Lausanne (SUI), 21 July 2015

The FEI has announced that three Swiss Jumping horses have tested positive for prohibited substances.

Samples taken at the CSIO5* at La Baule (FRA) on 17 May from the horse Nino des Buissonnets (FEI ID FRA45550), ridden by Steve Guerdat (SUI) to win the Grand Prix on the day of testing, have returned positive for the Banned Substances Codeine and Oripavine, and the Controlled Medication substance Morphine.

Samples taken at the CSIO5* at La Baule on 16 May from the horse Nasa (FEI ID FRA45675), ridden by Steve Guerdat (SUI) to finish third in the La Baule Derby on the day of testing, have returned positive for the Banned Substance Codeine and the Controlled Medication substance Morphine. The horse’s sample also showed traces of Oripavine, but not at a sufficiently high level for the testing laboratory to declare a positive for the substance.

Samples taken at the CSIOY (Young Riders) in Deauville (FRA) on 8 May from the horse Charivari KG (FEI ID 102ZB26), ridden by Alessandra Bichsel, have returned positive for the Banned Substances Codeine and Oripavine, and the Controlled Medication substance Morphine.

Under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs), a mandatory provisional suspension is imposed on the athlete in the event of a Banned Substance positive prior to the opportunity for a full hearing. Similarly, under the EADCMRs, a horse testing positive to a Banned Substance is provisionally suspended for two months.

As a result, Steve Guerdat and Alessandra Bichsel have both been provisionally suspended from the day of notification (20 July 2015), and the three horses have been provisionally suspended for two months. The FEI offers the athlete, referred to in the rules as the Person Responsible (PR), and the horse owner the opportunity for a preliminary hearing before the FEI Tribunal to request the lifting of the provisional suspensions.

“The presence in all these samples of Oripavine, which is not found in any veterinary products, suggests that this could be contamination, but obviously we still have to follow standard procedure”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender said.

“The combination of Oripavine, Morphine and Codeine have frequently been seen in contamination cases from other equestrian sport regulators, and the FEI already has three outstanding cases from 2014 involving Oripavine and Morphine in which we proactively sought the lifting of the provisional suspensions. As the regulator of international equestrian sport, we have to balance fairness to the athletes with our dual role of protecting horse welfare and maintaining a level playing field.”

Potential contamination

The FEI has three ongoing 2014 cases which also involve Oripavine and Morphine*. Requests for the lifting of the provisional suspension in each case were originally denied by the Tribunal, but sufficient evidence was subsequently gathered to show that all three cases were highly likely to involve contamination and the FEI promptly sought the lifting of the provisional suspensions. All three provisional suspensions were simultaneously lifted by the FEI Tribunal on 19 December 2014.

Oripavine is an opioid analgesic that is not used clinically due to its very narrow therapeutic margin and extremely high toxicity levels. Oripavine positives are frequently the result of poppy seed ingestion. Codeine and Morphine, both of which are found in poppy seeds, are also analgesics.

Due to increasing evidence of poppy seed contamination resulting in positives, the FEI downgraded Morphine from a Banned Substance to Controlled Medication in 2013. Among a number of proposed changes to the Equine Prohibited Substances List due to come into effect on 1 January 2016, Codeine is listed for a similar downgrading to Controlled Medication.

Notes to Editors:

*The three cases from 2014 involving Oripavine and Morphine – Vitess SC (Monika Martini, GRE), Kinka’s Boy (Chenna van de Spek, NED) and Heartbeat (Julien Anquetin, FRA) – are listed on the FEI Case Status Table here.

The FEI Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs) can be viewed here.

Oldenburg, Germany (July 20, 2015)– Grand Prix dressage rider Endel Ots has achieved the impressive milestone of qualifying both a five-year-old horse and a six-year-old horse for the FEI World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses this summer in Verden, Germany.

The 29-year-old Ots accomplished what only one other American has ever done before when he qualified both a five-year-old and a six-year-old for the FEI World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses. Ots qualified Lucky Strike, a German-bred five-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Lord Laurie-Heidi, His Highness) owned by Endel Ots and his father Max Ots, and Samhitas, a German-bred six-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Sir Donnerhall I- Heidebluete, Abanos), owned by Canadians Gary and Jeannie Vander Ploeg of Pine Ridge Farm.

