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Kate Samuels
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Kate Samuels

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About Kate Samuels

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

Eventing Background

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

Latest Articles Written

Friday News & Notes from Kentucky Equine Research

By on Aug 11, 2017 12:03 am -

Leslie Wylie all smiles on Day 1. Day 2 brought much colder weather and heavy rains. Photo by Julian Herbert/Mongol Derby.

Finally we can say that Wylie found a horse that’s truly her size! What I really want to know when she gets back is how it felt to canter a pony with literally no neck. I mean, where did its neck go? What did evolution tell that little Mongolian pony to make its neck disappear? Questions, I have them.

Track Leslie Wylie on the Mongol Derby! 

National Holiday: National Presidential Joke Day (have your own fun with this one)

U.S. Weekend Preview:

GMHA Festival of Eventing CIC & H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Fair Hill H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

WindRidge Farm Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Otter Creek Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

The Summer Event at Woodside H.T. [Website]  [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

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

Stanton Farms H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Colorado Horse Park 3DE & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Registration for the 2017 USEA Convention is now open! From December 6-10, eventers will gather together at the Westin Long Beach Hotel in Long Beach, California to discuss, learn and celebrate the sport. A vacation to California in December sounds delightful! Early birds save $50. [Register Here]

The USEA has officially released an online test and certification for eventing safety coordinators. The test itself derives its questions from the USEA Safety Coordinator Manual. Test takers are asked 25 questions ranging from true and false questions to multiple choice. To receive certification, the test taker must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly. The test is not yet mandatory, but highly recommended. [New Safety Coordinator Certification from USEA]

There is a baby goat wearing a neck tie at Pony Finals. Do I really need to elaborate??! You should click here to get (more than) your daily dose of cuteness. [COTH]

Head to Waredaca next weekend for your perfect AEC prep run! They’re offering the option to do single dressage tests, combined tests, or all three so you can get exactly what you need before the big championship competition. [Waredaca Omnibus]

KER ClockIt™ Session of the Week

This week we examine an excerpt from a session in which the rider used hills to condition her horse. As you can see in the session excerpt below, the horse’s heart rate (purple line) increased as the horse started to climb the hill (blue line), despite minor changes in speed. By using a hill, a rider can easily raise a horse’s heart rate into a higher conditioning zone without increasing speed.

Multiple KER treadmill studies have shown that exercising horses on an incline greatly increases work intensity as measured by oxygen consumption, heart rate, and lactate production. These studies have shown that at a canter speed, a 1% increase in grade increases a horse’s heart rate 6 bpm—the same effect on heart rate as increasing speed 35 m/min on a level treadmill. Therefore, equal heart rates can be obtained by cantering horses on a 6% grade at 490 m/min as from galloping on the flat at 700 m/min.

To see a detailed report like the one above, go to the KER ClockIt website and log in to your account. Once you are signed in, you can view your detailed sessions under the “Sessions” tab.

Thursday News & Notes from Nupafeed

By on Aug 10, 2017 12:03 am -

Jonty Evans and Cooley Rorkes Drift. Photo by Jenni Autry.

I’m just gonna say it: I don’t think this particular miracle with Jonty Evans and Cooley Rourkes Drift would have been possible in any other universe. Only in Eventing would you find this kind of insane storyline (Disney, are you paying attention??) and I’ve never been so honored to own a hair of a horse in my entire lifetime. Y’all gonna make me cry!

Track Leslie Wylie on the Mongol Derby! 

National Holiday: National Lazy Day (which they really should have put on a weekend)

U.S. Weekend Preview:

GMHA Festival of Eventing CIC & H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Fair Hill H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

WindRidge Farm Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Otter Creek Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

The Summer Event at Woodside H.T. [Website]  [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

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

Stanton Farms H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Colorado Horse Park 3DE & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

The USEA has introduced a new FEH division for 4-year-old horses. Specifically aimed at 4-year-olds that aren’t quite ready to compete in the Young Event Horse classes, it opens up doors for horses that still have a future in the sport but are a little later in developing. Susan Graham White, a member of the FEH committee and a frequent judge for the divisions, took some time to sit down and discuss how they are judged for this new class. [Four-Year-Old FEH Division Takes Off]

Horse sports and the NFL have one thing in common: our interest in helmets that prevent concussions. We don’t have numbers like the NFL when it comes to brain injuries, but we certainly have our own concerns. A Seattle-based company called Vicis is looking into building a multilayered, flexible helmet that’s particularly adept at diminishing rotational and linear impact forces. Specifically, the helmet was constructed to utilize four separate layers which work in perfect harmony with one another. [Flexible Football Helmet Absorbs Hits]

Are you watching the USEF Pony Finals presented by Collecting Gaits Farm? Get it together man! I know you’re not a hunter rider, but look at these ridiculously cute ponies and their ridiculously adorable beribboned riders! You can watch the live stream when you’re bored at work. [USEF Pony Finals Live Stream]

Hot on Horse Nation: 10 Quintessential Summer Experiences Improved By Adding Horses

 

The second placed pony eating his gift bag has me crying:

 

 

Millbrook Advanced Cross Country Course Walk

By on Aug 5, 2017 8:45 am -

Jump 4B sets the course off right away with a big corner. Photo by Kate Samuels.

The 17th Annual Millbrook Horse Trials is well underway now, with dressage completed for all divisions as of yesterday, and much of the jumping to come. The Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced division was split, with half of the division doing dressage on Thursday, and the other half going on Friday. At the end of the two days, we’re led by Lynn Symansky and Donner, who are Maggie’s predicted overall winners, but no pressure Lynn!

The cross country is always a factor in the placings here at Millbrook, due in part to the influential terrain. Walk the Millbrook Advanced once, and near the end of the course, when you have to go up a long and steady uphill climb, you’ll know what I mean. The jumps might not be enormous rider frighteners, but that doesn’t make this any easier. It’s fairly difficult to make the time, with an average of only 5.31% combinations managing it, which shuffles the leaderboard for Sunday.

It’s also worth mentioning that we’ve had quite a bit of rain up here each day of the competition, and we are predicted to have more rain storms today as well. I did see them aerating the course yesterday later in the afternoon, so they don’t seem to be worried too much about the footing holding up.

Tremaine Cooper’s course gives you three warm up fences with the usual loop around the front field before making a right handed turn to the first combination at 4AB. This combination looks a bit frightening upon first glance, but the ditch and brush isn’t terribly huge, and all the riders have to do is get a good shot in, and hold their line down to the sturdy corner on a straight four strides.

The course is fairly technical this year and doesn’t give you more than two jumps in between any of the combinations to catch your breath. We get to 7ABC fairly quickly, which is the classic Millbrook up-bank question that can really pull some wind out of your horse’s sails if you haven’t been doing your fitness. The incline to the top is so steep, you’ll plan on popping up the bank and riding quietly in two strides over the rail, and then rolling down to the skinny about five strides away.

After that, we’re treated to a nice long gallop down the hill, two decently sized tables to get a rhythm back, and at the very back corner of the hay field, we have an entirely new question. 11ABC is in a place that has never been used before on the cross country field, and it’s a bit of a control question after you just galloped two fly fences. Riders will want to get their horse’s balance back before jumping the A, and then it’s three strides straight down to the first barrel at B, and a bit of a rollercoaster up the hill to C, which is an identical skinny barrel. You can just barely see it in the photo up and to the left.

Now we begin one of two long uphill pulls, with one fence to relax at before another combination. 13AB is two very narrow but very wide tables set halfway up the hill on a tight-ish two stride. These tables will ride rather vertical, so as Phillip suggested on the course walk, you’ll want to ride them like you would a triple bar in stadium. Riders don’t want to get too collected, but they certainly don’t want to come at this combination like a fly fence.

After that we have a table followed by the inverted stump jump, formerly known as the “knee crusher”, but now widened to accommodate any and all size of horse and accompanying knee.

The water this year goes through the complex in the opposite direction that it usually does, starting at the A element as a duck which bends down in five or six strides to a log jumping into the water. The riders will travel through the water on a not-quite-straight line, jump up a bank and take one stride over a very angled brush fence. We will then immediately turn right, put our engines back in, and jump a brush chevron right in front of the awaiting crowd.

Heading back down the hill, the riders will have the classic large corn husk jump followed by another let-up fence before the tricky coffin. Set with the ditch in a real bowl, the A element isn’t terribly big, and you can’t ride aggressively at it due to the fact that it doesn’t hold the horses enough, and they could jump too far down the bank on the other side, putting them on an awkward stride to the ditch. It is wiser to put a bend in between A and B for two strides, and follow the hill back up for three strides to a chevron skinny.

Now begins the long haul up the hill, which can really taking the stuffing out of horses that are green to the level. The hill is late in the course, and they might not be as sharp on their feet as they need to be for 23AB, two angled cabins at the apex of the first hill.

Continuing the gallop, although on a lesser incline, we have one last angled ditch and brush before the final fence and the finish line. Stay tuned for more coverage from EN!

#Millbrook: Website, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram

Friday News & Notes from Kentucky Equine Research

By on Aug 4, 2017 12:03 am -

Just a little corner on the Advanced course here at Millbrook! Photo by Kate Samuels.

The week of Millbrook is almost halfway over! Today we have a second full day of dressage action, from all the upper level divisions, plus cross country for the lower divisions. Can you believe they successfully run Beginner Novice through Advanced here? That’s just crazy sauce. I’m enjoying a “day off” today, having done my dressage yesterday so I’ll be attempting to upload all the photos of the cross country course for you to peruse before I actually gallop around it on Saturday. Stay tuned!

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Millbrook H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

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

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

News From Around the Globe:

The Unicorn Rubens D’Ysieux took the lead halfway through Advanced dressage yesterday with Sara Kozumplik Murphy in the irons. This pair is using Millbrook as their last prep before flying over for Millstreet CCI3* in Ireland, and it seems to be off to a good start. She’s followed by the consistently nice scoring gelding I’m Sew Ready with Phillip Dutton, and Buck Davidson on Carlevo. [Millbrook Leaders After Day One]

Being just a good rider isn’t enough these days, you also have to be a good coach. What use is it to anybody if you can’t communicate your genius to other interested parties? Yogi Breisner, one of the best coaches of recent times, shares his top coaching tips with H&H this week, and you’ll want to check them out. [8 Golden Coaching Tips]

Looking to improve the jump in your canter and get better marks on day one? H&H weekly question and answer session has your solution. This week, top rider Coral Keen gives you some very specific exercises and processes for improving the quality of the canter in any horse. [H&H Question of the Week]

Majyk Equipe is growing. You may have seen the likes of Phillip Dutton or Boyd Martin rocking these top-notch boots, and now you may see even more! The California-based company has just opened a new European headquarters in Ireland. [Majyk Equipe – Europe]

END OF SUMMER CLEARANCE AT SMARTPAK! I don’t even know why I’m bothering to continue typing anything, because I’m just wasting time between you and the click onto this ridiculous sales page where you can find things up to 80% off at SmartPak. EIGHTY percent! [SmartPak Clearance Sale]

Buck and Copper Beech at Millbrook:

KER Product of the Week – RiteTrac

Modern equine management practices have resulted in horses being exposed to situations vastly different to those in which they evolved, including solitary stall confinement, limited grazing, grain as an energy source, and meal-feeding. One debilitating condition influenced by modern horse management is ulceration of both the stomach and colon. Nutritional supplements such as RiteTrac™ can help.

Formulated by the scientists at Kentucky Equine Research (KER), RiteTrac is a proprietary blend of ingredients designed to support total digestive tract health. Targeted at both the foregut and hindgut of the horse, RiteTrac works in two distinct ways. First, with its combination of fast-acting antacids and coating agents, RiteTrac quickly neutralizes excessive gastric acid, protecting the stomach lining and restoring the normal gastric environment. Second, RiteTrac contains EquiShure®, a time-released hindgut buffer designed to act on the cecum and colon by minimizing the effects of subclinical hindgut acidosis.

Throughout the month of August, receive 15% off RiteTrac with code TRAC817. Shop now.

Friday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Jul 28, 2017 12:03 am -

Ponies love cookiezzzz! Photo by Kate Samuels.

Yesterday, it rained at my house. For like two hours, it lightly drizzled. I’ve never been so excited. Today, there are thunderstorms predicted! At like 80% chance!! It hasn’t rained for 7 weeks, so this is big news. If you’re ever interested in the weather prediction for the week, just ask a horse person, we know the weather hour by hour obsessively.

National Holiday: National Chocolate Milk Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Stoneleigh-Burnham Summer H.T. [Website]

Horse Park of New Jersey II H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Hunt Club Farms H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Cobblestone Farms H.T. [Website]  [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Burghley entries went live, and we looked googley-eyed at the top performers from all countries. Just to name a few, Andrew Nicholson with Badminton winner Nereo (plus two others), Zara Tindall with High Kingdom, Michael Jung with La Biosthetique Sam, Maxime Livio with Qualao des Mers, Chris Burton with Nobilis 18 defending his win from last year, and a few other people who are equally as competitive. It’s going to be one hell of a show! [Burghley Entries Strong]

Paul Tapner took the gold for Australia in the Hickstead Eventer’s Challenge yesterday. The popular Wiltshire-based event rider produced a perfectly timed round to win on board Bonza King of Rouges. His time of 127.75sec was enough to take the title ahead of Britain’s Abi Walters and Perfick Miss Amber (128.37sec). In third was Irish Olympic rider Joseph Murphy and his London 2012 horse Electric Cruise, finishing just behind Walters with a time of 128.64sec. [Paul Tapner Wins at Hickstead]

The Eventing Riders Association of North America (ERAofNA) is now accepting applications for the for the newly created part-time position of Executive Director. This individual will have overall operational and administrative responsibility for ERAofNA membership programs, sponsorship development, communications, marketing & public relations, financial management and governance coordination. [ERA of NA]

Hot on Horse Nation: Your Horse’s Fear of Puddles Turns out to be Dead Right

Amazing Audio: How Do Horses Learn Differently From Humans?

Let’s all admit it: we have too many brushes for our horses. Does any horse really need every type of brush from stiff mud rake to softest baby bunny level? No. But that doesn’t stop us. That means when you’re walking around the barn, you’ll need a tote to store all these grooming tools. This Noble Outfitters Equinessential Tote has all the pockets and durability you could dream of, and at a reasonable price! [SmartPak Product of the Day]

 

Product Review: Tapestry Comfort Monoflap Girth

By on Jul 27, 2017 7:19 pm -

The Tapestry Comfort Girth is designed to relieve pressure points. Photo by Kate Samuels.

