Diane Creech and Devon L in the Grand Prix Freestyle at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival 1 CDI-W. Photo by Susan J. Stickle.
Wellington, FL – January 17, 2014 – Canadian Grand Prix dressage rider Diane Creech was pleased with the two horses she brought out at the start of the 2014 show season for the Adequan Global Dressage Festival 1 CDI-W, sponsored by MTICA Farm and Everglades Dressage.
Devon L, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding (De Niro X Wilbranda X Wolkenstein II), placed fourth in the Grand Prix Freestyle on Friday night with a 72.300 percent and earned a 65.880 percent in the Grand Prix on Thursday.
Chrevis Christo, a 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Lavallo X Chrevi’s La Vi X Natador), earned the blue ribbon and a red ribbon in his entrée to the Intermediaire II level at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival 1 National Show. Both horses are owned by Doug and Louise Leatherdale of Leatherdale Farms.
Creech and Devon L unveiled a technically difficult freestyle Friday night with new music and choreography created by Karen Robinson.
“He was quite spectacular,” Creech said. “It was a beautiful, big atmosphere. Devon is starting to like the freestyle. He really gets into it now. I took very calculated risks on the movement and it all paid out. He was really with me and, with the difficulty built into the pattern, it was very well executed.”
She was pleased with the electric atmosphere and the large crowd at the first Friday night freestyle. She was especially grateful to her local friends who came to support her.
“After x/halt/salute, they were yelling and screaming and so happy for me,” she said. “It’s really cool to have friends here. I don’t see them all year, but they all come.”
Diane Creech and Devon L. Photo by Mary Adelaide Brakenridge
Her fan club will be there en force when she rides Devon L in the Adequan Global Dressage Festival 3 CDI-W later this month. She has mapped out a training strategy for the show including studying the video of her freestyle, focusing on where she can make things better and visualizing the test.
“It’s a very good training tool to visualize,” she said. “You can’t keep riding the horse through the freestyle, so you visualize it. Then, you ride it and improve it.”
She was also pleased with Chrevis Christo’s debut in his first Intermediaire II.
“It was his first show since last summer,” she said. “He’s ready to be at the level. He just needs a bit more mileage and a bit more experience, but he’s the real thing!”
Creech and her trainer, Lars Petersen, brought the horse up through the levels and they are looking forward to watching him develop. Petersen intently watches her competition and rides every stride from the ground.
“He is an incredible trainer and person,” she said. “It is wonderful to work with him because he’s engaged and enthusiastic.”
Essential to the team are the horse owners, Doug and Louise Leatherdale of Leatherdale Farms. Creech said she sent them the videos of her rides and they were ecstatic over the outcome and the progress the horses have made.
“Without them I wouldn’t be anywhere,” she said. “They are the first ones after the show to congratulate me.”
Creech plans to show two other Leatherdale Farms horses this weekend at the Gold Coast Dressage Opener Festival CDI*: Hallmark 3, a 10-year-old Hanoverian by the Leatherdales’ late stallion, His Highness, and Diana C, a 7-year-old mare by the Leatherdales’ top Hanoverian stallion, Damsey. She finds the frequent shows in the Wellington area make it ideal for her to compete her horses and then give them a rest before they begin again.
‘They all get to have their turns and have the experience and then get a break and then go out and do it again,” she said.
“The horses always come first,” she said about Team Leatherdale/Creech/Petersen. “It’s really teamwork and I’m so fortunate to be part of the partnership between all of us.”
About Leatherdale Farms Situated 20 minutes from Minneapolis, MN, Leatherdale Farms is a privately owned farm owned and managed by Louise and Doug Leatherdale and dedicated to Hanoverian, Trakehner and Oldenburg breeding. The Leatherdale family owns several licensed stallions based in Germany at Hengstation Jens Meyer: Hanoverians Dorum, the premium elite, Damsey (Dressage Royal), First Dance (Florestan II), Rob Roy (Rubin Royale), Hampton (His Highness), Beltano (Belissimo M); the premium elite Trakehner, Herzensdieb (Tambour); and the Oldenburg Fairbanks (Flemmingh). Frozen semen is available in North America and Europe. Leatherdale Farms was also the owner of the Licensing Hanoverian stallion His Highness, who died in 2007 and whose progeny is much appreciated all over the world.
To learn about Leatherdale Farms stallions in Europe, go to www.jens-meyer.com.
OCALA, F.L. (January 17, 2014) – Lisa Goldman won three grand prix during her first appearance at the Ocala Winter Circuit last year, and hasn’t skipped a beat since. She returned with a bang this week, winning the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, to kick off grand prix competition at this year’s circuit.
Riding for her family-owned Red Coat Farm in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, Goldman piloted Centurion B to the win. Last year, Goldman and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding had a break-out season at HITS Ocala, which carried them to HITS-on-the-Hudson where they competed in the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix. “It was a lot of pressure – that was the biggest track I have ever jumped – and I survived,” joked Goldman about her million-dollar debut. “The Million was probably the biggest thrill since my first grand prix as an 11-year-old.”
Goldman and her trusted mount topped a field of 33 competitors over a course designed by Doug Russell of Ocala, Florida this week. “I haven’t seen a lot of big tracks since October, so everything seemed huge to me,” said Goldman. “My horses were outstanding – I thought they would be tired with a triple combination at the end of the course, but they held up beautifully.”
Russell set a course with 13 obstacles and 16 jumping efforts, including a double combination at the eighth fence and triple at the second-to-last fence.
Evident not only by their wins together, but also by their relationship, Goldman admits that Centurion B is special. “We have owned him since he was about two, and I jumped his first cross rail with him,” said Goldman of the horse her mother purchased from Bannockburn Farm in Indiana a decade ago.
Goldman and Centurion B were first in the order and set an early time of 83.30 seconds, well under a time allowed of 85 seconds. Eleven trips later, she did it again, this time aboard her own Zacantos Z, hinting at a one-woman jump-off. Goldman purchased Zacantos Z during the 2013 winter circuit from Tammy McConnell and the big, gray gelding is one of 19 horses representing Red Coast Farm at HITS Ocala this year. “We are really starting to click, said Goldman of the horse who stands about 17.2 hands tall. “We have won some top ribbons together, but this winter should be really exciting.”
Scott Keach was quick to respond to Goldman’s two clean trips with a clear round in the next go aboard Southern Cross Equestrian, LLC’s Coco. Jenna Friedman of Alpharetta, Georgia was clear next on her own Zidoctro to set the stage for a four-horse jump-off.
Returning first again, Goldman and Centurion B posted the only double-clear effort of the day with an early Great American Time to Beat at 41.805 seconds. Keach and Friedman both picked up four faults apiece at the fourth fence of the jump-off, settling them in second and third, respectively. Goldman finished fourth with Zacantos Z with eight faults, while Jordan Coyne of New Port Richey, Florida piloted her own Lazaro to cap the top five with the fastest four-fault ride of the first round.
With a nod to the class sponsor, Goldman admits that her 85-horse farm in Illinois is fueled by SmartPak. “After winning a lot of product during last year’s winter circuit, we started using it on our horses and couldn’t be happier with the results,” she said.
Grand Prix competition continues at HITS Ocala this Sunday with the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, as excitement already begins to build for the first-ever Great American $1 Million Grand Prix. The Great American Million will debut as the second jewel in the HITS Triple Crown of Show Jumping Monday, March 24 in the new Ocala Horse Properties Stadium.
$2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome Derek Petersen of Archer, Florida started the 2013 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit off on a high note when he piloted Eddy Money, owned by Jenny Booth, to the blue in the $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome on Wednesday. Petersen was also sixth with his own Catchafire. Friedman and Zidoctro finished second, while David Beisel of Goshen, Ohio finished third in the irons of Call me Hannes, owned by Harlow Investment Enterprises, LLC. Amanda Flint of Long Valley, New Jersey and The Cover Boy Group’s Superbad were fourth, and Christina Kelly of Keene, Kentucky rounded out the top five with her own Ushuaia van de Wolfsakker.
Brook Ledge Horse Transportation will continue to present a weekly jumper class throughout the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. Aside from the winner’s purse, Brook Ledge Open Welcome riders also compete for the Brook Ledge Rider Bonus, which includes a $1,500 shipping credit for the rider who accumulates the most points in those classes throughout the HITS Ocala circuit.
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.
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.
The first “Saturday Night Lights” grand prix of the season kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. Watch 44 of the world’s best show jumpers compete in the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix, CSI 2*.
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.
Adrienne Lyle and Wizard during a training session with USEF Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor Robert Dover (USEF Archive)
Lexington, Ky. – The first USEF Dressage Observation & Strategic Planning Session of 2014 took place earlier this week at Havensafe Farm South in Wellington, Fla. Lead by Robert Dover, USEF Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor, the session provided training and strategic guidance for athletes as they look toward international competition and the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The session featured 18 athlete/horse combinations over three days.
Dover was able to work individually with each athlete/horse combination, striving to enhance training practices and assist athletes in achieving their competition goals. Athletes’ personal trainers/coaches were also invited and participated in the sessions.
Day one of the session included:
Katherine Bateson-Chandler with Jane Clark’s Alcazar
Elaine Cordia-Van Reesma with her own Jewel’s Adelante
Catherine Haddad-Staller with her own Montrachet
Shawna Harding with Tonya Rowe’s Rigo
Chris Hickey with Cecelia Stewart’s Ronaldo
Jami Kment with her own Zania
Leslie Morse with her own King’s Excalibur
JJ Tate with Elizabeth Guarisco’s Faberge
Days two and three of the session included:
Susie Dutta with Tim Dutta Inc.’s Currency DC
Shelly Francis with Patricia Stempel’s Doktor and Danilo
Catherine Haddad-Staller with her own Mane Stream Hotmail
Chris Hickey with Hilltop Farm Inc.’s Douglas Hilltop
Adrienne Lyle with Peggy Thomas’ Wizard
Sharon McCusker with her own Wrigley
Cesar Parra with Michael and Sarah Davis’ Van the Man
Caroline Roffman with Hyperion Farm, Inc.’s Sagacious HF and her own Her Highness O
“I thought the training session was fantastic,” said Lyle. “Robert was able to take what everyone had been working on with their own coaches, build on that, and really motivate riders to raise their bar and bring out even more brilliance in their performances.”
