WWW.YOUTUBE.COM

GO ON INDULGE YOURSELF!!!

view on full screen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf7UNHIJ8Nw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGDFi3EUSIA
letting their hair down!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc0aZHojXqI
3 years old....lovely!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clJa0iSW9SU
nice movie trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVdstlgMaY0
and more...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCH8FBPXunw
in pairs!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsSbnFODGJk
Classic!

In the words of Winston Churchill...

The Horse

... a creature that looks so beautiful on the outside, and can make you feel so good on the inside!

Excepts from friends of Aachen Newsletter...

World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen

May 17th to 21st, 2006


20.05.2006
Rodrigo Pessoa wins Rolex Best of Champions
No change of horses this time due to the weather conditions

The well-being of the horses always takes priority: After prior consultation with the Sponsor Rolex and the riders, the tournament management of the CHIO decided, as an exception to the rule, to change the format of one of the most exciting competitions at the World Equestrian Festival - the Rolex Best of Champions. The "blame" for this was attributed to the sudden gale storms accompanied by heavy rainfall that lead to the sports agenda being interrupted. The participants had to take a half an hour break. The Rolex Best of Champions competition was temporarily delayed.
The special charm of the Rolex Best of Champions competition lies in the world-class field of participants (the Olympic gold medallist, World and European Champions plus the previous year winner of the Grand Prix of Aachen) and in the fact that the riders have to change horses. First of all the four top riders have to jump the course with their own horse and then with the horses of the other competitors. However, in view of the unstable weather conditions, the tournament management decided to shorten the format of the competition by striking the change of horses. Instead the champions, Olympic gold medallist, Rodrigo Pessoa (Brazil); World Champion, Dermott Lennon (Ireland); European Champion, Marco Kutscher (Germany) and the winner of last year's Grand Prix of Aachen 2005, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, only rode their own horses in two rounds, whereby the total faults and the time taken in the second round decided the ranking.

Rodrigo Pessoa, who had saddled the 11-year-old Holstein mare, Cantate Z by Cantus accomplished the task with the best overall result, collecting no faults in a time of 45.64 seconds, followed by Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum with the Holstein mare, Sansierra by Stauffenberg (51.51), who also rode two clear rounds. Marco Kutscher with the Holstein Carthago son, Cash, took third position with four faults in 46.94 seconds. Dermott Lennon, who had saddled the French stallion, Exploit du Roulard finished fourth (12/63.)

World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen May 17th to 21st, 2006

19.05.2006

Favourites win the Lambertz Prize, Nations’ Cup

Nadine Capellmann from Aachen, triumphed with Elvis

The German dressage team made up of Nadine Capellmann/Elvis, Hubertus Schmidt/Wansuela Suerte, Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff/Sterntaler-Unicer and Isabell Werth/Warum Nicht lived up to their role as favourites in the Lambertz Prize, Dressage Nations' Cup. With a total score of 223.374 points the German squad finished ahead of the Danish (209.875) and Swedish (209.542) teams. "Last year's defeat against the Dutch team was particularly painful, because Aachen is of special significance for us", the German national coach, Holger Schmezer, remarked. Whereby one must state that the Dutch had made it somewhat easier for the German team, since with this year's World Equestrian Games in mind, they didn't send their strongest pairs to Aachen, for instance Olympic gold medallist, Anky van Grunsven, didn't compete at the CHIO and her fellow-countryman, Edward Gal, didn't ride his Championship horse, Lingh, but instead saddled his "number two" horse, Gribaldi. Thus the Dutch team only took fifth place (205.958) behind the Swiss riders (207,417).
In the individual classification, Nadine Capellmann from Aachen, triumphed with the ten-year-old Hanoverian Esprit son, Elvis (75,833). At the subsequent press conference, the local rider admitted afterwards, "I was a little bit nervous, after not having competed in the team for three years, but Elvis was really calm. And everything went very well except for the flying changes á tempo."

WELL DONE MAX!

The Finnish rider, Kyra Kyrklund came a close second with the Swedish gelding, Max (75.542). The pair, who took only tenth place at the European Championships in 2005, impressed everyone with their considerable improvement in performance.This horse has certainly come of age!

Isabell Werth, whose 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Warum Nicht by Weltmeyer, had made constant progress over the winter, also celebrated her comeback to the German team. Having taken second place in the World Cup Final, behind Anky van Grunsven, the chestnut gelding also came third in the dressage arena in Aachen (74,833).
After the team competition yesterday, the dressage riders now go on to fight for victory in the individual classification, the Grand Prix of Aachen that is endowed with prize-money totalling 100,000 Euros. Tomorrow on Saturday (starting 9 a.m.) the best 30 riders will compete in the Grand Prix Spécial and on Sunday (starting 10 a.m.) the best 15 pairs qualify for the final freestyle competition.

I have been thoroughly enjoying the Newsletter from Aachen keeping me up to date with the latest news as it happens!

