Category Archives: Competitions

Week 4 of the Winter Equestrian Festival – Laura Kraut and Cedric Win The Sanctuary Peak Performance Award in Grand Prix

Olympic stars Laura Kraut and Cedric won The Sanctuary Peak Performance Award during the fourth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. (Photo courtesy of Sportfot)

Wellington, FL (February 8, 2011) – Winter Equestrian Festival veteran Laura Kraut, and her Gold Medal Olympic partner Cedric, not only cruised to victory in the $78,000 Adequan Grand Prix during the fourth week of WEF, but the pair also rode away with The Sanctuary Peak Performance Award. Sponsored by The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, the award is presented to a horse with a successful performance due to their conditioning and fitness level.

Cedric, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Chambertin x Carolus Z and owned by Happy Hill Farm, proved he was fit and ready to be back in the winner’s circle when he bested 48 other entries to gallop away with the blue ribbon. Cedric, who competed with Kraut at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, recently enjoyed two months off and this class was his first return to the Grand Prix ring.

“Cedric is an amazing horse and The Sanctuary was thrilled to award Laura and Cedric with the Peak Performance Award. From his 2008 Olympic Gold Medal victory to his victory in this Grand Prix, Cedric has an extraordinary ability and is a great pleasure to watch. When he is galloping around the course it is easy to see that he is fit and well conditioned, which of course helps lead to his winning performance,” said Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center. “We will be awarding six Peak Performance Awards during the Grand Prix’s at WEF and we want to congratulate Laura and Cedric on winning the first Peak Performance Award from The Sanctuary.”

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2011 Dressage under the Stars Kicks Off Third Year

Dressage under the Stars week one musical freestyle winner Chris Von Martels is joined by (l-r) Ted Rekal-Nuttall, Jane Savoie, Carole Grant, Tami Hoag, Rick Rockefeller-Silvia, and Juan Gonzalez. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Chris Von Martels Wins Dressage under the Stars Week 1

Wellington, FL (February 6, 2011) – For the third year in a row, Dressage under the Stars, held patio-side at The Players Club Bar & Grille, is the place to be on Wednesday nights in Wellington. This year will bring another eight weeks of exciting rider and horse combinations competing for weekly prizes and an opportunity for riders to return the final week to perform in the grand finale. Attendees were again guaranteed an enchanting night of FEI level musical freestyles, fine dining, cocktails, and new this year a VIP champagne tent.

Chris Von Martels stole the show with his winning performance on Don Darveen, a warmblood gelding by Donnerhall. Von Martels performed to music that included the Black Eyed Peas for a fun hip-hop combination musical freestyle. Don Darveen’s owner, Regina Sacha-Ujczo, drove all the way from Orlando to come see her horse perform.

Von Martels’ prizes included a custom Quantum Saddle, presented by Quantum Limited’s North American Representative Ted Rekal-Nuttall, 500 dollars cash, and VIP passes to the table service sponsorship tent. All competitors received a rider care package from The Wellington Institute, an American Express Gift Card donated by Jill Hoag of Keyes Company and a bundle of organic carrots for their horses.

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Laura Kraut and Cedric Jump Clear to Win $78,000 Adequan Grand Prix, CSI 2*

Laura Kraut and Cedric won the $78,000 Adequan Grand Prix, CSI 2* during week four at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – February 6, 2011 – The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded its fourth week of competition on Sunday afternoon with the $78,000 Adequan Grand Prix, CSI 2* held in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. In a talent packed class, Laura Kraut (USA) and Happy Hill Farm’s Cedric jumped to victory over 48 starters.

This week’s course designer in the International Arena was Richard Jeffery of Great Britain. At the halfway point in the class, nine had jumped clear over the first round course. Seven more clear rounds followed to leave 16 horse and rider combinations to jump-off. The countries of the United States, Mexico, Great Britain, Ireland and Canada were all represented in today’s jump-off, but the United States reigned supreme as Olympic gold medalists Laura Kraut and Cedric took the win.

Of the 16 entries in the jump-off, just two were able to clear the course. Nick Skelton (GBR) and Unique, owned by Beverly Widdowson, were first to jump clear and clocked in at 51.02 seconds to finish in second place. Kraut and Cedric went last, and stopped the clock in 45.11 seconds for the win.

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Women Win for the Third Year in Nespresso Battle of the Sexes

Ashlee Bond and Chivas Z were victorious in the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic during week 4 at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photos © Sportfot

Ashlee Bond and Chivas Z Find Key to Win the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic

Wellington, FL – February 5, 2011 – The women have dominated the Nespresso Battle of the Sexes for three years now with another exciting win in Saturday evening’s dynamic competition. The women’s team, captained by Katie Prudent, and including riders Georgina Bloomberg, Ashlee Bond, Brianne Goutal, Lauren Hough, Maggie Jayne, Reed Kessler, Candice King, Laura Kraut, Christine McCrea, Catherine Pasmore, and Nicole Simpson, swept the three phase competition with 37 points over the men’s score of 25 to win their third title.

The evening’s attendance was approximately 6,500 people for the class at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo stated, “This was a great event and we’re very thankful to the riders and their owners for supporting this class with their time and their horses. Special classes like this really grow our spectator base, which is one of our biggest goals at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.”

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Dutch Driver IJsbrand Chardon Has Won Four-In-Hand FEI World Cup Driving Qualifier in Bordeaux

Chardon went for it all the way in Bordeaux. Photo: FEI/Rinaldo de Craen

CHARDON IN TOP FORM IN BORDEAUX by Cindy Timmer

Dutch driver IJsbrand Chardon won last night’s FEI World Cup qualifier in Bordeaux in breath taking style. Wild card driver Chardon stayed ahead of Tomas Eriksson in second guaranteeing the Swede the sixth and last starting place for the Final in Leipzig. Werner Ulrich knocked two balls down in the winning round to finish third.

The atmosphere was superb on Saturday evening in the Palais des Expositions in Bordeaux. The drivers put on a perfect show, cheered on by the many enthusiastic spectators and the great music.

Second wild card for Coudry

As in Geneva, French four-in-hand driver Thibault Coudry had been given a wild card to compete in front of his home crowd in Bordeaux. The 30-year old farmer and truck driver drove a good round with his team of Polish warmblood horses and a French trotter. But the competition in Bordeaux was too strong this year for the 2010 winner of the French World Cup leg who ended in fourth.

Battle for Leipzig

Dutch driver Theo Timmerman, Sweden’s Fredrik Persson and Tomas Eriksson and Switzerland’s Daniel Würgler all had a last chance in Bordeaux to claim the sixth and last starting place for the Final in Leipzig. Würgler knocked three cones down in the course, designed by German course designer Falk Böhnisch, to lose his chance for Leipzig. Despite the use of one of Boyd Exell’s top horses Pascal in he lead of his team, Fredrik Persson could not manage to qualify for the Winning Round. By coming sixth, Persson also knew his chances for a starting place in the Leipzig line-up were gone. Timmerman had improved his team compared to the warm-up round, but he finished fifth despite his efforts.

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Hope Greenfield Wins Everglades Dressage Adult Amateur High Score Award at Gold Coast Dressage Opener Festival CDI

Hope Greenfield, of New Jersey, won the Everglades Dressage Overall High Score Adult Amateur Award with her horse Zuni at the Gold Coast Dressage Opener Festival CDI. Everglades Dressage Farm, and trainer Bethany Peslar of Wellington, sponsors the award. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (February 4, 2011) – The Gold Coast Dressage Opener Festival CDI may have been the biggest show of Hope Greenfield’s career, but that didn’t stop the New Jersey rider from earning the highest Adult Amateur score of the entire show. With a score of 69.714% in the USEF Second Level class aboard her Dutch horse Zuni, Greenfield rode away with the Everglades Dressage Overall High Score Adult Amateur Award at the show, sponsored by Everglades Dressage Farm and Bethany Peslar.

“I was thrilled with how my horse went. The whole weekend was really wonderful,” Greenfield said. “This is my first season to come to Florida and it is a big deal for me. It is much more competitive than what I am used to and this was, by far, the biggest show I have ever shown in.”

Greenfield said she has owned Zuni for a year-and-a-half and bought him because she thought he was a “nifty” horse. She trains with Lauren Sammis and last year sent Zuni to Florida with Sammis. “He’s a nice young horse that I wanted to start correctly so I sent him to Florida last year although I didn’t come down except for a few visits,” Greenfield said. “Zuni is a really fun horse and I was pleased with how he went during the show. I haven’t competed him since June or July so it was a great return to the show ring.”

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EAF Tetrathlon Raises More Than $100,000 for Equestrians in Need

Winning Team FarmVet: Christian Currey, Ashley Holzer, Candice King, Whistle Uys. All photos (c) Phelps Photos

WELLINGTON, Fla. – Presenting sponsor FarmVet edged out Team MeadowView to win the 2011 Sidelines Tetrathlon Presented by FarmVet on Jan. 30, at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. More than 500 people came together for an evening of friendly competition, great food and exceptional auction items, to raise more than $100,000 to benefit the Equestrian Aid Foundation (EAF). The EAF helps equestrians, horsemen and equine professionals who are suffering from catastrophic illnesses or injuries during their time of need. The event was managed by Sean O’Keefe Events, which specializes in developing signature events for nonprofit organizations.

“It’s been more than three years since the last Sidelines Triathlon and we’ve successfully brought it back to a higher level of competition by adding the all-American sport of reining,” said R. Scot Evans, president of the EAF. “With the overwhelming support from the community for the vision of Sean O’Keefe of Sean O’Keefe Events, we were given the resources to create a fun-filled evening that also successfully raised necessary funds for those in the horse world who need our help.”

Tetrathlon Competition

Master of Ceremonies Brian Lookabill added commentary to the competition, which included dressage, show jumping, polo, and reining. Riders showed world-class talent as they performed in disciplines not their own.

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Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping 2010/2011 – Round 10, Bordeaux

Philipp Weishaupt and the stallion Catoki secured Germany's sixth victory in the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping series at Bordeaux, France tonight. Photo: Cecile Grand/FEI.

WILY WEISHAUPT IS BEST IN BORDEAUX – by Louise Parkes

Bordeaux (FRA), 5 February 2011 – Philipp Weishaupt and the stallion Catoki brought the German tally of wins in the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Western European League qualifying series to a sensational six this evening at Bordeaux in France.  The 25 year old rider from Munich was one of 12 in the thrilling second-round jump-off, and he steered a line against the clock that proved too good for the rest and brought him through the finish more than a half-second quicker than French runner-up Simon Delestre.  Third place went to Beijing Olympic silver medallist Rolf-Goran Bengtsson from Sweden while Ireland’s latest super-star, Billy Twomey, was less than a second off the winning time when slotting into fourth.

Weishaupt was more than happy at the end of the day.  “Those 20 points were very important to me,” he said.  “I really wanted to get to the final in Leipzig, but I needed more points and now I think it’s possible so I’m very pleased!” he added.  The Germans look a formidable force going to the final on their home turf.  With six victories in the ten qualifying competitions staged to date, they will surely be the ones to beat when the action gets underway on April 27.

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Lusitano Trainer Wins Premier Sportsmanship Award at International Horse Sport Palm Beach Dressage Show

Lusitano trainer and competitor Cherri Reiber, shown aboard her Lusitano Sargon Interagro, won the Premier Sportsmanship Award at the International Horse Sport Palm Beach Dressage Show. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (February 4, 2011) – Dressage rider and trainer Cherri Reiber, who represented the United States at the 2000 World Cup, proved that she is not only a world-class athlete but also a good sport when she won the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at the International Horse Sport Palm Beach Dressage Premier Show. Sponsored by Premier Equestrian, a leading supplier of dressage arenas, horse jumps, arena footing and stable accessories, the Premier Sportsmanship Award is awarded to a rider who displays a high level of sportsmanship during a show.

Reiber, who is well known for training and competing Lusitanos, has proven she is unflappable under pressure while at a horse show, which helped Reiber clinch the sportsmanship award. Thanks to being a great sport, Reiber, who twice made it to the Olympic selection trials, rode away with a pair of German-designed Roeckl gloves from Premier Equestrian.

“Sportsmanship is very important in the show world and I am definitely honored to have been awarded the Premier Sportsmanship Award,” Reiber said, adding that she is also looking forward to presenting a Lusitano demonstration on February 19th for The Lusitano Collection at the Winter Equestrian Festival. “I was also pleased with how my new Lusitano, Sargon Interagro, did at the show. I just got him in June so we are still getting to know each other.”

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Nearly $1,000,000 in Cash and Prizes Up for Grabs at the Expanded Colorado Summer Circuit

Colleen Acosta on Posse, winner of last year's USHJA Hunter Derby during the Colorado Summer Circuit. Photo credit: Horse and Ryder

Parker, CO — A thrilling summer at The Colorado Horse Park will be highlighted with nearly $1,000,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs during the inaugural edition of the expanded Colorado Summer Circuit, June 8-July 24, 2011. For 20 years this circuit has attracted some of the continent’s best hunter and jumper competitors, and this year it expands to six weeks.

Riders will find more than just bigger paychecks. Pat Boyle and Showplace Productions will offer exhibitors their trademarked five-star hospitality, while CHP is busy creating an exciting slate of new amenities. The Grand Prix ring is currently under construction and brand new footing is being installed. New jumps, new gardens, a competitor’s lounge and other facility improvements are just a few of the items receiving a makeover.

“This year riders will see a whole new Colorado Horse Park,” explains Brian Curry, General Manager of CHP. “We are working closely with Pat and his team to deliver a summer that every rider will remember.”

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