Category Archives: Hunter/Equitation

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

Michelle Spadone Rides Uitteraard to Victory in the $53,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix CSI2*-W at HITS Thermal

Leave a comment
© Flying Horse Photography. Michelle and Alejandro Rodal's Uitteraard on course in Saturday night's $53,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix CSI2*-W

THERMAL, CA (February 26, 2012) – Michelle Spadone seems to have some great chemistry with Alejandro Rodal’s Uitteraard. After just seven shows together, the pair won their first Grand Prix as a team in last night’s $53,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix CSI2*-W, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, before a sold-out crowd in the indoor arena at the HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, California. Just two weeks ago during Desert Circuit III, Spadone and Uitteraard finished ninth in the $53,000 HITS Grand Prix CSI2*W, presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

Canadian Course Designer Danny Foster set an exciting 1.60 meter course with lots of twists and turns. Riders faced an early combination (3a-b) at the third fence, a liverpool that caught some by surprise mid-way through the course and a triple (12a-b-c) on the last line towards the finish.

Continue reading Michelle Spadone Rides Uitteraard to Victory in the $53,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix CSI2*-W at HITS Thermal →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Duncan McFarlane and Mr. Whoopy Clean Up in the $32,000 HITS Desert Classic to Open the Second Half of the Season in Thermal

Leave a comment
©Flying Horse Photography. Duncan McFarlane and Mr. Whoopy glide high over the Purina Mills jump in Thursday's $32,000 HITS Desert Classic

THERMAL, CA (February 24, 2012) – The second half of the 2012 HITS Desert Circuit is officially underway and exhibitors are flocking from all corners to Thermal, California. Entries have swelled to 2,700 stalls for the week and Thursday saw nine rings of competition buzzing all day long. Coming off an exciting win in Desert Circuit III’s $53,000 HITS Grand Prix CSI2*-W, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, Duncan McFarlane and Simone Cox’s Mr. Whoopy picked up right where they left off when they posted the fastest double-clear round in Thursday’s $32,000 HITS Desert Classic (FEI), presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

With the current U.S. Chef d’Equipe George Morris watching from the sidelines, 25 starters took to the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix field in Thursday’s feature class. Canada’s Danny Foster, who is in town to set the courses for the week, came up with a challenging route that weeded out the competition to just five for the jump-off.

Continue reading Duncan McFarlane and Mr. Whoopy Clean Up in the $32,000 HITS Desert Classic to Open the Second Half of the Season in Thermal →

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

Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show and Country Fair a Destination for High-End Hospitality

Leave a comment
Photo by Tim Vaughn

Wellington, FL – February 24, 2012 – Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show (TPHCHS) is a summer destination event. Located on the beautiful 250-acre grounds of Wild Air Farms in Zionsville, IN, the show offers top prize money with two Grand Prix events and a USHJA International Hunter Derby. Exhibitors at TPHCHS enjoy fun family activities and events while participating in a competitive, high-quality show. This year’s TPHCHS is scheduled for August 7-12, 2012.

“We are in the country, which is a great way for people to just escape. The horses love it here, the footing is great and things run smoothly. It is a great place to show,” shared Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, Chairperson of TPHCHS.

Exhibitors are greeted with morning treats, afternoon tea and carrots for the horses. Riders are encouraged to enjoy the many trails that wind around Lake Elizabeth and Indian Lake on the property. In addition, there is an exhibitors’ luncheon, a ladies luncheon, an exhibitors’ cocktail party, kids’ day and a fun dog show.

Continue reading Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show and Country Fair a Destination for High-End Hospitality →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Egypt’s Nayel Nassar and Lordan Win $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix

Leave a comment

Rodrigo Pessoa and HH Palouchin Win Wire to Wire in $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic; Keenan and Jacobs Take USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Wins

Nayel Nassar and Lordan. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – February 24, 2012 – Egypt’s Nayel Nassar proved to be the best in Friday night’s $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix, presented by Dutta Corporation in association with Guido Klatte. Nassar and Lordan, owned by Nayel and Sharaff Nassar, won in a jump-off of three over a challenging course for victory. Katie Dinan (USA) and Grant Road Partners’ Sandro were second, while Caitlin Ziegler (USA) and Dollar Van’t Eigenlo CH, owned by Artisan Farms LLC, finished third.

The 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.

Continue reading Egypt’s Nayel Nassar and Lordan Win $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Tracy Fenney Wins Her Third Grand Prix at HITS Ocala to Qualify for the 2012 Pfizer Million

Leave a comment
©ESI Photography. Tracy Fenney and MTM Farm’s MTM Centano gain momentum towards qualifying for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix with a win in Thursday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

OCALA, FL (February 24, 2012) – Tracy Fenney banked her eighth Grand Prix of the qualifying season with a win in yesterday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, aboard MTM Farm’s MTM Centano to become eligible for her third appearance in the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. No stranger to Pfizer Million glory, Fenney appeared in HITS-on-the-Hudson’s big ticket class in both 2010 and 2011 with two top twenty finishes to show for it.

Fenney, of Flower Mound, Texas leads the way in the 2012 Pfizer Million Rider Rankings with $43,500 in prize money and has her sights firmly set on September’s offering. She stole first place in the preliminary Rider Rankings from former Canadian Olympian Jill Henselwood with two second place finishes in last week’s Grand Prix.

