[Lexington, KY] – On September 25, 2010, the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park watched magic unfold under the blanket of a brilliantly pink sunset. The World Equestrian Games had crossed an ocean for the first time in its history with the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, and the Opening Ceremony was dedicated to celebration - of Kentucky and the United States, but most of all of mankind’s love for the horse throughout history and the world. Global Creative Connections, the production company behind the Opening Ceremony, is calling the magical evening to memory with the availability of an Official DVD of Opening Ceremony.
THERMAL, CA (March 6, 2011)--John French (Woodside, California) capped off a busy afternoon on Sunday when he captured the top prize in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix aboard Jessica Singer’s Cruise to close out Desert Circuit V at HITS Thermal.
OCALA, FL (March 7, 2011) -- Diversity seems to be the theme this season at HITS Ocala, as 10 different winners representing six different nations have claimed the victory in each of the 10 Grand Prix held at HITS Ocala, so far. In Sunday's $50,000 Ring Power Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, Canada's Francois Lamontagne joined the list of this season's winners aboard his own Anton.
OCALA, FL (March 7, 2011)--Hunter riders continued to bring their Sunday best at the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit as 50 entries filled yesterday's $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. Mary Lisa Leffler and Zivago, owned by Wilder Mountain Farm, LLC, captured the win in the two-round event which featured a diverse line-up of Juniors, Amateurs and Professionals, on a course designed by Ocala's Doug Russell.
Dressage shows are family affairs for Southern-born working mom Leigh W. Kent, DDS, PhD, and at the Wellington Classic Spring Challenge she had an entire cheering section to celebrate her Best Seat Award win.
THERMAL, CA (March 6, 2011)—Lucy Davis, one of the youngest Grand Prix riders on the HITS winter circuit, captured her biggest win of the season when she won Saturday night’s $50,000 HITS CSI-W Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, aboard Old Oak Farm’s Nemo 119 to highlight Desert Circuit V at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California.
The $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic was held earlier in the day with a victory for Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa and HH Ashley. Ten of 41 entries went clear to advance to the jump-off and four jumped double clear in the race against the clock.
For Immediate Release
Jennifer Wood and Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL - March 6, 2011 - Week 8 of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival came to a close today with a highlight event, the $150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix, CSIO 4*. Out of the strong field of competitors, it was Lauren Hough (USA) who rode to victory on Quick Study, owned by Laura Mateo.
By Joanie Morris
Wellington, FL - The $150,000 Wellington Realty Grand Prix came down to a battle between 12 horse and rider combinations after 46 started over the CSIO4*course in the International Ring at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Top horses and riders brought the eighth week of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival to a close - as the only CSIO in America showcased some of the very best in the world.
Starting today's featured classes in the International Arena, Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa and HH Palouchin, owned by Double H Farm, jumped to victory in the $31,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic over a class of 31 entries. Pessoa and Palouchin had the fastest of four clear rounds in 62.66 seconds to finish in first place.
Pablo Barrios clears 7'3" to win the $35,000 Hermes Puissane - 7'3" with one stirrup
For Immediate Release
Jennifer Wood and Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL - March 5, 2011 - The $35,000 Hermès Puissance was the highlight event on Saturday night, and it was an exciting show of power and scope. Pablo Barrios (VEN) was the winner after he cleared the 7'3" puissance wall with G&C Quivola, owned by Gustavo Mirabal.
For Immediate Release
Brooke Bidgood for Equestrian Sport Productions
Wellington, FL - March 5, 2011 - The Amateur Owner Hunters started off the morning in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Arena on Saturday during the eighth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3. The Amateur-Owner 35 & Over Hunters, sponsored by Elite Equine, ran today with a strong field.
Jane Gaston from The Plains, Virginia, was awarded the prestigious tricolor honor in the competitive group of amateurs. Gaston was aboard Lumiere, her ten-year-old Oldenburg gelding.
"I do have another horse, but he's not quite ready, so Lou is doing more than I planned for him to do, but he's cheerful, and he's been great," said Gaston.
