Abby Powell
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Abby Powell

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About Abby Powell

Abby Powell is a native of Northeastern Massachusetts who splits her time between commuting into Boston for work and caring for and riding her rescue Mustang x Arab mare, Maggie.

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Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

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As Cheg mentioned on Thursday, the FEI Eventing Nations Cup series has officially kicked off in Montelibretti, Italy this weekend! The CCIO4* Nations Cup class has a whopping 43 entries and as things stand after dressage, home team Italy leads the charge after claiming four of the top seven places. Topping the leaderboard is Italy’s own Evelina Bertoli aboard her own Fidjy des Melezes with the only sub-30 score of the division.

Montelibretti is also hosting a CCI4*-L alongside this weekend’s Nations Cup and that division is currently being led by Thailand’s Korntawat Samran and the very aptly named for this Olympic year, Chateau de Versailes M2S.

Cross country for these four-star divisions takes place today! Keep up with all the action around the world, from Montelibretti to Carolina, with our handy links below!

And DON’T FORGET to nominate a resilient rider (or yourself!) competing at Carolina for the Ride EquiSafe Crappiest Weekend Award!

U.S. Weekend Action

Carolina International CCI & H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Cross Country Maps] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Ocala Winter II (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Pine Top Spring H.T. (Thomson, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ram Tap National H.T. (Fresno, [Scoring]CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

International Events

FEI Eventing Nations Cup Leg 1 (Montelibretti, Italy) [Website] [Timetable] [Entries] [Show Jumping Live Stream] [Cross Country Live Stream]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Survey: Most Horse Owners Aren’t Worried About Disease Risk From Mingling At Events

Now On Course: A Letter to My Horse

Retired Racehorse Project Launches 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Fundraising Initiatives

Sponsor Corner: Spring season is nearly in full swing! Are you prepared for the 2024 competition season? If not, World Equestrian Brands has your back with this comprehensive list of everything you need to succeed this season.

Morning Viewing: Jessica Phoenix’s very special partner Pavarotti made the trip down to Florida this year to train a very special little rider: Jessica’s daughter Jordan!

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Tuesday Video Break: Helmet Cam! Beautiful Bouckaert Farm 2* XC

Jennarose Ortmeyer, her supermare Primrose, and their trusty helmet cam are back in action for the 2024 season! This past weekend they, along with 20 other competitors, contested the CCI2*-S at Bouckaert International. Adding just a smidge of cross country time plus a stadium rail to their dressage score saw them earn a top 10 finish in their first FEI event of the season – off to a good start! Join them as they tackle the beautiful Bouckaert cross country course in the video above!

Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. International (Fairburn, GA) [Website] [Results]

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

The FEI season is officially underway here in the U.S. with the Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. International kicking things off in Fairburn, Georgia. Weather scares and flooding on the cross country course as late as Thursday probably triggered a little PTSD from last season for many competitors, but all is well and the Advanced, Intermediate, and FEI divisions all did their dressage and cross country tests yesterday.

As usual this early in the season competitors took things slow across country, all gathering handfuls of time penalties, but it will still be fun to see how things shake out during today’s showjumping. There’s a tight race for top of the 4*-S division for example, with Hannah Sue Hollberg and Capitol HIM leading on a score of 43.3 and Phillip Dutton with his new ride Jewelent nipping at their heels just 0.3 penalties points behind. Use the handy links below to follow along with the event yourself and stay tuned for a full final report early next week!

U.S. Weekend Action:

Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. International (Fairburn, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Full Gallop Farm March I H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

SAzEA Spring H.T. (Tucson, AZ) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Southern Pines H.T. I (Raeford, NC)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

International Events

Land Rover Horse of the Year (Hastings, New Zealand) [Website] [Program] [Equestrian Schedule] [Eventing Schedule] [Eventing Live Scores] [Live Stream]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Piggy March: ‘It’s vital we keep eventing in the Olympics – even if that means putting cross-country last’

Now On Course: Ava Chase is Back in the Saddle with 24-year-old Kingston

Participate in Noelle Floyd’s Market Research Study

Do Horses & Humans See Eye to Eye?

How To Find Harmony In The Warm-Up Ring

Sponsor Corner: Are you an Equipe saddle lover? You’re in luck! World Equestrian Brands is now carrying Equipe saddles! Equipe saddles are a tribute to the elegance of equestrian sports across all disciplines, from show jumping to dressage, eventing and endurance riding. Contact World Equestrian Brands to find a saddle fitter near you.

Morning Viewing: Selena O’Hanlon and MS Thunderbolt won the Advanced dressage at Bouckaert Farm yesterday (but unfortunately retired on cross country.) Check out their lovely test!

Tuesday Training: Selena O’Hanlon’s Sessions in the William Fox-Pitt Clinic

One thing that’s super attractive to me about Ocala in the winter (besides the weather, of course) is that it seems to have really grown to be clinic-central over the colder months. And with a venue like Barnstable South to host, what’s not to love?

William Fox-Pitt was in town again at the end of February for the third year in a row for his now-annual clinic. Canada’s Selena O’Hanlon was lucky enough to participate with MS Thunderbolt, and gracious enough to upload her sessions to YouTube. Watch their show jumping above and their cross country session (harder to heard) below:

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

Photo via Athletux on Instagram.

Usually at a highlight event that I’ve never been to before I’d wax poetic about how I wish I were there, but you know what? I think I’m okay with being home at the moment (sorry Sally and Shelby!) Of course I’d love to be there for the cross country action today especially, but dang, am I happy to have been able to stay dry yesterday. Like we always say: eventers are a tough bunch. You better believe that includes the eventing media! And let me tell you, trying to keep you camera equipment dry is no joke!

U.S. Weekend Action

2024 $100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Ride For Charity Teams] [Ride For Charity Online Vote] [Volunteer] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Full Gallop Farm March Wednesday H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Rocking Horse Winter III H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Sporting Days Farm March H.T. II (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Twin Rivers Winter H.T. (Paso Robles, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

International Events

Portuguese Spring Tour (Mata do Duque) [Timetable] [Entries] [Scoring] [Portuguese Eventing Association Facebook Page] [More Info]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Amateur Showcase: After 18-Year Hiatus, Young Rider Turned Dentist Is An Upper-Level Eventer Again

Here to Help: new campaign to encourage more riders into eventing

Black Girl Equestrians aims to diversify horseback riding

Topline Dysfunction in Sport Horses

American Horse Council: What National Horse Protection Day Means For Horse Owners

Sponsor Corner: Did you notice the gorgeous boots Caroline Pamukcu was wearing when she won the Individual Gold Medal at the Pan American Games in 2023? Yup, you spotted it– that’s an American flag on those beautiful Sergio Grasso boots. Create a custom pair of Sergio Grasso Boots by contacting World Equestrian Brands.

Morning Viewing: About that rain though…

Monday Video: Boyd Goes Beginner Novice

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Sometimes we spot a horse on an Advanced results list and think ‘Whoa, where did that horse come from?’ — making it seem like a top horse suddenly comes out of nowhere. In a passing glance at a results sheet, it can be tempting to view these horses like an overnight success story and forget that, like in most sports, it takes years and years of training and partnership building to make it to the top.

So when we see Gold Czar with Boyd Martin on an Advanced start list in a handful of years, let’s not forget that this is where it all started: out and about at Sporting Days Farm a couple weekends ago tackling his first recognized Beginner Novice.

Gold Czar (Medaglia d’Oro – Pleasant Review, by Pleasant Trap) a.k.a. “Remi” is 6-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred who last raced in February 2022. Remi caught Boyd’s eye while he was teaching the Cheshire Fox Hunt Adult Camp last year and he purchased the horse from the field master, who had taken him off the track about a year ago and given him a good restart with about a year of rest, hacking, and some basic flatwork.

Boyd has been chronicling his work with the youngster on Facebook and you can listen to him further introduce Remi here and watch as Boyd introduces him to his new career step-by-stephere. Will young Remi make it to the top of his new sport one day? We look forward to following along!

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

Photo via Alison Eastman-Lawler on Facebook.

Alison Eastman-Lawler added a little twist to her most recent schooling show at Apple Tree Farm South in Windsor, South Carolina by hosting a ‘Bald is Beautiful Beauty Pageant’ to raise support for Locks of Love, a nationwide non-profit that provides real hair wigs to children suffering hair loss as a result of a medical condition.

The Bald is Beautiful Beauty Pageant saw three brave men — Ronan Maloney, Mike Pendleton, and Shawn Lawler — come forward as contestants to shave their head. A $10 donation to Locks of Love bought one vote to cast for the winner of the pageant, which ultimately raised an impressive $3,000!

And the winner was … the man who got his head WAXED: Ronan Moloney! If you fancy watching the painful chaos, you can do so right here. And it’s not too late to donate to the cause either!

U.S. Weekend Action

Full Gallop Farm Mid February H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Pine Top Advanced (Thomson, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Three Lakes Winter II H.T. at Caudle Ranch (Groveland, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Reviving the Spirit: Jamaican Eventing Soars with the FEI Solidarity’s FEI Eventing World Challenge Series

Laughter and Learning at the 2024 Ocala Horse Properties USEA YEH Symposium

Am I Crazy? I Bought An Unbroke Small For My Kids

A Quick Look at the Amazing Equine Heart

The Big Picture Presented By Excel Equine: Are Influencers The Answer?

Sponsor Corner: Check out Woodge Fulton and Cash Point strutting their stuff 👑

Woodge chooses Amerigo Saddles for her horses. “We love everything about our @amerigo_saddles_official saddles, from the way they fit the horses to how customizable they are. From piping colors to stitching colors, you can match your saddle to your personality.”

World Equestrian Brands is your source for saddles trusted by 5* riders.

Morning Viewing: Are you a chronic looker downer when you ride? Here’s a quick top from Amelia Newcomb on how to fix your it!

Monday Video: Views from Ram Tap

Fancy a good look at the Ram Tap XC course? You’re in luck, as usual East Coaster Emma Hinke seems to have stopped by the Fresno, California venue while out west this past weekend. She captured many pairs in the Advanced/Intermediate and Intermediate divisions tackling their cross country course.

You can catch a debrief of the action from this important West Coast prep event in EN’s new column, The Weekend Update.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

We’re three whole days post-Valentine’s Day but there are still so many cute lovey Valentine’s horsey posts popping up on my feed. And you know what? I’m not mad about it! Keep ’em coming people!

U.S. Weekend Action

Jumping Branch Farm H.T. (Aiken, SC)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ocala Winter I (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ram Tap H.T. (Fresno, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

International Events

Portuguese Spring Tour (Mata do Duque) (Feb 17 – 20 and Feb 28 – Mar 3) [Timetable] [Entries] [Scoring] [Portuguese Eventing Association Facebook Page] [More Info]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Statement from USEF re: Horse Abuse Rule Changes

Channeling the Fire of the 2023 Bates USEA Mare of the Year Karma

Is Simple Still Interesting Enough for Equestrians?

FEI Solidarity Grant helps fuel equine careers for women in Cambodia

Researchers find a reason why some horses have a higher risk of fractures

Sponsor Corner: What’s inside your saddle? Take a look inside the Amerigo dressage saddle thanks to this semi-transparent view.

Morning Viewing: The eventer invasion at WEC continues! Here’s Boyd Martin and Federman having a pop around a 1.25m class.

Monday Video: The Tiniest Indoor Cross Country Derby You’ve Ever Seen

I know we started your Monday with a rather unsavory view that’s probably been burned into your retinas all day, so allow me to make it up to you and close out your Monday with PONIES.

Last Monday we brought you a replay of the Devoucoux Indoor Derby at le Jumping International de Bordeaux in France. This week, it’s ‘Honey We’ve Shrunk the Horses’ with the tiniest little indoor cross country derby you’ve ever seen in the Derby Poneys by Devoucoux class.

Brighten your day and watch the full class above! There’s plenty of thrills, spills, spooks, and the teeniest little drop bank you’ve ever seen. Here are the final results.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

To infinity and beyond! Or at least just to Wallaby Hill, which held quite a fun fancy dress class at their recent show jumping extravaganza. Of course while everyone is freeing cold or caked in mud here in the Northern Hemisphere, eventing season down under is in full swing. I don’t think I could pull off a Buzz Lightyear costume in the middle of summer though, like Shane Rose here is doing — I’d be sweating my space blaster off.

U.S. Weekend Action

Pine Top Intermediate H.T. (Thomson, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Rocking Horse Winter II H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Robb Hopes To Change The Culture With Sponsorship Of Thoroughbred Makeover Teams

USEF Launches Coach Education Initiative

Observations during showjumping warm-up

Dreams Are Coming True on the Back of the 2023 SmartPak USEA Pony of the Year Delilah’s Boy

12 Valentine’s Day Gifts Your Equestrian Actually Wants

Sponsor Corner: Anyone in the market for a dressage saddle? Check out this beautiful pre-owned Amerigo! If you’re looking for more pre-owned saddles, check out the collection of Gently Used Saddles on worldequestrianbrands.com.

