Category Archives: *Featured/Spotlights

Special features, spotlights, headlines

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

Dressage under the Stars Returns to Wellington Tonight to Kick Off Third Season

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Dressage under the Stars Logo. Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Client

Wellington, FL – February 2, 2011 – Tonight marks the opening night for Dressage under the Stars, sponsored this evening by Quantum Saddle Ltd. Held at The world famous Players Club Bar & Grille, which is the premiere venue for International caliber competition, riders will allow their equine partners to shine under the stars. The high energy and hugely popular “musical freestyles” shall take place patio-side where an audience of over 400 will sip cocktails and dine both ring side and on the second story patio.

Each Wednesday during the winter equestrian season in Palm Beach, the elegance of dressage is showcased under the magic of starlight. In only its third season, DRESSAGE UNDER THE STARS has become one of The Winter Equestrian calendar’s most anticipated events. Five horse and rider combinations perform weekly for cash prizes and the opportunity to return to for the eighth week’s Champion round where the winner takes away a grand prize consisting of lavish gifts and a very large check. This event consistently attracts the BEST international caliber riders in south Florida.

Continue reading Dressage under the Stars Returns to Wellington Tonight to Kick Off Third Season →

*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

USET Foundation Honors WEG Athletes and Special Award Winners

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Jane Forbes Clark awards Whitney Stone Cup to Tucker Johnson with Brownlee O. Currey. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Wellington, FL – February 2, 2011 – The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation Board of Trustees hosted a cocktail reception on Friday, January 28, 2011, to honor the equestrian athletes that represented the United States during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), the recipients of the Foundations’ Gold Medal Club Anniversary Awards, the Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy, and the Whitney Stone Cup. The reception was held at Player’s Club in Wellington, FL.

The reception opened with lovely remarks by Foundation President Jane Forbes Clark, recognizing the efforts of all the equestrian athletes that represented the United States during WEG, as well as their team of supporters. The United States earned a Team and Individual Gold Medal and an Individual Silver Medal in Reining, an Individual Gold Medal in Vaulting, a Team Silver and Individual Bronze Medal in Driving, and two Individual Bronze Medals in Dressage.

The party also recognized members of the Gold Medal Club, the most loyal and generous supporters of the USET Foundation. These individuals have been a vital and essential source of support to the U.S. equestrian teams. Special awards were presented to those supporters recognizing their giving at the Gold Medal Club level for 10, 15, 25 and 30 years.

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

Paulo Santana & Taloubet Top $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic

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Brazil's Paulo Santana rode Taloubet to victory in the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic during week three of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 30, 2011 – The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded its third week of competition on Sunday afternoon with a $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic. Held in the International Arena of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), the class was won by Paulo Santana (BRA) and Taloubet over a starting field of 31 entries. This win was the pair’s first WEF victory.

This week’s course designer in the International Arena was Olaf Petersen Sr. of Germany. Petersen designed a challenging course for the day’s class, which narrowed down the field to just six entries who continued to the jump-off. Santana and Taloubet, owned by Jennifer Santana, were the fastest of three double clear rounds to take home top honors. An eleven-year-old KWPN gelding by Baloubet Du Rouet x Quidam De Revel, Taloubet was smooth and confident in the jump-off and earned great praise from his rider. The pair went second over the short course and put down a clear, fast round in 34.537 seconds that would hold up for the win.

Continue reading Paulo Santana & Taloubet Top $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic →

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

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 – Round 9, Zurich

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Germany's Marcus Ehning, winner of today's ninth leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series in Zurich, Switzerland, is presented with a Rolex watch by Mr Pedro Reiser, Market Manager Rolex Switzerland. Photo: Katja Stuppia/FEI.

EHNING MAKES IT FIVE FOR GERMANY AT ZURICH by Louise Parkes

Zurich (SUI), 30 January 2011 – Marcus Ehning brought the German tally to five wins in the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series with a convincing victory riding Noltes Kuchengirl at the ninth leg in Zurich, Switzerland today.  In an exciting seven-way jump-off against the clock, the defending champion pipped British birthday boy, 28 year old Ben Maher riding the rejuvenated Robin Hood W, while Australia’s Edwina Alexander and Cevo Itot du Chateau finished third.

Remarkably, two Spanish riders made the cut into the jump-off and the first of these, Pilar Cordon, slotted into fourth when double-clear with Nuage Bleu while German superstars Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Shutterfly had to settle for fifth with a single mistake against the clock.  Today’s result however has promoted Michaels-Beerbaum to runner-up spot in the Western European League standings which continue to be led by World No. 1 Kevin Staut from France whose first-round double-error proved costly today.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13084

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

Jacksonville A to Z Finale – Alissa Kinsey & Grisset Share a Spotlight and Meg O’Mara Does It Her Way with Sinatra IV

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Alissa Kinsey & Grisset. ©Flashpoint Photography

Green Cove Springs, FL — January 29, 2011 — Show Jumping action took center stage for the finale of the Jacksonville Winter Series. Starting with the $10,000 Children-Adult Jumper Classic, sponsored by Cedar Street Advisors, it was the Sunshine State’s own Alissa Kinsey from Ft Myers and phenom mare Grisset taking the top spot.

Dave Ballard of Olympic fame took over course designing honors for this final week of competition and created layouts that both tested exhibitors and took spectators’ breaths away at times. A starting field of 27 crossed through the in gate on Saturday afternoon with high hopes of claiming the big prize in the $10,000 Cedar Street Advisors Children-Adult Jumper Classic. Nearly half survived the 68 second limited twisty 12 obstacle first round to advance into the dash for the cash jump off.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13075

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

Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge to Host 2011 Exquis World Dressage Masters CDI5*

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Steffen Peters and Ravel at the World Dressage Masters. Photo by Ken Braddick.

West Palm Beach, FL – Pending FEI approval, the Exquis World Dressage Masters CDI5* has been rescheduled for March 9-12 at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge in West Palm Beach, FL. The featured event, the Freestyle, will be held under the lights on Friday evening. The only CDI5* held annually in the United States, the World Dressage Masters attracts some of the world’s best.

Over the last two years, World, Olympic and World Cup Champions have all been in attendance and 2011 promises to not disappoint. Held for the first time at the world-class Palm Beach County Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach – South Florida will again welcome the dressage world.

For more information, please visit: http://www.wellingtonclassicdressage.com/index.html or http://www.worlddressagemasters.com/EN/. Please contact Eva Salomon with questions at esalomon@usef.org.

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Dressage, Equestrian Assistance, Eventing/H.T., USEF

USEF Passes New Safety Helmet Rules for Eventing and Dressage Riders

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Steffen Peters wore a helmet during the Dressage Freestyle at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Photo by Shannon Brinkman/USEF Archive.

Lexington, KY – The Board of Directors during this year’s United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Annual Meeting approved new helmet rules for riders in both eventing and dressage – just two weeks after dozens of stakeholders in equestrian sport met with the goal of improving rider safety across disciplines.

”If the technology is available to reduce head injuries, the time to use it is now,” said USEF President David O’Connor. “I am very proud of our organization for taking this very important step. It is a huge direction of change.”

Briefly, the first rule change requires anyone on a horse to wear a ASTM/SEI-approved helmet at all times while mounted on competition grounds at U.S. nationally rated eventing competitions. The rule change is effective immediately.

Further specifics regarding the changes to the rule for Protective Headgear for Eventing (EV 114.1) will be posted here in the future: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/RuleBook/Changes/2011.aspx.

Continue reading USEF Passes New Safety Helmet Rules for Eventing and Dressage Riders →

*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, USEF, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

McCutcheon Scores 2010 USEF Equestrian of the Year Title; Harris Honored for a Lifetime of Excellence

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Tom McCutcheon, Don Harris and Kelsey Kimbler. Photo: Geoff Oliver Bugbee/USEF

Lexington, KY – In a year that equestrian sport was forever changed in the United States, an all-American horseman was honored for his golden achievement. For the second consecutive year, the voters for USEF Horse and Equestrian of the Year have crowned a horse and his rider as champions in both categories.

Tom McCutcheon, the only American double Gold medalist at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games had barely finished celebrating the achievements of Gunners Special Nite as 2010 Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year on Friday evening at the USEF Annual Meeting, when he would find himself on stage again, this time picking up an honor all his own.

McCutcheon wrote his place in history, becoming the first reiner to be crowned USEF Equestrian of the Year.

Continue reading McCutcheon Scores 2010 USEF Equestrian of the Year Title; Harris Honored for a Lifetime of Excellence →

*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, USEF, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

Double Gold Medalist Gunners Special Nite Named 2010 Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year

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Gunners Special Nite. Photo: Shannon Brinkman/USEF

Lexington, KY – The city of Lexington was largely defined by the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010, so it proved a fitting setting to crown the 2010 Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year.

And the winner couldn’t be more all-American.

The only multiple Gold medal-winning horse for Team USA, Gunners Special Nite, a six-year-old American Quarter Horse, brought the sport of reining to the forefront of the American equestrian community. People who had never heard of reining watched Gunners Special Nite put in a foot-perfect effort to cruise to victory with the Adequan U.S. Reining Team on NBC’s Broadcast. The team won a Team Gold medal by the largest margin in history.

But it was the Individual Championship where Gunners Special Nite stood out above the rest of the field. His performance with steely veteran Tom McCutcheon brought down the house in the Alltech Arena and secured Gunners Special Nite’s place in the history books.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13065

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

2011 USEF Junior Hunter National Championships – East Coast Returns to HITS-on-the-Hudson

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©Lili Weik Photography. Taylor Ann Adams is congratulated after winning the 2009 Essex Classics/USHJA Hunterdon Cup at HITS Saugerties.

Wildcard Berths for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final to Be Awarded to Champion Riders from Each of the Four Junior Hunter Sections

SAUGERTIES, NY (January 28, 2011) — HITS, Inc. is pleased to announce that the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has selected HITS-on-the-Hudson to be the host site for the 2011 Junior Hunter National Championships – East Coast, marking the return of the event to HITS facility for the sixth time in the past seven years.

The 2011 USEF Junior Hunter Championships – East Coast will be held August 1-3, between HITS-on-the-Hudson V and VI, at the HITS-on-the-Hudson show grounds in Saugerties, New York. The Championships will feature competition for all four sections of Junior Hunters: Small Juniors 15 and Under, Large Juniors 15 and Under, Small Juniors 16-17 and Large Juniors 16-17. Also held during this competition is the popular and prestigious Hunterdon Cup, which offers an exciting equitation championship for junior riders. Equitation classes will kick things off with the USEF/Pessoa Hunter Seat Medal, the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Medal, and the WIHS Equitation Classic taking place the first day of competition.

Continue reading 2011 USEF Junior Hunter National Championships – East Coast Returns to HITS-on-the-Hudson →