Category Archives: Driving

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, JRPR, Training/Clinics

Chester Weber’s Biggest Fan Will Win a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience to Train with the Legendary Driver for Two Days in Ocala

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Chester Weber is taking part in the Gift of the Horse website contest and one winner will get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend two days at Live Oak, training with the legendary combined driver. (Photo courtesy of My Elizabeth Weber)

Ocala, FL (May 3, 2011) – In the world of combined driving, Chester Weber stands out above the rest. Now, thanks to a contest being held on the Gift of the Horse website, Weber’s biggest fan can win the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend two days on Weber’s Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, Florida, training with the legendary combined driver.

Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, has joined together with the world’s most recognized and admired horsemen and women to contribute prize packages for their biggest fans. The contest is being sponsored through the Gift of the Horse, a unique and exciting event designed to be fun, interactive, educational and most importantly give back to the equine industry through the generosity of Gift of the Horse sponsors and donors. 100% of proceeds raised through Gift of the Horse will go directly to The American Youth Horse Council which impacts over 400,000 children in programs such as 4-H, National High School Rodeo, Pony Club and most Breed/Youth Organizations.

“Chester Weber is an icon and an inspiration to horse owners of all breeds and disciplines. I’ve had the pleasure of watching Chester perform in person and the thrill and excitement the crowds experience when Chester comes thundering into the ring is unparalleled,” says Jacqueline L. Robbins, President of Equine Publishing, LLC. “He is an asset to Gift of the Horse and it is an honor to have him in the line up of top horsemen that have generously contributed amazing prize packages. Spending two full days with Chester Weber and his team is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13794

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI

Boyd Exell Claims Hat-Trick in FEI World Cup Driving Final

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Leipzig (GER), 1 May 2011 – Boyd Exell from Australia has successfully defended his FEI World Cup Driving title in a thrilling finish in Leipzig (GER) to become only the second driver to score a hat-trick of World Cup victories. The popular Australian sped to victory in front of an enthusiastic and ecstatic crowd that packed the Leipzig Messe to capacity. Hungary’s Jozsef Dobrovitz drove two brilliant rounds with his team of Lipizzaner horses to finish second, ahead of IJsbrand Chardon from the Netherlands.

Happy to be first
Jozsef Dobrovitz was happy to go first in the Final round. In Budapest he had won the warm-up competition but made mistakes in the Final round, so he felt the starting grid Leipzig would favour him. His only goal in the first round was to equal Boyd’s time on the first night and to stay clear as well. Dobrovitz put in an amazing performance to meet both his goals and pile the pressure on his opponents.

No expectations
Second starter IJsbrand Chardon was determined to make up for his mistake on the first night, but his leader horses started pushing against each other in the warm-up arena and there was not enough time left for IJsbrand to fix it. The result was three knockdowns on course, but Chardon kept on driving at such high speed that he finished in a record time of 113.89 seconds, to slot into second behind Dobrovitz. Chardon had no expectations of making it to the Winning Round but Georg von Stein (GER), Werner Ulrich (SUI), Koos de Ronde (NED) and Tomas Eriksson (SWE) all made mistakes, which kept Chardon in second place. After Exell had conquered the course in a fast time despite one knockdown, it was clear that the colourful trio was going to battle it out in the Winning Round.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13776

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI

Exell Sets the Tone in Leipzig

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Boyd Exell on his way to victory in the warm up round of the FEI World Cup Driving Final in Leipzig. Photo: FEI/Rinaldo de Craen

Leipzig (GER) 29 April 2011 – Title defender Boyd Exell from Australia has won the warm up round of the FEI World Cup Driving Final in Leipzig this evening. The current four-in-hand World Champion was the only driver who finished the course in a clear round. Sweden’s Tomas Eriksson came second driving his brand new marathon carriage. Dutch driver Koos de Ronde finished third.

Ring rusty
The competitors were all a bit ring rusty after a break of several months. Some drivers competed in the last World Cup competition in Bordeaux at the start of February; others had an even longer break after the show in Mechelen at the end of December.

