(FEI) – In a double of doubles, Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW today recorded a back-to-back victory in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League 2012/2013 series when heading the line-up on home turf at Neumuenster, Germany where the pair also reigned supreme last season.

The 30-year-old rider and her 13-year-old stallion produced a performance of such quality that the result was in no doubt once they posted their score of 87.800. At Amsterdam in The Netherlands four weeks ago, they beat defending double-champions Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival in Freestyle for the very first time. And today the the dynamic German duo showed even greater confidence and composure as they strutted to success in front of their home crowd.

Cornelissen’s grip on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage title looks set to be seriously challenged when the series Final takes place in Gothenburg, Sweden at the end of April. “When we go to the Final we will give our very, very best, and if we keep this form it will be really good sport and very interesting!” Langehanenberg said today.

Top Three Places

Of the 15 riders from eight nations, Germany fielded four today and captured all of the top three places. Kristina Sprehe, one of the new wave of exciting younger riders emerging into the sport for Germany and a member of the London 2012 Olympic team silver medal side, slotted into second with Desperados FRH while the veteran and former FEI World Cup™ Dressage champion, Isabell Werth, finished third with Don Johnson FRH.

Danish riders claimed fourth and fifth places, and once again Sidsel Johansen and Schianto won the hearts of the spectators with another joyous and pleasing performance. And, for the second time this season, the crowd expressed their disappointment at the score awarded to the Danish duo. But judges Katrina Wuest (GER), Dr Evi Eisenhardt (GER), Ghislain Fouarge (NED), Leif Tornblad (DEN) and Marietta Almasy (FRA) were very much in agreement as Johansen’s 72.660 left them in fifth place.

Today’s result has rocketed Sprehe up to the top of the leaderboard, with, however, just a single-point advantage over long-time leader Valentina Truppa from Italy going into the last qualifying leg at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands in four weeks’ time. Langehanenberg lies third ahead of Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven in fourth and Dutchman Edward Gal in fifth place.

Today’s result also mirrored that of yesterday’s Grand Prix in which Damon Hill’s score of 83.310 left Langehanenberg almost five full marks ahead of Desperados and Sprehe while Don Johnson and Werth claimed third.

Freestyle

As today’s Freestyle got underway, it was Finland’s Terhi Stegars and the handsome Trakehner, Axis TSF, who were the first to score over 70 per cent when achieving 71.150, and then The Netherlands’ Marlie von Baalen and BMC Miciano raised the bar with a score of 73.850. However it was the latter’s Dutch counterpart, Patrick van der Meer, who held the clear lead before the judging break with a lovely performance from the 11-year-old Uzzo that included elegant piaffe and passage for a mark of 76.425 – a personal-best Freestyle score for this talented partnership.

Third to go of the final group however, Langehanenberg and Damon Hill were stunning from start to finish, the stallion’s big, clean and rhythmic passage, his boldness in canter and his stillness in piaffe, their steadiness, fluency and togetherness and their overall air of absolute confidence saw them rewarded with artistic marks of 94.000 per cent by Wuest, 92.000 from both Eisenhardt and Fouarge, 91.000 per cent from Almasy and 86.000 from Tornblad. The crowd erupted with delight and appreciationas 87.800 went up on the scoreboard.

Now it was simply a matter of who could come closest, and multiple champion, 43-year-old Isabell Werth, steered Don johnson to a score of 83.000 before 23-year-old Anna Kasprzak launched into her floor plan that began with canterwork and earned her a mark of 81.075 with Donnperignon.

The remaining Danish partnership of Johansen and Schianto were second-last to go, and the 14-year-old horse, who always looks as if he is thoroughly enjoying himself in the ring, showed tremendous elevation in passage and piaffe, power and courage in extended canter and a general joyousness that has proven particularly infectious this season. Their mark of 80.050 didn’t please the onlookers, but Johansen’s ear-to-ear grin showed that she knew they had once again produced a crowd-pleasing effort.

Sprehe was last into the ring, and the 26-year-old rider could have been forgiven for a little uneasiness as the crowd’s reaction to Johansen’s score seemed to disturb the concentration of her horse at the very start. But the pure quality of his movement was sufficient to guarantee a strong result for Desperados who recovered to demonstrate strong piaffe and piaffe/pirouette on their way to clinching runner-up spot with 84.425 per cent.

Pivotal

For Langehanenberg, the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage series has been pivotal. “It’s true, I have grown up in this series, it has helped me to be better in every way!” said the rider who first came to real prominence during the 2010/2011 season. While well known on the national circuit prior to that, she only really began to show her colossal potential at international level throughout the winter of 2010 and, over the two subsequent seasons, she has blossomed into a super-star of the sport. Runner-up behind Cornelisen at last year’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final, she looks well set to oust her biggest rival this time around if all goes to plan.

