February 17, 2013 – Wellington, Florida – For the second time this year, Jessica Springsteen rode away with the bonus money in the SSG Riding Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.
Having already been a winner during week four, Springsteen was again triumphant in week six’s $15,000 SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Wearing her SSG ‘Digitals’, Springsteen picked up a $2,000 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves.
From a starting field of 42 entries, 10 advanced to the jump-off. Of those, nine were wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Gloves to be eligible for the bonus money. Springsteen qualified two horses for the jump-off, Vindicat W and Wish, with Vindicat W posting the winning time of 40.29 seconds.
“I’ve used SSG gloves forever,” said Springsteen of Colts Neck, NJ, who was cheered on to victory by her parents, Bruce and Patti Springsteen. “These are the gloves that I always wear. The promotion is such a great idea. We were just talking last night at dinner about how exciting it is when the bonus money builds. It’s so fun!”
While Wish was Springsteen’s winning mount during week four, this time it was Vindicat W’s turn to step into the spotlight. Part of the 2012 Olympic team gold medal effort for Great Britain under Peter Charles, the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding joined Springsteen’s stable last fall.
A junior at Duke University, Springsteen, 21, commutes to Florida each Thursday night, returning to school in Durham, NC, on Sundays. While she has not yet decided how she will spend her latest $2,000 bonus, she used her SSG bonus money from week four to buy a new puppy, explaining, “For a long time, I’ve wanted a puppy that could travel with me.” She now has a traveling companion in Bean, a Bichon/Yorkie-cross.
Lauren Tyree is presented with a $1,000 bonus winning the High Junior Jumper Classic at the WEF
In the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic, four of the five riders that advanced to the jump-off were wearing SSG ‘Digitals’ to be eligible for the bonus money. The first challenger proved to be the best, with Lauren Tyree of Chicago, IL, posting a time of 39.54 seconds that no one else could catch.
“I think it’s awesome!” said Tyree, 17, of the SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion. “It’s a great way for the riders to support SSG. I bought my gloves as soon as I heard about it.”
Tyree began riding her winning mount, Audi’s Top Secret, at the beginning of the 2013 season when she stepped up to the High Junior Jumper division. By week six, she picked up the Junior Jumper Championship title, along with a $1,000 bonus from SSG Gloves.
“He’s quirky, but he’s very sweet,” said Tyree of the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. “He comes out the same every day, and he knows where all the rails are!”
While Springsteen and Tyree were both winners during week six, the bonus money has continued to build in the WEF Challenge Series. For week seven’s $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round V, an $18,000 bonus will be on the line! The bonus money has not been awarded since the first week of competition when Rodrigo Pessoa took home a $3,000 bonus.
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.
Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439 www.startinggate.ca
Parkland and Lillie Keenan Are an Unstoppable Force in Small Junior 16-17 Hunters
Wellington, FL – February 16, 2013 – Two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden and Abigail Wexner’s Cortes ‘C’ were victorious on Saturday night in the $125,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix, CSI 3*-W presented by Spy Coast Farm, during week six of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) in Wellington, FL. Madden beat out an impressive roster of top riders and finished in first place over Katie Dinan (USA) and Nougat du Vallet and Shane Sweetnam (IRL) aboard Amaretto d’Arco, who finished second and third respectively.
Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge set the track for 46 entries in Saturday night’s grand prix with nine jumping clear to advance to the jump-off. Four were able to complete the short course without fault, with the fastest time of 41.50 seconds belonging to Beezie Madden and Cortes ‘C’ took top prize.
Margie Engle (USA) and Elm Rock, LLC’s Royce were first to clear the jump-off course in 45.69 seconds and eventually placed fourth. Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm, LLC’s Amaretto d’Arco cleared the jump-off track in 42.56 seconds to place third. Up next, Katie Dinan and Grant Road Partners, LLC’s Nougat du Vallet upped the ante with their time of 41.84 seconds to place second. They were immediately followed by an even faster clear round from Beezie Madden and Cortes ‘C’ in the winning 41.50 seconds. Week four grand prix winners Ben Maher and Jane Clark’s Cella had the fastest time of the night in 40.46 seconds, but had one rail down in the short course to place fifth.
Spy Coast Farm owners Robert and Lisa Lourie were thrilled with the success of the evening and the great class along with a third place finish for their horse and rider. Lisa Lourie commented, “I think it was an extremely exciting grand prix. It was very competitive and you could not have asked for a better lineup for the jump-off. It was a world-class event and we were happy to be a part of that jump-off. As they say, anytime you lose to Beezie when she is riding at her best, that is not a bad thing. We are very pleased with how it went and very happy to do it.”
Madden’s winning mount for the evening, Cortes ‘C’, is an eleven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Randel Z x Darco that Madden has now had for three years. Madden describes Cortes as a horse with fantastic ability. “He can jump the moon,” Madden stated. “He’s a bit of an internal worrier and I think he is just starting to come into his own. If he can relax like he did tonight under the lights in a big atmosphere I think he’s going to be fantastic.”
This was the first big grand prix of the year for Cortes and Madden was happy with his performance. “He felt fantastic,” she smiled. “Last year he was a little inexperienced under the lights and he was very tense when he came up here each time. This time he started out very relaxed and he felt terrific.”
“He felt very relaxed in the first round; very rideable and jumping well,” Madden continued. “I saw Katie go right before me. I was lucky to go right behind her so I could see how fast she went, so the strategy became try to pull out all the shots you can and it worked.”
In addition to the grand prix win, Madden was named the Leading Lady Jumper Rider, an award presented by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler.
“I’d just like to thank Spy Coast and the Louries,” Madden said. “They are great enthusiasts of the sport and without people like them we wouldn’t be here.”
Second place finisher, nineteen-year-old Katie Dinan, has grown up with Beezie Madden as a riding idol and was excited to finish in the top of the class with her. Dinan’s horse, Nougat du Vallet, jumped two great rounds as well. “He felt great,” Dinan smiled. “He jumped so well in the first round and we had a good school before the jump-off. I knew he wasn’t going to try to touch any of the jumps. It was just up to me to go fast. He can do most things for me, but I have to tell him when we need to go fast. He felt really good.”
Shane Sweetnam was pleased to finish in the top three for Spy Coast Farm with their top stallion Amaretto d’Arco, and had a great night.
“I was very happy with my horse tonight,” Sweetnam stated. “Obviously, the Spy Coast Grand Prix, I would have liked to have won it, but I was very happy. It is his first grand prix of the year and I’m just happy to be here.”
“Guilherme did a good job with the course,” Sweetnam said. “I think nine is a good number for clear rounds. No one got hung up anywhere, so for the young riders it was good experience for them as well as a good class for the public.”
Also showing in the International Arena on Saturday, Jessica Springsteen and Stone Hill Farm’s Vindicat W won the $15,000 RCG Farm SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Lucas Porter and Mill’s Georgia, owned by John Roche, won in the Hollow Creek Farm Medium Junior Jumpers. Alvaro Tejada Arriola and Isabel Tejada’s Velinta Palo Blanco won in the Animo USA Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers, and Diederique Van Der Knaap and G&C Con Air won in the Griffis Residential High Junior Jumpers.
Parkland and Lillie Keenan Are an Unstoppable Force in Small Junior 16-17 Hunters
Parkland and Lillie Keenan continued their domination of the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division during week six of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. The pair has taken home championship honors every week they have competed in the division, making this win their fourth tricolor victory. Keenan and Parkland, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Jennifer Gates, were a force to be reckoned with throughout the two days of competition for the division. They placed third and first over fences on day one and won both over fences rounds day two before wrapping up the division with a fourth place on the flat.
Reserve champion was Romance, ridden and owned by Spencer Smith. Smith and Romance were sixth over fences on day one and placed second in both over fences rounds day two. The pair edged out Keenan and Parkland under saddle, placing third in the final class of the division.
Romance and Smith were also honored with the Owner/Rider championship title for the division. The award recognizes riders in junior divisions competing on their own horses and is tallied separately from overall division championship awards. Reserve Owner/Rider champions were MTM U Call It and Cloe Hymowitz.
Keenan, of New York City, and Parkland began their partnership during week one of the FTI WEF, when the pair first took home the tricolor prize. Since then, the two have proven that it wasn’t just beginner’s luck that earned them top honors.
“He’s a really special horse. He’s really fancy and it’s nice to have [a horse] in the division that you can trust to do his part. He’s a great mover and his strongest quality is how beautiful he is across the ground. His owner, Jennifer Gates, is so nice and comes to see him all the time, so it’s nice to have a lot of support behind you with a horse as special as Parkland,” Keenan stated.
“We’ve gotten closer as circuit has gone on,” Keenan continued. “He’s really part of the [Heritage Farm] family. When he first came, I’d never ridden him before he got to Florida but we’ve gotten to know each other very well. We can rely on each other in the ring.”
Keenan attributes much of her success with Parkland to the gelding’s incredible natural talent, but the bond the two shares is an undeniable factor. “I know what he likes and I know what to expect. He’s a very reliable horse. The style I ride is very similar to the way he wants to go. It’s a lot easier to match up with a horse that goes the way you like to ride. We naturally have a connection and we’ve worked on it a lot,” Keenan described.
