FURUSIYYA FEI NATIONS CUP™

SIX TEAMS WILL BATTLE IT OUT FOR GLOBAL FAME

BUT ONLY ONE WILL GO HOME LUCKY

HITS Post Time Farm13710 NW US Highway 27, Ocala, FL 34482 #SupportYourNation 352.876.0508 | HitsShows.com | info@HitsShows.com #NationsCupOcala

Friday, February 13, 2015 | Ocala, Florida

presented by Edge Brewing Barcelona

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTSSchedule & Map

Jump PreviewMeet Team U.S.A.

Team Profiles

Page 5

Page 7

Page 9

Page 10

OFFICIAL EVENT PROGRAM

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Longines_HQ • Visual: SB1_CC10 • Magazine: Events_programm_Ocala (CH) • Doc size: 247.65 x 254 mm • Calitho #: 01-15-105265 • AOS #: LON_06942 • VP 21/01/2015

OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER

Elegance is an attitude

Simon Baker

Conquest Classic Moonphase

Official Event Program | FURUSIYYA FEI NATIONS CUP™ | 3

Foreword by the Fédération Equestre Internationale President

I am delighted to welcome all of you to Ocala for the

first Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping qualifier

for the 2015 season.

When we embarked on the journey to restructure

one of the sports oldest and most prestigious series

– the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ – we did so in

order to make it more inclusive and truly global. It has

been two years since we unveiled the new format of

this century old series, which sees the world divided

into six regions for qualification purposes leading

to a star-studded final, and there is little doubt in

anyone’s mind that the series has been transformed

for the better and completely revitalised.

Seeing new venues such as Ocala join the 2015

series calendar, which counts over twenty qualifiers

in as many countries, is testimony to the appeal of

this new format and the inherent values of the team

vs team competition. Over the next eight months,

teams will battle it out in order to secure their spot

at the Final which takes place at the wonderful Real

Club de Polo in Barcelona in September.

Last year, the Dutch team reigned supreme adding the

Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ trophy to their individual

and team world titles. But only time will tell if they

can maintain their Midas touch as I am sure many a

nation will be looking to impress and hone their skills

on the eve of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

We are delighted to have Furusiyya on board for

this flagship series. Their vision, belief and support

has been instrumental in the restructuring process,

providing a platform for the world’s many equestrian

nations to compete at the highest level, capturing

the imagination of sports fans and enthusiasts

around the world.

We are also very grateful to Longines, Top Partner of

the FEI and Official Timekeeper of the Furusiyya FEI

Nations Cup™ Jumping series, for their commitment

to this series and horse sport generally.

To all the athletes competing here, I wish you all

every success and, on behalf of the Fédération

Equestre Internationale (FEI), I send my best

wishes to the event organisers, officials, media,

volunteers and spectators for a memorable and

enjoyable event.

Ingmar De Vos

FEI President

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PROUD SPONSOR OF THEFURUSIYYA FEI NATIONS CUP™

JUMPING 2015

PURITY. NOBILITY.CHIVALRY.

Furusiyya_1_240x250.indd 1 2015/01/20 10:33 AM

Official Event Program | FURUSIYYA FEI NATIONS CUP™ | 5

Table of Contents

3 Foreword by the Fédération Equestre Internationale President

5 Schedule of Events & Map of Show Grounds

6 The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Finds a New Home at HITS Ocala

7 If You Build It, They Will Come Custom Jumps Premiere at Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™, presented by Edge Brewing Barcelona

9 Meet the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team

10 The Who’s Who of Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™

11 The Great American $1 Million Grand Prix Returns to HITS Ocala

Schedule of Events

HITS Ocala is honored to partner with The Centers, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen lives with compassionate healing. Through their multiple inpatient and residential treatment programs, and an extensive range of outpatient services for mental health and substance abuse care, The Centers serves 13,000 people in our community each year including 4,100 children in 2014. HITS donated 75% of each VIP Table sale made by The Centers, to support the organization’s lifesaving impact. For more information on The Centers, please visit www.TheCenters.us.

TicketsGeneral Admission tickets are $10* per person. Children 12 and under are free. Free parking. *Fee includes sales tax.

