LEXINGTON, (Phelps) - Kent Farrington has taken over the lead in the 2013 Hagyard Challenge Series after winning the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic during the Kentucky Spring Classic. The talented rider showed Raylyn Farm’s Venus to the victory by overtaking the jump-off with two seconds to spare and a clear effort.

Richie Moloney maintains the second place position in the standings after earning second with Slieveanorra during the first event, and then going on to place seventh, eighth and ninth with Equinimity LLC’s Carrabis Z, Call Me Number One, and Slieveanorra.  Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios is currently ranked third in the standings after winning the first event aboard Zara Leandra with the fastest double clear effort.

The Hagyard Challenge Series is a summer-long series of seven show jumping events at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The rider who accumulates the most points in the series will receive a $50,000 Leading Rider Award, presented during the Kentucky National Horse Show in September. The second event in the series will be next Thursday during the Kentucky Spring Classic at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“I think any kind of rider incentive iss great for the sport, especially at the professional level,” commented Farrington. “There is so much money in the junior and amateur divisions at the shows. We have to keep the true professional sport and people have to be able to win money. I think having rider incentives for the people that are consistently successful is a great thing. I am huge supporter of any kind of incentive or bonus like that for riders that are consistently successful.”

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world. Founded in 1876, the institute offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry, and Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and well-being of the horse for more than 130 years.

The facility at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute offers 13 Digital Radiology systems, 1.5 Tesla Siemens MRI, Nuclear Scintigraphy, a high speed treadmill, an on-site laboratory, an on-site pharmacy, full surgical services, 24-hour emergency services, and Hyperbaric Medicine. The institute has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 133 years and is currently composed of over 60 experienced veterinarians, with 12 board certifications in specialty areas of Medicine, Surgery, Critical Care, and Theriogenology.

Several generous sponsors have helped make this exciting series event happen. These gracious supporters include: title sponsor MWI Veterinary Supply, and presenting sponsor Zoetis, as well as Audi of Lexington, Dean Dorton Allen Ford, Hagyard Flex-tra HA, Johnson Horse Transport, Hallway Feeds, Kirk Horse Insurance LLC, Pike and Preston, and Stoll Keenon Ogden.

For more information about the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows please visit http://www.kentuckyhorseshows.com/.

To learn more about the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, please go to www.hagyard.com.

2013 HAGYARD CHALLENGE SERIES STANDINGS
PLACE TOTAL RIDER
1    350    KENT FARRINGTON
2    320    RICHIE MOLONEY
3    250    PABLO BARRIOS
4    170    ANDREW BOURNS
5    150    MARGIE ENGLE
6    120    RAMIRO QUINTANA
120    REED KESSLER
8    100    ANGEL KAROLYI
9    80    QUENTIN JUDGE
80    SCHUYLER RILEY

Photo Credit: Kent Farrington won Thursday’s $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic with Venus at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, and currently leads the 2013 Hagyard Challenge Series. Photo: Rebecca Walton/PMG. 

LEXINGTON, (Phelps) - Scope and stride proved to be the key to the win for Margie Engle and Royce during the $75,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, presented by Audi of Lexington, during the Kentucky Spring Classic. The pair out jumped 12 other horse and rider combinations during the tiebreaker to claim the winning prize with a double clear effort. Charlie Jayne captured the second place award with Chill R Z, while Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios galloped into third aboard Zara Leandra.

Captain Canada showed the way over the short course with his top mount Star Power, owned by Team Works of Perth, Ontario. The duo left all the rails intact, but had a conservative gallop going early in the field to finish sixth with a time of 44.786 seconds. The next to go was Pablo Barrios and Zara Leanrda, owned by ZL Group of Wellington, FL. The speedy duo was clear over the course and broke the beam at 41.834 second, which was good enough for third.

Katie Prudent raced to catch Barrios’ time with her winner from Friday, V, owned by Michael Smith of Winchester, VA. They came just 1/10th of a second with their fault-free effort for fourth.

The next to tackle the short course was Margie Engle aboard Royce, owned by Elm Rock Partners LLC of Bronxville, NY. They had their eye on the prize and picked up a quick gallop to the first fence. The duo sliced through the double combinations and made a short turn to the skinny before leaving a stride out to the final oxer. The final time of 40.757 seconds would be good enough for the win.

Charlie Jayne attempted to catch Engle’s time with Chill R Z, owned by Alex Jayne of Elgin, IL. He and his World Cup mount were just a touch too slow, galloping through the timers in 40.905 seconds to take over second, sealing the victory for Engle.

This evening’s victory on Royce marks an improvement from second place in the event for Engle. “I was really pleased with him both rounds,” she smiled. “Royce is riding better and better. He’s always had all the ability in the world. He’s got unbelievable talent, and it’s just taken me a little bit of time to get the rideability in between the jumps. I was just starting to get it before I got hurt last year, so then he had some time off. He’s a horse that you really need to develop a rapport with. I lost half the year, so I was almost starting from scratch again. He jumped a lot of clear rounds in Florida, but I was just going medium because I still didn’t have the rideability where I wanted it. I am starting to get him back to where I had him last year.”

Jumper Highlights: Wednesday – Sunday

The heat was on as the Kentucky Spring Classic got underway Wednesday at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.  Five riders produced double clear rounds during the 1.45m Open Jumpers, but it was the last do so that proved to be the fastest. Abigail McArdle and Cosma 20 broke the beam at 30.378 seconds for the win by 3/10ths of a second over Reed Kessler and Soraya De L’Obstination. Earlier in the day, Pablo Barrios took home his second blue ribbon in a row during the 1.40m Open Jumpers speed class with Colgate.

The first to show without fault over the short course was Abigail McArdle’s trainer, Katie Prudent. She and V, owned by Michael Smith of Winchester, VA, were able to break the beam in 32.945 seconds, which was good enough for fourth place. The next to complete the jump-off with all the rails intact was Ramiro Quintana and Ollywood Des Horts, owned by Remarkable Farms LP of New York, NY. They increased the speed by almost two seconds, stopping the clock at 31.263 seconds and claiming the eventual third place honors. Margie Engle chose to be more conservative with Cabras, owned by Elm Rock LLC of Bronxville, NY, leaving all the fences in place, but crossing the finish line in 34.614 seconds for fifth place.

Olympian Reed Kessler of Lexington, KY, was one of the last riders to show, and she had her eye on the prize with Soraya De L’Onstination. She was able to top her trainer Katie Prudent as well as Quintana, speeding through the timers in 30.655 seconds. Unfortunately, her time would only hold up for second place, as Abigail McArdle was next to advance to the tiebreaker with Cosma 20. The reigning North American Junior Jumper individual gold medalists are well known for their speed, and Wednesday was no exception. McArdle laid on the gas, leaving out a stride through the first bending line and speeding to the final obstacles without even a rub. The duo clocked in at 30.378 seconds to take home the winning prize.

Earlier in the day, Venezuela’s Pablo Barrios matched his effort in the 1.40m Open Jumper speed class with Colgate for the second week in a row. Nine riders were able to complete the course without fault, but it was Barrios and Colgate that set the time to beat, finishing in 62.397 seconds. Emanuel Andrade stopped the clock at 66.933 with Crossfire 10, owned by Hollow Creek Farm of Aiken, SC. They were almost five seconds slower for second place. Alison Robitaille was one of the first to show with Candle Light, owned by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone of Upperville, VA, and finished the course in 67.418 seconds to round out the top three.

Although thunderstorms disrupted competition throughout the day at the Kentucky Horse Park, the clouds parted as the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic got underway during the Kentucky Spring Classic. Sixteen horse and rider combinations advanced to the tiebreaker, creating a speed duel for the winning prize. Kent Farrington proved to have all the answers with Venus, blazing an uncatchable clear track that was almost two seconds faster than second place finisher Andrew Bourns of Ireland. Reed Kessler and Mika were the pathfinders to take home the third place honors.

Reed Kessler of Lexington, KY, was the second rider on the start list and first to complete the course without fault. She and her top mount, Mika, also proved to be pathfinders during the jump-off, completing a clear effort in a speed of 36.217 seconds that would eventually place third.

Seven rounds later, Kessler’s clear round was caught by Andrew Bourns aboard Gatsby. They were able to shave time through the rollback and took a long distance to the oxer before the double combination. Their risks paid off, and they broke the beam at 35.877 seconds with all the rails in tact for the second place honors.

It was the next rider on course that would prove to have the winning round. Kent Farrington and Venus, owned by Raylyn Farms of Frederick, MD, were up to the speedy challenge. They quickly zipped from one to two and took a big risk to the combination. The mare easily cleared the obstacles and cut inside Bourn’s track to the final oxer with a clear round in 33.878 seconds for the win.

The young talent was shinning brightly Friday during the Kentucky Spring Classic as Emanuel Andrade led the team from Hollow Creek Farm to multiple victories in the jumper ring. His highlight of the day was during the High Junior/Amateur-Owner jumpers, where he piloted Wilkina Lithya to the win, followed by Tiny Tim in third, while Kate Morrison and Four Roses DL Vie Z placed second. Andrade also scored all three of the top ribbons in the Low Junior Jumpers. Earlier in the day, Katie Prudent and V took home honors in the 1.45m Open Jumpers with their quick and clean jump-off round.

Andrade was the pathfinder with his first mount, Tiny Tim, owned by Hollow Creek Farm of Aiken, SC. They set the target in the jump-off by leaving all the fences intact and breaking the beam at 36.481 seconds, which would be good enough for third. He eventually bested his own time with his winning mount Wilkina Lithya, also owned by Hollow Creek Farm, later in the class. They shaved the turn in the first rollback and flew down to the final oxer to dash through the finish in 35.823 seconds. The clear effort would prove uncatchable and they would claim their winning stake.

The win came shortly after Andrade’s top three placings in the Low Junior Jumpers. The Kentucky Spring Shows have been very successful for the young rider, who jumped double clear rounds with all three mounts. Carboni, Casanova Junior, and Lucky Des Rocquelines finished first, second, and third respectively.

In the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumpers, the only rider to best Andrade’s time with his first mount Tiny Tim was Kate Morrison with Four Roses DL Vie Z, owned by Craig Morrison of Dublin, OH. Their speedy jump-off effort claimed the second place award, and she also picked up fifth with her first mount, Windoctro. Leah DeMartini of Bronxville, NY slipped into the fourth place position with Elm Rock LLC’s True Love, while Daniela Stransky and Twister, owned by Stransky’s Mission Farms of Miami, FL, rounded out the top six and the double clear rounds.

Earlier in the day riders had the opportunity to showcase their mounts during the 1.45m Open Jumpers. Four riders advanced to the tiebreaker and all four posted double clear rounds. The first came clear came from the first duo on course: Richie Moloney with Freestyle De Muze for Equinimity LLC of Wellington, FL. They set the standard at 40.367 seconds, which placed fourth.

Katie Prudent was the next to tackle the jump-off aboard V, owned by Michael Smith of Winchester, VA. They had the most successful round, clocking in at 36.091 seconds with all the fences in place to eventually claim the win.

Fernando Cardenas and Quincy Car gave catching Prudent their best shot, but finished just 8/10ths a second behind the leading time for third. The last to show over the short course was Kent Farrington with Panama Tame, owned by Salamander Farms of The Plains, VA. They came even closer to Prudent’s time, but were still 7/10ths of a second shy to earn the second place award.

The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows came to a close Sunday with amateur rider Meagan Nusz claiming her second major victory.  During the 16-horse jump-off in the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic, Nusz piloted Vesuvius to the winning clear time to lead the victory gallop during the Kentucky Spring Classic. Ramiro Quintana of Argentina was hot on her heels, qualifying three mounts for the tiebreaker and scoring second and third with Ollywood Des Horts and Ziedento, respectively.

