The above picture is of a brand new tophat that is also a helmet, or a helmet that is also a tophat, whichever you prefer.  They are made by the Dutch company L’Hiver and apparently meet all safety standards.  They are so new that there aren’t photos of people riding in them yet.  Samantha has the story and more photos on her blog.  [Samantha’s blog] 

Now for your quick news and notes…

–Speaking of helmets (nice transition huh?) don’t forget to enter our wear-your-helmet photo contest.  Entries close Sunday. 

–The Galway CIC3* is this weekend in beautiful Temecula, California.  The first horse inspection is scheduled for this afternoon and dressage starts on Friday with the CIC show jumping Friday afternoon.  Galway is a marquee event on the west coast, and many top horses will be there from novice to CIC3*, including several Rolex entrants such as Jumbo’s Jake, The Alchemyst, and My Sedona.  The weather is expected to be in the 40’s and rainy…oh wait, that’s the weather for where I am going to be instead.  [Weather, Times/Scores]

–Speaking of Galway, the US and Canadian training sessions are being held at Galway Tuesday and Wednesday.  Chelan is on scene and will be sending us reports of all the Galway goings-on this weekend.  We’ll have more weekend event previews in tomorrow’s news and notes.

–As is usually the case with natural disasters, the horses in Japan are suffering along with the people.  But, things are starting to look up thanks to support from veterinarians, horse lovers, and the racing industry.  According to reports, racing has even resumed in the western part of the country.  [TheHorse.com]

–Max Corcoran writes about all things Camp O’Connor in her latest blog entry.  Mandiba to Badminton, Quin to Rolex, new horses, and Lauren Kieffer back to riding…it’s a busy time around OCET.  [Max’s blog]

—The genius puppetry behind War Horse [via LA]

–In a study of British farrier trainees, researchers found that the trainees tended to have difficulty giving balance to the hooves and that there was a correlation between the imbalance and whether the farriers were right or left handed:

“Right-handed farriers tended to over-trim the inner (medial) wall of the left forelimb and the outer (lateral) wall of right fore. They were more likely to trim for mediolateral balance on the right forelimb. Left-handed farriers tended to do the opposite.“

Hopefully the study will help alert trainees to their tendency for imbalance depending on which hand they are, which should allow them to correct the imbalance sooner.  [Horsetalk]

—Best of the Blogs: A Katie Prudent training session report from Katherine Erickson

This is how I feel right now:

That’s all for now.  Stay tuned throughout the day for your eventing news and ridiculousness.   As always, wherever you might be, thanks for making Eventing Nation part of your day.

The USEF Eligible Athletes Committee met Tuesday night to discuss the US eventing coaching search.  The specific discussion in the meeting was confidential to protect the relationship between the athletes and candidates.  The USEF has released the following press release from the meeting.

From the USEF:

Following their Committee Meeting on March 29, the Eligible Eventing Athletes Committee decided that they would like to have another opportunity to interview the two short-listed candidates for the position of U.S. Eventing Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor, which becomes available in 2013. Leslie Law and David O’Connor were named to the Short List by a Search Committee earlier this month.  The Eligible Eventing Athletes Committee considered the applicants and decided they wanted to do more research before they made their recommendation to the Eventing High Performance Committee. The Eligible Eventing Athletes Committee and the High Performance Training Listed Riders will have the opportunity to meet with and interview Law and O’Connor during The Fork Horse Trials in a closed session to be held in Norwood, NC April 6-10. 

 

Nine applications for this position were received by the USEF. The Search Committee reviewed the applications, and of those, interviewed six. After those interviews, Law and O’Connor were short-listed. The USEF hosted an Open Forum at the Red Hills International Horse Trials on March 10, where Law and O’Connor made presentations and answered questions from the eventing athletes. More information about this forum is available here: http://usef.org/_IFrames/newsdisplay/viewPR.aspx?id=6758&star=true.

 

Following the Forum at Red Hills, the Search Committee recommended both candidates to the Eligible Eventing Athletes Committee and the Eventing High Performance Committee for their consideration.

 

Bobby Costello and Phillip Dutton withdrew their joint application for this position on Monday, March 28. Dutton, as Vice-Chair of the Eligible Eventing Athletes Committee, is now chairing this committee in Amy Tryon’s absence.   

 

“We look forward to another round of interviews with Leslie and David at the Fork,” said Dutton.” We want to ask them some more questions in an easier environment for those participating. We are also reviewing other applicants that were not short-listed by the Search Committee and are considering them as well.”

 

The USEF Search Committee for Eventing Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor:
Eric Straus, Chair
Kevin Freeman
Mike Huber
George Morris
Katie Prudent
Amy Tryon
Kim Severson

 

The USEF Eventing Eligible Athletes Committee:
Amy Tryon, Chair
Phillip Dutton, Vice-Chair
Stephen Bradley
Jan Byyny
Buck Davidson
Lauren Hart O’Brien
Becky Holder
Marcia Kulak
Bonnie Mosser
Karen O’Connor*            

Kim Severson

The USEF High Performance Eventing Committee:
Robert Costello, Chair
Jane Atkinson
Derek DiGrazia
Phillip Dutton
Mike Huber
Roger Haller
Karen O’Connor*
Marilyn Payne
Kim Severson
Amy Tryon
Jo Whitehouse

* Recused

More soon.  Go eventing.

Badminton will hold a retirement ceremony for Tamarillo on the final day of competition as a tribute to William Fox-Pitt’s fabulous horse.  The Anglo-Arab “Tam” got his start as a show horse (go figure).  Fortunately for us all, the insanely athletic Tam found his way to Wiliiam Fox-Pitt.  Tam’s career included a 2nd at Badminton twice, a victory at Badminton in 2004, a victory at Burghley in 2008, and 2nd at the European Championships in 2005.  Tamarillo had several untimely injuries that prevented him from fulfilling William’s Olympic goals, including having to withdraw from Athens after a stifle injury.  Tam was always one of my favorite horses because of his incredible athleticism.  Tamarillo has not competed since ’09.  [Badminton blog]

–Morning Update: The COTH’s Sara Lieser on Eurodressage

–There is bad news from the show jumping world as McLain Ward’s beautiful mare Sapphire is injured for the year with a strained check ligament in her right front.  I had a horse do a check once and in my experience it was not a big deal relative to other ligament injuries.  Checks do better when the horse stays lightly active and I believe the ligament is even sometimes cut cleanly without complications in a minor surgical procedure if it keeps acting up.  Sapphire is 16 and should have one more good shot at that international gold in London.  [COTH]

—Photos from Gatcombe last weekend

–In some sad news from the Thoroughbred world, Zenyatta is no longer in foal.  A diary post on the Lane’s End website announced that they checked Zenyatta for pregnancy on Tuesday and found that she is no longer in foal.  Zenyatta is expected to be bred to Bernardini again next week.  [Paulick Report]

Remember this photo?

–The USEF’s Eligible Athletes Committee met Tuesday night.  As we wrote last week, the committee members have all signed confidentiality agreements.  So, chances are that we will hear about what came of the meeting next from the USEF.  Hopefully that will be later today.  One big question from the meeting is whether the Eligible Athletes wish to consider more candidates than the Search Committee put on the short list.

–The always classy Caroline Powell has donated a trophy for New Zealand’s national Junior Championships [Horsetalk]

—Kristin Schmolze’s latest Badminton blog

—Meet Gwendolen Fer on her road to Badminton (hint: say ‘Bonjour’)

–Mary King will be competing in the 100-mile endurance horse race in Exmoor on May 16th.  The race is known as the toughest endurance race in Europe.  A 15 year old girl, Abby Chisholm, from Lydford will guide Mary through the first part of the journey.  Chisholm said, in perhaps an understatement: “I am over the moon that I will be able to ride with her.” [BBC]

—A saddle fitter’s perspective

—Emily Beshear’s SoPo recap

—Best of the Blogs: The frustration of looking for good lower level cross-country courses

–Today’s TOTD bonus item is an eventing calendar, only available until noon [TOTD]

–The SmartPak VIP Rolex trip with PDutty is closing soon.  Remember to vote early and vote often.  [SmartPak]

So this is how you dougie:

[via Allie Conrad]

That’s all for now.  Stay tuned throughout the day for the latest eventing news and commentary, and something makes me feel like we might have something later about the coaching search so stay close.  Wherever you may be, thanks for making EN part of your day.  Stay classy Eventing Nation.

[via Jade Cooling]

Today marks the rebirth of an era on Eventing Nation.  After an extended sabbatical for life and work, the great Visionaire is returning to EN today.  Visionaire started writing for Eventing Nation in our earliest days and I can say with certainty that Eventing Nation would never have survived those first few months without her brilliance.  Visionaire developed EN’s tagline “Red on right, white on left, insanity in the middle” and her influence has shaped Eventing Nation in countless other ways.  In person, Visionaire is one of the nicest, smartest, and hardest working people I know.  So, be sure to give Visionaire a big shout out in her post later today and until then, here are a few eventing news and notes:    

–Speaking of returns, Katie Prudent is back in action helping the training list and developing riders Tuesday and Wednesday in Aiken.  For a long time there was uncertainty about whether Katie would be back to work with the eventers this year, and I’m really glad to see her back.  The sessions are at Three Runs Plantation and they are, as always, open to the public.  You can find the lesson times on the [USEF Facebook page]

–Can you believe that we are just 23 days away from the start of Badminton?  The list of Badminton entries has been updated and the only notable change for North American pairs is that Amy Tryon and Leyland have withdrawn.  Alex Hua Tian withdrew Magenta for China along with, tragically, Daisy Berkeley and Spring Along.  [Revised Badminton Entries]  

–The big news from Monday was of course Phillip and Bobby’s withdrawing from the coaching search.  Whether or not Phillip and Bobby were the best choice to be the next US chef/technical advisor, I think that most people would have been more comfortable with the process if the Search Committee had put Phillip and Bobby on the short list.  Once that didn’t happen, the clear best thing for unity within US eventing was for Phillip and Bobby to withdraw from the process which, to their great credit, they did with dignity and grace.  This process hasn’t been smooth but I feel that each member of the process has done the best that they could when presented with some very difficult situations and as long as we stay united as a sport I think US eventing will be stronger for it.

–The Eligible Athletes will meet tonight to discuss whether they want to consider any more applicants and how they will proceed from there.  The meeting is confidential, but hopefully the USEF will decide to keep us, the lawless and unwashed masses, updated on how the process progresses.  Remember that the Search Committee put just Leslie and David on the short list but the Eligible Athletes are free to consider whichever candidates they want as they are forming their recommendation for the next coach.

–Reports are beginning to surface from Japan’s equestrian community [COTH]

–It’s no secret that we like linking to rider blogs here on EN.  I like promoting as many rider blogs as possible because I think they are a great way for riders of every level to communicate about our sport free of any journalistic filter or influence.  If you have a fantastic rider blog and we don’t link to it regularly on EN, please send us the URL written with a marker on a Secure ECOGOLD Go USA XC saddle pad purchased from SmartPak.  Until then, here are a few blogs and link for your reading pleasure:

Valerie V’s weekend at Southern Pines wasn’t dampened by the weather
  
Laine Ashker won a SmartPak cooler along with her advanced victory

Steph Rhodes Bosch looks back at a tough weekend at Poplar

–Kat Netzler interviewed Michael Pollard and David O’Connor about the eventing accidents over the weekend [COTH]

Hawley is planning to go to Badminton and Gina is planning on the Pan Ams

The Road to Rolex with Heather Gillette

Ecogold’s tour of OCET

–Our good friend at World Equestrian Brands have launched an awesome new website.  Be sure to check out the testimonial page.  [WEB]

–If you are still down in Florida waiting for the FHP 2*, check out the Ocala jumping classic held at Sharn Wordley Equestrian March 31st to April 9th.  They have great prize money and it’s good for schooling.  For Entries go to hayesco.ca.

–Last, but not least, be sure to click the link below to enter Pennfield’s iPad contest so that you can view Eventing Nation in beautiful large screen mode anywhere anytime.  Because that is, after all, the most important thing.  Ever.

That’s all for now.  I’ll be back throughout the day with all of your eventing news, commentary, and ridiculousness.  As always, wherever you may be, thanks for making Eventing Nation part of your day.

And no, this challenge isn’t about overcoming that awkward moment when you get out of your car in New Jersey and start pumping gas only to look up and find a disgruntled Shell employee looking at you like you just stomped on a nest of baby full-service field mice.  That is a challenge, but not this challenge.  A few weeks ago it was the Bit of Britan challenge for winning Jersey and Fair Hill together and today there is an announcement about a cool new Jersey challenge.  

B.W. Furlong and Associates, one of the best sports medicine practices in the US will be  giving a $25,000 prize to the horse and rider combination that wins the Jersey Fresh CCI2* in 2011 and goes on to win the Jersey Fresh CCI3* in 2012.  If all these challenges are getting confusing, just remember that if you go win Jersey, Fair Hill, and then Jersey and good things will happen.

Now for a few quick links as riders get their Sunday night and Monday morning blogging shoes on:

Doug Payne is looking forward to the Tuesday and Wednesday training sessions with Katie Prudent

A tribute to Spring Along from British Eventing

Reducing turnout may not limit grass intake

Holly Hudspeth writes about the ups and downs of horses

Go eventing.

Sometimes, whether by bad luck, a strange twist of fate, or some other mysterious machinations, Saturday just doesn’t go the way it should in eventing.  Poplar Place and Southern Pines are two of the best and most reliable venues with some of the best courses in the US, but today was not a good day for eventing.  Along with the sad news about Dekorum from this morning, Arden Wildasin’s intermediate horse, Mandar, pulled up suddenly on course at Southern Pines and was later euthanized.  An official report will follow soon, but our thoughts and prayers reach out to Mandar and the Wildasin family.  Despite the between-jump incidents today, the riders did a great job of negotiating challenging cross-country courses.  Here are a few quick notes from the competitions: 

Southern Pines: The rain poured as the day progressed at Southern Pines and although it probably made things uncomfortable for the riders it helped to soften the footing.  Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville leapt from 7th to 1st with a speedy XC ride in the Advanced-A.  Lainey Ashker and Anthony Patch held on to their overnight lead in the Advanced-B.  5 advanced pairs withdrew before the XC including leaders Allison with Arthur, Will Coleman and Twizzel, Will Faudree with Pawlow, and Nicole Parkin and Lexus.  24 of the 38 advanced riders had clean rides. 

[Southern Pines Full Results]

Southern Pines Advanced-A XC Results:

1. Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville +4.40  38.8
2. Kelly Sult and Hollywood +3.2  41.3
3. Tiana Coudray and Master Hill +8.4  42.8

Southern Pines Advanced-B XC Results: 

1. Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch +6.8  38.1
2. Susan Beebee and Prowler +0  40.0
3. Allison Springer and Destination Known +11.6  47.9

The intermediate divisions were even more challenging and 25 of 44 riders had clear rides.  Kendyl Tracy and Ever So Lucky are leading the intermediate rider and Boyd leads the OI with Cold Harbor.  As an intermediate note, Phillip and The Foreman rode dressage but withdrew before the XC.

Several Training and Preliminary divisions finished the weekend today.  Kathleen Hall and Sullivan won the Training Rider, Boyd and Summer Breeze won the Open Training C, Erin Freedman and Voila won the OT-B by 4 points, Lizzie Snow and Gotta Believe won OT-A.  Emily van Gemeren and Berkley took gold in the Preliminary Rider. 

Among the tough falls, Boyd and Last Monarch fell at a big oxer early on the course.  From speaking with Holly, Stewie’s X-Rays are ok and he is resting comfortable in his stall.  Boyd was up and walking around the barns, but headed to the hospital just to make sure everything is fine.  I got a text from Boyd as he left the hospital giving two thumbs up.

Poplar Place: In Georgia, there was just as much movement in the placings.  Erin Murphy and Say Wat held on to their overnight lead by adding just 1.6 penalties on the XC.  Kim Severson and Wiley Post move up from 3rd to 1st in the CIC2* with 6.4 time penalties. 

[Full Poplar Saturday Results]    

Poplar CIC* XC Results:

1. Erin Murphy and Say Wat +1.6  51.5
2. Connor Hussain and Folk Lore +0  54.1
3. Skyeler Voss and Argento +0.8  57.2

Poplar CIC2* XC Results:

1. Kim Severson and Wiley Post +6.4  55.3
2. Heather Morris and Sportsfield Maisie Grey +4.4  56.9
3. Jonathan Holling and Downtown Harrison +12.4  59.2

Andrea Leatherman and Mensa moved up from 4th to 1st with the fastest time of the day in Advanced-A.  In that division, Buck fell from Reggie and word is that he lost a front tooth.  After a few horses misread and fell at a ‘waterfall’ jump in the middle of the main water, the jump was removed.  In the Advanced-B division, Jon Holling and Jos Baco added just 5.6 penalties to finish on a 39.7 and take the lead.  Scores from the intermediate divisions are still coming in, and the novice, training, and prelim divisions are set to ride XC tomorrow.  That’s all for now.   

[via 3shoes]

Good morning Eventing Nation, and what a big morning it is!  For many Rolex horses, this weekend is the second to last competition before Kentucky, and this weekend is a major stepping stone for the spring three-days at every level here in the US.  Let’s get right to the competition previews and notes: 

–The third of seven 2011 events at Poplar Place farm in Georgia start today.  The event is hosting beginner novice through advanced horse trials as well as a CIC* and CIC2*.  Dressage starts at 8am with beautiful weather expected throughout the day.  Annie is competing at Poplar this weekend and she will be stopping by with a few updates.   [Poplar Place Live Scores, Weather, Ride Times PDF]

–Just over 400 miles away in Southern Pines, North Carolina, the Carolina Horse Park is hosting the rest of the east coast horses for a training level through advanced horse trials.  Like Poplar, Southern Pines offers a great course and great facilities, but the weather looks like it could be a bit more temperamental than in Georgia.  Coren is riding at SoPo, and we will get a report from her as well during the weekend.  Good luck and major EN Karma at the events this weekend.  [Weather, Live Scores, Ride Times PDF]
  
–In Australian eventing news, the Melbourne CCI3* is preparing for another great competition in June.  Melbourne is the oldest eventing competition in the southern hemisphere, and it is one of just 4 CCI3*’s in Australia.  [Press Release]

—The USEA shows some love to Bromont

–Here are a few fun facts about your Badminton entries [via Gazette]:

1) 40 time three-day winner WFP can choose two of his 4 entered horses to compete.
2) Badminton has entries from 12 nations
3) Andrew Nicholson has competed at Badminton 29 times
4) 3 time Badminton winner Pippa Funnell returns for the first time since 2008
5) Amateur James Robinson will help Comanche make his 9th start at Badminton

–You could compete for Team GB in South Africa…if you are a tentpegger…and if you are British.  No, against all odds, tentpegging is not a euphamism, it is an equestrian sport.  [H&C]

—Ecogold rider and Badminton entrant Kristin Schmolze

–Lansko Products Inc. has recalled box fans because they light on fire.  I guess no one is perfect, but if you produce and market box fans for barns and homes, you’d think you would at the very least make sure they don’t catch fire!  A fan that ignites is like headache medicine that causes heart attacks.  [TheHorse.com]

–In a touching story from Texas, a pony named Midnite has been given a second chance in life with the donation of a prosthetic leg.  A team of generous supporters donated a great deal of time to saving Midnite’s life and the story is an inspiration for all of us. [Horsetalk]
 
—Ben Hobday’s Badminton blog

[via @carrotsandbute]

That’s all for now. I want to give a huge good luck to all the competitors this weekend. Wherever you may be, thanks for making Eventing Nation part of your day and go eventing.