Category Archives: Disciplines

Olympian and USDF Hall of Fame Inductee, Hilda Gurney, Signed as Clinician for 2013-2014 Nutrena/USDF Adult Clinic Series

Lexington, KY (July 20, 2012) – The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that two-time Olympian and 2007 Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame Inductee, Hilda Gurney, has been signed as the clinician for the 2013-2014 Nutrena/USDF Adult Clinic Series.  The series will be begin in the spring of 2013 and run through the end of 2014, with a clinic in each of USDF’s nine regions.

Hilda Gurney is an FEI “I” Judge and large “R” Dressage Sport Horse Breeding judge, as well as a decorated competitor.  Hilda has had an enormous positive impact on US dressage over the past several decades.  Her competition record is unsurpassed: an Olympic Team bronze medal in 1976, an individual gold and silver, and three team gold medals at the Pan Am Games, 6 USET National Grand Prix Championships on the legendary Hall of Fame member, Keen, 15 USDF Horse of the Year titles, and a team gold medal at the North American Dressage Championship and was honored as the 1977 Martini and Rossi AHSA Horsewoman of the Year. Hilda continues to actively train and compete several horses at the FEI Level. In addition, she is a dedicated teacher, instructing a generation of students from the grass roots to international levels.  The names of her many students could fill a book, including Debbie McDonald, previous clinician Charlotte Bredahl-Baker, Kathleen Raine, and David Wightman.

Continue reading Olympian and USDF Hall of Fame Inductee, Hilda Gurney, Signed as Clinician for 2013-2014 Nutrena/USDF Adult Clinic Series

Pinsent Masons Opens Olympic Gate for South African Eventer

Alexander Peternell and Asih jumping out of the water at Bramham CCI 3* 7-10 June 2012, where they completed their Olympic qualification

International law firm Pinsent Masons has won 4* event rider Alexander Peternell the legal right to represent South Africa in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

In an extraordinary process, Alex’s place on Team South Africa was confirmed late last night, hours before the Olympic eventing competition process began. The hearing was the first case to be heard under the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Ad Hoc procedure for the London 2012 Olympics.

At a first hearing last Friday, CAS overturned the decisions of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the South African Equestrian Federation (SAEF) to deny the event rider his right to compete in the equestrian eventing category.

CAS, chaired by President Stuart McInnes, upheld Alex’s claim that he satisfied SASCOC and SAEF eligibility criteria and that under the selection policy for the South African Eventing Team and the 2012 Olympic Games he should be selected to represent South Africa (rather than Paul Hart, the nominated rider). Alex was then forced to make a second hearing before CAS in Switzerland.

Continue reading Pinsent Masons Opens Olympic Gate for South African Eventer

Kristen VanderVeen Defends Her Title in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Grand Prix

More Than $6,000 Raised for Wildfire Relief

Kristen VanderVeen defended her title in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix. Photos: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — Six weeks of fantastic competition and wonderful events at the Colorado Horse Park (CHP) were capped off with a weekend to remember. There was truly something for everyone, including pony rides and face painting for military families during the second annual Military Appreciation Day; equestrian safety and the distribution of free helmets during the Parker Adventist Hospital Helmet Fitting; and the Wildfire Relief Fundraising Auction spearheaded by Liliane Stransky and her Step by Step Foundation that raised more than $6,000 for the victims of the Waldo Canyon fire. The day concluded with world-class competition in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix.

Kristen VanderVeen, of St. Charles, IL, defended her title as reigning champion of the biggest Grand Prix of the Colorado Summer Circuit. On her horse Bull Run’s Zino Platinum, VanderVeen led the victory gallop for the second year in a row. Bull Run’s Zino Platinum is an 11-year-old Holsteiner (Accorodo) and has been with VanderVeen for about a year and a half.

Continue reading Kristen VanderVeen Defends Her Title in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Grand Prix

Leslie Howard Steals the Victory in the Desjardins Speed Derby at International Bromont

Leslie Howard et Lennox Lewis 2. Credit: Normand St-Jacques

Bromont, July 24, 2012 – American rider Leslie Howard, who won the first FEI Open Jumper 1m50 this week, presented by the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, enjoys victory again in the Desjardins Speed Derby, winning with a comfortable six-second margin.

A high-energy course

The Speed Derby’s course, built in two rings, added a challenge for the horses by using the walkway to cross over. Twenty-two horse/rider teams participated, including Leslie Howard, a serious competitor where speed is involved; as well as St-Eustache rider François Lamontagne, renowned for his love of speed.

Leslie Howard, third in the order of go, posts a round with 4 penalty faults in 124.40 seconds, a time that will prove hard to beat. First contender to execute a clear round, Nathalie Mathers and her mount Windline lead the class with a respectable time of 126.53 seconds. François Lamontagne’s entry on Carriere Z almost took away the lead, posting the best time without penalty faults, until an unfortunate bar fell 2/3 into his round. With 119.28 seconds, he posts the second best time of the event. Leslie Howard’s return on her second mount, Lennox Lewis 2, marks a turning point: with a time of 120.30 seconds and a clear round, she takes possession of first place.

Continue reading Leslie Howard Steals the Victory in the Desjardins Speed Derby at International Bromont

Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince Capture the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV

Linda McBurney shines in the $10,000 Marshall & Sterling Child/Adult Jumper Classic

©ESI Photography. Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince on course in the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix

SAUGERTIES, NY (July 24, 2012) – The weather proved perfect for competition at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV this weekend and was highlighted by Sunday’s $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. As 22 entries made their attempt to capture Sunday’s big stake, Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince, owned by Laura Chapot & McLain Ward emerged as the winners.

International course designer Olaf Petersen, Sr. of Paehl, Germany set the course and had nine horse and rider combinations advance to the jump-off.

Chapot, of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, had two mounts in the jump-off and also earned the fourth-place ribbon aboard Mary Chapot’s Umberto. Earlier in the week, Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince had scored a third-place finish earlier in the week in the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome and a seventh-place finish in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, which helped prime them for a strong finish on Sunday.

Continue reading Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince Capture the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV

Abundance of Talent at FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships 2012

Area V won Junior Team Eventing at the FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships 2012 at The Kentucky Horse Park at the weekend - Taylor Wood, Brindley House, Victoria New and Alyssa Phillips. Photo: FEI/StockImageServices

Lausanne (SUI), 23 July 2012 – With the opening of the Olympic Games in London just around the corner, some of the next generation of potential Olympians were displaying their talent at the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships 2012 at The Horse Park in Kentucky (USA) over the last week.  Open to riders between 14 and 21 years, the busy annual event embraces the three Olympic disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing along with the FEI World Equestrian Games™ disciplines of Reining and Endurance.  Competitors from the USA, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands lined are permitted to ride in these Championships.

Dressage

Brandi Roenick helped Region 5 to Young Rider team victory before going on to take both the Individual and Freestyle titles with Weltino’s Magic.  This was the fourth team gold for the 17 year old rider who won the National Young Rider Dressage Championship in Gladstone, New Jersey, with her mare Pretty Lady five weeks ago.  Weltino’s Magic claimed team and individual gold for Roenick’s trainer, Steffen Peters, at the 2011 Pan American Games, and the 10 year old gelding produced the leading score of the Young Riders team event when putting 70.500 on the board, while Roenick’s team-mates Victoria Fernalld (Amazing) earned 61.921, Devon Wycoff (Power Play) achieved a mark of 67.763 and Madeleine Birch (Uoeri) scored 67.842.

Continue reading Abundance of Talent at FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships 2012

Zabala-Goetschel Makes History as First Ecuadorian Event Rider at the Olympics

Ronald Zabala-Goetschel of Wise-Equestrian will be the first Equadorian event rider to compete at the Olympics. (Photo courtesy of Shannon Brinkman)

London, England (July 20, 2012) – Ronald Zabala-Goetschel, founder of Wise-Equestrian and the Dutton RZ Saddle line, is in the process of making history for his home country of Ecuador by being the first equestrian to participate as an individual in the sport of Eventing at the Olympics!

It’s been an interesting journey for Zabala-Goetschel, who has been based in the US for the past 9 years.  Training out of Phillip Dutton’s True Prospect Farm, Zabala-Goetschel’s dream of taking his star horse, Mr. Wiseguy, to the Olympics was sidelined due to some minor soundness issues.  Zabala-Goetschel persevered as most upper level riders do, strategically acquiring several other top international horses, increasing his chances to qualify for the Olympics.

During 2011 Zabala-Goetschel purchased ODT Master Rose, a 2000 Irish Sport Horse gelding who had a very successful international career with Oliver Townend in the irons, including many successful 3* completions and several top 4* placings including Pau, where he was 13th and Luhmuehlen, where he placed 7th. This talented gelding, by the top international sire Master Imp, is a half-brother to several other international horses headed to the 2012 Olympics, including Tiana Coudray’s Ringwood Magister (Team USA) and Zara Phillip’s High Kingdom (British Team).  Clearly the decision to invest in Master Rose was a well thought out one!

Continue reading Zabala-Goetschel Makes History as First Ecuadorian Event Rider at the Olympics

The Twentieth Anniversary of the Charleston Classic – That’s a Wrap!

Paige Parker pilots Champlain Sovereign over an obstacle in the $25,000 KnickerDoodles Pony Hunter Derby.

July 22, 2012 – The twentieth anniversary of the Charleston Classic closed yesterday with a bang with the $25,000 KnickerDoodles Pony Hunter Derby.  This was the second installment of the largest pony hunter purse in the country and the ponies were out in full force!  Twenty five pony and rider combinations tackled the course designed by Allen Rheinheimer and Joe Carnicum which saw Paige Parker riding Champlain Sovereign, owned by The Hill Farm, in the winner’s circle with a combined score of 176 points.  In second place was Bergen Sanderford riding Center Ice, owned by Maria Yzerman, with a total score of 162, and third place honors went to Grace Gresset riding her own Daisy Due Blue with a combined effort of 156 points.

“This is only the second time we have offered this class and we were very pleased with the turnout.  It was a great way to celebrate our twentieth anniversary of the Classic Company,” said Bob Bell, President of Classic Company.

Continue reading The Twentieth Anniversary of the Charleston Classic – That’s a Wrap!

Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20 Claim Individual Junior Show Jumping Gold Medal at NAJYRC

Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20 won the Individual Junior Show Jumping Gold Medal at the 2012 NAJYRC. Photo By: Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com

Lexington, KY – July 23, 2012 – Eighteen-year-old Abigail McArdle of Barrington, IL, proved to be unstoppable during the 2012 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC). With her talented mount Cosma 20, the pair laid down five clear rounds in three days to capture the Individual Junior Show Jumping Gold Medal at the prestigious event. This exciting victory came just one week after finishing the Spruce Meadows Tournament with six wins to their name, showing a bright future for this duo.

“It was really great to fulfill this accomplishment; it’s such an honor and I’m beyond happy,” expressed McArdle. “I had a lot of pressure going in, everyone expected me to do well. I really had to keep a cool head and do what needed to be done.”

McArdle and Cosma 20 started off the competition with a winning round in the first speed phase, topping the second place finisher by almost five seconds with the rails intact. As they moved on to the Team Competition, McArdle and Cosma 20 helped Zone 5 win the Silver Medal with two more clear rounds. The real pressure came the next morning, where two more rounds stood between them and the Individual Gold Medal.

Continue reading Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20 Claim Individual Junior Show Jumping Gold Medal at NAJYRC

Shawn Casady and Zubantos Earn Individual Junior Show Jumping Silver Medal at NAJYRC

Shawn Casady and Zubantos won the Individual Junior Show Jumping Silver Medal at the 2012 NAJYRC. Photo: Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com

Lexington, KY – July 23, 2012 – Rising junior talent Shawn Casady and Elm Rock LLC’s Zubantos were the winners of the Individual Junior Show Jumping Silver Medal during the 2012 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC). After earning just four faults over the first five rounds of the competition, they advanced to the jump-off where another clear round over the technical track was good enough to claim the Individual Silver Medal.

Eighteen-year-old Casady showcased consistency and accuracy with the eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood Gelding Zubantos, lowering the height of just one fence throughout the five rounds of the prestigious event. “Zubantos is still young, but he’s a great guy, careful and scopey,” stated Casady. “I’ve been so fortunate to ride this horse.”

Trainer Ken Smith added, “This was an exciting accomplishment for all of us. Shawn rode great throughout the whole competition. Zubantos is a super brave horse, scopey and careful. He has really benefited from Shawn’s accurate riding this year.”

Continue reading Shawn Casady and Zubantos Earn Individual Junior Show Jumping Silver Medal at NAJYRC