OCALA, FL (February 24, 2014) – Nothing could dampen the spirits of David Beisel on Sunday. The rider hails from Goshen, Ohio and jumped a crowd favorite nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion Ammeretto for owners Equine Holdings, LLC to a win in the $50,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Ocala.
“Ammeretto is very aware of the spectators – he loves people,” said Beisel of the stallion he has been partnered with for the last six years. “When people move in the stands, he watches them like he didn’t want them to go and I have to get his attention back on the business of jumping.”
The first round course had a time allowed of 80 seconds and was designed by Jack Robson of Coronado, California. It was straight-forward until the last line, which included a short six strides to a vertical-oxer-oxer triple combination and a tall vertical at thirteen ended many competitors’ hopes to make it to the jump-off.
Beisel shared his first grand prix win of the season with his wife, Paige and children Cooper and Isabelle, who were all there to watch. It’s a family affair for them at HITS Ocala with the entire family competing this season.
Beisel had this to say about Ammeretto: “This horse is all heart and motor he attacks a fence. I was afraid after he jumped in the Prix on Thursday he was getting a little burned out, and I was thinking of giving him some time off.” Beisel admits that after some help from fellow trainer Richard Rinehart, a few 6am schooling sessions and a gallop on the track at HITS Ocala, Ammeretto was back on his game.
The jump-off offered seven obstacles, including a left roll-back to fence eight, then a 10ab double and a new fence at 15 – the Strongid C 2X vertical – which was the last fence on the course and produced the most faults.
Beisel and Ammeretto were last of 16 to jump off, and followed a very fast time of 32.95 seconds set by front runner Michael Hughes of Allendale, New Jersey aboard Christina Fried’s MacArthur. Beisel and Ammeretto dug in for an amazing nail-biting jump-off performance, tackling the course in a time of 31.4 seconds and brought the crowd to their feet. With many placings so far this season, it was this duo’s first grand prix win. Hughes ended in second.
Helen Goddard of Lincroft, New Jersey, the rider and trainer of Noire, was the first to return in the jump-off answering the call with the Great American Time to Beat in a time of 37.81seconds, which was eventually good for a sixth-place ribbon.
Next to jump was Bryn Sadler of Sante Fe, New Mexico on the strapping Bon Giorno for owners Showcase 81 LLC and trainer Wendy Haig Sadler with a clear round in 36.75 seconds for fourth. Third place went to Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas, who already has four grand prix wins this circuit. She piloted the lovely chestnut MTM Timon for MTM Farm to a time of 34.35 seconds. Taking fifth place was Envy, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding, ridden and trained by Sulu Rose-Reed of Mechanicsville, Virginia for co-owner Lisa Striplin with no-faults and a time of 37.22 seconds.
There will be more grand prix action at HITS Ocala on Thursday, before the $50,000 Ring Power Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, brings competition back to the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium on Sunday. The excitement is building for the first-ever Great American $1 Million Grand Prix on March 24 as those trying to qualify are feeling the pressure with only more grand prix left, as the ‘showdown in the stadium’ draws closer.
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. For more information, visit www.zoetis.com.
THERMAL, CA (February 24, 2014) – Quigley may not have many grand prix miles behind him, but his rider Kyle King of Ocala, Florida is looking forward to the 10-year-old gelding stepping up to the level with a bang. He is certainly on the right track after winning Sunday’s $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal.
“He’s the horse of my dreams,” said King. “Who knows where we go from here, but he’s the best horse I’ve ever had.”
Quigley is owned by Paul Politeski who broke the gelding and rode him up until last year when he moved into the grand pix ring with King. Politeski and King took Quigley to HITS Tucson last week in preparation for the HITS Desert Circuit and he jumped perfectly, according to King. “We got him [Quigley] fired up a little bit in Arizona. He was a little spooky in the Level 6 earlier this week, but jumped around great today,” said King.
Manuel Esparza of Mexico City, Mexico set a course with wide oxers and tall verticals, which included 13 obstacles and 16 jumping efforts within the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium. The 41 who attempted the course agreed that it was big and scopey. In the end, only three jumped clear to advance to the jump-off.
“I was nervous after I walked it, but Quigley is the scopiest horse in the world – they can build as big as they want and he is comfortable,” admitted King.
Alec Lawler of Atherton, California was the first to ride clear in the second trip of the original order. He piloted his own Agamemnon, and was joined by King four rounds later. Crowd favorite Rich Fellers of Wilsonville, Oregon rounded out the jump-off near the end of the order aboard Harry & Mollie Chapman’s Flexible.
Lawler returned to the jump-off first, but had a rail jumping into the double combination to finish with four faults in 37.07 seconds. King and Quigley had the same rail, but crossed the timers in 34.74 seconds to sit in the lead with one more to go.
“I was pretty sure I had handed it to him when I had the rail,” said King. “I mean, it’s Rich and Flexible! I was happy with the rhythm and the pace, but I wasn’t expecting him to have any down.”
Luck was not on Fellers’ side in the jump-off, however, as he had the first fence down and couldn’t find the speed to top King. Fellers’ time of 35.80 seconds settled him in second, bumping Lawler to third.
From the first round, John Perez of Coajimaipa, Mexico was the fastest of the four-faulters aboard his own Utopia, finishing in fourth. Bliss Heers of Olivenhain, California capped the top five in the irons of Contendra for owners Bridgeside Farms, LLC.
As Week IV comes to an end at HITS Desert Horse Park, grand prix competition returns to the spotlight on Friday. All grand prix at HITS Thermal continue to offer riders qualifying opportunities for the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix, which will take place March 16 to kick off the first-ever HITS Triple Crown of Show Jumping. West Coast grand prix will also serve as qualifiers for the Zoetis $ Million Grand Prix as part of the HITS Championship in Saugerties, New York this September.
About SmartPak SmartPak powers healthy horses and happy riders. The patented SmartPak Supplement Feeding System makes it easy for riders across the country to take the best care of their horses. Founded in 1999, with the purpose of simplifying the administration of nutritional supplements and medications to horses, the system has been adopted by thousands of barns and horse owners across the country, who value knowing that their supplements will be fed correctly. For more information, visit SmartPak.com.
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. For more information, visit www.zoetis.com.
Catamount’s Carlos Gracida (3) working the ball away from Cote Zeggers (3) and Maureen Brennan (2) of Goose Creek. Photos by Scott Fisher.
Tano Vial Named MVP
WELLINGTON, FL – Feb. 22, 2014 — Catamount built a five-goal halftime lead and held off a late rally to defeat Goose Creek, 9-8, Saturday in the USPA Sieber Memorial 12-Goal Tournament at Grand Champions Polo Club.
Catamount (Alejandro Gonzalez, Marcos Alberdi, Carlos Gracida, Scott Devon) dominated the first half behind Gracida and Devon, who combined for six goals.
Goose Creek (Lucas Arellano, Maureen Brennan, Cote Zeggers, Tano Vial) found its momentum and started to reel in Catamount.
“When you have a big lead like we did, you start making mistakes,” Gracida said. “When you are up by four or five goals it is easy to have a letdown.”
Gracida, a Hall of Famer and former 10-goaler, scored a game-high five goals. Devon added three goals and Gonzalez had one.
“I love my team,” Gracida said. “We can play better. We missed a lot of goals, but I am very happy with the way we are playing. I made a mistake in the fourth and fifth chukkers trying to mark Vial. I lost control of the game but in the last chukker I changed the tactics again. That made a difference.
“Tano was outstanding; he played very well. He did exactly what he needed to do to change the tactics in the second half.”
Vial, 30, of Chile, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after playing well on both ends of the field. He finished with three second-half goals. Zeggers also scored three first-half goals and Brennan added two goals.
It was the second time in three weeks Vial was named MVP. “They like me a lot here,” Vial said with a smile.
Vial was a member of the Chile National team that lost to Team USA last November in the International Cup at Grand Champions.
Marcos Alberdi (2) of Catamount reaches for the ball despite defensive pressure from Goose Creek’s Maureen Brennan (2) and Tano Vial (4)
“I think the mistake we made with Catamount was we didn’t change the way we played earlier,” said Vial, who started playing polo at age 12 in Chile.
“We changed our game in the fourth chukker and we probably should have done it in the second or third,” Vial said. “We have a nice team. All the teams here are very competitive. We have been winning and losing all our games by one goal.
“It doesn’t look or feel like 12 goal when you are in the game. You see Carlos Gracida playing with all these nice horses.”
The tournament is named in honor of polo player Rob Sieber who died from a polo-related accident 29 years ago at Oak Brook, Ill. Sieber’s brother, Jake, was among spectators during the game.
Terri Devon presented the awards during Saturday’s trophy presentation with the players.
Grand Champions Polo Club’s state-of-the-art instant replay technology was used during the game which was also live streamed, both provided by PoloNow Network.
The club also hosted an asado for players, families and spectators catered by Cilantro’s Gourmet Deli owner Herman Moreira.
SIEBER MEMORIAL TROPHY (12-Goal) RESULTS:
Pony Express 16, Hawk Hill 13: Tomas Goti scored seven goals for the winners. Matt Coppola had 10 goals for Hawk Hill.
Palm Beach Equine 13, Skaneateles 7: Agustin Arellano had five goals and Lucas Lalor added four goals for the winners.
Hawk Hill 12, Far Niente 9: Matt Coppola scored six goals for the winners.
KIG 9, Casablanca 7: Brandon Phillips scored the tying goal and Marc Ganzi scored the winning goal. Ganzi led scoring with four goals.
Enigma 8, KIG 6: Mariano Obregon scored five goals including the tying and winning goal.
CYRIL R. HARRISON (8-Goal) RESULTS:
Tonchala 11, Tuffriders 8: Tavi Usandizaga scored a game-high eight goals for the winners.
Hawk Hill 9, Naimara/Custer Capital 7: Mackenzie Weisz led scoring with four goals and teammate Raul Colombres scored the tying and winning goal.
HALO POLO CUP (5-Goal) RESULTS:
SLS Jets 8, Patagones Blanco 7: Tavi Usandizaga led scoring with six goals including the winning goal.
Patagones Azul 8, Ganaraska 7: Martin Astrada scored five goals including the game-winner.
Top Gun 8, Santa Clara 5: Guille Usandizaga led scoring with six goals.
SLS Jets 13, Ganaraska 5: Tavi Usandizaga led scoring with eight goals.
Alejandro Gonzalez (1) of Catamount works the ball downfield
FEBRUARY 21 – MARCH 2: C. V. Whitney Cup – Wednesday, Semifinals, Orchard Hill vs. Crab Orchard 1 p.m., Valiente vs. Alegria, 3 p.m.; Thursday, Les Armour Cup, Semifinals, Audi vs. Coca-Cola, 10:30 a.m.; Lechuza Caracas vs. Flight Options, 1 p.m.; MARCH 2, Les Armour Cup final, noon; Championship Final, 3 p.m.
FEBRUARY 28 – MARCH 8: Iglehart Cup – FEB. 28, CT Energia vs. Palm Beach Illustrated, 1 p.m.; Casablanca vs. Los Machitos/Heathcote, 3 p.m.; MARCH 5, Semifinals 1, 3 p.m.; MARCH 8, Final, 1 p.m.
MARCH 5-23: USPA Piaget Gold Cup
MARCH 26 – APRIL 20: 110th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championships
GRAND CHAMPIONS @ PALM BEACH POLO 2014 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (HOTLINE 561-373-0073)
FEBRUARY: Halo Polo Trophy (5 Goals); USPA Cyril R. Harrison Trophy; USPA Sieber Memorial Trophy.
MARCH: Madelon Bourdieu Memorial (5 goals); The Limited Edition 8-Goal Series; USPA Regional President’s Cup (8 goals); $50,000 National 12-Goal Tournament; The Top Pony 12-Goal Series; Santa Rita Abierto (16 goals).
APRIL: Las Acacias (5 goals); USPA Association Cup (8 goals); Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame Challenge Cup (12-goals); John T. Oxley Memorial Trophy (16 goals).
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB SCHEDULE (561-644-5050)
MARCH 9: Great Futures Celebrity Polo Match, 10 a.m., benefitting the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington.
MARCH 17: Buzz Welker Memorial Tournament
APRIL 4-5: Fifth annual Gay Polo League International Tournament
APRIL 8-12: Women’s Championship Tournament
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.
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
Flirt and Yasmin Rizvi Top Equestrian Sotheby’s International Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under
Wellington, FL – February 23, 2014 – The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) concluded its seventh week of competition on Sunday with a fantastic line-up of international show jumping and back-to-back wins for 21-year-old Audrey Coulter (USA) of San Francisco, CA.
The day kicked off with the $280,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 4* with a win for Coulter and Acorte. The pair beat out the world’s number one and two ranked riders, Scott Brash and Ben Maher of Great Britain, who finished second and third respectively with their mounts Ursula XII and Cella. Coulter then went on to another big win in the afternoon’s $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic with her mount Victory DA. It was a day the young rider will surely never forget.
Fredric Cottier (FRA) was the course designer in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center for week seven. The $280,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 4* was postponed due to bad weather on Saturday night, but saw an exciting class on Sunday morning with 44 starters and a five-horse jump-off.
Danielle Goldstein (ISR) and Israeli Equestrian Partners’ Carisma were first to go in the jump-off and had four faults in 45.14 seconds to finish fifth. Audrey Coulter and Copernicus Stables LLC’s Acorte went next and posted the first clear round in what would prove to be the winning time of 40.51 seconds.
Ben Maher and Jane Clark’s Cella did their best, but finished third with their clear round in 41.31 seconds. Brianne Goutal (USA) and Remarkable Farms LP’s Nice de Prissey incurred four faults in 41.93 seconds to place fourth. Scott Brash and Ursula XII, owned by Lord and Lady Harris and Lord and Lady Kirkham, also tried to catch Coulter’s time but settled for second in 41.10 seconds.
Coulter’s winning mount, Acorte, is an eleven-year-old Hanoverian mare by Acorado x Stakkato. The mare previously showed successfully with German rider Rolf Moormann and began competing with Coulter this fall. Sunday’s win was Coulter’s best finish with Acorte as well as the biggest win of the young rider’s career.
“I’m so excited!” she beamed. “Just to be next to Ben and Scott is amazing. My horse was incredible today. It has been a good day; it’s very exciting.”
Coulter is a student at Dartmouth College and is currently taking a quarter off of school to ride and compete. She has been showing at the 1.50m level for a few years, but moved up to the 1.60m height more recently and has had great results. With Acorte, Coulter finished fifth two weeks ago in the $370,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix CSI-W 5* Presented by Rolex, which saw an exciting one-two finish for Maher and Brash. This time, the rider from California stepped up for the win with the help of her trainers, Markus Beerbaum and Meredith Michaels Beerbaum of Germany.
“It was exciting for sure. I wasn’t really expecting it,” Coulter said of winning the jump-off. “I was just happy to be in the ring with Scott and Ben and competing, and I’m so fortunate to have the horse I have and such incredible trainers in Meredith and Markus, so I’m just happy to be here.”
Coming out of the ring, Coulter was not sure if she had done enough to win, but all she could do was wait. “I hoped the time was good enough, but knowing they were coming after me, I would have been happy with second or third. I went for it and I went as fast as I could and my horse is fast, so I was hoping to win, and it worked out today.”
“She’s incredible,” Coulter said of Acorte. “She’s a little feisty, but she has the biggest heart and she tries so hard every time she goes in the ring. I feel so lucky to have her. She’s really scopey and really careful. When we first got here I think she was a little shy, but we spoiled her. She really likes cookies, and we give her a lot of attention.”
In addition to winning top prize in Sunday’s grand prix, Coulter was named the Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider for week seven. The award is sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler.
Coulter thanked her trainers for their support. “It is incredible training with them,” she acknowledged. “They are so supportive. Markus just jumped up and down when I won! They are always there for you, but they also trust that you know what you’re doing, so it’s like a nice discussion back and forth, which I really enjoy. Training with Meredith is awesome. She is obviously an incredible rider, so it’s really fun just being around them every day at the barn.”
Scott Brash and Ursula XII
World number one, Scott Brash, was close behind with his second place finish aboard Ursula XII on Sunday, and gave credit to Coulter’s great ride.
“Audrey did an absolutely fantastic job today, and she thoroughly deserves it,” Brash acknowledged. “She was very, very fast and I watched her on the screen outside of the ring and it was a perfect round and that horse is a very fast horse. Then I watched Ben go, and it was a tough class. It was fast and it was all set distances. I actually tried to go one less stride after the white oxer, but I had a bit of a stumble so I had to do it in eight (strides). I was very pleased with my horse. She has been so consistent throughout the tour, and this is actually her last class (in Wellington). She goes home soon, so I’m happy it finished off on a good note.”
Maher also admitted that his round was just not fast enough to beat Coulter’s time and congratulated the rider on her victory.
“Cella again was incredible today, and it’s a nice change to jump during the day,” Maher noted. “I just didn’t have the jump-off I really wanted. It wasn’t smooth. It was kind of one of those rounds where I wanted to, but couldn’t get going. It was as fast as I could go, and Audrey was way too fast, and I knew it would not be possible to catch her.”
“She is just coming up to these ranks and I wish I had been doing this well when I was 21,” Maher said of Coulter’s success. “I think that’s a new horse for her and I know the horse a little bit from Europe, and it seems to like the American system. I think she prefers Audrey.”
Allyn Mann, Director of the Animal Health Division at Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc., was on hand to watch the class and was thrilled with the great result.
“I’m living the dream,” Mann acknowledged. “Audrey, Scott, Ben, thank you for all you do to make this sport so exciting. The horses are awesome, and of course if it wasn’t for the owners, none of us would be sitting here. We thank owners like Jane Clark and the others who so passionately care about wanting to do the best for this entire industry. We have this facility across the street, the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, that has just turned into a wonderful venue, and for us to support the dressage world and then to come across the street and get involved in the hunter/jumper world, it just has been a dream come true for us. We are looking forward to being around for an awfully long time, to continue to support all of the people that really make it possible for us to exist as a business.”
Coulter Earns Second Win of the Day in $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic
An $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic concluded the competition on Sunday at the FTI WEF with another exciting victory for Audrey Coulter. Seventy-eight entries showed in the class with ten advancing to the jump-off. Fredric Cottier finished out the week with a challenging course for the 1.50m competitors that included a rarely seen quadruple combination. The oxer-vertical-vertical-oxer combination was a difficult test for many of the horses and riders, but Coulter’s horse cleared it easily to move on to the second round.
Audrey Coulter and Victory DA
Coming off the momentum of her big win in the morning, Coulter finished a phenomenal day by piloting Copernicus Stables LLC’s Victory DA to the 1.50m win with the fastest of four double clear rounds in the jump-off. The pair raced through the timers in 38.51 seconds, putting the rider in the winner’s circle once more. Victory DA also got to stand in for Acorte’s winning presentation earlier in the day and took her second victory gallop of the day as well.
“She is much calmer than the other one, so she did the first presentation, and then I think she wanted her own,” Coulter laughed after her win.
Australia’s Benjamin Meredith guided Bernadien van Westuur, owned by River Farm Sporthorses, to second place with a clear round in 39.43 seconds. Carly Anthony (USA) and Artisan Farms LLC’s Rosana du Park placed third in 39.69 seconds, and Ramiro Quintana (ARG) placed fourth with St. Bride’s Farm’s Caramello Z in 40.78 seconds.
Coulter was not sure how she got so lucky with two huge wins in one day, but she said that she would certainly like to repeat it. “I don’t know what I did, but I need to think about it because I need to do it again,” the rider smiled. “Victory DA is not a super fast horse. She can go fast, but sometimes if you go really fast on her she gets a little flat and strung out and has some rails, so I wasn’t really expecting it. I decided to just go after the grand prix and just show her because I haven’t shown her, and it went really well.”
The rider had a long day at the horse show, but noted that it was all worth it. “It was a good day; I have never had a day like this,” Coulter remarked. “This was amazing, and I am never going to forget it.”
Coulter has had Victory DA or “Vicky” for about three years now and knows the mare really well. She is a 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by by Clinton x Attach Z.
“She was sort of my first horse to move up to the 1.60m level,” the rider recalled. “She is super scopey. She is one of those that has all of the ability, but is sometimes not as careful, but today she jumped great and was really, really careful.”
Coulter spoke about the course and the challenge quadruple combination, noting that her horse had plenty of scope to clear it.
“I have never done a quadruple before,” she admitted. “I thought it was a really tricky course actually. Walking it, it was big, it was technical, it was long. It was definitely challenging. The time was tight and I have a kind of slow moving horse, so I was a little worried about the time, but it was a good course for such a big class.”
The strategy in the jump-off: “Sometimes you just sort of kick and go,” Coulter stated. “I wanted to go for it and today she was really on it and jumping well, so I felt like I could really try. Every time after every single jump you sort of have to land and go with her. She is really good at tight turns, so the turn back to the last line is something that was good for us.”
Coulter will compete during FTI WEF weeks nine and twelve and then returns to school for the spring. She then has a job lined up for the summer and will not be able to ride. Her horses will travel to Europe with the Beerbaums after a little time off and will continue to stay in shape and jumping until their rider returns. Coulter hopes to start riding again in August to gear up for next season and then has goals of competing at the 2015 FEI World Cup Finals.
Flirt and Yasmin Rizvi Top Equestrian Sotheby’s Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under
Hunter competition for week seven of the FTI WEF concluded on Sunday with a championship win for 13-year-old Yasmin Rizvi of Greenwich, CT, riding Peacock Ridge LLC’s Flirt in the Equestrian Sotheby’s Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division. Rizvi and the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding placed fourth over fences on Saturday, then jumped two winning rounds on Sunday and finished fourth under saddle to earn the championship tricolor. Oscany Inc.’s Clooney was reserve champion with Sophie Simpson in the irons. The pair placed third in both over fences on Saturday and second in both over fences on Sunday.
Rizvi and Flirt were also presented with the championship owner/rider award with Melissa Wight’s Chromeo and Samantha Wight in reserve. The special award is given to junior riders that compete on their own horses. Rizvi has owned Flirt since May of 2013. The pair had a successful year including top ribbons at Indoors and a fifth place finish at the USEF National Junior Hunter Championships. Rizvi trains at Heritage Farm in New York.
“This is my second weekend showing him here this year,” the rider noted. “He was pretty good last week, but it was his first weekend back for a while. He came out, and he felt really good this week.”
“He is slow, but he is so fun to ride,” Rizvi described. “He has never done anything wrong. He is perfect.”
Rizvi and Flirt had two great rounds over fences on Sunday to clinch the championship title. She detailed, “The first round he jumped really well. In the second round I rubbed a few jumps, but he was really good. He jumps very well and he is so much fun.”
“He is really sweet,” she said of Flirt’s personality. “Some horses bite, but he is nice. He will let me hug him, and he is very affectionate.”
Sunday’s competition concluded week seven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. Week eight, sponsored by G&C Farm, begins on Wednesday, February 26, and runs through March 2. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
About FTI Consulting, Inc.
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 8 through March 30. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded.
THERMAL, CA (February 23, 2014) – When the Canadian National Anthem played at the conclusion of Saturday’s $50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition CSI-W2* Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, at HITS Thermal it was playing for more than just the winner, Elizabeth Gingras of Alberta. Gingras and the up-and-coming Bretton Chad, also of Alberta, went one-two for Canada in a three-horse jump-off and celebrated together for their home nation.
“We have been riding together in Alberta for many years,” said Gingras of her history with Chad. “Obviously you always want to win, but it was awesome to see two Canadians at the top. If the roles had been reversed, I would have been a very proud second.”
While humble about the results, Gingras couldn’t control her excited reaction to how her 11-year-old Hanoverian mare performed. One of only three to jump clear over Manuel Esparza’s original track, Gingras topped a complete field of 21 for her first-ever win in a World Cup qualifying class.
Esparza of Mexico City, Mexico set a technical track within the FEI-standard confines of the Strongid C 2X Grand Prix Stadium. The twelve obstacles offered horse and rider 15 jumping efforts, with a long and scopey line across the middle of the ring that included a vertical with a Liverpool, seven strides to the triple combination and ended with a tall plank vertical.
“The water to the triple was very tricky to jump clear,” said Gingras. “The first vertical was a very careful fence and my horse has a large stride, so I was worried about fitting in the seven properly. Then, the plank was tall and pointed right at the out-gate.”
Gingras jumped the line unscathed, but others were not so lucky – half the field picked up faults in the triple combination line and it was the only element that crushed clear rounds for six pairs. “Her scope is unreal,” said Gingras of the mare that Emile Hendrix found for her over a year ago. “I got her as a nine-year-old, so we have really grown together and become a team. I couldn’t have asked for anything more than what she gave me today.”
Both Gingras and Chad are undecided about whether they will attend the 2014 FEI World Cup Finals if qualified, but the milestone is not far off for either rider. “This is my first season stepping up into the World Cup classes, so I am just over the moon to even be here,” said Chad, who also piloted a mare – Santa Catarina LS La Silla – to second. “My horse was a rock star today. She is so honest and is really helping me to move up and get around these bigger courses.”
A jump-off between four fault rides was becoming a real possibility in the first round until Sean Crooks, riding for the United States and hailing from Wellington, Florida, jumped the first clear in the irons of Glen Youell’s Armegedon. Chad joined him two trips later before Gingras rounded out the group.
In the jump-off, Crooks rubbed a rail on the second-to-last fence, which eventually came down, landing him with four faults in 44.49 seconds. Chad posted a time of 48.14 seconds, but Floreen SFN’s stride paid off for Gingras, as she crossed the timers in 45.58 seconds for the win.
American rider Ashlee Bond Clarke of Hidden Hills, California was the fastest of the four-faulters from the first round aboard Little Valley Farms’ Chela LS for third. Fourth was awarded to Thursday’s FEI winner Nayel Nassar, representing Egypt on his own Lordan. Bliss Heers of Olivehain, California capped the top five for the United States on Bridgeside Farms, LLC’s Cesar.
Saturday night was the final FEI World Cup qualifier of the 2014 winter season at HITS Thermal as attention now turns to who will qualify for the coveted AIG $1 Million Grand Prix on March 16. Weekly grand prix on Fridays and Sundays will continue over the next three weeks as riders race to qualify for the richest class in show jumping.
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THERMAL, CA (February 23, 2014) – Most people dream about a horse whose “spook” is a better jump. For Hope Glynn, those dreams are a reality. Glynn, who hails from Penngrove, California, piloted Sabrina Hellman’s Woodstock in Friday’s $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix where the unfamiliar ring, new jumps and first hunter prix of the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood Gelding’s season gave Glynn the advantage.
“This is his first week here and he was impressed by the surroundings, which helped me to get a better jumped out of him,” said Glynn. “Where most horses spook, his spook is just a better jump.”
Glynn characterizes Woodstock as her “old faithful” and the pair has had a storied career together since the Hellman family first brought the gelding to Sonoma Valley Stables. They added Friday’s Devoucoux Hunter Prix in the Main Hunter Ring at HITS Thermal to their list of accolades after posting a first round score of 85.75 and leading the second round with a solid 87.
With long bending lines and deep turns, Glynn admits that the courses suited her, setting both her and Woodstock up for success. “The courses were perfect and this horse gives any rider confidence – he will land on either lead, but also has a beautiful lead change. I can gallop up to an oxer and know that if I am a little snug or a little long he is still going to jump up and around the fence perfectly,” said Glynn. “It completely changes the way you can relax to a fence when you don’t have to manufacture a front end, and Woodstock’s is as solid as they come.”
Despite winning in the end, Jamie Taylor of Tarzana, California made Glynn work for it. Taylor and Willow CBF, owned by Julie Hancock, were consistent with scores of 86.5 and 86 to finish just a quarter point behind Glynn. Jenny Karazissis of Calabasas, California capped the top three in the irons of Splendid for Julia Landmann after an 85.5 and 85.
Nick Haness of San Clemente, California was fourth on Lexie Looker’s Winfield with scores of 87 and 83, while Alex Taylor-Silvernale of Median, Washington rounded out the top five with her own Bien Sur with an 83 and 84.
About Devoucoux Devoucoux, makers of fine French saddles, is proud to be the title sponsor of each and every qualifying Hunter Prix leading up to the phenomenal Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. Devoucoux offers a wide range of saddles in many colors and sizes and matching accessories. Devoucoux craftsmen are devoted to creating beautiful products that reflect their obsession with quality and lovingly finished work. For more information on Devoucoux, visit devoucoux.com.
$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Macy Mitchell’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Ringmaster proved that he may have found his home in the hunter ring on Friday. After a brief hiatus in the jumpers, Mitchell of Hailey, Indiana entered him in his first-ever $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix and jumped to a win.
“I was very surprised,” said Mitchell, who trains with Teresa Englehart. “This was his first show back after a year off and we were just on our game for those bending lines and turns.”
Fifteen-year-old Mitchell admits that she has a soft spot for Ringmaster’s personality, despite characterizing him as a “closet naughty”. “He pretends to be a good boy, but he’s always looking to play tricks,” said Mitchell.
The pair led the first round with a 78 and returned to impress with an 82 on their way to the win.
Sabrina Tirador of Tustin, California and her own Caspar jumped to second with scores of 74 and 84, while owner/rider Paris Mccaw was third with Triple Crown after scores of 67 and 71.
Polly Sweeney of Pasadena, California was fourth on her own Duet with a 68 and 69.5, and Betsy Chess capped the top five with her own Alaric with scores of 65 and 72.
With three weeks remaining at the HITS Desert Circuit, West Coast hunter riders have three more opportunities to seal their fate for September’s HITS Championship at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York. Each year, the West Coast is represented by a strong contingent of competitors in the Diamond Mills $500,000 and Platinum Performance $250,000 Hunter Prix Finals, and 2014 is shaping up to be no different.
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Alix Szepesi and Majco Thunder’s Hattrick Triumph in FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle CDI 3*
Wellington, FL – February 23, 2014 – CDI 3* competition wrapped up on Sunday afternoon at the seventh week of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). After a full week of CDIO and CDI 3* competition, the FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle, presented by Peacock Ridge, crowned its winner Sunday morning. Competition concluded for the week with the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by Stillpoint Farm.
Competition for AGDF 8 will resume on February 28 for the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W. The feature event of the week, the FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix Freestyle, will be highlighted on the evening of Saturday, March 1.
The FEI Grand Prix Freestyle was a truly international class, seeing riders from Canada, the United States, Germany, Georgia, Brazil, and Italy. American Susan Dutta and her own Currency DC, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding, emerged victorious from the class with a score of 71.950%. Canadian Jacqueline Brooks rode to second place with D Niro on a score of 71.275%. Maria Kaldewei (GER) rounded out the top three with a score of 68.625% aboard Die Suesse.
Dutta was very pleased with the improvements she saw in her test after making some adjustments to her choreography. “I’ve done this choreography a few times this year, and I kept having mistakes in the changes. We were finally like, ‘Let’s change the lines to make it so that we can have some success of a clean trip.’ And it was good. It worked. So that was a nice feeling,” Dutta explained.
She continued, “I’m just right now trying to get clean, technical tricks. That’s a huge success for me. I’ve never been a fancy choreography rider. I always have great music, but I like to be a safe rider.”
Dutta’s “Slumdog Millionaire”-themed music was a natural choice, given her husband Tim’s Indian heritage. She was particularly drawn to the lyrics, “jai ho,” that repeat through her routine; they mean “blessings” in Hindi.
Of her choreography, Dutta commented, “I love the pirouettes on the short end [of the ring] because you can really ride into them. For me, it fixes the habit that I love to over prepare, and I just don’t have the time, so they’re always good. I love the ending, that fan in the piaffe. I could do those all day long.”
She continued, “I don’t do anything too crazy tricky because the horse is pretty flamboyant in those movements, so you want [the judges and audience] to just be able to watch and enjoy him and not be too radical in the movements.”
Second place finisher Brooks tried out a new freestyle with D Niro, which she felt went quite well. Her biggest victory was reaching a breakthrough in the gelding’s self-carriage. “He’s just mature now. He knows his job now. I finally feel like the fitness and the strength and understanding are all at the same level,” Brooks remarked.
She elaborated, “This season, it’s all about his strength and his self-carriage. That’s a scary thing when you start saying to them in the ring, ‘Now you go ahead and try to do this on your own,’ and you try to give them a little bit less help so you can push them uphill. That I was extremely pleased with today.”
A unique challenge of the AGDF for Brooks is tweaking the timing of her choreography to make up for the fact her horse moves differently on the footing of The Stadium. “On this amazing footing, it’s different timing than in a normal sand ring. They stay on the surface a bit more here, they gain a bit more ground. You see people will usually finish a bit ahead of their music on this footing,” Brooks described.
Brooks actually sees the difference in timing as an advantage with her new choreography, not a hindrance. “I’m really happy with where I’m using up that music. I can make it a bit more difficult. I can take my half passes really to the walls and back, which increased the degree of difficulty,” Brooks expressed.
Alix Szepesi and Majco Thunder’s Hattrick
Alix Szepesi (USA) and Majco Thunder’s Hattrick topped the FEI Intermediaire Freestyle-1 earlier on Sunday with a score of 68.542%. Second place went to fellow American Bent Jensen and Saracen, who earned a 67.833%. Sonia Zugel of Ireland rounded out the top three with Ungaro with a 67.083%.
Szepesi was quite pleased to see “Hattrick,” a 13-year-old Knabstrupper gelding co-owned by Szepesi and Michelle Doucette, coming along nicely during his first year the CDI level.
“He came in, he had good energy. He was on the aids. I think we were right on the music. It was a lot of fun. I got a little over eager in one of the canter pirouettes. We were going into our first canter pirouette and I was thinking ‘This is great!’ and I didn’t keep him connected enough, so he kind of had a little fumble coming out of it,” Szepesi explained.
She continued, “Our first line of two tempis was really good; I think the three [tempis] were right on. I think I hit the music like right on. We had a little bobble in our second line of two tempis, but he felt great and it just flowed with the music.”
Hattrick enjoys his freestyle music so much, he’s memorized all of the markers in the music to transition between movements. Szepesi enjoys feeling him light up in anticipation of the next element of choreography.
Szepesi described that managing Hattrick in a CDI environment outside of the ring has been a big adjustment for the gelding, with the biggest test being how Hattrick would react to staying in FEI stabling instead of going home each day to several hours of turn-out after a National show.
“I really believe in turn-out and he’s used to getting turn-out like four or six hours a day, even down here in Wellington. We found a place that has enough turn-out for the horses to go out and have grass and just be normal. What we’d done in the past [for National shows], we just put him the trailer, did the class, and went home,” Szepesi described.
Szepesi credited groom Emily LaGrave for making the smooth transition into CDI possible. “I have a wonderful groom, Emily LaGrave. She stays with him all day. She walks him, and she grazes him, so he’s not just standing in the stall. It makes a huge difference,” Szepesi expressed.
She continued, “She’s been doing an incredible job with keeping him sparkling white. That is all Emily! She gets a lot of compliments on that.”
Hattrick’s gleaming white coat and spotted skin tends to turn heads amongst the sea of bay and chestnut horses often seen ringside. Szepesi admitted she didn’t even know the Knabstrupper breed existed before watching a video of Hattrick, and the gelding simply happened to fall in her lap.
“A Danish dealer that we had worked with before just sent videos. I think he must have just had a video of this horse and he sent to everyone he knew, so we just got this video at the barn one day. We looked at the video and pretty much everybody in the beginning said, ‘No, he’s got spots,'” Szepesi described.
But a few weeks later, now co-owner Doucette came back to Szepesi to ask about the horse with the spots. The video had struck a chord with her and despite hearing he had already been sold, Doucette urged Szepesi to reach out to the dealer.
“We called the dealer and he said, ‘As a matter of fact, the guy’s sponsorship fell through and I have the horse back in the barn now.’ It’s one of those things that was kind of meant to be,” Szepesi recalled.
The only trait that stands out more than his looks is Hattrick’s remarkably laid-back attitude on the showgrounds. He stood calmly while being adorned with his blue ribbon and winner’s cooler before quietly walking into the ring for the awards presentation. He’s so quiet Szepesi doesn’t even worry about putting protective wraps or boots on him for the victory lap.
“He’s always been like that! The woman that bred him [Ingrid Mikkelsen] actually did some Monty Roberts [natural horsemanship] stuff,” Szepesi commented. “She sent us some foal pictures and there were ones of him with the big ball and walking under tarps.”
Szepesi will continue to compete Hattrick in the remaining CDI competitions of the AGDF. By the end of the season, she hopes to ride him in an Intermediaire A class to continue to move towards an FEI Grand Prix debut.
Tanya Strasser-Shostak added another blue ribbon to her already impressive haul from AGDF 7 after winning the FEI Young Rider Freestyle, presented by Engel & Völkers. Strasser-Shostak and Action Tyme topped the class with a 70.292%.
Competition for the AGDF resumes Friday, March 28, for the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W presented by Martha W. Jolicoeur and Maria Mendelsohn of Illustrated Properties.
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 8 FEI Dressage events, including a 5* and the only FEI Nations’ Cup Series CDIO in the Western Hemisphere. The AGDF offers more than $400,000 in prize money for the six 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 for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.
Wellington, FL – February 22, 2014 – Silvia Rizzo of Italy and her new horse Sal, a 15-year-old Lusitano stallion (Mississipe – Maia, Golegã), are beginning to forge a solid connection in the dressage arena after just 10 weeks together.
Although they are just learning to trust each other, the two have consistently boosted their scores during the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. The pair earned a 63.080 in Friday’s Grand Prix CDI3*.
“I have to learn Sal’s rhythm in the flying changes,” Rizzo said. “I also have to work on keeping the same bend and rhythm in the pirouettes.”
Rizzo’s trainer and partner, Michele Betti, the former chef d’equipe of the Italian Eventing Team, is happy with the confidence with which Rizzo and Sal have been riding.
“I am very impressed with how they are starting to know each other and how I can ask her to improve some exercises and she does it trusting the horse and without any kind of doubt,” he said. “I am really happy about this new combination and I agree totally with the judges when they wrote on their score sheet, ‘Willing horse with great future.'”
Rizzo has been working diligently to put Betti’s advice into practice.
“These days we work a lot on keeping the right energy for the piaffe,” she said. “Michele wants him more seated and at the same time powerful from behind. Another important thing which Michele asked me to do is have more cadence in the right half pass at the trot while keeping a good bend.”
“What was amazing for me is the feeling that Sal gives me at each show,” she continued. “Sal is working with me. It’s like he trusts me now and he is allowing me to ride him and guide him. From the entrance he is there with me! I had a much better feeling with the rhythm of the trot half passes [on Friday], but I had a ‘blonde moment’ entering into the extended trot. But he helped me out!”
Rizzo thought the piaffe had good balance and rhythm and the judges thought so too, as they received a 7.5 for the piaffe.
“What I really liked was that the judge at C was always saying, ‘Thank you’ to each rider at the end of their tests,” she said. “That made me feel really pleased and grateful.”
Rizzo and Betti hope to continue their upward direction with Sal as the competition continues this season in Florida.
“We are coming together and I am so happy,” Rizzo said.
Sadis, Davis, and Montagano Earn Division Honors; Karin Pavicic Enjoys Another Blue Ribbon Ride in FEI Grand Prix Special; Lisa Wilcox and Galant Continue Winning Ways in FEI Intermediaire-1
Wellington, FL – February 22, 2014 – CDI 3* competition continued at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) on Saturday with the FEI Grand Prix Special, presented by Stillpoint Farm, and the FEI Intermediaire-1, presented by Peacock Ridge. In addition to professional competition, the sport’s brightest young stars were recognized in the Florida International Youth Dressage Championships, presented by Dressage4Kids, to wrap up the evening.
Competition for the AGDF 7 CDIO/CDI 3* concludes on Sunday with the FEI Intermediaire-1 Freestyle and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, beginning at approximately 10:15 a.m. at The Stadium at PBIEC.
Tanya Strasser-Shostak, 18, was crowned Overall Champion of the Florida International Youth Dressage Championships, presented by Dressage4Kids, for her total high score of 136.403% in the FEI Young Rider division with her own Action Tyme, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding.
Of her victory, Strasser-Shostak said, “I’m very happy. Obviously, I had a really good weekend and my horse was always as the same page as me. He’s always trying, so it’s just great to have such a successful weekend.”
Action Tyme has been the perfect schoolmaster for Strasser-Shostak after spending plenty of time in the Grand Prix ring with Strasser-Shostak’s mother, Evi Strasser.
“[He’s taught me] so much. I’m so lucky that one day he can let me do the grand prix stuff, the next day we can go back to Young Riders, and the next day we can go hacking. Nothing fazes him, so he’s taught me everything,” Strasser-Shostak remarked.
Strasser-Shostak, who has competed at the AGDF since its inception in 2012, credited her experience at the show as a large part of her success. “There’s so many things that we can’t as young riders normally have, with the big rings, the atmosphere. It’s just nice that we can have this experience here. It’s very convenient, and the facility is great,” Strasser-Shostak commented.
