Tag Archives: featured

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., Show Jumping

Vote Now for McLain Ward and Barbara Crabo as USOC November Athletes of the Month

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McLain Ward.

Wellington, FL – December 5, 2014 – The voting ends in a just a couple of days, so now is the time to cast your all-important votes for two world-class equestrians, in the running for U.S. Olympic Committee Athlete of the Month for November.

Cast your vote now at: http://twtpoll.com/kwldbvg3kizszij.

Barbara Crabo is a top level event rider based in the Southwest. Barb competes at three day events and horse trials from California to Maryland, including at the prestigious Rolex Kentucky CCI****. She has been the USEA Area X (Arizona, Nevada & New Mexico) Rider of the Year for six of the last eight years.

McLain Ward is one of the nation’s all-time winningest riders with two Olympic Gold medals to his credit, the team Gold at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and the team Gold at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. This year he was a member of the United States Bronze medal winning WEG team in Normandy, France and is second only to Margie Engle in career grand prix victories.

Most recently, Ward and Rothchild took top honors in the $100,000 Hickstead FEI World Cup Grand Prix, at CSI4*-W Toronto, The Royal Horse Show. He also won the $34,000 Jolera International on Opening Night of Toronto.

Each National Governing Body may nominate one female, one male and one team per discipline for USOC monthly honors. A voting panel selects the winners from the pool of nominees with online fan voting via Twitter accounting for 10 percent of the total vote.

Voting closes is just days, so vote now at: http://twtpoll.com/kwldbvg3kizszij.

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Championships, Competitions, Dressage

Florida Youth Dressage Championships Return to 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival

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Bebe Davis and Fievel Mousekewitz won the 2014 FEI Junior Division. Photo copyright Susan J. Stickle.

Wellington, FL – December 4, 2014 – The Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is pleased to announce that the 2015 Florida Youth Dressage Championships will once again be held during its competition this winter at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. The event will take place March 11-15, 2015, during AGDF’s week 10 CDI-W competition.

The Florida Youth Dressage Championships are proudly presented this year by Dressage4Kids, PanaCavallo and Cavalleria Toscana, and Hampton Green Farm. The championships are open to all nationalities. Riders under 25, no matter what country they are from, are encouraged to sign up and participate! Competition includes four FEI Divisions: a Pony Division, a Junior Division, a Young Rider Division and an Under 25 Grand Prix.

“We are very excited to once again host the Florida Youth Dressage Championships,” said AGDF Director of Dressage Thomas Baur. “We want to see the youth riders engage in the international spirit of the AGDF, and this is a wonderful way for them to experience exciting competition against their peers.”

Newly appointed USEF Dressage Youth Coach George Williams looks forward to the competition and is happy to see the championships return to Wellington in 2015 as AGDF gears up for a winter of top international sport.

“I am definitely looking forward to the youth championships again this year,” Williams stated. “I think each year it gets bigger and more important as a competition. It is an international competition that is open to riders from all countries. It is not limited to just North America, so it allows our U.S. riders an opportunity to compete against riders from other countries. That is a valuable experience and obviously a wonderful learning opportunity for our riders. I think that by having these opportunities, we really encourage and give our riders incentive to compete on a higher level.”

Youth under the age of 25 interested in competing must apply in writing by submitting a letter of intent by midnight EST on February 15, 2015 to LendonGray@gmail.com. The qualifying process will be that the top 15 ranked pairs in each division that have submitted a letter of intent will be invited. Lendon Gray will identify the 15 top ranked riders for each division and notify them for their participation.

Special youth activities are scheduled for the week as well as the CDI competition during week 10 of AGDF. Please don’t get left out; sign up now for this amazing experience! For more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

APPLICATIONS: A letter of intent stating your name, the name of your horse, the division you wish to compete in, and your contact information must be submitted to Dressage4Kids at LendonGray@gmail.com by February 15, 2015.

ENTRIES: Riders must make their entries through their National Federation as well as with Adequan Global Dressage Festival as they normally do for the CDI competition by the published closing date of February 24, 2015. In addition, they must submit their qualifying scores to the competition secretary by midnight EST on February 2, 2015.

About the Adequan Global Dressage Festival:

The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring 7 FEI Dressage events, including a 5* and the only FEI Nations’ Cup Series CDIO in the Western Hemisphere. The AGDF offers more than $650,000 in prize money for the seven international competitions, making it one of the richest circuits in the world. The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center facility includes the Van Kampen covered arena (made possible by Kimberly and Frederic Boyer and family) and four outdoor arenas with world-class footing, 200 permanent stalls, and a VIP seating area.

Please visit
www.globaldressagefestival.com
www.equestriansport.com
or call 561-793-5867 for more information.

