Category Archives: *Featured/Spotlights

Special features, spotlights, headlines

*Featured/Spotlights, Breeds, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, JRPR, USDF

Lusitanos Shine in the Spotlight at the USDF Annual Convention and Symposium

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Photos © 2010 Teri Rehkopf, HorsesintheSouth.com & DressageontheFirstCoast.com

Jacksonville, FL (December 30, 2010) – The Lusitano breed was in the spotlight at the recent United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Annual Convention in Jacksonville, Florida, when an award-winning Lusitano took part in the symposium and two lucky audience members won tickets to the upcoming 2011 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction. The auction, which will be held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida, on February 23-26, 2011, will feature Lusitano horses from the world’s top Lusitano breeders.

Dressage rider Leah Winston showed the six-year-old Lusitano stallion Amintas Interagro, owned by Al and Sherie Zobec of Z Stallions in Palm City, Florida, in the USDF symposium. Winston has found success with Amintas in the FEI Six-Year-Old division and believes the stallion has Grand Prix potential.

“Amintas is my pride and joy,” Winston said, adding that she co-owns him with the Zobecs. “Although the level we were demonstrating was below the level he is currently competing, it was great exposure for us and the Lusitano breed. The judges for the symposium, Gary Rockwell and Lilo Fiore, treated us very fairly and helped me with some of the issues that actually carry through to the level I ride Amintas in now. Gary even commented that he is a very nice young horse and has a great work ethic, very serious and will be fun to train up through the levels. He also commented on the relationship that he feels we have developed.”

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12851

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

Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2010/2011 – Round 6, Mechelen

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The Netherlands' Edward Gal and Sisther de Jeu won the sixth leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Mechelen, Belgium today. Photo: Dirk Caremans/FEI.

GAL REIGNS SUPREME WHILE MINDERHOUD TAKES MAXIMUM POINTS AND SALZGEBER FORGES AHEAD ON LEADERBOARD by Claartje van Andel

Mechelen (BEL), 28 December 2010 – The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and his mare Sisther de Jeu simply did what they set out to do at the sixth leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Mechelen, Belgium today when following their victory in the Grand Prix with the same result in the Freestyle. As Gal is the title defender and does not receive points in his starts, his partner, Hans Peter Minderhoud, claimed maximum points when runner-up with the mare Exquis Nadine.  And Ulla Salzgeber, winner at both Kaposvar in Hungary and at Frankfurt in her native Germany this season, finished third with her chestnut mare Wakana to forge a strong lead at the top of the series leaderboard.

Gal was relieved and happy with the win. He took the rather inexperienced mare Sisther de Jeu to Olympia in London and now to Mechelen. “She is very sensitive and is not used to a lot of noise and to the crowds, but she is learning to behave better, and to relax – this definitely will be her future,” the 40 year old rider said with confidence. His Freestyle music is just like the famous Freestyle of his former ride, the stallion Totilas which has now been sold to Germany.  The score was created by Dutch musician Joost Peters, who is married to Dutch dressage rider and trainer Mischa Koot, and the music cast a mysterious spell over the movements of Sisther de Jeu who began to really show what she can do during the test.

Continue reading Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2010/2011 – Round 6, Mechelen →

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

Robert Dover’s Radio Show to Feature Olympic Stars in the “It Gets Better Campaign”

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Robert Dover. Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Client

Wellington, FL – December 27, 2010 – Six time Olympian Robert Dover will host Olympic Stars for the It Gets Better campaign on his radio show, Dover’s World, on Tuesday December 28, 2010 at 6pm on WBZT (AM 1230) from Palm Beach to Miami, Florida.  The program can also be found at www.DoversWorld.com, and will be streamed live there for listeners around the world.  The roster for the “Olympic Stars for the It Gets Better Campaign” radio show include Olympic Stars that all happen to be out, gay, and proud champions in sport and life in general.

Featured guests on the show include Olympic Diver David Pichler, who represented the United States in Atlanta in 1996 and was named the Diving Team Captain four years later at the Games in Sydney, Australia, where he was ranked fourth in the world in the 3-meter synchronized event and ninth individually. Life was not always easy for David, and he will share how he persevered and became such a great success.

Next up is Southern Germany born Guenter Seidel, who immigrated to the United States, became a citizen, and went on to represent the U.S Olympic Dressage Team in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens.  Seidel earned Bronze Medals in each of his three Olympic appearances.  He will talk about his decision to leave his native land and move to California where he still makes his home, along with his long-time partner, Sean Caddell.  Seidel will also discuss his sights on the 2012 Olympics in London.

Continue reading Robert Dover’s Radio Show to Feature Olympic Stars in the “It Gets Better Campaign” →

*Featured/Spotlights, Breeds, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Events, JRPR

American Shetland Pony Nominated for USEF Horse of the Year

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Michelle LaGrotte-Barcus and her Modern American Shetland Pony Heza JackRabbit, who has won two National Championships in Modern Roadster. Rabbit is the first Shetland Pony to be nominated for the Horse of the Year title. (Photo courtesy of Howie Schatzberg)

Rockville, MO (December 22, 2010) – Heza JackRabbit, a Modern American Shetland Pony, may only be 46” tall but he just became larger than life as one of five horses from the entire country in the running for the USEF Horse of the Year title. Rabbit, who is registered with the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC), is a six-year-old black stallion and Reserve National Grand Champion Roadster Pony.

“I am very excited for Rabbit and for the American Shetland Pony Club,” said Michelle LeGrotte-Barcus, the proud owner of Rabbit. “I am honored that he is the first Shetland Pony to be up for the Horse of the Year title. I told Rabbit about it and he was excited too, but he thinks his nomination means he gets extra Nicker Makers which are his favorite treat.”

LeGrotte-Barcus, who owns Dreamland Shetlands in Rockville, Missouri, said that as a child she watched the movie “The Black Stallion” and dreamed that someday she would have a black stallion of her own. “I just never thought he would only be 46” tall,” LeGrotte-Barcus said, adding that she fell in love with Rabbit the first time she drove him and decided to buy him before getting out of the cart. “The first time I saw Rabbit, in March of 2007, I fell in love. He was quite a handful and I thought he might not be ready for an amateur but I bought him anyway because I knew he was going to be a special pony one day.”

Continue reading American Shetland Pony Nominated for USEF Horse of the Year →

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Equestrian Assistance, EQUUS Foundation, JRPR, USEF

Vote for Combined Driver Chester Weber as America’s Favorite Driving Equestrian

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Chester Weber is in the running for America’s Favorite Equestrian. Vote now to have Weber win the Favorite Equestrian in the Driving discipline. Each vote donates $5 to The EQUUS Foundation. (Photo courtesy of Live Oak Combined Driving)

All Votes Support the EQUUS Foundation

Ocala, FL (December 22, 2010) – United States Combined Driver Chester Weber, a member of the winning Silver Medal 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Combined Driving team and the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, needs your votes for America’s Favorite Equestrian. America’s Favorite Equestrian is an interactive fund raising effort presented jointly by partnership of The EQUUS Foundation and The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to raise funds to advance the equestrian sport on an annual basis.

“I am flattered to be chosen as one of the drivers for America’s Favorite Equestrian, but the thing I am most pleased about is that each vote gives a $5 donation to The EQUUS Foundation,” Weber said. “I truly believe in supporting The EQUUS Foundation and it is a great benefit that this contest will raise money for them. The votes really make a difference because 100% of all donations will be used to support charitable causes.”

Weber is one of eight talented athletes who have been named in the driving discipline category of America’s Favorite Equestrian. Eight athletes have also been selected in the disciplines of show jumping, dressage, eventing, reining, vaulting, endurance and para-equestrian. The athlete with the most votes in each discipline will be the winner of that discipline.

Continue reading Vote for Combined Driver Chester Weber as America’s Favorite Driving Equestrian →

*Featured/Spotlights, Associations/Breeds, Breeds, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, JRPR

Four American Miniature Horses Fill In for Santa’s Reindeer during Holiday HorseFest

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Linda Kern drove the chestnut Miniature Horses four-in-hand team, I’m Little SoWhat, Master of the Chase, All Fyred Up, and Rhapsody in Red, with help from her son-in-law Doug Johnson. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Ho, Ho, Ho – Miniature Horses Escort Santa Claus!

West Palm Beach, FL (December 20, 2010) – Four perfectly matched tiny American Miniature Horses recently filled in for Santa’s reindeer, much to the delight of the crowd, at the Fidelity Investments Holiday HorseFest at the Meyer Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach’s downtown waterfront. With more than 4,000 spectators in attendance, the holiday festival showcased a fun and festive afternoon of show jumping, musical performances, pony rides, holiday fun, prize giveaways, a competition for the 2011 $1 Million Great Charity Challenge and, of course, the arrival of Santa Claus.

Owner Linda Kern, of Caribbean Dreams Miniatures in Loxahatchee, Florida, drove the chestnut Miniature Horses four-in-hand team with help from her son-in-law Doug Johnson. “The four American Miniature Horses that pulled Santa’s sleigh, or carriage if you will, are a good example of the versatility you can find in the miniature world,” said Johnny Robb, Marketing Director for the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR). “It was fantastic for the crowd to see miniatures who have won National Championships and Reserve Championships as single driving horses, pairs, tandem, unicorn, and the four-in-hand.”

Continue reading Four American Miniature Horses Fill In for Santa’s Reindeer during Holiday HorseFest →

*Featured/Spotlights, Breeds, Contributors/Press, Rescue/Protection Sources

Wyoming Resident Files Complaint against State Rep. Sue Wallis

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December 19, 2010 – CHICAGO – Wyoming resident Patricia Fazio, Ph.D. has filed a complaint with state officials, requesting an investigation of alleged violations of ethics laws and securities fraud by Wyoming State Rep. Sue Wallis (R-Campbell). Animal Law Coalition (ALC), Equine Welfare Alliance (EWA) and Habitat for Horses Advisory Council (HfHAC) applaud Dr. Fazio and join in the call for authorities to investigate Wallis’ activities.

The complaint alleges Rep. Wallis is improperly and even fraudulently abusing her position as a Wyoming legislator. The complaint further alleges that Rep. Wallis not only neglected to recuse herself or disclose her personal financial interest in votes, but that she has actually “sponsored” bills that would materially benefit her or her family.

Wallis has publicly claimed to be forming a business under the name Unified Equine LLC, which she says will slaughter horses and sell the meat within Wyoming. At the same time, in her capacity as a legislator, she is promoting legislation that would deregulate, promote and favor horse slaughter operations.

Continue reading Wyoming Resident Files Complaint against State Rep. Sue Wallis →

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa

Tip of the Week – Look at My New Shoes!

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Shoeing is like riding, dentistry, or a feed program, where balance is the most important thing.

Balance of the foot depends on not only your farrier, but the team work of the people around your horse. In achieving good feet for your horse, all possibilities should be considered: riding, vet, body workers, dentist, diet, etc. Unfortunately, if a healthy foot is not achieved, there are no consequences to us, the rider, farrier, trainer… only to the horse.

The majority of people are confused about the design of the hoof, so when evaluating your horse’s feet, follow these simple rules.

The horse’s foot should have a sensitive and insensitive frog, with a nice well-defined cleft. The foot should have a sensitive and insensitive sole. The depth of the sole and hoof wall should be at the same height as your insensitive frog. The white line should be of equal distance all the way around the foot. If your horse’s foot looks like that, you have a balanced foot. If you have chips, cracks, or flares, you have an imbalanced foot. This tells you the horse is out of balance, and you know then you have not completed the wellness circle (body workers, chiropractor, farrier, dentist, feed, etc).

Continue reading Tip of the Week – Look at My New Shoes! →

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

Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2010/2011

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Germany’s Ulla Salzgeber and Herzruf's Erbe won the fifth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Frankfurt, Germany today. Photo: Stefan Lafrentz/FEI.

SALZGEBER REIGNS SUPREME AS GERMANY DOMINATES by Claartje van Andel

Frankfurt (GER), 19 December 2010 – Germany’s Ulla Salzgeber and her reliable chestnut Herzruf’s Erbe won the fifth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in the festive surroundings of the Frankfurter Festhalle in Frankfurt today. The victory was the more remarkable as Salzgeber had not been able to practice her Freestyle in a full size arena of 20 by 60 meters before the competition. The German dressage star is in the middle of moving her training facility closer to her yard in order to have more fields surrounding her stable and training centre, so she was delighted with today’s result.  German riders filled the top three places and five of the top six slots on their home turf today, Denmark’s Princess Nathalie Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein preventing them from achieving a total white-wash when slotting into fourth.

“All the German team colleagues of the WEG were competing here, so I am too proud of this win!” said Salzgeber after a very well-concentrated test in which the trot-work was a particular highlight. Her “Boney M” musical score has been used before with her former dressage super-star, the great Rusty with whom Salzgeber was crowned champion at both the FEI World Cup Dressage finals in Aarhus and ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2001 and 2002.  The German rider feels it is also very fitting to Herzruf’s Erbe.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12761

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

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 – Round 7, Olympia

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Great Britain's Michael Whitaker produced a sensational round against the clock with GIG Amai to win the seventh leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series at Olympia in London today. Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI.

EMOTIONAL MICHAEL WHITAKER WINS COVETED OLYMPIA CROWN by Louise Parkes

London GBR, 19 December 2010 – Emotion ran high as Great Britain’s Michael Whitaker celebrated his spectacular victory in today’s seventh leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series at Olympia in London.  The 50 year old Yorkshire-born rider was almost speechless with delight after seeing off a class field that included second-placed Irishman Billy Twomey and World No. 1 Kevin Staut from France who had to settle for third.  Whitaker choked back the tears in a post-competition TV interview – “The draw had a lot to do with it,” he said modestly, but this did little justice to the skill with which he steered his 10 year old gelding home to an explosion of applause from the ecstatic home crowd.

“The best man won here today,” declared Twomey, whose former mentor, Whitaker, has watched the Irishman steadily climb up the rankings this season.  “They say form is temporary, but class is permanent!” Twomey added, paying the ultimate compliment to the man who started him on his road to success.

UNDER-ESTIMATED
Course designer Guilherme Jorge from Brazil admitted that he had under-estimated the quality of today’s 37-strong field.  “I don’t build very often here in Europe and I know the level of the competition is very high – I should have built bigger.  The jumping here has been really amazing,” he said.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12760