Category Archives: *Featured/Spotlights

Special features, spotlights, headlines

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Community/Charity, Competitions, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events

Shelly Temple Crowned USEF National Champion – Single Pony Combined Driving

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Shelly Temple and Cooper gallop through the water hazard at the Laurels. Photo credit: Diana Rowland.

Shelly Temple and her 12 year old Morgan gelding LR Ami B-Line (“Cooper”) won the USEF Single Pony Champion in combined driving for the second time in four years.  Held this year at the Laurels of Landhope in Kennett Square, PA, the first day of competition began with dressage.  Shelly and Cooper held a comfortable lead with a score after dressage of 43.73.  Shelly remarked that “Cooper was responsive and willing throughout the day.”  Day two consisted of the cross country marathon with an overall distance of 16 kilometers.  Shelly and navigator/husband Fran Doto drove a solid marathon to maintain their lead into day three, the cones competition.  The cones competition saw Temple maintain her overall lead to follow up her 2009 reserve champion in the single pony championships.

“Cooper felt on top of his game the entire competition.  He was fit and willing.  We appreciate the support of our sponsors like including Charles Owens, Kombat Boots, Kentucky Equine Research, and Sheetz.  Their products and services allow us to compete at a high level.”

Continue reading Shelly Temple Crowned USEF National Champion – Single Pony Combined Driving →

*Featured/Spotlights, Breeds, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, FEI, JRPR, More/Other, World Equestrian Games

American Miniature Horse Drill Team, The Arizona Mini Mystique, Will Perform at the 2010 World Equestrian Games

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The Arizona Mini Mystique, an American Miniature Horse precision driving drill team, will perform at the 2010 Alltech FEI WEG. (Photo courtesy of The Arizona Mini Mystique)

Phoenix, AZ (September 14, 2010) – The Arizona Mini Mystique, an American Miniature Horse precision driving drill team, will bring their team of small equines to the biggest equestrian event in the country when they perform at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky. The Mini Mystique will perform daily, October 3-10, as part of the WEG Showcase Entertainment in the Equine Village at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“Appearing at the World Equestrian Games is a huge honor for The Arizona Mini Mystique and we are so proud to have them representing the American Miniature Horse Registry at the biggest horse event our country has ever seen,” said Johnny Robb, Director of Marketing for the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR). “The Arizona Mini Mystique have been wonderful ambassadors for the AMHR for many years. They have taken part in other big events including the 2007, 2008 and 2010 Rose Parades, the Stampede in July 2009, and the Del Mar National Horse Show.”

Continue reading American Miniature Horse Drill Team, The Arizona Mini Mystique, Will Perform at the 2010 World Equestrian Games →

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

McLain Ward and Sapphire Win Richest Grand Prix in Show Jumping History as Fans from around the World Watch the Pfizer Million

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© ESI Photography. McLain Ward and Sapphire jump an oxer created by course designer Steve Stephens and decorated by Flora Baptiston.

Canadian Silver Medalist Jill Henselwood calls Pfizer Course “Most beautiful course in North America”

SAUGERTIES, NY (September 14, 2010) — Two-time US Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward of Brewster, New York and his majestic, “million-dollar” mare, Sapphire, owned by McLain Ward and Blue Chip Bloodstock, won the inaugural Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix on Sunday, September 12 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

The legendary duo of Ward and Sapphire proudly added their names to the show jumping history books once more when they bested a field of 43 High-Performance riders before an energetic and enthusiastic crowd of thousands that lined all four berms surrounding the Strongid Stadium. Sunday’s line-up featured some of the best and most promising athletes and horses in the sport, including some of America’s brightest up-and-coming stars and several American and International Olympians.

Continue reading McLain Ward and Sapphire Win Richest Grand Prix in Show Jumping History as Fans from around the World Watch the Pfizer Million →

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

Katherine Poulin and Brilliant Too Garner GAIG/USDF Region 2 FEI Grand Prix Dressage Championship

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Katherine Poulin and Brilliant Too won the FEI Grand Prix Championship at the 2010 GAIG/USDF Region 2 Dressage Championship. Photo © 2010 Lauren Fisher/PMG.

