 Olympic course designer Linda Allen brings you the complete guide to course building on DVD. Read more>
|
Del Mar, CA - The first of four Observation Events for the U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team gets underway this weekend at the Del Mar National Horse Show, held May 1-6, 2012. Horses and riders on the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games will jump Friday in the $50,000 Surfside Grand Prix presented by ShowBiz Magazine and Saturday in the $100,000 Hermes Grand Prix of Del Mar presented by Intuit. Five combinations from the long list will contest these two classes along with other entries competing at the prestigious California horse show.
 |
|
Rich Fellers and Flexible (Cruising x Safari xx) Susan J. Stickle/PhelpsSports.com.
|
Rich Fellers will bring his 2012 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final winning partner, Flexible, to the Observation Event. Fellers and Harry and Mollie Chapman’s 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion broke a 25 year winless drought for the U.S. in Rolex/FEI World Cup Finals two weeks ago in ’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. The pair is ranked seventh on the USEF Long List for the U.S. Show Jumping Team for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Also competing this weekend is Lauren Hough. The 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games veteran returns to her California roots riding Blue Angel. Hough and Robin Parsky’s 10-year-old Anglo-European mare were third in the $50,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in January.
Additionally, there are three up-and-coming riders in the field that have made a huge impact in the Young Rider ranks and are now making names for themselves at the highest-level.
Continue reading Olympic Observation Events to Begin at Del Mar National Horse Show
 Rich Fellers (USA) riding Flexible (Cruising x Safari xx) winner of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Final 2012. Kit Houghton/FEI photo. by Louise Parkes
America’s Rich Fellers and the amazing Irish-bred stallion Flexible stormed to victory in a thrilling third-round jump-off at the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in ’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands today. Only Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and his 11-year-old gelding, Nino des Buissonnets, were left to challenge the US partnership against the clock in the closing stages, but despite a superb effort, they had to yield to the pure determination of a horse and rider who, quite simply, never give up.
Flexible was all but written off twice during his career due to severe injury, but overcame the odds to return to the top of the sport each time. For the legion of fans who have followed the 16-year-old son of Cruising and his rider from Oregon (USA) who bought the chestnut stallion in Cavan, Ireland 10 years ago, today was a dream come true. Unorthodox in his movement and jumping style, and the oldest in the competition at 16 years of age, Flexible showed the same kind of spirit as his sire, Cruising, who was runner-up at the FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final 13 years ago in Gothenburg (SWE). Flexible was second at the same venue himself in 2008, and has competed at all of the last five Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Finals, but today it was his turn to stand under the spotlight. And the courageous stallion and his rider fought every inch of the way, bringing the packed stadium at the Brabanthalle in ’s-Hertogenbosch to their feet in an emotional tribute after their incredible round in the jump-off, while it was Guerdat who stood second on the podium ahead of fellow-countryman Pius Schwizer in third.
Continue reading FELLERS AND FLEXIBLE RECORD FIRST US VICTORY IN 25 YEARS AT THRILLING ROLEX FINALE
 Philipp Weishaupt (GER) riding Monte Bellini (Montender x Ramiro), winner of the seond round of Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final. Kit Houghton/FEI photo. Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt won tonight’s second leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in a thrilling three-way jump-off against the clock. But it is runner-up, Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer, who holds the advantage going into Sunday’s final competition which will decide the fate of the 2011/2012 title.
As the going got tough this evening, the cream rose to the top, and clear rounds proved very elusive indeed. Weishaupt’s fellow-countryman, Marco Kutscher, was the only other starter to find the key to the course set by Louis Konickx, but reigning Olympic champion, Canada’s Eric Lamaze, was unlucky to miss out on the final barrage when stopping the clock just 500ths of a second off the pace for a single first-round time penalty to finish fourth and is in serious contention going into the closing stages.
Masterpiece
Another masterpiece from Konickx not only tested rider’s judgement and nerve, but the pure scope of the horses tonight. The course was relentless from start to finish, with the double of big oxers at four, the vertical with water-tray at five, and the dog-leg line to fence 10 all taking their toll. Once again the Dutchman gave them plenty to look at and think about, with another unusual wall, narrow and shaped like an inverted triangle, at fence nine, but it was the triple combination at fence 11 that proved the real bogey of the class. Riding off a left-hand turn, riders needed plenty of momentum coming down to the opening vertical in order to make the two-stride distance to the following oxer of white poles and, time and again, this hit the floor as horses struggled to reach the back bar. Second-placed Kutscher explained the challenge at this fence which fell for 17 different riders tonight – more than half of those on the start-list.
Continue reading Weishaupt Wins Second Leg, but Schwizer Heads Rolex World Cup Leaderboard
 Rich Fellers (USA) riding Flexible (Cruising x Safari xx), winners of round 1. Kit Houghton/FEI photo. The oldest horse in the competition, the 16-year-old Irish-bred Flexible, won the first leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Final 2011/2012 for America’s Rich Fellers at the Brabanthalle in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands tonight.
Living up to his name, the stallion’s super-tight turn to the double of verticals at fence five on the 13-fence track set by Dutch course designer Louis Konickx proved pivotal in every sense, and none of the rest could match his pace as he broke the beam in 60.26 seconds.
Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and Nino des Buissonnets were over a second slower when slotting into second, while the remarkable Rik Hemeryck finished third for Belgium with Quarco de Kerambars, despite having the dubious distinction of being first into the ring.
Pius Schwizer (SUI) and Ulysse lined up fourth ahead of Kevin Staut and Silvana HDC for France in fifth, while reigning FEI European Champion, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson from Sweden, was sixth with Casall La Silla.
Continue reading Fellers and Flexible Shine in Rolex World Cup Opener
 The USA's Richard Spooner and YJC graduate Cristallo (Caretino x Cicero) won the North American West Coast FEI World Cup™ Jumping qualifying series and will line out at 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands for the 2011/2012 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Final in two weeks time. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton. by Louise Parkes
The 2011/2012 North American FEI World Cup™ Jumping qualifying leagues concluded last weekend at Tampa in Florida (USA), yielding a star-studded selection of contenders for the 34th Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final at ’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands which is now only two weeks away.
Two separate leagues take place on the North American continent. The East Coast league began at Blainville in Quebec (CAN) last July, while the West Coast league kicked off at another Canadian fixture, Langley CSI2*-W, a month earlier. A total of four groups of athletes can qualify from this region – two from Canada, another two from Mexico, three from the USA West Coast League and seven from the USA East Coast series. And many of the riders who have made the cut for this season’s decider are big names that are likely to make their presence felt when the action gets underway at the Brabanthalle on 19 April.
Continue reading Star-Studded Line-Up Emerges from North American FEI World Cup™ Jumping Qualifying Leagues
 Beezie Madden and YJC Graduate Mademoiselle (Libertino x Silvester) were the winners of the $50,000 Grand Prix of Tampa CSI 2*-W after completing a jump-off round with blazing fast speed, beating Margie Engle by only a fraction of a second. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG. Tampa, FL – Sunday, April 1, 2012 – It was the concluding day of the Tampa Bay Classic today at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center, and competition was fierce as the nation’s top competitors strived to pave their way to the 2012 World Cup Finals in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. The $50,000 Grand Prix of Tampa CSI 2*-W was the last opportunity for riders to qualify for the impending World Cup Finals, and the battle came down to two as Beezie Madden and Margie Engle fought to the finish. Madden and Mademoiselle emerged the victors, beating Engle’s jump-off time by only six-tenths of a second.
This afternoon, riders gathered beneath the Covered Arena to compete over courses designed by Michel Vaillancourt of Canada. The first round featured an imposing opening oxer-vertical line, followed by an oxer leading to another vertical-oxer line. Riders were also challenged by a vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination, an oxer-vertical double combination and a daunting grey wall. The course tested horse and rider alike, with combinations finding fault in multiple places, including the triple combination, double combination and the final oxer.
Only two riders were able to complete the first round without fault and advance to the short track. The course began with a single vertical bending to an oxer, after landing riders had the choice of making a wide turn around the fourth obstacle and moving onto an oxer or slicing the turn and saving some seconds. The oxer required an immediate right rollback leading to the last vertical of the triple combination, and then riders made a hard left over the oxer-vertical double combination. Finally, riders were faced with the grey wall, and galloped over the final oxer.
Continue reading Beezie Madden Secures World Cup Spot With Victory Aboard YJC Graduate Mademoiselle
 Duncan McFarlane and Mr. Whoopy (Contendro x Watzmann) get some serious air in Saturday night's $53,000 HITS Grand Prix CSI2*W, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California. © Flying Horse Photography. THERMAL, CA (February 13, 2012) – In Saturday’s $53,000 HITS Grand Prix CSI2*-W, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, New Zealand’s own Duncan McFarlane worked his magic aboard Simon Coxe’s Mr. Whoopy and posted the only double-clear effort in the class to capture their first Grand Prix victory of the season together. This dynamic duo has a history together, and a rich one at that! The pair cleaned up last September with a second-place finish at the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York and went home with a handsome check for $200,000. So it’s no surprise to see them back at it with their sights squarely set on making a return trip to Saugerties for this year’s Pfizer Million.
In Saturday night’s feature class at the HITS Desert Circuit, McFarlane and Mr. Whoopy, who has a habit of being a rather rambunctious partner, met the challenge of Course Designer Florencio Hernandez’s 1.60 meter World Cup course.
Continue reading Duncan McFarlane works out a win aboard YJC Graduate Mr. Whoopy at HITS Thermal
 Margie Engle and Indigo (Indoctro x Dutchman) © Sportfot.com Wellington, FL – February 11, 2012 – Margie Engle (USA) and Indigo emerged victorious in the $125,000 FEI World Cup™ Qualifier Grand Prix presented by Spy Coast Farm under the lights in front of a crowd of 5,200 spectators at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Saturday night. Engle and Indigo, owned by Gladewinds, Griese, Garber, and Hidden Creek, were the fastest of two clear rounds in an eleven horse jump-off over Darragh Kerins (IRL) and Lisona, owned by Kevin Babington. Pablo Barrios (VEN) and G&C Quick Star II, owned by Gustavo Mirabal, were third.
Continue reading Margie Engle and Indigo Win $125,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix presented by Spy Coast Farm
 Christian Ahlmann (GER) riding Taloubet Z (Galoubet Z x Polydor). Karl-Heinz Frieler/FEI Photo. January 22, 2012 – by Louise Parkes – Defending champion, Germany’s Christian Ahlmann, returned to the scene of his 2010/2011 triumph to win the ninth qualifying round of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2011/2012 series at Leipzig, Germany this afternoon.
Host-nation competitors filled the top-three places, but both the winner, and third-placed multiple champion Marcus Ehning, had to take a back seat in the aftermath as the spotlight shone brightly on rising star Katrin Eckermann who was pipped for pole position by only the narrowest of margins. The 21 year old from Muenster, who has just emerged at Senior level after a highly-successful career in Young Riders, produced a thrilling and polished performance to take runner-up spot and has put her name firmly on the German radar. She said afterwards that today’s competition will be her last indoor outing of the season as she has other plans for her lovely grey gelding Carlson. But everyone, including her German counterparts, agreed that this self-effacing young lady’s name will feature prominently in future years. A new German jumping star has announced her arrival.
Continue reading Ahlmann Takes the Win at Leipzig, but Eckermann Steals the Spotlight
 Alvaro Miranda (BRA) riding AD Ashleigh Drossel Dan (Drosselklang II x Ashleigh Brigadier). Kit Houghton/FEI photo. MIRANDA TURNS ON THE MAGIC IN GENEVA by Louise Parkes
Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda claimed maximum points and set himself on the road to the series Final with a breath-taking victory riding AD Ashleigh Drossel Dan in the sixth leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Western European League at Geneva, Switzerland this afternoon. With 16 of the world’s best horses and riders through to the closing stages, the second-round race against the clock was a thriller in which the lead changed again and again. But with the advantage of being last to go, and with a superb round sprinkled with a little luck, the 38 year old rider and his 13 year old gelding scorched home to clinch it in style.
Continue reading Miranda Turns on the Magic in Geneva – Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping
|
|