News Articles
Behind The Scenes - Hilltop Farm: American Quality
From Horse International, 2013
The dramatic view at Hilltop Farm is as beautiful as its magnificent horses, but the facility's scenic side in a relatively rural section of Maryland is just one of the many things that make it unique, the word most often used by people describing this one-of-a-kind property. Read Article...
Riverman Mares Rock Eventing
From Warmbloods Today, November/December 2010
For many Warmblood enthusiasts, just the mnetion of the famous stallion Riverman is enough to send chills down their spines. The stunning grey Holsteiner, who currently stands at stud at Hilltop Farm in Colora, Maryland, was the Reserve Champion at his stallion licensing, and was a Verband stallion in Germany for the first part of his life. Read Article...
Kristi Nunnink and R-Star (Riverman)
From The Chronicle, April 16 2010
Kristi Nunnink's default expression is a smile. It doesn't matter how hard she's working, what level she's riding or how the horse under her is performing -- her mouth curls faintly upward, unforced. It may just be a coincidence of facial structure, or it may be a product of years of habit. But either way, the expression fits her, because Nunnink may very well be the happiest rider at Rolex Kentucky. At 48, she's heading to her first CCI**** with her horse of a lifetime. Read Article...
Horse Handlers: Life In The Fast Lane
From Warmbloods Today, January/February 2010
A Sport Horse Handler, whether at a show, inspection or exhibition, constantly srives for that 'magical moment' as he guides a horse in hand around the arena, often negotiating a large triangle formed from flower pots and jump poles. Together the two lift off and eat up the ground, matching stride for stride -- the horse seeming to float, to collect and extend on his own, all in perfect rhythm. The handler is as discreet as possible so that all attention focuses on the horse looking his best. Read Article...
American-Bred Sport Horses Are Rising To The Top
From Dressage Today, January 2010
Read stories from the breeders, riders and owners of the four best young horses in the nation.
The manicured grounds of the Lamplight Equestrian Center were superb as was the quality of the equine competitors at the 2009 Markel/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Young Horse Dressage Championships and the 2009 USEF National Developling Horse Dressage Championship, sponsored by the Dutta Corporation and Performance Sales International. Read Article...
Chris Hickey on DressageRadio.com
Chris Stafford and DressageRadio.com asked to interview Chris Hickey a few weeks ago following a clinic in Kentucky. DressageRadio.com has some wonderful programming online. Chris had a great time with the interview and you can hear his interview now. Click here.
Hickey Debuts A New Hilltop Horse
From The Chronicle, Dec 25 2009
Chris Hickey has an exciting new international prospect in Douglas Hilltop, and together they won the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special at the Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge. Read Article...
The Matchmaker - A Breeding Manager Tells How She Pairs stallions and Mares to Create Champion Offspring
From Dressage Today, January 2009
The phone rings at Hilltop Farm and breeding manager Natalie DiBerardinis answers. Just as she suspected, it is a mare owner looking for advice. Which stallion would be a good match for her mare, the caller asks anxiously. With scientific advances in artificial semination, the choices for a perfect partner have never been greater, but that doesn't mean the selection process is any simpler. DiBerardinis asks the owner a few questions about her mare and suggests she complete Hilltop's online questionnaire. After reading it, she and the caller will talk again to discuss the opions. Read Article...
Hickey Stars At Great American / USDF Region 1 Championships
From The Chronicle, Oct 2008
Christopher Hickey will be vacationing in Italy while his mount, Regent, will be wintering in Europe following their wins in the Great American / USDF Region 1 Grand Prix Championship. They scored 66.87 percent during the Garden State Classic at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown, Octo. 10-12. Read Article...
Training: More Than Just Riding Well
From USDF Connection, 2008
Some riders buy trained horses; others "make" their own. What experienced trainers have learned abou the process.
Watch a large FEI class at any dressage show. Can you identify who is competing on a sefl-trained horse? Probably not - and, in all likelihood, many are riding horses that were trained to that level by others. Read Article...
Domestically-bred Hanoverians Triumph in the 2008 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships in Lexington, Kentucky
From AHS Fall 2008
Michael Bragdell and Selten HW Win The Four-Year-Old Division
In the second day of competition at the 2008 Markel/United Stated Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Young Horse Dressage Championships presented by Collecting Gaits Farm, claiming the title in the four-year-old diision was Michael Bragdell and Selten HW besting 19 other horses to win with a score of 8.56. Read Article...
Recipe For Top Hanoverians
From Dressage Today, Apr 2008
Wisconsin breeders work on one foal at a time. Shannon (a competitive dressage rider) and Doug Langer, DVD, (a partner of the Wisconsin Equine Clinic and Hospital) have bred Hanoverians for 10 years at their Maple Run Farm in Helenville, Wisconsin. They arrived on the international stage when their homebred Cabana Boy represented the United States at the 2007 World Young Horse Championships. Read Article...
Making a Horse Round
From Dressage Today, October 2007 - Ask The Experts
Q: My four year old has been under saddle for over a year now, and I would like to start getting her more round, but she is becoming heavier on the bit despite my attempts. What can I do to get her lighter on the bit and more light, round and supple overall?
A: Leaning on the reins is a common problem in green, young horses. Read Article...
Gold for U.S. Riders
From Dressage Today, October 2007
There were many firsts at the dressage competition of the XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was the first championship to use the new Olympic format, which allows only three horses per team. It was the first time countries, such as Ecuador, sent a representative to a major international championship. And, it was a first for most of the riders who stepped onto the awards podium, because they had not ridden for their countries before. Read Article...
Christopher Hickey and Regent Rule in Rio
From The Chronicle of the Horse, 2007
For years Christopher Hickey has been waiting for the opportunity to stand on the top step of a podium with the U.S. National Anthem playing in the background. "I've been around a long time and competing heavily for many years on many horses, but every time I was close to making a team for (the) Olympic Festival or Pan Am Games something would happen with me or my horse" said Hickey. Read Article...
Peters, Hickey, Barteau, Efird and Austin Gain Recognition for Their USEF National Dressage Championship Wins
From Equestrian, July-August 2007
Over a spectacular four days, June 14-17, at the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions, presented by Paul Miller Auto Group, Steffen Peters earned another national championship title, a repeat champion was crowned and the team was selected for the 2007 Pan American Games, which will take place in July in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Read Article...
Christopher Hickey
From Equestrian, 2007
Words imparted to Christopher Hickey by his mother when he was a child still resonate when he enters at letter "A". "Just because you've won a few classes, don't think you're going to win the whole thing." Read Article...
Beyond A Beauty Contest - The Judging of Dressage Sport-horse Prospects Is More Than Skin Deep
From USDF Connection, November 2006
You spent years studying and researching bloodlines in order to select the most talented and complimentary warmblood stallion to breed to your competitively successful dressage mare. Read Article...
Hickey Wins Lindgren Scholarship
From USDF Connection, April 2004
USDF Fourth Level Certified instructor Christopher Hickey of Westhampton, MA has been awarded The Dressage Foundation's (TDF) 2003 Major Anders Lindgren Scholarship. The $6,000 scholarship is presented annually to an American dressage instructor for use in stuying abroad. Hickey plans to train with Olympic, World and European Champion Ulla Salzgeber in Germany for four to five months. Read Article...
