FOURTEEN TEAM HOPEFULS TO COMPETE AT DEVON
Monday, May 07 2012
DEVON, Pa.— The always exciting Open Jumping at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair will have an extra fillip of tension thrown in this year as 14 of the competitors who are long-listed for the show jumping team at the London Olympics will be competing in two of the Observation Events that will decide the eventual team. Devon, which runs May 24 to June 3, benefits Bryn Mawr Hospital, to which it has donated over $14 million during the 10 decades of their association. Among the 14 long-listed competitors are four Olympic or World Championships medal winners. Leading the list are McLain Ward of Brewster, N.Y., and Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, N.Y., both with two Olympic team gold medals and a World Championships team silver, and Laura Kraut of Wellington, Fla., with one Olympic team gold medal. Margie Engle, also of Wellington, has a World Championships team silver medal, and another of the long-listed riders, Mario Deslauriers of New York, N.Y., is an Olympic and World Championships veteran. In all, 31 riders have qualified to show at Devon, including Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, N.J., who has been Leading Open Jumper Rider at Devon for four of the past six years, always battling it out for that honor with Ward, who has won the Grand Prix at Devon six times. This will be a particularly tension filled event for Ward, as he had to skip the selection trials in Wellington in March because he had fractured his kneecap when a horse fell with him in January at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington.
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
ShowChic Kicks Off Mentoring Program
Friday, May 04 2012
Photo: From left to right, Lauren Knopp, Rebecca Cohen, and Mary-Cameron Rollins are participants in the ShowChic mentoring program. Wellington, FL (May 3, 2012) – Mary-Cameron Rollins, Lauren Knopp and Rebecca Cohen are three confident young riders and stars on their way up in the dressage world. Thanks to a new mentoring program by the dressage boutique ShowChic, formerly known as Sho Clothes, all three young ladies will have help as they travel the road to success within the horse industry. “I have a strong desire to help young riders get started and find success,” said Michele Hundt, owner of ShowChic. “Our ShowChic Mentoring Program will give our riders an opportunity to head in the right direction while being ambassadors for us at the same time. I am excited to launch the mentoring program and look forward to watching these three young ladies blossom.” As part of the ShowChic mentoring program, Rollins, Knopp and Cohen will attend and assist with the boutique’s monthly “Shop Talk” program, present ShowChic sponsored awards at dressage shows and assist Hundt with fashion shows and educational events ShowChic takes part in. “The girls will also post on our Facebook page and act as spokespersons for ShowChic,” Hundt said.
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
Rolex Kentucky – 27 Jumped, Fox-Pitt & Parklane Hawk Won 2nd Leg of Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, Allison Springer & Arthur USEF Nat’l…
Sunday, April 29 2012
Sunday – the grand finale of Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event, presented by Bridgestone, spotlighted 27 horses in the show jumping, which began at 12:45 pm. At this morning’s final veterinary inspection, of the 30 horses presented, one did not receive the ground jury’s nod and two horses, held for re-inspection, withdrew. Before the jog, two horses were withdrawn: RF Rovano Rex, but Marilyn has her second horse RF Demeter (one of the few mares entered in this year’s Rolex) and Saturday night, after cross-country, Sara Kozumplik withdrew Manolo Blahnik, who comported himself great at his first-ever four-star even though he didn’t complete. Kudos to Sara for putting her horse first – she’s a class act rider and trainer all the way. This morning, Sara texted to me: “He was amazing yesterday. I had silly mistake at easy fence. so proud of him.” Manny is fine, by the way.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
ROLEX KENTUCKY – AM Cross-Country CH-CH-CH-CHANGES!!!
Saturday, April 28 2012
Wowie zowie – what a morning – we’re still reeling from the changes in the leaderboard. Even before the XC began, there were three withdrawals: Buck Davidson pulled out with Absolute Liberty, who would have been first out of the start box this morning, & his Pan Titanium, Jolie Wentworth & Killian O’Connor. Then, only two completed the cross-country out of the first seven horses to start this morning! Two retired on course: Andrew Nicholson (NZL) took out a frangible pin at 9abc – Bridgestone Park Question (coffin combination), picking up 21 penalties, and James Alliston (GBR) and Jumbo’s Jake after they accumulated 20 penalties at 9abc – and 17abcde, the Sunken Road. Three were eliminated – Karen O’Connor had a splash crash at the HSBC Water Park (5abcd) – no injuries to horse or rider, just dampened spirits, but Karen has another chance with Mr. Medicott this afternoon. Becky Holder and Courageous Comet got to #22abc, the HSBC FEI Classic Series Normandy Bank, but parted company and Becky bought a cheap piece of real estate that cost dearly in terms of her goals with her wonderful ex-racehorse
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
UVA polo dominates the USPA Intercollegiate National Tournaments
Wednesday, April 25 2012
UVA Men (left to right): Felipe Viana, Lou Lopez, Todd Thurston, Eduardo Lopez, Mauricio Lopez, CB Scherer, LJ Lopez UVA polo dominated the USPA Intercollegiate National Tournaments this past weekend in Ithaca, N.Y., taking home titles in both the men’s and women’s events. The Cavalier squads faced strong competition throughout the tournaments, which featured top college programs and some of the best young players in the United States. The UVA men’s team defeated Cornell in the semifinal and went on to win the championship with a 23-17 victory against Westmont in the final. UVA Women (left to right): Lou Lopez, Isabella Wolf, Kylie Sheehan, Julia Steiner, Vicky Friedrichs, LJ Lopez In the women’s tournament, UVA took down a solid Texas A&M team before meeting rival Cornell in the final and winning in a close 17-13 contest The National Intercollegiate Championship is part of the USPA’s Intercollegiate/Interscholastic polo program, which is committed to growing the sport of polo with players and fans. Several players from the winning UVA teams are part of the premier Team USPA development program as well, which is also highly involved in training and teaching young polo players. With the help of programs like these, polo is experiencing a resurgence in the U.S.as depicted in the recent in-depth feature on “60 Minutes” surrounding the sport. All Star Honorees Men Women Felipe Viana – UVA Julia Steiner – UVA CB Scherer – UVA Kailey Eldredge – Cornell Patrick Uretz –Westmont Kylie Sheehan – UVA Wiley Uretz -Westmont Isabella Wolf – UVA
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
ROLEX – Jump Start To London Olympics for US Riders
Wednesday, April 25 2012
A lot rides on Kentucky Rolex Three-Day Event, sponsored by Bridgestone, April 25-29 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Not only is it the premier four-star this side of the big puddle (Atlantic Ocean), it is THE PLACE where the Selectors for the US 3-Day Olympic Team will be watching the US contenders through high-powered microscopes. Then, too, there is the British invasion to roil the Rolex “waters” as William Fox-Pitt (GBR), 2010 winner of Rolex with Cool Mountain, is slated to ride Parklane Hawk: they won 2011 Burghley, which was Fox-Pitt’s sixth triumph in the testing September four-star.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Caroline Roffman Ties Up Season with a Gold Medal at the CDI Nations Cup
Wednesday, April 18 2012
Caroline Roffman and Pie during the victory gallop during the Global Dressage Festival Nations Cup CDI. Photo by by Al Guden Wellington, FL (April 18, 2012) – Caroline Roffman has a stellar beginning to 2012, with wins across the small tour and developing horse divisions at prestigious shows on the Florida dressage circuit and most recently a gold medal at the Nations Cup CDI. At the Global Dressage Festival Nations Cup, TeamUSA took the gold, and Roffman’s score of 70.050% on her own Pie put her in second and was a strong contribution towards the medal. Team Europe took the silver, while TeamUSA 2 took the bronze. Pie and Roffman also swept the Prix St Georges classes at the Global Dressage Festival Nations Cup. Roffman recently opened her own training and sales center, Lionshare Dressage, and has partnered with 2012 Pan Am Games alternate Endel Ots to bring the best dressage prospects and training to Wellington. In the second half of 2012, Roffman has her sights set on multiple championships, including Gladstone and Lamplight, as she looks to the future with her competition horses. Roffman kicked off her 2012 success in the small tour with Pie, a Hanoverian by Worldly, sweeping the small tour classes at the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W at the Global Dressage Festival. Roffman also debuted a new mare, Her Highness, during the circuit to great success. Her Highness, a 9 year old by Hohenstein out of a Weltmeyer mare, is owned collectively by Roffman and Wolkentanzer Farm out ofCalifornia. The stunning mare with floating gaits easily took top placings at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby, winning the FEI Test of Choice with a 68.421% and the USEF Developing Horse Prix St Georges with a 67.868%. Her Highness was also in the top placings during the GDF Nations Cup National Show, where they scored a 70% and 69% in the Prix St Georges. Roffman is aiming Her Highness for the Developing Horse Championships, where Roffman and Pie were Reserve Champion in 2011. Roffman has plans to compete at 2012 National Young Horse Championships with her own Bon Chance, the 2010 Five-Year-Old Champion and 2011 Six-Year-Old Reserve Champion, who will be headed for the Developing Horse divisions as well. Caroline is also sure to be defending her title as 2011 Brentina Cup Champion
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
An Exciting Weekend at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show
Monday, March 26 2012
HOUSTON, Texas – Lia Chafee, a senior majoring in international communications and media at Texas A&M University, won the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show’s 2nd Annual Collegiate Charity Invitational equestrian event, sponsored by Superior Energy Services, on March 24th at Great Southwest Equestrian Center, 2501 South Mason Road, Katy, Texas. Chafee was one of eight competitors. Taking second place was Holly Eisbernd, a senior from Granada Hills, Calif., majoring in sociology at California Fresno State. Four of the top 12 2012 Pin Oak Collegiate Invitational teams –Texas A&M, SMU, Baylor, and California Fresno State – which were selected for the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (to be held next month in Waco, Texas) were represented at Pin Oak. For more information and competitor bios, see pages 116-117 in the 2012 Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Program at www.pinoak.org and www.varsityequestrian.com.
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
Clinic in VA with Hollywood Movie Horse Trainer
Monday, March 19 2012
Where did the last week go? Well, we spent eight days & nights horse/dog/cat/chicken/pig & farm sitting – the pig was a real pig, but her people love her and that’s what counts. It’s grand to be home and a few minutes away from our dearling Lord Peter and other lovely pony projects at Bryan and Brandy McDonald’s The Fine Equine Stables, the reason for this post. They will host a clinic with Rex Peterson on March 30, 8:30 am to 6 pm. Here’s the release we put together for Brandy who is the clinic organizer. RJ, star of Hidalgo with Viggo Mortensen, entertained spectators after the last clinic hosted by The Fine Equine Stables with a demonstration of his repertoire of movie tricks with acclaimed Hollywood horse trainer Rex Peterson.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Southern 8ths Farm is Gearing up for its So8ths/Nikon Three-Day Event
Wednesday, March 14 2012
The wheels are in full gear at Southern 8ths Farm in Chesterfield, SC, as the farm prepares to host its second annual So8ths/Nikon Three-Day Event in the “Heart of the Carolinas.” Behind-the-scenes the hum is constant from the equipment that is readying the Roads & Tracks, arenas and other parts of the farm where riders will venture during the competition May 3-6. A mighty group. Yet, that’s not all. Jumps are being repaired and painted, the stalls are being prepped, and arrangements are being made with some of the top clinicians who will help prepare the competitors. Owner of Southern 8ths Farm, Brad Turley is making sure every “i” is dotted and “t” is crossed as he and his staff prepares his farm to host its second annual event
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs