I know I'm a Californian because I look at this and think "Oooh, pretty!" instead of "Nightmare". Photo from Jennifer Bagley at Bracken Hill Farm, Sherborn, MA
In case you missed it yesterday, there’s been some big news out of Plantation Field! Plantation Field Equestrian Events will be offering a Thoroughbred recognition series during the 2015 competition year. This is super exciting!
Points will be awarded to horses in the Beginner Novice, Novice and Training divisions at all Plantation Field recognized and starter trials. The goal is for the series to grow over time and possibly become a national series.
The competition is open to all Thoroughbred horses with a Jockey Club registration, a tattoo or an affidavit certifying parentage from the breeder. More information, including the 2015 Plantation Field schedule of events, is available at www.plantationfieldhorsetrials.com
A birthday cake for Winston! Photo from Jennifer Kluenker's Facebook Page
There is something about a horse that brings out the best in all of us. Whether it’s happily spending way too much time out in the cold to ensure that they are toasty in the middle of a massive cold blast or making birthday cakes, it’s easily seen. I’ve had dogs, I’ve had cats, even birds and ferrets as pets before, but nothing quite compares to the way horses respond to us.
Perhaps I’m anthropomorphizing a bit, but a horse seems to appreciate us in a more genuine way than other animals do. That’s what makes the messy kitchens, frozen toes and horse-hair filled dryers worth it.
Plantation Field Equestrian Events will be offering a Thoroughbred recognition series during the 2015 competition year. Points will be awarded to horses in the Beginner Novice, Novice and Training divisions at all Plantation Field recognized and starter trials.
The total prize money of $5,000 will go to the owner of the top-placing Thoroughbred horse, and a $500 bonus will be awarded to the breeder of the horse. The goal is for the series to grow over time and possibly become a national series. The competition is open to all Thoroughbred horses with a Jockey Club registration, a tattoo or an affidavit certifying parentage from the breeder.
Horses will only be allowed to compete in one Plantation Field competition during a given weekend. Competitors and owners should identify their Thoroughbred when making their entry. More information, including the 2015 Plantation Field schedule of events, is available at www.plantationfieldhorsetrials.com
Hay day at Riverland! Photo via Riverland Equestrians' Facebook page
Don’t you just love those photographs that evoke primal reactions? Just looking at all that hay fills my mind with memories of the most delicious and comforting smells. Then about half a second after that my arms and back begin to ache reflexively. Memories of stacking hay entwine with memories of the way bailing twine bites in to your hands despite gloves, the torrent of swear words and sweat as “just a few bales” turns in to “okay, maybe more like fifteen bales”. It’s all worth it for that delicious smell though, isn’t it? Looking good Riverland crew!
If I wasn’t so shamelessly in love with California, I’d be packing my bags and heading for Kentucky. If you do not follow the USEF High Performance Eventing Facebook page, you may have missed some big news. USEF is on the look out for not just one, but TWO Sport Program Assistants. What does the Sport Department do?
Well, the Sport Department is the group that works on programs to identify talented horses and riders and to develop them in hopes of winning medals in international competition. The job sounds amazing and had me daydreaming about heading east for more than a few minutes. [More information here]
I could convince a friendly TD that these are all varieties of "tweed", right?
I’m sure that picture has a few of you scratching your heads. It has me perplexed as well. I’ve been dying for a mustard/gold show coat since I saw a picture of my Aunt Merry as a teenager in what has to be the most amazing hunt coat I’ve ever seen. It’s been on my mind for ages now and I’m finally getting around to talking to tailors to see if I can get exactly what I want made. It will of course, be paired with rust breeches and serve as an excuse for me to add a chocolate brown helmet and pair of boots to my arsenal. Of course, after looking at the USEA dress rules, I think I’m going to have to start a petition to allow rust breeches in Show Jumping and find the most “passably tweed” mustard that I can find. It’s hard being in love with all things retro-fabulous!
Everyone loves a great rehab story. Whether it brings us to tears or makes us even more grateful for our equine friends, rehab stories are some of the most inspiring stories to tell. For that reason, we’d love to hear yours! Send us your rehab story for your chance to win an awesome prize pack from OCD as well as see your story told right here on EN! [Win with OCD]
Even OTTBs can be convinced to take it easy on grey wintery days.
From the Dragonfire Farm Facebook page.
Rain! Glorious and much needed rain! The Pineapple Express is roaring through my neck of the woods this weekend and it is a welcome sight. Sure, it happened right after I found myself starting to plan my show season, but what’s one more weekend? Besides, a windy and rainy weekend is the perfect opportunity to hit a tack-swap and it’s been far too long since I’ve done that!
Everyone loves a great rehab story. Whether it brings us to tears or makes us even more grateful for our equine friends, rehab stories are some of the most inspiring stories to tell. For that reason, we’d love to hear yours! Send us your rehab story for your chance to win an awesome prize pack from OCD as well as see your story told right here on EN! [Win with OCD]
I may have a rival when it comes to bridle assembly. From Hawley Bennett's Instagram
One of the things I strongly believe every kid should learn in their first month of riding lessons is how to take apart, clean and reassemble a bridle. In theory, this may save poor saintly lesson ponies from having bridles put on in strange ways, with nosebands akimbo. Taking apart a bridle and reassembling it was something I had to do at my first horse-camp in order to earn entry in to the camp show at the end of the summer. In college, this knowledge earned me some coin and booze. My horsey friends and I turned bridle assembly in to a gambling-and-drinking game. Maybe we’ll have to resurrect that game for EN’s Tailgate at Rolex this year?
Everyone loves a great rehab story. Whether it brings us to tears or makes us even more grateful for our equine friends, rehab stories are some of the most inspiring stories to tell. For that reason, we’d love to hear yours! Send us your rehab story for your chance to win an awesome prize pack from OCD as well as see your story told right here on EN! [Win with OCD]
Hawley's back at Dragonfire for the weekend! Photo from Sophia Zeier
You know it’s January when Hawley Bennett comes to visit Team DF! Even though I’m not riding in the clinic this month, it’s always nice to see good friends. Watching and learning is an added bonus. I have to admit that I’m always impressed with Hawley as a clinician. She comes with a clear plan and is always able to modify high-level concepts and exercises for each group so that they are level appropriate.
The USEA’s “Evaluation of the Young Event Horse Prospect” Symposium is FREE for USEA members. Taking place in Ocala, Florida February 16-18, this educational event is ideal for anyone interested in breeding, handling, buying, riding and evaluating young event horses. A full schedule will be available the week before the seminar to those who pre-register. [Schedule of Topics] [Panelists] [Sign Up]
The reviewer is a gamer, so prepare for some salty language, but apparently, Eventing is composed of Dressage (where you lead the horse), Calf Cutting, and Barrel Racing (where you go around barrels and occasionally jump them). The things you learn on the internet!
Brian Sabo with Claire Harmon at the USPC annual meeting. Photo from Claire Belletti Harmon's Facebook page.
It’s shaping up to be one of those weekends where you need a weekend to recover from it. There are early season events happening all over the place, as well as awards banquets, clinics, and the US Pony Club Annual Meeting. I have to admit, I’m getting a late start on being excited and anxious about this year. I haven’t done much of anything since Halloween but the energy has been building steadily and is getting me inspired. I figure by February 1st, there will be enough light for me to actually, seriously, really ride after work instead of just goof around. I guess I better start hitting the gym and find my full-seats. I expect that my pony might be a bit fresh when we get back to work!
The USEA’s “Evaluation of the Young Event Horse Prospect” Symposium is FREE for USEA members. Taking place in Ocala, Florida February 16-18, this educational event is ideal for anyone interested in breeding, handling, buying, riding and evaluating young event horses. A full schedule will be available the week before the seminar to those who pre-register. [Schedule of Topics] [Panelists] [Sign Up]
Katy Groesbeck found something fancy in her mailbox! Photo from Katy's Facebook page.
Yesterday I declared an early end to winter. Today, I bring you further evidence that winter really is coming to an end. Last night was the USEF National Awards Banquet which honored many national and reserve champions. Additionally, eventers all over the country are having pretty things of joy show up in their mailboxes! Hooray for end of year awards!
Matt Brown at the West Coast High Performance Training Sessions in 2015. Photo from Matt and Cecily's Facebook page.
Ladies and Gentlemen, by the powers vested in me by Supreme Commander Chinch, I’m declaring an early end to winter. The sun is now officially setting after 5pm, the Eventing season will be in full swing on both coasts next weekend and we are only 49 days away from my favorite time of the year – Daylight Saving Time! While it may still be too cold to break out the t-shirts and ice-cream in most of the country, it’s not too early to start planning your show season and getting some solid prep work in. After seeing the lovely shots from the High Performance Training Sessions on the West Coast, I’m finding myself inspired and looking forward to seeing how the 2015 season plays out.
Saturday Video: Needing some inspiration to get ready for your show season? Here’s an old favorite, from Doug Payne takes Running Order from Scratch to 4* in 18 minutes.
