Category Archives: Disciplines

United States Takes Early Lead in Team Competition at 2012 Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3*

Grade Ib Jonathan Wentz (USA) and NTEC Jabriel. Photo © Lindsay Y McCall

Wellington, FL – January 26, 2012 – Week two at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center began for Para-Equestrian Dressage riders Thursday, January 26, at the 2012 Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3. Canada and the United States of America went head to head in the team competition resulting in an early lead for the United States. With top scores reaching the 70% mark, the United States showcased their determination and progression over the past year. In addition to the U.S.A. and Canada, other countries represented were Bermuda, Finland, Ireland, Japan, and Mexico making up a total of 29 horse and rider combinations to display their top Team Tests. Representing the ground jury was Katherine Lucheschi (ITA), Hanneke Gerritsen (NED), and Carlos Lopes (POR). The Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3* is an opportunity for riders to increase their world ranking and to qualify for the 2012 London Paralympic Selection Trials.

Representing the United States was Mary Jordan (Grade IV) of Wells, ME aboard Sebastian, Dale Dedrick (Grade II) from Ann Arbor, MI on Bonifatius, Rebecca Hart (Grade II) of Erie, PA aboard Lord Ludger and Jonathan Wentz (Grade Ib) on NTEC Jabriel from Richardson,TX.  At the helm of United States team is Chef d’Equipe Missy Ransehousen.

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Russian Olympian Ljubov Kochetova Wins Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award during First Week of Winter Equestrian Festival

Ljubov Kochetova. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (January 26, 2012) – Russian Olympian Ljubov Kochetova showed off her upbeat attitude while competing a five-year-old Westphalian gelding named Corrado during the first week of the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival, and her positive attitude helped her take home the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award. Sponsored by Premier Equestrian, LLC, a leading supplier of dressage arenas, horse jumps, arena footing and stable accessories, the Premier Sportsmanship Award is presented to a barn or rider who displays a high level of sportsmanship during a show and the winner receives a gift certificate for $100 worth of Premier products.

Kochetova, who was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, competed in the 2008 Olympics aboard Ilion Kilen. She said she currently has her sights set on the 2012 Olympics in London. “We are still in the middle of the race to see who will compete in the Olympics,” she said.

Kochetova was pleased to win the Premier Sportsmanship Award. “I am very grateful to Premier,” she said. “Corrado is a very young and inexperienced horse so if he wins anything I am thrilled.”

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Schedule Change at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach

Wellington, FL (January 26, 2012) – Following Ashley Holzer’s winning ride with Pop Art in the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CDI3*, a qualifier for the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, competition organizer Wellington Classic Dressage and the WDM management found themselves faced with a sports issue that has necessitated a decision to amend the schedule of the show.

American Heather Blitz on Paragon, second in the CDI3* Grand Prix behind Holzer and Pop Art, is one of the two riders who would have been eligible to be invited for the 5* WDM Palm Beach. Holzer, and third placed Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven of Sweden on Divertimento, are already competing in the WDM Palm Beach on other horses and are not permitted to enter with a second horse. Invitations were therefore extended to Blitz, who placed second in the CDI3*, and James Koford of the US, who finished fourth on Pharaoh.

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Nick Skelton and Carlo 273 Repeat Victory in $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 3

Jimmy Torano and Bentley Bring Home the Pre Green Hunter Level 1 3′ Division Championship

Nick Skelton and Carlo 273. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 26, 2012 – For the second week in a row, Nick Skelton and Beverley Widdowson’s Carlo 273 led the victory gallop in the Thursday afternoon $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Grand Prix in Wellington. Today’s class was the third in the series at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 1, 2012.

Week three of the FTI WEF runs Wednesday, January 25, through Sunday, January 29, and is sponsored by Horseware Ireland. The highlight jumper classes in week three are the $55,000 Nespresso Battle of the Sexes on Saturday, January 28, as well as the $50,000 Horseware Ireland CSI 2* Grand Prix on Sunday, January 29.

Continue reading Nick Skelton and Carlo 273 Repeat Victory in $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 3

Rolf-Gӧran Bengtsson Claims the Green & Gold

Rolf-Gӧran Bengtsson wearing the Green & Gold at the ninth qualifying leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping in Leipzig (GER). Photo: Karl-Heinz Frieler / ROLEX

Swedish show jumper Rolf-Gӧran Bengtsson has claimed the coveted Green & Gold armband from Canadian rider and Rolex Testimonee, Eric Lamaze, after he was crowned the Number One rider in the world according to the latest Rolex Rankings. Bengtsson is the first ever Swede to become the number one ranked rider in the world.

Lamaze originally held the Green & Gold between July and August 2010, and also between June and December 2011; however, following impressive performances at the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping qualifiers in Lyon (first place), Stuttgart (third place) and Geneva (second place), Bengtsson soon staked his claim to the Number One spot.

Bengtsson’s great run of recent form also includes fourth place in the Grand Prix at the CSI5* in Abu Dhabi (UAE); fourth place at the CSI5* in Paris (FRA); and fifth place in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping qualifier in London Olympia (UK). Not forgetting his individual victory at the FEI European Championships in Madrid (ESP), Bengtsson had a truly remarkable 2011; his achievements were duly recognised when he won Sweden’s most prestigious sports award at the Swedish Sports Gala 2012.

