Become an Eventing Nation BloggerKylie 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.
Photo by Sally Spickard.
As the eventing season gets into full swing, there are plenty of opportunities to help out at your local events. Volunteers are the backbone of the sport, as most events are virtually entirely reliant on the work of volunteers to keep things running smoothly.
In this new series, we’ll be providing some tips on what to expect for various volunteers roles. There are many shoes to fill as a volunteer, and the great thing is that each position allows you to gain insight and learn more about how the sport of eventing works.
If you have never volunteered before, I strongly encourage you to. Many times, volunteers get perks such as cross country schooling credit (I definitely used mine!), but most importantly there is always something to learn. Even if you have never volunteered in a specific position, someone is always willing to teach you.
I recently had the opportunity to volunteer at the Florida Horse Park as a ring steward. I worked under the watchful eyes of Beth Davidson and Kari Rankin, who are seasoned volunteers who know their jobs well.
This was my first time ring stewarding, so I am sure I am missing many aspects of the job. For that reason, please fill in my blanks in the comments with your tips and advice when it comes to ring stewarding.
1. Be prepared for a long day.
This can be said for any volunteer position! The hours are long and often in the hot sun or other uncomfortable elements. Check the weather forecast and be sure to dress appropriately. Most events provide drinks and sometimes lunches for volunteers, but it’s wise to pack your own snacks and drinks as well. Hydration is key!
2. Put a smile on your face.
At the in gate, riders are often nervous about their tests or dealing with fractious horses. The volunteers checking the riders in are a symbol of organization, not stress. No matter how many warm-ups you’re running or how many rings are going at once, it is your job to communicate calmness and politeness to all riders.
3. Get your loud voice ready.
Ring stewards are often tasked with the job of keeping riders informed of where they stand in the order of go. While it is also the rider’s responsibility to check in and know when their time is, they also need to focus on warming their horse up. This may mean that you have to chase down a rider who is on deck who is warming up far away, but that rider will thank you for not missing their time!
4. Brush up on the rule book.
Typically there will be a veteran assisting with bit checks and stewarding. However, a working knowledge of the rule book is necessary for this position as you need to know what bits are illegal and how long a rider’s spurs and whip can be. Having to constantly ask for verification can take more time than necessary when checking a rider in. That being said, of course, it is always appropriate to err on the side of caution and ask someone if you are not sure of the legality of a piece of equipment.
5. Keep an eye out.
At the event at which I volunteered, a rider was let into the ring with her boots still on her horse. Sadly, this resulted in elimination. Again, while it is the rider’s responsibility to ensure their horses are dressed to standard, the volunteers serve as another pair of eyes who can be on the lookout for something amiss. When you’re watching a horse head into the ring, make sure you do a cursory check of the legs to make sure the rider didn’t forget to take off their boots!
6. Always be courteous.
There will be instances where a rider or coach (or parent) is insistent and hovering around your station. This can be overwhelming, but remember you are dealing with a lot of nerves and, many times, riders who are on very tight schedules. While you cannot necessarily change a schedule to accommodate someone, always be polite and courteous when it comes to concerns. You want to leave a good impression while also maintaining order in the warm-ups.
Stay tuned for more tips on other volunteer positions, and feel free to send us your advice by commenting or emailing [email protected]. Go Eventing!
Ardall's first time jumping. I thinks he needs to keep his hands down !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Ronan Rothwell on Friday, February 26, 2016
Well, this is certainly one way to get your horse used to a rider while jumping. This video is making its rounds on social media at the moment, and it features a dummy riding a very game horse while going through some simple jumping exercises.
In the initial view of the video, it’s easy to think that the “person” is, in fact, real — until you see the bouncing hands and unsteady torso and wonder if this rider is feeling alright.
As the caption states — and we agree — the rider definitely needs to lower his hands!
Posted by Lainey Ashker on Friday, February 26, 2016
If you’re looking for some more gymnastic work to up your training ante this winter (which is almost over!), Laine Ashker has been a good resource for ideas. She’s posted a couple more simple exercises that you can set up at home.
These exercises are good at any height — even with just poles on the ground — and can be low impact enough to do often without worrying about wear and tear on your horse.
For more #GOTD exercise ideas, check out this post and this one as well.
Andrew Nicholson and Avebury. Photo by Adam Dale.
Great news, EN! In a new interview with the New Zealand Herald, Andrew Nicholson has confirmed that he has his sights set on competing at Badminton this year. After a fall at Gatcombe last year, Andrew underwent surgery and ongoing rehab for a neck injury. In the words of his surgeon, Dr. Jeremy Reynolds, his chances of this good of a recovery were less than “winning the lottery with a single ticket.”
Andrew is now back in the saddle, and if all goes well at his next check in with the doctor, he will begin training in earnest for a return to Badminton.
“I’m seeing my surgeon at the start of March for an X-ray,” Andrew told the New Zealand Herald. “If he’s happy, I’ll start competing next month or April. However, riding is easy. Hitting the ground is the tricky bit. I don’t ride as many horses and have offloaded about 15 out of 30. I still ride about eight a day in dressage or jumping.”
Andrew has three horses on the radar for Badminton: Nereo, Avebury and a newer ride, Jet Set. As a part of his rehab, Andrew has been working with physiotherapist Don Gatherer in order to continue building strength in the area of injury.
“He’s been doing full-on work with my neck and shoulders,” Andrew said. “I’ve had a harness put on my head, which is pulled tight with elastic bungy ropes. The idea is to do it using the more delicate muscles as part of the strengthening process. Don’s contraption is also used to test neck strength for rugby front-rowers.”
You can read the full interview with Andrew over on the New Zealand Herald here. We continue to wish Andrew the best in his continued recovery and look forward to seeing him back out competing soon.
Kylie Lyman and Da Vinci Code. Photo by ED/HoofClix.com.
Kylie Lyman put her big girl britches on today to tackle Derek di Grazia’s beefy Pine Top Advanced cross country course aboard Da Vinci Code, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Joan Nichols. And tackle she did, picking up just 5.2 time penalties on the horse’s first Advanced course to finish first in the Advanced Test B division.
While being the first at the level for Da Vinci Code, this is also Kylie’s first run at Advanced in four years. “On cross country he answered all of the questions easily and I couldn’t have asked for a better ride. He was absolutely perfect,” Kylie said.
Kylie and her daughter, Emily, share a moment at Pine Top. Photo via Kylie Lyman.
It was a move up weekend for this pair, who finished the dressage phase in eighth place with a score of 31.5. A double clear show jumping effort moved them into fifth and their quick and clear cross country run sealed the deal on the win.
“Overall I was pleased with his dressage test, but there’s definitely a lot I’m looking forward to improving on as we both get more comfortable at this next level,” Kylie said. “In the show jumping he put in a solid effort for me and is naturally very careful, so although I had moments where I could have been more patient, he was amazing.”
Kylie has collected quite the impressive string of talent, having brought home three horses in the top 20 of the CCI2* at Fair Hill last fall. From here, she’ll move forward to Carolina International and The Fork as she looks to continue building confidence in all of her horses.
Allison Springer and Cascani. Photo by ED/HoofClix.com.
Allison Springer and Cascani, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Mary Ann Ghadban, finished their Pine Top weekend in second in the Advanced B division. This was also a step up for Cascani, making his debut at the Advanced level. This pair finished on a final score of 43.7 with just time on cross country added to their dressage score.
“I was really pleased with his first Advanced test,” Allison said. “I went out on cross country with the intention of being forward thinking, and I was happy with both of my horses.”
Allison also had Mr Sydney Rocks out this weekend, who made quick work of the cross country today to finish in 10th overall. Both horses will head to Carolina International for the CIC3* next, where they’ll meet up with Allison’s veteran partner, Arthur. Allison is excited to see where the season will take Cascani, who she believes has much talent to spare.
“He’s aiming for the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh,” Allison said. “I think this is a horse that can be very competitive. He’s a snaffle ride in all three phases. His trot has changed a ton since last year but he has a heck of a trot in there. It’s just going to be about keeping him confident, and I think he’ll be a winning horse.”
Emily Beshear and Shame On the Moon. Photo by HoofClix.com.
Completing the top three in the Advanced B are Emily Beshear and Shame On the Moon, a 10-year-old Trakehner/Thoroughbred mare owned by Deep Purple Eventing. “Delta” is aimed at her first CCI4* in Kentucky this year, and will also head to Carolina and The Fork as the remaining stops on her prep tour.
“I was thrilled with how she ran cross country,” Emily commented. “I need to do a little fine tuning in the show jumping as she has gotten so much better over the winter and I need to challenge her a little more in the ring.”
Lillian Heard and Share Option. Photo by SH/HoofClix.com.
There is one Mandatory Retirement on the board for this division: Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett. Thankfully, Ryan has confirmed to EN that both he and “Bennett” are fine after their tumble.
In the Advanced Test A division, it was Lillian Heard and Share Option who took home the top honors, leading from start to finish with just time on cross country to add. Holly Payne-Caravella and Santino finished in second place on a score of 54.4, followed by Holly’s second ride, Never OutFoxed on a 58.6.
Pine Top CIC & H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]
The CIC3* at Pine Top may have run in just a single day, but we’ve got plenty of videos to look back on to keep us entertained for quite awhile thanks to The Horse Pesterer!
You can catch up with our full coverage on the CIC3* here, and here are some videos of the action. Be sure to visit The Horse Pesterer on YouTube for much more.
Elisa Wallace and her infamous Mustang eventer Hwin at Rocking Horse Winter II. Photo courtesy of Amy Wright.
If there ever was “a horse of a different color,” Elisa Wallace certainly has her fair share. A particular gray BLM mustang mare in her barn has garnered national attention thanks to a great performance at the Mustang Magic in 2015. Now 7 years old, Hwin is making big strides as an event horse and has just made the step up to the Preliminary level.
“I never would have picked her as my event horse,” Elisa said with a laugh. “I remember my friends, who were also working with mustangs, would say, ‘That one is going to be your eventer,’ and I wasn’t so sure. But if you point her to a jump, she will always go and she really seems to enjoy it.”
