All posts by Associate Editor

ACTHA Double Down Bucks Day

Something to Smile About

November 13th – 14th, 2010

Prizes, food, awards – All Disciplines Welcome!

Southern Comfort I – AM Ride

Southern Comfort II – PM Ride

Florida Horse Park – Ocala – CTC

11008 S. Hwy. 475 Ocala, FL  34480

www.flhorsepark.com for directions

ACTHA has 2 Rides in 1 day – November 13th

Go to www.actha.us to sign up under both dates for the 13th!

Arrive Friday – leave Sunday.

When the heart of the fall season is upon us at the Florida Horse Park & Greenway Trails that can mean only one thing – focus shifts to the Parks trails & obstacles course for two major fall rides in one (1) day!

Yes, we have 2 rides going on in one day – you read it right. This is the 1st time ever ACTHA is doing this. We will be making ACTHA history on this day! So every ACTHA member will want to mark this on his or her calendar.  Come join us in one the most beautiful places to ride.

November 13th (Saturday) Ride 1 day of obstacles, starting at 9:00 AM

November 14th (Sunday) Professional Clinics, starting at 10:00 AM

Pack your bags, load your horse in the trailer, and head our way!  Come spend the weekend at the Florida Horse Park, Rent an Electric Hook-up space and receive a stall (with initial bedding included) for your horse, all for $43.00 per night.

The best little vacation around.

Call Pam at (352) 459-4178 or E-Mail: majesticpam@yahoo.com

Reem Acra Brings a Fresh New Look to FEI World Cup Dressage

by Louise Parkes

There is a new spring in the step of the FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League as it begins its second quarter-century with the 2010/2011 opening leg at Odense, Denmark later this week. The recent announcement of a three-year sponsorship deal with fashion designer Reem Acra, who puts her name to both the Western European season and the overall series final, hails the blossoming of a fresh era in the history of this sport which has enjoyed astronomic growth in popularity in recent times.

Largely responsible for the upsurge of interest in top-class dressage has been a single horse-and-rider combination who won their way into the hearts of horse-lovers all around the world over the last 18 months during a sensational record-breaking spree.  The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and the fabulous black stallion Moorlands Totilas have, in terms of competitiveness, appeal and pure ability, raised the bar beyond all expectations and transformed the once-demure dressage world into a showcase of extreme excitement.  It was confirmed last week that the stallion has been sold however, and so his partnership with Gal is ended.  But their legacy is a raised profile for the sport on which they have left an indelible impression.

Continue reading Reem Acra Brings a Fresh New Look to FEI World Cup Dressage

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011

Germany's Christian Ahlmann is presented with his Rolex watch by Anthony Schaub from Rolex. Photo: FEI/Roger Svalsrod.

AHLMANN WINS AS GERMAN RIDERS DOMINATE OPENING ROLEX LEG AT OSLO by Louise Parkes

Oslo (NOR) 17 October 2010 – Christian Ahlmann won the opening leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League series at Oslo in Norway this afternoon where German riders scooped the top three places.  And Ahlmann’s victory was all-the-more creditable for the fact that the 36 year old rider suffered the tragic loss of one of his top horses, the nine year old stallion Calvados Z, earlier in the day.

“For sure today it wasn’t easy for me to ride and to concentrate on my job,” Ahlmann said after completing his victory gallop with his 10 year old stallion Taloubet Z, “but Taloubet really did his very best for me.”  It was the German master, Ludger Beerbaum, who slotted into second place ahead of Lars Nieberg in third. The first non-German in the line-up was fourth-placed Frenchman Kevin Staut, who headed Holland’s Leon Thijssen in fifth place.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12368

Calling All Charities! The Great Charity Challenge Is Back and Bigger Than Ever in 2011

Wellington, FL – October 15, 2010 – Equestrian Sport Productions and the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) are offering the chance of a lifetime to charities serving Palm Beach County. The FTI WEF will once again host the Great Charity Challenge on the evening of Saturday, February 19, and this year the goal is to raise a tremendous amount of $1 million, all of which will be donated to charity.

The Great Charity Challenge (GCC) is an exhilarating pro/am relay style jumping competition that will take place under the lights in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center to benefit 30 non-profit charities. 2010 was the event’s inaugural year, and over $560,000 was raised and donated to 24 charities that were randomly selected to participate in the event.

Teams, which are generously sponsored by families and individuals, consist of two junior/amateur riders and are anchored by one Olympic or world-class rider. Each equestrian team is assigned a charity to represent, and the charity matched with the winning team of riders will win over $100,000!

Continue reading Calling All Charities! The Great Charity Challenge Is Back and Bigger Than Ever in 2011

FEI Announces All Equine Samples from Alltech FEI WEG Negative for Prohibited Substances

15 October 2010 – The FEI has announced today that all blood and urine samples taken from horses competing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games were negative for all prohibited substances.

Under FEI Veterinary Regulations, samples from a minimum of 5% of competing horses are tested, but almost 11% of the 752 horses competing in Kentucky were tested. A total of 140 samples were taken from 82 horses, with blood being taken from all 82, plus urine where possible. All individual medal horses were tested, as well as one member of each medal winning team. Random samples were also taken throughout the 16-day event.

“This is a great success for everyone involved in equestrian sport and is the best possible endorsement of the FEI’s Clean Sport Campaign,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya said. “It also proves the value of the FEI’s educational programme, as athletes and their supporters now have the knowledge to make a clear distinction between the use of routine, legitimate medication and deliberate doping to affect a horse’s performance. Everyone has a role to play in maintaining this clean record going forward.”

Continue reading FEI Announces All Equine Samples from Alltech FEI WEG Negative for Prohibited Substances

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011

New Rolex Season Gets Underway This Sunday

Oslo (NOR) 15 October 2010 – Oslo in Norway is the venue for the exciting first leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Western European League Jumping series this Sunday, October 17.

This weekend’s line-up includes six of the top-ten riders on the Rolex World Rankings including No. 1 Kevin Staut from France, Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer (No. 3), Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum (No. 7) and Marco Kutscher (No. 8), Australia’s Edwina Alexander (No. 9) and Ireland’s Jessica Kuerten (No. 10).  The riders are all keen to earn early points on the road to the series final which will take place in Leipzig, Germany from 27 April to 1 May 2011.

Marcus Ehning, a member of the German team that claimed gold in the Jumping Championship at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA just over a week ago, is the defending Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping champion.

You can watch all the action from the 13 qualifying legs, and the final, LIVE on FEI TV – don’t miss a hoof-beat!

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12364

The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Steffen Peters – Individual Bronze – USA. Photos by Diana De Rosa

Bringing the World to Kentucky

“What a journey this continues to be,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, as he sat mesmerized by the incredible talent he was witnessing on September 25 as he watched each performer showcase their talents during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  It had been four years since Dr. Lyons had made the decision for his company, Alltech, a worldwide leader in animal nutrition, health and performance, to be the first major sponsor of this event.

This day was especially significant and he wasn’t about to miss even one beat of the evening’s performances.

“As the first performers entered the arena, I felt a great sense of relief and a sense of achievement,” commented Dr. Lyons after pausing for a moment to answer the question of how significant it was to have the Games start officially. “That relief wasn’t just for me but for our people at Alltech and for WEG.  We all planned it and our people and the WEG people came together to get the job done.  It’s been a great example of a team effort.  So, how do I feel?  I feel really delighted, especially to see our people really get into it and get involved.”

Continue reading The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Stable Scoop Episode 113 by Omega Alpha – Reenactment, Jousting and Cannon Fire

Guest Co-Host Cat Bertucci brings the past to life with two interviews this week. Going back to the middle ages with with Jude Kensington of the Society of Creative Anachronism Equestrian Group and then forward in time with Captain Emmett Taylor, commander of Company C, 5th Regiment. of the MO Volunteer Cavalry, civil war reenactors. Listen in.

Stable Scoop Episode 113 – Show Notes and Links:

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Listen, Download or Subscribe:
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Pablo Barrios and G&C LaGran Finish in Top 30 at 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Pablo Barrios and G&C LaGran finished in the top 30 in the world at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Photo © Randi Muster/Mustphoto, Inc.

Lexington, KY – October 13, 2010 – Pablo Barrios and G&C LaGran accomplished their goal of being in the top 30 riders in the world when they made the individual final at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Lexington, KY. Barrios competed through all four individual rounds in the competition on G&C LaGran, owned by Barrios and G&C Farm. Barrios was also part of the Venezuelan team, the first time that the country has fielded a team in the world championships.

G&C Farm is based in Wellington, FL, and owned by Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal of Venezuela. Barrios, who competes for Venezuela, is also based in Wellington.

Barrios and G&C LaGran started out the WEG with a bang when they finished fourth in the opening individual speed round. Their time of 69.42 seconds was the fastest in the entire class, and with four faults converted for a final time of 73.42 seconds, they finished with a top placing.

“We had a very good speed class, the fastest time in the class,” Barrios said. “Unfortunately we had a rail, but it was enough to stay fourth. He’s a very fast horse, and that’s the kind of class that I can win. I went for it, but we were a little short.”

Continue reading Pablo Barrios and G&C LaGran Finish in Top 30 at 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Dressage Rider and World Equestrian Games Competitor Tina Konyot Interviewed on “Horsetalk with Heather” Radio Show

Dressage rider Tina Konyot, who represented the U.S. at the WEG on her black stallion Calecto V, was a guest on the “Horsetalk with Heather” radio show on Day 11 of the WEG. (Photo courtesy of PhelpsPhotos.com)

Lexington, KY (October 12, 2010) – Dressage rider Tina Konyot, who represented the United States on her magnificent stallion Calecto V in the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, was a guest on the radio show “Horsetalk with Heather” on Day 11 of the World Equestrian Games. Radio show host Heather Roderick talked with Konyot about her WEG experience and her partnership with Calecto V.

Konyot described her WEG experience as “tremendous with tremendous electricity. It was wonderful to ride into that arena,” she said. “Calecto is not affected by crowds or lights so he was fine with it all.”

While Konyot finished out of the ribbons, she is pleased that her journey with Calecto took her to WEG. “I purchased Calecto four years ago at an auction. He came from a large farm and hadn’t had a lot of one-on-one attention and no one wanted him. When I got him home he didn’t have any personality at all and no muscling.”

Continue reading Dressage Rider and World Equestrian Games Competitor Tina Konyot Interviewed on “Horsetalk with Heather” Radio Show