Kate Samuels
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Kate Samuels

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About Kate Samuels

Kate Samuels is an avid 3-Day Eventer who currently competes at the Advanced/3* level with her wonderful Selle Francais gelding, Nyls du Terroir. A rider since the tender age of three, she is a young professional in the sport learning as much as she can from various mentors, both equine and human. Kate has worked for Eventing Nation since 2011, and has enjoyed every minute of it. She brings a lifetime of experience with horses as well as a wealth of knowledge gained through competing at the top levels of the sport. When not riding through the boiling hot, freezing cold, rain or snow, Kate enjoys baking pies, photography, and finding ridiculous videos on the internet.

Eventing Background

USEA Rider Profile Click to view profile
Area Area II
Highest Level Competed Advanced/CCI4*

Latest Articles Written

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

A sight worth crying over. Photo by CSW Equestrian.

Well, it’s happened. It’s officially no longer winter, but instead it is mud season in Virginia. I always love a little drought in the winter, and we were spoiled until this week, when everything turned into a swamp, and I live on the side of a hill. Sometimes I think that people started going south for the winter to Aiken or Florida just as much for the sandy footing as the warmer weather, and I’m beginning to think they have a point. If anybody has tips for surviving mud season other than wine to cope, holla at your girl.

News From Around the Globe:

After 2020, the idea of buying a horse at an online auction doesn’t seem so crazy anymore. It almost seems too good to be true: Dozens of well-bred horses for sale, with useful photos and videos provided and perhaps even radiographs, all available to purchase in one place at the same time. And often you don’t even have to be there in person, because the whole enterprise may be online and livestreamed. But how to be a savvy auction buyer is slightly more challenging than just throwing in your bid willy-nilly. [Buying Horses at Auction]

We aren’t the only ones spending the last few days of 2023 reminiscing about our favorite moments….COTH just posted their favorite photos as well as their most popular blogs, and you’ll definitely want to check both out.

Anything from Ingrid Klimke is worth revisiting, even if this clinic recap is from earlier in December. Ingrid’s passion for horses was the most tangible takeaway, especially as it factored into her approach to each of the 15 horse/rider pairs participating. Tailoring the work to each horse’s personality, abilities and brain is critical, Ingrid stressed throughout. “If you don’t get the answer you were looking for, figure out a way to ask the question differently.” Clear communication in the aids and a pat or other acknowledgement of things done right were key. Minor disobediences, usually due to distractions, were to be ignored whenever feasible. [Ingrid Klimke’s Tools of the Trade]

Most Importantly: Horse Nation’s Funniest Post of 2023

Maybe horses in all sports should be treated in more species-appropriate ways, rather than treated with kid gloves. This was the conclusion of a study on what was said after welfare campaigners gained access to the racecourse before the 2023 Grand National. The paper, published in Animals, investigated how what was said could affect public acceptance of involvement of horses in sport. Changing the way we talk about equine welfare – and treating horses like horses rather than “like kings” – may not only improve it, but also protect our sport for the future. [Horse Welfare for Sport Horses]

 

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Achieve Equine

Festive! Photo by Emma Lockwood.

Every year around this time, I tell myself that I’m going to get a bunch of silly crap like Santa hats and tinsel for my horses and embarrass the hell out of them with a proper holiday photo shoot. And every year, without fail, I reach the week of Christmas having completely forgotten to do so in the chaos of the season, and I am filled with deep regret. So, for Christmas this year, if somebody would like to send me a hat with holes for horse ears, I would really appreciate it, and will return the favor with an absurd 2024 photo shoot.

News From Around the Globe:

The 2024 USEA Emerging Athletes U21 National Camp is just a few weeks away, and all over the country, young riders are preparing for their trip to Temecula, California, to participate in this year’s prestigious week-long academy led by U.S. eventing legend David O’Connor from Jan. 2-6. After five regional camps took place over the course of the summer of 2023, the EA21 Task Force sat down and hand-selected 18 participants from across all five camps to attend this year’s national camp. [Meet The 2024 EA21 Riders]

People who are living my holiday photo shoot dream: A Full Gallery of Holiday Pets

Hot on Horse Nation: Thoroughbred Logic — Making Productive Accommodations

Who loads up their 25-year-old Thoroughbred and their 10-year-old chestnut Thoroughbred mare and embarks on a ride across the country? Sixty-seven-year-old Valerie Ashker, that’s who. This isn’t her first ride across the United States either, as she undertook her first ride across the country in 2016 alongside partner Peter Friedman to raise awareness of the versatility of the off-track Thoroughbred. The journey was 3,000 miles, mostly along U.S. 50, and took roughly six months. They’re planning to do it again in spring 2024. [Across The Country on an OTTB]

Do you enjoy the incredible content from Noelle Floyd? We know we do, and in order to help them learn more about their equestrian fans to make more incredible articles and learning opportunities for the future, we have a short quiz for you to fill out. [NF Quiz]

Sponsor Corner: Ever wonder what the functions of each of a horse’s legs are? Well take a listen 🔈as Dr. Hilary Clayton gives you the inside scoop on how they all work!

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

That feeling when you get your gold medal on your ex-eventing horse. Photo courtesy of Whitney Grabe.

There aren’t many horses, much less thoroughbreds, who perform at both the highest levels of Eventing as well as Dressage, but Whitney Grabe has one. I saw this photo posted by Whitney this week, and reading her story made me smile. Military Mind only raced three times, but he competed successfully through the CCI4* level with Whitney in the irons, and upon retirement from his second career, they embarked on a Dressage journey. Now they have achieved their gold medal together, competing at Grand Prix, which is almost unheard of from a Thoroughbred these days, and always tugs at my TB loving heart strings. Way to go Whitney!

Major International Events

London International Horse Show (Wednesday December 13th – Monday December 18th) [Website] [Tickets] [Program] [Scoring]
How to Watch: [UK] [FEI Classes: FEI TV (via ClipMyHorse.TV)] [Non-FEI Classes: H&C+]

News From Around the Globe:

We’re all devastated by the loss of Great Meadow International for next year’s calendar. The organizers said they were unable to come to an agreement with the Great Meadow Foundation, the nonprofit organization that oversees the 374-acre equestrian park, over maintenance of the cross-country footing in time to plan for next year’s event. The drought this summer in Virginia was extensive, and officials for the foundation refused to allow the use of irrigation for the eventing competition, resulting in a large amount of riders withdrawing due to the hard ground.  [Competition for Resources Blamed for Great Meadow Cancellation]

Scientific advancements in concussion studies have made equestrian helmets safer than ever. An international panel of experts assembled by the FEI to better protect riders from head injuries released a report on its work this week that sets an ambitious, “aspirational” goal: Cutting the rate of riding-related concussions in half by strengthening equestrian helmet testing standards, and beginning to get those new standards—and new helmets that meet them—in place internationally within the next five years. [FEI Helmet Group Sets Ambitious Safety Targets]

After you and your horse have enjoyed some well-deserved rest, check out this serpentine exercise from Phillip Dutton. For one of your first cross-country schooling sessions preparing for next season, it’s important to work more on rideability than anything else, and this exercise certainly accomplishes that! [Phillip Dutton’s Serpentine Exercise]

Hot on Horse Nation: Thoroughbred Logic — Starting Over Fences

The last Olympic long-format was run in 2000 in Sydney, Australia, and the last Kentucky long-format was in 2005. After the transition to the current eventing format, the USEA Classic Three-Day Task Force was born by supporters of the traditional format who felt that its influence on the sport was critical in the education of horses and riders. This year, the USEA Classic Three-Day Task Force gathered together to host an open forum to discuss the benefits of participating in and hosting a Classic Series event. [Standout Quotes from Classic Format Discussion]

 

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Achieve Equine

Holy cow what a view from Sweden! Photo by Anna Heander.