“These horses are excellent in the show ring,” Ots commented. “They’re really centered in their minds.”

Ots has been riding Lucky Strike for about a year and a half. “He is the only qualified five-year-old in the U.S. for Verden,” Ots explained, proud of his young partner. Ots and Lucky Strike, who Ots originally discovered in Belgium, received an 87.00 percent in the final test required to qualify for the FEI World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses, making them formidable contenders for the international competition.

Ots has achieved remarkable success with Samhitas, although he has had the ride on him for little more than a year. Samhitas earned the highest qualifying score for Verden in the U.S. “After I began riding Samhitas, I realized he was of such outstanding quality that he would be a good horse to work towards qualifying for the six-year-old tests in Verden,” Ots explained.

Ots and the talented young horses are currently in Europe, and plan to compete in a few other international competitions before taking on the FEI World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses in Verden on August 5- 9.

“I couldn’t be more excited and thankful for all the people that have come together to make this happen,” Ots said. “Evi Strasser has been helping me every step of the way. In 2014 she helped coach me to win the National Developing Grand Prix Championships, and this year she’s coaching me to the World Young Horse Championships in Verden.”

Ots is especially thankful for the help of Christine Traurig, the United States Young Horse Coach. Traurig will be at the FEI World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses to cheer on Ots as he represents his country. “Christine has been great— I couldn’t feel more ready” Ots smiled. “There will be great things in the future for the young horses in the USA under Christine’s guidance.”

While in Europe, Ots will be working with German Trainer Hans-Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen. Ots intends to focus on increasing the horses’ confidence in him while exposing them to new environments. They are based in the Oldenburg area of Germany in Lower Saxony. Ots will compete both Lucky Strike and Samhitas in the OldenburgerLandesturnier, or Oldenburg Championships, on July 21-26. The Oldenburger Landesturnier is a qualifier for the Bundeschampionate, which is the German Championships.

Ots’s home base is in Wellington, Florida, at the Palm Beach Equine Sports Complex. To learn more about Endel Ots Dressage, visit www.endelotsdressage.com, email EndelOts@gmail.com, or call (920) 562- 5714.

Kentucky (USA), 20 July 2015

Photo Caption: Area ll’s Skyler Decker, Camilla Grover-Dodge, Amanda Beale Clement and Morgan Booth claimed the Junior Eventing Team Championship at the FEI North American Championships for Juniors and Young Riders 2015. Grover-Dodge also claimed the Individual Junior Eventing title. (FEI/Brant Gamma)

Super sport at FEI North American Championships 2015

By Louise Parkes

The 41st FEI North American Championships for Juniors and Young Riders came to a close yesterday after six hectic days of competition at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, USA.

This is the only FEI Championship held annually in North America, and the 2015 fixture, open to competitors from 14 to 21 years, offered medal opportunities in the Olympic disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing along with Endurance and Para-Dressage.  A total of 222 riders were entered, and Para-Dressage joined the programme of events for the very first time.

Dressage

Region 7 made it a sensational back-to-back hat-trick of wins in the Young Rider Team Dressage competition. “It was super close, so kudos to the silver medal team for really giving us a run for it!” said gold-medallist Catherine Chamberlain who, together with Lindsey Brewin and Cassidy Gallman, was also a member of last year’s winning side. Samantha Jenny completed the Region 7 side that earned a total of 199.658 to pin Region 3 into silver medal spot by a narrow margin, while Canada’s Alberta/British Columbia team took the bronze.

And Chamberlain was back on the podium for the individual prize-giving, the 2014 Young Rider Individual champion this time having to settle for silver when posting 68.711 with her relatively inexperienced 10-year-old Avesto Van Weltevreden, while team silver medallist, Natalie Pai, took the gold. Pai steered Fritz San Tino to an individual test score of 69.132 to secure victory, and the 18-year-old from Wellington, Florida said afterwards, “I honestly just came here to have a lot of fun. I’m so thrilled with how it turned out.” Individual bronze went to Quebec team member Naima Moreira Laliberte who scored 68.447 with Laliberte, and this 18-year-old rider from Montreal then came out to win Freestyle gold on Saturday, posting 71.825 to a musical score that she put together herself. “I won’t lie. I only rode it once and qualified!” she said. Hannah Bauer from Virginia, USA took Freestyle silver with Trustful on a mark of 70.000 while bronze went to Kerrigan Gluch from Michigan who posted 69.050 with Vacquero HGF.