Adequan Global Dressage Festival is located at
13500 South Shore Blvd, Wellington, Florida 33414

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Equestrian Public Relations
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Competitions, Show Jumping

Rolex Presents CHI Geneva, the Third Equestrian Major of 2014

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Geneva, Switzerland, 11-14 December 2014 – The mark of a truly global sport is that it never sleeps. As the international tennis circuit moves around the world and from outdoor to indoor tournaments, so does the demanding world of top-level Show Jumping.

It builds to an annual peak at CHI Geneva. The Swiss indoor show, situated in Rolex’s beautiful home city, is regularly voted by the sport’s greatest riders as the best in the world. All of them will strive to compete in Geneva from 11-14 December. It has a long and distinguished history, having regularly attracted the finest horses and riders since its inception in 1926, and its proximity to Christmas gives CHI Geneva a particularly special atmosphere.

The show’s highlight is always the Rolex Grand Prix, this year being staged on Sunday 14 December. Rolex has been a presenting partner of CHI Geneva since 1996, and the grandstands will be packed with excited, passionate spectators for this intensely competitive class.

The Rolex Grand Prix at CHI Geneva also forms the third stage of the thrilling Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, giving the show the status of one of the sport’s three “Majors”.

This unique competition, established as Show Jumping’s ultimate challenge, travels the world from Aachen in Germany to Spruce Meadows in Canada before concluding in Geneva.

An added highlight of CHI Geneva 2014 is the return of the Rolex International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) Top 10 Final. This is elite sport at its finest: just the Top 10 ranked riders of 2014 battling it out to be named number one in the world.

There will also be a CHI Geneva first in the form of an indoor Cross Country class presented by Rolex, with Peter Hasenböhler in charge of designing the course and extending the main arena to include the adjacent training paddock. Along with former World Champion Michael Jung, there will be a host of other notable international event riders taking part in this innovative competition.

ROLEX TESTIMONEES AT CHI GENEVA

In recent years, winners of the Rolex Grand Prix at CHI Geneva have often come from the superb group of equestrian athletes who form Rolex’s equestrian Testimonees.

Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat was last year’s winner on his 2012 Olympic gold medal winning horse Nino Des Buissonets and the pair have set their sights on a third triumph in Geneva.

“Geneva is at the very heart of our sport. You feel like a star when you go into the ring, this is the place where you want to leave the arena as a winner.”

In 2010, Kevin Staut took the Rolex Grand Prix for France on the great Silvana HDC, and two years earlier Canada’s Eric Lamaze won on the incomparable Hickstead, the horse he rode to win Olympic gold in 2008.

Three-time winner of the World Cup Final, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Kent Farrington, the most recent addition to the Rolex family, will be looking to make their mark on the show. Meredith has competed many times in Geneva and her exciting new ride, Fibonacci, could be a serious contender in the Rolex Grand Prix this year. Likewise, Kent Farrington will be looking to round off an impressive 2014 with victory in Geneva.

Steve Guerdat was just 24 when he won the class on Jalisca Solier in 2006. But the most successful Rolex Testimonee at CHI Geneva has been Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa, who has claimed the title four times so far – in 1993 on Loro Piana Special Envoy, in 2000 on Gandini Lianos, and in 2002 and 2004 on Baloubet Du Rouet.

ROLEX GRAND SLAM OF SHOW JUMPING

The chance to be crowned Rolex champion is, without doubt, a dream for any rider. Ian Millar, 67, has achieved the extraordinary accolade of having competed in 10 Olympic Games for Canada, and was an extremely popular winner of the Spruce Meadows leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping in September 2014. Alas, Millar is unable to attend CHI Geneva this year in his quest to defend his Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping title and so a new Champion will be crowned.

ROLEX’S EQUESTRIAN HERITAGE

Rolex’s support of Show Jumping reaches back more than 50 years. The leading watch-making brand’s long and intimate association with equestrianism shows its appreciation of a world in which fair play, horsemanship and tradition underline great ability, precision and achievement.

Rolex’s first equestrian Testimonee was Pat Smythe, with whom the company formed an alliance in 1957. She was the greatest female Show Jumper ever to represent Britain, and since then Rolex has supported riders in the three Olympic disciplines of Show Jumping, Eventing and Dressage who demonstrate the same brilliant qualities and whose sportsmanship and high standards make them the leaders of their sport.

To view an exclusive preview film ahead of the CHI Geneva show, please click here.

www.rolex.com
www.rolexgrandslam.com
equestrianismpressroom.rolex.com

Training/Clinics

Free Clinics and More at Virginia Horse Center Equine Education Day – December 13

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Betty Oare (pictured) will present a horse show judging clinic as part of the first VHCF Equine Education Day.

Lexington, Va. – November 26, 2014 – It’s the season of giving, and this year the Virginia Horse Center Foundation (VHCF) wants to give something back to the equestrian community. On Saturday, December 13, 2014, the Horse Center will present its inaugural FREE VHCF Equine Education Day.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the East Complex building, the VCHF will present seven different clinics and seminars, allowing attendees to rotate through and attend all seven sessions. Registration for the day begins at 8:30 a.m., and complimentary donuts and hot chocolate will be served at that time.

