Category Archives: Dressage

The Discipline of Riding Dressage

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

HSBC FEI Classics Opener Attracts Lucky Seven Line-Up for Badminton

Leave a comment

Paul Tapner (AUS), winner of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in 2010 with Inonothing, rides Kilfinnie in this year’s event and opener for the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 © Kit Houghton/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 21 April 2011 – The HSBC FEI Classics 2011, an exciting series linking five of the world’s top level events, begins in style today (Thursday 21 April – Monday 25 April) at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR).

The first crucial qualifier for the 2012 London Olympic Games has attracted arguably the strongest international field for many years with representatives from 11 nations and seven former winners entered.

Oliver Townend (GBR), 28, the 2009 victor, wasn’t even born when the double Olympic champion Mark Todd (NZL), 55, made his Badminton debut – and won – 31 years ago. Both riders have been in dominant form on the British national circuit this spring. Townend rides the grey Ashdale Cruise Master, fifth at Luhmühlen last year, while Todd has Major Milestone, 11th at Burghley last time, and is last to go on the former Townend ride NZB Land Vision, guaranteeing a gripping end to Cross-Country day on Sunday.

Continue reading HSBC FEI Classics Opener Attracts Lucky Seven Line-Up for Badminton →

Breeds, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Publications/Media, Show Jumping, Western/Reining

Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Presents “A Celebration of the Arabian Horse”, April 23, 2011 at 6:30 PM

Leave a comment

6:30 pm – Performance by Hall of Fame Kristin Hardin jumping, National Champion Kit Hall western roping and reining, National Champion dressage, and performances by the Gold Coast Arabian HC horses and riders

7:00 pm – Cocktail Reception

7:30 pm – Film Premiere – “A Gift from the Desert: The Arabian Horse”

A soaring panorama of the horse that began in Arabia and went on to create Empires and champions today in every category.

Filmed on location in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Great Britain, Kentucky, California with the Saudi Equestrian riders, the Royal Oman Cavalry, National Jumping Champion, National Dressage Champion, National Working Cowhorse Champion

Written and Directed by award-winning filmmaker Jo Franklin. Named “One of the Top 100 Film Producers” in the US by Millimeter Magazine. Ms. Franklin is a rider and breeder of Arabian horses and a member of the Arabian Horse Association, the Pyramid Society and the World Arabian Horse Organization.

Order tickets online at www.celebratearabianhorse.com.

Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC
14440 Pierson Rd., Wellington, FL 33414
561-793-5867 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Jane Savoie, Training/Clinics

Motivation from Moshi 58, by Jane Savoie

Leave a comment

I don’t remember my mom very much. I remember her being warm and snuggly, and very tall. I suppose I’m taller than she was, now, but I’ll always remember her towering over me. Her size and gentle strength made me feel safe. I never met my dad. I hear that I look a lot like him, though.

Are you like your mom and dad? Most people are. We learn so much when we’re little that who we are to become as adults is shaped before we’re even aware that we’re being programmed. It’s such a deep part of us that we rarely even see it.

Often, our best and our worst relationships are with members of our own family. The good news is, most of the time we find ways to resolve our issues. We can’t choose our families, so we are forced to deal with whatever comes up. The bad news is, we can’t choose our families, so we are forced to deal with those issues even when we don’t want to.

Do you have an unresolved issue with a family member? What would it take to get that resolved? Is one of you insisting on being “right” or having your own way? Could you let that go? Can you forgive whatever happened, no matter how terrible? I’ll bet you can.

Continue reading Motivation from Moshi 58, by Jane Savoie →

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

FEI Media Advisory: Seminar on Judging in Dressage

Leave a comment

Lausanne, 14 April 2011 – We are pleased to inform you that a seminar on judging in Dressage, presented by FEI 5* Judge and President of the 2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final Ground Jury Katrina Wuest, will be held on Saturday 30 April 2011 in Leipzig (GER). The seminar is open to media representatives accredited for the 2011 FEI World Cup Finals. It will take place in the Presseclub located next to the Press Centre of the Partner Pferd Leipzig Exhibition Centre from 15h00 to 16h30. The Freestyle of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final will follow at 18h00.

A similar session, which received a very positive feedback, was organised during last year’s FEI World Cup Dressage Final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED).

Media wishing to attend the seminar are requested to contact FEI Press Relations Manager Malina Gueorguiev (malina.gueorguiev@fei.org) by Tuesday 26 April at the latest.

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

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+ 41 78 740 61 33

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping

FEI Welcomes Adelaide to HSBC FEI Classics 2012 Season

Leave a comment

Wendy Schaeffer on Koyuna Sun Shine - winner of the 2010 Australia International 3 Day Event 2010 © Jim Hillman InMotion Photography

Lausanne (SUI), 15 April 2011 – The FEI is delighted to welcome the Australian International 3 Day Event to the HSBC FEI Classics 2012 season.

The Adelaide-based event, which in 2002 became the first CCI 4* in the southern hemisphere, will host the second leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2012 season against the stunning city centre backdrop of Adelaide Park Lands on 18-20 November 2011.

“The Australian International 3 Day Event is the country’s premier equestrian competition and one of only six 4* events held around the world,” explained Event Director and dual Olympic gold medallist Gillian Rolton (AUS). “For the last 10 years, Adelaide has been the chosen host city of this hallmark equestrian event. We are now extremely proud to take our place in the HSBC FEI Classics 2012 season and we’re looking forward to welcoming visitors and competitors to an action-packed event in our unique City of Adelaide Parkland setting.”

