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

Isabell Werth – Rolex Diary for WEG (World Equestrian Games)

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Isabell Werth is writing a diary for horsesinthesouth.com as she prepares for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games from 25 September – 10 October. Here is Isabell’s third entry…

Preparations for the WEG since Aachen…

After Aachen, we had the German Championships (Münster) where I took Hannes, my second horse after Satchmo, to compete. He did very well, winning twice and then one week later, Satchmo competed in Cappeln in the Grand Prix. Unfortunately, we made too many mistakes in the Grand Prix but we had a good Grand Prix Special which was very encouraging.

I won’t be competing again until WEG, but from the 12–15 September we will have our last team training session, and on the 16th of September the horses will fly out to Kentucky via Cincinnati. This is a really important week for me as the time has come for me to decide which horse (Satchmo or Hannes) I’ll take to Kentucky. It’s quite exciting as both horses are in great shape, although to be honest, Hannes is more consistent at the moment. It’s a wonderful luxury to have as they were so good in Aachen but it will be a difficult decision to choose only one.

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

Hampton Green Farm to Host Dressage 4 Kids Fundraiser at Region 2 Championships

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Maria Lithander at Dressage by the Bay. Photo © 2009 Diana Hadsall.

Traverse City, MI – August 31, 2010 – Horse Sports by the Bay is pleased to announce that Hampton Green Farm, known nation-wide for their dedication to dressage and to the development of the PRE Horse for Dressage in America, will be hosting a Dressage 4 Kids Fundraiser and exhibitor party during the Great American Insurance Group/Region 2 Dressage Championships on Saturday, September 11.  The Regional Championships are being held from September 9 – 12 at Flintfields Horse Park in Traverse City, MI, which is home to the prestigious Horse Shows by the Bay Equestrian Festival.

The fundraiser features a silent auction which will include riding helmets donated from English Riding Supply and other retail pieces donated by Sporthorse Saddlery and Equine Source among others.  Funds collected from the auction and from ticket sales to the exhibitor party will go directly back to Dressage 4 Kids’ extensive education campaign.  Donations are still being taken for the Auction; please email here for more information.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, JRPR, Publications/Media

Chester Weber’s Jamaica Featured in “Beloved Horses in Second Careers” Book to Be Released in September

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Jamaica is being featured in a new book called “Beloved Horses in Second Careers” by Sharon Miner. Jamaica was rescued from a slaughterhouse before becoming part of Weber’s award-winning team. (Photo courtesy of BlueCentaur.com)

Ocala, FL (August 30, 2010) – Jamaica, Chester Weber’s award-winning combined driving horse who was rescued from a slaughterhouse in Belgium, captured the nation’s attention when he won the most prestigious horse title in the country and became the USEF Farnam Platform Horse of the Year. Now, Jamaica’s rags to riches story is being told in the book Beloved Horses in Second Careers (Infinity Publishing) which will be released in September.

Written by Sharon Miner, the book focuses on horses who started their career in one discipline and then went on to have rewarding second careers. Jamaica’s “second career” turned out to be an amazing one, as he famously became part of Weber’s record-breaking international Four-In-Hand Combined Driving team. Jamaica, now 19, was a member of seven of Weber’s National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving National Championship teams.

Continue reading Chester Weber’s Jamaica Featured in “Beloved Horses in Second Careers” Book to Be Released in September →

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

Mares and Marcus Rule in Rio

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Marcus Ehning. All photos by Lulu Kyriacou

Tonight’s two part class in Rio was a glowing tribute to mares as they filled the top four places in a fourteen horse jump off. The Prix Bradesco was a winning round class so the best 20% went through to the second round against the clock where all of them started on zero. There was another 125’000 in total prize money and this class was open to the national riders as well as the GCT ones so sixty horses were originally in the field.

