Category Archives: *Featured/Spotlights

Special features, spotlights, headlines

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

Megan Jones’ Bid for HSBC Classics Points Gets Off to Perfect Start in Adelaide

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Megan Jones (AUS) in the lead after Dressage at HSBC FEI Classics in Adelaide. Jenny Barnes Photography/FEI.

Adelaide (AUS), 18 November 2011 – Experience leads the way after the Dressage phase of the Deloitte Australian International 3 Day Event, the second leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2012 series calendar.

Crowd favourite and home town girl Megan Jones heads the leader board after the Dressage in the 4* competition riding her home-bred Kirby Park Irish Jester.

“It was exciting to be back at Adelaide with Jester,” commented Jones after her posting a winning score of 43.30. It was far from his best Dressage mark, but Jones was delighted to be in the driving seat again with her 2005 Adelaide 4* winner.

And relief it must be, as the 2006 world and 2008 Olympic team silver medalist almost died after a severe bout of travel sickness on the way to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky last year.

Now, with five months preparation time and two pre-Adelaide competitions, this weekend will prove the test to determine the possibility of the 18-year-old Jester having another crack at the Olympic Games. At the end of day one Jones was glad “he remembered how to do it”.

Continue reading Megan Jones’ Bid for HSBC Classics Points Gets Off to Perfect Start in Adelaide →

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

Australia’s First HSBC FEI Classics Attracts Stellar Cast

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HSBC FEI Classics 2012 current leader William Fox-Pitt on Cross Country day at Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA), the season opener.

Lausanne (SUI), 16 November 2011 – The Australians and New Zealanders are grasping their chance to capitalise on the HSBC FEI Classics, which offers the single biggest prize in Eventing, at the second leg of the 2012 season taking place this weekend at the Adelaide International 3 Day Event in South Australia (18-20 November).

This is the first time Adelaide has been part of the HSBC FEI Classics, which incorporates the world’s six CCI4*s. The 2011/2012 season will then travel to Kentucky (USA) next spring and climax at Burghley (GBR) in September.

“The Australian International 3 Day Event is the country’s ultimate equestrian competition,” explained Event Director and dual Olympic gold medalist Gillian Rolton (AUS).

“Adelaide has hosted this hallmark event for the last thirteen years and this year we’re ecstatic to be hosting the prestigious HSBC FEI Classics for the very first time.

Continue reading Australia’s First HSBC FEI Classics Attracts Stellar Cast →

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

United States Para-Equestrian Team Wins Gold at 2011 CPEDI3* in Mexico City

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Jonathan Wentz on NTEC Richter Scale (2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion). Photos © 2011 Lindsay Y McCall

Mexico City, Mexico – November 15, 2011 – Sitting aboard a horse with unbelievable mountain views from all angles in a brand new facility was what eighteen para-equestrians experienced at the most recent CPEDI3* event. The red carpet was rolled out for United States Para-Equestrian Team at the 2011 CPEDI3* in Mexico City, Mexico at Rancho San Juan.  Eighteen Para-Equestrians competed under five stringent judges for their respective country November 10-12, 2011.  The five countries represented were Mexico, United States, Venezuela, Norway, and Argentina. The United States Team included Chef d’Equipe Kai Handt, Para-Equestrian Donna Ponessa (Grade Ia), Jonathan Wentz (Grade Ib), and Dale Dedrick (Grade III) who gave flawless interpretations of their tests to take home the Team Gold for the United States.

This competition was unique because they did not ride their own mounts, each of the para-equestrians rode a horse that was graciously donated by The Mexico Para-Equestrian Team.  The United States Para-Equestrian Team rode horses donated by The Baitenmanns (Erica Baitenmann is a Mexico Para-Equestrian rider).  Besides earning the Team Gold the United States Para-Equestrians excelled individually as well.  Donna Ponessa of New Windsor, NY captured gold medals in Grade Ia Freestyle, Individual, and Team competition while riding Gecko, USEF 2011 Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion Jonathan Wentz from Tyler, TX also earned three gold medals in each Grade Ib test aboard Ariello, Grade II rider, Dale Dedrick from Ann Arbor, MI earned the Silver Medal on Bruno in Mexico City rounding out a spectacular weekend for the United States.

