Category Archives: Disciplines

O’Connor Leads American Olympic Games Effort; Germany Sweeps Gold

Karen O'Connor and Mr. Medicott (photos: Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – The German Olympic Eventing Team was in a class of its own as history was made at Greenwich Park. Michael Jung led a charge that finished with him winning Team and Individual Gold in a flawless effort on Sam. They were the only combination to finish the entire competition without adding anything to their dressage score. That score of 40.6 meant that Jung is the first person ever to be the reigning European, Olympic, and World Champion simultaneously.

Sara Algotsson Ostholt led after the cross country with Wega for Sweden but her Gold medal turned to Silver when they impossibly dislodged the front rail of the last fence of the individual show jumping round. It appeared to happen in slow motion. Sandra Auffarth bookended the German effort, picking up Bronze on Opgun Louvo. Just 4.2 faults separated the top three individuals.

The German invincibility began its display in the Team competition; they finished on a three-day score of 133.7, handling everything the British could throw at them. The Brits gave it a serious effort before a hugely supportive crowd, but they finished up Silver on a score of 138.20. New Zealand rounded out the top three with class performances from all five of their riders. The U.S. Team finished seventh on a score of 208.6.

Continue reading O’Connor Leads American Olympic Games Effort; Germany Sweeps Gold

Jan Ebeling and Rafalca to Be Featured on NBC Olympic Zone

Greenwich Park, England – July 31, 2012 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that the NBC Olympic Zone will be showing a special feature on U.S. Dressage competitors Jan Ebeling and Rafalca. The presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. EDT and can be seen at http://www.nbcolympics.com. Ebeling and Rafalca will begin competing at the 2012 London Olympics in Greenwich Park on Thursday, August 2, 2012. The pair has recently shown the spotlight on Dressage while Rafalca’s co-owner Ann Romney’s husband Mitt makes a bid for the Presidency.

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation (www.uset.org) is the non-profit organization that supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high-performance horses and athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation.

For more information on the USET Foundation, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.

Media Contact: Mason Phelps
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389  fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com

Peyton Warren Wins SSG Gloves Bonus Money at Sonoma Horse Park

Peyton Warren claimed a $1,000 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves after winning the $5,000 Synbiont Children’s Jumper Classic. Deb Dawson Photography

Petaluma, California – 14-year-old Peyton Warren walked away with a $1,000 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves after winning the $5,000 Synbiont Children’s Jumper Classic during the HMI Equestrian Classic I held July 24-29 at the Sonoma Horse Park in Petaluma, CA.

As part of the SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion, a $1,000 bonus is offered to the winning rider in designated competitions at Sonoma Horse Park if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves.  Warren was doing just that as she guided Sherry Lady, her 14-year-old Westphalian mare, to a double clear performance to win Sunday’s $5,000 Synbiont Children’s Jumper Classic.

“I have always worn SSG gloves, but these are my first pair of ‘Digitals,’” said Warren of Rancho Murietta, California, who trains with Rudy Leone.  “They are ‘good sticky’ as well as stylish and very comfortable.  I will probably be an SSG customer for life!”

Continue reading Peyton Warren Wins SSG Gloves Bonus Money at Sonoma Horse Park

Interagro Lusitanos Win at Exposição Internacional do Cavalo Lusitano

Now Focus Switches to August Auction in Brazil

Semaneiro Interagro and Viajor Interagro, owned by Mr. Alvaro Coelho da Fonseca, competed in the pairs driving category. (Photos courtesy of Interagro Lusitanos)

Itapira, Brazil (July 30, 2012) – The world-renown Interagro Lusitanos won a bevy of ribbons during the Exposição Internacional do Cavalo Lusitano – the 31st International Lusitano Show held in Brazil. Interagro Lusitanos, the largest breeder and exporter of Lusitano horses in the world, was founded in 1975 by Dr. Paulo Gavião Gonzaga to preserve the Lusitano breed.  Since its founding, Interagro’s breeding program has flourished and the Interagro Lusitanos have found far-reaching success in show rings around the world.

