Category Archives: *Featured/Spotlights

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

Weltino’s Magic Sweeps USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage Championships

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Steffen Peters and Weltino's Magic. Photo: SusanJStickle.com

Gladstone, NJ – The top three placings in the Intermediaire I National Dressage Championship never changed throughout the week at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm Dressage Festival of Championship and Steffen Peters dominated with Weltino’s Magic finishing on a three day average of 78.661%.

Riding for Jen Hlavacek, Peters owned the Dick and Jane Brown Arena this morning, and to music by Seven and Five, he showed off the 9-year-old Westphalian gelding’s strengths and was rewarded with a freestyle score of 81.250%. This was the only score over 80 in this division all weekend.

“It is fairly new,” said Peters about his Freestyle. “I’ve only done three freestyles with Magic. The music is by a group called Seven and Five, it’s not too dramatic but it’s not too much like elevator music. It was fun, there are some days where it is a little more work with Magic, but today it was fun.”

Weltino’s Magic was started by Peters’ wife Shannon, who rode him to reserve championship honors in the 2008 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Championships as a 6-year-old. He is a strong horse and Peters knows that managing that strength is a major part of his job.

“He’s a powerful horse and he can be once and a while a little strong,” said Peters. “I have to be careful that I break things up a little bit (in the freestyle)… The changes have become straighter that is why I did them down the center line and the trot work is stronger than the canter work which is why I put it at the end.”

Continue reading Weltino’s Magic Sweeps USEF National Intermediaire I Dressage Championships →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

Peters Maintains His Lead in the Intermediaire I National Dressage Championship

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Steffen Peters and Weltino's Magic. Photo: SusanJStickle.com

Gladstone, NJ – The third day of the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions meant the second day of the USEF Intermediaire I National Dressage Championship. The results remained unchanged as Steffen Peters won his third class in a row taking the top spot in the Intermediaire I test on Weltino’s Magic with a score of 76.421%.

He fought back from a couple of mistakes early on and overcame a couple of misunderstandings to duplicate his win in yesterday’s Prix St. Georges.

“It wasn’t quite as easy,” said Peters. “There were a couple of misunderstandings. When I asked for the left half-pass he thought extended trot. In the two-tempis one of the changes felt short behind. Where I think we won it was with really good pirouettes and the walk.”

Peters explained that when things aren’t going to plan in the test, he tries not to let it distract him from the task at hand.

“He’s a pretty straightforward horse,” said Peters. “If I don’t screw up, he doesn’t screw up.”

The Intermediaire I Championship also serves as the USEF Selection Trials for the 2011 Pan American Games, and Peters, despite being an Olympic and World Championship veteran and medalist, has never ridden on a Pan American Team. He and Jen Hlavacek’s 9-year-old Westphalian gelding have been winning at a record pace not only on the West Coast but they also swept the small tour in Aachen this summer. Peters has been nearly invincible with this horse and with Ravel in the Grand Prix and lead a dressage resurrection in the United States.

Continue reading Peters Maintains His Lead in the Intermediaire I National Dressage Championship →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Endurance Riding, Events, FEI, FEI

FEI Open European Endurance Championships 2011 – Florac (FRA)

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PHENOMENAL PONTON TAKES INDIVIDUAL TITLE WHILE FRANCE TOPS THE TEAMS by Louise Parkes

The phenomenal Spanish partnership of Maria Alvarez Ponton and Nobby added the FEI European Endurance Championships 2011 Individual title to their remarkable record when taking gold in Florac, France yesterday. Photo: FEI/Gilly Wheeler.

Lausanne (SUI), 11 September 2011 – Spain’s record-breaking partnership of Maria Alvarez Ponton and Nobby took their fourth Championship title in a row when putting in another phenomenal performance at the FEI European Endurance Championships 2011 in Florac, France yesterday.  And the host nation had plenty to celebrate too, as Virginie Atger, Julien Goachet, Sunny Demedy and Benedicte Santisteva claimed the team honours for France.

