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Anky van Grunsven "Reins" Supreme on AQHA in Wellington, Florida
 Wellington , FL - Anky van Grunsven, the world's top dressage rider, wowed the crowds at the Exquis World Dressage Masters competition by winning the Grand Prix Musical Freestyle on the black stallion IPS Painted Black. The Dutch rider followed her win by showing the crowd she reigns supreme in other equestrian disciplines when she performed a reining exhibition under the lights at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, Florida.
Dressed in full western regalia, van Grunsven looked just as comfortable in a western saddle executing lead changes, stops and reining patterns as she did in her dressage saddle performing piaffes and passages. It turns out that van Grunsven's passion for dressage is followed closely by her new passion for reining. Read more>
Jacksonville Winter Finale Covers It All from A to Z
 Green Cove Springs, FL - Feb. 1, 2009 - From show jumping Action to furry Zoo friends and lots more in between, show management offered a little something for everyone at the A to Z finale week of the Jacksonville Winter Series.
Aaron Vale, who's based out of Ocala, FL, piloted three rides in the $35,000 Outback Steakhouse A to Z Grand Prix class, held on Super Bowl Sunday in the covered Grand Prix arena of the Clay County Agricultural Center. Close on his hooves was friend and competitor Wilhelm Genn who brought all three mounts clear from the initial round, including Thursday's victor the brilliant mare Happy Z with fast time of 76.810. "A pretty solid group of horses and riders," was the description Vale used when discussing the starting field of 23 that had two Olympic veterans, 3 Pan Am Games medalist, and 5 top international competitors.
After a week of observation, course designer Buddy Brown of Livermore, CA took all he learned and applied it to a side winding 13 obstacle/16 effort test with a time allowance of 83 seconds for the A to Z Grand Prix. "Not a bad day!" chuckled Aaron Vale after doing a double victory lap for the prix win and the extra $10,000 bonus. "Fun course!" - a very appropriate comment from the rider known for his jaw dropping maneuvers at break neck speeds
Presenting awards were President of the North Florida Hunter Jumper Association, Tony Weight, and board member Glen Becker. Official results for the event were, in second place Wilhelm Genn and Chantal finishing clear in 40.357; third went to Tony Font aboard Gardenio for owners YZ Partners, LLC with a time of 44.262 and 3 faults; fourth spot was Roberto Teran with Distant Star 3E for owner Kingridge Stables with 4 faults in 37.364, and the fifth position went to owner-rider Wilhelm Genn on Happy Z with 4 faults in 38.632. A portion of today's proceeds will be donated to the Jacksonville Zoological Gardens.
Following the Grand Prix presentations the highly sought $5,000 Bruning Foundation High Point Hunter Award for 2009 was given to Mary Eufemia of Palm Harbor, FL. Mary rode Unbelievable for owner Paula Pell, winning the Green Conformation division throughout the Jacksonville Winter circuit. Read more>
Professional Riders Clinic and Symposium Is a Huge Hit
 West Palm Beach -- The Professional Riders Clinic and Symposium, held Jan. 16-17 at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, brought together many of world's leading riders for two educational days in an elegant setting. And one thing's for sure, the riders lucky enough to receive an invitation to the clinic weren't disappointed.
The event featured Hubertus Schmidt as the lead clinician, but also included educational sessions with Steffen Peters, Bo Jena and Laura King. Among the demo riders were many of America's top competitors and trainers, including Betsey Steiner and Charlotte Bredahl. It was a unique symposium. Held in the evening under the covered arena, it was an elegant affair complete with table clothes, wine and scrumptious food. Read more>
Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I Sets the Stage for Florida Winter Season
West Palm Beach - Many of the best horses and riders from throughout North America descended on the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center Jan. 9-11, 2009 for the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge I and they made it clear that the 2009 Florida winter dressage season will be highly competitive.
FEI-level classes, in particular, were filled to capacity during the three days of competition and as a result, classes were split at the Prix St. Georges, Intermediaire and Grand Prix levels. "The turnout has really been quite amazing," said John Flanagan, managing partner of Wellington Classic Dressage. "And from what Noreen and I see so far in entries for the upcoming shows, it looks to be a very successful season" ...
... A clear leader in Young Rider competition at the Challenge I was Mary Cameron Rollins with her 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Rose Noir. The pair earned blue ribbons in both the Young Rider Team and Individual tests. Rollins is hoping that their performance at the Wellington Classic Dressage show has set the tone for the rest of 2009. The 20-year-old Florida native has owned Rose Noir for two years and the first year battled to come back from injury and last year battled some training issues . Read more>
2009 Jacksonville Winter Circuit Series Week Three - Samantha Pyle Wins Elements Jumper Classic & Aaron Vale Takes Grand Prix
Photo Credit: Samantha Pyle & Pia; Aaron Vale & Sinatra IV ©Flashpoint Photography
 Green Cove Springs, FL – January 24, 2009 - Kicking off a weekend dedicated to jumpers, Samantha Pyle of Street, MD and partner Pia took top honors in the $5,000 Children’s-Adult Jumper Classic presented by Elements on Friday evening.
Despite tackling a field of 22, plus a tough course by Allen Rheinheimer, Pyle’s biggest test was “working out the kinks” according to trainer Christine Kear. Friday’s classes are typically a “practice day” in preparation of classics on Sunday explained Kear, “she [Samantha] had other horses to ride, other classes to do, but thank heaven we had all day to work it all out before the classic.”
...
Final results found Hayley Waters and Rocky in 2nd place with a clear 37.047 seconds, 3rd went to owner-rider Dr. Juan Gamboa with Partizan going faultless in 37.432; 4th place to Rachel Herman with partner Levaro in a clean 37.667 and completing the top 5 was Nicole Deschler  riding the Claire Lee owned Linus with a clear time of 37.727.
Jumping thrills continued in Saturday evening’s featured event, the $25,000 Marco Family Grand Prix to benefit The Donna Foundation, which cares for women living with breast cancer. However, prior to 32 equine warriors taking the field an assembly of 5 special fighters commandeered the arena to lift spirits and inspire hope. The Ride for Life Drill team, comprised of Patty Kelbert, Donna Grasso, Michelle Valasco, Debbie McNally, and Mary Giftos gave a performance of musical Dressage to honor all women currently living with or survivors of breast cancer. To date the foundation has raised over a million dollars to aid those in need.
And then the tone rang out signaling the competitors of the main event were ready to do battle against course, time, and fellow equestrians. He may have started second in the order of go, but Ocala, FL based Aaron Vale ended an exciting night of show jumping as number one. Vale had two mounts in contention, bringing back week one’s victor Platinum, owned by ABC 4 Horses, and tonight’s main man Sinatra IV, co-owned by Vale and Donald Stewart. Read more>
2009 Jacksonville Winter Circuit
 January 21, 2009 - Today marks the start of the third week of the 2009 Jacksonville Winter Circuit, the Jacksonville Mid-Winter, running from January 21-25. It features the $25,000 Marco Family Grand Prix to benefit the Donna (Hicken) Foundation on Saturday at 7:00pm.  Starting at 5:00pm, there will be a Carrabbas catered dinner where tables and seats are available for purchase, with all proceeds benefiting the Donna Foundation. A fashion show will take place during dinner featuring items donated by participating Winter Series Vendors and modeled by Winter Series Exhibitors. Come enjoy a fabulous meal to benefit a worthy cause while you brush up on the latest equestrian fashions! Please contact Sue Rindal 904.655.5497 to purchase tickets. If you are worried about what to do with your four legged friend(s) while you enjoy dinner and the Grand Prix, the onsite Pooch Paddock will be more than happy to keep them safe, warm and happy. Hourly rates are available. Visit http://www.poochpaddock.com for more information. Mid-day Sunday features the annual $5,000 ELEMENTS Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic, which is sure to entertain. Come support your favorite Child or Adult Jumper Rider!
J anuary 28 – February 1 marks the annual Jacksonville A to Z, to benefit the Jacksonville Zoological Gardens. Sunday will feature the Outback Catered Lunch. Tickets are available for purchase with all proceeds benefitting the Jacksonville Zoo. This year tickets are a little different, with the usual adult and children rates, but also offering a discounted ticket for a family of four. Please contact Sue Rindal 904.655.5497 to purchase tickets. As always, there will be a Silent Auction, with many “horsey” and “non-horsey” items available for bid at greatly discounted prices. Zoo animals will be on-site in addition to a Children’s Carnival, Radio Disney and Barn Tours to learn a little more about what all horse showing entails. Arthur Crofton will host the lunch and moderate the bidding on your favorite team of local celebrities for the Celebrity Ride! The highlight of Friday evening will be the $500 Equitation Classic. It will begin at 6:00pm with the Winner’s Trainer of Record taking all! The $5,000 Bruning Foundation High Point Hunter and the $10,000 Reynolds, Smith & Hills High Point Grand Prix Rider will also be named Week IV.
As always, admission to watch is always free, with a $5 donation for parking, which benefits the Clay County 4-H. Full concessions are available for snacks, drinks or dinner.
2497 SR 16W
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
www.nfhja.com
www.classiccompany.com
904.284.1579
agamel@comcast.net
Peter Wylde and Esplanade 7 Post First Grand Prix Win of 2009 FTI WEF
 WELLINGTON , Fla., Feb. 5 -- Canada's Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze captured his second weekly $30,000 Braman Motorcars WEF Challenge Grand Prix aboard Take Off Thursday, the fifth round of the series at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.
Seventy-three combinations braved the unreasonably chilly weather with 23 going clear on the course designed by Germany's Olaf Petersen. However, 17 returned for the jump off. Read more>
See a great slideshow by Rob Bowman for Jan. 18, 2009 here.
And another slideshow for the $50,000 CSI2 Grand Prix here.
Photos copyright
Rob Bowman, www.oneguyandacamera.com
Rodrigo Pessoa & Let's Fly Land the $100,000 Green Cove Springs CSI3*-W Qualifier
 Green Cove Springs, FL - January 17, 2009 - 3 time World Cup Champion, Individual Gold Medalist of the 2004 Athens Olympics, 2000 Sydney Olympic team Bronze medalist, and conqueror of the World Equestrian Games in 1998 are a mere handful of the accolades Rodrigo Pessoa has garnered and tonight partnered with Let's Fly he added one more. The dynamic duo were victorious in the $100,000 Green Cove Springs CSI3*-W Grand Prix presented by Hodges Boulevard Development Group, Inc.
An American icon kicked off the festivities, the world famous Budweiser  Clydesdales entered the arena in full regalia to a near capacity filled stadium and roaring cheers. Spectators were treated to a virtual who's who with 33 of the world's best equine athletes competing right before their eyes. Truly an international event, riders representing 9 countries came to take on the technical challenge presented by course designer Dave Ballard in the hope of moving one step closer to the FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas this April. Read more>
Wordley and Vale Launch the 2009 Jacksonville Winter Series with Big Triumphs
 Green Cove Springs, FL - The opening week of the 2009 Jacksonville Winter Series began the new season with international flair as New Zealand native and 2008 Olympic rider Sharn Wordley claimed the first victory at Thursday's Lucky Sevens Welcome Jumper Stake presented by new sponsor Arlington Toyota.
Wordley said the 11-year-old Westphalian gelding Zorro and he are starting their new year off "quite nicely". Owned by Filip Amram, Zorro is no stranger to winning having scored victories in Europe prior to moving to the US. "He won some seriously big grand pries over there. He's one of Filip's main guys," Wordley complimented Zorro. Taking on a field of 18 world-class athletes, Wordley was one of only 3 riders to make the final jump off round and brought all three mounts with him. Joining him was German born Wilhelm Genn and Florida based Megan Edrick. Read more>
Photo Credit: Aaron Vale and Platinum by © Flashpoint Photography
Jacksonville National, Week One - Classic Company
Today we finished the first week of four in Jacksonville. We were all very pleased with the turn out and the excellent weather. Hospitality always is the best during this winter circuit and this year has started without exception. The circuit has FREE dinners each week for exhibitors and you don't find that too often during series of shows. The second week is the International Show with the $100 K CSI3* -W Grand Prix. Providing stabling and a schooling area for an overwhelming number of the world's top horses and riders has caused us to change the schedule. See www.classiccompany.com to view or download the new schedule or pick one up in the office on Tuesday. For complete results go to www.horseshowsonline.com.
Highlights: Welcome Class - Winner - Zorro, Owned by Filip Abram and shown by Sharn Wordley, $25,000 Grand Prix - Winner - Platinum, Owned by ABC 4 Horses, show by Aaron Vale. Read more>
Mario Deslauriers Wins Speed Derby at FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Jimmy Torano Takes Six-Bar
 WELLINGTON, Fla., Jan. 11 -- Canada's Mario Deslauriers aboard Lutopia won the $25,000 Gold Coast Feed Speed Derby at the first headline event of the 2009 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival Sunday. Jimmy Torano on Heechhiem's Tampa won the $25,000 Gold Coast Feed Six-Bar Competition.
Deslauriers, who been riding Lutopia, owned by Jane F. Clark, since August last year, was fault-free in 104.276 secs. to beat out 19 other riders for the top prize of $7,500.
Leslie Howard of Westport, Conn. was also fault-free, on Lennox Lewis 2, 2.088 secs. further back to place second. Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, N.Y. on Prima rounded out the top three to take home $5,5000. Read more>
Photo: Canada's Mario Deslauriers aboard Lutopia won the $25,000 Gold Coast Feed Speed Derby at the first headline event of the 2009 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival Sunday. © 2008 Roxane Theidel - ESP
Margie Engle & Hidden Creek's Tosca Win $25k Equestrian Properties Grand Prix at PBIEC
 WELLINGTON, Fla., Jan. 4 -- Margie Engle and Hidden Creek's Tosca won the $25,000 Equestrian Properties Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Sunday.
The victory by the Wellington rider was the finale event at the Equestrian Sport Productions' A-T Children's Benefit just four days before the start of the 2009 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Read more>
Photo: Karen Connelly of Equestrian Properties with Margie Engle and Hidden Creek's Tosca who won the $25,000 Equestrian Properties Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Sunday. Photo: Ken Braddick - HorseSport USA
Hayley Waters Tops the Country in the Pony Hunters and Children's Jumpers
 (Sparr, Florida, December 29, 2008) Hayley Waters rode Top Of The Morning to the National Championship in the Large Green Pony Hunter division, a major accomplishment for an 11 year old. But, the awards didn't stop there. She finished 1st and 2nd in the NAL Children's Jumper National standings for the year with her two jumpers, Rocky and Houston. Other year end awards included: The Quiet Hill Trophy for the overall equitation rider (11 and under) in North Florida, The Raymond P. Wadsworth Memorial Trophy for the highest scoring Equitation rider in Central Florida.
All of the above was the culmination of a year filled with hard work, lots of jumps and lots of fun. "A thousand jumps a week" according to coach and dad Chuck Waters." Read more>
Photo by Flashpoint Photography
 First Coast Invitational Grand Prix Show Jumping-"Where the North meets the South"
The First Coast Invitational Grand Prix Show Jumping is back! This year at a new venue - the Okeechobee County Agri-Civic Center, and expanded to two weeks - November 20-23 and November 28-30, 2008 an event you don't want to miss. Produced by World Wide Horse Show Services, LLC and Bill Joyce, CEO and Betsy Joyce.
Expanding to two weeks, November 20-23 and November 28-30, 2008, the First Coast Invitational will feature a $30,000 Level 7 Grand Prix both weeks, Level 1-7 jumpers, Jr/AO Jumpers, CH/Adult Jumpers and Pony Jumpers.
This year for the first time, the FCI is being held at the Okeechobee County Agri-Civic Center completed in 2004 features a 78,000 square foot under roof arena with a 125' by 240' competition clay/sand surface, an outdoor grass field for Grand Prix and upper level jumper classes, along with permanent stabling options. Read about Grand Prix Show Jumping in the Resource Guide>
Don't let "Invitational" fool you, everyone is invited to participate.
New this year - Exhibitor Discounts!! 5% Discount for exhibitors returning for 2nd year. 10% Discount for exhibitors returning for 3rd year. Discount is On Entire Show Bill! Low Entry Fees, plus Discounted Stall Fees for 2 Week Exhibitors.
$100,000 of Prize Money offered for two weeks of show jumping.
$30,000 Grand Prix -Level 7
$5,000 Mini Prix Level 5/6
Level 0-7 Classes
Jr/AO Jumpers - Child/Adult Jumpers
Puddle Jumpers - Pony Jumpers
$2,500 Gambler's Choice
Grand Prix Calcutta to follow Gambler's Choice Class
$5,000 Pro-Am Bull Riding
Click here for Prizelist
For more information, call: 201-410-9919 or visit: World Wide Horse Shows
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