“The International Lusitano Show was a huge success and we are so proud of all of our horses,” said Cecilia Gonzaga, Managing Director of Interagro Lusitanos. “Coudelaria Rocas do Vouga won the Best Breeder and Best Exhibitor Award, which thrills us because they are our partners for the Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction. Their horses and riders put in excellent performances, and overall it was a fantastic presentation from Rocas do Vouga.  Our own riders and horses from Interagro gave them a run for their money, with top placings in dressage and working equitation.”

Continue reading Interagro Lusitanos Win at Exposição Internacional do Cavalo Lusitano

The Road to London Goes through Wellington

Olympians Adrienne Lyle and Wizard, winners of the 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Grand Prix Special. Photo by Susan Stickle

July 30, 2012 – Wellington, FL – There must be something in the air in Palm Beach County, or else something in the water, that grows champions, because when it comes to Olympic dressage, the road to London goes straight through the Village of Wellington.

The Florida town with a permanent population of 57,163, along with its neighboring burgs, can lay claim to full-time or part-time hometown honeys hankering for Olympic gold in London and competing here including: Steffen Peters, Tina Konyot and Adrienne Lyle, who ride for the U.S.; David Marcus, Jacqueline Brooks, Diane Creech and Ashley Holzer, who wear the Canadian maple leaf on their shadbellys; and Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven, who rides for Team Sweden.

And the list of former Olympians in dressage who call Palm Beach County home − at least part of the year − includes Michael Poulin, Carol Lavell, Michelle Gibson and Lisa Wilcox who rode for the U.S., Lars Petersen from Denmark and Bent Jensen, a former Dane but now a citizen of the U.S.

Continue reading The Road to London Goes through Wellington

Three in a Row for Laura Chapot at HITS-on-the-Hudson after a Win in Sunday’s $75,000 Chartis Grand Prix

©ESI Photography. Laura Chapot and Umberto on course in the $75,000 Chartis Grand Prix

SAUGERTIES, NY (July 30, 2012) – HITS-on-the-Hudson has been dubbed The Chapot Show as Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey won her third Grand Prix in a row when she produced the only double-clear ride in Sunday’s $75,000 Chartis Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Last Sunday during HITS-on-the-Hudson IV, Chapot won the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, riding Quointreau Un Prince to close out the show. She followed that up on Friday with a victory aboard Umberto in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, and came back strong to claim victory for the third time on Sunday afternoon.

“I’ve had him a year and a half now,” said an ecstatic Chapot after the class. “He’s a very careful, very speedy horse. We’ve really started to come together this year. I think now he understands my rides and I understand how he rides because he’s a little bit different than some of my other horses. He doesn’t have as big of a stride, so I can’t rely on just leaving out strides to beat everyone but he’s quick.”

Continue reading Three in a Row for Laura Chapot at HITS-on-the-Hudson after a Win in Sunday’s $75,000 Chartis Grand Prix

USEF Approves Nominated Entry for FEI World Endurance Championship

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation has approved the nominated entry for the U.S. Endurance Team for the 2012 FEI World Endurance Championship as follows in alphabetical order.

Melody Blittersdorf on her own Synthetic
Cody Boysen on Roxi Welling’s Viktory Banner
John Crandell III on John Crandell Jr’s Heraldic
Becky Hart on her own No Repeat
Valerie Kanavy on her own Reach For The Gold
Nicki Meuten on her own Not Tonight
Ellen Olson on Jeremy Olson’s SA Belshazzar
Heather Reynolds on her own and Jeremy Reynolds’ Riverwatch
Jeremy Reynolds on his own and Heather Reynolds’ A Kutt Above
Margaret Sleeper on her own Syrocco Reveille
Kim Tilson Orr on Nicki Meuten’s FYF Dutch
Jan Worthington on her own Golden Lightening

The squad of six previously named athlete/horse combinations will travel to England to compete in the 2012 FEI World Endurance Championship held on August 25, 2012. See the named traveling squad here.

Follow the U.S. Endurance Team at www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2012Endurance/.

