Tag Archives: featured

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Arthur Is King of Dressage at Kentucky

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Alison Springer (USA) and Arthur were outstanding in the Dressage, scoring the only sub-40 mark to take the overnight lead at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event (USA), third leg of the FEI Classics™. Photo: Anthony Trollope/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 25 April 2014 – Alison Springer (USA) and the evergreen chestnut gelding Arthur are in the lead after Dressage at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, third leg of the FEI Classics™ 2013/2014.

Thirty-nine-year-old Springer and the 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse Arthur are one of the most enduring partnerships in the sport. Their brilliant score of 39.5, the only sub-40 mark in the field, comes as no surprise, even though good scores have been hard to come by in this phase.

William Fox-Pitt (GBR), a former dual winner of Kentucky, in 2010 and 2012, is in second place, five penalties in arrears, with the 11-year-old Bay My Hero, on which he was fourth at Pau (FRA) in 2012.

“He’s a cool horse and fun to work with,” said Fox-Pitt. “It’s a huge relief to score 44 because the marking has been quite strict, but he’s a real trier.”

Fox-Pitt is also in equal 10th place on last year’s runner-up, Seacookie, level with his former pupil, Sinead Halpin on the 2012 Burghley runner-up Manoir de Carney.

Lauren Kieffer (USA), 26, who has not ridden at a CCI4* since finishing 29th in 2010 on Snooze Alarm, finds herself in elevated company in third place on 46.7.

Kieffer, originally from Illinois, is trained by David and Karen O’Connor, and now has the ride on the 12-year-old mare Veronica, previously trained by Karen O’Connor.

Phillip Dutton (Mr Medicott), Jan Byyny (Inmidair) and Michael Pollard (Mensa G) are tied in fourth place on 49.5.

An all-female ground jury made up of Christina Klingspor (SWE) as president, Sandy Phillips (GBR) and Gill Rolton (AUS) placed Michael Pollard (USA) and Mensa G at the top of the leaderboard on the first day of Dressage when only two riders managed to break the 50-penalty barrier.

“Mensa has won the Dressage before and is pretty consistent, but his work today was probably the best he’s done, although we lost some marks with bad changes,” said Pollard afterwards. “We’ve been working hard on shaving the rough edges off every single aspect of the test and it’s paid off.”

Looking ahead to the Cross Country, Pollard commented: “I think it may be a little stiffer this year, but I’ve got a good horse who generally goes straight and has plenty of stamina.”

New Zealander Andrew Nicholson, last year’s Kentucky winner, has come to Kentucky with the declared intention of having a crack at the Rolex Grand Slam, worth $350,000 to the rider who can win Kentucky, Badminton and Burghley consecutively.

He is perhaps not as highly placed as he would like at this stage, in 11th position on dual Burghley winner Avebury, but is still in close contention ahead of what is expected to be a challenging Cross Country day.

US riders form the largest percentage of the field and their new team trainer David O’Connor will be earmarking potential combinations for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy in August – the US last won the team title in 2002 in Jerez (ESP).

With this in mind, the general consensus is that Course Designer Derek di Grazia (USA) has increased the difficulty of his Cross Country track. “It’s a strong course,” concedes Will Faudree (USA), “but it’s beautifully built and inviting.”

The course presents the usual mix of big, bold fences and accuracy tests, most notably a different route at Kentucky’s famous Head of the Lake water complex (18/19) and a new combination at 14abc, the Land Rover at the Hollow, where a keyhole fence is followed by a difficult line to a corner and a forward distance to an oxer.

Former Olympic gold medalist Jimmy Wofford (USA) predicts that this combination will be influential. He describes the field as “relatively inexperienced and extremely talented” and says: “Some will amaze us and some we’ll feel sorry for. It’s a hard course.”

Buck Davidson (USA) and Park Trader will be first out on the Cross Country tomorrow (Saturday) at 11am (US time). Follow what is sure to be a fascinating competition with live coverage of the entire event on the FEI’s official video platform FEI TV and see live results on www.rk3de.org.

Results after Dressage

1 Alison Springer/Arthur (USA) 39.5
2 William Fox-Pitt/Bay My Hero (GBR) 44.0
3 Lauren Kieffer/Veronica (USA) 46.7
4= Phillip Dutton/Mr Medicott (USA) 49.5
4= Jan Byyny/Inmidair (USA) 49.5
4= Michael Pollard/Mensa G (USA) 49.5
7 Will Faudree/Pawlow (USA) 49.8
8 Doug Payne/Crown Talisman (USA) 51.2
9 Marilyn Little/RF Demeter (USA) 51.3
10= William Fox-Pitt/Seacookie (GBR) 51.5
10= Sinead Halpin/Manoir de Carney (USA) 51.5

FEI Classics™ 2013/2014 Leaderboard (after 2 of 6 events)

1 William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 15 points
2 Christopher Burton (AUS) 15
3 Maxime Livio (FRA) 124 Sonja Johnson (AUS) 12
5 Craig Barrett (AUS) 10
6 Phillip Dutton (USA) 8
7 Shane Rose (AUS) 8
8 Andrew Nicholson (NZL) 6
9 Stuart Tinney (AUS) 6
10 Donatien Schauly (FRA) 5

See full standings here. 

FEI Classics™ 2013/2014 calendar

1 Les Etoiles de Pau CCI 4* (FRA) – 23-27 October 2013
2 Australian International 3 Day Event (AUS) – 14-17 November 2013
3 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (USA) – 23-27 April 2014
4 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) – 8-11 May 2014
5 Luhmühlen CCI 4* presented by DHL Paket (GER) – 12-15 June 2014
6 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR) – 4-7 September 2014

Prize money

At the end of the FEI Classics™ 2013/2014 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected across the six FEI Classics™ events will share a total prize fund of US$120,000 split as follows: 1st – US$40,000 (Series Champion); 2nd – US$35,000; 3rd – US$25,000; 4th – US$15,000; 5th – US$5,000.

Join the FEI on Facebook & Twitter

Our signature twitter hashtags for this series are #Classics and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #FEI Classics™ #Eventing.

FEI PRESS RELEASE By Kate Green

Media Contacts:

At Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event:

Marty Bauman
+1 508 698 6810 ext. 10
marty@classic-communications.com
www.rk3de.org

At FEI:

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

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

 

USEF, USEF, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

Strong Field Lines Up for USEF Open Reining Nat’l Championship & Selection Trial for 2014 WEG U.S. Reining Squad

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Mandy McCutcheon (Alleyn Evans for Shannon Brinkman Photo)

Lexington, Ky. – The focus of the reining the world will be on the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park April 25-27, as a talented field lines up for the Adequan/USEF Open Reining National Championship and Selection Trial for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Reining Squad which is being held as part of the Kentucky Reining Cup. Twenty-two of the best in the U.S. will go head-to-head to stake their claim on the National Title, 21 of which are also competing for a spot on the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games U.S. Reining Squad as part of the Selection Trial. The top six combinations, which are in Selection Trial contention, at the conclusion of the weekend’s competition earn a spot on the U.S. squad for the Games in Normandy, France. The 2014 Championship and Selection Trial will be held over two rounds with the Opening Round getting underway Friday at 6pm ET and competition coming to a conclusion on Sunday morning with the Final Round, and the crowning of the 2014 Champion.

On Thursday, 37 horses were presented before the CRI Ground Jury at the Horse Inspection with two not being accepted.

This weekend will host three members of the United States’ Gold medal winning team from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games as they head back to the scene of their success in Lexington. Team and Individual Gold medalist Tom McCutcheon (Aubrey, Texas) will ride Jennifer Marley’s Dun Git a Nicadaul and Turnabout Farm’s Dun Got My Rest. 2010’s Individual Silver medalist Craig Schmersal (Overbrook, Okla.) is vying for top honors and selection with Karl Robert’s What A Wave. Former National Champion Shawn Flarida (Springfield, Ohio) joins his teammates from four years ago and will be riding Michell Kimball’s Spooks Gotta Whiz.

Mandy McCutcheon (Aubrey, Texas) will be busy this weekend as she has two shots to claim top honors. She will look to do so on her father Tim McQuay’s Yellow Jersey, as well as on Robert Webb’s Spin N Wimp.

“I’m very excited to be here and am just trying to keep my expectations for the weekend in check,” said McCutcheon, who would welcome the opportunity to compete for the U.S. in Normandy. “It would be a dream; I try not to even think about it because it would be so amazing.”

By Helen Murray

Watch the Kentucky Reining Cup live on USEF Network presented by SmartPak at www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2014KRC/.

Learn more about the 2014 Kentucky Reining Cup here.

Follow the U.S. Rening Team here.

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Michael Pollard (USA) Leads the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event after Dressage Day One

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1st place – Michael Pollard (USA) riding Mensa G.

(USA, 24 April 2014) Michael Pollard (USA) riding Mensa G, Thursday 24 April 2014, is the current leader after Day One of the Dressage phase, with Will Faudree (USA) riding Pawlow in 2nd place, and Doug Payne (USA) riding Crown Talisman in 3rd place, at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, in Lexington.

