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

Minderhoud Wins Reem Acra Opening Round in Odense

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The Netherlands' Hans Peter Minderhoud and IPS Tango won the opening leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Odense, Denmark today. Photo: FEI/Ridehesten.com

Odense (DEN), 23 October 2011 – Dutch rider, Hans Peter Minderhoud, was in reflective mood after winning the opening leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Odense, Denmark this afternoon with the 11 year old chestnut stallion, IPS Tango.  He has his sights firmly set on a place at the series final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands next April along with a spot at the London Olympic Games, but he knows he has a lot of work to do to get there.

It is a very different story for the Dutchman who enjoyed such a long and fruitful partnership with the great mare, Exquis Nadine, who was retired during the FEI European Dressage Championships in Rotterdam this summer.  He is now working with a horse that is something of a “work in progress” rather than super-experienced, but he was delighted with his result today.  “I’m not surprised that he won,” the Dutchman said afterwards. “My horse is in good shape, even yesterday when we finished third in the Grand Prix.  He is really coming along,” he added.

RESPONSIBLE
Runner-up was Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg with the aptly-named Responsible, while yesterday’s Grand Prix winner, Tinne Vilhelmsson Silfven from Sweden, slotted into third with Don Auriello.  “He is only nine years old and in his first year competing in Grand Prix,” she said of her horse.  “Perhaps he was a bit tired compared with yesterday, but I am very pleased with third place,” the Swedish rider added.

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

Historic Team Gold Medal for US Eventing Team at the 2011 Pan American Games

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The U.S. Eventing Team Wins the Team Gold Medal

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – In an unprecedented effort, the U.S. Eventing Team stormed to Team Gold at the 2011 Pan American Games in classic style. All five team members added nothing to their dressage scores, to finish on 138.6 – a feat never before achieved in a Team Eventing Championship.

After winning the dressage, they jumped five spectacular clear rounds on Saturday’s cross-country course, for the first time in anyone’s memory and then sealed the victory at Club Hippica with double-clear show jumping.

“I would like to give a really special congratulations to my team,” said Chef d’Equipe Mark Phillips. “Five people finishing on their dressage score – that’s never been done before in the history of our sport.”

Anchored by Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL), who led the way on Absolute Liberty as the pathfinder for the U.S. Team – he set a standard that the entire team maintained for three days. It was a truly phenomenal effort and all four of them finished within eight points of each other.

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

First FEI World Cup Driving Points for IJsbrand Chardon

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IJsbrand Chardon (NED), winner of the first FEI Word Cup Driving 2011/2012 qualifier held in Hannover (GER) this weekend. © Rinaldo de Craen/FEI

Hannover (GER), 23 October 2011 – IJsbrand Chardon (NED) won the first FEI World Cup Driving competition of the season held in Hannover, Germany, this weekend. His compatriot Koos de Ronde finished second, ahead of Tomas Eriksson (SWE) who was struck by fate in the winning round.

Misfortune
Second starter in the winning round Tomas Eriksson was well on his way to putting Chardon under serious pressure, driving his team of Swedish warm blood horses very fast, when fate struck. In the corner just before the last gate, Tomas’s left leader horse slipped and fell down. His right leader horse and his left wheeler horse also fell down which forced Tomas to stop. With the very fast help from his fellow competitors and his grooms, Tomas’s horses got back up and were lead out of the arena without major injuries.

Safe round
Chardon knew he had an advantage of nearly 10 seconds over Koos de Ronde when he entered the arena. The four-time world champion drove a fast but safe round and secured his first victory of the season despite one knock down. Chardon is competing with his team of Lipizzaner horses for the third season and feels they are getting better at every competition.

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

US Eventing Team Extends Lead at 2011 Pan American Games

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Hannah Burnett and Harbour Pilot (Photo: Shannon Brinkman)

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – The five riders on the U.S. Eventing Team travelled to the Santa Sofia Country Club and impressively extended their lead at the Pan American Games. All five produced fault-free rounds over John Williams’ cross country track adding nothing to their 138.6 team total from dressage. They head into Sunday’s show jumping phase nearly 22 points clear of the second-placed Canadian team. Dressage Leader Jessica Phoenix of Canada still leads the individual standings with a score of 43.9 on Pavarotti, but the U.S. occupies five of the top six positions.

The first combination on course for the U.S. squad, Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Absolute Liberty, set the tone for the day by making easy work of the track, adding no penalties. Davidson, son of World and Pan American Games champion Bruce Davidson, added to his own legacy by guiding Shannon Will’s 8-year-old mare to a double clear round despite riding with one stirrup on the last section of the course after his right stirrup broke.

“She was amazing every place she needed to look after me she did,” said Davidson. “What more could you ask of her? She did everything like it was a training level.”

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

US Eventing Team Leads 2011 Pan American Games after Dressage

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Michael Pollard and Schoensgreen Hanni Lead the U.S. Eventers (Photo: Shannon Brinkman)

Guadalajara, Mexico – The U.S. Eventing Team got their competition off to a strong start in the dressage phase at the 2011 Pan American Games, cruising to the lead by more than nine points. The top three riders’ scores from each team count, so the United States goes forward to Saturday’s cross country on a score of 138.6 penalties. Canada is second on a combined total of 147.4 and Brazil sits third on 162.7. Canadian Jessica Phoenix leads the pack individually with a score of 43.9 on Pavarotti – but the U.S. has four riders in the top five and all five riders in the top 10.

Best for the U.S. was Schoensgreen Hanni and Michael Pollard (Dalton, GA) who made a lovely impression in the ring at Club Hippica, and put forward a very credible effort to score 44.5. Owned by Pollard’s wife Nathalie, the 8-year-old German Sport Horse mare didn’t make any mistakes for Pollard and they cruised into second place.

“I was really pleased,” said Pollard. “She presented exactly what we’ve been working on with no major mistakes – maybe a couple of things I would like to do a little bit better, but I thought all in all she did a good test today. She’s a horse that can do the other phases as well, so it should be a good weekend.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Dressage, Driving, Endurance Riding, EQUUS Foundation, Eventing/H.T., National Horse Show, Para-Equestrian, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping, USEF, Vaulting, Western/Reining

Who Will Be Inducted into the America’s Favorite Equestrian Hall of Fame? Voting Closes on October 31st!

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WESTPORT, CT – October 21, 2011 – Who Will Be Inducted into the America’s Favorite Equestrian Hall of Fame? Voting ends on October 31, 2011. America’s Favorite Equestrians will be selected based on the athletes with the highest number of votes recorded in each of the eight disciplines.

The announcement will be made at the America’s Favorite Equestrian Victory Celebration on Friday, November 4, 2011, at 9:30 p.m., at the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky.

This is it! Keep Voting! All it takes is a $5 gift to The EQUUS Foundation to insure that your favorite is America’s favorite. Click here to see the equestrian entries and to vote.

For information on The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., visit the EQUUS website at www.equusfoundation.org or contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at (203) 259-1550 or equus@equusfoundation.org.

Continue reading Who Will Be Inducted into the America’s Favorite Equestrian Hall of Fame? Voting Closes on October 31st! →

Equine Assisted Therapy, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping, Training/Clinics

Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center to Host Annual George H. Morris Educational Seminar in November

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Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center will host George Morris at their Buffalo, NY, facility to teach an educational seminar this November. Photo © Kenneth Kraus

Buffalo, NY – October 21, 2011 – The Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BTRC) is pleased to announce their annual educational clinic with the renowned George H. Morris will be taking place the weekend of November 11, 12, and 13, 2011. Held at the BTRC facility in Buffalo, NY, the opportunity to partake in this event will be open to three groups of eight riders (Intermediate, Advanced, Jumper), as well as auditors seeking to gain knowledge from the esteemed Morris through observation. Spots are available for auditors at $75 per person per day or $200 for all three days. Applications for auditing are available by contacting the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center at (716) 877-9295.

A legendary horseman and current Chef d’Equipe of the United States Show Jumping Team, Morris has played an integral role, not only in the development of countless renowned 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 revered around the world. Over the course of his career, Morris has been highly successful as a rider, coach, clinician, author, and judge. His insight and guidance are invaluable to anyone looking to further their riding skills, whether as a participant or as an auditor. The clinic will focus as much on horsemanship as it does on riding, offering attendees firsthand knowledge for success.

The daily clinic schedule will include the first group of intermediate riders from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., followed by advanced riders from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The final group of jumper/demo riders will commence at 2:30 and run until 4:30 p.m.

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Events, National Horse Show, Phelps Media Group, Symposiums, Training/Clinics

Rood & Riddle to Hold Sport Horse Educational Symposium during 2011 Alltech National Horse Show

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Lexington, KY – October 21, 2011 – Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital will hold an educational symposium for horsemen on sport horse health entitled “Achieving Peak Performance – A Whole Horse Approach” on Thursday, November 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. The seminar will be held in the North Exhibit Hall of the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, and will be free to ticket holders for Alltech National Horse Show events on that evening.

The symposium will highlight a range of veterinary topics impacting sport horses of all disciplines and levels. Talks will include “How Dentistry Affects Performance” by Brad Tanner, DVM; “Neck and Back Dysfunction” by Alex Emerson, DVM; “Hind Limb Pain and the Use of Stem Cells” by Scott Hopper, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS and partner at Rood & Riddle; “Shoeing for Performance” by Vern Dryden, DVM, CJF and “Nutritional Supplements for Sport Horses” by Steve Elliott, Global Product Director at Alltech. The symposium will be moderated by Chris Newton, DVM, partner at Rood & Riddle.

Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital is the official veterinarian, farrier and pharmacy of the Alltech National Horse Show, which is making its first appearance in Lexington, Kentucky this year. The 128-year-old show features a number of prestigious hunter and jumper classes, including the Double H Farm $75,000 International Grand Prix on the evening of the symposium.

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

Eventing Set to Begin at 2011 Pan American Games

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Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot (Photo: Shannon Brinkman)

Guadalajara, Mexico – The U.S. Eventing Team presented five horses at the First Horse Inspection of the 2011 Pan American Games and all were accepted without incident. The United States drew fourth position, but of the three countries drawn ahead only Venezuela has a complete team; therefore American Buck Davidson and Absolute Liberty will be second in the ring in Friday’s dressage.

All five horses looked sharp, and the Ground Jury of Wayne Quarles (USA), Janine Rohr (ARG) and Alain James (FRA) passed them as fit and ready to contest the CCI2* level competition. Under the care of Chef d’Equipe Capt. Mark Phillips, veterinarian Dr. Brendan Furlong and farrier Stephen Teichman, the U.S. Team presented a strong and fit looking group of horses.

Listen to what Dr. Furlong had to say about the squad: http://www.usefnetwork.com/blogs/170/dr_brendan_furlong_on_the_eventing.aspx.

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Dressage, Jane Savoie, Training/Clinics

Motivation from Moshi 79, by Jane Savoie

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Who are you? Who are you, REALLY?

Being who you really are is not an easy task. I’m a Friesian, born in Holland, and imported to the USA. I’m different from most horses in that I have feathered legs. Some of the horses at the barn tease me about it, calling me an old work horse. It used to bother me, but then I heard Jane say something really important…

Those who matter don’t mind, and those who mind don’t matter.

When I was a youngster, I hoped that Jane would shave off my feathers so I would fit in with all the Warmbloods at my barn. I’d hide my legs behind the low bushes or stand behind the water trough when new horses came in. I didn’t want them to see that I was “different.”

As I matured, I realized that being different was actually the norm. Everyone has something that’s a little out of the ordinary. It was silly for me to be shy about other horses seeing my feathers. So, I made a conscious decision to accept myself for who and what I am. I decided to show off my hairy legs instead of hide them. And you know what? It didn’t change how my friends thought of me one bit. And they’re the ones that matter to me.

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