Elisa started Hwin’s eventing career last year at the Novice level, completing four events at the level with three top-5 finishes. It seemed only natural, then, to challenge Hwin with a bigger track, so they moved up to Training level at Ocala in November, where they finished in seventh place.
“She’s definitely one that pays more respect to the bigger fences,” Elisa said. “When she gets bored, she will flatten out a bit, but when something gets her attention and she pays it respect you can really feel the power.”
Elisa acknowledges the big step that the move from Training to Prelim is, but she felt the challenge was well within Hwin’s, who stands just 14.2 hands, abilities. “It’s always tricky when you move one up to Prelim, let alone on a horse!” she said. “To do it on a pony, you increase your risk because you have to make the strides.”
Elisa tapped Rocking Horse Winter II as the first Prelim event for Hwin. While the course was certainly anything but soft, Rocking Horse is nonetheless known for having inviting early season tracks.
“When I took her stadium, she walked down the lines and made it through the triple easily, so I felt pretty good for cross country,” Elisa elaborated. “She’s always been pretty good about holding a line. I’ve jumped her enough that I know what she can do. The first Training level at Rocking Horse (this year) was pretty tough — it had bounce banks going up and all sorts of tough questions and she really enjoyed it.”
Elisa Wallace and Hwin share a momemt. Photo via Wallace Eventing.
“My thought process was, if I do this pretty beefy Training course and she is sucking back and getting squirrely, then I won’t do Prelim. But she walked through it and came off like, ‘What’s next? That was easy.’ She was the least spooky she’s ever been on a course.”
So it was on to the Preliminary level for the little mustang who could, and Elisa was more than pleased with the end result. “She made the time, even,” Elisa said. “That’s the tricky thing about her, I kind of have to gallop her to keep her focused anyway but I looked at my watch and realized we’d made the time. You just never know about moving them up. You can guess, but even the bravest and scopiest horses can chicken out on you sometimes. But I felt like she was legitimate and I don’t feel like it was scary.”
The flatwork has also proven to be within Hwin’s scope as well, especially as she continues to get stronger through her body. “With her, it’s a matter of tension,” Elisa explained. “She’s scored in the 20s at Novice and Training, and it felt like it wasn’t challenging enough for her. From the (mustang makeover), I had already put a lot of that training on her which helped.”
“She can do the dressage movements, it’s just a matter of keeping her brain happy. But she is quirky like that — you have to give her a challenge to keep her happy. The biggest hurdle with her is she can go from zero to 10. Sometimes, you can ask for a leg yield and she’ll just go completely sideways. So for her it will be about smoothing it out.”
Hwin went on to finish in sixth place in the Open Prelim division at Rocking Horse Winter II, finishing on her dressage score as the cherry on top of a successful weekend.
As for the early 2016 season, Elisa plans to have Hwin tag along wherever she takes her upper level horse, Simply Priceless. This includes a trip to Red Hills and potentially Carolina International, where Hwin will run Prelim if all goes according to plan.
“I would like to get her into a CIC1* soon and maybe shoot for the CCI1* at Rebecca Farm as we are thinking of making the trip out there. There are a lot of mustang connections in Montana, and I think it would be a really cool thing to do. But I will just keep doing what she tells me she wants to do, and we will see where we go from here.”
Caroline Martin and Center Stage, left, and Jenny Caras and Fernhill Fortitude at Fair Hill. Photos by Rare Air Eventing Photography.
It’s going to be a big year for young riders Caroline Martin and Jenny Caras, who have just been tapped to represent Team USA on the new Karen Stives Developing Rider Tour. This opportunity, supported by a $1 million gift from Olympian Karen Stives, will send Caroline and Jenny to both the CIC3* at Rockingham as well as the Under 25 CCI3* at Bramham this year.
Caroline Martin will compete Center Stage, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Caroline and Sherrie Martin, and Jenny Caras will compete her own Fernhill Fortitude, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. They’ll spend a month in Europe with Developing Rider coach Leslie Law in preparation for both events; Rockingham runs May 20-22 and Bramham June 9-12.
This will be a return trip for Caroline, who competed Quantum Solace at Bramham in 2015 during a brief stint in Europe. Both riders had breakout years in 2015, accumulating multiple clear cross country trips around some of the toughest North American events, including Fair Hill, Bromont and Jersey Fresh.
“I’m just in awe of the generosity that everybody has shown me and the faith that they’re putting in me by awarding me this money,” Jenny said. “It’s kind of a dream come true that I have people believe in me enough to put their faith behind me. I think this opportunity will make a world of a difference for my career.”
Caroline said its an honor to receive a grant named after a rider who “was a fierce competitor,” she also said she’s proud to be heading overseas on “Connor,” a horse she produced through the levels.
“This trip isn’t just about competing; it’s about making us better horsemen. This is going to improve us drastically. We’re going to learn under the pressure of representing the United States, so it’s a good preparation for the next step, which would be competing on the senior team,” Caroline said.