But bragging and boasting is not her style. So when asked today if she thought she could leave Cornelissen in her wake when it comes to the Final in Gothenburg later in the spring, Langehanenberg said with some stoicism, “we all have so many hopes and so many dreams but they don’t always come true. My dreams and my aims have always been clear, but I don’t let them put pressure on myself or on my horse. You just never know how it will work out. We stay focused and we work hard to achieve our goals, I am just very happy that we are succeeding right now” she pointed out.

That focus is on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2012/2013 title. Today she was unsure if she would bring out her stallion at ‘s-Hertogenbosch next month. “We will now make a plan for how to use the time in between now and the Final. I’m not sure yet exactly what we will do, we will make a decision next week” she explained. One way or another, she looks set to provide formidable opposition to the rest of the world-class line-up as the series Final begins to unfold…..

For further information on the seventh leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2012/2013 series in Neumunster (GER) check out website http://pst-marketing.de/index.php/home-vr-classics.html or contact Press Officer Andreas Kerstan Email andreas.kerstan@comtainment.de, Tel +49 4307 827973, +49 3416 786 012. The next leg, and last qualifier in the Western European League, takes place at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands on Saturday 16 March 2013. For details of the Dutch fixture go to website http://www.indoorbrabant.com/en/ or contact Press Officer Denise van der Net, Email denisene@xs4all.net, Tel +31 6270 31674.

Result: 1, Damon Hill NRW (Helen Langehanenberg) GER 87.800; 2, Desperados FRH (Kristina Sprehe) GER 84.425; 3, Don Johnson FRH (Isabell Werth) GER 83.000; 4, Donnperignon (Anna Kasprzak) DEN 81.075; 5, Schianto (Sidsel Johansen) DEN 80.050; 6, Uzzo (Patrick van der Meer) NED 76.425; 7, Smeyers Molberg (Marcela Krinke-Susmelj) SUI 73.875; 8, BMC Miciano (Marlies van Baalen) NED 73.850; 9. Biggles (Kristian von Krusenstierna) SWE 73.850; 10, Rubins Royal (Anabel Balkenhol) GER 72.900; 11, Axis TSF (Terhi Stegars) FIN) 71.150; 12, Heimliche Liebe (Emma Kanerva) FIN 71.000; 13, HP Frontier (Sarah Millis) GBR 70.000; 14, Orion (Pia Fortmueller) CAN 69.500; 15, Charming Boy (Sofie Lexner) SWE 67.625.

Full results here

Facts and Figures:

The penultimate qualifying leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League 2012/2013 series was staged today at the famous Holstenhalle in Neumuenster in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
The winners, Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and the stallion Damon Hill NRW, also won the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage qualifier at the same venue last season.
15 riders from eight nations – Germany, Denmark, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Great Britain and Canada – competed in today’s Freestyle.
Runner-up spot went to Germany’s Kristina Sprehe who subsequently moved into pole position on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League leader board.
Sprehe holds a slender one-point advantage over long-time league leader Valentina Truppa from Italy.
The last qualifying leg in the Western European League series will take place at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands on 16 March 2013.
The series final takes place in Gothenburg, Sweden 24-28 April 2013.

Quotes:

Helen Langehanenberg – “He (Damon Hill NRW) really has settled everywhere – in the preparation, in the arena and, as I think I have said many times before, it is such a pleasure to ride him!”

Helen Langehanenberg, when asked about how difficult it was to ride in the Holstenhalle in Neumuenster in which the dressage arena is a very tight fit – “(the crowd) is very close to the arena and this makes it extra special. The spectators are great, and they celebrate every rider even if their test is not so good. We have lots of standing ovations here!”

Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2012/2013 – Standings after Round 7 at Neumuenster (GER):

1. Kristina Sprehe GER – 68
2. Valentina Truppa ITA – 67
3. Helen Langehanenberg GER – 66
4. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven SWE – 63
5. Edward Gal NED – 55
6. Patrick Kittel SWE – 50
6. Marcela Krinke Susmelj SUI – 50
8. Minna Telde SWE) – 49
8. Isabell Werth GER – 49
10. Sidsel Johansen DEN – 46
11. Anna Kasprzak DEN – 43
12. Marlies van Baalen NED – 36
13. Imke Schellekens-Bartels NED – 36
14. Pia Fortmueller CAN – 31
15. Patrick van der Meer NED – 30
16. Anabel Balkenhol GER – 29
17. Kristian von Krusenstierna SWE – 27
18. Lyndal Oatley AUS – 23
18. Silvia Rizzo ITA – 23
20. Karin Kosak AUT – 22

Photo Courtesy of FEI by Thomas Hellman

(Jennifer Wood Media) – Wellington, FL – February 16, 2013 – With the sun making its first appearance since competition started, the Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W presented by USPRE Association began to wind down today at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). In the Small Tour, Christilot Boylen (CAN) was triumphant, taking the top two spots in the $5,000 FEI Intermediare I sponsored by Havensafe Farm. In the Large Tour, Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) clinched the win in the $10,000 FEI Grand Prix Special sponsored by USPRE Association.

Judges today in both the FEI Intermediare I and FEI Grand Prix Special were Gary Rockwell (USA) at E, Sandy Hotz (USA) at H, Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA) at C, Jacques Van Daele (BEL) at M, and Jennie Loriston-Clarke (GBR) at B.

While Boylen won first and second again today, the horses exchanged placings compared to yesterday’s results. Riding 9th of the 17 entries, she and Dio Mio (De Niro x Charmeur) held onto the lead with a score of 71.289%. Scoring a 69.395% with Hudson 18 (Hohenstein x Democraat), Boylen couldn’t be more pleased with Jill Irving’s 10-year-old black Hanoverian gelding, Dio Mio, and Hudson 18, the 9-year-old bay Oldenburg gelding. “The second day is always better for Dio Mio. He was a little unsettled yesterday so today the edge was just right. He was much more concentrated. He’s a year older than Hudson and therefore more experienced. He can lay down a clean test when he’s focused, which he showcased today,” she stated.

The Canadian Olympian continued, “Hudson is still quite green, this was only his third run through this test in a show condition. He’s still learning, so his lines weren’t perfect; he’s still learning this test. It’s definitely a step up from the Prix St. Georges, but he did his job very well. He listened to me and concentrated. The difficulty for him is he’s such a big moving horse so he needs to improve on tightening up the lines a bit. They were both well-behaved. Each are gifted horses; I count myself extremely lucky every day,” assessed Boylen.

According to Vilhelmson-Silfven, she won her 41st International Grand Prix level class today. She was aboard Don Auriello (Don Davidoff x White Star). The 11-year-old bay Hanoverian gelding, owned by Lövsta Stuteri and Antonia Ax:son Johnson, performed their test magnificently. That was evident in their score of 77.688%. The Swedish Olympian described today’s test by saying, “I hadn’t done it in a while and it felt really great. I felt like I could challenge myself to get more power from him and try to ride him a bit better. I had a plan today that I think I executed. I’m pleased with my horse. Today was a great opportunity to train him in this test. Usually we don’t get to do this test unless it’s in the Olympics or Championships. Here I was able to ride that test really well.”

Their score today was Vilhelmson-Silfven’s highest ever with Don Auriello in the Special. Although there was not a lot of atmosphere, she still was able to “get him moving just using my aids. He is just so nice to ride in the tests and that’s a great feeling,” she said.

The two started competing in Wellington in the Intermediare II the winter after they bought him at age eight. Anton, as he is affectionately known, “won’t compete until April (at the Reem Acra World Cup). The next few weeks before leaving here to go home (to Sweden), he gets some time off from dressage. We will keep him fit and we will begin training again once we’re home,” explained Vilhelmson-Silfven.

The Florida Dressage Classic presented by USPRE Association draws to a close tomorrow, with the featured class being the $6,000 FEI Intermediaire Freestyle.

For full results and more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Final Results: $5,000 FEI Intermediare I sponsored by Havensafe Farm
1. Dio Mio, Christilot Boylen (CAN): E: 72.895%, H: 66.974%, C: 70.526%, M: 72.895%, B: 73.158%, Total: 71.289%
2. Hudson 18, Christilot Boylen (CAN): E: 70.921%, H: 69.079%, C: 66.184%, M: 71.316%, B: 69.474%, Total: 69.395%
3. Von Primaire, Kelly Layne (AUS): E: 68.158%, H: 67.500%, C: 69.605%, M: 66.316%, B: 68.289%, Total: 67.974%
4. Rosmarin, Kimberly Herslow (USA): E: 66.711%, H: 65.395%, C: 70.658%, M: 66.184%, B: 64.342%, Total: 66.658%
5. Mosegaards Rico, Mette Rosencrantz (USA): E: 66.053%, H: 66.184%, C: 66.579%, M: 67.237%, B: 67.105%, Total: 66.632%
6. Hunter Douglas Rhapsody, Lindsay Kellock (CAN): E: 66.974%, H: 64.211%, C: 67.105%, M: 66.842%, B: 67.237%, Total: 66.474%

Final Results: $10,000 FEI Grand Prix Special sponsored by USPRE Association
1. Don Auriello, Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE): E: 76.771%, H: 76.146%, C: 80.000%, M: 78.021%, B: 77.500%, Total: 77.688%
2. Finally, Mette Rosencrantz (USA): E: 66.354%, H: 66.146%, C: 63.125%, M: 64.167%, B: 67.604%, Total: 65.479%
3. My Lady, Mikala Munter Gunderse (DEN): E: 64.583%, H: 66.354%, C: 64.375%, M: 64.792%, B: 65.104%, Total: 65.042%
4. Jewel’s Adelante, Elaine Cordia-Van Reese (USA): E: 67.292%, H: 65.313%, C: 65.000%, M: 61.563%, B: 64.479%, Total: 64.729%

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Wood Media by Sue Stickle – Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello

(Jennifer Wood Media) – The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), continued today with two top classes for the Small Tour and Large Tour in the Florida Dressage Classic, CDI-W presented by the USPRE Association. The $3,000 FEI Prix St. Georges, sponsored by Havensafe Farm, saw the top two spots going to Christilot Boylen (CAN) riding Hudson 18 and Dio Mio, both owned by Windhaven Farm and Jill Irving. Tina Konyot (USA) was the winner of the $20,000 FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, sponsored by USPRE Association, on Calecto V, with Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) and Divertimento second and Jacquline M. Brooks (CAN) on D Niro in third.

Today’s judges in both the FEI Prix St. Georges and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle were Jane Weatherwax (USA) at E, Victoire Mandl (AUT) at H, Gary Rockwell (USA) at C, Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA) at M, and Jacques Van Daele (BEL) at B.

This morning’s FEI Prix St. Georges had an outstanding 19 entries. Winning first and second place, with scores of 69.921% and 67.868% respectively, Boylen was content with the performance of the 9-year-old bay Oldenburg gelding, Hudson 18 (Hohenstein x Democraat) , and the 10-year-old black Hanoverian gelding, Dio Mio (De Niro x Charmeur). “Dio is usually a horse that makes few mistakes, if any at all, so today’s couple mistakes were flighty. He was a little nervous in the ring this morning. He should be getting better since he’s seen this arena before. Hudson is very green, but did a super job today and I’m very thrilled with him. That’s his third Prix St. Georges. He rode in the National in January and then went international at the CDI-W two weeks ago. He’s gone from a 66 to a 69 in such a short span of time that I can’t ask for anything more. I always knew it was in him. He’s a brilliant horse. Now we just have to continue to get him experience in the ring,” remarked Boylen.

Jill Irving, part owner of both horses, won both today’s Adult Amateur FEI Intermediare I and FEI Grand Prix-Open in the Wellington Equestrian Realty Ring 1. Riding Delavaux in the Intermediare I, she scored a 67.500% and in the Grand Prix-Open, she rode Degas 12 (De Niro x Regazzoni) to a score of 70.213%.

With 12 entries in tonight’s FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, Konyot won with a score of 76.775%. Under the lights, she and Calecto V (Come Back II x Rastell), owned by Konyot and John Byrialsen, danced to the music. In reflecting on her freestyle, she commented that the 15-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion felt wonderful. “I was looking to improve from yesterday so it was just great. When you are on your own, doing your own thing with your horse, you feel personally responsible. He’s been feeling fantastic. Yesterday’s warm-up and today’s was fantastic. I rode just to be happy. Because of issues in my personal life, I almost scratched today, but my boyfriend convinced me to go in and just enjoy myself and do the best I can. My horse is a good boy. I love him so much!” Konyot said.

Vilhelmson-Silfven and Antonia Ax:son Johnson’s Divertimento (Di Versace x Ferragamo) rode a brand-new freestyle this evening. Receiving a score of 74.700%, no one could tell she had only one run through this morning. “I thought it was great fun. I really enjoyed the music and I think it fits him well. It was a challenge to ride a new test since I haven’t had it a long time to practice with, but it felt good,” observed Vilhelmson-Silfven. In thinking about the 11-year-old bay Westfalen gelding, she felt he was a bit tense, but better then the last CDI here two weeks ago. “I had a little mistake in the last piaffe due to camera flashes, but otherwise I’m happy. Some more practice is necessary, but overall I like my new freestyle. He was comfortable riding it,” she noted.