The impressive line-up of clinicians and topics for the VHCF Equine Education Day will include:

Horse Show Judging Clinic with Betty Oare: While other seminars will be held repeatedly throughout the day, this clinic will be held once beginning at 1 p.m.

A lifelong equestrian, Oare rode professionally for her father, J. Arthur Reynolds, in Tryon, NC until 1981 when she took her amateur status. She has been named champion at many of the nation’s top hunter shows, and today, at the age of 70, she still campaigns two hunters, Capone and Fine Kiss, in the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions across the country. When Oare is not competing or foxhunting with the Warrenton Hunt, she is an active U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) ‘R’ judge. She also sits on the USEF National Hunter Committee, the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s (USHJA) Hunter Breeding Committee, the USHJA Open Hunter Task Force and the USHJA Amateur Committee.

Equine Parasite Control with Dr. Tabby Moore: Dr. Tabby Moore of Blue Ridge Equine Clinic will explain the best practices in equine parasite control and the research behind them. Horse owners can bring their manure samples in a small plastic bag to learn how to evaluate them for parasites.

‘So You Want to Work with Horses’ with Melyni Worth: Worth comes to the seminar with a PhD in Equine Nutrition and as a board certified Equine Nutritionist. She currently serves as the Director of Equine Programs at both Wesleyan College and Averett College. A longtime owner, breeder, rider and competitor, Worth is also the owner of Foxden Equine and Cedar Creek Stables, and she will be discussing the numerous careers available within the equestrian industry.

Equine Nutrition at Its Best with Southern States Specialist, Ruth Hopke: Hopke will discuss what is new in the horse feed industry as well as basic nutrition fundamentals for horse owners.

Toxic Plants and Their Effects with Diane Hinch: Hinch is heavily involved in the Augusta County 4-H program, the Glenmore Hunt Pony Club and the National U.S. Pony Club (USPC) organization. She will be speaking on toxic plants and properly identifying the toxic plants found in Virginia that could be deadly to horses.

Horse Safety with Tamala Nichols: Nichols is a judge, a USEF dressage technical delegate and an FEI Level 1 dressage steward, as well as a 4-H leader in Roanoke County and the chairman of the Green Hill Park Equestrian Center. Nichols will be discussing the importance of horse safety.

Proper Horseshoeing: Guest speaker to be announced.

For questions regarding the VCHF Equine Education Day, please contact Grace Mullen by email at: gracemullen3@gmail.com.

For media inquiries, please contact Emily at emr@phelpsmediagroup.com.

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Community/Charity

Help Horses in Need on #GivingTuesday – Support Villa Chardonnay

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Chip came to Villa Chardonnay with his partner Dale after his owner passed away and they lost their home. Their owner’s last wish was that they stay together and were given the chance roam free without being locked in stalls. Villa Chardonnay made her last wish come true. Photos by Abram Goglanian.

Temecula, CA – December 2, 2014 – Often times we become so overwhelmed with planning for the holidays that we forget what the season is really about. December 2nd is Giving Tuesday, a national day of giving, and you have the opportunity to make a difference. Villa Chardonnay Horses with Wings, an animal sanctuary, has created a fundraising Indiegogo campaign to help expand their animal safe-haven just in time for the holiday season.

Villa Chardonnay received a gift early, as a donor offered to match every dollar donated during the campaign – up to $25,000 through December 20th! A wave of excitement swept over Villa Chardonnay when everyone heard the news because they knew that this generous contribution would allow them to offer even more resources to their rescued animals.

“This is such a great way to start the campaign! It’s so fantastic knowing that when people donate, small or large, everything is being matched,” Louise Gardner (CFO) smiled.

One hundred percent of the donations made during the holiday season will go to the once neglected or slaughter-bound horses and animals living at Villa Chardonnay.

When Sammy became blind, his friend Mikey (left) took care of him, led him to food and water, and made sure he stayed out of trouble. When their owners lost their ranch, many tried to separate the pair. Villa Chardonnay made sure their friendship was not broken by taking them in as an inseparable team.
When Sammy became blind, his friend Mikey (left) took care of him, led him to food and water, and made sure he stayed out of trouble. When their owners lost their ranch, many tried to separate the pair. Villa Chardonnay made sure their friendship was not broken by taking them in as an inseparable team.

Caring for over 200 rescue animals, Villa Chardonnay is one of the largest and most reputable sanctuaries on the West Coast. They are dependent on the generous donations gifted by compassionate individuals who support their mission of taking in unwanted animals with no other options. In an effort to support more neglected animals, Villa Chardonnay is urgently trying to gather funds to move their animal sanctuary to a self-sustaining facility in southern California, where they will continue to help animals in need, grow their own hay and preserve land.

Villa Chardonnay’s new location will allow them to provide a forever home to even more abused and deserving creatures. Help Villa Chardonnay help these animals with a donation during this holiday season.

Villa Chardonnay, Horses with Wings, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. All donations made to Villa Chardonnay, Horses with Wings, Inc. are tax deductible. Items purchased from Villa Chardonnay Pet Supplies are not tax deductible.

Click here to donate to the Indiegogo campaign or mail your donations to:

42200 Calle Barbona
Temecula, CA 92592

To sponsor one of Villa Chardonnay’s loving animals, visit http://goo.gl/cSpgnk.

For more information about Villa Chardonnay Horses with Wings, click here.

Alexandra Lynch for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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From a Liability to a Lesson Horse – Ray Ainsworth Transforms Barrel Horse

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Twist was previously considered a serious risk to anyone who worked with her, now, after her time with Ainsworth she’s running barrels successfully.

Jackson, MS – December 1, 2014 – When Jordan Kiker and her mare Twist would show up at barrel racing events no one wanted them there. The mare was reckless, dangerous, and what many considered to be a liability and risk to their safety.

Kiker was even offered money not to run the mare, and she was about to throw in the towel and find a new barrel horse. Then a friend made a suggestion that would drastically change things for Kiker and Twist.

“I had lost a lot of confidence in her, and I was just about to get a young horse to start instead,” 22-year-old Kiker said. “There was a friend of ours that had sent a horse to Ray Ainsworth and said, ‘You should just give him a shot.'”

So with no ideas left on what to do to stop Twist’s dangerous behavior, Kiker turned to renowned horseman Ray Ainsworth. Known as “The Man Horses Talk To™,” Ainsworth does not train horses; he teaches them in a way that makes him one of the world’s most unique horsemen.

Ainsworth first began working solely with Twist, before soon working with both Kiker and Twist to help develop what would become an unbelievable partnership.

“I went down there and worked with Ray and worked with Twist, and I loved it. It was great. He taught me so much about life,” Kiker said. “There were days he made me cry and that I hated him, but it made me a better person in general. I understand horses better now. I went to Ray’s farm about two or three times a week.”

Kiker continued, “During that time, I went to Arkansas for a barrel run. All these people there were saying things like ‘I can’t believe you brought her back. We do not want this horse here.’

“A guy offered my dad another $200 just to not bring her. My dad said, ‘I don’t want your money. Back off.'”

What happened next for Kiker and Twist was priceless. Not only did they surprise the skeptics who did not think that the dangerous Twist that they knew could ever change, Kiker and Twist beat everyone by more than two seconds and set a new arena record – all with no bridle, just a halter and lead rope.

“I was on the horse that everybody hated and that everybody said was going to cause somebody to get hurt. We probably would have if it hadn’t been for Ray. It was wild!” Kiker said. “People realized that we had both grown up and changed. It’s unbelievable the change in Twist and the change in me. Ray changed my whole perspective on riding, and my horse and I are both happy.”

Now, in between balancing classes as a chemical engineering major at the University of Mississippi, Kiker teaches riding lessons when she can to pass along the knowledge and approach to horses that Ainsworth instilled in her.

Through those lessons, Twist is right there with Kiker, teaching even the youngest students how to ride.

“I have a 13-year-old girl, Taylor, leasing Twist and running her right now. She’s run in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi,” Kiker said. “Taylor said that Twist is really minding her and acting like a sweetheart. Back home, I have little five-year-olds crying because Twist is leased out and won’t be back in my barn for a year!”

Kiker concluded, “I owe everything to Ray. It’s amazing how different Twist is and how different of a rider I am because of him. When people are like I don’t know what to do, I immediately say send them to Ray. It’s worth any money, and it’s worth any time. You’ll come out a different person.”

Ainsworth travels the world presenting entertaining and informative clinics to horse lovers of all disciplines. Plus, he has a series of comprehensive teaching DVDs. Ainsworth has started as many as 10,000 horses. His stress-free program teaches horses how to behave with a maximum of understanding. He works with all types, breeds of horses – young foals, old mares, abused horses, trailer-shy horses, horses who will not allow their feet and ears to be handled and every horse in between.

Ainsworth’s specialty is starting horses the right way and helping address behavioral concerns. Along the way, owners and riders learn horse language themselves and are able to apply this knowledge to their own dealings with these amazing animals.

Find out more about Ray Ainsworth at www.rayainsworth.com.

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Sharn Wordley & Popstar Lozonais Top $10k Equiline Open Stake at Holiday & Horses

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Sharn Wordley and Popstar Lozonais. Photos copyright Mancini Photos.

Tiffany Morrissey and Belucci Win $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Wellington, FL – November 30, 2014 – Equestrian Sport Productions’ Holiday & Horses competition concluded on Sunday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with a win for Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Popstar Lozonais in the $10,000 Equiline Open Stake class. A $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby was also held with a victory for Tiffany Morrissey and Belucci.

Catsy Cruz of Mexico has been the course designer for international jumper competition all week and concluded with a challenging track for Sunday’s exhibitors. Fifty entries showed in round one with 17 clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. The riders were given an option to jump immediately following their first round or wait until the end of the first round to jump-off, and although several chose the immediate option, there were no double clear rounds until the end.

Abigail McArdle (USA) set the pace in 37.19 seconds aboard David McArdle’s Cade to eventually finish in third place. A few rounds later, Lucas Porter (USA) and Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Mill’s Georgia stole the lead in 36.14 seconds. They eventually settled for second place when Sharn Wordley and Ashland Stables’ Popstar Lozonais took over the top spot, last to go and almost two seconds faster in 34.39 seconds.

Wordley has ridden Popstar Lozonais, an 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Quick Star x Muguet du Manoir), for one year and has had great results.

“He is a speed machine,” the rider smiled after his win. “He is by Quick Star, and he actually won the seven-year-old championships in Fontainebleau. He is 11 now, so he has always been a good horse. At the 1.45m level he is really fast. He is a little tricky to ride, but always wins a class at most shows that I go to.”

“He is just a typical Quick Star,” Wordley described. “He is mouthy and he hops up and down and bucks halfway through a line. It took me a while to get a partnership with him, but now it has been good. He has won a couple of the $10,000 classes here, and he won in Kentucky and Tryon. He is winning all over the place, so I am really happy to have him as a part of the team.”

Speaking of Sunday’s course, Wordley noted, “I thought it was tricky enough. There were quite a lot in it and there weren’t that many double clean, so it was obviously tricky enough even though it was only 1.40m. I think the triple combination away from the gate caught a few people, and it just took some jumping with all the other jumps.”

“I got to see Abigail and she was really fast, and then Lucas came out and beat her,” Wordley detailed on the jump-off. “I was planning to do one more extra stride to the last jump, so I had to make up a bit of time at the beginning, but he is so fast. It is hard to judge how fast you are actually going. I didn’t plan on being two seconds faster because it was already a fast class, but it just happened that way. He is so fast at turning, and he is so quick. He is an amazing horse.”

Wordley looks forward to the winter season in Wellington and will continue aiming Popstar Lovonais at the 1.45m world ranking classes throughout the circuit.

Tiffany Morrissey and Belucci
Tiffany Morrissey and Belucci

Also showing on Sunday afternoon, Tiffany Morrissey jumped to victory in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby aboard Eastwind Farms LLC’s Belucci. In the two round competition over a course set by Danny Moore, Morrissey and Belucci finished with a 168-point total with scores of 81 and 87. Molly Ashe-Cawley and Greer Hindle’s Freedom finished second with scores of 88 and 77 for a total of 165. Hellen Voss guided Mark Bone’s Cashmere to third place honors with scores of 80 and 83 to total 163.

Belucci is a seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (by Tenerife VDL) that Morrissey first started as a pre-green horse this year.

“We showed all summer and now he is going to do the First Years,” Morrissey detailed. “He has done derby classes before. He won in Lake Placid. He was first and second in Lake Placid and now he won another one.”

“He is a good jumper,” Morrissey described. “He is scopey, which is nice because you can always jump the high options. He is big-strided, so he is really good in the handy normally. He is a good boy.”

The rider spoke about each of her rounds with Belucci, stating, “Round one he was good. He rubbed one, so my first round score wasn’t quite as good as I would have hoped, but in the handy he was super. He was great in the second round.”

Morrissey and Belucci will now take a couple weeks off before returning to compete this winter, where Belucci will move up to prove himself in the First Year Green Working Hunters as he continues to develop.

ESP’s Holiday Show Series continues through January 4 featuring top hunter/jumper competition at the world-class Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The competition serves as a precursor to the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival, which begins January 7 and runs through March 29, featuring 12 weeks of competition and awarding over $8 million in prize money.

For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
info@jenniferwoodmedia.com
803.240.7488

*Featured/Spotlights, Driving, FEI

Exell Scores a Second Success in Stockholm

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Boyd Exell (AUS) won his second FEI World Cup™ Driving competition of the season at the Sweden International Horse Show in Stockholm last night. Photo: Roland Thunholm/FEI.

Stockholm (SWE), 30 November 2014 – Reigning FEI World Cup™ and world champion Boyd Exell (AUS) won the third leg of the FEI World Cup™ Driving held in Stockholm (SWE) last night leaving home driver Fredrik Persson and young Belgian Glenn Geerts behind.

The new Friends Arena in Stockholm was packed with enthusiastic equestrian fans. It was the first time that the Sweden International Horse Show, previously known as the Stockholm International Horse Show, took place in this multifunctional arena located just outside of Sweden’s capital city.

