Category Archives: Competitions

Classic Company, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Atlanta Spring Classic II and Updates

Leave a comment

First I want to thank you for a wonder set of winter circuits.  We started in January in Green Cove Springs, followed by a week off and then Gulfport followed by another week off and Conyers.  A great 12 weeks all over the corners of the southeast.  Thanks for making this a great winter of horse shows.

Second, I want to thank all the sponsors who help to make the circuits possible along with Equestrian Travel who make our housing simple and cost effective.

We had lots of fun this winter and we still have lots in store for you in our summer shows that are listed at the bottom of this message.  We have made some giant changes to our summer shows in Atlanta and Charleston due to requests from our exhibitors and trainers.

This week in Atlanta ends our 12 weeks together and it was a wonderful week.  I do want to thank Southern States for the donation of 500 lbs of Southern States Feed.  It was won by Leah Heithold of Denver, NC.  Congrats.  I also want to thank Southern States for the Dipin Dots they brought to the show last week too.

Continue reading Atlanta Spring Classic II and Updates →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, USEF

Festival of the Horse CDI-W/Y/J – Day Three

Leave a comment
Steffen Peters and Weltino's Magic. Photo by Jennifer M. Keeler.

Burbank, CA – California’s Jan Ebeling and Rafalca displayed not only their difficult grand prix freestyle routine during the final day of the Festival of the Horse CDI-W/Y/J in but also their readiness for the Reem Acra/FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Leipzig later this month. Earning a solid 73.025% and a ticket to the World Cup as one of two North American League representatives, Ebeling and the 14-year-old Oldenburg mare (Argentinius x Ratine by Rubinstein I, owned by Amy Ebeling) seemed very confident. “She’s gotten so much stronger and better this year, and she’s taken it to a whole new level,” said Ebeling. “She felt awesome! She’s finally come into her own now.”

Debuting their Intermediaire I freestyle, Steffen Peters completed his sweep of the small tour with Jen Hlavacek’s Weltino’s Magic (Weltino x Diva by Diamond Boy) by scoring a huge score of 79.417%. “The first word that comes to mind is ‘fun’,” said Peters. “I rode the freestyle a bit conservatively today since it was the first time, but he was right on.”

Meanwhile, Jamie Pestana rode her own Hanoverian gelding Winzalot (Wokenstein II x Frazisco) to a freestyle victory with a score of 67.250% to close out the Young Rider division.

Complete results are available at: http://www.cornerstonedressage.com/show_results.asp.

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

Mahala Rummell and Stoney Creek Win the Blue Ribbon and a New Saddle in Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal Finals

Leave a comment
Mahala Rummell and Stoney Creek win the Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal Finals during the twelfth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – April 3, 2011 – In a great ending to the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, the Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal held its circuit finals in the prestigious International Field. Sixteen entries competed for the win today, with the lucky blue ribbon winner being awarded a new saddle. Mahala Rummell came out the victor in the prestigious culmination of the circuit’s adult medal class.

Rummell, who rides with Stacia Madden, was aboard her own mount Stoney Creek, a twelve-year-old Royal Dutch Warmblood gelding, for the win. This being Rummell’s first season out of the juniors, she was lucky enough to still own her junior equitation horse, Stoney Creek, to ride in the class. “He’s so good at it,” beamed Rummell. “He does all the testing so well, and he’s beautiful on the flat. He’s super!”

Today’s course being in the International Arena gave riders an extra advantage with the added space and size of the ring. “I thought the course was nice,” said Rummell. “There was a lot of space to gallop, but there were also lines where you could leave out a stride or add a stride depending on your horse. There were a lot of nice single jumps too.”

Continue reading Mahala Rummell and Stoney Creek Win the Blue Ribbon and a New Saddle in Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal Finals →

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

Horn and Lamotte Speed to Win Adult Modified and Masters Jumper Classes at The Stadium

Leave a comment
Susan Horn and Phenix de Coquerie. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – April 2, 2011 – It was an exciting day at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s derby field, The Stadium. In a rare opportunity, Modified Adult Jumper riders and Masters Jumper riders were given the chance to show on The Stadium’s derby field over a course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio from Red Hook, New York. Susan Horn rode the Kingsfield Farm entry Phenix De Coquerie to the win in the $1,500 Paddock Cakes Adult Modified Jumpers, and Elizabeth Lamotte rode her own mount, Katharine, to the win in the $1,500 Masters Jumpers.

Running through Sunday, April 3, the remaining feature events include the Finals for the Adequan Young Jumpers.

Besting a field of sixteen entries in the Table A Speed format class, Horn and Phenix De Coquerie flew through the timers with a clean round in 72.776 seconds. Of the sixteen entries, only five were clear, but none were fast enough to catch Horn, who hails from King City, Ontario, Canada.

Continue reading Horn and Lamotte Speed to Win Adult Modified and Masters Jumper Classes at The Stadium →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation

Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy Light Up the Night in $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

Leave a comment
Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – April 2, 2011 – Jennifer Alfano and SBS Farms’ Jersey Boy have led the USHJA International Hunter Derby program since its inception, winning classes all over the country in the last few years and proving their expertise in the handy rounds and finesse over the jumps. Tonight was no different, as the pair jumped their way to victory in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby during the twelfth and final “Saturday Night Lights” event at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

Competition for the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby began on Friday afternoon in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring where sixty of the nation’s most talented horses and riders jumped the first round course. The top twenty five were invited back to compete under the lights in the International Arena this evening, coming back in reverse order from lowest to highest returning scores.

Presented by Dietrich Insurance and Hosted by Tailored Sportsman, the class was held in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The series is also generously supported by Charles Owen & Co., Dover Saddlery, The Clothes Horse, and Essex Classics.

Continue reading Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy Light Up the Night in $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby →

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

Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show Thanks Generous Sponsors

Leave a comment
The Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors. Photo Courtesy of the Client.

Katy, TX – April 1, 2011 -The Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show is just a few days away, and this prestigious hunter/jumper event would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors. The competition offers over $250,000 in prize money, with an unprecedented $150,000 in hunter prize money. This exciting weeklong event will get underway on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, and run through April 10, 2011 at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in beautiful Katy, Texas. This unique hunter/jumper event draws the top competitors to Texas from around the country and benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

This year’s incredible sponsors of the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show include:

Carole and Jim Looke Family Fund for the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
Claudine & George Pletcher for the $25,000 Pre-Green Classic
Seashore Acres for the $25,000 Spring Gathering Grand Prix
Grand Prix Stables and Chris Nelson for the $20,000 National Hunter Classic
PJP Farm for the $18,000 Green Hunter Divisions
Roger & Jamie Jarvis for the $10,000 High Performance Working Hunter Division
Steeple Chase Farm for the $9,000 Amateur – Owner Working Hunter Divisions
Hobby Family Foundation for the $8,000 Junior Hunter Divisions
Wise Family Foundation for the $8,000 Conformation Hunter Division
John & Kristi Schiller for the $5,000 Pony Hunter Divisions
Eric & Nancy Littlejohn for the $5,000 Junior Hunter Classic
Kate & Steve Gibson of Shady Side Farm for the $5,000 Amateur-Owner Classic

Continue reading Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show Thanks Generous Sponsors →

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

Kelly, Polle, and Cox Jump Double Clear to Lead Their Teams to Victory in $30,000 Jr/A-O Jumper Zone Team Competition Final

Leave a comment
Christina Kelly and Camirage. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – April 1, 2011 – Friday night during week twelve at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival featured the $30,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Zone Team Competition Final. The horses and riders were divided into sections of high, medium and low heights to jump, with each section awarding $10,000. In the highs, Charlie Jacobs, Gabrielle Bausano, Christina Kelly and Karen Polle jumped to victory. In the mediums, Katherine Steenberg, Madeline Cox, Cynthia McGrath, and Heather Irons earned top honors. The lows were the final level to compete, with a win for the team of Shannon Spencer, Erica Polle, Mahala Rummell, and Megan MacPherson.

Running through Sunday, April 3, this week’s remaining feature events include Round 2 of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and the Finals for the Adequan Young Jumpers on Sunday.

The $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby will be webcast live on USEF Network and can be seen here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/WEFDerby2011/.

Continue reading Kelly, Polle, and Cox Jump Double Clear to Lead Their Teams to Victory in $30,000 Jr/A-O Jumper Zone Team Competition Final →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Stewart and Empire Wow the Crowd with Their High Scores in the Qualifying Round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

Leave a comment
Scott Stewart and Empire win the first round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby during the twelfth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – April 1, 2011 – It was an important day for hunters at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Sixty entries took their shot at a chance to compete in the $50,000 USHJA Hunter Derby, one of the biggest purses offered for hunter competitors in the world. The class began this afternoon in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. With a large number of spectators standing by, each horse and rider combination took their turn over a course of eleven jumps, with four high option fences.

There were two teams of judges – Danny Robertshaw and Jim Clapperton (Panel 1 – tiebreaker), John Barker and Scott Williamson (Panel 2) – one team on either side of the ring. Each team of judges awarded a numerical score plus a bonus point for each high option fence that was jumped. The sum of the scores was given as each rider’s final score for the first round of competition.

Scott Stewart wasted no time getting down to business on the first of his six mounts in the class. Going fourth in the order, Stewart led the Fashion Farm’s entry Dedication to a combined score of 186, which was good enough to leave the pair in fourth overall going into tomorrow night. “Dedication is a First Year horse, who has been champion a few times here. He’s very scopey and very easy, but he just turned six, so he’s still pretty green. I was very happy with him,” beamed Stewart.

Continue reading Stewart and Empire Wow the Crowd with Their High Scores in the Qualifying Round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Ten Olympians Top All Star Line-up for $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational

Leave a comment
Katie Prudent, pictured here on Sassacaia III, bids to become the first four time winner of the American Invitational on April 9 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. ©Kenneth Kraus/ PhelpsSports.com.

Eleven of top fifteen computer listed riders accentuate exciting Saturday night at Raymond James

Tampa, Fl – April 1, 2011 – With this year’s edition of the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational, presented by G & C Farms, just over a week away, the line-up for the Saturday night showdown is all set, and this year’s roster of riders is one of the best in the thirty-eight year history of this long running Tampa tradition.

Ten Olympic veterans will go head to head at the ‘Super Bowl of Show Jumping,’ scheduled for Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

Two-time United States Olympic Gold Medalists McLain Ward and Beezie Madden top the star-studded field, and they will be joined by fellow American Olympic veterans Lauren Hough, Margie Engle, Peter Leone and Leslie Howard.

Canada’s most decorated Olympic hero Ian Millar, named to ten Olympic Show Jumping teams over the years, will also compete for this year’s American Invitational title, as will Russian Olympic veteran Ljubov Kochetova and Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios. Also in the mix is Mario Deslauriers, another Canadian Olympic veteran, who is now an American citizen and has competed successfully for the United States at the World Equestrian Games and on the Super League tour in Europe.

Continue reading Ten Olympians Top All Star Line-up for $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Cesar Parra and Grandioso Win CDI in Grand Style at International Horse Sport Champions Cup Show

Leave a comment
International dressage rider and trainer Cesar Parra swept the CDI with Grandioso at the International Horse Sport Champions Cup Show. It was Grandioso’s first CDI and the horse won in grand style. (Photo courtesy of Piaffe-Performance)

Loxahatchee, FL (April 1, 2011) – International Dressage Rider and trainer Cesar Parra rode Grandioso into the winner’s circle in grand style during a three day CDI Small Tour victory at the International Horse Sport Champions Cup Show at the Equestrian Estates in Loxahatchee, Florida. Parra and Grandioso started their grand winning streak by capturing first in the CDI Prix St. Georges with a score of 71.579% on Friday, followed by winning the CDI Intermediaire I with a score of 73.114% on Saturday, then making a clean sweep of the show on Sunday by winning the CDI Intermediaire Freestyle with a 73.950%.

“I could not have been more proud of Grandioso. He truly stepped up to the plate and delivered beautiful tests each day. It was his first CDI ever and the first time I had ridden him in the Small Tour. I rode him conservatively to get the feeling for him in those tests since he is such a big guy and big mover and he stayed right with me and was very rideable,” Parra said. “Grandioso’s success is absolutely a team effort. I have a supportive owner in the Davis family, who trust and believe in us, and a whole support crew who makes sure that Grandioso is happy and gets everything he needs. He works hard, but he is really a loved horse!”

Grandioso is no stranger to the winner’s circle, as he won the Six-Year-Old Young Horse National Championship in 2007 with rider and trainer Jason Canton. The Davis family, Michael, Sarah, and Bebe, purchased Grandioso in 2009 and Parra began training him. With his sights set on the Pan Am Games and the 2012 Olympics, Parra is hoping that Grandioso will help him achieve his dream of riding on the U.S. Dressage team. “Since becoming a U.S. citizen it has been my goal to ride on a U.S. team and I believe Grandioso has what it takes,” said Parra, who owns Piaffe-Performance with locations in Florida and New Jersey.

Continue reading Cesar Parra and Grandioso Win CDI in Grand Style at International Horse Sport Champions Cup Show →