As technology expands in our equine world, and our ability to understand how the horse’s body works increases with scientific discoveries, it’s inevitable that we begin to “reinvent the wheel” with the tools that we use for training.

We have been using the same plain old strips of leather to tie a saddle onto a horse for many, many years, but suddenly we’re able to improve upon the method. The latest in girth technology comes to you from the inventor of the Spursuader, and it’s called the Tapestry Comfort Girth.

Tapestry Equine Products is known for their unique approach to creating tools to help us train our horses better, and they specifically focus on comfort from the equine perspective. Therefore, it’s no surprise that they decided to create an ergonomic girth designed to help you and your horse perform better on a daily basis.

These days, we know that using a thin, inflexible leather girth and tightening the heck out of it doesn’t really help your horse relax and use their bodies in the best way. In fact, it can make a lot of horses really uncomfortable and reduce their ability to extend their front legs, and relax their core. Therefore, we now have girths like the Tapestry Comfort Girth designed specifically to avoid this kind of situation.

The sternum pad sits directly in the center of the horse. MAD PROPS for my photo skills here, guys. Photo by Kate Samuels.

When I first got this girth, I was immediately intrigued by the design. It has a 6″ sternum pad with non-slip neoprene and the buckles are connected to that with several pieces of lightweight but sturdy elastic. It folds up and takes up almost no room in the tack trunk, and you can also squirt it off after a ride, so it gets points for convenience.

This sternum pad is unique to the Tapestry Comfort Girth. The non-slip neoprene keeps the girth in place, while also promoting equal distribution of pressure when the girth is tightened. There is a D-ring attachment for martingales and breastplates, although they would have to be the type with a clip of their own.

The sternum pad has spongy and comfortable non-slip neoprene on the inside. Photo by Kate Samuels.

The elastic webbing has two layers, with one solid wide piece and two smaller ones criss-crossed that overlay and distribute pressure evenly. The horse’s ribcage does the most expansion when breathing, therefore it is important to have the elastic in this location, and it minimizes the restriction caused by the girth.

I would definitely recommend this girth for horses who have very narrow spaces behind the front leg for the girth, as it is spac- efficient without being uncomfortable. I used this girth on a horse who regularly shows mild signs of discomfort when I tighten the girth (no matter how slowly), and was pleased to see that he was markedly less bothered when I tightened this one.

The synthetic leather provides ample coverage for the buckle area. Photo by Kate Samuels.

The elastic is then in turn connected to high quality synthetic leather that provides ample coverage for the two stainless steel buckles. There is also a slot provided for the billets to go through on their way to the buckles, which ensures that the girth doesn’t change position when tightened. I will say that one of my saddles had slightly thicker billets, and they did not fit through the slots, but they worked fine for my other saddle.

The keeper for the billet ends is somewhat further down the girth than some others, as you can see from the photo above. My girth had to be on at least the sixth hole in order to tuck in the end pieces, so I would suggest erring on the side of one size too big when ordering this girth for your horse.

The lines of this girth are very neat and tidy and unobtrusive. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Overall, I would recommend the Tapestry Comfort Girth for horses that are sensitive about their sternum, exhibit girthy behavior, or tend to hold tension in their ribcage and front legs. It seems to be quite comfortable for them, and is easy to use and care for. It is available in monoflap length, double flap length, and they even have a western version as well. Click here to order.

Thursday News & Notes from Nupafeed

By on Jul 27, 2017 12:03 am -

Gotta love baby horses! Photo courtesy of Danica Meyerhoff.

The jump is lava! The jump is lava! Don’t you just love baby horses? I jumped my overly enthusiastic 4-year-old mare yesterday and I had my working student film all of the jumps that I had an inkling would be “fun looking,” but I didn’t get anything near as great as Danica did on this little one!

National Holiday: National Creme Brûlée Day and National Chili Dog Day (… just maybe don’t combine them …)

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Stoneleigh-Burnham Summer H.T. [Website]

Horse Park of New Jersey II H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Hunt Club Farms H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Cobblestone Farms H.T. [Website]  [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials is  doubling the prize money for both CCI3* and CIC3* divisions this year. Not only that, but the winning riders will have the use of a SsangYong Tivoli for a year. The first prize in the CCI3* will be £16,000, making it much the most valuable CCI3* prize in Europe, and the total prize-fund will be more than £50,000. The first prize in the CIC3* will be £5,000 with a total prize-fund of more than £15,000. [Bleinheim Prize Money Doubles]

Trying to teach a horse how to do proper flying changes? Take it from one of the nation’s stars in the Dressage world, Laura Graves. Teaching changes can be really complicated for lots of horses and riders, but it doesn’t have to be. A good set of flying changes is necessary for all sports, and should be taught in a stress free and positive reward environment. [How To Teach Changes Video]

The controversy from Katie Prudent’s interview last week continues. This time, it’s an amateur who takes up the reins and defends herself. “I am not fearful, I am not weak, and though not overly talented, I’m not talentless.” [Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: An Amateur’s Letter to Katie Prudent]

Thursday Video: Check out this incredible video of a blind dressage rider making her way through a PSG test!

Friday News & Notes from Nupafeed

By on Jul 21, 2017 12:03 am -

Everyone, let’s just take a minute and say a prayer for Jon Holling. He needs our thoughts and prayers, seeing as he tried to use a spray gun to tackle some fencing at home, and clearly that didn’t go too well. Quick survey: how do you go about getting fence paint off your face, do you use rubbing alcohol? Nail polish remover? Send all suggestions directly to Jon, thanks guys.

National Holiday: National Junk Food Day!

Major Events This Week:

Rebecca Farm: Website, Schedule, Ride Times & Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram

NAJYRC: Website, Ride Times & Live Scores

Aachen CICO3*: Website, Entry List, Ride Times & Scoring, Live Stream

USPC Eventing Championships: Ride Times & Live Scoring

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Fitch’s Corner H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Full Moon Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Silverwood Farm Summer H.T. [Website]

News From Around the Globe:

ICYMI, US Equestrian named a whole pile of 2017 fall grant recipients yesterday. Four horse and rider combinations received grants to travel to Burghley, four combinations got grants to compete at Pau, two horses and one rider received grants for Boekelo, one combination got a grant for Blenheim, and one combination will be going to Millstreet. [Fall Grant Recipients]

If you’re not at Rebecca Farm right now, we’d still like to make you feel like you’re up in the action. First stop: check out these sneak peek videos of the cross country courses designed by Ian Stark. It’s full of big bold Stark style questions for all the levels, but he definitely had fun with the jump building, including a roast chicken baiting an alligator (!?). [Rebecca Farm Cross Country Previews]

Fantasy Farm Fix: $5.7 Million San Diego Equine Oasis

Katie Prudent really stirred up some controversy with an interview she did last week with Chris Stafford. McClain Ward responded with an op-ed in COTH, and now George Morris has his say. If you haven’t already, you need to read all three, because they’re not only relevant in the show jumping world, but in eventing as well. [George Morris Responds]

Flies and summer go along together like peas and carrots. Honestly, if I lived in a fly free world, I would be a happier person. I know they probably fulfill some sort of environmental duty that keeps the world spinning the right way, but that doesn’t stop me from hating them. That’s why I use Fly Predators, aka the best little weird package of bug larvae you’ll ever get in the mail. You get them every month, and sprinkle them on your manure pile, and enjoy up to 94% reduction of flies in your barn. [SmartPak Product of the Day]

 

Thursday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Jul 20, 2017 12:03 am -

In A Trance passed the jogs for NAJYRC today at 19 years young. Photo via Kristin Carpenter.

Rebecca Farm is on my bucket list. I mean, Montana in general is on my bucket list, but certainly competing at Rebecca Farm. One day, I’ll decide to uproot myself and drive halfway across the county with a horse in tow, buuuut 2017 is not that day. It’s just too darn far! 36 hours from my front door is too much for a regular girl to handle. One day, guys, one day.

National Holiday: National Lollipop Day

Major Events This Week:

Rebecca Farm: Website, Schedule, Ride Times & Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram

NAJYRC: Website, Ride Times & Live Scores

Aachen CICO3*: Website, Entry List, Horse Inspection Starting Order, Ride Times & Scoring

USPC Eventing Championships: Ride Times & Live Scoring

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Fitch’s Corner H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Full Moon Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Silverwood Farm Summer H.T. [Website]

News From Around the Globe:

Fifty-three horses were accepted in the jogs for NAJYRC yesterday. Rebecca Farms is certainly busy this year, running their regular horse trials and FEI divisions alongside the annual NAJYRC for the first time. Thirty-five horses move forward in the CH-J* and 18 horses will continue in the CICOY2*. Dressage gets underway today for the CH-J* at 8:30 a.m. (MST), and the CICOY2* will head into the dressage arena on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. [53 Horse Accepted for NAJYRC]

Jonty has raised over £100,000 towards keeping Cooley Rorkes Drift! If you haven’t heard the story, pull your head out from under that rock, and check it out here. In just a week, fans around the world have raised an incredible amount of money towards keeping Art with Jonty, but there is more to go! Let’s help a guy out! [Jonty And Art]

Yoshiaki Oiwa made history with his win at Bramham International CCI3* this spring, which made him the first Japanese rider to win a CCI outside of his home country. Yoshi has competed at five CCI4* events, two WEG, and three Olympic Games, but he’s not stopping any time soon. If you fell in love with the Duke of Cavan at Badminton the same way I did, check out Yoshi’s story here. [Yoshi In The Spotlight]

Friday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Jul 14, 2017 12:03 am -

Photo from Adventures of Sheep.

Via Sheep: “Normally, sheep doesn’t care for others. However, she counts at least three Olympians amongst her fan club (thank you Jonty, Kyle, Heike) and that’s a pretty big deal for a sheep. So when she heard about the possible sale of Jonty Evans’ Olympic horse Cooley Rorkes Drift, she said “BAAAAAHHH” to that.

Please go to www.jontyandart.com and sign up to stay up to date with details of a crowd funding initiative Jonty has put in place, in an attempt to secure his Olympic horse. Anyone who knows Jonty will understand why he so deserves this chance-this man is the nicest guy in the sport and we all adore him. It’s his time to shine and we all want to help however we can.”

National Holiday: National Mac N Cheese Day!!!!!

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Genesee Valley Hunt H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Riga Meadow H.T. [Website]

Maryland at Loch Moy II CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

Champagne Run at the Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Aspen Ridge H.T. [Website]

Coconino Summer I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Katie Monahan Prudent didn’t hold back in an interview this week, saying in no uncertain terms that she thinks the sport of Show Jumping has been turned into some namby pamby bull crap. Taking cues from the ever-honest George Morris, Katie isn’t pleased with the rise of the “fearful, talentless amateur” and how the sport has changed to only suit FTA riders and those with extreme wealth. If you read anything this week, make it be this article. [US Show Jumping Has Been Dummied Down]

BreyerFest, perhaps the largest celebration of model horses in the country, kicks off at the Kentucky Horse Park today. More than 10,000 people will flock to Lexington this weekend to meet the real horses that inspired their favorite models, compete in model horse shows, trade model horses, talk model horses and enjoy the Horse Park. Did we mention that Horse Nation has a Breyer Film Festival???? Yeah. VOTE TODAY!!! [BreyerFest Begins]

Agh! Yesterday was Charlotte Dujardin’s 32nd birthday and we missed it! Luckily Horse & Hound has our back with a bunch of photos of Charlotte from ponies on up to the big mess of gold medals she’s acquired with Blueberry. [Happy Birthday Charlotte!]

Supporting your horse’s joints and ligaments at every phase of life has never been easier. SmartPak just lowered the prices on their SmartFlex line, which includes six different options from performance, to rehab, and even options for senior horses. [SmartPak Deal of the Day]

Thursday News & Notes from Nupafeed

By on Jul 13, 2017 12:03 am -

Just some Area II young riders ready for the adventure of a lifetime! Photo by Meg Kep.

Looking at all the photos of the Area II young riders prepping for their big excursion to Montana really has me reminiscing about my trip to NAJYRC. Initially I thought it would be silly, but I’m so thankful that I did it, and I had SO much fun, and I’m still great friends with the majority of the girls who were on my team, and I loved going around the Kentucky Horse Park with my main man, Nyls. Go Area II, you better kick butt this year!!!

National French Fry Day (A holiday I can get behind)

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Genesee Valley Hunt H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Riga Meadow H.T. [Website]

Maryland at Loch Moy II CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Champagne Run at the Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Aspen Ridge H.T. [Website]

Coconino Summer I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

If you haven’t fallen in love with Jonty Evans and Cooley Rorke’s Drift, I don’t know what you’ve been doing. The pair finished 9th at the Rio Olympics and then had a brilliant Badminton this spring with an unfortunate run out at the end of the course, but the horse is an unbelievable jumper, and very capable of a 4* dressage test in the 30’s. Unfortunately, Jonty doesn’t own “Art”, and due to his success, there has been understandable interest in purchasing him from other riders. Jonty has launched a campaign to crowd fund the ownership of this horse, so that he can keep the ride and his beloved partner for many competitions to come. [Irish Rider Crowd Funds Rio Horse]

For many young competitors, the chance to contend for top honors on a course such as Rebecca Farm is a dream. Fortunately, for a select few of North America’s elite competitors, these dreams will become a reality in a few short weeks. Celebrating its 16th year, The Event at Rebecca Farm, for the first time ever, will host the 2017 FEI North American Junior/Young Rider Championships, known by many as “The Junior Olympics” of eventing. [Young Riders Begins Next Week!]

Finally, scientific proof that Arabians actually have an excuse for all the extra spooking they enjoy. A study in Brazil has found that Arabian eyeballs are actually much more sensitive to changes in light than other equine eyes. Maybe this is due to their giant eyeball size, or is this why they have eyeballs so big all the time? We shall never know. [Arabian Eyes More Sensitive]

Controversial Video of the Week: The Future of Racehorse Training?

Jazzy on Jumper Nation: CHIO Aachen Show Jumping List Released, Includes McLain Ward & HH Azur

 

Friday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Jul 7, 2017 12:03 am -

Where there is a will, there’s a way. Photo by Tristan Francar.

Virginia finally got some rain this week after a straight up drought, which is awesome because now the ground isn’t 100% concrete. The downside is that it’s now hovering somewhere around 10,000% humidity and I feel like I’m doing trot sets in soup. Thick, hot, pea soup. Doesn’t that sound delightful? Don’t you want to live in Virginia in July!?

