Category Archives: Show Jumping

Bost Celebrates His Birthday with Super Victory in Helsinki

Roger Yves Bost celebrated his 47th birthday today with victory in the second leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2012/2013 Western European League. Photo: FEI/Tapio Mäenpää.

Helsinki (FIN), 21 October 2012 – Roger Yves Bost celebrated his 47th birthday in style when clinching maximum points in the second qualifying leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League at Helsinki, Finland today.  Riding Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois, the enigmatic Frenchman whose jumping technique often seems to defy the laws of gravity, produced another one of his trademark heart-stopping rounds to pip Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya and Carlo in a nail-biting 14-horse jump-off.  Jeroen Dubbeldam and BMC Utascha, winners of the opening round at Oslo a week ago, had to settle for third place this time out. But the Dutchman now holds a strong lead at the top of the series table. With 35 points already to his credit, he only needs one more strong result to ensure his spot at the final in Gothenburg, Sweden next April.

The start-list was reduced from 40 to 39 due to the late withdrawal of Finland’s Mikael Forsten who broke his hand when landing awkwardly over a fence in an earlier class at his home fixture this morning.  This was very bad luck indeed, as he is not long recovered from a broken arm sustained while competing in the Grand Prix at Hagen, Germany last year.

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Vita Flex Victory Team Member Todd Minikus to Teach Show Jumping Clinics during Equine Affaire

Todd Minikus will teach four clinics during the Massachusetts Equine Affaire. (Photo courtesy of Todd Minikus)

W. Springfield, MA (October 18, 2012) – Vita Flex Nutrition is proud to announce that Victory Team member Todd Minikus, a Grand Prix show jumper based in Loxahatchee, Florida, will teach four clinics during the 2012 Equine Affaire in Massachusetts.  Minikus’s clinics will take place on Friday and Saturday, November 9-10, and will address important exercises and theories in show jumping, from starting a young horse at the 3 foot level to strategies for riding in a jump off.

“We are very pleased to have Todd representing Vita Flex and the Victory Team at Equine Affaire,” said Alyssa Barngrover, Product Manager at Vita Flex Nutrition.  “His long career as a successful Grand Prix show jumper makes him an ideal clinician and auditors are sure to learn something from him.  They can also meet Todd at the Vita Flex booth at Equine Affaire, and we encourage everyone to visit us.”

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Advanced Tickets Now on Sale for 2012 Alltech National Horse Show

Lexington, KY – October 18, 2012 – Tickets for the Alltech National Horse Show, scheduled for the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on October 30 – November 4, 2012, are now on sale.

There are big-time savings for those that book early reservations for this year’s event. The special ticket sale offers an impressive 50% off on each ticket.

General admission tickets for Thursday, November 1st or Friday, November 2nd, normally priced at $20 are on sale now for only $10 each. Tickets for the main event on Saturday, November 3rd, regularly priced at $30 are now available for only $15.

This offer is good through October 28th only and is available at www.LivingSocial.com.

The ticket special is available at this link.

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Aiken Harvest Classic Wrap Up

Orchard Hill’s Fine By Me and Zoe Phillips. Barry Koster Photography

October 16th, 2012 – Equus Event’s first annual Aiken Harvest Classic Horse Show came to a close on Sunday with a weekend full of gorgeous weather and exciting hunter and jumper action. The show featured a unique set of offerings including Hunt Night, a Pony Hunter Derby, Children’s Adult Hunter Derby, and the first annual $5,000 Aiken Jumper Derby. “With the success of the International Hunter Derbies and Derby Finals, we wanted to offer riders who don’t often get to partake in classes like that the same sort of experience at a regional level ‘A’ show,” said show organizer J. P. Godard. “The idea came for the Aiken Jumper Derby because we wanted to offer something unique. The class took place out on the Dietrich Derby Field and included the bank as one of the elements which we don’t see in show jumping classes in the area. It was a fun class and we are looking forward to making it bigger and better next year,” Godard said. Gold sponsors of the event included: Dietrich and Company Equine Insurance, One K Helmets, Equifit Inc., Fenwick Equestrian, Oak Manor Saddlery, The Mark Lexton Collection, The Barn Book, Reflections Farm, Gamboa Veterinary Services, and JRS Construction. Equus Events thanks these gracious sponsors for their generous support.

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Abigail McArdle Leads Zone Five to USEF Prix de States Team Championship

Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20 won the USEF Prix de States Team Championship and the Individual Junior Jumper Reserve Championship. Photo By: Al Cook

Harrisburg, PA – October 16, 2012 – The best young riders in the country gathered at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show this weekend to compete during the 2012 Randolph College/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships. Leading the way was 18-year-old Abigail McArdle of Barrington, IL, who helped Zone Five capture the USEF Prix de States Team Championship and later went on to earn the Individual Junior Jumper Reserve Championship aboard Cosma 20.

McArdle and Cosma 20 kicked the weekend off right with a clear first round on Thursday night, finishing in second place just shy of the leading time. Friday night highlighted the USEF Prix de States Team Championship. McArdle’s Zone Five Team members included Kalvin Dobbs of Carmel, IN riding Winde; Lillie Ross of Wheaton, IL aboard Pako; and Catherine Tyree of Chicago, IL on Wetter.

After the first round the team had 12 faults to their name, and all of the pressure came down on McArdle. As the anchor rider, she needed to lay down a clear round during the second phase to take the gold.

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Alltech National Horse Show Welcomes the Triumph Project Sponsored by The Davis McCullough Foundation as Sponsor of $50,000 Welcome Stake

Lexington, KY – October 15, 2012 – The 2012 Alltech National Horse Show announced today that the Triumph Project, sponsored by The Davis McCullough Foundation, has joined this year’s show as sponsors of the $50,000 Welcome Stake for the Open and International Jumpers.

The second edition of the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky, is scheduled for October 30 through November 4, 2012. The show will once again be held at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“The Triumph Project” was created as a vehicle to solicit State and Federal Legislation to end transportation of America’s equines to slaughter for Human Consumption.

The Project, funded by The Davis McCullough Foundation, allows for lobbying where a 501 c3 is prohibited.

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Zone 5, Scott, and O’Mara Win USEF Championships at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show

Abigail McArdle of the Zone 5 Team on Cosma 20 (Al Cook)

Harrisburg, PA – Three National Championships were decided this past weekend at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Thirty-one competitors in the 2012 Randolph College/USEF National Junior Jumper Championships and more than 250 of the best hunter equitation riders in the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals presented by Randolph College vied for the top spot in their championships.

The Zone 5 Team Wins Gold in the Randolph College/USEF Prix de States Team Championship

The Zone 5 team captured the Gold medal in the Randolph College/USEF Prix de States Team Championship at the 67th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Friday evening. The team members were: Kalvin Dobbs of Carmel, IN riding Winde; Abigail McArdle of Barrington Hills, IL on Cosma 20; Lillie Ross of Wheaton, IL aboard Pako; and Catherine Tyree of Chicago, IL on Wetter.

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Daniela Stransky Takes On Pros in $10,000 Open Jumper Stake at ESP October Horse Show to Help Raise Funds for Step by Step Foundation

Daniela Stransky pilots her mare Anemone's Vicky to one of only 3 clear rounds in the $10,000 Open Stakes. Mancini Photo.

WELLINGTON, FL – October 15, 2012 – Daniela Stransky (15) may have been the youngest rider in the $10,000 Open Jumper Stakes at the ESP October Horse Show, but that didn’t stop the talented teen from being in the top of the class at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida.

Aboard her chestnut mare Anemone’s Vicky, the Miami Country Day School student was one of only 3 clean rounds to advance to the jump.  The first to go clean, she was also the first in the jump off where she put in a speedy, 4 fault round.  Her effort secured her the 3rd place ribbon and $1,200 in prize money that she added to her ever-growing donations to the charity Step by Step Foundation (www.stepbystepfoundation.com).  The class was won by seasoned veteran Sharon Wordley aboard Quick Blue Z, followed by Irishman Scott Keach riding Anne Quanbeck’s Coco to the second place ribbon.

Although Daniela is relatively new to the Open Jumpers, having made her debut in a Grand Prix at the Colorado Horse Park only two months ago, she was ready for the challenge and held nothing back.  “The course was nice and technical,” stated her trainer Hector Florentino, who placed 6th in the same class aboard Stransky’s Mission Farm’s jumper Waow. “Her first round was flawless.  She had to go first in the jump off and yet she posted a good time with only 4 faults. The other two riders had the advantage of seeing her go, and knowing the time to beat. We are all really pleased; to put in this type of an effort at a venue like PBIEC really bodes well for Daniela’s future in the jumpers.”

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Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team Jumps Two Places and Finishes Sixth at Boekelo

Boekelo, The Netherlands – Every member of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team that entered the show jumping arena at the Military Boekelo CCIO3* Sunday leapt up the leaderboard and helped the U.S. team improve to 6th place in the final Nations Cup standings. Leading the way for the Americans were Jonathan Holling and Downtown Harrison.

Holling (Ocala, FL) and Constance Ann Holling’s Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding were just shy of a double clear round. They jumped flawlessly, but came in just over time and ended with 1 fault. “I was really thrilled with [Downtown Harrison],” said Holling. “Other than possibly shaving a second off a turn, he was pretty exceptional out there today.” Downtown Harrison’s performance helped Holling jump up the leaderboard twenty-five places and finish the Event in 31st position overall.

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Dubbeldam Dominates Star-Studded Field at Oslo Opening Leg

Jeroen Dubbeldam and BMC Utascha SFN on their way to victory in the opening leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2012/2013 series. Photo: FEI/Annette Boe Ostergaard.

Oslo (NOR), 14 October 2012 – The Netherlands’ Jeroen Dubbeldam won the thrilling opening leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League 2012/2013 series at Oslo, Norway this afternoon partnering BMC Utascha. The competition attracted a star-studded field that included three individual Olympic champions including the current title-holder, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat. But it was the Dutchman, who claimed gold in Sydney, Australia 12 years ago, who earned those all-important maximum points.

The cream really came to the top, and it was 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series winner, Switzerland’s Beat Mandli, who slotted into runner-up spot with Louis, while Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya showed the potential of his new partnership with the former Nick Skelton ride, Carlo, when finishing a very close third. Fourth place went to another Dutchman, Maikel van der Vleuten with VDL Groep Verdi, while British riders filled fifth and sixth – the London 2012 Olympic team gold medal winning duo of Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos slotting in ahead of Will Funnell and Billy Congo.

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