Category Archives: Competitions

Breeds, Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, USEF

Dr. John Stutts Prevails at 2011 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final

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Dr. John Stutts on CF Cool Night Out. Courtesy of Howard Schatzberg Photography.

Lexington, KY – As a 6-year-old, Dr. John Stutts peeked through the fence at a Louisville, KY, riding club to watch the horses warm up. That little boy fell in love with American Saddlebreds, and today, as a grown man, he turned a childhood Saddlebred dream into reality.

Stutts and a dozen other qualified riders displayed their competitive ability within the adult amateur equitation division, trotting and cantering Friday on the historic Red Mile Race Track in Lexington, KY. The 2011 USEF Saddle Seat Adult Amateur Medal Final was particularly exceptional because it was the 75th anniversary of the Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show.

Stutts, a pediatric gastroenterologist from Louisville, KY, rode CF Cool Night Out to the title of Champion.  Reserve champion honors went to Joel Dorignac of New Orleans, LA. The bronze medal winner, Casey Morgan Tibolet of Charleston, WV, rounded out the top three.

“I am very excited,” Stutts said of his first-place win. “It sounds corny, but people talk about dreams coming true. A dream came true for me today.”

That early childhood aspiration began at Rock Creek Riding Club, where Stutts had a real seat to a show at age 7. The following year, he pleaded for riding lessons. They never came, but he did get a riding magazine, and continue to watch in amazement the Saddlebred show world.

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

Laura Baginski Has Blue Ribbon Day at Horse Shows by the Bay Series II

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Carson Gibson on Caden. Photo Credit: Katie Anich/PMG

Traverse City, MI – July 15, 2011 – Clouds and a light breeze kept the temperatures cool as the Amateur Owners and Juniors took over in the R. L. Polk Family Main Hunter ring at Horse Shows by the Bay Series II. As the week continues, all points earned by riders will count toward World Champion Hunter Rider points. The points earned will give the top ten riders, those with the most points nationally at the end of the year, as well as the top six riders from each region, the chance to compete in the finals held at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. There is also the chance to win some spectacular year-end awards for professionals, emerging professionals, amateur owners, amateur adults, juniors, children and pony riders. Points can only be earned at Member Events and Horse Shows by the Bay Series II has been granted the honor of being one the only seven Member Events held in the region. The cooler weather made the Junior Hunters a bit more challenging today, with frisky horses eager to take on the challenge.

Following the 3’3″ Amateur-Owner Hunters was the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Equitation Classic Hunter Phase, with many impressive rides over a classic hunter course. It looked to be a tough call when it came to judging the class, as there were so many riders with talent to spare. Top honors went to Hallie Miller aboard Discovery with a very smooth and composed round; it was clear that she has a great connection with this horse. Second place went to Virginia Ingram, who seems to have been picking up equitation ribbons left and right the past two weeks. Laura Baginski, on Devout has also been riding to the top of the equitation classes, as well as in the Junior Hunters, taking home third place in the Washington International Horse Show Equitation Classic.

Kicking off the Junior Hunters were the older Large Junior Hunters, which had a total of 15 competitors today. Each horse and rider completed two hunter rounds and an under saddle class this afternoon, their first day of classes. The brisk breezes seemed to be part of the challenge in the hunter ring today, but these young riders proved they could handle it and continued to create some beautiful trips. The first place prize in the first hunter class went to Madison Hayes and Santiago, who also took home second place in the second course. Carson Gibson guided Caden to second place in the first class and swapped positions with Hayes in the second class, eventually taking home the blue ribbon. Devout and Laura Baginski earned third place in the first class, while Lacey Gilbertson and Condanas received the yellow ribbon in the second class.

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

Derbydown and Louise Serio Dominate Brandywine Valley Summer Series

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Louise Serio and Rock On won the Green Hunter Circuit Championship at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Devon, PA – July 15, 2011 – Louise Serio and the riders at Derbydown had great success over the past two weeks during the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Showcasing their mounts in the prestigious Dixon Oval at the Devon Show Grounds, riders consistently earned top placings and tricolor awards for their efforts.  Derbydown owner and founder Louise Serio led the way, claiming the Green Hunter Circuit Championship with Rock On after earning each week’s Overall Grand Champion Professional Hunter and Leading Hunter Rider Awards.

Rock On, owned by Jennifer Burger, and Louise Serio won the First Year Green Working Hunter Championship during both weeks of competition. During the second week, the impressive duo won four of the division’s classes. “Rock On was great; he’s so consistent,” said Serio. “He’s such a mellow horse, and I think these two weeks he’s been very consistent and he’s ridden very well. He’s a little lazy, but sometimes he can take over a little bit. I am very pleased with how he went this week.”

