*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Olympic Games, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping

Saudi Equestrian Qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games

January 1, 2012 Associate Editor Leave a comment

1 January 2012 – Saudi Arabia’s equestrian Show Jumping team, Saudi Equestrian, gained official qualification to the London 2012 Olympic Games (27 July – 12 August) at the CSI-W4* Doha (QAT) on Friday 30 December 2011. 15 teams, each with four riders, are now qualified in the equestrian team Show Jumping competition, which takes place over three days from Saturday 4 to Monday 6 August at the World Heritage Site of Greenwich Park.

The Saudi team secured its place in the Olympics during the Group F (Africa and Middle East Region) FEI Select Olympic Qualification event held in the Qatari capital of Doha (December 27-30, 2011).

News of officially qualifying for the Olympics follows earlier success in Doha: The Saudi Equestrian team claimed the coveted Nations Cup and Abdullah Sharbatly won the Grand Prix.

Continue reading Saudi Equestrian Qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games →

Community/Charity, Equestrian Aid Found., Equestrian Assistance

“Straight Talk” Stories of Hope and Inspiration from Recipients of the Equestrian Aid Foundation

January 1, 2012 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Thank You and Happy New Year!

Thank you for your support of the Equestrian Aid Foundation and its programs to help equestrians, horsemen and equine professionals who are suffering from catastrophic illnesses and injuries.

We are so grateful. Here are just a few of the people you’ve touched this year with your donations, in their own words of gratitude.

As 2011 comes to a close, I hope you’ll consider a tax-deductible donation that will improve the lives of so many in 2012.

Wishing you a healthy and prosperous new year!

I want to make a difference – donate now.

Continue reading “Straight Talk” Stories of Hope and Inspiration from Recipients of the Equestrian Aid Foundation →

Competitions, Events, FEI, Olympic Games, Show Jumping

Saudi Arabia and Jordan Qualify for London 2012 Olympic Jumping

December 31, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Lausanne (SUI), 31 December 2011 – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has secured the final qualifying slot for the Jumping competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Saudi Arabia earned its qualification on the basis of the team’s combined classification among the FEI Olympic Group F teams – Africa and the Middle East – at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 and the 2011 FEI Group F Special Olympic qualifying competition, which took place on 30 December in Doha (QAT).

Jordan qualified one individual for London 2012 when Ibrahim Hani Bisharat, obtained the best classification among the Group F individual riders.

Doha hosted the final qualifying event for the team Jumping at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The 15 teams that will compete in London are Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Great Britain, Germany, The Netherlands, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, the USA and Ukraine.

Continue reading Saudi Arabia and Jordan Qualify for London 2012 Olympic Jumping →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI

Fourth-in-a-Row Win for Boyd Exell

December 31, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Boyd20111231_34790 — Boyd Exell (AUS), winner of the sixth FEI World Cup Driving 2011/2012 qualifier held in Mechelen (BEL) this weekend. ©Rinaldo de Craen/FEI

Mechelen (BEL), 31 December 2011 – Boyd Exell proved to be of a different class again in the sixth leg of the FEI World Cup Driving in Mechelen, Belgium. Exell remained untouched throughout the competition and stayed far ahead of his rivals Tomas Eriksson (SWE) and IJsbrand Chardon (NED). Mechelen is Boyd’s fourth consecutive win of the season after his victories at Stockholm, Budapest and Geneva. With only the Final in Bordeaux left for the triple FEI World Cup winner, Boyd can relax and enjoy his well-deserved holiday in his home country Australia for the next few weeks.

Exciting until the last moment

It was one of the best FEI World Cup Driving competitions ever in the Nekkerhal, which remained exciting until the very last moment. No less than eight drivers battled for a place on the podium. Second starter Georg von Stein drove a fast clear round, which more experienced indoor drivers like Koos de Ronde and Jozsef Dobrovitz were unable to beat. Tomas Eriksson was the first to beat Von Stein’s time and secured his place for the winning round. IJsbrand Chardon caused even more excitement by knocking a ball off the first obstacle, but finished only 0.48 seconds behind Eriksson and also qualified for the winning round. Boyd Exell finished the job without any hesitation and took the lead.

Continue reading Fourth-in-a-Row Win for Boyd Exell →

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

Wathelet Wins on Home Turf at Mechelen

December 30, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

WatheletG-MECH11F6026 — Gregory Wathelet and Copin van de Broy pictured receiving the winner’s prize of a Rolex watch from Mr Philippe De Baets, Managing Director, Rolex Benelux. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.

Mechelen (BEL), 30 December 2011 – Gregory Wathelet scooped the honours for the host nation when coming out on top at the eighth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2011/2012 series at Mechelen in Belgium this afternoon. And he did it in style, throwing down an impossible target when first to go with Copin van de Broy in the eight-horse jump-off, and sitting back to watch the rest line up behind him.

It was 2009 individual European Champion, Kevin Staut from France, who filled runner-up spot with the grey mare, Silvana HDC, while Belgium was prominently placed once more when Rick Hemeryck and Quarco de Kerambars finished third. Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher (Magnus Romeo) slotted into fourth, while the fifth-place result for Denis Lynch (Abbervail van het Dingeshof) has promoted the Irishman to second spot on the Western European League leaderboard as 2011 draws to a close with reigning European Champion, Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, still at the head of affairs.

