Competitions, Dressage, Events, USEF

Ravel Repeats World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Win

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Steffen Peters and Ravel (Shannon Brinkman Photo)

West Palm Beach, FL – The 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI4* presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach ended as it began with American dressage superstar Steffen Peters and Ravel storming to their second consecutive sweep of the event. Their dramatic freestyle was very difficult and they were rewarded by the judges with a score of 83.70% and recognized with a standing ovation from the crowd. It was a narrow victory, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin gave Peters and Ravel a lot to handle but they held on by 5/100ths of a point.

“What an amazing ride,” said Peters. “Thanks again to my buddy Ravel.”

Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven was third on a score of 78.250% with Favourit.

Peters (San Diego, CA) and Ravel’s incredibly difficult transitions, including from canter pirouette to piaffe to walk, were seamless. Ravel’s half-pass has amazing reach at both the trot and the canter and the one- time changes on the centerline were effortless. The all-around brilliance gave this pair the edge – making them back-to-back World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Champions.

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Awards, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Events

Kentucky Horse Council Recognizes Outstanding Service to Industry at Annual Convention

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Lexington, KY, January 31, 2012 – At their annual banquet on January 13, 2012, The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) presented awards for excellence in support to the equine industry.

The 2011 KHC Volunteer of the Year is Brian Rogers of Mercer County. Brian has always willingly volunteered to help with booths, set up for events, and transport materials when needed.  An emergency room employee at the UK Hospital, Brian has a busy and changing work schedule, but tries to arrange his schedule to be available to volunteer. He is also a volunteer President of the Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen, and in his spare time drives to Auburn, Alabama where his wife is attending Vet School.

The 2011 KHC Horsemen’s Hero was presented to Tom Tuck of Murray, Kentucky.  Tom and his wife Theo have worked with the Murray State University Rodeo Team for many years, both before and after they both retired.  He supports the student team in fund-raising, transports their rodeo equipment and horses to competitions around the country, and works with what he and Theo call “our kids” while they practice and organize their student rodeo team.  Tom has also volunteered to help with trail development in the Western part of Kentucky.

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Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival: Week Three Wrap-up and Week Four Upcoming Events

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Wellington, FL – January 30, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival finished its third week of competition with success for hunter, jumpers, and equitation riders. The third week of the FTI WEF was sponsored by Horseware Ireland. The fourth week, sponsored by Adequan, is on February 1-5. The 2012 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.

Upcoming Events for Week Four – Don’t Miss These Exciting and Fun Activities!

The Lunch & Learn Series, presented by World Development Group, will continue this week on Thursday, February 2, at The Wellington Club. Admission is free and lunch is provided. No prior equestrian knowledge is required to attend the events. This week’s class, “Degenerative Joint Disease in the Equine Athlete,” features speaker Dr. Victoria Maxwell and is sponsored by Adequan. Every attendee at the Lunch & Learn Series will be entered to win a grand prize.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Auctions, Awards, Benefits, Community/Charity, EQUUS Foundation, Events, Phelps Media Group

USET Foundation’s “An English Country Evening” Benefit Raises over One Million Dollars

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Tom Tisbo, Jeannie Tisbo, Bruce Springsteen, Hunter Julo, Hunter Harrison, Kaitlin Creel, Keith Creel and Ginger Creel. Photos By: Phelps Media Group

Wellington, FL – January 30, 2012 – On Friday, January 27, 2012, the United States Equestrian Team Foundation hosted a benefit event at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. With over 500 guests in attendance, “An English Country Evening” featured honorary chairs NBC Today Show host Matt Lauer and his wife Annette, an avid equestrian. The celebratory evening included award presentations, an elegant dinner, and a lively auction, which helped raise over one million dollars for the USET Foundation.

“An English Country Evening” was held in the Special Events Pavilion at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, which was transformed into a beautiful English country garden by designer Reed McIlvaine (Renny and Reed), and included an exquisite dinner by Ken Rose catering. USET Foundation President Jane Forbes Clark, Board of Trustee Members Robin Parsky and Bruce Duchossois, and Executive Director Bonnie Jenkins all helped organize the very successful event.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Rescue/Protection Sources

Calls Needed Today in Support of Ban on Hauling Horses in Double-Deck Trailers

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House Committee to Consider Bill on Thursday

Monday, January 30, 2012 – At long last, a ban on the use of trailers with more than one level for hauling horses is on the verge of being considered by Congress… It is also on the verge of being derailed. While language clearly banning ALL hauling of horses by double-deck trailers is included in the Surface Transportation Extension Act, opponents are trying to undermine this modest yet important legislation.

Support for banning the use of double-deck trailers is strong, and includes the American Veterinary Medical Association, National Black Farmers Association, Animal Welfare Institute and Veterinarians for Equine Welfare. Equine rescue, humane, and professional organizations realize it is cruel and dangerous to haul horses on double-deck trailers. Even the U.S. Department of Agriculture has come out against their use: “We do not believe that equines can be safely and humanely transported on a conveyance that has an animal cargo space divided into two or more stacked levels.” (9 CFR Parts 70 and 88). In fact, USDA has prohibited using these trailers for transporting horses to slaughter, but its rule doesn’t cover horses being transported for any other purposes – or those supposedly being hauled for another purpose. All horses, irrespective of where they are going, deserve this important protection, and the language included in the Surface Transportation Extension Act will provide it.

Continue reading Calls Needed Today in Support of Ban on Hauling Horses in Double-Deck Trailers →

Contributors/Press, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Publications/Media, Racing

Equine Therapy on the T.V.? by Claire Dorotik

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With America’s endless fascination with horse racing, and his own personal history with the sport, it’s no surprise that David Milch decided to introduce a new HBO series with horses right at the heart. Boasting such fame as Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte, Kevin Dunn, and even real life former jockey, Gary Stevens, “Luck” promises a thrilling ride.

While many books such as Seabiscuit, Ruffian, Wild Ride, and Secretariat have offered the public a glimpse into the inner workings of the thoroughbred racing industry, never before has a television series revolved around it.

And this time, not just the details of the pick six, trifecta, and boxed bets are revealed, but the intricate relationships that comprise life at the track are given their due time as well, as viewers are introduced to “Ace” played by Dustin Hoffman as the ex-con race horse owner trying to make his way back onto the track.

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Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Polo, Show Jumping

EQUUS Foundation’s Fete Cheval – Fun for All & All for Fun!

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McLain Ward and Louise Serio at the 2011 Fete Cheval. Photo courtesy of Phelps Media Group.

WESTPORT, CT – January 30, 2012 – With equestrians representing the dressage, eventing, hunter, jumper, and polo communities, the EQUUS Foundation’s signature event at the Winter Equestrian Festival, Fete Cheval, promises to be the most entertaining event for horse enthusiasts this season in Wellington, Florida.

The Fete Cheval presented by Spy Coast Farm will be held on Friday, March 9, 2012, and feature cocktails, an auction, dinner in the exclusive International Club with a ringside view of the evening’s entertainment in the International Arena.

“What makes the Fete Cheval so unique is that it is all about fun, and lets very serious riders demonstrate their natural competitive spirit in games that they all recall from their youth,” said Elizabeth Press, co-chairing the event with Hillary Dobbs and Patricia Keenan, ” – games like Musical Stalls, Sit a Buck, and others.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Para-Equestrian

Para-Equestrian CPEDI3* Freestyles Finalize Two Exciting Weeks at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center

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Jody Schloss (CAN) Grade 1a and Inspector Rebus. Photo © Lindsay Y McCall

Wellington, FL – January 29, 2012 – Over two weeks, Para-Equestrian Dressage riders competed in front of F.E.I. judges Katherine Lucheschi (ITA), Hanneke Gerritsen (NED), and Carlos Lopes (POR), and Marc Urban (BEL) at two CPEDI3* events . This was the first time that Noreen O’Sullivan and her staff graciously hosted two consecutive CPEDI3* competitions (Gold Coast Dressage Opener and Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge) at the beautiful Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. For Para-Equestrian Dressage teams this was the last opportunity to raise the F.E.I. world rankings in hopes of being qualified for the 2012 London Paralympics. For individuals this was a chance to gain input from F.E.I. judges, increase World Para-Equestrian rankings for London, and earn a qualifying score for the 2012 Paralympic Selection Trials. As the evening came to a close on Sunday, 28 horse and rider combinations put forward their best competition freestyles. Participation was far reaching including riders from United States, Canada, Ireland, Bermuda, Mexico, Finland, and Japan.

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Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Katie Dinan and Nougat Du Vallet Capture $50,000 Horseware Ireland CSI2* Grand Prix

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Lili Hymowitz Sweeps the Gotham Small Pony Hunter Division with a Little “Bit of Love”

Katie Dinan and Nougat du Vallet. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 29, 2012 – Eighteen-year-old Katie Dinan (USA) and Grant Road Partner’s Nougat Du Vallet led the victory gallop in the $50,000 Horseware Ireland CSI 2* Grand Prix this afternoon at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Running through April 1, 2012, the FTI WEF will award more than $6 million in prize money throughout its 12-week circuit. Today’s class concluded the third week of competition, sponsored by Horseware Ireland.

Thirty-seven entries showed in this afternoon’s grand prix over a course set by Olaf Petersen, Sr. of Germany. Fifteen were able to clear the first round course to advance to the jump-off, and seven finished the class double clear. The lead changed hands several times throughout the jump-off as riders chased the clock, but it was Katie Dinan and Nougat Du Vallet, second to last in the order, who captured the win. The pair blazed through the course in 37.36 seconds for their first major grand prix victory.

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Awards, Community/Charity, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

USET Foundation Awards 2012 Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy to Lucy Davis

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Lucy Davis (far right) was awarded the 2012 Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy by the United States Equestrian Team Foundation. Photo By: Phelps Media Group

Gladstone, NJ – January 30, 2012 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2012 Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy will be talented show jumping rider Lucy Davis of Los Angeles, CA. Each year this award is presented to a Young Rider in one of the Olympic disciplines who exemplifies both sportsmanship and horsemanship. In 2011, Davis set the west on fire, winning four grand prix events in a row at HITS Thermal, including the $200,000 Lamborghini Grand Prix of the Desert aboard her brilliant mount Nemo 119.

Davis, a 19-year-old freshman at Stanford University, was presented with the trophy during the USET Foundation’s benefit, “An English Country Evening,” at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, on January 27, 2012.

“It’s a really big honor and I am very excited to have won the award,” said Davis. “I got the call when I was in the middle of finals, and it really changed my mood. I am very honored because I know there are a lot of really incredible young riders in the United States, so this is really exciting to win.”

Continue reading USET Foundation Awards 2012 Lionel Guerrand-Hermès Trophy to Lucy Davis →

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