The course at Florida Horse Park. From Jon Holling's Facebook
With a new show season getting underway lots of courses are seeing new designs this year. I’m particularly excited to see what Ian Stark does with Woodside. Jon Holling helpfully posted one of the new tracks at Florida Horse Park on Facebook. It sure looks like a… big… um, galloping course.
Winner of the 2013 Golden Chinchilla, Hawley Bennett
It’s time to award the Golden Chinchilla! Have you voted for your favorites in EN’s Horse and Rider of the Year awards? If you haven’t, time is running out. Voting closes tomorrow, so you best take the two minutes now and get those clicks in. It’s been a pretty close race this year so now is certainly the time to lend your support to your favorites. [Vote Here!]
Why is it that packing up an entire barn to head to a distant event seems to be such an easy thing when moving across town is such an ordeal? I am utterly exhausted from my big move on Saturday. I spent the majority of the day zipping back and forth, ferrying truckload after truckload to my new place. It pleases me to no end that at the very center of my new house is a little closet that I have commandeered for the sole purpose of housing my show clothes, extra saddle pads, a Chinch nest and all of that stuff that I “totally need, but don’t need to have out at the barn all the time”. It also pleases me that it is clearly marked in case of emergency or horse show.
Sunday Links:
Carolina International is offering a new and unique clinic opportunity! They are working to offer help and advice out to those wanting to improve their competition experience. Additionally, they are getting geared up for an even bigger Carolina International with greater levels of prize money and a huge weekend of great sport and entertainment! [More info on Unlock Your Potential Clinic]
The Windchase crew kicks off 2015 with a Polar Dive! They had to break some of the ice off of the lake.
What a wonderfully chilly start to 2015! Brrr!!! I have been snuggled up in a fleece pull-over in a determined effort to avoid turning on the heater. It’s so rarely used that when I do turn it on it smells yucky and I worry about a house fire. I know it’s just the dust burning off from a period of inactivity, but who ever said fears were rational? For the past few days it has dipped down to the low 30s in the early morning hours, which means it’s positively perfect weather for a sunrise hack. There’s nothing quite like watching the sun come up while sharing a quarter sheet and a thermos of coffee with your best four legged friend.
Dempsey is looking happy to be home after a rough start to the month! Photo from Tamie Smith's Facebook Page
It is hard to believe it, but today is the last Sunday in 2014. The year has whipped past in spectacular fashion and I’m finding myself perplexed as to where all of that time went. I know I spent far too much of it locked in the office and letting my Work-Life-Balance get egregiously out of whack. The fresh start of the new year is something I’m very much looking forward to. I’m planning on taking guidance from my horse to help shape my outlook for 2015: give out more high-fives and eat more cookies.
Happy Holidays! Courtney Comeau sent us this super cute picture!
Yes, yes, I know. Christmas is over, but I couldn’t help myself! The picture Courtney Comeau sent us was just too cute! With Christmas and Boxing Day in the books, we’re just a few cozy sleeps away from New Year’s Eve and the excitement that 2015 will bring. I don’t know about you but I’ve already had a few ambitious ideas for resolutions, which, after careful consideration I scrapped. I know myself well enough at 34 to realize that my resolve for things like “Only one fancy coffee drink per week” and “No technology at bed time” will waver and by mid-January. By the end of the month I’ll be back to my status as a regular at the local coffee shop. I guess the upside to that is that with the amount of money I spend on coffee I’ll be unable to buy that new Dressage saddle I’ll inevitably have been checking out at 2am, nestled under the covers.
My Facebook feed is nothing but cute holiday pictures and cards. Somehow this happened in the last 24 hours and it’s insanely cute. The fact that I’m thinking these are cute now is a sure fire sign that I’m turning in to an adult or at least getting older. My family never really did the whole “Holiday Photo” thing, which always made me gleeful when I was able to torment my friends and cousins for the dorky photos that would appear in our mailbox around mid-December. I haven’t had the urge to tease this year. Perhaps it’s some kind of Christmas miracle. I’m not sure that I’ve fully turned the corner on the whole holiday photo schtick, but I might have to take some of my own… next year.
Seriously, wasn’t it Thanksgiving like… last weekend? I must have been in a roast-beef and turkey induced coma because once again, Christmas is bearing down on me with a furiousness. I must confess that I have done absolutely zero shopping. Actually, I take that back. I ordered a couple of shirts online for my husband, which were “accidentally” opened early because he thought the package was something he had ordered. Whoops! With the rain and sogginess in Northern California, it looks like today might be a day for shopping. That is if I can tear myself away from the internet. Friend of EN Ryan Wood’s new site is up and it looks amazing. Check it out at http://www.woodstockeventing.com.
I love awards season! There’s nothing more delightful than pictures of everyone all decked out in fancy clothes with giant smiles and fabulous prizes. The USEA Convention may be at an end for this year, but the USEF Convention is still to come as well as many regional awards banquets.
My friend Ryan spotted an Elk Grove Milling feed truck shortly after it took a tumble. I can't help but cringe at the sheer amount of money all of that feed represents.
Photo from Ryan Polli's Facebook page
With the holidays right around the corner, I should probably get on all of the shopping I need to do. It’s hard though, I keep finding things I want. I have a personal rule of “no-shopping-f0r-myself-after-December-1st”. Instead, everything goes on a wish-list so that any family members who are inclined to send me some holiday cheer don’t feel so lost when it comes to “that horsey stuff”. If you’re struggling with what to buy for your barn friends, don’t forget that EN’s gift-suggestions will be headed your way this month!
Congratulations to Kristen Forti, the winner of yesterday’s 12 Days of Christmas giveaway! Kristen, please email [email protected] to claim your Total Saddle Fit Six Point Half Pad with Wither Freedom! [12 Days of Christmas: Total Saddle Fit]
Art therapy for Fizzy after a tumble a few weekends ago. Photo from Clair Thunes' Facebook Page.
As much as we need the rain, I wish there was a way to schedule it for “during my work hours” rather than “on my weekend.” The biggest bummer about rainy weather is that it means more time between seeing barn friends and their kids. I’ll be very honest — I’ve never particularly liked kids, and I absolutely do not want any of my own, but sometimes they make me laugh. Clair’s daughter, Felicity, is one of them. She popped off a couple of weekends ago, and I kept meaning to share this doodle. We’ve all been there, Fizzy, more times than we care to admit!
Build a turkey, win a Tipperary T2 Helmet! In the latest of our wacky contests, we’re asking you to build a turkey from random stuff (wheelbarrows, jumps, hay, grooming tools, saddle pads) found around the barn and send us a picture to win a Tipperary T2 Helmet. If your creation wins, so do you! Entries are due at midnight EST tomorrow. [Build A Turkey, Win a Helmet]
EN fan favorite Ballynoe Castle RM has leapt into the eventing record books as the highest scoring horse of alltime. Reggie takes the crown from Winsome Adante, the retired 21-year-old three-time Rolex Kentucky winner, who held the title for eight years with 1,355 points. [More from nj.com]
How does one become a course designer anyway? Four-star rider Beanie Sturgis, two-star rider Helen West and course builder Lloyd Hunt are the three winners of a course-designing scholarship from British Eventing. The Course Designer Scholarship is now in its second year and is supported by the Bill Thomson Bursary, a charity that helps both new course designers and funds specific safety developments. [More from horsetalk.co.nz]
The University of Oregon’s equestrian team is booming. As a former Duck, it makes me smile to know that the school still fields a team. As recently as 2012 the team was in dire straits, having only eight members for both the western and hunt seat teams. This year the team has ballooned to 34 members and has been highly competitive. With the team consisting primarily of younger members, Oregon may be poised to become one of the top equestrian colleges in the country. Go Ducks! [More from dailyemerald.com]
Have you ever gone to look at a horse that was advertised as a certain height only to arrive and find that it was a total misrepresentation? Whether it’s a horse that was advertised as a solid 17.2 hands that might be 16 hands on his tippie-toes, or the “large pony” that is a solid 15.1 hands, it’s frustrating. If you are thinking about selling a horse, Don’t Be That Seller. Make sure you know how to take an accurate measurement. [More from thehorse.com]
Monday Video: Reggie makes easy work of the Head of the Lake at Rolex:
I can almost smell it through my monitor. Photo from Emerald Acres on Facebook
As much as I enjoy holiday smells like Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas trees and hot cocoa, there are a few that I like way more. A fresh truckload of alfalfa is definitely in my top 10, as is rain. Rainy weather tends to bring along a few of my favorites as well. When it’s a rainy day, some of those other barn chores that were put off in the summer tend to get taken care of, and tack gets cleaned. Clean leather is one of those smells that I will always associate with the holidays simply because if I go out to the barn and clean tack, I come home to those other lovely smells. Magic!
Build a turkey, win a Tipperary T2 Helmet! In the latest of our wacky contests, we’re asking you to build a turkey from random stuff (wheelbarrows, jumps, hay, grooming tools, saddle pads) found around the barn, and send us a picture to win a Tipperary T2 Helmet. If your creation wins, so do you! Entries are due Tuesday. [Build A Turkey, Win a Helmet]
I know I'm a Californian because I look at this and think "Oooh, pretty!" instead of "Nightmare". Photo from Jennifer Bagley at Bracken Hill Farm, Sherborn, MA
