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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

Wanted: Strong Writer with Penchant for Chinchillas

By on Sep 3, 2013 10:13 am -

You TOO could spend your nights working from a wine glass.

We like to say we’re building an empire here at Eventing Nation — a well-oiled machine with chinchillas at the helm, ensuring you fabulous readers have quality eventing content to read whenever you log on to the world wide web. We have some very exciting changes coming this fall, and in preparation for what we guarantee is going to knock your socks off, we’re looking to expand our team once again.

Who are we looking for? We’re looking for new team members with a strong writing background. This means you’re not afraid to tackle a breaking news story or interview a leading rider about a new horse. It also means you’re familiar with (or at least willing to learn about) Associated Press Style. Most importantly, it means you don’t take yourself too seriously. Because someone has to clean the chinchilla cages at 2 a.m. after a particularly brutal editing shift, and it could be you.

What the hell is Associated Press Style? If you’re a strong writer — as in someone other than your mom has commended your writing at some point in your life — without any professional experience, we still want to hear from you. As long as you’re willing to learn editing basics, we’re willing to teach you.

What about college students? We definitely want to hear from you. If you’re a journalism or English major — or just a child prodigy with a particularly strong command of the English language — please step right up! We love college students because you’re hungry — just like the chinchillas after that 2 a.m. power editing session.

Shouldn’t I know something about eventing too? While strong writing and editing skills are important, passion about eventing is still our main priority. We’re especially interested in writers who live near and frequent events in areas where our live coverage is currently lacking. In building the empire, we need to cast a wider net. And we need YOU to do that.

How do I apply? Please come to the dark side and apply to write for EN. Send (1) a brief background about yourself, (2) two writing samples and (3) what you think you could contribute to EN to [email protected] by Friday, Sept. 13. Yes, I realize the deadline is Friday the 13th. Good luck, dear readers!

Omega Alpha Reader Submission of the Month: August

By on Sep 1, 2013 5:00 pm -

EN isn’t just your leading source for eventing news, results and commentary; it’s a community where fans of this crazy sport come together to share their war stories. We love hearing from readers and, in turn, sharing your thoughts with the world. All reader submissions are eligible for the Omega Alpha Reader Submission of the Month in which they are published. All winners will receive an Omega Alpha supplement of their choosing. Have something to share with EN? Send it to us at [email protected]!

We’re pleased to announce that Lucy Cheney’s reader submission — “The Upper-Level Lower-Level Divide“ — is the Omega Alpha Reader Submission of the Month for August. Lucy, an adult amateur who competes her horse at the preliminary level, bemoans the lack of fellow adult amateurs competing at the upper levels, and she knows why. It’s not easy balancing a family, career and horses.

When I think about how much easier my life would be if I sold my preliminary packer and got something greener, cheaper and less talented to take around beginner novice and novice, it makes me wonder if I’m the only one. And it makes me worry more that we will see fewer and fewer amateurs competing above training level, with prelim, intermediate and advanced populated only by the professionals.

Lucy will receive a free supply of an Omega Alpha supplement of her choice for sharing their story. Want to win an Omega Alpha supplement? Send in your story, clinic report, video or other article to [email protected]. If it’s published this month, it will be eligible for September’s giveaway. (Month to be determined by date of publishing, not date of submission.) Many thanks to Lucy for writing and to Omega Alpha for supporting Eventing Nation. Go eventing!

Here are some other reader submissions we loved from this month:

Most Touching Memorial: “Remembering Tom Gadsby” by Lissa Green

“Tom was a spirited 26 year old with the world at his feet and never failed to impress people who were lucky enough to meet him. The equestrian world is in mourning, devastated that Tom has been taken from us all too soon. It is a waste of such a special and talented guy with a huge heart. You will be sorely missed and never forgotten. One comfort is that he was immensely happy when this tragedy occurred, earlier he had sent an an email saying these exact words: ‘I absolutely love it here. I truly don’t think I have ever been this happy!'”

Best Commentary: “Three Years Later” by Katie Lindsay

“The basic core values of eventers’ profiles is basically unchanged. Competitive? Yes. Dedicated to their horses? Big yes. Good work ethic? Mostly yes. A more carefree, can do spirit than that evidenced in other similar disciplines? Again, mostly yes. What has changed is the environment in which those who make up the heart of eventing came from, and the environment in which they are asked to function. For whatever reason, entry level numbers at recognized events have seen a slight downturn. This is worrisome. Coupled with the rise in smaller more casual events, I believe something has gone askew.”

Best Clinic Report: “Waredaca David O’Connor Expert Day” by Helen Casteel

“It’s worth noting that with all groups and all exercises, David continued to stress riders staying on their line and maintaining their rhythm. Every once in a while, he would ask a rider if they stayed on their circle and there usually was a heavy pause, followed by a ‘Nope’ or an enthusiastic ‘Yes!’ It was a long day but very fun and very educational. A few riders told David it was the best clinic they’ve ever done, and it was certainly one of the best clinics I’ve ever audited. Go Eventing!”

Best Event Report: “Eventing in the Northwest” by Tamra Smith

“The Northwest has to be my favorite place to event in the country now. I admittedly have always wondered what attracted people to the ‘dreary northwest,” and now I can see the attraction. You get the feel of Europe without the cold. The people are friendly, and the cross country is the way it truly was meant to be — with terrain, several natural hazards and did I say terrain?”

