Become an Eventing Nation BloggerRNS Video has posted a montage of the CIC3* water complex at Red Hills, which was a question of straightness as well as boldness with three jumping efforts.
You can catch up on the action as it happened on our live update thread here, and you can read the recap of the day’s results in Jenni’s report here.
This is without a doubt a must-see! We found this video from YouTube artist Breanna Bruner, who put her creativity to work and came out with this amazing take on the 2015 edition of Red Hills Horse Trials.
Just in time for a big weekend in Tallahassee, this video is all you need to amp up and appreciate both this event and the sport as a whole. The editing of this video is spot on, timed just perfectly enough to give Chinch furry little goosebumps.
Stay tuned right here on EN for much more live coverage from Red Hills!
Red Hills International CIC & H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [EN’s Coverage]
Andrew McConnon and Ziggy. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Andrew McConnon is busy packing his life up in order to move across the world for the opportunity of a lifetime: a position with William Fox-Pitt.
It’s an opportunity Andrew is still pinching himself over. Andrew campaigned Ziggy, the 19-year-old Thoroughbred owned by Rachel Jurgens, through the CIC3* level in 2015, but the decision was made to take a step back with the gelding as he got older. After that, Andrew began thinking about his next steps.
“I always wanted to continue on, so I got to thinking about what was next,” Andrew said. “I have a younger horse who is going Novice, so it would be awhile before I got back to where I was with Ziggy. So I thought, what would the best thing to do be?”
Ultimately, Andrew decided that finding a place where he could ride and continue his education would make the most sense, an idea that his coach, Bobby Costello, agreed with wholeheartedly: “Bobby told me that it would be a great move, and that I could never do anything better than that.”
So Andrew began looking for opportunities in Europe. “I originally approached (Tim and Jonelle Price), but unfortunately they had all of the people they needed. I kind of asked around on where the best place would be to go, and I ended up talking with Karen O’Connor about it.
“Karen has always been super encouraging and supportive, and she was unbelievably helpful. After I told her my goals, she said she was going to call William.”
The rest is history, as Karen called back moments later and informed Andrew that William Fox-Pitt was awaiting his call. Andrew and William spoke on the phone for about 30 minutes, and the position was offered.
“Karen said that if I was going to Europe, I had to go learn from the best,” Andrew said. “It was pretty remarkable — she set everything up. William and I spoke about what we were both looking for, and he was just very down to earth and I felt like it was a good match. I can’t turn that down!”
Andrew immediately set to work tying up loose ends in preparation for his departure. He needed to obtain a visa, ensure his sales horses were moved and that his young horse and dog had arrangements to be cared for in his absence. Andrew committed to stay through October at William’s yard in Dorset, England.
“In Southern Pines I have really good clients and friends,” he said. “So I was able to have a friend care for and ride my young horse and everyone has been so great in helping me.”
As for his position with Fox-Pitt Eventing, Andrew will be helping out with riding and exercising horses, all under William’s tutelage.
“It sounds like the community there is very close-knit, family-like,” he said. “I think it will be a good fit for me. There don’t seem to be a lot of ‘rankings,’ and no one feels they are higher up than the others. I think we’ll all have our own roles working towards the main goal. Karen thought my style and personality would suit that program well, so it really seems like it will be a good match.”
We’re thrilled for Andrew as he embarks on his new journey next week, and are equally excited to announce that he has agreed to write some guest blogs for EN during his stay. Happy trails, Andrew!
This video has resurfaced after its original posting a few years ago, and we just couldn’t resist sharing it with you. When it comes to jumping, accuracy is of utmost importance. You need to keep your horse in between your aids in order to achieve straightness, which translates into a clean jump.
Lt. Col. Rajesh Pattu is a member of the Indian Cavalry and also an event rider who has competed in the Asian Games with the horse shown above, Shahzada. This trick was set up for a book Lt. Col. Pattu was writing on cavalry, and it truly shows off accuracy at its finest.
While we wouldn’t recommend trying this at home, it is pretty cool to watch! How do you think your horse would react to this question?
The United States Equestrian Federation has released a statement in response to the most recent proposed changes to eventing set forth by the FEI.
The formal response is as follows:
“As a community and a sport we are faced with a difficult challenge,” stated the USEF. “We are faced with a call for change but without definitive goals to achieve. Change for the sake of change is a dangerous proposition. We need to know where we are trying to get to before we can take effective steps to get there. The promised feedback from the IOC following the 2015 Sports Forum agreement is still awaited.
We are open to change for the sake of improving the sport of eventing, remaining in the Olympics, etc. but in the current environment it feels like we are tweaking the edges not changing the sport and we do not know if that is going to achieve the intended result.
It is felt that the “Presentation” of eventing is where greatest strides can be made. A new name will change little if the sport is not effectively presented. What can be learnt from other sports; for example sailing, who changed very little (apart from double points for the Medal Race) but fundamentally changed how their sport was presented during the Games. Better use of technology, exciting commentary from athletes and celebrities, use of cameras on horses etc. are all areas that need looking at.”
The USEF has also countered the FEI’s proposals with their support or explanation of why they do not support each item:
Three horse/rider combinations per team; plus a reserve: Not Supported
“This would make the sport about completion and not about competition. The statistics show very clearly that if there are 3 in the Team for cross-country with no drop score either a significant number of Teams will not complete or the cross-country will be dumbed down to an extent that the very essence of eventing is destroyed.”
Removal of the drop score: Not Supported
“In addition to the points outlined above, awarding points to horses that do not complete and/or allowing them to show jump only makes the scoring more complicated. It does not help simplify the presentation of the sport.”
Dressage in one day: Supported
“Consider shortening the test by removing the collective marks and the first halt.”
Cross-Country in one day: Supported
Jumping tests Individual and Team in one day: Supported
“We support the concept of jumping all team members consecutively, but not having them all in the arena at the same time. The team members should jump in reverse order of standing within the team. This would make the final phase and the medal decisions much easier to understand for the general public. We feel strongly that the Team medals should be decided before the individuals.”
“We support the teams jumping in reverse order of merit in the standings after the cross-country. We feel the Team Jumping round should be before the Individual as the “mean” of the standard of the Team will be lower than the “mean” of the top 20 or 25 Individuals. Furthermore, we would not want athletes not jumping in the Individual in order to save themselves for the Team (i.e. those not in contention for an Individual medal).”
Name Change: Not Supported
“Jumping and dressage are single names for the discipline and we cannot have Triathlon as a single name for eventing (Equestrian is the Sport, Dressage / Jumping / Eventing are the disciplines / events). We would fully support the FEI seeking advice on how to more effectively promote and brand Eventing.”
“The name “Equestrian Triathlon” has been proposed. Is it the name that needs changing or is it that the equestrian community has never completely embraced the change from horse trials to eventing? It is not the name but the promotion of the identity of the sport, which is linked to that name, which is more important. Is adopting a new name going to change anything or just further divide the community and confuse the public?”
The action is still going at the $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational at Southern Cross Equestrian in Ocala, but there was plenty of excitement happening in yesterday’s warm-up rounds.
The rounds were still pinned, and Daisy Trayford with Normandy Soldier were the big winners over Marc Donovan’s tough track. Many riders brought multiple horses to sharpen up their show jumping, which kept The Horse Pesterer very busy!
You can visit Thehorsepesterer on YouTube to view all the videos from yesterday, but here is a small selection for you. And don’t forget, you can catch the live stream for today’s Prix right here on EN!
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How eventers catch naptime. Doug Payne demonstrates a quick dog nap in between rides. Photo via Doug on Instagram.
It’s getting busy out there! Everywhere you look, eventers are gearing up for the high time of spring season — what with the Eventing Prix today, Red Hills this weekend and countless other events and shows around the country, we’re ecstatic to be in full competition mode. As Doug Payne demonstrates above, though, it’s always important to make sure you’re getting enough rest. Way to lay down on the job, Doug, we applaud you.
