Category Archives: Events

Lindsay Lynch Captures the Adult Working Hunter Championship at the Marshall & Sterling League National Final

©ESI Photography. Lindsay Lynch and Bethany Greskovich’s Brother Bear captured the blue ribbon in Thursday's $1,250 Adult Working Hunter at the 2011 Marshall & Sterling League National Finals.

SAUGERTIES, NY (September 17, 2011) – On a beautiful and sunny Friday morning, 30 qualified riders took to the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, NY to compete for the Marshall & Sterling Adult Working Hunter Championship. In the end, Lindsay Lynch and Bethany Greskovich’s Brother Bear stood in the winner’s circle to accept the honors.

Lynch, of Medford, New Jersey, was one of 30 competitors who competed in the Adult Hunter Division over courses designed by Jerry Dougherty of Bokeelia, Florida. She earned the Championship prize after capturing the first-place victory in Thursday’s $1,250 Adult Working Hunter and finishing fourth in the Adult Working Hunter Under Saddle.

“Bear is a great horse,” said Lynch. “He really put it all out there this week and jumped his little heart out. Despite being a little fresh this week, he knows how to put on a cute little face for the judge when he walks in the ring.”

Lynch has been a Marshall & Sterling competitor for several years. “I’ve been showing in the League for a few years now and I always enjoy coming to the National Finals. It’s nice to have the spotlight in the Grand Prix Ring and winning the Championship was a very good way to finish up before we head to the Zone II Finals.”

Reserve Champion honors went to Kelly Champion of Washington, New Jersey who finished second in both the Under Saddle and Friday’s Hunter Stake aboard her own All In.

Continue reading Lindsay Lynch Captures the Adult Working Hunter Championship at the Marshall & Sterling League National Final

Daniel Geitner Dominates the Opening Days of the Aiken Fall Festival II

Zo Doro and Daniel Geitner. Pictures - Shawn McMillen Photography

September 17th, 2011 ~ Week II of the 2011 Aiken Fall Festival is well underway and while the cooler temps of Fall have arrived the action in the show rings is heating up.  One of the busiest riders on the show grounds Aiken, SC resident rider Daniel Geitner started his week of right by capturing the $5,000 Open Welcome Jumper Stake on Ann Ritter’s Jumbo Jet on Thursday evening out on the grass field.  J. F. Gagne’s Gagne International sponsored a pizza party under the VIP tent during the class for spectators and exhibitors to enjoy.

Geitner continued his winning ways on Friday dominating the hunter divisions by capturing the Green Working Hunter championship on Robin Hugh’s Zo Doro, the reserve championship on Paige Wilson’s Best Foot Forward and the High Performance Hunter Championship on Mrs. Janet Peterson’s Damocles.  Damocles and Geitner also garnered the At A Glance Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Grand Champion Hunter with the highest number of points accumulated in the working divisions throughout the two week show series.  The pair and owner Janet Peterson received a custom cooler donated by Integrity Fine Equestrian Linens and their name engraved on the perpetual trophy.

Other championships awarded on Friday included:

*Performance Working Hunter 3’3 – Callatos owned by Willoughby Stables and ridden by Bruce Christin
*Pre Green Hunter 3′ – Edisto owned by Betsy Fauntleroy and ridden by Elena Portu
*Pre Green Hunter 3’3 – Marksmann owned by Marilla Van Beuren and ridden by Liza Boyd
*Baby Green Hunter – Summerton owned by Thomas Rogers and ridden by Liza Boyd

Continue reading Daniel Geitner Dominates the Opening Days of the Aiken Fall Festival II

Portuguese Horse Coltaire Z Withdrawn from FEI European Jumping Championships

Madrid (ESP), 16 September 2011 – The Portuguese have withdrawn Coltaire Z (Frutuoso de Melo) from today’s team final at the FEI European Jumping Championships in Madrid (ESP) for veterinary reasons. The 14-year-old stallion, which was in 36th place in the individual standings, has a leg injury.

The Portuguese team was lying in 10th place overnight and had earned a place in today’s top-10 team final, but as Portugal had fielded a team of only three horses, Coltaire Z’s withdrawal means that the Portuguese have now had to pull out of today’s team final.

Winningmood (Luciana Diniz), in 10th overnight, and Maestro St Lois (Joao Mota), in 35th, will both jump in today’s competition as individuals.

Under FEI Rules for Jumping Championships and Olympic Games, the withdrawal of one of the top 10 teams does not allow for a replacement team to be promoted into the team final.

Italian chef d’equipe Stefano Scaccabarozzi put in a written request to the Ground Jury asking for permission for the 11th-placed Italian team to compete in today’s team final. This request was considered by the Ground Jury under Article 326.3.2 in Chapter II (Continental Championships) of the Rules for Jumping Championships and Olympic Games. The Rules state that round two of the team competition (the team final) “is open only to the 10 best placed teams and those teams equal on penalties for 10th place after round one of the team competition.”

Continue reading Portuguese Horse Coltaire Z Withdrawn from FEI European Jumping Championships

Dressage Rider Endel Ots and Toscano Named as Alternates to the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games

Endel Ots on Toscano. (Photo courtesy of Sue Stickle)

Gladstone, NJ (September 16, 2011) – Dressage rider Endel Ots rode away from the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions with a successful Small Tour under his belt, as well as being named the alternate for the U.S. Dressage Team at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Ots competed Kristin and Steve Cooper’s KWPN gelding Toscano at Gladstone, where the 25-year-old rider held his own against veterans Steffen Peters, Heather Blitz and Cesar Parra.

“The whole weekend was really wonderful. I am very honored and excited to be an alternate. Anne Gribbons told me that both she and Steffen were alternates at one time, and then they made the team in later competitions,” Ots said. “It has been my dream to be part of a team and represent my country in international competition. I am so lucky to have the horse that I’m riding and to have such a great team that stands behind me including my trainer Lars Petersen, Toscano’s owners Kristin and Steve Cooper, Melissa Taylor, Caroline Roffman, my dad and so many others. I owe them the credit.”

Ots and Toscano, or Teddy as he is called, placed fifth at Gladstone in the FEI Intermediaire I Test with a score of 71.053%. The highly respectable placing came in a class dominated by Peters, Blitz and Parra, who will all compete for the U.S. in the Pan Am Games along with Marissa Festerling. “Teddy was super for every ride at Gladstone. I had some mistakes in the Prix. St. George but they were all mine. I got a little too excited in my aids and Teddy made some mistakes. In the Intermediaire I was much more calm. I wanted to show what Teddy could do and it was nice because every judge said ‘the horse and rider in great harmony’,” Ots said, adding that he had a few highlights at the show. “One was when we came out of the ring after our Intermediaire ride Lars said ‘good job’ and that really meant a lot to me.”

Continue reading Dressage Rider Endel Ots and Toscano Named as Alternates to the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games

Healthy Horse Tip – What to Do When the Panic Is On!

Hurricane, Fire, Toxicity, Infectious Disease: KAM’s Next FREE Webinar – September 26, 2011

September 1, 2011 — KAM’s Equine Learning Circle FREE webinars have covered numerous topics such as gut health, feed and supplements, teeth, joints, worming, fungus and so much more.  The response has been extremely positive with lots more to come.  The next webinar on September 26 will focus on preparing for an emergency situation.  Take a moment now and sign up for this next free webinar by going to www.kamanimalservices.com.

In this webinar the panelists will talk about infectious disease, hurricane evacuation, fire and smoke, environmental toxicity and biosecurity.  When we are faced with any of these situations it’s critical that we be prepared for the “worst.”  This webinar will guide you through the steps you need to take to be prepared.

Title: When the Panic Is On – What to Do!
Date: Monday, September 26, 2011
Time: 5:30 PM PST, 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM CST, 8:30 PM EST

Continue reading Healthy Horse Tip – What to Do When the Panic Is On!

Save a Horse, Win a WHINNY!

Nashville, TN – The horse industry is coming to Music City and along with it is coming the 1st Annual WHINNY awards. The awards are being presented to individuals who use their high visibility to save and protect horses and promote the equine industry overall. The event is part of a three day annual meeting for the Women’s Horse Industry Network which runs from October 6-8 also at the Radisson Hotel.

The WHINNY awards dinner will be held October 6, 2011 at the Radisson Hotel Opryland starting at 6:00pm. Included in the evening’s program are live country music performances, the Rhythm & Hooves auction to benefit several equine charities and the presentation of the awards to this year’s recipients.

This year’s recipients include: animal rights and wild mustang advocate Madeleine Pickens, charitable horse industry leaders Elizabeth and William Shatner, horsewoman and advocate country music legend Lynn Anderson, music industry icons and thoroughbred racing breeders/racers Mike and Martha Borchetta, horsewoman and advocate singer/songwriter Templeton Thompson, and animal rights and music industry veteran Bonnie Garner.

The Rhythm & Hooves auction will be offering a large variety of items and some very special items including a signed guitar by Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow, from Curb Records, an autographed DragonCon badge from William Shatner, an autographed “61 hits” by George Strait, a breeding to a son of Seattle Slew by New Swan Farm, and an autographed book from Shania Twain. Madeleine Pickens will be donating a native American choker from artist Travis Jackson, Jr. from the Seminole tribe of Oklahoma. Elizabeth Shatner will be donating auction packages including a “Faire Game Package” including original artwork, her trademarked leather stirrup picture hangers (as seen on American Pickers!), also an “All Glory Package” including both an original portrait and a rare, limited edition autographed Breyer model of All Glory, the Shatner’s World Champion American Saddlebred . She will also be donating bottles of her custom-blended Faire Game White wine as door prizes.

Continue reading Save a Horse, Win a WHINNY!

Dover’s World to Highlight 128th Alltech National Horse Show

Robert Dover. Photo courtesy of Client

Wellington, FL – September 14, 2011 – Robert Dover, dressage expert and former Olympian, will host the President of the National Horse Show Association on an upcoming session of his popular radio program, Dover’s World. Mason Phelps, Jr. who also runs Phelps Media Group in Wellington, FL, will appear on the September 20th program of Dover’s World to discuss the 128th Alltech National Horse Show. Joining Phelps and Robert Dover will be Leo Conroy, co-manager of the Alltech National Horse Show and Vice President of the National Horse Show Association of America.

Tickets are already on sale for this prestigious event, and listeners can tune in to Dover’s World next Tuesday to learn all about this year’s highly-anticipated contest. Taking place this year at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, the Alltech National Horse Show will feature a wide array of both hunter and jumper events. In addition, the ASPCA Alfred P. Maclay finals will also occur during the show’s five-day run, November 2nd-6th, 2011.

“There is so much excitement in the air about the first Alltech National Horse Show to take place at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park,” commented Dover. “I am looking forward to speaking with Mason Phelps and Leo Conroy to hear of all the latest plans in the works to make the NHS better than ever! I hope everyone will tune in this Tuesday evening, September 20th, to Dover’s World, for all the information directly from the horse’s mouth!”

“With the show being in Lexington this year, there will be no shortage of topics to discuss on Tuesday’s show,” noted Phelps. “With an abundance of hunter and jumper events as well as the Maclay Finals, the competition is going to be more engaging than ever.”

Continue reading Dover’s World to Highlight 128th Alltech National Horse Show

FEI European Jumping Championships 2011 Day 2

FIERCE BATTLE FOR THE MEDALS AS DUTCH LEAD THE TEAMS AND NAGEL HEADS INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS, by Louise Parkes

Germany's Carsten-Otto Nagel and Corradina jumped to the top of the individual rankings at the FEI European Jumping Championships 2011 in Madrid, Spain today. The Dutch are leading the team rankings going into tomorrow's team decider. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Madrid (ESP), 15 September 2011 – The Dutch have stormed to the front going into tomorrow’s second and deciding round of the Team Championship while Germany’s Carsten-Otto Nagel leads the individual rankings after another thrilling day at the FEI European Jumping Championships 2011 in Madrid, Spain today.  But it remains a very close-fought affair in both competitions, with less than a fence between the quartet from The Netherlands and the Germans in second place, while the French are almost six points further adrift in third, and only four faults separates the top nine in the individual rankings.

Overnight leader, Olivier Guillon from France, plummeted to ninth when, last into the ring, Lord de Theize hit the wall at fence four in an otherwise flawless tour of the 13-fence track.  But it was the open water that was the talking point at the end of the day, as almost half of the 67 starters picked up penalties here.  Course designer, Spain’s Santiago Vareles, got an unexpected, and almost unprecedented, round of applause from the riders at the post-competition press conference when he agreed that the presentation of this obstacle should be re-examined and that he would get to work on it right away. “Tomorrow we will make some changes to be more fair for the horses at the water jump, it will be good for the sport and better for the horses,” he said. The alterations are expected to include a taller take-off board.

OPENING QUESTION
The 1.60m cheese-hole-style red wall, and topped with gold-coloured blocks, was the opening question on the first testing line of fences and was followed by a 1.70m-wide oxer at fence five which led to the triple combination at six – oxer, vertical, oxer.  After circling right to the 1.60m planks which caused relatively few problems it was then left-handed to the next challenging line that began with another 1.70m-wide oxer and then the influential 4.10m-wide water, with most riders opting for a holding five strides to the following vertical.  And there was plenty more to come, with the massive triple bar – 1.58m tall and stretching across a full 2.10m – leading to the penultimate candy-coloured double that punished many who had made it all the way there before dropping a pole.

Continue reading FEI European Jumping Championships 2011 Day 2

Taking It All In Gets a Lot Easier at Dressage at Devon 2011: Devon, Pennsylvania, September 27 – October 2, 2011

September 2, 2011 (Devon, PA) – Spectators at 2011 Dressage at Devon (www.dressageatdevon.com) will be able to add multimedia to their experience. Dressage at Devon Radio, powered by FLR Sports Radio, allows guests to enhance their knowledge and education of dressage by listening to the comments and opinions of some of the foremost experts in the world of dressage.  Spectators will also get a behind the scenes listen to critiques of the rider and horse during their performance.

Starting Friday September 30th, spectators with the credit-card sized FLR Sports Radio will be able to listen in on comments from Alison Head, Sara Schmitt, and Kem Barbosa, as well as receive special announcements and content.  On Saturday September 1st the experts will include Suzanne King, Monica Sinks and Kathy Connelly.  Sunday September 2nd will include comments and opinions by Anne Moss and several others. Visitors will be able to watch the event from anywhere on the show grounds and still listen to the exclusive commentary, available only to those with a personal receiver.

Those new to Dressage will gain a true appreciation of the sport.  Professionals will gain new insights into what goes on behind the scene in the judges’ booth.

The FLR Sports Radio receiver is a lightweight credit card-sized radio receiver that comes complete with earbuds, battery and a lanyard to hang around the neck.

Continue reading Taking It All In Gets a Lot Easier at Dressage at Devon 2011: Devon, Pennsylvania, September 27 – October 2, 2011

Strong Field Set to Vie for 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship

Rebecca Hart 2010 National Champion. Photo by Fire and Earth Photography

Lexington, KY – A star-studded field of 22 horse-and-rider combinations is set to contest the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship this weekend in Saugerties, NY. Held September 16-18 during the NEDA Fall Festival elite competition will be held in Grades 1a- IV. These championships are held in conjunction with the Saugerties CPEDI3*, which will host riders not only from the U.S. but also Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, and Mexico.

Competitors will ride three different test within their grade, the horse-and-rider combination with the highest final score will be crowned 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion. The Team Test and Individual Championship Test will both count for 40% of the overall score; the final 20% of the cumulative score will be determined by the Freestyle Test.

Seven members of the Kentucky Equine Research U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team that competed at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will contest these championships. Jonathan Wentz, Kim Decker, Laura Goldman, Mary Jordan, Rebecca Hart, Robin Brueckmann, and Wendy Fryke look to utilize the experience they gained last fall in Kentucky.

Hart is among the most decorated athletes in para-equestrian competition, having represented the U.S. on both the World Championship and Paralympic stage. She prepared for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games by winning both champion and reserve honors at last year’s National Championship. She will try and claim her fifth championship in six years; she was also the winner of the 2006, 2008, and 2009 National Championships, with Jessica Ransehousen’s Lord Ludger.

Continue reading Strong Field Set to Vie for 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship