Category Archives: Show Jumping

Classic Company, Classic Company, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Atlanta Summer – WCHR/Charleston/Southeast Medal Finals Updates

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I just wanted to update you on a few things.

1. WCHR – I am still getting comments, emails and phone calls about the WCHR in Gulfport.  Just to set the record straight, I contacted Geoff Teal, the Chair of the WCHR Committee, to find out why a show that wins the USHJA Member Choice Award over all the show in Zone 4 for the entire year last year holds both a National and International Derby and call the show the “Celebration of Hunters” was not a WCHR show this year.  His response was very simple: VOTES. Each member of the WCHR is sent a ballot and we simply did not get enough votes for our show.  Geoff also shared that there are not a lot of members that vote.  So, if you want to see both Gulfport and Atlanta Summer be member shows, then vote for them when the ballot is sent to you – it’s that simple.  It has nothing to do with the caliber of event if it meets the minimal requirements.

Continue reading Atlanta Summer – WCHR/Charleston/Southeast Medal Finals Updates →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Eventing/H.T., Events, Kentucky Three-Day, Show Jumping, USEF

Fox-Pitt Rolls to Win the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event; Springer Scores First Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship

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Allison Springer and Arthur (Photo by Shannon Brinkman)

Lexington, KY – Sunday at the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone proved to be as influential as its predecessor – but the top two placings did not change and Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt rode Catherine Witt’s Parklane Hawk to top honors. The lovely New Zealand Thoroughbred made unbelievably light work of Saturday’s cross-country course and jumped another phenomenal round in the Rolex Stadium – having just one rail at the first part of the double combination to take home a second Rolex watch for Fox-Pitt, who also won in 2010. They finished on a three day score of 45.3, less than two points clear of the runner-up.

Click here for complete results: http://www.rk3de.org/results.php.

“I am not sure I can repeat that,” said Fox-Pitt about knocking down his one rail. “I thought that was going to be a tricky fence for him. He was just arguing a little bit today. It was a fantastic competition and I was very fortunate to come out on top. It was a serious show jumping track and I am just lucky that Allison took that long route at the third last (on the cross country).”

Continue reading Fox-Pitt Rolls to Win the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event; Springer Scores First Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, FEI, Kentucky Three-Day, Show Jumping

HSBC FEI Classics 2012: Fox-Pitt Clocks Another Kentucky Victory

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William Fox-Pitt and Parklane Hawk powered to victory in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, and the British rider is now in line for the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam if he can win at Badminton next weekend. (Photo: Amy Dragoo/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 29 April 2012 – William Fox-Pitt (GBR) won his 11th CCI4* and yet another prized Rolex watch when he held his nerve in the tense final minutes of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) presented by Bridgestone, the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics.

Fox-Pitt, the leader after Cross Country on Catherine Witt’s talented New Zealand Thoroughbred Parklane Hawk, appeared to have been handed a lifeline when overnight runner-up Allison Springer (USA) and Arthur hit a rail, but then Parklane Hawk had one down as well and Fox-Pitt was left with no margin for error.

But the current leader of both the HSBC FEI Classics and the HSBC Rider Rankings is famed for keeping calm in a tight situation. And Fox-Pitt will certainly need to draw on those renowned reserves of cool this week for he now heads to Badminton in the tantalising, yet pressurised, position of having won two out of three legs of the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam.

This elusive prize, to the rider who can win Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley in succession, has only been won once before, by Pippa Funnell (GBR) in 2003.

Continue reading HSBC FEI Classics 2012: Fox-Pitt Clocks Another Kentucky Victory →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Eventing/H.T., Events, Kentucky Three-Day, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping

William Fox-Pitt Wins Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and 2nd Leg of Rolex Grand Slam

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William Fox-Pitt (GBR) stays cool to clinch the 2012 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and complete the second stage of the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam. Photo courtesy of ROLEX

(USA, 29 April 2012) – William Fox-Pitt (GBR) riding Parklane Hawk, today Sunday 29 April 2012, kept his cool at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, in Lexington, with just one rail down, to win the Event and the second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam. Allison Springer (USA) riding Arthur was second and Boyd Martin (USA) riding Otis Barbotiere was 3rd.

Quotes from William Fox-Pitt after his winning round (links to audio of full interview below):

Q: Many congratulations – what a round: What a relief and what a fantastic horse! It is a great honour and a great pleasure to be here back at Rolex and it’s such a tremendous event – the atmosphere is second to none and it’s been an amazing week for me. A huge relief and lucky I had a fence in hand!

Q: Just tell me a bit about your round today. He’s a super jumper, I think the atmosphere was quite a big deal – he came in a bit tight and tense and yes he rolled a pole but so what – he basically jumped very well indeed. The pressure was on and the course is the Rolex four star and it’s my second leg in the Grand Slam and I’ve never got this close before, but next week is another week mind you, but to be this close is so exciting and what a great way to finish up!

Continue reading William Fox-Pitt Wins Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and 2nd Leg of Rolex Grand Slam →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Maclay, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Top Judges Named for the First-Ever Southeast Medal Finals in Jacksonville

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Wellington, FL – April 26, 2012 – The First Annual Southeast Medal Finals will take place on September 21-23 2012 at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. Sponsors are lining up to support this great new show. Highlights include the Southeast Junior and Adult 3′ Medal Finals, ASPCA Maclay Regionals and much more.

Hunter and Equitation judges will include Kip Rosenthal, Brian Lenehan and John Roper. Allen Rheinheimer and Fred Brown will serve as jumper judges.