Events Opening This Week:
Holly Hill Spring H.T. (LA, A-5), River Glen Spring H.T. (TN, A-3), Sporting Days Farm Horse Trials III (SC, A-3), Heart of the Carolinas 3-Day Event & H.T. (SC, A-3), CHC International at Chattahoochee Hills (GA, A-3), Longleaf Pine H.T. (NC, A-2), Fair Hill International H.T. (MD, A-2), The Event Derby & Clinics at Fresno County Horse Park (CA, A-6)
Events Closing Today:
Carolina International CIC and Horse Trial (NC, A-2), Stable View Winter Horse Trials II (SC, A-3), MeadowCreek Park – The Spring Social Event (TX, A-5), Poplar Place Farm March H.T. (GA, A-3)
News & Notes:
In response to an unprecedented number of FEI entries at this year’s Carolina International and with the desire to accommodate all riders, an additional day of CIC 3*, 2* and 1* dressage will take place on Wednesday, March 23rd. No further FEI entries will be accepted after the event closing date of Tuesday, March 8th. However, they will continue to accept national horse trials entries after the closing date. [Carolina International]
Kentucky Equine Research and EN are teaming up to host the Great KER Fitness Challenge this spring! Download the free KER ClockIt Sport app for your phone and record your rides for a chance to win a $100 gift card to shop.kerx.com, an EcoGold Secure XC Saddle Pad, a lesson with your choice of Bruce Davidson, Liz Halliday-Sharp, or Dom or Jimmie Schramm; and feature story about you and your horse on EN. [Contest Details]
Don’t forget — this week we’re teaming up with Equi Belts to give away a beautiful belt to a lucky winner! Just check out this week’s Fab Freebie for details on how to enter. We’ll announce the winner in Friday’s News & Notes! [Fab Freebie: Equi Belts]
Mid-South Eventing and Dressage Association is hosting a Party In the Park for its second year on Friday April 29. Coinciding with Rolex, the party will feature live music, a hosted beer and wine bar, free food and a silent auction. Pre-registration will be available soon and the MSEDA is also accepting items for its silent auction. All proceeds will benefit renovation of the Kentucky Horse Park’s dressage complex. [Mid-South Eventing & Dressage Association]
Do you know of a great local eventing organization? EN wants to show them some love! Email [email protected] and tell us about your local organization. We’re looking to spotlight associations that run low level and schooling horse trials in upcoming feature articles. Go Local Eventing!
Does your horse have an inspiring story about coming back from a serious injury or illness? OCD Pellets wants to hear all about it! Send in your rehab to [email protected] for a chance to win an OCD prize pack (2-month supply of OCD Pellets, 1-month supply of COS Canine, and an OCD Pellets hat and T-shirt). Entries close Monday, May 2, 2016, and the story that receives the most views on EN will win. [Contest Details]
Tuesday Video:
Carolina International will feature some excellent live coverage from EQSportsNet! Here’s a great promo video to get you excited:
Photo courtesy of Colorado Horse Park
Colorado Horse Park will begin the 2016 season with a bang with numerous facility upgrades and more competition opportunities for riders. Located in Colorado, the Horse Park will also host the Nutrena American Eventing Championships per the latest agreement with the USEA.
Meg Krueger has been appointed to the position of Chief Operating Officer, and the brains behind the facility are excited to have more on tap for one of the crown jewels of equestrian sport in the middle of the country.
“It is an honor to be a part of the expansion process of this facility and I am looking forward to bringing my knowledge and expertise to The Colorado Horse Park during this transition process,”Meg said in a USEA release. “We are motivated to enhance this iconic facility to its full potential and I’m eager to begin working with our team to create a successful and enjoyable atmosphere for our exhibitors and spectators.”
“We feel that there is incredible opportunity for this facility as we begin the expansion and restructuring process at The Colorado Horse Park,” Mark Bellissimo, managing partner of Colorado Equestrian Partners, said. “Meg’s leadership skills and vast experience in both horse show management and business relations make her a perfect fit to oversee our plans for this facility.”
Improvements on the list for the year include footing and arena improvement, upgrades to the cross-country course and updated facilities. There will also be improvements made to aid with traffic flow.
For eventers, the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships are slated to be held at Colorado Horse Park in July, along with a CCI*/2* and CIC*/2* in June. You can view more information and dates here.
Since training with Boyd Martin and Richard Picken you can already see the improvement
Posted by Avery Klunick on Monday, March 7, 2016
Here’s a good Monday laugh for you. Avery Klunick had a shining moment at AECs in 2014 when she pulled off an incredible save aboard In It To Win It. This winter, she’s taken up riding with Boyd Martin in Aiken, and she’s been working hard on her show jumping.
