Category Archives: *Featured/Spotlights

Special features, spotlights, headlines

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Ten Olympians Top All Star Line-up for $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational

April 2, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Prudent005712 — Katie Prudent, pictured here on Sassacaia III, bids to become the first four time winner of the American Invitational on April 9 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. ©Kenneth Kraus/ PhelpsSports.com.

Eleven of top fifteen computer listed riders accentuate exciting Saturday night at Raymond James

Tampa, Fl – April 1, 2011 – With this year’s edition of the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational, presented by G & C Farms, just over a week away, the line-up for the Saturday night showdown is all set, and this year’s roster of riders is one of the best in the thirty-eight year history of this long running Tampa tradition.

Ten Olympic veterans will go head to head at the ‘Super Bowl of Show Jumping,’ scheduled for Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.

Two-time United States Olympic Gold Medalists McLain Ward and Beezie Madden top the star-studded field, and they will be joined by fellow American Olympic veterans Lauren Hough, Margie Engle, Peter Leone and Leslie Howard.

Canada’s most decorated Olympic hero Ian Millar, named to ten Olympic Show Jumping teams over the years, will also compete for this year’s American Invitational title, as will Russian Olympic veteran Ljubov Kochetova and Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios. Also in the mix is Mario Deslauriers, another Canadian Olympic veteran, who is now an American citizen and has competed successfully for the United States at the World Equestrian Games and on the Super League tour in Europe.

Continue reading Ten Olympians Top All Star Line-up for $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational →

*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, JRPR, Show Jumping

Olympic Gold Medalist Beezie Madden Wins Vita Flex Victory Pass Award during the FTI WEF

March 31, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

VitaFlexBeezieMadden — Beezie Madden rode away as the Vita Flex Victory Pass Award winner when she and Mademoiselle won the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (March 31, 2011) – Olympic Gold Medalist Beezie Madden and Mademoiselle, owned by Abigail Wexner, raced to victory in the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup during the sixth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). As the winner of the class, Madden also rode away with the Vita Flex Victory Pass Award, sponsored by Vita Flex Nutrition.

“My horse was terrific,” Madden said, as she rode out of the winner’s circle. “She was out here last year so I had confidence that she would be good. She was fantastic, especially in the jump-off.”

The Grand Prix, which was held on the grass at The Stadium, featured 29 entries with nine riders going clean in the first round to advance to the jump-off. Madden commented that she liked the grass field venue and won the $75,000 Grand Prix last year in the same location aboard Coral Reef’s Via Volo. The Challenge Cup was Madden’s first Grand Prix victory of the 2011 WEF season.

Continue reading Olympic Gold Medalist Beezie Madden Wins Vita Flex Victory Pass Award during the FTI WEF →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Eventing/H.T., Events, JRPR

Chester Weber Proves Unstoppable with Another FEI Horse Team Win at Live Oak International Combined Driving Event

March 30, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

ChesterLiveOak2011Marathon — Combined Driver Chester Weber proved unstoppable at CAI Live Oak, when he won the FEI Horse Team Division for the ninth year in a row. (Photo courtesy of My Elisabeth Weber)

Ocala, FL (March 30, 2011) – Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, proved to be an unstoppable force at the CAI Live Oak International Combined Driving event when he drove away as the winner of the FEI Horse Team division. Live Oak International is considered to be one of the premiere Combined Driving events in North America and each year the show attracts an array of world-class competition.

Weber, who has added two new equine members to his team with Jane Forbes Clark’s horses, Uniek and Splash, was pleased with the Live Oak win. “My team went well and were technically easy to drive,” Weber said, adding that it felt great to win nine years in a row at Live Oak. “The two new additions from Jane have proven to be very helpful and have not only added to our depth but have moved our program forward.”

Weber, who is from Ocala and is based out of Live Oak Plantation, first drove into the winner’s circle in March with the new team when he won the FEI Four-In-Hand Division at Little Everglades, a USEF Selection Trial. During Live Oak, Weber competed Rolex W, Uniek, Splash and Para in the dressage phase for a score of 37.63 and followed up with Uniek, Reno, Para and Splash in the marathon and cones, with no penalties and a time of 2:55.63 in the cones.

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

Yoder Wins USEF National Pair Championship; Temple, Matheson and Stroud Win USEF Pony Championships

March 29, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

TempleDSCN0514_edited-1 — Photos: Shelly Temple at Live Oak CDE. Photo credit: Ann Schurtz

Ocala, FL – Joe Yoder driving Jack Wetzel’s pair of Gelderlanders won his first USEF National Pair Championship Sunday at the CAI Live Oak. After finishing second in dressage and winning the marathon, Yoder went into the final Cones phase with a 15-point lead over Katherin Dancer. Three balls down incurred 12 penalties for the young man who just recently relocated from Bozeman, Montana, to Aiken, SC, to drive for Wetzel. Yoder squeaked in just under the 3 minute time allowed to secure his win. Alan Aulson moved into second place, driving his own pair of Morgan horses, after Dancer knocked down five balls and incurred time penalties.

Shelly Temple of Windsor, SC, went into cones with a narrow lead over Suzy Stafford, but managed to keep all the balls on the cones, incurring just 1.61 time penalties to retain the lead and win the USEF National Championship for single ponies. “It was a competitive class,” said Temple. “I was thrilled that my pony went so well. Jack Wetzel kindly lent me a four-wheel Spider Phaeton which made a huge difference from the two-wheeled road cart I usually drive, and it had a very positive effect.”

Continue reading Yoder Wins USEF National Pair Championship; Temple, Matheson and Stroud Win USEF Pony Championships →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Pony Hunters Are a Force to Be Reckoned With during Week 11 of the FTI WEF

March 29, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Ross913 — Kate Ross and Won Up. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 27, 2011 – It is the last day of action for week 11 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which means that numerous championships were awarded throughout the day. One place where there was a particularly large amount of awards being given out was Pony Land. Rings 11 and 12 were packed with children and their ponies and family members. Competition was fierce as they vied for some last minute points in their divisions.

A busy rider that always has a presence at the pony rings is Meredith Darst. The second day of competition, Darst rode the KAR LLC entry, Won Up, to secure the championship in the Equisport Insurance Large Pony Hunters. Won Up is usually ridden by Kate Ross. Won Up was awarded three blue ribbons and a third place ribbon in the division.

Darst was also awarded the reserve championship on the Megan MacPherson entry, Mapleside Magic Dancer. Darst secured the reserve championship by winning two classes, placing second in two more classes, and also receiving a fifth place ribbon as well.

Continue reading Pony Hunters Are a Force to Be Reckoned With during Week 11 of the FTI WEF →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Show Jumping

Mario Deslauriers and Cella Triumph in $30,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic Finale

March 28, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

MARIO-DESLAURIERSCellaSuncast — Mario Deslauriers and Cella won the $30,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic during week eleven at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Nick Skelton, Ashlee Bond, and McLain Ward Take Home Bonus Money for Consistent Performances

Wellington, FL – March 27, 2011 – Week eleven of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday afternoon with a victory for Mario Deslauriers (USA) and Cella in the $30,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic Finale. Deslauriers and Cella, owned by Jane F. Clark, was the only pair to master the course with double clear rounds for the win.

Guilherme Jorge of Brazil designed the courses in the International Arena this week and concluded the weekend with a challenging course for the 1.50m. Just three of the original 50 competitors were able to go clear in the first round to return for a jump-off.

Daniel Bluman (COL) was the first to return for the short course aboard his own Sancha La Silla. The pair had one rail down to earn four faults in 34.158 seconds, finishing in second place.

Deslauriers returned next with Cella and put down a fast, clear round in 35.853 seconds to take over the lead.

Ashlee Bond (USA) rode Chivas Z, owned by Little Valley Farm, through the course next, but retired from her round after a refusal to automatically finish in third place.

Continue reading Mario Deslauriers and Cella Triumph in $30,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic Finale →

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

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 – Round 13, ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED)

March 28, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

LynchDenBosch — Ireland's Denis Lynch is presented with his prize by Anthony Schaub from Rolex after securing a place at the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final at Leipzig, Germany next month with a superb victory at the last Western European League qualifier in 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands today. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.

LYNCH SNATCHES LAST-CHANCE WIN AT ‘S-HERTOGENBOSCH by Louise Parkes

27 March 2011 – Ireland’s Denis Lynch snatched a last-minute place at next month’s Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping final in Leipzig, Germany with a superb victory in the final qualifier of the Western European League series at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands today. Riding the gigantic 11 year old gelding Abbervail van het Dingeshof which belongs to his Swiss patron Thomas Straumann, the Irishman produced a stunning round when eighth to go in the thrilling 17-horse jump-off, and could not be caught despite the best efforts of many of the super-stars who followed him.

“It’s my very first World Cup win – I’ve been trying to do this for the last 15 years and I’ve been placed plenty of times but I’ve never come out on top so it feels really good!” Lynch said. “I wanted to make it to the final and this was my last chance – I’m really happy it worked out and I’m delighted with my horse,” he added. A total of six Dutch riders went into the jump-off but Jeroen Dubbeldam (BMC Van Grunsven Simon), Eric van der Vleuten (VDL Groep Utascha SFN) and Piet Raijmakers Jr. (Van Schijndel’s Rascin) had to settle for second, third and fourth places respectively while Frenchman, Simon Delestre (Couletto), lined up in fifth.

PRESSURE
This was a day of intense pressure, and Dutch course designer Louis Konickx was feeling it as much as the riders. “The second part of the start-list was a course-designers nightmare!” he said afterwards. “I didn’t want to be over the top with my track so I felt I needed to compromise, but the jump-off worked out very well so I’m satisfied,” he added. The ease with which so many managed to keep a clean sheet first time out was indeed surprising but possibly indicative of the familiarity and comfort so many horse-and-rider combinations have developed after the winter-long indoor season, along with the quality of the 40-strong field.

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

Laura Kraut and Cedric Capture $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5*

March 27, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

LauraKrautCedric500GP — Laura Kraut and Cedric. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 26, 2011 – The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center experienced one of its biggest crowds ever on Saturday night as more than 7,000 spectators filled the stands to watch Laura Kraut (USA) and Cedric race to victory in the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5* during week eleven of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Kraut and Cedric won two grand prix classes in a row earlier in the circuit with victories in the $78,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 2* during week four and the $150,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix CSI 3*-W presented by Spy Coast Farm during week five. Tonight was the pair’s third and biggest grand prix victory of the WEF circuit to conclude a fantastic winter season.

Guilherme Jorge of Brazil designed the courses in the International Arena this week. In tonight’s class, forty entries jumped the first round course and 15 were able to go clean to advance to the jump-off. Nine were able to jump double clear, and Kraut and Cedric finished in a blazing 35.86 seconds to finish in first place.

Andres Rodriguez (VEN) rode Secret to the first clear round of the jump-off and set the standard with his speedy round in 37.10 seconds. The pair’s time held onto the lead for ten rounds before Kraut and Cedric entered the ring, eventually finishing in third place.

Continue reading Laura Kraut and Cedric Capture $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5* →

*Featured/Spotlights, Breeds, Community/Charity, Equine Assisted Therapy

Miniature Therapy Horse on TIME /CNN list of “History’s 10 Most Courageous Animals”

March 27, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

This week TIME /CNN published a list of history’s ten most courageous animals.

“Animals have often shown bravery in extraordinary circumstances. TIME takes a look at some of history’s most courageous animals.”

The Top 10 Heroic Animals included Bucephalus, the famed steed of Alexander the Great, Togo the sled dog who brought serum to save Nome when diphtheria broke out in 1925, Stubby the WW1 hero war dog who became a lifetime member of the American Legion and later became Georgetown University’s mascot, Simon the British cat known for her heroic voyage down China’s Yangtze River (her obituary appeared in TIME magazine in 1949), New Zealand’s Moko the dolphin and… a little Florida therapy horse named Magic.

Magic was also AARP’s 2010 Most Heroic Pet in America and on Newsweek/The Daily Beast Most Heroic Animals of 2010.

The tiny blue eyed mare works inside hospitals, assisted care programs, programs for Alzheimer’s patients, group homes and with patients in hospice care. She also works with sheriff’s officers in high crime neighborhoods as part of a community outreach program and helps children with developmental delays and at risk and abused children. From wearing tuxedos to a magical tea party for a child with a life ending illness to working with autistic children, Magic brings her special love where it is needed most.

Please use PicLens to view or click on an image to enlarge.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI

Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2010/2011 – Round 10, ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED), 26 March 2011

March 26, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

DenBosch — Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival are pictured receiving their prize from Lisa Wells, Reem Acra. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.

CORNELISSEN AND PARZIVAL SCOOP THEIR FIFTH VICTORY AT ‘S-HERTOGENBOSCH by Louise Parkes

The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival secured their fifth victory of the season when coming out on top at the last qualifying leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands this afternoon. They now look sure-fire favourites to scoop the title at the final which takes place in Leipzig, Germany from 27 April to 1 May, and the Dutch rider said today, “Yes, we’re in pretty good shape!”

Germany’s Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht produced a wonderful test, but still had to settle for runner-up spot ahead of Dutchman Hans Peter Minderhoud whose mare, Exquis Nadine, was really on her toes. And fourth place went to Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Responsible whose star has been steadily rising throughout the current season.

SET THE STANDARD
Catherine Haddad led the way at the halfway stage having set the standard with a score of 74.10 from the flashy chestnut Winymaro who seems to thrive in front of an audience. And the American rider was smiling broadly as she left the arena to the strains of the crowd singing “Happy Birthday” in celebration of her 47th year. Her score was immediately overtaken as the action re-started however, although Great Britain’s Richard Davison had to work hard for his mark of 77.025. His 12 year old gelding, Artemis, decided some of the greenery surrounding the arena was extremely suspicious and never fully settled throughout his test.

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