Have you been following this year’s Behind the Barn series ahead of Defender Kentucky? You definitely don’t want to miss out on some awesome (and at time hilarious) conversations between some of the riders we’ll be seeing next week and co-hosts Frankie Thieriot and Lynn Symansky. Check out the ever-popular Boyd Martin’s interview above, and see more from Behind the Barn here.
U.S. Weekend Preview
Ocala International Festival of Eventing (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Fair Hill International April CCI & H.T. (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Meadowcreek Park Spring Social Event (TX): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Sporting Days Farm April H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Full Moon Farm Spring Thing H.T. (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
News & Reading
We are heartbroken to share the tragic news of 25-year-old rider and mother Katie Hacche, who passed away on April 12 following a fall in the warm-up arena at Little Mill Equestrian Centre in Wales. Despite the valiant efforts of first responders and emergency services, Katie could not be revived. Known as a kind and well-loved presence in the community, Katie had recently moved into a new home with her partner, Dan, and their 9-month-old son, Theo. A fundraiser has been launched to support Dan and Theo in the wake of this unimaginable loss. Little Mill Equestrian has pledged entry fees from the weekend’s event to the fund in Katie’s honor. Our deepest condolences go out to Katie’s family, friends, and all who knew her. Read more here.
The entry list for the 2025 MARS Badminton Horse Trials continues to evolve, with two exciting international additions: Ireland’s Patrick Whelan and Ikoon LAN and Austria’s Dr Harald Ambros with Vitorio Du Montet have both joined the roster of accepted entries. On the other side of the update, British riders Aaron Miller (KEC Deakon) and Emma Thomas (The Buzz Factor) have withdrawn from the competition, marking a shift in the home nation’s representation as the countdown to the big event continues. Read more updates here.
Southern California riders kicked off 2025 with a masterclass from two-time Olympic gold medalist Tom McEwen at Galway Downs. Known for his thoughtful, individualized coaching, McEwen encouraged riders to think critically with each ride—starting every session with the question, “What do you reckon?” Exercises focused on straightness, balance, and creating the ideal canter, with an emphasis on letting horses learn without micromanaging. From green horses to upper-level pairs, every rider left with a clearer understanding of their role—and their horse’s—on course. Read more on Practical Horseman here.
If you’re looking to add more softness, suppleness, and balance to your horse’s way of going, Relaxation Exercises for Horses: A Guide to Soft, Supple, and Light by Guillaume Henry is packed with thoughtful, classical approaches. The book breaks exercises into longitudinal (think transitions, halts, stretching, hills) and lateral (circles, leg-yield, shoulder-in, haunches-in) movements, each designed to help improve flexibility, engagement, and symmetry. Whether you’re schooling on the flat or looking to improve your jumping, these exercises can bring your horse’s body—and brain—into greater harmony. Read the full excerpt here.
Video Break
Go behind the curtain with what it takes to run a successful program with help from Ride iQ and Alex O’Neal:
https://www.youtube.com/live/E1Ygaq37Z64?si=YEUAkgbxPRyuiqoR
