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Jenni Autry
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Jenni Autry

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About Jenni Autry

Originally from San Diego, Jenni discovered eventing thanks to the Bedford Hunt Pony Club in Virginia. After working in both newspapers and magazines, she joined the EN team in 2012. She travels extensively covering the U.S. Eventing Team and has reported at the Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, Pan American Games, Badminton, Burghley, Kentucky, Luhmühlen and Pau. As for her favorite event, it’s a toss-up between Aachen and Boekelo. When she isn’t on the road, she’s busy competing her heart horse, Imperial Striker, better known as Derry.

Latest Articles Written

Plague of Locusts Expected to Follow Earthquake in Cursed Aiken

By on Feb 15, 2014 12:00 pm -
Earthquake intensity map via The Aiken Standard Earthquake intensity map via The Aiken Standard

First, a historic ice storm that Gov. Nikki Haley compared to 1989’s Hurricane Hugo. Then, an earthquake that registered as one of the strongest in state history. We can logically conclude that a plague of locusts is on its way next to cursed Aiken.

The 4.1-magnitude earthquake struck in Edgefield, S.C., last night and was felt in Aiken around 10:30 p.m. EST, the Aiken Standard reports. No major damage to property or injuries to human or equine life are currently being reported, thankfully.

Power outages resulting from Wednesday’s ice storm are expected to last through Monday, and 37,000 Aikenites were still without power last night. Primary roads are now in “fair condition,” but secondary roads remain “very dangerous.”

“It’s devastating,” Gov. Haley said in a press conference. “What we are seeing here is worse than I think we would see with a hurricane. … I knew this was going to be worse than 2004. I didn’t know this was going to be in the same realm as (Hurricane) Hugo.”

They say catastrophes come in threes. Hide yo kids, hide yo wife.

Post by Boyd Martin.

The View from Oklahoma Presented by World Equestrian Brands

By on Feb 14, 2014 6:00 pm -

EN loves photos shot between the ears! If you happen to be out for a hack, are riding in some obscure place or just take some cool photos aboard your mount, send them to [email protected] with a quick blurb about the photo’s story. This week’s View comes to us from Oklahoma.

IRon between the ears

From Meghan Richey: “Between my 24-year-old imported Dutch gelding’s ears on our first hack in a month due to the cold and nasty weather here in Oklahoma. And from Oklahoma in honor of two Oklahoma Junior/Young Riders who are in Florida for their first season and just did Ocala II and pinned second in the Training Rider A division and 3rd in the Junior Open Preliminary division. And since Oklohoma is part of Area V, also in honor of one of our own: Ellen Doughty.”

And here are other ears photos we received from readers in the last week:

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Ask Abigail: How Do I Ride Well in Front of Others?

By on Feb 14, 2014 3:00 pm -

Abigail Lufkin is a former CCI4* eventer who is now a sports psychology consultant and clinical social worker based in the Los Angeles area. You may remember seeing Abigail ride around Rolex on horses such as Lighter Than Air, Cameo or Jacob Two Two. She was a member of the 1999 Pan Am Team and was shortlisted for the 1992, 2000 and 2004 Olympics. We’re pleased to bring you a series of articles from Abigail about adapting your mental game to promote success in eventing. Have a question or topic for Abigail? Please submit it to [email protected] with subject “Ask Abigail” and be sure to check out her site at www.abigaillufkin.com.

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EN reader Michelle asks:

“I don’t ride nearly as well in front of people as I do when no one is watching. On my own, I feel relaxed and competent. When I ride in front of others, I try to be too perfect and fear making a mistake. I end up focusing on all the things I don’t want to happen instead of just riding like I know I can. What are some tips for focusing on what I need to do and not worrying about what the audience thinks?”

Abigail responds:

This is a great question, Michelle, and covers an issue with which numerous athletes struggle.

I recently heard a neuroscientist speak. He described “emotion” as being the thing that drives the “motion” in our bodies. This is similar to what sport psychologist Jim Loehr said: “Emotion runs the show.” In this case, you have identified the emotion as fear: fear of failing, fear of making a mistake, fear of not performing up to your potential. The good news is that underneath this fear is a strong desire to succeed. With this passion comes energy, and energy is very useful in sport — we just have to harness it.

You have already done a lot of the hard work by identifying what happens with your thoughts and what this leads to in your riding. You are describing a loss of focus from something you have control over — how you ride — to something over which you have no control — what someone else thinks.

Try this as soon as you notice a change. The change might be feeling your body get tight, your horse starting to go badly, noticing your thoughts of failure or your feelings of fear. Use this as a signal, like a warning light on your car. Take several deep breaths and pair them with a body movement, perhaps shaking out your shoulders or elbows or consciously feeling your seat bones in the saddle or your feet in the irons. This will help to ground you and connect you to your physical body in the present moment. Name what you feel — for example, “fear,” or “tension” or “distracted.”

Next, bring your thoughts back to what you are doing, specifically what you are working on. In your head, you might coach yourself, sounding something like, “straightness, straightness” or “impulsion, impulsion.” Your mind will continue to veer off with the “what ifs,” and each time, like the training a puppy example I have used before, you will bring it back to your focus. As with working out at the gym, you are building a muscle. As the “muscle” gets stronger, it will require less intensive intervention from you.

Smooch Your Horse Contest Presented By Hamilton BioVet

By on Feb 14, 2014 1:30 pm -
Pretty much the greatest thing since sliced bread. Pretty much the greatest thing since sliced bread.

It’s Valentine’s Day, EN! And to show how much they love their fans, awesome EN sponsor Hamilton BioVet is giving away a $50 gift card to one lucky reader! What can you buy with that? Think $50 worth of Hamilton BioVet’s amazing, time-saving STAYONS Instant Poultice Leg Wraps and Hoof Wraps to get your first-aid kit stocked for spring.

How do you win? Just send a photo of you giving your horse a giant smooch to [email protected] by midnight EST Sunday. As always, we’re looking for creative, funny and straight-up ridiculous photos. We’ll pick our favorites and post them here on EN so you can vote for the one you like best. The reader who receives the most votes will win the gift card.

And there’s more good news. Hamilton BioVet has activated a coupon code for 25% off the entire STAYONS line through the weekend. So now is a great time to stock up and save! Just use code ENLOVE25 at checkout. Visit www.HamiltonBiovet.com to start shopping. Click here to sign up for Hamilton BioVet’s mailing list to stay up-to-date on the latest news and sales.

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Advanced Scores Update from Rocking Horse Winter II Horse Trials

By on Feb 14, 2014 12:00 pm -
Photo via Thehorsepesterer Photo via Thehorsepesterer

Dressage and show jumping have wrapped up in the three star-studded Advanced divisions at the Rocking Horse Winter II Horse Trials. Joe Meyer and Sanskrit, Allie Knowles and Last Call, and Peter Atkins and HJ Hampton are currently leading the three divisions, which will jump cross country tomorrow. Friend of EN Thehorsepesterer is dutifully shooting video at the event, so we’ll have lots of footage to bring you this weekend.

[Live Scores]

Advanced A

1. Allie Knowles / Last Call 34.8
2. Buck Davidson / Park Trader 35.9
3T. Hannah Sue Burnett / Harbour Pilot 38.1
3T. Katy Groesbeck / Oz The Tin Man 38.1

Advanced B

1. Peter Atkins / HJ Hampton 31.4
2. Buck Davidson / Copper Beach 32.1
3T. Rowdie Adams / No Money Down 32.7
3T. Buck Davidson / Petite Flower 32.7

Advanced

1. Joe Meyer / Sanskrit 36.8
2. Sharon White / Under Suspection 38.1
3. Selena O’Hanlon / Bellaney Rock 38.5

Aikenites Struggle to Care for Horses in Ice Storm Aftermath [Photos]

By on Feb 14, 2014 9:00 am -
Doug Payne's view as he tried to find water for his horses yesterday. Photo via Twitter. Doug Payne's view as he tried to find water for his horses yesterday. Photo via Twitter.

Aikenites are still trying to dig out and clean up following Wednesday’s ice storm, which dumped more than 1 inch of ice on parts of the county. About 45,000 residents in Aiken County are still without power this morning, the Aiken Standard reports. Gov. Nikki Haley will visit Aiken today to assess the storm damage, which is reportedly the worst in the entire state.

Tree limbs and power lines are still falling under the weight of the ice, and the Aiken County Sheriff’s Department is urging residents to stay home. “The main roads are improving, but secondary roads are extremely hazardous and limbs continue to fall. As strongly as we can, we urge people not to drive. Stay at home, unless it is an emergency. Call us, let us come to you,” Lt. Jake Mahoney told the Aiken Standard.

But eventers don’t have the option to stay home when there’s a barn full of hungry horses waiting to be fed, stalls to be mucked and water buckets to be filled. The water issue is particularly problematic, as many barns are still without power. We’ve seen numerous storm damage photos posted by eventers on Facebook as they venture onto the roads to get to their horses.

Paradise Farm has canceled all competition today due to road conditions. All competitors will now ride dressage on Saturday, all Training and Preliminary riders will show jump on Saturday and run cross country on Sunday, and all Novice and Beginner Novice riders will go cross country and show jump on Sunday.

The Aiken Gala, considered one of the highlights of the spring season, has also been postponed due to safety concerns, the USEF announced via Facebook yesterday. Held annually to raise funds for the U.S. eventing team, this year’s gala, originally scheduled for tonight, will help our World Equestrian Games team get to Normandy in August.

Stay safe out there, EN.

