Category Archives: Competitions

Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Olivia Esse and Illusion Crowned Junior Hunter Grand Champions at Alltech National Horse Show

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Olivia Esse and Illusion won the Junior Hunter Grand Champions at the Alltech National Horse Show. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

[Lexington, KY] – November 5, 2011 – Today the Junior Hunters showcased their talent during the stake classes this afternoon in the Alltech Arena during the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. Olivia Esse and her talented mount Illusion garnered the Small Junior 16-17 Championship award for their efforts throughout the division. The duo also was presented with the Junior Hunter Grand Champion award for their excellent placings over the last two days.

Illusion with Olivia Esse of Pasadena, CA, in the irons earned the top call for their score of 83.00 points in the Moyer Family $7,500 Small Junior 16-17 Hunter Stake this afternoon. Coupled with their top honors yesterday, they scored the division’s championship tricolor. Esse also earned the reserve championship honors aboard her younger and more recent mount, Clooney.

“I made it a point to come from California and be a part of this show, especially since this is probably going to be my last Indoors as I am going away to college next year, so this win really holds a lot of significance. I was hoping that I would be able to earn both the championship awards, but I didn’t want to get too worked up about it,” Esse explained. “It really feels great to earn such a coveted award like Grand Champion overall at a show that holds so much history, tradition and prestige.”

Continue reading Olivia Esse and Illusion Crowned Junior Hunter Grand Champions at Alltech National Horse Show →

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Driving, Events, USEF

Sterling Graburn Leads after Dressage Phase at USEF National Single Horse Championship at Katydid

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Lexington, KY – An exciting day of dressage in Aiken, SC, showcased some of the very best in the U.S. vying for USEF National Single Horse Championship honors at the Katydid CDE.

After all but one of 19 horses passed inspection – Wilson Groves’ UVM Worthy was deemed unfit to compete – Sterling Graburn (Georgetown, KY) drove to the lead in Friday’s dressage competition phase, on a score of 43.09. Kate Shields (Middleburg, VA) was in second on a score of 45.87 followed by Olof Larsson (Ocala, FL) who finished on a score of 46.72.

A fairly new event in the growing driving community of Aiken, this marks the first USEF National Championship held at Katydid.

The drivers will now turn their focus to Saturday’s marathon which begins at 9 a.m. ET.

Complete results are available at: http://drivingnews.us/results/results2011/Katydid/KD11-Dressage100.pdf.

Visit www.USEFNetwork.com for photos, articles and information about the U.S. drivers throughout the event.

For more information on combined driving programs please contact Elizabeth Staller at estaller@usef.org.

Awards, Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Laura Sexton and Zoom Awarded Amateur-Owner Hunter Grand Championship at Alltech NHS

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Laura Sexton and Zoom awarded Amateur-Owner Hunter Grand Championship at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

[Lexington, KY] – November 4, 2011 – The Amateur-Owner Hunters took center stage today in the Alltech Arena during the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. Laura Sexton and her talented mount Zoom captured the Amateur-Owner 18-35 Hunters Championship with three blue ribbons over the last two days. The duo was also awarded the Grand Champion Amateur Owner Hunter title for their excellent efforts in the ring.

The Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunters were the first to compete today, and during the final stake class Debbie Perkins of New Canaan, CT, showed Whispering to a score 83 to win the blue ribbon. Their win today and third place finish in yesterday’s over fences class garnered them the division’s reserve championship prize. Tracy Scheriff-Muser of Wellington, FL, and Macallan were the day’s big winners, taking home the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter Championship. They placed first in yesterday’s over fences class and also earned two second place ribbons and third place ribbons.

“Macallan is the sweetest horse I’ve ever had, which is really funny because he’s a stallion,” commented Scheriff-Muser after her win. “He’s just been such a pleasure to own and ride. Sometimes he’s too lazy, but I’ll take that over crazy. He’s so slow and comfortable; I get excited every time I get to show him because he’s so fun.”

Continue reading Laura Sexton and Zoom Awarded Amateur-Owner Hunter Grand Championship at Alltech NHS →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Kent Farrington & Up Chiqui Dominate $60k Spy Coast Farm Open Jumper Speed Stake at Alltech NHS

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Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui dominated the $60,000 Spy Coast Farm Open Jumper Speed Stake. Photo By: Shawn McMillen

Lexington, KY – November 4, 2011 – The jumper action continued this evening at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, and speed was the name of the game as riders competed in the $60,000 Spy Coast Farm Open Jumper Speed Stake. The speedy veteran pair of Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui dominated the class with blazing time, beating second place finishers Nicholas Dello Joio and Notre Star De La Nutria by almost four seconds. Great Britain’s Scott Brash and Bon Ami rounded out the top three with a quick and clear effort.

Richard Jeffery designed a technical course for tonight’s event, which featured an option fence, multiple rollbacks, a vertical-vertical double combination, and an oxer-vertical double combination. “I thought it was a very fast track, meaning that all of us were going to be taking basically the same lines,” eventual winner Kent Farrington remarked. “It came down to the faster mover, turning even shorter on the rollbacks, because there weren’t too many places to play to your horse’s strength.”

Although he was fifth in the order, Farrington of Chicago, IL, and Up Chiqui, owned by Boone, Dobbs and Farrington, entered the ring ready to win during tonight’s speed competition. The duo has always been known for their quick rounds, and tonight they lived up to the hype. They raced around the technical course with ease, never touching a rail. The pair broke the beam at an incredible 57.35 seconds, setting a pace that would not be caught and eventually leading the victory gallop.

Continue reading Kent Farrington & Up Chiqui Dominate $60k Spy Coast Farm Open Jumper Speed Stake at Alltech NHS →

Competitions, Diana de Rosa, Eventing/H.T., Events, Media/Radio/TV Sources

Watch the Quick Look YouTube – Southern Eighths/Nikon Three-Day Video

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In 2010 the first Southern Eighths/Nikon Three-Day Event took place to raving reviews.  Now relive all the action in this second “quick look” video produced by nFocus Pictures and visible on Southern Eighths’ YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/So8ths.

To view this video just click on this link: http://tinyurl.com/2010-So8ths-Nikon.  It will take less than three minutes for you to watch a quick sampling of all the fun which took place at this inaugural event from the clinics to the competition day and all the fun in between.  This video just might inspire you to join in on the fun when the next recognized USEA Long Format event takes place May 3-6, 2012.

If you have time to spare, view the longer 10 minute video also available on the So8ths YouTube channel.

Continue reading Watch the Quick Look YouTube – Southern Eighths/Nikon Three-Day Video →

Competitions, Dressage, Events

Equestrian Sport Productions to Host Dressage at Holiday and Horses Competition

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Wellington, FL – November 4, 2011 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) is pleased to announce the addition of dressage to this year’s Fall Circuit at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Dressage at Holiday and Horses will be held November 18-20, 2011, at the main show grounds of the PBIEC.

Dressage at Holiday and Horses will be a USEF/USDF Level Two competition. The show will be a Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Qualifier and will host classes for the USDF/Dover Adult Amateur Medal Program.

Judges will include William Solynjes ‘S’ and Marlene Schneider ‘S’ with Technical Delegate Linda Lester ‘r’.

“Entries are now open and we look forward to welcoming our dressage friends back to the PBIEC,” said ESP President Michael Stone.

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Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, Pan American Games, USEF

Land Rover Competition and Training Grants Send Pan American Games Athletes to Galway Downs CCI

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Lexington, KY – Two members of the Gold-medal winning 2011 Pan American Games Eventing Team, Buck Davidson and Michael Pollard, and the alternate, Kristin Schmolze, were awarded Land Rover Competition and Training Grants to travel to Temecula, CA and compete at the Galway Downs CCI, November 4-6.

Davidson and Pollard were each awarded $8,000 grant to contest the CCI3*, while Schmolze was awarded a $6,000 grant to compete in the CCI2*.

