Maccabiah Games Meet and Greet

On Tuesday, February 19, there will be a meet and greet for the equestrians that are going to be competing at the Maccabiah Games in Israel on July 18-30. This will be the first year the Maccabiah Games will be having Show Jumping and Dressage competition. This is a wonderful opportunity for the equestrians going to Israel to meet one other as well as meet fellow equestrians competing at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. There will be a silent auction, a raffle, snacks and refreshments. Cavalor will also give a champagne and chocolate toast to the athletes. The meet and greet will be held at the Tiki Hut from 4:00-6:00 pm. Everyone is welcome!

 

Starwyn Farm's International Equestrian Enrollments

Enrollments are still being accepted for Semester 2 of Starwyn Farm's International Equestrian Education (IEE) Course to be conducted February 19 - March 19, during Weeks 7 - 11 of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.  The exciting new scholarship-supported educational opportunity is open to any individual, regardless of equestrian experience; the first semester debuted with the start of WEF in January and has already sent its first graduating class back into the horse world.  For more information contact: Danielle Goldstein at Dani.goldstein@gmail.com or by phone: 917-544-3349.

VIP Seating Available for Nations Cup Week  There will be VIP seating available FTI WEF Week 8 in The Wellington Club, a glass-walled venue with a stunning view of the arena. FTI WEF 8 sponsored by G&C Farm will be an exciting week in the International Arena full of amazing competitions on Wednesday through Sunday. Breakfast and lunch will be served in The Wellington Club Wednesday through Sunday, with dinner served Friday and Saturday Night. For more information please contact Anne Caroline at 561-784-1133.

Ticket Sales Available For General Seating at $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm

If you would like to have a reserved seat at the $75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup presented by G&C Farm on March 1, tickets can easily be purchased online at www.equestriansport.com. Buy yours today and make sure you have the perfect view for one of the biggest events at FTI WEF!

FTI WEF 7 Lunch & Learn presented by Copy and Print Depot� at Office Depot�

This week's Lunch & Learn will be "Sports Nutrition: Supplementation for the Performance Horse" sponsored by Platinum Performance, a leading company in equine health. Meghan B. McCalip will be discussing the necessary supplements horses need to perform at the top-level of this sport. The Lunch & Learn will be on Thursday, February 21, from 11:30 am-1:00 pm in The Wellington Club, which overlooks the International Arena. Riders, trainers, and owners are all welcome.

 

$30,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 and $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic

These two exciting jumper classes will be held on the grass field at The Stadium. The $30,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 is on Thursday, February 21, at 1 p.m., while the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic is on Saturday, February 23, at 1 p.m.

 

American Humane Association- Amy McCullough Seminar

On Friday, February 22, come learn more about the American Humane Association, the country's first national humane organization and the only charity dedicated to protecting children and animals. An organization leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society, American Humane Association's National Director of Animal-Assisted Therapy, Amy McCullough, will present their ground-breaking research study "Canines and Childhood Cancer." The seminar will start at 11:00 am in The Wellington Club. Admission is free, with food and beverages provided.  Hope to see everyone there!

Special Olympics Palm Beach County Equestrian Games

The Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center will host their annual Special Olympics Palm Beach County Equestrian Games competition during the day on Saturday, February 23, at Ring 6. There will be sixty riders ranging from six to 40-year-olds competing, beginning from 9:00 am until the mid-afternoon. The kids will finish their day by parading in the arena in the International Arena. Come support the riders at their competition!

WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular

Come watch some of the most talented hunter horses in the nation as they compete under the lights on Saturday, February 23, at 7:00 pm. This class is open to Professionals, Amateurs, and Juniors who have been Champion or Reserve Champion in WCHR hunter sections 3'6'' or higher during 2013 WCHR Spectacular week (Week 7). The carousel will be running, and the kid's fair will be in full swing. There is fun for the whole family!

$50,000 Herm�s Jumper Derby

On Sunday, February 24, horses will take to derby field at The Stadium at 3:00 pm to tackle jumping on the grass over exciting natural obstacles. Top riders from all over the world will compete for a chance in the spotlight and a piece of the purse. Come enjoy a beautiful afternoon in the sun watching top-level show jumping.

Save The Date! FTI WEF 8 Ride & Learn presented by Palm Beach Riding Academy

The Brianne Goutal session, which had to be canceled Week 6, has now been rescheduled for Week 8. Don't miss the chance to learn from a rider that made history in 2004 by winning all three major equitation finals. As Brianne continues to make a name for herself in the Grand Prix classes, the topic of this Ride & Learn will fittingly be "Transition from Medal/Maclay to Jumpers" sponsored by TredStep. There are only a few spots left so be sure to call Sean Jones at 561-784-4275 if interested, $100 per horse/rider combination.

Hunter and Equitation Results: Thursday through Sunday

Week six of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) awarded a hunter championship to Christopher Payne and Susan Moriconi's Lucas in the Pre-Green 3&4 Year Old Hunter division at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, on Thursday.

After a two-week hiatus from the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, Susan Moriconi's Lucas once again dominated the Pre-Green 3&4 Year Old Hunter division, this time with Christopher Payne in the irons. Payne, of Cincinnati, OH, piloted Lucas to a nearly faultless performance over two days of competition before bringing home the tricolor honors.

Payne and Lucas, a four-year-old Oldenburg gelding, jumped to blue ribbon placings in three out of four over fences round before wrapping up the division with another first place finish under saddle. Reserve champion was San Paolo, ridden by Molly MacAdow and owned by Tammy McConnell. MacAdow and San Paolo were first and fifth over fences day one, followed by sixth place over fences and eighth under saddle on day two.

Tracey Mack-Gorin piloted Stepping Stone Farm's five-year-old Warmblood gelding to championship honors in the Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Section A division on Friday during week six of the FTI WEF.

Condor has also competed in Pre-Green and Performance Hunter divisions with Christine Kear in the irons, but appears to be hitting his stride this week with Mack-Gorin as he clinched tricolor honors with a near-perfect performance in the Adult Amateur division. The pair finished first and fifth over fences during day one of competition for the division, followed by two more blue ribbon finishes over fences day two, and fifth place under saddle.

Reserve champion was Artie, ridden by Jean Sheptoff and owned by Patricia Moss. Sheptoff and Artie were first and second over fences day one and third in both over fences classes day two. The pair wrapped up day two with a third place ribbon under saddle.

Parkland and Lillie Keenan continued their domination of the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 division on Saturday during week six of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. The pair has taken home championship honors every week they have competed in the division, making this win their fourth tricolor victory. Keenan and Parkland, an eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Jennifer Gates, were a force to be reckoned with throughout the two days of competition for the division. They placed third and first over fences on day one and won both over fences rounds day two before wrapping up the division with a fourth place on the flat.

Reserve champion was Romance, ridden and owned by Spencer Smith. Smith and Romance were sixth over fences on day one and placed second in both over fences rounds day two. The pair edged out Keenan and Parkland under saddle, placing third in the final class of the division.

Romance and Smith were also honored with the Owner/Rider championship title for the division. The award recognizes riders in junior divisions competing on their own horses and is tallied separately from overall division championship awards. Reserve Owner/Rider champions were MTM U Call It and Cloe Hymowitz.

After a year away from the show ring recovering from a foot injury, Saline is back in a big way at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). Owner and rider Stephanie Riggio of New York City piloted the 15-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare to victory in the La Mundial Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Section B division. Riggio and Saline were named champions of the division after placing sixth and fourth over fences on day one and two blue ribbon finishes over fences on day two.

Reserve champion was Utah and Alex Paradysz. Utah, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Jennifer Martucci, won one of the over fences rounds day one and was second in both over fences classes on day two with Paradysz in the irons.

For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.

Week 6 Classic winners:

$10,000 Griffis Residential High Junior Jumpers - Lauren Tyree and Audi's Top Secret

$10,000 Animo USA Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers - Rafael Jose Contreras and Valeino

$10,000 Hollow Creek Farm Medium Junior Jumpers - Diederique van der Knaap and Clive

$10,000 Charles Owen Low Amateur-Owner Jumpers - Leah De Martini and True Love 

$10,000 Maria Mendelsohn Low Junior Jumpers - Lauren Mahoney and Amstel E

$10,000 Engel & V�lkers Adult Jumpers 18-35 - Alissa Kinsey and Grisset 

$10,000 Martha Jolicoeur Adult 36-49 Jumpers - Patricia Hurter and Zazu

$10,000 Horseware Don Little Masters - Elizabeth Lamotte and Spit Fire

Week 6 Champions:

EnTrust Children's Jumper 14 & Under - Delaney Hamill and Nabucc du Thiel

FarmVet Adult Modified Jumpers - Rachel Boggus and Wiedam

EnTrust Children's Jumper 15-17 - Emma Schauder and Good Luck Charm

Children's Modified Jumpers - Cloe Hymowitz and Bon Vivant

Paddock Cakes Low Adult Jumper 18-35 - Jennifer Rowland and Casalita 2

Paddock Cakes Low Adult Jumper 36 & Over - Niki McCardle and Hoolie Hoo

Paddock Cakes Low Children's Jumper - Heather Vaxer and Cha Cha Cha

Beezie Madden and Cortes 'C' Victorious in $125,000 FEI World Cup™ Qualifier Grand Prix, Presented by Spy Coast Farm

Two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden and Abigail Wexner's Cortes 'C' were victorious on Saturday night in the $125,000 FEI World Cup™ Qualifier Grand Prix, CSI 3*-W presented by Spy Coast Farm, during week six of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) in Wellington, FL. Madden beat out an impressive roster of top riders and finished in first place over Katie Dinan (USA) and Nougat du Vallet and Shane Sweetnam (IRL) aboard Amaretto d'Arco, who finished second and third respectively.

Brazil's Guilherme Jorge set the track for 46 entries in Saturday night's grand prix with nine jumping clear to advance to the jump-off. Four were able to complete the short course without fault and the fastest time of 41.50 seconds belonging to Beezie Madden and Cortes 'C' took top prize.

Margie Engle (USA) and Elm Rock, LLC's Royce were first to clear the jump-off course in 45.69 seconds and eventually placed fourth. Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm, LLC's Amaretto d'Arco cleared the jump-off track in 42.56 seconds to place third. Up next, Katie Dinan and Grant Road Partners, LLC's Nougat du Vallet upped the ante with their time of 41.84 seconds to place second. They were immediately followed by an even faster clear round from Beezie Madden and Cortes 'C' in the winning 41.50 seconds. Week four grand prix winners Ben Maher and Jane Clark's Cella had the fastest time of the night in 40.46 seconds, but had one rail down in the short course to place fifth.

Spy Coast Farm owners Robert and Lisa Lourie were thrilled with the success of the evening and the great class along with a third place finish for their horse and rider. Lisa Lourie commented, "I think it was an extremely exciting grand prix. It was very competitive and you could not have asked for a better lineup for the jump-off. It was a world-class event and we were happy to be a part of that jump-off. As they say, anytime you lose to Beezie when she is riding at her best that is not a bad thing. We are very pleased with how it went and very happy to do it."

Madden's winning mount for the evening, Cortes 'C', is an eleven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Randel Z x Darco that Madden has now had for three years. Madden describes Cortes as a horse with fantastic ability. "HHHe can jump the moon," Madden stated. "He's a bit of an internal worrier and I think he is just starting to come into his own. If he can relax like he did tonight under the lights in a big atmosphere I think he's going to be fantastic."

This was the first big grand prix of the year for Cortes and Madden was happy with his performance. "He felt fantastic," she smiled. "Last year he was a little inexperienced under the lights and he was very tense when he came up here each time. This time he started out very relaxed and he felt terrific."

"He felt very relaxed in the first round; very rideable and jumping well," Madden continued. "I saw Katie go right before me. I was lucky to go right behind her so I could see how fast she went, so the strategy became try to pull out all the shots you can and it worked."

"I'd just like to thank Spy Coast and the Louries," Madden said. "They are great enthusiasts of the sport and without people like them we wouldn't be here."

Second place finisher, nineteen-year-old Katie Dinan, has grown up with Beezie Madden as a riding idol and was excited to finish in the top of the class with her. Dinan's horse, Nougat du Vallet, jumped two great rounds as well.

"He felt great," Dinan smiled. "He jumped so well in the first round and we had a good school before the jump-off. I knew he wasn't going to try to touch any of the jumps. It was just up to me to go fast. He can do most things for me, but I have to tell him when we need to go fast. He felt really good."

Shane Sweetnam was pleased to finish in the top three for Spy Coast Farm with their top stallion Amaretto d'Arco, and had a great night.

"I was very happy with my horse tonight," Sweetnam stated. "Obviously, the Spy Coast Grand Prix, I would have liked to have won it, but I was very happy. It is his first grand prix of the year and I'm just happy to be here."

"Guilherme did a good job with the course," Sweetnam said. "I think nine is a good number for clear rounds. No one got hung up anywhere, so for the young riders it was good experience for them as well as a good class for the public."

Also showing in the International Arena on Saturday, Jessica Springsteen and Stone Hill Farm's Vindicat W won the $15,000 RCG Farm SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Lucas Porter and Mill's Georgia, owned by John Roche, won in the Hollow Creek Farm Medium Junior Jumpers. Alvaro Tejada Arriola and Isabel Tejada's Velinta Palo Blanco won in the Animo USA Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers, and Diederique Van Der Knaap and G&C Con Air won in the Griffis Residential High Junior Jumpers.

Jumper Results:
Wednesday through Sunday

The sixth week of competition at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) began on Wednesday, February 13, with a full schedule of world-class jumper competition in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). In the highlight class of the day, an impressive roster of top riders vied for Longines FEI world ranking points in the $33,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Jumper Classic with a win for Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, FL, and Quality Girl.

Brazil's Guilherme Jorge set the speed track for 48 entries in Wednesday's 1.45m class. Ten entries completed successful rounds without fault in the race against the clock, and Minikus and Quality Girl came out on top with their time of 54.51 seconds.

Shane Sweetnam and Sweet Oak Farm's Solerina finished second in 56.05 seconds. Peter Wylde and Zidane, owned by Windward Farm and Jessica Suida, were third in 56.68 seconds. Conor Swail and Landsdowne, owned by Ariel and Susan Grange, placed fourth in 57.58 seconds.

Also showing on Wednesday, the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class was split into two with its booming list of entries. In section A of the class, Wilton Porter and Sleepy P Ranch LLC's Paloubet were the winners. In section B, Laura Kraut and Joan Kalman/Freedom Group's Woodstock O came out on top. The day continued with the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm speed class and a win for Jeffery Welles aboard Merlin, owned by Noel Love Gross.

On Thursday, Beezie Madden and Trelawny Farm's Valdato won the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m jump-off class. Alise Oken and Hi Hopes Farm, LLC's Marcus Quintus won in the $2,500 RCG High Amateur-Owner Jumper speed class.

Nineteen-year-old Katie Dinan and her brand new horse Glory Days were victorious in Friday night's $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix, presented by Dutta Corporation in association with Guido Klatte, during week six of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). In a nine-horse jump-off, Dinan and Glory Days won over Wilton Porter aboard Radio City and Adam Prudent riding Jack Daniels.

Forty-eight entries showed over the first round course and nine jumped clear to advance to the jump-off. With the fastest time of 29.474 seconds, Katie Dinan and Grant Road Partners, LLC's Glory Days came out on top for an exciting victory under the lights.

Wilton Porter and Radio City, owned by Gotham Enterprizes, LLC, finished second with a clear round in 31.085 seconds. Adam Prudent and Plain Bay Sales' Jack Daniels were third in 31.366 seconds, also without fault over the short course. The fastest four-fault jump-off round belonged to Chloe Reid and Damascus with one rail down in a time of 29.874 seconds to place fourth.

Also showing in the International Arena on Friday, McLain Ward and Tequestrian Farms, LLC's Coco 135 topped the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed class and Darragh Kenny and Derbypie LLC's Delilah won the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off. Meagan Nusz and Amalaya Investments' Vesuvius were victorious in the RCG Farm High Amateur-Owner Jumpers and Lauren Tyree and Audi's Top Secret, owned by Missy Clark, won in the Griffis Residential High Junior Jumpers, both competing in their power and speed classes.

Eugenio Garza of Mexico won the "Best Turnout Award" at the jog for this week's Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix.

Week six of the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival concluded on Sunday with a win for McLain Ward (USA) and Sagamore Farm's Rothchild in the $33,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic, a Longines FEI world ranking class.

Fifty-eight entries showed over the 1.50m track, set by Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge. Seventeen went clear in round one to qualify for a tie-breaking jump-off, and McLain Ward and Rothchild had the fastest of eight double clear rounds in 35.33 seconds for the win.  

Tim Gredley (GBR) and Unex Competition Yards' Unex Omega Star placed second in 36.27 seconds. Alise Oken (USA) and Hi Hopes Farm, LLC's Teirra finished third with their time of 36.36 seconds, and Schuyler Riley (USA) guided Michael Meller's Waterloo to fourth place honors with their time of 36.52 seconds.