FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival 2014, 08.01. – 30. 03.2014, Wellington (Florida): FTI WEF Upcoming Events

FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival 2014, 08.01. – 30. 03.2014, Wellington (Florida)
FTI WEF Upcoming Events

Ride & Learn Clinic -The Ride & Learn Clinic series continues on Tuesday, February 25, at 2:30 p.m. in the Van Kampen Covered Arena at The Stadium at PBIEC. Stacia Madden, who has molded some of the most notable equitation stars on the East Coast, will share her knowledge during the clinic, specifically covering how to „De-Stress the Medal Test.“ Clinics are only $100 for riders and free to audit. Contact the Palm Beach Riding Academy at 561-784-4275 to sign up today!

Lunch & Learn Series – The sixth edition of the Lunch & Learn Series, presented by Palm Beach Equine Clinic and Zoetis, will take place at The Wellington Club on the Main Grounds of PBIEC on Thursday, February 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Dr. Sarah Puchalski will discuss „Diagnostic Imaging for the Modern Sport Horse“ and Dr. Weston Davis will present „Advances in Minimally Invasive Surgery.“ Admission is free for riders, trainers, and owners. Lunch will be provided for all attendees.

The Wellington Club VIP Tables – Take in the FEI CSIO competition of Week 8 from some of the best seats in the house! Tables are available for sale, as well as individual seats, in The Wellington Club, which offers a fantastic view of the International Arena. Enjoy a full buffet and open bar courtesy of White Horse Catering while watching thrilling competition from a spectacular vantage point. Tables are going fast, so reserve yours today! Breakfast and lunch are served Thursday – Sunday and dinner is provided for Friday and Saturday nights.

$34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 – The $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 8 will set the stage for the $150,000 CSIO 4* Grand Prix, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty. With CSIO competition attracting the world’s most talented riders, it’s sure to be another can’t miss class. Competition kicks off at approximately 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 27, in the International Arena at PBIEC.

Shapley’s Groom’s Class – The next Groom’s Class will be held on Friday, February 28, at 3 p.m. In Ring 8. Grooms can bring their best turned out horse for a chance to win $500 plus a $50 Trainer’s Bonus will be handed out. Cash and prizes are awarded to the top three grooms. Fill out an entry form in the Horse Show Office to participate!

$10,000 G&C Farm Speed Stake CSIO – Watch a thrilling speed round of show jumping competition on Friday, February 28, in the International Arena. Top riders pit their quickest horses against each other in an all-out race on Friday afternoon in an exhilarating display of top sport.

$75,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, presented by G&C Farm – On Friday evening, February 28, the International Arena will play host to the only Nations Cup competition held in the United States. Riders representing 12 countries will battle it out for the top prize and ultimate bragging rights for their flag. Spectators will also be treated to a bridleless riding exhibition by Elisa Wallace and her American Mustang, Fledge. Wellington High School will be guests of honor for the opening ceremonies. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. Tickets must be purchased for this event. Stadium seating tickets are $35 (plus taxes and fees) and can be purchased at www.equestriansport.tix.com or in the ESP Admin office on the main show grounds at the end of Vendor Row. Parking is $20 per carload.

Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W presented by Martha W. Jolicoeur and Maria Mendelsohn of Illustrated Properties – The Palm Beach Dressage Derby kicks off on Friday, February 28, featuring FEI World Cup Qualifier competition. The Derby begins Friday with the FEI Grand Prix and FEI Prix St. Georges classes, in addition to Junior, Young Rider, and Under-25 competition. Saturday, February 29, will feature the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI W, under the lights. Gates open at 6 p.m. The world’s best dressage riders and horses will perform their routines set to music in a stunning showcase of their talent. Make sure to grab your seats early, The Stadium has been packed each week for this crowd-favorite event! Free general admission and parking.

FEI Hollow Creek Farm Children’s, Young Rider, and Junior Nations Cups – On Saturday, March 1, it’s the young riders‘ turns to represent their countries. The final rounds begin Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m, starting with the Hollow Creek Farm FEI Children’s Nations Cup, followed by the $2,500 Hollow Creek Farm FEI Junior Nations Cup and the $10,000 Hollow Creek Farm FEI Young Rider Nations Cup will wrap up the evening. Watch the grand prix stars of the future take advantage of the unique opportunity to represent their countries at such young ages. General admission is free and parking is $20 per carload, gates open at 6:00 p.m.

$25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic – Enjoy a relaxing Sunday afternoon at FTI WEF during the $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Classic in the International Arena on March 2 following the day’s opening junior jumper class. Grab a drink at the Tiki Hut while you watch world-class show jumping and make sure to stop in at any of the dozens of vendors at the FTI WEF!

$150,000 CSIO 4* Grand Prix, presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty – CSIO competition wraps up Sunday afternoon with the $150,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSIO 4*. The world’s top riders and horses will take on the International Arena on Sunday, March 2, at 2:00 p.m. Make a day of world-class show jumping competition and enjoy the Florida sunshine at PBIEC.

Ride & Learn Clinic -The Ride & Learn Clinic series continues on Tuesday, March 4, at 2:30 p.m. in the Van Kampen Covered Arena at The Stadium at PBIEC. Heather Caristo-Williams will share her knowledge during the clinic, which is open to all. Clinics are only $100 for riders and free to audit. Contact the Palm Beach Riding Academy at 561-784-4275

FTI WEF Horse Show Wrap-Up Week 7 Audrey Coulter Beats the Best in $280,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 4* and $84,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) concluded its seventh week of competition on Sunday with a fantastic line-up of international show jumping and back-to-back wins for 21-year-old Audrey Coulter (USA) of San Francisco, CA. The day kicked off with the $280,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 4* with a win for Coulter and Acorte. The pair beat out the world’s number one and two ranked riders, Scott Brash and Ben Maher of Great Britain, who finished second and third respectively with their mounts Ursula XII and Cella. Coulter then went on to another big win in the afternoon’s $84,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic with her mount Victory DA. It was a day the young rider will surely never forget.

Fredric Cottier (FRA) was the course designer in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center for week seven. The $280,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 4* was postponed due to bad weather on Saturday night, but saw an exciting class on Sunday morning with 44 starters and a five-horse jump-off.

Danielle Goldstein (ISR) and Israeli Equestrian Partners‘ Carisma were first to go in the jump-off and had four faults in 45.14 seconds to finish fifth. Audrey Coulter and Copernicus Stables LLC’s Acorte went next and posted the first clear round in what would prove to be the winning time of 40.51 seconds.

Ben Maher and Jane Clark’s Cella did their best, but finished third with their clear round in 41.31 seconds. Brianne Goutal (USA) and Remarkable Farms LP’s Nice de Prissey incurred four faults in 41.93 seconds to place fourth. Scott Brash and Ursula XII, owned by Lord and Lady Harris and Lord and Lady Kirkham, also tried to catch Coulter’s time but settled for second in 41.10 seconds.

Coulter’s winning mount, Acorte, is an eleven-year-old Hanoverian mare by Acorado x Stakkato. The mare previously showed successfully with German rider Rolf Moormann and began competing with Coulter this fall. Sunday’s win was Coulter’s best finish with Acorte as well as the biggest win of the young rider’s career.

„I’m so excited!“ she beamed. „Just to be next to Ben and Scott is amazing. My horse was incredible today. It has been a good day; it’s very exciting.“

Coulter is a student at Dartmouth College and is currently taking a quarter off of school to ride and compete. She has been showing at the 1.50m level for a few years, but moved up to the 1.60m height more recently and has had great results. With Acorte, Coulter finished fifth two weeks ago in the $370,000 FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix CSI-W 5* Presented by Rolex, which saw an exciting one-two finish for Maher and Brash. This time, the rider from California stepped up for the win with the help of her trainers, Markus Beerbaum and Meredith Michaels Beerbaum of Germany.

