Santa eyes Moorlands Totilas, This year's hot Breyer for horse lovers

Favorite and famous horses have been honored as Breyer plastic horse collectibles for many years. The 2012 prized pony (OK, he’s not REALLY a pony) is Moorland Totilas.

Who is Moorland Totilas?

The famous 2000 Dutch Warmblood stallion is the star of the international dressage scene. Ridden by Edward Gal for The Netherlands, Totilas earned remarkably high scores (reaching even into the 90s) in top world competitions. Totilas picked up three gold medals at the 2012 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Take a look at Totilas in action.

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Molded in piaffe, the Breyer Totilas retails for $19.99, plus tax and shipping. Although the real Totilas stands 17.1 hands high, the plastic collectible is five inches tall.

Image/s:

Totilas: Reigning World Dressage Champion

Breyer Horses promo photo

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Olympic Equestrian Sport: Defining Dressage

Olympic Equestrian Sport: 15 Dressage Terms to Know

Dutch team runs off with Team Dressage gold medal at World Equestrian Games

Dutch, British & U.S. medal in WEG Grand Prix Special Individual Dressage

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A to Z horses – Expression Extolled with Xiomaro BR

Xiomaro BR (El Nino x Mia), a 2004 PRE (Pura Raza Espanola) Andalusian stallion, is owned by Illinois equestrian Tiana Ng, but the gray Classical Baroque horse is loved by many.

In fact, the stunning stud was awarded the USEF Horse of the Year/Grand Champion Andalusian/Lusitano title for 2011. His performance specialties include the canter pirouette, passage, piaffe, Spanish Walk and Spanish trot.

Xiomaro was also featured in the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. For his performance with trainer Mario A. Contreras in front of 25,000 on-site spectators and millions of television viewers, Xiomaro was accompanied by the Lexington Ballet and the Lexington Symphony Orchestra.

Here’s the video:

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Standing 16.3 hands high with an elegant long mane and tail, Xiomaro resides in Huntley, Illinois.

Xiomaro also possesses a playful side.

“He is my silly goose at home,” quipped Hornickel. “He’s a sweet, funny, energetic stallion that’s always ready to go.”

Xiomaro showed his stuff with the Baroque Horse group at the 2012 Midwest Horse Fair in Madison, Wisconsin, last weekend.

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Last year’s A to Z post: X - Halt – Salute

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Image/s:

Xiomaro photos provided by Tiana Ng Hornickel

2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge logo

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Aids as an Asset

Aids as an Asset

(posted for the A to Z Challenge)

A is for Aids.

Looking forward to the 2011 Midwest Horse Fair this month and a huge stable of expert equestrian clinicians, it seems fitting to start the A to Z Challenge with a super discussion of aids.

Well-used aids are the equestrian’s best friend (except for his horse, of course).

This instructional video by Olympic and World Equestrian Games dressage star Steffen Peters outlines equestrian aids quite nicely.

 

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Watch for more insights from Steffen Peters (if I have an opportunity to meet with him again this year at the expo) and other experts later in the month.

Spring is here. Happy riding!

Image:

Steffen Peters and Ravel

at 2010 World Equestrian Games

Photo by Phil Denton

Creative Commons Licensing

World Equestrian Games - Opening Ceremonies on NBC

World Equestrian Games - Opening Ceremonies on NBC

With Tim Ryan, Robbie Boyce and Donna Brothers at the microphones, NBC Sports will air the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Sunday, September 26th.

Live from the Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington, Kentucky, the coverage will begin at noon (EST), so set your videorecorders, cable television recorders, Tivos and more.

NBC Sports has scheduled 75 minutes (1.5 hours) for the opening ceremonies (and initial reining competitions).

Related Item/s:

2010 World Equestrian Games competition schedule at-a-glance

The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) will be held September 25th through October 11th at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Here’s the complete line-up of equestrian competitions for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Game.

 

2010 World Equestrian Games opening ceremonies feature boxing star Muhammad Ali

Kentuckian Muhammad Ali, the American boxing legend, will stand at center stage on September 25th with other stars for the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Lexington, Kentucky.

NBC Sports to air portions of 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Equestrian sports fans: Set your television recorders now for the World Equestrian Games. NBC Sports will offer 6.5 hours of televised coverage of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games this fall.

Countdown to 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Countdown to 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Who's going to Lexington, Kentucky, for the World Equestrian Games this fall? The countdown has begun for this worldwide equestrian extravaganza - in which 600 riders from more than 60 countries will compete (along with 700 horses) in eight equestrian disciplines:

• Dressage
• Driving
• Endurance
• Eventing
• Jumping
• Para Dressage
• Reining
• Vaulting

The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will take place September 25th through October 10th at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.



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