“We’re really fortunate that we have this grant because the Bramham U25 is the highlight for U25 riders in the world,” Martin attested. “This is the most important competition we have. Sending U25 kids from the states over there to compete against the world will show us how good we are and how much we need to push ourselves. We need this so that we know what we need to work on for the future, because hopefully, at some point, Jenny and I will be on teams together.”
Please join us in congratulating Caroline and Jenny on their big news. We look forward to following their trip overseas to make Team USA proud. Many thanks to Karen Stives and the USET Foundation for making this opportunity possible.
[Caroline Marin and Jenny Caras to Represent Team USA During Karen Stives Developing Rider Tour]
[Karen Stives Developing Rider Tour to Send Eventing 25/18 Riders Overseas]
Badminton Horse Trials is already hard at work getting us pumped for this year’s event, and this week they uploaded a new video featuring mother-daughter duo Mary and Emily King.
“It was a childhood dream to ride at Badminton,” Mary recalls. Both Mary and Emily share their memories of spending time at the storied four-star, including Emily’s ambition to compete there as well.
To recall, Emily made her debut at the level last fall at Pau aboard Brookleigh, turning in an impressive fourth-place finish.
This is the first of a two-part series, and we are eagerly anticipating part two!
We hear all the time about horses at the top of the sport, but what about the next generation of equine talent? EN’s Got Talent introduces the future superstars of the sport, interviewing riders about how they’re tackling training with these youngsters. Have you spotted a spectacular young horse at an event you think should be highlighted in this column? Tip me at [email protected].
Hawley Bennett-Awad and High Duty. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Hawley Bennett-Awad has been busy quietly producing a talented horse that she has tagged as her next upper-level star. High Duty, a 7-year-old off-track Thoroughbred gelding, has been climbing his way through the levels, showing a lot of promise along the way as Hawley aims to once again represent Canada on the world stage.
Hawley and High Duty’s partnership began when she met Jan and Jerry Hawthorne, who train and breed Thoroughbreds out of Double J H Ranch in La Cresta, California. The Hawthornes sent three Thoroughbreds that were ending their racing careers to Hawley, one of which was coming 5-year-old High Duty (Bertrando – Demo Memo, by Memo (CHI)).
“It’s been a cool process,” Hawley said. “When I first got him, I had just broken my back so I wasn’t able to get on him. I had one of my working students — we call her ‘little Hawley’ — ride him for me, and Katy Groesbeck took him cross country schooling for the first time. He’s a quirky horse with a lot of personality, so the poor girl got bucked off once or twice a week. He’s just so athletic and cheeky, but she did a great job with him.”
Personality is not something High Duty is lacking, but those quirks are a part of the package Hawley believes will make this horse the real deal. “He has the best personality to make a good horse,” she explained. “He can be naughty, but when you put him to work he goes to work.”
Hawley has brought High Duty through the levels, beginning with Novice and most recently picking up a win in the CIC* at Fresno County Horse Park last weekend. It hasn’t always been easy, as Hawley had to re-evaluate his training program after running into trouble on cross country at the Rebecca Farm CCI* last July.
“He can still be spooky at jump judges and people. Last year he was good and consistent, but I feel he was a bit behind where other horses his age are. He missed maybe three or four events for small reasons like an abscess, and it put him a little behind. (Rebecca Farm) was a bit of a wake-up call for me,” Hawley said.
“I stepped back and looked at the big picture and what my goals were and worked backward from there. We’re lucky enough to have Galway Downs across the street, and Robert (Kellerhouse) is great and allows us to come and school whenever we need to. So I would take him over there and just jump small things two or three times a week until it was no big deal.”
Taking a step back worked wonders for High Duty, who finished his 2015 season with a top-10 finish in a large CCI* division at Galway Downs in the fall. “Now he comes out of the box and knows what to do,” she said. “He just needed that few more months. I stopped putting pressure on myself and went back to the drawing board.”
Hawley drew on her previous experiences with her former Olympic horse, Livingstone. “I asked myself, ‘Why was (Livingstone) so good?’ I remember my coach, Pam Arthur, telling me that I wasn’t allowed to move up until I could ensure I hadn’t missed any steps and could go through what she called her ‘wheel of knowledge.’ I kept that in mind and made sure I wasn’t skipping steps because I want him to be solid and consistent.”
Hawley and High Duty at Fresno County Horse Park. Photo courtesy of Sarah Moseley.
As for her plans for the future, Hawley has her eyes set on representing Canada at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Bromont with the talented Thoroughbred, who she owns with her husband, Gamal.
“I had a good chat with (my coach Buck Davidson) about it,” Hawley said. “He agrees that the horse has a ton of talent. But I’m still wanting to make sure he is confident, so while I could have taken him Intermediate this spring, I decided to take him Prelim more and try to be really competitive. We’ll look at moving him to Intermediate in the summer and aiming for the CCI2* at Galway in the fall.”
Hawley works with Nicki Clarke as well as Robyn Fisher to hone her dressage, which she feels is close to breaking into the 30s at the FEI levels. “He’s a good enough mover that before he would score well even though he wasn’t completely pushing and through,” Hawley said. “Now he’s getting stronger and starting to carry himself more. It’s kind of cool to have a Thoroughbred that can move as well as run and jump!”
