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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

Amber Levine and Carry On Jump to Advanced Victory at Copper Meadows

By Sally Spickard on Mar 20, 2016 1:00 pm -

Amber Levine and Carry On. Photo courtesy of Bill Olsen.

Amber Levine and Carry On successfully jumped a faultless round over a tricky Jose Nava show jumping course today to clinch their first Advanced win at Copper Meadows. Just the second Advanced run for this pair, the win was the cherry on top of a weekend that proved anything is possible.

Amber finished on a final score of 28, followed by Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against, who were able to move up into second thanks to a double clear round. “Ecko” definitely looked keen and ready to go today, and he got away with a few rubs but overall jumped and rated nicely for Bunnie to leave the rails in their cups. They end their weekend on a 41.5 as they move closer to their goal of journeying back to Kentucky next month.

Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against. Photo courtesy of Bill Olsen.

Nikki Ayers and Rubicon picked up third place in their second Advanced start. A pair of rails down kept Nikki from remaining in her overnight second position, but she still gave “Rubix” some extra big pats to the delight of her supporters looking on after clearing the final fence.

Nikki Ayers and Rubicon. Photo courtesy of Bill Olsen.

The course rode well for the most part, with two out of seven pairs having rails down. There appears to be a decent amount of atmosphere in this ring at Copper Meadows, what with spectators standing at every rail and plenty of shadows to distract even the most seasoned horse. The Advanced pairs handled things well, though, and rode the course with poise and just the right amount of control.

In the Intermediate division, Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato are your winners, finished on a final score of 33.9. Jordan and Capato moved into first following a double clear cross country run — the only one of the division — and finished up by adding no penalties in today’s show jumping.

Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato. Photo courtesy of Bill Olsen.

Robyn Fischer and Betawave, a 7-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Robyn and Carol Singh, finished in second place with a double clear show jumping today for a weekend score of 37.0. This mare is a rising star for Robyn; she won her Intermediate debut at Fresno last fall and most recently in 2016 picked up fourth place in her first CIC2* last month.

Mia Farley and Fernhill Fine Diamond, whom we have talent spotted in the past, are your third place finishers in the Open Intermediate on a final score of 40.5. Mia has been working hard as a part of the Eventing 18 group of young riders this year, and that work is certainly paying off with this result in the pair’s first Intermediate together.

Many thanks to Ride On Video for providing a great live stream of the show jumping today!

Copper Meadows H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]

Rolex Entry Update: The Kiwis Are Coming

By Sally Spickard on Mar 20, 2016 11:00 am -

Tim Price and Wesko. Photo by Rare Air Eventing Photography.

New Zealand riders Tim Price, Mark Todd and Jock Paget have all been added to the Rolex entry list for next month. Tim Price is returning to Kentucky after finishing in second place with Wesko, a 13-year-old Dutch gelding owned by Christina Knudsen and The Wesko Syndicate.

Tim is also bringing Bango, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Numero Uno Syndicate who finished in the top 15 in his CCI4* debut at Luhmühlen last year. This horse also finished 12th in the CCI2* for 7-year-olds at Le Lion d’Angers — definitely a talented horse for Tim’s string.

Mark Todd, whom we haven’t seen stateside since 2014, has entered NZB Campino, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by New Zealand Bloodstock and Mark Todd. This is one of Mark’s most seasoned campaigners, having been tapped as his 2012 Olympic mount and most recently picking up a 10th place finish at Pau in 2015. This will be NZB Campino’s first trip to Kentucky.

We last saw Jock Paget compete at Kentucky in 2012 when he finished in sixth place aboard Clifton Promise. This time he’s bringing Clifton Signature, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred/Hanoverian gelding owned by Frances Stead and Russell Hall. Jock and Clifton Signature finished 14th at Pau CCI4* last fall.

We’re always excited to welcome overseas entries to Rolex, and we anxiously await additional entries from across the pond as the March 29 closing date draws closer. There are now 42 combinations entered. Stay tuned for many more entry list updates!

[Rolex Kentucky Entry List]

Hope Springs Eternal for Kirsten Buffamoyer and Jim

By Sally Spickard on Mar 20, 2016 9:00 am -

Kirsten Buffamoyer and Jim at Fair Hill. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Having a horse to gallop around big Advanced courses has been a long time coming for Kirsten Buffamoyer. No stranger to the concept of having plans go awry when it comes to horses, Kirsten is thrilled to finally have the opportunity of a lifetime with her 13-year-old OTTB gelding, Jim.

