Category Archives: Hunter/Equitation

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

Tracy Fenney Gets a Jump-Start on the 2012 $1 Million Grand Prix

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©ESI Photography. Tracy Fenney on course in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix

CULPEPER, VIRGNIA (October 3, 2011) – After posting a top-twenty finish in the 2011 Pfizer Million, Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas wasted no time in preparing for next year’s $1 Million Grand Prix. On Sunday, she and MTM Farm’s MTM Centano rode to victory in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Culpeper to clinch the first qualifying opportunity for 2012’s richest day in show jumping.

HITS wrapped up a successful 2011 circuit at the Culpeper Finals last week as Olaf Petersen of Paehl, Germany set the course for the final Grand Prix of the year. Thirty-one pairs took to his first round, which offered 13 jumping efforts, including a triple combination at fence five and double combination at fence eight. The time allowed of 78 seconds proved to be trouble for several riders as ten picked up time faults, keeping two clear rounds from advancing to the jump-off.

“I knew this was going to be one of the more competitive Grand Prix I have jumped all year since Olaf was the designer – he always makes it a challenging course and it was,” said Fenney. “He left little room for error and I thought he made it smart.”

Twelve advanced to the jump-off, which saw three go double clear. It was Fenney, however, who posted a time of 40.081 seconds – well within the 48 seconds time allowed – to capture the win.

Continue reading Tracy Fenney Gets a Jump-Start on the 2012 $1 Million Grand Prix →

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

HITS Moves Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal Final and National PHA Medal Final to HITS-on-the-Hudson VIII, Creating a Super Finale in Saugerties, New York for the 2012 Show Season

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Indoor tent from Thermal will travel east to Saugerties for both prestigious Medal Finals

© Flying Horse Photography. The indoor arena at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California is home to four FEI World Cup Qualifiers and a number other special classes during World Cup weeks.

SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK (October 4, 2011) — Looking to take next year’s season finale in Saugerties, New York to the next level, HITS, Inc. announced today that two major equitation finals will be incorporated into the competition schedule for the eighth and final week of the 2012 HITS Saugerties Show Series.

In addition to the $1 Million Grand Prix, Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final and the all-new $250,000 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix Final, the last week of HITS Saugerties will conclude with a three-day weekend extravaganza that will now include the National Professional Horsemen’s Association’s (PHA) Medal Final on Friday night and the ever-popular Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal Final on Saturday night. By moving the PHA Medal and the Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal up a week from the annual Marshall & Sterling League National Finals, the finale of the HITS Saugerties season will now feature a major final for hunters, jumpers and equitation riders.

In keeping with the great tradition of indoor medal finals, HITS will bring the tent used for FEI World Cup Qualifiers from Thermal, California back east to Saugerties for these two Finals.

“The final ingredient to make our season finale in Saugerties complete has just been added,” said Tom Struzzieri, HITS President and CEO. “The Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal has been a cornerstone of the League for many years and I believe this move will help to draw even more 3’6” equitation riders to the classes during the year and to the Final. The indoor tent will create an electric competition atmosphere, largely elevating the importance and experience of qualifying for and showing in this Final.”

Continue reading HITS Moves Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal Final and National PHA Medal Final to HITS-on-the-Hudson VIII, Creating a Super Finale in Saugerties, New York for the 2012 Show Season →

Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation

Jeff Gogul and By the Way Win the $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic at HITS Culpeper

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©ESI Photography. Jeff Gogul and Ruth Kanner’s By the Way on their way to victory in the $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic

CULPEPER, VIRGINIA (October 3, 2011) — Jeff Gogul of Chagrin Falls, Ohio and Ruth Kanner’s By the Way finished on top in Saturday’s $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic during the Culpeper Finals at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia.

“I am really pleased with [By the Way’s] performance and it was a great way to end our year,” said Gogul. “I think he is quite a special horse and I will probably show him in the Pre-Green Division again next year since we don’t want to hurry him along.”

After Gogul’s win, he is excited to look ahead to an appearance in next year’s second-ever Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final with By the Way at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

“I think it will be a lot of fun to do the $500,000 class with him next year in Saugerties, so I might look to get qualified for that. It would be a great way to finish 2012,” he added.

Kate Conover rode Redfield Farm’s Peron to a second-place finish in the feature event for hunter riders during the Culpeper Finals.

“[Peron] is a special horse,” said Conover. “Emil Spadone imported him a few years ago and he is so much fun to ride.”

Conover was Grand Circuit Champion in the Baby Green division with Peron last year at HITS Saugerties and picked up Reserve Circuit Champion honors in the Pre-Green division this year.

Continue reading Jeff Gogul and By the Way Win the $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic at HITS Culpeper →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Maclay, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Rescue/Protection Sources, Show Jumping

2011 ASPCA Maclay National Finalists Announced

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Lexington, KY – October 3, 2011 – The National Horse Show Association of America is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2011 ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay National Championship Finals. Attached is the list of riders who have qualified to compete in the Finals on Sunday, November 6, 2011, at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th edition. The Championship Finals will be presented by C. M. Hadfield’s Saddlery as one of the highlight events of the Alltech National Horse Show.

For more information, please visit www.nhs2011.org or www.nhs.org.

Qualifiers by Region

Region 1 – 38 riders
Region 2 – 48 riders
Region 3 – 19 riders
Region 4 – 36 riders
Region 5 – 21riders
Region 6 – 5 riders
Region 7 – 11 riders
Region 8 – 22 riders

Continue reading 2011 ASPCA Maclay National Finalists Announced →

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

Top Professional Hunter Riders Gear Up for the Alltech National Horse Show

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Maggie Jayne and Bella Blue Sweep Regular Working Hunters and $1,000 Open Hunter Classic at Showplace Fall Classic last year.

Lexington, KY – September 30, 2011 – The weeks are growing increasingly closer until the much anticipated Alltech National Horse Show makes its debut at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. During this prestigious competition, many of the top professional hunter riders will show against one another to earn the top honors in their respective divisions. Some of this year’s big names include professional riders such as Maggie Jayne, Archie Cox, Jennifer Alfano and many more. The Alltech National Horse Show will be held November 2-6, 2011, at the beautiful Alltech Arena.

“I’m excited for the Alltech National Horse Show this year,” said Maggie Jayne. “It is a great arena, and I feel like they are really going to make it special. The location is also perfect considering that it gives everyone a fair chance to make it out there. Its central location is ideal. The great thing about the Alltech Arena is the climate control, that factor is huge!,” she said. “Sometimes you don’t realize how that can make everything that much better.”

California-based trainer, Archie Cox, will be coaching his students as they compete during the ASPCA Maclay National Finals. “I have three or four students in the Maclay Finals, and we are all looking forward to the upcoming event,” Cox described. “It is pretty exciting to get to show there, especially since I have never shown in Kentucky personally, so I’m anxious to compete at the Kentucky Horse Park for the first time.”

Although Cox has never shown in Kentucky prior to the upcoming National Horse Show, many of the top professional hunter riders have competed at the Kentucky Horse Park for the spring and summer series and have an idea of what it truly offers. “I am excited and glad that the show has found a home in Kentucky,” expressed Jennifer Alfano of SBS Farms. “It is a place where we all love going and showing, and I think it is going to be great.”

Continue reading Top Professional Hunter Riders Gear Up for the Alltech National Horse Show →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Hayley Barnhill Wins North American Equitation Championships at Capital Challenge

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Hayley Barnhill and Asparagus

Upper Marlboro, MD – October 2, 2011 – Hayley Barnhill, of Collierville, TN, earned an exciting victory today as she topped the North American Equitation Championships at Capital Challenge. Barnhill’s win was followed by a top finish for Pilar Flournoy, of Topanga, CA, in the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal Finals. The day concluded with the North American Amateur Equitation Championships with a victory for Adrienne Dixon, of Hillsborough, CA. This weekend’s equitation competition at the Show Place Arena was presented by BigEq.com. The 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show will continue through October 9 at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Sunday’s competition began with the North American Equitation Championships with two rounds of competition. Nearly eighty competitors started out the day over fences, but the field was sharply narrowed to only twenty who were invited back for a second round. Riding Cayla Richards’ Asparagus, a 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Hayley Barnhill posted scores of 90.20 and 90.05 for a two-round winning total of 180.25.

“I’m very excited!” Barnhill beamed after her win. “It was a last minute thing to get to come here, and I love this horse show. I was second in this class last year; I was so close, so it is nice to win it.”

Yesterday’s flat winner, Morgan Geller, rode her gelding Fabricio to second place. Sarah Milliren and War Eagle, owned by Don Stewart, finished third. Conor Perrin and Nat King Cole earned fourth place honors. Alicia Gasser rode Schubert, owned by KMG Equestrian, to fifth place and Oliva Esse guided Oscany, Inc.’s Fernway Park into the sixth position.

Continue reading Hayley Barnhill Wins North American Equitation Championships at Capital Challenge →

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

Classic Company Launching New Winter Circuit for 2012

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Terry Brown and 2006 Horse of the Year Sequel. Photo © Flashpoint Photography

October 1, 2011 – Pensacola, FL – If you’re looking for a change from the same ole same ole in your winter showing plans, Classic Company president Bob Bell has the answer to your dilemma: three weeks of USEF AA rated Hunter/Jumper classes in Pensacola, FL at the Escambia County Equestrian Center from January 11th through the 29th.

This isn’t the first time Classic Company has visited Pensacola. Following hurricane Katrina’s visit in 2005 to the Gulf Coast and the damages at the Harrison County Equestrian Center in Gulfport, the 2006 Gulf Coast Winter Classics were invited by the Pensacola community to hold an abbreviated version of the annual winter circuit at the Escambia locale, rather than be forced to cancel the event altogether. “The facility, the staff, and the surrounding community were all so welcoming to us,” Bell said, “and our three weeks in Pensacola were simply wonderful. I’ve never forgotten their hospitality or how much exhibitors enjoyed the series, so when I learned of some open dates in their calendar my idea of new winter option became a reality.” Since Classic Company’s last visit, the facility has undergone a million dollar renovation along with new footing in the hunter rings.

The Pensacola series will offer an AA schedule similar to its larger sibling, the Gulf Coast Winter Classics, which will kick off six weeks of exciting equestrian action in Gulfport, MS on February 8th and continue through March 18th.  Each week in Pensacola will feature a $25,000 Show Jumping Grand Prix and the USHJA National Hunter Classic along with an array of rated classes for both hunters and jumpers. And for those riders just starting out, the popular Opportunity Classes will be offered to provide a fun experience and introduction to horse showing.

Exhibitors can also count on some wonderful social gatherings during the three weeks. “We have a reputation here at Classic for throwing great parties and the Pensacola event will not be deprived of that!” Bell teased.

Prize list for both the Pensacola Series and the Gulf Coast Classics will be available in mid-November. For early reservations or additional information, please call the office at 843-768-5503 or visit us on the web at www.classiccompany.com and for great hotel or condo rates, contact www.equestriantravel.com.

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

Nine Olympians Highlight Open Jumper Division at Alltech National Horse Show

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Laura Kraut. Photos © Erin Cowgill

Lexington, KY – September 30, 2011 – Nine Olympic veterans, including four gold medalists, highlight the talented roster of riders scheduled to compete at this year’s Alltech National Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on November 2-6, 2011.

This year’s debut event in Kentucky, designated a CSI-W 4*, will feature a big money Open Jumper division with over $370,000 in prize money, including the main event, the $250,000 Alltech National Horse Show Grand Prix, an FEI World Cup qualifier, on Saturday night. All in all, over $600,000 in prize money is up for grabs in November. “That brings this show on par or better than any show in North America, or any indoor show anywhere in the world,” noted show manager Hugh Kincannon.

American Olympians McLain Ward, Laura Kraut, Lauren Hough, Joe Fargis, Margie Engle and Todd Minikus will lead a stellar field of riders, representing eight different nations at this year’s show.

