Category Archives: Disciplines

Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Maclay, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Hunter and ASPCA Maclay Judges Announced for 2012 Alltech National Horse Show

Leave a comment
Phillip DeVita. Photos © Kenneth Kraus

Lexington, Kentucky – January 2, 2012 – The Alltech National Horse Show, 129th edition, scheduled for the Alltech Arena in Lexington, Kentucky on October 31 through November 4, 2012, today announced the line-up of judges for the Hunter divisions and the ASPCA Maclay National Championship for this year’s event.

The debut of the Alltech National Horse Show last November closed with great excitement, receiving unanimous and rave reviews from the equestrian community. More than 560 horses and 350 riders from nine countries, including nine Olympic veterans competed in 2011 and this year’s event should prove to be even more successful.

Invited to judge the highly competitive hunter divisions for the 2012 edition are Phillip J. DeVita, Jr. from Apopka, Florida and Jimmy Torano, from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Both DeVita and Torano are two of the most popular and highly rated hunter judges in the United States, having officiated at most of the top ranked shows in the nation.

Continue reading Hunter and ASPCA Maclay Judges Announced for 2012 Alltech National Horse Show →

Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Training/Clinics, USEF

Equestrian Sport Productions to Host USEF Young Rider Forum at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on January 6

Leave a comment

Wellington, FL – January 2, 2012 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) announces that the USEF Young Rider Forum will be held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Friday, January 6 at 5 p.m. The USEF Young Rider Forum is held in conjunction with the 2012 George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session presented by USHJA and Adequan, which will be held at the PBIEC on January 3-7. The USEF Young Rider Forum is open to all junior and young riders (under 25), their trainers, and families.

The USEF Young Rider Forum will discuss topics and facilitate information regarding the Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series during the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival and the 2012 USEF Show Jumping European Young Rider Tour.

The Forum will include information on the changes to this year’s Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series, such as the new FEI rules that the classes will run under, and the details regarding selection for the team for the 2012 USEF Show Jumping European Young Rider Tour.

Continue reading Equestrian Sport Productions to Host USEF Young Rider Forum at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on January 6 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Dressage, JRPR, Products/Services

Custom Saddlery Believes in Magic – Steffen Peters and Weltino’s Magic to Be Exact!

Leave a comment
Custom Saddlery is proud to believe in the magic of dressage rider Steffen Peters and his equine partner Weltino’s Magic. (Photo courtesy of Sheryl Ross)

Aiken, SC (January 2, 2012) – Pan Am Gold Medal winning horse Weltino’s Magic, owned by Jen Hlavacek and ridden by Steffen Peters, has a motto designed to remind people that they can achieve the highest goals they set for themselves. Magic’s motto is, “I Believe in Magic,” and his fans around the world have embraced the saying. The staff at Custom Saddlery, the saddle company that endorses Peters and his magical equine partner, is thrilled to embrace the magic of Peters and Weltino’s Magic.

“Custom Saddlery has sponsored Steffen Peters on a variety of horses over the years. Steffen now rides predominantly in our Icon Flight Saddle and we are currently in the process of making a new saddle for Weltino’s Magic. We could not ask for a higher profile or more accomplished rider then Steffen. He is a true ambassador for the sport and for Custom Saddlery. We are proud and honored to have him ride in our saddles,” said Graham Newell, Professional Saddle Fitter for Custom Saddlery.

Continue reading Custom Saddlery Believes in Magic – Steffen Peters and Weltino’s Magic to Be Exact! →

Community/Charity, Dressage, Phelps Media Group, Products/Services

Newly Focused Preserving Wellington Announces Facebook Contest

Leave a comment

Wellington, FL – December 28, 2011 – Preserving Wellington is a newly focused organization concerned with the preservation and conservation of the gifts nature has provided for the city of Wellington. Their main focus encompasses preserving the character of Wellington’s equestrian community.

