Eventers Make History At Pan American Games
Monday, October 24 2011
For the first time in the history of eventing sport, all five American riders jumped double clear in their show jumping rounds of the team competition, as well as jumping five double clears the day prior on cross country, winning team gold on their dressage scores. The mounts of Buck Davidson, Michael Pollard, Hannah Burnett, Shannon Lilley and Lynn Symansky all passed the morning jog and advanced to show jumping. Led by Buck, they all jumped clear and within the time to retain their stronghold on the Team Gold Medal. It is safe to say that their performance was a feat that has never been accomplished before in the sport of eventing. The United States Equestrian Federation quoted Chef d’Equipe Mark Phillips as saying that, “Five people finishing on their dressage score – that’s never been done before in the history of our sport. I would like to give a really special congratulations to my team.” Canada held onto their 2nd placed position to secure Team Silver medal, and Brazil captured the Team Bronze. In the individual competition, which followed the team rounds about an hour later in the Olympic format (only the top three from each team were allowed to show jump for individual honors,) Buck Davidson led the U.S
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
Nine Things
Thursday, October 20 2011
Festival in the Country The week before Fair Hill International CCI3* and 2* (October 13-16) was soggy, so much that fields were flooded and I rode strictly on the roads, foregoing hunting on Thursday because the footing was so slippery. Friday was overcast with intermittent showers as I donned my wellies and fleece and headed down to Fair Hill, Maryland to go walk the course. Between leaving the vendor tents and the far side of the course, clouds blew in with yet another rain shower; fortunately fleece is still warm and comfy even when wet. View of clouds and raindrops in the water at fence 22 for the 2* But glory be! Saturday began cold and as the morning progressed past 6 A.M., the sun rose and it turned into a perfect day spend in the country with blue sky, bright sunshine and magnificent foliage in yellows and crimson. It doesn’t get much better than that. Creature comforts The organizers of the event thoughtfully placed many, many trash barrels everywhere. You didn’t need to carry that empty drink bottle more than a few steps.
Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere Jump Immaculately to Land in the Top 15 at the Boekelo CCI3*
Sunday, October 09 2011
Lexington, KY - Boyd Martin carried the torch for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team on the final day of the Boekelo CCI3*. Riding Otis Barbotiere and Remington XXV, Martin (West Grove, PA) produced two top 35 results in his first attempt at the Dutch premiere CCI3*. Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere Photo ©StockImageServices.com
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
Jumpin’ Jenny Flash
Tuesday, September 20 2011
Sunday afternoon, during a break between the two star and three star show jump phase to decide the winners of the Plantation Field Three Star Event (Unionville, Pennsylvania), visitors were witness to a spectacular jump-off, of sorts, between some of this weekend’s event riders. Three years ago the organizers of the Plantation Field Three Day Event sponsored a casual puissance jumping event during the lunch break. Puissance features a wall that increases in height with elimination of riders as they fail to clear it until there is only one rider and horse combination remaining – a horse version of musical chairs. It’s popularity with the crowd got the organizers last year to entice several event riders to participate and it resulted in a strip-tease of sorts as Doug Payne gamely traded articles of clothing for the right to stay in the game. This year the Professional Riders Organization sponsored the event for the benefit of Operation Homefront, an organization which provides emergency funds for military families and wounded veterans. As the contest progressed and a wall came down, off came the boot of one rider in compensation… **** **** but as the brick wall grew higher and higher, Jenny Brannigan topped them all and retained all her accoutrement
Opening Meet with Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds
Tuesday, September 13 2011
With the soggiest August on record behind us and the second week in September requiring the evacuation of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and other cities along the Susquehanna River because of the continuing rainfall, a window of opportunity briefly opened Monday, Labor Day, to officially kick off the start of cubbing with Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds (Unionville, Pennsylvania) under a cloudy, but dry, sky. Members of the Hunt parked their rigs at St. Malachi Church, an ancient chapel high on a hill overlooking the Buck and Doe Run Valleys. From there, riders hacked to the front lawn of Runnymede, a farm that includes strenuous hills and wide, open meadows.
Burghley Comments
Saturday, September 10 2011
What an exciting weekend at Burghley! I must say after watching the course walk preview with Alice Fox-Pitt and Mark Phillips a few weeks ago I was slightly concerned about some of the horse and rider combinations attempting to tackle the course.
- Published in Onward, Upward, Z-Blogs
118 Years of History in the Making on Boston Common
Friday, August 26 2011
Boston, MA, August 25, 2011 : At the second annual Putnam Boston Equestrian Classic Preview Party, Bruins Principal, Charlie Jacobs made history aboard his mount Quidditch II after jumping the coveted 118-year-old Stanley Cup trophy on Boston Common today. It was a surprise to the enthusiastic and substantial crowd of spectators that had gathered to view this once-in-a-lifetime event. Mayor Menino and his staff were in attendance to support this historic occasion. The outdoor event was a preview to the main event taking place September 8 – 11, 2011 at the prestigious Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton, MA. Charlie Jacobs, Principal of the Bruins aboard his mount Quidditch II, makes history by jumping the 118-year-old Stanley Cup to preview the Putnam Boston Equestrian Classic. Photo ©Glenn Kulbako of KulbakoPhoto.com Olympic Gold Medalist and native Bostonian, Peter Wylde flew in from a recent competition in Germany to add to the majesty of the show jumping component. “What an amazing event, the rain held off and Charlie surprised us all. Being home to jump on Boston Common was personally gratifying for me,” said Peter Wylde, Olympian. Other world-renowned equestrians that rode the course were two-time Olympic Medalist Leslie Burr Howard, international champion Schuyler Riley, up-and-coming talent Nick Della Joio and accomplished rider and trainer, Bill Lowry. The event benefited the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit, the equestrian troop responsible for policing the nine parks throughout the city known as the Emerald Necklace. Despite threats of rain and thunder storms, the event went off without a hitch and concluded with a successful fundraiser reception on the elegant Roof of the Taj Boston hotel honoring the Park Rangers. ______________________________ About the Putnam Boston Equestrian Classic: The 2011 Putnam Boston Equestrian Classic is an Olympic-caliber show jumping event that will be held from Thursday, September 8, through Sunday, September 11, 2011 at the Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton, Massachusetts. For the second consecutive year, Putnam Investments will serve at the title sponsor for the event, which has a top prize of $50,000 for its showcase Grand Prix event, an increase from last year’s $30,000. The Putnam Boston Equestrian Classic is planning a 9/11 tribute with local firefighters, jousting, skydiving, cabaret singing, boutique shopping, ladies hat contest and the much anticipated, Patrons Luncheon
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
In Memory of Woodburn
Thursday, August 04 2011
Woodburn partnered with Phillip Dutton to finish 2nd at the 2010 Kentucky Rolex Three-Day Event, the year William Fox-Pitt (GBR) and Cool Mountain claimed the title. It was a great contest from the dressage test onward. Phillip and Woodburn improved from eighth after dressage to fourth after cross-country to second after their second double-clear jumping round, but they couldn’t catch the winners who also jumped faultlessly. The top two finished on their dressage scores, separated by 4.9 penalty points. Woodburn and Phillip won the Pentacle Cup as the highest placed Americans, but there is only ever one Rolex winner. Woodburn and Phillip also competed on the USA three-day team which finished fourth at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
- Published in Lauren Gallops, Z-Blogs
Isabelle Leibler of Region 8 Awarded Freestyle Dressage Gold After Storm Temporarily Suspends Competition
Sunday, July 31 2011
Lexington, KY - It was a stormy afternoon at the Kentucky Horse Park for part of the USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior and Young Rider Dressage Championship at the 2011 Adequan/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships presented by Gotham North, but storms could not dampen the brilliance of the dressage being performed. Competition was suspended at approximately 3:30 p.m. when a thunder and lightning storm passed through the area, knocking out electricity at the Rolex Stadium. But thanks to the quick work of the Organizing Committee and Kentucky Horse Park staff, the show soon resumed. The Young Rider division was intensly competitive, punctuated by the last rider’s flawless freestyle. Isabelle Leibler and Watson 108 representing Region 8 were rewarded for their brilliant test with a score of 74.00%, which earned the pair the Individual Gold medal
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
A Look Back at Aachen
Friday, July 22 2011
It was a mixed bag of results for the American riders who traveled far and wide in order to attend the famed World Equestrian Festival, held annually in Aachen, Germany. But the world’s most prestigious multi-discipline, annual equestrian competition did not disappoint in awe-inspiring competition from the world’s best. Photographer John Minoprio captured these lasting images from Aachen 2011, enjoy. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum had planned to retire her great mount Shutterfly this year, but after winning the Warsteiner Prize class in the Main Stadium on July 13, she decided to move his retirement up, so that he could go out on top. In front of a packed stadium on Sunday, Shutterfly was retired in a moving ceremony. Meredith couldn't hold back her tears as she gave a speech from the back of her horse, thanking him for his many years of incredible results in international show jumping
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs