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The ENCAA Bracket Battle kicks off today with the 1 vs 8 seeds from the O'Connor Region and the British Isles Region.  Biko is a heavy favorite to win the whole thing, but he has a tough OCET challenge ahead to make it to the Final Four.  The road isn't much easier across the pond, either, but Toytown has some momentum.  Vote for your favorite to send them on!  Sing your praises or grunt your grumbles in the comment section...noteworthy comments may be rewarded with extra votes toward a horse of your choice.


O'CONNOR REGION

1. BIKO


Photo from www.oconnoreventteam.com

 
With 17.3 hands of bright bayness, his splashy blazed face became the most recognizable feature of American Eventing in the 1990s.  Ridden by Karen O'Connor, Biko represented the US at the 1994 WEG (finishing 11th) and was a member of the 1996 Silver medal team at the Athens Olympics.  Also among his numerous highlights are a third at Badminton (1995), 8th at the European Championships (1995), and fifth at the first Rolex CCI**** (1998). Along with being made into a Breyer model, Biko was given the ultimate honor as being named the USCTA Horse of the Century in 2000.

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8.  WILTON FAIR

(I searched for hours but couldn't locate a photo...if you find one, please post it!)

Originally ridden by Mark Todd, Wilton Fair won Burghley in 1987.  Later partnered with David O'Connor, the chestnut gelding won the 1990 Advanced 3-Day (World Championships Selection Trial), making the US team for the 1990 World Championships.  He and David finished 7th at Badminton in 1992, and won the Fair Hill CCI*** in 1993.


BRITISH ISLES REGION

1.  TOYTOWN


Toytown at Burghley (Henry Bucklow)

Catapulting Zara Phillips into the international spotlight, Toytown burst onto the eventing scene in the early 2000s.  The flashy chestnut finished 2nd at Burghley in 2003 (the pair's first attempt!), 2nd at Luhmuhlen CCI****, and won Individual and Team Gold at the 2005 European Championships.  It only got better from there: Individual Gold and Team Silver at the 2006 WEG, and another Team Gold at the 2007 Europeans.  Talk about a full trophy case!


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8. GLENBURNIE

Well, it's March.  That can only mean one thing: the entire American office world is consumed by the madness of brackets, seeds, Cinderella upsets and cutting down nets.  Office pools and corporate lunches rest in the delicate balance of obscure schools like Northern Iowa vs. Sam Houston State.  Yes, it is time for that grand spectacle of NCAA Tournament basketball, and life is looking really good from my (blue) part of the world.

Not to be outdone, the "ENCAA" has created it's own bracket busting challenge.  Our selection committee has sorted through many of the sport's great horses, considering their SOS, RPI, and FEI numbers.  We have chosen the top 32 event horses and pitted them against each other to determine who is the best.  I hesitate to name the winner the "GOAT" --greatest of all time-- so we'll just call him the 2010 EN Champion (a "Helms Title" if you will; I'm sure UNC will hang a banner for it).  The winner will be selected by YOU, as readers will have the opportunity to vote the most-deserving horse on to the next round.  We decided to include only retired horses, *not* those currently competing, as their legacy is not yet finalized.

As with NCAA fans, you are free to quibble and whine about the seeding of this bracket, who was left out of "the dance," and brag about who you believe is better.  Witty, amusing, nostalgic, or clever comments regarding the horses in question may receive additional votes at EN's discretion (like NCAA referees, we take bribes).  So please vote, offer your opinions or smacktalk, and boost your favorite horse to the top.   

You will notice there are two sides to the bracket: US and International, who will meet in the finals.  (Also note that the O'Connors were able to fill an entire region by themselves...now that's dominance!)  We will provide a brief biography for each horse, to refresh your memory on some of these great competitors and assist you in your selection.  Good luck, and may the best horse win!


ROUND 1 VOTING will begin tomorrow, Tuesday March 8, with the 1 vs 8 seed match-ups.  New match-ups will be posted every day through March, except weekends.  Get to it, EN! 




*note: reflecting the insights in the comment section, the bracket has been updated as of 11:55pm 3/8/10

Today was almost a very bad day. Well, actually it was a bad day anyway because a yearling colt reared up and struck me in the head, smashing my nose, which has now swollen twice its normal size.  (I'm typing this during 20-minute breaks between icings.)  But it was almost worse than that.
 

I almost lost The Precious, my phone.  It isn't a BlackBerry, it isn't an i-phone, it doesn't have a slide-out keyboard or a touchscreen.  It's a Samsung Rugby, and it is the BEST PHONE EVER.  It takes pictures, video, music, all that standard modern stuff.  It allows me to check my email and browse most websites.  Oh, and it makes phone calls, too!

The email and internet, though, is what I value most.  It spares me from boring moments throughout the day, like waiting for the vet/farrier.  It allows me to stay current on news and sports scores, even in far-reaching locales.  I can read and respond to emails instantly, which John appreciates (among others).  Suffice to say, I am addicted to it.  It's like phone crack.

So earlier today, I was hacking the Pony Horse.  He's a fat, furry QH that I use for beginner lessons and ponying other horses.  He's completely bombproof, exceedingly lazy, and at the moment, extremely fat.  With the slight break in weather, it's time for him to find his inner Richard Simmons (I think he ate him) and hit the hills.  As with all rides, I had my cell phone with me.  We were hacking ambling out in the back country, when my phone alerted me I had an email.  I whipped out the ol' phone, signed in to email only to find more spam to delete.  While the phone was out, I decided I may as well check EN and see what John had to say this morning.

Unfortunately, at this very moment, fat Pony Horse arrived at a tiny creek crossing.  No big deal, he's cool with water.  He also likes to drink it...and he ripped the reins down jostling My Precious from my desperate grasp.  Like a slow-motion cartoon, swiping at thin air, I helplessly watched my phone land face-up in 3" of muddy running water.  I vaulted off Fatty faster than a Pony Clubber at Games Rally, scooped up The Precious and sent a desperate survival prayer heavenward.  The previous Precious (an LG), suffered an untimely death drowning in a water bucket, so I knew the utter fatality of what I had witnessed. 

I quickly (with wet, cold fingers) rescued the phone, shook it off, and removed the battery.  To my extreme relief, the battery and internal pieces were dry.  I tried not to get my hopes up, yet.  I had a pair of soft, thin deerskin gloves in my pocket, which can be fashioned into a semi-effective chamois cloth.  The buttons leaked water, and there was no telling if it had seeped into the screen.  I cursed the thirsty Fatty (looking at me stupidly with water dribbling from his chin), shoved the Precious pieces into my pocket, remounted and continued the hack. 

A few hills later, I was too impatient to wait for home, and put the phone back together (Fatty on autopilot).  Crossed my fingers, held my breath, and turned it on... it worked!!  It had a little short-term memory damage (insisted a text was unread, despite my reading and responding to it six hours prior), but since then it has been back to its old Precious self.  I'm not usually big into product-endorsement, but this Rugby phone is truly a horse-person's dream item.  It is extremely well-sealed, around the edges and the battery, which must have spared it a near-certain liquid death.  I can also attest to its ability to withstand significant shock, as it has been dropped with regularity, including an unfortunate slip from the 20' hayloft onto the paved barn aisle.  Nary a scratch!  It isn't invincible, though...it probably would not survive the death of Nokia Phone 1 (stepped on by shod hoof) or Motorola Phone 2 (fell out while on the tractor mowing, shredded to tiny pieces).  But for day-to-day hazards, it has held up remarkably well.

What can we learn from this story?  Don't browse EN while riding!  Or, at least, not while riding through creeks.  See John, it's all your fault.
 

Some things in life are forever certain: death, taxes, disappointing dressage scores, and stupid people trying to sell horses.  Once again my Craigslist storage bin is full of the ridiculousness that you all crave.  Here you go, dear readers, enjoy the feeling of superiority while it lasts.

In this grand World Wide Web invented by Al Gore, there happens a unique, bizarre bazaar phenomenon of Craigslist.  Part eBay, part flea market, part redneck yard sale, Craigslist is a free-for-all classified site where good deals can be found in any category from cars to dishwashers to llamas.  It's like treasure hunting from your keyboard, and you never quite know what you'll find.  Craigslist frequently has a few equine-related listings; the quality and content of which may vary widely.  Thus, for your entertainment, we now bring you THE BEST OF CRAIGSLIST. 

 

Today's theme: Female horses under 4 years of age.

 

These are ACTUAL listings... you can't make this stuff up!

*paint filley quarter horse looks great* - $200 (oliver springs)

 

she is a 2yr old been turned out in paster fat and nice got to many to train she is big built and going to make a nice mare call anytime 865-661-6347 

• Obviously this guy isn't one to waste words.  Or commas, or periods.  In addition to "filley" (is that French?), "paster," and incorrect version of "too," he is hereby issued a level 3 citation from the Internet Grammar Police. 
  

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*TN Walker Philly (AL)

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19 Month old TN Walker Philly ready for training. Sire Pushers Black Thunder 926497, dame Pushers Peachy Stride 19903340. This Philly has great potential in the show ring this year. Must see to appreciate. Asking 500.00 OBO, Phone 606-668-6286
or 859-771-6965 for further information 

• Tennessee Walkers from Philadelphia?  Are you sure?  There are some creative naming opportunities though, with the cross of Black Thunder and Peachy Stride.  Perhaps...It's Raining Peaches?    Surely you readers can suggest better....[comments!]
  

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Little Paint Philly - $500 (Casey county)

 

I HAVE A LITTLE PHILLY FOR SALE SHE WILL BE 2 YEARS OLD IN MAY, THE PHILLY'S MOM WAS A WALKING PONY, THE PONY'S DAD WAS A REGISTERED TWH PAINT. HER SIZE IS IN BETWEEN A HORSE AND PONY. SHE IS VERY GENTLE, I AM ASKING $500.00 FIRM, IF INTERESTED GIVE ME A CALL (606)787-7014 (SERIOUS CALLS ONLY PLEASE) THANKS

• Well, despite the broken Caps Lock key, I will give this poster credit for use of complete phrases, including commas and even periods.  Once again, we have a Philadelphian equid, most likely of the gaited variety.  (Nothing against the gaited lifestyle, how you walk is your business.)  I'm not really sure what comes between a horse and a pony though...?  Is there a mysterious portal between 14.2 and 14.3 that I've never discovered?
  

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Reduced Parelli started filly-Mia - $500 (Richmond)

 

Serious inquires only, no boot kickers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Parelli started horse for sale.  I do beleive Mia is a Left-Brain Introvert and at times shows a bit of an Extrovert side. If you don't know what this is I recomend you go to the parelli website and look up horsanality under horse training, it describes her perfectly. She is very confedent horse, during our training it only took her a few trys to confadently cross a teeter toter, cross huge tractor tires, cross platforms, over logs through tarps, she loads well in the trailer, ties well, loves to splash in water, don't know about baths because where she has been staying we have had to haul water in and out. She is to go to a great home ONLY, the right person will have a lot of horse exsp. and a lot of natural horse exsp. Her biggest prob right now, is unless you prov to her that you are going to be a better leader then her, she will try to be dominent. I will not lie to you, I will tell you every flaw she has, it is just so important that she go to a good home, I don't want her to be ruined with some idiot, she does great with natuaral, so I want her to stay with it, she is around 21 months and stands 14hands tall I will have aplication for reg to be sure.  I prefer to be contacted through e-mail at first, I have a 2 yr old son, and if you call I can't garentee that I will have time to talk then. We are moving to Fl in about 3 wks, and I have a 30 old gelding I have to take too, so can't afford to take both. Thank you for your interest, must be to a good home!

• Mama Mia.  My spell-check is lit up with red underlines all over this listing.  Internet Grammar Police has confiscated her keyboard.  Beyond that...I'm frankly scared.  Perhaps I need an expert in "horseanality" (that reads a little dirty, doesn't it?) to examine my own animal and determine why my horse will not complete a dog agility course.   Teeter-totters?  Really??  So that's what I've been missing...how 'bout no.  Keep your carrot stick to yourself, thanks.

The world's top event riders and their celebrity alternate identities... you be the judge!

 

                   
Phillip Dutton                                  vs.           Roger Federer (tennis)

Olympic Gold Medallist                                     Olympic Gold Medallist

Lost count of number of USEA                           Lost count of  number of consecutive weeks ranked ATP #1 
Leading Rider of the Year titles.   

____________________________________________________________________________________
 

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Andrew Nicholson                          vs.                  Bond. James Bond.

Rider in England                                                     Spy for England

Accomplished horseman                                         Accomplished womanizer

____________________________________________________________________________________

          

Darren                                      vs.                       Zoolander

Eventing superstar                                                Fashion supermodel

Undoubtedly, Ocala, FL and Aiken, SC are the two premier US winter eventing training locations, but which is best?  I have been fortunate to spend two full winters in Ocala, and one in Aiken over the past few years, and this year I spent the first half of this winter in Ocala and am just beginning the second half in Aiken.  A few people have asked me the pros and cons of each city, so I thought I might compare them.

We have been writing about the Patrik Kittel blue tongue feud from the very first days of the controversy.  Just to set the table, in our N&N post earlier today (if you have already read that just skip down to the ">"), we explained the recent developments whereby the FEI has banned Rollkur: A roundtable group of FEI officials has declared "any head and neck position achieved through aggressive force to be unacceptable" and "redefined hyperflexion/Rpllkur as flextion of the horse's neck achieved through aggressive force.  However, the FEI also said: "the technique known as Low, Deep, and Round, which achieves flexion without undue force, is acceptable."  Read the full FEI press release.  

1) How does this story affect the public's perception of eventing and equestrian sport?  ESPN, USA Today, and Sports Illustrated all covered the story by publishing the same AP release.  This makes it one of the few non-racing sport horse stories that will be covered by the national media in 2010, and serves to support many unfair and incorrect misconceptions about equestrianism.  I can only imagine what Joe Six-Pack said about riders when he read the story on ESPN; there is no positive way to spin this.  Many people might not care what non-horse people think about our sport, but any increase in fans, sponsorship, or membership is closely affected by our sport's image.

Over the past few months, I have received emails from several people who reported that they felt that their riding had improved just from visiting Eventing Nation each day, and that their horses tended to abscess less.  Most significantly, one of the FHI 2009 winners attributed their victory to hard work, dedication, Jesus Christ, and the fact the Eventing Nation was covering the event.  I asked several vets (the closest thing I could find to scientists) about the issue, and their consensus was that a supernatural phenomenon known as Eventing Nation Karma improves the riding, luck, and mood of all members of Eventing Nation.  Gauging from my first few rides here in FL, I'm not sure that I believe in EN Karma, but the experts have spoken.  Do you have any experiences that might confirm or refute the existence of ENK?  

Here is the press release from the USEF formally announcing the retirement of US Eventing's Chef d'Equipe, Captain Mark Phillips.  Frankly, this has been old news for a long time, especially since the USEF sent out an email to the entire Long List saying just that in October 2009.  Nonetheless, most media outlets need to have news shoved down their throat with a press release before they will write a story.  Thus, you will see some coverage over the next couple of days.

Someone much smarter than me once said that there are two types of people on Earth: people who focus on the goals, and people who focus on the process.  

If you are a first time visitor to Eventing Nation, arriving from the USEA site, welcome!  For Holly's article, please scroll down. Eventing Nation's mission statement is to serve the eventing community by delivering the best possible content to feed your eventing addiction.  Here is a post that was submitted by a good friend of mine who will be joining Eventing Nation as a regular contributor next year.  For now, lets just call them Visionaire.  Thank you so much for visiting and please check back again soon for your daily eventing fix. 

An Eventer's Letter To Santa:

 

Dear Santa,

 

I've been really good this year.  I've been doing all the things my trainer tells me to do, even if I do feel like a pretzel sometimes.  I read the 2009 USEA Rulebook, or at least the good parts (those diagrams in the Appendix are works of art!).  I tell my horse I love him every day, even though I really don't love him when he dumps me in the water, or drops a shoulder at monsters in the bushes, or bolts like a giraffe as soon as we enter at A.  I've been practicing really hard driving the truck and trailer, and I only got stuck twice and haven't even jack-knifed this season!  I know I'm on the Nice list this year, because if I was on the Naughty list I would have killed the cat for peeing on my white fullseats.  The vet said he will live for sure, though perhaps with a slight limp.

 

I know the economic times are tough this year, and the EPA is all over you for your reindeer's methane expulsion, but I just thought I'd mail you this letter in case you could send a couple things my way.  I didn't know your email, or twitter, and I couldn't find your facebook page to stalk you, so I hope this old-fashioned postal method still works.

 

1. A Charles Owen GR8 Helmet.  Everybody who's anybody is wearing them nowadays, and they just scream "I'M WINNING ROLEX."  I hear they fit well, too, but I hope it doesn't mess up my hair.  I do need a new helmet this year, since my old one isn't quite round anymore, after that incident with the wild turkeys.  Who knew they could fly?  My horse sure didn't.  Maybe I should add saddle-tite to this list, just in case

2. New Studs.  I know I asked for these last year, and I thank you for them.  But, you see, I lost more of them again this summer.  They're always disappearing, you know, like socks.  Never a matching pair to be found.

3. A Mattes sheepskin pad.  My horse says his back would feel sooo much better and he'd never buck me off again if he could wear a yummy fuzzy soft dead sheep under his saddle.  And it looks cool.

4. A New Stock Tie.  Unfortunately, I was unable to get the bloodstain out, and it's a bit unsightly.  I tried Oxyclean and everything, it just doesn't work anymore without Billy Mays.  Note to self: don't jump up the neck, don't jump up the neck, don't jump up the neck...perhaps I should have this phrase embroidered on the collar?

5. A 5-point Breastplate.  My perfectly custom-made, expensive French saddle just doesn't quite look "finished" enough with a hunting breastplate.  This new-fangled strap design will allow my horse complete freedom of his limbs, hopefully compensating for my awkwardness.  And it would be nice to securely anchor my seat to the horse's chest, in case we end up lost in the Himalayas.  Can't be too prepared, it's all about safety, you know.

 

Thanks again Santa, I hope these things aren't too much to ask.  Please enjoy your milk and apple slices--I left ten pieces, so you can also share with the deer.  I had made some tasty chocolate chip cookies, but the dog got on the table and cleaned your plate.  He's on the Naughty list, don't leave him anything.

 

Merry Christmas!

For the USEA's extensive convention weekend coverage, from Emily Daily, Leslie Mintz, Erica Larson, Josh Walker, and Lisa Thomas, click here.  All of these writers did a great job, and I had a pleasure visiting with them this weekend.  Eventing Nation looks forward to working with them in the future.