Tag Archives: Reed Kessler

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Events, Show Jumping

UK Lecture Series Presents Conversation with Olympian Reed Kessler

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Reed Kessler and her horse, Cylana, during the 2012 Olympics. Photo Courtesy of the Kessler family

Lexington, Ky. – Reed Kessler, the 18-year-old equestrian phenomenon who became the youngest competitor in the 2012 Summer Olympics equestrian field and the youngest U.S. Equestrian Team member in history to take part in the games, will speak at the University of Kentucky Ag Equine Programs’ Distinguished Industry Lecture Series Nov. 15. Sponsored by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, the event will take place at 6:30 p.m. EST in the Ag Science Building’s Seay Auditorium on the UK campus. It is free and open to the public.

Kessler, who now calls Lexington home, helped her team secure a sixth place finish in show jumping in the London games. She is also the current U.S. Equestrian Federation National Show Jumping co-champion.

Team USA lists Kessler’s other career highlights as winning the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Junior Jumper Championship at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival and the bronze medal at the 2010 Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Hunter/Equitation, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Olympian Reed Kessler and Professional Hunter Rider Melissa Murphy Reach Out to Local Students

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Melissa Murphy talks to the students at the Lexington School about the hunter discipline and preparation for the upcoming Alltech National Horse Show

Lexington, KY – October 11, 2012 – The city of Lexington has always been rich with not only the bluegrass fields, but also the gem of the state – the horses. With the Alltech National Horse Show rapidly approaching October 30 – November 4, 2012, the nation is growing excited as the 129th edition returns to the Kentucky Horse Park for its second consecutive year.

Bobby Murphy, along with Olympian Reed Kessler and professional hunter rider Melissa Murphy, traveled to The Lexington School yesterday for the opportunity to partake in an educational endeavor to introduce students to the history and tradition of the Alltech National Horse Show.

Nearly 150 students from The Lexington School gathered to listen to Reed Kessler and Melissa Murphy divulge their favorite parts of not only the horse sport, but also for their excitement as the Alltech National Horse Show returns to Kentucky. When Kessler asked aloud how many of the students had ridden a horse, nearly every hand shot into the air – their excitement was palpable as they spoke to some of the best local equestrians of the industry.

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Competitions, Events, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Olympian Reed Kessler Awarded Parlanti Leading Rider at American Gold Cup

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Parlanti Leading Rider Reed Kessler and Mika. Photo by Parker/Russell-The Book LLC

North Salem, NY – September 27, 2012 – Parlanti Custom Riding Boots was pleased to present the American Gold Cup Leading Rider Award to Reed Kessler. The award honors included a pair of boots from the popular Parlanti Passion line of products.

Reed Kessler is more than deserving of accolades and this special award at the American Gold Cup. Kessler, at only 18 years old, was the youngest person in show jumping history to compete in the Olympic Games when she participated in the 2012 Olympic Games aboard her mare Cylana. With nearly 40 show jumping wins since 2009, including the US Show Jumping National Championship, Kessler is one of the most important talents in the show jumping arena today.

At the American Gold Cup Kessler earned a fourth place prize in the $7,500 1.40 and a fifth place in the $35,000 Double H Farm Jumper Championship both aboard Onisha and second place in the $50,000 American Gold Cup Qualifier and 10th in the $200,000 American Gold Cup riding Mika.

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

Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One Lead the Way in $50k American Gold Cup Qualifier

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Christine McCrea and Romantovich Take One win The American Gold Cup Qualifier. Photos by Parker/Russell the Book LLC

North Salem, NY – September 14, 2012 – Christine McCrea jumped ahead of the competition Friday to place first in the $50,000 American Gold Cup Qualifier at the picturesque Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. The day was clear and warm to welcome the 50 entrants to the final class of the day on the spectacular grass Grand Prix field.

Six entries went clear and headed to the jump-off.  McCrea had the winning time with 40.830 seconds aboard Romantovich Take One owned by Candy Tribble. “He’s really fast,” McCrea said. “He’s always been really fast.”

She added that the course was challenging for the qualifier to Sunday’s $200,000 American Gold Cup. She found the naturally hilly landscape added an extra level of difficulty to the course designed by Steve Stephens.

“The course was tricky because I think the terrain here adds a lot of spice,” she said. “You know, if you don’t ride on a terrain like this very often, you can really struggle with the hill, either working for you or against you.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team Finishes Sixth; Fellers and Ward Advance to Individual Final

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Beezie Madden and Via Volo (Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – Hard luck continued for the U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team as they rallied for a sixth place finish in the Team Championship at Greenwich Park. American anchor rider Rich Fellers said “Clear rounds win medals” and today that proved true as Great Britain won Team Gold for the first time since 1952. They did it in classic style in front of a home crowd of 20,000 fans, jumping off with Holland for the Gold medal. It was a masterful effort by the home team. Saudi Arabia won Bronze.

Bob Ellis’ track proved incredibly tough and scopey and only eight of the 51 starters managed clear rounds. The water line, from fences three to five proved very influential. The best American effort was turned in by Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, NY) who rebounded back from a rough start to the Olympic Games on Via Volo to fault at the third to last fence, a massive oxer.

“For sure it’s harder without saying,” said Madden. “And more technical. The water is more difficult and the double to the vertical is quite difficult… and the last three jumps are just plain old big.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

Strong Start for U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team in First Individual Qualifier

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McLain Ward and Antares F (Shannon Brinkman)

Greenwich, UK – Clear rounds were the order of the day in the First Individual Qualifier for Jumping in the main arena at Greenwich Park. Of the 75 starters in the Olympic Show Jumping Competition, 32 jumped clear rounds. Of those, two belonged to American riders Rich Fellers and McLain Ward. Reed Kessler added just one time fault at her first Olympic Games meaning the USA heads to the Team Competition with a strong start. Team Competition begins Sunday, August 5.

