Category Archives: Events

Art/Photography, Contributors/Press, Events

Equine Therapy: The Horse Exhibit, by Claire Dorotik

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While the relationship between horses and humans is one of public fascination and private intrigue, it is also something that evades easy description. Although many have tried to put words to the magical connection that can occur between an equine and his human, sometimes words are not enough. And for this reason, we often look to exhibits such as “The Horse” produced in partnership by the The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse, and the American Museum of Natural History. For those interested in experiencing a visual depiction of horse and human collaboration, this exhibit is not to be missed. Here is the official press release:

Prestigious American Museum of Natural History Sends Its Blockbuster Exhibition to the International Museum of the Horse

Terra-cotta horse from Tamil Nadu, India. Photo © AMNH/D. Finnin

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 29, 2011) – The Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse (IMH), in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History, announced today that it will host the exhibition, The Horse, from October 22, 2011, through April 6, 2012. The IMH is a major lender to the exhibition.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring this world-class exhibition to Kentucky,” said Bill Cooke, director of the Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the Horse. “The American Museum of Natural History is truly one of the world’s great natural history museums, and they did a masterful job in developing an exhibition that not only illuminates the timeless union between humans and horses, but does so in an amazingly entertaining way. We are excited that this will be our first blockbuster-level exhibition while schools are in session. I have no doubt that both teachers and their students will love The Horse.”

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Art/Photography, Awards, Community/Charity, Conferences, Products/Services, WHIN

WHINNY Awards to Honor Horsewoman Elizabeth Shatner

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Nashville, TN – The Women’s Horse Industry Network has announced that Elizabeth Shatner has been selected as a recipient of a WHINNY award for her efforts in the horse industry.

The WHINNY awards are designed to shine the light on people who are using their high visibility to save and protect horses and to promote the horse industry through charitable efforts. Elizabeth Shatner, wife of actor William Shatner, does just that.

Born with a love of horses, Elizabeth started riding at the age of five. At the tender age of eight, she got her first horse, a Galiceno pony. By 14, she was teaching horseback riding and participating in young judging competitions with the Indiana Arabian Club, winning several national honors and a scholarship. As a part of the scholarship, she was able to attend a USEF judging clinic. It was during her time as a youth judge that she began to see the beauty of art in nature. She attended Purdue University studying equine and animal science and Butler University in Telecommunications. She eventually became a professional horse trainer.

A photo safari trip with her husband in Israel was the spark that ignited her passion for art with photography launching her in another career. She calls her art Flowrosophy, using the nature’s shapes and colors to create pieces that heal the spirit and arouse introspection. Moving back to her love of horses Elizabeth recently unveiled as part of her “Elizabeth Shatner Art by Nature” series the “Unbridled Collection”, a series of digitally painted photographs of horses she has encountered all around the world focusing on Kentucky and the role horses have played in history and their influence on culture.  Elizabeth celebrates these “horses in service” by donating portions of the proceeds from the sale of her artwork to equine-related charities.

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Community/Charity, Conferences, Products/Services, WHIN

P. J. Stegen to Speak at WHIN’s 3rd Annual Business Networking Expo

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Nashville, TN – The Women’s Horse Industry Network has announced that P. J. Stegen will be a featured speaker at the event.

The event takes place in Nashville, Tennessee October 6-8 and includes a variety of events. On October 6, the group will host the 1st Annual WHINNY awards. The event includes live country music, the presentation of the awards and a silent auction to benefit equine charities. All events take place at the Radisson Hotel Opryland. Complete details are on WHIN’s website. The event starts at 6 PM and is open to the public.  To order tickets please click here!

The conference with exhibitors and panels starts on Friday, the 7th and runs through Saturday, the 8th. P. J. Stegen will be speaking at the “Making Your Business Profitable” on Saturday, October 8th.

P. J. Stegen spent over 35 years in business, and has been a non-profit management professional since 1989. P. J. served as Executive Director of four industry trade associations: Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), Fibre Channel Association, The ATM Forum, and Gaming Standards Association. She worked with 1,000+ corporate member companies and 2,000 individual corporate volunteers developing and promoting technical standards for the Personal Computing (PC), Video & High Definition, System Storage, Telecommunications and Gaming Industries. P. J. has also served on the Core Group/Board of Directors of the above and several other non-profits including The Ilan Lael Foundation, In-Reach Foundation, and the Rainshadow Charter High School. She has also been instrumental in producing and hosting personal development seminars for trainers such as Wayne Dyer, Depak Chopra, Yogi Bahjan, Larry Dossey, Pia Mellody and others through her association with the Palo Also Community Church as their Director of Volunteers and Special Events.

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Championships, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Host Nation Spain Drawn First to Go in FEI European Jumping Championships

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Madrid (ESP), 13 September 2011 – Host nation Spain will be hoping to stay out in front after being drawn number one of 16 nations at today’s draw for the starting order in the FEI European Jumping Championships. The Spanish have never won the European Jumping title and are keen to reverse that trend on their home turf at Club de Campo de Villa Madrid this week.

Defending title holders Switzerland are fourth to go; France – the country of reigning individual champion Kevin Staut – are in 13th; and Germany, leaders in the FEI European Championship gold medal tally with six team titles, will start 14th.

The order of go for the FEI European Jumping Championships: 1, Spain; 2, Great Britain; 3, Poland; 4, Switzerland; 5, Ireland; 6, Netherlands; 7, Sweden; 8, Norway; 9, Italy; 10, Belgium; 11, Denmark; 12, Portugal; 13, France; 14, Germany; 15, Hungary; 16, Austria.

“Now I know what a warm welcome really means,” said Stephan Ellenbruch (GER), President of the Ground Jury, as temperatures soared and the Spanish summer returned to Club de Campo de Villa Madrid. Speaking at today’s draw, Stephan Ellenbruch said: “Maybe I should give the timetable for the swimming pool before we go into the draw!”

Show director Alfonso Segovia, who competed at both the Munich and Montreal Olympic Games, conducted the draw with FEI Jumping Committee Acting Chair, John Madden.

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Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Samantha Schaefer and Lyn Pedersen’s Mahalo Win the Inaugural Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final

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© ESI Photography. Samantha Schaefer and Lyn Pedersen's Mahalo on course during the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.

SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK (September 13, 2011) – All bets were off Sunday morning as judges’ cards were wiped clean from Saturday’s first two rounds of the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final and the top 25 riders advanced to the final two rounds in the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium at HITS-on-the-Hudson. With an impressive fourth-round score of 92.33 and a total score of 178.08, junior Samantha Schaefer of Westminster, Maryland piloted Lyn Pedersen’s Mahalo to victory.

Schaefer finished Saturday’s rounds in the top four and was looking forward to “having some fun” on Sunday. Despite the rain that fell throughout most of the Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final, Schaefer was all smiles when she received her first-place ribbon and $150,000 check.

“I didn’t ride any differently than I usually do, I just did my best,” said Schaefer. “After it was over I saw the check and thought, wow, that’s a lot of money!”

The Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final was developed by HITS President and CEO Tom Struzzieri. The class welcomed professionals, amateurs and juniors to participate on a range of horses from pre-green to seasoned hunters. It has, in turn, revolutionized the Hunter discipline and welcomed all levels of horses and riders from all over the country to compete for serious prize money.

Of the 63 who competed in the class, 25 were chosen to compete in the third round on Sunday, and the top four moved on to the fourth and final round.

Continue reading Samantha Schaefer and Lyn Pedersen’s Mahalo Win the Inaugural Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Aiken Fall Festival Kicks Off to Gorgeous Weather and a Week Packed with Special Events

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Marksman and Liza Boyd. All pictures by Shawn McMillen

September 12th, 2011 ~ The first week of competition for the 2011 Aiken Fall Festival came to a close yesterday.  The two week hunter jumper show series is managed by J. P. Godard and his Equus Events and took place September 8-11 at Highfields Event Center in Aiken, SC.  This week’s sold out show was jam packed with many special classes and events and the horse-centric town of Aiken makes it a prime stop on everyone’s calendar.  Exhibitors were delighted with the gorgeous weather and the Aiken Fall Festival really stepped it up to make all of its guests feel welcome with good southern hospitality and most importantly a well-organized event.  All attending were treated to nightly parties and daily hospitality including breakfast, daily snacks, and an ice cream party on Saturday all courtesy of the show’s hospitality sponsors; Allison Mills, Beaver River Farm, Booth Parker, Christison Stables, Willoughby Stables, DFG Stables, Debi Friedman, Gagne International, Gamboa Veterinary Services, John and Leslie Kasper, Liz Tarumianz, Summit Springs Farm, LLC, The Farm House, The Stables Restaurant, The Wilcox, Travinia Italian Kitchen, and Wendy Arndt and Team IEC.  While the VIP tent events are free to exhibitors, donations were taken for this week’s beneficiary Children’s Place of Aiken, SC (www.childrensplaceinc.org). “We are extremely excited with our turnout this year,” said show organizer J. P. Godard.  “We are completely sold out this week and even with putting up more stalls next week, we still have a waiting list. In these tough economic times I feel people are picking and choosing what shows to attend and Equus Events is really striving to put on events that are the benchmark in our area.”

The week kicked off on Thursday with the featured class being the $5,000 Open Welcome Jumper Stake.  Josh Dolan of Hilton Head, SC guided his Skylands Con Chino Z to the blue taking top honors over Christina Jason and her Tamino who finished second with Claire Lee White and High Roller finishing in third.  After the class everyone was invited to an Exhibitor Welcome Party at The Stables Restaurant and Beer Garden at the Rose Hill Estate in downtown Aiken.  The party featured food, libations, and the sounds of local Aiken band Preston and Weston with a few Aiken Fall Festival exhibitors even taking to the mic a time or two!  A great time was had by all and many thanks to The Stables Restaurant for the wonderful party.

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Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Olympic Games

Japan Secures Olympic Eventing Qualification for London 2012

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Japan secures qualification for Eventing at London 2012 at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (GBR). Photo: Fiona Scott-Maxwell/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 12 September 2011 – Japan has secured qualification for the Olympic Eventing next year following the London 2012 Eventing Team Qualifier for Asia-Pacific nations which took place at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (GBR) from 8-11 September.

New Zealand, led by Clarke Johnstone, finished first in the team competition, but they are already qualified for London 2012 after claiming team bronze at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky (USA). The battle for the remaining slot was between Japan and Australia.

Japan fielded five riders, but their first, Yoshiaki Oiwa, was eliminated with a Cross Country fall. But Kenki Sato, Takeaki Tsuchiya and Atsushi Negishi all went clear and, at the end of Cross Country day, Japan had a four-penalty lead over Australia.

Australia became vulnerable after Lucinda Fredericks fell on the Cross Country and Bill Levett had a run-out, but the Australian their problems worsened when Brook Staples was eliminated for two refusals in the Jumping phase.

Japan’s best-placed rider, Kenki Sato, who was 16th overall in the CCI*** at Blenheim on Chippieh, said: “It’s a miracle. This is a dream come true for our country, and for my family, to qualify for the Olympics and go to Greenwich. I owe everything to my horse, and to Michael Jung [the German world champion with whom he is based] who trains me.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, FEI

FEI European Junior Eventing Championships 2011 – Vale Sabroso (POR)

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BRITISH TAKE TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL GOLD by Louise Parkes

L to R - Kevin Seignier from France (Silver), Great Britain's Zoe Brenan (Gold) and David Doel, also from Great Britain (Bronze). Photo: FEI/Michael Steiger.

Lausanne (SUI), 12 September 2011 – Great Britain claimed team gold along with two of the three individual medals on offer at the FEI European Junior Eventing Championships 2011 at Vale Sabroso in Portugal over the weekend.  However the team silver medallists from Germany put up a spirited fight when the side was reduced to just three riders following last-minute injury problems and, leading through the dressage and cross-country phases, they were only pipped at the post in the final jumping test to finish ahead of the bronze medallists from France.

Zoe Brenan took individual gold for Britain riding Latino K while her compatriot, David Doel riding Kings Cross, scooped the bronze when finishing just 0.7 points behind Kevin Seigner and Or du Genet from France who slotted into individual silver spot.

The venue, in the beautiful Alcacer do Sol region, opened its gates to competitors from 15 nations – Italy, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland and The Netherlands – with eight countries vying for the team medals and a total of 52 starters.

HELD THE LEAD
The German team of Franziska Dennersmann (Rantan Plan Z), Charlotte Hachmeister (Kassio) and Josephine Wilms (Corvette D) held the lead after the dressage phase, with Ireland in second and Great Britain in third ahead of France.  This was a particularly good result for the Irish who do not always shine in the dressage department, but normally tend to come into their own when the jumping phases get underway.  However the Irish Juniors have clearly raised their game, and on this occasion Tori Dixon and Shadow Light were sharing third place on the individual leaderboard with Belgium’s Valentine Gabriel and Chopin Van’T Kattekwaad going into cross-country day on a score of 45.0.  German team member, Wilms, was lying second with a mark of 44.0 while British individual, Emily King, led the way with a mark of 41.9 from Mr Hiho.

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

Steffen Peters and Ravel Close the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions with a Clean Sweep of the Grand Prix National Dressage Championship

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Steffen Peters and Ravel. Photo: SusanJStickle.com

Gladstone, NJ – Steffen Peters went six-for-six at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions at the USET Foundation Headquarters. First, he swept the Intermediaire I on Weltino’s Magic (earning a place on the team for the Pan American Games in the process) and then dominated the Grand Prix National Dressage Championship on Ravel – scoring 77.660% in the Grand Prix, 80.083% in the Grand Prix Special, and 81.100% in the Freestyle to average 79.247% to win by more than six percentage points.

On a day when the nation remembered September 11, 2001, the national anthem played proudly in Gladstone, NJ.

Akiko Yamazaki and Four Winds Farm’s 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding cruised to a title that they last won in 2008. Ravel was tired after putting in a tremendous effort in the Grand Prix Special on Friday but America’s dressage superstar hung in there and, despite some mistakes, what he did well – he did very well.

“Interesting, obviously a little tough on the finish line,” said Peters. “There was the one piaffe that didn’t happen and that makes me not think about the other movements that were good… the changes and pirouettes were better than Aachen.”

Ravel always tries, but Peters knew based on how well behaved his superstar was in the prize giving, that the horse is ready for a vacation. He has had a busy few years, competing and winning at the biggest shows across the globe.

Continue reading Steffen Peters and Ravel Close the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions with a Clean Sweep of the Grand Prix National Dressage Championship →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Driving, Events, USEF

Fairclough Wins Third USEF National Four-In-Hand Driving Championship after 10-Year Hiatus

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James Fairclough. Photo: Richard Moore

Lexington, KY – The 2011 U.S. National Four-In-Hand Championship was contested over the weekend in Kennett Square, PA, at the 25th annual Laurels at Landhope International Combined Driving Event, one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the U.S.

The 2011 U.S. National Four-In-Hand Championship included four entries in the Four-in- Hand division – three Americans, Chester Weber, James Fairclough and Josh Rector, who vied for the National title, and one Canadian, Eugen Hug.

Competitors took to the soggy, post-Tropical Storm Lee dressage arenas on Friday, with Chester Weber of Ocala, FL, getting off to an early lead with a picture-perfect dressage test with a score of 39.04, putting him up by a margin of eight points over Fairclough.

But Fairclough took the lead on Saturday during the Marathon when Weber made an uncharacteristic mistake, going the wrong way through a gate in the third hazard to put him a little under eight points behind Fairclough as they headed into Sunday’s Cones phase. It wasn’t clear sailing for Fairclough either as he had a glitch in the water hazard causing his team to take some stutter steps. “My whip got caught,” he said. “It cost me four or five seconds.”

Weber was disappointed with the Marathon but blamed no one but himself. “I had a gate backward in hazard No. 3,” he said. “We walked it that way. It was just a mistake and I have nothing to say except it was inexcusable.” He was very pleased with how well his horses went. “I thought the course was very heavy-going,” he said. “It was terribly hot and the whole Section E, you could be going downhill and the horses had to pull.”

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