SAUGERTIES, NY (May 29, 2010) — Margie Engle and Hidden Creek’s Pamina L, owned by Hidden Creek Farm, won the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, in the first Pfizer Million Grand Prix qualifier at HITS Saugerties on Friday which doubled as a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
“It was a very nice opening course,” said Engle, of West Palm Beach, Florida. “It was big enough, with some tight combinations.”
Engle and Hidden Creek’s Pamina L were one of 32 horse-and-rider teams to take the field on a course designed by International Course Designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. which saw an outstanding 10 riders return for the jump-off.
29 May 2010 – The World Endurance Festival in Compiegne, due to celebrate its 10th anniversary in August, could not have asked for anything more when hosting the CEIO3* 160km on Friday 28 May. Rain prior to the competition provided an excellent preparation for the soft, sandy tracks generating perfect going for the 62 riders who set out on this world famous course.
Weather on the day could not have been better with a dry day and sunny skies, but a top temperature of just 19 degrees, which proved to be ideal for the horses and riders and was reflected in the competitive speeds and high completion rate of over 60%.
Combinations representing eight nations, many of whom were aiming to qualify for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky this coming autumn, set off to complete the 160kms. The traditional European nations fielded the highest number of competitors, with 43 riders from France, alongside combinations from Spain, Italy, Belgium and Switzerland. Taking on the Europeans were some riders from a little further afield, namely Abdullah Halim Alihan (MAS), Rafael Salvador (BRA) and Jennifer Poling (USA).
FEI TV – Go to www.feitv.org for live coverage, event reports, highlights programmes and interviews.
FABULOUS FRENCH MAKE IT A DOUBLE IN ROME
Rome, 28 May 2010 – The French team forged further ahead on the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup leaderboard with a supremely confident second successive victory in Rome, Italy today. In a contest that included the Italian team who were not challenging for points as they are ineligible for this year’s Meydan series, it was the British who lined up second ahead of Ireland and Spain in equal-third. Germany finished fifth ahead of the USA in sixth while Italy claimed seventh spot, Switzerland finished eighth and the Swedish team was ninth.
Once again The Netherlands and Poland enjoyed a short afternoon as neither qualified for the second round of competition, and, in an alarming turn of events for the reigning World Champions from Holland, they are now languishing at the very bottom of the leaderboard along with the rookie Polish side and in grave danger of losing their elevated status as Meydan series contenders.
Brandon Boterf and Freckles garnered a gold medal in the Western Stock Seat Equitation, as well as a silver medal in the Working Trails at the Special Olympic State Equestrian Games. Photo Courtesy of the VTRC.
Loxahatchee, FL – May 27, 2010 – The Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center (VTRC) recently returned from the Special Olympic State Equestrian Games, held May 21-22, where 16 of their top students had the opportunity to compete. This year’s competition was held at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL.
VTRC took home five gold medals, nine silver medals, nine bronze medals, five fourth place ribbons, two fifth place ribbons and one sixth place ribbon. The team representing VTRC included 16 riders who participated in 19 events. The events included English and western equitation, trail ride competition, dressage, and pole bending. VTRC had numerous riders compete in the level ‘A’ classes that requires them to walk, trot, and canter unassisted. Pole Bending proved to be one of the most successful events for VTRC as all of the athletes maneuvered exceptionally well through the poles.
Watch it LIVE on FEI TV – Coverage of the second leg of the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup series in Rome begins at 15.05 CEST on Friday 28th May. Go to www.feitv.org for live coverage, event reports, highlights programmes and interviews.
FRENCH OUT IN FRONT AS MEYDAN FEI NATIONS CUP ARRIVES IN ROME
Rome, 26 May 2010 – The 2009 title-holders from France hold the lead as the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup series moves to Rome this week where the host-country makes a guest appearance on home ground. This brings the total of competing nations to 11 for the second leg of the prestigious eight-round tournament which concludes at Dublin in early August. And it promises to raise the competitive temperature considerably, as Italy is already making a spirited come-back to the top level of team sport through good results in the Promotional League series. Relegated at the end of the 2009 season they are fighting their way back with real determination, and a win in Athens just over a week ago has put a shot across the bows of the opponents they will face in this Friday’s top-level contest.
The American Quarter Horse Journal, May 24, 2010 – A match roping between Texan Fred Whitfield and Oklahoman Hunter Herrin will be held July 9 at the inaugural Battle in the Saddle competition at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. In the Texas versus Oklahoma duel, accuracy will be the name of the game and more than state pride is on the line. The roper with the most catches will ride away with $10,000 and a pair of commemorative Battle in the Saddle spurs.
Whitfield and Herrin, both professional tie-down ropers, will rope in five rounds for a $10,000 winner-take-all purse. State Fair Park and the American Quarter Horse Association have teamed up to present Battle in the Saddle, the first-of-its-kind equestrian event. The event is owned by Oklahoma State Fair Inc. and managed by AQHA and is a premier equine competition showcasing five western disciplines. Competitors will shoot it out in five fast-paced, exciting events: ranch horse, reining, working cow horse, roping and cutting.
Todd Minikus and Pavarotti tied with Cara Raether and Ublesco for the first place prize in the $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix at the Kentucky Spring Classic. Photo By: Lindsay Y McCall/PMG.
