Tag Archives: dressage

Community/Charity, Dressage, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Polo, Show Jumping

Village of Wellington Extends Domestic Partnership Benefit

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Wellington, FL – December 27, 2011 – The Wellington Village Council has completed a comprehensive policy revision to include registered domestic partners of Village employees as family members.

The action was taken at the request of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, which has been working with the Village on domestic partnership issues for the past year. The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council has been the leading advocate for domestic partner benefits in Florida since 1992, when the City of West Palm Beach became Florida’s first public employer to provide domestic partnership benefits.

Domestic partners of Village employees and their children are now eligible for the same health, dental, vision and supplemental dependent life insurance coverage as employees’ spouses and their children. In addition, Village employees may now take extended medical leave to care for their domestic partners and may utilize bereavement leave to grieve for an employee’s domestic partner, as well as the partner’s children, parents, siblings and grandparents.

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Breeds, Dressage, Driving, Events, JRPR

Fans at the Massachusetts Equine Affaire Enjoy Thrilling Performance from Two Talented Interagro Lusitanos

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Cherri Reiber performed a tandem driving demonstration with Zerbino Interagro and Vistor Interagro during the Pfizer Fantasia at Equine Affaire. (Photo courtesy of M&A Photography)

W. Springfield, MA (December 23, 2011) – Fans at the 2011 Massachusetts Equine Affaire were on their feet at the Pfizer Fantasia musical equine celebration thanks to a thrilling performance by two talented and stunning Interagro Lusitanos.  International rider and trainer Cherri Reiber presented a tandem demonstration at the Equine Affaire that showcased the magnificent Lusitano breed and their talent for performing upper level dressage movements.

Interagro Lusitanos also had a booth at the premier equestrian gathering, and thanks to Reiber’s exciting demonstration the booth was the place to be as Equine Affaire attendees swarmed it to learn more about the Interagro Lusitano. “Cherri’s demonstration was a huge crowd pleaser and certainly generated a lot of excitement that spilled over to our booth,” said Cecilia Gonzaga, Manager of Interagro Lusitanos in Brazil.

Reiber is an FEI level dressage trainer and rider who trained both horses, Zerbino Interagro and Vistor Interagro, to do the tandem driving.  Reiber, who is based out of Southwest Ranches, Florida, competes on the Wellington show circuit and in 1999 was named the State Line Tack/USET Grand Prix Champion with her horse G Tudor.  Reiber and G Tudor also attended the 2000 World Cup Dressage Final in Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Art/Photography, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group

Susan Stickle to Be Official Photographer at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach

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Photos: Susan J. Stickle Photos

Wellington, FL – December 23, 2011 – Award-winning equestrian photographer Susan Stickle will be the official photographer at the 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, which will take place at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center on January 26th to 28th 2012.

Stickle, who has photographed the world’s top horses and riders at such events as the Olympics, World Equestrian Games and World Cup Finals, was also the official photographer for the 2011 WDM Palm Beach. Her images have appeared in virtually every major equestrian publication in the English speaking world. “I’m very flattered to be back to the WDM again this year,” says Stickle. “Shooting the likes of Ravel and Totilas, and the many other top international horses that are coming to Florida to compete, is a great honor.”

The 2012 WDM Palm Beach will feature a much-anticipated show-down between the defending 2011 WDM Palm Beach Champion, Steffen Peters of the US on Akiko Yamazaki’s Ravel, and the current world-record holding World Champion Totilas with his new rider, Germany’s Matthias Rath. In addition to Totilas and Ravel, a total of 20 of the world’s top horses from across North America and Europe will compete for the biggest purse in North American dressage, €100,000 (US $130,000). The highlight of the WDM Palm Beach will be the Grand Prix Freestyle on the evening of January 28th, where the top eight pairs from the Grand Prix test the previous day will perform their custom-choreographed musical programs.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Endurance Riding, Events, FEI, Show Jumping

Triple-Gold for Qatar, Double-Gold for Emirates, and Saudi Arabia Takes Team Jumping Title

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Saudi Arabia won the team Jumping title at the Arab Games 2011. Pictured (L to R) are team-members Kamal Bahamdan, HH Prince Faisal Al Shalan, HRH Prince Abdullah Al Saud, and Khaled Al Eid. Photo: Reuters.