Gaston has had Lumiere, or Lou as he is called in the barn, since he was a four-year-old. She has brought him up through the ranks to the competitive horse he is today. The pair has a brilliant partnership that has resulted in numerous championships and awards over the past seasons. This week was no different, and they secured the championship by winning two classes, placing second in another class, and securing third in the division's remaining two classes.
Jane Gaston and Lumiere
Gaston has many goals for the future with Lumiere. When asked about her plans for indoor competition in the fall, Gaston explained, "God willing, we'll be there. As long as he's healthy and happy, we plan to go."
The reserve championship in the division was awarded to Bridget Hallman riding her own mount, Do Tell, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. The duo clinched the reserve tricolor honor by winning one class and placing second in two classes.
Tomorrow the competition will come to a close for the eighth week at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The Adults will compete in numerous divisions tomorrow and be awarded championships in their respective divisions. Many of those adults will also vie for the blue ribbon in the Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal. Stay tuned for the wrap up of week eight of competition.
For full results please visit www.showgroundslive.com or for more information, visit www.equestriansport.com.
By Joanie Morris
Wellington, FL - Four of the United States' classiest veterans represented the United States in the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm and did not disappoint a packed house of fans. They dominated the field of eight teams to win on a score of eight faults over Canada on 16. Three teams tied for third: Great Britain, Australia and Ireland, all on 37 faults.
For Immediate Release
Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL - March 4, 2011 - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival hosted its 10th annual $75,000 FEI Nations Cup on Friday evening, presented by G&C Farm, with an exciting victory for Team USA. Made up of Mario Deslauriers riding Urico, owned by Jane F. Clark, Margie Engle riding Indigo, owned by Griese, Garber, Hidden Creek and Gladewinds, Beezie Madden riding Coral Reef Via Volo, owned by Coral Reef Ranch, and McLain Ward riding Sapphire, owned by Ward and Bluechip Bloodstock, and led by Chef d'Equipe George Morris, the United States came out on top in the unique team competition.
Sixteen-year-old Reed Kessler, of Armonk, NY, had the best showing of her young career today, riding in her first CSIO 4* competition and winning two classes in one day. Kessler began the morning by riding her top mount Flight to victory in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Speed Challenge with the fastest of eight clear rounds in a class of 33 entries. The young rider then went on to ride Ligist to a win in the $10,000 G&C Farm Speed Stake CSIO with the fastest of seven clear rounds out of 24 entries. Competing against many of the world's best riders, Kessler was thrilled this afternoon as she took in the magnitude of her accomplishments.
"I wasn't even going to show this week because it is always a little difficult figuring out what classes I can do and can't do since I am younger, but my dad of course went through all of the rules and made sure that it was okay," Kessler laughed. "Just the fact that I am even showing this week is so exciting to me, so to even win a class is amazing. I have been trying to move up into the open jumpers and get the hang of it. I have been doing well; I have been placing, but I haven't won a bunch of classes, so to win two in a row today was amazing."
Speaking about her horses, Kessler smiled, "Flight is a professional; he just takes you by the hand and goes right around. Goose (Ligist) has huge scope, but the speed does not usually come as easily with him as it does with Flight, so to win a CSIO 4* at the speed with him, I can't believe it. I still don't think it's real. He has been great and it has definitely been a work in progress."
In addition to her Open Jumper success, Kessler also currently leads the Artisan Farms Young Riders Grand Prix standings, which will provide the opportunity to compete at the EY Cup Finals at this year's FEI World Cup Finals in Leipzig, Germany. The next competition is a team competition on Thursday, March 10.
For Immediate Release
Brooke Bidgood for Equestrian Sport Productions
Wellington, FL - March 4, 2011 - Crowds of spectators were out today to enjoy the sunshine, compete, and watch the competition at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, now in its eighth of 12 weeks. Among the competition today was the group of adult riders competing for the top award in the Ariat National Adult Medal.
HITS Ocala Veteran Tracy Fenney Wins the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, as Germaine Edelmann Scores the Highest Grand Prix Finish of Her Care
OCALA, FL (March 4, 2011)—Texas native Tracy Fenney made her return to the HITS Ocala Grand Prix winner’s circle after capturing her first victory of the season aboard MTM Farm’s MTM Centano in Thursday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. As the legendary competitor rose to the top of the class, Germaine Edelmann, a relative newcomer at the Grand Prix level, made an impact of her own with a nail-biting, second-place finish.
For Immediate Release
Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL - March 3, 2011 - USA's Mario Deslauriers and Vicomte D were victorious in Thursday afternoon's $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 following a competitive class at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center during international CSIO week at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
Mario Deslauriers talks about his win with Vicomte D in the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 8
For Immediate Release
Brooke Bidgood for Equestrian Sport Productions
Wellington, FL - March 3, 2011 - The eighth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3, is well into its second day of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The sun was shinning along with strong gusts of wind as the Green Conformation Hunters made their way into the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring on Thursday morning.
Lexington, KY - Leslie Law and David O'Connor have been named to the 2013 Eventing Chef d'Equipe/Technical Advisor Short List. USEF received nine applications from six different nations. The Search Committee interviewed six applicants over the last two weeks. The applicant group is extremely qualified with over thirty Olympic, Pan American, European Championship, and World Equestrian Games medals between them.
For Immediate Release
Jennifer Wood for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL - March 2, 2011 - The eighth week of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has begun, and this week is the CSIO "international" week of competition. The opening international class was the $5,000 CSIO Welcome Stake. Paul O'Shea of Ireland had the fastest speed round for victory with Daydream St. Ghyvan Z, owned by Harry Gill.
Paul O'Shea talks about his win in the $5,000 CSIO Open Welcome Stake with Daydream St. Ghyvan Z.
The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival's eighth week of competition continues through Sunday, March 6. Week eight, sponsored by G&C Farm, will feature the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 on Thursday at 2 p.m., the $31,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumpers and the $25,000 ESP Jumper Stake on Saturday afternoon, and the Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic on Sunday afternoon.
This weekend at the FTI WEF, one of the Saturday night features will be the PRO DerbyCross. Olympic Gold Medalist David O'Connor will host a course walk at 5 p.m. followed by the PRO DerbyCross Team Competition at 5:30 p.m.
SAUGERTIES, NY (March 2, 2011)--The Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final is the talk of the town this season and its key to qualifying, the Devoucoux Hunter Prix, continues to be one of the most popular offerings at the HITS Winter Circuits in Ocala, Florida, Thermal, California, and Tucson, Arizona. Never before has a purse of this magnitude been offered for hunters, and never before have so many talented riders at all levels of their careers had the opportunity to aspire to such a lofty goal.
OCALA, FL (March 1, 2011)--The crowd was red hot on Saturday night at HITS Post Time Farm as Natalya Jarczyk and her own Frivole Des Pres captured the $15,000 Marshall & Sterling Child/Adult Jumper Classic. Exhibitors, family and friends filled the stands and The Overlook VIP Club to support one of HITS Ocala's most coveted events.
Ocala, Florida - $50,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health
On Sunday, daybreak in Ocala saw a dense fog lift to reveal another glorious day with bright sunshine and temperatures in the 80s at HITS Post Time Farm for the $50,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix,
$75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm - Friday, March 4 at 6:00 PM in the International Arena. This is a must-see event in which countries compete against each other over two thrilling rounds of show jumping. Teams will consist of four riders of the same nationality, and only the top teams from round one are allowed to return for the final round. This is an exciting opportunity
By Joanie Morris
Lexington, KY - The following horse/rider combinations have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to represent the U.S. in America's only Nations Cup which will be held in Wellington, FL on March 4, as part of CSIO Wellington. The Palm Beach International Equestrian Club's International Arena will host some of the best horse/rider combinations from across the globe as they vie for top honors in the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm.
For Immediate Release
Brooke Bidgood for Equestrian Sport Productions
Wellington, FL - February 27, 2011 - As week 7 comes to a close here at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3, looks back on another successful week of competition. The younger section of Small Junior Hunters, presented by Martha Jolicoeur and Illustrated Properties, awarded their championship early this morning in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring.
Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, rode Ariel to the championship honor this weekend. Neither her, nor her mount, Ariel, are new to the championship winner's circle. Scott Stewart, who also trains Colvin, owns Ariel, a six-year-old Brandenburg mare by Lancado.
The winning pair secured the tricolor honor this morning by winning a stunning four out of five classes in their division of nine entries. They placed fifth in the division's remaining class.
Colvin, arguably one of the best and busiest young riders here in Wellington, keeps very busy showing everything from pony hunters to the junior equitation classes. Furthermore, she does it all successfully and stays focused throughout. Colvin will remain busy throughout the rest of circuit showing numerous horses and ponies as the weeks continue.
The reserve champion today in the Small Junior 15 & Under Hunters, presented by Martha Jolicoeur and Illustrated Properties, was awarded to Bold Venture. Bold Venture is a thirteen-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, owned by the Zeidler Farm, all the way from Canada. Michael Hughes was aboard Bold Venture for the reserve championship honor. The pair secured the award by placing second in three classes and fourth in another class.
Stay tuned next week as the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival moves on to Week 8 of the winter circuit on March 2-6.
For full results please visit www.showgroundslive.com or for more information, visit www.equestriansport.com.
For Immediate Release
Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL - February 27, 2011 - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded its seventh week of competition on Sunday afternoon with an exciting victory for Peter Wylde and Lipton D'Lothain in the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic. Wylde and his mount of six years, owned by Windward Farm and Jessica Siuda, mastered the jump-off course and galloped to the win.
This week's course designer in the International Arena was Olaf Petersen Jr. of Germany. Petersen built a fitting course for today's competitors and saw seven of the 49 entries jump clear in the first round. A fall kept one competitor from returning for the short course, but the remaining six riders jumped off to determine top honors.
Peter Wylde and Lipton De L'Othain were the fastest of four double clear rounds and stopped the clock in 36.013 seconds for the win.
Pablo Barrios and Nathalie Mathers' Costa cleared the course in 37.384 seconds to finish in second place. Nick Skelton and Big Star, owned by Beverly and Gary Widdowson, finished in 37.844 seconds to earn third place, and Sergio Niento Del Rio galloped Fabiana Banco Del Bajio through the timers in 39.124 seconds to place fourth.
Enrique Gonzalez and Obelix 148 finished with eight faults to earn fifth place honors and Richard Spooner and Molly Ohrstrom's Billy Bianca incurred eight jumping and four time faults after a refusal to finish in sixth.
Commenting on what made the difference in his time, Wylde smiled after the class, stating, "That horse makes the difference; he's like a Ferrari. He is so fast and careful and competitive. He wins many, many classes. I saw Nick go and he was really fast and left strides out and I thought, 'Oh boy, in order to win you've really got to take every risk.' I tried. That's his nature, to win. It makes it fun and easy. He's a brilliant animal and I was lucky he was on form today."
Peter Wylde and Lipton de L'Othain with ringmaster
Cliff Haines and Lauren Tisbo of Suncast
Lipton De L'Othain is a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Prince Du Logis. "We bought him as a six-year-old," Wylde explained. "We have had him for many years and he's been a winner all of his life. We had a little bit of a slow start at the beginning of circuit, but he is incredibly careful and will almost never knock a jump down. That's why I don't ride him in the biggest grand prix (classes). This level for him is good. Last year he did 18 ROLEX ranking competitions and was in the first three in 15 of them. He has an impressive record. It is not a surprise that he can win a class like this; it's right up his alley."
Commenting on the course, Wylde noted, "I thought it was one of the hardest 1.50m tracks we've jumped here. It was quite big and there were some difficult distances. It wasn't far off from an international grand prix."
"It's great to win here," he added. "No matter what the class is, to win in Palm Beach is brilliant."
Wylde has been based in Germany for seven years, but enjoys the opportunity to compete in Wellington each year. "I hope to be able to come here every winter," he said. "The sport is very exciting here. I have two very good American owners - Jessica Siuda and Windward Farm and Beth Johnson and Louisburg Farm. We all like to be here in the wintertime. As long as it is financially possible and we have good enough horses to come here, we'll make the effort to be here. It is an incredible circuit."
Earlier in the day the International Arena held week seven's $10,000 EquiFit High Junior Jumper Classic. With the only clear round in the class, Katie Dinan and Belle Dame D were the winners.
The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival will continue with its eighth week of competition beginning on Wednesday, March 2. Sponsored by G&C Farm, week eight will feature many exciting classes and is a CSIO rated competition.
A $5,000 CSIO Welcome Stake will be held on Wednesday and the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 will run on Thursday. Friday will feature a $31,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic and the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm. Saturday's schedule includes a $10,000 Speed Stake and a $25,000 ESP Jumper Stake during the day, with the Eventing Pro Cross Derby at 5:30 p.m. and the $35,000 Hermès Puissance. On Sunday the week will conclude with a $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic followed by the $150,000 Trump Grand Prix CSIO 4*.
For full results please visit www.showgroundslive.com and for more information, visit www.equestriansport.com.
Final Results: $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic
1 LIPTON DE L'OTHAIN PETER WYDLE WINDWARD FARM & JESSICA SIUDA: 0/0/36.013
2 COSTA PABLO BARRIOS NATHALIE MATHERS: 0/0/37.384
3 BIG STAR NICK SKELTON BEVERLY & GARY WIDDOWSON: 0/0/37.844
4 FABIANA BANCO DEL BAJIO SERGIO NIENTO DEL RIO SERGIO NIENTO DEL RIO: 0/0/39.124
5 OBELIX 148 ENRIQUE GONZALEZ ENRIQUE GONZALEZ: 0/8/37.568
6 BILLY BIANCA RICHARD SPOONER MOLLY OHRSTROM: 0/12/50.977
7 ES CARANDO Z OTAVIO PENEDO OTAVIO PENEDO: 0/WD
8 VAILLANT S LAUREN TISBO TEQUESTRIAN FARMS LLC: 4/64.796
9 KATINA ENRIQUE GONZALEZ ENRIQUE GONZALEZ: 4/64.905
10 G&C FLASH PABLO BARRIOS PABLO BARRIOS & GUSTAVO MIRABAL: 4/65.858
11 LITTLE TINKA HOLGER HETZEL HOLGER HETZEL: 4/67.241
12 CELESTA RODRIGO DIAZ RODRIGO DIAZ: 4/67.578
Sweden's Angelica Augustsson, winner of the 12th leg of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping series at Gothenburg, Sweden today is presented with her prize by Magali Dubois Vaucher, Rolex. Photo: Roland Thunholm/FEI
Swedish hearts were bursting with pride as a bright young super-star was born in the Scandinavium Arena at Gothenburg, Sweden this afternoon where local girl Angelica Augustsson galloped to victory in the penultimate qualifying round of the 2010/2011 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping seres. There was an outpouring of emotion in the aftermath, and even hardened veteran Ludger Beerbaum, who slotted into third behind runner-up Edwina Alexander from Australia, expressed his amazement at having taken part in one of the most thrilling competitions seen on the international circuit in recent history.
THERMAL, CA (February 28, 2011)--Puerto Rico’s Mark Watring and Horseworks Etc. Inc’s Green Sleeps Vioco secured their first Grand Prix triumph of the circuit when they scored the top prize in Saturday’s $50,000 Purina Mills CSI-W Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, in the indoor arena at the HITS Desert Horse Park, in Thermal, California.
Last night’s triumph by Watring continued an impressive streak by the men competing at HITS Thermal as each Grand Prix has been won by a male Grand Prix rider thus far. The talented horse-and-rider combination was the top team out of the 31 starters to challenge International Course Designer Marina Azevedo’s (Sao Paulo, Brazil) first-round course and the four that advanced to the jump-off.
“He is a new horse for me,,” said Watring, of his horse. “We have been a great team so far. We are going to the Pan Am Games together and hopefully to the next Olympics in London.”
It took ten trips before the first round would produce a clear effort. Susan Hutchison (Temecula, California) broke the string when she made it all the way home without dropping any rails riding El Dorado 29’s Cantano. And for a time, it seemed like the enthusiastic crowd that watched the class, including the sold out Charles Owen VIP Club, would not get to see a jump-off. Watring (Thousand Oaks, California) and Green Sleeps Vioco quickly changed that outlook when they jumped clear in the 19th spot of the first round, bringing the crowd to its feet.
At the end of the first round, four horse-and-rider combinations would shoot it out for the blue ribbon and a first-place check for $15,000. “I thought four horses in the jump-off was a perfect number,” said Azevedo. “The course was challenging. I had some spots in there that needed to be ridden very steady and other places where the rider really needed to go for it.”
The jump-off featured two American riders, a Canadian and one from Puerto Rico giving the horse race over fences an International taste. First to go was Hutchison and Cantano 29 and they had a rail down in 36.38 seconds and finished the class in third place.
Watring was the next rider to attempt to go clean but failed to navigate the track successfully, crossing the timers with four faults in 35.32 seconds. Canada’s Michelle Vandal (Sanichton, British Columbia, Canada) and Divine Diva carefully tackled the course next, knowing a clear round would assure them no worse than a red ribbon. The talented team was clear heading to the last jump but dropped a rail in 40.77 seconds to eventually place fourth.
Rich Fellers and Harry and Mollie Chapman’s Flexible entered the ring in the last-to-ride spot as the clear-cut favorites to secure the blue ribbon. The pair already has three Grand Prix wins in their pocket this circuit, including a victory in Thursday’s $31,000 Strongid C 2X Welcome Classic, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, and are sitting in third place in the U.S. West Coast League’s Standings for the FEI World Cup. It looked like lighting would strike one more time as they had the time but pulled the very last rail in a time of 35.68 seconds to finish in second place.
With his victory, Watring earned some valuable points in the race for the Platinum Performance Leading World Cup Rider Award. The top rider in the combined four FEI World Cup Qualifiers at HITS Thermal will receive a one-year supply of product, courtesy of Platinum Performance.
Action for the High-Performance riders at HITS Thermal continues today with the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, to cap off Desert Circuit IV as Grand Prix riders continue to shoot it out for a spot in the second-annual Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix that will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York on Sunday September 11.
"I would love to be there if I qualify," added Watring. "I think I have the perfect horse for it."
For the Love of Horses - Silver Spurs: Equestrian Life offers a well-produced video about Reining with the Miolas and Brett Stone of Silver Spurs Equine in Scottsdale Arizona...
For Immediate Release
Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL - February 26, 2011 - Saturday night at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival featured an exciting victory for McLain Ward (USA) and Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve in the $78,000 Fidelity Investments® CSI 2* Grand Prix. The class was held on a beautiful Florida evening under the lights at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Riders representing 12 different countries made up the international field this evening, showing over a course designed by Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany. Thirty-seven entries began the class, and seven were able to jump clear in the first round. An exciting jump-off followed, as some of the best riders in the world battled for top honors. The United States took home the top three places with Olympians McLain Ward, Beezie Madden, and Margie Engle leading the class.
McLain Ward talks about his victory in the $78,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival:
A father and daughter each riding for France, Marie and Michel Hecart, were the first two riders to jump clear over the first round course to advance to the jump-off. Marie rode Myself De Breve, owned by Haras De La Rogue, through the jump-off course with eight faults in 44.72 seconds to finish in sixth. Michel and Babbe Van't Roosakker, also owned by Haras De La Rogue, immediately followed and jumped in 46.44 seconds with four faults at the last fence to place fourth.
Schuyler Riley (USA) and South Beach Stables' Lapacco returned next and finished with four faults in 48.57 seconds to finish in fifth place.
Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via Volo were the first pair to jump double clear and stopped the clock in 42.81 seconds to take the lead, eventually finishing in second place.
Margie Engle returned next with Indigo, owned by Griese, Garber, Hidden Creek and Gladewinds, but an unfortunate rail at the second to last fence cost the duo four faults and their time of 45.13 seconds landed in third place.
McLain Ward, of Brewster, NY, really wanted the win tonight after finishing second in several grand prix classes over the WEF circuit. Ward's motivation led to a fast, clear ride aboard Louisburg Farm's Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve to top the leaders. Ward and Pjotter stopped the clock in 42.08 seconds, the fastest round of the night.
McLain Ward and Pjotter with ringmaster Cliff Haines,
owner Beth Johnson,
and Mark and Katherine Bellissimo of Equestrian Sport Productions
The final competitor in the jump-off was Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and his mount Amaretto D'Arco, owned by Spy Coast Farm. Three rails cost the pair 12 faults and they finished in seventh place.
Pjotter Van De Zonnehoeve is a ten-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Plato x Emilion. Ward explained that he started riding Pjotter in the Low Schooling Jumpers last year and the talented chestnut has advanced quickly. "Beth Johnson was nice enough to give me the ride on this horse and he has been a star since he came out," Ward smiled. "I'm kind of excited about the future with him. I did the night Grand Prix in week two and he had four faults but went brilliantly and he has been clear in three or four of the WEF Challenge Cup classes. He is just a cool horse. He's electric careful and he has a big heart. I think he trusts me and I believe in him. It has been a really great match."
Speaking about his winning ride in the jump-off, Ward stated, "I got to see Beezie go on the (mini jumbotron) in the warm-up area and I know her horse has a very big stride. Pjotter is a little inexperienced, but he's naturally a very fast horse. I was a little concerned with the rollback on the triple bar because he's very careful. I thought if I didn't meet that right I was in a little bit of trouble, but it showed up great. I knew I could run across the middle of the ring to that second to last vertical and he wouldn't touch it. I figured I'd give it a shot. I've had a lot of second places and I got nipped by Beezie last week, so it was certainly in the back of my head; I wanted to give it a go."
"In the end, I think it was a brilliant course," Ward added. "There were a lot of long gallops with a tight time allowed, so I think the horses got a little unraveled and it caused them to get flat towards the end of the course and have rails. I had a young student in the class and she had a few rails, but she came out more confident. I think that's really important with these two star grand prix. You can start a young horse or a young rider while still not killing them and also testing the better combinations in the class; that's a very difficult thing to do."
Beezie Madden has had two big wins recently at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival and added a great finish this evening to her success. Madden rode Abigail Wexner's Mademoiselle to victory in the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 6, then went on to guide Prima, owned by Neapolitan Holding Co., LLC to a win in the $50,000 G&C Farm Palm Beach Jumping Derby last Sunday. A second place with Coral Reef Via Volo tonight continued Madden's fantastic run through the WEF circuit.
"I thought I was pretty fast, but McLain is of course a really fast rider and that horse is pretty fast. There's always a chance somebody can beat you," Madden said of her round tonight. "My horse has such a big stride that I think I could have done five to the double, but I wanted to be a little sensible because she is in the Nations Cup next Friday; I didn't want to take a big risk."
"I was really happy with my round and the way she went," Madden expressed. "This was her first time under the lights this year, which is why I wanted to show her this week before Friday. I was slow getting started this year because I had a speed horse and then I didn't really show a lot, but we are getting going now and things are working out."
Margie Engle was also pleased with her mount Indigo's performance tonight, and wanted to get her horse in the ring under the lights as well before next week's Nations Cup. "He's still learning about the speed part, but he felt super in the first round and I thought he jumped around very easily," Engle noted. "He had a light rub at the one jump, but I was really happy with how he went overall. He always feels good! I don't think he ever gets tired. He feels like he's on springs, almost on a trampoline half the time. He has more energy than any horse I think I've ever ridden."
Earlier in the day, Emilie Martinsen took home the top prize in the $15,000 ECB Equine Spa High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.
The FTI Winter Equestrian Festival's seventh week of competition, sponsored by Fidelity Investments, will conclude on Sunday with the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Series Classic at 1 p.m. The 2011 WEF will continue through April 3 and award more than $6 million in prize money.
For full results please visit www.showgroundslive.com and for more information, visit www.equestriansport.com.
Final Results: $78,000 Fidelity Investments® CSI 2* Grand Prix
1 PJOTTER VAN DE ZONNEHOEVE: 2001 Dutch Warmblood Gelding by Plato x Emilion
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Louisburg Farm: 0/0/42.08
2 CORAL REEF VIA VOLO: 1998 BWP mare by Clinton x Heartbreaker
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Coral Reef Ranch: 0/0/42.81
3 INDIGO: 2000 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Indoctro x Unknown
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Griese, Garber, Hidden Creek & Gladewinds: 0/4/45.13
4 LAPACCO: 1999 Holsteiner gelding by Lavaletto x Grundyman
SCHUYLER RILEY (USA), South Beach Stables: 0/4/48.57
5 BABBE VAN'T ROOSAKKER: 2001 BWP mare by Kannan x Unknown
MICHEL HECART (FRA), Haras De La Rogue: 0/4/46.44
6 MYSELF DE BREVE: 2000 SFA mare by Quidam de Revel x Grand Veneur
MARIE HECART (FRA), Haras De La Rogue: 0/8/44.72
7 AMARETTO D ARCO: 2000 BWP stallion by Darco x Tenor Manciais
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Spy Coast Farm LLC: 0/12/46.76
8 ONISHA: 1999 Holsteiner mare by Caretino x Athlet Z
REED KESSLER (USA), Reed Kessler: 4/73.79
9 CRISTALLO: 1998 Holsteiner gelding by Caretino x Cicero
RICHARD SPOONER (USA), Show Jumping Syndications International: 4/73.80
10 BON AMI: 2001 BWP gelding by Pavarotti VD Helle x Unknown
SCOTT BRASH (GBR), Liz Mctaggart: 4/78.17
11 FAROUKH: 1998 RHEIN gelding by Rembrandt x Lanier II
SARAH WAYDA (USA), Sarah Wayda: 4/78.91
12 NICE DE PRISSEY: 2001 Selle Francais stallion by Rosire x Amarpour
BRIANNE GOUTAL (USA), Cloverleaf Farm: 4/80.34
For Immediate Release
Brooke Bidgood for Equestrian Sport Productions
Wellington, FL - February 26, 2011 - The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, which runs through April 3, awarded more champions today for its seventh week of competition this season. The younger section of Large Junior Hunters were among those awarded today as the weekend continues here at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Lillie Keenan was hard to beat this weekend aboard her two Large Junior Hunter entries. While she is not new to the winning ranks of the hunter rings, she was visibly delighted with the end results of this weekend's competition.
Keenan rode the Chansonette Farm entry, C Coast Z, to the championship this morning. C Coast Z is an eleven-year-old grey Warmblood gelding by Champion Du Lys. "We bought him as an equitation horse, but I did him in a few junior hunter classes just to get going and did so well, we thought, 'Ok, we'll keep him as that,'" said Keenan about C Coast Z. Keenan and C Coast Z won three classes and placed second in another to secure the division's championship.
Keenan rode the Chansonette Farm entry Madison to the reserve championship as well. The pair won two classes, placed second in one class, and fifth in another to clinch the reserve tricolor. "She was originally a jumper, but we bought her as a hunter in Europe," Keenan explained about how she came to have Madison.
"They are both great, but they are kind of opposite rides. Coast is more of kicking and trying to wake him up, where Madison already has her own motor," Keenan compared.
Keenan enjoys doing the derby and night classes on both horses as well. "I can do both horses in the night classes which is great because I really enjoy doing that. Being able to go under the lights and do the high options if you have horses that are willing to do that, is a lot of fun."
Keenan, who resides in New York City, flies back and forth between the city and Wellington so that she can continue showing, as well as go to school. "I'm really lucky that my school is so flexible. I miss every Friday during circuit so that I can come here on Thursday nights, and then I fly back to New York on Sundays."
Tomorrow, the Small Junior 15 & Under Hunters, presented by Martha Jolicoeur and Illustrated Properties, will award their championship. Stay tuned for champions and the weekend's winners as the seventh week of competition comes to a close tomorrow at the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.
The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 12 through April 3. WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are "AA" rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $6 million in prize money will be awarded.
WEF is proud to be supported by their title sponsor, FTI Consulting, Inc. FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 3,600 employees located in most major business centers in the world, they work closely with clients every day to anticipate, illuminate, and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management and restructuring. For more information, please visit www.fticonsulting.com.