Serio also had great success with Burger’s second mount, Phillipa. The duo earned the reserve championship in the Second Year/High Performance Hunter division during the first week and received excellent ribbons in the First Year/High Performance Hunter division during the second week. For their efforts in the ring they were presented with the High Performance Hunter Circuit Championship. In the First Year Green Working Hunter division, Serio also received the reserve championship prize aboard Lisa Scott’s Head Over Heels during the first week.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, Hunter/Equitation

John French Leads an Impressive Group of Hunters at the Colorado Summer Circuit

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John French and Crown Affair won the $1,000 Open Hunter Classic Sponsored by Horse Connection. Photo credit: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — While the Grand Prix horses are always a big draw at any hunter/jumper show, the hunters are getting a lot of attention during the Colorado Summer Circuit. Show manager Pat Boyle not only has great prize money in every division, but he’s created a wonderful, lush platform for the course designers to develop classes that show off the athletic ability and beauty of some of the nation’s finest hunters.

Last week John French and Yellow Dog Farm’s Crown Affair won three of four over fences classes in the High Performance Hunter division and also took home the blue ribbon in the $1,000 Open Hunter Classic sponsored by Horse Connection. Crown Affair, a Holsteiner stallion by Cor de la Bryere out of a Capitol I mare, is always a favorite in the Derby classes. “We’re preparing for the Derby Finals in Kentucky,” French explained. “He’s on his farewell tour and will retire at the Hampton Classic.” Although his show schedule is winding down, the handsome bay stallion will continue his already successful breeding career. With Crown Affair’s incredible performances, French said, “It’s hard when he goes so well. Does he really want to retire? I was so proud of how he went this week.”

French also praised the courses. He said, “The jumps were amazing with so much greenery and brush, plus a few natural jumps. It makes the horses jump their best. I was really happy that we came.”

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Competitions, Dressage, Driving, Events, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping, USEF

Chester Weber and Four-In-Hand Team Capture First Place in Driving Phase at Aachen CHIO

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Aachen, Germany – Team USA notched another win today at the World Equestrian Festival CHIO in Aachen, Germany. Chester Weber and his four-in-hand team won the second dressage test in driving.

Weber handled the reins of Jane Clark’s team – Para, Senate, Splash, and Uniek – in the dressage test, which was a rating competition for team classification. Weber competed as an individual for the United States, and he was given scores of 193, 203, 194, 196, and 193 from the judges. He and his team received a total score of 34.69 for victory and the Prize of Martello Immobilienmanagement GmbH & Co. KG.

“It was spectacular,” said Ed Young, U.S. Driving Chef d’Equipe. “He drove a wonderful test. It really was flawless, and it went beautifully.”

Weber will compete tomorrow in the obstacles phase.

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Competitions, Dressage, Events

It’s Full Speed Ahead at Dressage at Devon

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Devon, PA (July 15, 2011) – The year-long planning is coming together for Dressage at Devon (www.dressageatdevon.com) taking place September 27 – October 2, 2011 at the Devon Horse Show grounds (http://www.thedevonhorseshow.org/).

The prize list is now available at http://dressageatdevon.org/cms/2011pdf/2011DADPrizeList.pdf.  The closing date is August 18.  A list of local accommodations is also available on the site.

For riders (and their horses) new footing has been added to the Gold Ring, matching it to the high standards set last year in the Dixon Oval.

And this year, Dressage with the Experts, a favorite among exhibitors and spectators alike will include commentary from Sara Schmitt, Kem Barbosa, Natalie Lamping, Kathy Connelly, and Johanna Gwinn as well as interviews with dressage professionals.  This list promises to grow between now and the show dates.  This is, of course, in addition to the educational forums that have always been a mainstay of the show.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Dutch Make It a Hat-trick in Aachen Thriller

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Chef d'Equipe Rob Ehrens (front) celebrates The Netherlands' victory in the fifth leg of the FEI Nations Cup 2011 tonight with team members (L to R) Gerco Schroder, Jur Vrieling, Jeroen Dubbeldam and Eric van der Vleuten. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Aachen (GER), 14 July 2011 – The Dutch continued their triumphant rampage through the 2011 FEI Nations Cup series when recording their third victory of the season on the hallowed turf of Aachen, Germany tonight.  In a cliff-hanger of a competition, filled with all sorts of drama, the result was not decided until the last man entered the arena.

As it came down to the closing stages, it seemed the host nation might follow the success they enjoyed in Sweden last Friday with another memorable night on their home ground.  But two late fences down for anchorman Ludger Beerbaum and Gotha snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, and Germany was obliged to share runner-up spot with the come-back kings from Ireland and the impressive new-look British side.

The last-to-go French looked like challenging the eventual winners in a two-way showdown, but a double-error from Michel Robert and Kellemoi de Pepita put paid to that.  In cold, wet weather conditions, tonight’s contest was the toughest of tests, but an unforgettable evening of great sport.

The result has reinforced the Dutch hold at the top of the series leaderboard, but for Belgium, the USA and Denmark, things are now getting critical.  With just three legs left to go, the Americans remain in second-last spot with only the struggling Danes behind them and the Belgians 2.5 points ahead.  The Belgians failed to complete today as their recent run of form seriously unravelled.  And the French are only a single point ahead of the Belgians going into the next leg at Hickstead in two weeks’ time.  The battle at the bottom of the leaderboard is intensifying with every round.

