Category Archives: Competitions

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, FEI, Para-Equestrian, Phelps Media Group, World Equestrian Games

USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships Awarded

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Rebecca Hart Tops USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships with Kazan (pictured) and Norteassa. Photos © 2010 Lindsay McCall/PMG.

Long List for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Announced

Wayne, IL – June 28, 2010 – The final day of intense competition for the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships and the USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games concluded Sunday.  Earning both the championship rosette and cooler and the reserve championship rosette and cooler was Rebecca Hart.  Hart rode both of her mounts to top honors over the last three days. Hart and Kazan earned the National Championship and Hart and Norteassa earned the reserve championship. Hart was surrounded by top coaches including her trainer and Chef d’Equipe of the USEF Para-Dressage team, Missy Ransehousen; top judges Chris Porterfield (GBR), Lillian Iannone (ARG), and Carlos Lopes (POR); and top competition.

The weekend’s competition was a chance for the riders to not only compete among their peers, but to gain experience in front of international judges.  The three days of Para-Dressage competition included the team test, individual test and freestyle competition.  On Sunday, the freestyle test added the music element to the test where riders showcased their artistic abilities on horseback.

Continue reading USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships Awarded →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, Para-Equestrian, Phelps Media Group

Day Two of USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials for 2010 Alltech FEI WEG Concludes

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Robin Brueckmann and Raison d'Etre. Photos © 2010 Lindsay McCall/PMG.

Wayne, IL – June 27, 2010 – It was another beautiful day at the Lamplight Equestrian Center where the USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials are occurring for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  Riders and their top mounts entered the arena in front of spectators, their peers and international judges.  The three judges included Chris Porterfield (GBR), Lillian Iannone (ARG), and Carlos Lopes (POR).  Saturday was the individual competition, which will be counted alongside Friday’s team tests, and Sunday’s freestyle tests.  Consistency has been the weekend’s theme with Rebecca Hart earning the blue ribbon and the second place ribbon in the short course test, and Robin Brueckmann earning first place honors in the long course test.  Both riders earned the top ribbons in Friday’s competitions as well.

In Saturday’s long course individual test Robin Brueckmann and Raison d’Etre earned the top honors with a combined score of 66.667%. Most of the competitors Saturday had an increase in their score percentages as Brueckmann did going from Friday’s 65% to Saturday’s 66.667%.

Continue reading Day Two of USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials for 2010 Alltech FEI WEG Concludes →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, FEI, Para-Equestrian, Phelps Media Group, World Equestrian Games

Day One of USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials for 2010 Alltech FEI WEG Concludes

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Robin Brueckmann and Raison D"Etre. Photos © 2010 Lindsay McCall/PMG.

Wayne, IL – June 26, 2010 – Sunshine covered the splendid Lamplight Equestrian Center on Friday as the USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games commenced.  The day began at 12:30 PM with top Para-Equestrians competing for the ten spots on the USEF Para-Dressage Team.  This was the first of three days that the qualified riders were able to showcase their top skills, great horses, and a chance to be in front of international judges.  The three judges were Chris Porterfield (GBR), Lillian Iannone (ARG), and Carlos Lopes (POR).  Over the three days of competition each day will count towards their total score to qualify for the World Equestrian Games.

In today’s short course team test, Rebecca Hart earned both the first place and second place ribbons.  Hart rode her trusty gelding Norteassa to the blue earning a 69.048 % overall.  Hart also earned the second place ribbon with Kazan earning a 68.889% overall.

Continue reading Day One of USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials for 2010 Alltech FEI WEG Concludes →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping

Jung and Townend Go Head to Head at Strzegom

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24 June 2010 – Germany’s Michael Jung and Britain’s Oliver Townend, both winners of HSBC World Cup Eventing competitions this season, go head to head at Strzegom (POL) this weekend (June 24-27) as they both bid to take over the lead in the 2010 rankings from Australian Megan Jones, who has scored a win and a second place in the series so far.

Jung, who had an incredible season in 2009, winning Luhmühlen and a European bronze medal on La Biosthetique Sam, is already a winner at this Polish venue having scored at the HSBC World Cup Eventing Final here last year.

In contrast, Townend made an early exit at Strzegom last year; having led the Dressage phase, he suffered an unlucky fall on the flat across country when Flint Curtis lost a shoe.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Home Stretch to Qualify for 20th Annual Marshall and Sterling Finals

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Sponsor Mary Moeller of Marshall & Sterling Insurance presents the award to the Winners of the Children Pony Medal at the 2009 Marshall & Sterling League National Finals. Photo © Lili Weik Photography.

Saugerties, New York – June 21, 2010 – The Marshall & Sterling League is pleased to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. School is out for summer, and there has never been a better time to qualify for what will undoubtedly be the most exciting Marshall & Sterling National Finals competitors have ever seen.

Founded 20 years ago, the Marshall & Sterling League has continuously offered our nation’s diverse population of horses and riders at all levels an opportunity to qualify for and compete at the prestigious Marshall & Sterling National Finals, to be held this year September 15-19, 2010 at the exquisite HITS-on-the-Hudson facility in Saugerties, NY.

Marshall & Sterling League Coordinator Patti Guerriero has been with HITS since 2003 and during that time has been the League’s administrator managing membership for both equestrians and horse shows. “When the League started 20 years ago, we had 10 member horse shows. In 2003 when I started there were three hundred, today we have 1,300 member shows. We have incredible members and many wonderful show partners around the country. I think the success and longevity of this type of grassroots organization is directly tied to our commitment to this audience of riders and our continued desire to bring new and exciting divisions and offerings into the mix over the years.”

Continue reading Home Stretch to Qualify for 20th Annual Marshall and Sterling Finals →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, Para-Equestrian, Phelps Media Group, World Equestrian Games

United States Para-Equestrian Association Announces Riders for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Selection Trials

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Missy Ransehousen is Chef d'Equipe for Para-Dressage at 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Photo © 2010 C. Mike Tomlinson.

Thousand Oaks, CA – June 21, 2010 – The United States Para-Equestrian Association would like to announce their qualified riders for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Selection Trials scheduled for June 24-27, 2010.  The amount of Para-Dressage participants has tripled in one year, which means more Para-Equestrians are challenging themselves to international competition.  The riders making their way to Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois for the Para-Dressage Selection Trials include equestrians that, despite their disabilities, have overcome and adapted to showcase their athletic abilities.

Fifteen United States Para-Equestrians have scores that will allow them to compete at the Selection Trials.  Out of those 15, ten of the riders will be selected for WEG.  Out of the ten riders, four will make the team, and six will ride as individuals.

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Classic Company, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Atlanta Summer Classic One

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We had a great week in Conyers for the Atlanta Summer Classic I.  We had lots of exciting classes so I have lots to share.

To start, this week was a WCHR event and we hosted the USHJA Hunter Classic and USHJA International Hunter Derby.

The winner of the Hunter Classic was Snowday owned by Triple Creek Farm and ridden by Lindsey Chestnut.  The class was showcased and started at 10 am with lots of spectators watching.  The Classic Company plans many USHJA Hunter Classics in the future.

The winner of the International Hunter Derby was Brunello, owned by Mrs. Elizabeth Peterson and shown by Elizabeth Boyd.   The class was held in the 400 x 450 Grand Prix ring under lights and was well attended with “tailgaters”.  It was an exciting class and Allen Rheinheimer and Joe Carnicom made a challenging course.  There were also many comments among the spectators that they missed the “opening of the gate” and they hoped that the committee will see fit to allow it next year…. it was not a gimmick jump.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Show Jumping

Sharon Hunt Is Talk of the Town in Luhmühlen

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Sharon Hunt (GBR) claimed her first-ever CCI4* victory when winning at Luhmühlen with the Irish Sport Horse Tankerstown to move into fourth place in the HSBC FEI Classics standings after three of five events. (Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI)

20 June 2010 – Sharon Hunt (GBR) enjoyed the biggest thrill of her long partnership with Tankers Town when the fleet-footed gelding gave her a first CCI4* win, at Luhmühlen, presented by E.ON Avacon, the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics.

“I’m shocked,” said the 32-year-old, “but I always knew he was a phenomenal horse.”

The optimum time of 90 seconds proved extremely difficult on the spacious Jumping track and only nine out of the 32 finishers avoided collecting time penalties.

Tankers Town lowered the third fence, but Hunt kept up a good speed and did not incur any other penalties, giving her the slimmest of leads – just 0.2 of a penalty – over Ingrid Klimke (GER), whose chances of a first CCI4* win disappeared when she had both parts of the double at five down.

“The course really suited my horse because he is so good at jumping fast,” explained Hunt.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Caitlin Creel Captures ASPCA Maclay at 2010 Showplace Spring Spectacular II

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At the 2010 Showplace Spring Spectacular II, Caitlin Creel and Calvin 46 win ASPCA Maclay. Photos 2010 © Lindsay McCall/PMG.

Wayne, IL – June 18, 2010 – Today’s hunter competition at the Showplace Spring Spectacular II at the Lamplight Equestrian Center began at 8:00 a.m. in the Main Hunter Ring. Juniors brought out their top equitation horses for the morning’s competitions in the ASPCA Maclay and the USEF/Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal. Winning the ASPCA Maclay was Caitlin Creel aboard Calvin 46.  Shortly after a ring drag the USEF/Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal commenced. Coming from fourth place before the test and then taking home the blue was Nicki LaChapelle and Perfect Landing.

The ASPCA Maclay course and the USEF/Pessoa Hunt Seat Medal were both designed by Skip Bailey of Wellington, Florida. Both courses featured a diagonal two-stride, two option verticals coming home, and a figure eight to two split rail fences.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, FEI, Show Jumping

Americans Reign in Rotterdam

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Rotterdam (NED), 18 June – The all-female US team stormed to victory at the fourth leg of the 2010 Meydan FEI Nations Cup in Rotterdam today where, for the first time this season, the French did not have their way and had to settle for equal-fifth place.  There was an air of determination about the winning side from the start, and with three double-clears they proved untouchable.

Great Britain’s march back to the top end of the sport continued as they slotted into runner-up spot with a one-fault advantage over the third-place home team, and there was huge relief for Dutch Chef d’Equipe Rob Ehrens.  “Today was so much better,” he said as, at last, his riders managed to shake off the run of poor results that has left them lingering in the bottom-four relegation zone for the last few weeks.  They have only moved up one place on the leaderboard however and still remain extremely vulnerable along with Switzerland, Sweden and Poland.

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