Feb 18, 2018

Now On Course: From Switzerland to the States for Felix Vogg

By Leslie Mintz - USEA Staff
Felix Vogg and Calero on course at Rocking Horse.

There is a new face on the Florida event scene this winter – 27-year-old Swiss eventer, Felix Vogg, who is based in Radolfzell, Germany – just north of the German-Swiss border. Vogg is no stranger to international eventing having competed at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, 2014 World Equestrian Games, and multiple European Championships, but Rocking Horse Winter II in Ocala, Florida was his first foray into U.S. eventing.

When first asked what brought him to Florida, Vogg joked that is was the weather! But it was actually Nadine Beck, his persuasive aunt who convinced him to cross the Atlantic. “My aunt is living in the states,” explained Vogg. “She is living in Minneapolis and she is based over the winter in Wellington. She is an amateur show jumping rider with three horses. She wanted every year for me to come visit her. I came last year to visit her in Wellington and she said this year that I should come with the horses and I said ‘no, no, no’. New Year’s Eve she said I had to come so we decided that I would.”

Vogg brought one event horse over, Colero, a 10-year-old Westphalian gelding (Captain Fire x Bonita) owned by Jürgen Vogg who just moved up to the CIC3* level last fall.

“I want to try with him for [the World Equestrian Games at] Tryon,” continued Vogg. “But he is quite green still and not experienced, so I thought this would give him a chance to start earlier in the season and get more experience. I will try [for the WEG], but if it doesn’t work then it is fine as well because he is a good future horse.”

In their first U.S. start, Vogg and Colero won the Open Intermediate-B division at Rocking Horse Winter II in Altoona, Fla. Scoring a 23.9 in the dressage and adding just 2.8 time penalties on cross-country to win the class by 6.4 points.

Watch their cross-country round thanks to the Horse Pesterer, David Frechette.

While winning was the cherry on top, Vogg said his first U.S. event was a good experience. “It is completely different, the conditions and everything – ground, weather, everything. I think it is really good because in Germany and specially not in Switzerland we don’t have so many competitors. I think it is a good system that you have so many national classes. There is always a step in between if you go from two-star to three-star you can first ride an Advanced in between so you don’t have such a big step. I am impressed of the horses – really good horses. I like it.”

While Vogg traveled from Europe alone, he knew a few U.S.-based eventers already and has made several new friends. “I went first to Liz Halliday-Sharp’s for training cross-country before heading to Rocking Horse,” said Vogg. “I also met the week before Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin and did some canter work with them and watched some show jumping classes while they were training in Wellington. I knew Boyd already from Rio and Luhmuhlen. When I got to Rocking Horse I met Sharon White I knew because I sold a student of hers a horse once.”

Next week Vogg is riding some show jumping rounds on a pure show jumper he brought as well and then he is headed to the Red Hills International Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Florida. Vogg will then move from his current base with his Aunt in Wellington to Boyd Martin’s farm in Aiken, South Carolina. From there he will compete at the Carolina International CIC3* in Southern Pines, N.C., and WEG test event at The Fork CIC3* in Tryon, N.C. Red Hills, Carolina, and The Fork are all part of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series.

Jul 02, 2024 Educational Activities

USEA Educational Activity Highlight: Sherwood Forest Hunter Pace | Sherwood Oregon | July 13, 2024

What’s a Hunter Pace? The Sherwood Forest Equestrian Center's Hunter Pace is a cross-country-style course around Sherwood Forest over various natural obstacles/terrain. The course ends with a final treat for riders to take in stunning views of Mt. Hood with a loop through the old Far Hill Farms field. The beginning of the course will first start with a warm-up loop around show jumping obstacles in the outdoor ring at Sherwood Forest and then riders will continue directly onto the course. Sign up as a solo rider, pair, or team.

Jul 02, 2024 Profile

No Longer Dreaming: Claire Allen's Goal of Qualifying for USEF Eventing Young Rider Championship is Now Reality

Claire Allen remembers when she was 11 years old, having just made the switch from the hunter/jumper ring to three-day eventing. She told her new eventing trainer that her goal was to one day compete in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Young Rider Championships.

Jul 01, 2024 Competitions

Alliston’s Busy Weekend, Braitling’s Reuniting with Five-Star Mount, & Kalkman’s Advanced Victory Highlight Twin Rivers Summer H.T.

As he was finishing tacking up his horse in preparation to navigate the cross-country course at the 2024 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials, James Alliston expressed concern about navigating the 101 Freeway. That’s because as soon as he crossed the finish line aboard Intermediate level winner Addyson (Ampere x Nickerbocker) at 10:38 a.m. on Saturday—his fifth cross-country round of the morning with three at Preliminary and two at Intermediate—the West Coast-based five-star rider had to drive 185 miles on the 101 Freeway from Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, to San Francisco International Airport to catch a 4:35 p.m. flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

Jul 01, 2024 Education

USEA Podcast #364: All Your Grooming Questions Answered

There is so much more to proper grooming than keeping your horse picture-perfect for the horse inspection. Good grooming practices are critical to proper horse management, no matter if you are planning for your next FEI appearance or your Starter level debut. To help you maximize your knowledge of grooming practices, we opened up the opportunity for USEA members to submit any questions they might have on our Instagram and Facebook stories. In this week's episode, Host Nicole Brown sits down with three of the highest-regarded grooms in this industry, Max Corcoran, Emma Ford, and Stephanie Simpson, and asks them all of your questions and more to help you perfect the art of grooming.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shockwave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA