EVENTING NEWS

Anglos at Saumur

The French Anglo-Arabian TATCHOU (52.12% Arabian) (right) finished in second place at Saumur in the Grand National after having lead the field after the first two days. They finished 13th in stadium with 8 penalty points.Tatchou and Nicholas Touzaint won the event in 2007. The AAC Haston d'Elpegere (13.79%) finished a strong fourth place, moving up from 15th after dressage.

In the CCI*** event, Anglo KALINE DE DUN (35.31%) finished in third place, moving up from 22nd after dressage and sixth after cross country. (below)

Anglo-Arabian heading to Beijing

The British Equestrian Team has announced that William Fox-Pitt will be representing Britain at the Olympics in Beijing on Mary Guinness' Anglo-Arabian Tamarillo.This will be the pair's second Olympic competition, having won Team Silver in Athens in 2004.

A winner at Badminton in 2004 and a member of the Silver Medal team at the World Equestrian Games in 2006, Tamarillo and Fox-Pitt have been a force to be reckoned with in internation level eventing. Tamarillo finished 2nd at the Badminton CCI**** in other runs there in 2002 and 2005;. They were also Individual Silver and Team Gold in the 2005 European Championships and Team Bronze in the 2002 WEG. This pair has been competing together since 2002.

Fox--Pitt is Britain's leading event rider and also competes on the Guinness' Anglo stallion All That Jazz.

The Anglo mare Fachoudette (below) is long-listed for the Olympics with Brit Georgie Davies. They finished 10th in Badminton earlier this month. They were awarded Laurence Rook Trophy for the best British Rider not previously competed Badminton and the Stud Voucher (£500) for the owner of highest placed British owned mare.

Anglos Ranked Second Worldwide

The Anglo-Arabian has been ranked second in the worldwide standings for Eventing by the WBFSH for the first 6 months of the competition year (Oct. 07- Mar 08). The Top six ranked horses are: DIAMANT DU PONTET, 46.17% Arabian (by Sirio*HN); HYANIE D'AUBRIE, 39.47% Arabian (by Jalienny); KALINE DE DUN, 35.31% Arabian (by Primo d'Or); KHANJER BLACK, 56.47% Arabian (by Khanjer Joli); JACKSON D'ALLEZ, 36.75% Arabian (by Tcherkou) and HOLLYWOOD INN, 38.59% Arabian (by Ultan).

Below are these top six rated horses.

Diamant du Pontet (l) and Hyanie d'Aubrie (r)

Kaline de Dun (l) and Khanjer Black (r)

Jackson d'Allez (l) and Hollywood Inn (r)

Anglo Wins Ambassador Award

Snooze Alarm, the talented Anglo-Arabian event horse owned and ridden by Lauren Kieffer, was named the 2007 Arabian Horse Association's Ambassador Award Winner,.

This award is given annually by the AHA to the registered Arabian, Anglo-Arabian or Half-Arabian for outstanding achievement in representing the Arabian Horse community to the general public. The horse must have achieved a unique accomplishment that showcases the breed in order to be eligible. Read their story HERE.

It Takes Two

Eventing, the equine equivalent of a triathlon, is the most highly demanding discipline in which a horse can compete. The finesse of dressage, the power, scope and strength of cross country and stadium jumping - this is no sport for mediocrity. Horse and rider teams spend many years developing their skills and the sense of trust necessary for them to be successful.

When the Kieffers gave their daughter Lauren riding lessons at the age of 6, little did they know what a life-changing experience they were embarking on. Like most un-horsey families, they figured that the lessons would give their little girl an important set of skills.

Lauren started her equestrian career riding hunters and competing at local shows. Her parents leased an Appaloosa gelding for a while before buying her an off the track Thoroughbred when she was ten. The Eventing bug bit her at the tender age of 12 and the Kieffers moved Lauren to the Evansville, Indiana barn of Susannah Lansdale, 45 miles from where they lived in southern Illinois.

It was there that Lauren bought another Thoroughbred, Cardinal, and began competing in Novice Level events. Because of Cardinal's limitations, the Kieffers were in the market for a new partner for Lauren to move up on, to a more difficult level of competition.

At the same time, there was a cute chestnut Anglo-Arabian gelding at the barn, there for training. Because her trainer was pregnant and unable to ride, the task fell to Lauren. It was not love at first sight, to put it mildly. Snooze Alarm was not cooperative, he had his own ideas of how his training should progress. "I hated him," says Lauren, "He bucked me off every day!" But she persevered and eventually earned his trust and respect.

The Kieffers bought Snooze Alarm from his breeders, Lawson and Jeanne Williams, as a 5 year old in 2002. "I asked my father to buy him, and he said 'No!'" remembers Lauren, but she somehow wore him down. Once Lauren spoke Snooze's language,   he learned quickly, with his love of cross country jumping becoming obvious. "He was very peeky with stadium jumps, but over the more natural obstacles he was great!"

Snooze and Lauren did a few Training Level events with success, but as the level of difficulty increased, so naturally did they face some problems as a team.

About this time, Lauren and Snooze had a bad fall at a double bank during a cross country school. Lauren suffered a compression fracture of her vertebrae, but wasted no time in asking the doctors when she could ride again.   She was supposed to wait 3 months before getting on a horse again, but was back to it in 8 weeks or so. "We got the call from her doctor clearing her for light riding while on our way to a show," recalls Lauren's mom, Jo.   "We just said 'Sure, we'll do just 15 minutes today.'"

Due to their success, they were able to move up to Preliminary Level, quite an accomplishment in a short time. Since they were both learning as they went along, it became necessary to seek some help working through some issues this team was facing. It was then that Snooze and Lauren turned to the reigning king and queen of Eventing, David and Karen O'Connor.

(David O'Connor is President of the USEF, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist and his wife, Karen {Lende} O'Connor,   has been named Horsewoman of the Year 9 times,and   was the Atlanta Olympic Silver Medalist and Pan Am Games Gold Medalist in '07. Karen evented the French Anglo-Arabian Nos Ecus in the 80's, and currently events the French Anglo-Arabian mare Mam'zelle de Dun.)

Lauren was given a session at the O'Connors' Eventing Camp at their farm in Virginia in 2005 as a graduation gift from her parents. David recognized the gelding's incredible jumping prowess. "He called Snooze a ping-pong ball!" recalls Lauren. "David took the horse out to school jumps on a longe line in order to build his confidence and teach him how to figure things out on his own."

  It was just the ticket for this determined pair.   Lauren competed Snooze at the North American Young Rider Championship CCI* that year before going to become a working student with the O' Connors, a position offered to only the most talented horses and riders.   It was there that they both gained more training and experience riding many different horses and many different courses.

As a pair, Snooze and Lauren were accepted to the 2007 USEF's Developing Riders Training List, awarded to outstanding young competitors. This requires completion of a CCI** and written recommendations from two CCI**** competitors. They were in Florida this past February for the 2-day training session with Kim Severson.

During his career thus far, Snooze Alarm has finished 30 events in the top 10 (including nine wins) at Training Level and above including three CCI* and four CCI** which are international level three-day events. They also qualified for the 2007 American Eventing Championships for the third year in a row in 2007. Snooze finished 12 th in the North American Young Riders Championships in August, helping their Area 8 team earn a second place in the Team Competition as   well .

Lauren was sent another Anglo-Arabian through the Williams   for training a year ago and says of the mare, "Belle Luna is a lovely horse. She did her first Training Level competition in '07 and did really well!" No doubt her success with Snooze Alarm made that a logical choice for the mare's owner.

When asked about her plans with Snooze for the future, Lauren says, "We will go as far as we can in this sport." Immediate plans are to start legging him up since he has had the last few months off, heading to Florida in February to compete Advanced.and then prep for the Jersey Fresh CCI*** in May. Lauren is also busy as the Young Rider representative for USEA's   Area 8, where she lives.

But right now, Snooze grazes outside the Kieffer's house, enjoying his holiday. Jo says his personality keeps her on her toes. "He's got my number," she laughs, "I can't even get him to let me put his halter on in his stall, but Lauren can!" "He likes to be left alone in his stall," says Lauren, "He can be a real corker about things at times."

