Amateur Accolades

By Llewyn Jobe

EHV and Me
I am passionate about the hunter/jumper world and have been since I was a child. Not able to pursue my passion actively until now, as an adult I found and purchased the horse of my dreams. Living and working in Los Angeles, I had precious little time to do what I loved most, as my job, commute and life outside of horses took up a majority of my days.

I made a decision to move my horse, Scotty, and myself back home to Texas this past February so I could continue to focus on our collective training. The cost of everything equine is much less expensive in Texas, which means I can work less and ride more, a big plus. I returned to my childhood riding trainer. Excited about this new direction, I’ll be working with EquestriSol to bring you my Amateur Accolades.

As an adult amateur rider with a relatively green horse, I made a goal to aggressively prepare for the 2011 show season. Much to my dismay, my trainers took us down a few levels in the hunter ring to focus on strengthening and conditioning us both before moving back up to the level we were competing at in California. Persevering, Scotty and I have competed at several small spring shows in Texas and have been gearing up to do a series of six shows over six weeks during the second half of May and all of June. As you can imagine I was anxious to get to the shows and prove my ability to nail those eight jumps in the hunter ring, so I could move back up to the jumpers.

Enter EHV-1, equine herpesvirus, an infection which can cause respiratory disease, abortion in mares, neonatal foal death, and/or neurologic disease. The neurological form of EHV-1 is called EHM, Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy.

Two days before the first of the shows in May, I received an email from the organizers stating that the show had been cancelled due to a lack of entries. My friends and I were very disappointed as we were all planning to meet up at the show and compete together. Within minutes of receiving the email canceling the show, I received the first of many emails about this EHV-1 disease. In my mind, it was too much of a coincidence – the canceling of the show due to lack of entries and these emails about EHV-1. Then the show we were scheduled to compete in on Memorial Day Weekend was cancelled as well. I appreciate the cautious nature of my trainers as well as the local show organizers here. Still devastated, I had a difficult time comprehending the severity of this EHV-1 problem. As much as I’d like to be showing after all the hard work we’ve been putting in, not to mention my desire to move up, I didn’t want to risk the health of my horse.

In my quest to find out more, I did a little research. What exactly is EHV-1? Apparently, there are nine EHVs that have been identified worldwide. EHV-1 is one of three EHVs that pose the most serious health risks for domesticated horses. A nasty little outbreak can cause a severe economic impact, as well as a lot of disappointed show goers hoping to prove to themselves and to their trainers that all of the long hours of training have meant something and yes, we can go into that show ring with a cool, focused head and accomplish our personal best. My trainer in California always told me, “it’s not about bringing me blue ribbons; it’s about doing your personal best.” Of course, I like to win and bring home the blue ribbons, but that’s another article for another day. I digress… back to EHV-1.

EHV-1 is the primary cause of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), another name for the neurological disease associated with EHV-1 that interferes with the blood supply and causes tissue damage and a loss in normal function of areas in the brain and spinal cord. EHV-1 is most commonly spread by direct horse-to-horse contact through the horse’s respiratory tract. It can also be spread through indirect contact such as tack, rags, feed and water buckets, and people’s hands or clothing.

Apparently there were several outbreaks of EHM at recent events. Equine professionals were concerned about the recent outbreaks of EHM, because of the severity and behavior of the virus. Even though the outbreak occurred at non hunter/jumper events, the concern clearly spread like wildfire.

Vaccines exist to control the respiratory and abortion manifestations of EHV-1; however, the currently licensed vaccines are not labeled for the prevention of EHM. Universities and private researchers are looking into several existing and new vaccines to determine if they can protect against EHM.

EHV-1, which is the cause of EHM, is not necessarily a new phenomenon. Who can say if the number of outbreaks has increased? Maybe it’s the number of cases being reported which has increased. Nonetheless a lot of precautions are in place right now to stop any potential spread. In talking with Scotty’s veterinarian, Dr, David Gilchrist at Lone Star Park Equine Hospital, he stated that “the EHV-1 and EHM outbreaks appear to have been managed correctly, however, it is smart to remain cautious. It’s true, an outbreak has occurred.” The way my barn in Texas took precaution is by locking down the barn. No horses in and no horses out.

It seems that all reported cases are directly related to horses that competed at two NCHA events (or horses exposed to infected horses). And my research tells me that if no new cases are reported over a 14-day period, we can be relatively certain the outbreak is over. This is good news on many levels. My trainer stated that we are going to consult with Dr. Gilchrist before attending any shows. However, if the next show we are planning to attend is cancelled, our decision will be made for us. We’re taking it one show at a time. Pockets of the horse industry have dealt with similar outbreaks in the past and they have recovered and gone back to business as usual.

In short, I am considerably bummed about not being able to show like we planned this season. I have grown to understand and respect my trainers’ decisions with these recent developments concerning the reported EHM cases in the western United States. After all, I depend on my trainers to protect the substantial emotional and financial investment I have made and will continue to make with Scotty. It’s good to know that they are taking good care of us, as I depend on them to do so. However, in order to continue my pursuit of accolades, perfect trips and personal best, my fingers are crossed that we’ll be back in the show ring soon!

EHV-1 Quick Notes:
– Keep Connected to Your Veterinarian to Assess Your Horse’s Level of Risk
– Follow Show Management Guidelines

Photo by Jennifer Jobe

Highlights From June 2011 Kentucky Spring Classic Horse Show

Kentucky Springs into Action

From ponies to prix, the Kentucky Spring Classic Horse Shows open the hunter/jumper season at the WEG renowned Kentucky Horse Park. Certainly a beautiful and spacious place to compete, the two weeks boasted over $185,000 in prize money with an evening Hunter Derby, two classes in the Hagyard Challenge Series and two Grand Prix events.

The Rolex stadium’s Sheila B. Johnson arena hosts the highlight events, welcoming some of the top names in the sport including Team Millar of Canada – Ian, Amy and Jonathon, Kent Farrington, Margie Engle, Rebecca Hofmann Conway and Argentina’s Hector Florentino. The USHJA International Hunter Derby twinkled with hunter stars, Jennifer Alfano, Scott Stewart and from the junior ranks, Victoria Colvin, just to mention a few. As well, California’s Hannah Goodson-Cutt ruled the Junior Hunter ring.

This expansive facility invites park and museum visitors, events and several governing bodies year-round. Seeking to continue the tradition of equestrian excellence, the host of the world-renowned Rolex 3-Day Event annually in April will now welcome the once world famous National Horse Show in November.

 

Photos by Alexandra Pingree and Duncan McFarland

Highlights From June 2011 Ranch & Coast Show

Just a few highlights at the Ranch & Coast Classic include Friday’s $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and Saturday’s $10,000 1.40M Jumper Classic and $50,000 Grand Prix of California. Competitive until the final horse galloped on course, these three events welcomed well over a hundred horses onto the gorgeous grass field at the Del Mar Horse Park.$10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

Qualifying for the Handy round of the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby required a cumulative first round score of 169 or better. The challenges of the Handy Round included a snake vertical, galloping up a hill, a trot jump and galloping down the hill to an oxer option. Although some illustrated classic hunter style, Yellow Dog Farm’s Crown Affair and John French proved their handy prowess, scoring a solid ten points higher than any other round. The thirteen-year-old Holsteiner stallion moved up from 10th after the first round for the win.

“I wasn’t sure if it was his day after the first round,” explained owner Gail Morey. “But he really perked up for the next round, he just loves to be handy!”

Second to Crown Affair was Davlyn Farm’s Come Monday, with Christa Endicott in the irons. Still green at the Derby level, the mare has a fabulous jump and no doubt will be a recognizable name in the hunter ranks.

$10,000 1.40m Jumper Classic
Of the thirty-eight horses who entered the $10,000 1.40M Jumper Classic, eleven were clean and the top five spots went to up and coming young riders. Last to go, Karl Cook aboard Lavito (owned by Signe Ostby) took the top prize away from Paris Sellon on her Orlando LA, when he stopped the clock a mere half a second faster. Coming in a close third, just a half a second slower than Sellon was fourteen year old Kara Chad of Canada on Stone Ridge’s Alberto. College freshman Saer Coulter rounded out the top five on her two mounts Atticus and Asgard.

$50,000 Grand Prix of California
The $50,000 Grand Prix of California hosted thirty-eight horse and rider duets onto the grass field at the Del Mar Horse Park. Venezuelan course designer Leopoldo Palacios challenged riders and horses alike setting a flowing course that demanded a keen eye and technically accurate ride. With plenty competitors garnering time and jumping faults, nine riders managed to navigate the first round with a clean score.

When designing the course for the $50,000 competition, Palacios said it was very important to him to understand the level of every horse and rider in the class.

“I believe this show is one of the biggest events on the west coast and I’m building big so those who are winning, are winning at the top national level,” noted Palacios.

In addition to his challenging courses, Palacios is also known for his setting tight times. Originally, competitors were not to exceed 79 seconds but after a few riders encountered time faults, an adjustment to 81 seconds saved many riders from faults. Third to go in the jump-off, Hutchison galloped Cantano around Palacios’ shortened track with the win in mind, knowing she would have to put in a quick and accurate ride to leave all the jumps in place. Stopping the clock at 36.56, nearly ten seconds under the time allowed Hutchison was able to do just that. The pair are truly in sync, as they enter their third grand prix season, this is their fifteenth win to date.

“Leopoldo is one of the best course designers around,” said Hutchison. “He has a tight time and sets to par which challenges the sport, making the riders and horses better. It’s what we need.”

Also earning a place in the jump-off and ending the day double clear, veteran riders Helen McNaught and Hap Hansen battled it out for second and third place honors. Navigating the shortened track second to last, Hansen masterfully piloted Archie Bunker (Linda Smith) to stop the clock in 39.20 seconds. Hansen seemingly had the second place finish secured until last to go McNaught and her own Caballo shaved one more second off the clock to finish in 38.12, bumping Hansen to third. Michelle Spadone and Uwwalon (Morgan Hill Partners) were the first pair to navigate the first round track without fault and did so again when they entered the ring for the jump-off, crossing the timers in 40.19 seconds for fourth. As the last double clear ride of the afternoon, Kirsten Coe rode Kilkenny Randall Z (Ilan Ferder) to the fifth position in a time of 40.54.


Rolex Anyone?

What a World Cup – FEI Rolex Show Jumping WC Final, Leipzig, Germany
 While the World Cup in Las Vegas was touted for its exciting combination of two FEI disciplines, show jumping and dressage, Leipzig upped the ante this year. The 2011 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals hosted four finals for four FEI disciplines – show jumping, dressage, vaulting, and driving – in the same venue at the same time. As show jumping competitor Pablo Barrios (VEN), noted, “The venue was amazing. It was a super facility and a huge building. They had all sorts of different rings and things were run really, really well.” Quite a show.

Focus on Show Jumping
Germany maintained their victory status in another Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Finals this year, but with two Germans, one Canadian, two Dutchmen, two Americans, one New Zealander, one Swiss and one Frenchman, the top ten was not dominated by one country or continent. Christian Ahlmann (GER) and Taloubet Z scored a final clear round to take the top spot in show jumping’s individual championship. The Olympic champions, Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Hickstead, finished second overall after they rocketed up the standings following an exciting round two victory. Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED) and BMC van Grunsven Simon finished third after an impressive double clear performance on the final day. The only other double clear on the last day, Beezie Madden (USA) and Coral Reef Via Volo made an impressive move up to place fourth.

On opening day, it was two other American women who started out strong. Margie Engle and Indigo were the first to go clear in the speed class and finished fifth. Ashlee Bond and Cadett 7 were also clear for eighth place.

Engle, who had a refusal in round two but finished 12th overall after having only one rail over two rounds on the final day, commented, “He’s a good boy, (and) he wanted to be good all the way through. It’s been a great learning experience for him as a young horse; it was a lot for him. One thing nice to see is that I still have plenty of horse left. He could go another round.”

The early pacesetters were Germany’s Marco Kutscher on the veteran Cash, followed closely by Marcus Ehning (last year’s World Cup Finals winner) and Sabrina, Ahlmann and Taloubet Z, and Gerco Schroeder (NED) on Eurocommerce New Orleans.

Frank Rothenberger of Germany set a more demanding test on the second day, and only seven riders out of 40 scored a clear first round to advance to a jump-off. The first of those was Pablo Barrios (VEN) and G&C Quick Star. However, their eight faults in the jump-off put them seventh that day.

Lamaze and Hickstead won in exciting fashion in 40.68 seconds over Ahlmann and Taloubet Z (40.86 seconds). They were four seconds faster than Schroeder and Eurocommerce New Orleans and Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) on Action-Breaker. Ward and his second mount, Antares F, were fifth when they had the final jump down, and Kutscher on Cash was sixth.

“It was fun, and it was fast – we were smoking!” said Lamaze. “We had some ground to make up after Thursday so we had no choice.”

“I didn’t take a chance on the first day, I went very casual,” said Lamaze, who noted that the World Cup Final was only Hickstead’s second indoor competition of the season. “I knew he wasn’t ready for those inside turns and to be competitive in that event. I was hoping for a clear and it didn’t happen. I had to come from behind. When you are on a sports car like Hickstead, anything is possible.”

On the final day, the points were close enough where one rail could change the results significantly. Riders had to contest not one, but two difficult courses in one day, with only 19 coming back for the second round out of the 27 who started the final day. With the fastest time but a heartbreak rail in the jump-off on day two, McLain Ward and Antares F, completed the final day with just one rail and 10th overall. “I’m thrilled with Antares. I couldn’t have been happier; he was amazing all week,” Ward said.

Lamaze and Hickstead were clear in the first round, as were Dubbeldam, Madden, and Kutscher. The pressure was on Ahlmann and Taloubet Z, and they finished with four faults after a rail in the final double combination.

As the second round commenced, Kutscher was the only rider with a score of zero, while Ahlmann had four, Lamaze had six, Katie McVean (NZL) had eight with Delphi, and Schroeder had nine.

Although Dubbeldam and Madden were double clear, their point total coming into the last day was too much to overcome for victory but moved the pairs up to third and fourth respectively.

Dubbeldam admitted that he was still looking for a win – which he accomplished, along with Madden, the only two double clear they tied for the win in round 3. “You have to believe it’s possible and I went in today thinking I would go up at least a few places,” he said. “I knew my horse was in top form.”

This was the first World Cup Finals performance for Coral Reef Via Volo. “She got better as the week went on and rose to the occasion (on the final day),” Madden said of her mount. “Coming into (the final day), you’re only halfway through. The new format has the second round just as long as the first, so a lot can happen. I expected her to be good, to say I expected double clear would be saying a lot right now. She needs experience at places like this. I’m really happy at our first one. She was amazing.”

 When riders in the top ten faulted or were carrying too many faults already, it all came down to the final two Germans. Kutscher and Cash had a devastating 12 faults, so the pressure was on Ahlmann. His final clear round gave Ahlmann the victory.

“I’m unbelievably happy that everything worked out the way it did,” Ahlmann exuded. “Taloubet did an amazing job all weekend and the only fault he made was his rider’s fault at the last fence in the first round. He has no experience of Championship competition so I’m delighted that he showed today that he can do it.”

Ahlmann added, “He has unbelievable power and scope, and he can do it over many days. I was lucky to have him.” Ahlmann said that after his European Championship gold medal, this win ranks as his most memorable.

Phenomenal Firsts – Royal & Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event CCI4*
The Brits celebrated quite a bit this week, from Royal weddings to Olympic Level wins. Depending on your tastes these amazing events are certainly once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Hats off to the royal couple, HRH Duke William and HRH Duchess Kate, but the equestrian world congratulates “King Mary” who not only clinched the win on Kings Temptress in the Rolex 3-Day, she earned second place on Fernhill Urco. In her first event at the Olympic level, American Sinead Halpin was certainly a star. Speaking of firsts, the Reiners came to town during the Rolex 3-day for the inaugural Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup CRI5* and the crowds loved it.

Splendid Spring

From Blenheim Spring to royal weddings to Rolex events running simultaneously, equestrian sport excelled this season. Grand prix praise, high performance hunting and jumping, Americans in Germany and in Kentucky competing for high stakes, third-world charitable efforts, the Simpsons and more inside this edition of our e-news.

The super spring season continues in California at the Del Mar Horsepark in May with the Ranch & Coast Classic, offering the $50,000 Grand Prix of California and another $10,000 USHJA High Performance Hunter Challenge. Socially splendid, Friday includes a repeat of last year’s outstanding exhibitor Tango Party and the kids can play and bounce at Kids Day on Grand Prix Day, Saturday May 14th.