This morning, Avery posted this video to her Facebook with a hilarious caption and even better end result. Certainly worth a laugh, and we’d like to thank Avery for graciously allowing us to have a laugh at her expense! It’s all good, Avery. We can’t save them all!
The “sort of OK show about horses with Buck and Kyle” has met with appreciative response from fans all over the country. What more could you want? Two experienced horseman talking about the subjects they know most about, with more than a few puns inserted throughout — pretty perfect.
The latest episode features Buck Davidson and Kyle Carter chatting about Red Hills, one of the biggest spring events on the calendar in Tallahassee, Florida, as well as tomorrow’s big-ticket Eventing Prix (which you’ll be able to live stream right here on EN!) and much more.
If you can’t attend the Eventing Prix or Red Hills, never fear, as Jenni will be on the ground providing commentary and coverage on the Eventing Prix and full reporting from Red Hills. Keep it locked right here, EN!
Photo courtesy of EquiBelts.
It’s that time again! Time to up your style game with this week’s Fab Freebie, presented by EquiBelts. These belts combine fashion with function — truly a description every eventer can relate to:
EquiBelts are made from a soft, stretchy, woven material. Unlike other belts, the belts prevent sores, bruises, and discomfort. EquiBelts’ goal is to provide style and confidence to every rider, in the ring or out! From the classic black and white to red, white, and blue, they have a design to match every occasion.
So with that in mind, we’re teaming up with EquiBelts this week to give away a design of the winner’s choice! Simply use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter, and we’ll announce the winner in Friday’s News & Notes.
Disclaimer: Information given in the Rafflecopter widget, including email addresses, may be shared with the corresponding sponsor at their request. You will also be signed up for our weekly EN eNews email newsletter, if you aren’t already. Don’t worry — you’ll just wonder what you’ve been missing out on — and you can unsubscribe if you don’t want it.
Tanisha Ryan, Sean Cubbitt and Olivia Inglis celebrate a top team finish at Wallaby Hill Equestrian Extravaganza.
EN has confirmed further details about the fatal accident that claimed the life of 17-year-old Olivia Inglis yesterday at Scone Horse Trials in New South Wales, Australia. Equestrian Australia confirmed to EN that the rotational fall occurred at the B element of the eighth fence on the CNC2* course, which was a vertical set four strides to an oxer.
Olivia was competing in her second CNC2* competition aboard Coriolanus, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by her family. She had previously competed multiple times at the one-star level with the horse. While Equestrian Australia originally told EN the horse was uninjured, it was later announced that he was euthanized due to a fracture in his neck.
“The jump judge, who is very experienced, said the horse approached well — not going too fast or out of control — and that the rider was riding quite well,” Judy Fasher, Equestrian Australia Chair, told EN. “Unfortunately, the horse left a leg at the oxer, and unfortunately (the horse) fell on Olivia.”
The jump judge attempted CPR at the scene of the accident, and the on-site medical staff and Westpac rescue helicopter service arrived shortly thereafter to assist. Olivia was unable to be revived.
The Eventing Nation family continues to send our deepest condolences to Olivia’s friends and family members.
This post has been updated to include the new information that Coriolanus was later euthanized.
Want to know even more about Mary and Emily King? This dynamic mother-daughter duo is an eventing fan favorite, and they’ve graciously participated in a two-part behind the scenes video series with Badminton Horse Trials.
Along those lines, we can’t wait to see the entries for Badminton begin to file in as we look ahead to the first European CCI4*. We know of a couple of U.S. pairs who have submitted their entries, so we’ll be keeping you updated on the latest entry status.
To catch up on part one of the Mary and Emily King series, click here.
Many horses and riders were getting in final preps for Red Hills this weekend, while others were ramping up to begin their seasons in earnest at Rocking Horse Winter III. RNS Video was out on course to capture the action and have released a three-part video montage of the water jump on the Intermediate course.
Catch all three parts and tell us whose ride was your favorite!
It got down to the wire in Athens at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Show jumping was a nail biter for both the team and individual competition, and we’ve got some great footage from the final phase thanks to our YouTube friend, harveywetdog.