The 15.3 hand gelding, by the Arabian stallion Serazim, and out of the Thoroughbred mare Wake Me Gently (hence the name Snooze Alarm) is mistaken for a small Thoroughbred more times than Lauren can count. "I just love to see their faces when I tell them he's half Arabian!" she says.

The life lessons learned while forging this mutual bond are many. "I would say I have acquired patience, perseverance and learned the true meaning of the word partnership. The trust we have in each other is necessary to do what we do," says Lauren, and her mother concurs. "That horse will do anything for Lauren."

Just this past spring, a full brother to Snooze Alarm was born. Boogie Board, as he was named, will hopefully follow in his big brother's footsteps one day!

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article will be appearing in an upcoming issue of Modern Arabian Horse Magazine. Thanks to Brant Gamma for the photos from 2007 NAYRC.

You can see a video of Snooze Alarm HERE.

WBFSH Rankings for '07

The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses has posted their rankings for the first half of the competition year from 10/1/06 to 5/31/07. In Eventing, the Anglo-Arabian is ranked third overall, with 24 individual horses making the list. Jumpers listed three Anglos so far. Fachoudette - GBR , pictured above, is long-listed for the British Olympic Team. Featured below are photos of these outstanding athletes.

Tatchou, left, and Casoar Des Touches, right

Coronado Prior , left, and Kelvar, right

Gadget de la Cere, left, and Hobby du Mee, right

Khanjer Black, left, and Heron De La Forge, right

Havenir d'Azac , left, and Ryvage, right

Jackson d'Allez , left, and Gamin du Faget, right

Eventing Anglos Abroad

The Anglos overseas are racking up successful runs on the world's most prestigious event courses, earning them a Fourth Place ranking worldwide as a breed, with 35 Anglo-Arabian horses making the list.

Hobby du Mee/Badminton

Hobby du Mee (Fayriland II {AA} x Patience {AA}) with Ireland's Austin O'Connor finished 21st at Badminton out of 100 entries. (Photo right)

"The horse did a 53 mark dressage test in the opening phase, which was very good for his first four-star event," O'Connor said. "He coped with the atmosphere well - it is truly a different ball game at Badminton. He was a bit green and tight in the arena but we both learned a lot."

The pair then jumped a fine clear cross-country, coming home with 10 time penalties over one of the most feared courses in the world. "Half-way round I forgot about my watch and just concentrated on getting him to enjoy jumping round," O'Connor said.

"He gave me a great ride and it's another stepping stone for him, hopefully the first of many. The ground was obviously firm enough but it didn't ride too bad and the horses trotted up as well as ever the next day." The pair had just one fence down in the final show jumping phase, at the last part of the combination close to home, but the Worcestershire rider was again more than happy with the display.

"Hobby du Mee is 12 but still relatively inexperienced and this will have set him up for the future," O'Connor, who rides the horse for Isle of Man owners Sue and Eddie Davies, added. The pair ended last season with sixth place at the Kreuth CCI*** three-day event and look to have started 2007 in similarly impressive style. They had their first run at the Witton Castle one-day event in County Durham, where they finished fourth in an advanced section packed with leading riders.

All That Jazz

This young Australian Anglo stallion, ridden and trained by Britain's top eventer William Fox-Pitt, is by SS City Lights (Arabian) out of Belingo (TB)., In 2006, Jazz won a Novice section at Larkhill with top dressage marks, then a nice double clear. He won a total of 3 Novice classes in 2006.

This young stablemate of Anglo eventing legend Tamarillo (1st and 2nd at Badminton in '04 and '05; Silver Medal at WEG '06) has started the '07 season with three 2nd place runs at NRF Hambledon, Gatcombe and Aldon.

(More to follow soon!)

U.S. Eventing Anglos

UPDATED 11/9/07 - The 2007 U. S. Eventing Association season is off to a great start for Anglo-Arabian competitors. Below you will find results of these terrific athletes' season thus far.

Am'Or de Soie (Prince du Logis x Soie d'Or) owned by Brittany Savory (photo right)

• 14th Galway Open Preliminary 3/31
• 13th Twin Rivers 3 Day Prelim 5/4
• 14th Woodside HT Training JTR 8/10
• 20th Twin Rivers HT CIC* 9/28

Snooze Alarm (Serazim x Wake Me Gently TB) owned by Lauren Kieffer (photo left)

• 12th Rocking Horse HT Jr/YR Open Preliminary 2/4 (2nd after SJ)
• 5th Rocking Horse HT Open Intermediate 2/23
• 15th Red Hills CIC** Open Intermediate 3/9
• 7th Maui Jim HT CIC** 7/12 • 13th NAYRC CCI ** 8/2 • 12th Richland Park HT Advanced 8/24 • 10th Poplar Place HT CIC*** 9/27 • 3rd Wits End HT Advanced 9/26

Mam'zelle de Dun (Prima d'Or x Fiona) owned by Maria J. Brazil (photo below)

• 9th Rocking Horse HT Open Training 2/3
• 3rd Ocala Open Training 2/18 (1st in dressage & SJ, just 1/2 pt. behind winner)
• 8th Rocking Horse HT Open Preliminary 2/23
• 13th Poplar Place Open Training 3/23 (1st after Dressage & SJ)
• 1st Fair Hill HT Open Training 5/19 • 9th Va. 3 Day Prelim. 5/24 • 10th Seneca Valley HT Prelim. 6/16 • 4th Millbrook HT Prelim 8/9 • 35th American Eventing Championships Prelim 9/12

A Bitter Farewell owned by Keith and Jill Thomas, ridden by Shelley McKain (below)

6th Full Gallop Farm HT Open Novice 2/14

16th Paradise Farm Novice 2/23

• 2nd Spring Bay Novice 4/13
• 3rd Hidden Hollow HT Training 7/21
• 1st Catalpa Corner HT Training 8/4 • 11th Wayne DuPage HT Training 8/17 • 26th American Eventing Championships Novice 9/12

Seattles Rugged Star (Rugged SS TB x Ashby) owned by Jessica Schaberg

• 7th Rocking Horse HT Training 2/23
• 10th Shawan Downs Traning SR 5/4
• 7th Fair Hill Internat'l HT Open Training 5/19
• 11th Waredaca HT Training 6/1
• 7th Seneca Valley HT Novice Rider 9/8

Kings Rio Grande (Ishalan She'etan x Dusky Blue TB)) owned by Cara Julian (photo left)

• 10th Twin Rivers Beginner Novice 3/2
• 9th Ram Tap Novice Junior 4/13

Negrito(Geriko du Quercus AA x Belinda de Drulthe) owned by Teresa Brookins

• 4th Sporting Days CT Training 3/14 (1st after Dressage)
• 4th Pine Top HT Novice 4/14
• 12th Paradise Farm HT Novice 10/20

Legend (Klassic Shah Tann x Eden Hills Hurry) owned by Laurel Bond (photo below left)

• 4th Mill Creek PC at Longview HT Open Training JR 5/13
• 3rd Fox River Valley HT Training 6/22
• 6th Hunters Run HT Training 8/10

Catch Me If You Can (Tonka Orford x Fenians Rainbow) owned by Amy Beaulier ridden by Christine Williams (photo above right)

• 7th Univ. of NH Open Training 4/28 • 13th GMHA HT Training 6/2 • 11th GMHA 3 Day Training 8/16

Belle Luna owned by Jeanne Williams ridden by Lauren Kieffer(photo above right)

• 10th Rocking Horse Spring HT Beg. Novice 3/16
• 5th Va. 3 Day Novice Horse 5/24
• 4th Maui Jim HT Training 7/12
• 11th Waredaca HT Training 8/17
• 18th Poplar Pl HT Training 9/7
• 7th Marlborough HT Prelim 9/22

Anglo Wins Gold Medal

Doha, QATAR - The French bred Anglo-Arabian gelding Khanjer Black (Khanjer Joli {AA} x Black Pearl {AA}) brought home to Japan the Indivdual Gold Medal in Eventing at the 2006 Asian Games in December. Ridden by Yoshiaki Oiwa, Asia's top event rider, Khanjer Black beat 32 starters to earn the honor. Homme du Gue, another French Anglo, placed 24th individually for Japan, helping them earn the Team Silver Medal.

Khanjer competed in Europe until 2005 under owner Jacques Dulcy, placing highly as a 6 and 7 year old, including the '05 World Equestrian Games. He is currently listed amongst the top eventing horses in the world by the FFE.

Still another Anglo, Marquis de Dun, pictured below, placed 20th for UAE in the first Eventing competition ever held on the Arabian Peninsula.

Anglo and Owner/Rider Honored

Lexington, KY: Lauren Kieffer and her Anglo gelding Snooze Alarm were selected for the United States Equestrian Federation's 2007 Eventing Developing Riders Program.

The USEF's Eventing Developing Rider Program is available to riders of any age who aspire to compete at the highest levels of the sport. To qualify, each horse/rider combination must have completed a CCI** or above. Precedence is given to riders without prior team experience.

In 2007 horse/rider combinations have been selected to participate in one two day training session with Kim Severson. There will be three locations for the training sessions, Ocala, Florida, Aiken, South Carolina, and California. Following these training sessions, Kim and the Eventing Selection Committee will select up to five individuals to receive training grants. The grants may be used for training purposes only and will be managed by the USEF Director of Eventing. These individuals will also be invited to attend a training session held along side the training session for Pan American Games Short List in the beginning of July 2007.

Lauren and Snooze will be in Ocala for their session the first week of February. Lauren is ranked 3rd in the USEA Young Rider rankings and trains with Olympic riders David and Karen O'Connor.

ROSE TRÉMIÈRE: Superstar's Return

Rose Trémière is a very special horse that has had an interesting life. We imported her 5 years ago from France, where she had been a successful dressage horse until the age of 6, then went on to place 5th at the Saumur CCI***. When she arrived in North America she was a force to be reckoned with. Her astounding movement, unbelievable scope and bravery made her a very special event horse. The year she was imported she won several advanced horse trials in the United States, then went on to finish 5th at the Foxhall CCI***. These accomplishments led her to be named the 2002 United States Eventing Association Mare of the Year. (Above photo Jan. 2007, finishing 10th in Prelim)

The mare was talented, with a fiery disposition that made her at times difficult to deal with, as she had always led a stressful competition life and never had any turn out while residing in France. We quickly learned that we could not turn her out as she would hop any size fence and run wild around the farm. Her temperament also made her an extremely tough, sound horse and unfortunately while running at Foxhall she had had an abscess, though not unsound, went on to injure her tendon as a result.

Since she was so special we elected to give her plenty of time to heal from the injury, and one year later as she was returning to work something dreadful happened. While on a course of penicillin for a slight case of cellulitous, she went into anaphylactic shock from one of her doses. Temporarily blinded, she broke loose from the barn, ran into a nearby house breaking her nose, and then went through 7 paddock fences. Remarkably, she survived and despite the broken nose, severe lacerations to her legs and entire body, she remained very sound. We were lucky she survived. It was a horrific, terrible experience I hope I never have to witness again.

Upbeat and healing for several weeks in her stall, she suddenly went gravely lame in one of her fore legs. We shipped her to the University of Guelph and learned a tiny missed puncture by our vet had led to a tendon sheath infection. They announced that she would most likely not survive. Seven weeks she spent at the University and many times they suggested that she be put down. Just when I was finally coming to terms with the fact it might be best for her, she suddenly began to get better. When she was released from the University, she came home to rehab and what we thought would be sure retirement.

Almost two years had passed since her accident and she was doing very well. Her temperament had begun to change and she was enjoying turnout. Though still on the hyper side, she had mellowed and was on her way to becoming quite a sweet mare. Since she had been sound for over a year, I began to ride her again, more because it seemed like she was a bit bored rather than any hopes of competing her again. She was still a force to be reckoned with, and not the most relaxing horse to ride. I will say at times she used her athleticism not always for good things! One thing was clear though, she was enjoying working again.

One side effect of having the tendon sheath infection, and the catheter in her neck for an extended period of time, her jugular on one side of her neck had become blocked. The veins were badly scarred and left her with a limited blood flow.

Not sure what she was going to be capable of doing, since she had had her annular ligament cut due to the tendon sheath infection, plus the original tendon injury, and the blocked jugular, I slowly kept going with her and knew she would tell me what she could and couldn’t do. Eventually I entered her in a training level horse trial. With the increase in work her jugular actually improved due to the supply and demand law of blood required. The vein actually grew around the scarred area to meet her demand for blood, truly incredible! Many people told me to just breed her, and I would have but I couldn’t help but feel it wouldn’t be enough for this mare. She wanted to be out and about doing her job.

