Category Archives: Championships

Breeds, Championships, Competitions, Driving, Events

Combined Driver Shelly Temple Raising Funds to Represent US in World Driving Championships

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June 27, 2011 – Getting to Europe for humans isn’t as hard as it seems — passport, airplane ticket, maps, and some spending money and you’re ready to go.

However, an equestrian athlete traveling to Europe to complete for one’s nation is a tougher.  Shelly Temple, 3 time US National Champion Combined Driver and member of the 2007 bronze medal team, is seeking to travel to Slovenia to compete in the World Pony Driving Championships.  Her Morgan pony, Cooper, is a top form in 2011 where Temple hopes to improve upon her second place in dressage in 2007.

Getting to Europe has been Temple’s goal since 2010; however, she states, “Shipping the horse and carriages is very expensive.” The cost for Team Catalyst to compete at the World Championships is estimated to be around $50,000.  Traditionally, the drivers have had to raise the majority of funds to get there and to compete. “We have worked very hard to get ready and now ask for your help to get there and hopefully win a medal for the US,” exclaims Temple.

To learn how you can support Temple, Cooper, and Team Catalyst visit www.catalystdriving.com or call 804-837-4888.

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI

Yurkevich and Buikevich Sweep Double-Gold for Kazakhstan

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Lausanne (SUI), 22 June 2011 – The host nation of Kazakhstan clinched gold in both the FEI Intermediate 1 and FEI Freestyle Intermediate 1 classes at the FEI Central Asian Dressage Championships 2011 staged in Almaty over the weekend.  In a pitched battle between two seasoned riders during which good fortune swung in both directions, Sergey Buikevich claimed the Intermediate 1 title with Ispovednik while Natalyja Yurkevich squeezed ahead of Buikevich to take the FEI Freestyle Test with Don Petro.

It was a particularly satisfying result for the versatile and multiple medal-winning Buikevich, who is Vice President and Secretary General of the Equestrian Federation of Kazakhstan, Head Coach of the National Equestrian Team, an FEI Bureau Member and Chairman of FEI Group III as well as an International Jumping Judge.

The event took place in Almaty which is the former capital, and remains the largest city, in Kazakhstan.  Located on the Silk Road – the legendary network of trade routes that stretch across Asia linking East to West – the city continues to be a major centre of commerce and a meeting place for visitors from all around the world.  It has successfully staged a number of important equestrian events in recent years.

PERFECT START
In 2009 these Championships were pitched at CDI 3-Star Big-Tour level, but this time around the standard was lowered and the competitions included a preliminary FEI Prix St Georges in which Buikevich got off to the perfect start last Friday.

Continue reading Yurkevich and Buikevich Sweep Double-Gold for Kazakhstan →

Breeds, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, USEF

U.S. Qualifies Record Number of Horses for 2011 FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Dressage

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Eastern Selection Trial 5-year-old champion Lauren Chumley and Somer Hit. Photo by Pics of You.

Lexington, KY – With three horses earning qualifying scores of 8.2 or better at the 2011 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials and four earning qualifying scores in Europe, the U.S. had a competitive list of seven – more than ever before – to choose from when considering who will make up the team for the FEI World Breeding Championships held in Verden, Germany, August 3-7.

“The number of horses that qualified this year was a true testament to the Markel/USEF Young Horse Program,” said USEF Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler. “We had impressive horses come from all areas of the country with many competing overseas and doing quite well against top quality horses. The Young Horse Program is progressing in the U.S. just the way we hoped it would.”

The U.S. is invited to field a team of four in Verden – two 5-year-olds and two 6-year-olds. This year’s U.S. team will consist of a total of three (a 5-year-old and two 6-year-olds). The final team includes the 5-year-old Westphalian stallion, Florentinus (Florestan I – Lady in Red by Londonderry), owned and ridden by Jennifer Hoffman. The duo qualified by earning a score of 8.5 in Europe. The 6-year-olds include the Austrian Warmblood stallion Ratzinger (Riccione – St. Pr. St. Inschella by Pablo), also owned and ridden by Hoffman, who qualified with an 8.5 in Europe. The second 6-year-old is the Oldenburg mare, Royal Couer 2 (Royal Hit – Riva by Le Coeur), owned and ridden by Marne Martin Tucker. The pair earned a score of 8.36 in Europe to qualify for the team.