We’ve previously shared videos from the cross country phase of competition, now here is a great way to spend your Saturday as you relive the Olympic magic and get pumped for Rio 2016!
Rebecca Farm in the Flathead Valley. Photo by Chesna Klimek.
It began as a dream for Rebecca Broussard. She wanted to bring the sport of eventing to the rolling hills and picturesque setting of Montana, and Rebecca’s husband, Jerome, cultivated that dream until the Event at Rebecca Farm became a reality. Now, in Rebecca’s memory, her legacy continues to live on in one of the premier destination events North America has to offer.
Originally from Louisiana, Rebecca and Jerome chose to relocate to Montana in the mid-1980s. “It was a chosen move,” Jerome said. “There’s a certain ambiance about the west and the people that is very comforting to me. Even though it’s a developing area, there is still a spirit of independence and friendliness.”
Montana became the site on which Rebecca’s dream began to take shape. She originally was very involved with eventing at Heron Park, but county restrictions made it difficult for the sport to grow uninhibited. “It was a small county park with all the restrictions that would hang on a county park,” Jerome explained. “(Rebecca) decided she wanted her own place to grow the sport. It sounds strange in northwest Montana to try to grow eventing, but that’s what she wanted to do.”
In 2000, Rebecca and Jerome pieced together the property that would become Rebecca Farm. There, Rebecca could truly begin to build her dream, which she did in earnest. “The first year, we probably had 200 competitors and ran through Intermediate,” Jerome recalled. “By the time we got to 2010, we were holding two- and three-star competitions, so Becky was able to see the sport grow from Beginner Novice at Heron Park to a pretty classy venue for eventing.”
“There is a limit on how much you can put into a facility when you don’t own it — we didn’t have that limit.”
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum at Rebecca Farm 2015. Photo by Sally Spickard.
A Continuing Legacy
Rebecca lost her battle with cancer in 2010, a loss that dealt an emotional blow to the eventing community. In her memory, the Broussard family initiated the Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider grants the following year, funding them with a generous $250,000 gift to the United States Eventing Association Endowment Trust spread over five years. The grant are designed to financially support riders who have the potential to represent the U.S. at the national and international levels.
While the grants were originally intended to continue for five years, ending in 2015, Jerome announced at the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention this past December that he would continue funding them.
“The thing we wanted to do was to champion a cause,” Jerome said. “Becky wanted to see more effort put into bringing along competitive riders who could compete on the international scene. I think the committee has done a good job, we have a few people that they chose who are rising stars, such as Tamie (Smith) and Matt (Brown).”
“I announced at the meeting in December that I was going to continue the grant forward and continue to do so as long as I felt that it was doing what it should. I’ll do it in two-year blocks, so we’re going to keep that rolling and keep doing the travel grants to bring people (to compete at Rebecca Farm). I think it’s working.”
“I think if you asked any of the riders (who have received a grant), they will say it had an impact on their career,” he continued. “The recognition — more so than the money — was enough to make them believe in themselves.”
Kurt Martin and Delux Z. Photo by Sally Spickard.
If You Build It, They Will Come
Thanks to the diligent upkeep and forward-thinking vision of the Broussard family, the Event at Rebecca Farm continues to attract hundreds of competitors each year. Despite the long travel required to get to the venue, competitors and spectators continue to show up in droves. The original dream of growing the sport — even in a remote location — has undoubtedly come to fruition.
Even following Rebecca’s passing, Jerome and his daughters, Sarah and Rebecca, continue to carry the torch. “Whatever comes up that we need to address, we take care of,” Jerome said. “We’re adding another arena for this year so that all divisions have the opportunity to compete on improved footing, which we weren’t able to do before; we had to have some dressage on sand and not on the better footing. I also want to expand a couple of the arenas in size. We’ll also do some things to improve stabling as well as traffic flow.”
Photo courtesy of Seaborn Larson/Daily Interlake Photo
A Community Ripple Effect
A recently released report showed the strong economic impact the Event at Rebecca Farm has on the surrounding community in Kalispell. The study, led by the University of Montana Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, estimates the economic impact of the 2015 event at $4.4 million. With 10,000 attendees and 600 horses, the numbers speak for themselves when it comes to being a community attraction.
Additionally, the Broussard family has generously contributed to other areas of the community, including a $4 million gift to build the Rebecca Chaney Broussard Center for Nursing & Health Science at Flathead Valley Community College in 2012.
“Becky was a nurse, and Flathead Valley Community College is an integral part of the community,” Jerome said. “We have always been supporters of the school. We also endowed a $1 million dollar scholarship there.”
“Before Becky died, she said the building of a state-of-the-art nursing facility was something we should support. Community colleges do not receive state funding, so I thought it would be a nice place to make a donation. The $4 million really helped them finish the building and have the equipment to make it a truly first class building right from the start. I don’t know that you’ll find a nicer facility than what they have there.”
The Halt Cancer at X initiative was also spearheaded in Becky’s honor. Marking its fourth year running in 2015, the organization awarded $71,500 to one national and three local organizations to help the fight against breast cancer.
Another picturesque view of Rebecca Farm. Photo by Kelsy Smith.
Keeping the Dream
The Broussard family’s efforts are a labor of love. Rebecca’s contributions to the sport continue to be recognized, culminating most recently with an induction into the USEA Hall of Fame in 2015.
“The recognition of what Becky has done over her lifetime is extremely well deserved,” Jerome said. “She’s been involved in the sport as a volunteer, owner, organizing — the whole spectrum.”
“This was her dream, but it was also a family dream. Sarah participates, Rebecca participates, my family, Becky’s family — it’s a family affair. We try not to let it consume us, but it’s a lot of fun. I’m very passionate about it, and I love the people. The week before the event is my favorite time of year. Everyone enjoys the atmosphere and western ambiance that we provide, and it makes me feel good. And I know it makes Becky feel good, too.”
Lauren Billys and Castle Larchfield Purdy. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart.
Lauren Billys and Castle Larchfield Purdy picked up a wire to wire win in the CIC3* at Twin Rivers this weekend, coming home a few seconds over time but nonetheless taking home the blue on a final score of 60.9.
Lauren and “Purdy”, owned by the Purdy Syndicate LLC, capped off a successful 2015 with a top-10 finish in the CIC3* at Galway Downs in the fall and began their 2016 season with a second place finish in the CIC2* at Fresno last month. She is currently making a bid to represent Puerto Rico in Rio this summer and has put herself on the map with consistent results, including a top-20 individual finish at the Pan American Games last year.
Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart.
Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against — who have confirmed that they are aiming for a return to Rolex this year! — finished the weekend in second, with Andrea Baxter and Indy 500 and Barb Crabo with Eveready rounding out the field.
Mackenna Shea and Landioso. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart.
In the Advanced division, it was Mackenna Shea and Landioso who were the big winners, finishing on a final score of 51.0 with four penalties added to their dressage score. This pair is off to a rocking start this year, finishing second in their first run of the season in the Intermediate at Fresno.
Tamie Smith and Loughnatousa Caislean. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart.
Tamie Smith and Loughnatousa Caislean, owned by Bailey Moran, finished second in the Advanced. This was Tamie’s second time competing “Leo”, who will return back to Bailey so that the pair can gain more experience at the level together.
Tamie also occupies the third and fourth spots on the board with Kevin Baumgardner’s Wembley and also Twizted Syster, who is making her return back to competition this spring for the first time since last April. We’re thrilled to see this powerhouse of a mare back out on the scene!
Twin Rivers Winter H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]
We hope you're ready for more insanity in the middle at EN's annual Rolex tailgate!
It’s that time of year again! The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is drawing closer and closer — 57 days, if you’re counting — and we’re chomping at the figurative bit to get to Kentucky and see this year’s competition go down on April 27-May 1 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Who’s excited?
In last year’s victory press conference, Michael Jung was asked whether or not he planned to return in 2016. In as many words, he said that he would love to return. Will he hold true to those coy words, or is he simply toying with our hearts? We shall see as the entry list begins to populate.
We’re thrilled to once again be planning extensive coverage and more insanity than Chinch can possibly handle this year. We’ve got even more tricks up our sleeve for EN’s fourth annual “Insanity In the Middle” Rolex Tailgate Presented by World Equestrian Brands, as well as loads of up-to-the-minute coverage featuring all things #RK3DE.
EN party people of America!
If you haven’t purchased your Rolex tickets yet, tomorrow is the last day to buy tickets before prices go up. Follow this link to buy your tickets at the lower advanced sale prices: www.RK3DE.org/tickets
We’ll be launching our Rolex entry list updates and annual Rolex Rookies series in the coming weeks, as well as unveiling more about the tailgate and sponsor contests, so keep it locked right here on EN for the best Rolex coverage the internet has to offer. Just ask Chinch — he’s pulling loads of overtime trying to put the master plan together. Don’t worry, we pay him handsomely in tiny beers.
Go Eventing, and we’ll see you in Kentucky!
Rolex Links: Website, Tickets, Schedule, EN’s Coverage
Super pony is back! Photo courtesy of Beth Davidson.
Guess who’s back! Super pony Forrest Nymph was safely delivered back to Sinead Halpin by her owner, Beth Davidson, over the weekend after recovering from some broken ribs sustained from getting cast. We’re thrilled to see that “Farrah” is back in work and can’t wait to see this dynamic duo back out competing. Stay tuned for more Farrah updates!
Events Opening This Week:
FENCE H.T. (SC, A-3), Ocala Horse Properties International 3-Day Festival of Eventing (FL, A-3), Twin Rivers Spring Three-Day Event & H.T. (CA, A-6), St. Johns H.T. (AZ, A-10), Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event (KY, A-8), Plantation Field April Horse Trials (PA, A-2)
Events Closing Today:
Pine Top Spring H.T. (GA, A-3), Feather Creek Farm H.T. (OK, A-5), Copper Meadows Winter H.T. (CA, A-6)
News & Notes:
Does your horse have an inspiring story about coming back from a serious injury or illness? OCD Pellets wants to hear all about it! Send in your rehab to [email protected] for a chance to win an OCD prize pack (2-month supply of OCD Pellets, 1-month supply of COS Canine, and an OCD Pellets hat and T-shirt). Entries close Monday, May 2, 2016, and the story that receives the most views on EN will win. [Contest Details]
Don’t forget to enter this week’s Fab Freebie from Lucky 7 Socks! One very “lucky” reader will receive three pairs of Lucky 7 Socks. Entries close on Friday at midnight EST! [Fab Freebie: Lucky 7 Socks]
As the final North American Rio Olympic qualifier, Twin Rivers is definitely an event to watch this spring. In an effort to support the costs of running the event, a silent auction is being held to raise funds. There are some really cool items up for auction, including an egg produced by a breeding with the beautiful mare, Kristi Nunnink’s R-Star! The auction is open now, but time is running out as it closes on March 3. [Twin Rivers Silent Auction]
Area II is now offering what many are dubbing the “Lower Level Triple Crown of Eventing”. The new Carolina Eventing Challenge is offered for Beginner Novice through Preliminary levels, and is being organized by the Carolina Horse Park and the Heart of the Carolinas Three-Day Event. The three-part series is open to juniors, amateurs and pros and is a great way to get competitive at any level. [Carolina Eventing Challenge]
Tuesday Video:
This is a pretty cool flyover of Bouckaert Farm, home of Chattahoochee Hills Eventing!
What does jumping look like from the perspective of the object being jumped? Tredstep recently undertook this question, and the result is a pretty neat video. 360 Thrill made this video with the help of eventer Sarah Ennis, and it definitely puts jumping into a different perspective.
Now, we’d love to see this perspective for cross country! Who’s with us?
Graphics courtesy of Lucky 7 Socks.
If Buck Davidson can have lucky socks, then why shouldn’t you? That’s the theme of this week’s Fab Freebie, brought to us by Lucky 7 Socks.
Lucky 7 Socks start their lives as art — art made by human hands putting color on paper. There’s creativity and playfulness and love designed into every sock, and it all starts with the horse.
Designed in Vermont by life-long horse lover and artist, Kristen Slade, each sock starts with a story in her mind about a real or imagined horse. She then paints small, colorful paintings to illustrate the story.
