Tag Archives: dressage

FEI TV This Weekend

Lausanne (SUI), 21 October 2011 – FEI TV, the official FEI video platform, will be LIVE on Friday, 28 October, and Sunday, 30 October, from the second leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage and the third leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping. Both competitions will take place in Lyon (FRA).

The Grand Prix Freestyle-to-Music from the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage will be LIVE at 18.55 CEST on Friday.

Round Two of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping will be LIVE on Sunday at 14.55 CET.

Media Contacts:

FEI
Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
ruth.grundy@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 45

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Press Relations
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33

At Lyon
Pascal Renauldon
Press Officer
p.renauldon@rbpresse.com
+33 (0) 608 75 94 07

Final Olympic Dressage Team Qualifier Begins on 28 October

Lausanne (SUI), 27 October 2011 – The last Dressage team qualifying event for the London 2012 Olympic Games will begin this Friday, 28 October. The qualifier, which will be run at two separate venues, is open to teams from the FEI Olympic Groups F (Africa and Middle East) and G (South East Asia and Oceania).

Due to quarantine restrictions, the qualifier will be held in two parts, one in each hemisphere, as riders and horses from Olympic Groups F and G are based in both Australasia and Europe. The first part will take place in Sydney (AUS) on 28 October; the second part will be held in Ermelo (NED) on 2 November.

The same judges will be used at both legs of the regional qualifier. The panel will be FEI 5* judges Stephen Clarke (GBR), who will also be the President of the Ground Jury at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Gotthilf Riexinger (GER) and Susan Hoevenaars (AUS), plus FEI 4* judges Mariëtte Sanders-van Gansewinkel (NED) and Raphaël Saleh (FRA).

Three nations – Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa – will be seeking Olympic qualification. The two best placed teams overall will join Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the USA, which have already qualified.

The updated Olympic Dressage qualification system is available at this LINK.

Media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33

Bestselling Author and Dressage Rider Tami Hoag to Headline South Carolina Book and Author Event

Tami Hoag is headed to South Carolina to speak at the South Carolina Book and Author Event. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (October 26, 2011) – Writer and rider Tami Hoag will be putting down the reins for a few days to head to Charleston, South Carolina, where the New York Times bestselling author will be featured as the headline speaker for the South Carolina Book and Author Event, an annual celebration of reading taking place at the Charleston Marriott. Hoag’s latest novel Secrets to the Grave is being released in paperback for the first time and her fans are eagerly expecting the third thriller in that series, Down the Darkest Road, which will go on sale on December 27th.

A prolific author with a huge fan base, the South Carolina Book and Author Event is already sold out. During the event, over 700 of Hoag’s fans will get the chance for a sneak preview of Down the Darkest Road. “I really enjoy the chance to speak with my fans, especially when we are talking about a new book,” Hoag said.

Hoag is known for her suspenseful page-turning novels and has 14 consecutive New York Times bestsellers to her credit with more than 35 million in print in more than 20 languages worldwide. She is also known for her skill in the dressage ring, and after the South Carolina event she will return to South Florida to prepare for the winter dressage season.

Continue reading Bestselling Author and Dressage Rider Tami Hoag to Headline South Carolina Book and Author Event

International Dressage Rider Oded Shimoni Wins BEST Rider Award from Personal Trainer Nick Tortora at Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge

Oded Shimoni won the BEST Rider Award aboard Don Dueto at the Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge Show. Nick Tortora, founder and personal trainer at BEST, will present the award throughout the season. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (October 24, 2011) – International dressage rider Oded Shimoni, a trainer and coach to many of the top names in the dressage world, found himself in the winner’s circle during the Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. Shimoni won the USEF Fourth Level Test 1 aboard Don Dueto and also rode away with the BEST Rider Award. The BEST Award, which stands for Balanced Equestrian Strength Training, will give Shimoni the chance to work with personal trainer Nick Tortora, a Wellington based trainer who focuses on equestrian strength training.

Shimoni was pleased with his win on Don Dueto and said it was the seven-year-old stallion’s first time at a show. “He was great and did everything right,” Shimoni said. “He belongs to an owner in New Hampshire.  I have had him about 11 months and am really excited about him. I am also excited about winning the BEST award and look forward to working with Nick Tortora.”

Tortora, whose clients include McLain Ward and Caroline Roffman, helps riders become stronger, gives them an edge up on the competition and helps each rider move to the next level. “I help riders focus on movement and strengthening any movements they have which may be weak,” Tortora said. “When Oded comes for his free one-hour training session, which also includes a half-hour consultation as well, I will assess how his body moves and then we will work on strengthening his core which will in turn stabilize him on the horse and in day to day life.”

Continue reading International Dressage Rider Oded Shimoni Wins BEST Rider Award from Personal Trainer Nick Tortora at Wellington Classic Dressage Autumn Challenge

The Equestrian Aid Foundation Announces the 2012 Sidelines Annual Equestrian Tetrathlon

Wellington, FL – October 24, 2011 – The Equestrian Aid Foundation is pleased to announce the 2012 Sidelines Annual Equestrian Tetrathlon, Sunday, February 5, 2012. The second annual event will be held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Florida to benefit the Equestrian Aid Foundation. The event will feature the best of Palm Beach’s restaurant fare and cocktails as well as guest chefs preparing food that will entice your palette. The event will also include both live and silent auction items in tandem with exhilarating entertainment.

Bruce Duchossois and Scot Evans have dedicated their time as Co-chairs for the event to help raise awareness in the equestrian community and raise funds to assist those in need. The Tetrathlon will focus around a “Wild, Wild West” theme, the Gold Rush. The highlight of the evening will be the world-class horsemen and women in the greatest discipline switch to ever be anticipated. The four disciplines include dressage, reining, show jumping and polo.

“This is our major fundraiser for the year,” said Co-chair Duchossois. “This event brings all disciplines together to participate in the fundraiser and give back to the equestrian community.”

Continue reading The Equestrian Aid Foundation Announces the 2012 Sidelines Annual Equestrian Tetrathlon

Minderhoud Wins Reem Acra Opening Round in Odense

The Netherlands' Hans Peter Minderhoud and IPS Tango won the opening leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Odense, Denmark today. Photo: FEI/Ridehesten.com

Odense (DEN), 23 October 2011 – Dutch rider, Hans Peter Minderhoud, was in reflective mood after winning the opening leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Odense, Denmark this afternoon with the 11 year old chestnut stallion, IPS Tango.  He has his sights firmly set on a place at the series final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands next April along with a spot at the London Olympic Games, but he knows he has a lot of work to do to get there.

It is a very different story for the Dutchman who enjoyed such a long and fruitful partnership with the great mare, Exquis Nadine, who was retired during the FEI European Dressage Championships in Rotterdam this summer.  He is now working with a horse that is something of a “work in progress” rather than super-experienced, but he was delighted with his result today.  “I’m not surprised that he won,” the Dutchman said afterwards. “My horse is in good shape, even yesterday when we finished third in the Grand Prix.  He is really coming along,” he added.

RESPONSIBLE
Runner-up was Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg with the aptly-named Responsible, while yesterday’s Grand Prix winner, Tinne Vilhelmsson Silfven from Sweden, slotted into third with Don Auriello.  “He is only nine years old and in his first year competing in Grand Prix,” she said of her horse.  “Perhaps he was a bit tired compared with yesterday, but I am very pleased with third place,” the Swedish rider added.

Continue reading Minderhoud Wins Reem Acra Opening Round in Odense

US Eventing Team Leads 2011 Pan American Games after Dressage

Michael Pollard and Schoensgreen Hanni Lead the U.S. Eventers (Photo: Shannon Brinkman)

Guadalajara, Mexico – The U.S. Eventing Team got their competition off to a strong start in the dressage phase at the 2011 Pan American Games, cruising to the lead by more than nine points. The top three riders’ scores from each team count, so the United States goes forward to Saturday’s cross country on a score of 138.6 penalties. Canada is second on a combined total of 147.4 and Brazil sits third on 162.7. Canadian Jessica Phoenix leads the pack individually with a score of 43.9 on Pavarotti – but the U.S. has four riders in the top five and all five riders in the top 10.

Best for the U.S. was Schoensgreen Hanni and Michael Pollard (Dalton, GA) who made a lovely impression in the ring at Club Hippica, and put forward a very credible effort to score 44.5. Owned by Pollard’s wife Nathalie, the 8-year-old German Sport Horse mare didn’t make any mistakes for Pollard and they cruised into second place.

