Pau, 5 November – Two of the world’s best exponents of the Dressage phase are sharing the lead at Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA), the eagerly awaited finale to the 2010 HSBC FEI Classics.
Karin Donckers (BEL), who only just missed an individual medal at the recent Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, was the first of the field of 38 to score below 50, and about an hour later there were no surprises when Britain’s Ruth Edge equalled her score of 41.8 penalties.
Their two horses have contrasting experience: Donckers’s Lamicell Charizard, who she bought as a two-year-old from racing sales in Germany, is now 10 and contesting his first CCI4; Edge’s 17-year-old Two Thyme won Luhmühlen in 2007 and led the Dressage at Burghley this year before a Cross-Country refusal put paid to their chances.
Guenter Seidel brings us up-to-date on his road to recovery, we welcome Mary Phelps as an HRN Affiliate, and Heather Blitz reviews iPhone Apps. All here on this week’s show.
The 8th annual Arabian Horse Association Sport Horse National Show was held September 22-25th in Nampa, Idaho. KB Omega Fahim+++// and daughter KB Jull Fahim+//, swept the open FEI dressage division. This is the first time a father and daughter have dominated the entire open FEI dressage competition of this national championship show. Fourteen year old KB Omega Fahim+++// won Grand Prix and Intermediate 11, while eleven year old KB Jull Fahim+// captured Intermediate 1 and Prix St. Georges. People were on the edge of their seats for the final Grand Prix test to be performed on the last day of the championships. Omega, under his exceptional trainer and rider, Chelsey Sibley, completed this monumental task with grace and ease. During the evening’s special ceremony, both horses were presented and awarded as champions of each test. Jull also achieved the open FEI high point of the show.
Approximately 400 horses displayed their athletic abilities at the Idaho Horse Park. The Sport Horse National Championship Show featured 90 classes in several divisions that included in hand, hunter, jumper, dressage and driving, to name a few. Horses from forty-one states and two Canadian provinces came to compete in this national event. The prominent dressage judges were Marlene Schneider, Brian Ross, Jacqueline Lindberg and Sandra Chohany. Sport Horse Nationals is the only single-breed sport horse event in the nation offered just for Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses registered with the Arabian Horse Association or the Canadian Arabian Horse Registry.
The breeder of Omega and Jull, Elaine Kerrigan, has devoted the past 35+ years creating these amazing Arabian sport horse athletes. According to Chris Bailey, “Not only is Omega amazing but he also produces the perfect get; kind, smart and athletic. I have not seen one Omega offspring that I would not want.”
Arabian stallion KB Omega Fahim+++// is owned by breeder Elaine Kerrigan of Kerrigan Bloodstock in Eureka, CA and Half-Arabian KB Jull Fahim+// is owned by Chris Bailey, also of Eureka. Both horses are trained and shown by Chelsey Sibley of Sky Ranch, in Sonora, CA.
We’re all different. You know that already, right? I’m a cold blooded Friesian. My next-stall neighbor is a hot blooded Thoroughbred. We think differently, react to things differently, and like different things. Does that make one of us “wrong” and one of us “right”?
It’s a very basic instinct to be attracted to things that are like you. The old “birds of a feather, flock together…” idea. But many of us have advanced beyond such basic programming. Advanced beings learn to appreciate things that are different from what we’re used to.
This can be a very powerful thing when applied to working with horses. We get used to a certain way of doing things, of feeding, of training, etc, and don’t even notice that we’ve developed a habit that might benefit from a bit of tweaking. That’s why we read books, watch DVDs, hire a trainer… so we can learn from the collective knowledge of others.
Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht FRH made it a back-to-back double of wins in the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series. She is pictured with Frederique Martin-Baste, Manager, Commercial, FEI (centre) and Sylvie Robert, Show Director at Lyon (right). Photo: PSV J Morel.
WERTH MAKES IT A DOUBLE IN LYON by Louise Parkes
Lyon (FRA), 29 October 2010 – Isabell Werth made it a back-to-back double of victories when winning the second leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series at Lyon in France this evening. Just five days ago the German rider topped the opening round at Odense, Denmark with a great performance from Satchmo, and tonight she brought out her 2007 series champion Warum Nicht to head the line-up once again.
“I was really satisfied with Hannes tonight,” she said, referring to her 14 year old chestnut gelding. “He had a lot of power and he felt very impressive,” she added.
Runner-up was her compatriot and another former World Cup champion Ulla Salzgeber whose 11 year old gelding Herzruf’s Erbe has re-opened the door into the very top level of this demanding sport for his 52 year old rider. Salzgeber, who was Dressage World Cup champion in 2001 and 2002 with the legendary Rusty, has been waiting patiently in the wings for another special ride. “After I retired Rusty I always said I would only come back when I had a horse that was good enough to go the top again, and now I have one!” she said proudly after finishing less than one full mark behind the winning score. Third place went to the very pleased Valentina Truppa from Italy with Chablis. “This is my very first World Cup competition, so I am very happy with my result!” said the rider who competes in the uniform of the Caribinieri.
Germany's Isabell Werth and Satchmo won the opening leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Series in Odense, Denmark today and is presented with her award by Lisa Wells, Director of Special Events for Reem Acra.
WERTH AND SATCHMO WIN OPENING LEG OF REEM ACRA FEI WORLD CUP DRESSAGE SEASON by Claartje van Andel
Odense (DEN), 24 October 2010 – German dressage ace Isabell Werth threw down the gauntlet with a clear victory in the first leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Odense, Denmark today.
Last to go, and chasing the target set by Denmark’s Princess Nathalie Zu Sayn Wittgenstein who pipped her for the honours in yesterday’s Grand Prix, Werth produced a score of 81.00% to reverse the placings, while The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud once again steered IPS Tango into third.
Riders from eight nations qualified for today’s Freestyle competition but it was clear the host country’s Zu Sayn Wittgenstein was going to be the one to beat. Yesterday she set the arena alight with a wonderful performance from her 13 year old gelding Digby, and such was the jubilation of the home crowd that the arena commentator had to call on the excited spectators to quiet down in order to allow the next competitor to take their turn. Today the crowd went wild with joy once again as the 35 year old rider, who became a mother this summer but who is still showing as much of a competitive edge as ever, produced a personal-best Freestyle score of 80.05% when fourth-last into the arena.
This week’s show takes on a different perspective as we hear from people around the world of what they think about the sale of Totilas. Has a dressage horse ever stirred up so much emotion? Hear for yourself what the world has to say.
News: Oslo CDI***
Grand Prix
1 Edward Gal (Interfloor’s Next One) 1995 KWPN Gelding (Jazz x Le Mexico)
NED 71.66%
Grand Prix Freestyle
1 Edward Gal (Interfloor’s Next One) 76.50%
KL Select has partnered with United Sportsproducts Germany, and will offer the American rider USG’s complete line of high quality riding apparel, breeches, and sportswear. (Photos courtesy of USG)
Waterford, CT (October 20, 2010) – KL Select, makers of fine quality equestrian products, is pleased to announce they have partnered with USG (United Sportproducts Germany) as the exclusive USA distributor of USG’s equestrian riding apparel. KL Select will offer the American rider USG’s complete range of high quality riding apparel, breeches and sportswear.
“USG is one of Germany’s fastest growing manufacturers in the equestrian industry and we think this is an exciting partnership,” said Dorrie Carters, Managing Partner of KL Select LLC, adding that the company is used to forming partnerships with the best. “KL Select is a proud sponsor of Grand Prix Dressage Rider Tina Konyot, so we are accustomed to surrounding ourselves with the very best.”
KL Select will offer USG’s sportswear line, including outdoor jackets, vests and shirts. “KL Select has always offered the best in riding apparel, breeches and sportswear so being the exclusive U.S. distributor of USG wear is very exciting,” Carters said.
There is a new spring in the step of the FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League as it begins its second quarter-century with the 2010/2011 opening leg at Odense, Denmark later this week. The recent announcement of a three-year sponsorship deal with fashion designer Reem Acra, who puts her name to both the Western European season and the overall series final, hails the blossoming of a fresh era in the history of this sport which has enjoyed astronomic growth in popularity in recent times.
Largely responsible for the upsurge of interest in top-class dressage has been a single horse-and-rider combination who won their way into the hearts of horse-lovers all around the world over the last 18 months during a sensational record-breaking spree. The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and the fabulous black stallion Moorlands Totilas have, in terms of competitiveness, appeal and pure ability, raised the bar beyond all expectations and transformed the once-demure dressage world into a showcase of extreme excitement. It was confirmed last week that the stallion has been sold however, and so his partnership with Gal is ended. But their legacy is a raised profile for the sport on which they have left an indelible impression.
Steffen Peters – Individual Bronze – USA. Photos by Diana De Rosa
Bringing the World to Kentucky
“What a journey this continues to be,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, as he sat mesmerized by the incredible talent he was witnessing on September 25 as he watched each performer showcase their talents during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. It had been four years since Dr. Lyons had made the decision for his company, Alltech, a worldwide leader in animal nutrition, health and performance, to be the first major sponsor of this event.
This day was especially significant and he wasn’t about to miss even one beat of the evening’s performances.
“As the first performers entered the arena, I felt a great sense of relief and a sense of achievement,” commented Dr. Lyons after pausing for a moment to answer the question of how significant it was to have the Games start officially. “That relief wasn’t just for me but for our people at Alltech and for WEG. We all planned it and our people and the WEG people came together to get the job done. It’s been a great example of a team effort. So, how do I feel? I feel really delighted, especially to see our people really get into it and get involved.”
