Category Archives: *Featured/Spotlights

Special features, spotlights, headlines

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

Dibowski Is Flawless at Luhmühlen in HSBC FEI Classics

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Lausanne (SUI), 19 June 2011 – Andreas Dibowski, a valuable member of Germany’s teams for many years, was at his consistent best in a tense finale at Luhmühlen, presented by E.ON Avacon (GER), and seized victory with a flawless Jumping round on Euroridings Butts Leon to gain his first points in the 2011 HSBC FEI Classics.

“I have been riding here for 22 years, so the pressure to win was building,” said Dibowski. “Nowadays, it is so close at the top of the sport that you cannot allow mistakes. The Jumping course was well built, but asked enough questions, as it should in the modern sport.

“We haven’t had the best weather this weekend, but we have had the very best conditions, thanks to the new all-weather arenas. It is important that the first rider to go gets the same conditions as the very last.”

Dibowski, who has indicated that he may take his Luhmühlen winning ride to Burghley (GBR) in September, shoots into fourth place in the HSBC FEI Classics, in which the top five riders at five CCI4*s will share a prize pool of US$330,000. Dibowski is now in behind Mary King (GBR), whose eighth place at Luhmühlen on the gallant Apache Sauce gave her a few extra points, Piggy French (GBR), fourth, and Badminton winner Mark Todd (NZL).

Continue reading Dibowski Is Flawless at Luhmühlen in HSBC FEI Classics →

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

Olympians Clinch Grand Prix Wins, Local Families Enjoy HITS-on-the-Hudson, and Devoucoux Hunter Prix Riders Gain Momentum as the Race to Pfizer Million Weekend Continues

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© ESI Photography. Patricia Griffith on course with Lexi Maounis' Platinum in Saturday's $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

SAUGERTIES, NY (June 17, 2011) — The HITS-on-the-Hudson show grounds in Saugerties, New York were bustling for three weeks straight as entries poured in, barns were at capacity and the weather cooperated for a successful spring show series – a momentum that should transition to HITS Culpeper at Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia July 6-17.

Grand Prix classes welcome Olympic medalists
Olympic riders proved why they have medals in their trophy cases, winning four out of the six Grand Prix classes offered during the three weeks of competition. McLain Ward of Brewster, New York rode to victory three times in the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium, capturing Grand Prix purses of $25,000, $50,000 and $75,000. Margie Engle of West Palm Beach, Florida, lauded as the winningest female rider in the world, started her time in Saugerties off on the right foot by winning the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome. She went on to win the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, during week II.

Joining the ranks of Ward and Engle was Danielle Torano of Southwest Ranches, Florida, who kicked off the spring Grand Prix circuit with a win in the first $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, during week I. Also making his mark on the high-performance world was Hector Florentino of the Dominican Republic, who made his HITS Saugerties debut in style with a win in the $100,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, during the final hours of competition in week III.

Continue reading Olympians Clinch Grand Prix Wins, Local Families Enjoy HITS-on-the-Hudson, and Devoucoux Hunter Prix Riders Gain Momentum as the Race to Pfizer Million Weekend Continues →

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

French and Her Flying Machine Speed to Pole Position at Luhmühlen in HSBC FEI Classics

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Piggy French (GBR) and the aptly named Flying Machine galloped through the worst of the weather to take over the lead at the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 at Luhmühlen. (Photo: Peter Nixon/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 18 June 2011 – Piggy French (GBR) galloped through pouring rain on her appropriately named 10-year-old Irish gelding Flying Machine to take the lead after Cross-Country at Luhmühlen, presented by E.ON Avacon (GER), the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics.

The leaderboard has changed substantially and now the cost of just one Jumping fence covers the top four riders, ensuring a thrilling day’s sport tomorrow. French is highly competent in this phase, but she has no margin for error if she is to score her longed-for first CCI4* victory.

“I have not managed to run the horse as often as you would like to before a four-star, but the shock treatment seems to have worked!” said French. “I am very excited about how he coped with it all. I am lucky to have many lovely horses to ride and when you have a day like this, it’s a bonus. The rain was unbelievable, and my gloves were heavy with water so I got rid of them, but it was no better without them!”

The home side’s Sandra Auffarth (GER) had the ride of her life to move up a place to second on the nine-year-old Selle Francais Opgun Louvo, the horse she rode into third place in the 2009 Young Horse Championships at Le Lion d’Angers (FRA). The German rider was making her four-star debut and it will be quite a story if she snatches victory tomorrow – and she says her horse is a good jumper.

Continue reading French and Her Flying Machine Speed to Pole Position at Luhmühlen in HSBC FEI Classics →

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

Ostholt Shows His Artistry to Lead Luhmühlen in HSBC FEI Classics

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Frank Ostholt (GER) and Little Paint head an international field at the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 at Luhmühlen. (Photo: Peter Nixon/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 17 June 2011 – Frank Ostholt (GER) is back in the limelight at Luhmühlen, presented by E.ON Avacon (GER), a competition he won back in 2006 on probably his best known horse, Air Jordan.

Ostholt, 35, an Olympic team gold medallist in Hong Kong in 2008, heads an international field at the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics 2011 series on Little Paint, a 13-year-old gelding by Nitron, on which he took second place at Luhmühlen three years ago.

He has just 1.9 penalties in hand over Britain’s Piggy French on Flying Machine. French, the reigning European silver medallist, is a rider with her sights firmly set on a first CCI4* win, having finished a close second recently at Badminton, and is well placed in the HSBC FEI Classics leaderboard in third.

There are five Germans in the top 10 after Dressage, including the reigning World Champion and 2009 Luhmühlen winner Michael Jung (eighth), this time riding the 12-year-old Leopin, a recent winner of Compiegne CCI2* (FRA), but Sweden, Australia, Italy and New Zealand are also represented in the 43-strong field.

Continue reading Ostholt Shows His Artistry to Lead Luhmühlen in HSBC FEI Classics →

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

Record Entries for 25th FEI European Dressage Championships

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Edward Gal and Totilas who carried off double gold in Windsor 2009, but the world famous black stallion will be representing Germany with Matthias Alexander Rath in the saddle. © Kit Houghton/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 17 June 2011 – The 25th FEI European Dressage Championships are set to be the biggest yet, with a record 21 nations aiming to compete in Rotterdam (NED) on 17-21 August. And tickets for the Freestyle-to-Music, which will decide the individual medals on 21 August, are already sold out with tickets for the other three days selling fast.

As the Rotterdam organisers celebrate the 60-day countdown to the Championships, 18 National Federations have indicated that they hope to field full teams and a further three countries plan to send individuals.

The previous European record was set in 1997 when 19 nations participated in Verden (GER), although Arnhem (NED) hosted the largest ever Open European Championships in 1999 when riders from 25 nations competed.

“It is fitting that we mark the 25th year of the FEI European Dressage Championships with such an impressive entry,” said Trond Asmyr, Director of Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage at the FEI.

“Since Freestyle-to-Music was elevated to Olympic level, the popularity of Dressage has risen dramatically and it’s no surprise that tickets for the Final at the impressive Kralingse Forest site sold out soon after they went on sale. Fans will need to be quick if they want to see their European heroes perform in August.

Continue reading Record Entries for 25th FEI European Dressage Championships →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

G&C Farm Starts European Tour with Success and Win in Cannes

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Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11 © Stefano Grasso

Wellington, FL – June 16, 2011 – G&C Farm has started their summer tour with success at CSI 5* shows across Europe. Olympian Pablo Barrios, currently ranked 27th in the world, was a class winner at the Global Champions Tour in Cannes, France and has been in the ribbons at major competitions. G&C Farm is based in Wellington, FL, and owned by Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal of Venezuela. Barrios, who competes for Venezuela, is also based in Wellington.

Gustavo Mirabal stated, “It has been a fantastic summer tour in Europe for G&C Farm. It is important for us to jump in five-star shows and in the Global Champions Tour. It is the first time ever that a rider from Venezuela has competed at these shows, and we are very proud to represent our country with the fantastic results that we have received so far. It was such a great feeling to hear the national anthem and see the Venezuelan flag raised in Cannes!”

In their most recent show in Cannes, G&C Farm posted a victory. Pablo Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11, a 13-year-old KWPN mare by Quick Star x Grannus, won the Prix Generali (1.50m). The class was a qualifier for the grand prix. Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11 returned in the jump-off to go double clear in a speedy time of 36.20 seconds, almost one second faster than the next three competitors.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Breeds, Community/Charity, Phelps Media Group

Sons of the Wind’s Pride of Portugal Lusitano Festival Raises over $5,800 for Breast Cancer Research

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Sons of the Wind School of Equestrian Arts hosted their annual "Pride of Portugal; the Lusitano joins the Ride for Life" Festival on Saturday, June 4, 2011. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Merrimac, MA – June 15, 2011 – The Sons of the Wind School of Equestrian Arts hosted its Pride of Portugal; The Lusitano Festival on Saturday, June 4, 2011. There was a field full of guests in attendance for the horse show, which showcased the beautiful Lusitano horses and highlighted the amazing Portuguese culture. This year, the event donated all proceeds to the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation for Breast Cancer. The event helped raise over $5,800 for the organization. Later this month during the PVDA “Ride for Life,” Sons of the Wind will demonstrate the quadrilles and athletic aires above the ground to the thousands in attendance for the worthwhile cause.

The event got underway 2 p.m. at the beautiful Sons of the Wind facility in Merrimac, Massachusetts. Guests had the opportunity to enjoy the Portuguese culture while watching the beautiful Lusitano horses perform. It began with a presentation of two horses from the Sons of the Wind Lusitano Breeding Program, which was followed by an exciting Couple Quadrille, where riders showcased their horses in beautiful costumes.

Next, Sons of the Wind Founder Vitor Silva entered the ring to showcase the art of long lining, where the horse performed the piaffe, passage, and pirouette. A beautiful Ladies’ Pas de Trois and an exciting working equitation demonstration followed, and then Silva and his son showcased the Lusitano’s versatility with a simulated bullfight.

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

HSBC FEI Classics Leader King Heads for Luhmühlen

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Mary King – leader of the HSBC Rankings - is all set for HSBC FEI Classics in Luhmühlen with Apache Sauce © Kit Houghton/FEI

Lausanne (SUI), 15 June 2011 – The unstoppable Mary King (GBR), who moved to the number one spot in the HSBC Rankings at the beginning of this month, indicated at the start of the year that the HSBC FEI Classics were going to be a major goal for 2011.

The 50-year-old’s plan is certainly going splendidly so far, and she now heads to the third of the five legs, Luhmühlen presented by E.ON Avacon (GER), with a strong 10-point lead in the HSBC FEI Classics series over Mark Todd (NZL), who does not have a ride at Germany’s premier event which starts tomorrow (16-19 June).

King, who has had a storming season so far with a third place at Badminton and a record one-two at Kentucky, rides the veteran Apache Sauce. He is a white-faced chestnut with great character and a definite “sense of humour”, but several of King’s CCI4* placings in the past few seasons, including seventh at Burghley last year, have been thanks to the 15-year-old gelding by Endoli.

King’s compatriots Piggy French and William Fox-Pitt both have a strong interest in earning more HSBC FEI Classics points. Fox-Pitt, the series champion in 2008 and 2010, rides the Argentine Thoroughbred Macchiato, his winning mount here in 2008, and French, runner-up at Badminton, brings the rising star Flying Machine to his first CCI4*.

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

Team Audi Victorious in Julius Baer Beach Polo World Cup Sylt 2011

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New champions have been crowned at The Julius Baer Beach Polo World Cup Sylt after the Audi team of Siegfried Grohs from Germany and Argentina’s Gastón Maiquez overcame Julius Baer in the final to take the title.

After two close chukkas, the Julius Baer team of Germany’s Sven Schneider and fifteen year old Lukas Sdrenka opened up a 5-3 lead in the third, but six handicap Gastón Maiquez kept his side in the match scoring three unanswered goals to lead 5-6 going into the fourth chukka.

The final chukka saw Maiquez in devastating form, scoring two more goals to take a 5-8 lead and despite a late surge from team Julius Baer, Audi held on, eventually winning 7-8.

Maiquez performance saw him named the Julius Baer Leading Scorer, and with Julius Baer contributing €200 for every goal scored by the Leading Scorer, Maiquez’s outstanding total of 14 goals over the tournament raised €2,800 towards the event’s official charity, Coastal Protection Foundation Sylt. When combined with additional donations made during the weekend, over €15,000 was handed over to the charity by Julius Baer during the prize giving ceremony.

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

Susan Dutta and Currency DC Show Off Their Winning Skills at the Capital Dressage Classic CDI in Raleigh

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Susan Dutta rode Currency DC into the winner’s circle at the 2011 CDI3*Y/J Capital Dressage Classic. The duo won the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle. (Photo courtesy of Sue Stickle)

Raleigh, NC (June 11, 2011) – International dressage rider Susan Dutta, a member of the Gold Medal 2007 Pan American Games team, rode into the winner’s circle at the 2011 CDI3*Y/J Capital Dressage Classic in Raleigh. Dutta and her long-time equine partner, Currency DC, competed in the Grand Prix ring, winning the Grand Prix with a score of 66.319% and the Grand Prix Freestyle with a 71.025%.

“I was excited to win at Raleigh. It is a show I have gone to for years and I have always enjoyed it,” Dutta said. “This was the third show back for Currency DC and he is feeling fitter and more expressive than ever.”

Dutta, who splits her time between Tuny Page’s Stillpoint Farm in Wellington, Florida and training in Germany, won the USEF/Markel Young Horse Dressage National 5-Year-Old Championships in 2005 and the 6-Year-Old Championships in 2006 on Currency DC, an Oldenburg gelding. The pair made their debut in the Grand Prix ring in 2010.

“Currency DC had some beautiful trot work, passage and pirouettes during his tests in Raleigh. I will now be working on having a mistake free test and standing in halts,” Dutta said, adding that Currency DC is a sweet horse to be around. “He loves to be kissed and cuddled. I feel blessed to have this talented horse in my life and I enjoy every ride and every show with him.”

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