Category Archives: Show Jumping

*Featured/Spotlights, Classic Company, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Classic Company Launches the Adequan Pre Green Sweepstakes for 2012

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January 21, 2012 – St Johns Island, SC – Classic Company and the Gulf Coast Classic Company in partnership with Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. makers of Adequan i.m. (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan), announce the formation of the Adequan Pre Green Classics and year end Adequan Pre Green Sweepstakes.

Bob Bell, President of Classic Company, said, “We’ve created a new series of Pre Green Hunter Classics to be held at all our events in 2012, dubbed the Adequan Pre Green Classics. They will run as normal, held each week as two round events with the second ride of the second day counting as the first round of the Classic. The Adequan Pre Green Championship Classic will be a standalone two round event.”

One of the key differences in these Pre Green Hunter Classics will be the entry fees. Bell explained, “All the entry fees will be collected just as in the past, but these monies will be set aside to build the Sweepstakes bank, which will be offered at the Atlanta Fall Classic II, November 16th.  The Classic Company will host the Adequan Pre Green Hunter Championship Sweepstakes for the top 20 horses, based on accumulated Championship points, to compete for the total Sweepstakes money.”

Continue reading Classic Company Launches the Adequan Pre Green Sweepstakes for 2012 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, Polo, Show Jumping

Team Guardian Tops the Field at PRO DerbyCross in Wellington

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Team Guardian. Photos: Stockimageservices.com

Wellington, FL – January 21, 2012 – It was an epic night for Team Guardian who dominated PRO DerbyCross at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

A team event with teams of five made up of three eventing riders, a show jumper and a polo player, jumped a hybrid cross country and show jumping course and the fastest combined score won.

Captain Karen O’Connor’s squad was so impressive that she didn’t have to jump for a score (one eventing score gets dropped) but she led her team to a dominating effort on Team Rebecca’s Veronica – impressing the crowds as the final competitor.

Continue reading Team Guardian Tops the Field at PRO DerbyCross in Wellington →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

Lillie Keenan Triumphs in USEF/Platinum Performance Show Jumping Talent Search

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Laura Chapot and Valentia Take Top Prize in World Development Group 1.35m Jumpers

Lillie Keenan and Monterrey. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 20, 2012 – Forty-one of the nation’s top young riders showed in the USEF/Platinum Performance Show Jumping Talent Search in Wellington this morning with a win for Lillie Keenan aboard Chansonette Farm LLC’s Monterrey. Riders showed over a course set by Danny Moore, of Spring Hill, FL, and the top twelve were invited to return under saddle.

The second week of the FTI WEF runs through Sunday, January 22, and is sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty. The 2012 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit. The highlight jumper class in week two is the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix, CSI 2* on Saturday, January 21, at 7 p.m.

Continue reading Lillie Keenan Triumphs in USEF/Platinum Performance Show Jumping Talent Search →

*Featured/Spotlights, Events, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

James H. Fairclough II Announced as Cast Member in HISTORY’s New Series Full Metal Jousting

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James H. Fairclough II, of Cavalier Show Jumping, joined the cast of Full Metal Jousting for their inaugural season. The show premieres Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 10 p.m. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group

Wellington, FL – January 20, 2012 – Sixteen of the toughest warriors in the country will face off in a bone-crushing competition in Full Metal Jousting, a new one-hour series premiering Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 10 p.m. HISTORY. James H. Fairclough II, of Cavalier Show Jumping, joined the cast for their inaugural season.

Renowned jouster Shane Adams will be the host for Full Metal Jousting. The 10-part series features full-contact jousts with competitors going head-to-head on horseback in brutal tests of strength, endurance and courage. High-speed cameras capture every punishing blow as jousters charge and collide at 30 miles per hour. The last man standing takes home a $100,000 cash prize.

Although some may have seen jousting at exhibitions such as the Renaissance Fair, the combat in Full Meal Jousting is not choreographed at all — it is 100% authentic. There is a twist, however: the traditional armor is replaced with modern suits of steel weighing 80 pounds, and 11-foot-long, solid fir lances are used as weapons.

Continue reading James H. Fairclough II Announced as Cast Member in HISTORY’s New Series Full Metal Jousting →

Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

HITS Kicks Off 2012 Winter Circuits in Ocala, FL with Nine Weeks of Unmatched Competition

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Photo by HITS Staff. Riders and sponsors alike mingle at the start of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit at HITS Post Time Farm. From left to right: Christine Vanneck, Katie Kurtz of CWD, Dylan Thomas of Judy's Tack Shop and Shawn Mac.

Ocala, FL – January 19, 2012 – HITS Ocala competitors beat the winter blues and settled in at Post Time Farm yesterday for two pre-weeks of showing, followed by seven weeks of rated competition. Coupled with special events and awards, as well as serious prize money, HITS Ocala competitors are in the right place to get a lead on qualifying for the historic offerings at HITS’ 2012 Championship Weekend, scheduled for September 7-9 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

New for 2012
HITS Ocala is operating at full steam ahead in 2012 with an all-new week of A-rated competition, bringing the circuit to nine weeks of non-stop hunter/jumper action. The added week fills what used to be the off-week between the pre-circuit shows and the rated circuit. The pre-circuit, unrated weeks run through January 29 and the rated circuit runs February 1 – March 18, with the first week being A-rated, and Weeks II-VII AA-rated.

“I’m super excited to see new and familiar faces, watch great show jumping and show off my newly expanded store at HITS [Ocala],” said Ardie Hastey of Blueberry Hill out of Montreal, Canada. “I opened up my business last year at HITS Ocala, so it’s great to be back and to have an expanded presence.”

Continue reading HITS Kicks Off 2012 Winter Circuits in Ocala, FL with Nine Weeks of Unmatched Competition →

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

Nick Skelton Scores Again in $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 with Carlo 273

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Ken Berkley and Prestige Win Sanctuary First Year Green Working Hunter Championship

Nick Skelton and Carlo 273 won the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 2. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 19, 2012 – Nick Skelton (GBR) accumulated another win at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) today in the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup 2, this time taking the top prize with Beverley Widdowson’s Carlo 273. The Irish took the next two places, with Richie Moloney on Slieveanorra, owned by Equinimity LLC/Richie Moloney in second and Cian O’Connor on Ashkirk Ltd. & Cian O’Connor’s Blue Loyd 12 in third.

The second week of the FTI WEF runs through Sunday, January 22, and is sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty. The 2012 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit. The highlight jumper class in week two is the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix, CSI 2* on Saturday, January 21, at 7 p.m.

Continue reading Nick Skelton Scores Again in $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 with Carlo 273 →

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

Katie Robinson and Lady O Awarded Amateur-Owner 35 & Over Hunter Championship at WEF I

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Katie Robinson and Lady O won the Amateur Owner 35 & Over Hunter Championship during WEF I. Photo By: SportFot

Wellington, FL – January 18, 2012 – Katie Robinson was very successful during the first week of the prestigious Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Riding for her family’s Deeridge Farm, Robinson took home top honors in the Amateur-Owner 35 & Over Hunter division. She captured the championship tricolor aboard Lady O, and also earned two first place ribbons riding Rock Steady.

Robinson piloted Lady O to winning honors in the competitive Amateur-Owner 35 & Over Hunter division. The duo earned two first place ribbons, a third place ribbon, and a fourth place ribbon to claim the championship cooler.

“Lady O hasn’t shown since Devon, so I am really happy that she performed so well; she hasn’t forgotten anything,” said Robinson. “She was very relaxed and happy to be in the ring, so that was great. Lady O just needs a really relaxed, calm ride; she does all the work.”

Continue reading Katie Robinson and Lady O Awarded Amateur-Owner 35 & Over Hunter Championship at WEF I →

Community/Charity, Show Jumping, USEF

McLain Ward Breaks Leg in Fall

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McLain Ward and Oh d'Eole winning the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 1. Photo by Sportfot

It’ll be mid-May before grand prix fans might see two-time Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward back in the ring. Ward, 36, suffered a compound fracture of his left patella, or kneecap, on the evening of Jan. 14.

Ward was riding Oh d’Eole in the $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix during the first week of competition at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla. Oh d’Eole, a 10-year-old Selle Francais mare, had won the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 1 two days before. “She was getting a little green under the lights [during the night class],” said Ward.

They ran into trouble at a one-stride combination. “She jumped so high jumping into the combination over A that I went to pull her out from the B, but she left the ground anyway. Then, I hit my kneecap on the standard.”

Continue reading McLain Ward Breaks Leg in Fall →

Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, Hunter/Equitation, Polo, Show Jumping, USEF

USEF Network Presented by Smartpak to Live Stream PRO DerbyCross in Wellington

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Canadian Eventer, Kelly Plitz, Is Featured Artist for the Event

Featured artwork by Canadian Eventer Kelly Plitz

Wellington, FL – January 17, 2012 – The PRO DerbyCross Team Competition will be live streamed on the USEF Network presented by Smartpak on January 20 at 7 PM. Film production is being provided by CatchRide.

“We are very happy to team up with the USEF Network presented by Smartpak, who will be hosting the live stream broadcast,” said Samantha Lendl, Executive Director of the Professional Riders Organization. “DerbyCross is so much fun and we hope that this allows people all over the world to see what this extreme sport is all about.”

Kelly Plitz, a member of the 1984 Canadian Three-Day Event Team, is the featured artist for PRO DerbyCross and has created a unique painting, which is acrylic on board. The painting will be auctioned off with all proceeds benefitting Operation Homefront Florida. Kelly is married to Canadian Eventer Ian Roberts and with their son Eventer Waylon Roberts operate Dreamcrest Equestrian near Port Perry, Ontario.

Continue reading USEF Network Presented by Smartpak to Live Stream PRO DerbyCross in Wellington →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping, Training/Clinics

Committed to Fostering the American Hunter Jumper Forward Riding System, Bernie Traurig Offers Free EquestrianCoach.com Memberships to Coaches at the CPI

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Bernie Traurig judged the CPI on a chilly Saturday in Wellington, FL

Wellington, FL – January 16, 2012 – World-class equestrian, founder and president of EquestrianCoach.com, Bernie Traurig, judged the hunt seat divisions of the College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) along with Scott Hofstetter, Nona Garson and Linda Andrisani. Robert Dover judged the dressage competition, a new addition to the event in its second year. The CPI was held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL with the mounted competition on an uncharacteristically cool Saturday.

The goal of the CPI is to prepare junior high and high school riders for the format of college equestrian competition, encourage academics and horsemanship and to provide riders with the resources to continue equestrian learning during college.

“I really like the format of this show and collegiate competition in general. It gives young people a new opportunity after their junior years,” said Traurig.

Continue reading Committed to Fostering the American Hunter Jumper Forward Riding System, Bernie Traurig Offers Free EquestrianCoach.com Memberships to Coaches at the CPI →