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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Conferences, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, Symposiums, USDF

North Florida Dressage Association to Host Events during 2010 Adequan/USDF National Convention and Symposium in Jacksonville, Dec. 1-5

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Jacksonville, Fla. – September 22, 2010 – North Florida Dressage Association (NFDA) will be holding a variety of events in Jacksonville, Fla. during the upcoming 2010 Adequan/USDF National Convention and Symposium. From Wednesday through Sunday, Dec. 1-5, equestrian activities will be held at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Riverfront, 223 E. Coastline Drive and the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, 13611 Normandy Blvd. Many events are free and open to the public. Registration and cost is required for some activities and classes. Visit www.DressageontheFirstCoast.com and www.usdf.org/convention.

According to Mary O’Brien, event spokesperson, the activities begin on Wednesday and continue through Sunday at the hotel and the equestrian center with classroom instruction on a variety of topics including the  2011 tests for horse and rider competitions and training methods, health and nutrition information, and tips and trends in dressage, to name a few. Riding events will include Dressage on the First Coast, a USEF and USDF recognized dressage show and the USDF/Adequan Symposium designed to instruct riders about the new 2011 USEF dressage tests and how best to perform them in the show ring.

Continue reading North Florida Dressage Association to Host Events during 2010 Adequan/USDF National Convention and Symposium in Jacksonville, Dec. 1-5 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Key to Success for International Dressage Rider Cesar Parra Is Sticking to the Plan

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International dressage rider Cesar Parra adds to his numerous prior wins following his victories at the recent New England Dressage Fall Festival CDI. Parra rode Olympia and Grandioso into the winner’s circle at the show. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Whitehouse Station, NJ (September 23, 2010) – International Dressage Rider Dr. Cesar Parra has found that sticking to a long term training plan with consistent work is the key to ending up in the winner’s circle. Cesar, who once again found success with Dr. Lori Washton’s Olympia at the recent New England Dressage Association (NEDA) Fall Festival CDI, truly believes that a quick fix isn’t the answer to long term success.

Parra’s consistent training plan for the 14-year-old KWPN gelding has not only led them to the winner’s circle during the NEDA Fall Festival, but also to victory in the CDI Prix St. Georges, the CDI Intermediaire I and the CDI Intermediaire Freestyle. “I really feel Olympia is a contender for the Pan Am Games next year, but it is more than luck that has helped us; it’s hard work,” he said.

Parra also rode Grandioso, a nine-year-old Westfalen gelding owned by Michael and Sarah Davis, into the winner’s circle in the FEI Intermediaire II class at the NEDA Fall Festival. “Grandioso was fantastic. He had a crowd following behind him as we walked up to the ring and he was really on and was listening to me,” Parra said. “I feel very blessed to be able to be his rider.”

Continue reading Key to Success for International Dressage Rider Cesar Parra Is Sticking to the Plan →

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, Show Jumping, Vaulting, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

NBC Networks Unite for Most Live U.S. TV Coverage of Equestrian Sports in History

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Universal Sports, NBC Sports and UniversalSports.com to cover more than 80 hours of 2010 World Equestrian Games

September 22, 2010: Universal Sports and NBC Sports are teaming up to provide fans with the most extensive live television coverage of equestrian sports in U.S. history. NBC Sports will air 8 ½ hours of LIVE coverage on three consecutive weekends, beginning this Saturday at 12 Noon ET. Universal Sports will show more than 15 hours LIVE, including the majority of the show jumping competition. Universal Sports will also air taped broadcasts of the Reining Final, the Dressage Freestyle, the Driving competition and the Vaulting Final. The joint effort will include more than 30 hours of live and taped television coverage of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY. This total amount of U.S. television coverage is unprecedented for equestrian sports in this country.

This prestigious international event is being held at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington from September 25 to October 10. Lexington-area cable operator Insight Communications will offer the Universal Sports network to its subscribers on a trial basis beginning on September 24, allowing local horse enthusiasts to watch the action from start to finish.

Continue reading NBC Networks Unite for Most Live U.S. TV Coverage of Equestrian Sports in History →

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, World Equestrian Games

NBC to Broadcast 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Opening Ceremonies in Kentucky

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September 23, 2010 – LEXINGTON, KY – 1 Day to Go – When the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games officially begin on Saturday, Kentuckians will have the opportunity to witness the pageantry and excitement of the opening ceremonies as most of the state’s NBC affiliates broadcast the event live from 7:00–9:00 p.m. EST Saturday.

The following Kentucky NBC affiliates will be carrying the live show:

·         WLEX, Lexington

·         WAVE, Louisville

·         WLWT, Cincinnati

·         WNKY, Bowling Green

·         WPSD, Paducah

·         WFIE, Evansville (Indiana)

The broadcast will be produced by Carr-Hughes Productions, the official host broadcaster of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Heading up the production will be five-time Emmy winner Jim Carr, 20-year Olympic veteran Bob Hughes and acclaimed director Brian Douglas, who led the complete broadcast production of two Olympics. The show will be hosted by Nancy Cox and Kevin Christopher of WLEX – Lexington.

Continue reading NBC to Broadcast 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Opening Ceremonies in Kentucky →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Endurance Riding, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Para-Equestrian, Show Jumping, Vaulting, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 – Preview

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MAKING HISTORY IN KENTUCKY…..

22 September 2010 – History will be made when the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games opens on Saturday 25 September in the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, one of the world’s most evocative permanent equestrian centres located in the heart of the USA’s famed ‘Blue Grass Horse Country’.

It is the sixth occasion that the competitive disciplines have come together to take part in  the world’s greatest equestrian extravaganza, but the first time that the Games have been held outside Europe and the first time they have had a title sponsor – the animal nutrition company Alltech.

When the nominated entries were received last month, over 900 athletes and 1,300 horses were listed, and while this number will reduce as selections are finalised over the next few days the scale of the event is enormous.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12170

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, World Equestrian Games

“Cowboy Man” Lyle Lovett to Headline 2010 Alltech FEI WEG Closing Ceremonies

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September 21, 2010 – LEXINGTON, KY – One of America’s finest songwriters, Lyle Lovett, will bring the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to a vibrant finale at the October 10th closing ceremonies in Lexington, Ky.

Known for his versatility and musicality across many genres, from country and bluegrass to swing, folk ballads, gospel and blues, the four-time Grammy Award winner and his Large Band will provide a musical bookend to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games’ closing ceremonies’ celebration of iconic moments in U.S. history and culture.

Lovett has celebrated nearly 30 years of hits including “If I Had a Boat,” “Nobody Knows Me,” “South Texas Girl,” “That’s Right (You’re Not from Texas),” “She’s No Lady,” and his groundbreaking single, “Cowboy Man.” On his 14th album, “Natural Forces” released last year, Lovett croons a poignant line that speaks to his equestrian spirit: “Home is where my horse is.”

Continue reading “Cowboy Man” Lyle Lovett to Headline 2010 Alltech FEI WEG Closing Ceremonies →

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

Meydan FEI Nations Cup Promotional League Final – Competition Report

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The second round clear jumped by Emilie Martinsen and Caballero helped Denmark to victory in the Meydan FEI Nations Cup Promotional League Final in Barcelona, Spain today. Photo: Nacho Olano.

FEI TV – Review the action from the Meydan FEI Nations Cup Promotional League final in Barcelona on FEI TV – www.feitv.org


DENMARK EARNS PROMOTION WITH CLEAN VICTORY IN BARCELONA

Barcelona, 19 September 2010 – Denmark will join the elite group of countries in the 2011 Meydan FEI Nations Cup series following a clear-cut victory in the Meydan FEI Nations Cup Promotional League Final at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain today.  The 5-Star Spanish fixture was dogged by appalling weather conditions which led to the transfer of several of the classes from the main arena to the sand-ring located behind the stables, and riders today faced the unusual task of jumping their two Nations Cup rounds over two different courses in two different arenas.  But nothing could throw the Danish contingent off their stride and, boldly leading the way at the halfway stage, they stood firm to confidently earn their place in the top-level series next season.

