Category Archives: Contributors/Press

Blog writers, press releases and contributors

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

FEI European Dressage Championships for Juniors and Young Riders

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The German team that claimed Young Riders gold at the FEI European Dressage Championships for Juniors and Young Riders at Kronberg, Germany: Chef d'Equipe Maria Schierhölter-Otte, Fabienne Lütkemeier, Louisa Lüttgen, Sanneke Rothenberger and Stella Charlotte Roth. Photo Credit: Stefan Lafrentz

GERMANY DOMINATES THE MEDAL PODIUM AT KRONBERG

26 July 2010 – German riders proved unstoppable at the FEI European Dressage Championships for Juniors and Young Riders on their home soil in Kronberg when scooping gold in all six categories of competition.  And to further emphasise their absolute domination, they also claimed gold and silver in both the Young Riders Individual and Freestyle Championship.  The Netherlands took Junior and Young Rider team silver while Danish riders also featured prominently on the medal podium.

Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff and the Schafhof in Kronberg, Germany, played host to these Dressage Championships for the third time.  The wonderful venue where Ann-Kathrin’s mother, Liselott Linsenhoff-Schindling, trained her horse Piaff which won the Olympic gold medal in München 1972, previously staged these Championships in 1980 and 1986. Ann-Kathrin herself competed as a Young Rider in 1981 in Rotterdam when she won team gold and individual bronze, and she proudly and generously opened the gates of the Schafhof to a huge number of talented riders and their horses for this 2010 event from 20 to 25 July.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Show Jumping

Michel Wins on Final Day of GCT Chantilly

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Michel and Kellemoi. All photos by Lulu Kyriacou

Michel and Kellemoi Back in Business!

25/07/10 – Well before there French got the home win they were waiting for in today’s Equidia Grand Prix, Eric van der Vleuten was the very first competitor in the ring this morning on VDL Groep Cannelina (below right). And although 50% of the thirty-two starters were clear and through to the jump off, he was never headed in the Prix Savelys. His grey mare, already in the money earlier in the week, was smooth and efficient round the turns in the timed phase and the clock stopped 38.79. None of the other 16 combinations could catch the Dutch pair, try as they might and Holland got another win at Chantilly after Harrie Smolders’ yesterday.  Eric’s win was a good result for his sponsors VDL Groep, as well as for the GCT, because they are one of the main sponsors at GCT Valkenswaard in addition to their generous support of Eric. Eventually second was Edwina Alexander on a relatively new ride, dark chestnut mare Kisby, who had a time of 39.29 and third place went to another of this weeks earlier winners, Simon Delestre, riding Napoli du Ry. Their time was 39.59. Bernado Alves was fourth with Monaco GP winner Bridgit.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Show Jumping

The Global Champions Tour 2010, Chantilly, France, Day Two

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Photos by Lulu Kyriacou

Girl Power in Chantilly

24/07/10 – The female of the species was most definitely deadlier than the male in Chantilly today as American Laura Kraut and Cedric headed another all girl 1,2,3. The riders had warmed up earlier in the day with the Prix Amunde, a Table C Speed class. This is where faults are converted to time so if you are very fast it is possible to win even with a fence down. However in this company only being fast and clean over the rails would be good enough. The course featured several alternatives where the line was shorter but the jumps more difficult and Penelope Leprevost riding British bred Belle was the first to set a decent target. 60.68 looked fast and it did take Harrie Smolders on Exquis Powerfee to get in front. The horse who won or was placed in several GCT against the clock classes in 2009 scooted round in 59.12 and then his rider had to wait for the other half of the class to finish to see if he would win. But although he had to endure a couple of close shaves as first Denis Lynch (All Inclusive NW) and then Jerome Hurel (Nectar des Forets) got close the top two did not change. “I think the GCT know all about Powerfee by now” said Harrie “But it is fair to say he is my best all round horse. You can always count on him as a standby for any class!”

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Wild Horse Sources

Update from Cloud’s Mountaintop & Action Alert

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Prince & Cloud spar

Dear Friends of Cloud and the wild horses,
Makendra and I just returned from a great five days in the Pryors with the wild horses. We sighted band after band in the broad, flower-covered meadows near Tony Island and the Dryhead Overlook in the Custer National Forest. As is their pattern, the wild horses had migrated to this higher elevation area where show still dotted the slopes above a snow crater surrounded by boulders. The meadows have exploded with purple lupine in football sized flower beds. Due to cool temperatures and moisture the flowers were delayed and the height of the bloom coincided with our visit.

One of the first bands we saw was led by the grullo stallion, Lakota and, to our surprise, we discovered, he was a new father. The little dun colt, still unsteady on his legs, had clearly been born that morning to Mariah, Cloud’s palomino sister.  Last month, I thought Mariah was just fat. Even after the birth she still looks alike a beach ball.

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Contributors/Press, Wild Horse Sources

Tell Government to Fix Fertility Control Proposal for Idaho Wild Horses

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The Department of Interior (DOI) continues its business-as-usual mismanagement of wild horses and burros, catering to ranchers and other commercial interests. This week the DOI’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is carrying out a dangerous summer roundup in northeastern Nevada. IDA filed an administrative appeal on this Tuscarora Complex roundup – we’ll keep you informed of the results of that action. For an update click here.

Please act today on a new BLM proposal to manage wild horses in Idaho by using contraceptives. While this proposal is a step in the right direction, we have grave concerns regarding the artificially and dangerously low number of horses allowed in these Herd Management Areas and the use of helicopters to round up the horses. Please click here to tell the BLM that this proposal is a good first step, but changes are needed to ensure the safety and well being of the horses.

In Defense of Animals
3010 Kerner, San Rafael, CA 94901
Tel. (415) 448-0048 Fax (415) 454-1031
idainfo@idausa.org

Breeds, Contributors/Press, Wild Horse Sources

Update on Wild Horses, Roundups, Letters to Obama, Interviews with Madeleine Pickens

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Dear Friends and Supporters,
Unfortunately, the BLM summer roundups have resumed and the current death count of the horses at Tuscarora is now nearly two dozen.  However, on the upside, it has been a really busy week in the media for our horses getting the attention they deserve. Saving America’s Mustangs’ spokesperson Jerry Reynoldson and I spoke on the Thom Hartmann Radio Show about the BLM roundups yesterday. The link to the video of the interview is below. Also, George Knapp did a fantastic investigative report into the Tuscarora Roundup. Please take some time to view both and please keep generating awareness to each and every person that you can.  Already this month we have had 10,466 letters sent out to President Obama and our government officials imploring them to suspend the roundups. Thank you all so much for joining us in this special cause! Let’s set a goal of 12,500 letters sent by the end of July. Please keep forwarding the Take Action links on www.savingamericasmustangs.org to your friends and contacts. The American horses need us to prevail… and we will do just that!

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Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Equestrian Assistance, Events, JRPR

Chester Weber Teams Up with Charles Owen and SUCCEED in Support of Drivers4Helmets at Iron Horse CDE

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Combined Driving Chester Weber, the reigning USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, is encouraging all drivers to wear helmets in a Drivers4Helmets campaign as a spin off of SUCCEED’s riders4helmets campaign. (Photo courtesy of PicsofYou.com)

Caledonia, IL (July 23, 2010) – Combined Driver Chester Weber knows the importance of safety, which is why he and his team always wear their Charles Owen helmets during the marathon at a Combined Driving event. Weber, the reigning USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, is stepping up to encourage all drivers to wear helmets in a Drivers4Helmets campaign which is a spin on SUCCEED’s riders4helmets campaign.

During the upcoming Iron Horse Combined Driving Event at Sherwood Farms, in Caledonia, Illinois, Weber will join forces with Charles Owen and SUCCEED, two of his Team Weber sponsors, to auction off a Charles Owen helmet certificate during the competitors’ party silent auction. While one lucky person will go home with a new Charles Owen helmet certificate, which could save his or her life, all of the money raised for the helmet during the silent auction will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.

“I believe it is essential for drivers and their team to wear helmets during the marathon, and hope that the silent auction for the Charles Owen helmet will be a step in the right direction for all drivers committing to wearing helmets,” Weber said, adding that he will present the silent auction winner with the helmet certificate.

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Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, FEI

FEI World Single Driving Championships Return to Pratoni

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70-year-old Jan van den Broek (NED) will defend his World title in Pratoni. (c) Hippoevent

The FEI World Single Driving Championships return to Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA) from 28 July to 1 August. Pratoni hosted the Single Horse Driving Championships very successfully in 2006 and the Italian Equestrian Federation is now welcoming the competitors on their site for the sixth edition of these Championships.

It was just 12 years ago that the first official FEI Single Championships took place at Ebbs (AUT). The next Championship was due to take place in 2000 in Gladstone (USA), but was cancelled at the last minute because of the West Nile Virus. The Championship made a return to the FEI calendar in 2002 in the picturesque village of Conty (FRA), which organises an international driving event every year. Conty will also host the 2011 FEI World Pair Driving Championships.

As one of the world’s leading single driving nations, Sweden had the honour to host the 2004 World Single Championships, followed by Pratoni in 2006 and Jarantów (POL) in 2008.

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Equestrian Assistance, Events, FEI, World Equestrian Games

State Veterinarian’s Office Safeguards Equine Athletes during WEG

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FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky state veterinarian’s office has the yeoman’s responsibility to regulate and manage the importation of an estimated 800 horses representing 62 countries that are scheduled to participate in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Sept. 25 – Oct. 10 at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“The World Equestrian Games are far greater in size and scope than anything the state veterinarian’s office has managed before,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “However, the staff of the state veterinarian’s office has vast experience in equine health and works several large-scale and high-profile events every year. These equine athletes couldn’t be in better hands.”

“The state veterinarian’s office is committed to providing a healthy environment for the horses that will come to Kentucky to compete in the Games,” State Veterinarian Robert C. Stout said.

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Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

HITS Culpeper in Review

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© ESI Photography. Grand Prix Rider Aaron Vale and Paparazzi 10 won the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

Vale and Fenney Accelerate on the Road to the Pfizer Million, Woodhall Farm Owns the Hunter Rings and Odor-No-More Honors the Grooms at HITS Culpeper

CULPEPER, VA (July 22, 2010) — The road to the Pfizer Million passed right through the heart of Virginia’s horse country for the HITS Culpeper July horse shows and saw two major contenders in the race for the top prize in the Pfizer $ 1 Million Grand Prix pull off a pair of big wins at HITS Commonwealth Park, in Culpeper, Virginia.

Aaron Vale got the party started during the Showday National (July 7-11) when he rode Paparazzi 10 to the blue ribbon in the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, to climb into the top 15 of the Pfizer Million Eligible Rider Rankings for the big-ticket class that will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson on Sunday, September 12.

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