As soon as she started doing these lower level events it was so clear she was much happier. At the horse shows, she never put a foot wrong and seemed to relish the attention she was getting. She was cool, calm and collected, never giving me cause for alarm. I won’t lie and say she was easy to rehab. All the time off had led to a very stiff horse, almost impossible to get round and supple for the dressage. Years of doing advanced had made her difficult to jump as she did not want any rider input. I did think I would never be able to “get with her”, let alone feel comfortable enough to upgrade her to preliminary level.

Somehow we managed to gain a tremendous respect for each other. We both learned to compromise a little bit and before long we were being successful together. In 2006 we took home quite a few ribbons at training level and in the summer we upgraded to preliminary level. I was very cautious to be sensitive to her physical limitations, I was always ready to say enough was enough if she told me so. But she never did, she loved the bit of new challenge in the new level and genuinely loved being out competing. I have never known a horse to enjoy it more than Rosie.

I have her checked by a vet regularly to make sure nothing is changing to prevent her from competing. Not only is she sound and well, they can not find any reason why she can’t continue on to Intermediate. I am not yet convinced she should upgrade again, only because of damage sustained to one fetlock, and she isn’t able to bend it as much as her other fetlock. I want her to enjoy herself and not feel strained, and I certainly don’t want her injured again. Since she would never limit herself as she has such a big heart, I have to be careful for her.

What does the future hold for this mare that is lucky to be alive several times over? I am not sure. The plan right now is to continue to compete her at preliminary level until she tells me its time not to, and then we would love to have a foal from her. Everyday I am thankful to be able to still have Rosie, let alone be able to compete her. She has taught me a lot about riding and perseverance.

Since I have no other experience with Anglo Arabs, I can not compare this mare to others. She really does have it all though, the movement, the heart and scope and I am certain if she had not suffered through what she went through, she would have brought a medal home to Canada. On the other hand, I believe she is a content mare, happy with her life as it is now. When the time comes to breed her, there will be a long list of people wanting her foals! -Nicole Shinton

NOTE: Rose Trémière was sired by Tango de Brejoux (FAYRILAND II), pictured below, who was also the sire of Karen Lende O'Connor's Anglo Nos Ecus.

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World Breeder Federation Studbook Rankings

The World Breeder Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) posted its Studbook ranking for 2006 in FEI Dressage, Showjumping and Eventing. The Anglo-Arabians ranked Fifth in Eventing and 24th in Jumping.

The Anglos that garnered the prestigious Fifth Placing in Eventing were : Fachoudette (FRA), Kiutys (FRA), Zigarru (ITA), Heron de la Forge (FRA), Gadget de la Cere (FRA) and Tatchou (FRA).

Fachoudette (l) and Heron de la Forge (r)

Kiutys

Gadget de la Cere

Tatchou

Currently, the WBFSH is the only international Federation of Studbooks for Sport Horses in the world. The WBFSH is the major connection between the breeding organizations of sport horses and the international equestrian sport (FEI).

The WBFSH has been ruling the World Breeding Championships for Sport Horses (WBCSH) in the three olympic disciplines since 1992, together with the FEI.

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Young Horse Eventing Championships

Anglo-Arabians ranked in the top 50 horses in both the 6 year old and 7 year old Eventing Championship Classes for 2006, giving the Anglos Fourth Place Overall in the World Breeding Trophy race.

The three top Anglos were Mill'Pom Gevaudan (Dum'Pom x Six de Gue x Fayriland II), Moustic de Canta (Mus-Cat x Floquance x Fayriland) and Vivaracho (Fasteux x Futée la Palise x Nanval).

Mill'Pom Gevaudan (l) and Moustic (r)

Vivaracho

The 2005 Reserve Champion of the WBFSH Young Horse Championship in Eventing-7 Year Olds was the Anglo-Arabian gelding San Joseph du Paon ( Mon Fleury AA x Love Light xx),

San Joseph du Paon

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