Traverse City, MI – September 12, 2010 – The sun came out for a gorgeous day in Traverse City, Michigan on Sunday as the 2010 Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 2 Dressage Championships and Dressage by the Bay Fall Classic concluded their final day of competition. Ending the show with an exciting victory were Katherine Poulin and Brilliant Too who won the FEI Grand Prix Championship.

From Chagrin Falls, OH, Katherine Poulin and Brilliant Too had the highest score in today’s Grand Prix Championship, scoring a 62.766% from the judges, Sandra Hotz at ‘E’ and Gary Rockwell at ‘C’. Judy Kelly and Leonardo finished in second with their score of 62.600%, Amanda Johnson and Pip earned third place honors with a 62.234%, and Brad Cutshall rode Pointjack to a score of 61.277% to finish in fourth place.

Continue reading Katherine Poulin and Brilliant Too Garner GAIG/USDF Region 2 FEI Grand Prix Dressage Championship →

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

FEI Balkan Jumping Championships 2010

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Bulgaria's Ivelin Valev (Equita) won the Senior title at the FEI Balkan Jumping Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Photo: Milena Dragisic

BIG HAUL OF GOLD FOR TURKEY AND GREECE, BUT VALEV WINS SENIOR TITLE FOR BULGARIA
Historic result for Croatia

8 September – Turkey and Greece divided the majority of the gold medals between them at the 2010 FEI Balkan Jumping Championships staged at the Voivodinovo Equestrian Centre in Plovdiv, Bulgaria where the host nation’s Ivelin Valev claimed the Senior Individual title.

Underlining the increasing development of the sport in this region, the 36th Balkan Championship attracted a bigger entry than ever before with 139 riders from six nations, including Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Serbia and Croatia.  And it was an historic moment for the Croation athletes, as they marked their debut in these Championships by securing their nation’s first-ever medals in equestrian sport, including individual gold in the Ladies division and team bronze and individual silver in the Children’s section.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12078

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group

Molly Braswell Wins 2010 ASPCA Maclay Southeast Regional Championship aboard El Campeons Danish

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Molly Braswell and El Campeons Danish won the 2010 ASPCA Maclay Southeast Region 3 Championship. Photo © 2010 Flashpoint Photography.

Green Cove Springs, FL – September 7, 2010 – Seventeen-year-old Molly Braswell, of Ocala, FL, celebrated her birthday this weekend with an exciting victory in the ASPCA Maclay Southeast Regional Championship. Competing at the 2010 North Florida Hunter Jumper Association’s Labor Day Horse Show in Green Cove Springs, FL, Braswell topped 44 competitors to earn the Region 3 title for the 2010 season. Region 3 includes riders from the Southeastern states of Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.

The ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class has been held since 1933, and it is one of the most prestigious competitions for junior riders in the United States. From each Regional Final a percentage of all winners will advance to the year-end National Championships. Its winners are some of the biggest names in equestrian sport. Previous winners include: William Steinkraus in 1941, Frank Chapot (1948), George Morris (1952), Leslie Burr Howard (1972), Stacia Klein Madden in 1987, and Nicole Shahinian Simpson in 1992. The 2008 ASPCA Maclay National Championship winner was Jessica Springsteen of Colts Neck, NJ, and in 2009 Zazou Hoffman, of Santa Monica, CA, was named the winner.

Continue reading Molly Braswell Wins 2010 ASPCA Maclay Southeast Regional Championship aboard El Campeons Danish →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, Para-Equestrian

FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles 2010

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Germany's Heiner Lehrter on his way to securing individual and team gold at the 2010 FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles in Breda. Photo: Rinaldo de Craen.

GERMAN PARA-EQUESTRIAN DRIVERS REIGN SUPREME

7 September – German drivers dominated the 2010 FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles at Breda, The Netherlands. Heiner Lehrter and Josef Sauerwald took individual gold and silver respectively and they joined up with Hubert Markett to also secure team gold.

At the previous World Championship in Greven two years ago, the Germans were beaten on their home soil by the Dutch.  This time around however the tables were turned as the Germans were strongest on Dutch territory. The host nation took team silver, Great Britain won the bronze and defending double gold-medallist, Jacques Poppen from The Netherlands, earned individual bronze.

Perfect Integration

It was the first time the FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships took place at a regular international driving event, and this new formula turned out to be a great success. The atmosphere was wonderful and all competitors enjoyed the superb competition site at The Prinsenhoeve Estate in Breda.  Every year this versatile venue hosts the only Nations Cup in Four-In-Hand Driving in The Netherlands, as well as an international driving competition for pony teams, an international eventing competition and the Dutch eventing Championships and national jumping and dressage competitions. The FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships was perfectly integrated into the Driving programme. Due of the limited number of competitors – 15 entries from 4 nations – it was decided to create one class including Grade 1 and Grade 2 drivers. Grade 2 drivers have greater functional ability than their Grade 1 counterparts.

Continue reading FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles 2010 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, Show Jumping

Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, England

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Photos: Caroline Powell, by Lynn Lawson

Kiwi Caroline Powell became the first New Zealand woman to win the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in England at the weekend. Caroline, who hails from Christchurch but is now based on the Scottish Borders at Kelso, joins fellow countrymen Blyth Tait, Andrew Nicholson and Mark Todd on the roll of honour.

Riding the popular 17-year-old grey gelding, Lenamore, they put in a foot perfect performance and remained unphased by pressure after finishing dressage and cross country in pole position with a score of 38.7. Lenamore was one of the oldest horses in the competition and stands at just 15.3 hh.

Seventy six riders from twelve different nations competed for this coveted title, with first ever entries from China and Lithuania. Renown as being a tough challenge with its undulating cross country course and thirty demanding fences, Burghley requires both skill and stamina in abundance.

Continue reading Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, England →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, World Equestrian Games

Lázar Takes Individual Honours, but Dutch Claim Nations Cup on Home Soil at Breda

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Zoltan Lázar (HUN) scored his first ever CAIO win when claiming victory at Breda in the Netherlands ahead of Werner Ulrich (SWI) and Mark Weusthof (NED). (Photo: Rinaldo de Craen)

6 September 2010 – Hungary’s Zoltan Lázar scored his first-ever international four-in-hand victory at a CAIO when winning at Breda, the Netherlands, ahead of Werner Ulrich (SWI) and the best Dutch driver at this prestigious competition, Mark Weusthof, but the Dutch team once again proved invincible, staying well ahead of Switzerland and Sweden throughout the Nations Cup competition.

Twenty-eight drivers from 10 nations started at the beautiful Prinsenhoeve Estate in Breda, an outstanding venue which boasts the only Dutch Nations Cup competition in the history of Dutch driving. Breda has also been host to a number of other equestrian events this year, such as the FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships, Pony Driving Championships, international and national Eventing competitions as well as national Jumping and Dressage fixtures.

Other vehicles and equipment
Breda was the last outing for the top drivers before the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The carriages and other equipment of the Dutch, German and Swiss teams have already been shipped to Kentucky and most of the drivers therefore started with borrowed vehicles and harnesses. Drivers like Koos de Ronde and Theo Timmerman from the Netherlands competed with different horses in Breda to save their best horses for Kentucky.

Continue reading Lázar Takes Individual Honours, but Dutch Claim Nations Cup on Home Soil at Breda →

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

Happy Birthday Molly Braswell – 2010 ASPCA Maclay Southeast Regional Champions

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Molly Braswell & El Campeons Danish © Flashpoint Photography

Green Cove Springs, FL — September 5, 2010 — Molly Braswell celebrated her 17th Birthday weekend by besting 44 top competitors to capture the ASPCA Maclay Regional Championship (Region 3, the Southeast), held during 2010 North Florida Hunter Jumper Association’s Labor Day Horse Show at the Agricultural Center in Green Cove Springs, Fl.

Touted as the ultimate junior hunter accomplishment, the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Trophy is the top award presented to one rider age 18 or under who has competed in a series of qualifying classes and earned enough points to participate in a regional contest. From each Regional Final a percentage of all winners will advance to the year-end National Championships at the Syracuse Invitational Horse Show, with the deciding final held on November 7th. Region 3-Southeast includes athletes from Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. 2010 marks the fourth year the Southeast Regional Final has taken place in Florida.

This year’s 12-fence course was designed by Michael Rheinheimer who said his was a test of the intellect, gracefulness and poise of riders. One missed or added stride or forgotten lead change could end the dream of advancing. “The horse I rode tonight, Danish, this is really our first big event together and overall I think it went great,” a smiling Molly said. Great indeed as birthday presents go!

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12069