Tag Archives: equestrian disciplines

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Driving, Events, FEI, FEI

Koos de Ronde Picks Up Fourth FEI World Cup Driving Win at Mechelen

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Koos de Ronde won the FEI World Cup Driving competition in Mechelen (BEL) for the fourth time. (Photo: Rinaldo de Craen/FEI)

Mechelen (BEL), 30 December 2012 – Dutch driver Koos de Ronde has a special bond with the FEI World Cup Driving in Mechelen (BEL). He won the competition in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and he won it again this year after a truly exciting competition.

De Ronde’s compatriot IJsbrand Chardon was actually well underway to secure his first-ever victory in the 12-year history of the FEI World Cup Driving in Mechelen when fate struck and his carriage tipped over. Luckily, Chardon, his grooms and his four horses were all uninjured and the four-time World Champion ended the night in third. London-Olympia winner Boyd Exell (AUS) finished second behind Koos de Ronde, who was competing on a wild card.

The excitement grew when each of the eight competitors entered the fully packed Nekkerhal in Mechelen where Dutch O-course designer had laid out a good fast course. Rookie Glenn Geerts (BEL), who also competed with a wild card, set the time to beat in the first round and nearly made it to the Winning Round, much to the excitement of the Belgian driving fans. But Boyd Exell, IJsbrand Chardon and Koos de Ronde all beat Geerts’ very fast time to qualify for the Winning Round with very small time differences.

Continue reading Koos de Ronde Picks Up Fourth FEI World Cup Driving Win at Mechelen →

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

Sweden’s Von Eckermann Is Victorious in Mechelen with Gotha

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Henrik von Eckermann and Gotha FRH on their way to victory in the eighth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton

Mechelen (BEL), 30 December 2012 – Henrik von Eckermann secured an important first win in the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series when coming out on top in the eighth leg of the 2012/2013 Western European League at Mechelen in Belgium today. And it was a particularly good day for Swedish riders as the 31-year-old’s compatriot, Jens Fredricson, finished third behind runner-up Francois Mathy Jr from Belgium.

From a starting field of 40, a total of nine made the cut into the second-round jump-off in which von Eckermann clearly demonstrated the qualities that saw German legend, Ludger Beerbaum, offer him the opportunity to join his team nine years ago.  With great skill, and astute judgement, the Swede steered Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s mare, Gotha FRH, to success over a jump-off course that tested balance, control and turning skills.  “I hope to keep the ride on her for a while now!” he said of the 11-year-old horse which has been campaigned by Beerbaum in recent years.

Continue reading Sweden’s Von Eckermann Is Victorious in Mechelen with Gotha →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Laura Kraut and Cedric Return from Olympia Ready for the Winter Equestrian Festival

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Laura Kraut and Cedric finished sixth in the Earls Court Olympia Christmas Cracker at the London International Horse Show Olympia. Photo By: Erin Cowgill

London, England – December 28, 2012 – Olympian Laura Kraut has continued to impress across international waters with her talented line-up of mounts. From Wednesday, December 19 until December 23, 2012, Kraut guided several of her mounts to top placings at the London International Horse Show Olympia. The 14-year-old grey gelding Cedric, owned by Cherry Knoll Farm, found his rightful place among the best, competing in an intense jump-off that tested both horse and rider alike.

Louis Konickx designed the 1.55m course for The Earls Court Olympia Christmas Cracker. The course consisted of 12 obstacles, and a challenging jump-off. The short track started over a standalone vertical and continued to another vertical with a left bending line. Upon landing, the pair had to take a triple bar and then complete a hard left rollback to the oxer-vertical double-combination. The riders continued over an oxer near the in gate, and a hard left turn took them to the standalone vertical, reversed from the first round. They had to keep the timer in mind as they landed from the vertical and raced over the final oxer to break the beam and seal their fate.

Continue reading Laura Kraut and Cedric Return from Olympia Ready for the Winter Equestrian Festival →

Dressage, Events, JRPR, Training/Clinics

Stars of Tomorrow Set to Shine as Robert Dover Horsemastership Week Returns to Wellington

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Rebecca Cohen and her Westphalian gelding Downtown will participate in the Robert Dover Horsemastership Week along with a number of other top young riders. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (December 28, 2012) – The second annual Robert Dover Horsemastership Week (RDHW) will be presented January 2-6, 2013 in the Van Kampen Arena of the Global Dressage Festival show grounds and at Tuny Page’s Stillpoint Farm.  The week will shine a spotlight on what its U.S. Olympic namesake, Robert Dover, calls the dressage world’s ‘stars of tomorrow,’ coinciding with a George Morris Horsemastership Clinic for top junior jumping riders.

“I am very excited to once again be holding the Robert Dover Horsemastership Week at the beautiful Global Dressage Festival venue.  The Emerging Dressage Athlete Program has become enormously important in identifying and nurturing our talented juniors and young riders,” said the six-time Olympian and USDF Hall of Famer.  Dover began riding at age 13, starting dressage at 19 and, nine years later, competed in his first (1984) Olympics, going on to qualify for every squad thereafter through 2004.

RDHW riders were chosen from Lendon Gray Dressage4Kids (D4K) Emerging Dressage Athlete clinics, North American Junior Young Rider Championships, U.S. Equestrian Federation Festival of Champions, and the Dressage Seat Medal Finals.  Among the dozen riders representing hometowns in Texas, New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, Arizona, Connecticut, Washington, California, and Louisiana is one Florida rider:  Rebecca Cohen.

Continue reading Stars of Tomorrow Set to Shine as Robert Dover Horsemastership Week Returns to Wellington →

HITS, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

HITS Selects Conrad Homfeld to Design AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix Course

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Photo Provided. Conrad Homfeld and Abdullah at the 1986 World Championships in Aachen, Germany.

THERMAL, CA (December 29, 2012) – Two-time Olympic medalist Conrad Homfeld has been selected as course designer for the AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach. This history-making event is scheduled for March 17 as the closing note to seven weeks of non-stop hunter/jumper action on the 2013 HITS Desert Circuit, Jan. 22 – March 17 at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, CA.

Homfeld will design the courses in the Grand Prix Ring during Desert Circuit VII, March 12-17. While every one of them will be special, it is the inaugural AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix on which the eyes of the world will be affixed.

“In planning each detail of the first-ever AIG Thermal $1 Million we have taken great care to ensure that it is in every way a special event ― one that’s memorable for exhibitors and spectators alike,” said HITS President and CEO Tom Struzzieri. “In keeping with that strategy, it’s appropriate to have Conrad design the test. As a show manager, I appreciate working with someone whose plan makes a course challenging and beautiful at the same time.”

Continue reading HITS Selects Conrad Homfeld to Design AIG Thermal $1 Million Grand Prix Course →

*Featured/Spotlights, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

USHJA Zone 4 Free Riders Clinic Announces Cynthia Hankins as Clinician

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Cynthia Hankins will be the clinician for the Floridian Community Bank USHJA Zone 4 Free Clinic this February 25, 2013. Photo Courtesy of Client

Wellington, FL – December 28, 2013 – The USHJA Zone 4 Hunter and Jumper Committees are working in tandem with Floridian Community Bank to offer a free Riders Clinic for Zone 4 members at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach on February 25, 2013. The clinic is open to all Zone 4 USEF/USHJA members of varying levels at absolutely no cost. Zone 4 is pleased to announce Cynthia Hankins as the clinician for the first Riders Clinic this year.

Hankins is a native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and has a resume and reputation that speaks for itself with numerous accolades and years of experience in the equitation, hunter and jumper rings. Hankins was the fifth place finisher at the ASPCA Alfred B. Maclay Finals when she was only 12 years old, and continued on to achieve many of the most coveted junior awards.

Her most successful junior weekend came at Harrisburg’s Pennsylvania National Horse Show where, aboard Nissen, she was Small Junior Hunter Champion with three blue ribbons, Grand Hunter Champion and Best Child Rider. Hankins also went on to win the USEF Hunter Seat Medal.

Continue reading USHJA Zone 4 Free Riders Clinic Announces Cynthia Hankins as Clinician →

Contributors/Press, Dressage, Events, Jennifer Wood, Training/Clinics

Second Annual Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic on January 1-6

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Wellington, FL – December 22, 2012 – Equestrian Sport Productions is pleased to announce that the Second Annual Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic will be held at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, site of the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, on January 1-6, 2013. The clinic will consist of training with world-renowned dressage riders as well as lectures from the industry’s best horsemen and women.

The riding clinic will take place at the Van Kampen Arena at the Stadium and coincides with the George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session for hunter/jumper riders on the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds.

Twelve riders and 10 official auditors will participate in the clinic and will have the chance to work with amazing dressage riders, trainers, and judges such as: Six-time Olympian Robert Dover, 2012 U.S. Olympians Jan Ebeling and Tina Konyot, U.S. Olympians Lendon Gray and Courtney Dye, international riders Katherine Bateson Chandler, Tuny Page and Michael Barisone, and international judges Gary Rockwell and Anne Gribbons.

