Tag Archives: Steve Heinecke

Ali Wolff and Caya Gallop to Glory in $35,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Speed Stake CSI 4*

Ali Wolff and Caya. Photos ©LizCrawleyPhotography.

Steve Heinecke and Hercules VD Vromboutshoeve Take First Place Honors in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Mill Spring, NC – July 15, 2016 – Ali Wolff (USA) and Caya dominated in the $35,000 1.45m Horseware® Ireland Speed Stake CSI4* at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), exemplifying speed and agility with a remarkable time of 61.42 seconds. Trailing not far behind Wolff and earning second place honors was Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Famoso D Ive Z with a time of 62.81 seconds, also winners this week in the  $35,000 Horseware® Ireland Opener CSI 4* earlier in the week. Third place was awarded to Todd Minikus (USA) and his mount, I Am Nala, with a time of 63.95 seconds.

Wolff and Caya (Carolous I x Lancer II) have been partners for almost four years, growing together as a team since she took over the ride. Wolff consistently showed Caya in the high amateur classes and brought home multiple wins. During their campaign, the numerous and accumulating wins led Wolff and her team to the decision to step Caya up to the FEI level.

Wolff was determined to secure yet another victory, stating, “I was going for it. I did not care if I had a rail or not; I was tired of being third, fourth, and fifth. I was either going to go for it or I was going to have a rail trying.”

Wolff went on to elaborate about the specific track she chose set by Manuel Esparza (MEX) that ultimately granted her the victory. She commented, “What helped the most was going inside the double combination towards the end of the course. I also snuck inside after the Horseware® Ireland oxer, where many competitors went around to approach the double verticals. I think that shaved off a significant amount of time.”

Along with impressive inside turns, Wolff touched on her horse’s athletic abilities. Wolff believes that Caya’s talent shines in the speed classes as the mare is quick off of her feet and very adjustable around courses, especially those that offer multiple tracks and opportunities.

“Caya is a speed demon. She is so naturally speedy and fast across the ground that I can rely on this a little bit to decrease our time,” said Wolff. “Caya goes the same every day. She is one of my most reliable horses and she is always game for anything.”

This is Wolff’s first victory at TIEC this season and it came at the right time, as the rising star for the United States has found herself in every position but the winner’s so far during her time at the venue. Wolff and team will stay to contest the remainder of competition this week, as well as for the CSI 4* to be hosted next week.

“I love it here! It is a great show. It seems as though it is well put together, and planned out from the beginning,” noted Wolff. “There is incredible competition here and it is located in a very horse-friendly area. Tryon also offers great money, so how could you not want to come here?”

Steve Heinecke and Hercules VD Vromboutshoeve Take First Place Honors in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Steve Heinecke of Charlotte, NC and Hercules VD Vromboutshoeve, owned by Freedom Group, rose to the top of the class in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, earning a two round score of 181. Madison Johnson of Matthews, NC and her own Ferrari earned second place receiving a 172, while Josh Dolan of Wellington, FL and Hidden Lane, owned by Page Tredennick, collected third place, finishing just behind Johnson with a score of 171.

Steve Heinecke and Hercules VD Vromboutshoeve
Steve Heinecke and Hercules VD Vromboutshoeve

Heinecke and “Hercules” took the class by storm, collecting a score of 91 in the first round to then return for the handy to earn a 90. Hercules recently transitioned from the jumper ring to the hunter ring and Heinecke has been impressed with his willingness and attitude, which has helped him to excel in the derby classes.

“I’ve only had him for a month and a half or two months. He came out of the jumper ring and came over to the U.S. in January,” said Heinecke. “Geoff Teal had him first and said he would be a great derby horse. He said I should take the ride and show him, so I did.”

“Each week he just keeps getting better and better. He came in third in the last derby and you know, he’s never had to trot a jump in the ring before and has handled it all so well. He’s just been so nice to ride,” he added.

Hercules VD Vromboutshoeve is co-owned in partnership by Heinecke and good friend Laura Kraut, as the pair typically invests in two horses a year together. While the gelding may be new to the discipline, he’s shown that he’s willing and able to score well against some of the best combinations in the country, and Heinecke is hopeful that he will turn into something very special.

“He has an enormous stride and is very easy. You can see where you are ten strides away and if you need to adjust, you can,” he commented. “We’ll do the derby again next week and then we’ll bump it up into the Performance Hunters. Then, if we still have him in the fall, we may try to do an International Derby.”

Heinecke, who is based in Charlotte, NC during the spring, summer, and fall months, is thrilled with the opportunity to compete at TIEC, which has drastically impacted the growth of his business, as horses of all ages and experience levels benefit from the competition.

“We love it here. We’re actually staying at The Lodge on Lake Lure this week and have had an incredible time. I love this show and I’m a big fan and advocate,” commented Heinecke. “I bring my more experienced horses and also the younger ones too. There’s something for everyone here and I think they treat this show like every ring is FEI or international competition. It’s really just spectacular.”

Competition continues Saturday, July 16, featuring the third week of the third installment of the “Saturday Night Lights” Series of the 2016 Tryon Summer Series presenting the $216,000 Hollow Creek Farm Grand Prix CSI 4* with gates opening to the public at 6:00 p.m. and entertainment beginning at 7:15 p.m. Competition will commence at 8:00 p.m. For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.

Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 Prove Too Quick to Catch in $34,000 FEI 1.45m Speed Stake

Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083. Photos ©Sportfot.

Steve Heinecke and So Lucky Win Close Contest in $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Mill Spring, NC – June 5, 2015 – Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 easily topped the $34,000 FEI 1.45m Speed Stake, finishing almost 10 seconds faster than Ali Wolff (USA) and Brianda who followed in second with a time of 70.36 seconds. Sweetnam bested the class of 19 entries in the first speed class of the week at Tryon Spring 8 hosted at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Ljubov Kochetova (RUS) and Wilford Z finished in third completing the course in 73.95 seconds. Competition continues tomorrow at TIEC with the highlight class of the week, the $210,000 Tryon Grand Prix CSI 4* for the Governor’s Cup, which will be aired on NBC Sports on Sunday, June 7, at 4pm. The class will begin at 7pm in the George H. Morris Stadium.

Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 went early in the class and knew that they needed a fast round to stay in prize contention. The duo laid down an incredibly fast round, which proved to be uncatchable for the rest of the class.

“I thought the course designer did a good job here today. When I walked it I thought it was nice and fair. There were a couple of options for fast riders and also some for the younger horses looking to get experience,” said Sweetnam. “It was definitely fair and when I walked it; I quite liked it.”

The pair took advantage of the fast options on course and dominated the class, taking a commanding lead early in the class with a time of 61.48 seconds. Sweetnam commented that he felt the course was very suitable for Cyklon 1083 and that his consistency throughout his career has been extremely impressive.

“The round went exactly how I planned it when I walked it earlier in the morning. I went for all of the numbers and turns that I wanted to do. It all worked out perfectly. When I went through the timers I was even thinking, ‘They’ll really have to do something to beat that time,'” he commented. “He’s won everywhere. He’s a great little horse. He’s won in Gothenburg, Spruce Meadows, and Wellington, all of the big places. He’s still 14 and going strong, so I’m very happy with him.”

Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm will take two weeks off before heading to Spruce Meadows to contest some of the big classes in Calgary.

“We’ll have to make a pretty big decision after Spruce if we want to go to Europe or come back here to Tryon. There are the FEI shows here in July, and I’m sure I’ll be back here for those at some point and we’ll just see how everything goes,” said Sweetnam. “It’s a great facility. Mark [Bellissimo] and the partners have done a great job. I don’t think there is a better facility anywhere, and it’s still getting bigger and better. They’ve really made a big effort, and it’s great for the sport. I’m very happy to be here.”

FEI competition at TIEC will continue tomorrow with the $210,000 Tryon Grand Prix CSI 4* for the Governor’s Cup at 7pm in the George H. Morris Stadium. The $34,000 FEI Tryon 1.50m Challenge will take place on Sunday, June 7, and will mark the conclusion of the Tryon Spring Series.

Steven Heinecke and So Lucky Win Close Contest in $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Steven Heinecke of Charlotte, NC and Jane Olsen Fisher’s So Lucky rode two consistent rounds, receiving a total score of 170 points, to ultimately top the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, besting Donald Sheehan and EHM Equestrian, LLC’s Kenan, who followed closely behind with a 168.5. Kathryn Haefner and Kathryn Haefner LLC’s Bentley rounded out the top three with a total score of 165.

Steve Heinecke and So Lucky
Steve Heinecke and So Lucky

Heinecke, based at Hi Hopes Farm in Weddington, NC, competed Jane Olsen Fisher’s So Lucky last year in the Pre-Green 3’3 classes. This has been his first year out of the division, and he has garnered some incredible success.

“We did the derby class in Kentucky a few weeks ago and he was third overall. That will be the direction we continue to take him in. He’ll do the amateur classes with Jane, but we would really like to ultimately aim him for some of the USHJA International Hunter Derbies in the future,” said Heinecke. “He’s just seven so we still have some time with him and we don’t want to rush to Derby Finals, so we’ll take this summer to focus on doing more National Derby classes with him.”

The duo scored a 77 in the first round and an 85 in the second handy round, adding 4 points to their score for taking the high obstacle options provided around the course. Heinecke also piloted another Jane Olsen Fisher mount, Swag, to a sixth place finish in the class.

“The course today was nice and not too complicated. It was pretty straight forward which was good in the morning because that always helps,” he laughed. “Swag, my second mount, is only five and he was excellent in the first round, but never had really tried a handy round, which is where we lost some points. But overall I am very happy with both of them and how they went today.”

Heinecke and Hi Hopes Farm typically travel around the East Coast for their summer season, hitting the big shows like Devon, Lake Placid, and Kentucky before returning to their home base to pack for their journey to Florida for the winter. This year though, the plan has changed and Heinecke would like to stay at TIEC to compete throughout the year.

“These Tryon shows are just so nice. They’re offering every division possible and that helps all of my clients and students. It’s affordable, and they’re so close to our farm. It only takes an hour to get here,” commented Heinecke. “We’re definitely tailoring our show schedule to make sure that we can stay here as long as possible. We’ve had a great time here and will continue to add it to our yearly plan and support the show here. It’s worked out so great for us.”

Competition at TIEC continues tomorrow, June 6, with the highlight $210,000 Tryon Grand Prix for the Governor’s Cup which will begin at 7pm in the George H. Morris Stadium. The night will provide an array of entertainment for guests including a highly anticipated performance by Grammy-award winning Lee Greenwood singing “God Bless the U.S.A”. The Special Forces Parachute team will also be doing a four-person tandem jump with a 20-foot by 40-foot American flag. A live showing of the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes will take place on the jumbotron in the main arena at the 6:50 post time.

For more information on TIEC and the events tomorrow, please visit www.tryon.com. Please “Like” the TIEC Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tryonresort to be eligible for various contests and promotions.

About Tryon International Equestrian Center

The Tryon International Equestrian Center is destined to become one of the premier centers in the equestrian world. This new facility opened in June 2014 with sanctioned horse shows and initial supporting amenities including 10 riding arenas, 850 permanent stalls, a covered riding facility and fitness center. Future expansion includes a sports complex, two hotels, sporting clay course, and an 18-hole golf course plus a full calendar of equestrian competitions and activities. It is a spring, summer and fall haven for eastern and northeastern American equestrian competitors and enthusiasts. For more information, call 828-863-1000 or visit www.tryon.com.

Steve Heinecke and Stoli Steal the Show at Kentucky Summer Classic

Steve Heinecke and Stoli lead the victory gallop.

Lexington, KY – August 2, 2014 – Winning today’s $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby was no easy feat. It required besting a competitive field of 59 entries and waiting out a few passing rain showers, but there was one mount who made riding away with the victory look easy – Jane Olson Fisher’s Stoli.

With Steve Heinecke in the irons, Stoli took over the lead halfway through the first round, and he held it all the way through to the end, earning the victory gallop around the Stonelea Ring at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Heinecke and Stoli came into the handy round with a score of 94, following a seamless first round course in which they elected to take all four of the high option fences. Hot on their heels were Molly Sewell and EL Raymond, the winners of last week’s $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. Sewell and EL Raymond, owned by Leslie and Stuart Campbell, came into round two with a score of 93; they were followed in ranking by Adele Norton and her own Pitch Perfect who rounded out the top three with a score of 92.

Norton and Pitch Perfect were the first of the top contenders to return to compete over the Bobby Murphy designed handy course, and they turned in another solid round that fell just short of their first round in score at an 88.5, including the four high option bonus points. That score, coupled with their first round score 92, would be good enough to shoot them to the top of the leader board with 180.5 cumulative total.

That lead would not hold for long, as the next pair in the ring, Christopher Payne and Channing, bested it. Payne and Channing, owned by Susan Moriconi, had finished the first round in fifth place with a score of 90, but their consistency and a second round score of 91 would prevail, landing them in the temporary lead with a score of 181 and giving them the eventual second place finish.

Sewell and EL Raymond returned next to earn a score of 86.50, which, at a 179.50 total, would hold up for the fourth place spot. Following their course, it all came down to Heinecke and Stoli.

The pair did not disappoint. They perfectly matched their first round course, earning a second, equal score of 94 and clinching the far and away winning total of 188.

“I thought the first round was really nice. It was a lot of single jumps, which is nice sometimes because so often when you have a course there are so many jumps that you just have to count to the second one. This demonstrated a little bit more of the horses jumping ability,” Heinecke said. “In the handy, I think it gave some options depending on if you had to make up some points or not which is always nice. [Bobby Murphy] did a nice job with the courses.”

Heinecke continued, “I love the quality of the horses and the quality of the competition here at these shows in Kentucky. It’s a great place for your horses, and it’s a great place to grow and get better against good competition.”

Stoli, an 11-year-old Oldenburg spends much of his time in Charlotte, NC where Heinecke trains out of Marc and Celen Oken’s Hi Hopes Farm, while owner Jane Olson Fisher splits her time between Louisiana and Connecticut, often meeting up with her talented gelding on the road.

“He’s the perfect amateur horse. He’s like mister perfect 99.9 percent of the time,” Olson Fisher said. “He’s very personable. If Steve asks me to do something and I execute it, he does it. He’s very easy to ride. He’s really forgiving, and he always looks cute over fences. He pricks his ears. Even when I’ve done something bad, he just continues to prick his ears and jump the fence. He just has a really great attitude.”

Following his success today, Stoli will return home to Charlotte before looking to the fall indoor finals.

The Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby Series continues during the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show, held at the Kentucky Horse Park August 12-17, 2014. The Hallway Feeds Series consists of seven national hunter derby events, held throughout the 2014 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the final event, cash prizes totaling $15,000 will be awarded to the series’ leading riders.

To learn more about the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Kentucky Summer Series Fast Facts

Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2014 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.

What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC’s 2014 series includes five weeks of top competition throughout the summer. These premier hunter/jumper competitions host the Hagyard Challenge Series with seven grand prix competitions that culminate with a Leading Rider Award, as well as the Hallway Feeds National Derby Series.

Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Home to the United States Equestrian Federation.

When:

NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIPS – July 15-20, 2014
KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 23-27, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 29 – August 3, 2014
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix sponsored by GGT Footings
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

2014 USEF PONY FINALS – August 5-10, 2014
BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW – August 12-17, 2014
USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals
USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Member Event

KHJA HORSE SHOW – August 20-24, 2014
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby

Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Audi of Lexington, GGT Footing, Equestrian Services International, Johnson Horse Transportation, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance, Take2 Thoroughbred Program, Sleepy P Ranch, and the Official Hotel The Clarion

Hours:
8am – 5pm daily

Parking:
Horse Show Exhibitors may purchase a weekly parking pass at the main Horse Park entrance for $15.00. Dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash.

Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located 8 miles northeast of Lexington, Kentucky at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.

Information:
Before Show – (859) 233-0492, Email: hakshows@earthlink.net
During Show – Telephone: (859) 254-3343, Fax: (859) 231-6097
Stabling – Email Tom Blankenship at tomblank@bellsouth.net
Stable office – Before Show: (843) 269-4737, During Show: (859) 255-0605
Prize List Advertising – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Vendors – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709

Shownet – www.shownet.biz

Website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

Ring Dimensions/Specs:

The Stonelea Ring, Murphy Ring, Walnut Ring, Stonelea/Murphy Schooling Ring, the Alltech Arena and the Rolex Stadium have Otto Sport footing consisting of fine sand and synthetic fiber on pvc mats. The Claiborne, Annex, and Covered Arena (old) rings’ footing consists of a sand cushion on limestone base. The dimensions of the competition areas are as follows:

Stonelea: 140′x 280′, Murphy: 135′x 280′, Stonelea and Murphy Schooling: 110′x 400′
Walnut: 300′x 370′, Claiborne: 140′x 270′, Annex 130′x 250′, Covered Arena (old): 145′x 285′ Rolex Stadium: 360′ x 384′, Alltech Arena: 132′ x 265′

Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry and home furnishings are located adjacent to the Stonelea Ring.

Hotels:

CLARION HOTEL (Formerly Holiday Inn North) – 859-233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles (OFFICIAL HOTEL)
Discover the place where elegant comfort in an ideal location meets excellent service and affordability. At the Clarion Hotel Lexington, you’ll find well-appointed accommodations with options of double/doubles, double queens, king rooms or suites, exceptional amenities such as our free hot breakfast buffet, and Southern hospitality at its finest. The best hotel for Keeneland – located in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region – home of the Kentucky Horse Park, the Lexington Convention Center, University of Kentucky, and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – our Lexington hotel is on Newtown Pike at Exit 115 on I-75, close to all the big attractions, and is the perfect place to stay whether you’re here to get down to business or have some fun. Best of all, bring your furry friends for any trip because the Clarion Hotel in Lexington is also pet-friendly.

CAMPGROUND RESERVATIONS:
Reservations may not be made through the Horse Show office. To reserve a campsite at the Kentucky Horse Park for any of the horse shows, please call the Campground store at (800) 370-6416 or 859-259-4157 or email Sherry Logan at sherryd.logan@ky.gov. Be specific as to the show name and the dates you wish to stay. Check-in time is 2:00 p.m. and check-out is 12:00 noon. You must make arrangements with the Campground store if you plan to arrive earlier than 2:00 p.m. or stay later than 12:00 noon. Vehicles that are not removed from a campsite by check-out time will be towed.

Management:
Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC
P. O. Box 11428
Lexington, KY 40575-1428
859-233-0492 (phone)
859-233-0495 (fax)
email: hakshows@earthlink.net
website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com

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