It was a chance meeting that brought Jim into Kirsten’s life — she was contacted by a gentleman who had acquired some Thoroughbreds, and she originally was going over to look at a gray son of Storm Cat.

“He wasn’t what I was looking for, and I was trying to figure out how to graciously decline when Jim came walking down the hill,” Kirsten recalled. “He was underweight and had rain rot but he had this huge eye. He was seven at the time and hadn’t been ridden in three years, but we put a saddle on him and he cantered off on this little loose rein canter. I bought him on the spot.”

Jim has an exuberant jumping style, one that Kirsten worked hard to fine tune as the upper levels approached. “He’s always jumped much higher than he needs to,” Kirsten said. “He’s a crazy good jumper, and as the jumps have gotten higher he’s really started to figure it out. We’ve worked with Peter Atkins a lot right before we moved up to Prelim so we weren’t over jumping Prelim fences by three feet!”

“When I ran around my first Prelim, it was just so easy for him,” she continued. “He was dead straight, dead honest. The only issues I’ve ever had are if I don’t sit up and steer. If I place the question in front of him and he sees it, there’s no doubt that he will go.”

After a year of Prelim competition, Kirsten elected to make the step up to Intermediate with her OTTB. She made her move at Pine Top in 2014 and was rewarded with a fourth place finish in their debut as a pair. Kirsten has limited upper level experience prior to Jim, but it was becoming apparent that she may have the real deal on her hands.

Kirsten spent the majority of 2014 and 2015 at the Intermediate and two-star level, putting all of the pieces together while keeping the “big A” in the back of her mind. As with all horses, though, the campaign was filled with plenty of ups and downs, to the point where Kirsten took a moment to consider her options.

Jim gives the big Pine Top hammock plenty of room. Photo courtesy of Hoofclix.com.

“Last fall, I was at the point where I was considering selling him. I have some really nice young horses and I thought, ‘Maybe this is what I’m supposed to do, bring along the young horses and let someone else take Jim and enjoy him,'” she said.

Then, Kirsten took a lesson with Bruce Davidson Sr., where he quickly assuaged her thoughts. “Halfway through, he looked at me and asked what my plans were. He said, ‘This is a four-star horse, and you’re crazy if you sell him.’ So I guess when Bruce Davidson tells you that your horse is a four-star horse, you sit up and listen!”

So Kirsten made the decision to keep tugging away, keep chipping away at the pieces. She aimed Jim back at the CCI2* at Fair Hill. “I had two run-bys when I didn’t sit up and steer like I should have,” Kirsten recalled. “Through all of the hard things, though, he was just so spot on. He just jumped out of his skin. I thought, maybe this is my shot.”

Kirsten kept working through the winter, eyeing a move up to Advanced this spring. She made her Advanced debut with Jim at Rocking Horse in February and followed that with two clear cross county runs at Pine Top and the CIC3* at Red Hills, most recently.

Now, Kirsten is allowing herself to look farther ahead — she’s tentatively aiming for the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh this spring and then the CCI3* at Fair Hill in the fall. “I think anyone who plays this game at a serious level has the three- and four-star level in the back of their head,” Kirsten said. “My goal wasn’t necessarily a four-star, but just having the ability to go Advanced and gain experience.”

“(Four-star) is hard not to think about though!” she laughed. “It’s always kind of there in the back of your head. I guess I’ve had so many disappointments, you just kind of push it down. It’s been the ride of my life, and the dream is definitely still there.”

Amber Levine and Carry On In Charge of Copper Meadows Advanced

By Sally Spickard on Mar 19, 2016 5:30 pm -

Amber Levine and Carry On. Photo by Miles Barrett.

Amber Levine and Carry On, a 9-year-old KWPN gelding, remained in control of the Advanced at Copper Meadows following cross country today, putting in a clear round just a few seconds over time to sit on a 28.0 going into tomorrow’s show jumping.

This is the second Advanced run for Amber, who stepped up to the level with this horse at Fresno last month, finishing fourth in their debut. This pair had a successful campaign at the Intermediate and two-star level, picking up fourth place finishes in the CCI2* at both Rebecca Farm and Galway Downs in 2015.

Nikki Ayers and her “horse of a different color,” Rubicon, are also running their second Advanced together — they finished third in their debut at Fresno — and will take second place into tomorrow on a score of 38.5.

Crazy legs and harmony_eventing getting it done !! Making the… https://t.co/jxoPIQ6TB1

Posted by Hawley Bennett Eventing on Saturday, March 19, 2016

In third after two phases are Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against, who are aiming for a second go at Rolex this spring. This pair rose from sixth into third thanks to the fastest cross country trip of the day, incurring just 1.6 time penalties. They’ll be on a score of 41.5 as they look ahead to show jumping.

For anyone who is not able to attend the Copper Meadows event this weekend, Ride On Video will be live streaming show jumping tomorrow (and are also doing so today). You can view the live stream link here to follow along with all the action.

Advanced show jumping kicks off at 8:30 a.m. PST / 11:30 a.m. EST, so stay tuned for the finale of one of the West Coast’s favorite spring events!

Copper Meadows H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]

A Primetime Ride

By Sally Spickard on Mar 19, 2016 1:00 pm -

Leah Lang-Gluscic, AP Prime, and I.

My trip to Ocala was nothing if not full of firsts. It was truly the trip of a lifetime and I came home with plenty of homework and memories to last me a lifetime. I had the privilege of taking a spin on Ballynoe Castle RM over at Buck Davidson’s, and a conversation over a bottle of wine led to another opportunity to ride a top level horse: Leah Lang-Gluscic’s AP Prime.

I headed over to Leah’s Ocala base one afternoon after she expressed a need for a videographer to take some footage of a sales horse. Happy to oblige, I shot some video and Leah offered me a glass of wine to show her appreciation. As we sat on her porch taking in the views, the conversation turned to Buck and Reggie.

“So how did that even come about?” Leah asked. I happily relived the tale, smiling at the thought of that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Leah grinned at me and told me that I should come and hop aboard AP Prime next time I was over. I couldn’t quite believe my luck — if all the stars align, I might be able to say I rode not one, but two horses heading down centerline at Rolex this year!

The next week, I once again headed to Leah’s, feeling those familiar jitters at the prospect of sitting astride a horse way above my talent level. Once again, the thoughts entered my head of what could go wrong (everything) and the ways I could screw up (there were a lot).

I tried to push those thoughts from my head, though, as Leah began tacking AP up for our little jaunt. Let me just start by saying, I am a huge fan of smaller horses. Not tiny, per se, but 16 hands or so. Nothing large — I like to feel like I’m riding a sports car.

If you were to describe AP Prime in a word, “small” would not be it. The OTTB gelding is about 16.2 on a short day and every bit as muscular as the human equivalent of his athletic level. Definitely not the small, in your pocket type that I am used to.

AP eyed me cautiously, wondering what hell I was about to put him through. I laughed and reassured him that this would probably be the easiest ride he would ever have to endure.

I got on and set off around the arena with Leah watching. As I set off to do some flatwork, I focused on keeping my position as strong as possible and letting AP show me exactly how he likes to be ridden. On the flat, he’s once again a great example of a well trained horse. A whisper of a leg and he is bent around it, a soft wiggle on the inside rein and he’s on the bit. Riding horses such as this is a great learning experience and example of where you eventually want your horse to be.

I loped around the arena a bit before Leah told me to go and jump the small course she had set up. I gulped to myself, knowing that this would definitely be a different ride than what I am accustomed to.

And it undoubtedly was. Poor AP didn’t know what was coming — I think I missed every distance the first time through because I was too nervous and momentarily forgot that a horse like this could jump a two-foot course in his sleep and that I was just hindering him by trying to manage things too much.

After I choked out an apology and convinced myself I had broken AP because he cross-cantered after a fence, Leah told me to try again but to trust him and let him find his own distances when I could.

So I did, and the result was worlds better than the first. Granted, the horse still jumped me out of the tack (at two-foot — pretty impressive), but I felt much more confident by the time we had gone through again and couldn’t keep the grin off my face.

Leah had many proud mom moments while I was riding — I feel like it’s a sign of a truly great horse when he can successfully and quietly pack around an amateur. Granted, not all great horses are suitable for just anyone to ride, but it’s always a plus when you know you can safely let someone else ride your upper level horse.

After our ride, Leah told me to take AP for a hack around the farm. As he strode off confidently and looking for his next job, I took everything in. It was one of my last days in Ocala, and the experience had truly come full circle.

At the end of the day, it’s not about what “cool” things you get to do. It’s about what you learn and take home with you. From this trip, I took home inspiration — from riding both Reggie and AP I realized that having a horse that well-trained is not so impossible. I realized that even “people like me” can dream big, that we all started somewhere. I learned that eventers truly want to see their peers succeed. And those are the most important parts of this trip that I will keep with me as I continue to work towards my own goals.

I’d like to extend my thanks to Leah for entrusting me with her special horse and to each and every person who I came in contact with while in Florida. It truly is a trip of a lifetime, and the lessons learned will be valuable for a long time to come.

Rolex Entry Update: Phillip Dutton Adds 3, 37 Now Entered

By Sally Spickard on Mar 19, 2016 11:00 am -

Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The Rolex entry list for 2016 continues to grow daily, and we now see the additions of several riders, including Phillip Dutton with three rides.

Phillip will be bring Fernhill Cubalawn, Fernhill Fugitive and Mighty Nice to Kentucky this year — all horses who have a shot at being seriously competitive and who are also on the Rio radar as the Olympics rapidly approach.

Fernhill Cubalawn boosted Phillip to a USEF National Champion title in 2015 with a fifth place finish at Rolex, followed closely by stablemate Fernhill Fugitive in ninth place. This will be Mighty Nice’s fourth crack at the Kentucky four-star — he finished in tenth place in his first CCI4* start in 2012 and most recently finished second in the CCI3* at Fair Hill International last fall.

Also added to the list on this latest update is Lillian Heard, who is also bringing three horses this year. In addition to her veteran partner, Share Option, Lillian will be piloting LCC Barnaby and FYI in their first CCI4* starts. This will be Lillian’s second Rolex trip, and she has enjoyed some consistent results of late with all three of her horses so she is sitting in a great position to have a competitive go in Kentucky.

Lynn Symansky returns to the entry list with Donner, the “flying deer” OTTB gelding who will be contesting his sixth four-star. This pair took a trip to Normandy for the World Equestrian Games in 2014 and also took home a top-15 finish at Burghley last year.

Canadian Olympian Selena O’Hanlon is also a recent entry with her partner, Foxwood High. 2014 was the first CCI4* for “Woody”, and the smile on Selena’s face upon finishing a clear cross country said it all. This is a partnership Selena is quite proud of, and for good reason. Woody went on to represent Canada at the World Equestrian Games and his dressage is an ever improving phase — this is a pair to watch for Canada as the season progresses.

Stay tuned for many more updates on the latest Rolex entries!

[Rolex Entry List]

William Fox-Pitt Cleared for Competition

By Sally Spickard on Mar 19, 2016 9:00 am -

William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning. Photo by Jenni Autry.

William Fox-Pitt posted an update on his website yesterday confirming that he has been cleared to compete by his doctor. William suffered a head injury after a fall at Le Lion d’Angers last fall, and he has been on the road to recovery with the full intent of returning to competition this year.

“I have been checked by the specialist and have been cleared to compete,” William said in the announcement. “[British coach Yogi Breisner] came down this week and we jumped four horses together and it very much feels like all systems go. A big thank you to everyone who has supported me through my recovery. I am looking forward to working with Chilli Morning and the rest of the horses and getting going with the season.”

We have not yet heard whether or not William plans to aim for a spring CCI4* (or two), but we have no doubt that he has a plan in mind for how he wants to leg his horses back up with the 2016 season and, importantly, the Summer Olympics looming.

Meanwhile, Harry Meade and Hector Payne have stepped up to take some of William’s younger horses out competing — and we hear he also has a new hand to help in the U.S.’ own Andrew McConnon, who just arrived in Dorset, England this week.

We’ll continue to bring you more updates from the Fox Pitt camp and are thrilled to hear that William is doing well in his recovery.

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Countdown to Badminton

By Sally Spickard on Mar 18, 2016 5:00 pm -

Badminton course designer Giuseppe Della Chiesa and technical delegate Alec Lochore took a few minutes to chat about their vision for the 2016 course as we eagerly anticipate the big spring CCI events.

A lot of vision and hard work goes into the design of any cross country course, let alone one of the most prolific events in the world. “It’s good to have somebody to share these ideas and see if they’re completely mad ideas or if they’re possible,” Giuseppe says of his appreciation for Alec in the interview.

Go behind the scenes as the brains behind one of the biggest cross country courses in the world takes on its shape for the new year. Stay tuned for much more from Badminton, including the upcoming release of the accepted entries list!

Thursday Video from Nupafeed USA: Learn About the Irish Sport Horse

By Sally Spickard on Mar 17, 2016 6:00 pm -

The Irish Sport Horse is a staple in many equine disciplines and has a prominent place within the eventing world. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we’re dedicating today’s video to this sturdy and versatile breed with this great video from HorseMarket Ireland.

Take a look at various examples of traditionally bred Irish horses and the characteristics they display in this footage from the Dublin Horse Show in 2013 — a true showcase of the Irish horse.

Whether you have a Irish Sport Horse, a Connemara, or a mix of something in between, many people will tell you that these are among the best sport horses there are to be had.

Go Irish Horses, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: An Intro to Free Jumping

By Sally Spickard on Mar 16, 2016 5:00 pm -

Click image to play video.

The USEA’s Young Event Horse Program is a key part to producing future superstars in the sport of eventing. With Young Event Horse symposiums and competitions all over the country, there is ample opportunity to learn about what to look for and how to best prepare your young horse for its career.

This informative video features instruction on the topic of free jumping. Free jumping is a popular way to showcase scope and footwork that comes naturally to young horses.

For those of you on the West coast who are interested in learning more, Dragonfire Farm will be hosting a free jumping clinic in Wilton, California May 21-22. This will be a useful educational opportunity for those interested in the Future Event Horse classes, which will now be asked to free jump in addition to showing in hand.

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Rolex Entries Go Live: 28 Pairs Entered So Far

By Sally Spickard on Mar 15, 2016 6:00 pm -

Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville at Rolex in 2014. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Rolex Kentucky entries have just gone live, and we have 28 pairs entered at this first update! Entries only recently opened, and riders have until March 29 to submit their paperwork. The full list of accepted entries will be published no later than April 6, 2016

We’ll be bringing you updates on the entry list as new pairs are listed, so without further ado here is our first look at the 2016 Rolex entry list!

We’re thrilled to see Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot return to Rolex after “William” sustained a tendon injury at Burghley in 2014. Hannah and the 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Ms. Jacqueline Mars have had a great start to their 2016 season, most recently finishing third in the CIC3* at Red Hills over the weekend. Welcome back, William!

Many seasoned campaigners will be back out for another go at the only CCI4* in North America. Notably, Sinead Halpin with Manoir de Carneville, Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch, and Lauren Kieffer with Veronica have become staples of the Kentucky entry list and will be making their return in 2016.

We’re also seeing the first of the overseas entries listed, as Oliver Townend will be making a return to Kentucky aboard Black Tie. Oliver last visited Rolex in 2012 and this time will bring his 2014 World Equestrian Games mount, a 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Oliver and Karyn Shuter.

Also appearing on the entry list for Great Britain is Panda Christie with Little Leo, a 14-year-old gelding who will be contesting his second CCI4* with Panda after completing Pau in 2015. This will be Panda’s first visit to Rolex, and we’re excited to welcome her to the U.S.!

Other international riders include Waylon Roberts and Kelecyn Cognac (CAN); Daniela Moguel and Cecelia (MEX), who represented Mexico at the 2015 Pan American Games and, in their first CCI4*; Tim Bourke (IRL) and Luckaun Quality; Philippa Humphreys (GBR) and Sir Donovan; Joe Meyer (NZL) and Clip Clop; and Cody Sturgess (CAN) and Imperial Melody.

To view the complete entry list, click here and stay tuned for many more updates as more entries begin to file in. It’s that time of year, EN! Go Rolex!

[Rolex Entry List]

Tuesday Video from SpectraVET: The #RideForOlivia Mosaic

By Sally Spickard on Mar 15, 2016 5:00 pm -

The mosaic created from photos of hundreds of thousands of riders all over the world was presented to the Inglis family this weekend at Olivia’s memorial service. The #RideForOlivia hashtag took on a life of its own, spurring riders from all disciplines and walks of life to share their photos in her honor.

This video gives us a closer look at the #RideForOlivia mosaic, as well as the sheer effort and thoughtfulness that went into its creation. We hope this brought some comfort to the Inglis family. Olivia’s memory continues to live on in equestrians the world over — we will never forget her.

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Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By Sally Spickard on Mar 15, 2016 12:01 am -

What happens in the Red Hills media tent ... stays in the Red Hills media tent? Photo via EN on Instagram.

