Category Archives: Competitions

Championships, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, FEI

HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 – Luhmühlen

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Lausanne (SUI), 3 August 2011 – A total of 15 nations have announced their intention to compete at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 (25-28 August).

The 30th running of the Championships will be hosted for the fifth time at Luhmühlen (GER), which has been synonymous with international Eventing since 1975.

As well as the excitement of the Championships themselves and the battle for medals, the two best ranked teams from Olympic Groups A, B & C at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 will also qualify to take part at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Visit the FEI Press Kit Zone to download the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 press kit, which includes:

•    Nations intending to field teams and individuals
•    Competition timetable and media contacts
•    Interview with Julia Otto, Event Director and Managing Director of Turniergesellschaft Luhmühlen mbH
•    Detailed history of FEI European Eventing Championships
•    Images dating back to 1977 (free for editorial purposes)
•    HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships interesting facts and figures
•    The medals table (1953 – 2009)
•    Interview with Ginny Elliot (GBR) – still the only rider to have won three European titles in a row

Continue reading HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships 2011 – Luhmühlen →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, USEF

Opening Day of USEF National Junior Hunter Championships – East Coast Crowns Winners in ASPCA Maclay, WIHS Equitation Classic and USEF/Pessoa Medals

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©ESI Photography. Kendell Adelberger and Redfield Farm’s Werner took home the top honors in Monday's ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Medal.

SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK (August 2, 2011) — This week, HITS-on-the-Hudson is host to some of the best junior riders in the country as it welcomes the USEF National Junior Hunter Championship – East Coast to the Saugerties show grounds.

Action got underway yesterday with four equitation classes and will continue through Wednesday as Small Juniors 15 and Under, Large Juniors 15 and Under, Small Juniors 16-17, and Large Juniors 16-17 will compete for the National Championship as well as a Wild Card berth in the inaugural Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final at HITS-on-the-Hudson VIII this September.

“The Junior Hunter National Championships have been a highlight of the HITS-on-the-Hudson Summer Series and we are pleased to welcome the event back to Saugerties,” said HITS President and CEO Tom Struzzieri. “We felt strongly that this year’s Champions deserve a spot in the Hunter Prix Final and we hope this will help to contribute some additional excitement and attention to the Junior Hunter Finals.”

ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Medal
Kendell Adelberger of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania kicked off three days of Hunter competition with a win in the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Medal, aboard Redfield Farm’s Werner. Adelberger is trained by Emil Spadone and topped a field of 15 to capture the blue. The group faced a technical course in HITS’ Hunter Stadium and then their equitation was put to the test on the flat.

Continue reading Opening Day of USEF National Junior Hunter Championships – East Coast Crowns Winners in ASPCA Maclay, WIHS Equitation Classic and USEF/Pessoa Medals →

Awards, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, USHJA

Sarah Milliren Captures the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup at HITS-on-the-Hudson

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©ESI Photography. Sarah Milliren captured this year's prestigious USHJA/Essex Classic Hunterdon Cup at the 2011 USEF National Junior Hunter Championships - East Coast aboard Don Stewart's War Eagle.

SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK (August 3, 2011) — Sarah Milliren of Sapula, Oklahoma was all smiles when the number 515 – her number – was announced as the winner of Tuesday’s USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup, the jewel of the equitation competition at the USEF National Junior Hunter Championship – East Coast at HITS Saugerties.

Milliren, trained by Bibby Hill and Don Stewart, rode to victory in the three-round class aboard Stewart’s War Eagle. According to Milliren, her smiles were both of joy and a little bit of shock as Lillie Keenan of New York, New York was pinned second aboard Catherine Cowie’s Vidarco.

“I was so surprised when we won the class – I thought Lillie had it,” said Milliren. “I have never won anything like this before, so it is really exciting.”

She finished the first round with a score of 85 to sit sixth, and then scored an impressive 90 points in the second round, which placed her in third with a total of 175 points going in for the final test.

Milliren posted a score of 89 points in the third-round test of eight fences. Per the specifications of the class, judges Hap Hansen and Russell Frey had riders switch horses, to serve as the deciding factor for the class. Milliren, therefore, rode Scott Stewart’s Vip Z to the blue, originally ridden in the class by Victoria Colvin of Loxchatchee, Florida. Milliren, however, couldn’t deny her original mount the credit he was due.

“[War Eagle] made the course seem simple,” she added. “He was amazing and I could not have asked for a better performance from him.”

Continue reading Sarah Milliren Captures the USHJA/Essex Classics Hunterdon Cup at HITS-on-the-Hudson →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Wood

Dressage Debuts at 2012 College Preparatory Invitational

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Equestrian Sport Productions Announced as Presenting Sponsor

A flat class at the 2011 CPI at the beautiful show grounds of the PBIEC. Photo Credit: Rolando Conesa.

Wellington, FL – August 3, 2011 – The College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) will add dressage seat classes to the 2012 edition of their event, held January 13-15. Held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, this year’s CPI will be a must-attend event for aspiring hunt seat and dressage collegiate riders. You definitely can’t learn this stuff through an online class as dressage requires hands on learning and a careful teacher! The application for the dressage classes is now available online at www.collegeprepinvitational.com and is due by October 1, 2011.

With new dressage seat equitation classes at this year’s competition, the CPI is also excited to welcome six-time dressage Olympian Robert Dover as the judge.

Dover noted, “I was fortunate enough to ride competitively during my university years, but would have loved to have access to a program which included a CPI back then. It will most certainly be of great benefit to Dressage in the United States to have stronger grass roots programs for our young riders.”

Dover believes that collegiate programs for dressage riders are beneficial, and the CPI is a wonderful way to get involved and learn more about riding at school.

“The Intercollegiate Program has always been a great source of continuing training for riders who are at an age when school and riding are difficult to continue simultaneously,” he said. “The addition of a strong program for Dressage will do for our sport what it has done for the hunter/jumpers riders. Using top instructors to work with young riders who are in college will provide for ongoing progress so necessary for talented youth, whether they intend to go on as professionals in the industry or not.”

Continue reading Dressage Debuts at 2012 College Preparatory Invitational →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Kentucky Summer Horse Show Wrap-Up: July 27-31, 2011

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Lexington, KY – August 2, 2011 – Sunny skies and warm temperatures returned to the Kentucky Horse Park for Sunday evening’s $40,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington. The nation’s top horse and rider combinations gathered at the Rolex Stadium during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show to compete for the winning title. At the end of the night, it was Germany’s Christian Heineking and River of Dreams who led the victory gallop after an excellent double clear effort. Karen Cudmore and Southern Pride followed with the second place honors, while Rebecca Conway and Twister took home the third place award with the only other two fault-free jump-off rounds.

Karen Cudmore was the first to attempt Wednesday’s short course aboard Southern Pride, owned by Blair Cudmore of Omaha, NE, and they set the bar high. The duo clocked in at 40.203 seconds with all the rails in place, which would eventually earn the second place award.

Lauren Tisbo and Coco135, owned by Tequestrian Farms of Wellington, FL, raced to catch Cudmore’s time, and they were able to do so, but their speed proved costly when they lowered the height of the last vertical. Their four-fault effort in a time of 40.109 seconds would be good enough for the fourth place honors. Rebecca Conway was next in the ring and she claimed the third place award aboard Twister, owned by Blue Hill Farm of Salt Lake City, UT. The duo chose to keep a conservative pace and leave all the fences intact, breaking the beam at 47.733 seconds.

The final rider on course proved to be the best of day. Christian Heineking knew that he would have to be fast and accurate with River of Dreams, owned by Kai Handt of Wylie, TX, and the talented gelding executed the plan beautifully. They kept a fast gallop to every obstacle without even the slightest of rubs. The pair dashed through the timers in 39.530 seconds to jump to the top of the leaderboard and lead the evening’s victory gallop.

Continue reading Kentucky Summer Horse Show Wrap-Up: July 27-31, 2011 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Endurance Riding, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping, Western/Reining

FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships 2011

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NEXT GENERATION RISE TO THE CHALLENGE AT TOUGH KENTUCKY CHAMPIONSHIPS by Louise Parkes

Avery Klunick, Alyssa Phillips, Alexa Ehlers and Victoria New, USA Area 5's Gold Medal Junior Eventing Team Champions. Photo: FEI/Anthony Trollope.

Lausanne (SUI), 1 August 2011 – A heat-wave and thunderstorms failed to throw the next talented generation off their stride at the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championship which came to a thrilling conclusion at the Horse Park In Kentucky, USA yesterday.  Open to riders from the USA, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands, the five-day action-packed fixture attracted 250 entries, all hoping to make their mark in the five disciplines of Dressage, Endurance, Reining, Jumping and Eventing.

DRESSAGE
US Region 5 captured Young Rider Dressage Team gold.  Aylin Corapcioglu (Ruhmann), Madeleine Birch (Uceri), Catherine Chamberline (Verdicci) and Brandi Roenick (Pretty Lady) completed with a combined score of 198.104, but only pipped Canada BC/QC – Emily Fownes (Frapuccino), Mathilde Tetrault (Michelango), Anna Mylai Messier (Marzipan) and Esmee Ingham (Norseman) – by just over one point, while USA Region 8 were less than another point further adrift in bronze.