More spring happenings on the east coast include the 2011 IHSA Nationals and two weeks of Kentucky Spring at the fabulous Kentucky Horse Park. Plus the historic Devon Horse Show & Fair welcomes top horses and riders from around the country late in May.

Santana Stables is seeking an “A” level show jumping rider, with American citizenship and fluent in Portuguese, to join their team. To learn more, visit the Santana site and click News.
BLENHEIM SPRING SERIES THREE WEEK $180,000 WRAP-UP
The Spring Series is the beginning of a nine-month season of sensational shows in southern California. Blenheim EquiSports produces over twenty events highlighting every division from short stirrup and green rider to high performance hunter and show jumping challenges.

With a full calendar of classes, the three week series featured $130,000 in Grand Prix prize money, $40,000 in 1.35m Jumper Classics and a $10,000 USHJA High Performance Hunter Challenge.

What a great way to kick-off spring with three weeks of excellent events. From the competitors, owners, trainers, grooms, braiders, shippers to everyone on staff, Blenheim is truly grateful to all who contribute to the success of our horse shows.

WEEK ONE WINS
Twelve horse and rider teams raced against the clock in the $20,000 1.35M Jumper Classic jump-off on Saturday afternoon April 2nd. And on Sunday three Californian show jumping veterans and one Aussie battled it out in $40,000 Orange County Register Grand Prix.

Richard Jeffery tested the 47 entrants, both amateurs and professionals alike, with his challenging track including multiple combinations, a water element with a rail as well as a skinny jump in the $20,000 1.35m Jumper Classic.

While a dozen horses managed to secure a place in the jump-off, it was Canada’s Carla Diewert and her mount Vaquero who secured the win by laying down the fastest of six double-clear rounds in 35.92. Second place went to Francie Steinwedell-Carvin aboard Twistar (owned by Prentiss Partners) who stopped the clock just over a half a second slower (36.45), just missing the top time. Riding Utopia La Cantera, John Perez cruised around the shortened track in 37.79 to round out the top three.

Twenty-seven horse and rider participated in the $40,000 Orange County Register Grand Prix on Sunday of Week One. Designed with the larger purse in mind, the Richard Jeffery course proved challenging as only four riders piloted their mounts without fault. First to go Lane Clarke aboard Granville’s Casseur De Prix (owned by Granville Equine) and fourth in the ring, Hansen and Archie Bunker were fault-free. Not until the twenty-third pair negotiated the first round course, Hutchison and Cantano (owned by El Dorado 29), and then a few horses later, the clever nine-year-old Bristol (owned by Grey Fox Farms) with Rusty Stewart in the irons, made it four clean.

With the disadvantage of being the first duo to take the shortened track, Clarke and Granville’s Casseur De Prix needed a quick time and a clean ride to put the pressure on the three pursuing competitors, who were all solid veterans of the sport. Clarke lowered the height of one fence midway through to pick up four faults, a time of 35.60 and the third place ribbon. Hap Hansen and the athletic Archie Bunker (owned by Linda Smith) set the second round stage by laying down a double-clear performance in 39.72. But Susie Hutchison and Cantano were hot on their heels and effortlessly flew around the shortened track in 34.95. Stewart and his young partner Bristol also lowered the height of one fence midway through the second round, crossing the timers in 37.71 seconds for a fourth place finish.

WEEK TWO WOWS – CANADIAN & CANTABULOUS
This week fifty entries galloped onto the grass for the Friday’s 1.35M Jumper Classic. Canadian course designer Peter Holmes built a welcoming track, challenging enough but not overly technical. Although rails and refusals occurred on course, fifteen pairs negotiated the course without fault. Clean rides were sporadic initially until the thirty-second horse on course galloped in. Joie Gatlin and Odyssey, a pair that often is seen blazing around a jump-off, started a streak of seven clean rounds in a row.

Setting the pace early on, Saree Gordon aboard Tomboy Farm’s Olana were the first team to return. They cruised around clean in 44.21, holding the top spot for several horses, but ultimately finishing third. Speed demons Gatlin and Odyssey, took the lead by shaving off just under a second, stopping the clock at 43.37. With two rides in the second round, Canadian Brian Morton mastered his plan by the time he galloped in on Spitfire. Edging out Gatlin, Morton managed to cross the timers in 42.32 for the win, pushing Gatlin to the second place position.

A large field of forty-seven horse and rider combinations competed in the $40,000 Spring Classic II Grand Prix at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park on a cool April afternoon. Course Designer Holmes tested riders technically with distance as well as time-allowed challenges, causing an abundance of jumping and time faults across the board. Despite the difficulties, ten riders managed clean, workmanlike rides around the first round track.

While 19-year-old Saer Coulter and her partner Springtime (owned by Copernicus Stables) appeared unbeatable with their blazingly fast ride over the shortened track, veteran Susan Hutchison and her partner Cantano delivered an exciting performance to edge out Coulter for their second grand prix win in two weeks.

“I’ve never gone that fast before, so it’s nice to know [my horse and I] have the ability,” exclaimed Coulter. “I was confident with my jump-off ride but I knew if anybody was going to go quicker, it would be Susie.”

Indeed feeling the pressure from Coulter’s double-clear, 41.39 performance, Hutchison masterfully piloted Cantano around the shortened track in 40.20 seconds, shaving over a second off the young rider’s time.

“When Saer did the eight strides from the vertical to the oxer, that cinched it for me,” commented Hutchison. “I knew the eight had to be done for the win and luckily [Cantano] was right there with me.”

