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.
Chestnuts roasting by an open fire! Photo by Emma Massingale.
Let it be known that yesterday I rode my thoroughbred after six weeks off and I did, in fact, survive. I’ll admit, I did put him on a rope for a while and let him bronc and rear and fling his legs about, because he needs to do that and I don’t really need to be involved. But I rode him and lived to tell the tale! Hope springs eternal.
National Holiday: National Cocoa Day
Weekend Preview: Don’t miss the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, happening Friday through Sunday in Boston, Massachusetts. For those who are unable to attend, don’t forget to tune in to the live stream that is generously being offered once again. #USEAConvention:USEA Convention Page, Schedule, Program, Live Stream, USEA’s Coverage, EN’s Coverage
News From Around the Globe:
Working with a horse with separation anxiety can be one of the most challenging things for any trainer. Your horse isn’t with you mentally, because he’s constantly distracted by the thought of his friends, and certainly for eventing it’s important that he learns to be okay alone, or he won’t be going out on a cross country course. With time and conscientious training, you can make a difference in his confidence, and your work will improve. [What To Do With Separation Anxiety]
Ready for some award-winning equestrian films for your long winter nights? Check out these British produced films that won awards at the Equus Film Festival in Kentucky this week. Ranging from a light-hearted Christmas ad to an in depth excursion into winning in the world of racing, these films are sure to warm your heart. [Watch Great Horse Films]
In a day and age where many riders have access to highly trained grooms, some horsemanship and knowledge around the barn has gone to the wayside. The only way to cure this is to demand horsemanship before riding, and encourage barns and parents to emphasize that as equal part of their equestrian education. [Real Riders Don’t Hand-Off Horsemanship]
Next year, when November rolls around and I think I’ll do the cool thing and give my horse a vacation….somebody slap me. It’s the right thing to do, right? Give your young horse a vacation after a year of work? Just for like, a month, nothing crazy. Terrible idea. No more vacations.
National Holiday: Gingerbread House Day
Weekend Preview: Don’t miss the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, happening Friday through Sunday in Boston, Massachusetts. For those who are unable to attend, don’t forget to tune in to the live stream that is generously being offered once again. #USEAConvention:USEA Convention Page, Schedule, Program, Live Stream, USEA’s Coverage, EN’s Coverage
News From Around the Globe:
Looking for some last-minute Christmas gifts for your fellow eventer? Horse Nation has compiled a list of tried and true incredible gifts that you’ll want to keep for yourself, but should definitely also give to your friends. [HN Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide]
If you’re a first-time breeder and considering a new career for your mare come this spring, you should definitely start your research ahead of time. Systematically assessing your mare, preparing her and working with your veterinary team is part of ensuring success for your future superstar. Learn what lies ahead with this article. [8 Steps for Breeding Your Mare]
Feeding your horse properly in the winter has to be an entirely different set of skills. Some horses get fat, some get thin, some go crazy with extra time in the stall, some have to be fed more but not enough to get hot. Figure out the magical nutrition recipe within. [6 Expert Tips For Feeding Horses in the Winter]
We’re sad to report that the feisty and tiny mare Madeline passed away on Wednesday at the age of 19. Found by Marilyn Payne as a four-year-old, Baby was tamed by Holly Payne, and took her to the very highest levels of the sport. Despite her small stature, Baby never met a fence on cross country she couldn’t conquer. She retired a few years ago and became a schoolmaster for owner Jill Gordon, and was beloved through her final day. We will all miss you, Baby.
Duh duh duh the Maryland Five Star website and logo is officially released! Excitement is building for the new five star next fall held at Fair Hill, and in 312 days, we can see it in person. In the meantime, check out their new website and tour everything in virtual reality. [Maryland Five Star]
Concerns about the heat and humidity in Tokyo next summer have caused some early schedule changes. Included in the sports that have already been rearranged is Eventing, with the cross country portion moved to start at 7:30 am. Temperatures are predicted to be in the 90’s with a very high humidity, which is already causing concern for lots of competitors. [High Temps for Tokyo 2020]
Flying horses across the country and across the Atlantic is something most people don’t really think about. But for lots of top competitors, including Catherine Haddad Staller, it’s pretty much part of the game. Living in New Jersey, training in California and competing in Europe she’s on Air Horse One a lot. Curious about the details for flights this way and that? Read on. [One If By Land, Two If By Sea]
A boop of magnificent proportions. Photo by Morningside Eventing.
I accomplished a magical thing this year, and managed to get my thoroughbred to take almost a WHOLE MONTH of vacation. Trust me when I tell you this is truly an early Christmas Miracle, as in previous attempts after five days he would start going bonkers. Of course, I brought him back into work and was hacking for a few days and then he cut off half his frog, so now we’re clinging to the precipice of sanity and hoping that heals quickly…
If you read one thing this winter about working with young horses, read this. Matt Brown writes about working with a particularly athletic OTTB in his barn, one that had him stymied intellectually. That is, until he remembered a lesson he learned from his sensei at karate school as a kid. Sometimes using your brain instead of your brawn gets the best results. [The Middle Path With Mr C]
Let’s talk crookedness. Crooked horses come in many shapes and sizes, whether from conformation, lameness, a crooked rider, or other causes, it’s never a good thing. Our job as riders is to help our horses be as straight as possible not only because it’s correct, but because it’s the most physically sustainable way to travel, and going about crooked tends to lead to discomfort down the line. [The Crooked Horse]
Gemma Jelinsky has been Liz Halliday-Sharp’s head groom for seven years. She redefines the term super groom, with traveling between England and the US, as well as heading to other countries to accompany her horses in their competitive endeavors. However, the life of a groom, no matter how good, is a tough life, and Gemma has been open about the toll it has taken on her life. [Gemma Loves Her Job, But Grooming Takes It’s Toll]
Winter has tons of horse health worries, but you can sleep sound at night with Taylor Harris Insurance Services on your side. With just five minutes and your morning coffee, you can fill out this online quote request form, and be well on your way to joining the ranks of top eventers who trust THIS. [THIS Matters in Winter]
Today, of course I am grateful for all the big and great things in my life, but I am reminded that we all need to practice gratefulness for the small and seemingly insignificant things on a more daily basis. Also, regular holiday PSA: please for all that is good and holy, be polite to everyone when driving, shopping, or otherwise interacting. The holiday season, as much as it is wonderful in a lot of ways, is stressful and more casual kindness would be a great addition. I’m talking directly to you, lady who cut me off while I was trying to park and get gas yesterday.
In the spirit of gratefulness on this holiday, Taylor Harris Insurance is partnering with Brooke USA for an incredible fundraiser. Brooke, if you don’t know, is an international animal welfare charity dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules. Operating in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, and they reach over two million working horses, donkeys and mules. For Giving Tuesday this year, they’re raising money to complete an equine health post in Ethiopia. And THIS is matching the first $2,500 in donations, so get going! [THIS Brooke Fundraiser for Ethiopian Horses]
Need a little alone time after the hectic holiday? How about a free audiobook about donkeys? The dramatic story of how a pioneering animal lover saved 200 donkeys from imminent death, and in doing so inadvertently launched one of the world’s largest animal welfare charities, has been immortalised as a free audiobook this Christmas. As a donkey owner myself, I can tell you they’re ridiculously weird and adorable, and I will download this for sure. [Donkey Audiobook]
Brittany Halstead competed in both hunter jumpers and polo until a car crash nearly ended her life in 2014. However, using horses as a recovery tool from her brain injury, she’s now giving back to the equines that saved her life with ReplayPolo, an organization she formed to transition retired polo ponies into second careers. She helps them become therapeutic riding horses, hunters, jumpers, and more. [After Brain Injury, Healing & Giving Back with Horses]
The magical time right between fall and winter. Photo by Juliet Graham.
Whoever says Thoroughbreds don’t grow thick coats should really have a chat with my horse Turkey. He’s getting clip number two already this year today, because the first one looks like it never existed, and it was not even that long ago. I really hope his heavy growth isn’t some sort of signal that he’s preparing for a winter from hell.
With the advent of winter, lots of Thoroughbreds are exiting their careers at the track and coming on the market for sport horse endeavors. Knowing how to pick and also vet a horse off the track is a special skill. The Retired Racehorse Project hosted a series of seminars recently, including an afternoon discussing PPE’s for OTTBs, and how to consider different factors that are commonly seen after a racing career. [Prepurchase Exam Tips for OTTBs]
Training Three-Days have been gaining popularity since their inception, but sometimes the qualifications seem a bit murky. The rules for qualifying have changed, as well, and if you’re thinking of tackling one in 2020, take advantage of the research that Horse Nation did and check out what you’ve got to accomplish in order to be qualified. [USEA Clarifies T3D Qualifications]
One Trakehner mare is keeping multiple dreams alive, with Kyle Carter in the irons. Not only is Reddy or Not the horse of Kyle’s dreams, but he’s continuing the dreams of her breeder, Christy Edwards, who tragically died in a traffic accident early last year. They both always believed the mare was destined for the top levels of eventing, and now it’s coming true. [Carter Keeps Edwards Dreams Alive with Reddy or Not]
Featured Video: Between CCI4*-L wins at Fair Hill and Ocala Jockey Club, nobody has had a hotter streak this fall than Erin Sylvester!
Just some picturesque fall scenery before winter takes hold. Photo by Zeb Alampi Fry.
I guess it’s a week out now, so everybody should have their Thanksgiving menu planned right? Thanksgiving is about a lot of things, but for me mostly it’s the food, if I’m being totally honest. Every year I just wonder why we don’t actually eat stuffing all year round, and then inevitably I forget until next November. And today is National Stuffing Day!
It’s the end of the season, so of course it’s time for some more confusing changes to FEI rules. The flag rule for eventers is of course of paramount importance, with the slight change now that says that the hindquarters must jump the height of the object even if they dislodge the flag. Other changes involving blood in dressage, spurs and martingales in jumping, and a complete overhaul of endurance have also been announced. [New FEI Rule Changes]
Looking for a new podcast to keep you busy during winter trot sets and hacks? The Chronicle is taking their journalistic prowess to the airwaves, and producing a podcast with interviews from riders across all disciplines and states. [COTH Podcast]
As riders we might be unfit for the jog strip, but our horses usually have a variety of body work specialists on call. My horse has a chiropractor, an acupuncturist, a masseuse, and a PEMF practitioner, just to name a few. I’ve experienced the magic of these therapies on a few occasions, and really enjoyed acupuncture in particular. Could your horse benefit from this therapy as well? [Getting to the Point: Equine Acupuncture]
Did you know that Taylor Harris Insurance Services is the choice of many of our top event riders in the US? Don’t miss a chance to join the ranks of the best and the brightest, you can request a quote for the 2020 season easily in about five minutes online. [THIS Is Eventing]
Do you like babies?Do you enjoy holding them, and sniffing their little milk-smell heads while they blather nonsense and paw the air with their grubby little hands like “Look at me! I’m a baby!”? Are you also, by chance, at Ocala Jockey Club International? Has Wylie got a job for you!! Free baby lease! She’ll even buy you a drink(s)! Any drink(s) you want! Not to mention EN karma 4ever! Flag her down or hit her up (865-414-9313) if you have a few spare moments to snuggle an adorable tiny human while Wylie writes.
Heads up that there’s a two-hour rain delay at Ocala Jockey Club. Dressage will now begin at 10. Updated ride times can be found here and here.
Emma Bishop is your Mitsubishi Motors Australian International CCI5* leader following dressage. We’ve got a cross country course preview coming your way later today, and you can catch up on the dressage action in this report from An Eventful Life.
Is there anything more fun than snooping around somebody else’s barn? Nah, don’t think so. Luckily Horse & Hound did some snooping for us at Gemma Tattersall’s barn, and took some pictures of the scenes. It’s a barn of stars, including the incredible Arctic Soul, Chilli Morning (and some of his progeny) and several other international stars. [Check out Gemma Tattersall’s Yard]
When you have a foal on your hands, it’s easy to get a little too eager for training. After all, don’t you want to create the *perfect* horse? However, new research shows that even with very short training sessions, days off are essential to keeping the foals’ stress levels low and their learning curve consistent. [Young Foals in Training]
Help Team Hylofit with some information about you and your horse! Hylofit is seeking to better understand the habits of horse owners when it comes to technology and collecting/understanding data. Please take a few moments to fill out this anonymous survey. [Hylofit Survey]
Some companies are getting a head start on Black Friday this month. EN partner Nupafeed is amongst them, with a huge year end sale that you’ll want to capitalize on. The sale starts today and goes through the weekend, including both horse and dog supplements. [Nupafeed USA]
Featured Video (for our readers who are fluent in German):
Penny Worsham’s Foxdale Celtic Charm enjoying the sunshine at OJC 3 Day. Photo by Kristin Schmolze.
Apparently this week is called an “Arctic Blast” by weather experts, and expected to break more than 300 temperature records across the country. Yesterday I did trot sets wearing my carhartt overalls, because while it’s probably the least fashionable ROOTD (don’t @ me Lainey), I was cozy and didn’t regret one thing. Bring it on, Arctic Blast.
The talk of the town is the announcement that the USEF is prohibiting the use of Medroxyprogesterone acetate. Also known as Depo, this is a popular medication that is used for controlling hormones in mares, but has also been used for unapproved calming efforts in geldings. Due to a number of deaths from administration of this drug, the USEF has decided to ban it for good. [USEF Bans Depo]
Get to know Gemma Tattersall! She’s been a long time top competitor of British Eventing, but what is she like outside of her competition pants? Let’s just say she loves some Jimmy Choos. [9 Things You Didn’t Know About Gemma Tattersall]
Speaking of Gemma Tattersall, she wants to teach you about riding skinny corners and how to train them. As you go up the levels, corners are more and more prevalent on cross country, and the higher the level the more accuracy is required. Introducing them at an early point in your horse’s training will improve your ability to deal with them later. [Gemma Tattersall Explains Skinny Corner Training]
Good horsemanship transcends disciplines, as we all know well. A recent clinic with Stacia Madden at Rutledge Farm in Virginia proved just that, as she coached riders about the importance of accuracy but relaxation in the saddle, discipline with empathy, and creating exercises that help the riders learn and the horses understand. [Good Horsemanship with Stacia Madden]
Sponsor Spotlight: Nupafeed® USA’s biggest sale of the year starts this Friday, Nov. 15th and will continue through Sunday, Nov. 17. Nupafeed® Dog supplements are also included in this year’s sale!! [Nupafeed USA]
Elisa Wallace’s Rune & Fledge have arrived in Ocala ready to do their mustang demo at OJC International! Photo by Rick Wallace.
I would really love to give my horse a vacation after his last event at VHT, but after two days off this little monster starts to go batty. He does not enjoy vacation and he does not do well with it, and becomes more destructive and weird each day that he doesn’t get worked. Honestly, I would love to give ME a small vacation at the end of the season, but I guess that’s not happening either.
Another record setting Rutledge: We are happy to share that Brian Rutledge, husband of five-star rider Colleen, is on the mend after a tough week. He wrote on Facebook, “Hi everyone! Well, I’m still kicking and still alive. I ended up having a quadruple bypass. The dr. told Colleen last night that they mostly see my condition in autopsies. I feel lucky to be here and will be changing a lot of things in my lifestyle. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers yesterday, I really do appreciate it. The nurses in the ICU said I set a record for getting out of the ICU after heart surgery (less than 12 hours)! I am now on the regular floor and hopefully will be out in a few days.”
No Stirrups November continues, and it doesn’t have to be awful. First of all, you’re not required to do your entire ride without stirrups, and you really shouldn’t in fact. However, adding some fun exercises with ground poles and transitions in for a short section can really help your seat and core strength. [6 Exercises For No Stirrup November]
Now that it’s dark earlier, you’ve got time for ridiculous horse movies, right? Settle in, because Horse Nation has compiled a list of basically every horse movie EVER, and given a short summary and a rating according to how terrible or great is it. Wow, there are so many. [Almost Every Horse Movie Ever]
Winter riding. Oh man. Here we are already. Did you forget how much longer it takes to groom your horse and tack up in the winter? How much longer it takes to dress yourself when you’re going to the barn? Make sure you have a few extra pairs of gloves in different places, because you will lose several. [8 Things You’d Forgotten About Winter Riding]
Winner of the VHT doggy costume contest: Margaret! Photo from Whitney Weston Eventing.
Of all the people in this world who don’t like daylight savings time in the fall, my horses are top of the list. They firmly believe that dinner time is being unnecessarily delayed and they are NOT pleased. I have one horse who has some sort of military accuracy clock inside his head, and as dinner time approaches, he begins stall walking. Now, he stall walks for an hour or more, and hasn’t adjusted. It’s so great. I just love it so much. (Deep sarcasm).
Pippa Funnell has been nominated as Britain’s Sports Action Woman of the Year, following her incredible comeback victory at Burghley this fall. Fourteen years after her last five star win, 50-year-old Pippa is back on the top of the sport, and fulfilling all of our dreams. Let’s help her win! [Help Pippa Win BT’s Sport’s Woman of the Year]
Riding through the winter has so many fun aspects. Wearing ten thousand layers, slogging through mud at the gateways, trying to ride in the pitch dark, so much fun! Extra points for working in an office during the day and trying to figure out how to ride before or after work, and also not offend your coworkers with your twenty-seven jackets. [9 Things Horsey People Say in the Winter in the Office]
Ah, No Stirrup November has arrived again. While we here at EN do not condone full commitment (please use your stirrups to warm up and let your horse loosen his back!), we do think no stirrup has its place in the world. Jitterbug also has a great guide to making the most of this exercise. [Jitterbug’s Guide to No Stirrup November]
French rider Thibault Fournier is making great steps (literally) in his recovery. He has awoken from his coma, and has now begun physical rehabilitation, including his first steps. The 24-year-old was the youngest winner of Pau last year, but was unfortunately injured in a fall at Pompadour Horse Trials in October. [Thibault Fournier Continues Recovery]
Just some glorious fall on a hack yesterday. Photo by Kate Samuels.
Fall is my favorite time of year, mostly because I am so sick of the hot summer, but also because the changing leaves are truly incredible and I never lose my admiration year after year. Also, Virginia Horse Trials, my favorite event, is this weekend! And then it’s the end of the season for me, which means a little break for horses (and riders) which is always nice.
US Equestrian is making it easier than ever to get all your High Performance news and updates, all in one place. The Eventing pages on the USEF website are in the process of an overhaul, and there will be A LOT of new updates, resources and content popping up there between now and the end of the year. Many of the updates are already live, including a new News and Updates section, which will be essentially used as a bulletin board for High Performance announcements. Check it out now for announcements, open applications, press releases, important links, athlete memos and newsletters. [US Equestrian Eventing News & Updates]
Speaking of going above and beyond to keep the lines of communication wide open, the next US Equestrian Open Athlete Forum will be held during the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event in Temecula, California, on Friday, Nov. 1 at 4:30 p.m. PST in the Patron’s Tent. The final Open Athlete Forum of the 2019 season will take place during the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event, Nov. 13-17 in Reddick, Florida. Exact day/time to be confirmed. The High Performance sessions at the 2019 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention will take place on Friday, Dec. 13 in Boston, Massachusetts. [Schedule and session times]
Impressed by the inaugural US Event Horse Futurity this year? Get ready to enter for 2020! With prize money and promotions for US Breeders all year, it’s a great way to feature purpose-bred event horses and the people who put their lives into breeding them. Find out more in the link. [US Event Horse Futurity]
Winning a five-star before your 30th birthday is no mean feat — just ask Tom McEwan. After his impressive wire-to-wire victory at Pau, you might be interested in learning more about this young man. He’s from a proper horsey family, with mom a show jumper and dad an equine vet, and has been winning medals since his days in the Pony European Championships. [11 Things You Might Not Know About Tom McEwan]
Fall also means fox hunting season, and the Brits are absolutely bonkers. I tell everyone that fox hunting in the States and fox hunting over in England are two different sports, and this article on hedge hopping basically proves my point. I’m pretty sure Americans would poop their pants if they saw this on a Wednesday hunt. [Hedge Hopping: How To Get To The Other Side]
Tim Bourke and Marley Stone Bourke’s ridiculously adorable two-year-old son would like you to know that he’s in the running for the 2039 Land Rover Kentucky Dubarry Best Dressed award, and he’s clearly working on becoming a fashion icon for young eventers worldwide. Dubarry judges, take note. He’s ready.
