Category Archives: Show Jumping

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

Platinum Performance to Honor Top Performers at HITS Horse Shows in 2012

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© Flying Horse Photography. Emily Smith of Platinum Performance and Tony Hitchcock of HITS present Rich Fellers and Flexible with the 2011 Platinum Performance Leading Rider Award.

OCALA, FL (December 14, 2011) — HITS, Inc. is pleased to announce that Platinum Performance has expanded its sponsorship with HITS Horse Shows and will present the Leading Grand Prix Rider Award at HITS Thermal, HITS Ocala and HITS Saugerties during the 2012 season.

“We are proud to be a sponsor and we have a great deal in common with the competitors at HITS – high expectations, impeccable quality and a desire to constantly improve,” said Amy Quintana of Platinum Performance.

The competition among High-Performance riders is sure to be action packed this winter as some of the top riders in the world ride for the coveted Leading Grand Prix Rider Award at HITS Thermal and HITS Ocala.

The 2012 HITS Desert Circuit will offer 16 Grand Prix events, including four FEI World Cup Qualifiers. On the East Coast, HITS Ocala will also boast 16 Grand Prix classes. In addition, every Grand Prix class at HITS Horse Shows in 2012 is a qualifier for the $1 Million Grand Prix that will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York in September.

Continue reading Platinum Performance to Honor Top Performers at HITS Horse Shows in 2012 →

Championships, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping

Emerging Talent Showcased in 2011 Spy Coast Farm Young Horse Show Series Year-End Championships

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Two-Year-Old Jump Chute champion Bragging Rights MF. Photos © ManciniPhotos

Wellington, FL – December 14, 2011 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) in cooperation with The North American Studbook and Spy Coast Farm LLC hosted the finals for the 2011 Spy Coast Farm Young Horse Show Series this weekend at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The exciting 2011 Young Horse Show Series (YHS) Year-End Championships awarded $10,000 in total prize money and was held on December 8th and 9th, 2011.

The competition began on Thursday, December 8th, featuring the first round of competition for classes in the Suitability for Sport In-Hand and Jump Chute divisions. Jos Sevriens and Jana Olof Wannius served as judges, with B. Nicho Meredith announcing. Handlers included Klaus Schengber, Phil Silva, and Brandon Curtis.

On Friday, December 9th, the finals were held for the Suitability for Sport Under Saddle, Style Jumping Under Saddle, and Schooling Dressage divisions.

Continue reading Emerging Talent Showcased in 2011 Spy Coast Farm Young Horse Show Series Year-End Championships →

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Dressage, Driving, Endurance Riding, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Para-Equestrian, Show Jumping, Vaulting, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

Rolex Signs Partnership Agreement with Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014

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Geneva (SUI), 13 December 2011 – Rolex has become an official partner of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014. The agreement was signed today, 13 December, in Geneva (SUI), home town to Rolex and venue of the sixth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012.

The Swiss luxury watch maker has been involved in equestrian sport since 1957 and is a major force behind many of the sport’s finest events and riders. The brand’s association with the FEI World Equestrian Games dates back to 2002 and Rolex was the official sponsor of last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky (USA).

FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos welcomed the news of the Rolex partnership with Normandy 2014. “The FEI is delighted that Rolex, one of the world’s best brands and a dedicated partner to equestrian sport, has renewed its cooperation with the FEI’s flagship event, the FEI World Equestrian Games,” he said. “Rolex’s loyalty to our sport is exceptional and we are looking forward to the Games in Normandy, which are expected to stage absolutely top-class sport in an area renowned for its connection with the horse.”

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Awards, Community/Charity, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Hugh Kincannon Honored with USHJA’s President’s Distinguished Service Award

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Hugh Kincannon received the USHJA's President's Distinguished Service Award. Photo By: Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports

Lexington, KY – December 12, 2011 – On December 6, 2011, Hugh Kincannon of Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC, was recognized at the United States Hunter Jumper Association’s Evening of Equestrians Awards Dinner. Kincannon received the President’s Distinguished Service Award for his management of USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, the USEF Pony Finals, and the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. The USHJA presented the award to Kincannon for his dedication to these events, and his efforts to always go above and beyond to make them a success.

