HorsesDaily®

Japan's Eiken Sato created a sensation when steering BV Project Cartoon Z to victory in the seventh leg of the 2009/2010 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping series today where Philippe de Baets, Director, Rolex Benelux presented him with his award. Photo: Dirk Caremans. Japan's Eiken Sato sprung a massive surprise when scooping the honours in the seventh leg of the 2009/2010 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping series in Mechelen, Belgium today.  With his 10 year old stallion BV Project Cartoon Z the relatively unknown 23 year old from Nagano produced one of eight first-round clears over the massive track built by Lucien Somers and with youthful enthusiasm then devastated the opposition with a daredevil ride against the clock.  Ireland's Jessica Kuerten had to settle for second with her great mare Castle Forbes Libertina while the host country's Patrick McEntee and Ever Mury Marais Z slotted into third.  

Costa Rica’s Juan de Dios Alvarez riding Darwin Z won the qualifying event for the 2010 Central American Games during the Guatemala Horse Festival of Cortijo in November in Guatemala. Guatemala – Juan de Dios Alvarez of Costa Rica won the qualifying event for the Central American Games held during the two-week Guatemala Horse Festival of Cortijo from November 11-15 and 18-22 in Guatemala. A regular participant in the Guatemala Horse Festival of Cortijo, Dios Alvarez shipped several horses, including Darwin Z, from his home base in Santa Ana, Costa Rica. The long trip proved worthwhile, as Dios Alvarez and Darwin Z won the competition, which acted as a qualifier for the 2010 Central American Games to be held in Guatemala.

Equestrian Sports Productions (ESP), owner and manager of the FTI 2010 Winter Equestrian Festival is busy with the final preparations to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center for the January 12th opening day.  ESP has spent millions of dollars since the last circuit to ensure that the experience for both customers and horses will be excellent in the New Year.   

Syria's Mohamed Jabri accepts his trophy after claiming the gold medal at the 2009 FEI Children's International Jumping Final in Abu Dhabi. Syrian athletes dominated the podium when Mohamed Jabri took gold and Hadi Nizam claimed bronze at the FEI Children's International Jumping Final in Abu Dhabi last week but the host country finished prominently when the United Arab Emirates' Ayesha Al-Shamsi slotted into silver medal position.