Kip Rosenthal is an accomplished equestrian, who has ridden and trained with such familiar names as George Morris, Victor Hugo-Vidal, Bert De’Nemethy and more. As a respected R-rated judge in both Hunter and Hunter Seat Equitation, Rosenthal has judged many of the most prestigious competitions in North America.

Continue reading Top Judges Named for the First-Ever Southeast Medal Finals in Jacksonville →

Competitions, Events, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

American Gold Cup Returns to Action at Old Salem Farm

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42nd anniversary edition scheduled for North Salem, NY on September 12-16, 2012

Bradenton, Florida – April 25, 2012 – The American Gold Cup, one of the world’s most prestigious show jumping events, returns to action in September at its new home at Old Salem Farm, in North Salem, NY. The show is scheduled for September 12th through the 16th, 2012, with the famed $200,000 American Gold Cup as the highlight event on the final Sunday.

Old Salem Farm, in New York’s Westchester County, is a premier equestrian venue, offering state-of-the-art facilities, surrounded by 120 gorgeous acres.

In fact, in 2010, the Old Salem Spring Show was voted one of the Top 25 Horse Shows in North America by NARG, the North American Rider’s Group. The owners at Old Salem have spent over $30 million in renovations over the past few years to bring this venue on par with any show facility in the world.

Continue reading American Gold Cup Returns to Action at Old Salem Farm →

Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, FEI, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Show Jumping

FEI TV Live in Kentucky for HSBC FEI Classics 2012

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Lausanne (SUI), 26 April 2012 – FEI TV, the official FEI video platform, is LIVE from Kentucky (USA) for the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2012.

The live action, which starts today (26 April) at 15.00 CEST for Day 1 of Dressage, runs until Sunday (29 April) as follows:

Day 2 Dressage – 27 April 15.00 CEST
Cross Country – 28 April 15.00 CEST
Jumping – 29 April 18.30 CEST

Continue reading FEI TV Live in Kentucky for HSBC FEI Classics 2012 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Jeanne Hobbs Sails Southern River to Championship of Farm Vet Level Five Jumpers and Places Third in Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper

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Jeanne Hobbs and Southern River in Wellington earlier this year. Photo by SportFot

Wellington, FL – April 24, 2012 – Jeanne Hobbs found her groove at HITS Culpeper winning the Farm Vet Level Five Championship with her own mount, Southern River. In the $40,000 Grand Prix, Hobbs piloted Nielsen B to third place honors.

The conditions were not ideal, with fifty-degree weather and rain. But Danny Foster’s courses rode well for Hobbs and her two horses and, despite the cold and rain, they delivered outstanding performances.

“Southern River is 100% Thoroughbred,” shared Hobbs about her twelve-year-old partner. “I’ve had him since he was about three and a half years old, and he’s a super-fast, careful and brave horse. He won the first day at Culpeper, and he went in and won the second day as well. That’s him. He’s a winner. He enjoys winning. The faster you go, the better he jumps.”

Continue reading Jeanne Hobbs Sails Southern River to Championship of Farm Vet Level Five Jumpers and Places Third in Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Jill Henselwood and George Kick Off HITS Culpeper with a Triple Threat

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©ESI Photography. Capping a successful week, Jill Henselwood and George on their way to winning the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix.

CULPEPER, VA (April 24, 2012) – Canadian Olympian Jill Henselwood aboard Juniper Farm’s George continued her journey towards the Pfizer Million and the 2012 Olympics with a big win at Commonwealth Park in Sunday’s $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. As she prepares for the Nations Cup Series in Belgium and Austria, Henselwood spent last week in Culpeper, Virginia where she also picked up wins in Friday’s $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix and Thursday’s $2,000 Level 7 Jumper.

“I came to Virginia to make sure [George] is on his game and I knew we would be guaranteed good weather since there is snow at home,” said Henselwood. “The venue and the competition were super. These Virginia riders are always quick, so it was great preparation.”

Fellow Canadian Danny Foster of Milton, Ontario designed the course and presented riders an immediate jump-off option. Foster crafted a 14-obstacle track, which included three double combinations. Faults were scattered as his course proved to be challenging, but attainable. Ten were clear over the first round course, but only two managed to produce double clear efforts – Henselwood and Laura Linback of Mundelin, Illinois in the irons of Woodrun’s HH Dauphin.

Continue reading Jill Henselwood and George Kick Off HITS Culpeper with a Triple Threat →

Classic Company, Classic Company, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Atlanta Summer Classics – Something for Every Rider

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Nearly $300,000 in Prize Money Up for Grabs

JOHNS ISLAND, SC — April 15, 2012 — Still undecided on summer plans? Bob Bell, President of Classic Company, would like to tempt you: “Our summer events are bursting at the seams with great offerings! We’ve taken exhibitors’ horse show wish list and made them a reality!”

The Atlanta Summer Classics, held at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, GA, is a USEF AA rated two-week event from June 13 through June 24. This year’s event will play host to the inaugural $25,000 Pony Hunter Derby Classic.

“This will be the first of two $25,000 pony events for the summer. We have some of the country’s best talent in our pony sections and I think it’s time they get rewarded for their efforts,” Bell said.

The second Pony Hunter Classic will be held in July at the Charleston Summer Classic. Both events will be open to all ponies, even nonmembers; however, they will need a valid USEF measurement card.

Continue reading Atlanta Summer Classics – Something for Every Rider →