Category Archives: Show Jumping

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping, USEF, Vaulting

Twenty Americans Head to FEI World Cup Finals in Leipzig, Germany

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Shawna Harding and Come On III. Photo: SusanJStickle.com

Lexington, KY – The United States will have strong representation in Germany for the 2011 FEI World Cup Finals (April 27 – May 1), with 20 of the country’s best riders ready to leave their mark on Leipzig. For the first time the World Cup Finals in dressage, driving, jumping and vaulting will all be held under one roof, with the US sending competitors to vie for top honors in the dressage and jumping. The US will also use the Leipzig Exhibition Hall to showcase up-and-coming jumping riders in the European Youngster Cup Finals and the CSI3*.

With three riders competing in the 2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final, the US is poised to excel on the world stage. The American effort will be led by Catherine Haddad and her own Winyamaro. Based in Germany, the pair punched their ticket to the Finals by finishing fifth in the Western European League, which is widely known as the toughest Reem Acra World Cup Qualifying League.

California’s Jan Ebeling returns to World Cup stage with his partner from the 2009 Finals, Raflaca. The pair won most recently at the Festival of the Horse CDI-W in March. Shawna Harding and Come On III make their FEI World Cup Final debut, they look to capitalize on the consistent form they displayed throughout the winter season. Under the guidance of Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons, these three riders will compete in a field of 18 competitors from 11 countries, including former FEI World Cup Champions Edward Gal, Isabel Werth and Ulla Salzgeber.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping

Todd Rolls Back the Years to Win a Fourth Badminton

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Mark Todd (NZL) on NZB Land Vision celebrates after winning at Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2011 - first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 © Peter Nixon/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 25 April 2011 – It was a special moment in Eventing history as an ecstatic crowd at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR), first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, rose to their feet to salute the achievement of Mark Todd (NZL) in winning for the fourth time here since 1980.

“Thirty-one years’ experience comes in handy sometimes!” joked the ever-relaxed Todd, whose mount NZB Land Vision had never experienced the rarefied CCI4* atmosphere before.

“It is incredibly special, though, right up there with the back-to-back Olympic golds. When I came back to the sport (in 2008) it was to see if I could get back to top level. It has always been my aim to win another big one.”

Long acknowledged as the one of the best horsemen the world has ever seen, Todd is also the oldest winner of Badminton (after Andrew Hoy) by an astonishing eight years; he has matched Mark Phillips’ record of four Badminton victories (only Lucinda Green has more, six) and has achieved this major victory after just three years back in the sport after an eight-year “retirement”.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping

Todd Is Back in Pole Position in Closest Ever Finale at Badminton

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Mark Todd (NZL) on NZB Land Vision leads on Cross-Country Day at Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2011 – first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 © Kit Houghton/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 24 April 2011 – There was a thrilling climax to Cross-Country day at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials – the first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics – when Mark Todd (NZL) returned to a hero’s welcome, having produced a masterful display of riding to bring the inexperienced NZB Land Vision home clear and into the lead.

However, the three-time Badminton winner and double Olympic champion will need all his renowned skill in tomorrow’s Jumping phase for, in a remarkable result, the price of one fence covers the top 12 riders.

“Land Vision is a good horse but he’s relatively young (10) and he did feel green,” said Todd, whose last appearance in a CCI4* press conference was 12 years ago when he finished second on Word Perfect.

“He definitely felt tired after Huntsmans Close and I had to nurse him home, but he felt really genuine. I had to give him a bit of a shake-up in the Quarry but he picked up and that’s the sign of a good horse.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping

British Trio Have the Edge after Dressage at Badminton

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Ruth Edge (GBR) on Two Thyme takes the lead on Day 2 of Dressage at Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2011 – first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 © Kit Houghton/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 23 April 2011 – A trio of British girls head the leaderboard after the Dressage phase at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR), the first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2011.

Ruth Edge (GBR), in pole position with the excellent score of 33.3 penalties on the 17-year-old Two Thyme, winner at Luhmühlen in 2007, is no stranger to the limelight in this phase – indeed, she regularly wins national titles in this discipline.

“There’s always a lot of pressure on me here and I’m anxious not to let anyone down because it’s a lot of work to get this horse here,’ she said. “But he was awesome today and belied his age. As he’s older, I hadn’t done much work with him this week and, as a result, he felt physically fresh.”

Piggy French (GBR), second, had the distinction of scoring the only 10 of the competition, awarded by Ground Jury President Anne-Mette Binder (DEN) for her halt on Jakata, and it was greeted by a deafening roar of approval from the packed stands.

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Breeds, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Show Jumping

Jumping Radio Episode 59 – Spy Coast Farm, Breeding Show Jumpers

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Lisa Lourie, owner & breeder from Spy Coast Farm, explains what it takes to build a sporthorse breeding operation and establish a brand name in the sport. Tune in right here.

Jumping Radio Episode 59 – Show Notes and Links:

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping

Dream Start for Young Laura Collett at Badminton – Opener for HSBC FEI Classics

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Laura Collett (GBR) on Rayef in the lead after Day 1 of Dressage at Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2011 - opener for the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 © Kit Houghton/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 22 April 2011 – Laura Collett (GBR) made a dream start to her debut at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR), the first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, when heading several more experienced riders at the end of the first day of Dressage.

Collett, 21, is renowned for having a cool head and a tidy style – she was a successful rider of show ponies as a child – and she presented a neat and pleasing picture on the 12-year-old Dutch-bred Rayef, the horse on which she won Junior and Young Rider European titles in 2007 and 2009.

“That’s his best test ever,” said a delighted Collett on learning of her score of 36.5 penalties, which gives her a 3.3 lead over Germany’s Marina Köhncke. “Yogi Briesner (trainer) told me to ride as if I was at home. Rayef didn’t make any mistakes and he was soft and attentive. It was nice to sit on.

“My whole life has been about getting to Badminton, so to be here for the first time on such a good horse feels amazing.”

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping, USEF

Land Rover US Eventing Team Ready for CCI4* Challenge at the 2011 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials

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Lexington, KY – All 84 horses presented at the first Horse Inspection at the 2011 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials were accepted by the Ground Jury without incident. This includes three American horses: Mandiba, BallyNoe Castle RM, and The Good Witch.

With their riders, Karen O’Connor, who contested her first Badminton in 1979, Buck Davidson, whose father Bruce was the first U.S. winner in 1995, and Jennifer Wooten-DaFoe, who looks to cross Badminton off the list of CCI4*s to complete with her diminutive mare, these horses are trying to do something that has only been done twice before by Americans:

Win.

Karen O’Connor and Mandiba are the most experienced combination having represented the U.S. at both the 2008 Olympic Games and as part of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. O’Connor’s husband David was the second U.S. rider to win the prestigious event, when he took the honor with Custom Made in 1997.

“Mandiba is in great form,” said O’Connor of the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse. “He has never had a better run up to a CCI4*. He’s fit, he’s well, he’s sound and he is ready and I am really excited about the weekend. It’s all out there for me to give this horse the chance he deserves.”

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

This Week in USEF International Disciplines – April 21

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Driving

At the Southern Pines CDE in North Carolina, six advanced divisions gave the U.S. drivers plenty of opportunity to hone their skills for some o f the 2011 FEI World Driving Championships. In the Advanced Single Pony Divisions, Australia’s Janelle Marshall won but USA’s Maggie Sullivan was second and Doris Leacy was third.

In the Advanced Pair Pony division, Wendy O’Brien scored a victory over Jennifer Matheson which came down to a close competition in the cones. O’Brien ended up in front on the strength of her marathon performance.

Allison Stroud continues her domination of the team pony division in the United States with her team of grey mostly Welsh ponies.

The Advanced Single Horse division proved successful for Kate Shields, she bested young driver Jacob Arnold by less than a point for the win. Robin Groves was less than four points off the winning score in the most competitive division of the weekend.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

HITS Culpeper Kicks Off with Commonwealth National

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© ESI Photography. Sarah Scheiring and Landino on course in the Level 7 Jumpers.

CULPEPER, VA (April 21, 2011) — It’s official! The grass is freshly cut, the flags are flying high and the sponsor banners are lining the grounds, as show jumping is underway with the Commonwealth National at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia.

“We have been here every week for as long as I can remember,” said trainer Peter Foley. “With the diverse schedule of classes and its convenient location in the heart of Virginia’s horse country, HITS Culpeper is a ‘can’t miss’ for us.”

When the action kicked off yesterday in the hunter ring, it was Winn Alden (Bristow, Virginia) who got the party started when she took the blue ribbon aboard Stacey McFadden’s Catalyst in the first over fences class of the First Year Green Hunter division. In the second class, she piloted Cassandra Gergeley’s Davinci to the victory, which puts her on the inside track for a division championship when it gets crowned later today!

“It’s great to be back in Culpeper,” said Alden. “I was in Ocala all winter and we had a great time. I will be showing at Culpeper every week, trying to qualify for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping

HSBC FEI Classics Opener Attracts Lucky Seven Line-Up for Badminton

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Paul Tapner (AUS), winner of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in 2010 with Inonothing, rides Kilfinnie in this year’s event and opener for the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 © Kit Houghton/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 21 April 2011 – The HSBC FEI Classics 2011, an exciting series linking five of the world’s top level events, begins in style today (Thursday 21 April – Monday 25 April) at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR).

The first crucial qualifier for the 2012 London Olympic Games has attracted arguably the strongest international field for many years with representatives from 11 nations and seven former winners entered.

Oliver Townend (GBR), 28, the 2009 victor, wasn’t even born when the double Olympic champion Mark Todd (NZL), 55, made his Badminton debut – and won – 31 years ago. Both riders have been in dominant form on the British national circuit this spring. Townend rides the grey Ashdale Cruise Master, fifth at Luhmühlen last year, while Todd has Major Milestone, 11th at Burghley last time, and is last to go on the former Townend ride NZB Land Vision, guaranteeing a gripping end to Cross-Country day on Sunday.

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