Brooks and D Niro (D-Day x Napoleon 625) were awarded third place with a score of 70.900%. The 14-year-old grey Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Mary Brooks is finally being able to really feel the test. “Last year was making him happy with and practicing the test at these shows for the Olympics, which he was amazing at. This year it is about adjusting how he goes. The first few shows there was some miscommunication between us as he was confused as to why I was changing things. But today he was full-on in. He was committed and it’s a great feeling to know that he is content while riding the test. You know they’re happy when they get those floppy ears and that makes me really happy,” praised Brooks.

Konyot said, “He’s completed my bucket list. But he’s a strong horse and that’s so important. He’s been feeling great training, so I needed to have a good feeling in the arena, to confirm my feeling. I am certainly aiming for another World Cup qualifier and then we’ll take it from there.” Brooks is focusing on the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, but the World Cup Finals could be on the horizon if things fall into place. Vilhelmson-Silfven has already qualified for the World Cup Finals with her top mount Don Auriello, but is concentrating on taking everything one step at a time.

Other CDI-W classes took place today in the International Arena as well. The winner in the FEI Pony Team was Barbara Davis (USA) riding Poldy 10 (Platello), owned by Michael Davis, with a score of 66.885%. In the FEI Young Rider Team, the blue ribbon went to Mathilde Tetreault (CAN) with Michelangelo (Admiral) with a score of 65.526%. The FEI Junior Team saw Naima Moreira-Laliberte and Diamond (Donnerhall x Werther), owned by Moreira-Laliberte, as the winners with a score of 65.649%.

Dressage continues tomorrow with the $5,000 FEI Intermediare I beginning at 8:30 a.m and the $10,000 FEI Grand Prix Special beginning at 2:40 p.m.

For full results and more information, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Final Results: FEI Prix St. Georges sponsored by Havensafe Farm
1. Hudson 18, Christilot Boylen (CAN): E: 69.474%, H: 69.737%, C: 68.289%, M: 70.000%, B: 72.105%, Total: 69.921%
2. Dio Mio, Christilot Boylen (CAN): E: 69.474%, H: 68.553%, C: 70.263%, M: 67.105%, B: 63.947%, Total: 67.868%
3. Wyatt Star, Justin Hardin (USA): E: 69.474%, H: 66.711%, C: 64.079%, M: 69.474%, B: 66.579%, Total: 67.263%
4. Mosegaards Rico, Mette Rosencrantz (USA): E: 68.947%, H: 68.421%, C: 66.711%, M: 65.658%, B: 65.000%, Total: 66.947%
5. Von Primaire, Kelly Layne (AUS): E: 65.658%, H: 67.368%, C: 68.289%, M: 63.947%, B: 64.737%, Total: 66.000%
6. Tolstoy, Nicholas Fyffe (AUS): E: 66.711%, H: 65.395%, C: 65.395%, M: 65.921%, B: 66.447%, Total: 65.974%
Final Results: FEI Grand Prix Freestyle sponsored by USPRE Association
1. Calecto V, Tina Konyot (USA): E: 77.250%, H: 76.000%, C: 76.625%, M: 77.125%, B: 76.875%, Total: 76.775%
2. Divertimento, Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE): E: 70.375%, H: 79.375%, C: 72.375%, M: 75.500%, B: 75.875%, Total: 74.700%
3. D Niro, Jacquline M. Brooks (CAN): E: 68.500%, H: 71.250%, C: 72.625%, M: 69.500%, B: 72.625%, Total: 70.900%
4. Doktor, Shelly Francis (USA): E: 68.125 %, H: 71.500%, C: 68.375%, M: 68.750%, B: 71.625%, Total: 69.675%
4. Pikko del Cerro HU, Lisa Wilcox (USA): E: 69.875%, H: 72.750%, C:
68.875%, M: 69.000%, B: 67.875%, Total: 69.675%
6. Don Kontes, David Marcus (CAN): E: 68.750%, H: 69.000%, C: 70.750%, M: 66.500%, B: 72.125%, Total: 69.425%

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Wood Media by Sue Stickle

(FEI) – The registration process for the FEI Sports Forum is now open and representatives of National Federations, event organisers, athletes, trainers, officials, the media and all other FEI stakeholders wishing to attend are invited to register using the dedicated online platform http://www.fei.org/sportsforum.

The Forum will be held on 8 and 9 April in Lausanne (SUI) at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), a top-ranked business school that develops global leaders through high-impact executive education. Recent speakers at the school include former USA President Bill Clinton and Jamaica’s six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt.

Qualification systems for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, career progression of athletes in the business world, and international movement of horses will be the featured topics for discussion. Round table sessions on Driving, Dressage and Jumping will also be organised within the framework of the Forum. The detailed programme of the event is available on the online platform.

The supporting documents on which the discussions will be based will be published in March.

The FEI Sports Forum was part of the FEI President HRH Princess Haya’s re-election manifesto and is now an annual event.

(Jennifer Wood Media) – The Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W, presented by the USPRE Association, started Thursday at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). Competition at the Florida Dressage Classic CDI-W runs through February 17. With 18 entries in the $6,000 FEI Grand Prix, victory went to Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) and Don Auriello, owned by Lövsta Stuteri and Antonia Ax:son Johnson. Thursday’s competition marked the first day of the second CDI competition in the AGDF, which runs through April 14.

Judges for Thursday’s CDI class were Sandy Hotz (USA) at E, at H was Jennie Lorison-Clarke (GBR), at C was Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA), at M was Jacques Van Daele (BEL), and at B was Victoire Mandl (AUT).

Watch an interview with Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven

Despite inclement weather and an hour-long delay, Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello rode a strong test fpr first place. The 11-year-old bay Hanoverian gelding by Don Davidoff x White Star and his rider received a score of 75.511%. Taking second place was Heather Blitz (USA) with her and Robert McKean’s Paragon (Don Schufro x Loran). Blitz and the 10-year-old chestnut Danish Warmblood gelding received a 71.128% from the judges. Vilhelmson-Silfven also received third place honors riding Divertimento (Di Versace x Ferragamo) owned by Antonia Ax:son Johnson. With a score of 70.574%, the 11-year-old bay Westfalen gelding and Vilhelmson-Silfven secured the yellow ribbon.

It rained heavily as Vilhelmson-Silfven began her test with Don Auriello. Reflecting on the circumstance, Vilhelmson-Silfven was very impressed with the way he handled the situation. “I have ridden him in the rain before and I’m extremely impressed with how he coped today. I lost a bit of focus; it’s almost better if it is already raining as you begin the test. The mistakes that were made were my fault completely. Overall, I was super happy,” she stated.

In the middle of Blitz’s test a lightning storm blew through, pausing the class. After an hour wait, she finished the second half of her test. Having that long of a break, Blitz commented, “It was a challenge stopping in the middle of the test. At least the clouds came so the temperature was cooler, which was great for when we warmed up again. He is getting stronger but doesn’t quite have the best stamina yet, so having to do essentially two warm-ups and two tests worried me, but the breeze and cooler temperature definitely helped. So I just had to get my focus back and pretend I never left the ring. I liked the mood we were in when we started, so I was disappointed to have to stop. But when we resumed I was happy we didn’t have any mistakes; I don’t know if the break helped us or not.”

With Friday’s Freestyle, each rider has a different plan. Vilhelmson-Silfven will ride Divertimento, who she believed was relaxed Thursday, with a brand-new routine. She plans to ride Don Auriello in the FEI Grand Prix Special on Saturday. “I’m excited to do that class as I don’t get to do that test often enough. I’ve been riding in the World Cups since the Olympics. So I’m excited about getting to showcase another test with him,” she said.

Blitz plans to ride Paragon Friday night, with it being the fifth time she has done her freestyle routine and she is “going to attempt to nail it.” She added, “I hope to have the same precision of the test with the music as I have had in the past. I want to have more power in piaffes and more precision in the pirouettes. The more electrifying the atmosphere, the better he is. Because he’s still green, if he gets too electric he doesn’t know what to do with it, so I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes tomorrow night.”

In the Open division of Thursday’s Prix St. Georges-Open class, first went to George Williams (USA) riding Elizabeth Juliano’s Riccidoff (by Riccione) with a score of 65.000% and second went to Ryan R. Yap (USA) riding Elizabeth Cronin’s Shadou (by Salamander) with a score of 62.895%.

In the Prix St. Georges-AA class, first went to Sylvia Gugler (AUT) riding Dietmar Gugler Reitsportzentrum GmbH & Co.KG’s Heinzi 9 (Harvard x Donatelli) with a score of 62.105% and second went to Megan Glynn (CAN) riding her own mount Everybody’s Darling (Dimension x Rubinstein I) with a score of 61.974%.

Winning the USEF Third Level with a score of 70.000% was Ilse Schwarz (AUS) riding Gaye Scarpa’s Don Joseph (Don Kennedy).

Friday the show continues with the $3,000 FEI Prix St. Georges sponsored by Havensafe Farm starting at 8:30 am and the always exciting $20,000 FEI Grand Prix Freestyle as the feature event of the week under the lights at 7 pm.

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Wood Media by Sue Stickle

(USEF) – USA Equestrian Trust is pleased to announce IRS-registered equine non-profit organizations will have two opportunities to apply for funding in 2013 as part of the foundation’s grants program. The Trust’s board expanded the grants program to two periods in 2012 and awarded nearly $335,000 in grants, an increase of almost 70 percent compared to 2011.

To apply for funding, visit the Trust’s newly revamped website at trusthorses.org. The site includes an extensive guide of frequently asked questions to assist applicants, as well as profiles of the work being done by selected past recipients.

“The Trust is pleased to make our simple online application process even easier,” said USA Equestrian Trust President Alan F. Balch. “The Trust’s leadership continues to be impressed by the many worthy projects seeking to further the rich legacy of horses and equestrian sport.”

The 2013 application deadlines are May 6 and October 7. All applicants must submit a proposed budget for their projects. If you have any questions about applying, please e-mail grants@trusthorses.org.

The Trust’s financial support has been dedicated largely but not exclusively for projects that are productive across several national-level discipline and/or breed boundaries. Among the past projects that have received Trust funding are:

USEF U.S. SADDLE SEAT EQUITATION WORLD CUP TEAM: $25,000 was awarded in 2011 to help reduce the fees required of the riders. Both the Three-Gaited and Five-Gaited teams won gold medals in the competition, which was held late last year in South Africa.
“Of course, the team couldn’t have had such success without the support they received from individuals and groups such as USA Equestrian Trust,” noted Lori Nelson, Assistant Executive Director, USEF National Affiliates. “The funding from the Trust was instrumental in supporting the travel for the team and freed up funds for things such as the team-building practice, which solidified cohesion as a team.”

AMERICAN MORGAN HORSE ASSOCIATION: $27,235 was awarded in May 2012 to support AMHA’s youth Equitation medal classes and “Youth of the Year” programs.
“AMHA was honored to receive the support of USA Equestrian Trust in 2012 to extend the reach of our Equitation medal program and Youth of the Year,” remarked Julie Broadway, Executive Director. “Both of these programs expanded the minds, skills and horizons of the youth involved and help build equestrian leaders of tomorrow.”
Ellery Walker, the 2012 Youth of the Year winner, added, “There are so many great versatile youth in the breed, and I love that the Youth of the Year contest is a way to show off their talents and reward them for their dedication.”

AMERICAN SADDLEBRED HORSE ASSOCIATION: $27,000 was awarded in May 2012 to assist ASHA in redesigning its database of registered Saddlebreds, members, competitions and show results, as well as upgrade its website.
“The USA Equestrian Trust grant enabled us to kick off our major technology upgrade project,” said Executive Director Karen Winn, adding the funding “will allow ASHA to retire outdated technology and move forward with better reporting of pedigrees, breeding statistics and show results, as well as provide interactive customer service on a new website.”

VIRGINIA HORSE CENTER FOUNDATION: $20,000 was awarded in October 2012 to assist in replacing the aging lighting system in the organization’s Anderson Coliseum. The upgrade will provide a safer facility for the 500,000 exhibitors who compete there annually.
“With this grant, we move closer to our goal to ‘Turn up the Lights!’ in our largest arena,” said Katherine Truitt, Executive Director. “Equestrian events covering all disciplines use the all-weather arena. This new lighting system will provide three times as much illumination, easy access for maintenance and cut energy use by nearly 75 percent.”

SACRAMENTO AREA HUNTER JUMPER ASSOCIATION: $5,000 was awarded in both 2011 and May 2012 to provide members, who are entry-level exhibitors and low-budget owners, with free training clinics by noted equestrian Michael Page.

“In each of the last two years, our clinics have been at capacity and the enthusiasm of our membership has been over the top,” commented President Jen Hannink. “Without the assistance of USA Equestrian Trust, these events would have never been possible.”

Funding for the SAHJA was awarded from a reserve for Hunter and Jumper non-profit programs and activities in California and Nevada. Applicants seeking funding from this $51,500 reserve should make clear their intention to apply for funds available from this specific reserve.

(USET Foundation) – At the Annual Meeting of the of the USET Foundation Board of Trustees, Saturday, January 26 in Wellington, FL, the Trustees elected Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Chairman of the Board, S. Tucker S. Johnson, President & CEO, R. Bruce Duchossois, Vice President, Philip E. Richter, Treasurer and Eric L. Straus, Secretary. These individuals will serve as the Officers of the corporation through 2014.

“This is an exciting time for me to become President of the USET Foundation,” said Tucker Johnson. “I have been fortunate to have been both an athlete who has competed and medaled at the World Equestrian Games, as well as served on the Federation’s Board and as Treasurer of the USET Foundation, so I know how important the funding means to our athletes in their preparation and at international championships. I am committed, in partnership with the tremendous Board of the Foundation, to do everything we can to continue to provide funding that will make this country a force to be reckoned with at the 2014 World Equestrian Games and 2016 Olympic Games.”

Newly elected trustees were William Coleman, Jr. (VA), E. Hunter Harrison (FL), Elizabeth Johnson (MA), Elizabeth Miller (NY) Jeannie Tisbo (IL) and ex-officio Chrystine J. Tauber. USEF President (FL).

William Coleman, Jr., Charlottesville, VA, worked for Drexel Burnham in New York. He was Managing Director in charge of US Government securities trading. In 1989 he re-located to a farm outside Charlottesville, Va. to raise his three sons. He has been an active participant in the Amateur-Owner Show Jumping division and enjoys the countryside with the Keswick Hunt Club and Piedmont Fox Hounds. His son, William Coleman, III, was a member of the 2012 United States Eventing Olympic Team and has represented the United States on several occasions internationally.

E. Hunter Harrison, Ridgefield, CT and Wellington, FL, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Pacific (CP). He joined CP in 2012. Harrison served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Canadian National (CN) from 2003-2009 and as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from 1998-2002. He served on CN’s Board of Directors for 10 years. Harrison, with his wife Jeannie, own Double H. Farm, LLC a world class jumper and breeding operation with two facilities, one in Ridgefield, CT and the other in Wellington, FL. Double H Farm is managed by Harrison’s daughter Cayce and her husband Quentin Judge.

Elizabeth R. Miller, New York, NY and Wellington, FL, is a member of Grant Road Partners, LLC, which owns of several top international grand prix horses including Antares F., a member of the 2012 London Olympic Equestrian Team ridden by McLain Ward. Her daughter, Katie Dinan, is a successful Grand Prix rider and has represented the United States on a Nations Cup team. Elizabeth serves on several boards including the Washington International Horse Show, and the Ladies Committee of the National Horse Show, Harvard Business School Dean’s Board of Advisors, Smith College President’s Committee and Board of Directors of the School of American Ballet. She was the recipient of the USHJA Jumper Owner Recognition Award in 2011, 2012 and USEF ranked leading jumper owner of grand prix horses during that period. Elizabeth is married to Jamie Dinan, who has recently entered into the jumper ring. They also have two sons, Zachary and Michael, both of whom ride for pleasure.

Elizabeth Johnson, Boston, MA is proprietor of Louisburg Farm, located in Wellington, FL. Louisburg Farm owns horses that compete at all levels of show jumping and has represented the United States at numerous international competitions including Nation Cups and World Cup finals. She is also an amateur equestrian. In addition to her equestrian activities she divides her time among numerous nonprofit organizations in the greater Boston area.

Chrystine Jones Tauber, Wellington, FL, is an accomplished equestrian with an extensive equine business and industry background. She is President of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). Her previous positions include Secretary of the USEF, and a member of the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, and the Licensed Officials Committee. A founding member of the U. S. Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA), she served as Vice President and was a member of the Planning, Emerging Athletes, High Performance Hunters, and the Trainer’s Certification Committees. Tauber is a Board member of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, and was appointed to the Kentucky Governor’s Advisory Commission for the 2010 World Equestrian Games. She was previously the U.S. Equestrian Team’s Director of Show Jumping Activities, and served as Manager of all disciplines at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Teams and the 1983 and 1987 Pan Am Teams, and for the Show Jumping World Championships in 1982 and 1986. She instituted the USET Medal Finals, and working with Jack LeGoff, created the USET Talent Derby. She has served on the Board of Directors of the U. S. Olympic Committee, the Gladstone Equestrian Association, the USET, and as Executive Director of the American Horse Shows Association and the National Horse Show.

Jeannie Tisbo, resides in Barrington Hills, IL. Since 2006, Jeannie has acted as the managing partner of Tequestrian Farms, LLC. When she is not travelling in support of her daughter Lauren and the horses, she is actively involved with the Women’s Board of the Field Museum of Chicago and various philanthropic endeavors. With a degree in education, Jeannie recognizes the necessity of comprehensive programs to develop and support the elite horse and rider alliance. Jeannie’s husband, Tom, is the CEO of Suncast, a major sponsor of WEF, Spruce Meadows and other horse show venues. They have one other daughter, Tracy, of Los Angeles, CA.

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation (www.uset.org) is the non-profit organization that supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high-performance horses and athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation.

For more information on the USET Foundation, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.