Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Para-Equestrian, USEF

Wentz Leads 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships

September 18, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Wentz499 — Jonathan Wentz and NTEC Richter Scale. Photo: Lindsay Yosay McCall 2011.

Saugerties, NY – A blast of autumn greeted riders on the second day of 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships as temperatures dropped to near 40 degrees overnight. The cool weather did not stop the best Para-Equestrian competitors in the U.S. from achieving strong scores in their Freestyles. Competitors from the five different grades (athletes are graded based on the severity of their disability) of Para-Equestrian Dressage are vying for the National Championship title.

Jonathan Wentz, a member of the Kentucky Equine Research U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Team at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, heads the field in the National Championship with his WEG partner, NTEC Richter Scale.

Wentz (Richardson, TX), who has two rides in the Grade 1b division, used the experience he gained last year in Kentucky. He rode his coach Kai Handt’s NTEC Richter Scale to a score of 71.515% in Friday’s Team Test, which counts for 40% of the overall score, and produced an eye-catching Freestyle today to score 71%. Wentz will try to maintain his lead tomorrow’s finale, the Individual Test.

Wentz found that his experience at last year’s WEG has served him well: “You know what the judges are looking for,” he said. “At WEG I learned how to fight for it and read the judges’ sheets and work on what they were looking for.”

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Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group

Grace Weidner Wins USEF Talent Search at Buffalo International Horse Show with Serato

September 18, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Weidner006166 — Grace Weidner dominated the jumpers divisions at the Buffalo International Horse Show, posting all double-clear efforts and practically untouchable target times. Photo © 2011 Kendall Bierer/PMG.

Buffalo, NY – September 16, 2011 – Competitors of the 65th Buffalo International Horse Show were greeted by a brisk morning as the hunter classes began. Today commenced the third day of the prestigious horse show, full of horse and rider combinations competing to win top honors and prize money in their respective divisions. The morning divisions featured the $1,000 “Full Monty” Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic, where Penelope Ayers aboard Cezanne took the top honors. The $500 “Shogun” Adult Hunter Classic also featured gifted pairs, but it was Kelly Campbell aboard MI Shebeirach, who finished with a score of 147, winning the champion tricolor and cash prize. Grace Weidner dominated the jumpers classes during the afternoon, posting all double-clear efforts and practically untouchable target times.

The morning commenced with the 3’6″ Amateur-Owner Hunter division. Kelly Jones and her mount, O So Soxy, impressed the judges, claiming the first place ribbon during the first round and the second place ribbon during the classic round. The talented duo not only won the championship award for the division, but they were also announced as the overall Amateur-Owner Grand Champion. Penelope Ayers and her mount Cezanne were named the reserve champion for the division, finishing their second course with the class high total of 85 points.

Jennifer Gurney rode The Other Brother to the top honors during the Low Amateur-Owner 3’3″ class, and combined with yesterday’s consistent rounds, the pair also earned the championship award. Lauren Engle aboard Shannon Pride claimed the reserve tricolor.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

FEI European Jumping Championships 2011 Day 3

September 17, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

FEI TV commentator Steve Hadley & Irish international Jumping rider Cian O’Connor sum up today’s amazing action at the FEI European Jumping Championships in Madrid, Spain on FEI YouTube Channel: http://goo.gl/ccphY.

GERMANY MAKES IT A MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, by Louise Parkes

GermanTeam_EJC11kh_0663 — Carsten-Otto Nagel, Marco Kutscher, Chef d'Equipe Otto Becker, Janne-Frederike Meyer and Ludger Beerbaum. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Madrid (ESP), 16 September 2011 – Germany scooped team gold for the seventh time in the history of the FEI European Jumping Championships with a superb final-day performance at the Club de Campo in Madrid, Spain today. As the overnight leaders from The Netherlands faltered, eventually dropping to a disappointing fourth, the Germans flexed their not-inconsiderable muscle with three great clear rounds to snatch the title, while France moved up to seize silver and the British claimed the bronze.

An Olympic qualifying spot was some compensation to the Dutch who always looked like taking one of the three coveted spots available to non-qualified nations and, following a game of fluctuating fortunes today, it will be Switzerland and Sweden who will join them in London next summer. The Spanish also became contenders as the competition progressed, but their chances faded, as did those of the Irish whose only possibility of representation now lies in the Olympic rankings list.

DEMONSTRATION OF SOLIDARITY
The day began with a demonstration of solidarity in the sport as, following agreement by all concerned, the water fence which caused so many faults yesterday, was altered. The grey wall used in the first round was replaced with the darker frontage that had been used for the opening speed competition.

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Championships, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

FEI European Jumping Championships 2011 Day 4

September 17, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

DOUBLE GOLD WOULD BE PERFECT EARLY BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR NAGEL

Madrid (ESP), 17 September 2011 – Carsten-Otto Nagel is the man of the moment in Madrid. The 48-year-old already has a team gold medal in his back pocket after yesterday’s German victory at the FEI European Jumping Championships and, as leader of the individual rankings, he’s hoping to make that double gold here at the Club de Campo de Villa Madrid tomorrow.

Nagel will celebrate his 49th birthday next Friday, and what better present could there be than two European gold medals to add to the team gold from last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games that’s already in his collection.

There were five no-shows for this morning’s second horse inspection, most notably Pilar Lucrecia Cordón, best-placed of the Spanish in 12th overnight. Nuage Bleu has a minor leg injury and there was no question of risking the 10-year-old gelding over two big courses tomorrow. But the home side still has Julio Arias and Jarnac to cheer on and the Spanish rider’s fan club is sure to be out in force in the glorious Club de Campo showgrounds tomorrow afternoon.

Others who decided to give their horses a longer lie-in this morning were the three Belgians, Jos Lansink (Cavalor Valentina van’t Heike, Gregory Wathelet (Copin van de Broy) and world champion Philippe le Jeune (Vigo d’Arsouilles STX), as well as Italy’s Natale Chiaudani (Almero 12).

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Para-Equestrian, USEF

United States Para-Equestrians Excel at the 2011 Fall Festival of Dressage CPEDI3*

September 17, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Jordan57 — Mary Jordan (Grade IV) and Sebastian. Photos © Lindsay Yosay McCall

Saugerties, NY – September 16, 2011 – At 7:30 a.m. Friday morning it was a brisk but beautiful 46 degrees at the 2011 NEDA Fall Festival of Dressage and 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships. Twenty-four Para-Equestrians competed in the CPEDI3* with riders from U.S.A., Ireland, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda. Grade Ia, Ib, II, and III were dominated by United States riders. James Dwyer of Ireland and his horse Orlando earned the Grade IV win. With the tough competition of the CPEDI3* and the National Championships hanging over the United States Para-Equestrians, the U.S.A still excelled over the rest. It may be September, but these riders are preparing and building their team for 2012 when London hosts the 2012 Paralympics.

Friday’s competition for the CPEDI3* consisted of the same scoring style as the Paralympics, the Team and Individual score of each team rider will be combined and averaged. The lowest averaged number will be dropped from each team’s score and a final tally will be conducted. The 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship scores are calculated with the team competition representing 40% of the total score, Saturday’s Freestyle representing 20% followed by Sunday’s Individual classes earning the last 40%. For many equestrians, this is a weekend not about scores but about first time rides, first time shows, and first time travels.

Dale Dedrick a retired Orthopedic Surgeon from Ann Arbor, Michigan is a brand new rider to Para-Equestrian Dressage. In Friday’s Team competition she earned the top score of 70.079% in Grade II. Dedrick was happy with Bonifatius’ progress and performance for his first day out. She noted, “Bonifatius is a great horse and he has phenomenal gates. The test today was not my best test but it was a good test.” Since being introduced to the Para-Equestrian world Dedrick has utilized a training program that fits her inability to tolerate a lot of activity for a duration of time. She explained, “Since I have a pacemaker, I can’t tolerate a lot of activity. Therefore, I ride in short bursts and walk for a length of time. Those long walks on the bit have increased my horse’s back strength, endurance, and it has overall helped both of us.”

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Championships, Competitions, Events, HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Lindsay Lynch Captures the Adult Working Hunter Championship at the Marshall & Sterling League National Final

September 17, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Lynchms_day2_adultworkinghunter_jump2 — ©ESI Photography. Lindsay Lynch and Bethany Greskovich’s Brother Bear captured the blue ribbon in Thursday's $1,250 Adult Working Hunter at the 2011 Marshall & Sterling League National Finals.

SAUGERTIES, NY (September 17, 2011) – On a beautiful and sunny Friday morning, 30 qualified riders took to the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, NY to compete for the Marshall & Sterling Adult Working Hunter Championship. In the end, Lindsay Lynch and Bethany Greskovich’s Brother Bear stood in the winner’s circle to accept the honors.

Lynch, of Medford, New Jersey, was one of 30 competitors who competed in the Adult Hunter Division over courses designed by Jerry Dougherty of Bokeelia, Florida. She earned the Championship prize after capturing the first-place victory in Thursday’s $1,250 Adult Working Hunter and finishing fourth in the Adult Working Hunter Under Saddle.

“Bear is a great horse,” said Lynch. “He really put it all out there this week and jumped his little heart out. Despite being a little fresh this week, he knows how to put on a cute little face for the judge when he walks in the ring.”

Lynch has been a Marshall & Sterling competitor for several years. “I’ve been showing in the League for a few years now and I always enjoy coming to the National Finals. It’s nice to have the spotlight in the Grand Prix Ring and winning the Championship was a very good way to finish up before we head to the Zone II Finals.”

Reserve Champion honors went to Kelly Champion of Washington, New Jersey who finished second in both the Under Saddle and Friday’s Hunter Stake aboard her own All In.

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

Daniel Geitner Dominates the Opening Days of the Aiken Fall Festival II

September 17, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

GeitnerDSC_5905Zodoro — Zo Doro and Daniel Geitner. Pictures - Shawn McMillen Photography

September 17th, 2011 ~ Week II of the 2011 Aiken Fall Festival is well underway and while the cooler temps of Fall have arrived the action in the show rings is heating up. One of the busiest riders on the show grounds Aiken, SC resident rider Daniel Geitner started his week of right by capturing the $5,000 Open Welcome Jumper Stake on Ann Ritter’s Jumbo Jet on Thursday evening out on the grass field. J. F. Gagne’s Gagne International sponsored a pizza party under the VIP tent during the class for spectators and exhibitors to enjoy.

Geitner continued his winning ways on Friday dominating the hunter divisions by capturing the Green Working Hunter championship on Robin Hugh’s Zo Doro, the reserve championship on Paige Wilson’s Best Foot Forward and the High Performance Hunter Championship on Mrs. Janet Peterson’s Damocles. Damocles and Geitner also garnered the At A Glance Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Grand Champion Hunter with the highest number of points accumulated in the working divisions throughout the two week show series. The pair and owner Janet Peterson received a custom cooler donated by Integrity Fine Equestrian Linens and their name engraved on the perpetual trophy.

Other championships awarded on Friday included:

*Performance Working Hunter 3’3 – Callatos owned by Willoughby Stables and ridden by Bruce Christin
*Pre Green Hunter 3′ – Edisto owned by Betsy Fauntleroy and ridden by Elena Portu
*Pre Green Hunter 3’3 – Marksmann owned by Marilla Van Beuren and ridden by Liza Boyd
*Baby Green Hunter – Summerton owned by Thomas Rogers and ridden by Liza Boyd

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Championships, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Show Jumping

Portuguese Horse Coltaire Z Withdrawn from FEI European Jumping Championships

September 16, 2011 Associate Editor 1 Comment

Madrid (ESP), 16 September 2011 – The Portuguese have withdrawn Coltaire Z (Frutuoso de Melo) from today’s team final at the FEI European Jumping Championships in Madrid (ESP) for veterinary reasons. The 14-year-old stallion, which was in 36th place in the individual standings, has a leg injury.

The Portuguese team was lying in 10th place overnight and had earned a place in today’s top-10 team final, but as Portugal had fielded a team of only three horses, Coltaire Z’s withdrawal means that the Portuguese have now had to pull out of today’s team final.

Winningmood (Luciana Diniz), in 10th overnight, and Maestro St Lois (Joao Mota), in 35th, will both jump in today’s competition as individuals.

Under FEI Rules for Jumping Championships and Olympic Games, the withdrawal of one of the top 10 teams does not allow for a replacement team to be promoted into the team final.

Italian chef d’equipe Stefano Scaccabarozzi put in a written request to the Ground Jury asking for permission for the 11th-placed Italian team to compete in today’s team final. This request was considered by the Ground Jury under Article 326.3.2 in Chapter II (Continental Championships) of the Rules for Jumping Championships and Olympic Games. The Rules state that round two of the team competition (the team final) “is open only to the 10 best placed teams and those teams equal on penalties for 10th place after round one of the team competition.”

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Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Pan American Games

Dressage Rider Endel Ots and Toscano Named as Alternates to the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games

September 16, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Gladstone, NJ (September 16, 2011) – Dressage rider Endel Ots rode away from the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions with a successful Small Tour under his belt, as well as being named the alternate for the U.S. Dressage Team at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Ots competed Kristin and Steve Cooper’s KWPN gelding Toscano at Gladstone, where the 25-year-old rider held his own against veterans Steffen Peters, Heather Blitz and Cesar Parra.

“The whole weekend was really wonderful. I am very honored and excited to be an alternate. Anne Gribbons told me that both she and Steffen were alternates at one time, and then they made the team in later competitions,” Ots said. “It has been my dream to be part of a team and represent my country in international competition. I am so lucky to have the horse that I’m riding and to have such a great team that stands behind me including my trainer Lars Petersen, Toscano’s owners Kristin and Steve Cooper, Melissa Taylor, Caroline Roffman, my dad and so many others. I owe them the credit.”

Ots and Toscano, or Teddy as he is called, placed fifth at Gladstone in the FEI Intermediaire I Test with a score of 71.053%. The highly respectable placing came in a class dominated by Peters, Blitz and Parra, who will all compete for the U.S. in the Pan Am Games along with Marissa Festerling. “Teddy was super for every ride at Gladstone. I had some mistakes in the Prix. St. George but they were all mine. I got a little too excited in my aids and Teddy made some mistakes. In the Intermediaire I was much more calm. I wanted to show what Teddy could do and it was nice because every judge said ‘the horse and rider in great harmony’,” Ots said, adding that he had a few highlights at the show. “One was when we came out of the ring after our Intermediaire ride Lars said ‘good job’ and that really meant a lot to me.”

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Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Diana de Rosa, Media/Radio/TV Sources, Webinars

Healthy Horse Tip – What to Do When the Panic Is On!

September 16, 2011 Associate Editor 1 Comment

Hurricane, Fire, Toxicity, Infectious Disease: KAM’s Next FREE Webinar – September 26, 2011

September 1, 2011 — KAM’s Equine Learning Circle FREE webinars have covered numerous topics such as gut health, feed and supplements, teeth, joints, worming, fungus and so much more. The response has been extremely positive with lots more to come. The next webinar on September 26 will focus on preparing for an emergency situation. Take a moment now and sign up for this next free webinar by going to www.kamanimalservices.com.

In this webinar the panelists will talk about infectious disease, hurricane evacuation, fire and smoke, environmental toxicity and biosecurity. When we are faced with any of these situations it’s critical that we be prepared for the “worst.” This webinar will guide you through the steps you need to take to be prepared.

Title: When the Panic Is On – What to Do!
Date: Monday, September 26, 2011
Time: 5:30 PM PST, 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM CST, 8:30 PM EST

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Horses in the South – An Equine News Publisher

Wentz Leads 2011 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships

Grace Weidner Wins USEF Talent Search at Buffalo International Horse Show with Serato

FEI European Jumping Championships 2011 Day 3

FEI European Jumping Championships 2011 Day 4

United States Para-Equestrians Excel at the 2011 Fall Festival of Dressage CPEDI3*

Lindsay Lynch Captures the Adult Working Hunter Championship at the Marshall & Sterling League National Final

Daniel Geitner Dominates the Opening Days of the Aiken Fall Festival II

Portuguese Horse Coltaire Z Withdrawn from FEI European Jumping Championships

Dressage Rider Endel Ots and Toscano Named as Alternates to the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2011 Pan American Games

Healthy Horse Tip – What to Do When the Panic Is On!

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