Kentucky serving lewks in the morning at the RRP Mega Makeover. Photo by Allison Howell.

It’s here! It’s happening! We’ve been waiting for over a year for this folks, and it’s finally happening! The possibilities that come with North America having two competitions at this level, and of this quality positively excite me. We will have more opportunities for our riders to practice this level, and compete against the baddies from across the pond. I’ll be there Friday, and I can’t wait to hook up with my girls from EN and take a million pictures on cross country.

Don’t forget to check out our Maryland Form Guide, filled with all the info about every single horse in the 5*, and useful if you’re watching from home, or lucky enough to witness it in person.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill: [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage] [Daily Digest Email Sign-up] [EN’s Twitter] [EN’s Instagram]

Ocala Fall H.T. (Ocala, Fl.): [Website] [Entry Status]

Pine Hill Fall H.T. (Bellville, Tx.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

News From Around the Globe:

You need more facts and graphs and fun facts about the Maryland Five Star? Don’t worry guys and gals, you know I got you. After being selected as the fall location for a second CCI5*-L in the U.S. in 2017, the inaugural Maryland 5 Star will take place at Fair Hill in Elkton, Md. this week starting with the first horse inspection today. There are 48 horse and rider pairs in the five-star field hoping to bring home the first Maryland 5 Star victory. Who do you think will be leading the victory gallop? [Maryland Five Star Fast Facts]

The distracted horse: an issue that plagues us all. Whether your horse is nervous, afraid, or more motivated by other interests, keeping a distracted horse on task is an important skill. The infamous Tik Maynard lends his advice on how to identify the source of the distracted behavior, and slowly help your horse resolve the issue. This will make your life so much better! [Dealing with the Distracted Horse]

Need a podcast to keep you going and keep your Maryland Five Star Fever at bay? Check out this special edition of the USEA podcast. Nicole is joined by Rob Burk, Irish Olympian Sam Watson, and some very special guests to look forward to a big week ahead in the Maryland 5 Star Preview Show. [Maryland 5* Podcast]

If you can’t wait for Saturday, check out this quick coursewalk and photo gallery from H&H. You’ll find some old classics, and some new artistic, and terrifying jumps for this premier event. When is the last time we saw a brand new 5* course??? [Maryland Five Star Course]

Friendship and camaraderie goals. Photo by JJ Sillman.

Whenever a non-eventer asks me why I chose the sport of Eventing, aside from the obvious adrenaline rush of cross country, I always say it’s because of the people and the attitude at competitions. When you are walking out to cross country, it doesn’t matter if you’re at a 5* or a Beginner Novice, somebody on their way back from riding the course will tell you good luck, and nine times out of ten, give you tips on how the course rode. What other sport would offer competitors helping others? Not many, and certainly not many in the horse world. But in Eventing, you congratulate the winner and you mean it.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Morven Park International CCI4*-L (Leesburg, Va.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Schedule] [Volunteer]

Woodside International H.T. (Woodside, Ca.): [Website] [Volunteer] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Heritage Park H.T. (Olathe, Ks.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Hitching Post Farm H.T. (South Royalton, Vt.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Poplar Place Farm H.T. (Hamilton, Ga.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Radnor Hunt H.T. (Malvern, Pa.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

WindRidge Farm H.T. (Mooresboro, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Major International Events

Military Boekelo Enschede CCIO4*-L & FEI Nations Cup of Eventing: [Website] [Info Hub] [Entries] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

News From Around the Globe:

Ready to take a walk around the brand new Morven Park International CCI4*-L cross-country course? Derek di Grazia designed the 5,700-meter course set on the grounds of the historic Morven Park property. With 44 jumping efforts across 26 numbered fences and an optimum time of 10 minutes, di Grazia has built a true four-star test. [Fence by Fence Cross Country Walk at Morven 4*]

Sorocaima might have re-routed to Morven CCI4*-L instead of debuting at the 5* level in Maryland, but he still has a pretty cool story. Purchased as a four-year old out of Parx Racetrack by Matthew Bryner, then found his way to Nilsson Moreira de Silva’s barn, and after that to Jill Henneberg’s program for a young rider. Competing at the training level with that young rider, Jill called Buck Davidson in 2019, and told him that the horse had too much talent for her student, and he should seriously consider the gelding. Cam quickly climbed the levels with Buck, and within two years was competing competently at the Advanced level. [Ex-Racehorse Sorocaima Climbs the Levels]

The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm hosted the 2021 Area II Championships over the October 1-3 weekend. With nine different championship levels offered in addition to their regular horse trial divisions, Loch Moy was bursting at the seams with horse and rider pairs all weekend long. Reporters from the USEA caught up with some of the Area II Champions to recap their experience at this year’s season finale and to share their thoughts on their equine partners that helped make their victory gallops possible. [Riders Recap: Area II Championships]

We want your spooky halloween horse stories! 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! Whether you have an old tale that’s been passed down in your barn family or you conjure up the best spooky story in your mind and put it down on paper, we’re calling for your best horsey Halloween tales for our second annual short story contest. We’ll publish the best around Halloween. [Fifth Annual Horse Nation Halloween Short Story Contest]

Photo by Jamie Gornall.

Morven Park this weekend will feel a little emptier without the usual sight of Tremaine Cooper zooming around the cross country course. Tremaine designed the courses at one of our oldest eventing venues in Area II for over 30 years, until we lost him tragically earlier this year. He was also frequently seen mentoring fellow course designers, always nodding to those who came before him and spent the time teaching him the craft. He was also a staunch supporter of safety, putting his experience behind emerging concepts such as frangible technology and the Modified level as a stepping-stone between Training and Preliminary. Indeed, a true list of every accomplishment, accolade, kind word, and time spent from a person who was a true integral part of the eventing community would take up hundreds of pages. A plaque to remember him by is now by the infamous Leaf Pit at Morven.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Morven Park International CCI4*-L (Leesburg, Va.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Schedule] [Volunteer]

Woodside International H.T. (Woodside, Ca.): [Website] [Volunteer] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Heritage Park H.T. (Olathe, Ks.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Hitching Post Farm H.T. (South Royalton, Vt.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Poplar Place Farm H.T. (Hamilton, Ga.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Radnor Hunt H.T. (Malvern, Pa.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

WindRidge Farm H.T. (Mooresboro, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Major International Events

Military Boekelo Enschede CCIO4*-L & FEI Nations Cup of Eventing: [Website] [Info Hub] [Entries] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

News From Around the Globe:

Maryland 5* might be Ian Stark’s first five-star design, but he’s no stranger to the level. Ian hardly needs an introduction, but I’ll just leave this here: over the years, he rode 18 horses at the five-star level, winning Badminton three times—twice on Sir Wattie and once on Jaybee, and in 1988 performed a feat that has yet to be replicated by finishing 1st and 2nd at Badminton. He also made appearances at five Olympic Games resulting in three team silver medals and one individual silver; a team gold, team silver and individual silver in world championship competitions; and six team golds plus an individual gold, silver and bronze medal at European Championships. So, he takes this 5* stuff pretty seriously, you could say. [Five-Star Winner to Five-Star Designer]

The FEI has announced the opening of the voting period for the 2021 FEI Awards, and we want to congratulate the members of the American equestrian community who have been named finalists, including Boyd Martin’s groom Stephanie Simpson, The Compton Cowboys, and Beatrice Delavalette. In the Best Groom category, Stephanie Simpson has been nominated for her role as groom for Boyd. Paralympian Beatrice de Lavalette is a finalist in the Against All Odds category, in recognition of her journey from losing her legs in the March 2016 terrorist attack at the Zaventem Airport in Brussels, Belgium, to becoming a world-class athlete in the sport of para dressage. The Compton Cowboys are a collective of lifelong friends who have made it their mission to uplift their community through horses while drawing on the rich legacy of African American cowboy culture. [Vote Now for 2021 FEI Awards]

Do you ever read Day In The Life articles about famous riders and wonder how they seem so organized and hardcore? Yeah, you’re not alone. Basically any day in my life could look like an absolute crap show, or possibly like a gang of squirrels with ADD got together and made my schedule. Blogger Allison Kavey takes us on a much, much more relatable day in her chaotic life. [ADITL: An Inferior White Board]

We want your spooky halloween horse stories! 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! Whether you have an old tale that’s been passed down in your barn family or you conjure up the best spooky story in your mind and put it down on paper, we’re calling for your best horsey Halloween tales for our second annual short story contest. We’ll publish the best around Halloween. [Fifth Annual Horse Nation Halloween Short Story Contest]

Flashback Friday, can you name them all? Photo courtesy of Dorothy Crowell.

I love a good flashback photo, and Dorothy Crowell provided the perfect one to head today’s news post. The hardened gang of 90’s fashionistas above were all preparing for the 1994 WEG by training in England. Left to right, this photo includes Michael Godfrey, Marcia Carabelle, Dorothy herself, Bruce Davidson, Louise Merriman, Stephen Bradley, Jim Graham, Jill Walton, David and Karen O’Connor, and Mark Phillips. Did you guess the right names?

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Fleur de Leap H.T. (Folsom, La.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Jump Start H.T. and Area VIII Championships (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Larkin Hill H.T. (North Chatham, Ny.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

The Maryland H.T. at Loch Moy Farm + Area II Championships (Adamstown, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. (Nashville, Tn.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Moqui Meadows H.T. (Greeley, Co.): [Website]

Spokane Sport Horse Seventh Annual Fall H.T. (Spokane, Wa.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Sundance Farm H.T. (Plymouth, Wi.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Willow Draw Charity Show (Weatherford, Tx.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

News From Around the Globe:

As the first American to ever win CHIO Aachen, Will Coleman certainly has earned a little rest. However, he has returned to the states to prepare for the upcoming Maryland 5*, and in the meantime getting interviewed by everyone who can track him down. Nicole Brown managed to chat with him for a whole podcast, and they relive the glory of Aachen, talk about his daily motivation in training horses, and also offer listeners a chance to name his baby on the way!  [When Nicole Met Will]

The USEA has announced that Cole Horn’s MBF Cooley Permission To Land is the 2021 recipient of the Holekamp/Turner Grant and The Dutta Corp. prize! MBF Cooley Permission To Land (Cobra x Deeply Dippy K) is a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding ridden and owned by Cole Horn and bred by Knightfield Stud. The pair will represent the U.S. at the 2021 FEI Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in the 7-year-old CCIYH3*-L Championship. The Championship will take place at Mondial du Lion in Le Lion d’Angers, France on October 21-24, 2021. [Mondial du Lion Travel Grant Winner]

Are you a half pad addict? Some riders always, always use a half pad, but in reality, they aren’t always doing as much good as you think they are. In a new study, gel-filled half-pads increased pressure at the withers, potentially causing discomfort and interfering with horses’ movement. Meanwhile, new wool and medical-grade foam half-pads appeared somewhat helpful, reducing pressure under the rider’s seat during sitting trot and canter—at least under the saddles used in the study, said Russell MacKechnie-Guire, PhD, of Centaur Biomechanics and The Royal Veterinary College. The findings suggest not all half-pads are helpful—although some can be—and that it’s critical riders discuss half-pad options with their saddle fitters to make the right choice for their horse and saddle. [Half Pads Aren’t Always Helpful]

Best of Blogs: Knowing When To Say Goodbye

Hardly anything pleases me more than looking at talented young horses. Winners were crowned in four age groups across each of the Olympic disciplines at the 2021 NEXGEN young horse championships, which has proved hugely popular since it launched last year. “This is a new series showcasing the very best of British-based equine talent in the three Olympic disciplines, and we have big plans and high hopes for the future,” said NEXGEN director Victoria Wright. “We’d like to emulate Germany’s Bundeschampionat, and we will keep working towards producing an event of that significance.” [NEXGEN Young Horse Champions]

The best XC fence ever. Photo courtesy of Horse-Events.

It’s clipping season! I’ve already done my first few body clips from my usual September hairy boys, with more lining up behind them. Most people really hate clipping, but I’ve never minded it. It has the satisfaction of detail oriented work with a beautiful finished product, and also I get to log some great audiobook hours. Am I a nerd? Yes. Do I apologize for it? Absolutely not.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Fleur de Leap H.T. (Folsom, La.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Jump Start H.T. and Area VIII Championships (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Larkin Hill H.T. (North Chatham, Ny.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

The Maryland H.T. at Loch Moy Farm + Area II Championships (Adamstown, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. (Nashville, Tn.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Moqui Meadows H.T. (Greeley, Co.): [Website]

Spokane Sport Horse Seventh Annual Fall H.T. (Spokane, Wa.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Sundance Farm H.T. (Plymouth, Wi.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Willow Draw Charity Show (Weatherford, Tx.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

News From Around the Globe:

For a victim, reaching out to SafeSport can feel like an impossibly hard step. They first must recognize what has happened and understand that bringing it to the light of day helps them begin to move forward but also helps protect other potential future victims. The idea of going to SafeSport can feel like a scary cliff that they are jumping off. Carrie Kehring shares her experience alongside her daughter Maggie, who recently brought a SafeSport complaint against her former coach Rich Fellers. She hopes that her tell-all will educate and inform others about the process. [One Journey Through the SafeSport Process]

Kurt Martin and his farrier Darryl Mattern made a winning team at the USEA East Coast FEH this fall.  When Kurt took on Anna Bella as a sales horse, the barely broke, nearly feral 5-year-old Holsteiner probably seemed an unlikely prospect for the foundation of a future breeding program.v But a decade later her first foal, a gray named Record Year by Upsilon, took top honors in the filly section of the FEH East Coast 2-Year-Old Championships at Loch Moy Farm. The filly placed third overall among the 2-year-olds with a score of 83.5. [Martin & Mattern Win Big at FEH Championships]

Bringing a horse to the Advanced level from the very beginning is no mean feat. Jimmie Schramm did just that this year, six years after her last Advanced start with her retired mount Bellamy, with her mare Eclaire. The pair met in Germany when Eclaire was just four, and Jimmie fell in love immediately. The path hasn’t always been straightforward, but the mare is a beast on cross country, which has made the transitions up the levels easier. [The Stars Aligned for Jimmie & Eclaire]

Best of Blogs: Air Horse One: An American Thoroughbred In England

In December of 2020, Allison Springer purchased and began a few updates on her own Deerfield Farm in Upperville, Va. which boasts a cross-country course with questions for combinations working anything from Beginner Novice through Advanced as well as quality footing in the sizable indoor and outdoor arenas. These updates have paved the way for Springer to host a popular at-home clinic series which provides regularly scheduled opportunities for riders local to Area II. [Featured Clinician: Allison Springer]

Friday feelings. Photo by Jen Burgess.

Tomorrow, my friend is getting married to my vet of the past 16 years, and it is going to be the most horse-person filled wedding of all time. The horse community is strong in my area of Virginia, and I really can’t wait to see all the super tan arms and the super pale legs as we all pretend to know how to dress up outside of jodhpur pants and tall boots. We know how to walk in heels, right?

U.S. Weekend Preview

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Twin Rivers Fall International (Paso Robles, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

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

Old Tavern H.T. at Great Meadow (The Plains, Va.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

University of New Hampshire H.T. (Durham, Nh.): [Website] [Entries]

Major International Events:

FEI Eventing European Championships: [Website] [Entries] [Start List & Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

News From Around the Globe:

The biggest news of the week is obviously the retirement of the great Andrew Nicholson. The UK-based New Zealand national is one of the world’s most successful event riders of all time. He has ridden at six Olympics, winning two team bronze and a silver in the process, and seven World Championships, with team gold and both team and individual world medals to his name. Please enjoy this photo gallery from H&H of Andrew in years past. [Celebrating Andrew Nicholson]

Being efficient and skilled in your turns isn’t just for show jumpers anymore. The new competitive modern eventing means it’s crucial for any rider to master their technique when it comes to riding a turn and specifically through flatwork. Twenty-eight-year-old Swiss Olympic Show Jumper, Martin Fuchs, shares his advice, strategies and techniques for more balanced, efficient turns for all types of jumping courses. [Martin Fuchs’ Top Tips For Mastering Turns]

With the horse market going crazy and travel to Europe tricky at this time, more people are buying horses sight unseen. However, this is not a task for the uninitiated or uninformed. Following six simple rules from an equestrian law firm familiar with the proceedings will help you in your endeavors to find the perfect horse on the internet. [Six Rules For Buying A Horse Sight Unseen]

Amateurs competing in hunter/jumper, eventing and dressage, among others, will not be allowed to teach beginner lessons under proposed changes to the USEF’s so-called “amateur rule”—a reversal of course a task force studying the issue made in response to member feedback. Allowing amateurs to teach introductory lessons was one of five proposed rule changes discussed Wednesday during a USEF Amateur Task Force Rule Change Update And Survey Results webinar. As a result of the survey and member feedback, four of the five proposed changes will go to the Nov. 21 USEF board of directors meeting for approval. [Four Amateur Rule Changes Move Forward]

Wedding in a barn, but make it fancy. Photo courtesy of Stable View.

While you’re thoroughly enjoying Stable View’s Oktoberfest this weekend, imagine yourself (or a friend!) getting married there! That’s right, you can have the barn wedding of your dreams, but also super fancy. The main barn and the pavilion are fully equipped for indoor and outdoor rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, and receptions. With accommodations for up to 75 guests, check out the full details on the Stable View Wedding site!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Stable View Oktoberfest 2/3/4* and H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Twin Rivers Fall International (Paso Robles, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

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

Old Tavern H.T. at Great Meadow (The Plains, Va.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

University of New Hampshire H.T. (Durham, Nh.): [Website] [Entries]

Major International Events:

FEI Eventing European Championships: [Website] [Entries] [Start List & Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

News From Around the Globe:

We all strive for greatness. Regardless of your age, level, or discipline; your horse and sport are just too important for you to give anything less than your best. But what happens when mistakes or missed opportunities interfere with your ability to achieve that greatness? What happens when disappointments make you mess up or feel let down? Well, for most riders the answer is simple. Regret. Regrets happen when you give 100% but it’s not good enough – when you do your best but your best isn’t enough. It happens when you should’ve done something different, should’ve done something better, or should’ve beat someone else. Learn how to remove regret from your mental game with Daniel Stewart. [Pressure Proof: Forget the Regret]

On the @blackequestrians Instagram page, a Sept. 14 post did not match the others: the photo was missing a horse. But make no mistake, Sabrina Lewis, 24, is most definitely an equestrian. She’s also the newly minted Miss California USA. Dressed in a dazzling gown with a sparkling crown, dangling earrings, sash and bouquet of flowers in hand, Lewis did not look like she’d been spending much time in a barn. But hey, we riders can clean up okay sometimes. Lewis rode at Berkely and was the captain of the Cal Equestrian Team, competing in IHSA competition. She began riding at age five, and in 2017, she was even accepted into the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program. While she spends less time in the saddle now, she wrote in a post last year, “To me, confidence is beautiful, and I feel my most confident on the back of a horse.” [Miss California USA Is An Equestrian]

Attention all USEA Intercollegiate Eventing teams, do you want to show off your school spirit while watching five-star competitors tackle cross-country? The USEA and Maryland 5 Star invites you to decorate a table with your eventing team on cross-country day, Saturday, October 16, at the inaugural Maryland 5 Star. They will also be offering an opportunity for USEA Interscholastic Eventing League members to learn more about colleges or universities that might suit them. [Exclusive Event for Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Eventing League]

As we head into winter, it’s time to think about care for our senior horses. After the age of 18, some senior horses may struggle to maintain weight, especially in the winter. As horses age, the wear and tear of a lifetime of exposure to parasites and other damaging events negatively affect the efficiency of their gastrointestinal tract. Even horses on stringent deworming schedules can have some damage from parasites. Combine that with worn teeth and aging digestive tissues, and you have a horse that can no longer maintain his or her weight. In this case, addressing dental problems, maintaining healthy digestive tract tissues, and adding easy-to-digest, energy-dense calories to the diet are your goal.[Choosing Supplements for Senior Horses]

Photo courtesy of Horse First.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Alhambra Fall Event (Alberta, Canada): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Aspen Farms International H.T. (Yelm, Wa.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Flying Cross Farm H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

GMHA September H.T. (South Woodstock, Vt.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

MeadowCreek Park H.T. (Kosse, Tx.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Otter Creek Fall H.T. (Wheeler, Wi.): [Website] [Entry Status]

Stone Gate Farm H.T. (Hanoverton, Oh.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Unionville CCI4*-S (Unionville, Pa.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

The Event at Skyline (Mount Pleasant, Ut.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Major International Events:

CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S (Aachen, Germany): [Website] [Schedule and Scoring] [Entries] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Blenheim Palace International CCI4*-L/CCI4*-S (Oxfordshire, UK): [Website] [Entries] [Live Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

News From Around the Globe:

Tamie Smith hasn’t seen much of her home in California this year. She left in mid-February to campaign a string horses on the East Coast eventing circuit in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympic Games. After a brief trip home, she was selected as a Tokyo alternate for the U.S. Eventing Team with her top horse Mai Baum. That selection sent her back east for a mandatory outing, then on to Aachen, Germany, for training and quarantine before heading to Tokyo as the team’s traveling alternate. Since then, she’s been back and forth to California and Europe with more horses, including Danito and Solaguayre California. Now she’s representing Team USA at Aachen with Mai Baum. [Ringside Chat with Tamie Smith]

Cool job alert! ReedPop is looking for someone to work in their marketing department specifically for Equitana. Equitana USA is the premier North American forum that promotes the exchange of ideas, information, and experiences to enhance the horse and the equine industry; all while providing a high-quality event for those with a passion for horses. The event features education, entertainment, and a trade fair featuring riding equipment and apparel, horse care supplies, gifts, and more products and services. They’re looking for somebody to work directly with the Marketing Director and Event Director to develop and execute the marketing strategy to drive brand awareness and attendee acquisition for Equitana USA. Their ideal candidate is a positive, dynamic, results-driven marketing expert with knowledge/expertise in the equine industry. [Apply Now]

Just 15 Super Satisfying Horse Care Videos

Horses don’t sleep much, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need it. Horses that don’t get enough deep sleep—the kind that requires lying down with the whole body or at least the head against the ground—can collapse from fatigue. Horses spend about six hours sleeping every 24 hours, and most of that sleep happens during the night. All equids have a soft tissue “stay apparatus” that locks their legs so they can sleep standing up, but that only allows a light, slow-wave sleep, Houpt said. Horses also spend about 25% of their sleeping time in rapid eye movement (REM) or dream sleep—around an hour and a half a day in many short bouts, she added. When they enter REM sleep, they need to be lying down, because all their muscles—including the stay apparatus—relax. [What Happens To Sleep Deprived Horses?]

Video: 

 

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HORSE FIRST know that finding the right supplement can be difficult. Whether you’re looking for a calmer horse, stronger hooves or supple joints, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for within our product range. Horse First uses only the highest quality active ingredients and are renowned for being some of the most tailored and advanced supplements on the market – “Made by horse people for horse people.” [Learn More About Horse First]

Lynn Symansky and the Deer! Photo by Mike McNally.

This week, my horse celebrated his gotcha-day by brewing an abscess, and gimping around rather pathetically. I pulled the shoe and used my PEMF machine as well as liberal amounts of Epsom salts packs, and blew that sucker in 48 hours, and it was deeply satisfying. Except the part where yesterday when poking it, the abscess ejected everywhere, and horse people all around the world will know what a horrible smell it emits. The smell of an abscess is such a distinctive scent, you’d know it immediately. Anyway, highly recommend PEMF if you want to blow that sucker out of the water quickly.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Alhambra Fall Event (Alberta, Canada): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Aspen Farms International H.T. (Yelm, Wa.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Flying Cross Farm H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

GMHA September H.T. (South Woodstock, Vt.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

MeadowCreek Park H.T. (Kosse, Tx.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Otter Creek Fall H.T. (Wheeler, Wi.): [Website] [Entry Status]

Stone Gate Farm H.T. (Hanoverton, Oh.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Unionville CCI4*-S (Unionville, Pa.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

The Event at Skyline (Mount Pleasant, Ut.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Major International Events:

CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S (Aachen, Germany): [Website] [Schedule and Scoring] [Entries] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Blenheim Palace International CCI4*-L/CCI4*-S (Oxfordshire, UK): [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

News From Around the Globe:

Woods Baughman and C’est La Vie 135 made their names known in 2019 when they won a competitive CCI3*-L at the Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International. Woods, now 25, works as an assistant trainer to Sharon White at her Last Frontier Farm in West Virginia, and also spent 2018 working for Dirk Schrade in Germany, which is where he found Contendro. The pair moved up to advanced in late 2019 and last year finished third at the MARS Equestrian Tryon International CCI4*-L. Most recently, they finished fifth at the Maryland International CCI3*-S. But what is Contendro like at home? A bit of a donkey, turns out! Go behind the stall door to learn more. [Behind The Stall Door with C’est La Vie]

Strides for Equality Equestrians is offering a second round of the Ever So Sweet Scholarship (ESS) this fall, and applications close on October 15 so be sure to get yours in! The purpose of the scholarship is to provide education, experience, and networking opportunities for diverse young people interested in careers in competitive horse sports, particularly in the disciplines of eventing or show jumping. To learn more about ESS, click here.

The USEF Amateur Task Force is requesting your valuable feedback on several USEF Amateur Rule changes under consideration by the USEF Amateur Task Force. This survey addresses the first phase of rule changes developed to address member feedback received by the task force and to achieve the goals of providing more access, flexibility, and opportunity for amateurs and increased participation in the sport. It closes at the end of the day today! [Take The USEA Survey]

It is championship season and Area VI held their annual Area Championships Copper Meadows. Championships classes were offered at the Beginner Novice, Novice, Training, and Preliminary level. All championship divisions competed separate dressage tests from the regular horse trial entries and there were several additional cross-country questions on the championship tracks. Winners received an embroidered cooler from Professionals Choice, a leather halter from Elston Hay and Grain, a Fleeceworks gift certificate, a Ride On Video gift certificate, an Equestrian Habits prize, a free equine massage courtesy of CJ Equine Massage, and a set of Scrubbies from the Scoring Chix. Following the weekend’s battle royale,the USEA caught up with the riders who rose to the top to gather their thoughts! [Rider Reflections on Area VI Championships]

Stable View getting ready for Oktoberfest!

Never underestimate the power of trotting jumps with young horses! 

Photo via Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials FB.

We are delighted to announce that Burghley 2022 is officially on! Block out your calendar for Thursday September 1st through Sunday September 4th next year, and while you’re at it, enter to win a membership for the 2022 event! Simply by visiting this post on Facebook, and tagging a friend, you can be entered in the drawing. Competition ends on the 16th of September, and the winners will be notified.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Tryon Fall H.T. (Tryon, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

CDCTA Fall H.T.: (Berryville, Va.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Chardon Valley H.T. (Decatur, Mi.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Copper Meadows Fall H.T. (Ramona, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Flora Lea Fall H.T. (Medford, Nj.): [Website] [Entry Status]

News From Around the Globe:

The USEA Foundation is now accepting applications for the Essex Horse Trials Grant, the Seema Sonnad Junior Rider’s Grant, and the Haller Scholarship for Eventing Officials. The Essex Horse Trials Grant is a $10,o00 grant for riders 25-and-under who compete successfully at the CCI3* level or above, and is intended to help young riders transition to senior rider ranks. The Seema Sonnad Junior Rider’s Grant is $5,000 for riders 18 and under competing successfully at the Preliminary and CCI2* level working towards representing their area at the NAYC CCI3* competition. The Haller Scholarship for Eventing officials offers $5,000 of financial assistance to licensed officials who are working towards promotion to the “R”, “S”, or FEI licenses. [Apply for Grants Here]

Are you a perfectionist rider? Do you struggle with your competitive side, and tend to only see the negative parts of each ride, particularly at a show? You’re not alone my friend, and this mental struggle is an ongoing learning process for riders across all sports. A hypercritical mindset is counterproductive to long term success, and learning a positive, growth-oriented way of perceiving your riding is critical to maintaining your sanity and your love of the sport. [Helping the Hypercritical]

Clinic Review: The Magic of Tik Maynard and Andrea Waldo

In an effort to support the owners of equine athletes and other animals visiting Ocala’s new world-class World Equestrian Center, the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine has embarked on a strategic alliance with the center to provide leading-edge patient care in a new 40,000-square-foot hospital facility located on center grounds. The new facility will be known as the UF Veterinary Hospital at WEC. Construction of the hospital is currently underway, with the opening estimated to take place next spring. [New Veterinary Hospital next to WEC]

Being the king of the castle is exhausting. Photo by Kate Samuels.

My “retired” advanced horse, Nyls, turned 20 this year, and so I figured it was time to pull his hind shoes and officially try to retire him. However, nobody told him that he is retired and old, and he is rejecting this idea. So, after enduring his escaping escapades for a few months where he runs around the property with his tail in the air, I finally put his hind shoes back on and put him back to work. The level of excitement about wearing tack and going to the ring again was so hilarious and heartwarming. So, we return to work!

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Tryon Fall H.T. (Tryon, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

CDCTA Fall H.T.: (Berryville, Va.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Chardon Valley H.T. (Decatur, Mi.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Copper Meadows Fall H.T. (Ramona, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Flora Lea Fall H.T. (Medford, Nj.): [Website] [Entry Status]

News From Around the Globe:

Stable View has instituted a new volunteer rewards system, Very Important Volunteers, in which you can earn points whenever you sign up and help out. We love our eventing volunteers! Click here to learn more.

We all want to know more about On Cue, the surprise success story of 2021. After her impressive performance in Kentucky where she was the dark horse entry for Boyd Martin, she once again exceeded expectations at the AEC just last week. In the barn, Cue isn’t a diva, and isn’t a prissy mare. However, she takes great pleasure in evading capture in the field, to the chagrin of her grooms. [Behind the Stall Door: On Cue]

Sallie Johnson and her Irish Sport Horse gelding, Fernhill DiCaprio were named the reserve champion combination in the Preliminary Rider division at the AEC in which the pair managed to come in only 0.3 points behind the winner. But just in March of this year, Johnson was making an impossible decision – whether or not it was in his best interest to put the gelding to sleep. An aggressive bout of acute enteritis, either having presented bacterially or virally, landed the gelding at the University of Georgia equine medical center for an undetermined amount of time as he was placed in what the clinic deemed to be supportive care. His story of recovery is nothing short of miraculous. [A Modern Day Miracle: One Horse’s Rebound from Near-Death to Near-Champion]

We have a not-so-secret shame in the horse world. Filled with celebrities, and longly considered a sport only for the rich, the backbone of our sports isOur industry is built on the labor of an exploited work force, primarily undocumented immigrants from Central and South America. You see them at every barn and horse show, filling water buckets, wrapping legs, lunging horses in the pre-dawn hours or standing quietly with them as they wait for their rider. While some of these workers are well-paid employees, with compensation befitting their skills and experience, the vast majority are poorly paid, housed in shabby barn apartments, and offered no overtime pay, workman’s comp, paid time off, or health insurance. [The Not-So-Secret Shame of the Horse World]

The real behind-the-scenes of the AECs. Photo courtesy of Fylicia Barr Eventing.

Inspired by the week of championship riding, I’ve scheduled some lessons for myself over the next few days and I’m honestly so excited. I don’t actually often get to take time out for my own lessons, but recently the weather has changed so I can ride after 11 a.m. without wanting to die, so that’s a huge bonus. Dressage lesson today, jumping lesson this weekend! And maybe some cross country schooling too. Why not do it all, right?

U.S. Weekend Preview:

#AEC2021 (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Ride Times/Live Scores] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Bucks County Horse Park H.T. (Revere, Pa.): [Website]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, Ga.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Equestrians’ Institute H.T. (Cle Elum, Wa.): [Website] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Silverwood Farm H.T. (Camp Lake, Wi.): [Website]

Major International Events:

Bicton Arena CCI5*: [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Live Stream]

News From Around the Globe:

Derek di Grazia’s challenging cross-country course shuffled the leaderboard in the $60,000 Adequan® USEA Advanced Final, with Fylicia Barr emerging as the new leader Barr, a West Grove, Pa. resident, was one of the quickest rides on a day when no one made the time with her own Galloway Sunrise, a 13-year-old American Warmblood mare, who she bought for $500 off Craigslist. “She was a feral 2-year-old when I got her. Like, wasn’t even halter broke at the time. You know, it’s been a really, really long journey. And obviously, as a kid, my dream was always to go Advanced with her. And now she’s here. And it’s a little bit of that dream come true moment,” Barr said. [Fylicia Barr Leads Advanced Championship]

This is the first year that the U.S. Eventing Association American Eventing Championships have offered a modified division, and 36 competitors took advantage of the new offering. Modified division dressage leaders Julie Wolfert and Namibia added no cross-country penalties to maintain their lead on their dressage score of 25.2. Wolfert’s had the gelding for two years. “I am very fortunate that he’s not one of those Thoroughbreds that gets very anxious. He’s spooky, but he’s not anxious. He’s always very relaxed in the trot—he’s almost a kick ride,” she said. [Kansas Native and an OTTB Lead Modified Division]

If you’re not competing this weekend at the AEC, perhaps you’re just inspired by four days of cross country action. Most cross-country courses these days ask us to take jumps off turns. A typical version of such a question, one you may encounter from Novice level on up, is a drop—where your horse has to jump down from one level to a lower one—followed by a fairly short, bending line to a narrow fence. This means you have only a few seconds after the drop to reestablish your position, focus your horse on where he’s going and make sure he keeps his energy forward through the turn. Let Phillip Dutton walk you through how to ride and train this particular question. [Master The Drop with a Bending Line to a Narrow]

Thinking about reseeding your pastures this fall? Good grass cover in your fields is important to your horse’s health, and can save you a lot of money by providing great nutrition. However, you have to know which seeds to use for cold weather, and which seeds are more suitable for the warm spring weather. [Reseeding Horse Pastures in the Fall]

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HORSE FIRST know that finding the right supplement can be difficult. Whether you’re looking for a calmer horse, stronger hooves or supple joints, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for within our product range. Horse First uses only the highest quality active ingredients and are renowned for being some of the most tailored and advanced supplements on the market – “Made by horse people for horse people.” [Learn More About Horse First]

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Jon Holling used up one of his nine lives yesterday at the AECs. Photo by JJ Sillman.

I know this seems insane, but in my twenty years of competing in three-day eventing, I’ve never competed or even witnessed the American Eventing Championships. I know so many people who make it the main event of their calendar year, but somehow even when I qualified, I just never went. Now, watching all the action in Kentucky, I’m pretty jealous and maybe I’ll attend somewhere in the next twenty years.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

#AEC2021 (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Ride Times/Live Scores] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Bucks County Horse Park H.T. (Revere, Pa.): [Website]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, Ga.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Equestrians’ Institute H.T. (Cle Elum, Wa.): [Website] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Silverwood Farm H.T. (Camp Lake, Wi.): [Website]

Major International Events:

Bicton Arena CCI5*: [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Live Stream]

News From Around the Globe:

Stable View has instituted a new volunteer rewards system, Very Important Volunteers, in which you can earn points whenever you sign up and help out. We love our eventing volunteers! Click here to learn more.

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Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE) is proud to partner with the USEA this week for the 2021 American Eventing Championships, presented by Nutrena Feed. Be on the lookout for SEE stickers and this awesome jump adorned with the SEE banner! To learn more about and donate to Strides for Equality Equestrians’ efforts to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in equestrian sports, click here.

We’re celebrating #AEC2021 all week long with a new contest from our friends at Kentucky Performance Products! We thought it appropriate to share our love of the horse and of the sport in the form of a nomination contest — so, we ask you EN, who at AEC has inspired you this year? Nominate them, and you could win too! [Enter to WIN!]

Want to take a look at what the AEC competitors will be tackling on cross country this week?Check out a preview of each level’s track here.

While you’re at it, check out some Fast Facts curated by the USEA for this week’s American Eventing Championships — and there are a lot of them!

Corvett won all of us over at Kentucky this year with his unique jumping style. Originally brought in to Phillip Dutton’s barn as a sales project, “Barry” was just too quirky for most people to ride, so working student Emily Hamel got him for a good price. Emily was able to be flexible enough to accommodate his flamboyant jumping style, and together they reached the 5* level together this spring. [Behind the Stall Door: Corvett]

Rosie Napravnik currently sits in the sixth place position after the dressage and cross-country phases in the Preliminary Rider division at the AEC. The 2021 event is both her and her horse, Sanimo’s, first eventing championship ever. However, she is no stranger to standing in the winner’s circle aboard a Thoroughbred. At only 33 years old, Napravnik is one of the most decorated Thoroughbred horse racing jockeys of her time having achieved the status of highest-ranked woman jockey in North America by 2014 and had lifetime earnings of $71,396,717. [Napravnik Competes at Her First Eventing Championships]

Winner of the Groom’s Award at Great Meadow, Sydnee Ledyard posing with Emma Ford. Photo courtesy of World Class Grooming.

As we roll in to September, I can honestly say that I’m well and fully ready for fall and quite possibly even winter. Since I don’t go south for the winter, it represents a little lull in my busy schedule, and I definitely won’t miss the Virginia summer weather, I can tell you that much. Basically, I can’t wait to stop complaining about hot weather, so soon I can complain about freezing my butt off. Isn’t that what it really means to be a horse person?

U.S. Weekend Preview

Five Points H.T. (Raeford, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T. (Poolesville, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Shepherd Ranch H.T. (Santa Ynez, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Town Hill Farm H.T. (Lakeville, Ct.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Major International Events:

Land Rover Blair Castle International H.T. (Atholl, Scotland): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Times/Scores] [EN’s Coverage]

Millstreet International H.T. (Millstreet, Ireland) : [Website] [Scores]

Wooroloo Bates Saddles International H.T. (Perth, Australia): [Website]

News From Around the Globe:

USEA is proud to announce the partnership with Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE) for the 2021 USEA AEC to help promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sport of eventing. SEE is an allyship program for the eventing and wider equestrian communities and represents a first step towards growing racial and ethnic diversity in our discipline. The goals of SEE align closely to those of the USEA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and include promoting a more inclusive culture within the equestrian community that values the participation, voices, and contributions of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), while educating others on how to be effective allies. This includes not just riders, but also volunteers, officials, grooms, and everyone who loves horses and horse sports. [USEA AEC Partners with SEE]

Want to have your show jumping round critiqued by a pro? Submit a video for Jumper Nation’s ‘Go Jumping With’ series and you could be featured in a future column! Visit this edition for more info. [Go Jumping With Doug Payne]

Over £1,100 has been raised for eventers Nick Gauntlett and Sophie Hulme after the death of four horses in a lorry crash this week — but Nick said they would like the money to go to charity. Nick’s friend Sarah Ettridge set up a GoFundMe page after the accident on Tuesday in which Nick’s top stallion Party Trick and Sophie’s Charisma TH, Fairytale Cooley and Ice Cool Cooley died. However, after learning of the page, Nick says he would like the money to be split between the British Horse Society’s road safety campaign and British Breeding. [Fundraiser in Honor of Horses]

It’s been a long road to Kentucky for the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) Mega-Makeover classes of 2020 and 2021, between the event’s postponement in 2020 and the constantly-changing landscape as a result of the global pandemic. Let’s take a closer look at that deep field of registered horses! Folks from the RRP broke down height, sex, year foaled, sired by, dam lines, state where they were foaled, auction histories, and even racing records for the 1,027 horses registered to compete. Incredible statistics and graphs for all you thoroughbred junkies out there! [Horses of the Mega-Makeover]

HORSE FIRST know that finding the right supplement can be difficult. Whether you’re looking for a calmer horse, stronger hooves or supple joints, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for within our product range. Horse First uses only the highest quality active ingredients and are renowned for being some of the most tailored and advanced supplements on the market – “Made by horse people for horse people.” [Learn More About Horse First]

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Who jumped it best? Photo courtesy of Sh*tEventersUnite

It’s not even September, and yesterday I body clipped my first horse. Granted, he is Irish, and hasn’t gotten the memo about living in Virginia, so his “summer” coat is basically a fall coat anyway, but it was truly gruesome. Clipping when it’s about 100 degrees outside is less than ideal, and all the itchy hair sticks to you like mad. Blegh!

Don’t forget: the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics are happening now! Dressage officially kicked off on Wednesday, Tokyo time, with the First Horse Inspection, and the competition will open today very early, with Grade II riders leading off. Click here to view the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic schedule and results.

