternlicht, and Kirsten Vanderveen of the United States, as well as Great Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire and Alexandra Thornton, and Canada’s Vanessa Mannix, have won the weekly award. These talented female riders are now joined by Madden in contention for the overall title.

Contact: Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jumpmediallc.com

Awards, Jump Media, Show Jumping

Jessica Springsteen Wins Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award at WEF Week Four

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Jessica Springsteen riding Volage du Val Henry. Photo by Jump Media.

Wellington, FL – Jessica Springsteen of the United States claimed the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award on Saturday, February 1, during week four of the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.

Having placed sixth in the $73,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 4 held Thursday, January 30, on the Derby Field, Springsteen returned to Equestrian Village on Saturday for the $214,000 CSI4* Marshall & Sterling / Great American Insurance Group Grand Prix. Riding Volage du Val Henry, Springsteen once again contested the jump-off, eventually placing third and securing her first Leading Lady title of the 2020 season.

“I’m so happy with her; she jumped amazing,” said Springsteen of Volage du Val Henry, an 11-year-old Selle Français mare (Quidam de Revel x Cassini I) owned by Stone Hill Farm. “She’s just been in such good shape these past couple months. She was great on Thursday, and I thought I was pretty quick. In the grand prix, I wanted to go for it a little bit more. We still weren’t quite fast enough, but she’s such a talented horse. I love riding her.”

In recognition of claiming the title, Springsteen was presented with a bottle of champagne, a bouquet of flowers, and a gift certificate for a shopping spree at Hunt, Ltd. by sponsor Martha W. Jolicoeur, who was joined for the presentation by her fiancé, Dr. Stephen Norton.

“This sport is so unique in that we compete with women and men in the same competitions,” said Springsteen, 28, of Colts Neck, NJ. “I think it’s really special in that way, and it’s always so nice that they give the Leading Lady award every week. I was really excited to win.”

Contact: Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jumpmediallc.com

Awards, Hunter/Equitation, Jump Media, Show Jumping

Martha Jolicoeur Celebrates 10 Years of Honoring Leading Lady Riders at WEF

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Amanda Derbyshire (GBR), pictured aboard Roulette BH, was named the Martha Jolicoeur Overall Leading Lady Rider for 2019. Photo by Jump Media.

Wellington, FL – Martha Jolicoeur, ranked the No. 1 Douglas Elliman realtor in Florida, will present her popular Leading Lady Rider Award for the 10th consecutive year during the 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), running January 8 through March 29, 2020 at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL.

Throughout WEF, the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award, given in memory of fellow realtor and horsewoman Dale Lawler, will be presented each week to the high-point female rider based on performances in the WEF Challenge Cup and grand prix. In addition, when all the points are tabulated at the end of the 12-week circuit, the highest scoring lady rider will be presented with the Martha Jolicoeur Overall Leading Lady Rider Award at the completion of the 2020 WEF.

“The Leading Lady Award was always one that I aimed to win when I was competing because it is a testament to consistent top performances,” said Jolicoeur, an accomplished amateur show jumping rider who represented the United States in international competition. “Wellington is the winter equestrian capital of the world and attracts some of the best riders from around the globe. To experience how horses have brought us all together is something special for me, and I am looking forward to celebrating the 10th year of presenting this award.”

In addition to presenting the Leading Lady Rider award, Jolicoeur is the title sponsor of the Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Division throughout the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival. The division consists of three jumping events, including the $10,000 Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic held each Sunday.

Contact: Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jumpmediallc.com

Dressage, Equestrian Assistance, Jump Media

USET Foundation Announces Leadership Gift for U.S. Equestrian Dressage Development Program

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Photo by Cealy Tetley.

Lexington, Ky. – The U.S. Equestrian High Performance Dressage Development Program will continue to provide strategic guidance and resources to dressage athletes, thanks to the generous support of Fritz and Claudine Kundrun through the U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation.

Newly named the Kundrun Dressage Development Program, the U.S. Equestrian initiative was created to provide support to selected athletes with the perceived ability to make it to the podium or to contribute to program scores.

