Category Archives: *Featured/Spotlights

Special features, spotlights, headlines

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

Pablo Barrios Wins Three Gold Medals at 21st Central American and Caribbean Games

Leave a comment

Andres Rodriguez and Pablo Barrios (left, center) in the medal ceremony. All Photos © Anwar Esquivel.

Mayaguez, Puerto Rico – July 31, 2010 – Pablo Barrios represented his home country of Venezuela well this week at the 21st Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Barrios rode G&C Quick Star 11 to the gold medal in the first individual round, helped the Venezuelan team win the gold medal, and finished as the overall individual gold medal winner. G&C Quick Star 11 is owned by G&C Farm. G&C Farm, owned by Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal of Venezuela, is based in Wellington, FL. Barrios is also based in Wellington, FL.

In the opening speed round, Barrios and G&C Quick Star 11, a 12-year-old KWPN mare by Quick Star x Grannus, were the fastest clear round to take home the first gold medal in show jumping. Venezuelan teammate Andres Rodriguez won the silver, which helped Venezuela take the lead in the team classification going into the next day’s Nations Cup competition.

“I went last out of the Venezuelan riders on the first day, so I had the opportunity to watch almost the whole class,” Barrios recalled. “I watched Andres lead the class for a while, and I wanted to go a little faster. I made a few turns tighter, but I didn’t want to risk too much because it’s a championship and all scores count.”

Continue reading Pablo Barrios Wins Three Gold Medals at 21st Central American and Caribbean Games →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, FEI

FEI World Singles Driving Championships 2010 – Marathon

Leave a comment

Lucie Musy-Comune (SUI) won the World Championship marathon at Pratoni del Vivaro (c) Hippoevent

SWISS DOMINANCE AND GIRL-POWER IN THE MARATHON

31 July 2010 – Perfect conditions created a wonderful environment for the marathon of the FEI World Single Driving Championship in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy. Undulating tracks on a green meadow and the obstacle site nicely embedded in the hilly landscape ensured great sport.

The eight obstacles built by Austria’s course designer Christian Iseli offered the competitors countless route options. Two of them included extra large water elements, built and flagged in a modern and horse friendly way.

Before the start of the World Championship, the possible hot weather conditions in the summer in Italy was much talked about, but it could not have been better today. Twenty-seven degrees Celsius was the highest temperature reached. The marathon was heavy, but fair and selective, absolutely ideal for World Championship competition.

Continue reading FEI World Singles Driving Championships 2010 – Marathon →

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Rescue/Protection Sources

House Committee on Transportation Unanimously Approves Horse Transportation Safety Act

Leave a comment

House Bill to Ban Hauling Horses on Double Deck Trailers

(Washington, DC) – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) applauds Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN), of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for bringing the Horse Transportation Safety Act (H.R. 305) before his Committee and supporting its swift unanimous passage.

“We are especially grateful for the leadership and commitment of the bill’s sponsors Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN).  Both have been incredible champions for the welfare of America’s horses,” noted Christine Sequenzia, AWI federal policy advisor.

Several bipartisan cosponsors spoke in support of H.R. 305 during the hearing, including a poignant opening statement by Congressman Cohen.  H.R. 305 passed by a voice vote with no amendments and is now headed to the House floor.

Continue reading House Committee on Transportation Unanimously Approves Horse Transportation Safety Act →

*Featured/Spotlights, Breeds, Contributors/Press, Wild Horse Sources

We’ve Heard You – Get on Board the Pony Express by September 1st!

Leave a comment

Dear Friends, Supporters, and Future Supporters,

We have heard you voice your complaints about the roundups.

We have listened to you share so many of your personal stories about your own adopted mustangs.

We have all sent thousands of letters via fax, email, and USPS to our Government officials, even to the point of their phone lines being unplugged and emails shut down due to the high volume of wild horse supporters on this issue.

We are doing all of these things daily, but there still has been NO change.

It’s time for the PONY EXPRESS!

I will personally hand deliver each and every letter that you write, via the Pony Express (one of our beautiful mustangs), to Washington DC. I am setting a goal of 20,000 individual letters to take with me. Americans, international supporters, animal activists, anyone who would like to tell President Obama, Secretary Salazar, and Bob Abbey that we aren’t going to sit by waiting until these roundups are over is encouraged to write. This is a very important issue to hundreds of thousands of people that have pleaded with our government to stop gathering our wild horses.  This way they cannot unplug their phones, make their website impossible to send a comment to, or delete emails. These are GOING to get to Washington. I promise you that!

Continue reading We’ve Heard You – Get on Board the Pony Express by September 1st! →

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

Ward Is In! McLain Ward & Goldika 559 Won the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV to Earn a Spot in the Pfizer Million Eligible Rider Rankings

1 Comment

© ESI Photography. McLain Ward and Goldika 559 in the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Saugerties.

SAUGERTIES, NY (July 27, 2010) — Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward and Goldika 559 won the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, on Sunday, marking the third Grand Prix victory for the duo this year in the Strongid® C 2X Stadium at HITS Saugerties.

Ward, of Brewster, New York and 18-year-old mare Goldika 559, owned by McLain Ward & Blue Chip Bloodstock, were one of 27 horse-and-rider combinations to take the field on a course designed by International Course Designer Florencio Hernandez of Mexico City, Mexico, which saw just four pairs advance to the jump-off.

Hernandez’s first-round course proved challenging, as the first six competitors pairs failed to go clean, with a majority of faults coming in the two double combinations. The time allowed, at 83 seconds, was tight as well and caused many to incur time faults over the course.

Continue reading Ward Is In! McLain Ward & Goldika 559 Won the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV to Earn a Spot in the Pfizer Million Eligible Rider Rankings →

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

Announcing the USEF Para-Dressage Team Nominated Entries for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Leave a comment

Mary Jordan and Paxton Abbey at USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games © 2010 Lindsay McCall/PMG.

Thousand Oaks, CA – July 21, 2010 – On June 27, 2010 the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championship and the USEF Para-Dressage Selection Trials for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games concluded. Riders then headed home as they waited in anticipation to hear who would be selected for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  The Para-Dressage team will be lead by Chef d’Equipe Missy Ransehousen whose international experience on and off a horse will be an outstanding resource for the Para-Dressage riders.  Selectors of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Para-Dressage Team are Laura Sheer, Lynn Seidemann, David Schmutz and Sandy Raferty.

Continue reading Announcing the USEF Para-Dressage Team Nominated Entries for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games →

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

Jumping Blainville’s $60,000 World Cup Qualifier Captured by Francois Lamontagne and Anton

Leave a comment

Francois Lamontagne and Anton win $60,000 World Cup at Jumping Blainville. Photo © 2010 Lindsay McCall for PMG.

Blainville, QC – July 18, 2010 – The impressive $60,000 World Cup Qualifier was snagged by Québec rider Francois Lamontagne and his young horse Anton.  The pair topped the class finishing the jump-off in a double-clear 37.06 seconds. Lamontagne was given a cooler, champagne, and rosette along with the large percentage of the prize money for his amazing finish. Earning the second place honors was Ljubov Kochetova (RUS) and Aslan who also completed both courses fault-free.

Linda Allen designed the large, technical course for today’s World Cup Qualifier, which was held in the Grand Prix Ring at the Blainville Equestrian Park. The first round included 16 jumping efforts, which featured a triple bar, a liverpool, an oxer-vertical double combination, and a vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination. The most difficult obstacle proved to be the double combination, which was very technical and caused six riders to accrue faults.

Continue reading Jumping Blainville’s $60,000 World Cup Qualifier Captured by Francois Lamontagne and Anton →

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

FEI European Jumping Championships for Young Riders, Juniors and Children

1 Comment

Sweden's Douglas Lindelow claimed individual gold in the Young Riders final at the 2010 FEI European Jumping Championships for Young Riders, Junior and Children at Haras de Jardy, France. Photo: Christoph Bricot.

DOUBLE GOLD FOR GERMANY AT JARDY
19 July 2010 – Germany boasts many of the best riders in the world and the new generation, competing at Haras de Jardy (Marnes la Coquette) over the last week, showed that they are more than ready to step into the big boots of their senior counterparts.  The venue, just outside Paris in France, hosted the 2010 FEI Children on Horses, Junior and Young Rider European Jumping Championships from 13 to 18 July and Germany took team gold in Juniors and Young Riders while Great Britain claimed the Children’s team title.

Sweden’s Douglas Lindelow claimed the Young Riders individual title while Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts was crowned Junior champion and Tressy Muhr of France earned the Children’s individual trophy.

Children on Horses – British Reign Supreme
British youngsters sprang a surprise in the Children’s Team Championship.  The four riders trained by Corinne Bracken, coach and leader of the three competing British teams, completed Thursday’s team challenge on a zero score to clinch gold.  In silver medal position was Italy with four faults, followed by Ireland in bronze with just five while Belgium and France tied for fourth place.

Continue reading FEI European Jumping Championships for Young Riders, Juniors and Children →

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

Lauren Hunkin Leaps to Victory aboard Larry 0146 in FEI Open Welcome at Jumping Blainville

Leave a comment

Lauren Hunkin leaps to victory aboard Larry in FEI Open Welcome at Jumping Blainville. Photos © 2010 Lindsay McCall for PMG.

Blainville, QC – July 16, 2010 – Two top equestrians, Lauren Hunkin and Christine McCrea, battled for the top award at Friday night’s FEI Open Welcome Class during the Classique Internationale de Blainville (Jumping Blainville).  Hunkin and Larry 0146’s ambition and speed would earn them the winning rosette after flying through the jump-off in 31.96 seconds. McCrea aboard Baloubet Junior Z’s time would hold up for the second place position.  This evening’s class took place in the Grand Prix Ring at the Equestrian Park of Blainville and was watched by a large crowd of enthusiastic onlookers.

Today’s challenging first round track and jump-off course were designed by Linda Allen. The opening round featured a liverpool, a triple bar and three double combinations. Many riders accrued faults at the final oxer-vertical double combination which came just a few strides after the wide spread of the triple bar. One of the most difficult aspects of the first round proved to be the time allowed, with only five riders breaking the beam without time faults.

Continue reading Lauren Hunkin Leaps to Victory aboard Larry 0146 in FEI Open Welcome at Jumping Blainville →

*Featured/Spotlights, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, Products/Services, Training/Clinics

Your Health 321, LLC Sponsors International Dressage Rider Dr. Cesar Parra

1 Comment

International rider and trainer Dr. Cesar Parra and Furst Fabio. Parra is being sponsored by Your Health 321, LLC. (Photo courtesy of Sharon Packer)

Whitehouse Station, NY – Your Health 321, LLC, independent distributors for a company specializing in adult stem cell nutrition, providing optimal health and superior performance for horses, is pleased to announce they are a sponsor of Dr. Cesar Parra, international dressage rider, trainer and instructor.  Parra was one of Colombia’s top international riders before becoming a US citizen in 2008.

Parra’s recent win on Dr. Lori Washton’s 13-year-old KWPN gelding Olympia at the Prix St. Georges with a score of 71.789 and the Intermediaire-I with a score of 71.000 percent has put Olympia’s ranking at number one for the FEI small tour.  Parra and his team are very excited to have been invited to attend Gladstone Championship in August, with hopes of qualifying to represent the US at the Pan American Games held in Mexico next year.  On another note, Grandioso scored in the 70% in the Intermediaire II and Whoopie Gold won her 2nd level test 1 with a big score of 76% with Nadine Buberl riding.

Continue reading Your Health 321, LLC Sponsors International Dressage Rider Dr. Cesar Parra →