Tag Archives: Winter Equestrian Festival

See World-Class Art at the Winter Equestrian Festival

March 23, 2013 Associate Editor Leave a comment

“Raven King” by Ashley Collins.

Wellington, FL – March 20, 2013 – Participants and visitors are treated to a vast array of international art at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). From the powerful horse sculptures at the spectator entrance to galleries around the International Arena, enthusiasts can find everything from emerging artists to masters and also meet artists available for commissions.

NEW RIVER FINE ART GALLERY IN THE INTERNATIONAL CLUB

Started by Lisa Burgess 15 years ago, New River Fine Art broke the mold of the traditional gallery. Burgess wanted to bring a broad spectrum of art to her customers instead of focusing on one style or specific period. Sourcing work from around the globe allows her to work with many types of collectors. “When I started, people said this type of gallery would never work. But I felt that focusing on quality art from many periods would offer broader appeal. My own collecting tastes range from Impressionism to fine Contemporary art, so I thought other collectors would be drawn to a gallery that offered fine art in a variety of styles and mediums,” she states.

New River Fine Art has brought their work to the gallery in the International Club Foyer at the Palm Beach International Center where you will find everything from emerging artists to Picasso, Chagall, and Dali. The gallery is open to the public in the Club and rotates paintings, sculptures and glass works.

Visitors have been impressed by Virginia Fifield’s charcoals of horses or Ramon Vilanova’s landscapes making a rare appearance before going onto a museum exhibition. Wall Streeters may also recognize the iconic Charging Bull from sculptor Arturo DiModica.

In addition to visual enjoyment, art can also be a valuable investment. Burgess comments, “As with any type of investing, you must work with people who are experienced, knowledgeable, trustworthy and have a good reputation built over years in business.” Burgess and her team work diligently to authenticate each work and have consulted on numerous high end acquisitions.

“Prices of work typically exhibited in the gallery range from $2,500 up to $500,000,” Burgess explains. “We will privately source work of a more significant nature on an individual basis. We represent our clients when dealing with private collections and at auction.”

New River Fine Art is also available for interior design consultation, providing artwork for homes, offices, yachts, and corporate collections. They recently curated the art for the W Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale including underwater installations.

With an international clientele, New River Fine Art strives to provide the utmost in customer service. Burgess comments, “We frequently ship artwork and send our consultants around the world to work with clients at their convenience, no matter if they be in Singapore or Chicago.”

For more information, contact info@newriverfineart.com or 954-524-2100.

JOSÉE NADEAU AT THE GALLERY

Since her earliest formal training as a young child in Montreal, internationally acclaimed artist Josée Nadeau has relentless followed a passion for art, drawing inspiration from landscapes, lifestyles and cultural icons all over the world. Her works are on display at The Gallery at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

*Artist Josée Nadeau with legendary song writer and performer Gloria Gaynor at The Gallery*

Nadeau had the pleasure of being a guest in the private studio in Claude Monet’s gardens in Giverny, invited by the renowned curator Gerald Van der Kemp and his wife Florence. Nadeau’s ten year stay honed her artistic and cultural skills as the guest of the curator, visited by legendary artists and leaders of state. Nadeau’s works now hang in galleries and homes of the most noted collectors such as Frances Fisher, Pierce Brosnan, and Oprah Winfrey.

Her audience has the pleasure of sharing her world travels and adventures through her paintings. While Nadeau’s eyes are always working, so are her other senses. Her paintings are not only a visual feast but an opportunity to evoke all the senses whether it is the sound of the coffee cup in the café, the smell of fresh cut flowers, or the wind in a horse’s mane or the strength of its neck. Nadeau comments, “With anything I paint it’s about capturing the spirit.” That spirit is what takes the “still” out of the still life. She has been invited again to the Hamptons where her paintings will hang in the Ralph Lauren stores.

Josée also paints live on stage in art performances with groups like The Salt Lake Symphony Orchestra as well as artists such as Harry Belafonte and Dionne Warwick.

On any given show day you can find Josée painting in her venue The Gallery which offers nearly 360 degree views of the International Arena. A recent visit by Gloria Gaynor to help raise money for the animal charity Danny and Ron’s Rescue led Josée to a sneak preview of her soon to be released new single.

Josée Nadeau is available for commissions to paint what is near and dear to you, be it your horse, home, family, or garden, as a lasting visual memory.

For more information, visit www.joseenadeau.com.

SHELLI BREIDENBACH AT THE WELLINGTON CLUB

Shelli Breidenbach’s unforgettable photographs grace the cover of both the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival Prize List and the Official Souvenir Program. These images are available as collectible posters and T-shirts found at the WEF Boutiques. You can also see her larger than life images on display at The Wellington Club during the season.

The horses chosen for this unique process of “digital dye” printed on “flag fabric” are some of the sport’s biggest stars. This was a huge privilege for Shelli to work with each of these amazing athletes, developing a relationship in order to get the best results. These magnificent nine foot by four foot works of art are visible from the International Club and even from the “golf cart view” from the Eugene R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring.

Breidenbach’s latest photographs are featured in a beautiful layout in the U.S. launch of the international equestrian luxury magazine Equestrio recently published.

Working with horses as subjects, Breidenbach expects the unexpected. She explains, “I decided on the nude series and took off halters and bridles. It’s a much more elegant photograph when the horses are not wearing anything but it’s a lot riskier. We shoot in paddocks so if they run away they can’t go far. My heart has stopped on more than one occasion,” she adds with a smile, “but thankfully they always come back.” Photography is a full body sport for Shelli, who you will find at all angles to get the most creative shot.

As a long-time equestrian, Shelli has developed a strong bond with horses, “It’s more about the relationship you develop with them than being in the ring,” she says. Indeed Breidenbach has a bit of the horse whisperer about her. “I talk to them all the time like they’re children. It’s somehow reassuring to them,” she laughs, “or maybe to me.”

Just like top models her equine subjects are pros. Even the legendary Sapphire paid no attention to a flapping backdrop and struck a perfect pose in twenty minutes. “These are highly trained horses so they’re accustomed to strange light and backgrounds,” Breidenbach explains. “We build a set on location. It’s about $150,000 worth of equipment — hand painted backdrops, huge stands, and multiple assistants. It’s like a fashion shoot.”

Breidenbach’s large digital equine images were so striking that they caught the eye of the Ralph Lauren brand and her works have been represented in their D&D show room in Manhattan. “One of the best compliments I ever got,” says Shelli, “was when one of the salespeople in the showroom said their architect and designer clients fell in love with the images, commenting you don’t have to be a horse person to love these photographs.”

Fans of Shelli Breidenbach’s work will be thrilled to know her newest adventure is a textile line – all equestrian themed and based on her photographs. She comments, “We really need an updated and clean version of equestrian style products. There’s room if you do it in a nice, modern way. Hopefully we will have it ready for the spring of 2013.”

Shelli is also available to do portraits of your horse – a truly unforgettable image.

For more information, please visit www.shellibreidenbach.com.

ADRIAN LANDON

The accomplished 23-year-old Adrian Landon has taken the art scene by storm with his stunning equine sculptures, taking base metal and turning it into artistic gold. His sculptures are at the entrance to the PBIEC and also the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Over the past three years Landon has created grand and accomplished sculptures. His life-size horses seem to breathe with life despite their iron clad bodies. For information on purchase, please contact Isabelle Delgrange, isabelledelgrange@gmail.com.

DOUWE BLUMBERG

A masterful piece of illusion, Reflections, has visitors stopping to decipher and admire the sculpture of a horse looking at its own reflection. Located near the fountain at the main spectator entrance of the PBIEC, the sculpture by Douwe Blumberg seems to float above the ground. The limited edition is available in different sizes. For more information, visit www.douwestudios.com.

About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 9 through March 31. 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. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

About FTI Consulting
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 3,800 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 $1.56 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2011. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.

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

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Alvaro de Miranda and Show Show Top $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 11

March 22, 2013 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Alvaro de Miranda and Show Show. Photo © Sportfot.

Marshall and Amanda Lyerly Rise to the Occasion in Gold Coast Baby Green Hunters

Wellington, FL – March 20, 2013 – Week eleven of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by Artisan Farms, continued on Thursday with a one-two finish for Brazil in the $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 11. Alvaro de Miranda was the winner riding Show Show with Rodrigo Pessoa and HH Let’s Fly in second. Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Cornet d’Amour finished third.

Week eleven, featuring “AA” hunter and CSI 4* jumper competition, runs March 20-24. Highlights include the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m and George Morris Equitation Championship presented by Alessandro Albanese on Friday, the $100,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Final on Saturday night, and the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix, Don Little Masters Classic and $101,000 Pennfield Feeds CSI 4* Grand Prix all held on the derby field at The Stadium at PBIEC on Sunday.

Saturday night’s 1.50m final will be held at 7 p.m., not 8 p.m. as previously stated, due to entries. The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival features 12 weeks of competition running from January 9 – March 31, 2013, and will be awarding almost $7 million in prize money throughout the circuit.

Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England, is the course designer in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center for week eleven. In Thursday’s WEF Challenge Cup class, Jeffery saw 70 entries and 12 clear trips over the first round course. Eleven of those entries returned for the jump-off, and six of those jumped double clear. Alvaro de Miranda and RD Jumper Higher Ltd.’s Show Show had the fastest round of 35.34 seconds for the victory. Rodrigo Pessoa and Double H Farm’s HH Let’s Fly finished in 37.58 seconds to place second. Third place honors went to Germany’s Daniel Deusser with his time of 37.80 seconds aboard Cornet d’Amour, owned by Stephex Stables and Pedro Veniss.

De Miranda and Show Show, an eleven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Darco x Royal Fleu, have had many top finishes in the last eleven weeks of competition in Wellington, but this was their first win. The rider went home to Brazil last week and gave his horses the week off to rest. He just arrived back on Thursday morning.

“It feels very good to win,” the rider smiled. “I think it was very important that I gave my horses a rest last week. I felt my horse jumping really good today. He did last weekend and he was clear and then had two or three down (in the jump-off) and he felt really empty. He needed a little bit of air, so we gave him the week and put him out a lot in the paddock.”

“The jump-off was very good,” he continued. “I gave everything that I could. I didn’t see Daniel, but normally he is very fast and I was surprised to see that I was almost two seconds faster than him. Also especially to have me and Rodrigo one and two is good. It is very tough to win here and finally I got my first win, so I am very happy.”

Show Show is a horse that was purchased from fellow Brazilian rider Carlos Ribas. De Miranda explained that the horse had jumped a lot of clear rounds, but was not used to going fast and often had time faults.

“Normally I like to gallop my horse, so at the beginning I was shocking him a little bit,” he explained. “That is why sometimes the jump-offs are difficult for him because he doesn’t look by himself for the fence. Sometimes I have a very good first round and then one down in the jump-off, but normally when he is clear, he is in the top three. He is learning a lot, and he is a super brave horse. He is a very special horse and I am very proud of him.”

De Miranda’s wife, Athina Onassis de Miranda of Greece, was the first competitor to clear the short course without fault and finished sixth aboard Camille Z, owned by the rider and Victory Equestrian. De Miranda was also very proud of her.

“Athina was super,” he smiled. “She has been training with George Morris now for three weeks and I am very happy because I think it fits perfectly. We always admired him a lot, the great job that he did with the American team here as a trainer and as the first man of the team. We are really lucky to have the possibility of him coaching us. He started now with Athina and I am going to have his help also. We are trying to see if he can be with us as much as he can for the next four years.”

De Miranda also feels that he and his wife as well as their horses have all improved throughout the last eleven weeks with the ability to show so much.

“I think we have progressed a lot over the circuit,” he said. “You have so many rings. Normally we can never go with all of the horses to one show and here it was good to have all of the horses together. You are able to jump the young horses in a class in one ring and then another here in the big ring. I think especially for Athina it was very good because she is progressing a lot. She is riding a lot of horses. I think twelve weeks here is like six months in Europe. You have the possibility to show so much. The time is always very short and that is one of the things that Athina needs to improve. It has been very important for her to be here because she can work on exactly what she needs to improve.”

Along with his winning prize money, De Miranda was also presented with a special rider’s bonus for the SSG “Go Clean for the Green” promotion. A $3,000 bonus is offered each week if the winning rider of the Challenge Cup class is wearing the SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.

Also showing on Thursday, Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca and Zoe II won the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class.

Marshall and Amanda Lyerly Rise to the Occasion in Gold Coast Baby Green Hunters

Third time was a charm for Marshall and Amanda Lyerly in the Gold Coast Baby Green Hunter division at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Week eleven marks the third time the pair has competed together and their first time earning championship honors for the division. Lyerly piloted Marshall to first place under saddle and consistently strong over fences rounds, jumping to third, first, and two second place ribbons.

Reserve championship honors went to Champagne, ridden by Ryan Roy and owned by Leigh Stewart. Champagne and Roy were third under saddle and won two of four over fences rounds, earning third place ribbons for their final two courses.

LyerlyMarshall — *Marshall and Amanda Lyerly. Photo © Anne Gittins Photography*

Lyerly and Marshall also collected two reserve championship titles the last two weeks of the FTI WEF. Marshall may have just started his show career, but he is clearly off to a promising start. The six-year-old Warmblood gelding is owned and trained by Jay Golding of Gordonsville, VA. Lyerly, based in Gates Mills, OH, is pleased with the gelding’s adjustment to life as a show horse.

“I rode him a little bit down here [at the FTI WEF] last year. He had just started jumping and he didn’t show. This is his third week showing. He’s still new to it all, but he’s very mellow and brave. He’s almost ready to do something bigger, I think. He’s got a great brain and is very quiet,” Lyerly commented.

