Tag Archives: Rodrigo Pessoa

Equestrianism’s Finest Head to CHI Geneva for Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final and Rolex Grand Prix

Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday 7 December 2021 – The Concours Hippique International de Genève (CHI Geneva) returns to the Palexpo arena from 9-12 December for the 60th edition of the prestigious show. The Rolex Grand Prix and the Rolex International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) Top 10 Final are notable highlights during four days of elite competition.

The partnership between Rolex and the Geneva International Horse Show was established in 1996, with 2021 marking the 25-year anniversary, and remains a key element of the brand’s long-standing commitment to equestrianism that dates back more than 60 years. Inaugurated in 1926, the event is among the most revered on the equestrian calendar, demonstrating an unwavering dedication to continuous improvement and quality that fits perfectly with Rolex’s own pursuit of perpetual excellence.

THE ROLEX GRAND PRIX

The competition will culminate on Sunday with the Rolex Grand Prix, one of the four Majors that form the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. As ever, it will be a showcase of the precision, bravery, and athleticism required by horse and rider, working in harmony to take on the challenge set by world-renowned course designers Gérard Lachat of Switzerland and Louis Konickx of the Netherlands.

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, comprising The Dutch Masters, the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, the CHIO Aachen, and the CHI Geneva, was initiated in 2013 and rewards a rider who wins three consecutive Grands Prix at these events. The most coveted prize in show jumping, it has been achieved by only one athlete, Scott Brash of Great Britain, whose epic feat began at Geneva in 2014 and was completed with victories at Aachen and Spruce Meadows in 2015.

Germany’s Daniel Deusser heads to Geneva as the current live contender for the Rolex Grand Slam following his exceptional performance at Aachen in September, taking victory aboard Killer Queen VDM.

THE ROLEX FAMILY OF TESTIMONEES

A strong roster of Rolex Testimonees will challenge Deusser for the Rolex Grand Prix title. Leading the way will be home favourites Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat.

Fuchs will be hoping to retain his crown following a successful year that has included team gold and individual silver medals at the European championships. The Swiss World No. 4 said: “CHI Geneva is particularly special for me as it’s my home Major and a show that I always want to do well at. Winning the Rolex Grand Prix in 2019 was an unbelievable feeling and I will be doing my very best to repeat my performance.”

Guerdat is a three-time winner (2006, 2013, and 2015) of the CHI Geneva Rolex Grand Prix, and was also victorious in the 2010 and 2018 Rolex IJRC Top 10 Finals. He heads to Palexpo with the prospect of securing a Rolex Grand Slam bonus after winning the CP ‘International’ at the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ earlier this year.

Brash, currently ranked No. 6 in the world, also understands the accuracy, courage, and determination required to win a Major, as does Kent Farrington, winner of this event in 2017 with his brilliant mare, Gazelle. France’s Kevin Staut and Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa join the roll of former winners looking to reclaim the title, while Ireland’s Bertram Allen and Great Britain’s Harry Charles will be seeking to add their names to this illustrious list.

THE ROLEX IJRC TOP 10 FINAL

In the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final, the world’s top 10 ranked riders compete against each other for the right to be crowned champion. The unique event, which in 2021 celebrates its 20th anniversary, has been supported by Rolex since its inauguration, and acknowledges the achievements of the best show jumpers over the course of the season.

Farrington will contest the 2021 edition as reigning champion, having ridden Austria 2 to victory in 2019. His second success – the American also triumphed in 2015 – marked the seventh consecutive win for a Rolex Testimonee in the event. He will be up against a strong contingent of in-form riders, including Deusser, Fuchs, Brash, Guerdat, and Staut.

IJRC Director Eleonora Ottaviani commented: “We are extremely proud to support this unique concept, bringing together the best riders in the world each year. As with the Nitto ATP Finals in tennis, the Top 10 Final is unparalleled in equestrian sport, producing the finest level of competition from the world’s best athletes. In 2021 we mark the 20th anniversary of the event, a testament to its long-standing success, made possible through the partnership with Rolex, a brand that has demonstrated a continuous and invaluable commitment to equestrianism for more than 60 years.”

Virginie Chevailler
Rolex SA
virginie.chevailler@rolex.com
+41 (0) 22 302 2619

Merrick Haydon
rEvolution
mhaydon@revolutionworld.com
+44 (0) 7748 186 833

Michael Britt-Leon and Private I Win $25k USHJA International Hunter Derby Title at Upperville

Upperville, Va. – June 13, 2021 – The country’s top hunter athletes gathered at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show (UCHS) on Saturday evening. Taking over the B&D Builders Grand Prix Ring, they vied for the winning honors during the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, sponsored by Salamander Resort & Spa. After two rounds of competition, it was Michael Britt-Leon’s top score aboard Private I that would earn the night’s winning prize.

Rodrigo Pessoa and Venice Beach Race to the Finish in $37,000 Upperville Speed Stakes CSI4*

It was all about speed Saturday afternoon at the Upperville Colt & Horse Show (UCHS) with international athletes taking aim at the $37,000 Upperville Speed Stakes CSI4*, presented by GW & Wade. Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa and Venice Beach won their second FEI class of the week, besting USA’s McLain Ward with Blossom Z and Grace Debney aboard Boheme De La Roque who finished second and third, respectively.

Learn more about the Upperville Colt & Horse Show.

Jordan Coyle and Picador Navigate to $25,000 Nutrena Grand Prix Win

Jordan Coyle and Picador ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring – October 26, 2020 – Jordan Coyle and Picador (Brewster, NY) galloped to victory in the $25,000 Nutrena® Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort (TIEC) to conclude Tryon Fall 6 competition. Ken Dickey (Phoenix, AZ) and Rocking D Ranch’s Opium du Soufflet, a 2009 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Ogano Sitte x Nicky du Soufflet), were the short-course trailblazers, unfortunately going off course at the last fence to receive second place. Connor O’Regan (Upperville, VA) navigated the 2012 Belgian Warmblood mare (Hunter’s Scendix x Cleopatra van Spalbeek) owned by Dynomite Ranch, LLC, Mendini DR, to a third place finish on a time of 78.186 in the first round, with a single time fault keeping them from the speed test.

Coyle and the 2007 Anglo European gelding (Lupicor x Kind of Magic), owned by Elan Farm, were one of 39 entries to challenge the long course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA), with only two pairs gaining entry to the jump-off. Dickey was first to go, and his navigational error at the end of the course paved the way for a pressure-free jump-off experience for Coyle. The pair ended up on a time of 38.51 seconds with one rail down, but Coyle shared that it was nice for Picador to end his time at TIEC on a high note after a difficult two weeks.

“He [Picador] won the first class last week [$37,000 EquiSafe Global Power & Speed Stake CSI 3*] and things just didn’t work out in between, but it’s good he won today. The course rode tough… much tougher than I expected,” Coyle revealed. “Since we’re going to Kentucky next week I wanted to jump today just as an easy round. But there was nothing easy about that: it was as tough as any of the FEI classes!”

Jimmy Torano and Laskano Achieve Brilliance in $20,000 Hunter Classic

October 23, 2020 – Jimmy Torano (Wellington, FL) and Laskano were unstoppable in the $20,000 Hunter Classic at Tryon International Equestrian Center, earning a first round leading score of 90 followed by a second round score of 87 for a combined 177 total over the Skip Bailey (Loxahatchee, FL) course design. Michael Britt-Leon (Canton, GA) claimed the second and third place ribbons with Kelly Sims’ Private I, the 2012 Oldenburg gelding (Corrado x Verdi) owned by Kelly Sims, earning a combined score of 175, and Bacchus, Sims’ 2013 Hanoverian gelding (Bisquet Balou x Feliz V/D Donkhoeve) with a final score of 168.

“He [Laskano] is a new horse. We just got him in May and this [TIEC] was his first horse show back in June and from day one he has been a winner,” Torano shared of his mount, the Isalou, Inc. entry and 2012 Westphalian gelding (Los Angeles x Laskaja). “Laskano is just one of those horses that never wants to let you down. You can count on him every time, and he is very predictable.”

Rodrigo Pessoa and La Caramba Sprint to $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 4* Win

October 23, 2020 – Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and La Caramba soared to a swift victory in the $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 4* with a time of 60.54 seconds over the Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) track, piloting the 2010 Holsteiner mare (Carambole x Caretino 2) owned in partnership with Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC. Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Ronja, Ilan Ferder’s 2011 Swiss Warmblood mare (Conteur x Czandor), stopped the timer at 61.37 seconds to land them a second-place finish, while Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) piloted Conrad 119, the 2010 Oldenburg gelding (Comme il Faut 5 x Landfrieden) owned by Louisburg Farm, to a third-place finish on a time of 64.1 seconds.

To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com.

Rolex and Equestrianism: An Enduring Legacy

Photos: Ms. Baade riding Clemens in the Wallküren-Preis at CHIO Aachen, 1930; Isabell Werth riding Satchmo at CHIO Aachen, 2010.

More than 60 years ago, Rolex formed a partnership with the greatest show jumper in history to represent Great Britain, the pioneering Pat Smythe. Winner of more grand prix events in more countries than any man or woman before her, she was the first female rider to participate in the Olympics and the first to win a medal, a team bronze in Stockholm in 1956. Like Rolex, she was an innovator, always pushing back the boundaries of what was possible. In 1957 Smythe joined the Rolex family, becoming its first equestrian Testimonee, marking the start of one of the strongest alliances in the sport. Since then, Rolex’s bond with the equestrian world has grown stronger each year. In 2019, Rolex celebrates several key anniversaries within the sport, with milestones for two elite equine events and two legendary athletes.

ROLEX GRAND SLAM

Rolex’s association with one of the sport’s four prestigious Majors began 30 years ago when it partnered with the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’, the annual show jumping competition held in the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains in Calgary, Canada. It was here, in 2015, that Rolex Testimonee Scott Brash etched his name in equestrian history by becoming the first and, to date, only winner of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, the sport’s ultimate prize awarded to the winner of the Grand Prix at three successive Majors. His feat was the result of an unwavering quest for perfection, an unprecedented display of precision and excellence required to win all of these historic Majors.

Preceding the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ is the CHIO Aachen, an event that this year celebrates 20 years of partnership with Rolex. Founded in 1924, this revered event in Germany is the oldest of the four show jumping Majors. Its rich heritage is cherished by the knowledgeable 360,000 fans that annually fill the 40,000-seat open-air stadium over nine days of top-tier competition. Widely considered equestrianism’s “homecoming” event, CHIO Aachen is often likened to The Championships, Wimbledon, being the oldest and most prestigious tournament within the sport. Another quality it shares with the esteemed tennis event, which Rolex is proud to have partnered for more than 40 years, is the unquestionable passion of the spectators who travel far and wide to watch their heroes in action. Isabell Werth is one rider who enjoys superstar status at CHIO Aachen, competing in front of an adoring home crowd whose noisy adulation fills the purpose-built Hauptstadion.

THE QUEEN OF DRESSAGE

Over the years, Werth has become known as “the queen of dressage,” a title bestowed on her due to a glittering career that has helped elevate the discipline to new heights. Werth has won more Olympic medals than any other equestrian athlete in history, 10 in total, six of them gold. Her long list of achievements includes a World Championship victory in 2006 at Aachen, where she was presented with an engraved Rolex Timepiece, and a gold medal for team dressage and a silver for individual dressage at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Speaking of her key achievements, Werth said: “You don’t forget those special moments, even after all these years. Every time I look at my Rolex watch it reminds me of reaching the very top of my sport.”

THE PESSOAS

Another key member of the Rolex family is the Brazilian show jumper Rodrigo Pessoa. Son of Nelson Pessoa, a legendary equestrian athlete in his own right, Rodrigo seemed destined to follow in his father’s footsteps. Commenting on his childhood, Rodrigo says: “My father travelled a lot. Taking me to the shows was a way for us to spend time together and he wanted to see if I would catch the horse and competition bug at a young age, and I did.” As Rodrigo grew up, he had the benefit of his father’s knowledge and expertise to guide him through the highs and lows of being an elite equestrian athlete. Nelson supported his son every step of the way, from the moment he first made an impression on the sport at the age of 19, to winning Olympic gold in Athens in 2004. Rolex also has supported Rodrigo during his decorated career. Throughout this partnership, 20 years old and still going strong, the gifted rider has received many accolades and established himself as one of the most respected names in the sport. Of the partnership, Rodrigo says: “The support from Rolex shows how committed they are to our sport and to raising the level of professionalism. The progress made in our sport over the years has been tremendous and it would not have been possible without Rolex elevating the bar.”

Having competed in the upper echelons of the sport for more than four decades, Pessoa decided to take his career in a new direction towards the end of 2016, turning his focus towards coaching and accepting the highly respected position as Irish Chef d’Equipe. In this role, he found himself mentoring young Irish rider Bertram Allen, Rolex’s youngest equestrian Testimonee. In the same way Nelson imparted his wisdom to Rodrigo, the latter now finds himself tutoring one of the sport’s most exciting prospects. Rolex’s partnerships with key figures in the equestrian community, such as Pessoa, Allen, and Werth, run across generations and continents, enabling knowledge and experience to be shared. Rolex is confident this process will perpetuate a cycle of renewed and enduring excellence, the benefits of which can already be seen through Pessoa’s rapid success as Ireland show jumping team manager, to give one example. Within a year of Pessoa taking the reins, an Irish team featuring Allen claimed team gold at the 2017 European Championships in Gothenburg. Coincidentally, Werth took gold in all three dressage categories she competed in at those Championships, once again highlighting Rolex’s wide-ranging support to top equestrian athletes.

YOUNG RIDERS ACADEMY

It is worth noting that these top competitors’ partner with Rolex not only when they are at the pinnacle of their careers, but also as aspiring riders striving to make their name in the sport. Allen, for example, is a graduate of the Young Riders Academy, an initiative supported by Rolex and the most prestigious training course available to young equestrian athletes. Since leaving the Academy, Allen joined the Rolex family of Testimonees and represents a new era of equestrian excellence. They serve as a reminder of Rolex’s long-standing support for human achievement, which can be traced back to the brand’s pioneering roots and is demonstrated by its creation of the world’s first waterproof wristwatch, the Rolex Oyster.

By nurturing young talent and supporting them as Testimonees on their journey to becoming champions, the Swiss watchmaker’s presence permeates all levels of the sport. The brand’s belief in unlimited human potential, in striving for continuous improvement, is embodied in a word inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. Perpetual. The important equestrian anniversaries being celebrated in 2019 highlight Rolex’s long-standing and continuing commitment to this elegant and historic sport.

Rodrigo Pessoa Wins CSI 2* Grand Prix

Rodrigo Pessoa and Chaganus. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL — February 25, 2018 — The seventh week of the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL concluded on Sunday, February 25, with a win for Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Chaganus in the $50,000 Grand Prix CSI 2*, presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte.

The Sunday feature class had 45 entries, and 12 of those were clear to move on to the jump-off. The top three were the only double clears in the class. Pessoa and Chaganus, a ten-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Chacco-Blue x Carthago owned by Pessoa Stables LLC, ended up with the winning time of 36.11 seconds for victory.

Wilhelm Genn (GER) and Dieta, Taylor Reid’s ten-year-old KWPN mare by Ukato x Indorado, placed second with a time of 37.28 seconds. Wilton Porter (USA) and Delinquent JX, an 11-year-old SHBGB gelding by Darco x I Need You owned by Sleepy P Ranch LLC, finished third with a time of 39.33 seconds.

Lambre and Doloris Capture 1.50m Title

There were 37 entries in the $70,000 Hollow Creek Farm 1.50m Classic CSI 5*, and nine advanced to the jump-off. The fastest clear round came from the final ride, Santiago Lambre (MEX) with his own Doloris. By leaving strides out in the first and last lines, he stopped the timers in 36.72 seconds for the win.

Weinerman and McKeever Win in Equitation and Pony Hunters

The final day of week seven at the Winter Equestrian Festival began with Samantha Weinerman claiming top honors aboard Bahnoe, owned by Stonehenge Stables, in the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) Children’s Medal 15-17. The duo was one of the top four to return for the second round of testing in ring seven and was the only pair to ace all elements presented by the judges.

Siena Vasan and Calvin Klein, owned by Palm Ponies LLC, were sitting in first place with a score of 86, but fit a single canter step in before the trot jump in the test, which moved them to third. Grace Klein finished in second aboard Avedon, owned by Elizabeth Klein, with a score of 79 and a successful testing round.

Baylee McKeever, of Brewster, NY, had a success-filled week seven finish aboard her mount, Sterling, owned by Madeline Schaefer. The pair took home the Animo Medium Pony Hunter division championship win on Sunday with a first, second, fourth, and eighth over fences.

Reserve honors went to Georgia Jacob and Frosted, owned by Kathryn Mccarthy, with a first, fourth, and sixth over fences.

Equestrian Sport Productions | 561-793-JUMP | news@equestriansport.com | www.PBIEC.com

Pessoa Rides to Top of Leaderboard in $86,000 Tryon Sunday Classic CSI 5*

Rodrigo Pessoa and Chaganus. Photo Credit ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – October 22, 2017 – Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Chaganus stole top honors in Sunday’s feature class to close out the week of Tryon Fall V competition, stopping the short course timers of the $86,000 1.50m Tryon Sunday Classic in 39.865 seconds. Quentin Judge (USA) and Giorgio Van’t Hagenhof, a 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Bentley Van De Heffinck x Kannan) owned by Double H Farm, took second place after finishing their jump-off round in 40.397 seconds, while third place honors went to Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) aboard Aikido Z, a 2006 Zangersheide gelding (Accardi x Corrado I) owned by Stal Bijloos Bvba, who stopped the clock at 40.542 seconds.

Forty-one entries tested the CSI 5* track set by Olaf Petersen Jr. (GER) on the Grass Complex at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), while spectators enjoyed a catered brunch in the hospitality tent overlooking the field. Eight pairs went clear in the first round and returned to tour the short course with four finishing double clear.

Pessoa explained that Chaganus, a 2008 Oldenburg gelding (Chacco-blue x Carthago) owned by Pessoa Stables LLC, is a new ride for him and that his mount is fairly untested in this caliber of competition. “I’ve only had this horse for two months, and this was the first time I’ve been to a jump-off with him, so I didn’t know how he’d react. I was planning on being safe and conservative with him, and he jumped really well. This is really good for developing him for future, bigger classes. I’m really pleased,” he said.

Pessoa added, “I started riding him in July and started playing around with him. I haven’t had much chance to show him that much because I’ve been busy with the Irish team, so I’ve done maybe only four or five shows with him. I thought the class yesterday would have been too severe for him, too early at this stage [in his career], so I decided to go on the grass instead. It’s always nice when the plan works out.”

The variety that the Grass Complex adds to the riders’ experience at the venue is refreshing, said Pessoa, and the highlight class ran well on the strong TifTuf Bermuda grass footing: “I think the course was nice. It’s always good to ride in a big, open, green field like this. I thought the course was tough enough, but we still had eight initial clear so the plan for the jump-off was to be clear,” he commented.

Early in the jump-off order, Pessoa’s goal was to put in a good round and see what Chaganus could do, he elaborated. “When you go early you never really know how it’s going to play out, but I wanted to try to take some nice inside lines and have a go. I knew I could be beat, but I think he showed he’s a fast horse today. We didn’t do anything crazy, but he covers the ground pretty well and it’s exciting. The next time we’re in the jump-off I know I can let him go a little bit more and make him harder to beat.”

Speaking to their week at the venue, Pessoa concluded, “This is a spectacular place. It’s really built for the well-being of the horses and the riders. We’ve really enjoyed our two weeks here and are looking forward to coming back next September for some very serious competition. It’s really great what they’ve done here and we’re always thrilled to come to Tryon.”

Hunter Highlights

The $500 NAL/WIHS Adult Amateur Hunter 3′ Classic saw a top finish for Alex Stevens of Kernersvilee, NC and her own Sky Pilot. Second place was also awarded to Joan Alberti of Troutville, VA and her own Chechessee Circle, while Kathryn Haefner of Hamburg, NY took third place aboard her own Endeavour.

The $500 Small/Medium Pony Hunter Classic awarded first place to Parker Mechling of Davidson, NC aboard Chloe Mechling’s Limerick. Second place was captured by Linen Ownes of Marion, NC piloting her own Cloud Nine. Third place went to Madeline Rubin of Mooresville, NC riding Exuberance, owned by Rubin.

The $500 Large Pony Hunter Classic saw a victory for Naomi Clark of Milton, GA piloting her Paparazzi. Second place went to Cassidy Rein of Raleigh, NC and Bestseller, owned by Tara Dow-Rein. Jessie Marie Spade of Terrell, NC and Eddie Bauer rounded out the top three.

The $1,000 Amateur Owner  Hunter Classic 3’3″/3’6″ awarded first place to Alisa Berry of Verona, VA and Phantom, owned by Michael Cline. Madeline Thatcher of West Bluffdale, UT took second place, piloting Summer Place, owned by Pony Lane Farm. Third place was awarded to Dana Schwartz of Brandford, CT riding Grey Street, owned by Float On Equestrian LLC.

The $1,000 Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Junior Hunter Classic 3’3″/ 3’6″ presented the blue ribbon to Madison Busey of Ashburn, VA and Upcountry Pisani, owned by Busey. Second place finish was presented to Grace Skillman of Mount Pleasant, SC and her own Duchesse. Third place honors went to Reynolds Cole of Tuscaloosa, AL aboard Lisa Chaney’s Cristal.

Lily Hiller of Statesboro, GA won the $500 NAL/WIHS Children’s Hunter Classic 3′ with her own Cake Walk. Second place was awarded to Isabella Di Benedetto of Huntersville, NC and Primroso, owned by Di Benedetto. Katelyn North of Wake Forest, NC rounded out the top three finishers aboard First Class, owned by North.

For more information on TIEC, please visit www.tryon.com.

Final Members of FEI Athlete Committee Announced Following Online Vote

FEI Solidarity Ambassador and Paralympic star Laurentia Tan (SIN) has been elected as Athlete Representative for Para-Equestrian. (Photo: Liz Gregg/FEI)

Lausanne (SUI), 17 July 2014 – The three remaining Athlete Representatives that will form the Athletes’ Committee and also serve on the respective Technical Committees have now been finalised following the closure of the second ballot in the online FEI Athletes Election 2014.

The Athlete Representatives for Jumping, Eventing and Para-Equestrian Dressage are:

  • Jumping: Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA)
  • Eventing: Daisy Berkeley (GBR)
  • Para-Equestrian: Laurentia Tan (SIN)

None of these candidates had received a simple majority of the votes cast during the first ballot (15 April – 1 June 2014) and, as a result, a second ballot was held (16 June – 16 July) with two candidates per discipline.

The appointed FEI Athlete Representatives in each discipline will also form the FEI Athletes’ Committee, which will convene when the FEI Technical Committees require feedback on areas relevant to all FEI athletes.

The term in office of the athlete representative on the Technical Committees will start on 15 December 2014, at the same time as those of all other new Committee members. Athlete Representatives are the only members of any FEI Committee that can sit on two committees at any one time.

The 2014 athlete elections were the first time in the FEI’s 93-year history that the athletes themselves had the opportunity to vote for their Athlete Representatives. A total of 26 candidates from 10 nations stood for election, and the elections were conducted via a secure online voting platform, where the curriculum vitaes of all athlete candidates were made available.

FEI registered athletes aged 18 years and over who were included on their respective Ranking Lists from 31 December 2013 were eligible to vote for their Athlete Representative.

FEI media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

Denise Devillaire
Manager Press Relations
denise.devillaire@fei.org
+41 787 750 6157

“Team Pessoa” Takes Over High Amateur-Owner Jumpers at WEF XI

Alexa Pessoa and Charlotte Jacobs with trainer Rodrigo Pessoa during the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classic at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo By: Parker/Russell – The Book LLC.

East Aurora, NY and Wellington, FL – March 26, 2014 – It was an excellent week for “Team Pessoa” as they dominated the High Amateur-Owner Jumpers, taking home both of the tricolor honors during Week XI of the Winter Equestrian Festival. Charlotte Jacobs of North Star Ventures, who trains with Rodrigo Pessoa, captured the victory in the first class on Friday with Cyrina Z, and she then went on to place second behind Alexa Pessoa and Levade 35 in the $15,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classic. At the end of the day, Jacobs’ efforts were rewarded with the championship title, while Alexa Pessoa rode away with the reserve championship.

On Friday, Jacobs and Cyrina Z kicked off the weekend with a double clear effort in the $2,500 High Amateur-Owner Jumper class. The pair bested the 10-horse jump-off with a smooth track that beat the second place finisher by two seconds. “The first day, I had flown in from school. I hadn’t shown the week before, so I was a little nervous,” Jacobs admitted. “Cyrina showed her true colors though, and she really jumped great and took care of me.”

Alexa Pessoa and Jacobs returned to the ring on Saturday for the Classic. Alexa Pessoa was the first to return for the jump-off with Levade 3, and she managed to lay down an unbeatable round with the quick mare. Having walked the course together, Jacobs and Alexa Pessoa had the same track, and Jacobs came within 3/100ths of a second of Alexa Pessoa’s time, taking home the second place ribbon as the last to go.

“Levade 3 is naturally very fast, and when you do all the right numbers and turns she’s just naturally faster than some,” noted Alexa Pessoa. “I think I just got lucky. For her, it was just a medium-fast round. I am really happy and sort of surprised at the way it turned out.”

Alexa Pessoa added, “Rodrigo [Pessoa] didn’t know who to root for in the end. It was great that it was a one-two finish; it was a great weekend.”

“I watched Alexa, but we are on very different horses,” said Jacobs. “Her horse has a much smaller stride, but she was a lot tighter in the turns. My plan was to leave out strides in all of the lines and hope that would improve my time. She was flying though, so I knew I had to really go for it. I thought I was really on it, but I think I went a little wide to the last fence.”

Jacobs continued, “It’s been really great training with Rodrigo. He and Alexa are so much fun to be around. It’s different, but everything is a lot simpler. I ride my own horses in the mornings before I show. A lot of it is up to me, which is different, but good. He’s a horseman, and he’s teaching me every little part of it back at the barn.”

“It was nice to see them first and second,” smiled Rodrigo Pessoa. “Alexa’s mare is a very fast mare. She was first to go in the jump-off, and she had a good plan that she executed well. It was going to take a good round to beat her. Charlotte was last to go and Alexa maybe left a little crack open, so I told Charlotte to go for it, be competitive and take a shot. She came very close.”

Rodrigo concluded, “Cyrina was doing the Mediums throughout the circuit, and this was the first week that she was in the Highs. We were pretty confident that they would have good result, so on Friday she won, and then on Saturday she went clear again. It was very good because she has been working toward this through the season. The year is still very long, so we’ve been careful not to overuse the horses and still keep horses for the summer and the rest of the year. We were very happy with Cyrina, throughout the circuit, but especially this weekend.”

Team Pessoa will continue to show during the final week of the Winter Equestrian Festival, before traveling throughout the summer to the country’s most prestigious events.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Rodrigo Pessoa and Citizenguard Cadjanine Z Capture $280,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix CSI-W 4*

Rodrigo Pessoa and Citizenguard Cadjanine Z. Photos © Sportfot.

Stephanie Danhakl Dominates FarmVet Amateur-Owner 18-35 3’3″ Hunters

Wellington, FL – March 8, 2014 – Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa jumped to victory with Citizenguard Cadjanine Z in Saturday night’s $280,000 FEI World Cup Grand Prix CSI-W 4*, presented by The Bainbridge Companies, at the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) in Wellington, FL. The class featured a roster of the world’s top riders and saw a win for the legendary show jumper and his promising new mount ahead of three young U.S. riders. Jessica Springsteen and Vindicat W, Wilton Porter and Paloubet, and Katie Dinan with Nougat du Vallet finished second, third and fourth respectively.

Watch an interview with Rodrigo Pessoa after his win!

FTI WEF week nine, sponsored by The Bainbridge Companies, concludes on Sunday with the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. Please remember to set your clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Savings Time. The FTI WEF features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.

Alan Wade (IRL) set the track for 45 competitors that qualified during the week to compete in Saturday night’s World Cup qualifying grand prix competition. Seventeen combinations jumped clear to advance to the jump-off and seven of those were able to clear the second round course without fault. Rodrigo Pessoa and Alain van Campenhoudt’s Citizenguard Cadjanine Z blazed to victory in 39.52 seconds.

Twenty-two-year old Jessica Springsteen flew to a second place finish with Stone Hill Farm’s Vindicat W in 41.97 seconds. First to go in the jump-off, 20-year-old Wilton Porter set a very fast pace with Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Paloubet in 42.64 seconds to finish third. Twenty-one-year-old Katie Dinan finished fourth with Grant Road Partners’ Nougat du Vallet in 43.11 seconds.

The Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider Award was also presented to Dinan on Saturday night for her success throughout week nine. The award is presented by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler.

For his win, Pessoa was presented with the Herman ‘Kappy’ Kaplan Perpetual Memorial Trophy, established for Kappy with fondness by the Farriers of the 1995 WEF. Pessoa has won the trophy twice before, topping the week nine grand prix in back to back years in 2010 aboard Double H Farm’s Night Train and 2011 with Double H Farm’s HH Let’s Fly.

Pessoa started riding Citizenguard Cadjanine Z, a 12-year-old Zangersheide mare (Canabis Z x Feinschnitt I Z), in July of 2013 and has been working on developing a good rapport with what he calls a “special” and particularly quirky horse.

The pair made big steps competing in Wellington this winter, including a shared victory with fellow Brazilian Alvaro de Miranda in week seven’s $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challene Cup Round 7. Pessoa has big hopes for the mare and thinks that she has great potential. She has already done big things, including a 2012 Olympic Games appearance in London with Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet.

“She had a couple of good shows last year,” Pessoa detailed. “In Barcelona in the Nations Cup Final we were second and she went clear, and then she won the Grand Prix in Arezzo. Slowly, we have been getting better. She is not an easy mare, but she has a lot of potential, a lot of scope and she’s really a fighter. She has her own way, and we are starting to understand her better, and she really turned a corner here in Florida. She has been really comfortable, jumping well and it’s good.”

“She has the potential to jump any track. She is super brave and she has tremendous scope; it’s just that some days she can be a little bit quirky,” Pessoa noted. “She’s special. She has days that she is not really into it and she doesn’t give you any warning. She is fairly unpredictable, but when she is in the mood to go, she is as good as any horse out there, and she was definitely in the mood today!”

Pessoa spoke about the course, which yielded a large number of clear rounds. “I didn’t expect the 17 clears,” he admitted. “The course had a really nice flow to it. It was nice, but maybe a little bit too nice. The starting order had a lot of really good horses, and immediately we saw clears coming. It was more than what he wanted I think, but we had a nice jump-off. The conditions were really perfect. The temperature was perfect, the footing was perfect, so I think maybe Alan was a little bit too soft given the quality of horses and riders that were on the start list, but he’s a great builder nonetheless. They can’t get it right every time, but he is still one of my favorite course builders.”

“The jump-off suited my horse really well,” Pessoa added. “I thought if I did the plan that I had in mind, and everything showed up right, it could be good, so I was lucky that everything really showed up how I wanted. Coming out, I thought okay, ‘It’s fast, but you never know.’ With so many fast combinations coming behind you, you never know. I thought if it wasn’t good enough to win it would be close – second or third – but in the end it held up, and I’m really happy.”

Jessica Springsteen and Vindicat W
Jessica Springsteen and Vindicat W

Jessica Springsteen was very happy with her second place finish with Vindicat W, especially since the young rider has been commuting back and forth between Florida and North Carolina for school. She is in her third year at Duke University.

“He felt great tonight,” Springsteen said of Vindicat. “I rubbed the third fence really hard, so I’m lucky it didn’t come down, but it was great. I thought by the end the fences got a lot bigger, so I was surprised there were so many clear, but I was really happy with him.”

Springsteen admitted that although she has gone fast with Vindicat before, this was probably the fastest she has gone while still leaving the fences up. “That’s my problem. I usually go a little bit too fast and get too much going, so I tried to keep it together,” she stated.

Springsteen had the additional challenge of going after the very fast round that Pessoa put down, and she did her best to keep up. “I wasn’t expecting to beat him, but yeah, I was happy,” she smiled. “Wilton was so fast too. There were so many fast rounds I wasn’t really expecting tonight, but he’s naturally a really fast horse, so if I get to the jumps correctly it works out.”

Springsteen explained that she has been going back and forth to school and skipping two weeks in a row to show. “This is my second week. I showed last week, so it was kind of nice,” she admitted. “I was practicing more, and I think that helped.”

“It’s hard to really train a lot,” she said of the challenge to stay competitive while not riding regularly. “I fly down Wednesday night and go straight into the ‘WEF’ (Challenge Cup). I think I have gotten better at not riding as much. I used to get jumped loose all the time, but I have gotten used to it a bit more. I’m lucky that I know my horses really well that I am riding. If I had a new horse it would be different, but with Vindicat, it’s my third year with him. I know him really well, so I feel confident stepping into a big grand prix.”

Third place finisher, Wilton Porter, is also a young rider traveling back and forth from school as a freshman at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and has faced the added challenge of staying up to par to compete against the world’s best riders in Wellington.

“I personally kind of feel like an underdog,” Porter admitted. “If I don’t do well it’s not the end of the world, but I’m trying to prove something, so I am constantly pushing myself harder. Being a young rider and balancing school and riding, I have a great team helping me out, so I can always count on them when I’m competing.”

Porter went first in the jump-off with his horse, Paloubet, and set a very fast time. “I think the first round course actually suited me because it was a little more open, which is better for me and Paloubet because he is definitely a horse that I try to be softer with,” Porter said. “The softer I can be, the better he is. In the jump-off, going first probably worked out better for me as well because if I had seen Rodrigo go first, I would have tried to go faster than I should have! The last jump, it was definitely fast. I wasn’t sure how it was going to end up. I’m actually on spring break this past week, so I have been able to ride all week, which has helped for sure.”

Stephanie Danhakl Dominates FarmVet Amateur-Owner 18-35 3’3″ Hunters

Stephanie Danhakl took both the division champion and reserve champion title on Saturday morning in the FarmVet Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 3’3″ division during week nine of the FTI WEF. Danhakl, of Palisades Park, CA, and her eight-year-old Warmblood gelding Enough Said earned the championship title after winning every class in the division. Danhakl also finished as reserve champion with her other horse, Quest. The pair was second, third, and second over fences and third under saddle.

Stephanie Danhakl and Enough Said
Stephanie Danhakl and Enough Said

Danhakl, 27, was extremely happy with her horses’ performances in the division, especially since she has only owned them since the end of last year.

“It’s really exciting. I definitely wasn’t expecting for them to be so consistent this early on. I knew they’re both great horses, and it’s been really exciting to be able to ride them. I feel like we’re just starting to figure them out, which is really fun. They both have a lot of scope and give you a great feeling over the jump,” Danhakl commented.

Of Enough Said’s clean sweep of the division, Danhakl said, “He was perfect in every round. I’m so proud of him. He was amazing. He just keeps getting better and better.”

Danhakl, who trains with Scott Stewart and Ken Berkley at River’s Edge Farm, admitted she is slightly more comfortable on Enough Said since she has had a few more weekends to show him than Quest, who Danhakl has only competed twice before week nine of the FTI WEF.

“Our styles are really compatible because [Enough Said] is the kind of horse that you just kind of loop the reins and don’t use a lot of leg, and that’s how I like to ride. You’re basically just steering around the course and being really soft,” Danhakl described.

That soft ride is what Danhakl believes makes him so competitive, along with how adjustable Enough Said’s stride is.

“He’s got a huge stride but if you jump in big, you just put your shoulders back and he fits the strides in perfectly. I think it makes for a very soft, nice, hunter-y way of going. I’m able to ride him pretty smoothly, and he likes that kind of ride,” Danhakl explained.

From the first time she tried him, Danhakl liked the way Enough Said went, but what attracted her to him most was his puppy-dog personality.

“He’s such a sweet horse. He always has his head sticking out of his stall looking for treats, and he is very loving. He loves to be pet; he acts more like a Golden Retriever. I love to spoil my horses. He’s just been getting progressively more spoiled! Other people will walk up to him, and he’ll start going at their pockets for treat. Maybe I’ve gone a little overboard!” Danhakl laughed.

The most preparation Enough Said needs is a tour around the ring at the beginning of the show week, when Danhakl is more than happy to let him peek at anything that may catch his eye.

“He likes to go in the ring in the morning, at least the first day, and look around. He’s not spooky at all, but he likes to look sometimes outside of the ring if there’s a photographer or a sign or things like that. I just let him look, and he doesn’t ever spook. I don’t feel like he needs to focus 100% of the time, so I think he appreciates that I allow him to look around and I trust him not to spook,” Danhakl described.

While Danhakl is originally from California, she moved east for college and is currently in graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania getting her master’s degree in Art History. She commutes back and forth from Philadelphia each week, which she acknowledged can be exhausting, but is well worth the opportunity to escape the cold and enjoy her horses.

Hunter competition for Week 9 of the FTI WEF, presented by The Bainbridge Companies, concludes on Sunday morning with the Sylvester Center Adult Amateur Hunter 36-50 division 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.

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

Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

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

De Miranda and Pessoa Earn Dual Victory in $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7

Rodrigo Pessoa and Citizenguard Cadjanine Z. Photos © Sportfot.

The Closer and Havens Schatt Seal the Deal in Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Hunter Level One

Wellington, FL – February 20, 2014 – Week seven of the 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) continued on Thursday afternoon with a shared victory for Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda aboard AD Uutje and Rodrigo Pessoa with Citizenguard Cadjanine Z in the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7. Held in a “California Split” due to the large number of entries, the competition awarded two sets of placings, each with $125,000 distributed.

Sponsored by Adequan, FTI WEF week seven runs February 19-23, 2014. The week will feature the $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m on Friday, the $280,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 4* on Saturday night, and the $84,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday. The FTI WEF, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, features 12 weeks of world-class competition through March 30, awarding $8 million in prize money.

Take in “Saturday Night Lights” from some of the best seats in the house! Tables and individual seats are available for sale in The Wellington Club, which offers a fantastic view of the International Arena for Saturday night’s grand prix. Enjoy a full buffet courtesy of White Horse Catering while watching thrilling competition from a spectacular vantage point on Saturday, February 22. Tables are going fast, so reserve yours today! Email vip@equestriansport.com for complete information.

Fredric Cottier of France set the track for Thursday’s $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 in the International Arena at PBIEC. The class saw a total of 115 entries in round one with 30 clear trips to jump-off. The short course saw ten clear rounds with two combinations opting not to return. Alvaro de Miranda completed the fastest tie breaking round in 37.63 seconds overall for the win in Section A of the class riding AD Uutje. Rodrigo Pessoa finished in 37.89 seconds with Alain van Campenhoudt’s Citizenguard Cadjanine Z for the win in Section B. Another rider for Brazil, Yuri Mansor, had the third fastest time of 39.01 seconds with QH Amor.

With the split class, the top three finishers in Section A were Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje in 37.63 seconds, Yuri Mansor and QH Amor in 39.01 seconds, and Reed Kessler (USA) with Ligist in 39.60 seconds.

Section B saw the top placing for Rodrigo Pessoa and Citizenguard Cadjanine Z in 37.89 seconds followed by Kent Farrington (USA) and Amalaya Investments’ Willow in 39.14 seconds, and Laura Kraut (USA) with Cherry Knoll Farm Inc.’s Cedric in 42.96 seconds.

De Miranda and AD Uutje also shared a victory in week two’s $34,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 2 and the rider noted that his horse, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Monaco x Calypso, is making great progress throughout the circuit.

Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje
Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje

“He is improving a lot,” the rider stated. “Sometimes it is still difficult for me between the lines, with a stride to add, but today in the first round it was easier than last time and I think, I hope, I can get him very good for the last grand prix.”

“He is a very nice horse, very sweet and nice to ride,” de Miranda said. “Only when you have lines that are very short, sometimes it is a little bit difficult for me to get him together, but it is improving. It is slow, but it is getting there. Nelson Pessoa did a very good job. He found the right bit for him, and he has helped me at home. I think that makes a difference because three or four months ago I was very lost with this horse, and with Nelson’s help everything came much easier. I see progress every day.”

Going into the jump-off, de Miranda knew that it had to be another very fast round with the leading time of Rodrigo Pessoa to chase. He remarked that this jump-off was even faster than his win during week two.

“With this horse, for sure, this was the fastest day for me,” he stated. “I saw Rodrigo go and the mare is so fast. I knew that from jump one to two I needed to take more risk. I think that was the only difference maybe because the rest Rodrigo was very fast, but at the end we both won, and that is good.”

AD Uutje will compete with de Miranda on the Brazilian team in next week’s $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, presented by G&C Farm, and the riders are excited to have such a promising team going in after the top three finish for Brazil on Thursday.

“I am very happy,” de Miranda stated. “It was a long class with a lot of riders, and it is very special to have three Brazilians like that. It is very good before the Nations Cup also to give us more motivation. It was perfect for us.”

Pessoa agreed, adding that it is great to see so many new riders coming to compete in Wellington. “I think it is really good,” Pessoa acknowledged. “This circuit is really booming. There are a lot of newcomers. For us in particular, for the morale, I think it is really good. Uutje is going to do the Nations Cup, and I am going to do the Nations Cup with Status. He was clear as well today, but he didn’t go in the jump-off. Yuri that was third will go with that horse and then one more rider. It doesn’t mean that we are going to win the Nations Cup, but it is promising that the horses are jumping well and it is good for next week when our Chef d’Equipe (Jean-Maurice Bonneau) arrives. He will be happy with what we have been doing so far, hopefully.”

Pessoa was very happy with his top finish on Thursday aboard Citizenguard Cadjanine Z, a 12-year-old Zangersheide mare by Canabis Z x Feinschnitt I Z. He started riding the mare in July of 2013 and explained that she was previously ridden by Gregory Wathelet from Belgium and went to the Olympic Games in London with him in 2012.

“She is a difficult mare, but she has a lot of potential,” Pessoa described. “She is very scopey, and she is very fast. She has a big stride. Her rideability is not always great, but she is a fighter. We had a slow start to the circuit, but I think she is coming around and we will see her now in some bigger classes as well.”

Pessoa explained that Cottier’s jump-off track suited his mount very well. “It was a really good jump-off for her because it was a big gallop and she has a very big stride,” the rider noted. “Actually, the course was ideal for her in the jump-off, it could not have been any better. I was really happy to be competitive with her.”

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 on Thursday with a win for Kevin Babington and Meco Equestrian LLC’s Cord 11.For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

The Closer and Havens Schatt
The Closer and Havens Schatt

The Closer and Havens Schatt Seal the Deal in Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Hunter Level One

The first hunter championship of week seven was awarded to Kelley Corrigan’s The Closer with Havens Schatt in the irons in the Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Hunter Level One three-foot division. Schatt and The Closer won the first class over fences on Wednesday and then placed first and second over fences on Thursday to earn the division championship.

Le Reve Farm, Inc.’s At Ease and Christopher Payne finished in reserve with first and second place ribbons on Wednesday and a second place finish in Thursday’s under saddle.

The Closer is a seven-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Sir Donnerhall. Owner, Kelley Corrigan, is from Lexington, KY, and bought the horse this past summer. He started showing in the Low Hunters there, and this is the third week that Schatt has shown him in the Pre-Green classes in his first trip to Wellington.

“He is green,” Schatt described. “He was a dressage horse, so he is very keen on his lead changes. Sometimes he will do a lead change in the line or just by getting confused, but he has been super brave here. I showed him in ring 7, ring 6, and this ring. Kelley is doing him in the adults. She was first and second today. He is just a really good, brave guy.”

Schatt explained that The Closer has beauty and consistency around the course that make him a winner. “His stride and his rhythm are always the same,” she stated. “He is very big and he is black, so he is very pretty. He is very pretty to watch go around the course, and he jumps all of the jumps the same. You don’t get a ten, but you don’t get a four. He is pretty much an eight all the way around and for an amateur horse, which is ultimately what he is supposed to be – for me that is what it is supposed to be about – (it’s about) consistency and nice rhythm and a nice way around the ring.”

The Closer will now have a couple of weeks off before showing at the end of the FTI WEF circuit. Schatt sees a bright future for the horse and hopes to keep him happy and enjoying his job as he continues to learn and compete.

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.

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

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

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