Continue reading Second Annual Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic on January 1-6 →

*Featured/Spotlights, Classic Company, Classic Company, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Gulf Coast – Pensacola Winter Circuit Update

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Beaches and Breeches – the Gulf Coast Classic Company’s Pensacola Series

Mary Lisa Leffler of Rolling Acres Farm riding "Fabulous"

Happy Holidays from the Classic Company!  As the Nor’easter hits the East Coast bringing with it rain, sleet and snow, equestrians are heading south to the Gulf Coast and Pensacola!

‘Classic Saturday’ schedules free up Sundays making travel to the airport easy!  Another reason top riders call Gulf Coast Classic Company’s Pensacola shows their new “favorite”!

The Gulf Coast Classic Company’s Pensacola shows are set to kick off on January 9th and offer a weekly $25,000 Grand Prix, USEF AA Hunter Sections, weekly USHJA National Hunter Derbies, a USEF International Hunter Derby Week II, as well as a wealth of Jumper Classics for the Junior/AOs and the Children and Adult Jumpers.

“Most importantly, we will be running our Classic Saturdays again this year. By moving many of our events to Saturday, it makes travel so much easier for our customers who need to get back home for school or work on Mondays.  We don’t want anyone missing a flight or having to scratch a class because rings are running too long on a Sunday,” said Classic Company President Bob Bell.  “This show may be the most convenient to an airport. It seriously takes no more than 25 minutes to get from the show grounds to the airport!” said Patty Foster of Rolling Acres Farm of Brookeville, Maryland.  “This is perfect for my customers who fly in and out of Pensacola each week.  The town is only 10 minutes from the horse show and has awesome restaurants on the water.  The old historic area on the waterfront is amazing.  Everything is so convenient; you can go to the beach, go shopping. The show and the area is just so user friendly!” she added.

Continue reading Gulf Coast – Pensacola Winter Circuit Update →

Community/Charity, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Fundraisers, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Show Jumping Riders Announced for $100,000 Trump Invitational

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Initial Tables Sold Out, New Tables Added with Limited Availability; Tina Konyot and Calecto V to Perform Dressage Exhibition

Wellington, FL – December 26, 2012 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) announces that the riders for the $100,000 Trump Invitational, held at The Mar-a-Lago Club on Palm Beach Island on Sunday, January 6, at 12 p.m., have been announced.

The riders that will be invited to compete in the inaugural $100,000 Trump Invitational are:

From the United States:

  • Kent Farrington
  • Laura Kraut
  • Reed Kessler
  • Mclain Ward
  • Lauren Hough
  • Katie Dinan
  • Brianne Goutal
  • Christine McCrea
  • Saer Coulter
  • Charlie Jayne
  • Candice King
  • Margie Engle
  • Jessica Springsteen
  • Leslie Howard
  • Kirsten Coe
  • Schuyler Riley
  • Catherine Pasmore
  • Lauren Tisbo
  • Quentin Judge
  • Paige Johnson
  • Nicole Bellissimo
  • Gabrielle Mershad
  • Nick Dello Joio

Continue reading Show Jumping Riders Announced for $100,000 Trump Invitational →

*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping, USEF

Remember to Cast Your Votes for the 2012 USEF Equestrian of the Year and Horse of the Year

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Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy are nominated for the 2012 USEF Equestrian of the Year and Horse of the Year awards. Photo By: Hunter Messineo

Buffalo, NY – December 27, 2012 – Time is running out to vote for the 2012 USEF Horse of the Year Award and the 2012 USEF Equestrian of the Year Award. Voting will run through midnight (EAT) January 7, 2013, with the champions claiming their crowns on January 18 during the 2013 USEF Annual Meeting as part of the 2012 USEF Awards Celebration.

To place your vote for Jennifer Alfano as the 2012 USEF Equestrian of the Year, please visit http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/eoty/. To place your vote for Jersey Boy as the 2012 USEF Horse of the Year, please visit http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/hoty/ and type in your email address to access the voting portal.

This is the first year that Alfano has received the coveted Emerson Burr Trophy, as well as had the honor to claim a place among the eight nominated athletes of the equestrian sport. As a two-time World Champion Hunter Rider in 1996 and 1997, Alfano has nabbed the coveted Leading Hunter Rider Award at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, the National Horse Show and the Ocala HITS winter circuit. She was the Top Grossing Rider with over $400,000 in earnings in 2010, and currently sits second in the USHJA Lifetime Rider Standings with an astounding $299,650 earned in International Hunter Derby winnings, with $70,000 earned in the 2012 year alone. The National Show Hunter Hall of Fame voted Alfano 2009 and 2011 Hunter Rider of the Year.

Continue reading Remember to Cast Your Votes for the 2012 USEF Equestrian of the Year and Horse of the Year →