Become an Eventing Nation BloggerFancy 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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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!
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!
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
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
I’m delighted to share the news this morning that EN’s very own Tilly Berendt was recently awarded the inaugural Kit Houghton Photo of the Year Award from the British Equestrian Media Association (BEMA) for her incredible snap of Harriet Biddick and Silver Lift while working for the Hickstead press office earlier this year. Here’s how the moment played out.
Tilly is pretty modest in suggesting she was lucky to get this shot, but I think what the general public might not realize about photography is actually how easy it is to miss or botch a shot like this even if you are in the right place at the right time. Our gal’s got skills. Congrats, Tilly!
Major International Events
London International Horse Show (Wednesday December 13th – Monday December 18th) [Website] [Tickets] [Program] [Scoring]
How to Watch: [UK] [FEI Classes: FEI TV (via ClipMyHorse.TV)] [Non-FEI Classes: H&C+]
Links to Start Your Weekend:
8 Top Tips for Equestrians from Dr. Temple Grandin
Emotions Run High as Emma Webb Completes Her Journey
Merit seen in off-horse assessments of rider posture and balance
University of Kentucky Horse-Related Rider Injury and Pain Survey
New Details Emerge In Eric Lamaze Case As Appeal Filed
Can A Human Run As Fast As a Horse?
Sponsor Corner: Lea Adams-Blackmore has had a busy season. From the Canada to Maryland, Lea flew to one other major event to round out her season– but this time, her title was groom, not rider. Hear about what it was like to groom for Sharon White at the Pan-American Games in this article sponsored by World Equestrian Brands.
Lea Adams-Blackmore and Sharon White at the Pan American Games. Photo courtesy of Sharon White / US Equestrian.
Morning Viewing: Start your day off with one cute and keen (and speedy!) little pair!
Phillip Dutton’s stunning sterling mount, Azure, is coming back into work after the Maryland 5 Star and look who’s in the irons! Daughter Olivia was lucky enough to land a lesson with dad aboard the Moran family’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Omar – Cavalier Roselier, by Cavalier Royale) and we can learn a thing or two from this snippit of their flatwork lesson.
Bred and produced by Irish eventer Elizabeth Power, Azure is relatively new ride for Phillip having been brought Stateside at the start of the 2022 season. Phillip has said the mare is uber-keen and forward across the country and his goal as they progress their partnership is to channel that eagerness into their dressage. Watch as he coaches Olivia on how to start off on the right foot for a flat ride!
David O’Connor and Custom Made. Photo courtesy of US Equestrian.
One of the most recognized names in US eventing history, Custom Made, will be immortalized at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions. An honor usually reserved for horses who spent their golden years as a resident of the horse park, Custom Made will be the first event horse interred at the Memorial Walk of Champions. The Olympic gold medal winning mount passed away in 2019 at the grand age of 34 after enjoying a long retirement at Jacqueline Mars’ Stonehall Farm.
U.S. Weekend Action
Full Gallop Farm Jingle Bells H.T (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
USEA Annual Meeting and Convention (St. Louis, MO): [Information Hub] [Schedule] [Fast Facts]
Links to Start Your Weekend:
USEA Rule Change Proposals: Lower Level MERs, Horse Welfare And More
If You’re Not Winning, You’re Learning: 2023 Pan Am Games Team Revisits Santiago
Ingrid Klimke Offers A Master Class In Positive Riding
Horse Euthanized After Accident In WEC—Ocala Grand Prix Qualifier
Researchers closing in on “holy grail” of preventing and treating tendon injuries
Hot on Horse Nation: Ask AI Equestrian Edition: What Do Different Cross Country Jumps Look Like?
Sponsor Corner: “It really reaffirmed our deep love for each other. We want to do this together and we enjoy this regardless of the outcome. We are happy doing it as a team.”
Allie Knowles and Morswood put in a memorable performance at Pau. Read her recap of the experience on The Debrief, brought to you by World Equestrian Brands.
Allie Knowles and Morswood. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Morning Viewing: Get to know Ireland’s largest equine charity: the Irish Welfare Trust.
I thought the Agria Indoor Eventing course at the Sweden International Horse Show looked insane this year (especially from the perspective of Boyd Martin’s helmet cam), but there’s another three-phase sport taking a spin Stockholm that I think looks just as insane — if not more insane.
More insane than eventing? Think about it. Four horses tethered to each other pulling an inanimate object piled with three humans around TIGHT corners is pretty nuts and whenever I watch a combined driving event inside a tight indoor arena I clutch my pearls a little extra hard.
The fourth leg of the FEI Driving World Cup landed at the Sweden International Horse Show this week, and it was this round — which was a whole 10 seconds faster than his qualifying round– that gave the win to the Netherlands’ Bram Chardon. Need more insanity? Watch the whole division here:
Are you looking for the 2023 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Champions? Take a left! The members of the University of South Carolina Aiken eventing team — Alexa Duncan, Heidi Gyselinck, Carson Langenberg, and Sydney Shinn — have been honored with a token that I would presume not many eventers can say they have: a road sign! When you head down to Aiken this winter, keep your eyes peeled for this unique trophy of sorts.
U.S. Weekend Action
Rocking Horse December H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Links to Start Your Weekend:
The Mia Farley And Phelps Story
‘Breaking down barriers’ as dark breeches to be allowed in British Dressage competition
2024 ECP Symposium to Be Held at the Florida Horse Park on Jan. 30-Feb. 1
You Are Going To Die; What Happens To Your Horse When You Do?
Horses for All: Diversity, inclusion key to equestrian world’s future
Sponsor Corner: Cosby Green can check her first 5* off her to-do list. The World Equestrian Brands‘ rider finished in the top 20 at Pau with her talented chestnut, Copper Beach. Hear about her experience at Pau and what’s it like to work with Team Price.
Cosby Green and Copper Beach. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Morning Viewing: Buckle up and join Boyd Martin for a winning ride at Sweden International Agria Indoor Eventing!
What off-season? Not long after unpacking from Pau (which wasn’t all that long after unpacking from Maryland), Piggy March took her literal show on the road with Piggy TV On Tour! Piggy TV On Tour has already brought three live demonstrations to arenas around the UK, with two more on tap (you can grab tickets for those here, if interested!) Each demo features a different top-level rider sharing their own wisdom in addition to Piggy’s as they work with an assortment of horses from former five-star mounts to fresh-off-the-track Thoroughbreds.
The first Piggy TV Demo took place at Hartbury Equine’s arena and featured none other than fellow five-star and Team Great Britain rider Laura Collet. The ladies who vlog at The Eventing Journey, were in attendance at this demo and have put together a bunch of snippets to share. Enjoy!
US Dressage riders Laura Graves, Ashley Holzer, Kasey Perry-Glass, Katherine Bateson-Chandler, Anna Buffini, and Susie Dutta recently made their primetime TV debut alongside Megan Thee Stallion in a new commercial promoting NBC’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Watch above! Hopefully this heralds more widespread coverage of the equestrian events!?
US Weekend Action:
Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. (Thompson, GA): [Website] [Live Scoring]
Links to Start Your Weekend:
Meet Dr Koffi, Ivory Coast’s First-Ever Specialist Equine Vet
Conference explores environmental sustainability in the horse world
Pathway laid out for future-proofing horse sports
Best of Blogs: Get ready to light your wallet on fire with the annual Black Friday deals list you’ve come to know and love courtesy of Breed. Ride. Event.
Sponsor Corner: “There’s no great rider that hasn’t broken some bones and wondered, ‘What on Earth are we doing here? Why am I trying so hard?’ and ‘What are we doing this for? How am I ever gonna be good enough to get there?’’
World Equestrian Brands‘ rider Allie Knowles talks to us about seeking balance and striving for perfection.
Allie Knowles and Morswood. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Morning Viewing: That moment you sport yourself on TV!
