May 11, 2012
Teach Your Horse to JumpDo you have a horse with the heart and athleticism for jumping, but don't know how to get him started? If you are interested in teaching your inexperienced or young horse to jump, low obstacles should be well within his ability as long as he is sound, physically mature and fit. Then follow these steps to introducing your horse to jumping More info...
May 11, 2012
London 2012 Olympic flame lit at Olympia
Olympia, Greece
With only 78 days until the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London the Olympic flame was lit Thursday at Olympia in Greece.
The lighting symbolically marks the beginning of the torch relay that will bring the flame to the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27.In line with tradition, the flame was lit following the time-honored ritual of using the sun’s rays and a parabolic mirror, by a high priestess Ino Menegaki at the Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia.
The priestess then entered the Ancient Olympic Stadium, in a procession choreographed by Artemis Ignatiou, and used the flame to ignite the torch of the first runner of the Relay, Spyros Gianniotis. A British-born Greek open water swimming world champion and three-time Olympian, Gianniotis then transferred the flame to Alex Loukos, one of London 2012’s young ambassadors in Singapore in 2005, who has Greek heritage and lives in London. More info...
May 11, 2012
Reed Kessler and Onisha Demonstrate Power and Speed at Kentucky Spring Horse Show
Lexington, KY
It was a great day for the team from Plain Bay Farm as student Reed Kessler won the 1.40m Open Jumper class, and trainer Katie Prudent placed second, as well as claiming her own victory in the 1.35m Open Jumpers. In the 1.40m Power and Speed event at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, Kessler piloted her talented mount Onisha to the blue ribbon prize with quick speed. Prudent placed second with V, who was also very fast during the speed phase. Earlier in the day, Prudent won the 1.35m Open Jumpers with a double-clear effort aboard V, which was just as speedy and good enough for the blue. More info...
May 10, 2012
Carissimo and Molly Ashe-Cawley Hit The Heights at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows
North Salem, NY
Molly Ashe-Cawley of Wellington, FL and Carissimo bested a field of 25 top horse-and-rider combinations to win the 1.4 Meter Jumper class on Wednesday at the Old Salem Spring Horse Shows, held on the beautiful grounds of Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY.
Ashe-Cawley and Carissimo, a 12 year-old, bay, Holsteiner gelding by Calando I, completed the first-round course and the jump-off fault free, stopping the timers in the jump-off in 39.001 seconds for the win. Ashe-Cawley showed the gelding successfully this winter in Wellington and they are continuing to succeed as the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows get underway. More info...
May 10, 2012
Jennifer Alfano Sweeps First Day of Professional Hunters at Kentucky Spring Horse Show
Lexington, KY
Riders gathered at the Stonelea Ring to face the demanding hunter course as the first day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show got underway. They were greeted with a brisk morning air, and a cloud filled sky, as the divisions commenced with top riders from across the nation competing for the winning honors in their respective divisions. Opening day marked the beginning of the First Year Green Working Hunter, Second Year Green Working Hunter, Green Conformation, Regular Conformation and High Performance Hunter classes. Leading the way in the Green Conformation Hunters was Hunt Tosh aboard Say Again, while Havens Schatt exhibited both Macallan and Valencia to top honors in the Second Year Green Working Hunters. It was Jennifer Alfano, however, who stole the show in the Regular Conformation Hunters with Lions Paw, as well as the High Performance Hunters with the revered Jersey Boy, sweeping both divisions. More info...
May 10, 2012
Hector Florentino and Ultimo Speed to Victory in $35,000 Welcome Cup at Kentucky Spring Horse Show
Lexington, KY
Speed was the name of the game during the first day of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, and the Dominican Republic's Hector Florentino had it with Ultimo. The pair dominated the $35,000 Welcome Cup, clocking in at a speedy 67.530 seconds, which earned the blue ribbon prize during the speed event. Ashlee Bond stepped up to place second with her veteran mount Cadett 7, while the lead-off rider Kent Farrington, placed third with Voyeur.
Today's class was the first major event during the Kentucky Spring Horse Show, which will be hosting two Observation Events for the U.S. Show Jumping Team later in the week. To welcome the riders, course designer Richard Jeffery of Bournemouth, England, built a speed track in the Rolex Stadium that included a double combination, a triple combination, and open water with a pole, and multiple inside options. Seven of today's 24 entries completed their rounds without fault, but it was Hector Florentino and Stransky's Mission Farm's Ultimo that took home the lion's share of the prize money. More info...
May 10, 2012
FEI NATIONS CUP™ LIVE ON FEI TV THIS WEEKEND
LeBAule, France
The opening leg of the FEI Nation Cup™ Top League in La Baule (FRA) and the second leg of the FEI Nation Cup™ European Promotional League in Linz-Ebelsberg (AUT) will be live on FEI TV, the FEI’s official video platform, according to the following schedule: More info...
May 10, 2012
McLain Ward Returns To His Winning Ways at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows
North Salem, NY
Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward was back in the saddle and back in the winner’s circle as he rode Emma to win the 7 & 8 Year Old 1.40m Young Jumper class at the Old Salem Spring Horse Shows in North Salem, NY.
Ward, Brewster, NY, returning to the horse show circuit for the first time since fracturing his kneecap in January, showed no ill effects from the long layoff that put him out of action for more than 3 months and caused him to miss the Olympic trials. The Selection Committee chose to give Ward a bye for the Olympic trials and included him on the list of finalists who will ride in two observation events in May-June which will determine the final team. He is riding daily at Old Salem and will compete in all four of the shows’ Grand Prix events including the $75,000 Empire State Grand Prix in which he is defending champion. More info...
May 9, 2012
Hopefuls Ride for Olympic Places
IT WAS a big weekend for Olympic hopefuls in dressage and showjumping as they arrived to begin Australian team selection.
The showjumpers were in residence in Lummen, Belgium, on a wet and dreary weekend.
A warm-up class in the International ring (a Table A listed for 1.40/1.45m), the first round of the Nations Cup and the first round of the Grand Prix were ways of impressing selectors.
In the International Table A 1.40/1.45m the winner was Werner Muff of Switzerland, second was Dominque Hendrickx, Belgium, and third was Guido Hornesch, also Belgium.
The highest-placed Australian was Amy Graham, on Bella Baloubet, who finished 16th. Paul Athanasoff with his own Wirragulla Nicklaus was 21st.
Then we dropped down to 45th spot to find Julia Hargreaves and Vedor, and in 51st position was James Paterson-Robinson.
We then had to go to 73rd to find James Passy and 84th to find Matt Williams.
The team was Amy Graham, Paul Athanasoff, James Paterson-Robertson and Julia Hargreaves and, as they went into the Nations Cup, people would have been wondering how this was to work. More info...
May 9, 2012
Kilian McGrath Named Show Jumping Hall of Fame Rider of the Month for April
Lexington, KY
Kilian McGrath, of Westlake Village, CA, has been named the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Rider of the Month for April.
McGrath competes in the West Conference Junior Division of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series aboard Salerno. The month of March was a success for McGrath and his riding partner, as they earned a first place finish at Woodside Spring Preview and a second place finish at Blenheim Spring Classic III.
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series honors one rider each month as the Rider of the Month. The honor goes to the one rider who earns the most points on one horse in Series competition that month. More info...
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