Category Archives: Show Jumping

Peter Leone, Lincourt Gino and the Lionshare Farm Team on a Roll at HITS on the Hudson

Lincourt Gino and Peter Leone at Old Salem Spring Horse Show. Photo by Parker/Russell The Book LLC

Wellington, June 7, 2012 – Peter Leone and Monica Carrera’s Lincourt Gino have consistently been in the money at important Grand Prix events this spring. Last week, Leone and Gino were fifth in both the $25,000 and the $75,000 Grand Prix at HITS on the Hudson in Saugerties, NY.

“Gino just keeps feeling better and better,” confided Leone. “Unfortunately, I made a mistake in the jump-off on Sunday. At least I lost trying to win rather than trying to place.”

Lincourt Gino is an Irish Sport Horse that performs as well on grass as he does on footing. Gino and Leone won the G&C Farms 1.45m Open Jumpers in March and were second at the $50,000 Live Oak Derby and Fifth at the G&C Farms Jumper Derby at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival with the fastest time. Gino also recently won the Level Sevens at Garden State and was second in the Old Salem Spring $20,000 Speed Derby.

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Darragh Kenny Scores Both First and Second Place in the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix

©ESI Photography. Darragh Kenny and Wannahave soar over a fence on course in the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix on their way to a win.

SAUGERTIES, NY (June 4, 2012) – Darragh Kenny walked away with the top two ribbons in the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, on Sunday when he piloted Wannahave and Sandor de la Pomme, both owned by The Wannahave Group, to the first and second place honors, respectively. It was a memorable week for Kenny, who found himself in third place in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, aboard Sandor de la Pomme.

Kenny, a native of Ireland and now based out of Wellington, Florida, was one of 21 horse-and-rider combinations on a course designed by Kenny Krome of Westminster, Maryland. The first round featured plenty of action, as only five riders returned for the jump-off.

First to show in the jump-off was Kenny and his winning mount, Wannahave who wasted no time as they set the Great American Time to Beat at 40.15 seconds.

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Charlotte Jacobs Wins R. W. Mutch Equitation Championship at Devon Horse Show

Charlotte Jacobs and Stallone VDL won the R. W. "Ronnie" Mutch Equitation Championship at the Devon Horse Show. Photo By: Parker/Russell - The Book LLC

East Aurora, NY – June 5, 2012 – For the second consecutive year, talented junior rider Charlotte Jacobs took home the R. W. “Ronnie Mutch Equitation Championship during the prestigious Devon Horse Show. Jacobs and her leading equitation mount Stallone VDL were once again at the top of the leaderboard to claim the coveted honor. Later that weekend, Jacobs flew to HITS-On-The-Hudson, where she placed first and second in the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic with Kachina and Cyrina Z, respectively.

Jacobs and Stallone VDL have been top competitors in the equitation ring throughout 2012, and during the Devon Horse Show their mastership of the discipline shone though. They earned the top call in the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal, and then won the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search. At the end of the Devon Horse Show’s Junior Weekend, they were presented with the R. W. “Ronnie Mutch Equitation Championship for the second year in a row.

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Tryon Summer Classic Wrap Up

Karen Kelley and Uncle Luc. Photos by MVP Photos

June 4th, 2012 – Tryon, NC ~ Blue skies shone brightly on Sunday as a week filled with exciting competition, fabulous parties and perfect weather culminated at the 2012 Tryon Summer Classic Horse Show.  The event, held at FENCE (Foothills Equestrian Nature Center) in beautiful Tryon, NC, took place May 31 – June 3 and is managed by Aiken, SC based Equus Events.  The show again benefitted the Tryon Hounds www.tryonhounds.com and featured a $2,500 USHJA National Derby sponsored by Reflections Farm and Brick Church Farm on Friday evening and a $10,000 Jumper Classic sponsored by The EMO Insurance Agency and Martha Hall on Saturday evening.

Friday night belonged to Karen Kelley of Charleston, SC and Laura and Meredith Mateo’s Uncle Luc as they strode to an impressive win in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby sponsored by Reflections Farm and Brick Church Farm.  Kelley said of her win, “I loved the course, all unrelated and off your eye. It felt as if we were on an outside course and that ring is so fun as all the spectators really make it feel exciting and special… Luc and I had a grand time! Another A++ job by Equus Events!”  The pair brought in an 84 from round 1 as they came into the second handy hunter round in second place behind Don Sheehan and the Margaret Edge entry of chosen who scored an 87.  In the handy round Kelley’s bold ride and Luc’s handiness earned them the top score of 85 giving them the win with a two round total of 169.  Sheehan and Chosen were second with a 164 followed by Mador Du Chaufour and Glen Hartigan with a two round total of 158.

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New Book, Peter Leone’s Show Jumping Clinic: Success Strategies for Equestrian Athletes, Now Available!

Wellington, FL – June 4, 2012 – The much-anticipated book, Peter Leone’s Jumping Clinic: Success Strategies for Equestrian Athletes by Peter Leone and Kimberly S. Jaussi, PhD, is now available for purchase. Go to http://www.lionsharefarm.com to purchase your copy today.

This must-have book explores every aspect of riding, from the basics of correct use of aids to the psychology of approaching a World Cup course.

The book employs diagrams, exercises and anecdotes, as well as photos featuring riders such as McLain Ward, Richard Spooner, Margie Engel and Georgina Bloomberg, as models demonstrating concepts from the text.

“Presented in a thoughtful, detailed yet simple style, this book will improve your riding and horsemanship whether you are beginning your riding journey or trying to improve your current skill level,” lauded McLain Ward, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist.

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$50,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake Belongs to Charlie Jayne at 2012 Devon Horse Show

Charlie Jayne and Chill RZ (Amy Dragoo)

Devon, PA – It was another glorious day at the Devon Horse Show and 15 horses lined up for the $50,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake in the storied Dixon Oval at the 2012 Devon Horse Show. This afternoon’s class served as the second half of the third USEF Observation Event for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games. Fourteen combinations, 13 of which are vying for a trip to the 2012 London Olympic Games, tested Michel Vaillancourt’s track and only two horses managed to leave up all of the jumps.

Charlie Jayne (Elgin, IL) cruised to an exceptional clear on Pony Lane Farm’s Chill RZ adding just one time fault to seal the victory over the difficult course.

“I thought the course was big,” said Jayne. “I thought the course was as technical as two nights ago. I thought it was hard and that the jumps came up quick. I thought the water came up quick and that lie was very difficult. I thought you needed some stamina; I think it was a big round two nights ago and it was bigger today. By the last line, I think your horse really needed some energy left. I couldn’t have asked much more from my horse; he was amazing all week.”

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Jeffery Welles and Merlin Work Their Magic for a Win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

©ESI Photography. Jeffery Welles piloted two mounts to the jump-off, but it was Merlin who carried him to victory in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix

SAUGERTIES, NY (June 1, 2012) – Two of the top-five slots in today’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, were captured by one man. Jeffery Welles of Brewster, New York rode two horses to clean rounds and won the class aboard Noel Love Gross’ Merlin, while finishing fourth on Aries, also owned by Gross.

Ken Krome of Westminster, Maryland presented riders with a challenging 13-obstacle course, which included 16 jumping efforts and its fair share of technical turns and bending lines, as well as a tight time-allowed. The track included three double combinations – a two-stride and two one-strides. The jump-off began with the return of fence nine from the first round – an airy vertical – and was followed by six more obstacles, including the first one-stride combination.

The jump-off welcomed five pairs back into the ring and Peter Leone of Greenwich, Connecticut kicked things off with an eight-fault round to finish in fifth. Welles returned second in the order to post the first clear round and set the Great American Time to Beat at 42.92 seconds aboard Aries.

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McLain Ward Wins First Leg of $200,000 Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge

Photo: ©Parker/Russell - The Book LLC. McLain Ward is joined in the winner's circle by THIS' Michael Taylor and William Weeks after he won the first leg of the $200,000 Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge by taking the Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon

Middleburg, VA – June 1, 2012 – In a three horse jump off last night, McLain Ward and Antares F proved to be perfect winning the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon and at the same time, the first leg of the brand new $200,000 Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge, America’s richest rider bonus.

McLain is now the rider in the spotlight this year, for the first ever Triple Crown Challenge offered by Taylor Harris Insurance Services.

Following this win, McLain and Antares F must also win the Hampton Classic’s $250,000 FTI Grand Prix & FEI World Cup Qualifier on Sunday, September 2, 2012 and the third jewel of the Triple Crown Challenge, the $250,000 Alltech Grand Prix at the Alltech National Horse Show on Saturday, November 3, 2012 to receive the $200,000 bonus.

“We are thrilled with McLain’s win last night,” said Michael Taylor of Taylor Harris Insurance Services. “He and Antares F were exceptional, and I believe they are more than capable of winning the Taylor Harris Triple Crown Challenge and we are look forward to the second leg of competition at The Hampton Classic.”

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Cook and Ulrich Lead the U.S. to a Second Place Finish in CSIOY Reims Nations Cup

2012 Show Jumping European Young and Junior Rider Tour Team (USEF Archive)

Reims, France – Four members of the 2012 Show Jumping European Young Rider Tour went to task in Nations Cup competition Friday afternoon at the CSIOYJ Reims. The U.S. entered the two-round competition in an enviable position having drawn fifth of six teams to contest the 1.45m track. The team of Alise Oken, Annie Cook, Chloe Reid and Lydia Ulrich capitalized on their strong draw to jump to second place honors.

Leading the U.S. effort in France were Cook and Ulrich who both jumped double-clears in the Nations Cup competition. Cook (Woodside, CA) guided Signe Ostby’s Banba to two fault-free efforts as the second U.S. rider in each round. As the anchor rider, Ulrich (Rochester, NY) stared down the face of pressure to also produce a double clear performance with Beth Congel and Up The Creek Farm’s Santos Utopia.

The U.S. team entered the second round of competition tied for third place with the Dutch team on a score of eight faults. In the first round, Oken (Charlotte, NC) and Hi Hopes Farm’s Kaid Du Ry provided the drop score with a twelve fault performance. However, they recovered to produce a clear in the second round, allowing the U.S. to add no faults in that final round. Riding in her first Nations Cup Reid (Washington, DC) displayed composure and poise jumping two eight-fault rounds with Chloe D Reid LLC’s Toulon.

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Dutch Do It Again at St Gallen

Pictured left to right - Jeroen Dubbeldam, Gerco Schroder, Rob Ehrens (Chef d'Equipe), Marc Houtzager and Leon Thijssen. Photo: FEI/Valeria Streun.

St Gallen (SUI), 1 June 2012 – A nail-biting last-to-go round from Gerco Schroder and Eurocommerce New Orleans clinched victory for The Netherlands at the FEI Nations Cup in St Gallen, Switzerland today.

Germany came into this third leg of the 2012 series as clear favourites following their emphatic success in Rome (ITA) last Friday.  But, just as it did 12 months ago, the Swiss venue provided a classic example of what makes the sport of Nations Cup Jumping so appealing – its utter unpredictability.  And in a repeat of last year’s exciting event, it was the Dutch who out on top once again.

The host nation enjoyed another great day when sharing second place with Great Britain, while team Germany finished fourth ahead of Belgium in fifth and Ireland in sixth, France in seventh and Sweden in eighth place.

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