Category Archives: *Featured/Spotlights

Special features, spotlights, headlines

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, More/Other, Pan American Games, Show Jumping, USEF

American Dressage Horses and Riders Arrive in Guadalajara for 2011 Pan American Games

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Despite the remnants of Hurricane Jova drenching Guadalajara, Mexico, the U.S. Dressage Team arrived without incident at the Guadalajara Country Club, the venue for the Dressage and Jumping disciplines for the 2011 Pan American Games.

The four horses, Big Tyme, Grandioso, Paragon and Weltino’s Magic arrived on Tuesday afternoon with their grooms, Dr. Rick Mitchell, the team vet, Julie Mitchell, his wife and vet tech, the Canadian horses and their team and a dressage horse from Ecuador. Tim Dutta orchestrated the effort with the help of Tex Sutton Forwarding’s crew and all of the horses arrived in great condition. After a good night’s rest they were happy and bright this morning looking for something to do.

The two-legged athletes arrived Wednesday midday, after navigating USOC Team Processing in Houston on Tuesday. They were all happy to arrive and cleared customs without issue. They came in on the same flight as The U.S. cycling and swimming teams with Chef d’Equipe Eva Salomon, Team Leader Jenny van Wieren and Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons. Steffen Peters (San Diego, CA) is an Olympic veteran at his first Pan American Games, but for Heather Blitz (Wellington, FL), Marisa Festerling (Moorpark, CA) and Cesar Parra (Whitehouse Station, NJ), it was their first trip to USOC Team Processing.

Continue reading American Dressage Horses and Riders Arrive in Guadalajara for 2011 Pan American Games →

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, EQUUS Foundation, Phelps Media Group, Washington Int'l Horse Show

The EQUUS Foundation Partners with the Washington International Horse Show to Support Kids’ Day

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Photos courtesy of the Washington International Horse Show.

WESTPORT, CT – October 12, 2011 – The EQUUS Foundation is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) in support of its Kids’ Day on Saturday, October 29, 2011.

“The Washington international Horse Show is thrilled to have support from The EQUUS Foundation for our Kids’ Day event. Kids’ Day is a wonderful way to expose the equestrian sport to the local community and engage the youth of Washington, D.C. By aligning with the The EQUUS Foundation, we will further our mission of promoting a greater interest and education of all things equestrian,” said Bridget Love Meehan, Executive Director, Washington International Horse Show.

Fun & Excitement in the Nation’s Capital
An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, will bring top notch equestrian competition to the nation’s capital from October 25-30, 2011 and a free family-friendly event for the local community.

Continue reading The EQUUS Foundation Partners with the Washington International Horse Show to Support Kids’ Day →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, USEF

77 Horses to Contest the 2011 USEF National Eventing Championships at the Dansko Fair Hill International

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Phillip Dutton and Ben (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

Elkton, MD – More than 100 horses, 77 of which were from the US, were presented to the Ground Juries Wednesday afternoon at the Dansko Fair Hill International, where 45 horse-and-rider combinations will compete in the CCI3* and 62 in the CCI2*. Three horses were held for re-inspection: Tipperary Liadhnan, ridden by Thailand’s Nina Ligon, and King Billy, ridden by Laura VanderVliet, in the three-star; and Elizabeth Spencer’s Firewater in the two-star. Only Monte Carlo, Ashley Leith’s CCI2* ride, was not accepted. The Dansko Fair Hill International, running October 13-16, once again hosts the 2011 USEF National CCI2* and CCI3* Eventing Championship.

The future of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team will be on full display this weekend in the autumn fixture CCI, with many riders eyeing important qualifications and strong results heading into 2012. Four riders come to Fair Hill after honing their skills overseas earlier this year thanks to the Land Rover Competition and Training Grants. William Coleman, Phillip Dutton, Will Faudree and Boyd Martin will all be showcasing what they learned while competing in Europe this summer and fall.

Learn more about the Land Rover Grants here.

Continue reading 77 Horses to Contest the 2011 USEF National Eventing Championships at the Dansko Fair Hill International →

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

Kiel Hosts Opener for Inaugural FEI World Cup Vaulting Series

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Germany’s Victor Brusewitz riding on Airbus secured third place at the first FEI World Cup Vaulting Final in Leipzig (GER). Photo: Matt Lewis/Getty Images for FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 13 October 2011 – The inaugural FEI World Cup Vaulting series will open with the first of five qualifiers in Kiel (GER) tomorrow (14-15 October), where seven athletes from four nations will battle it out at the Sparkassen Arena.