Marshall’s calm and collected demeanor was especially evident among a large class of green horses, many of whom became distracted or nervous in the surroundings of the busy Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).

“For his experience level, he’s very consistent. He started that way. He knows his job and nothing ever really fazes him,” Lyerly explained. “Once in a while, he’ll be a little distracted by someone driving by, but he really is a quick learner.”

In addition to his easygoing attitude, Lyerly described Marshall’s striking movement as his biggest strength in the show ring. “He has a beautiful canter between the jumps and is very elegant looking,” she stated.

The future is bright for Marshall and Lyerly, who hopes to keep their winning strike alive next week in the FTI WEF’s final week of competition. “He’ll show [week twelve] and maybe move up to the 3′ next week. I think he’s getting a little bored in the 2’6″,” Lyerly revealed.

Marshall’s competition schedule after the FTI WEF is up in the air, as owner Jay Golding hopes to find a new home for the promising young prospect. Golding focuses on sales of young horses, but is also eager to move Marshall up to the Pre-Green 3′ divisions.

Week eleven of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Artisan Farms, continues Friday with the Ariat Adult National Medal, hosted in the Rost Arena of the PBIEC. The $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m and George Morris Equitation Championship presented by Alessandro Albanese will be featured in the International Arena. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

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

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

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

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Lauren Hough and Ohlala Win $33,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m

March 21, 2013 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Lauren Hough and Ohlala. Photo © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 20, 2013 – Week eleven of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by Artisan Farms, featured the $33,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m speed class on Wednesday with a win for Lauren Hough (USA) and Ohlala. Earning points on the Longines FEI world ranking list, the pair beat Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Solerina, Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Wang Chung M2S, and McLain Ward (USA) and Zhum CW, all within nine one-hundredths of a second separating them.

Week eleven, featuring “AA” hunter and CSI 4* jumper competition, runs March 20-24. Highlights include the $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 11 on Thursday, the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m and George Morris Equitation Championship presented by Alessandro Albanese on Friday, the $100,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic Final on Saturday, and the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix, Don Little Masters Classic and $101,000 Pennfield Feeds CSI 4* Grand Prix all held on the derby field at The Stadium at PBIEC on Sunday.

Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England, is the course designer in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center for week eleven. In Wednesday’s $33,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m, 37 entries contested Jeffery’s speed track with 14 clear rounds. Lauren Hough and The Ohlala Group’s Ohlala were the winners in 61.88 seconds. Just behind, Shane Sweetnam and Sweet Oak and Spy Coast Farm’s Solerina finished second in 61.91 seconds. Eric Lamaze and Wang Chung M2S, owned by Morningside Stud and Torrey Pines Stable, finished third in 61.94 seconds. McLain Ward and Zhum CW, owned by Ilan Ferder and Missy Clark, were right there in fourth with their time of 61.97 seconds.

“She is obviously naturally very fast,” Hough said of the winning Ohlala, a ten-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare by Orlando x Cardento. “Leaving strides out isn’t normally the way I win; she is just quick across the ground. I made a few last minute adjustments. I wouldn’t say I gave her the best ride today, but she certainly helped me out. She doesn’t like to hit the fences and she enjoys winning, so she makes my job pretty easy.”

“I thought it was a good course today,” Hough stated. “There were a few good turns and I thought he did a nice job. It was a solid 1.45m.”

Commenting on her round, Hough explained, “I really have to stick with my plan. You don’t really end up doing the same number of strides as everybody else, but I did see Eric go. The top three or four were all very close, so I think it was just my lucky day.”

“She is good at everything to be honest,” Hough praised. “She is good indoors; she is good outdoors. I wouldn’t say that there is a particular track that suits her best. She just likes to win.”

Also showing on Wednesday, Wilton Porter and Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Radio City won the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m jump-off class. In the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off, Manuel Espinosa riding Luis Garcia’s Zippo CG and Laura Chapot aboard Mary Chapot’s Umberto were both winners in a split class.

Week eleven of the FTI WEF will continue on Thursday with the $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 11 in the International Arena at 1 p.m. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

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

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

Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Eirin Bruheim Showcases New Mounts for Nordic Lights Farm during WEF X

March 20, 2013 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Eirin Bruheim and NLF Newsflash competed in the Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers during WEF X. Photo By: Morgan German.

Wellington, FL – March 19, 2013 – Amateur rider Eirin Bruheim is continuing to shine for her home country of Norway aboard her new mounts NLF Billy On Show and NLF Newsflash during Week 10 of the prestigious Winter Equestrian Festival. This week, she advanced NLF Billy On Show to the High Amateur-Owner division, resulting in a third place ribbon, while NLF Newsflash picked up the second place award in the Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers.

Bruheim and NLF Billy On Show were right on point for their first day in the RCG Farm High Amateur-Owner Jumpers. The pair was quick and clear over the technical speed track to eventually claim the third place award. Later in the week, they competed in the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Farm High Amateur-Owner Classic. Bruheim and NLF Billy On Show were excellent over the course and accrued just eight faults at the final fences to finish just outside of the ribbons.

During Week 10, Bruheim and NLF Newsflash returned the Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers. They started the week with a sixth place ribbon in the first class. A clear round in the second class helped them move up to the second place position in the speed class, finishing just 2/100ths of a second off of the leader.

“This was a really good week for my horses,” noted Bruheim. “This week Billy and I moved up to the High Amateur-Owners and he jumped really well. NLF Newsflash was phenomenal as well, and was really fast in the speed class this week. I was so glad they put the classics in the International ring. My horses love that ring and jumped amazingly.”

Nordic Lights Farm will continue showing at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Bruheim and Hough will compete in the jumper divisions with their talented mounts, and Pletcher will return to the derby ring with NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm.

Nordic Lights Farm is a 70-acre establishment located in Tomball, TX, that was founded in 2007 by the Bruheim family to help further the equestrian goals of 20-year-old Eirin Bruheim and 18-year-old Lene Bruheim. Both girls have worked their way up through the ranks and are currently competing at the top levels in the hunter and jumper divisions aboard their incredible string of horses.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Hunter/Equitation

Caitlin Boyle Produces Leading Equitation Results at Winter Equestrian Festival

March 19, 2013 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Caitlin Boyle and Loredo competing the equitation at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Photos: SportFot.

Wellington, FL – March 19, 2013 – Any rider competing in equitation for his or her first time at the Winter Equestrian Festival would likely be happy to get one win or a few good ribbons, but in her first WEF appearance, sixteen-year-old Caitlin has been unstoppable. In the past three weeks alone, Caitlin’s remarkably consistent accomplishments have included:

Back-to-back overall wins in the WIHS Equitation classes, with scores in the 90s in both the hunter and jumper phases of the class.
A first place finish in the extremely competitive ASPCA Maclay class during week seven and an impressive second place in the same class the very next week.
Breaking the top five in the WIHS national standings.

And those top finishes just scratch the surface of Caitlin’s achievements this circuit. She’s continually been in the highest ribbons nearly every time out in nearly every equitation class she enters. Be it the Maclay, WIHS Equitation or the Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal classes, Caitlin has risen to the top.

“The first couple of weeks she got her feet wet, and then she just kind of lit it on fire,” father and trainer Patrick Boyle shared excitedly. “She’s just been so consistent and riding so solidly; it’s been really fun. There have been little mistakes here and there, but it’s just been like every class, every day – solid.”

Success like Caitlin’s does not just happen overnight. It takes the right horse, the right trainer, a little bit of luck and an overwhelming amount of hard work, patience and dedication.

“Caitlin received a solid foundation in the principles of good riding from her Chicago based trainer, Kim Gardiner,” relates Katie Kappler, a trainer at Messenger Hill Farm who is assisting father Patrick with Caitlin’s WEF coaching.

“She started knocking at the door with a ribbon at regionals and a callback at the Maclay Finals.” Kappler continued, “All the building blocks were there. She had the instincts, she had the training, and she was willing to put the work in. She just needed for everything to fall into place and it would be a perfect storm and she would be unstoppable. Chance favors a prepared mind.”

The right horse came in the form of Loredo, a 17.2 hand warmblood, with whom Caitlin shares a special bond, and competed with the 2012 Pessoa USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals and the 2012 ASPCA Maclay Finals. “She’s the kind of kid that every animal loves. No matter what she rides they just seem to bond with her, but this horse and her – they are the perfect match,” Patrick explained. “He will do anything for her, and she trusts him with everything.”

In the ring, Loredo makes Caitlin work hard to deliver their winning rounds. Outside of the ring, the horse could be mistaken as an oversize family pet. “He makes her ride. He’s not push button, and you’ve got to do your homework on him,” Patrick explained. “She gets him prepared well, and he just loves her. You should see these two. She’ll sit in the stall and do her homework, and he’s sitting there with his head up on her lap. It’s goofy and hysterical.”

Caitlin doesn’t have to go far to find the other part of her winning team. As owner of Showplace Productions and with an extensive equestrian background, her father Patrick has trained her extensively and helped her to move up the ranks to where she is today. Like Caitlin and Loredo’s, the bond she shares with her dad is a special one.

“We’ve got the best relationship,” Patrick said. “This is something that I know how to do, but with your daughter it’s different. It just seems like it’s never been an issue though. It’s perfect. We thrive off of each other and just have fun.”

Patrick admits to being intense and competitive, but that’s also what makes the relationship dynamic work so well and what keeps Caitlin striving to do even better. She loves the challenge, and there’s no bar or hurdle that her dad puts down that Caitlin hasn’t soared over.

“In the jumpers, I’ll say things like ‘well, you’re not going to go as fast as that one. I’ll be happy for third.’ She’ll say ‘what are you talking about? We can beat that!'” Patrick joked. “I think from day one when she was like eight, that she’s just thrived on that challenge. It’s a cool thing to watch. She’s just really taken it to a whole other level confidence wise.”

Caitlin’s confidence is the kind that comes after hours and hours of hard work put in to her riding and knowing that with dedication she can be a force to be reckoned with. Caitlin balances school and riding, and every day she can be found in their barn in Illinois, riding as many horses as she can, striving to be better.

“The hard work is finally paying off. She’s been working her butt off for years to get to this level. It’s one of those things where it just kind of turns a corner and it all comes together,” Patrick concluded.

Caitlin’s equitation placings have earned her a slot in the George Morris Excellence of Equitation class during WEF 11. Caitlin’s goal is to win the class before returning home to Chicago to prepare for the summer show season.

Emily Riden for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Eiken Sato and Espyrante Succeed in $82,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3*

March 17, 2013 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Eiken Sato and Espyrante. Photo © Sportfot.

Walk the Line and Lillie Keenan Victorious in Antarés Large Junior 16-17 Hunters

Wellington, FL – March 16, 2013 – Japan’s Eiken Sato and Espyrante jumped to victory in the $82,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* on Saturday night during another exciting evening of international competition for week ten at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). In a jump-off of seven nations, Sato beat out riders from Great Britain, Ireland, Venezuela, Germany, Greece and the United States for his first big win at the Pam Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).

Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany set the course for Saturday night’s Grand Prix with 40 entries competing at night under the lights. Ten riders representing seven different countries qualified for the jump-off and four went double clear over the short course.

Seventh to go, Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios and Zara Leandra, owned by the ZL Group Inc., were the first pair to jump the short course without fault and finished fourth with their time of 48.27 seconds. Up next, Great Britain’s Ben Maher and Jane Clark’s Urico cleared the course in 44.27 seconds to briefly take the lead. They were pushed into second by Japan’s Eiken Sato and Stephex Stables’ Espyrante, who stopped the clock in 42.79 seconds for the win. Last to go, Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and Eregast Van’t Kiezelhof, owned by Spy Coast Farm LLC, finished clear in 47.61 seconds to take the third place prize.

Sato, 27, has lived in Belgium for nine years and began riding for Stephex Stables two years ago. His mount, Espyrante, is a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Obourg x Pauillac De Meia Lua that they got last year.

“My horse always jumps well,” Sato praised after his win. “Tonight she was amazing and I’m really happy. Last week Daniel Deusser won the Grand Prix, and this week I won one. We won for our stable two weeks in a row and this is my first Grand Prix that I have won in Palm Beach, so I am really happy.”

Describing Espyrante, Sato detailed, “She’s a really strong mare and actually nobody liked her at first. I tried working with her and she won the Grand Prix, so you never know. Only the horse can know.”

Sato went after a very fast round from Ben Maher and Urico and explained that he did watch them go, but trusted his horse’s ability to be faster.

“To be honest, I saw, but I tried not to see because he is such a fast rider,” Sato laughed. “The end I saw. My horse is naturally really fast, so I knew I needed to take risks, but I trust my horse and she did a fantastic job.”

Maher commented on his round with Urico, noting, “I was very happy. He felt back to himself tonight. He felt confident. The jump-off was one of those jump-offs again with a lot of riders knocking fences down, so I tried to beat the ones in front of me tonight, not the ones that were after me. I took a risk and it did not pay off tonight, but I could not be happier. He was fantastic and I would never complain about being second in a Grand Prix, especially to a great rider.”

Shane Sweetnam was showing his mount Eregast in the horse’s first Grand Prix as well as his first night class. Although the horse was a little green in the ring, Sweetnam was very happy with his performance.

“It’s his first Grand Prix of any sort. It’s his first Grand Prix here and WEF was his first 1.45m and last week was his first 1.50m,” Sweetnam emphasized. “Honestly, he wasn’t meant to be rushed as quickly, but with Siri getting injured, he had to step up and he has done a great job.”

“He is a very talented horse,” Sweetnam said. “He was very green in the jump-off. I wish I could have gone quicker because he can be a very fast horse, but the music and the crowd and everything was making him fairly high-strung. I was very, very happy with him. For the experience he has, he did unbelievable. I have very high hopes for him.”

Sweetnam commented on the course, stating, “I thought Olaf has always done a great job. As far as a going number of ten tonight in the jump-off, it made a very interesting jump-off with not so many clears. I think the second round the horses were a little tired, but I think he did a great job.”

Sato added, “I did the course walk for the first round and I thought there would be ten or twelve clear. In the jump-off there weren’t too many clear, but it was a fantastic course for the jump-off and it was really fun.”

Maher shared his opinion as well, noting, “It was a very different course. It was a lot more twisty and turny tonight. Not typically a course for here, but it was nice and different for the horses. It was good to see not big jumps, but a big course, take its toll with faults all over the place, which is a sign of a good Grand Prix.”

Walk the Line and Lillie Keenan Victorious in Antarés Large Junior 16-17 Hunters

Walk the Line and Lillie Keenan clinched the championship title in the Antarés Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division during week 10 of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Keenan and Walk the Line were a force to be reckoned with over fences, winning three of four over fences rounds. Keenan and Don Stewart’s fourteen-year-old gelding were also fourth over fences during day one of competition for the division.

Reserve champion honors went to Norgan, Inc.’s Capstone, ridden by Sydney Shulman. Shulman and Capstone were third and first over fences day one and placed third day two in all three classes, including an under saddle and two over fences rounds.

The owner-rider champion was Perfectionist and Cloe Hymowitz. Hymowitz also picked up reserve owner-rider honors with Garfield, co-owned by Alexandra Crown.

Keenan is currently at the top of the circuit championship standings with her other Large Junior mount, Madison, but considers Walk the Line to be equally as talented. “Madison tends to win the hacks, but Walk the Line has a very striking jump. When he goes over the fence, it almost makes you open your eyes a little more. There’s a ‘wow’ factor to how he goes over each fence,” Keenan described.

“I’m very lucky because both of my Large Juniors are very fancy,” Keenan continued. “Both of them are a lot of fun to ride. They have a lot of similarities, but are still quite different. Walk the Line is a little quirky, but I like that about him. I think we match really well.”

While Keenan dominates junior divisions in hunters, jumpers, and equitation classes on a number of competitive mounts, she especially appreciates Walk the Line’s desire to be the best. “I know that every time he goes in the ring he wants to win. All of my horses are like that but it is especially true for him. It’s nice to know that every time you go in the ring, he wants to do well,” Keenan commented.

Keenan is quick to credit the gelding’s success to the exceptional support she receives from owner Don Stewart’s daughter, Erin. “Don is in Ocala right now and I go back to school every week. Erin does a wonderful job with him during the week. She comes to the ring and helps me with him, along with everyone at Heritage [Farm],” Keenan remarked.

Keenan juggles her time between attending the Spence School in her native New York City and competing at the FTI WEF every weekend in Wellington, a feat that she realizes would not be possible without the incredible support system she is surrounded by.

“I care a lot about my schoolwork and my grades. I’m expected to do really well by my family and I expect it of myself,” the fifteen-year-old explained.

“It’s definitely difficult but I’m very lucky. My family makes sure that I have all the opportunity to come [to Florida] every week and my school is wonderful about letting me miss Fridays. Heritage is amazing at making sure when I come back from school the horses are ready. Without everyone’s help – and it’s a lot of help – this would not be possible,” Keenan acknowledged.

Hunter competition for week ten of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Horseware Ireland, concludes Sunday with the Autism Speaks Children’s Large Pony Hunter, hosted in Ring 12 of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The $33,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic will complete the week in the International Arena. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

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

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

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

Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Ward, Products/Services, Show Jumping

Swail, Dobbs and Cook Claim Bonus Money in SSG Riding Gloves Promotion

March 17, 2013 Associate Editor Leave a comment

SSG Gloves presents Conor Swail with a $3,000 bonus after winning the $33,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round X. Photos – Sportfot.

Wellington, Florida – Conor Swail, Kalvin Dobbs and Annie Cook were all winners in the SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion during Week 10 of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

Ireland’s Conor Swail was the first winner of the week, topping a 64-horse starting field in the $33,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 10 riding Martha Louise on Thursday, March 14. For wearing SSG ‘Digitals’ on his way to victory, the Irishman picked up a $3,000 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves.

“I think it’s very good; it certainly gets people wearing them,” said Swail of the SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion. “It gets good coverage and gets a lot of mentions as well, so it’s a very good idea. All of the SSG gloves are very good; I also like the ‘All Weather’ style. The gloves are great quality, and I’ll definitely stay wearing them.”

Kalvin Dobbs, mounted on Winde, won $2,000 in bonus money after winning the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic — *Kalvin Dobbs won $2,000 in bonus money after winning the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic*

On Saturday morning, 17-year-old Kalvin Dobbs picked up $2,000 in bonus money after winning the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic. All three riders that advanced to the jump-off round were wearing SSG ‘Digitals’, ensuring that the bonus money would be awarded. Dobbs of Carmel, Indiana, guided Winde to the only double clear effort to take the win, the overall High Junior Jumper Championship title, and the $2,000 bonus which had doubled, having not been awarded during week nine.

“I love it; it’s really nice,” said Dobbs of the SSG promotion. “It gives us something to aim towards, it’s really fun, and it jazzes up these classes for us. It’s awesome!”

Dobbs, who also competes in the equitation divisions, was already a fan of SSG Riding Gloves, noting, “I also love the SSG ‘Technical’ gloves and I ride in those at home. I like to wear the ‘Digitals’ for the jumpers; they have really good grip.”

Annie Cook was the third winner of the week, also picking up a $2,000 bonus after winning the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Classic. Hailing from Woodside, California, Cook posted the winning jump-off time of 37.36 seconds riding her partner of three years, the grey mare Banba. Like Dobbs, Cook was already wearing SSG Gloves before she learned of the promotion.

*Annie Cook won $2,000 in bonus money after winning the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic*

“I think the promotion is awesome, and it’s a great way to get people to buy the gloves,” said Cook, a student at Yale who is showing at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival for the first time. “I love my gloves. They breathe and keep your hands cool, and have nice grip.”

SSG Riding Gloves offers a $3,000 bonus in each of the weekly WEF Challenge Cup Series events, as well as a $1,000 bonus in the Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic and the Junior Jumper High Classic competitions. If the winning rider in any of these three competitions is wearing SSG ‘Digital’ style gloves with the SSG horse head logo clearly visible, they will be presented with a cash bonus during the awards presentation. If not awarded, the bonus money carries forward to the next event in the series. A total of $60,000 in bonus money is on offer from SSG Riding Gloves at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.

SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves are available for purchase at numerous Wellington locations, including Tackeria, as well as on-site at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds at various retailers including Beval Saddlery, Hadfield’s Saddlery, Jods and Running Fox.

Please refer to the 2013 WEF Prize List for complete details. For further information, contact Jennifer Ward, Starting Gate Communications, at cell: 613 292-5439 or jward@startinggate.ca.

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Ben Maher and Quiet Easy 4 Take Top Prize in $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Speed

March 16, 2013 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Ben Maher and Quiet Easy 4. Photo © Sportfot.

Tim Gredley and Unex Valente Win $10,000 Puissance; Whitecap and Mary-Katherine Shaughnessy Triumph in Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51+ Division

Wellington, FL – March 15, 2013 – Week ten of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by Horseware Ireland, continued on Friday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) with a win for Great Britain’s Ben Maher and Quiet Easy 4 in the highlight $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class. In an exciting finish, Maher just edged out Canada’s Eric Lamaze and Wang Chung M2S for the win with Japan’s Eiken Sato and Viva finishing in third.

On Friday evening at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival at The Stadium at PBIEC, a fantastic $10,000 Puissance high jump competition was also featured along with the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle presented by Horseware Ireland. Great Britain’s Tim Gredley and Unex Valente and Germany’s Johannes Ehining and Salvador V went head to head over the ever-increasing wall with Gredley winning in four rounds at a final height of 6’11” (2.10m). Gredley then went on to attempt 7’6″ (2.31m).

Week ten’s FTI WEF competition runs March 13-17 featuring CSI 3* competition. Highlights include the $82,000 Horseware Ireland CSI 3* Grand Prix on Saturday and the $33,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday. The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival features 12 weeks of competition running from January 9 – March 31, 2013, and will be awarding almost $7 million in prize money throughout the circuit.

Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany set the speed track for Friday’s $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m class in the International Arena at PBIEC with 43 entries competing. Fifteen were able to clear the course without fault and the times got faster and faster as the list went on. In the end, Ben Maher and Mrs. Phillips’ Quiet Easy 4 won it with their time of 60.69 seconds. Eric Lamaze and Wang Chung M2S, owned by Morningside Stud and Torrey Pines Stables, were just behind in 60.92 seconds. Eiken Sato and Stephex Stables’ Viva finished third in 62.06 seconds. Meagan Nusz (USA) and Amalaya Investments’ Vesuvius were fourth in 62.62 seconds.

When Maher originally finished his round, the clock on the scoreboard showed that his time was slower than Lamaze, but a review by the judges determined that he was in fact faster.

“I landed after the last fence and I saw it was around 59 seconds and you obviously need to run a little bit to get to the timers, but then the clock said I was 61 seconds and I was sure it had run on a little,” Maher explained. “When I came out the judges were already discussing it. They said that it did run late and they went to the backup time, which was noticeably different, so luckily it worked out.”

With a busy schedule showing in other rings, Maher did not get to watch the beginning of the class, but showed up just in time to see Lamaze’s round.

“These classes you just do what you can and know what you can’t do it,” he noted. “I had some other horses going in another ring, but luckily I watched Eric just before I went, so I knew I had to kind of do the same as him and take time off where I knew I could. He was quick places that I knew I couldn’t be, so I just did my own thing and Quiet Easy jumped fantastic today. He was great from the first fence. He warmed up well, so I thought we had a good chance.”

“It was a good course,” Maher stated. “It had a lot more turns today and a little bit more options of how tight you wanted to go and to turn, so that suited my horse. I think I was pretty quick one, two, three, but it was all within less than a second, so I don’t think we really got it any place in particular. He was just quick the whole way.”

Quiet Easy’s barn name, Roary, is quite fitting. Owner Emma Phillips was in Wellington today to watch his winning round and explained that he is named after the British cartoon, Roary the Racing Car, about a young, energetic red race car. Phillips was pleased to be in town to see her horse earn a great win.

“It was special for us because we just flew in this weekend,” she smiled. “We have been here before over the years, but not for this season, so it was really nice to be able to see him win. It was nice for my husband too because he never sees him win.”

Maher laughed, “Every time Mr. Phillips comes, they always knock a jump down, so finally they won a class.”

I haven’t seen them for such a long time and then they arrive and the horse wins, so it could not have worked out any better,” Maher acknowledged. “He has been great. He loves Florida and he has had some great results. We’ll save him for the last two 1.50m classes now.”

Tim Gredley and Unex Valente Jump Great Heights in $10,000 Puissance

The $10,000 Puissance high jump competition was held on Friday evening at The Stadium at PBIEC prior to the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle presented by Horseware Ireland for the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Great Britain’s Tim Gredley and Unex Valente and Germany’s Johannes Ehning and Salvador V went head to head over the wall in four rounds of competition with Gredley winning at a final height of 6’11” (2.10m).

Tim Gredley and Unex Valente jump 7'6". Photo © Sportfot — *Tim Gredley and Unex Valente jump 7’6″. Photo © Sportfot*

The competition was held as a fun exhibition with slightly modified rules. The two competitors were allotted up to five rounds (first round and four jump-offs) with two attempts at the wall in each round if necessary. The wall began at 5’4″ (1.65m) in round one with both horses and riders jumping clear in one attempt. It then went up to 5’11” (1.85m) with two more clear rounds. In round three, Gredley and Valente cleared the 6’5″ (1.95m) wall on the first try and Ehning and Salvador took two attempts to jump the obstacle. Once the wall went up to 6’11” (2.10m) in round four, Gredley jumped clear, and Ehning opted to withdraw. Gredley earned the winning $7,000 for his effort and then, in an exciting twist, decided to jump higher.

Equestrian Sport Productions’ CEO Mark Bellissimo offered up $10,000 more if Gredley could clear the wall at 7’6″ (2.31m) or $5,000 just for attempting it. Gredley and Valente made two valiant efforts but rubbed the blocks off the top in both tries. They still came out of the day with $12,000 and a great experience.

Unex Valente, owned by Unex Competition Yard, is an eleven-year-old KWPN gelding by Gentleman x Sit This One Out that Gredley has had since the horse was four. The pair has a lot of grand prix experience together, but has only shown in one other Puissance, winning over 7′ and also attempting 7’6″ in Kentucky this past fall.

“I did the indoors in Washington and Harrisburg and Kentucky and I just thought I would try it once in Kentucky and straight away, the first round, he felt like he was going to be a good one,” Gredley stated. “This is only the second one that he has done, but both times he has just been unlucky at 7’6″. I know the horse; I have had him a long time and it makes a big difference when you can trust them a little bit.”

“He is really easy actually,” Gredley added. “Other horses that I have done in Puissance classes before, they normally start backing off, but he just keeps the same stride all the way down and he actually starts to take you, which makes it a lot easier. In hindsight, maybe I was a little bit off the first time. I was a little bit unlucky the second time, but he is just a really nice horse.”

Johannes Ehining’s mount Salvador V is a fourteen-year-old KWPN stallion by Calvados x Voltaire, owned by Nybor Pferde GmbH & Co. KG. The pair has had great grand prix success and this was their first time attempting the Puissance wall.

“For my horse, I rode him also once in a derby qualification in Hamburg and he is super brave, so I thought that maybe he could do it,” Ehning stated. “This was the first time, but I wanted to try it once with him. He is fourteen years old now; he has enough experience for that, so there was reason to try it once.”

“This is my best horse,” Ehning said. “In the last few years he has had a lot of good results in the grand prix. He has won four and five-star grand prix. I rode a few six-bars with him and he won a lot of those, so it was a good thing to try it here. That is also the reason that I didn’t go more rounds though, because he is my best horse and I didn’t want to over-ride him. Tim’s horse looked really comfortable with the wall and mine was really getting a little bit hot. I didn’t want to do too much with him.”

Both riders enjoyed coming to the dressage facility at The Stadium at PBIEC for a change of scenery for their horses and a new experience.

“It was really well organized, it was no problem at all,” Ehning noted. “We talked about getting to ride in the really nice indoor and this ring is also nice, so it is something different.”

Whitecap and Mary-Katherine Shaughnessy Triumph in Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51+ Division

*Whitecap and Mary-Katherine Shaughnessy. Photo © Anne Gittins Photography*

Mary-Katherine Shaughnessy and her sixteen-year-old Trakehner gelding, Whitecap, jumped to tricolor honors in the Camping World Adult Amateur Hunter 51+ Division during week ten of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). With the points widely spread across the division, Whitecap and Shaughnessy emerged as champions after consistent over fences performances. The pair was second and eighth over fences on day one of competition and first and eighth over fences on day two. Reserve champion was Sandra Epstein aboard her own Pembroke. Epstein piloted Pembroke to fourth and third places over fences on day one of competition.

At age 16, Whitecap is a seasoned veteran of the FTI WEF, where he has also competed in Junior and First and Second Year Hunter divisions before being purchased by Shaughnessy two years ago. “I think his age is an advantage. For me, I like the older ones. Before him, I had a hunter that was very spooky and unreliable and it took away from my ability to progress,” Shaughnessy commented.

Throughout the course of their partnership, Whitecap has yet to put a foot wrong for Shaughnessy in the ring. “He’s never stopped, knock on wood! He will find a way to get over it. We don’t have many bad jumps anymore, but the first year I had him there were a few more bumps. He always found a way to get over it. He’s just a very honest horse,” Shaughnessy explained.

Shaughnessy admits Whitecap can be bored by routine work at his age, but only because he revels being in the spotlight of competition. “He’s very sweet, but he has an ego. When we come to the show, there’s a 20% increase in his energy level! The show ring is where he wants to be,” she smiled.

“He’s a very talented horse. He excels being at a show. He perks up in the ring. When you see him at home he’s just a big chestnut with floppy ears. But when he’s all braided up, he looks very elegant in the show ring. He puffs up a bit,” Shaughnessy continued.

Shaughnessy believes Whitecap’s love for the show ring combined with a naturally correct way of going is what keeps them in the ribbons at a show as competitive as the FTI WEF. “He has a very nice rhythm and is naturally a beautiful mover. He has a very even and correct jump and he makes it easy for me to just guide him around and let him do his job,” Shaughnessy stated.

Shaughnessy also enjoys the camaraderie of Adult Amateur division. “We’re all still very competitive, otherwise we’d just be out trail riding somewhere instead of showing,” Shaughnessy laughed. “It adds something and a lot of us become good friends. It makes a nice difference. Maybe it’s just because we’re older and we realize we’re lucky to be here.”

Week ten of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Horseware Ireland, will continue Saturday with the Antarés Large Junior Hunter 16-17 division, hosted in the Rost Arena of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). The $82,000 Horseware Ireland CSI 3* Grand Prix will be featured in the International Arena at 7:30 p.m. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

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

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

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Conor Swail and Martha Louise Win $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 10

March 15, 2013 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Smiles and Havens Schatt Continue Winning Streak in Lucas Equine Equipment Performance Hunter 3’3″ Division

Wellington, FL – March 14, 2013 – Ireland’s Conor Swail and Chinook Valley, Inc.’s Martha Louise were victorious in Thursday’s $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 10 during week ten of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival’s (FTI WEF), sponsored by Horseware Ireland.

Week ten’s competition runs March 13-17 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) featuring CSI 3* competition. Highlights include the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m on Friday, the $82,000 Horseware Ireland CSI 3* Grand Prix on Saturday, and the $33,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday.

Tomorrow night’s exciting line-up of events at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival at The Stadium includes the $10,000 Head-to-Head Competition over the high jump “Puissance” wall at 6 pm, the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle presented by Horseware Ireland under the lights at 7:30 pm, and The Yale Spizzwinks (?) A Capella singing performances. General admission and parking are free, and there will be fantastic raffle prizes handed out to general admission seat holders. It will be a night of power and grace for equestrian sport that you won’t want to miss!

The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival features 12 weeks of competition running from January 9 – March 31, 2013, and will be awarding almost $7 million in prize money throughout the circuit.

Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany set the course in the International Arena for Thursday’s Challenge Cup class with 64 entries, 13 clear rounds to advance to the jump-off, and five double clear efforts over the short course. Conor Swail and Martha Louise, a nine-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare by Maloubet de Pleville 1039 x Wolfgang, had the leading time in 42.53 seconds.

Swail got Martha Louise last year and had a great season with many top placings, including wins in the Gijon and Dublin 5* shows in Europe. The mare is just starting up with her season this year and has not shown a lot yet, but proved to be back in form with a great win on Thursday.

“She kind of excelled herself today; she was just fantastic,” Swail smiled after the class. “She is a real good winner. She is a great horse to have on the truck and she is only nine years old. I have to say, she was very good today. I wasn’t really expecting her to be so good because she hasn’t been doing a lot and I thought she would be a bit rusty, but she was fantastic in the jump-off.”

Swail went second in the jump-off and had to beat a fast pace set down by Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star. He explained his strategy.

“I was quite lucky because Charlie was first and I was second,” Swail stated. “I watched him closely because he is a fast rider and also whenever the ring is dragged, there are no other tracks, only his, so when I was riding around I could see his tracks. He was tight. He was very good one to two, he was tight to three. He was also very tight to the white oxer, but then coming down to the double he went ten (strides) and I went eight. I think that is where I got him. I took the risk of having the vertical down. I was quite narrow going into the double and I think that is where it paid off.”

With a smaller class and some of the top horses taking a break after last week’s CSI 5* competition, Swail thought the class was a perfect way for Martha Louise to start the season.

“She is a very kind horse,” he said of the mare. “She has a big, slow canter, but she also has a lot of quality and good scope. She is really nice. She could be inexperienced at this level. Sometimes she can worry a bit off the jump and sometimes I can press too hard and don’t totally trust that she will do it, so that we have to smooth out a little, but apart from that she does a lot of great things.”

Charlie Jacobs (USA) and CMJ Sporthorse LLC’s Flaming Star finished second in 43.72 seconds. Lauren Tisbo (USA) and Tequestrian Farms LLC’s Roundthorn Madios were third in 44.47 seconds. Heather Caristo-Williams and M/M Ralph Caristo’s Evening Star placed fourth in 44.49 seconds. Fifth place honors went to Japan’s Taizo Sugitani and Yvonne Young’s Avenzio 3 with their time of 47.39 seconds.

Along with his winning prize money, Swail was also presented with a special rider’s bonus for the SSG “Go Clean for the Green” promotion. A $3,000 bonus is offered each week if the winning rider of the Challenge Cup class is wearing the SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.

Smiles and Havens Schatt Continue Winning Streak in Lucas Equine Equipment Performance Hunter 3’3″ Division

Havens Schatt and Smiles had plenty to grin about after earning championship honors in the Lucas Equine Equipment Performance Hunter 3’3″ division during week ten of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Schatt and Smiles, a ten-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Bruce Duchossois, bested the division with consistent performances over two days of competition. Day one, the pair won the under saddle and placed first and third over fences, followed by second and fourth place finishes on day two. Hayley Barnhill and Missy Luczak-Smith’s Surf’s Up were reserve champions after two blue ribbon finishes over fences on day two.

Schatt was eager to give Smiles a change of pace after he returned from some time away from the show ring. “He hasn’t shown for two weeks, so it was especially fun to show in a different ring,” Schatt admitted. “He’s never been in Ring 7 before, so he really had his ears up and we had a lot of fun with it.”

*Havens Schatt and Smiles. Photo © Anne Gittins Photography*

Schatt enjoyed the opportunity to ride one of her more mature mounts in a new environment. “Ring 7 can be hard because of the jumper horses being nearby. Today’s classes followed the Pre-Greens, so the courses were simple, but built very nicely. I deal with a lot of younger horses and so it was nice to be on an older horse that you know will be good in a new venue,” Schatt explained.

“I’ve been riding Smiles for about a year and a half, and he’s been a pleasure throughout,” she continued. “He does anything you ask him to do in any ring you ask him to do it in. He’s a very easygoing dude,” Schatt smiled.

While Schatt is no stranger to the winner’s circle with her talented string of hunter mounts, she especially appreciates her close bond with Smiles. “I know him really well and I know every time I get on him exactly what I have, which isn’t always the case with the young ones. He’s very consistent, which is really nice,” Schatt described.

Schatt and Smiles are currently in first place in the FTI WEF circuit championship standings for the division. Schatt credits their success to Smiles’ striking presentation and remarkable natural talent. “He’s bigger and he’s all chestnut, so he’s very elegant and stands out a little bit. He always jumps the same with great follow-through behind. He jumps as well behind as he does in front. He can jump high with so much ease, has beautiful movement across the ground, and you don’t have to pull on his mouth. He gets in one rhythm where everything just happens,” Schatt concluded.

Schatt will continue to ride Smiles for the duration of the FTI WEF in addition to owner Duchossois, who will return to the Amateur-Owner 3’3″ divisions with Smiles during week eleven of the FTI WEF. Week ten, sponsored by Horseware Ireland, will continue Friday when the Camping World Adult Hunter 51 & Over Section A names its champion in the Gene Mische Grand Hunter Arena. The $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m will be featured in the International Arena during the day and the $35,000 G&C Farm Puissance will be held at The Stadium at PBIEC in the evening. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

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

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

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

Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group

Charlie Jacobs Jr. and Happy Endings Farm Enjoy Success in the Show Ring and Fun in the Sun

March 14, 2013 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Charlie Jacobs Jr. guides Ranier to the Children’s 14 & Under Hunter Reserve Championship. Photo By: Parker/Russell – The Book LLC.

Wellington, FL – March 13, 2013 – The Children’s 14 & Under Hunter division is extremely competitive, but so are Charlie Jacobs, Jr. and Ranier. During week nine of the Winter Equestrian Festival, the pair topped the large, split classes of top horses and young riders to claim the reserve championship award for Happy Endings Farm.

Jacobs earned two red second place ribbons and a winning blue over the courses in Ring Seven, tallying enough points to earn him the tricolor award. In the Large Children’s Hunter Pony division, it was Maggie Robinson’s turn to shine. Robinson competed aboard Taschereau and Shenendoah Oasis, both owned by K. J. Robinson, LLC, earning ribbons on both mounts.

*Happy Endings Farm ventures away from the barn and on an exciting weekend trail ride*

When not delivering impressive rounds in the show ring, Jacobs, Robinson and their Happy Endings Farm barnmates enjoy time in the saddle away from the ring. This weekend Happy Endings’ youthful riders took to the trails for a gorgeous afternoon trail ride. At the end of the trail, the children were rewarded with ice cream sundaes to celebrate the week, and a fantastic season so far. The following day it was off to Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, FL, for a Sunday polo lesson where the boys had a blast swinging their mallets and cantering the polo ponies.

“My approach to training involves building a relationship between the riders and their horses/ponies that is built upon trust and appreciation,” Smith-Faver stated. “I try to incorporate all kinds of activities within our program that do not involve horse show competition.”

Smith-Faver continued, “I don’t think any child or adult should be significantly influenced by one judge’s opinion, on one particular day, at any given horse show concerning their round. Although we are having a very successful WEF this year I think both the kids and adults should remember why they are doing this in the first place — it is supposed to be fun!”

*Sunday polo practice with the children from Happy Endings Farm*

Happy Endings Farm will show at the Winter Equestrian Festival throughout the 12-week series, and then will travel north for the summer shows. To stay up to date with Linda Smith-Faver and Happy Endings Farm, follow them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HappyEndingsFarm?ref=ts&fref=ts. You can also visit their Web site at http://www.happyendingsfarm.com/.

Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

Media Contact: Mason Phelps
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389 fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Horses in the South – An Equine News Publisher

Tag Archives: Winter Equestrian Festival

See World-Class Art at the Winter Equestrian Festival

Alvaro de Miranda and Show Show Top $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 11

Lauren Hough and Ohlala Win $33,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m

Eirin Bruheim Showcases New Mounts for Nordic Lights Farm during WEF X

Caitlin Boyle Produces Leading Equitation Results at Winter Equestrian Festival

Eiken Sato and Espyrante Succeed in $82,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3*

Swail, Dobbs and Cook Claim Bonus Money in SSG Riding Gloves Promotion

Ben Maher and Quiet Easy 4 Take Top Prize in $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Speed

Conor Swail and Martha Louise Win $33,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 10

Charlie Jacobs Jr. and Happy Endings Farm Enjoy Success in the Show Ring and Fun in the Sun

Your Southern Source for Everything Horse