Will Diving Horses Return to Atlantic City?
Thursday, February 02 2012
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.
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
Masters of the (Dressage) Universe!
Sunday, January 29 2012
It was not quite a foregone conclusion, but our man Steffen upheld his title as World Dressage Masters Palm Beach champion tonight in Florida, to the delight of a full house and online viewers around the world. Freestyle night of the 2012 World Dressage Masters series season opener was sure to be packed –with people and with excitement, but even though the top two results were the same as yesterday’s Grand Prix, the night wasn’t without a few twists and turns. It’s difficult to pick just a few adjectives to describe Steffen and Ravel, because all that come to mind apply. They simply mastered their freestyle, which Steffen said was the best he’d ever felt with Ravel. “I’ve never done a better freestyle,” he said. “He just felt simply amazing.
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
The Ride for a Green World Initiative Arenus Makes Big Strides Towards Eco-Friendly Barns and Horse Shows
Saturday, January 28 2012
St. Charles, MO - The Arenus family of products for horses and pets is giving a whole new meaning to “green.” Beyond the individual eco-conscious horse-and-rider, Arenus is encouraging equestrians to dig deeper and plant a vision of a sustainable planet through green barns, green horse shows and green events, through its new Ride for a Green World initiative. People who share the vision of a sustainable planet can join the Ride for a Green World initiative by displaying the “Our Barn is Eco-Friendly” card with simple guidelines on going greener, such as: composting your manure and keep it from contaminating water, use eco-friendly products, recycle and reuse, conserve water. Find more Eco-friendly Barn tips at Arenus booths during the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) series.
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
It’s Not the Stars That Matter, It’s the Stars That Matter
Saturday, January 28 2012
Just another Thursday night in Wellington. If only every dressage show included gold bikini-clad fire dancers, mermaids lounging about in an infinity pool, and chandelier ice sculptures. The organizers of the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach sure know how to attract a crowd, and the place was packed with all of the above, as well as a who’s who roster of dressage stars and their hangers-on last night at the…..exhibitor’s party. What, did you think I was talking about the competition?
- Published in On the Line, Z-Blogs
College Preparatory Invitational Hosts Second Event with Great Success
Friday, January 20 2012
[Wellington, FL] The second annual College Preparatory Invitational Horse Show was held this weekend at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, with great success.
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
Steffen Peters Named 2011 USEF Equestrian of the Year
Sunday, January 15 2012
Cincinnati, OH - To cap off a record-setting year, dressage superstar Steffen Peters added one more record to his résumé on Saturday night at the United States Equestrian Federation’s Pegasus Awards dinner. He became the first person to score the USEF’s Equestrian of the Year title three times. Steffen Peters (right)won the William C.Steinkraus Trophy as one of the 2011 Equestrians of Honor and then the Robert P. Strub Trophy (shown here being presented by USEF President David O'Connor on left) as the overall USEF Equestrian of the Year. Photo by Kim MacMillan/MacMillan Photography Peters (San Diego, CA) won the top honor in 2008 and 2009 based largely on his accomplishments with Akiko Yamazaki’s phenom Ravel – but in 2011, Ravel had some help. Peters capitalized on his first trip to the Pan American Games and scored Team and Individual Gold in a tremendous effort with Jen and Bruce Hlavacek’s Weltino’s Magic
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
Helmets Required for all Levels of Equine Canada Dressage Competition in 2012
Friday, December 30 2011
[December 27, 2011] Equine Canada and Dressage Canada are taking an industry-wide leadership role by requiring all dressage riders to wear helmets in competition. Commencing in 2012, a national rule change will require all riders to wear helmets for all levels of Equine Canada sanctioned dressage competition. The rule for January 1, 2012 is SAFETY HEADGEAR All riders, regardless of age or level or competition, must wear ASTM/SEI or BSI/BS EN approved protective headgear at all times when mounted at any EC-sanctioned Dressage competition at the event location. “I am very proud of our Dressage Committee for taking this step,” said Equine Canada president Michael Gallagher. “I believe we are the first national federation in the world to introduce this rule across all levels, and I can guarantee we will not be the last.” This change for 2012 is a modification to the rule that was put in place in May 2011 where all riders competing in Fourth Level and below, FEI Young Horse Tests, Material and equitation classes at Bronze, Silver and Gold shows had to wear helmets. This rule also included non-competing riders as well. “Helmet use is an important step and component in the safety for all our members,” said John Harris, chair of Equine Canada Board’s Task Force on Safety.
