Tag Archives: Del Mar Nat’l Horse Show

Richard Spooner and Richard Fellers Speed Off to Victories at the Del Mar National Horse Show

Rich Fellers and Colgan Cruise. Photos By: Rick Osteen Photography.

Saturday evening began with a loud buzz of a sold-out stadium, busy merchandise vendors and food stands at the Del Mar National Horse Show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The Del Mar National Horse Show celebrated its 70th Anniversary in style, with a spectacular list of competitors in both the Speed Derby and Grand Prix of Del Mar to entertain the fans who came to celebrate the sport of show-jumping.

The Speed Derby consisted of a course that had the riders taking on obstacles in the Del Mar Arena, then galloping from the Del Mar Arena outside to complete tight rollbacks in the Durante Arena, galloping back inside to tackle a triple bar to finish the exciting course with another tight roll back. The riders and their mounts meant business, turning and burning on tight inside tracks for a well-designed course by world-renowned course designer Olaf Petersen.

The Master of Faster, Richard Spooner, kept a quick pace with Ace of Spades, but Karl Cook and his mount Banba came in to take the lead, maintaining a long, lofty stride and executing all the inside turns flawlessly. Another well-known West Coast rider, Richard Fellers trotted in on Colgan Cruise with determination to take the class, in front of an enthusiastic crowd that cheered him on as he came galloping back into the Del Mar Arena, hitting every distance with precision. Fellers and Colgan Cruise took out the class to take home first place, with Cook and Banba close in second, and Spooner and Ace of Spades rounding out the top three.

Next up, the Grand Prix of Del Mar! After yielding 30 competitors from Friday night’s Surfside Grand Prix, presented by Hunt+iJump, 29 ended up joining for the Saturday night fun for the Grand Prix of Del Mar.

The bustling crowd was energetic and the horses and riders could feel the excitement throughout the Del Mar Arena. It was a battle of accuracy, as the course, designed by Olaf Petersen, kept the riders and their mounts on their toes – or hooves – with the course containing a tight roll back to the colorful Lego Jump to a bending line to the impressive triple bar and the riders finished with a bending line from the liverpool to a two stride combination right on the rail.

Richard Spooner and Cristallo
Richard Spooner and Cristallo

The level of competition was at an all-time high with world-class riders such as Richard Spooner, Richard Fellers, Eduardo Menezes, Eric Navet, Karl Cook and others as they went head to head in this well laid out course. Only six pairs progressed to the jump-off, which was an annotated course that finished with a lengthy gallop to part B of the two stride combination that finished the initial course.

Both horses and riders knew they were up against incredible competition and if they were to win the class, they would have to not only be fast, they would have to go clean. Menezes and Quintol, who won the Surfside Grand Prix on Friday night with another mount, came in with a tight, clean round at 43.234, with Navet and Jonkheer Z not far behind in time, at 43.953, but with an unfortunate rail. Elicia Edgar and Cipolini VD Gastheuv were a bit more conservative with their time at 49.806 and one rail down. It came down to Spooner, the ultimate Master of Faster, with his mounts Chivas Z and Cristallo, and Fellers, on crowd favorite Flexible.

Chivas Z and Spooner put up a quick, clean round with a time of 42.177, the elegant grey Zangersheide gelding making the course look easy. Fellers and Flexible looked happy tackling the course in the large Del Mar Arena, just coming out of the Longines FEI World Cup Finals with a respectable seventh place finish in Las Vegas, NV. Not only did the 19 year old Irish Sporthorse Stallion look happy, he smoked his competition with a clean round in a time of 40.303. The time was tough and Spooner knew that when he walked back into the ring on his second ride, Cristallo, and the last round in the jump-off. The beautiful bay Holsteiner gelding and Spooner left it all in the arena, keeping the tidiest track we saw all evening and a galloping pace that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. They flew threw the final timers, fault free, and shut out the rest of the competition with an incredible time of 38.754.

The crowd went wild for what was one of the most impressive grand prixs of the 2015 show season. The seasoned veterans congratulated each other on a job well done and Spooner acknowledged the great competition that made up the Grand Prix of Del Mar as he accepted the Governor’s Cup Trophy. Congratulations to all the riders and their amazing horses and thank you for a spectacular evening of show-jumping.

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Vita Flex Victory Team Reiner Bob Avila Wins Big at the Del Mar National Horse Show

Victory Team member Bob Avila won big at the Del Mar National Horse Show. (Photo courtesy of Dana Avila)

Del Mar, CA (June 14, 2013) – In its 68th year, the 2013 Del Mar National Horse Show was as successful as it has ever been. One of the show’s more entertaining and exciting events perhaps was its showcase of “Western Week” April 18th through April 21st which featured Four AQHA and PCQHA shows along with a NRHA show. Reigning champion and Vita Flex Victory Team member Bob Avila swept the competition during the week which attracted audience members young and old. When it comes to winning, Avila relies on Vita Flex’s line of nutritional supplements to keep his horses in ideal form.

The Del Mar National showcases a wealth of perpetual trophies which travel with its winners. The Show also honors continuous trophy winners each year by publishing their names and photos in the Official Program. The Avila name was not solely attributed to Bob’s success during Western Week as family including son B. J. and wife Dana experienced winnings of their own. Taking home nine perpetual trophies among themselves, next year’s Del Mar National program will be filled with the Avila family.

No stranger to champion reining, Bob Avila is one of the most accomplished and recognized horsemen in the world and has trained more than 35 world champion or reserve world champions. Being a National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Million Dollar Rider, a three-time Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion, and a two-time World’s Greatest Horseman Champion he has accredited himself a name that is synonymous with true horsemanship. With a history like his, Avila was a natural addition to the 2013 Vita Flex Victory Team.

The Vita Flex Victory Team consists of leading competitive riders from multiple disciplines who use Vita Flex products and horse supplements to support peak performance in their horses. The 2013 Vita Flex Victory Team is already making headlines with their many wins, and Avila’s success at the Del Mar National is just another victory for the brand! Vita Flex has been supporting the winning ways of its many elite equestrians showcased on its Victory Team for the past few years.

“These are the real horses and people behind our Team,” said Tanner Clark, Brand Manager of Vita Flex. “We at Vita Flex are honored to have such incredible members like Avila on our Vita Flex Victory Team,” he commented, thrilled upon hearing about the accomplishments at the Del Mar National Horse Show.

Avila’s success at Del Mar National further exemplifies how elite riders draw the line between good and great by setting their efforts apart from other competitors with the use of Vita Flex Nutrition on their horses. It starts with animal health products horse lovers can trust for reliable support, including antioxidants, electrolytes, joint supplements, performance products, topical, and vitamins and minerals. Vita Flex products are researched and tested by equine nutritionists and veterinarians and have been relied upon for more than two decades by owners, trainers and top riders.

For more information about Vita Flex Nutrition products, visit their website at www.vitaflex.com or call (800) 848-2359.

For more information, contact:
Tanner Clark
tclark@central.com
www.vitaflex.com
(800) 848-2359

USEF Network to Broadcast Two Grand Prixs from the Del Mar National Horse Show

Lexington, KY – This week, USEF Network coverage will feature west coast show jumpers at the Del Mar National Horse Show. The first of two nights of live coverage will be tomorrow, May 2nd, and feature the $25,000 Surfside Grand Prix at 7pm local time (10pm ET). The second night will be Saturday, May 4th, and feature the $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar. Both Grand Prix classes will be streamed live, online, at www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2013DelMarNationalHorseShow/.

The Surfside Grand Prix and Grand Prix of Del Mar are the highlight classes of Hunter/Jumper week at the Del Mar National Horse Show, a show that has been in existence for more than 60 years. The Del Mar National Horse Show also hosts a Western Week and a Dressage Week, and appeared at No.5 on the NARG Top 25 of 2012 list. More about Del Mar National Horse Show is available at www.delmarnational.com.

Where and When to Watch

Thursday, May 2: 10:00pm ET – $25,000 Surfside Grand Prix

Saturday, May 4: 9:45pm ET – $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar

Follow USEF Network coverage of the Del Mar National Horse Show on Twitter using the hashtag #DelMarNHS.

Questions?

Please direct questions regarding the Del Mar National Horse Show broadcasts to William Wood, USEF Network Director of Content, at wwood@usef.org.

Olympian Guenter Seidel Goes Above and Beyond to Win Premier Sportsmanship Award at Del Mar National Horse Show

Guenter Seidel won the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at the Del Mar National Horse Show. Premier President Heidi Zorn presented Seidel with his award. (Photo courtesy of Premier Equestrian)

Del Mar, CA (May 8, 2012) – United States Dressage Olympian Guenter Seidel proved he is not only worthy of Olympic medals, but also worthy of winning the Premier Sportsmanship Award during the Del Mar National Horse Show. Seidel, a longtime supporter of the Del Mar National Horse Show, thrilled the Del Mar audience by competing his fabulous horse Fandango in the musical freestyle.