Chef d’Equipe George Morris commandeered another solid effort out of his squad; he retires from this role at the end of the year.

Ward (Brewster, NY) proved he is back on form after shattering his kneecap in January. He rode Antares F to a textbook clear over Bob Ellis’ track to start the U.S.’s effort off right. The 12-year-old Baden Wurtenburger gelding, owned by Grant Road Partners, made light work of the track. Always stylish, the nearly white gelding remained beautifully rideable between the fences for Ward. Ward won Team Gold twice with the mighty Sapphire (at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games) jumping in the first spot on the team. He has no problem leading off the American effort.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Reed Kessler Still Holds 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series Lead

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Reed Kessler leads the 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series Leading Rider Standings (pictured with Cylana). Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Lexington KY – July 28, 2012 – Although young rider Reed Kessler of Lexington, KY, is currently representing the United States at the Olympic World Games in London, she still holds the top spot in the 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series, sponsored by the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Consisting of seven grand prix classes to be held during the 2012 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park, the Hagyard Challenge Series offers a $50,000 Leading Rider Award. The rider accumulating the most points throughout the series will be presented with the bonus during the $50,000 World Cup Qualifier at the Kentucky National Horse Show in September 2012.

On Thursday, May 17, 2012, Kessler piloted Cylana to a second place finish in the $32,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Kentucky Spring Classic, and also nabbed the fifth place award with her second mount, Mika. The previous week, Kessler and Mika were also fifth during the $50,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, and the 17-year-old rider jumped to the top of the Leading Rider Standings, holding a resilient lead.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, USEF

Eleven American Show Jumpers to Contest Final Observation Events at Spruce Meadows

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Reed Kessler and Cylana (Sportfot)

Lexington, KY – The fourth and final USEF Observation Event for the 2012 US Show Jumping Team highlights this week’s schedule at Spruce Meadows in Calgary. Eleven riders from the USEF Show Jumping Long List have one more chance to prove their mettle as they vie for a spot on the 2012 Olympic Team.

Thursday’s Husky Energy Classic serves as the first of the two classes designated by the USEF for observation, and the second is Saturday’s CN Performance Grand Prix. Both classes are held at 1.60m height.

Both classes will be shown live on www.usefnetwork.com, Thursday June 14th at 8 PM Eastern and Saturday, June 16th at 4:30 PM Eastern.

The leader of the Long List, based on her victory of the USEF Observation Event classes in March, is 17-year-old phenom Reed Kessler (Lexington, KY). The reigining co-National champion has been racking up clear rounds from Florida to Kentucky to Calgary. She arrived in Canada two weeks ago and already claimed the top honors in the 1.60 meter Spectra Energy Cup last week with her top ranked horse Cylana. It was her first win at the prestigious Spruce Meadows tournament. She will compete the 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare and Mika, a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding, both owned by her family.

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

Reed Kessler Claims 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series Lead

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Reed Kessler leads the 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series Leading Rider Standings (pictured with Cylana). Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Lexington, KY – May 21, 2012 – Young rider Reed Kessler of Lexington, KY, not only leads the U.S. Show Jumping Team Long List, but she has now claimed the top spot in the 2012 Hagyard Challenge Series, sponsored by the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. Consisting of seven grand prix classes to be held during the 2012 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park, the Hagyard Challenge Series offers a $50,000 Leading Rider Award. The rider accumulating the most points throughout the series will be presented with the bonus during the $50,000 World Cup Qualifier at the Kentucky National Horse Show in September.

On Thursday, May 17th, Kessler piloted Cylana to a second place finish in the $32,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic at the Kentucky Spring Classic, and also nabbed the fifth place award with her second mount, Mika. The previous week, Kessler and Mike were also fifth during the $50,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, and the 17-year-old rider has jumped to the top of the Leading Rider Standings.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Events, Kentucky Horse Shows, Phelps Media Group, Show Jumping

Reed Kessler and Ligist Earn 1.45m Open Jumper Blue at Kentucky Spring Classic

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Reed Kessler and Ligist won the 1.45m Open Jumper class at the Kentucky Spring Classic. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/PMG

Lexington, KY – May 16, 2012 – Sunny skies greeted the exhibitors as they kicked off the Kentucky Spring Classic in the Rolex Stadium of the Kentucky Horse Park. Once again it was Reed Kessler at the top of the leader board as she piloted Ligist to the only double clear effort in today’s 1.45m Open Jumper class to earn the blue ribbon prize. Earlier in the day, Andre Rodriguez and Remonta Eden sped to victory in the 1.40m Open Jumpers, just topping Kessler and Onisha, who placed second during the speed class.

Germany’s Olaf Petersen Jr. built a technical track for the 1.45m Open Jumper class that snaked through the Rolex Stadium and included a triple bar, two double combinations, and an open water option. Only two horse and rider combinations were able to master the first round and advance to the jump-off, which featured three new fences and a double combination.

Reed Kessler, of Lexington, KY, and Ligist were third on the posted order, and made the first round look easy as they made their way over each obstacle. Advancing to the short course, Kessler picked up a quick gallop, and despite a hard rub at the first part of the double combination, they left each rail intact and dashed across the finish line in 32.588 seconds.

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