Doha (QAT), 23 December 2011 – The host nation took double-gold in Dressage as well as the Individual Jumping title while the United Arab Emirates proved unbeatable in Endurance and Saudi Arabia scooped the team Jumping honours at the 12th Arab Games staged in Doha, Qatar from 6 to 23 December. This was the first time for Qatar to host the event which is staged on a four-year cycle and embraces 24 different sports. Khalifa International Stadium was the main competition venue, but the equestrian activities took place at the Al-Shaqab Arena and at the Mesaieed Endurance Course, with keen rivalry in all three disciplines.

Equestrian sport joined the Arab Games at Rabat, Malta in 1985 and subsequently visited Damascus, Syria in 1992, Beirut, Lebanon in 1997, Amman, Jordan in 1999, Algiers, Algeria in 2004 and Cairo, Egypt in 2007. Jumping has been included on the schedule since 1985, with Endurance joining the programme in 1999 and Dressage in 2007. FEI President, HRH Princess Haya, won individual Jumping bronze at Damascus in 1992.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Competitions, Dressage, Equestrian Assistance, Events, Seminars

College Preparatory Invitational Competition and Seminars to Be Held at the 2012 WEF

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Wellington, FL – December 22, 2011 – The College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) will be a feature event on January 13-15 during the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The second annual CPI Horse Show will be larger, allowing more riders to compete, and will include dressage classes and more educational opportunities for participants. Equestrian Sport Productions is proud to be a sponsor of the College Preparatory Invitational and looks forward to welcoming new and returning riders to this year’s event.

In addition to increasing the number of riders accepted at the CPI, organizers are also pleased to announce that the number of scholarships for the 2012 horse show has increased. A total of five scholarships will be awarded this year, rewarding the young riders on their social conduct and academic success, as well as competitive success. In total, there will be five scholarships awarded to eligible CPI participants, including: CPI Horsemanship Test Award, CPI High Point Hunt Seat Equitation Rider, CPI Essay Contest, CPI Champion of Service Award, and CPI High Point Dressage Rider.

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Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Endurance Riding, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, FEI, Para-Equestrian, Show Jumping, USEF, Vaulting, Western/Reining

2012 Date and Location Approved for Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships

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Lexington, KY – The dates and location of the 2012 Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North have been designated.

The competition will take place at the Kentucky Horse Park from July 18-22, 2012 – the week before the Olympic Games commence in London.

Adequan has returned as the title sponsor of this competition, and makes the dreams of young equestrians (ages 14-21) a reality. It is through the support of Adequan that this event has been able to grow – it now boasts nine FEI Championships.

Dressage, Eventing, Jumping and Reining each offer a championship for Juniors and one for Young Riders. Endurance, which was added in 2011 as a championship, offers an FEI championship for Young Riders.

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

The US Para-Equestrian Team Records Third CPEDI3* Victory of the Year in Record Fashion

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The Gold United States Para-Equestrian Team. Photo: Hope Hand/USPEA.

Lexington, KY – The U.S. Para-Equestrian Team continued to make strides in qualifying for the 2012 Paralympic Games by winning Team Gold at the 2011 Melbourne CPEDI3* held in conjunction with the Saddle World Dressage Festival. The U.S. was represented by Donna Ponessa, Becca Hart, Erin Alberda, and Mary Jordan all riding borrowed horses at the competition held December 8-11 at the National Equestrian Centre in Werribee, Victoria. The team win came in spectacular fashion as the four riders earned the highest overall team score that the U.S. has ever produced. Australia place second with New Zealand and Japan placing third and fourth, respectively.

The winning was not limited to the team competition – U.S. riders finished no lower than second in any of the tests they rode.  In Grade 1a competition, Ponessa (New Windsor, NY) produced three winning efforts riding Miike Setsuko’s Don Armani to scores of 70.588%, 69.5% and 68.5% in the Team Test, Individual Test and Freestyle, respectively.  Alberda of Woodinville, WA, also had a clean sweep of her Grade III division tests scoring 66.913% in the Team Test, 65.556% for the Individual Test and earning a 71.5% Freestyle score with Adele Plumbridge’s Southern Cross Tamaris.  Grade IV rider, Jordan (Wells, ME) produced second-place efforts in the Team Test, Individual Test and Freestyle riding Elainie Castiellini’s Northern Charmer to scores of 64.271%, 65.161% and 68%, respectively.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group, USEF

International Horse Sport Palm Beach Launches 2012 Season with New Footing

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The USEF committee, Ann Gribbons, Eva Salomon and Heather Blitz, inspected the footing of the rings at the IHS Champions Park at the Equestrian Estates. (L to R) Ann Gribbons, Eva Salomon, Noreen O'Sullivan, Heather Blitz, Lars Petersen, Edward Borreson and John Flanagan. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group

Wellington, FL – December 19, 2012 – International Horse Sport Palm Beach is ready to launch its 2012 season with new footing in all of the rings at The IHS Champions Park at Equestrian Estates, site of the Palm Beach Dressage Derby and IHS Series Shows. The first to view and approve this tremendous upgrade was an elite committee representing the United States Equestrian Federation.

The committee, consisting of Eva Salomon, Director of High Performance Dressage, Ann Gribbons, USEF Team Coach for Dressage, and FEI rider representative Heather Blitz, inspected the footing in the FEI competition and warm-up rings last week and recommended approval to the Dressage and Executive Committees of USEF.

The beautiful property in White Fences, which is owned by Mary Ann and Walter McPhail, is managed by International Horse Sport Palm Beach. The IHS Palm Beach Managing Partners include FEI riders and trainers Ed Borresen and Lars Petersen, together with well-known show organizers Noreen O’Sullivan and John Flanagan. The IHS Champions Park consists of 10 rings suitable for national and international competition on over 50 acres, including 15 acres of parking, 150 horse stalls for the international horses and another 200 temporary stalls available for the national shows.

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Competitions, Dressage, Events, FEI, FEI, USEF

Leibler and Watson 108 Second in Freestyle at FEI Young Rider World Cup Dressage Final

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Isabelle Leibler and Watson 108 National Young Rider Dressage Championships (SusanJStickle.com)

Lexington, KY – Isabelle Leibler and Watson 108 came in second in Sunday’s B Final in the Freestyle, representing the U.S. at the FEI Young Rider World Cup Dressage Final in Frankfurt, Germany.

Leibler (Greenwich, CT) scored 68.700 on the 14-year-old Westphalian gelding, just behind Simona Aeberhard, representing Switzerland.

Leibler and Watson 108 were invited to represent the U.S. at the 2011 Finals after posting the highest average in the FEI Young Rider Freestyle Test at CDI-Ys during the qualifying period. This pair landed in Germany after a strong 2011 campaign that included winning a team Bronze medal and two Gold medals, individual and freestyle, at the Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Riders Championships presented by Gotham North. Additionally, they were crowned National Young Rider Dressage Champions at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Championships.

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

United States Para-Equestrian Dressage Team Brings Home the Gold at 2011 Melbourne CPEDI3* in Australia

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The Gold United States Para-Equestrian Team (Left to Right: USEF Director Pam Lane, Chef d'equipe Missy Ransehousen, Rebecca Hart, Erin Alberda, Mary Jordan, and in front is Donna Ponessa) Photos © 2011 Lindsay Y McCall

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia – December 16, 2011 – When the United States Para-Equestrian Team flew Down Under for the 2011 Melbourne CPEDI3* (held at Werribee Park National Equestrian Center), they were prepared to give it their all.  This competition was not just about top scores but it was an opportunity to earn team spots for the 2012 Paralympics held in London, England. With outstanding performances each day, the United States Para-Equestrian Dressage Team captured their third Team Gold within a four-month period. The impressive Gold Para-Equestrian Dressage Team consisted of Donna Ponessa for Grade Ia (New Windsor, NY), Rebecca Hart for Grade II (Unionville, PA), Erin Alberda for Grade III (Woodinville, WA), Mary Jordan for Grade IV (Wells, ME), and Chef d’equipe Missy Ransehousen. From December 9-11, 2011 teams from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the United States challenged themselves under F.E.I. international judges Mr. Kjell Myhre (NOR), Dr. Ulf Wilken (SWE), Ms. Jan Geary (AUS), Ms. Sue Cunningham (AUS), and Ms. Wendy Barker (AUS).

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