Jack Hardin Towell, Sr. started his own business as a hunter/jumper trainer at the age of 17. Now the owner of Finally Farm in Camden, South Carolina, and one of the leading horse trainers in the US, his accomplishments as a trainer have secured his stature in the industry. Jack has used his skills and intuition to discover and make top hunter ponies and horses. He has trained 65 champions and/or reserve champions in the best indoor shows, including The Pennsylvania National, Devon, The Washington International, Capital Challenge, and The National Horse Show.
Jack is also an R rated horse-show judge and has officiated at many prestigious horse shows including the Washington International and the ASPCA Maclay Finals.
Please join us May 7-8, 2011 at Longfield Stables located at Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, SC for an opportunity to ride with a master. Contact Lauren Marcinkoski at SwampFoxFarms@gmail.com or (912) 484 8510 for more information.
Lexington, KY – May 4, 2011 – The National Horse Show Association of America Ltd. announced today that E. Hunter Harrison has been named as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Born in Tennessee, Harrison served for many years as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian National Railway before retiring in 2009, leaving an admirable record of accomplishment. Thanks to his leadership, CN became the envy of the railway industry and Harrison developed his reputation as one of the most successful railroaders in history. In a fitting tribute to Harrison, CN named their Memphis distribution center after its retiring CEO. They unveiled the Harrison Yard recently, after spending $100-million to nearly double its capacity.
Harrison’s Double H Farm, owned by Hunter and his wife Jeannie, is one of the top equestrian show stables in the industry. The farm, managed by the Harrison’s daughter, Cayce, is home to a number of world-class show jumpers, including Let’s Fly and Rufus, shown by Olympic Gold Medalist Rodrigo Pessoa.
The 2011 Atlanta Spring Premiere May 11-15 and Atlanta Spring Challenge May 18-22 is just under a week away. The highly anticipated show series takes place at the renowned Georgia International Horse Park in Atlanta, Georgia with J. P. Godard and his Equus Events handling the managing duties.
Besides an attractive line up of classes including a World Champion Hunter Rider Event week I, a $25,000 Grand Prix each week, a $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby week II, and over $180,000 in prize money, Equus Events will also be offering daily hospitality and weekly parties for all exhibitors, trainers, riders, sponsors, and officials. “It is really a way for us to give back,” said Megan Godard. “Thank you to all of our sponsors and supporters for making all of it possible.” The exhibitor’s party week I will take place on the hill beside the International Arena during the $25,000 Atlanta Spring Premiere Grand Prix on Saturday, May 14th. Week II’s annual Preakness Party will take place Saturday, May 21st during the $25,000 Atlanta Spring Challenge Grand Prix again on the hill next to the International Arena. A big screen TV will also be provided to catch all of the action of the 136th running of the Preakness Stake. Many thanks to DFG Stables and Daniel and Cathy Geitner of Aiken, South Carolina for sponsoring this event.
Award presentations for ANRC National Championship (Flashpoint Photography).
Hardeeville, SC – The weather gods smiled on the American National Riding Commission (ANRC) the weekend of April 14-17 at their 34th annual National Intercollegiate Equitation Championships hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). While other areas experienced tornados and downpours, the Ronald C. Waranch Equestrian Center just outside Savannah, GA, in Hardeeville, SC, was spared. Fifty-two riders from 10 colleges were able to enjoy the beautiful facility, meticulously groomed arenas, challenging medal courses, and imposing new hunter trials fences.
The ANRC National Championship is a member event of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Affiliate Equitation Awards Program. The championship showcases the American Forward Riding System and the sporting horse. Judged on equitation, it rewards diversified skills in a three-phase competition. Competitors complete a dressage sportif ride, an outdoor hunter trials course and a USEF Medal-type hunter seat equitation course. Riders ride the same horse throughout the competition, and jumps do not exceed 3 feet in height. They also sit for a written test on riding theory and equine science. Teams may consist of two or three riders (with the lowest of the three scores dropped in each phase). Individuals also may compete.
For the first time this year, a Novice Division with fences at 2’6” was offered in addition to the 3’ Nationals Division. Seven colleges fielded Novice teams or individuals: Goucher College, Midway College, SCAD, St. Andrews Presbyterian College (SAPC), University of Georgia (UGA), The University of the South (Sewanee), and Virginia Intermont College (VIC). Midway, competing at their first Nationals, swept the Novice Division winning the team Championship over VIC. Midway’s twin sisters, Alison and Erinn Born, were Novice Individual Champion and Reserve.
Wellington, FL – April 27, 2011 – The College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) is pleased to announce many exciting changes and improvements to their program for their 2012 horse show. Following an extremely successful inaugural event in 2011, the CPI is already in the midst of developing a bigger and better event for their second year. The 2012 horse show will be larger, allowing more riders to compete, and will include dressage classes and an increase to five scholarships that will be awarded.
The mission of the CPI is to prepare and educate student riders in grades 8 – 12 about the format of college equestrian competition, encourage academics and horsemanship, and to provide the riders with resources to create their desired college equestrian experience. The show is specifically geared to promote college recruitment of equestrians by providing the opportunity for coaches and potential students to meet.
Washington, DC, April 25, 2011 – Let the horses inspire you! The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), the leading indoor equestrian event in the US, is seeking an original poster design for its 53rd annual event, to be held Oct. 25-30, 2011, at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The six-day equine extravaganza features the country’s leading horses and riders in exciting jumping competition.
The poster contest is open to US-based artists, both amateur and professional, 18 years or older. A maximum of three entries per artist will be accepted. There is no entry fee. The work submitted must be original and may be in any medium suitable for duplicating on posters and souvenir merchandise. The deadline for entries is 4:00 p.m., Monday, May 31, 2011.
Entries should be inspired by the WIHS and reflect an equestrian or horse theme. Artists also should consider the event’s longstanding ties to Washington, DC.
The winning design will be selected by a panel of judges and will be used to promote the 2011 horse show. The winning artist will receive significant publicity, 100 posters and a package of all other items produced with the winning design, four weeklong passes to the show and the option to have a vendor booth during the show. The artist retains the original artwork.
Wellington, FL – April 26, 2011 – The Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) Spring Circuit held its sixth show on April 19-23 with a full schedule of hunter/jumper competition. The popular circuit featured three classes in the Spring 6 show: the $10,000 Pennfield Feeds Open Jumper Welcome Stake, the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Classic, and the $25,000 ESP Spring 6 Grand Prix.
Up and coming jumper stars ruled the International Arena this past week. In the $25,000 Spring 6 Grand Prix, 13-year-old Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, scored her first grand prix win with Monsieur Reverdy, owned by Rivers Edge. She beat a field of 32 entries with a double clear finish in 36.755 seconds. Quentin Judge (24) and HH Sandor were second in 37.143 seconds, while 16-year-old Christina Kelly and Camirage, owned by Diamond Edge Farm, were third in 37.261 seconds.
CULPEPER, VA (April 21, 2011) — It’s official! The grass is freshly cut, the flags are flying high and the sponsor banners are lining the grounds, as show jumping is underway with the Commonwealth National at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia.
“We have been here every week for as long as I can remember,” said trainer Peter Foley. “With the diverse schedule of classes and its convenient location in the heart of Virginia’s horse country, HITS Culpeper is a ‘can’t miss’ for us.”
When the action kicked off yesterday in the hunter ring, it was Winn Alden (Bristow, Virginia) who got the party started when she took the blue ribbon aboard Stacey McFadden’s Catalyst in the first over fences class of the First Year Green Hunter division. In the second class, she piloted Cassandra Gergeley’s Davinci to the victory, which puts her on the inside track for a division championship when it gets crowned later today!
“It’s great to be back in Culpeper,” said Alden. “I was in Ocala all winter and we had a great time. I will be showing at Culpeper every week, trying to qualify for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.”
Wellington, FL – April 19, 2011 – The Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) Spring Circuit continued last week with week 5 on April 13-17. ESP was very pleased to see that exhibitor numbers at the show increased 25% from 2010. The horse show offered a full schedule of hunter/jumper competition, with three classes featured: the $10,000 Pennfield Feeds Open Jumper Welcome Stake, the $7,500 Reist Industries High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Stake at The Stadium, and the $30,000 ESP Spring 5 Grand Prix.
The winner of the $30,000 ESP Spring 5 Grand Prix was Norman Dello Joio (USA) on Notre Star de la Nutria, owned by La Nutria and Thelma Ramero Cloud. They beat out 40 entries in the class for the USEF Ranking Class victory with double clear rounds and a jump-off time of 45.960 seconds. Second place went to Traffic Boy, ridden by Shane Sweetnam (IRL) for Spy Coast Farm LLC. They were also clear in 46.637 seconds. The last double clear ride was by Aaron Vale (USA), who piloted Texola for himself and Joan Kalman. They stopped the timers in 47.378 seconds for third place.
Lexington, KY – April 19, 2011 – The National Horse Show Association of America Ltd. announced today that Eric L. Straus has been appointed to the Board of Directors to fill out the term held by the late Eugene R. Mische.
Straus brings a wealth of talent and experience to the National Horse Show Board of Directors.
Straus is a recognized USEF judge, steward and FEI show jumping steward. Recently, at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Straus served as the FEI Honorary Chief Steward General for Reining and previously officiated at the World Equestrian Games in 2002 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, and again in 2006 in Aachen Germany. He was Chief Judge for Modern Pentathlon at the 1996 Olympic Games and the 1987 Pan American Games.
Straus is a Trustee and Executive Committee member of the American Horse Council in Washington, D.C., and is Secretary and Executive Committee member of the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation. He also served as Executive Director of the United States Equestrian Federation in 1996-1997.