Continue reading Wathelet Wins on Home Turf at Mechelen →

Contributors/Press, Equine Assisted Therapy, Publications/Media

Thinking about a New Year’s Resolution? Five Reasons to Try Equine Therapy, by Claire Dorotik

December 29, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

We all make resolutions, and sadly, many of us will never realize these often lofty goals. And what do we do then? We wonder why. First, why did we make the resolution in the first place, and if we are the introspective type, what is it about us that prevented us from reaching our target? But to answer these questions, we’d probably have to have a window into our unconscious. And really, we may just not have the time or patience for psychoanalysis. But maybe, just maybe, we can learn something about ourselves through time spent with a horse. So, in honor of resolutions, here are five reasons to try equine assisted therapy.

1. Horses are novel. For the majority of people, meeting a horse is an entirely new experience. While we may have some idea how self-exploration will go, we really have no idea how we will react, or more importantly, how the horse will react to us. This is the perfect environment then in which to learn about the self.

Continue reading Thinking about a New Year’s Resolution? Five Reasons to Try Equine Therapy, by Claire Dorotik →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Jacksonville Winter Series, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

SBS Farms Celebrates Phenomenal Year in 2011 and Prepares for 2012

December 29, 2011 Associate Editor 1 Comment

Alfano006407 — Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy won the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby of Devon for the second year in a row. SBS Farms, Inc. looks forward to another successful 2012 year. Photo By: Jessica Nemzoff

Buffalo, NY – December 29, 2011 – SBS Farms, Inc. had a remarkable show season in 2011, taking home top honors at the most prestigious events in the nation. Trainer Susie Schoellkopf and professional rider Jennifer Alfano are now gearing up for the 2012 show season, where they will showcase both their skills and those of their students in the hunter and jumper rings.

The first stop for SBS Farms will be during the last week of the Jacksonville Winter Series, held at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Green Cove Springs, FL. Alfano plans on showing Helen Lenahan’s Sting in the Derby at Jacksonville where he will make his comeback. Shortly after, SBS plans on making its mark in Ocala, competing in their Winter Series beginning in early February 2012. To end their winter calendar, Alfano plans on competing in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at WEF.

If SBS Farms’ 2011 year is any indication of what 2012 holds, only success can be foreseen. Jersey Boy was recently awarded the USEF 2011 High Performance Working Hunter National Horse of the Year Award, ending with a total of 52,791 points accumulated during 16 competitions.

Continue reading SBS Farms Celebrates Phenomenal Year in 2011 and Prepares for 2012 →

Community/Charity, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group, Wellington Classic Dressage

Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I and “Food Truck Frenzy” Partner for First Competition of 2012 Challenge Series

December 29, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge + “Food Truck Frenzy” = Fun Weekend!

Looking for something FREE and different to do this weekend?

The Palms West Community Foundation is pleased to partner with the Wellington Classic Dressage for their first competition of the 2012 Challenge Series. This qualifying competition will be held at the Palm Beach County Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, located at 7500 Forest Hill Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL. The competition will be held on Saturday, January 7th and Sunday, January 8th from 8:30 until 5:30 on both days, and the equestrian event is FREE to spectators!

Dressage is known as “dancing” for the horses, and many people have never been able to see it live. “Although it is a FREE event, the public doesn’t usually even know that this is available to them to enjoy,” explains Maureen Gross of the Palms West Community Foundation. The unique combination of athletic ability, physical grace and visual pleasure makes Dressage a wonderful sport for participants and spectators, alike. The rapport that develops between horse and rider exists at all levels of Dressage, and will be demonstrated at this event.

Continue reading Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I and “Food Truck Frenzy” Partner for First Competition of 2012 Challenge Series →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI

Cornelissen and Parzival Are Mighty at Mechelen

December 28, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

CornelissenMechelen — Defending series champions, Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival from The Netherlands, were emphatic winners of the sixth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 series at Mechelen in Belgium today. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.

Mechelen (BEL), 28 December 2011 – Defending series champions, Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival from The Netherlands, scored an emphatic victory on their seasonal debut at the sixth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 series in Mechelen, Belgium today. With a performance that oozed class and confidence, they threw down a score of 85.325 that left them more than five points clear of the runner-up partnership of Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic. But it was the Swedish rider who took maximum points to rocket even further ahead at the top of the leaderboard with just three more legs left to go.

As winner of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage title, Cornelissen is already qualified for the 2011/2012 decider which will take place on her home soil at ‘s-Hertogenbosch next April, and is therefore not entitled to accumulate points in the current season. Kittel, meanwhile, looks likely to have three horses to choose from going to the final following a highly impressive run of form in recent months.

Germany’s Nadine Capellmann slotted into third today with Elvis, while Dutchman Hans Peter Minderhoud finished fourth with Withney van het Genthof. Best of the strong Belgian contingent was Jeroen Devroe who steered Apollo van het Vijvershof into fifth.

Continue reading Cornelissen and Parzival Are Mighty at Mechelen →

Classic Company, Classic Company, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Jacksonville Winter Series, Show Jumping

Pensacola and Jacksonville Stalls Reservations

December 27, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Dear Exhibitors and Trainers,
Today our tent company will start putting up tents and stalls. As in years past, we only put up the number of stalls that we have reserved because of the expense so please call us for your reservations for the winter shows.

Pensacola 843 768 5503

Jacksonville 904-993-2053

We look forward to hearing from you and…

See you at the rings,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd.
www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311 Johns Island SC 29457

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