Lisa Anderson: USEA Training Program for Eventing Officials

By on Feb 13, 2014 3:00 pm -

Lisa Anderson attended the USEA Dressage Session One Training Program for Prospective Eventing Judges in Ocala last weekend, and she found the program to be incredibly valuable and rewarding. Would you consider attending the program after reading Lisa’s report? Thanks for writing, Lisa, and thanks for reading!USEAlogo.jpg

From Lisa Anderson:

Last week, I attended the USEA Dressage Session One Training Program for Prospective Eventing Judges in Ocala, and I have to admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had heard good things, but it was a major effort to commit to four entire days away from work, horses, students, family, life! On top of that, I heard the words of an old friend and Advanced rider I’d spoken to a few weeks before — “You’re getting your judge’s license? I’d rather stick a fork in my eye!” — in the back of my mind. But, having already decided I want to go for my “r” and being that the session was mandatory, I packed my “judge’s clothes” and showed up.

To make a long story short, I spent the next four days fascinated with the subject matter and intrigued with every aspect of the program. Panelists Marilyn Payne and Trenna Atkins covered a massive amount of material, both in classroom and at Longwood Farm. The first two days, we watched lots of video and had much discussion about the basics: USEF rules, biomechanics, gaits, movements, methodology, terminology. We discussed the object and general principles of dressage, using words like calm, supple, flexible, confident and attentive. We talked about what judges should be looking for, development of methodology to consistently score the essence of the movements and to communicate clearly with appropriate, helpful comments.

We also spent two days at Longwood Farm actually judging tests in “real time,” much harder than I ever imagined and very different from sitting on the sidelines watching. Marilyn and Trenna reviewed each of our scores, and we dissected every comment. It became clear that there is a criteria for scoring those 5s, 6s and 7s, and we prospects got better at it. I realize now that I have a long way to go toward being a great judge. Before the session, I was a low 5, “must be better.” Now I would give myself a 6, “should be better,” and with lots of practice, I hope to move up to a 7, “could be better.”

I encourage experienced riders or anyone considering becoming a judge to participate in this program. Continue your education, or at least allow yourself a thorough and comprehensive reminder; I promise, you won’t regret it. I also recommend it to potential auditors who simply want to supplement their riding education. At the very least, you will have a greater understanding of what the judges are looking for and subsequently become a better rider, trainer, competitor and teacher. Far from sticking a fork in my eye, I feel as if the program was a tremendous learning experience and a great use of four days.

Total Chaos in Aiken Following Ice Storm [Update: Aiken Gala Postponed]

By on Feb 13, 2014 12:00 pm -
Main street in Aiken. Photo via Kate Samuels. Main street in Aiken. Photo via Kate Samuels.

More than 50,000 Aiken County residents are without power today following yesterday’s ice storm, the Aiken Standard reports. Kate Samuels sent me this video of her drive to the barn this morning. As you’ll see, the roads have been transformed into icy death traps. Also note the abandoned golf cart and broken windshield wiper. It’s a war zone down south.

Trees and power lines are down everywhere. Here’s another video of Will Coleman and Katie Thornton driving through a very icy Aiken. And, yes, they do actually drive over that downed power line. Please note the EN chinchillas do not advise driving over downed power lines.

Update 12:30 p.m. EST: The Aiken Gala to raise funds for the U.S. eventing team has now been postponed due to the icy road conditions.

Post by USEF Eventing High Performance.

Update 1:48 p.m. EST: An eye-witness report from Kate Samuels: “Only Cracker Barrel is open today for food, and there is a 1.5-hour wait for a table. And you can’t get into a gas station because everybody is totally panicking. It’s like The Walking Dead: Winter Edition. Everything is closed. People are simply walking down the middle of the street, and nobody is obeying traffic laws.“

More photos from Aiken:

Will Coleman scrapes the windshield of his car with a cookie sheet. Photo via Katie Thornton.

Will Coleman scrapes the windshield of his car with a cookie sheet. Photo via Katie Thornton.

Post by Murphy Eventing.

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Mary Carillo’s Badminton Rant

By on Feb 12, 2014 4:30 pm -

John sent this video to me yesterday, and ever since I’ve been trying to figure out how it relates to eventing so I could post it here. Conclusion: It has nothing do with eventing except for the fact that it’s awesome. Watch Mary Carillo, a longtime NBC Olympics reporter, rant about the tricky game of badminton during a 2004 Athens Olympics broadcast. The video has been on YouTube for a long time, but Deadspin resurrected it this week thanks to Sochi. Mary is also covering the Winter Olympics, and she was most recently spotted doing a vodka shot on air with a very pink-eyed Bob Costas. Today, we salute you, Mary. It takes a true comedic genius to make badminton interesting.

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And for good measure, here’s Bob Costas after that vodka shot:

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Ice Storm Actually Does Bring Aiken to its Knees

By on Feb 12, 2014 11:20 am -
The ice on Dom and Jimmie Schramm's mailbox in Aiken. Photo via Facebook.

The ice on Dom and Jimmie Schramm’s mailbox in Aiken. Photo via Facebook.

We satirically reported two weeks ago that a couple inches of snow had crippled Aiken, but a particularly nasty ice storm that hit early this morning really has shut down the area. Gov. Nikki Haley has declared a state of emergency in South Carolina, and a winter storm front is expected to bring up to one inch of ice and eight inches of snow to some parts of the state.

Photo via Katie Murphy

Photo via Katie Murphy

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service told the Aiken Standard that Aiken County will receive about nine-tenths of an inch of freezing rain throughout the day. Much of the area is already without power, and roads are treacherous if not totally impassable, leaving the migrated eventers struggling to care for their horses.

"This is my own version of hell," EN staffer Ellie Thompson said.

“This is my own version of hell,” EN staffer Ellie Thompson said.

Intrepid EN reporter Kate Samuels told us she had to hack a fallen tree branch apart with her bare hands on Sizemore Road this morning in order to get to the barn. “This ice storm is actually bringing Aiken to its knees,” Kate said. “I just drove to Walmart in 4-wheel drive and almost died. No power at home or at the barn, no water for the horses. May be sleeping in my truck tonight so that I can reach my horses tomorrow morning.”

Empty shelves at the Aiken Wal-Mart. Photo via Kate Samuels.

Empty shelves at the Aiken Walmart. Photo via Kate Samuels.

The shelves are literally empty at the local Walmart, Kate reports — a surefire indicator that the world is indeed ending down in Aiken. Thankfully, she was able to purchase jugs of water for the horses, apple cider for the bad drinkers, beer and sprinkle-covered donuts. “There are no more carts available at the front door, and there is only one checkout open,” Kate said. God help us.

At least there's still beer and sprinkle donuts at the Wal-Mart. Photo via Kate Samuels.

At least there’s still beer and sprinkle donuts at the Walmart. Photo via Kate Samuels.

Other parts of the world aren’t faring much better in what can only be described as a winter from hell. This photo of a Cup Noodles worker shoveling snow in front of the Instant Ramen Museum in Yokohama, Japan, during an unexpected storm has since gone viral. No word on whether any Ramen remains on the shelves of the Aiken Walmart. Stay safe out there, EN!

Photo via @kyazupon on Twitter.

Photo via @kyazupon on Twitter.

Post by Dom Schramm.

Post by Murphy Eventing.

Shockbox Concussion Sensor Updated for Riding Helmet Use

By on Feb 11, 2014 4:30 pm -
A Shockbox mounted to a riding helmet. A Shockbox mounted to a riding helmet.

The USEF Eventing Safety Committee proposed last year using a Shockbox to monitor concussion probability following falls on cross, and the product manufacturer has since updated the software to allow the product to be used on riding helmets. Originally designed for football players, the Shockbox is a helmet sensor that provides real-time assessment of head impact levels. The Shockbox helmet sensor attaches to helmets using high-bonding 3M adhesive tape. In the case of a fall, the Shockbox sends an immediate impact notification to a smartphone from up to 328 feet away.

According to the manufacturer, in-house tests confirm that helmets fitted with the Shockbox still meet ASTM/SEI safety standards. The sensor is designed to be attached to the top of the riding helmet since the point of impact when falling off a horse can vary greatly, the company said in a press release: “So often, equestrians are expected to ‘get back on the horse,’ but this takes the guess work away and alerts you to stop riding and seek medical advice.” Shockbox comes in five colors — for cross-country color coordination, clearly! — and is available online for $149.99.

What do you think of the Shockbox, EN? Would you consider wearing a Shockbox on your helmet while going cross country? Should a concussion sensor be required equipment for eventers when going cross country, just like helmets and safety vests? Weigh in!

 

EN Business Academy: What’s a Business Plan? And How Do I Make One?

By on Feb 11, 2014 1:30 pm -

When longtime friend of EN Margaret Rizzo McKelvy, president of equine marketing and management company Mythic Landing Enterprises, asked us about writing a business column, we agreed it’s a fantastic idea. Have a business question for the column? Email [email protected], and be sure to visit www.mythiclanding.com.

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From Margaret Rizzo McKelvy:

Most business owners consider a business plan something the size of an old telephone book that sits on a shelf gathering dust. That’s no longer the case! A business plan is there to serve as a template to guide you in your decision making for your business. Whether you simply teach lessons on the weekends or have a full-scale boarding operation, if part of your regular income comes from your horse habit, you should have a business plan. And, just because you’ve been teaching for forever or have always worked at the family farm, it’s never too late to create a business plan.

Also, remember that your business plan isn’t something that is set in stone; rather, it can gradually change as your business develops and grows. For example, when I started my business, I named it Mythic Landing Events because I thought that I would be organizing shows and clinics every weekend. Fast forward six years, and my business is now named Mythic Landing Enterprises, and the bulk of our business is marketing equine businesses of all shapes and sizes, along with offering a wide array of business management services, including bookkeeping, financial advising and more. My business has grown to fit the needs of my clients, much like I’m sure your business has changed slightly over the years to fit the needs of your clients.

When you sit down to work on your business plan, keep in mind that a good business plan is structured for two avenues: goal setting and/or financial assistance. Let’s look at each:

Goal Setting: This is normally an internal document that you use for your own business purposes. It is used to give you the guidance on making business decisions. For example, let’s say your business plan states that your targeted market is “first-time riders from ages 8 to 13.” This would be used to steer your marketing efforts, your decisions on the purchase of specific animals to fit this need and who you would partner with (like schools, recreation centers, 4H, etc.). When you have it in writing, it makes it easier for you to refer back to when making decisions. Let’s say after three years you find that you are now catering to the local Interscholastic Equestrian Association. You can just adjust your target market even further and adjust your business plan to keep you on track.

Personally, I like to look at my business plan every quarter. While I keep an eye on my financials on a regular basis, I find that sitting down quarterly to look at my financial reports (mostly my Profit & Loss and Budget vs. Actual) alongside my business plan is quite useful. Because, let’s be honest, unless you’re independently wealthy, you’re going to need to shape your business around what is bringing in income. Say at your start you were trying to gear your lessons toward adult amateurs, but at the end of your quarter, you find that you’re making more money from teaching your local Pony Clubs. You can now keep an eye on this until the next quarter and see if the trend continues. If it does, you know that you can safely adjust your business plan.

So, did I lose you when I started talking about P&L and Budget vs. Actual? Don’t worry! This is where the financial assistance portion of your business plan comes in.

Financial Assistance: This is a bit more detailed because it is used by outside financial institutions in the process of getting loans for your business. It includes all the information from your goal setting business plan, plus detailed financial documents such as projections, tax returns and other supporting documents. Loan officers are looking to see if you can absorb additional loan payments and have the assets to cover the loan. Most financial institutions want to see two- to three-year projections of income and expenses on any new business. For example, if you wanted a lender to provide a loan for a new indoor arena, you would provide your estimation of the income you would receive with the new facility and a breakdown of how you would be able to pay back the loan payments. Obviously there is more to it, but this gives you a general idea of how it works.

I cannot stress to you enough how important it is to create a budget and to regularly check in on it! I’m a horse person just like you, and I know how tempting it is to buy one. more. pair. of breeches. And don’t even get me started on the fact that my horse has more coats than I do. But I can honestly tell you that if I didn’t have a budget and keep close watch on it, my business would not still be here. It’s so easy to buy that extra pair of breeches or cute new fleece cooler, and there’s no reason why you still can’t make those purchases — just budget for them! And budget-friendly purchases are guilt-free purchases.

A good business plan will help keep you on track to reach your goals. If you are an impulse buyer (ahem, Tack of the Day addict???), having this document in writing could keep you out of trouble. You can even create a document that can be shared with your staff so that they know what you are working toward and help your business achieve those goals.

So rethink your feelings about a business plan. You could be just a few short steps away from having your goals in writing!

Special thanks to Pam Saul, one of MLE’s star bookkeepers and the owner of Farm & Equine Business Services, for her help with this article.

New Red Hills Cross-Country Course Puts Public Safety First

By on Feb 11, 2014 10:30 am -

There’s been a lot of buzz about the new cross-country course at Red Hills this year, and the Tallahassee Democrat attended a planning meeting yesterday to document how organizers Jane Barron and Marvin Mayer plan to keep the public safe on cross-country day. The new course crosses the main road at Elinor Klapp-Phillips Park, which will give spectators an excellent view of the action; it also means taking extra measures to ensure spectator safety. In addition to having the Leon County Sheriffs Department on hand to manage crowd control, 25 cadets from the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy will man pedestrian crossings on the main road.

In a time when available land to hold horse trials is dwindling, it’s critical for organizers to work seamlessly with local infrastructure to show how equestrian sports can benefit their communities. The Red Hills organizers have worked incredibly hard to build such an excellent relationship with the local community, setting a wonderful example for other horse trials around the country in the process. Kudos to Red Hills. Go eventing.

[Tallahassee Democrat]

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: Horse-Powered Trash Pickup

By on Feb 10, 2014 4:30 pm -

Horse Nation shared this very cool USA Today story about a team of Percherons that assist with green trash pickup in Bristol, Vt. For 17 years, Patrick Palmer has driven his team of Percherons through the village to pick up trash every Friday, charging $5 per bag of trash and picking up recyclables for free.

The nine-mile, horse-powered route in Bristol has 250 customers. It takes four hours. Palmer reckons he saves 11 to 12 gallons of fuel each Friday by using horse power. “The stop-and-go traffic with those big trucks, I don’t think they get over a mile a gallon,” Palmer says.

Palmer said he started the trash route in order to help fund the care of the horses and the upkeep of their 55-acre farm. The chinchillas give two thumbs up for a clever idea that’s also good for the environment.

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USC-Aiken to Host College Team Challenge at Full Gallop Farm

By on Feb 10, 2014 3:00 pm -

Brendan Quinn is a member of the University of South Carolina-Aiken Eventing Team who blogs about collegiate eventing for EN. This week, Brendan has exciting news: USC-Aiken will be hosting a new college team challenge at Full Gallop Farm this fall! Many thanks to Brendan for writing.

Hannah Cangilla and Gentle Ben. Photo by Chris Quinn.

Hannah Cangilla and Gentle Ben at Sporting Days. Photo by Chris Quinn.

From Brendan:

In the past couple weeks, the USC-Aiken Eventing Team has been talking to Lara Anderson over at Full Gallop Farm about the possibility of hosting a team challenge at her facility. She jumped at the idea of it and told us that it would require very little extra effort on her part with putting it on. This also helped our case with our advisor, who thought it would require a ton of work for both parties and a lot of extra insurance and things like that.

Turns out, all that really happens is we have to get an additional, non-biased scorer  to score for us, and they riders just write what team they are on when they fill out their entry. It also requires no extra insurance because the horse and rider are already entered in the competition.

We have decided to host the team challenge during Full Gallop’s November Horse Trials and are extending an invitation to any college teams that are interested. As long as you write what team you are part of on your entry, you will be stabled with your team, and the plan is for all of the college teams to stable in the same area.

Another big thing that we have been working on is fundraising. It’s hard to do anything if you have no money, so we have been brainstorming fundraising ideas and hope to act on some of those ideas very soon. In addition to brainstorming about fundraising, another big item has been things that identify the riders and horses as a team. These would be things like saddle pads, shirts, hats, banners, things of that nature, to make us stand out as a group.

Results Update

USC-Aiken had several riders competing at the Sporting Days Farm Horse Trials in Aiken. Hannah Cangilla rode her horse, Gentle Ben, in their first Training together and started the day off with a 41.0, placing them in ninth after dressage. Hannah and Ben didn’t pick up any extra points in show jumping, putting up a double clear round, moving them up into seventh. They continued this trend into the cross-country phase, going double clear again, moving Hannah and Ben into fourth place.

Marissa Collins rode her horse, Carino, in Training as well and earned a 39.50 in dressage, starting them in sixth place. In the show jumping phase, Marissa and Carino went clear jumping, but did incur one time penalty, giving them a 40.5, but they remained in sixth place. On cross-country however, Marissa and Carino had an unfortunate parting of ways at the bank combination after the water, causing them to be eliminated.

Meet the Team

Meet Kailey Downing, one of two recruitment officers for the USC-Aiken Eventing Team. She came here from Lexington, S.C., with her horse Kismet, and they have been eventing for three years now. With her recruitment position, Kailey is one of the people in charge of answering any questions incoming students might have about the eventing team, and she also encourages students at USC-Aiken to join the equestrian club and Eventing team.

When asked what she thought the best quality of our team was, she told me that she there was no “I’m better than you drama” amongst all the team members, and that everyone is very encouraging of one another. When I asked her the opposite question — about where the team needed improvement — she simply said that we are not a very unified team at the moment. When Kailey graduates, she wants the team to become more organized and for the team to have some practices together.

I then asked Kailey where she wanted to see the team at in five years, and she told me that she wanted us to have a common barn where we could board our horses and our trainers could come and give us lessons, and this would also help to unify us more. In 10 years, she wants to see us hosting an annual team challenge and for us to be fielding two or more teams at the Clemson team challenge.

Lastly, I asked her the big question of where she wanted to see collegiate eventing as a whole end up in 5 and 10 years, and her answer was that in five years, she wanted to have college team challenges become much more common in all areas of the country, and in 10 years, she hopes that collegiate eventing will be recognized as a team sport.

Best of Craigslist: Double Regetered Friesian sport horse – $6500

By on Feb 10, 2014 1:30 pm -

EN reader Emily Mercier found this gem of a Craigslist ad in the Lexington, Ky., listings: “This horse is a ‘Double Regetered Friesian sport horse.’ Apparently she’s going to make a great three-day eventer in all her western gear!” We agree there definitely seems to be a major disconnect with reality here. Find a ridiculous Craigslist ad while browsing the interwebz? Send it to [email protected].

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Double Regetered Friesian sport horse – $6500 (Stamping ground)

*****6500**** My 3 year old Friesian sport horse mare is be listed for sale she is a bay and currently stands at about 15.2-15.3 and should mature to at least 16 hands. This is a nice mare she has been started and has about 20 days on her. She gives to the bit collects extends starting to move off your leg. She loves to jump on her own she runs around the pasture and jumps things she has a lot of scope! She would make a excellent 3 day eventer! She has also been ground drove and is ready to start being hitch she would excel at driving as we’ll she has drug poles nothing bothers her. I’m only selling because I know she has the potential to go far and I don’t have the money to get her there right now! Please only serious inquiry’s only. She is priced to sell but the price will go up with training. She is reheat weed as a Friesian sport horse and Regetered with Friesian blood! Call or text anytime! 719-502-9105

Eventing Featured Prominently in USEF’s 30 Under 30 List

By on Feb 10, 2014 10:30 am -
Lindsey Taylor and Trading Aces at Boekelo. Photo by Jenni Autry. Lindsey Taylor and Trading Aces at Boekelo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

USEF’s Equestrian Magazine released its inaugural 30 Under 30 list last week, and scanning through it is like reading Who’s Who of eventing. It’s exciting to see so many eventers and young professionals working in the eventing industry named to the list. With such talented individuals working at the forefront of our sport, eventing’s future looks very bright. Congrats to the following people on the 30 Under 30 list, all of whom have strong ties to eventing:

  • Meghan O’Donoghue, 27, Eventing Competitor
  • Katie Trafton, 25, Event Manager
  • Rachel Gottlieb, 29, Vet
  • Travers Schick, 28, Cross Country Course Builder
  • Carly Muma, 24, Equine Professional
  • Frankie Thieriot, 27, Equine Professional/Eventer
  • Layson Griffin, 25, Equine Professional
  • Lindsey Taylor, 27, Eventing Barn Manager/Groom

In the equestrian world we are seeing a vast youth movement as an ever-growing group of individuals under the age of 30 is shaping the future of the sport in and out of the competition arena. In this vein, the editors of Equestrian Magazine have decided to compile a list of 30 game changers under the age 30. Some of the names may be familiar to you, while others might be new faces. Whether it is on the field of play, in the barn, or behind the scenes, these young men and women are making a lasting impact on the sport they love and will shape the future for years to come.

Click here to read the full 30 Under 30 story in Equestrian Magazine.

 

The View from Virginia Presented by World Equestrian Brands

By on Feb 7, 2014 4:30 pm -

EN loves photos shot between the ears! If you happen to be out for a hack, are riding in some obscure place or just take some cool photos aboard your mount, send them to [email protected] with a quick blurb about the photo’s story. This week’s View comes to us from Amanda Tamminga in Middleburg, Va.

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From Amanda Tamminga: “This is the first picture I snapped on my first ride in five and a half months. I had a pretty gnarly crash back in August (EN actually had a little blurb about it) and broke my leg in a pretty spectacular fashion. It was a long 154 days, but there is no better feeling than getting to look between your favorite horse’s ears again. Toby and I are in Middleburg, Va., and we’re being kept company by our good buddies, Maggie Deatrick and Divine Comedy.”

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Ocala Gaining Popularity as Winter Base for Eventers

By on Feb 7, 2014 3:00 pm -
Matt Flynn's new farm in Ocala. Photo courtesy Ocala Horse Properties. Matt Flynn's new farm in Ocala. Photo courtesy Ocala Horse Properties.

Ocala isn’t just an appealing place to be right now due to the balmy weather. It’s also quickly becoming a popular winter base for eventers, and Chris Desino of Ocala Horse Properties said he’s been showing properties nonstop. “Eventers are buying farms here because they have the confidence that the eventing community here is well rooted,” Chris said. “With both the Canadian and U.S. team coaches committed to being in Ocala for six months of the year, we’re starting to see a lot of eventers who would normally go to Aiken go to Ocala instead.”

As Aikenites saw firsthand during the crippling blizzard last week, South Carolina can still see snow. Ocala’s temperate climate drew Matt Flynn to the area, and he recently purchased a 43-acre properly called Westerly. “I like the access to the Florida horse industry in the winter,” Matt said. “Equiventures is doing a great job of promoting the horse trials and is continuing to improve the facilities and look after the eventing crowd. A lot of other things have taken off here too because there’s a lot of people interested in benefiting the sport. It’s become an even better place to go to conduct business.”

Westerly has 21 total stalls — Jennie Brannigan is renting a chunk of them for her new business — and a large hill at the back of the property, which Matt liked for fitness work when he first saw the property. He moved his business down in October last fall and plans to stay through May 1; then he’ll head back to Pennsylvania through Fair Hill. Until then, Matt’s looking forward to taking advantage of the local show scene. “It’s really great for eventers to have access to the jumping industry in Florida,” Matt said. “For the time you’re here, you can choose from 20 red-coat show jumpers to work with. That’s what attracted me down here the first year, and it played a big part in why I ultimately decided to say.”

Liz Halliday-Sharp is also a new property owner in Ocala. A California native who has lived in England for nearly 15 years, Liz found herself looking to Ocala when she decided to expand her business to the States. “I wanted to invest in horse property to have options for the future, and I kept seeing so much excitement around Ocala,” Liz said. “A lot of eventers are excited about it because David (O’Connor) lives there, and there are great events in the winter. So it’s becoming a bit of an East Coast hub for eventers. The economic downturn hit Ocala really hard, and it’s just starting to pick up now, so it’s a great time to get in and buy a farm. We would have paid five times what we did for our farm anywhere else in the world.”

Liz purchased a 46-acre farm with 36 stalls and is in the process of buying a neighboring parcel of land, which will bring the farm’s total land to 110 acres. She hopes to spend winters in Ocala, and the new farm will also serve as the base for an exciting new business venture with Richard Sheane of Cooley Sport Horses. “My best horses have come through him, and we hope to start a business where we can bring the very best horses in Ireland to the U.S. so people can buy them on their doorstep,” Liz said. “If I can make it work financially, I would also bring my own horses.” She’ll also be looking to rent the stalls year-round.

It’s safe to say we’re going to see more and more eventers choosing Ocala for their winter bases, which will only continue to benefit the growing eventing infrastructure in the area. Ready to move to Ocala? You’re in luck! Ocala Horse Properties just put the farm that neighbors David and Karen O’Connor’s on the market. Click here to check out beautiful Glenfield Farm. For more information on buying a farm in Ocala, visit the Ocala Horse Properties website.

 

Team Wallace Models in Fashion Show to Benefit Red Hills

By on Feb 7, 2014 1:30 pm -
Team Wallace at the Red Hills Fashion Show. Photo courtesy of Team Wallace.

Team Wallace at the Red Hills Fashion Show. Photo courtesy of Team Wallace.

Team Wallace strutted their stuff last weekend in the Red Hills International Horse Trials Fashion Show at Governor’s Square Mall in Tallahassee, Fla. Organizer Jane Baron and Marvin Mayer were on hand to accept a check for $1,500. Rick Wallace and his junior riders Taylor Dileo, Briggs Surratt and Parker Miller walked the cat walk in clothes provided by stores like Banana Republic, GAP, Buckle and Cache’. Jill Henneberg and Rick’s son Braden also modeled to benefit Red Hills. Briggs and Taylor are vying to make the NAJYRC team this year and will be competing in the CIC* at Red Hills. Parker is too young this year to compete but will be riding the CIC* test ride on Jos Baco. Go Team Wallace!

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Hockey Ref Helmet Cam

By on Feb 5, 2014 4:30 pm -

American Hockey League referee David Banfield wore a GoPro helmet cam during a Charlotte Checkers vs. Rockford IceHogs game in December, marking the first time a GoPro has ever been used during an AHL regular season game. Both Banfield and linesman Paul Carnathan wore microphones to record audio for the video. As you’d expect in hockey, there’s some colorful language during the fights, but it’s all been bleeped out. Pretty cool!

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PRO: ‘Raising Your Game’ at the International Eventing Forum

By on Feb 5, 2014 1:30 pm -
Eric Smiley teaches at the International Eventing Forum. Photo by Samantha Clark for PRO. Eric Smiley teaches at the International Eventing Forum. Photo by Samantha Clark for PRO.

Samantha Clark attended the 2014 International Eventing Forum and posted a wonderful recap and videos on the Professional Riders Organization blog. Five-star dressage judges and trainers Andrew Gardner and Isabel Wessels critiqued a one-star, two-star and three-star test, and you can listen to their comments in the videos below. Eric Smiley also gave a demonstration on how to properly start young horses, which Samantha also caught on video. Many thanks to Samantha and PRO for bringing us all the action from the IEF!

From the PRO blog:

Once again Eric Smiley arranged a varied and fascinating list of guests for this year’s International Eventing Forum; the theme was “Raise Your Game,” and the bumper crowd that filled the indoor arena at Hartpury were not disappointed. In the morning we watched five-star dressage judges and trainers Andrew Gardner and Isabel Wessels critique a 1*, 2* and 3* test, learning invaluable insights into how to earn every single mark available. Andrew stressed control of the horse’s shoulders more, that riders tend to concentrate on the quarters more but that a lot of problems can be solved by taking care of the shoulders. He and Isabel both agreed that “less is sometimes more,” especially for example when asking for medium or extensions in a test. Isabel reminded riders to “own every step” when you ride, and to make full use of the corners in a test: “The corner is your best friend.”

Watch the videos below of Emily King riding Mr Hi-Ho through the 2* test and Izzy Taylor the 3* test with live critique from Andrew and comments from Isabel afterwards.

Eric gave a lovely demonstration of how to properly start young horses, teaching them from the very beginning to take responsibility and to learn instant reactions: “Reaction time is critical in every sport.” Playing with a 21-metre distance between fences, which can easily accommodate five or six strides without interfering with the canter too much, he emphasised the basics — reward good instincts and behaviour. “Horses will always try for you if they know that you’re pleased with them, and we must demonstrate that as riders and coaches.”

The IEF continues to grow exponentially each year, and next year promises to be no different with Andrew Nicholson already announced as one of the guest speakers. Tune into the Eventing Radio Show next week for interviews with Eric Smiley, Liam Moggan and more, plus the UK training sessions with David O’Connor. Many thanks to Eric, the organisers of the IEF and Hartpury College, and congratulations on a fantastic event.

Hulu Votes Budweiser Clydesdales Best Super Bowl Commercial

By on Feb 5, 2014 10:30 am -

Hulu users overwhelmingly voted the Budweiser Clydesdale commercial as the best of this year’s Super Bowl. This is the fourth Super Bowl during which Hulu has used AdZone, which allows viewers to vote for their favorite commercials based on Facebook likes. The Budweiser “Puppy Love” commercial received 15,000 votes, handily beating other popular commercials like Coca-Cola’s “It’s Beautiful,” Audi’s “Doberhuahua” and Budweiser’s “A Hero’s Welcome.” The Clydesdale commercial, which Budweiser released on its YouTube Channel last week, has since received more than 43 million views. Go Clydesdales!

[Hulu AdZone]