“The three-day USEF High Performance Observation and Strategic Planning Session at Havensafe Farm produced excellent results,” said Dover. “Thanks to Betsy Juliano and her great staff as well as Jenny Van Wieren-Page for a beautiful and well-organized clinic and to the athletes who truly rose to the occasion and proved that America is most certainly producing more depth of world-class horses and top riders.”
Wellington, FL – January 16, 2014 – Week two of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday with a busy schedule of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The afternoon featured Round 2 of the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, which was held in a “California Split” due to the large number of entries. The competition awarded two sets of placings, each with $34,000 distributed. Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje and USA’s Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star shared in the day’s victory.
FTI WEF week two, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will run Wednesday, January 15, through Sunday, January 19. The week will feature the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2* on Saturday night, and the $10,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Speed Class, Presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, as well as the $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, during the day on Sunday. The FTI WEF, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.
Luc Musette of Belgium set the course for Thursday’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 with 98 entries competing in total. Out of 98, only eleven were able to clear the first round course to advance to the jump-off, and nine of those jumped double clear. Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje, owned by de Miranda and Victory Equestrian Sport BV, had the fastest time of 39.71 seconds overall for the win in Section A. Charlie Jacobs and CMJ Sporthorse LLC’s Flaming Star finished in 39.85 seconds for the win in Section B.
The top three finishers in Section A included Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje, Lauren Hough (USA) and Laura and Meredith Mateo’s Reconnaissance in second place with a time of 40.15 seconds, and Ronan McGuigan (IRL) and Capall Zidane in third with a time of 41.52 seconds.
Section B saw Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star on top, with Katie Dinan (USA) and Grant Road Partners’ Glory Days in second in 41.45 seconds, and Keean White (CAN) and Angelstone Partners’ Pironella in third with a time of 41.81 seconds.
The competition in Wellington has become more competitive each year, and it takes an extremely fast combination of horse and rider to top the talented line-up of international competitors in these classes. Alvaro de Miranda knew what he had to do going into the jump-off, and he went full speed.
“It is very competitive here,” he noted. “Every class you need to go full gas to try to do something. I am very happy because with this horse it was very difficult for me to go fast always in Europe. Today I had a very good feeling in the jump-off. It was very good for me because the left turn is better for him, so I could do a good turn to the double, and he has a very, very big stride, so I did one less stride to the last fence.”
De Miranda was extremely fast galloping down to the final vertical heading towards the in-gate, and he did not hold back.
“You need to just go and the last two strides, almost don’t breathe, just wait and let the horse jump good,” he stated. “It is so fast that if you think about the finish line, you will have a big fault. Making this mistake one thousand times, sometimes you learn, and today was good. When you are not the last (in the jump-off), you know anything can happen and you just wait for the result, but I am very happy with my horse and a start like that is very good. The horse jumped amazing.”
AD Uutje, a 2001 KWPN gelding by Monaco x Calypso, is a fairly new horse for de Miranda, and the rider explained that Nelson Pessoa has been helping him for the last three months.
“I have ridden him for only six months, and Nelson Pessoa really trained the horse,” de Miranda explained. “It was very hard for me to ride this horse, but Nelson also rode the horse for me and he found the right bit. He is coaching me two times a week in Holland and also here every day. I am very happy to have Nelson again. I rode with him for 15 years and then I went to Holland, and now we are back again and I am very motivated to have him as my coach.”
The new partnership with AD Uutje is progressing, as de Miranda explained that this was the fastest they have gone without making any mistakes.
“Today I had a very good feeling,” he said. “I was going fast, but he was not losing the jump and getting flat. Maybe to the last a little bit, but it was very fast to the last. I am very happy, and I hope I can keep riding him like today because when I ride him good, he always jumps very good. Most of the mistakes are my fault, and I try to keep improving.”
Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star
Co-winner, Flaming Star, is a 1999 AES gelding by Fairman that Charlie Jacobs has had great success with. Jacobs was last to go in the jump-off, but did not get to see de Miranda’s ride because he was warming up. The difference between their times was one extra stride down the last line, where de Miranda did ten strides to Jacobs’ eleven.
“I just didn’t have it in me to do ten,” Jacobs stated after the class. “I thought ‘Maybe I do ten, but it’s a gamble. I leave it up, I win. If I knock it down, I’m sixth.’ So I got maybe too cautious, but it’s kind of remarkable that we had 98 starters today. I am so proud of Flaming Star and the way he jumped. He has been great. This is his second of back to back weeks, so he will jump Saturday and then he gets a two-week rest before week five.
Commenting on Flaming Star’s consistency, Jacobs noted, “I am so proud to have him. He is a quirky horse, but once you get to know him, it is like a comfortable suit that you put on. You get in the saddle and he is right there like an old buddy, ready for you. I am so happy. We have a great rapport, and it wasn’t always that way with him and me. We just gelled in the past year or so.”
In addition to the prize money in Thursday’s class, de Miranda earned a special $3,000 bonus as part of the SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion for wearing his SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves. Each week of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.
An $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m class was also held in the International Arena in the morning with a win for Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Artisan Farms LLC’s Powerplay. The $2,500 Amateur-Owner Jumpers, sponsored by Engel & Völkers, Sollak Carr, saw a win for Erin Haas and North Face Farm’s As Di Chupito.
Scott Stewart and Lucador
Lucador and Scott Stewart Claim Green Conformation Hunter Championship for Second Week in a Row at FTI WEF
Lucador and Scott Stewart were awarded top honors in the Green Conformation Hunter division, presented by Shapley’s Grooming Supplies, on Wednesday afternoon of the FTI WEF. Stewart and Lucador took home the championship prize for the second week in a row after an incredible sweep of the division during Week 2 of the FTI WEF. The pair ultimately won all six classes in the division.
Reserve champion for the division was High Regard, owned by Glefke & Kensel, LLC, and ridden by Adam Ottomanelli. High Regard was third in the model and second under saddle with Ottomanelli before placing fifth in the handy round, and finishing second, third, and second over fences.
Lucador, a six-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, first caught Parker’s eye at the USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program Championship in Lexington, KY, last summer. Peter Pletcher campaigned the gelding throughout 2013 for then-owner Brian Walker, finishing the year fifth in the Pre-Green Incentive Program Standings for Money Won by a Horse.
Despite Lucador’s substantial winnings, the horse hadn’t actually been in the show ring very often. After taking him out a few times in the fall, Stewart toyed with the idea of giving him another year to get comfortable in the horse show environment.
“I wasn’t sure whether he was going to do another Pre-Green year or not. He’s pretty young. He’s just turning six, and Peter and Brian only showed him three or four times [last year at the FTI WEF] and a few times over the summer. He didn’t have a lot of experience, but he’s really brave. The jump is easy for him, and he has a good mind for a young horse,” Stewart detailed.
Stewart decided to make the move up a division with Lucador, but resolved to wait and see how the gelding handled the higher fences. With two division championships in his first two weeks out, it’s clear Lucador has risen to the challenge.
“The original plan was to show him once or twice at 3’6″ and see how he dealt with it, and if he didn’t do so well we could always drop him down. But so far so good!” Stewart laughed.
Lucador also hasn’t been deterred by less than ideal weather, getting wet during week one of the FTI WEF during substantial rainstorms followed by an unseasonably chilly and windy in the second week. Stewart acknowledged that although Lucador is still young, he’s mentally quite mature. At only six years of age, Lucador is already described by Stewart as a horse he doesn’t have to worry much about in the ring.
“He’s got a big stride and he’s not spooky, so you never have to worry about that. He’s also got a perfect lead change, so there are a lot of things you don’t have to worry about. You just have to stay out of the way, and he’ll have a pretty jump. He doesn’t actually need to jump a lot at home, either. He’s pretty easy. He acts like a 10-year-old!”
Shapley’s Grooming Products sponsored the Green Conformation Hunter division, awarding Stewart with a well-stocked bucket of grooming supplies for his victory with Lucador. Stewart’s River’s Edge Farm, based in Flemington, NJ, is already a devoted Shapley’s user thanks to overwhelmingly positive feedback from the grooms.
“We use it all the time. It’s great to have Shapley’s sponsoring this class because you can use all of their stuff for the model. The guys love it, and it makes the horses look good!” Stewart remarked.
Week two of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will continue on Friday with the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Jumpers in the International Arena as well as the presentation of championship honors to the Triple Crown Adult Am Hunter 36-50 Sec. A in the Rost Arena. 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, C.A. (January 16, 2014) – With the 2014 HITS Desert Circuit set to open its gates to seven weeks of competition on Tuesday, Christian Heineking is riding high as he makes his debut in Thermal, California as the leading rider on the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix Rider Standings. With a barn of 15 horses making their winter home at HITS Thermal, Heineking is primed to leave his mark on the Desert Circuit and is hopeful that his early leverage will point him toward success in the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix on Sunday, March 16.
After dominating the $41,000 LEG Anniversary Grand Prix, going one-two with his mounts NKH Selena and River of Dreams, Heineking won the $50,000 LEGIS Grand Prix of Los Angeles. NKH Selena, owned by NKH, LLC is the horse that got him to the World Cup qualifying win, pocketing two victories in a row in Los Angeles.
The World Cup qualifier, coupled with a very successful fall season shot Heineking to the top of the AIG Million Standings with a total of $34,800 won aboard NKH Selena. “Selena is a young horse, but she really stepped up for me during that second week in Los Angeles,” said Heineking of the nine-year-old Hanoverian mare that he has been riding since her five-year-old year. “She has a great attitude and wants to get it done for you every time.”
Joining the likes of World Cup champions, Olympians and million-dollar veterans at HITS Thermal, Heineking is matched with a crowd of hopeful, and very capable, contenders for the AIG Million. “To be leading this group of riders is a compliment to me as a rider, as well as my horses. It feels great,” he admitted.
Moving down the list of AIG Million Rider standings, Heineking is flanked by Mandy Porter of Encinitas, California who is looking for her first AIG Million appearance with Plum Creek Hollow Farm’s Con Capilot. Mexico’s Enrique Gonzales sits third with his own Quilebo du Tillard, while Egypt’s Nayel Nassar and Lordan set their sights on a possible second million-dollar win. Nassar is currently fourth in the standings and won the 2013 Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties, New York aboard Lordan in September. Vinton Karrasch of Rancho Santa Fe, California is currently fifth with Coral Reef Baloufino, owned by Coral Reef Ranch.
HITS Thermal competition gets under way on Tuesday, and grand prix action begins next Friday with the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis. Riders will have to compete in at least one qualifying grand prix during four unique show weeks throughout the seven-week HITS Thermal circuit in order to become eligible to compete in the AIG Million.
To view the complete AIG Million Rider Standings, click here.
Danielle Goldstein and Carisma. (Photo courtesy of Jack Mancini)
Wellington, FL (January 13, 2014) – Danielle Goldstein and Israeli Equestrian Partners have a winner on their hands. On Saturday, January 2, the 15-year-old Swedish (Cardento x Maratonia) Warmblood mare delivered a decisive season-opening win in a flawless 37.618 seconds over a Tony D’Ambrosio course that whittled an opening field of 31 entries at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) down to five double clear efforts by the final round of the jump-off.
“I chose to jump off right away because I think it’s healthier for the horse not to have to warm up twice,” said Goldstein, whose strategy worked perfectly. When her rider asked, the mare delivered, joining 14 clear rounds to make the jump-off and setting a final effort that remained unchallenged for the win. Lorenzo De Luca and Neil Jones Equestrian’s Utopias were unable to stop the clock any faster than 38.172 seconds to finish in reserve.
“The competition was a 2 A or B option. I had a choice of jumping off right away or waiting to do it at the end of the class after everyone did the first round. The downside is you don’t see everyone else do the track but I was using this as a warm-up. It was an unexpected, but always welcome, surprise to win.
“Carisma jumped beautifully. I’ve spent the last few months really working on her condition and fitness, so this was nice confirmation of my efforts. It is a great way to begin our partnership,” said Goldstein, whose Starwyn Farms, LLC has been no stranger lately to great equestrian partnerships.
Last June, her top ten finish on Starwyn Farms’ 13-year-old bay Darco-bred BWP gelding, Adamo van’t Steenputje in the Outdoor Gelderland/Arnhem Grand Prix 3* in Holland qualified Goldstein for the ECCO FEI European Show Jumping Championships in Denmark and subsequently the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy. She was also handpicked by Israel’s Equestrian Federation as chef d’equipe for its show jumping team, in conjunction with the historic addition of Equestrian to the Maccabiah Games, coaching the squad to team Gold, and individual Silver and Bronze medals.
Thanks to Carisma’s shining opening performance, the ‘Year of the Horse’ looks equally bright for all involved. “I’m looking forward to a good year,” said Goldstein. “She won’t really get started until February or so. I hope to jump some of the bigger 4* and 5* competitions later on in the circuit but as always, we will play it class by class.”
For more information about Danielle Goldstein and Carisma, or the services available for horses and their riders at Starwyn Farms, LLC, please call 917-544-3349 or email dani@starwynfarms.com.
Wellington, FL – Week two of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) kicked off at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Wednesday morning with a win for Laura Kraut (USA) and Bonito R in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.40m speed class. Jack Hardin Towell, Shane Sweetnam, and Samuel Parot also got wins on the first day of week two competition.
FTI WEF week two, sponsored by Wellington Equestrian Realty, will run Wednesday, January 15 through Sunday, January 19. The week will feature the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 on Thursday afternoon, the $50,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 2* on Saturday night, and the $10,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Series Speed Class, Presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, as well as the $34,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, during the day on Sunday. The FTI WEF, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.
Luc Musette of Belgium is the course designer in the International Arena at PBIEC for week two competition. Wednesday morning kicked off with 28 entries in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class with nine clear rounds and a win for Laura Kraut and Stars and Stripes’ Bonito R with the fastest time of 65.653 seconds.
Lauren Tisbo (USA) and Tequestrian Farms LLC’s La Centa finished second in 67.918 seconds. Jennifer Goddard (USA) and Stateside Farm LLC’s Ungaro de la Hot Couture placed third in 69.260 seconds.
Laura Kraut continued a successful beginning to her FTI WEF circuit with Wednesday’s win on Bonito R, a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding by El Bonito x Rhytmo. This was the gelding’s first class of the circuit and a great start to his winter season as well. Kraut got the ride on Bonito R one year ago as he was turning eight years old and showed in the Adequan Eight-Year-Old Young Jumper classes throughout the 2013 FTI WEF circuit, earning many top ribbons and finishing a very close second in the circuit’s championship classic.
“We found him in England through our friends, Graham and Tina Fletcher,” Kraut explained. “They told us about him when we were at the Olympia horse show and so we went in the driving rain and freezing cold of England and tried him. Then I think by the time we got him paid for, and he got over here, he didn’t arrive until maybe mid-February.”
“We brought him to Florida last year, and he won a ribbon in every class he entered, which is pretty remarkable,” Kraut acknowledged. “He is just a wonderful horse. He’s brave and fun. This is his first time out and he just walks right in and owns the place, which is nice. I am excited for him for this year because I am planning to move him up and maybe do some of the ‘WEFs’ (grand prix) and the 1.50m Classics and see where we go from there.”
Commenting on Wednesday’s speed track, Kraut noted, “I really liked the course. I think Luc is a fantastic course builder. We are very lucky down here to get all of these wonderful course designers. My horse handled it really well. I cut in and sort of sliced the last double (combination), which would be hard for a lot of horses, and he did it brilliantly. I could not have been happier with him. He was like a windup toy today.”
