Category Archives: Publications/Media

Competitions, Publications/Media, Show Jumping

Highlights News Film from the Rolex Grand Prix at the Dutch Masters 2022

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Daniel Deusser and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z. © Rolex/Peggy Schroeder.

Geneva, Switzerland, 14 March 2022 – The 2022 Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters was won by Rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser from Germany riding Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z. In doing so he also claimed an additional bonus for non-consecutive Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping wins, following his victory at CHIO Aachen last year.

The Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters in the Netherlands was the first equestrian Major of 2022, which together with the Rolex Grand Prix at CSIO Aachen, CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’, and CHI Geneva, form the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, considered to be the sport’s most demanding challenge.

The highlights film can be seen here:

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

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

*Featured/Spotlights, Publications/Media

Alamo of the Onaqui, a Mustang Mission

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Alamo in the wild ©GreigHugginsPhotography.

Cloud Foundation Volunteer Coordinator and founder of Mustang Mission Wild Horse Rescue, Erin Phillips, was recently featured with her wild mustang Alamo in the Effingham Herald this week.

Alamo is one of the lucky ones. While Erin, and all of us, prefer that Alamo could live out his life in the wild, we recognize how fortunate he is to have found a safe home off the range, especially as an older stallion.

Click here to read this heartwarming story of how a young woman from Georgia is taking on the fight to save wild horses.

As part of her research while she awaited Alamo’s arrival, Erin made it a mission to track down photographs of her mustang in the wild.

Her search led her to the very talented wild horse photographer, Greig Huggins, who captured Alamo in all his wild glory on the Onaqui range in Utah.

If you’re as in love with wild horses as we are, check out Greig’s work at www.utahwildhorses.com.

The Cloud Foundation
www.thecloudfoundation.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Publications/Media

The Best Depiction of Horses in Video Games

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Image: https://images.pexels.com/photos/7047301/pexels-photo-7047301.jpeg.

Across the world, people have been unable to go and spectate at horse racing events due to the pandemic.

Events across the US have been canceled, such as those at Golden Gate Fields, or they’ve gone on behind closed doors. Then as a consequence of attendees being locked out, they have only been available to be viewed on TV or via streaming platforms. If that wasn’t enough, as we head into winter, some of us who enjoy going riding will struggle with the cold conditions as they’re not conducive to getting out and about too.

So, when considering one or both factors, it means people have resorted to finding alternative ways to enjoy their hobbies. One of those is video gaming, as it’s possible to get on horseback via digitally based platforms. Some titles stand out more than others, so we’ve taken the time to look through the list and bring them to you, so you can concentrate fully on virtually saddling up.

The Witcher 3

The Witcher is a name instantly recognizable to gamers and has since become popular with TV viewers courtesy of the series released on Netflix. However, many do not realize the game has one of the most memorable horse riding experiences available. With the game map being so vast, there’s no better way to get around, and it’s not just a token gesture either. Roach, your steed, is a vital part of the Witcher experience, and there’s a lot of interactivity with your stallion throughout. Players get the chance to upgrade their accessories, from saddles to blinders and more.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Out of all the games available, this is the one that stands out far and beyond the rest when it comes to horse riding and interactions. The graphical representation of the animals is fantastic; the way they move and sound when their hooves hit the floor is exceptional, and it’s not surprising as Red Dead Redemption 2 is revered for so many things. Rockstar’s blockbuster title was released in 2018, and as Gala Casino details, it follows Arthur Morgan on his adventures around the Wild West, who relies on his steed for so much. That importance is also nicely integrated into the game through the bonding system. Yes, you read that right: you have to show your horse affection, feed it, and ensure it is groomed too. In doing so, you expand its abilities as you gain more trust. It will then cross deeper rivers, jump larger obstacles, and have more energy.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

While the other two titles on this list lean towards an ultra-realistic look and have riding physics akin to what we’re used to, the representation in Dragon Quest XI is not as measured, but it’s just outright fun. The mechanics are simple, hold down one button on your controller to get your horse moving, then use the left stick to control its direction. The speed of your steed will force enemies out of your path in this Japanese role-playing game where battles are prevalent. However, there are horse races with varying difficulty levels to get involved in which if you’re the victor, the game gives you a small reward too.

FEI, Publications/Media, Show Jumping

Hard Work, Dedication, and Perseverance at the Heart of Time to Beat Campaign

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The FEI has set in motion the Time to Beat campaign which highlights the hard work, dedication, and perseverance of equestrian athletes who dedicate their lives to reaching World level sporting success.

Launched at the start of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2021-2022 season, the cross-media campaign brings together the FEI, its Top Partner Longines, and the Organising Committees of the North American League and Western European League to celebrate the human and equine athlete journey to the elite levels of the sport.

“The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ competitions are full of edge-of-your-seat moments where winners can be determined by fractions of a second and it is this sporting drama which engages fans and keeps them coming back for more each season,” FEI Commercial Director Ralph Straus said.

“But these moments of brilliance are the culmination of years of hard work, patience, and endless repetition. And when it comes down to that critical moment in a competition, it is the communication between the athlete and horse that is often the determining factor for a win. This horse-human connection takes years to create, and it is this journey in time that we want to celebrate through the Time to Beat campaign.”

The video, released to mark the start of the campaign, connects the in-competition performance of the human and equine athletes with powerful images of the daily dedication and perseverance that athletes need to cultivate over time to reach their sporting goals.

“The values of the Time to Beat campaign resonate strongly with Longines, as we know from first-hand experience that excellence can only come from years of commitment,” Longines Vice President Marketing Matthieu Baumgartner said.

“Perfection does take time, and with our experience in creating digital engagement campaigns with the FEI over the past year, we can now tell this story in a more authentic way and deliver a message that people from diverse backgrounds, not just equestrian, can identify with.

“The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ has inspired large numbers of fans and we believe that by adding powerful initiatives like the Time to Beat campaign, we can take equestrian sport to another level.”

The FEI’s partnership with Longines has come a long way since it became the International Federation’s Top Partner in 2012. The initial collaboration included a number of major rights packages including the Longines Jumping Rankings, the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™, FEI World Equestrian Games™, and the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™.

Over the years, the partnership has grown to include Longines as Partner of the FEI Solidarity project on the retraining of racehorses, as well as Title Partner of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ series and Presenting Partner of the FEI Awards Gala. In early 2019, Longines extended its agreement as Title Partner of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup North American League series.

The Time to Beat campaign has found strong support with the Organising Committees of the North American League and Western European League where Longines is the Title Partner. The first leg of the North American League for the 2021-2022 season will kick off in Langley, British Columbia (CAN) on 26 September while Oslo (NOR) will host the first leg of the Western European League on 17 October.

“The pandemic situation has brought home to the sports world that our lives can also change dramatically from one minute to the next,” said Chris Pack, President and Operations Director at the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley.

“While this campaign is meant to highlight the hard work that goes into the making of a sports star, it is also a celebration for our community who have worked hard to find solutions and ways to ensure that our athletes and fans have the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ competitions to enjoy.

“The Time to Beat campaign messages of persistence, tenacity, and dedication are universal and we are looking forward to communicating these values to our local communities to bring them closer to the action and emotion that the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ competitions have to offer.”

Time to Beat will be a three-year campaign that will see a number of activations around the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ competitions to boost fan engagement and involvement.

“We are looking forward to working on this campaign, not just to increase the visibility of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ series, but also to create a meaningful conversation around the power of equestrian sport,” said Tomas Torgersen, Show Director Gothenburg Horse Show.

“Both the human and equine athlete require a strong mental connection and it is this special bond that always shines through during the Longines FEI World Cup competitions. It’s always a magical moment when an athlete gets the best out of their horse at that crucial moment of the competition. It’s in those few seconds that World champions are created and we want the world to see and experience this with us.”

The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ was created in 1978 and is currently made up of 12 leagues across all continents. The top placed athlete-horse combinations from all Leagues are invited to attend the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final™ which will be held in Leipzig (GER) in April 2022.

Media contact:

Vanessa Martin Randin
Senior Manager, Media Relations & Communications
vanessa.randin@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 73

Publications/Media

California Wild Burros Are under Attack

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“Genetic Crisis.” That is how renowned equine geneticist, Dr. E. Gus Cothran, assesses the vast majority of the BLM-managed wild burro populations still remaining on Western landscapes.

Dr. Cothran attributes this crisis to burro populations too small to be considered viable. Massive BLM roundups have reduced burro herds to such small numbers that inbreeding is inevitable. Destroying the genetic health of our remaining herds dooms them to inevitable extinction.

BLM California is mounting yet another aerial assault on these gentle animals. Helicopters will swoop down in an attempt to eliminate all burros from more than 560,000 acres of our BLM-managed public lands south and west of Death Valley: Centennial Herd Management Area, Slate Range, and Paramint Herd Areas. Nearly 1,000 burros will lose their freedom if this ill-conceived plan moves forward.

We need your voice! Please take action NOW to oppose to this horrific plan.

The Cloud Foundation Calls for Halting Roundups & Independent Audit of Wild Horse Program

The Cloud Foundation is calling on newly-confirmed Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to halt roundups and conduct an independent evaluation of the broken Wild Horse and Burro Program.

Record numbers of our wild horses and burros are currently warehoused in government holding facilities — more than 53,000 animals. By halting the roundups, we can work together to create win-win solutions and establish a fair and humane program that will benefit wild horses and burros, the range, and American taxpayers.

Read the press release.

This Is Why We Fight!

Sometimes, we all need a reminder of why we we’re in this fight. In honor of the California burros who stand to lose their freedom, we bring you a delightful short video. Burros are gentle, playful animals, as you can see. Enjoy!

The Cloud Foundation
www.thecloudfoundation.org

Art/Photography, Breeds, Publications/Media

Vote for Interagro Lusitanos in the Finalists of “Best Covers Contest” for Revista (Horse) Magazine

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Since July, the Brazilian Horse Magazine “Revista Horse” has been engaging Instagram users across the world with their “Best Magazine Covers” contest. Over a hundred covers were selected to participate and divided into four categories: Breeds, Sports Disciplines, General, and Miscellaneous.

Interagro was directly represented by a number of these covers, including Edition 99, highlighted by the Lusitano stallion Perdigueiro (MAC). Bred by Assunção Coimbra Stud Farm in Portugal and photographed by Tupa, Perdigueiro cover was the winner of “Breeds” category representing the Purebred Lusitano on August 13th with over a thousand votes.

Interagro also had three other Lusitanos of its brand competing at this contest: Jackpot Interagro, driven by Interagro’s Antonio Souza, won the Sports Discipline category representing the carriage driving, photographed by Heleno Clemente for the cover of Edition 115.

Having been a part of Team Interagro for almost 2 decades, Antonio trained in Portugal with Jorge Sousa in 1994 and took a Driving Course at the Coudelaria de Alter in 1998. In 2014, Antonio was trained by Mr. Rui Quintino de Oliveira from Portugal and in 2016 attended clinics with Mr. Jorge Baixo from Portugal at Larissa Farm in Brazil. He dedicates himself to the whole range of Driving activities, from breaking youngsters to the most advanced training. His first test in Brazil was a four-in-hand, but these days on the farm he harnesses 6, 8, and 10 animals together. He now also gives tutoring courses to coachmen and horses and is a great wealth of knowledge and information for Interagro.

Antonio won the prizes “Hipismo Brasil” in 2017 and 2018 in the Single Professional division with Jackpot who was sold in 2019 to Monsanto Stud Farm in the 1st Ares Lusitanos Auction promoted by Virtual Stables.

Antonio’s partner for the Sport Discipline cover, Jackpot Interagro, is the last son of the highly decorated Nirvana Interagro and the black mare Naranja do Mirante, who scored 80 points at her revision and is the mother of Varanja Interagro and Zampano Interagro, who were sold to the US, as well as Apache Interagro who was sold to Canada.

In the General category, the Lusitano Bailos Interagro reached the finals with the cover of Edition 88. published originally in December 2015. Photographed by Fagner Almeida at Haras Godiva, located in Jose Ignacio, Uruguay, Bailos is owned by Mr. Mauricio Delucchi who lived in Itapira for years as Interagro’s head trainer. When Mauricio returned to his home country of Uruguay, he took with him the young grey stallion sired by Noblíssimo Interagro and Dona (RC), beautiful mare bred by beloved Architect Arsênio Raposo Cordeiro, by Venturoso III (MV) and Saloia II (MV), a daughter of Guerrita (MV) the mother of the mythological Novilheiro (MV) with Nilo (MV). In addition to Bailos, Dona (RC) also produced the International Working Equitation Champion Xaveco Interagro, sold at the auction Leilão Coleção Interagro 2006.

The final is scheduled for September 29th starting at 2 pm Brazil time (1 pm Miami time). Voting is at @revistahorse story on Instagram and it stays active for 24 hrs. only (as all stories do). Please join us in voting for Interagro’s fabulous horses and the gorgeous covers of Revista (Horse).

For more information on Interagro Lusitanos, Interagro’s horses for sale, or the Lusitano bloodlines, visit Interagro’s website at www.lusitano-interagro.com.

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

Community/Charity, Hunter/Equitation, Publications/Media, Show Jumping

Meet Xavier: Young Rider Magazine’s Fall 2020 Cover Model

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Photo courtesy of Bethany P Photography.

Wellington, FL (September 18, 2020) – Fall 2020 Young Rider magazine’s cover model has serious X factor: it’s even in his name. Xavier Gomez and his handsome mount shot to the spotlight this September on one of the nation’s biggest youth equestrian magazines. An avid equitation and hunter jumper rider, Xavier’s feature highlights his own mindset on riding and competing, as well as his plans to continue this X factor success into the hunter, jumper, and equitation arenas through the end of 2020 and 2021.

As a rider of Colombian and Dominican decent, Xavier breaks the mold in terms of your average equestrian, but the real individuality comes from his own passion and dedication to his horses and the sport. With the support of his father, Jose Gomez of Wellington Agricultural Services, Xavier trains daily with Kobi Rhodes of Kobi’s Place Stables in Wellington, Florida, striving for perfection in the saddle. In equitation, this perfection is a product of practice and precision, and Xavier’s hours of work are a testament to his own passion and perseverance. “I love riding, and especially jumping,” said Xavier. “But to be the best jumper I can be, I know position and effectiveness is everything. Really focusing on my equitation has been my goal and under the guidance of Kobi I’m excited to see how far I can go.”

The 16-year-old has his sights set on the 3’6″ Dover Hunt Seat Medal Final along with the Maclay Championship. Xavier also has a number of wins under his belt following shows resuming after the COVID lockdown, including winning both the ASPCA Medal and Maclay at the ESP Summer III in late August aboard Elios, an 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Michael Deitrich. Elios was imported in August of 2019 and will be his main mount for his equitation campaign. In addition, Xavier is pursuing an out-of-the-saddle modeling career with the assistance of national representation.

Follow Xavier on Instagram (@xavier_.gomez).

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

Equinium Sports Mktg., Publications/Media

Babington, Garson, & Martinez: ARM’s First eQuest Podcast

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Wellington, FL (September 4, 2020) – The end of August marked the beginning of a new collaboration of equestrian minds in the form of the first recording of Athletes Risk Management’s eQuest podcast. Featuring three highly regarded international show jumpers, eQuest debuted from the living room of Olympian Kevin Babington, and discussed topics based on program’s theme, ‘classical horsemanship in modern times.’ With the support of Athletes Risk Management and sponsor Wellington Agricultural Services, eQuest will serve as a source of roundtable discussions and unfiltered conversations about the sport, horsemanship, and how the classical principles of riding can be applied to the modern competitive arena.

The August 31 recording featured Olympians Kevin Babington and Nona Garson as the focus and hosts of the podcast as they discussed the surreal feeling of a perfect ride, whether it’s under the stadium lights at Aachen or in the training arena. Geoff Wight, President of Athletes Risk Management, served as moderator and Antonio Martinez, a Venezuelan Grand Prix rider, gave unique insights on his equestrian upbringing in South America as well as his recent back to back wins in the Welcome and Wellington Agricultural Services Grand Prix just a few weeks ago at ESP. Nona Garson joined the discussion by phone from her New Jersey training and show facility, the Ridge at Riverview.

From left to right: Geoff Wight of ARM, Olympian Kevin Babington, and Antonio Martinez

“The horse is the great equalizer,” said Garson. “Some days you have an amazing ride in the Grand Prix and the next you fall off the same horse; it’s a funny sport like that.” Garson and Babington also agreed that when it all comes together in what they describe as “the best two minutes of your life,” it’s a magical experience, but that years of hard work and sweat are what get you there.

Click here to watch eQuest #1 on YouTube.

Click here to listen to eQuest #1 on Podbean.

Additional episodes of eQuest are in the works and will include guests and guest hosts from around the equestrian community. Follow ARM’s social media to get updates on each new episode’s drop date, and let us know if you have any ideas for quests or sponsors.

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

Equinium Sports Mktg., Publications/Media

Dani the Wonder Horse Headlines September 2020 Issue of Wellington the Magazine

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Wellington, FL (September 3, 2020) – Danash’s Northern Tempest, also known as Dani the Wonder Horse, logged her first ever magazine cover this September, with her spectacular coat and expressive profile gracing the front of this month’s issue of Wellington the Magazine. Accompanied by her rider, Laura Reece, the mare’s first cover in her hometown magazine also features a story on her success in the show ring and the confidence she’s inspired in Reece’s return to the saddle.

With such avant garde style and standout coat color, Dani’s alluring look has recently attracted the attention of some of the world’s top equestrian brands. From photo shoots to shows to scheduled appearances, Dani and Reece will have a bustling 2020, and are growing their exceptionally engaged Instagram following as more and more fans join the journey of Dani the Wonder Horse.

Follow Dani on Instagram (@danithewonderhorse) to keep up to date on all her shows and events, and check back on her website www.DaniTheWonderHorse.com.

Media contact:
Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC
Holly Johnson
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

Community/Charity, Publications/Media

Meet the Entrepreneurs behind Young Black Equestrians the Podcast

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Caitlin Gooch speaking to a group of students involved in Saddle Up and Read.

After spending just five minutes in conversation with Abriana Johnson and Caitlin Gooch, it’s likely that you’re going to want to be their fast friends.

Abriana and Caitlin’s positivity, sense of humor, passion for horses, and incredible entrepreneurial energy are contagious and quickly make you want to hear more about what the two inspiring equestrians have to say. Fortunately, you can, thanks to Abriana and Caitlin’s Young Black Equestrians podcast.

The two riders, both hailing from North Carolina, launched the podcast in 2019 to share “the ins and outs of equine culture with an extra dose of melanin” and have since recorded more than 45 episodes. However, it’s not Abriana or Caitlin’s only passion project.

Caitlin is also the founder of Saddle Up and Read, a 501(c)(3) non-profit literacy program that encourages children to read through equine-related activities. Abriana is the author of the Cowgirl Camryn book series, and together the girls have launched other projects, including the Black Equestrian Network.

Contact: Jump Media
jennifer@jumpmediallc.com