US Olympic Eventing Team Rises to Fifth Place Following Cross Country

Phillip Dutton and Mystery Whisper over the last fence. (Photos: Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – The U.S. Olympic Eventing Team climbed into fifth place with three strong cross country rounds around Sue Benson’s testing cross country course against the stunning backdrop of Greenwich Park. Germany continues to lead the team effort on a score of 124.7 followed closely by Great Britain (130.2) and Sweden (131.4). New Zealand is on a score of 133.4 in fourth and the USA’s score of 155.2 has them comfortably in fifth ahead of the Australians.

The sellout crowd was incredible and cheered every horse every step of the way.

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) continues to lead the American effort with the best score of the three scores to count. Riding Jim and Arden Wildasin’s Mystery Whisper, Dutton added just 2.8 time faults to his dressage score and lies 12th individually on a score of 47.10. It is incredibly close however, Germany’s Ingrid Klimke on Butts Abraxxas and Sweden’s Sara Algotsson Ostholt on Wega lead the way, tied on a score of 39.30. New Zealand’s Mark Todd sits third, unforgiving himself for the 6/10th of a second which cost him 0.4 time penalties and the lead. A mistake at the last fence was the culprit.

Continue reading US Olympic Eventing Team Rises to Fifth Place Following Cross Country

Tight at the Top for Olympic Team and Individual Eventing Medals

Sweden's Sara Algotsson Ostholt and Wega (pictured) share the individual lead with Germany's Ingrid Klimke and Butts Abraxxas going into the final jumping phase tomorrow. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

London (GBR), 30 July 2012 – Olympic Eventing cross-country produced spectacular sport in Greenwich Park today where at the end of an afternoon filled with thrills, spills, dramas and excitement, team Germany maintained the advantage. But it’s only a slight one, as the host British side lies just over five penalty points behind in silver medal position going into tomorrow’s final jumping phase, while Sweden is just over a single point further in arrears.

And first-day dressage joint-leaders – Ingrid Klimke (GER) and Sara Algotsson Ostholt (SWE) – returned to the top of the individual leaderboard when Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa was one of 10 fallers on the track over which 15 of the 70 starters were eliminated. Should Klimke and Algotsson Ostholt hold firm tomorrow, the German may live to regret her speedy and seamless tour of the track with Butts Abraxxas, as it her Swedish rival who crossed the finish-line closest to the optimum time with her mare, Wega, meaning the Swede would finish ahead.

Continue reading Tight at the Top for Olympic Team and Individual Eventing Medals

Columbian Junior Rider Nicolas Torres Rodriguez Recognized for His Top Scores at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships

Cesar Parra (left) stands with Nicolas Torres Rodriguez (center) and one of the judges at the NAJYRC after Rodriguez’s winning ride. (Photo courtesy of Sue Stickle)

Lexington, KY (June 30, 2012) – Colombian dressage rider Nicolas Torres Rodriguez has enjoyed a banner show season that was just topped off by being honored as the high scoring junior rider in all three days of competition at the 2012 North American Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC). He and Silver Label, a 15-year-old Swedish warmblood gelding, earned the highest individual score in the team competition with a 70.027%.  The pair then took first place in a class of 36 riders the next day in the FEI Junior Individual Test with a score of 72.053%. They finished up the weekend strong, with a 75.50% in the freestyle, set to music from the movie Avatar. The NAJYRC is not yet open to rider teams from South America so Rodriguez was not eligible for a medal, but he was given special recognition for his first place finishes in the Team test and the Freestyle during the awards ceremony.

The 15-year-old Rodriguez was thrilled with the outcome, saying, “Competing at the Rolex Stadium is a dream come true.”  Torres is the first Colombian rider to participate in the NAJYRC, and he and Silver Label have been together for about a year, and train with 2011 Pan Am Gold Medalist Dr. Cesar Parra of Piaffe Performance Farm in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.  Rodriguez said that if he has the opportunity, he would like to return to the championships with a full team from Colombia.

Continue reading Columbian Junior Rider Nicolas Torres Rodriguez Recognized for His Top Scores at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships