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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 29, 2023 12:01 am -

Wakey, wakey it’s cross country day at the #BestWeekendAllYear! Team EN has been enjoying having such stacked entry lists in both classes this weekend and so many entrants from overseas who we’re delighted to see out and about enjoying the venue. It’s sure keeping things exciting, and we’ll be on the edge of our metaphorical seats to see how everything shakes out over Derek di Grazia’s courses today. Here’s wishing safe and speedy rides to all pairs. Don’t forget to stop and admire the dandelions.

Keep up with EVERYTHING by following @goeventing and checking out EN’s coverage of the #BestWeekendAllYear.

U.S. Weekend Action

LRK3DE: [Website] [5* Times] [5* Scores] [4* Times] [4* Scores] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage] [Ultimate Guide]

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] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

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

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Yorkshire’s Nicola Wilson determined to seize her ‘second chance’ as she prepares for emotional Badminton return

Sandra Auffrath reunites with Cornelia Dorr’s Daytona Beach 8 at Kentucky

Sydney Solomon Soaks Up Her First LRK3DE

Free Rein With: Jennie Saville

Sponsor Corner: We’ve got a special cross country day contest coming at you! Keep checking EN’s Instagram stories today to play Kentucky trivia for a chance to win a pair of Equilibrium Tri-Zone Impact Boots from World Equestrian Brands.

Buck Davidson and Carlevo model the Equilibrium Tri-Zone Impact Boots at Maryland last year. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Morning Viewing: An admirable young equestrian who runs her own treat-making business won the World Equestrian Brands Meet and Greet with Hawley and Jollybo! She even made Jollybo her own special treats!

Lexington CCI4*-S Dressage Concludes with Double Dose of Halliday-Sharp and Smith + Kozumplik

By on Apr 28, 2023 3:40 pm -

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool. Photo by Abby Powell.

Dressage for the third annual running of the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian concluded this morning with a couple of changes to the leaderboard, but familiar names remain.

The top test of the day came from Liz Halliday-Sharp and 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Heritage Fortunus — HHHS Carlota) Cooley Be Cool, earning a mark of 25.5, an achingly close score to stablemate Cooley Nutcracker who retains the lead in this division on a 26.5.

“He changed behind first in his first change, which he never does, but I think he was just a bit excited. Had he not done that I think he would have been on the same score as [Cooley Nutcracker], which is super cool, because this is still his personal best at the level. I’m totally thrilled with him,” Liz said of her test.

Owned by Ocala Horse Properties and The Monster Partnership, “Dave” was sourced through Richard Sheane of Cooley Farm, as many of Liz’s horses are.

“Richard, when we found him, said this one will be a slow burner. He said he might not be a winner at the low levels, but he’s going to be a really top five-star horse,” Liz recalls, “And yeah, I actually totally agree.”

After two wins in the early season last year — one in the CCI3-S at Carolina International and the other in the CCI4-S at The Event at TerraNova — some time off over the rest of the 2022 competition season did “Dave” some good, helping him to mature.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

“I think it was the making of him. He came out this year like a different horse, just more professional, lighter on his feet, and just really wanting to do the job,” Liz said. “He’s incredibly scopey, but he is very cheeky and very arrogant. So that’s kind of been the biggest training. He’s a lot like Cooley Quicksilver in that way — they’re quite similar horses like that, so it’s been a matter of sort of getting him on side and also just managing that.”

Speaking of Cooley Quicksilver, last year’s winner of this division: Liz opted not to bring him for a return trip to Kentucky to defend his title. Impressed enough by his winning performance in the Stable View 4*-S this spring and with a cap at four entries per rider over this weekend, Liz determined the gelding didn’t need the extra run here prior to taking another crack at the Luhmühlen 5* this year. This decision allowed her to bring Dave instead, who, at 10-years-old would benefit more from the extra prep and big atmosphere that Kentucky brings prior to making his 5* debut as he’ll travel alongside “Monster” to Luhmühlen this year.

Tamie Smith and Elliot V slip into equal fourth place at the culmination of the first phase. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Solaguayre California, Tamie’s mount in this division yesterday, now sits in third place with their score of 27.6. Not far behind them, however, is … Tamie Smith, this time with Elliot V, and also Sara Kozumplik aboard Rock Phantom. Elliot V and Rock Phantom both scored a 28.4 to share equal fourth place.

Elliot V came to Tamie through her student Louisa Southworth, who rode the gelding through the CCI2*-L level and then handed the reins to Tamie when it was time to go off to college. Lousia and her parents remain involved in the gelding’s future as members of the Elliot V Partnership which now owns the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Zavall VDL –Vera R).

“He’s super talented and he has all the ingredients, so we syndicated him and they stay part of it. It’s only been two years to solidify a partnership, so we’ve had our ups and downs with everything, trying to figure it all out. But he’s a super jumper and galloper and just trying to teach him the game,” said Tamie.

“It’s been a work in progress with him and getting him stronger. That big atmosphere is quite a anxious type of force, but he was so good. I’m really, really pleased.”

Sara Kozumplik and Rock Phantom. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The third to last ride of the day was an emotional one. For one, Sara Kozumplik and Rock Phantom knocked nearly two marks off the gelding’s previous personal best at the level, dipping into the twenties for the first time.

Sara took over the ride on “Rocky,” a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Spirit House — Ballycroy Rose) roughly a year and a half ago from Nilson Moreira da Silva, who previously brought him to the four-star level. Sara and her long-time friend snap supported Edith Rameika were looking for a horse for Sara to fill the gaps between her young up-and-comers and her experienced campaigner Rubens D’Ysieux who, at 18 years old, Sara has retired from long-format events.

But the tears in Sara’s eye at the conclusion of her test weren’t really for her score; they were for longtime mentor and friend Jimmy Wofford, for whom she wore a green ribbon over heart. A patron saint of U.S. eventing, Jimmy lost his battle with pancreatic cancer earlier this year.

An emotional Sara leaves the ring after her test with Rock Phantom. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“It sounds awful, but I’m kind of glad we lost him before this event because he was very proud of never missing this,” Sara told us. “He actually would have struggled to come in the COVID year because he was having quite a lot of chemo during that time. And so the year it didn’t run, he probably couldn’t have come that year. But he actually never missed it. He was here last year, and he was here the year before that. The impact he’s had on my life, I can’t describe.

Jimmy’s presence is synonymous with the Kentucky Three-Day Event thanks to his involvement over the years as a competitor, coach to so many, and commentator.

“He’s like a father figure to me, and to so many. It is a special place and he’s definitely here,” Sara said. “I think I’m only one little piece of it. You can talk to a thousand people here this weekend that would say the same thing.”

Tomorrow is cross country day and the four-star entrants will leave the start box first, beginning at 9:15 AM. As always, EN will be here to bring you along for the ride.

LRK3DE: [Website] [5* Times] [5* Scores] [4* Times] [4* Scores] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Tickets] [EN’s Form Guide] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Ultimate Guide]

[Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage of the 2023 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event]

Want more LRK3DE info each day during competition? Sign up for the free LRK3DE Daily Digest email, which will be sent each day through Monday, May 1. Find all of EN’s latest coverage, sponsor promotions and discounts, chances to win daily giveaways, and much more! Click here to sign up.

Liz Halliday-Sharp Leads Lexington CCI4*-S Dressage Day One

By on Apr 27, 2023 3:40 pm -

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Nutcracker. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Competition at 2023 edition of the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian officially kicked off this morning with the first half of competitors in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S performing their dressage tests for Bobby Stevenson (USA) at C and Helen Brettel (GBR) at E. A familiar name — Liz Halliday-Sharp — leads the division at the conclusion of today’s 4* tests but her mount, Cooley Nutcracker, is a newer name on the eventing scene in the U.S.

