Category Archives: *Featured/Spotlights

Special features, spotlights, headlines

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

British-based Riders Hit HSBC FEI World Cup Trail

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12 May 2010 – British-based riders have their first chance to earn points in the valuable HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing series at Chatsworth (GBR) this weekend (May 15-16), and five nations are represented in the entry of 33.

Paul Tapner (AUS), fresh from his thrilling Badminton success, is two-handed with Kilfinnie ll and Tiger Flynne, and is joined by fellow Australians Bill Levett with Sea Oro and Sam Griffiths, having his first major international competition this year with Happy Times, third at Badminton and Burghley last year.

The Chatsworth CIC***-W has often proved a pointer to future international success, and Clayton Fredericks (AUS), who won this class in 2006 on Ben Along Time, is riding his smart new acquisition Bendigo lll, a German-bred horse proven in Grand Prix Dressage and Jumping which has been taking the national season by storm.

Continue reading British-based Riders Hit HSBC FEI World Cup Trail →

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

The United States Para-Equestrian Association Hosts First Ever Para-Webathon for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

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Susan Treabass is the co-host of the 2010 Para-Equestrian Webathon on June 8, 2010. Photo © 2010 Scott Stanley.

Thousand Oaks, CA – May 10, 2010 – The United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA) would like to invite everyone to the First Ever Para-Webathon.  The event is scheduled for June 8, 2010, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.  The First Ever Para-Webathon will be broadcasted from the studios of Alltech and will be hosted by the 2010 Radio Show announcers Glenn the Geek, Samantha Clark, and Para-Equestrian Susan Treabass.  The 2010 Radio show is the unofficial podcast about the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The purpose of the Webathon is to reach out to all equestrian enthusiasts and the entire nation to help raise capital for the United States Para-Dressage team, which will be competing at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Presented by The Horse Radio Network, the 2010 Radio Show, Alltech, and the USPEA, the live Webathon will bring the Para-Equestrian discipline to the forefront of everyone’s minds.  During the Webathon, many of the inspirational athlete’s stories will be highlighted.  This exciting event will assist the Para-Equestrian Athletes in raising awareness and funds for this intriguing discipline.  In the past, costs have ranged around $20,000 per competitor, and this Webathon will be an important asset to the Para-Equestrians.

Continue reading The United States Para-Equestrian Association Hosts First Ever Para-Webathon for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games →

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

U.S. Dressage Chef D’Equipe Anne Gribbons Praises Todd Flettrich on Preparation for the 2010 World Equestrian Games

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Todd Flettrich and Otto. Photo by: Susan J. Stickle

Wellington, FL – May 10, 2010 – Based in Coatesville, PA, and Wellington, FL, Todd Flettrich has had a successful dressage career and is well on his way to qualifying for this year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).  Anne Gribbons, a renowned rider and trainer who has known Flettrich since the start of his career, has watched Flettrich as a young rider, has competed with him and against him, and has judged him in competition for years. Now the United States Dressage Team Chef D’Equipe, Gribbons watched Flettrich and his Grand Prix mount Otto very closely this season and thinks that it looks promising for the talented duo to qualify for the U.S. Team that will compete at the WEG in the fall.

Cherry Knoll Farm purchased Otto, a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Rambo X Rampal), in 2009 and he and Flettrich have since formed an excellent partnership and have earned several top placings throughout the country.  Gribbons watched Flettrich and Otto ride in educational clinics put on by the United States Equestrian Federation in the fall and has followed every qualifier for the WEG that the pair has shown in. “I must say that Todd is blessed with a confident and experienced horse that is very ambitious and can do all of the movements very well,” Gribbons noted. “We have lovely horses coming along, but some of them at this point are still green and that is not Todd’s horse, his horse is very competent and confident, so that is great.”

Continue reading U.S. Dressage Chef D’Equipe Anne Gribbons Praises Todd Flettrich on Preparation for the 2010 World Equestrian Games →

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, FEI, Revolution Sports, Show Jumping, World Equestrian Games

Edwina Alexander – Rolex Diary

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Edwina Alexander is writing a diary for horsesinthesouth.com as she prepares for the 2010 Global Champions Tour (GCT) and the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). Here is Edwina’s second entry.

The last month

The last month has been a real rollercoaster with quite a few shows and then the Rolex FEI World Cup Final. Overall, I’m feeling pretty good in myself and I’m trying to get as much rest as possible, but not doing too much isn’t the easiest thing in the world at the moment! I was up at 4am last Wednesday morning to go to Copenhagen for a photo shoot and got back home at about 1am the following morning. I was then up very early to jump five horses ahead of the four-day show in Mannheim, so I haven’t had as much rest as I would have hoped for!

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Endurance Riding, Eventing/H.T., Events, FEI, Hunter/Equitation, More/Other, Para-Equestrian, Polo, Racing, Show Jumping, Vaulting, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Receives Entries from 60 Countries

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May 7, 2010 – LEXINGTON, KY – The World Games 2010 Foundation is pleased to announce that 60 National Federations have submitted entries in principle for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. They are:

Argentina                                France                                     Norway
Australia                                 Germany                                 Paraguay
Austria                                                Great Britain                          Poland
Belgium                                   Greece                                    Portugal
Bermuda                                 Guatemala                              Qatar
Brazil                                       Hungary                                  Russia
Bahrain                                   India                                        Saudi Arabia
Continue reading 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Receives Entries from 60 Countries →

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

HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing Goes Worldwide

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6 May 2010 – HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing takes place at opposite ends of the globe this weekend (7-9 May), with the third and fourth events in the 2010 series taking place at Sydney (AUS) and Marbach (GER).

A new reciprocal arrangement between the organisers of last month’s Kihikihi CIC***-W (NZL) and Sydney has meant that Australian and New Zealand riders have received funding to travel across the Tasman Sea to compete in these events.

As a result, two New Zealanders, Clarke Johnstone, currently lying equal fifth in the HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing standings, and Jenna Mahoney, ninth, will be contesting Sydney. Blair Richardson, the third Kiwi entered, already lives in Australia.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Equestrian Aid Found., Equestrian Assistance, Events, Phelps Media Group

End of Season Celebration Raises over $20,000 for Charlie Weaver, Courtney King-Dye, and Equestrian Aid Foundation

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Robert Dover and Don Principe. Photos © 2010 Lauren Fisher/PMG.

Wellington, FL – May 3, 2010 – Robert Ross, in conjunction with his office, Keller Williams Realty, hosted a grand gala on the property of his latest listing at 3410 Old Hampton Drive in Wellington. The amazing facility was open to the public for one evening and featured cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, tours of the breathtaking facility and a very special Musical Freestyle performance by the one and only Robert Dover. Over 200 people attended the End of Season Celebration, which was a huge success, raising over $20,000 to benefit the Equestrian Aid Foundation (EAF) as well as injured riders Charlie Weaver and Courtney King-Dye.

Delicious hors d’oeuvres and cocktails were provided at every turn as guests toured the amazing barn and living quarters on this 15,366 sq. ft. property.  Volunteers displayed silent auction items to raise money for the Equestrian Aid Foundation, and Robert Dover’s freestyle was the grand finale to an amazing evening to raise money for fellow equestrians.

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

Australian Paul Tapner Takes Over Lead at Badminton

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Paul Tapner (AUS) and Inonothing galloped into the lead at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, the second leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, after picking up just 0.4 of a penalty in the Cross-Country (Photograph: Kate Houghton).

2 May 2010 – Paul Tapner (AUS) was clearly overjoyed as he came through the finish line at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (GBR) on his second ride, Inonothing. His celebrations were more than justified as, after an enthralling and dramatic Cross Country day, he found himself in the lead at a 4-star event for the first time.

The track at Badminton, the second leg of the HSBC FEI Classics, proved as enigmatic as ever, taking its fair share of high-profile scalps, including all the top five riders after Dressage.

“I was aware that there were quite a lot faults occurring,” said British-based Tapner, 34, who was equal 11th after Dressage. “But after I’d ridden my first horse (Stormhill Michael, 12th) I had a roast lunch and then a sleep in the lorry and tried to forget about it. Inonothing is a unique horse to ride across country; he’s so small and nippy.”

If Tapner wins tomorrow, he will be the third Australian rider to do so in the last four years, following Andrew Hoy (2006) and Lucinda Fredericks (2007).

Continue reading Australian Paul Tapner Takes Over Lead at Badminton →

*Featured/Spotlights, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Eventing/H.T., Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

USET Foundation Presents Pinnacle Cup to Phillip Dutton

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2010 Pinnacle Cup Recipient Phillip Dutton and Woodburn at Rolex. Photo © Jessica Nemzoff

Gladstone, New Jersey – April 28, 2010 – The USET Foundation is pleased to announce Phillip Dutton of West Grove, PA, and Aiken, SC, as the 2010 recipient of the USET Foundation Pinnacle Cup. Awarded annually, the Pinnacle Cup goes to the highest placing American competitor at the prestigious Rolex CCI**** Three-Day Event. Dutton was honored with the award after securing second place honors aboard Acorn Hill Farm, Annie Jones, and Mardie Faucette’s Woodburn over the course of April 23-25, in Lexington, KY.  This year will be Dutton’s third year winning the trophy; he won it previously on Bruce Duchossois’ Connaught in both 2007 and 2008.

Piloting the 14-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred, Dutton finished the Dressage phase with 47.7 penalty points, a score that would hold throughout the duration of the competition. Dutton and Woodburn mastered Mike Etherington-Smith’s 30-obstacle cross country course within the time allowed and then went on to complete the third and final phase of the event with a fault-free show jumping round in the Kentucky Horse Park stadium.

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Chester Weber and Charles Owen Team Up to Put Helmet Safety in the Spotlight

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Chester Weber wears a helmet cam on his Charles Owen helmet. Weber uses the helmet cam as a training tool and is a strong proponent of wearing a helmet for safety. (Photo courtesy of PicsofYou.com)

Ocala, FL (April 27, 2010) – Helmets are the center stage topic in equestrian safety right now, and USEF Safety Committee member Chester Weber has turned his Charles Owen helmet into a box office hit! Safety really is a movie, thanks to a camera installed on Weber’s Charles Owen helmet.

Combined Driver Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, uses his helmet camera as a training tool. “The helmet cam is a way to record the driver’s-eye view of a four-in-hand team. I use it as a training tool at home,” Weber said. “The helmet cam makes safety fun and acts as a training tool that can enhance future performances.”

When it comes to safety, Weber has always put his money where his mouth is. He and his team are long-time users of Charles Owen helmets, which provide safety and offer unparalleled comfort. “The importance of wearing helmets is in the spotlight right now, and as a driver I certainly recommend wearing helmets, especially in the marathon,” Weber said.

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