Preserving Wellington would like to encourage an open and civil forum via their Facebook Page and Twitter Account. It is important that the citizens within Wellington, as well as those who are seasonal, have a voice when it comes to preserving Wellington and the equestrian community that is its jewel.

To show the community’s support of the equestrian aspects of Wellington, Preserving Wellington is pleased to announce its “Favorite Wellington Equestrian Moment Contest.” Each friend of the Preserving Wellington Facebook Page can submit one photograph of his or her favorite moment. The moment must relate to the equestrian industry in Wellington, FL. Along with each photograph, there must also be a short summary of the memory and why it is meaningful. The winner of the contest will receive a donated $100 Gift Certificate to the Player’s Club Bar and Restaurant located at 13410 South Shore Blvd, Wellington, FL. This contest will run from December 28, 2011 until January 15, 2012. The winner will be announced January 31, 2012.

Continue reading Newly Focused Preserving Wellington Announces Facebook Contest →

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

NFHJA 2011 Year End Banquet

Leave a comment

The 2011 NFHJA Year End Banquet will be held on Sunday, January 8th at the Ramada Inn on San Jose & 295.  Please note that the Banquet Information and Reservation Form is posted on the website.  Don’t forget to get those trophies out, engraved and polished before the banquet!  Please RSVP by returning the Reservation Form or by calling Sissy Foshee at 904.635.4231.

2012 Jacksonville Winter Series

The Winter Series in just 10 short days and we currently have stalls available for all 3 weeks.  Please call 904.993.2053 or email info@nfhja.com to reserve your stalls!  Late entry fees have also been waived for entries that are received through the end of the week!

Continue reading NFHJA 2011 Year End Banquet →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Olympic Games, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping

Saudi Equestrian Qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games

Leave a comment
From left to right: Abdullah Sharbatly aboard Jalla de Gaverie; Ashraf (Sharbatly's groom); Badr Alfayes; Ramzy Al Duhami; HH Prince Faisal; and Kamal Bahamdan aboard Delphi at the CSI-W4* Doha (QAT). Photo credit: Saudi Equestrian

1 January 2012 – Saudi Arabia’s equestrian Show Jumping team, Saudi Equestrian, gained official qualification to the London 2012 Olympic Games (27 July – 12 August) at the CSI-W4* Doha (QAT) on Friday 30 December 2011. 15 teams, each with four riders, are now qualified in the equestrian team Show Jumping competition, which takes place over three days from Saturday 4 to Monday 6 August at the World Heritage Site of Greenwich Park.

The Saudi team secured its place in the Olympics during the Group F (Africa and Middle East Region) FEI Select Olympic Qualification event held in the Qatari capital of Doha (December 27-30, 2011).

News of officially qualifying for the Olympics follows earlier success in Doha: The Saudi Equestrian team claimed the coveted Nations Cup and Abdullah Sharbatly won the Grand Prix.

Continue reading Saudi Equestrian Qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games →

Competitions, Events, FEI, Olympic Games, Show Jumping

Saudi Arabia and Jordan Qualify for London 2012 Olympic Jumping

Leave a comment

Lausanne (SUI), 31 December 2011 – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has secured the final qualifying slot for the Jumping competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Saudi Arabia earned its qualification on the basis of the team’s combined classification among the FEI Olympic Group F teams – Africa and the Middle East – at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 and the 2011 FEI Group F Special Olympic qualifying competition, which took place on 30 December in Doha (QAT).

Jordan qualified one individual for London 2012 when Ibrahim Hani Bisharat, obtained the best classification among the Group F individual riders.

Doha hosted the final qualifying event for the team Jumping at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The 15 teams that will compete in London are Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Great Britain, Germany, The Netherlands, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, the USA and Ukraine.