The second phase later that evening was diminished by one when Ellen Whitaker was taken ill and could not jump off. Phillip Weishaupt started the ball rolling on dark bay Souvenir 29 and the pair set an excellent standard of 40.95. It did not like he had left much room for maneuver either. Billy Twomey on another mare Tinka’s Serenade was first to get past the German combination by just two tenths of a second, and then Roger Yves Bost, next in on his young mare Nifrane de Kreisker, removed a stride coming to the last and clipped a second off the Irishman’s time. This was looking unbeatable but you can never say never when the last to jump is Marcus Ehning. Riding his Sandro Boy sired Sabrina, a daring turn to the second last had the desired effect and his time of 39.63 was enough to give him another win on a mare who has barely been unplaced this season.

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

GCT Brazil Begins with Wins for Christian and Luis

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Luis Francisco Azevedo. Photos by Lulu Kyriacou.

With the anticipation of seeing the biggest prize in show jumping decided on Saturday and 30’000 at stake for the show’s leading rider and groom, there was much at stake as the last round of the 2010 Global Champions Tour began in Rio De Janeiro tonight. The show started in the best way possible for the Brazilian organisers and audience when Luis Francisco Azevedo won the first class by a whisker from Alvaro de Mirando Neto. Riding his chestnut gelding Une A Basta, Luis Francisco snatched the lead from Edwina Alexander and Kisby with a time of 51.51. Next to go was Alvaro and AD Norson has been prominent in GCT speed classes this year but today was not his night.  To screams of encouragement, the pair galloped for the last only for the clock to show 51.68. The Brazilian pair was immediately followed by Denis Lynch and Lacroix but he ended up a second adrift of the winner although 52.66 was good enough for third. Luis Francisco is the youngest son of a famous show jumping family. His father has represented the country at the Olympic Games and his brother Luis Felipe, who went so well in the GCT Grand Prix of Monaco, is also competing here.

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

Pablo Barrios Captures 2010 $50,000 Hagyard Challenge Series Leading Rider Award

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Pablo Barrios during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show winner of the 2010 Hagyard Challenge Series Leading Rider Award. Photo © 2010 Lindsay McCall.

Lexington, KY – August 24, 2010 – After five exciting Hagyard Lexington Classic Grand Prix classes at the Kentucky Horse Shows, Pablo Barrios earned the 2010 $50,000 Hagyard Challenge Series Leading Rider Award.  Barrios began the series by winning the May 13th Hagyard Lexington Classic grand prix at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show.  Barrios claimed the blue ribbon with G&C Sinatra, the second place ribbon with G&C Blanchee Z, and also placed with G&C Napoleon. During the next Hagyard Lexington Classic he finished only tenths of a second behind the winner aboard G&C LaGran.  His top finishes would keep him in the lead during the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows while Barrios competed in Europe on the Global Champions Tour.  This win for Barrios is another exciting finish for himself and G&C Farm owned by Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal.

Barrios noted, “Winning the Hagyard Leading Rider Award was exciting and surprising. Since WEG is coming up I decided to take the horse to Europe for a little more experience instead of showing at Kentucky like I normally have.  It surprised me a lot to win this award because last year I did the entire series and ended up second overall and this year I only was able to show in two of the classes.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, FEI, Para-Equestrian, Phelps Media Group, World Equestrian Games

United States Para-Equestrian Association Recognizes Para-Equestrian Horse Owners of 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

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Rebecca Hart and Kazan. All photos were taken at USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games © 2010 Lindsay McCall/PMG.

Thousand Oaks, CA – August 23, 2010 – The United States Para-Equestrian Association would like to thank the owners of each horse that has been named to the nominated entry for the 2010 United States Para-Equestrian Dressage Team.  These horses will have a chance to compete at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (2010 WEG).

As September approaches many equestrians are making their last preparations before their trip to Lexington, KY.  One of the Para-Equestrian Team members is Becca Hart who has been riding her own horse Norteassa and Kerri Sowers’ talented gelding Kazan over the last year.  Both horses have led Hart to the 2010 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship and reserve championship titles.  At this point, the horse that Hart will be riding at the 2010 WEG has not been decided.  Hart and Kerri Sowers friendship began at Blue Hill Farm riding under Jessica and Missy Ransehousen.  Not long ago Hart was given the opportunity to ride Sowers’ horse Kazan while Norteassa was resting. Together Hart and Kazan have made a great team.  Sowers noted, “I have been very proud of Becca and Kazan.  Kazan has proven himself in competition time and time again over the years and always has his best performances when the competitive pressure is the greatest! I would like to wish Becca the best of luck competing at WEG regardless of which horse will be chosen.”

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

Uruguay’s Marcelo Chirico Claims Individual Gold in Singapore

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Individual gold medallist Marcelo Chirico (URU) takes centre stage on the podium, flanked by Mario Gamboa (COL), who took silver, and bronze medallist Dalma Rushdi H Malhas (KSA) after a thrilling finish to the YOG Equestrian Events in Singapore. (Photo: IOC)

24 August 2010 – Marcelo Chirico (URU) and Links Hot Gossip were the stars in Singapore today, clinching individual gold in a jump-off against Mario Gamboa (COL), who had to settle for silver, while Dalma Rushdi H Malhas (KSA) won out in a six-way jump-off for the bronze on another scorching day – inside and outside the YOG Jumping arena.

All riders from Sunday’s first individual round, with the exception of Maria Victoria Paz (ARG) who was eliminated, went forward to today’s second round. They were jumping in reverse order of merit, which meant that the nine riders with clears in Sunday’s competition were last into the arena today.

Course Designer John Vallance (AUS) upped the degree of difficulty for today’s individual final and this was reflected in the number of clear rounds. The obstacle that caused most grief was fence 4, a Liverpool, with wings made in the image of the Singapore Flyer, which was on a related line from the double.

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

Georgina Bloomberg and Fiedi 3 Soar to $30,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix Victory at Bluegrass Festival Horse Show

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Georgina Bloomberg and Fiedi 3 won the $30,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix Victory at the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG.

Lexington, KY – August 22, 2010 – It was a beautiful and sunny Kentucky afternoon, for the final day of the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show. Today riders competed for top prizes during the jumper divisions in the new Indoor Ring at the picturesque Kentucky Horse Park. The highlight event of the day was the $30,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix where Georgina Bloomberg and Fiedi 3 stole the show after completing an incredible double clear-effort with a blazing jump-off time of 40.83 seconds.

Today’s class featured a course designed by Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England. The first round included an oxer-vertical double combination and a vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination, with numerous bending lines.

Six riders were able to show perfection over the technical first round track and advance to the short course.  For the shortened tiebreaker test, they began by jumping a wide oxer in the corner and then made a right turn to the double combination before galloping to the end of the ring to jump a single vertical. Next they made a left turn to another oxer and then had a long gallop to an oxer-vertical bending line. Riders finished by galloping home off the left lead over a tall, single vertical.

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

FEI Junior European Eventing Championships 2010

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The individual medal winners at the 2010 FEI Junior European Eventing Championships at Bad Segeberg, Germany - (L to R): Silver medallist Celina Nothofer (GER), gold medallist Alina Meister (GER) and bronze medallist Tim Rogers (GBR).

GERMAN JUNIOR EVENTERS SWEEP TO VICTORY

23 August 2010 – German youngsters continued their extraordinary run of form through the 2010 sub-senior FEI Championship calendar as the Junior squad claimed the team title as well as individual gold and silver at the FEI Junior European Eventing Championships in Bad Segeberg at the weekend.  In command from the outset, the winning team completed 15 points clear of the silver medallists from France, while Italy claimed bronze ahead of Ireland.  And in the individual rankings the formidable strength of the German challenge was set in stone as the home runners filled five of the top six placings.

A total of 74 competitors from 16 nations lined out at the German venue from 19 to 22 August, and 2009 bronze medallist, Celina Nothofer, demonstrated her determination to improve on her result of 12 months earlier when stamping her authority on the dressage arena with the leading score of 35.20. However time penalties on the cross-country course would rob her of the ultimate accolade and she had to settle for silver as team-member Alina Meister, lying second after dressage, overtook her when adding nothing to her first-phase score of 39.00.  Individual bronze went to Tim Rogers, the only member of the British team to escape penalty on cross-country day.

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