These paintings become the basis for the sock graphics. Knitted using a technique called intarsia, each different color in the knitted socks is a separate strand of fine-gauge, cotton-rich yarn, making the designs seem like painting with yarn.
These knee socks are built to stay up! The knitted structure of Lucky 7 Socks incorporates a nearly-invisible stretchable thread on the inside of the knitting that allows them to stay up comfortably on your legs, and stretch to accommodate varied foot and leg sizes, as well as being pulled over breeches, casual leggings, and tights.
Graphic courtesy of Lucky 7 Socks.
Lucky 7 Socks are high-quality, cotton-rich socks feature colorful, original designs that appeal to every horse person, no matter what your discipline. Your love of horses colors every part of your life.
Thanks to Lucky 7 Socks, these exclusive and artful designs could be yours! We are giving away three pairs of Lucky 7 Socks to this week’s winner. And, if you just can’t wait, EN readers can also take advantage of a special offer to receive free shipping on all orders during the month of March. Simply use the code ENFREE at checkout.
You can find out more about these socks by clicking here. In the meantime, don’t forget to enter this week’s Fab Freebie! The winner will be announced in Friday’s News & Notes, with entries closing at midnight on Thursday. Good luck!
Disclaimer: Information given in the Rafflecopter widget, including email addresses, may be shared with the corresponding sponsor at their request. You will also be signed up for our weekly EN eNews email newsletter, if you aren’t already. Don’t worry — you’ll just wonder what you’ve been missing out on — and you can unsubscribe if you don’t want it.
Marilyn Little and Corona. Photo courtesy of kwikturn media.
It was a big weekend for Marilyn Little, who has been making her return to the Grand Prix ring with much success this winter. After picking up a win in Wellington earlier this month, Marilyn competed at Live Oak International over the weekend, winning the $35,000 CSI3* on Friday and the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Qualifier yesterday.
Marilyn won the World Cup Qualifier aboard Corona, the same horse she won in Wellington with. Corona is a 12-year-old Hanoverian mare whom Marilyn has owned for a year.
The World Cup Qualifier is used to qualify riders for the FEI World Cup Finals in Sweden next month, and Marilyn was the quickest of seven riders in the jump off with a time of 43.34.
“I think that eventing makes me sharper here,” Marilyn told the press after her big win. “There are things I feel I do better now than I did before I evented. I wouldn’t trade those things for anything and I think that being here in the show jumping ring also allows me to stay sharp for what I hope is coming in eventing.”
Marilyn Little and Corona celebrate their win. Photo courtesy of Pics of You.
Corona was also the mount tapped to win the $35,000 Live Oak International CSI3* on Friday, finishing the jump off in a time of 35.38. A rail down from the faster Adam Prudent meant that Marilyn gathered the win.
With Live Oak hoping to bring eventing to its calendar, this is a great example of the versatility of a great venue. The facility has proposed a CIC3* on its calendar to run on March 11 and 12, 2017. This would add even more color to the already diversified competition calendar that includes both combined driving and show jumping.
Friends of EN Jennie Brannigan and Hannah Sue Burnett caught up with both Marilyn and Karen O’Connor after the show was over yesterday in an exclusive interview, which you can watch below.
“The last year had a lot of highs, some lows, but that is horses,” Marilyn said. “But also some really great moments, and this is one of them. It’s really a pleasure to be back here show jumping and good horses make it so much fun.”
“(Corona) is a horse that’s kind of having a second career, she’s coming back into it and I think she’s really enjoying it and I’m really enjoying her.”
Additionally, Marilyn also picked up fourth place in Friday’s CSI3* aboard Clearwater, a 9-year-old Holsteiner mare who evented through the one-star level in Europe before joining Marilyn’s string.
Marilyn Little’s return to her show jumping roots continues to make waves! This weekend she claimed victory at Live Oak…
Posted by Eventing Nation on Sunday, February 28, 2016
Kylie Lyman and Lillian Heard were the big winners of the Advanced divisions at Pine Top, bravely tackling Derek di Grazia’s big course (did you see those hammocks??) to really kick their seasons into high gear.
Thanks to the Horse Pesterer, we can take a look at some cross country from some of the top finishers of the Advanced divisions. You can check out EN’s full report on the Advanced here.