Continue reading Meydan FEI Nations Cup Promotional League Final – Competition Report →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Racing, Revolution Sports

HM Queen’s Horse to Represent Birmingham at Royal Windsor Racecourse’s PFA Football Furlong Raceday – Sunday, 8th August 2010!

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Richard Hughes with HM The Queen, courtesy of Rod Kohler.

6 August 2010 – Racehorse Olympic Medal, owned by Her Majesty The Queen, trained by Roger Charlton and ridden by Jim Crowley, is due to run in the 4.30pm race at Royal Windsor Racecourse on Sunday, 8th August 2010.

Participating in the Football Furlong raceday means that following the draw, Olympic Medal will be representing Birmingham as part of the PFA-partnered Premiership football-themed raceday, and will instead run in the yellow and blue silks bearing the number eight on the back of the silks instead of Her Majesty’s famous colours (purple body with gold braid, scarlet sleeves and black velvet cap with gold fringe).

Champion Jockey partners Arsenal, Spurs and Man Utd

Following the draw, Champion Jockey – Ryan Moore – will be partnering horses representing Villa, Arsenal, Spurs, Man Utd, Stoke and West Ham in Sunday’s PFA Football Furlong Raceday.

Continue reading HM Queen’s Horse to Represent Birmingham at Royal Windsor Racecourse’s PFA Football Furlong Raceday – Sunday, 8th August 2010! →

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Events, FEI, World Equestrian Games

Largest Commercial Airlift of International Horses Heads to the 2010 Alltech FEI WEG

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The largest commercial airlift of horses ever undertaken for a single event will depart from Belgium this week heading to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which are taking place in the United States for the first time in the 20-year history of the event.

Almost 450 horses are departing Europe between the 16th and 29th of September. Ten specially constructed charter flights will leave from Belgium’s Liege airport and the Amsterdam airport over the next 14 days.

These European charter flights form part of an even larger worldwide airlift of horses competing in the eight different disciplines of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky between September 25th and October 10th.

In addition to the 445 horses departing from Europe, 19 horses from Australasia and 35 from South America will fly into the United States in the upcoming week. The airlift is the largest ever undertaken for one event due to the World Equestrian Games being held on American soil for the first time. The Games will be the largest sporting event in the United States this year.

Continue reading Largest Commercial Airlift of International Horses Heads to the 2010 Alltech FEI WEG →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping, World Equestrian Games

European Jumping Champion Holds Number One Position in Rolex Rankings

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Kevin Staut wearing the Green and Gold, courtesy of Rolex.

European Jumping champion Kevin Staut (FRA) has retained his place as the world Number One rider in the Rolex Rankings for September 2010, as published by the FEI.

The 29-year-old Frenchman, who won individual gold at last year’s Alltech FEI European Jumping Championships in Windsor, UK, retains the Green and Gold armband ahead of Marcus Ehning (GER) in 2nd place, and Olympic champion Eric Lamaze (CAN) in 3rd place.

The current Top 10 Riders are as follows:

1st         STAUT, Kevin (FRA)
2nd        EHNING, Marcus (GER)
3rd         LAMAZE, Eric (CAN)
4th         SCHWIZER, Pius (SUI)
5th         BENGTSSON, Rolf-Göran (SWE)
6th         LYNCH, Denis (IRL)
7th         BEERBAUM, Ludger (GER)
8th         KÜRTEN, Jessica (IRL)
9th         WARD, Mclain (USA)
10th       ALEXANDER, Edwina (AUS)

For full details of the Rolex Rankings please click here.