Category Archives: Competitions

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

$10,000 Chester County Food Bank Mini Prix Victory Goes to Samantha Schaefer and Trezebees at Brandywine Valley Summer Series

Leave a comment
Samantha Schaefer and Trezebees won the $10,000 Chester County Food Bank Mini Prix at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Devon, PA – July 1, 2011 – It was a beautiful night at the historic Devon Show Grounds as riders gathered at the Dixon Oval for the $10,000 Chester County Food Bank Mini Prix. A competitive group of horse and rider combinations tackled the challenging course for the highlight event at the first annual Brandywine Valley Summer Series, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. The top prize went to Samantha Schaefer and Trezebees after they completed a double clear effort in 25.279 seconds over Tracey Weinberg and Larone, who scored the second place honors.

Jose Gamarra set a challenging first round track for the competitors, which featured a triple bar, a liverpool, a vertical-oxer double combination, and a oxer-vertical-vertical triple combination. Seven of the horse and rider combinations were able to master the first round without fault and advance to the short course. They began over an oxer-vertical bending line before making a sharp turn to the double combination. They then turned to a single vertical before galloping towards the finish line over the final oxer.

Samantha Schaefer was fifth in the return order aboard Trezebees, owned by Addison Phillips of New York, NY, and the duo was ready to win it. They picked up a quick gallop to the first fence and never held back. Schaefer was able to nimbly guide Trezebees through each of the difficult turns and they jumped straight to the top of the leaderboard with a blazing double clear effort in 25.279 seconds.

“Tracey [Weinberg] had set a very quick time so I knew I had to go for it,” explained Schaefer. “Trezebees has a lot of scope so I knew I had to be very quick across the ground. She turned really nicely after the second jump and after the combination.”

Continue reading $10,000 Chester County Food Bank Mini Prix Victory Goes to Samantha Schaefer and Trezebees at Brandywine Valley Summer Series →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group

Kaitlyn Skog and Wilco Earn Grand Champion Performance Hunter Prize at Brandywine Valley Summer Series

Leave a comment
Kaitlyn Skog and Wilco Earn Grand Championship Honors at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: Robyn Keyster/PMG.

Devon, PA – July 1, 2011 – The performance hunters excelled this afternoon at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. In the Dixon Oval of the famous Devon Show Grounds in Devon, PA, the highlight divisions included the Performance 3’3″ Hunters and a Performance 3’6″ – 3’9″ Hunters. Both included a handy round over fences, giving riders and their horses ample opportunity to show off their skills.

Kaitlyn Skog and Wilco, owned by Caren Seidle of Wayne, PA, were today’s big winners in the Performance 3’6″ – 3’9″ Hunters. The duo took home a first place ribbon, a second place ribbon, and a third place ribbon to finish the day as both the division champion and win the Grand Champion Performance Hunter title.

“The toughest part about being out there this afternoon was that my horse was a little quiet today,” said Skog. “I guess he was a little tired from yesterday, so I had to put on my extra big spurs. I’ve had Wilco since the beginning of May, and he’s so much fun; I’ve learned so much from him already. I just leased him for the summer, so he’s been awesome so far. We’ve been having a good time here at Brandywine and it’s been great to have something so close.”

Skog continued, “I want to move up and do the High Performance Hunters soon. Wilco can do it, it’s just me that needs to learn a bit. We just moved up to the 3’6″ height, and it’s important to get him out in front of me, he still sometimes goes behind my legs.” In addition to her equestrian pursuits, Skog is a sophomore at Oklahoma State University and studies biosystems engineering.

Continue reading Kaitlyn Skog and Wilco Earn Grand Champion Performance Hunter Prize at Brandywine Valley Summer Series →

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

Jumpers Continue to Impress on Second Day of Brandywine Valley Summer Series

Leave a comment
Amanda Hood and Boy-O-Boy won the $1500 NAL/WIHS Children's/Adult Jumper at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: Robyn Keyster/PMG.