“He does not take a lot of anything,” Kraut said of the ride. “He is what I would call ‘point and shoot.’ He waits when you want to wait; he goes when you want to go. He never spooks at anything. He is careful. He is beautiful. He is one of the nicer, easier rides I have. He will do anything, and he is very versatile. We love that about him.”
The International Arena at PBIEC had a very full schedule of competition on Wednesday as the FTI WEF gets underway with its first week of FEI classes, the first one being tomorrow’s $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup. In today’s $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class, there were 100 entries, and it was held in a “California Split,” awarding two sets of placings.
Altogether, 20 entries jumped clear over the course and there were nine double clear rounds. The top finishers were Jack Hardin Towell (USA) aboard Jennifer Gates’ Cadence and Shane Sweetnam (IRL) riding Alden Burlington’s Catch Me T.
A $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed class was also held with 72 entries competing with 18 clear rounds and a win for Samuel Parot (CHI) and Carla TM. Laura Chapot (USA) and Bradberry finished second. Ronan McGuigan (IRL) and Capall Zidane placed third.
Week two of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival will continue on Thursday with the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 in the International Arena at 1 p.m. The hunters will present their first championships of the week featuring the Shapley’s Grooming Products Green Conformation Hunters in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. 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.
Kevin Babington and Shorapur. Photos by: Kendall Bierer.
Wellington, FL – January 15, 2014 – Torrents of rain and claps of thunder welcomed riders to the fields of the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) early this morning. However menacing, the inclement weather did not deter the field of 30 riders from entering into a heated battle in today’s 1.30-1.35m Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour.
Kevin Babington and Shorapur returned to the second week of competition with their sights set on victory, tackling the track to set the pace as the day’s pathfinder and eventual frontrunners. Sarah Segal and Zelda were the winners of the second class, completing the course in a speedy 34.739 seconds, proving untouchable.
It seemed as though Babington would take the win during last week’s commencement of the Ridge at Wellington’s Turf Tour, but Kama Godek narrowly pushed them from the pinnacle of the ranks, leaving him with the second place. Today, he guided Shorapur, owned by Shorapur LLC, through the Eric Hasbrouck designed track, leaving all rails in place and moving into the jump off. They kept a smooth even rhythm throughout the course, covering the ground with ease. The timers stopped at 37.557 seconds, leaving the other contenders to chase their blazing time.
“I wanted to work on getting her to carry herself, and really work on carrying a good rhythm. I wasn’t trying to set an unbeatable pace, but the jumps kept coming up on every turn. It worked really well,” Babington said. “She was good last week, but she was even better this week. She needs to stay relaxed out there. She is very careful and brave. Sometimes she can get ahead of herself, but today she kept her balance, and I was quite happy with that. I can’t wait to see how she does this Friday.”
Although Schuyler Riley and Andretti, owned by South Beach Stables, gave a valiant effort, their time of 38.935 seconds wasn’t enough to catch the Irishman today, earning the pair a red ribbon. Riley also snatched up the third place award with Dobra De Porceyo for their double-clear effort completed in 41.925 seconds. Ansgar Holtgers and Cocomello rode to the fourth place, while Babington cleared the course aboard his second mount Baloucat for the fifth. Brian Walker and Chico’s Bandita rounded out the top six.
“I was pretty excited about the venue today; the footing was fantastic,” Babington expressed. “It was such a great setting there [IPC]. Considering all the rain we had last night, I thought the footing held up extremely well. I was very, very pleased with my horse.”
Sarah Segal and Zelda
Young talent Sarah Segal dominated the second class of the day, and as no stranger to the Ridge at Wellington events, she rode to the top with effortlessness aboard Zelda, owned by Lowell and Robi Kabnick. Although Segal was one of the riders to take on the course later in the day, her strategy proved well worth the wait. Zelda’s large stride and accuracy over the fences took the duo into the lead with a double clear round in a mere 34.739 seconds. It proved to be a time no one could come within a second of.
“She is actually a more recent horse. We have had her for a little over six months, and she is 10 years old. She is in some ways very experienced, because she consistently showed in 1.10-1.15m classes. Until we got her she hadn’t jumped any bigger than that,” Segal explained. “We started playing with her, and the bigger the jumps get, the better she jumps. She just started doing the 1.35m and 1.40m, and she has been doing it very easily. She is really competitive, really careful and a really, really game horse in the ring. She is always looking for the next jump. She is a really exciting horse.”
Mattias Tromp, the last rider of the day, had onlookers on the edge of their seats as he prepared to challenge Segal’s time. Cassius Von Nymphenburg, owned by Bayaert Farm Inc., responded easily to Tromp’s commands as they sliced turns and shaved seconds. It was Segal who still arose as the victor, with Tromp’s time of 35.509 seconds unable to better the pair.
Segal continued, “She has a huge stride, and she is very scopey. She is just incredibly honest and tries really hard. You know that you can spin her back and turn her, and she is always going to be there for you. I thought the course was really, really nice over there, and I was amazed by the footing. It was perfectly dry. I showed in the classes last year, and it is so nice to be able to go to different venues.”
Segal also picked up the third place award with veteran partner Tilghman, owned by Horatio St. Ventures, while Sarah Wayda and Spargel finished fourth. Gemma Paternoster and Figarro D, owned by Julia Harrison Lee, took the fifth place, and Schuyler Riley and Q-7, owned by Wolfstone Stables & Sales, rode to the sixth place.
The course opened at 8 a.m. and remained open until 4:30 p.m., allowing competitors ample time to come at their convenience to ride and enjoy the ambiance of IPC. The $175,000 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix event will return to IPC this Friday for the $15,000 1.40m Ridge at Wellington Invitational Grand Prix. The 10-week series will culminate with the $24,750 Wellington Turf Tour Invitational Grand Prix Finale on Saturday, March 22, 2014.
“It seemed like such a great idea to open our field to show jumping. I felt that we have the land; we have the access, and we want to do anything to help the equestrian industry. We are a polo club, but we want to be able to support all of the disciplines,” IPC President of Club Operations John Wash described. “After seeing this, I would like to expand this, and hopefully help to grow this in the future.”
Show Net captured all of today’s action at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, while also providing live scoring for the Ridge Winter Tour II. All recorded rounds and results are available at: www.shownet.biz.
Meadowbrook Horse Transport will provide transportation to and from the horse show and other locations throughout Wellington for both the Wednesday and Friday events. The transportation is a nominal fee of $50 per horse, and will be calculated into the final show fees. To make a reservation for one of the three pickup times: 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. please call Peter Tufano of Meadowbrook Horse Transport at (954) 415-7217, or call Nona Garson at (908) 500-0996.
The Ridge at Wellington Horse Show Series Fast Facts
Events:
The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour offers their popular 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix for its second year, with an open in gate format taking place once a week at beautiful venues throughout Wellington. The Ridge at Wellington Grand Prix Finale will take place March 22, 2014.
The Turf Tour also will host 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers every Wednesday beginning January 8, 2014 and running until March 19, 2014.
Young Jumper Classes and both Children’s/Senior Jumper Classics will find their home intermittently throughout the Wellington Turf Tour.
The Ridge at Wellington offers Equitation Shows every Tuesday of the month from January – March 2013. There will also be a series of schooling shows at the Ridge at Wellington for all experience levels.
Two USHJA International Hunter Derbies will take place February 7, 2014 and March 21, 2014.
What:
The Ridge at Wellington series includes several weeks of competition throughout the Winter Season with USEF Rated Equitation Shows. This winter will also feature five two-day schooling shows. The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour will offer 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers, 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix, Young Jumpers, Children’s/Senior Classics, and two hunter derbies.
From the Florida Turnpike: Take the exit for LakeWorth Road West. Continue on Lake Worth Road approximately 6 miles to South Shore Blvd. Make a left on South Shore Blvd. Continue to the stop sign at 50th Street. Make a Right on 50th Street. Continue to Stables Way and make a right. Continue to the end of Stables Way and make a right on Palm Beach Point Blvd. Driveway to farm is 50 feet on the left.
From Route 95: Take the exit for Forest Hill Blvd West. Continue on Forest Hill Blvd to South Shore Blvd. Make a left on South Shore Blvd. Once on South Shore Blvd, continue straight at light at Pierson Road and again straight through the intersection at Lake Worth Road, to the stop sign at 50th Street. Make a Right on 50th Street. Continue to Stables Way and make a right. Continue to the end of Stables Way and make a right on Palm Beach Point Blvd. Driveway to farm is 50 feet on the left.
Information:
Before Show – (561) 791-1471, Email: RidgeShows@aol.com
During Show – Telephone: (561) 791-1471, Fax: (561) 791-1543
Russia’s Tatiana Dorofeeva won the 2013/2014 FEI World Cup Dressage Central European League to earn a qualifying spot for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2013/2014 Final. Photo: FEI/Katya Shtatnova.
Lausanne (SUI), 15 January 2014 – Tatiana Dorofeeva was the runaway winner of the FEI World Cup Dressage Central European League 2013/2014 which concluded at Minsk, Belarus last October.
Runner-up on home soil at the second leg in Nizhniy Novgorod last June, the 48-year-old Russian rider posted the winning Freestyle score in Moscow in September, while third place at Minsk a month later sealed the cleanest of series victories. Dorofeeva finished a full 17 points ahead of nearest rival, Katsiaryna Varchenia from Belarus, in the final league standings, and these two riders have qualified for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2013/2014 Final at Lyon, France in April.
Russia’s Inessa Merkulova claimed third spot on the Central European League table ahead of Poland’s Katarzyna Milczarek, while another of the strong Russian contingent, Marina Aframeeva, slotted into equal-fourth place. Russian dressage riders were on top form all season.
Meanwhile Mary Hanna earned the single available qualifying spot for riders from the Pacific region when winning the FEI World Cup Dressage Pacific League Final in Melbourne, Australia in November. The four-time Olympian pipped last year’s Pacific champion, Rozzie Ryan, whose husband, Heath Ryan, finished third. Whether Hanna takes up the opportunity to travel to Europe for the Reem Acra-sponsored World Final remains to be seen.
Central Europe
A total of six qualifying legs took place in the Central European region, with riders also permitted to take points from other leagues.
The 2013/2014 Central European season began in Lipica (SLO) last May, where Elena Sidneva and Romeo Star headed the line-up with Germany’s Matthias Kempkes (Riccoletto) and Sylvia Zimmer (Broadway) slotting into second and third places.
