Category Archives: Competitions

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Eventing/H.T., Events, Media/Radio/TV Sources

Eventing Radio Episode 135 by Bit of Britain – Badminton Review & Rolex Preview

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Lucinda Green and Jimmy Wofford review Badminton and preview Rolex. We hear from two of this year’s Rolex featured riders, Frankie Thierot and Debbie Rosen. Tune in right here…

Eventing Radio Episode 135 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:

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Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, Kentucky Three-Day, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Show Jumping, USEF, Western/Reining

Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup to Air LIVE on USEFNetwork.com

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Lexington, KY – Join USEFNetwork.com for two days of LIVE, world-class reining, with the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup, April 29-30, 2011. The CRI5* and the Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment World Freestyle Championship will air live from the Alltech Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, featuring reiners from around the world, including U.S. favorites Tim McQuay, Craig Schmersal, Tom McCutcheon and Shawn Flarida, all members of the Gold Medal-winning 2010 Adequan U.S. Reining Team.

The inaugural Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup will take place alongside the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, April 28 – May 1, the only CCI4* eventing competition in the United States.

Broadcast Schedule for the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup:

April 29:          LIVE CRI5*, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EDT
April 30:          LIVE Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment World Freestyle Championship, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. EDT

Broadcast Schedule for the Rolex Equestrian Championships presented by Land Rover:

April 28:          LIVE Dressage on USEFNetwork.com
April 29:          LIVE Dressage on USEFNetwork.com
April 30:          LIVE Cross-Country on USEFNetwork.com
May 1:              LIVE Show Jumping on USEFNetwork.com (off air from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT)
LIVE Show Jumping and highlights on NBC Sports, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT

All broadcast times subject to change.

To find out more about the 2011 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, visit www.rk3de.org. To find out more about the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup, visit www.kentuckyreining.com.

United States Equestrian Federation | 4047 Iron Works Parkway | Lexington | KY | 40511

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping, Vaulting

Shutterfly Joins the Leipzig Line-Up

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News from 2010/2011 FEI World Cup Finals by Louise Parkes

Lausanne (SUI), 26 April 2011 – Three-time Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping champion, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, has decided to compete her great gelding, Shutterfly, at the 2010/2011 final which opens at Leipzig, Germany tomorrow, 27 April.  Originally entered with Checkmate and Kismet, Meredith has substituted the latter for the 18 year old veteran who helped her secure the prestigious title at Las Vegas (USA) in 2005 and 2009 and at Gothenburg (SWE) in 2008. This means that not only is the German rider vying for a record-breaking fourth series victory, but Shutterfly may also go into the record books as the first horse to claim the honours on four occasions.  The only other horse to win three titles was Rodrigo Pessoa’s legendary stallion Baloubet du Rouet who scored a spectacular back-to-back hat-trick for his Brazilian rider between 1998 and 2000.

Some facts and figures about the 2010/2011 FEI World Cup Finals at Leipzig:

For the first time in the history of international equestrian sport, four finals will take place under one roof between 27 April and 1 May – Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping, Reem Acra FEI World Cup dressage, FEI World Cup Driving and FEI World Cup Vaulting.
Leipzig staged its first national event in 1998 and in 2002 held its first international show – the FEI World Cup Jumping final – Germany’s Otto Becker reigned supreme on that occasion with Dobel’s Cento.
Leipzig, the trade and cultural capital of eastern Germany, is closely associated with world-famous literary figure Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who studied law at Leipzig University.
A total of 50 competitions will take place at the Leipziger Messe exhibition centre between 27 April and 1 May.
The total prizemoney for the Finals is €1.6 million.
A total of 31 nations will compete in all four FEI World Cup events.
21 nations will be represented in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final.
There are 11 lady riders amongst the 43 starters in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final.
Course designer for the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final is Frank Rothenberger.
German footing expert, Oliver Hoberg, will ensure excellent ground conditions for horses and riders.
Stable Management has been allocated to Team Australia.
100,000 visitors are expected to attend the event – at the 2010 Leipzig fixture a total of 70,000 spectators turned up over the four-day fixture.
Three halls – each sized 21,000 square metres, will be in use during the final.
Hall 1 – 9,500 seats, arena size 40/80 metres, Hall 2 – 3,000 seats, Hall 3 – stabling for 900 horses, 750 of these are allocated for competition horses.
President of the Organising Committee is Volker Wulff.

FEI Media Contacts:
Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Leipzig Media Contact:
Andreas Kerstan
andreas.kerstan@comtainment.de
+49 4307 827970

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping, USEF, Vaulting

Twenty Americans Head to FEI World Cup Finals in Leipzig, Germany

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Shawna Harding and Come On III. Photo: SusanJStickle.com

Lexington, KY – The United States will have strong representation in Germany for the 2011 FEI World Cup Finals (April 27 – May 1), with 20 of the country’s best riders ready to leave their mark on Leipzig. For the first time the World Cup Finals in dressage, driving, jumping and vaulting will all be held under one roof, with the US sending competitors to vie for top honors in the dressage and jumping. The US will also use the Leipzig Exhibition Hall to showcase up-and-coming jumping riders in the European Youngster Cup Finals and the CSI3*.

With three riders competing in the 2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final, the US is poised to excel on the world stage. The American effort will be led by Catherine Haddad and her own Winyamaro. Based in Germany, the pair punched their ticket to the Finals by finishing fifth in the Western European League, which is widely known as the toughest Reem Acra World Cup Qualifying League.

California’s Jan Ebeling returns to World Cup stage with his partner from the 2009 Finals, Raflaca. The pair won most recently at the Festival of the Horse CDI-W in March. Shawna Harding and Come On III make their FEI World Cup Final debut, they look to capitalize on the consistent form they displayed throughout the winter season. Under the guidance of Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons, these three riders will compete in a field of 18 competitors from 11 countries, including former FEI World Cup Champions Edward Gal, Isabel Werth and Ulla Salzgeber.

Continue reading Twenty Americans Head to FEI World Cup Finals in Leipzig, Germany →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping

Todd Rolls Back the Years to Win a Fourth Badminton

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Mark Todd (NZL) on NZB Land Vision celebrates after winning at Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2011 - first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 © Peter Nixon/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 25 April 2011 – It was a special moment in Eventing history as an ecstatic crowd at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR), first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, rose to their feet to salute the achievement of Mark Todd (NZL) in winning for the fourth time here since 1980.

“Thirty-one years’ experience comes in handy sometimes!” joked the ever-relaxed Todd, whose mount NZB Land Vision had never experienced the rarefied CCI4* atmosphere before.

“It is incredibly special, though, right up there with the back-to-back Olympic golds. When I came back to the sport (in 2008) it was to see if I could get back to top level. It has always been my aim to win another big one.”

Long acknowledged as the one of the best horsemen the world has ever seen, Todd is also the oldest winner of Badminton (after Andrew Hoy) by an astonishing eight years; he has matched Mark Phillips’ record of four Badminton victories (only Lucinda Green has more, six) and has achieved this major victory after just three years back in the sport after an eight-year “retirement”.

Continue reading Todd Rolls Back the Years to Win a Fourth Badminton →

Competitions, Disciplines, Dressage, Events

As Spring Blossoms, Preparations Begin for Dressage at Devon: Sept. 27 – Oct. 2, 2011

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Devon, PA (April 22, 2011) – It’s a spring ritual.  As pink and white blossoms dapple the trees across the Delaware Valley, preparations move into high speed  for the annual International Dressage at Devon (DAD) Horse Show  (www.dressageatdevon.org), a premier North American equestrian event, hosting top Olympic equestrians, more than 700 horses and 35,000 spectators annually.  The show combines world-class dressage competition and the world’s largest open breed show outside of Europe with international Fall Festival shops, crafts, food and fun for the entire family.  Dressage at Devon will take place from September 27 – October 2, 2011 at the Devon Horse Show Grounds, located on US Route 30, in Devon, PA.

The life-blood of this event is its hundreds of volunteers.  “Our volunteers make the show happen,” says Lori Kaminski, President/CEO.  “Each year, they step forward, knowing that the money we raise will go to help Thorncroft Therapeutic Horseback Riding Inc., the oldest and largest therapeutic riding program in the nation.  We are truly grateful for the overwhelming response.”

New This Year

For the horses and their riders who flock to Devon from around the globe, this year, new footing has been added to the Gold Ring, matching it to the high standards set last year in the Dixon Oval.

Continue reading As Spring Blossoms, Preparations Begin for Dressage at Devon: Sept. 27 – Oct. 2, 2011 →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Phelps Media Group, Polo

South Africa Wins First International Weekend at International Polo Club Palm Beach

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South African Polo Team at International Weekend at International Polo Club Palm Beach. Photo Credit: Lila Photo

Wellington – South Africa showed off its toughness and strength by winning four sports, including men’s rugby and polo, to defeat the United States 11-10 and capture the inaugural International Weekend championship Sunday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

The polo match was the deciding factor for the International Weekend, a series of seven sports between teams from South Africa and the U.S. South Africa rallied from a four-goal deficit to beat the U.S. 7-4 in the series finale and clinch the overall title.

South Africa earned two points in polo, men’s rugby, tennis and women’s rugby. The United States won the golf, croquet and women’s field hockey competitions.

Wayne Ferreira of South Africa, a former Top 10 singles player, was caught up in the excitement of the entire weekend, watching rugby, cricket and polo in addition to playing three tennis matches.

“I play an individual sport so to play on a team and a team representing your country, is very special,” said Ferreira. “It’s been a wonderful weekend.”

Continue reading South Africa Wins First International Weekend at International Polo Club Palm Beach →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping

Todd Is Back in Pole Position in Closest Ever Finale at Badminton

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Mark Todd (NZL) on NZB Land Vision leads on Cross-Country Day at Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2011 – first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 © Kit Houghton/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 24 April 2011 – There was a thrilling climax to Cross-Country day at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials – the first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics – when Mark Todd (NZL) returned to a hero’s welcome, having produced a masterful display of riding to bring the inexperienced NZB Land Vision home clear and into the lead.

However, the three-time Badminton winner and double Olympic champion will need all his renowned skill in tomorrow’s Jumping phase for, in a remarkable result, the price of one fence covers the top 12 riders.

“Land Vision is a good horse but he’s relatively young (10) and he did feel green,” said Todd, whose last appearance in a CCI4* press conference was 12 years ago when he finished second on Word Perfect.

“He definitely felt tired after Huntsmans Close and I had to nurse him home, but he felt really genuine. I had to give him a bit of a shake-up in the Quarry but he picked up and that’s the sign of a good horse.”

Continue reading Todd Is Back in Pole Position in Closest Ever Finale at Badminton →

Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Phelps Media Group, Polo

South Africa Takes 8-7 Lead over the United States during International Weekend at IPC

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South America rugby players and staff celebrate their victory at the first annual International Weekend. Photo Credit: Lila Photography

Wellington, FL (April 23, 2011) – Fueled by their rugged rugby “sevens” and scintillating tennis, South Africa took an 8-7 advantage over the United States after the first day of the inaugural International Weekend Saturday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Four men’s rugby teams featuring world-class players rarely seen in South Florida entertained an appreciative crowd of more than 500 spectators. The hard-hitting, fast-paced sport was compared to American football without pads and drew frequent applause from the crowd.

Top-seeded South America, featuring several young Brazilian national 7s players, defeated No. 2 seed South Africa 24-14 in the final. They were joined by the U.S. and Great Britain as the four teams played in a round-robin to determine the final seedings. South Africa, led by Emerging Springboks Earl Lewis and Cameron Peverett, rallied from a 12-0 deficit to defeat the USA 33-12 in a first-round match.

“Spectators who had never seen rugby before had a sense of awe about the sport,” said Gavin Curtis, head coach of the Fort Lauderdale rugby club who refereed the tournament. “Rugby people said what a great facility this is.”

Continue reading South Africa Takes 8-7 Lead over the United States during International Weekend at IPC →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping

British Trio Have the Edge after Dressage at Badminton

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Ruth Edge (GBR) on Two Thyme takes the lead on Day 2 of Dressage at Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2011 – first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 © Kit Houghton/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 23 April 2011 – A trio of British girls head the leaderboard after the Dressage phase at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR), the first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2011.

Ruth Edge (GBR), in pole position with the excellent score of 33.3 penalties on the 17-year-old Two Thyme, winner at Luhmühlen in 2007, is no stranger to the limelight in this phase – indeed, she regularly wins national titles in this discipline.

“There’s always a lot of pressure on me here and I’m anxious not to let anyone down because it’s a lot of work to get this horse here,’ she said. “But he was awesome today and belied his age. As he’s older, I hadn’t done much work with him this week and, as a result, he felt physically fresh.”

Piggy French (GBR), second, had the distinction of scoring the only 10 of the competition, awarded by Ground Jury President Anne-Mette Binder (DEN) for her halt on Jakata, and it was greeted by a deafening roar of approval from the packed stands.

Continue reading British Trio Have the Edge after Dressage at Badminton →