Concerns about the intense heat in the days leading up to the event dissipated when a cooling mist shrouded the mountainous course as the riders set off with a racing start at 4.30am.  And it was an extraordinary sight as their headlamps guided the 76 competitors from 17 countries through the darkness over the early stages of their 160 kms challenge.  Florac is recognised as one of the toughest Endurance tracks in the world, with a climb to 1,665 metres at its highest point, and a completion, let alone a victory here, is a coveted achievement in this most demanding of equestrian sports.

The track did not follow the modern “clover-leaf” formula often used in the sport today, in which the loops return to a central base during the course of the race.  In contrast, the six loops on the Florac track stretched out over fresh ground and, while helping maintain the interest of the horses throughout, this presented a significant logistical challenge to the hard-working support crews and officials.

THE STUFF OF LEGEND
Ponton and Nobby are already the stuff of legend however.  The Spanish rider and her little 148cms super-champ broke all previous records with their hat-trick that included the 2008 World title, 2009 European title and then their gold medal winning performance at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA.  And, a year later, they have now raised the bar even higher with their fourth extraordinary success.

Continue reading FEI Open European Endurance Championships 2011 – Florac (FRA) →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

Caroline Roffman Named First USEF National Dressage Champion at 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

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Caroline Roffman and Beemer. Photos: SusanJStickle.com

Gladstone, NJ – Just over 3/10ths of a point decided the Young Adult ‘Brentina Cup’ champion – the first Championship awarded at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions at the USET Foundation Headquarters.

Caroline Roffman and Beemer edged out Olivia LaGoy-Weltz for the top spot with a two-day combined score of  65.822% to LaGoy-Weltz’ 65.518%.

Roffman has had a very successful Young Rider career and has done very well training and producing young horses, but Beemer is showing her the Grand Prix ropes and has given her the first Brentina Cup win of her career.

“I’m honored to be here and feel lucky to have the opportunity to ride this horse,” said Roffman about Lars Petersen and Global Dressage Sales’ 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding.

Because Beemer has been for sale this year, Roffman didn’t know if she would still have him in the barn to be able to bring him to contest these championships. She capitalized on the opportunity of him not getting sold.

“It was cleaner,” she said about her performance in the Young Rider Grand Prix test. “I wanted to have a clean ride. It lacked a lot of the brilliance from Thursday, but I did a better job.”

Continue reading Caroline Roffman Named First USEF National Dressage Champion at 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Pan American Games, USEF, USEF

Steffen Peters Sweeps the Prix St. Georges and the Grand Prix Special at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions

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Steffen Peters and Weltino's Magic. Photos: SusanJStickle.com

Gladstone, NJ – Steffen Peters (San Diego, CA) dominated the day at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions winning both the Prix St. Georges and the Grand Prix Special with Weltino’s Magic and Ravel respectively. A veteran superstar for the U.S. Dressage Team over the last 10 years, Peters proved that not only is Ravel on top form, but that Weltino’s Magic’s winning streak is still going strong.

“That’s a first,” said Peters of scoring an 80% and a 79% on his two horses.

With selection for the 2011 Pan American Games on the line, there was everything to play for in the Intermediaire I National Dressage Championship and Peters dominated the Prix St. Georges test which serves as the first leg of this three-part Championship.  He rode Jen Hlavacek’s Weltino’s Magic to a record score in this specific Championship scoring 79.789% for a huge win.

“I was happy in Aachen,” said Peters. “It was his first time in a really big stadium and in his earlier days he could be a bit spooky… I thought he would be able to handle this arena and he did. He was soft in the bridle, he’s not always the most supple, but today he was.”

Weltino’s Magic put in an excellent test and Peters was impressed with how much the horse, which his wife Shannon rode at the beginning of his career, has matured. He was the 2008 Reserve Champion in the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship with Shannon and she believed in him from the beginning.

Continue reading Steffen Peters Sweeps the Prix St. Georges and the Grand Prix Special at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

Isabelle Leibler and Watson 108 Lead National Young Rider Championship

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Battle of the Pony Riders Begins at 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm Dressage Festival of Champions

Isabelle Leibler and Watson 108. Photos: SusanJStickle.com

Gladstone, NJ – The 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions kicked off day two with grey skies and ground that was doing its best to dry out after Thursday’s deluge.