Wild card replacement
Home driver Georg von Stein replaced wild card driver Christian Plücker who unfortunately had to withdraw only two days ago because of two injured horses. Plücker had won the special indoor competition at the German Equestrian Centre in Warendorf in February and had herewith claimed the wild card. Von Stein finished second and was therefore the first candidate to replace Plücker. Von Stein had kept on training his horses so it was not difficult for him to prepare his team for his first ever World Cup start. Von Stein finished fifth in tonight’s competition, behind Switzerland’s Werner Ulrich.

Continue reading Exell Sets the Tone in Leipzig →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Show Jumping, Vaulting

FEI TV Goes behind the Scenes at Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Finals 2010/2011

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Leipzig (GER), 28 April 2011 – FEI TV’s Phil Ghazala captures the excitement at the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Finals in Leipzig (GER) with a fascinating behind-the-scenes reportage featuring interviews with riders, course designer Frank Rothenberger, visits to the stables and some of the 300 trade stands.

Watch it on the FEI’s YouTube channel here.

Fab Four
For the first time in the history of equestrian sport, the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping, Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage, FEI World Cup Driving and the inaugural FEI World Cup Vaulting will take place under one roof in Leipzig (27 April to 1 May), bringing together four world-class disciplines for a fabulous festival of sport.

Live Coverage
Watch high quality, uninterrupted LIVE coverage on FEI TV according to the following timetable (all times are in GMT):

Continue reading FEI TV Goes behind the Scenes at Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Finals 2010/2011 →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping, Vaulting

Schroder Starts the Action in Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final

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Leipzig (GER), 27 April 2011 – The Netherlands’ Gerco Schroder will be first into the ring as the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final gets underway in Leipzig, Germany tomorrow afternoon.  A total of 43 riders will compete for the coveted title which crowns the champion of the indoor international jumping season and which draws the best horse-and-rider combinations from all around the world.

The order-of-go in the first of the three deciding competitions is as follows:

1, Eurocommerce New Orleans (Gerco Schroder) NED; 2, Tristan (Kirsten Coe) USA; 3, Ulysse (Pius Schwizer) SUI; 4, Regina Z (Harrie Smolders) NED; 5, Cash (Marco Kutscher) GER; 6, Taloubet Z (Christian Ahlmann) GER; 7, Winningmood (Luciana Diniz) POR; 8, Lucie (Lars Nieberg) GER; 9, Abbervail Van Het Dingeshof (Denis Lynch) IRL; 10, Athena (Charlie Jayne) USA; 11, Ballade Van Het Indihoff (Brianne Goutal) USA; 12, G&C Quick Star (Pablo Barrios) VEN; 13, Cevo Socrates (Edwina Alexander) AUS; 14, Rocketman 2 (Vladimir Beletsky) RUS; 15, Cristallo (Richard Spooner) USA; 16, Rothchild (McLain Ward) USA; 17, Souvenir (Philipp Weishaupt) GER; 18, Cadett 7 (Ashlee Bond) USA; 19, Ulrike R (Gunnar Klettenberg) EST; 20, Wisconsin (Sergio Alvarez Moya) ESP; 21, H&M Tornesch (Malin Baryard-Johnsson) SWE; 22, Wonderboy III (Ahmad Saber Hamcho) SYR; 23, Napoli du Ry (Simon Delestre) FRA; 24, BMC Van Grunsven Sim (Jeroen Dubbeldam) NED; 25, Indigo (Margie Engle) USA; 26, Utopia (John Perez) COL; 27, Hickstead (Eric Lamaze) CAN; 28, Leonard (Jose Alberto Martinez Vazquez) MEX; 29, Danny Boy (Beezie Madden) USA; 30, Cinnamon (Tilt Kivisild) EST; 31, Shutterfly (Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum) GER; 32, Sabrina (Marcus Ehning) GER; 33, Delphi (Katie McVean) NZL; 34, Seldana di Campalto (Abdullah Al Sharbatly) KSA; 35, Tinka’s Serenade (Billy Twomey) IRL; 36, Flexible (Rich Fellers) USA; 37, Silvana de Hus (Kevin Staut) FRA; 38, Coupe de Coeur (Ludger Beerbaum) GER; 39, Tomba (Eduardo Menezes) BRA; 40, Casall La Silla (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) SWE; 41, Snowyriver II (Daisuke Kawaguchi) JPN; 42, Uwwalon (Michelle Spadone) USA; 43, Chico Z (Yuri Mansur Guerios) BRA.