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Gear Up for 2012 Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3* Commencing January 26

NTEC Jabriel and Kai Handt jogging in the rain. Photos © Lindsay Y McCall

Wellington, FL – January 25, 2012 – Para-Equestrian Dressage riders returned to the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center for the 2012 Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3*. On Wednesday’s schedule was a 3:00 p.m. jog where horses received their F.E.I inspection for the weekend’s CPEDI3*. Riders from Bermuda, Canada, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, and Canada were on the grounds representing their respective country. In addition to the eleven United States riders who competed at last week’s CPEDI3, were two additional riders, 2008 Paralympian Robin Brueckmann with her horse Radetzky and newcomer 14-year-old Sydney Collier of Ann Arbor, MI.

Thirty horse and rider combinations will begin Thursday’s Team Test competition at 8:30 a.m. With one championship under their belt, the Para-Equestrian team from Canada will once again face off against the United States. Representing the United States will be Mary Jordan (Grade IV) of Wells, ME aboard Sebastian, Dale Dedrick (Grade II) from Ann Arbor, MI on Bonifatius, Rebecca Hart (Grade II) of Erie, PA aboard Lord Ludger and Jonathan Wentz (Grade Ib) on NTEC Jabriel from Richardson,TX.  The United States team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Missy Ransehousen.

Continue reading Gear Up for 2012 Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3* Commencing January 26

Land Rover Continues Commitment to 2012 Land Rover US Eventing Team with Spring Training Grants

Lexington, KY – Land Rover and the USEF awarded the Land Rover US Eventing Team High Performance-listed riders a total of $33,500 in spring training grants for 2012. Sixteen athlete/horse combinations based across the country (and in Europe) received grants to offset training costs throughout the early part of 2012.

Several of these combinations have or will be spending time in Wellington, FL, honing their dressage and jumping skills with some of the best trainers in those disciplines. They are preparing for the spring season and ultimately vying for selection for the 2012 Olympic Games.

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EQUUS Foundation Announces Scholarship for Young Equestrians

Left to Right: Heidi Lengyel, Catherine Herman, and Jeanne Rouco-Conesa. Photo courtesy of Dru Gassner, Majestic Images

WESTPORT, CT – January 25, 2012 – The EQUUS Foundation has partnered with the College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) Horse Show Scholarship Fund to establish a scholarship open to the participants at the College Preparatory Invitational Horse Show, held January 13-15, 2012, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida.

The mission of the CPI is to prepare and educate student riders in grades 8 – 12 about the format of college equestrian competition, encourage academics and horsemanship, and to provide the riders with resources to create their desired college equestrian experience.

All the horses and necessary tack for the show are provided by CPI. The show is specifically geared to promote college recruitment of equestrians by providing the opportunity for coaches and potential students to meet.

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World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Set to Begin

2011 WDM Palm Beach Champion shares the podium with Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven of Sweden and Tina Konyot of the US - photo credit Sue Stickle

Wellington, FL (January 25, 2012) – The World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach will be officially under way at 12:30 pm on Thursday, January 26th, when 15 of the world’s top international dressage horses are presented at the FEI horse inspection. The Jim Brandon Equestrian Center is, for the second consecutive year, the venue for this unique and exciting event, which is organized by Wellington Classic Dressage.

“The International Polo Club team has come into the Jim Brandon Center and created an environment that rivals that of any international equestrian venue anywhere in the world,” said Mason Phelps Jr. of Phelps Media Group.

The World Dressage Masters presented by Axel Johnson Group is the world’s richest dressage series and the only series that holds the highest classification of FEI dressage competition, at the five star level. In the coming days, 17 of the world’s top ranked horses and riders from Europe and North America will compete for €100,000 ($130,000) at the only WDM event to take place outside of Europe. IPC Palm Beach became the presenting sponsor just a few weeks before the 2011 WDM Palm Beach after the previous sponsor cancelled its support. The 2011 WDM Palm Beach was a spectacular, sold out event, but the 2012 WDM is expected to exceed even last year’s success.

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Prepare for the 2012 Rancho Valencia Dressage Affaire CPEDI3* March 8-11

USPEA President Hope Hand (Sitting), Coach Kai Handt (Standing), and Grade Ib winner at the 2011 Dressage Affaire CPEDI3*Jonathan Wentz and NTEC Richter Scale. Photo by: Lindsay Y McCall for USPEA

Del Mar, CA – January 25, 2012 – In 2010, Kim Keenan Stordahl and the team at Keenan Productions Events Inc. added to their outstanding horse show the first CPEDI3* at the Del Mar Horsepark in Del Mar, CA. In 2012 the Rancho Valencia Dressage Affaire CPEDI3*, will once again host the international para-equestrian dressage riders March 8-11. Adding to the excitement this year for the CPEDI3* will be $1,000 divided among the top five riders in the freestyle competition in each of the five Grade divisions. Para-equestrian teams and individuals will have the opportunity to showcase their best Team Test, Individual Test, and Freestyle in front of the CPEDI3* Jury Hanneke Gerritsen 5* (NED), Kathy Amos Jacob 5* (FRA), and Ulf Wilken 5* (SWE). There are only two CPEDI3* events left in the in United States for riders to earn their individual 60% Certificate of Capability for the 2012 London Paralympics. This is the first horse show followed by the Houston Dressage Society CPEDI3* April 26-29. In addition to the horse show there will be a rider’s clinic with dressage trainer Mette Rosencrantz and an F.E.I Para-Equestrian Dressage judge course.

Continue reading Prepare for the 2012 Rancho Valencia Dressage Affaire CPEDI3* March 8-11