Because of logistical and timing conflicts due to being part of the Pan American Games squad, Davidson, Pollard were unable to compete at Fair Hill International CCI3* in early October – the only CCI3* on the East Coast.  The Pan Am horses flew to Guadalajara on the cross country day of Fair Hill.  The athletes couldn’t be in two places at once. Schmolze was part of the Pan American equation with Ballylaffin Bracken until the horses departed – she is also riding her CCI3* horse at Galway.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, Pan American Games, Show Jumping, USEF

Ten Medals for Equestrian Team USA at the 2011 Pan American Games

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The U.S. Sweep in Dressage (Photo: Rick Mitchell)

It was an epic adventure in Mexico for the United States Equestrian Federation’s Dressage, Eventing and Jumping Teams. They won a record 10 medals across the three disciplines and cemented a solid foundation for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Bookended by double Gold medalists Steffen Peters, who rode the Hlavacek’s Weltino’s Magic to record scores in the dressage ring at the Guadalajara Country Club, and Christine McCrea, who jumped five immaculate rounds on Windsor Show Stables’ Romantovich Take One at the same venue 10 days later, the U.S. won at every turn.

The dressage team of Peters, Heather Blitz, Marissa Festerling and Cesar Parra got the winning going – they cruised to Team Gold over Canada and Colombia – and then reinforced it with a sweep of the individual medals for Peters, Blitz and Festerling. The standard was extraordinary and with each test, a new challenge was handed over. Personal bests were the order of the day for the freestyles, Blitz and her Paragon made Olympic veteran Peters work for every point, after they wowed the crowd at their first Team Championship. Festerling commandeered a terrific Bronze medal effort out of a very energetic Big Tyme and also stood on the podium for the second time at her first championship.

Continue reading Ten Medals for Equestrian Team USA at the 2011 Pan American Games →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Scott Stewart and Dedication Win Grand Champion Hunter Title at Alltech National Horse Show

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Scott Stewart and Dedication won the Grand Champion Hunter Title at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG

[Lexington, KY] – November 3, 2011 – Today marked the second day of competition at the Alltech National Horse, 128th Edition, and it was the professional hunter divisions that took center stage this afternoon as they completed their under saddle and stake classes. Scott Stewart earned the highest honor of the day with his First Year Green Working Hunter mount, Dedication, owned by Fashion Farm of New York, NY. After scoring three blue ribbons, the duo took home the division’s tricolor and was eventually honored with the Grand Champion Hunter Award.

The First Year Green Working Hunters were the first to complete their stake class today and wrapped up their second day of competition. Stewart and Dedication showed brilliantly over Richard Jeffery’s courses to earn three first place ribbons and a second place ribbon, which included a win in the stake class with a score of 88. They picked up the championship award, while Tammy Provost and Libretto, owned by Alliy Moyer of Carmel, IN, earned the reserve championship honors. With their impressive effort in all four classes, Stewart and Dedication returned to the ring at the end of the day to receive the prestigious Grand Champion Hunter title.

Continue reading Scott Stewart and Dedication Win Grand Champion Hunter Title at Alltech National Horse Show →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

McLain Ward & Rothchild Race to Win $75,000 Double H Farm Open Jumpers at Alltech NHS

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McLain Ward and Rothchild won the $75,000 Double H Farm Open Jumpers at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition. Photo By: Shawn McMillen

[Lexington, KY] – November 3, 2011 – It was an incredible night of competition at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, as 14 of 35 entries qualified for the jump-off during the $75,000 Double H Farm International Open Jumper class. There was one quick round after another, but at the end of the night it was McLain Ward and Rothchild, owned by Sagamore Farm of Oyster Bay, NY, who posted a double clear effort in 36.10 seconds and led the victory gallop. Pan American Individual and Team Gold Medalist Christine McCrea of East Windsor, CT, followed in second aboard Avenir with a fault-free effort in 37.72 seconds, while Lauren Hough and Quick Study, owned by Laura Mateo, were third after setting the pace at a clean 37.73 seconds.

For tonight’s first round, Richard Jeffery challenged riders with 15 obstacles that included an oxer-vertical double combination, a triple bar-oxer double combination, and a final vertical-vertical double combination going towards the gate. Fourteen horse and rider combinations cleared the opening round to compete during the tiebreaker, which proved to be a far more difficult task. The jump-off began with an oxer-vertical bending line followed by the oxer-vertical double combination. Riders then made a tight inside turn to a tall vertical before making a bending line across the middle. They finally turned left and headed home over a wide oxer.

Continue reading McLain Ward & Rothchild Race to Win $75,000 Double H Farm Open Jumpers at Alltech NHS →