This photopicture © Dirk Caremans/www.hippofoto.be

I hope dressagedirect won't mind me showing the appalling conditions that Andreas Helgstrand aboard Blue Horse Don Schufro had to deal with, from their extensive coverage.

Please check with www.dressagedirect.com, and www.eurodressage.com for an excellent coverage of the Dressage.

Check out...

http://www.aachen2006.de/ for the FEI World Equestrian Games details!

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Just thought it was time to have another nice photo of me taken by my friend Rupert Harris.
The sand from my sandpit certainly sticks to your nose!

I cleaned my teeth especially for this photoshoot!

... and this is me teaching Jan how to use a pessoa training aid correctly.

I LOVE MY WORK!

Chunky BOY!!!!

Scoutwell Supplies

supports The BHS Riding Clubs Festival of the Hunter May 14th 2006

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British Riding Clubs Festival of the Hunter

full results are available on BHS website

http://www.bhs.org.uk/Content/Brc-Home.asp?id=1821&pg=Festival%20of%20the%20Hunter

KBIS Horse Insurance Senior Open Hunter Trials... Individual results

Keighley Thomas and Keltic Manor Elf

Torfaen Riding club

2nd Chris Nicholson and Abbott Cassiopia

Welton District

3rd Lynne Deakin and Kia II South Warwickshire

all in a days work!!!!

Judges Mssrs J Conifey and T Lucas

images

all (c) Jan Milne

X-country images available.

The festival of the Hunter sponsored by KBIS Horse Insurance
Wittering Grange May 14th 2006

The winning team from Mid Somerset riding club.

...more images


Best in Show

Sally Anne Barton Blakes Thicket

reserve

Abbi Stiff Blueridge Bertolucci






Best in Show

Sally Anne Barton Blakes Thicket

with KBIS Insurance











Reserve

Abbi Stiff
Blueridge
Bertolucci

The Winning teams line-up.

Mid Somerset 1st, 2nd Welton and District, 3rd South Warwickshire.

Winners Mid Somerset with KBIS Horse Insurance

2nd place team Welton and District

3rd South Warwickshire

British

Riding

Clubs

Festival of the HUNTER 2006

Working Hunter Champs
1st Sally-Anne Barton Blakes Thicket, 2nd Sarah Page Four Leaf Clover, 3rd Claire Carr Beechwood.








Ever wondered what entering a Riding Club competition involves?
The country is split into 23 areas each area holds a qualifier for each competition.
An omnibus schedule is sent out to secretaries at the start of each year, this includes all of the qualifier entry forms for the year.
A preliminary entry is made to head office, with the appropriate entry fees.
It must reach Stoneleigh by 30 June or by 21 days before the area qualifier, whichever comes first.
For each preliminary entry made to the head office, an entry is also made to the club organising the area competition.
The area committee sets the area entry fees.
Head Office will contact the people who have qualified in due course after the qualifier informing them of details for the relevant championship, and so to the Championships!

The Kbis Festival of the Hunter took place at Grange Farm, Wittering, Nr Peterborough, on 14th May 2006.


Sponsored by KBIS HORSE INSURANCE http://www.kbis.co.uk/


RING 1:
09:00 RIDDEN NOVICE HUNTER CHAMPIONSHIP
11:00 RIDDEN LIGHTWEIGHT HUNTER CHAMPIONSHIP
12:30 RIDDEN MIDDLEWEIGHT HUNTER CHAMPIONSHIP
13:00 RIDDEN HEAVYWEIGHT HUNTER CHAMPIONSHIP
14:00 RIDDEN COB CHAMPIONSHIP
15:00 BEST IN SHOW

RING 2:
09:00 WORKING HUNTER PONY CHAMPIONSHIP
11:00 WORKING HUNTER HORSE CHAMPIONSHIP

Judge Mr John Conifey, who comes from the Wantage area, commented "the standard of competitors was good, with a very high standard of turnout by the Riding Club participants". He said that he was having a lovely day with very charming competitors, at a thoroughly well organised event.

Judge John Conifey with ridden cob winner Kim Chapman's Will's Will

The owners of Wittering Grange, a venue well placed for most people to get to, pulled out all the stops to lay what was an attractive and inviting x-country, across a rolling valley with very few eliminations. Perfect for spectators, the facilities here are truely excellent. There are 3 lovely outdoor arenas and with the indoor school set aside for refreshments, and a small selection of retailers, people could gather in shelter and comfort to discuss the days placings on a rather overcast day!



Sarah Page from Hawley second in the working hunter.

Wildest Dream with John Millington

Middleweight Hunter Champion.

Andy Dalby

Keepers Catch

Heavy weight

Hunter Champion

The water complex

(c) Jan Milne

Congratulations Andrew

check out WWW.cyberhorse.co.au

for some other photos!

Andrew Hoy Wins the coveted Badminton Horse Trials

Andrew and Bettina ... Team Hoy celebrate!

A delighted Andrew Hoy and Ingrid Klimke parade after completing the Showjumping, finishing 1st and 2nd respectively.

It aint heavy It's my Trophy!!!

Well done Aussie!

1.Andrew Hoy

2. Ingrid Klimke

3. Oliver Townend

Caroline Powell and Lenamore

completes her Showjumping with 4 faults

Her final score is 58.5 in 16th position at the halfway mark.

Australian Matt Ryan on Bonza Katoomba on 54.1 in 10th position at the halfway mark.

Matthew Wright and Park Pilot

Oliver Townend and Topping

MORE TO FOLLOW...

WOW Saddle Stand does roaring trade at Badminton Horse Trials weekend.

MD David Kempsell seen here advising new clients about their comprehensive unique range of bespoke saddles.

This is a traditional looking saddle with a revolutionary ability to suit any size or shape rider and horse combination, for any discipline. It boasts a flexible carbon fibre tree, a wide weight bearing surface and the result is generally little or no pressure on the horses back.

The seat is anatomically designed to promote correct riders position, whilst offering security and comfort. Flaps are totally interchangable, be it Dressage, Jumping, GP, Endurance... a Saddle for life! A unique girthing system works with the centre of gravity ensuring stability, Flair is fitted as standard. A choice of colours and trims are also available.

The company promotes this concept, with Flair and Korrector saddle pads.

The NEW CROSS-COUNTRY saddle as recently tested by British Eventing is Fantastic!

look at www.wow.com for all the info. There will be an agent in your area now, and you can expect excellent fitting and after sales service.

Stallions go on parade

Twelve stallions graded with Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain (SHB [GB]) will be on parade in the main arena at the end of dressage today. They include a range of type and breed as well as performance stallions from dressage, show jumping and eventing.

Catherston Liberator, bred by Jennie Loriston-Clarke leads the parade. Liberator competed in dressage up to international small tour before turning to eventing.

The dressage stallion Foxcourt Andante is a young British bred Oldenberg, while Millenium is a grand prix stallion who represented Britain at the 2001 European Championships with Laura Richardson. Pro-Set is currently competing at international small tour with British Olympic dressage rider and Badminton commentator Carl Hester.

The grey, Belgian warmblood Rupert Steiff and the coloured stallion Stanhope’s Diddecoy are also both advanced dressage stallions.

As well as Liberator eventing is represented by the Jumbo son Jet Set, advanced horses McGuigan who has competed internationally with British team member and Badminton contender Jeanette Brakewell and Weston Justice whose regular rider Oliver Townend is also competing here. The British bred Up With The Lark and German Hannoverian Song Song Blue are both young eventing stallions and have had successful starts to their careers.

Show jumping is represented by the Dutch-bred 2005 Foxhunter champion Romanov II.

1 – Catherston Liberator 2 – Foxcourt Andante
3 – Jet Set, 4 – McGuigan
5 – Millenium 6 – Pro-Set
7 – Romanov II 8 – Rupert Steiff
9 – Song Song Blue 10 – Stanhope’s Diddecoy
11 – Up With The Lark 12 – Weston Justice

For more details contact: SHB(GB) Images of the other Stallions available.

www.sporthorsegb.co.uk

I am minding the office chair this week...

Badminton is not for the Tonkinese!

Press Conference day 2 BADMINTON

Andrew Hoy, Ingrid Klimke, Oliver Townend






Ingrid answers the press enquiries





Oliver Townend looks set for an exciting final day


Oliver Townend is only 23-years-old but after producing two impressive cross-country rounds is currently in third place with Flint Curtis and best of the 31 British competitors at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

It is only the second Badminton for Oliver, a member of the British World Class Potential squad, who was 12th with Topping on his debut here last year. As Oliver succinctly pointed out; “Andrew Hoy first competed here four years before I was born!. I know, because I saw the photos!"

Oliver, who first wore the Union Jack as part of the squad for last year’s European Championships, has ridden the grey Flint Curtis, a former ride of British Young Rider Issy Taylor, for just three months. The combination qualified for Badminton at Burnham Market CIC earlier this spring.

As Oliver is one of the youngest riders competing so the 10-year-old Flint Curtis is one of the youngest horses - there are just two ten-year-olds, the other Regulus (no.4).
The good-moving, grey Flint Curtis was bred by his owner Edward Nicholson who stood his sire, the successful show jumping stallion, William Curtis at his stud in Lincolnshire. William Curtis was a son of the HIS Thoroughbred Garnered best known as the sire of Karen Dixon’s prolific four-star and British team horse Get Smart. Flint Curtis is out of Zircon, a mare by the well-known Leicestershire hunting stallion John O’ Gaunt.

A good performance today will ensure an armful of prizes for the Leicestershire based rider who is currently in line for the Butler Challenge trophy to the highest British rider as well as the Frank Weldon memorial challenge trophy presented to the rider of the youngest British owned horse in the top 12.