She continued, “It’s prepared me. Last year, I showed here with a different horse in Young Riders and also with Action a bit. It’s definitely prepared me for the Young Rider Championships and the Canadian championships. I don’t know if I would have won the bronze medal if I hadn’t had the same experience. I may not have had the same success. It’s nice that everything can come into one place.”
Katrina Sadis, 15, was champion of the FEI Pony division, finishing with an overall score of 133.992% aboard Poldy 10, an 18-year-old German Riding Pony gelding owned by Kristen Verhey.
Katrina Sadis and Poldy 10
“[This win] means so much,” Sadis beamed. “I never thought I’d be here five months ago. Our tests were really good. He was really with me today. The first test, it was kind of the Poldy show, but he let me have a little piece of it today, and it really paid off in my scores. It was really fun.”
Sadis is currently enrolled in Dressage4Kids’ Winter Intensive Training (WIT) program with trainer Lendon Grey. “WIT is amazing. Lendon’s a really amazing instructor. It’s so great because we learn so much more than just riding. We have lectures from different people, and it’s such a great experience,” Sadis explained.
Champion of the FEI Junior division was Bebe Davis and her horse Fievel Mousekewitz for their score of 134.029%. Fievel Mouskewitz is a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Apex Stables International.
Davis, 16, had the ride on Sadis’ mount last year in the pony divisions and was happy to see him take another rider to the winner’s circle.
“It’s any rider’s dream to be able to see their horse going well with a new rider and still out there winning, being his usual wonderful self. It’s great to see him here in Florida. She’s having a great time with him and they’re getting great scores, and I couldn’t ask for anything better for him,” Davis smiled.
Davis’ winning mount is still relatively new to her, but she’s enjoying the process of getting to know the gelding. “It’s going really well. He won today and he was second on Thursday, so I couldn’t be happier. We’re just improving, and our partnership is getting better. He’s just such a fun horse. I couldn’t ask for a better horse,” she described.
Like her fellow young riders, Davis has figured out a way to continue her education while remaining competitive on the show circuit. She currently attends Palm Beach International Academy (PBIA), where she has enjoyed the unique experience of having all-equestrian classmates. Her teachers have started to get the equestrian bug as well.
“I’ve been with them for the past two years, and they’ve started to follow dressage now. My teachers are really interested in it, which is really cool. It’s a great experience. It’s a lot of fun,” Davis smiled.
Melanie Montagano took home the Brentina Trophy for her victory in the FEI Intermediaire B 16-25, presented by Diamante Farms. Montagano finished on a 116.06% aboard Ga Deva, her own 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare.
Montagano recently earned her USDF Gold Medal with Ga Deva, which prompted her to reflect on their seven year journey together.
“I’ve gotten my Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medal on her now. I’ve trained her from First Level to Grand Prix,” Montagano detailed. “[Bringing her up through the levels has been] so special. I guess I didn’t really think about it until I finally got the Gold Medal, but in seven years to bring a horse from First Level to Grand Prix – and I was not an experienced rider – she’s just beared along with me and we’ve done it together. It’s a really special journey for me.”
Montagano currently trains with grand prix rider Jacqueline Brooks (CAN) and credited her trainer with much of their success, describing her program as doing “complete wonders” for her riding. Competing each weekend of the AGDF under Brooks’ tutelage has been an important ingredient to her progress.
“I’ve been here probably every weekend since January, just doing the National classes and doing the Under-25 to ride it as much as I can,” she described. “I’ve gotten to the point where my warm-up is really solid here. Sometimes I turn out a really good test and sometimes it’s not so good, but every time I come here and show it, it’s an improvement. I fixed something that I didn’t have last time and it’s never regressing.”
Montagano, 23, recently graduated from the University of Delaware with a pre-veterinary degree. While she has decided to delay applying to veterinary school for the time being, she strongly believes in the value of getting an education. “I’m a big believer in education. It’s a vital part of any successful rider. To be able to connect with people on a different level beyond horses [is really important],” Montagano expressed.
Karen Pavicic and Don Daiquiri
Karin Pavicic (CAN) and Don Daiquiri, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding co-owned by Jayne Essig and Pavicic, picked up their second win of the week in the FEI Grand Prix Special on Saturday afternoon. The pair topped the class with a score of 70.000%. American Laura Graves rode her own Verdades to second place, finishing with a score of 68.706%. Jill Irving (CAN) completed the top three with Degas 12 and a score of 68.667%.
Pavicic was hoping to reach 70% with Saturday’s test and was very excited to have achieved that benchmark. “That’s what I was hoping for and I met my goal. I’m so thrilled. I couldn’t be happier with my horse. I love my horse, he was fantastic,” Pavicic beamed.
Pavicic was pleased to see Don Daiquiri come out of the barn a little fresher than the previous day after carefully managing his warm-up time in the Florida heat. After an over-rotated canter pirouette on Friday, Pavicic was happy to improve on that portion of the test in particular.
“The pirouette to the one tempis to the pirouette is difficult, one of the more challenging parts of the test, and I feel we rode that quite well today. I over-rotated on my first canter pirouette yesterday, and that almost happened again today, but I caught it in time and was able to ride the one tempis out. I thought my second pirouette was especially good. In general, he was just super obedient and super rideable,” Pavicic commented.
Pavicic traveled to the AGDF all the way from Vancouver and was incredibly grateful to have her best friend, Carmen Barber, by her side in Wellington. Pavicic’s family has been following along via livestream, but she acknowledged it’s been difficult to be away from them. Her double victories this week have made the hardship worth it.
“It’s a dream come true!” Pavicic said of winning both FEI Grand Prix classes during AGDF 7. “Absolutely. It’s unbelievable.”
Saturday was the first time contesting the FEI Grand Prix Special for second place finisher Graves and her mount Verdades. She’s owned the gelding since he was just six months old and was thrilled with their performance.
“It’s been almost 12 years that I’ve had him. It’s been a really long road for us. Obviously, we really have a great partnership. I would even call it co-dependent! It’s nice to reach this point and to have success,” Graves explained.
Graves’ greatest priority in the test was simply to make sure she stayed on course, making her second place finish in good company even more meaningful. “I’m just glad that we got through it. I was really proud that we did our pirouettes to the one (tempis) clean and another pirouette. He’s an incredibly emotional horse, so to hit something difficult where things happen really fast for him and he kept his cool, I was really proud of him for that. That’s been a real ‘proud mommy’ moment for me,” Graves smiled.
Lisa Wilcox (USA) and Galant, an eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Jacqueline Shear, topped the FEI Intermediaire-1 on Saturday morning with a score of 69.649%. Second place went to Neve Myburgh (GER) and Lexington Star for their score of 68.421%. Catherine Malone (USA) rounded out the top three with Uno Don Diego and a score of 66.798%.
Wilcox was surprised to see that Galant was actually spookier during the daytime after competing under the lights of The Stadium earlier week for the FEI Prix St. Georges.
“Interestingly enough, he was more looky in the daylight,” she confirmed. “It was like all of a sudden he saw flowers that he didn’t see at night and so I had a few more things to work through when I was in there, but otherwise he was very confident in the movements besides the lookiness. Other than that, I’m very pleased. He’s very confident. It’s his first CDI, so very good!”
For Wilcox, the highlight of their test was their canter work. After a small bobble in the extended trot that Wilcox acknowledged was her fault, she was pleased with Galant’s solid canter zig-zags and pirouettes.
Like Wilcox, Myburgh acknowledged her horse was actually more lit up during the day time competition, but she was pleased that Lexington Star also held it together despite being relatively inexperienced.
“He’s only been doing Prix St. Georges and I-1 for the last three months and this is his second CDI, so I’m really happy with him. He’s a generally very spooky horse, so hats off to him for getting past the flowerpots!” Myburgh smiled.
Myburgh is still getting to know the gelding; she’s only had the ride for the last five months. She looks forward to getting his owner back on at some point in the future, but will also continue to compete him herself as their relationship continues to develop.
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is one of the world’s largest international and national dressage circuits featuring 8 FEI Dressage events, including a 5* and the only FEI Nations’ Cup Series CDIO in the Western Hemisphere. The AGDF offers more than $400,000 in prize money for the six 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 for the International Arena fully catered for relaxing and having an enjoyable experience.
Here is the latest problem we are facing to stop the roundups and protect all the threatened herds of wild horses living in freedom on public land:
We encourage the public to stop panicking and read everything they are asking their senators and representatives to do on their behalf.
Are wild horses really at risk of being slaughtered if they aren’t sterilized?
Is something in that form letter you received that you don’t agree with? Do you want wild horses sterilized using EPA approved restricted use pesticides?
These pesticides are not safe for domestic horses so why are they being pushed for use on wild horses? Are you giving up the fight for their freedom to live in natural family bands?
Why is an advocacy group encouraging their supporters to write members of Congress–via click and send form letter–asking them to sign on to the pledge to sterilize wild horses (already in non-viable herds) when BLM overpopulation claim is false?
We found their pitch citing a quote from the National Academy of Sciences 2013 report in their form letter being circulated around the Internet. It reads:
“… Considering all the current options, [porcine zona pellucida (PZP) vaccines and GonaCon vaccine for females and chemical vasectomy for males] either alone or in combination, offer the most acceptable alternative to removing animals for managing population numbers…. ”
Even worse is the pledge they are requesting members of Congress sign and return the advocacy group’s office.
Senators and representatives will think the public wants “[porcine zona pellucida (PZP) vaccines and GonaCon vaccine for females and chemical vasectomy for males] either alone or in combination.” Is that what you want?
Or do you want to stop the roundups with a 10-year moratorium (suspension) on roundups for scientific research to investigate what’s the best way to manage the underpopulated herds of wild horses left in the West?
Why is this group pushing an elected official “pledge” to use “available fertility control” without scientific studies on population, migration, and holistic land management? What is going on here? Who is funding this scare-tactic-based campaign to sterilize America’s wild horses?
Why isn’t the group mentioning to members of Congress that the National Academy of Sciences report also said there is “no evidence” of overpopulation–why omit this?
Why hasn’t the group done any independent aerial or in-the-field research on population? Is it because it would not support the BLM’s faulty overpopulation claim?
See for yourself how many wild horses are left in the 800,000 acre Twin Peaks area during a recent aerial survey: VIDEO: http://vimeo.com/81195843. Read the scientific report exposing an underpopulation crisis on public land: http://protectmustangs.org/?p=6278.
The group appears to know wild horses are not overpopulated. Recently they were quoted in an Associated Press article debunking the BLM’s overpopulation claim in comparison with livestock on public land.
Why then are they attempting to lead the public into blindly supporting a plan lacking good science–a plan calling for permanent and temporary sterility actions against indigenous wild horses?
Is the group alluding to a false risk of all wild horses going to slaughter if they aren’t sterilized?
Why create all the panic so people will quickly click, sign and share the pledge with their senators and congressional representatives asking them to “take the pledge” for sterilization, etc.? Is the public reading what they are signing on to?
Did you know that International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros (ISPMB) wild horse herd study shows that functional social structures contribute to low herd growth compared to BLM managed herds? http://protectmustangs.org/?p=6057
Even the National Academy of Sciences reported roundups resulted in abnormal increased birthrate. Are wild horses and burros fearing extinction now?
What if you follow the money?
Are American wild horses becoming lab rats for immunocontraceptives for other species including humans? Read the reference section at the bottom this research paper: http://randc.ovinfo.com/e200501/yuanmm.pdf.
How can man (BLM and others) decide which wild horses to sterilize on the range and who to breed? That would be the end of survival of the fittest and the beginning of domestication of the wild horse and burro.
Is the group’s paradigm flawed because it focuses on the individual wild horse and neglects to view the herd as most important–as the lifeblood?
Sanctuaries might need to sterilize wild horses because they have limited space but policy for native wild horses living in the wild should not be modeled after a sanctuary model–unless it is based on reserve design.
America’s native wild horses and burros are wild animals who benefit the ecosystem and fill their niche, reduce wildfire fuel, and help reverse desertification. They are not back alley cats that should be spayed and neutered because of an overpopulation problem. (No offense to cats.)
The alleged overpopulation problem for wild horses and burros is a farce.
Now the question is: What do we do to save the wild horses from those who are pushing for risky temporary and permanent sterilization using EPA approved “restricted use pesticides” on non-viable herds?
3.) Send an email to your senators and your representatives if you don’t want America’s wild horses to be sterilized. Let them know you didn’t read the fine print of the form letter you signed and sent to them, if that is the truth.
4.) Meet with your senator’s aides and your representative to request they intervene in the wipe-out of America’s wild horses and burros by defunding the roundups and granting a 10-year moratorium on roundups for scientific research on population, migration, reserve design, holistic land management, etc.
5.) Visualize miracles of wild horses living in natural family bands in freedom.
Remember don’t let anyone scare you into believing wild horses are going to be slaughtered if they aren’t sterilized. Fight the good fight for our symbols of freedom and our national living treasures–America’s wild horses and burros.
International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros (ISPMB) herds show that functional social structures contribute to low herd growth compared to BLM managed herds: http://protectmustangs.org/?p=6057
Public outraged over the EPA approving pesticides for NATIVE wild horses: http://protectmustangs.org/?p=3866
Contact us if you want to help the wild horses and burros survive the politics that are trying to bring them down. We need volunteers, donors and people to help get this petition out there! Email Contact@ProtectMustangs.org.
Thank you for helping the wild horses and burros by signing and sharing the Petition to Defund and Stop the Roundups!
The star studded documentary, ‘Wild Horses and Renegades’ by James Anaquad Kleinert requests a moratorium on roundups. See the video clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay1FUpzBIGs.
It’s time to pick the torch back up and continue the fight. Never give up. We the people must take back the power for the voiceless wild ones we love!
