ECOGOLD's Autograph Sessions at the Royal Winter Fair
Tuesday October 26, 2010
A nice part of the Royal is getting to see our sponsored riders, who have supported us through the years and have since become our friends. In 2010 both our company and ECOGOLD riders had an amazing year. There were three “ECOGOLD-sponsored” teams at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games – the Silver Medal Winning Canadian Eventing Team, 4th placed US Eventing Team and the Canadian Dressage Team. Long-time ECOGOLD rider Ashley Holzer finished 8th individually.
Our “Meet the riders” autograph sessions were very popular at the 2009 Royal Winter Fair so this year, we’re stepping it up a notch starting on Saturday November 6. Here are the planned sessions:
Free POSTERS!
- SATURDAY Nov.6 at 12:00 pm “Meet the Eventing Stars!” Autograph Session Extravaganza
with members of the Silver Medal Winning Canadian Eventing Team and US Riders members of PRO: Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch, Jessica Phoenix, Diana Burnett, Rebecca Howard, Sinead Halpin and more!
- Wednesday Nov.10 at 5:30-6:00 (immediately after the CDI Grand Prix awards) “Meet Canada’s Dressage Team!” with Ashley Holzer, Victoria Winter and Jacquie Brooks.
- Thursday Nov.11 at 12:00 pm - "Meet Canada's Young Rider Team!", Silver and Gold Medal winners at the 2010 North American Young Rider Championship with Amy Jager, Jaimie Holland, Maura O'Sullivan and Megan Lane
Schedule to be determined...
- Possibly Friday Nov.12 - Double Olympic Gold Medallist McLain Ward
Where to find us: ECOGOLD stand is #1512, which is a corner booth, 3 rows up from the path between Greenhawk and Equestrian Factory Outlet (towards the food!). Click on the link for the Royal Winter Fair Horse Show - Floor Plan (PDF file below).
McLain Ward helps USA win Team Challenge
Dressage Meets Cowboy with Gillian Sutherland riding in an ECOGOLD Saddle pad - Royal Agricultural Winter Fair 2009
Denielle Gallagher and Abrikos - Grand Prix Freestyle Royal 2009
For more videos see our post "We're Ready for the Royal" - Click here!
McLain Ward and Sapphire win $100,000 President's Cup Grand Prix at the Washington International Horse Show
Press Release and photo by Jennifer Wood Media
Washington, D.C. - October 30, 2010 – Tonight's $100,000 President's Cup Grand Prix presented by Washington Convention and Sports Authority, CSI 3* was an exciting example of the sport of show jumping and a qualifier for the FEI World Cup Finals in April. Two-time Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, and Sapphire, owned by Ward and Blue Chip Bloodstock, came away with the win in the highlight class of the 52nd Washington International Horse Show (WIHS). Earlier in the evening, 13-year-old Lillie Keenan of New York, NY, won the WIHS Equitation Finals.
Sapphire and Ward repeated the success that they had in 2008 in the grand prix at the WIHS when they were the fastest clear round in a jump-off of seven. There were 24 entries in tonight's grand prix class, which was designed by Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC.
Watch video - McLain Ward and Sapphire
Watch video - Charlie Jayne and Athena - who finished 4th
First into the jump-off was the trailblazer in the first round, Ireland's Darragh Kenny on Gael Force, owned by Missy Clark and North Run. They had two jumps down for eight faults in 37.77 seconds for a sixth place finish. Charlie Jayne (USA) and Athena followed them with a four-fault performance in 37.64 seconds. They ended up in fourth place.
Aaron Vale (USA) and Paparazzi 10, owned by Thinks Like a Horse and Norman Peterson, were next in and set the first clear round and the “Travelers Time to Beat” in 34.87 seconds with a fantastic jump-off ride. His time would hold up for second place.
“The whole jump-off was filled with fast riders,” Vale recalled. “Everybody was a speed demon in there. McLain, with the experience that he his horse, had an advantage. I was hoping to land from fence one and get back as quickly to do as possible. I thought that was my best chance to gain some time. I got six strides and McLain actually got five there. I got around about as good as I could have hoped. I was hoping my time would stand up, but Sapphire is such a good horse and she just has such a big stride. He was able to do four (strides) from the in-and-out to the other oxer and that just kind of sealed the deal there. He didn’t have to rush the two big verticals after that and he came home and just got us, but I think I did as much as I could.”
Sapphire and McLain Ward clear the final oxer
Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and HH Ashley, owned by Double H Farm, faulted at fence 11 for four penalty points in a time of 38.82 seconds and fifth place. Kent Farrington (USA) and Top Gun, owned by the Iron Horse Farm, had trouble heading into the in-and-out, pulling a rail and stopping at the “b” element. They retired on course and settled for seventh place.
Vale and his horse Paparazzi 10, a 13-year-old German Warmblood gelding by Prominenz, are competing in their first year together. “My horse is an older, experienced horse. This is my first season with him and he has won some classes, but he has been a horse that was a little hard for me to get a hold of. I am just starting to get to know him. He is real quick around the turns, but he doesn’t quite have the range and the stride to leave out in all of the lines. He was super tonight.”
Vale is a past winner of the President's Cup Grand Prix in 2001 and 2003. He added with a smirk, “I was just looking to get gas money out of here and came out second, so I am pretty thrilled.”
Barrios was pleased with his G&C Quick Star's performance, noting that this is their second show together indoors. He and the 12-year-old KWPN mare by Quick Star were clear last week in the first round of the grand prix in Harrisburg.“She came straight to this class, this was the only class that she did this week because she did three classes last week and she was really good,” he said. “I think she is great indoors. This is my first time here ever and I have never done indoors here in the United States, so I am happy to be here and she is jumping great.”
Ward and Sapphire, a 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Darco, competed here at the WIHS for the first time since the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Ward explained of his plan, “On championship years, because I have gone so light leading up to the championships, I usually do a few shows afterwards. Not a lot, but a few. She is really healthy, (and) she feels as good as she has ever felt in her life. We really don’t have to be hard on each other to do the job. There are two or three really important shows that I am aiming for in December, but this is also a great chance to get inside. I thought this was a good venue for her. She has handled it well in the past, and it is an important horse show for us.”
All three riders feel that the Washington International Horse Show is a very important stop on their show jumping circuit.
“This is a classic American horse show, it is traditional, it is an important grand prix, it is a world cup class and it is a wonderful opportunity for us to get our sport in front of some people and get a crowd in here to watch,” Vale described. “It is wonderful the prize money that the show puts up for us and we need to do the best we can to put a good show on for them.”
Ward added, “I think it is great to be here in the city. I hope we can stay for many years. I think it gives the show a real electric atmosphere. I think this is still a very prestigious show to win in our country, so I want to bring my best horse. I think this was one of the best fields there has been in a few years here, so that is exciting.”
McLain Ward rides in chicken suit in Gambler's Choice Costume Class at WIHS
Friday, October 29, 2010
Last night was Barn Night at the Washington International, a favorite with local young riders and horse enthusiasts, who attend in groups and have a chance to enter contests, win prizes and enjoy a fun-filled, horse-filled evening.
Events include the popular Gambler's Choice Costume Class with top show jumpers. ECOGOLD sponsored rider and double Olympic gold medallist McLain Ward was dressed up in a chicken costume to the delight of the crowd. His ride was captured on video to our greatest delight… LOL! Rodrigo Pessoa won the class, dressed as a Formula One driver. Enjoy the videos!
Video - McLain Ward in chicken costume riding in Gambler’s Choice Costume Class at the 2010 Washington International Horse Show
Video - Rodrigo Pessoa, dressed as a Formula One driver, won the Gambler’s Choice Costume Class at the 2010 Washington International Horse Show
We’re ready for the Royal Winter Fair Horse Show!
Monday October 25, 2010
Last year, it was our first time at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. As a trade stand vendor, we always thought that 11 days indoors would fry our brains but boy, were we pleasantly surprised. With everything going on, it went by very quickly and now, the Royal figures at the top of our “horse show” destinations.
For those not familiar with “the Royal”, it combines what you would normally find in a normal indoor hunter/jumper horse show plus Grand Prix dressage, driving, rodeo, indoor eventing, exhibitions, friesians, pageantry, learning demonstrations and everything in between. Add to that a mega shopping area and an agricultural show (as in cows, chickens and giant pumpkins!) and it becomes heaven on earth for horse lovers and the perfect place to bring non-horsie friends.
At the core of the horse show are the invitational hunter/jumper classes, where the top riders in the country face off for the championship title in each division. Qualifying for the Royal is an achievement in itself but riding in that main ring under the lights and the atmosphere, makes it very special indeed.
McLain Ward helps USA win Team Challenge
Sinead Halpin riding in the Indoor Eventing Class
Ashley Holzer and Pop Art winning the Grand Prix Freestyle
Winning ride of the Canine Equine Challenge (Hoof and Woof!)
Here is the 2009 ad for the Royal Winter Fair Horse Show:
Helmet Cam Video Grand Prix Show Jumping
Monday October 25, 2010
After Peter Atkins and his wonderful Henny (HJ Hampton) started the trend, now various other riders are using helmet-cam videos to share their rides online. This time, ride along with Grand Prix Show Jumper Erin McCabe at the Gallop in the Glen $25000 Grand Prix.
Helmet Cam Video - Grand Prix Show Jumping
And just for fun! Peter Atkins and Henny - Helmet Cam video from the 2010 World Equestrian Games
Independent Review of ECOGOLD Cross-country Horse Boots
Friday October, 15 2010
When popular eventing blog Three Days Three Ways asked if we could send them a set of Cross-country Horse Boots for their review, we had no idea what they had in mind. Well-known for their fashion articles, grooming tips, the latest eventing trends and a personal look at upper-level riders and their horses, Three Days Three Ways is not about who won what, but a VIP ticket to go behind the scenes.
Their review of ECOGOLD cross-country boots was a little unorthodox…as it involved a “spoof” of our axe impact test video.
Three Days Three Ways video - 3 Girls and an Axe Vs an Ecogold cross-country boot (plus magic)
ECOGOLD's axe impact test video
Bloopers - Three Days Three Ways video