In 2006, USHJA created a new award category, the USHJA President’s Distinguished Service Awards. These awards were developed by the President and staff to recognize and honor the dedication and service by members to USHJA and our sport. The staff and President reviewed the programs of USHJA, as well as the work involved in developing and implementing them, and those individuals who have gone beyond the call of duty to bring our sport to a new level and to benefit our membership.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, Sydney Masters-Durieux

Youngest Rider at Gucci Masters/Paris Teams with Friend for Toys for Tots Drive

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Emanuel Andrade Newest Junior Ambassador to the Step by Step Foundation

Daniela Stransky riding Starlight and representing Venezuela at the 3rd annual Gucci Masters in Paris. Photo by Sophie Durieux.

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL – December 12, 2011 – Daniela Stransky made her European show jumping debut at the 3rd annual Gucci Masters, which ran from December 2 to 4, 2011 in Paris, France. The 15 year old was the youngest rider at the prestigious international horse show and the only competitor representing Venezuela.

Cheered on by her mother Liliane Stransky, the founder of the international charity Step by Step Foundation (www.stepbystepfoundation.com) and owner of Stransky’s Mission Farm in Wellington, Florida, and her trainer Hector Florentino of the Dominican Republic, Daniela piloted her mare Starlight to two fault free and speedy rounds.  Just out of the ribbons, the tenacious teen vowed to return next year with her friend and fellow Venezuelan rider Emanuel Andrade (15).

Continue reading Youngest Rider at Gucci Masters/Paris Teams with Friend for Toys for Tots Drive →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Miranda Turns On the Magic in Geneva

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Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda produced a thrilling jump-off round from AD Ashleigh Drossel Dan to win the sixth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series in Geneva, Switzerland today. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Geneva (SUI), 11 December 2011 – Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda claimed maximum points and set himself on the road to the series Final with a breath-taking victory riding AD Ashleigh Drossel Dan in the sixth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League at Geneva, Switzerland this afternoon.  With 16 of the world’s best horses and riders through to the closing stages, the second-round race against the clock was a thriller in which the lead changed again and again.  But with the advantage of being last to go, and with a superb round sprinkled with a little luck, the 38 year old rider and his 13 year old gelding scorched home to clinch it in style.

A measure of the quality of today’s competition was the prize-winning line-up, with 2011 European Champion Rolf-Goran Bengtsson from Sweden having to settle for runner-up spot despite a jump-off run with Casall la Silla that looked surely unbeatable.  And in third place was one of the fastest men on the planet, Patrice Delaveau from France who set the arena alight with Orient Express who seemed airborne from start to finish.  Today’s result boosts Bengtsson’s position at the top of the series leaderboard, but Miranda has climbed onboard in 18th place.  And the Brazilian is now altering his game-plan for the rest of the indoor season, with his sights shifted to earning a spot at the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands next April.

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Classic Company, Classic Company, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Jacksonville Winter Series, Show Jumping

Pensacola and Jacksonville Winter Series

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Just a few things….  For those planning to attend the Pensacola Series in January, the closing date is this Friday the 16th.  The importance of this closing date is the reduced price of stalls if paid in full by closing date.  So, this is just a reminder…. closing date is this Friday.  Read the prize list for details.

We also had a couple of corrections in the Pensacola prize list.  The 1.10m Children’s and Adult Jumper entry fee says $65 per class; it should have read $45.  The YJC classes are $50 for five year olds, $60 for six year olds and $70 for seven and eight year olds.

The Jacksonville closing date for entries is January 19th.

I do want to remind you that the Jacksonville, Pensacola and Gulfport are on our website. The prize list for Atlanta Spring will be out mid-January.