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Auctions, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Dressage, Events

The Sport Horse Auction with Dressage at Lexington

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Belladora 2006 KWPN x GOV mare offered this Saturday!

 

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Location:
The Virginia Horse Center
2010 High Selling Horse – $42,500
Rejoyce – 2005 G.O.V. Mare
(Sire: Rosenthal – Dam: Gluckslady)

Auction of top quality sport horses including young stock, riding horses and broodmares. There will be live online bidding and the live webcast of the auction and preview have been viewed by people in the USA as well as 8 other countries.

Previews of Auction Horses are online and you are invited to visit to preview this exciting group being offered. For more information please visit the 2011 Sport Horse Auction at Lexington Picture and Video Preview.

Auction will follow Saturday night’s Freestyle competition and will be held in the full sized Dressage ring in the Reel Arena at the East Complex.

Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to purchase a top quality sport horse!

Horsesdaily Media Services is a division of:
Phelps/Hathaway Enterprises INC
1-800-572-3286
Contact
mary@horsesdaily.com

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

Hunters, Equitation Riders, and Jumpers All Excel on First Day of Horse Shows by the Bay Series II

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Virginia Ingram and Comanche. Photo credit: Robyn Keyster/PMG

Traverse City, MI – July 13, 2011 – A few clouds and a chilly morning opened up to sunny skies on the first day of week two at Horse Shows by the Bay in beautiful Traverse City, MI, yesterday. Series two is proud to have been selected to be a World Championship Hunter Rider event. Horse Shows by the Bay is one of just seven shows chosen for this great honor. The points accumulated in the hunter ring this week will go toward qualifying points for the 2011 World Champion Rider Finals, toward the 2011 Mid-West Regional and the National WCHR awards program. For more information on the WCHR program visit www.ushja.org. In the R. L. Polk Family Main Hunter ring the Green and Regular Conformation horses were the first to ride the course. In hunter ring three, the ASPCA Maclay kicked off the equitation classes with spectacular form and style. The Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal followed the ASPCA Maclay with even more great rides and a win by Virginia Ingram.

Prior to the equitation-filled afternoon, the Polk Family ring saw some great hunter performances. Kelley Farmer excelled in the High Performance Hunters aboard Clearly and Red Sky, while also winning the First Year Green classes on Habana and Straight Talk. Farmer and Straight Talk also did well in the Green Conformation section, winning the first class of the day in the main hunter ring. Sarah Young and Bel Canto was a can-do pair in the Green Conformation over fences class, with Farmer and Straight Talk also winning in the Green Conformation category over fences. Farmer continued her success in the Regular Conformation Hunters, placing in the top four in classes in that division yesterday. In the Second Year Green classes, Lisa Cudahy and Ooh La La scored winning points for their smooth approach, with Cudahy also picking up wins in the same division aboard Last Call.

After the various hunter classes drew to a close, the medal hopefuls took to the two main hunter rings. With a challenging course at hand, the ASPCA Maclay riders took it all in stride and did their best to show their form and precision. With a field of 25 riders, that was no easy feat, but Meehan Shirey was able to float through the course with ease, as well as conquer the flat phase. Maddison Hayes took home the second place ribbon, working in smooth turns and ideal form over fences. Marissa and Cara Monforton earned the third and fourth place spots, respectively, showing that it runs in the family. These talented young riders drew quite a crowd yesterday, filling the bleachers and producing an impressive show.

Continue reading Hunters, Equitation Riders, and Jumpers All Excel on First Day of Horse Shows by the Bay Series II →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping, USEF

Steffen Peters and Weltino’s Magic Win Prix St. Georges on Small Tour at CHIO Aachen

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Aachen, Germany – Team USA continued their success at the CHIO Aachen with strong performances over the past two days. Steffen Peters and Weltino’s Magic, owned by Jen Hlavacek, won the Preis der VUV-Vereinigte Unternehmerverbände Aachen.

The class was the Prix St. Georges of the small tour, and the 9-year-old Westfalen gelding received judges’ scores of 71.053, 73.553, 72.632, 75.000, and 70.658 for a total percentage of 72.579.

USEF Dressage Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons stated, “Under Steffen’s expert guidance, Weltino’s Magic made a grand debut in Europe at the small tour. Hearing our national anthem after the Prix St. Georges, which was the first class of the event, made the U.S. team feel like we are off to a good start!”

Dressage competition continues tomorrow with the Grand Prix CDIO class. The U.S. team will be:

Steffen Peters (San Diego, CA) and Ravel (owned by Four Winds Farm and Akiko Yamazaki);
Jan Ebeling (Moorpark, CA) and Rafalca (owned by Ann Romney and Amy Roberts Ebeling);
Guenter Seidel (Cardiff, CA) and UII (owned by Dick and Jane Brown);
Todd Fettrich (Royal Palm Beach, FL) and Otto (owned by Cherry Knoll Farm).

Continue reading Steffen Peters and Weltino’s Magic Win Prix St. Georges on Small Tour at CHIO Aachen →