Category Archives: Awards

Awards, Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Products/Services

Olympic Rider Lisa Wilcox and Pikko del Cerro HU Win Vita Flex Victory Pass Award at International Horse Sport Dressage Premier

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Lisa Wilcox and Pikko del Cerro HU rode away as the Vita Flex Victory Pass Award winner at the International Horse Sport Dressage Premier in Wellington. Gustavo Martinez holds the Vita Flex Victory Pass prize. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (April 5, 2011) – Thanks to a brilliant ride in the Intermediaire I class at the International Horse Sport Dressage Premier, Lisa Wilcox and Pikko del Cerro HU rode away as the Vita Flex Victory Pass Award winner. Sponsored by Vita Flex Nutrition, the award is given to a horse and rider who display remarkable skill during a show.

Wilcox, an Olympic bronze medalist, has recently taken over the ride on the eight-year-old bay stallion by Pik L. Considered a horse to watch, Pikko del Cerro was the 2009 FEI Six-Year-Old National Champion.

“This was Cerro’s first Intermediaire I class and he was excellent and I was really, really happy with him,” Wilcox said. “He has some moments where he was getting tired but he really stuck with me. His extensions were exceptional and in general he was with me. I know it is a hard test and he is still developing, so it’s exciting to see this.”

Wilcox, who operates out of Wellington, Florida, said she hopes to qualify Pikko del Cerro for the Pan Am Games and the Developing Horse classes. “I hope to do my first CDI with him in March,” Wilcox said.

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Awards, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, JRPR, Show Jumping

Grand Prix Show Jumper Todd Minikus Rebounds from Injury to Win Wellington Institute “Rider Wellness Award” at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival

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Todd Minikus won the “Rider Wellness Award” during the 2011 FTI WEF. The award is presented by The Wellington Institute and Juan Gonzalez, Director of Marketing, was on hand to give Minikus his award. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (April 8, 2011) – Grand Prix Show Jumper Todd Minikus proved during the final two weeks of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival that you can’t keep a good rider down. Despite a shattered collarbone that resulted in surgery at the beginning of the circuit, Minikus was back in the winner’s circle winning the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup and earning the prestigious “Rider Wellness Award” from The Wellington Institute.

Minikus’s amazing comeback had his fellow riders applauding and the Wellington based rider, whose resume includes winning the $100,000 Budweiser American Invitational, was thankful for the camaraderie. “We all travel the same circuits and know each other well. We have respect and admiration for each other when someone comes back from an injury,” Minikus said.

Minikus was pleased to win the “Rider Wellness Award” from The Wellington Institute and said he looks forward to visiting the wellness center. “I had some bad luck this winter with smashing my collarbone and having to have surgery. I tried to get back to riding as soon as I could and I started riding at the five-week mark after surgery,” he said. “I was only able to show the last two weeks of the circuit but I am glad to be back.”

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Awards, Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Wellington Rider Stephanie Frederick Wins Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at International Horse Sport Dressage Show

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Stephanie Frederick won the Premier Sportsmanship Award at the International Horse Sport Dressage Show. Josh Zorn presented the award on behalf of Premier Equestrian. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Loxahatchee, FL (April 8, 2011) – Wellington rider Stephanie Frederick had a smile on her face while competing Valentino Flemming at the International Horse Sport Dressage Show, and that smile helped Frederick ride away with the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award. Sponsored by Premier Equestrian, a leading supplier of dressage arenas, horse jumps, arena footing and stable accessories, the Premier Sportsmanship Award is awarded to a rider who displays a high level of sportsmanship during a show.

Frederick was thrilled to win the Premier Sportsmanship Award and shared her secret to being a good sport. “You need to stick with it and be positive. If you want it badly enough you need to keep working hard at it and eventually you will get there,” Frederick said.

Frederick, who was awarded a pair of German-designed Roeckl gloves from Premier Equestrian for winning the Sportsmanship Award, added that having her parents attend the show also put a smile on her face. “My parents, Jim and Cindy Frederick, are my biggest supporters,” she said.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, JRPR, Show Jumping

Olympic Gold Medalist Beezie Madden Wins Vita Flex Victory Pass Award during the FTI WEF

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Beezie Madden rode away as the Vita Flex Victory Pass Award winner when she and Mademoiselle won the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (March 31, 2011) – Olympic Gold Medalist Beezie Madden and Mademoiselle, owned by Abigail Wexner, raced to victory in the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup during the sixth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). As the winner of the class, Madden also rode away with the Vita Flex Victory Pass Award, sponsored by Vita Flex Nutrition.

“My horse was terrific,” Madden said, as she rode out of the winner’s circle. “She was out here last year so I had confidence that she would be good. She was fantastic, especially in the jump-off.”

The Grand Prix, which was held on the grass at The Stadium, featured 29 entries with nine riders going clean in the first round to advance to the jump-off. Madden commented that she liked the grass field venue and won the $75,000 Grand Prix last year in the same location aboard Coral Reef’s Via Volo. The Challenge Cup was Madden’s first Grand Prix victory of the 2011 WEF season.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Breeds, Classic Company, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Gulf Coast Winter Classics Wraps with Circuit Awards, $25,000 Budweiser Grand Prix and a Bittersweet Farewell to Continental B

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Wilhelm Genn & Happy Z. ©Flashpoint Photography

GULFPORT, MS — Mar. 14, 2011 — “I want to thank the exhibitors, trainers, owners and my staff for the best winter shows we have ever had in Gulfport. Both Janet McCarroll [Co-Chair of the Winter Classics] and I are thrilled that our shows went so well and were so well attended.  It’s always sad when all the horse trailers and campers start leaving after a circuit, but all good times must come to an end… until next year,” Bob Bell of The Classic Company said Sunday evening as crews began the task of packing up.

This was the most anticipated week; exhibitors were on pins and needles awaiting the announcements for this year’s Circuit Awards. Aiken, SC based Daniel Geitner was the first recipient, taking the Grand Champion title in both the High Performance Hunters with the Robin Hughes owned Living Color and the Green Conformation Grand Hunter with Allison Mills’ Stature. Via text Geitner said he was thrilled with the news and had enjoyed the weeks of competition in the Gulf greatly. Jordan Siegel of the Flower Mound, TX based Summer Hill Farm garnered two Circuit Awards, beginning with the 1st Year Green Working Hunters partnered with Cherry Stone for owner Fallon Bock and later in the Performance Working 3’6-3’9 Hunters piloting Jetset for owner Castle Point Farm, LLC. And Memphis, TN based pro Phoebe Sheets grabbed a pair of Circuit Awards as well, first in the Baby Green Hunters with Jean Tuttle’s Ring Ling and in the Performance Working 3’3 Hunters aboard Casino for owner Cheryl Rubenstein.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Products/Services

International Dressage Rider Betsy Steiner Wins Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at Palm Beach Dressage Derby

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Betsy Steiner, who competed Joli Burrell’s Fino at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby, rode away as the winner of the Premier Sportsmanship Award during the show. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (March 9, 2011) – Dressage rider and trainer Betsy Steiner, who represented the United States at the World Equestrian Games in Sweden, competed Joli Burrell’s Fino at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby at White Fences in Wellington and said the secret to each and every ride she takes is the simple fact the she loves her horses and competing. In addition to enjoying her ride, Steiner was awarded the Premier Sportsmanship Award, sponsored by Premier Equestrian, a leading supplier of dressage arenas, horse jumps, arena footing and stable accessories.

The Premier Sportsmanship Award is awarded to a rider who displays a high level of sportsmanship during a show and Steiner thanked Premier for the award. “The award really encourages riders and it makes you feel good about coming to the show and doing well,” she said.

Steiner added that she was really pleased with Fino’s performance at the show. “He was a great boy and I was really happy with him. It was the first time I’ve had him in the ring since June and he really came through for me,” she said, adding that she competed Fino in the FEI Test of Choice Prix St. Georges class.

When asked how she maintains a great level of sportsmanship, Steiner said she loves competing. “I love all of the horses I compete and Fino just happens to be one of the best,” Steiner said.

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Awards, Breeds, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Events, Racing Sources

2010 Don Burt Professional Horseman and Horsewoman of the Year

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The American Quarter Horse Journal — The Most Valuable Professional and the Don Burt Professional Horseman and Horsewoman of the Year awards were presented tonight during the 2011 AQHA Convention Awards Banquet. The awards were presented by AQHA Corporate Partner Professional’s Choice.

Wanda Lounder

The Most Valuable Professional or “MVP” of 2010 is Wanda Lounder. Wanda serves as the Maine Quarter Horse Association second vice president as well as the youth co-adviser. She leads with the goals of “bringing the youth in, not as competitors, but as an organization.” Under her leadership, local youth involvement has grown. In a traditionally individualistic sport, Wanda encourages teamwork, saying she wants “the youth not only to compete and grow as competitors, but to grow as a team, as well.”

When financial uncertainty jeopardized the local futurities, Wanda stepped up again. Her business, Double L Equestrian Center, sponsored several events, such as the hunter under saddle futurity and non-pro green horse trail futurity, and also small-fry classes. Wanda always makes sure the small-fries are recognized with ribbons and even high-point small-fry trophies.

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Awards, Breeds, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, More/Other, Racing Sources, Training/Clinics, Western/Reining

AQHA Hands Out 2010 High-Point Awards

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The American Quarter Horse Journal – At its annual convention in Grapevine, Texas, the American Quarter Horse Association handed out its coveted all-around high-point awards in the youth, amateur and open divisions. Molli Lyn Jacobs and Radical McCue won the Featherlite AQHA Youth All-Around High-Point title; Lindsey Stevenson and RL Cocoas Version won the Featherlite AQHA All-Around Amateur title; and Four Bonnie Bay, owned by Mike St. Clair of Kahoka, Missouri, won the Featherlite Open All-Around High-Point title.

All-Around Youth

In 2010, Molli Lyn Jacobs rode her way into AQHA history books as the Featherlite AQHA Youth All-Around High-Point Champion with Radical McCue. They also collected youth high-point titles in showmanship and performance halter geldings, and finished third in trail, fourth in horsemanship and fifth in hunt seat equitation. Radical McCue is a 2000 bay gelding by Radical Rodder and out of Jetterri McCue by Tuff Joe Jet.

“He’s very athletic and very strong,” says Molli, a high school senior at Garaway High School in Sugarcreek, Ohio. “You could put him through anything, and he’s going to come out stronger than before.”

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Awards, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Events, Phelps Media Group

Phelps Media Group Honored with Business Excellence Award by Wellington Chamber

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Wellington, FL – February 24, 2011 – Phelps Media Group, Inc., America’s most progressive and successful equestrian public relations firm, and a Wellington fixture for nearly a decade, has been awarded the Wellington Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award. The award will be presented at the Chamber luncheon on March 16, 2011 at the Wanderer’s Club.

Launched in 2002 by Olympian Mason Phelps, Jr., Phelps Media Group began service to the equestrian industry with promotion of the National Horse Show, which was moved to Wellington following a one hundred year plus run at Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York City. The PMG promotion of that event drew such record crowds to the show grounds in Wellington, that some were quoted as calling it the “Woodstock of horse shows.”

“It was amazing,” recalled President Mason Phelps. “There were so many people that weekend that we ran out of food, ran out of portable toilets and overwhelmed the roads leading into the equestrian complex. It was like Woodstock,” he laughed. The success of that promotion prompted Phelps to continue the PMG venture for other events. Word spread rapidly throughout the industry about this new company that offered ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking, lightning fast media responses, and proven results. Since that time, Phelps Media Group, Inc. has rapidly accumulated an amazing number of impressive clients in the equestrian world from coast-to-coast and internationally.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13326

Awards, Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, JRPR, Show Jumping

Laura Kraut and Cedric Do It Again and Win Grand Prix and Sanctuary Peak Performance Award during WEF

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Olympic stars Laura Kraut and Cedric won The Sanctuary Peak Performance Award for the second week in a row at the 2011 FTI WEF. (Photo courtesy of Sportfot)

Wellington, FL (February 15, 2011) – Gold Medal Olympian Laura Kraut and her Olympic partner Cedric turned on the speed and the power during the $150,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix, presented by Spy Coast Farm, to ride away the victor in the class that featured six other Olympians. During the fifth week of the prestigious 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, Kraut and Cedric also rode away, for the second week in a row, as the winner of The Sanctuary Peak Performance Award.

Sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, the Peak Performance Award is presented to the winner of the Grand Prix. “I heard Laura said that she and Cedric went as fast as they could go and turned as tight as possible, and I believe it,” said Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary. “It was an amazing jump-off and Laura and Cedric certainly gave it their all and deserved to ride into the winner’s circle.”

McDuffee also congratulated Kraut on her second Sanctuary Peak Performance Award. “The competition was extremely tough in the Grand Prix, with 40 riders starting including seven Olympians and a field of world-class riders. For the second week in a row, Laura and Cedric were phenomenal and we look forward to seeing them at our new Sanctuary facility located on the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center show grounds.”

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