Some of our news items, event write-ups, and special announcements are saved here as an enduring resource for our visitors.
Feb 2008: Chris Hickey - COTH Dressage Horseman of the Year
Sept 2007: Chris Hickey & Cabana Boy Win Markel/USEF National Championship
Jul 2007: Double Gold at Pan-Am Games for Chris Hickey
Jan 2007: Comic Hilltop FRH - 2006 Nurnberger Burgpokal Champion
Oct 2006: Hilltop Farm's 15th Anniversary Celebration
Nov 2005: Herocity: November 16, 2004
Nov 2003: Cor Noir: May 17, 1987 - November 3, 2003
Nov 2002: VIP - Hilltop Announces Passing of a Wonderful Stallion
chris hickey - COTH Dressage Horseman of the Year
The February 1st issue of the Chronicle of the Horse had some exciting news - Hilltop Farm's Chris Hickey was selected as their Dressage Horseman of the Year. With the move to Hilltop Farm, capturing the USEF National Intermediare I Championships, two Gold Medals at the Pan American Games, competing at the World Championships for Young Horse, the USEF National Championship for FEI Five Year Olds, and many other high-scores and championships it has been quite a year. Congratulations Chris!
Photos by Melissa Richards
chris Hickey & cabana boy
win Markek/usef national championship
The favorites going into this year's Markel/USEF National Championship, Chris Hickey and Cabana Boy didn't disappoint. After awarding a "9" on submission, judge Hilda Gurney said, “Our general impression, of course, is that he has super talent for collection and for the FEI. You ask a lot of extension and collection both, showing good transitions, and you get a lot in response. We were impressed. ” They were impressed enough to award the pair on 8.480 score over the two day competition, which clinched the National Championship for Chis and Cabana.
Bred by Doug and Shannon Langer, Cabana Boy (Contucci x Britianna), was purchased by Hilltop Farm as a youngster to represent his sire Contucci. Cabana Boy has always exceeded our expectations - from Reserve Grand Champion of Dressage at Devon, to representing the US at the FEI World Horse Championships, and most recently with this win in Kentucky.
Michael Bragdell rode the Hilltop-bred gelding Rochefort (Regazzoni x Primavera), owned now by Beth Springer, to a 10th place finish in the FEI 5 Year Olds as well. The elegant pair continues to put in harmonious performances. Team Hilltop was all excited to watch Michael in his first US Championship and we are very pleased with the results. Judges comments included "Well presented and accurately ridden." We are looking forward to Dressage at Devon where Michael will show both Rochefort, and his younger full-brother, Rendezvous.
Chris Hickey also competed Rikki Brozman's mare Leonessa (Louis Heslegard x Wanessa) in the FEI 6 Year Old class. The pair finished in 6th place overall in a very competitive class. Leonessa always offers a wonderful rideability and very expressive movement and finished up a wonderful weekend for Team Hilltop!
Photo by Gwen Poulin
Double Gold at the Pan-Am Games for Chris Hickey
Chris Hickey and Regent (owned by Brenna Kucinski) will be returning to Hilltop Farm with two Gold Medals! They just completed their freestyle with a score of 72.100 and an ecstatic and emotional Chris has called with the great news – they are the 2007 Pan-American Games Individual Gold Medalists. Lauren Sammis claimed the Individual Silver Medal with Sagacious HF, and Katie Poulin-Neff and Brillant Too finished in 6th Place overall.
On Sunday, Chris, Lauren and Katie, captured the Team Gold Medal. The Pan-Am Games marked the first time for all these riders to compete internationally for the US and we expect to see them on many future US Teams.
Special congratulations to Regent’s owner Brenna, who’s always believed in the exceptional talent of this horse and to Chris, we couldn’t be any prouder! Our congratulations also to Lauren and Katie and the support teams of owners, grooms, vets, farriers, friends and more, behind them!
More details will be coming, but we wanted to share this fantastic news immediately. Chris sends his thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement! (Posted July, 2007)
Photo by Phoebe Porter
CHRIS HICKEY AND
REGENT WIN INTERMEDIARE I
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP LEADING THE US TEAM
TO THE PAN-AMERICAN GAMES IN BRAZIL
Chris Hickey’s always had great confidence in Brenna Kucinski’s Regent and this weekend six years of hardwork and trust culminated in winning the 2007 USEF Intermediare I National Championship and the highest overall score for the Pan-American Games Selection Trials. Their freestyle on Sunday was a hit! The powerful techno music matched Regent’s rhythm perfectly and their demanding choreography was justly rewarded by the officials with a final score of 74.5%, including a “9” for difficulty from the judge at C. Joining Chris and Regent on the US Team will be Lauren Sammis and Sagacious, Katherine Poulin-Neff on Brillant Too, and Susan Dutta on Pik L. The Pan Am Games will take place in Brazil July 14-29.
Click here to watch Chris and Regent's winning freestyle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wHjDVuaKbQ&mode=related&search
Comic Hilltop
FRH
2006 Nurnberger Burgpokal Champion
Carola Koppelmann and Comic Hilltop FRH won the 2006 Nurnberger Burgpokal at CDI-W Frankfurt last weekend with a winning score of 74.10% in the final round. The Nurnberg Burgpokal is the German National Championships for horses in the small tour (Prix St. George) and is only open to 7 – 9 year-old horses. Additionally, this prestigious competition is only open to horses that have won a qualifier during the season. The reserve champion was the Trakehner stallion Kaiserkult TSF who scored 73.35% under Dorthee Schneider. Third place was Helen Langehanenberg and the 7-year-old mare Responsible with a 71.85%.
Our partners in Comic, the FRH (Verein zur Förderung des Reitsports auf hannoverschen Pferden e.V), the organization which secures top talent for Germany's future sport and promotes this talent under her best riders, and Johannes Brinkmann, Comic’s breeder, are all thrilled by the success of Comic Hilltop FRH and Carola Koppelmann. We all look forward to the future success of this champion pair. Limited frozen semen is available for U.S. breeders. Contact our office today for more information on this exciting stallion! (Posted January, 2007)
Photo by Emily Covington
HILLTOP FARM'S 15th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Thank you to all who joined us to celebrate 15 wonderful years at Hilltop Farm! Over 350 people attended this colorful afternoon celebration on Saturday, October 28. We so appreciate the rave reviews over our main event, the music-filled presentation of our stallion line-up and their offspring. We also appreciate everyone’s time, support, and good wishes. Friends and customers traveled as far as from Chicago, Kansas, and South Carolina to celebrate with us. It is indeed the teamwork between Hilltop and our customers that has brought such good energy to our efforts over these past 15 years.
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(Posted November, 2006)
USEF NAMES CONTUCCI AS LEADING DRESSAGE SIRE
AND HILLTOP FARM AS LEADING DRESSAGE BREEDING!
The USEF has recently announced their 2005 Champions! Hilltop Farm’s Elite Hanoverian stallion Contucci has earned the title 2005 USEF Leading Sire Dressage Breeding. Further, Jane MacElree/ Hilltop Farm has been awarded the 2005 USEF Leading Owner Dressage Breeding title from the success of the Hilltop bred youngsters in sport. On the USEF website, Royal Prince is also listed as Champion from his USEF/Markel Young Horse World Championship performance. We celebrate these titles and look forward to further success in the 2006 season! (Posted April, 2006)
Any who has endured the loss of a horse can understand the sorrow and despair that descends like a shroud over everyone involved. Any who has witnessed a horse struggle through serious illness can understand how emotional it is to watch horses fight for their lives and how much respect such horses earn amongst their caregivers. Our guest stallion from New Zealand, the Australian Thoroughbred Heroicity was such a horse. He fought hard for his life over several weeks in the hospital when he was struck with a severe case of anterior enteritis, a severe inflammation of his stomach and duodenum. His recovery was nearly miraculous but not completely surprising, given his tremendous will to survive.
With great sadness we announce that on November 16, 2005, Heroicity died of acute gastric rupture. He had endured a couple bumps in the road to his recovery and yet we were still optimistic that he would be healthy for the upcoming breeding season. It is at times like this we are reminded how truly fragile are each of these magnificent creatures. We extend our most heartfelt and deepest condolences to his owner Janice McDonald and to all who deeply loved and admired Heroicity. He earned our utmost respect and admiration, not simply by his extraordinary qualities as a stallion, but even more so by the depth of his character and the beauty of his spirit. He has enriched all our lives and is deeply missed. (Posted 11/16/05)
COR
NOIR
May 17, 1987 - November 3, 2003
With great sadness, we must announce that our beautiful Holsteiner stallion Cor Noir was put down November 3, 2003 for humane reasons. Cor Noir gave tremendous quality to our Hilltop Farm breeding program, producing our top broodmares and the foundation for so much of our success today. Scott will always remember Cor Noir's focus and power under saddle…he was a stallion who every day wanted to work and loved every challenge. He had so much ability, the potential to earn a "9" in every movement of the Grand Prix. He was a tribute to his family of successful horses, his ¾ brother "Chacamo" having won the Team Gold for Germany in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
Cor Noir's legacy will live on in the foundation mares he gave our program and in his many offspring who are performing in various parts of our country. Fortunately through frozen semen, Cor Noir's influence continues to produce offspring in Australia, New Zealand, and throughout North America. We will welcome his offspring arriving next year and in the future in a very special light. (Posted 11/3/03)
VIP
(Joost-Abgar-Wagner)
Dutch Warmblood Stallion
February 16, 1979-November 13, 2002
Hilltop Farm regretfully announces the passing of a wonderful stallion and a real show jumping star. On November 13, 2002, the famous jumping stallion VIP passed away while enjoying a beautiful sunny day in his paddock. At nearly 24-years of age, VIP still came out of his stall each day with the exuberance of a 3-year old! No one would have guessed it would be his last day. VIP had a heart attack in his field and died very suddenly. Just moments before, he was enjoying his usual gallop through his paddock, gesturing to all that he was still "King of the Hill!"
VIP enjoyed a wonderful life as a show jumper under Steve Stephens and Debbie Dolan. As a 7-year old under Steve Stephens, VIP won the AGPA Championships, one of the youngest horses in the history of the sport at that time to win such a prestigious event. He continued on under Debbie Dolan to an international career as a show jumper. VIP's wins include:
- 1987 -- CSIO Spruce Meadows, Calgary Nations Cup
- 1987 -- CSIO Royal International, Toronto Nations Cup
- 1988 -- CSIO Mexico, Nations Cup (2nd place)
- 1989 -- CSIO Rome, Nations Cup
- 1989 -- CSIO Hickstead, England Nations Cup (2nd place)
- 1989 -- Grand Prix of Aachen -(3rd place)
- 1990 -- US World Equestrian Games Trials, Overall Best Score
- 1990-1991 -- Volvo East Coast World Cup League
- 1992 -- I Love New York Grand Prix
When VIP was retired from sport, he came to live at Hilltop Farm. We were blessed with many years of his exuberant expression and playful personality. We are grateful for VIP's offspring who are growing up in our fields and happy for those breeders who took advantage of his wonderful influence while he was with us. (Posted 11/13/02)
THE
ELLEN SCRIPPS DAVIS MEMORIAL BREEDERS CUP
By Susanne Owen Hassler
(Reprinted from Hilltop Happenings, February
2002)
At the Pegasus Dinner during the USA Equestrian Convention, January 11, 2002, Jane MacElree was honored with the Ellen Scripps Davis Memorial Breeders Cup for her contribution to the sporthorse industry. Jane was elected as the one of two recipients for this year’s award and is the first warmblood sporthorse breeder to be given this honor. The award recognizes breeders who consistently produce outstanding individuals for the show arena. The other recipient this year was Sheila Varian, a breeder of Arabian horses. Honorees are nominated by USA Equestrian Committee members and elected by their Executive Committee. Scott and I traveled with Jane to Charlotte, North Carolina to be present for her award. It was a thrill to witness Jane being acknowledged within the national spotlight. She is a woman who consistently gives so much to others and provides her on-going support to bring continued growth and possibility to this industry. (Posted 3/5/02)
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