Category Archives: Products/Services

Eventing/H.T., Products/Services, Training/Clinics

Boyd Martin Brings Training to You with New Virtual Clinic

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Boyd Martin and Long Island T.

Middleburg, Va. – June 17, 2020 – Rutledge Farm is thrilled to announce a new online training opportunity. Despite restrictions in place due to the recent COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, Rutledge Farm is pleased to offer a socially distanced solution to training with the world’s leading equestrians. To kick off this new series, enjoy a personalized training experience with Olympian and eventing champion Boyd Martin from the comfort of your home no matter where you are in the world.

Registration is open now for riders of all levels, from beginner novice to advanced, and video submissions will be accepted through June 24. As feedback, Martin will be providing personalized recordings as he reviews training and competition footage to offer training advice that will give an added edge the next time you head to compete.

Aleco Bravo-Greenberg, owner of Rutledge Farm, said, “It is a challenging time in our world right now, but we wanted to find a way to continue offering training opportunities for those that can’t access them. I am looking forward to bringing back Boyd Martin as a clinician in a new and unique way, as well as the opportunity to make our clinics available to an even broader audience.”

Click here for a list of video guidelines and to submit your footage for review.

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Publications/Media

Kaley Cuoco Makes a Big Bang to Connect the Equestrian Community

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American actress and avid equestrian Kaley Cuoco is the voice of the FEI’s latest digital campaign, sharing her enthusiasm, passion, and love for the sport that has been at the core of the Olympic Movement for over a century.

#ForTheLoveOfEquestrian has launched with an exclusive heart-warming video narrated by the actress, who has been riding since she was a teenager.

“Why do we do it? Because it’s the greatest feeling in the world. Because it’s a partnership like no other. We do it for the love. The love of this life. #ForTheLoveOfEquestrian”

The campaign, scheduled to run over the summer, features incredible stories of passion, commitment, and pride from elite athletes and their teams, to everyday riders, embracing the dedication and courage that underpins equestrian sport and its surrounding lifestyle.

“We made it our priority to engage with our community and have created a new digital campaign to celebrate all the positives that make our sport unique,” FEI Commercial Director Ralph Straus said.

“We are a global sport, but we are also a way of life. Equestrian events not only provide thrilling action for fans and spectators around the world, but equestrian sport is all about the connection and, whether we can be together or not, we wanted to make sure that with the launch of this campaign, we are helping to fill the void created by the lack of live sport during this difficult time.”

To learn more about #ForTheLoveOfEquestrian, join the community conversation, view and share inspiring stories on the FEI YouTube channel, and engage with the FEI on Facebook and Instagram.

With no live action currently being broadcast, the FEI is putting the sport back centre stage with an all-new, six-part series, Icons. Delving into the archives to relive some of the most exciting and heart-stopping moments from FEI Championships and Series of days gone by, Icons looks back at the careers of some of the most successful and influential equestrian athletes of recent times.

Each 26-minute episode focuses on a specific athlete, including household names such as three-time FEI Dressage World Cup™ winner and six-time Olympic gold medalist Germany’s Isabell Werth and compatriot and five-time Olympian and reigning European Eventing champion Ingrid Klimke.

Also featuring are Charlotte Dujardin CBE, the most successful British Dressage athlete in the history of the sport with Olympic, FEI World Cup™, World, and European Championships titles to her name, Swiss Olympian and current European Jumping champion Martin Fuchs, two-time Olympic silver medalist and twice Sweden’s Sports Personality of the Year Peder Fredricson, and Australian Driving legend Boyd Exell, five-time world champion and with five FEI World Cup™ Final wins to his credit.

Icons, which launches Friday 29 May, puts the spotlight on those career-defining moments that make these athletes such superheroes! Watch live and free every week on FEI.TV.

Media contact:

Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations and Communications Manager
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Community/Charity, Hunter/Equitation, Publications/Media, Show Jumping

IHSA Celebrated in Special Issue of USHJA In Stride Magazine

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FAIRFIELD, Conn. – May 13, 2020 – Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) teams and members were celebrated by Membership Partner United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) in a special digital issue of its In Stride magazine. In Stride is a bi-monthly publication produced by the USHJA and is the magazine for up-to-date and informative news for the hunter/jumper community.

“We are honored to have such a great partnership with the USHJA,” said Peter Cashman, IHSA executive director. “We have such amazing members and teams and their stories and successes deserve to be shared with the equestrian industry.”

The special issue of In Stride celebrates IHSA regional champions after the cancellation of the postseason due to the COVID-19 pandemic and honors this year’s academic and athletic award and scholarship winners.

The issue shares heartfelt letters from IHSA members to the board of directors about the impact membership has had on their lives and features members giving back after tragedies such as the fire at Muddy Brook Farm in November 2019 and the tornadoes that ravaged central Tennessee earlier this year.

READ NOW

For more information, go to IHSAinc.com or contact media@IHSAinc.com.

Community/Charity, Publications/Media, Show Jumping

Watch Live as McLain Ward and Lee McKeever Tell All on “Unbridled”

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Temecula, Calif. – Apr. 29, 2020 – Following the great success of the first episode of “Unbridled” on NEE TV, Nilforushan Equisport Events is excited to continue the series May 11 with one of the United States’ most popular and decorated show jumping duos: McLain Ward and Lee McKeever. Having worked together for more than 30 years, celebrated Olympic Champion McLain Ward and his barn manager and head groom Lee McKeever have been side-by-side through the ups and downs of their personal and professional lives, making for a unique partnership.

Featuring a “no holds barred” question-and-answer format, McLain and Lee will speak candidly with show founder, Ali Nilforushan, about topics including their beginnings and rise in the sport, maintaining a status as one of the best operations in the world, their working relationship, the horses along the way and a troublesome family history that has followed them for years, plus much more.

Ahead of the show, a discounted rate of $35 will be available for viewers with a promo code before the price increases to $50 on the day of the interview. Go to Jump-NEE.com/NEE-TV and click “Register Here!” to access the promo code.

To tune in, join NEE TV for the LIVE episode at 9 a.m. PDT (12 p.m. EDT) on Monday, May 11. To gain access to the interview, register for the episode at Jump-NEE.com/NEE-TV. Viewers will have a chance to submit questions ahead of the show, so start thinking about what you want to know!

For more information about Nilforushan Equisport Events, please visit www.jump-nee.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Driving, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Publications/Media, Show Jumping, Vaulting

FEI.TV Available Free of Charge while Live Sport Is on Hold

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Swedish Dressage athlete Patrik Kittel tries out the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ trophy for size, whilst compatriot, former European Champion Peder Fredricson, takes hold of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ trophy. (FEI/Liz Gregg)

FEI.TV, the FEI’s online television platform, will be providing all its coverage of past events and special equestrian features free of charge to everyone while live sport is on hold until end of June.

Under normal circumstances, FEI.TV live-streams all major FEI Series and Championships, with an extensive range of replays, special features, and historic events coverage available on-demand combining to provide unparalleled coverage of equestrian sport year-round.

But with no live sport, access to FEI.TV will be free and existing subscribers will be compensated for the months of April, May, and June. They will get automatically refunded on their accounts. All content on the platform, including VOD, will be freely available to all users who will need to register, meaning that fans can re-live all the action from past events so there’s no need to miss out on your fix of equestrian sport.

“Premium content like this usually sits behind a paywall and is normally available only to subscribers, but while there is no ‘live’ sport, we want to give equestrian fans the chance to binge-watch for free during this terrible pandemic,” FEI Commercial Director Ralph Straus says.

This week’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ and FEI Dressage World Cup™ Finals in Las Vegas were one of the early high-profile victims of the Covid-19 outbreak when they were cancelled in mid-March. But Jumping and Dressage fans now have the opportunity to relive some of the very best moments of the FEI World Cup™ Finals from the past five years – 2015 to 2019 – live and free on FEI.TV, FEI Jumping and Dressage Facebook pages, and FEI YouTube channel daily. And if you can’t watch it live, catch it on replay on FEI.TV.

For fans of the other equestrian disciplines, FEI.TV has lots more unique content, ranging from FEI Vaulting and Driving World Cup™ highlights to wrap-ups of the FEI Eventing and Dressage Nations Cup™ series.

An additional broadcast offering has been made available by the FEI, equestrian sport’s global governing body, providing free access to video archive footage to TV broadcasters in EBU member territories across Europe through its partnership with EBU, and to key territories in the rest of the world via its partnership with IMG.

“Our broadcast partners are struggling to fill their air-time without live sport, so this initiative has been put in place to ensure that they have access to top equestrian footage and, together, we can keep our fans around the world happy with their daily dose of equestrian content,” Straus says.

Media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Communications
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations and Communications Manager
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 4

Community/Charity, Publications/Media, Show Jumping

An Inside Look at Eric Lamaze’s Storied Life

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NEE TV to Feature Olympic Champion on April 20

Temecula, Calif. – Apr. 15, 2020 – Are you interested to hear directly from Canadian Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze about his life experiences, horses, and hardships, ranging from failed drug tests to finding Hickstead and claiming Olympic glory? Tune in this Monday, April 20, at 9 a.m. PST, as Eric will be answering questions LIVE on NEE TV as the debut guest on “Unbridled,” an uncensored look at some of the sport’s champions using a “no holds barred” question-and-answer format incorporating viewer-submitted questions.

More than simply a way to provide entertainment for equestrians during these unusual and trying times, “Unbridled” will be splitting the funds between the guest and a charity of his or her choice. 90 percent of the funds raised will go to Eric, while the remaining 10 percent will go to a charity of his choice. Nilforushan Equisport Events will not be accepting any money. As the charity recipient, Eric has selected the Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada, the largest and only all-Canadian wish granting charity dedicated to granting wishes to Canadian children who are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.

“On behalf of everyone at NEE TV, we would like to thank everyone in advance that participates in the initial episode of ‘Unbridled.’ We formulated this idea as a way to give something back to the equestrian community, and we are thrilled that Eric agreed to be our first guest,” commented Ali Nilforushan, founder of NEE TV. “We hope to make this show a raw look into the lives of some of the most recognizable names in show jumping, and we are excited to launch the program very soon.”

Whether you are interested in Eric’s three Olympic gold medal, his brain tumor battle, horse show suspensions or anything in between, he will be speaking to those compelling questions. Prior to the broadcast, viewers that have paid for the episode will be able to submit questions for the interviewer to ask on air.

If you haven’t already, make sure to stay in the loop for updates and episode announcements by signing up for NEE TV at Jump-NEE.com/NEE-TV. Once the website begins accepting payments, interested individuals will be notified so that they can take advantage of the discounted rate of $50 in advance. On the day of the first episode, the price will be raised to $75. Although the sign-up fee may initially seem steep, NEE TV asks you to consider that these funds will be going to be put back into the equestrian industry.

For more information about Nilforushan Equisport Events, please visit www.jump-nee.com.

Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Publications/Media, Show Jumping, Western/Reining

Craving a Horse Show? Get Your Daily Fix at Horse & Country’s Free Sports Zone

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London, U.K. – April 15, 2020 – With the cancellation of equestrian sporting events around the world due to COVID-19, you may be craving the excitement of cheering on your favorite riders at a horse show. Though you won’t be able to watch thrilling competitions in person, you can head on over to Horse & Country each day to virtually transport yourself to the best venues around the world with their Free Sports Zone.

Taking place every evening of the week at 8 p.m. EST, H&C broadcasts highlights of many 2019 competitions for free. Available on their channel called H&C Free, the Free Sports Zone includes jumping, reining, eventing, dressage, and other disciplines to be enjoyed by the entire family.

Don’t let the quarantine and time away from the show ring get you down. In addition to the Free Sports Zone, equestrian fans have the opportunity to enjoy documentaries and educational series 24/7 broadcast on H&C Free. Head on over to H&C Free now to get your daily fix of all things horses.

This Week’s Free Sports Zone Schedule Nightly at 8pm:

Wednesday, April 15: Ram Freestyle Reining at the National Western Stock Show
One of the spectators’ favorite events at the National Western Stock Show, the $25,000 RAM Invitational Freestyle Reining, features top U.S. reiners competing creative freestyles with fun music and costumes.

Thursday, April 16: 2019 Blair Castle Horse Trials
Set in the stunning Cairngorm Mountains of North Scotland, watch the highlights from the Blair Castle Horse Trials to find out which up-and-comer scored her first CCI4* win of her career!

Friday, April 17: 2019 Horseboarding Championships
You do not want to miss out on the wild phenomenon that is the sport of Horseboarding, an extreme sport which combines horseback riding with mountain boarding.

Saturday, April 18: CSI5*-W Boehringer-Ingelheim at Equita 2019
Transport yourself to Lyon, France to catch the highlights and watch how Julien Epaillard took the win on his home turf in the CSI5*-W Boehringer-Ingelheim.

Sunday, April 19: 2019 FEI Jumping Nations Cup Series Final
You will have the opportunity to watch the world’s best riders who punched their tickets to Barcelona, Spain after a rigorous qualification series, as they represent their nation in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final.

Monday, April 20: 1990 Burghley Horse Trials
As one the world’s best three-day events, Burghley Horse Trials is iconic for equestrians. Go back in time to look back on the 1990 event where New Zealand’s Mark Todd claims his second Burghley title.