Owned by the Nutcracker Syndicate (which consists of Liz, Deborah Halliday, Ocala Horse Properties, and Renee Lane) “Bali” is one of the most recent additions to Liz’s string of competitions horses, having just been acquired and imported in March of last year by way of his previous rider, France’s Astier Nicholas, who rode the gelding to a top 20 finish in the 7-year-old championship, which is set at the CCI3*-L, at the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships at Mondial du Lion.

“It was an exciting opportunity to find a nice young horse that maybe hadn’t quite won the world yet, which made him possible to acquire, to be honest,” Liz said.

“I know that Astier really believed in him, and so did we. It’s taken some training, and we still have a ways to go, but I really believe in him. I think he’s a five-star horse; I think he’s a team horse too.”

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Nutcracker. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Liz and Bali wasted no time starting their stateside campaign off with a bang: in their first seven competitions together they placed no lower than second, winning their first CCI3*-L together last summer at The Event at Rebecca Farm and then winning their Advanced debut at the Park Equine Kentucky Classique. The partnership that Liz has been able to build with the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Tolant R —  Ballyshan Cleopatra, by Cobra) has been key to their early successes as well as their leaderboard topping score today — a 24.5, a personal best for Bali at the Advanced/4* level.

“I think a lot of it with him is the teamwork and him trusting me, and the more that goes along, the better he is. Today was proof of that because this would have been huge atmosphere for him, and not long ago, he would have been very spooky. So he just really fought for me today. I’m totally thrilled. Today he was the best he’s ever been in the biggest atmosphere he’s ever seen. So this for me is showing everyone what this horse is going to be, and that’s so exciting.”

Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

One of the final pairs to enter at A this morning, Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California, took over second place on the leaderboard by delivering a test worthy of a 27.6 — a nice improvement over their score of 31.5 in this class last year.

While Tamie had initially entered the 2-year-old Silla Argentino mare (Casparo — Solaguayre Calandria, by Casall) in the marquee class for this weekend, she later decided to run her in the 4*-S instead. There’s no doubt that the 2022 Morven Park CCI4*-L winner has talent in spades, but Tamie opted to give their partnership just a little more time to develop before they step up to the highest level, which they now plan to do later this spring at Luhmühlen.

“I think [the four-star] course would actually suit her probably a little bit better,” Tamie said, “but she’s greener and she needs more atmosphere exposure, so we decided that that would probably be a better avenue for her.”

Prior to being imported by owners David and Julianne Guariglia, Solaguayre California show jumped at the 1.35m level in her native Argentina and then began evening under the tutelage of fellow California-based event rider David Adamo before Tamie took over the ride at the Preliminary level.

“As anybody knows, it takes time to develop a partnership … but I feel like she really fights for me now. She just keeps trying. It’s funny, because the warm up — she can be quite naughty, but she always goes in the ring and she knows she enters at A and she just knows it’s a stage. So I’m grateful for that.”

Colleen Loach and Vermont. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Squeaking in sub-30 for third place are Canadian pair Colleen Loach and Vermont, scoring a 28.9. The towering 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Van Helsing — Haptstutbuch Hollywood, by Heraldik xx) owned by Peter Barry didn’t quite meet their leading mark of 24.5 in this division here last year, but Colleen was nevertheless very pleased with his performance.

“He felt super in the trot work, great down the centerline, then when I walked, I heard a horse call from the warmup and he heard it too and he’s very reactive to that sort of thing. So he called back and then he got a little bit of tension as well. Then when we picked up the canter, he was very rideable and stayed with me.”

Colleen and “Monty” have had a long-standing partnership, having been together since the gelding was a four-year-old. The pair was selected to represent Canada at the World Championships last fall, but sadly the gelding aggravated some scar tissue in his final prep run at Bromont and the pair didn’t make the trip to Pratoni. Despite the disappointment, the veteran competitor is simply grateful to have her big chestnut happy, healthy, and ready to rock this year.

Twenty-five more pairs will finish out the 4*-S division tomorrow. Friday’s first down the centerline at 8:00 AM sharp will be reining USEF CCI3*-L National Champions Elisa Wallace and Renkum Corsair. For now here’s a look at your top 10 in this division. Stay tuned for the scoop on the 5* later this afternoon and go eventing!

LRK3DE: [Website] [5* Dressage Times] [5* Scores] [4* Dressage Times] [4* Scores] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Tickets] [EN’s Form Guide] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Ultimate Guide]

[Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage of the 2023 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event]

Want more LRK3DE info each day during competition? Sign up for the free LRK3DE Daily Digest email, which will be sent each day through Monday, May 1. Find all of EN’s latest coverage, sponsor promotions and discounts, chances to win daily giveaways, and much more! Click here to sign up.

Tuesday Video: Now THIS is a Gallop Track

By on Apr 25, 2023 4:00 pm -

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Before we (gleefully) bombard your feed with everything #LRK3DE the rest of this week, let’s take a look at something a little different for this afternoon’s video. Go fetch yourself a napkin, because you’re about to drool over this gallop track.

Nestled in the southeast suburbs of Melbourne, Australia is Cranbourne, home to the Cranbourne Racecourse and Cranbourne Training Complex. The Training Complex is the largest Thoroughbred training facility in the southern hemisphere, boasting numerous courses and tracks, a swimming pool and treadmills, and perhaps the most enviable thing of all: the sand hill gallop track. This gallop track is no ordinary gallop track. It winds through the Australian vegetation, up and down a hill, offering equine athletes (and riders alike, I’m sure) a welcome respite from galloping ’round in circles.

Now if you’re wondering why we don’t have anything like this in America (that this author knows of, at least!), let me explain why by way of a little natural history tangent. The Cranbourne Training Complex has the geology of Melbourne area to thank for this gem. The sand hills that characterize the region are a product of millions-year-old dune fields which existed around the same time as the last great Ice Age. The sand around Cranbourne (aptly named Cranbourne sand) was well sought after in the 1800s and mined for use in urbanizing the Melbourne area as as surface soil for lawns, playing fields, and golf courses. In fact the site of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, which borders the Cranbourne Training Complex directly to the south, was previously a sand mine until 1970. Cranbourne sand and the layers of other sands and soils underneath create a fantastically well-draining footing.

But I digress! Natural history not your thing? Just enjoy ride aboard “Ironpot” along with Max Keenan, exercise ride for Price Kent Racing, in all its scenic glory.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Apr 22, 2023 12:01 am -

Coming in hot — we’ve got another exciting giveaway for you leading up to the Kentucky Three-Day Event! This one is for those who’ll be in attendance at the event, because the prize is a one-on-one meet and greet with Hawley Bennett Awad and super mare Jollybo! (I guess that technically makes it a one-on-two, doesn’t it?) And that’s not all, the winner will also receive a beautiful Vespucci Double Raised Halter from our friends at World Equestrian Brands! Ready to enter? Here’s how.

U.S. Weekend Action:

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

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

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

River Glen Spring H.T. (New Market, TN) [Website] [Entries / Ride Times / Scoring]

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

Links to Start Your Weekend:

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

A Friendship With Wofford That Will Live Forever

Alcohol and Amateurs

Meet Liz Halliday-Sharp’s Miks Master C

New Vocations’ Popular Open Barn Event Set For April 28

Want more LRK3DE info each day during competition? Sign up for the free LRK3DE Daily Digest email, which will be sent each day beginning Tuesday, April 25 through Monday, May 1. Find all of EN’s latest coverage, sponsor promotions and discounts, chances to win daily giveaways, and much more! Click here to sign up.

Sponsor Corner: Look what we made on the World Equestrian Brands Configurator tool! It’s like dress up, but for equestrians. Create the E.A. Mattes saddle pad of your dreams 😍 You can even choose the color of the horse! What colors should we do next?

Morning Viewing: One week from today we’ll all be watching Kentucky cross country! Make sure you’ve got your streaming sorted out, and mark your calendar for NBC’s coverage as well!

#TrainingTipTuesday Video: Improve Your Dressage Position

By on Apr 18, 2023 3:00 pm -

I think as event riders we focus so, so much on jump position and gallop position — and for good reason! These positions are obviously key to success and safety in this sport — but at times we can be found guilty of overlooking the importance of the first phase as we pursue our quests to become better jump jockeys and more efficient gallopers. That include de-prioritizing improving our positions when we’re in a dressage saddle.

We’ve shared many of dressage rider Amelia Newcomb‘s YouTube videos here on Eventing Nation. While she’s not an eventer, I’ve found the simple exercises and explanations that she shares in her videos to be a hugely helpful tool in my own riding as a one-horse adult amateur who doesn’t doesn’t get a lot of saddle time.

Amelia got the chance to give a lecture at the FEI Dressage World Cup in Omaha last week to explain the importance of rider position and ways to improve it. Take this video as a sign to take back your position when you’re riding on the flat and become just as confident and connected in your flatwork as you are in your jump and gallop positions.

Plus, how can scrambling eggs help your riding? Find out at 31:07.

Video: First Peek at the 2023 LRK3DE 5* Course

By on Apr 17, 2023 5:00 pm -

We are just over a week away from the 2023 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian and it’s time for one one of our favorite lead-up moments: we finally get a course preview!

Join course designer Derek di Grazia and technical delegate Philip Surl for a ‘lil walkabout and get a peek at some of the biggest parts of the five-star course and key complexes including:

  • The MARS Sustainability Bay (4ABC)
  • The Park Question (6ABC), which comes early in the course and is jumped the opposite direction from last year.
  • The Equestrian Events Trifecta (8ABC), a new combination this year consisting of a massive triple bar, table, and corner.
  • Pete’s Hollow (12ABC), which this year features three massive fallen logs.
  • The Defender Head of the Lake (16, 17, 18), where riders will drop in over a log on the left side of the lake this year, and on the way out they jump up over the bank in the middle and over a corner tucked beside a tree.

One big question remains, however: where on the course is that corgi jump?!

Want more LRK3DE info each day during competition? Sign up for the free LRK3DE Daily Digest email, which will be sent each day beginning Tuesday, April 25 through Monday, May 1. Find all of EN’s latest coverage, sponsor promotions and discounts, chances to win daily giveaways, and much more! Click here to sign up.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Apr 15, 2023 12:01 am -

 

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Through his legendary course walks, his always-anticipated Chronicle of the Horse preview column, and of course his own great achievements, Jimmy Wofford became very much synonymous with the Kentucky Three-Day Event. It’s therefore only fitting that his memory be honored there this year, the first Kentucky without his earthly presence. A celebration of his life and legacy will be held on Thursday, April 27th from 6-8 PM at Spindletop Hall, just across the road from the Horse Park — and while this is an invitation only private event, we’ll all certainly be feeling the impact of Jimmy’s legacy all week, especially when we’re walking that big, tough cross country course. Take a moment to think of this sporting great as you stand at the Head of the Lake, too.

U.S. Weekend Action

FENCE H.T. (Tryon, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

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

Plantation Field Horse Trials (Coatesville, PA) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Poplar Place April H.T. (Hamilton, GA) [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]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

A Bid for Bitless in FEI Competition

Graceful Transitions in Life and Riding

Bulking Up: Does Your Horse Need to Gain Weight, Muscle, or Both?

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Combats EHV-1

Daily giveaways, sponsor promotions and discounts, the latest and greatest info: Sign up for the free LRK3DE Daily Digest email.

Sponsor Corner: Did you know that each Amerigo saddle has its own identity code? This serial number can tell you everything from the seat size to when it was manufactured. Learn how to read yours here.

Morning Viewing: This is the most eventer-y barn hack I think I’ve ever seen.

 

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Cheers to an Impending Return to 5* for Stella Artois

By on Apr 11, 2023 9:00 am -

Jennie Saville and Stella Artois finish up their final Kentucky prep at Stable View. Photo by Shelby Allen.

After a top placing at the inaugural Maryland Five Star in 2021, the absence of Stella Artois during the following competition season was keenly felt. The striking dark bay mare owned by the Stella Artois Syndicate is one of Jennie Saville (neé Brannigan)’s top horses, one she’s produced since the Novice level, and together they had achieved Jennie’s highest five-star placing so far in her career, finishing fourth overall and the second highest placed American combination.

Even after a triumphant clear showing, Jennie felt a tug of concern for “Toddie’s” right front tendons after the competition, but scans of both front legs immediately following Maryland – a routine practice for Jennie’s horses after any big event – appeared fine and Jennie sent the mare off on her normal postseason vacation.

It was the following spring during Toddie’s first jump school in preparation for the final running of Red Hills when Jennie felt something was not quite right. She and her team had already begun bringing the mare back from her vacation and she looked good as they brought her back into work. Toddie had spent the early part of 2022 in training with Silva Martin and at a planned dressage-only outing at the Ocala Winter I Horse Trials she and Jennie scored a stellar 23.2 in a Preliminary test.

“She’s a pretty stoic horse,” Jennie says. “I have to really pay attention to how she feels, because she won’t show anything and then something like [Boekelo] will happen.”

Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

When we talk about tough event mares, we can count Stella Artois, a 15-year-old Hannoverian mare (Satisfaction FRH – Comtessa, by Contender), amongst the toughest. Jennie cites the Boekelo Nations Cup in 2019, as an example. The mare jumped a beautiful clear show jumping round to finish out the competition, despite elimination on the cross country the day before (this event was used as a test event for the new Olympic format, thus Jennie and Toddie were able to jog and jump the following day). After the competition it was discovered she had jumped that round with a ruptured muscle.

This time, just ahead of her 2022 season debut, Toddie actually showed just enough of that ‘not-quite-rightness’ for Jennie to feel that something was up. Scans revealed a tendon injury in the left front leg and her 2022 season ended before it began.

“I’m a big believer in horses getting breaks,” says Jennie. For her that always includes a generous postseason vacation period as well as an ample amount of time off for injury.

“I think a lot of people do a lot of therapies thinking they’ll get they’re horse back fast,” Jennie says. While Toddie did respond well to the Artemis Class 4 Cold Equine Therapy Laser, a therapy that Jennie says she’s seen great results with, she always considers time to be the greatest healer of all.

“Once they get hurt I’m like, ‘OK, I’m not gonna see them for a year,’” says Jennie.

Many of Jennie’s competition horses enjoy their vacations and time off at long-time supporters Nina and Tim Gardner’s farm in Pennsylvania, where they are tended to by Karen Hokanson, who treats them like her children. Jennie says she and Karen share the same philosophy when it comes to allowing horses to heal: slow and steady wins the race.

You could argue that ‘slow and steady wins the race’ applies to Jennie’s perspective on competing as well.

Jennie’s aim is to set her horses up for success at the big goal events, not to win as many horse trials as possible – a mistake she says she sees some of today’s young riders making which results in over-running their horses, but Jennie is quick to admit that she made similar mistakes at that age as well.

Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois. Photo by Abby Powell.

Even when she first sat on Stella Artois as a 5-year-old at Philipp Kolossa’s in Germany, Jennie knew she’d be a bit of a tricky horse for her, but she fell in love regardless.

“The second I saw her I thought, ‘Oh wow, she’s amazing. This is the nicest horse I’ve ever found,’” Jennie recalls. “I knew this horse is too big for me and she’s going to be strong, but I love her. Her gallop is amazing and it’s very easy on itself. I wanted a horse that could gallop and could gallop easily.”

Though Toddie is a great galloper – even at 40% blood – her long back puts some extra stress on her body when she lands from a fence. Because of those hard landings and also because of how strong she is across the country, Jennie is careful to pick and choose the events that she lets the mare go all out for.

“I never take Stella to any horse trials trying to be competitive,” Jennie says. “I like to event my horses less frequently and I choose to go slower at [national] events.”

Last month, Stella Artois made her return to competition after the careful rest and rehab for that tendon injury over a year ago. Jennie first took her for an easy spin around the Open Preliminary at Rocking Horse Winter III Horse Trials followed by a showing at Carolina International in the CCI3*-S, adding only those planned cross country time penalties at both events. They then contested the CCI4*-S at Stable View last weekend, again solely adding cross country time penalties to their score, as their final preparatory event before heading to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, where we look forward to cheering them on in Toddie’s return to the five-star level.

Monday Video: The Jackie Chan Horse Movie You Didn’t Know You Needed

By on Apr 10, 2023 3:05 pm -

We’ve got something a little different for you this week to end your Monday. It may not be eventing-related, but I think we can totally get away with filing it under ‘insanity in the middle’.

Whether you’re a Jackie Chan fan or a light-hearted horse movie fan (or both — then you’ll really enjoy this), you’re in for a treat thanks to the latest Chan flick, Ride On, which hit theaters this past weekend. Full disclosure, I haven’t yet seen the film myself but the trailer did certainly make me chuckle!

Ride On is a family-friendly film that follows an aging stunt man looking to make a comeback and save his beloved horse, Red Hare, from repossession by training him to do stunts as well. Described as “gently meta” by Variety, the film repurposes footage of big-ticket stunts from prior Chan films as flashbacks to the character’s glory days. It’s as much of an homage to the stunt industry (and the dangerous career path of stunt men and women) as it is to the legendary career of Chan.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Apr 8, 2023 12:01 am -

Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

We’re sending our best wishes for as speedy a recovery as possible to Kristin Schmolze, who is recovering from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained while hand walking a horse last month. As is the case with TBIs, recovery is a long slow process and overexerting oneself too soon can really delay recovery. Kristin is therefore looking to add some reliable and experienced help around her farm while she is sidelined.

If you’re local to the Watkinsville, GA area and are looking for a gig with the potential to turn into something longer-term, get in touch with Kristin via her email or her good friend Robyn Ford’s email. Robyn has also set up a GoFundMe for Kristin to help with her business expenses during her recovery.

Take care of yourself, Kristin, we are thinking of you!

U.S. Weekend Action:

Stable View Spring 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring] [Course Preview] [EN’s Coverage]

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

Pine Hill Spring H.T (Belleville, 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:

Frankie Thieriot Stutes: One Horse and One Woman Wonder

Big smiles as five-star stalwart returns to eventing after injury: ‘Like putting on a pair of old slippers’

Providing Horses Relief During Allergy Season

Horses and their naturally occurring asthma a valuable research model

Introducing an Aggressive Horse in a New Herd: The Do’s and Don’ts

Sponsor Corner: Cornelia Dorr was flying high in her Sergio Grasso boots from World Equestrian Brands at the USEA Development Team Training sessions.

Morning Viewing: Laura Collett has a couple for tips for introducing your horse to skinny fences. More where this came from in her H&C+ Masterclass!

Monday Video: Two TerraNova Cross Country Helmet Cams

By on Apr 3, 2023 5:00 pm -

What a blessed Monday indeed when we have not one, but two great helmet cams to share with you! Both videos today come from the cross country at The Event at TerraNova this past weekend. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been oogling over the beautifully decorated fences that TerraNova touts — now we can get our own between the ears glimpse!

Our first video (above) comes from Lainey Ashker aboard Lovedance, a seven-year-old Warmblood mare owned by the Lovedance Syndicate who is making her Intermediate debut. And an excellent debut at the level it was — the pair finished second place in the Open Intermediate division.

Below, we get to ride along with Stephanie Jackson and her nine-year old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Fernhill Quality Vision, as they conquer the CCI1*-S course to the tune of the double clear round, finishing barely outside the top ten in a very large class.

Enjoy the ride(s)!

The Event at TerraNova (Myakka City, FL) [Website] [Results][En’s Coverage]

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Apr 1, 2023 12:01 am -

Remember the dark ages when live streams were rarely a thing? First we’d simply get to enjoy only the largest events. A few years later on we’d count ourselves lucky if we got to watch maybe one live stream every other month. Now, particularly during the height of the competition season, we’re spoiled by coverage nearly every weekend it feels like! It’s amazing, considering the enormous undertaking it that running a live stream entails — just remember that whenever you’re lamenting the fact that a particular event doesn’t have one!

U.S. Weekend Action:

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

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

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

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

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

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Ideas for Adult Horse Camp!

In Face Of Equine Vet Shortage, Virginia Tech To Launch Emergency Services Support Team

Genes in Thoroughbreds linked to coping ability identified in study

Too Little, Too Much? Protein Balance in the Equine Diet

Hind Shoes Improve Hind Limb Movement, Might Reduce Lameness

Sponsor Corner: We know you don’t want to hear this but… the flies are coming back. The good news is that you can prepare for their return with the Equilibrium Field Relief Fly Sheet from World Equestrian Brands. This sheet is perfect for uber sensitive horses, as it features a belly wrap, neck, and stretch hood.

Morning Viewing: Not subscribed to Piggy TV? No worries this weekend! Piggy is sharing free access to her Thoresby 4*-S course walk this weekend. Find it here!

Monday Video: Primmore’s Pride Takes Kentucky 2003

By on Mar 27, 2023 4:30 pm -

Get ready for a walk down memory lane with one of the all-time greats. After the passing of Primmore’s Pride last week, one of our very favorite YouTube channels, vintageeventing, has upload a fantastic video wherein Pippa Funnell narrates her rides in all phases of the competition as she and “Kiri” clinch the first leg of the Rolex Grand Slam by winning the then Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2003.

Kiri was a mount tailor-made for long-format eventing as Pippa explains, and you’ll see exactly why as the pair tackle endurance day on their road to victory. I almost don’t want to spoil the exact ending for you, as if any eventing fanatic reading this doesn’t know the story. But if for some reason you don’t, just know that it’s a tense finish and even the greatest riders of our time have watch malfunctions.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Mar 25, 2023 12:01 am -

Exciting news out of Vermont’s Green Mountain Horse Associate (GMHA)! In addition to offering $10,000 in prize money at this August’s big event, their annual GMHA Festival of Eventing, the event will offer a new Modified course and will also run on a new schedule. Beginner Novice through Preliminary levels will now run over Friday, Saturday and Sunday while the FEI classes and the Intermediate national division will have dressage and show jumping on Friday followed by cross country on Saturday. This means that not only will the lower- and mid-levels get to experience a traditional three-day event format (not to be confused with the classic long-format) but everyone riding in these divisions will also get to stick around and spectate the upper level divisions. Sounds like a really fun weekend to me! Keep your eye on the USEA Calendar entry and the GMHA website for more details.

