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Sally Spickard

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About Sally Spickard

Sally Spickard is a Korean adoptee living in San Diego, California. Sally joined the Eventing Nation team in 2013 and has subsequently written for Noelle Floyd, Heels Down Mag, and other publications both in and out of the equestrian world. Sally is an eventing fan through and through and enjoys telling the stories of riders who are not well-represented within equestrian media.

Latest Articles Written

How to Watch Eventing at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris

By on Jul 16, 2024 9:30 am -

It’s very nearly go time for the 2024 Summer Olympics, hosted this year in Paris, France. Of course, we’re highly focused on the eventing competition, which will run from July 27-29, but our sister site, Horse Nation, will be providing additional resources for following the schedule of dressage and show jumping.

For now, we’ve gathered as much information as is available currently regarding watching the action live, no matter what sport you want to tune in for. You can also save the graphics embedded below for an easy reference on the eventing timetable in different time zones around the world. Failing that, the easiest way to tell exactly when you’ll need to tune in is to check this page, which will automatically convert the times into your local time zone. WorldTimeBuddy is another free resource that allows you to easily calculate time differences — click here to use it.

The Schedule

Eventing will begin with the First Horse Inspection at 9:30 a.m. local time / 3:30 a.m. ET on Friday, July 26. The Second Horse Inspection will take place on July 29 at 7:30 a.m. local time / 1:30 a.m. ET on Monday, July 29. The trot-ups will not be live streamed, but we will be keeping you up to date on both jogs using Threads (follow EN here).

Dressage: 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. local time / 3:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 27
Cross Country: 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. local time / 4:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, July 28
Show Jumping – Team Round: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. local time / 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. ET on Monday, July 29
Show Jumping – Individual Round (Top 20 Individuals): 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. local time / 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, July 29

The full equestrian timetable can also be found here.

Timetable Guides

Live Streaming and On Demand Options

The full list of Media Broadcast Rights Holders, or networks on which you can find Olympic coverage in your country, can be found here. Some worldwide content will be available on the Olympic channel here.

Please note: The list below is a collection of information we have found based on the document linked above provided by Paris. We cannot guarantee the availability of all sports and/or on-demand access — you’ll want to check the specifications for your home platform for the most up to date information! If we have missed any information, please email [email protected].

Below are links to the various platforms you can tune in to for the countries the majority of EN readers hail from:

USA

Peacock is your best bet in the U.S. to access all events from Paris. Some coverage will also be shown live on NBC’s family of platforms, but we recommend getting a Peacock subscription so as not to miss a moment and also to have access to on demand replays. We are not sure how quickly events will be available for replay but will update this article with more information as we find it.

Olympics on Peacock

Canada

CBC is the sole broadcast rights holder in Canada. The streaming schedule for CBC can be found here. Be sure to select “Equestrian – Eventing” AND “Equestrian – Dressage” to view the schedule for all phases – thanks to EN reader Denya for the tip as we initially thought there would not be a live stream of eventing dressage!

United Kingdom and Europe

Warner Brothers Discovery is the rights holder in the UK and Europe, but for the UK audience BBC has licensed these rights to allow it to also provide streaming coverage of the Games. You can stream the BBC’s coverage via its iPlayer platform here. Eurosport will also carry some broadcasts, which will be found here. Discovery+ is another option for accessing Olympic robust coverage. In European countries, check your local listings as there may also be additional sub-licensing that was granted from Warner Brothers.

[Update] Additionally, Warner Brothers Discovery has rolled out Max, which together with Discovery+ has been touted as the primary source for Olympic coverage in the UK and Europe. You can view more information on this platform here, and check your local Max platform for more details if you’re in Europe.

Australia

Nine is the provider of Olympic broadcast for Australia, the Christmas Islands, and the Cocos Islands. You can view their Olympic channel here.

New Zealand

Sky Sport is the host broadcaster for New Zealand. Click here to view their platform and options for watching.

Asia

CMG is the Olympic broadcast host in China. Japan Consortium is the provider in Japan. SBS is the provider in Korea. To view all carriers in Asia and beyond, click here.

We know the eventing globe spans many more regions than what we have listed above! Click here to see where you can view Olympic coverage in your country. Additional information may also be found here during the Games.

Paris Prep Social Media: Checking In with Olympics-Bound Riders

By on Jul 15, 2024 2:00 pm -

This week, we’ll see much movement from our Paris-bound athletes as the various horses and riders named to represent their countries at the Olympics put the finishing touches on and begin their journey from all corners of the world to France.

We’ll be providing periodic updates this week as more athletes embark on their travels, so keep checking back!

First up, some updates from Team Canada:

And some updates from the U.S. operations. The U.S. horses will fly from JFK airport in New York tomorrow evening (July 16), and their riders will meet them in Europe where they’ll be basing for a final training camp ahead of the Games.

And last but certainly not least, perhaps the longest trip of any of the horses comes for those traveling from Australia. This includes the ever-young Virgil, partner of Shane Rose, as well as Shenae Lowings’ Bold Venture, who have safely arrived on European soil after a few days’ worth of air travel that took them from Australia, to the Middle East and finally to Europe.

EN’s Tracker of Paris Eventing Teams and Individuals: Now with Definite Entries

By on Jul 15, 2024 9:30 am -

Tim Price and Vitali represent New Zealand in the Tokyo Olympics. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

We are inching closer to the start of eventing competition in Paris, and we thought it would be useful to help you (and ourselves!) keep track of the named teams and individuals heading to the Olympics.

Eventing competition in the Olympics has evolved over time. In 2021, the year of the postponed 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, a new team format was introduced with a total of three riders on a team along with a Traveling Reserve that does not compete unless substituted. This meant the elimination of the four-person, one drop score format and allowed for the IOC to include a larger number of participating nations. The change and its associated scoring updates (teams are heavily penalized for substituting a reserve in during competition — more on this coming soon in our Scoring Guide) was met with mixed reviews, as most changes are, but the underscoring factor remains that it now has become that much more difficult to complete a team, much less medal at the Olympics.

The eventing quota in Paris is a total of 65 combinations, comprised of 16 three-pair teams (48 combinations) and 17 individual combinations. Each of the 16 teams are also given the option to send a Traveling Reserve, meaning we’ll see up to 81 horses arriving in Paris for eventing. [Update, July 11] With the confirmation of Definite Entries, we’ll see a total of 81 horses and riders come forward for eventing, including Traveling Reserve pairs.

[Update, July 11] Definite Entries have been published here, and our tracker below is now up to date with the final rosters of each nation.

Qualified Nations

Team Germany stamped their ticket to Paris at the 2022 FEI World Championships for Eventing in Italy. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The FEI has divided the world up into competition groups:

A – North Western Europe; B – South Western Europe C – Central & Eastern Europe; Central Asia D & E – North America, Central & South America F – Africa & Middle East G – South East Asia, Oceania

Teams had two primary chances to qualify, regardless of group: one via FEI World Championships and the other via the 2023 FEI Nations Cup. Qualifiers for each group were also designated for additional opportunities to secure a spot. As the host country, France automatically earned a spot for a team, meaning they did not need to qualify in any other way. (Note: If a team qualified and sent competitors to another qualifying event (i.e., the U.S., after qualifying with their silver medal finish at Pratoni in 2022, also sent a team to Pan Ams in 2023), the Olympic spot would go to the next highest placed team that did not already have a berth secured.)

The 16 teams were delegated as follows:

Host Country: France

Top 7 teams from FEI World Championships for Eventing (2022 – Pratoni del Vivaro): Germany, USA, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland

Top 2 as-yet-unqualified teams from FEI European Championships (2023 – Le Pin au Haras) – Groups A/B: Belgium, Netherlands

Top unqualified team from Group C FEI Designated Olympic Qualification Event (2023 – Babarowko): Poland

Top 2 unqualified teams from 2023 Pan American Games (Santiago) – Groups D/E: Canada, Brazil

Top 2 unqualified teams from Groups F/G FEI Designated Olympic Qualification Event (2023 – Millstreet) – Groups F/G: Australia, Japan (Japan were retroactively awarded this place after China’s disqualification)

Top unqualified team from 2023 FEI Nations Cup series for Eventing: Italy

In the event any of the above nations become unable to send a team, the Reserve nations are Spain, China, and Finland.

Individual Qualifications

Lea Siegl and DSP Fighting Line compete as individuals for Austria in Tokyo. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Through the acquisition of FEI World Ranking points, smaller federations can qualify for one of the 17 individual quota places. Nations that are sending a team are not eligible to send individuals. The quotas were determined based on the best four results per horse/rider combination during the qualification period of January 1 through December 31, 2023. The two top-ranked individuals in each FEI group referenced above could secure an individual quota spot, with a maximum of two berths available per country.

Countries that have qualified for their individual quota spots are:

  • Austria (2 spots)
  • China (2 spots)
  • Czechia (2 spots)
  • Denmark
  • Ecuador (2 spots)
  • Finland (2 spots)
  • Hungary
  • Morocco
  • Portugal
  • South Africa
  • Spain (2 spots)

More information on qualifications can be found here.

FEI Paris 2024 Information Hub

Below, we’ll keep track of the teams and individuals that have been confirmed. As of July 11, the Definite Entries were released here, and we’ve updated our lists below accordingly.

Team List (Alphabetical by Country – Rider | Horse | Owner): (* indicates Traveling Reserve pair)

🇦🇺 AUSTRALIA

Christopher Burton Shadow Man Chris Burton and Guy Bloodstock Ltd.
Kevin McNab Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam Scuderia 1918 and Emma Mcnab
Shane Rose Virgil Shane and Niki Rose and Michelle Hasibar
*Shenae Lowings Bold Venture The Lowings family

BELGIUM 🇧🇪

Lara de Liederkerke-Meier Origi Johan Vankersschaever
Karin Donckers Leipheimer Van’t Verahof Joris de Brabander
Tine Magnus Dia van het Lichterveld Z Kris van Vaerenbergh and Tine Magnus
*Cyril Gavrilovic Elmundo de Gasco Rider

BRAZIL 🇧🇷

Marcio Carvalho Jorge Castle Howard Casanova OR Kilcoltrim Kit Kat Rider, Arabella and Hugo Mackenzie Smith, and Annabel Vere Nicoll / Helen and Alistair Mordaunt, Annabel and Alistair Vere Nicoll
Ruy Fonseca Ballypatrick SRS Rider and Renata Rabello Costa
Rafael Mamprin Losano Withington Rider, Helen Tayton-Martin, and James Noble
Carlos Parro Safira Rider and John Chambers

CANADA 🇨🇦

Jessica Phoenix Freedom GS Charlotte Schickedanz
Karl Slezak Hot Bobo Katlyn and Karl Slezak
Michael Winter El Mundo Jonathan Nelson, Emma and Mike Winter
*Colleen Loach FE Golden Eye
Peter Barry, Amanda Bernhard, Maureen Hallam, and Rider

FRANCE 🇫🇷

Stéphane Landois Ride for Thais Chamon Dumontceau S.C.E.A. Ecurie du Cerisier Bleu
Karim Laghouag Triton Fontaine
Phillippe Lemoine, Guy Bessat, S.A.R.L. Ecurie Karim Laghouag, and Camille Laffitte
Nicolas Touzaint Diabolo Menthe
Francoise Niclaus, SC Mezard Sports, Melinda Tapie
*Gireg le Coz Aisprit de la Loge Augustin and Frederique Grand

GERMANY 🇩🇪

Sandra Auffarth Viamant du Matz Nikolaus Prinz von Croy
Michael Jung fischerChipmunk FRH Deutsches Olympiade-Komitee für Reiterei e.V., Klaus & Sabine Fischer, & Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff
Christoph Wahler Carjatan S the rider & Lena Thoenies
Julia Krajewski Nickel 21 Sophia Rössel

GREAT BRITAIN 🇬🇧

Ros Canter Lordships Graffalo Michele & Archie Saul
Laura Collett London 52 Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott, & the rider
*Yas Ingham Banzai du Loir Janette Chinn & the Sue Davies Fund
Tom McEwen JL Dublin James & Jo Lambert & Deirdre Johnston

IRELAND 🇮🇪

Susie Berry Wellfields Lincoln Sue Wilkinson, Anne Marling, & the rider
Sarah Ennis Action Lady M Andrew Cox & Susanne Macken
Austin O’Connor Colorado Blue the Salty Syndicate, Gill Watson, Philippa Smith, & Jenny Burall
*Aoife Clark Sportsfield Freelance the Freelance Syndicate & the rider

ITALY 🇮🇹

Evelina Bertoli Fidjy des Melezes
az. agricola di campello argenta and Evelina Bertoli
Emiliano Portale Scuderia 1918 Future
Scuderia 1918 Capital srl and Emma McNab
Giovanni Ugolotti Swirly Temptress Krin and Kristina Rausing
*Pietro Sandei Rubis de Prere az.agr. Galanthus di Castellani S.

JAPAN 🇯🇵

Kazuma Tomoto Vinci de la Vigne JRA Japanese Equestrian Federation
Ryuzo Kitajima Cekatinka JRA Japanese Equestrian Federation
Yoshiaki Oiwa MGH Grafton Street the rider
*Toshiyuki Tanaka Jefferson JRA Japanese Equestrian Federation

NETHERLANDS 🇳🇱

Janneke Boonzaaijer ACSI Champ de Tailleur Hetty Roozendaal and Lieke van der Werf
Sanne de Jong Enjoy Sanne de Jong and Jantien van Zon
Raf Kooremans Crossborder Radar Love Jeanine Steentjes
*Elaine Pen Diwali Eli and Stephanie Leenaars

NEW ZEALAND 🇳🇿

Clarke Johnstone Menlo Park Jean, Rob and Clarke Johnstone
Jonelle Price Hiarado David and Karie Thomson
Tim Price Falco Sue Benson and Tim Price
*Caroline Powell Greenacres Special Cavalier Chris and Michelle Mann and Caroline Powell

POLAND 🇵🇱

Malgorzada Korycka Canvalencia Beata Korycka and Jerry Korycki
Robert Powala Tosca del Castegno Wechta Inwestycje Sp.
Pawel Warszawski Lucinda Ex Ani 4 Rider

SWEDEN 🇸🇪

Frida Andersén Box Leo Therese Örup
Louise Romeike Caspian 15
Hinrich Romeike, Madeleine Brugman & the rider
Sofia Sjöborg Bryjamolga van het Marienshof Z Juliet, Mattias and Sofia Sjöborg
Malin Asai Golden Midnight Karin Berglund

SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭

Robin Godel Grandeur de Lully CH Jean-Jacques Fünfschilling
Mélody Johner Toubleu de Rueire Peter Thürler & Heinz-Günter Wickenhäuser
Nadja Minder Toblerone Nicole Basieux
Felix Vogg Dao de l’Ocean Phoenix Eventing Sàrl

UNITED STATES 🇺🇸

Will Coleman Off The Record Off The Record Syndicate
Boyd Martin Fedarman B Annie Goodwin Syndicate
Caroline Pamukcu HSH Blake Caroline Pamukcu, Deniz Pamukcu, Mollie Hoff, & Sherrie Martin
*Liz Halliday Cooley Nutcracker The Nutcracker Syndicate

INDIVIDUAL List (Alphabetical by Country – Rider | Horse | Owner):

AUT 🇦🇹 Lea Siegl DSP Fighting Line Marianne Mühlböck
AUT 🇦🇹 Harold Ambros Vitorio du Montet Rider
CHN 🇨🇳 Alex Hua Tian Jilsonne van Bareelhof
Adam Guo, Angelina and Lin Guo, Qianru Yi
CHN 🇨🇳 Huadong Sun Lady Chin V’t Moerven Z Mr. Wu Gao, Mrs. Wu Jingjing
CZE 🇨🇿 Miroslav Trunda Shutterflyke Adéla Svobodová
CZE 🇨🇿 Miloslav Příhoda Ferreolus Lat Julta & Adolf Fischer
DEN 🇩🇰 Peter Flarup Fascination Rider & Jan Juul
ECU 🇪🇨 Nicolas Wettstein Altier d’Aurois
Nicolas Wettstein, Frank Wettstein, Monique Deyme
ECU 🇪🇨 Ronald Zabala Goetschel Wundermaske
Rider, Fernando Villacis, Fabian Zabala
FIN 🇫🇮 Veera Manninen Sir Greg
Equisport Tolmu Team and Nuuttila Pia and Tolmunen Petri
FIN 🇫🇮 Sanna Siltakorpi Bofey Click
Elmo Jankari, Teija-Tuulia Kiviniemi, Maria Möller, Sami Siltakorpi, Vesa Siltikorpi, and Rider
HUN 🇭🇺 Balzás Kaizinger Herr Cooles Classico
MAR 🇲🇦 Noor Slaoui Cash In Hand Moulay Hafid El Alamy and Rider
POR 🇵🇹 Manuel Grave Carat de Bremoy Sociedade Agricola Da Bala, LDA
RSA 🇿🇦 Alexander Peternell Figaro des Premices Rider
ESP 🇪🇸 Esteban Benitez Valle Utera AA 35 1 Jose Cañedo Angoso
ESP 🇪🇸 Carlos Diaz Fernandez Taraje CP 21.10 Campeagro Sat

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

A Closer Look at the Versailles Equestrian Stadium

By on Jul 13, 2024 11:29 am -

The finishing touches are being put on the newly-constructed temporary stadium at the Palace of Versailles grounds ahead of the Olympics, which begin in just under two weeks.

While we have yet to get an official look at the cross country course Pierre le Goupil has been hard at work designing, we’ll take these sneak peeks as they come!

The following excerpts are taken from an FEI press release, which can be read in full here.

Infrastructure

The cross country test will take place in wooded areas of the Park, along the banks of and across the Grand Canal. Visitors to the Park rarely walk through these areas and works to clear the woods had to be conducted. These have made them sounder and have improved their overall condition thus leaving a positive legacy for the estate.

The sports facilities as well as the grandstands put in place for the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been constructed with the greatest care to provide ease of access and comfort for the athletes, horses, support personnel, media and spectators. They have been built to showcase the picturesque setting without harming the exceptional historical heritage.

Stabling

The horses will be stabled by discipline at Paris 2024. All the stables will have spacious, comfortable boxes (4m x 3m) with rubber mats. Bedding – either straw or shavings – is all sourced in France. Each horse will be accompanied by a groom who will care for its comfort and well-being at all times, both in competition and in the stable.

There will be plenty of areas for the horses to go out and graze. The large surface of these areas will allow for good availability adapted to the number of horses present on the site at any one time.

Horses have been stabled at Versailles for centuries. The Great and Small Stables were commissioned by Louis XIV during the 17th century to accommodate the household’s horses and became the greatest royal construction project for housing horses ever undertake

More on the Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is one of the great achievements in French art and architecture. It grew from being a small brick and stone hunting pavilion in the 17th century to the grandest palace in Europe during its heyday under Louis XIV, the Sun King. This magnificence estate remained the home of the French monarchy until the Revolution of 1789.

Since then, it has found a new role as Museum of the History of France and major tourist attraction. The Estate of Versailles is composed of the Palace, the gardens, the Park, the Trianon estate and several buildings in town. It spreads over more than 800 hectares – more than twice the size of New York City’s Central Park – while the Palace contains 2,300 rooms. The Palace of Versailles welcomes almost eight million visitors a year and is France’s third most visited attraction.

Video Break: Ride Around CHIO Aachen with Lara de Liedekerke-Meier

By on Jul 12, 2024 2:00 pm -

We shared this video earlier this week inside News & Notes, but it’s also worth sharing on its own!

Our most recent CCI5* winner, Lara de Liedekerke-Meier, is gearing up for a trip to Paris representing Belgium in the Olympics. But first, a stop at CHIO Aachen, where she finished two horses inside the top 7 individually. Hermione d’Arville is the horse for which she donned a helmet cam, complete with SAP tracking technology to provide data and analytics as she made her way around Rüdiger Schwarz’s twisting CCIO4*-S track. Lara narrates this round for us, which would eventually pave the way for the 11-year-old mare by Birkhof’s Royaldik to finish in seventh overall on the weekend.

To read more of our CHIO Aachen coverage, click here.

EN’s coverage of CHIO Aachen in 2024 is brought to you with support from Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt Real Estate, your prime choice for Aiken, SC property!

World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Program – All Disciplines] [Program – Eventing] [Entries – All Disciplines] [Entries – Eventing] [Live Stream] [Results – All Disciplines] [Results – Eventing] [EN’s Coverage]

World Class Grooming to Offer Virtual Foundational Horse Care Course

By on Jul 11, 2024 9:30 am -

Photo courtesy of World Class Grooming.

Foundational horse care is something every horse owner and rider should be well-versed in, but let’s be honest: we didn’t all learn these basics at the beginning. Really, horse care is something of an ongoing learning process, and there is always something new to add to your tool box.

World Class Grooming, which started as a book and has now flourished into a full-blown program offering clinics and other forms of continuing education behind the brain power of #supergrooms Emma Ford and Cat Hill, recognizes that these skills not only further the knowledge of a horse person, they also benefit the horses themselves.

To that end, World Class Grooming has announced a new virtual learning opportunity centering around the topic of “Foundational Horse Care”. The course will be delivered via Zoom and is a great option for those who may not be able to attend or book a World Class Grooming clinic or who simply want to learn some new everyday techniques that can benefit their horses.

Six Zoom lessons and four on-demand Video Courses make up the curriculum for Foundational Horse Care:

Video Lessons:

  • 01 Basic Haltering, Leading, Handling & Tying
  • 02 Stall Cleaning
  • 03 Grooming Techniques
  • 04 Cooling out and Bathing
  • 05 Leg care
  • 06 Hoof Care

Live Zoom Sessions with Emma Ford and Cat Hill:

(Must have access to Zoom and a good internet connection to participate)

  • August 5, 2024 7:00-7:40pm EST
    • Emma and Cat introduction and initial questions
  • August 12, 2024 7:00-7:40pm EST
    • Emma video review and Q&A
  • August 19, 2024 7:00-7:40pm EST
    • Cat video review and Q&A
  • August 26, 2024 7:00-8:00pm EST
    • Emma and Cat course review, Q&A and wrap up

This course is appropriate for kids and adults, amateurs, aspiring grooms, first-time horse owners and anyone else who wants to brush up on their horse care knowledge. The cost to attend this course is $150, and you can book your spot by clicking here. 

British Eventing Team Finalized: Reigning World Champion to Serve as Alternate Athlete

By on Jul 10, 2024 11:06 am -

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

British Equestrian has released its final nominations for the Paris eventing squad, having done so before but leaving open the spot for Traveling Reserve combination. As it stands now, the final squad for the Olympics will be:

Rosalind Canter with Michele and Archie Saul’s Lordships Graffalo

Groom: Sarah Charnley

Laura Collett with Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott and her own London 52

Groom: Tilly Hughes

Tom McEwen with James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston’s JL Dublin

Groom: Adam Short

Traveling Reserve:

Yasmin Ingham with Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund’s Banzai du Loir

Groom: Alison Bell

In a true example of the monstrous depth the Tokyo gold medalists retain, this means that reigning World Champions (2022) and 2024 Luhmühlen CCI4*-S winners Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir will travel to Paris as the alternate and will only slot into competition should the team opt for or need a substitute (substituting a rider after competition start will incur significant penalties, and is only done in the event another horse is injured and/or the team is in danger of not completing).

If you want to remind yourself of all of the other Olympic Teams named thus far, you can catch up here.

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

Italy Finalizes Paris Eventing Team

By on Jul 9, 2024 9:47 am -

Our final list of Italian horses and riders has now been published by the Italian federation ahead of the Paris Olympics, which get underway in just over two weeks.

The combinations named to the traveling squad for Italy are:

Evelina Bertoli and Fidjy des Melezes, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by az. agricola di campello argenta and Evelina Bertoli

Emiliano Portale and Scuderia 1918 Future, a 16-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Scuderia 1918 Capital srl and Emma McNab

Giovanni Ugolotti and Swirly Temptress, a 12-year-old Anglo-European mare owned by Krin and Kristina Rausing

Traveling Reserve: Pietro Sandei and Rubis de Prere, a 19-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by az.agr. Galanthus di Castellani S.

If you want to remind yourself of all of the other Olympic Teams named thus far, you can catch up here.

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

Germany Announces Final Paris Eventing Team

By on Jul 7, 2024 12:17 pm -

Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Following their final observation event at CHIO Aachen this weekend, which saw reigning individual Olympic gold medalist Julia Krajewski take her second win in the CCIO4*-S, Germany has identified the four pairs it will send forward to Paris in a few weeks’ time.

Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The final team is as follows:

Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz, a 15-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Nikolaus Prinz von Croy

Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH, a 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Deutsches Olympiade-Komitee für Reiterei e.V., Klaus Fischer, Sabine Fischer, & Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff

Christoph Wahler and Carjatan S, a 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by the rider & Lena Thoenies

Traveling Reserve: Julia Krajewski and Nickel 21, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Sophia Rössel

Christoph Wahler and Carjatan S. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

This team is absolutely full of experience and depth, with multiple Olympic and World Champions and 5* wins to their name. Sandra Auffarth won individual gold at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in France, while Michael Jung certainly needs little introduction as a two-time individual Olympic gold medalist and two time team medalist for Germany.

Julia Krajewski and Nickel 21. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Germany as a nation is the owner of back-to-back team gold medals in Olympic competition (2008 – Beijing, 2012 – London). They won team silver in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 but did not hit the podium in Tokyo in 2021.

If you want to remind yourself of all of the other Olympic Teams named thus far, you can catch up here.

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

Host Nation France Unveils Paris Eventing Team

By on Jul 6, 2024 10:18 am -

Sélections olympiques Paris 2024 – Équipe de France d'équitation

À Paris, les Jeux d’une vie 💙🤍❤️

Le suspense est resté total jusqu’au bout …Il est temps de vous dévoiler la sélection tricolore pour les Jeux olympiques de Paris 2024 ! 🤩🇫🇷 Découvrez les couples qui représenteront la France ! 🏇
En concours complet, dressage, et saut d'obstacles, nos Bleus défendront fièrement nos couleurs en quête de médailles olympiques 🥇

À Versailles, dans votre club ou chez vous, tous supporters des Bleus ! 🥳🇫🇷 C'est le moment de partager vos encouragements en commentaires !

Posted by FFE – Equipe de France on Saturday, July 6, 2024

At long last, we finally know which horses and riders will represent the home nation in Paris later this month. The French federation has unveiled the names of the combinations who will compete in eventing:

Stéphane Landois and Ride for Thais Chamon Dumontceau, a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by S.C.E.A. Ecurie du Cerisier Bleu

Karim Laghouag and Triton Fontaine, a 17-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Phillippe Lemoine, Guy Bessat, S.A.R.L. Ecurie Karim Laghouag, and Camille Laffitte

Nicolas Touzaint and Diabolo Menthe, an 11-year-old Selle Franciais gelding owned by Francoise Niclaus, SC Mezard Sports, Melinda Tapie

Traveling Reserve: Gireg le Coz and Aisprit de la Loge, a 14-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Augustin and Frederique Grand

To keep up with our running track of teams and individuals named thus far, click here.

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

Equestrian Canada Names Athletes Selected for Paris

By on Jul 6, 2024 10:07 am -

Karl Slezak (CAN) and Hot Bobo. Shannon Brinkman Photo.

With just a few days to go before Definite Entries are due for Paris, we have the Canadian squad members who have been selected to compete in just a few weeks’ time.

Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS. Photo by Shelby Allen.

The Canadian eventing team has been selected as follows:

Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS, a 12-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Charlotte Schickedanz

Karl Slezak and Hot Bobo, an 11-year-old Irish Sporthorse mare owned by Katlyn and Karl Slezak

Mike Winter and El Mundo, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Jonathan Nelson, Emma and Mike Winter

Traveling Reserve: Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Peter Barry, Amanda Bernhard, Maureen Hallam, and Rider

Mike Winter and El Mundo. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

To keep up with our running track of teams and individuals named thus far, click here.

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

Your Guide to The Maryland International

By on Jul 4, 2024 8:49 am -
Caroline Martin and King's Especial. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography. Caroline Martin and King's Especial. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Today at 5 p.m. EST, the Maryland International CCI4*-S will kick off with an opening ceremony followed by a reception at Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, Maryland. EN editor Sally Spickard and reporter Veronica Green-Gott will be bringing you all the action from the ground. Stay tuned for our end of day reports and keep up with the action on Eventing Nation’s Instagram or on the Maryland Horse Trials Facebook page. 

Caroline Martin and King’s Especial. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

The Entries

Ten riders are entered in the CCI4*-S and we’ve got some new and interesting horses and riders in the mix, including quite a few 4* first-timers. Rookies include the Chiraz Syndicate’s Chiraz (Asquetta x Casall), previously ridden by Boyd Martin and now piloted by Australia’s Ema Klugman. Jessica Phoenix will also be riding a 4* first-timer and recent addition to her string, Sarah Irving’s Thoroughbred Aeronautics (Two Step Salsa x Satin and Silver, by Silver Ghost). We also have a rookie pair at the Maryland International this weekend: Braden Speck and his horse, BSF Liam (Ballywhim An Luan x Rumor Risky, by Hawkster). 

Familiar names in the division include Hannah Sue Hollberg, who will be riding Christa Schmidt’s Carsonstown (Lougherne Cappucino x Nonavic Spyridonna, by Limmerick), as well as Bobby Meyerhoff, who will be piloting his longtime partner Lumumba (Levisonn x Lamara, by Lamarc), owned by the rider and the Donovan Group. Also keep an eye out for Olympians William Coleman and Phillip Dutton, as well as riders Arden Wildasin, Dan Kreitl, Kim Severson, and Erin Kanara in the CCI3*-S. The CCI2*-S division also has some exciting names, including Olympic team member Carolina Pamukcu. 

In total, four different countries will be represented across all divisions: Canada, USA, Ireland, and Germany, with North America’s Canada and the United States being most heavily represented. 

The Officials

Designed by Ian Stark with assistance from Andrew Heffernan, the cross country course promises challenging and educational questions. As Ian will be retiring at the conclusion of the 2024 season, this will be the riders last chance to tackle an Ian Stark course in the highlands of Maryland. All FEI cross country courses will run through the rings by the Vendor Village, allowing spectators to keep a close eye on the action without having to walk out on the course. The track includes difficult terrain features, like the triple bank complex at the water, which was brand new in 2023. Stay tuned for a full course preview coming soon. 

USA’s Chris Barnard will be designing the show jumping course for the second year in a row. Chris is known for his use of bending lines, as well as his tough courses that challenge riders at every level. 

The FEI President of the Ground Jury is Canada’s Peter Gray, who is assisted by the USA’s Marilyn Payne. 

Bobby Meyerhoff and Lumumba. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

The Schedule

Thursday, July 5th

5 p.m. Opening Ceremony followed by reception

Friday July 6th

8 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. dressage for all FEI divisions

Saturday July 7th

8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. 4* Show Jumping

9 a.m. to 9:40 a.m. 4* Cross Country

Sunday July 8th

National riders will compete in all three phases, starting at 8 a.m. 

Young Rider divisions will trot up at 8 a.m. followed by show jumping at 9 a.m. 

Competitor Events

There’s plenty to do at the Maryland International, both in and out of the saddle. Competitors, owners, and grooms are invited to attend a welcome party sponsored by Triple Crown on Friday evening after competition has concluded. Following the conclusion of FEI competition on Saturday, there will also be a competition party, including Highland Games for the Young Riders. Competitors can have another chance to compete, this time challenging each other to ax throwing, stick horse steeplechase, zorb balls, a paper toss, and more. 

Awards

Eventing Nation will be celebrating grit and grooms alike with two awards to give away over the course of the weekend. The first is the Ride EquiSafe Best Save Award, which honors the rider who displays the most stickability over the weekend. This award is open to all divisions. Learn more about the Ride EquiSafe Best Save Award here. Next, Eventing Nation will be giving away the Best Turned Out award to the horse whose coat shines a little brighter than the rest.  

Stay cool and stay hydrated. Maryland may barely be below the Mason Dixon line, but that sun still feels pretty darn southern. Riders and spectators have to be prepared for the heat this fourth of July weekend. Temperatures are expected to be in the high eighties, and while cloudy skies will help, bring your sun hat, sunscreen, and water bottles. Loch Moy Farm has set up cooling stations for the horses and riders. 

EN’s coverage of the Maryland International is brought to you with support from Ride EquiSafe, your go-to shop for quality, science-backed safety equipment. 

[Website] [Live Scores] [Entries] [EN’s Coverage]

Australia Announces Paris 2024 Eventing Team

By on Jul 3, 2024 11:10 pm -

We’ve finally got our Australian squad for Paris and boy, it’s a good one.

The named team is as follows:

Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam, a 16-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Scuderia 1918 and Emma Mcnab

Shane Rose and Virgil, a 19-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Shane and Niki Rose and Michelle Hasibar

Chris Burton and Shadow Man, a 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood owned by Chris Burton and Guy Bloodstock Ltd.

Traveling Reserve: Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture, a 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by the Lowings family

The team is one with deep experience, with 6 Olympics between the three primary members and World Championship experience on the part of Traveling Reserve Shenae Lowings. Australia will look to repeat its team silver medal performance in Tokyo (2021) and finds themselves in good stead to lay down a very competitive result in Paris.

Shane Rose and Virgil. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Also notable on the team is the return of Shane Rose with the ever youthful Virgil. You may recall Shane was seriously injured in a fall in March of this year, breaking a femur, his pelvis, and ribs as well as sustaining a major concussion. The timing of the accident left a big question mark as to Shane’s readiness to compete in Paris, but we already knew Shane was tough as nails and would do all he could to be back in the saddle in time. Indeed he was, and now he will make his fourth Olympic appearance (and third consecutive one) later this month.

Christopher Burton and Shadow Man. Photo by Bit-Media.

Chris Burton is another rider with quite a story this year, opting to move more fully into show jumping in 2022 but then acquiring the ride on Shadow Man, a former ride of British rider Ben Hobday. The goal for Chris was always to earn a spot on the Olympic team, and his experience coupled with his propensity for speed and efficiency in the jumping phases (surely even further bolstered with the additional time in the pure show jumping arena, which he still does, most recently competing on the Longines Global Champions League circuit) and proper form shown this season have stamped his third consecutive Olympic ticket.

Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Kevin McNab was another member of the silver medal-winning team in Tokyo, bringing back his partner Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam for another shot at Olympic glory. Kevin also represented Australia in the 2022 World Championships at Pratoni, along with Traveling Reserve rider Shenae Lowings and her off-track Thoroughbred Bold Venture.

Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture. Photo by Alex Jeffery.

Shenae returned to Australia after spending some time in Europe last season, winning her most recent prep event at Adelaide’s CCI4*-S and putting herself into a good standing to earn this trip to Paris to step in should she be needed.

Notably absent for the first time in two Olympic cycles is 10-time Olympian Andrew Hoy with his veteran partner Vassily de Lassos, who very well could have easily slotted in for a spot on this team but perhaps were lowered on the selectors’ lists due to some trouble on cross country at Avenches in June. The pair since regrouped and were 5th in the 4*-S at Strzegom and also won the 4*-L at Marbach earlier this year.

The Aussies now stand poised for a strong performance in Paris — will we see them on the podium again? Only time will tell. Stay tuned.

To keep up with EN’s running track of teams and individuals named thus far, click here.

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

Your Guide to Eventing at CHIO Aachen + How to Follow

By on Jul 3, 2024 10:02 am -

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It’s nearly time to kick off the eventing competition, also known as the SAP Cup, at CHIO Aachen (Germany), where a strong roster of teams and even some Olympic hopefuls looking to make a strong final impression on selectors is set to compete in CCIO4*-S competition.

Tilly Berendt is your eyes on the ground for this event, which kicks off in earnest on Friday with dressage followed by show jumping, and concluding with cross country on Saturday.

CHIO Aachen this year has designated the United States as the “host” nation, meaning plenty of Western flair and even some, um, cheerleaders, featured in the all-out 90-minute Opening Ceremony this week.

 

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A post shared by CHIO Aachen (@chio_aachen)

The Entries

51 combinations representing 10 nations will step forward on Thursday, and you can view the full entry list here. Notable among the entries are prospective members of the yet-to-be-named German final team, as well as a strong showing from the Americans and British.

This competition is run in a team format, with four riders representing each nation as well as individuals if that nation has enough to field.

The Officials

Presiding over the eventing panel of Ground Jury members at Aachen is Austria’s Christian Steiner, who is accompanied by the USA’s Robert Stevenson and Germany’s Edith Schless-Störtenbecker. Rüdiger Schwarz returns as the cross country course designer at this unique venue, assisted by Kai Steffen-Meier, Michael Gola, and Bernd Backhaus. German designer Frank Rothenberger will design Friday’s show jumping track, as well as all of the show jumping tracks for the pure jumping riders.

The Schedule

Germany is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

Thursday, July 4:
First Horse Inspection (not livestreamed)

Friday, July 5:
Dressage: 8:30 a.m. local / 2:30 a.m. EST
Show Jumping: 5:45 p.m. local / 11:45 a.m. EST

Saturday, July 6:
Cross Country: 9:55 a.m. local / 3:55 a.m. EST

How to Follow

ClipMyHorse.TV has the exclusive live stream for CHIO Aachen, and you’ll be able to watch the entire competition across divisions live and on-demand here. A membership (monthly or annual) will be required to view the content. Commentary is available in multiple languages.

Timing and scoring will be found here once the competition begins.

EN’s coverage of CHIO Aachen in 2024 is brought to you with support from Deirdre Vaillancourt Stoker Real Estate, your prime choice for Aiken, SC property!

World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Program – All Disciplines] [Program – Eventing] [Entries – All Disciplines] [Entries – Eventing] [Live Stream] [Results – All Disciplines] [Results – Eventing] [EN’s Coverage]

Tune In Tomorrow for Team GB’s Final Prep Ahead of Paris

By on Jul 3, 2024 9:30 am -

Laura Collett and London 52. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

If you want to grab a final sneak peek of the British team as they run through their final preparations for Paris, tune in tomorrow for a final open session in the main arena at Aston-le-Walls, which will be replayed on-demand on H&C+ here (membership required).

As they build towards this summer’s biggest sporting event, the British combinations will train and ride some of the Olympic dressage test, followed by an on-horse Q&A with Richard Davison.

To keep up with our running track of teams and individuals named thus far, click here.

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

Brazil Joins Paris 2024 Field with Eventing Team Nomination

By on Jul 1, 2024 3:01 pm -

Brazil has confirmed the four riders it has chosen to represent the country in Paris later this month, a roster that includes multiple former Olympians after the country qualified for a berth via the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

Marcio Carvalho Jorge and Castle Howard Casanova. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

The riders and horses chosen to ride in this Olympics for Brazil are:

Marcelo Carvalho Jorge with either Castle Howard Casanova, an 11-year-old Irish gelding owned by the Rider, Arabella and Hugo Mackenzie Smith, and Annabel Vere Nicoll or Kilcoltrim Kit Kat, a 15-year-old Irish mare owned by Helen and Alistair Mordaunt, Annabel and Alistair Vere Nicoll

Ruy Fonseca with Ballypatrick SRS, a 13-year-old Irish gelding owned by the Rider and Renata Rabello Costa

Rafael Mamprin Losano and Withington, a 13-year-old Anglo-European gelding owned by the Rider, Helen Tayton-Martin, and James Noble

Carlos Parro with Safira, a 12-year-old warmblood mare owned by the Rider and John Chambers

Ruy Fonseca and Ballypatrick Srs (BRA). Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

The Traveling Reserve member of the squad has not been designated and will be done by the Definite Entries deadline of July 8.

To keep up with our running track of teams and individuals named thus far, click here.

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

Sweden Announces Paris Eventing Team

By on Jun 29, 2024 12:53 pm -

Frida Andersen and Box Leo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Sweden has named the riders it will be sending to Paris, including a team of event riders, show jumpers to defend the team gold won in 2021 (Tokyo), and dressage riders. The Traveling Reserve will be designated out of the below group of four riders.

The event riders selected for Paris representing Sweden are:

Frida Andersén
Box Leo (born 2010, by Jaguar Mail u. Box Qutie, ue. Quite Easy, bred and owned by: Therese Örup)
Previous Olympics: 2016 Rio

Louise Romeike
Caspian 15 (born: 2014, by LB Crumble, u. O-Heraldika, ue. Heraldik, bred by: Hans Beil, owned by: Hinrich Romeike, Madeleine Brugman & the rider)
Previous Olympics: 2021 Tokyo

Sofia Sjoborg and Bryjamolga van het Marienshof Z. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Sofia Sjöborg
Bryjamolga van het Marienshof Z (born 2011, e. Bamako de Muze, u. Halifax, u. Cryloga M, bred: Marienshof Stal owner: Juliet, Mattias and Sofia Sjöborg)

British-based Swede Malin Josefsson navigates Golden Midnight to overnight 30th. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Malin Asai
Golden Midnight (born 2008, e. Goldmine, u. Duva, u. Maraton, sire: Gert Hermansson, owner: Karin Berglund)

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

Unmarked Bills: In His Professor Era

By on Jun 27, 2024 1:00 pm -

Lots of love for Unmarked Bills. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Unmarked Bills is a horse that took to eventing like a fish in water.

After a moderately successful career on the racetrack, where he raced 24 times and earned about $64,000, “Billy” was connected to Chris Talley, who quickly took a liking to the Thoroughbred gelding in a plain bay wrapper. A few months after he joined Chris’ program, he emerged as an event horse — and he never looked back.

“I said all along that I thought he was a five-star horse, but a lot of people didn’t see it,” Chris told EN. “He just stepped up to the plate and tried his heart out for me.”

Unmarked Bills would eventually become Chris’ first CCI5* horse, debuting at Kentucky in 2019 and finishing in the top 30. He and Chris would also travel to England and jump around the formidable cross country track at Burghley that fall, but cut their weekend short with a minor setback and withdrew ahead of show jumping.

Just as Chris was legging Billy back up for a return after some time off, COVID hit. “On the way home from Red Hills that year was COVID, and so the world kind of shut down,” he said. “And I was a little unsure of what to do with him. So I gave him a vacation, which was probably what I shouldn’t have done with him because Billy does not like to be on vacation! So he wound himself up in trouble and kind of had a couple of different injuries just from being away in the field and carrying on with his friends. And you know, that took time.”

Chris Talley and Unmarked Bills at Kentucky (2019). Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

In that time, Chris lost his CCI5* qualification, meaning he would have to go back and re-qualify through 4* competition with Billy. He tried several times and failed to obtain a qualifying score, either in the dressage or in the show jumping. Through that, Chris came to a realization. “And at that point, it was kind of more for my dreams of going back to the five-star rather than the horse,” he explained. “And he’s always kind of found the show jumping a little bit hard with the tension and stuff. And I just felt like he was getting older; he’s not that old, but he did just struggle with the tension. He did enough for me. You know, he kind of made my dreams come true. So I kind of wanted to step him down and let him make somebody else’s dreams come true.”

That someone else at first came in the form of Jessica Chappell, a former student of Chris’ whose horse was unable to compete in what would be her first CCI2*-L at Virginia Horse Center in 2022. Jessica “catch rode” Billy in two events, including that first 2*, where they finished in the top 25.

Anna Rose Erickson and Unmarked Bills. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Then in 2024, along came Anna Rose Erickson, a young rider who at first came to Chris’ farm to lease a different horse. When that least wound not up meant to be, Chris felt terrible — and he’d been impressed by the riding skills Anna Rose had shown. “She really impressed me, you know. She’s a good kid, she works hard,” Chris said. “And she was just so sweet when she came out to try that horse. She had dreams of doing Modified this year and Billy was just kind of in the field. I had been a little bit thinking of what to do with him.”

So out Billy came — unclipped, not quite 5* fit, and raring to go. “I promised her he really is beautiful!” Chris laughed. “But I had talked to [Anna Rose’s] mother before and I had said ‘I think I have a really special horse for you’.”

For her part, Anna Rose had competed up to Novice with her previous horse and through Training with another horse, but was looking for something to step up with. “Billy has been a life-changer for me,” she told me. She’d just finished her first Modified at VHC Eventing in Lexington, VA, and both she and her family were on a high. “I never even thought I would have been able to been able to do Training level this year. And it’s just crazy to be able to complete my first Modified now.”

Anna Rose and Billy finished inside the top 10 of that first Modified, and Chris was proud to be an onlooker for the event. “It’s rewarding for me because I’ve done my job for him to be able to be ridden by somebody else, but you always worry when you hand the reins over to somebody else. It’s like, did I do my job right? But she rides beautifully. It’s that kind of fine line with Billy — he’s but he tells you ‘let go of me, I know what I’m doing.’ And she does a perfect job, so it’s really special. She’s in such a short time kind of been able to really figure him out.”

Anna Rose Erickson and Unmarked Bills. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Anna Rose lives in North Carolina and trains with Michelle Hargreaves. She says she’d like to aim for Pony Club Championships in July, but beyond that, she’s mostly enjoying the ride with her very popular partner.

And she appreciates the innate challenge that is taking on a horse, especially one that is, as 5* horses go, on the quirkier side. “It is a little relieving that he didn’t always go perfectly for Chris,” she laughed. “Not in a bad way, but [Billy] is a little bit tricky, so it’s not like I’m being handed this horse that’s just so perfect that you just sit there. He makes me work for it a little, and that makes me feel good.”

“I couldn’t stop smiling afterwards,” Anna Rose said of her first Modified cross country — surely the phase anyone who’d get the lucky chance to take a spin on Billy would look forward to the most. “I was just like, beaming the whole way, and all of the support was so nice.”

Here’s to the horses who teach us along the way. Unmarked Bills has certainly made his mark on the sport of eventing, and on more than one person’s journey through life — and we’re sure this won’t be the last we’ll see of him! Go Eventing.

Italy Nominates Paris Olympic Eventing Entries

By on Jun 26, 2024 1:20 pm -

Arianna Schivo and Quefira de l’Ormeau. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Italy is the latest nation to nominate its entries for the upcoming Paris Olympics, putting forward eight horse and rider combinations ahead of the Definite Entries deadline of July 8. The Italian Federation will select its final team from the following list of riders:

  • Evelina Bertoli with Fidji Des Melezes (Aga Khan – Louna de Sainte-Ode, by Bayard D’Elle), owned by az. agricola di campello argenta and Evelina Bertoli
  • Daniele Bizzarro on Stormhill Riot (Downe Right Rebel – Stormhill Matilda), owned by the Rider and Alice Dazeley
  • Emiliano Portale on Scuderia 1918 Future (Fetcher N – Grace Keg, by Le Mistral), owned by Scuderia 1918 Capital srl and Emma McNab
  • Alessio Proia on Gatta Salta D’O (Hos D’O – Cassandra Van’t Cheikenshof, by Skippy II), owned by Rider and Gabriele Proia and Valerio Proia
  • Pietro Sandei on Rubis De Prere (Fedor de Seves – Cina du Logis, by Quandy du Mayne), owned by az.agr. Galanthus di Castellani S.
  • Arianna Schivo on Quefira De L’ormeau (Iolisco De Quinhon – Isabelle du Brulot, by Beausejour IV), owned by Rider and Thomas Bouquet
  • Paolo Torlonia on ESI Bethany Bay (OBOS Quality 004 – Catina, by Quasimodo van de Molendreef), owned by Kilpatrick T Limited and Emanuela Torlonia
  • Giovanni Ugolotti on Florencina (Verdi TN – Whitsuntide de Marsch, by Goodtimes), owned by Rider and Philip Hunt and Jo Preston-Hunt
    • Direct Reserve Horse: Swirly Temptress (For Ladies Only – Betty Barclay, by Brentano II), owned by Krin and Kristina Rausing

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

10 Nations Represented with 50 Entries at CHIO Aachen

By on Jun 26, 2024 9:30 am -

Sandra Auffarth waves to the busy stadium after winning Aachen in 2022. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

EN’s coverage of CHIO Aachen in 2024 is brought to you with support from Deirdre Vaillancourt Stoker Real Estate, your prime choice for Aiken, SC property!

Entries for the eventing portion, the SAP Cup, at CHIO Aachen’s annual World Equestrian Festival have been published, with 10 nations receiving an invitation and sending forward a total of 51 horses for entry into the CCIO4*-S happening July 6 and 7 in Germany.

Aachen has been chosen to host the 2026 FEI World Championships / World Equestrian Games for most disciplines, and it’s been the prime choice of top competitors around the world for many years. Some countries aiming for Paris will make their final team selections following Aachen, where we might see some pairs under orders to pull up or otherwise save their competitiveness for the Olympics in a few weeks’ time.

The complete list of entries can be found here or below:

 AUS AUSTRALIA Chef d’Equipe: Erin O’Neill
BARNETT, Andrew Go Tosca
BURTON, Christopher Clever Louis
HOY, Andrew Cadet de Beliard
MCNAB, Kevin Miss Pepperpot, Willunga (Jump&Drive)
 AUT AUSTRIA
SIEGL, Lea van Helsing P
 BEL BELGIUM
DE LIEDEKERKE – MEIER, Lara Ducati d’Arville, Hermione d’Arville, Pumpkin de la Liniere (Jump&Drive)
 FRA FRANCE Chef d’Equipe: Michel Asseray
EURIAT, Morgane Fixin de Conde
LEFEVRE, Cyrielle Armanjo Serosah
MARX, Arthur Church’Ile
MASSIE, Benjamin Filao de Perle
 GBR GREAT BRITAIN Chef d’Equipe: Philip Surl
team CHABERT, Kirsty Classic v.
team COLLETT, Laura Dacapo
team KING, Emily Valmy Biats
team TAYLOR, Isabelle Sbh Big Wall
DOEL, David Captain Tiger Tilly (Jump&Drive), Kenzo Power B
 GER GERMANY Chef d’Equipe: Jens Prof.Dr. Adolphsen
team HANSEN-HOTOPP, Malin Carlitos Quidditch K
team JUNG, Michael Fischerchipmunk FRH, Kilcandra Ocean Power (team)
team ROBINE, Jerome Black Ice
team WAHLER, Christoph Carjatan S, d’Accord FRH
AUFFARTH, Sandra Viamant du Matz
BÖCKMANN, Calvin Crunchip M (Jump&Drive), The Phantom Of The Opera
KRAJEWSKI, Julia Great Twist d’Ive Z (Jump&Drive), Nickel 21
SCHRADE, Dirk Casino 80
SIEMER, Anna FRH Butt’s Avondale
 IRL IRELAND Chef d’Equipe: Dag Albert
CASSELLS, Ian Millridge Atlantis
MURPHY, Joseph Calmaro, Choclat (Jump&Drive)
O’CONNOR, Austin Isazsa
WATSON, Sam Ballyneety Rocketman
 NZL NEW ZEALAND Chef d’Equipe: Jonathan Paget
team JOHNSTONE, Clarke Domasco
team POWELL, Caroline Cbi Aldo
team PRICE, Jonelle Senor Crocodillo
team PRICE, Tim Jarillo
THOMASEN, Ginny Capitaine de Hus Z
 SUI SWITZERLAND Chef d’Equipe: Dominik Burger
GODEL, Robin Global Dhi
MINDER, Nadja Top Job’s Jalisco
RYAN, Philip Amansara
VOGG, Felix Colero
 USA UNITED STATES Chef d’Equipe: Robert Costello
team ALLISTON, James Karma
team BRANNIGAN, Jennie [WITHDRAWN 6/25] FE Lifestyle [WITHDRAWN 6/25]
team HALLIDAY, Elisabeth Shanroe Cooley
team PHILLIPS, Alyssa Oskar
COON, Hallie Cute Girl

Hallie Coon and Cute Girl. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

There is a late substitute on the U.S. team, which sees Hallie Coon and Cute Girl added to the roster, while Liz Halliday‘s individual horse, Shanroe Cooley, was moved to the team. Liz’s original team horse, Miks Master C, will not make the trip to Aachen. Liz posted the following update on her social media:

“We have unfortunately made the tough decision to withdraw Miks Master C from the team for CHIO Aachen next week. He had an excellent Cross-Country round in the Advanced at Stable View last weekend and finished very well, but when we checked him later that day it was apparent that he was not 100%[.]

With the quick turn around to head to Aachen we decided that it was not in his best interest to put him on a plane and instead need to focus on getting him back to feeling his best.”

[Editor’s Update] Late on Tuesday, Jennie Brannigan announced that she was also withdrawing FE Lifestyle from the Aachen team, stating that “Foxy” had picked up a shipping fever after Stable View. “After consulting with Mary Griffin and trusting my own gut as a horsemen [sic] we do both feel it is not right to put him on a van/plane tomorrow,” she wrote on social media. “I am grateful to the USEF for the opportunity and to my owners who always let me make the right choice for the horses. There is always another horse show…. there is only one Foxy.”

The second alternate for the U.S. was designated as Emily Hamel and Corvett, who just completed Luhmühlen earlier this month and will not be turning around for Aachen. While an official USEF update has yet to be made, we will likely see Hallie Coon (originally the first alternate) moved into the vacant team spot with Cute Girl, and the U.S. will proceed with no individual riders. We will update this post and the entry list once USEF has made any further changes official.

You will be able to watch CHIO Aachen live and on-demand with your ClipMyHorse.TV membership. Bookmark this page to access the live stream. As always, Tilly Berendt will be our eyes on the ground in Germany next weekend.

World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Program – All Disciplines] [Program – Eventing] [Entries – All Disciplines] [Entries – Eventing] [Live Stream] [Results – All Disciplines] [Results – Eventing] [EN’s Coverage]

Poland Unveils Paris 2024 Eventing Team

By on Jun 25, 2024 12:30 pm -

Malgorzata Korycka and Canvalencia. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Following the most recent FEI Eventing Nations Cup competition, Poland has put forward the three combinations it will be sending to Paris for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games. There was not a Traveling Reserve pair named in the announcement video, meaning the squad of three will be under pressure to complete with no possibility of substitution (subject to change ahead of the Definite Entries deadline in early July).

Robert Powala’s Tosca del Castegno (POL). Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The named eventing team for Poland is:

Malgorzada Korycka and Canvalencia, a 13-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Beata Korycka and Jerry Korycki

Robert Powala and Tosca del Castegno , an 11-year-old Italian Sport Horse mare owned by the rider

Pawel Warszawski and Lucinda Ex Ani 4, a 16-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Wechta Inwestycje Sp.

Traveling Reserve: Wiktoria Knap and Quintus 134, a 14-year-old DSP gelding owned by Michal Knap and Consalnet GmbH

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

Astier Nicolas Withdraws Babylon de Gamma from Paris Consideration

By on Jun 25, 2024 9:30 am -

Astier Nicolas and Babylon de Gamma. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Astier Nicolas is down to one horse in the running for the yet-to-be-named final French team ahead of their home Olympics in Paris next month. The 2016 team gold and individual silver medalist announced that he had withdrawn Babylon de Gamma from consideration after a minor injury stemming from a lost shoe was sustained at Marbach in Germany in May.

His statement posted on social media, which has been translated from German (please forgive any translation errors!) is as follows:

“The small injury sustained from his cross-country course in Marbach, which was run mostly unbeaten, leaves us a little less time than initially planned to prepare him for the Olympic Games. After discussions with federal staff, his owners and I resolved with great disappointment to remove him from the competition. We are all competitive bitten but we love our horse more than anything. No doubt he will come back stronger to face new challenges together.”

“Ultimately, it turns out that the timing won’t be perfect,” he also told Cheval Mag. “I don’t want to take him if the conditions aren’t ideal.”

Astier was named to the French longlist with two horses, the other being the 14-year-old Anglo Arabian gelding, Alertamalib’or (Summer Song – Dambine, by Prince Ig’or). Alertamalib’or achieved his final MER for Paris in the 4*-S at Luhmühlen earlier this month. The gelding also came second in the 4*-L at Saumur in April and won at the same level and same venue in 2022. Alertamalib’or was also Astier’s partner for the most recent FEI World Championships for Eventing in Pratoni del Vivaro.

So while it could be argued that the 13-year-old Babylon de Gamma (Mylord Carthago – Sunshine Des Ka, by Happy Vergoignan) may have been the more competitive of the two, being a confirmed 5* horse, Astier is by no means out of the running for what would be his second Olympic appearance, and the experience of Alertamalib’or should not be discounted.

Astier Nicolas and Alertamalib’Or. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“[Alertamalib’or] qualified like the great champion he is with an extremely demanding season where qualification and selection had to be cumulative,” Astier wrote. “He had no fault and never failed in each of his three qualifying outings, and he took on the challenge beautifully.”

The full French longlist can be viewed here as we eagerly await the final selection of the “home team”. Definite entries are due on July 8, so we will have all teams and individuals by or before then. Stay tuned.

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here. We are pleased to bring you our Olympic coverage with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

LA28 Publishes Venue Updates for Olympics

By on Jun 21, 2024 2:06 pm -

Galway Downs’ main arena boasts unique spectator seating and a backdrop of flags representing an international array of competitors. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

The organizing team behind the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles has released new updates to their proposed venues for competition, putting these updates forward for approval by the City of Los Angeles next. The first venue proposal was created in 2017, and in the intervening years more options and developments have become available to evolve the original proposal.

Looking at the equestrian sports, LA28 originally identified the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area as the prospective host site for equestrian and para-equestrian competition, the latest update has revealed that “an exceptional existing facility in Temecula, CA, that is the only such facility in Southern California large enough to accommodate all required disciplines in one location” has now been designated as the host venue for the upcoming Games. This, of course, leads us to Galway Downs, which currently hosts competitions across disciplines, including CCI4*-L level eventing.

“LA28 submitted these updated venue assignments to the City of Los Angeles, which must approve competitions that move outside of the city’s boundaries from the venue plan submitted during the bid,” the press release put out by the committee today states. This means that the decision is not 100% final yet, but should it be approved that would allocate the equestrian and para-equestrian sports to Galway Downs. You can view the full submission put forward to the City of Los Angeles here.

The equestrian-oriented portion of the submission reads as follows:

“In the 2028 Venue Plan, the Equestrian venue is Galway Downs in Temecula, CA. LA28 considered many possible venues, but the IOC requirement that all three Equestrian disciplines (Jumping, Dressage, Eventing) be organized within the same site rendered many venues unfit, particularly for the Cross Country component of Eventing. One of the venues examined was the Hansen Dam Horse Park in Lake View Terrace; however, it lacks adequate space and facilities to accommodate the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian requirements. Additionally, the current operation and resident horses would need to be displaced throughout the build and Games period given restrictive quarantine and build requirements. The IOC requirement that all three Equestrian disciplines be delivered on the same site to manage the cost and
complexity of the Equestrian program rules out Hansen Dam.

The only existing venue that can accommodate the requirements of Equestrian, while also reducing the cost and complexity of delivery, is Galway Downs.

These venue adjustments result in an estimated net benefit of +$26 million, primarily driven by the significant reduction in estimated venue infrastructure expense.

In comparison to building an entirely temporary facility at Sepulveda Dam, the existing facilities at Galway Downs can accommodate Equestrian at a much lower cost, and its operator is experienced in hosting large events.”

“All proposed venue changes have been assessed in consultation with each respective International Federation,” the statement continues. “The IOC Executive Board has approved these venue assignments for Olympic sports, pending approval from the City of Los Angeles. Changes to venues for Paralympic sports will require approval from the IPC Governing Board in the future.”

“The plan to relocate equestrian competitions to the existing Equestrian Center in Temecula is a positive development for the sport and the equestrian community,” FEI President and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Ingmar De Vos said.

“The FEI has worked closely with the Organizing Committee to evaluate and choose a venue capable of hosting all equestrian and para equestrian events with the aim of managing the overall costs and complexity.

“Importantly, the venue can also accommodate Eventing competitions which was a condition of the IOC Executive Board to include this discipline in the program of the LA28 Olympic Games. The reasoning behind the venue change also fits well with equestrian sport’s sustainability ideals and aims, and will create lasting legacies for the local community. With this important announcement we can now start working with LA28 on the field-of-play design and organization of the equestrian competitions.”

“We are thrilled a venue has been chosen that can host all the equestrian events,” CEO of the United States Equestrian Federation Bill Moroney said.

“The announcement of the equestrian venue aligns with the IOC requirement stating all equestrian events must be held at the same location. The Equestrian Center for the LA28 Games in Temecula will be a world class international experience on the field of play for the athletes, horses, and their support teams as well as for fans and spectators alike.

“US Equestrian is proud to support equestrian sport’s inclusion in the Olympic and Paralympic programmes for 2028 and is eager to work with the FEI, LA28 Organising Committee, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee to bring an extraordinary event to the USA. The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games hold immense potential to elevate the visibility and popularity of our sport nationwide.”

There is no date or timeline given for the approval process by the city, but as soon as we have more confirmed details and official information on the proposed venue updates, we’ll keep you in the loop. As we continue to focus on the Games happening in Paris next month, we’ll eagerly be awaiting more news from a “home” Olympics coming next.

Editor’s Note: This article was updated on June 27 with quotes from FEI president and IOC committee member Ingmar De Vos, as well as US Equestrian CEO Bill Moroney.