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.
We are loving this new commercial from Guinness, which so accurately captures the spirit of all equestrian sports. It especially hits home for eventing.
“It takes much more than hard work to make a horse great. It takes passion, determination and unwavering belief. Behind every great horse is a team — a team committed to going the extra mile, not some of the time but each and every time. Ordinary people dedicated to making their sport extraordinary.”
Go Eventing.
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Scenes from last year's Acquece Rio Test Event. Who will stand on the podium this time? Photo by Raphael Macek Photography.
Following the final entry deadline earlier this week for the 2016 Olympic Games, we now have the confirmed definite entry list for the 65 horses and riders that will ultimately compete in Rio de Janeiro. Twenty-four nations will compete in eventing, with 13 teams and 17 individual riders. Eight countries are bringing reserve horses to Rio for eventing.
Here’s a look at who we’ll see in Rio. Combinations with an “R” next to their name are the reserve pair for their team.
Who are you most excited to see compete in Rio? Just 16 days to go until the first horse inspection!
Looking to all the equestrian disciplines, a total of 200 combinations will compete across eventing, dressage and show jumping.
Here are some other fun #RoadToRio facts:
Team USA holds the record for the greatest level of participation in Olympic equestrian sports, with 236 horse and rider combinations competing throughout the history of the Games.
Team Germany has won the most medals, collecting a total of 75 to date.
The equestrian events of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be staged in the Deodoro Olympic Park alongside basketball, BMX, canoe slalom, fencing, hockey, modern pentathlon, mountain biking, rugby sevens and shooting.
The Deodoro Olympic Park is the second largest Olympic cluster of the Rio 2016 Games venues.
Show jumping has 27 countries, 15 teams, and 75 horse and rider combinations.
Eventing has 24 countries, 13 teams, and 65 horse and rider combinations.
Dressage has 25 countries, 11 teams, and 60 horse and rider combinations.
The FEI definite entries also include 34 reserve horses and 33 reserve riders.
The 6th Annual Eventing Nation Blogger Contest drew the largest number of entries by far in the history of this contest. After thoroughly reviewing the slew of entries, the chinchillas judging panel has narrowed the entries down to 13 finalists.
This is truly an international contest that attracted entries from all over the world. We are excited to have finalists from the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and Ireland participating in this year’s contest.
We will be publishing their first round entries on Bloggers Row over the next week, so be sure to keep checking back to EN. Let us know in the comments which entries you like best. We hope you enjoy their creativity, insight and love of the sport as much as we gave.
Without further ado, congratulations to the 13 finalists!
Anne Bennett
Bailey Bickford
Kathy Carter
Sarah Clark
Krista Degitz
Christa Dillon
Laura Gravelle
Erica Greenwald
Lauren Grindall
Sophie Hulme
Erin Kimmer
Viviane Pendleton
Scott Shiminski
Each finalist now will be hard at work on their round two submission. Just as the 2012 Blogger Contest finalists addressed the value of the Olympic stage, this year’s group will write about a similar prompt as we count down the days to the start of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
As eventing faces the very real possibility of making further changes to the sport’s format to align with the Olympic 2020 Agenda, many have questioned whether the sport should remain in the Olympics at all. In your opinion, what is the value of the Olympic stage in eventing?
Entries are due Wednesday, July 27 at 8 p.m. EST. Good luck to all the finalists. Go Eventing.
We’re nearing the end of the Olympic team announcements! The Netherlands has named the horses and riders that will be sporting the bright orange Dutch colors in Rio de Janeiro. Congratulations to:
Merel Blom and Rumour Has It N.O.P., a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by J.M.J. Blom & L.J. Hofland
Tim Lips and Bayro N.O.P., a 10-year-old Dutch gelding owned by Lips Stables, H.Meulendijks, C.v. Ham, N. v. Splunder and W.Holvoet
Alice Naber-Lozeman and ACSI Peter Parker, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by R. Van Reine and Y. Koornstra
Theo Van de Vendel and Zindane, a 12-year-old Dutch gelding owned by T. van de Vendel, J.J. van de Vendel and G.J. van de Vendel
Luca Roman and Castlewoods Jake. Photo by Samantha Clark.
Following last week’s unfortunate news that Italian fan favorites Vittoria Panizzon and Borough Pennyz would not compete in the Olympic Games due to respective injuries, FISE has announced the team that will represent Italy in Rio de Janeiro.
Stefano Brecciaroli and Apollo van de Wendi Kurt Hoeve, a 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Polidiktus Van de Helle
Pietro Roman and Barraduff, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Carroll House
Luca Roman and Castlewoods Jake, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Ricardo Z
Arianna Schivo and Quefira de l’Ormeau, a 12-year-old Selle Francais mare by Iolisco de Quinhon
The direct reserve combination is Giovanni Ugolotti and Oplitas. As a side note, Giovanni’s fiancee Kathryn Robinson is also heading to Rio as the traveling reserve for the Canadian team with her own Let It Bee.
Carola Brighenti, who kindly helps EN translate Italian eventing news, also sent in this interesting tidbit: “Pietro and Luca are brothers and will both compete in Rio. Their father Federico Roman competed in the 1980 Olympics with their uncle Mauro Roman. Federico won the gold medal as an individual and Italy gained the silver medal in the team competition.”
There’s a bit of Italian eventing history to kick off your Monday! We wish the Roman brothers and the entire Italian Olympic team the best of luck in Rio.
Michael Jung and fischerTakinou. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
An influential evening of show jumping shuffled the leaderboard at the Aachen CICO3* in Germany, with the top three after dressage all pulling rails to slip down the leaderboard. Then two of the top three after show jumping withdrew, giving us a very different leaderboard as we look ahead to tomorrow’s cross country.
Michael Jung and fischerTakinou and Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot, who sat tied for fourth place after dressage on 37.2, both jumped clear rounds inside the time for Germany to move to first place. Then Julia withdrew Samourai du Thot after show jumping to give Michael and fischerTakinou the automatic lead.
Reigning World Champions Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo jumped clear to remain on their dressage score of 38.1 for third place, but then she also withdrew. Dressage leaders Bettina Hoy and Seigneur Medicott had two rails down but only dropped to second place on 39.0 following those two key withdrawals.
Shane Rose and his Rio mount CP Qualified jumped one of the 17 clear rounds and now sit in third place on 41.2. Ingrid Klimke and SAP Escada FRH jumped clear to move from 11th to fourth on 42.9. Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo, who sat in second place after dressage, pulled two rails to slip to fifth place on 43.4.
Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Looking to Team USA, only Lauren Kieffer and Jacqueline Mars’ Landmark’s Monte Carlo managed a clear round, an impressive feat and huge improvement over their last major competition at Rolex. Lauren rode beautifully and gave “Patrick” the confident piloting he needed. They remain on their dressage score of 48.9, which now has them sitting in 14th as the highest-placed U.S. combination.
Hannah Sue Burnett and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot are close behind in 16th place on 49.6 after pulling one rail at fence 10, a yellow oxer at the start of the final line on Frank Rothenberger’s course. Three of the four U.S. team horses had a rail at this oxer, and it definitely emerged as a bogey fence. (Click here to see the course map.)
Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Matt Brown and the Blossom Creek Foundation’s Super Socks BCF pulled three rails in all, at fence one and then the first and third fences in the final line on course: that pesky yellow oxer at fence 10, six strides to a white vertical at fence 11, then eight strides on a bending line to a natural oxer at fence 12. They now sit in 32nd place on a score of 60.6.
Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Phillip Dutton and David Garrett’s Indian Mill were having a super round until that last line on course, when they pulled a rail at each of the final three fences. Twelve jumping faults added to their dressage score has them in 35th place on 62.0 as the current drop score for Team USA.
Phillip Dutton and Indian Mill. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Gwendolen Fer and Romantic Love were eliminated after two refusals at fence 6a, the first fence at a combination of two liverpools. The late afternoon sun was casting heavy shadows over the fences when they went, which could have played a factor. French team rider Rodolphe Scherer withdrew Makara de Montiège before show jumping. With Rodolphe’s withdrawal and Gwendolen’s elimination, the French team is out of the Nations Cup.
Australia holds the lead in the Nations Cup standings after dressage, sitting on a team score of 139.8. New Zealand sits in second on 142.2, with Great Britain just 0.3 behind on 142.5 and Germany waiting in the wings just 0.4 behind in fourth place on 142.9. That leaves 3.1 penalty points separating the top four teams, setting the stage for a nail-biting cross country finale tomorrow.
How cool is this shot of Lauren and Patrick from the amazing Shannon Brinkman?
Ireland now sits in fifth in the team standings on 157.1, about 17 points out of the lead. Team USA dropped one spot after show jumping to sixth on 159.1, about 19 points out of the lead. It’s going to be anyone’s game tomorrow as horses and riders tackle Rüdiger Schwarz’s notoriously tough cross country course.
Cross country runs from 10 a.m.-12:45 local time, or 4 a.m.-6:45 a.m. EST. For any early birds who want to watch, ClipMyHorse.TV has been doing a wonderful job today on the live stream and will also be broadcasting cross country tomorrow. It is free to watch at this link. Click here for the cross country order of go. Keep it locked on EN!
It’s been a tough week of injuries for Rio-bound horses. Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair were replaced by Lynn Symansky and Donner as the traveling reserve for the U.S. Olympic team on Tuesday, and now British Eventing has announced that Pippa Funnell and the late Carol Toliver’s Billy the Biz will replace Izzy Taylor and Allercombe Ellie on the British team.
Allercombe Ellie, a 13-year-old British Sport Horse mare owned by Susan Holroyd and Frances Carter, unfortunately sustained “a slight injury in training,” according to Izzy. “I’m really gutted and sorry for the owners and my support team, she said. “I wish Pip and all the team the best of luck out in Rio.”
Pippa said: “Firstly, I’m absolutely devastated for Izzy. I know how much work it takes for everyone involved to get the horse to this level. From a personal point of view, I just feel so very privileged and honoured to be part of the team and I’m just delighted for all my connections who have helped me to get to this stage.
“It’s our first homebred horse to be going to a Games, and whilst that’s so special for us all, it’s so tragic that Carol isn’t with us to share this moment as I know she would have been so very proud. We’ll be going there to give it our absolute all.”
British Equestrian Team leader Dan Hughes said: “We are extremely disappointed for Izzy and her whole support team, including the horse’s owners Susan and Frances. Whilst Rio was going to be Izzy’s first Olympics, as one of the most talented British riders in the world, I am confident that it will not be her last opportunity to represent Great Britain on the world stage. In Pippa Funnell we have an extremely strong replacement, and we are confident this team has every chance of achieving medal success in Rio.”
Bettina Hoy and Seigneur Medicott. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Last year Ingrid Klimke dominated the dressage phase at CHIO Aachen, and this year a different German woman took command of the sandbox. Bettina Hoy soundly leads after the first phase on 31.0 with Seigneur Medicott, a 10-year-old Westphalian gelding, and also holds third place on 36.7 with Designer 10.
Bettina is competing as an individual at Aachen, as neither horse was named to the German Nations Cup team. Designer 10, a 12-year-old Westphalian gelding, is still on Germany’s radar for Rio, so the selectors will be watching closely after such a strong dressage performance.
Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo are breaking up Bettina’s stronghold on the Aachen leaderboard, sitting in second place on 35.3. The 11-year-old British Sport Horse mare is spicy by nature and really turned on the sparkle today, putting in a beautiful test for the Kiwi team.
Faerie Dianimo is named along with Classic Moet to the New Zealand Olympic team, which like many of the National Federations will make their final team decisions following Aachen. Final teams for Rio must be submitted by Monday, July 18.
Ingrid Klimke and SAP Escada FRH. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Germany rounds out the rest of the spots in the top five and is holding seven of the top 10 placings after dressage. Michael Jung and and fischerTakinou and Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot are tied for fourth on 37.2, which gives us five total sub-40 scores in the competition.
While Germany is holding the leaderboard hostage after the first phase, it’s Australia that is currently leading the Nations Cup standings on 127.8. Chris Burton and Shane Rose piloted their Rio mounts into the top 10, with Nobilis 18 scoring 40.8 for eighth and CP Qualified scoring 41.2 for ninth.
Germany sits second in the Nations Cup on 128.5, less than a point behind Australia. New Zealand sits third on 134.2 thanks to Jonelle’s cracking score. Great Britain holds fourth on 135.9, with Tina Cook and Calvino II sitting in 14th as the highest-placed Brits on 44.1.
Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
The U.S. team is in fifth place on 143.1 after dressage, with Hannah Sue Burnett and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot leading the way in 17th place on 45.6. Matt Brown and Blossom Creek Foundation’s Super Socks BCF scored 48.6 for 23rd place, and Lauren Kieffer and Jacqueline Mars’ Landmark’s Monte Carlo scored 48.9 for 26th place.
Phillip Dutton and David Garrett’s Indian Mill were the last to go for the team and had the opportunity to boost the team into fourth place on the leaderboard, but unfortunately “Monkee” didn’t have his best day in the sandbox. They scored 50.0 for 28th place out of the 42 competitors.
Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF with Joanie Morris. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Now Team USA looks ahead to this afternoon’s show jumping, which starts at 5:30 p.m. local time/11:30 a.m. EST and will be streamed lived on ClipMyHorse.TV. You can watch live and for free at this link.
We’re lucky to have beautiful photos from Shannon Brinkman at Aachen. Scroll down to see a full photo gallery of Team USA from dressage. Keep it locked on EN for everything you need to know from #CHIOAachen.
We’re loving the rider profiles the FEI is producing ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro! Don’t miss this latest interview with Alex Hua Tian, China’s sole Olympic event rider and a rising star in the sport. He’s coming off a big win Don Geniro at the Bramham leg of the Event Rider Masters series and now looks ahead to once again representing China at the Olympics.
The FEI has also produced profiles on Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin, which you can watch at this link. Keep it locked on EN as we post more profiles of the riders you’ll see competing in Rio. Go Eventing.
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Karim Florent Laghouag and Entebbe de Hus. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
The Olympic team announcements keep on coming! France announced today which horses and riders will represent their country in all three equestrian disciplines. The French eventing team is:
Karim Florent Laghouag and Entebbe de Hus, an 11-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Agnès Celerier and Michel Duros
Mathieu Lemoine and Bart L, a 10-year-old Dutch gelding owned by Pierre Defrance and Jerome Pechenard
Astier Nicolas and Piaf B’Neville, a 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Ben Et Partner
Thibaut Vallette and Qing du Briot ENE HN, a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by l’Institut Français du Cheval et de L’Equitation
Nicolas Touzaint and Crocket 30 are the traveling reserve combination.
Click the links below for all of the Olympic eventing team announcements thus far:
Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Maya Black has withdrawn Dawn and Jon Dofelmier’s Doesn’t Play Fair as the traveling reserve for the U.S. Olympic team due to an injury. She posted the following announcement on her Facebook page:
“It is with a heavy heart that I am withdrawing Cody from his position as traveling reserve for the U.S. Olympic team. Unfortunately, he has sustained an acute minor injury. Being named as the traveling reserve has been the greatest achievement and honor of my career to date, and I couldn’t have asked for a more special partner then Cody to share this journey with for the past five years.
“I hope to one day be back in a position for team consideration again, and in the meantime he will get some much deserved rest after a stellar spring season.
“I want to thank so many people and horses for getting me to this place. To even be considered for the Olympics is a dream come true. I’m so incredibly grateful. Thank you to the Dofelmier’s for bringing him into my life, to all our family, friends, coaches, sponsors, supporters, and many fans for helping us to make it this far. And last but definitely not least, thanks to Caitlin for putting up with Cody and I over the last few years through the thick and thin.
“I love Cody so much — this amazingly talented munchkin horse will be back to fight again another day.”
The USEF has named Lynn Symansky and The Donner Syndicate’s Donner, a 2003 Thoroughbred gelding, as the new traveling reserve for the team.
The EN team is so sorry to hear about Cody’s injury but relieved it is not more serious. We can’t wait to cheer them on again in 2017!
Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen. Photo by Jenni Autry.
U.S. Olympic team members Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen came to the Land Rover Great Meadow International presented by Adequan largely expected to take the Nations Cup win. As the only combination in the competition that can statistically finish on a score in the 30s, they proved every prediction right today, jumping clear with just 1.2 time penalties to take the CICO3* win on 37.5.
The 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Jess Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft, and Holly and Bill Becker, now looks ahead to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where he and Clark will enter yet another competition with high expectations to finish on a different podium. Roll on Rio!
Just four horses and riders made the optimum time of 6 minutes and 36 seconds on Mike Etherington-Smith’s cross country course, and the combinations that made quick work of the track were rewarded with big jumps up the leaderboard.
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter, a 14-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Jacqueline Mars, Raylyn Farms and Patrick Witte, found redemption in their first major competition back after Rolex Kentucky, storming around clear and inside the time to move up from fourth to finish in second place on their dressage score of 43.8.
Jodie Amos and Wise Crack, a 12-year-old Arabian/Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Nicola Coates, made their trip across the pond count, jumping double clear to move up from 13th after dressage to finish third on 49.0 as the highest-placed British rider.
Jodie Amos and Wise Crack. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Holly Payne Caravella and Beth Groblewski’s Santino proudly flew the off-track Thoroughbred flag all weekend, never sitting lower than sixth on a leaderboard that showcased the top combinations in the country. A clear cross country trip with 2.8 time penalties boosted them to a fourth place finish on 50.0.
Hannah Sue Burnett made her birthday weekend one to remember, moving up from 17th after dressage with Mary Ann Ghadban’s Under Suspection to finish in fifth place on 50.2. The 12-year-old Holsteiner mare skipped around cross country with just one time penalty to secure her second consecutive top 10 finish in a CIC3*; “Pippy” also finished sixth in the Bromont CIC3* last month.
Holly Payne Caravella and Santino. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Boyd Martin piloted his Nations Cup mount Welcome Shadow, owned by Craig and Gloria Callen, to a sixth place finish thanks to a clear round with 1.6 time penalties. Phillip Dutton and Lauren Kieffer also finished their Nations Cup rides in the top 10; Tom Tierney and Annie Jones’ Fernhill Fugitive added 3.2 time penalties to finish seventh on 50.4, and Marie le Menestrel’s Meadowbrook’s Scarlett crossed the flags just one second over the time to finish ninth on 55.0.
Those three fast and clear rounds combined with Clark Montgomery’s dominant win with Loughan Glen gave the U.S. a sound victory in the inaugural U.S. Nations Cup leg at Great Meadow, taking the win on 138.3. Canada finished second in the standings on 177.6, with Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue D’Argouges finishing in 14th as the best Canadian pair. Great Britain finished third on 254.3.
Boyd Martin and Welcome Shadow. Photo by Jenni Autry.
While today proved to be a success for the U.S. Nations Cup team, the U.S. Olympic squad had mixed results. Boyd Martin and Blackfoot Mystery, who sat in eighth place after dressage, picked up two runouts at the Beverly Equestrian Brush Corners. Lauren Kieffer and Veronica hit the back rail at the New Oxer at fence 12, triggering the frangible pin and picking up 11 jumping penalties.
Only Clark Montgomery and Phillip Dutton delivered clear cross country rounds today for the U.S. Olympic squad, with Fernhill Cubalawn jumping clear with 6.8 time penalties to finish 19th.
The U.S. Olympic reserve riders also had a mixed day. Traveling reserves Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair, who started cross country in second place, also came to grief at the brush corners in the main arena to pick up 20 jumping penalties. Elisa Wallace fell from Simply Priceless at fence 5, the jump into the Adequan Beaver Pond.
Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Sinead Halpin and Lynn Symansky both delivered clear rounds for the U.S. Olympic reserve squad, with Manoir de Carneville finishing 10th with 1.2 time penalties and Donner finishing 12th with six time penalties.
Looking to other notable rounds, Buck Davidson jumped clear with 1.6 time penalties aboard Copper Beach, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Sherrie Martin and Carl and Cassie Segal, to finish eighth on 50.8. In addition to Marilyn Little and RF Demeter and Jodie Amos and Wise Crack, just two other pairs made the time: Allie Knowles and Sound Prospect (13th) and Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby (23rd).
Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Mike E-S’s course rode well overall, with 90 percent of the 40-horse field completing. In addition to Elisa’s fall, two other riders parted ways with their horses. Ros Canter also fell from Zenshara at the Adequan Beaver Pond, coming unseated on take off at fence 6a. Kate Chadderton fell from Collection Pass at fence 18, the Land Rover Water Complex. All horses and riders are OK.
Eight riders picked up refusals, with the Beverly Equestrian Brush Corners at fence eight in the main arena causing the most trouble by far. Six pairs picked up refusals there: Holly Payne Caravella and Never OutFoxed, Emily Beshear and Shame on the Moon, Justine Dutton and Huck Finn, Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair, Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley Dream, and Boyd Martin and Blackfoot Mystery.
Colleen Loach and Quorry Blue d’Argouges. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Justine Dutton and Huck Finn also picked up a refusal at fence 4b, the second of the Piedmont Virginian Angled Brushes. Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless had a refusal at the Adequan Beaver Pond before she elected to retire. In addition to Lauren Kieffer and Veronica triggering a frangible pin at the New Oxer at fence 12, Kurt Martin and DeLux Z also hit the back rail to pick up 11 penalties.
The awards ceremony is underway now, followed by a press conference with all of the Nations Cup teams. You can see loads of photos from today on EN’s Instagram, and be sure to re-live all the action in EN’s Open Thread. Keep checking back for quotes from the press conference and much more from #GMI2016. Go Eventing.
Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It’s hot hot hot here at the Land Rover Great Meadow International, and U.S. Olympic team members Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen are on fire, jumping a super clear round over Marc Donovan’s show jumping course to hold the lead in the inaugural U.S. Nations Cup leg on their dressage score of 36.3.
Clark said earlier in the day that he is definitely feeling pressure to deliver a top performance, and he echoed that same sentiment in the press conference following show jumping. But if he can deliver two top phases despite battling nerves, we say bring on the pressure! It’s definitely good practice ahead of Rio.
“I’ve been feeling more nervous about riding at this event in front of you guys than about any of my past ones, but he went in and jumped great,” Clark said. “It helps to have an arena like this and footing like this. It’s just amazing, especially coming from England, where we’re always on grass and terrain, which can be fun sometimes, but if you get weather it can be quite difficult. I couldn’t be happier to be where I am right now.”
Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The top seven combinations after dressage retained their positions on the leaderboard thanks to jumping clear rounds inside the time. Eighteen of the 40 pairs in the competition went double clear, which is 45 percent of the field.
Maya Black and Jon and Dawn Dofelmier’s Doesn’t Play Fair, the traveling reserve combination for the U.S. Olympic team, remained in second on 41.4 with a lovely clear round. Lauren Kieffer and her U.S. Olympic team mount Team Rebecca’s Veronica jumped their sixth consecutive clear FEI show jumping round to hold third place on 43.7.
Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter, owned by Jacqueline Mars, Raylyn Farms and Patrick Witte, are hot on Lauren’s heels, with a clear show jumping round keeping them in fourth place and just 0.1 penalties out of the top three. Jessica Phoenix and Don Good’s Bentley’s Best maintained their spot as the top Canadian pair on the leaderboard with a clear round to hold fifth on 44.1.
Phillip Dutton had one rail down on his Olympic mount Fernhill Cubalawn but jumped clear rounds with Tom Tierney and Annie Jones’ Fernhill Fugitive and HND Group’s Mighty Nice to keep two rides in the top 10. Fernhill Fugitive, who is competing on the U.S. Nations Cup team, sits in equal sixth on 47.2, with Mighty Nice in ninth on 47.9.
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Holly Payne Caravella and Beth Groblewski’s Santino continue to lead the off-track Thoroughbred charge at Great Meadow, jumping a cracking clear to remain tied for sixth place on 47.2. The 13-year-old gelding is competing in his first major competition since the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in April, where he completed his first CCI4*.
Boyd Martin and his Olympic mount, the Blackfoot Mystery Syndicate’s Blackfoot Mystery, delivered yet another strong phase today, jumping clear and moving up to eighth on their dressage score of 47.7. His reserve horse for Rio and Nations Cup mount, Craig and Gloria Callen’s Welcome Shadow, also jumped clear and inside the time and moved into the top 10 on her dressage score of 48.8.
Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Time penalties definitely proved costly, with just a handful of penalties knocking some riders well down the leaderboard. Emily Beshear and Deep Purple Eventing’s Shame on the Moon jumped a fluid clear round, but 2 time penalties bumped them down five spots on the leaderboard to 13th. Eight riders in all exceeded the optimum time of 90 seconds.
After two phases, Team USA still leads the Nations Cup standings on 132.3. Three of the four team riders jumped clear show jumping rounds, with just Lauren Kieffer and Marie le Menestrel’s Meadowbrook’s Scarlett pulling a rail. Canada’s team pulled five rails and sits in second on 157.2, and Great Britain’s team pulled five rails to sit in third on 171.7.
Holly Payne Caravella and Santino. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Phillip Dutton, Waylon Roberts and Jodie Amos spoke in the press conference following show jumping as representatives of their respective Nations Cup teams, and they said what we’ve ball been thinking: Great Meadow has truly rolled out the red carpet for a world class competition. Even with high temperatures making for a sweltering afternoon, a huge numbers of spectators packed the grounds to enjoy the day.
“You all can see what a great thing it is with the great location, and hats off to everybody who’s put this together in such a short time,” Phillip said. “It’s exciting for us to have some visitors come this way. Usually we have to go over to Europe to compete and ride, so thanks to the British for coming over and supporting this. I think it can only bigger and better, and it’s great for the sport. I think we should all get behind this event and encourage them to keep going.”
Boyd Martin and Blackfoot Mystery. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Waylon agreed: “It’s a real privilege, and I think it’s a world-class event. It’s a beautiful venue, and they’re really putting the effort in to bringing North American eventing up to an international standard. I know that me and my fellow Canadians are really pleased to be here and looking forward to riding round Mike’s course tomorrow. I think it’s going to be something special for the future.”
Jodie Amos and Nicola Coates’ Wise Crack are sitting in 11th place as the highest placed British pair on their dressage score of 49.0 after jumping a classy clear round, and she said it’s an honor for their team to be competing in the U.S.
Jodie Amos and Wise Crack. Photo by Jenni Autry.
“I’m really, really excited to be here,” Jodie said. “It’s an incredible opportunity, and I think all of us competing here are very grateful for the opportunity. It all happened in the last couple of weeks and it’s been incredible. We couldn’t have been more welcome. The facilities are second to none. The arena obviously is absolutely incredible. The footing is brilliant. The cross country course for tomorrow looks fantastic.”
Cross country starts at 9:30 a.m. EST tomorrow and is scheduled to run through noon. You can watch live on USEF Network, and we’ll also be running live updates here on EN for those of you who can’t watch the live stream. Be sure to check EN’s Instagram for loads of photos from today, and click here to catch up on all of EN’s #GMI2016 coverage.
Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen. Photo by Jenni Autry.
U.S. Olympic team members Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen came into the Land Rover Great Meadow International, presented by Adequan®, as the heavy favorites to take the Nations Cup win, and they beat the heat today to lead the inaugural U.S. Nations Cup leg after dressage on 36.3, the only score in the 30s.
That mark has Clark and Glen easily holding a five-point lead over Rio traveling reserves Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair, and they would have widened that margin even more had it not been for two bobbles: one in the first halt when Glen nearly stopped at X and one in the second flying change when they lost a bit of rhythm.
“We started off with a mistake, which was really annoying. That’s the one move I forgot to practice in the warm-up because we kept the warm up quite short because of the heat. For Rio, he will not be trying to halt early! I just relaxed at X thinking everything was good, and he went to stop,” Clark said.
“Everything else felt quite good except for the second change. I turned across the short diagonal, and he felt good and I relaxed and he lost his balance. It’s such a short diagonal, and I didn’t have have time to fix it before the change. The change was clean, but it certainly wasn’t as good.”
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Still, the fact that Clark and Glen can make mistakes and still score a 36 is a prime example of why they’re such an asset to Team USA. Clark and the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Jess Montgomery, Kathryn Kraft and Holly and Bill Becker are the only active U.S. combination that averages in the 30s in dressage — and they can finish on that score.
“There’s the expectation to perform in front of the home crowd that hasn’t seen me in a long time,” Clark said. “That’s a funny feeling; I didn’t expect that. At the same time, it’s good because everyone is going to expect me to perform well at Rio, so it’s good to deal with those nerves on a smaller scale.”
Now Clark looks ahead to tonight’s show jumping, when Glen will tackle Marc Donovan’s course in very warm temperatures. The good news is Glen seems to be handling the heat well. “I was proud of him this afternoon,” Clark said. “He was really bright and strong even in the arena at times, so that was nice to feel that the heat hadn’t taken it all out of him. We’ll know more when he jumps, but so far he’s doing well.”
As for how Clark, a native Texan who has spent the last three years based in England, is handing the heat: “I’m hot as hell. … I was looking forward to getting in the sun, but this is a little extreme!” We have to agree. It’s currently 89 degrees with the humidity pushing the real-feel temperature up to 93 degrees — Chinch is melting!
Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair delivered a personal best score of 41.4 to sit in second place after dressage. The 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Dawn and Jon Dofelmier can be a handful in the sandbox, but “Cody” and Maya continue to dial in their performance in this phase and did not disappoint today.
“Overall I was happy; he seemed settled in there, and that’s something that we’ve worked towards over the years. I know that he has a lot more experience now and I understand that, but it’s still nice to go to a new venue and be able to keep him under wraps because historically that used to be something we needed to practice,” Maya said.
“Otherwise he was really quite rideable. I was happy with the canter work. I felt like still at the beginning in the trot I could have had him a little bit more open in front in his neck, and that’s just something that’s going to come with me trusting him more over the years, but he just felt like maybe I could have him a little bit more lifted in his shoulders in the trot work. His canter work has come along a lot this spring so I was happy with that.”
Is Maya feeling more pressure this weekend as the traveling reserve member of the U.S. Olympic squad? “I feel like there are a few more opinions, maybe there are a few more people putting their two cents in, but otherwise no. I always just go in and try to do my best. It’s been a work in progress, but I feel like it’s going in the right direction now.”
Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Jenni Autry.
U.S. Olympic team members Lauren Kieffer and Team Rebecca’s Veronica scored 43.7 to round out the top three after the first phase, and that would have dipped lower had it not been for a few mistakes, like a break to canter during the medium trot. But Lauren said after the test that part of her strategy this weekend was to push for more with the 13-year-old Dutch mare.
“We were playing around with where we could maybe pick up some points in places or show her off more, and we had a couple of bobbles with that in mind, but that was the point of that: to play with it here, and then hopefully we’ll know what we’ve got when we get to the Games,” Lauren said.
“She feels really well. She just keeps getting stronger and stronger. She knows her job; she loves to compete, and she goes in the ring and gets pretty flippy with her toes. She’s pretty fun to sit on.”
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Looking to the rest of the leaderboard, Marilyn Little and RF Demeter scored 43.8 for fourth place, and Jessica Phoenix and Bentley’s Best scored 44.4 for fifth place, giving us five sub-45 dressage marks on the leaderboard. Phillip Dutton has all three of his rides in the top 11, with Fernhill Fugitive sitting tied for sixth on 47.2, his U.S. Olympic team mount Fernhill Cubalawn tied for eighth on 47.4 and Mighty Nice in 11th on 47.9.
Holly Payne Caravella and Santino scored 47.2 to tie for sixth place with Phillip and Fernhill Fugitive, and Emily Beshear and Shame on the Moon are sitting just behind them tied for eighth on 47.4. Boyd Martin and his Olympic ride Blackfoot Mystery put in what Boyd thought was the best test the horse has ever done, scoring 47.7 to round out the top 10 after dressage. That has the entire U.S. Olympic team sitting in the top 10.
Jessica Phoenix and Bentley’s Best. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jessica Phoenix and Bentley’s Best are the highest placed Canadian combination after dressage on 44.4 in fifth place, and Jodie Amos and Wise Crack are leading the way for the British team, scoring 49.0 for 13th place. Team USA leads the Nations Cup standings after dressage on 132.3, with Canada in second on 149.2 and Great Britain in third on 53.7.
We’re on a break now, and I think everyone is hoping temperatures cool slightly before show jumping starts at 5 p.m. EST. Despite the heat, the grounds have been packed all day, with spectators enjoying the shops in the Meadow Market, the delicious food vendors and the gorgeous VIP tent. The spectator stands are packed, and there is definitely a lot of atmosphere for this final outing for the U.S. Olympic team.
Be sure to check out EN’s Instagram for more photos from dressage, and scroll down for Samantha Clark’s video interviews with the riders. Remember you can watch show jumping live on USEF Network, and cross country will also stream live tomorrow starting at 9:30 a.m. EST. For inquiring minds, cross country will not run in reverse order tomorrow. Stay tuned for much more from #GMI2016.
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Great Meadow International hosted a press conference with the U.S. Olympic team and Coach David O’Connor this afternoon to introduce members of major media outlets in nearby Washington, D.C. to the sport of eventing.
Team USA — Phillip Dutton, Lauren Kieffer, Boyd Martin and Clark Montgomery — answered the typical questions you’d expect to hear in a general press conference: queries about their horses and what it means to them personally to compete at the Olympic Games.
I was more curious about the strategy of how Team USA is preparing ahead of Rio. For example, Clark Montgomery’s mount Loughan Glen has already logged thousands of miles traveling from his base in England to compete in the mandatory team outing at Great Meadow this weekend, and that number is only going to keep ticking up as the team next heads to Ocala, Florida for training camp before shipping out of Miami at the end of the month.
What is the strategy behind having Clark and Glen come to the U.S.? Why is the final team training camp behind held in Ocala? Why are the horses shipping out of Miami? Coach David O’Connor answered those questions and more for EN following the press conference.
“I’m a team advocate, and from a team standpoint I thought it was very important for Clark to come over (to the U.S.). The other riders (Phillip Dutton, Lauren Kieffer and Boyd Martin) all three compete against each other all the time. They respect each other a lot and like each other a lot, so I thought it was important for Clark to come over and start that process with his teammates,” David said.
“Knowing that we could control the footing at the venue to provide good conditions for (Loughan Glen’s) last run was also important. The horse has traveled really well. He might go down early for the Florida training camp a few days early so we can split the travel up a bit more for him, but so far the horse has traveled quite well and looks quite good. He looks like he’s come through well so far.”
Coach David O’Connor at this afternoon’s press conference. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Hosting the final team training camp in Ocala follows the same strategy the U.S. used prior to competing in the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, where the team won a gold medal and Phillip Dutton took individual silver with TruLuck. The U.S. team horses also flew out of Miami for the 2007 Pan Ams.
“I think going out of Miami is an easier flight for the horses than going from New York. That said, I didn’t want to put them on a truck from Virginia to Miami and then have them fly out right away. We’re splitting up the travel by having them spend six days in Florida for training camp,” David said.
“Though that sounds funny to hold training camp in Florida in the summer, the weather is actually not any different than it is right now in Virginia. The difference is it rains four times a week in the afternoon, which means the footing is great. We used that in our preparation in 2007 (for the Pan Ams), and I think that really worked. We’re replicating that again because I think the horses really liked it.”
As for the strategy of giving the team plenty of time ahead of Rio to build a camaraderie, how is that going? “This is a fun group, and they get along really well. Sometimes personalities don’t mesh as well on a team, but this group gets along,” David said.
“Most importantly, they respect each other. They respect each other for their riding. I think that brings a lot to the table when you have team members who respect each other’s riding, because then conversations are different. They’re truly helping each other, and they respect each other’s cross country riding more than anything else. I think that puts a great dynamic and sense of morale into the team.”
Keep it locked on EN for much more from Team USA, as well as the other riders who have the honor of competing in the inaugural Nations Cup leg on U.S. soil. The good news is conditions are expected to improve a bit tomorrow, with Weather.com forecasting slightly lower temperatures and humidity, but it’s still going to be hot hot hot.
If you’re just tuning in to EN, be sure to check out our full report from the first horse inspection, as well as Samantha Clark’s beautiful photo gallery. Dressage starts at 8 a.m. EST tomorrow, and you can find ride times at this link courtesy of the one and only Steve Symansky. As always, you can see more photos on EN’s Instagram, and don’t forget you can watch live on USEF Network.
Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen. Photo by Jenni Autry.
All horses passed the first inspection for the Nations Cup CIC3* on a very warm afternoon at the Land Rover Great Meadow International here in The Plains, Virginia. Though the forecast threatened to dump more rain, mirroring the downpour that rolled through the area earlier in the afternoon, only a few sprinkles fell as horses and riders took to the jog strip.
The 29 U.S. horses jogged first, followed by the sole Australian representatives Kate Chadderton and Collection Pass, then the Canadian and British teams. U.S. Olympic team member Fernhill Cubalawn was asked to jog a second time and then accepted, which was the most eventful development that happened during the inspection.
Screenshot via Weather.com
With temperatures hovering in the high 80s and the humidity pushing the real-feel temperature into the 90s, we saw everything from shorts to sun dresses on the jog strip. Temperatures are expected to cool slightly for Saturday and Sunday, but the competition is heating up for more reasons than one; it’s going to be a scorcher at this mandatory outing for the U.S. Olympic team.
All 40 horses will move on to tomorrow’s dressage and show jumping, but first the amazing brand new arena will host the Opening Ceremony at 6 p.m. — which you can watch live on USEF Network — followed by the Morningside Bareback Puissance. The facility looks unbelievable, and Great Meadow has truly pulled out all the stops to host a world-class competition.
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EN’s data analyst Maggie Deatrick has predicted Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen to take the individual win here at Great Meadow, with the U.S. team taking the Nations Cup victory. Click here to preview Mike Etherington-Smith’s cross country course, and don’t forget to follow along with photos on EN’s Instagram all weekend long.
Keep checking back for more photos from the first horse inspection, and also be sure to checking EN’s Facebook page for a photo album from the only and only Samantha Clark. Website guru Steve Symansky just posted the ride times for dressage at this link. Keep it locked on EN for much more from #GMI2016. Go Eventing.
Andrew Nicholson and Avebury at Barbury. Photo by Adam Dale.
While all eyes in North America will be on the inaugural U.S. Nations Cup at Great Meadow, it’s also a big weekend elsewhere in the world as the Barbury International Horse Trials hosts the third leg of the Event Rider Masters series.
Forty horses and riders will compete, including series leader Astier Nicolas and two combinations representing North America: Tiana Coudray and Sambuca F and Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master.
The action will be streamed live on Saturday and Sunday on www.eventridermasters.tv, and our friends at EquiRatings have pulled together some fast facts you need to know about the competition.
The record dressage test at Barbury was set in an Olympic year. In 2008, Lucinda Fredericks posted a 30.8 with the prolific Headley Britannia. She went on to win the competition and 36 days later she led the Olympic Games with a very similar score of 30.4. Can Olympic fever once again see records tumble?
Dressage supremos have a strong record at Barbury. Only seven combinations have scored below 35, and all of these seven went on to finish in the top three, while four of them went on to win. Headley Britannia was one of them, and the other was Barbury legend Avebury who won here a staggering four times, three of which came from a sub-35 dressage score. Both of these horses are by the stallion Jumbo.
The Barbury leg of the Event Rider Masters series presents the most statistically challenging cross country test. On average, just 63% of combinations jump clear, compared with Bramham (67%), Blair Castle (67%), Chatsworth (70%), Gatcombe (71%) and Blenheim (79%).
The cross country time will be a serious factor at Barbury. Chatsworth (0.3% within time on average) is the most difficult leg in the series in this regard and produced just one clear within the time with Chris Burton and TS Jamaimo). Bramham (16%) was by far the easiest leg in the series based on past trends and it produced 11 combinations within the optimum time.
Barbury Castle trends at 4% within the time on cross country, but in 2015 it hit an all-time high and 11% came home without time penalties. However, from 2005 to 2008 no one managed to beat the Barbury clock, and the first person ever to do so was EquiRatings co-founder Sam Watson with Horseware Bushman in 2009.
Show jumping clear rounds are likely to be more frequent at Barbury than we have seen so far in the series. Bramham (26%), Blenheim (29%) and Chatsworth (32%) are trending as the tougher venues to attain clear rounds since 2010. Blair (36%), Gatcombe (37%) and Barbury (40%) have been the easier venues in recent years over the CIC3* tracks. So far in the ERM series, Chatsworth produced 17 clears (43%) and Bramham produced just nine (25%).
The record finishing score appropriately belongs to Avebury. His fourth title, won last year (2015), saw him lead from start to finish on a score of 33.9, and it surpassed his own previous record of 35.2, which he set in 2013. Andrew Nicholson holds five of the best eight finishing scores on record at Barbury and will compete on Nereo this year.
The best dressage test by some margin so far in the ERM series belongs to Kitty King and her Olympic partner Ceylor LAN with her 32.9 at Chatsworth. The best finishing score comes from the second at Bramham, where winner Alex Hua Tian finished on his dressage score of 40.1.
As a bonus from EquiRatings, don’t miss the #NicholsonNarrative, an in-depth look at Andrew’s dominant performances at Barbury over the years.
How do you know if your horse is fit? When are you ready to move up a level? What tips do you have for loading a horse on a trailer? These are just a few of the burning questions we receive in the EN team inbox every day, and we’re partnering with Athletux Equine to get you the answers.
Have a question for a rider, groom, trainer or other eventing personality? Send it to [email protected], and we’ll post a video right here on EN with an expert’s answer. Today Hannah Sue Burnett answers our first reader question: What would you be if you weren’t an equestrian?
Many thanks to Hannah for taking the time to answer, and don’t forget to send your questions to [email protected]. Go Eventing!
Elevate Event Team member Mimi Richards sent in her helmet cam from Midsouth Pony Club Horse Trials, where she competed Whitfield in the Training Rider 1 division. Whitfield, a 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Suzie Richards (Private Vow – Seda Fina, by Known Fact), raced five times before retiring from the track in 2013.
Based on this helmet cam, Whitfield seems like a lovely example of how easily off-track Thoroughbreds can adapt to a career in eventing. Mini and Whitfield picked up 1.6 time penalties on cross country and finished eighth in their division. Go OTTBs. Go Elevate Event Team!
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Fence 6B: Adequan Beaver Pond. Photo via MyCourseWalk.com.
With the Land Rover Great Meadow International set to start on Friday with the first horse inspection and opening ceremony, we have a first look at Mike Etherington-Smith’s CICO3* Nations Cup cross country course thanks to MyCourseWalk.com. Click below to scroll through the gallery, and click here to view the course on MyCourseWalk.com.
Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo at Aachen 2015. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Aachen has posted the entry list for next week’s Nations Cup competition in Germany, where 43 of the world’s top riders will compete ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Some National Federations are opting to send their Olympic team riders to Aachen on different horses, while others are keeping their Rio squad riders at home.
Germany’s Olympic team will be using Aachen as a final outing before Rio for both the team horses and riders. Michael Jung is entered with his nominated horses La Biosthetique Sam FBW and fischerTakinou, with fischerRocana FST notably absent from the list. The other German team members — Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob, Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo, and Andreas Ostholt and So Is Et — are all entered.
Equestrian Australia announced today that eight riders and 12 horses will participate in an Olympic staging camp starting July 24. Four of those horses and riders — Samantha Birch and Hunter Valley II, Chris Burton and Nobilis 18, Sonja Johnson and Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison, and Shane Rose and CP Qualified — will compete on the Australian team at Aachen.
The U.S. is one of 10 nations to field a team for Aachen, with Rio squad members Phillip Dutton and Lauren Kieffer both competing. The U.S. team is Phillip and Indian Mill; Lauren and Landmark’s Monte Carlo; Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot; and Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF, who are listed as a reserve combination for Rio.
New Zealand named its Olympic team last week and has yet to choose which horses Mark Todd, Jonelle Price and Jock Paget will ride. All three riders are entered at Aachen on NZB Campino, Faerie Dianimo and Clifton Signature, respectively, along with Clarke Johnstone and his Olympic mount Balmoral Sensation. Traveling reserve Tim Price will also compete at Aachen with Bango.
France, Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden are also fielding teams for Aachen. Great Britain and Ireland are not sending any of their Rio squad members to Aachen, and France, the Netherlands and Sweden have not yet named their Olympic teams.
Aachen CICO3* starts Thursday, July 14 with the first horse inspection. Dressage and show jumping will be held Friday, July 15, with cross country on Saturday, July 16.
Tredstep Ireland Spirit Nubuck Paddock Boots. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Horse people have two distinct wardrobes: “normal” clothes and “barn” clothes. Usually when we wear “normal” clothes to ride, they automatically become barn clothes by default. The dirt, grime and general gunk that goes hand-in-hand with horses has a way of quickly claiming any clean objects within reach.
That’s why it’s something of a small miracle to find a wardrobe staple that can bridge this clothing divide. Meet the Tredstep Ireland Spirit Nubuck Paddock Boots, which I loved so much from the first moment I put them on that I instantly didn’t want to take them anywhere near the barn.
Thankfully, Tredstep Ireland was one step ahead of me. Not only are these boots so comfortable that you’ll want to wear them both at the barn and out in the real world, but they are very easy to clean. With the Spirit Nubuck Paddock Boots, you don’t have to choose between whether they can be “normal boots” or “barn boots” — they can be both.
There’s so much to love about these boots! Photo by Jenni Autry.
Let’s talk about the comfort factor. The boots feature innovative Tredstep TS3D insoles, which provide excellent shock absorption and arch support on a forked Bartoli composite midsole. The advanced shank in the sole provides stability and reduces foot fatigue.
How does that translate to the barn? You can wear these boots all day and still feel like you’re walking on air at the end of those long hours spent riding and doing barn chores. The cushion, shock absorption and arch support in the Spirit Nubuck Paddock Boots makes them the most comfortable pair of paddock boots I’ve ever worn.
That same comfort level applies when you’re wearing the boots away from the barn, whether you’re grocery shopping, going out to dinner or running errands. The padded tongue provides cushion for your ankle from the front zipper and also makes the boots that much more comfortable to wear, especially for long periods of time.
The boots are also available in a lace-up style with a rear zipper. Photo courtesy of Tredstep Ireland.
Tredstep Ireland is well known for incorporating beautiful aesthetic details into its products, and I love the little extras on the Spirit Nubuck Paddock Boots. From the white contrast stitching to the branded logo on the side of the boots — which sits on an elasticized panel to up the comfort factor even more — there’s a lot to love.
Lastly, let’s talk about cleaning the boots. When I first saw the beautiful nubuck leather, I worried about how to keep it clean and in good condition. It turns out that caring for nubuck is a breeze. I bought an inexpensive suede cleaning kit, which includes a brush and cleaning foam. Quickly brushing the boots to remove dirt then using the cleaning foam easily restores the boots to their original condition. Mine are still looking great, and I’m confident they’ll stay that way.
The Spirit Nubuck Paddock Boots from Tredstep Ireland retail at $139.99 and are available in black in both a front-zip style and a lace-up style, which features a rear zipper. Click here to learn more about the boots on Tredstep Ireland’s website and here to find a retailer near you.
William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning at the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It’s a big day for Team GBR as all three equestrian teams have been announced for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The horses and riders selected to the British Olympic eventing team are:
William Fox-Pitt, age 47, based Dorset, with Christopher Stone’s Chilli Morning
Kitty King, age 33, based Wiltshire,with Diana Bown, Jacqueline Owen and Samantha Wilson’s Ceylor L A N
Gemma Tattersall, age 31, based West Sussex, with either Christopher Stone’s Chico Bella P or The Pebbles Syndicate’s Quicklook V
Isabelle (Izzy) Taylor, age 33, based Oxfordshire, with Susan Holroyd and Frances Carter’s Allercombe Ellie
The traveling reserve is Pippa Funnell MBE, age 47, based Surrey, with the late Carol Toliver’s Billy The Biz
Kitty King, who will make her Olympic debut, said: “It’s probably the best phone call I’ve ever had; it’s something that I dreamt of as a child. It’s really special for the whole support team at home too; the amount of work that they put in is incredible, it’s definitely not just about me and the horse, it’s about everyone else behind us too.”
The British Olympic dressage team is:
Fiona Bigwood, age 40, based West Sussex, with Penny Bigwood and Neils and Lis Dahl’s Atterupgaards Orthilia
Charlotte Dujardin OBE, age 30, based Gloucestershire, with Rowena Luard, Anne Barrott and Carl Hester’s Valegro
Carl Hester MBE, age 49, based Gloucestershire, with Jane De La Mare and his own Nip Tuck
Spencer Wilton, age 43, based Reading, with Jennifer Goodman and his own Super Nova II
The traveling reserve is Lara Griffith, age 27, based Gloucestershire, with Dr Wilfried and Ursula Bechtolsheimer’s Rubin Al Asad
The British Olympic show jumping team is:
Ben Maher MBE, age 33, based Hertfordshire, with Jane Forbes Clark and his own Tic Tac
Nick Skelton OBE, age 58, based Warwickshire, with Beverley Widdowson’s Big Star
John Whitaker MBE, age 60, based West Yorkshire, with Team Harmony Management Co Ltd’s Ornellaia
Michael Whitaker, age 56, based Nottinghamshire, with Beverley Widdowson’s Cassionato
The traveling reserve is Jessica Mendoza, age 20, hometown Wiltshire, with Sarah Mendoza’s Spirit T
Reserves will be taken from the nominated entry list if required. Congratulations to all the horses and riders named to Team GBR! #RoadToRio
