Tag Archives: Winter Equestrian Festival

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Show Jumping

Mario Deslauriers and Vicomte D Earn Victory in $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 8

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Mario Deslauriers and Vicomte D won the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup CSIO during week eight at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 3, 2011 – USA’s Mario Deslauriers and Vicomte D were victorious in Thursday afternoon’s $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 following a competitive class at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center during international CSIO week at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).

The FTI WEF’s eighth week of competition, sponsored by G&C Farm, continues through Sunday, March 6. Friday will feature the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm at 7 p.m. The $31,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers and the $25,000 ESP Jumper Stake will be held on Saturday afternoon followed by the PRO Derby Cross at 5:30 p.m. and the $35,000 Hermès Puissance. The Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic will be held on Sunday followed by the $150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSIO 4* Grand Prix at 1 p.m. The 2011 WEF will continue through April 3 and award more than $6 million in prize money.

The $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm, $35,000 Hermès Puissance, and $150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSIO 4* Grand Prix will be available for viewing on a live webcast via the USEF Network. To view these incredible events, please go to: http://www.usefnetwork.com/wefcsio2011.

Continue reading Mario Deslauriers and Vicomte D Earn Victory in $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 →

Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation

Ferrell and Moshi Make a Lasting Impression in the Green Conformation Hunters

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Sandy Ferrell and Moshi are the Green Conformation Hunter Champions during the eighth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – March 3, 2011 – The eighth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3, is well into its second day of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The sun was shinning along with strong gusts of wind as the Green Conformation Hunters made their way into the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring on Thursday morning.

Sandy Ferrell was aboard the new entry from Stephanie Riggio, Moshi, for the championship win in the Green Conformation Hunters. Riggio purchased Moshi, a seven-year-old Belgium Warmblood gelding by Quintus, around the fourth week of competition at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. “He’s a new ride for me, so I get to be the lucky girl, which is nice,” beamed Ferrell.

Moshi and Ferrell secured the championship honor by winning the model and the under saddle classes. The duo went on to win another over fences class and receive a second and two thirds in the division’s remaining classes.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, JRPR

Hunter Champion Scott Stewart and Blessed Win The Sanctuary High Performance Working Hunter Division At WEF

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Scott Stewart and Blessed won the Sanctuary High Performance Working Hunter Division during the seventh week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. (Photo courtesy of Sportfot)

Wellington, FL (March 2, 2011) – Scott Stewart is a well-known winner on the hunter circuit, and the veteran hunter rider proved he could take a new horse and ride it into the winner’s circle when he piloted Blessed to The Sanctuary High Performance Working Hunter Division during the seventh week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. The division is sponsored by The Sanctuary at PBIEC, a new world-class full horse therapy and conditioning center located on the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) show grounds.

Stewart, of Flemington, New Jersey, purchased Blessed about a month ago from Derek Braun. The six-year-old gray Holsteiner mare not only took home the championship in the High Performance Working Hunters, but also proved she could handle the International Ring when she navigated the big ring to win a hunter stake class with a score of 90.

Stewart, who is a four-time World Champion Hunter Rider Professional Champion, said he thought the mare might need to stay in the pre-green division for a while, but added that after a few times it the ring he knew she was up for the challenge of competing in the high performance working hunters and the big leagues of WEF. The Sanctuary High Performance Working Hunter Division is a new division at WEF this year and is open to all riders and horses and includes fences ranging in height from 4’ to 4’6”.

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Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation

Victoria Colvin and Ariel Win Four of Five Classes for Small Junior 15 & Under Hunter Championship

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Victoria Colvin and Ariel are the Martha Jolicoeur & Illustrated Properties Small Junior Hunter 15 and Under champions during the seventh week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – February 27, 2011 – As week 7 comes to a close here at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3, looks back on another successful week of competition. The younger section of Small Junior Hunters, presented by Martha Jolicoeur and Illustrated Properties, awarded their championship early this morning in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring.

Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, rode Ariel to the championship honor this weekend. Neither her, nor her mount, Ariel, are new to the championship winner’s circle. Scott Stewart, who also trains Colvin, owns Ariel, a six-year-old Brandenburg mare by Lancado.

The winning pair secured the tricolor honor this morning by winning a stunning four out of five classes in their division of nine entries. They placed fifth in the division’s remaining class.

Colvin, arguably one of the best and busiest young riders here in Wellington, keeps very busy showing everything from pony hunters to the junior equitation classes. Furthermore, she does it all successfully and stays focused throughout. Colvin will remain busy throughout the rest of circuit showing numerous horses and ponies as the weeks continue.

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

McLain Ward and Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve Triumph in $78,000 Fidelity Investments CSI 2* Grand Prix

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McLain Ward and Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve won the $78,000 Fidelity Investments CSI 2* Grand Prix during week seven of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Wellington, FL – February 26, 2011 – Saturday night at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival featured an exciting victory for McLain Ward (USA) and Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve in the $78,000 Fidelity Investments CSI 2* Grand Prix. The class was held on a beautiful Florida evening under the lights at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Riders representing 12 different countries made up the international field this evening, showing over a course designed by Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany. Thirty-seven entries began the class, and seven were able to jump clear in the first round. An exciting jump-off followed, as some of the best riders in the world battled for top honors. The United States took home the top three places with Olympians McLain Ward, Beezie Madden, and Margie Engle leading the class.

A father and daughter each riding for France, Marie and Michel Hecart, were the first two riders to jump clear over the first round course to advance to the jump-off. Marie rode Myself De Breve, owned by Haras De La Rogue, through the jump-off course with eight faults in 44.72 seconds to finish in sixth. Michel and Babbe Van’t Roosakker, also owned by Haras De La Rogue, immediately followed and jumped in 46.44 seconds with four faults at the last fence to place fourth.

Continue reading McLain Ward and Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve Triumph in $78,000 Fidelity Investments CSI 2* Grand Prix →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Meg O’Mara and Sinatra IV Win Second Leg of the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Riders Grand Prix Series

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Meg O'Mara and Sinatra IV won the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Riders Grand Prix during week seven of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. All photos © Sportfot

Enrique Gonzalez and Katina Gallop to Victory in $31,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers

Wellington, FL – February 25, 2011 – Meg O’Mara and Sinatra IV jumped to victory in the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Riders Grand Prix on Friday night at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Showing under the lights in the International Arena of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, O’Mara and Sinatra IV were the only pair to jump double clear in the evening’s class to earn top honors over a field of 54 starters.

The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival’s seventh week of competition continues through Sunday, February 27. Week seven, sponsored by Fidelity Investments, will feature the $78,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix, CSI 2* on Saturday at 7 p.m. and the Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic on Sunday at 1 p.m. The 2011 WEF will continue through April 3 and award more than $6 million in prize money.

Today’s class was the second of four qualifiers for the EY Cup Finals, held at the FEI World Cup Finals in Leipzig, Germany. The top three riders at the conclusion of the series will have the opportunity to travel to Germany to compete. The third event, which is a Team Event, will be held on Thursday, March 10 in the International Arena. The final $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix will be held on the grass derby field at The Stadium on Sunday, March 20, 2011. Through their sponsorship, The Dutta Corporation & International Horse Transport will be shipping the winning horse to the Finals and covering travel expenses for the highest scoring rider in this series.

Continue reading Meg O’Mara and Sinatra IV Win Second Leg of the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Riders Grand Prix Series →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, JRPR

Champions Elizabeth Towell Boyd and Louise Serio: The Sanctuary Honors Duo of High Performance Working Hunter Champions during Fifth and Sixth Weeks of WEF

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Elizabeth Towell Boyd and Brunello won the Sanctuary High Performance Working Hunter division during the fifth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Louise Serio and Castle Rock (pictured) won the title during week six. (Photo courtesy of Sportfot)

Wellington, FL (February 24, 2011) – The Sanctuary at PBIEC, the new world-class full horse therapy and conditioning center located on the Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds, honored two High Performance Working Hunter champions during the fifth and sixth weeks of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Elizabeth Towell Boyd and Brunello rode away as the High Performance Working Hunter Champions during week five and Louise Serio and Castle Rock captured the High Performance title during week six.

Boyd and Serio are well known in the show world and both have long resumes attesting to their success in the hunter ring. Boyd, who owns Brunello with Janet Peterson, works out of her family’s Finally Farm in South Carolina. Brunello, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding, is a veteran hunter who Boyd said she reserves for big classes. In 2010, Boyd and Brunello won the WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Classic Spectacular.

Serio and Castle Rock, week six winners of The Sanctuary High Performance Working Hunter Championship, showed the hunter world how to stay on top when they won the 2011 WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Classic Spectacular under the lights in the International Arena at PBIEC. Castle Rock, a 12-year-old KWPN Dutch Warmblood gelding by Corland, is one of the country’s leading hunters.

Continue reading Champions Elizabeth Towell Boyd and Louise Serio: The Sanctuary Honors Duo of High Performance Working Hunter Champions during Fifth and Sixth Weeks of WEF →

Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Jennifer Wood, Show Jumping

Marie Hecart and Babbe van’t Roosakker Speed to Win Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic

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Marie Hecart and Babbe van't Roosakker won the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic during week 6 at the 2011 FTI WEF. Photo © Sportfot

Weatherly Stroh and Sigfried Top $5,000 WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter Classic Spectacular

Wellington, FL – February 19, 2011 – The Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic was held today, and it was Marie Hecart (FRA) on Babbe van’t Roosakker, owned by Haras de la Rogue, who were the fastest double clear combination. They won the sixth event in the Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series, which will award $50,000 in rider bonus money at the end of the series.

The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival’s sixth week of competition continues through Sunday, February 20. Week six, sponsored by Fidelity Investments, will feature the $50,000 G&C Farm Palm Beach Jumping Derby on Sunday at 3 p.m. at The Stadium. The 2011 WEF will continue through April 3 and award more than $6 million in prize money.

There were 34 entries in today’s 1.50m classic, and seven of those were able to find the clear round over a course designed by Steve Stephens of Palmetto, FL. Hecart and Babbe van’t Roosakker, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Kannan, were able to keep a quick pace and efficient turns for the fastest clear jump-off ride in 39.496 seconds.

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

2011 FTI Great Charity Challenge Presented by Fidelity Investments Is Huge Success and Awards More Than $1 Million to 32 Palm Beach County Charities

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The Kessler family competed for Resource Depot. Photos © Anne Gittins Photography, Sportfot, and ManciniPhotos

Wellington, FL – February 20, 2011 – The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida transformed into a field of dreams for 32 Palm Beach charities in the second annual FTI Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments where over a million dollars was raised in an exciting Pro-Am show jumping event on February 19. A signature event of the 12 week FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, the event featured 32 teams of three riders ranging in age from 11 to 70 where amateurs competed side by side with their professional heroes. Each team was randomly assigned to a charity to compete for $1,020,000 in prize money with the winning charity receiving $150,000 with a sliding scale to 32nd place of $10,000. A crowd of 6,000 came out to enjoy the family fun as part of the Saturday Night Lights series which continues through April 2nd.

Every team was generously sponsored by an equestrian family with additional monies coming from corporate and individual donors as well as all proceeds from ticket and VIP table sales for the evening’s event produced by Equestrian Sport Productions, which donates its staff and venue for the event.

The winning team, competing for Wheels for Kids, set a blazing fast time of 91.376 seconds. The riders were Olympian Pablo Barrios, 18-year-old Luis Fernando Larrazabal, and 14-year-old Emmanuel Andrade. All three riders are from Venezuela and competed for team sponsors, Gustavo and Carolina Mirabal of G&C Farm. The Mirabals, Barrios, and Larrazabal live in Wellington, FL.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13288

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Events, Hunter/Equitation

Glen Senk Steals the Spotlight with Another Place in the Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic

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Glen Senk and Another Place are the winners of the Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic during the sixth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Photo © Sportfot

Olivia Esse and Small Affair Win WCHR Junior/Amateur-Owner Palm Beach Hunter Classic Spectacular

Wellington, FL – February 20, 2011 – Glen Senk did more than steal the show this morning as fifty-three entries came out for a chance to win the title in the Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic. Senk had a total of four entries in the class, all of which placed in the top twelve. Senk’s newest mount, Another Place, took top honors in the class with an average score of 83.5 in the first round and 85.5 in the second round.

Senk, and his own Fashion Farm, recently purchased Another Place, an eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Carano, through his trainer Scott Stewart. This week marks only the fifth time that Another Place has shown in competition. “He’s the sweetest, gentlest, kindest animal,” beamed Senk about his new horse.

Senk went on to place third on his own mount Declaration, a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding by Collin-L. He was awarded sixth on another of his mounts, Blessed. Blessed is a seven-year-old Holsteiner mare by Limotas. Senk’s fourth ride, Highland Park, also owned by Senk’s Fashion Farm, was awarded the eleventh place award. Highland Park is a twelve-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Welt Hit II.

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