Results after Dressage Day 1:

1. Michael Pollard/Mensa G (USA) 49.5
2. Will Faudree/Pawlow (USA) 49.8
3. Doug Payne/Crown Talisman (USA) 51.2
4. Marilyn Little/RF Demeter (USA) 51.3
5. William Fox-Pitt/Seacookie TSF (GBR) 51.5
6. Sinead Halpin/Manoir De Carneville (USA) 51.7
7. Emily Beshear/Here’s To You (USA) 52.2
8. Phillip Dutton/Trading Aces (USA) 52.5
9. Sarah Bullimore/Reve Du Rouet (GBR) 52.7
10. Bruce (Buck) Davidson Jr/Petite Flower (USA) 54.2

Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Current Contender

Andrew Nicholson (NZL) has travelled to the Kentucky Horse Park as the new Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing ‘live contender’ and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event defending champion. This follows the news announced on 23 April 2014 that last year’s winner of the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, Jonathan Paget (NZL), has officially been disqualified following a “partial decision” by the sport’s governing body Tribunal. As a result of Paget’s disqualification Andrew Nicholson and Avebury have now been promoted and are the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2013 winners.

All eyes are now on Nicholson to see if he can repeat the form he demonstrated in 2013, by winning the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, which will put him one competition away from the coveted USD$ 350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing Prize. Nicholson is competing in Kentucky on his grey gelding Avebury.

Quotes from Michael Pollard (USA) (link to audio of full post-event press conference below):

Q. Michael – tell us about today.

I just wanted to have a good start. I’m sure that tomorrow there will be some great combinations and I’m probably not likely to stay in the lead but at least it’s a competitive start.

Q. Michael – at this moment feeling good about Saturday?

It’s a four star, so it’s going to be hard for everybody but I’m riding a very good horse and I’m feeling good about my preparations and so it’s just about treating it like another event and doing my best.

2nd place - Will Faudree (USA) riding Pawlow
2nd place – Will Faudree (USA) riding Pawlow

Quote from Will Faudree (USA) (link to audio of full press conference below):

Q. Will – how was your test?

He is a very experienced horse and has been at this level or a while now. All in all he stayed very rideable throughout the test and overall I was happy with him.

Quote from Doug Payne (USA) (link to audio of full press conference below):

Q. Doug – so you won’t be back here on Saturday. Can you tell everyone why?

Unfortunately not; I hope and pray that ultimately I will be back here again in years to come. I have to first thank my owners and Land Rover for my grant as without them I would not be here. Being that I was entered here at Rolex I think it was especially for this horse who is a little bit more excitable and potentially could be affected by atmosphere there is no better place to go and compete than here to see how we measure up, and ultimately I know for sure that he [Crown Talisman] will be better off for today’s competition. A long story short: we are going to withdraw and go to Jersey fresh in the three star there and then Saumur for the three star there.

Copyright Free Audio

3rd place - Doug Payne (USA) riding Crown Talisman
3rd place – Doug Payne (USA) riding Crown Talisman

Click on the following link for copyright free audio of the post-event Press Conference after Dressage Day One with the top three placed riders:
http://po.st/E5RwLk

For more information on the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and full Results/Leaderboard, please visit www.rk3de.org.

Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing

In 2001, Rolex created the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. This trophy is awarded to the rider who manages to win the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials and the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials event in any consecutive order. Until now, only British rider Pippa Funnell has managed this staggering achievement, winning the title in 2003.

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
team@revolutionsports.co.uk
www.revolutionsports.co.uk

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Pollard Tops the Leaderboard Following Day One at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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Michael Pollard and Mensa G (Shannon Brinkman)

Lexington, Ky. – Competition began Thursday at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover with the first day of dressage. Thirty-one horse-and-rider combinations performed their test in the Rolex Stadium in front of the Ground Jury of Sandy Phillips (GBR), Gillian Rolton (AUS), and Christina Klingspor (SWE). The U.S. riders took a commanding lead on Thursday holding the top positions on the leaderboard.

Michael Pollard (Dalton, Ga.) sits in first place with Mensa G after scoring 49.5 following day one of America’s only CCI4*. He performed a lovely test with his, Carl Bouckaert, and Nathalie Pollard’s 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, performing quality movements.

“I’m happy, not surprised, necessarily,” commented Pollard of his placing. “He’s a horse that can do a very good test. I was thinking more about trying to execute the best [test] that he could do and I thought his work is probably the best work I have gotten out of him. We left some points on the table with some bad changes but other than that I thought he was really good. Honestly I thought someone would sneak in front of me today but I’m not really surprised necessarily.”

Pollard had a good start to the competition, and while he knows it is only the first day, he hopes his success will continue throughout the weekend. When asked about cross country day on Saturday, Pollard said, “It’s a four-star so it’s going to be hard for everybody but I’m riding a very good horse. I feel good about our preparation so it’s just a matter of treating it like another event and doing my best.”

Sitting in second place only 3/10ths of a point behind Pollard and Mensa G are Will Faudree (Hoffman, N.C.) and Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow with a score of 49.8. With the 15-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding, Faudree rode a smooth, obedient test with good trot work and clean changes.

“In my test today, I was happy with my trot work,” Faudree stated. “I was a little conservative in the first medium trots, but all and all I was happy with his trot work. I think where I threw away too many points today was in the very first counter canter loop. He sucked behind me and at home I would have smacked him with the stick and kicked him and kept going but I just wanted to keep the counter canter.”

Doug Payne (Aiken, S.C.) lies in third place with Crown Talisman on a score of 51.2. He and his and Amelia and Larry Ross’ 11-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding performed a polished test in the atmosphere of the Rolex Stadium. Despite the pair’s good placing, they will be withdrawing from the remainder of the competition to set their sights on the Saumur CCI3*, for which they received a Land Rover Competition Grant to gain valuable experience at the major European competition.

“I hope and pray that ultimately we will be back again in years to come,” said Payne of his plan to withdraw. “I was entered here at Rolex and especially for this horse, who is a bit more excitable and could potentially be affected by environment; there was no better place than this in this hemisphere to go and compete and see where we measure up so hopefully we will be better following today’s competition.”

Day two of dressage begins tomorrow at 10:00am ET with Lillian Heard and Share Option.

By Kathleen Landwehr

Watch the live stream on the USEF Network presented by SmartPak here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2014Rolex/.

For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, visit www.rk3de.org.

Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/LandRoverUSEventingTeam/.

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Large Field Ready for Start of 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event

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Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM (Shannon Brinkman)

Lexington, Ky. – The excitement of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover is about to begin at the Kentucky Horse Park. Sixty-two horses were presented at the first horse inspection, of which five were held with three being passed upon re-inspection, one being withdrawn from the holding box, and one not being accepted upon re-inspection. Following the first horse inspection, 60 horse-and-rider combinations from seven nations will vie for top honors at America’s only CCI4* event which also serves as the Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Championship. With the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games taking place this summer, the event also serves as an important selection trial for riders hoping to be named to the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team.

The competition begins tomorrow with the first of two days of dressage. It will be live streamed on the USEF Network presented by SmartPak. In addition to the broadcast, the order of go, results, and photos can be found here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2014Rolex/.

This year’s field is filled with seasoned veterans and first-time competitors in what will surely be an exciting competition. Many of America’s top horses and riders hope to prove their mettle this week in a star-studded field. Buck Davidson and Phillip Dutton, both three-time Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champions, have multiple mounts ready to tackle Kentucky’s CCI4*. Davidson (Ocala, Fla.) will ride Cassandra Segal’s Ballynoe Castle RM, his partner for the 2013 Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion title, Caroline and Sherrie Martin’s Petite Flower, and Carl and Cassandra Segal’s Park Trader. Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) will also ride three horses: Bruce Duchossois’ Mighty Nice, Mr. Medicott Syndicate’s Mr. Medicott, and Trading Aces LLC’s Trading Aces. Fellow three-time Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion Kim Severson (Charlottesville, Va.) will ride her own Fernhill Fearless in her first CCI4* since 2011.

Two other Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champions look to find success again in Kentucky. Sinead Halpin (Oldwick, N.J.) rode Manoir de Carneville Syndicate LLC’s Manoir de Carneville to the national title in 2011 and comes to the Kentucky Horse Park in good form. Allison Springer (Upperville, Va.) returns with her 2012 Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion partner, Arthur Syndicate LLC’s Arthur, as well as Copycat Chloe Syndicate LLC’s Copycat Chloe, riding the mare in her first CCI4*. Springer’s veteran partner Arthur is making his sixth appearance in Kentucky, more than any other horse in the field.

“It’s so much fun to be back,” said Springer. “It was really hard being here last year as a spectator. Also to have Arthur back, his sixth year, is great. He’s 15 going on 7 so I still have plenty of fuel in the tank for cross country day.”

Lillian Heard and Share Option (Shannon Brinkman)
Lillian Heard and Share Option (Shannon Brinkman)

Up-and-coming stars of the sport will display their talent at the event. Lillian Heard (Poolesville, Md.), who was named to the 2014 Eventing High Performance Winter/Spring Training National List, will tackle her first CCI4* in Kentucky. She will ride long-time partner Share Option, with whom she has performed well at the Advanced and three-star levels.

“It feels very good to be here but I’m very nervous,” commented Heard. “Everyone is here and it feels like I finally made it.”

Andrew Nicholson (NZL) hopes to achieve a win here with Avebury to be in contention for the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing after the pair rose to champion honors for the 2013 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. The Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing awards $350,000 to the successive winner of Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, and Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

An exciting addition to the competition this year is the Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge, which will award $20,000 in prize money while helping national teams prepare for the team competition at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. For this competition, “Team” is defined as the top three finishers from each nation represented. This will be strictly a “Scoreboard Competition” with the top three scores of each nation counting towards the final placings. The winning team will have the fewest penalties after adding together the final scores of the three highest-placed individuals from each nation. Ribbons will be given to the top four teams and prize money will be awarded to the owners.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover is also part of the FEI Classics series. The FEI Classics is a series uniting the top end of the international Eventing circuit, namely the five four-star Eventing competitions currently on the calendar.

Dressage begins tomorrow at 10:00am ET with Davidson and Petite Flower.

By Kathleen Landwehr

For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover, visit www.rk3de.org.

Follow the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/LandRoverUSEventingTeam/.

Competitions, HITS, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Kevin Babington Dominates Commonwealth National

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©ESI Photography. Kevin Babington and Shorapur on their way to the top in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix.

CULPEPER, VA (April 22, 2014) – Nothing could stop Kevin Babington at the Commonwealth National in Culpeper, Virginia this weekend. He kicked off a win streak with a blue ribbon on Friday in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix with his 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Mark Q before piloting Shorapur, LLC’s Shorapur to the top spot in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, on Sunday.

Babington was one of nine to advance to the jump-off over a course designed by Danny foster of Milton, Ontario. The first round course offered 14 obstacles and 17 jumping effort, including a double and triple combination.

“When I walked the course I never thought that we would have that many clear, but it turned out to be just right,” said Babington. “There were rails down everywhere, which is always the sign of a good design – it was technical enough for the experienced horses, but not too much for the young ones.”

From an original field of 24, Babington went last and capped the jump-off after eight had gone clear before him. The lead changed three times in the jump-off with Thaisa Erwin setting the Great American Time to Beat at 49.98 seconds from the second spot aboard her own Matilda. Three trips later, Frances Land of Alpharetta, Georgia jumped her own Vieanne to a time of 41.91 seconds, to sit first. Jaclyn Duff of Edmonton, Alberta was clear with her own Stakkarus, but her time of 46.57 seconds was nearly five seconds off the lead.

©ESI Photography. Kevin Babington and Mark Q jump to a win in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix.
©ESI Photography. Kevin Babington and Mark Q jump to a win in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix.

Babington returned last with nothing, other than the clock, standing between him and the win. After a blistering time of 40.29 seconds, Babington and his nine-year-old Hanoverian mare took the blue. Land finished second, Duff third and Erwin fourth. Leann Kelly of Valatie, New York capped the top five as the fastest of the four-fault rides in the irons of Honorway Farm, LLC’s Leander.

Despite Shorapur coming to Babington as a sale horse, he knew the mare had talent from the very beginning. “She is the best horse I have ever had and I made room for her to stay with me and now compete her myself,” he said. “I have really high expectations for her.”

Of those expectations, the most notable include competing in Europe next year, World Cup Finals and hopefully carrying Babington to the Olympic Team for his native Ireland.

A whole new look
Rider, trainers and owners alike were met with a new and improved Commonwealth Park when they arrived at HITS Culpeper last week. Months of work led to the unveiling of a laundry list of facility upgrades, including five new MDBarnmaster Barns boasting 520 permanent stalls. Updated tent pads also made an appearance for an upgrade to tent stalls. The makeover didn’t stop with stabling – footing to match the Grand Prix Ring now fills six competition rings as well as all the schooling areas.

“My main focus is always footing and I was very impressed,” said Babington. “I have always been pleased with the Grand Prix Ring footing in Culpeper, and now there is good ground in both the ring and the schooling area.”

Other permanent facility renovations at Commonwealth Park will continue to take place during the coming months with an overall goal to provide both horses and the people they are surrounded by with the safest, most enjoyable environment possible.

Babington admits that while he planned Culpeper as part of his schedule as a convenient means to keep his horses fit after a winter in Florida, he was also eager to see the improvements to the facility. “From great footing to huge stalls, our four-hour drive was well worth the effort. The place looks great and the horses are happy,” he said.

The Commonwealth National was the first week of spring and summer showing for HITS on the East Coast and will continue at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York with HITS-on-the-Hudson I, II and III, May 21 – June 2. Grand prix offerings at both HITS Culpeper and HITS Saugerties throughout the season will serve as qualifying opportunities for the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix, which is the final jewel in the HITS Triple Crown of Show Jumping and will take place during the HITS Championship September 3-7 at HITS Saugerties.

About Zoetis
Building on 60 years of experience as Pfizer Animal Health, Zoetis delivers quality medicines and vaccines, complemented by diagnostics products and genetics tests and supported by a range of services. They work every day to better understand and address the real-world challenges faced by those who raise and care for animals in ways they find truly relevant. Zoetis produces a comprehensive range of safe and effective products, including equine vaccines, dewormers and sedative analgesics, to help professionals and individual horse owners keep their animals healthy. Both veterinarians and horse owners know and trust the Zoetis will help their horses live longer, healthier lives.

©ESI Photography. Melissa Rudershausen wins the $10,000 Bayer’s Legend Junior/Amateur-Owner High Jumper Classic with Charmeur Ask.
©ESI Photography. Melissa Rudershausen wins the $10,000 Bayer’s Legend Junior/Amateur-Owner High Jumper Classic with Charmeur Ask.

$10,000 Bayer’s Legend Junior/Amateur-Owner High Jumper Classic
Before a top-ten finish in Sunday’s grand prix, Melissa Rudershausen of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania claimed victory in the $10,000 Bayer’s Legend Junior/Amateur-Owner High Jumper Classic. She jumped her own Charmeur Ask to the win over a competitive field to continue East Coast qualifying for September’s HITS Championship.

Jay Land of Alpharetta Georgia was second aboard his own Nepal while Alexa Lowe-Wiseman of Upperville, Virginia capped the top five with Windsor Farm Sales’ Ami du Houssoit. Tamara Morse of Bristow, Virginia finished fourth on her own Heads Up 3E and Laurence Addison of Lorraine, Quebec capped the top five with his own C-Tje.

All high junior/amateur-owner jumper classics at HITS Culpeper are qualifiers for the Bayer’s Legend (hyaluronate sodium) Injectable Solution $250,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix, enticing riders to head to Saugerties this fall for the HITS Championship at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York. For more information on the Bayer’s Legend $250,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix, visit HitsShows.com.

About Bayer Animal Health
Bayer Animal Health is amongst worldwide leaders in animal health. Bayer has attained this leadership position by continuously researching and developing products for animal health since 1919. A responsible relationship between humans, companion animals and livestock requires ensuring the health of animals. For more information on Bayer Animal Health, visit bayer.com.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS: join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., Kentucky Three-Day

Thrilling Competition Beckons at Kentucky

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William Fox-Pitt (GBR), joint leader of the FEI Classics, and Seacookie TSF (pictured here at Burghley) head to Kentucky, where the bay gelding produced one of his best performances of his career finishing second last year. Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI.

Lausanne (SUI), 22 April 2014 – The stage is set for a thrilling competition at one of the perennial jewels in the Eventing calendar, the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event, third leg of the FEI Classics 2013/2014 this weekend (24-27 April).

Among the 60-plus entries are two of the world’s best riders who will once again lock horns at North America’s premier event, the result of which could ultimately determine the winner of the valuable FEI Classics, now in its seventh year.

William Fox-Pitt, who has won 12 CCI4*s – more than any other rider – plus the FEI Classics three times, will make his annual visit. The current joint leader of the FEI Classics has entered with the German-bred Seacookie TSF, runner-up last year and winner of Les Etoiles de Pau at the start of the FEI Classics 2013/2014 season last October, plus the exciting prospect Bay My Hero.

Last year’s Kentucky winner Andrew Nicholson (NZL), the world number one and winner of last year’s FEI Classics, has opted to take his 2013 winning ride Quimbo to Badminton (GBR) this time and has instead entered Avebury, one of the most talented and popular horses on the circuit.

This is the first time the lovely home-bred grey gelding, by the part Irish Draught stallion Jumbo, has competed at a CCI4* out of Britain, but he has a formidable record which includes first and second places at Burghley (GBR) in 2012 and 2013 and it will be interesting to see what he makes of Derek de Grazia’s rolling track at Kentucky.

Eight nations are represented – Australia, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, The Netherlands and the USA – and the host side will be hoping they can pull Kentucky back into American hands again for the first time since 2008, when Phillip Dutton won on Connaught.

Dutton must have another great chance this year – he is three-handed with Mighty Nice, Trading Aces and his new ride Mr Medicott, the Olympic team gold medallist with Frank Ostholt (GER) in 2008, the highest-placed US horse at the London 2012 Olympic Games with Karen O’Connor, and who was fourth at the opening leg of this series in Pau last year with Dutton.

Buck Davidson (USA), whose father Bruce is the most successful rider of all time at Kentucky, is the first rider into the Dressage arena on Friday morning at 10.00 (US time). He also has a trio of rides: Petite Flower, the experienced Ballynoe Castle RM and Park Trader.

Marilyn Little (RF Demeter and RF Snow on the Water) and Alison Springer (Copycat Chloe and the veteran Arthur) are two-handed, as is Canadian rider Selina O’Hanlon with Foxwood High and Bellaney Rock.

The most senior rider in the field, however, is Sir Mark Todd (NZL), 58, who has been riding at Kentucky longer than anyone else – since 1978. He has an interesting prospect in Oloa, seventh in his first CCI4*, Burghley, last year.

See the full entry list for the third leg of the FEI Classics in Kentucky here, follow what is sure to be a fascinating competition with live coverage of the entire event on the FEI’s official video platform FEI TV, and see results on www.rk3de.org.

See full standings here.

Prize money

At the end of the FEI Classics 2013/2014 season, the five riders with the highest number of points collected across the six FEI Classics events will share a total prize fund of US$120,000 split as follows: 1st – US$40,000 (Series Champion); 2nd – US$35,000; 3rd – US$25,000; 4th – US$15,000; 5th – US$5,000.

Join the FEI on Facebook & Twitter.

Our signature twitter hashtags for this series are #Classics and #Eventing. We encourage you to use them, and if you have space: #FEI Classics #Eventing.

By Kate Green

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Media Contact:

Marty Bauman
marty@classic-communications.com
+1 508 698 6810 ext. 10
www.rk3de.org

FEI Media Contacts:

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

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

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ASPCA to Celebrate Its Second Annual Help a Horse Day, April 26th

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On April 26th the ASPCA will be celebrating its second annual Help a Horse Day! In honor of this special day, the ASPCA Equine Fund will be hosting a nationwide grants contest, awarding five $10,000 grants to equine rescues and sanctuaries to raise awareness about the life-saving work they do year-round to care for at-risk horses. The five groups with the most creative and engaging events on April 26th will win. We have more than 80 groups in 32 states participating, and the competition is fierce, with one group hosting a parade of rescued horses down their local main street and another group having a “horse wash.” One group is even hosting a horse-themed carnival complete with a “kiss the donkey” booth, while another is hosting a rally on the steps of their state’s capitol.

A complete list of participating rescues can be found on our site: http://www.aspca.org/helpahorse.

In addition to the grants giveaway, we’ll be doing a “Help a Horse Photo Contest” for fans on social media to submit photos of their equine companions. Participants will be asked: “How have you helped a horse?” for a chance to win a sponsored prize. For more information on the photo contest, please visit http://bit.ly/1muLXgw.

Competitions, Polo

Psycho Bunny Captures Grand Champions Cup in Spring Season-Opener

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Kris Kampsen of Psycho Bunny and Gonzalo Tevez of Clearwater battle for the ball. Photos by Scott Fisher.

Kris Kampsen Named MVP

WELLINGTON, FL – April 21, 2014 — Psycho Bunny won the first tournament of the spring season at Grand Champions Polo Club on Easter Sunday.

Led by balanced team scoring, Psycho Bunny (Andrew Seibert, 0, Marc Ganzi, 1, Jeff Hall, 7, Kris Kampsen, 6) defeated Clearwater (Chip Campbell, 1, Gonzalo Tevez, 4, Guille Aguero, 6, Juan Olivera, 2), 12-11.

Kampsen was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

The lanky 6-goal rated player led scoring with five goals and dominated both ends of the field including helping to stave off Clearwater’s sixth-chukker rally.

Hall added three goals. Seibert and Ganzi each had two goals. Ganzi scored the game-winner in the sixth chukker.

Clearwater, which mounted a comeback in the final chukker with three goals, got balanced scoring from Campbell, Tevez and Olivera, who each scored three goals. Aguero added one goal.

It was the first of six medium-goal tournaments that featured five teams in the field. The other teams were Ride To Shine, Palm Beach Polo and Power Horse.

Jeff Hall of Psycho Bunny hits the ball downfield while Guille Aguero of Clearwater attempts to hook.
Jeff Hall of Psycho Bunny hits the ball downfield while Guille Aguero of Clearwater attempts to hook.

The remainder of the Grand Champions spring schedule is: April 25-27, The USPA Spring Challenge; May 1-4, The USPA Sun Cup; May 8-11, The USPA Eastern Challenge; May 15-18 The Polo Gear Challenge Cup; and May 22-26 The Memorial.

During the Grand Champions’ spring season, amateur polo players will play with and against some of the world’s top pros.

Grand Champions, with its well-manicured fields and turnkey facility, expects to have its best spring season in the nine-year history of the club.

Last year’s spring tournament winners included ELG/Psycho Bunny, Power Horse, Audi, Pony Express and Longfield Farm.

For game recaps, news, features and photos of Grand Champions Polo Club-related events, go to www.grandchampionspoloclub.org.

GRAND CHAMPIONS 2014 SPRING SCHEDULE (561-644-5050):

APRIL 25-27: The USPA Spring Challenge

MAY 1-4: The USPA Sun Cup

MAY 8-11: The USPA Eastern Challenge

MAY 15-18: The Polo Gear Challenge Cup

MAY 22-26: The Memorial

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.

INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Flight Options. Everyone is welcome to watch high, medium and low goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the winter, spring and fall tournament season and other special events including International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, ProKidz Tournaments in the spring and fall, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.

Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

*Featured/Spotlights, FEI, Show Jumping

US Riders Stand Tall as Seven Riders Finish in Top 20 of the FEI World Cup Jumping Final

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Beezie Madden and Simon (Kendall Bierer/PhelpsSports.com)

Lyon, France – The seven American riders that headed into the third and final leg of the 2014 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final produced determined efforts over two rounds to close out their week in Lyon. Frank Rothenberger set two demanding 13-obstacle tracks that produced a great shake-up of the leaderboard throughout the afternoon in Lyon’s Eurexpo. Twenty-seven of the world’s best horse-and-rider combinations started in Monday’s first round with 22, including all seven Americans, qualifying to return for Monday’s second leg.

U.S. Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland was pleased with the effort put forward by all the American entries throughout the week, as his riders earned strong finishes for the United States for a second consecutive year.

“Our objective was to get as many in the money as possible (top 16) and we had five again in the money. A couple things didn’t go our way on Friday and again today, but we had a great second leg,” said Ridland. “We had a great mix of veterans and new riders, so to see these results, I’m pretty happy.”

Leading the way for the U.S. in Lyon were the 2014 World Cup champions Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, N.Y.) and Abigail Wexner’s Simon, finishing in seventh place on a total of 12 faults. The pair entered the day on a four-fault total in equal fourth place, but fortune was not in their favor as the 15-year-old gelding had light rubs in the first and second rounds resulting in rails at 8B and 5A in the respective rounds.

“I thought he went fantastic today. It was just a light rub in the first round and same thing in the second,” said Madden. “Seventh is still good; I came here hoping to be in the top five and I would have loved to win again, but I’m still really happy.”

The two-time Olympic Team Gold medalist is pleased with the form Simon is on and believes he is ready for more success in 2014.

“He came in prepared but not overly-prepared because we’ve got a big year ahead of us.”

McLain Ward and Rothchild (Kendall Bierer/PhelpsSports.com)
McLain Ward and Rothchild (Kendall Bierer/PhelpsSports.com)

Finishing in ninth place overall was U.S. team veteran McLain Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) on a total of 17 faults. In Monday’s first round, he and Sagamore Farm’s 13-year-old Warmblood gelding, Rothchild, jumped one of seven clears. They returned in the second round looking to jump double clear, but it was not meant to be as the vertical jumping into the triple at fence five came down to add four faults to their total.

Charlie Jayne (Elgin, Ill.) finished directly behind Ward in 10th place with Alex Jayne and Maura Thatcher’s Chill R Z on 23 faults. In round one, the 11-year-old Zangersheide stallion lowered rails at 6B and 13 for eight faults. The pair returned in the second round producing a masterful effort, collecting a single time fault after finishing .23 seconds over the 72-second time allowed.

Completing the 2014 Final in 15th, 16th, and 17th place were Katie Dinan, Leslie Burr Howard and Lucy Davis, respectively. Dinan (Wellington, Fla.) and Grant Road Partners LLC’s 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding, Nougat du Vallet, started the afternoon by jumping a beautiful clear that never looked in doubt in Monday’s first round. However, they, like Howard, lowered the first fence and the A element of the triple to complete an eight-fault trip in round two and finish on 25 faults overall.

Returning to Finals competition in Lyon was former World Cup champion Howard (Darian, Conn.) with Jane Clark’s talented 11-year-old Belgian Sport Horse stallion, Tic-Tac. In round one the pair had rails at the final two elements of the triple, fence eight, in addition to a single time fault. In round two they produced an eight-fault round after lowering the first fence and 5A to complete the week on an overall total of 27.

In her second World Cup Final appearance, Davis (San Francisco, Calif.) finished on an overall total of 29 with Old Oak Farms’ 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Barron. In round two, the pair was one of only five combinations to jump faultlessly to close out the week within the top 20.

Charlie Jacobs (Boston, Mass.) made his World Cup debut in Lyon with CMJ Sporthorse LLC’s Flaming Star and finished out the week in 20th place. On Monday, the 15-year-old Irish gelding jumped four- and 13-fault efforts to finish on an overall score of 42.

Germany’s Daniel Deusser claimed the 2014 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final title after an impressive week of jumping with Cornet D’Amour, finishing on an overall total of two faults. Finishing in second place was his compatriot Ludger Beerbaum, who utilized Chaman in the Speed Leg and Chiara 222 in legs one and two to finish on a four-fault total. Great Britain’s Scott Brash and Ursula XII finished on a five-fault total to collect third-place honors.

By Helen Murray

To find a full list of orders of go and results from the 2014 FEI World Cup Finals, visit: http://eventcontent.hippoonline.de/890/index.html.

Learn more about the 2014 FEI World Cup Finals here.

Follow the U.S. Jumpers here.