Tag Archives: Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award

Heather Houck Wins Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at Gold Coast Fall Fling

Dr. Heather Houck (right) and Elite are presented with the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award by April Leonard. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (November 18, 2014) — “If I get to ride, I’m happy,” smiles Dr. Heather Houck. “If you get to ride you have to be very grateful, because the alternative — not getting to ride — would be terrible!” Like all true horsemen and horsewomen, Houck cannot imagine life without horses. Her obvious joy to be a part of the dressage discipline inspired the popular footing and arena company Premier Equestrian to award Houck with the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at the Gold Coast Fall Fling, presented by the Gold Coast Dressage Association, on November 8-9, 2014.

At the Gold Coast Fall Fling, Premier discovered that Dr. Houck shares its priority of treating horses and equestrians exceptionally well. “I think it is important to have a positive attitude in general with all riding,” Houck of Loxahatchee, Florida explains. “If you are grateful for being able to get on a horse every day, that comes through when you talk to the people who help you, and it shows in everything you do.” Premier awarded Houck for her exemplary attitude with a Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award ribbon and a copy of The Horse Angels, a novel by Premier Equestrian’s CEO Mark Neihart.

Houck was thrilled to win the award, which was not her only victory during the Fall Fling weekend. She and her five-year-old Dutch gelding Elite (Zapatero VDL x Laurentin) had a phenomenal ride in the USEF First Level Test 2 Open division. The pair scored 74.324 percent, winning the class by nearly ten points. Houck was proud of her young horse for how far he’s come since she imported him from England. “I got Elite when he was two. I saw him on a jumper video where they chased him in a field and he jumped right out of the field. I immediately said, ‘I want that horse!’ So I imported him — and he showed up here and was probably the ugliest horse I’ve ever seen in my life,” Houck laughs. “And now he’s beautiful! He’s such an interesting young horse — I love him. I think it’s important when developing a young horse to always be happy and calm. If you’re grateful to be riding, you feel happy and calm anyway.”

For Houck, a cheerful disposition is especially important because she must budget her time to as a professional competitor in the dressage ring and as a full-time dermatologist. “My career is fantastic!” Houck enthuses. She operates Palm Beach Skin Solutions with her business partner Stacey Macleod, as well as seeing patients as a dermatologist. “I’m excited,” says Houck. “We just came out with a new line of products that include anti-aging moisturizers, acne treatment products, and sunblocks — which are especially important because here in Florida we need them. The products are elegant and don’t block your pores, so you can really use them. They are all medical grade so they actually have very good active ingredients.”

In another display of sportsmanship, Houck was quick to thank everyone who helped make her success at the Gold Coast Fall Fling possible — including Premier Equestrian, the show staff, those who helped with the horses’ stalls, and her sponsor dac ® Direct Action Company.

Premier Equestrian is pleased to announce Dr. Houck as the newest winner of the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award. To learn more about Premier and its affordable and high-quality products, including dressage arenas, horse arena footing, horse jumps, barn equipment, and accessories, visit www.PremierEquestrian.com or call 800-611-6109.

For more information contact:
Heidi Zorn, Premier Equestrian
1-800-611-6109
www.PremierEquestrian.com
heidi@dressagearena.net

Kindness Goes a Long Way for Region 5 Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award Winner Sandy Eckles

Sandy Eckles (mounted) during the awards ceremony with her 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Andreo. (Photo courtesy of www.yourhorses.ifp3.com)

Sandy, UT (October 24, 2012) – It is said that a little kindness goes a long way, and for Sandy Eckles, this proved to be true during the Region 5 Championships. Her kind attitude, supporting husband and, of course, a couple of good horses, impressed the show staff enough to award her with the Sportsmanship Award, sponsored by Premier Equestrian. The Premier Sportsmanship Award looks beyond the numbers and scores of the perfect ride or test, and considers the contribution of the competitors themselves to the true spirit of an equestrian sports event.  Eckles embraces this spirit fully at every show she attends, even amidst the distractions and stress of a very busy professional and personal lifestyle.

A full time small animal veterinarian, Eckles owns and operates Cottage Veterinary Hospital, along with her husband, Milo, in Parker, Colorado.  Their family consists of two daughters, Jenn and Laura, 4 dogs, 4 horses, 2 cats and a cockatiel. “I am like most other adult amateurs trying to juggle work, family and a passion for horses,” states Eckles, “and although I may get the credit for the wins, it truly ‘takes a village.’”  She continues, “I have a great instructor, Dee Packard, with the patience to help an amateur with two young horses, a family and work staff who understands how much it means to me to have time to ride and show, and show management staffs whose smile and willingness to make the show experience a pleasant one keeps us coming back.  But, especially, I have a husband who gives horses baths, cleans tack, cooks dinner and keeps me sane and humble.”

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Kara Wintersteen and BB Princess Liyah Take Home the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at the 2011 Estes Park Arabian Horse Show

Kara Wintersteen (left) was presented with the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at the 2011 Estes Park Arabian Horse Show. (Photo courtesy of Andrea Reynoso)

Sandy, UT (August 18, 2011) – With a combination of a warm smile, encouraging comments, a humble attitude, and a striking amount of horsemanship, eighteen-year-old Kara Wintersteen won over the judges and earned herself the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at the Estes Park Arabian Horse Show.  She and BB Princess Liyah, a nine-year-old Arabian mare, competed in a variety of classes and whether she missed a class or missed a lead, Wintersteen was never heard to complain, and always gave her horse credit for her winnings.  After having to scratch her morning dressage test due to a delay on the trail course, Wintersteen was given the chance to ride the test at the end of the schedule, just before the halter class was scheduled to begin.  She rode a beautiful dressage test before high tailing it out of the gate to strip off her tack for just in time for the halter class.

Premier Equestrian, one of the largest suppliers of dressage arenas, horse jumps, arena footing and stable accessories, was pleased to name Wintersteen the first Sportsmanship Award recipient as she obviously embodies the key attributes of a good sport.  Heidi Zorn, president of Premier Equestrian, congratulated Wintersteen on her wins and on her lovely attitude.  “Kara is a fantastic competitor and truly puts her horse and her fellow competitors before herself,” said Zorn.  “The show staff here noted how she rode in the Arabian Mounted Native Costume class and then came out and helped one of the other competitors get ready so they could compete.  This is the sort of deed we are looking to recognize with the Sportsmanship Award.”

Wintersteen has owned the purebred Arabian mare BB Princess Liyah, also known as Angel, since 2005, and the duo competed in fifteen classes at Estes Park, winning a third of them.  But placements aren’t Wintersteen’s first priority.  “All I really care about is the ride,” she stated.  “If I can come out of a class knowing we did our best, then that’s fine with me.  Angel was given to me as a hot, unbroken three-year-old when I was only thirteen.  Everything I have done with her has been without the help of a trainer.  We do get beaten, but it’s a learning process.  A good ride is a good ride, but especially so if it’s an improvement on previous rides.”

Continue reading Kara Wintersteen and BB Princess Liyah Take Home the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at the 2011 Estes Park Arabian Horse Show

Holger Bechtloff Wins Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award at Gold Coast Dressage Finale

German rider and trainer Holger Bechtloff, who now lives in Wellington, won the Premier Sportsmanship Award at the Gold Coast Dressage Finale Show. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (April 27, 2011) – German trainer Holger Bechtloff showed off his good sportsmanship during the Gold Coast Dressage Finale Show, riding away with the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award. 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.

Bechtloff said he was pleased to win the Sportsmanship Award and shared his secret for being a good sport. “Fairness to the animal has to be the top thing,” he said. “It’s important to know your limits and your horse’s limits and have fun doing it.”

Bechtloff, who competed Cartujo VIII and Teknicolor at the show, has found great success showing Andalusians to the Grand Prix level. “I recently had an amazing Andalusian that I was going to take to the Pan Am trials but he was a great horse and he ended up getting sold,” Bechtloff said. “The new owners love him and will compete him in the Pan Am Games for Venezuela.”

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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.”

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