WEEK THREE WONDERS – JUNIORS RULE THE ROOST
It was a good Friday for junior rider Morgan Geller as she topped an impressive field of 44 entries in the $10,000 USHJA International High Performance Hunter Challenge during week three of the Blenheim Spring Series. And the junior rider reign did not end there. On Saturday, hotshot high school senior Lucy Davis fired around the jump-offs, claiming the top prizes in both the $10,000 1.35m Jumper Classic and the $50,000 Royal Champion Grand Prix.

With a very inviting first round for the High Performance Hunters, course designer Scott Starnes offered several options for riders to illustrate style, manner and flow. The thirteen who returned for the Handy Round all scored in the eighties or above. Amongst a group of eleven riders (John French rode three of the thirteen horses) four junior riders made the cut, Destry Spielberg and Rumba, Whitney Downs on Coffeetalk, Samantha Sommers aboard Small Kiss and Morgan Geller riding Fabricio. The Handy Round included a tall white coop as fence one, a very tidy turn to an oxer at fence two, a jump out of the field at fence five and back in again as fence nine plus a hand gallop to the final jump. Rails, refusals and circles ensued for quite a few including 2010 Champions Parker and Katie Gardner, who had won the first round. Of those who mastered the handy aspect, Geller and her mount Fabricio earned scores in the nineties plus bonus and handy points for the win.

Saturday was stellar weather-wise and otherwise at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. Olaf Petersen, Jr. designed some of his trademark courses, technically challenging with a tight time allowed. Thirty-three horse and rider combinations galloped on to the International Field for the $10,000 1.35m Jumper Classic with seven going fault-free. Lucy Davis riding Old Oak Farm’s Hannah turned in the fastest double-clean ride in 34.04 for the win, just ahead of barn mate Saer Coulter on Asgard 17 (owned by Copernicus Stables) with 34.94. Also close but not close enough were veterans Mandy Porter on Pacifica Riding Club’s Eastwood and Susie Hutchison on SIG International’s Sig Feng Shui who stopped the clock at 35.20 and 35.38 respectively finishing third and fourth.

Thirty more horse and rider couples competed for prizes in the late afternoon $50,000 Royal Champion Grand Prix. Again course designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. asked multiple questions and gave a precious amount of time to answer them. One tenth of those who attempted were clean – Canadian Samantha Buirs on Total Touch, American Lucy Davis on Nemo 119 and Australian Harley Brown on Angelli.

Second to go in round one and returning first in the twisty eight fence shortened course, Buirs rode Total Touch without touching a rail. Her turns were tight and she galloped where she could, truly setting the pace at 50.92 for the other two competitors. “I wanted to go clean and give Lucy something to run for,” the young Canadian explained.

And run she did, as Davis and Nemo 119 had a very forward pace and even with a bit of a slip in the final rollback turn, crossed the timers in 49.44. “I watched Sam go. She was very fast. I felt I had been a bit slow early on so I picked up the pace. Then I couldn’t get him back so I had to leave one out,” said Davis of her ride. Both girls agreed the course was thoughtful, technical and certainly challenging.

Royal Champion

By Selena Frederick and Jackie McFarland

A Supplement is Reborn
With the competitive supplement industry, what is next for Royal Champion?

“It’s a classic product with an unparalleled history. And it’s experiencing a well-deserved reintroduction into the market,” explained company owner Tomas Harlan.

A pioneer from its inception, Royal Champion horse supplements introduced the concept of full supplementation 37 years ago into a market that had not seen anything quite like it. According to Harlan, not only is Royal Champion’s history unique, but most importantly the formulas are one of a kind, with a combination of ingredients not found in any other product. These two factors play an essential role in how RC differentiates itself from that of its many competitors.

The History of RC
At the appointment of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Dr. Trevor M. Cook developed the formulas for the Royal Family of England and for many years the products were used only by this elite group and exclusive clients in the British equestrian community. In 1990, Dr. Cook was released to sell the products commercially and brought RC to the US. Dianna DeCastro, a well-known figure on the California race circuit, had used the formulas on her own horses to great success and approached Dr. Cook for a potential partnership. From that meeting, she acquired the worldwide rights to the formulas and Dr. Cook stayed on in a research and product development capacity.

In 1995, Ms. DeCastro brought Royal Champion to the hunter/jumper and polo markets. Her marketing efforts targeted the top-level competition horses, riders, trainers and owners. After only a few months, Royal Champion saw an increase in its clientele from gains in this new market. Momentum of the product was gaining rapidly until 1999 when Ms. DeCastro was involved in a near-fatal automobile accident. The next seven years were a difficult period for the sustainability of Royal Champion as Ms. DeCastro struggled through multiple surgeries and a long recovery. Interestingly, some of the more passionate clients actually took initiative to get the product manufactured, packaged and shipped to themselves during that time period. These clients remain loyal to Royal Champion to this day.

Enter Tomas Harlan. As an acquaintance of Ms. DeCastro’s, Harlan was approached about the company in terms of ownership and after nine months of research, he ‘fell in love’ with the product. “While I had a background with horses from childhood, I didn’t realize what a strong impact a supplement could make. When I saw the results this product achieved, and heard from owners about how their horses simply ‘felt’ different with improvements in temperament, recovery and stamina, I knew that Royal Champion was something special.” In the end of 2008 Harlan purchased the company and since then has been actively reestablishing the brand on multiple levels, from local to global efforts.

RC Now and In the Future
In the short period since the change of ownership, RC’s reintroduction to the horse industry is well underway. Listening to and analyzing customer feedback, the staff at RC took into account what people value when making a decision about supplements for their horse, which led to the development of two new updates to the current complete vitamin and mineral formula, as well as a new complete joint formula for release later this summer.

The strategy is to “update the new line, continue moving the product throughout the US, continue to learn from customer feedback, and introduce the product to the equine market worldwide,” commented Harlan, who is in the midst of securing distribution in key foreign markets.

With the global market on the horizon and the continued success in the United States, RC supports top riders in several disciplines. The Royal Champion team of riders includes Hap Hansen, Joie Gatlin, Tom Foran, and Marco Bernal amongst several others. Their list of sponsored riders is constantly growing, as they keep their eyes on the next generation of up and coming talent in all disciplines.

Royal Champion has been consistently involved in supporting the world of show jumping, especially in Southern California. As the title sponsor of the $50,000 Royal Champion Grand Prix during the Blenheim Spring Classic II, and many more events throughout the season, the staff at Royal Champion continues to “connect with our customers and provide a top of the line formula to meet their horse’s nutritional needs. That is what Royal Champion is all about.”

  For more information about Royal Champion products, please visit www.royalchampion.com.

Orange County Register

By Selena Fredericks and Jackie McFarland
Register This – OCRC is Print, Online, PDA and Beyond
Headquartered in Santa Ana, California, Orange County Register Communications, Inc. (OCRC) is a leading news and information company that publishes a diverse portfolio of newspaper, magazine and internet products including The Orange County Register, a three-time, Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper. The area’s most trusted source of news and information since 1905, the company also publishes 24 community newspapers, including the Excelsior in Spanish.

However like many forward thinking companies in the fast-paced technological world in which we live, The Orange County Register is no longer just a print company. Sticking to tradition and reaching beyond, the OC Register has undergone a tremendous transformation to embrace the information media that their readers rely on. Reporters write stories for print and post articles online, as well as shoot video. They now maintain blogs, send tweets and update Facebook pages. The transformation has continued with smart phone apps and they will soon launch a new iPad app. Whether your news source is picking up the paper or checking your iPhone, the well-adapted twenty-first century OCRC is now a modern source of news and information available in many formats.

“This is an exciting time” says Lelani Bluner, Vice President of Marketing. “We are committed to delivering information to our consumers when and where they want it through traditional channels, such as print, and through technology, such as social media networks.”

As the company evolves, its deep-rooted connection to the community remains, according to Jackie Saragueta, Director of Community Relations & Sponsorships. “Community involvement is a fundamental part of our company mission. We have the privilege to give back and support organizations and events that strengthen our communities and enrich people’s lives.”

 

Over a century of milestones*:
1905  A group of businessmen launched the Santa Ana Register to serve Orange County’s 20,000 residents
1935  Raymond Cyrus “R.C.” Hoiles buys the paper after negotiating for nine months with owners Loyal King and J. Frank Burke. The 32-page evening paper cost readers 3 cents a copy.
1940s  With World War II, world and national news dominated the front page; local news moves to a second section.
1942  Hoiles opines against the internment of 110,000 Japanese-Americans, one of the few in the country to speak out against the forced relocations.
1949  Launches Sunday edition again. With a cost to readers of 10 cents a day, the paper has a circulation of about 15,000.
1955  Changes name to The Register.
1957  Moves out of downtown Santa Ana to a 6.4-acre orchard at 625 N. Grand Ave.
1959  Starts a morning edition.
1965  Circulation tops 100,000. Buys community dailies and weeklies in Orange, Brea, Anaheim, and La Habra.
1985  Wins first Pulitzer Prize, for photography of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
1985  Changes name to The Orange County Register.
1986  Circulation tops 300,000.
1989  Wins Pulitzer Prize for military affairs coverage.
1996  Wins Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting on fertility fraud at UC Irvine.
2005  The Register celebrates its 100-year anniversary.
2008  Santa Ana company renamed as Orange County Register Communications, Inc.
2008  Expands availability of its news content through Amazon Kindle handheld device.
2008  Begins delivering news updates to mobile phones through m.ocregister.com.
2009  Introduces revamped OCRegister.com with personalization capabilities and hyper-local content.

Conversations With Equestrians: The Simpsons

By Erin Gilmore

The Simpsons
When it comes to well-known show jumping couples, it doesn’t get much bigger and brighter than husband and wife team Will and Nicole Simpson. In the last several decades, the two international-caliber show jumpers have contested almost every major championship and competition around the world, and have brought some truly memorable horses through the ranks.

Like we see with many highly motivated, successful and famous families, there was a point in Will and Nicki’s history when the combination of career and personal pressures caused some strife. However, at a time when it seemed they might be growing apart, life, love and the pursuit of gold medals drew them back together. In 2008, both Will and Nicki were chosen to go on European tours and ended up traveling together. Realizing how much they truly missed each other’s company, their family together time and supporting each other’s equestrian talents, and ultimately how well they worked together, they reconciled, reunited and haven’t looked back since.

With an incredible combination of talent, Will and Nicki have a clear vision for Simpson Show Jumping. Committed to owners who enjoy the process of pursuing the ‘gold’, they support each other’s goals to continue representing the United States at Nations Cups, WEG and Olympic levels. Tremendous international experiences highlight their teaching methods, so young riders and amateurs with similar high-level aspirations excel in their program.

Whether they’re at their winter base in Wellington, Florida, back home in southern California or traveling to Spruce Meadows or Europe, these power parents focus on keeping their children, thirteen-year-old Sophie and nine-year-old Ty, grounded and on track. Even superstar international riders have to go home at night and make dinner, and lucky for the rest of the family, Nicki enjoys cooking, and Will is famous for his barbeque.

We caught up with them during the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, where they spend half the year working out of Windsome Farms, a gorgeous private 80-acre facility, competing and enjoying the benefits of that close-knit equestrian community.

EquestriSol: How do you get the kids out the door and yourselves to the barn in the morning?
Nicole Simpson: Well, mornings are usually a little hectic, especially on show days if Will or I have the first class. Whichever one of us shows early will get dropped off at the barn, and then the other will run back and take Ty to school. This winter was Sophie’s first time doing online school. She usually starts the day with us – she likes to watch the horses show and ride in the morning and go to school in the afternoon.

EqSol: What’s your routine once you’re at the barn?
NS: Will and I look at the schedule, and for the most part we try to be there for each other at the rings. We balance it out so that we can put solid time into each horse. We go back and forth between the show and the barn, Sophie usually rides three or four and helps us hack another one.

EqSol: Do you think that Sophie shares your level of passion for the sport?
NS: Definitely. She’s very serious about it – she works really hard at riding and learning all that goes with it. Since the beginning she’s been exposed to every aspect. We think that’s important, for her to be aware of and part of the whole picture.

EqSol: How do you help Sophie balance horses and school?
NS: I ask her the same questions my mom would ask me – ‘Sophie, don’t you want to be able to have any career you choose?’ And she’s the same as I was; it’s all about the horses. But she’s finding a good balance, knowing that doing well in school and getting a good education is a priority.

She works hard for us, and knows what her commitments are and what we expect. Along with school and her riding, Sophie is also very involved with JustWorld International, and in California she volunteers with a therapeutic riding program.

Will Simpson: Like mother, like daughter – Sophie is so much like Nicki! Sophie is growing up, and watching her is like watching a mini-Nicki.

EqSol: And what about Ty? Is he interested in riding?
NS: Ty doesn’t ride – yet. We’ve kind convinced him into starting later. We think it’s important for him to do all sorts of sports, and if he wants to start riding once he’s played on other teams, he can. He is a great fan of our sport. The second he gets home he has a people-course all set up in the backyard. He knows all the horses in the barn, knows the lingo and all the riders. He likes to go to the grand prix and walk the course. He’s very analytical; maybe there’s course designing in his future…

WS: He loves to participate in all sorts of sports – soccer, football, etc. He’s like I was, I did all sorts of stuff as a kid. Guess you could say like father, like son. We’ll see…

NS: We’re very fortunate to have pretty easy, well-rounded kids!

EqSol: How many hours a day do you spend with the horses?
NS: At least one of us is done by the time Ty’s out of school. An alarm goes off every day to make sure we pick him up at 2:15, then we finish up lessons at the barn and we go home as a family. Our kids are with us 90% of the time. It’s really nice, and I have to say that along with the obvious equestrian pluses of the Wellington circuit, it is great for a family because you can stay in one place for six months. It’s very comfortable. We are grateful for this circuit in many ways, beyond just the horses.

EqSol: If you could each talk about one horse that improves daily, who would it be?
NS: We both have nine-year-olds that we’re really excited about.

WS: Obe is the one I’m bringing along… Anne Frankel owns him and knew she had something special. He’s a really smart horse by Cirka Z, one of Nicki’s good horses from years back. Because of our background with Cirka Z, we already know a lot about Obe and where he is headed. We feel that he definitely has a really good shot at the trials next year. And Nicki is developing a fabulous nine-year-old for Monarch International, Candle Light Van de Warande, by Parco. He’s coming along nicely, and has ribboned consistently in the 1.45m and 1.50m classes this season.

EqSol: Will, you are known for being able to get inside a horse’s mind and develop those “difficult” ones in a way that others can’t. Tell us more about that.
WS: Well, for example, Obe wasn’t very easy at first. I kind of felt like a little kid on a Thelwell pony. He would rear and buck, and when he stopped doing that he would just stand still. But now we’ve gotten to a place where we had six rounds fault-free. My daughter always laughs at me and asks me how I can say I can do the Olympic Trials if I haven’t done the 1.50m yet, but if you knew the horse and how his mind works, you’d know it’s the right plan.

What I work on every day is bringing the horses along in a way that is comfortable for them, teaching them how to compete and enjoy it, not fear it or resent it. If they enjoy their job, they perform well. Many pieces from their overall care to their training program play a role in their ‘happiness’. My career goal is to hopefully be considered a true horseman, not just a rider.

EqSol: You are both successful and focused on your individual and collective goals. How do you pass that on to your children?
NS: With a lot of communication and by keeping it real. Fortunately, our kids don’t ever feel entitled nor appear influenced by the world we work in. We are all very comfortable with who we are and how we fit in, so that translates. We stick together, work hard and keep looking forward.

JustWorld International

Movement for Social Change in the Equestrian Community

  Today when we mention social change, we often think about social media, such as Facebook or Twitter. Although these entities have changed us socially, JustWorld International is reaching out to change the world for the better.

“Bringing Equestrians Together for a Just World” is the hallmark of JustWorld International, a non-for-profit humanitarian organization that supports life-changing education and nutrition programs for some of the world’s neediest children. Riders and horse shows on the West Coast, including the Blenheim Spring Classic II, are joining the movement to lend the passion they have for riding to their commitment to helping others.

Founded in 2003 by former grand prix rider Jessica Newman, JustWorld International acts as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world by working with local partner organizations to provide basic education, nutrition, health, hygiene, and vocational programs for children in impoverished communities in Honduras, Cambodia, Guatemala, and Brazil. JustWorld raises funds throughout the international equestrian world, from individuals to partner horse shows to corporate sponsors.

JustWorld is unique with its origins in the international show jumping community and its focus on not only raising funds through events at horse shows but also on developing programs that allow riders to become compassionate and generous global citizens.

Significantly, JustWorld has built a community of active donors and volunteers who make annual pledges of “time, talent, or treasure” as JustWorld Ambassadors. Currently, there are more than 400 professional, junior, and amateur Rider Ambassadors representing 35 different countries. Technical Official Ambassadors (judges, course designers, stewards) from around the globe also represent JustWorld at international shows whenever they officiate. JustWorld also partners in fundraising with competitions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Europe.

Regarding the important partnership with horse shows, Executive Director Jessica Newman notes that the association “ensures that the link between equestrians and those in need will be a direct link as opposed to a connection through sponsorships and donations only.” Horse shows participate by holding fundraising events, exhibitor parties, Calcuttas, and special classes; donating parking fees and portions of entry fees; and hosting signature JustWorld Horseless Horse Shows. The JustWorld Horseless Horse Shows are special events, since they include younger children as participants, introducing them to charitable events as “Kids Helping Kids.”

Proceeds from JustWorld events help to develop long-term, sustainable education projects, targeting communities where local organizations have evolved to help children who often fall beyond the reach of government and large-scale humanitarian programs. JustWorld and its partners focus on creating and maintaining educational and vocational programs that will begin to equip the children for future lives of self-sufficiency, while providing health care, food programs, and clean water to immediately improve the daily lives of these children.

JustWorld Rider Ambassadors and donors are encouraged to visit the projects in Honduras, Guatemala, Cambodia, and Brazil, and more than 120 donors have done so. Newman, who leads these donor trips, is thrilled to offer other riders the experience of seeing the needs of so many poor children and the wonderful changes that JustWorld has brought about through the efforts of riders and other equestrians.

Newman explains that her equestrian connections have been especially beneficial to forming relationships with local, grassroots organizations. These connections helped to circumvent confrontation with some of the political unrest that is present in the countries where JustWorld gathers support. “We create reciprocal partnerships with our local establishments and all funding is monitored very carefully according to criteria mandated by international nonprofits,” says Newman. “This way, we avoid a lot of the corruption in developing countries.”

Recently, JustWorld has garnered official partnerships with Equine Canada (the Canadian national federation) and the European Equestrian Federation, and Newman was a guest at the FEI General Assembly in November 2010, where she had an opportunity to spread the word about JustWorld to the heads of national federations from around the world. Now that national federations are signing on and JustWorld is expanding, Newman notes, “Within the next five years, I hope to see JustWorld shows in every country where there is competitive horseback riding.”

JustWorld International is a recognized 501(c)3 charitable organization in the United States and a registered Association 1901 in France. Local branches also have been established in Mexico and Honduras. JustWorld International has no political or religious affiliation.

The Charity Challenge

Liliane Stransky and Paulo Santana

By EquestriSol For Step By Step

On Sunday, March 13th, Olympic veteran Margie Engle and Step by Step Foundation’s Liliane Stransky joined forces once again to host the second annual All In For Charity Poker Tournament in Wellington, Florida. Although Santana has won his share of classes on horseback this season, on this particular evening he proved his poker game is also competitive.

For one night the action at the Winter Equestrian Festival shifted from fast paced show jumping in the International Arena to high stakes gaming in the Grand Prix Pavilion,when the place was transformed into a colorful casino. Stransky, the founder of the international children’s charity Step by Step, assembled a strong lineup of lovely ladies to play on her poker team. Top rider and player, Margie Engle, event organizer Kathy Andersen, grand prix veteran Hillary Dobbs, and 15-year-old Daniela Stransky, a seasoned poker player not to be taken lightly, joined her. After donning their orange Polo t-shirts, they sat down at the tables to play their best hands and help raise funds for children in need in Haiti

Sporting Team Brazil’s yellow polos, Santana was joined by Daniel DiPicoli, Adolpho Franco, Cesar Almeiea and Gustavo Amorin at the tables. When the last hand was dealt and all the chips were in, it was Santana who was named the 2011 All In Charity Poker Tournament Champion. He generously donated his winnings to the pot to help with Step by Step’s ongoing efforts on behalf of children in need.

Team Brazil

Others to show their support included Danielle and Jimmy Torano, the newest member of the Step by Step Foundation’s Advisory Board. “It is a real honor to have great riders like Jimmy (Torano) and Margie (Engle) support us,” said Stransky. “It helps us raise awareness and spread the word to equestrian enthusiasts everywhere. As we all know, the horse show community is truly an international one, and our goal with the foundation is global. We want to enhance the lives of underprivileged children worldwide by creating and supporting sustainable health, education, and wellness programs. We do this, literally step by step, donation by donation, rider by rider!”

Artist Josee Nadaue

As the cards were dealt, conversations flowed in a variety of languages including English, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese and Italian, with topics ranging from Haiti to horses, poker to ponies. Grand prix rider Hector Florentino, Dutch horse agent Roy Wilten, amateur-owner riders Sarah Ward and Sarah Orberson Taylor, Andrea Amorin and Jennifer Santana were just a few of the familiar faces from the horse world. Some of the toughest competition of the night came from the younger set including Kelsie Britton and twin brothers Spencer and Clayton, who came with their mom Kristin and trainer Peter Pletcher, raising the stakes and upping the ante on seasoned pros.

Another event highlight was when impressionistic artist Josee Nadaue, whose fans include Clint Eastwood and Pierce Bronson, unveiled her larger than life piece created especially for the benefit.

More than $50,000 was raised for Step by Step during this special tournament. For more about this ambitious organization see www.stepbystepfoundation.com.

STEP BY STEP MISSION: To enhance the lives of underprivileged children by creating and supporting, health, nutrition, water, education and other programs that substantially impact the human rights and development of children worldwide, establishing holistic community development programs that can be replicated throughout Haiti, and other impoverished communities around the world. Step by Step Foundation, Inc., is a registered 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization registered in the State of Florida.

Photos by Jack Mancini