Continue reading Schroder Starts the Action in Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Show Jumping, Vaulting

Four FEI World Cup Finals under One Roof – Watch the Action Live on FEI TV

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Leipzig (GER), 27 April 2011 – For the first time in history four FEI World Cup Finals will take place under one roof. Watch high quality, uninterrupted LIVE coverage on FEI TV according to the following timetable (all times are in GMT):

Thursday 28 April
Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final I – 13.10 GMT – 15.15 GMT
Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Grand Prix Qualifier – 15.55 GMT – 19.05 GMT

Friday 29 April
Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final II – 12.40 GMT – 15.15 GMT
FEI World Cup Driving Qualifier – 19.40 GMT – 20.25 GMT

Saturday 30 April
FEI World Cup Vaulting Final – 09.35 GMT – 11.15 GMT
Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Freestyle Part One – 15.55 GMT – 17.45 GMT
Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Freestyle Part Two – 18.40 GMT – 19.55 GMT

Sunday 1 May
FEI World Cup Driving Final – 09.25 GMT – 10.45 GMT
Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping III – 11.40 GMT – 15.00 GMT

Continue reading Four FEI World Cup Finals under One Roof – Watch the Action Live on FEI TV →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping, Vaulting

Shutterfly Joins the Leipzig Line-Up

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News from 2010/2011 FEI World Cup Finals by Louise Parkes

Lausanne (SUI), 26 April 2011 – Three-time Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping champion, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, has decided to compete her great gelding, Shutterfly, at the 2010/2011 final which opens at Leipzig, Germany tomorrow, 27 April.  Originally entered with Checkmate and Kismet, Meredith has substituted the latter for the 18 year old veteran who helped her secure the prestigious title at Las Vegas (USA) in 2005 and 2009 and at Gothenburg (SWE) in 2008. This means that not only is the German rider vying for a record-breaking fourth series victory, but Shutterfly may also go into the record books as the first horse to claim the honours on four occasions.  The only other horse to win three titles was Rodrigo Pessoa’s legendary stallion Baloubet du Rouet who scored a spectacular back-to-back hat-trick for his Brazilian rider between 1998 and 2000.

Some facts and figures about the 2010/2011 FEI World Cup Finals at Leipzig:

For the first time in the history of international equestrian sport, four finals will take place under one roof between 27 April and 1 May – Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping, Reem Acra FEI World Cup dressage, FEI World Cup Driving and FEI World Cup Vaulting.
Leipzig staged its first national event in 1998 and in 2002 held its first international show – the FEI World Cup Jumping final – Germany’s Otto Becker reigned supreme on that occasion with Dobel’s Cento.
Leipzig, the trade and cultural capital of eastern Germany, is closely associated with world-famous literary figure Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who studied law at Leipzig University.
A total of 50 competitions will take place at the Leipziger Messe exhibition centre between 27 April and 1 May.
The total prizemoney for the Finals is €1.6 million.
A total of 31 nations will compete in all four FEI World Cup events.
21 nations will be represented in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final.
There are 11 lady riders amongst the 43 starters in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final.
Course designer for the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final is Frank Rothenberger.
German footing expert, Oliver Hoberg, will ensure excellent ground conditions for horses and riders.
Stable Management has been allocated to Team Australia.
100,000 visitors are expected to attend the event – at the 2010 Leipzig fixture a total of 70,000 spectators turned up over the four-day fixture.
Three halls – each sized 21,000 square metres, will be in use during the final.
Hall 1 – 9,500 seats, arena size 40/80 metres, Hall 2 – 3,000 seats, Hall 3 – stabling for 900 horses, 750 of these are allocated for competition horses.
President of the Organising Committee is Volker Wulff.

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

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Leipzig Media Contact:
Andreas Kerstan
andreas.kerstan@comtainment.de
+49 4307 827970

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping, USEF, Vaulting

Twenty Americans Head to FEI World Cup Finals in Leipzig, Germany

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Shawna Harding and Come On III. Photo: SusanJStickle.com

Lexington, KY – The United States will have strong representation in Germany for the 2011 FEI World Cup Finals (April 27 – May 1), with 20 of the country’s best riders ready to leave their mark on Leipzig. For the first time the World Cup Finals in dressage, driving, jumping and vaulting will all be held under one roof, with the US sending competitors to vie for top honors in the dressage and jumping. The US will also use the Leipzig Exhibition Hall to showcase up-and-coming jumping riders in the European Youngster Cup Finals and the CSI3*.

With three riders competing in the 2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final, the US is poised to excel on the world stage. The American effort will be led by Catherine Haddad and her own Winyamaro. Based in Germany, the pair punched their ticket to the Finals by finishing fifth in the Western European League, which is widely known as the toughest Reem Acra World Cup Qualifying League.

California’s Jan Ebeling returns to World Cup stage with his partner from the 2009 Finals, Raflaca. The pair won most recently at the Festival of the Horse CDI-W in March. Shawna Harding and Come On III make their FEI World Cup Final debut, they look to capitalize on the consistent form they displayed throughout the winter season. Under the guidance of Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons, these three riders will compete in a field of 18 competitors from 11 countries, including former FEI World Cup Champions Edward Gal, Isabel Werth and Ulla Salzgeber.

Continue reading Twenty Americans Head to FEI World Cup Finals in Leipzig, Germany →

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

This Week in USEF International Disciplines – April 21

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Driving

At the Southern Pines CDE in North Carolina, six advanced divisions gave the U.S. drivers plenty of opportunity to hone their skills for some o f the 2011 FEI World Driving Championships. In the Advanced Single Pony Divisions, Australia’s Janelle Marshall won but USA’s Maggie Sullivan was second and Doris Leacy was third.

In the Advanced Pair Pony division, Wendy O’Brien scored a victory over Jennifer Matheson which came down to a close competition in the cones. O’Brien ended up in front on the strength of her marathon performance.

Allison Stroud continues her domination of the team pony division in the United States with her team of grey mostly Welsh ponies.

The Advanced Single Horse division proved successful for Kate Shields, she bested young driver Jacob Arnold by less than a point for the win. Robin Groves was less than four points off the winning score in the most competitive division of the weekend.

Continue reading This Week in USEF International Disciplines – April 21 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Auctions, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, Fundraisers, JRPR, World Equestrian Games

Chester Weber Pays It Forward (and Back!) When His WEG Winning Ribbon Is Returned to Him

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Chester Weber donated his signed winning 2010 WEG ribbon to a fund raising event and donated the proceeds to the Humane Society. (Photo courtesy of My Elizabeth Weber)

Ocala, FL (April 21, 2011) – Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion who has competed for the U.S. in three World Equestrian Games, thought he was bidding farewell to his 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Silver Medal ribbon when he donated the signed ribbon to a fund raising event. Weber considered it a “pay it forward” act, knowing that the proceeds from the ribbon were going to benefit the Humane Society of Marion County, Florida, in Weber’s hometown.

Weber said he felt content knowing his winning ribbon would be auctioned off on eBay and ultimately make a difference in the lives of the shelter animals. “I figured if the ribbon could raise money for a good cause, it would be much better than having it hang in my tack room,” he said.

What Weber didn’t expect, however, was for his ribbon to come back to him. While Weber’s attempts at “paying it forward” were acknowledged by fans everywhere, one fan took it a step further and bought the ribbon and returned it to Weber.

Continue reading Chester Weber Pays It Forward (and Back!) When His WEG Winning Ribbon Is Returned to Him →