SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Sidelines Caps
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Friday, February 20 2015 / Published in Weekly Feature

Derek Braun’s Vision Becomes Reality

Derek and Cyraneiky in the awards ceremony as part of the U.S. Nations Cup Team at the 2013 Porto Alegre CSIO**** in Brazil. (Photo courtesy of Split Rock Jumping Tour)

Derek and Cyraneiky in the awards ceremony as part of the U.S. Nations Cup Team at the 2013 Porto Alegre CSIO**** in Brazil. (Photo courtesy of Split Rock Jumping Tour)

By Nicky Graf Ussher

There’s very little that Derek Braun hasn’t seen or done in his show jumping career.

Derek Braun has spent nearly his entire life around horses and the sport of show jumping. His competitive career began at the age of 7, and he showed talent for the sport from the start. He earned top results as a junior including winning the USET Talent Search Equitation Finals in 2001, and the team gold medal at the National Junior Jumper Championships and Prix de States at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg in 2002.

He spent summer 2003 competing successfully on the European circuit. That trip not only offered Derek a unique opportunity as a competitor but also gave him insight into the inner workings of the European horse show circuit, something which would later prove invaluable. Derek is now calling on his vast wealth of experience to produce the Split Rock Jumping Tour, an exciting new venture that he says will “provide competitors, sponsors and spectators with an unparalleled show jumping experience and will change the way show jumping is presented in the U.S.”

After graduating from Rollins College in 2007, Derek relinquished his amateur status and turned professional. He has earned numerous Grand Prix wins and placings at some of the nation’s most prestigious horse shows including the Hampton Classic, Winter Equestrian Festival, American Gold Cup, Pennsylvania National Horse Show, HITS Ocala, National Horse Show and New Albany Classic, as well as Spruce Meadows and Bromont in Canada. Derek has also represented the United States internationally, riding on the U.S. Nations Cup team at the Porto Alegre CSIO**** in Brazil in 2013.

Derek and the Grand Prix stallion Cujo at an FEI jog inspection. (Photo by Angelstone Tournaments)

Derek and the Grand Prix stallion Cujo at an FEI jog inspection.
(Photo by Angelstone Tournaments)

In 2007, Derek moved his business, Split Rock Farm, Inc., to Lexington, Kentucky, the renowned Horse Capital of the World. Over the past three years, he has produced widely successful local jumper shows and purchased additional property to develop international show facility amenities. With these in place, he began to develop the concept for the new Split Rock Jumping Tour, of which he is founder and president. The Split Rock Jumping Tour will host two action-packed international competitions in 2015. Both the Lexington International, May 22-24, and the Bourbon International, October 9-11, are jumper-exclusive FEI*** events that will allow riders to earn FEI points without having to travel to Europe. Plans call for adding events over the next several years, shifting to various venues throughout Lexington.

“We’re so excited to premiere the Split Rock Jumping Tour,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to bring the European show jumping experience to the U.S. and offer a series of this caliber. We want to revolutionize the way competitors, sponsors and spectators can benefit from show jumping in the U.S., while creating more exposure for our sport as a truly entertaining sporting event. Our Lexington venue, complete with its supportive community of horse lovers and combined with top prize money and our unique full-service rider hospitality experience will draw this country’s top riders as well as riders from countries around the world.”

Derek on course at the New Albany Classic Horse Show. (Photo courtesy of Split Rock Jumping Tour)

Derek on course at the New Albany Classic Horse Show.
(Photo courtesy of Split Rock Jumping Tour)

Competitors will have the luxury of choosing from one of five all-inclusive entry packages, each with one flat cost, an offering that’s unprecedented in this country. And Derek promises that no detail will be overlooked as far as the amenities provided to riders and horses.

“We’ve designed each entry package to custom fit riders’ and horses’ needs,” he said. “Packages are tailored to cover entry fees, stall fees, nominating fees, initial stall bedding costs, VIP hospitality packages, gala tickets, concierge amenities, shuttle services, and even hotel rooms, all for one flat fee. Our sponsorship packages will allow corporate sponsors to invite their sponsored riders and clients to our competitions with all expenses covered as part of the sponsorship, and class sponsors can have private on-field seating,” he added. “We’re making every effort to simplify things for exhibitors and sponsors, yet create a truly unique experience that we feel has always been missing from American horse shows. We’ll be the only horse show to offer anything like this.

“We’re committed to providing an unparalleled experience for all competitors, sponsors and spectators,” Derek added. “We’re very excited about what we’ve got going and we invite everyone to come and share what we believe is the beginning of a brand new show jumping experience in this country, one that no one has ever seen before. My vision is now becoming a reality.”

Double D Trailers Info

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: Derek Braun, Nicky Graf Ussher, show jumping, Split Rock Farm, Split Rock Jumping Tour

What you can read next

Always Playing With My Family
The Glamour and Thrill of High Goal Season
Alex Banks: Finding Joy in Chasing Dreams

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
Jessica West always rode any horse that was availa Jessica West always rode any horse that was available to her throughout her Junior career, so she knew she had an advantage when she decided she wanted to ride on an NCAA team in college. Now a senior at @@auburnu and majoring in psychology, Jessica has enjoyed everything about the equestrian team and is ready to move on to her next adventure. 

Read more about Jessica at the link in our bio!

#ncea #ncaa #equestrian #collegiateequestrian #huntseatequitation #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #collegelife #showjumper #hunterhorse #horseshow #sidelinesmagazine
In the unique and challenging sport of combined dr In the unique and challenging sport of combined driving, Jacob Arnold has proven himself to be a bona fide star. It’s been said that success develops from a recipe based on hard work, perseverance, learning and sacrifice, paired with a love of what one is doing. Since the time he was a boy, Jacob has had the right combination of all of those ingredients, which have culminated in a meteoric rise to stardom.

Beginning his career as a Junior, Jacob earned the coveted @usequestrian Junior Equestrian of the Year award in 2011. Since then, he has taken the combined driving world by storm, competing successfully in four @fei_global World Championships. He also won the USEF Advanced Pair Horse National Championship in 2020 and 2021, among other victories—all before the age of 28, in a sport that has historically been dominated by older drivers. Last September, he placed 12th—the highest of any American driver—at the 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs in a field of over 100 top-level drivers.

Read more about @jacobarnoldcombineddriving at the link in our bio!

@alex.banks.photography #combineddriving #drivendressage #dressage #driving #carriage #horsedriving #equestrianstyle #equestrianlife #horselover #drivinghorse #carriagehorse #showhorse #sidelinesmagazine
@rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the f @rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the first equestrian Major of 2022, winning the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. In doing so he also claimed an additional bonus for non-consecutive Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping wins, following his victory at CHIO Aachen last year. The German champion’s outstanding performance riding his trusted partner Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z once again makes him the live contender for the coveted Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

Catch up on all the action and watch the free highlights video on the Sidelines Show World blog (link in bio!)

#showjumping #rolex #grandslam #rolexgrandslam #showjumper #dutch #netherlands #dutchwarmbloods #equestrianlife #hunterhorse #hunterjumper #equestrianstyle #showhorses #showjumpersofinstagram #jumpinghorse #grandprixjumer #grandprixhorse #sidelinesmagazine
Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 ac Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 acres in Jupiter Farms, Florida.

Jupiter Farms is an equestrian community with a trail system and a sand riding arena at the park. Charming home features vaulted ceilings, custom trim, custom lighting in master bedroom that changes color with a remote. Granite countertops in kitchen and laundry room. New 2022 stackable washer/dryer. Privacy fenced backyard with beautiful tall pines for shade, many palm trees also on property.

Secure fenced  25’ x 25’ pen with wood fencing , for a horse, dogs or a garden.  Wonderful property in desirable Jupiter Farms. 45 minutes to Wellington, 25 minutes to Jupiter Dog Beach. Perfect oasis for dog and horse lovers, close to everything in South Florida. MLS# 10778333, Agents welcome.

$655,000
Contact 561-246-9317
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • Attiva Farm - Holly Mitten
    Offering year round/seasonal Boarding, Training, & Lessons Full Care w/ All Amenities Large ring, paddocks, many trails Short hack to WEF Located Belmont Trace Wellington, FL 561-254-4111 hollymits@gmail.com /

    COMING TO FLORIDA EARLY OR STAYING LONGER?

    Need a place to keep your horse, We can accommodate you!

    [Read more]

  • BROWNING REALTY, INT’L
    561-358-6040 Browningrealty@gmail.com www.wellingtonequestrianhomes.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • A Paris Horse Adventure: Saut Hermes 2022
  • Better Business with Malvern Bank: Michael Meller’s Secrets to Success
  • Third Annual Painted Ponies Art Walk takes over Southern Pines, NC!

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Jung Ends as He Began — On Top — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™
  • ROLEX TESTIMONEE DANIEL DEUSSER WINS ROLEX GRAND PRIX AT 2022 DUTCH MASTERS
  • STABLE VIEW IN AIKEN POSTPONING ‘A’ RATED $400,000 H/J CHALLENGE SERIES DUE TO RESTRICTIVE MILEAGE RULE

Category

Recent Posts

  • Katie Duerrhammer: Driven by Love and Respect for Horses

    By Kimberly Gatto Portraits by Melissa Fuller &...
  • The Importance of Finding the Right Bit for Your Horse

    By Liz Halliday-Sharp Anyone who knows me is aw...
  • Martha Ingram’s Family Ties, From Horses to Philanthropy 

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Brenda Black &nb...
  • Course Designer Spotlight: Alan Wade

    Course Designer Spotlight: Alan Wade Our next S...
  • Judge’s Spotlight: John French

    Judge’s Spotlight: John French Our Judge’...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!