“Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to The Derby” Online Auction of Kentucky Derby Hats Continues with a Chapeau Inspired by Breeders’ Cup Champion Prized

Proceeds to Benefit Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement

GEORGETOWN, KY – NOVEMBER 30, 2011 – “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby,” a charity auction of fashionable Kentucky Derby Hats, continues December 1st as bidding opens on “The Prized.”

“The Prized” hat is the second chapeau to go on the virtual block in this six-month-long auction, which kicked off November 1st.

Proceeds from this exclusive event benefit Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in central Kentucky, and features beautiful hats handcrafted by milliner Sally Faith Steinmann of Maggie Mae Designs.

Each of the six unique designs are inspired by one of the pensioned racehorses at Old Friends, and a new hat will be offered for bid each month leading up to the most exciting two minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby, held in 2012 on May 5th at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY.

Continue reading “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to The Derby” Online Auction of Kentucky Derby Hats Continues with a Chapeau Inspired by Breeders’ Cup Champion Prized

George H. Morris Clinic at Canterbury Farm Proves Inspirational for All

Photos By: Phelps Media Group, Inc.

Hampshire, IL – November 29, 2011 – World-renowned trainer, rider, and Chef d’Equipe of the United States Show Jumping Team, George H. Morris, conducted his annual clinic at Canterbury Farm over Thanksgiving weekend. Riders from across the nation gathered for the event to experience his expertise and invaluable knowledge first-hand. Chicago-based trainer Diane Carney of Telluride Farm, which is based out of Canterbury Farm, organized the entire event, and has for over twenty years.

A world-renowned horseman, Morris has played a crucial role, not only in the growth of countless prestigious horses and riders, but also in the development of the current equestrian sport. He has often been referred to as the “founding father” of hunt seat equitation. Second to none, his teachings, technique, and style are admired around the world. His clinics are a rare and exceptional opportunity for riders of all levels and ages to learn from the finest, and according to Morris, the clinic held at Canterbury Farm achieved just that.

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Charlie Jacobs and Leap of Joy Win Ericsson Grand Prix at CSIO-W Buenos Aires

Charlie Jacobs and Leap of Joy won the Ericsson Grand Prix at the CSIO-W Buenos Aires. Photo By: Haras El Capricho

Buenos Aires, Argentina – November 29, 2011 – Delaware North Companies and Boston Bruins Principal Charlie Jacobs had great success at the CSIO-W Buenos Aires in Argentina held November 23-27, 2011 at Haras El Capricho, The talented amateur rider won three classes for his family’s Deeridge Farm, including the Ericsson Grand Prix aboard Leap of Joy, and the Nissan International Speed Derby with Flaming Star. He traveled to the event as a member of the United States Show Jumping Team competing in the FEI Nations Cup, which eventually earned the fifth place honors.

On Sunday, Jacobs topped off a great week by claiming the victory in the Ericsson Grand Prix with Leap of Joy. The pair completed a clear first round, and was the first to return for the four-horse jump-off. Once again they left all the fences standing, setting the unbeatable pace at 43.77 seconds. Canada’s Angela Lawrence came the closest to catching Jacobs, finishing second after crossing the finish line without fault riding Utan. Their time of 44.84 seconds was over a second off of the winning pace set by Jacobs.

Continue reading Charlie Jacobs and Leap of Joy Win Ericsson Grand Prix at CSIO-W Buenos Aires

USEF to Send Full Team to the FEI Junior and Young Rider World Endurance Championship

Lexington, KY – For the first time the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will send a full team and support staff to the FEI Junior and Young Rider World Endurance Championship. The 120km race will run on December 10, 2011 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.  There will be over 35 countries represented by 150 riders between the ages of 14-21. The event is sponsored by HH Sheik Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nayan and organized by Adnan Al Nuaimi and his staff. The team and the traveling reserve horse named to the definite entry are as follows in ranked order:

Name (Age, Hometown)

Kelsey Russell (16, Williston, FL) on Valerie Kanavy’s Gold Raven
Gold Raven is a 10-year-old Arabian mare

Kelsey Kimbler (18, Aberdeen, SD) on Kirsten Kimbler’s Cody Canuck
Cody Canuck is a 14-year-old Arabian gelding

Steven Hay (21, Port Matilda, PA) on Natalie Muzzio’s Khalil Asam
Khalil Asam is a 10-year-old Arabian gelding

Kyle Gibbon (21, Kingsland, GA) on Stephen Rojek’s Misu Koran
Misu Koran is a 16-year-old Arabian gelding

Continue reading USEF to Send Full Team to the FEI Junior and Young Rider World Endurance Championship

Equine Therapy: A Cure for Affluenza? by Claire Dorotik

As sinuous advertisers and marketing consultants cleverly concocted strategies encouraging the masses to flock to their respective stores in droves and spend unheard-of amounts of money, merge with consumers’ unabated appetites for the latest and greatest gadget, device or fashionable gift, the result is a prime example of what authors John de Graaf, David Wann, Thomas H. Naylor and David Horsey so sagaciously dubbed “Affluenza”. As the title of their book (http://www.amazon.com/Affluenza-All-Consuming-Epidemic-Bk-Currents/dp/1576753573/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322271876&sr=8-1) suggests, affluenza is a method of describing America’s proclivity for overspending as an actual disease, and one akin to an addiction. The authors further state that, like any disease, affluenza comes with a host of symptoms, from depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol addiction, physical health problems, to a variety of stress-related conditions. Clearly, however, this disease is yet without a cure — that is unless you consider the current state of the economy a cure — and at the same time, one that desperately needs treatment. Is it possible then that equine therapy can be helpful in the treatment of affluenza?

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USEF Developing Dressage Clinic at Hassler Dressage at Riveredge

L-R Sharon McCusker on Wrigley, Jenny Van Wieren-Page, Debbie McDonald, Anne Gribbons and Stacey Parvey-Larson with Benidetto (Photo: Richard Malmgren)

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) ran a Developing Dressage Clinic with Debbie McDonald in Chesapeake City, MD at Hassler Dressage at Riveredge right before the Thanksgiving holiday.

McDonald, one of the most successful U.S. dressage riders in history, travelled from her Idaho home to this spectacular facility, which is the base for Hassler Dressage, to teach seven horse/rider combinations.  USEF Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons was also there to advise and observe.

Two of the horses who were very successful at the USEF National Dressage Championships this summer at Lamplight Equestrian Center showed continued progress in their training.

Sharon McCusker (Ashby, MA) rode Wrigley, who was third in the 2011 USEF National Developing Horse Dressage Championship (sponsored by the Dutta Corporation and Performance Sales International, PSI) and Silva Martin (West Grove, PA) rode Aesthete, who was third in the 6-year-old Championship at the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Championship.

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United States Places Fifth in FEI Nations Cup at CSIO-W Buenos Aires

U.S. rider Charlie Jacobs wins Ericsson Grand Prix with Leap of Joy

Charlie Jacobs and Leap of Joy won the Ericsson Grand Prix at the CSIO-W Buenos Aires. Photo By: Haras El Capricho

Buenos Aires, Argentina – November 28, 2011 – The United States Show Jumping Team finished fifth during the FEI Nations Cup at CSIO-W Buenos Aires in Argentina held November 25, 2011 at Haras El Capricho, with 29 faults. The Jumping team included Charlie Jacobs of Buffalo, NY, aboard Leap of Joy, Ali Wolff of New Albany, OH, with Blacklick Bend Farm’s Lanoo, Cara Anthony of Redmond, WA, riding Potcreek Partners, LLC’s Woodpecker de Villars, and Cara Raether of Bedford, NY, aboard Trelawny Farm’s Lyonell. Jacobs also won three individual classes, including the Ericsson Grand Prix with Leap of Joy and the Nissan International Speed Derby with Flaming Star.

Following a strong first round of competition, the United States Show Jumping Team, competing in the FEI Nations Cup at CSIO-W Buenos Aires on Friday, had to settle for a fifth place at the end of the day. Three of the U.S. horse and rider combinations, Jacobs and Leap of Joy, Anthony with Woodpecker de Villars and Raether on Lyonell, all had four faults in round one. The first round drop score was that of Lanoo and Wolff who had two knockdowns. The team total of 12 faults had the US squad sitting seven faults off the lead in third place following the first round of action.

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Swedish Riders Hold the Reins at the Top of Reem Acra Rankings

Lausanne (SUI), 28 November 2011 – Previously lying in equal-seventh position, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel has now moved into second place on the Western European League table following his superb victory with Toy Story in the third leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 series in Stockholm, Sweden yesterday.

His Swedish colleague, Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven, who was only 0.1 point behind Kittel’s winning score when filling runner-up spot yesterday, continues to head the leaderboard going into the next round at Olympia in London, Great Britain on 14 December.

Please find below the updated leaderboard.

Continue reading Swedish Riders Hold the Reins at the Top of Reem Acra Rankings

Kittel Wins Out in Super-Tight Battle in Stockholm

Patrik Kittel and Toy Story won the third leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series on their home turf in Stockholm, Sweden this afternoon. Photo: FEI/Roland Thunholm.

Stockholm (SWE), 27 November 2011 – Patrik Kittel headed up a Swedish one-two in the third leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 series in Stockholm, Sweden today.  But it was a close-fought affair as the 35-year-old rider and his 11 year old gelding, Toy Story, only pipped Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello by 0.1 of a percentage point, while Germany’s Isabell Werth (Warum Nicht FRH) and Helen Langehanenberg (Responsible) had to settle for third and fourth places respectively.

In a weekend full of interesting twists and turns, multiple champion Werth finished well down the line in seventh place in Saturday’s Grand Prix won by Vilhelmson-Silfven. And, adding to the litany of surprises, was a very pleasant one for Norway’s Siril Helljesen who steered her lovely mare, Dorina, into Grand Prix runner-up spot.

But Kittel’s latest Freestyle victory underlines his great strength in depth.  He has 13 Grand Prix-level horses now at the base in Muenster, Germany which he has been operating for the last 15 years.  “I’m very lucky to have so many right at the moment,” he said this afternoon. “Toy Story does not have a great amount of experience but he is very talented and he really took me by surprise today!” he pointed out.

Continue reading Kittel Wins Out in Super-Tight Battle in Stockholm

Exell Uncontested Winner in Stockholm

Boyd Exell (AUS), winner of the third FEI World Cup Driving 2011/2012 qualifier held in Stockholm (SWE) this weekend. ©Anna Vähäkuopus/FEI

Stockholm (SWE), 27 November 2011 – Triple FEI World Cup Driving Champion Boyd Exell (AUS) is the uncontested winner of the third FEI World Cup Driving competition of the season in Sweden’s capital Stockholm. Exell drove two fluent clear rounds and finished well ahead of wild card driver Tomas Eriksson (SWE) and IJsbrand Chardon (NED).

Practice rounds

After two ‘practice competitions’ in Hannover and Stuttgart where he competed with a wild card, Boyd collected his first World Cup points of the season. He began using a new horse this season to replace some of the older horses on his four-in-hand team. After two competitions and some good advice from the previous owner Jozsef Dobrovitz, the eight-year-old trotter Bajnok is now a reliable member of Boyd’s team.

Fire works

Boyd drove two impeccable rounds in the Globen Arena in Stockholm where the enthusiastic spectators contributed to a fantastic atmosphere. Sweden’s Dan Henriksson had challenged the drivers by designing a technical course with many different options. This resulted in a very exciting competition the highlight of which was the fireworks going off when the competitors crossed the finishing line on the bridge.

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