Category Archives: *Featured/Spotlights

Special features, spotlights, headlines

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

Eric Lamaze Celebrates Elevation to Rolex Rankings Number One Slot

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Eric Lamaze (CAN) elevated to number one in Rolex Rankings

Lausanne (SUI), 1 June 2011 – Olympic champion Eric Lamaze (CAN), 43, is celebrating after securing the world number one slot in the Rolex Rankings for the third time in his career.

The Canadian’s back-to-back Grand Prix wins at La Baule (FRA) and Rome (ITA) on his super-stallion Hickstead have put him 111 points ahead of 31-year-old Kevin Staut (FRA), who had topped the Rolex Rankings since 1 August 2010.

Lamaze first shot to the top of the Rolex Rankings on 1 January 2009 and stayed there for three months. He was back in the number one slot for a second time in July 2010, the month in which he famously won the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen with a broken foot.

Lamaze, who took individual gold and team silver with Hickstead at the Beijing 2008 Olympic equestrian events in Hong Kong, has represented Canada at five consecutive FEI World Equestrian Games – 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 where he earned individual bronze with Hickstead – and at three Pan American Games, at which he earned team bronze in 1999 and team silver and individual bronze in 2007.

European Champion Kevin Staut is now in second place ahead of Billy Twomey (IRE), with Hong Kong individual silver medallist Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) in fourth and Twomey’s compatriot Denis Lynch in fifth.

The updated Rolex Rankings are available here.

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

Tucker Johnson Returns to the Dixon Oval to Claim the Devon Pleasure Carriage Drive Championship

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Tucker Johnson at Devon (Photo courtesy of Alden Corrigan and Meg Wiederseim).

Devon, PA – One of the highlights of Memorial Day weekend is the Devon Pleasure Carriage Drive from St. David’s Church through the tree-lined neighborhoods along the 4-½ mile route to the Dixon Oval. The images of majestic animals pulling magnificently maintained coaches draw crowds of spectators and tailgaters alike, both at St. David’s and along the Pleasure Carriage Drive route to the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.

The event begins with competitors assembling in one of St. David’s fields surrounded by throngs of tailgaters for the initial judging by division (Horses, Ponies, Light Commercial and Farmers) before they are permitted to begin their journey to the Dixon Oval. The judges are looking to see if the vehicle has the proper appointments, if the turnout is correct, if the right horses are hooked up to the right vehicle, and if people are dressed reasonably, but not necessarily in period outfits.

Once the competitors begin their drive, they are judged on their performance by road judges placed strategically along the route. The road judges watch the competitors working on the road, and look for obvious mistakes like failing to stop at a stop sign, if horses gallop up the hill and have a problem, go too fast down a hill, or if they are crowding another carriage and don’t use their whip correctly.

Continue reading Tucker Johnson Returns to the Dixon Oval to Claim the Devon Pleasure Carriage Drive Championship →

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

Danielle Torano and Katina Win the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties

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© ESI Photography. Danielle Torano and Katina cruise to a victory in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson.

SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK (May 28, 2011) — The road to the 2011 Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix made its highly-anticipated return to HITS-on-the-Hudson on Friday with the first of 14 Grand Prix Qualifiers that will take place in Saugerties this show season. Danielle Torano of SW Ranches, Florida captured the win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, aboard her own Katina to kick off what promises to be a fantastic weekend of show jumping at HITS Saugerties.

A night of wild thunderstorms rolled through the Hudson Valley on late Thursday night and paved the way for a beautiful day of warm weather on Friday, which set the stage for a perfect afternoon of show jumping in the beautiful Strongid C 2X Stadium. The course for the class was set by Jose “Pepe” Gamarra of Ellenton, Florida. Two-time Olympic Medalist Leslie Burr Howard of Darien, Connecticut was the first rider of the class to go clear aboard The Utah Group’s Utah. Andrew Bourns of Wellington, Florida soon joined Burr-Howard in the jump-off with a clear ride of his own aboard Gowran Park. By the end of the first round nine riders advanced to the jump-off, including Torano and her relatively new horse Katina.

“The triple combination was by far the most difficult,” explained Torano of the first round. “It was heading toward the in-gate and came at a slight bend, so you really needed to focus and get your horse to focus. But Katina is the sort of horse that really gives you her all and puts her heart into the ride.”

Continue reading Danielle Torano and Katina Win the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties →

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

FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Draw Report, Round 2

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IT’S ALL EYES ON THE IRISH IN ROME by Louise Parkes

Larkhill Cruiser – Cian O'connor (IRL) - A member of the winning team. Copyright: Christoph Bricot/FEI

Rome, 26 May 2011 – The Irish team are hot favourites to win the second leg of the 2011 FEI Nations Cup series in Rome (ITA) tomorrow, but they got the worst of the draw today and so will be first into the ring as the action gets underway in the stunning surroundings of the Piazza di Siena.  A total of nine teams will line out in this leg of the elite eight-nation tournament, as the host country makes a guest appearance on home turf.

The order-of-go for tomorrow’s competition is as follows: 1, Ireland; 2, France; 3, USA; 4, The Netherlands; 5, Denmark; 6, Germany; 7, Italy; 8, Great Britain; 9, Belgium.

PROSPECTS
Discussing team prospects this evening, Belgian Chef d’Equipe, Philipp Guerdat, said that “everyone has a chance, but the Irish are very strong because they have been winning everywhere!”  Robert Splaine’s side stormed to victory in the opening leg of the FEI Nations Cup in La Baule, France two weeks ago, and then another Irish selection topped the podium at the FEI Promotional League in Copenhagen, Denmark a week later.  It seems they are the hottest team in town.

Continue reading FEI Nations Cup 2011 – Draw Report, Round 2 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Equestrian Aid Found., Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Publications/Media, Show Jumping

Georgina Bloomberg Launches Teen Book Series

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Real Life and Equestrian Experiences of Mayor’s Daughter Inspire The A Circuit; Available Today, May 24, 2011

New York, NY – May 24, 2011 – Today, Georgina Bloomberg, an accomplished professional equestrian, philanthropist and youngest daughter of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, launches The A Circuit (Bloomsbury, original paperback, $9.99), the first in a series of teen novels set within the equestrian world she knows so well.  Co-written with Cathy Hapka, Georgina brings an authenticity and flair to the books that will entice as much as they will fascinate.  The second novel in the series, entitled My Favorite Mistake, is scheduled to be released in March 2012.

The A Circuit is the A-List meets the elite horse world, capturing the lives of three teenagers, Zara, the wild child of a famous rock star, Kate, a working student serious about riding, and Tommi, a billionaire heiress, as they navigate the life of privilege and competition and figure out how to succeed while being true to themselves. The social drama set within an elite world will have teens flocking to this series.

“The A Circuit captures the pressures and struggles that riders face, and is also a great lesson that working together in any sport can bring different people together,” said Georgina when asked why she decided to write the series.

Continue reading Georgina Bloomberg Launches Teen Book Series →

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Dressage, Driving, Endurance Riding, EQUUS Foundation, Eventing/H.T., Para-Equestrian, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping, Vaulting, Western/Reining

America’s Favorite Equestrian Round 2 Closing on May 31!

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WESTPORT, CT – May 23, 2011 – One more equestrian with the lowest number of votes in each discipline will drop off the list at the end of Round 2 on May 31, 2011. Don’t let it be your favorite! All it takes is a $5 gift to The EQUUS Foundation to keep your favorite in the competition.

America’s Favorite Equestrians Round 2:

Dressage: Todd Flettrich, Courtney King-Dye, Debbie McDonald, Leslie Morse, Steffen Peters, Guenter Seidel
Driving: Tucker Johnson, Fred Merriam, Lisa Singer, Suzy Stafford, Rochelle Temple, Chester Weber
Endurance: Garrett Ford, Becky Hart, Dave Rabe, Robert Ribley, Julie Suhr, Bill Wilson
Eventing: Tiana Coudray, Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin, Karen O’Connor, Kimberly Severson, James C. Wofford
Jumping: Margie Engle, Joe Fargis, Laura Kraut, Anne Kursinski, Beezie Madden, McLain Ward
Para-Dressage: Jennifer Baker, Robin Brueckmann, Laura Goldman, Mary Jordan, Susan Treabess, Jonathan Wentz
Reining: Casey Deary, Andrea Fappani, Shawn Flarida, Tom McCutcheon, Tim McQuay, Randy Paul
Vaulting: Megan Benjamin, Ali Divita, Kenny Geisler, Devon Maitozo, Mary McCormick, Katherine Wick

How to Vote:
Visit the link at http://www.equusfoundation.org/vote.

Continue reading America’s Favorite Equestrian Round 2 Closing on May 31! →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Unbelievable Uceko! Kent Farrington Takes $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix Win at Kentucky Spring Classic

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Kent Farrington and Uceko won the $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix at the Kentucky Spring Classic. Photos By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Lexington, KY – May 21, 2011 – As the Kentucky Spring Classic hosted another night of show jumping, the incredible duo of Kent Farrington and Uceko continued their complete domination of the last two weeks by securing the $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix victory. Tonight’s event was sponsored by Audi of Lexington and honored Mary Rena Murphy, a horsewoman whose dedication to equestrian sport was unmatched. Once again, speed proved to be the determining factor during the thirteen horse jump-off, and that is something Farrington and Uceko are proving to master. The duo was a full two seconds ahead of second place finishers Ali Wolff and Lanoo, while Christian Heineking and River of Dreams took home third for the second time this week.

Richard Jeffery, of Bournemouth, England, was tonight’s course designer and 32 horse and riders gathered at the Rolex Stadium to take their turn over the first round. There were 16 jumping efforts, which included a triple bar, a wall fence, a liverpool, an open water, an oxer-oxer double combination, and a vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination. Thirteen of the entries managed to clear the course without fault and advance to the jump-off.

“During the first round, there were more clear than I expected,” admitted Farrington. “The outside line started with a wall and then an awkward distance to an oxer-oxer combination, and then a very steady distance to a liverpool. I thought that would catch more horses than it did. I think the footing here is excellent, and these horses have been here for two weeks now, so I think they are really comfortable in the ring. I think that’s why there were more clear rounds than Richard expected. It’s under the lights, so they are a bit impressed, and I think the horses were just really going well on the ground.”

Continue reading Unbelievable Uceko! Kent Farrington Takes $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix Win at Kentucky Spring Classic →

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day, Show Jumping

All the Lights in Sinead Halpin’s Chandelier Shown Brightly at the Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event

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Photos by Mary Quarles

Having known Sinead Halpin since she was a preteen, riding and training here in South Carolina, I can object to a few of the comments made by Jimmy Wofford in his pre Rolex commentary, in reference to Sinead’s chances of placing in the top ten (which he felt she would accomplish).

I remember her first “Event Horse” quite well. He was a flea bitten gray Arabian named “Jazz”, better known as the “Energizer Bunny” for his unique jumping style. Sinead and about a half dozen young riders, such as Michael Pollard for one and my own daughter, were very determined to become Olympic 3-Day Eventers.

As young riders, they were extremely focused on gaining the skills necessary to ride and compete at the top levels of competition. They all have been successful, both in competition as well as in their personal lives as maturing young adults.

Parents of young riders who have the interest and determination to become successful equestrians should understand that beyond the apparent costs of participating in equestrian sports, the return on their monetary investment, is that these young people’s determination and drive for the sport gives them the tools to become successful adults in their future careers, if not as Olympic level equestrians, then in the business world, no matter what career path, they eventually choose.

Continue reading All the Lights in Sinead Halpin’s Chandelier Shown Brightly at the Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Driving, FEI, FEI, JRPR

Suzy Stafford Long-Listed for 2011 FEI World Pony Driving Championships in Slovenia

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Suzy Stafford has been long-listed for the 2011 FEI World Pony Driving Championships with her registered Arabian-Morgan mare Miss Josephine. (Photo courtesy of Meredith Fetters)

Chester County, PA (May 19, 2011) – Gold medalist Suzy Stafford has been long-listed for the 2011 FEI World Pony Driving Championships with her registered half Arabian mare Miss Josephine. Stafford operates her Stafford Carriage Driving facility out of Chester County in Pennsylvania from April to December and is stationed in Aiken, South Carolina from January through April.

“I am very excited that Josephine has been long-listed for the Pony Driving Championships,” Stafford said. “I have owned her since September of 2010 and she doesn’t have quite the show experience that many of the other ponies I have competed had, but she does have the quality and the talent to win. I am confident she will be ready for the World Championships by September.”

Although their partnership is relatively new, Stafford and Josephine have already proven they have the drive to win. The pair won the Reserve National Single Pony Championships at Live Oak International earlier this year and as the most consistent competitors in three selection trials held in Florida, Stafford and Josephine drove away as the winners of the Triple Crown of Driving sponsored by Live Oak International, the Sunshine State CDE and Little Everglades CDE.

Continue reading Suzy Stafford Long-Listed for 2011 FEI World Pony Driving Championships in Slovenia →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Maclay, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Rescue/Protection Sources, Show Jumping

Historic ASPCA Maclay National Championship Finds a Home in Kentucky

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PHOTO: ©2010 Rebecca Walton - 2010 ASPCA Maclay National Champion Hayley Barnhill winners circle presentation

Lexington, Kentucky – May 17, 2011 – The 2011 Alltech National Horse Show has made the move to Lexington, Kentucky, and along with the glitz, the glamour, the prestige and the big money classes at this classic American tradition, the show will also feature one of the nation’s longest running and most coveted national championships, the ASPCA(R) (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Maclay National Championship.

The Alltech National Horse Show, 128th edition, will be staged at the Alltech Arena at the world-renowned Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, site of last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The show runs from November 2-6, 2011, with the Maclay Finals taking center stage on the final Sunday.

Over the years the ASPCA Maclay Finals have been termed the “proving ground of champions” and the ultimate test for America’s young riders. And in the case of this classic test of horsemanship skills, that’s certainly more fact than hype.

“It’s the culmination of a long year of competition, it’s the final national championship, and with all of the history behind it, it’s just a great event to be a part of,” said top trainer Missy Clark, who, during the course of her stellar career as one of the nation’s very best teachers, has sent nine different ASPCA Maclay National Champions to the ring. “If you look back at the names on the Maclay trophy, you see so many names of riders that have gone on to do great things in their careers. If you can get through the Maclay Finals, you can go on and do anything. If you win that class, you’ve got the goods; you’ve got the ingredients to do great things.”

Continue reading Historic ASPCA Maclay National Championship Finds a Home in Kentucky →