Gladstone, New Jersey – April 28, 2010 – The USET Foundation is pleased to announce Phillip Dutton of West Grove, PA, and Aiken, SC, as the 2010 recipient of the USET Foundation Pinnacle Cup. Awarded annually, the Pinnacle Cup goes to the highest placing American competitor at the prestigious Rolex CCI**** Three-Day Event. Dutton was honored with the award after securing second place honors aboard Acorn Hill Farm, Annie Jones, and Mardie Faucette’s Woodburn over the course of April 23-25, in Lexington, KY. This year will be Dutton’s third year winning the trophy; he won it previously on Bruce Duchossois’ Connaught in both 2007 and 2008.
Piloting the 14-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred, Dutton finished the Dressage phase with 47.7 penalty points, a score that would hold throughout the duration of the competition. Dutton and Woodburn mastered Mike Etherington-Smith’s 30-obstacle cross country course within the time allowed and then went on to complete the third and final phase of the event with a fault-free show jumping round in the Kentucky Horse Park stadium.
I’ve got a great video for you today from the Happy Horse course that shows how quickly and easily you can straighten your horse with a very simple exercise.
But before you do that, I want to remind you that the Happy Horse Retirement party officially starts tomorrow, Friday, April 30 at noon Eastern time.
Remember: The retirement party ONLY lasts 4 days, or less than that if my current inventory runs out first. So be sure to come right when the doors open at noon.
Mark your calendar now, and claim your course tomorrow at:
Wanna know what’s so cool about the Happy Horse course? People from all over the world have told me that it’s helped them sort out so many common problems quickly and easily.
See if any of these common problems sound familiar to you.
• You’re just plain confused and frustrated because trainers tell you what to do but don’t tell you HOW to do it.
• You can’t find anyone to explain things in a CLEAR, step-by-step, easy to understand training system.
• Sometimes you find training to be a struggle, exhausting, or a tug of war rather than a joyful process that creates a happy, athletic horse.
• You can’t get your horse consistently on the bit.
• You can’t afford to work with a trainer on a regular basis.
• You can’t find any decent trainers in your area.
• You can’t afford a fancy warmblood so you think training will be more difficult with your Quarter horse (Arabian, Haflinger, Friesian, Morgan, Saddlebred, Fjord, Thoroughbred, Draft Cross etc).
Do any of those issues sound like what you’re dealing with? Then the Happy Horse course was developed for you.
Nashville, TN (April 27, 2010) – Legislation advocating the slaughter of horses for human consumption will be withdrawn for the legislative session in Tennessee according to the bill’s sponsor Representative Frank Niceley. This was following overwhelming public opposition to the proposal from the public, Tennessee Volunteers for Animal Protection, Willie Nelson, his daughter Amy Nelson and granddaughter Raelyn Nelson, long time supporters of the Animal Welfare Institute.
“We are pleased that Representative Niceley has agreed to pull his bill from consideration,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of the Animal Welfare Institute. “There are many more humane and responsible ways of caring for horses in need and we look forward to expanding those in Tennessee. Slaughter certainly isn’t an option and we feel many legislators realized this.”
Amy and Raelyn Nelson, residents of Tennessee, testified against the bill during a committee hearing earlier this month and plan on returning to Nashville to meet with legislators to discuss equine welfare issues very soon.
Chester Weber wears a helmet cam on his Charles Owen helmet. Weber uses the helmet cam as a training tool and is a strong proponent of wearing a helmet for safety. (Photo courtesy of PicsofYou.com)
Ocala, FL (April 27, 2010) – Helmets are the center stage topic in equestrian safety right now, and USEF Safety Committee member Chester Weber has turned his Charles Owen helmet into a box office hit! Safety really is a movie, thanks to a camera installed on Weber’s Charles Owen helmet.
Combined Driver Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, uses his helmet camera as a training tool. “The helmet cam is a way to record the driver’s-eye view of a four-in-hand team. I use it as a training tool at home,” Weber said. “The helmet cam makes safety fun and acts as a training tool that can enhance future performances.”
When it comes to safety, Weber has always put his money where his mouth is. He and his team are long-time users of Charles Owen helmets, which provide safety and offer unparalleled comfort. “The importance of wearing helmets is in the spotlight right now, and as a driver I certainly recommend wearing helmets, especially in the marathon,” Weber said.
We take a look at the final test events including the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. How did it all go, who placed on top and is the Kentucky Horse Park ready for the Alltech FEI 2010 World Equestrian Games…
2010 Radio Show Episode 88 – Show Notes and Links:
William Fox-Pitt maintained his lead to win the 2010 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. Listen in as NBC Color Commentator Donna Barton Brothers co-hosts this final show from Rolex. ..
