Wellington, FL – January 21, 2012 – It was an epic night for Team Guardian who dominated PRO DerbyCross at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
A team event with teams of five made up of three eventing riders, a show jumper and a polo player, jumped a hybrid cross country and show jumping course and the fastest combined score won.
Captain Karen O’Connor’s squad was so impressive that she didn’t have to jump for a score (one eventing score gets dropped) but she led her team to a dominating effort on Team Rebecca’s Veronica – impressing the crowds as the final competitor.
Amsterdam (NED), 21 January 2012 – Adelinde Cornelissen and the 15 year old Jerich Parzival stamped their authority all over the seventh leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 Western European League on home turf in Amsterdam, The Netherlands this afternoon. With a display of supreme confidence, the defending champions threw down the highest score of the season so far to make it a back-to-back double following their victory in Mechelen, Belgium last month.
But with the maximum 20 points going to the second-place rider, as the previous year’s winners do not collect points during the following season, there was a tremendous battle for the minor placings. And it was Helen Langehanenberg who came off best in a tussle with German counterpart Isabell Werth who had to settle for third place despite one of the most exciting performances of the day.
LEADERBOARD
Today’s result has moved Langehanenberg into third on the series leaderboard with just two qualifying rounds left to go. And there is a new leader, as Italy’s Valentina Truppa, who finished fifth this afternoon, has ousted Sweden’s Patrik Kittel from the top of the table.
Laura Chapot and Valentia Take Top Prize in World Development Group 1.35m Jumpers
Wellington, FL – January 20, 2012 – Forty-one of the nation’s top young riders showed in the USEF/Platinum Performance Show Jumping Talent Search in Wellington this morning with a win for Lillie Keenan aboard Chansonette Farm LLC’s Monterrey. Riders showed over a course set by Danny Moore, of Spring Hill, FL, and the top twelve were invited to return under saddle.
The second week of the FTI WEF runs through Sunday, January 22, and is sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty. 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. The highlight jumper class in week two is the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix, CSI 2* on Saturday, January 21, at 7 p.m.
The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the dates and locations of two Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Sessions for 2012. The open training sessions will be a unique opportunity for up and coming talent to have one-on-one sessions with USEF Young Horse Coach, Scott Hassler. The two-day event will include a 45-minute lesson each day with Scott Hassler as well as an evening lecture and discussion for the riders led by Scott. He explains, “I’m really excited about the decision to schedule the open Young Horse Training sessions. They will provide an opportunity for people to better understand the Markel/USEF Young Horse program as well as the correct development required for young horses to advance in the training scale towards the FEI levels.”
The first Young Horse Training Session will be held February 18-19 at Shannondale Farm in Milton, Georgia. Applications for this training session are due January 31st. Another Training Session will be held April 14-15 at Twinwood Equestrian Center in Simontown, Texas. Applications for this training session are due March 30th.
Wellington, FL – January 20, 2012 – Sixteen of the toughest warriors in the country will face off in a bone-crushing competition in Full Metal Jousting, a new one-hour series premiering Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 10 p.m. HISTORY. James H. Fairclough II, of Cavalier Show Jumping, joined the cast for their inaugural season.
Renowned jouster Shane Adams will be the host for Full Metal Jousting. The 10-part series features full-contact jousts with competitors going head-to-head on horseback in brutal tests of strength, endurance and courage. High-speed cameras capture every punishing blow as jousters charge and collide at 30 miles per hour. The last man standing takes home a $100,000 cash prize.
Although some may have seen jousting at exhibitions such as the Renaissance Fair, the combat in Full Meal Jousting is not choreographed at all — it is 100% authentic. There is a twist, however: the traditional armor is replaced with modern suits of steel weighing 80 pounds, and 11-foot-long, solid fir lances are used as weapons.
Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the opening of the fourth annual “Favorite Breed Competition” contest. Designed to function as a “competitor’s choice” award, this contest recognizes and applauds the efforts of the year’s favorite USEF licensed breed competition, as decided by the officials, trainers, riders, drivers, handlers or owners who participated.
Eleven competitions will be recognized (one per breed category), receiving a plaque as well as a mention in the USEF Week in Review e-newsletter. From these competitions, two will be selected from a random drawing to win the Grand and Reserve prizes. The Grand Prize winner will receive a pizza party for their exhibitors at the 2013 competition; the Reserve winner will receive an ice cream party for their exhibitors at the 2013 competition. In order to be eligible to claim their prize, the competitions must remain USEF licensed for 2013.
Ocala, FL – January 19, 2012 – HITS Ocala competitors beat the winter blues and settled in at Post Time Farm yesterday for two pre-weeks of showing, followed by seven weeks of rated competition. Coupled with special events and awards, as well as serious prize money, HITS Ocala competitors are in the right place to get a lead on qualifying for the historic offerings at HITS’ 2012 Championship Weekend, scheduled for September 7-9 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.
New for 2012 HITS Ocala is operating at full steam ahead in 2012 with an all-new week of A-rated competition, bringing the circuit to nine weeks of non-stop hunter/jumper action. The added week fills what used to be the off-week between the pre-circuit shows and the rated circuit. The pre-circuit, unrated weeks run through January 29 and the rated circuit runs February 1 – March 18, with the first week being A-rated, and Weeks II-VII AA-rated.
“I’m super excited to see new and familiar faces, watch great show jumping and show off my newly expanded store at HITS [Ocala],” said Ardie Hastey of Blueberry Hill out of Montreal, Canada. “I opened up my business last year at HITS Ocala, so it’s great to be back and to have an expanded presence.”
Wellington, FL – January 20, 2012 – As the sun rose over the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL the Gold Coast Dressage Opener CPEDI3* commenced. Twenty-three para-equestrian dressage riders from seven countries vied for top scores under F.E.I. judges Carlos Lopes (POR), Hanneke Gerritsen (NED), and Marc Urban (BEL). For two weekends, beginning with the Gold Coast Dressage Opener CPEDI3* and ending with the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CPEDI3*, para-equestrian dressage riders have the opportunity to earn their qualifying scores and increase their international rankings before the 2012 London Paralympics. For each country the next two weekends will mark the closeout of the team rankings before London. Dueling for the top positions in Friday’s Team Test were Canada and the United States. Competition will continue Saturday with the Individual Test and end Sunday with the Freestyle competition followed by the awards ceremony.
The first of four para-equestrians representing the United States was rider Mary Jordan (Grade IV) of Wells, ME aboard Sebastian, para-equestrian Dale Dedrick (Grade II) from Ann Arbor, MI on Bonifatius, Rebecca Hart (Grade II) of Erie, PA aboard Lord Ludger and Jonathan Wentz (Grade Ib), NTEC Richter Scale from Richardson, TX led by Chef d’Equipe Missy Ransehousen.. The United States team set the pace with the first ride of the day from Mary Jordan beginning at 8:30 a.m. on her team horse Sebastian. She noted, “Sebastian went pretty well today. I had a morning ride at a beautiful facility, on a great horse. However, I am looking to produce even more out of him.”
Itapira, Brazil (January 19, 2012) – Interagro Lusitanos, the largest breeder and exporter of Lusitano horses in the world, is inviting fans to mark their calendars for June 23rd, 2012, the date of the 2012 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction. The esteemed auction, which features a world-class selection of Lusitano horses, has been held in the United States for the past four years. The success of the auction in the United States and the blossoming popularity of the Interagro Lusitano prompted the organizers to host the prestigious auction at Interagro Lusitanos outside of Sao Paulo. Interagro’s unique equestrian culture and dedication to preserving the pure Lusitano lineages offers visitors an unparalleled equestrian experience. The 1200-acre ranch is set among lush tropical landscape and Interagro’s selection of Lusitanos at auction have been bred and selected for their movement, trainability, and talent for competitive endeavors.
Ken Berkley and Prestige Win Sanctuary First Year Green Working Hunter Championship
Wellington, FL – January 19, 2012 – Nick Skelton (GBR) accumulated another win at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) today in the $32,000 WEF Challenge Cup 2, this time taking the top prize with Beverley Widdowson’s Carlo 273. The Irish took the next two places, with Richie Moloney on Slieveanorra, owned by Equinimity LLC/Richie Moloney in second and Cian O’Connor on Ashkirk Ltd. & Cian O’Connor’s Blue Loyd 12 in third.
The second week of the FTI WEF runs through Sunday, January 22, and is sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty. 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. The highlight jumper class in week two is the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix, CSI 2* on Saturday, January 21, at 7 p.m.