Let’s catch up a bit with the U.S. team. Be sure to give them all a follow and support their efforts this week. Good luck to all!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Five Points H.T. (Raeford, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Seneca Valley Pony Club H.T. (Poolesville, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Shepherd Ranch H.T. (Santa Ynez, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Town Hill Farm H.T. (Lakeville, Ct.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Major International Events:

Land Rover Blair Castle International H.T. (Atholl, Scotland): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Times/Scores]

Millstreet International H.T. (Millstreet, Ireland) : [Website] [Scores]

Wooroloo Bates Saddles International H.T. (Perth, Australia): [Website]

News From Around the Globe:

The USEA introduced the new Modified Trophy, in Remembrance of Ashley Stout. The perpetual trophy will be presented to the Modified Champion at the AEC’s this year, and each year moving forward. Artist Jean Clagett produced a bronze trophy replica of Ashley Stout and her mount Avant Garde that will remain as a perpetual trophy at the USEA headquarters and each year’s AEC Modified Champions will be engraved onto brass plates and mounted on the trophy base. Ashley Stout and her Westphalian gelding Avant Garde both passed away in a tragic cross-country schooling accident in July 2019 when Ashley was just 13 years old. Stout had been a member of the USEA since 2016 and quickly earned success in 2017 when she won the JBN Under 14 division at the AEC, riding her horse at the time Deo Volente, finishing on their dressage score of 19.8. Stout then began riding Avant Garde in the spring of 2018 and the pair had zero cross-country penalties in their 15 USEA starts together. [Ashley Stout Modified Trophy]

Fun jog outfits from Classic Series competitors? Yes please! The classic three-day-event format continues to gain popularity and enthusiasm from riders of all levels, and everyone gets really into their two jog outfits. The USEA picked their favorites from this year already. [Favorite Jog Outfits from Classic Series]

With their newly upgraded safety systems, Stable View is at the top of your list for schooling opportunities. The Boyd Martin ETB Cross Country schooling field and 330 ft. x 230 ft. outdoor arena is open for $100 per horse/day, 7 days a week. There are 30 jumps and 6 fixed assets including a water complex. The obstacles are built by Eric Bull and start at Training level. Rider and Trainers at Training Level and above only.  [Schedule Your Schooling Day]

Martin Fuchs’ Olympic mount Clooney remains in the hospital a week after his pasture accident that ended his sporting career. Fuchs updated everyone on his instagram, saying that Clooney is in a sling due to a fracture of his humorous on his right side, and is getting the best care possible at a hospital in Zurich, with daily visits from both his groom and his owner. We wish you the best on your recovery and retirement, Clooney! [Clooney Recovers in Zurich]

One more week to stock up on your favorite EcoVet fly spray! Take 40% off in their GALLON SALE! Shop now and get stocked up for the rest of the year. Use code ECOGAL40 at checkout and never see a fly again. [EcoVet Sale]

Ian Stark makes his comeback: first FEI trot up in 10 years!

 

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Who jumped it best….Kevin McNab barefoot, or Kevin McNab on horseback in Tokyo? Hard to tell honestly, we think his form is pretty great on foot, but the benefit of the doubt probably goes to Don Quidam, mostly because he’s a damn handsome horse. Sorry Kevin, we can’t help it if we love your horse slightly more than your barefooted self!

For those of you in Virginia, tickets are still on sale for Great Meadow International to come and spectate — you can purchase yours here. If you’re not local, the live stream of the CCI4*-S and CCI3*-S will be carried on H&C+.

#MARSGMI: [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [Show Photographer]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Caber Farm H.T. (Onalaska, Wa.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

The Event at Archer (Cheyenne, Wy.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Full Gallop Farm H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club H.T. (Geneseo, Ny.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, Vt.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Metamora Hunt II Pony Club H.T. (Metamora, Mi.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Ocala Summer II H.T. (Ocala, Fl.): [Website] [Entry Status]

Major International Events:

Arville International CCIO4*-S: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Cross Country Maps]

News From Around the Globe:

Not finished with Tokyo yet? Enjoy this course walk with silver medallist Shane Rose as we do a video birds-eye view of the Olympic cross country course a few weeks ago in Tokyo. Shane was double clear four seconds under the time with his mount Virgil, so he’s a decent one to listen to do a course walk. [Walk Tokyo with Shane Rose]

Chances are pretty high that you’ve experienced show-jitters before. Maybe it was before an important competition, a clinic with an unknown clinician, your first group lesson, or riding in front of a friend or family member for the first time. Regardless of the situation, you’ll probably agree that performance anxiety is one thing you’d rather avoid. The problem with show-jitters is that it creates pressure: pressure to avoid messing up or letting people down, or the pressure to look good or risk having others think you’re bad. Check out Daniel Stewart’s blog this month on how to handle the jitters. [Pressure Proof with Daniel Stewart]

In the summer of 2019, Mellisa Warden was balancing her career as a USEA technical delegate and “R” judge with a job working for a local FEI veterinarian. She was also preparing to move up to the Intermediate level of eventing with her Thoroughbred gelding, Deadpool, and running marathons in her free time when she and her daughter flew from their home in Aiken, S.C. to Germany to visit Warden’s husband, who was stationed there while serving in the military. On a Sunday morning in Berlin, the sun peeking through the clouds, Warden and her family were bicycling through the city when Warden hit a set of tram tracks in the center of a street, flying off her bike. “I thought, okay, my ankle’s sprained. I’ll tape it up, it’ll be fine,” Warden said. “People were running up to pull me out of the road. They got me up, and when I put my foot down so I could balance a little bit, my ankle detached from my leg.” [Mellisa Warden’s Decision After A Traumatic Injury Led To A New Beginning]

HORSE FIRST know that finding the right supplement can be difficult. Whether you’re looking for a calmer horse, stronger hooves or supple joints, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for within our product range. Horse First uses only the highest quality active ingredients and are renowned for being some of the most tailored and advanced supplements on the market – “Made by horse people for horse people.” [Learn More About Horse First]

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Multiple talents: goat wrangling Jennie Brannigan. Photo courtesy of Jennie.

Last week, everything in my part of Virginia was brown and crispy and I wondered if I would ever see green stuff ever again. Then, the holiest of rainstorms blew through, and it’s rained a little bit every day, and even though it’s revoltingly humid and sweaty outside, I’ve never been more thankful. The grass is green again, and nobody feels the same kind of joy about green grass as horse people after a draught, let me tell you.

Don’t forget, tickets are still on sale for Great Meadow International to come and spectate — you can purchase yours here. If you’re not local, the live stream of the CCI4*-S and CCI3*-S will be carried on H&C+.

#MARSGMI: [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Live Stream] [Volunteer] [Show Photographer]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Caber Farm H.T. (Onalaska, Wa.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

The Event at Archer (Cheyenne, Wy.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Full Gallop Farm H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club H.T. (Geneseo, Ny.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, Vt.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Metamora Hunt II Pony Club H.T. (Metamora, Mi.): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Ocala Summer II H.T. (Ocala, Fl.): [Website] [Entry Status]

Major International Events:

Arville International CCIO4*-S: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Cross Country Maps]

News From Around the Globe:

The USEA ICP Committee announced the return of the USEA ICP Symposium, which will be held on February 8 – 9, 2022 at Barnstaple South in Ocala, Florida. This year’s clinicians will include ICP Faculty members: Mary D’Arcy, Phyllis Dawson, Jim Graham, Eric Horgan, Dayna Lynd-Pugh, David and Karen O’Connor, Mark Phillips, Jerry Schurink, and Robin Walker. Additional speakers/presenters will be announced in the future. The 2022 Symposium will follow the traditional symposium format of instruction of dressage, show jumping, and cross-country, at all levels. New this year will be the introduction of the nationwide standards for each competition level, basics of sports psychology, teaching to all learning modalities, and essential coaching knowledge. [ICP Symposium Returns for 2022]

Hot Off The Presses: Great Meadow International Fast Facts

The illustrious dressage stallion Sandro Hit has died aged 28, after suffering from an infection. Sandro Hit died at the Schockemöhle stallion station in Germany, where he has been based throughout his life. Sandro Hit’s influence on dressage breeding cannot be underestimated – he can be credited as being behind a whole dynasty of modern dressage horses. He has more than 200 licensed sons, and was himself world champion and bundeschampion as a six-year-old under Ulf Möller. His bloodlines even entered the eventing world, and our equestrian world will be a little dimmer without him.  [RIP Sandro Hit]

Best of Blogs: Things I Saw In Tokyo That Will Inspire Me Forever

Professional grooms definitely have the craziest inside stories of the equestrian world. However, some stories from top grooms are more ridiculous than others. Most of these stories are concerned with traveling to very important events and having absurd travel complications with big time horses, and a few remembrances of long format insanity running from steeplechase to the ten-minute box. [It Shouldn’t Have Happened But…]

Video: Safety devices were devised in the 1930s. What took us so long to bring them to this time?

Sharks in the water? Photo by Ashley Claus.

After weeks of terrible draught here in Virginia, I spent several days watching thunderstorms literally pass within a mile of my farm while all my grass fried in the fields. Then yesterday, it finally dumped rain for an hour, and honestly I’ve never been more excited for anything in my life. I got to drag my arena without dying of dust inhalation, I got to do more than walk on hacks because the ground was no longer concrete, and my life is complete. Rain is life!

U.S. Weekend Preview:

The Woodside Summer Event (Woodside, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

GMHA Festival of Eventing H.T. (South Woodstock, Vt.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Otter Creek Summer H.T. (Wheeler, Wi.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Waredaca H.T. (Laytonsville, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Windridge Farm Summer H.T. (Mooresboro, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Major International Events:

NAF Five Star Hartpury International H.T. (Glocestershire, United Kingdom): [Website] [Start Times and Scores]

FEI European Championships for Ponies (Strzegom, Poland): [Website] [Entries]

Bromont Horse Trials (Montreal, Quebec): [Website]

Le Grand Complet FEI Nations Cup – Haras Du Pin (Le Pin-au-Haras, France): [Website] [Scoring and Timing] [Live Stream]

News From Around the Globe:

The world modern pentathlon governing body is to conduct a “full review” of the riding element of the women’s competition in Tokyo after “distressing” scenes at the Games. The sport, in which competitors have to take on a showjumping course of up to 1.20m on borrowed horses, as well as fencing, swimming, running and shooting, has sparked debate over the standard of riding at every recent Olympics. The sport had already agreed on a new format for the 2024 Games; it will run as a single 90-minute event with equestrian first, and an elimination system that might encourage better horsemanship. [Modern Pentathlon Facing Review]

Striking the right tone in the warm-up is key to producing the ride you’ll have in the arena, whether you’re schooling upper level work at home or about to go into the show ring. Heels Down Mag selected five different warm-up routines from professionals on how to get the most out of the beginning of your ride, and how to instill confidence, forwardness, and relaxation in the horse. [Relaxing Warmup Techniques]

Young, promising event horses are beginning to gear up for the 2021 Future Event Horse Program Championships, which will take place in the next two months. The 2021 USEA FEH East Coast Championships will be held September 25-26 at Loch Moy Farm, the FEH Central Championships will take place at Haras Hacienda on October 9-10, and the FEH West Coast Championships will be held at Twin Rivers Ranch from October 29-30. Let’s check in on the previous winners of FEH championships! [Where Are They Now?]

History, Heroics, and Horsemanship. Looking back at the Tokyo Games, nope, we aren’t over it yet. [Top Ten Tokyo Moments]

Best of Blogs: Road to the AEC: Leaving The Startbox with Faith, Not Fear

A new concept to top-up eventing prize money from live-streaming sales will make its debut at the Chedington Bicton Park CCI5* Horse Trials. The five-star fixture organized to replace the cancelled 2021 Burghley Horse Trials, will be live-streamed by Elite Eventing TV. The Event Rider Master series team is behind the new Elite Eventing TV channel, which will be broadcast via Horse & Country TV’s streaming service. Access to watch the Bicton live-stream will cost £25, or £20 for Horse & Country members, and content will also be available on-demand for 90 days after the event. [Bicton 5* Live Stream Plans]

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HORSE FIRST knows that finding the right supplement can be difficult. Whether you’re looking for a calmer horse, stronger hooves or supple joints, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for within our product range. Horse First uses only the highest quality active ingredients and are renowned for being some of the most tailored and advanced supplements on the market – “Made by horse people for horse people.” [Learn More About Horse First]

Eventing royalty with Nicola Wilson. Photo by 1st Class Images.

Honestly, I love almost nothing more than a young horse with royal Eventing bloodlines, and as we so rarely have super successful 5* stallions, it’s not a common sighting! Some of you may remember Nicola Wilson’s lovely Beltane Queen, who won the British Open as well as finishing in the top 20 at Badminton in 2015, and very few of you will forget Chillie Morning, who won Badminton that same year. Above is their royal progeny, Beltane Chillie Prince (an apt name), a four-year-old of striking appearance and obvious talent!

U.S. Weekend Preview:

The Woodside Summer Event (Woodside, Ca.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

GMHA Festival of Eventing H.T. (South Woodstock, Vt.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Otter Creek Summer H.T. (Wheeler, Wi.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Waredaca H.T. (Laytonsville, Md.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Volunteer]

Windridge Farm Summer H.T. (Mooresboro, Nc.): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Major International Events:

NAF Five Star Hartpury International H.T. (Glocestershire, United Kingdom): [Website] [Start Times and Scores]

FEI European Championships for Ponies (Strzegom, Poland): [Website] [Entries]

Bromont Horse Trials (Montreal, Quebec): [Website]

Le Grand Complet FEI Nations Cup – Haras Du Pin (Le Pin-au-Haras, France): [Website] [Scoring and Timing] [Live Stream]

News From Around the Globe:

Ingrid Klimke is back in the saddle after her fall this spring, which resulted in serious injuries that put her out of commission for a while. She broke her collarbone, and it pressed back into her body cavity onto vital organs, and she could barely breathe, talk, or swallow for weeks. After surgery and 8 weeks recovery, she’s slowly getting back to it. With lots of physiotherapy, she’s able to ride two or three horses a day now, and is dipping her toes back into jumping and other activities with trusted horses like Bobby. [Ingrid Klimke On the Road to Recovery]

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum hardly need any introduction, but did you know that Lexus is also a graduate of the 2011 class of USEA Young Event Horses? Currently, Tamie has a string of upper-level event horses, most of which have graduated from the YEH program, including Mai Baum, Fleeceworks Royal, Ruth Bley’s Hanoverian gelding Danito (Dancier x Wie Musik), Linda Paine’s Thoroughbred gelding, Cheers (Blauer Vogel x Qtrapastree), and Valerie Ferraro’s Thoroughbred gelding, No App for That (Chelokee x No Approval). In this article, she provides helpful tips on preparing young event horses for the future. [YEH Training Tips with Tamie Smith]

We love this Equestrians of Color photography project. This week we meet Jovān Daniel, an ambitious and competitive young lady who competes in Hunter Jumpers with her mare, and also enjoys some very rad fashion. She speaks candidly about racism in the equestrian world, how she embraces her black culture while inhabiting a largely white world, and talks passionately about what she loves about horses. [Jovān Daniel: Equestrians of Color]

Full disclosure, I own the most prissy princess horse of all time. And he always protests loudly and thoroughly when anything isn’t to his liking, especially tack. That’s why I was so delighted (and honestly surprised) when he loved this VIP Saddle Pad that I got for a product review. If you have a prissy princess, or just fancy some seriously scientific impact protection for your horse’s back, you gotta check it out. [VIP Saddle Pad Satisfies My Picky Horse]

Novice winner at Millbrook!

Photo courtesy of Jackie Potts.

While at the Olympic Games, five of the Best Groom Award winners gathered together and had a little photo shoot at the five rings with the FEI President Ingmar De Vos. Pictured above is Madeleine Broek (NED) who won in 2019, Lee McKeever (USA) who won in 2018, Alan Davies (GBR) who won in 2017, FEI President Ingmar De Vos, Jackie Potts (GBR) who won in 2014, and Jose Eduardo Garcia Luna (USA) who won in 2015. What a power group! Recognition of grooms at the Olympic Games is a big step in the right direction of showing just how important that role is to the success of equestrians worldwide.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Millbrook H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Hoosier Horse Trials: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Area VII Young Rider Benefit H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Cobblestone Farms H.T. II: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

River Glen Summer H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Fair Hill International Recognized H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Spring Gulch H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

News From Around the Globe:

Dr. Steve Berkowitz, DVM, has lived with his wife Sue Berkowitz and a couple of dogs in Pennsylvania, in the midst of Amish country, for the past 20 years. He has worked with Unionville Equine Associates since 1985, when the practice was just him and two other veterinarians. As the horse industry has grown, so has the practice, which is now up to about 10 veterinarians. Steve, 65, plans to retire after this year. Something of a Renaissance man, he’s known locally for his baking and photography skills, both of which grew out of being the vet at area horse shows. [A Day In The Life: Steve Berkowitz]

Flashback Friday: Michael Page Reports on the 1964 Tokyo Olympics Three Day Eventing

Most horses are considered beloved partners by their owners. So, why do so many scientific studies point to a high prevalence of welfare problems? They set out in their paper to disentangle the possible factors explaining such a paradox, exploring the impact of anthropomorphic and cultural biases and popular beliefs. As horses are non-verbal, current management practices rely upon what people think is good for them. This opens the way to subjective interpretations and projections, based perhaps on experience but probably more on cultural/social norms and influences, traditions and beliefs. “There are many reasons why people may not actively promote their own horse’s welfare through appropriate management: They may not perceive that there is a problem; they may misinterpret signals; they may follow erroneous advice; and/or they may be influenced by culture, social networks and media.” [Horse Welfare Paradox]

Best of Blogs: Did A Safety Pin Determine The Outcome of Olympic Eventing?

 HORSE FIRST know that finding the right supplement can be difficult. Whether you’re looking for a calmer horse, stronger hooves or supple joints, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for within our product range. Horse
First uses only the highest quality active ingredients and are renowned for being some of the most tailored and advanced supplements on the market – “Made by horse people for horse people.” [Learn More About Horse First]

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Millbrook Horse Trials is back!

Millbrook Horse Trials Return from Marion Latta de Vogel on Vimeo.

Grazing in Tokyo? Sorted. Photo courtesy of Lourie Bonnard.

Big tip of the hat to Stable View, who took a real initiative recently in improving the safety of their cross country schooling facility, following the tragic loss of Annie Goodwin. Not only have they upgraded their security cameras to show people riding on cross country, but they installed a blue light in the parking area that connects directly to 911, and trained all their staff in CPR and AED. This is definitely a step in the right direction, and more major cross country schooling locations should take note.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Millbrook H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Hoosier Horse Trials: [Website]

Area VII Young Rider Benefit H.T.: [Website]

Cobblestone Farms H.T. II: [Website]

River Glen Summer H.T.: [Website]

Fair Hill International Recognized H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Spring Gulch H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

News From Around the Globe:

World Equestrian Center announced yesterday that it has acquired the iconic Ocala Jockey Club. The nearly 1000-acre facility has a rich history in hosting top equestrian events and in hospitality with an event space that offers unparalleled views of the rolling hills and incomparable Ocala sunsets. Moving forward, the facility will be known as The World Equestrian Jockey Club. The Ocala Jockey Club has been host to a favorite stop on the United States’ eventing calendar with the annual international Ocala Jockey Club CCI4*L 3-Day Event. Plans are underway now to continue this tradition of top sport by transitioning the facility to the future site of World Equestrian Center eventing cross-country competition. [WEC Acquired Ocala Jockey Club Facility]

Martin Fuch’s sensational 15-year-old gelding is unquestionably one of show jumping’s very, vest best. But even on the world’s biggest stage—the day of the individual jumping final at the Tokyo Olympic Games—Clooney was allowed to be a horse. Please enjoy photos of just another grey horse, living his life and scrounging in the mud and water on the Tokyo schooling cross country course. [Even Olympians Roll In The Mud]

In the 18th century, the French riding master François Robichon de La Guérinière was looking for an exercise that created more shoulder freedom in the horse, enabling him to move laterally in an easier and more beautiful way. As a result, he invented the shoulder-in, which has become one of the most fundamental exercises in the training of a dressage horse. The rider who is able to ride his horse in a correct and controlled shoulder-in will later find all other lateral movements easy. [How To Ride & Utilize Shoulder In]

Steffen Peters is officially on TikTok. Not just for the young’uns anymore, TikTok now features the 56-year-0ld dressage rider and his beloved Mopsie, dancing to “What Is Love” and other jams. We shouldn’t be surprised, as it turns out Steffen used to moonlight as a DJ at parties. Of course, he was inspired to make some clips after watching the viral video of Snoop Dogg and Kevin Hart reacting to Isabell Werth’s freestyle. [Steffen on TikTok]

 

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No reason for this except it’s stinkin’ cute. Photo by Erin Ford.

I’m trying to write this News & Notes while simultaneously watching the first session of Olympic dressage for our Eventing competitors, so heads up please excuse any random spelling mistakes or weird links. So far, I’m very impressed with the quality of the dressage this year, and this test is so fast and furious it’s quite demanding! To score well, you have to really be able to pull out all the stops right and instantly, with no room for a spook or an error. Also, don’t forget to check out our full Form Guide for all the facts about all the competitors!!

Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Website, Latest News, EN Olympic Digest Newsletter Signup, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Coverage
Want to stay in the know with all things Olympic eventing? We’re sending out daily Olympic Digest updates, and you can sign up for free right here.

• Suni Lee won the women’s gymnastics all-around final, making her the first Hmong-American medalist at an Olympics. This is an extraordinary moment for this largely forgotten community who were recruited by the CIA and subsequently abandoned when the US withdrew from Vietnam. Now, many have resettled in the US, and Suni has brought them to the public consciousness.
• Marcus Daniell and Michael Venus won the men’s doubles bronze medal in tennis, making them New Zealand’s first tennis medallists in 109 years – the last, Anthony Wilding, took singles bronze in 1912 and was killed in World War One three years later.
• Germany’s Alexandr Zverev beat Novak Djokovik in the men’s singles semifinals in a shock upset, ending the Serbian superstar’s quest for a Golden Grand Slam.
• The women in the 100m sprint were, across the board, unbelievably fast.
• There’s been some controversy over Iran’s Javad Foroughi, who won gold in the 10m air pistol shooting event but is a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, where he worked as a field nurse in war zones. The IRGC has been designated as a terrorist organisation, and there are calls to rescind Foroughi’s medal.
• Despite Russia’s ban from the Olympics this year, 335 Russian athletes have been able to compete under the ‘Russian Olympic Committee’ flag – and they’re winning, too, prompting people to wonder it’s really much of a ban at all.
• China now heads the gold medal table, with 19 won. Japan is in second with 17, while the US leads the overall medal tally on 41.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Coconino Summer H.T.: [Website] [Live Scores and Times]

Hunt Club Farms H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

Catalpa Corner Charity H.T.: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Olney Farm H.T: [Website] [Entry Status/Live Scores]

Here’s a question: how is it possible that a woman has never won individual gold in show jumping or eventing? We dominate in dressage, but since 1964 when women were officially allowed to compete in eventing, we’ve had 14 consecutive male individual gold medal winners. The current world champions in all three disciplines are women, so why not the Olympics? My feminism is riled up. [Why No Female Gold Medal Winners?]

WHO will win individual gold? The question on all our minds, to be honest. We all have our personal picks, and of course we have our score predictor extraordinaire Maggie Deatrick sharing her numerical predictions, but the FEI has it broken down in a unique way. Who do you think will win? [Who Wins Gold??]

Germany’s Isabell Werth revealed after winning the Olympic individual silver medal that her “dream horse” Bella Rose 2 will now retire from competition, aged 17. The Westphalian Belissimo M x Cacir II mare, who is the reigning world and European champion having won double gold in 2018 and 2019, will not be seen at future competitions, but may now be used for breeding. At just 10, she and Isabell competed at the 2014 WEG, where they posted 81.53% in the grand prix to finish second to Valegro in Normandy. But then, disaster struck, and the mare was withdrawn from the rest of the Games due to laminitis, not to return to the sport for four years. [Bella Rose 2 Retires]

One can never have too many grids in your back pocket, right? I’m always looking for inspiration in my ring, since designing a whole new course can sometimes be daunting without help. This little beauty of a grid is useful for all types of horses, all levels, and all riders. Which is my favorite kind! [A Grid For All Reasons]

You can hardly think of the Olympics without thinking of Abdullah. I grew up with a poster of him in my tack room, because he was simply so impressive that I didn’t care he was from a different sport. He was one of the most successful horses showjumping has ever seen, with amazing performances at the 1984 Olympics as well as the 1986 WEG. Fun fact: he did event in his early career, but excelled in show jumping. [Hall of Fame: Abdullah The Great]

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 HORSE FIRST know that finding the right supplement can be difficult. Whether you’re looking for a calmer horse, stronger hooves or supple joints, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for within our product range. Horse
First uses only the highest quality active ingredients and are renowned for being some of the most tailored and advanced supplements on the market – “Made by horse people for horse people.” [Learn More About Horse First]