Jennifer Alfano fresh from another win with Jersey Boy in the Hunter Derby Series, Dr. Tania Cubitt with another nutritional tip for the spring season, and journalist Pippa Cookson joins Chris in the co-host chair for a update on British Show Jumping. Listen in…
Wellington, FL – April 14, 2011 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) is proud to congratulate all of the Circuit Champions for the 2011 season. ESP is also thrilled with the many accomplishments that were made throughout the 2011 season and look forward to continued improvements during the summer months to make the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival one of the best horse shows in the world.
Throughout the twelve weeks of competition, more than $6 million was awarded in prize money, and over $1 million was raised for 32 charities in the FTI Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments.
The 2011 FTI WEF also saw increased numbers of horses, riders, owners, and trainers from last year. Almost 5,000 horses and more than 3,000 riders competed over the twelve weeks of competition. It is no surprise that these numbers increased this year, due to the world-class events that were offered throughout the circuit.
The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival Circuit Champion Awards were presented to the top finishers in every division, based on prize money and points won.
Parade of Hounds at the Tryon Summer Classic. Photos by: Shawn McMillen
Beautiful spring weather has arrived here in the south and Equus Events spring and summer schedule is beginning to heat up. The Atlanta Spring Premiere May 11-15 and the Atlanta Spring Challenge May 18-22 are just around the corner and will include two fabulous weeks of AA competition at the Georgia International Horse Park. This show series takes place in one of the countries premiere equestrian facilities and will offer over $180,000 in prize money through out the two weeks. Features include a $25,000 Grand Prix each week, two $5,000 Open Welcome Stakes each week, a $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, a USHJA National Hunter Classic, a $7,500 JR/AO Jumper Classic each week and in addition the Atlanta Spring Premiere has been selected as a World Champion Hunter Rider Event. These shows will offer something for everyone as nearly every hunter and jumper division will be offered a classic. Equus Events will also offer daily hospitality for exhibitors, trainers, and riders and weekly parties. The annual Preakness Party will take place May 21st to celebrate the 136th running of the Preakness Stake. DFG Stables and Daniel and Cathy Geitner of Aiken, SC are graciously sponsoring this event.
The Tryon Summer Classic Horse Show will again take place June 2-5 at FENCE in beautiful Tryon, North Carolina. FENCE (Foothills Equestrian Nature Center) is a 380 acre nature, education and recreation facility nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area offers many activities including numerous shops and antique stores as well as adventures whitewater rafting on the Green River. This year’s show will again benefit the Tryon Hounds. www.tryonhounds.com This unique event encompasses the days of old with a rich tradition but also attracts top riders and trainers in the southeast. Many will be contending for their name to be engraved on numerous perpetual trophies. Some of last years winners include:
Savannah, GA – The 34th Annual American National Riding Commission (ANRC) National Collegiate Equitation Championship will take place at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA, at the Ronald C. Warranch Equestrian Center April 14-17.
Approximately 15 college teams will showcase their most talented riders, who will be judged and scored in four phases: a dressage sportif, a program ride with United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) hunter equitation tests; a hunter seat equitation medal course; a hunter trials equitation course, over natural obstacles in a field; and a written test based on riding theory and equine science. Novice division entries will compete over fences at 2’6” and national division entries will compete over fences at 3’.
Both individuals and teams will receive honors and awards from ANRC and the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA). Awards will be given for each phase, along with an overall individual award and an overall team award. This year’s judges are Bobbie Reber of Langley, BC, Canada, and Caroline Jones of Calgary Alberta, Canada. The written test judge is Marion Lee from Leesburg, VA. For more information about the championship, visit the ANRC website at www.anrc.org.
The ANRC is an Affiliate of USEF and USHJA. New in 2012, the USHJA will partner with ANRC to add a competitive venue to the USHJA outreach program based on the ANRC National Collegiate Equitation Championship format. Information and specifications for the USHJA/ANRC Horsemanship Program can be found at the USHJA website or by contacting Kimberly Knotek at kknotek@ushja.org.
Hayley Barnhill led the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby from start to finish aboard Safari at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.
Katy, TX – April 9, 2011 – The air was electric for the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, sponsored by the Carole and Jim Looke Family Fund, held at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show. Thirty-seven horse and riders combinations turned out to compete for the grand prize and winning title. After the top 12 showed over the handy course, the victory went to Hayley Barnhill and Safari. The pair led from start to finish with incredible scores of 92 and 96 in the first round and a solid effort in the handy round with a pair 88s. Jennifer Alfano piloted Miss Lucy to a close second, while Tracy Fenney finished third and fourth with Exposure and Inxs, respectively.
Richard Jeffery of Bomemouth, England, designed tonight’s courses. The first round included two bending lines, a two-stride vertical-oxer, and four options for bonus points at higher fences. The top twelve rides then advanced to the more technical handy round where there were many options for inside turns, a long one-stride, a trot fence, and a snake option. At the end of the course riders also had to collect a piece of mail from a mailbox at the end of the ring by the in-gate.
The one stride would prove tricky for many of the riders early on who tried to take a tight turn before and after the combination. Hayley Barnhill and her first mount, Libretto owned by Alliy Moyer, were unable to make it through the test as the rider took an fortunate fall, but it would prove to be a helpful lesson later in the evening.
Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy at Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show Photo By: Heather Bellock/PMG.
Katy TX – April 7, 2011 – Today was another beautiful, sunny day for riders at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center. This morning the professional hunter divisions wrapped up in the Main Indoor and awarded championship honors. Jennifer Alfano, Tamara Provost, and Erynn Ballard secure championship honors with impressive performances.
Jennifer Alfano took home the championship award in the Second Year Green Hunter Division aboard Helen Lenahan’s Miss Lucy. Alfano and Miss Lucy earned first and second place in their over fences classes and won the under saddle class yesterday. Today the pair earned two blue ribbons and accumulated an impressive 46 points to secure the championship honors.
“Miss Lucy was great; I was really thrilled with her. Yesterday, she was a little fresh, but still jumped great. She was definitely a little up, but today she was really relaxed and she felt great,” noted Alfano. “I thought the courses were nice. I thought the handy rode really nicely and I liked the courses. This is the first time I have shown here and I love it. I love this ring it is really fun and nice to ride in and the footing is good.”
First I want to thank you for a wonder set of winter circuits. We started in January in Green Cove Springs, followed by a week off and then Gulfport followed by another week off and Conyers. A great 12 weeks all over the corners of the southeast. Thanks for making this a great winter of horse shows.
Second, I want to thank all the sponsors who help to make the circuits possible along with Equestrian Travel who make our housing simple and cost effective.
We had lots of fun this winter and we still have lots in store for you in our summer shows that are listed at the bottom of this message. We have made some giant changes to our summer shows in Atlanta and Charleston due to requests from our exhibitors and trainers.
This week in Atlanta ends our 12 weeks together and it was a wonderful week. I do want to thank Southern States for the donation of 500 lbs of Southern States Feed. It was won by Leah Heithold of Denver, NC. Congrats. I also want to thank Southern States for the Dipin Dots they brought to the show last week too.
Wellington, FL – April 3, 2011 – In a great ending to the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, the Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal held its circuit finals in the prestigious International Field. Sixteen entries competed for the win today, with the lucky blue ribbon winner being awarded a new saddle. Mahala Rummell came out the victor in the prestigious culmination of the circuit’s adult medal class.
Rummell, who rides with Stacia Madden, was aboard her own mount Stoney Creek, a twelve-year-old Royal Dutch Warmblood gelding, for the win. This being Rummell’s first season out of the juniors, she was lucky enough to still own her junior equitation horse, Stoney Creek, to ride in the class. “He’s so good at it,” beamed Rummell. “He does all the testing so well, and he’s beautiful on the flat. He’s super!”
Today’s course being in the International Arena gave riders an extra advantage with the added space and size of the ring. “I thought the course was nice,” said Rummell. “There was a lot of space to gallop, but there were also lines where you could leave out a stride or add a stride depending on your horse. There were a lot of nice single jumps too.”
Wellington, FL – April 2, 2011 – Jennifer Alfano and SBS Farms’ Jersey Boy have led the USHJA International Hunter Derby program since its inception, winning classes all over the country in the last few years and proving their expertise in the handy rounds and finesse over the jumps. Tonight was no different, as the pair jumped their way to victory in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby during the twelfth and final “Saturday Night Lights” event at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.
Competition for the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby began on Friday afternoon in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring where sixty of the nation’s most talented horses and riders jumped the first round course. The top twenty five were invited back to compete under the lights in the International Arena this evening, coming back in reverse order from lowest to highest returning scores.
Presented by Dietrich Insurance and Hosted by Tailored Sportsman, the class was held in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The series is also generously supported by Charles Owen & Co., Dover Saddlery, The Clothes Horse, and Essex Classics.
The Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors. Photo Courtesy of the Client.
Katy, TX – April 1, 2011 -The Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show is just a few days away, and this prestigious hunter/jumper event would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors. The competition offers over $250,000 in prize money, with an unprecedented $150,000 in hunter prize money. This exciting weeklong event will get underway on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, and run through April 10, 2011 at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in beautiful Katy, Texas. This unique hunter/jumper event draws the top competitors to Texas from around the country and benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
This year’s incredible sponsors of the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show include:
Carole and Jim Looke Family Fund for the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
Claudine & George Pletcher for the $25,000 Pre-Green Classic
Seashore Acres for the $25,000 Spring Gathering Grand Prix
Grand Prix Stables and Chris Nelson for the $20,000 National Hunter Classic
PJP Farm for the $18,000 Green Hunter Divisions
Roger & Jamie Jarvis for the $10,000 High Performance Working Hunter Division
Steeple Chase Farm for the $9,000 Amateur – Owner Working Hunter Divisions
Hobby Family Foundation for the $8,000 Junior Hunter Divisions
Wise Family Foundation for the $8,000 Conformation Hunter Division
John & Kristi Schiller for the $5,000 Pony Hunter Divisions
Eric & Nancy Littlejohn for the $5,000 Junior Hunter Classic
Kate & Steve Gibson of Shady Side Farm for the $5,000 Amateur-Owner Classic