Roenick produced the highest score of the competition, 69.289, and the 16 year old from Arizona complimented her team-mates: “It’s an awesome opportunity to ride with these girls and really get to know them,” she said.  Canada’s Esmee Ingham put the Canadian silver medal in context.  “Since British Columbia is on the West Coast and Quebec City is so far east, for us to come together as a team having never met, and to take a medal is really incredible!” she pointed out.

Roenick had to settle for silver in the Individual Championship however when Isabelle Leibler (Watson) took gold and fellow-American Chase Hickok (Palermo) claimed the bronze.  And it was Hickok who moved into silver medal position in the Freestyle in which Leibler’s flawless performance with her 14 year old Westphalian gelding earned a winning score of 74.00. “He just felt like he was right there for me… it was the most amazing feeling,” Leibler said.  Mackinzie Pooley claimed the bronze with her last ride in international competition with the 20 year old Oldenburg Jonkara.

Continue reading FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships 2011 →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Atlanta Summerfest and Aiken Fall Festival Offer a Variety of Opportunities for Competitors

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August, 1st 2011 – It is hard to believe but summer is already coming to a close and fall is just around the corner.  Show manager J. P. Godard’s Equus Events is gearing up to unveil its inaugural Atlanta Summerfest at Bouckaert Farms in Fairburn, GA.  These new shows taking place August 18th-21st and 25th-28th will be one of the most popular tickets in town as stalls and camper spots are limited at the renowned Bouckaert Farms home of the 2011 USAE American Eventing Championships.  Well known in the eventing world, Godard is excited to introduce Bouckaert Farms to the hunter/jumper contingent.  “We are really looking forward to getting this show series off the ground,” Godard said with a smile.  “It took a little bit of time to get everything together, but now we are just looking forward to a great first year and hope everyone has a fantastic time.”

The facility itself has no lack of bragging rights boasting an over 8000 acre equestrian paradise filled with established pastures, lakes, and woodlands situated on the Chattahoochee River.  Stabling is all permanent and every stall features rubber mats.  The Atlanta Summerfest will offer something for everyone including walk/trot classes all the way up to the Open Jumpers.  Exhibitors and spectators can also look forward to Equus Events daily hospitality and weekly parties and events.  Some of the feature classes include:

-$5,000 Open Jumper Classic each week
-$2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby (wk1)
-$1,500 Jr/AO Jumper Classic each week
-$2,500 NAL/WIHS Ch/Ad Jumper Classic each week
-$500 Pony Classic
-$500 NAL/WIHS Children’s Hunter Classic
-$500 NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic

Continue reading Atlanta Summerfest and Aiken Fall Festival Offer a Variety of Opportunities for Competitors →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group

Sue Hehl Dominates Adult Amateur Hunters on Last Day of Horse Shows by the Bay

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Sue Hehl and Something's Cookin'. Photo Credit: Katie Anich/PMG

Traverse City, MI – July 31, 2011 – It was yet another gorgeous, sunny day for the final day of hunter competition at Horse Shows by the Bay. Over the past four weeks of the show series, scenic Traverse City has offered exhibitors almost nothing but quintessential summer days. The R. L. Polk Main Hunter Ring was no different today with the Amateur-Owner Hunter and Adult Amateur Hunter divisions wrapping up their competitions. Weatherly Stroh and Sigfried, owned by Susanne Stroh, continued their winning streak, as did Lindsay Lyden and Copperfield, owned by Fox Meadow Farms. The Hunter Classics in both divisions were the day’s highlights, offering spectators one final chance to appreciate the elegance and style that the hunters have put on display throughout the series.

The Amateur-Owner Hunters got their morning off to a jump start. Kelsey Wickham and Wait and See Farms’ Just Because earned the blue ribbon in both the hunter and the handy rounds today. Moira Corcoran and her Pacifico took home second in the hunter round, just ahead of Jovanna Haddad and Veron in third place. This duo won both over fences classes yesterday. Following Wickham in the handy class was Sara Gentry aboard Olivaire with second place. Shawna Yeihey and her Benchmark took home the yellow ribbon in the handy course. After all the points were tallied for the two days of competition, Just Because and Kelsey Wickham earned the champion honors with 34 points. Reserve champion went to Jovanna Haddad and Veron with 27 points on the board.

Sigfried and Weatherly Stroh earned the top call in both the handy and the hunter rounds today in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3″, which meant that she won all but one of the over fences classes. Abigail Wijek was on top of her game once again today with Magic Man and took home second place in both classes. In the hunter round, Sherri Werner and Unlimited earned third place, while Amy Stanley and her Saneffo Z received third place in the handy round. It was a close call for the champion title, a matter of just 6 points. Stroh and Sigfried earned the prestigious honors with an impressive 38 points, just ahead of Abigail Wujek and Magic Man with their 32 points. That was the third time champion honors have been granted to Sigried and Stroh in this division at Horse Shows by the Bay. The pair also took home the prize during Series I and III. The duo was also honored with the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion title, and Stroh earned the OVATION Leading Amateur Owner Hunter Rider Award for accumulating the most points throughout all of the Horse Shows by the Bay series.

Continue reading Sue Hehl Dominates Adult Amateur Hunters on Last Day of Horse Shows by the Bay →

Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

First Time’s a Charm for Farrington and Uceko Who Win Prestigious Hickstead Grand Prix during First Trip to Europe on the U.S. Team

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Hickstead, Great Britain – U.S. Nations Cup rider Kent Farrington and the Dutch Warmblood gelding Uceko, owned by R.C.G. Farm, held their own among the best of the British in a packed jump-off on Sunday to win the Longines King George V Gold Cup at the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead.

Out of the 47 starters, 10 went forward to the jump-off. Farrington – the only American – was seventh to go. Farrington won the incredibly fast jump-off with 54.36 seconds. Great Britain’s Robert Smith came in second with 54.80 and Leon Tyson of the Netherlands took third with 54.96 seconds. Among his fierce British competitors, Farrington held off defending champion Tim Stockdale to win British showjumping’s richest prize, approximately $93,000.

Uceko is proving to be a spectacular match for the 30-year-old. He made a strong start to the 2011 season, collecting second-place honors in the $100,000 Deluca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix. In April, Farrington collected one of the largest victories of his career with Uceko claiming victory among a star-studded field in the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational. This summer, the pair collected a pair of wins in Kentucky, where they topped the field in the $55,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix and the $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix.

It was Farrington’s first time riding in the Sussex sunshine, and his first time to Europe with the U.S. Team. Earlier this week, the U.S. Team took Bronze after a three-way jump-off against France and Germany at the sixth leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2011 at Hickstead.

The U.S. was lying third, counting four faults each from Farrington and Beezie Madden (riding Coral Reef Via Volo) along with a clear from Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One that negated Laura Kraut’s 12 faults with Teirra. The Irish were next in line with 12 on the board followed by Great Britain carrying 16, Belgium with 20, The Netherlands with 24 and Denmark already trailing with 36 faults after anchor rider Tina Lund retired.

The next stop on the Nation Cup series is Dublin, Ireland, August 3-7, 2011.

For further information on the sixth leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2011, visit www.hickstead.co.uk.

Complete FEI Nations Cup Series information is available at www.FEI.org.

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Endurance Riding, Eventing/H.T., Events, Para-Equestrian, Show Jumping, USEF, Vaulting, Western/Reining

It’s a Wrap! The Week That Was the 2011 Adequan/FEI NAJYRC

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Team show jumping medals ceremony. Photo: Sportfot.

Lexington, KY – After a week of intense heat and one suspenseful afternoon of strong thunderstorms, the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North wrapped up today under sunny skies at the Kentucky Horse Park. The competition in all five disciplines – dressage, endurance, eventing, reining, and show jumping – was intense, and the approximately 250 riders from six countries showed that they had come to win.

Endurance
The first competition to wrap up this year was the inaugural North American Young Rider Endurance Championship. Friday’s 75-mile ride featured both CEI2* and CEI4* divisions. The United States brought home four Gold medals, three Silvers, and two Bronze medals in the endurance competition.

In the CEI4* divisions, Team USA took home the Gold after accruing a collective ride time of 25 hours, 25 minutes, and 31 seconds.

Individually in the CEI4*, Kelsey Russell and My Wild Irish Gold (USA) took home the Gold, Lindsay Bean and Tektonic (USA) the Silver, and Kyle Gibbon and Missu Koran (USA) the Bronze.

Also in the CEI4* division, Tektonic received the Best Conditioned Horse Award.

In the CEI2* class, the Team Gold medal was awarded to Team USA Northeast A, whose collective ride time totaled 25 hours, 40 minutes, and 57 seconds.

Continue reading It’s a Wrap! The Week That Was the 2011 Adequan/FEI NAJYRC →