“This program allows us to provide more support to those athletes that are identified as potential future team athletes and horses,” said Hallye Griffin, U.S. Equestrian’s Managing Director of Dressage. “We’re setting our eyes on Los Angeles 2028, with it being a home Olympics that year. This program should be producing horses and athletes for those Games, as well as Games and World Championships preceding them.”

The Kundruns have been long-time supporters of U.S. dressage programs and have owned top horses for the U.S., including Flim Flam, who partnered with Sue Blinks to win a team bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and a team silver medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, and Rosevelt, Ali Brock’s mount who helped clinch a team bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“My wife and I have a passion for dressage,” said Fritz Kundrun, who is supporting the Dressage Development Program through the USET Foundation, the non-profit organization that works to provide the necessary resources to make equestrian competitive excellence possible, both now and in the future. “Hopefully, we can make a difference for the next Olympics and World Championships. We are in this for the love of the sport and for the love of the animals.”

The Kundrun Dressage Development Program is overseen by the U.S. Equestrian Development Coach, Charlotte Bredahl, with the assistance of the U.S. Equestrian Dressage Youth and Young Horse Coaches, as well as the U.S. Equestrian Dressage Technical Advisor.

“With this gift from the Kundruns, the program will expand, and we will be able to give even more support to upcoming athlete and horse combinations and offer more educational opportunities and grants,” said Bredahl. “Our goal is to find and help develop the next generation of top international and Olympic combinations.”

Athletes are selected for membership to the program through Evaluation Sessions held throughout the year. Once named to the program, competition and training targets are agreed upon with each athlete. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are monitored by the Development Coach and used to measure progress.

Athletes in the program will have access to grants for national and international events, and there will be an emphasis on the U25 divisions.

“The Kundruns have been instrumental in supporting our programs for many years. Their commitment and contribution will open doors for more combinations and provide access to crucial developmental opportunities that will strengthen our program for the future,” said U.S. Dressage Team Technical Advisor Debbie McDonald, who served as the Development Coach for 10 years.

Applications are now open for the 2020 Kundrun Dressage Development Program evaluation sessions and can be found online here.

Learn more about the Kundrun Dressage Development Program by visiting www.usef.org/compete/disciplines/dressage/development-program.

For more information on the USET Foundation, visit www.uset.org.

Jump Media, Show Jumping

Ben Maher Victorious over Eric Lamaze in Battle of Olympic Gold Medalists at Royal Horse Show

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Ben Maher and Tic Tac. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography.

Toronto, ON – It was a true battle of excellence as Olympic team gold medalist Ben Maher of Great Britain nudged Canadian Olympic individual gold medalist Eric Lamaze for victory in the $85,000 Big Ben International Challenge on Thursday night, November 7, at the Royal Horse Show, held as part of the 97th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.

Canadian course designer Michel Vaillancourt set a testing track that allowed the best horses and riders in the world to showcase their skills in front of a packed house in the Coca-Cola Coliseum. A total of 15 riders qualified for the jump-off, setting the stage for a battle of epic proportions.

As the 10th rider back for the jump-off, Lamaze set a blistering pace in front of the home crowd, slicing and dicing around the shortened track before galloping through the timers in 37.17 seconds. Next to challenge, Maher used Tic Tac’s huge stride to his advantage. When the clock flashed 36.75 seconds, Maher moved to the top of the leaderboard and remained there to take the win for owner Jane Clark.

“I think a lot of people didn’t like me in the stadium here this evening to beat Eric, but it’s sport; I always try my best!” said Maher, 34, who won a team gold medal as a member of the British team at the 2012 London Olympics.

“[Tic Tac] deserved this win,” continued Maher of the 16-year-old Belgian Sport Horse stallion. “He’s been knocking at the door. He didn’t jump many shows, but he had a couple of second places, so it’s nice to win a class with importance like this this evening.”

While Lamaze, 51, was forced to settle for second with Fine Lady 5, he currently leads both the GroupBy Leading International Rider and Leading Canadian Rider standings, helped by a win in the $37,000 Jolera International Strength and Speed Challenge on Wednesday, November 6.

Third place in Thursday night’s class went to Margie Goldstein Engle, 61, of the United States who stopped the jump-off clock in 37.61 seconds riding Dicas, owned by Gladewinds Partners, LLC.

Earlier in the day, Daniel Coyle of Ireland claimed the win in the afternoon’s featured $37,000 Brickenden Trophy. Riding Farrel for owner Ariel Grange, Coyle topped a 12-horse jump-off after posting the winning time of 31.85 seconds. Next into the Coca-Cola Coliseum, 18-year-old Brian Moggre of the United States made a valiant attempt to catch the leading time riding MTM Flutterby, but he settled for second place when the clock flashed 32.28 seconds. Australia’s Rowan Willis took third place with a time of 33.29 riding Calisto 26, while Lamaze and his mount, Chacco Kid, were fourth with a time of 33.68 seconds.

For more information, visit royalfair.org/horse-show.

Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Jump Media

Indoor Eventing and Dressage Derby Dazzle at 2019 Royal Horse Show

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Jessica Phoenix. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography.

Toronto, Ontario – Indoor eventing and a dressage derby are two of the unique events highlighting the schedule during the 10-day Royal Horse Show, held as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, from November 1 through 10, 2019, at Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto, ON.

The $20,000 Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge headlines events in the Coca-Cola Coliseum on the evenings of Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2. The thrilling concept of tackling cross-country obstacles and conventional show jumping fences, all against the clock, is a spectator favourite on opening weekend of the Royal Horse Show. Olympic team gold medalist Mark Phillips of Great Britain will once again design the intricate tracks for a roster of top eventing athletes.

Dana Cooke, Colleen Loach, Jessica Phoenix, and Karl Slezak, all members of Canada’s bronze medal team at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, have confirmed their attendance.

“It’s so fun to demonstrate this incredible sport in front of so many spectators, which is something that we don’t often get to do,” said Phoenix, who hails from Cannington, ON. “For this event you want a horse that’s super careful. If you have that, you’ve got a good chance of finishing in the top three.”

Traveling from Ireland to make his Horseware Indoor Evening Challenge debut is 2018 World Equestrian Games™ team silver medalist Sam Watson. Additional competitors include Canadian athletes Lindsay Beer, Diana Burnett, Lisa Marie Fergusson, Kendal Lehari, Brandon McMechan, and Holly Jacks-Smither.

From the fast-paced thrills of indoor eventing to the intricate artistry of dressage, the Royal Horse Show has it all. Returning for the second year is the Royal Dressage Derby, which will see four riders go head to head riding borrowed horses in a ‘knock-out’ format. But there’s a twist! This year, Canadian eventing and dressage athletes will face off against one another.

2019 Pan American Games dressage team gold medalists Lindsay Kellock and Naima Moreira Laliberte will each perform a Prix St. Georges test on the same horse. Representing the eventers, Phoenix and Cook will put their dressage skills to the test riding another horse at Third Level. The winner of each ‘knock-out round’ will move forward to a second round, where they will ride a new horse, in the hopes of being crowned the Royal Dressage Derby Champion. To level the playing field, riders compete on borrowed horses and have only minutes to get to know their mounts before performing their tests.

Highlighting a theme of Canadian pride that defines The Royal, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Musical Ride will perform during all ticketed Royal Horse Show performances from November 1 to 3. The epitome of Canadian tradition, the RCMP Musical Ride dates back to 1876, and was created to showcase riding ability and entertain the local community. The full troop of 32 riders on horseback performs intricate figures and drills choreographed to music, displaying the riders’ precision and coordination.

The equestrian entertainment at this year’s Royal Horse Show continues with horsewoman Sylvia Zerbini delivering mesmerizing Grande Liberté performances with her string of breathtaking Arabian horses from November 5 through 9.

To purchase tickets and for more information, visit royalfair.org/horse-show.

Contact: Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jumpmediallc.com