Tag Archives: Red Hills Horse Trials

An In-Depth Look at the Recent Red Hills Horse Trials

Horse races and other kinds of equestrian competitions continue to make waves around the globe. If you have a favorite rider or horse, join the fun at www.Kentuckyderbybetting.com where Derby Day is one of the most exciting events. Just last year, over $130 million were wagered. Twelve hours away from the Kentucky Derby, the famous Red Hills can be found. Red Hills was created back in 1998 and since then, they have become one of the leading equestrian competitions in the United States.

Officially named the Red Hills International Horse Trials, this non-profit organization is in Tallahassee, the capital of Florida. Each year, Red Hills Horse Trials that comply with USHJA rules are held. The annual trials feature exciting challenges on cross-country course. This course found in the center of a 120-acre park has recently been updated and intended for the 2013 participants.

Aside from the stadium course, there are also four dressage rings, the famous Red Hills Avenue of Shops, and different kind of exhibits and educational demos that every horse lover will adore. Just like the 2013 Red Hills Horse Trials, the 2012 event was also a huge success. Now, in this year’s event, winners may have already been declared, but many notable riders and horses left the audience in awe.

Highlights of the Red Hills Horse Trials

The competition began on the 8th of March and ended on the 10th. During the first day, the four dressage rings were all running at the same time. This made it hard for the spectators to keep an eye on what the riders and horses were all doing. Nevertheless, the decision was made and scores were given by the judges. Obtaining the first place in the CIC One Star Level with a final score of 39.90 were Julie Richards and her horse, San City.

Even as the dressage was still taking place, the CIC Two Stars and CIC Three Stars horses began show jumping. As it turned out, Marilyn Little bagged the first after dressage for RF Smoke on the Water and second place for her horse named RF Demeter. Both happened in the CIC3 division.

Top Horses Worth Mentioning

One of the horses that drew attention from the crowd was Madison Park, also known as Parker. Together with Kyle Carter, many people, especially the Canadians were pleased to see the horse competing once again. He suffered from major forelimb damage when he fell hard back in 2011, but still looked good throughout the competition.

Sinead Halpin’s horse, On Cue, is one of the youngest horses. However, she is already a force to be reckoned with. Not only is this mare bold and has wide range, she has the look of an extra-powerful galloping animal. Elizabeth New showed off her horse during the Red Hills Horse Trials and she definitely was not disappointed. Upper Crest D impressed everyone with his good looks and charm. He was extremely amazing on the cross country course, making a lot of people cheer for him. Perhaps in a few years, he might become one of the greats of Red Hills. Many noted his rhythm, ride-ability, and foot perfection specifically as he jumped through the second water.

Libby Head, who won the USEF National Young Rider Championship in 2011 as mentioned here, had a few issues with her horse, Sir Rockstar, during the dressage test. The little horse showed the crowd his inner pony, which interestingly made the whole trial even more exciting. Eventually, Sir Rockstar displayed the reason why he got his name. In both jumping stages, he was a natural, giving people the impression that he is one clever horse in cross-country course.

Nicolette Merie-Smith showed the spectators that her horse can really jump. This is why they grabbed the third place in the first rider division right after the horse dressage. In clear cross country course, however, the partners jumped their way to the finish line with the gold in their hands. They also won the first place in the show jumping rounds. Jennie Brannigan, one of our featured riders, certainly did not disappoint. She and her horse Indie grabbed the first place in the CIC Two Star division. However, it was Clayton Fredericks and Sorrento who primarily led the competition. Sadly, their advantage came to a quick, wet end when the horse fell at the first water. Nevertheless, Sorrento, the horse, was clearly a gem. He passed the dressage test with flying colors and enthralled the watchers with his show jumping.

Hundreds or even thousands of horse racing and other competitions take place all across the globe, but the Red Hills Horse Trials in Florida is one of the most anticipated. Showcasing beautiful and athletic horses, the whole event is not only fun but also promotes unity amongst equine lovers.

Phillip Dutton Defends His Title in Adequan USEA Gold Cup & PRO Tour CIC3* at Red Hills

Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice jump to victory in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup & PRO Tour CIC3* at Red Hills.

Phillip Dutton kept his crown as the king of Red Hills with another win in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup & PRO Tour Series CIC3* after an exciting cross-country finish. Last year Phillip drove home from Red Hills in a brand new Mercedes thanks to his win aboard Jim and Arden Wildasin’s Mystery Whisper. This year he gets to trade the car in for another new one after winning today’s competition with Bruce Duchossois’ Mighty Nice, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (ARD Ohio x Sarazen). Phillip and ‘Happy’ are no strangers to the Tallahassee, Florida event having won the CIC2* in 2011 as well.

“I know Mighty Nice very well, but to tell you the truth a horse like Mystery Whisper is much more suited to a course like this then Mighty Nice,” said Phillip. “I didn’t actually set out thinking I was going to win although I did have it in the back of my mind when Marilyn had some time on [RF Smoke on the Water] I knew that I could win.”

Phillip finished the Hugh Lochore-designed course in six minutes and 34 seconds, eight seconds over the time allowed. Luckily the 3.2 penalties added to his dressage mark of 43 weren’t too many to grab the top spot as overnight leader, Marilyn Little garnered six penalties with RF Smoke on the Water to drop down to a score of 50.7.

“He can get pretty strong,” said Phillip, “so I thought I would set out quick-ish and then if everything was going all right I would keep going like that. It wasn’t a perfect round, but I don’t think it was a crazy round for him either.”

“He is a pretty cool horse. He is so confident in himself, bordering on being arrogant on the cross-country.  He has a great sense of what he can do, and he is a huge horse, but very, very clever. He can pat the ground very easily and sort of grows an extra leg if I misjudge things a bit.”

Mighty Nice heads to The Fork H.T. in North Carolina next, and Phillip assures that he will have a nice quiet round there before heading to Kentucky. For his win in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Division, Phillip takes home $500 in prize money, a 7-dose Adequan Gift Certificate, $350 in Nunn Finer Products, a $200 Point Two Certificate, a SmartPak Wellfleet Bridle, and a pair of FITS Breeches.

Marilyn Little headed into today’s finale of cross-country sitting in the top two spots, but time proved tough to make and cost her the win with Phoebe and Ray Manders’ RF Smoke on the Water, while a run-in with a tree aboard RF Demeter dropped them out of contention.

“Red Hills is notoriously hard to make the time on,” said Marilyn. “And I was a little bit behind coming up to the first water. I went to make it up a bit on the backside and he didn’t feel quite like himself, so I gave him a pat and said take a minute on the way to the steeplechase, so I couldn’t take advantage of that.”

“I was really pleased with the way that he went; I wish the result had been better, but it is what it is and I am really pleased with the horse.”

According to Marilyn, RF Demeter felt great on the first part of the course, but landed from fence six and locked onto a tree in her path. Despite Marilyn’s best efforts Demeter was determined to head towards the tree, and she tripped over the landscaping and sent Marilyn flying into the tree. Luckily both walked away unharmed from their foray into “Tree-Day Eventing.”

Rounding out the top three was the final pair of the CIC3*, Buck Davidson with Carl and Cassandra Segal’s Ballynoe Castle RM. When they left the start box, Buck and ‘Reggie’ still had a chance to win the division if they went clear inside the time. It wasn’t meant to be though and the pair earned 4.8 time penalties to settle for the yellow ribbon.

“I made so many mistakes throughout this event this weekend, I can’t even believe it,” said Buck. “I was on the best horse, and I didn’t do what I was supposed to do.”

“I think it was an exciting day for the crowd, with Reggie having a chance to win and being the last horse to go. I know the Segals loved it. I tried, but he obviously isn’t a Thoroughbred horse and isn’t the fastest horse, but he is honest as they come. I always feel that he is the best horse every single weekend, so I always feel like I let him down, but I got beat by two really good riders and two really good horses and you can’t win them all. I am very proud of Reggie and the other two that I rode.”

The only rider to make it home inside the time on the CIC3* course was Canadian, Selena O’Hanlon, who did so on two of her three mounts, A First Romance and Foxwood High.

The 33 horses and riders who completed the CIC3* are now qualified for the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships in Tyler, Texas.

The CIC2* also concluded today with the cross-country phase and time proved a bit easier to make as the top three pairs all crossed the finish line without any additional penalties. Jennie Brannigan, who also finished fourth in the CIC3*, rode Nina Gardner’s Indie to the win after overnight leader, Clayton Fredericks took a ducking in the Appalachia Water complex.

“I didn’t even look at my watch until I was crossing the finish line,” said Jennie. “And then I was like oh my god I made time at Red Hills. I had no idea.”

Jennie gave a lot of praise to her coach and boss Phillip Dutton and was thrilled with the successful finishes for both her horses and his. Both of the Gardners’ horses are aiming for spring three-days with Indie headed to Bromont CCI2* and Cambalda to the Rolex Kentucky CCI4*.

Marilyn continued her successful streak in the CIC2* by finishing second and third on Raylan Farms’ duo of 8-year-old mares, RF Azarah and RF Black Pearl. RF Azarah finished on her dressage score of 56.4 while RF Black Pearl added only a rail down yesterday – an impressive feat, considering Marilyn only rode the horse for the first time last week and had never jumped a cross-country fence with her before.

Julie Richards won the CIC* with Linda Crabtree’s Hanoverian stallion, San City, while Kyle Carter and Elizabeth New rounded out the top three with their mounts, FR’s Trust Fund and Uppercrust D.

The Advanced, Intermediate, and Preliminary divisions conclude with show jumping tomorrow to finish out another great year at Red Hills Horse Trials.

Authored By: Leslie Mintz

© 2012-2013 United States Eventing Association, Inc.

Red Hills Horse Trials to Feature the Paso Fino: Florida’s Historic Breed

Robin Ratliff and Carisma.

Paso Finos, Viva Florida and Red Hills Horse Trials are closely linked

March 1, 2013 – TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Red Hills International Horse Trials on March 8-10 will showcase Viva Florida 500 and the Paso Fino. For the sixth year as the only invited breed organization, members of the North Florida Paso Fino Horse Association (NFPFHA) and their horses will be at Red Hills Horse Trials on Sunday, March 10, to demonstrate the versatility of this historic breed, as they gear up for their annual show in Marianna, Florida at the end of April.

Spectators will have the chance to see a Paso Fino Grand National Champion stallion in the Red Hills Horse Trials Viva Florida Parade of Breeds, ridden by nationally recognized horsewoman Robin Ratliff. Ratliff has won more than 150 Grand National Championships, and her numerous awards and honors include the national Paso Fino Horse Association “Trainer of the Year” as well as the United States Equestrian Federation “Equestrian of Honor.”

Megan Altavilla and Muchacho
Megan Altavilla and Muchacho

“If you’ve never seen a Paso Fino, this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss,” says NFPFHA President Leatha Flowers. “The Paso Fino movement is completely unique to the breed, and they are known for being the smoothest riding horse in the world – you have to ride one to believe it.”

Today’s Paso Finos trace their origins to the horses brought over in ships on the rough sea voyages to the New World nearly 500 years ago. Viva Florida 500, which commemorates the anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s east coast landing in 1513, not only celebrates the state of Florida, but it also is a pivotal point in the rich history of the Paso Fino.

According to Flowers, when the Spanish set out for the New World, they took careful consideration about what kinds of horses could endure the voyage. These horses needed to be small, sure-footed, strong, versatile and beautiful.  Most importantly, the horses had to have a smooth stride – or gait – because the conquistadors wore heavy armor and weapons, and they did not want to bounce or “post” while they rode for hours or days. “The Paso Fino was the obvious choice,” says Flowers.

Nearly 450 years after those ships landed, Colin Phipps of Tallahassee brought the first Paso Finos to North Florida, to where the Red Hills Horse Trials are held today.

Sally Bek and Revelacion
Sally Bek and Revelacion

Red Hills spectators desiring to see more Paso Finos in action can attend the NFPFHA competition on April 27, at the Jackson County Agricultural Center in Marianna. Pasos from across north and central Florida – as well as Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana – will be competing in the annual “Gait-way to Fun Paso Show,” a qualifying event for the Grand National Show later this year.

“Recognition of the historic Paso Fino through Viva Florida 500, Red Hills Horse Trials and regional events will provide many opportunities for education and entertainment,” says Flowers.

For more information on Viva Florida, visit http://www.vivaflorida.org/.

For more information on Red Hills International Horse Trials, visit http://www.rhht.org.

For more information on the North Florida Paso Fino Horse Association, visit http://www.northflpaso.com.

Contact:

Megan Altavilla
850-510-7273
meganaltavilla@hotmail.com

Emily Allman
850-386-9100
eallman@rboa.com

Allison Spring and Arthur Ascend to the Top of the Red Hills CIC3* Leaderboard

Allison Springer and her own Arthur were the first on course during the CIC3* cross-country competition at the Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida, but their comparatively quick round moved them up from third to first by the end of the day.

“You always wonder how things are going to go,” Allison said.  “It’s nice to be able ask other competitors.”  Her plan was to “just go out there and do it,” and Arthur’s scope and big stride made easy work of the course.  Springer and Arthur will have no rails in hand heading into show jumping.

Boyd Martin and his WEG mount, Neville Bardos, were sixth after dressage, but the pair moved up to second after cross-country with just 7.6 time penalties.  “It was a tough, testing course,” Martin admitted.  “Luckily the horse I was riding has been around a bit now, and he’s quite experienced so I felt like I had a pretty cruising round.”

Martin has been conservative with Neville’s speed since WEG, but allowed the Thoroughbred gelding to gallop on at his own pace today.  Martin recognizes the challenges of designing a good course on the undulating Red Hills terrain.  While course design requires finding a middle ground between challenging and safe, “you want to be competitive, but not at all costs.”

Continue reading Allison Spring and Arthur Ascend to the Top of the Red Hills CIC3* Leaderboard

Phillip Dutton and Isabella II Take the Lead at Red Hills CIC3*

Photo by Leslie Threlkeld

Uncharacteristically strong, cold winds presented an extra challenge to competitors during the dressage phase of competition at the Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida, the first event of the 2011 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series.

Phillip Dutton and Susie Beale’s 14-year-old Oldenburg mare Isabella II performed a quiet, accurate test to beat out several other experienced pairs in the Adequan Gold Cup CIC3* division.  Heading into cross-country, Dutton will strive to maintain the pair’s dressage score of 43.9 to stay ahead of Karen O’Connor and Joan Goswell’s Mandiba, just two-tenths of a point behind.  Allison Springer and her own Arthur also put in a solid score of 45.3, putting them in a close third place after dressage.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series, now in its eighth year, includes seven events from across the country, giving top horse and rider combinations the chance to win prizes and cash throughout the season, as well as picking up leaderboard points. The top pair at the end of the Series takes home a check for $20,000. Learn more about the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series.

Continue reading Phillip Dutton and Isabella II Take the Lead at Red Hills CIC3*

Allison Springer and Arthur Celebrate Red Hills CIC3* Victory

Photo: Leslie Threlkeld

It’s only fitting that the winner of the first event of the 2011 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series would be decided on the final moments of the competition on Sunday afternoon, drawing out the nail-biting excitement to the very last jump. Overnight leader Allison Springer must have breathed a huge sigh of relief to cross the finish line with all the rails still neatly in their cups, solidifying her victory at the prestigious Red Hills CIC3*.

Without having a rail in hand heading into the final phase, Allison and Arthur won the event by just 1.3 points ahead of Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos. Michael Pollard and Icarus, Selena O’Hanlon and Colombo, and Leslie Law and Rehy Lux all finished third through fifth, respectively, also posting double-clear rounds.

For her win in the CIC3*, a delighted Allison earned a year-lease on a fancy new Mercedes SUV, and even took it for a victory spin around the arena. Allison also earned a bevy of prizes from the Adequan USEA Gold Cup series as well: $500 in cash, 7-dose box of Adequan, a 3-month supply of SUCCEED, and a pair of Nunn Finer American Style open front boots. Second placers Boyd Martin and Neville Bardos take home a 7-dose box of Adequan as well as a pair of the Nunn Finers boots.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13447

Eventing Radio Episode 125 by Bit of Britain – Red Hills Horse Trials Final Day

The final of coverage from the Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida. Chris provides coverage today of the final day with many of the winners. Take a listen….

Eventing Radio Episode 125 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:

  • Show Host: Chris Stafford
  • Photo Credit: USEventing.com
  • Thank You: Thank you to the organizers of the Red Hills Horse Trials for inviting us to cover the event live and taking such good care of us.
  • News: The Eventing Radio Show and HORSES IN THE MORNING live from Rolex Kentucky 3DE: April 27 – May 1, 2011

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Eventing Radio Episode 124 by Bit of Britain – Red Hills Horse Trials Cross Country Day

Three days of coverage from the Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida. Chris provides coverage today of the Cross Country with the top name competitors. Take a listen….

Eventing Radio Episode 124 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:

  • Show Host: Chris Stafford
  • Photo Credit: US Eventing
  • Thank You: Thank you to the organizers of the Red Hills Horse Trials for inviting us to cover the event live. Tune in live on Sunday from 5 – 6 pm Eastern.
  • News: The Eventing Radio Show and HORSES IN THE MORNING live from Rolex Kentucky 3DE: April 27 – May 1, 2011

_________________________________________

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Eventing Radio Episode 123 by Bit of Britain – Red Hills Horse Trials Dressage Day

Three days of coverage from the Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida. Chris provides coverage today of the Dressage with the top name competitors. Take a listen….

Eventing Radio Episode 123 by Bit of Britain – Show Notes and Links:

  • Show Host: Chris Stafford
  • Photo Credit: USEA
  • Thank You: Thank you to the organizers of the Red Hills Horse Trials for inviting us to cover the event live. Tune in live on Saturday and Sunday from 5 – 6 pm Eastern.
  • News: The Eventing Radio Show and HORSES IN THE MORNING live from Rolex Kentucky 3DE: April 27 – May 1, 2011

_________________________________________

Listen Now
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