Yesterday’s win was Fenney’s third during the HITS Winter Circuit in Ocala and MTM Centano’s huge stride ate up Course Designer Ken Krome’s tracks. He presented technicality over size to both horse and rider with a water obstacle at fence number four as well as a double and triple combination in the second half of the course.

Continue reading Tracy Fenney Wins Her Third Grand Prix at HITS Ocala to Qualify for the 2012 Pfizer Million →

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

Louise Serio and Castle Rock Earn WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular Second Place Honors

Leave a comment
Louise Serio and Castle Rock claimed the WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular reserve championship. Photo By: SportFot

Wellington, FL – February 24, 2012 – Defending 2011 WCHR Pro Hunter Classic champions Louise Serio and Castle Rock returned to International Ring at the Winter Equestrian Festival on Saturday, February 18, to compete during the 2012 WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular. Their flawless rounds were recognized with high marks from the judges, and at the end of the night they took home the second place prize.

Serio and Castle Rock, owned by Bryan Baldwin, have been an unstoppable duo for many years, willing not only the 2011 WCHR Pro Hunter Spectacular, but also the 2010 USHJA International Hunter Derby. The veteran pair stepped into the ring ready to perform on Saturday, and once again Castle Rock stepped up to the plate with ease. They qualified for the second round with a score 88.12, and sealed the second place award with a score of 91.50, for a two-round total of 178.37.

Continue reading Louise Serio and Castle Rock Earn WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular Second Place Honors →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Kent Farrington and Voyeur Prove Victorious in $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 7

Leave a comment

Hayley Barnhill and Caliber Raise the Bar in WEF Open Hunter 3′

Kent Farrington and Voyeur won the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 7. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – February 23, 2012 – Kent Farrington earned a victory for the United States on Thursday with his brand new mount Voyeur, owned by Amalaya Investments, in the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 in Wellington. Showing in the International Arena of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the pair out jumped fellow Americans Katie Dinan and Grant Road Partner’s Nougat Du Vallet, who finished second and Cara Raether and Trelawny Farm LLC’s Saskia 269, who placed third. Catherine Pasmore and Pasmore Stable’s Vandavid also earned USA the fourth place prize.

The 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.

Continue reading Kent Farrington and Voyeur Prove Victorious in $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Ben Maher Earns One-Two Finish with Tackeray and Quiet Easy 4 in $32k G&C Farm 1.45m Classic

Leave a comment
Quiet Easy 4 and Ben Maher. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – February 22, 2012 – Great Britain’s Ben Maher finished first and second in today’s $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic aboard his horses Tackeray and Quiet Easy 4, both owned by Mrs. Emma Phillips. Held as a Rolex FEI world ranking competition, the class was the feature event on Wednesday as the seventh week of the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) got underway.

Sponsored by Fidelity Investments, week seven will host the $100,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix CSI 3* on Saturday, February 25, at 7 p.m. Other highlights include the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix on Friday, February 24, at 7 p.m. and the $32,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday, February 26, at 1 p.m.

Continue reading Ben Maher Earns One-Two Finish with Tackeray and Quiet Easy 4 in $32k G&C Farm 1.45m Classic →

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

Jennifer Alfano Rides Maggie May to Top Honors at HITS III Ocala Winter Festival

Leave a comment
Jennifer Alfano rode Maggie May to the High Pre-Green Hunter Championship during HITS Ocala III Winter Festival. Photo: ESI Photography

Ocala, FL – February 22, 2012 – The success within the hunter rings continued this week for SBS Farms at the HITS III Ocala Winter Festival. Professional rider Jennifer Alfano guided numerous horses to the top honors this past week, including riding the young Maggie May to the High Pre-Green Hunter Championship.

Maggie May is a six-year-old Bradenberger mare owned by Billie Steffee, who Alfano showed to the championship tricolor in the High Pre-Green Hunter division. The young mare is always improving, and the pair took two blue ribbons over fences and the second place award for their efforts in the under saddle.

“She has been great; I am really excited about her this year. She keeps getting better and better every week, and she is really growing up a lot,” Alfano explained. “It’s really fun to be a part of her coming along, and being able to watch it all unfold.”

Continue reading Jennifer Alfano Rides Maggie May to Top Honors at HITS III Ocala Winter Festival →

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

Southeast Medal Finals Fast Facts

Leave a comment

WHAT: The Southeast Medal Finals will be a new indoor hunter, jumper and equitation horse show attracting the top riders from USHJA Zone 4 and beyond.

WEBSITE: www.southeastmedalfinals.com

WHEN: September 21-23, 2012

WHERE: The Jacksonville Equestrian Center, Jacksonville, FL, featuring a large indoor coliseum with 3,000 seats, two outdoor ring and 500 permanent stalls.

FEATURES

  • Southeast Junior 3′ Medal Finals
  • Southeast Adult 3′ Medal Finals
  • ASPCA Maclay Regionals
  • Region Three Maclay Equitation Classic
  • Florida Equitation Classic
  • Zone 4 USEF Pessoa National Hunt Seat Medal Finals
  • Zone 4 USEF Adult Medal Finals
  • Zone 4 $10,000 Children’s Jumper Championship
  • Zone 4 $10,000 Adult Jumper Championship
  • Zone 4 Children’s Hunter Championship
  • Zone 4 Adult Hunter Championship
  • Zone 4 Children’s Hunter Pony Championship

Continue reading Southeast Medal Finals Fast Facts →