Lorraine Jackson
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Lorraine Jackson

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About Lorraine Jackson

Managing Editor at our sister site, Jumper Nation.

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Sunday Links Presented by One K Helmets

Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by Susan Stickle, courtesy of Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by Susan Stickle, courtesy of Palm Beach International Equestrian Center

Wellington sure put on a spectacle of a show, as they do every year. As someone who spends a good chunk of my day covering the H/J side of Welly World, I can only imagine the novelty for spectators, owners, business professionals and sponsors in seeing the eventers jump right through the VIP tent. It captures a certain elegance of Wellington and insanity of eventing in a single, spectacular (and sometimes gasp-inducing) moment. You do you, Welly, and we’ll be watching.

U.S. Weekend Action:

Wellington Eventing Showcase: Final ScoresEN’s CoverageLive StreamEN’s Instagram

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

Poplar Place Farm February H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

Sporting Days Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

Galway Downs Winter H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Wed 2/8 Full Gallop Farm February H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]

Sunday Links:

Does My Horse Look Cute In These Genes?

Fantasy Farm Thursday: $3 Million California Ranch with a Side of Free Guac

Beezie Madden and Ian Millar Share California Split Win at Palm Beach Masters

The Newest Thing in Tall Boots? High-Top Kicks

Urgent appeal: Desperate times for stranded equines in Italy

Sunday Video:

 

Best of JN: Women Win the Battle of the Sexes at Winter Equestrian Festival

PC: Sportfot

PC: Sportfot

Wellington, FL – January 14, 2017 – The atmosphere in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) was charged with excitement Saturday night, as the women took victory over the men in the $75,000 Battle of the Sexes, presented by Wellington Regional Medical Center, during week one of the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).

The women's team gearing up for Saturday night's event.

The women’s team gearing up for Saturday night’s event. PC: Sportfot

The 12-week WEF circuit runs through April 2, 2017, featuring competition for hunters, jumpers, and equitation, with over $9 million in prize money up for grabs. Week one concludes with Sunday’s afternoon’s $75,000 Rosenbaum Mollengarden PLLC Grand Prix starting at 2 p.m. The class can be viewed live online HERE.

Teams of ten men and ten women battled it out for this year’s Battle of the Sexas title, with team captains Nicole Bellissimo and Charlie Jayne at the helm. Bellissimo led Heather Caristo-Williams, Amanda Derbyshire, Abigail McArdle, Jessica Mendoza, Schuyler Riley, Haylie Rolfe, Mavis Spencer, Alexandra Welles, and Julie Welles on her team. Jayne’s team included David Blake, Daniel Bluman, Ernest Connell, Alex Granato, Darragh Kenny, Andy Kocher, Adam Prudent, Colin Syquia, and Hardin Towell.

The men and women's teams celebrate a great night with Mark and Katherine Bellissimo of Equestrian Sport Productions, Wellington Regional Medical Center COO Pam Tahan, Nick Sama, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Orthopedics, Robbin Lee, CEO, dam Bromberg, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Emergency Services, and ringmaster Steve Rector.

The men and women’s teams celebrate a great night with Mark and Katherine Bellissimo of Equestrian Sport Productions among others. PC: Sportfot

The contest was held in three phases, consisting of a faults converted speed round, a relay race, and a match race. The men and women were pitted against each other in each phase over courses set by 2016 Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA).

In round one, the men led the women seven to three in the speed rounds. In round two’s relay races, the girls picked up an additional ten points, while the men earned just five, bringing the totals to 12 for the men and 13 for the women. With one point separating them, the men and women headed into the third and final round for match races, where the women took a decisive 18 points to the men’s nine. The final tally of 21 to 31 gave the women the win. They have been victorious in the event eight out of nine years – with the class in 2015 ending in a tie.

Julie Welles was representing the women for her first time in Battle of the Sexes competition and had a fantastic night with her mount Centalyon, owned by Ardencote Farm. The pair jumped fast and clear to help their team earns points in all three rounds. Welles is working for 2016 Olympic Champion Nick Skelton (GBR) and two-time Olympic team gold medalist Laura Kraut (USA) this year, and saw the night as a perfect opportunity to give her mount some experience in an electric atmosphere.

“It was so much fun,” Welles said. “The horse I rode is a lovely horse that Nick and Laura own. He was just unbelievable. I just kick, and off I went. I rode him last winter, and I had not ridden him since.”

Welles continued, “His barn name is Smurf because he is so little, but he rides like a big horse. He is really fast, and he has a huge stride for such a small horse. We just cruised around.”

Julie Welles and Centalyon

Julie Welles and Centalyon. PC: Sportfot

Commenting on her team’s win, Welles stated, “To be honest, we were a little nervous in the beginning because the boys had a pretty stacked team. If you look on paper, the boys should have won. I guess I would say they got a little cocky after the first round when they kept beating us. Then we came back strong. Laura Kraut was like our cheerleader. She said, ‘You guys just have to win five of the match races. That’s all that you have to do.’ We kept counting down in the schooling area, screaming at the screen and cheering each other on.”

Abigail McArdle was aboard Plain Bay Sales’ Comeback de la Manade for her second year competing in the Battle of the Sexes and also had a fun night representing the ladies for their win.

“It was extremely thrilling,” McArdle declared. “The girls went in losing in the first round, and my only feat was to beat Andy Kocher. I didn’t think I could. Everyone told me I couldn’t, and then sure enough we did! I thought that was a good inspiration early on for the girls in the last round.

Abigail McArdle and Comeback de la Manade

Abigail McArdle and Comeback de la Manade. PC: Sportfot

“I think this is a fabulous event with great sponsors,” McArdle added. “Everyone has a lot of fun every year, and I think it is a great thing to keep doing. We had a huge crowd; the horses and the people all feel the excitement.”

Charlie Jayne was a disappointed team captain for the men Saturday night, and described his feeling after the class as “mixed emotions.”

“It was not a good night for us,” Jayne admitted. “We were up, we were down, and then we were so far away in the end. It’s fun for the crowd. It’s a very nice event for the sponsors – Wellington Regional Medical Center this year. We thank them every year, and we’ll keep coming back because of the sponsors and the spectators.”

Nicole Bellissimo and VDL Dogan

Nicole Bellissimo and VDL Dogan

Also competing in the International Arena on Saturday, the $25,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic hosted its first event of the circuit, with a win for Wilhelm Genn (GER) aboard Eduardo Leon’s Bugatti. Twenty-four entries started over the first round track, with eight clear rounds, and four double clear. Genn and Bugatti clocked the winning time of 37.66 seconds. Jessica Mendoza (GBR) and Toy Boy finished second in 39.02 seconds. Andrew Welles (USA) rode Peter Welles’ Boo van het Kastanjehof to a third place finish in 39.81 seconds, and Jeffery Welles (USA) placed fourth in 41.19 seconds riding Herbert Sambol’s Broken Heart.

Wilhelm Genn and Bugatti

Wilhelm Genn and Bugatti. PC: Sportfot

The morning began with a win for Addison Gierkink and Kadley Holdings LLC’s Wisconsin III in the $15,000 Engel & Völkers SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. The $1,500 Sleepy P Ranch High Junior Jumper speed class was next to go with a win for Catalina Peralta riding Wendy Peralta’s Conti. The $1,500 Hollow Creek Farm Medium Junior Jumpers also competed in their speed class for week one, which saw a win for Isabella Russekoff aboard Lexus Arbuckle’s Castor van de Krananburg.

#WEF1: WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagramLive Results

Jumper Nation offers a dynamic array of engaging content custom curated for hunter/jumper enthusiasts. In addition to aggregated horse show news and results, we feature rider profiles, training tips, barn tours, style guides and much, much more, all complimented by a vibrant social media presence. Check us out today! 

screen-shot-2017-01-06-at-3-10-37-pm

Sunday Links from One K Helmets


If one is in search of extraordinary women doing extraordinary things, one need look no further than any old day at a horse trial. For the past 60 years women have been competing as equals with men in the equestrian sports and repeatedly proving what is possible, and the mares have been doing it even longer than that! Politics aside, our sport is an incredible haven for tough girls who do amazing things, and I’m proud to be apart of one of the most equal playing fields in the world. Go Eventing.

US Weekend Action:

Poplar Place Farm January H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scoring]

Sunday Links

Women Win $75,000 Battle of the Sexes at the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival

That Time a Guy Jumped a Single Upright Sword

The Internet Adores This Goat Farmer’s Slick Dance Moves

Fantasy Farm Thursday: Rent Your Fantasy by the Day on New App ‘Staller’

Dressage rider left with partially collapsed lung and lacerated liver after fall

Sunday Video:

 

 

 

Best of JN: 7 Things You Should Stop Saying to Your Trainer Immediately

Photo by Lorraine Jackson Photo by Lorraine Jackson

Trainers put up with a lot of characters, and they (generally) do it with an overflowing amount of grace. You know that one girl in the barn who just drives you up a wall if you have to spend so much as five minutes with her in the crossties? Your coach spends 2 hours a week with her in lessons. That’s not counting shows, scheduling, and pre and post-lesson chitchat. Your trainer is a saint.

To make sure you’re not the person driving your poor coach up a wall every week, refer to this handy list of things you must not and shall not ever say to your trainer.

“But Pat Parrelli says….”

It’s great that you study other training methods through books or TV when you’re on your own time – it means you’re curious and making an effort to do right by your horse. But spending time arguing with your trainer over methodology in a lesson is a road to Hell paved in Pat Parrelli books, and a waste of time. When you’re in a lesson, completely invest in the training you’re receiving, and then make a decision how to apply it to your overall training regimen. If you’re genuinely torn about something, set up a separate time to talk to your coach about your concerns and determine a path forward.

“I know you said I’m not ready for the 1.10s, but….”

Your trainer’s job above all other things is to keep you safe. Ranging from the sentimental reasons of them liking you to the financial reasons of what it would do to their business if you were seriously hurt. Your coach wants you healthy and they also want you to succeed. If Mama says you ain’t ready for the 1.10 division, you ain’t ready. Period. Try to remember the old adage that you should show one level below what you can comfortably school at home. If you’re frustrated by your inability to move up, sit down and make a specific game plan about what’s holding you back and what you need to do to resolve them. When you’re ready, your coach will get you there.

Dropping a Bombshell at a Show

Any bombshell. Horse related, coach related, totally not even remotely horse related – if it can wait, wait. No 18-hour day is more exhausting on a human being than a trainer at a horse show. They’re dealing with dozens of mini rollercoasters happening all around them relating to whatever just happened in the barn aisle, the warm-up ring, the officials’ office. Not just out of sympathy, but for your own sake in getting a positive response, save the big talks for when you get home.

“I just bought a horse! You’re going to love him.”

I’m guilty of this one, and trust me when I say that my coach was an angel for putting up with that situation for three years. If you’re in a training program with someone you like and trust before purchasing, DON’T GO IT ALONE. It’s worth whatever finder’s fee your coach requests to come along and help you find a horse who will fit your needs and help you make not just an emotional decision, but a rational one. Not to mention, they know how to find horses who may not appear in a sale ad, but are for sale to the right owner, and those are the gems.

“Can you take a quick video of me doing this whole course again?” 

I mean, in a pinch, whatever. Do what you gotta do. But personally, I hate that I lose a round’s worth of education from my coach while they jimmy with the phone or can’t really see what you’re doing through the tiny screen. If it’s really important to get something on film, plan ahead to ask a barnmate to come in for a class or a lesson and get the video so you get the benefit of the footage and also your trainer’s expertise. Or, better yet, go in on a motion tracking camera with your barnmates, such as a soloshot and never have to worry about getting the course on camera again!

“But . . . “

One of my first coaches in my young rider days gave me a brief and phenomenal piece of advice: Shut up and ride. 21st century riders are so conditioned to be multitaskers at home, in the office, while you drive places (YIKES) that we are positively experts at being in our own heads. You’ve got to shut down your argument center, your doubt center, your inner arbitrator and JUST RIDE. Absorb your instruction like a sponge, internalize it, listen to your trainer and your body and your horse’s motion and live fully in the present learning environment. Then go home and take notes about your lesson. Arguing in lessons or resisting ideas might be slowing your progress and making tension when you could be sky-rocketing to not only success, but deeply internal satisfaction. If your coach is presenting an idea that you fundamentally disagree or struggle with, again, make time to talk about it out of the saddle and come to a consensus.

“Could you go out and take off Sally’s blanket when you get a second? Oh and give her her grain? Thanks!” 

We’ve all done it, and most trainers are happy to help out now and again, but if you’re making a habit of it, we guarantee your coach is simmering at least a little. How many students does your coach have? If they all asked him or her to do things like this every day, do you think any actual coaching would get done? This, my friends, is why the good lord invented poor working students and horse-hungry teenagers. It’s worth the $5-10 per chore to them and you to pay for a little service if you’re away and need a hand. It’s peace of mind for you, too, that it’s actually getting done.

If you feel like giving up any of the above statements will genuinely be to the detriment of your athletic career and ambitions, ask yourself if you’re with the right coach. These are mostly matters of trusting your trainer’s judgement and letting the process take over a bit. If you can’t bring yourself to do that, it’s worth pondering if the problem is them or you. Be the best Jumper Nation citizen you can be, and Go Jumping.

Jumper Nation offers a dynamic array of engaging content custom curated for hunter/jumper enthusiasts. In addition to aggregated horse show news and results, we feature rider profiles, training tips, barn tours, style guides and much, much more, all complimented by a vibrant social media presence. Check us out today! 

screen-shot-2017-01-06-at-3-10-37-pm

Sunday Links Presented by One K Helmets

Photo by Madison Gilbert via Instagram. Photo by Madison Gilbert via Instagram.

Will you take a gander at that darling face? Aber Oak is a Dutch Warmblood gelding who made his novice debut with rider and owner Madison Gilbert this weekend at Stable View, and the pair had a terrific event, finishing fourth in a big division on their dressage score. We love seeing promising ponies (with cute faces!) work their way up the levels from the ground up. Congratulations on a killer weekend, you two!

U.S. Weekend Action:

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

Three Lakes January H.T. [Website] [Entry Status][Live Scores]

Sunday Links:

MMA Fighter Conor McGregor, Actor Jon Lovitz & the Weirdest Horse Race Promo Ever

Horses Survive Crash En Route to HITS Coachella

Equine Insurance for Dummies: An Introductory Case Study

10 Wicked Good Warm-Up Jams

The Event at Rebecca Farm’s Economic Impact Leaps to $5.5 Million in 2016

 Sunday Video:

Best of JN: Pro Groom Candace Green’s Trek to HITS Coachella

Photo courtesy of Candace Green. Photo courtesy of Candace Green.

Candace Green is a full time groom for Juniper Farms and two-time Olympian Jill Henselwood in Ontario, Canada, but for the next three months she’ll be performing her duties in Thermal, California for the duration of the HITS Coachella circuit. Candace has kindly agreed to share some of her experiences grooming for a world class pro. 

From Candace:

As the New Year starts, so does a new show season! While the rest of the countryside relaxes and enjoys the holidays, the grooms at Juniper Farms have been hustling hard. HITS Coachella is rapidly approaching and the farm is crackling with anticipation. After enjoying several months of turnout, hacking, and training, even the horses are anxious to get on the road.

Packing for a series like HITS Coachella requires some intense organizing. Endless games of Trunk Tetris have to be played to ensure all the equipment fits. The look on a groom’s face when they’ve finally wrestled the lid shut, only to realize they’ve forgotten a cooler or a set of boots would break your heart! The sheer volume of STUFF required to run a barn is pretty mind blowing. Our barn aisle looks a lot like a crowded flea market. Chest freezer? Fans? Trunks? Bikes? We’ve got all that, and more.

Photo courtesy of Candace Green

Photo courtesy of Candace Green.

Despite the crowded barn aisles and the empty tack rooms, it still feels surreal. In just over 24-hours, we’re packing up 14 horses and everything we own, and driving across the continent. It’s hard to believe that we’re going to be living in another country for the next three months.

My two coworkers have never driven long distances before, but there’s nothing I can say to prepare them for what they’re about to experience! Spending several days in a car with another person is a sure way to get to know them quickly, and thoroughly. It doesn’t take long for exhaustion and weirdness to set in.

Juniper Farms in winter. Photo courtesy of Candace Green

Juniper Farms in winter. Photo courtesy of Candace Green.

The journey is approximately 4,600 kilometers (around 2850 miles) from Juniper Farms to the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California. Hauling horses is slow going, too – we’ll have two 24-hour layovers to rest the horses (and the humans!) in Lexington, Kentucky and Amarillo, Texas. We should reach our destination in about five days. The next time you hear from me, winter will be long gone. Sunny California, here we come!

Learn more about Juniper Farms here and Jill Henselwood’s legendary career and background here

Jumper Nation offers a dynamic array of engaging content custom curated for hunter/jumper enthusiasts. In addition to aggregated horse show news and results, we feature rider profiles, training tips, barn tours, style guides and much, much more, all complimented by a vibrant social media presence. Check us out today! 

screen-shot-2017-01-06-at-3-10-37-pm

Sunday Links Presented by One K Helmets

Photo courtesy of Sydni Nusink. Photo courtesy of Sydni Nusink.

It is -20 degrees in many parts of Utah and six or more inches of snow accumulated throughout the night last night, but that didn’t stop die hard eventers from showing up for the Wasatch Range Eventing Association Annual Banquet last night to celebrate an amazing 2016.

Subzero temps and dangerous roadways are no more a obstacle to us than sharing our XC venues with ropers and whatever random species of livestock they’re practicing on that week. We’ll get the job done and enjoy doing it. The WREA has been a vital partner to both schooling and recognized eventing in our state, and Utah would not have the burgeoning sport that we do if not for their leadership. It was a wonderful night to celebrate the accomplishments of so many hard working equestrians!

U.S. Weekend Scores:

Ocala Winter I H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Sunday Links

Jumper Nation’s 2017 Resolution: New Contributors Wanted!

Colic Surgery – Is it Likely To End the Careers of Sport Horses?

Tight Nosebands in Competition Rampant, Findings of New Study Suggest

How to Survive Winter Without Losing a Few Fingers

A Beach, a Sunset, and a Show Jumping Fantasy are the Perfect Saddle Pad Promo

Sunday Video:

Elisa Wallace’s Eventing Mustang ‘Hwin’ Immortalized as Breyer Model

screen-shot-2017-01-05-at-5-29-07-pm

It’s Hwin! Image courtesy of Breyer.

If you’re a die-hard fan of top American eventer Elisa Wallace and her charming BLM-adopted mustangs, you’re going to love today’s announcement: Elisa’s gray mustang mare Hwin has been made into a Breyer Horse model for 2017 collection.

Big news mustang fans…Hwin is officially a Breyer!

https://www.breyerhorses.com/Hwin

Posted by Wallace Eventing on Thursday, January 5, 2017

The gray Adobe Town mare originally came to Elisa as an Extreme Mustang Makeover horse, and Elisa quickly realized the incredible potential of the mare as an eventer. The 14.3 hand mare has a little extra height, huge scope, and lovely gaits, and Elisa knew right away that she couldn’t let the mare get away from her.

Elisa fundraised to be able to win the mare in the auction at the conclusion of the Extreme Mustang Makeover, and was successful in guaranteeing a long-term home for Hwin with Wallace Eventing.

Hwin–5weeks out of the wild.

Posted by Wallace Eventing on Sunday, November 2, 2014

In 2016, the pair successfully campaigned at the Preliminary level of eventing, and the mare isn’t done yet. The sky is the limit for little Hwin, but she’s already made a huge impact on the horse industry, as evidenced by her inclusion in the new Breyer collection. The model charmingly captures Hwin’s spitfire and stunning coloration and is sure to be a favorite of young and old Elisa fans alike.

You can buy the model directly from the Breyer website or at your local ranch supply or tack store where Breyers are sold.

Go Hwin, and Go Riding!

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Horse Nation.

Best of JN: Watch CNN’s Documentary on the 2016 Global Champions Tour and League

PC: Stefano Grasso/LGCT

PC: Stefano Grasso/LGCT

The Longines Global Champions Tour and Global Champions League are some of the most valuable and prestigious events you could hope to witness – not just in show jumping, but in any sport. With millions of dollars in prize money at stake, the best riders in the world are frequently on hand throughout the season to duke it out for individual and season-long championships.

The elegant and captivating style of showcasing the sport, the riders, and the teams has captured the attention of fans as well as mainstream media, and CNN produced an exceptional documentary on the 2016 season that you can watch here.

Despite legal disputes between the FEI and the Global Champions League regarding jurisdiction, exclusivity and oversight, the “home team” and head-to-head style of gamesmanship has been popular with audiences and digital viewers and appears to be slated for a comeback in 2017.

Get fully invested and stay in the loop on the 2017 season at the links below. We also recommend JN’s Top Ten Reasons the Global Champions League is Our New Favorite Sport to get acquainted with some of the GCL’s finer points.

GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOURWebsiteFacebookInstagram, TwitterYouTube

GLOBAL CHAMPIONS LEAGUEWebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTube

Get More Hunter Jumper News at our sister site:

JumperNation.com

 

Sunday Links from One K Helmets

eventing

Photo courtesy of @eventing.hugo on Instagram.

Happy New Year EN! There were some highs and lows to 2016, but one die-hard eventing combination decided to end it with a thrilling bang: Abby and her OTTB Hugo earned their C-1 United States Pony Club rating on the very last day of the year! The muck, the cold, and the holiday hustle were no match for a dedicated Pony Clubber, and it’s downright uplifting to see a pair take the next step in their goals. Congrats to Abby and her posse!

Sunday Links:

No College Football on New Years Day 2017, Partly Because of Some Horses in 1893

Happy Birthday Nick Skelton! (AKA: Another reason to crack open the champagne)

and on a semi-related note:

‘Big Star’ Frozen Semen Now Available in the USA

Knighthood and Honors for Rio Equestrian Stars in New Year List

Horse Vets and Advocates Recognized for Their Equine Efforts

Watch CNN’s Full Recap of the 2016 Global Champions Tour and League

New Years Day Video:

I’m not even going to pretend to apologize or pretend like I didn’t watch this entire thing. (Also, YouTube asked me to tell them how old I was when I clicked on it, and I felt deeply judged. IT’S NOT IMPORTANT HOW OLD I AM, YOUTUBE.) And I need a Gold Valegro. Amen.

 

 

Best of JN: A Lesson with Grandad Nick Skelton

Screenshot via Facebook

Screenshot via Facebook

“Whoa, we’re going over the jump! Blimey, that was good!”

Olympic Show Jumping Gold Medalist Nick Skelton (GBR) is a busy fellow — nominated for Sports Personality of the Year by BBC Sports, being the man of honor at the Olympia Horse Show in London this week, and of course keeping up the marvelous string of his at the home yard.

But he is NEVER too busy for his adorable granddaughter, Flo. The darling little lady was granted a riding lesson from the man of the hour this week, and we get in on the fun. Certainly she’s destined for greatness when she has a world champion in her corner from the get-go, right? (You can really tell it’s in her veins by her completely half-hearted “whoa” before the poles. She didn’t want that pony to stop for all the rice in China.)

If Carlsberg did riding lessons. Flo gets a lesson from Grandad before he heads to Olympia. Lucky girl x

Posted by Grace Skelton on Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Go Skelton crew, and Go Jumping!

See more from the H/J Universe at our sister site www.JumperNation.com & follow them on Facebook.

 

Sunday Links Presented by One K Helmets

Pro Groom Malin Jonasson in her natural habitat. Photo by Terri Fitton.

Pro Groom Malin Jonasson in her natural habitat. Photo by Terri Fitton.

I always knew on some vague level that show jumping was more a year-round sport than eventing, but I never appreciated until recently to what extent. December is by far the slowest month I’ve encountered since taking the helm at our sister site, Jumper Nation, and by that I mean there’s only a five-star every weekend in ONE continent each weekend, rather than one on a few continents, or multiple events in one country.

This weekend, for example, is the Olympia London International Horse Show, and above you’ll see one of the dedicated grooms who lives on the road with her boss’s horses. Those grooms live, eat, breathe and fly with the horses in such tandem that only those brief, ferocious jump rounds separate one from the other. The connection between horse and rider is awe-inspiring, but hats off to the love between horse and groom.

Sunday Links

7 Fast Facts About the Olympia Horse Show in London

Study Team Pinpoints Mutation Responsible for Albino Donkeys on Italian Island

Christmas Dinner in Less Than 1,000 Calories? See How Jump Jockeys Do It

15 Impressively Artistic Clips to Leave Mere Mortals Stunned

Charlotte Dujardin’s Surprise Christmas Present: Her Very Own Valegro

Crossing the Barn Aisle – How Valegro’s Career Impacts Us All

Sunday Video:

Take an Insider Barn Tour with Dutch Olympian Alice Naber-Lozeman

Screenshot via YouTube.

Screenshot via YouTube.

Alice Naber-Lozeman and her longtime partner Peter Parker made their Olympic debut in Rio earlier this year and gained many fans with their scrappy performance in the process. Alice has truly worked her fingers to the bone to have it all – a thriving professional business and international string, a family (she has two young daughters with husband Gert), and a beautiful farm in her home country of the Netherlands.

Today, we get to take a behind-the-scenes tour courtesy of Dutch equestrian vlogger Feline de Jonge. (And don’t fret if you don’t spreken nederlands – there are subtitles!

The whole family is involved with the horse business (as you’ll see in the video), and the farm was originally owned by Alice’s in-laws, so it truly is a generational endeavor to go out and make the operation a thriving and happy success. Gert is also an international eventer who has represented the Dutch at the European eventing championships, and Alice’s father was a competitive eventer when she was growing up, so the sport was very much in her blood.

Along with the barn tour, Feline also includes some of the insider scenes of life on the Dutch Eventing Team while in Rio, which is a great deal of fun for any fan deep in the heart of the off-season. The Dutch certainly know how to bring life to the party!

Feline will be adding more to her vlog from her visit to Stal Naber-Lozeman in Biddinghuizen, and you can follow her YouTube channel here. You can also learn more about Alice’s Eventing School at her Facebook Page.

Go Alice, and Go Eventing!

 

Sunday Links from One K Helmets

I feel you, girl. Photo by Lorraine Jackson I feel you, girl. Photo by Lorraine Jackson

I’m the proud mother of a darling, copper-headed little toddler who spends her days watching a great deal of Show Jumping live streams in between episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Doc McStuffins. I’ve put my personal riding career on hold while I immerse myself in the journalistic side of the sport horse world and I’m beyond lucky that I get to take my family along for the adventure. It’s work from sun-up to sun-down wrangling people and a writing career, but today I was rewarded with the ultimate prize: a toddler neigh. When a horse appeared on the TV screen today, a tiny crooked baby finger appeared, babbling and squealing before turning to me and giving her best neigh and snort impression. In other words, Christmas came early in the Jackson house.

Sunday Links:

British Equestrian Sport Loses £2 Million Ahead of Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Hannah Francis Wins Helen Rollason Inspiration Award

Canada’s Eric Lamaze Wins Redemption and IJRC Final in Geneva

Kent Farrington and Creedance Victorious in Opening FEI Class at CHI Switzerland

Researchers Show It’s Possible to Describe the Facial Expression of Horses

Horses and Their Technicolor Dreamcoat: Colorful History Unveiled by Researchers

Sunday Video:

 

Best of JN: Lorenzo de Luca and Abdelkebir Ouaddar Charm Paris to Their Feet

lorenzo

Lorenzo de Luca of Italy. Screenshot via YouTube.

The Laiterie de Montaigu Trophy at the Longines Masters in Paris was not supposed to be the highlight class of the night, and the showdown came down to two somewhat unusual suspects. Champions like Kent Farrington, Daniel Deusser and Christian Ahlmann struggled to make an impact in the five-star class, bringing down bogey fences and struggling in a tricky triple down the long side. But highlight it was, as the handsome and soft spoken Lorenzo de Luca of Italy and the charismatic Abdelkebir Ouaddar of Morocco duked it out in a top two showdown separated by mere tenths of a second in the jump-off.

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Lorenzo de Luca and Limestone Grey. PC: Sportfot, Courtesy of Longines Masters

Course designer Uliano Vezzani designed a class with a tough time to make, several tight turns, and long gallops that favored forward horses willing to leave out a stride here or there but could come back and tackle the massive triple near the end of the course. Only four of 47 starters would survive the first round with double clear scores: Lorenzo on Limestone Grey, Abdelkebir aboard Quickly de Kreisker, veteran Brit John Whitaker on Argento, and France’s Maelle Martin and Giovani de la Pomme.

The jump-off was a stunner of a show with plenty of opportunities to take risks; John Whitaker and Maelle Martin both brought down rails in the process, which ultimately left John in third with 38.49 and Maelle on a 39.39. Lorenzo and his stunning grey set the pace when they came in first and lit the ground afire with their fervent but graceful clear on an incredible 34.06.

Abdelkebir was the last to enter, and he rode magnificently hard and well to put all the pressure he could on the score of Lorenzo. He tipped the timer at 34.67 seconds to take second, but still beamed with pride and delight for the uproarious crowd that gave his gutsy ride and showmanship a standing ovation.

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Abdelkebir Ouaddar. Screenshot via YouTube.

All four finalists received a warm reception in the victory gallop, and the Parisians made it clear they appreciated the win and near win by the up and comers on Masters weekend.

Lorenzo began riding at the age of nine, and was completely hooked, despite having no family upbringing around horses. “I always loved horses, even though none of my family ride. When I eventually got one I never got off.” Lorenzo now rides at Stephex Stables in Wolvertem, Belgium. He rides in an Italian Air Force uniform as an ambassador for the Italian government.

Abdelkebir recently made his Olympic debut at the Rio Games, and had the distinct honor of being flag bearer for the nation of Morocco in the Opening Ceremonies. Abdelkebir learned to ride as a boy with the Moroccan Royal Family. “I was raised as her own son by Princess Lalla Amina of Morocco.”

He started riding competitively at age 14. The King of Morocco, King Mohammed VI, owns the horses Ouaddar uses for training and competitions, and is an aid during his international travel. “King Mohammed VI puts everything at my disposal to make me feel at ease. First class tickets and everything you need. I’m really lucky, I can say that I am treated like a king too.”

#LonginesMasters: WebsiteFull Rider ListLive ResultsFacebookInstagramMasters TV

Top Ten:top-ten-lorenzo

To read more news from the Hunter Jumper universe, please visit:

www.JumperNation.com 

Sunday Links Presented by One K Helmets

How to know you're best friends? By wearing matching One K Helmets! Photo courtesy of One K Helmets Facebook Page. How to know you're best friends? By wearing matching One K Helmets! Photo courtesy of One K Helmets Facebook Page.

Listen folks. Let the significant other buy your riding gloves, your winter socks and if you’ve done a fair amount of training on them about sugar content and the benefits of flax, your horse treats. But buy your own helmet this holiday season, aight? No one can know the intimate details of noggin shape, size, sweat pattern and color scheme better than you. It’s personal. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, all I want for Christmas is a One K Defender Suede Glitter Helmet in Brown, size 7 & 1/8. Tip your writers.

U.S. Weekend Action:

Sporting Days Horse Trials [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Sunday Links:

 Kevin Staut Magnifique, Mclain Ward Third in Paris Longines Masters Speed Class

Bye Bye WEG: FEI Quietly Kills the Show Jumping Final Format

10 Hidden Costs of Show: What No One Tells You Until You Get Your First Bill

Under Pressure: Warning Signs to Heed When Your Saddle Isn’t a Good Fit

USDF Held Their Annual Awards Banquet in St. Louis This Weekend – See the Action Here

Sunday Video: A shout out to my dear friend Beth Siron and her mount Clever Concept, who this weekend were awarded by the USDF for being the top Training Level OTTB combination in the country. She’s put in the work to turn him into a lovely horse on the flat, and I can’t wait to see where this pair goes. Congratulations, friend!

Equine Stem Cell Research: World Summit Seeks to Innovate and Connect

This piece first appeared on our sister site, JumperNation.com.

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Photo courtesy of World Stem Cell Summit

Global leaders in stem cell research are congregating December 7-9 in Palm Beach, Florida for the World Stem Cell Summit, and a specialized track will be dedicated exclusively to stem cell research and regenerative medicine in horses.

Stem cells are a type of cell which can do some pretty incredible things. First, they can grow by dividing quickly and almost infinitely, and second, according to the National Institute of Health, “they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions.” Essentially, stem cells can be implanted into a subject with damaged cells and the stem cells can repair tissues that cannot heal on their own or are healing slowly or incorrectly. There’s also some indication that stem cells could be used to re-program “bad” cells.

These cells are collected in two primary ways:

  • As embryonic stem cells – stem cells appear in large quantities very early on in the fertilization process, about five days after fertilization. Cells are collected from these embryos and can then be used in numerous places in the body to make new, healthy cells. The process does destroy the embryo in the process, however.
  • As adult stem cells – the cells are more limited in terms of what they can be used for, but they can be harvested from full-grown animals with little to no risk of injury (these cells are generally harvested from bone marrow and adipose tissue, or fat).

While there are some controversies surrounding human stem cells and the practice of harvesting cells from extremely early human embryos, these concerns are more easily managed in animal sciences. There remains a universal pressure, however, to limit the use of embryos by seeking alternatives and maintain the highest bioethical standards.

In terms of the breadth and scope of what impact stem cell research could have in the horse world, the possibilities are staggering. Stem cell therapy — if approved, streamlined, and properly governed and administered — could generate new and healthy cells for humans and animals suffering from macular degeneratoin, burns, organ damage and failure, Cushings, neurological conditions, arthritis,  and other orthopedic issues.

There are even signs that stem cell therapy could be helpful in fighting various forms of cancer by using healthy, fast-growing stem cells to “teach” cancerous cells to make healthy cells and stop production of bad cells (these same breakthroughs apply in human health, as well).

The first ever Equine World Stem Cell Summit will attract vets, researchers, bio-engineers and investors to learn more about the state of the field and share conclusions from years of research, as well as opportunities to network, collaborate and commercialize their work. The summit has also announced that the event is also now a partner with the North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Association.

“We are excited to participate in the Equine World Stem Cell Summit and believe NAVRMA and EWSCS is a natural partnership,” said Dr. Alan Nixon, Founder and Chairman of the Board at NAVRMA and professor of clinical sciences at Cornell University. “We encourage professional improvement and the exchange of knowledge and ideas among people interested in veterinary regenerative medicine. The summit is the perfect place to share information and encourage learning not only for veterinarians and researchers, but for interested owners, riders, trainers, and breeders in the equine industry.”

Workshop sessions at the Summit will include the following topics:

  • Advances in Equine Regenerative Medicine – A Clinical Update for the Equine Community with Paul D. Robbins, PhD, Professor, Department of Metabolism & Aging, Florida Campus, Laboratory Website, Scripps VIVO Scientific Profile, of Scripps Research Institute; Arnold Caplan, PhD, Professor Biology and Director, Skeletal Research Center, of Case Western Reserve University; Steve Ghivizzani, PhD, Professor of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation, of University of Florida College of Medicine
  • Equine Orthopedics with Steve Ghivizzani, PhD, of University of Florida College of Medicine
  • Orthopedic Applications of Stem Cells in Equine Medicine with Dr. Pablo Espinosa, DVM-specialty equine surgery, Department of Surgical & Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, of University of California, Davis
  • Stem Cell Tracking in Horses and Other Large Animals with Dr. Mathieu Spriet, DVM, MS, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Radiology, Associate Professor, Department of Surgical & Radiological Sciences, of University of California, Davis
  • Neurological Applications of Stem Cells in Horses: Feasibility, Safety and Tracking with Dr. Rogerio Martins Amorim, DVM, MSc, PhD, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science, Veterinary Clinic Department, Veterinary Neurology Service of São Paulo, Brazil
  • Equine Regenerative Medicine – Clinical Experience and Relevance to Human Therapy with Robert J. Harman, DVM, MPVM, CEO of VetStem Biopharma Inc.
  • Equine Treatments Using Stromal Vascular Fraction and Platelet Rich Plasma with Priscilla Ortiz Porras, DVM, of Innova Celulas Madre, Costa Rica
  • Equine Regenerative Medicine with Paul D. Robbins, PhD, of Scripps Research Institute; Dori Borjesson, BA, DVM, MPVM, PhD, Professor and Researcher, Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, of University of California, Davis
  • Issues Related to Cloning Horses with Dr. Timo Faltus, Cipl.-Biol., Dipl.-Jur., Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter/Projektleiter bei Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, GermanyAdditional speakers include: Jose Cibelli, DVM-PhD, Professor – Michigan State University, on sabbatical leave at BIONAND-Spain; and leaders from the North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Association (NAVRMA).

The summit is open to anyone who has an interest in the subject or would like the opportunity to learn more, invest, or collaborate with stem cell and regenerative medicine researchers. The cost is $500 to attend for all three days when you enter the code “EQUINERM” at checkout. You can register for the event here: http://worldstemcellsummit.com/equine/

Sunday Links from One K Helmets

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Lauren Kieffer and Veronica. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Eventing Nation skipper and lead chinchilla wrangler Jenni Autry and Diarm Byrne of Equiratings don’t just share a passion for cats and horses, but also a real knack for podcast domination. They’ve gotten into a charming groove on Eventing Podcast’s #LockerRoomTalk, and this week they have a stellar interview with Lauren Kieffer about her back story, her current string, and the roller coaster that is 2016. Check it out here! [Eventing Podcast #LockerRoomTalk with Lauren Kieffer]

U.S. Weekend Action:

#OJCInternational: WebsiteEntriesRide TimesLive ScoresFacebookTwitterInstagramLive StreamEN’s Coverage

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Sunday Links:

Canadian Olympic Athletes Speak Against Vote at FEI General Assembly

Madison Ricard DIY: Compact Jump Storage Cart Idea

8 Winter Hoof Care Reminders

Giving Thanks to the Horses Who Made Me

Winning Dressage Mule ‘Slate’ a Champion for Working Equines

Project Hopes to End Use of Horses in Producing Diptheria Anti-Toxin

Sunday Video: Three Days Eventing, you guys. How many delightful inaccuracies can you uncover in this hasty school project?

 

Ocala Jockey Club CIC3*/CCI2* Live Cross Country Updates

Welcome to the live updates for the Ocala Jockey Club International Three Day Event! Scroll down to relive the day’s action.

For those of you who originally saw Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison named the winners of the CIC3*, a dressage scoring re-calculation later showed an error in Matt Brown and Super Socks’s BCF dressage score.

Correcting the dressage scoring error put Jon and Matt on the same score of 46.3. Matt made the optimum time of 6 minutes, 9 seconds, while Jon picked up 1.2 time penalties. As a result, Matt and Super Socks BCF have officially been declared the CIC3* winners, with Jon and Downtown Harrison in second. Stay tuned for the full report.

You can re-watch the action live on EQTV right here on EN at this link, and you can also open the live stream in a separate window at this link

#OJCInternational Links: WebsiteEntriesRide TimesLive ScoresFacebookTwitterInstagramLive StreamEN’s Coverage

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z. Photo by Jenni Autry.

You couldn’t ask for a better day to run among the Florida live oak trees. It’s 73 degrees with a 6 mph breeze and 47% humidity. The course has been fast and safe throughout the morning. Our fearless leader Jenni Autry is in the field today and will be bringing you full reports and interviews later today, so – as always – keep it locked on EN for all the excitement from the sunshine state!

CCI* Quick Recap – The course ran exceptionally well. The top three remains unchanged from dressage, with Liz Halliday-Sharp holding first and second aboard Deniro Z and Elarona respectively, with Allison Springer and Business Ben in third. Liz has a rail in hand tomorrow with her first mount, but not her second. Leslie Law and Fernhill Divergent used a double clear run to move up to fourth, and Jonathan Holling and Sportsfield Two Doors Down round out the top five in a field that was 71 horses deep. There were two rider falls, three retirements on course, and one elimination. The problems were spread relatively evenly around course.

A peek at the one-star coffin courtesy of Sara Kozumplik Murphy and this splashy little critter:

12:30 ET – Our first rider will set out on the CIC3* at 1:13 – Leslie Law of Great Britain aboard Charleston VI. There are 21 combinations altogether in the division. The optimum time is 6 minutes 9 seconds.

1:00 ET – At a glance order of go and ride times for the CIC3* are below. The top five horses will run in reverse order of standing to make for a thrilling finish!

eventing-nation-ride-times-ocala

 

1:13 ET – Leslie Law and Charleston VI are headed out to inaugurate the new CIC3* course designed by Mike Etherington-Smith! Charleston is a Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Lexi Scovil. They’re currently sitting in 17th place on a 59.90.

1: 14 ET – Overnight update: Ronald Zabala-Goetschel has withdrawn Wise Jolliyat, ergo 20 horses will run cross country in the three-star today.

1:17 ET – Leslie and Charleston are clear through 7abc at the first water, looking powerful on the big mount.

1:20 ET – Joe Meyer and South Paw are now on course and clear through the first three.

1:23 ET – Joe Meyer had a runout at the brush corners, Leslie Law had a runout at the angled brushes (12 and 13) and we’re just catching up with Doug Payne at the end of his course on Lysander who is looking sharp at the lane crossing at 23 and 24. They were added to the front of the lineup last minute, and word is that they’re clear as they near the finish.

1:25 ET – Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie are on course and clear through 9. Leslie Law has been eliminated for a third refusal on course.

1:25 ET – Joe Meyer looking spectacular at the end of the course. We’ll get provisional scores for Doug and Joe as soon as they come through.

1:27 ET – Boyd and Eddie clear through 25!

1:28 ET – Buck Davidson and Petite Flower had a runout at 9ab, the angled brush corners, and have opted to retire.

1:30 ET – Matthew Brown and Super Socks are now on course and clear through the first water – looking great on the direct route there.

1:31 ET – Matt and Super Socks dared to jump directly through the angled brushes and zoomed through, wasting no time.

1:33 ET – Allison Springer is now on course aboard 17-year-old fan favorite Arthur.

1:35 ET – Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman are clear through the first three, and Allison and Arther clear through fence 16.

1:36 ET – Clayton clear through first water, and Arthur and Allison clear through the second water!

1:38 ET – Ocala-based Clayton Fredericks clear through the first 18, Olivia Cliver on course now My Mitch and clear through the first water on the direct route!

1:40 ET – Scores Update: Doug Payne and Lysander added 19.60 time faults to finish with a 71.60. Matt Brown and Super Socks join Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie in the double clear hunt to sit provisionally in first! Joe Meyer finished with just the one runout and added 18.8 time faults.

1:42 ET – Lynn Symansky and Donner clear through the first water, Olivia at final water now and clear!

1:44 ET – Allison Springer and Arther went clear with 11.2 time. Olivia and My Mitch had a gutting refusal at the white racing rails near the end of the course, but were clear on their second attempt.

1:45 ET – Jonathan Holling and Downtown Harrison now on course (they are apparently not running in reverse order in the top five as previously reported.) They are sitting in second place. Lynn Symansky and Donner are clear and positively effortless through the second water and the final fences! We’ll give you a score for them as soon as it comes in.

1:47 ET – Sarah Kozumplik Murphy on course now with Ruben (currently in third) and clear through the first five.

1:48 ET – Jon and Harrison are clear through second water and on to fence 25. Sara and Ruben clear through the brush corners and on their way.

1:50 ET – Sara and Ruben have had a fall at the angled brushes (12 and 13), but Sara is up and okay.

1:51 ET – Ashley Johnson and Tactical Maneuver are on course and clear through the brush corners.

1:52 ET – Colleen Rutledge and Escot 6 are on course and clear through the first three.

1:54 ET – Ashley clear through the second water!

1:55 ET – Colleen and Escot 6 have cleared the first water and staircase. Katie Ruppel and Houdini are now on course and clear through the first three.

1:56 ET – Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman added 15.20 time to sit currently in 6th, Lynn Symansky and Donner added just 6.40 to sit provisionally in 4th, and Jonathan Holling and Downtown Harrison add only 1.2 to move into the lead for the time being.

Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison. Photo by Jenni Autry.

1:57 ET – Colleen and Escot are clear through the white racing oxers and final two fences two finish without apparent jump faults!

1:59 ET – Katie Ruppel clear through angled brushes on Houdini.

2:00 ET – Leslie has returned on his second mount, Tre’ de Kernat for what they hope will be a better run. Katie and Houdini are clear through second water!

2:01 ET – Joe Meyer and Clip Clop are now out on course, currently sitting in 9th place.

2:03 ET – Colleen Rutledge and Escot 6 finish with 7.60 additional time faults but a clear jump round to sit in 5th with 62.80 at the moment.

2:04 ET – Leslie Law clear through the second water!

2:05 ET – Katie and Houdini added 15.60 time faults to sit on 74 even.

2:07 ET – Joe Meyer and Clip Clip looking great through fence 20 but maybe a little slow. They’re through the second water beautifully, running a more inside route than other teams today.

2:08 ET – Ronald Zabala-Goetschel and Wundermaske clear through the brush corners 9ab.

2:09 ET – Buck Davidson back for revenge on his second ride of the day, Carlevo. Ronald and Wundermaske take the long route on the angled brushes to ensure a clear track there, and do it successfully.

2:10 ET – Leslie Law finished strong on his second mount Tre’ du Kernat with 10.4 time faults to sit provisionally in 6th.

2:11 ET – Overnight leader Doug Payne and Vandiver now on course! Ronald clear through second water.

2:12 ET – Buck and Carlevo are clear through fence 16 and Doug is clear through the first water!

2:13 ET – Buck and Carlevo look ferocious through second water as Buck hails a cab. Chasing the time hard.

2:14 ET – Doug and Vandiver are heroic through angled brushes and over the awesome old-school tiger traps.

2:15 ET – Buck and Carlevo are home, Doug and and Vandiver flawless through the second water!

2:16 ET – Doug clear through the final fence, and we’ll get a look at his time momentarily!

2:17 ET – Doug Payne adds 6.40 time faults to drop to fourth place, which means Jonathan Holling and Downtown Harrison are your winners!

2:18 ET – Buck added 17.20 time faults to finish in 7th.

 

2:21 ET – Don’t leave yet! Grab a quick snack and we’ll be back with more live updates for the CCI2* division at 2:45 p.m. ET!


2:43 ET – We’re back! Here’s a quick look at the ride order and times for the CCI2*, with Boyd Martin bookending the event with Santos and Kyra:

ride-times

2:45 ET – Boyd Martin and Santos are on course and clear through the first four.

2:49 ET – Boyd and Santos clear through the first tricky combinations at 5ab and 6ab, and clear through the next three as well before the water.

2:52 ET – Boyd clear through the first water at 11abc.

2:53 ET – Nilson Moreira da Silva and Lady Colina now on course.

2:54 ET – Boyd and Santos are flying across the CCI2* galloping landscape, reminiscent of his days aboard another firey red-head Neville Bardos; They’re clear through the second water!

2:56 ET – Tiffani Loudon-Metze and Hap are now on course, currently sitting in fourth place. Nilson had a runout early on but good on second attempt and racing onward.

2:58 ET – Boyd and Santos finish on a spectacular double clear!

2:59 ET – Fan favorite Brazilian Nilson and Lady Colina look incredibly confident in the second water and galloping on.

3:01 ET – Hillary Irwin and Kilbeggan now on course as well. Tiffani and Hap looking strong as they tackle the second water and gallop on.

3:03 ET – Sara Kozumplik Murphy and L’Alezane on course now, showing that her earlier fall didn’t slow her down a bit and through the first 9. Hillary is through the first 20 confidently.

3:05 ET – Sara has a runout at 14ab, a pair of uber skinny brush fences set at an angle. They could be very decisive today.

3:07 ET – Audrea Dyer on All Aboard is out on course and clear through the first half dozen. Sara clear through the second water.

3:10 ET – We’re getting word that the results have been corrected for the CIC3*. We will update you as we learn more.

3:11 ET – Audrea clear through second water and tearing out to make up some time.

3:12 ET – EN has confirmed that due to a dressage scoring error, Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF have been declared the winners of the CIC3*, moving Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison to second.

3:13 ET – Division leaders Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley Dream are now on course.

3:47 ET – Katie Ruppel and Foreign Affair finish with 16.8 time faults to sit in ninth provisionally. Danielle Poulsen added 5.20 to sit in 10th, and Clara and White Indian add 6 time faults to sit in 11th.

3:18 ET – Conor Rollins and Fernhill Tiger Con were looking great around course before Tiger gave the cascading water and drop a hard look and had to circle to get it done.  Hannah Sue Burnett and Cooley are clear through the first water.

3:20 ET – Jessica Schultz and Lock N’ Load had the same reaction as Tiger and stopped twice at the drop at the second water before heading through successfully. Gutting for this pair on an otherwise strong day.

3:22 ET – Hannah Sue and Cooley are clean through the second water and took the inside route to save a few strides and a few seconds.

3:24 ET – Clara Cargile and White Indian are clear through the first handful and Danielle Poulsen clear through 19.

3:26 ET – Alexa Eleanor Ehlers and Amistoso are on course now and clear through the first five.

3:27 ET – Clara and White Indian are over the elephant trap combination at 20ab.

3:31 ET – Katie Ruppel and Foreign Affair on course and looking strong, and Alexa and Amistoso are clear through the second water and road crossing!

3:33 ET – Katherine Rivera and Royal Lufthanzer clear through the first combinations. Katie Ruppel is just 3 fences from home!

3:35 ET – Daisy Trayford and Normandy Soldier through the first eight and looking fast and confident.

3:37 ET – SCORE UPDATES: Hannah Sue and Cooley Dream added just 2.80 to sit provisionally in first! Boyd Martin holding second with Santos as the first rider out, and Kristen Merala and Tiki Tiki Tumbo also pulled out a double clear to match Boyd’s to now sit in third for the moment.

3:38 ET – Buck Davidson is on course now aboard Bounce Pass and through the first seven elements.

3:40 ET – Daisy Traiford looked solid over elephant traps, Susan Thomas and Fly N Bayou clear through first several efforts.

3:44 ET – Jennie Brannigan and Cool As Ice now on course, clear through the first handful and the first two combinations on course.

3:45 ET – Joe Meyer and Johnny Royale on course now.

3:48 ET – Jennie Brannigan and Cool as Ice clear through the Ocala Jockey Club Keyhole! Boyd Martin and Kyra now on course.

3:50 ET – Joe Meyer and Johnny Royale are clear through 18, the All See Hedges.

3:53 ET – Boyd Martin and Kyra have had a runout at the One Way Heads, the skinny hedges, then had a fall. Both are up and okay.

3:55 ET – Jennie Brannigan and Cool As Ice added just 1.60 time faults to sit in second going into the final day. Hannah Sue Burnett maintains her lead.

CIC3* Updated and Final Top Ten:

updated-three-star-top-ten

CCI2* Top Ten After Cross Country: 

cci-two-star-top-ten

 

Sunday Links from One K Helmets

Photo courtesy of

Photo courtesy of Carter McInnis on Instagram

Carter McInnis posted this darling shot of her and Double Nine’s Domino after a gorgeous day at the Paradise Farm Horse Trials in Aiken, South Carolina. The pair added just one rail and 1.20 time on cross country to finish third in the Amateur Training division. Congratulations to this happy couple on their outing, and to all the riders who went out and tackled some dreams today! (And give Carter’s super cute IG account a follow, if awesome eventers are your jam.)

U.S. Weekend Action:

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

Fresno County Horse Park H.T. [Live Scores]

Sunday Links

Timo Beck and Flashy Stallion Have a Story to Tell and a Class to Win at German Masters

Treat Yo’Self: Equestrian-Themed Phone Cases from Spiced

That Girl From “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken” Had a Wild West Wedding and it’s Amazing

Rider Who Broke Her Back in a Fall Returns to Hunt Field

Researchers Draw a Microbiological Map of the Equine Gut

Sunday Video:

Best of JN: Watch the Top Rounds of the ASPCA Maclay Finals With George Morris Commentary

Hunter Holloway and C'est la Vie. Photo by Annan Hepner/Phelps Media Group

Hunter Holloway and C’est la Vie. Photo by Annan Hepner/Phelps Media Group

There was a LOT to do in the opening round of the ASPCA Maclay Finals at the CP National Horse Show, and thirty out of 120 riders were able to get it all done and be invited back for the final round Sunday Night.

Topping the board was Brian Moggre aboard MTM Farm’s Viceroy, followed by Lucy Deslauriers aboard the iconic Class Action. They had their work cut out for them with some incredibly tight turns, challenging combinations and bold fences, but the best of them made it a fluid and seamless day in the park, just as it ought to be. Watch the top two rounds here!

Lucy Delauriers and Class Action:

Brian Moggre and Viceroy:

Thirty riders were invited back for the finals, and the awards came down to one exceptional ride. The best round was clear, and no further round callbacks were made after round two.

The winner was Hunter Holloway aboard C’est La Vie. Hunter had just won her first major equitation championship the week before at the iconic Washington International Horse Show aboard her veteran partner Any Given Sunday, but the Oldenburg gelding came up with a sudden fever, and a decision had to be made. She and coach Don Stewart opted to have her ride her gray mount whom she rode in the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East.

“It was a little last minute switcheroo,” said Holloway. “Any Given Sunday wasn’t feeling his best; he had a temperature, but he’ll be back in no time. We got [C’est La Vie] the week before USET finals. He’s a super horse and he wants to do the best he can. He lives to please.”

The ASPCA Maclay National Championship has been held since 1933, and it is one of the most prestigious competitions for junior riders in the United States. Its winners are some of the biggest names in equestrian sport. Previous winners include: William Steinkraus in 1941, Frank Chapot (1948), George Morris (1952), Leslie Burr Howard (1972), Stacia Klein Madden (1987) and Nicole Shahinian Simpson (1992). The 2014 ASPCA Maclay National Championship winner was Tori Colvin of Loxahatchee, Florida, and in 2015 McKayla Langmeier of East Granby, Connecticut, won the title.

#CPNational: WebsiteScheduleLive Results/ScoringTwitterFacebookInstagramJN Coverage 

Interested in more Hunter/Jumper coverage? Be sure to visit Jumper Nation!

Inside France’s Cadre Noir: Home of Gold Medalist Thibaut Vallette

Col Thibaut Vallette and Qing Du Briot ENE HN. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Lt. Col. Thibaut Vallette and Qing Du Briot ENE HN. Photo by Samantha Clark.

The French Equestrian Team had a banner year at the Rio Olympics and has generally been leaving their mark on the sport of eventing in a big way in 2016. They took home the team gold and an individual silver for Astier Nicolas in eventing, and also a second team gold in show jumping.

Among the strong performances which secured victory for France was Lieutenant Colonel Thibaut Vallette and Qing du Briot ENE HN, a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by the French Institute of Riding and Equitation at Saumur. Both Thibaut and Qing are products of the Institute and represent their elite performance and instruction team, the Cadre Noir. Thibaut is now an instructor at the Cadre Noir, and also wears the team’s signature namesake colors of black and gold when he’s on course, making for a rather striking pair. (The exception to this is when a member of the Cadre Noir is representing France in a team event, such as the Olympics.)

The French Institute of Riding and Equitation (also known as the Saumur Cavalry School) has been the epicenter of training French officers and civilians the highest levels of horsemanship since the early 1700s when François Robichon de La Guérinière was appointed King Louis XIV’s Equerry or chief cavalry administrator. If you’ve ever cursed your struggles with the shoulder-in,  Guérinière is your scapegoat, as it was he to developed the movement, calling it the “alpha and omega of all exercises.” He supposedly also coined flying changes and counter-canters.

The school flourished and become one of a handful of world-class cavalry centers before the rapid decline of horses in the military near the end of World War II. While many national cavalry programs evaporated in this era, “The government of the time could not bring itself to eliminate something which had become a real living heritage for France with the passage of time.” As they put it on their website.

Since then, the training center has become a place for both military and civilian equestrians to achieve complete precision in a number of disciplines. In the early 1970s the Cadre Noir shifted from strictly representing the military to a nationwide host of the elite, regardless of military status. Only those who have mastered their skill could have a teaching post at the Cadre Noir. They also have a group of performers who put on a spectacle of a show that makes the rounds on the internet with some regularity.

Thibaut made his way into the Cadre Noir in the more traditional fashion by way of military service. He began riding when he was five and enjoyed horses all his life, but military life had his attentions divided for many years before he was able to make his way to the cavalry permanently. In 2002 he joined the Military Riding Center at Fontainbleau and began his career in eventing in earnest.

thib

Screenshot via YouTube.

(If you speak french, you can watch this very sweet interview with Thibaut after his win in Rio.)

He bounced around in various positions and internships at France’s cavalry schools until 2009, when he joined the Cadre Noir’s elite staff. Two years later began his journey with Qing du Briot, bringing the school-owned cavalry horse up the levels thoughtfully.

In 2015, Lt. Col. Thibaut and Qing du Briot were part of the Bronze medal-winning team in the European Eventing Championships at Blair Castle, qualifying France for the Rio Olympics. This in addition to a third-place finish at Fontainbleau CICO3* and runner-up at Chatsworth in the CIC3* in May made including Thibaut and Qing on the Olympic squad an obvious choice.

The two put in a clutch performance for Team France in Rio by earning a 41.0 in dressage, adding 24 time faults in cross country on a day where they could not afford a second stop (Karim Laghouag and Entebbe were the drop score that day), and was double-clear in show jumping for a resounding team victory. The combination also finished 13th individually.

Naturally, upon his arrival home, Thibaut was given a hero’s welcome back to Cadre Noir with a ceremony which not only impresses with pomp and circumstance, but also yet again demonstrates the remarkable horses developed at Saumur with jets overhead.

It’s another tremendous feather in the cap of the Cadre Noir, who also put forth a winning teammate in France’s 2004 gold medalist team in Athens, Didier Courreges and his own Debat d’Estruval. But as far as we can tell, Qing du Briot ENE HN is the first horse owned by a military school to win gold at the Olympic Games since 1968*. In the first half of the century this was a more common affair, making Qing a particular sort of sentimental throwback to a bygone era of eventing horsemanship and history.

You can learn much more about the Cadre Noir on their website (much of which is available in English) and if you ever make your way to the Loire Valley in France, you can take a tour of the riding institute and see them perform on-site. (It’s gotten incredible reviews on Trip Advisor – it’s a must stop in our book)

Go Cadre Noir, and Go Eventing!

 *Update – Thanks to Pedro Gutiérrez Aja who was able to provide some additional insight on the last military-owned horse to earn a gold medal at the Olympics – Pitou, ridden by Jean Jaques-Guyon was the last military horse to win in eventing. Coincidentally, this pair were also from France! Many thanks for the insight, Pedro. 

 

 

 

Two Brits On an Epic Quest to Demystify the Trot-Up

“So, that’s a horse.”

“This is a horse, yes. Distinctive features: ears, eyes, nose, four legs – well, it’s ideal if there are four.”

Some parts of eventing from the outside looking in might be a bit mistifying; why is there white stuff on their legs? Why are you running at that solid object so fast? Is that… a giant airbag on your body? But among the more traditional “pomp and circumstance” elements which might confuse the average viewer is the trot-up. Women in heels and dresses, men in everything from checkered dress shirts to tuxedos. Ours is a weird world, and we’re not giving it up anytime soon.

James Ecroyd, regular person, attempts to understand and master this event on behalf of the clamoring masses with the help of his brother, upper level eventer (and “ginger brother”) Sam Ecroyd. A self-deprecating schtick ensues which is certain to delight both the layman and avid eventing fan alike.

Fashion is briefly discussed:

“You want to try and stand out. Stand out by your horse looking good, stand out by you looking good.”

“Do you struggle with that one, is it the hardest bit for you?”

“I’ve tried dying my hair, I’ve tried special clothes, I’ve tried everything.”

“So what sort of things would you wear?”

“For the man it’s standard to wear a suit, and the woman it would be, well, I don’t know, I can’t say I often dress up as a woman.”

mums

“What do you think, is this bright enough for you?”

“We’re… a bit bright.”

“A bit bright?”

“Also, I’m pretty sure that’s mum’s from the 1960s. I mean, the tapered waist…”

Then they get to actually practicing the trot-up, but because horses are expensive and brothers are free, there’s some pseudo human trotting to a nice Irish jig, followed by some dog trotting, which, again, is pretty quality.

trotup

“Going into the trot up you need to get them a little bit excited, a little bit ready … you less so, more… just the horse.”

“Oh, okay.”

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Ideally, this very educational video would never have to end. Thank heavens for endless replays on YouTube!

You can learn more about the devilishly charming Same Ecroyd and his eventing yard on his Facebook Page. And if there are more updates to this utterly magical video series, you can be sure we’ll share them here.

Go Eventing!