Even with those big plans in mind, though, Hawley knows that the road to the big time is a slow and arduous one, having been down it several times before. “He goes in all three phases in a snaffle; he’s just a good horse to ride,” she said. “But I don’t want to move him up too soon. When I move him up, I want it to be competitive.”
For Hawley, the process of producing a horse is among the most rewarding experiences she has had. “I’ve never had the money to go out and buy a going horse,” she said. “I’ve made every three- and four-star horse I’ve had, and it makes me really proud to be creating another one. It’s been awhile and I feel that this one is going to be competitive in all three phases. If I do my homework, there’s no reason he can’t finish on his dressage score every time out.”
One of Katie Ruppel's young horses shows off for the audience at the Young Event Horse Symposium in Ocala. Photo via Katie on Facebook.
Some super fancy young event prospects are on hand for this week’s Evaluation of the Young Event Horse Symposium in Ocala, put on by the USEA. The YEH and FEH programs are integral to the up and comers in the sport, and the seminar is devoted to educating riders, trainers and owners on what to look for in a future event horse.
1- to 3-year-olds were highlighted in yesterday’s session, which was headlined by Dr. Shauna Spurlock and Dr. Gareth Spurlock. The veterinarian pair educated the audience on nutrition, conformation and care needed for young horses. You can read all about day one’s session on the USEA here.
Events Opening This Week:
Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (GA, A-3), Pine Hill Spring H.T. (TX, A-5), The Fork CIC3*/CIC2*/CIC1* & HT (NC, A-2), CDCTA Spring Horse Trials (VA, A-2), Spring Bay H.T. (KY, A-8)
Events Closing Today:
Red Hills International Horse Trials & Trade Fair (FL, A-3), Southern Pines H.T. (NC, A-2), Full Gallop Farm March II H.T. (SC, A-3)
News & Notes:
Are you interested in becoming a judge or TD? The B&C Training Program for Eventing Judges and Technical Delegates will be held April 15-17 in conjunction with the Ocala Horse Properties Festival of Eventing. Anyone who is interested in obtaining their “r” TD or “r” Eventing Judge status is welcomed at this event. [B&C Training at Ocala Festival of Eventing]
Can horses tell the difference between men and women? It’s certainly an interesting topic, and Horse & Hound’s Andrea Oakes has tackled the subject to try to find conclusive evidence. [Can Horses Tell Difference Between Men and Women?]
Two former horses from the Arlington National Cemetary are being offered for adoption after completing their tours of duty. Kennedy and Quincy are two of the beloved horses who have served their country at Arlington, having both borne the role of caisson horse. These horses were given the duty of pulling coffins to burial sites, a part of a haunting and beautiful tradition for fallen service members. [Army Offers Horses Free to a Good Home]
Tuesday Video:
Check out this video of Danica Meyerhoff showing her chops in the jumper ring in Ocala!
While Boyd Martin is on the mend after undergoing surgery to repair a broken collarbone, the training hasn’t stopped as U.S. coaches David O’Connor and Silvio Mazzoni stepped up to help school Boyd’s horses.
“While I’m recovering from the sidelines, lucky for me we had the US training session at Stable View,” Boyd wrote on his blog. “One of the best things about our coaches is that they’re masterful riders as well. David rode all my Advanced horses on the flat on the first day and Silvio jumped all the Intermediate and Advanced horses the next day.”
Here’s a look at some of the rides from the training sessions.
You can view more videos and keep up with Boyd’s progress on his blog here. We continue to send well wishes to Boyd and are hoping to see him back in action soon!
Auditors gather to watch Silvio Mazzoni teach day two of the Ocala ICP Symposium. Photo by Sally Spickard.
There was much to be learned in last week’s Ocala ICP Symposium, held at the beautiful Longwood Farm South. Featuring clinics and lectures from David O’Connor and Silvio Mazzoni, the U.S. Chef d’Equipe and U.S. Show Jumping Coach, respectively, both the demo riders and the large audience were able to take new tools home with them when it comes to instruction.
Day two of the symposium involved a show jumping lesson for both the Training/Prelim as well as the Intermediate/Advanced riders. Silvio took the reins on this day, methodically setting up gymnastic exercises that tested both horse and rider.
Silvio took the time to address each horse and rider, focusing on the key points of straightness and position effectiveness. Without an effective position, he explained, the horse was unable to know or perform its job correctly. He reminded many riders to avoid getting defensive with their hands when on stronger horses, instead encouraging the horses to seek the bit even over fences.
Silvio’s gymnastic was progressively raised in height and involved a bounce to a one stride to a second bounce and ending on another one stride. This kept the horse’s feet moving while encouraging the rider to maintain an effective position in order to achieve straightness and a correct jump.
From there, the lesson progressed to a full course that again challenged the riders to find straight lines aboard a responsive and adjustable horse. He instructed the riders to halt after jumping an oxer on a diagonal line, again reminding them to use their seat and leg to achieve the halt rather than a defensive and aggressive hand.
Demo riders for the Training/Prelim group on Tuesday were AJ Dyer, Megan Gardiner, Steph Kohr, and Marah Lueders. The Intermediate/Advanced group for Silvio’s lesson were Hannah Sue Burnett, Leah Lang-Glucsic, Lara Knight, Jeanie Clarke, and Sally Buchheister.
Monday’s session included many thoughtful insights from David O’Connor on all three phases of eventing. You can read the full reports over on the USEA here.
Many thanks to Event Clinics for sponsoring a fun and educational seminar that contributes immensely to the further education of both rider and instructor. The ICP Symposiums are an excellent opportunity to learn, and the ICP Certification Program is also available for those who wish to become more involved as coaches.
Laine Ashker brought Anthony Patch out for his first full run since completing Burghley last fall at Rocking Horse Winter II this weekend. The pair finished in second place in the Open Intermediate division, and Laine donned her trusty GoPro to document her first ride of the season aboard a keen looking “Al.”
Ride along with Laine and Al here:
Finally! I’ve been waiting to post one of these since early September of last year! Here’s #GoAlGopro helmet cam from…
Posted by Lainey Ashker on Sunday, February 21, 2016
FEI President Ingmar De Vos, left, with the three Olympic discipline Chairs, Frank Kemperman (dressage), John Madden (jumping) and Giuseppe Della Chiesa (eventing) at yesterdays General Assembly. Photo by FEI/Richard Juilliart.
Bruce Haskell, president of ERA International, has penned an open letter in light of a meeting be held in London tomorrow for key stakeholders and representatives in the sport to discuss the future of eventing under the Olympic Agenda 2020.
You can view the entire letter open letter by clicking here, and read on for key highlights. The meeting, hosted by British Eventing and chaired by David Holmes, will bring together representatives from many national governing bodies to search for solutions ahead of the FEI Sports Forum in April, where the new Olympic formats for all equestrian disciplines will be presented. Click here to see the current proposed changes for eventing’s Olympic format.
“The proposed format has some significant changes that intend to meet the (International Olympic Committee) suggested criteria for making our sport more easily understood to a wider audience and increasing nation participation,” Bruce said. “It also makes a clear attempt to retain the ‘core’ of eventing whilst enhancing the separation from team and individual medals.”
ERA International acknowledges the divisive nature of many of the proposed changes to the Olympic format of eventing and has identified three core issues that remain divisive:
“Eventing has to be careful at this point and consider the future of what our sport will look like at all levels. The Olympics, as we have seen in past, has a top down effect of the rest of the sport,” Bruce said. “There is a potential influence that in order to meet IOC criteria of the Olympic Eventing competition being the highest level of our sport, we may have to use this format at all team competitions.”
The intent of tomorrow’s meeting is to draw conclusions, even if the conclusion is that a consensus cannot be achieved. “The meeting is seen as as a way of supporting the FEI Eventing Committee to be able to produce an Olympic Format that both meets the changing needs of the sport and the need for change from the IOC,” Bruce said.
“Whatever the outcome will be ERA International is aware that change needs to occur. Change will never suit all stakeholders. We must all look to find a balance between the role of eventing in the evolving nature of sport as medium of entertainment and the traditional values of our unique sport. The time for change is upon us and this meeting is essential to defining what that change looks like and what eventing looks like in the future.”
We will continue to provide updates on the meeting and future developments within the FEI as eventing’s Olympic format continues to evolve. In the meantime, you can view the open letter from ERA International in its entirety here: ERA International 2020 meeting 23-2-16 open letter.
[Will Eventing Become ‘Equestrian Triathlon’ By 2020 Olympics?]
Emily Daignault-Salvaggio and Gin Joint, winners of the Field Hunter division at the 2015 Thoroughbred Makeover. Photo by Heather Benson.
The Retired Racehorse Project has released the list of trainers that registered for this year’s Thoroughbred Makeover, which will be held October 27-30, 2016, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The list is highlighted by 13 Advanced level event riders, including names such as Tik Maynard (who won the 2015 Freestyle in this competition), Kendal Lehari, Dorothy Crowell, Cathy Wieschhoff, Jane Sleeper, Elisa Wallace, Selena O’Hanlon and Denny Emerson.
A total of 129 entrants selected eventing as their primary discipline for the Thoroughbred Makeover, with an additional 50 selecting eventing as their secondary discipline. Based on those 179 total potential entries, eventing is the second most prominently represented sport within the Makeover, just behind show jumping with 181 total potential entries.
All 10 of the discipline winners from last year’s Makeover applied to return to defend their titles, along with 73 other Makeover alumni on new horses. The remaining group of nearly 400 trainers will be entering the Makeover for the first time, making it what “may be the most diverse group of accomplished horse trainers ever to gather in one place,” RRP President Steuart Pittman said.
“Reading through the applications of these 480 trainers was like opening Christmas presents. Off-track Thoroughbreds dominated the horse show world in this country when they were in the barns of our very best riders and trainers. We believe that a key to restoring demand for these horses is matching some of them with the best trainers. Doing so not only increases their chances of winning, but it encourages those trainers’ clients and fans to consider an off-track Thoroughbred,” Steuart said.
“With the carrot of $100,000 in prize money, lots of promotion and a buzz among the horse industry too loud to ignore, we have recruited trainers who are leaders in their sports. Many of these trainers have barns full of warmbloods and Quarter Horses. Some grew up on Thoroughbreds and feel like this is coming home. Others are trying something completely new.”
The Makeover offers divisions in barrel racing, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, field hunter, freestyle, polo, show hunter, show jumping and working ranch. In total, 480 trainers from 45 states will compete in this year’s Makeover for prize money totaling $100,000.
You can view much more information on the Thoroughbred Makeover here, and check out the video below for more details on this year’s Makeover applicants. We’ll keep you posted on the eventing trainers’ progress with their horses and look forward to seeing how the field shakes out in October.
Cheesing like a child with Reggie, Buck and Kathleen. Photo by Kelly Dutton.
It all began during a simple conversation with Buck Davidson. A few of EN’s loyal readers had mused about what would happen if Buck were to wear a FitBit during an event weekend (when it’s not unusual to see him riding 10 or more horses), so I decided to ask him to wear mine at Rocking Horse II this weekend.
Being a good sport, Buck kindly agreed to that request and then threw me a curveball: “Come over to the farm anytime … you can ride Reggie.” Yes, THAT Reggie — Carl and Cassie Segal’s superstar Ballynoe Castle RM.
I asked Buck yesterday if he had some time for me to drop by the farm this week, which was followed by a phone call asking if I could be at his farm in an hour. Yep, sure can.
My coach, Kelly, and I arrived at Buck’s winter base in Ocala and immediately felt immersed in a different world. The farm itself is 600 acres, and Buck rents two of the barns, one for his horses and the other for his students who come down for the winter. There is a large jump field, a full dressage arena in another field, and a cross country field in addition to a 5/8 mile track and acreage as far as the eye can see for hacking and galloping.
In short, there is everything an eventer would need. The farm itself has a welcoming air to it — lots of friendly faces and happy horses.
Buck’s plan was to have his longtime student Woodge Fulton run through her Advanced test on Reggie before letting me get on, which meant we were able to watch Buck teach and ride for a bit before Woodge finished. Every direction you could crane your neck was a different upper level horse and/or rider out for a school or hack. There was truly not enough time to take everything in!
Nature walking. Photo by Kelly Dutton.
After Woodge got through her test, it was my turn. Let me stop here and say that I was a complete nervous wreck who was convinced that I’d somehow grab my outside rein too hard and immediately break poor Reggie. Or something equally illogical.
But before I knew it, I was getting a leg up and there I was, sitting on top of a horse that is the highest scoring horse in all of USEA history and has countless accolades to his name.
I walked around the dressage court and felt a bit sheepish, as I had no idea if I was expected to just walk around or if there was more to it. Truth me told, anything would have been fine with me — what more could I possibly ask for?
Then Buck turned from his lesson and told me to go actually ride, so I took up the world’s longest reins (once again, fear of breaking fancy horse) and trotted off.
So let’s just talk about the well-trained horse. This has been on my mind since reading a clinic report on Sinead and Tik’s Winter Camp, and Reggie is living proof of this concept. I am far from an upper-level rider, but Reggie will make you feel like you’re the best rider in the world.
I played around a little with the trot and canter (and super long reins) and could do nothing but smile like an idiot every time another passing rider said, “Isn’t he just the best?” I was soaking it in and thoroughly enjoying the experience.
Demonstrating how to canter when you’re afraid of breaking a fancy horse — AKA with the longest reins known to man. Photo by Kelly Dutton.
Reggie is clearly one of the most loved horses in the barn. It’s a well deserved honor — he’s a perfect gentleman under saddle and on the ground, and it’s easy to see why Buck, the Segals and everyone else love him like a pet.
Once I successfully floated my way home, I took a moment to reflect on the opportunity the day had presented. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I felt welcomed and not as out of place as I thought I would be among all of the upper-level riders. I may be a true amateur, but that day I felt as if perhaps the stars were not too far out of reach.
Photo by Kelly Dutton.
Many, many thanks are in order to Buck Davidson, super groom Kathleen Blauth-Murray, Carl and Cassie Segal, and everyone else who helped make yesterday special. It was a day I will surely never forget.
Photo by Kelly Dutton.
I had the privilege of spending some time at Buck Davidson’s Ocala base yesterday, and it was without a doubt a memorable experience. Many riders were having dressage schools under Buck’s watchful eye, and it was a friendly atmosphere that buzzed with the dedication of hard working riders and working students.
It’s natural to be curious about what goes on “behind the scenes” at the big eventing barns, and to be honest it was fairly low key. Busy, but quiet at the same time. But one of the most favored memories I’ll take is the smiling faces and the camaraderie of the entire team.
Events Opening This Week:
Morven Park Spring Horse Trial (VA, A-2). Full Gallop Farm April H.T. (SC, A-3). Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (TX, A-5), Rocking Horse Spring H.T. (FL, A-3), Galway Downs International Horse Trials (CA, A-6), Twin Rivers Spring Three-Day Event & H.T. (CA, A-6)
Events Closing Today:
Rocking Horse Winter III H.T. (FL, A-3), Full Gallop Farm March I H.T. (SC, A-3), Sporting Days Farm Horse Trials II (SC, A-3), Twin Rivers Winter H.T. (CA, A-6)
News & Notes:
The Cheshire Races in Pennsylvania just got a even more exciting! Organizers have announced the addition of the Mrs. Miles B. Valentine Memorial Side Saddle Race as an addition to an already bustling card full of both timber and flat races. The Side Saddle race will be held over a 1 1/8 mile track resembling hunt country and featuring natural obstacles. [Cheshire Point to Point]
British Eventing has given approval to use an alternative to frangible pin fences on cross country. The MIM clip may not be a foreign concept to some countries, but it is previously unused in Great Britain and has now been approved for use. The MIM clip gained FEI approval in 2012. [BE Approves Use of MIM Clips]
Do you have a senior horse? These tips from The Horse may be useful to you when it comes to maintaining weight on older horses. There are always countless options when it comes to formulating the right diet for your horse, so here are some helpful hints for senior horses. [Maintaining Weight on Senior Horses]
Tuesday Video:
Because we can’t get enough of this throwback Athens footage, here is William Fox-Pitt’s ride aboard Tamarillo.
It’s time to play Who Jumped It Best? Ocala Horse Properties Winter II Intermediate Edition! Our friend, JJ Sillman, was kind enough to share some photos from the Intermediate cross country this weekend, and we picked a few good shots for our reader poll.
Take a look at the photos and vote for which pair you feel presents the best overall picture.
Caroline Martin and Effervescent. Photo by JJ Sillman.
Buck Davidson and Approved Power. Photo by JJ Sillman.
Meghan O’Donoghue and Palm Crescent. Photo by JJ Sillman.
Natalia Neneman and Weisser Riese. Photo by JJ Sillman.
Lillian Heard and Share Option at the 2015 Eventing Prix Invitational. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Ocala Horse Properties has announced the date of this year’s Eventing Prix Invitational, the third edition of the popular event which is used by many international riders as competition preparation leading up to key spring events.
A total of 36 competitors are slated to compete in this year’s Eventing Prix Invitational at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8 at Southern Cross Equestrian in Reddick, Florida.
The event is open to the public, and spectators are also welcome to attend the 1.15-1.20 meter warmup class at noon Monday, March 7, where invited riders may compete a maximum of four horses, one of which they will jump in the Tuesday Prix.
Marc Donovan will design the 1.30-meter course, which will feature elaborate jump design, a sponsor tent and plenty of atmosphere to prepare the horses for Red Hills International Horse Trials later in the week. Riders from the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and England will be featured as competitors, and the U.S. and Canada are using the event as an official training competition.
We’re also thrilled to announce that we will be partnering with this event to bring you a simulcast of the live stream right here on EN provided by EQTV, and our own Jenni Autry will be providing live commentary alongside Max Corcoran.
Riders will be competing for prize money in a team style format. Last year’s winning team included Lynn Symansky, Sinead Halpin, Lauren Kieffer and Liz Halliday-Sharp, and Jennie Brannigan won the individual honors aboard Vamor. In addition to team and individual rider honors, Brewster Walker Horse Transportation is also sponsoring a Groom’s Award this year.
The Prix is free to attend. Celebrations Catering will provide food and drink in the ringside VIP tent, and tables are still available for $600. Food will also be available for purchase on the grounds from Humble Pie Pizza, with beer courtesy of Edge Brewing Barcelona.
It’s set to be a thrilling day at beautiful Southern Cross Equestrian, which is owned by Scott Keach and is the home base of several eventers for the winter. Southern Cross is located at 13440 NW Highway 225, Reddick, FL 32686. For more information, please contact Max Corcoran. To reserve a VIP table, contact Denise Goyea.
Thank you to the event’s sponsors: Ocala Horse Properties, Woodmen of the World Insurance, The Dutta Corp, Southern Cross Equestrian, Brewster Walker Horse Transportation and Tryon International Equestrian Center.
Keep it locked right here on EN for much more from the Eventing Prix Invitational, including the entry list and more information on live streaming.
There is a lot of action to catch up on if you weren’t able to watch any of the Ocala Horse Properties Winter II event this weekend. We saw a lot of horses out for their first time or move-ups this weekend and, in turn, plenty of smiling faces and rockin’ rounds.
Thanks to our friend, The Horse Pesterer, we have a lot of videos to show you from the weekend. Keep an eye on his YouTube page for more videos throughout the winter season.
Ocala Winter II H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Love or hate Valentine’s Day, it’s nevertheless an opportunity to express love for our two- and four-legged partners. Luckily for most equestrians, our horses are our main love, so it’s no surprise that social media is full of gushings surrounding our horses (sorry boys and girls! We love you, too).
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Posted by Carl Hester on Sunday, February 14, 2016
Love your pony today!
Posted by Dragonfire Farm on Sunday, February 14, 2016
Tate is wishing all of his lady loves (past and future) a very Happy Valentine’s Day! 🙂
Posted by Tatendrang on Sunday, February 14, 2016
A photo posted by Courtney Carson (@courtlee26) on
Happy Valentine’s Day, EN!
