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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

By on Apr 27, 2024 12:01 am -

Today’s the day, the one we wait for all year! It’s the best day of the Best Weekend All Year: cross country day at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. As always, I like to wish everyone speedy and safe rides. May you attack the course with the gusto of Chris Hemsworth’s daughter and her tiny pony.

If you’ve got some time before you sign on to watch the live stream, grab your morning brew and give the post-dressage EquiRatings Eventing Podcast a listen, where EquiRating’s Diarm Byrne and our own Sally Spickard breakdown the dressage performances in both divisions and then discuss what we can expect during today’s cross country test.

Get all the links you need to keep tabs on the Kentucky action today right here below and stay tuned for much, much more today! Cross country actions begins at 9:00am ET with the CCI4*-S and then the CCI5* takes the stage at 1:30pm.

U.S. Weekend Action

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Tickets] [Scoring] [Live Stream] [Ultimate Guide] [EN’s Coverage]

Horse Park of New Jersey Spring H.T. (Allentown, NJ) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Spring H.T. (Leesburg, VA) [Website] [Entries][Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

The Event at Archer Spring Fling YEH and NEH (Cheyenne, WY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

University of New Hampshire Spring H.T. (Durham, NH)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

International Events

Ballindenisk International (Ireland) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Timetable] [Eventing Ireland Facebook Page]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Bronte Beach Has A Team Of Women In Medicine Behind Her

Opening The Door to the Future: Volunteers Help 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event to Succeed

Son Of Tiznow, Unraced And Sold For $1, Achieves Pinnacle Of Eventing Sport

Focusing on Kentucky and Looking Ahead to Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Leaders urged to be bold and ambitious at ‘crucial moment’ for horse sport

Sponsor Corner: Sharon White & Jaguar Duendes look amazing in their Vespucci bridle from World Equestrian Brands! Did you see Sharon compete in the 5* at the Kentucky Horse Park this weekend? Shop for a Vespucci bridle of your own here or at booth #109 if you’re in attendance at Kentucky!

Morning Viewing: In case you missed it, here’s Tom McEwan and DL Dublin’s leading five-star test. And yes, you can hear the bird of prey and the commotion it caused right in the middle of the canter work! If you don’t know what Im talking about, make sure you catch up on yesterday’s 5* dressage report.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Apr 20, 2024 12:01 am -

Screenshot via Ema Klugman’s brother and personal hype-man, Josh.

Ema Klugman had a nice day in the office yesterday. She rode two horses at Fair Hill: Bronte Beach, who is headed to Kentucky next week practiced the five-star dressage test, while Chiraz put down a very competitive first phase score in the Intermediate division. AND Ema, who is a law student in addition to being a busy upper-level event rider and also contributor for EN, passed the Virginia Bar Exam! Congratulations, Ema! We still don’t know how you do it all!

U.S. Weekend Action

Fair Hill International April H.T. & CCI-S (Elkton, MD) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Scoring]

Masterson Equestrian Trust YEH/NEH Qualifier (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Meadowcreek Park – The Spring Social Event (Kosse, TX) [Website] [Entries][Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ocala International Festival of Eventing (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

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

Major International Events

Adelaide Equestrian Festival [Website] [5* Entries] [Schedule] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

UK International Events

Kelsall Hill International [Website] [Entries] [Scoring]

European International Events

Strzegom Spring Open II [Website] [Entries] [Timetable] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Susie Berry’s Irish Wish

Sharon White: Become A Self-Confident Leader for Your Horse

Top Tips for Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event First-Timers from USEA Members

AMA: How Do I Keep My Horse From Getting Bored With Arena Work?

How to Treat and Prevent Summer Sores in Horses

Sponsor Corner: The E.A. Mattes configurator is no longer just for saddle pads! Create your dream girth, quarter sheet, cooler, boots, or fly veil. If you need me, you can find me down a rabbit hole of cross country colors 🐰🌈 Design your dream tack set!

Morning Viewing: The more you know … about brush. (I swear, this is actuallyr really interesting!)

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Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Apr 13, 2024 12:01 am -

I started following North Carolina-based artist Larissa Ann on Instagram a few years ago after seeing that she was the artist in residence at Carolina International. Frankly, I thought it was seriously cool for an event to have an artist in residence and very much enjoyed watching Larissa’s progress on her live painting over the weekend.

One of Larissa’s specialties is painting saddles — she just did one for the Equestrians in Paris gala last month to raise funds for the USET Foundation — and her next will be painted live over the weekend at Kentucky. You can find her in the Stübben tent!

I was the kind of kid in school who really enjoyed art class and worked hard at it for a while, but truly just did not have the innate talent for it. So I mega-respect those that do and I love getting my hands on local artists work when I’m able! Her most recent piece to really catch my eye is this 5 Star Eventing tapestry/ blanket, which goes on sale Tuesday. I might have to snag one for myself!

U.S. Weekend Action

F.E.N.C.E. H.T. (Tryon, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Longleaf Pine H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Unionville Horse Trials (Unionville, PA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Spring Bay H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Twin Rivers Spring International (Paso Robles, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

International Events

Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International (Norfolk, UK) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

North Holland Horse Trials (The Netherlands) [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

The horse wars of Stormy Daniels

Injured Olympic equestrian Shane Rose confident in recovery ahead of Paris 2024

Understanding the Way Adults Like to Learn, Both In and Out of the Saddle

The Making Of A Horse Husband

Thoroughbred Incentive Program Announces Winners Of 2023 Performance Awards

Sponsor Corner: World Equestrian Brands’ Sponsored Rider Allison Springer put in a strong performance in the Stable View Intermediate division last weekend, coming in in third place with a 28.0. Allison trusts her Amerigo saddles with her horses’ health and performance. Shop now!

Morning Viewing: Freelance groom Debbie Carpenter shares some expert tips for post-XC leg care.

Monday Video: Take a Peek at the Paris Equestrian Venue Progress

By on Apr 8, 2024 1:00 pm -

It seems like the venue for this summer’s Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, France is one of the most hotly anticipated given its location at the iconic Palace of Versailles. Everyone is waiting with bated breath to see how the facilities, which will host all Equestrian disciplines and the Modern Pentathlon, will intertwine with the iconic grounds.

About that construction — it’s well and truly underway! This video from the Associated Press gives us a peek at the current progress of the main arena and grandstands, which will ultimately be able to seat 16,000 spectators, and offers a few soundbites from the Versailles Venue Director for the Paris 2024 organizing committee, Anne Murac, along with Christophe Leribault, the President of the Palace of Versailles Estate.

The top equine athletes around the world aren’t the only horses getting ready for the Olympics. Did you notice in the video above how shiny horses and humans of the Fountain of Apollo are now? They were looking a little brown before, but ahead of the Olympics have undergone a two-year restoration process to polish up the gilded lead statues as well as shore up the plumbing underneath. You can check out a video of the restoration process and a few additional glimpses here.

Can you imagine cross country day when there will be horses galloping across the canal in the background? Quel rêve!

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Apr 6, 2024 12:01 am -

Eleven months ago at Kentucky she made a real splash in her first five-star and this year Boyd Martin’s former mount, the super mare Contessa, has a new jockey in the irons! Tori Miller of Paragon Eventing welcomed the mare to her string a few months ago thanks to new owner Tom Aronson. Tori and Contessa made their debut together in the Open Training at Morven Park last weekend. Here’s wishing them all the best as they develop their new partnership!

U.S. Weekend Action

Stable View Spring 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

CDCTA Spring H.T. (Ruckersville, VA) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Pine Hill Spring H.T. (Bellville, TX) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

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

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Will Coleman: Father, Eventer, Olympian

Andrew Nicholson: ‘Everyone is upping their game ahead of the Olympics’

Thrown off Course: Social Media’s Influence on the Equestrian World

Gretchen Butts and Waredaca Celebrate 20 Years of the Classic Three-Day

Horse Farms and Climate Change: Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

At Sport Horse Nation we want to help every horse find the perfect home and every rider find their unicorn. We value your input to guide us in this journey. Please take a moment to complete this survey.

Sponsor Corner: Big news from World Equestrian Brands! The Equilibrium boots are back and better than ever. These boots are everything your horse needs to succeed on cross country–

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…than ever. Shop now!

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Morning Viewing: Jon Holling and Rick Wallace talk to Tik Maynard and Sinead Halpin about their recent Road to the Horse win and pans for the rest of the year.

Wednesday Video from KPP: Tour the Furlong Soundness Center with the Duttons

By on Apr 3, 2024 2:30 pm -

After suffering an injury at Pau last year and retiring from the highest levels of competition, Phillip Dutton sent his Tokyo Olympic mount, Z, to Furlong’s Soundness Center to begin his treatment and rehabilitation. Z has resided there for the past three months or so and has been a model patient. Now it’s time for him to come home!

Phillip and Evie Dutton recently took a trip up to Oldwick, New Jersey to pick up their boy and bring him back to their farm in Pennsylvania for the next stage of his rehab. Before loading him up, Dr. Brendan Furlong and Dr. Aja Harvey gave them a tour of the facilities and showed them what Z had been up to.

After such a heart wrenching injury, it’s wonderful to see Z looking happy and healthy and exciting to hear that he’s been doing so well — it sounds like Phillip is hopeful that he’ll be able to eventually have a lower-level career and I envy the young rider who may eventually get to pilot his around a course! Here’s wishing Z continued health and happiness in the next stage of his rehab!

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Mar 30, 2024 12:01 am -

You can really trust The Event at TerraNova to bring the fun. They seem to have a penchant for some really creative relay races (I remember Karl Slezak running one last year in an inflatable unicorn costume) and they’ll be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt this morning at 9am in Tiny Town — don’t let your kiddos be late!

Of course, that’s not the only action happening at TerraNova today — it’s cross country day for the Advanced, Intermediate, and FEI levels! Action starts at 8:30 AM with the CCI2*-S. The CCI4*-S, which is being led by Alyssa Phillips and Oskar after two phases, begins at 11:32 AM. A free live stream is available, just use the link below.

And speaking of four-stars, over on the west coast a certain Tamie Smith and Mai Baum took the win in that division at Galway Downs by over 10 points! Plus, it was actually SUNNY across the pond at Thoresby dressage yesterday! What a glorious weekend for spring eventing.

U.S. Weekend Action

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

Galway Downs International H.T. (Temecula, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring] [Live Stream]

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

Morven Park Spring H.T. (Leesburg, VA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

The Event at TerraNova (Myakka City, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

International Events

BEDE Events’ Thoresby Eventing Spring Carnival (UK) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Eventing Seeks More Proactivity to Stop Struggling Horses

What Goes Into Designing a Cross-Country Course?

We Showed On Sunday, He Died On Tuesday: An Outbreak Story

‘You have to prove your worth’: British Olympic hopefuls among Kentucky five-star entries

Conformation Critique with Chris Ryan: Teagan Van’t Jordenshof

Sponsor Corner: World Equestrian Brands‘ sponsored Rider Allie Knowles had a podium finish with Leo Santos in the Advanced division at Carolina International! Check them out here.

Morning Viewing: Finally, a little eventing love on the US Equestrian YouTube Channel. They’ve dropped Tamie Smith and Mai Baum’s full Kentucky cross country run from last year!

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Mar 23, 2024 12:01 am -

There’s all kinds of action happening this weekend that you should be following! First of all, in case you haven’t heard, Tik Maynard is competing in The Road to the Horse Colt-Starting Challenge this weekend as just the second English-discipline rider ever to be selected for this competition. And he’s making us VERY proud! Tik earned the highest score during round one yesterday (which came with a nice little chunk of change!) Check out this clip of some of his work with his colt Capera Catt and follow along on @goeventing for a little behind the scenes action as Gillian Warner, who is there this weekend, takes over the EN ‘gram!

As for FEI action this weekend, Tilly Berendt is on the ground in the Netherlands at Kronenberg, where a number of elite riders and their horses are stretching their legs in their first CCI4*-L of the season as they begin their Olympic campaigns. After dressage, Tim Price and Falco are leading the way with an enviable score of 23.6, a decent margin ahead of second placed pair Susannah Berry and Wellfields Lincoln. You can catch the livestream via ClipMyHorse.TV!

U.S. Weekend Action

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

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

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, TX)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

European Events

Outdoor Horst (Kronenberg, Netherlands) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Schedule] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

Other Events

Road to the Horse (Lexington, Kentucky) March 21-24 [Website] [Schedule] [Competition Format] [Live Stream]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Elite Dressage Horse Head-and-Neck Angles Associated With Scores

Rule Refresher: Rules You Should Know for Competing at the Starter Level

‘It’s the end of an era for everyone involved’, much-loved horse trials loses venue

Scholarship Alert: The Ed Brown Society

Emma Uusi-Simola: “Less is more when it comes to horses”

Sponsor Corner: Looking for a unique tall boot that’s beautiful AND classy? Take a look at these gorgeous Sergio Grasso boots featuring unique textures, leathers, and colors.

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Morning Viewing: You heard it straight from the horse’s mouth!

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Friday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Some Fancy Footwork for You

By on Mar 22, 2024 2:30 pm -

Is there ever a bad time to work on your horse’s footwork? Given it’s importance for all three phases of eventing, I think probably not! Granted, you don’t need oodles of ground poles to work on some useful exercises but footwork grids like the one in this video sure do make for some fun spectacles.

British equestrian Katie Lewis recently attended a clinic at Fancy Footwork Equestrian and was met with this massive grid that was ultimately fun and useful for both her and her horse. If you need some ground pole inspiration, watching this video should help!

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Mar 16, 2024 12:01 am -

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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

By on Mar 12, 2024 2:30 pm -

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

By on Mar 9, 2024 12:01 am -

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

By on Mar 5, 2024 2:30 pm -

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

By on Mar 2, 2024 12:01 am -

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

By on Feb 26, 2024 5:00 pm -

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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

By on Feb 24, 2024 12:01 am -

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

By on Feb 19, 2024 3:00 pm -

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

By on Feb 17, 2024 12:01 am -

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

By on Feb 12, 2024 11:19 am -

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

By on Feb 10, 2024 12:01 am -

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

By on Feb 5, 2024 4:30 pm -

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

By on Feb 3, 2024 12:01 am -

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

By on Jan 29, 2024 3:30 pm -

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!