Tuesday, April 21: 2019 FEI Eventing Nation Cup Series
Can’t get enough eventing? Tune in to enjoy the first round of the 2019 FEI Eventing Nation Cup series from Houghton Hall, UK.

H&C TV broadcasts in Europe, Australia, and in the United States on cable, satellite, and broadband television, including Roku, and online at www.horseandcountrytv.us.

Art/Photography, Auctions, Racing

Hats Off to the Horses 2020 Continues with the Slim Shadey Chapeau

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Dagmar Steiner and Slim Shadey at Old Friends (Photo: Laura Battles)

GEORGETOWN, KY – APRIL 3, 2020 –  The annual “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby” online fashion auction continues this week with a new Derby-style chapeau going on the virtual block to raise money for Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY.

This is the 11th consecutive year that Old Friends has joined with acclaimed milliner Sally Faith Steinmann of the Massachusetts-based Maggie Mae Designs® to auction off four handcrafted Derby hats between January and April, each inspired by one of the non-profit organization’s 200-plus retired racehorses. To date this online fundraiser has garnered nearly $40,000 for Old Friends.

This new hat was inspired by graded stakes winner Slim Shadey, and it is showcased here by equine artist Dagmar Galleithner-Steiner.

The hat will be up for bid for 10 days only from 8 pm (EST) April 1st through 8 pm (EST) on April 11th. Interested bidders can go to the Old Friends website at www.oldfriendsequine.org and follow the link, or CLICK HERE to visit our eBay page.

To read more and to view additional images of the hat, CLICK HERE.

About the Horse

A two-time graded-stakes winner, Slim Shadey — by 2001 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Val Royal (FR) out of the Chief’s Crown mare Vino Veritas — was bred in Great Britain by Phil Cunningham and spent two seasons racing throughout England and Ireland. He made his U.S. debut for Cunningham and trainer Simon Callaghan in 2012 at Santa Anita, kicking off what was to become his banner season.

In February of 2012 Slim captured his first graded stakes, the Grade 2 San Marco at Santa Anita (a race he would capture again in 2013). Then, in September, Slim took the top spot in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship, which served as a stepping stone to a run in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf where he finished 8th (a few lengths behind the winner, Old Friends retiree Little Mike). By 2014, the now 6-year-old Slim began a series of claims. In 2018 Slim was claimed by owner Michael Hui for trainer Mike Maker.  After a series of unsuccessful starts for his new connections, the time finally came for Slim to hang up his racing plates.

About the Hat

Since Slim raced for several different stables Steinmann used a combination of his pink, black, and white silks for the trimmings of this stunning Derby hat.

A large foundation was created using a base layer of soft pink dupioni silk. The brim was then trimmed with a single layer of pink silk organza ruffle, which allows the light to pass through the sheer fabric. A fancy black braiding was top stitched where the silk layer meets the brim edge. To further showcase racing silk colors, a large rose curl, created out of alternating layers of pink dupioni silk and white silk organza, adorns the front of the hat.

For the final touches, a medley of black and white silk organza “feathers” were added, a black satin sash encircles the crown, and a black pebble button edged in gold adorns the sash in the back.

The hat is stunning from every angle and measures approximately 21 inches end to end. The lining for the “Slim Shadey” was done is a soft pink satin to coordinate with the floral trim.

As a physical remembrance, several strands of Slim’s tail hair have been braided and woven into the trim.

Our thanks go out to artist Dagmar Steiner for helping with this year’s “Hats Off to the Horses” and also to Old Friends volunteer and photographer Laura Battles for her stunning images.

Bidding on the “Slim Shadey is open now.

For more information about Old Friends, see their website at www.oldfriendsequine.org or call the farm at (502) 863-1775.

Maggie Mae Designs® Custom Millinery offers magnificent hats for all occasions, from glamorous racing events such as the Kentucky Derby and the Royal Ascot to stunning bridal wear and handsome cocktail fashions. Every hat is carefully handcrafted by milliner Sally Faith Steinmann from her home base in South Harwich, MA. Salons of her fashions can be seen on her website at www.maggiemaedesigns.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Cynthia Grisolia, (347) 423-7322, cindy@oldfriendsequine.org; Maggie Mae Designs (508) 430-1626, sally@maggiemae.com

Art/Photography, Auctions, Racing

Hats Off to the Horses 2020 Continues with Soi Phet Chapeau

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GEORGETOWN, KY – MARCH 2, 2020 –  The annual “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby” online fashion auction continues this week with a new Derby-style chapeau going on the virtual block to raise money for Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY.

