Lexington, KY, February 21, 2012 – Livestock Investigation Training for county and state officials returns to Asbury University March 14-16, 2012. Developed by the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) in partnership with the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association (KCA) with input from experienced enforcement officers, veterinarians, and livestock producers, the three day course is tailored to the needs of the Commonwealth.
Throughout the Level I training, attendees learn how to handle horses and cattle, access body condition score in both species, identify situations that need intervention, and apply Kentucky statutes to animal cases. Attendees practice handling and evaluating live horses and cattle as well as examining Kentucky statutes and enforcement procedures.
Katie Robinson and Rock Steady won the Amateur-Owner 35 & Over Hunter Championship. Photo: Elizabeth Vieira/PMG
East Aurora, NY and Wellington, FL – February 21, 2012 – Katie Robinson stole the show during the World Champion Hunter Week with her talented mount Rock Steady at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Earning excellent ribbons in their division, Robinson and Rock Steady won the Amateur-Owner 35 & Over Hunter Championship to qualify for the WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, where they eventually placed tenth for Deeridge Farm.
Robinson kicked off the week with a victory in the Amateur-Owner 35 & Over Handy Hunter round with Rock Steady. The pair then went on to place second in the stake round, and was eventually awarded the division’s championship title. “I definitely felt extra pressure when we were trying to qualifying, because I really wanted to win,” explained Robinson. “Rock Steady was great in the first rounds and just super all weekend long.”
OCALA, FL (February 20, 2012) – Kate Conover and Redfield Farm’s Peron captured the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix on Sunday. Conover, a professional rider for Emil Spadone, finished in third place last September at the inaugural Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. As one of the most talented riders in the sport today, Conover is once again on the path towards America’s richest hunter class.
Excitement was in the air as 61 entries navigated a first round course designed by Doug Russell of Ocala, Florida. The second round featured the 12 top professionals of the day, eager to secure the blue ribbon with the best overall two-round score.
Conover had the lead score in both rounds, posting a pair of 88 points for a 176 total and the win. Second place was awarded to Martien Van der Hoeven of The Woodlands, Texas aboard Augusta Pines’ Black Label and third place went to Claire Kellner of Lutz, Florida aboard Mary McNeel’s Gamaliel.
OCALA, FL (February 20, 2012) – Venezuelan rider Andres Rodriguez had an unbelievable week at HITS Ocala. On Thursday, he won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, and came back three days later to take first again in Sunday’s $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Both wins came aboard Caballito, owned by ARAO Enterprises LLC. Rodriguez seems to have his sights locked on making it to this year’s Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix.
Rodriguez, now of Wellington, Florida, was one of 37 competitors to navigate the course designed by International Course Designer Martin Otto of Munster, Germany.
Reigning Pfizer Million champion Andre Thieme of Plau am See, Germany and his own Quonschbob were first to show and posted a beautiful round leaving all the fences intact. Unfortunately, they suffered one time fault to the crowd’s disappointment, which kept them from advancing to the jump-off.
Todd Flettrich and Otto. Photos: SusanJStickle.com
Wellington, FL – February 19, 2012 – Todd Flettrich of Wellington, FL won the FEI Olympic Grand Prix Special at the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W, presented by the United States P.R.E. Association, on Sunday. Riding Otto, his 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) partner, Flettrich scored 71.422%. Ashley Holzer of Canada finished second on Breaking Dawn with 70.800% and Heather Blitz came in third on Paragon by a fraction of a percent less scoring 70.756%.
Flettrich was thrilled with the performance of the 16-year-old gelding and the score; it was their second highest in the Olympic Grand Prix Special.
“I am happy,” said Flettrich. “I can take risks. Before the WEG we were still getting to know each other. Now, I’m willing to take a chance. I could not have done it before. He’s become my horse now.”
Flettrich owes the great score to a change in attitude. “Otto is arrogant and I used to feel I had to control him, but now I just encourage him to be arrogant.”
Wellington, FL – February 19, 2012 – The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival closed out week 6 competition today with action at two parts of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. At The Stadium, Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, rode Neapolitan Holding Co., LLC’s Prima over the challenging course to win the $50,000 G&C Farm Jumper Derby for the second year in a row. In the International Arena, Glen Senk of Philadelphia, PA, and Declaration won the Peggy Cone Memorial WCHR Adult Hunter Classic and Lyn Pedersen piloted Tivoli to the WCHR Amateur-Owner 3’3″ Hunter Classic victory.
Week six of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Equine Couture/Tuff Rider has concluded, and the week seven competition, sponsored by Fidelity Investments, runs February 22-26. The 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.
Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW won the penultimate qualifying leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League series at Neumunster. Photo: FEI/Thomas Hellmann.
Neumunster (GER), 19 February 2012 – Helen Langehanenberg had the biggest smile of all as she headed a German whitewash at the eighth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 Western European League series at Neumunster, Germany today. Host nation riders filled five of the top six places, led by the 29-year-old from Havixbek and her popular stallion, Damon Hill NRW, while yesterday’s Grand Prix winners, Isabell Werth and El Santo NRW, had to settle for runner-up spot this time out.
One of the biggest cheers of the morning was reserved for third-placed Uta Graf and her very handsome stallion Le Noir who really rose to the occasion in the intense atmosphere that undermined many of the other contenders, while Dorothee Schneider and the mare, Diva Royal, slotted into fourth.
Last of the 15 horse-and-rider combinations into the arena, it was Denmark’s Lone Jorgensen and FBW De Vito who broke the German stranglehold at the top end of the scoreboard when lining up fifth ahead of Germany’s double Olympic team gold medallist Nadine Capellman riding Girasol.
Wellington, FL – February 18, 2012 – The $50,000 WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular was held under the lights at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival on Saturday night with an exciting victory for 14-year-old Victoria Colvin riding Dr. Betsee Parker’s Way Cool. The pair edged out last year’s winners, Louise Serio and Bryan Baldwin’s Castle Rock, who finished second. Colvin also took home third place honors riding Inclusive, owned by Scott Stewart. Elizabeth Boyd and Brunello finished fourth after a win in the first round.
Week six of the FTI WEF, sponsored by Equine Couture/Tuff Rider will run through February 19. The $50,000 G&C Farm Jumper Derby is the highlight event on Sunday at The Stadium at 3 p.m. The 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 1, 2012, and they will be awarding more than $6 million in prize money through the circuit.
Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello. Photos: SusanJStickle.com
Wellington, FL – February 19, 2012 – Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven of Sweden captured her second victory on Don Auriello at the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W, presented by the United States P.R.E. Association, this time in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle under the lights on Saturday. The nighttime atmosphere at the Global Dressage Festival (GDF) was filled with excitement for the world cup event that featured twelve entries from five different nations.
The electric atmosphere was great for the crowd, but it made things a little more difficult for Vilhelmson-Silfven who scored 76.350%. “I am super pleased,” said Vilhelmson-Silfven. “He was a bit more tense here in the dark, but it was good practice for me. I had a better feeling with him today than yesterday. The facility has made a huge difference. It’s very nice.”
James Koford of Wellington, FL rode Pharaoh to second place with a score of 73.450%. Koford was thrilled with his finish because he hopes to use the prize money from this competition and his victory in the freestyle at the first GDF to pay for World Cup Final expenses, should he receive an invitation.
Wellington, FL – February 17, 2012 – The FEI Grand Prix at the $50,000 Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W, presented by the United States P.R.E. Association, was truly an international event as the top three places went to three different nations on Friday. Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven won the event at the Global Dressage Festival, Ashley Holzer of Canada was second, and Todd Flettrich finished as highest placed American rider in third place.
Vilhelmson-Silfven scored a 72.681% on Don Auriello, which was impressive since this is his first show in Florida this season. The pair performed the test in a relaxed steady tempo, as if on air, with steadiness and ease.
“There is lots of atmosphere here. It’s like a really, really big show,” said Vilhelmson-Silfven of the newly built Stadium section of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC.)
This is your premium equine online magazine portal, news aggregator and THE place
to list your horse-related equestrian events and advertise your equine
supplies, services, products, horses, ponies, equipment and target the Southern
USA. We are constantly enhancing HorsesintheSouth.com to be better and better
for you!
Lexington, KY, February 21, 2012 – Livestock Investigation Training for county and state officials returns to Asbury University March 14-16, 2012. Developed by the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) in partnership with the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association (KCA) with input from experienced enforcement officers, veterinarians, and livestock producers, the three day course is tailored to the needs of the Commonwealth.
