Category Archives: *Featured/Spotlights

Special features, spotlights, headlines

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI

Cornelissen and Parzival Are Mighty at Mechelen

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Defending series champions, Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival from The Netherlands, were emphatic winners of the sixth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 series at Mechelen in Belgium today. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.

Mechelen (BEL), 28 December 2011 – Defending series champions, Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival from The Netherlands, scored an emphatic victory on their seasonal debut at the sixth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 series in Mechelen, Belgium today.  With a performance that oozed class and confidence, they threw down a score of 85.325 that left them more than five points clear of the runner-up partnership of Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic.  But it was the Swedish rider who took maximum points to rocket even further ahead at the top of the leaderboard with just three more legs left to go.

As winner of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage title, Cornelissen is already qualified for the 2011/2012 decider which will take place on her home soil at ‘s-Hertogenbosch next April, and is therefore not entitled to accumulate points in the current season.  Kittel, meanwhile, looks likely to have three horses to choose from going to the final following a highly impressive run of form in recent months.

Germany’s Nadine Capellmann slotted into third today with Elvis, while Dutchman Hans Peter Minderhoud finished fourth with Withney van het Genthof.  Best of the strong Belgian contingent was Jeroen Devroe who steered Apollo van het Vijvershof into fifth.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Equine Assisted Therapy, Events, Phelps Media Group

Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center Hosts First Palm Beach School for Autism Horse Show

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Students were awarded ribbons for their efforts during the PBSFA Horse Show hosted by the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center. (From left to right) Ms. Nora, Ray S., Garron M. and Stephen A. Photo by Kendall Bierer/PMG

Loxahatchee, FL – December 27, 2011 – The Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center (VTRC) held its first Palm Beach School for Autism Horse Show on Tuesday, December 20, 2011. The students have been participating in a recently developed program by the VTRC and the Palm Beach School for Autism (PBSFA) over the last eight weeks, using the therapeutic effectiveness of the horses to assist the children with their sensory abilities.

The PBSFA Horse Show marked the first event to take place in the VTRC’s Covered Arena. Executive Director of the VTRC Ruth Menor acted as the judge and announcer for the event. Each student, with the help of a volunteer, showed what he or she had learned over the past two months, completing pole bending exercises, holding two-point over cavelettis, and posting during the trot.

“The parents are thrilled with this program,” PBSFA teacher Mary Muth said. “A lot of our parents have students who have sensory issues and are not very comfortable with animals. Our students have really opened up with the horses over the past eight weeks; they look very natural on the horses and they are totally comfortable. The horses are great at sensing the students, and knowing how to make them feel more at ease. I feel confident in saying that the staff and horses at Vinceremos are very skilled at working with children with Autism; it takes special skills to make it a success for everyone.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Art/Photography, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group

Susan Stickle to Be Official Photographer at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach

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Photos: Susan J. Stickle Photos

Wellington, FL – December 23, 2011 – Award-winning equestrian photographer Susan Stickle will be the official photographer at the 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, which will take place at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center on January 26th to 28th 2012.

Stickle, who has photographed the world’s top horses and riders at such events as the Olympics, World Equestrian Games and World Cup Finals, was also the official photographer for the 2011 WDM Palm Beach. Her images have appeared in virtually every major equestrian publication in the English speaking world. “I’m very flattered to be back to the WDM again this year,” says Stickle. “Shooting the likes of Ravel and Totilas, and the many other top international horses that are coming to Florida to compete, is a great honor.”

The 2012 WDM Palm Beach will feature a much-anticipated show-down between the defending 2011 WDM Palm Beach Champion, Steffen Peters of the US on Akiko Yamazaki’s Ravel, and the current world-record holding World Champion Totilas with his new rider, Germany’s Matthias Rath. In addition to Totilas and Ravel, a total of 20 of the world’s top horses from across North America and Europe will compete for the biggest purse in North American dressage, €100,000 (US $130,000). The highlight of the WDM Palm Beach will be the Grand Prix Freestyle on the evening of January 28th, where the top eight pairs from the Grand Prix test the previous day will perform their custom-choreographed musical programs.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Endurance Riding, Events, FEI, Show Jumping

Triple-Gold for Qatar, Double-Gold for Emirates, and Saudi Arabia Takes Team Jumping Title

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Saudi Arabia won the team Jumping title at the Arab Games 2011. Pictured (L to R) are team-members Kamal Bahamdan, HH Prince Faisal Al Shalan, HRH Prince Abdullah Al Saud, and Khaled Al Eid. Photo: Reuters.

Doha (QAT), 23 December 2011 – The host nation took double-gold in Dressage as well as the Individual Jumping title while the United Arab Emirates proved unbeatable in Endurance and Saudi Arabia scooped the team Jumping honours at the 12th Arab Games staged in Doha, Qatar from 6 to 23 December. This was the first time for Qatar to host the event which is staged on a four-year cycle and embraces 24 different sports. Khalifa International Stadium was the main competition venue, but the equestrian activities took place at the Al-Shaqab Arena and at the Mesaieed Endurance Course, with keen rivalry in all three disciplines.

Equestrian sport joined the Arab Games at Rabat, Malta in 1985 and subsequently visited Damascus, Syria in 1992, Beirut, Lebanon in 1997, Amman, Jordan in 1999, Algiers, Algeria in 2004 and Cairo, Egypt in 2007. Jumping has been included on the schedule since 1985, with Endurance joining the programme in 1999 and Dressage in 2007. FEI President, HRH Princess Haya, won individual Jumping bronze at Damascus in 1992.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, USEF

Elizabeth Busch Burke: 1935-2011

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Lexington, KY – Elizabeth Busch Burke, one of the country’s most celebrated equestrian supporters and granddaughter of August A. Busch, Sr., co-founder of Anheuser-Busch, passed away on December 20, 2011, surrounded by her family and friends. Burke was 76.

Over her lifetime, Burke’s passion for equestrian sport and her involvement in the hunter/jumper discipline were legendary. As one of the heirs to the Budweiser Empire, her commitment to financially supporting a long list of events and championships was a great benefit to the sport. A short list of her philanthropic support of such events includes the Budweiser American Invitational, the Budweiser AGA Championship, the Budweiser Grand Prix of the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, the Budweiser Grand Prix of the Devon Horse Show, and the Budweiser World Cup Qualifier at the Syracuse Invitational. She also worked on the administrative side of the sport as a member of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Board of Directors, and she was an inductee into the Show Hunter Hall of Fame.

Her involvement extended as owner of some of the sport’s top horses, as well. Burke was the proud owner of Olympic Games mount Authentic, ridden by Beezie Madden. She also owned many champion show hunters.

Funeral arrangements will be held December 28 at 1 p.m. at Trinity Church in Upperville, VA. A reception will follow in Cox Hall.

United States Equestrian Federation | 4047 Iron Works Parkway | Lexington | KY | 40511

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Competitions, Dressage, Equestrian Assistance, Events, Seminars

College Preparatory Invitational Competition and Seminars to Be Held at the 2012 WEF

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Wellington, FL – December 22, 2011 – The College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) will be a feature event on January 13-15 during the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The second annual CPI Horse Show will be larger, allowing more riders to compete, and will include dressage classes and more educational opportunities for participants. Equestrian Sport Productions is proud to be a sponsor of the College Preparatory Invitational and looks forward to welcoming new and returning riders to this year’s event.

In addition to increasing the number of riders accepted at the CPI, organizers are also pleased to announce that the number of scholarships for the 2012 horse show has increased. A total of five scholarships will be awarded this year, rewarding the young riders on their social conduct and academic success, as well as competitive success. In total, there will be five scholarships awarded to eligible CPI participants, including: CPI Horsemanship Test Award, CPI High Point Hunt Seat Equitation Rider, CPI Essay Contest, CPI Champion of Service Award, and CPI High Point Dressage Rider.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping

Saudi Equestrian Win Jumping Team Gold at the 2011 Arab Games in Doha, Qatar

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Kamal Bahamdan, HH Prince Faisal Al Shalan, HRH Prince Abdullah Al Saud, and Khaled Aleid celebrate on the podium after winning the gold medal in the equestrian team final. (Reuters)

22 December 2011 – Saudi Arabia’s Jumping team – Saudi Equestrian – yesterday won the Jumping team gold medal at the 2011 Arab Games in Doha, Qatar.

The Saudi Equestrian team in Doha comprised four riders – HRH Prince Abdullah, HH Prince Faisal, Kamal Bahamdan, and Khaled Al Eid – and their respective horses – Senorita, Aphrodite van het Texelhof, Noblesse des Tess, and Van Hoeve.

All four Saudi Equestrian riders went clear in the Team Jumping Round 1 and at the end of the first stage they were joined at the top of the leader board by Qatar, Egypt, and UAE, who also accrued no team penalty points. The Qatari rider, Mubarak Al Rumaihi, put one fence down; however, the competition’s rules dictate that team’s take into account their three best scores.

In the Team Jumping Round 2, Saudi Equestrian’s efforts were again equalled by the teams from Qatar, Egypt and UAE – all four teams again managing to accrue no team penalty points, which meant that the teams were tied at the top. The competition therefore progressed to a jump-off, which was to ultimately decide the gold, silver and bronze medal winners.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, EQUUS Foundation, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, USEF

Alexis Conover Earns $1,500 Grant through USEF Equestrians in Action

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Alexis Conover

Lexington, KY – Sixteen-year-old Alexis Conover (New Port Richey, FL) volunteered more than 1,300 hours to accrue the most time of all participants in the new United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Equestrians in Action volunteer recognition program.

USEF Equestrians in Action tracks youth volunteer hours that are aimed at improving the welfare of the horse or positively promoting equestrian sport. Sponsored by The EQUUS Foundation, the program encourages youth to give back to equestrian sport – at horse shows, equine promotional events, equine businesses or organizations, trade fairs, therapeutic riding clinics, horse rescue, and 4-H events.

As the participant with the most volunteer hours in 2011, Conover earned a $1,500 grant for her academic or equestrian educational pursuits. A Hunter exhibitor, Conover volunteered her time at Straight Forward Farm, helping care for and train the farm’s rescue horses.  With dual enrollment in River Ridge High School and Pasco-Hernando Community College, Conover balances her horse involvement with academics.  She has completed two stars of the USEF High School Equestrian Athlete program and is a member of the National Honor and Merit Scholars Society, National Society of High School Scholars, Science Honor Society, and Future Business Leaders of America.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Para-Equestrian, USEF

The US Para-Equestrian Team Records Third CPEDI3* Victory of the Year in Record Fashion

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The Gold United States Para-Equestrian Team. Photo: Hope Hand/USPEA.

Lexington, KY – The U.S. Para-Equestrian Team continued to make strides in qualifying for the 2012 Paralympic Games by winning Team Gold at the 2011 Melbourne CPEDI3* held in conjunction with the Saddle World Dressage Festival. The U.S. was represented by Donna Ponessa, Becca Hart, Erin Alberda, and Mary Jordan all riding borrowed horses at the competition held December 8-11 at the National Equestrian Centre in Werribee, Victoria. The team win came in spectacular fashion as the four riders earned the highest overall team score that the U.S. has ever produced. Australia place second with New Zealand and Japan placing third and fourth, respectively.

The winning was not limited to the team competition – U.S. riders finished no lower than second in any of the tests they rode.  In Grade 1a competition, Ponessa (New Windsor, NY) produced three winning efforts riding Miike Setsuko’s Don Armani to scores of 70.588%, 69.5% and 68.5% in the Team Test, Individual Test and Freestyle, respectively.  Alberda of Woodinville, WA, also had a clean sweep of her Grade III division tests scoring 66.913% in the Team Test, 65.556% for the Individual Test and earning a 71.5% Freestyle score with Adele Plumbridge’s Southern Cross Tamaris.  Grade IV rider, Jordan (Wells, ME) produced second-place efforts in the Team Test, Individual Test and Freestyle riding Elainie Castiellini’s Northern Charmer to scores of 64.271%, 65.161% and 68%, respectively.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group, USEF

International Horse Sport Palm Beach Launches 2012 Season with New Footing

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The USEF committee, Ann Gribbons, Eva Salomon and Heather Blitz, inspected the footing of the rings at the IHS Champions Park at the Equestrian Estates. (L to R) Ann Gribbons, Eva Salomon, Noreen O'Sullivan, Heather Blitz, Lars Petersen, Edward Borreson and John Flanagan. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group

Wellington, FL – December 19, 2012 – International Horse Sport Palm Beach is ready to launch its 2012 season with new footing in all of the rings at The IHS Champions Park at Equestrian Estates, site of the Palm Beach Dressage Derby and IHS Series Shows. The first to view and approve this tremendous upgrade was an elite committee representing the United States Equestrian Federation.

The committee, consisting of Eva Salomon, Director of High Performance Dressage, Ann Gribbons, USEF Team Coach for Dressage, and FEI rider representative Heather Blitz, inspected the footing in the FEI competition and warm-up rings last week and recommended approval to the Dressage and Executive Committees of USEF.

The beautiful property in White Fences, which is owned by Mary Ann and Walter McPhail, is managed by International Horse Sport Palm Beach. The IHS Palm Beach Managing Partners include FEI riders and trainers Ed Borresen and Lars Petersen, together with well-known show organizers Noreen O’Sullivan and John Flanagan. The IHS Champions Park consists of 10 rings suitable for national and international competition on over 50 acres, including 15 acres of parking, 150 horse stalls for the international horses and another 200 temporary stalls available for the national shows.

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