Yesterday was International Day of the Horse, and I have to say that my local feed store celebrated in the best possible way, by offering $10 off bags of feed! The place was packed, obviously, with all the horse people buying their Christmas presents to themselves with a reduced feed bill. I personally celebrated by allowing my 22-year-old-won’t-retire horse Nyls to keep his ears fluffy for his second clip, and he looks both adorable and insane, but he’s happy, and that’s all that matters.

Major International Events

London International Horse Show (Wednesday December 13th – Monday December 18th) [Website] [Tickets] [Program] [Scoring]
How to Watch: [UK] [FEI Classes: FEI TV (via ClipMyHorse.TV)] [Non-FEI Classes: H&C+]

News From Around the Globe:

No matter how much legislation we put in place, we always have to ask ourselves, how do we encourage good decision making from riders?  Whether it was with regard to deciding when to move up or when to continue on if things go awry at a competition, or implementing biosecurity practices, encouraging riders to make good decisions was a huge point of discussion during this year’s U.S. Eventing Association Annual Meeting and Convention, read for the recap and the details here. [Legislating Decision Making]

While the powers of AI seem to be growing by the day, it seems there is still one area that it can’t quite figure out: horses. From five legged equines to heads that seem to be suffering from seriously weird deformations, some of the horse images that AI create are truly hilarious, and worth a good morning chuckle. [AI-Generated Horse Fails]

Archaeologists have used radiocarbon dating to analyze the oldest true wooden frame saddle in East Asia, revealing how the rise of Mongolian steppe cultures was likely aided by advances in equestrian technology. In fact, this saddle signifies the rise of all culture, because what other than the horse helped humans travel the earth, form armies, and conquer new areas? [World’s First Saddle Discovered]

We all do our best to respect ourselves and believe in our abilities, but sometimes it can be a bit harder than we might expect. As a matter of fact, it’s been proven that we respect and believe in others more than we respect and believe in ourselves! After all, you’ve probably never said to a friend after a disappointing ride, “You’re so stupid, what were you thinking”, but there’s a pretty good chance you’ve said something like that to yourself. It’s been said that if we treat others the same way we treat ourselves we’d never have any friends!! [Pressure Proof with Daniel Stewart]

Sponsor Corner: Buy One Iconic Equestrian™ Original 2-in-1 Saddle Pad, Get One Olympic White Saddle Pad FREE!
Save now through December 31, 2023. Both Dressage and Jumping styles are available.

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

The Scottish highlands look a bit chilly! Photo by Skye Ross.

At this stage in my life, I’m fairly convinced that December factually passes in a time warp, because not only am I always unprepared for December 1st, but before I can hardly blink, January 1st has arrived. I think I’m caught up on my last minute gifts, minus a few that I’m praying to the USPS gods arrive before the 25th. Make sure you check out all of the wonderful sponsors for Eventing Nation when you’re finding holiday gifts for your equestrian friends!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Full Gallop Farm Jingle Bells H.T (Aiken, SC)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

USEA Annual Meeting and Convention (St. Louis, MO): [Information Hub] [Schedule] [Fast Facts]

News From Around the Globe:

Bubby Upton is back in the saddle after several long months rehabbing from spinal surgery. Bubby was injured in an accident riding on the flat on August 18th of this year. She sustained multiple vertebral fractures, including a complete burst fracture of the L3 and a horizontal fracture to the L2, resulting in six hours of emergency surgery to stabilize the spine, decompress the vertebrae and fuse L3. She coordinated her horses coming back into work as she eases herself into riding again, and has just begun cantering for a few minutes. [Bubby Upton’s Update After Surgery]

Nothing gives me joy like stories from ages past when Thoroughbreds ruled the ring in hunters and jumpers. Today Diann Langer is a decade into her tenure as the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s youth jumping chef d’equipe, but back in the 1960s she was fresh out of the junior ranks and looking to move up in the world when she first met Fleet Apple. The Thoroughbred (Smart Apple—Fleetlee, Weston), owned by Kay Love, got his start in Utah, first on the track, then over fences, then made his way to California. He had scope to spare but loved a woman’s touch. In Langer he found a perfect partner for a few years before competing in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games with Kathy Kusner. [Fleet Apple Was the Right Horse]

With all the holiday festivities, it may be difficult to stay focused on a riding plan and to set meaningful goals. In this issue, riders, trainers and veterinarians share simple conditioning exercises to help get you and your horse through the winter season so you can more easily step into spring. As an additional bonus, Emma Ford, professional groom and co-author of my personal favorite book, World-Class Grooming, shares 10 blanketing tips to keep your horse warm and safe in winter. [Strategies to Maintain Fitness & Top Blanketing Tips]

Tendon and ligament injuries, and their subsequent repair and rehabilitation, have been prime concerns of equine veterinarians since forever. The more recent addition of regenerative medicine products such as stem cells, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), Interlukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) and others have provided the clinician with a means of improving and accelerating the repair process. However, the challenge has been to find accurate ways to initially diagnose the scope and extent of tendon and ligament damage, to stage the timing of reparative injections and treatment, and to be able to quantify and monitor repair and healing. [New Discoveries for Tendon Diagnosis & Recovery]

 

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

Icelandic winter stroll! Photo by Åsta Røhr Kleiven.

It’s officially the first day of the last month of 2023! When I say time is an illusion, it applies to the fact that I usually don’t know which day of the week it is, but also to the absurd realization that yet another year has passed in a blur! Honestly, where does  the time go?! Every year, December sneaks up on me, and I feel simultaneously that so much has happened, and also almost nothing has changed. The stability of a horsey life means that both are true; you wake up every day and basically do the same thing, but hopefully better than the day before by a fraction of a percent. The same, but entirely different.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Rocking Horse December H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

Meet the nominees for the USEA Board of Governors  before casting your vote! Each year every member of the USEA receives a nomination ballot to submit nominees to the Board of Governors and during the Annual Meeting of Members, all members are invited to vote for those individuals nominated to serve. This year, there are three new nominees for the USEA Board of Governors and three nominees which have been re-nominated for a further term. [Nominees for USEA Board of Governors]

When your first coach at the age of six is Mike Plumb….well what can we say. Grace Swinson was horse-obsessed from birth, and spent her childhood breathing them in at her aunt’s farm, where there happened to be a certain elder Olympian riding. She didn’t go down the eventing route, but learned dressage and showjumping under his tutelage from the very beginning. It has served her well throughout her young rider career, and she still learns more from him every day. [Curiosity Takes Swinson to Mike Plumb]

In light of recent news from the dressage world, I thought it was time to drop this article again. It’s sometimes hard to see, but there are good horse people in every discipline, and those who are working hard to prove that compassionate, ethical training and management is the right answer. This article is about training happy dressage horses, but the theories and message are applicable to all horses. [Training the Happy Equine Athlete]

As I’ve grown as a rider, I have developed more and more appreciation for the lesson horse. I used to think that only finely tuned horses were the cream of the crop, but I now have a great appreciation for the horses that know how to teach lessons to riders in a compassionate way. In truth, every horse is a lesson horse to some extent, but some of them are better at it than others. [The Love of the Lesson Horse]

 

 

Thursday News & Notes

New pony Thursday! Photo by Kate Samuels

Having an empty stall in your barn is downright criminally dangerous, especially if you’re a chronic animal collector such as myself. Not only that, but I have a long-time friend who happens to be a racehorse owner/trainer/exerciser and she happens to know my proclivity for big booty bay boys. So, with all that said, welcome to the family, Balistico! This handsome guy race for seven consecutive years, and is about as cool as they come. He’s a professional, but also a goofy lad who loves all snacks and lives for snuggles and grooming sessions. RRP 2024, maybe?

U.S. Weekend Preview

Rocking Horse December H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

What makes a five-star horse? The answer isn’t always the prettiest or most talented horse, or eve the horse with a previously winning record. Five-star horses aren’t always brilliant in shorter format competitions, or fun to ride at home. COTH asked Boyd Martin, Jennie Saville, and Phillip Dutton what they have learned to look for in prospects for the top of the sport. [What Makes a Five Star Horse?]