Eventing Radio Show Episode 77 – Rolex Final Report, William Fox-Pitt Wins:
Picture: They started the 2010 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in the lead and finished it that way. Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt jumped a double-clear show jumping round with Cool Mountain on Sunday to clench his first Rolex Kentucky victory. Phillip Dutton and Woodburn jumped into second place after a faultless trip, while Becky Holder caught only one rail with Courageous Comet to finish in third place. Photo by Josh Walker from useventing.com.
Co-Host: NBC Color Commentator Donna Barton Brothers
William Fox-Pitt (GBR) aboard Cool Mountain winning HSBC FEI Classics™ Rolex 3-Day Event (Click for larger image)
William Fox-Pitt (GBR) today, 25th April 2010, went clear in the Show Jumping on the final day at the 2010 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event to crown his first win at ‘The Rolex’ with his starting dressage score of 42.8.
Audio interviews with William Fox-Pitt, Phillip Dutton, Becky Holder, the press conference after Day Three with the riders, Rupert Bell ‘s live commentary on William Fox-Pitt’s Show Jumping round, plus an interview with Oliver Townend reflecting on his cross country day and attempt to win the Rolex Grand Slam, are also available to listen to, and download for free, on the links below:
William Fox-Pitt (GBR) aboard Cool Mountain on their way to victory in the first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™ at Lexington,KY (USA). Click on image for larger view.
25 April 2010 William Fox-Pitt (GBR) said he did not come to the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event with the expectation of winning, but, once in the driving seat, he was clearly not going to relinquish the golden opportunity without a fight and he now has his first Rolex watch to complement his seven other 4-star wins.
William Fox-Pitt (GBR) aboard Cool Mountain on their way to victory in the first leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™ at Lexington,KY (USA). Click on image for larger view.
And, with the choice of three good rides – Idalgo, Macchiato and Sea Cookie – at next weekend’s Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, he could gain a commanding advantage in the HSBC FEI Classics™, an award he won in its inaugural year in 2008.
Cool Mountain, his winning ride at Kentucky, is a 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding by the prolific Eventing sire Primitive Rising. This was his 4-star debut, having won at 3-star level, at Blair Castle (GBR) last year and been consistent throughout his career.
“He is a pleasure to train,” said Fox-Pitt. “He is very straightforward and genuine, and I have always felt there was more to come. I am absolutely thrilled with him, though – to win is beyond my wildest dreams.”
Fox-Pitt’s nearest rival, Kimberley Severson (USA) had a most unfortunate Jumping round – a total of 32 faults (24 jumping, 12 time) and plummeted to 25th, and it was the 2008 winner, Phillip Dutton (USA), who rose three places to 2nd on Woodburn with a clear round.
Becky Holder (USA) retained 3rd place on Courageous Comet with just one rail, but Boyd Martin’s meteoric rise continued, up another four places to 4th on Neville Bardos, and Canadian Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch and Port Authority continued upwards, to eventual 5th place with a clean sheet. In addition, she won the HSBC Training Bursary for the best-placed first-time 4-star competitor.
Oliver Townend (GBR) was discharged from hospital in the morning, but having sustained minor injuries, could not jump his ODT Master Rose and so withdrew.
37 horses completed the competition with 9 clear Jumping rounds.
Prize Money
HSBC will contribute US$ 1million to the series over the next three years. Prize-money is awarded, as follows, to the top five riders on the leaderboard after the fifth and final event:
WINNERS OF THE 2009 SEASON
1. Oliver Townend (GBR) – US$ 150,000 (Series champion);
2. Dirk Schrade (GER) – US$ 75,000;
3. Andreas Dibowski – (GER) US$ 50,000;
4. William Fox-Pitt (GBR) – US$ 33,000;
5. Sam Griffiths (AUS) – US$ 25,000
Notes to Editors
HSBC, the world’s local bank, is a platinum partner of FEI and global sponsor of the eventing discipline.
As part of this partnership, HSBC is title sponsor of the HSBC FEI Classics™ and HSBC FEI World Cup™.
At the centre of all HSBC’s sponsorships is a commitment to youth, education and community. The Pony Club and HSBC have teamed up to create the HSBC Pony Club Eventing Training Programme.
For further information, including Rules and Standings, visit www.fei.org. Previews, reports, results and photographs for each event will be available from the FEI throughout the season.
Cross Country ends at the 2010 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event as William Fox-Pitt maintains the lead on Cool Mounting. Lucinda Green joins us to review the rides of the day and look forward to stadium on Sunday. Listen in….
Eventing Radio Show Episode 76 – Rolex 2010 Cross Country Day Review:
Picture: William Fox-Pitt aboard Cool Mountain put in a clear and fast cross-country round today to defend their position as overnight leaders. Fox-Pitt does not have a rail in hand as he heads into tomorrow’s show jumping phase with a 42.8. Kim Severson and Tipperary Liadhnan who are sitting on a 44.8 moved up from fourth to second place with a double clear round. Becky Holder and Courageous Comet round out the top three with a 45.2. Photo by Josh Walker from useventing.com.
