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

Round 1 of $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series Goes to McLain Ward and Oh’ D Eole at WEF

January 13, 2012 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Castle Rock and Louise Serio Sweep CWD Performance Working Hunter 3’6″ Championship

WardOhDEoleWEF1 — McLain Ward with Oh D'Eole. Photos © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 12, 2012 – Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward (USA) was able to beat a field of 39 competitors to take the first round victory in the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. He and Oh’ D Eole triumphed in the jump-off over Charlie Jayne (USA) on Chill R Z and Darragh Kerins (IRL) with Hot Wheels. Today’s grand prix marked the start of an exciting show jumping season, where riders will compete over 12 weeks to win bonus money in the $100,000 FTI Consulting Rider Challenge.

The first week of the FTI WEF runs through Sunday, January 15, and is sponsored by Surpass. 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 one is the $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix on Saturday, January 14, at 7 p.m.

Continue reading Round 1 of $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series Goes to McLain Ward and Oh’ D Eole at WEF →

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press

Kentucky Equine Survey

January 13, 2012 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Urgent: Need Participation from KY Horsemen

Dear Kentucky Horsemen (and women):
For the first time in 35 years, Kentucky will do a full, statewide survey of ALL BREEDS AND DISCIPLINES OF HORSES, PONIES, MULES, and DONKEYS. Getting accurate figures for our horse community is critical to developing plans to improve the industry, access more trails and equine facilities, assess equine business opportunities, and get public officials’ attention.

This survey is being done by the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, in partnership with the Kentucky Horse Council and the National Agricultural Statistics Service. To read more about the study, go to http://www2.ca.uky.edu/equine/kyequinesurvey.

WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION.

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Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Products/Services

The Equine Practice Rounds – Barns, by Geoff Tucker, DVM

January 12, 2012 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Barns20051014-4853 — A farm I visited in NY

I am so lucky to get to go to barns all over this country that inspire you to dream big. While many are beyond our means, most are variations of the same theme. A pole barn with box stalls on each side of an aisle. Some farms only have a 3 sided shed and some places have more mud than dry spots.

The most memorable barn I have ever visited wasn’t a barn at all. The call came to me early in my career as a vet. The request was for routine vaccinations and a Coggins test and to look at a few things. I obtained her address but this was before GPS guidance so I wrote down the directions as best as I could. This usually involved things like, “Turn left at the Shell station on route 14 and go about 3 miles. We’re on the right side with our number on the mail box. The horses are in the barn in the back.” That is if I was lucky.

This horse owner’s directions were a little more challenging. “Head out of town about 5 miles and look for a break in the woods on the left hand side. Follow the trail back to the abandoned double wide mobile home. I’ll meet ‘cha there.” She added, “Bo’s really a good boy, but he don’t like vets.”

Continue reading The Equine Practice Rounds – Barns, by Geoff Tucker, DVM →

Community/Charity, FEI

In Memoriam: Hans-Heinrich Isenbart (GER)

January 12, 2012 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Lausanne (SUI), 12 January 2012 – Hans-Heinrich Isenbart (GER), who will be remembered by many as “the voice of equestrian sport” in Germany, passed away on 25 December 2011 at the age of 88.

He was born on 5 February 1923 in Vienna (AUT) into a family that had a passion for horses going back generations. As a young man he had wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and become an army officer, but his Jewish origins meant that career was denied to him in the Germany of the 1930s and 40s. He later studied law and passed his exams to become a riding instructor.

After World War II, he worked as a journalist for German broadcaster NDR, covering political and economic issues, and later took over sport coordination at ARD in Munich, where he remained until his retirement in 1987.

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Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival Competition Begins with Great Expectations

January 12, 2012 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Cian O’Connor and Everything Capture First G&C Farm 1.45m Jumper Victory

Wellington, FL – January 11, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) kicked off competition today with hunter/jumper classes in 10 rings. In the International Arena, Olympian Cian O’Connor (IRL) scored the first win of the season with Everything, owned by Abdulla Humaid Al Muhairi, in the G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers.

This week’s course designer in the International Arena is Steve Stephens of Palmetto, FL. The G&C Farm 1.45m class was a time first round format and welcomed 19 entries. O’Connor and his first mount, Blue Loyd owned by Ashkirk Ltd and O’Connor, were neat around the course to finish in sixth place.

Continue reading 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival Competition Begins with Great Expectations →

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Diana de Rosa, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Washington Int'l Horse Show

Sophie & Katherine Make Horse Jump Out of Cupcakes and Bake One Ton Creation

January 12, 2012 Associate Editor Leave a comment

DC CUPCAKES: ONE TON CUPCAKE Premieres Monday, January 16 at 10 PM (ET/PT) on TLC

Sophie and Katherine, the sisters who own Georgetown Cupcake, have a huge order from the Washington International Horse Show to make a full-sized horse jump out of cupcakes. Horses jumping over cupcakes? Why yes! The country’s leading indoor metropolitan horse show is just a few blocks away from Sophie and Katherine’s Georgetown Cupcake shop. A special jump made from the now famous sweets was a surprise addition to an exciting evening of world-class show jumping competition. Tune in to see if any of the horses, riders or fans got to eat one!

