I am looking for writers and bloggers to post regularly (the more the better!) on each of our blog sites and forum. Some of our sites include:

worldhorseforum.com
horseridinglessonsblog.com
horsecomedy.com
dressagenewsblog.com
eventingnewsblog.com
showjumpingnews.com
hunterandjumpersblog.com
floridahorseshowsblog.com
horsebreedsonlineblog.com
horsedatingsceneblog.com
horsesinthenews.com

We have many other sites that have guest writers and we need different writers and bloggers to be creative no matter what your interest is in horses….we want you! We have big plans and we need people who are passionate about horses and want to get in early.
I am looking for people who will write with personality, humor and provide interesting personal stories, advice, reporting on events both locally and internationally, photos and most importantly building a relationship and evoking responses from readers. Originality is of the upmost importance, no cutting and pasting other people’s work, it must be your own work.
If you are interested please email me at cheryle@bobblesolutions.com to discuss it further.

Five riders have been named for the Canadian Show Jumping Team for the 2007 Pan American Games which are being held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil from June 14 – 29, 2007.
They are:
Mac Cone and Melinda
Karen Cudmore and Southern Pride
Jill Henselwood and Special Ed
Eric Lamaze and Hickstead
Ian Miller and In Style
There are 3 alternative horse and riders and they are:
Mario Deslauriers and Paradigm
Terrance Millar and Redefin
John Pearce and Archie Bunker
Show jumping at the Pam American games will be taking place from July 26 – 29th

International show jumping competitor and renowned sire, Rio Grande, passed away at the age of 21.
Arguably the most influential sport horse sire standing in Canada, Rio Grande died suddenly on May 21 after suffering a heart attack. Owned by Augustin Walch of W. Charlot Farms, Rio Grande was a 1986 bay Hannoverian stallion by Raphael x Windhuk.
Purchased by Augustin Walch as a three-year-old at the Verden auction in Germany, Rio Grande won the Stallion Performance Test in 1991 before going on to enjoy an international show jumping career. Partnered with Eric Lamaze, Rio Grande competed at the 1996 World Cup Final in Geneva and qualified for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Rio Grande was also a member of winning Nations’ Cup teams at the National Horse Show in New York City and the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto in 1995.
Following his retirement from competition in 2001, Rio Grande quickly cemented his reputation as a prolific sire of show jumping, hunter, dressage, and eventing sport horses. For three consecutive years, in 2004, 2005 and 2006, W. Charlot Farms was named the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Hunter Breeder of the Year, due in large part to the points accumulated by Rio Grande offspring. Among his most successful hunter progeny are Rio Renoir, Eye Remember Rio, Rio Bravo, Rio Bronco, Due North, and Rave.
In addition, Rio Grande offspring are currently competing at the Grand Prix level in show jumping. Rio’s Rhapsody has enjoyed success under Erynn Ballard while Catwalk contested the 2007 Pan American Games Selection Trials with Darren Dlin.

May 31-June 3, 2007

At the St. Gallen CSIO in Switzerland, the U.S. team was third in the Samsung Super League Nation’s Cup; Richard Spooner from CA, and Ace won the LGT Preis class. Spooner, was the fastest in the jump off by four seconds. He also picked up the leading rider title by adding two second place finishes and a fourth to his tally.

Beezie Madden ended up in a tie for second place on the leading riders list after placing sixth in the Grand Prix with Authentic, winning the Preis der Metzgerei Gemperli with Onlight and finishing second in two other classes.

Laura Kraut and Todd Minikus rounded out the Nation’s Cup squad and had top ten individual placings throughout the weekend. Lisa Silverman was also in St. Gallen and rode Obelix R in the Grand Prix.

Saugerties, NY – June 04, 2007

Tim Hooker had the sought after last ride of the round and stopped the clocks at 42.246 beating 5 other horses that went clear by fractions of a second to win over Tracy Magness riding Tarco Van Ter Moude.

Tim has only had the horse since February but commented “I haven’t had a horse this good in 25 years…..this horse knows when it is Sunday and he comes to play!”
 

No Tags

McLain set a very high start when he jumped a clear round but went over his 80 second time allowed which gave him a single time fault. Olaf Peterson adjusted the time allowed (this is acceptable after a few have jumped and it needs to be adjusted) and set the new time to 83 seconds which left McLain who completed the course in 82 seconds fault free.

McLain completed the jump off in a winning time of 40.08 seconds. Second place went to Margie Engle on Hidden Creek’s Perin, who went around in a time of 43.09 and 4 faults.

McLain Ward rode the only clear round and only 5 riders made it to the jump off.

Show jumping at its highest level is not for the faint hearted.  It has been described as a combination of downhill skiing and horse racing with horse and rider hitting high rates of speed between the jumps.

Show Jumping is the second most popular and watched on television sport in England.  The most popular is soccer.  It has a similar following throughout Europe.  In America it has seen a remarkable growth in popularity over the last decade.  The bronze individual medal performance at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the silver team medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, along with the team and individual gold medals won at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 has really put the sport into the spotlight. 

Show Jumping is easy to understand.  The challenge is simple, that is to jump 12 - 20 obstacles.

Penalty points (known as faults) are added if a horse should fall, refuse or knock down any part of the jump.  They are disqualified if the rider falls off.  It is the riders responsibility to guide their horse through the course at the right angle, speed and spacing to clear the fences without incurring faults.  The jumpers hit high rates of speed between the jumps and the heights of the jumps vary from anywhere from 5′3″ to 6″.

A rider who rides to fast risks knocking down fences, whereas the rider who places their horse carefully and slowly around the course may do a clear round but risk time faults as they have not completed the course in the time allowed.

The winner is the horse and rider with the least faults and the quickest time.

The show will take place over 4 days and boasts a total prize fund of over 600,000 Swiss Francs.  Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to crowd the purpose built equestrian arena to watch the world class show jumping action.

The performance squad is 1 of 3 as part of the new British Show Jumping Association and World Class Development Plan.  The plan is to assist riders maximize the performance of their horses and improve International results.