Category Archives: Events

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

2011 USEF Junior Hunter National Championships – East Coast Returns to HITS-on-the-Hudson

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©Lili Weik Photography. Taylor Ann Adams is congratulated after winning the 2009 Essex Classics/USHJA Hunterdon Cup at HITS Saugerties.

Wildcard Berths for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final to Be Awarded to Champion Riders from Each of the Four Junior Hunter Sections

SAUGERTIES, NY (January 28, 2011) — HITS, Inc. is pleased to announce that the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has selected HITS-on-the-Hudson to be the host site for the 2011 Junior Hunter National Championships – East Coast, marking the return of the event to HITS facility for the sixth time in the past seven years.

The 2011 USEF Junior Hunter Championships – East Coast will be held August 1-3, between HITS-on-the-Hudson V and VI, at the HITS-on-the-Hudson show grounds in Saugerties, New York. The Championships will feature competition for all four sections of Junior Hunters: Small Juniors 15 and Under, Large Juniors 15 and Under, Small Juniors 16-17 and Large Juniors 16-17. Also held during this competition is the popular and prestigious Hunterdon Cup, which offers an exciting equitation championship for junior riders. Equitation classes will kick things off with the USEF/Pessoa Hunter Seat Medal, the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Medal, and the WIHS Equitation Classic taking place the first day of competition.

Continue reading 2011 USEF Junior Hunter National Championships – East Coast Returns to HITS-on-the-Hudson →

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

Scott Stewart and Touchdown Score Week 3 Championship in Green Conformation Hunters

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Scott Stewart and Touchdown are the Green Conformation Hunter champions during the third week of the 2011 FTI WEF. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 27, 2011 – The third week of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3, is into its second day of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The Green Conformation Hunters awarded their championship today in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring.

The sun was shining today as the Green Conformation Hunter division awarded Scott Stewart of Flemington, NJ, top honors. Stewart was aboard his own entry Touchdown, a six-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Quattro B. Stewart rode to the tricolor among a starting field of eight entries.

Stewart was off to a great start on Wednesday, the first day of competition, when he and Touchdown won both over fences classes and placed fifth under saddle. The pair won another over fences class the second day of competition and was fifth in the remaining class of the division.

Continue reading Scott Stewart and Touchdown Score Week 3 Championship in Green Conformation Hunters →

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

Darragh Kenny and Gael Force Gallop to Victory in $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 3

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Darragh Kenny and Gael Force won the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 3 at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 27, 2011 – Irish rider Darragh Kenny and Gael Force, owned by Missy Clark and North Run, earned top honors in round three of the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup on Thursday afternoon at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Sponsored by Nespresso, the WEF is in its third of 12 weeks of competition at the beautiful Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). The circuit will continue through April 3, 2011.

Olaf Petersen, Sr. of Germany is designing the courses in the International Arena for week three and set a great course for the afternoon’s competition. Eight of the original 42 horse and rider combinations jumped clear to advance to the jump-off round.

Competitors were then asked to navigate a short course that displayed dynamic speed and power. Four were able to jump double clear, and it was the fastest round of Darragh Kenny and Gael Force in 43.31 seconds that earned top honors. The pair left out a stride in the last line that made the difference.

Continue reading Darragh Kenny and Gael Force Gallop to Victory in $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 3 →

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

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 – Round 9, Preview

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STAUT CONTINUES TO LEAD STANDINGS AS ROLEX JUMPING SERIES RESUMES IN ZURICH by Louise Parkes

Zurich (SUI), 27 January 2011 – World No. 1, Kevin Staut, continues to lead the Western European League standings as the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series resumes this weekend in Zurich following a four-week break.  And, although he is already well-qualified for the final which will take place in Leipzig, Germany from 27 April to 1 May, the Frenchman is listed amongst the star-studded field of competitors at the popular Swiss fixture.

Riders from 19 countries will line out in the preliminary competition which will decide Sunday’s start-list, and the home contingent includes 2010 Zurich champion Steve Guerdat who, despite five outings so far this season, has collected only 15 qualifying points and has plenty more to do if he is to make the cut into the final.  Staut has collected a massive 87 points so far, thanks to good results at all but one of the qualifiers to date and to his victory in Geneva in December.  Riders are likely to need at least 40 points to have the chance of finishing within the top-18 qualifying group when the Western European league draws to a close at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands at the end of March.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13058

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

Jax Gulf Atlanta Spring Updates

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Jacksonville Winter III has a new schedule; it is available in the office and on the Classic Company and NFHJA website. Click here for the update: http://www.classiccompany.com/zdocs/jax_sch.pdf.

Gulf Coast Winter Circuit — Feb 9 – Mar 13, 2011

Had a great trip to Gulfport yesterday and the grounds are looking great for our event.  Closing date is Tuesday February 1st.  Make sure we have your stall and camper reservations soon.  The tents are up for the stalls that have been ordered but to keep costs down this year, we are only putting up the number of stalls that are reserved.  Call 843 768 5503 for information or reservations.

Atlanta Spring Classic — Mar 23 – Apr 3

The prize list is being mailed this week.  Two weeks of AA shows with $25k Grand Prix classes.  The prize list is also online: http://www.classiccompany.com/showdocs.php#asp.

See you at the rings,

Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd.
www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX:  (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311  Johns Island  SC 29457

*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, Show Jumping, World Equestrian Games

Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) Receives 2010 Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Diploma

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Rodrigo Pessoa competing in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Photo © Dirk Caremans

Lausanne (SUI), 27 January 2011 – Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) was tonight awarded the 2010 Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Diploma for his generous act of fair play during the Rolex Final Four to decide the individual Jumping medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games last October.

The Brazilian Jumping rider, 1998 World and 2004 Olympic champion, and triple FEI World Cup winner was one of the final four fighting for the individual gold. The other challengers were 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze of Canada, Belgium’s Philippe Lejeune, who had taken part in four FEI World Equestrian Games and eight FEI European Championships, and the young Saudi rider Abdullah Sharbatly for whom competition at this level was a first. While Sharbatly was getting ready to ride Pessoa’s horse Rebozza, he asked the far more experienced Brazilian for some guidance. Pessoa explained at length how to ride the horse, pointed out the most difficult fences, and gave his opponent advice on how to tackle the course. The Saudi rider used Pessoa’s advice to great effect, going on to secure the silver medal, while Rodrigo finished in fourth place just out of the medals. His generous spirited gesture was acknowledged by loud applause from the spectators in Kentucky.

Pessoa is one of three 2010 Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Diploma recipients, the other two being Bulgarian judo player Yoana Damyanova and triathlete Raquel Mafra Rocha of Portugal, both of whom competed in the first edition of the Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore last year. Football player Amin Motavassel Zadeh from Iran, decathlete Darius Draudvila from Lithuania and Chinese wrestler Gao Feng were awarded the 2010 Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Trophy.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13055

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

HH Palouchin and Rodrigo Pessoa Score Win in $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers

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Rodrigo Pessoa and HH Palouchin won the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers during the second week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 26, 2011 – The third week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) began today. In the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumper class, Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and his always speedy HH Palouchin, owned by Double H Farm, brought home the win.

The third week of the FTI WEF continues through Sunday, January 30. The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition through April 3, 2011, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit. The highlight jumper class is Saturday night’s $40,000 Surpass Grand Prix, CSI 2* at 7 p.m.

This week’s course designer in the International Arena is Olaf Petersen of Germany. There were 31 entries in the class, and 10 of those were clear to lead the top ribbons.

Pessoa and HH Palouchin (formerly named Palouchin de Ligny, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Baloubet du Rouet x Chin Chin) have been a dynamic duo in the speed classes for many years, and this morning’s class was no different from their winning ways. They set the time to beat at 61.125 seconds.

Continue reading HH Palouchin and Rodrigo Pessoa Score Win in $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

HITS-on-the-Hudson Will Host the 2011 National PHA Medal Finals at the Marshall & Sterling League National Finals

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© Richard Killian. PHA President Mary Jane Mitchell, 2010 National PHA Junior Medal Champion Emma Schauder, and Ann Grenci.

SAUGERTIES, NY (January 26, 2011) — HITS, Inc. is pleased to announce it will host the 2011 National PHA Medal Final on Saturday, September 17 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York as part of the Marshall & Sterling League National Finals. The joining of HITS and the National PHA Medal Finals is a perfect match since the HITS-on-the-Hudson venue is a show-jumping hub for the entire North East.

The Professional Horsemen’s Association of America, Inc., otherwise known as the PHA, is a self-contained benevolent organization and consists of 16 Chapters throughout the United States with over 900 Professional members. The PHA gives aid and sustenance to needy horsemen, and has a scholarship fund which provides financial assistance to further educate the children of professional members. The PHA also continues to promote and foster the care and protection of horses through education at the local, state and federal levels.

Originally, the National PHA Medal Class Champion was decided annually based on the number of points equitation riders accumulated throughout the year with awards going to the six highest scoring junior riders. Presentations were made at the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden. Back in 1984, HITS’ own Francesca Mazella was the PHA Medal Champion, based on points won in PHA Medal classes throughout the year. Starting in 1995 the format was changed to a Medal Final, where the top 30 junior riders who accumulate the most points during the season compete in the National PHA Medal Final. The Final features a course of eight or more fences at 3’6” in height, with at least one combination including an oxer and two changes of lead after the first fence. The judge will insert two tests into the original course (USEF Tests 1-18). Further testing of the top riders is optional. The top eight placed finalists receive scholarship awards, in addition to their ribbons and trophies. In 2010, Emma Schauder of Greenwich, Connecticut was the winner of the National PHA Medal Final held at Old Salem Farm.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13051

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

Cesar Parra’s Piaffe-Performance Students Kick Off 2011 in the Winner’s Circle at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge

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Cesar Parra with his students, left to right: Mike Davis, Bebe Davis, Katie Riley, Nadine Buberl, and Chase Hickok. (Photo courtesy of Performance Farms)

Wellington, FL (January 27, 2011) – International Dressage Rider and trainer Cesar Parra was all smiles during the recent Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge Show, as his students followed in Parra’s award-winning footsteps and rode into the winner’s circle numerous times. Parra, who owns Piaffe-Performance with locations in Florida and New Jersey, had a fantastic 2010 that included breaking in his status as a new American citizen by winning his first National Championship at the USEF Dressage Festival of Champions.

“Looking back at 2010, it really was an amazing year,” Parra said. “But 2011 is already shaping up to be another fantastic experience and I am so proud of all of my students who really helped kick off the year in style at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge Show. I am so proud of each and every one of them.”

Parra’s student Michael Davis not only rode into the winner’s circle during the show, but also took home the High Point Award thanks to earning a 79.655% on Rotano in the USEF First Level Test of Choice. “I am thrilled for Michael and Rotano and they couldn’t have started off the year any better,” Parra said, adding that Michael’s wife, Sarah, and daughter, Bebe, also ride at Piaffe-Performance. “The Davis family is very special to me as they not only ride with me but I also show their horse Grandioso, who has a very bright future in the show ring. Our goal with Grandioso is to continue his training with our sights set on the 2012 Olympics in London.”

Continue reading Cesar Parra’s Piaffe-Performance Students Kick Off 2011 in the Winner’s Circle at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge →

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

Katherine Poulin’s Brilliant Too Wins TailRx “Best Tail Award” at Gold Coast Dressage Opener Festival CDI

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Katherine Poulin and Brilliant Too won the TailRx “Best Tail Award” at the Gold Coast Dressage Opener Festival CDI. Judges Charlotte Bredahl and Lorrain Stubbs presented Poulin the award. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (January 26, 2011) – Katherine Poulin’s Dutch/Thoroughbred gelding Brilliant Too showed he was brilliant during the Gold Coast Dressage Opener Festival CDI, when he not only rode away with a ribbon in the Intermediaire I class but also won the TailRx “Best Tail Award.” Sponsored by TailRx, the mane and tail restoration system for horses that can also be used on horse owners, Brilliant Too’s long and luxurious tail helped him win the highly-sought after award.

“I’m super excited that he won the Tail Rx Award because I think my horse has a great tail and I’m glad it’s getting recognized,” Poulin said, adding that her goal is to make the Pan American team with Brilliant Too.

Poulin, who lives in Cleveland, Ohio, rode Brilliant Too to third place in the large FEI Intermediaire I class. “I want to congratulate Katherine and Brilliant Too on their ride in the Intermediaire class. It was a really large class and the competition was extremely stiff,” said Mary Brunetti, founder of TailRx. “I also agree with Katherine that her horse has an amazing tail. While many horses are born with tails like that, horses everywhere can now have tails like Brilliant Too’s thanks to TailRx.”

Continue reading Katherine Poulin’s Brilliant Too Wins TailRx “Best Tail Award” at Gold Coast Dressage Opener Festival CDI →