Devon, PA – June 30, 2011 – With seemingly boundless energy, the jumpers put on an exciting display of athleticism today at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. Amanda Hood repeated yesterday’s success in the jumper arena, taking the blue ribbon in the $1500 North American League (NAL)/Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Children’s/Adult Jumper class aboard her longtime ride Boy-O-Boy. Janice Syphers won the 1.40m Open Jumper class, riding Cover Girl to a double-clear finish after a quick jump-off. Syphers came back in the 1.20m Open Jumper class on GK Calluci to clinch the win a second time later today.

Riders, their horses, and everyone in attendance enjoyed the warm weather at the famed Devon Show Grounds this afternoon. All of the jumper courses were designed by Jose M. Gamarra, and the tight turns and bright colors made for an action-packed second day at Brandywine. All three jumper classes took place in the Dixon Oval, whose central location made it the perfect place to catch today’s fast-paced jumper action.

In the exciting $1500 NAL/WIHS Children’s/Adult Jumper class, Hood proved that second is the best, riding second in the jump-off to ultimately finish first with a time of 28.971 seconds. Jennifer Imhoff took second place on Sand Dollar with an impressive time of 29.109 seconds. Picking up a third place ribbon was A. J. Deleyer with Figaro, who traversed the course in only 30.212 seconds. Deleyer also rode Skylark in the jump-off, and rode away with only four faults in that effort. A total of ten riders and their horses qualified for the jump-off, with half of them making clear efforts. Hannah Baumann and CR Erin Go Bragh finished in 32.717 seconds, and close behind was Isabelle Caccamise who, aboard Qrocus Landais, completed the jump-off in 33.902 seconds.

Continue reading Jumpers Continue to Impress on Second Day of Brandywine Valley Summer Series →

Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Falsterbo Next Port of Call for FEI Nations Cup 2011 Series

Leave a comment

Lausanne SUI, 1 July 2011 – The eight-leg FEI Nations Cup 2011 series reaches the halfway stage when it resumes, after a four-week break, at Falsterbo, Sweden next Friday (8 July), and with The Netherlands holding a solid lead at the top of the league table.  Once again this will be a nine-nation contest as the host country is entitled to compete despite being relegated to the Promotional League last season.  They cannot earn Top League points, but the Swedes could well pull off a big result because they won here on their home turf last summer and they have been fighting hard, and very successfully, in this year’s Promotional League series.  They may well be on their way back to the elite level of the sport.

Swedish Chef d’Equipe, Sylve Soderstrand, named his side earlier this week and it includes the young lady who set the Gothenburg leg of last season’s Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series alight with a superb winning performance.  Riding the Cruising mare Midtown du Tillard, 24 year old Angelica Augustsson became an overnight sensation when producing a devastating turn of speed in the 12-horse jump-off which left Australian star Edwina Alexander and German ace Ludger Beerbaum in her immediate wake.  Beerbaum was moved to comment afterwards, “This is the cream – it doesn’t come better than this, and we will remember today for a very long time.”  And Augustsson will be in the distinguished company of Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Peder Fredricson.  It seems the Swedes really do intend to make an impression next Friday afternoon.

SUPER-CONFIDENT
The Dutch will be feeling super-confident after their back-to-back double of victories in Rome (ITA) and St Gallen (SUI) which have ensured their 4.5 advantage at the head of the leaderboard.  Team manager Rob Ehrens said from the outset that he wanted to do most of the hard work early this season to ease the pressure closer to the FEI European Championships in Madrid in September – and it has worked like a dream.  He is, however, still taking a strong squad that includes Piet Raymakers Jr, Leon Thijssen, Maikel van der Vleuten, Vincent Voorn and Albert Zoer.