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
Leibler and Watson 108 Continue on to Freestyle at the FEI Young Rider World Cup Dressage Final in Germany
Saturday, December 17 2011
Lexington, KY - Isabelle Leibler and Watson 108 performed flawlessly Friday while representing the U.S. at the FEI Young Rider World Cup Dressage Final Grand Prix, and are moving forward to the B Final on Sunday in the Freestyle. “We were mistake free and I finished the first day very proud of myself and of Watson for staying focused throughout the exciting distractions,” Leibler said. “The competition has been absolutely amazing so far. It is like nothing I have ever seen before: big, bright, and electric.” Isabelle Leibler and Watson 108 National Young Rider Dressage Championships. Photo ©SusanJStickle.com Leibler (Greenwich, CT) and the 14-year-old Westphalian gelding were invited to represent the U.S. at the 2011 Finals after posting the highest average in the FEI Young Rider Freestyle Test at CDI-Y’s during the qualifying period.
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
USEF Report from First Pre-Olympic Games Dressage Clinic
Wednesday, December 14 2011
Lexington, KY – The first of six pre-Olympic Games Dressage Clinics kicked off at beautiful Epona Farm in Thousand Oaks, CA. These clinics, a joint effort by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the USET Foundation will help prepare horses and riders for the 2012 London Olympic Games
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs
USEF High Performance Training Lists Updated for the 2012 Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team
Monday, November 21 2011
Lexington, KY - The USEF Eventing High Performance Training Lists have been revised for the upcoming 2012 season. Athlete/Horse combinations will be invited to participate in training sessions this winter with U.S. Chef d’Equipe and Technical Advisor Capt. Mark Phillips. Preparation for and success at the 2012 Olympic Games were the Eventing Selectors and the High Performance Committee’s highest priorities in developing these lists. A List Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and Bruce Duchossois’ Mighty Nice Mighty Nice is a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Sinead Halpin (Oldwick, NJ) and Carriag LLC’s Manoir de Carnville Manoir de Carnville is an 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding Boyd Martin (West Grove, PA) and the Neville Bardos Syndicate’s Neville Bardos Neville Bardos is a 12-year-old Australian Thoroughbred gelding Boyd Martin (West Grove, PA) and the Otis Barbotiere Syndicate’s Otis Barbotiere Otis Barbotiere is a 9-year-old Selle Francais gelding B List Hannah Sue Burnett (The Plains, VA) and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot Harbour Pilot is an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Jan Byyny (Purcellville, VA) and her own and Jo and Richard Byyny’s Inmidair Inmidair is a 12-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding Will Coleman (Gordonsville, VA) and Jim Wildasin’s Twizzel Twizzel is a 15-year-old Westphalian gelding Tiana Coudray (Ojai, CA) and Jatial Inc.’s Ringwood Magister Ringwood Magister is a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Sharon Will’s Absolute Liberty Absolute Liberty an 8-year-old Thoroughbred x Oldenburg Mare Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Carl and Cassandra Segal’s BallyNoe Castle RM BallyNoe Castle RM is an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Sherrie Martin’s The Apprentice The Apprentice is a 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and Nina and Tim Gardner’s William Penn William Penn is a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and Team Rebecca LLC’s Ben Ben is a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding Will Faudree (Hoffman, NC) and Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow Pawlow is a 12-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding Will Faudree (Hoffman, NC) and Jennifer Mosing’s Fernhill Gloster Rebel Fernhill Gloster Rebel is a 10-year-old Irish Thoroughbred Gelding Becky Holder (Palmetto, GA) and Melissa and Phil Town, and Tom Holder’s Can’t Fire Me Can’t Fire Me is a 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Shannon Lilley (Gilroy, CA) and The Lilley Group’s Ballingowan Pizazz Ballingowan Pizazz is an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Marilyn Little-Meredith (Frederick, MD) and Raylyn Farm Inc.’s RF Rovano Rex RF Rovano Rex is a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding Boyd Martin (West Grove, PA) and Boyd Martin and Faye Woolfe’s Ying Yang Yo Ying Yang Yo is a 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Clark Montgomery (Fairburn, GA) and Holly Becker, Kathryn Kraft and Jessica Montgomery’s Loughan Glen Loughan Glen is an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Karen O’Connor (The Plains, VA) and The O’Connor Equestrian Syndicate’s Mr Medicott Mr Medicott is a 12-year-old Irish Sport horse gelding Julian Stiller (Thatcham, Berkshire UK) and her own and Jules Delvecchio’s Chapel Amble Chapel Amble is a 14-year-old Hanoverian mare Jolie Wentworth (Martinez, CA) and Tracy Bowman’s Good Knight Good Knight is a 9-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding It is anticipated that training sessions will be held in California, Florida, and South Carolina; dates will be finalized and published in December.
- Published in What's Happenin', Z-Blogs