Category Archives: Competitions

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

Margie Engle Beats Out 40 Starters to Take the Win in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV

Leave a comment
© ESI Photography. Margie Engle and Ashland Farms' Lord Spezi on course in Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson.

SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK (July 23, 2011) — With competition taking place in 10 different show rings and more than 1,600 horses on the premises, the opening week of the HITS-on-the-Hudson summer series is going like gangbusters, proving that Saugerties, New York is the place to be this summer.

Olympian Margie Engle picked up right where she left off upon her return to HITS-on-the-Hudson when she piloted Ashland Farms’ Lord Spezi to an exciting victory in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Engle and Lord Spezi had a very successful start to their season in Saugerties back in June when they won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix and finished sixth together in the $100,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix during HITS-on-the-Hudson III.

“He [Lord Spezi] had the winter off and we showed together here Week III where we did really well together,” said Engle. “We’re back for the summer and looking to qualify for the [Pfizer] Million. He’s a funny horse, he has a cocky attitude, but in a good way. He knows when he does a good job. Sometimes, after a jump he’ll let out a little buck, showing off like ‘Wow! Look what I did’. He’s not a very big horse, but he has a very big personality.”

Friday’s win did not come easy for Engle as 39 other starters stood in her way at the outset of the class, including fellow Olympians McLain Ward, Peter Leone, Todd Minikus, Kevin Babington and Manuel Torres. International Course Designer Marina Azevedo of Brazil set a challenging course in the roomy Strongid C 2X Stadium that included a double combination early in the track, a water jump mid-way through the route and a triple combination at the second-to-last fence, which proved to be the downfall of many riders on the course.

Continue reading Margie Engle Beats Out 40 Starters to Take the Win in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Vichy & Alejandro Karolyi Victorious in $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix

Leave a comment
Alejandro Karolyi and Vichy. Photo Credit: Katie Anich/PMG

Traverse City, MI – July 22, 2011 – Today’s Feature Horse Shows by the Bay Jumper Event in the Grand Prix Ring wrapped up with Alejandro Karolyi emerging the victor on Vichy. Karolyi, who makes a return visit to Horse Shows by the Bay after attending the inaugural event in 2004, rode to the blue ribbon win for owner Torrey Pines Stable of Schonberg, Ontario, Canada.

The course, designed by Michel Vaillancourt, was held under Table II 2a/b which meant that once going clear, riders had the option of either jumping off immediately or coming back after the first round was held in its entirety. A total of seven went clear, with three staying in while the additional four returned after round number one.

Nick Novak, who eventually placed second, opted to stay in on Springfield Tennessee so it was this pair who jumped clear in a time of 36.783 that were the ones to beat for the riders who chose to return.

Karolyi and Vichy made quick use of the shortened track just beating out Novak to finish without fault in 35.675. “It was a nice course, Michel did a really great job,” noted Karolyi of his triumphant turn in today’s class. “There wasn’t a huge amount of clear rides, and I wish everyone had been able to make it to the jump-off, but the course still jumped super, and it was scopey enough, but with my horse everything came nicely. I think the triple combination was a little tough, but overall for us it was a nice ride. It was comfortable for my horse out there.”

Karolyi added, “It’s the first week I’m here, so it was my horse’s first turn in that ring. I’ve had her for five months now, since Florida. She started out as a bit of a speed horse, and she has come up to the grand prix level very nicely. Her biggest asset is that she is a really quick turner, so the jump-off was perfect for her because it was a turning jump-off in a lot of areas. She rolled back really fast to one jump, and then rolled back really fast to another, so we were in the clear.”

Continue reading Vichy & Alejandro Karolyi Victorious in $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Prix →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Performance and Conformation Hunters Have Red-Hot Day at Horse Shows by the Bay

Leave a comment
Kelley Farmer and Clearly. Photo Credit: Katie Anich/PMG

Traverse City, MI – July 21, 2011 – With the weather hot and steamy today at Horse Shows by the Bay Series III, riders were literally rolling up their sleeves and getting down to business. Hunt coats were waived as the day progressed, adding visible intensity to the competition in the hunter rings. By day’s end, Peter Pletcher had earned the impressive Grand Performance Hunter title, blazing past the host of skilled equestrians entered in this week’s classes. Kelley Farmer continued to impress as well, sweeping the Conformation Hunter division with a scorching set of wins. Both the Performance Hunter and Conformation Hunter classes took place in the R. L. Polk Family main hunter ring at Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City, MI.

With nine entries, the 3’6″ Performance Hunter division was bound to be both competitive and fun. Peter Pletcher and Sleepy P Ranch’s Primero earned the top honors with 31 points throughout the division. Primero and Pletcher have had a very successful time so far at Horse Shows by the Bay in the High Performance division. There was a tie for reserve champion this week in the 3’6″ Performance Hunters between Kara Roposa on Carentino, owned by Alexander Cooper, and Caroline Weeden on Condanas, owned by Lacey Gilbertson. Both horse and rider pairs earned a total of 16 points and with neither riding in the under saddle portion, they both had the same number of points over fences and were able to share the title.

Elizabeth Scoville and Bianca Buschor’s The New Yorker also had impressive rounds in 3’3″ Performance Hunters, taking home second place in both over fences classes today. When talking about her rides today, she said, “I think practice makes perfect, but perfect practices makes perfect. The New Yorker is a young, very inexperienced horse that actually has a little bit of mileage in the jumpers. We’ve been doing these types of hunter courses to give him the mileage that he needs, and what’s been really exciting here has been to see him understand his new job. Like now, for instance, to see him standing so calmly here at the ring, waiting for the jog and practically falling asleep, is so great because previously, he would start to get anxious when it was jump-off time. He’s been very excited here so far, we’ve been doing the greens and the performance hunters, and we just keep going back in until we get it right, and we got it right this afternoon.”

Continue reading Performance and Conformation Hunters Have Red-Hot Day at Horse Shows by the Bay →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Cesar Parra Is Three for Three in Europe with Hemer-Edelburg Win

Leave a comment
International dressage rider and trainer Cesar Parra rode Grandioso into the winner’s circle at the Hemer-Edelburg show. (Photo courtesy of Dirk Flowtow)

Balve, Germany (July 22, 2011) – Dressage rider and trainer Cesar Parra, who competes Michael and Sarah Davis’ ten-year-old Westphalian gelding Grandioso, rode the world-class horse into the winner’s circle at the Hemer-Edelburg show in Germany. The win at Hemer-Edelburg was the third win in a row for the duo, proving that the pair is a formidable combination on the international level.

“I am so happy with Grandioso’s success here in Europe. I have always said, and known, that Grandioso is a very special horse,” Parra said. “Having shown in Germany for many years, I know how difficult it is to win a class here. Our time here has been fantastic from a training perspective of course, but it has also given us more confidence in the ring.”

Parra, who is in Europe through July staying at Arnd Erben’s stable in Iserlohn, Germany, said their win was made even more special because the Davis family was in Germany visiting. “That made it even more fun,” Parra said.

Parra is prepping Grandioso for the Festival of Champions and the CDI in Saugerties when they return to the United States, with their sights set on the Pan Am Games. “Grandi’s strongest suit is his desire to work and the sheer quality of all three gaits. He is such a complete horse; there is no hole in him. He is actually suited very well for the Grand Prix test. He and I both enjoy a challenge, so the transition to the big tour will be a good one for him,” Parra said.

While Parra and Grandioso’s European tour is winding down, Parra said it is an experience he won’t forget. “It’s exciting when you get to show successfully in Germany,” Parra said. It is a dream for many people and I know I am tremendously blessed to be here and I thank God for that. It wouldn’t happen without the hard work and support of many people, to whom I am so very grateful.”

For more information on Parra or Piaffe-Performance visit their website at www.piaffe-performance.com.

For more information contact:
Dr. Cesar Parra
drcesarparra@msn.com
www.piaffe-performance.com
410-977-8352

Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

USEF Names Riders for CSIO Rotterdam

Leave a comment

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will be represented by five show jumpers at the CSIO Rotterdam, which runs August 24-28, 2011 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Please click on any athlete or team name for more information about them.

The following horse/rider combinations have been named in ranked order to represent the U.S.

Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo (13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Coral Reef Ranch)

Laura Kraut and Cedric (13-year-old Dutch-bred gelding owned by Happy Hill Farm)

Lauren Hough and Quick Study (12-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Laura and Meredith Mateo)

Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One (11-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Windsor Show Stables)

Mario Deslauriers and Urico (10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Jane Clark)

Please visit www.usefnetwork.com for more information or visit www.chio.nl.

Competitions, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, JRPR

Top American Four-In-Hand Driver Chester Weber Puts In Brilliant Performance at 2011 CHIO Aachen and Ties for First in FEI World Cup Standings

Leave a comment
Chester Weber, with the new additions of Uniek and Splash owned by Jane Clark, put in a brilliant performance at the 2011 World Equestrian Festival CHIO at Aachen. (Photo courtesy of Franz Steindl)

Aachen, Germany (June 20, 2011) – American Four-In-Hand Combined Driver Chester Weber put in a brilliant performance at the 2011 World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen, earning the highest results of his career at Aachen with a win in Dressage and finishing in the third place in the individual standings. Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, is now tied for first place in the standings for the FEI World Cup qualifications after 9 of 14 competitions.

Following his victory at the prestigious CHIO Aachen, Weber, the 2008 World Champion silver medalist, wrote on his Facebook page to thank and update his many fans in the United States. “Thanks to everyone for the support. We had our best results at Aachen ever. One first, two seconds, one fifth and one seventh place finish. In the combination we ended third!”

Weber, who competed as an individual for the United States, made headlines across the globe during his second dressage test, when he piloted Para, Senate and Jane Clark’s Splash and Uniek to a first place victory with a total score of 34.69. Exell earned a 37.12 in the second dressage test to place second. While Weber had two canter mistakes in the dressage test, he kept his cool and persevered to win. “When I made the mistakes I said to myself ‘bring them back and just go again’ and it went well from there,” he said.

During his winning dressage test, Weber scored an impressive 193, 203, 194, 196 and 193 from the judges. His dressage score helped him win the Prize of Martello Immobilienmanagement GmbH & Co. KG. “This was the first time I scored under 40 penalty points with my two new leader horses and I am very pleased with that,” Weber said. Ed Young, the United States Driving Chef d’Equipe, said Weber drove a wonderful test and described it as “beautiful.”

Continue reading Top American Four-In-Hand Driver Chester Weber Puts In Brilliant Performance at 2011 CHIO Aachen and Ties for First in FEI World Cup Standings →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI

FEI Balkan Dressage Championships 2011, Istanbul (TUR)

Leave a comment

DOUBLE-GOLD FOR GREECE AND TURKEY, BUT ROMANIA’S ALEXANDRESCU SECURES SENIOR TITLE by Louise Parkes

Alexandra Alexopoulou from Greece claimed Young Rider Individual Gold at the FEI Balkan Dressage Championships 2011 in Istanbul (TUR) riding Marco Polo.

Lausanne (SUI), 20 JULY 2011 – Turkish riders claimed team and individual gold in the Children’s division while Greece dominated both the Junior and Young Rider Individual finals at the recent FEI Balkan Dressage Championships, Romania took the Senior title when Selina Alexandrescu and Merkur Siker Casino reigned supreme.

This year the fixture returned to Istanbul in Turkey where the very first Balkan Championships took place in 1968.  The 2011 venue was the Istanbul Equestrian Club at Maslak, and riders from four countries – Greece, Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria – participated at the event.

TWO-WAY CONTEST
Only one team championship took place, and it was the Turkish foursome of Lina Uzunhasan (Sjonnie), Ekin Karahan (Adamo), Ella Irene Gurso (Zinnia) and Karla Yona Nahmias (Ubaldi) who clinched the gold in a two-way contest with their neighbours from Greece.  It was a close-fought affair however, with just over three marks separating the two sides at the end of the competition in which the test produced by Turkey’s Nahmias and Ubaldi proved pivotal. The scores from judges Alla Soubbotina, Irmeli Summanen, Bo Jena, Maja Stukelj and Victoire Mandl gave Nahmias a mark of 71.483 which tipped the odds in favour of the Turkish side.

Nahmias had to settle for runner-up spot in the Preliminary Competition in which team-mate Lina Uzunhasan and Sjonnie came out on top.  But in the Individual Final the situation was reversed, with Uzunhasan taking silver with a score of 67.321 while Nahmias, now really into her stride, registered 72.036 to top the medal podium.  Bronze went to Kyveli Tzortzaki (Ombox Yamma Yamma Man), who, together with Vasiliki Valtairou (Chiron), Konstantina Katsiti (Gelo Notturon) and Isabella-Nina Ravini (Guinness) was a member of the silver-medal-winning Greek team.

Continue reading FEI Balkan Dressage Championships 2011, Istanbul (TUR) →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, Hunter/Equitation

Page Tredennick’s Splash Wins $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Leave a comment

Page Tredennick's Splash took home the blue ribbon in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby sponsored by Nutrena. Photo credit: Flying Horse Photography

Jackson Brittan Finishes 1st and 2nd in the $5,000 Pony Hunter Derby

Parker, CO — Because the popularity of the hunter derby continues to grow, an entire day was devoted to this event during the final week of the Colorado Summer Circuit. From the ponies to the high performance horses, there was a big money derby in each division. The day was punctuated with the popular Pink Coat Luncheon sponsored by Littleton Equine Medical Center and produced by Foxfire Farm, as well as an end of day exhibitor’s party.

$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby Sponsored by Nutrena
Thirty-three horses competed in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby sponsored by Nutrena during The Colorado Horse Park’s Derby Day. Riders found a flowing course that utilized the hilly terrain of the large derby field at the park.

Emily Hertz rode Page Tredennick’s Splash to the win in the two-round class. The nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood/Thoroughbred gelding had only competed in one non-rated Derby prior to today’s class. “He really rose to the occasion,” Tredennick said. “He’s a ham — a sweet, sweet horse.”

While Splash may have wondered what he was doing in the large arena with long, flowing distances to the heavily decorated fences, he quickly got down to the business of showcasing his quality jump and beautiful canter. Hertz explained, “I thought he was perfect in the handy round; I couldn’t have asked him to be any better.”

Continue reading Page Tredennick’s Splash Wins $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby →

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

Silvio Mazzoni and Remonta Habano Capture the $40,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, Presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Culpeper Week III

Leave a comment
© ESI Photography. Silvio Mazzoni rides to victory aboard his own Remonta Habano in Sunday's $40,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper.

CULPEPER, VA (July 19, 2011) – Silvio Mazzoni of Leesburg, Virginia and his own Remonta Habano captured their second Grand Prix victory at HITS this year by winning Sunday’s $40,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Culpeper. The duo also won the blue in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at the Ocala Winter Classic this winter.

Prior to the start of Sunday’s main event, the Topaz Vaulters, an equine gymnastics spectacle, gave a special performance to kick off an afternoon of show jumping. Course designer Jose “Pepe” Gamarra of Ellenton, Florida made the $40,000 class his debut at HITS Commonwealth Park. His first round saw seven horse-and-rider combinations go clear and then return for the jump-off.

“The course was great,” said Mazzoni, who gained momentum for Sunday’s victory after a fourth-place finish in Friday’s $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix with Remonta Habano. “It was a very technical track, which asked a lot of the right questions.”

First to return in the jump-off was Alexa Lowe of Upperville, Virginia aboard Windsor Farm Sales’ Amicello. The team wasted no time in setting the Great American Time to Beat at 45.306 seconds with a clear effort.

Mazzoni followed and easily took the lead with a blistering time of 39.741 seconds.

Continue reading Silvio Mazzoni and Remonta Habano Capture the $40,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, Presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Culpeper Week III →

Championships, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

FEI Central Asian Open Jumping Championships 2011, Astana (KAZ)

Leave a comment

KAZAKHSTAN’S SOLOVYOV TAKES INDIVIDUAL GOLD, RUSSIA SCOOPS TEAM TITLE by Louise Parkes

Peter Solovyov (Liebestraum Z) is awarded with his individual gold medal at the FEI Central Asian Open Jumping Championships 2011. Photo: FEI/Alexander Buikevich.

Lausanne (SUI), 18 JULY 2011 – Peter Solovyov took individual gold for the host nation at the recent FEI Central Asian Open Jumping Championship staged in Astana, Kazakhstan where Russia won the team title.  This was the third major fixture to take place in Kazakhstan this year, following the Endurance and Dressage Championships which were held in May and June.  It is a measure of the development of, and enthusiasm for, the equestrian disciplines in the region that the 2011 calendar has been such a busy one.  And Solovyov’s victory is a major boost to the small National Federation which boasts a panel of just five riders in its senior Jumping squad this season.

Solovyov’s march to individual glory was a gradual one, with his opening effort with It’s Me du Mesnil leaving him 23rd in a field of 26 starters.  It was Russia’s Karin Ruslan and Migdolas who came out on top here, ahead of Kazakhstan’s Talyat Islamov and Atom in second while another Russian, Sergey Shepelin, steered Amigo into third place.

Astana, which officially became the capital city of the newly-independent Kazakhstan in 1997, was only granted its name the following year.  In Kazakh, the word Astana means “capital”, but it also has Persian origins referring to a “threshold”, and, located where it is, on the cross-roads between East and West, that threshold has been crossed by many of its neighbours this summer as they have pursued their equestrian hopes and dreams. Competitors from five nations – Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Urkraine – lined out in these championships.

Continue reading FEI Central Asian Open Jumping Championships 2011, Astana (KAZ) →