Category Archives: Events

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011

Germany's Christian Ahlmann is presented with his Rolex watch by Anthony Schaub from Rolex. Photo: FEI/Roger Svalsrod.

AHLMANN WINS AS GERMAN RIDERS DOMINATE OPENING ROLEX LEG AT OSLO by Louise Parkes

Oslo (NOR) 17 October 2010 – Christian Ahlmann won the opening leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League series at Oslo in Norway this afternoon where German riders scooped the top three places.  And Ahlmann’s victory was all-the-more creditable for the fact that the 36 year old rider suffered the tragic loss of one of his top horses, the nine year old stallion Calvados Z, earlier in the day.

“For sure today it wasn’t easy for me to ride and to concentrate on my job,” Ahlmann said after completing his victory gallop with his 10 year old stallion Taloubet Z, “but Taloubet really did his very best for me.”  It was the German master, Ludger Beerbaum, who slotted into second place ahead of Lars Nieberg in third. The first non-German in the line-up was fourth-placed Frenchman Kevin Staut, who headed Holland’s Leon Thijssen in fifth place.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12368

Calling All Charities! The Great Charity Challenge Is Back and Bigger Than Ever in 2011

Wellington, FL – October 15, 2010 – Equestrian Sport Productions and the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) are offering the chance of a lifetime to charities serving Palm Beach County. The FTI WEF will once again host the Great Charity Challenge on the evening of Saturday, February 19, and this year the goal is to raise a tremendous amount of $1 million, all of which will be donated to charity.

The Great Charity Challenge (GCC) is an exhilarating pro/am relay style jumping competition that will take place under the lights in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center to benefit 30 non-profit charities. 2010 was the event’s inaugural year, and over $560,000 was raised and donated to 24 charities that were randomly selected to participate in the event.

Teams, which are generously sponsored by families and individuals, consist of two junior/amateur riders and are anchored by one Olympic or world-class rider. Each equestrian team is assigned a charity to represent, and the charity matched with the winning team of riders will win over $100,000!

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FEI Announces All Equine Samples from Alltech FEI WEG Negative for Prohibited Substances

15 October 2010 – The FEI has announced today that all blood and urine samples taken from horses competing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games were negative for all prohibited substances.

Under FEI Veterinary Regulations, samples from a minimum of 5% of competing horses are tested, but almost 11% of the 752 horses competing in Kentucky were tested. A total of 140 samples were taken from 82 horses, with blood being taken from all 82, plus urine where possible. All individual medal horses were tested, as well as one member of each medal winning team. Random samples were also taken throughout the 16-day event.

“This is a great success for everyone involved in equestrian sport and is the best possible endorsement of the FEI’s Clean Sport Campaign,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya said. “It also proves the value of the FEI’s educational programme, as athletes and their supporters now have the knowledge to make a clear distinction between the use of routine, legitimate medication and deliberate doping to affect a horse’s performance. Everyone has a role to play in maintaining this clean record going forward.”

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Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011

New Rolex Season Gets Underway This Sunday

Oslo (NOR) 15 October 2010 – Oslo in Norway is the venue for the exciting first leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Western European League Jumping series this Sunday, October 17.

This weekend’s line-up includes six of the top-ten riders on the Rolex World Rankings including No. 1 Kevin Staut from France, Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer (No. 3), Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum (No. 7) and Marco Kutscher (No. 8), Australia’s Edwina Alexander (No. 9) and Ireland’s Jessica Kuerten (No. 10).  The riders are all keen to earn early points on the road to the series final which will take place in Leipzig, Germany from 27 April to 1 May 2011.

Marcus Ehning, a member of the German team that claimed gold in the Jumping Championship at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA just over a week ago, is the defending Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping champion.

You can watch all the action from the 13 qualifying legs, and the final, LIVE on FEI TV – don’t miss a hoof-beat!

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12364

The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Steffen Peters – Individual Bronze – USA. Photos by Diana De Rosa

Bringing the World to Kentucky

“What a journey this continues to be,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, as he sat mesmerized by the incredible talent he was witnessing on September 25 as he watched each performer showcase their talents during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  It had been four years since Dr. Lyons had made the decision for his company, Alltech, a worldwide leader in animal nutrition, health and performance, to be the first major sponsor of this event.

This day was especially significant and he wasn’t about to miss even one beat of the evening’s performances.

“As the first performers entered the arena, I felt a great sense of relief and a sense of achievement,” commented Dr. Lyons after pausing for a moment to answer the question of how significant it was to have the Games start officially. “That relief wasn’t just for me but for our people at Alltech and for WEG.  We all planned it and our people and the WEG people came together to get the job done.  It’s been a great example of a team effort.  So, how do I feel?  I feel really delighted, especially to see our people really get into it and get involved.”

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Pablo Barrios and G&C LaGran Finish in Top 30 at 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Pablo Barrios and G&C LaGran finished in the top 30 in the world at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Photo © Randi Muster/Mustphoto, Inc.