National Holiday: National Macaroni Day & National Strawberry Sunday Day

Great Meadow CICO3* Links: Website, Schedule, Entries, Ride Times, Live Scoring, USEF Network, FEI TV, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Huntington Farm H.T. [Website] *CANCELLED DUE TO FLOODING*

Old Chatham H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Maryland at Loch Moy I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Roebke’s Run H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

41st Annual Whidbey Island H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Coconino Summer I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

The Barbury Event Rider Masters class this weekend is hotly contended with top riders. The £50,000 ERM competition features 40 of the world’s best event riders, representing 11 nations at the St. James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials. Andrew Nicholson is the hot favorite with last year’s winner and Badminton champion Nereo, as he strongly favors the Barbury course, carrying consecutive titles from the CIC3* since 2012. Who will challenge him? [Battle at Barbury]

Mourning the loss of Toytown last week, H&H found Meryl Connaughton, who sourced and produced him from four years old. Let’s just say, “Noddy” had humble and naughty beginnings. Starting as a scraggly four-year-old with a tail eaten off by cattle, he was well known for bucking, rearing, bolting and generally acting like a feral monster, until she unlocked the secret to getting along with him. [Toytown’s Early Years: He Was Lethal]

I love hearing how “famous” riders created their own journey to the top, because their stories are anything but boring. Top Hunter rider Jennifer Alfano began her career with a rag and a bucket in hand, as she became a professional groom in order to learn everything inside and out. She became the groom for Greg Best right after her years in the Junior ranks, and went all the way to the 1988 Seoul Olympics with the legendary Gem Twist. [A Rub Rag to the Olympics]

Save money on wrinkle cream in the future and get yourself an EquiVisor. Seriously, sunburnt faces and premature wrinkles don’t HAVE to define you as a horse person. Let your ghostly pale legs and your weird glove tan line have that honor, and take care of your face! [Smartpak Product of the Day]

Remember last year?

 

 

 

Thursday News & Notes from Nupafeed

By on Jul 6, 2017 12:05 am -

Two-year-old Tilly and 20-year-old Toby know how to nap in between classes! Photo courtesy of Horse & Hound.

I remember pulling moves like this when I was a kid, but I did it a little differently. I had my ponies in the back yard, and if they were in the stall, I would go down to the barn on my own, climb on them by hook or by crook, and then turn around and nap using their butt as a pillow. This was vastly superior on the comfort spectrum, and my ponies tolerated me as long as they could continue eating hay without much fuss!

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Huntington Farm H.T. [Website]

Old Chatham H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Maryland at Loch Moy I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Great Meadow CICO3* [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Roebke’s Run H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

41st Annual Whidbey Island H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Coconino Summer I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Heading to Great Meadow this weekend? Make sure you know everything you can before you get there. We got you covered on the CICO3* course walk front, and COTH has all the other details that will make your spectating experience go smoothly. [What You Need to Know: Great Meadow]

Resiliency is defined as the ability to bounce back after a mistake, mishap, loss or any other negative event. It’s your ability to turn setbacks into comebacks and the ability to hold it together when it would be normal to fall apart. Resiliency is possibly the single most important factor in determining your success as a rider – and luckily it isn’t a personality trait or behavioral style – its a skill that you can learn! [Daniel Stewart’s Tip of the Month]

Photo of the Day: Noelle Floyd

Summer is the worst time to manage a horse with thin soles. My farrier is a god send and has helped me through some very trying times with my otherwise very sound horse who has terrible feet. Pour-in pads have been the magical answer, and they might be worth a mention if you’re also in the thin-soles-foot-bruise club. US Eventing checks out the advantages of using them in the summer with this new blog. [How to Manage Thin Soles]

 

 

 

Friday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Jun 30, 2017 12:03 am -

Holly Jacks-Smither pulling her best Kyle Carter impression. Photo by Ian Woodley.

Yesterday I was talking to a friend of mine, and she mentioned her “four-day weekend” — something I’ve never heard of before. What’s this four days in a row off work that you speak of? What would you do with FOUR whole days off? She said nothing. You do nothing. Imagine that! You do nothing for four days! This is the kind of luxury I can’t even comprehend. Anyway, seems like there’s a big national holiday coming up, apparently people get time off work for that kind of thing.

National Holiday: National Social Media Day (C’mon Lainey, where you at?!)

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Horse Park of New Jersey I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

South Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

The USEA has announced the riders and horses that will represent their areas at the FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana on July 20-23, 2017. Fifteen combinations will compete in the CICO2*, with 33 combinations in the CH-J*. [CICO2* Riders & Horses] [CH-J* Riders & Horses]

Blenheim course designer David Evans has been chosen to build the Tokyo 2020 cross country course. David, who lives in Oxfordshire locally to Blenheim, has long been one of Britain’s best and most popular course builders, working at venues such as Chatsworth, Bramham, Gatcombe and Burgham, as well as events in Europe such as Luhmühlen CCI4*. He’s already visited the site and is excited to get to work with designer Derek di Grazia. [Blenheim Builder Ready for Tokyo 2020]

Get ready to JUMP on July 4th with Last Frontier Farm! Sharon White is hosting her annual derby cross style fun show with levels elementary through Prelim. There will also be a silent auction, raffles, food, and announcing from Brian O’Connor. Don’t miss out, enter today! [JUMP 2017]

On July 11, the community will be gathering to celebrate the life of Jon Sonkin. Our beloved “belt guy” will be missed dearly, and so his friends and family are holding a celebration of life in Purcellville, Virginia, on Tuesday, July 11 featuring songs, speakers and videos that highlight Jon’s life. Please join if you can. [Celebration of Jon Sonkin]

I’ll admit it: My dog has her own SmartPak too.  She’s only 7, but I was watching her the other day looking a little stiff after a long hack, and I felt bad. After all, my horse has joint supplements, so why shouldn’t my dog? Through SmartPak, you can get any kind of dog supplement that your little spoiled canine deserves, and at a great price. Go ahead, you know you want to. [SmartPak Dog Supplements]

Thursday News & Notes from Nupafeed

By on Jun 29, 2017 12:03 am -

Just two foxes in Middleburg VA enjoying a snooze! Photo by Scott Stephens.

You guys. You guys. I went a WHOLE day wearing shorts this past weekend. I was at a ground handling clinic taught by Trevor Carter and hosted by Days End Farm Horse Rescue (which was awesome by the way) so I felt comfortable bringing out my blindingly white legs for one of the days. Because, if horse people won’t understand why your legs are so damn pale in June, who will, right? Anyway, I’m pretty sunburnt now.

National Holiday: National Bomb Pop Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Horse Park of New Jersey I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

South Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

William Fox Pitt announced yesterday that his 4* partner Oslo will be retiring from competition. The 15-year-old gelding has a slew of 3* wins to his name, as well as his 4* debut at Pau in 2011. He has been in William’s yard since the age of 4, winning Le Lion as a 6-year-old and coming runner up the next year as a 7-year-old. Unfortunately, he’s proven to not enjoy much soundness as an older horse, so they’ve decided to call it a day and let him enjoy an early retirement. [Oslo Retires]

Do you listen to At The Races with Steve Byk? It’s a long-running and highly popular Thoroughbred racing news show, and the recent Equestrian Scene segments hosted by Leslie Knauf have featured eventing! Both Laine Ashker and Marcia Kulak have been guests on the show to talk about Kentucky CCI4* and the sport in general. [#1 with Leslie Knauf] [#2 with Laine Ashker] [#3 with Marcia Kulak]

Fly season, tick season, Lyme season. A fair number of horses are diagnosed with Lyme every year, and there just isn’t a good way to prevent them from ever getting a tick bite, so undoubtedly you’ll come upon it once in your horse owning career. There are proven medical treatments to use, but Horse Nation also found a few holistic supplements that help boost your horse’s immune system while the antibiotics do their work. [Holistic Treatments for Lyme]

He’s 20, he’s a Thoroughbred, and he’s still winning Grand Prix classes. Just another plain brown wrapper he is not, as Panache keeps on kicking when he is usually the oldest, and definitely the only thoroughbred in the competition. He proved age is just a number this past week in Iowa by winning three $20,000 Grand Prix classes and two of the three Welcome Stakes at Mid States Horse Shows. No biggie. [Panache is Peaking at 20 With Grand Prix Win Streak]

Friday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Jun 23, 2017 12:03 am -

Obos O’Reilly and Cooley On Show are bestest buds now that they went to Luhmuhlen together. Photo courtesy of Will Coleman.

Today is National Hydration Day, which is a good reminder for the summer sun (#nomoreheatstroke) but it’s ALSO National Take Your Dog To Work Day, which if you’re a horse person like me, every day is take your dog to work day! Do you even know a horse person who doesn’t also have a dog? Do they even exist?

Editors Note: Yes, those people do exist. Some of them own three cats. – Jenni

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Groton House Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Surefire H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Essex H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Stable View Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Shepherd Ranch SYVPC H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Inavale Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Arrowhead H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Midsouth Pony Club H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Honey Run H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Want to work for EN? We are now accepting entries to our 7th Annual Blogger Contest, which is your opportunity to show us your writing chops for a chance to work for us. This is your time to shine, so let’s see what you’ve got! Entries are due this Friday, June 23. [7th Annual Blogger Contest]

For anyone interested in traveling from the East Coast to compete at Rebecca Farm, Max Corcoran is organizing a plane! The flight would leave on Monday, July 17 from Allentown, Pennsylvania, stop in Lexington, Kentucky to pick up more horses, and land in Kalispell, Montana. Max has 11 horses confirmed and needs 21 to fill the plane. Estimated cost is $9,000 per horse. If interested, please contact Max at [email protected].

Eventer Hillary Moses took a tumble while schooling cross country this week, and her friends are getting together to help her get through the long recovery. After a bad rotational fall on Tuesday, Hillary was rushed to the hospital where they found that she had a collapsed lung and a lacerated spleen, along with many other bumps and bruises. Her recovery is only partially managed with health insurance, and her time out of the saddle will be long. Friends have started a GoFundMe which they admit that Hillary will hate, but it all goes towards helping her back on her feet. [Hillary Moses Medical Donations]

Hot On Horse Nation: This Ridiculously Hilarious Photo Challenge

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday News & Notes from Nupafeed

By on Jun 22, 2017 12:03 am -

Well, the longest day of the year has come and gone, so it’s all downhill from here folks. Just kidding! The first day of summer means it’s now officially time for you to be hot whenever you’re outside of a contained building! Now you can really get that riders tan going, and embrace the fact that your legs will be blinding from miles away, while your top half looks like a different species entirely. Yay, summer!

Also, for interested parties, today is National Onion Ring Day as well as National Chocolate Eclair Day, two causes that I can really get behind.

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Groton House Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Surefire H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

Essex H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Stable View Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Shepherd Ranch SYVPC H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Inavale Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Arrowhead H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Midsouth Pony Club H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Honey Run H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Keep both hands on the reins at all times during FEI dressage tests, or you could be eliminated. Tristan Tucker found out the hard way during an Intermediate I test at Uggerhalne in Denmark this past weekend, as he was eliminated for patting his horse during the test. FEI rules state that the rider must have both hands on both reins during the entire test, or face elimination. This can be problematic if you need to adjust your hat, swat a fly, or pet your horse, right, FEI? Rules blunder #4,589. [Eliminated For Patting]

In case you didn’t get your Luhmuhlen fill….check out this stunning photo gallery on Noelle Floyd Style from Shannon Brinkman! [NF Style Photo Gallery]

Friends of James Alliston are raising money to sponsor a cross country jump in honor of his dad, John. John passed away unexpectedly last week, and they are hoping to raise enough money to sponsor a cross country jump at The Horse Park at Woodside in his memory. Donate if you can, to honor a kind, generous, and wonderful man. [Jumps for John]

For anyone interested in traveling from the East Coast to compete at Rebecca Farm, Max Corcoran is organizing a plane! The flight would leave on Monday, July 17 from Allentown, Pennsylvania, stop in Lexington, Kentucky to pick up more horses, and land in Kalispell, Montana. Max has 11 horses confirmed and needs 21 to fill the plane. Estimated cost is $9,000 per horse. If interested, please contact Max at [email protected].

Best of Blogs: Amateurs Like Us: Sit Up and Kick On!

Hot on Horse Nation: 12 Parks & Rec Gifs That Encapsulate Equestrian Life


Product Review: Horseware Rambo Fly Buster Vamoose Fly Sheet

By on Jun 21, 2017 9:00 am -

The Horseware Rambo Fly Buster Vamoose looks stylish, and works fabulously. Model is also sporting the Rambo Plus Flymask Vamoose. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Flies: a fact of life in the horse world, and there’s no getting around them. Even if you live far away from any cattle, in a pristine environment with no overpopulation and a muck heap miles away from your barn, you’ll have flies, and they will attack your horses. That’s why we have Horseware to come to our rescue, and save us from the madness.

With the Rambo Fly Buster Vamoose Fly Sheet, Horseware has really stepped up the fly sheet game. All of my previous complaints about the design, fit, and fabric of fly sheets in general have been addressed, suitably modified, and then they went further and gave it little details that really matter for overall functionality.

Let’s start with what I consider to be the coolest feature: the self healing blanket fabric. How many times have you brought a horse in from the field only to find that he has rolled on a stick and ripped his fancy new fly sheet in half? Once is too many times, but with this blanket, you don’t have to worry, because holes and indents are easily fixed, and the fabric remains as strong as ever.

Charlotte Dujardin uses the Rambo Fly Buster Vamoose sheet for Blueberry and all her other horses, and loves them so much, she took some time to make this video for her Instagram account. This video perfectly shows how the blanket self heals, so you won’t be irritated with little holes in your blanket every time your horse goes to roll in the field.

Secondly, this blanket has Horseware’s patented Vamoose technology, which means that the fabric has been treated with Permethrin. This is odorless and invisible, but has been proven to repel mosquitos, ants, ticks, flies, midges and chiggers. This treatment is long-lasting on the fabric, so it will survive being washed 70 times, and it won’t bleed off onto your horse’s skin if they sweat.

Getting into the fit of the blanket is really exciting, because as usual, Horseware has gone above and beyond. The Rambo Fly Buster has extra deep sides, a belly flap to protect against gnats, an extra long tail flap, and it fit my horse’s curves in all the right ways without being restrictive in the least. I genuinely felt like he was the most protected he could possibly be without actually being wrapped in material like a Christmas gift.

The Horseware Rambo Fly Buster Vamoose keeps your horse fly-free from every angle. Photo by Kate Samuels.

The neck cover is removable, and tapered at the top for an expert fit which you can see smoothly goes right into fly mask coverage. He’s wearing the Rambo Plus Flymask with Vamoose (review coming soon!), which makes a very nice picture.

The material of the fly sheet is actually very soft, and incredibly lightweight. This means that you can turn your horse out during the day and know that he won’t have any issues with chafing, and the addition of a sheet won’t make him unduly sweaty. There are silky soft swaths of fabric around the neckline and lining the shoulder area that also prevent unsightly blanket rubs or hair loss.

The extra long tail flap combined with the leg arches keep your horse protected front to back. Photo by Kate Samuels.

This particular horse runs very hot, and actually hates all blankets, even in the winter. I turned him out during the day for a few hours while wearing this blanket, and was pleased to see when I brought him in, that he looked neither grumpy nor sweaty, which is a great improvement upon all of our previous endeavors into the realm of fly sheets.

Even if your horses go out overnight, like mine do, the flies are out and about as long as the sun is up, and as soon as it peeks out in the morning. I can bring my horses in at 6am and they’re already stomping and shaking their heads from flies, so a fly sheet is necessary for the ones that are a little more sensitive.

This fly sheet has three straight surcingles attached to a belly guard, so you don’t have to worry about the stomach getting eaten by gnats. Photo by Kate Samuels.

The Rambo Fly Buster Vamoose sheet is on sale right now though Horseware, and you can take it home for only $200. It comes in an oatmeal color with black accents, and is available in all sizes from 60-87.

And there’s more! Horseware just launched a fly sheet trade-in for U.S. and Canadian residents. If you trade in a clean, used flysheet from ANY blanket brand, you can get $30 off any Rambo fly sheet. The trade-in runs through July 21. Click here to find a participating retailer near you.

Friday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Jun 16, 2017 12:03 am -

Yesterday, I was doing some work around the barn, and decided to go grab a rake. It was a large, metal rake, and as luck would have it, was facing away from me. So, being a smart person, I said, I’ll just really slowly step on the teeth of this rake and have it come upright towards me. I thought I could manage it. I thought I was smarter than the cartoon character that steps on a rake. I was not, and today I’m sporting a very large egg on my forehead, and struggling to wear my helmet. #glamorouslife #equestrianstyle

Events This Week:

Luhmühlen Links: Website, Entries, Schedule, Friday Starting Order, Live Scores, FEI TV, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Feather Creek Farm HT: [Website] [Ride Times & Live Scores]

Golden Spike HT: [Website] [Ride Times & Live Scores]

Come Again Farm Fathers Day HT: [Website] [Ride Times & Live Scores]

Bucks County Park HT: [Website] [Ride Times & Live Scores]

Silverwood Farm Spring HT: [Website] [Ride Times]

Seneca Valley Pony Club Spring HT: [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Full Gallop Farm June HT: [Website] [Ride Times]

Great Vista HT: [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

War Horse Event Series June HT: [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

News & Notes:

What to do when you’ve got a really slow moving young horse? I’ve got one right now (pictured above), and he’s lovely and safe and dead quiet to ride. Downside is, he can barely trot around the ring for a few times in a row, he’s so tired by moving his giant body around. He needs some long slow miles to build strength to move a little faster, but it will come! Horse & Hound has some suggestions for teaching a young horse to go forward properly. [H&H]

It’s no secret that horses shaped our world into what it is today, even if they aren’t part of everyday life for everyone anymore. From being major assets in war times, to lending a hand to the economic boom in cities, and still supporting rural towns around the world, horses have worked alongside humans for as long as we can remember. If you’re into history, check out this history of the horse. [When Horses Ruled]

Casually looking for a multi-million dollar equine haven just outside L.A.? Don’t worry, we got you covered. You’ll be rubbing elbows with the most famous celebrity horse owners in no time, for just $6.9 million you can own a forty acre show jumping paradise! [Horse Nation]

Holy cow, SmartPak is throwing a summer party with deals to knock your socks off. I mean, SmartPak always has your back with great prices on amazing products, but they’re really doing it up right now with some serious summer savings. Check out the necessities of summer survival here today! [SmartPak Product of the Day]

I couldn’t NOT post this:

Friday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Jun 9, 2017 12:03 am -

Pebbly Maximus isn’t so sure about this handler…..Photo by Lesley Grant Law.

Do all horse trainers wonder constantly if they have seasonal allergies? But then I realize that instead it’s just the dry season of summer and I’ve been standing in a dusty arena for several hours and I have a thin film of sand and rock dust coating both the outside and inside of my body. Is this just me? Washing off a “tan” at the end of the day is normal, right?

Bromont Links: Website, Entries, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Bramham Links: Website, Entries & Live Scores, XC Live Stream, EN’s Coverage

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Larkin Hill H.T. [Website]

Valinor Farm H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]

Plantation Field June H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

The Middleburg H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

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

Roebke’s Run CCI/CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Queeny Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Copper Meadows H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Camelot Equestrian Horse Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Aspen Farms H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Derbyshire Farms H.T. [Website]

News From Around the Globe:

Thoroughbred junkies around the US grieved the loss of the great Holy Bull yesterday, euthanized at the age of 26. Holy Bull succumbed to the infirmities of old age, and was put down at Jonabell Farm, his home as a stud horse for the past 22 years. Holy Bull was an incredible racehorse, retiring with 13 wins in 16 races, and won the title of Champion 3-year-old, accumulating over $2 million in his career. He was an incredibly prolific and successful sire, and the thoroughbred world will miss him greatly. [Holy Bull Euthanized at 26]

Michael Owen announced yesterday that he was retiring his four-star partner, The Highland Prince, from upper level competition. “Darcy” competed for 12 consecutive years with Michael, never missing a competition due to a lameness, but came up a bit off at the jogs at Tattersalls this month. At 17  years old, Darcy jumped clear at 83 of his 88 competitions, including four CCI4* rounds. He will now drop down and do a few BE90’s with Michael’s girlfriend, Ashleigh. [Four Star Horse Retires]

Best of Blogs: An Open Letter to My Fellow Horse Show Photographers

Hot on Horse Nation: Waltzing Matilda Breathes New Life Into Leather

The USEF Town Hall at Upperville Colt & Horse Show is heating up around issues of possible new drug regulations. USEF President Murray Kessler, USEF CEO Bill Moroney, and USHJA President Mary Babick offered a free-for-all Q&A at Upperville this week, and competitors certainly didn’t hold back. The possibility of regulating and/or banning Depro-Provara was certainly first and foremost on their minds, as many trainers are using it not only for mares, but for geldings and stallions as well. [USEF Opens Questions About Drug Regulations at Upperville]

Remembering Holy Bull:

Thursday News & Notes from Nupafeed

By on Jun 8, 2017 12:03 am -

The king of jog strip fashion himself, Chris Talley with OTTB Wonderhorse, Unmarked Bills. Photo courtesy of Chris

There is a LOT of eventing going on this weekend, as you might be able to tell from the extensive links list below. I still haven’t made it up to Bromont, but it’s on my bucket list. I’ll just have to find a friend to drive with, because holy cow that’s a long haul. Every year I think about the eventers in Florida who make the trek, and think that they might be a little extra insanity in the middle.

Bromont Links: Bromont Links: Website, Entries, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Bramham Links: Website, Entries & Live Scores, XC Live Stream, EN’s Coverage

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Larkin Hill H.T. [Website]

Valinor Farm H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]

Plantation Field June H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

The Middleburg H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

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

Roebke’s Run CCI/CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Queeny Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Copper Meadows H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Camelot Equestrian Horse Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Aspen Farms H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Derbyshire Farms H.T. [Website]

News From Around the Globe:

In case you missed it….[Photo Gallery & Notes from Bromont CCI First Inspection]

Irish Show Jump rider Kevin Thornton has been fined and suspended for 4 months following an FEI Tribunal that found him guilty of horse abuse. On October the 10th of 2016, Kevin was seen to be taking a grey horse, Flogas Sunset Cruise, out on the racetrack at the Hippodrome de la Cote d’Azur and whipping and spurring it repeatedly as it galloped and attempted to stop. The horse collapsed and died of unrelated causes on the same day, but the abuse was bad enough that the FEI was able to produce eight eye-witness testimonials to the severity of the situation. [FEI Tribunal Finds Show Jumper Guilty]

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can help treat tendon injuries in horses, but recent research has revealed that laser dosing is definitely not “one-size-fits-all.” Scientists found that the amount of laser light reaching the tendon depends substantially on the horse’s hair and skin—in particular its thickness and color. A recent study found that the darker the horse’s skin, the less laser light that gets through to the underlying tissues. That was also true for the horse’s hair color—the darker the hair, the less laser light that gets past the melanin “barrier.” While shaving the hair off certainly improved the penetration rate, the base color of the skin under the shaved hair could still hamper the laser light. [Laser Therapy: Not the Same For All Horses]

The entry date for the Surefire Horse Trials has been extended until Wednesday, June 14. It’s a fun, well-run, fantastic summer event … get your entries in today! See website for entry status as well as information on how to post-enter. [Surefire Eventing]

Hot on Horse Nation: An Open Letter to Classic Empire, Who Just Can’t Seem To Catch A Break This Year

Phyllis Dawson is a household name in eventing, and holds popular jump clinics at her Windchase Farm in Virginia during the winter months. As a veteran of the U.S. Eventing Team, her list of rider accomplishments includes top placings at four-star events all over the globe, as well as the highest-placed U.S. rider at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988, where she finished 10th. The USEA stopped by to ask her about her teaching philosophy, and how she likes to talent spot for the next generation of riders. [Featured Clinician: Phyllis Dawson]

Friday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Jun 2, 2017 12:03 am -

Horses are super majestic. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Everyone’s all pumped up about Tattersalls this weekend, meanwhile I’m back at home just thrilled that my 4-year-old moose baby head has stopped being a turd about standing still for the mounting block, and after one long hack, has really settled into his work and seems to be enjoying himself. It’s always nice with young horses when you get over that little hump where they feel like “work” is unfair in theory and practice, and they start to do the job with you. This is what I live for!

There’s also plenty of eventing around the world to watch this weekend. You can check out Tattersalls live here, which will be showing parts of the CICO3* Nations Cup dressage today as well as CCI* cross country starting at 5:30 a.m./10:30 a.m. EST. The second leg of Event Rider Masters is also live streaming at Wiesbaden here, with dressage starting at 8:30 a.m./2:30 a.m. EST.

Tattersalls Links: Website, Entries & Live Scores, CIC3* Ride Times, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Wiesbaden ERM Links: Website, Order of Go, Live Scores, Live Stream

U.S. Weekend Preview:

GMHA June H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

GVRDC Spring H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Waredaca H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Poplar Place June H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

IEA H.T. & Classic 3DE [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Colorado Horse Park CCI/CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

The Australian International 3-Day Event (Aus3DE) announced yesterday that Mitsubishi Motors will partner with the iconic international equestrian event as Naming Rights sponsor for the next three years. The Mitsubishi Motors Australian International Three Day Event is one of only six CCI four star (Olympic standard) events to be held across the world, and attracts over 25,000 spectators in Adelaide over the three days. Mitsubishi Motors Australia CEO, Mutsuhiro Oshikiri announced “Mitsubishi Motors has an international company with a head office in Adelaide, is proud to be the official naming sponsor of the Mitsubishi Motors Australian Three Day Event and to show its support for this major event in the Australian sporting calendar.” [MMAI3DE Is The New Moniker]

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is pleased to announce longtime sponsor, Nutrena, will be returning as a Corporate Sponsor and the “Official Feed of the USEA.” Nutrena has shown its support for the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) for several years and will be a Presenting Sponsor of this year’s event. The USEA American Eventing Championships, presented by Nutrena, will be held August 30-September 3, 2017 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. [Nutrena Returns as Top Sponsor to USEA]

Best of Blogs: Be the Tortoise: Win at the Upper Levels by Losing at the Lower Ones

Sometimes the internet offers up an article that isn’t about horses, but is still incredibly relevant to our lives. This time, it’s about an 11-year-old boy and his audition for Julliard, and his mother’s view of how much time and effort and practice and learning how to practice it takes to get to that one, single audition. Read this, you’ll like it. [How Top Performers Practice]

You’re gonna wanna watch this entire video. You can thank me later.


Thursday News & Notes from Nupafeed

By on Jun 1, 2017 12:03 am -

Kim Severson’s groom Andi Lawrence really enjoying Ireland with Cooley Cross Border! Photo via Andi.

I’ll make a bold statement today, before anybody can beat me to it: I think Cooley Cross Border will return to his homeland and make a big statement this weekend, and bring home a top five placing for the USA. I’ve got him on my Eventing Podcast Pod Picks Team, but sadly I’m not even close to the top of the leaderboard, so I’m calling on you, Kim, help me out! You can watch live here.

North American ride times at Tattersalls:

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Revelation: 10:30 a.m./5:30 a.m. EST
Katherine Coleman and Back to Business: 11:55 a.m./6:55 a.m. EST
Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee: 1:52 p.m./8:52 p.m. EST
Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border: 2:20 p.m./9:20 a.m. EST
Phillip Dutton and Z: 3:24 p.m./10:24 a.m. EST
Buck Davidson and Carlevo: 3:38 p.m./10:38 a.m. EST

Tattersalls Links: Website, Entries & Live Scores, CCI3* Ride Times, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

U.S. Weekend Preview:

GMHA June H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

GVRDC Spring H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Waredaca H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Poplar Place June H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]

IEA H.T. & Classic 3DE [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Colorado Horse Park CCI/CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Noelle Floyd Style, popular blog from the Hunter/Jumper world, has dipped her toe into the Eventing crowd. Now that we’ve invaded Devon, there is no looking back. Sara Kozumplik Murphy hit the big time with her win at the inaugural Devon Arena Eventing on her sparkly unicorn, and now she gets her own NF Style interview. [Eight Questions for Sara Murphy]

I don’t care what world you’re from, if you’re not looking at Devon right now, we need to talk. I’ve been following Devon on Instagram (@devon1896) all week, and the crew over at Horse Nation has been right there with me. A few things to shamelessly enjoy: shetland pony races, perfect hunter braids, tiny children on tiny perfect ponies, and Ladies’ Day. Ladies’ Day is where everyone gets dressed up in the most incredible outfits with the most insane hats you’ve ever seen. You gotta check it out. [Ladies’ Day At Devon]

Drama in the Hunter world as Kelley Farmer and Larry Glefke file a complaint against the USEF regarding their positive drug tests and subsequent suspensions. Glefke and Farmer were suspended in January following positive tests for the substance, GABA, a naturally occurring amino acid that is also given to horses to promote calmness. Glefke was suspended for 24 months and fined $24,000 and Farmer was suspended for 12 months and fined $12,000, and the pair claim that there was intentional mishandling of the evidence. [Glefke & Farmer Lodge Complaint Against USEF]

100% the most amazing video of the month: