Category Archives: Events

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

Jolly Mon and For Farina Take First and Second with Ryan Genn in High Amateur-Owner Jumpers at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show

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Ryan Genn and Jolly Mon topped the leader board in the High Amateur-Owner 1.35m jumper class at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show. Photo By: Heather Bellock/PMG.

Katy TX – April 9, 2011 – Today was another great day of showing in the sunshine for competitors at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center. Jumper riders competed for the top spot in the High Amateur-Owner Jumpers, the High Junior Jumpers, the Low Amateur-Owner Jumpers, and the Low Junior Jumpers. Ryan Genn was successful in the High Amateur-Owner Jumpers, taking the win aboard Jolly Mon and placing second with For Farina. Earlier in the day, Jennifer Scholl and Electric Avenue prevailed in the Low Amateur-Owner Jumper class.

Richard Jeffrey of Bomemouth, England designed today’s courses, which did an excellent job testing the horses and riders. The High Jumper classes followed the Table II format with 13 jumping efforts and a time allowed of 74 seconds. The Low Jumper classes followed the Table 2b format and the first round included 12 jumping efforts with a time allowed of 71 seconds. The short course consisted of seven jumping efforts and a time allowed of 38 seconds.

Ryan Genn and Jolly Mon were the first to enter the arena in today’s High Amateur-Owner Jumper class. The pair set a blazing fast pace without fault, which couldn’t be beat and earned them the win.

Continue reading Jolly Mon and For Farina Take First and Second with Ryan Genn in High Amateur-Owner Jumpers at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show →

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

Hayley Barnhill Shows Safari to Victory in $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show

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Hayley Barnhill led the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby from start to finish aboard Safari at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Katy, TX – April 9, 2011 – The air was electric for the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, sponsored by the Carole and Jim Looke Family Fund, held at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show. Thirty-seven horse and riders combinations turned out to compete for the grand prize and winning title. After the top 12 showed over the handy course, the victory went to Hayley Barnhill and Safari. The pair led from start to finish with incredible scores of 92 and 96 in the first round and a solid effort in the handy round with a pair 88s. Jennifer Alfano piloted Miss Lucy to a close second, while Tracy Fenney finished third and fourth with Exposure and Inxs, respectively.

Richard Jeffery of Bomemouth, England, designed tonight’s courses. The first round included two bending lines, a two-stride vertical-oxer, and four options for bonus points at higher fences. The top twelve rides then advanced to the more technical handy round where there were many options for inside turns, a long one-stride, a trot fence, and a snake option. At the end of the course riders also had to collect a piece of mail from a mailbox at the end of the ring by the in-gate.

The one stride would prove tricky for many of the riders early on who tried to take a tight turn before and after the combination. Hayley Barnhill and her first mount, Libretto owned by Alliy Moyer, were unable to make it through the test as the rider took an fortunate fall, but it would prove to be a helpful lesson later in the evening.

Continue reading Hayley Barnhill Shows Safari to Victory in $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show →

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

Kent Farrington Rides Uceko to Victory in $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational

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PHOTO © V. Valenti/James Leslie Parker - Kent Farrington and Uceko won Saturday night's $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Tampa, FL – April 9, 2011 – Kent Farrington piloted the gray warmblood Uceko to two clear rounds to win Saturday’s $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational, presented by G & C Farm, in Tampa, Florida.

This was the 39th year for the Invitational, which was held at Tampa’s famed Raymond James Stadium.

It is the first that was held after the death of Gene Mische last year. Mische, the founder of Stadium Jumping, Inc., was the creator of the Invitational.

This year the event attracted over 7,800 spectators.

Farrington, of Greenwich, CT, took home $60,000 for the win. It was Farrington’s first win at the Tampa event. Coming in second was Canada’s Ian Miller riding Star Power. Miller, who won the event in 1992 with Big Ben, won $44,000 for his double clear ride on Saturday night.

Both had two clear rounds, but Farrington’s faster jump off time of 36.64 seconds gave him the victory over Miller, who took 41.72 seconds to clear the eight fence tiebreaker course.

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Awards, Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Products/Services

Olympic Rider Lisa Wilcox and Pikko del Cerro HU Win Vita Flex Victory Pass Award at International Horse Sport Dressage Premier

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Lisa Wilcox and Pikko del Cerro HU rode away as the Vita Flex Victory Pass Award winner at the International Horse Sport Dressage Premier in Wellington. Gustavo Martinez holds the Vita Flex Victory Pass prize. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (April 5, 2011) – Thanks to a brilliant ride in the Intermediaire I class at the International Horse Sport Dressage Premier, Lisa Wilcox and Pikko del Cerro HU rode away as the Vita Flex Victory Pass Award winner. Sponsored by Vita Flex Nutrition, the award is given to a horse and rider who display remarkable skill during a show.

Wilcox, an Olympic bronze medalist, has recently taken over the ride on the eight-year-old bay stallion by Pik L. Considered a horse to watch, Pikko del Cerro was the 2009 FEI Six-Year-Old National Champion.

“This was Cerro’s first Intermediaire I class and he was excellent and I was really, really happy with him,” Wilcox said. “He has some moments where he was getting tired but he really stuck with me. His extensions were exceptional and in general he was with me. I know it is a hard test and he is still developing, so it’s exciting to see this.”

Wilcox, who operates out of Wellington, Florida, said she hopes to qualify Pikko del Cerro for the Pan Am Games and the Developing Horse classes. “I hope to do my first CDI with him in March,” Wilcox said.

Continue reading Olympic Rider Lisa Wilcox and Pikko del Cerro HU Win Vita Flex Victory Pass Award at International Horse Sport Dressage Premier →

Awards, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, JRPR, Show Jumping

Grand Prix Show Jumper Todd Minikus Rebounds from Injury to Win Wellington Institute “Rider Wellness Award” at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival

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Todd Minikus won the “Rider Wellness Award” during the 2011 FTI WEF. The award is presented by The Wellington Institute and Juan Gonzalez, Director of Marketing, was on hand to give Minikus his award. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (April 8, 2011) – Grand Prix Show Jumper Todd Minikus proved during the final two weeks of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival that you can’t keep a good rider down. Despite a shattered collarbone that resulted in surgery at the beginning of the circuit, Minikus was back in the winner’s circle winning the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup and earning the prestigious “Rider Wellness Award” from The Wellington Institute.

Minikus’s amazing comeback had his fellow riders applauding and the Wellington based rider, whose resume includes winning the $100,000 Budweiser American Invitational, was thankful for the camaraderie. “We all travel the same circuits and know each other well. We have respect and admiration for each other when someone comes back from an injury,” Minikus said.

Minikus was pleased to win the “Rider Wellness Award” from The Wellington Institute and said he looks forward to visiting the wellness center. “I had some bad luck this winter with smashing my collarbone and having to have surgery. I tried to get back to riding as soon as I could and I started riding at the five-week mark after surgery,” he said. “I was only able to show the last two weeks of the circuit but I am glad to be back.”

Continue reading Grand Prix Show Jumper Todd Minikus Rebounds from Injury to Win Wellington Institute “Rider Wellness Award” at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival →

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$10,000 Spring Gathering Jumper Classic Victory Goes to Wilhelm Genn and Copyright 3 at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show

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Wilhelm Genn and Copyright 3 win in the $10,000 Classic at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show Photo By: Heather Bellock/PMG.

Katy TX – April 8, 2011 – Today was a hot and sunny day for horses and riders competing at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show, held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center. The main indoor hosted the $10,000 Spring Gathering Jumper Classic, which proved to be an exciting competition. Wilhelm Genn continued to be successful this week taking the win aboard Copyright 3 in a six-horse jump-off.

Richard Jeffrey of Bomemouth, England, designed today’s courses with the first round course including 14 jumping efforts and the short course including six jumping efforts. Six horse and rider combinations were able to navigate the first course in the 74 second time allowed fault free and advance to their jump off round. The short course presented tight turns and a fast pace set early on by Wilhelm Genn and Happy Z. They were the first to enter the arena and advanced to the jump-off after a fault free effort. Genn and Happy Z set the time to beat at 34.849 seconds, which earned them third place honors.

“With Happy I took the inside turns. Happy doesn’t like the heat and it is very humid today and I didn’t want to push her that hard. Sure I wanted to be competitive, but I left the door open. If this were the grand prix jump-off I would have gone faster,” noted Wilhelm. “This was a really good course and a really good jump-off, but it wasn’t a jump-off that was suitable for Happy and with the heat she was sweating a lot. I just figured I would go nice and give her a good round, so she is confident for Sunday and not take too much out of her. I wouldn’t change anything if I went back in with her.”

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Cesar Parra Wraps Up Florida Season with Big Wins and a “Beautiful Finish”

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Cesar Parra wrapped up his show season by riding Agastrofos into the winner’s circle at the International Horse Sport Dressage at Equestrian Estates Show in Loxahatchee, Florida. (Photo courtesy of Susan J Stickle)

Loxahatchee, FL (April 7, 2011) – International Dressage Rider and trainer Cesar Parra wrapped up the Florida show season at the International Horse Sport Dressage Show at Equestrian Estates with more big wins, describing the show as a “beautiful finish” to a great season. Parra, who owns Piaffe-Performance with locations in Florida and New Jersey, is never one to rest on his laurels and left the show to fly to Colombia, South America, to teach a clinic but not before raving about the success of the horses and his Piaffe-Performance team.

“This season was truly an amazing one and a true blessing. In total we earned 32 wins and many of the second places were because other Performance farm horses finished first. The words ‘Thank You’ cannot convey the depth of my gratitude to all of my team members, our horse owners, grooms, friends and everyone else involved,” Parra said.

While Parra and his Piaffe-Performance team are now heading back to New Jersey, Parra was thrilled with their 2011 winter experience. “This weekend concluded our Florida show season and again it was a successful one. I was very proud of Dave and Taunia Reed’s Agastrofos. On Saturday we won a very competitive PSG class with a 74.7%. On Sunday we rode in the USEF Developing Horse Qualifier and were narrowly beat out of first place by only a tenth of a point, still earning a 69.4%. I could not have been happier with Aga’s performance both days,” Parra said.

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Awards, Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Wellington Rider Stephanie Frederick Wins Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at International Horse Sport Dressage Show

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Stephanie Frederick won the Premier Sportsmanship Award at the International Horse Sport Dressage Show. Josh Zorn presented the award on behalf of Premier Equestrian. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Loxahatchee, FL (April 8, 2011) – Wellington rider Stephanie Frederick had a smile on her face while competing Valentino Flemming at the International Horse Sport Dressage Show, and that smile helped Frederick ride away with the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award. Sponsored by Premier Equestrian, a leading supplier of dressage arenas, horse jumps, arena footing and stable accessories, the Premier Sportsmanship Award is awarded to a rider who displays a high level of sportsmanship during a show.

Frederick was thrilled to win the Premier Sportsmanship Award and shared her secret to being a good sport. “You need to stick with it and be positive. If you want it badly enough you need to keep working hard at it and eventually you will get there,” Frederick said.

Frederick, who was awarded a pair of German-designed Roeckl gloves from Premier Equestrian for winning the Sportsmanship Award, added that having her parents attend the show also put a smile on her face. “My parents, Jim and Cindy Frederick, are my biggest supporters,” she said.

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Miss Lucy and Jersey Boy Take Championship Honors with Jennifer Alfano at Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show

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Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy at Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show Photo By: Heather Bellock/PMG.

Katy TX – April 7, 2011 – Today was another beautiful, sunny day for riders at the Spring Gathering Charity Horse Show held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center. This morning the professional hunter divisions wrapped up in the Main Indoor and awarded championship honors. Jennifer Alfano, Tamara Provost, and Erynn Ballard secure championship honors with impressive performances.

Jennifer Alfano took home the championship award in the Second Year Green Hunter Division aboard Helen Lenahan’s Miss Lucy. Alfano and Miss Lucy earned first and second place in their over fences classes and won the under saddle class yesterday. Today the pair earned two blue ribbons and accumulated an impressive 46 points to secure the championship honors.

“Miss Lucy was great; I was really thrilled with her. Yesterday, she was a little fresh, but still jumped great. She was definitely a little up, but today she was really relaxed and she felt great,” noted Alfano. “I thought the courses were nice. I thought the handy rode really nicely and I liked the courses. This is the first time I have shown here and I love it. I love this ring it is really fun and nice to ride in and the footing is good.”

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Caroline Roffman Lives Up to FEI Prediction While Competing at International Horse Sport Champions Cup CDI3*

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Caroline Roffman rode Bon Chance to victory in the FEI Young Horse Test for Six-Year-Olds at the International Horse Sport Champions Cup CDI3* show. (Photo courtesy of Susan J Stickle)

Loxahatchee, FL (April 7, 2011) – When the International Equestrian Federation awarded dressage rider Caroline Roffman with the 2010 FEI Rising Star Award they said Roffman was “one of the brightest hopes of the U.S. Dressage community.” Roffman lived up to their prediction at the International Horse Sport Champions Cup CDI3* at Equestrian Estates in Loxahatchee, riding into the winner’s circle again and again and taking home high scores on several of her horses.

“I could not have imagined a show going much better for my horses than the Champions Cup. All of my horses made good progress from the last show and really showed me they are on track for success in their prospective levels,” Roffman said. “I showed three horses in two classes each and finished first in all six classes with qualifying scores.”

Roffman rode into the winner’s circle on Pie in the FEI Test of Choice class with a score of 69.412 and in the USEF Developing Horse class with a score of 71.618. “Pie did his first two Developing Horse classes and showed me he is very capable of doing this level quite well. He continues to gain confidence inside the show arena and I am excited for his future,” Roffman said.

Continue reading Caroline Roffman Lives Up to FEI Prediction While Competing at International Horse Sport Champions Cup CDI3* →