Ramiro Quintana was the pathfinder over the first course aboard Zidento, owned by St. Bride’s Farm of Upperville, VA, and he managed to match the effort as the first in the jump-off. The duo easily maneuvered over all of the fences, setting the time to beat at 42.258 seconds, which would be good enough for third.

Fernando Cardenas had the next clear round with Quincy Car, but they ended up with the most conservative faultless time in 43.729 seconds for fifth place. Canada’s Ian Millar came very close to taking Quintana’s early lead with Baranns, but fell just 2/10ths of a second short. The clear effort would pick up the fourth place award.

Meagan Nusz and Vesuvius, owned by Amalaya Investments of Houston, TX, would produce the next double clear effort, and they had their eye on the winning pace. Easily making the rollback to the skinny vertical, they were able to handily gallop across the middle of the ring before leaving a stride out to the last obstacle. The pair dashed through the timers in 41.462 seconds to claim the victory.

The only other rider to come close to catching them was Quintana with his other mount, Ollywood Des Horts, owned by Remarkable Farms of New York, NY. The duo added to the final fence to leave it intact, but the careful approach proved costly with a time of 41.718, which was just 3/10ths of a second shy of the leader for second place.

The High Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumper Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classics were held later in the day. The Amateur-Owner Jumpers saw four double clear efforts, with Wilton Porter piloting Neolistio Van Het Mierenhof to the win for Sleepy P Ranch of Bartonville, TX. Canada’s Jordan MacPherson and Aanwinst claimed second, Kenzie Donovan of River Hills, WI, placed third with Boomerang, and Leah DeMartini rounded out the faultless efforts in the jump-off with True Love for Elm Rock LLC of Bronxville, NY.  In the High Junior Jumper Classic, there were no double clear rounds, but Sophie Simpson had the fastest four fault round in the jump-off aboard Chico’s Girl, owned by Katherine Gallagher of Medfield, MA. Kady Abrahamson of Loveland, OH, followed in second with Irish Hunt.

Hunter Highlights: Wednesday – Sunday

Clear, sunny skies and lush Kentucky bluegrass welcomed riders back to the Kentucky Horse Park for week two of the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. Among those leading riders are Kelley Farmer and Shawn Casady, both of whom topped the leaderboard.

After a successful first week in Kentucky, Farmer returned to the Stonelea Ring to kick things off by sweeping all four of the day’s Conformation Hunter classes with Skorekeeper, owned by Larry Glefke and Quail Run Partnership of Keswick, VA.

Skorekeeper started the morning with a blue ribbon in the Conformation Hunter model class and then delivered two back-to-back polished rounds over the Bobby Murphy designed Conformation Hunter courses to take first place in both classes.

Farmer and Skorekeeper finished the day with another blue ribbon, this time in the Conformation Hunter under saddle class, leaving the pair well ahead of the pack going into the awarding of the division championships.

Farmer also saw success in the same division aboard her second mount Dancing Solo, owned by Larry Glefke and Dr. Kenneth Garber of Keswick, VA. The duo finished second over the first course as well as second in the under saddle.

In the combined Second Year and High Performance Hunters, it was Shawn Casady who led the jog following the second course. Casady finished high in the ribbons in both of the over fences classes and the hack aboard Ascot, owned by the HJ Group LLC of Sewickley, PA.

Winning the first class of the Second Year and High Performance Hunter division were Caroline Weeden and Lucky Times, owned by Old Willow Farms LLC of Northfield, IL.

Day two of the popular spring series concluded Thursday with the awarding of the professional hunter division championships, and it was Cookie Beck who rode away with the tricolor in the combined Second Year Green and High Performance Hunter division.

Beck finished first over both of the day’s Bobby Murphy designed hunter courses in the Stonelea Ring at the Kentucky Horse Park to secure title of division champion aboard Last Call, owned by Lisa Cudahy of Mequon, WI.

Beck and Last Call came into the afternoon with a second place over fences and a first place under saddle earned Wednesday, and they only improved upon their performances from there.

Finishing in reserve in the Second Year Green/High Performance Hunter division were Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy, owned by Helen Lenahan of Buffalo, NY.

In the First Year Green Hunters it was another talented horse, Balin, who earned the division’s highest honors with Havens Schatt in the saddle.

The seven-year-old, owned by Ainsley Sadlo of Atlanta, GA finished second in the first class of the morning behind one of Schatt’s other mounts, Sans Souci, owned by CH Farm LLC of Delano, MN. That second place finish coupled with two blue ribbons Wednesday cemented Balin’s position as the division leader.

The reserve championship tri-color in the First Year Green Hunter division went to Christopher Payne and Say When, owned by Danielle Baran of London, Ontario. Payne, of New Hope Farm LLC in Cincinnati, OH, navigated Say When to a third place finish over the first course before returning to the ring to display Say When’s handiness and finish first in the handy class.

Friday, on her home turf, Vivian Yowan topped the field in both the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal, sponsored by Randolph College, and the WIHS Equitation Hunter Phase. Yowan demonstrated her exceptional equitation over the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal course aboard Sanderson, to earn her a spot as one of four riders called back to test. Along with Yowan, Addison Piper, Spencer Smith and Lizzie Vanderwalde all returned to the ring to line-up as the top four finishers following the first course.

Judges asked that each rider go directly from their place in line to jump what was formerly fence three, a vertical off of the left lead. From there, riders were instructed to ride a bending line to another vertical across the diagonal and then maintain a counter-canter around the end of the ring leading toward another vertical away from the in-gate. Riders then executed a rollback to the left to one final fence toward the gate before coming to a halt in front of the fence lining the Stonelea Ring. Adding to the difficulty of the test, all riders were asked to drop their stirrup irons.

Piper and Superfly, owned by Cavallo Farms, LLC of San Diego, CA, were the first to execute the four fence round. Piper rode Superfly through the shortened course without issue, providing an excellent example of how best to maneuver the test.

Yowan was the next to be asked to showcase her abilities, and she need not have worried about just staying on. Yowan rode the test seamlessly, cementing her spot as one of the top riders in the class. Smith tested next without issue aboard Icarus, owned by Ashland Farms of Wellington, FL, and Vanderwalde rounded out the top four aboard App For That, owned by Dasilva Investments of Ann Arbor, MI.

Following their tests it was Yowan who rode away with the blue ribbon, while Piper took the second place position, and Smith and Vanderwalde finished third and fourth respectively.

While Sanderson is a new partner for Yowan, she’s seen similar success with her long-standing mount, Naf Naf, owned by Saddle Ridge LLC of Darien, CT. It was aboard Naf Naf that Yowan picked up her first win of the day, finishing with a score of 89 in the WIHS Equitation Hunter Phase. The WIHS Equitation Qualifier class will conclude on Sunday, May 17 at 10 a.m. with the Jumper Phase.

Havens Schatt and Just Fred were just about flawless in Saturday night’s $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby. Schatt and Just Fred, owned by R. Bruce Duchossois of Aiken, SC, claimed the victory in what is one of the Kentucky Spring Classic’s most highlighted hunter events. The class, held in the Stonelea Ring at the Kentucky Horse Park, is the second in the seven-part Hallway Feeds Series in which top riders from across the country vie for their share of the $15,000 Leading Rider Awards.

Kelley Farmer returned to the handy round in the third place position with a first round score of 90 aboard Red Sky, owned by Dr. Kenneth and Selma Garber and Larry Glefke of Keswick, VA. Farmer and Red Sky took all of the higher options over the second course to earn a handy round score of 87, for a grand total of 177 over both courses, which would end up cementing their spot in third place for the night.

Farmer’s high score in the first was overtaken by Schatt and Just Fred, who returned as the second to last to go with a first round score of 91. The pair skillfully maneuvered the handy course to earn a base score of 84, plus four additional points for taking each of the higher options for a total second round score of 88. That score combined with their first round score of 91 moved them into the first place position with an overall point tally of 179.

Farmer was back again as the final rider to return, this time with Skorekeeper, owned by Larry Glefke and Quail Run Partnership of Keswick, VA. The seven-year-old horse earned a total first round score of 94 to shoot him to the top of the leader board going back in to the final round, but a slight chip to the third fence of the handy course would leave him with a second round score of 84. That 84 left Farmer and Skorekeeper with a final point total of 178, just one point behind Schatt and Just Fred for the second place award.

Sunday marked the end of the 2013 Kentucky Spring Classic and the finale of a winning weekend for Jenna Selati and Greytful. Selati, a Chicago, IL native, will return home from the Kentucky Horse Park with the championship tricolor in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter division.

Selati navigated Greyftul, or “Empire” to two blue ribbons Saturday over the Bobby Murphy designed courses in the Murphy Ring. She returned Sunday to turn in equally impressive rounds in the Stonelea Ring with the seven-year-old gelding, finishing second in the both first class and over the handy course.

Finishing in reserve in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters were Piper Benjamin and Corvine. Benjamin and Corvine bested the field in the handy class to claim the blue ribbon, and they immediately returned to win a second blue ribbon in the under saddle class.

Winning the championship in the Large Junior 15 and Under Hunter division was Vivian Yowan aboard Roc A Bye, owned by Marigot Bay Farm LLC of Dover, MA. Yowan picked up the catch ride aboard Roc A Bye, consistently turning in solid rounds. Sunday, Yowan finished second in both of the division’s over fences classes before being named champion of the division.

The blue ribbon in both of the day’s over fences classes went to Meredith Darst and Vida Blue, owned by Elm Rock LLC of Bronxville, NY, earning them the division’s reserve championship.

Darst also earned a second tricolor Sunday with Val D’Isere, owned by Natalie Allen-Barinsky of Mendota Heights, MN. Like Yowan and Roc A Bye, Val D’Isere is a new catch ride for Darst, but the pair connected quickly, finishing first and second over fences Sunday and earning the division championship.

For more information about the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows please visit http://www.kentuckyhorseshows.com/.

AUSTIN, (TAHC) – The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) designated Kleberg County (South Texas) equine (horses, donkeys, ponies, mules, and zebras) as high risk for exposure to Equine Piroplasmosis (Piro) in March of 2013. As a result, the TAHC began mandatory testing of all equine in Kleberg County on April 8. The initial Kleberg County test zones extended south from Escondido Creek to the Kleberg-Kenedy county line.

Equine Piroplasmosis (Piro) is a blood-borne protozoal disease that affects all equine, but is not transmissible to humans. Through research, a treatment protocol has been developed that can often clear the infection and lead to the release of horses that tested positive. Piro is currently not considered endemic in Texas or the U.S.; however, isolated outbreaks of the disease such as in Kleberg County have occurred.

Piro can be transmitted from a positive horse to a negative horse by blood transfer from dirty instruments or by tick vectors. South Texas has a large and diverse population of ticks. Horses visiting pastures with infected tick populations can become infected as a result. Once positive horses are treated or removed, the tick populations within those pastures free themselves of the disease in approximately one year, and it will be safe to put negative horses back in the pasture.

“Because Piro is considered a foreign animal disease to the U.S., it is important we make every effort to find undetected cases in the area,” said Dr. Dee Ellis, Texas’ State Veterinarian. “We believe the Piro situation related to tick transmission in Texas is limited to just a few south Texas counties. The TAHC is asking for the support of local horse owners to ensure this testing effort is a success.” Horse owners are also encouraged to discuss the situation with their local veterinarian.

To date, 283 premises and a total of 747 equine animals have been tested in Kleberg County as part of the county wide testing effort. Of the premises and animals tested, 6 premises have tested positive with a total of 19 total horses involved.

The TAHC is hoping to wrap up testing in the southern part of the county by the end of May, where approximately 30 premises remain to be tested. The next efforts will involve testing the northern part of Kleberg County. All equine owners in the county who have not had their equine tested are strongly encouraged to contact the TAHC as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. Equine owners can call (361) 676-0979 to set up an appointment. The test is free of charge.

 ”We greatly appreciate the cooperation of the equine owners and veterinary practitioners of Kleberg County, and the high level of voluntary compliance with the mandatory testing requirement,” said Dr. T.R. Lansford, Region 5 Director. “We look forward to working with the remaining owners of untested equine and the local veterinarians as we strive to complete the area test in Kleberg County. It is important that all equine are tested as soon as possible.”

Kleberg County equine owners and/or veterinary practitioners who have questions should contact the TAHC Region 5 Office in Beeville at (361) 676-0979. For more information on Piroplasmosis they can also visit www.tahc.state.tx.us/animal_health/equine/piro.html

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) strives to keep Texas’ livestock disease free, ultimately allowing for better marketability and commerce.

Founded in 1893, the Texas Animal Health Commission works to protect the health of all Texas livestock, including: cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, goats, equine animals, and exotic livestock.

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WELLINGTON, (Phelps) – Audi Polo Team became the first team to win two tournament titles Sunday in the Grand Champions Polo Club’s 2013 spring tournament circuit.

It wasn’t easy winning the fast-paced, seesaw battle that saw the lead change nine times.

Lucas Lalor scored the game-winner with five seconds remaining in regulation time to give Audi a thrilling 8-7 victory over Piaget.

With Piaget’s Brandon Phillips closely defending Lalor, the 22-year-old took a pass from teammate Marc Ganzi, whose mallet head broke after hitting the line drive to Lalor, who tapped it in for the score.

Hall of Famer and former 10-goaler Mike Azzaro, making his Grand Champions season debut filling in for injured Nic Roldan, and Lalor, each scored three goals for Audi.

“It was a perfect pass which made it easy for me to score,” said the 22-year-old Lalor, one of six Grand Champions players who competed in the final. “It was a competitive game for sure. Anyone could have won it.”

Piaget’s Moritz Gaedeke of Germany was named Most Valuable Player. He scored two goals and played well defensively including deflecting a penalty shot attempt.

Audi also won the USPA Spring Challenge two weeks ago.

Father-and-son Marc and Grant Ganzi teamed up for the win against wife-and-mother Melissa Ganzi in the good-spirited family battle.

Grant Ganzi defended his mother well, preventing a goal midway through the game prompting announcer Gus Whitelaw to quip, “No dessert for Grant tonight.”

Melissa Ganzi won the family scoring battle, however, with two goals. Marc and Grant each scored one goal.

Lalor plays for both Audi and Piaget and was prepared to play against familiar faces Melissa Ganzi, Phillips and Juan Bollini, who he has played with and against since joining Grand Champions.

“It always makes it fun playing with players you know, like Marc and Granti, who played awesome today,” Lalor said.

“We knew it would be a tough game with Bollini. He is always tough to play against especially here. We just wanted to hit the ball well to get into scoring position. We are very happy with the win. Playing with Mike Azzaro was fun. He is a great player and he makes it fun.”

Azzaro is scheduled to return to San Antonio, Texas onMonday morning after filling in this past weekend for Roldan, who has been nursing a rib injury.

Azzaro, 47, coming off back-to-back U.S. Open titles with Zacara, will move up from 7 to 8-goals on June 1st.

“This was painful and fun, the only problem is playing with Lucas, he is difficult,” joked Azzaro. “Seriously, he was awesome and it was a fun deal playing with Grant, Marc and Lucas. I really enjoyed this.”

The teams were so evenly-matched that it was only fitting the game was decided in the final five seconds.

Piaget jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the opening chukker with a penalty goal from Phillips and goal from Melissa Ganzi despite Grant Ganzi closely defending. Piaget missed two scoring opportunities that would have given them a 4-0 lead.

Instead Audi came roaring back in the second chukker, outscoring Piaget, 3-1, with goals from Grant Ganzi, Azzaro and Marc Ganzi, tying the game at 3-3. Gaedeke worked his way through a traffic of defenders to put Piaget back in the lead, 4-3.

Audi came up with another 3-1 scoring barrage in the fourth chukker with two goals from Azzaro and one from Lalor to take a 6-5 lead.  Both teams played evenly in the fifth chukker, each scoring a goal enabling Audi to remain in the lead, 7-6.

It was a defensive battle in the final chukker when Bollini and Gaedeke put the pressure on. Gaedeke deflected Marc Ganzi’s 60-yard penalty shot attempt and Bollini shut down Lalor’s goal attempt.

The game deadlocked again at 7-7 after Lalor and Phillips scored. After that it was anybody’s game until Marc Ganzi and Lalor teamed up for the game-winner.

In a competitive subsidiary final, ELG/Palm House (Glenn Straub, Carlucho Arellano, Tommy Biddle, Avery Chapman) won 8-5 over Pony Express (Bob Daniels, Justin/Benji Daniels, Tomas Goti, Pancho Eddy), last weekend’s USPA Sun Cup champion.

“Our team played as a team,” Chapman said. “There is no I in team in polo. You really have to play as a team together, using all your players. That’s what we did. Glenn played fantastic at 1, Tommy and Carlucho in the middle, me assisting them, it worked out well.

“Every year Grand Champions gets better and better,” Chapman said. “We call it Friendly Fridays and Spicy Sundays. We had played this team before and we knew what didn’t work so this time we did something different.”

Ageless Glenn Straub won his second MVP award of the spring season after scoring four goals including an incredibleback shot just inside the goal post. Straub said he is thoroughly enjoying the Grand Champions season and it shows in his playing.

“I just hit balls, golf balls, tennis balls, polo balls,” Straub said. “I can’t ride worth a damn but I can go ahead and hit a ball. All people can play this game. Bouncing on top of a horse is not that hard. To be truthful about it, it’s just about hitting a ball whether it’s in the air or on the ground. You just have to concentrate.

“It took a team to win this game,” said Straub, a late bloomer in polo, who has been playing for 16 years.

“I didn’t ride a horse until I was 50,” Straub said. “After that it just took three days a week of riding and hitting that ball.”

Straub also said Grand Champions’ complimentary massages in the players’ tent after each game has helped his stamina and conditioning.

“Getting the lactic acid out of your muscles, I can bounce back and play tomorrow, where before I started doing this I couldn’t,” Straub said. “At first I was skeptical because I am this big, tough guy from West Virginia. I thought getting a massage was for babies but it took 20 years off my life. I can be a young person again.”

Tommy Biddle and Carlucho Arellano each added two goals and Chapman anchored the defense.

A special treat was awards presenter Bruce Steinberg, 12, of Boca Raton, named honorary tournament chairman.

Steinberg, a blood cancer survivor, spent the day with 5-goaler Brandon Phillips to help raise awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It was Steinberg’s wish to spend the day with a polo player. The two spent the day together in the barn, at the game, riding and at the awards ceremony.

The spring tournament circuit, featuring teams rated from 10 to 14 goals, was the fifth of the spring season at Grand Champions.

The 2013 season has been Grand Champions most competitive with four different champions emerging: ELG/Psycho Bunny (Palm City Open), Power Horse (Polo Gear Invitational), Audi (USPA Spring Challenge and Eastern Challenge) and Pony Express (USPA Sun Cup).

Only one spring circuit tournament remains at Grand Champions with the May 24-27 Memorial by Piaget and juniors tournament, hosted by the Polo Training Foundation, USPA and Grand Champions, will be held on Memorial Day Monday.

GRAND CHAMPIONS SPRING SCHEDULE

May 24-27: The Memorial by Piaget

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.

INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.