Holger Schmezer, national coach of the German Dressage team since 2001, died unexpectedly in his hotel room in ’s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands during the night of April 19. The 65-year-old coach had traveled to the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Finals three German riders competing in the event. Schmezer was born in 1947, the son [...]
U.S. rider Rich Fellers and the stallion Flexible advance to Sunday’s decisive Rolex FEI World Cup Final day three enviably positioned in a tie for second place in the overall standings. Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer starts Sunday’s final rounds in first place with a total of zero faults. His countryman Steve Guerdat is tied with Fellers, [...]
U.S. rider Rich Fellers and his superstar mount Flexible topped the competition on day one of the 2012 Rolex FEI World Cup Show Jumping Final, April 19 at the Indoor Brabant, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. The 16-year-old Irish Sporthorse stallion has the distinction of being the oldest horse in the competition, and observers marveled that he [...]
Los Angeles-based concert promoter Goldenvoice has initiated purchase of the 200-acre Eldorado Polo Club in Indio, CA. The parcel is the site for the music company’s annual Coachella Music Festival, which kicked off April 13-15 and continues April 20-22. The company had been leasing the land from Eldorado Lake Farms, a consortium of 19 player-owners [...]
Coming off a spectacular victory in the $10,000 Jumper Classic, Michelle Parker again swept the competition in the $40,000 Blenheim Spring Classic Grand Prix, presented by Summit General Insurance on April 7. With the stands filled, spring in the air and the sun shining, all eyes were on Parker as she guided her fearless [...]
Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander and her show jumping superstar Cevo Itot du Chateau did not disappoint in the opening leg of the 2012 Global Champions Tour, winning the $600,000 Grand Prix of Qatar in Doha on April 7. After two initial rounds, the reigning 2011 GCT champion bested rivals in a high-powered jump-off of seven. Tops-Alexander [...]
Rusty Stewart and Bristol won the first major contest of the 2012 Blenheim EquiSports show season, taking blue in the $40,000 Royal Champion Grand Prix on Sunday, April 1. Stewart and his home-bred horse, owned by Grey Fox Farm, mastered the Leopoldo Palacios track, besting the field of 21. He was one of six horse [...]
In the ultimate round there was only one big win, but California cowboys roped, rode and wrestled their way to second in the team standings at the 2012 Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City, with $66,794 in earnings. Team roping was the big category for California, with header Spencer Mitchell of Colusa taking [...]
Shawna Harding and Come On III are replacing Jim Kofford and Pharoh as U.S. representatives in the 2012 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final. Kofford (Raleigh, NC) withdrew, citing veterinary reasons. Harding and her horse were the next highest-placed pair in the North American League behind Kofford and Pharaoh (owned by Hannah Shook and [...]
The USEF has named the following athletes to the 2012 Show Jumping European Young Rider and Junior Rider Tour. Two west coast riders-Annie Laurie Cook (Woodside, CA) and Navona Gallegos (Santa Fe, NM)-made the cut to compete at the following prestigious shows: CSIOYJ Bonheiden (BEL): May 17-20 CSIOYJ Reims (FRA): May 31-June 3 CSIOYJ Hagen [...]
