Category: News

Equestrian Bahamas sponsored local trainer Erika Adderley of Mariposa Stables to participate in a recent Mental Coaching Certification Seminar. The seminar was hosted by the Bahamas Olympic Association in partnership with Carroll Consultancy Group, and is the first module in a series of coaching endeavours designed to highlight the importance of mental preparation in training and successful competition. The BOC is looking forward to hosting more certification classes, providing opportunities for trainers to expand their skill sets. Equestrian Bahamas is proud to be a part of this program!

Above: Participants of Mental Coaching Certification Seminar – EB trainer Erika Adderley is seated front row, second from left.

A strong Queens College team rode to victory for the first time ever in last Saturday’s Bahamas Interschool Equestrian League horse show, the final event of the BIEL competition season. However QC’s strong showing was not enough to unseat the Lyford Cay International School team in the overall standings. For the third year in a row the LCIS team and coach Erika Adderley successfully defended their status as Champions of the Interschool Series.

“The Bahamas Interschool Equestrian League continues to grow. Each year we have added teams, the teams are fielding more riders, and the competition is fiercely competitive,” said Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre of Equestrian Bahamas, the country’s Equestrian Sporting Federation. “The Championship Series consists of three shows, and we are seeing more parity in competition. This year for the first time ever each show was won by a different school.”

The Championship Series consists of interschool horse shows held in December, February and May. Windsor School won the first competition while LCIS won the second, but last Saturday, the Queens College team of Peyton Wong, Mila Sands, Hannah D’Aguilar and Molly McIntosh turned in poised and consistent performances to assure QC’s first ever victory. The QC team coach, Ms. Kim Johnson, praised the riders for their effort and diligence.

The Bahamas Interschool Equestrian League Championship Series is designed to prepare junior riders for collegiate competitions. Shows are based on the format of NCAA and IHSA intercollegiate competitions in the United States. Last Saturday’s show was held at Camperdown Equestrian Centre and was judged by Ms. Sabrina Lightbourne, former member of the Bahamas National Junior Equestrian team. Mr. Dorian Roach, Vice-President of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, was on hand to congratulate the riders and hand out the awards.

The overall placings for the Bahamas Interschool Equestrian League Championship Series 2018-2019 were as follows:

1st place – Lyford Cay International School
2nd place – Windsor School
3rd place – Queens College
4th place – Independent Team
5th place – Saint Andrews School
6th place – Lucaya International School
7th place – Tambearly School

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Congratulations and thanks to all who participated, spectated, and otherwise supported Equestrian Bahamas at the recent Jumper/Medal show and Bahamas Interschool Equestrian League Competition at Camperdown last weekend. Congratulations to Lyford Cay International School for winning Sunday’s team competition!

The show was judged by the super-knowledgeable, ultra-personable Creigh Duncan of Princeton, New Jersey. Judge Duncan not only did a wonderful job of judging the show, but also treated riders, coaches and parents to a fantastic post-show judging clinic, in which she praised riders for their efforts, gave advice for technical improvements, and shared a compelling and educational insight into the thought process of the competition judge.

The overall results were as follows: 1st place – Lyford Cay International School; 2nd place – Queens College; 3rd place – Independent team; 4th place – Windsor Preparatory School; 5th place – St. Andrews School; 6th place – Tambearly School. No matter the overall placings, it was a fun and educational day for all as riders celebrated with their team mates. The photo below says it all: it was a day worth jumping for joy!

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Thanks to all who braved the weather for our first Hunter Show this weekend at Mariposa Stables. Although Saturday was a wash, Sunday dawned bright and beautiful! Congratulations to all exhibitors, and thanks as always to the dedicated trainers, ring crew and volunteers who make it happen! We look forward to seeing everyone at the Annual Camperdown Jumper/Medal Show on February 16…and at the Bahamas Interschool Equestrian League event on February 17!

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The first horse show of the Bahamas Interschool Equestrian League 2018-2019 season held last Sunday at Mariposa Stables took a surprising turn when the Windsor Preparatory School Team emerged as the overall victors, unseating 2-time champions Lyford Cay International School.

Windsor fielded its largest team ever, with veterans Elle O’Brien, Alexis Neymour and Isabella Coello being joined by first-time competitors Quintyn Bauemler and Katarina Coello. Coached by trainer Erika Adderley, the five riders turned in consistent, successful rides, amassing a winning total of 43 points to handily defeat the reigning champions, Lyford Cay International School.

BIEL shows are based on the format NCAA and IHSA competitions, in which riders “draw” the names of the horses they will ride, and therefore compete on potentially unknown horses with minimal preparation. The format is designed to prepare our riders for collegiate competition. The show was judged by Mr. Jamie Stryker of Morriston, FL.

23 riders competed in six teams, with results as follows:

• 1st place – Windsor Preparatory School (43 points)
• 2nd Place – Lyford Cay International School (32 points)
• 3rd Place – Independent Team (28 points)
• 4th Place – Queens College (21 points)
• 5th place (tie) – St. Andrews School/ Lucaya International School (18 points)

Thanks to all riders and enthusiastic parents and supporters who came out for the Mariposa Jumper/Medal show on Saturday, and the BIEL show on Sunday! The next interschool equestrian competition will be held at Camperdown Equestrian Centre on Sunday, February 17, 2019. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend.

The second horse show of the Equestrian Bahamas 2018-2019 show season took place this past weekend at Camperdown Equestrian Centre. The show was a two-day event: Saturday’s classes featured the crowd-pleasing speed jumping events, while on Sunday the focus was on Equitation classes which emphasize style and technique. Riders competed at all levels, from Future Champions in Lead Line right up to the 3-foot level.

The show was judged by Mr. Robert Robold, President of the East Coast Hunter-Jumper Association, owner of North Hammock Stables in Merritt Island, Florida, and USEF R-rated judge in Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation.

At the close of the show Judge Robold gave two special awards: Sara Gottberg and Amalia Good were co-winners of the High Point Rider award, given to the rider or riders earning the most points in their division. Mollie McDermott was the winner of the Tibri Sportsmanship Award – a surprising choice to some as Mollie did not compete in the show!

Judge Robold later explained his decision: “There were lots of kids who exhibited sportsmanship this weekend,” he said. “Mollie stood out to me because even though she was not riding in the show she came out to support her barn teammates, and to help bathe and care for the horses and put away equipment. That is the right kind of attitude for a rider as it shows an unselfish attitude, concern for the welfare of the animal, and a willingness to learn from the ringside. So she was my choice.”

Congratulations to Mollie, Sara, Amalia, and to all riders and trainers on goals achieved, lessons learned, and ribbons won! A great time was had by all. The next show of the Equestrian Bahamas competition calendar will be held on December 8 and 9, 2018, at Mariposa Stables in western New Providence. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend!

Equestrian Bahamas is proud to announce the establishment of a partnership with the Princeton Equestrian League based in Princeton, New Jersey. The Princeton Equestrian League was founding by the owner of Princeton Show Jumping, Andrew Philbrick, and is dedicated to providing high-quality competitions for Hunter, Equitation and Jumper riders of all levels. The League provides an opportunity to riders to compete at member shows throughout the year, gain points towards year-end awards, and qualify for the prestigious Princeton Equestrian League National Finals at Princeton Show Jumping in Skillman, New Jersey.

“We are very excited and proud to become partners with the Princeton Equestrian League, and to be able to provide our Federation members with this wonderful opportunity for additional exposure, competition and recognition amongst their equestrian peers abroad,” said Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre, President of Equestrian Bahamas.

The Equestrian Bahamas horse show season is now in full swing, with the next show being held on Saturday, November 10 and Sunday, November 11, at Camperdown Equestrian Centre in Eastern New Providence. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend.

Last weekend’s show at Mariposa Stables served notice that the 2018-2019 year is underway with a bang! Spectators were treated to stylish performances by our junior equestrians, from our Future Champions in Lead Line right up to the 3-foot level. The show was judged by Mrs. Linda Mancini, USEF R-rated judge in Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation, and owner of Winners Circle Farm in Warwick, New York. Congratulations to all riders and trainers on goals achieved, lessons learned, and ribbons won! Thanks also to the many parents and supporters who shared with us the wonderful images below. Enjoy, and see you next month at the Camperdown Equestrian Centre show!

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Welcome home to Erika and Team Mariposa after a very successful outing at the 2018 Marshall and Sterling Finals in Saugerties, NY. Congratulations to Elle O’Brien, Katie Goulandris, Cairo Morrison and Sara Gottberg for their achievement in qualifying for this year’s Finals, which were held from September 12-16, 2018. The riders were accompanied by our own Erika Adderley as coach, along with trainer Natalie Johnson Russell of Oakmore Equestrian Inc. from Orlando, Florida.

Our riders made their presence felt from the very first day, with Cairo Morrison riding Hannah Nelson’s El Dorado to victory in the $1,500 Modified Child/Adult Jumper (2′ 11″). Cairo and El Dorado went on to make it a double victory by winning the $3,500 Modified Child/Adult Jumper Classic! Katie and Elle demonstrated their improved equitation skills while riding their own mounts Dreamboat and Cisco, respectively. The team’s success was capped off by Sara Gottberg’s 8th placing in the Hudson Junior/Amateur Equitation Classic (3’3″), aboard Tori Mark’s Greystoke.

Congratulations again to Erika and all our riders! We look forward to seeing you all at Mariposa’s first show of the year on October 20-21!

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