„It was exciting for sure. I wasn’t really expecting it,“ Coulter said of winning the jump-off. „I was just happy to be in the ring with Scott and Ben and competing, and I’m so fortunate to have the horse I have and such incredible trainers in Meredith and Markus, so I’m just happy to be here.“

Coming out of the ring, Coulter was not sure if she had done enough to win, but all she could do was wait. „I hoped the time was good enough, but knowing they were coming after me, I would have been happy with second or third.  I went for it and I went as fast as I could and my horse is fast, so I was hoping to win, and it worked out today.“

„She’s incredible,“ Coulter said of Acorte. „She’s a little feisty, but she has the biggest heart and she tries so hard every time she goes in the ring. I feel so lucky to have her. She’s really scopey and really careful. When we first got here I think she was a little shy, but we spoiled her. She really likes cookies, and we give her a lot of attention.“

In addition to winning top prize in Sunday’s grand prix, Coulter was named the Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider for week seven. The award is sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler.

Coulter thanked her trainers for their support. „It is incredible training with them,“ she acknowledged. „They are so supportive. Markus just jumped up and down when I won! They are always there for you, but they also trust that you know what you’re doing, so it’s like a nice discussion back and forth, which I really enjoy. Training with Meredith is awesome. She is obviously an incredible rider, so it’s really fun just being around them every day at the barn.“

World number one, Scott Brash, was close behind with his second place finish aboard Ursula XII on Sunday, and gave credit to Coulter’s great ride.

„Audrey did an absolutely fantastic job today, and she thoroughly deserves it,“ Brash acknowledged. „She was very, very fast and I watched her on the screen outside of the ring and it was a perfect round and that horse is a very fast horse. Then I watched Ben go, and it was a tough class. It was fast and it was all set distances. I actually tried to go one less stride after the white oxer, but I had a bit of a stumble so I had to do it in eight (strides). I was very pleased with my horse. She has been so consistent throughout the tour, and this is actually her last class (in Wellington). She goes home soon, so I’m happy it finished off on a good note.“

Maher also admitted that his round was just not fast enough to beat Coulter’s time and congratulated the rider on her victory.

„Cella again was incredible today, and it’s a nice change to jump during the day,“ Maher noted. „I just didn’t have the jump-off I really wanted. It wasn’t smooth. It was kind of one of those rounds where I wanted to, but couldn’t get going. It was as fast as I could go, and Audrey was way too fast, and I knew it would not be possible to catch her.“

„She is just coming up to these ranks and I wish I had been doing this well when I was 21,“ Maher said of Coulter’s success. „I think that’s a new horse for her and I know the horse a little bit from Europe, and it seems to like the American system. I think she prefers Audrey.“

Allyn Mann, Director of the Animal Health Division at Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was on hand to watch the class and was thrilled with the great result.

„I’m living the dream,“ Mann acknowledged. „Audrey, Scott, Ben, thank you for all you do to make this sport so exciting. The horses are awesome, and of course if it wasn’t for the owners, none of us would be sitting here. We thank owners like Jane Clark and the others who so passionately care about wanting to do the best for this entire industry. We have this facility across the street, the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, that has just turned into a wonderful venue, and for us to support the dressage world and then to come across the street and get involved in the hunter/jumper world, it just has been a dream come true for us. We are looking forward to being around for an awfully long time, to continue to support all of the people that really make it possible for us to exist as a business.“

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

FTI WEF Horse Show Wrap-Up Week 7 Jumper Highlights – Wednesday through Sunday
The 2014 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF) began its seventh week of competition on Wednesday with a win for Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 in the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL.

Fredric Cottier of France was the international course designer this week and set the speed track for 85 competitors in the class with 29 clear rounds. Fifth to go, Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Cyklon 1083 set the unbeatable pace of 59.10 seconds. Germany’s David Will and Black Jack 163, owned by Eveline Kraus, finished second in 59.49 seconds. Lauren Hough (USA) and The Ohlala Group’s Ohlala were third in 59.84 seconds. Brianne Goutal (USA) and Cloverleaf Farm’s Uata placed fourth in 61.19 seconds.

A $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed class was also held on Wednesday with a California Split for the placings due to the large number of entries. Pedro Muylaert (BRA) and Wessel, owned by Henrique Tielas, had the fastest clear round to earn top honors in Section A of the class. Daniel Zetterman (SWE) and Springfield Showjumpers‘ Jolly Joker were the winners in Section B. A $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class concluded the day with a win for Joao Victor Castro (BRA) aboard Wamira.

Week seven continued on Thursday afternoon with a shared victory for Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda aboard AD Uutje and Rodrigo Pessoa with Citizenguard Cadjanine Z in the $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7. Held in a „California Split“ due to the large number of entries, the competition awarded two sets of placings, each with $125,000 distributed.

Fredric Cottier of France set the track for Thursday’s $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 in the International Arena at PBIEC. The class saw a total of 115 entries in round one with 30 clear trips to jump-off. The short course saw ten clear rounds with two combinations opting not to return. Alvaro de Miranda completed the fastest tie breaking round in 37.63 seconds overall for the win in Section A of the class riding AD Uutje. Rodrigo Pessoa finished in 37.89 seconds with Alain van Campenhoudt’s Citizenguard Cadjanine Z for the win in Section B. Another rider for Brazil, Yuri Mansor, had the third fastest time of 39.01 seconds with QH Amor.

With the split class, the top three finishers in Section A were Alvaro de Miranda and AD Uutje in 37.63 seconds, Yuri Mansor and QH Amor in 39.01 seconds, and Reed Kessler (USA) with Ligist in 39.60 seconds.

Section B saw the top placing for Rodrigo Pessoa and Citizenguard Cadjanine Z in 37.89 seconds followed by Kent Farrington (USA) and Amalaya Investments‘ Willow in 39.14 seconds, and Laura Kraut (USA) with Cherry Knoll Farm Inc.’s Cedric in 42.96 seconds.

In addition to the prize money in Thursday’s class, de Miranda earned a special $3,000 bonus as part of the SSG ‚Go Clean for the Green‘ promotion for wearing his SSG ‚Digital‘ Riding Gloves. Each week of the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‚Digital‘ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible.

An $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45m class was also held on Thursday with a win for Kevin Babington and Meco Equestrian LLC’s Cord 11. Friday’s competition at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival featured a $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m speed class with a win for 19-year-old Abigail McArdle (USA) aboard Cosma 20.

Fredric Cottier set the track for Friday’s $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45m with 77 entries and 16 clear rounds, the fastest of which belonged to Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20 in 58.70 seconds. The pair beat out Reed Kessler (USA) and Soraya de l’Obstination, who finished second in 59.43 seconds. Germany’s David Will and Black Jack 163 finished third in 60.68 seconds, and Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca and Elky van het Indihof placed fourth in 61.31 seconds.

FTI WEF Horse Show Wrap-Up Week 7 Week 7 Classic Winners: $15,000 Engel & Völkers SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumpers – Alison Cooney and Toluca LS
$10,000 Sleepy P Ranch SJHOF High Junior Jumpers – Joao Victor Castro and Wamira
$10,000 Animo USA Medium Amateur-Owner Jumpers – Emily Kinch and New Boy de Logerie
$10,000 Charles Owen Low Amateur-Owner Jumpers – Nicole Walker and Catania
$10,000 Martha Jolicoeur, Illustrated Properties Adult Jumpers 18-35 – Rachel Boggus and Wiedam
$10,000 Classical South Florida Adult Jumpers 36-49 – Hope Batchelor and Orlando
$10,000 Horseware Ireland Don Little Masters – Lucy Mitchell-Innes and Prego
$10,000 Maria Mendelsohn, Illustrated Properties Low Junior Jumpers – Emanuel Andrade and Mikos
$10,000 Hollow Creek Farm Medium Junior Jumpers – Emanuel Andrade and Black Pearl

Week 7 Champions:
EnTrust Capital Children’s Jumper 14 & Under – Alexandra Pielet and Contino 44
National Disaster Solutions Children’s Jumper 15-17 – Jennifer Pennebaker and Zyou
FarmVet Adult Modified Jumpers – Allison Stawarz and Baccarat
Griffis Residential Children’s Modified Jumpers – Ava Stearns and Lipton de l’Othain
Equiline Low Adult Jumper 18-35 – Rebecca Margolis and Bantry Bay
Paddock Cakes Low Adult Jumper 36 & Over – Nina Simons and Grace Farm’s Sabrina
Crown Family Low Children’s Jumper – Ava Stearns and Denmark

FTI WEF Horse Show Wrap-Up Week 7 Hunter Highlights – Wednesday through Sunday
The first hunter championship of week seven was awarded to Kelley Corrigan’s The Closer with Havens Schatt in the irons in the Loddon Stalls Pre-Green Hunter Level One three-foot division. Schatt and The Closer won the first class over fences on Wednesday and then placed first and second over fences on Thursday to earn the division championship.

Le Reve Farm, Inc.’s At Ease and Christopher Payne finished in reserve with first and second place ribbons on Wednesday and a second place finish in Thursday’s under saddle.

The Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 division awarded its championship tricolors for week seven of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival on Friday with an exciting top finish for 22-year-old Kyle Owens of Powell, OH. The rider, trained by Peter Pletcher, took home champion and reserve honors for the week with his two mounts, Voila and Messick.

Owens guided Voila to the division championship with a first place ribbon over fences on Thursday followed up by first and third place finishes over fences and a fifth place ribbon under saddle in Friday’s classes. With Messick, Owens earned the reserve title with second and third place ribbons on Thursday as well as a third over fences and second under saddle on Friday.

The Greenspoon Marder Law Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under division crowned its champion for week seven in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring on Saturday, presenting the winning tricolor to Katherine Strauss and her 13-year-old Hanoverian mare Rapunzel (by Rotspon). It was a very close race for top honors between Strauss and Rapunzel and Jake Wasson aboard his horse, Imagine, as the two pairs earned the same number of points over fences. The under saddle class was the deciding factor.

Strauss and Rapunzel placed second in both classes over fences on Friday and went on to win both jumping classes and the under saddle on Saturday to earn the division championship. Wasson and Imagine won both jumping classes on Friday, then finished second in the two classes over fences on Saturday and placed third under saddle to earn the reserve championship.

Strauss and Rapunzel were also presented with the championship owner/rider award with Wasson and Imagine in reserve. The special award is given to junior riders that compete on their own horses. Strauss has owned Rapunzel for two years. The mare had previously shown successfully with professional rider Jennifer Alfano.   Hunter competition for week seven of the FTI WEF concluded on Sunday with a championship win for 13-year-old Yasmin Rizvi of Greenwich, CT, riding Peacock Ridge LLC’s Flirt in the Equestrian Sotheby’s Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division. Rizvi and the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding placed fourth over fences on Saturday, then jumped two winning rounds on Sunday and finished fourth under saddle to earn the championship tricolor. Oscany Inc.’s Clooney was reserve champion with Sophie Simpson in the irons. The pair placed third in both over fences on Saturday and second in both over fences on Sunday.

Rizvi and Flirt were also presented with the championship owner/rider award with Melissa Wight’s Chromeo and Samantha Wight in reserve. The special award is given to junior riders that compete on their own horses.

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

Please visit www.equestriansport.com

Quelle: Pressemitteilung