International course designer Dan Henriksson (SWE) had built a challenging course in the arena which is much bigger compared to the Globen one where the show was held previously. This resulted in a longer course featuring three marathon type obstacles, the regular cones and a bridge where fireworks went off as the drivers crossed it.

Day off

Exell’s leader horses were not used to the day off between the first competition and the World Cup competition and were very fresh in the arena. The Australian was second to last to start and he knew that his big opponent Tomas Eriksson (SWE), who would be the last driver in the arena, would go for it, so Exell went at full speed. The result was two knockdowns but a very fast time. Eriksson made some mistakes as well and did not qualify for the Winning Round. This took the pressure off Exell, who decided to change his routes. He set the fastest times of the evening in the Winning Round and won with a respectable 17-second advantage over Persson.

Trained by the Master

Exell has been helping Persson with his marathon driving skills since the summer and the training paid off indoors as well. The Swede drove his team of older horses – the youngest being 17 – smooth and fast through the course and was very pleased with their performance.

Unexpected

Young Glenn Geerts did not expect at all to make it to the Winning Round as he was convinced that Tomas Eriksson would score a very good result. The Belgian had to quickly reset himself in the warm-up arena to prepare for the Winning Round, which he drove very well. After Stuttgart, Geerts changed the setup in his four-in-hand by moving a horse from the wheel to the lead and the other way around. He trained with this new setup for three days between Stuttgart and Stockholm and had already noticed the difference in the first competition last Friday.

Farewell to a driving icon

The successful Swedish international four-in-hand driver Tomas Eriksson competed for the last time on home ground in Stockholm. Eriksson announced earlier this year his intention to retire and Stockholm was a fitting venue for his last FEI competition. The double world champion, 17-time Swedish champion, and winner of many key international driving events had received the wildcard from the organising committee. Eriksson won the first competition but because of a mistake in the World Cup round he finished in fourth place.

“I went too fast and at this level you cannot afford any mistakes. I am happy about my decision to retire from competition,” the Swedish driver said. “Being in the arena made it easier to say goodbye. I will for sure miss the competitions and I will of course keep following the driving sport,” he pointed out.

Eriksson was honoured in the arena after the prize giving ceremony.

First time

Both Werner Ulrich (SUI) and Theo Timmerman (NED) drove their first FEI World Cup™ Driving competition of the season in Stockholm. Ulrich finished in fifth place, while 2014 individual bronze medallist Timmerman had some problems with his new team of Lipizzan horses and finished sixth.

Quotes

Boyd Exell (AUS): “The course was hard work; it was very technical and we had no chance for a break. It was a good fight tonight and all the horses were fresh because of the day off. Both Fredrik and Glenn did a great job in the Winning Round.”

Fredrik Persson (SWE): “I am using my old horses and the adjustments I made to this team with Boyd’s help worked very well. I have to keep cool as well. I am looking forward to the next competition at London Olympia where I will be competing with the same team. It is good that we have more than two weeks to rest because the old boys need a good life between the competitions!”

Glenn Geerts (BEL): “I am the youngest World Cup driver this season. I have known the other drivers since I was a young boy helping my grandfather who was an international four-in-hand driver as well. These gentlemen actually taught me how to drive and it is fantastic that I can now compete against them.”

The detailed results are available here.

The detailed standings are available here.

The 2014/2015 FEI World Cup™ Driving series now moves on to Geneva (SUI) on Sunday, 14 December.

The FEI World Cup™ Driving competition in Geneva will be broadcast live on FEI TV, the FEI’s official video platform, on 14 December at 10.35 CET (local time in Switzerland, GMT+1 hour).

For information on Geneva, go to www.chi-geneve.ch or contact Press Officer Corinne Druey, druey@syntagme-lausanne.ch, +41 21 312 82 22.

By Cindy Timmer

Media contact:

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

At Stockholm:

Lotta Amnestal
lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se
+46 709 795 635

Competitions, FEI, Vaulting

Eccles Sisters Celebrate Double Victory in Paris

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World champion Joanne Eccles (GBR) captivated crowds at the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting 2014/15 second qualifier at the Salon du Cheval in Paris where, on WH Bentley and lunged by her father John Eccles, she won the female individual competition and the Pas-de-Deux with her sister Hannah. (Eric Malherbe/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 1 December 2014 – World champion Joanne Eccles (GBR) captivated crowds at the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting 2014/15 second qualifier at the Salon du Cheval in Paris at the weekend, winning the female individual competition, followed swiftly by the Pas-de-Deux with her younger sister Hannah (GBR).

Defending FEI World Cup™ Vaulting and former world champion Nicolas Andreani (FRA), known as “Nico” to his many fans, also stormed to male individual victory in Paris, where a total of 18 athletes from seven countries battled it out.

Joanne Eccles displayed her full range of style and skill on WH Bentley, lunged by her father John Eccles, earning an outstanding 8,828 points, which gave her 15 World Cup points as she targets the Final next year.

This was her first international competition since securing her second consecutive world title at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 this summer. Before heading to Paris, Eccles had said she wanted to show “how amazing vaulting is,” explaining, “When spectators enjoy my performances I enjoy them even more.” In Paris, she definitely reached her goal, impressing the audience with two clear and extremely difficult freestyles, including performing her unique one-handed handstand, which has become her trademark this season.

Individual vaulters now have an additional 20 seconds to impress the judges following a recent rule change to extend the one-minute routines. Eccles, the 25-year-old dentist from Scotland, said of these precious extra seconds: “It allows more time to really engage the audience and to truly feel the performance. It was a great competition in Paris as always, and the arena and organisation were brilliant for us and the horses.”

Corinna Knauf (GER) finished second with Echt Stark and her sister and lunger Alexandra Knauf, with Hannah Eccles (GBR) securing third on WH Bentley also lunged by her father John Eccles.

Highest score

Nicolas Andreani secured the male individual spot 705 points clear of his nearest rival. His classy performance on Just A Kiss with Marina Joosten Dupon, who has been his lunger and coach since he started vaulting as a child, earned him 8,933 points. “Thanks everyone for your great support!” said Andreani to his loyal fans, who came in droves to cheer him on in Paris.

Lukas Klouda (CZE) finished second with Echt Stark and his sister and lunger Petra Cinerova, with Lukas Heppler (SUI) also collecting vital FEI World Cup™ Vaulting points with third place on Waimar CH lunged by Barbara Zürcher.

Pas-de-Deux duel

The Pas-de-Deux competition in Paris ended with the same duel as last year, but this time Germany’s Pia Engelberty and Torben Jacobs on Danny Boy lunged by Patric Looser were denied the number one slot by Joanne and Hannah Eccles, who finished with a 285-point lead (8,828). Gera Marie Grün and Justin van Gerven (GER), training partners of Engelberty and Jacobs, finished third.

Next stop Salzburg

A total of 16 vaulters, including the reigning FEI World Cup™ Vaulting champion Anna Cavallaro (ITA), will now head to the third qualifier of this series at the spectacular Salzburg Arena Messezentrum (AUT), which has played host to the likes of Bryan Adams, Pink, Carlos Santana and Bob Dylan.

FEI TV Live

Tune in to FEI World Cup™ Vaulting in Salzburg live on FEI TV (www.feitv.org) on 13 December (13.00 local time).

Paris results

Male individual: 1. Nicolas Andreani (FRA), 8,933; 2. Lukas Klouda (CZE), 8,228; 3. Lukas Heppler (SUI), 8,037 (full results here)

Female individual: 1. Joanne Eccles (GBR), 8,828; 2. Corinna Knauf (GER), 8,248; 3. Hannah Eccles (GBR), 7,968 (full results here)

Pas-de-deux: 1. Joanne Eccles/Hannah Eccles (GBR), 8,602; 2. Pia Engelberty/Torben Jacobs (GER), 8,317; 3. Gera Marie Grün/Justin van Gerven (GER), 8,132 (full results here)

FEI World Cup™ Vaulting 2014/2015 series standings

Standings will be published here tomorrow.

About FEI World Cup ™ Vaulting 2014/15

FEI World Cup™ Vaulting sees the world’s best 30 vaulters from nine nations battle for points across a four-leg European city tour, before the Final in March 2015. The athletes from Austria, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Netherlands and Switzerland competing in this challenging series are listed here. The top six female and male vaulters, and top four pas-de-deux, based on their best two results in the series, will then come together at the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting 2014/15 Final, where they will start from scratch.

Series hashtag: #WorldCupVaulting

By Daniel Kaiser

FEI Media contacts:

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

Denise Devillaire
Manager Press Relations
Denise.devillaire@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 57

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, FEI

Tinne Tops Reem Acra Leg at Stockholm

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Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello stepping it out in style on their way to victory in today’s fourth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League series at Stockholm (SWE). (FEI/Roland Thunholm)

Stockholm (SWE), 30 November 2014 – Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven steered Don Auriello to victory in today’s fourth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League at Stockholm in Sweden. In yesterday’s Grand Prix it was Hans Peter Minderhoud who came out on top with Glock’s First when posting a personal best score. In today’s Freestyle, however, the Dutchman had to settle for runner-up spot while Sweden’s Minna Telde and Santana sealed third spot.

“I’m really pleased,” said six-time Olympian Vilhelmson-Silfven this afternoon. “He (Don Auriello) was in over-drive yesterday in the Grand Prix because this is our first show since the World Championships and he was a feeling a bit too happy! Today I was maybe a little bit careful, but anyway I’m delighted with our result!” she said.