Lexington, KY – May 22, 2010 – Tonight’s amazing finish in the $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington, will go down in history. The crowd went wild when Todd Minikus and Pavarotti crossed the finish line in an exciting 35.24 seconds to take over the lead during the jump-off, but when Cara Rather and Ublesco managed to stop the timers at the same 35.24 seconds the night became historical.
The fantastic grand prix at the Kentucky Spring Classic was held in the Main Stadium, site of the show jumping events for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, with the course designed by Conrad Homfeld. The first round had 16 jumping efforts that included a liverpool, a double combination, and a triple combination. Ten riders were able to complete the first round without fault and advance to jump-off. The short course began over a single vertical and a made a sharp right turn to a single oxer before making a left turn to the oxer-vertical double combination. Riders then made a made dash to a single vertical, which they had to slice before continuing to a single oxer. Finally they made a full circle to a single vertical before galloping home over a large oxer towards the gate.
NFHJA (North Florida Hunter Jumper Association) and FCHJA (First Coast Hunter JumperAssociation) will be again sharing a horse show weekend in May. FCHJA will be Saturday, May 29th and NFHJA will be Sunday, May 30th. We hope everyone will do their best to exhibit at both shows. It is sure to be an affordable weekend and great practice for all before the brutal heat of the summer hits! Many exciting things are in store for exhibitors who participate in both shows this weekend: very special High Point prizes, drawings, awards and even a cookout. We are very thankful for our sponsors: The Gift Horse, the title sponsor of the weekend, The Riding Habit, Feedin’ Time, Horses in the South & Casual Creation Photography, whose combined efforts made this very special weekend possible. Please be sure to read the prize list carefully and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Both shows are NFHJA & FCHJA sanctioned. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!
THE GIFT HORSE NFHJA MAY SCHOOLING SHOW Sunday May 30, 2010
Where Every Horse & Rider Has A Special Gift
The Gift Horse
Sponsors: The Gift Horse, The Riding Habit, Feedin’ Time, Casual Creation Photography and HorsesintheSouth.com
NFHJA Also wishes to thank our friends at FCHJA, Nancy Wines & Patty Runk for their cooperation, hard work and dedication!!
The Gift Horse NFHJA May Schooling Show
Where Every Horse & Rider Has A Special Gift
Sunday, May 30, 2010
FCHJA Sanctioned
Following the FCHJA May Schooling Show
Saturday, May 29th
Clay County Agricultural Center – Green Cove Springs, Florida
PRE-ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2010. ALL STALLS MUST BE PRE-PAYED OR RESERVED BY CREDIT CARD TO GUARANTEE RESERVATION. PLEASE MAIL pre-entries to NFHJA, Post Office Box 24031, Jacksonville, FL 32241. Post entries will be charged a late fee of $10.00 per entry. Entries close: FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2010. A $12.00 schooling fee will be charged per entry. There is no schooling fee for Walk, Walk/Trot or Lead Line. Stalls are available for $30 & MUST BE PREPAID. STALLS RESERVED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE OF ENTRIES WILL BE $40 IF AVAILABLE.
The Gift Horse High Point Awards
The Highpoint Horse/Rider of the following Divisions will be awarded on Sunday at the conclusion of the Show. Horse/Rider must have competed at both the NFHJA show on Sunday & the FCHJA show on Saturday to be eligible to win.
Saturday, May 29th from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Under the Pavillion between the outdoor Hunter Rings. Come feed your horse sized appetite at a cookout with hotdogs and refreshments after showing all day!
NO NFHJA SCHOOLNG FEES!!!!
For Exhibitors that participate in the FCHJA show on Saturday, May 29th
Thomas Mickel represented Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center aboard Belle in a Western Equitation class with the help of volunteer Jamie Miller during the Special Olympic Area Equestrian Games. Photo Courtesy of VTRC
Loxahatchee, FL – May 18, 2010 – Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center (VTRC) is currently preparing to participate in the Special Olympic State Equestrian Games, which will be held May 21-22, 2010, in Tampa, Florida. Sixteen riders qualified for the Games after competing at the Area level March 27, 2010, in Ft. Pierce, FL.
During the Special Olympic State Equestrian Games riders will have the opportunity to compete in English and western equitation, trail ride competition, dressage, and pole bending. The riders representing VTRC range from needing full support with a leader and two sidewalks to independent riders who walk, trot, and canter on their own. They also have several riders competing in the training level dressage tests.
The qualified riders have been working on dressage test, equitation skills, pole bending, and barrel racing to prepare for the exciting competition. In addition to the 12 students traveling to the Games, six horses and 17 volunteers will be in Tampa for the event to support VTRC.
Thousand Oaks, CA – May 19, 2010 – The United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA) would like to thank Kentucky Equine Research whose offices in Versailles, KY will house the ten United States Para-Dressage Team horses prior to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. This opportunity allows the horses a week to relax from travel before their debut at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Lexington, KY.
The USPEA is grateful to the entire Kentucky Equine Research group especially Founder and President Joe Pagan. Hope Hand, President of the USPEA noted, “We are so thankful that Joe and the Kentucky Equine Research facility are lending their facilities to us prior to the World Equestrian Games. The World Equestrian Games will be our first competition as the United States Para-Equestrian Team, so we want to make sure our horses are ready to perform to the best of their ability. The Kentucky Equine Research team is an important factor in our Road to Kentucky.”