FLAIR Strips is celebrating 20 years! Can you believe it?! To spread the joy with this anniversary, they have an excellent giveaway for twenty winners. To enter, simply follow the link below and upload your favorite photo featuring FLAIR Strips. Each winner will get six packs of FLAIR Strips and a FLAIR towel. [Enter to Win FLAIR]
Horse & Country is live streaming Pau with exclusive English commentary. Dressage and jumping are free to view, and the cross-country is available for Horse & Country subscribers only, from the United Kingdom, Ireland, USA, Canada, Sweden, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Australia. Stream the cross-country live exclusively on H&C. [Pau Livestream]
Since 1984, only six nations have won Olympic medals in eventing. Except for Sara Algotsson Ostholt and Wega in 2012, not only have these six nations won all the team medals, but also the individual medals have all gone to them as well. With the new format for 2020, is it time to see some outsider influence? Equiratings breaks it down. [The Long Read: New Teams on the Podium?]
Rescuing horses is an amazing endeavor, but so often we see it all gone wrong. Why is it that the best intentions sometimes end up going down the same road as the initial abuse? With mental illness as a strong factor in lots of rescues that end up as seizures themselves, delving into the psychology of animal hoarding and abuse is a complicated matter. [Good Intentions Gone Wrong]
Um, why did nobody tell me that we could have team costumes on cross country? Is there an adult version of this because Virginia H.T. is next weekend and it’s technically on Halloween and I definitely think this should be a thing. Let me know if you find somebody who can make this happen.
Ponying is my personal favorite hack for wintertime daylight efficiency. Of course, there is some training and skill that go into being able to ride one horse while leading the other, and certainly some horses excel at it more than others. Do you have what it takes to be the master of two at once? [Ponying: How and Why and When]
Dramatic and sensitive horses are a pain in the butt, but at least they communicate openly when they’re in pain. Stoic horses are much easier to deal with on a regular basis, but the trick is that they’re quite difficult to diagnose sometimes, and they will wait until discomfort has reached an unbelievable level before letting you know. The key is knowing their regular behavior and noting any small changes and responding to them before it becomes dire. [Recognizing Pain in Stoic Horses]
Go for a lesson on a young horse, and have a good time, right? Lauren Sprieser thought that was what her Monday would entail, but after shipping down to Charlottesville to visit Ali Brock, her horse spooked at the walk upon the first few minutes of riding, and her hand smacked the pommel and she broke it. Don’t’ worry, she still had her lesson, and afterward they packed her off to the ER, and we have well trained staff in our Charlottesville ER for horse people injuries. [I Had This Plan]
Has everyone seen this amazing video of these two amazing ladies and their pas-de-deux on ex-eventers?
The good old hack-n-snack. Photo by Whitney Weston.
I know everybody was kinda bummed to get rained on yesterday during the jogs at Fair Hill, but bless anything and everything because we SERIOUSLY needed it. I don’t even remember the last time it rained, and I feel like I’ve had a layer of dust on me for years at this point. A whole day of cold rain in October never felt like such a dream.
A twenty-year-old Thoroughbred conquers racing on the flat, racing over fences, hunters, jumpers, and now sidesaddle. In a true example of the versatility of the breed, Epilogue took rider Ashleigh Glorioso to two championship titles at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Displaying elegance, superior manners, and a strong performance, Glorioso and Epilogue won both the Ladies Hunter Sidesaddle Over Fences class and the Sallie Jones Sexton Perpetual Trophy in the Ladies Hunter Sidesaddle Hack. [Thoroughbred Takes All At PNHS]
Ready to enter Horse Nation’s super spooky short story contest? We can’t wait to hear from you! Give us goosebumps and the story will get published and maybe read on Horse Radio Network live! Entries are due by midnight on Sunday the 27th. [Enter HN’s Spooky Essay Contest]
Thinking about a companion for your horse? Outside of getting a new horse (and we would never talk you out of that) you should seriously consider a donkey. I have a miniature donkey named Pepe and he is the cutest little ding dong of all time, and also gets along with almost anybody and doesn’t put up with any crap. [Are Donkeys The New Black?]
Eventers. We crazy! Photo courtesy of Karlee Dumont.
I’m not sure if this is just a horse person thing, but I do feel like it’s a particularly eventer thing: cramming wayyyy too many people on some sort of transport vehicle. How many people have you seen before at an event hanging onto a golf cart in so many ridiculous ways? Three people and a dog on a child’s motorbike? Yeah, that all seems totally normal. Holly, you should really make your working student bike YOU around though, c’mon dude.
Despite her young age, Caroline Martin has been a noteworthy name in U.S. eventing for some time now. Starting at the age of four, Caroline was involved with horses, and simply never thought about doing a sport other than Eventing. Now, with a change in family finances, Caroline has had to restructure her business in 2019 to include a massive sales program in order to support her personal horses and hopes of Olympic competition in 2024. [Caroline’s Getting Down to Business]
Several top international riders spoke out yesterday to show their support for World Mental Health Day. Carl Hester, who has long been an advocate for mental health awareness, wrote a poignant message to his followers on social media: “Because it’s OK not to be OK; as long as we keep the conversation going. And if you’re not already talking, try to begin, because we’re all in this together.” [Riders Speak for World Mental Health Day]
Ahh fall. The air is crisp, the leaves are changing, and it’s SPOOKING SEASON. Yeah, there are people who think this is spooking season because of halloween, but horse people know better. It’s spooking season for HORSES, because leaves, brisk air, wind up their freshly clipped butts, weird lighting, monsters in flower boxes, monsters in the corner of the arena, and probably even some monsters in the shadows. [The Many Monsters You’ll See in Spooky Season]
Photo courtesy of Jillian Scott Clipping Services FB.
It has begun: clipping season! This time of year a lot of people are not excited, but I am because number one, fall is my favorite time of year and I am 10000% over summer, but two, I actually enjoy clipping. I know, it’s weird, but it’s extremely satisfying and I always have a good audiobook, and I’m super OCD so I like everything to look perfect. Holla at your girl if you need some fresh cutz, I’ll be ready with my full body rain suit.
We are so heartbroken to report that a beloved member of Area II eventing died while schooling cross country at Morven Park this week. Nicolle Villers Amatt suffered a fatal fall while schooling over a Preliminary log on Tuesday, and received immediate medical care and was transported to a local hospital. Her horse suffered only superficial injuries. Nicolle was an extremely accomplished rider, having competed through the Advanced level and developed many horses through the levels her whole life. She leaves behind her husband Neil and her 2-year-old daughter, Zara. [Fatal Fall at Morven Park]
Emily King has lost four of her top horses, along with six youngsters as her main owner has decided to leave the sport. While the split was amicable, Jane Del Missier has decided that owning horses for Eventing doesn’t suit her current lifestyle, and has thus ended the partnership. Emily competed at Pau and Badminton with Brookleigh, and was part of the gold medal winning team for the European Young Rider Championships with Dargun, both owned by Mrs Del Missier. [Emily King Loses Top Horses]
Sometimes Unicorns look more like bedraggled donkeys in the beginning, but that didn’t stop Mellisa Davis Warden from paying $400 for an ugly little 15.2 hand chestnut gelding she spotted in a field. Fred is certainly unassuming in looks, but makes up for it in heart and willingness to do the job. Now he competitively competes at Preliminary level, as well as the occasional hunter show and husband horse trail riding. [Warden Saw A Diamond in the Rough in Deadpool]
A few weeks ago, my young horse jumped around his third and ostensibly last Training level. One week ago, he clobbered a specific jump in my ring, and was pretty mad at himself, but went on fine for the rest of the jump school. Tuesday, I entered him in a Modified. Yesterday, he suddenly remembered clobbering said jump in my arena, and decided he was positively petrified of going anywhere near it, and I had to spend an hour getting him to walk over poles in that specific location without blowing his brains. Young horses are great, right?
Who doesn’t love a rags to riches story? Kathryn Currey has experience with the heart of a diminutive thoroughbred mare, as her family owned the immortal Touch of Class. She found herself a new age version with a small chestnut mare she bought for $400 off the track, and A Lil Evil has now proved her worth by winning at the Hampton Classic in the jumpers. And boy can she jump! [Racetrack Reject to Hampton Classic Tricolor]
Hellooooo clipping season! It’s… nice? To see you again? Whether you don’t mind clipping or it’s your worst nightmare, it’s good to know about the different options. You don’t have to simply take it all off! There are varying states of nudity that might be more appropriate for your horse and his workload. Check out the styles! [What Type of Clip is Right For You?]
Look, horse people are weird and we also find very strange things satisfying. When your life is in the barn, you find small pleasures in daily things like pulling mane, perfectly sweeping an aisle, or … finding the bean …. Whatever it is, we know you, because we are you. [9 Things Equestrians Find Satisfying]
Kim and Dan at the Athens Olympics. Photo courtesy of Kim Severson.
One of the most celebrated eventing horses in history passed away this week at his home of Plain Dealing Farm at the age of twenty-six. Winsome Adante, known in the barn as “Dan,” was a legend for the sport of eventing, and a life changing force for many who knew and admired him.
Imported from England in 1999 by Jan Byyny, he was quickly purchased by Linda Wachmeister, and became the horse of a lifetime for so many people. Paired with Kim Severson as his rider, they were well known for being formidable in all three phases, placing in the top after dressage, following it with a fast and clear cross country, and topping it off with an invariably clean show jumping.
Dan and Kim have almost too many accomplishments to list, but certainly winning Kentucky three times (2002, 2004, 2005) when it was still a long format ranks amongst the most impressive. They also competed at the 2002 WEG in Jerez, earning individual 6th place and team gold, the 2004 Athens Olympics, garnering an individual silver medal as well as a team bronze medal, and the 2006 WEG in Aachen for a team fourth place finish.
Dan was the second American horse ever to win Blenheim in 2001 and placed third at Badminton in 2007, cementing his place as a winner against any competition from around the world. He was, of course, inducted into the U.S. Eventing Hall of Fame in 2015, was subsequently made into a Breyer horse, and his illustrious career kept him at the top of the USEA’s Historic All Time High Point Horse Leaderboard for more than ten years.
Linda Wachmeister, Dan and Kim. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
Kim readily admits that he was her horse of a lifetime, and speaks from the heart about his passing. “My once in a lifetime opportunity came in the form of a 16.1H bay gelding from England; his name was Winsome Adante, otherwise known as Dan, and sometimes lovingly referred to as Danimal the Wild Animal. So many of my firsts in the world of eventing came from my partnership with Dan: Badminton, Olympics, World Equestrian Games, Burghley, and more.”
“Now, when I think back about our time together, two words come to mind: opportunity and gratitude. What an amazing, once in a lifetime opportunity to find Dan, and then be supported in our partnership by many amazing people.”
Kim was not the only one to feel the life changing effects of this bay gelding, and his owner Linda Wachmeister shared with us her own story of Dan. “The main thing for me when I think about Dan was that he was always a very handsome horse, but when you saw him in the field he didn’t look particularly striking. Under tack was where he became the magnificent creature that he was. He completely transformed and it never ceased to amaze me. He knew it was his time, what he was doing and he loved his job.”
“I had no idea where he would take me and my family,” says Linda. “From the first time I entered the winners circle with him I told myself ‘this is a special, once in a lifetime moment for you Linda. Look around and take it all in.’ Then I got to repeat it because he just kept winning. It was incredibly special and none of us had any idea that’s where he would take us.”
“Through Dan and Kim, as a family, we learned about this sport called eventing and were completely immersed. It’s affected my whole family in such a positive way and without him and Kim, we would have never had any idea. I’m so very thankful for what he gave us.”
Dan in happy retirement at his farm in Virginia, Plain Dealing. Photo by Lindsay Johnson.
Dan had the special privilege to be ridden and cared for by the same small group of dedicated people for the vast majority of his life, including his grooms Molly Bull and Lili Bennett, his owner Linda Wachmeister and her daughters Lucia and Benita Strini, and of course Kim. After his retirement in 2007, Dan went to live the life of luxury at Plain Dealing Farm in Scottsville, Virginia, regularly visited by his human family with his favorite treat: peppermints.
Molly Bull groomed for Kim and Dan for several years, including his win at Blenheim in 2001, and remembers him fondly as a horse who always had an incredible sense of humor and a strong spirit. “If he had his mind set on something, he was going to do it, no matter what,” says Molly. “He was not the kind of horse you could ever hug and kiss on, but he was so amazing to ride and care for.”
Lili Bennett was Dan’s right hand girl for the majority of his career, and was even in England with Kim when they tried him. “He seemed nice enough, but nobody knew what he would become,” says Lili. “I think the first person to recognize his talent was Bruce Davidson, who came up to us after the show jumping at Millbrook and told Kim to hang on to him.”
Dan was well known around the barn for having distinct opinions, and in many ways Lili says it made caring for him almost easier, because his routine was minimalistic. He was not interested in being fussed over with therapeutic blankets, he preferred not to wear hind leg wraps, and clipping him was an adventure to say the least.
Over The Limit (Jake) and Winsome Adante (Dan) at home at Plain Dealing Farm. Photo by Lili Bennett.
Dan also greatly preferred Kim as his rider, and their partnership was what made their success truly special. “He was not terribly tolerant of us riding him,” laughs Lili. “It just wasn’t something he felt he needed to put up with, and I don’t think he really took any of us seriously.” While he may have bucked off his fair share of grooms, all of them agree that being a part of his storied success at the very top levels of the sport was completely worth it.
“I just feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of it. There really wasn’t anything all that special about him at first glance; he wasn’t the flashiest mover or biggest jumper, but their partnership was just something magical.”
In my life, I take a lot of photos of horses, and I’ve learned a few things along the way. First, the key is to take a lot and weed out the best ones. Second, there are some horses that are good at modeling, and some that just straight up suck at it, no matter what you try. If it was possible to teach horses to do the ears-pricked-faraway-glance pose, I would be so very happy. In the meanwhile, enjoy this photo of a recent natural model I found.
As the Retired Racehorse Project competition begins next week, they’re debuting a new intake exam. In keeping with the organization’s goal to better serve the Thoroughbred and continue to educate the owners, trainers and farms who seek to help transition these horses to second careers, the Retired Racehorse Project’s new arrival exam at the 2019 Thoroughbred Makeover emphasizes soundness, body condition and microchipping. “The aim of the arrival exam is to not only verify each horse’s identity and ensure he or she is healthy and sound for competition, but to also set the standard of horsemanship associated with off-track Thoroughbreds,” said RRP executive director Jen Roytz. [RRP Debuts New Standards for Care]
Speaking of ex-racehorses, lets bust some myths about retraining them. If you’ve ever had some preconceptions about the thoroughbred breed, or horses with a previous racing career, you simply haven’t ridden enough of them! If any breed has variety, it’s the Thoroughbred. [Myth Busting Common Misconceptions About Thoroughbreds]
A miraculous story proves that a broken leg doesn’t always mean the end for a competition horse. Last year during a jump-off in Aachen, Yuri Mansur and Vitiki suffered a horrific fall, and the horse was taken off the premises in an ambulance. It was revealed that he had broken a front pastern, but went quickly into surgery and a cast. Now, after a year, the pair have returned to competition feeling better than ever. [Olympic Dream for Horse with Broken Leg]
Did you catch the THIS stadium jump at Plantation Fields this past weekend? Taylor Harris Insurance loves supporting Eventing and our great sport, and wants to see more of you join the THIS Eventing Team, and find out why riders at the top level prefer working with THIS. [Request a Quote Today]
Our favorite Pan American Gold Medallist. Photo by Lisa Thomas.
Plantation weekend! And Blenheim weekend! It’s so exciting on so many levels! I wish everybody lots of fancy prancy, just enough bravery and speed on cross country, and careful tippy toes in show jumping. Bring the best competition you can, friends!
Surefire Horse Trials is still accepting entries through today! Entries this year were low due to a misprint in the omnibus stating that it was cancelled, so they’re hoping a fair few want to attend one of the best events of Area II next weekend. Don’t miss this opportunity to add it to your calendar. [Enter Surefire Horse Trials]
Where are previous winners of the Blenheim 8-9 year-old CCI4*-S these days? Celebrating it’s tenth anniversary this year, this class for young horses is lauded as an excellent predictor of success later in life. The previous ten winners are definitely rocking out at the highest levels, including horses like NZB Land Vision, Oslo, Fernhill Pimms, Faerie Dianimo and London 52. That’s a pretty good list to say the least. [Previous Winners at Blenheim]
Every single event rider has been eliminated by missing a fence. That’s why they say that you do it once, and you never do it again. Another popular one is leaving your horse’s boots on from warmup and going into dressage. Uh, maybe just read this list and make a mental note not to copy the rest of us. [13 Mistakes We’ve All Made At a Competition]
Just some ponies on Corolla having a seaside nap. Photo via Corolla Wild Horse Fund.
Fun fact relating to this photo: one of my first ponies was actually from the wild herd in Corolla. They adopt a few out occasionally, if they are removed from the wild herd from one reason or another. I got Moonstar when she was a yearling and I was seven, as her mother was hit by a car and she was taken in as a very young foal and basically domesticated. Not many parents would get their seven-year-old a yearling from a wild herd, but, here we are.
What’s Sam Griffith’s Happy Times up to now that he’s retired? The 20-year-old Oldenburg gelding certainly had a storied career, with many years at top international level and wins and placings at four and five star events. He retired last year, and now lives with his 2012 Olympic groom, Mouse Berry, and his girlfriend, a 12-hand pony named Bluebell. He still hacks about and does a bit of work here and there, and he’s richly spoiled. [Happy Times Retirement Days]
As many of you know, one of eventing’s bright lights went out prematurely last month with the loss of Ann Haller. Ann touched so many lives through this sport around the country, and her family and friends have extended an open invitation to any who are willing to come celebrate her life at Ashland Farm in Covington, GA. [Celebrating Ann Haller]
Real talk: Is there such a thing as a woman’s horse? We hear all the time that horses are either a man’s ride or a woman’s ride, but how much of this is true? Personally, I think a lot of it is tied into our preconceptions about the behavior of men and women, but horses can also definitely differentiate between the two, and if they’ve had a bad experience with one or the other, can remember it for life and generalize against that gender. [Woman’s Horse vs. Man’s Horse]
Warming up the excitable or hot horse is basically an art form at this point. For me, it’s just about figuring out the perfect formula that keeps him with enough energy to perform a nice dressage test, but not bubbling over the top and exploding out the sides. Five-star rider Lisa Barry lends her tips in this article on how she approaches warm up with these types of horses for the best results. [Warm-Up the Excitable Horse]
What did you do this summer? Nothing as cool as Sarah Bartlett and her Fell pony Billy, who rode across England from coast to coast to raise over £6,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Sarah and Billy went along the challenging Trans Pennine Trail, which took eight days of 25-30 miles a day riding. Inspired by her father’s cancer diagnoses last Christmas, Sarah is a hero to us all. [Riding Across England for Cancer]
Ready to see Taylor Harris Insurance at Plantation Fields? Don’t miss the THIS jump in stadium — it’s hard to do so with the splashy red colors! Returning this year as a sponsor, THIS is proud to participate in the highest levels of eventing, and is excited to see some of their riders galloping across the countryside. Learn more about Taylor Harris Insurance Services and how you can join the team! [THIS Horse Insurance]
From humble beginnings … Kate Chadderton and her pony Bluey! Photo courtesy of Kate.
So, it’s Friday the 13th, and if you put stock in that kind of thing be careful today! Also it’s a full moon tonight so I guess werewolves and stuff too? I’m only superstitious about things like a lucky necklace for competitions, but I know horse people are a superstitious lot in general. Lucky socks, anyone??
There is another opportunity to qualify your YEH entry for the Championship at Fair Hill International! Flora Lea H.T. in Medford, New Jersey, was asked by several competitors to hold another qualifier this Friday, Sept. 13th. For those interested in participating, entries may still be made to Debbie Adams at Flora Lea. Email [email protected]. [Flora Lea Farm]
More Burghley you say? We’re not sick of it yet! This time it’s a little throwback to the last time Pippa Funnell won the competition, a mere 16 years ago aboard Primmore’s Pride, cementing her place in eventing history by being the first rider ever to win the Eventing Grand Slam. [Flash Back Friday: Pippa Funnell Wins Grand Slam]
Is your horse a picky eater? We’ve all had that horse at one point or another, the one that you desperately need to keep weight on, but they just pick at their food. You’ve tried everything, and you’re at your wits end. How about flavoring with fenugreek? A new study shows that fenugreek rates the highest with horses in terms of making feed more palatable, over all other possible additions. [Flavoring with Fenugreek]
