Countdown to Rolex CCI****: Cross-Country, Exile Concert, Kentucky Cup Reining – Oh My!!!

What could be more fun during the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Bridgestone than the Saturday schedule – four-star cross-country all day, followed by a concert by county music group, Exile,  then that evening the Kentucky Reining Cup Freestyle? That’s the news about April 28. Anyone holding a ticket for the cross-country or the Kentucky Cup Reining Freestyle can attend that Equestrian Events Inc (EEI) concert for free.
Tagged under: , , , , , , ,

Jennifer Baumert Produces Flawless Freestyle With First Perfect Score of the Dressage Under the Stars Season

Sidelines publisher Samantha Charles steps in as media judge Wellington, FL-March 8, 2012-  The night was filled with surprises as the fourth week of Dressage Under the Stars got underway at the Palm Beach Polo and Hunt Club. The skies opened with torrents of rain; however, the riders were not fazed as they continued to perform and impress the panel of judges, and the crowds were not deterred as the stands were nearly filled to capacity. Jennifer Baumert, the winner of last week’s dressage event, emerged victorious once more as she and her mount Don Principe earned straight 10′s from the judges and the first perfect score of the season. Last week, Baumert, a USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medalist, exhibited a 10-year-old Hanoverian adorned in a red bandana as she performed tempis to Johnny River’s “Dang Me” and canter pirouettes to Roger Miller’s “England Swings.” The cheer that erupted from the crowd was mimicked again last night as Baumert took center stage and stole the show aboard Don Principe. The pair was decked out in blue glitter and not a inch without a touch of pizzazz as their costume reflected the dazzling lights to another country/electronic performance
Tagged under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mason Phelps Radio Welcomes Samantha Charles, Heidi Lengyel, and Wendy Coren

[Wellington, FL] Mason Phelps Radio’s ninth segment will be held on Thursday, March 8th, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. EST on  W4CY.com.  Media Personality Steve Williams will be co-hosting along side Phelps once again, and this week will feature Samantha Charles, Heidi Lengyel and Wendy Coren as guests. Phelps and Williams, along with their esteemed guests, will discuss the up and coming Equus Foundations Fete Cheval night, as well as a publisher’s perspective on the increasingly popular, Sidelines Magazine. The Equus Foundation’s highly anticipated, Fetel Cheval event, is gearing up for what is sure to be an exciting night. Held on Friday, March 9 at 7:00pm, and presented by Spy Coast Farm, the excitement will take place under the lights at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center
Tagged under: , , , , , , , ,

Rolex in Retrospect & Getting Excited about 2012

Last year, we left Lexington about 5 pm on Monday, having delivered copy and pix about Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone. We had a few nice little goodies: Rolex microfiber eyeglass pouch, Rolex lanyard with jump drive, Bridgestone water-resistant “bag” with unique drawstrings so it can be slung like backpack, and from the Alltech Press dinner a highlights DVD of the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games and a huge umbrella that promptly turned inside out in the high winds. We did no shopping whatsoever – no time for such pleasurable pursuits – we didn’t even bring back any Kentucky Ale.
Tagged under: , , , ,

Pine Top

The 2012 Pine Top Farm Advanced Horse Trials organizers had one ordeal after another to deal with this past weekend.  Pine Top Farm, in Thomson, Georgia, was the scene of the area’s first Advanced competition for the season and when they realized a week or so beforehand that they couldn’t run everyone in the three phases in the daylight, they had to notify 280 riders that the Dressage and Cross Country phases of Advanced had been moved to Friday.  Then Friday opened with a Tornado watch and a Severe Storm Warning.  Dressage went on as scheduled but then the skies opened up with such a torrential downpour that riders, horses and grooms sought shelter in trailers and barns hoping that the roofs didn’t blow off.  In fact, some distance to the north exactly that happened.  Again, the organizers were notifying everyone of a change to the schedule – Cross Country was now moved to Saturday:  look at the order of go published on the internet, subtract two hours from the Friday time and off you went.  Organizers scrambled for volunteer fence judges but the event went off as planned. The view from the inside of the Aiken Brew Pub during Friday's storm. High winds and hail brought down trees and then the electricity. Saturday dawned bright, crisp, with low humidity and the clear blue skies for which this area of the south is known. One of the early jumps of the day, successfully cleared, a stroller sans baby.   A view of 19 and 20A,B and C and 21 on the Advanced cross country course.
Tagged under: , , , , , , , , , ,

California’s Dressage Riders Begin Olympic Journey at This Weekend’s Mid-Winter Dressage Fair CDI-W/Y/J in Burbank

BURBANK, CA –The 2012 Mid-Winter Dressage Fair CDI-W/Y/J, which begins Thursday, February 23 in Burbank, CA and continues through Sunday, February 26, is the first West Coast qualifying competition for the 2012 Olympic Games Dressage Team Selection Trials and will provide a glimpse of some of the country’s most exciting new horse and rider combinations. Steffen Peters and his new partner "Legolas" will make their international competition debut at this weekend's Mid-Winter Dressage Fair CDI-W/Y/J in Burbank, CA. Photo: Terri Miller. An international field of ten horses and riders will contest the CDI Grand Prix division, headlined by American dressage superstar and Olympian Steffen Peters with his spectacular new partner, “Legolas.”  In only their second show together, Peters is bringing Akiko Yamazaki’s ten-year-old Westfalen gelding to the Mid-Winter Dressage Fair for their FEI competition debut and the pursuit of crucial qualifying scores to hopefully join his famous stablemate “Ravel” in consideration for an invitation to London.   Additionally, fellow Olympian Guenter Seidel will present his new mount, Toyon Farm’s “Fandango”, but will be competing for top honors against his famous 2009 World Cup Finals “Phantom of the Opera” Pas de Deux partner Elizabeth Ball and “Orion”, as well as perennial favorites Kathleen Raine with “Breanna”; Canada’s Lindsey Stroh riding “Lancelot”; Yvonne Losos de Muñiz and “Liebling II” representing the Dominican Republic; and Jan Ebeling with “Rafalca”, who represented the USA at last year’s Reem Acra/FEI World Cup Dressage Finals
Tagged under: , , , , , , , , ,

Team FarmVet Does It Again! Second Annual Sidelines Tetrathlon Presented by MeadowView & The Riggio Family a Great Success

WELLINGTON, Fla.
Tagged under: , , , , , , ,

Vinceramos Buck Off Final a Rousing Successs

[Wellington, FL] Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center (VTRC) located in Loxahatchee, FL, celebrated 30 years at its 25th annual Benefit Auction and Dinner on February 11, 2012 at the International Polo Club in Wellington, FL. VTRC, an organization that witnesses countless miracles on a daily basis and truly lives up to its meaning, “to overcome,” uses this annual benefit as a way to raise money for the organization to continue to help further its riders abilities to accomplish just that. The reaction for the Buck Off has been nothing but positive, creator of the event, Bobbi Rottman with Equine Solutions expressed. “The Buck Off has really morphed off into its own event,” expressed Ruth Menor, executive director of VTRC. “This whole event has just been a wonderful way to get a younger generation involved with Vinceremos and have a fun time doing it.” The Buck Off consisted of three preliminary rounds, where teams of four compete to stay on the raging mechanical bull, Old School.
Tagged under: , , , , , , , ,

Eye on July

  With the goal of bringing home Gold from London this summer, the 2012 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team Training Sessions continue in Aiken, SC this winter, hosted by Ilene and Bob Boorman at their Mohaph Farm, the winter home for Boyd Martin, his staff and horses.  Mohaph Farm is located within the Bridle Creek Equestrian Community which also encompasses the training facilities of Phillip Dutton and Kevin Keane.     http://www.usef.org/documents/highPerformance/eventing/EventingHPP.pdf   The dressage arena comprises the front "lawn" of the beautiful Boorman barn and home combination. The Boormans have invested heavily in separate paddocks and a cross country schooling area. The United States Eventing Association announced an updated 2012 Eventing High Performance Training List last fall ( http://useventing.com/news/usef-high-performance-training-lists-updated-2012-land-rover-us-eventing-team ) and two of the four A List Riders and several of the B List Riders showed up for the Training Sessions with Bettina Hoy and Captain Mark Phillips; in addition, several of the USEF 2012 Eventing Developing Riders were participating as well  ( http://useventing.com/news/usef-announces-2012-eventing-developing-riders ).
Tagged under: , , , , , , ,

Will Diving Horses Return to Atlantic City?

Do I ever love the movie Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken . The real life story of Sonora Carver, orphan, runaway and brave young girl who had a dream of becoming a “diving girl” at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. Disney worked its best magic when it brought her story to the big screen, and me and my fellow horse-crazy friends watched it on a loop when it was released in 1991.
Tagged under: , , , , , , , , , ,