Currently ranked number two in the Rolex World Rankings, two-time Olympic Gold medalist McLain Ward will be joined by his Athens and Hong Kong teammate Laura Kraut. Joining this dynamic duo is veteran rider Joe Fargis who secured Olympic Gold in Los Angeles in 1984. Margie Engle and Lauren Hough, members of the United States Olympic team at Sydney, Australia are also scheduled to compete in Lexington.

Engle and Ward are currently ranked one-two on the list of all time grand prix wins in North America.

Continue reading Nine Olympians Highlight Open Jumper Division at Alltech National Horse Show →

Community/Charity, Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Ward, Show Jumping

Thunderbird Raises $11,607 for JustWorld International

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Jane, Laura, George and Laura Jane Tidball all competed in the Family Extravaganza Equitation Class to help raise $11,607 for JustWorld International. Photo Courtesy of Thunderbird Show Park

September 27, 2011 – Langley, British Columbia – Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC, raised $11,607 in support of JustWorld International during its recent Summer Classic and Summer Festival tournaments.

JustWorld International is a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization working as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world by helping impoverished children.  Thunderbird Show Park identified JustWorld’s Cambodia Rice for Families Project at Stung Mein Chey in Cambodia as the project it wanted to raise funds for.  Setting a target of $9,000, Thunderbird far exceeded its fundraising goal by bringing in $11,607 from its various fundraising activities.  The money will go directly to the project, giving families in the Stung Mein Chey garbage dump a 5 kg bag of rice each month, helping to reduce the need for children to gather food scraps or to earn money by picking through trash.

Thunderbird held several fundraising and awareness events over the course of the Summer Classic tournament from August 17-21 and the Summer Festival tournament from August 24-28.  JustWorld’s signature Horseless Horse Show, which sees people compete on foot over miniature jumps, was held on Friday, August 19, much to the delight of the crowd.  A silent auction, which raised more than $4,000 in support of JustWorld, was also held the same day during the $50,000 Dianne Tidball Legacy Grand Prix.

During the second week of competition, the fun-filled Groom’s Class took the spotlight in the grand prix ring on Thursday, August 25.  Thunderbird Show Park matched the groom’s cash donations to help raise more than $600 for JustWorld’s project sites.

Continue reading Thunderbird Raises $11,607 for JustWorld International →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

North American Equitation Championship Weekend Presented by Big Eq.com to Begin 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show

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Victoria Birdsall won last year's North American Equitation Championships

Upper Marlboro, MD – September 28, 2011 – The 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show kicks off this Saturday, October 1, 2011, with its North American Equitation Championship Weekend presented by BigEq.com. Running through October 9, the 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show will feature many of the nation’s best horses and riders in a week of exceptional equestrian competition held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The equitation weekend will host many exciting classes, including the finals for the 2011 Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal series.

Bigeq.com is the premier website for buying and selling hunters, jumpers, equitation horses and ponies. The website sponsors the Capital Challenge equitation weekend each year and is proud to support the show and its exhibitors. The North American Equitation Championship Weekend presented by BigEq.com will feature the North American Equitation Championships, THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, and the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Championships.

Also featured over the weekend will be the 17-Year-Old Equitation, 16-Year-Old Equitation, 15-Year-Old Equitation, 13 & 14-Year-Old Equitation, 12 & Under Equitation, and Open Equitation 3’ and 3’6” divisions.

The Prince George’s Equestrian Center is a fantastic facility for both horse and rider, featuring indoor and outdoor rings and excellent stabling. Manager Oliver Kennedy looks forward to welcoming horse show participants and anticipates another fantastic year at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

Kennedy stated, “Capital Challenge is a great opportunity for riders to show their horses in a fun and welcoming environment. The facility provides the experience of showing both indoors and outdoors, and there is always plenty of space to ride and school. We strive to give horses and riders the best experience available, and there is nothing better than showing at Capital Challenge in the fall.”

Continue reading North American Equitation Championship Weekend Presented by Big Eq.com to Begin 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show →