New venue

The fixture was staged at a new venue, the Friends Arena which is the Swedish national football stadium located just north of the city of Stockholm. With its retractable roof and vast amount of space it converted into an excellent equestrian sports arena that accommodated a wide range of activity throughout this week’s Swedish International Horse Show, including a thrilling indoor cross-country competition.

The atmosphere for Dressage is always expected to be considerably more reserved, but the home crowd couldn’t contain their delight with Minna Telde’s performance from the great Santana who really turned on the style. The 13-year-old horse is always a favourite for the courage he has shown since losing an eye following an accident some years ago. And with a Christmas-themed musical score and a real spring in his step he strutted his way through a lovely test that finished with his rider doing one-handed passage up the centre line to the rhythm of spectators’ applause. When the judges’ score of 75.550 went up on the board there was an even bigger explosion of excitement, but there was plenty more to come.

Fourth-last to go was Vilhelmson-Silfven, and the elegant Don Auriello raised the bar by a long margin when earning a mark of 80.875 as three of the four Ground Jury members put the pair in pole position. And Grand Prix winners, Minderhoud and Glock’s Flirt, couldn’t out-do them this time, posting 79.250 for runner-up spot.

Very happy

“I’ve scored 84 before in Freestyle so this isn’t our biggest result ever, but I’m very happy!” said Vilhelmson-Silfven afterwards. The 47-year-old Swede spent much of last winter in America, and she’s planning to do the same this time around. “I’m leaving for Florida on 21st December again so I’m not sure about qualifying for the Final,” she pointed out. “I can only count one World Cup qualifier over there and I missed Odense (the first leg of the current Western European League series) so I’m not sure it’s going to happen,” she explained.

Second-placed Minderhoud said he was very pleased with his ride today. “I knew it would be difficult to beat Tinne if she was on form, even though I made no mistakes,” he pointed out. Talking about Glock’s Flirt, he continued, “He is very easy to train and not spooky so that always makes them easier to deal with,” and he’s hoping to make it to the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final 2014/2015 in Las Vegas, USA next April. “I’d really like to get there, but only three riders from each nation can compete and we have quite a few good ones!” he said.

Reaction

Minna Telde was delighted with the reaction of the crowd today. “Yesterday Santana was more tense but today he stayed calm and listened to me. This new music is great and I will ride it again in London if I can,” said the 39-year-old who, however, definitely doesn’t have the Las Vegas Finals in her sights as she is expecting a new addition to the family next April.

Today’s winner was also very pleased with the result achieved by young German rider, 20-year-old Sonke Rothenberger, who lined up fourth with Favourit, a horse she took to two European Championships before selling it on to the German family two years ago.

“I’m very happy that Sonke is doing so well with him (Favourit) and that he is in a good place and being well cared for,” Vilhelmson-Silfven said.

Meanwhile, Minderhoud has now moved up to fifth in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League standings which are headed by Germany’s Fabienne Lutkemeier followed by two-time champion Adelinde Cornelissen from The Netherlands who shares second place with Denmark’s Agnete Kirk Thinggaard and Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl.

For further information on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 leg at Stockholm, Sweden, go to website www.swedenhorseshow.se or contact Press Officer Lotta Amnestal, Email lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se, Tel +46 709 795835.

The next leg takes place at Olympia, London (GBR) on Sunday 21 December. For details of the British fixture, go to www.olympiahorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Jo Peck, JoPeck@hpower.co.uk, +44 1753 847 900.

Full result here: http://online.equipe.com/sv/class_sections/141483/live.

Facts and Figures:

Stockholm in Sweden presented the fourth round of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League series today.

A total of seven Swedish riders competed in the field of 15 in today’s Grand Prix Freestyle.

The winner was Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven riding Don Auriello who topped the leader board with a score of 80.875.

The Stockholm fixture was staged at a new venue, the Friend’s Arena which is the Swedish national football stadium located just north of Stockholm.

The stadium has a retractable roof to accommodate sport in all weather conditions.

Today’s Ground Jury consisted of: at B, Jo Graham; At M, Liselotte Fore; At C, Gustav Svalling; At H, C Matthiesen; At E, Fransen Iacobeaus.

The next leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League will take place on 21 December at Olympia, London where the multiple record-breakders and World No. 1 partnership of Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro are scheduled to compete.

Quotes:

Ground Jury, Gustav Svalling: “Minna’s (Minna Telde) music was lovely and put everyone in a good mood!”

FEI YouTube: http://youtu.be/lR2lqrSHMco

Reem Acra FEI Hub http://fei.org/fei/sponsors/reem-acra-and-fei gives access to extensive information about the series.

FEI World Cup™ Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, is now in its 29th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup™ Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to Music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup™ Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.

The complete rules, calendar, updated ranking and results are available here.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Stockholm:

Press Officer
Lotta Amnestal
lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se
+46 709 795 635

At FEI:

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

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133