(FEI) - The FEI is delighted to announce that Reem Acra, the internationally renowned fashion designer, has signed a new contract extending her title sponsorship of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League and Final for a further three-year cycle until 2016.

The New York based designer, who has dressed some of Hollywood’s top stars in her classic couture, including Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Taylor Swift and Eva Longoria, became title sponsor of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League and of the FEI World Cup™ Final at the start of the 2010/2011 World Cup season.

The current contract with Ms Acra runs until the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Final 2013, which will be held in Gothenburg (SWE), and the new agreement will then run through to the end of the 2015/2016 series, including the Final.

“When I took on the title sponsorship of the Western European League and the World Cup Final in October 2010, I did it because I love the sport and I love horses,” said Reem Acra. “It has proved to be a perfect match for the Reem Acra brand. The elegance of dressage reflects the passion and creativity that inspire my own designs.”

“The FEI is thrilled that Reem Acra will continue to support one of our flagship series,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya said. “This partnership has taken the beauty of our sport to new audiences and we are looking forward to maintaining this strong connection. Reem Acra’s own success story allows her to understand the determination and dedication that is necessary to reach the top.”

The FEI World Cup™ Dressage has always been at the forefront of innovation, introducing the concept of Freestyle to Music to top level international Dressage in 1985. The Freestyle is now one of the sport’s most popular competitions, offering riders and horses the opportunity to showcase their artistry and musicality.

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League 2012/2013 will be run over eight events, culminating in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Finals in Gothenburg next spring, where the world’s best will compete for the overall title.

Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League 2012/2013 calendar:
Odense (DEN) 18-21 October 2012
Lyon (FRA) 31 October – 4 November 2012
Stuttgart (GER) 14-18 November 2012
Stockholm (SWE) 30 November – 2 December 2012
London Olympia (GBR) 17-23 December 2012
Amsterdam (NED) 18-20 January 2013
Neumünster (GER) 14-17 February 2013
‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) 14-17 March 2013

Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final 2013
Gothenburg (SWE) 24-28 April 2013

Photo Courtesy of FEI by Kit Houghton – Adelinde Cornelissen (NED) and Jerich Parzival, winners of the of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ 2012.

Lexington, KY (October 3, 2012) – The United States Dressage Federation is pleased to announce that it has now launched www.U …

(FEI) – The FEI Equine Prohibited Substance List for 2013, which has now been approved by the FEI Bureau, will come into force on 1 January 2013.

Following a period of consultation with the National Federations, the FEI List Group held its most recent meeting during the London 2012 Paralympics and signed off changes to the List for 2013, which include five new substances and other amendments.

The changes, which will be included in the 2013 List and will come into effect on 1 January of next year, are summarised here and below:

 Five new substances have been added to the List for 2013. These are the Controlled Medication substances Cyclosporin, a systemic immunosuppressant; Tropicamide, which affects the central nervous system and has a potential for abuse; Pitcher Plant preparation (Sarapin), which is reputed to have analgesic properties, a potential to affect performance and its use is considered to be a welfare concern; Delmadinone acetate and Chlormadinone acetate, synthetic steroidal progestins that decrease testosterone concentration and have the potential to affect performance;

 Fentanyl and Morphine (analgesics), both of which are currently classified as Banned Substances, will be moved to the Controlled Medication section of the List in 2013 due to their increasingly common legitimate use in equine medicine;

 Suxibuzone, which converts to Phenylbutazone in the body and is currently listed as Phenylbutazone, will be listed separately under Controlled Medications;

 Deslorelin, which was categorised as a Controlled Medication substance in the 2012 List, will be removed from the 2013 List.

“The FEI List Group seeks to use the most up-to-date scientific research and information as part of its ongoing review of the Prohibited Substances List,” said Graeme Cooke, FEI Veterinary Director.

“The National Federations and all the Veterinarians involved in our sport are very much a part of the consultation process and all comments received on the initial suggested changes, which were first proposed in April of this year, were discussed by the List Group prior to the changes being finalised.

“Publishing the changes to the List 90 days in advance, in accordance with our rules, means that the National Federations and their athletes will have plenty of time to familiarise themselves with the changes well in advance of the 2013 Equine Prohibited Substances List coming into force on 1 January next year.”

The 2013 Equine Prohibited Substance List will be accessible prior to 1 January 2013 on the FEI Clean Sport website. Additionally, information is now available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database, which is free to download for Smartphones.

(USEF) – Brentwood, TN – James Robert Greene passed away on September 27, 2012 peacefully at the age of 83.  Preceded in death by his beloved wife, Janet Jordan Greene and daughter Betsy Greene Wohrley.  He is survived by his children SuSu Greene Raymond and Cynthia Greene McNutt and grandchildren Emily Jordan Raymond, Catherine Austin Raymond, Kelsey Jordan McNutt,  Ashley Himmelreich and Joshua Wohrley.

Mr. Greene graduated from Western Military Academy, Franklin & Marshall College and Washington University Law School. He was in the U. S. Army and served as a 1st Lieutenant  during the Korean War.  He was a member of the U. S. Olympic Equestrian Team from 1955 to 1957 and was on the Oak Brook Polo Club team.  Mr. Greene was an avid horseman who had many grand champions in the Hunter Divisions, most notably,  Book Value, Dark Continent and Slate.   During the 1980′s he was Treasurer of the AHSA (now called USEF), was a past Master of the old Branchwater Hounds in Birmingham, AL and was a member of the Hillsboro Hounds.  He founded the MTHJA and was President for many years.  He also encouraged and worked with young horsemen through the years and was a Lifetime Member of the U. S. Pony Clubs.  He worked on Wall Street for Odessa & Martin Investments, Andreson & Company and  Integrated Resources; in Boston for Winthrop Financial Advisors and through the years worked in investment banking, new issues and as a venture capitalist.   He owned and was President of Pine Street Capital Corp. until his retirement.  A celebration of his life will be held Monday, October 1, 2012 at Sissie Anderton’s Brownland Farm, 1155 Hillsboro Rd., Franklin, TN, from 5:00 to 7:00.  In lieu of flowers you may make a donation to Saddle Up, 1549 Old Hillsboro Rd., Franklin, TN, or the charity of your choice.  WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 615-794-2289.

www.williamsonmemorial.com

(USPEA by Lindsay Yosay McCall) – Richardson, TX – October 1, 2012 – The equestrian community grieves today as we remember Jonathan Wentz who passed away over the weekend at the young age of 21. Jonathan was a delightful person and an inspiration to all. He will be greatly missed among his family and friends. Jonathan was in his final year at Southern Methodist University where he was well-respected among the staff and students.

Born with Cerebral Palsy he began riding horses as a form of therapy at age five at Equest Therapeutic Riding Center in Wylie, TX. His mother, Christina, was a Physical Therapist and knew in a short time that this sport would be more than just therapeutic. As Jonathan progressed he began to focus on competitive Dressage.

In 2008 Jonathan and his family moved to Richardson, Texas where he began training with Kai Handt at the North Texas Equestrian Center. In six months Jonathan competed at his first CPEDI3* and USEF Para-Equestrian National Championships. That same year, he earned High Point Individual Rider at the Region 9 Junior Team Championship and qualified for the 2009 Region 9 USDF Championships. Jonathan would continue to excel as a young rider in 2009 and continuously worked towards his goal to ride at the London Paralympics in 2012.

In 2010 Jonathan Wentz and Kai Handt’s horse, NTEC Richter Scale, were members of the United States Para-Equestrian Team and earned a top finish at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. In 2011 Jonathan and NTEC Richter Scale were the USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Champion.

As the 2012 year progressed Jonathan continued to achieve top results with multiple horses. He even earned the accolade of being the number ten Para-Equestrian in the world on the FEI World Ranking List. At the 2012 USEF Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships in Gladstone, NJ, Jonathan earned Reserve Champion with NTEC Richter Scale.

Jonathan’s dream would come true when he earned one of the four spots on the 2012 United States Paralympic Team headed to London. Jonathan took this opportunity seriously and earned the highest placing overall of any United States Equestrian that competed in London. “It was a dream come true,” Jonathan expressed after his final day of competition.

The United States Para-Equestrian Association expresses their deepest sympathy to the entire Wentz family, The Handt’s at North Texas Equestrian Center, and all of his close friends. We will all miss Jonathan’s big smile and great personality.

For those interested in donating to Jonathan’s memory the family has set-up a Scholarship Fund in his name at the United States Para-Equestrian Association. Jonathan was an advocate for the sport and was dedicated to helping grow the discipline as a whole.

A celebration of Jonathan’s life will be held:

Saturday, October 6, 2012

2:00 p.m.

Grace Bible Church

11306 Inwood Rd.

Dallas, TX 75229

Donations may be mailed to:

USPEA

Jonathan Wentz Scholarship Fund

3940 Verde Vista Drive

Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

*The USPEA is a 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax-deductable.

(USEF) – Lexington, KY- The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is now accepting letters of interest to host the 2013 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Sessions. Up to six Training Sessions with USEF Young Horse Coach Scott Hassler will be scheduled throughout 2013. These Training Sessions will once again be held over two days and provide a unique opportunity for riders, trainers, owners and breeders to openly share and discuss the education and training of young dressage horses. Each Training Session will accept ten horse/rider combinations.

The locations of the 2013 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Training Sessions will be announced by December 1, 2012. Auditing information and applications for horse/rider combinations will be available at that time on the USEF website.

If you are interested in hosting a 2013 Markel/USEF Young Horse Training Session, please send your letter of interest to Hallye Griffin, USEF Director of Dressage, National Programs (hgriffin@usef.org) by close of business Friday, October 26, 2012. If you have questions regarding the hosting or participation in the training sessions, please also contact Hallye Griffin (859 225 6918 or hgriffin@usef.org).

(Project Marketing) – Devon, PA – Much of the concluding day at Dressage at Devon was composed of Freestyle classes – from the FEI Junior Freestyle to the FEI Intermediare Freestyle CDI W.  The afternoon also featured the FEI Olympic Grand Prix Special CDI W.

Up and Coming Talent

Alexandra Reid, a 20 year-old Canadian, and her mount V.I.P (Rousseau x Nastrade) swept the Young Rider classes this year with winning scores for the FEI Young Rider Individual Test, Team Test and today’s Freestyle Test.  The pair reached to the seventies for all 3 tests—70.053, 70.482 and 73.95 respectively.

Alexandra grew up in the countryside of Erin, Ontario.  Since all her friends had ponies, becoming involved with riding was only natural.  She began taking lessons when she was 7 and begged for a pony.  When she was 12, her dream came true in the form of a pony that taught her to ride better because she says, “I fell off every day.”  After eventing for a few years, she moved into dressage which, as a self-described perfectionist, is an ideal fit for her personality.  “Yes, I’ve been here before,” she says about Dressage at Devon, “but last year I was just grooming.  It’s inspiring to compete in the Dixon Oval.”  This winter she plans to compete in the Florida circuit.

Fifteen-year old Columbian rider Nicholas Torres and his Swedish Warmblood gelding, Silver Label (Rambo x Nicco), took home the blue ribbon for the FEI Junior Freestyle NAJYRC, impressing the judges enough to score 71.575.  Cesar Parra, who trains Torres says, “He’s very dedicated to everything he does.  He gets straight A’s and he’s a talented young rider.”  When asked what Torres aspires to, Parra says simply, “the Olympics.”

Barbara (Bebe) Davis, a 14-year, and her pony, Poldy 10, a 14.1 chestnut, rode into first place in the FEI Pony Individual Test CDN.  Bebe started taking riding lessons when she was just 4 years old.  She began focusing on dressage five years ago. She is already in her second year riding at Devon and says, “I love Devon.  It’s the best show; the environment is so historic and picturesque.  And now with the new footing it’s perfect.”  She will also be competing in Florida this winter.

The final class of the day, the FEI Intermediaire 1 Freestyle Open CDIW USEF HP GA was won by Chris Hickey aboard Witness Hilltop (Hamlet x Francis) with a score of  73.775%.

2012 Wraps Up

For those of you who are familiar with Dressage at Devon, rain is too often a part of the scenery.  This year was different with only short patches of rain and mostly brilliant sunshine showing off coppery chestnuts, silvery grays and bays of all hues. We can only hope that it is the beginning of a new trend.

Regardless of the weather, the quality of riders and their horses was impressive. Guy McLean, along with Hope, Spinabbey, Sequel, and Pride delighted all attendees – equestrians and non-equestrians alike, as did the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association (DVCTA) Quadrille “Quad Squad” with their “Think Pink” performance.

And, of course, it is the riders and their horses, trainers, grooms,  handlers and everyone else involved in the care, training and performances who make Dressage at Devon one of the world’s premier Dressage Shows.

Rain or shine, thanks to talented competitors and their horses, hundreds of volunteers, all the sponsors, and the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, Dressage at Devon 2012 was a huge success!

Photos Courtesy of Project Marketing by Hoof Print Images -Alexandra Reid on V.I.P. (top); Chris Hickey on Witness Hilltop (bottom)