“Guenter didn’t need to compete Fandango because he had already qualified him, but he wanted the show spectators to have a great experience so he came out on Saturday night and gave an Olympic-worthy performance. The audience was thrilled and very appreciative and it was really an exceptional thing for Guenter to do,” said Heidi Zorn, President of Premier Equestrian, LLC, a leading supplier of dressage arenas, horse jumps, arena footing and stable accessories. “We presented Guenter with the Premier Sportsmanship award for his upstanding level of sportsmanship, but it extends far beyond performing his musical freestyle. Guenter was also extremely courteous to the office staff and fellow competitors – he is a true sportsman all the way around.”

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Two-for-Two, Fellers and Flexible Win the $100,000 Hermes Grand Prix of Del Mar

Rich Fellers and Flexible go two-for-two (Rick Osteen Photography)

Del Mar, CA – For a second night Marina Azevedo built a demanding course at the Del Mar National Horse Show for the 20 entries to jump in the $100,000 Hermes Grand Prix of Del Mar presented by Intuit. Six of the entries contesting the 13 obstacle course were members of the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games. These combinations were contesting the first of four 2012 US Show Jumping Team Observation Events. And in the second and final class of the Del Mar Observation Event long listed riders once again jumped into top placings.

In the first round, only two combinations were able to produce fault-free efforts. Two members of the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games, Rich Fellers and Flexible and Lauren Hough with Blue Angel, would need to return and jump-off to decide the winner of Saturday’s class. Neither Fellers nor Hough were able to reproduce their clear efforts from round one with both collecting four faults. However, Fellers (Sherwood, OR) produced the quickest jump-off time for the second night in a row, to claim his second Grand Prix victory of the Observation Event.

Continue reading Two-for-Two, Fellers and Flexible Win the $100,000 Hermes Grand Prix of Del Mar

Fellers and Flexible Do It Again, Flying to Victory in the $50,000 Surfside Grand Prix

Rich Fellers & Flexible (Rick Osteen Photography)

Del Mar, CA – An international field contested the $50,000 Surfside Grand Prix presented by ShowBiz Magazine Friday evening at the Del Mar National Horse Show. Of the 26 entries in the class, six combinations were members of the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games. The prestigious California horse show, held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, serves as the first of four 2012 US Show Jumping Team Observation Events. Leading the victory lap tonight were Rich Fellers and Flexible, having bested the five horse jump-off, which included three long listed combinations.

Lauren Hough was the first member of the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games to produce a fault-free effort over the first round. Riding Robyn Parsky’s Blue Angel, the Wellington, FL resident jumped a tidy, efficient round over the initial course. In the jump-off the 10-year-old Anglo-European mare looked on her way to producing a second clear round but slicing the turn to the penultimate jump resulted in four faults. They finished in fourth place.

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USET Foundation to Host Benefit Fiesta at Del Mar National Horse Show

Del Mar, CA – April 16, 2012 – The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is pleased to announce that it will be hosting a benefit in support of the United States Equestrian Olympic Team during the 2012 Del Mar National Horse Show. On Friday, May 4, guests are invited to join the Foundation for Margaritas, Fiesta Food, and Lively Music at Barn W of the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The event will get underway at 6:30p.m, following the Olympic Show Jumping Observation Event.

Robin Parsky, USET Foundation Trustee and Co-Chair of the Development Committee, will be chairing the event with her husband Gerry Parksy. “We often host USET Foundation Fundraisers in California, so we were looking for this opportunity to support the Team, and this is perfect timing,” she explained. “We will be inviting the exhibitors, horse owners, and USET Gold Medal Members from the West Coast. The Del Mar National is the largest and most prestigious show in California, so this is a great opportunity for us to get together and help raise money for the Team.”

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US Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe to Undergo Treatment for Cancer

Lexington, KY – U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe George Morris will be undergoing treatment for prostate cancer this spring.

Morris will remain in his position of Chef d’Equipe and will stay closely involved with the program, the selection process and the riders even though he will be unable to travel to the Observation Events.

Morris has asked Robert Ridland (who was recently named the Morris’ successor beginning in 2013: http://www.usefnetwork.com/news/8096/2012/2/21/robert_ridland_approved_for_us_sh.aspx) to attend the Observation Events and monitor the technical aspects of those competitions and report to Morris.

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US Show Jumping Team Observation Events to Be Held in Four Locations

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) announced today the four competitions which will host the 2012 US Show Jumping Team Observation Events. These events will play an important role in selecting the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Following the USEF Selection Trials at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival March 21-24, 2012, a Long List of athlete/horse combinations will be ranked. Any of these combinations wishing to continue in the Olympic Selection process will have to contest two of the four USEF Observation Events.

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