Big Money = Big Sport: An Exciting Day at the Pfizer Million
Monday, September 12 2011
The scene by the ingate was tense. The crowd lining the hill grew with riders and their connections as the class went on and rider after rider came away with one rail, two rails, six rails. When Duncan McFarlane, 21st to go, finally notched the first clear round, the crowd was overjoyed. As Duncan is based in Northern California, On the Line was especially overjoyed to see a hometown rider shine on the other side of the country in this incredibly difficult class
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
William Fox-Pitt Wins Record Sixth Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials; American Boyd Martin Defies the Odds With Neville Bardos
Sunday, September 04 2011
Lexington, KY - There are incredible stories and then there is the story of the 2011 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Not only did William Fox-Pitt ride Parklane Hawk to a record sixth win of his career, but a little American horse named Neville Bardos defied every possible odd to finish seventh in the world’s toughest four-star. Fox-Pitt and the New Zealand Thoroughbred added one time fault in the show jumping to his dressage score in an otherwise flawless effort over the four days of competition. His dressage score of 39.7 was good enough for second place after the first phase but when overnight leader Simone Dietermann fell off Free Easy NRW on the cross country, Fox-Pitt inherited a lead he then defended with style. But the story of the competition continued to be a scrappy little failed racehorse from Australia. Neville Bardos fulfilled Boyd Martin’s dream of competing at Burghley and with his tenacity and bravery put a nightmare of a summer behind his family. A barn fire ripped through Martin’s barn in May, and Neville Bardos was trapped in the fire the longest of those horses that survived
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
Dressage Soul Sister: Found.
Tuesday, August 23 2011
From start to finish, reading the new novel The Dressage Chronicles by Karen McGoldrick, felt like sitting around a barn aisle somewhere with close friends and a closer adult beverage, gossiping for hours about horses and the crazy cool people who surround them. By the time I reached the last page of this book, a debut effort by dressage rider and trainer extraordinaire McGoldrick, this show jumper was ready to reach across the discipline divide and give her equestrian soul sister a fist pump.
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Top Individual Show Jumpers at the NAYRJC
Thursday, August 04 2011
The 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Young Rider and Junior Championship took place July 27 – 31 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Over three days of competition, the top young riders from every corner of the continent competed in extreme weather over challenging courses in the Rolex Main Stadium at KHP. The following is a brief, pictoral roundup of the top four riders who rose to the top: Zone 2's Katherine Dinan won Individual Gold with Vancouver. Photo by Shannon Brearton Zone 4's Samantha Senft and Early Morning won Individual Silver. Photo by Hannah Wormgoor In the Junior division, Samantha Shaefer and Trezebees claimed Individual Gold for Zone 3.
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
A Teachable Moment.
Wednesday, August 03 2011
Hello, everyone out there across the interwebs? Just simmer down for a moment, won’t you? You know who you are. On the Line knows that there are only two reasons for a vertical spike in traffic to this web address.
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Rodrigo Pessoa Teaches First-Ever U.S. Clinic in Sonoma, California
Wednesday, August 03 2011
Rodrigo Pessoa taught his first-ever jumping clinic in the United States this week, at the Sonoma Horse Park in Northern California. It was a highly anticipated event that fell between two weeks of horse shows at the venue, which is just two years old and thriving. (If you’re a regular Sidelines reader you might remember my profile of show manager Ashley Herman , pub March 2011). The facility is impressive, the scenery gorgeous, and riders in Northern California continue to flock to it for its series of excellent shows held May – September. But back to the clinic. On the Line did spend the weekend in Sonoma, but had to jet back to Florida early, regrettably taking a pass on the clinic. I was curious to know if Rodrigo took an active interest in the riders, how he dealt with the different horses, and how the riders responded to him
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Wherin It’s Learnt Once More; The Horse is a Humbling Creature.
Tuesday, July 26 2011
I met Allison Springer over the winter, while she was spending a few weeks in Wellington to get some extra show jumping mileage with Arthur. Allison was down to earth, totally approachable, and serious about her horses and their programs. She’s worked hard to improve Arthur’s show jumping style, and held an impressive ten point lead going into Sunday’s show jumping phase for the CIC3* at Rebecca Farm
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Cleanin’ Up Real Nice During the Dressage Phase at Rebecca Farm
Saturday, July 23 2011
As I write this, the cross country is well underway at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana. Yesterday was a full day for competitors, volunteers and stewards, who kept five levels of 1* through 3* dressage running smoothly.
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Eventers Flock to Shangri-La in Kalispell, MT
Friday, July 22 2011
Welcome back to this corner of the internet! As the summertime heats up, I know I’m not the only one wishing for a little vacation time and a time when temperatures wait until at least 9:30am before cracking the 90 degree mark. If you’re an eventer, mid July is the perfect time to pack up for a little horse-cation to the heart stoppingly gorgeous state of Montana. Over the past 10 years, Rebecca Farm has become synonymous with the Big Sky state, and each year the event held in Kalispell, Montana takes on ever more importance. Last year, it was a critical pre-WEG stop, this year, an equally (if not more) important qualifier for the upcoming Pan American Games this October, which will lead to London in 2012. The competitor list is a whos-who of 4* eventing, and many upper level riders are they with their going and up and coming horses. Captain Mark Phillips has designed the cross country course for the 10th year in a row, and you know that many riders will be thinking about London throughout the weekend
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic Begins July 8
Tuesday, June 28 2011
New this year – National Hunter Classic and a Second Grand Prix MORELAND HILLS, Ohio – June 28, 2011 – The Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic opens next Friday, July 8, at the Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field in Moreland Hills, Ohio, and will run through Saturday, July 23. Competitors from around the country will be traveling to the Chagrin Valley for this prestigious event. The Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic will begin with the Schneider Saddlery Opening Weekend, Friday, July 8 through Sunday, July 10, featuring local competitors. Opening day, Friday, July 8, the Classic will once again welcome the Riders with Disabilities competition, beginning at 9:30 a.m
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs