Little Lady to partner Belgium's Judy Ann Melchior

Little Lady, with whom Michael Whitaker has enjoyed good international results including a fifth placing in the Stuttgart Rolex World Cup qualifier, is to be ridden by Judy Ann Melchoir of Belgium from next week according to studforlife.com.

Michael currently sits in 10th place in the Western European League with 35 points thaks to the Stuttgart placing and a win in the London Olympia leg with GIG Amai.

Rodrigo Pessoa receives Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Diploma

Rodrigo Pessoa competing at the 2010
Alltech WEG. By Dirk Caremans/FEI

Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa has been awarded the 2010 Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Diploma for his generous act of fair play during the Rolex Final Four to decide the individual jumping medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games last October.


The 1998 World and 2004 Olympic champion and triple FEI World Cup winner was one of the final four fighting for the individual gold. The other challengers were 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze of Canada; Belgium’s Philippe Lejeune, who had taken part in four  World Equestrian Games and eight FEI European Championships, and the young Saudi rider Abdullah Sharbatli, for whom competition at this level was a first.

Lady Georgina Forbes’ horses not competing with Jessica Kuerten

The following statement has been released by Jessica Kuerten's press agent.

"Irish rider Jessica Kuerten is not able to compete the horses of the Irish breeder and horse owner Lady Georgina Forbes in the sport. The reason for this is Lady Forbes’ decision not to allow the horses, which include the highly successful mare Castle Forbes Libertina, to compete at horse shows.

Denis Lynch will no longer compete on Irish teams

Germany-based Irish show jumper Denis Lynch has spoken of how he does not wish to compete on Irish teams anymore in an interview with the Irish Examiner.

Congratulations to Rodrigo and Alexa Pessoa on their new arrival

Jump-mail wishes to congratulate Rodrigo and Alexa Pessoa on the arrival of their first child together, Sophia.

Sophia was born on 10 January 2011 in the United States.

Philippe Lejeune out of action

Reigning World Champion Philippe Lejeune of Belgium is likely to be out of the saddle for a while as a result of a hernia.

Reports from this weekend's Geneva CSI*****W (9-12 December) say that he complained of being in pain after arrival at the show and doctors have since diagnosed a hernia which may need surgery.

Philippe Lejeune wins national sporting award

World Champion Philippe Lejeune.
By FEI

From Studbook sBs

Having won the title of World Show Jumping Champion and a team bronze last month during the Alltech World Equestrian Games, Kentucky, with Vigo d'Arsouilles, Philippe Lejeune has been awardede Belgium's National Trophy of Sporting Worth.

The winning of the award by a rider is hoped to provide a new pulse to equestrianism and attract national and international media to horse sports.

Laura Renwick and Oz De Breve's HOYS win is British Showjumping Performance of the Month

Laura Renwick and Oz De Breve
winning the HOYS Grand Prix

From BS

Laura Renwick from Maldon in Essex and Oz de Breve’s Horse of the Year Show Leading Show Jumper of the Year victory has been voted Performance of the Month for October.

Laura, riding David Perry’s eight-year-old chestnut Selle Francais gelding Oz de Breve, was last to go in the jump-off and produced the fastest double clear to snatch the victory from a world-class field.

Surgery for World Champion Philippe Lejeune

Philippe Lejeune and Vigo d'Arsouilles
at the Alltech WEG.
By Kit Houghton/FEI

Studforlife.com is reporting that newly crowned World Champion Philippe Lejeune had to undergo surgery on his knee when he returned from the Alltech World Equestrian Games earlier this week.

According to the site, Philippe had been suffering from pain in his right knee and doctors decided to operate as soon as he got home to Belgium.

It would seem that the operation has been a success and that Philippe will only need a couple of weeks away from the show ring.

Personal notes: A busy week at Arena UK's festival

Robert Whitaker and Casino win
£10,000in the grand prix

I think I have just about caught up on sleep after a hectic week at Arena UK and I didn't even set foot in the bar once!

Entries were huge, probably the biggest I've seen in the 10 years I've been frequenting the Lincolnshire venue, and director Lauren Humphries confirmed this saying stables were up by 250 to 1057 this year. That's one whole lots of bedding to get rid of.

Ssangyong Major Grand Prix
The Ssangyong Major Grand Prix on Saturday night was watched by a packed house and course designer Di Boddy buit a superb track for the £10,000 and Rexton for the year first prize.

Laura Renwick has another winning week in Italy

Laura Renwick and Oz De Breve,
runners up in the Palermo CSI***
Grand Prix

A week after winning the Grand Prix in La Bagnaia, Italy, Laura Renwick claimed another clutch of wins at the Palermo CSI*** show in Italy.

She started off the show with a first day 1.40m two-phase win on Softrack Beluga II and followed it with victory in a €20,000 1.50m speed class with Oz De Breve.

Tina Fletcher and Hello Sailor out of WEG

Following a minor injury sustained during training, Hello Sailor ridden by Tina Fletcher has been withdrawn from the British showjumping team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Reserve horse and rider combination Robert Smith and Talan, a horse Robert jointly owns with Diana and Pennie Cornish, will replace Tina in the team.

McLain Ward and Sapphire win Pfizer Million

Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward (USA) and his own and Blue Chip Bloodstock's Sapphire won the inaugural Pfizer Million Grand Prix on Sunday, 12 September at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

McLain and Sapphire bested a field of 43 high-performance riders before an energetic and enthusiastic crowd of thousands with the only double clear in the world's richest Grand Prix.

McLain Ward wins Saugerties World Cup Qualifier/Pfizer Million Wild Card

From HITS

Two-time Olympic gold medal winner McLain Ward topped the Saugerties World Cup Qualifier/Pfizer Million Wild Card on 11 September with Sagamore Farm's Rothchild.

The New York native has been on top form recently, winning the $30,000 FEI HITS Welcome Classic on three days earlier, after heading the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix at the Hampton Classic last week with Sapphire.

"It's certainly an unprecedented event and is a great thing for the sport," said McLain of the show. "I am thrilled that the class has drawn some top entries."

Saturday's feature class offered one final spot for the Pfizer Million, held on Sunday. However, McLain was already qualified.

Champions tour returns for 2010/2011

Geoff Billington.
By www.dltphotography.co.uk

Top British show jumper Geoff Billington and international event rider Oliver Townend will be touring again this winter. During last year's hugely successful tour, seats at all events sold out within days. This year, more seats dates and venues have been added.

Geoff and Oliver have lots of fresh material, and plenty of funny tales and antics to amuse the crowds. In addition to the wickedly funny banter between the two, there will be the chance to learn from these two skilled horsemen. From schooling young horses over fences to performing dressage movements, the show is not just funny, but a light hearted, feel good, educational experience for young and old.

Guy Williams wins on his Spruce Meadows debut

Guy Williams and Belinka van het
Overlede Goed

Britain's Guy Williams headed the first day's 1.60m Finning Welcome jump-off class with Belinka van het Overlede Goed on his first visit to the Spruce Meadows Masters.

Venezuela's Leopoldo Palacious designed the course and only three of the 27 starters went through to the jump-off.

Guy and his nine-year-old daughter of Skippy II went into the lead and were followed by

Lewis Billington funeral details

Lewis Billington, father of international show jumper Geoff Billington, sadly passed away from heart failure on Sunday.

He was a familiar site on the show jumping circuit with his wife, Joyce, supporting Geoff and his son James whenever he had the opportunity. He will be greatly missed.

Lewis Funeral will be held at 12.30pm on Thursday, 16 September at St Bartholomew's Church, Church Lane, Great Harwood, BB6 7PU

Beezie Madden wins Spruce Meadows World Cup qualifier

The USA'a Beezie Madden Madden gained valuable World Cup points with her 13-year-old Holsteiner mare Mademoiselle by winning Spruce Meadows' qualifier yesterday.

Twelve of the 28 starters went clear over Werner Deeg's course, the German course-designer having been mindful of heavy rain earlier in the day.

"I think Werner thought a bit too much about the rain and made the first round a bit too nice," said Beezie. "But the jump-off was more difficult."

Passing of Lewis Billington, father of Geoff Billington

Jump-mail is saddened to report the passing of Lewis Billington, father of top British show jumper Geoff Billington.

Lewis and his wife, Joycem were regular visitors to shows, supporting his son Geoff and grandson James until ill health prevented him from doing so, often travelling with Donald and Enid Whitaker.

Marcus Ehning scores a lucrative treble in Rio

Marcus Ehning and Noltes Küchengirl.
By Lulu Kyriacou

Germany's Marcus Ehning's win in the final Grand Prix of this year's Global Champions Tour with Noltes Küchengirl netted him a massive €425,000. 

Italian course designer Uliano Vezanni's course produced 11 clears from the first round of the three-round competition. The leader of the GCT rankings league, heading for the biggest share of the tour's million Euro bonus, Marco Kutscher was not among them having had two down on Catoki. Instead, he had to wait on the sidelines to see if his fellow countryman Marcus would overtake his lead with a top three place in the Grand Prix.

Eighteen were required for the second round, so seven first-round faulters joined the 11 clears.