LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 5, 2012) – In an effort to help reduce the number of unwanted and inconvenient horses being bred in Kentucky, the Kentucky Horse Park is hosting its second Free Gelding Clinic on Saturday, March 10, 2012.
This free clinic is being provided by the Kentucky Horse Park in partnership with the Kentucky Horse Council’s Save Our Horses fund and the American Horse Council’s Unwanted Horse Coalition.
“The threats facing Kentucky’s horses can be overcome when horse owners take their responsibilities seriously and provide good stewardship, and when other good people make up their minds to get involved,” said John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park. “This clinic is a great example of how horse owners can do the right thing for their animals in spite of a challenging economy, with the help of individuals and organizations that are willing to come alongside them with resources and expertise.”
The "Salute to Driving" will take place February 18-20, 2012. Photo By: Vicki Long.
Aiken, SC – January 4, 2012 – The Second Annual Salute to Driving fundraising event is pleased to announce that it will once again be held in Aiken, and Windsor SC, February 18-20, 2012, and will feature many exciting new additions. Last year’s debut event benefited this country’s High Performance Driving programs for the United States Equestrian Team Foundation, raising over $30,000. The exciting weekend event will feature a beautiful dinner and auction on Saturday evening, multiple driving clinics with some of the world’s top trainers, and a Combined Test Competition for any drivers Preliminary-Advanced on Monday. The Salute to Driving event is being held to help raise awareness and educate different audiences about the discipline of driving.
Salute to Driving will kick off its festivities on Saturday, February 18, 2012, with dressage clinics by Tjreed Velstra of The Netherlands and Hardy Zantke of California at Chateau Log and Courage to Lead Farms. Auditing these clinics is free, and Velstra will lead the USEF long listed drivers while Zantke teaches the developing drivers. Other special events include a hazard demonstration and clinic, harnessing demonstrations, and a carriage exhibit.
David Wightman on Partous with Anne Gribbons and Steffen Peters (Photo: USEF Archives)
Lexington, KY – The first of six pre-Olympic Games Dressage Clinics kicked off at beautiful Epona Farm in Thousand Oaks, CA. These clinics, a joint effort by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the USET Foundation will help prepare horses and riders for the 2012 London Olympic Games. Linda and Michael Fowler were gracious hosts at Epona Farm. Nine horses (with seven riders) worked with USEF Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons and Olympian Steffens Peters. For two days the riders focused on schooling the Grand Prix and then rode a test in front of Gribbons. Gribbons is also an FEI 5* judge.
“Going into 2012 it was useful for the riders to practice the new Olympic Grand Prix Special test,” said Jenny Van Wieren-Page USEF Director of Dressage, High Performance. “Another important aspect of these clinics is planning the 2012 competition and training schedules with Anne.”
Kyra Kyrklund was the featured clinician at the NEDA Fall Symposium.
Buena Vista, VA (November 29, 2011) – World-renowned dressage trainer and rider Kyra Kyrklund, a Finnish dressage icon from West Sussex in the United Kingdom, was the featured clinician at the NEDA Fall Symposium at the UMass Hadley Farm in Hadley, Massachusetts. Kyrklund has competed in six Olympics and is proudly sponsored by Amerigo Saddles, sold in the United States by World Equestrian Brands, LLC.
“Every year NEDA brings top riders and trainers to their symposium and all of the dressage enthusiasts who attend the NEDA Fall Symposium are thrilled to be learning from the best of the best. Kyra is certainly is all that, and she is such an inspiration. It was a fantastic experience for everyone at the NEDA Symposium to be able to learn from one of the best in the world,” said Robin Moore, President of World Equestrian Brands. “Kyra is well known for her training methods and also for riding in Amerigo Saddles. At World Equestrian Brands we carry Amerigo and Amerigo Vega products and we are pleased to represent a product endorsed by Kyra.”
Kyrklund’s book, Dressage with Kyra, details Kyrklund’s unique training system, a system that has enabled her to accomplish a great deal in the dressage world. Kyrklund said she is always interested in developing better ways to communicate with horses, and she shared that knowledge with those attending the NEDA Symposium.
Hampshire, IL – November 29, 2011 – World-renowned trainer, rider, and Chef d’Equipe of the United States Show Jumping Team, George H. Morris, conducted his annual clinic at Canterbury Farm over Thanksgiving weekend. Riders from across the nation gathered for the event to experience his expertise and invaluable knowledge first-hand. Chicago-based trainer Diane Carney of Telluride Farm, which is based out of Canterbury Farm, organized the entire event, and has for over twenty years.
A world-renowned horseman, Morris has played a crucial role, not only in the growth of countless prestigious horses and riders, but also in the development of the current equestrian sport. He has often been referred to as the “founding father” of hunt seat equitation. Second to none, his teachings, technique, and style are admired around the world. His clinics are a rare and exceptional opportunity for riders of all levels and ages to learn from the finest, and according to Morris, the clinic held at Canterbury Farm achieved just that.
L-R Sharon McCusker on Wrigley, Jenny Van Wieren-Page, Debbie McDonald, Anne Gribbons and Stacey Parvey-Larson with Benidetto (Photo: Richard Malmgren)
Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) ran a Developing Dressage Clinic with Debbie McDonald in Chesapeake City, MD at Hassler Dressage at Riveredge right before the Thanksgiving holiday.
McDonald, one of the most successful U.S. dressage riders in history, travelled from her Idaho home to this spectacular facility, which is the base for Hassler Dressage, to teach seven horse/rider combinations. USEF Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons was also there to advise and observe.
Two of the horses who were very successful at the USEF National Dressage Championships this summer at Lamplight Equestrian Center showed continued progress in their training.
Sharon McCusker (Ashby, MA) rode Wrigley, who was third in the 2011 USEF National Developing Horse Dressage Championship (sponsored by the Dutta Corporation and Performance Sales International, PSI) and Silva Martin (West Grove, PA) rode Aesthete, who was third in the 6-year-old Championship at the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Championship.
Buffalo, NY – November 18, 2011 – The Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BTRC) hosted a popular and insightful clinic this past weekend, conducted by the world renowned trainer, rider and Chef d’Equipe of the United States Show Jumping Team, George H. Morris. His experience and knowledge have been invaluable to students attending the clinic for years, working to further each rider’s skills both in the aspects of horsemanship and riding. The clinic not only acted as a learning experience for riders, but it also raised funds to continue the progressive work of the BTRC.
A renowned horseman, Morris has played a crucial role, not only in the growth of countless notorious horses and riders, but also in the development of the current equestrian sport. He has often been referred to as the “founding father” of hunt seat equitation. Second to none, his teachings, technique, and style are admired around the world. His clinics are a rare and exceptional opportunity for riders of all levels and ages to learn from the finest.
Anne Gribbons at a 2011 Training Session (Photo: USEF Archives)
Lexington, KY – Beginning in December, the USEF and USET Foundation will host six Olympic Games Preparation Dressage training sessions/clinics. Riders will have the unique opportunity to work with USEF Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons and U.S. Olympic, World Equestrian Games and Pan American Games medalist Steffen Peters. These clinics will focus on preparing potential team riders for the 2012 Olympic Games Selection Trials and Olympic Games.
The clinics are by invitation only, based on criteria set forth by the USEF High Performance Dressage Committee and concentrating on athlete/horse combinations with international competition experience and the prospect of contributing to a Team or Individual medal at the 2012 Olympic Games. For more information please see the USEF website. Clinics will take place December 2011 – April 2012 with three being held in California and three in Florida.
2011 George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session. Photo: USEF Archives
Lexington, KY – Mark your calendars and plan to attend the 2012 George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session presented by the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) and Adequan. The sixth annual George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session will be held on January 3-7, 2012, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL.
The following 12 riders will be invited to participate:
The North American Young Riders Individual Champion from the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North
The North American Junior Rider Individual Champion from the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North
The 2011 Randolph College/USEF National Jr. Jumper Individual Champion
The champion and reserve champion of the 2011 Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals-East
The champion and reserve champion of the 2011 Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search Finals-West
Two riders from the USHJA Emerging Athlete Program
In 2010 the first Southern Eighths/Nikon Three-Day Event took place to raving reviews. Now relive all the action in this second “quick look” video produced by nFocus Pictures and visible on Southern Eighths’ YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/So8ths.
To view this video just click on this link: http://tinyurl.com/2010-So8ths-Nikon. It will take less than three minutes for you to watch a quick sampling of all the fun which took place at this inaugural event from the clinics to the competition day and all the fun in between. This video just might inspire you to join in on the fun when the next recognized USEA Long Format event takes place May 3-6, 2012.
If you have time to spare, view the longer 10 minute video also available on the So8ths YouTube channel.
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