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

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 – Round 7, Olympia

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Great Britain's Michael Whitaker produced a sensational round against the clock with GIG Amai to win the seventh leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series at Olympia in London today. Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI.

EMOTIONAL MICHAEL WHITAKER WINS COVETED OLYMPIA CROWN by Louise Parkes

London GBR, 19 December 2010 – Emotion ran high as Great Britain’s Michael Whitaker celebrated his spectacular victory in today’s seventh leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series at Olympia in London.  The 50 year old Yorkshire-born rider was almost speechless with delight after seeing off a class field that included second-placed Irishman Billy Twomey and World No. 1 Kevin Staut from France who had to settle for third.  Whitaker choked back the tears in a post-competition TV interview – “The draw had a lot to do with it,” he said modestly, but this did little justice to the skill with which he steered his 10 year old gelding home to an explosion of applause from the ecstatic home crowd.

“The best man won here today,” declared Twomey, whose former mentor, Whitaker, has watched the Irishman steadily climb up the rankings this season.  “They say form is temporary, but class is permanent!” Twomey added, paying the ultimate compliment to the man who started him on his road to success.

UNDER-ESTIMATED
Course designer Guilherme Jorge from Brazil admitted that he had under-estimated the quality of today’s 37-strong field.  “I don’t build very often here in Europe and I know the level of the competition is very high – I should have built bigger.  The jumping here has been really amazing,” he said.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12760

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Equestrian Assistance, EQUUS Foundation, Events, Fundraisers, Phelps Media Group

Tiffany & Co. of Palm Beach Gardens to Host Equestrian Idol to Benefit The EQUUS Foundation

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Hillary Dobbs and Lou Dobbs at the 2010 Equestrian Idol event in Wellington, Florida.

WESTPORT, CT – December 19, 2010 – The EQUUS Foundation is pleased to welcome Tiffany & Co. Palm Beach Gardens as the Title Sponsor for its upcoming Equestrian Idol “All Stars” Musical Cabaret on Friday, February 4, 2011, in Wellington, Florida.

Founded in 1837 in New York City by Charles Lewis Tiffany, Tiffany & Co. has a rich heritage filled with celebrated events, artists and milestones that live on today in legendary style. Tiffany’s contributions have beautifully graced major events of the past two centuries.

“We participated in the 2010 event and are thrilled to become even more involved in 2011,” said Rebecca Brewer, Director of Tiffany & Co. Palm Beach Gardens. “The event is unique, fun, and raises funds to educate the public on the important role horses play in our everyday lives, not just in the competitive arena.”

Continue reading Tiffany & Co. of Palm Beach Gardens to Host Equestrian Idol to Benefit The EQUUS Foundation →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, HITS, Show Jumping, USEF

HITS Desert Circuit to Host Three Qualifying Events for EY-Cup’s New Super Final

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©Flying Horse Photography. Lucy Davis and True Love on course in the $25,000 California Horsetrader Junior/ Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic High at the 2010 HITS Desert Circuit.

THERMAL, CA (December 17, 2010) — HITS, Inc. is pleased to announce that the 2011 Desert Circuit in Thermal, California will host three qualifying events for the 2011 European Youngster Cup Jumper Series’ new Super Final, which will be held in Leipzig, Germany during the FEI World Cup Finals this coming April.

The European Youngster Cup, also known as the EY-Cup, is a series for ambitious, top young riders born after January 1, 1985 that culminates in a Finals held each December in Germany. This is the first time that riders will have the opportunity to compete at a Super Final during FEI World Cup Finals and the first time that the United States will host qualifiers for the event.

The United States Equestrian Federation has just finalized the qualifying specifications for this highly-popular international show jumping event and has selected HITS Thermal to produce one of the four qualified North American riders that will be eligible to compete at the EY-Cup Super Final.