Continue reading United States Para-Equestrian Team Wins Gold at 2011 CPEDI3* in Mexico City →

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Dressage, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Para-Equestrian

United States Para-Equestrian Team Talks 2012 on Dover’s World November 15, 2011

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Donna Ponessa on Otto. Photos © 2011 Lindsay Y McCall

Wellington, FL – November 15, 2011 – Premiering Tuesday, November 15, 2011, on Dover’s World will be the United States Para-Equestrian Team. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. two hours will be devoted to discussing the eighth international equestrian discipline, Para-Dressage. Anyone interested in calling in to the broadcast may call 561-844-6167 or 800-889-0267.

Three important Para-Equestrian organizers and one Para-Dressage rider will be on hand to answer questions and to discuss the sport of Para-Dressage.  Those four include USEF Director of Para-Equestrian Pam Lane, Chef d’Equipe of the 2010 Para-Dressage Team Missy Ransehousen, the President of the United States Para-Equestrian Association, Hope Hand, and Donna Ponessa who is a Grade Ia Para-Dressage equestrian.  Donna has had an exciting year with top results in California, New York, and recently she earned Gold in all three tests in Mexico City at the CPEDI3*.  Donna was also part of the United States Team alongside Jonathan Wentz and Dale Dedrick who recently won a Team Gold in Mexico City on November 12.

Listeners may call in around 7:20 p.m. to speak with Rober Dover, Pam, Missy, Hope, or Donna about the future of Para-Dressage.

Continue reading United States Para-Equestrian Team Talks 2012 on Dover’s World November 15, 2011 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Classic Company, Classic Company, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Atlanta Fall Classics – Week One

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Patricia Hennessy and Little Tom Win $25,000 Barry Lane Memorial Jumper Classic; Megan Edrick and Cadence Victorious in $25,000 EMO Insurance Grand Prix

Patricia Hennessy & Little Tom ©Flashpoint Photography

Conyers, GA — Nov 13, 2011 — The 10th Annual Barry Lane Memorial Jumper Classic kicked off the action of the Atlanta Fall Classics at the Georgia International Horse Park. “This is always a personal event to the horse show staff. Barry Lane was not only a great supporter of the Atlanta events, but a dear friend to many of us. We all feel her presence here and hope she’s enjoying this class,” Bob Bell, President of Classic Company, said. This year’s Jumper Classic boasted 59 entries.

The format of the classic was changed this year, Bell explained. “For the past eight years we’ve offered $25,000 in a single classic to the Adult and Children jumpers but rules have changed, so rather than give up our Barry Lane Memorial we ran it as two classes. The first on Saturday evening under the lights of the Olympic arena for $10,000 and the second class on Sunday afternoon prior to the Grand Prix for $15,000. They were both a great success.”

Continue reading Atlanta Fall Classics – Week One →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group

Katie Robinson and Rock Steady Garner Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship at Alltech NHS

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Katie Robinson and Rock Steady won the Amateur Owner 36 & Over Working Hunter Championship at the Alltech National Horse Show. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

East Aurora, NY – November 14, 2011 – Katie Robinson of Deeridge Farm capped off an excellent 2011 show season at the Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, held at the Alltech Arena in Lexington, KY, from November 2-6, 2011. After claiming the Amateur-Owner 36 and Over Hunter Championship at the 2011 Capital Challenge Horse Show, Robinson continued her winning ways aboard Rock Steady to win the division’s championship prize at the Alltech National Horse Show.

Robinson, of Bronxsville, NY, was very consistent with Rock Steady, winning the handy class and the under saddle class. Their wonderful effort earned them the Amateur-Owner 36 and Over Hunter Championship title.

“This is a great way to finish up the year,” said Robinson. “I love the ring, and I think Rock Steady did, too. It was big, the footing was great, the jumps were really pretty, and it was so much fun to be showing of there. My plan going into the handy was to be as prompt with the turns and as lively as possible. I’ve ridden him for just about a year, we had a great Florida, and we really clicked from the beginning. He’s my type, he just keeps galloping and he’s really fun.”

The Alltech National Horse Show marked the end of the 2011 show season for Robinson, but she will continue to compete with her family’s Deeridge Farm in 2012 during the prestigious Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

Media Contact: Mason Phelps
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389  fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group, Wellington Classic Dressage

Totilas to Make Exclusive Appearance at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach

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Germany's Matthias Alexander Rath and Totilas will be competing at the 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach. Photo By: John Flannagan

Wellington, FL – November 10, 2011 – Totilas, the reigning Dressage World Champion and current world record holder in the Grand Prix Freestyle, is coming to the 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach. His appearance at the prestigious WDM CDI5*’s only event in North America, at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center on January 26 to 29, 2012. This will be the ONLY public appearance of this legendary stallion during his visit to North America. The WDM Palm Beach CDI5* will run concurrently with the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CDI3*/CPEI3*. The World Dressage Masters CDI5* presented by Axel Johnson Group is the world’s premier dressage series, with over half a million dollars in prize money, and each show boasts over 100,000 Euros in prize money.

With his current rider, Germany’s Matthias Alexander Rath, Totilas won the CHIO Aachen 2011 in July; Totilas and Rath went on to help the German Team win a silver medal at the European Dressage Championships in August. The WDM Palm Beach will launch Rath’s and Totilas 2012 competition season, which is directed towards the London 2012 Olympics. Totilas is an 11 year old KWPN stallion co-owned by renowned German Olympic Show Jumper and breeder Paul Schockemöhle and German Olympic Dressage rider Ann-Katrin Linsenhof.

Continue reading Totilas to Make Exclusive Appearance at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach →

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Jacksonville Winter Series, Show Jumping

2012 Jacksonville Winter Series

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We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the 2012 Jacksonville Winter Series. There are many notable changes this year and we expect that you will be as excited about them as we are. Jumper Exhibitors will be pleased to find that each of the three weeks will feature a $5,000 Welcome Class in addition to a $25,000 Grand Prix. Hunter Exhibitors will be equally excited to find that each week also features a $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Classic, in addition to the usual division classics. The Wounded Warrior Project, a national organization that helps injured service members, will be the beneficiary of Week 2. We are thrilled to partner up with such a worthy cause. The $5,000 Equitation Classic will be an additional highlight of week 2, and should be a distinctive complement to the circuit’s standard classes. Week 3 will not be outdone with special class offerings, but the spotlight will likely be stolen by the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. We are delighted to be the host of this distinctive class for the second year in a row. Additional offerings of week 3 include the $5,000 Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic, $500 Circuit High Point Hunter & $500 Circuit High Point Jumper. You might also take note that the World Cup Qualifier is missing this year; however, we strongly feel, and expect that you will agree, that this change will allow us to switch the focus back to our main exhibitors and provide a smooth schedule jam packed with special offerings and prize money galore! We truly hope that you, our exhibitors, will appreciate and enjoy the changes and special offerings we have arranged for 2012. As always, we look forward to seeing familiar faces and to making new friends.

Continue reading 2012 Jacksonville Winter Series →

*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Jessica Springsteen Takes Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Title at Alltech National Horse Show

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Jessica Springsteen and Cincinnati La Silla, 3rd $250,000 ANHS GP. Photo by Shawn McMillen

Lexington, Kentucky – November 20, 2011 – Part of the sizzle of a breathtaking Saturday night of world-class show jumping at this year’s Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky, was the awarding of the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider title.

The 2011 title was awarded to one of the nation’s fastest rising stars, Jessica Springsteen of Colts Neck, New Jersey.

The Alltech National Horse Show concluded on Sunday, November 6, after a highly successful five day inaugural run at the Alltech Arena at the world-renowned Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, site of last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Jolicoeur’s award was presented on Saturday night, following the victory gallop for the $250,000 Alltech National Horse Show Grand Prix. Richard Spooner of California, riding Cristallo, raced to the primetime win.

Continue reading Jessica Springsteen Takes Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Title at Alltech National Horse Show →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Polo, Revolution Sports

La Dolfina Wins 2011 Hurlingham Open Final, Argentina, in a Dramatic 19-18 Win

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La Dolfina and Ellerstina faced off, once again, in an Open Championship Final for the second time in one month. Following a closely fought Tortugas Open Final, where Ellerstina snatched victory away from La Dolfina with a last-second goal, the two teams were ready for a repeat match.

The first two chukkas saw both teams go head-to-head, with all eight players displaying enormously high levels of skill and class in a closely fought competition. It wasn’t until the third chukka that La Dolfina broke away following a string of goals from Adolfo Cambiaso and Pablo MacDonough.

Leading the next four chukkas, La Dolfina extended their lead to 19-14 in the final chukka, and looked certain to secure their first Open Final win of 2011. However, when Ellerstina’s, Facundo Pieres, scored four goals La Dolfina’s lead was reduced to 19-18. With only seconds remaining La Dolfina defended the ball deep in their own half following wave after wave of attacks from Ellerstina to win the match at the final bell.

Continue reading La Dolfina Wins 2011 Hurlingham Open Final, Argentina, in a Dramatic 19-18 Win →