Dorofeeva only came out of the starting blocks at round two in Nizhniy Novgorod (RUS) in June, but instantly made an impact when finishing second behind Russian counterpart Alexandra Korelova who also won the Grand Prix at this event with her 17-year-old black stallion Baikal. All of Dorofeeva’s success throughout her FEI World Cup Dressage campaign was achieved with Khorovod, the 14-year-old bay gelding with which she also competed at last summer’s ECCO FEI European Championships in Herning, Denmark. At Nizhniy Novgorod they scored 70.850 while Korelova won through with a mark of 73.125, and Ukraine’s Svetlana Kiseliova and Parish finished a close third when posting 70.825.
At round three in Brno (CZE) in June, it was Poland’s Katarzyna Milczarek and the experienced Ekwador who scooped the honours ahead of Austria’s Belinda Weinbauer and Debut Dallas while Norway’s Ellen Birgitte Farbrot and Tailormade Akon Askelund finished third. But when Dorofeeva returned to action on home ground in Moscow in September she had it all her own way. Ground Jury member, Francis Verbeek von Roy, awarded an artistic mark of 77.000 that was backed up by further strong scores from Hans-Christian Matthiesen (DEN), Maribel Alonso de Quinzanos (MEX), Yuri Romanov (RUS) and Raphael Saleh (FRA) for a total of 73.725 to clinch maximum points.
It was a strong day for the Russian squad, as Inessa Merkulova (Mister X) lined up second ahead of Regina Isachkina (Diaz) in third while Katsiaryna Verchenia from Belarus (Redford) finished fourth.
The fifth leg took place at Wroclaw (POL) in September and when Switzerland’s Marcela Krinke Susmelj (Smeyers Molberg) claimed pole position ahead of Spain’s Morgan Barbancon Mestre (Heimliche Liebe) in second and Australia’s Hayley Beresford (Jaybee Alabaster) in third, it was Milczarek who earned the best of the Central European points when slotting into fourth ahead of Sweden’s Malin Hamilton (Fleetwood).
But Dorofeeva tidied it all up with another strong result at Minsk (BLR) in October when third, behind Merkulova, in the class won by yet another rising Russian partnership, Aframeeva with Vosk.
Pacific League
All of the Pacific League events took place in Australia, and at the opener in Melbourne last March it was David Shoobridge and 00-Seven who emerged victorious ahead of Caroline Wagner (Tango V) and Kerry Mack (Mayfield Pzazz). Shoobridge’s winning score of 73.575 left him more than four marks clear of his nearest rival. At the third leg of the series in Brisbane in July, Sheridyn Ashwood and Prestige VDL pinned Sue Hearn (Remington) into runner-up spot while Anjanette Harten (UQG Aladdin) was next in line.
Ashwood had to settle for second behind Hanna at Sydney in October where husband-and-wife team, Heath and Rozzie Ryan (Regardez Moi and GV Bullwinkle), clinched third and fourth places, and when the action returned to Sydney again the following month it was Heath Ryan who topped the scoreboard on that occasion. His score of 72.600 ensured the 72.250 earned by Ashwood was only good enough for second place while Jayden Brown (Furst Friederich) finished third.
At the series Final in Melbourne in December however it was Hanna who had it all her own way. Ground Jury members Susan Hobson (NZL), Susan Hoevenaars (AUS), Mary Seefried (AUS), Stephen Clarke (GBR) and Anne Prain (FRA) combined to award the winning mark of 72.600 to the rider who has been coached by both Kyra Kyrklund and Clemens Dierks during the past 18 years. Hanna’s dark bay Hanoverian gelding Sancette was being trained by America’s Steffen Peters when the Australian rider first climbed on board in 2010, and is by Sandro Hit. Together the partnership achieved their ambition of competing for Australia at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Second place at the Melbourne Final went to last year’s champion, Rozzie Ryan with GV Bullwinkle who recently celebrated his 18th birthday, while Heath Ryan and Regardez Moi finished third.
Results:
FEI Pacific League World Cup Dressage Final 2013/2014 – 1, Sancette (Mary Hanna) AUS 71.825; 2, GB Bullwinkle (Rozzie Ryan) AUS 71.450; 3, Regardez Moi (Heath Ryan) AUS 71.375; 4, Diamantina 4 (Maree Tomkinson) AUS 69.600; 5, Ferero (Chantal Wigan) AUS 69.425; 6, Tango V (Caroline Wagner) AUS 68.375; 7, Mayfield Pzazz (Kerry Mack) AUS 67.625; 8, Django of Cacharel (Jeremy Janjic) AUS 64.500; 9, Carlyle (Nadia Coghlan) AUS 59.300.
FEI World Cup Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, has entered its 29th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.
The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), founded in 1921, is the international body governing equestrian sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and includes 133 National Federations. Equestrian sport has been on the Olympic programme since 1912 with three disciplines – Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. In 2012 equestrian sport celebrated its centenary as an Olympic sport. It is one of the very few sports in which men and women compete on equal terms. It is also the only sport which involves two athletes – horse and rider. The FEI has relentlessly concerned itself with the welfare of the horse, which is paramount and must never be subordinated to competitive or commercial influences.
By Louise Parkes
Media contact:
At FEI:
Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133
