Category Archives: *Featured/Spotlights

Special features, spotlights, headlines

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

HSBC FEI Classics: Fox-Pitt Swoops to Conquer at Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

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William Fox-Pitt (GBR), the new world number one in the HSBC Rankings, heads the field after the first day of Dressage at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 1 September 2011 – William Fox-Pitt (GBR), the new world number one, is on top again, this time at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR), the second-last leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, where he leads after the first day of Dressage on a mark of 39.7.

Fox-Pitt (GBR), who is wearing the special armband as leader of the HSBC Rankings, has posted the only sub-40 mark so far on his first ride, Catherine Witt’s 11-year-old Parklane Hawk, winner of the Blenheim CCI3* (GBR) last year.

The British pair led Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and the attractive grey Avebury by 2.3 penalties. Elizabeth Power (IRL) and the ex-racehorse Kilpatrick River, back in action after their fall at Badminton (GBR) in May and making their debut at Burghley, are third. Mary King (GBR), current leader in the HSBC FEI Classics, is fourth on Apache Sauce.

Fox-Pitt, who has been penalised for one error of course, halting at the wrong marker, described scoring in the 30s as a “psychological boost”. He says of the New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred by Grosvenor: “He has a superb brain and a lovely trot. He’s all the things you dream about in a horse.”

Fox-Pitt, Nicholson and King, who have decades of experience at Burghley between them, are viewing with interest the new-look Cross Country course, designed by Mark Phillips (GBR) to have a more traditional look in honour of the event’s 50th birthday.

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

Six Americans Take On the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials

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Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos. Photo: Shannon Brinkman/USEF

Lexington, KY – This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials which means there was no better place to showcase the first grant recipients of the Land Rover Competition and Training Grants awarded to three of the six U.S. eventing riders in attendance.

Leading the charge, fresh from being named to the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the 2011 Pan American Games after his second place performance at the Mandatory Outing at Richland Park in Michigan last weekend, is Michael Pollard (Dalton, GA).

He may have been the last American to arrive in the U.K but he arrives on top form. In addition to his second place finish on Schoensgreen Hanni, he also won an Advanced division on DV8 and was second in the CIC2* on Jude’s Law.

His attention now turns to Icarus, a 13-year-old former racehorse owned by his wife Nathalie and his mother-in-law Meike Hanssens. Pollard is no stranger to top-level competition.  With Icarus, he scored a 19th place finish at the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* presented by Bridgestone in April. He completed his first CCI4* in 2002 and was the Young Rider of the Year in 2001. He is also the CEO of Cavalor North America.

“It feels great to arrive (at Burghley),” said Pollard. “A large part of the work is done just getting here. Now we all just need to show our best.”

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

William Fox-Pitt Moves Up to World Number One in HSBC Rankings

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William Fox-Pitt (GBR) has overtaken team mate Mary King at the head of the HSBC Rankings. Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 1 September 2011 – William Fox-Pitt (GBR) has taken over from team mate Mary King as world number one in the HSBC Rankings. The British rider, who is competing at the second last leg of the HSBC FEI Classics at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials this week, is now seven points clear of King and will be wearing the HSBC armband at Burghley.

Both Fox-Pitt and King were part of the British team that secured bronze at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships in Luhmühlen (GER) last weekend, but King failed to finish after a Cross Country fall.

Newly crowned European champion Michael Jung, who picked up team and individual gold in Luhmühlen, has moved up from ninth to fifth in the HSBC Rankings behind Andrew Nicholson (NZL) and Piggy French (GBR) who remain in third and fourth.

Mary King was the first rider to wear the new HSBC armband when it was launched at the beginning of July this year. She remained out in front last month before being overtaken by Fox-Pitt in the new rankings published today. The rider at the top of the HSBC Rankings at the end of the 2011 Eventing season will receive a 50,000 USD bonus.

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

FEI Balkan Endurance Championships 2011 – Koprivshtitsa (BUL)

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DOUBLE GOLD FOR BRILLIANT BULGARIANS by Louise Parkes

Individual champion, Bulgaria's Miroslav Borshosh, celebrates his gold medal winning performance with Munir B. The partnership also took the Best Condition award. Photo: FEI/Radostina Genova.

Lausanne (SUI), 30 August 2011 – The host nation scooped team and individual gold at the FEI Balkan Endurance Championships 2011 staged at Koprivshtitsa in Bulgaria last weekend. The Bulgarian side was the only finishers in the three-nation team contest, while Miroslav Borshosh produced an impressive and well-judged performance with his Arab gelding, Munir B, to emphatically claim the individual title.

