Lexington, KY – For the second year running, the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup is set to host many of the top names in the sport. Held in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, reiners will spin and slide for top honors in the CRI3* Open FEI Reining on Friday April 27th and on Saturday April 28th the Reining World Freestyle Championship will be contested. The Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup is once again being held in conjunction with the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone; resulting in an action packed weekend in Lexington.
All 20 horses that were presented to the Ground Jury at Thursday’s CRI3* Horse Inspection were accepted and will compete tomorrow.
Boyd Martin and Remington XXV (Photo by Shannon Brinkman)
Lexington, KY – Competition at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone officially got underway Thursday in the Rolex Stadium, with the first half of the order performing their dressage. With 28 combinations riding in front of the Ground Jury composed of Nick Burton (GBR), Michel Asseray (FRA) and Anne-Mette Binder (DEN).
Boyd Martin and Henley House Stables’ Remington XXV jumped out to the early lead and head the field on a score of 45.3. Martin (Cochranville, PA) and the 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding produced a near flawless test as the penultimate combination Thursday. The pair surged to the pole-position on the strength of fluid movement, bold lengthenings, and correct lateral work.
Martin was very pleased with his seasoned partner and their performance.
“We have done that test a number of times, so it was wonderful just to ride a horse that knew where he was going.”
Karen O'Connor presenting Mr. Medicott (Shannon Brinkman)
Lexington, KY – The 31st Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone gets rolling this week at the Kentucky Horse Park. Fifty-eight horses were presented at the first horse inspection and of those all but one was accepted. Entries from five countries are looking for a shot at the title at America’s only CCI4* event which also serves as the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Eventing Championship.
The competition begins tomorrow with the first of two days of dressage – it will be live streamed on the USEF Network presented by SmartPak. In addition to the webcast, the order of go, results, daily reports and photos can be found here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/Rolex3Day2012.
This year’s field doesn’t include the 2011 winner (Mary King from Great Britain) or the 2011 National Champion (Sinead Halpin) but it does include former winners (and Olympic medalists), Americans Phillip Dutton and Karen O’Connor and Australia’s Andrew Hoy. Dutton has contested every single running of the CCI4* in Kentucky.
Fellers and Flexible (Susan J. Stickle/PhelpsSports.com)
‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands – The 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final came to an exciting conclusion Sunday afternoon at the Indoor Barbant in the final competition, held over two rounds. Louis Koninck once again challenged riders over two stiff courses. However, a total of four rounds of competition were not enough to crown a winner of the 2012 Finals. Rich Fellers of the United States and Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat remained tied on one fault following the conclusion of the second round. They would need to return to the ring for a final jump-off to decide a winner.
When Fellers (Sherwood, OR) and Harry and Mollie Chapman’s Flexible entered the ring as the second combination in the jump-off the U.S. was amidst a 25 year drought of Rolex/FEI World Cup Finals winners.
Jan Ebeling and Rafalca (Susan J. Stickle/ PhelpsSports.com)
‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands – The United States’ two representatives produced solid, fun Freestyle tests this afternoon at the Indoor Brabant in the final round of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final. Jan Ebeling and Shawna Harding utilized the lessons learned in Friday’s Grand Prix to produced better performances; both riders witnessed improved marks from the Grand Prix to the Freestyle.
Ebeling (Moorpark, CA) put the mistakes of the previous day behind him and displayed an improved rhythm to score 69.875 for 15th place. Riding Amy Ebeling’s Oldenburg mare, Rafalca, Ebeling stayed perfectly in tune with the up-tempo music throughout his ride. The pair had a dramatic finish to their test with piaffe on the centerline and culminating with one-handed piaffe into the salute. A slight spook following the two-time changes performed on the rail was one of few mistakes in a pleasing effort.
“I’m very happy with my test today; there were little mistakes in the twos but that’s difficult on the rail there; there was a little spook. But it’s not an Operating Room in there; it’s a live arena. And we got more exposure and next time we’ll be better.”
Rich Fellers and Flexible (Photos by SusanJStickle/ PhelpsSports.com)
‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands – Valuable World Cup points were at stake Friday evening in the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final as riders vied for a place in Sunday’s final competition. Louis Koninck tested the 33 riders that returned for round two over a demanding track in the Indoor Brabant. Riders within the top 25 of the placings following tonight’s round qualify to contest Sunday’s final competition, of those entries seven will be representing the U.S.
Rich Fellers, Thursday’s round one winner, guided the diminutive Flexible to a near flawless round just faulting at one fence. Fellers (Sherwood, OR) and Harry and Mollie Chapman’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion jumped another efficient round only adding four faults at the middle oxer of the triple at fence 11. The pair finished tonight’s class in eighth place.
Lexington, KY – Attention all U.S. Eventing applicants for the 2012 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team: please be advised that the following CCI3*s have been added as Selection Trials for the 2012 Olympic Games Eventing Team.
These are in addition to the Rolex Kentucky CCI4* presented by Bridgestone, the Mitsubishi Motors Horse Trials (GBR), the Jersey Fresh CCI3*, and the Saumur CCI3* (FRA) which will take place over the next four weeks.
Please contact Sara Ike at 908.326.1164 or via email: sara.ike@usef.org with any questions.
Shawna Harding and Come On III (Susan J. Stickle/PhelpsSports.com)
‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands – The standard was set early this afternoon at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final, as a field of 18 performed the Grand Prix test at the Indoor Brabant. The two American entries of Shawna Harding and Jan Ebeling closed out the first leg of the 2012 Final, riding in the 16th and 18th spots respectively.
Harding (Aiken, SC) appeared with her own Come On III in their second Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final and rode a tactful test. The 13-year-old Danish Warmblood was rewarded for fluid trot half-passes and solid gaits. A mistake in the two-time changes cost the pair in an otherwise pleasant performance.
“Shawna had a commendable ride; she got every drop from the horse,” said USEF Dressage Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons. “It was a clean and solid test with the horse nicely on the aids. She got everything out of the horse.”
Lexington, KY – The Barbury Castle Horse Trials in Marlborough, England will be the final Mandatory Outing for eventing athletes attempting to claim a spot on the U.S. Eventing Team at the 2012 Olympic Games. The event runs June 28 – July 1, 2012. More information about the competition, which will serve as a final preparation for several international teams, can be found at http://www.barburyhorsetrials.co.uk/.
As stated in the Selection Procedures, all short listed athlete/horse combinations will be required to demonstrate their continued preparation, soundness, and ability by competing at the Mandatory Outing. U.S. selectors and veterinarians will be on hand to observe.
The 2012 Land Rover U.S. Eventing team will be announced on July 2, 2012.
Contact Sara Ike at 908.326.1164 or via email, sara.ike@usef.org, with any questions.
Rich Fellers and Flexible jump to the lead of the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final (SusanJStickle.com)
‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands – Competition got underway at the Indoor Brabant Thursday evening in the 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final with the first leg of the four round competition. Of the 37 combinations that went to task over Louis Koninck’s 13 obstacle course, nine were representing the United States. With the faults converted format, riders needed to ride forward and efficiently while still jumping carefully. American Rich Fellers rode like a man on a mission to set a blazing pace no else could catch to head the field after day one.
Fellers (Sherwood, OR) guided Harry and Mollie Chapman’s Flexible to a clear round to stop the timers at 60.26 seconds. The pair surged to the head of the field on the strength of tight, efficient turns and the 16-year-old stallion’s natural speed.
This is the second time the pair has won the initial round of a Finals after having lead after day one at the 2010 Rolex/FEI World Cup Finals in Geneva, Switzerland. Additionally, they were second overall in the 2008 edition of the competition held in Gothenburg, Sweden.
This is your premium equine online magazine portal, news aggregator and THE place
to list your horse-related equestrian events and advertise your equine
supplies, services, products, horses, ponies, equipment and target the Southern
USA. We are constantly enhancing HorsesintheSouth.com to be better and better
for you!
Lexington, KY – Attention all U.S. Eventing applicants for the 2012 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team: please be advised that the following CCI3*s have been added as Selection Trials for the 2012 Olympic Games Eventing Team.
Lexington, KY – The Barbury Castle Horse Trials in Marlborough, England will be the final Mandatory Outing for eventing athletes attempting to claim a spot on the U.S. Eventing Team at the 2012 Olympic Games. The event runs June 28 – July 1, 2012. More information about the competition, which will serve as a final preparation for several international teams, can be found at 