U.S. Weekend Action:

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, TX): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

March Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Ocala, FL): [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

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

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Equine Injury Database Finds Record Year for Safety

Equine Residences: Turning a Passion for Horses into a Barn-Designing Career

Can Nutrition Help a Horse Shed?

Hot on Horse Nation: Highlighting the Story Stables Podcast

Sponsor Corner: Zoe Crawford Eventing and Zara are flying down banks with style. Zoe loves her World Equestrian Brand’s Amerigo saddle to keep her secure and in place.

Morning Viewing: Nothing to see here, just a bridle less four-star horse!

Monday Video: Bettina Hoy and Silva Martin Mic’d Up at Bruce’s Field

By on Mar 20, 2023 4:30 pm -

The EN team is in agreement here: we could listen to mic’d up lessons all day long (so keep ’em coming!)

Here we have a really great treat in getting to listen in as Boyd Martin is coached through his dressage warm-up aboard Fedarman B at the $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field by not one, but two German dressage coaches!

Wife Silva Martin was joined by Olympian Bettina Hoy in telling Boyd to keep his hands down and elbows unlocked. Isn’t it nice to know that even the pros still hear some of the same things that us plebeians do in our own lessons day-to-day? If you pick up anything from this video, I think it’s proof indeed that the building blocks of riding stay the same all the way up the levels. Isn’t that a heartening though at you stay the course on the quest to keep your shoulders back?

Thank you Boyd, Bettina, and Silva for sharing!

GPE at Bruce’s Field: GPE Website, H&C+ Livestream Replay, EN’s Coverage

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Mar 20, 2023 12:01 am -

She’s going out with a bang: Vanir Kamira retires from the five-star level as the reigning Burghley champion. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.

Though we knew this day was coming, it still brings a little tear to our eyes knowing that we officially won’t see “Tilly Bean” eating up another five-star course. Over the weekend, Piggy March and owner Trevor Dickens announced that the gutsy mare Vanir Kamira would be retired from the five-star level while she is still at the top of her game.

While we’ll miss seeing the pair contest Badminton this spring, we wholeheartedly salute the masterful horsemanship that Piggy and Trevor demonstrate and we look forward to seeing Tilly Bean romping around the national levels!

National Holiday: As of 5:24 PM ET today, it’s officially spring!

U.S. Weekend Results:

SRF Carolina International CCI and H.T. (Hoke County, NC) [Website] [Results] [EN’s Coverage]

Ocala Winter II (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Results]

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

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

Monday News & Notes:

The big show jumping competition at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event is looking to get bigger. The last few years have featured CSI3* show jumping competition on Friday and Saturday evenings. In conjunction with the 2024 event, Equestrian Events International is looking to host a CSI5* and are requesting proposals from interested managing parties. [CSI 5 STAR RFP]

40-year-old mom of four meets 18-year-old lesson horse. It’s an eventing love story for the ages! Two years later, the adult re-rider and the aged OTTB are tackling recognized events together and showing us all that age is just a number and that love for the horse, the sport, and the people that make it possible are everything. [Now On Course: A 20-Year-Old OTTB Helps an Adult Amateur Find Eventing]

Today in creepy and only tangentially eventing-related news, two bodies were found in a portion of wooded property belonging to Bouckaert Farm of Chattahoochee Hills Eventing. The bodies are currently unidentified, but the discovery comes after two local best friends and business partners missing were reported missing weeks ago. [2 bodies found at Bouckaert Farm in Chattahoochee Hills]

Good news for vet students interested in equine practice: Merck Animal Health has renewed its scholarship program managed through The Foundation for the Horse and will award a $5,000 scholarship to five outstanding third year veterinary students intending to make a career in equine practice. Veterinary students may be enrolled at a college of veterinary medicine in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean or Europe. The application deadline is April 15, so get on it! [Merck Animal Health Renews Scholarship Support for Equine Veterinary Students Through The Foundation for the Horse]

The FutureTrack Follow:

Click here if the embedded video above does not display in your browser.

If you followed along with SRF Carolina International on their Instagram, then you probably caught glimpses of a pretty incredible painting in progress of last year’s winner, Will Coleman and DonDante.The talented artist behind that canvas is Larissa Ann, the artist in residence who painted live in the Carolina Club over the weekend. Give her a follow grace your feed with her original paintings!

Morning Viewing: Catch some clips from the Cordelia Family Foundation CCI3*-S cross country at Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International:

Liz Halliday-Sharp Claims CCI3*-S + More from SRF Carolina International FEI Finale

By on Mar 18, 2023 9:06 pm -

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Liz Halliday-Sharp was wire-to-wire with Cooley Be Cool, owned by Ocala Horse Properties and The Monster Partnership, to clinch the title of the Cordelia Family Foundation CCI3*-S. “Dave,” a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Heritgae Fortunus — HHS Carlota), wasn’t the fastest of the group, but his 23.1 dressage result gave him plenty of breathing room for the 1.2 time penalties he picked up today, all of which were in Liz’s plan to prioritize rideability and control for the gelding’s first run back since an injury last spring.

“Cooley Be Cool hasn’t had a run since last summer and he felt totally world class. He was just brilliant. I knew that I had a bit of time in hand so I wasn’t necessarily trying to make the time, but I wanted to be quick enough to win. And I wanted to test the brakes out because I was completely out of control at the four-long at Tryon. So we kind of re-jigged that this year. He found it easy and everything in stride. He’s just such a class horse and I think he’s even better than anyone knows he is,” Liz said.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Nutcracker. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Her first ride of the day on Cooley Nutcracker gave her key insights on the three-star track, adding 3.6 time penalties as Liz focused on efficiency with the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Tolant R — Ballyshan Cleopatra, by Cobra). They round out the top five in this division.

Caroline Martin and HSH Double Sixteen. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Caroline Martin clinched both second and third place on a pair of 8-year-old geldings both under the Hutchinson Sport Horse moniker. Her top ride today, HSH Double Sixteen, is a relatively new mount — she took over the ride last year from Leila Barker, who produced the full Thoroughbred (Robin Des Pres — Azaria) since he came off the track as a five-year-old in Ireland. This is just their third competition together and Caroline has nothing but great things to say about their biggest weekend together yet, which saw them finish on their dressage score of 28.6.

“He was fabulous in the dressage this weekend. He’s finally learning how to do extended trot, which I’m so proud about. Cross-country, he’s a little machine. He’s a little bit unorthodox in his jump and he doesn’t have a massive step because he’s only like 15.2, but he’s very brave. It’s just fun to ride quality horses that love their job,” she said.

Caroline Martin and HSH Blake. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It really was an excellent day in the office for Caroline, who also rode HSH Blake to a double clear round finishing one-tenth of a penalty point behind his stablemate. This was the Irish Sport Horse’s (Tolan R – Doughiska Lass) first outing since the pair’s tenth place finish in the 7-year-old FEI Eventing World Breeding Championships at Le Lion last fall.

“I didn’t feel like he needed to go out until now because he’s pretty experienced at the three-star level, so my idea was just to go out and give him a nice ride. I wasn’t really chasing the clock, I just wanted a nice positive ride,” Caroline told us. “I just know him so well; I’ve had him since he was a five-year-old, so it’s nice to ride a horse that you produce from the beginning. I don’t even have to think, I just kind of stand up in two-point and steer him at all the jumps.”

Allison Springer and No May Moon. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Allison Springer and No May Moon, a feisty Connemara cross owned by Nancy Winter, earn fourth place after a speedy round collected just 1.2 time penalties. Allison and the 9-year-old mare (Catherston Dazzler — Ebony Moon) finish with a score of 29.7.

Dom Schramm was a wall-to-wall winner in the Breezeway Sporthorse and Diagnostic Clinic/Friendship Mobile Veterinary Imaging and Sports Medicine CCI2*-S with his exciting up-and-coming ride Quadrocana. The 10-year-old Dutch Sport Horse mare (Quadrofino x Roxana II) has competed through the three-star level already in her career, but Dom made the decision to enter her in the two-star to increase her fitness before moving back up.

“Quadrocana is a class horse and, I’ll be honest, I had a lot of just niggly little bad luck last year. I felt like there was always just one itty bitty piece of the puzzle that always kind of went awry which prevented her from getting some really big results,” he said. “So I’m really happy that she finally pulled through and got the win. I feel like she’s deserved it for a while now.”

They finished on their dressage score of 22.7.

Caroline Martin was second aboard her own and Sherrie Martin’s Redfield Champion. The 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Diarado x Calinka) was just one second too slow, but his final score of 24.8 was still enough for second place.

Fenix Rouge Du Claux claimed third for rider Doug Payne. The  8-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Chef Rouge x Pixie Queen), owned by Anna Antrobuis, finished on his dressage score of 25.8.

Caroline Martin and Cascadella 8. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Caroline Martin claimed yet another top finish, this time in the CCI1*-S. She won the class with Cascadella 8, an 8-year-old German mare (Cascadello I x Chaluna, by Ciacomo), who previously as an International show jumper. In her first FEI eventing appearance, she finished on her dressage score of 28.3 with only 3.6 time penalties added.

Click here to catch up on the Yanmar America CCI4*-S final report.

Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International: [Website] [Schedule] [Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Form Guide] [Volunteer]
 Veronica Green-Gott contributed to this report. 

LIVE UPDATES: Yanmar America CCI4*-S at SRF Carolina International

By on Mar 18, 2023 11:38 am -

We know that the 2023 Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International, presented by Lumbee River Membership Corporation plays a very important role in the preparation of horse and rider for big long format events later this spring. So let’s treat this, our viewing of this event, as a test run for us remote spectators as well!

For example, where will you be and what will you be doing when you’re following along with Kentucky next month? Say you’ll be cozied up on your couch watching the live stream. Well, what are you waiting for? Get yourself all snug and pull up  Horse & Country TV (you can save 15% off an annual subscription here using code EVENTINGNATION15 – the code is case-sensitive – this weekend only! Or you can also purchase a one-time viewing pass for this event for $19.99) and give yourself a little test run.

Or perhaps you’ll be out and about mucking stalls, hacking your own horses, or maybe even competing this weekend yourself. We’ve got you covered too! Keep it locked right here and practice refreshing this page every few minutes for live updates on the Yanmar America CCI4*-S followed by the Advanced division.

For a detailed look at Ian Stark‘s four-star course, make sure you check out our course preview right here featuring an up-close look at each fence on course. Horses and riders will tackle 36 jumping efforts over an optimum time of 6 minutes 33 seconds with the first pair leaving the start box at 11:48 a.m. 

Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Ride Times] [Order of Go] [Live Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Form Guide] [Volunteer]

2:30 PM: That’s a wrap on our live updates for today! The CCI2*-S and CCI1*-S still have yet to run cross country today, so if you’re in the mood to enjoy some more live action just head on over to Horse & Country TV. Thanks for following along with us and make sure to stay tuned for the full cross country report and photos from the team here at EN.

2:24 PM: He sure has! Andrew and Ferrie’s Cello clock the second fastest time of the day and add just 0.8 time penalties to their score. That means they steal first and Ariel will sit second and third with Diara and Cabelle, respectively. Now don’t forget, this division still has showing jumping to come tomorrow. Here’s where things currently stand:

2:23 PM: And here are Andrew and Ferrie’s Cello over the last and through the finish… and we get a thumbs up!

2:22 PM: Andrew and Ferrie’s Cello are looking super. No problems as they approach the last water. Tracey and Reg the Ledge finished with 12 time faults. Tim and Monbeg Libertine finish with 14 time faults.

2:19 PM: OK, we have our last pair on course now, Andrew McConnon and Ferrie’s Cello, who could take the lead! They have 3 penalty points of breathing room over Ariel and Diara. They’re clear through the coffin already!

2:18 PM: Brittany and Cooley Almighty collected 14.8 time faults, which means they’ll slot into 7th for now instead of taking over the lead. No problems for Tim and Monbeg Libertine through the coffin.

2:15 PM: Here’s Tracey Bienemann and Reg the Ledge into the first water, you’re welcome:

2:13 PM: Leah and AP Prime finished clear with 14.0 time faults. Brittany is clear through the last water and running home. We’ve got our second to last pair also out on course: Tim Bourke and Monbeg Libertine.

2:11 PM: Brittany gets tipped forward on landing at the drop into the first water, but easily regains her balance and the pair continues on cleanly. Now we also have a super cute paint joining us on course: Tracey Bienemann and the flashy Reg the Leg.

2:11 PM: Big pats from Brittany for Cooley Almighty after the coffin. Leah and AP Prime make the last water complex look like a piece of cake.

2:08 PM: It was a fast round for Ariel and Diara (and a lovely one for the young mare!) but the addition of 4.8 time faults leaves the door open for either Andrew McConnon and his next ride Ferrie’s Cello or Brittany Crandall and Cooley Almighty, who are now on course, to take the lead if they go fast.

2:07 PM: Ariel gets a gorgeous stride to the ditch-wall ahead of the last water complex and then has no issues through the rest of the course.

2:05 PM: Here’s Ariel and Diara through the coffin:

2:04 PM: Christina and ZTH Zest are safely home with that stop plus time to add. Leah Lang-Gluscic and her veteran partner AP Prime leave the start box.

2:03 PM: Ariel Grald is now back on course, this time with the mare leading the division: Diara. They’re clear so far through 8ABC.

2:02 PM: Oh no!!! Christina was having such a great round, but ZTH Zest appeared to back off a couple strides out from the drop into the last water and slides right into it, getting a facefull of brush, but — wow — they put their brave pants on and come around to again and get it done.

2:00 PM: That was a really super round for Booli and Lance! They came in just one second over time and add 0.4 faults to their score. That means they now sit in second place!

1:59 PM: Woo! Through the last water for Booli and Lance. Lance seems to think the final brush element is too small for him and skims over it. Christina looks like she’s having a nice ride so far and was super smooth through the coffin.

1:57 PM: Christina Hendriksen and JTZ Zest have left the star box and Booli and “Lance” are easily through the Normandy Bank complex. Alex Baugh added a little over 20 time faults to her score.

1:54 PM: Alex Baugh was easy to spot through the coffin in her bright orange! Booi Selmayr and Millfield Lancado, a newly minted five-star pair as of Kentucky last year, set out on course. Allison and Vandyke finish clear with 11.6 time faults.

1:52 PM: Here is Allison and Vandyke through the first two fences of the final water. You can see that the Advanced takes the same drop in as the 4*, but then takes a different second fence instead of the bump on the mound out of the water:

1:51 PM: Our next starters, Alexandra Baugh and MHS Fernhill Finale hang with but still get 3 strides easily between 6A and B.

1:50 PM: Matthew’s horse is loose and has galloped past the commentator’s tent. Mia and Cashmere garnered a good chunk of time penalties but jumped clear. Allison and Vandyke are clear through the coffin and heading to the first water.

1:48 PM: Oh no!! It looked like Wellview Mister Lux might have stumbled through the ditch in the coffin and then Matthew tumbles off over the C element. Matthew is on his feet and looking alright.

1:46 PM: No problems for Mia and Cashmere through the bank complex. Also on course: Allison Springer and Vandyke.

1:44 PM: We also have Mia Braundel and Cashmere on course and already clear though the coffin. Erin and Campground blitzed through the course with the fastes time so far, gathering 4.0 time faults. Matthew Ulmer and Wellview Mister Lux are also now newly on course.

1:43 PM: Really nice round for Tim. He and Quality Time are clear also with 8.4 time penalties.

1:40 PM: Erin Kanara and the full Thoroughbred campground join us on course. Andrew and Wakita 54 were clear with 16.0 time faults. Ariel and Cabelle were also clear with time. She clocked 8.4 time penalties which opens up the door for …. herself! She remains the clubhouse leader for now, but could take the win on her other ride in this division, Diara.

1:39 PM: Big cheers for Tim and Quality time through the first water and double corners!

1:38 PM: Ariel and Cabelle are still looking smooth. Here they are through the last three elements of the top water complex:

1:36 PM: Tim Bourke and Quality Time leave the start box. Tim just recently returned to competition last month and breaking a few bones last year. He looks happy to be back! Ariel and Cabelle are clear through the coffin.

1:35 PM: Ariel looks like she has Cabelle in a nice rhythm, but doesn’t appear to be chasing the time. Looks can be deceiving when you ride so efficiently though, so we shall see! Andrew and Wakita 54 are clear through the water at the top of the course.

1:33 PM: Three strides for Cabelle through the 6AB rollmop to corner. Ariel hold the mare on her line nicely.

1:31 PM: No issues for Andrew and Wakita 54 through fence 9, and now for some early excitement: Now on course is Ariel Grald and Cabelle who lead this division!

1:28 PM: Aaaaad we are back with the Advanced! Riders in this division will tackle many of the questions as the 4*, with a few exceptions. You can find the course map here. We are kicking things off with Andrew McConnon who has two rides in the division. His first is Wakita 54.

1:10 PM: Well, that certainly was an exciting finish and a battle between two up-and-coming super stars. We now have a short break and then we’ll be back at 1:28 PM for the Advanced division. Here’s your top ten 4* finishers:

1:03 PM: He’s done it! Will and Chin Tonic HS finish BANG on the optimum time. That’s a third consecutive win at Carolina for Will, all on different horses, and a really incredible finish today on the record breaking dressage score of 19.4. Wowwwwww.

1:02 PM: Liz and Mickey finished just 2 second over for 0.8 time faults. Will and Chin are running home now…

1:01 PM: Whoooa, Will takes a pull at the fence on the bump out of the last water. They’re steady through the rest of the complex and nearly home. They only have a second over Liz to keep the lead, assuming she went double clear.

1:00 PM: Straight as an arrow for Will and Chin through the coffin:

12:59 PM: Fantastic ride for Liz and Mickey through the last water:

12:57 PM: Here we go, our leaders Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS are out of the box!

12:56 PM: We’ve got second-placed Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C on course and through the first 8 fences. Starr Witness doesn’t even blink at all the questions up at the last water. Boyd and Connor finish clear with 10-and-change time faults. That leaves Will Faudree and Pfun as the clubhouse leaders.

12:54 PM: No problem at all for Boyd and Connor through the last water. Starr Witness gives a little stutter step through the coffin for Doug, but they’re through pretty easily. Doug can breathe a sigh of relief now, as the coffin at the Lexington 4* last year brought them some grief!

12:51 PM: Boyd has to work a bit through the coffin, but Conner is game. They then make easy work of the first water and double corners.

12:50 PM: No problem for Boyd and “Connor” through the first ten fences. Doug Payne and Starr Witness now leave the start box. Doug has said he’s planning to ride “efficiently fast.”

12:48 PM: Another double clear! Professional round, indeed — Will and Pfun come in 2 seconds under time. They’ll finish no lower than 5th.

12:47 PM: Will and Pfun kick for the finish flags after an really professional round. Boyd is back for this final go of the division with Commando 3, a relatively new ride for him, with whom he sits in 4th place. Lindsay and Dreamy finish clear with 13.2 time faults.

12:44 PM: Some updates: Ariel Grald has withdrawn Leamore Master Plan. This was reportedly her plan just to do a combined test. We also did not see Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver, they may have withdrawn as well. Sydney Elliot and QC Diamantaire are our second double clear today! They’ll now take over from Doug and Quantum Leap as our clubhouse leaders with a score of 30.2.

12:42 PM: If Dreamy could have, I think he would have shouted “WHEEEEEEE!!!” as he skipped through everything at the final water. Will Faudree also now returns for his second ride of the day, this time on Pfun. Elisa and Caz finished clear with a good chunk of time.

12:41 PM: OK, Mary Bess Davis and Imperio Magic flew through the course so fast I missed them entirely! I must sincerely apologize for that and I’m also mad at myself because I think that horse is really fun to watch. They were clear with 6.4 time — third fastest so far.

12:39 PM: We’ve now got Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge on course — Lindsay gave “Dreamy” some encouragement into the drop into the first water, but they’re through easily. Sydney Elliot and the gorgeous QC Diamantaire are also on course and through 6AB.

12:36 PM: I’m way behind in relaying scores to you again now. Boyd and Miss Lulu Herself and well as Doug and Camarillo are both clear with time. I also can’t remember if I reported Will and Mama’s Magic Way score: they finished clear and with the second fastest time so far, picking up just 4.4 time faults. Meaghan and Palmer are home safely with that one uncharacteristic stop.

12:34 PM: Woo! Caz is leaving strides out all over the place! He bounced through the angled logs earlier and takes off long after the Normandy Bank. He’s looking super keen and Elisa is riding him so well.

12: 32 PM: Oh no! Palmer stops at the big drop into the water at 19A. Meaghan has to circle before trying it again and taking on the rest of the complex.

12:30 PM: Elisa and Renkum Corsair — last year’s 3* National Champions — are on course and Elisa has to work to get “Caz” through the flag at 6B.

12:29 PM: Here’s Maegan and Palmer through the first water with the double corners:

12:28 PM: Doug Payne and Camarillo are through the Normandy Bank, meanwhile Meghan O’Donoghue and Palm Crescent are clear through the first part of the course.

12:26 PM: Alright, let’s regroup here. We’ve got Boyd Martin and Miss Lulu herself furthest along on course. Boyd give her an amazing ride through the busy last water and the mare takes it all in stride. This is her first four-star and she’ll have gained heaps of confidence from that.

12:22 PM: Oh no, trouble again for Hayley Frielick and Dunedin Black Watch. They come in fast to the water at 13ABC and Hayley takes a tumble after the B element. That’s such a bummer.

12:20 PM: Aw darn, trouble for Lexi and Chico’s Man VDF Z. We didn’t see it, but the pair had stops at both the A and B elements of the coffin before continuing on. We then see Chico’s Man VDF Z skid to a stop at the top of the Normandy back. The pair are eliminated there.

12:18 PM: Oh no! Before we know it, Hayley Frielick and Dunedin Black Watch have a stop at the ditch in the coffin. Hailey has to turn without crossing her tracks, get her horse over the ditch, but then she has the option to go instead up the hill to the side and over an option fence.

12:14 PM: To give you an idea of how busy that last water is, Liz Halliday-Sharp had mentioned to our live stream commentator that if course designer Ian Stark had also put a fence in the water that would easily have turned it into a five-star question. Lexi Scovill and Chico’s Man VDF Z are also on course now and are in and out of the show jump field quickly. Allie and Morswoord picked up 10 time faults.

12:12 PM: Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way are on course and making their way through the second field. Allie rode beautifully through the busy last water complex.

12:09 PM: The coffin complex at Carolina is always exciting to watch and our H&C+ live stream gives us a great shot of it. Here’s Allie and Morswood:

12:07 PM: No problem for Allie through the roll top and brush corner at 6AB. Sara and Mr Cash were clear with 13.6 time faults.

12:05 PM: Here we go! Allie and Morswood are off!

12:03 PM: Sara and Mr Cash are through the finish flags after a super smooth round, from what I could see. There is currently nobody on course for some reason, but and Allie Knowles and Morswood are circling the start box.

12:01 PM: Sara and Mr Cash are looking great though the coffin and then the big drop-corner-corner at 13ABC. We also have a score update for Boyd and Doug: Boyd and Contessa have a steady ride and collect 13.2 time fault. Doug and Quantum Leap are our first couple clear! They’ve come in one second under the optimum time of 6:33.

11:59 AM: Bit of an awkward jump at 20B for Quantum Leap, but Doug kicks him on and they’re clear with three fences to go. Sara Kuhn and Mr Cash van de Start have left the start box.

11:56 AM: We get our first look at the field with the last water complex and wowee, there really is a lot to do! Boyd uses his experience to keep Contessa straight and on her lines, but I’m betting we’ll see some trouble here today. Doug and Quantum Leap clear through about half the course so far.

11:54 AM: Doug Payne and Quantum Leap join us on course now. Meanwhile Boyd and Contessa are through the coffin — Contessa took a little peek over the first element and Boyd looks back over his shoulder to see if the MIM clip was activated — it wasn’t.

11:53 AM: Boyd and Contessa make easy work of the early part of the course, including the first couple questions. He’s through 8ABC.

11:51 AM: Boyd and Contessa are out of the box and on course!

11:50 AM: Boyd Martin and Contessa are circling the box now. Remember, competitors will ride in reverse order of standing for maximum excitement, however, a few pairs will go out of order due to their placings. Boyd is one of those — he’s sitting 10th with this horse.

11:38 AM: Before the division gets underway, make sure you also check out this little video for a walk around the course and look at some of the fences up close! Plus, here’s the course map.

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Mar 18, 2023 12:01 am -

Photo via Allison Springer Eventing on Facebook.

It’s always nice to see improvements made at great events year after year and I think we all can agree that installing permanent bathrooms is truly one of the best ways to level-up everyone’s eventing experience. SRF Carolina International kissed the porta potties goodbye (not literally, God no) and recently installed a few porcelain thrones complete with some fine artwork decking the stalls. This is how you know you’ve really hit peak eventing fame, ladies and gents.

U.S. Weekend Action:

SRF Carolina International CCI and H.T. (Hoke County, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring] [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, CA) [Website] [Volunteer] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

Links to Start Your Weekend:

What’s At Stake With Social License?

Irish Eventing Olympian Jonty Evans Steps Into World of Para Dressage after Brain Injury

Boyd Martin And Phillip Dutton Cowboy Up

Risk factors for Thoroughbreds overheating identified in research

In The Face Of Climate Change, Experts Offer Tips For Making The Most Of Your Hay

Sponsor Corner: Now you can see what your custom Mattes products will look like as you design them! Because every equestrian needs a new tool to procrastinate… Spend hours designing your dream tack sets on the World Equestrian Brands Mattes Configurator.

Morning Viewing: Just some show jumping vibes from SRF Carolina International 🤩

Monday Video: McLain Ward Jumps to the Cusp of Rolex Grand Slam

By on Mar 13, 2023 3:00 pm -

McLain Ward and HH Azur rode the jump-off near the start of the order at the Dutch Masters Rolex Grand Prix, which means the rider had to hold his breath through 12 other starters to see if his time would hold. It did.

A blazing fast jump-off round that included a rollback turn so tight it will make your head spin meant that McLain and the 17-year-old Belgian Sport Horse mare (Thunder van de Zuuthoeve — Sion van de Zuuthoeve, by Sir Lui van de Zuuthoeve) have clinched two legs in a row of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. This win awards them a payout of 250,000 Euros and a chance at the ultimate honor (and even bigger prize money) by winning the Rolex Grand Slam if they can come out on top at the next leg of contest at CHIO Aachen in June.

Click here if the Instagram video embedded above does now display in your browser.

Check out the winning jump-off round above and watch the whole class on demand here with an H&C+ membership. Find the full class results here.

In case you missed Mclain’s first win counting toward the Rolex Grand Slam, you can watch his winning round from CHI Geneva below:

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Mar 11, 2023 12:01 am -

Photo via Travis Stratton on Facebook.

I think it’s actually quite difficult to capture the ginormousness of Advanced level cross country jumps in a photo or video. I remember walking up to an Advanced table for the first time in person years ago and though I knew the general dimensions, I recall being really astounded at how big it actually was in person. Therefore, I think all Advanced fences should have a ‘dog for scale’ reference photo taken before cross country day so that everyone following along remotely can properly appreciate the scope of these obstacles. I think this photo from Pine Top the other weekend shows exactly what I’m talking about!

U.S. Weekend Action:

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, GA): [Website] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

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

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

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

Links to Start Your Weekend:

Twin Rivers Overcomes Major Flooding To Host March Event; Smith Showcases New Stars

The VIP Volunteer: Dick Owen

The art of doing nothing: a jockey’s riding style can be a winning factor

Archaeologists Find Evidence of Earliest Known Horseback Riders

Coping strategies of stressed horses under investigation

Sponsor Corner: Why does Sharon White use Equilibrium Impact Sports Boots?
“I do not worry about my horse’s leg protection. That matters a lot because there are a lot of other things to worry about!”

Morning Viewing: Take a spin around the Preliminary cross country at Rocking Horse Farm with Elisa Wallace and Sharp Decision.

Monday Video: Ride Bruce’s Field with Boyd and Bruno

By on Mar 6, 2023 3:00 pm -

Take a spin around the cross-country course at Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce's Field via JockeyCam with Bruno who finished 🥉

Posted by Boyd Martin on Saturday, March 4, 2023

The $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field has come and gone for another year! We’re left with good memories of a great unofficial kickoff to the season, loads of rides to re-watch, and, thanks to Boyd Martin donning a JockeyCam during his ride aboard Federman B, we can even take a spin around the course ourselves.

Boyd and “Bruno” clinched a very emotional win at this event last year. They’re clearly fan favorites — listen to the cheers that follow them around the course! Boyd has said that he feels honored to ride Bruno, and the pair is really starting to click. One thing that stood out to me while watching this round was what a huge stride Bruno has, yet how adjustable and catty he is. Just take a look at this gif from our live updates of the pair though the Palmetto Golf Tees bounce:

Ultimately, Boyd and Bruno would finish two seconds over time and end their weekend in third place behind two-phase leaders Doug Payne and Starr Witness in second, and winner Liz Halliday-Sharp, who rode a foot-perfect double clear round aboard and Miks Master C to become a three-time champion at this event. If you missed it, you can catch the final report right here.

GPE at Bruce’s Field: GPE Website, H&C+ Livestream Replay, EN’s Coverage