*Featured/Spotlights, Breeds, Community/Charity

Florida Horse Wins Martha Stewart’s Annual Halloween Photo Contest

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Aladdin and Peanut

Some exciting news at Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses.

Therapy horse Cloudburst (wearing his scarecrow costume and really carrying his basket) won Martha Stewart’s 2011 Halloween Photo Contest.  The photo was selected from over 500 national finalists.  We thought it was interesting last week that Martha Stewart was on Twitter talking about our therapy horses and posted our website information… now we know why.  Thank you Martha!

Cloudburst and his therapy horses’ friends have spent October doing hospital and hospice “Trick or Treating” in their Halloween costumes.  Being recognized by Martha Stewart was encouraging for our costume designer who makes and donates all of the costumes our horses use all year.  She is currently working on ‘50s sock hop outfits for our horses (with leather jackets and poodle skirts) for an upcoming dance marathon to benefit The Children’s Miracle Network.

Continue reading Florida Horse Wins Martha Stewart’s Annual Halloween Photo Contest →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Pan American Games

USA Wins Team Gold, Canada’s Phoenix Claims Individual Title

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Canada's Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti on their way to taking the Individual title in Eventing at the Pan-American Games. Photo: FEI/Anthony Trollope.

Lausanne (SUI), 25 October 2011 – American riders scooped Eventing Team gold in convincing fashion at the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico on Sunday when all five team-members sensationally completed on their Dressage scores.  But the USA had to settle for silver and bronze in the battle for the Individual title, as Canada’s Jessica Phoenix stood firm to capitalise on the advantage she had established in the Dressage arena last Friday.

It was a historic result for 28-year-old Phoenix, who hails from Uxbridge, Ontario as she is only the second Canadian rider ever to earn individual Eventing gold in the history of the Pan-American Games.  Riding the nine-year-old Westphalian gelding, Pavarotti, she set the target with a Dressage mark of 43.90 and never looked back.  A flawless Cross Country performance on Saturday was followed by another copybook round over the coloured poles on Sunday to clinch individual gold.  “It’s a dream come true,” she said afterwards.

PIVOTAL
The Dressage placings proved pivotal, as the top four all remained within that grouping, although America’s Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot improved from third to fill silver medal spot in the final analysis.  Team-mate, Bruce Davidson Jr., moved up from fourth to take the bronze at the expense of fellow-American Michael Pollard who narrowly missed a medal-placing with two fences down on the final afternoon.

Continue reading USA Wins Team Gold, Canada’s Phoenix Claims Individual Title →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Pan American Games, Show Jumping, USEF

The US Show Jumping Team Takes the Stage at 2011 Pan American Games

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Christine McCrea and Romanovich Take One (Photo: www.stockimageservices .com)

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – The U.S. Show Jumping Team will be looking to make it a Team Gold medal sweep at the 2011 Pan American Games after both the Dressage and Eventing topped the medal podium. They got off to a great start, presenting five fit and sound horses at the Jog. Under the guidance of Chef d’equipe George Morris and under the care of Veterinarian Dr. Tim Ober, farrier Todd Meister and physiotherapist Janus Marquis, all five horses were beautifully prepared by their grooms – and shone in the Mexican sunshine.

Listen to Dr. Ober discuss his role as the Team Veterinarian: http://usefnetwork.com/blogs/173/dr_tim_ober_on_his_role_as_jumping.aspx.

The U.S. Team arrived in Mexico with a mission: to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games.

They need to finish in the top three in the team competition of the teams that are NOT already qualified. Of the teams competing at the Pan American Games, both Brazil and Canada qualified at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Continue reading The US Show Jumping Team Takes the Stage at 2011 Pan American Games →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, FEI

FEI World Eventing Championships for Young Horses 2011 – Le Lion d’Angers (FRA)

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GERMANY’S JUNG AND BRITAIN’S KING TAKE THE TITLES by Louise Parkes

Michael Jung won the 6 Year Old title with the Hannoverian mare, Rocana FST. Photo: FEI/www.equi-photos.com

Lausanne (SUI), 24 October 2011 – Germany’s Michael Jung won the 6 Year Old title with the Hannoverian mare Rocana while Great Britain’s Kitty King claimed the 7 Year Old honours with the Dutch-bred mare Zidante at the 26th FEI World Eventing Championships for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Angers over the weekend. This specialist fixture is widely recognised for identifying the rising stars of the future. Proof of this is clear in the number of horses which progress from Mondial du Lion to produce results at European, World Championship and Olympic level. Frenchman Nicolas Touzaint is the most prolific winner in the history of the event having won six gold medals between 2000 and 2005, including the 6 year old championship in 2000 and the 7 year old championship in 2001 riding Galan de Sauvagère, his double individual European gold medal winning mount. Jung won the silver medal in both the 6 and 7 year old categories with his 2010 FEI World Eventing Championship ride La Biosthétique-Sam, and 2011 Lexington CCI4* winner, King’s Temptress ridden by Great Britain’s Mary King, is another Le Lion graduate.

The ‘Mondial du Lion’ has taken place every year since 1986 at the same venue – the Isle Briand Estate – and is always staged at the beginning of the French All Saints holidays. The winner of the inaugural fixture was the current coach of the French eventing team, Laurent Bousquet, on Jim Pam. That year 43 combinations lined out, a number which rose so rapidly it had to be capped at 110 by the FEI. The Championships have also proven increasingly popular with the public, with attendance figures rising from 5,000 in 1986 to a record 41,000 in 2009.

Continue reading FEI World Eventing Championships for Young Horses 2011 – Le Lion d’Angers (FRA) →

Championships, Competitions, Endurance Riding, Events, USEF

US Endurance Team Takes Home Three Medals at 2011 Pan American Endurance Championships

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Lexington, KY – The U.S. Endurance Team collected a historic number of medals at the 2011 Pan American Endurance Championships in Santo Domingo, Chile. Taking the Team Silver medal in a combined time of 19:05:19 was John Crandall III with Heraldic, Valerie Kanavy and Spectacular Gold and Deborah Reich and Pandor. Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Cadence were eliminated at the mandatory recheck at vet gate three. The team finished just one minute and 47 seconds behind the Gold medal team from Uruguay. The home team of Chile took the Team Bronze.

The veteran pair of Crandall and Heraldic completed the 120km course in 6:03:38 to win the Individual Silver medal. Finishing in 6:05:47, Kanavy and Spectacular Gold took the Individual Bronze. Riding for Uruguay, Bernardo Algorta won the Individual Gold in 5:59:27. Reich and Pandor finished in 6:55:54 to place tenth. Riding as an individual Cheryl Van Deusen and Moro Amado finished fifteenth.

The U.S. team led by Chef d’Equipe Emmett Ross, set a blazing pace in the first three loops and were the team to catch most of the day. With Sleeper’s elimination at vet gate three the riders implemented a different strategy for the fourth and fifth loops. This is the most medals the U.S. has collected at an international Endurance competition.

“We are very happy with the two Silver medals and one Bronze,” said Ross. “Our riders had a fabulous go at it, we are proud of what we did and more importantly how we did it.”

Awards, Community/Charity, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Training/Clinics, Wellington Classic Dressage

International Dressage Rider Oded Shimoni Wins BEST Rider Award from Personal Trainer Nick Tortora at Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge

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Oded Shimoni won the BEST Rider Award aboard Don Dueto at the Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge Show. Nick Tortora, founder and personal trainer at BEST, will present the award throughout the season. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (October 24, 2011) – International dressage rider Oded Shimoni, a trainer and coach to many of the top names in the dressage world, found himself in the winner’s circle during the Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. Shimoni won the USEF Fourth Level Test 1 aboard Don Dueto and also rode away with the BEST Rider Award. The BEST Award, which stands for Balanced Equestrian Strength Training, will give Shimoni the chance to work with personal trainer Nick Tortora, a Wellington based trainer who focuses on equestrian strength training.

Shimoni was pleased with his win on Don Dueto and said it was the seven-year-old stallion’s first time at a show. “He was great and did everything right,” Shimoni said. “He belongs to an owner in New Hampshire.  I have had him about 11 months and am really excited about him. I am also excited about winning the BEST award and look forward to working with Nick Tortora.”

Tortora, whose clients include McLain Ward and Caroline Roffman, helps riders become stronger, gives them an edge up on the competition and helps each rider move to the next level. “I help riders focus on movement and strengthening any movements they have which may be weak,” Tortora said. “When Oded comes for his free one-hour training session, which also includes a half-hour consultation as well, I will assess how his body moves and then we will work on strengthening his core which will in turn stabilize him on the horse and in day to day life.”

Continue reading International Dressage Rider Oded Shimoni Wins BEST Rider Award from Personal Trainer Nick Tortora at Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge →

Auctions, Benefits, Community/Charity, Dressage, Equestrian Aid Found., Equestrian Assistance, Phelps Media Group, Polo, Show Jumping, Western/Reining

The Equestrian Aid Foundation Announces the 2012 Sidelines Annual Equestrian Tetrathlon

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Wellington, FL – October 24, 2011 – The Equestrian Aid Foundation is pleased to announce the 2012 Sidelines Annual Equestrian Tetrathlon, Sunday, February 5, 2012. The second annual event will be held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Florida to benefit the Equestrian Aid Foundation. The event will feature the best of Palm Beach’s restaurant fare and cocktails as well as guest chefs preparing food that will entice your palette. The event will also include both live and silent auction items in tandem with exhilarating entertainment.

Bruce Duchossois and Scot Evans have dedicated their time as Co-chairs for the event to help raise awareness in the equestrian community and raise funds to assist those in need. The Tetrathlon will focus around a “Wild, Wild West” theme, the Gold Rush. The highlight of the evening will be the world-class horsemen and women in the greatest discipline switch to ever be anticipated. The four disciplines include dressage, reining, show jumping and polo.

“This is our major fundraiser for the year,” said Co-chair Duchossois. “This event brings all disciplines together to participate in the fundraiser and give back to the equestrian community.”

Continue reading The Equestrian Aid Foundation Announces the 2012 Sidelines Annual Equestrian Tetrathlon →

Breeds, Community/Charity, Events, Maclay, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Rescue/Protection Sources

ASPCA Celebrates Rescued Horses with Parade at Alltech National Horse Show

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Equine Welfare Ambassadors and World Class Riders Will Take Center Ring on November 6

LEXINGTON, KY — Sunday, November 6 has been officially designated as “ASPCA Day” at the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Ky. and to celebrate, the ASPCA is holding a parade of rescued horses that will be highlighted in the competition arena preceding the finals of the prestigious ASPCA Maclay National Championship competition.

The Alltech National Horse Show, 128th Edition, will run November 2-6, 2011, in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Horses from the Kentucky Horse Park Mustang Troup will begin the parade. These mustangs were once completely wild on the plains of North Dakota and were later rounded up and removed from their native land. Rescuers have since worked to rehabilitate and train them, and they are now much more accustomed to humans and have become trustworthy riding and performance horses.

Continue reading ASPCA Celebrates Rescued Horses with Parade at Alltech National Horse Show →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Endurance Riding, Events, FEI

Double-Gold for Uruguay and Chile at Pan-American Endurance Championships

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Uruguay’s Bernardo Algorta and Cacique claimed the Senior Individual title at the Pan-American Endurance Championships 2011 in Santo Domingo, Chile. Photo: FEI/Chilean NF

Lausanne (SUI), 24 October 2011 – Endurance riders from Uruguay claimed Team and Individual gold in the Senior division, while the host nation of Chile dominated the Young Riders classes at the 2011 Pan-American Endurance Championships staged in Santo Domingo (CHI) last weekend.  Bernardo Algorta registered an impressive average speed of 20 kilometres an hour with his horse, Cacique, to take the Senior title for Uruguay, while Chile’s Sebastian Taverne and Eclipse covered the challenging course at an average of 19.73 kmh to secure the Young Rider honours.

Attention to detail in the preparation of the venue and facilities in Santo Domingo drew high praise for the Organising Committee from competitors, officials, supporters and spectators alike.  But the highest accolade of all was heaped on by Chile’s President, Sebastian Pinera, who attended the event and said that it provided “a great boost to Chile and to South America in general.”

ENTHUSIASTS
The history of Endurance in Chile dates back to a visit by a group of enthusiasts to the FEI World Championships at Fort Riley in Kansas, USA back in 1996.  On returning home they introduced the discipline to their native country, and began to organise races over distances of between 40 and 80 kilometres.  Chilean competitors who rose to prominence during the early years included Marcial Taverne, Antonio Llompart, Alejandro Donoso, Marcelo Cortes and Ignacio Urenda.

Continue reading Double-Gold for Uruguay and Chile at Pan-American Endurance Championships →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Pan American Games, Show Jumping, USEF

Jumping Clear Rounds Win Individual Medals at 2011 Pan American Games

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Hannah Burnett (Silver), Jessica Phoenix (Gold) and Buck Davidson (Bronze). Shannon Brinkman Photo.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Immaculate jumping won Individual eventing medals at the 2011 Pan American Games – and the top three horses were beautifully ridden over three days. Canadian Jessica Phoenix held onto her dressage lead, adding nothing to her winning score of 43.9 with Don Good’s Pavarotti.  She had the Team Gold medal-winning Americans chasing her all weekend, and after the last fence was jumped, she shared the medal podium with two of them.  Hannah Burnett and Harbour Pilot won Silver and Buck Davidson on Absolute Liberty won Bronze.

Read about the Gold-medal Team effort here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/news/7769/2011/10/23/historic_team_gold_medal_for_us_e.aspx.

Burnett (The Plains, VA) rode with determination far beyond her 25 years on Jacqueline Mars’ 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Harbour Pilot. They were third after the dressage on a score of 45.2, jumped a foot-perfect round on Saturday in the cross country and then cemented her medal with two clear rounds in the show jumping. Burnett’s teammate Michael Pollard (Dalton, GA) jumped a terrific clear on Schoensgreen Hanni in the first round, only to have two rails in the Individual round and drop to fourth place.

Continue reading Jumping Clear Rounds Win Individual Medals at 2011 Pan American Games →

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