With four championships on the line, Friday proved busy. Isabelle Leibler rode determinedly in the Young Rider Dressage National Championship on Watson 108 and set a mark that couldn’t be beat.

They were the only pair to score above 70% and their 70.263% meant they took a convincing lead over Brandi Roenick on Pretty Lady and Jillian Kemenosh on Nelzon. All three of these riders have been successful at the Junior and Young Rider level, and for them, coming to Gladstone is an annual pilgrimage not to be missed.

Leibler (Greenwich, CT), despite her considerable success over the last two years, thought Watson was at his best today.

“It’s my best score so far,” said Leibler, who is 16. “I had little mistakes in my fours, I wasn’t paying attention. I couldn’t ask for anything more from him. He doesn’t have a lot of confidence naturally.”

The Individual Gold medalist from the 2011 Adequan/FEI Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North (NAJYRC) continued her winning streak in Gladstone, and Leibler was incredibly pleased with how Watson went.

Continue reading Isabelle Leibler and Watson 108 Lead National Young Rider Championship →

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

Jules Stiller Leads the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team after Day 1 at Fidelity Blenheim International Horse Trials

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Jules Stiller and Enjoy Me. Photo: www. stockimageservices. com

Lexington, KY – Competition at the Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials got underway with 49 of the 97 competitors in the CCI3* cantering down centerline in the dressage ring. The American contingent of Will Faudree (a Land Rover Training and Competition Grant Recipient), Jules Stiller, Tiana Coudray and Aimee Chambers had a strong showing on the first day, occupying four of the top 14 placings. Great Britain’s Piggy French, fresh off a Team Bronze medal at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships, heads the field with Lemington Lett Dance on a score of 42.7.

U.K.-based Vermonter Jules Stiller will be looking for an improved result at the CCI3* level after a fall on the cross-country at the 2011 Bramham CCI3* last spring with Enjoy Me. They had a stellar effort on the first day and lie third on a score of 46.2 halfway through the division.  This combination was most recently placing 11th at the CIC3* at Hartpury.

“He was fantastic,” said Stiller about the 10-year-old Westphalian gelding.  “He does a good test anyway but today he did the best test he’s ever done. When I came out of the ring, Mark Phillips told me he thought I did a 38 and I was really excited, so I was a little disappointed when I heard the score but he stayed right in there which is fantastic.”

Sarah Cohen lies second on Irish Jester on a 44.0. Stiller is looking forward to making amends for the mistake she and Enjoy Me made at the horse’s CCI3* debut.

“So far the course looks really good,” said Stiller. “We had a bad fall this spring so I will be looking for a clear round and then go as fast as I can. But my goal is to give him a good ride.”

Continue reading Jules Stiller Leads the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team after Day 1 at Fidelity Blenheim International Horse Trials →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF, USEF

Peters Overcomes Elements to Add Another Win to Ravel’s Resume at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions

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Steffen Peters and Ravel. Photos: SusanJStickle.com

Gladstone, NJ – Rain greeted the competitors on the first day of the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions but the quality of the competition shone through. The Grand Prix National Championship headlined the day, and the rain was at its heaviest during the class. Due to the conditions, the Prix St. Georges – which was scheduled for this afternoon – has been postponed until Friday, which will push the Intermediaire I Championship back one day.

Steffen Peters rode Ravel like it was 70 and sunny (which it probably was at their San Diego base) and between the raindrops put in the effort that the fans were expecting from the 2008 National Champions, the 2009 FEI World Cup Dressage Champions, the 2009 CHIO Aachen Champions and most recently, the Individual Bronze medalists from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Peters rode according to the conditions.

“I rode a little more conservatively,” said Peters. “I went for a clean test and it worked out great. He’s such a trooper.”

The 13-year-old Dutch gelding owned by Four Winds Farm and Akiko Yamazaki made his first competitive appearance in Gladstone and rose to the historical atmosphere. They scored 77.660% in a valiant, yet somewhat soggy test. The footing in the Dick and Jane Brown Arena was redone in 2010 and held up admirably in the conditions. The New Jersey area has been plagued by flooding and incredible amounts of rain between Hurricane Irene and the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee.

