Awards, Community/Charity, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Aubrey McCall Wins Custom Saddlery Young Ambassador Award at GCDA Finale I

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Aubrey McCall of Jacksonville, Florida was awarded the Custom Saddlery Young Ambassador Award at the GCDA Finale I. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (April 17, 2012) –  Aubrey McCall, a young rider who owns a stunning Oldenburg named Falstaff, was awarded the Custom Saddlery Young Ambassador Award during the Gold Coast Dressage Finale I.  Sponsored by Custom Saddlery, the Young Ambassador Award recognizes a young rider who is a good ambassador for the sport of dressage.  McCall took home a set of sheepskin lined Dressage Sport Boots for her eight-year-old gelding, and said she has her sights set on competing in the Juniors next year.

McCall competed Falstaff, who she just purchased a few months ago, in the Second Level division at the show, and said her goals with him include the Junior divisions and Young Rider divisions in years to follow.  “I love showing Falstaff,” said McCall who hails from Jacksonville, Florida.  “The best part about him is his personality and his quirkiness.  He is so much fun to ride and I am looking forward to competing him more in the future.”

Continue reading Aubrey McCall Wins Custom Saddlery Young Ambassador Award at GCDA Finale I →

Awards, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Laurence Blais Tetreault and Pissaro Win Rock Star Freestyle Award from Cunningham & Cunningham at IHS Champions Cup CDI3*

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Laurence Blais Tetreault and Pissaro won the FEI Junior Rider Freestyle Test at the International Horse Sport Champions Cup CDI3* show held at the Equestrian Estates in White Fences. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (April 17, 2012) – Canadian Young Rider Laurence Blais Tetreault and her Westphalian Pissaro danced their way to victory in the FEI Junior Rider Freestyle Test at the International Horse Sport Champions Cup CDI3* show held at the Equestrian Estates in White Fences. The duo’s upbeat music not only earned them the blue ribbon, but they also rode away with the Rock Star Award from Cunningham & Cunningham Livestock, Inc. Sponsored by Cunningham & Cunningham, located in Harriman, New York, the Rock Star Award highlights horse and rider combinations that excel in the Musical Freestyle classes.

Blais Tetreault was thrilled to win the Rock Star Award and said she is looking forward to competing at the North American Young Riders Championship. “I am very happy with how Pissaro did at this show and I am also happy because we are already qualified for Young Riders,” she said.

Blais Tetreault, who is from Montreal, also placed second in the FEI Junior Rider Team Test with Pissaro, earning a 69.459% and second in the FEI Junior Rider Individual Test with a 67.851%. Blais Tetreault and Pissaro earned a 67.375% in their musical freestyle. “I’ve had Pissaro for two-and-a-half years and we are doing great,” she said.

Continue reading Laurence Blais Tetreault and Pissaro Win Rock Star Freestyle Award from Cunningham & Cunningham at IHS Champions Cup CDI3* →

Contributors/Press, Equine Assisted Therapy, Publications/Media

Equine Therapy: Perspective Taking, by Claire Dorotik

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While horses can teach us many things, perhaps the most important thing we can understand is how to take another’s perspective. Never is this more important than with autistic children.

Autism came more into public recently with the release of the well-received “The Horse Boy: A Father’s Quest to Heal His Son” by Rupert Isaacson. The book was then made into a movie, and Isaacson created a foundation to promulgate his methods when working with autistic children.

The website for Isaacson’s foundation discusses many aspects of both autism and classical dressage riding, beautifully infusing the two to create a template for understanding not only the reality of autism, but life through fundamental dressage principles.

Continue reading Equine Therapy: Perspective Taking, by Claire Dorotik →

Benefits, Competitions, Events, Olympic Games, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

USET Foundation to Host Benefit Fiesta at Del Mar National Horse Show

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Del Mar, CA – April 16, 2012 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that it will be hosting a benefit in support of the United States Equestrian Olympic Team during the 2012 Del Mar National Horse Show. On Friday, May 4, guests are invited to join the Foundation for Margaritas, Fiesta Food, and Lively Music at Barn W of the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The event will get underway at 6:30p.m, following the Olympic Show Jumping Observation Event.

Robin Parsky, USET Foundation Trustee and Co-Chair of the Development Committee, will be chairing the event with her husband Gerry Parksy. “We often host USET Foundation Fundraisers in California, so we were looking for this opportunity to support the Team, and this is perfect timing,” she explained. “We will be inviting the exhibitors, horse owners, and USET Gold Medal Members from the West Coast. The Del Mar National is the largest and most prestigious show in California, so this is a great opportunity for us to get together and help raise money for the Team.”

Continue reading USET Foundation to Host Benefit Fiesta at Del Mar National Horse Show →

Community/Charity, FEI

In Memoriam: John Quirk (USA)

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John Quirk, the American who was instrumental in bringing the FEI World Cup Finals to Del Mar and Las Vegas, passed away on 12 April.

Lausanne (SUI), 17 April 2012 – John Quirk (USA), equestrian journalist, breeder, novelist and publisher, passed away on 12 April.

John was a man of many talents. He was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and flew fighter jets on and off the navy carriers, before starting an automotive engineering business in Detroit, the then epicentre of car manufacturing. At the same time, he wrote best-selling novels including No Red Ribbons and The Hard Winner.

In 1968, he married Tish, a well-known equine photographer and sport horse breeder. Tish introduced John to the horse world and they went on to breed several champions, including Olympic gold medallists Calypso (USA) and The Freak (GER), and FEI Nations Cup winners Victor (USA) and Van Gogh (SUI).

Continue reading In Memoriam: John Quirk (USA) →

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

FEI World Cup Finals Set to Begin in The Netherlands

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Margie Engle topped the North American East Coast League standings. (Photo by Sportfot)

Lexington, KY – The U.S. contingent arrives in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands with expectations of strong performances at the 2012 FEI World Cup Finals. In total, 11 riders have travelled to Holland to compete in the most prestigious indoor competition of the year. The United States will be represented by two dressage riders in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final, while nine jumpers will contest the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final. The Finals will run April 17-22 at the Indoor Brabant.

Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final

Both Jan Ebeling and Shawna Harding make a return trip the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final, after having impressed in 2011. For Ebeling (Moorpark, CA) this will be the third time he has competed Rafalca in the Finals, they also competed in 2009 and 2011. They head to ‘s-Hertogenbosch on the heels of second place finishes at the Mid-Winter Dressage Festival and in the $5,000 FEI Rancho Valencia Grand Prix Freestyle. After making their World Cup debut last year, Harding (Aiken, SC) and Come On III have improved throughout the 2011/2012 season and are poised for a strong result.

Continue reading FEI World Cup Finals Set to Begin in The Netherlands →

*Featured/Spotlights, Classic Company, Classic Company, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Atlanta Summer Classics – Something for Every Rider

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Nearly $300,000 in Prize Money Up for Grabs

Pony Power ©Flashpoint Photography

April 15, 2012 – St Johns Island, SC – Still undecided on summer plans? Bob Bell, President of Classic Company, would like to tempt you. “Our summer events are bursting at the seams with great offerings! We’ve taken exhibitors’ horse show wish lists and made them a reality!”

The Atlanta Summer Classics, held at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, GA, is a USEF AA rated two week event beginning June 13 through June 24. This year’s event will play host to the inaugural $25,000 Pony Hunter Derby Classic. “This will be the first of two $25,000 Pony events for the summer. We have some of the country’s best talent in our pony sections and I think it’s time they get rewarded for their efforts,” Bell said. The second Pony Hunter Classic will be held in July at the Charleston Summer Classic.

Continue reading Atlanta Summer Classics – Something for Every Rider →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, JRPR

Victoria Colvin and Inclusive Win Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center Sponsored Hunter Championship Second Week in a Row

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Victoria Colvin rode Inclusive to the Championship in the Second Year Green Working Hunters during week ten of the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival. (Photo courtesy of Sportfot.com)

Wellington, FL (April 16, 2012) – Teen wonder rider Victoria Colvin, known as Tori, already has an award-winning resume at the tender age of 14, and the Loxahatchee based rider was once again in the winner’s circle during the tenth week of the 2012 Winter Equestrian Festival, riding away with the championship in the Second Year Green Working Hunter division. The division was sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, a world-class rehab and conditioning facility located in Ocala, Florida. The Sanctuary also sponsors the First Year Green, Regular Conformation and Green Conformation divisions.

Colvin won the championship on Inclusive, owned by Scott Stewart and Dr. Betsee Parker, a repeat performance as she and Inclusive also won the championship during week nine of the world-class show circuit. Colvin recently made headlines when she rode away with the $50,000 WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular at WEF, beating out her own trainer, Scott Stewart, as well as the country’s top professionals. Colvin also competed Inclusive in the Hunter Spectacular, placing third in the prestigious class.

Continue reading Victoria Colvin and Inclusive Win Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center Sponsored Hunter Championship Second Week in a Row →

Community/Charity, FEI

In Memoriam: Count Dieter Von Landsberg-Velen (GER)

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Count Dieter von Landsberg-Velen (17 December 1926 - 15 April 2012) © Jacques Toffi

Lausanne (SUI), 16 April 2012 – FEI Honorary Vice President and Honorary President of the German Equestrian Federation Count Dieter von Landsberg-Velen has passed away at the age of 86.

Count Maximilian Dietrich von Landsberg-Velen was born on 17 December 1926 at Wocklum castle in North Rhine-Westphalia in western Germany. He took over his parents’ agricultural and forestry business when he was still at university. At the age of 23, he was elected Chairman of the Balve riding club which was the start of his illustrious career in equestrian sport.

In 1968, he united the various sports and breeding organisations which had emerged after World War II into a single German Equestrian Federation, which he chaired for almost three decades until 1997. From 1973, he served as Chairman of the German Olympic Committee for Equestrian Sports (DOKR). The same year he was elected as President of the German Olympic Committee. He was FEI Vice President and Bureau member from 1979 to 1997 and remained in the role of FEI Honorary Vice President until his death.

Continue reading In Memoriam: Count Dieter Von Landsberg-Velen (GER) →

Hunter/Equitation, More/Other, Phelps Media Group, Western/Reining

Phelps Media Group to Sponsor Interscholastic Equestrian Association

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Wellington, FL – April 16, 2012 – Phelps Media Group International is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA). Phelps Media Group looks forward to working with the IEA to expand their reach to the mainstream equestrian audience, provide access to leaders in equestrian education and act as a provider of current industry information.

Roxane Lawrence, IEA co-founder and executive director, stated, “Phelps Media does such a great job advocating for the equestrian industry.  We are thrilled to be working with them to help promote the IEA and the future of equestrian athletics.”

“We are very proud to be associated with IEA and look forward to doing what we can to help this wonderful organization fulfill its vision,” shared Mason Phelps Jr., President of Phelps Media Group International.

Continue reading Phelps Media Group to Sponsor Interscholastic Equestrian Association →

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