Category Archives: Competitions

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Endurance Riding, Events, FEI

FEI Nations Cup 2011 Series Goes Ahead

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Lausanne (SUI), 20 April 2011 – The FEI Nations Cup 2011 series will go ahead with its prize money unchanged from last year. The agreement with series title sponsor Meydan came to an end in 2010 and the Dubai-based company has chosen to refocus its cooperation with the FEI and is currently negotiating terms to move into an exciting new partnership in Endurance.

Whilst negotiations with potential partners for the FEI Nations Cup Top League are still ongoing, the FEI has guaranteed that prize money to the athletes and funding for the Organising Committees is safeguarded.

“The FEI Nations Cup is our top product and the FEI is delighted to announce that the 2011 series will go ahead with its prize money maintained at the 2010 level,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya said. “We are happy that discussions are ongoing with several partners for the series.

Continue reading FEI Nations Cup 2011 Series Goes Ahead →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping, USEF

Land Rover US Eventing Team Ready for CCI4* Challenge at the 2011 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials

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Lexington, KY – All 84 horses presented at the first Horse Inspection at the 2011 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials were accepted by the Ground Jury without incident. This includes three American horses: Mandiba, BallyNoe Castle RM, and The Good Witch.

With their riders, Karen O’Connor, who contested her first Badminton in 1979, Buck Davidson, whose father Bruce was the first U.S. winner in 1995, and Jennifer Wooten-DaFoe, who looks to cross Badminton off the list of CCI4*s to complete with her diminutive mare, these horses are trying to do something that has only been done twice before by Americans:

Win.

Karen O’Connor and Mandiba are the most experienced combination having represented the U.S. at both the 2008 Olympic Games and as part of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. O’Connor’s husband David was the second U.S. rider to win the prestigious event, when he took the honor with Custom Made in 1997.

“Mandiba is in great form,” said O’Connor of the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse. “He has never had a better run up to a CCI4*. He’s fit, he’s well, he’s sound and he is ready and I am really excited about the weekend. It’s all out there for me to give this horse the chance he deserves.”

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

This Week in USEF International Disciplines – April 21

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Driving

At the Southern Pines CDE in North Carolina, six advanced divisions gave the U.S. drivers plenty of opportunity to hone their skills for some o f the 2011 FEI World Driving Championships. In the Advanced Single Pony Divisions, Australia’s Janelle Marshall won but USA’s Maggie Sullivan was second and Doris Leacy was third.

In the Advanced Pair Pony division, Wendy O’Brien scored a victory over Jennifer Matheson which came down to a close competition in the cones. O’Brien ended up in front on the strength of her marathon performance.

Allison Stroud continues her domination of the team pony division in the United States with her team of grey mostly Welsh ponies.

The Advanced Single Horse division proved successful for Kate Shields, she bested young driver Jacob Arnold by less than a point for the win. Robin Groves was less than four points off the winning score in the most competitive division of the weekend.

Continue reading This Week in USEF International Disciplines – April 21 →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

HITS Culpeper Kicks Off with Commonwealth National

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© ESI Photography. Sarah Scheiring and Landino on course in the Level 7 Jumpers.

CULPEPER, VA (April 21, 2011) — It’s official! The grass is freshly cut, the flags are flying high and the sponsor banners are lining the grounds, as show jumping is underway with the Commonwealth National at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia.

“We have been here every week for as long as I can remember,” said trainer Peter Foley. “With the diverse schedule of classes and its convenient location in the heart of Virginia’s horse country, HITS Culpeper is a ‘can’t miss’ for us.”

When the action kicked off yesterday in the hunter ring, it was Winn Alden (Bristow, Virginia) who got the party started when she took the blue ribbon aboard Stacey McFadden’s Catalyst in the first over fences class of the First Year Green Hunter division. In the second class, she piloted Cassandra Gergeley’s Davinci to the victory, which puts her on the inside track for a division championship when it gets crowned later today!

“It’s great to be back in Culpeper,” said Alden. “I was in Ocala all winter and we had a great time. I will be showing at Culpeper every week, trying to qualify for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.”

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

Eventing Radio Episode 134 by Bit of Britain – Badminton Preview & Polly Stockton

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Britain’s Polly Stockton tells us about her plans at Badminton as Kate Green joins Chris to preview this first four star event of the year. Tune in right here…

Eventing Radio Episode 134 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, Western/Reining

Strong Entries in Principle for Inaugural FEI Reining World Final

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Rudi Kronsteiner (AUT) aboard Smart Spook, winners of the 2007 FEI World Reining Masters. Rudi was the first non-US rider to win the prestigious event. (c) Tonya Garrison/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 21 April 2011 – The entries in principle for the inaugural FEI Reining World Final, which will be held in exactly one month’s time on 21 May 2011 at the renowned equestrian facility of Bökeberg, just outside of Malmö (SWE), are the strongest in the sport’s history. Reiners from 20 nations will be vying for the coveted title of FEI Reining World Champion and the US$ 100,000 prize pot.

The nations intending to field athletes are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA.

The definite entries will be announced on 18 May 2011.

The FEI Reining World Final is the new-look FEI World Reining Masters. It will be the first time since 2005 that this annual individual final will be held outside North America.

Continue reading Strong Entries in Principle for Inaugural FEI Reining World Final →

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

HSBC FEI Classics Opener Attracts Lucky Seven Line-Up for Badminton

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Paul Tapner (AUS), winner of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in 2010 with Inonothing, rides Kilfinnie in this year’s event and opener for the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 © Kit Houghton/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 21 April 2011 – The HSBC FEI Classics 2011, an exciting series linking five of the world’s top level events, begins in style today (Thursday 21 April – Monday 25 April) at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR).

The first crucial qualifier for the 2012 London Olympic Games has attracted arguably the strongest international field for many years with representatives from 11 nations and seven former winners entered.

Oliver Townend (GBR), 28, the 2009 victor, wasn’t even born when the double Olympic champion Mark Todd (NZL), 55, made his Badminton debut – and won – 31 years ago. Both riders have been in dominant form on the British national circuit this spring. Townend rides the grey Ashdale Cruise Master, fifth at Luhmühlen last year, while Todd has Major Milestone, 11th at Burghley last time, and is last to go on the former Townend ride NZB Land Vision, guaranteeing a gripping end to Cross-Country day on Sunday.

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Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Equestrian Sport Productions Spring 5 Horse Show: April 13-17, 2011

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Norman Dello Joio and Notre Star de la Nutria. Photos © ManciniPhotos

Wellington, FL – April 19, 2011 – The Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) Spring Circuit continued last week with week 5 on April 13-17. ESP was very pleased to see that exhibitor numbers at the show increased 25% from 2010. The horse show offered a full schedule of hunter/jumper competition, with three classes featured: the $10,000 Pennfield Feeds Open Jumper Welcome Stake, the $7,500 Reist Industries High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Stake at The Stadium, and the $30,000 ESP Spring 5 Grand Prix.

The winner of the $30,000 ESP Spring 5 Grand Prix was Norman Dello Joio (USA) on Notre Star de la Nutria, owned by La Nutria and Thelma Ramero Cloud. They beat out 40 entries in the class for the USEF Ranking Class victory with double clear rounds and a jump-off time of 45.960 seconds. Second place went to Traffic Boy, ridden by Shane Sweetnam (IRL) for Spy Coast Farm LLC. They were also clear in 46.637 seconds. The last double clear ride was by Aaron Vale (USA), who piloted Texola for himself and Joan Kalman. They stopped the timers in 47.378 seconds for third place.

Continue reading Equestrian Sport Productions Spring 5 Horse Show: April 13-17, 2011 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, Hunter/Equitation, Maclay, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping, USEF, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

Eric L. Straus Named to National Horse Show Association Board of Directors to Fill Term of the Late Eugene R. Mische

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Lexington, KY – April 19, 2011 – The National Horse Show Association of America Ltd. announced today that Eric L. Straus has been appointed to the Board of Directors to fill out the term held by the late Eugene R. Mische.

Straus brings a wealth of talent and experience to the National Horse Show Board of Directors.

Straus is a recognized USEF judge, steward and FEI show jumping steward. Recently, at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Straus served as the FEI Honorary Chief Steward General for Reining and previously officiated at the World Equestrian Games in 2002 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, and again in 2006 in Aachen Germany. He was Chief Judge for Modern Pentathlon at the 1996 Olympic Games and the 1987 Pan American Games.

Straus is a Trustee and Executive Committee member of the American Horse Council in Washington, D.C., and is Secretary and Executive Committee member of the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation. He also served as Executive Director of the United States Equestrian Federation in 1996-1997.

Continue reading Eric L. Straus Named to National Horse Show Association Board of Directors to Fill Term of the Late Eugene R. Mische →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Eventing/H.T., Events, Kentucky Three-Day, Media/Radio/TV Sources

Eventing Radio Episode 133 by Bit of Britain – The Fork Report and Four Star Previews

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The Fork Horse Trials was the final run for the four star combinations heading to Badminton and Rolex and Chris had a chance to catch up with Rebecca Howard, Buck Davidson, Karen O’Connor, Phllip Dutton, Sinead Halpin, and Susan Beebee about their preparation. Bobby Costello takes a close look from the co-host chair; take a listen right here…

Eventing Radio Episode 133 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:

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