December is basically here, so you’re all caught up on your holiday shopping, right? Okay, okay, me neither if we’re being honest. Don’t worry about the equestrians on your list, however, because here we have one of many horsey shopping guides. [2023 Equestrian Gift Guide]

At the very least, most of us are advised not to buy a lame horse. Paige Emerson broke all the rules, purchasing a mare on DreamHorse who was recovering from, of all things, a broken leg. Despite her complicated medial history, Simi and Paige came through it together with the help of veterinarians and farriers, and enjoy a career together in dressage. [Back from the Brink]

Did you grow up reading Black Beauty repeatedly…or was that just me? Anna Sewell’s timeless novel is something every generation can enjoy. To fall in love with each horse, and cry at their ill-fated fortunes, and sob with happiness when they find safety and happiness is something we can all bond over, and now there is a new animated short film drawn directly from the book. [Black Beauty Animation]

One summer job outside with horses was enough to convince Dr David Ramey, DVM, that the equestrian lifestyle was for him. He promptly left law school, stunned his parents, and decided to be a veterinarian. Forty years later, he is one of the most sought-after voices of reason and science online for the equestrian community. His directness, paired with a bit of wisdom and wit (“God made horses, but only we can make geldings”), has made him a popular voice on horse care and a resource for tens of thousands of readers.[David Ramey Treats Horse with Respect]

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

 

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Cosby Green is looking for a partner in crime! Fresh off her first five-star-finish at Pau, young American talent Cosby is also across the pond training with literally two of the best riders in the world, none other than Tim and Jonelle Price in Dorset. Any chance to work alongside such an amazing team sounds like a really cool opportunity. Cosby is looking at Badminton and Luhmuhlen next spring, as well as other exciting FEI and local competitions. Honestly, this is one of the few times I wish I was in my 20’s again because I’d be over there in a second.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Ram Tap H.T. & Classic 3-Day (Fresno, CA)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

The Event at TerraNova (Myakka City, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring][Live Stream]

News From Around the Globe:

Chris Talley was this year’s recipient Holekamp/Turner Grant to travel to the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships in Le Lion. After winning the Young Event Horse East Coast 5-year-old Championships in 2021 and being the highest-placed 5-year-old on both coasts that year, Corwin Sport Horses, LLC’s Hanoverian mare Gina (Gentleman x Ballerina) was a shoe-in to travel to Le Lion, and Chris was lucky enough to also take his own Irish Sport Horse mare Loughtown Cici ZA (CC Captain Clover x Castlelawn Diamond Clover) to compete in this year’s 7-year-old championships. The USEA caught up with Chris to get the low-down after he recovered from his international travel. [Reliving Le Lion]

Wellington residents will pay close attention to a particular vote in the Village Council this week. A year ago, Mark Bellissimo proposed a vision for “Wellington 3.0”, promising to build a new horse center alongside substantial residential developments, and consolidate all equine sports into one venue. However, some of the land sits on Wellington’s Equestrian Preserve, and this would be the first time that the village has ever withdrawn land from the preserve, a move some groups dislike greatly. [Wellington vs Mark Bellissimo]

The Area V Championships wrapped up on Nov. 4-5 at the Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Texas. The first part of the Championships was held from Sept. 23-24 at Meadowcreek Park Fall Horse Trials in Kosse, Texas. Meet the newest champions here! [Area V Champions]

Hot on Horse Nation: Five Ways to Soothe Sore Muscles from No Stirrup November

Peighton Deitz is 16 years old, a junior in high school preparing for riding in college, and the owner and operator of Grey Horse
Equestrian Belt Co. She started making her own belts when she couldn’t find any she liked well enough at shows to pay the high price for, and it evolved into a successful and growing company. Peighton continues to hand-make all the belts herself from her New Jersey home. She sells them online, through social media, at an increasing number of tack shops and at shows, where she also rides in the 2’6” hunters with her grey horse, Squid—one of two equestrian namesakes of her company name. [Riding, Studying, & Sewing Belts]

 

Phillip, how do we say this kindly, has been around for a WHILE now, and still keeps going at the top level!

Thursday News & Notes

When your pony is just the cuuuutest. Photo by Jenna Conrades.

If you have friends who are even a little bit clever with a good camera and a nice lens, I cannot recommend enough that you have a seasonal photo shoot with your horse and/or dog. The pure joy of looking at nice photos of my silly horses, and my dog running through water, and a little good lighting and editing along the way, cannot be matched. I think because we all have cameras on us all the time how fun it is to actually fill a camera roll with one subject, but add it to your list for next year. Or even better, give a friend a photoshoot as a gift! Anyway, here is Turkey looking cute as hell in my recent photoshoot.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Ram Tap H.T. & Classic 3-Day (Fresno, CA)[Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

The Event at TerraNova (Myakka City, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring][Live Stream]

News From Around the Globe:

Being a horse-crazy little girl is hard, but being a first-generation equine-smitten little girl is harder. Sarah Harris received a pony for her 8th birthday, and she and her sister Emily were completely in love with the mare, Allie, almost immediately. This led to a lifetime of learning about horses, and training dozens. They call themselves “unlikely” horse people. That’s not only because of their own family’s lack of horse background, but also because Black equestrians are generally underrepresented in modern horse sports. So they formed Sisters Horsing Around to be the educational resource and representation that they wish they had when they were younger. [First-Generation Black Equestrians Make A Splash Online]

Do you have an idea for the equestrian world that could really make an impact? You might want to check out this opportunity from Heels Down Mag CEO and President of EcoGold, Patricia da Silva. She’s offering a chance to foster and give back to a select few equestrian entrepreneurs, sort of like horse-themed Shark Tank, if you will. [Calling All Visionary Equestrians]

Bustin’ Myths Left and Right: Are White Hooves Really Weaker Than Dark Hooves?

I honestly thought that daylight savings was ending this year, and I cannot tell you how truly angry I was to find out that I was incorrect. Nobody wants more hours at 6 AM when it’s freezing cold. Nobody. And especially not equestrians. I want more hours in the afternoon when it’s warmed up and the footing is good! Riding when the days get shorter is a pain, but developing good technique for getting it done without hating yourself and ruining your life is possible. [Three Ways to Save Time on Short Days]

Interested in setting up a jump chute for your young horse this winter? Check out this step-by-step guide to building a chute and using it properly from Spy Coast Farm’s head trainer, Ciaran Thompson. [Free Jumping Your Young Horse]

 

 

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

My first customer of the day asking for breakfast as soon as possible please? Photo by Kate Samuels.

I have almost exclusively weirdos with big personalities, but I have a new horse in the barn, and I have a feeling he will bloom into a big annoying personality just like the others, but for now, he is a simple delight. He whickers at me every time he sees me, he stands quietly for all grooming and massage. He leads like a gentleman. He doesn’t shove you into a corner when you clean his stall because he HAS to have a butt scratch. He does lick a lot, but he doesn’t try to disrobe me. It’s so relaxing having a regular horse sometimes!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Full Moon Farm’s Fall HT (Finksburg, MD) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Reddick, FL) [Website] [Entries][Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

River Glen Fall H.T. (New Market, TN) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

Nobody loves a good NZ TB more than Muzi Pottinger, and we’ve all benefitted from it. With her five-star partners Just Kidding and Good Timing, she speeds across the courses with style. Muzi prefers the thoroughbred breed specifically for their trainability, which she says gets a bad reputation because the process of retraining is an intellectual exercise and different for each horse. [Muzi’s Magnificent Thoroughbreds]

Jonelle Price has a penchant for small feisty mares that cannot be denied. In fact, I’m more surprised when she isn’t riding a small mare with many opinions and lots of energy. Her new five-star partner Hiarado is no different, and Jonelle thinks she might just be her ticket to Paris next year, so that’s not a bad recommendation. [Meet Hiarado]

If you’re having a hard time getting insurance coverage for your event horse, you’re not alone. More and more eventers are finding it increasingly challenging to find insurance of any kind for no other reason than their discipline. Major insurance companies are dropping long-time clients in eventing, and refusing to insure any new horses, regardless of level of competition. Why is eventing being targeted? [Eventers Encounter Shrinking Insurance Market]

The hardest I’ve laughed all week:

 

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Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

Liz Halliday & Cooley Nutcracker. Photo courtesy of USA Eventing.

Listen, I don’t know what kind of superwoman powers Liz Halliday is wielding these days, but to go directly from the Pan American Games in Chile all the way to meet her horses on the west coast for the Galway Downs CCI4*-L sound completely impossible and frankly semi-insane to a normal human such as myself. I hope she is taking herself on an incredible girls holiday after this to sit on a beach for two weeks straight drinking a variety of fruity beverages delivered by a man servant while being fanned with a giant leaf by another man servant.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Rocking Horse Fall H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs (Temecula, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, TX) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Virginia Horse Center Eventing Fall (Lexington, VA) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

Liz’s trip to California has started out well, with her first horse, Cooley Nutcracker, leading after day one. While she admits that she was disappointed to finish 7th at the Pan American Games with Miks Master C, Liz says she’s delighted to have another chance to end her season on a high note. She has Cooley Nutcracker as well as Shanroe Cooley in the CCI4*-L, and is excited for the cross country today at her “hometown” event down the road from where she grew up. [From Chile to California]

Don’t forget, it’s not too late to win a whole bunch of swag, a cross country schooling pass, donations to your favorite charity and more! All you have to do is volunteer some time to Virginia Horse Center Eventing this weekend! I will be the score running maniac on a golf cart on Saturday, so if you see me, feel free to flag me down for a selfie with the chinch, who will obviously be driving.

Best of Blogs: Pressure Proof with Daniel Steward — Broke But Not Broken

Working student for Silva Martin? Yes please! Windurra has a rare opening to become a working student for Silva, as one of their beloved girls is leaving to return to school. Housing is provided, and you can bring a horse. [Working Student for Windurra]

Equine genetics nerds unite! We’ve always known that bloodlines matter in performance horses, but only recently have we been able to really dig down into the individual DNA that makes some horses superior athletes in certain areas. What if you knew that your horse was genetically predisposed to certain disorders? Or if your horse had more stamina capabilities than others? With new technology, these questions are opening a whole new world for breeding, riding, and managing horses. [Inside Your Equine Athlete]

 

Guessssss whoooo!!!

 

Thursday News & Notes

The gold medal makes it to the top of the Andes Mountains! Photo courtesy of Karl Slezak.

You know, this photo from Karl makes me think that gold medals should really become traveling gnomes (if you don’t get the reference you clearly aren’t cool enough to have seen Amelie) and be taken on adventures to faraway places. Karl…I’m looking at you! Andes Mountains today, Machu Picchu tomorrow? And Mount Everest? Maybe just the top of the Eiffel Tower, next year 😉

Don’t forget, it’s not too late to win a whole bunch of swag, a cross country schooling pass, donations to your favorite charity and more! All you have to do is volunteer some time to Virginia Horse Center Eventing this weekend! I will be the score running maniac on a golf cart on Saturday, so if you see me, feel free to flag me down for a selfie with the chinch, who will obviously be driving.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Rocking Horse Fall H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

The Eventing Championships at Galway Downs (Temecula, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (Tyler, TX) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Virginia Horse Center Eventing Fall (Lexington, VA) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

The volume of scientific literature being published on horse welfare has been growing exponentially, and rightfully so. Studies were driven initially by ethical concepts and popular empathy, and later by economic and political interests that have increased around this topic. Initially, welfare was considered as the absence of negative aspects. An animal that was free from hunger and thirst, discomfort, fear, pain and diseases, and with the possibility to express normal behaviour was considered to be in a good state of welfare. But, over the years, researchers started to develop a new and more complete welfare concept, no longer based only on the absence of negative conditions, but inclusive of positive emotions. With this approach, a good welfare status is not only when there are no negative conditions but when the animal has a life worth living. [Horse Welfare Research Booms]

Thoroughbred blood has long been utilized to refine Warmblood breeding for English-based disciplines, adding athleticism, speed and elegance to European breeds that might have otherwise reverted to their draft horse origins. In our sport, we discuss breeding with emphasis on horses’ percentage of “blood” — Thoroughbred blood, with higher percentages of Thoroughbred heritage most desirable for the stamina needed to gallop cross-country. But the Thoroughbred’s influence on performance horse breeding does not stop with the English disciplines. While the American Quarter Horse is considered the defining breed of Western sport and riding, from working ranch animals and cutters to cow horses and barrel racers, the breed is firmly rooted in Thoroughbred heritage — and some intrepid breeders are returning to those roots to enhance their programs, bringing fresh blood to the Quarter Horse breed by echoing history. [Bringing it Back]

Halloween Short Story: The Jimmy Hoofer Case

The best advice I ever got as a young kid was to ride every horse I could get my hands on. My mentor told my mom and me that the horses would teach me more than any coach, and boy was he right! Riding horses that aren’t yours makes you flexible in your methods, and smarter in the way you approach things. Especially if you are going to try to buy a horse any time soon, you’ll want to flex your muscles with the unfamiliar. [Ride Other Horses]

 

Helmet cam from the only horse to make the time at Pau? Yes please. 

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

I’d say Pippa Funnell has a type?? Photo courtesy of Pippa.

Listen, I may have a weird karmic fate for plain brown geldings, but Pippa Funnell seems to be opposed to brown geldings with right socks. And they must be tall and have one LEFT sock, apparently. Very specific, Pippa, very specific indeed.

Keep up with Pippa (and some others) this weekend as we’ve got way more Pau content coming your way – from our form guide, to live updates throughout the competition, to complete round-ups of all the action, so keep it locked onto EN – and follow @goeventing – as we prepare to celebrate the final 5* of the season in true EN style.

Alongside our Pau coverage, we’ll be following all of the eventing goings on at the Games – so go nowhere, and go eventing!

Major International Events

#Santiago2023: [Website] [Sport Schedule] [FEI Info Hub] [Live Stream] [Results] [EN’s Coverage]

Les 5 Etoiles de Pau: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

U.S. Weekend Preview

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scores]

Waredaca Classic Three Day Event & H.T. (Laytonsville, MD) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]

YEH West Coast Championships & Last Chance Qualifier (Paso Robles, CA) [Website] [Entries][Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

The announcement that starter level will be recognized in 2024 has some mixed reactions. When the USEA was founded in 1959, Preliminary was the first level available, and boy have times changed. Lower levels make the sport more accessible to more equestrians, and the rule change was member driven. Most of the responses have been positive, but some riders worry that this move will negatively impact grassroots unrecognized competitions.  [Organizers Weigh In On New Starter Level]

Best of Blogs: Real Talk About Affording Horse Show Life (Or Not)

The final event in the two-leg Dutta Corp. Young Event Horse Championships kicks off today at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California. With 34 entries across the four and five-year-old divisions, and a last-chance qualifier held today, there is lots of talent to be seen on the west coast. Get your fast facts here! [YEH West Coast Championships]

Spooky Horse Story of the Week: The Curse of Whitehorse Valley

Virginia Horse Center Eventing is hosting a fabulous giveaway! It’s not even a contest, honestly, and you’re guaranteed to win the grand prize of a free cross country schooling session on their BN through 3* courses, a Dover Saddlery gift certificate, $20-$80 donation to a charity of your choice, a swag bag from top sponsors, plus invaluable life experience and educational opportunities. The only requirement to win the prize is a few hours of your time as a volunteer next weekend! [Volunteer for Virginia]

Cross-country is the heart and soul of eventing; it’s what separates us from the other disciplines. The essence of riding cross-country is for the rider to be able to create a good quality canter (or gallop) appropriate for each fence. It is the horse’s job to jump the fence, but it is the rider’s job to present the horse to the jump in the correct canter, to make the horse’s job easier. The rider needs to be able to let the horse gallop on between fences, and then bring him back into the appropriate stride length, balance, rhythm, straightness, and attitude for each obstacle. Making that transition efficiently and seamlessly is the key to good XC riding. [A Good Canter is the Key to Cross Country]

 

Thursday News & Notes

Just one more kiss for Salty. Photo courtesy of Amy O’Connor.

