Latest News from Around the World

• 20 May 2013 at 02 : 40 AM

  CHIO Aachen to Open in Grand Ceremony with Denmark

  

  This year's CHIO partner country is turning the Opening Ceremony of the World Equestrian Festival into a royal affair! Because Denmark, one of the oldest monarchies in Europe, will be travelling to Aachen with everything that the Royal Family has to offer: The famous golden carriage of the Danish Royal Family will be taking part in the official Opening Ceremony together with the Music Corps of the Royal Household Calvary as well as typical Danish horse breeds.  Around 140 horses and 120 Danish guests will present a unique programme at this year's Opening Ceremony in the Main Stadium on June 25th. ?The Danes are really looking forward to the CHIO Aachen,? ascertained ...

  
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• 15 May 2013 at 21 : 45 PM

  Canadian Future Super Star Pia Fortmuller in the Ribbons at CDI3* Radzionkow

  Pia Fortmuller of Priddis, AB, currently residing and training in Germany, earned impressive results at the CDI3* Radzionkow, Poland May 3-5. Fortmuller and Orion, her 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding sired by Jazz, took on a highly competitive field in Sunday’s FEI Grand Prix Freestyle where the duo’s impressive performance earned them the second place ribbon with a final score of 71.375%; only one of two 70.0% scores awarded by the judges in that class. In their FEI Grand Prix test, Fortmuller and Orion took home the third place ribbon on a final score of 68.872%. The pair bested Eleana Sidneva (RUS, 66.851%) on Romero-Star by 2.02%, narrowly missing second place by just ...

  
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• 15 May 2013 at 02 : 35 AM

  ALLISON SPIVEY AWARDED $500 TRIP HARTING FUND GRANT FROM THE DRESSAGE FOUNDATION

  

  The Dressage Foundation is pleased to announce that Allison Spivey of Aroda, VA, is the 2013 recipient of the $500 Trip Harting Grant.  Allison plans to use the funds to continue her education in the United States Dressage Federation 'L' Education Program. Allison graduated from the Rapidan River Pony Club (VA) as only the 11th person in the nation to receive a Dressage Specialty A rating.  She is currently an assistant trainer for Lauren Sprieser, is a Bronze and Silver Medalist, and volunteers as an instructor for two area Pony Clubs.  Allison has completed the A, B, and C sections of the ‘L’ Education Program and will complete the D1, D2, and exam sections in 2014.  About ...

  
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• 15 May 2013 at 02 : 59 AM

  Carmen Franco and Vinho Dos Pinhais Named the Interagro High Score Lusitano at 2013 Nations Cup CDI 3*

  

  Wellington, FL (May 10, 2013) - In the team's first appearance at the international level, Carmen Franco and the Lusitano stallion Vinho Dos Pinhais recently represented Colombia at the Intermediare I level during the Nations Cup CDI 3*, and their exceptional performance earned them the High Score Lusitano award, sponsored by Interagro Lusitanos.   Franco was very excited to show what the 11-year-old Lusitano stallion was all about in this highly competitive dressage ring.  "I'm very proud to be here," she commented, "because we really have to make it for our team for this first year at the international level."  Franco continued, "I'm very proud to bring a Lusitano here.  It's really ...

  
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• 11 May 2013 at 00 : 09 AM

  Life After Racing: From Stud to Slaughter

  

  For a horse like Orb, the sculpted colt that won the Kentucky Derby last week, the future holds plenty of promise. Besides earning the celebrity that comes with a high-profile victory, Orb is likely to attract the attention of breeders who would keep him healthy and occupied for the next 20 years. But the vast majority of horses competing on North American racetracks—more  than 61,000 horses last year—will spend their careers running in lower-level races, far from the public eye. Most will never see the sort of breeding bids that draw their more successful counterparts into early retirement, so they'll race for as long as they can. When their bodies wear and ...

  
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• 10 May 2013 at 23 : 42 PM

  British Columbia Horse Stable a Cover for Grow UP Operation

  

  At a distance, it looks like a nice Canadian horse pasture housing a barked  yard with open-air stalls lined up along one side. A closer examination reveals the whole setup is fake, designed to cover a  sophisticated muiltmillion-dollar underground cannabis-growing operation. The horse stalls were entirely fake, according to authorities, instead  disguising large vents used to keep the underground environment for the plants  healthy. “They were not at all usable,” Sergeant Lindsey Houghton, of the Combined  Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia,  “They just looked the part.” “From far away, it looked like a very nice, quaint horse paddock and ...

  
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• 10 May 2013 at 23 : 00 PM

  Thirty Horses Die in Pennsylvania Truck Fire

  

  According to police the truck was driven by Clarence Phelps of  Watertown. The owner of the horses was understood to be a kill buyer. Local reports indicated the truck caught fire and the driver stopped, but  neither he nor emergency services were able to extinguish the flames. The horses were reportedly destined for the Viande Richelieu Meat  slaughterhouse in Massueville, Quebec. Local reports misidentified the destination as a “rendering plant”, an  operation that recycles dead animals and animal products into protein based  compounds. More than 59,000 US horses were slaughtered in Canada in 2012, according to  the US Department of ...

  
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• 10 May 2013 at 23 : 34 PM

  Sudden Death of Top Canadian Dressage Rider

  

  Canadian grand prix dressage rider Jon Costin has died suddenly at the age of  44. The death of Costin, who died at Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington, Ontario  on Tuesday, was “sudden and unexpected”, Equine Canada said. Costin trained with Neil and Cindy Ishoy for many years, was a several time  Canadian World Cup League finalist, a USDF gold medalist, and, for three years,  ranked top 60 in the World FEI/BCM Dressage standings. Costin was a well-respected professional dressage rider, training and  coaching out of Jon Costin Dressage Inc. near Toronto. His career highlights  include competing at the 2001 World Young Horse Championships in Verden, GER  with Rebel ...

  
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• 10 May 2013 at 08 : 28 AM

  USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Session at Oak Hill Farm Is a Success

  

  Lexington, KY - The final Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Session of Spring 2013 wrapped up Sunday at Oak Hill Farm in Lockport, Illinois. The two-day training session featured 11 horses between the ages of four and six and was once again led by USEF Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler. “We had a terrific training session at Oak Hill Farm in Illinois. There was once again a nice balance of U.S.-bred and imported horses,” said Hassler. “It was great to see riders I have worked with in the past with new horses as well as meeting some new professionals. Overall there was nice quality riding and I have a good feeling I will see some of these combinations at the ...

  
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• 6 May 2013 at 21 : 11 PM

  Announcing the United States Olympic Committee and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran Assistance Program for Para-Equestrian Dressage Athletes

  

  Lexington, KY- May 6, 2013- The U.S. Olympic Committee supports Paralympic-eligible military veterans in their efforts to represent the USA at the upcoming Paralympic Games and other International competitions.  Veterans who demonstrate exceptional sport skills and the commitment necessary to pursue elite-level competition are given guidance on securing the training, support, and coaching needed to qualify for Team USA and achieve their Paralympic dreams. Through a partnership with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA Paralympic Program Office helps to provide a monthly assistance allowance for disabled Veterans of the Armed Forces, as authorized by section 703 ...

  
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• 6 May 2013 at 13 : 25 PM

  Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival back on top of world rankings

  

  (FEI) - Adelinde Cornelissen (NED) and Jerich Parzival, the London 2012 Olympic silver medallists, have reclaimed the world number one spot in the FEI World Dressage Rankings. The pair have a 97-point lead over Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW, who have moved up one slot to second place after clinching the 2013 Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage title - their first FEI World Cup victory - last weekend in Gothenburg (SWE). Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, who became the first British combination to head the FEI World Dressage Rankings in September last year after their double gold medal performances at the London 2012 Olympic Games, are now in third with 2,563 points. ...

  
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• 30 April 2013 at 02 : 36 AM

  Guenter Seidel Wins Del Mar National Grand Prix with 72.5%

  

  DEL MAR, California, April 26–International U.S. rider Günter Seidel and Coral Reef Wylea, the 13-year-old Westfalen mare, were victorious at the Del Mar National Grand Prix on Friday with a score of 72.5% just ahead of Jan Ebeling and Rafalca with a score of 72.48%. Canada’s Karen Pavicic on Don Daiquiri were third on 67.362 per cent. Wylea (Weinberg x St. Jolie x Saluut) was bought by Coral Reef Ranch at Rancho Santa Fe, California last November from former U.S. team coach Klaus Balkenhol of Germany and previously competed by Anabel Balkenhol. Jan and Rafalca, an Oldenburg mare (Argentinius x Ratine x Rubinstein) who is now 16 years old, became a celebrity pair at last ...

  
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