Hello! Another Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend is in the books... and we were thrilled to be able to support the equitation weekend again this year as presenting sponsor. What wonderful performances we saw all weekend.. from the division winners on Saturday to the equitation champions on Sunday. Special shout-outs go to Victoria Birdsall, the 2010 North American Equitation Champion; Molly Peddicord, the Taylor Harris Insurance Services National Children's Medal Champion; and Sara Green, the 2010 North American Adult Equitation Champion. These riders, and so many others, rode some excellent courses. And the horses... oh the horses... SO BEAUTIFUL. :)

So for our loyal visitors and equitation fans... here are videos of the big winners from the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend 2010.

ENJOY! :)

Victoria Birdsall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RidBHMWmxhY

Molly Peddicord
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnoOtXV1iV0

Sara Green
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPTQqXsvWIY

Posted in Bigeq Cool Clips ,

We were browsing through old files, and found these grainy old digital videos from the 2000 ASPCA Maclay. We thought we'd post them on YouTube, despite the poor quality, because they include several amazing equitation horses from the 2000s: Ginger, Grappa, Derrek, and Ivy. The latter, of course, was competing as recently as this past fall with Zazou Hoffman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPmrJ9K33yc

Enjoy!

Posted in Bigeq Bigeq Classic , Cool Clips ,

2009 North American Equitation Champion: Chase Boggio on Graphiq (pictured on Saturday)

Another day of excellent competition is in the books. Three big winners emerged:

Chase Boggio won the North American Equitation (we were very pleased with that, as he was one of our favorites based on his #2 ranking on the 2009 Bigeq.com Eq Index). He rode just beautifully and his horse Graphiq went around very smoothly with a lovely rhythm. He completely dominated, winning by more than 6 points. Not even a rideoff this year. Reserve went to Laura King and we hear there's not a nicer young woman on the circuit. Congrats!

Sylvia DeToledo won the THIS National Children's Medal Final. People probably don't realize how difficult it is to qualify for these finals, it's unbelievably competitive and a real grind all year to accumulate the points to attend the finals. So each of those kids walking into the ring has already accomplished something impressive. Nonetheless, Sylvia emerged as the champion on Lion King, who is like the "Grappa" of 3' equitation. He's won the children's medal three times now, with sisters Lindsey and Kristen Mohr (they own him) and now Sylvia. He also won the Ariat Adult Final in '07 with Lindsey. He's a star, and Sylvia rode him to perfection. Props to reserve champion Sydney Calloway, she also rode brilliantly. The final result was very, very close and very well ridden.

Charlene Graham won the North American Adult Equitation title. She epitomized the classic "hunter" in hunter seat equitation, riding two lovely flowing courses on her pretty bay mare "Only You." Charlene was a delighted winner, which was nice to see. Reserve went to Melissa Feller, who was also the 2008 reserve champion in the Ariat Adult Medal Final. She rode her courses in a wonderful forward pace which was nice to watch.

The Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, presented by us -- Bigeq.com!!! -- has come to a close. Congratulations to all the horses and riders for a great weekend of competition.

For those who were unable to attend or watch online at EquestrianSport.tv. We taped the rounds of the winners. They're on YouTube. Click the links below. Enjoy!

Chase Boggio & Graphiq
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb1ROHb_gmg

Sylvia DeToledo & Lion King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHuwLE3pKxs

Charlene Graham
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0_RqHYf-GY

Posted in Awesome Amateurs Bigeq , Cool Clips , Show Shots ,

An oldie, but a goodie: Sara Wytrzes, the 2000 ASPCA Maclay Reserve Champion, competing at the New England Equitation Championships of the same year. Good equitation never goes out of style, and to all the equitation riders out there, let Sara's video be inspiration for your upcoming equitation finals!

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

Posted in Bigeq Bigeq Classic , Cool Clips ,

Kokopelli and Paige Johnson were one of the "it" teams in the large junior hunters in the early 2000s, winning up and down the east coast. This video was taken at Devon where the pair won the coveted 15/u championship. Johnson was a prominent junior rider, with a veritable fleet of show horses: eight junior jumpers, three junior hunters and one equitation horse. Wow.

More recently, Johnson scored a more dubious title as one of "The 20 Most Intriguing Billionaire Heiresses" by Forbes Magazine in 2007. Don't worry, she wasn't the lone equestrienne. One of her peers on the list was also a fellow competitor in the junior ranks, Georgina Bloomberg. Both excellent riders. And blessed with some serious means!

Despite this, Johnson's very accomplished mother (first black female billionaire- before even Oprah!) admitted in a 2005 interview with Washington Life Magazine that "I've never known a sport that can drain more money out of your bank account."

Amen.
lol

Enjoy the video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zO162NiNHk

Posted in Bigeq Bigeq Classic , Cool Clips ,

In the YouTube day-in-age that we live in, it's hard to believe that just 5-8 years ago video on the internet was fairly rare. We started adding videos to our website in 2000, but only put a few online because of memory constraints. Those souls who actually watched them from their old dial-up modem connections were brave indeed!

At this point, we've got tons of old videos collecting dust. Now that technology has finally caught up with us, why not share some classic videos from past horse shows? We'll be adding them to our YouTube channel, found at www.youtube.com/bigeq. You can sign up to be a subscriber on YouTube, or just check back here for future video announcements.

Our favorite video subject was Devon Junior Weekend- so many beautiful horses, ponies and riders in one place, at one time. We loved watching the equitation riders in the USEF medal and ASPCA maclay; or the junior hunter riders flowing smoothly around the ring; and of course we loved the pony hunters and the parade of tiny riders with bouncing braids and sweet smiles!

So our first "cool clip" from our collection of "classic" videos is of the great equitation horse: Ivy. We did a little sleuthing and discovered that Mr. Ivy is a Dutch Warmblood. He is just under 16.2h (16.1 5/8), which is surprising, because he sure looks big and impressive when on course. Chalk it up to his exceptional ring presence!

One last fun tidbit? Ivy was apparently born on Valentine's Day in 1994. Aw! During nearly a decade of competing, his riders, no doubt, sent lots of loves his way... he has placed in national equitation finals with five - yes, five! - different riders. What an amazing horse!

So enjoy this classic video of one of the best equitation horses of his generation!

IVY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
3RD 2008 ASPCA MACLAY - ZAZOU HOFFMAN
10TH 2006 USEF MEDAL FINAL - HAYLIE JAYNE
RES CHAMPION 2006 WIHS EQUITATION CLASSIC - HAYLIE JAYNE
5TH 2005 WIHS EQUITATION CLASSIC - HAYLIE JAYNE
3RD 2002 NORTH AMERICAN - CHARLIE JAYNE
RES CHAMPION 2001 USEF MEDAL FINAL - CHARLIE JAYNE
3RD 2001 WIHS EQUITATION CLASSIC - CHARLIE JAYNE
8TH 2000 ASPCA MACLAY - VANESSA HAAS
7TH 2000 WIHS EQUITATION CLASSIC - VANESSA HAAS
10TH 1999 USEF MEDAL FINAL - KRISTIN MAUKS
7TH 1999 ASPCA MACLAY - KRISTIN MAUKS
7TH 1999 WIHS EQUITATION CLASSIC - KRISTIN MAUKS

Posted in Bigeq Bigeq Classic , Cool Clips ,