“He’s dead brave and he moves and jumps well, which is a great foundation to work from. I just have to hold him together and keep him in a solid rhythm. It’s really just monitoring his pace and that’s all it takes,” Keenan continued.
Keenan and Parkland will aim to continue their winning streak over the remaining six weeks of the FTI WEF. Keenan is eager to return for week seven of the FTI WEF for the World Championship Hunter Rider Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, hosted in the International Arena next week.
Week six of the FTI WEF concludes Sunday with the La Mundial Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Section B division, which will determine its champion in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Arena. The $33,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic will conclude jumper competition in the International Arena. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
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.
Wellington, FL – February 15, 2013 – Natalia Torano has just started competing over fences, but she’s already jumped her way into the hearts of judges. Six-year-old Torano earned four top five placings for Happy Endings Farm during week five of the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Aboard roan pony Champlain Clementine, owned by Alexandria Johnson, Torano won the blue ribbon in Walk-Trot, placed second in both the Walk and Walk-Trot Pleasure classes and finished fifth in the Walk-Trot Jump class. Torano and Champlain Clementine have consistently been in the top ranks throughout WEF, and will continue to compete in the Walk-Trot division throughout the season with Happy Endings Farm.
Avery Kelly and Farnley Romeo compete at the Winter Equestrian Festival
Rounding out a successful week in the Cross Rails division for Happy Endings Farm was Torano’s best friend and frequent riding partner Avery Kelly. Seven-year-old Kelly placed in the ribbons in each of her classes in the Cross Rails division aboard her very own and adorable Farnley Romeo. Kelly and Farnley Romeo have been strong finishers in the competitive Cross Rails division, earning the top honors in the division during week three taking the championship, and finishing with the reserve championship during week two.
Although many of the kids from Happy Endings Farm were snowed in up north, the snowstorm didn’t stop 6-year-old James Leone. He returned to the ring after a six-month hiatus, showing that he was a true contender in the Walk-Trot division. Aboard Care Bear, owned by Hannah Patten, the talented James took ribbons in all classes, and will continue to show in the approaching weeks of competition.
James’ brother Mark also returned to the Short Stirrup Hunter division this week, after coming off of the same six-month break. The 9-year-old rode Care Bear to ribbons, starting a collection of top awards.
Meanwhile, Miss Ticket to Ride, owned by Barbara Milanese, was piloted by Parker Wright to the fourth place finish in the Younger THIS Medal. Wright also took ribbons in the Younger Children’s Hunters. Miss Ticket to Ride was bred, raised and broke at Happy Endings Farm. WEF 5 was the first time the bay German Warmblood showed with a junior rider, and Happy Endings Farm couldn’t be more pleased with her talent.
Happy Endings Farm will have a number of riders, horses and ponies competing in divisions ranging from Short Stirrup Hunters to the Adult Amateur Hunters throughout the Winter Equestrian Festival season. From there the close-knit team will travel north for summer showing. 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
Holly Orlando and Quotable on course during the Winter Equestrian Festival. (Photo courtesy of Sportfot.com)
Wellington, FL (February 14, 2013) – Beauty is more than skin deep. In equine performance, how well a horse is ‘put together’ can dictate how well they will perform. Dedicated to the art and science behind equine sports therapy and rehabilitation, The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation saluted the importance of conformation to biomechanical success through sponsorship of Green and Regular Conformation divisions at Weeks 1 and 2 of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
“We were proud to see this year’s Green and Regular hunters ‘hit their stride’ thanks to some of the most familiar names to our winner circles,” said Brenda McDuffee with The Sanctuary, which is sponsoring the Hunter division championships each week at WEF and presenting Peak Performance Awards to top equine athletes exemplifying good conditioning and top athletic form.
“Holly Orlando and Scott Stewart are familiar and respected names to our hunter divisions,” McDuffee said of both award winners. Orlando rode Quotable, for owner/trainer David Glefke and Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Garber, to the WEF Week 1 Green Conformation and WEF Week 2 Green and Regular Conformation championships. Scott Stewart rode Beholden, for Fashion Farm, to the WEF Week I Regular Conformation title.
Wellington, FL – February 13, 2013 – The sixth week of competition at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) began on Wednesday, February 13, with a full schedule of world-class jumper competition in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). In the highlight class of the day, an impressive roster of top riders vied for Longines FEI world ranking points in the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumper Classic with a win for Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, FL, and Quality Girl.
Week six, sponsored by Spy Coast Farm, will run February 13-17. The week will feature three more world ranking classes, including the $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Round 6 on Thursday, February 14, the highlight $125,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier CSI 3*-W Grand Prix, presented by Spy Coast Farm, on Saturday, February 16, and the $33,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday, February 17.
Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge set the speed track for 48 entries in Wednesday’s 1.45m class. Ten entries completed successful rounds without fault in the race against the clock, and Minikus and Quality Girl came out on top with their time of 54.51 seconds.
Wellington, FL – February 13, 2013 – Equestrian Sport Productions welcomes Spy Coast Farm as the title sponsor of week six at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Spy Coast Farm CSI 3*-W competition will run February 13-17 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. The week will feature a $125,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier CSI 3*-W Grand Prix, presented by Spy Coast Farm, on Saturday, February 16.
Week six competition will also host three other FEI World Ranking classes besides the grand prix, including the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m on Wednesday, February 13, the $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Round 6 on Thursday, February 14, and the $33,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic on Sunday, February 17.
Spy Coast Farm owners Robert and Lisa Lourie are proud to return as a major sponsor of FTI WEF competition in 2013. In addition to their week six title sponsorship, Spy Coast Farm presents four $6,000 1.40m Jumper classes each week throughout the twelve weeks of competition.
Peter Pletcher and NLF Shakespeare's Rhythm. Photo By: Kerri Salter/PMG
Wellington, FL – February 12, 2013 – Peter Pletcher and NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm made their 2013 debut in style during Week V of the prestigious Winter Equestrian Festival for Nordic Lights Farm. With smooth and flowing rounds, Pletcher and NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm topped the leader board in the CWD Performance Working 3’6″ Hunter division, and eventually nabbed the reserve championship honors. Meanwhile, Lauren Hough represented Nordic Lights Farm aboard Tackeray in the FEI Open Jumper events.
Pletcher and NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm closed out the 2012 season with a victory in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Final Chase Horse Show. During WEF V, the pair showcased their winning ways once again in the CWD Performance Working 3’6″ Hunter. After placing third over fences and in the handy, they went on to place second over fences the next day and win the stake class. Their top results led to the division’s reserve championship honors.
“It was good to have NLF Shakespeare’s Rhythm showing again,” noted Pletcher. “He was super, and really good in the handy as always. I decided to do the 3’6″ Performance Hunters to keep him in shape. I’m going to show him during Hunter Week, because I would love to get him into the Hunter Spectacular. He does so well in those types of classes. After that we will be preparing for the derby at the end of season.”
Kalvin Dobbs and Winde Win Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix; Blueberry Hill and Coco Fath Jump to Second Championship in Florida Community Bank Small Pony Hunters
Wellington, FL – February 10, 2013 – Week five of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF), sponsored by Adequan, concluded on Sunday afternoon with a win for Olympic gold medalist Ben Maher of Great Britain aboard his young mount Quiet Easy 4 in the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. Maher has been a dominant force in Wellington over the last two weeks with back to back grand prix wins, including last night’s $82,000 Adequan CSI 2* Grand Prix. He can now add a 1.50m victory to his tally for the winter.
Olympic course designer from Great Britain, Bob Ellis, set the track for forty-two entries to show in Sunday’s 1.50m classic with just four entries advancing to the jump-off. Alongside Maher, U.S. Olympic gold medalists Beezie Madden and Laura Kraut joined the jump-off roster as well as Argentinean rider Max Amaya.
Wellington, FL – February 9, 2013 – Week five of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) featured another exciting “Saturday Night Lights” event with over 4,000 spectators looking on as Great Britain’s Ben Maher won his second grand prix in a row for the winter circuit. Maher jumped to victory in the $82,000 Adequan CSI2* Grand Prix aboard Jane Clark’s Urico after also taking top honors in last week’s $100,000 Fidelity Investments CSI 2* Grand Prix riding Cella.
Week five of the FTI WEF circuit, sponsored by Adequan, runs February 6-10. The week will conclude on Sunday afternoon with the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic. The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival features 12 weeks of competition running from January 9 – March 31, 2013, and awards almost $7 million in prize money throughout the circuit.
Emanuel Andrade is presented with a $3,000 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves for wearing SSG ‘Digitals’ on his way to victory in the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic. Photo – Sportfot
February 9, 2013 – Wellington, Florida – With two horses in the jump-off, Venezuela’s Emanuel Andrade doubled his chances of claiming victory, and a $3,000 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves, in the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic held February 9 at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.
2012 London Olympic course designer Bob Ellis set the track for 25 entries in the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic. Eight of those entries successfully found their way to a clear round, with seven wearing SSG ‘Digital’ style riding gloves to be eligible for the $3,000 bonus. Andrade doubled his chances by qualifying both Walter 61 and Crossfire 10 for the jump-off.
With another clear round in what would prove to be the winning time of 44.03 seconds, Andrade and Crossfire 10 claimed victory and $3,000 in bonus money from SSG Riding Gloves, edging out Charlotte Jacobs and Kachina, who crossed the timers in 45.65 seconds.