 

Michael Jung Makes History Again with Fourth Gold

By on Sep 1, 2013 3:00 pm -

Michael Jung in today's medal ceremony. Screenshot from FEI TV.

Michael Jung made history last year when he became the first rider in eventing history to consecutively hold Olympic, European and World titles. And he made history again today in Malmö when he won his fourth consecutive gold medal at the European Championships, becoming the only rider to in the sport’s history to win four golds in a row. Friend of EN John Kyle spoke about this historic achievement in FEI TV’s video wrap-up of the day, which you can view below. When asked about his performance today, Michael said, “I have a really good horse for the future. That’s the best thing about it.” If I can read between the lines, Michael is casually telling us he doesn’t plan to end his gold-medal winning streak anytime soon.

Pippa Roome, Horse & Hound’s eventing editor and self-professed eventing trivia guru (and John Kyle’s lovely fiancee!), dug through past championship results yesterday for a report on Michael’s chance to make history. According to Pippa’s research, only Ginny Elliot has come close to matching Michael’s dominance on a championship stage, as she won three consecutive European Championship golds in the 1980s. As Pippa wisely noted, championship victories aren’t the only indicator of prowess at the highest level of the sport — and we certainly can’t count out achievements like William Fox-Pitt’s 50 three-day event victories and Andrew Nicholson’s recent string of four-star wins — but we certainly can say with confidence that Michael Jung has firmly staked his place in eventing history.

Amanda Tamminga Breaks Ankle in Fall; Dogs at Horse Trials Revisited [Updated]

By on Sep 1, 2013 11:00 am -

Amanda Tamminga and Toby. Photo courtesy of Amanda's Facebook page.

We’re sending good vibes to Amanda Tamminga after she suffered a nasty fall yesterday at the Loudon Hunt Pony Club Fall Horse Trials. Amanda and Codename Toby were running cross country in the open preliminary A division when Toby left out a stride before a big angled bench, hitting the fence and going down hard, likely landing on Amanda’s leg. She broke her right ankle and had surgery last night to repair the damage. While I don’t have any specific details on the surgery, Amanda’s friends on the COTH forums — where she’s known as “yellowbritches” — are reporting that she had metal rods and screws inserted during surgery and is facing long months of no riding while she recovers. Multiple vets attended to Toby, who is a bit banged up but otherwise fine. Please join the EN family in sending get-well-soon wishes to Amanda.

Tom Waters caught the fall on video, which you can view below (Note: There’s a big of language toward the end). He was kind enough to let me post it here to foster a discussion on a very controversial topic that crops up all too regularly in this sport: Should dogs be allowed at horse trials? As you’ll hear in the video, a dog — which belonged to the jump judge at the angled bench — started barking at Toby when he came out of the woods and approached the fence. Tom believes that Toby, who notoriously hates dogs, lost his concentration and remained distracted, which resulted in the botched approach and subsequent fall at the fence. We’ve had some heated discussions in the past about dogs at horse trials, and I think Amanda’s fall merits revisiting the subject. Weigh in, EN. Is it simply too dangerous to allow dogs at horse trials?

Many thanks to Tom Waters for this video footage.

Post by Eventing Nation.

 

Update: Amanda Tamminga submitted her own thoughts in the comments thread for this post over on EN’s Facebook page. You can weigh in on the discussion using the link above.

From Amanda: “Since I was sitting on the horse, I can assure you he lost his focus or a beat or two. I don’t think the dog is the SOLE REASON we fell (and the video and ride has been dissected multiple times), but I do know he heard the dog and lost his focus. I know my horse, and I know how he thinks. He hates barking dogs. Always has. It definitely didn’t help. All that being said, my dog was tied up to the trailer. I’m not against dogs at a show, but I have never been a fan of them being with jump judges. I’ve known of dogs getting loose from their jump judge owner, among other issues. And, as others pointed out, the judge is a little unfocused if a rider does have issues …”

Michael Jung and Halunke FBW Clinch European Title

By on Sep 1, 2013 9:15 am -

Michael Jung and Halunke FBW at Aachen. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Michael Jung took down the first fence in the show jumping at the European Championships, but he still brought home individual gold with Halunke FBW on a 32.6 and secured German team gold for the second consecutive time. Ingrid Klimke and FRH Escada JS put in a very strong performance, jumping double clear to move up from fourth place overnight to ultimately clinch the individual silver medal. William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning had an unlucky rail to drop from second place to bronze medal position. Rails fell throughout the course, with poor Ludwig Svennerstal and Shamwari hitting two poles to drop from bronze medal position all the way down to 10th. Peter Thomsen and Horseware’s Cayenne jumped double clear to finish fifth. That’s three Germans finishing in the top five, and Dirk Schrade and Hop and Skip were close behind in sixth place.

As anticipated, Michael Jung showed just how dominant he can be this weekend. After creating an almost 10-point spread in the dressage by scoring an incredible 28.6, he jumped double clear around the cross country yesterday, giving himself two rails in hand going into the show jumping today. Even more incredibly, Halunke FBW has emerged as a new superstar for Michael, who had to compete at the Europeans without La Biosthetique Sam FBW — his reigning Olympic, World and European champion — after the horse sustained a minor injury at Warendorf in July. At just 9 years old, this Württemberg gelding has quickly placed himself in the spotlight, giving Michael an additional impressive horse for the World Equestrian Games selection process next year. While Halunke FBW has not yet contested a CCI4*, he’s a seasoned three-star competitor, and he won the Luhmühlen CIC3* earlier this year.

At the conclusion of the Europeans, Germany clinched the gold medal, with Sweden taking the Silver and France the bronze. The Brits finished in sixth place after some unlucky trips across the country yesterday. With the World Equestrian Games just a year away, I’m left wondering if any country will rise to the occasion and challenge Germany as the leading eventing powerhouse in the world. Ze Terminator swooped in and spanked the world again — on his back-up horse, no less — and the rest of the German team put in very strong performances as well. If this is a preview of how the WEG might play out next year, Team USA has a busy 12 months ahead. Until then, you can bet Michael Jung won’t pause for even a second to enjoy his victory. After pulling rails at major competitions like Badminton and the Europeans this year, he’ll be looking to tighten his show jumping game.

European Championships Links: [Malmö Eventing Website] [Live Scores]


click to view larger

The View from New York Presented by World Equestrian Brands

By on Aug 30, 2013 5:00 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 New York.

From Susan Smith:

This is my horse Schultzie and I looking out over a cliff to the next cliff in Thatcher Park in Altamont, N.Y. I particularly love the danger sign — the drop jump to end all drop jumps!

Buck Pops the Question; Andrea Says Yes!

By on Aug 29, 2013 3:06 pm -

Buck and Andrea at Rocking Horse last year. Photo by Samantha Clark.

A big EN congratulations is in order for Buck Davidson and Andrea Leatherman, who got engaged earlier this week! Andrea told me that Buck had to hop on a plane to England almost immediately after the proposal, but the two lovebirds will be reunited soon when she joins him early next week for Burghley. Buck and Andrea have been dating for four years, and we wish them all the best as they start this new chapter of their lives together. And for all you inquiring minds, a wedding date has not yet been set. Congrats, Buck and Andrea!

Thoroughbred Legends Presented by Cosequin: Kaesar

By on Aug 29, 2013 2:07 pm -

Thoroughbred racehorses that go on to second careers are unique in that they have two retirements in their lifetimes: the first from the track and the second from the show ring. Thoroughbred Legends, a new EN series presented by Cosequin, seeks to honor off-track Thoroughbreds that went on to accomplish great things as upper-level eventers and now enjoy a second retirement in their golden years. If you know of a great Thoroughbred for this series, email [email protected].

A 28-year-old Kaesar and his best friend Brutis enjoy the good life.

Anita Nemtin-Gilmour first saw Kaesar at a Lucinda Greene clinic when he was a 4-year-old fresh off the racetrack. A lovely mover and jumper, Lucinda asked if he was for sale, and the horse’s owner politely declined. But a year later, the owner moved overseas, and Anita jumped at the chance to buy Kaesar as her next upper-level prospect. “I bought him without trying him at all, even though he actually failed the vetting because of navicular changes. But I bought him anyways because I really liked him.” She paid just $10,000 for the horse that would one day take her to the Olympic Games.

Born in Mexico in 1985, Kaesar (Captain General X Quiet Image, by Gun Flint) raced 34 times in Mexico and at Canadian tracks like Woodbine, Greenwood and Fort Erie. A natural at eventing, Kaesar began his second career practically straight off the track and quickly progressed through the levels with Anita in the irons. Kaesar ran his first one-star at Bromont in 1993, where Phillip Dutton liked what he saw and offered to buy the horse. But Anita knew she’d found the partner of a lifetime and decided not to sell. Kaesar went on to win his first two-star and then moved up to Advanced in 1995, finishing his season by qualifying for the Olympic Games with a strong finish in his first three-star at Fair Hill.

Kaesar and Anita at the 1996 Olympic Games. Photo courtesy of Anita.

The following spring, Anita and Kaesar finished second in their first Rolex, which landed them a spot on the Canadian team for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. They finished 19th and jumped clear in the show jumping on the final day. “Two days later he popped an abscess out of his coronet band,” Anita said. “He was in pain the whole time, but he just never said no to anything I asked.” They were 15th at Rolex the following year and made the trip to Burghley, where they ultimately retired on cross country due to a hind suspensory injury.

In true fighting Thoroughbred form, Kaesar recovered to compete again at the Advanced level before retiring in 2003 at 18. Kaesar, now 28, spends his days enjoying the best paddock at Anita’s farm in Palgrave, Ontario, with Brutis, a dwarf Miniature Horse who has faithfully served as his best friend for 10 years. “Kaesar is definitely the king of the farm,” Anita said. “I’ve been married for 15 years, and I always joke that Kaesar is my longest relationship and so far my best. He’s meant everything to me. He’s the best horse I’ve ever sat on, and he had the biggest heart. I owe him everything.”

 

Did You Guess the SmartPak Mystery Product?

By on Aug 29, 2013 11:00 am -

More than 200 of you submitted a guess for this month’s SmartPak Mystery Product. Liz Hocking is the lucky winner who correctly guessed SmartHoof Pellets! She wins a 56-day bag of this awesome supplement.

SmartHoof Pellets offer an unbeatable value,  containing 20 mg of Biotin along with Methionine, Lysine, Threonine, Copper, Zinc, Collagen and other ingredients vital to strong, resilient hooves. SmartHoof Pellets are the smart approach to healthy hooves! Click here to check out this supplement on the SmartPak website! Thanks so much to everyone who submitted a guess for this month’s SmartPak Mystery Product.

*****

It’s time once again to play SmartPak Mystery Product, the monthly feature here on EN that sends you on a scavenger hunt through the SmartPak website. SmartPak has generously donated a variety of fantastic prizes that one EN reader will be lucky enough to take home each month. Here’s how SmartPak Mystery Product works: Keep checking back each day for additional clues that will lead you closer to guessing the product. Once you think you’ve discovered the SmartPak Mystery Product, email [email protected] with a link to the product. Everyone who correctly guesses the SmartPak Mystery Product will be entered to win it, and we’ll randomly draw a winner on Thursday morning. Only one guess per day, please!

Let’s play SmartPak Mystery Product! Here are your clues:

Clue #1: You know what they say: “No hoof, no horse.” Click here to search the SmartPak website.

Clue #2: This product is a smart approach to healthy hooves.

Clue #3: This product contains ingredients like biotin and methionine.

Think you’ve guessed the SmartPak Mystery Product? Email [email protected] with a link to the product. Still stumped? Check back tomorrow morning for the next clue.

Plantation Field Unveils New Warm-Up Ring

By on Aug 29, 2013 9:00 am -

The new warm-up arena at Plantation Field is under construction.

With the Plantation Field International Horse Trials just a few weeks away, organizers have been hard at work behind the scenes preparing the grounds for a very special addition that the riders are sure to appreciate: a brand new warm-up ring complete with high-quality Tapeta footing. “The riders have been asking for a warm-up area for some time, and we’re so excited to have the ring finished in time for this year’s event,” Katie Walker, a Plantation Field board member and the sponsorship and marketing coordinator for the event, said. “We think the riders are going to be very excited with the finished product.”

Invented by Michael Dickinson and originally designed for Thoroughbred racetracks, Tapeta has since become a popular footing choice for the sport horse industry. Plantation also used Tapeta for the main show jumping ring, which was built three years ago, so the warm-up ring will have matching footing. Construction on the new 180-by-210-foot warm-up ring began Saturday, and contractors were dutifully watering the sub-base when I visited the grounds on Monday in preparation for laying the Tapeta footing, which will be delivered next week.

While new footing can easily cost venues a half-million dollars or more, Katie approached Michael about purchasing Tapeta that had been previously used. “Michael offered some of the Tapeta footing from his own personal training track at his farm in Maryland, so we were able to purchase it for a fraction of the price of what it would have cost new,” Katie said. By successfully using second-hand footing, Plantation is paving the way toward a more viable financial model for venues to install state-of-the-art footing.

One of the major challenges Plantation faces when adding in new structural elements like arenas is the grade of the property, which is set almost entirely on hills. Instead of seeing the grade of the land as a disadvantage, event organizer Denis Glaccum embraced the natural shape when the main show jumping arena went in three years ago, and he’s holding to the same philosophy with the new warm-up arena. “We didn’t want the warm-up ring to be cookie cutter,” Denis said. “We fitted the ring to the natural landscape, which is also how we designed the main show jumping arena, which is not perfectly symmetrical.”

Plantation Field’s rolling hills expanded this spring when Katie and her husband Cuyler purchased a 70-acre property off Apple Grove Road that had been preserved by the Cheshire Land Preservation Fund, expanding the venue’s land to more than 300 acres. In a time when open space for riding is dwindling, it’s paramount that organizations like the Cheshire Land Preservation Fund and families like the Walkers, who own about 1,300 total acres, come together to protect land for equestrian sport. Many thanks to Katie for giving me a tour of the new warm-up arena. Go Plantation Field!

Plantation Field Links: [Website] [Facebook] [Twitter]

George Morris: The Man, the Myth, the Legend

By on Aug 28, 2013 1:45 pm -

George Morris teaches at Windurra Farm.

How do you summarize a day spent with a man you’ve immortalized your entire life? I’ve had a healthy fear of George Morris ever since my childhood trainer gave me a stack of old Practical Horseman magazines to sift through. I would devour each of his “Jumping Clinic” columns, but not before examining the photos myself and trying to pick out every minuscule criticism George might say about the rider’s turnout, crest release and leg position. George’s no-nonsense critique style has earned him a reputation as a prickly perfectionist, one who puts thumbtacks on saddle seats to emphasize just how serious he is about getting off the horse’s back.

I went into Tuesday’s clinic at Boyd Martin’s Windurra Farm in Cochranville, Pa., expecting to watch George tear apart our High Performance riders. But what I observed instead was a wise, patient teacher who — at 75 years old and with a laundry list of accolades to his name — has quite frankly earned the right to brandish the occasional verbal assault. While nothing slipped by his watchful eyes — a botched distance, the wrong diagonal or “gimmicky” stirrup irons — I found him to be surprisingly forgiving of mistakes. But his infamous temper certainly surfaced when riders failed to execute his clearly given instructions.

The fact of the matter remains that there is a method to George’s madness. Time after time he tweaked a rider’s position or aids and their horse responded positively. When George picked out a horse to ride from each of the three groups, the change in the horse was very apparent. Whether he schooled a horse successfully through flying lead changes, finessed a horse into accepting contact or convinced a horse that raised trot poles were nothing to fear, George patiently and precisely worked through each problem. Yes, he demands precision, but there’s a reason why George teaches the way he does. To put it simply, it works.

While I’m still working on a longer post — packed with lots of photos and videos — explaining the exact exercises George worked on with our High Performance riders, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include some of the infamous George Morrisisms that surfaced during the clinic. And, as a bonus, I am very pleased to announce that George’s ringtone is none other than Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi.” I like your style, George. And it’s comforting to know that even The Master forgets to put his phone on silent during a lesson; there’s hope for us all yet.

Straight from George’s mouth:

When asking for a slight lengthening: “Just think it. Let the horse go forward.”

“Steady hands. You’re so busy with your hands.”

When asking for transitions: “Think under and up.”

“Straightness is a virtue.”

“There are three types of contact: seat bones, calves, hands.”

Criteria for hands: “Straight, steady, definite, supple.”

“Legs, legs, legs.”

“You’ve got to read old books.”

“A stick must be used with great tact.”

“Address the flying changes.”

“It’s called contact.”

To a resistant horse: “Accept my hand.”

To a horse on the forehand: “Give me your ass.”

“There’s no such thing as an impossible distance. Make it work.”

On what riders should be doing: “Watching, listening, reading.”

“Don’t be sheep.”

“Don’t be afraid of the contact.”

“Fix your stirrup position. You’re so sloppy.”

“Concentration!”

“In every transition, think up!”

“Your seat is important, but it doesn’t produce impulsion.”

“Don’t trot in like a country boy.”

Harry Meade Recovering from Rotational Fall

By on Aug 28, 2013 12:14 pm -

Harry Meade and Wild Lone at Badminton. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Harry Meade is recovering from injuries he sustained Monday in a rotational fall in the Advanced division at Wellington Horse Trials in Hampshire, England, the Horse & Hound reports. He dislocated and broke both of his elbows and has already had the first of what will likely be many surgeries to repair the damage to his arms. He is scheduled for another operation tomorrow and seems to be in good spirits based on updates on his website and Twitter. Harry tweeted today that Shannondale Santiago, who was contesting his first Advanced event, trotted up sound today and appears to have come away from the fall just fine. EN sends our best wishes to Harry for a speedy recovery.

From Harry’s website:

Harry and Shannondale Santiago suffered a nasty rotational fall at Wellington on Monday and Harry is now in great hands in Basingstoke hospital. Both elbows were broken and dislocated in the fall but fortunately he suffered no injuries to his head, neck or any internal organs.  He has been in a lot of pain but has been amazingly brave and positive. He had an initial operation on Monday night and will have further operations on both elbows tomorrow.

The day had started really well with Shannondale Santiago doing a lovely dressage test in the hotly contested Advanced 8/9 year olds section scoring 30 to lie in 4th position and followed it up with a foot perfect clear round in the show jumping.  Six year old Away Cruising was doing his first Intermediate and also did a lovely test and jumped a super double clear making nothing of the Intermediate track.  Shannondale Santiago, a horse with an outstanding jumping technique, appeared to duck under the overhead beam of the innocuous second fence, somersaulting over the fence and landing on Harry.  Fortunately Shannondale Santiago is none the worse from the fall and has come out of it much better than Harry.

We will keep the website updated with Harry’s progress.  At the moment he has his arms suspended and is unable to respond to anything himself but is hugely grateful for everyone’s very kind messages of support.

Shannondale Santiago’s lovely show jumping round on Monday before it all went wrong:

‘How Do You Spell Success?’ Contest Presented by Success Equestrian

By on Aug 27, 2013 5:00 pm -

EN sponsor Success Equestrian, makers of fabulous and affordable high-tech saddle pads, has teamed up with us to give away one of their BRAND NEW Deluxe Cross Country No-Slip Saddle Pads, which retail at $99.

The Deluxe Cross Country No-Slip Pad will keep your saddle in place. No more bunching up behind your leg, no more saddle slipping too far back or riding up the neck, and no more over tightening of girths. This pad prevents slippage on even the hardest to fit horses. The fully contoured top line ensures comfort for your horse, and the streamline shape helps keep your horse cooler.

With an added 1.5-centimeter open-cell breathable foam cushion in the seat, this pad offers extra shock absorption and stability. The air flow grip bottom layer is completely breathable and wicks perspiration due to the quilted cotton blend top layer. The quilted top layer is crisp and white — perfectly suitable for the show ring.

So how do you win one? We’re bringing back the wildly successful “How Do You Spell Success?” contest. Send us a photo of your creative way to spell “success” — use jump poles, flower boxes, letters of the dressage ring, poultice finger painting, etc. … or take a photo of you and your horse in a successful moment with a handwritten SUCCESS sign in the background. Use your imagination!

We’re looking for uniqueness, use of horse-related themes and — as always — humor. The word “success” must be included somewhere in the original photo — no Photoshop work, please. Email your entry to [email protected] by Wednesday, Sept. 11. Good luck!

George Morris, David O’Connor Team Up to Teach Best Clinic Ever

By on Aug 26, 2013 10:00 am -

Horse Nation">This little known fact about George is courtesy of Horse Nation

That’s right, EN! George Morris and David O’Connor are teaming up to teach our Eventing High Performance riders in what will surely be the Best Clinic Ever tomorrow at Boyd Martin’s Windurra Farm in Cochranville, Pa. The Master will also be teaching on Wednesday, but David won’t be on hand that day, so if you want to catch them both teaching in a very rare clinic, Tuesday is the day to drive, fly, hitchhike, rollerblade or run to beautiful Chester County, Pa., to audit the Best Clinic Ever. For those of you who won’t be able to make it, don’t despair! I’ll be covering the clinic for EN on Tuesday to bring you all the George Morris-isms, photos and videos I possibly can.

Here’s all the info you’ll need to attend the Best Clinic Ever:

When: 9 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 27 and 28

Where: Boyd and Silva Martin’s Windurra Farm, 57 Gibble Road, Cochranville, PA 19330

Cost: George is charging an auditing fee of $60 per day. (Checks can be made out to “The Master” with “Best Clinic Ever” in the memo line.)

Schedule:

Tuesday, Aug. 27

9-11 a.m.: Boyd Martin, Caitlin Silliman, Kevin Keane, Sawyer Gilker, Dom Schramm
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Boyd Martin, Caitlin Silliman, Lauren Kieffer, Sharon White, Kaitlin Spurlock
2-4 p.m.: Will Coleman, Lauren Kieffer, Sharon White, Lillian Heard, Erin Sylvester

Wednesday, Aug. 28

9-11 a.m.: Will Coleman, Lauren Kieffer, Sharon White, Lillian Heard, Kevin Keane
11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Boyd Martin, Caitlin Silliman, Erin Sylvester, Lauren Kieffer, Sharon White
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.: Boyd Martin, Caitlin Silliman, Sawyer Gilker, Dominic Schramm, Kaitlin Spurlock

Covert Rights Rises to the Occasion at Richland

By on Aug 25, 2013 11:00 am -

Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights finished fourth in the horse's first CIC3* this weekend at Richland Park. Photo by Jenni Autry.

This is the part where I confess I have a bit of a soft spot for Colleen Rutledge’s 7-year-old homebred gelding Covert Rights. I “discovered” him last fall in my EN’s Got Talent series — you can view those posts here and here — and I’ve followed along ever since as Colleen continued to campaign him at Intermediate and then moved him up to Advanced this spring at the Horse Park of New Jersey. With just two Advanced runs under his belt, CR made a big statement at Richland Park this weekend, throwing down a lovely dressage test, one of only eight double clear show jumping rounds, and jumping clear around a very big cross-country course to ultimately finish in fourth place in a very competitive field. I caught up with Colleen to chat about what’s next for CR. Spoiler alert: It’s going to be a very exciting fall. Go CR!

Sinead Halpin Back in Action at Richland Park

By on Aug 25, 2013 9:00 am -

It’s been a big weekend for Sinead Halpin at Richland Park, as it’s her first event back since sustaining injuries in a fall at Chattahoochee Hills in July, as well as Manoir De Carneville’s first run at the Advanced level since Burghley last fall. Sinead and Tate are currently leading the Advanced division heading into the show jumping this afternoon, and she was kind enough to let the French Princess spend some time in front of the camera for an interview yesterday afternoon. I’m also thrilled to report that Sinead is recovering very well after her tumble, and she and Tate look to be in excellent form for the Plantation Field CIC3* and Fair Hill CCI3* this fall. While it’s a blow she didn’t make it to Europe this fall, all her fans — and me! — are selfishly rejoicing that we’ll get to watch them romp around the cross country here on American soil. Go Sinead, and go Tate!

Boyd Martin Breaks Down His Winning Richland Weekend

By on Aug 24, 2013 6:29 pm -

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces sealed the deal today in the Richland Park CIC3*, jumping clear across a big Ian Stark cross country course and coming home with one of the fastest times of the day to hold their overnight lead and clinch the win. I caught up with Boyd and Oscar after the cross country to talk strategy for the remainder of the fall season before they head to the Netherlands to tackle the Boekelo CCI3*. As a bit of trivia, Oscar earned his barn name because he’s quite a grouch, as you’ll see in the video; Boyd had to bribe him with carrots to convince him to smile for the camera. You also might catch a glimpse of super groom Lindsey Taylor as she put poultice on Oscar’s legs. Congrats to the whole Windurra team for a fantastic showing at Richland this weekend, and best of luck for the rest of the year.

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces Win Richland CIC3*

By on Aug 24, 2013 3:10 pm -

Boyd Martin and Trading Aces — Your Richland CIC3* winners!

Boyd Martin told me yesterday he intended to go for it on Ian Stark’s CIC3* cross country course at Richland Park, and he definitely stuck to that plan, coming home clear with one of the fastest trips of the day to clinch the win with Trading Aces. Oscar has campaigned at the Advanced level for about a year now, and Boyd said it’s time to start treating him like less of a green horse and more like a seasoned campaigner. The horse looked very solid today all around the course where I saw him — especially through the toughest combination on course at fences 19AB and 20 — and this is exactly the trip Boyd needed in preparation for the Boekelo CCI3* later this fall in the Netherlands. I’ll be catching up with Boyd later this afternoon to hear how he thought the course rode.

Michael Pollard and Mensa — 2nd place

Michael Pollard and Mensa were one of the last pairs on course and had a chance to catch Boyd and Oscar if they came home without time penalties. I saw Michael over fence four and through the second water, and he was absolutely flying trying to steal the win from Boyd. He put in a fantastic clear round and came home with 4.8 time penalties to finish in second place, which bodes very well for how Mensa will handle the CCI4* course at Pau in October. Will Faudree and Andromaque tied Boyd and Oscar for the fastest trip of the day, jumping clear with 3.2 time penalties to finish in third place. Missie absolutely made mincemeat of the Keyhole Combination at fences 19AB and 20 and was barely breathing when she galloped by me toward the end of the course. Will and Missie are also heading to Pau in October.

Will Faudree and Andromaque — 3rd place

The best story line of the weekend has to be Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights, who jumped clean around the horse’s first CIC3* course and came home with with 6.8 time penalties — one of the fastest trips of the day — to finish in fourth place. Colleen and CR took the direct route at the Keyhole Combination at fences 19AB and 20, and he didn’t even blink at the solid corner at fence 20, an element that caught out numerous seasoned three-star campaigners throughout the day. If there was any doubt before, I think it’s safe to say that this 7-year-old homebred is absolutely the real deal, and Colleen has to be over the moon about how well he performed this weekend. I already have an interview lined up with Colleen this afternoon to chat about her stellar weekend with CR, so stay tuned for that.

Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights — 4th place

In all, we saw 28 clear jumping rounds in the CIC3* division, though no one made the time. Six riders had refusals at either 19a or 20 in the Keyhole Combination, while numerous riders circled between 19b and 20 to ride a straight line to 20. The riders who successfully took the direct route consistently rode a very forward line with lots of leg to ensure their horses had enough steam for the very big corner at fence 20. I stayed at this part of the course for quite awhile trying to get a video of a horse and rider combination successfully taking the direct route, and Caitlin Silliman and Remington XXV finally showed exactly how it should be done, as you’ll see in the video below. The first water at 7ABC also caused trouble, as Diana Burnett and Shigatzi retired there after multiple stops and Sharon White and Wundermaske picked up two stops there before continuing on to complete the course.

Phillip Dutton and Ben — 5th place

Buck Davidson fell from Santa’s Keeper this morning in the Open Intermediate division and withdrew Cool N’Cavalier — who was slated to be first on course in the CIC3* — about 15 minutes before the start. He later withdrew his remaining three mounts — which is a huge blow considering he was sitting in fourth place with Petite Flower — and we’re sending our best wishes that whatever injury is plaguing him isn’t anything serious. I texted him for a status update earlier today and will let you all know just as soon as I’ve heard how he’s doing. Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless and Diana Burnett and Diamond Cut III withdrew this morning before cross country started, leaving 39 pairs left to contest the CIC3* course. Corinna Garcia and Runabout Riley were the only pair to be eliminated after one too many stops.

Michael Pollard and Ballingowan Pizazz — 6th place

The Biggest Movers Awards go to Michael Pollard and Ballingowan Pizazz, who moved up from 30th place after dressage to finish in sixth place, and Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbott, who moved up from 32nd place to eighth place. I ran into Peter yesterday while he was dutifully walking the Keyhole Combination, and he had a beautiful direct trip through there today, with Eddie looking like he was having the time of his life as always. Michael also gets a big shoutout for finishing his weekend with two horses in the top six of a very competitive CIC3* division. I’m typing this up from a nearby Panera due to no wifi access at the grounds, and I’m about to head back now to interview some of the CIC3* riders. Stay tuned for much more from Richland!

[Richland Website] [Entry List] [2013 Schedule] [Live Scores] [Cross Country Preview]

Richland CIC3* Live Cross Country Updates

By on Aug 24, 2013 11:20 am -

Will this tricky combination cause trouble for the CIC3* riders?

Good morning from Richland Park! It’s an absolutely beautiful day here, with hardly a cloud in the sky and temperatures expected to reach into the low 80s. The CIC3* cross country kicks off at 11:45 a.m., and I’ll be checking in from the course with live updates on my phone to keep you up-to-date on all the action. Based on my conversations with some of the riders, the general consensus remains that Ian Stark’s CIC3* course is going to require a confident, accurate ride to answer all the questions. Don’t miss Selena O’Hanlon’s excellent video of her fence-by-fence analysis I posted earlier this morning, as well as my course preview and Sharon White’s strategy for fences 19AB and 20 at the Keyhole Combination. Go Richland Park!

[Richland Website] [Entry List] [2013 Schedule] [Live Scores] [Cross Country Preview]

11:22: Buck Davidson fell from Santa’s Keeper in the open intermediate division this morning and has subsequently withdrawn Cool N’ Cavalier from the CIC3*. No word yet on whether he’ll be riding his other mounts.

11:34: Buck has now withdrawn all of his mounts in the CIC3*. We will give an update on his condition just as soon as we know.

11:40: Diana Burnett and Shigatzi retire at the first water at fence 7.

11:45: Eliza Farren and Bantry Bays Dublin picked up a stop on course. We’re trying to confirm where.

11:56: Jolie Wentworth and Goodknight have a refusal at 19A, took the option and circled before fence 20.

12:01: Katie Whirley and Mr. Indiscretion had a runout at fence 17. They also had a runout at 19a and then took option before circling at 20.

12:03: Corinna Garcia and Runabout Riley were eliminated after three refusals at fence 5.

12:11: Jimmie Schramm and Bellamy take the direct line at fence 20 and have a runout. They also had a refusal at fence 20 before the second water.

12:15: Sharon White and Wundermaske had two stops at the skinny brush in the water at fence 7.

12:24: Laura Vello and Winning Facts had a runout at 19a, took the option and circled before fence 20. They also picked up another stop at a location we’re trying to verify.

12:25: Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbott and Lynn Symansky and Donner are provisionally tied for the lead after both came home clear with time.

12:27: The awesome volunteers are laying gravel between 19b and 20 where the footing is a bit soft in the shade.

12:31: We’re still looking for the first double clear trip of the day.

12:36: Will Faudree and Andromaque take the provisional lead with a clear trip and 3.2 time.

12:50: Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate had a runout at fence 20 while attempting the direct route from 19b.

12:52: Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe also had a stop at fence 20 while attempting the same route.

12:52: Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights had one of the best rides we’ve seen all day through the Keyhole Combination at 19ab and 20 in the horse’s first CIC3*.

12:59: Amanda Wilson and Cool Decision also made quick work of the Keyhole Combination.

1:02: Boyd Martin and Trading Aces hold their overnight lead with a clear trip and 3.2 time. Only Michael Pollard and Mensa can take the win from them now.

1:20: Michael Pollard and Mensa come home clear with 4+ time, making Boyd Martin and Trading Aces the CIC3* winners! Full report coming soon.

Selena O’Hanlon Walks the Richland CIC3* Course

By on Aug 24, 2013 10:00 am -

Selena O'Hanlon and Bellaney Rock at Richland Park. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Selena O’Hanlon was kind enough to walk every fence of Ian Stark’s CIC3* cross country course at Richland Park and offer analysis on her approach and strategy to each question. Between my fence-by fence preview and Team Tredstep Ireland rider Sharon White’s thoughts on the Keyhole Combination at 19AB and 20, this should give you a very accurate picture of exactly what the riders will be facing on course today. Many thanks to Selena for the video and to Anne Marie Duarte for sending me this video via Twitter. Stay tuned for all the cross country action from Richland Park!

[Richland Website] [Entry List] [2013 Schedule] [Live Scores] [Cross Country Preview]

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe Forge Partnership

By on Aug 23, 2013 8:36 pm -

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Samantha and I both agreed that we really wanted to catch up with Allison Springer today to talk about the fantastic weekend she’s having with Copycat Chloe. This mare is a tricky ride, which suits Allison quite well; the story of how she believed in her Rolex and Burghley partner Arthur when no one else did is now well known in the eventing community. I watched Allison for quite a while in the dressage warmup yesterday, and she very quietly and patiently handled Chloe’s little meltdowns during the ride, always coaxing beautiful work out of her in the end. That warmup translated into a beautiful dressage test and one of just a handful of double clear show jumping trips today. Allison and Chloe are poised for a very good day tomorrow, as they’re sitting in seventh place overnight in the CIC3* heading into cross country. Best of luck to Allison and Chloe!

Boyd Martin Talks Trading Aces at Richland

By on Aug 23, 2013 6:49 pm -

I caught up with Boyd Martin this afternoon at Richland after he took the lead with Trading Aces in the CIC3* thanks to a beautiful double clear trip in the show jumping. As you’ll hear Boyd discuss in the interview, Oscar has now had about a year’s worth of experience at the Advanced level, and Boyd thinks it’s time to start treating him like less of a green horse when it comes to the cross country. As of this afternoon, his strategy for Ian Stark’s big three-star course is to go for it, and he’ll certainly have to do that if he wants to get around clear. I asked him about the tricky Keyhole Combination at 19AB and 20 — which Sharon White walked me through this morning — and he said he thinks it’s more of four-star question, so horses and riders will absolutely have to be on form to tackle those fences, as well as a variety of other big asks on course. Many thanks to Boyd for taking time out of his busy afternoon to speak with me, and best of luck to all the riders as we head into the cross country tomorrow.

I have to apologize for the total lack of posts from Richland this morning. My hot spot worked beautifully all day yesterday, but today I couldn’t get a strong enough connection to upload a single thing. After trying all morning to upload photos and videos without any luck, Samantha and I finally retreated to a nearby Panera to use the free wifi early this afternoon after the CIC3* show jumping concluded. We’ll be making up for the lack of updates this morning by bombarding you with content tonight, so please check back to see much more from Richland. I’m also starting a new tradition of uploading all my photos to Eventing Nation’s Facebook page after each day of competition, so be sure to check there tonight as well to view my CIC3* show jumping album, tag your friends and leave notes of encouragement for the riders. The CIC3* cross country starts at 11:45 a.m. tomorrow morning, and I’ll be out on course early in the day bringing you snippets of the action from the Intermediate and CIC2* divisions. Go Richland!

[Richland Website] [Entry List] [2013 Schedule] [Live Scores] [Cross Country Preview]

The View from Ohio Presented by World Equestrian Brands

By on Aug 23, 2013 5:00 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 southwest Ohio.


From Jayne:

Here’s me on my 3-year-old New Zealand Sporthorse Aberjoe by Aberjack. We were hacking in our hayfield and Aberjoe spotted the 2 young deer that have been living back there. I think they are orphans, as they are both young but no mommas around. Beautiful weather we are having here.