View Classifieds
Articles Written 2,972
Article Views 1,575,399

John

Achievements

Become an Eventing Nation Blogger

About John

Latest Articles Written

Your Olympic Test Event Dressage Recap

By on Jul 4, 2011 2:59 pm -

cavalorhorse.jpg
Raf Kooremans and Cavalor Telstar of the Netherlands are 12th after the dressage

From European Silver medalist Piggy French in the lead, to 4* champion Clayton Fredericks in second, and WEG champion Michael Jung in 3rd, there are some big names at the top of the Olympic test event leader board.  Both Piggy and Clayton hinted after their rides that this might be a practice weekend for their horses for next year.  My guess is that Michal Jung has a different horse in mind for London, but it’s nice to have a good backup, so to speak.  Here are a few notes from the dressage…

[Dressage Results PDF]

–The actual competition results at the test event are only meaningful when looked at in context of the experience of the horses competing.  Piggy French and Topper were 3rd at the Saumur CCI3*, and second placed Clayton Frederics and Bendigo won that event.  Michael Jung’s horse was third at the Boekelo CCI3* and has been to 10 CIC3* events and never placed outside of the top 10.  On the other hand, 4th placed Mrs. Medicott has never done a CCI2* and is just competing in her third CIC2*.   Ruy Fonseca’s horse Idaho D’Argonne competed in the 4* at Pau two years ago. 

—Germany and England are running away with the competition.  All three German and all three British riders are in the top 10 after the dressage.  Belgium also had a strong day, finishing two riders in the top 10.  Australia and Sweden have one rider in the top 10.

–As a few notes on the North American pairs, Will Faudree and DHI Colour Candy scored well despite several bobbles in the simple changes.  The horse is still a bit green, but otherwise looked quite impressive.  Logan Rawlings and Julian Stiller had solid tests and I was very impressed with their riding–this was the first time I have watched either of them compete.  I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that spending time in the UK makes for good riders.  Speaking of which, Waylon Roberts and Blockbuster III moved into 17th with a very businesslike test.  Waylon is returning to Canada in August.  While we’ll be glad to have him back in North America, Waylon’s riding has really grown during his time in the UK.

–Overall, I think the judging today was pretty fair.  I thought Piggy and Pippa got a bit of a leg up, and Will scored well despite a few bobbles.  Nina Ligon’s test was a lot better than it scored, but Jazz King likes cross-country a lot more than the dressage.  Kathryn Robinson and Let It Be had a very nice test that would have scored extremely well, but Let It Be kept sticking his tongue out.  As someone I was sitting with pointed out, it’s a lot easier to get away with one or two bigger bobbles than a consistent nagging problem that causes the judges to deduct from every movement.  Let It Be looks like a really lovely horse.

–Greenwich Park is absolutely beautiful.  I will get into that more in a later post, but they have done a truly amazing job preparing the venue and course here and Greenwich will definitely do the Olympics proud next year.

–Other than Piggy way out there in the lead, the competition is pretty tight going into the XC, with the second through eleventh placed horses separated by less than 10 points.

–As for the team competition, it looks like we get to do this adding the old fashioned way–with an abacus.  My personal and entirely unreliable totals are:

GBR: 125.5
GER: 131.4
BEL: 147.2
NZL: 172.4
USA: 173.6

–Although our team is in last, the US has a very young team of horses here relative to the rest of the field.  In general, I think the USEF picked their riders and observers well.  Everyone is smart, engaged, humble, and there is no doubt that our country is being represented the way that we would want.  Now, if we could just not lose by 25 points to Belgium…

–With sunshine and warmth, the weather today was decidedly abnormal for London.  Sun is also predicted for tomorrow, which might make endurance a question over the twisty and hilly Sue Benson course.  Rain is predicted for Wednesday.

–As you can tell from some of the videos we will be posting, pop music played loudly during the dressage.  At first, it bugged me a bit, but I eventually came to realize that entertainment like that is really the only hope for making eventing bearable for spectators.  Music also makes conversation easier for spectators during the dressage.  

Go eventing. 

VIDEO: Piggy French and DHI Topper W

By on Jul 4, 2011 1:27 pm -

Piggy and DHI Topper W take a 6.2 point lead into the cross-country tomorrow at the Olympic test event here in London.  Topper was third at the CCI3* in Saumur, France earlier this year and he looks like a great contender to compete at the Olympics next year–when Topper started trotting around the arena, anyone could tell that he would challenge for the lead.  The pair scored a 9, 10, and 9 for the final halt, which I think was one of a few instances where they got an extra half point from the judges, but there’s no doubt that they should be in the lead after this test.  

We’ll have much more from Greenwich shortly. Go eventing.

London Eventing Test Event Dressage Results

By on Jul 4, 2011 12:40 pm -

Snapshot 2011-07-04 12-44-44.jpeg
Photo of Piggy French and DHI Topper W by the amazing Nico Morgan

Piggy French and DHI Topper W gave the hometown British crowd a lot to cheer about in the afternoon dressage session when she took a commanding 6 point lead in the Olympic Test Event.  The 8th rider of the day, Clayton Fredericks of Australia, had held the lead throughout the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon session, but Piggy’s test was a cut above everything else that we saw today, although there were times when it looked like she might be getting a bit of a home-field bump in the scores. 

Olympic Test Event CIC2* Scores:

1. Piggy French and DHI Topper W (GBR)  34.7
2. Clayton Fredericks and Bendigo (AUS)  40.9
3. Michael Jung and River of Joy (GER)  41.4
4. Sara Algotsson Ostholt and Mrs. Medicott  (SWE)  41.6
5. Pippa Funnel and Billy Shanon (GBR)  44.1
6. Sandra Auffarth and Parancs (GER)  44.3
7. Frank Ostholt and Sir Medicott (GER)  45.7
8. Joris Vanspringel and Limestone (BEL)  46.5
9. William Fox-Pitt and Gaucho (GBR)  46.7
10. Virginie Caulier and Nepal du Sudre (BEL)  48.8
…
15. Will Faudree and DHI Colour Candy (USA)  53.3
17. Waylon Roberts and Blockbuster (CAN)  55.2
21. Julian Stiller and Gunstone Wallstreet (USA)  56.2
32. Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee (CAN)  62.4
35. Logan Rawlings and Jaybee Star Celebrity (USA)  64.1

Update: [Full Test Event Scores PDF]

Here are a few test event links for your reading pleasure:

[Horse and Hound’s Monday Recap]

[Monday in pictures from The Telegraph]

[Pippa’s dressage recap from Team GBR, Piggy’s recap]

We will be posting a full recap of the great dressage here at the London Olympic Test Event in beautiful Greenwich Park shortly, so stay tuned Eventing Nation.  Until then, go eventing.

Horse Park of New Jersey Videos

By on Jul 4, 2011 8:52 am -

The lunch break at the Olympic test event is just ending with Clayton Fredericks in the lead from the morning.  I’ll be around later with a dressage recap, XC preview, and much more.  Until then here are some sights and sounds from the New Jersey Horse Trials over the weekend.  Courtney Cooper and Who’s A Star “Tag” won their Open Prelim division a 30.3.

Go eventing.

Happy 4th of July Monday News and Notes from Ecogold

By on Jul 3, 2011 10:16 pm -

I have to say it feels a bit strange and perhaps a bit awkward writing a ‘Happy 4th of July’ post from England, after a fun night out in London no less, but thus is life.  I will miss the watermelons, hot dogs, and fireworks from Tennessee that get progressively less safe as the night wears on into July 5th, but I will be supporting the red, white, and blue all the way from London today nonetheless.  Independence Day is one of my favorite days (and movies) and I wish everyone a great day with their friends and family. 

It’s a busy Monday of eventing so let’s jump right into the news and notes…

–The major event around Eventing Nation this week is starting early this morning with the dressage phase of the London Olympics Test Event.  The event has many names, from “London Prepares” to the “Greenwich Invitational” but if no one has any objections I’m going to just call it the test event.

–If you are just returning from a trip to Siberia, the test event is a CIC2* competition held in Greenwich Park, the site of the 2012 London Olympic equestrian competitions.  As I quickly learned, like most of the British language, ‘Greenwich’ is not pronounced phonetically, but rather as “grennich”.  The test event is being held to test and practice preparations for the Olympics.  The Olympic hopeful countries have sent competitors as well as observers to the test event and here we all are.  The teams are treating it like a team competition, and countries with three riders–Germany, Belgium, New Zealand, USA, and Great Britain–are competing in a team scoring system as well as the individual competition.

–I’ll be around throughout the next three days bringing you all of the news, information, and ridiculousness that is fit to print, and some that isn’t.  As of right now, I have not seen live scoring from the test event, but we will post the link if and as soon as we find one.

–[Photos of the CIC2* test event course from H&H via Ecogold]

–Just from looking at the entry list [doc], Great Britain seems to be in great shape to take home the gold.  They have three really top horses ridden by riders who are likely to compete again at Greenwich next summer.  While I have to always root for the stars and stripes, Team GBR winning would be a great story and certainly something to get the local community excited for the Olympics. [A look at the New Zealand team] 

–It will be interesting to see if the planned protests by muggles pan out.  Frankly, if you don’t stand in front of tanks or light yourself on fire, you don’t impress me that much as a protester.  But I am sure there will be those who just love their park grass that much.

–Eastern Time in the US is London time minus five hours, meaning that the first ride here at 9am (incidentally Michael Jung and River of Joy) will be at 4am ET.  The last ride of the day is at 3:30pm local, 10:30am ET.  All told, there are 41 riders.  A few other notable North American times:

Julian Stiller and Gunston Wallstreet (USA) — 4:24am ET
Logan Rawlings and Jaybee Star Celebrity (USA) — 6:14am ET
Waylon Roberts and Blockbuster (CAN) — 6:26am ET
Will Faudree and DHI Colour Candy (USA) — 9:33am ET
Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee (CAN) — 11:00am ET

–Back home, it was the quietest weekend of eventing in the United States since January.  The South Farm Horse Trials in Ohio, and the Horse Park of New Jersey Horse Trials carried the USEA torch this weekend. 

–In New Jersey, Courtney Cooper and Sally Cousins won the preliminary divisions.  Heather Gillette rode in the prelim with her Rolex horse Our Questionnaire to get things started up for the autumn and Ronaly Zabala-Goeteschel rode Tiana Coudray’s former horse Master Hill.

[Horse Park of New Jersey Results]

–A few things that are a dead giveaway I am an American in London: I try to pass people on the right when walking–this has nearly epic failed twice, my phone conversations last 10 seconds thanks to prepaid phone prices, solid colored polos, and the length of time it takes for me to count change.

—Best of the bogs: Pippa Roome blogs about Sunday at the test event for H&H

—I’m feeling lucky

Now, more than ever, don’t try this at home.

That’s all for now.  I’m out like three strikes.  Stay tuned to EN this week for all of your test event coverage and much more from the EN Team back stateside.  As always, wherever you might be, thanks for making Eventing Nation part of your day.  See you soon and stay classy EN.

EN Banner_Saddle Pads Jessie April2011.JPG

Arrival at the Olympic Test Event

By on Jul 3, 2011 1:40 pm -


You try finding Greenwich on two hours of sleep

I have arrived in Greenwich, London for the Olympic Test Event after a blessedly uneventful series of flights and a confusing series of train/underground rides punctuated by an encounter with an attendant who was entirely unimpressed when I asked him where “platform 9 and 3/4” was.  I didn’t make it in time for the jog, but I am told that Dag Albert and Jedi Dancer were the only pair spun.  It’s dinner time here so I’m off to dinner with a few friends. 

I wouldn’t expect any award winning journalism this evening, but I’ll be around early tomorrow morning with Monday news and notes and then a full three days of CIC2* test event coverage.  If you just can’t wait to hear about the test event until then, here are a couple links:

[EN’s test event preview from last week, including an entry list]

[Pippa Cuckson’s test event preview]

[FEI press release preview]

Go eventing.

A derby cross is more fun than I thought

By on Jul 2, 2011 6:36 pm -

The below video shows some sights and sounds from the cheering section at Sharon White’s third annual Burghley fund raising jumping derby held Saturday at Last Frontier Farm.  Imagine that conversation at Wal Mart–“umm, in what aisle would I find the orange full body suits?” 


[via LK]

I spoke with Sharon Friday and she told me they had over 200 entries for the jumping derby.  Funding is very hard to find in eventing, but the derby cross seems to be a great strategy that I hope more people will consider using in the future.  It’s a lot easier to ask for money when you provide a fun experience in return. 

Go eventing.

Winner: Canada’s Caption Contest from World Equestrian Brands

By on Jul 2, 2011 4:40 pm -

davidgraeme.jpg


I told you, I left the jump RIGHT here!

As a quick Saturday afternoon note, congratulations to EN reader Kelly for winning our latest caption contest, courtesy of World Equestrian Brands.  Kelly’s caption “I told you, I left the jump RIGHT here!” just edged out “So you rode across the country with your Mom as a kid…what have you done since then?!“ for the win. 

For her victory, Kelly gets a $180 Mattes pad from World Equestrian Brands.  The Mattes pads are specifically designed to enhance the fit of your saddle with a topline that is anatomically shaped like a horse’s back, not flat, with a patented Spine Free design to keep any pressure away from the horses spine. Also the dense sheepskin is always made of a single hide, so no seams anywhere near the horse’s back. 

As always, thanks to World Equestrian Brands for their wonderful support of Eventing Nation.  If it wasn’t for our sponsors, I wouldn’t be sitting in the airport waiting for my flight to London right now.  I learned my lesson with Delta last time and it’s all carry-on for me. 

IMG_0918.JPG

Go eventing.

Support the Second True Prospect Recovery Auction

By on Jul 2, 2011 12:55 pm -

Just over a month has passed since the tragic fire at True Prospect Farm took the lives of 6 wonderful horses.  Since then, the recovery has progressed steadily thanks to a consistent and selfless outpouring of support from the eventing community.  Let’s keep that momentum going by bidding in the second PRO online charity auction, which starts today.

Like the first auction two weeks ago, the auction will be through the Southern California Equestrian Sports Foundation (SCES).  PRO has said that when the auction closes SCES will distribute all the proceeds directly to Boyd Martin, Lillian Heard, Caitlin Silliman, Ryan Wood, Abbie Golden and the Duttons. 

[Click to visit the charity auction]

There are a lot of great products available for great deals for a great cause that have been donated to the auction, including a week’s vacation in Wyoming, FLAIR strips, and a Point Two Air Jacket.

The auction will run until July 11th.  It’s the first day, let’s just put in a few bids to get things going.

Go bid.

Work Student Diaries, part 18

By on Jul 1, 2011 9:01 pm -

This is part 18 of Jenny’s adventure as a working student and EN guest blogger. Jenny has ambitiously decided to spend this year as a working student in Lexington, Kentucky, and along the way she has become one of the most prolific guest blogger in EN history. Thanks very much as always for writing this Jenny and thank you for reading.
—-
jenny.jpg

From Jenny:

Hello Eventing Nation!

It has been quite a while since my last post, it’s hard to figure out where to begin! Since my last blog another one of our mares foaled and gave us a beautiful little black filly, whom we have named ‘Diva.’ She is quite the spitfire and already has proven that although little, she is very fast! Diva is by Catherston Dazzler and out of my favorite broodmare. Bacon, our first foal of the year, is doing very well, and is a huge hit in the barn. He is BIG and extremely friendly, and is starting to play with Diva in the field. Our next mare is due to foal any time now, in fact we have been on foal watch since last week, and we thought for sure she would have it this weekend just to be inconvenient and interrupt our competition schedule! She has yet to pop, but any day now…

Not only have we been taking shifts to foal watch these past couple of weeks, but we have also been taking shifts teaching the kids in our pony camps all sorts of fun horsey things. My favorite part of the week was the fashion show, where I separated them into teams of three and gave each team a saddle pad, 2 polo wraps, a quarter sheet, a fly mask, and a feed bag, and made them dress themselves up and do the catwalk down the centerline. The kids LOVED it and kept begging me to do another round, so by the fourth round I was scrambling for a style theme, and settled on birds. Well, who would have thought that Nemo (Megan’s Advance horse) is terrified of children dressed up as birds in horse clothes! Megan was flatting in the ring while the kids were running around flapping their saddle pads and feed bags, and let’s just say that Nemo will probably never be a children’s horse!

Speaking of children horses, we acquired a new appy pony named Kiwi who has been a huge hit with everyone. Unfortunately for me, we obtained Kiwi thru a trade for Pesto, my little rocket pony. Pesto was originally bought for the lesson program and when it became obvious she would not be a kids pony, I took her on as a project and fell in love with her for her crazy jump and inability to ever slow down! With the show season and all of our babies in training, I haven’t had the time for Pesto–she was just sitting in the field doing nothing, so now she is off being someone’s games pony! I think I am the only one who misses Pesto because she was the true definition of a mareish mare, but there will always be a place in my heart for that fresh little paint pony!

I always thought Pesto would be the only mare I would like, but Megan has been sneakily converting me–my riding list has mysteriously been growing with mares lately! One mare that I am really excited about is a 5 y/o Trakehner who has taken some time to figure out and get going, but now is jumping with so much confidence and enthusiasm. I know that with her movement and jump she is going to be a very fancy eventer or hunter in the future! We also got a big and beautiful OTTB who was bred and then put in a field for a couple of years, so she is starting a bit late but definitely has the mindset to learn quickly. She will also be a fancy one to look out for in the future!

Now for what I have been wanting to write about all this time– Midsouth Pony Club HT was this past weekend, as well Molson and my training debut! I have been waiting for months for this weekend, and have been super excited to move up! I rode dressage on Friday and was thrilled with Moo. Megan told me it was our best test to date, yet I unfortunately got my worst score to date with Moo with a 36. Still a great score (we did get a 9 on our halt!), and I’m definitely excited for what we can do in the future with more experience. When I walked the xc course with Megan it was obviously not a soft move-up training, but everything seemed do-able for us newbie’s. There was a challenging toothbrush that was shared with the Prelim, as well as a corner and rather large half coffin, all of which Molson did without any problems. The whole course was a blast and I keep replaying it in my mind just because I can’t believe we actually completed a training, with plenty of time to spare as well! On Sunday I was still on cloud 9 from xc, that I didn’t even care what place we were in (Megan doesn’t let us look at our scores anyways). My big goal of the weekend was to just complete the event, so when we had a double clear stadium round I was smiling from ear to ear and just a pinch away from crying! Not only did we finish on our dressage score, but we somehow managed to tie for first place! With a slightly faster round than the other rider, we took second, and I can’t stop smiling! The weekend was a great one, with one of our riders winning the Open Prelim, and everyone else taking home lots of ribbons in the BN and N divisions. I can’t be more proud of the Team CEO family, and can’t wait for Champagne Run in a few weeks. This weekend we have our home mini-trial, which is going to be so much fun to have people come and ride on our home turf!

Until next time!

xo, Jenny

Lainey Ashker added to the USEF developing rider list

By on Jul 1, 2011 12:12 pm -

The USEF just announced in a short press release that Lainey Ashker was added to the developing rider list yesterday.  The press release doesn’t offer any explanation for adding Lainey or why she was not included in the original Summer 2011 Training Lists released last week, and I haven’t heard an explanation.  Lainey had a 51.5 on the flat, one rail, and one stupid stop at Rolex this spring, which probably should have put her on the developing rider list originally.  As a follow up on another hotly debated rider, Andrea Leatherman’s Jersey CCI3* winning horse Mensa was sold earlier this week.  It’s another travel day for me, so Samantha and Annie have things under control for the rest of the day.

London bound

By on Jul 1, 2011 11:46 am -


A computer simulation of the Greenwich Park Olympic venue

As of just a few weeks ago I was planning on spending the 4th of July with my family in the fine state of Michigan.  However, when I saw the USEF’s list of Olympic Test Event observers (Will Coleman, Clark Montgomery, Michael Pollard, Sinead Halpin, and Tiana Coudray) I knew that it would be a trip of epic proportions and I started making calls.  As my friends well know, deciding to go two weeks before the Test Event is actually pretty advanced planning for me.  With the generous help of some very kind friends in various federations and the good folks at the London Olympics office, I am flying over to my my first Olympic Test Event on Saturday night.  The Chinchillas, my 17 electronic devices, and a British translation dictionary are all ready and sitting by my suitcase.  [Test event entries and info]  Now, here are a few quick notes and links…

—Burghley started accepting entries today.  The 2011 eventing season has flown by and we are now exactly two months away from the start of Burghley (Sept. 1-4).  Samantha reported that the first entry received today was Canadian, which would be one of the four who received grants (Kyle, Jessie, Hawley, and Rebecca).  We will likely see a large American contingent competing at Burghley–my guess is at least 10 horses from North America.  Without a fall 4* in North America, Burghley is the primary option for any pairs who are looking ahead to the Olympics and want to prove themselves at a 4* track this autumn.  [Burghley entry form]

—Kim Severson’s two new Irish horses will arrive in Virginia 3 hours after she leaves for the Test Event

—Missy Miller writes about her experience working for WFP

—Eventing Radio episode 148

Go eventing.

An Equine Korean War Hero

By on Jun 30, 2011 5:29 pm -

Tonight I present a video sent in by several of our loyal EN tipsters.  The video is about a horse named Sergent Reckless, who served during the Korean War.  Sergent Reckless was so heroic during battle that she was promoted to Staff Sergent in the U.S. Marine Corps.  I assure you the story is just as amazing as it sounds.


[via RM]

Go eventing.

Video Break: A Polish Horse Trials

By on Jun 30, 2011 10:01 am -

Guess what word has the consonants ‘S’, ‘Z’, ‘T’, and ‘R’ in a row without any vowels between them.  If you guessed “Strzegom,” then you win.  Your prize: EN Karma.  The Strzegom Horse Trials and CCI*** World Cup was held the 23rd to the 25th of June in–you guessed it–Strzegom, Poland. The event hosted numerous other three-day divisions as well as the CCI3*.  Elaine Pen of the Netherlands won the CCI3* with Vira, finishing on her dressage score.  The CIC3* results were interesting.  WEG champions Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam were second on a 46.1, just behind Michael Jung and his other ride, Leopin.  [World Cup Recap]
 

The CCI3* winner:

[Website, Results, XC Map, More Videos]

Lisa Marie Fergusson’s Jersey Fresh and Beyond

By on Jun 29, 2011 8:50 pm -

When Lisa Marie Fergusson won the Jersey CCI2* this spring, I will admit my ignorance and say that I didn’t know much about her.  Fortunately, I solved that problem by asking her to become an Eventing Nation guest blogger for her trip to Fair Hill and a chance at the $15,000 Bit of Britain Challenge.  So, I’ll let Lisa take it from here and Annie will be around late tonight with your morning news and notes.
—-
2011Bit of Britain Challenge.jpg

From Lisa:

A big shout out to all EN loyal/addicted followers. It is, for me, a little odd being on the writting side of the experience but I can say how much I love Eventing Nation and what a thrill it is to put this together.

As winner of the Jersey Fresh CCI 2* I am now afforded the opportunity of participating in the “Bit of Britain Challenge”. For those not familiar with the challenge, the challenge is this, win Jersey Fresh and the Dansko Fair Hill International CCI 2* And receive a check for $10,000 Or if you win the 2* and choose to upgrade to the 3* at Fair Hill, and win, It’s a cool $15,000. I know, easy right! Let’s just say that having been fortunate enough to have won the 2* at Jersey, on my amazing pony Smartie, AKA Smart Move, and that we do plan on running at Fair Hill. We will just have to see what hard work and fate has in store for us.

Smartie is a 7 year old Chestnut Welsh Sport Horse who I started and have had him since he was 4. His recent wins at the CIC 2* at Fair Hill and the CCI 2* at Jersey have garnished him a little attention, which he loves by the way, but he really is one of those honest horses that gives you his all. He truly loves his job. You don’t have to go further than the paddock gate and look at the disappointment on his face as you take other horses for training while he is on break. Smartie is still young and has his baby brain moments, but he is tremendously talented, hard working and I really feel he has great potential. He really does get better with every ride.

It was great to get back to Jersey Fresh. This was Smarties first show at The New Jersey Horse Park so I was interested to see how he would respond to taking on the challenges of an often tough but fair cross country course. Dressage day was interesting to say the least. Smartie put in a very accurate test and although the judging took a lot of heat for some inconsistent scoring, all 3 judges scores were relatively close and at the end of the day I was happy with our fourth place score. My dressage coach Betsy Steiner made a surprise visit for warm up and I’m sure that Smartie put in an extra special effort for his Auntie Betsy. We had been down in Wellington, FL working with her for the winter, and it has been great to see the improvement and progression in the dressage ring! We had also stopped by Jeanne McDonald’s enroute to Jersey Fresh for a Fix-A-Test, what great help that was! Cross country was awesome and Smartie ran around like a star. There were a couple of sticky fences but for the most part he was foot perfect and ended up being 1 of 10 double clear rounds in the CCI 2*. Smarties clear round moved him into first place but with less than a rail between first and fourth we would soon see how tired he was on sunday after his first 9 minute xcountry. No pressure, right! Smartie struggled a bit in show jumping last year so we spent the winter with Frankie Chesler in Wellington, FL trying to create an allergy to wood! After hearing that both Caitlin Stilliman/Catch A Star and Arden Wildasin/Totally Awesome Bosco jumped clear rounds, I guess we would see if our hard work would pay off. Thankfully Smartie jumped fantastic and clear. I was so proud of my pony, and still am!

So our plans, as much as you can make them with horses, is to get Smartie out of the field he’d been mowing for several weeks and get him back to work. He is very happy to be back at work! I am very fortunate to be a 5 minute hack from Phillip Dutton’s barn so as much as schedules permit we will continue to work with Phillip. I am also hoping to spend some weekend trips in New Jersey with Betsy Steiner, that way she can help Smartie continue to “pull his pants on” in the dressage! We will also travel to Jeanne McDonald’s to continue to improve our test riding…she is a master at Fix-A-Tests! Our plan is to come out after the break, do one intermediate and then do Smartie’s first Advanced. From there we will just take it one event at a time and see how it goes. We will be sure to keep you posted along our Bit of Britain Challenge journey towards Fairhill. And as for Smarties recent success, he would like you to know that he credits and greatly appreciates all the help from his Aunt Betsy Steiner, Jeanne McDonald, Frankie Chesler and of course Phillip Dutton. Thank you all and yes…. Go Eventing.

Lisa Marie Fergusson

Trailer: Steven Spielberg’s War Horse

By on Jun 29, 2011 6:24 pm -

No, not that kind of trailer. Since we haven’t reached our weekly EN quota of 100 videos yet, here’s one that has been circulating around the internet today–the movie trailer for War Horse, which is due in theaters January 2012.  The movie is about a horse named Joey who is separated from his owner Albert during the First World War.  The movie follows Joey throughout the war as he journeys throughout different sides and meets different people. 
 
 
 
Thumbs up, thumbs down?

Surefire Novice Cross-Country Helmet Cam

By on Jun 29, 2011 11:18 am -

For some reason I get that same nervous feeling when I watch a helmet cam video of a rider walking into the start box as I do when I walk into the start box.  The video is courtesy of Becca, who finished on her dressage score with her horse Hudson.  Surefire HT is held in beautiful Purcellville, Virginia.

Go eventing.

Brandenburg’s Joshua Wednesday Reader from Horse Quencher

By on Jun 29, 2011 12:46 am -

It’s a bittersweet Wednesday morning around Eventing Nation as Stephen Bradley’s fabulous event horse Brandenburg’s Joshua has been officially retired from upper level competition.  Josh hasn’t competed since the WEG selection trials at the American Eventing Championships last year and Stephen, along with Josh’s owner, Mr. William Lowe, came to the decision together. 

When Josh was competing he was always one of the best horses in the US and indeed the world.  In his three appearances at Rolex (2006, 2008 and 2009), Josh placed 3rd, 4th and 10th, respectively.  Stephen and Josh were also on the Gold Medal winning team at the 2003 Pan-American Games.  Josh could win all three phases and frequently did.  Although I haven’t checked the records, I would guess the list of horses who have been top 10 at Rolex three times is incredibly small.

Josh’s newest venture will be skipping around lower-level events with Charlotte Harris, owner of From and In The Fog. Stephen said of the retirement: “While Josh has been one of my favorite competition partners of my career, I felt I owed it to him to retire him while he was still sound, happy and ready to keep working. Joshua is the most polite horse that I’ve ever ridden. He’s a true gentleman, and it will be nice to see him out and about with Charlotte.”

Stephen is truly a class act and I’m thankful to have been able to cheer for such a nice horse ridden by such a nice rider for so long.  Congrats on a great career Josh from all of us at Eventing Nation.

As a completely random aside, some EN readers might have noticed a discrepancy in the title.  Somehow “Brandenburg’s Joshua‘s Wednesday Reader from Horse Quencher” just didn’t have the same ring to it, so I left off the traditional possessive from this morning’s news and notes title.  Which brings me to the news and notes…

–Some people in London are concerned about large groups of people converging on Greenwich Park for the Olympics and the impact on the local community.  So, naturally, they plan to gather in a large group and converge on the test event next week in protest.  [Horse and Hound]

–Annie posted a wonderful video of Silva Martin and Sea Lord yesterday.  Check out more great videos from the PVDA Ride for Life Dancing Horse Challenge at [Golightly Sport Horses]

–It’s O’Connor Event Team camp this week which means lots of mayhem for everyone at OCET including Annie.  Annie will likely have a report on camp sometime this week.  Don’t forget the sunscreen Annie, we’re all thinking of you from the air conditioned EN compound.

–Mogie Bearden-Muller is hosting a summer eventing lecture series at her farm, Foxhill Eventing, in Maryland, starting July 6th.  $5 of every $25 fee is going to Boyd’s fire relief fund.  Topic is Walking Courses for Competition, and how to set lines for schooling at home. Mogie is a USEF “r” course designer, an advanced rider, A Pony Clubber, and USEA ICP Level III instructor.  It sounds like a fun chance to learn something and support a good cause.  Learn more at [Boyd’s blog]

–There are a few fun blogs for your reading pleasure this morning. 

Ellie MacPhail writes about the seemingly never ending frustrations and revisions of planning that happen in eventing [Ellie’s blog]. 

Suzanne from ‘The Confessions of an AA Eventer’ blog starts her post with one of my favorite lines from a blog ever: “Groton House Farms Horse Trials completed Sunday… I did not. ” [Confessions] I know the feeling Suzanne.

Holly Ratcliff writes that riding cross-country in Ireland is not for the faint of heart [Shoes, shoes, and shoes…and horses].

From Regarding Horses, the most important thing to do for your horse when you leave for a few days tis to give them lots of treats [RH]

Last, but certainly not least, part 2 of horse shopping from [Horse Junkies]

–In a very sad and tragic story from Eurodressage, Australian Hayley Baresford’s 12 year old Olympic horse Relampago de Retiro was euthanized in Germany following a trailering accident.  The trailer was 200 meters from home when a car pulled in front of it, causing the driver to swerve and overturning the trailer.  To make the story even more heartbreaking, Hayley told Eurodressage that her breast cancer had returned earlier this month.  All of us from Eventing Nation are thinking and praying for Hayley and her family today.  [Eurodressage]

–I think the secret is out about Sport Horse Nation, so to speak.  We have been getting a ton of ads submitted recently.  Frankly, I have even been surprised by the success stories that I have heard from friends who have posted ads.  Over 10% of the people who post ads write us back to tell us they sold their horse through SHN, and people I have spoken to usually get between 5 and 10 calls in the first day, although there are likely some people who get less.  SHN’s success is due to the fact we have a lot of great horses posted each week and the wonderful job Leslie does managing the site.

—Best of the Blogs: The SmartPak blog examines if there is any relief from equine allergies   

–I was going to Youtube search for ‘talking animals and their strange owners videoing them,’ but Coren has that pretty well covered lately.  Instead, I’ll post this photo from Andrea Blair, sent to us by Robynn Zimmer and also posted on HJU I believe.  The photo is from Topline Stables Horse Trials in Salmon Arm, BC, and I don’t think there’s much more to add than that.

Hoof Prints at out house.jpg

–And, after second thought, here’s a bonus video of Stephen and Josh at Rolex in ’08:

–Welcome to hump day Wednesday Eventing Nation, the weekend is just around the corner.  As always, wherever you might be, thanks for making Eventing Nation part of your day.  See you soon.

600x100_HQ_Oogy.jpg

If you fall off, do it after the finish flags

By on Jun 28, 2011 4:57 pm -

Kate Chadderton is an Australian eventer who is now based here in the US.  Over the weekend she fell off at just the right time, if such a thing is possible.  On Sunday Kate took one of her (now former) event horses, McCuan Mario, to the Grand Prix at Swan Lake.  It was just their 6th show jumping compeition and their first Grand Prix together and as you can see in the video it went pretty well…until the last fence.  Kate still show jumps in a cross-country saddle and when her horse kicked up over the last jump, her left stirrup leather got caught behind the block on the saddle.  In true eventer fashion, Kate managed to hang on just long enough to cross the finish flags before falling off.  You can see the imprint of her fall right after the finish flags in the below photo: 

katefall.jpg

Thanks to Kate for sending us the video and photo and congrats on a good save.  [Kate’s website]  Go eventing.

Tuesday Video Break

By on Jun 28, 2011 11:48 am -

What does it look like when Lucinda Green rides Nicola Wilson’s European and WEG gold medalist Opposition Buzz?  Our friends and the horse and sound give some behind the scenes video.


[via Samantha Clark]

And, better yet, now we have an excuse to show one of the most incredible photos in the history of eventing.  “Houston, we have liftoff.“

Samantha will be around shortly with an interview with none other than the Godfather of US eventing.  Stay tuned for a busy Tuesday on Eventing Nation.  Go eventing.

Jacky Green — Salperton Park and Team Faudree Arrives

By on Jun 27, 2011 6:07 pm -

Tonight we get installment number two of Jacky Green’s guest blogs for Eventing Nation. Jacky works for Team New Zealand and also runs her Maizey Manor Farm in the UK, which many US competitors stay at on their route to Badminton and Burghley, including Will Faudree, which you will hear about below.  Thanks for writing this Jacky and thank you for reading. 
—-

From Jacky:

After the mud, winds and torrential rain that led to the abandonment of Longleat last weekend it was great to see blue skies and sunshine over Salperton Park in the heart of the Cotwolds with the bonus of perfect going and a high class field that relished a strong track in both the novice and the intermediate sections.

Salperton is usually the venue where the big guns resume their season after the spring 3 days and it was no exception this time as Saumur and Badminton horses bounced back into the frame. Aoife Clarke won the first of the strongly contested AI sections with her Master Crusoe who so impressed on his Badminton debut with Andrew Nicholson hot on her heels with Nereo while in the other section Izzy Taylor and Briarlands Matilda held off the Kiwi challenge from Mark Todd and NZB Campino. Some 600 horses ran over the two days and some of the newest recruits from overseas were somewhat surprised at the fact that the top guys over here run six horses in all three phases in one day and return the next day with six more, walk up to three courses at once and learn three or four different tests to ride on the same day. It all happens pretty fast over here and a good support team is essential, Andrew Nicholsons truck being usually rewarded the most efficient prize with horses running on a conveyor belt throughout the day. Abject chaos surrounds some of the trucks and as the temperatures rose on Sunday afternoon there was a sudden influx of horseflies which sent more than a few of the horses into a bucking biting frenzy and quote of the day came from J P Sheffield when his owner whacked one on his horses’ chest: “Its only a fly Angela, no need to break his ribs!”

Meanwhile as the temperature dropped on Monday morning Will Faudree was getting pretty hot and bothered at Heathrow airport as he was detained by immigration. With Pawlow and Andromaque already enjoying being back in the UK and 2 more en route from America it was looking very likely that Mr Faudree would be deported and Nat Varcoe-Cocks and I would be tossing up for the rides at Barbury. It would appear that the words “work” and “teach” came out of Will’s mouth (which for anyone who knows Will is a strange thing to say at any time) and an unimpressed immigration officer decided to give me a call to test my thinking on my feet skills which may have worked out a little better if at that precise moment I was not simultaneously hanging out washing, unloading the dishwasher, texting a friend and feeling the need for more coffee. His opening line of talking about a Mathew Faudree tipped me just a tad off balance but I clearly managed to persuade the nice man with the strange accent that Will was a man who travelled the World just playing with his ponies for the fun of it. Drama over for just a short while before Nat then decided to for some unknown reason be incapable of starting the car she has driven for the last week before Will the hero took over and actually inserted the key into the ignition which helped enormously. Day one of team Faudree, its going to be an interesting run up to Burghley!

[Salperton Park]

All About the London Olympic Test Event

By on Jun 27, 2011 3:56 pm -


[via Uptown Eventing]

The London 2012 equestrian Olympic Test Event is being held at Greenwich Park from July 4th to July 10th.   If you’re not familiar with the test event, a country that hosts an event as big as the Olympics or World Equestrian Games, they typically hold a test event to check the preparations, train personnel, get the public excited, and make sure everything is falling into place.  The London test event will feature around 40 horses in a CIC2* eventing competition as well as 50 horses in a modern pentathlon competition.  The eventing competition is from July 4th to 6th. 

20 nations will be represented in the eventing test event.  The 6 countries who have already qualified for the eventing Olympics are sending up to three riders–Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, USA, and Great Britain.  Countries that competed teams at the 2010 World Equestrian Games are sending up to two–France, Ireland, Sweden, Italy, and Australia are sending two riders each.  Countries that had an individual at the WEGs can send one. 

Draw order for the Test Event:

1. Michael Jung, Weidezaunprofi’s River of Joy (Germany)
2. Karin Donckers, Lamicell Unique (Belgium)
3. Mark Todd, NZB Campino (New Zealand)
4. Renan Guerreiro, Rongotai (Brazil)
5. Julian Stiller, Gunstone Wallstreet (United States)
6. William Fox-Pitt, Gaucho (Great Britain)
7. Lindsay Pearce, Saniki (Canada)
8. Clayton Fredericks, Bendigo (Australia)
9. Denis Mesples, Olipper Schervil (France)
10. Jayne Doherty, The Only One (Ireland)
11. Giovanni Ugolotti, Coco Ocean (Italy)
12. Dag Albert, Jedi Dancer (Sweden)
13. Lukasz Kazmierczak, Branco (Poland)
14. Benoit Johner, Lit-il Peccau CH (Switzerland)
15. Andreas Riedl, Jabadaba Doo (Austria)
16. Jaroslav Hatla, Killossery Harvey (Czech Republic)
17. Frank Ostholt, Sir Medicott (Germany)
18. Joris Van Springel, Limestone (Belgium)
19. Andrew Nicholson, Qwanza (New Zealand)
20. Logan Rawlings, Jaybee Star Celebrity (United States)
21. Pippa Funnell, Billy Shannon (Great Britain)
22. Waylon Roberts, Blockbuster III (Canada)
23. Samantha Albert, Squirt (Jamaica)
24. Nina Ligon, Jazz King (Thailand)
25. Raf Kooremans, So Special (Netherlands)
26. Paul Hart, Carlow Miller (South Africa)
27. Brian Nunez-Hughes, Libro Archie (Colombia)
28. Alex Hua Tian, Furst Love (China)
29. Takayuki Yumira, Hooligan (Japan)
30. Sandra Auffarth, Parancs (Germany)
31. Virginie Caulier, Nepal Du Sudre (Belgium)
32. Jonelle Richards, Reminiscent (New Zealand)
33. Ruy Fonseca, Idaho D’Argonne (Brazil)
34. Will Faudree, DHI Colour Candy (United States)
35. Piggy French, DHI Topper W (Great Britain)
36. Kathryn Robinson, Let It Bee (Canada)
37. Sam Griffiths, Paulank Brockagh (Australia)
38. Donatien Schauly, Pivoine Des Touches (France)
39. Joseph Murphy, Chuckelberry (Ireland)
40. Vittoria Panizzon, Borough Pennyz (Italy)
41. Sara Algotsson Ostholt, Mrs. Medicott (Sweden)

[Test Event Homepage]

The US, as well as many other countries, is sending over potential Olympic athletes and USEF personnel to observe the event. Only eventing and pentathlon are running test events, but the other disciplines are sending observers as well.

The eventers who are being sent to observe by the USEF:

Tiana Coudray
Michael Pollard
Will Coleman
Sinead Halpin
Clark Montgomery

The list is meaningful in that it shows the USEF is very interested in the riders as candidates for the London Olympics, although some riders who might have been sent had scheduling conflicts.  Boyd Martin was originally asked to go, but he will be traveling to Australia instead to visit his father, who was injured in a cycling accident. 

The cross-country course is designed by Sue Benson, who also is designing the Olympic course.  The word from riders who have seen the venue is that the track will be long and uphill, requiring top fitness.  It will be interesting to see if that plays out over the test event, although the course will be completely different.

The ground jury for the test event is Nick Burton (Great Britain), Anne-Mette Binder (Denmark) and Gillian Rolton (Australia).

Go eventing.

This is what happens at Groton House

By on Jun 27, 2011 2:13 pm -

grotonhousephoto.jpg

The Groton House Horse Trials in Hamilton, Massachusetts is always a fun event.  This weekend, dressage day was wet and rainy and XC day got off to a rough start with a 2 hour delay due to thunderstorms.  But, the skies eventually opened up for a beautiful day of eventing.  Notable on the score sheet, Jeanie Clarke and Isadora 16.8 in dressage in the novice/training division. 

As for the story behind the photo, I can only say that I was told this is what happens the morning after the competitors party.  It seems there might be at least one good competitors party left on the east coast.  Photo courtesy of SB.

[Groton House Website]

Go eventing.