“I was really pleased,” said Pollard. “She presented exactly what we’ve been working on with no major mistakes – maybe a couple of things I would like to do a little bit better, but I thought all in all she did a good test today. She’s a horse that can do the other phases as well, so it should be a good weekend.”

Continue reading US Eventing Team Leads 2011 Pan American Games after Dressage

Who Will Be Inducted into the America’s Favorite Equestrian Hall of Fame? Voting Closes on October 31st!

WESTPORT, CT – October 21, 2011 – Who Will Be Inducted into the America’s Favorite Equestrian Hall of Fame? Voting ends on October 31, 2011. America’s Favorite Equestrians will be selected based on the athletes with the highest number of votes recorded in each of the eight disciplines.

The announcement will be made at the America’s Favorite Equestrian Victory Celebration on Friday, November 4, 2011, at 9:30 p.m., at the Alltech National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky.

This is it! Keep Voting! All it takes is a $5 gift to The EQUUS Foundation to insure that your favorite is America’s favorite. Click here to see the equestrian entries and to vote.

For information on The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., visit the EQUUS website at www.equusfoundation.org or contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at (203) 259-1550 or equus@equusfoundation.org.

Continue reading Who Will Be Inducted into the America’s Favorite Equestrian Hall of Fame? Voting Closes on October 31st!

Motivation from Moshi 79, by Jane Savoie

Who are you? Who are you, REALLY?

Being who you really are is not an easy task. I’m a Friesian, born in Holland, and imported to the USA. I’m different from most horses in that I have feathered legs. Some of the horses at the barn tease me about it, calling me an old work horse. It used to bother me, but then I heard Jane say something really important…

Those who matter don’t mind, and those who mind don’t matter.

When I was a youngster, I hoped that Jane would shave off my feathers so I would fit in with all the Warmbloods at my barn. I’d hide my legs behind the low bushes or stand behind the water trough when new horses came in. I didn’t want them to see that I was “different.”

As I matured, I realized that being different was actually the norm. Everyone has something that’s a little out of the ordinary. It was silly for me to be shy about other horses seeing my feathers. So, I made a conscious decision to accept myself for who and what I am. I decided to show off my hairy legs instead of hide them. And you know what? It didn’t change how my friends thought of me one bit. And they’re the ones that matter to me.

Continue reading Motivation from Moshi 79, by Jane Savoie

USA Dominates Dressage at Pan American Games

L to R - Heather Blitz (silver), Steffen Peters (gold) and Marisa Festerling (bronze). Photo: FEI/ Stockimageservices.com

Lausanne (SUI), 20 October 2011 – American Dressage riders swept all before them when returning a record-breaking fourth consecutive team victory and filling all the steps of the individual medal podium at the 2011 Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.  On Sunday they cruised confidently into pole position in the team event ahead of the silver medallists from Canada while Colombia claimed the bronze.  And yesterday Steffen Peters steered Weltino’s Magic to individual gold ahead of Heather Blitz with Paragon in silver and Marisa Festerling and Big Tyme in bronze.

It was a convincing performance at all levels, and anchorman Peters was the linchpin of the American side.  But, as he pointed out in the aftermath of the team success, he was under considerably less pressure than usual due to the highly-competitive performances of his team-mates.  “Over the past few years I have always had to carry a lot of weight on my shoulders as the very last rider, but the team did an awesome job – every single horse, every single rider,” he pointed out.  The silver medallists from Canada and bronze medallists from Colombia had plenty of reason to celebrate too, as their second and third-place finishes have provided them with qualifying spots for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

TEAM MEDALS
A total of 12 nations battled it out for the team medals, and the combined US score of 75.754 gave them a clear five-point victory. Peters and Weltino’s Magic produced the only score over 80% – his 80.132 setting a new Pan-American Games record – and he was awarded the leading mark by all five members of the Ground Jury – Great Britain’s Stephen Clarke, Raphael Saleh from France, Canada’s Cara Witham, Argentina’s Gabriel Armando and President, Lilo Fore, from the USA.

Continue reading USA Dominates Dressage at Pan American Games