The Good HorsePerson: 4/27/08

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

An Up Close Look at Big Brown, Now Sponsored by UPS

The GoodHorseperson's Pick to win the Kentucky Derby arrived at Churchill Downs the day before yesterday - click the video above to get an up-close peek at Big Brown! He looks healthy, fit and happy - a gorgeous horse! Yesterday, UPS announced it would sponsor the aptly named Big Brown - jockey Kent Desormeaux will wear brown pants with the UPS logo.

The Derby will only be Big Brown's fourth career start - we hope he will remain undefeated and that his win will encourage the kind of purposeful and careful training we have seen his trainer, Rick Dutrow, have so much success with.

Television coverage of the Derby starts at 5pm on Sunday, May 3rd on NBC. The post time for the race is 6:04pm. You might also consider Kentucky Derby online betting as an easy alternative to the travel and the crowds.

UPDATE!

Congrats to Big Brown and all his People for Winning the Derby!

Monday, April 28, 2008

Watch the Rolex Three-Day Event on NBC on May 4th!

On Sunday, May 4th at 5pm Eastern Time NBC will broadcast a one-hour special of the Rolex Four-Star Event held at the Kentucky Horse Park last weekend. This year, the Rolex was a qualifying event for the 2008 Olympics.

We won't describe the action here, in case you don't want a spoiler, but if you do, check out full coverage at Horses Daily.

According to a press release on the official Event website, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is expected to attract an attendance of 95,000. Highlights from the event will be aired on U.S. national television NBC Sports on May 4 to some 1.2 million households in the United States.

This is great opportunity to support equestrian sports and encourage more national television networks to fork over more airtime for our pursuit - so please, tune in!

Who is The Good HorsePerson?

The Good HorsePerson is the blog of dressage trainer and instructor Amanda Chambers. Amanda has been teaching and training in dressage and basic horsemanship for over a decade. Amanda earned her USDF Bronze and Silver Medals riding her Appendix Quarter Horse Gotta Love Me, who she trained and rode to multiple regional award wins, including USDF Regional Reserve Champion at Fourth Level, the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions FEI YR Individual Medal and USDF Regional Jr/YR Champion at Intermediare I. Today, Gotta Love Me is still going strong at age 21, competing successfully at Third Level with his amateur owner.

In 2002, Amanda rode the Holsteiner gelding Lombado to wins at both the CBLM and USDF Regional Championships at Second Level. Amanda was also Reserve Champion at Second Level with the Holsteiner mare Izabelle.

From 2004 to 2007, Amanda rode the Thoroughbred gelding Grande Finale (trained by USEF "S" judge Elizabeth Madlener) to year-end high score awards at 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Levels. In 2006, Amanda and Grande Finale were Virginia State Champions at 3rd Level and in '07 they were Reserve State Champions at 4th Level. Also in 2007, Amanda rode two other Thoroughbreds who placed in year-end awards at Training and First Level, including Parker's Way, who scored up to 69% at 1st Level and 1st Level Freestyle including a win at First Level, Test 4 in a 15 horse class at a licensed PVDA show. A junior student of Amanda's was Reserve Champion at year end awards at Training Level riding Thoroughbred gelding Alchemist.

In 2008, Amanda rode the Thoroughbred mare Star Style to seven wins at Training and First Level, including High Score of a licensed PVDA show with 73%.

In 2009, Amanda rode the Trakehner gelding Golden Hour (by Happy Hour) owned by Fred & Debbie Ellis and trained by Elizabeth Madlener. Golden Hour won 9 Training Level Open Classes with a high score of 78% and placed 3rd nationally for Trakehners at Training Level.

Amanda holds a B.A. in English Literature from Franklin & Marshall College. When she is not riding, teaching or competing in dressage, she works as a marketing manager and does freelance writing for equestrian publications.