Morning Viewing: The Kentucky Horse Park’s Superbowl prediction is really the only one you need.

Monday Video: Indoor Eventing in Bordeaux

It’s indoor season across Europe, and for restless eventers that means trying their hands and hooves at indoor eventing classes throughout the winter. This past weekend at le Jumping International de Bordeaux in France, seventeen competitors came forward to contest the Devoucoux Indoor Derby.

Of course with this being a home competition, the French were out in full force and some recognizable names such as Maxime Livio, Astier Nicolas, and Arthur Duffort gave the home crowd a thrill. A few international riders came to strut their stuff too — Michal Jung amongst them, perhaps most notably!

The video above is the full broadcast of the competition, so if you fancy watching the whole thing I don’t really want to spoil the ending for you but I will say that it comes down to the wire! If you want to jump ahead but make sure you catch the top two rides, I recommend skipping ahead to about 42:10. You can also check out the full results here.

Alle eventing!

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

Photo found on Facebook.

It’s true right? My pony started shedding last week and while I admit, it’s a little exciting at first thinking of spring coming soon and all that, the sheer volume of hair on my beloved equine is a reminder that we still have a ways to go, unfortunately. I’ll be scraping that hair off my jacket and my saddlepads for a while yet. Only when it’s all nearly gone is spring truly here and equestrians everywhere can rejoice.

U.S. Weekend Action

Galway Downs 2024 Kickoff H.T. (Temecula, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Sporting Days Farm February Trials H.T. II (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Three Lakes Winter I H.T. at Caudle Ranch (Groveland, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

FEI and USEF Investigating Training Video of Cesar Parra

Monica Spencer Excited to be Heading Stateside

New data on horse falls in eventing and what the future holds for frangible fences

Trainer Shopping: A Mom’s Perspective

2023 Bates USEA Lady Rider of the Year Liz Halliday Looks Back on a Year of Career Highs and Personal Lows

Welfare, Coaching, Sportsmanship: The Many Aspects Of Social License To Operate

Sponsor Corner: World Equestrian Brands has a new sponsored rider! Check out what 4* eventer Brooke Burchianti has to say about her new gear.

Morning Viewing: Doug Payne and Quantum Leap are back in the show ring together for the first time since last fall’s Maryland 5 Star!

Monday Video: More Mustang Magic with Elisa Wallace

About four months ago, our favorite Mustang training five-star eventer Elisa Wallace began a journey with a new Mustang in preparation for the Mustang Magic competition that took place last weekend in Forth Worth, Texas. Elisa picked out a flashy little 2019 palomino mare from the Sheepshead Heath Creek HMA in Oregon and dubbed her Dior.

Elisa and Dior had approximately 120 training days together ahead of last weekend’s competition, for which they had to prepare a freestyle routine that would show off their training and partnership. Watch their routine above and you can catch up with Elisa’s training vlogs on her YouTube channel. Despite a little hiccup where one of their props got stuck on Dior’s girth, the pair finished the competition in 6th place.

And auction for all the participating horses is held at the end of the competition and Dior was purchased by a young rider who trains with some of Elisa’s old students in Florida. Serendipity!

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

Being a five-star rider must be super glamorous right? Right? We all know that’s far from the truth! Right now in the middle of winter it’s peak baby-training season and sometimes those future five-star babies have some very baby moments. Mia Farley very deftly demonstrates here that sometimes the best thing you can do is extricate yourself from the situation. Wouldn’t be all love to have Mia’s cat-like reflexes in this situation?

U.S. Weekend Action

Full Gallop Farm January H.T (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Mike Winter: Canada’s Confidence Ahead of Paris

Christa Schmidt Weighs In On the Undeniable Heart of the 2023 USEA Standlee Horse of the Year Capitol H I M

The Next Evolution Arrives to World Equestrian Center – Ocala: The Riding Academy Hotel Now Accepting Reservations Online for 2024

The iEquiTek Precision Rider Award

Things That Make You Go Hmmm: 6 Weird Horse-Related Products

Sponsor Corner: This week we have some VERY exciting news to share from World Equestrian Brands: their partnership with renowned Italian saddler Gruppo Selleria Equipe is expanding to introduce the Equipe brand of saddles to the US market. That’s right — starting in February, you can get your hands on these fine Italian saddles and strap goods in the US for the first time ever. World Equestrian Brands already ha a network of saddle fitters ready to help you find your perfect new Equipe saddle. Book a fitting now and get started!

Morning Viewing: Take it from a true New Englander — here’s some tips to keept you equine friends happy and warm in the brutal winter temps!

Monday Video: Working Together for our Future with David O’Connor

This year’s USEF Annual Meeting, which took place January 12 – January 14, met under the theme of “Our Future Is Now” and featured keynote presentations on the subjects of biosecurity, horse behavior and welfare, and social license.

Social license to operate — public acceptance of an activity — has been a big buzzword in the horse world for a few years now, and for good reason. Public opinion of an activity can have a detrimental effect if the opinion is negative and modern social media can have amplifying effects. Case in point, ironically the same weekend as the USEF Annual Meeting took place a video from a recent USEF Horsemastership Training Series clinic went viral.

This seminar is presented by legendary event rider and current US Equestrian Chief of Sport, David O’Connor, along with Lisa Lazarus, CEO of the Horse Racing Safety and Integrity Authority (HISA) and it’s a long but very interesting watch! You can also access the other keynote presentations on biosecurity and horse welfare on the US Equestrian YouTube page.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

We love to see it! Z, Phillip Dutton’s Tokyo Olympic mount (amongst other accolades,) is getting the star treatment at Furlong’s Soundness Center at B.W. Furlong & Associates in New Jersey. Looks like he’s getting a great start on the road to recovery from the injury sustained at Pau which spurned his retirement from the top level of the sport. Will we get to see Z carting around a young rider at the lower levels in due time? Or will he just get to enjoy the good retired life straight away? It doesn’t really matter — we’re happy to see him feeling good either way!

U.S. Weekend Action

Ram Tap Combined Test (Fresno, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Stable View Aiken Opener H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

FEI Makes Spurs Optional in Dressage

Federal Bill Would Protect Trail Access For Horseback Riders

Eventing Legends and Industry Experts Set to Lead the 2024 ECP Symposium

The Story of Anna Sewell & Black Beauty Animation Shortlisted for International Award

USEF Responds To Katie Prudent Clinic Controversy

Sponsor Corner: What do you think this little guy thinks of the view? Quick reminder that a portion of every order placed on the World Equestrian Brands website goes to FlyPups! FlyPups transports rescue puppies to shelters and rescues across the country, bringing them to safer places and to new lives.

Morning Viewing: Today I learned that gym workouts for jockeys involves a lot of squatting. Makes sense!

Monday Video: A Lesson With Nicola Wilson

Join Samantha and her 9-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred Knightly as they ride in a group lesson with the indomitable Nicola Wilson! Knightly is a former national hunt racer who last raced three years ago. Nicola works with this pair on impulsion and rhythm to the fences — something I’m sure many of us can also work on and should be able to benefit from watching Samantha’s lesson.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

This past season especially, there’s been a lot of talk throughout Area 1 and the wider eventing community about “weather-proofing” events i.e. ensuring venues can survive amidst the occurrence of extreme weather. Huntington Farm of South Strafford, Vermont is looking at this past season, which was riddled with heaving rain and flooding, as a learning experience and an opportunity to upgrade the facility with new drainage systems now that they know which parts of the property are the problem areas. Hats off to Huntington — this can’t be an inexpensive undertaking, but what a season they’re going to have in store for us!

U.S. Weekend Action

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Reddick, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Maryland International Equestrian Foundation offers scholarship for junior grassroots riders

Farewell to ‘eccentric genius’ and five-star winner who put rider ‘on the map’

Former Eventer Robyn Fisher Pursues A New Passion With An Unlikely Partner

Ask the Expert: Managing Mud On Horse Farms In Winter

2024 Horse Nation Gallop Poll: Tell Us About Yourself!

Sponsor Corner: Allison Springer’s adorable grey Dazzle is enjoying his new Equilibrium Massage Pad from World Equestrian Brands. Look at that sweet face! 😍

Morning Viewing: Catch a replay of the 2024 USEF Annual Meeting General Session.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

Madeline Blackman and Gordonstown at Rolex 2013. Photo by Jenni Autry.

We are saddened to share the news of the passing of the great Gordonstown at the age of 26. “Gordy” and Maddie Blackman’s story is one of those “dreams come true” tales; they become a partnership at the young ages of 6- and 15-years-old and went on to contest the Kentucky Three-Day event three times and even traveled overseas for a shot at Blenheim. Reacquaint yourself with their story by re-reading Maddie’s retirement tribute to her best friend. EN’s thoughts are with you Maddie, and all of Gordy’s connections!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Sporting Days Farm January Horse Trials I (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Area 1 Annual Meeting Canceled and to be Rescheduled Virtually

No More Cattle at Pine Top Farm

He eats the tack, licks cars and loves a cuddle – meet Ros Canter’s Badminton winner and European champion Lordships Graffalo

Creating Ringcraft on Day 3 of EA21 National Camp

Less Is More On Day 1 Of Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic Week

Sponsor Corner: I will never not be obsessed with World Equestrian Brands beautiful Mattes pads 😍

Morning Viewing: Flashback to Gordy and Maddie at Blenheim in 2010.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

The commemorative selfie perhaps did not quite capture the energy of the moment, but I love it anyway. Photo by Abby Powell.

With plenty of ups and downs, 2023 has been a wild year for me personally. However, when I go back in my memory and search for highlights from the past year there’s one rather obvious one: Kentucky. This was just my second year attending and wow, I’m not sure it will ever be topped (but hey, we can all hope it will soon!)

Veronica and myself had been hunkered down in the media center since the end of the four-star press conference trying to finish up our respective reports. Once I saw on the live stream that it was getting down to the final five in the five-star show jumping I urged Veronica to come with me out to the stadium to watch the last few competitors jump. We made it ringside, where we found fellow EN team members Tilly and Alex with cameras in hand, just as Liz Halliday and Miks Master C were starting their round. We all know how this story ends. Once Tamie Smith and Mai Baum had jumped the last fence the energy in the stadium went through the metaphorical roof and everyone was literally jumping up and down.

It’s terribly hard to explain that energy to a non-eventing fan. I guess it could be like your team winning the World Series or the Super Bowl? Somehow though I think this was even more electric and it’s a moment I won’t soon forget.

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Olympics 2024: Event rider Ros Canter aiming for glory in Paris

Horse Nation 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards: Story of the Year

From Uplifting To Upsetting, The Stories We Didn’t Expect Were Most-Read Of 2023

Fast Facts: 2024 EA21 National Camp

Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: Kyle Frey Finds ‘Power In Being Open’ About Mental Health

Sponsor Corner:

Whoever got the World Equestrian Brands‘ Sergio Grasso Walk & Ride boots for the holidays— I’m officially jealous. These gorgeous boots are designed for all-day comfort and they look stunning to boot. (No pun intended.)

Morning Viewing: It still gives me chills.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

Keeping in fashion with this entire year, Christmas is coming FAST. Granted, up until about a week ago I was convinced that Christmas Day was on Sunday this year when in fact it is not, it is on Monday. So at least I have one more day to clean my house for guests and finish gift shopping than I thought. Did I leave everything to the last minutes (yet again) this year and will I have a spare moment to ride my horse this weekend? TBD.

Links to Start Your Weekend:

How To Be An Informed Auction Buyer

Stable View to Host Alumni Challenge at 2024 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship

Horses drove societal transformation in South America – study

Horse And Jockey Stay Partners, Even After The Track

FEI sets strict criteria for participation of Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Horses and Officials in FEI Events

Sponsor Corner:

When it comes to saddle pads, it doesn’t get any better than combining velvet and sheepskin 😍🐑 Head to worldequestrianbrands.com to create your custom Mattes pad.

Morning Viewing: I would have through Santa would ride through Badminton on a horse, but I guess bikes have become pretty essential to eventing too.

Monday Video: Piggy on a Pony

Well, not technically a pony, but a good bit shorter than her mount we saw at Maryland, the 16.3-hand Brookfield Cavalier Cruise.

Meet Jam, Megan Elphick‘s 15-hand Connemara mare. Megan has brought Jam over to Piggy March‘s yard for a little tune-up ride and jump ahead of participating in the Grassroots to Glory Masterclass with Dickie Waygood at the London International Horse Show.

Pour yourself a tasty beverage and get comfy while you enjoy this excellent vlog episode — you can think of it as a little mini clinic to audit! As Piggy feels out a new horse for the first time she drops boatloads of knowledge that we can all take away and use to improve our own rides.

Bonus: Here’s a little peak at Megan and Jam in the Masterclass this past weekend!