Category Archives: Disciplines

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Christian Heineking and NKH Selena Speed to the 1.40m Victory at Kentucky Summer Classic

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Christian Heineking and NKH Selena dashed to the top of the leaderboard in the 1.40m Open Jumper speed class at the Kentucky Summer Classic. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

Lexington KY – July 31, 2012 – The first day of the Kentucky Summer Classic was filled with exciting jumper action in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park. This afternoon, competitors had the opportunity to showcase their speed in the 1.40m Open Jumpers and show off their talents navigating the 1.35 Open Jumpers. Christian Heineking led the way in the 1.40m Open Jumpers with the quick NKH Selena, while Mallory Vale completed the fastest double-clear effort with MI Phone in the 1.35 Open Jumpers.

Anthony D’Ambrosio designed today’s tracks in the Rolex Stadium. For the 1.40m speed class, riders had to guide their mounts over a liverpool, water jump, oxer-vertical double combination, a standalone skinny vertical, and several technical lines. Nine horse and rider combinations were able to clear the course at a speedy pace with all rails in place, and breaking the beam with no faults.

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Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group

Hunt Tosh Pilots Top Mounts to Sweeping Victories in Professional Divisions at Kentucky Summer Classic

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Hunt Tosh and Lone Star sweep the first day of the Performance 3'6"Hunters at the Kentucky Summer Classic. Photo By: Ashley N. Williams/PMG

Lexington, Kentucky – July 31, 2012 – Looking forward to a warm, dry day after the first week of unpredictable weather, the Stonelea Arena saw a lineup of divisions from the morning’s First Year Green Working Hunters to the Performance 3’6″ Hunter divisions. The footing and course made for a congenial ride for all participants for the first day of the professional divisions. Onlookers ultimately beheld two strong contenders and their steeds overwhelming the competition with enough talent to sweep today’s divisions.

Christopher Payne delivered exceptional performances aboard his mounts today, picking up top honors in the First Year Green Working Hunters, Green Conformation Hunters and the Second Year Green Working Hunters. It was Hunt Tosh who stole the show with a clean sweep of two divisions on two very memorable mounts. Tosh guided Cold Harbor to a dominating performance in the Regular Conformation Division, as well as capturing two blues with veteran Lone Star in the Performance 3’6″ Hunter division.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Olympic Games, USEF

American Dressage Horses Shine at 2012 Olympic Games

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Ravel and Steffen Peters (Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – The four American horses presented before the Dressage Ground Jury in the main arena at the 2012 Olympic Games painted a picture of healthy composure. A mixture of experience and youth will represent the United States when the Dressage competition gets underway on Thursday with the Grand Prix. Ten teams and 20 individual will be representing their countries. The U.S. has drawn sixth.

The four grooms, veterinarian Dr. Rick Mitchell, Physio Tom Meyers, and Todd Meister and Steve Teichman of Chester Country Farriers ensured that the horses looked sound and healthy for the 2012 Olympic Games. Eva Salomon is the Chef d’Equipe and Anne Gribbons serves as the Technical Advisor.

The following three riders will represent the U.S. on the Team:

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Olympic Games, Show Jumping

The Germans Simply Do It All Again to Clinch Double Gold at Greenwich

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(L to R) Sweden's Sara Algotsson Ostholt (silver), Germany's Michael Jung (gold) and Germany's Sandra Auffarth (bronze). Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

London (GBR), 31 July 2012 – Team Germany repeated their 2008 Olympic medal-winning performance when claiming Eventing team and individual gold at the London 2012 Olympic equestrian venue in Greenwich Park today. Such was their supremacy that they clinched the team title even before their last rider went into the ring, and Michael Jung set a new record in equestrian sport when becoming the first-ever event rider to hold Olympic, European and World titles at the same time. What a way to celebrate his 30th birthday!

The finale brought four fabulous days of Eventing sport to the perfect conclusion. After the destination of team gold had been established, the battle for silver and bronze was waged between Great Britain, Sweden and New Zealand, and it was the host nation that was eventually rewarded with silver while the Kiwis claimed the bronze.

It seemed that Sweden might be compensated for being pushed off the team medal podium when Sara Algotsson Ostholt went into the individual final as sole leader after Germany’s Ingrid Klimke left two fences on the floor in this morning’s team medal decider. But a last-fence error saw the Swede having to settle for silver, while Jung showed his extraordinary class to clinch the gold, with his team-mate Sandra Auffarth securing individual bronze in equally convincing fashion.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, Olympic Games, Show Jumping, USEF

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

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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.

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Community/Charity, Dressage, Olympic Games, Phelps Media Group

Jan Ebeling and Rafalca to Be Featured on NBC Olympic Zone

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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

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Ward, Show Jumping

Peyton Warren Wins SSG Gloves Bonus Money at Sonoma Horse Park

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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!”

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Auctions, Breeds, Competitions, Dressage, Driving, Events, Hunter/Equitation, JRPR

Interagro Lusitanos Win at Exposição Internacional do Cavalo Lusitano

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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.”

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Community/Charity, Dressage, Olympic Games, Phelps Media Group

The Road to London Goes through Wellington

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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.

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

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

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©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 →