At the same time, the sisters attempt to break the world record for largest cupcake. With the help of Mommy and Sophie’s nuclear engineer husband Steve, they set out to bake a one ton cupcake, first finding an oven huge enough for all 2000 pounds of homemade batter, and then baking it to perfection.

Continue reading Sophie & Katherine Make Horse Jump Out of Cupcakes and Bake One Ton Creation →

Community/Charity, Equestrian Assistance, Phelps Media Group

Equine Law 101 Appeals to All Levels of the Equestrian Industry

January 12, 2012 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Nelson006456 — Krysia Carmel Nelson, a nationally recognized expert in equine law and a lifelong equestrian, will teach Equine Law 101: Business Essentials for Horsemen on Monday afternoons during circuit. Photo By: The Book LLC

Wellington, FL – January 11, 2012 – Noted equine attorney, Krysia Carmel Nelson, will teach a 10-week introductory business law course on Monday afternoons during the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. “Equine Law 101 – Business Essentials for Horsemen” has been approved for college credit and promises to attract the best and brightest college and high school equestrians, as well aspiring and emerging industry professionals.

“I came up with the idea for this course because I was excited by the prospect of bringing together bright students who have some background in the horse industry and teaching them basic business law concepts,” says Nelson. “Equestrians get a lot more exposure to the ‘real’ world of business than they might think – in my experience, even more than the average law student. This kind of exposure gives them a real world context for learning things about business that are generally thought to be difficult and complex.”

Continue reading Equine Law 101 Appeals to All Levels of the Equestrian Industry →

Community/Charity, Eventing/H.T., FEI

In Memoriam: Christopher Schofield (GBR)

January 11, 2012 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Lausanne (SUI), 11 January 2011 – Christopher Schofield (GBR), former Chairman of Great Britain’s Young Rider Selectors programme, passed away on 4 January at the age of 90.

Many young British Eventing riders enjoyed success during his leadership of the Young Rider Selectors programme, including William Fox-Pitt, Tina Cook and Pippa Funnell.

Jane Holderness-Roddam, who secured team gold in Eventing for Great Britain at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, remembers Christopher Schofield as “a truly great character, he was always incredibly enthusiastic and supportive and was always thrilled to hear how the Young Riders were getting on, even in more recent years. He was always there with wise words of advice for us all.”

Continue reading In Memoriam: Christopher Schofield (GBR) →

Diana de Rosa, Eventing/H.T.

Southern Eighths Announces Spring Open Schooling Days

January 11, 2012 Associate Editor Leave a comment

January 10, 2012 — Chesterfield, SC — Southern Eighths Farm in Chesterfield, SC is giving Beginner through Training level Event riders and horses the perfect opportunity to prepare for their next competition or to bring a young horse along with its upcoming Open Schooling Days. Mark your calendar now for January 21–29, February 18–26, and/or March 17–25 to take advantage of this opportunity to school on one of the finest facilities in the nation.

Well known course designer Tremaine Cooper will create a different schooling setup for each Open Schooling week so that horses and riders have the opportunity to school over different types of fences and terrain. Themes have been chosen for each week. January’s theme will be “Coffins and Corners,” February will focus on “Trakehners and Turning Combinations,” and March will be “Rolling Terrain and Narrows.” No matter what your level, there will be opportunities for everyone to school and improve. The water jump will always be filled and open to ride, as will the ditches, steps and straight-forward galloping fences.

Southern Eighths is located in the middle of USEA Areas II and III on the North and South Carolina border, truly in the Heart of the Carolinas.

Continue reading Southern Eighths Announces Spring Open Schooling Days →

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

2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival Hosts Opening Press Conference

January 11, 2012 Associate Editor Leave a comment

WEF1043 — The panel of Michael Stone, Mark Bellissimo, Louise Serio, Christine McCrea, Rodrigo Pessoa and Hunter Harrison spoke about the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival at the opening press conference. Photos © ManciniPhotos.

Wellington, FL – January 10, 2012 – The 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) hosted its opening press conference on Tuesday afternoon at the White Horse Tavern in Wellington, FL. A large crowd of local, national, and international media were in attendance to hear the latest news on the 12-week competition, which begins tomorrow. The FTI WEF will host thousands of the world’s best horses and riders on January 11 – April 1 at the beautiful Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in what has become the world’s largest and longest running horse show.

This afternoon’s press conference was hosted by Equestrian Sport Productions’ (ESP) CEO Mark Bellissimo and President Michael Stone, with additional commentary from top hunter rider and trainer Louise Serio, Pan American Games Show Jumping Individual and U.S. Team Gold Medalist Christine McCrea, Wellington Equestrian Partner Hunter Harrison, and Olympic Show Jumping Gold Medalist Rodrigo Pessoa.

Continue reading 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival Hosts Opening Press Conference →

Horses in the South – An Equine News Publisher

Round 1 of $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series Goes to McLain Ward and Oh’ D Eole at WEF

Kentucky Equine Survey

The Equine Practice Rounds – Barns, by Geoff Tucker, DVM

In Memoriam: Hans-Heinrich Isenbart (GER)

2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival Competition Begins with Great Expectations

Sophie & Katherine Make Horse Jump Out of Cupcakes and Bake One Ton Creation

Equine Law 101 Appeals to All Levels of the Equestrian Industry

In Memoriam: Christopher Schofield (GBR)

Southern Eighths Announces Spring Open Schooling Days

2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival Hosts Opening Press Conference

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