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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.

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Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate Take the Red Hills CIC3* Lead

By Jenni Autry on Mar 7, 2015 4:00 pm -

Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Lauren Kieffer and Court and Kylie Ramsay’s Czechmate are your leaders in the CIC3* at Red Hills International Horse Trials after an action-packed day on Hugh Lochore’s cross-country course. They’re holding on to first place by the skin of their teeth on a score of 57.1, just .7 penalties ahead of Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deborah Halliday’s HHS Cooley.

This is Czechmate’s first attempt at the three-star level, but you wouldn’t have known it watching him today, as he looked poised and confident on course, coming home with 14.4 time penalties. Liz and HHS Cooley battled a tack malfunction from early on in the course when the horse’s breastplate snapped, and she said she slowed him down after that, also coming home with 14.4 time.

It was a welcome redemption for Liz after a miscommunication and subsequent runout at the Osprey Offsets at fence 8 stymied her run with overnight dressage leader Fernhill By Night. She retired the horse after that and confirmed she will re-route to Carolina International CIC3* in two weeks instead.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and HHS Cooley. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jennie Brannigan and Tim and Nina Gardner’s Cambalda jumped up the leaderboard from eighth to fifth place on 58.4 after a clear trip with 9.2 time penalties — one of the fastest in the division. “Ping” left a leg at the D element in the Sawgrass Water, a skinny shaped like a soccer ball, and Jennie pulled off an acrobatic save that had the crowd roaring.

Marilyn Little also found redemption with her second ride of the day after falling from Team Demeter’s RF Demeter, who was sitting in fourth place overnight, at the Sawgrass Water as the first out on the CIC3* course. She came back out with RF Quarterman, who is competing in his first CIC3* this weekend, and jumped clear with 12.4 time to move up one spot to fourth place on 59.4.

Allie Knowles and her superstar OTTB Sound Prospect are having a fairytale weekend. After delivering their personal best dressage score at this level yesterday, they came out guns blazing today, romping around for a clear trip with 10.8 time penalties to round out the top five on a score of 60.8.

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The rest of the leaderboard shows just how influential time proved to be. Eventing 25 rider Ellie MacPhail and her own True Dynamite and Elisa Wallace and Jill Hopcroft’s Simply Priceless moved from 19th and 20th to sixth and seventh places on scores of 64.2 and 65.3, respectively, after storming around with just 5.2 time penalties each — the fastest time of the day.

Caroline Martin and Sherrie Martin’s Quantum Solace win the Save of the Day Award after she clung to him like a monkey when “Nacho” left a leg at the soccer ball skinny in the Sawgrass Water. The crowd gasped as she pulled herself back into the tack and then erupted in cheers as she kicked on. Their 11.6 time penalties moved them from 17th to eighth place on 68.1.

Selena O’Hanlon and John and Judy Rumble’s Foxwood High played with the course, skipping around for a clear trip and 12.4 time penalties to sit in ninth place on 70.1. Caroline Martin and Pebbly Maximus round out the top 10 on 70.2 after jumping clear with 18.4 time penalties.

Marilyn Little and RF Quarterman. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Three riders picked up 20 jumping penalties on course. Ellen Doughty-Hume and her own Sir Oberon were the only pair to have a runout at the the Corner Conundrum at fence 9. Jacob Fletcher and Fletcher Farms’ Atlantic Domino had a glance off at the Osprey Offsets at fence 8. Kelly Prather and the Blackfoot Mystery Syndicate’s Blackfoot Mystery also fell victim to the Osprey Offsets, picking up 20 at the B element.

Ellie MacPhail fell from her own RF Eloquence at fence 6, the brush jump leaving the main arena. Kyle Carter and Imogen DeLavis’ Conahy’s Courage fell at The Shire at fence 12; we are still awaiting official word on their condition.

It just wasn’t Buck Davidson’s day today in the CIC3*, and he retired both his rides on course. Sherry and Randy Martin’s The Apprentice left a leg a bit jumping off the island at the Sawgrass Water, and Buck called it a day after that. Carl Segal and Sherrie Martin’s Copper Beech said no at the Big Brown Owl at fence 5 in the main arena, and Buck retired him.

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Lauren Kieffer is also leading the small but mighty Advanced division with Team Rebecca’s Veronica, who jumped clear with 11.6 time penalties to hold the overnight lead. Waylon Roberts and Anthony Connolly’s Kelecyn Cognac moved from ninth to second place on a score of 43 with 5.2 time penalties — the fastest time in the division.

Buck Davidson and Caroline and Sherrie Martin’s Petite Flower picked up 10 time penalties to move down one spot to third place on 43.8. Leah Lang-Gluscic and her own A.P. Prime had a cracking round and one of the fastest of the day with 8.8 time penalties — a great trip for them as they look ahead to Rolex. Jenny Caras and her own Fernhill Fortitude round out the top five on a score of 47.6 with 14.8 time penalties.

As for trouble in the Advanced division, Melissa Miller-Slusser and her own High Finance ran into trouble at both the Big Brown Owl at fence 5 and the Osprey Offsets at fence 8, leading to elimination. Kelly Prather and her own Truly Wiley also had a stop at the Big Brown Owl — there was a lot for the horses to look at around at this fence — before parting ways at the Sawgrass Water.

Stay tuned for much more from Red Hills as the CIC2* division wraps up. You can follow along with our live updates thread at this link. Go Red Hills, and Go Eventing.

Red Hills: Website, Ride Times,Schedule, Live Scores, Course Maps, Live Stream, Radio, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, Instagram

What Your Overnight Leaders Had to Say About Dressage Day at Red Hills

By Jenni Autry on Mar 6, 2015 7:00 pm -

These ladies are dominating the leaderboards at Red Hills! From left, Lauren Kieffer, Liz Halliday-Sharp, Marilyn Little and Hannah Sue Burnett.

We’ve just wrapped up a very chilly day at Red Hills International Horse Trials, where temperatures dropped and winds picked up as the day went on, making for more than a few creative tests in the venue’s new dressage arenas. With the stonedust settled, riders who kept the lid on and managed to fancy prance their way through the cold are enjoying spots at the top of the leaderboard.

The CIC3* division wrapped up earlier in the day — click here if you missed the full report — and Liz Halliday-Sharp said she was thrilled with both Deborah Halliday’s Fernhill By Night, who leads on 41.4, and Deborah Halliday’s HHS Cooley, who sits in third on 43.4. Now she’s looking ahead to Hugh Lochore’s cross country track, which you can preview fence by fence here.

“I think the ground is going to be really, really good. I know it was terrible for the people riding in the monsoon yesterday, but it helped the ground,” Liz said. All the terrain, hills and trees remind her of a French course, she said, and while the track isn’t overly huge, the terrain makes it more challenging. “It’s my first time ever at Red Hills, and it’s great to go out kicking for the win,” she said.

Lauren Kieffer had a banner day across the board, sitting in second place in the CIC3* with Court and Kylie Ramsay’s Czechmate on 42.7, third in the CIC2* on Jacqueline Mars’ Landmark’s Monte Carlo on 44.4, and leading the Advanced with Team Rebecca’s Veronica on 29.8.

Veronica “was very excited to be at the party today,” Lauren said, and while the mare was a little amped in warmup, she settled beautifully and went into the ring to deliver the consistent performance we’ve come to expect from her. Lauren also worked through some exuberant moments before Czechmate’s test: “He was a little rambunctious outside the ring, but he went in and was a really good workman.”

It’s a big day for her tomorrow, as Czechmate is tackling his first CIC3* track and Landmark’s Monte Carlo is making his final run at the two-star level before his planned move up to Advanced at Carolina International. Red Hills is “a hard place to make time. He’s in general a bit of a quick horse … I’m hoping tomorrow feels easy on him,” Lauren said.

Marilyn Little also said she thinks the time will be difficult to make on the beefy two-star course. She’s sitting in first and second places in the CCI2* with RF Scandalous and RF Tabasco on scores of 33.9 and 41.3, respectively, and she’s also leading the CIC* with RF Overdressed on 35.7.

RF Overdressed, an 8-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Jacqueline Mars, Robin Parskey and Raylyn Farms is a new horse for her, having just come over from Germany in December. “Rio” won the CCI2* at Langenhagen with Julia Krajewski in the irons before coming to the States. She retired the horse on course at Pine Top CIC2* last month on a day when she said things just weren’t going her way, so they’ll be looking to get their mojo back tomorrow.

RF Scandalous, a 10-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Raylyn Farms and Phoebe and Michael Manders, holds a commanding lead in the CIC2*, which will gave Marilyn a good amount of wiggle room on the time tomorrow. “I think the two-star is very challenging,” she said. “I think it’s going to be a hard course to make time on, but knowing she’s not that far from moving up, I think it’s a great test.”

Marilyn was one of the unlucky handful of two-star riders who rode their dressage tests yesterday in absolutely pouring rain with RF Tabasco, who has just returned to competing this year after taking off more than a year and a half following the Breda CIC2* in 2013.

“I’m excited he’s here,” she said. “He’s a real pro on cross country, and he has a great gallop.” While Red Hills isn’t a track where you get to utilize a gallop like that, there will be plenty to keep Tabasco on his toes.

Hannah Sue Burnett is enjoying second place on 35.7 in the big CIC* class aboard Jitter Bug, a 9-year-old Rheinland Pfalz-Saar mare owned by Jacqueline Mars and Sherry Nemmers. She took over the ride last month from Lauren Billys. “We’re still getting to know each other in dressage, and it’s great to have a horse that goes in the ring and knows her job,” she said. Hannah said she thinks the one-star course is “a bit twisty in the beginning” but looks pretty straightforward.

Buck Davidson rounds out the top three in the CIC* on a score of 40.6 with Carlevo, an 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Carlevo LLC that previously competed with Dirk Schrade in Germany. “We just got him abut 8 weeks ago … he’s done a two-star, but I haven’t had much of a chance to get to know him. I thought it would be better to go slow and get to learn him and know him.”

Buck thinks Carlevo, who he found through JP Sheffield, is the real deal, and he’s excited to solidify the partnership. “He’s very, very good on the flat and a very good jumper. I don’t want to rush it, and I want him to get to know me.”

The horse is already much loved in the barn, and Buck’s super groom Kathleen Blauth-Murray has a soft spot for Carlevo. “Kathleen’s very partial to Reggie, but she did say to him after the test, ‘Carlevo, Buck’s never had one like you before.’ It’s exciting,” Buck said.

Cross country day starts bright and early tomorrow, with the Preliminary divisions starting at 8 a.m., followed by the CIC* at 9:50 a.m., Advanced at 11:55 a.m., CIC3* at 12:30 p.m., CIC2* at 2 p.m. and Intermediate at 4:05 p.m. Stay tuned for much more from Red Hills, and thank you to the organizers and volunteers for a great first day!

Red Hills: Website, Ride Times,Schedule, Live Scores, Course Maps, Live Stream, Radio, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, Instagram

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night Lead Red Hills CIC3*

By Jenni Autry on Mar 6, 2015 2:00 pm -

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night set the early benchmark here at Red Hills International Horse Trials, scoring 41.4 this morning in the CIC3* with an accurate, expressive test. No one could ultimately catch that score, and Liz and “Blackie,” a 12-year-old Irish Sport horse gelding owned by Deborah Halliday, hold the overnight lead as we look ahead to cross country.

This is the horse’s first FEI event on Liz’s native U.S. soil. Born and raised in Fallbrook, California, Liz went to England for a one-year working student gig with William Fox-Pitt and ultimately never left. She’s been based in East Sussex for the past 15 years, competing on the East Coast for the first time ever this year while spending the winter in Ocala to prepare for her first CCI4* at Rolex.

Blackie tends to be a quieter horse in the little white box, and Liz said this morning’s chilly temperatures pepped him up a bit. She very nearly caught her own leading score with her second horse in this division, HHS Cooley, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding also owned by Deborah Halliday. The test was just about flawless until the very end when “Cooley” swapped leads just before the final halt and salute.

Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate. Photo by Jenni Autry.

That little blip still put them on a very good score of 43.4 for third place. “I was really pleased with both of them,” Liz said. “It was a bummer with Cooley right at the end with a little miscommunication. I went to collect him with my seat, and he thought I meant change. But they both tried really hard. It was really cold, and it’s tough to get your best test when it’s freezing, but I was thrilled with how they both stepped up. There are always little bits that can be improved, so you keep working away at it.”

Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate are sandwiched between Fernhill by Night and HHS Cooley on a score of 42.7, a very exciting performance for the horse’s CIC3* dressage debut. “Czechy,” a 9-year-old Czech Warmblood gelding owned by Court and Kylie Ramsey, is green to this level but incredibly talented, and he held his composure like a polished pro despite the chilly temps and wind. We’ve predicted him as the horse that could play spoiler here this weekend.

Marilyn Little and RF Demeter had the honors of performing the brand new 2015 FEI Three-Star Test A for the very first time in the world — no pressure, right? They got a little lost at the beginning of the test for an unfortunate error early on in an otherwise lovely performance. Their score of 46.7 puts Marilyn and “Demi,” a 13-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Team Demeter, in fourth place.

Marilyn Little and RF Demeter. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Demi’s stablemate, RF Quarterman, sits just behind her in fifth place on a score of 47. After making his eventing debut last year, this 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Raylyn Farms only continues to impress, putting in a seasoned performance today in his first attempt at a three-star test.

Buck Davidson and The Apprentice, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Sherrie Martin, put in a relaxed, workmanlike performance for seventh place on a score of 48.2. Buck also has another horse sitting just outside the top 10 with Copper Beech, who was a little nervous and unsettled at the beginning of the test despite several reassuring pats from Buck.

“Sean,” a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Carl and Cassie Segal and Sherrie Martin, insisted on cantering away from the first halt and salute, but Buck recovered well, with the test building to a nice crescendo as it went on to score 50.5 for 11th place. The horse just oozes star power and is a pleasure to watch.

Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Kelly Prather and Blackfoot Mystery, an 11-year-old off-track Thoroughbred gelding owned by the Blackfoot Mystery Syndicate, are holding their own in a class top 10. While the horse can’t quite compete with the fancier movers, he’s extremely obedient and tries his heart out, allowing Kelly to squeeze accuracy out of each movement. Their score of 48.6 puts them in seventh place.

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda held the audience captive by showing off impressive two-tempi changes around the ring before starting their test. And “Ping,” a 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Tim and Nina Gardner, wanted to keep showing just how well he knows his changes — sneaking one in during the counter canter. Jennie quickly corrected the mistake, but that docked some points for a score of 49.2, which puts them in eighth place.

Jacob Fletcher put in a very nice test with Atlantic Domino in the horse’s first FEI event on U.S. soil. Tanya Kyle campaigned the horse, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Fletcher Farms, through the two-star level in Europe before Jacob took over the ride. They finished 11th in the Ballindenisk CCI3* last year, and Jacob is looking ahead to tackling the inaugural CCI3* at Rebecca Farms in Montana this year.

Buck Davidson and The Apprentice. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Allie Knowles and Sound Prospect round out the top 10 on a score of 50, which is their personal best at this level. Sounder, a 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Allie owns, is another real trier who makes up for what he lacks in movement by giving it everything he has in the ring. She should be thrilled with that score and that performance. And how cool is it to have two OTTBs in the top 10 after dressage?

CIC2* and CIC* dressage are still underway, so be sure to check back later in the day when we catch up with the leaders. Advanced dressage starts at 2:45 p.m. EST, with Lisa Barry and F.I.S. Prince Charming leading the way in the small yet mighty division. If you missed my course preview from this morning, be sure to check it out here, and don’t miss Maggie’s By the Numbers predictions for the CIC3* here and Advanced here.

As always, the Red Hills team is fantastic and extremely accommodating, and the first day of action is running extremely smoothly. Thank you to the organizers and volunteers for their hard work, and best of luck to all the competitors who have yet to do battle in the little white box. Go Red Hills, and Go Eventing.

Red Hills: Website, Ride Times,Schedule, Live Scores, Course Maps, Live Stream, Radio, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, Instagram

Red Hills International CIC3* Cross Country Course Preview

By Jenni Autry on Mar 6, 2015 9:00 am -

Fence 17, The Hammock. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

Good morning from Red Hills! There’s much excitement in the air on this brisk morning, as the new 2015 FEI Three-Star Test A is being performed for the first time in the world right here on U.S. soil, and Hugh Lochore’s beautifully decorated cross country course is just 24 hours away from seeing action with the new format change this year.

With the course now totally contained within Eleanor Klapp Phipps Park, Hugh was able to open up the beginning of the track to provide a better flow, with the first seven fences easing horses and riders into a rhythm to tackle the questions that start coming up quickly after that.

You’ll notice that fences 5 and 6 cross the new dressage and show jumping arenas, which feature new stonedust footing. Show jumping has now been relocated to the top of the hill on this footing in front of the new gigantic sponsor’s tent, which you can see through the owl hole in the photo of fence 5.

The first question on course comes at fence 8, the Offsprey Offsets, two angled tables set on a forward three strides. Their placement next to two trees means riders will need to be very accurate on their line, as there isn’t much room for error here. This year’s corner complex, the Corner Conundrum, has been relocated to fence 9, with two corners set on a straight line in a flowing two strides that should ride well.

Riders will then wind their way through the trees, eventually making their way to The Shire at fence 12ab. Like last year, this is a test of trust and accuracy. A bold jump over the first hobbit house will likely land horses and riders at the bottom of the hill, requiring a strong one-stride blast up the next hill to the second hobbit house. A more conservative approach to the first house means this can ride in three strides.

The Stairway to Heaven at fence 14abc is a fun combination for spectators to watch and should ride smoothly, as it did last year. When asked if he’d added any “rider frighteners” to the course, Hugh said the new Weldon Wall at fence 15 might surprise a few horses and riders. Pairs that tackled the new ditch and wall at Pine Top Advanced earlier this month will be well prepared for this challenge.

Riders will go back into the trees for fence 17, the Hammock, which requires a hairpin lefthand turn upon landing, lest horse and rider want to get very up close and personal with the crowd.

The Sawgrass Water at fence 19abcd has a new look this year. Riders will jump in over a big brush, with three strides taking them to the new island, which they’ll jump on and off. Getting discombobulated on landing will likely make a drive-by at the the skinny d element, four strides away, all the more likely.

There’s a lot for horses to look at as they approach Goliath Gap at fence 22, and a tired horse might need a bit of encouragement here. Horses and riders will next exit the trees to the final water, Nature’s Circle at fence 24, which features a log jump in and a forward four strides to the same butterfly skinny used in this complex last year.

Then it’s time to kick on to the Hay Feeder at fence 25 and cross the finish flags. As you’ll see in the photos, the Advanced course follows nearly the exact same route, with just the out elements at the water complexes differing. Both courses are 3,900 meters with 34 jumping efforts in all, with an optimum time of 6 minutes, 51 seconds.

Many thanks to Shems Hamilton for providing her lovely photos of each fence on course, and thank you to Hugh, his team and organizers Jane Barron and Marvin Mayer for their hard work and dedication to the track. Much time has been put into improving the footing (not to mention putting in the new arenas!), and the investment — both from a time and financial standpoint — is very evident.

Click here to view Hugh’s personal notes on the course and here to view the CIC3*/Advanced course map. Go Red Hills, and Go Eventing.

Red Hills Links: Website, Ride Times,Schedule, Live Scores, Course Maps, Live Stream, PRO Tour Radio, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, Instagram

: The start box. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 1, Log Frame. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 2, Produce Stand. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 3, Olympic Bench. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 4, Big Log Table. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 5, Old Brown Owl. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 6, Brush Oxer. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 7, Tiger Trap. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 8, Osprey Offsets. Photo by Jenni Autry.

: Fence 9, Corner Conundrum. (And Liz Halliday-Sharp’s sweet little dog Arnie.) Photo by Jenni Autry.

: Fence 10, Park Gate. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 11, Under the Oaks. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 12ab, The Shire. Photo by Jenni Autry.

: Fence 12a, The Shire. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 12b, The Shire. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 13, Open Oxer. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 14, Stairway to Heaven. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 14c, Stairway to Heaven. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 15, Weldon Wall. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 15, Weldon Wall. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 16, Triple Brush. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 17, The Hammock. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 17, The Hammock. Photo by Jenni Autry.

: Fence 18, Hog House. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 19a, Sawgass Water. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 19bc, Sawgrass Water. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 19d, Sawgrass Water. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 20, Farm Yard. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 21, Garden Wall. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 21, Garden Wall. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 21, Garden Wall. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 22, Goliath Gap. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 23, Pergola Perplexor. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 24a, Nature’s Circle. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 24b. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

: Fence 25, Hay Feeder. Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

Phillip Dutton Aiming for Return Trip to Rolex with Mr. Medicott

By Jenni Autry on Mar 5, 2015 1:00 pm -

Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott at the $15,000 Eventing Prix Invitational. Photo by Jenni Autry.

It’s been 10 months since Mr. Medicott aggravated an old tendon injury at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, forcing his withdrawal from the competition after sitting in third place following cross country. Since then, Phillip Dutton and his team have been diligently rehabilitating the leg with the hopes of giving the 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding a chance to return to competing.

“I wanted to do what’s right for the horse,” Phillip said. “The injury to the tendon wasn’t that serious, so I was always pretty optimistic that we could heal it well. Tendons sometimes don’t heal as well in older horses, and it’s always easier if you have a younger horse, but we wanted to give it a go.”

Phillip decided to use the IoniCare System manufactured by Equine OrthoCare to improve circulation to the leg during the healing process, and those results combined with Mr. Medicott’s enthusiasm for work in any form — whether it’s miles of walking or tackling a CCI4* cross country course — showed the horse wasn’t ready to retire yet.

“I had a lot of choices on what to use with the tendon. At the end of the day, you’re trying to get more circulation to the area — there’s no miracle fix — so I went with the OrthoCare,” Phillip said. “We don’t have a walker, so my team did a lot of walking with him. Anyone who’s been through this process with a fit horse knows it’s not the easiest thing, but he’s been pretty well behaved.”

Phillip and his vet, Kevin Keane, decided early on in the process to use slow, progressive exercises to rehabilitate “Cave,” so the horse never spent time on stall rest. Instead, he started walking and eventually slowly trotting right off the bat, which Phillip thinks was integral to the healing process.

Mr. Medicott raring to go at the Eventing Prix Invitational. Photo by Jenni Autry.

“He’s done a lot of the slow work. He’s very muscled up, probably as muscled as I’ve had him,” Phillip said. “It’s been a lot of slow trotting and slow cantering. We’re fortunate that we have a new gallop across the road from us in Aiken. He’s been going there a lot; we’re working on getting him fit and strong.”

With Cave’s fitness back to where it needs to be, Phillip is now changing his focus to working on dressage and jumping. He’s done one jump school with Silvio Mazzoni, the U.S. team’s show jumping coach, and took Cave to a jumper class in Aiken last Friday before hauling down to Ocala for the $15,000 Eventing Prix Invitational at Scott Keach’s Southern Cross Equestrian.

To say Cave looked thrilled to be back out is an understatement — he was raring to go and loving every minute of it. They had one rail down in the first round, but a fast time brought them back as part of the top 10 horses and riders for the jump off. Cave, who is known for being very strong over fences, pulled two rails during an exuberant jump-off round to finish in eighth place.

Now Phillip is looking ahead to Carolina International in two weeks, where Cave will compete in the CIC2*, his first event since Rolex last year. “I wanted to put off competing him for as long as I could, so I didn’t want to run him any earlier. I would rather do more cantering at home and more gallops up the hill rather than run him cross country. I wanted to get him really strong and conditioned.”

Mr. Medicott excited to be back out at the $15,000 Eventing Prix Invitational.

From there Cave will compete in the Advanced division at The Fork as his final prep run before returning to Rolex. “He won’t be that easy to handle at the first event or two, so I think the two-star at Southern Pines will be a good way to start him back. The Fork has traditionally been our last run before Kentucky, and I hope the weather is kind for us there so we can get good footing,” Phillip said.

“He doesn’t need lots of cross country rounds, but it’s not a bad thing to take him back to it to get him to think. If I had to be critical, he’s a bit too bold on cross country, so I need to get him thinking. If he runs well at The Fork and is enthusiastic and if the leg looks good, then we’ll look ahead to Kentucky. I’d like to take him back there, and I think he’d like to go back there. He loves to get out and compete. I truly believe he loves his job.”

Phillip said the horse’s 10 syndicate owners have placed their faith in him to make the right decision for the horse, which is not something he takes lightly. “It’s a real privilege to have a horse at this level. I don’t take it for granted. I want to keep him going and in the sport as long as it’s good for him,” he said.

“Of course, the horse doesn’t owe us anything. He’s had a great career. I know I’m speaking for Cave, but I genuinely think he doesn’t want to retire. He has such enthusiasm for everyday work and he looks great and enjoys the training as much as the competing. He’s got a bit to go in him before he decides he doesn’t want to do it at that level.”

Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice at the Eventing Prix Invitational. Photo by Jenni Autry.

In addition to Cave returning to competing, Phillip also has Mighty Nice getting back out there for the first time since winning the World Equestrian Games Prep Trials at Great Meadow in July. “Happy,” an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, will follow the same schedule as Cave — the Carolina International CIC2* and The Fork Advanced — before returning to Rolex.

“Happy has been plagued with several different injuries, and I hope this time we have a handle on things. He’s a seriously talented horse, and he doesn’t need to do a lot of events either before Kentucky. It’s great to have both Cave and Happy back and aiming for a big event. They’re good mates — they hang out together and are stabled next to each other,” Phillip said.

“Unfortunately, we lost his owner, Bruce Duchossois, who was so good to Evie and I and Happy, and we have a new group now made up of Bruce’s friends, Caroline Moran, Annie Jones, Michael Bombar, Kevin Keane and Evie, who are helping to support him and keep him going.”

We wish the True Prospect Farm team all the best as Cave and Happy aim for their first event of the year at Carolina International in two weeks and ultimately look ahead to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

Go Eventing.

Karen and Patience O’Neal Bid Farewell to NAJYRC Medalist Markus

By Jenni Autry on Mar 5, 2015 9:30 am -

Patience O’Neal and Markus. Photo by Jo Arlow Photography.

We have sad news out of Washington State this morning, as we’ve learned Markus, a 13-year-old off-track Thoroughbred gelding owned by Karen O’Neal, was euthanized Tuesday during colic surgery.

Markus, by Miner’s Mark out of Fighting Mom, raced until he was 7 and started his eventing career at age 8 with Karen, who successfully campaigned him through the Advanced level before handing the reins over to her daughter, Patience.

Together, Patience and Markus were named to the USEF Eventing 18 program in 2014 and participated in training sessions with U.S. team coach David O’Connor.

Patience O’Neal and Markus at NAJYRC. Photo by Samantha Clark/PRO.

After hauling 2,000 miles across the country last year to compete in the CCI* at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in Lexington, Kentucky, Patience and Markus made the long journey worthwhile by winning the individual silver medal on a score of 55.

“Markus was the most honest, hardworking horse I’ve ever known and loved his life and competing,” Karen said. “He looked forward to taking care of us over the big cross-country fences and always tried to please.”

The horse completed seven events at the one-star and two-star level during his career, with highlights including a 10th-place finish at Woodside CIC2* in 2012 and an eighth-place finish at the Galway Downs CCI2* with Karen in the irons.

Karen O’Neal and Markus at Aspen Farms. Photo by Chesna Klimek.

Markus dominated on his home turf in Area VII, winning numerous Intermediate horse trials at Caber Farm, Aspen Farms and Inavale Farms. He was named Area VII Horse of the Year in 2013 and won numerous Thoroughbred Incentive Program awards.

“As a loyal and exuberant partner in our trying sport, Markus will be missed, and a piece of our hearts will forever be with him,” Karen said.

Our thoughts are with Karen, Patience and the Area VII family during this very sad time. Rest in peace, Markus.

Post by USEF Network.

ERA Urges FEI Riders to Oppose 21 Penalty Rule

By Jenni Autry on Mar 4, 2015 3:30 pm -

Photo courtesy of ERA International

The International Eventing Riders Association (ERA International) is urging all FEI riders around the world to verbally oppose Article 548.1 in the 2015 FEI Eventing Rulebook, which gives an automatic, non-appealable 21 penalties when a frangible fence is broken on cross country.

The 21 penalties can only be removed if the rider can prove a “clear failure of the mechanism”; the rule currently covers MIM clips, frangible pins and reverse pinned fences, all of which are now widely used by FEI course designers around the world.

“This has effectively removed the ground jury of an FEI event from the decision making process as to whether it was considered that the collapse of the ‘frangible obstacle/device’ saved the horse from falling,” Bruce Haskell, ERA International president, said in a statement released today.

ERA International has been speaking out against this rule since it first appeared in the new rulebook in December, and the FEI Eventing Committee has called a meeting on March 10 to discuss these concerns.

ERA International outlines eight key reasons why the organization believes the rule should be opposed. Click here to read all eight reasons in full, and read on for a summary:

1. Safety: As rotational falls continue to be a major cause of serious injury or fatalities in the sport, it’s critical to support the use of frangible safety systems, which have been proven to reduce these types of falls.

2: Design: “Many top cross country course designers have already commented ‘off record’ that they are less likely to use ‘deformable devices,’” Bruce said. “Designers have said that they will now seriously consider using fewer devices based on the possible effect a breakage has on the outcome of a competition.”

3: Integrity: Frangible pins can be triggered under a variety of different circumstances, and the “opinion of knowledgeable officials should be able to be used to determine if the action was deliberate, dangerous or accidental,” Bruce said.

4. Responsibility: Requiring riders to prove an “unexpected mechanical failure” of a safety device means the results of FEI events could be decided in a “a court or testing facility,” as opposed to at the event.

5. Consistency: “At present, a horse can crash through a cross country jump that is not designed to ‘deform,’ damaging that cross country jump in such a way that it will need repair, but potentially no penalties will be awarded,” Bruce said. “However, if a horse damages a cross country jump that is designed to deform with impact, then 21 penalties will be awarded.”

6. Regulatory: Strengthening, clarifying and consistently using the FEI’s system for verbal warnings, yellow cards and red cards will combat dangerous riding. In addition to developing an improved disciplinary procedure, ERA International supports awarding 25 penalties if the ground jury and jump judge determine a deformable fence collapsed due to dangerous riding.

7. Horse Welfare: “The impact of 21 penalties to the qualification of riders and horses by fully having to repeat that level of event goes against the horse’s welfare, which is always considered paramount,” Bruce said.

8. Ethos: The intent of cross country is to “get between the red and white flags of a cross country jump at the first attempt and not to leave the ‘rails up’ in doing so,” Bruce said. “To change the way riders think about the potential penalty from the placement of a deformable device will change the nature of how athletes ride cross country to the fundamental detriment of our sport.”

Eventing Nation stands behind ERA International’s interpretation of how the frangible penalty rule could negatively impact eventing worldwide.

We encourage all FEI riders in the U.S., Canada and beyond to voice your opposition to by filling out the form at the bottom of this link no later than March 10, or by sending your full name, email address, the date and current FEI number to [email protected].

What do you think of the FEI’s frangible penalty rule, EN? Do you support it or oppose it? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

[Frangible Fence Rule Changed By FEI]

Who Jumped It Best? Eventing Prix Invitational Edition

By Jenni Autry on Mar 4, 2015 1:30 pm -

It’s time to play Who Jumped It Best? Eventing Prix Invitational Edition! Take a look at these 10 photos of horses and riders tackling Marc Donovan’s show jumping track yesterday in a battle to take home a chunk of the $15,000 in prize money, then vote for your favorite in the poll below. Be sure to check out our live updates for a full play-by-play here, read the full report and see final scores here, watch the playback of the live stream here and check out all of EN’s Coverage here.

Go Eventing.

Lisa Barry and F.I.S. Prince Charming. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Zach Brandt and Cavallino Cocktail. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Lillian Heard and Share Option. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Kurt Martin and Anna Bella. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Kelly Prather and Blackfoot Mystery. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Sharon White and Cooley On Show. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jennie Brannigan and Vamor Win $15,000 Eventing Prix Invitational

By Jenni Autry on Mar 3, 2015 5:30 pm -

Jennie Brannigan and Vamor. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Everyone loves a good comeback story, and Jennie Brannigan and Vamor’s epic journey back to the show ring makes their victory in today’s $15,000 Eventing Prix Invitational at Southern Cross Equestrian that much sweeter.

Vamor, a 2003 Dutch gelding owned by Patricia Brannigan, successfully campaigned through the CIC3* level with Scott Keach before Jennie took over the ride in 2012. But he’s been battling injuries ever since that have sidelined his eventing career since Millbrook two years ago.

Wanting to give “Toad” all the time he needed to fully mend, Jennie turned him out for a year right here at Southern Cross. With his injuries finally healed, her dedicated team of Stephanie Cauffman, Jordan Crabbe, Alexa Lapp, Emma Hartley and Erin Rose have been legging the horse back up in preparation for his return to competition at The Fork.

“He has been hurt for the majority of the time I’ve owned him, so it’s been a long road for me and my mom. I know she’s in California probably crying right now. To have him go well is a nice kickback for her,” Jennie said. “A lot of other people own different horses for me, but she has been my biggest supporter in the world, and, for her, it means a lot that he went here and did well.”

Jennie takes home $3,000 in prize money for clinching the win with Vamor, who jumped clear and delivered the fastest time in the jump off to seal the deal. After all 31 horses and riders jumped the first round, the top 10 came back for an exciting jump off finale, carrying their faults from the first round.

Jennie Brannigan celebrates with her team! From left, Jennie, Stephanie Cauffman, Jordan Crabb, Alexa Lapp, Emma Hartley, Erin Rose. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch, Michael Pollard and Cyrano, Jennie Brannigan and Vamor, Lynn Symansky and Donner, and Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate all jumped double clear in the first round, carrying forward 0 faults to the jump off.

Kurt Martin and Anna Bella jumped clear with 1 time fault to carry 1 penalty forward, and the following combinations all carried one rail on to the jump: Zach Brandt and Cavallino Cocktail, Lisa Barry and F.I.S. Prince Charming, Ian Roberts and Cooper Cove, and Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott.

The top 10 jumped in reverse order of standings. Phillip Dutton had one rail down in the jump off with an exuberant Mr. Medicott, who looked over the moon to be back to competing after spending the last 10 months rehabbing from a tendon injury at Rolex Kentucky.

Ian Roberts and Cooper Cover pulled one rail, while “Peanut” came a little unwound for Lisa Barry after delivering a lovely trip in the first round. Zach Brandt and Cavallino Cocktail, who are targeting Rolex this year, then laid down a flawless clear — the first one of the jump off.

Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate then raised the stakes even higher with a hairpin turn after fence two, a white plank vertical, to shave seconds off the clock, also jumping clear to take the provisional lead and put pressure on the remaining riders.

Lynn Symansky and Donner came out to win it, executing the same hairpin turn after the second fence but sadly had the last fence down. Indeed, the last fence, unlucky number 13, played spoiler all day long, with the skinny plank pole tumbling from its flat cups too many times to count.

Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jennie and Vamor went in next to jump clear with the fastest time so far — a trip that would ultimately clinch the win for them. Michael Pollard and Cyrano pulled one rail as the second to last pair to go.

That put the pressure on Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch as the final pair. After some last-minute advice from her longtime coach Buck Davidson, she delivered a beautiful round — and one of the nicest rollback turns we saw after the second fence. But that pesky last fence fell, giving Jennie the win.

The final team scores gave the Pointer Sisters the win — a team comprised of Lynn Symansky, Liz Halliday-Sharp, Sinead Halpin and Lauren Kieffer. Men at Work — Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin, Kurt Martin and Buck Davidson — came in second.

Sonic Youth, the USEF Eventing 25 team of Ellie McPhail, Zach Brandt, Caroline Martin and Jacob Fletcher, came third. Lil and the Unlisted — a cheeky nod to the fact that Jennie Brannigan, Michael Pollard, Lillian Heard and Kelly Prather’s names are missing from the 2015 USEF Eventing High Performance Winter/Spring Training Lists — finished fourth.

The Canadian team of the Crazy Cannucks — Holly Jacks-Smither, Tik Maynard, Cody Sturgess and Selena O’Hanlon rounded out the top five in the team standings. Here’s a full prize money breakdown: team — 1st place, $4,000; 2nd place, $2,000; 3rd place, $1,000; individual — 1st place, $3,000; 2nd place, $2,000; 3rd place, $1,000; 4th place, $750; 5th place, $500; 6th-8th places, $250.

Michael Pollard and Cyrano. Photo by Jenni Autry.

There were also two special awards presented, with Lauren Kieffer winning the Most Stylish Round Award sponsored by Sharn and Ashley Wordley for the second year running. Liz Hawley, Holly Jacks-Smither’s groom, took home the Best Groom’s Award sponsored by Brewster Walker Horse Transport.

From beginning to end, the second annual $15,000 Eventing Prix Invitational has delighted spectators, riders and owners (and journalists!) alike, with a light breeze cooling the Florida heat just enough to make for perfect spectating conditions. Hundreds of people came out to enjoy the action, with the beautiful ring at Southern Cross providing an excellent backdrop for the occasion.

“We’re just pretty excited about the day and excited everybody liked it,” Max Corcoran said. “We’re thrilled everything went according to plan and are already looking forward to next year. It’s also a special win for the team, since Vamor came over from Europe with Veronica and Henry. Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the event.”

Now it’s our turn to thank Max and Scotty, who worked very hard to organize the event; Joanie Morris, who diligently ran scores all day; Graeme Thom, who provided excellent commentary; What’s Up Media, who ran a fantastic live stream; the sponsors, especially title sponsor Ocala Horse Properties; and all the volunteers and entire Southern Cross team for making today possible.

If you missed watching the live stream, full video playback is available below courtesy of What’s Up Media. See below for the final individual results and click here to view the final team scores.

[Eventing Prix Invitational Final Team Scores]

William Micklem Celebrates a Lifetime of Achievement

By Jenni Autry on Mar 3, 2015 11:00 am -

William Micklem and his wife, Sarah, celebrate his Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo by Holly Micklem.

Each year the David Foster Injured Riders Fund holds a sell-out ball and awards ceremony that has become an institution in the Irish equestrian world, providing a time to honor David’s memory as a much-loved Irish event rider and support riders facing serious injuries.

There was much to celebrate at this year’s ball, with the Irish senior eventing team qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and both the Irish Junior and Young Rider teams winning team gold medals at the European Championships at Bishop Burton and Vale Sabroso.

The final award presented during the ceremony is always the Lifetime Achievement Award. No one knows ahead of time who will receive the award, and, as he sat with his family, William Micklem watched in shocked silence as his name appeared on the screen as this year’s recipient.

Irish Olympian Sam Watson then ticked off William’s accomplishments in the horse world: Almost 40 years in Ireland have produced a rich harvest of achievements as a coach, writer, speaker, inventor and breeder.

His innovative training ideas for children and young riders have challenged traditional methods, and he champions a kinder approach to horse training, with his groundbreaking and more humane Micklem bridle now found in numerous tack rooms around the world.

Praise from his peers

While presenting the award, Sam read out a long list of praise from William’s peers, including Denny Emerson: “In the proverbial 101 ways, William Micklem has made huge contributions to the manner in which we ride, train, equip, breed and think about horses. His positive impact spans oceans, disciplines and breeds of horses. If William speaks or writes about it, go listen or read it.”

Sam also read compliments from past students, including Karen O’Connor, who wrote that “William’s teaching philosophies were ahead of their time. He has studied horse and human behavior all his life and has mastered the relationship between the two.

“His teachings became the foundation for my riding, and his horsemanship continues to be the flagship of our training program. William shaped my life through his teaching, mentorship and choosing amazing horses for me and through what he did for David’s career. We all would have been very different without William in our lives.”

Capt. Mark Phillips also sent a special message to be read: “William’s Lifetime Achievement Award is richly deserved. He is the consummate horseman with a legendary eye for a horse. He has helped me win numerous Olympic and World gold, silver and bronze medals through horses he found for my daughter, Zara, as well as David and Karen O’Connor.”

From left, Charlie Micklem, William’s brother; Aidan Keogh, Tredstep Ireland CEO; William Micklem; Paddy Hughes, Horse First CEO; and John Micklem, William’s brother. Photo by Holly Micklem.

William’s reaction

William said he is incredibly honored to receive such an award: “As someone who likes to do things better the second time around, the thought that is uppermost in my mind is ‘I’m in trouble now! It’s too early in my life for this award, I have too many projects on and too many lovely young horses to produce,'” he quipped. “However, I am obviously delighted.”

“Two years ago I received a lifetime achievement award for my breeding success, but this meant more because as much as anything I felt the award was recognition for my work as a coach, and coaches generally don’t get enough recognition.

“My brother, John, the first man to spot Biko as a 3-year-old, is also a coach, and his daughter, Jen, was part of the gold medal winning Young Rider squad. Not only has he coached Jen but he bought her horse, Early Spring, as a 4-year-old. For them to also produce him to international level was both a huge achievement and a wonderful life-enhancing journey for Jen.

“It’s all about the journey for these young riders, and it’s all about accumulated knowledge through the generations. The good use of accumulated knowledge is a powerful recipe for success and something that should always be fostered.”

An Irish heart

To be honored for his achievements within Ireland on a night that is so important in the country was also hugely meaningful, William said, as he who spent his youth in Cornwall, England, with his brothers and father, Dick Micklem, doing everything from Pony Club to racing.

“Even as a child in Cornwall, my equestrian heart was Irish. I was brought up watching so many great traditional Irish show jumping horses. Tommy Wade’s little Dundrum, Seamus Hayes’ Goodbye and Marion Coakes’ wonder pony Stroller were my heroes. I actually saw Stoller in the flesh jumping as a pony before he went on to win the individual silver medal at the Mexico Olympics behind Bill Steinkraus on Snowbound,” William said.

“Later on in the U.S., I saw the legendary Irish event horses Kilkenny and Carawich with Jimmy Wofford, Eagle Lion with Bruce Davidson and Castlewellan with Karen O’Connor. Of course, being able to find the Irish horses Biko, Custom Made and Giltedge for Karen and David O’Connor was especially satisfying.”

The next generation in William’s breeding program. Photo courtesy of William Micklem.

Breeding contributions

As we extensively chronicled in a recent interview series on EN, William has made vast contributions to the eventing world through his successful breeding program.

“When I first came to Ireland, those show jumping greats John Leddinham’s Kilbaha and Nelson Pessoa’s Vivaldi captured my heart, with their wonderful paces and athleticism and exceptional courage and durability. They both won the Hickstead and Hamburg Derby multiple times. I still remember clearly my brother John on top of Vivaldi, when he was a very wild and difficult 4-year-old, galloping up Borris Main Street in Co. Carlow, both with very tense faces!” William said.

“When I bought a wonderfully bred mare, High Dolly, for my wife to compete that was exceptional, and the sire Master Imp was only just down the road with fantastic paces and the right genes, the idea of eventually bringing the two together was a no brainer.

“I ended up breeding horses closely related to Kilbaha and Vivaldi, including Zaras Phillips’ High Kingdom and his brother, our stallion Jackaroo. I have a 4-year-old mare by Jackaroo and another 4-year-old mare out of his full sister that are both as good as High Kingdom, so I haven’t finished yet!”

Looking to the future

While William’s breeding program continues to hold a large part of his focus, he has other exciting projects in the works to offer even more contributions to the horse world. “The huge success of The Complete Horse Riding Manual — sales are now over 250,000 in 11 languages — and the Micklem bridle have created a busy future for me,” he said.

“I am in the process of writing a book for coaches and with Horseware Ireland, who manufacture and sell my bridle. We plan a range of new Micklem products that fit in with my philosophy of letting a good idea give way to a better idea if it makes a horse’s life easier. In addition, my structure for young performers, The GO! Rules, is just taking off in a major way. A book is in the pipeline!”

Jen and Early Spring. Photo via Vale Sabroso.

Jen Micklem Diamond and Early Spring at Vale Sabroso. Photo copyright Vale Sabroso/FEI.

Little horses

Indeed, William has a lifetime of achievements to look back on, but what memories stand out the most to him when he looks back? “One of the best days of my life was watching one of my students, Sonya Duke, gallop round the Badminton cross country with immense class and ease on her 15.3-hand horse Carbrooke Charles,” he said.

