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Jenni Autry

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About Jenni Autry

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

Latest Articles Written

No Holding Back Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot at Red Hills

By Jenni Autry on Mar 11, 2016 6:30 pm -

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot haven’t competed at the FEI level since the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in 2014, but you wouldn’t have known it watching them today at Red Hills. “William,” a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Jacqueline Mars, delivered a beautiful test with Hannah in the irons to firmly take the lead on a score of 40.4 after dressage.

Though Hannah and William were sitting inside the top 10 at Burghley after a clear cross country trip, a tendon injury forced his withdrawal before show jumping. After giving the horse a full year off, William started jumping again last fall and eased back into competing last month.

“It was so exciting and then so disappointing (at Burghley) when we didn’t get to jog up, so having him back in action and having him compete so well is just really cool,” Hannah said. “He’s definitely happy to be here and excited. He’s grown up a lot in a year having some time off.”

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive. Photo by Jenni Autry.

With a goal of making their second trip to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in April, Hannah said she won’t hold back when tackling Mike Etherington-Smith’s new CIC3* cross country course tomorrow.

“I’m really happy to be riding such a campaigner at this level. He’s really good, but at the same time, he hasn’t been at this level in awhile, so I definitely need to be on my game,” Hannah said. “There’s definitely enough to do. I really like how (the course) builds. I think it’s really nice in the beginning. The time in insanely tight. I’m going to ride as well as I can and give it a good go.”

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive sit in second place in the CIC3* on 42.4 at the conclusion of dressage. With horses like Mighty Nice and Fernhill Cubalawn as his stablemates, “Jack” has been waiting patiently for his moment in the spotlight. After winning the Galway Downs CCI3* last fall and now sitting in a close second at Red Hills, it’s clear the horse is coming into his own.

Jennie Brannigan and Catalina. Photo by Jenni Autry.

“It was about the best he’s gone; he’s getting better and better,” Phillip said. “Timing his warm up is pretty crucial because if you do too much then he drops behind your leg, and if you don’t do enough then he’s not quite through enough.”

Jack, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Tom Tierney and Annie Jones, has been in training with Silva Martin for the last few weeks. “She’s done a great job with him,” Phillip said, joking: “I think that’s the reason Boyd does so well!” As for how Jack has upped his dressage game with Silva’s help: “He’s doing the movements a fair bit easier. He’s generally thinking a bit more forward and supple.”

It’s a special weekend for Jennie Brannigan. Not only is she sitting in third place in the CIC3* with Catalina, but her owner and former rider, Candace Kircher, drove all the way out from Texas with her family to watch them compete this weekend. Candace and Catalina won the CIC* at Red Hills in 2011, and Jennie said that they’ve always said it’s the mare’s favorite event.

Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett. Photo by Jenni Autry.

“I wasn’t exactly expecting to be sitting here, but I think in this company to have such a green horse step up to the plate is really exciting. My whole outlook in going into the ring is to relax. I’ve changed a bit with her recently. I just put her into a rubber snaffle, and she’s a lot steadier in the contact,” Jennie said.

“She’s a beautiful horse, but she is genuinely very green with the movements still, so I felt like she was a lot steadier. She has a great mind, so that’s lovely. The changes (have come) in the last six months, so it’s still new and fresh, and I couldn’t have been happier.”

Candace, a mom to 1-year-old Kylie and a new baby on the way in just 10 weeks, passed the ride on the 13-year-old Oldenburg mare to Jennie last fall. Since then Tim and Nina Gardner have come on to join Candace as an owner, and Team Catalina is hoping she will contest her first CCI4* at Rolex next month.

Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High, owned by John and Judy Rumble, delivered another impressive performance in the sandbox today to sit in fourth place on 44.7, and Ellie MacPhail and Sally Crane’s RF Eloquence scored 46.2 before the lunch break to finish the day in fifth place on 46.2. Click here to view the scores after dressage, and you can read more in the lunchtime report here.

Stay tuned for quotes from Clayton Fredericks, who is leading the CIC2* with FE Bowman on 41.4, plus more on the CIC*, led by Boyd Martin and Santos, and the Advanced division, led by Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night. We also have the full course preview to bring you, so keep it locked on EN.

#RHHT: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Jennie Brannigan and Catalina Cruise to Red Hills CIC3* Lunchtime Lead

By Jenni Autry on Mar 11, 2016 1:15 pm -

Jennie Brannigan and Catalina. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jennie Brannigan and Catalina made the last CIC3* test before the lunch break one to remember at Red Hills International Horse Trials, scoring 44.4 to cruise into first place on a leaderboard currently dominated by the ladies. Ellie MacPhail and RF Eloquence sit in second place on 46.3, with Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo in third on 46.3.

The stellar test came at the end of what’s been an up and down week in Florida for Jennie. She also jumped Catalina, a 13-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Candace Kircher and Tim and Nina Gardner, in the $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational on Tuesday and had an uncharacteristic refusal.

“It’s hard when I mess up, but I tried to keep the perspective that I’ve successfully run this horse at some of the toughest events even though she doesn’t have that much experience at the level. After Tuesday I went and jumped with Scotty (Keach), so I hadn’t really run through my test,” Jennie said.

The secret to Jennie Brannigan and Catalina’s leading #RHHT test: a good luck ride from Kylie Kircher!

A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on Mar 11, 2016 at 10:32am PST

“I’m really happy to feel like we are starting to get into the realm of what the mare can do. Candace and I were saying that we really have a green 13-year-old, so it’s pretty special to have her do a test like that, especially with their whole family here to watch. Candace believes in me no matter what happens.”

After successfully moving up to the Advanced level at Plantation Field last fall, Jennie and Catalina gained their four-star qualifier at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI3* and are now aiming to take a crack at the mare’s first CCI4* at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event next month.

Ellie MacPhail and RF Eloquence. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Ellie MacPhail and RF Eloquence also jumped in the Eventing Prix Invitational in Ocala on Tuesday in preparation for Red Hills, and “Ricky Bobby,” an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Sally Crane, really turned up the heat in the sand box to sit in second place currently. This pair is gearing up to have another go at completing their first four-star at Rolex next month.

Lauren Kieffer and Landmark’s Monte Carlo round out the top three at the lunch break on a 46.3, their personal best score at this level to date. “Patrick,” an 11-year-old Irish/Thoroughbred gelding owned and bred by Jacqueline Mars, has flown under the radar a bit in comparison to Veronica and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett, but he’s definitely a horse to keep an eye on in this Olympic year.

Clayton Fredericks has taken command of the CIC2* leaderboard, holding both the first and second spots with FE Bowman and FE Money Made, respectively, on scores of 41.4 and 44.4. FE Bowman, an 8-year-old Wurttemberger gelding, won the CCI2* at Richland last year, while FE Money Made, a 7-year-old Westphalian gelding, is making his two-star debut this weekend; Clayton owns both horses with Amanda Bernhard and Diana Crawford.

Clayton Fredericks and FE Money Made. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Caroline Martin and Effervescent, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Sherrie Martin, round out the top three in the CIC2* on 46.3. Marcelo Tosi, who has represented Brazil at multiple Olympics and World Equestrian Games, is sitting in fourth place with Briefing DB Z, and his fellow Brazilian team riders Marcio Calvalho Jorge and Henrique Pinheiro are also competing at Red Hills this weekend. Stay tuned for an exclusive interview!

Boyd Martin and Santos were one of the first pairs to go in the CIC* division yesterday afternoon, and they’re still hanging on to the lead on 41.6. The 7-year-old off-track Thoroughbred gelding owned by Gloria Callen and Ron and Densey Juvoven made an appearance at last week’s Aiken Masterclass in support of the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team and is making his CIC* debut this weekend.

Boyd Martin and Santos. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Alonzo III, an 11-year-old Dutch gelding owned by Mary Ann Ghadban, are sitting in second place on 41.9, with Claire Gordon and Ole Boy, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding previously campaigned by Will Coleman, in third place on 43.9.

You’ll notice many of the riders wearing orange ribbons on their jackets this weekend in memory of Jay Gurmankin, Natalie Neneman’s father, who lost his battle with Multiple Sclerosis last week. Natalia is competing Weisser Riese and Rocky Car in the CIC2* at Red Hills this weekend, and our thoughts are with her as she rides in memory of her dad.

Riding for dad today! ❤️❤️

Posted by Natalia Neneman on Thursday, March 10, 2016

Stay tuned for the conclusion of dressage later this afternoon, and the Advanced division will also be going late in the day. Buck Davidson and Carlevo LLC’s Carlevo are leading the Intermediate division at the conclusion of the first phase on a score of 23.7. Click here to check out the full live scores.

We have much more to bring you from #RHHT, including Samantha Clark’s interviews with Brazilian team riders Marcio Calvalho Jorge, Marcelo Tosi and Henrique Pinheiro, as well as the cross country course preview and an interview with new CIC3* course designer Mike Etherington-Smith. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram to see what Chinch is up to and to see all the behind-the-scenes photos from here in Tallahassee.

Go Eventing.

#RHHT: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Who Jumped It Best? Eventing Prix Invitational Edition

By Jenni Autry on Mar 10, 2016 8:00 am -

Ever since EN launched our original series Who Jumped It Best two years ago, we’ve all put on our George Morris hats and studied hundreds of photos from Beginner Novice up through the CCI4* level to sharpen our eye.

Tuesday’s $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational gave us the opportunity to watch 36 horses and riders from four different countries jumping a 1.30-meter Marc Donovan course at Southern Cross Equestrian in Ocala, and Sofie Van Olmen has kindly allowed us to use her photos for our next round of voting.

Take a look at the pairs below and vote in the poll for who which horse and rider you think presents the best overall picture. If you missed the live stream of the event, click here to watch the playback and see individual and team results. EN’s report is at this link.

Eventing Prix Invitational Links: Individual Results, Team Results, Live Stream, Full Report

Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch. Photo by Sofie Van Olmen.

Lisa Barry and F.I.S. Prince Charming. Photo by Sofie Van Olmen.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Under Suspection. Sofie Van Olmen.

Sinead Halpin and Grey Area. Photo by Sofie Van Olmen.

Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration. Photo by Sofie Van Olmen.

Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett. Photo by Sofie Van Olmen.

Alex O'Neal and Rendezvous with Charley. Photo by Sofie Van Olmen.

Alex O’Neal and Rendezvous with Charly. Photo by Sofie Van Olmen.

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Red Hills Throwback

By Jenni Autry on Mar 9, 2016 6:30 pm -

Post by Liz Halliday.

It’s #WaybackWednesday and we’re reliving Liz Halliday-Sharp’s cracking cross country round aboard HHS Cooley at last year’s Red Hills International Horse Trials. Liz and “Cooley,” a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Deborah Halliday, finished second in the CIC3* last year.

For 2016 the iconic Red Hills course in Tallahassee, Florida, will have a whole new look, as Mike Etherington-Smith is designing the CIC3* course, with David O’Connor designing the CIC2* and CIC* tracks. EN’s coverage of Red Hills starts tomorrow afternoon as one-star and two-star dressage gets underway, so stay tuned for much more!

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Radical New FEI Proposals Could Change the Sport of ‘Equestrio’ as We Know It

By Jenni Autry on Mar 9, 2016 11:10 am -

Photo by Eric Swinebroad.

With the FEI Sports Forum less than a month away, more details have emerged on the radical proposed changes to eventing’s Olympic and World Equestrian Games competition format, as well as significant general rule revisions for the sport that would go into effect in 2017. We’ve summarized the bulk of the changes in an easy-to-read format.

Olympics & World Equestrian Games

The FEI Eventing Committee, which is made up of Chair Giuseppe Della Chiesa (ITL), Deputy Chairman Marcin Konarski (POL), Marilyn Payne (USA), Daisy Berkeley (GBR), Rüdiger Schwarz (GER) and Patricia Clifton (GBR), unanimously voted to recommend that the sport’s Olympic and World Equestrian Games format adopt the following changes:

Limit the number of a riders to a maximum of three per nation and eliminate the drop score for the team competition “in order to address the main objective of a more open and inclusive competition.” Each nation would be allowed one reserve combination or reserve horse.
Run dressage in one day with a new five-minute CCI4* test, which would shorten the duration of dressage to about six hours for the 65 athletes. Proposed ideas on how to shorten the test include speeding up the entry and exit of horses in the arena, eliminating collective marks and removing the first salute.
Set the cross country course at 10 minutes in length with 45 jumping efforts.
Divide the individual show jumping final into two sessions, one of which would serve as a qualifier for the team final. The shorter individual final (over a 1.30-meter course with 13-16 jumps) would only allow the 20 best individuals. The team final (over a 1.30-meter course with 10-12 jumps) would only allow the six best teams.
Require all three members of each team to enter the arena together for the team final and “individually start at a short interval one after the other.” Team Chef d’Equipes would choose the starting order of their team, with teams jumping in the reserve order of standings.
Review the Olympic qualification system for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo

Competition Levels & Formats

Introduce a new international level with cross country set at 1.05 meters to “allow a smoother transition between national and international competitions in the developing countries.”
Shift the star system up by one level, so the new 1.05-meter level would become the new one-star, the current one-star would become the new two-star, the current two-star would be the new three-star, and the current three-star would be the new four-star.
Rename the current CCI4* events as simply “Classics” and also introduce a short format “Classics.”
Consider combining the new one-star and two-star levels into a unified competition format, while the new three-star and four-star would keep both the long and short format.

Qualifications for Athletes & Horses

Revise the current Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) as follows (click here to learn more about MERs):

Dressage Tests & Positive Scoring

Remove the dressage coefficient and implement positive scoring for tests “to help make the understanding of the sport more self-explanatory to a wider audience.” The FEI Eventing Committee is currently considering two separate proposals:
- Proposal A: Dressage scores reflected as a percentage that directly represent the positive score without a coefficient. Cross country and jumping penalties would be deducted from the score, and the rider with the highest score would win.
- Proposal B: Each phase would be given a maximum value of 100 points. The dressage score would be determined by the dressage percentage without a coefficient. Any cross country penalties would be deducted from a total possible 100 points, and any show jumping penalties would be deducted from 100. The final score would be determined by adding together the scores from the three phases, with the rider achieving the highest score winning.
Introduce shorter dressage tests at all levels.

Rename the Sport

The FEI Eventing Committee is now considering the following four choices to rename the sport:

Equestrian Triathlon
Equi-triathlon
Equestrio
Triquestrian

There are additional proposed changes beyond what we’ve summarized above, but these are the highlights. Click here and here to read the full documents, which will be presented for further consideration at the FEI Sports Forum on April 4 and 5 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

What do you think of the proposed changes, EN? Share your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to vote in the poll below for which of the proposed name choices you think the FEI should nix from the list. (EN’s last reader poll on the topic saw “Tri-equathlon” emerge as the clear loser.)

Your Guide to the $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational

By Jenni Autry on Mar 8, 2016 9:30 am -

Who will win this year’s competition? We’ll know soon enough! Photo by Jenni Autry.

Excitement is brewing for today’s $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational, which starts at 2 p.m. at Southern Cross Equestrian and will be live streamed right here on EN, with pre-coverage of the event starting at 1:30 p.m. We’ve compiled everything you need to know about the competition, so read on!

Competition Format: The course will be open to walk from 12:45-1:30 p.m. Thirty-six horses and riders representing four different nations will face off over the 1.30-meter course designed by Marc Donovan. The top 10 horses and riders from the first round will return for a jump off.

The riders could jump up to four horses in yesterday’s $1,000 1.20-meter Welcome Class sponsored by Doug Hannum Equine Therapy. Daisy Trayford and Normandy Soldier took the win with the fastest clear round. Thehorsepesterer was on site and took videos of all the rounds that you can watch at this link.

$1,000 Welcome Class Results:
1. Daisy Trayford and Normandy Soldier – 58.03 seconds
2. Kyle Carter and Madison Park – 59.39 seconds
3. Collen Loach and Qorry Blue D’Argouges – 62.47 seconds
4. Leah Breakey and Master King II – 63.06 seconds
5. Karl Slezak and Fernhill Dutch Design – 63.2 seconds
6. Lauren Kieffer and Veronica – 64.11 seconds

Live Stream: The live stream from EQTV will be at this link and can also be viewed directly on EN. Max Corcoran and I will be providing live commentary, and you can tweet at us during the broadcast at @mmc338 and @jenniautry. You can also tweet at @eventingnation.com. [CLICK TO WATCH]

If You Go: The event is free and open to the public. Bring a chair and a picnic lunch, or you can purchase food and drink on the grounds from Humble Pie Pizza and Edge Brewing Barcelona. Southern Cross is located at 13440 NW Highway 225, Reddick, FL 32686.

$15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational Order of Go:
1. Matt Brown and Talking Point BCF
2. Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair
3. Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue D’Argouges
4. Kylie Lyman and Da Vinci Code
5. Kurt Martin and Delux Z
6. Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace
7. Buck Davidson and Petite Flower
8. Kyle Carter and Cooley Nothing Better B
9. Sharon White and Cooley On Show
10. Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night
11. Lisa Barry and F.I.S. Prince Charming
12. Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti
13. Ellie McPhail and RF Eloquence
14. Tik Maynard and Topgun
15. Sinead Halpin and Grey Area
16. Phillip Dutton and Z
17. Karl Slezak and Fernhill Dutch Design
18. Laine Asker and Anthony Patch
19. Katherine Coleman and Longwood
20. Allie Knowles and Sound Prospect
21. Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High
22. Daisy Trayford and Normandy Soldier
23. Alex O’Neal and Rendezvous With Charly
24. Hannah Sue Burnett and Under Suspection
25. Lynn Symansky and Donner
26. Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration
27. Joe Meyer and South Paw
28. Jon Holling and Kildalton Cooley
29. Hallie Coon and Celien
30. Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me
31. Elisa Wallace and Simply Priceless
32. Bobby Meyerhoff and Dunlavin’s Token
33. Jennie Brannigan and Catalina
34. Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett
35. Leah Breakey and Master King II
36. Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Delta Queen

Please join us in thanking these generous event sponsors: Ocala Horse Properties, WoodmenLife, The Dutta Corp, Brewster Walker Horse Transport, Stellos Electric, Seminole Feed, Doug Hannum Equine Therapy, APF, Wordley Martin Equestrian and Jump for Joy. Brewster Walker Horse Transportation is also sponsoring a Groom’s Award.

Check back before 1:30 p.m. to access the live stream link. If you can’t watch the broadcast, we’ll also be running live updates here on EN and will post a full report from the competition later this afternoon.

Good luck to all the competitors! Go Eventing.

Olivia Inglis Killed at Scone Horse Trials in Australia

By Jenni Autry on Mar 5, 2016 11:00 pm -

EN is devastated to confirm that Olivia Inglis, 17, was killed today at Scone Horse Trials in New South Wales, Australia, in a fall on the CNC2* cross country course while competing Coriolanus. Details on the exact nature of the accident have not been confirmed.

Equestrian Australia confirmed the fatality in a statement: “Olivia was given urgent medical attention, attended by the on-course
paramedic, the on-course doctor and the Westpac rescue helicopter service but unfortunately was unable to be revived.”

Olivia was riding Coriolanus, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by her family, in her first two-star competition. She had previously competed two CCI* and one CIC* with the horse. Coriolanus did not suffer any major injuries in the accident.

John Nicholson is the course designer at Scone and has also designed the courses at the New Zealand National Three-Day Event Championships, Kihikihi, and numerous events in Thailand and Western Australia. He took over designing the courses at Virginia Horse Trials last year.

Scone has cancelled the remaining portion of the horse trials due to the fatality.

Counseling services with Davidson Trahaire are available for anyone who attended the event. Please call 1300 360 364 and mention Equestrian Australia to be directed to a counselor.

The EN team extends our deepest condolences to Charlotte and Arthur Inglis, their family, and all who knew and loved Olivia during this tragic time.

[Scone Horse Trials Cancelled]

Aiken Masterclass Raises Funds to Support U.S. Eventing Team

By Jenni Autry on Mar 4, 2016 1:15 pm -

Boyd Martin rides Rosa Cha W, Silva Martin's Grand Prix dressage mount. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin hosted their second annual Masterclass at Stable View Farm in Aiken last night at the Celebration of U.S. Eventing, which raised funds to support the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team’s trip to this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Early reports indicate that about 200 people attended the event, with more than $20,000 raised for Team USA.

While the weather didn’t fully cooperate, making for a chilly, rainy evening, that didn’t stop Aiken’s equestrian enthusiasts from packing the stands to watch Phillip and Boyd demonstrate training exercises they use for green event horses all the way through to horses competing at the highest levels of the sport.

Bobby Costello, Jan Byyny and David O'Connor were among many top names honored throughout the eventing. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

Bobby Costello, Jan Byyny and David O’Connor were among many top names honored throughout the evening. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

Denis Glaccum, a 2009 inductee into the USEA Hall of Fame, welcomed attendees to the evening, which honored many other top names in U.S. eventing, like Bobby Costello, David O’Connor, Jan Byyny, Will Coleman, Beth Perkins and Mara DePuy. Then Phillip and Boyd kicked the night into high gear with their demonstrations.

Phillip rode Icabad Crane, a popular off-track Thoroughbred owned by Graham and Anita Motion of Herringswell Stables that is currently competing at the Preliminary and one-star level. He also rode Mr. Candyman, a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Annie Jones, Bridget Colman, Caroline Moran and Tom Tierney, that finished fourth in his first CCI3* at Galway Downs last fall.

Phillip Dutton and Mr. Candyman. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

“I think it was a good experience for everyone that came to the event. Icabad is getting pretty seasoned with doing these demonstrations now. It’s not the easiest on the horses because you need a sensible horse with the crowd being up close to you,” Phillip said. “It’s a lot of atmosphere, but Icabad handled it well. He showed off his adjustability and his accuracy to the fences. Mr. Candyman demonstrated jumping exercises to improve his technique and his adjustability, and he also went really well.”

Boyd started out with a dressage demonstration on Rosa Cha W, Silva Martin’s Grand Prix dressage partner. He then demonstrated gymnastic exercises Santos, a 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Gloria Callen and Ron and Densey Juvonen that is currently competing at the Preliminary and one-star level.

Boyd Martin and Crackerjack demonstrate indoor cross country exercises. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

Lastly, Boyd showed the crowd several indoor jumping exercises on Lucy Boynton Lie’s Crackerjack, a 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding that completed his first CCI4* at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event last year. The Land Rover parked in the ring made for a vibrant background behind the corner jump used in the exercise.

Boyd’s right-hand man Mike Pendleton also reprised his air jacket demonstration that he first performed last summer at Eventing with the Stars, jumping off a horse while wearing a Charles Owen AyrVest to show how an air vest activates. Duncan, a young horse currently in training with Boyd, handled the air canister deployment like a pro.

After the Masterclass, the VIP party kicked off in the barn where Boyd’s team is based for the winter. “It was a unique experience socializing in front of the horses while they were having their dinner,” Boyd said. “The who’s who of equestrian sport in Aiken turned up to donate funds to the USET Foundation. It was a fun night, and thankfully no horses were released by drunk patrons.”

Boyd Martin and Will Coleman emcee the live auction. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

Will Coleman joined Boyd as emcee of the live auction, and the riders also acted as celebrity bartenders during the night. We’ll update this report with more information on how much was raised during the auction once those details are released, so keep checking back to EN.

“Thank you to the organizers of the event and especially to Stable View,” Boyd said. “Barry Ollif is creating a premier training facility and competition site in Aiken, and it’s really raising the level of facilities in the area. I think he’s setting the bar very high, and we’re hoping other events and competition sites will follow his lead.”

: Icabad Crane shows off his adjustability to fences. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

: Boyd Martin and Santos jump through the gymnastics. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

: Silva Martin and Emma Ford stand ringside at the event. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

: Phillip Dutton and Mr. Candyman. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

: Phillip Dutton and Mr. Candyman. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

: Denis Glaccum and Ryan Wood welcome the attendees. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

: Bobby Costello, Jan Byyny and David O’Connor were among many top names honored throughout the evening. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

: Boyd Martin rides Rosa Cha W, Silva Martin’s Grand Prix dressage mount. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

: Boyd Martin and Crackerjack demonstrate indoor cross country exercises. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

: Boyd Martin and Will Coleman emcee the live auction. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

: Phillip Dutton and Mr. Candyman. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

: Mike Pendleton demonstrates how an air vest activates. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

: Phillip Dutton and Mr. Candyman. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

: The crowd braved the wind and rain! Photo by Cindy Lawler.

: Icabad Crane jumps the skinny barrel. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

More Riders Confirmed for $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational

By Jenni Autry on Mar 4, 2016 9:30 am -

Kurt Martin and Anna Bella at the 2015 Eventing Prix Invitational. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The prize money and additional riders have been announced for next week’s Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational at Southern Cross Equestrian. Organizers Scott Keach and Max Corcoran are partnering with title sponsor Ocala Horse Properties and other generous sponsors to offer $15,000 in prize money, which will be distributed among the top individual and team placings.

Wordley Martin has signed on as an Official Prix Partner with a $2,500 contribution to the prize pot, and an additional $1,000 sponsored by Doug Hannum Equine Therapy will be awarded for Monday’s welcome class. Riders are permitted to jump up to four horses in the welcome class, which starts at noon; fences will be set at 1.15 to 1.20 meters.

The 36 riders on the entry list will each jump one horse in Tuesday’s competition, which will begin at 2 p.m. The fences will be set at 1.30 meters, and Marc Donovan is the course designer.

Boyd Martin and Leslie Law have both scratched from the competition since our last entry update. Leslie is nursing a broken foot, while Boyd made the decision to withdraw due to a scheduling conflict with Red Hills Horse Trials later in the week. Hallie Coon and Allie Knowles have been added to the entry list in their place.

Update 03/06: Will Coleman has scratched from the competition. British-based U.S. rider Katherine Coleman, who is currently in the States competing, will take his place.

Here is the full list of competitors:

Laine Ashker (USA)
Lisa Barry (USA)
Maya Black (USA)
Jennie Brannigan (USA)
Leah Breakey (CAN)
Matt Brown (USA)
Hannah Sue Burnett (USA)
Kyle Carter (CAN)
Katherine Coleman (USA)
Hallie Coon (USA)
Buck Davidson (USA)
Phillip Dutton (USA)
Lisa Marie Fergusson (CAN)
Liz Halliday-Sharp (USA)
Sinead Halpin (USA)
Jon Holling (USA)
Holly Jacks-Smither (CAN)
Lauren Kieffer (USA)
Allie Knowles (USA)
Colleen Loach (CAN)
Kylie Lyman (USA)
Caroline Martin (USA)
Kurt Martin (USA)
Tik Maynard (CAN)
Ellie McPhail (USA)
Joe Meyer (NZL)
Bobby Meyerhoff (USA)
Sara Kozumplik Murphy (USA)
Selena O’Hanlon (CAN)
Alex O’Neal (USA)
Jessica Phoenix (CAN)
Karl Slezak (CAN)
Lynn Symansky (USA)
Daisy Trayford (GBR)
Elisa Wallace (USA)
Sharon White (USA)

Admission is free for both the warm-up class at noon on Monday, March 7, and the competition at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 8. Bring a chair and a picnic lunch, or you can purchase food and drink on the grounds from Humble Pie Pizza and Edge Brewing Barcelona.

Celebrations Catering will provide food and drink in the ringside VIP tent, and tables are still available for $600. Contact Denise Goyea at [email protected] to reserve a table.

Thank you to the event’s sponsors: Ocala Horse Properties, WoodmenLife, The Dutta Corp, Brewster Walker Horse Transport, Stellos Electric, Seminole Feed, Doug Hannum Equine Therapy, APF, Wordley Martin Equestrian and Jump for Joy. Brewster Walker Horse Transportation is also sponsoring a Groom’s Award.

If you can’t be in Ocala to watch the Eventing Prix Invitational live on Tuesday, EQTV will be live streaming the competition right here on EN. We hope to see you there! Southern Cross is located at 13440 NW Highway 225, Reddick, FL 32686.

New FEI Rule Charges $1,000 Fee for Passport Name Changes, Adding Prefixes

By Jenni Autry on Mar 2, 2016 1:00 pm -

Photo via the FEI

A new FEI rule regarding name changes has made waves in the eventing community since it came into effect on January 1. All owners obtaining an FEI passport must now use the name that appears in the first recorded document for the horse, or pay a $1,000 fee to change the name or add a commercial prefix.

The FEI will first default to the name of the horse in a document issued at birth. If that is not applicable, then the FEI will look to the name used in the horse’s first studbook document. If the horse is not registered with a studbook, then the name is based on what is recorded in the first original document issued for the horse, such as a national passport.

An FEI spokesperson told EN that the intent of the rule is to “(ensure) transparency and clarity — the same process for everyone in the international equestrian community. The FEI has consulted with its National Federations on this, as it does with all rule changes. This system is designed to benefit everyone, from breeders with respect to the birth name, to sponsors who see the value of naming horses.”

Carol Gee has long known the value of naming horses. After a successful career in both marketing and competitive eventing, Carol started a new venture as a producer and seller of event horses about 15 years ago. She later began attaching the name Fernhill to the horses, a nod to the landscape at her base in Kilkenny, Ireland, and as a way to track the horses that came through her yard.

“Today the Fernhill name is a stamp of quality that says the horse has been sourced by someone with experience and a good reputation who cares about the horse after it is sold,” Carol said. “People who buy a horse from me buy it because they want a Fernhill horse, and they want to keep the name.”

Carol believes a better solution would be for the FEI to allow producers and sellers like Fernhill to pay a one-time fee to register a commercial prefix, which would then allow the prefix to be affixed to the name without incurring a penalty each time a horse is registered.

“I cannot see the logic. If they want to charge us, then charge us a one-off fee,” Carol said. “If the FEI feels like they have to make some sort of money on name changes, then just make it once. Why should they punish us and our clients?”

Since this new FEI naming rule came into effect, Carol has paid approximately €42,000 to keep the prefix on the Fernhill horses and prevent the financial burden of the fee from falling to her clients.

“I feel like the FEI does not want to recognize successful producers, and they’re now reaping the rewards of my business because I’ve been successful,” Carol said. “It’s hard enough to make a living and be honest and hardworking without someone putting an obstacle in your way.”

Richard Sheane, a successful producer of event horses under the Cooley name, expressed his own frustration with the FEI naming rule in a statement on Facebook.

“The FEI claim that they want to charge those that use a ‘commercial’ name. To us this sounds crazy in a sport where we should be welcoming with open arms anybody that wishes to invest in the sport. … There is no doubt that the ‘Cooley’ name has been a great way to advertise our horses, but in reality the new owners surely have the right to call their horses whatever they choose without being financially penalized as a result,” Richard said.

“We of course have a lot of horses that proudly carry our name but what about the small producer that perhaps only registers three horses a year with their prefix. What about them? How can they grow their business if they have to carry this ridiculous fee? The FEI are takers of the sport and not givers. They are not open to suggestions of how we can fix this issue. We already have to pay huge entries for FEI events. In our opinion this is just one step too far in a sport that already carries many high costs.”

Liz Halliday-Sharp partners with Richard in Cooley Horses International, which brings Cooley horses to her base at Horsepower Equestrian in Ocala, Florida, to be sold during the winter season. She recently paid the $1,000 fee to keep the commercial prefix for Gorsehill Cooley, her 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding that will compete at Le Lion d’Angers later this year.

“I felt it was important to our business to keep the Cooley name on a horse that is aimed for the Young Horse World Championships,” Liz said. “It is a difficult situation to be in when a horse has kept one name throughout much success and you are suddenly faced with either paying out $1,000 or changing the name. It puts many of us in an awkward position.”

There are numerous others beyond the Fernhill and Cooley names that will face the implications of the rule: Frances Stead of Clifton; Paul Donavan of Sportsfield; Clayton Fredericks, who uses the FE prefix for Fredericks Equestrian; the Raylyn Farms’ RF prefix — the list goes on and on.

(Horses registered with a prefix like Ringwood would not incur the fee if the horse was bred at Ringwood Stud. The FEI is not charging the $1,000 fee for horses obtaining a passport with a name that includes a breeding prefix as long as the horse was bred at that breeder’s facility.)

Off-track Thoroughbred owners also will feel the financial weight of this naming rule change, as the FEI confirmed to EN that changing a Thoroughbred’s Jockey Club name when obtaining an FEI passport will incur the $1,000 fee.

“In the case of Thoroughbreds, if (owners) have a document establishing a birth name before the registration with the Jockey Club the FEI will consider this initial document and the name in it,” an FEI spokesperson told EN. “If there is no document establishing a birth name before the registration with the Jockey Club, the FEI will use the name attributed at Jockey Club time as the horse birth name.”

Thankfully, Donner, Anthony Patch and Shiraz already have FEI passports. Otherwise they could be representing the U.S. as Smart Gorky, Alex’s Castledream, and Bold and Burley, respectively.

Lesley Grant-Law penned a strongly worded blog on the topic of “name taxing” for Horse-Canada.com and made a sobering point directed at all off-track Thoroughbred owners.

“Think about it! Those Jockey Club names? You better like them, as you are stuck with them unless you want to pay $1,000 down the road when you want a passport,” Lesley said. “Has it sunk in now? My two first horses Chloe and Snappy would have been A la Bencher and Fiddle’s Lil … the HORROR.”

(The horror, indeed. My own first Thoroughbred’s Jockey Club name was Va Pipeline.)

Many are questioning the FEI’s intent in implementing the rule. While the FEI’s statement to EN emphasized the desire to ensure transparency, one could argue that requiring all newly registered FEI horses to be microchipped — an FEI rule that has been in place since 2013 — safeguards against horse swapping or other illegal practices.

Lesley explained it this way in her blog: “For every one evil doer out there trying to illegally pass off a horse, surely there are 1,000 of us that don’t want to get stuck with terrible names? But I guess from now on we the masses are paying for the foul play of the few … or more than likely, the FEI has just found a brilliant way to make A WHOLE lot more money.”

The sheer size of the $1,000 naming fee has also been called into question, as many have argued that it seems disproportionally high to the relatively lower $300 cost to register a horse for an FEI passport.

Horse owners preparing to embark on the FEI registration process now have two options: Revert to the horse’s original name — even if the horse has competed under a different name for an extended period of time — or pay the $1,000 fee to officially change the name on the passport.

The FEI has published guidelines and examples of name changes that will incur the fee at this link. (Note the exceptions to the $1,000 fee at the bottom of the document. Adding the initials of a non-profit organization or state organization, adding non-commercial initials and shortening a name will incur a smaller $200 fee.)

What do you think of this new FEI rule, EN? Are you now stuck with a certain name on a horse? Would you pay the $1,000 penalty to change it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

This story has been updated to clarify how the FEI defines the “horse birth name.” Click here for additional naming guidelines from the FEI.

Buck Davidson & Kyle Carter: ‘Don’t Change the Sport’

By Jenni Autry on Mar 2, 2016 11:30 am -

Buck Davidson and Kyle Carter have released the latest episode of their YouTube show addressing the proposed changes to the Olympic format of eventing. The timing is poignant, as the FEI Eventing Committee is meeting today to finalize the new changes that will go into effect for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The FEI Eventing Committee has proposed the following changes for the sport:

Three team riders: Each Olympic team would be made up of a maximum of three riders. Each team of three would be allowed one reserve combination.

No drop score: Teams would no longer have a drop score. All three scores from a team would count toward the final team score.

5-minute dressage: All dressage tests would be performed on one day by using a 5-minute test, which would shorten the entire dressage phase to a maximum of six hours for the 65 athletes competing.

Individual medals: The horses and riders placed below 20th after cross country would do their show jumping rounds first, followed by the 20 highest-placed combinations to determine the individual medals. This would also serve as the qualifier for the team finals.

Team finals: After individual show jumping medals are determined, the six to seven best teams (18-21 combinations) would then do their show jumping rounds for the team medals. The FEI is proposing to have “all three team members in the arena together, jumping one after another, so that a team result would be instantly available.”

Name change: The FEI Eventing Committee has proposed the hiring of a branding agency to evaluate changing the sport’s name to equestrian triathlon “in the effort of improving the understanding of the sport to new audiences.”

The International Event Riders Association spearheaded a meeting last week in London to bring together representatives from active eventing nations in an attempt to reach a united consensus on the proposed changes. Horse & Hound reported that FEI eventing chair Guiseppe Della Chiesa attended the meeting.

Now we wait for the news on eventing’s fate. In the meantime, you can watch Buck and Kyle’s latest episode and let us know what you think about the proposed changes of eventing. Will the sport soon be known as equestrian triathlon? Stay tuned to find out.

[Will Eventing Become ‘Equestrian Triathlon’ By 2020 Olympics?]

Discounted Tickets Now Available for Tomorrow’s Aiken Masterclass

By Jenni Autry on Mar 2, 2016 9:00 am -

Phillip Dutton and Icabad Crane at last year's Aiken Masterclass. Photo by Taggert V Studios.

In an effort to make tomorrow’s Aiken Masterclass and Celebration of U.S. Eventing more accessible for young eventing enthusiasts and families, all attendees under the age of 17 can now get their tickets for $25 at the door. Combination tickets for the Masterclass and VIP after party are now discounted to $175 for those under 17.

Stable View Farm hosted more than 350 people at last year’s Aiken Masterclass, and Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin are hoping for an even bigger turnout for this year’s event, which is also serving as a fundraiser for Team USA’s trip to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“Last year’s Masterclass was a huge success,” Boyd said. “This year our expectations are for a bigger, bolder and better show. The audience here in Aiken is definitely enthusiastic about what goes on behind the scenes with training event horses. Phillip and I look forward to putting on a display of what it takes to train the green off-track Thoroughbreds up to the big time four-star horses.”

Phillip confirmed off-track Thoroughbred superstar Icabad Crane will make an appearance, and both Boyd and Phillip will ride one of their top four-star mounts during the demonstration. The Masterclass portion of the night will be scaled back to some degree this year since the event is combined with the Team USA fundraiser, but Phillip emphasized it will still be an excellent learning opportunity.

“We’ll have a range of demonstrations, from the very green horse just getting introduced to the sport to four-star horses, and it will be a combination of training exercises, tips and advice on what Boyd and I do to educate the horses and bring them along,” Phillip said. “It will be fun and entertaining as well.”

The Celebration of U.S. Eventing starts at 5 p.m. tomorrow with Phillip and Boyd’s Masterclass kicking off the night, which will also include special guest appearances from big names in the sport, like Bobby Costello, David O’Connor, Jan Byyny, Will Coleman, Beth Perkins and Mara DePuy.

Then the VIP after party will start at 6:30 p.m. in the main barn, with top event riders acting as guest bartenders, as well as a live auction with proceeds benefitting Team USA. Phillip said he and Boyd “will definitely be bartending, and we’re looking to raise a lot of money and sell a lot of drinks.”

Tickets are $50 for the Masterclass only or $25 for attendees 17 and under at the door. Tickets for both the Masterclass and VIP after party are $200, or $175 for attendees 17 and under at the door. Click here to purchase tickets online, and you can direct any questions about the event to Bryn Wells at [email protected]. Stable View Farm is located at 117 Stable Drive, Aiken, SC 28301.

[Phillip Dutton & Boyd Martin Bring Popular Masterclass Back to Aiken]

[Celebration of U.S. Eventing Tickets]

[Celebration of U.S. Eventing Invitation]

Enter to Win the Great KER ClockIt Fitness Challenge

By Jenni Autry on Mar 1, 2016 1:00 pm -

Photo courtesy of KER

KER ClockIt Sport has been changing the face of event horse fitness ever since Kentucky Equine Research launched the smartphone app last year, and we want to know how YOU have been using the app to up your horse’s fitness game. That’s why EN is partnering with KER to host the Great KER ClockIt Fitness Challenge this spring with amazing prizes for you to win!

What is KER ClockIt Sport? The free app helps take the guesswork out of equine fitness by monitoring heart rate, speed, distance and altitude during rides. EN’s guide to the app explains all the details: 7 Reasons to Download KER ClockIt Sport

What can I win? The winner of the Great KER ClockIt Fitness Challenge will receive:

A $100 gift card to shop.kerx.com
An EcoGold Secure XC Saddle Pad
A lesson with your choice of Bruce Davidson, Liz Halliday-Sharp, or Dom or Jimmie Schramm
A feature story about you and your horse on EN

Shop.kerx.com features the range of KERx Special Needs Nutrition products, as well as KER apparel and saddle pads, and KER ClockIt accessories. Participants also have the chance to be the KER ClockIt Session of the Week on EN.

How do I enter? First you’ll need to download the KER ClockIt Sport app for iOS or Android. Set up your stable and use the app during a ride (must be at least 20 minutes long). Hit the red “End Session” button and upload your ride when you’re done. Then e-mail the session link to [email protected] with a brief description of the ride. You can also share your sessions on Facebook and tag Kentucky Equine Research.

There’s no limit on the number of times you can enter between now and May 31 — the more sessions you record, the greater your chances to win. The winner will be randomly drawn on June 1. You don’t need to use a heart-rate monitor during your sessions to be eligible to win, but sessions recorded with a heart rate monitor will count as double entries. If you don’t have a heart rate monitor, check out th is starter kit from KER.

Questions? See the official contest page on kerclockit.com.

Finding the Fifth Leg: Kim and Sparky’s Amazing Save

By Jenni Autry on Feb 29, 2016 11:00 am -

LT/HoofClix.com Photo

Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless became celebrities over the weekend when photos surfaced on social media of their amazing save at the big hammock tables on Derek di Grazia’s Pine Top CIC3* cross country course. The hammocks appeared early on as fences 4AB on course, and to give you an idea of just how massive they are, here’s a photo for perspective:

A little perspective. Hammock vs. SUV. LT/HoofClix.com photo.

EN’s own Leslie Threlkeld was at this fence shooting photos for HoofClix.com and said the size was definitely intimidating: “Walking up to these hammocks, they seemed impossibly wide, and standing on the backside of the first one, I could barely see over the top. They were early in the course and definitely got the horse and rider GOING,” she said.

“As a photographer, shooting this fence was one of the most exhilarating experiences I’ve had in some time. They were in the air for what seemed like forever. It was almost impossible to get a bad shot, as the whole long moment was just an amazing feat of athleticism.”

Kim and “Sparky,” her 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, took the term “athleticism” to a whole new level during their trip through the combination. All seemed to be going well in their approach until right before the fence when Sparky pulled his right front shoe in the last stride.

“Then we were a half stride off, and he jumped it and I thought, ‘We are definitely going down,’” Kim said. “But he banked the jump, I let go of the reins and away we went. I definitely got lucky. He’s so amazing that he landed on his feet. We galloped about five or six strides, I got the reins back from up by his ears, and we did an S turn to the other hammock.”

LT/HoofClix.com Photo

Kim gave the credit to Sparky for smartly handling the situation despite the pulled shoe: “That jump was really, really big and walking up to it even on a four-star course you would have been concerned. Thank goodness for Sparky.”

You have to click through the full gallery below to truly appreciate the awesomeness of the save. As Leslie put it: “What Kim and Sparky pulled off is one of those clips you’d find on a thrills and spills tape — just a remarkable example of a horse finding his fifth leg and giving it his all. And Kim somehow managed to stay balanced and centered — and apparently totally calm!”

Many thanks to Kim for allowing us to share the photos, and kudos to Leslie for capturing the full sequence for HoofClix.com. Go Kim. Go Sparky. Go Eventing!

Pine Top CIC & H.T. [Website] [Final Scores] [EN’s Coverage]

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Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights Win Pine Top CIC3*

By Jenni Autry on Feb 26, 2016 6:30 pm -

Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights. Photo by LT/HoofClix.com.

Ladies dominated the leaderboard at the inaugural Pine Top CIC3*, with Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights leading the charge in a wire-to-wire victory to win the the first three-star of the North American eventing season on a final score of 53.5. Colleen said her 10-year-old Thoroughbred/Clydesdale homebred gelding was a “rockstar” today.

Coming off a second-place finish at the $75,000 Wellington Eventing Showcase earlier this month, Colleen and “CR” kept the momentum going today by delivering their personal best three-star dressage test to date, scoring 44.3 to handily take the lead in the first phase.

“I was absolutely completely pleased with what he gave me today,” Colleen said. “In dressage I’ve been working on trying to keep his balance up a bit more, and it was better today. I was happy with the test, but we’re not there yet. We left points on the table, and there’s still plenty of room for improvement.”

Show jumping has been CR’s most challenging phase, and though they had one rail down with 2 time penalties today, that kept Colleen and CR in the lead. After jumping clear rounds at Burghley last fall and then in Wellington, Colleen said she went into the ring today not focusing as much on how many rails they did or didn’t pull.

“I went in with a goal to start riding him so that he could have a better shape and trying to really help him actually do what he’s supposed to do in the air, and it was better,” Colleen said. “Even though he pulled a rail and we had time penalties, his shape was better, so I consider that a good thing.”

Liz Halliday-Sharp and HHS Cooley. Photo by LT/HoofClix.com.

A clear cross country trip across Derek di Grazia’s course (click here to view a fence-by-fence course walk) sealed the deal for Colleen and CR, who crossed the finish line with 3.2 time penalties to take the win.

“He had some green moments, especially at the corner in the water, but he was dead honest the entire way around. He was so happy to see big fences. His gallop was great the whole time. This is his second run of the year, and he was looking for the flags, staying straight and reading the questions,” Colleen said. “He definitely learned from last year. When you finish an event with room for improvement but he learned from last year, you have to be happy.”

Colleen and CR will next head to Carolina International and The Fork as their final prep runs before making a return trip to Rolex, where they finished 11th in the horse’s CCI4* debut last year. With the confidence and maturity CR has shown so far this season, Colleen said she’s excited for the spring.

“Derek had a course that really asked you to stand up on your feet and be looking where you were going. You couldn’t waste time looking down. You had to stay moving and look for your next fence because they weren’t set in a straight line,” Colleen said. “As big of a horse as CR is, he’s handy when it comes to courses like this. He’s so non-plussed by the size of the big fences and he can turn on a dime.”

Sydney Conley Elliott and Cisko A. Photo by HoofClix.com.

Looking to the rest of the CIC3* leaderboard, one little second prevented Liz Halliday-Sharp and HHS Cooley from taking the win. Liz and Deborah Halliday’s 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding came home three seconds over the optimum time to pick up 1.2 penalties and finish second on a final score of 53.9, .4 penalties behind Colleen and CR.

Despite delivering the fastest cross country trip in the division with “Cooley,” Liz said an awkward jump over the final fence on course likely cost them that one second. Liz and Cooley scored 48.7 in dressage to sit in third place initially, then had one rail down in show jumping to drop to fourth before the speedy cross country round boosted them to finish second.

“I honestly thought he deserved a better score than he got in the dressage; he did a beautiful test. The rail in show jumping was my fault for sure. I put him in a snaffle and he was so good,” Liz said. “I’m thrilled to bits with the way he ran around cross country. I’ve been second in so many three-stars and it would have been amazing to win, but I’m super happy with my horse.”

Cooley is also bound for Kentucky, and Liz said she will likely only run him in the Advanced division at Carolina International as his final prep run, as he’s an experienced cross country horse that doesn’t need another run. Liz’s other top mount, Fernhill By Night, will also aim for Kentucky and is slated to next compete in the Intermediate at Rocking Horse on Friday.

Jonathan Holling and Avoca Druid. Photo by ED/HoofClix.com.

Sydney Conley Elliot and Cisko A, a 10-year-old-Westphalian gelding owned by Carol Stephens, round out the top three in the CIC3* on a final score of 56.7. A dressage score of 54.7 placed them in 11th after the first phase, and a double clear show jumping round over Chris Barnard’s course boosted them to sixth. A clear cross country trip with 2 time penalties — the second fastest in the division — saw them move up to finish third.

“It is so hard to put together all three phases, and you’re just always hoping it all works out. He can be very temperamental, so dressage is touch and go for us. He was very good today, but there is still a lot more there. He was super sensitive with the wind and the cold this morning, but I felt like we managed to pull off an OK test,” Sydney said.

“I was super pleased with the show jumping. We’re constantly working on keeping him round over the fence. He has a different style, but he managed to be efficient and clean. He totally loves cross country and was in the zone. I feel pretty confident going out, and as long as I don’t make too big of a mistake, he is rock solid. I was really happy with him, and I thought the course was great.”

Sydney hauled to Pine Top from her home base in Louisiana specifically to run Derek’s course in preparation for her four-star debut at Rolex, which he also designs. Cisko and Sydney will head north for The Fork as their final competition before Kentucky, staying at Will Faudreen’s Gavilan Farm in the lead up to the event.

As for how Sydney is feeling about aiming for her first four-star: “You kind of don’t think about it. If it happens to work and Cisko stays sound and we get there, then that’s just a bonus. I have a plan, and I wanted to run a couple of Derek’s courses (at Fair Hill and Pine Top) and that went well. So far we’re checking the boxes off, and this was one of them.”

Colleen Loach and Kalle 86. Photo by LT/HoofClix.com.

Hallie Coon and Celien, a 9-year-old Dutch mare she owns with Helen Coon, had a banner day, finishing in fourth place on 60.4 to improve on their previous best CIC3* finishing score by 16.2 points. Doug Payne and Debi Crowley’s Vandiver, a 12-year-old Trakehner gelding, continued to show they are on the right track for Rolex with a fifth-place finish on a final score of 61.8.

Colleen Rutledge and Jessica Phoenix both finished two horses in the top 10 of the CIC3*. Colleen also finished sixth with her own Escot 6, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding known as “Monkey” in the barn. Jessica finished seventh and ninth with her Pan American Games partner Pavarotti and Bentley’s Best, respectively.

All the CIC divisions ran in a one-day format today at Pine Top. Jon Holling and Team Rebecca’s Avoca Druid, an 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, easily took the CIC2* win on a score of 51.6. Matt Brown and Talking Point BCF, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Blossom Creek Foundation, finished second on 58.7. Jeanie Clarke and Head for More, a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Head for More LLC, finished third on 58.4.

While Liz Halliday-Sharp missed the win in the CIC3*, she did take home a blue ribbon in the CIC* with Elarona, a 6-year-old Dutch mare she owns, on a final score of 43.5. Colleen Loach and Peter Barry’s Kalle 86, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding, finished second on 46.0. Liz also finished third on 49.9 with Gorsehill Cooley to obtain the 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding’s qualifying score to compete at Le Lion d’Angers later this year.

You’ll see various rider falls throughout the CIC divisions when looking at the live scores, but all reports coming in tonight are confirming no major injuries. There’s still much more to come from Pine Top, with the Advanced divisions wrapping up tomorrow after holding dressage and show jumping today, and all other divisions running Saturday and Sunday. Keep it locked on EN for all your #gooddirt news.

Pine Top CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Entry List Announced for Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational

By Jenni Autry on Feb 25, 2016 9:30 am -

Lisa Barry and F.I.S. Prince Charming at the 2015 Eventing Prix Invitational. Photo by Jenni Autry.

EN has confirmed the preliminary entry list for the highly anticipated Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational on Tuesday, March 8, at Southern Cross Equestrian in Ocala, Florida. So far 28 riders representing four different countries — U.S., Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand — have confirmed they will compete in the show jumping competition.

Laine Ashker
Lisa Barry
Maya Black
Jennie Brannigan
Matt Brown
Hannah Sue Burnett
Buck Davidson
Phillip Dutton
Jon Holling
Lauren Kieffer
Liz Halliday-Sharp
Sinead Halpin
Leslie Law
Colleen Loach
Kylie Lyman
Caroline Martin
Boyd Martin
Kurt Martin
Ellie McPhail
Joe Meyer
Bobby Meyerhoff
Sara Kozumplik Murphy
Alex O’Neal
Jessica Phoenix
Karl Slezak
Lynn Symansky
Daisy Trayford
Elisa Wallace
Sharon White

The event is open to the public, and spectators are also welcome to attend the 1.15-1.20 meter warmup class at noon Monday, March 7, where invited riders can compete a maximum of four horses, one of which they will jump in the Tuesday Prix.

Marc Donovan is designing the 1.30-meter course, which will feature elaborate jump design, a sponsor tent and plenty of atmosphere to prepare the horses for Red Hills International Horse Trials later in the week. The U.S. and Canada are also using the event as an official training competition.

The Prix is free for the public to attend. Celebrations Catering will provide food and drink in the ringside VIP tent, and tables are still available for $600. Food will also be available for purchase on the grounds from Humble Pie Pizza, with beer courtesy of Edge Brewing Barcelona.

Riders will compete for prize money in a team format. Last year’s Prix offered $15,000 in prize money, and event organizers Scott Keach and Max Corcoran hope to boost that number even higher if the competition can secure more sponsorship. Contact Joel Wiessner at 352-362-7667 or [email protected] for more information on sponsorship.

Current event sponsors include Ocala Horse Properties, Woodmen of the World Insurance, The Dutta Corp, Southern Cross Equestrian, Brewster Walker Horse Transportation and Tryon International Equestrian Center. Brewster Walker Horse Transportation is also sponsoring a Groom’s Award this year.

Southern Cross is located at 13440 NW Highway 225, Reddick, FL 32686. For more information, please contact Max Corcoran. VIP tables are almost sold out; if you haven’t reserved one yet, contact Denise Goyea as soon as possible.

If you can’t be in Ocala on March 8 to watch the Eventing Prix Invitational live, we’ll be streaming the competition in full right here on EN. We hope to see you there!

Live Oak Aims to Add CIC3* to Popular Driving, Show Jumping Event

By Jenni Autry on Feb 24, 2016 1:30 pm -

Live Oak International will celebrate its 25th anniversary this weekend. Photo by Susie Blackmon/Creative Commons.

Live Oak International, a popular combined driving and show jumping event held annually in Ocala, Florida, has applied to add a CIC3* horse trials in 2017. The CIC3* is proposed to run on March 11 and 12 next year, which is the Wednesday and Thursday before Red Hills International Horse Trials in Tallahassee.

Home to 12-time U.S. National Four-in-Hand Driving Champion Chester Weber, Live Oak will celebrate its 25th anniversary of running one of the largest driving tournaments in the country during this year’s event, which starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday, Feb. 28.

Live Oak International, host to the USEF National Driving Championships, added show jumping to the event in 2012, and the $100,000 Live Oak International Grand Prix was awarded a spot on the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League calendar for 2016.

Live Oak’s eventing organizer Michael Pollard believes holding back-to-back CIC3* competitions at two thriving venues within three hours of each other can help introduce eventing to a new group of people, drive increased equestrian tourism to Florida, and boost attendance at both Red Hills and Live Oak.

“Chester and I got to know each other while serving on the USEF Board of Directors, and I had always been impressed with what he has done at Live Oak with both the driving competition and then adding on Grand Prix show jumping. They have about 10,000 spectators at the event each year,” Michael said.

Tailgating is popular at Live Oak International during the cross country marathon for driving. Photo by Susie Blackmon/Creative Commons.

“We had discussed hosting a similar type of event with multiple disciplines at Chattahoochee Hills, and that led into the idea of helping Live Oak host eventing at their facility. Chester needed guidance with securing a date on the calendar and building a cross country course, and he asked me to help with organizing the event.”

Rüdiger Schwarz, course designer for the Aachen CICO3* in Germany, has signed on to design a cross country course at Live Oak. In addition to building permanent cross country complexes at the venue, Chattahoochee Hills has also volunteered its portable fences to be used since the event would run during a time of the year when the jumps wouldn’t be needed in Georgia.

“Live Oak is a beautiful facility that already has most of the infrastructure you would need to run a top-notch horse trials, and we really like the idea of being able to introduce eventing to a new crowd of spectators who would already be on the grounds to watch the driving and show jumping,” Michael said.

“For Ocala, even though we have a lot of eventing activity going on down here during the winter and early part of the spring, we don’t have a CIC3* competition. It would be really great for the area to have a three-star in Ocala at this time of year.”

With Live Oak’s 2017 competition date falling on the same week as Red Hills, Michael said the aim would be to keep the number of eventing competitors to a small number in order to ensure Red Hills entries would not be negatively impacted.

Live Oak International attracts about 10,000 spectators each year. Photo by Susie Blackmon/Creative Commons.

“The difficulty with hosting a competition at Live Oak is the fact that their date is dictated by the FEI World Cup Jumping calendar. The biggest revenue earner at a multi-discipline competition like this sets the date, and everyone else falls in line,” Michael said.

“Red Hills is a great event and one that we would never want to harm, so the goal would be to successfully host both in the same week, with Live Oak on Wednesday and Thursday and Red Hills on the weekend. Our hope is that if we can attract people earlier in the week to Live Oak, then they can go on to Red Hills and make a week of it.”

Live Oak’s proposed CIC3* is still working its way through the calendar approval process, and its fate will be decided in April. In the meantime, Michael is inviting event riders in the Ocala area to come out to Live Oak International this weekend to get a feel for the event and see the competition firsthand.

Driving starts tomorrow, and both driving and show jumping classes will be held each day starting Friday, Feb. 26 and going through Sunday, Feb. 28. The $35,000 Live Oak International CSI3* is at 3 p.m. Saturday, with the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Qualifier at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Click here to view the full schedule.

General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Tailgating spots are available for $200 on Saturday to watch the cross-country marathon for the driving; click here to reserve a tailgating spot.

What do you think of the new proposed CIC3* at Live Oak? Do you think Live Oak and Red Hills both could successfully host CIC3* competitions during the same week in 2017? Let us know your thoughts in the comment below.

[Live Oak International]

Caitlin Silliman Retires Catch A Star From Upper Levels

By Jenni Autry on Feb 23, 2016 1:00 pm -

Caitlin Silliman and Catch A Star at Rolex in 2015. Photo by Kasey Mueller/Rare Air Eventing Photography.

Caitlin Silliman announced today that she is retiring her longtime Advanced partner Catch A Star from the upper levels. Young rider Ada Plumb will now campaign “Hoku” with the goal of aiming for a CCI*.

“Hoku has taken me places even I never dreamed we would go together,” Caitlin said. “She has been my partner to the highest level of the sport and has assisted in turning my dreams into a reality. I feel that as a rider it is always our job to decide when are greatest partners are ready to step down a notch, and I feel that time has come for my good friend Hoku.”

Caitlin and Hoku, a 16-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred mare (Casi x Star of History) bred in California by Terry and Linda Paine, completed 11 events at the three-star level and above, including finishing 24th in their four-star debut at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2013.

Rolex 2013 Caitlin Silliman and Catch A Star xc, photo by Kasey Mueller

Caitlin Silliman and Catch A Star at Rolex in 2013. Photo by Kasey Mueller/Rare Air Eventing Photography.

“I am excited to watch Ada learn from Hoku as they develop their partnership together,” Caitlin said. “It is bittersweet for me knowing I won’t be riding her at the top levels again, but at the same time, I know that as much as she has given me, she still has more to give to someone, and I will certainly remain her biggest fan.”

Ada, a young rider based in Pennsylvania, has competed through Preliminary with Amarillo, her 11-year-old Welsh Pony gelding, and hopes to compete Hoku in a CCI* in 2016 or 2017.

Caitlin relocated to Will Coleman’s Tivoli Farm in Gordonsville, Virginia last year to launch her own business, and she has several exciting young horses she is currently bringing through the levels, including Vagabon de Champdoux, the 2014 USEA Young Event Horse East Coast 5-Year-Old Champion.

We wish Ada and Hoku all the best in their new partnership together and look forward to seeing them out and about at competitions. Go Hoku!

[Catch A Star To Retire From Upper Level Competition]

The Fork Rolling Out Exciting Changes for 2016 Event

By Jenni Autry on Feb 23, 2016 9:30 am -

A beautiful sunrise at The Fork. Photo by Mollie Staretorp.

The Fork will debut exciting new changes for its 2016 horse trials, which are scheduled for April 6-10 in Norwood, North Carolina, and always highly anticipated as the final preparation event before Rolex.

Mollie Staretorp, event coordinator for The Fork, said the organizers have listened closely to competitor feedback from last year’s event and initiated multiple improvements as a result, chiefly focusing on footing and entertainment upgrades.

“Eric Reid re-graded the arenas in the fall and has been on the grounds regularly re-working the footing to make it softer,” Mollie said. “He will be here again in March to work on the arenas again so we can have them in the best possible condition for the event.”

The arenas have been re-graded and the footing re-worked for this year’s event. Photo by Bernadette Cogdell.

The Fork grounds crew has also re-graded the trails that run from temporary stabling to the arenas and cross country course, and gravel and sand will be laid on the trails in the coming weeks. “If it rains during the event, the trails will still be a really nice walk for everyone,” Mollie said.

Tremaine Cooper will also unveil a new look on the cross country course, which will run in reverse direction this year. “His goal in reversing the track is to give a more open, galloping feel to the course,” Mollie said. “The sunken road is also being changed to incorporate a more natural slope that will make it far more inviting.”

We can also expect Tremaine to design “some similar fences and questions to what horses and riders might see at Rolex,” Mollie said. Stay tuned to EN for a sneak peek of the course leading up to the event.

Eric Reed has re-graded the trails that run between temporary stabling and the arenas. Photo by Bernadette Cogdell.

Eric Reid has re-graded the trails that run between temporary stabling and the arenas. Photo by Bernadette Cogdell.

Competitors will also have their own “home base” this year, as The Fork is converting the maintenance shed that sits about halfway between temporary stabling and the arenas as an area to provide hospitality. The building also has restrooms, air conditioning and heat.

Another major initiative this year is to up the ante with entertainment and improve the parties at the event, and Mollie said competitors will be able to sing karaoke and also enjoy live music in either temporary stabling or the hospitality shed.

Perhaps the most exciting news of all: the wine bar is returning to the main barn this year! Photo by Mollie Staretorp.

“We’re really looking forward to unveiling the improvements and hosting a great event for the riders and horses,” Mollie said.

Entries for The Fork open today; click here to view the omnibus listing. VIP tickets are available at this link, and general information about the event is at this link.

EN is excited to check out the improvements at one of our favorite events, and we’re especially excited now that we’ve heard the popular wine bar is returning to the main barn this year!

Go Eventing.

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Elisa Wallace’s Makeover Project

By Jenni Autry on Feb 19, 2016 5:30 pm -

We announced earlier this week that more than 125 eventers have entered the 2016 Thoroughbred Makeover, and Advanced rider Elisa Wallace is one of the competitors on the list. She introduces us to her Makeover horse, a 6-year-old gelding named Heron’s Waltz, in her latest video blog.

Heron’s Waltz (Garnered – Satan’s Waltz, by My Boy Adam) was bred in West Virginia and raced 32 times before retiring from the track last November. The video shows Elisa’s third ride on “Henri,” and we also get to watch her jump him for the first time. Who will you be cheering for in the 2016 Thoroughbred Makeover? We’ll definitely be cheering for Henri!

Traffic Light System Aims to Promote Cross Country Safety

By Jenni Autry on Feb 19, 2016 9:30 am -

From left: Sam Watson, EquiRatings; Diarm Byrne, EquiRatings; Georgia Stubington, Vice Chairman Eventing Ireland; Alison Packman, Administration Manager Eventing Ireland; and David O’Meara, Chairman Eventing Ireland. Photo courtesy of Eventing Ireland.

Eventing Ireland is making a big statement when it comes to improving the safety and welfare of horses and riders by partnering with EquiRatings to track the likelihood of horses and riders incurring penalties, elimination and falls on cross country — and potentially restrict them from competing at a certain level as a result.

EN readers are familiar with EquiRatings’ top notch eventing data and analysis, and now founders Sam Watson and Diarm Byrne have channeled the power of their extensive international database to create a new safety tracking system called the EquiRatings Quality Index (ERQI).

EquiRatings has analyzed more than 150,000 results worldwide across all levels of competition, with the output showing a strong correlation between a low ERQI and the likelihood of cross country penalties, elimination and falls. The ERQI system highlights combinations that show signs of poor form at a particular level.

Diarm, in speaking to EN today, said, “The ERQI system uses advanced data analysis as an additional tool to identify and manage risk in the cross country phase. We specialize in data analysis in the sport of eventing, and we hope this tool can play an important role for federations around the world in their policies and rules around this phase.”

Eventing Ireland will incorporate the ERQI system into its entry process starting with the 2016 season. For the first year the system is in place, riders will see a traffic light system with a green, amber or red ERQI when they enter an Eventing Ireland competition. If a horse and rider show a prolonged period of poor form at a certain level, then the system will flag them with a red ERQI, requiring them to enter a lower level.

ERQI red zone combinations typically show only one clear on cross country in the past five to 10 attempts. Eventing Ireland’s rider fall rate in EI is 1.5%, but red zone riders have a fall rate almost three times higher at 4.3%. While rider downgrading is not new to Eventing Ireland, using the ERQI system will automate the process and more quickly highlight combinations that are having problems at a certain level.

Georgia Stubington, Eventing Ireland’s Vice Chairman, said the organization hopes to incorporate additional data analysis into its High Performance program in the future, but for now their focus is firmly on improving safety for their horses and riders.

“This is the most exciting project I have worked on in my time as Chairman of EI,” Georgia said. “I think this takes Eventing Ireland into the top leagues of national governing bodies who have been using data analysis to promote high performance for some time. I think that aspect of our work with EquiRatings will come in the future but now we are concentrating on safety. Eventing is a risk sport and we will never eliminate all risk but this is a huge step forward into today’s digital world.”

Diarm also commented: “This sport has to acknowledge, assess and ultimately manage its risk. Horse welfare has to be at the forefront of all decision making. The ERQI has revolutionized how these key issues are managed and monitored.”

EN fully supports harnessing the power of technology to further advancements in eventing safety, and we’re thrilled to see that Eventing Ireland is prioritizing safety this season by using the EquiRatings Quality Index. We hope the ERQI system will succeed in lowering the rates of both horse and rider falls, as well as help riders make more informed decisions when it comes to choosing which level to enter.

What do you think of the EquiRatings Quality Index, EN? Is this a system you’d like to see other national governing bodies implement? Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments below.

If you missed EN’s exclusive video interview with EquiRatings founders Diarm and Sam, click here to watch it, and be sure to keep up with all the latest EquiRatings news on Twitter.

[Eventing Ireland’s Drive for Safety]

Thursday Video from Nupafeed USA: Ledbury Thrills & Spills

By Jenni Autry on Feb 18, 2016 5:30 pm -

If you haven’t been following along with Leslie Wylie’s wildly popular Meeting Martha series, in which she recounts the tale of hunting with Lady Martha Sitwell and the legendary Ledbury Hunt in England, you need to stop everything you’re doing and get caught up:

Meeting Martha, Part 1: How I Got Invited to Foxhunt with British Royalty

Meeting Martha, Part 2: ‘Darling, You’re Mad!’

Meeting Martha, Part 3: I Got Ledburied (and I Liked It)

In honor of fellow eventer Alice Pearson’s return to the hunt following a bad spill last month, we’re reliving some of the best thrills and spills she’s captured on video with her helmet camera while out with the Ledbury.

Stay tuned to EN for more installments of Meeting Martha. Go Ledbury. Go Eventing.

SmartPak Presents Ask a Non-Rider: Studs and Stud Suds

By Jenni Autry on Feb 18, 2016 1:00 pm -

You guys. This latest video from SmartPak has us CRYING actual tears from laughing so hard when their poor non-horsey employees try to guess how to use studs and Stud Suds.

This is an actual quote from the video when an employee takes her best guess for Stud Suds: “Does it clean his … where he pees?” Kudos to the SmartPak employees for being such good sports.

You have to stop everything you’re doing and watch this immediately. And if you want more Ask a Non-Rider hilarity, click here to watch SmartPak employees guess the use of a grazing muzzle. These videos are priceless!

Eventing Nation