Catching up: Dressage Under the Stars, under the direction of Steve Williams and Mason Phelps, at Glen Straub’s Palm Beach Polo has been a great success. Presiding judges for the opening night included USDF rated show judge Bill McMullin, polo player Sunny Hale and trainer for Cavalier Show Jumping and cast member of HISTORY’s Full Metal Jousting James H. Fairclough II. The compliments continued as admiring reviews were given about the venue and the grounds. Over 300 spectators showed up on a regular basis throughout eight week series.
Gold medalist at the 2011 European Dressage Championships Charlotte Dujardin has helped launch a fundraising drive for disabled riders, putting on a stunning dressage display at the Cotswold Riding for the Disabled Center, based at Cheltenham Racecourse in England.
Tragedy struck when the hyperbaric chamber at the KESMARC Florida Equine Rehab in Ocala, Floridaexploded on the morning of February 10th. The news reported that Erica Marshall, 28, was killed. Sorcha Moneley was transported toShandsHospital inGainesville,FL, in critical condition. Erica Marshall was a KESMARC Florida employee who had two years of experience operating the chamber, while Sorcha was a visitor fromIreland. Landmark’s Legendary Affaire, a homebred 6 year old owned by Jacqueline Mars and ridden by Lauren Kieffer at the novice level with the O’Connor Event Team was also killed.
Lauren Kohr, a committee member for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Man/Woman of the Year, tells us they are hosting a USHJA National Hunter Derby at Halcyon Farm on April 7th inDillsburg,PA. All proceeds from the Hunter Derby will go towards the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In addition, the horse show is offering a Best Child Rider on a Horse and Pony and Best Adult Rider, all proceeds raised from those classes as well will go towards to the campaign.
The fourth annual Equestrian Aid Foundation “Inspection Reception” Fundraiser was held Thursday, March 1st at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby in Loxahatchee, FL. The highlight of the evening was the live bidding for a breeding to World and Olympic Champion Totilas.
Dr. Cesar Parra, part of the recent gold medal American Pan Am Team, has two new amazing young horses in his stable. “The sky is the limit with these two new young horses,” Cesar said. “For my taste, Simply Nymphenburg and Borett are two of the best young horses I have ever seen and they are surely two of the best horses I have ever had in my career. I am really excited and very curious to see the results that our training will have upon them. It is certainly an exquisite collection right now, with these new ones as well as Lindner and Van the Man in the barn. I am really looking forward to going to shows with horses of this caliber, and with horses of this quality in our stable, I am confident that we will always have special FEI horses for sale in the future. I can really tell now how strong a team can get when they have strong supporters like Michael and Sarah Davis. One must be always grateful to the horse owners for their support and trust.”
The USPRE Party was a vibrant night of fun-filled celebration of the PRE horses at the new Patrons Club on Wednesday. A host of the Spanish horses, young and old, led the festivities with exhibitions in the new arena at The Stadium section of thePalm BeachInternationalEquestrianCenter where the competitions for the Global Dressage Festival are held.
Dressage Olympian Lendon Gray enlightened the spectators in the stands and the capacity-filled Patrons Club about the PRE horses while four of them demonstrated dressage movements with young riders aboard.
Congratulations to Classical Dressage Master Walter Zettl. His DVD series “A Matter of Trust” has reached a prestigious landmark that many training videos – whether exercise, self-help or educational – rarely manage to achieve. “A Matter of Trust” series is approaching $1 Million in retail sales, making the series a huge success in not only the dressage world but in video sales in general.
Bumps and Bruises: Aiken eventer Lellie Ward had a very bad riding accident at her farm, suffering considerable damage to her face and a broken C-2 vertebra. Please be encouraged to send her a card at:
Lellie Ward
ParadiseFarm
4069 Wagener Road
Aiken,SC 29805
or email her your thoughts, prayers and well wishes to:
Lellie@paradisefarmaiken.com
Best wishes for a speedy return to the saddle for Buck Davidson, who broke his collarbone during a training session inOcala. Buck is one of the US Eventing Team’s strongest members and he is optimistic that this turn of events won’t affect his Olympic goals this year.
Passing: Jane Beswick (nee Chambers) who was previously married to Robert Hankey died unexpectedly as the result of a stroke. She was only 59. Jane was a much respected leading producer of both show ponies and eventers and her ‘Pebbley’ Prefix became well known throughout all circles. Her two children Hayden and Hayley are both successful riders. Her son Hayden married fellow Event Rider (and one time girl band member) Dee Kennedy not too long ago. Jane’s father Mark Chambers is something of a legend in Cheshire and now in his seventies still Whips In aboard the most stunning horses who are not just limited to the Show Ring. Jane’s brother Marcus was tragically killed in a hunting accident some 27 years ago when he was whipping in with the Cheshire Forest Hounds. It is something that a family never recovers from. (He was totally the hero and heartthrob of all the hunting ladies from age 8 upwards!)
To see some of the tributes to her please visit her Facebook page.
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