Koprivshtitsa, which lies on the Topolnitsa River and in the Sredna Gora mountains, is well-known for its architecture. and for the folk-music festivals that ensure it is a very popular destination for tourists.  It is also home to a National Festival of Bulgarian Folklore which takes place every five years, attracting musicians, artists and craftsmen from across the country.  So visitors to these FEI Championships experienced an authentic take on Bulgarian culture and heritage.

The horses and riders were truly tested with an 86 kilometre course that started at 1,000 feet above sea level and rose a further 400 feet.  “The competitors did a great job,” said FEI Technical Delegate Bo Kjellgren (SWE) afterwards, “and the Bulgarian Federation was very much behind the event, giving it huge support.”

VERY TOUGH
Poland’s Dr Piotr Szpotanski, a highly-experienced FEI Veterinary Delegate, described the competition trail as “very tough”, but was surprised how well the horses coped with it.  “I found it frightening when I was driving the mountain trail in my car, but the horses seemed to find it much easier!” he said.  Rumours of wild mustangs running loose through the countryside, and even the occasional wolf prowling in the wilderness, didn’t deter the competitors from the task at hand.

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

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials Celebrates 50 Glorious Years

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Caroline Powell (NZL) and Lenamore will be defending their title at this week’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. (Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 31 August 2011 – An all-star cast heads to this week’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR), second last leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 (1-4 September).

It is a particularly special year for Burghley, as it is 50 years ago that the historic Lincolnshire estate hosted its first competition by invitation of the 1928 hurdling Olympic gold medallist, the Marquess of Exeter.

Since then, Burghley has hosted eight championships, including the first ever World Championships in 1966, and riders regularly vote it their favourite venue in L’Annee Hippique, the annual review of the equestrian year.

Not only does Burghley boast the beautiful backdrop of the magnificent Elizabethan house and deer park, but it is an event that has consistently been at the forefront of innovation, with its own irrigation system for the dedicated Cross Country track and all-weather warm-up arenas.

“Burghley has such charm,” explains five-times winner Mark Todd (NZL). “It is a magical place and I always feel excited when I come in through the gates.”

Besides Todd, eight other former Burghley winners have entered for this year’s golden jubilee, including Mary King (GBR), the current runaway leader of the HSBC FEI Classics.

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

Dressage Rider Caroline Roffman Takes Three for Three Tri-Colored Ribbons at the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships

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Caroline Roffman riding Bon Chance at the 2011 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships. (Photo compliments of PhelpsPhotos.com)

Wayne, IL (August 30, 2011) – On the same weekend that Hurricane Irene battered its way up the East Coast, dressage rider Caroline Roffman took the 2011 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships at the Lamplight Equestrian Center by storm. Roffman, of Wellington, Florida, rode away with three Reserve Championships aboard San City, Bon Chance, and Pie, once again solidifying her place in the dressage world as a successful trainer and competitor.

“San City was Reserve Champion in the Five-Year-Old division, Bon Chance tied for the Championship in the Six-Year-Olds, although because it is an American show the tie breaker goes to the American horse, and Pie finished as Reserve Champion in the Developing Horse Championships,” Roffman said. “What a weekend!”

Roffman was especially pleased with San City, a Hanoverian eventing stallion owned by Linda Crabtree, who made history in the Five-Year-Old Preliminary Test when he earned an 89% and a comment of “Wow” from judge Linda Zang.

“On the first day San City was amazing and he went above and beyond what he had ever done before,” Roffman said. “He really couldn’t have done any better. His 89% score was the highest ever given in the U.S. He was a little tired the second day, but I am still so proud of him.”

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

Exciting Conclusion for the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship, USEF National Developing Horse Dressage Championship, and USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals

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Marlena Kurz and Ode. All photos: Chuck Swan/Swan Photography LLC

Wayne, IL – Competition finished up Sunday at the Lamplight Equestrian Center as the top 6-year-olds and developing horses in the U.S. vied for top honors in the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship and USEF National Developing Horse Dressage Championship sponsored by The Dutta Corp. and Performance Sales International. Additionally, nine competitors would ride for medals in the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today in the 14-18 division.

The final day of these USEF National Dressage Championships got underway with the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today. The strong field demonstrated solid fundamentals and poise under pressure throughout the entire class including the challenging pattern. The final three riders to demonstrate the pattern, which called for proficiency in transitions between gaits and the ability to lengthen and collect, would claim the top three spots.

All three riders were competing in their first USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals presented by Dressage Today on borrowed horses.

Marlena Kurz (San Antonio, TX) claimed top honors and the Gold medal riding Ode to an impressive 84%. Kurz was able to make the numerous transitions in the pattern look effortless by utilizing a soft and consistent contact and a correct seat.

Despite having only ridden Stephanie Fettig’s Dutch Warmblood since Tuesday, the 16-year-old was delighted with the gelding. “Even when he was tired he gave it his all, he was really with me the whole time. He’s a good boy I really enjoyed riding him.”

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

Carola Diener (GER) Is the New World Pair Driving Champion

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World champion Carola Diener (GER) during the obstacle driving competition at the FEI World Pair Driving Championships 2011. Photo © Rinaldo de Craen/FEI

Dutch Team Keep Team Gold

Conty (FRA), 24-28 August 2011 – Twenty-three-year-old Carola Diener (GER) became the new world champion at the 15th FEI World Pair Driving Championships at Conty, France. She performed a superb dressage test, drove a wonderful marathon and was near-perfect in the obstacle driving competition. The silver medal went to home representative Stéphane Chouzenoux; Tom Engbers from The Netherlands won individual bronze.

The Dutch team, led by Harry de Ruyter, who was appointed chef d’équipe in February, took home the gold while Germany claimed the silver. The host nation was delighted to win the bronze.

Ladies first
Germany was represented with two lady drivers for the first time in history: German pair champion Carola Diener as a team member and 15-year-old Anna Sandmann as an individual competitor. Carola set the basis for her first world medal in the dressage test, which she won ahead of the experienced drivers Beat Schenk (SUI) and Georg Moser (AUT). Diener, who is the stable manager of German international four-in-hand driver Christoph Sandmann, came 12th in the marathon but kept her lead in the individual standings. The marathon was won by 24-year-old Tom Engbers, ahead of Tibor Nagy jr. (HUN), aged only 21. Diener was last to go in the very difficult obstacle driving competition, designed by Barry Hunter (GBR). Going into the last phase, Carola had one ball in hand as well as some time penalties but the professional horsewoman that she is kept her cool leaving all the balls on the cones and recording only 1,94 penalty points for exceeding the time allowed. “It is an incredible feeling to be the new world champion, but it hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” she said.

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

Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo Win the Longines International Grand Prix of Rotterdam

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Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo. Photo: Beatrice Scudo

Rotterdam, The Netherlands – Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo triumphed after a 10-rider jump off to win the Longines International Grand Prix of Rotterdam – the last day of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup Series.

In front of a sold-out arena, Madden edged out the Dutch rider Jeroen Dubbeldam, who ended up in second place on Bmc Van Grunsven Simon in a jump-off time of 39.11. Madden came in 0.8 seconds faster in a time of 38.31 seconds. German rider Carsten-Otton Nagel came in third on Corradina in a time of 40.33 seconds. Four riders jumped clear in the jump off.

“It was fantastic,” Madden said of her win on her 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare.

“The show grounds improved significantly and did great despite all the rain that has fallen today and over the past days,” she added. “Our horses became lighter, faster and more careful.”

Madden also won the overall Longines award for the leading rider – building on the strong form she has kept up throughout the summer, collecting top placings in both North America and Europe.

Sunday’s grand prix hosted 47 entries, with Madden returning after the U.S. Team’s disappointing Nations Cup performance on Friday to take the CSIO5* Grand Prix win.

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

Jubilant Germans Take Double Gold at HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships at Luhmühlen

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Germany claimed team gold and all three individual medals at the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships - (from left) Sandra Auffarth (silver), Michael Jung (gold), Frank Ostholt (bronze). Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 28 August 2011 – There were jubilant scenes as Michael Jung (GER) was crowned European Champion and his team deservedly took gold in a nail-biting finale to the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships at Luhmühlen (GER).

Although a German victory had never been in doubt, the final score sheet was considerably re-arranged after the unfortunate Ingrid Klimke (GER), who had led the first two phases with such flamboyance, suffered the devastating experience of hitting six fences and dropping to 11th place.

The individual medals were still a German whitewash, though, as the hugely talented Sandra Auffarth jumped clear to take individual silver and Frank Ostholt moved up two places to achieve his first individual medal.

Ostholt’s wife, Sara, who was best of the fourth-placed Swedish team, also suffered a dramatic drop down the order. There had been a run of clear rounds as the higher-placed riders found the key to this technically-demanding track. Algotsson-Ostholt had her much-admired mare Wega jumping beautifully until a misunderstanding on the approach to the final double at fence 11. The mare hit the first part and then ran out at the second element. Eighteen penalties dropped her to 12th place but the team held onto fourth and, more importantly, earned their ticket to next year’s Olympics in London.

“It’s very disappointing for my wife,” Ostholt said. “I know how she’s feeling and feel very sorry for her. Most of the year she’s always been ahead of me. Normally her horse jumps so well so it was a real surprise. She’s completely devastated, but pleased that Sweden has qualified for the Olympics.”

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