We hear all the time about horses at the top of the sport, but what about the next generation of equine talent? EN’s Got Talent introduces the future superstars of the sport, interviewing riders about how they’re tackling training with these youngsters. Have you spotted a spectacular young horse at an event you think should be highlighted in this column? Tip me at [email protected].

Cinco & his silver bucket (photo by Tass Jones)

Tamra Smith was on the hunt for a young event prospect to produce when she met Fleeceworks Cinco at Kristi Nunnink’s farm. Kristi had purchased the then 3-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Cascani x Kawas Joy) from October Hill Farm in Texas. “You kinda forget where they started from when you’ve been riding them for so long,” Tamra said.

“He didn’t really know how to steer or go on the bit. He couldn’t turn and he would bulge his shoulder and keep going straight instead of turning.” But Tamra saw the potential in Cinco. While she’d already put together a syndicate to buy a young horse, Judith McSwain of Fleeceworks ended up buying him outright, and the horse become Fleeceworks Cinco.

Cinco turned 4 in May of 2011, and Tamra started entering him in Young Event Horse competitions on the West Coast. He won his qualifying event at Rebecca Farm and went on to win the YEH 4-year-old West Coast Championships at Twin Rivers later that year.

As a 5-year-old, Cinco won each of his three YEH qualifying events at Twin Rivers, Galway Downs and Rebecca Farm, where 30 horses competed in the division. He then capped off an amazing season by winning the YEH 5-year-old Championships at Twin Rivers. “He also holds the highest score in the history of the Young Event Horse series,” Tamra Said. “He scored a 92.43 as a 5-year-old at Twin Rivers.”

Cinco dominating the dressage (photo by Libby Everett)

Tamra has been a big supporter of the YEH series and has spoken to judges at her area convention to learn more about how the scoring works at the events and what the judges want to see. “The judges always want to see a horse they’d like to ride,” Tamra said.

“On the flat, Cinco’s a very extravagant mover, but he’s also very smooth. He has a super uphill trot and canter, a great walk and an exceptional mind. When you see him go, he just looks very fun to ride. I have a smile on my face in most of the pictures of me riding him because he really is just a joy. In his first real competition, he had a stop in the show jumping because I just enjoy riding him so much that I forgot he’s a baby and he’s still asking questions.”

After a stellar conclusion to his 5-year-old season, Tamra moved Cinco up to preliminary at the beginning of this year. He was third in his first preliminary start at Galway Downs in February. Tamra took him to Twin Rivers the next month, but knew right away that something was wrong when Cinco started his cross-country trip.

“He was winning the dressage by a large margin, but he didn’t feel right to me on the cross country,” Tamra said. “I had my vet look at him, and we decided he’s going through a weird growth spurt where he’s awkwardly built all of a sudden. We decided to give him some time to get through the growth spurt and not keep pushing him.”

Next week on EN’s Got Talent: Cinco is unique in that he’s the first horse I’ve featured in this series who isn’t actively being campaigned right now. But the message Tamra is sending about giving a horse time off when he needs it is such an important one. Next week we’ll hear more about why Tamra made this decision, as well as her plans for Cinco’s return to competition later this year.

“The good thing about it and why it’s unique for me is I’m really lucky because I have a lot of nice young horses right now,” Tamra said. “That helps because you take out the selfish part of yourself competing and you really focus on what’s best for the horse.”

Sharon White is hoping to compete at Blenheim or Boekelo this fall with Wundermaske, and she’s hosting the fifth annual Derby Cross-style schooling competition at her Last Frontier Farm in Summit Point, W.V., this Saturday. Rachael Livermore sent in all the information about what will be happening at JUMP! Across the Pond. Best of all, it’s not too late to enter and support Sharon.

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Lots of orange spirit at JUMP 2012!

From Rachael:

Sharon White and Last Frontier Farm are hosting their 5th annual Derby Cross-style schooling competition fundraiser this Saturday, June 29th! What started as a fundraiser to replace a totaled truck and trailer has turned into an annual event to support Sharon’s overseas competition pursuits. This year, it is called JUMP! Across the Pond, and is being held to raise money for Sharon to compete Wundermaske (“Patch”) at either Blenheim or Boekelo. JUMP! is known for its great schooling courses, wonderful atmosphere, and extremely enthusiastic competitors and fans!

Sharon and Patch have been together since he was a naughty 6 year old, bred to be his amateur owner’s dressage horse. Once he figured out how much fun eventing is, he cleaned up his act and hasn’t looked back! Patch is now 10 years old and successfully moved up to Advanced earlier this year, loving every minute of competing at that level. He placed 3rd at the Fair Hill CIC*** and 7th at the Jersey Fresh CCI*** this spring. His favorite things are being the center of attention and hanging his head out the window on trailer rides.

This year’s JUMP! features a silent auction and raffle — with prizes donated by EN sponsors Point Two, Devoucoux, and Tredstep Ireland — with everything from a dive trip in the islands to a breeding to a fabulous warmblood stallion! Vendors will be available with product representatives to answer all of your questions. Every level will have a lead horse (in case your horse wants to follow a buddy), and Sharon will be providing course walks all day. We have levels from elementary to preliminary and will start the day low and build up to encourage moving up a level if you feel confident. Repeat rounds encouraged!

We are very excited to once again have the notorious Brian O’Connor joining us as announcer. We’ve heard he may even bring some boots and britches in addition to his microphone! You really won’t want to miss it … Questions? Email Rachael at [email protected]. We are taking last minute entries! Click here for the entry form: JUMP! Across the Pond Entry Form. Thanks from everyone at Team Orange!

Helen Guidotti sent us a wonderful report from a clinic Eric Horgan taught last year in Durango, Colo., and she’s back today with an encore report from Eric’s clinic last week. It sounds like everyone who rode with Eric in the clinic had major breakthroughs in their dressage work. Take it away, Helen!

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Eric works with Melissa Kelly and Ticos.

From Helen:

We just completed a wonderful four-day clinic with Eric Horgan in Durango, Colo., last week. We are all now suffering the Departure of Eric Blues! Why is it that once left on your own after a fantastic span of learning — in this case four days — one is left frustrated trying to replicate the feelings one was able to achieve under the watchful eye of an amazing instructor? The sayings run through my head: “equal weight in both stirrups; let your arms move with him; the canter, the canter, the canter” and so many, many more, but still that gliding feeling at the super walk or the punchy canter or the fluid trot become elusive. I guess that’s why we’ll be having him back in October!

Last October, we were lucky enough to receive a sponsorship from SmartPak. They donated a bridle, and we held a raffle and Janet Jones was the lucky winner of the bridle! Thanks to SmartPak for making the clinic that much more exciting and fun!

Amy Leonard is new to Eric’s clinics. She is 12 years old and had a great time riding Patrick — who is 20 years young — and learning how to get him moving into the bit in a forward but not fast trot. She did a fantastic job over the weekend.

Melissa Kelly has done a great job bringing OTTB Ticos back from a long time off. She has found him to be far more supple and agile in regards to lateral work since being off. When you first learn your horse is injured or you are too busy or whatever the reason may be that your horse needs a break, your world seems to be falling apart. BUT, all too quickly the time has passed, other things filled your day and when you get to work the horse again, by golly, he ends up going better than ever. It can be a devastating blow at the time, and yet things work out for the best, as witnessed by the progress Melissa made this weekend in shoulder-in/haunches in working toward the half-pass. It was very fun to see the light bulbs popping all weekend as riders would suddenly GET IT!

Sara Barnes and Cane were able to get some amazing results in their flat work.  Eric ends each ride asking every rider what three things are you taking away from this ride? He says if you go beyond three things or get too wordy about the three things, you’re not as likely to remember all the lessons learned. SO, every time I ride, as I am cooling out or preparing to dismount, I pick three things about the ride that I am walking away with. Of course, they have to be positive things!

Elisabeth Marsh did a great job with her absolutely wonderful Raf. They are really beginning to master walk to canters, walking turn on the forehand and leg yielding. It is so fun to see the learning process happen and people walking away with smiles on their faces and pats (or carrots) for their horses

Laura Wright and her young OTTB mare, Cleo, made amazing progress. Laura had cantered her a couple of times and Cleo had been off property five times in over a year. They really accomplished a lot, from cantering on day one to trot poles and, most importantly, acceptance of the bit. Watching them was an inspiration to see what can be accomplished so seamlessly and with relaxation.

The jumping exercise Eric had up his (short) sleeves was quite a challenge. Picture four jumps on a twenty meter circle; the goal was to ride through the middle of each set of standards and see how many strides it takes your horse to complete the circle. Then see if you can add and subtract strides on the circle. Not so easy! Then add poles on the ground and, ultimately, height to the jumps. When the balanced canter was maintained, it was easy. That didn’t happen all the time! He also did some work on how to land with the canter lead you want.

Jessie Beukima and Pache had a great weekend and overcame some little bitty jumping demons. How you ask? With the canter the canter the canter. When they had the forward, balanced, punchy canter, life was good, and the jumping went really well. Their dressage is getting very classy, and it’s time to get them to a show!

All in all, it was another great learning experience, and Eric has given us all our homework for when he comes to visit in October. One of the major breakthroughs my little brain finally made was that the horse needs to feel safe in order to be soft. If you are off balance or pulling on the reins or doing anything that upsets the horse, it’s not going to soften for you. You have to create, with your mind and body, an environment that enables and encourages the horse to soften. It’s a huge responsibility and, although it sounds simple, it’s not so easy. So, come visit the great southwest and ride in or audit Eric’s next clinic out here!

We received three great stories over the weekend about the “r” Judge Training Program, Shepherd Ranch Horse Trials and PVDA Ride for Life Show. Many thanks to Eileen Kenney, Jen McFall and Beth Collier for sending in these photos. Have a photo you’d like to submit to EN? Send it to [email protected].

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Photo L to R: Eileen Kenney, Andrew Temkin, Panelists Sally Ike & Cindy De Porter, Julie Congleton, Janice Holmes, Lynn Coates-Holmes, and Joni Abney.

From Eileen Kenney:

Participants in the “r” Judge Training Program for Eventing Officials – B & C Jumping Training Program, taken today at the Fox River Valley Pony Club HT, CIC* and CCI* in Barrington, Ill. OUTSTANDING teaching and wealth of information through experience given by Panelists Sally Ike & Cindy DePorter. New officials coming through the program will be taking their final testing for their Judges Certification in September 2013, setting up the USEF/USEA with upcoming Judges and TD’s for our future sport.

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Taylor McFall at Shepherd Ranch.

From Jen McFall:

What a gem Shepherd Ranch is! Tucked away in the Santa Ynez Valley, surrounded by wineries, estates, and great shopping, there is something for everyone at this show. Our daughter, Taylor, was showered in fabulous prizes offered at this show. She finished sixth in her Open Intro class, she won the Legis Optimum Time Award, and also a championship ribbon for the highest placed Pony Club member, representing the Deer Creek Pony Club. I’m pretty sure she will walk back to this show if she has to! Thank you, Shepherd Ranch, for making her year!

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Dobbin and Corinne Ashton. Photo by Beth Collier.

From Beth Collier:

Former Advanced level eventer Dobbin and Corinne Ashton completed a Grand Prix Test scoring 56.48% in the FEI Test Of Choice Class and finished in 2nd place at the Potomac Valley Dressage Association Ride for Life Show yesterday in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. I award Corrine the “diamond dressage tiara” for doing an FEI test in a SNAFFLE bit!

EN reader Denya is back with multiple reports from recent clinics taught by Clayton Fredericks and Jessica Phoenix. Denya submitted one of our favorite clinic reports for 2012, and we’re excited that she’s back to share more from Canadian eventing. Her third and final report looks at a Canadian Young Riders clinic taught by Jessica Phoenix on June 1 and 2. [Denya’s 1st report] [Denya’s 2nd report] 

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Jessica Phoenix gives instructions for the bounce.

From Denya:

Nineteen Canadian Young Riders attended a two-day clinic on June 1 and 2 at Arthur Teteishi’s farm given by Jessica Phoenix, coach of the Young Riders, a very successful competitor and extremely articulate. I’d not had the opportunity to see her as a clinician, and she was excellent. Her groups were talented, brave and hardy given the heavy footing and demanding exercises on the cross-country day. What was particularly interesting — as I dashed back and forth in my trusty 4-wheel drive through the mud — between her clinic and Clayton’s was the similarity in the core messages, yet each had different phrasing and used varying exercises. So it was really novel to be following two clinics at once …

Day one was dressage, and it included a talk with Jacqueline Brooks, one of Canada’s top dressage riders and coach. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to day one, but the second day was cross country, and, of course, it was fun. Jessica was using bounces, working up to big bounces, to teach the core principles of cross-country jumping.

A two-part bounce was used to demonstrated the necessity of preparing the horse, finding your distance and allowing the horse to have the freedom of movement to act like a bungee cord through the bounce. In a perfect world, the rebalancing zone must not be too early — too far out and the horse will get fussy — nor too close — not enough time to adjust the distance to the fence smoothly — and the change between the gallop position and the position to rebalance the horse for the upcoming jump must be clear.

As all of us know from experience that if you get into a big bounce wrong, there is no time to recover, so it’s our job to get them into the right spot. Then it’s our job to free up their head and neck so they can use the whole scope of their body to do their job. On landing, GO! Don’t land in a heap!

Riding bounces poorly or overfacing a horse with bounces can harm their confidence, so keep the horse in front of your leg, balanced, compact and confident you are there for them. Quite independently, both Clayton and Jess agree on using the distance of 10 strides out, and Jess reiterated using the last three strides to “jump” — no more fussing. Jess stressed that when the jumps are bigger, it’s not more speed, but collection and impulsion for success. And commit commit commit to your line. Let them see the questions as clearly as possible, try not to surprise them, be clear where you want to go — they need time to think too. Never ever let the horse cross its line when refusing or in trouble … stay straight at the obstacle.

I asked if horses could see the angles on corners, and Jess replied that horses learn to see the flag. When she set an in-and-out of two verticals on a hard angle, the horses jumped them easily. They jumped the left end of the first and the right end of the second for two strides, and then switched to jump the right end of the first element (greater angle) and the left end of the second for three strides. We’re not talking small verticals either!

Perhaps one of the easiest lessons to understand was practice bounces on a hillside up, on a hillside down, on a side slope … don’t do all your work on even flat ground with great footing. Ride in the rain, the wind, the heat, the cold. Events seldom have perfect footing and perfect weather. But we can always hope … Go Canada! Go Eventing!

Capt. Mark Phillips sent a response to Eventing Nation yesterday addressing the Buschreiter.de editorial entitled “Good Time For A New Start” by Wolf-Deitrich Nar, which we posted Saturday morning on the blog. As we explained in that post, Buschreiter.de is a German eventing website that posted the opinion piece following the death of Emeric George’s mount P’tite Bomb at Luhmühlen. A tragic fall claimed the mare’s life at fence 12 on the cross-country course, which Mark designed. Click here to read the English translation of the Buschreiter.de editorial and here to read the editorial in German.

From Capt. Mark Phillips:

Dear Sirs:

I don’t do ‘social media’ or ‘chat rooms’ but I was shocked to be told about and then read that Eventing Nation had posted the piece by Wolf-Deitrich Nahr without any research into its authenticity.

Eventing Nation is not usually associated with such provocative and inflammatory journalism. I hope this is neither a change of direction for the website nor that it has a personal vendetta against myself.

The article posted on the German website Buschreiter.de had so many inaccuracies and fabrications that I feel compelled to put the record straight.

Firstly I have never spoken to Wolf-Deitrich and he has no idea of the sickening feeling a course designer has in their stomach when a horse or rider gets killed. He has no idea of the personal examination, sadness and remorse. A fatality always puts a dark cloud over a day and I can only assume that that sadness was mistakenly taken for a perceived ‘lack of compassion’.

Many weeks before the competition I went round the course with Rudiger Schwarz and the TD. We tuned the course, easier in some places, more difficult in others. It is totally untrue to say that those “discussions didn’t achieve any actual changes in course design”.

It is also totally untrue to say that there were no changes after the “FEI Official Course Walk”. Everything the Ground Jury and TD wanted adjusted was done and everything requested by Chef d’Equipe’s, Coaches and Riders was done. I hasten to say the lists were small, one item for the Ground Jury, one item for a ‘Chef’ and two extra warm up fences. The truth is that the courses received unprecedented acclaim from coaches, riders and the many FEI Officals present.

The first water, number 4, remains a mystery. Beforehand it was generally thought to be ‘innocuous’ and a warm up water fence for the questions to follow. How often it happens that there is trouble when fences don’t get the same respect as the more difficult combinations.

To say that “Luhmuhlen is an entertainment programme for ex-Royals in early retirement” is plain insulting and gives no credence to the extreme effort put in by the whole team, Organisers, TD, Officials, builders as well as coaches and riders.

The ‘art’ of designers to “incorporate all those expectations into a singular package” was put into practice in an exemplary way at Luhmuhlen, even if all would have wished for a different result.

The CIC3* was a true CIC3* with a little plus in it. I was sorry but I thought that was what was expected at one of the flagship German competitions. It will therefore continue that way unless the Organising Committee and German coaching regime asks for something different.

It is true that I was sad to see the old, with Steeplechase format, go but I as much as anyone understood the sports position with the IOC and the need for change. I have since worked harder than most to put constructive input into the rules and conditions of the modern sport.

I believe this is still a work in progress as we strive to get this more intense formula better.

To say that course design has anything to do with “nationalistic pride” is nothing but laughable. To even think it has anything to do with the demise or prowess of the British or German sport horse is simply a joke.

To say that the horse is being “relegated to (a piece) of sports equipment” only goes further to devalue the article as Wolf-Deitrich obviously has no conception of the extreme love, care and attention bestowed upon the sport horse and the love affair between horse and rider.

After eight years without serious incident at Luhmuhlen, the death of P’tite Bomb and the rotational fall of Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz over a fence they jumped successfully in 2011 has left a scar on me that I will carry for the rest of my life.

Suffice it to say that my love of the sport and my love of the horse are still as strong as ever and I will continue to work my hardest to use my 45 years of experience to promote the sport and its horses and riders in the best possible light.

The same cannot be said for Buschreiter.de and much of the mainstream media in Germany.

Regards,

Captain Mark Phillips

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UPDATE 7/4/13:

We have corrected several errors in the original translation.

The first translation of the article incorrectly translated the tense of a German sentence, implying that there was an official FEI course walk that recommended changes before the cross-country and that those changes were not implemented.  In fact, the German article actually claims that there was an official FEI course walk AFTER cross-country that questioned the course design in retrospect.  Captain Phillips clarifies that above.

Secondly, the first translation incorrectly translated the German article as saying that Captain Mark Phillips wants to “go back to the old format.”  The German article does not say this.  A more correct translation is that “Phillips belongs to the group of hardliners, who would be happy to turn back the clock.”  There is no direct mention of the old format.

All of the points that Captain Phillips addresses above were translated correctly the first time.

We apologize for the errors, click here for more information.  

I announced the Blogger Contest final four on Friday; now I’m bringing you their victorious Round 2 entries in individual installments. Their Assignment: If you had the power to make three changes to the sport of eventing, what would they be? Next up: Erin Critz. Each entry will be presented unedited for fairness’ sake. Thanks as always for reading, Eventing Nation. Please leave feedback in the comments section. Click here for Sally Spickard’s Round 2 entry and here for Rick Wallace’s Round 2 entry.

Bio: Erin Critz is a former radio DJ, current IT professional and recovering Hunter/Jumper rider. Erin and her Morgan mare Akira Beijing compete in the Beginner Novice division on the West Coast. She aspires to tackle the N3D at Rebecca Farms in 2014 and finds writing 50 word bios challenging.

Entry: Being asked what three things you’d change about your sport is really kind of a daunting question if you think about it. At first glance, it’s a fun, slightly fanciful question that requires you know enough about the material to speak to it in an educated fashion. Hidden in the question though is the tricky bit – the question has the potential to out you for who you really are. Very crafty, EN. Very crafty.

When you get down to it – I’m new at this whole Eventing thing. I came out to my friends and family as Eventing-curious in the summer of 2010 via a Facebook post:

Btw H/J friends and family this is me officially coming out of the closet as Eventing-curious. I’m not a full blown Eventer- I’m just experimenting with solid fences. Then again the previous Dressage flirtations may have given some of you a clue. Scandalous pix later tonight!

I referred to myself as Eventing-curious at the time because I was worried about the response and I thought maybe if I kept telling myself it was just a phase, it would be just that – a phase, something I did for a season or two. My friends and family accepted me for me though and I am beginning to be able to say “I am an Eventer” without the usual disclaimer of my Hunter/Jumper past.

With this newness to Eventing, I almost feel like I don’t have a right to answer a question like this – there’s so much out there that could be different for better or for worse. Do I attempt to tackle the Big Issues – the One Fall Rule or horses potentially being pushed to the limit with the current qualification system?

I could – yes, but that’s not me. Those kind of questions and problems need answers when you point them out and I don’t have those. That’s what the Eventing sages, superstars and-people-smarter-than-me are here for.

Me? I’m here for fun. That’s really the long and the short of it and why a question like this is hard for me – I’m having fun. I have yet to really start my own trek up the levels and those sorts of concerns still feel so removed from what I’m doing.

So that presents me with the real question – What would make Eventing MORE fun for me?

First, lets be honest. Real talk here. No one actually enjoys Dressage. If you find yourself saying “…but I enjoy Dressage,”, just stop. You don’t have to lie – we’re among friends here. We need to do something to make Dressage something more than what we suffer through to get to the fun stuff.. I’ve started this process on an individual level. I’ve accepted the fact that my Dressage tests are two minutes worth of set up for a punchline after the final halt – a panicked look to the judge’s booth after my salute and a breathless “We made time, right?!” If I can make the scribe laugh, it was a good test. If I can make the Judge laugh as well, a great test. One of these days when I am feeling very sassy, I just might have to up the ante on my gimmick and have a whole 10-minute box crew rush in. I promise there will be video.

Perhaps the answer is to shift Dressage from the same boring tests to a speed event. Everything else is timed, right? If I have a good time zooming around the sandbox at warp speed, I’m far less inclined to judge you with your beautiful score of 24 and comments like ‘Outstanding Geometry’ and ‘Consistent Rhythm’ while I sit here with my 49, ‘Tension’ and ‘Too Reactive’ scrawled all over my test.

Second, music. We all have it – that one song that gets you stoked. It energizes you and gets you ready to unleash the inner beast. As much as I love the fact that I have heard things over the speakers that make me sound like a total bad ass (“Erin Critz, The Blitz, on Akira Beijing clear thru the water”), I want my jams.

Imagine it – “5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – Have a good trip!” And then there it is: your song as you valiantly spring in to action. Speakers at every fence, timed with your ride so it’s there – giving you that extra edge. Problem is, I don’t know what I’d choose – Flight of the Valkyries seems the comedic and yet somehow sensible choice for a 33 year old woman on a pony cruising around BN. Also when I move up to Novice, the jump judge will no longer be able to hear me on the approach to the down bank: “Yea, though I gallop up to the down-bank of death, I will fear no drop: for my horse is honest; my whip and grab strap they comfort me!”

Music, of course, would have to be submitted with your entry fees. If you fail to include or indicate your song of choice, your trainer and friends would be notified immediately and they’d be allowed to submit something ridiculous on your behalf like Rafi’s Banana Phone or Peanut Butter Jelly Time.

And finally, speaking of entries – can we work on some global unity when it comes to the naming of the levels? It worries me a bit that I could be filling out a British entry form, circle Novice and then suddenly find myself heading out to a Prelim trip. This is not to suggest that I plan to go to the UK and Event any time soon, but these are the things I secretly worry about when I look at the strange twists and turns my life has taken. On top of that we also have to deal with the awkwardly named collection of CCI-CIC-CCIO-EIEIO-BBQ-BRB-IDK-star levels.

I know those of you that have been at this forever are saying “You’re so silly, it makes perfect sense!”, but no – it really doesn’t. I know we’re dealing with the FEI and that’s a whole other bag of hairnets and saddle soap, but hear me out. As someone newer to the sport, I find myself struggling to explain to my non-Eventing friends and family where these go in the order of difficulty. I understand that they’re essentially the international Preliminary, Intermediate, and Advanced levels with some harder questions. When I try to explain a one star to non-Eventing friends and family I come up with underwhelming answers like “Uh, it’s Prelim-Plus? I guess? Maybe? It’s big.” If we unify the naming schemata across the globe these sorts of awkward statements and idle daydreaming worries will be eliminated. Obviously, I can’t be in charge of the naming conventions because Prelim-Plus sounds like some sort of poorly named energy drink.

In all honesty, for me and at my level, there isn’t much I want to change – I love what I’m doing now and being around the amazing and inspirational people in the sport and my barn. If you’ll excuse me though, Team Dragonfire is off to school cross country today and I’ve got some sort of watch or saddle pad based speaker-system to rig up as well as down bank therapy to prepare for. Go Team DF. Go Fun. Go Eventing.

I announced the Blogger Contest final four on Friday; now I’m bringing you their victorious Round 2 entries in individual installments. Their Assignment: If you had the power to make three changes to the sport of eventing, what would they be? Next up: Ella Rak. Each entry will be presented unedited for fairness’ sake. Thanks as always for reading, Eventing Nation. Please leave feedback in the comments section. Click here for Sally Spickard’s Round 2 entry, here for Rick Wallace’s Round 2 entry, and here for Erin Critz’s Round 2 entry.

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Bio: Ella Rak, 16, is a High School student, Aspiring Lower Level Eventer, C2 Pony Clubber and Equestrian-procrastinator extraordinare. Defining Characteristics: Strong willed, Easily distracted by horses (I should be studying for final exams right now, but instead cleaned tack and wrote this article), and slightly OCD (that record book WILL be perfect).

Entry: Disclaimer: These views are solely those of a striving Novice Level eventer, and do not reflect the views of someone with significant riding experience. I may never make it to ‘Young Riders’”, but maybe I can be an Eventing Nation ‘Young Writer’.

It’s funny that the prompt should be the three changes to the sport of eventing you would make, as that was almost exactly one of the questions I ask a number of eventers for a school project earlier this year. Though I asked about it in relation to the safety of the sport, the resounding answer I heard was how much change we had already seen within the sport in the past decade.  Jimmy Wooford (another major perk of living in Area II is having one of eventing’s foremost historians within an afternoon’s drive) provided a very interesting commentary on how the sport we have today cannot be compared to the long format events of say even 20 years ago. We have made spectacular strides in safety of horse and rider that we should be proud of, but though change is necessary and very often good, sometimes the ways of the past work too.

The first major things I would bring back to the sport is the vet box at all one day events, training level and up. I can feel the glares through the computer screen — but I think it is well worth the time, money and space.  Having spent the past the past weekend in the Vet Box for Virginia Region Pony Club Eventing Rally, I know what a major pain it can be, but I have also seen the great care it gives the horses. Not only does it force the riders to be more conscientious of how they cool out their horses, but it allows riders access to a vet right then and there if anything goes wrong after you get off. The horses are cooled out quickly and efficiently, and for riders new to eventing at that level, it allows them to learn the ropes of proper horse care. It is a frustrating experience seeing someone meander their way riding back to trailer after a long cross country run and though no one would intend to give anything but the best care, if we have the opportunity to encourage good horse care, we should.

We have all heard the old timers talk about the benefits of the long format event, but though that is not a realistic expectation in our sport today, I think reinstituting a modified roads and tracks section would be. Only a limited number of facilities are still capable of housing a steeplechase course as well as the rest of facilities necessary, but many have additional hacking space that could be used for roads and tracks. Though still not a true endurance test, an additional cross country phase would encourage better conditioning of both horses and riders, while allowing a more through warmup, hopefully helping to lessen the chance of injury.

The final change I would like to see, but is relatively impossible, would be if we could make eventing more financially accessible. Olympic eventing started as a competition for amateur military men and their horses funded by the cavalry, but today the upper levels are dominated by professionals. We pride ourselves on being the sport that can take the rejects and turn them into something truly extraordinary. We have story after story of horses that go from the meat truck to the podium, but the vast expenses of the sport make this really challenging. Horses will never be cheap, and the OTTB incentive programs are making huge strides, but many horses and riders can’t reach their full potential within the current system. By instituting a sliding scale for organization fees and entries, we could encourage riders who might not normally be able to afford competition to join our community. If we could make our sport more accessible to horses and riders from all walks of life, we could truly follow through on the founding of eventing of the best all around horses and riders.

I announced the Blogger Contest final four on Friday; now I’m bringing you their victorious Round 2 entries in individual installments. Their Assignment: If you had the power to make three changes to the sport of eventing, what would they be? First up: Sally Spickard. Each entry will be presented unedited for fairness’ sake. Thanks as always for reading, Eventing Nation. Please leave feedback in the comments section.

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Entry: Staying True to Our Eventing Roots

Eventing is a constantly changing and evolving sport, which is part of what makes it such an easy sport to get onboard with. You could ask 20 different people and get 60 different responses if you were to ask them what 3 things they would change about eventing if they had the opportunity. This question has been debated and new topics have been broached for as long as I can remember, and the eventing scene today is much different than it was even 10 years ago due to these hearty discussions and new ideas.

A lot of focus has been directed towards the need to cultivate a team of stronger riders at the top level, as well as an improved Young Rider program. More attention, however, needs to be brought to the grass roots levels of the sport, to the foundation of what becomes our upper level. In order to sustain a top tier US team, we must have the support and engagement of both the public and the amateur crowd. I would like to shift the discussion of change to the local eventing scene and how to improve the experience for amateur competitors and spectators alike. The question must be asked, “How do we bring the amateur eventing experience to the next level and how to we generate more interest in our sport from the general public?” Centering on a theme of exposure, here are my propositions.

1. Accessibility. In a recent interview, upper level rider James Alliston, who recently relocated his base of operations from the UK to California, made several interesting remarks regarding the difficulty of competing his young and/or client horses, what with travel time, stabling costs, etc. He commented that in the UK there were countless events available on the weekends that were right down the road and only ran over the course of 1 day as opposed to 2 or 3, allowing competitors the opportunity to compete frequently without the worry about cost or distance. My proposition to bring this idea of frequent and (relatively) inexpensive competition option to the US is simply to create more opportunities for schooling shows and combined tests. Queeny Park here in St. Louis runs a Mini Event each fall. It runs over 1 day and offers levels ranging from Crossrails to Training/Novice. Dressage tests are also available, making it part dressage schooling show as well. I was able to bring my young horse to this event to get his feet wet and expose him to some cross country fences that weekend when I did not feel he was ready to do a recognized event yet. Another local hunter/jumper show usually offers a combined test in the summer as well. However, I would like to see more than 2 opportunities to compete in a “schooling show” environment . This would give riders who may not want to or who can’t afford to shell out the stabling and entry costs, membership fees, etc or who have young horses who need miles. As is the case in many predominantly hunter/jumper areas, there are a plethora of schooling shows to choose from each year. Working with local hunter/jumper organizations or local barns to create more opportunities for combined tests or mini events would be a wonderful resource to attract more amateur riders and young or inexperienced horses.

2. Education. I know I am not the only one who marks my calendar, sets up a Siri reminder, and clears my schedule in order to watch the George Morris Horsemanship Sessions or follow the High Performance Training camps each year. The opportunity outlets such as USEF Network offer for further education are endless. Area 4 is fortunate to hold many clinics throughout the year that riders of all levels can participate in or audit. I would like to see this education module taken a step further, however, and see more amateur “camps” or sessions initiated. I would suggest an addition to the Adult Rider program in each area to include an offering for an Adult Training Session. Interested and/or top performing Adult Amateur riders can express interest at the beginning of each season and be selected by Area chairs to participate in a session that is set up much like the High Performance Training sessions are. Now, getting David O’Connor to run these may take an act of God, but using this opportunity to bring in a skilled clinician or a top dressage trainer would be equally beneficial. I would also like to see a bit more involvement in the ICP program as far as the certification sessions and workshops are concerned. It would be interesting to hold an ICP workshop/informational session in each Area so that more interest in becoming certified is generated.

3. Public Relations. Eventing will likely never receive the attention that other horse sports do as far as the general public is concerned. However, a little PR work in each Area can go a long way as far as supporting local events and trainers. Chattahoochee Hills had an interesting approach to their recent event, hosting live bands and inviting the public to see the gorgeous land that this event is run on. I think that there are events in each Area that would be able to do something similar, whether it’s hosting live entertainment, BBQ, raffles, kids’ activities, etc. It only takes one little girl to catch the eventing bug to make a difference. While the welfare and safety of our equine partners is always first and foremost in our minds, the merging of entertainment with competition could easily be done with just a few tweaks in the schedule of an event. This concept could also be brought to Rolex or other larger events, and already has to some extent. A lot of these large events are already on the right track by offering tailgating spots; expanding this idea to offer a weekend activity to families or frequent park goers could be an untapped resource for extra fundraising and exposure to the sport.

These proposed changes are incremental in the grand scheme of eventing-related things. However, we must never forget that amateurs make up the overwhelming majority within the eventing world, and measures must always be taken to ensure that these members of the sport’s foundation are able to take advantage of furthering their education. Generating interest from potential new eventers is also important, as it is the little girls and their ponies or the middle aged re-riders who constantly bring new faces and fresh ideas to the sport. Regardless of the level you ride at or aspire to reach, it is imperative that the local eventing scene in each Area be cultivated with the same amount of respect and care that the Olympic Games are – after all, your next Olympian could be cantering around the Green as Grass division this very weekend.

I announced the Blogger Contest final four on Friday; now I’m bringing you their victorious Round 2 entries in individual installments. Their Assignment: If you had the power to make three changes to the sport of eventing, what would they be? Next up: Rick Wallace. Each entry will be presented unedited for fairness’ sake. Thanks as always for reading, Eventing Nation. Please leave feedback in the comments section.

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Bio: Upper level event rider  — AGAIN. After years in hibernation. Father of awesome upper level event rider Elisa Wallace and also known as Mustang Girl. Have string of super talented horses: Ultimate Victory – 3 Star horse, Ultimate Decision – Amazing new horse which is dominating in dressage and Ultimate Timing – my dressage horse now being converted to eventing.

Entry: THE POWER OF CHANGE!!!

I have been competing in this sport for over the 30 years and it allowed me to experience the classic long format of 3-Day Evening and now the sport as it has become. The many changes over the years have caused many problems. The power of change has consequences and these changes all affect the sport, riders and most importantly the horses.

When given the assignment of having the power to change three things about Eventing, I had to really sit back and think long and hard about our sport today and how it was in the past. Of course, the easier assignment would be what I would not change as this will be evident as you read on about the use of frangible pins. This, I believe, saved my horse from major injury and for that I am very grateful.

It was the first time I broke a frangible pin and it was a long trip home from Bromont CCI this past week. But the trip home was with a sound and healthy horse because of those pins. I had to make a decision after jumping fence 13 in the CCI 3 Star to pull up. My horse, Ultimate Victory, stalled over the large open oxer and hit his stifle hard enough on the back rail break the frangible pins. Looking over my shoulder and seeing the log on the ground, I knew this was cause for great concern for the welfare of my horse.

I pulled up and trotted him. Looked down on both sides to see if there was any visible injury and noting he was sound slowly picked up the canter. Many things raced through my head. Fence 14 was a maximum drop. How would this affect my horse? Was he just going off adrenaline and not showing any pain? The decision was clear as I was coming to the next jump. The voice in my head said….. pull up and I did.

Ultimate Victory had completed the first half of the CCI 3 Star with incredible heart and having a clear round to this point was not a factor that I was thinking about, it was the welfare of my beautiful animal. He is completely sound and happy back in Tallahassee with no adverse affects from the incident. I believe we are just beginning to understand the sport as it is today. The removal of A, B and C phases brought a new and completely different sport to all of us. The type horse, the design of the cross country course, the increased difficulty of the dressage test and the affects of the previous days on the horses as the enter in to stadium (different scoring penalties as well) are all so different from the classic format.

With this change came unforeseen and catastrophic consequences. The sport had to really rally and figure out how to fix what was happening. The introduction of safety measures which included the frangible pins, were positive things which occurred to ensure minimizing rotational falls and other injuries to horse and rider. The increase in accidents after the change to the sport was overwhelming. So when given the power to change something we must not look at the immediate improvement or remedy to what we see as a problem but to what lays a head of those changes. So I will take the power handed to me to do micro-changes and enhancements of existing processes to our sport.

Dressage: While I know this will raise eyebrows of some and will have others clapping, I would advocate a deeper look into the judging process and how the use of the scoring system is used presently. The enhancement would increase the education of judges on the standards of scoring and the use of the full range of 0-10 based on those standards.

I believe we have a broken judging system that is beginning to drastically affect our sport. This belief is anchored in the continual findings at Events where we have a judging panel and the scores between the two judges are drastically different. It is also confirmed, in foundation by the statistical findings of the “Scoring Variables” article using statistical data which I had read in 2011.

My belief is based on the judging issue that occurred in the sport of ice skating about nine years ago. A broken judging system which was based on how they scored a performance, gave way to a new scoring system. I do not believe, nor am I advocating for a new scoring system. What I do believe needs to happen, is a re-focus on the judging system itself. We must begin to understand and be able to re-train our judges on the “standards” they are judging. These standards must be understood and implemented the same by all judges.

Stadium: My second change would be based on the stadium phase in which the scoring system changed from 5 for a rail and 10 for a refusal to 4 and 4, respectively. I would advocate for a more significant score fault for refusals. While time is very detrimental for a refusal as well, I do not feel a refusal is in line with a 4 fault rail score.

Cross-country: The third is another enhancement of the use of black flag options. These exist today in our cross-country courses, especially at the upper levels. I do feel however, that this process is not used as much as it should be which would allow riders to take time faults instead of attempting direct routes which may be at the point in experience of their horse to be miss-understood.

Direct references to the minimal use of black flag options by course designers is apparent when one or two combinations on course results in an excessive result of eliminations or retirements or falls. The use of the black flag option does not take away from the course itself but allows riders to implement a strategy based on the way the course is riding for them at that given time. Black flag options can be implemented for second attempts over the originally provided way the jump was designed to be jumped.

Based on this premise, the riders would have to attempt the originally designed way to jump the question but have an out should a stop occur. Some combinations in today’s courses are un-jumpable based on how they are designed after the first attempt.

In the end, I love this sport, the animals who are our partners in this, and the people who compete in it, organize them, officiate them and support it in whatever shape or form. I believe we all need to come together even more and listen to each other as we navigate through the on going changes which are beyond this assignment. What I do ask is when we all advocate for change, we must understand the consequences. We really need to look at how the affects of what we change may do things we never expected that change to do.

This is a humbling sport. One that challenges us and our horses and we must be sure we protect our lovely partner in this that has no voice but will do most anything we ask them to do.

After a hard fought battle, we’re excited to announce the victors of the Third Annual EN Blogger Contest’s Round 2 assignment, our fabulous final four: Congratulations Erin Critz, Ella Rak, Sally Spickard and Rick Wallace! We’ll be posting their Round 2 entries, which address the three changes they would make to the sport of eventing if they had the power to do so, this weekend. Make sure to leave comments on each article; we value your input on who should be the next member of the EN team.

Their Final Round Assignment:

Much in the spirit of EN’s annual April Fool’s posts (see 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), your final round assignment is to brainstorm an original idea for a fake news story and then write it up as a post for EN, complete with some sort of visual imagery you create (photo, video, diagram, drawing, etc.). We stress that access to expensive camera equipment is unnecessary; see Wylie’s FEI pictograms for proof that imagination, at least in the context of this assignment, will be your most invaluable asset. Words and visuals will be judged 50/50 on the same basis as previous entries (Interesting, Funny, Informative, Creative).

The final four’s entries are due next Thursday, June 27 at 8 p.m. EST.

Go Bloggers.

Jennie Brannigan rides Crimson Tide at True Prospect Farm. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Samantha Clark is at True Prospect Farm this week while her daughter, Lily, rides in the Phillip Dutton Eventing Academy. Samantha caught up with Jennie Brannigan this morning for a quick video interview as she was arriving at the farm after galloping racehorses for Michael Matz early this morning. Jennie started galloping three racehorses a day for Michael following Rolex and believes it will help her fitness immensely, as you’ll hear in the interview. Cambalda is being released from quarantine today after returning from Luhmühlen and will be home at True Prospect Farm this afternoon. Jennie is also bringing another horse home from Germany, as she purchased a 5-year-old mare during her travels in partnership with Beth Battel. Listen to the interview to learn more about this exciting young horse! Go Jennie.