by Nancy Jaffer | May 11, 2023
HITS LLC is expanding its portfolio of dressage shows and has acquired Centerline Events to increase and enhance the dressage competitions at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, N.Y.
HITS will manage these shows with the knowledge of Debra Reinhardt and her Centerline staff. In addition to five USEF-licensed dressage shows at Saugerties from May through September, HITS will host dressage at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Illinois and the Del Mar Horse Park in California.
Exhibitors can expect a new experience at HITS-on-the-Hudson, including world-class footing by Wordley Martin in three of its competition arenas. The premium front barns feature new mats, and there will also be a newly renovated restaurant, café, and updated restrooms.
“HITS has enjoyed hosting world-class dressage competitions throughout the year, including the Festival of Champions at HITS Chicago (Lamplight), and we are excited to expand our calendar at HITS Saugerties through the acquisition of Centerline Events,” said HITS COO Joe Norick.
“We are thrilled to have Debra Reinhardt and her staff’s continued support of these events as we prepare for the 2023 show season.”
In addition to Debra, HITS has added Cameron Wyman to its team as the Dressage Coordinator. She started her dressage career as a youth and in the U25 division this year. She is also working towards her Level 3 status as a manager and secretary to further support the HITS Dressage program.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 11, 2023
The last week of the 2024 Winter Equestrian Festival will be designated as Rolex Finale Week, it was announced today, with the news that Wellington International and Rolex will renew their partnership that started in 2012.
The Rolex CSI5* Grand Prix, offering free spectator seating, will be the highlight of that final week, featuring “unique classes, events, hospitality and awards,”in the International Arena in Wellington, Fla.
Rolex will remain the official and exclusive timepiece of Wellington International, WEF and the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival. The primary goal of the collaboration will be to elevate the equestrian and spectator experience in North America through the Wellington International venue.
Rolex also sponsors the Rolex Grand Slam at three European shows. It concludes this summer in Aachen, Germany, where U.S. rider McLain Ward will attempt to claim the final leg after winning the first two segments.
Another high-end watch company, Longines, is the title sponsor of the FEI World Cup Finals and many other competitions as the FEI’s first Top Partner since 2013. It is also the title sponsor of the Global Champions Tour.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 8, 2023
Interested in helping out this month at a Horse Driving Trials at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation’s Pine Meadow showgrounds in Gladstone? There’s a great tradition of driving at that location, where a highlight was the 1993 World Pairs Championship.
Opportunities are available to assist with the May 20 trials, where you can learn about driving first-hand. To volunteer, contact Karen Patrick at patrickpack@comcast.net.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 12, 2023
McLain Ward topped a field of 21 with Kasper van het Hellehof to win the $200,000 5-star Longines Grand Prix at San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
Only McLain and Mexico’s Jose Antonio Chedraui Eguia on H-Lucky Retto qualified for the jump-off. McLain’s time of 38.31 seconds topped his rival’s 38.31 seconds.
McLain Ward and Kasper van het Hellehof on their way to victory at San Juan Capistrano (Photo courtesy USEF)
It was Kasper’s first 5-star victory, and the fact he did it over a difficult course designed by Leopoldo Palacios made it all the more impressive.
“Leopoldo is one of the most seasoned and one of the great course builders in the world over the past two decades. He has a super feeling,” explained Ward.
“He didn’t have a huge class today and we do have the Nations Cup coming on Sunday, but there were some strong combinations and he had to build at a 5-star level.”
McLain is tuning up for the all-important Nations Cup of the USA, which will count toward the U.S. team qualifying for theNations Cup finals in Barcelona, Spain, this fall. The U.S., which has yet to for make the cut for next year’s Paris Olympics, could earn a place for the French Games in Barcelona, where one Olympic spot is on offer. But first, the team has to qualify for Barcelona.
“The most important part of this week for us is the Nations Cup,” McLain emphasized.
“We have to qualify out of our league, so these three Nations Cup – the first in Mexico, which we were successful at and won; here in San Juan Capistrano and then on to Langley (British Columbia). Our backs are against the wall. This is a must-do. I think all of the best riders and supporters of horses in our country are trying to come together and get this job done.”
Riding on the U.S. team this weekend with McLain is Laura Kraut, his teammate for the 2018 gold medal World Equestrian Games squad; Lillie Keenan and Karl Cook.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 11, 2023
On the heels of her Grand Prix victory Wednesday at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, Charlotte Dujardin made it a double with a freestyle triumph on Imhotep, three weeks after taking up riding again following the birth of her baby, Isabella Rose.
She was marked at 83.2 percent for her performance. Gareth Hughes, who was second in the Grand Prix, obtained the same placing in the freestyle with an 80.510 on Classic Briolinca.
Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep in the shadow of Windsor Castle. (Photo courtesy of Royal Windsor Horse Show/Peter Nixon)
An exuberant Charlotte said, “I was so excited to come here, it was really not in my schedule to rush back after having my daughter, but I got on and felt really good. I absolutely love this show, so here I am.
“I was so excited to be here, back out here riding and competing, for me it’s just such a buzz and I’ve loved every minute of it.”
Of Imhotep, she continued: “He hasn’t competed since the World Equestrian Games last year, so it was a huge ask for him to come here as it’s such a huge atmosphere.
“I’m a bit ring rusty, he’s a bit ring-rusty, we’re still making mistakes, but he’s such an incredible horse to come to this kind of show and perform the way he has the past two days, I can’t ask for more. To get this under our belt is absolutely fantastic.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 15, 2023
Mai Baum. Miks Master C. Z. Off the Record. They are four of the top seven-placing horses from last month’s Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event.
Now they’ve been named to the U.S. squad for the Aachen, Germany, 4-Star Short this summer, along with Ariel Grald’s ride,Leamore Master Plan, who did not compete in Kentucky.
Mai Baum and Tamie Smith on their way to clinching the Land Rover Kentucky 5-star victory with a clean round in show jumpping. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Why mess with success? It will be fun to see Kentucky winner Mai Baum go for another big win with rider Tamie Smith. Miks Master C was third with Liz Halliday-Sharp, Z finished fifth under the guidance of Phillip Dutton and Off the Record (the top placing U.S. horse at the 2022 world championships), will be ridden by Will Coleman. Will also has a direct back-up in Chin Tonic, 11th at Kentucky.
It will be interesting to see how these horses fare meeting a whole group of European competitors who didn’t come to Kentucky. We’d expect Germany’s Michael Jung to be among them.