Continue reading Saudi Arabia and Jordan Qualify for London 2012 Olympic Jumping →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI

Fourth-in-a-Row Win for Boyd Exell

Leave a comment
Boyd Exell (AUS), winner of the sixth FEI World Cup Driving 2011/2012 qualifier held in Mechelen (BEL) this weekend. ©Rinaldo de Craen/FEI

Mechelen (BEL), 31 December 2011 – Boyd Exell proved to be of a different class again in the sixth leg of the FEI World Cup Driving in Mechelen, Belgium. Exell remained untouched throughout the competition and stayed far ahead of his rivals Tomas Eriksson (SWE) and IJsbrand Chardon (NED). Mechelen is Boyd’s fourth consecutive win of the season after his victories at Stockholm, Budapest and Geneva. With only the Final in Bordeaux left for the triple FEI World Cup winner, Boyd can relax and enjoy his well-deserved holiday in his home country Australia for the next few weeks.

Exciting until the last moment

It was one of the best FEI World Cup Driving competitions ever in the Nekkerhal, which remained exciting until the very last moment. No less than eight drivers battled for a place on the podium. Second starter Georg von Stein drove a fast clear round, which more experienced indoor drivers like Koos de Ronde and Jozsef Dobrovitz were unable to beat. Tomas Eriksson was the first to beat Von Stein’s time and secured his place for the winning round. IJsbrand Chardon caused even more excitement by knocking a ball off the first obstacle, but finished only 0.48 seconds behind Eriksson and also qualified for the winning round. Boyd Exell finished the job without any hesitation and took the lead.

Continue reading Fourth-in-a-Row Win for Boyd Exell →

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

Wathelet Wins on Home Turf at Mechelen

Leave a comment
Gregory Wathelet and Copin van de Broy pictured receiving the winner’s prize of a Rolex watch from Mr Philippe De Baets, Managing Director, Rolex Benelux. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.

Mechelen (BEL), 30 December 2011 – Gregory Wathelet scooped the honours for the host nation when coming out on top at the eighth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 series at Mechelen in Belgium this afternoon.  And he did it in style, throwing down an impossible target when first to go with Copin van de Broy in the eight-horse jump-off, and sitting back to watch the rest line up behind him.

It was 2009 individual European Champion, Kevin Staut from France, who filled runner-up spot with the grey mare, Silvana HDC, while Belgium was prominently placed once more when Rick Hemeryck and Quarco de Kerambars finished third.  Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher (Magnus Romeo) slotted into fourth, while the fifth-place result for Denis Lynch (Abbervail van het Dingeshof) has promoted the Irishman to second spot on the Western European League leaderboard as 2011 draws to a close with reigning European Champion, Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, still at the head of affairs.

Continue reading Wathelet Wins on Home Turf at Mechelen →

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

SBS Farms Celebrates Phenomenal Year in 2011 and Prepares for 2012

1 Comment
Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy won the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby of Devon for the second year in a row. SBS Farms, Inc. looks forward to another successful 2012 year. Photo By: Jessica Nemzoff

Buffalo, NY – December 29, 2011 – SBS Farms, Inc. had a remarkable show season in 2011, taking home top honors at the most prestigious events in the nation. Trainer Susie Schoellkopf and professional rider Jennifer Alfano are now gearing up for the 2012 show season, where they will showcase both their skills and those of their students in the hunter and jumper rings.

The first stop for SBS Farms will be during the last week of the Jacksonville Winter Series, held at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Green Cove Springs, FL. Alfano plans on showing Helen Lenahan’s Sting in the Derby at Jacksonville where he will make his comeback. Shortly after, SBS plans on making its mark in Ocala, competing in their Winter Series beginning in early February 2012. To end their winter calendar, Alfano plans on competing in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at WEF.

If SBS Farms’ 2011 year is any indication of what 2012 holds, only success can be foreseen. Jersey Boy was recently awarded the USEF 2011 High Performance Working Hunter National Horse of the Year Award, ending with a total of 52,791 points accumulated during 16 competitions.

Continue reading SBS Farms Celebrates Phenomenal Year in 2011 and Prepares for 2012 →