The Junior Dressage Team title went to Canada’s Ontario foursome of Vanessa Creech-Terauds, Yanina Woywitka, Georgia Wade and Alexandra Meghji whose total of 200.92 left them less than two marks ahead of the silver medallists from Region 7. Ontario’s anchor rider, Meghji, said, “we’re so lucky to be at this amazing championship at this amazing venue with all of these other girls from across North America who share the same passion for horses that we have. For all of us winning the gold medal today is just the icing on the cake!”

Silver medallists Veronica West, Shelby Rocereto, Brianna Relucio and Mia Slaughter finished less than a mark ahead of Region 9’s Chloe Taylor, Madison Lacy, Bronwyn Cordiak and Allison Hopkins in bronze.

The top three in the Junior Individual decider all finished within less than one percent of each other, with 15-year-old Helen Claire McNulty of Region 2 posting 70.816 with Checkmate for gold. Camille Bergeron from Team British Columbia/Quebec took the silver with 70.079 riding Delfiano and bronze went to Region 9’s Chloe Taylor with Calecto V. McNulty, who finished 11th individually and fifth in the Junior Freestyle at last year’s NAJYRC, said “it’s pretty cool to come back here and win it!” And it was pretty cool for her again on Saturday when she took Freestyle silver while Bebe Davis from Florida clinched gold with a score of 71.825. Bergeron was back on the podium again too, this time taking bronze. New Freestyle champion, Davis, said “this is my last year of Juniors, I’m aging out this year. I’ve been working toward this moment for a very long time.”

Jumping

Zone 4’s Brett Burlington, Louise Graves, Mackenzie McGehee and Sophie Simpson led from the outset to clinch the Junior Team Jumping title boosted by a total of five zero scores including double-clears from both Burlington and Simpson. They were already in command when carrying just the single time fault collected by Graves and Zavira at the end of round one, and when Graves’ double-error second time out was the discard they added nothing further to finish well ahead of Zones 5/9 who took silver with a final tally of 12 faults.

The silver medal team consisted of Annika Faught, Emma Wujek, Daisy Farish and Vivian Yowan and the bronze medal winning side of Mexico North included Alfonso Diaz, Carlos Hank Guerreiro, Fernanda Rodriguez de Haene and Juan Pablo Gaspar Albanez whose finishing total was 20 faults. This was a back-to-back double of bronze for Mexico.

Gold medallist, Simpson, said, “I think I can speak for all of us when I say that this has been a huge dream for us. Everything was aligned for us today, and we had a great day.”

Team silver medallist, Yowan, was out in front going into the individual medal decider on a score of 3.08 and she never faltered, completing all five tracks set by Irish course designer, Alan Wade, without a single rail down with Vornado vn den Hoendrik. On Saturday she added just a single time fault to take the title ahead of Mexico’s Juan Pablo Gaspar Albanez who showed great consistency all week. The 17-year-old rider joked “this is good, but I think next year I’m going to do Juniors again. I want to have that gold medal around my neck. The first year I was 10th, and last year I was seventh, so I’m moving up!”, he said. Bronze went to 17-year-old Sophie Simpson.

The Young Rider Team title went to Zones 3/5’s Kalvin Dobbs, Meredith Darst, Noel Fauntleroy and Jacob Pope. Carrying nine faults at the end of the first round they were trailing Zone 2, Zones 4/8 and Zone 10 who each registered an eight-fault scoreline at the halfway stage. But when Darst’s four faults with Quester de Virton was all that had to be added to their tally at the end of round two, Zones 3/5 came out on top on a final total of 13, while with eight to add Zone 2 had to settle for silver and with 12 more on their scoresheet Zones 4/8 took the bronze.

The Zone 2 silver medallists were Katherine Strauss, Sima Morgello , Kira Kerkorian and Lucy Deslauriers, while the Zones 4/8 bronze medallists were Kaely Tomeu, Brittni Raflowitz, Kelli Cruciotti and Victoria Colvin.

In the race for the Young Rider individual medals, 16-year-old Lucy Deslaurier threw down the gauntlet when collecting just a single time penalty on the final afternoon with her horse Hester, and that was good enough to pin Raflowitz into silver and Fauntleroy into bronze. It was desperately close between the two young ladies, only one-tenth of a point separating the pair at the end of the day but Raflowitz paying the price fro two fences down in the final round.

Deslauriers, whose famous father Mario was only three years older than his daughter is today when claiming the FEI World Cup™ Jumping title with Aramis way back in 1984, was adding Young Rider gold to the silver medal she took last year. “I really didn’t think going into this that this would be the end result” she said. “My horse jumped incredibly, he’s really a dream!”

Eventing

The Junior Eventing Championship came to a dramatic conclusion yesterday with Area ll taking both team and individual gold despite a last-minute hiccup. The CH-J 1* winning side of Camilla Grover-Dodge, Morgan Booth, Amanda Beale Clement and Skyler Decker had a commanding lead going into the final Jumping phase and could afford to have five fences down and still take the title until Booth’s ride, Twizzel, was withdrawn after being held for re-inspection on Sunday morning. That changed the picture completely, giving them only a one-fence advantage as the final test got underway, but they held firm to win through ahead of Area V in silver and Area Vlll in bronze.

And Grover-Dodge led the individual rankings from the outset, steering her 19-year-old veteran, Remington, into gold medal spot when finishing on her dressage score of 38.3. Individual silver went to 15-year-old Madelynn Snoozy with Udealer while Shelby Brost and Crimson took the bronze.

Heavy rain on the eve of the cross-country phase made for wet conditions, but the course rode well. Booth can look back on her tour of the track with Twizzel, who enjoyed such a tremendous career with American star Will Coleman in his earlier years, as an experience to remember despite her later disappointment. After finishing the course Booth said she felt like she had been “riding a hurricane!…..it was probably the best cross-country ride of my life, so I was really happy!”

Skyler Decker put the emotion of the team success into perspective. She said that, following Booth’s withdrawal on Sunday morning, “we had a moment, and then we said ‘okay ladies, we have to do this for Morgan. Let’s get it together and go jump some double-clear rounds!” Both she and Grover-Dodge succeeded in doing just that, and with just one mistake from Clement their final score of 148.0 was good enough to clinch it. Area V’s silver medal winning score was 157.4, posted by Margaret Stocker, Caroline Testi, Olivia Alland and Barrett Phillips. Bronze medallists Jackie Lemastus, Emily Hagan, Mary Peabody and Hope Walden from Area Vlll posted 161.9. Grover-Dodge said “I’m so excited. I was just so happy for everyone. Everyone worked so hard, so it’s just the best feeling.”

In the Young Riders CCIYR 2*, Area lll’s Diane Portwood and Cinerescent claimed the top step of the podium ahead of silver medallist Area lll’s Nicole Doolittle with Tops in silver and Area Vlll’s Paige Pence with Class Action in bronze. “I’m so happy with Leila (Cinerescent)”, said Portwood. “I’m super happy with her cross-country, that’s both our best phase. She’s a fantastic cross-country horse.”

Para-Dressage

Yesterday’s presentation of the Para-Dressage Individual Freestyle medals marked the end of a successful debut for this discipline at these Championships. It all kicked off with Team gold going to USA’s Kate Shoemaker (Grade lll), Cambry Kaylor (Grade 1b) and Sydney Collier (Grade 1b), while Canada’s Nel Godin-Keating (Grade 1a), Sarah Cummings (Grade ll) and Madison Lawson (Grade lV) claimed the silver.

Collier is a sports personality in her own right, and winner of the FEI’s Against All Odds Award at last year’s FEI General Assembly in Azerbaijan. The 17-year-old, who has the Paralympic Games at Rio 2016 clearly in her sights, steered her trusty 12-year-old Hannoverian, Wentworth to also collect Grade 1b gold ahead of silver medallist Kaylor, but the tables were turned when it came to the Freestyle – team-mate Kaylor coming out on top with Markgard Donnewind with a strong score of 70.750 against Collier’s 66.100 in silver medal spot.