Lexington, KY – October 13, 2010 – Pablo Barrios and G&C LaGran accomplished their goal of being in the top 30 riders in the world when they made the individual final at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Lexington, KY. Barrios competed through all four individual rounds in the competition on G&C LaGran, owned by Barrios and G&C Farm. Barrios was also part of the Venezuelan team, the first time that the country has fielded a team in the world championships.

G&C Farm is based in Wellington, FL, and owned by Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal of Venezuela. Barrios, who competes for Venezuela, is also based in Wellington.

Barrios and G&C LaGran started out the WEG with a bang when they finished fourth in the opening individual speed round. Their time of 69.42 seconds was the fastest in the entire class, and with four faults converted for a final time of 73.42 seconds, they finished with a top placing.

“We had a very good speed class, the fastest time in the class,” Barrios said. “Unfortunately we had a rail, but it was enough to stay fourth. He’s a very fast horse, and that’s the kind of class that I can win. I went for it, but we were a little short.”

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Dressage Rider and World Equestrian Games Competitor Tina Konyot Interviewed on “Horsetalk with Heather” Radio Show

Dressage rider Tina Konyot, who represented the U.S. at the WEG on her black stallion Calecto V, was a guest on the “Horsetalk with Heather” radio show on Day 11 of the WEG. (Photo courtesy of PhelpsPhotos.com)

Lexington, KY (October 12, 2010) – Dressage rider Tina Konyot, who represented the United States on her magnificent stallion Calecto V in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, was a guest on the radio show “Horsetalk with Heather” on Day 11 of the World Equestrian Games. Radio show host Heather Roderick talked with Konyot about her WEG experience and her partnership with Calecto V.

Konyot described her WEG experience as “tremendous with tremendous electricity. It was wonderful to ride into that arena,” she said. “Calecto is not affected by crowds or lights so he was fine with it all.”

While Konyot finished out of the ribbons, she is pleased that her journey with Calecto took her to WEG. “I purchased Calecto four years ago at an auction. He came from a large farm and hadn’t had a lot of one-on-one attention and no one wanted him. When I got him home he didn’t have any personality at all and no muscling.”

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World Class Drivers in 2010-2011 FEI World Cup Driving

13 October 2010 – Following the success of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, the Driving world can expect more thrilling competition as the sport moves indoors for the 10th season of the FEI World Cup Driving.

Ten top class drivers, including eight from the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, will battle for the Driving World Cup title in seven competitions. For the first time ever, all three FEI World Cup Finals – the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping; the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage; and the FEI World Cup Driving – will be staged together in one venue at Leipzig in Germany.

Five World Champions

The qualification season consisted of 14 competitions throughout Europe and no less than five World Champions have qualified for the 2010-2011 season.

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Nations Qualified for London 2012 Paralympics Announced Following Alltech FEI WEG

13 October 2010 – The FEI has today announced the three nations that have qualified for the London 2012 Paralympic Games following their medal winning performances at the recently-concluded Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

A total of 11 team slots are available for the London 2012 Paralympic Dressage events, with three nations qualifying from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The three teams that have now earned their tickets to London are Great Britain, Germany and Denmark.

If Great Britain had not qualified in Kentucky, as host nation for London 2012 they would have automatically taken one of the eight further places available, leaving just seven slots to be filled. However, with Great Britain successfully qualifying last weekend, there are still another eight vacancies to be filled.

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Xanadu Dressage Riders and Their Warmblood Ponies to Take Part in Equine Extravaganza in Virginia

Audrey Maschue (right) and Deanna Dye will ride their Warmblood ponies in a dressage demonstration at the Equine Extravaganza at The Meadow Event Park in Doswell, Virginia, October 29-31. (Photo courtesy of Xanadu Dressage)

Loxahatchee, FL (October 12, 2010) – Warmblood ponies and riders from Xanadu Dressage Stables, in Loxahatchee, Florida, will take part in a dressage demonstration for Jose Mendez at the Equine Extravaganza in Virginia. The east coast equestrian horse expo will take place at The Meadow Event Park in Doswell, Virginia, October 29-31.

“Warmblood ponies are a great option for petite riders or riders who get scared on bigger horses,” said Audrey Maschue, owner and trainer at Xanadu. “Taking part in the Equine Extravaganza is a wonderful way to promote Warmblood sport ponies. We are really excited about the opportunity to get the word out that if you are a child, a small adult or just someone who would rather ride a smaller mount, then a Warmblood sport pony is the answer.”

Maschue will ride her German Riding Pony, Rolando, in the expo, while her working student, Deanna Dye, will ride a Warmblood Pony cross named Napoleon Dynamite. “While we are the Equine Extravaganza we will also have the chance to take part in the Denim and Diamonds Clinician Meet and Greet Dinner,” Maschue said. “It will be great time and a great chance to meet all of the clinicians. There will be a wine tasting, dinner, silent auction, music by Tommy Jennings and the proceeds of the auction will benefit the Virginia Museum of the Horse.”

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