Continue reading Falsterbo Next Port of Call for FEI Nations Cup 2011 Series →

Community/Charity, Competitions, EQUUS Foundation, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Double H Farm’s HH Narcos Du Marais & Christina Kelly Win the $32,500 Fairfield Grand Prix to Benefit The EQUUS Foundation

Leave a comment
HH Narcos Du Marais owned by Double H Farm and ridden by Christina Kelly piloting the GMC Jump. Photos courtesy of Reflections Photography.

WESTPORT, CT – June 30, 2011 – Christina Kelly aboard HH Narcos Du Marais owned by Double H Farm emerged victorious over a field of 24 competitors at the $32,500 Grand Prix on Saturday, June 25, 2011, the culminating event of the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show held in Westport, Connecticut.

Due to torrential rains earlier in the week, the decision was made on Friday to move Saturday’s Grand Prix from the grass Jumper Field to the Emerson Burr Ring with all weather footing.

George N. Venizelos representing Wells Fargo Advisors was on hand to present the well-earned blue ribbon, along with Laura Totten of Coca Cola and Michel Nischan of Wholesome Wave and The Dressing Room, Show Co-Chairs, Alison Ashman, Catherine Herman, and Jennifer Ross, and Lynn Coakley, President of The EQUUS Foundation.

Thanks to the professional expertise of Show Manager William Glass and the Fairfield County Hunt Club staff led by General Manager Carla Nelson, spectators and over 400 guests at The EQUUS Foundation Grand Prix Benefit Luncheon were afforded ringside views to watch these riders and horses triumph over the difficult course designed by Olympic Course Designer Steve Stephens.

The show’s generous individual and corporate sponsors included: the show’s Official Vehicle Sponsors, Buick & GMC; Magazine Sponsor, Moffly Media; Gold Medal Sponsors Avenue Capital Group, Fairfield Equine Associates, and Newmark Knight Frank; Silver Medal Sponsors, Coca Cola, Corinthian Partners, LLC, D’Addario Industries, Gary Goldberg Financial Services, Hi Ho Petroleum, Hospital for Special Surgery and Imperial Dental Associates; and Bronze Medal Sponsors, Agriventures Agway and Margaret Bondy Interiors. These sponsors presented awards all week long to the winners of the 250 separate equestrian competitions, which culminated with the Grand Prix on Saturday.

Continue reading Double H Farm’s HH Narcos Du Marais & Christina Kelly Win the $32,500 Fairfield Grand Prix to Benefit The EQUUS Foundation →

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

Grand Champion Green Hunter Title Goes to Sandy Ferrell and Showman at Brandywine Valley Summer Series

Leave a comment
Sandy Ferrell and Showman won the Grand Champion Green Hunter prize at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Devon, PA – June 30, 2011 – Once again, the weather was perfect as riders gathered at the Devon Show Grounds for the second day of the first annual Brandywine Valley Summer Series, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. Today, riders competed for top honors in the professional hunter divisions in the Dixon Oval. Sandy Ferrell and her Second Year Green Working Hunter mount Showman were the day’s big winners, claiming the Grand Champion Green Hunter title after earning the Second Year/High Performance Hunter Championship.

This morning in the Second Year/High Performance Hunter, Ferrell was presented with the championship honors for her ride aboard Showman, owned by Krista and Alexa Weisman of Sherborn, MA. The division was sponsored by Meralex Farm, and the duo earned three first place ribbons, a second place ribbon, and a third place ribbon this week. They truly showed the way during their handy class, earning a high score of 90 for their efforts. Ferrell and Showman were then presented with the Grand Champion Green Hunter award after earning the most prize money in the Green Hunter divisions. The division’s reserve championship prize went to Louise Serio and Phillipa, owned by Jennifer Burger of Buffalo, NY.

Ferrell smiled, “I am thrilled! This was our first show back after Florida, and it is nice to know that after a break Showman can come back and still be the same super star he was earlier this year. He’s a horseman’s horse, he’s a winner, and he has a huge fan club.”

Continue reading Grand Champion Green Hunter Title Goes to Sandy Ferrell and Showman at Brandywine Valley Summer Series →

Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Maclay, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Ireland’s Louise Parkes Joins Phelps Media Group Team for Alltech National Horse Show

Leave a comment
Louise Parkes, pictured aboard her pony after winning the Connemara class and the Reserve Supreme title at her Riding Clubs Championships in Ireland. Louise is pictured with her husband, noted equestrian photographer, Tony Parkes.

Wellington, Florida – June 30, 2011 – Phelps Media Group announced this afternoon that they have reached an agreement with distinguished equestrian writer Louise Parkes to join the PMG team for coverage of this year’s Alltech National Horse Show, 128th edition, to be held from November 2-6, 2011, at the beautiful new Alltech Indoor Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

“We’re bringing the entire Phelps Media Group team to Lexington for the Alltech National Horse Show,” said Phelps Media Group President Mason Phelps. “Louise Parkes has worked with PMG in the past and we felt this year’s event would be the perfect time for a reunion. To be honest, the show wouldn’t be complete without her. Her exceptional and wonderfully written reports from the equestrian world add a special international flair to our already first class coverage.”

Parkes reports on major equestrian competitions around the world, including the FEI Nations Cup series, the World Equestrian Games and the Olympic Games, for the FEI, the governing body of equestrian sports.

Married to photographer Tony Parkes, Louise inherited her passion for horses from her father who spent many of his happiest years in the hunting field. In between her busy cycle of assignments she competes at amateur level with the second-greatest love of her life – her Connemara ponies.

Having abandoned the camera for a pen back in 1994, her intuitive writing skills were quickly recognized by the FEI and she has been working on a contract basis for the governing body for equestrian sport ever since. She is also Equestrian Correspondent for the biggest-selling daily newspaper in Ireland, ‘The Irish Independent’, and her distinctive writing style has made her a much-sought-after contributor to top-selling equestrian publications. She has also worked in radio and TV and for media organizations and press rooms around the world. Last year, a book she co-wrote with author and commentator Michael Slavin, which details the history of the Irish Army Equitation School, was a big seller in the Christmas market.

Continue reading Ireland’s Louise Parkes Joins Phelps Media Group Team for Alltech National Horse Show →

Competitions, Dressage, Driving, Events, Show Jumping, USEF, Vaulting

This Week in International Disciplines – June 30, 2011

Leave a comment
Mt. Eden Team. Primo Ponies Photography.

Vaulting
Several U.S. vaulters participated in the CVI competition in Saratoga, CA. Patrick Stevens took home the win in the Male Senior CVI2*with a score of 7.195, while Joseph Gadd came in second with a 6.247. In the competitive Female Senior CVI2*, Mary McCormick took home the win with an impressive score of 8.219. Katharine Wick came in a close second with an 8.147, while Marisa Hamar finished third with a 7.671. The Mt. Eden Sun Team finished in first in the Senior Team CVI2* with a score of 7.799. The Woodside A Team came in second with a 7.420 and the Pacific Coast Vaulters finished third with a 6.931. In the Senior Pas de Deux, Rosalind Ross and Devon Maitozo had strong performances to win with an 8.121. Kimberly and Cassidy Palmer finished second with a score of 7.086, while Alexandra Thrasher and Joseph Gadd came in third with 6.849. In the Male Senior CVI1*, Nicholas Cox took the top prize with a score of 5.363. Tessa Divita took the top prize in the Female Senior CVI1* with a 7.067. Grace Robinson came in second with a 6.753, while Karly Frankel-Newman finished third with a 6.732. In the Senior Team CVI1*, the Mt. Eden 7 Sisters won the division with a score of 5.995, while Tambourine came in second with a 5.260.

Please visit http://www.cvisaratoga.com for more information.

Dressage
At the CDI-W Milton in Canada, David Marcus competed two horses throughout the weekend. In the Prix St Georges class, Marcus and Don Kontes finished in fourth with a score of 66.711%, while he tied for fifth with Chevri’s Capital with a 65.570%. Marcus once again had strong finishes in the Intermediaire I class, finishing third with Chevri’s Capital with a score of 69.737% and fifth with Don Kontes with a score of 67.895%. Susan Dutta had consistent performances in the Grand Prix class, finishing third with Currency DC scoring a 65.182% and fourth with Manette DC scoring a 65.061%. In the Grand Prix Special, Dutta and Golden Choice DC finished third with a score of 62.515%.

Continue reading This Week in International Disciplines – June 30, 2011 →

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

Brandywine Valley Summer Series Kicks Off at Devon Show Grounds

Leave a comment
Elizabeth Lubrano and Torando were victorious in the Ariat Adult Medal at the Brandywine Valley Summer Series. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Devon, PA – June 29, 2011 – The first annual Brandywine Valley Summer Series presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services kicked off its first day of competition this Wednesday in the Dixon Oval at the prestigious Devon Show Grounds. The top horse and rider combinations gathered to compete at the historic venue and support this exciting new event. The sun shone brightly as riders competed during the first day of the professional hunter divisions and the Adult Amateur divisions, as well as during the Ariat Adult Medal and the $500 NAL/WIHS Adult Hunter Classic.

The adult riders began the day by showcasing their equitation skills during the Ariat Adult Medal. Elizabeth Lubrano received the top call following the test for her ride aboard Tornado, owned by Horizon Hill Farm of Glenmoore, PA.

Today’s course was designed by Michael Rheinheimer and included a bending line, an in-and-out, and multiple inside turns. Miranda Scarpone of Kinnelon, NJ, took an early lead with a score of 82. Lubrano followed in second with a 78, while Devin Cox of Kennett Square, PA, was third with a 76, and Catherine Marcks of Lancaster, PA, was in fourth with a 75.

For the test, riders had to walk from the line-up and then canter a single vertical. They then made a left turn to a second single vertical and finally made their way to the last fence before halting and sitting the trot back to the line. Cox made a slight error at the second fence and moved to fourth, while Marcks’ smooth trip moved her into the third position. Scarpone also had a good test, but Lubrano quickly made her way to the top of the leaderboard after opting for an inside turn to the second fence. Lubrano eventually took home the winning prize, a gift certificate to Ariat International, while Scarpone placed second.

Continue reading Brandywine Valley Summer Series Kicks Off at Devon Show Grounds →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Plymouth Rock Hunter Jumper Classic Wrap-Up: June 21-25, 2011

Leave a comment

Halifax, MA – June 28, 2011 – The Plymouth Rock Hunter Jumper Classic was held on June 21-25, 2011, at Fieldstone Equestrian in Halifax, Massachusetts.

Wednesday’s highlights were the well-attended derby classes held on the scenic grass grand prix field. There were 50 entries in the $2,500 2’9″ Hunter Derby, and it was Jennifer Tate of Bourne, MA, riding Cavallino owned by Barbara Kravetz of Sharon, MA, who took home the top prize. Ericka Koscinski and Touchdown came in first place in the $2,500 Pony Hunter Derby Classic.

Professional rider Jennifer Tate has ridden Cavallino, who is called “Eagle” in the barn, many times, but their win on the grass field was special. Kravetz trains with Tate and has owned Eagle, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding, since he was four years old. Kravetz expressed, “This was his first derby class. He’s mostly been doing modified Adults with me over the past few years. We knew he was capable of doing it and we thought he would enjoy it. It was exhilarating and I was moved to tears. It was very exciting.”

The winner in the $2,500 Pony Hunter Derby Classic was Ericka Koscinski of Center Moriches, NY, who rode Touchdown for Salt River Farm to victory. Touchdown is a 16-year-old homebred pony from her family and she has ridden him in the pony hunters for four years. This was the first time she has competed in a derby and while she enjoyed, she also thought her pony liked it too.

Continue reading Plymouth Rock Hunter Jumper Classic Wrap-Up: June 21-25, 2011 →