See you at the rings,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd.
www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX:  (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311  Johns Island  SC 29457

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Dressage, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

The Wellington Equestrian “Alliance”? NOT! by Robert Dover

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I woke up this morning with only thoughts of taking my Mom to the Cleveland Clinic to hear the oncologist’s report on her cancer as well as concerns with having to finally place my Dad in an Alzheimer’s facility in Texas.

Life has a way of reminding us that it goes by way too fast and how important it is to have our loved ones and the friends you trust (including our wonderful 4-legged ones) around you at all times. With the help of amazing sponsors, great horses, and a passion for the sport I love, I have had a great career including the honor of representing our great nation on the dressage team at six Olympic Games. Life, however, is full of imposters, whose posing, scheming, and distortions have the sole intention of pursuing their own agenda regardless of truth usually at a great cost to others. One of the keys in life is identifying, exposing, avoiding, and then overcoming their disruptions. We all have had our experiences and stories to share!

So while checking my morning email, I have to tell you how shocked I was to read the Newsletter that was sent to me stating that the “Wellington Equestrian Preservation Alliance was doing all it can to “stop controversial developer Mark Bellissimo and Wellington Equestrian Partners from destroying and ruining the equestrian preserve.” The newsletter was full of angry terms that incite. Terms like scheming, speculation, declining home values, crime, uncertainty, anxiety, insecurity, increased danger to horses, noise, traffic congestion, lack of green space, the list goes on. Then I read about the high-rise condominiums, a mall, a fairgrounds, and an RV Park. It was a negative, intentionally inaccurate, full of exaggeration, fear mongering campaign only meant to once again scare and disrupt this community that I call home and love. It was time to take a deep breath, reflect, and voice my opinions.

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Community/Charity, Dressage, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Fight Begins to Save Critical Wellington Area

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Wellington Equestrian Preservation Alliance to challenge controversial plan for “Rockefeller Center” in the heart of horse country

Wellington, FL – December 9, 2011 – The Wellington Equestrian Preservation Alliance continues to aggressively oppose a controversial proposed development planned for the heart of Wellington’s Equestrian Preservation Area currently under consideration by the Village of Wellington.  Alliance representatives and supporters will be on hand to contest the development as aspects of the plan get their first governmental hearing before Wellington’s official Equestrian Preserve Committee at 6 pm located at City Hall on Wednesday, December 14.

According to Alliance Executive Director, Mat Forest: “Our position is pretty simple: This project should be limited specifically to equestrian activities.  No malls, no RV parks, no fairgrounds, no high-rise condos in the Equestrian Preserve Area. There may be places in Wellington where this development would fit very nicely, but NOT in the Equestrian Preserve.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping

The Rolex One to Watch – December 2011

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Annelies Vorsselmans riding Eurocommerce Cleveland in the CSI** Masters Grand Prix at the Gucci Masters 2011 in Paris (FRA). Photo: SPORTFOT/Rolex

08 December 2011 – The Rolex One to Watch for December 2011 is Belgian rider Annelies Vorsselmans. Based at Stal Eurocommerce, situated approximately 130 kms to the East of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, the 27-year-old jumped from number 334 to 245 during November – a move up the Rolex Rankings of 89 places.

Born on 28 June 1983, and brought up in Belgium, Vorsselmans started to ride at a very young age, and as a child grew up surrounded by horses and ponies. During her childhood years Vorsselmans rode Dressage, and not without merit; she qualified for the national finals held in Mechelen, Belgium three times. It was after Vorsselmans’ father gave her his Jumping horse that her focus started to move away from Dressage.

When Vorsselmans was 18 years old she had to make a tough, life-affirming decision: to either carry on with her studies, or alternatively to pursue a life dedicated to riding horses professionally. Having chosen the latter option, Vorsselmans ended up at the Eurohorse stables of renowned Dutch rider and horse dealer, Axel Verlooy, and it was during her time there that Vorsselmans says she really learned to ride. Based in Grobbendonk, Belgium, Verlooy currently employs Harrie Smolders and his son, Jos Verlooy, and, between the three of them, they operate a very successful equestrian outfit.

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