Category Archives: Show Jumping

Ukraine Leads FEI Nations Cup European Promotional League 2012

The Ukrainian team of Cassio Rivetti, Katharina Offel, Aleksander Onishchenko and Bjorn Nagel won the fifth leg of the FEI Nations Cup European Promotional League 2012. Photo: FEI/Mette Sattrup

Lausanne (SUI), 27 June 2012 – The Ukraine galloped to the top of the FEI Nations Cup European Promotional League 2012 leaderboard following victory at the fifth leg in Drammen, Norway on Saturday 23 June.  Denmark had been out in front following the previous round on home turf in Copenhagen last month, but an impressive performance at the Norwegian fixture from Bjorn Nagel, Katharina Offel, Cassio Rivetti and Aleksander Onishchenko, has relegated the Danes to second spot ahead of the last leg at Gijon, Spain in early September.

This was the second Ukrainian success of the 2012 series, following their top placing at Linz-Ebelsberg, Austria in May where the same four riders completed with just six faults to take the honours.  Double-clears from both Rivetti, riding Verdi, and Nagel with Niack de L’Abbaye put them in a position of strength at the Austrian fixture, and they only had to add five faults from Onishchenko and Comte D’Arsouilles in round one, and a single time fault from the anchor partnership of Offel and Vivant in the second round.

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Atlanta Summerfest and Aiken Fall Festival Update

The prize list for the 2012 Atlanta Summerfest August 16-19 and 23-26 and Aiken Fall Festival September 6-9 and 13-16 is now available on our web site and will be in the mail this week. Both show series include many exciting features including a $10,000 Open Jumper Classic each week at the Atlanta Summerfest as well as a USHJA National Hunter Derby. The Aiken Fall Festival will again feature a $5,000 Open Welcome Stake each week, a $15,000 Open Jumper Classic each week, a USHJA National Hunter Derby, and is proud to again be the host of the 2012 South Carolina Hunter Jumper Association Medal Finals. Many social events are planned for each show as well as the hospitality and customer service you have come to expect from Equus Events. Stalls sell out quickly at both of these events so please make sure to get your entries in on time!

NEW SHOW – Equus Events is pleased to announce a new show, The Harvest Classic October 12-14 at Highfields in Aiken, SC. This show will be a USEF A rated event and include a $1,000 Pony Hunter Derby, a $1,000 Children’s/Adult Hunter Derby, and a $5,000 Open Jumper Classic.

Thank you for your continued support of Equus Events and we look forward to seeing you at the show!

Saturday Night at Alltech National Horse Show to Benefit USET Foundation

The USET Foundation jump, created by Brody Robertson, will be used at this year's Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, KY

Lexington, KY – June 26, 2012 – The 2012 Alltech National Horse Show announced today that for the second year in a row, the Saturday evening performance will once again benefit the United States Equestrian Team Foundation.

Following a successful debut last year, 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.

During the Saturday evening performance, featuring the show’s main event, the $250,000 Alltech Grand Prix, the horse show will share 50% of the night’s gate receipts with the USET Foundation.

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international high performance horses and athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation. Its main tasks are to support athletes, promote international excellence and build for the future.

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FEI Confirms That Dalma Rushdi Malhas Will Not Compete at London 2012

Dalma Rushdi Malhas (KSA) at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. © IOC

Lausanne (SUI), 25 June 2012 – Dalma Rushdi Malhas, the Saudi Arabian rider who won individual bronze at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010, will not be competing at London 2012, the FEI confirmed today.

The 20-year-old had been aiming to achieve the minimum eligibility standard required for the Olympic Games by the 17 June deadline, but her horse was sidelined by injury and missed a month’s work during the qualifying period.

The 12-year-old Swedish warmblood mare Caramell KS, which was bought from Swedish rider Svante Johansson at the end of 2011, was found to be suffering from a back problem, putting an end to Dalma’s hopes of qualifying for London 2012.

“There have been some reports in the media, but regretfully the Saudi Arabian rider Dalma Rushdi Malhas has not attained the minimum eligibility standards and consequently will not be competing at the London 2012 Olympic Games,” FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos said. “However, we understand that the IOC has a number of other female athletes from Saudi Arabia in other sports who are currently under consideration.

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John Pearce Wins Second Grand Prix in a Row

John Pearce & Chianto. Photo: Jon Kassel

Parker, CO — The first half of the Colorado Summer Circuit came to a close this weekend and was highlighted by the $25,000 Summer in the Rockies IIII Grand Prix.   Eighteen horses and riders competed for first place and a large cash prize at the Colorado Horse Park (CHP). This was the third Grand Prix in the series of six events, with the action continuing the week of July 2 with Summer in the Rockies IV. John Pearce has had an exceptional three weeks, winning two out of the three Grand Prix.

The riders raved about Saturday’s course by international designer Marina Azevedo of Brazil. The track took advantage of the large derby field at CHP, and included a triple combination toward the crowd and an oxer along the VIP seating area, making it exciting for the spectators. “Today’s course was the best of the circuit by far. [The designer] was great; she is one of my favorites,” exclaimed winner, John Pearce.   Azevedo had the perfect number of five horses in the jump-off: Pearce and Bjorn Ikast with two rides each, and Christian Heineking of Wylie, Texas.

The jump off was a nail-biter with Heineking laying down a scorching clear trip. Neither Pearce with Johnny B Good or Ikast with Brave Heart could catch Heineking. With his WEG mount Chianto, Olympian Pearce gave an exciting, determined ride that somehow managed to cut .58 seconds off Heineking’s seemingly unbeatable time. Ikast and his second mount, Colorado, were unable to duplicate Pearce’s efforts and finished in fourth place.

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Atlanta Summer Classic 2012

Today our $25,000 NickerDoodle Pony Hunter Derby Classic was a great success.  Allen Rheinheimer built a course that took up the entire Grand Prix ring at the Georgia International Horse Park, 400′ x 460′.  He built a course with some jumps that were more than 36 feet wide with all three heights included.  I will post a video soon of the class so that you can all see this amazing course.  The class was judged by Thom Brede and Frank Willard.

Won by Keep Dreamin, owned by Katie Dinan, ridden by Ashton Alexander

2. Spellbound, Kelsey Landrum, Aleece Jarman

3. Harley Davey, Laura Barrett-Gurtis, Devin Seek

4. Kiss Me, Carter Anderson owner/rider

5. Steal the Crowd, Alanna Fischer, Bernadette Chungunco

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Atlanta Summer Classic 2012

Welcome Class was won by Nolde, owned by Jack Towell and show to the win by Hardin Towell.

2. Lazaro, Jordan Oyene, owner/rider
3. Tao Tao 3 M/M Chuck Waters, Hayley Waters
4. Fieona, Maloney/Towell, Hardin Towell
5. Cadence, Procedures, Megan Edrick
6. Rocketman, Megan Edrick
7. Appollo Van Evendael
8. Winchester Bridelbourne Stables, Theo Genn

USHJA National Hunter Derby was won again this week by Marksmann, owned by Marilla Van Beuren and ridden by Elizabeth Boyd.

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Germans Rule in Rotterdam

(left to right): Philipp Weishaupt, Marco Kutscher, Chef d’Equipe Otto Becker, Marcus Ehning and Ludger Beerbaum. Photo: FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst.

Rotterdam (NED), 22 June 2012 – With pre-Olympic tension reaching boiling point, Germany grabbed maximum points in the fourth leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2012 series at Rotterdam, The Netherlands today.  But the eventual winners were pushed all the way to the finish line by the super-cool Swedes who piled on the pressure with four clear performances in the second round.

The French, at last, provided Chef d’Equipe Henk Nooren with an encouraging third-place result, while the Irish slotted into fourth ahead of Switzerland in fifth.  The British were hampered by a difficult day for pathfinder, Tim Stockdale, to take sixth, while the Dutch finished a disappointing seventh ahead of Belgium in eighth place.

It was like a pressure-cooker in the Rotterdam ring, with Olympic selection hanging in the balance for so many of the horses and riders.  And as German team-member, Ludger Beerbaum, pointed out, “It was a really exciting competition because until the last rider went in it wasn’t clear who would be the winner!” Olympic hopes were raised and dashed throughout the afternoon, but for German Chef d’Equipe, Otto Becker, there was simply confirmation that he has a wealth of talent to choose from ahead of London 2012.

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Swiss to Set the Pace in Rotterdam

FEI Commercial Manager, Frederique Martin-Baste (right), and Emile Hendryckx, Sports Director for CHIO Rotterdam (left), officiated at the draw for the starting order of teams in tomorrow’s fourth leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2012 series in Rotterdam. Photo: FEI/Remco Veurink Photography.

Rotterdam (NED), 21 June 2012 – The Swiss team will be first to test the track set by Louis Konickx when the fourth leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2012 gets underway at the Kralingsbos in Rotterdam, The Netherlands tomorrow afternoon.  The Dutch course designer is recognised for his innovation and style, and the eight competing nations can expect a strong challenge as the eight-leg series moves to the halfway stage.

The order-of-go for the competition which begins at 16.00 local time is as follows:

1, Switzerland; 2, The Netherlands; 3, France; 4, Great Britain; 5, Germany; 6, Belgium; 7, Sweden; 8, Ireland.

The British hold the record for most wins in the Dutch Nations Cup – 14 in total since it was first held in 1948.  But the Germans are close behind, with 13 victories including their latest success in 2011, and they could well draw level with the British tomorrow afternoon.

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Abigail McArdle Takes Two Blues at Spruce Meadows

Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20 won the $3,500 Trimac Junior/Amateur Jumpers and the $5,000 AECOM Junior/Amateur Cup at Spruce Meadows. Photo By: Parker/Russel - The Book, LLC

Calgary, Alberta – June 18, 2012 – Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20 continued to take the 1.40m Junior/Amateur Jumpers by storm during the second week of the Spruce Meadows Tournament. The pair claimed two victories, winning the $3,500 Trimac Junior/Amateur Jumper event on Friday and the $5,000 AECOM Junior/Amateur Cup on Sunday. They produced double-clear efforts in each class to lead the victory gallop at the prestigious horse show. McArdle also competed in the Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, winning the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search for the second week in a row with Apartico.

McArdle and Cosma 20 were in top form this weekend, ready to face the challenging courses created by Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge in the All Canada ring. On Friday, seven horse and rider combinations advanced to the jump-off during the 3,500 Trimac Junior/Amateur Jumper class. As the last to go, McArdle knew she needed quick and tidy round to top the four double-clears, and that is exactly what she did. They crossed the finish line in 44.53 seconds with all the rails in place to take home the winning prize.

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