*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Shane Sweetnam and Amaretto D’Arco Win $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 10

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Shane Sweetnam and Amaretto D'Arco. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 15, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday with round ten of the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series and a victory for Irish rider Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm’s Amaretto D’Arco. In a twelve horse jump-off, the pair was fastest of just two clear rounds, topping Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Victor, owned by Torrey Pines Stables and Artisan Farms LLC.

Sponsored by Artisan Farms, week ten features two classes on Sunday, March 18, on the grass field at The Stadium. Starting at 10:30 a.m., the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Final runs first and is followed by the $80,000 Pennfield Feeds Grand Prix CSI 2* at 2 p.m.

Today’s WEF Challenge Cup saw 46 entries showing over a course set by Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC. Twelve posted clear rounds to return for the jump-off, but just two were able to clear the second round.

Continue reading Shane Sweetnam and Amaretto D’Arco Win $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 10 →

Classic Company, Classic Company, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Atlanta Spring Classic I, II – Conyers

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We are finishing up our winter circuit in Gulfport on Sunday and heading direct to Atlanta.  I will fly home for a day to pick up any mail and such but if you need stalls you need to call us at 843 768 5503 and leave a message or you can email me at bbell@earthlink.net.  We will be arriving on Monday so if you plan to arrive earlier, please let us know.  The horse park has stalls but they do need to know you are coming and get bedding delivered.

Three More Things

Hunter Breeding will be held at Atlanta Spring Classic I, II, 2pm Friday

Performance Hunter 3’3″ and 3’6″ will be held on Thursday and Friday

Stalls for Atlanta – 843 768 5503

Continue reading Atlanta Spring Classic I, II – Conyers →

Jane Savoie

Motivation from Moshi 95, by Jane Savoie

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Being different can be tough. While on one hand we all want to stand out and be unique, we also are programmed by our very nature to want to fit in. We want to belong. If you’re different than the crowd, sometimes you can feel left out or “wrong.”

I have a good friend in Tennessee who shared his experience in being different. You see, Chester was a very accomplished hunter/jumper. He is very brave and has springs for legs! He is also a leopard Appaloosa, so he has spots all over his body. Some of the more fancy European warmbloods he met at the horse shows used to tease him about his spots, calling them “zits.” It hurt his feelings.

Chester admitted that being made fun of caused him to withdraw. He became a bit if a loner. He expected other horses to make fun of him, so to stop any unkind, snarky comments, he’d attack first. When he met a new horse, he’d immediately look for something wrong with THEM to use as an emotional barrier. Sometimes he’d make fun of anything different he could find, so the focus was on them, and not on him.

Continue reading Motivation from Moshi 95, by Jane Savoie →

Competitions, Dressage, Events, Para-Equestrian

Para-Equestrians Perform Energizing Freestyles on Final Day of 2012 Rancho Valencia Dressage Affaire CPEDI3*

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Lynne Poole (CAN Grade IV) and Frisbee. Photo © Lindsay Y McCall

Del Mar, CA – March 12, 2012 – Para-Equestrian Dressage riders concluded the 2012 Rancho Valencia CPEDI3* on Sunday performing their Freestyle routines. With the pressure of earning a qualifying score for the 2012 London Paralympics Selection Trials behind them, riders were able to relax and enjoy their final competition day at the Del Mar Horse Park. Topping the Grade IV Freestyle competition was Lynne Poole (CAN) and her Welsh Cob Frisbee with a 66.167%. In Grade III Briana Beckworth (USA) and Basquewille captured their division title. Earning the blue in Grade II, with a 64% was Ann Arbor resident Sydney Collier (USA) and VPRH Pegasus vom Niehaus-Hof. In Grade Ia, Laura Goldman (USA) took the win with Morgan Webb-Liddle (AUS) following for second just behind Goldman. Ten horse and rider combinations successfully finished the weekend under FEI Judges Hanneke Gerritsen 5* (NED), Marco Orsini 4* (FRA), and Ulf Wilken 5*.

As always, Rancho Valencia Dressage Affaire and Keenan Productions created a superb awards ceremony for the showcase of champions. Honored for her multiple wins over the weekend was Canadian Lynne Poole. The Grade IV rider took a chance at transporting her two horses to Del Mar and her efforts were rewarded. Poole earned the top placing in both the Individual and Team competition aboard Vasco E on Thursday and Friday. Not to be outdone was the dependable Welsh Cob, Frisbee, who topped the freestyle Grade IV division with Poole. She commented, “I have always loved the freestyles, they are the most wonderful thing ever invented. I was so proud of him once the music began. We knew our music very well, and he was a very good boy. Vasco E had a great weekend as well but he became a little tired on Sunday.”

Continue reading Para-Equestrians Perform Energizing Freestyles on Final Day of 2012 Rancho Valencia Dressage Affaire CPEDI3* →

Dressage, Events, Para-Equestrian, Training/Clinics

Mette Rosencrantz Conducts Outstanding Clinic for Para-Equestrians

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Holly Bergay aboard Rubino Bellissimo with Mette Rosencrantz. Photos © Lindsay Y McCall

Del Mar, CA – March 13, 2012 – As the Del Mar Horse Park began to clear of flower boxes and white arena borders, Para-Equestrian Dressage riders prepared for a hands-on clinic with Mette Rosencrantz. Each rider was given 45 minutes with Mette allowing a large amount of time to work on short-term and long-term goals. During each session riders demonstrated specific parts of their tests that they performed during the 2012 Rancho Valencia Dressage Affaire CPEDI3*. With only three months until the 2012 London Paralympic Selection Trials Mette gave insight on what types of goals an athlete should start to focus on.

Clinic duos included: Holly Bergay and Rubino Bellissimo (owned by Violet Jen); Mary Jordan and the Knabbstrupper Stallion VPRH Pegasus vom Niehaus-Hof (owners Patrick and Diane Truxillo); Sydney Collier and VPRH Pegasus vom Niehaus-Hof; Laura Goldman and VPRH Pegasus vom Niehaus-Hof; Barbara Adside and 1999 Pan Am Gold Medal Winner, Jazzman (owned by Donna Richardson); Allyson Gagnon with her Fresian Stallion Kobi; and Iana Gonzalez and Kobi.

Continue reading Mette Rosencrantz Conducts Outstanding Clinic for Para-Equestrians →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Sponsored Purina Mills Rider Aaron Vale Wins the $50,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix

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©ESI Photography. Aaron Vale and Tibor sail over the Purina Mills sponsored fence on their way to winning the Purina Mills Grand Prix

OCALA, FL (March 12, 2012) – Purina Mills was on hand this weekend at HITS Ocala as the title sponsor of the $50,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. The weekend was full of Purina Mills sponsored festivities and Purina sponsored rider Aaron Vale, of Morriston, Florida, put the exclamation point on the weekend when he captured the coveted first place prize in the Grand Prix aboard Bonnie Smith’s Tibor. To put the icing on the cake, he also won a ton of Purina Mills feed through the Purina Mills Rider’s Bonus.

Canada’s Danny Foster of Milton, Ontario designed the course, and saw 33 competitors attempt to conquer it.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve won a big Sunday Grand Prix and I was hoping to do it this circuit, so I was pretty thrilled,” said Vale, who showed two mounts on Sunday and finished in tenth place aboard Honeyland’s Douglason, owned by Doug’s Crew. “I think Danny [Foster] did a fantastic job today giving us a big course to jump. The line to the triple combination gave a lot of difficulties today and the six strides made the horses kind of dive at the jump and take a down. I was able to do seven strides with both of my horses and was able to sneak them through it. The jumps came up quick and there was a lot of riding to do in 88 seconds. There were 14 fences and it was about the same time allowed for a 12 jump course, so it kept you busy.”

Continue reading Sponsored Purina Mills Rider Aaron Vale Wins the $50,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix →

Show Jumping, USEF

Updated Schedule for the 2012 Show Jumping European Young Rider and Junior Rider Tour

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Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has updated the competition schedule for the 2012 Show Jumping European Young Rider Tour. Additionally, up to two individual Junior Riders will contest the same competitions on the Junior Rider Tour.

The 2012 Show Jumping European Young Rider and Junior Rider Tour will consist of the following competitions:

CSIOY and CSIOJ Bonheiden (BEL): May 17-20, 2012

CSIOY and CSIOJ Reims (FRA): May 31 – June 3, 2012

CSIOY and CSIOJ Hagen (GER): June 13-17, 2012

Continue reading Updated Schedule for the 2012 Show Jumping European Young Rider and Junior Rider Tour →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Pessoa and HH Palouchin Keep Winning Streak Going in $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic

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Chapot Picks Up Two Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Victories

Rodrigo Pessoa and HH Palouchin. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 14, 2012 – There were three competitive classes in the International Arena on the opening day of week 10 of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. Starting out the day was another win for Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and HH Palouchin, owned by Double H Farm, in the $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic. Following that, another familiar face in the winner’s circle, Laura Chapot entered again and won the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed class with Bradberry. In the last class, the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Jump-off class, Chapot rode Quointreau Un Prince, owned by Laura Chapot and McLain Ward, to the win.

Sponsored by Artisan Farms, week ten features two classes on Sunday, March 18, on the grass field at The Stadium. Starting at 10:30 a.m., the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Final runs first and is followed by the $80,000 Pennfield Feeds Grand Prix CSI 2* at 2 p.m.

Continue reading Pessoa and HH Palouchin Keep Winning Streak Going in $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic →

Contributors/Press, Events

Kentucky Horse Park Set to Open 34th Season with New Attractions

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Photo by www.PixBySteve.com.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 13, 2012) – The Kentucky Horse Park’s 34th season is set to begin Thursday, March 15, when the park returns to its regular hours of 9am to 5pm daily through November 4. Visitors will be entertained and delighted as the park features special events and themed weekends throughout the season.

Highlights of this season will include the park’s newest attraction, the Kids Barn, which features interactive exhibits, while the park’s education department staff will host daily hands-on activities with the park’s resident horses in the Kids Barn each day.

Also new this season is a daily show called “Horses of the World,” which is an updated and energized version of the traditional Parade of Breeds show. It’s a perfect opportunity for park visitors to watch and learn about some of the horse breeds that may not be familiar and will include horses representing some of the park’s many different breeds from as far away as India, Turkmenistan, Egypt, and Europe.

Continue reading Kentucky Horse Park Set to Open 34th Season with New Attractions →

Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

$20,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Team Event Victory Goes to Zone Two

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Charlotte Jacobs and Promised Land helped the Zone Two team claim their victory during the $20,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Team Event. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Wellington, FL and East Aurora, NY – March 13, 2012 – The third leg of the four-part Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series was held on Thursday of Week IX of the Winter Equestrian Festival. Amidst rough weather with rain and thunderstorms, eight teams of four gathered to compete under the looming storm clouds hanging over the International Ring for the $20,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Team Event. Team E was comprised of riders from Zone 2, which included Charlotte Jacobs with Promised Land, Lydia Ulrich riding Santos Utopia, Gabrielle Bausano showing Ubico H, and Lillie Keean aboard Vanhattan, and they outshone the competition with five clear rounds and only a four-fault total score.

Overcast skies and bouts of torrential rain plagued the two-round competition, but riders remained focused on the course that included many technical aspects. A number of riders found fault at a skinny vertical following the open water, as well as the vertical-vertical double combination at the end of the course, which was designed by Leopoldo Palacios. Only five riders from the teams produced clear efforts during the first round, but after jumping it once the rounds only improved with 12 fault-free rounds during the second half of the event.

Continue reading $20,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Team Event Victory Goes to Zone Two →

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