Continue reading FEI Welcomes Adelaide to HSBC FEI Classics 2012 Season →

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Jane Savoie, Training/Clinics

The Outside Rein, part 1, by Jane Savoie

Leave a comment

Many years ago while visiting the stable of the late Hector Carmona in New Jersey, I was intrigued by a sign in his indoor arena that boldly proclaimed, “The secret of riding is the outside rein”.

I soon discovered that the outside rein (AKA the rein of opposition) has many critical jobs:

1. You control speed with it.
2. You use it to steer.
3. You use it to keep your horse straight.
4. When you combine the outside rein with both your driving aids and your bending aids for 3 seconds, you give the “connecting aids” to put your horse on the bit.
5. Later in training, you’ll use a momentary closure of seat, leg, and hand to give a half halt. (The half halt is one of the most essential concepts in riding because it allows you to improve your horse’s balance – an issue we’re constantly dealing with in training.)

LEARNING TO USE THE OUTSIDE REIN
This month, I’m going to give you some exercises to help you become more aware of your outside rein. I think this is a useful first step because riders instinctively rely more on their inside rein than their outside rein.

Continue reading The Outside Rein, part 1, by Jane Savoie →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, Show Jumping, USEF

Selection Procedures for 2011 Pan American Games Are Now Available at USEF.org

1 Comment

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation’s Selection Procedures for the 2011 Pan American Games have been approved by the United States Olympic Committee.

The selection procedures and application information is posted on the High Performance section of the specific discipline pages. Please see the following links for more information:

Dressage: http://usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldressage/2011PanAmGames.aspx.
Please contact Jenny van Wieren at jvanwieren@usef.org with questions regarding dressage.

Eventing: http://usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alleventing/hpeventing.aspx.
Please contact Sara Ike at sara.ike@usef.org with questions regarding eventing.

Jumping: http://usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alljumping/sjPanAmGames.aspx.
Please contact Lizzy Chesson at lchesson@usef.org with questions regarding jumping.

The 2011 Pan American Games will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico October 14-30, 2011. The official website can be found here: http://www.guadalajara2011.org.mx/eng/01_inicio/index.asp.

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, EQUUS Foundation, JRPR

Time Is Running Out for You to Cast Your Charitable Vote for Combined Driver Chester Weber to Be Named America’s Favorite Equestrian

Leave a comment
Chester Weber is still in the running for America’s Favorite Equestrian. Vote now to have Weber advance in the competition. Each vote donates $5 to The EQUUS Foundation. (Photo courtesy of Live Oak Combined Driving)

Ocala, FL (April 14, 2011) – Fans of United States Combined Driver Chester Weber have the chance to keep voting for Weber by phone or online in order to keep him in the running for America’s Favorite Equestrian. Each vote costs $5 and 100% of the donations will be used to support horse and equestrian charitable causes across the country.

Weber, a member of the winning Silver Medal 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Combined Driving team and the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, has made it through the first round of America’s Favorite Equestrian. Weber was among eight drivers in the Driving category of America’s Favorite Equestrian, but as of March 31, the six drivers with the most votes continue on to Round 2.

The America’s Favorite Equestrian contest is an interactive fund raising effort presented jointly by partnership of The EQUUS Foundation and The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to raise funds to advance the equestrian sport on an annual basis. The contest started with eight equestrians from each discipline: jumping, driving, dressage, eventing, reining, vaulting, endurance, and para-equestrian.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13587

Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Jane Savoie, Training/Clinics

Motivation from Moshi 57, by Jane Savoie

Leave a comment

Some people don’t like gray horses. Some people don’t like chestnut horses. There are even a few that don’t like us shiny black horses. Some like the quiet temperament of a quarter horse over the fiery temperament of an Arabian. Some like the excitement of riding an exuberant Trakehner better than the slower paced energy of the Friesian.

Everyone has an opinion. EVERYONE. Even your dog and your horse. So, if your goal is to please everyone, you’re setting yourself up to be very disappointed. It’s simply not possible. Each of us has a different background, a different set of values, and a different way of looking at the world. We each have our own unique “lens” through which we view and interpret what goes on around us. We all gravitate toward the folks that are more like us than different from us, but even those people you feel the most compatible with will have different perceptions and interpretations of their experiences.

So, what should you do about this? What I do is… nothing. The only work I need to do is internal, on my own acceptance of the fact that everyone is going to see things a bit differently. I generally don’t try to change anyone’s opinion unless they ask. I do my best to just let my friends and family be who they are, and allow myself to be true to who I am. For the most part, I am willing to simply agree to disagree.

Continue reading Motivation from Moshi 57, by Jane Savoie →

Community/Charity, Dressage, Products/Services, Show Jumping, USDF

Fleet Footing International Now a Sponsor for USDF Shows at Canterbury

Leave a comment

Fleet Footing International is now a sponsor for two USDF shows held at Canterbury. Back in February the new fiber was put into ring 1 and two warm up rings and the competitors are just raving about it.

Canterbury was always nice; however, under very rainy conditions, the rings outside would get tough to ride in. Now they are useable in all weather.

Manager Wendy Low said this is the best type of fiber to mix with existing sand areas she has ever seen. “We are fortunate to have this available at a very reasonable price. We had estimates from a few footing equine companies and it was way out of reach for us. But this was in our budget.”

The fiber is tilled in with the existing sand top layer and then rolled and watered. The result is a springy, carpet like ride. The horses love it.

William Solyntjes, USDF clinician and “S” judge, said at the Twice As Nice Show, “After an all night rain and well into the morning, riders at the Canterbury show found the footing to be secure. The fiber seems to soak up the moisture and keep its integrity. Not one horse slipped and I was able to give many 8s and even some 9s because of the resilient and safe footing. Horses stayed soft in the back and showed elastic gaits.”

Continue reading Fleet Footing International Now a Sponsor for USDF Shows at Canterbury →