“He was 18, and she was 19! It was a supreme example of mutual trust and partnership. I love little horses. The greatest racing sire of all, Northern Dancer, was only 15.2 hands, and Hyperion was only 15.1 hands when he won the Epsom Derby.

“The list of small champions is long. Mark Todd’s double gold medallist Charisma was only 15.3 hands, as was the petite mare Touch of Class, who won a gold show jumping medal in Los Angeles for Joe Fargis. In more recent times we have had the little dynamos Itot Du Chateau, just 15.2 hands, ridden by Edwina Alexander, and Laura Kraut’s 15.1 hands Cedric, both being No. 1 in the world for show jumping.

“While at 16 hands, there was both Eric Lamaze’s brilliant Hickstead and the multi-gold medalist dressage star Rembrandt ridden by Nicol Uphoff. I often think we breed horses that are too big, and pound for pound it is difficult to find a horse to equal a top pony. My foundation mare, High Dolly, was just 16 hands and yet still carried 175 pounds when easily winning four point-to-point races.”

A helping hand

William was also honored for his charity work with Festina Lente, a non-profit organization in Co. Wicklow, Ireland that helps countless young people who face major physical and mental challenges. Festina Lente’s riding school teaches these children about horses in a safe, nurturing environment.

“I have been very lucky to have been involved with horses and horse people. Our sport is wonderful, life-enhancing and life-enriching. Yes, there are sometimes terrible accidents, but it gives back more than it takes, particularly for those facing some very difficult life challenges,” he said.

“It’s a combination of new legs for old and a non-judgmental friend to bring some peace and possibly inspiration. These young people make huge progress because of their contact with horses, and I believe the same happens to us all to a greater or lesser degree. Horses are good for us and will be good for us.”

Stage Set for $15,000 Eventing Prix Invitational + Live Stream

By Jenni Autry on Mar 3, 2015 9:00 am -

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica at the 2014 Eventing Prix Invitational. Photo by Susan Merle-Smith.

It’s go time for the second annual Eventing Prix Invitational at Southern Cross Equestrian here in Reddick, Florida, where eight teams made up of some of the top riders in the U.S. are set to do battle over Marc Donovan’s show jumping course with $15,000 in prize money on the line, generously sponsored by Ocala Horse Properties.

Things are heating up in in Florida — literally — with temperatures projected in the mid-80s today, and the best part is you can watch all the action live starting at 2 p.m. EST, when What’s Up Media will start live streaming at this link. We’ll also be bringing you play-by-play live updates here on EN and on Twitter.

Here’s how the format will go: All riders will be able to jump a 1.10-1.15 meter course between 10:30 a.m. and noon to get their bearings, and then the actual competition will start at 2:15 p.m. over 1.25-1.30 meter height. All riders will jump one round to determine the team winners.

Then the top 10 will jump off carrying their faults from the first round to determine the individual winner, with the top finishers splitting $15,000 in prize money. The prize money breakdown is as follows: Team — 1st place, $4,000; 2nd place, $2,000; 3rd place, $1,000; Individual — 1st place, $3,000; 2nd place, $2,000; 3rd place, $1,000; 4th place, $750; 5th place, $500; 6th-8th places, $250.

Sharn and Ashley Wordley are also sponsoring a Most Stylish Round Award, and Brewster Walker Horse Transport is sponsoring a Best Groom Award. Hannah Sue Burnett will join Graeme Thom in the VIP tent to provide color commentary all afternoon, and everyone who comes out to watch is invited to stay for the after party following the conclusion of the event.

Here’s the official order of go:

1. Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate
2. Sinead Halpin and Forrest Nymph
3. Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch
4. Rachel McDonough and Irish Rhythm
5. Zach Brandt and Cavallino Cocktail
6. Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration
7. Jennie Brannigan and Vamor
8. Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott
9. Caitlin Silliman and Catch A Star
10. Lynn Symansky and Donner
11. Joe Meyer and South Paw
12. Callie Evans and Glendening Avis
13. Ellie McPhail and True Dynamite
14. Selena O’Hanlon and Bellaney Rock
15. Kelly Prather and Blackfoot Mystery
16. Buck Davidson and Petite Flower
17. Lisa Barry and FIS Prince Charming
18. Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill by Night
19. Sharon White and Wundermaske
20. Ian Roberts and Cooper Cove
21. Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino
22. Cody Sturgess and Imperial Melody
23. Lillian Heard and Share Option
24. Kurt Martin and Anna Bella
25. Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon
26. Lauren Kieffer and Czechmate
27. Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Catchascatchcan
28. Kyle Carter and Cooley Nothing Better B
29. Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace
30. Tik Maynard and Dutch Times
31. Michael Pollard and Cyrano
32. Boyd Martin and Crackerjack
33. Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice
34. Boyd Martin and Master Frisky

Click here for the list of teams. U.S. Coach David O’Connor and Canadian Coach Clayton Fredericks each put together two teams from their U.S. and Canadian High Performance-listed riders — with the two U.S. High Performance teams split up as guys vs. girls. There is also a USEF Eventing 25 team. There has been just one change to the entry list we originally posted last week, with Lillian Heard taking Will Coleman’s spot.

Thank you to Ocala Horse Properties, Woodmen of the World, Dutta Corp, Southern Cross Equestrian, Antares, KER Sport Horse Nutrition, Station Hill Farm, Delbene Brothers Construction, Wordley Martin Equestrian Footings, Peak Performance Equestrian Services and Tryon International Equestrian Center for sponsoring the event.

If you’re in the Ocala area, please come out to Southern Cross, 13440 NW Highway 225, Reddick, to support these horses and riders! Food and drinks are available on the grounds. The warm-up class starts at 10:30 a.m., with the course walk at 1:15 p.m. and the event officially kicking off at 2 p.m. EST. See you there!

Entry List Finalized for $15,000 Eventing Prix Invitational

By Jenni Autry on Feb 26, 2015 9:30 am -

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica at the 2014 Eventing Prix Invitational. Photo by Susan Merle-Smith.

The entry list and teams have been finalized for the $15,000 Eventing Prix Invitational presented by Ocala Horse Properties, which will be held Tuesday, March 3 at Southern Cross Equestrian in Reddick, Florida, as an official schooling competition for the U.S. and Canadian High Performance squads.

U.S. Coach David O’Connor and Canadian Coach Clayton Fredericks each put together two teams from their U.S. and Canadian High Performance-listed riders — with the two U.S. High Performance teams split up as guys vs. girls. There is also a USEF Eventing 25 team.

With eight teams and 32 horses and riders in all facing off over Marc Donovan’s show jumping course, it’s sure to be an exciting day! Here’s how the format will go: All riders will be able to jump a 1.10-1.15 meter course between 10:30 a.m. and noon to get their bearings, and then the actual competition will start at 2:15 p.m. over 1.25-1.30 meter height.

All riders will jump one round to determine the team winners. Then the top 10 will jump off carrying their faults from the first round to determine the individual winner, with the top finishers splitting $15,000 in prize money. Sharn and Ashley Wordley are also sponsoring a Most Stylish Round Award, and Brewster Walker Horse Transport is sponsoring a Best Groom Award.

Good friend of EN Graeme Thom will be providing color commentary in the VIP tent during the event, and all are invited to enjoy the after party following the conclusion of the competition. There will be food and drinks available on the grounds, along with live music, so it’s a great day to come out and enjoy the forecasted 80-degree temperatures if you’re in the area next week.

The EN team is heading down to Florida a bit early for Red Hills in order to catch all the action at the $15,000 Eventing Prix Invitational. We’ve confirmed that Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton will each jump an extra round on a second horse, as they are traveling from Aiken to compete.

We’ve also confirmed that Phillip will be riding Mr. Medicott and Mighty Nice in the first official outing for both horses since last year. Mr. Medicott last competed at Rolex Kentucky in April, while Mighty Nice last competed at the World Equestrian Games Prep Trials at Great Meadow in July.

Needless to say, there’s a lot to be excited about! VIP tables are still available and can be reserved by emailing Max Corcoran at [email protected].

Entry list and teams for the $15,000 Eventing Prix Invitational:

Phillip Dutton
Boyd Martin
Buck Davidson
Kurt Martin

Lynn Symansky
Sinead Halpin
Liz Halliday-Sharp
Lauren Kieffer

Jennie Brannigan
Michael Pollard
Will Coleman
Kelly Prather

Caroline Martin
Ellie McPhail
Jacob Fletcher
Zach Brandt

Sharon White
Laine Ashker
Sara Kozumplik Murphy
Joe Meyer

Caitlin Silliman
Ellen Doughty
Lisa Barry
Meghan O’Donoghue

Selena O’Hanlon
Cody Sturgess
Tik Maynard
Holly Jacks-Smither

Rachel McDonough
Callie Evans
Ian Roberts
Kyle Carter

Andreas Dibowski to Retire FRH Butts Leon at Luhmühlen

By Jenni Autry on Feb 25, 2015 9:30 am -

Andreas Dibowski and FRH Butts Leon at Aachen 2013. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Andreas Dibowski will officially retire FRH Butts Leon at Luhmühlen this year, a venue with significant meaning for this duo, as they won the CCI4* in 2011 and placed in the top six at the event on two other occasions.

Leon, an 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Heraldik xx X Lillian, by Star Regent xx) owned by Susanne and Holger Heigel, competed at the FEI level for 11 consecutive seasons, representing Germany at both the Olympics and World Equestrian Games.

“Leon is 18 years old and deserves to be retired while he’s fit and healthy,” Andreas said in a statement. “He has been going strong for 12 years and was the most successful horse I’ve had to date. He looks great and really seems to be enjoying retirement on the fields of his owners Susanne and Holger Heigel.”

Andreas Dibowski and FRH Butts Leon at Luhmühlen. Photo courtesy of Thomas Ix.

Indeed, Leon had a storied career that will long be remembered. He finished sixth in his first CCI4* at Luhmühlen in 2006, going on to represent Germany at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where he finished eighth individually and won team gold.

The horse continued to rack up top placings at CCI4* events, finishing second at both Luhmühlen and Pau in 2009 and second at Badminton the following year in 2010. He was then named to the 2010 World Equestrian Games squad in Lexington. Leon completed nine CCI4* events in his career, placing in the top six in five of them.

After finishing second at three four-stars in a row during 2009 and 2010, Andreas and Leon finally got their CCI4* win at Luhmühlen in 2011. “It was such a great and moving experience and also our biggest success together,” Andreas said. “I couldn’t think of a better stage for his last lap of honor.”

Nina Ligon and Butts Leon at Barbury Castle 2012. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Nina Ligon and FRH Butts Leon at Barbury Castle 2012. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Of course, U.S. eventing fans know the horse especially well, as Leon partnered with Nina Ligon after the Luhmühlen win to help her realize her dream of representing Thailand at the Olympics.

Nina and Leon won the CIC3* at Poplar Place in 2011 and completed the Galway Downs CCI3*, Bramham CIC3* and Barbury Castle CIC3* before going on to the 2012 London Olympic Games, where they jumped clear around cross country to finish 41st individually.

Leon then went back to Andreas, where he helped the German team to a Nations Cup victory at Aachen in 2013 with a fourth-place finish, going on to win the CIC3* at Schenefeld later that year.

We look forward to cheering Leon on as he makes his final public appearance at Luhmühlen this year and wish him all the best for a well-deserved and happy retirement.

Missy Ransehousen’s Camper, Car Go Up in Flames

By Jenni Autry on Feb 23, 2015 1:00 pm -

The aftermath of the fire at Blue Hill South. Photo via Blue Hill Farm.

We have very sad news to report out of Ocala today, as we’ve learned Missy Ransehousen’s living quarters coach and Subaru Outback went up in flames last night at Blue Hill South. Mercifully, no humans were inside the coach when it caught fire, and working students Brigitte Aikelin and Tiffany Smith were nearby and able to rescue a dog trapped inside.

The cause of the fire has not been confirmed at this time, and Missy is currently working with the fire marshal and her insurance company to determine how much of the loss will be covered.

In the meantime, virtually all her material possessions were lost in the blaze — from her basic clothing and competition gear to items that are much harder to replace, like her logo wear as a member of the 1995 Pan American Games squad and her memorabilia as a longtime coach of the U.S. Paralympic team.

So it’s time to do what we do best, EN! Missy is in immediate need of clothing, breeches, boots and shoes. She wears size 6 in clothing, size 28 in breeches and size 8 in shoes. All clothing can be mailed directly to her in Florida at 653 W. Highway 316, Citra, FL 32113.

Any questions can be directed to Lisa Thomas, who is spearheading the recovery efforts, at [email protected]. We will keep you updated on how we can continue to help Missy during this difficult time. Please share the news on social media so we can send out the call for help far and wide!

[Fire Recovery Efforts for Missy Ransehousen!]

Fab Freebie: Persuade Your Horse with Spursuaders

By Jenni Autry on Feb 23, 2015 9:00 am -

Enter to win a pair of Spursuaders! Photo by Jenni Autry.

It’s Fab Freebie Monday, EN! Considering our product review on Spursuaders is now the most-read product review ever on EN, this week’s giveaway should make for a lot of happy readers. This week we’re giving away a pair of Spursuaders!

If you haven’t already read the product review, click here for all the details on what makes Spursuaders a less severe yet equally effective spur option. Big names like Steuart Pittman, Bernie Traurig, Peter Gray, Selena O’Hanlon and Chelan Kozak have used them and recommend them.

What makes Spursuaders a kinder spur option for your horse? The patented circular end curves inward at a slight 4-degree tilt, giving a wider surface area to distribute pressure over the horse’s rib cage in a much more comfortable way.

Enter to win a pair of Spursuaders! Photo by Jenni Autry.

Spursuaders are legal for eventing in Canada, as well as at USHJA, USDF, and dressage shows in Great Britain and Canada. And while they are currently not legal under FEI or USEF rules for eventing, creator Linda Hauck and Equine Canada remain diligent in petitioning the FEI.

Until then, Spursuaders are a wonderful tool to have in your tack trunk. You can order your own pair for $54.99 at this link, and be sure to enter to win a pair using the Rafflecopter widget below. Entries close at midnight EST on Thursday, and we’ll announce the winner in Friday’s News & Notes. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Information given in the Rafflecopter widget, including email addresses, may be shared with the corresponding sponsor at their request. You will also be signed up for our weekly EN eNews email newsletter, if you aren’t already. Don’t worry — you’ll just wonder what you’ve been missing out on — and you can unsubscribe if you don’t want it.

Community Rallies Behind Beloved Maryland Trainer Battling Cancer

By Jenni Autry on Feb 22, 2015 9:00 am -

Lexi the Great Dane, Javier, Georgia Jean and Cate. Photo by Erika Hagen Photography.

Life finally seemed back to normal for Javier Corradini last March. The popular coach of the eventing team at Columbia Horse Center in Maryland was back to riding and teaching full-time after beating testicular cancer three years earlier, and he was about to welcome his first child, a daughter named Georgia Jean, with his wife, Cate.

Then he felt a lump in his neck. A CT scan at John’s Hopkins revealed enlarged lymph nodes in his neck, pelvis and abdomen, and a biopsy of the tumor in his neck confirmed their worst fears. Javier was diagnosed with stage 3A testicular cancer at age 35.

The news rocked the Columbia Horse Center barn family and surrounding community, where Javier has been a much-loved teacher and trainer for the last 15 years since moving from his native Argentina at age 18. And this second battle with cancer has rallied a widespread group — from Boston to Buenos Aires, as one friend put it — to offer their support.

A student competes under Javier’s watchful eye. Photo by Erika Hagen Photography.

‘A compassionate rider’

Javier started riding at age 7 in Argentina and began competing in eventing soon after. He evented through his childhood and into his teen years, later graduating from Escuela Militar de Equitación, Argentina’s military riding school in Buenos Aires. After moving to Maryland, he quickly earned a reputation as an excellent horseman and highly respected trainer.

He first started teaching lessons and training horses at a farm in Silver Spring after moving to the U.S., which is how he met Cate. He didn’t speak any English at the time, but a friendship and, years later, a romance blossomed. They were married on March 28, 2008, two years before Javier’s first testicular cancer diagnosis.

“He is an amazing horseman and an incredible rider,” Cate said. “He’s my husband, and I’m sure any wife would say that, but he really is. He’s a compassionate rider and a gifted instructor, and it’s rare to find the two together. Sometimes you have people who ride well but aren’t good teachers or vice versa. But Javier has always been able to do both.”

Javier walking a cross country course with a student. Photo by Erika Hagen Photography.

A new battle with cancer

Javier underwent chemotherapy between April and June last year, which successfully shrank the tumors in his pelvis and abdomen; but the tumor in his neck stubbornly refused to cooperate. Surgeons at John’s Hopkins removed 52 of his lymph nodes last August, but his AFP levels, which show tumor markers in the blood, continued to test very high.

His case was referred to Indiana University last fall, and doctors opted to perform a bilateral retroparitoneal lymph node dissection. Surgeons removed every affected and surrounding lymph node from his sternum to his pelvis. But, once again, his AFP levels started to rise. A CT scan in January of this year showed a new mass on his pancreas.

Javier’s case has now been transferred to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Canter Center in New York City, where he is currently undergoing three rounds of high dose chemotherapy in preparation to receive a bone marrow transfusion.

It will be months before he can permanently return home to Maryland to be with Cate, who is continuing to work at her IT job to keep up a source of income for the family, and Georgia Jean, whose 1st birthday is rapidly approaching.

Javier and Georgia Jean. Photo by Erika Hagen Photography.

Weathering the storm

“He hasn’t been able to work for the past year,” Cate said. “Now with this treatment in New York, it could be July before he comes home and awhile before he gets back up on his feet again and is able to start teaching and riding.”

If there’s one thing at which the horse community truly excels, it’s rallying support when one of our own needs help. And the way in which Javier’s students, clients and friends have rallied around this young family is truly inspirational.

A GoFundMe account has raised nearly $17,000 in the last month, quickly exceeding its original goal of $8,000. The messages accompanying the donations show just how much he means to his students:

“You got me riding again, and I’ll never forget it! Bon courage, Javier!”

“Thank you for all of the knowledge and love you gave me and the rest of us barn rats over the years.”

“Kick cancer’s butt, Javier!”

Friends have stepped in to babysit Georgia Jean; dogsit Lexi, their Great Dane; help with laundry; cook meals; and deliver supplies to Javier in New York, where he’ll be spending most of his time this winter and spring during his treatments.

Javier’s students wear their #HorseshoesForJavier bracelets.

#HorseshoesForJavier

Certainly the most visible show of support for Javier has been a social media campaign called #HorseshoesForJavier, which has raised nearly $700 for the family since it launched earlier this month.

Students and friends are purchasing a horseshoe bracelet from Stella & Dot and posting photos and encouraging messages for the family in the Horseshoes for Javier Facebook group, with has 375 members and counting, using the hashtag #HorseshoesForJavier.

Scrolling through the messages and photos once again shows just how much Javier means to his students and the horse community in Maryland and beyond:

“Thank you to the most amazing instructor I have ever had. Starting to ride with Javier took me from riding horses to being a rider.”

“Over the years, I learned so much about what it means to be a good rider and how to communicate with a horse.”

“Javier not only taught me how to be a good rider, but also a great horsewoman and person.”

Javier in his element. Photo by Erika Hagen Photography.

How you can help

Now it’s our turn to help one of our own, EN. If you’d like to help Javier, Cate and Georgia Jean during this second battle with cancer, you can donate directly to the family at their GoFundMe account at this link or using the widget below.

You can also buy a horseshoe bracelet from Stella & Dot at this link. Through the end of March, 25 percent of the sales proceeds go directly to helping the family; a horseshoe charm is also part of the fundraiser at this link.

Then join the Horseshoes for Javier Facebook group and post a photo of yourself wearing the bracelet using the #HorseshoesForJavier hashtag.

Together, we can show Javier and Cate that they are far from alone as they weather this storm.

We will continue to bring you updates on Javier’s battle with testicular cancer, and you can also follow his Caring Bridge site at this link, where Cate is blogging regularly with updates.

7 Photos of the Frozen Water Jumps at Pine Top

By Jenni Autry on Feb 20, 2015 12:30 pm -

The start of CIC* cross country at Pine Top has been delayed 40 minutes to 1 p.m. EST as the organizers are scrambling to remove ice from the water complexes, which were totally frozen over this morning after overnight temperatures in Thomson, Georgia, dipped into the teens.

Here’s a video of course builder Rob Mobley driving over the second Advanced water complex to break up the ice so competitors can get into the water when they walk their courses today:

Post by Eventing Nation.

Check out the photos that have been surfacing on social media and keep checking live updates on Twitter @eventingnation. Leslie Threlkeld is on the grounds this weekend for EN and will be back later in the day with a full score update. In the meantime, be sure to follow her coverage on Twitter.

The start of CIC2* cross country has also been delayed and will now start at 2:30 p.m. EST. Stay tuned for much more from Pine Top, the official home of the North American Eventing Figure Skating Championships, and kudos to the organizers and grounds crew for all their hard work getting the course in perfect condition for the competitors!

Pine Top Advanced CIC and HT: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, @eventingnation

@eventingnation pic.twitter.com/gxYo8ZTzxT

— Lily Barlow (@LilyBarlow1) February 20, 2015

I hope I get to see someone fall off into the water jump today! Not one of mine but someone. pic.twitter.com/KvnauWVY96 — Kyle & Jen Carter (@CarterEventing) February 20, 2015

Hope the riders also brought their ice skates to Pine Top! pic.twitter.com/QLT1I9rW0z

— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) February 20, 2015

Post by Leslie Threlkeld.

Post by Lizzie Snow Eventing.

“16deg here at Pine Top right now. XC conditions are less than ideal…” Photo via Ashley Kehoe.

Post by Sally Cousins Eventing.

High Performance Celebrates the Journey, Looks to the Future

By Jenni Autry on Feb 20, 2015 9:00 am -

Hundreds of thousands of people line the streets of London during the athletes' parade following the 2012 Olympics. Photo by David Davies/AFP/Getty Images.

A busy week in Aiken ended last Friday with High Performance Owner’s Day, which started in the morning with the USEF High Performance training sessions at Stable View Farm, followed by a tour of Aiken’s most beautiful farms, including Phillip and Evie Dutton’s Red Oak Farm in Bridle Creek.

All the owners and riders eventually made their way to Fernanda Kellogg and Kirk Henckel’s FoxFrolic Farm for a reception that evening, where U.S. Chef d’Equipe David O’Connor and Will Connell, the new USEF Director of Sport Programs, spoke about the future of U.S. eventing.

Fernanda, a longtime owner and supporter for Boyd Martin, opened the night with a shout out to the Event Owner’s Task Force, which has helped to syndicate about 110 horses in the U.S. since the group began in 2008. “Something that was strange to begin with is now an ordinary part of the sport,” Fernanda said to much applause.

‘Celebrating the journey’

David then took the mic to explain the impetus for gathering all the owners and riders together in Aiken: “It is about celebrating the journey we’re trying to go on and a place we’re all trying to go to. We are well down that road — two years and a little bit more into this.

“There have been a lot of changes and a lot of really, really good momentum is coming on, and a lot of it is because of people like you who ended up making guys like that (pointing to Boyd). They really can’t do it without you. It takes a whole village to make this happen.

“The first year we did this, everyone was wondering ‘what is this going to be like?’ Now I actually get a real feel of excitement. I get excitement from the riders, from the people who have been on the journey with us. It’s pervading.

“You can feel it in the training sessions this year — a renewed sense of purpose. I think the riding is at a brand new level, which is exciting for me. I predicted earlier this year that this would be our breakout year. Once that happens, this train is full on running,” he said.

David then introduced Will Connell as our new USEF Director of Sport Programs: “Will was the architect of the British success in the last 15 years, really since Atlanta,” David said. “England changed the way they did things because of him, and now he’s come over to us.

“He’s a great plus to our system. The breadth of his knowledge and the scope of what he’s thinking is going to make all of us better. We’re looking forward to being under his thought process, and I can’t think of anybody in the world better suited to the job.”

‘A proponent of phase E’

Though Will oversees all USEF sport programs, he explained he does have a background in eventing: “I evented myself, very badly,” he said. “I was a leading proponent of phase E, the bar after cross country … I also hunted a lot, growing up in Northamptonshire. I followed people like Lucinda Green out hunting.”

Will served as chef d’equipe for the British Young Rider eventing team from 1997 to 2001 and was also a British Eventing steward, as well as deputy equestrian director of Olympia, the London International Horse Show.

In 2003, he took on the role of British Equestrian Federation performance director, which made him responsible for running the UK Sport-funded World Class Program for eventing, dressage, jumping and para-dressage.

But before all that, he served for 17 years with the British Army’s Royal Horse Artillery and was commanding officer of the King’s Troop RHA, which he said greatly shaped the way he ultimately approached the challenges that came later in his career.

“The troop is a very dedicated unit,” Will said. “You had departments of a certain expertise, from saddlers to farriers. My job was to bring those departments together. That’s what my job is now.”

In his new role here in the States, Will oversees eight international disciplines, nine national disciplines and 11 breeds recognized by the USEF. He also leads the USEF discipline directors and their staff, as well as serves as chef de mission at the FEI World Equestrian Games, Pan American Games and Olympic Games.

Five Olympics rings

Just as there are five Olympic rings, Will said he applies five principles in his approach to this new role.

The first is talent: “talented riders, coaches, staff, physios, farriers, R&D — all of that you have to be the best in the world.”

The second is vision: “Unless you actually know where you want to go, how will you ever get there?” Will said this expands across all disciplines, which should be working together toward the mutual goal of getting on the podium.

The third is environment: “Unless you have a positive environment, a team will not win.”

The fourth is commitment: “There will be blips from now to Rio, from now to Bromont, from now to Tokyo — highs and lows. My job is to make sure the highs are not too high and the lows are not too low.”

The fifth is resource: “Without resource, whether it’s human or equine or finance, you’re not going to succeed in today’s sporting environment. That’s pretty simple.

“What you’re generating with the Event Owner’s Task Force is not just about resources. It’s also about impacting the other areas, whether it’s the vision or the talent, and I can’t commend you enough for what you have done. You’re ahead of the other nations in those terms.”

Reflections on London

Will concluded his remarks with speaking about the 2012 London Olympics, where, under his guidance, British equestrian teams won team silver in eventing; individual gold and bronze, as well as team team gold, in dressage; team gold in show jumping; and team gold and 10 individual medals in para-dressage.

“London was a huge journey,” Will said. “One of the biggest things we did in the lead up was to study the home advantage and disadvantage. We studied the Americans running at Lexington in 2010. It was something I thought about every day from 2005 to 2012. When it was finished, the feeling of pride was enormous when you sat in those stands.”

After the Games, hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets of London for an athletes’ parade, which Will described as a very emotional occasion. British Airways passed out blank signs and markers for the parade goers to write messages for the athletes as they rode by on floats.

“Probably 70 percent of them just said, ‘Thank you,’ and that was very moving,” Will said. “In a high performance sporting environment, you live in a very insular world. But when you get it right and win in your own nation, it can fundamentally impact a country, and it did.”

Now another journey starts, he said: “When someone asks me where I want to be in 10 years, I want to be sitting here and speaking about how America won at least five medals in Bromont.”

To say there was thunderous applause as Will made that remark would be an understatement, and I’ve heard nothing but praise for his comments from the riders and owners ever since.

“Now the journey starts,” David said in closing the night. “We are already all excited about it, from the riders to the coaches to the staff. It’s a train that is running. We hope you all hop on board and come with us.”

Record Snowfall Wreaking Havoc for Boston Area Eventers

By Jenni Autry on Feb 19, 2015 3:30 pm -

Danielle McNamara clears snow from the barn roof at Dry Water Farm in Stoughton, Massachusetts, before it collapsed Sunday afternoon. Photo via Dry Water Farm's Facebook page.

The greater Boston eventing community is reeling after record snowfall has dropped more than 7 1/2 feet of snow on the area in just 30 days, with numerous indoor arenas and barns in the area collapsing under the weight of the snow.

The North and South shores have been hit particularly hard, with five indoor arenas collapsing in that area alone since the unrelenting snowfall began in January, including the iconic indoor at Tony and Leslie Bartolotti’s Gathering Farm in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, last week.

Babette Lenna, the farm’s head trainer who is currently in Aiken for the winter, said a maintenance crew had checked the indoor on Monday, Feb. 9, and found the structure was holding up well after Winter Storm Marcus quickly dropped about 2 feet of snow.

The crew returned the next day at around 1 p.m. to once again check the weight load on the indoor, and three cracks had developed in the tresses. All trailers and equipment were then moved away from the indoor, which was immediately closed for riding.

Plans were made to have an engineer look at the structure the next day and to have the crew remove all the snow from the roof. But the indoor collapsed around 7:45 p.m. that evening.

The iconic indoor. Photo courtesy of Gathering Farm.

The iconic indoor at Gathering Farm. Photo courtesy of Leslie Bartolotti.

“It was completely unexpected because we really felt like we had a handle on the situation and a good grasp of what needed to happen,” Babette said. “It was shocking and painful, not just from a business standpoint, but because of the history behind the indoor.”

Gathering Farm served as the USET eventing team training headquarters under Jack LeGoff in the 1970s, and Advanced rider Jim Stamets trained out of the farm for 15 years. The indoor, which was built in 1978, saw numerous top riders come through its doors during that time.

“The outpouring of condolences and support from people in the local eventing community has been overwhelming,” Babette said. “Everyone understands what a huge loss this is.”

Babette, who went home to Massachusetts on Monday and Tuesday to survey the damage, said Gathering Farm barn manager Jen Chociej has done an unbelievable job of holding down the fort as she prepares to compete in the Advanced Test B division at Pine Top in Aiken this weekend with Little Oliver.

Babette is no stranger to snow, hailing from Maine originally and living in Massachusetts for the past decade, but she said even she was stunned to see the amount of white stuff on the ground this week. “Almost more shocking than seeing the indoor was seeing all the snow banks,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Gathering Farm plans to hold a fundraiser in May and would love to have the Area I eventing community be involved. Those with questions or interested in helping should contact Babette at [email protected] or fellow Gathering Farm trainer Asheley Ireland at [email protected].

Snow photo courtesy of EN reader Abby Powell, who is also weathering this crazy Boston winter. More photos can be seen on her blog here.

Barns collapsing

In addition to indoors collapsing, barns in the area have also been caving in under the weight of the snow. In just one example, the barn roof at Dry Water Farm in Stoughton, just south of Boston, began collapsing this past Sunday afternoon on Feb. 15 despite owners Edward and Davy McNamara and their daughter, barn manager Danielle McNamara, knocking off a substantial amount of snow the night before.

The McNamaras put out a call on Facebook asking for help evacuating the 33 horses at the farm, all of which were inside the barn at the time the roof started collapsing. In a wonderful outpouring of support, people started showing up with trucks and trailers and were able to evacuate all the horses in just three hours.

Boston eventer Megan Kures had moved her horse to Dry Water for the winter to take advantage of the farm’s indoor arena, and she said the response from the local horse community was amazing.

“I was able to get to the facility right away after hearing about the collapse, but I do not have a truck or a trailer. We dug out several trailers stored near the barn,” Megan said. “A young guy with no connection to the barn or anyone there showed up with his pick-up right after the call was put out.

“We hooked him up to a trailer, and he trucked my horse and another out. After he dropped us off at a nearby barn, he went back for more horses. This was all in the midst of barely plowed roads and blizzard-force winds. It isn’t every day you see such kindness from strangers.”

There is a donation account set up at this link to help fund repairs to the barn at Dry Water Farm.

Residents, students are climbing a five-story snow mound known as the “Alps of MIT” http://t.co/QjAsAsDMVX pic.twitter.com/QEV1CjnlTM — The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) February 14, 2015

Record snowfall

Boston is now only one foot of snow away from setting a record for the city’s snowiest winter of all time. Already the area has set the following records:

30-day snowfall (90.8 inches from Jan. 19-Feb. 17)
record snow depth (37 inches on Feb. 9)
fastest 6-foot snowfall (72.5 inches in 18 days from Jan. 24-Feb. 10)
fastest 90-inch snow fall (23 days from Jan. 24-Feb. 15)

Meteorologist Alan Dunham told Bloomberg: “I have over 41 years of government service dealing with the weather in one form or another; I can’t remember the snow pack being this deep over southern New England. It is pretty darn amazing.”

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency reports that more than 70 roofs in the area have collapsed since Feb. 9. These jaw-dropping snow photos Discovery.com rounded up show just how serious the situation has become in Boston. Boston.com reports the city expects to spend $35 million on snow removal this winter, the highest sum in city history.

Are you an EN reader weathering the storm in Boston or the surrounding area? Send us your stories, photos and videos to [email protected]. This gives a whole new meaning to the term “snowmageddon.” Stay safe, EN!

[Dozens of horses rescued after barn roof collapses]

[Boston Snow You Have to See to Believe: Photos]

[How New England and Boston’s Snow Measures Up In The Record Books]

[Marcus Sets All-Time Snow Records: How Much Snow Has Fallen?]

Maxime Livio Suspended on New Doping Allegations

By Jenni Autry on Feb 19, 2015 9:00 am -

Maxime Livio and Qalao de Mers at WEG. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Maxime Livio has received a suspension from the FEI on new doping allegations while awaiting a ruling on Qalao de Mers’ positive test for the controlled substance acepromazine at last year’s World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

Bingo S, a 9-year-old Dutch gelding owned by the Thailand Equestrian Federation, tested positive for the banned substance testosterone after Maxime competed the horse one time as a catch ride on Nov. 30, 2014, at the Pattaya CSI*-W show jumping competition in Thailand.

An FEI suspension for both Maxime and the horse began this past Monday, Feb. 16. The suspension for Bingo S is scheduled to go through April 15. No end date is currently listed for Maxime’s suspension.

Maxime, who coached the Thai team in preparation for last year’s Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, told Cavadeos that he had been invited to compete at Pattaya with his students, and riding the horse was a one-time thing:

“I was invited with my students by the federation to participate in this contest, and I rode this horse off the cuff,” he said. “I was stunned when I learned that doping suspicion yesterday. Especially since I have every confidence in the federation and that after what had happened at the World Games, we even enhanced precautions by making such preventive blood tests to all horses before the Asian Games.”

Col. Fuangvich Aniruth-Deva, secretary general of the Thailand Equestrian Federation, sent a letter to the FEI legal department earlier this week, saying Maxime “is completely independent of this situation. He has been invited to our competition for a public relationship operation,” the letter reads.

“It is our Federation which has supplied the horse to Maxime Livio for the jumping sessions. Maxime Livio had no relationship with the horse, nor before or during the jumping sessions. So he is totally foreign to the causes of this positive test.”

Sophie Dubourg, France’s national technical director, told Cavadeos this new case will not affect the outcome of the FEI tribunal’s ruling on Qalao de Mers’ positive test for acepromazine at WEG; they will be ruled on as two separate issues.

If the FEI tribunal finds Maxime guilty in this newest case, he faces a suspension of up to two years, as testosterone is a banned substance. Hearing dates have not yet been set in either case.

The first case involving the positive test for acepromazine at WEG is of particular interest to the North American eventing scene, as the FEI tribunal can rule to disqualify Maxime or the entire French team from the Games.

That would move Canada into sixth place in the WEG standings, qualifying the team for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and opening the door for the U.S. to qualify for the Olympics at this summer’s Pan American Games in Toronto.

Maxime maintains his innocence in both cases, and he released a statement last year that he believed Qalao de Mers’ positive test for acepromazine at WEG to be an act of sabotage.

[Maxime Livio: “It’s an unfortunate combination of circumstances”]

[Thailand Equestrian Federation letter to the FEI Legal Department]

[FEI Case Table Status for Horse Suspensions]

[FEI Case Table Status for Suspensions]

Carolina International Boosts Prize Money to $70,000

By Jenni Autry on Feb 18, 2015 11:00 am -

Michael Pollard and Ballingown Pizazz at Carolina International. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Carolina International burst onto the U.S. spring calendar last year with an all new CIC3* and $40,000 in prize money across the CIC divisions. Now the organizing committee is raising the bar even higher, committing to $70,000 in prize money for this year’s event, with $35,000 for the CIC3* division alone.

Atwood Equestrian Surfaces has signed on this year to sponsor the CIC3*, with Setters’ Run Farm and Southern Pines Equine Associates returning to show their support with sponsorship of the CIC2* and CIC* divisions, respectively. Cloud 11 – Gavilan North LLC once again returns as the title sponsor of the event.

“From day one the Carolina International has always strived to host a marquee competition which showcases the best of eventing in North America,” Bobby Costello, chairman of the Carolina International organizing committee, said. “We are enormously grateful to all of the Carolina International sponsors and look forward to awarding increased prize money and hosting the first webcast of its kind.”

USEF Network has partnered with the event to bring live streaming and on-demand video of the event to viewers at home. All three phases of the CIC3* will stream live on USEF Network, along with coverage of cross country and show jumping for the CIC2*.

Course designer Hugh Lochore and course builder Tyson Rementer have exciting new fences planned for the cross country course, which last year debuted the popular new Stonehenge complex. What will they unveil this year?

Click here for more information on Carolina International, which will be held March 19-22 at Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, North Carolina. EN and Chinch have the dates marked on our calendar! Do you?

Go Eventing!

[Second Annual Cloud 11 ~ Gavilan North LLC Carolina International Raises the Bar in 2015 with Increased Prize Money and Live Webcast]

Product Review: Equilibrium Tri-Zone Impact Sports Boot

By Jenni Autry on Feb 17, 2015 5:30 pm -

Mia models the Equilibrium Tri-Zone Impact Sports Boot. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Is there a certain category of product you obsess about for your horse? Like you spend late nights browsing through websites comparing brands and features trying to determine the best choice … and then end up not making a decision because you just can’t choose?

For me, it’s cross-country boots. With technology constantly changing and different materials offering a wide variety of options to protect those very precious legs, I always find myself searching for a boot that checks all the boxes — something that’s breathable and doesn’t hold water while remaining durable and providing protection.

So when Robin Moore of World Equestrian Brands told me that the Equilibrium Tri-Zone Impact Sports Boot had been totally remodeled, I jumped at the chance to try them. Tri-Zone Impact Sports Boots have been around for a long time, but this new and improved design has taken things to the next level.

The first thing I noticed when I started testing the boots last fall is how lightweight they are even though they offer four different layers of protection. The inner layer that touches the horse’s leg is made of soft pillows formed from EVA, which absorbs impact. The perforations between the pillows allow heat to escape, keeping the leg cool.

The Velcro tabs keep the boot firmly in place but are easy to fasten and unfasten. Photo courtesy of World Equestrian Brands. (Has anyone else forgotten what grass looks like at this point in the winter?)

Then there’s a layer of EVA mesh, which also absorbs impact while allowing heat to escape. Next there’s a layer of TPU strips placed in strategic locations around the boots to form protective panels; those are covered by a hardy layer of Rotex, which is strong enough to withstand impact from studs. And additional TPU strike plates on the outside of the boot provide even more protection from concussion and injury.

Considering how much is going on both inside and outside the boots from a technology standpoint, I expected the boots to not only be a lot heavier than they are, but also a lot bulkier. They are surprisingly thin, which allows them to be a lot more flexible and conform nicely to the horse’s leg.

One of my biggest pet peeves about cross country boots is how stiff they can be. While the Tri-Zone Impact Sports Boots have a definite shape straight out of the box, they fit the leg really nicely from the first use and are easy to get on and take off — with two secure Velcro tabs on the fronts and three tabs on the backs.

Since I tried these all through the fall and into winter, these boots received a very thorough testing in a variety of different conditions. From mud and muck and wet conditions in the fall to snow and ice in recent months, they’ve withstood it all — and without a single rub on Mia’s leg during the entire testing period.

The hind boots have a third Velcro tab for additional security. Photo courtesy of World Equestrian Brands.

And what about after the ride? Here’s the part where I confess I don’t like high maintenance equipment in any form. As much as I’d like to spend an hour fussing over my tack and gear after I ride, the truth is it all gets a quick wipe down and then chucked back into my tack trunk (Look away, Pony Clubbers! Look away!).

Thankfully, the outer and inner layers of the Tri-Zone Impact Sports Boot clean up very nicely with simply using my go-to damp rag. And if I get them especially muddy while splashing around in water, they are so easy to rinse and hang to dry — which doesn’t take long at all since they don’t hold water.

At the end of the day, I like that I can rest easy knowing Mia’s legs are protected in these boots. Equilibrium uses an independent safety testing laboratory — which also tests human body protectors and armor for police units — to evaluate the protection provided by their products.

If you’ve tried the Equilibrium Tri-Zone Impact Sports Boot before, I think you’ll love the new, updated design. And if you never have, what are you waiting for? The boots are available on World Equestrian Brands’ website for $155 for the fronts and $165 for the hinds.

Click here to check out the full line-up of Tri-Zone boots available from World Equestrian Brands, and many thanks to Robin for letting EN test the all new Impact Sports Boot!

Pine Top Advanced Bracing for Frigid Temperatures + Schedule Change

By Jenni Autry on Feb 16, 2015 1:30 pm -

Pine Top is bracing for frigid temperatures this week. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

As much of the East Coast is bracing for Winter Storm Octavia, Pine Top is preparing for unseasonably cold temperatures to impact this week’s event in Thomson, Georgia, where Derek di Grazia’s new Advanced course will be unveiled.

A schedule change has been announced as a result. While the Advanced divisions were originally scheduled to run in a one-day format on Friday, the divisions will now be held across two days.

Dressage will now start at 10 a.m. EST Friday for both the Advanced A and Advanced B divisions. Advanced A will have show jumping on Friday afternoon, while Advanced B will show jump on Saturday morning. Both divisions will then run cross country on Saturday afternoon.

The CIC2* and CIC* will still run in a one-day format on Friday. The Preliminary/Training and Training divisions will still have dressage on Saturday, but show jumping and cross country have now been moved to Sunday.

See the bottom of this post for the full amended schedule. A final schedule of divisions and ride times is expected to be available on Wednesday.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience as we prepare for freezing temperatures,” Pine Top organizers Glenn and Janet Wilson said. “We have great courses prepared for the event and want every competitor to have the chance to compete in a safe qualifying event.”

Competitors with on-site stabling are advised to prepare for freezing temperatures. To protect the water pipes on the grounds, direct access to normal water sources will be limited. Competitors should pack additional buckets and containers to carry water, which will still be available on the grounds at all times.

Competitors with RV hook-ups should prepare for water shutoffs starting Wednesday night, when temperatures are expected to dip into the teens, with frigid temperatures also expected for Thursday. Here’s a look at Weather.com’s projected forecast for Thomson, Georgia, during the worst of the cold snap:

Screenshot via weather.com

Thankfully, temperatures are looking much improved for Saturday (54 degrees) and Sunday (69 degrees). Click here to check out the full list of entries at Pine Top Advanced, where many top horses are expected to have their first big run of the season.

The event is still looking for volunteers: dressage scribes, bit checkers, stadium jump crew and fence judges. Grab your Under Armour and Carharrts and contact Janet Wilson at [email protected] if you’re available to volunteer on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Pine Top Advanced Links: [Website] [New Schedule] [Entries]

New Pine Top Advanced Schedule

Friday
8 a.m. EST: FEI In-Barns Inspection
10 a.m. EST: Dressage: CIC*, CIC2*, Advanced Division A, Advanced Division B
12:30 p.m. EST: Show Jumping (in the following order): CIC*, CIC2*, Advanced Division A ONLY
2:30 p.m. EST: Cross Country (in the following order): CIC*, CIC2*

Saturday
8 a.m. EST: Dressage: Intermediate, Preliminary, and Training
9:30 a.m. EST: Show Jumping: Advanced Division B
11:30 a.m. EST: Show jumping (in the following order): Intermediate, Preliminary
1 p.m. EST: Cross Country (in the following order): Advanced Division A, Advanced Division B

Sunday:
9 a.m. EST: Show Jumping (in the following order): Preliminary/Training, Training
9 a.m. EST: Cross Country (in the following order): Intermediate, Preliminary, Training

Eventing Nation

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