This is the 11th consecutive year that Old Friends has joined with acclaimed milliner Sally Faith Steinmann of the Massachusetts-based Maggie Mae Designs® to auction off four handcrafted Derby hats between January and April, each inspired by one of the non-profit organization’s 200-plus retired racehorses. To date this online fundraiser has garnered nearly $39,000 for Old Friends.

This new hat was inspired by stakes winner Soi Phet, and it is showcased here by equine artist Dagmar Galleithner-Steiner.

The hat will be up for bid for 10 days only from 8 pm (EST) March 1st through 8 pm (EST) on March 11th. Interested bidders can go to the Old Friends website at www.oldfriendsequine.org and follow the link, or CLICK HERE to visit our eBay page.

To read more and to view additional images of the hat, CLICK HERE.

About the Horse

Bred in California, Soi Phet was a formidable force in the Golden State for eight seasons, between 2012 and 2019, winning eight stakes and placing third in the Grade 1 Awesome Again. The dark bay son of Tizbud even set a record of a different sort in 2018, becoming the oldest stakes winner in the history of Santa Anita when he won the Crystal Water at the age of 10.  In all, Soi Phet had 15 trips to the winner’s circle from his 64 lifetime starts, and he put over $1 million in the bank.

About the Hat

To honor this new Old Friends retiree, the distinctive orange, white, red, and yellow silk colors of his connections were used as inspiration for the trimmings of this stunning Derby hat.

A foundation was created using a base of black dupioni silk.  A large, sumptuous rose curl, created in alternating layers of red silk organza and dupioni silk, adorns the front.  This floral centerpiece is framed with two-tone orange and yellow organza leaves that are top stitched with orange thread as an accent.  Four black silk organza “bow loops” and three black silk organza “feathers” were added to reflect Soi Phet’s nearly black coat.

Swirling layers of red tulle were gathered and shaped to cover the brim, and a red satin sash lined with orange organza was handcrafted to encircle the crown of the hat.  For a final accent, a black pebble button adorns the sash in the back.

As always, several strands of the horse’s tail hair have been braided and woven into the trim.

Bidding on the “Soi Phet” is open now.

For more information about Old Friends, see their website at www.oldfriendsequine.org or call the farm at (502) 863-1775.

Maggie Mae Designs® Custom Millinery offers magnificent hats for all occasions, from glamorous racing events such as the Kentucky Derby and the Royal Ascot to stunning bridal wear and handsome cocktail fashions. Every hat is carefully handcrafted by milliner Sally Faith Steinmann from her home base in South Harwich, MA. Salons of her fashions can be seen on her website at www.maggiemaedesigns.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Cynthia Grisolia, (347) 423-7322, cindy@oldfriendsequine.org; Maggie Mae Designs (508) 430-1626, sally@maggiemae.com

Dressage, Publications/Media, Training/Clinics

A Masterclass with Isabell Werth

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London, U.K. – Feb. 24, 2020 – Horse & Country (H&C) is proud to bring their subscribers an exclusive new series featuring German Grand Prix dressage legend and five-time Olympian Isabell Werth. The series, “A Masterclass with Isabell Werth,” will boast four half-hour educational episodes during which Werth will provide unique insight into her training philosophy and what has propelled her to the very top of equestrian sport.

Raised on her parents’ farm in Germany, Werth was exposed to horses from an early age. She competed in showjumping and eventing before being exposed to dressage by her neighbor, renowned dressage expert Dr. Uwe Schulten-Baumer, at age 17. Werth and her mentor worked together for 14 years before Werth established her own training facility near her home village of Rheinberg, Germany. Her career took off and now, with six Olympic gold medals and numerous world championship wins under her belt, Werth is the most decorated equestrian athlete of all time.

Even more impressively, Werth currently can be found three times in the top ten FEI World Dressage Ranking List as she holds the top spot with Bella Rose 2, second place with Weihegold OLD, and ninth place with Emilio 107.

“I love what I do. To go out into the stable and to go out and work with different horses and improve horses – in the end, it brings me great emotions. There is no question of motivation. I really enjoy being competitive,” says Werth of the sport.

Don’t miss the opportunity to watch and learn from the queen of dressage! The first three episodes are available on demand now for your viewing pleasure, while the final episode will be broadcast Feb. 26 at 3:00 p.m. EST.

Subscribe now to watch ‘A Masterclass with Isabell Werth’.

H&C TV broadcasts in Europe, Australia, and in the United States on cable, satellite, and broadband television, including Roku, and online at www.horseandcountrytv.us.