The Grade lll Individual and Freestyle gold went to another of the winning US side, Shoemaker with Pacifect M, whille the 1a Championhip and Freestyle gold went to Canada’s Nel Godin-Keating and Mr Itchy. And the remaining Canadians were not to be outdone either, Cummings and West Bay scooping Grade 11 Individual and Freestyle and Lawson and her horse Lawrence topping Grade lV Individual and Freestyle.

Speaking after her team’s victory, Collier said, “it’s such an honour to be here as a team, and I’m so impressed with my team-mates and incredibly happy with our horses!”

Endurance

A field of 14 competed in the Endurance Championship including one Canadian and three US teams. And the USA Southeast selection of Mallory Capps, Mary Kathryn Clark, Kelsey Russell, Annie Whelan and Katie Baldino dominated the podium when taking both team and individual gold, while USA Northeast claimed team silver.

Team medals were determined by the top three highest-placed combinations and USA Southeast finished best with a cumulative time of 19:35:15 while USA Northeast registered 20:30:41. The silver medal team consisted of Hanna Weightman, India Orino, Maria Muzzio and Hunter Green. The course designed by Emmett Ross drew plenty of compliments from the competitors and 11 of the 14 starters completed.

USA Southeast’s Kelsey Russell topped the individual podium after another great ride with My Wild Irish Gold who also helped her take the 2011 individual title. The mare is about to be retired and Russell said with emotion, “I won my first ride on her, and she took me to two world championships. It’s a bond I don’t think anyone will ever take away.” The pair’s winning time was 5:43:56, while Hanna Weightman and Syrocco Rabia took individual silver in 5:46:07 and bronze went to Hope Misner with Sweete Legacy who stopped the clock on 5:52:03.

Results:

FEI North American Championships for Juniors and Young Riders 2015:

Young Rider Dressage Team Championship: GOLD - Region 7, 199.658: Domino (Samantha Jenney) 68.920, Vaillant (Lindsey Brewin) 66.395, Avesto van Weltevreden (Catherine Chamberlain) 67.395, Grand Makana (Cassidy Gallman) 65.684; SILVER - Region 3, 199.365: Fritz San Tino (Natalie Pai) 69.184, Okidokie (Mallory Kent) 62.632, Friedensfrst (Lindsey Holleger) 67.553, Ultimo (Rebecca Roman) 60.947; BRONZE – Alberta/British Columbia, 198.105: Cortison (Hannah Beaulieu) 68.368, Merlin Nemorensis (Rakeya Moussa) 68.395, Diego (Elexis Ortlieb) 61.342.

Young Rider Individual Dressage Championship: GOLD - Fritz San Tino (Natalie Pai) 69.132; SILVER - Avesto van Weltevreden (Catherine Chamberlain) 68.711; BRONZE – Belafonte (Naima Moreira Laliberte) 68.447.

Young Rider Dressage Freestyle Championship: GOLD – Belafonte (Naima Moreira Laliberte) 71.825: SILVER - Trustful (Hannah Bauer) 70.000; BRONZE – Vacquero HGF (Kerrigan Gluch) 69.050.

Junior Dressage Team Championship: GOLD - Ontario, 200.92: Iliado (Alexandra Meghji) 67.730, Denzel BC (Vanessa Creech-Terauds) 67.514, Rheirattack (65.676, Beaumont (Georgia Wade) 64.00; SILVER - Region 7, 198.163: Nobleman (Veronica West) 68.676, Chapeau (Shelby Rocereto), 64.973, Wynsum (Brianna Relucio) 64.514, Harrington L (Mia Slaughter) 60.514; BRONZE - Region 9, 197.379: Calecto V (Chloe Taylor) 68.162, Flintstone (Madison Lacy) 64.649, Dschingis Blue (Bronwyn Cordiak) 64.568, Windsor (Allison Hopkins) 61.514.

Junior Individual Dressage Championship: GOLD - Checkmate (Helen Claire McNulty) 70.816; SILVER – Delfiano (Camille Carier-Bergeron) 70.079; BRONZE – Calecto V (Chloe Taylor) 70.053.

Junior Dressage Freestyle Championship: GOLD – Rotano (Bebe Davis) 71.825: SILVER - Checkmate (Helen Claire McNulty) 71.725; BRONZE – Delfiano (Camille Carier-Bergeron) 71.375.

Para-Dressage Team Championship: GOLD – USA, 380.191: Pacifec M (Kate Shoemaker) Grade lll, Markgard Donnewind (Cambry Kaylor) Grade 1b, Wentworth (Sydney Collier) Grade 1b: SILVER – Canada: Mr Itchy (Nel Godin-Keating) Grade 1a, West Bay (Sarah Cummings) Grade ll, Lawrence (Madison Lawson) Grade lV.

Para-Dressage Grade 1b Championship: GOLD – Wentworth (Sydney Collier) 134.76; SILVER – Markgard Donnewind (Cambry Kaylor) 124.16.

Para-Dressage Grade lll Championship: GOLD – Pacifec M (Kate Shoemaker) 134.099.

Para-Dressage Grade 1a Championship: GOLD - Mr Itchy (Nel Godin-Keating) 63.15/61.902.

Para-Dressage Grade ll Championship: GOLD – West Bay (Sarah Cummings) 61.397/61.464.

Para-Dressage Grade lV Championship: GOLD – Lawrence (Madison Lawson) 66.815/65.298.

Para-Dressage Freestyle Grade lll Championship: GOLD - Pacifec M (Kate Shoemaker) 71.700.

Para-Dressage Freestyle Grade 1b Championship: GOLD – Markgard Donnewind (Cambry Kaylor) 70.750; SILVER – Wentworth (Sydney Collier) 66.100.

Para-Dressage Freestyle Grade 1a Championship: GOLD – Mr Itchy (Nel Godin-Keating) 62.400.

Para-Dressage Freestyle Grade ll Championship: GOLD – West Bay (Sarah Cummings) 63.350.

Para-Dressage Freestyle Grade lV Championship: GOLD – Lawrence (Madison Lawson) 71.400.

Young Rider Team Jumping Championship: GOLD – Zones 3/5 13 faults: Bukato (Kalvin Dobbs) 12/16, Zilvana (Jocob Pope) 8/0, Cabras (Noel Fauntleroy) 0/0, Quester de Virton (Meredith Darst) 1/4; SILVER – Zone 2, 16 faults: All in (Katherine Strauss) 13/4, Orientales (Sima Morgello) 8/0, Nightfire (Kira Kerkorian) 0/4, Hester (Lucy Deslauriers) 0/8: BRONZE - Zones 4/8, 20 faults: Fidalgo van het Leliehof (Kaely Tomau) 8/4, Baloumina du Ry (Brittni Raflowitz) 0/0, Wallenberg (Kalli Cruciotti) 12/8, Lumiere (Victoria Colvin) 0/8.

Young Rider Individual Jumping Championship: GOLD – Hester (Lucy Deslauriers) 9.04; SILVER – Baloumina du Ry (Brittni Raflowitz) 9.15; BRONZE – Cabras (Noel Fauntleroy) 11.49.

Junior Team Jumping Championship: GOLD – Zone 4, 1 fault: Zavira (Louse Graves) 1/8, Unique (Mackenzie McGehee) 12/0, Anders Wictor (Brett Burlington) 0/0, Why Not (Sophie Simpson) 0.0; SILVER – Zones 5/9, 12 faults: Vornado van ded Hoendrik (Vivian yowan) 0/0, Quintara (Annika Faught) 0/16, ugaf (Emma Wujek) 13/4, Triviant Daisy Farish) 4/4; BRONZE - Mexico North, 20 faults: Virginia (Alfonso Diaz) 0/8, Cedino K (Carlos Hank Guerreiro) 16/4, Teuz dun Liban (Fernanda Rodeiguez de Haene) 8/4, Puertas So What ( Juan Pablo Gaspar Albanez) 0/4.

Junior Individual Jumping Championship: GOLD – Vornado van den Hoendrik (Vivian Yowan) 4.08: SILVER – Puertas So What (Juan Pablo Gaspar Albanez) 8.0: BRONZE - Why Not (Sophie Simpson) 11.5.

Young Rider Eventing Championship: GOLD – Cinerescent (Diane Portwood) 68.5; SILVER – Tops (Nicole Doolittle) 84.5; BRONZE - Class Action (Paige Pence) 94.0.

Junior Team Eventing Championship: GOLD – Area ll, 148.0; Remington (Camilla Grover-Dodge) 38.3, Inoul van Bost (Skyler Decker) 56.8, Peter Pan (Amanda Beale Clement) 52.9, Twizzel (Morgan Booth) 1,000; SILVER – Area V, 157.4: Second Hand Rose (Margaret Stocker) 52.9, Crimson Tide (Caroline Testi) 50.1, Fable (Olivia Alland) 59.1, Mercedes (Barrett Phillips) 54.4; BRONZE - Area Vlll, 161.9: Tatton Winter (Jackie Lamastus) 62.8, Lily Langtry (Hope Walden) 48.9, Mr Mom (Emily Hagan) 94.9, Rivertown Lad (Mary Peabody Camp) 50.2 .

Junior Individual Eventing Championship: GOLD – Remington (Camilla Grover-Dodge) 38.3; SILVER – Udealer (Madelynn Snoozy) 45.9; BRONZE - Crimson (Shelby Brost) 46.2.

Young Rider Endurance Team Championship: GOLD – USA Southeast, 19:35:15: SA Belshazzar (Mallory Capps), Questafir (Katie Baldino), RF Priceless (Annie Whelan), Kalilas Legacy (Mary Kathryn Clark); SILVER – USA Northeast, 20:30:41: Syrocco Rabia (Hanna Weightman), Frontier Random (India Orino), Laconic (Maria Muzzio), Spotless Summer Magic (Huner Green).

Young Rider Endurance Individual Championship: GOLD – My Irish Gold (Kelsey Russell) 5:43:56; SILVER -Syrocco Rabia (Hanna Weightman) 5:46:07; BRONZE – GDE Sweet Legacy (Hoope Misner) 5:52:03.

Best Condition Award: My Irish Gold (Kelsey Russell).

Full results at http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2015najyrc/

Lexington, KY (July 21, 2015) – The
United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that the Albers
Awa …

By Yellow Horse Marketing for the California Dressage Society

We’re just two months away from the highlight of the year for many West Coast dressage riders: the California Dressage Society (CDS) Championship Show! No matter where they live, now fans can share in the excitement surrounding this spectacular event as the California Dressage Society proudly announces the release of a new promotional video focusing on the special CDS Championship Show experience, now available for viewing on the CDS website at www.california-dressage.org.

The California Dressage Society partnered with Yellow Horse Marketing to produce the five-minute promotional video, which was filmed on location at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center during last year’s historic championship show. “These Championships are special for competitors because they’ve worked all year to qualify to come – I think we have some of the best dressage going on in the country and even in the world right here in California, and it all culminates in this event,” said CDS President Kevin Reinig. “Every year the CDS Championship show is such a wonderful experience for our members, riders, and spectators, and through this video we’d like to share everything that we love about this event and dressage on the West Coast.”

Coming off a record-setting Championship Show in 2014, this competition (now in its 48th year) will return to Northern California to be held September 17 – 20, 2015 at the beautiful Murieta Equestrian Center, and will once again award a multitude of CDS Horse of the Year championship titles and perpetual trophies for competitors at all levels from Training to Grand Prix and for open, adult amateur, and juniors/young riders.  A highlight of the competition will be the lucrative CDS Young Horse Futurity, as well as the CDS Equitation Challenge.  Also featured will be the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 7 Dressage Championships where riders will compete for a chance to travel to Kentucky for the 2015 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan; and in addition, dressage sport horse breeding enthusiasts will enjoy the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Breeders Championships West Coast Series Final.

To watch the video and find complete information about the California Dressage Society Championship Show, visit the CDS website, http://www.california-dressage.org/.

The California Dressage Society, formed in 1967, is a non-profit organization devoted to furthering interest in dressage.  It is one of the largest dressage organizations in the nation with more than 4,000 individual members in its 36 Chapters and a rich history of equestrian sport on the West Coast.

Jennifer M. Keeler

Phone: (859) 806-1557

jennifer@yellowhorsemarketing.com

www.yellowhorsemarketing.com

July 20, 2015
Tryon International

Mark Bluman and Cumulet ©LizCrawleyPhotography

Mill Spring, NC – July 19, 2015 - Mark Bluman of Lexington, KY, finished the final day of the Tryon Summer Series at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) with a win aboard Cumulet, owned by Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc, in the $15,000 Under 25 Grand Prix. The duo finished in 44.632 seconds to beat out David Blake of Wellington, FL, aboard Baron, who stopped the clock at 46.038 seconds. Hayley Iannotti of Wellington, FL, and Carlos G took home third-place honors with four faults, crossing the timers in 50.238 seconds. With the conclusion of the Tryon Summer Series, competition at TIEC will commence again on August 6, with the start of the August Series, spanning four weeks and offering hunter and jumper classes, including an FEI CSI 3* (August 6-9).

Bluman, who competes internationally for the nation of Colombia, has had an incredibly successful stay at TIEC, which will be Stranksy’s Mission Farms northern home base. Bluman piloted two mounts through the Manuel Esparza (MEX) designed course, but finished atop the class with Cumulet, a relatively new ride for him the barn.

“It was a really fair course for the amount of people in the class I thought. There was almost half clear in the class, which is what I was expecting. It was a nice class and it was really good for young horses, ones that are coming up through the levels,” said Bluman. “Both of the horses I had in the class are stepping up. Cumulet just got here from Europe three weeks ago, so this is one of our first classes together and I’m really happy with how he handled himself today.”

Purchased as an investment horse by Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc., Bluman thinks the 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding (King Kolibri x Sonnette) may have more of a long-term place in the barn as he has the scope and bravery to make it to the very top.

“This was a great class for him and it suited him so well. I think it’s time for us to keep him for a while and try to get as much as I can out of him because he’s really talented and I think he can go all the way,” he explained. “He’s already jumping this height and he’s only eight-years-old, which I think is really impressive and I want to work with that going into the rest of the season.”

Using TIEC as a home base for the summer has helped to improve and educate Bluman’s talented string of horses, as the opportunities are endless in terms of experience and exposure at the venue.

“Being here has been great for us. The FEI weeks are a great fit for the horses that don’t go to Spruce Meadows or to Europe because we have an incredible venue to continue competing in the international classes,” he commented. “It’s been great to get some FEI ranking points and we’ve been supporting this show since the beginning. We came last fall when it first opened and I said to my boss that we needed to build a farm here and base here because there were so many opportunities. I think that, at the end of the day, this is going to be the place to be in terms of competitions in the U.S.”

In his young but successful career, Bluman has high expectations for where he would like to be in the coming months, “My goal right now is to keep stepping up. We have a lot of new but extremely talented horses in the barn and that’s what I’ve always hoped to have. I’d like to produce as many good results as I can and with these horses, there’s a lot of potential to do that,” he said.

Bluman is always quick to thank his owners, investors, sponsors and hardworking team for their continued support, “I always have to thank Stransky’s Mission Farms for giving me this opportunity. We have an incredible team and results like this wouldn’t be possible without everything they do for us on a daily basis.”

Final Results for $15,000 Under 25 Grand Prix:
1. CUMULET, 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding by King Kolibri x Sonnette
MARK BLUMAN, Lexington, KY, Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc: 0/0/44.632

2. BARON, 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Ukato x Vera Van Veecaten
DAVID BLAKE, Wellington, FL, Pine Hollow Farm: 0/0/46.038

3. CARLOS G, 2006 Oldenburg gelding
HAYLEY IANNOTTI, Wellington, FL, Pumpkin’s Patch Farm, LLC: 0/4/50.238

4. CRACKY Z, 1999 Zangersheide stallion by Caretano Z x Raissa Z
CHRISTI ISRAEL, Ocala, FL, Christi Israel: 0/4/58.433

5. MAN IN BLACK, 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Gentleman x Silvana
ANDRE MERSHAD, New Albany, OH, Mershad Stables, LLC: 0/8/47.527

6. TRUE BLUE, 2007 Selle Francais mare by Mr Blue x Neika Du Talus
BROOKE KENNEDY, Greenwood Village, CO, Brooke Kennedy: 8/75.969

7.  JAGGER, 2002 Westphalian gelding by Baldini II x Flyingstar
CLAYTON RUSSELL, Columbus, NC, Greer Hindle: 8/81.388

8. COPA CABANA, 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Cartano x Robijn
MARK BLUMAN, Lexington, KY, Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc: 8/82.663