Continue reading HITS Desert Circuit to Host Three Qualifying Events for EY-Cup’s New Super Final →

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, USEF, Western/Reining

Flarida Is NRHA’s First Four Million Dollar Rider

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Shawn Flarida riding Wimpys Little Chic in the $100,000 added NRHA World Championship Shootout. NRHA/Waltenberry

Oklahoma City, OK – December 16, 2010 – Just two short years ago, Shawn Flarida became the National Reining Horse Association’s first Three Million Dollar Rider with earnings accumulated at the 2008 NRHA Futurity. History repeated itself when the gates closed on the 2010 NRHA Futurity and the results were announced. With rides in the finals aboard Quistador (owned by Augustine and Gaynia Revenberg) and Shine Chic Shine (owned by Amabile & Strusiner), plus a tie for third in the $100,000 added NRHA World Championship Shootout on Wimpys Little Chic (owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA), Flarida scooped up more than $100,000 to become NRHA’s first Four Million Dollar Rider. Flarida’s official NRHA earnings are $4,023,885.

Flarida, of Springfield, OH, became the second rider in history to break the $2 million mark in 2006 at the FEI World Reining Masters in Denver, CO. Bill Horn was the first rider to earn in excess of $1 million. Tim McQuay, Craig Schmersal and Andrea Fappani are the only other riders to cross the $2 million earnings level. Only thirteen other riders have crossed the $1 million earnings plateau in addition to Flarida.

Continue reading Flarida Is NRHA’s First Four Million Dollar Rider →

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Equestrian Assistance, Events, Symposiums, USEF

Riders4helmets to Host Helmet Safety Symposium Presented by SUCCEED

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Aurora, OH – Riders4Helmets, the helmet awareness campaign founded by Jeri Bryant and equine health product SUCCEED Digestive Conditioning Program, will be hosting a “by invitation only” Helmet Safety Symposium. The event will take place January 8, 2011, at the White Horse Tavern, Wellington, FL, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The symposium is sponsored by Troxel Helmets, Charles Owen Helmets, Tipperary Helmets and Samshield Helmets.

The Helmet Safety Symposium has been organized to bring together representatives from various corners of the equestrian world to discuss the importance of wearing helmets, rider safety and to improve helmet designs, rules and more. The event will provide a series of panel discussions throughout the day. Many in attendance will also sit on the panels, including leading equestrians, representatives from the helmet safety testing authorities, helmet manufacturers, equestrian organizations including USEF and the FEI, and neurosurgeons. The chair of the meeting will be Dr. Craig Ferrell, physician to the United States Equestrian Team.

“We are very excited to be part of the Riders4Helmets campaign and to see it continue to expand,” said Lyndsey White, representative from Freedom Health, LLC, makers of SUCCEED and co-manager of the Riders4Helmets campaign. “Since Courtney King Dye’s tragic accident earlier this year, awareness of the importance of helmet safety has grown to the point where we can now bring together different individuals, corporations and organizations all in one place to discuss the issues and, hopefully, being to change things for the better.”

Continue reading Riders4helmets to Host Helmet Safety Symposium Presented by SUCCEED →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, Fundraisers, Phelps Media Group

“Salute to Driving” Benefit to Support the USET Foundation

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Lisa Singer has helped organize the Salute to Driving after representing the United States at multiple World Championship events. Photo By: Paige DD Singer.

Aiken, SC – December 17, 2010 – The Salute to Driving fundraising event that is being held in Aiken, and Windsor SC, February 19-21, 2011 will benefit this country’s High Performance Driving programs. The exciting weekend event will feature a beautiful dinner and auction on Saturday evening, multiple driving clinics with some of the world’s top trainers throughout the weekend, and a Combined Test Competition for all on Monday. In addition to supporting the USET Foundation, the Salute to Driving event is being held to help raise awareness and educate different audiences about the discipline of driving.

The fundraising dinner and auction for the Salute to Driving will be held on Saturday, February 19, at Wendy O’Brien’s Trout Walk Farm in Aiken. The affair will get underway at 6:30 p.m. with a beautifully catered dinner and full bar. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on fabulous items during the live auction.  Some highlighted items include Brunch at the Green Boundary Club, two lessons with top driver Michael Freund at Sunshine State, Little Everglades or Live Oak, a dinner for eight presented by Jack Wetzel at his new log cabin, a week long vacation in a large Victorian Home on the beach in Cape May, NJ, and a Print “Patriots Barn” by Jamie Wyeth, signed and remarked by the artist. Throughout the night there will also be over 20 raffle items available including a photo shoot and dancing lessons.

Continue reading “Salute to Driving” Benefit to Support the USET Foundation →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Tuny Page and Ice Cup Win Arenus Performance and Conditioning Award at Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge

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Tuny Page won the Arenus Performance and Conditioning Award at the Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge Toys for Tots Benefit Show. Page is joined by her trainer Oded Shimoni and Show Manager Noreen O’Sullivan. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (December 17, 2010) – International dressage rider Tuny Page and her 17.2 hand black Danish gelding, Ice Cup, were in the holiday spirit at the Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge Toys for Tots Benefit Show. Ice Cup not only won the Prix St. George class with a score of 74.605, but also rode away as the winner of the Arenus Performance and Conditioning Award.

“I couldn’t have been more pleased with Ice Cup, he was a joy to ride,” Page said. “Winning the Prix St. George class was a great way to ring in the holidays and I was also very honored that Ice Cup was selected as the Arenus Performance and Conditioning Award winner. I am a big fan of the Arenus products, including Assure digestive aids and Steadfast joint & structural health products so I will be able to use my winning gift certificate to buy more product.”

Page also rode into the winner’s circle on her mare Alina, when the duo won the Grand Prix with score of 70.532. “This was a great way to start the holiday and show season,” Page said. “And it was made even more special by the fact that the Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge was a benefit show for Toys for Tots.”

Continue reading Tuny Page and Ice Cup Win Arenus Performance and Conditioning Award at Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge →

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

The EQUUS Foundation and the USEF Launch America’s Favorite Equestrian

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WESTPORT, CT – December 17, 2010 – America’s Favorite Equestrian is an interactive fundraising effort presented jointly in partnership by The EQUUS Foundation and The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to raise funds to advance the equestrian sport on an annual basis.

Using mobile texting, you can vote to select America’s Favorite Equestrians and support The EQUUS Foundation with a $5 gift. 100% of all donations will be used to support charitable causes. A minimum of $10,000 in “sport welfare” grants will be awarded, with an additional $5,000 grant awarded to the equestrian discipline generating the most votes.

The objective is for the America’s Favorite Equestrians to be an ongoing program with all equestrian disciplines/breeds represented and the winners recognized in a permanent “Hall of Fame”. The original intent was to launch the inaugural program in conjunction with the World Equestrian Games, which is why initially the eight disciplines of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, jumping, para-dressage, reining, and vaulting were selected. The affiliates of the United States Equestrian Federation representing these disciplines selected the equestrians.  But, there were some logistics involved in establishing the mobile texting system and developing the website, which delayed the launch until December.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12751

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Events, Media/Radio/TV Sources

Stable Scoop Episode 122 by Omega Alpha – Horses of the Tournament of Roses Parade

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Everybody loves a parade. Especially a big fancy one full of horses and flowers! For 120 years, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade has been a favorite New Year’s tradition. Listen in today as we talk with the Chairman of the Parade’s Equestrian Committee, as well as parade participants the All American Cowgirl Chicks and the Victorian Roses Ladies’ Riding Society.

Stable Scoop Episode 122 – Show Notes and Links:

_____________________________________

Listen, Download or Subscribe:

listennow125

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

FEI Championships 2010 – World Jumping Challenge Final

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Santiago Diaz Ortega from Colombia claimed gold at the 2010 FEI World Jumping Challenge Final in Guatemala last weekend.

COLOMBIA’S ORTEGA CLINCHES VICTORY IN GUATEMALA

Guatemala City (GUA), 17 December – Colombia’s Santiago Diaz Ortega claimed gold at the 2010 FEI World Jumping Challenge Final staged in Guatemala City, Guatemala last weekend.  Kenya’s Karen Mousley took silver while the host nation’s Wylder Rodriguez took bronze.

A total of 17 riders from 11 countries – Venezuela, Kenya, Colombia, Guatemala, Bermuda, Ecuador, Chile, Republic of South Africa, Algeria, Malaysia and Indonesia – were selected to compete in this event which is open to 20 Category “A” riders from 10 regional zones.

Competitors ride borrowed horses in this Challenge which was created in 2001, and there is a “change-horse” format in the Final Four competition which decides the medals on the last day.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12750

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