General Admission tickets can be purchased:• By phone at 352.867.0508• Through OcalaTix.com ($2 processing fee applies)

• At the gate on Friday, February 13

11 am

12 pm

1 pm

3 pm

International Village Opens: Shop for Nations Cup merchandise and grab a snack from Ocala’s best food trucks

Opening Ceremony

Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™, presented by Edge Brewing Barcelona (First Round)

Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™, presented by Edge Brewing Barcelona (Final Round)

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Schedule of Events & Map of Show Grounds

6 | FURUSIYYA FEI NATIONS CUP™ | Official Event Program

The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™

Finds a New Home at HITS Ocala by USEF

For the last 105 years, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Nations Cup Jumping™ series has been a staple of international jumping competition. Sanctioned by and run under the rules of the FEI, the international governing body of equestrian sports, the FEI Nations CupTM is the ultimate test of horse and rider and one of the most prestigious jumping series for national teams in the world.

Each country taking part in the unique two-round competition is represented by four horse-and-athlete combinations who look to jump flawlessly over a championship-level track, leaving all the rails in place and finishing within the time allowed. After the first round, teams composed of the same combination of riders will return for the second round to try and best the same track from round one. In each round, the highest score per team will be dropped; meaning only three scores will count per round for each team. The country finishing with the lowest cumulative two-round score will be declared the winner. In the case of two or more teams standing tied on the least amount of faults at end of round two, an exciting jump-off against the clock will be held to determine the winning nation.

“Hosting the 2015 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ is a privilege not only because of the event’s legacy, but the unique opportunities it gives competitors and the much-deserved attention it shines on the sport of show jumping,” said HITS CEO and President Thomas Struzzieri.

In 2013, the FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping series experienced a renaissance into a new and expanded global format as the Saudi Equestrian Fund became the sponsor of the now renamed Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Series. Under the revised rules, the world was split into six regions with qualifying FEI Nations CupTM competitions held throughout the year. The nations that garner the most qualifying points advance to the annual

Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Series Final held each fall.

HITS Ocala is hosting the prestigious $200,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ qualifier to be held Friday, February 13. This qualifier is of the utmost importance for the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as it serves as the first of only three North American qualifying competitions for the 2015 Final. Only two of the North American nations will qualify to compete at this year’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Final in Barcelona, Spain, so spectators can expect to see each country’s brightest stars compete.

For the U.S. Team, Ocala’s Nations Cup will be doubly important as it looks to not only score valuable qualifying points, but also secure bragging rights as winners in the United States’ only Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™.

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and its U.S. Jumping Teams have a strong history of excelling in FEI Nations CupTM competition. In both 2013 and 2014, the United States qualified to contest the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Final, winning the Challenge Cup on each occasion.

Additionally, in 2014, U.S. teams found success in European FEI Nations CupTM competitions with wins in England, Spain, and Ireland, serving as the perfect preparation for the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team that would go on to earn Team and Individual Bronze medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in France.

On February 13 the $200,000 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ will play a pivotal step for athletes as they prepare to earn Team and Individual medals at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and should not to be missed!

From the Grandstand: Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Rules

• The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ will take place over two rounds of competition.

• The best three scores from each round will count for a Nation’s cumulative score.

• The country finishing on the lowest cumulative two-round score will be declared the winner.

• In the case of two or more teams standing tied on the least amount of faults at end of round two, a jump-off against the clock will be held to determine the winning nation.

• A rail down or a hoof in the open water results in four faults.

• A refusal results in four faults and two refusals results in elimination.

• Every four seconds over the time allowed results in one time fault.

• A fall of rider results in elimination.

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Official Event Program | FURUSIYYA FEI NATIONS CUP™ | 7

If You Build It, They Will Come Custom Jumps Premiere at Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™, presented by Edge Brewing Barcelona by Emily Stoermer

The debut of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ in Ocala not only brings international show jumping stars for an exciting competition all are invited to watch – but a host of other accouterments that go along with a world-class show.

Not the least of this are exciting new horse show jumps the HITS creative team designed to debut at this event.

Horse jumps are a chance to express creativity and add decoration to the show jumping ring. But most importantly, they are made to be functional for the horse and rider – challenging but not impossible.

Good jumps create an obstacle the horse must surmount. In show jumping, typically, bars between the two sides of the obstacle fall away if struck by a hoof or other part of the horse. Each bar that falls down results in what is called a fault, which negatively affects a rider’s score, as the goal is to have the shortest time through the ring but with the fewest – and preferably no – faults.

“It’s all about ideas. Of course, a priority is making them functional for the horses, particularly for this exciting new event,” said HITS Assistant Art Director Elizabeth McClain. “But the fun part is the inspiration.”

During the initial phases, the HITS Art Department created almost 40 different visuals and narrowed them down to 10 distinctive jumps, which the Jump Building Department will construct and have ready in time for their February 13th premiere.

The new HITS jumps include a bridge over the New York City skyline, old fashioned sailboats, and a jump that features two large heads of garlic. The garlic jump pays tribute to the annual Hudson Valley Garlic Festival, which draws tens of thousands of visitors to Saugerties, New York, home of HITS headquarters, each September, just weeks after the Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Wells Fargo, and the Richest Weekend in Show Jumping.

Other fun, innovative jumps feature balls of knitting yarn, a large abacus, and Grecian columns topped with flowers inspired by the myth of Pegasus, the flying horse.

“In addition to the ‘Wow’ factor for spectators, we’re trying to challenge the horses and riders with different kinds of obstacles, and how they interact with the jumps,” said McClain. “It makes the event more special – that’s why we wait for these days to premier them. No one’s seen them before and the Nations Cup™ riders will be the first to jump over them.”

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Learn the LingoShow jumps come in all sizes and arrangements. Use these terms to identify the jumps at HITS Post Time Farm!

VERTICAL

A jump that consists of poles or planks placed directly above one another without any spread or width.

WALL

Constructed of a lightweight material, these jumps are made to look like a brick wall and fall easily when knocked.

OXER

Two verticals set close together to be jumped at the same time, making the jump wider. Also called a spread, there are several types, including a square oxer (both top poles are of equal height), a ramped oxer (the further pole is higher than the closer pole) and a Swedish oxer (the poles slant in opposite directions, so that they appear to form an “X” from head-on).

COMBINATION

Two or three jumps in a row (marked A, B and/or C), with no more than two strides between each. Two jumps in a row are called double combinations and three jumps in a row are called triple combinations.

LIVERPOOL

A large tray of water under a vertical or oxer jump.

JOKER

A tricky jump comprising of a rustic rail and two wings. The lack of filler makes it difficult for a horse to judge their proximity to the fence as well as the fence’s height, making it difficult to clear.

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FEI TV is the FEI’s official video website and your ticket to the world’s most prestigious competitions. Sign up to FEI TV (www.feitv.org) for instant access to all the live broadcasts, an extensive video-on-demand library, all the highlights, behind the scenes reports, interviews and much more. Join us now !

Also available onyour favourite devices !

Official Event Program | FURUSIYYA FEI NATIONS CUP™ | 9

Meet the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team

These decorated athletes will enter the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ show ring on Friday, February 13 as the U.S. Show Jumping Team, with hopes to exit as champions. From Olympic Medalists to World Cup titleholders, the American team is a force to be reckoned with.

For Georgina Bloomberg, the daughter of former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, a love of horses has always run in her blood. After an extremely successful junior and young rider career, Bloomberg has continued to find success at the highest level of the sport of jumping. In 2014, her competition highlights included

helping the United States to a Nations Cup win at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ in Gijon, Spain, and a win in the Central Park Grand Prix, presented by Rolex with the superstar mare, Juvina.

After turning professional in 1980, Todd Minikus competed in his

first grand prix in 1985 and across the last two-plus decades,

he has forged an impressive career highlighted by more than 75

grand prix wins, five FEI World Cup Final appearances and multiple

Nations Cup teams. In 2001, he was selected by the American

Horse Show Association (now USEF) as the recipient of the Horseman of the Year

Award, and two years later was a member of the American Bronze medal winning team

at the 2007 Pan American Games with Pavarotti. In 2015, Minikus will look to further

strong performances from his $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson winner

Quality Girl.

HITS HIGHLIGHTS:• 1st place in the 2014 Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties• 1st & 2nd place in the 2014 $75,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix

at HITS Saugerties• 1st place in the 2014 $50,000 Horze Equestrian Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties• 1st place in the 2014 $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties

The daughter of Olympic Bronze medalist, Champ, and acclaimed hunter and jumper trainer, Linda, Lauren Hough began riding before she could walk. Beginning her career competing in Northern California in the pony ring, the jumps did not stay small for long as she rose up the hunter and equitation ranks, ultimately winning the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search in 1994. In 2000, at the age of

23, Hough reached the pinnacle of the sport of jumping, making her Olympic debut in Sydney. Since that time she has continually represented the U.S. in national and international competitions including the 2010 World Championships, the Pan American Games where they won Gold in 2003 and Bronze in 2007, and annually in Nations Cup competitions throughout the world. HITS HIGHLIGHTS:

• 10th in the 2014 Great American $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS Ocala

For almost two decades Laura Kraut has represented the U.S. at Olympic Games, World Championships, and in numerous Nations Cup competitions. Kraut’s first big break came in 1992, when she was named as an alternate to the U.S. Olympic team for Barcelona after excelling in the Selection Trials and kick-off her Olympic career. Eight years later she made her Olympic debut in Sydney,

and in 2008 Kraut’s Olympic dreams came true as she and Cedric, played a pivotal role in America claiming Team Gold. In 2003, Kraut was recognized for her positive outlook and sportsmanship when she was awarded the United States Olympic Committee’s Jack Kelly Fair Play Award.

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Beezie Madden has been riding since the age of three and made her debut at Grand Prix, jumping’s highest level, in 1985 at age 22. For nearly three decades, Madden has represented the United States in the world’s most prestigious competitions, including winning three medals at the Olympic Games: Team Gold in 2004 and 2008, as well as Individual

Bronze in 2008. She has also won Team and Individual Silver at the 2006 World Championships and Team and Individual Bronze at the 2014 World Championships, in addition to becoming the Rolex/FEI World Cup Champion in 2013. HITS HIGHLIGHTS:

• 1st place in the 2009 $125,000 Strongid® C 2X™ Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties• 4th place in the 2014 AIG $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS Thermal• 12th place in the 2014 Great American $1 Million Grand Prix at HITS Ocala

Georgina Bloomberg New York, NY

Todd Minikus Loxahatchee, FL

Lauren Hough Wellington, FL

Laura Kraut Royal Palm Beach, FL

Beezie Madden Cazenovia, NY

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10 | FURUSIYYA FEI NATIONS CUP™ | Official Event Program

The Who’s Who of Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ by Emily Glass

Six countries will compete at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™, presented by Edge Brewing Barcelona, but only one will go home victorious. Here’s a look at who’s in the hot seat…

CanadaThe Canadian Equestrian Team is no stranger to the FEI Nations CupTM spotlight and in 2014 they proved to have what it takes to consistently remain at the top of the leaderboard. Lead by the distinguished Chef d’Équipe Mark Laskin, the Canadians will return to the Sunshine State with hopes of reclaiming their U.S. FEI Nations CupTM blue ribbon title. 2014 Furusiyya FEI Nations CupTM Series: A Year in Review• Canada took home the blue ribbon at the CSIO4* in

Wellington• Triumphant again, Canada placed first in Coapexpan,

Mexico• At June competitions in Alberta, Canada, the home

team placed fourth out of seven teams• Returning to Alberta in September, Canada placed first

out of eight teams• Canada returned home from the Furusiyya Nations

CupTM Final in Barcelona, Spain, with the second place spot

ColombiaIn 2014, Chief d’Équipe Marcel Delestre led Team Colombia to a tenth place finish at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian GamesTM in Normandy. Eying the top spot, Delestre plans to bring only his best competitors to Ocala with hopes to leave holding a blue ribbon and the big check. 2014 Furusiyya FEI Nations CupTM Series: A Year in Review• Team Colombia placed seventh at Wellington

IrelandOcala will be Ireland’s first FEI Nations CupTM competition of 2015. Chef d’Équipe, Robert Splaine, has a strong squad of horses and riders from which to choose his team. Splaine, a County Cork native, is himself a former Irish international show jumper who was part of many winning Irish FEI Nations CupTM teams during his show jumping career. In 2012, Splaine led the Irish team to Aga Khan Nations Cup victory at Dublin for the first time in eight years. 2014 Furusiyya FEI Nations CupTM Series: A Year in Review• In Lummen, Belgium, Team Ireland came back in round

2, finishing third overall• In La Baule, France, the fighting Irish again took the

third spot• Ireland took home sixth while on their home-turf in

Dublin• In Wellington, Florida, Ireland took home fifth place out

of 12 teams

MexicoIn recent years, Mexico has anxiously awaited the opportunity for inclusion in the Furusiyya Nations CupTM Final, participating in the United States, Mexico and Canada´s qualifiers. In 2015, Ocala will be Mexico’s first try to obtain that golden ticket. Chef d’Equipe Henri Prudent is a world-renowned Olympic trainer known for preparing countless international show jumpers for triumph in the show ring. 2014 Furusiyya FEI Nations CupTM Series: A Year in Review• Team Mexico heads home from Wellington after

securing ninth place• Hosting the event in Coapexpan, Team Mexico placed third

VenezuelaAfter placing 19th at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian GamesTM, Team Venezuela is awaiting stateside arrival for a chance at international bragging rights and global qualifying opportunities. 2014 Furusiyya FEI Nations CupTM Series: A Year in Review• Team Venezuela placed sixth at Wellington• In Arezzo, Italy, the Venezuelans jump their way to fifth

place position

A Note From FurusiyyaFor centuries the ancient term Furusiyya hats embraced the idea of horsemanship and equestrian knowledge, and now this same sense of purity, nobility and chivalry has been brought to the FEI Nations Cup™ – Jumping’s leading International team competition.

The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping has been created to make the sport more accessible to all nations, and enables teams from developing nations to compete on a level playing field with the traditional powerhouses of the sport. The competition now embraces more countries than ever before and its popularity has resulted in a huge increase in the number of FEI Nations Cup™ events being staged around the world. Increased rivalry for a place at the Final has ultimately led to even higher standards of the sport across the globe.

Furusiyya is immensely proud to be the title sponsor of the FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping and to be the catalyst for the international expansion of this great equestrian competition. During 2014, 40 nations competed for 18 places at The Final, staged at the magnificent Real Club de Polo in Barcelona. The 2014 Final successfully built on the already exceptionally high standards set in 2013 and featured teams representing countries from all continents, a true reflection of the popularity of Show Jumping on the global stage.

We wish all the horse and rider combinations the best of luck in the 2015 Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™, and we look forward to some world class international team Show Jumping throughout the year.

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Official Event Program | FURUSIYYA FEI NATIONS CUP™ | 11

The Great American $1 Million Grand Prix Returns to HITS Ocala by Emily Glass

Although 10 weeks of show jumping competition began mid-January at HITS Post Time Farm, things will really heat up Monday, March 23 for the return of the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix. The jumps are big, the course is technical and the riders are hungry for their piece of the sport’s largest prize purse. This is one competition equine enthusiasts do not want to miss. Last year’s inaugural event attracted horse sports’ most well-known names including the likes of World Cup Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Beezie Madden and Olympic Gold Medalists McLain Ward and Peter Wylde. After a commanding performance in front of a sold-out crowd, the blue ribbon went to Andre Thieme, of Germany, who became the second rider ever to win two of HITS’ $1 Million Grand Prix classes when his 10-year-old mare, Contanga 3, carried him to the top of the Great American Million leaderboard.

For Grand Prix hopefuls, the start of the 2015 winter show circuit at HITS Ocala meant one thing: the opportunity to qualify for the second crown jewel of the HITS Triple Crown of Show Jumping. Only the top riders will see their names on the order-of-go on March 23, as entry to the class is decided based on performance throughout the previous 10 weeks.

Whether you’re interested in family-friendly fun, an upscale VIP scene, or top-notch jumper competition that will keep you on the edge of your seat, Million Dollar Monday offers something for everyone. Prior to the start time, spectators can catch a glimpse of equestrian stars warming up, and throughout the evening, enjoy lite-bites from the snack bar, or opt for exclusive seating with ringside hors d’oeuvres in the Day VIP.

At 7 pm, under the lights in the iconic Ocala Horse Properties Stadium, Round One will commence with over forty international competitors. The objective of each horse and rider duo is to clear the course in the shortest amount of time, without disrupting the jumps. The pairs who complete this task will move on to Round Two or the Jump-Off, where an abbreviated course is set and the quickest, clean round wins. As March 23 approaches there is one question on everyone’s mind – will Andre Thieme return to Ocala to defend his title or will a new champion be crowned? Be there as show jumping royalty battles it out and experience Million Dollar Monday at HITS Post Time Farm for yourself!

Monday, March 23 | 7 pmBe there as top equestrian athletes chase the clock and the nation’s largest prize purse!

General Admission is $10. Children 12 and under are free. Free parking.

Tickets available at the gate, in advance at the Horse Show Office or by phone at 352.867.0508. Order online at OcalaTix.com ($2 processing fee applies).

Day VIP passes available by pre-order only for $100 per person. Includes ringside seating with a deluxe crudité table, international cheese display, assorted desserts and private cash bar. For Day VIP, call 352.867.0508.