One thing I love about eventers is our willingness to have fun. Just take a look at this photo — you certainly can’t say this happens in media tents in just any discipline! Eventers definitely know how to kick back and have a good time — perhaps it’s just the loose screw we all have that makes us brave enough to jump ginormous jumps and come away with a smile on our face.

Eventers are also a giant, caring, community, as exemplified by the recent #RideForOlivia phenomenon. We may be a crazy, fun group, but at the end of the day there is still a giant net of like-minded people ready to catch you when you fall.

Events Opening This Week:

Fresno County Horse Park H.T. (CA, A-6), University of New Hampshire Spring H.T. (NH, A-1), Jersey Fresh International Three-day Event (NJ, A-2), Loudoun Hunt Pony Club Spring H.T. (VA, A-2), Riga Meadow Combined Test (CT, A-1)

Events Closing Today:

Rocking Horse Spring H.T. (FL, A-3), Galway Downs International Horse Trials (CA, A-6), Morven Park Spring Horse Trial (VA, A-2), Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (TX, A-5), Full Gallop Farm April H.T. (SC, A-3)

News & Notes:

Have you checked out our newest sister site, Jumper Nation, yet? If not, you’re definitely missing out. Whether or not you dabble in the jumper ring, it’s always fascinating to see how crazy talented these horses and riders are, and JN is just the place to catch up on the action. [Jumper Nation]

This week’s Fab Freebie is a fancy one! We’ve teamed up with Highland Browbands to give away a Custom Triple Color Browband to a lucky winner. Show off those colors with a design to call your own. [Fab Freebie: Highland Browbands]

Area IV’s annual online auction is in full swing, and there is plenty of loot to get your hands on this year. The annual auction raises money to support Area IV throughout the year, so every penny helps! Even if you are not an Area IV rider, you may still find something of interest to you, including lessons with upper level riders and even a getaway vacation! [USEA Area IV Online Auction]

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]

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]

Tuesday Video:

This is definitely a cool way to introduce cross country jumps!

Piper and I are having an amazing time in FL. Learning so much,But today we took some time just to have a little fun.

Posted by Amy Bowers on Monday, March 14, 2016

Buck and Andrea Davidson Welcome Aubrey Brook Davidson

By Sally Spickard on Mar 14, 2016 11:28 pm -

Bruce and Buck Davidson with baby Aubrey. Photo courtesy of Buck Davidson.

Please join us in congratulating Buck and Andrea Davidson on the birth of their baby girl, Aubrey Brook Davidson! Aubrey made her grand appearance today, weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces.

If you caught a glimpse of Andrea coaching at Rocking Horse last weekend, you’d never know she was a day or two past her due date — the girl is an Energizer Bunny!

Buck and Andrea Davidson with baby Aubrey. Photo courtesy of Buck Davidson.

Both mother and father are doing well and will be busy tending to their new addition. We’re thrilled for the family and cannot wait to watch Aubrey grow up (hopefully to be a famous eventer!).

Congratulations to all!

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: #BeTheInspiration

By Sally Spickard on Mar 14, 2016 5:00 pm -

Be The Inspiration: Clarke“Spending time with your horse is essential. You have to form a partnership with them, so you know how each other is feeling during competition.”Clarke Johnstone Eventing#BeTheInspiration #EnduranceRead more: http://www.olympic.org.nz/news/be-the-inspiration-clarke-johnstone/

Posted by NZ Olympic Team on Saturday, March 12, 2016

This beautifully produced video was just published by the New Zealand Olympic Team Facebook page featuring Clarke Johnstone and his partner, Balmoral Sensation. Balmoral Sensation finished third in the CCI4* at Adelaide last fall, and Clarke has built a name for himself as a prominent New Zealand rider.

Check out this video on the bond Clarke has with his horses and the importance of inspiration — go ahead, get inspired!

Celebrating the Thoroughbred: T.I.P Eventing Winners from 2015

By Sally Spickard on Mar 14, 2016 3:00 pm -

McKenzie Scroggins and Wild ChaCha Dancer. Photo provided by McKenzie Scroggins.

The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program is an excellent nod to the versatility of the off-track Thoroughbred, one of the most common breeds you can find in eventing. The Jockey Club has released the 2015 Performance Awards winners for the horses who participated in the Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) last year, and the list includes many eventers.