“I really trusted the decision that they made,” said Peters. “It was safe, not slippery. I think the horses felt a little stuck. But they weren’t slipping at all. The main concern is safety and the decision to call it safe was very good.”

Continue reading Peters Overcomes Elements to Add Another Win to Ravel’s Resume at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Driving, Events, JRPR

Champion Driver Suzy Stafford’s Pony Miss Josephine Shines in Dressage Phase of German National Pony Championships

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Suzy Stafford and her half-Arabian Miss Josephine competed at the German National Pony Championships in Minden, Germany, placing second in the dressage phase. (Photo courtesy of Bettina Ruckelshaus)

Minden, Germany (September 8, 2011) – Gold medalist Suzy Stafford’s registered half-Arabian mare Miss Josephine put her best hoof forward in the dressage phase of the German National Pony Championships in Minden, Germany, placing second amongst a highly competitive field. Stafford and several other members of the U.S. team competed at Minden in preparation for the 2011 FEI World Pony Driving Championships in Slovenia.

“Josie and I started out well on dressage day. We came in second in dressage behind another U.S. pony team driver Shelly Temple. I was thrilled as Shelly and Cooper have been a pair for many years and have proven themselves as the dressage favorite in the States. Josie put in one of her best performances to date and I was overjoyed with how she did. Josie has only shown in the advanced level five times including Minden,” Stafford said.

Stafford said the marathon day was just as successful for Josie. “We had a good round and I was pleased how fit and ready she felt throughout the whole course. The rain the night before made for some slippery conditions but with the help of Janelle Marshal, my ‘rent a gator’ and Team Australia pony driver, we had a safe and noteworthy score. I felt Josie and my timing was a bit off due to the lapse of time in between shows, but now I feel the practice Josie and I had at Minden will help prepare us for the challenges ahead,” Stafford said.

Stafford and Josie were in second place going into the cones division; however, things didn’t go as smoothly as Stafford hoped. “We dropped to 11th place after the cones, which was very disappointing,” Stafford said. “But I will use this unfortunate circumstance to become a better driver, trainer and student under the influence of our coach Michael Freund. I think the cones issue was a biting problem in hindsight, so we have worked on that and should have things sorted out for the Championships.”

Continue reading Champion Driver Suzy Stafford’s Pony Miss Josephine Shines in Dressage Phase of German National Pony Championships →

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

Land Rover Grant Recipients Headline Six Americans at Fidelity Blenheim Place Horse Trials

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Loughan Glen and Clark Montgomery (Photo: www. stockimageservices. com)

Lexington, KY – The next round of Land Rover Competition and Training Grant Recipients will test their eventing skills at the 2011 Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials in Woodstock, England September 8-11. 2010 winner William Fox-Pitt (on Parklane Hawk) are fresh from their win at last week’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, will have two chances to win the CCI3*, but the U.S. is coming well-armed with an arsenal of horses and riders.

Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) will lead the effort as the most experienced rider in the group. The four-time Olympian (and two-time Olympic Gold medalist while representing Australia) will ride Bruce Duchossois’ Mighty Nice in the horse’s first CCI3*. A recipient of a 2011 Land Rover Competition and Training Grant, Dutton was second at the Blenheim CCI3* in 2003 on Nova Top. Mighty Nice is a 7-year-old Irish Sport gelding who was third at the Bromont International CCI2* in June.

“I’m excited to bring Mighty Nice to Blenheim,” said Dutton. “I believe he is a horse with a big future and I think Blenheim will be a great stepping stone for him.”

Clark Montgomery (Chattahoochee, GA) is a former Young Rider champion and he too is a 2011 Land Rover Competition and Training Grant Recipient. He will ride Kathleen Kraft, Carole Montgomery and Holly Becker’s winning machine Loughan Glen. With the 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Montgomery won the CCI2* last fall at the Fair Hill International, earning National Championship honors in the process,  he has won four Horse Trials so far in 2011 and the Bromont International CCI3*. Most recently he won his final preparation at the Millbrook Horse Trials in August.

Continue reading Land Rover Grant Recipients Headline Six Americans at Fidelity Blenheim Place Horse Trials →