Continue reading U.S. Qualifies Record Number of Horses for 2011 FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Dressage →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI

Record Entries for 25th FEI European Dressage Championships

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Edward Gal and Totilas who carried off double gold in Windsor 2009, but the world famous black stallion will be representing Germany with Matthias Alexander Rath in the saddle. © Kit Houghton/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 17 June 2011 – The 25th FEI European Dressage Championships are set to be the biggest yet, with a record 21 nations aiming to compete in Rotterdam (NED) on 17-21 August. And tickets for the Freestyle-to-Music, which will decide the individual medals on 21 August, are already sold out with tickets for the other three days selling fast.

As the Rotterdam organisers celebrate the 60-day countdown to the Championships, 18 National Federations have indicated that they hope to field full teams and a further three countries plan to send individuals.

The previous European record was set in 1997 when 19 nations participated in Verden (GER), although Arnhem (NED) hosted the largest ever Open European Championships in 1999 when riders from 25 nations competed.

“It is fitting that we mark the 25th year of the FEI European Dressage Championships with such an impressive entry,” said Trond Asmyr, Director of Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage at the FEI.

“Since Freestyle-to-Music was elevated to Olympic level, the popularity of Dressage has risen dramatically and it’s no surprise that tickets for the Final at the impressive Kralingse Forest site sold out soon after they went on sale. Fans will need to be quick if they want to see their European heroes perform in August.

Continue reading Record Entries for 25th FEI European Dressage Championships →

Championships, Competitions, Events, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group

Charlotte Jacobs Scores Winning Ribbons at HITS Saugerties

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Charlotte Jacobs and Bring It On won the Large Junior 15 & Under Hunter Championship at HITS Saugerties III. Photo By: James Parker/ Kathy Russell, The Book LLC.

East Aurora, NY – June 14, 2011 – Junior rider Charlotte Jacobs continued her winning ways this past weekend at HITS Saugerties during Week III of the prestigious event. After a very impressive showing at the Devon Horse Show, she scored victories in the Junior Hunters, the WIHS Equitation, and the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers with her talented string of horses.

In the hunter ring, Jacobs and her top mount Bring It On took home the Large Junior 15 & Under Hunter Championship. The duo won two classes, including the handy, and also earned two second place ribbons and a third place ribbon to secure the division’s top prize. “Bring It On had a week off between Saugerties and Devon,” explained Jacobs. “I think that helped, he felt great and he went perfectly.”

Later in the jumper ring, Jacobs scored top ribbons with three of her mounts. She was aboard Karonda V Schl’hof CH to earn the winning prize in two of the High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper classes, and later placed second with a double clear effort in the High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic aboard Umberto. In the Medium Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers, Jacobs scored a second place ribbon with Robin.

Continue reading Charlotte Jacobs Scores Winning Ribbons at HITS Saugerties →

Championships, Competitions, Events, USEF, Western/Reining

USEF Names List of Qualified Riders for USEF Youth Reining National Championship

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Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced the list of Youth Reining Riders who have qualified for the USEF Youth Reining National Championships to be held in conjunction with the NRHA Derby in Oklahoma City on July 2, 2011. The USEF will award Youth National Championship titles in three age categories: 13 and under, 14-18, and 19-21 age divisions.  The Youth qualified for the USEF Championships by earning points in Qualifying Classes throughout the country in 2010-2011.

More information regarding this event, including the prize list is available here: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/allreining/developingYR.aspx.

2011 USEF Youth Reining Championships Qualified Riders:

13 & Under
Stephen Timberlake
Rylee Justus
S. Alexandra Fuller
Olivia Hartman
Nick Taylor
Caroline Gute
Jordan Eddy

Continue reading USEF Names List of Qualified Riders for USEF Youth Reining National Championship →

Championships, Competitions, Events, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series to Culminate with $50,000 Championship Final at the 2011 Alltech National Horse Show

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©Kenneth Kraus/ PhelpsSports.com. Audrey Coulter and Rodenburghs California emerged as the winners of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Year-End Championship last year.

Lexington, KY — June 13, 2011 — The 2011 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series will culminate with a $50,000 Championship Final.  The Final — the $50,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior/Amateur-Owner Championship Presented by Sleepy P Ranch, Deeridge Farm and Chansonette Farm — will be held on Saturday, November 5 as part of the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th edition, CSI-W Lexington 4*, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, November 2-6.

The Alltech National Horse Show will invite 20 Junior and 20 Amateur-Owner riders to compete in the horse show’s Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumper Divisions, each of which will include two preliminary rounds of competition:

– The $10,000 Sleepy P Ranch Junior Jumper Welcome Speed Stake on Thursday, November 3 and the $15,000 Sleepy P Ranch Junior Jumper Time First Jump-Off on Friday, November 4 for Juniors;

– The $10,000 Chansonette Farm Amateur-Owner Jumper Welcome Speed Stake on Thursday, November 3 and the $15,000 Chansonette Farm Amateur-Owner Time First Jump-Off on Friday, November 4 for Amateur-Owners.

Continue reading Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series to Culminate with $50,000 Championship Final at the 2011 Alltech National Horse Show →

Championships, Competitions, Endurance Riding, Events, FEI

Al Reef Endurance Festival Live Feed Follows Australasian Endurance Forum (AUS)

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Lausanne (SUI), 10 June 2011 – The 150-plus delegates representing nine different nationalities at the Australasian FEI Endurance Conference and Forum have now moved onto the Al Reef Endurance Festival, which takes place in Toorbul, Queensland (AUS) 11-14 June.

All the action from the Australasian Championship, which follows the highly successful conference, can be viewed on a live feed from http://iequine.com/events/al-reef-endurance-festival.

Footage begins on Saturday 11 June at 12.30pm with vetting and a pre-ride talk later that afternoon. Sunday morning is when the action unfolds – coverage starts at 5.00am and runs all day. On Monday 13 June there will be a live feed for a series of work-outs and presentations.

FEI Media contacts:

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Press Relations
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Driving, Events, USEF

Tucker Johnson Returns to the Dixon Oval to Claim the Devon Pleasure Carriage Drive Championship

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Tucker Johnson at Devon (Photo courtesy of Alden Corrigan and Meg Wiederseim).

Devon, PA – One of the highlights of Memorial Day weekend is the Devon Pleasure Carriage Drive from St. David’s Church through the tree-lined neighborhoods along the 4-½ mile route to the Dixon Oval. The images of majestic animals pulling magnificently maintained coaches draw crowds of spectators and tailgaters alike, both at St. David’s and along the Pleasure Carriage Drive route to the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.

The event begins with competitors assembling in one of St. David’s fields surrounded by throngs of tailgaters for the initial judging by division (Horses, Ponies, Light Commercial and Farmers) before they are permitted to begin their journey to the Dixon Oval. The judges are looking to see if the vehicle has the proper appointments, if the turnout is correct, if the right horses are hooked up to the right vehicle, and if people are dressed reasonably, but not necessarily in period outfits.

Once the competitors begin their drive, they are judged on their performance by road judges placed strategically along the route. The road judges watch the competitors working on the road, and look for obvious mistakes like failing to stop at a stop sign, if horses gallop up the hill and have a problem, go too fast down a hill, or if they are crowding another carriage and don’t use their whip correctly.

Continue reading Tucker Johnson Returns to the Dixon Oval to Claim the Devon Pleasure Carriage Drive Championship →

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF

USEF Announces Dates and Location for 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

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Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has announced the dates and location for the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions which will also serve as the USEF Selection Trials for the US Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games.

The competition will be held over four days, September 8-11, 2011, at the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ.

The best horse/rider combinations in the following divisions will vie for national dressage championships: Grand Prix, Intermediaire I, Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup,’ Young Rider and Junior. For the first time in 2011, a National Pony Dressage Championship will also be run.

The Intermediaire I National Championship will also serve as the USEF Selection Trial for the US Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games.

The Pan American Games will run in Guadalajara, Mexico in October, the U.S. Dressage Team will be looking to repeat their Gold medal effort from 2007.

For more information about High Performance Dressage, please visit:
http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldressage/hpDressage.aspx.

Or contact Jenny Van Wieren, USEF Director of Dressage, High Performance at jvanwieren@usef.org.

© Copyright 2011 United States Equestrian Federation