“The growth T.I.P. has shown in the last four years confirms the dedication our owners and riders have about retired Thoroughbreds,” Kristin Leshney, senior counsel for The Jockey Club and the administrator of T.I.P, said in a press release. “We are pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Performance Awards and look forward to another successful T.I.P. show season in 2016.”

For the Eventing and Combined Training division, Wild ChaCha Dancer (Wild Gold – Mel’s Dancer, by Raja’s Best Boy) is the overall winner. Wild ChaCha Dancer, who now competes as “Cha Cha”, is owned by Area IV’s McKenzie Scroggins at the age of 10. McKenzie and ChaCha were the Junior Beginner Novice winners at AECs last year and are now successfully campaigning at the Novice level.

Eventers were also honored by division, beginning with Pre-Beginner Novice and going up through Intermediate and FEI levels.

Beth Zollicoffer and Confiado. Photo provided by Beth Zollicoffer.

The Pre-Beginner Novice winner is Confiado, owned and ridden by Beth Zollicoffer. Wild ChaCha Dancer is the Beginner Novice winner thanks to his top placings at the level with McKenzie Scroggins.

First in the Novice division is Dynamic Lisa (Dynaformer – Ashley Lindsey, by Turkoman), owned and ridden by Tracey Woods. The Training winners are Biker Chef (Polish Navy – A Golden Rose, by Strike the Gold), owned and ridden by Jocelyn Hawe. Biker Chef now shows as “Carry On” and has multiple top placings at Training level and has also competed at Prelim.

Alex Reed and King Katz (On Broadway). Photo provided by Alex Reed.

King Katz (Mass Market – Catz (IRE), by Catrail), owned and ridden by Alex Reed, is the Preliminary winner and are currently competing at the Prelim and CIC1* level.

Hillary Irwin and Bit Of Irish. Photo courtesy of Brant Gamma.

Drop of the Irish, owned by Hillary Irwin, is the Intermediate top horse for the 2015 season. Now showing as “Bit of Irish”, Hillary and this 2007 mare have busily been climbing the levels and chipping away at their chance at the top levels.

Hillary Irwin and Kilbeggan. Photo courtesy of Brant Gamma.

Hillary also has the top CIC/CCI horse in Kilbeggan ( Concerto – Miss Tullamore Dew, by Mecke), who capped off 2015 with a win in the CCI1* at Hagyard Midsouth.

You can view the full press release and list of winners here. Congratulations to all Thoroughbreds on successful 2015 seasons! If you haven’t registered your OTTB for a Thoroughbred Incentive Program number, you can do so by clicking here.

Fab Freebie: Win a Custom Browband from Highland Browbands

By Sally Spickard on Mar 14, 2016 9:00 am -

Photo courtesy of Highland Browbands.

Colorful browbands have become all the rage in the horse world, and for good reason. The right browband can add the perfect splash of color and bling to your outfit, whether it be for the dressage ring or the jumping ring.

This week, we are teaming up with Highland Browbands to give away a beautiful Custom Triple Color Browband to one lucky winner. That’s right, you’ll get to customize your new browband in whatever color combination you’d like! There are also several shapes to choose from, and the winner will have their choice.

You and your horse will be extra fancy with the help of Highland Browbands this year! If you’ve taken a peek at their website and are itching to get to shopping, EN readers can use the code ENFREESHIP during the month of March to receive free shipping on their orders!

To enter this week’s giveaway, use the Rafflecopter widget below and check this Friday’s News & Notes to find out if you’re the lucky winner!

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.

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Relive Red Hills: CIC3* Water Complex

By Sally Spickard on Mar 13, 2016 10:30 am -

RNS 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.

#RHHT: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: This Red Hills Video Will Give You Chills

By Sally Spickard on Mar 11, 2016 4:30 pm -

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 Ready for the Opportunity of a Lifetime

By Sally Spickard on Mar 11, 2016 8:00 am -

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!

Thursday Video from Nupafeed USA: A Very ‘Skinny’ Fence

By Sally Spickard on Mar 10, 2016 6:00 pm -

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?

USEF Reponds to Proposed FEI Changes to Eventing

By Sally Spickard on Mar 10, 2016 5:21 pm -

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?”

Tuesday Videos from SpectraVET: Eventing Prix Warm-up

By Sally Spickard on Mar 8, 2016 3:30 pm -

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!