Category Archives: Hunter/Equitation

Auctions, Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, Fundraisers, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Kristen VanderVeen Defends Her Title in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Grand Prix

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More Than $6,000 Raised for Wildfire Relief

Kristen VanderVeen defended her title in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix. Photos: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — Six weeks of fantastic competition and wonderful events at the Colorado Horse Park (CHP) were capped off with a weekend to remember. There was truly something for everyone, including pony rides and face painting for military families during the second annual Military Appreciation Day; equestrian safety and the distribution of free helmets during the Parker Adventist Hospital Helmet Fitting; and the Wildfire Relief Fundraising Auction spearheaded by Liliane Stransky and her Step by Step Foundation that raised more than $6,000 for the victims of the Waldo Canyon fire. The day concluded with world-class competition in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix.

Kristen VanderVeen, of St. Charles, IL, defended her title as reigning champion of the biggest Grand Prix of the Colorado Summer Circuit. On her horse Bull Run’s Zino Platinum, VanderVeen led the victory gallop for the second year in a row. Bull Run’s Zino Platinum is an 11-year-old Holsteiner (Accorodo) and has been with VanderVeen for about a year and a half.

Continue reading Kristen VanderVeen Defends Her Title in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Grand Prix →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Leslie Howard Steals the Victory in the Desjardins Speed Derby at International Bromont

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Leslie Howard et Lennox Lewis 2. Credit: Normand St-Jacques

Bromont, July 24, 2012 – American rider Leslie Howard, who won the first FEI Open Jumper 1m50 this week, presented by the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, enjoys victory again in the Desjardins Speed Derby, winning with a comfortable six-second margin.

A high-energy course

The Speed Derby’s course, built in two rings, added a challenge for the horses by using the walkway to cross over. Twenty-two horse/rider teams participated, including Leslie Howard, a serious competitor where speed is involved; as well as St-Eustache rider François Lamontagne, renowned for his love of speed.

Leslie Howard, third in the order of go, posts a round with 4 penalty faults in 124.40 seconds, a time that will prove hard to beat. First contender to execute a clear round, Nathalie Mathers and her mount Windline lead the class with a respectable time of 126.53 seconds. François Lamontagne’s entry on Carriere Z almost took away the lead, posting the best time without penalty faults, until an unfortunate bar fell 2/3 into his round. With 119.28 seconds, he posts the second best time of the event. Leslie Howard’s return on her second mount, Lennox Lewis 2, marks a turning point: with a time of 120.30 seconds and a clear round, she takes possession of first place.

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Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince Capture the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV

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Linda McBurney shines in the $10,000 Marshall & Sterling Child/Adult Jumper Classic

©ESI Photography. Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince on course in the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix

SAUGERTIES, NY (July 24, 2012) – The weather proved perfect for competition at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV this weekend and was highlighted by Sunday’s $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. As 22 entries made their attempt to capture Sunday’s big stake, Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince, owned by Laura Chapot & McLain Ward emerged as the winners.

International course designer Olaf Petersen, Sr. of Paehl, Germany set the course and had nine horse and rider combinations advance to the jump-off.

Chapot, of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, had two mounts in the jump-off and also earned the fourth-place ribbon aboard Mary Chapot’s Umberto. Earlier in the week, Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince had scored a third-place finish earlier in the week in the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome and a seventh-place finish in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, which helped prime them for a strong finish on Sunday.

Continue reading Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince Capture the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Classic Company, Classic Company, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

The Twentieth Anniversary of the Charleston Classic – That’s a Wrap!

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Paige Parker pilots Champlain Sovereign over an obstacle in the $25,000 KnickerDoodles Pony Hunter Derby.

July 22, 2012 – The twentieth anniversary of the Charleston Classic closed yesterday with a bang with the $25,000 KnickerDoodles Pony Hunter Derby.  This was the second installment of the largest pony hunter purse in the country and the ponies were out in full force!  Twenty five pony and rider combinations tackled the course designed by Allen Rheinheimer and Joe Carnicum which saw Paige Parker riding Champlain Sovereign, owned by The Hill Farm, in the winner’s circle with a combined score of 176 points.  In second place was Bergen Sanderford riding Center Ice, owned by Maria Yzerman, with a total score of 162, and third place honors went to Grace Gresset riding her own Daisy Due Blue with a combined effort of 156 points.

“This is only the second time we have offered this class and we were very pleased with the turnout.  It was a great way to celebrate our twentieth anniversary of the Classic Company,” said Bob Bell, President of Classic Company.

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Competitions, Events, FEI, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Shawn Casady and Zubantos Earn Individual Junior Show Jumping Silver Medal at NAJYRC

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Shawn Casady and Zubantos won the Individual Junior Show Jumping Silver Medal at the 2012 NAJYRC. Photo: Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com

Lexington, KY – July 23, 2012 – Rising junior talent Shawn Casady and Elm Rock LLC’s Zubantos were the winners of the Individual Junior Show Jumping Silver Medal during the 2012 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC). After earning just four faults over the first five rounds of the competition, they advanced to the jump-off where another clear round over the technical track was good enough to claim the Individual Silver Medal.

Eighteen-year-old Casady showcased consistency and accuracy with the eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood Gelding Zubantos, lowering the height of just one fence throughout the five rounds of the prestigious event. “Zubantos is still young, but he’s a great guy, careful and scopey,” stated Casady. “I’ve been so fortunate to ride this horse.”

Trainer Ken Smith added, “This was an exciting accomplishment for all of us. Shawn rode great throughout the whole competition. Zubantos is a super brave horse, scopey and careful. He has really benefited from Shawn’s accurate riding this year.”

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Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation

Ellen Toon and Invincible Punch Their Ticket for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final

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©ESI Photography. Ellen Toon and her own Invincible sail to victory and pick up their final Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final qualifier in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

SAUGERTIES, NY (July 22, 2012) – With a win in Saturday’s $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Saugerties, Ellen Toon and her own Invincible picked up their fifth qualifying class and are on their way to HITS Championship Weekend for their second appearance in the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.

“I was a little rusty coming into this class,” admitted Toon of South Salem, New York. “But, he [Invincible] is such a seasoned and enthusiastic competitor, he always makes me feel more confident. As soon as he picked up a canter in the ring, I knew we were going to have a good day.”

Saturday’s Devoucoux Hunter Prix took place in the newly debuted Outside Course at HITS-on-the-Hudson and featured a dynamic track built by Rian Beals of Saugerties, New York.

“Jumping off the bank was really nice and made for a fun first round,” said Toon. “The footing in this new ring gets better and better each week.”

Continue reading Ellen Toon and Invincible Punch Their Ticket for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Maclay, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Final Prize List Online and Ready to Print for First-Ever Southeast Medal Finals!

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Jacksonville, FL – July 20, 2012 – The First Annual Southeast Medal Finals will take place on September 21-23, 2012 at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center in Jacksonville, FL. The show is patterned after the successful and long-standing New England Medal Finals, giving riders in Zone 4 and Region 3, a chance to compete for the top honors in an array of classes. Highlights include the Southeast Junior 3′ Medal Finals and the Southeast Adult 3′ Medal Finals, the Region Three ASPCA Maclay Regionals. The Indoor show will feature hunter, jumper and equitation classes over the period of three days, with highlight classes that are sure to catch the exhibitors’ attention.

The prize list for this illustrious new show is available online! To download, go to: http://www.southeastmedalfinals.com/Downloads.aspx.

To request a mailed prize list please contact Susie Rindal at rindal@bellsouth.net.

Continue reading Final Prize List Online and Ready to Print for First-Ever Southeast Medal Finals! →

Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Schuyler Riley and Waterloo Climb to the Top in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

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©ESI Photography. Schuyler Riley and Waterloo clear an oxer on their way to victory in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix.

SAUGERTIES, NY (July 20, 2012) – Summer show jumping got underway at HITS Saugerties this week as Schuyler Riley and M. Michael Meller’s Waterloo clinched first place in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Riley of Wellington, Florida and Meller’s nine-year-old Warmblood topped a four-horse jump-off and posted the only double clear round of the day for the win.

Olaf Petersen, Sr. of Paehl, Germany set a first round, which offered a dynamic 13-obstacle course with several bending lines and rollbacks in between. The first of two combinations was a double at four, which proved to be a challenge for many, dashing any hope of a fault-free round for over half the field.

“This was a really nice size course and it offered a lot of different questions,” said Riley. “Once I picked a track and committed, it rode beautifully.”

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Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show Provides Jumper Highlights August 7-12

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Zionsville, IN – July 18, 2012 – The Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show (TPHCHS) brings the most desirable featured competitions to the forefront of their weeklong show. TPHCHS will offer top classes for riders of all experience levels from August 7-12, 2012, including several prestigious championships and Grand Prix opportunities. The jumper highlights are a chance for riders from across the nation to showcase their talented mounts against some of the best.

The long anticipated $30,000 Mr. & Mrs. Russell Fortune, Jr. Memorial Grand Prix will take place Friday, August 10, 2012 at 5 pm. The event is open to all horses, and the height will be set at 1.50 meters, testing riders and horses alike in preparation for the $60,000 Grand Prix of Indianapolis to be held Sunday, August 12 at 2 pm.

TPHCHS will also offer the USHJA Zone 5 Open Jumper Championship which will consist of the two phases including the $2,000 1.40m Time First Round Phase I and the $3,000 1.40m Time First Round Phase II. The show will offer numerous Open Jumper classes, including the 1.20m Open Jumpers, 1.30m Open Jumpers, and the esteemed $1,000 1.35m Open Jumpers.

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Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

HITS Culpeper Welcomes Record-Breaking Numbers and Crowns Rachel Udelson Queen of the Grand Prix

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©ESI Photography. After a successful two weeks at HITS Culpeper, Rachel Udelson and her own VDL Wardorette won the $40,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix.

CULPEPER, VA (July 17, 2012) – HITS Culpeper capped two weeks of horse shows on Sunday with a record number of competitors spending the early part of their summer at the Cavalier Classic. It was Rachel Udelson of Middleburg, Virginia and her own VDL Wardorette who rode to top honors in Sunday’s $40,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Udelson was one of three to go double clear and used to last round of the day to steal the win.

“This was the perfect ending to a great two weeks,” said Udelson. “This course was nice; it asked all the right questions and was just technical enough.”

After a win in last week’s Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix and a fourth-place finish in last Sunday’s Grand Prix, all the pieces fell into place for Udelson and her nine-year-old mare as they topped a field of 25. The pair bested a 13 obstacle course and was one of eight to advance to the jump-off.

Continue reading HITS Culpeper Welcomes Record-Breaking Numbers and Crowns Rachel Udelson Queen of the Grand Prix →