HUNTER & JUMPER NEWS

Junior Jumper Racks 'em Up

Ryan Sassmannhausen of Illinois has spent the first half of 2007 accruing a myriad of successes in Junior Jumpers on his mother's French Anglo-Arabian gelding Aume De La Lande (Jalienny {AA} x Mlle de le Lande {AA}). Currently ranked 32nd in the USEF National Junior Jumper Standings, this pair recently finished 12th of 43 entries in the $10,000 Wachovia Seciurities Low Jr/Adult Jumper Classic at Showplace Spring Classic.

After competing in Europe with Henri and Katie Prudent, Aume was imported to the US by Cara Raether and Trelawny Farm, before being purchased by the Sassmannhausens in 2006. Ryan competes in Medals, High Junior Jumpers and Low Juniors and is always in the money.

“Tango” the Anglo Update

Tango Las Marismas, the brave palomino Anglo-Arabian gelding that carried Taylor Bland to a historic victory at the 2006 FEI Children's Final, is proudly offered for sale by owner Las Marismas Sporthorses, a training business with bases in Canada and the Dominican Republic.

Following on her incredible success at the 2006 FEI Children's Final, Bland, under the tutelage of Canadian Show Jumping Team member Jill Henselwood, continued to lease Tango Las Marismas for the first-half of the 2007 HITS Thermal circuit in California before returning to school. Once again, Tango Las Marismas proved himself a winner in the show jumping ring, claiming the Mid-Circuit Championship in the Low Junior Jumper Division following the first three weeks of competition.

Equine Canada named Taylor, of Calgary, AB, the 2006 'Junior Equestrian of the Year'.

Anglos Sire Top U.S. Show Horses

The French Anglo-Arabian stallion Mont du Cantal (Monfleury x Pola d'Auvergne x Fanfan La Tulip) has a top American showhunter to his credit. Milan, owned and shown by Caroline Clark Morrison of North Carolina, earned his sire the #74 position natonally in the USEF Leading Hunter Sire rankings for 2006. Milan finished the year in 6th place nationally and 4th place in Zone 3 in the very competitive Amateur Owner Hunter 35+ division. They finished the season with a Championship at The Washingon International Horse Show, one of the most prestigious shows in the A-rated Hunter/Jumper world.

Milan at Washington

Mont du Cantal has also sired some winning jumpers and dressage horses, including Mon Cristal and Margue, the latter having just won the CDI*** Grand Prix of Marikolnak.

Mont du Cantal

The Anglo stallion Ulrik du Logis (Noyalo x Passerine x Toscan III) sired the show hunter Honneur, a two-time Performance Horse Registry Silver Stirrup Champion in Pre-Green Hunter in 2005 and 2006. Honneur (pictured below) has also placed in the USEF & MHSA rankings in both Pre-Green and Adult Amateur Hunters. Honneur recently won the Adult Amateur Hunter Classic at Lexington and the Adult Amateur Hunter Tournament of Champions.

World Breeder Federation Showjumper 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 horses that contributed to these rankings are as follows: Fanny De La Tour (SWE), Hurrycaine (BEL), Gypsy de Bacon (FRA), Fandzi de St. Paul (FRA) and Baiarda (ITA) in Showjumping.

Fanny de la Tour

Hurrycaine

Gypsy de Bacon (l) and Fandzi de St Paul (r)

Anglo Wins At Spruce Meadows

Calgary, Alberta - Tango Las Marismas carried Taylor Bland to a historic victory by becoming the first Canadian to win the FEI Children's Final held October 24 to 28 at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, AB. Bland, 13, of Calgary, AB, piloted the Spanish-bred Tango Las Marismas, owned by Las Marismas Sporthorses, to the Gold Medal. After placing second in the first two rounds of competition on Wednesday and Friday, Bland was among the six riders to advance to the jump-off in the final round of competition on Saturday evening. With a clear round in a time of 29.10 seconds, Bland was more than two seconds faster than her closest competition. It was an all-Canadian finish as Ben Asselin of Calgary, AB, earned the Silver Medal in a time of 31.12 seconds, and Jake Krembil of Schomberg, ON, took the Bronze in a time of 31.52 seconds.

Originally bred for bull fighting, Tango Las Marismas showed his heart and courage by jumping fault-free over three days of competition. Eduardo and Yvonne Muñiz of Las Marismas Sporthorses, an equestrian facility based in the Dominican Republic, purchased Tango as a four-year-old in Spain from his breeder, Manuel Vidrié Gómez. Yvonne Losos de Muñiz, who is an accomplished jumper and dressage competitor, successfully competed the 15.2hh palomino Anglo-Arab gelding in the jumper divisions, even showing him in the 1.40m open speed classes at the 2001 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

As Yvonne turned her competitive focus to dressage, winning the Individual Bronze Medal at the 2003 Pan American Games, her students enjoyed great success with Tango, competing with him internationally in the United States and Argentina in 2003, and in Spain as well as the United States in 2004. "Instead of bringing Tango back to our home in Dominican Republic in 2004, we sent him to our farm in Canada," explained Yvonne, who is a dual citizen of Canada and the Dominican Republic. "From there he was leased for a year by a young girl from Ottawa. Following that, Longwood Stables took him to ride in 2006 and facilitated his temporary lease to Taylor at the request of Jill Henselwood. He is a very honest horse, he won't touch a rail, and having been bred for bullfighting, he is very brave and has a heart of gold. With my Canadian background, we are so proud that we could help a Canadian win the Final!"

Bland began leasing Tango Las Marismas, now 12, in August when she came east for three weeks of training and showing with Canadian Show Jumping Team member, Jill Henselwood. Three weeks turned into three months as Bland successfully qualified for the FEI Children's Final after winning the Qualifier held during the Spruce Meadows "Masters" Tournament in September. "Tango is really good, he is very quick over the ground, so that makes him very fast in the jump-off," said Bland of her partner, who was also named the 'Best Horse' of the competition. "He never stops, so when I go in the ring at least I know I am going to cross the finish line. He is really sweet, he loves attention, and is always searching people's pockets for treats."

Horses run in the family - Bland's grandfather was a member of the RCMP Musical Ride, and her father was a professional saddle bronc rider. Bland began riding at the age of three and five years later turned her attention to show jumping, competing at Spruce Meadows for the first time as an eight-year-old. Having grown up at Spruce Meadows, Bland was comfortable with her surroundings for the FEI Children's Final, and was well-supported by her family and friends who came out to cheer her on. "I can't really believe that I won, but it feels really good!" said Bland, a grade eight student at Monsignor J.S. Smith School. "It was a really great experience, Spruce Meadows went out of their way to make all of the riders comfortable with each other. I made friends with riders from Brazil, the United States and New Zealand that I will stay in touch with."

The FEI Children's Final, open to riders from around the world aged 12-14, was developed to encourage up-and-coming riders to participate in international competition with support from the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). Each year, a total of 32 children from around the world gather for a week of show jumping and camaraderie. After two rounds of qualifying competition, the top 16 riders move forward to the Final, while the remaining 16 riders participate in the Farewell Competition. Canada hosted this event in 2003 when Spruce Meadows was the venue.

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2006 USEF Horse of the Year Results

The United States Equestrian Federation has announced the Horse Of The Year National Championships for 2006. A great number of winners are Anglo-Arabiians and are listed below. The leading owner for HA/AA is Alexis Starer, owner of BEFORE SUNRISE+++//, while Laura Wood holds fourth place in Leading Breeder. Congratulations to all!

Before Sunrise+++// and owner Alexis Starer

OVERALL GRAND CHAMPION HALF/ANGLO-ARABIAN: BEFORE SUNRISE+++// owned by Alexis Starer of Cape Charles, Virginia

Laura Wood and her Anglo gelding Touch of Vanity+//

HA/AA Hunter/Jumper: 5th TOUCH OF VANITY+//, Laura Wood, FL; 7th DW RAVEN +++//, Kathleen Cannon, OK; 10th AC NO FOOLIN++/, Tracy Ratliff Lord, GA; 11th KHANDLE IN THE WIND+++//, Jennifer Roberts, NH; 15th BEFORE SUNRISE+++/, Alexis Starer, VA; 18th ACE OF SPADES+++//, Marie Arias-Stein, MD

Kathleen Cannon's DW Raven+++//

HA/AA Specialty: 8th ACE OF SPADES+++//, Maria Arias-Stein, MD; 21st AC NO FOOLIN++/, Tracy Ratliff Lord, GA; 22nd TOUCH OF VANITY+//, Laura Wood, FL; 24th DW RAVEN +++//, Kathleen Cannon, OK; 48th KHANDLE IN THE WIND+++//, Jennifer Roberts, NH.

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