Victor Brusewitz (GER) and Lukas Klouda (CZE), who secured third and fourth places at the first FEI World Cup Vaulting Final which took place at Leipzig’s Partner Pferd in April, will compete against 19-year-old Torben Jacobs (GER).

University of Cologne student Pia Engelberty (GER), who topped the leaderboard going into the Leipzig Final and came out fourth, will be up against Rikke Laumann (DEN), Sarah Kay (GER) and the USA’s number 3 ranked vaulter Mary McCormick.

The world’s top ten male and female vaulters (listed here) will then compete in four further qualifiers in Munich (GER), Salzburg (AUT), Paris (FRA) and Leipzig (GER).

Continue reading Kiel Hosts Opener for Inaugural FEI World Cup Vaulting Series →

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

Red-Hot Opening Round to Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Season

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FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 champion, Germany's Christian Ahlmann, will begin the defence of his title at the opening leg of the new 2011/2012 season at Oslo in Norway next Sunday. Photo: Matt Lewis, Getty Images/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 12 October 2011 – It’s countdown time, with just four days to go to the opening of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 at Oslo, Norway this Sunday (16 October).

And, across the globe, many riders from the 12 other qualifying leagues have already been battling it out for a place at the prestigious Final that will take place in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands next April.

The Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping title is the most coveted prize in the sport of indoor Jumping. Since the inaugural season-opener back in 1978 the series has grabbed the enthusiasm and imagination of competitors and spectators alike, and has grown in popularity and scale at a rapid rate. It has also encouraged the development of the sport across all continents, and, once again in this 34th season, fresh faces will appear and new stars will emerge to take their place in the limelight.

SAME VENUE
The 13-leg Australia-Pacific league began in Sydney, Australia in April and will conclude at the same venue in December. The three-leg Central Asian League drew to a close at Astana in Kazakhstan in July, while the Central European Northern and Southern leagues both wind up in December. In China, the first of three qualifying legs took place in Beijing in August and the last will be held this weekend, while Shizouka-Tsumagoi is the venue for the Final of the seven-leg Japanese circuit, also in December.

Continue reading Red-Hot Opening Round to Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Season →

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

HSBC FEI Classics 2011 Finale Goes to the Wire at Pau

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William Fox-Pitt claims record sixth Burghley win. Images: FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 11 October 2011 – Two British riders, long-time team mates and friends, will do battle for the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 top spot this weekend (13-16 October) at Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA), which is also the 2012 season opener.

Athletes from 17 nations will compete at the popular CCI4* in the shadow of the Pyrenees, where they have the unique opportunity to secure points for the 2012 season which for the first time includes Australia’s premier event, the Adelaide International Horse Trials (18-20 November).

HSBC FEI Classics 2011 – closely fought battle

Only series leader Mary King (GBR) or compatriot William Fox-Pitt can win this year’s HSBC FEI Classics and with just 13 points between them it will be an intense finale.

Fox-Pitt, who won the HSBC FEI Classics in 2008 and 2010, can only beat King if he wins and she finishes lower than eighth. So while he heads into Pau as the world number one in the HSBC Rankings – this time 13 points ahead of Mary and with the prospect of receiving the 50,000 USD bonus – he is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to become Series Champion and has taken advantage of Pau’s decision to allow riders to compete with three horses.

Continue reading HSBC FEI Classics 2011 Finale Goes to the Wire at Pau →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

Samantha Schaefer Triumphs in 2011 USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East

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Samantha Schaefer (Parker/Russell- The Book LLC)

Gladstone, NJ – The 2011 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East concluded on Sunday afternoon with an exciting victory for 18-year-old Samantha Schaefer of Westminster, MD. Showing over two beautiful autumn days at the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ, eighty-four hopefuls came out to show this weekend in the 30th annual competition. Schaefer earned the win with high scores across the board in a head-to-head final four jump-off.

Judges Jimmy Lee and George Morris scored riders through three phases of competition this weekend, including flat work, gymnastics and jumping. Riders cumulative scores were totaled through each phase and the top four riders were then brought back for a final ride-off, competing on their own horses as well as the three other competitor’s horses. Riders returned for the final round with a clean slate, earning new scores for each individual ride.

At the conclusion of the flat and gymnastics phases, rider Lillie Keenan held the lead coming into the final day of competition, followed closely by Hayley Barnhill, Samantha Schaefer, and Schaefer Raposa. Keenan had a disappointing score in the jumping round however, and dropped out of the top four. Michael Murphy on the other hand performed consistently in both phases I and II and excelled in the jumping round to secure a position in the final ride-off. Barnhill, Schaefer, Raposa, and Murphy were the elite four to compete in the final phase of competition.

Continue reading Samantha Schaefer Triumphs in 2011 USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals – East →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, Show Jumping, USEF

Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere Jump Immaculately to Land in the Top 15 at the Boekelo CCI3*

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Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere (Stock Image Services.com)

Lexington, KY – Boyd Martin carried the torch for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team on the final day of the Boekelo CCI3*. Riding Otis Barbotiere and Remington XXV, Martin (West Grove, PA) produced two top 35 results in his first attempt at the Dutch premiere CCI3*.

Jumping first on Remington XXV, owned by Henley House Stables, Martin had rails at fence seven and the first element of the combination at 11 adding eight faults. They finished in 35th place on a score of 69.8.

In his first attempt at the CCI3* level Otis Barbotiere produced a clear round to climb up the leaderboard finishing in 14th place. The gelding owned by the Otis Barbotiere Syndicate made an ascent up the standings throughout the weekend after placing 55th in the dressage and moving up to 23rd following the cross country and finally landing within the top 15.

All involved with the American squad this week were extremely impressed with the nine-year-old’s performance over the weekend.

Continue reading Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere Jump Immaculately to Land in the Top 15 at the Boekelo CCI3* →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Junior and Amateur Riders Win Big Money, SmartPak Grand Circuit Champions Are Crowned, and the Road to America’s Richest Classes Begins Again at Culpeper Finals

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© ESI Photography. Laura Linback and Casino on course in the $25,000 Junior/ Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic.

CULPEPER, VIRGINIA (October 7, 2011) — Six weeks of show jumping, which started in April at HITS Commonwealth Park, concluded this past Sunday with big prize money, record-breaking entries and tons of exciting year-end show jumping at the Culpeper Finals. The final show week of the year for the HITS calendar delivered and set a promising precedent for next year’s show jumping opportunities.

After the 2011 Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix drew crowds to HITS-on-the-Hudson as the top Grand Prix and Hunter riders from around the world rode for serious prize money, momentum was building for the Culpeper Finals. Riders caught Pfizer Million fever and transitioned from HITS-on-the-Hudson to Culpeper with ease to get a jumpstart on qualifying for the 2012 $1 Million Grand Prix. Commonwealth Park attracted impressive numbers for last week’s special year-end classes, serving as a strong finish to the HITS’ show jumping circuits.

$25,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic
Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumper riders were rewarded with a $25,000 purse in the High Classic on Sunday as a field of 18 competed over a course designed by Olaf Petersen Sr. of Paehl, Germany. Amateur rider and seasoned Grand Prix veteran Laura Linback of Mundelin, Illinois took home the blue ribbon after posting the fastest double-clear effort aboard Woodrun’s Casino.

Continue reading Junior and Amateur Riders Win Big Money, SmartPak Grand Circuit Champions Are Crowned, and the Road to America’s Richest Classes Begins Again at Culpeper Finals →

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Pan American Games, USEF

Report from the U.S. Dressage Training Camp for the 2011 Pan American Games

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Team USA. Photo: SusanJStickle.com

Four team members and two substitutes have spent the last few days training at Hope Greenfield’s Sixteen Hands Farm in New Jersey under the guidance of Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons.

Team members Heather Blitz on Paragon, Marisa Festerling on Big Tyme, Cesar Parra and Grandioso, and Steffen Peters on Weltino’s Magic along with substitute riders Endel Ots and Toscano and Heather Mason on Warsteiner have been putting the finishing touches on their performances before the four team horses depart on Tuesday, October 11.

“The Pan American dressage team members plus two reserves are busy polishing their tests before leaving for Mexico,” said Gribbons. “After training during the week, we had a dress rehearsal on Friday. Each of the six riders performed the team test, the Prix St Georges, in full dress with horses braided and tack inspection as in a regular show. Lisa Schmidt volunteered to be the side judge, and she assisted me in the judging, as well as in the video session and discussions after the test riding.”

This provided the riders valuable feedback on their training as well as the chance to have a final run through the tests. The training camp has also provided the riders the opportunity to come together as a team before they land in Mexico.

“The training will continue through the weekend until departure early next week,” said Gribbons. “We have a very strong field of horses; the riders are getting along beautifully and are ready for the challenge. We are looking forward to the Games.”

The dressage horses will begin their competition on October 15th.