Well, the action never stops around here folks! As you might still be recovering from Maryland and Le Lion last weekend, grab a Gatorade and refuel yourself for the combination of Pau CCI5* at the same time as the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered on all fronts, and all you have to do is keep it tuned to EN on all fronts to learn every morsel from around the world.

We’ve got SO MUCH Pau content coming your way – from our, frankly iconic, form guide, to live updates throughout the competition, to complete round-ups of all the action, so keep it locked onto EN – and follow @goeventing – as we prepare to celebrate the final 5* of the season in true EN style.

Alongside our Pau coverage, we’ll be following all of the eventing goings on at the Games – so go nowhere, and go eventing!

Major International Events

#Santiago2023: [Website] [Sport Schedule] [FEI Info Hub] [Live Stream] [Results] [EN’s Coverage]

Les 5 Etoiles de Pau: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

U.S. Weekend Preview

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scores]

Waredaca Classic Three Day Event & H.T. (Laytonsville, MD) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]

YEH West Coast Championships & Last Chance Qualifier (Paso Robles, CA) [Website] [Entries][Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

One chance encounter at a random Louisiana event led Dr. Elizabeth Abbott all the way to the Pan American Games. She’s grooming this weekend for Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire as they take on the Pan Ams in Chile, but her route to being an international groom certainly wasn’t ordinary. She’s been a “nerd for the sport” for many years, and groomed for several top riders, but this is her last gig ever. [Dr Abbott Hangs Up Her Ring Bag]

Dressage folks are getting wind of the benefits of cross-training and positive reinforcement. JJ Tate, who is certainly no slouch in the dressage world, shares with us how she uses training outside of the arena alongside religious praise to create a happy, confident, and willing participant in the sport. She believes, as I do, that horses should truly enjoy the learning experience, and that their happiness is the ultimate key to all training. [Training the Happy Athlete with JJ Tate]

Retraining off-the-track Thoroughbreds isn’t always for the faint of heart, yet many of us adore the process. Thoroughbreds come in all shapes and sizes, temperaments and abilities, and they will always test your ability to be flexible and understanding in your training methods. Eric Dierks explains in this article how he approaches assessing and training each individual as best suited to their varied needs, and tips for training yours at home. [Sitting Well]

Best of Blogs: To Read or Not to Read Old Dressage Books?

Bored horse-show dads! Moms who like holding clipboards and being in charge! Riders with some extra time on their hands! You heard me, all of you. What’s stopping you from volunteering next weekend at the Virginia Horse Center Eventing? Certainly not the swag you’ll get. Cross country schooling over all the fabulous jumps from BN-I? Dover Saddlery gift certificates? A food truck JUST for you? What about a tote bag full of goodies from all the event sponsors? Yeah, you better sign up before all the good volunteer spots are taken! [Volunteer for Virginia]

Just a little inspiration for all of us that turned into Mia Farley fans last weekend…

 

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Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

Ian Stark loves a rider frightener. Photo courtesy of Copperline Equestrian.

Everybody is excited to be in Maryland this weekend, either as a competitor or a spectator, but is it more exciting than picking up a new project from the track? Eh, in my world…the latter won out yesterday. I trucked my way up north a bit to pick up a surprise gelding, and the surprise was a good one! He raced on Monday, and he’s been running pretty heavily the past few months, so I was prepared to pick up a horse that needs the winter off, but so far, he’s delightful and sane and sound and chunky, all of which are wonderful signs. So while fancy dressage is happening today, I’ll be busy trying to make this recently retired racehorse at least look like a five-star horse at home.

Major International Events

MARS Maryland 5 Star: [Website] [Entries, Schedule & Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream (North America)] [Live Stream (Outside North America)] [Tickets] [5* Form Guide] [Digital Program] [XC Maps] [EN’s Coverage]

Young Horse World Championships (Le Lion D’Angers, France): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries][Live Stream] [Scoring]

#Santiago2023: [Website] [Sport Schedule] [FEI Info Hub] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Hagyard Midsouth Three-day Event: [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

U.S. Weekend Preview

Hagyard Midsouth Three-day Event (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Ram Tap National H.T. (Fresno, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

SAzEA Fall H.T. (Tucson, AZ) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Willow Draw Charity Show (Weatherford, TX) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Windermere Run H.T. (Grandview, MO) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

News From Around the Globe:

Just in case you missed the action from yesterday…Piggy March handed us all our butts in dressage on the five-star first-timer Brookfield Cavalier Cruise, and is making her first trip to Maryland pretty memorable already. [Getting Piggy With It]

Eventing Nation is awarding #SupergroomSuperlatives at Maryland! Use this form to nominate a groom working at Maryland this weekend in a category and we’ll select the winners to receive new ringside bags stuffed with category-specific goodies on Sunday! [Nominate Your Groom Here!]

Hot on Horse Nation: Ancient Horse Bridle Found in Glacial Ice

Wait wait…are you fully prepared for NEXT week’s action? The Pan American Games, duh! The 2023 Pan American Games begin Friday, Oct. 20, with opening ceremonies in Santiago, Chile. The equestrian portion of the games, however, doesn’t start until Sunday, Oct. 22, with the first day of dressage. Eventing goes next, running Oct. 27-29. The U.S. has already qualified teams for the 2024 Paris Olympics in both sports, but the tension for U.S. equestrian fans will intensify when show jumping begins Oct. 31, and the U.S. team gets its final chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. [Everything You Need to Know: Pan Ams 2023]

Le Lion looks…fun…this weekend…

 

Dressage Day One News & Notes

The hardest working crew out there! Photo by Tyson Rementer.

As we enter the competition action at Fair Hill International this weekend, it’s more than important to remember to thank all the hardworking people behind the beauty you see before you. From the core crew that has been busting their butts for the past year, to the finishing touches that have been painstakingly applied over the last few months, the amount of work that it takes to get everything ready is astounding. If you’re there this weekend, make your gratitude known to volunteers and staff as much as possible!

We’ve got boots on the ground at Maryland so you won’t have to miss a thing as EN will be bringing you all of the action over the course of the event, so keep your eyes on – and ears pricked – as we go eventing with not one, but three main events at Maryland. The 5* competition trots off today (Wednesday) with the first horse inspection at around 1pm EST / 6pm BST. Running alongside the 5* is the USEF 3* National Championships – you’ll be able to follow along with both of these classes on ClipMyHorse.TV. And that’s not all! Maryland is also host to the USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships with divisions for both four- and five-year-olds. So. Much. Eventing!

Major International Events

MARS Maryland 5 Star: [Website] [Entries, Schedule & Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream (North America)] [Live Stream (Outside North America)] [Tickets] [5* Form Guide] [Digital Program] [EN’s Coverage]

Young Horse World Championships (Le Lion D’Angers, France): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries][Live Stream] [Scoring]

#Santiago2023: [Website] [Sport Schedule] [FEI Info Hub] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Hagyard Midsouth Three-day Event: [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

U.S. Weekend Preview

Hagyard Midsouth Three-day Event (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Ram Tap National H.T. (Fresno, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

SAzEA Fall H.T. (Tucson, AZ) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Willow Draw Charity Show (Weatherford, TX) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Windermere Run H.T. (Grandview, MO) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

 

News From Around the Globe:

That first five-star competition is like nothing else in the world. There are, fittingly, five pairs contesting their first five-star this weekend at Fair Hill International, and all of them are home-grown talents, and the majority of them are on self-produced horses. Each one of them has a unique and interesting story of how they made their way through the years to this one particular weekend, and COTH caught up with each one to learn more. [That First Five-Star Feeling]

Equally as exciting on the other end of the athlete production line is the YEH Championships! The top young horses in the country will be gathered today and tomorrow in the Timber Field. With a maxed out entry list of 92 pairs, the four-year-old champion will be crowned today, and the five-year-olds get their chance tomorrow. Get yourself some fast facts so you’re familiar with the competitors! [YEH Championship Fast Facts]

It’s time for Kyle Carter’s five-star thoughts! Our Wofford stand-in has made a little name for himself with similarly witty quips and astute observations from the sidelines, and I always look forward to reading his thoughts. [Maryland is for Making Memories]

If you admire Boyd Martin this weekend (or any other weekend), make sure to check out his winter clinic tour schedule! Boyd has announced the dates and locations for his 2023 winter clinic tour, with availability for participation and auditing opportunities in November, December, and January. The tour will start in New York and continue through January with locations across the United States, including on the West Coast. The clinic schedule will range from one to two days with auditors welcome. [Boyd’s Clinic Tour]

 

The single best video I’ve seen this week:

 

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Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

Fall days in Virgina can hardly be beat. Photo by Kate Samuels.

The weather in Virginia has ben absolutely out of this wold nice. High forties at night, low seventies during the day, perfect lighting that makes everything look magical, and I’m honestly living my best life on horseback. My neighbors who have a few thousand acres under conservation easement and love preserving land for horseback use, they make it possible for me to enjoy parts of Virginia that otherwise nobody gets to see. I’m so lucky to have access to that, and I wish more riders had the ability to truly hack their horses out the way that I do.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials (Leesburg, VA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]

Pine Hill Fall H.T. (Bellville, TX) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Poplar Place Farm October H.T. (Hamilton, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Radnor Hunt H.T. (Malvern, PA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Redefined Equestrian Horse Trials (Fort Collins, CO) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]

Coming up next week: Maryland 5 Star! We’ve go SO MUCH content coming your way, so eyes on EN 👀 and go eventing!

Maryland 5 Star: [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]

News From Around the Globe:

What’s it like to win a day with a five-star rider? Amateur rider Tiffany Morey and nine of her closest friends got to spend the day cross country schooling and soaking up knowledge this summer from Buck Davidson. From ponies at Beginner Novice to partners at Training level, this group got to soak up all the top tips from this rider. [12 Training Tips from Buck Davidson]

Olympic show-jumper Rich Fellers has pled guilty to felony sexual abuse and has been sentenced to 50 months in prison. Rich was initially arrested in June 2021 on four counts of felony sexual abuse of his then 17-year-old student Maggie Kehring. Maggie chose to come forward in 2021 to discuss her experience, and since then her family has become a driving force behind #WeRideTogether, an organization dedicated to stopping sexual abuse within horse sports. He changed his plea from not guilty to guilty in July as part of a deal that will allow Fellers to serve time in federal prison, which he wanted to do instead of going to state prison. [Rich Fellers Sentenced]

Alison O’Dwyer has had a remarkable string of successes in her four trips to the Thoroughbred Makeover, winning the dressage division three times. But this year, she found what she really wanted in a Makeover mount, in two very different horses. With a chestnut “mare” (more on that later) who is pushing 18 hands and was a stakes winner on the track, and a small, plain bay gelding who unexpectedly turned into a heart horse, she has quite the pair this weekend. [One to Watch: Alison O’Dwyer]

If you’re looking to prevent devastating coffin bone rotation or sinking in a horse with laminitis, researchers have reported the best option might be heart-bar shoes, based on a new study examining biomechanics of common shoeing approaches in these animals. Researchers studying cadaver forelimbs recently found that heart-bar shoes stabilize the coffin bones in laminitic horses’ feet so well that they don’t move any more than they do in healthy hooves wearing the same shoes. [Therapeutic Farrier Practices Compared]

A day in the life of Will Rawlin & company! 

 

Morven Park Debuts New Award for Amateurs: The Rockview Mr Diamond Award

Adelaide French & Rockview Mr Diamond at Morven Park in 2021. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

This weekend at Morven Park International includes one very special new award: the Rockview Mr Diamond Award for Preliminary riders. This award will be given to the top placed rider in the Preliminary Rider class, and was specifically created to celebrate a horse and rider combination that has worked together to get to the preliminary level. Qualifications include a dressage score under 40; no more than 8 jumping faults and 0 time penalties in show jumping; no jumping faults on cross country; and no more than 5 time penalties. Neither horse nor rider can have competed above the preliminary level, and it’s a $250 cash prize.

Looking at those qualifications, you might think it seems fairly generous, but an award with generosity of spirit could not be more fitting. Rockview Mr Diamond, lovingly known everywhere as Huey, was the single most selfless, giving, and frankly adorable horse that any of us had ever met. This one hits close to home for me, as Huey lived right down the road from me for most of his life, and his owner is one of my oldest friends. I schooled him for her when she was out of town, and clipped him every year to save him from the monstrosity that is her barbershop “skills”. I loved him as one of my own, and everybody who ever met him would agree.

Ten years ago, when Addie French was still a young rider, her heart horse arrived in the form of a freshly imported grey Irish gelding, who nobody believed would be able to do much more than Training level. The pair traveled the east coast together, working under the tutelage of almost every top-level rider as college faded and adult life began. Through their incredible partnership, and Huey’s hard-working attitude, they landed on the Training leaderboards multiple years in a row, and moved up to Preliminary, completing almost every event within driving distance with ribbons at the level.

“Huey brought home so many ribbons,” reminisces Addie. “He was the definition of a good boy; he didn’t have a best phase, he was equally good at all of them, and he was a workman. He never had the fanciest gaits, and he just jumped exactly as high as he needed to and nothing else.”

There was no interaction with Huey without snuggles. Photo by Kate Samuels.

“He worked hard every day of his life, and he always tried really hard, and even when it was super hard for him he gave me everything.” Everyone who met him fell in love with him was because he looked like a stuffed animal and he acted like every girl’s dream of a white pony. 

Sadly, we all lost Huey from our lives in the spring of 2022 to a sudden and terrible case of colic, despite his previously unmarked medical records.

Addie was inspired by Jennie Saville’s annual award at Galway International in honor of the late great Cooper, and decided to sponsor an award at one of her local competitions, Morven Park International. One of their last competitions together was at Morven Park in 2021, and they competed there many times over the years.

“I’ve always loved Morven,” says Addie, “as it’s always had really tough cross country courses with big galloping fences, tough combinations, and plenty of terrain. I feel like it’s one of the last real ‘traditional’ events, but with the recent upgrades it has also become a destination event, and it really has everything you want from a competition facility.”

The qualifications for this award were created by looking back at Huey’s scores over his lifetime, and the emphasis is mostly on the cross country performance, as that is what sets eventing apart from all the other sports. The intention is to celebrate a horse and rider pair that have neither competed above the Preliminary level, and have come up the levels together.

The perfect dream pony. Photo by Kate Samuels.

“I wanted to celebrate the partnership, just like I had with Huey. It’s very easy to compete in the amateur divisions with an experienced horse, but it’s another thing to do it on a horse you trained yourself,” says Addie. She also wanted to make sure that the prize was sizable enough to make a dent in the entry fee, and have an impact for an amateur rider such as herself.

Any time you can win money without competing at the top levels is an excellent opportunity, and a shining example of how to keep our sport viable for all participants. The Rockview Mr Diamond award is for anybody who exemplifies the qualities that we all admired in Huey: loyalty, love, hard work, and most of all, generosity of spirit.

 

 

Thursday News & Notes from Morven Park

Riddle Master & Rebecca Howard. Photo courtesy of Rebecca.

We’re terribly sad to report another legend lost this week, as Rebecca Howard reported that Riddle Master was laid to rest at the age of 22 this week. Rupert may have not been solely responsible for my obsession with little brown horses with cute faces, but watching him at the 2010 WEG in Kentucky certainly contributed. Over his career, Rupert roared around every 5-star event in the world (Adelaide notwithstanding). At the end of 2013, Riddle Master was named Canadian Bred Horse of the Year – and Rebecca received Canada’s ‘Equestrian of the Year’ title. In 2016, Rebecca and Rupert were partners at the Rio Olympics, finishing 10th individually and securing her the position of top female rider in eventing at the Olympics.

Our thoughts are with everyone who knew and loved Rupert over the years.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials (Leesburg, VA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]

Pine Hill Fall H.T. (Bellville, TX) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Poplar Place Farm October H.T. (Hamilton, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Radnor Hunt H.T. (Malvern, PA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Redefined Equestrian Horse Trials (Fort Collins, CO) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]

Coming up next week: Maryland 5 Star! We’ve go SO MUCH content coming your way, so eyes on EN 👀 and go eventing!

Maryland 5 Star: [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]

News From Around the Globe:

Three weeks ago, Tommy Greengard and his horse Joshuay MBF had never competed at the 4* level, and now they’ve won one. The pair made their debut at the level at Twin Rivers Fall International, finishing third, and just won the Woodside International 4*-S. At 24 years old, Tommy has had a pretty good year, including wins in the 2022 USEA Young Event Horse 5-Year-Old West Coast Championships and in the 2022 Intermediate Championship at the USEA American Eventing Championships, as well as two FEI victories at the two-star level. [Woodside Fall International Returns After Two Years]

Plans for an exciting new eventing class for ex-racehorses, worth £50,000, have been revealed. The competition will be run at Cornbury House Horse Trials in 2025 and is the initiative of Jayne McGivern of Dash Grange Stud, with the support of David Howden, Group CEO and Founder of Howden and Founder and President of Cornbury. Jayne McGivern, owner of top event horses, was inspired to launch the class to help make the training ex-racehorses financially viable for riders. Her aim is to also raise the profile of the adaptable nature of thoroughbreds, especially in terms of their suitability for eventing. [New Prizes for Ex-Racehorses in Eventing]

Story Time: Nick & Jeannie Larkin Offer a New Embrace for Racetrack Castoffs

Mules have the same jumping ability as horses, so why not allow them to compete alongside their equine cousins? In Paris, Kentucky, breeder and trainer Kimmy Risser has proposed a new rule to also include mules in hunter and equitation divisions, citing their recent integration into jumpers, as well as their longtime participation in dressage competitions, where mules have been permitted for more than 20 years. Personally, I would love to see a mule rock up to a hunter show. [Mules Deserve Equal Rights]

 

Sponsor Corner

THAT drop at Morven. Photo courtesy of Sara Kozumplik.

It’s all happening at Morven Park International CCI4* and Fall Horse Trials this weekend! Have you bought your VIP ticket?? Celebrate 50 years of eventing at Morven Park with the best seats in the Park! Enjoy prime viewing of 4*-S and 4*-L dressage and show jumping. Each ticket includes access for all three days of action. Click here to buy yours now. 

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

Park Butte on horseback! Photo by Michelle Sullivan-Brookshier

My passion for puzzling out young horses will always offer me a certain level of job security, because they all start out that way, and not everybody wants to deal with their formative years. A client who I’ve been helping with a delightful now four-year-old sent me a quote the other day about riders versus trainers, and I think it finally helped me with my equestrian identity. Becoming an excellent rider is so so hard, but becoming an amazing trainer is equally as difficult, and the two are not always the same. Start your Friday with some philosophical musings about which category you identify with by checking out the post here.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (Millis, MA) [Website] [Volunteer]

Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. (Nashville, TN) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm (Adamstown, MD) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]

WindRidge Farm Fall H.T. (Mooresboro, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Woodside Fall International (Woodside, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Major International Events

Military Boekelo CCIO4* [Website] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

News From Around the Globe:

Boekelo action day two! If you missed the report on the first day of dressage yesterday, we got you covered. In short, Julia Krajewski is basically a master at producing young horses to blow us away on the international stage again and again. [Julia Krajewski Takes Day One Lead at Boekelo]

Mare owners, listen up! A new alternative to managing your mare’s hormones and painful ovaries might be just what your looking for to help your girl feel her best. A lot of us don’t want to handle Regu-Mate, but some mares have very intense and painful cycles that prevent them from functioning at the appropriate level. Olivia Shlichting, DVM, was also annoyed with this, so she invented the Pearl Pod. The Pearl Pod consists of three elliptical plastic-coated magnets slightly over 1 inch long and half an inch wide. After the three pieces are inserted into the mare’s uterus, the north and south poles of each magnet cause the pieces to self-assemble into a ring configuration. Basically, it’s an IUD for horses. [Solving Problems with the Pearl Pod]

Pharmaceutical company Merck has recalled an additional four batches of Banamine. Merck Animal Health announced it is voluntarily recalling four additional batches of Banamine 50 mg/mL in the United States, used for injection in horses, cattle and swine due to the presence of particulate matter. These batches are in addition to the three batches of Banamine that Merck recalled in early September due to the presence of particulate matter. [More Banamine Recalled]

Cross country is a hard phase physically, but also mentally. For the rider, yes, but also horses can struggle with keeping their focus when the questions keep coming. What do you do with a horse that zones out on cross country and loses focus, and thereby becomes slightly unrideable? Get the low-down on this particular training challenge with this article. [How to Regain Control on Cross Country]

Ulcers are the bane of the existence of horse people. We have them, lots and lots of performance horses have them, and treating them is expensive and often ineffectual long term. Researches have now confirmed that some horses being treated with omeprazole, however, suffer rapid recurrence of gastric ulcers upon discontinuing treatment. Tapering the omeprazole dose when planning to discontinue this medication is unlikely to minimize rebound gastric hyperacidity. Instead, caretakers should implement management changes to further protect the horse from developing new lesions. [Rebound Gastric Hyperacidity in Horses]

Thursday News & Notes from Morven Park International

Some exciting news out of New Jersey this week: after originally closed down and put up for sale for what we all assumed would be residential development, Essex Equestrian Center has been saved and will remain as a horse facility going forward.

In December of last year, the facility, which has been in operation since the early 1900s, announced its impending closure. As the years passed, the surrounding property had been sold off piece by piece for development, meaning the property Essex held become increasingly more valuable for its residential potential. Upon its listing, the property Essex was on was slow to attract buyer interest.

Now, Nancy Jaffer reports, jumper rider and trainer Brianne Goutal-Marteau and her husband Romain Marteau, who’s a real estate developer, are taking the beloved property in their hands and working to preserve the history and usage of the facility. “I want to make sure it stays really high-end and a great place for horses,” Brianne told Nancy. “We have a major goal of keeping it true to its foundations and not changing too much of the structure. A lot of the time, it’s a lot cheaper to knock something down and build it new, but that’s definitely not what we wanted to do. We’re trying to restore it to its former glory.”

Read the full story on the future of Essex Equestrian Center here

U.S. Weekend Preview

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (Millis, MA) [Website] [Volunteer]

Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. (Nashville, TN) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm (Adamstown, MD) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]

WindRidge Farm Fall H.T. (Mooresboro, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Woodside Fall International (Woodside, CA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

Major International Events

Military Boekelo CCIO4* [Website] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

News From Around the Globe:

Did you miss the trot report from Boekelo? Never you mind, Tilly is on task, so be sure to catch up first thing this morning so you’re fully prepared to pick your favorite horse to win based solely on who you think is prettiest. [One Held, Approximately Ten Million Accepted]

2023 has been Mikki’s year, starting with his debut at the 5* level in Kentucky and taking home a third place ribbon. Miks Master C has always been a stunningly athletic and talented horse, but his partnership with Liz Halliday is just beginning to bloom after about a year together. Previously campaigned through the 4* level by Maya Black for his breeder, Laurie Cameron, he recently won the competitive AEC’s Advanced class, and Liz thinks he might be the best horse she’s ever ridden. High praise indeed! [Horse of the Month: Miks Master C]

When planning the rest of your fall season before the weather turns, make sure you include regular outings for cross country schooling. The USEA has compiled an excellent listicle on how to get everything out of your equine field trips. Whether you and your horse are headed out with your trainer and a group to cross-country school, or you’ve entered a schooling show to fine tune your skills, we’ve compiled some ways to make the most of your practice outings this season. [Schooling for Success]

No matter where or how you’re buying a horse, you need to know what to look for in the feet. A well-balanced hoof is more infrequent than we would ideally like, and some things can be fixed with a good farrier, but other issues cannot. Can you tell if a horse has previous medical history visible on the hoof wall? Even though this article specializes in thoroughbred breed sales, it all applies to every type of horse. [Recognizing Problems in Hooves]

Sponsor Corner

Will Coleman and Tight Lines. Photo by Shannon Brinkman for Erin Gilmore Photography.

We’re exactly one week out from the Morven Park International CCI4* and Fall Horse Trials! Have you bought your VIP ticket?? Celebrate 50 years of eventing at Morven Park with the best seats in the Park! Enjoy prime viewing of 4*-S and 4*-L dressage and show jumping. Each ticket includes access for all three days of action. Click here to buy yours now. 

Last Word: Michi Jung with the jokes….

Friday News & Notes Presented by Stable View

Beautiful evening ride along the Zuid Willemsvaart in Belgium. Photo by Irma Vijn.

I forget how much base level fitness my horses have because of where they live. My turnout fields are large and mostly on the side of the hill, and my neighbor is an avid fox-hunter with a little over 2,000 acres of open space easement land filled with trails and coops and gates. That means that on “off” days, we regularly go exploring for miles over some pretty intense terrain, and they’re all pretty cool with it. However, my friend brought her normal horse over for a little hack this week, and three days later I think he still deeply regrets the power-walk that he started out with. Fun fact about extreme trail riding with Kate, you can’t just get tired and quit, you have to turn around and still get home!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Course Brook Farm Fall H.T. (Sherborn, MA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

ESDCTA New Jersey H.T. (Allentown, NJ) [Website] [Volunteer]

Fleur de Leap H.T. (Folsom, LA) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Jump Start H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ocala Fall Horse Trials (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Volunteer]

Old Tavern Horse Trials (The Plains, VA) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Spokane Sport Horse 9th Annual Fall H.T. (Spokane, WA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]

Sundance Farm H.T. (Plymouth, WI) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Tomora Horse Trials (Greeley, CO) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Major International Events

2023 Asian Games (Hangzhou, China) [Equestrian Schedule and Info]

News From Around the Globe:

Registration for the 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention opens on Oct. 1, and USEA Members won’t want to miss this jam-packed week of social gatherings and educational activities. This year’s convention will be held on Dec. 7-10, 2023 in St. Louis, Missouri. On October 1, the registration portal will be available through the Convention webpage on the US Eventing website. The most cost-effective registration type is a full week pass which gives members access to all open meetings on Thursday through Saturday and includes one ticket to the USEA Annual Meeting of Members Luncheon. [Registration for USEA Annual Meeting Open Sunday]

The USEF has made five rule changes which will go into effect October 1, 2023. Make sure you familiarize yourself with these rule changes below to make sure you are in compliance before heading out for your next event! [New Rule Changes for 2023]

If you’ve ever dreamed of being the ultimate Eventing tourist, you have to know more about Eventing Breaks. Eventing Breaks aims to offer a hassle-free travel experience to eventing enthusiasts but with some unique add ons. Yes, they’ll organize all the basics like flights, airport transport, where to stay, or how to get tickets to a major event like Badminton, Burghley, or even the Olympics but they also provide some pretty cool add-ons. Like drinks with William Fox-Pitt at Badminton in his lakeside pavilion before a course-walk. At Burghley, the group enjoyed a post-xc drinks party at The English Pink Rose Co. Eventing Breaks wants to make the sport of eventing easier than ever to experience. [Eventing Breaks is Making Dreams Come True]

From the haunted steed of the Headless Horseman to the ghost riders in the sky, horses have always figured prominently in our favorite hair-raising tales we love to tell this time of year. Horses have the power to invoke our deepest emotions, and when you take a horse with mane and tail a-blowing in a chill October breeze as the sun dips down beneath the horizon and the air grows suddenly cool, the shadows playing tricks on your eyes, you have the perfect recipe for a ghost story for the ages. And we want to hear yours! Send in your best horsey Halloween stories to Horse Nation. [Second Annual Spooky Short Story Contest]

Feel-good story of the week goes to this tale of humanity at the highest level of sport. When 14-year-old Mathilde Candele was competing on her heart-horse, Disco, last year at the NAYC, she won her first class, but in the warmup for the second, Disco started feeling off. Her parents rushed him to the hospital, thinking it was colic, but in fact he had ruptured a major artery. Within a few hours, McLain Ward called the family and offered to give them a horse out of his barn to replace Disco for Mathilde. [Losing One Unicorn, Gaining Another]

 

 

Thursday News & Notes Presented by Morven Park

Introducing Koa Martin! Photo courtesy of Boyd.

Introducing the newest member of the feral herd Martin family: Koa Brooks Martin! The warrior princess that is Silva delivered a healthy little lad this week, adding to her collection of boys. I can only imagine what kind of hairy little pony awaits him in the near future. Tiny hairy ponies sent straight from the devil himself are a rite of passage for children born into horsey families, and with his adrenaline junkie bloodlines, I think he will be up for the challenge.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Course Brook Farm Fall H.T. (Sherborn, MA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer][Scoring]

ESDCTA New Jersey H.T. (Allentown, NJ) [Website] [Volunteer]

Fleur de Leap H.T. (Folsom, LA) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Jump Start H.T. (Lexington, KY) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Ocala Fall Horse Trials (Ocala, FL) [Website] [Volunteer]

Old Tavern Horse Trials (The Plains, VA) [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Spokane Sport Horse 9th Annual Fall H.T. (Spokane, WA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times][Volunteer] [Scoring]

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]

Sundance Farm H.T. (Plymouth, WI) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Tomora Horse Trials (Greeley, CO) [Website] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Major International Events

2023 Asian Games (Hangzhou, China) [Equestrian Schedule and Info]

News From Around the Globe:

A new Fear Free veterinary curriculum shows promise for the safety and happiness of all participants in veterinary appointments. The Fear Free online curriculum aims to educate veterinary and pet professionals, animal welfare communities, and pet owners about how to correctly interact with animals to cause them the least amount of stress, anxiety and potential trauma. A Fear Free-specific appointment enables a horse owner and certified veterinarian to work together to help animals become familiar with a veterinarian and how they handle them, thereby helping increase the animal’s comfort levels and reduce their anxiety when interacting with vets. The appointments are also a time in which owners and veterinarians collaborate on ways the owner can work with their animals at home to further reduce their stress during future, hopefully safer, veterinary appointments. [Fear Free Training is Creating Happier Horses]

Sponsor Corner

Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Galloping through Autumn leaves, touring a luxurious mansion, watching Olympic-level competition from a VIP tent…the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials has a lot to offer. We get it, the Fall season is a busy time of year. But when we say you need to make space on your calendar for Morven Park, we mean it. Here’s why.

Hot on Horse Nation: Hands & Dumb Metaphors

Do you ever have a full ride just focused on the walk? Think back on your daily rides. When was the last time you spent time really working at the walk? Feeling your horse’s body, asking them to carry themselves at the walk for an extended period of time rather than just a loose rein, 5-10 minute warm up? Truth be told, depending on a horse’s schedule for the week, my schooling rides are sometimes a solid 30 minutes of walking. While that might sound boring, there’s a whole array of things you can do at the walk to really evaluate where your horse is at in their fitness. [In Defense of the Working Walk Ride]

Best of Blogs: The Joy of the ‘Happiest Show on Earth’

Plenty of eventers will be gracing the Dixon Oval with their presence this weekend, but only for fancy prancing. Dressage at Devon is a long standing tradition that we’ve only recently started to invade, so make sure you know everything about how to keep your finger on the pulse. [What You Need to Know: Dressage at Devon]