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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

Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By on Feb 2, 2016 12:01 am -
Photo by Sally Spickard. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Being down here in Ocala for the winter is quite a surreal feeling if we’re being honest. To be surrounded by great riders and beautiful horse farms no matter which direction you look — it truly is eventer’s paradise. It’s also more than a little intimidating to be here among all the greats with a green horse. But as several people have shrewdly said, it makes you step up your game and want to be even better for being immersed in this world. That’s my daily tidbit of inspiration for you: surround yourself by others who are just as dedicated and hard working as you, and watch your own skill set blossom.

Events Opening This Week:

 Pine Top Spring H.T. (GA, A-3),  Feather Creek Farm H.T. (OK, A-5),  Copper Meadows Winter H.T. (CA, A-6)

Events Closing Today:

Fresno County Horse Park CIC & H.T. (CA, A-6), Rocking Horse Winter II H.T. (FL, A-3),  Paradise Farm H.T. (SC, A-3)

Tuesday News:

Looking to add a little color to your eventing wardrobe? Look no further than this week’s Fab Freebie featuring a colorful cross country pinny holder just for you. It’s high time someone thought of this idea! [Fab Freebie: Color Cross Country Pinny Holder]

Please join us in congratulating Bridget Parker, who has officially taken the reins at the Nunney International Horse Trials. Held in Somerset, Nunney is a staple event on the European calendar, and organizing is no small undertaking. Bridget is an Olympic gold medalist who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. [Nunney International Horse Trials]

FLAIR Nasal Strips will be offering free applications at Galway Downs this week! Beginning on Thursday, you can set up an appointment with a FLAIR representative for your free application. Appointments may be made by calling 612-913-1395.

We’re loving the USEA’s Grid Pro Quo series, and the latest one features tips and tricks from Tim Bourke. You can use this suggested exercise for any level to focus on quality of jumping and responsiveness to aids. [Grid Pro Quo: Tim Bourke]

Tuesday Video:

Speaking of grid work, here’s another #GOTD from Laine Ashker:

Finally! A long overdue #GOTD and although it may look simple and easy you better think again! Set up three barrels…

Posted by Lainey Ashker on Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: What a 15.2 Dressage Score Looks Like

By on Feb 1, 2016 5:30 pm -

Flashy boy Oskar performing his winning 15.6 dressage test yesterday! Love this special horse- wish I could keep him!

Posted by Liz Halliday on Sunday, January 31, 2016

If you’ve ever wondered what a dressage test worthy of a 15.2 score looks like, here’s your answer. Liz Halliday-Sharp piloted HS Oskar, a 2009 Holsteiner gelding by Coriando, to a win in the Training Horse C division at Rocking Horse Winter I Horse Trials this past weekend in Florida.

Oskar certainly had his fancy prancing shoes on. If you’re in the market, this lovely horse is for sale! You can view more information on Liz’s sales page here.

[Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. Results]

Fab Freebie: Win a Colorful Cross Country Pinny Holder!

By on Feb 1, 2016 8:45 am -
Photo courtesy of Jon Sonkin. Photo courtesy of Jon Sonkin.

It’s time to get geared up for the 2016 season! We’re here to help with the ongoing needs of the color-conscious eventer, and thanks to Jon Sonkin we are offering up a brand new product in cross country equipment: a color pinny holder to completely top off your coordinated look out on course.

These stylish pinny holders come in an array of colors: green, red, black, purple and blue. There is literally something for just about every eventer out there, and they’re definitely catching on.

Justine Dutton models her new custom colored pinny holder. Photo via Justine on Facebook.

Justine Dutton models her new custom colored pinny holder. Photo via Justine on Facebook.

The holders are also available in custom colors through special order and are durable, comfortable and feature extra support on the lower strap to ensure your pinny doesn’t go flying when you get up to speed.

Prices for these pinny holders are $50 for a standard solid color, $65 for any two colors, and $100 with some added bling to spice things up. To order your own, email Jon here.

In the meantime, we’re teaming up with Jon to give away a solid colored pinny holder in this week’s Fab Freebie! You can use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter, and we’ll announce the winner in this Friday’s News & Notes. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

Brand New Eyes

By on Jan 29, 2016 5:00 pm -
Photo by Sally Spickard via EN on Instagram. Photo by Sally Spickard via EN on Instagram.

There is something to be said about attending a horse trial at the beginning of the season. Perhaps I am sentimental or overly emotional, but it just doesn’t get much better than watching some of the country and world’s best out and about in the early goings of a fresh season.

Walking around Rocking Horse Winter I today, there was a palpable excitement in the air. Relief that the 2016 season is officially in full swing, happiness in the glow of a warm Florida afternoon, glee on the faces of riders who are tackling a pipe opening cross country run.

Out on the Intermediate cross country course, scores of horses and riders galloped past on a day when clear rounds were prominent and the rust got knocked off on the way back to the finish line.

Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM, who are perhaps one of the best relationships to witness between horse and rider, gleefully galloped across the finish, with Buck all but dropping his reins and letting Reggie finish up on his own.

Diane Portwood and Cinerescent bounced around the course, Diane encouraging her mare the whole way round.

I’ve said it many times before and I will say it again — eventers are a whole different culture. The casual conversations between competitors, the helping hand always offered to hold a horse or give a leg up, the bustling of working students and grooms who help even the busiest of riders have a smooth day — everything just feels brand new and fresh at this time of year.

Here in Ocala, it’s easy to look ahead and see a promising 2016. The season is just starting, and it’s as if the whole word is there for the taking.

So here’s to new beginnings, fresh starts and brand new eyes. We can’t wait to see what 2016 brings, and we’re thrilled to be here with you every step of the way.

Check Out This Insane Hunt Derby — Would You Try It?

By on Jan 29, 2016 1:00 pm -

6 months since Falsterbo, hope to be back this summer, Sydsvenskan Falsterbo hunting 2015.

Posted by Fanny Nilsson on Sunday, January 17, 2016

Talk about a good challenge! The Sydsvenskan Falsterbo Hunting is a show jumping and cross country cross held in Sweden. The class is designed for horses and riders with one-star experience. Fanny Nilsson posted her helmet cam from her 2015 round and we think this is pretty neat.

There is a lot to take in once you leave the main arena as the track takes you through what appears to be the trade fair and even the dressage ring. Talk about insanity in the middle.

So, EN, what do you think? Would you give this a shot?

#FlashbackFriday: How the Buck Does He Do It?

By on Jan 29, 2016 9:00 am -

In honor of the first Rocking Horse event of the new year, we're bringing back one of our favorite posts from the archives. Enjoy!

A depiction of a typical event weekend for Buck Davidson. Illustration by Lindsey Kahn. A depiction of a typical event weekend for Buck Davidson. Illustration by Lindsey Kahn.

I was perusing the ride timetable for the Rocking Horse Winter I Horse Trials this weekend, and I couldn’t help but stare at Buck Davidson’s ride times for a few minutes. If I’m being honest, I think I went a little cross-eyed trying to make sense of it all. As has become a Buck tradition it seems, the man had 9 rides this weekend.

That’s 27 trips in the saddle. While I do understand that Buck is a consummate professional, I immediately felt weak and fatigued at the thought of 9 rides crammed into 36 hours.

Then I looked past the sheer number of rides to the timetable of how this all went down. After numerous graphs and diagrams, I eventually gave up on trying to make sense of how this was going to happen successfully. Take a look for yourself (this has been updated for the 2016 Rocking Horse I times!):

Buck's ride times for the first Rocking Horse of 2016.

Buck’s ride times for the first Rocking Horse of 2016.

Makes you a little dizzy, doesn’t it? Since we were feeling at bit lost at the thought of how many working students it would take to make this operation run, Lindsey and I put our heads together and thought we would pay tribute to Buck: the man, the myth, the legend. As Lindsey so thoughtfully illustrated above, it would only make sense to have some sort of map like this drawn out ahead of time so that everyone involved knew where they had to be and when.

Buck, we don’t know how you do it. We don’t know how any of you pros do it, actually. Give me one horse and three ride times and I already have enough anxiety to last me a full week. So thank you, Buck, and every other pro and working student out there who make our heads spin with the sheer amount of dedication you show to your job. We salute you!

Wednesday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Jan 27, 2016 12:01 am -
Photo courtesy of Kim Keppick. Photo courtesy of Kim Keppick.

There is still so much snow on the ground! We’re still seeing numerous photos of various stages of snow removal, as well as a few of people and their horses out enjoying (is that the right word?) the drifts. EN reader Kim Keppick sent us this “between the ears” shot from Virginia, courtesy of Joey Snider of Hume, Virginia. Keep digging, everyone!

Weekend Preview:

Rocking Horse Winter I HT: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times

Full Gallop Farm January HT: [Website] [Entry Status]

News & Notes:

Did you know it’s a common colic myth that if your horse is passing manure, he’s fine? According to a new article from Kentucky Performance Products, veterinary surgeons are saying this may not necessarily be true. Passing manure does not rule out the possibility of a blockage higher up. [KPP Nutritional Minute]

Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino in Sunland Park, New Mexico has suspended racing after some horses were diagnosed with EHV-1. To date, there have been 12 confirmed cases. The quarantine could have other effects on the track, as the March Sunland Derby is a Derby prep and could be affected. [Sunland Park Has EHV-1 Outbreak]

Uceko, one of Kent Farrington’s top show jumpers, has got to have one of the most adorable faces there is. Don’t let his sweet face fool you though — he’s a fierce competitor in the ring. The Chronicle of the Horse got to know him a little better in their latest Behind the Stall Door installment. [Behind the Stall Door: Uceko]

SmartPak Product of the Day: Traveling down to Florida has been a tricky challenge when it comes to blanketing. I am a bit of an overpacker, so I packed almost every blanket I have for my horse. What has really come in handy the most, though, is my Amigo Jersey Cooler. I picked this up recently and am absolutely IN LOVE with it. The jersey knit is really top-quality and doesn’t give the impression that it will pill or deteriorate. This thin layer provides just enough protection from a slight chill after a good work. At this affordable price, I definitely recommend it! [Amigo Jersey Cooler]

And lastly…

Are Puissance’s with width challenges instead of height the next big thing? This girl is already preparing:

Tuesday Video from SpectraVET: The Making of an Olympian

By on Jan 26, 2016 5:30 pm -

As if we hadn’t embarrassed Boyd Martin enough in the last few days … First, he runs wild through Wellington while filming a commercial, and then his wife Silva sent us this video of Boyd back when he was just a kid cantering over logs in a field.

Meet Willy, Boyd’s childhood pony. Willy is a solid citizen who happily carries Boyd all over the property, including over a course of makeshift cross country jumps. (Please note the posters that Boyd hangs in Willy’s stall to keep him “motivated” to compete.)

As any good cross county course designer would, Boyd picked out names for all the fences on his course. We decided to start a reader poll in favor of the best fence name, so vote for your favorite below!

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Tuesday News & Notes from Cavalor

By on Jan 26, 2016 12:01 am -
Photo via Joe Williams on Facebook. Photo via Joe Williams on Facebook.

Ok, so I know this is not necessarily eventing-related, but hear me out. The barn my coach and I are renting stalls from in Ocala this winter is home to a couple of accomplished Mustang Makeover trainers, Joe and Colby Williams. This past week, they each brought home a new mustang to start fresh with and have 100 days to put in as much training as they can.

Joe’s mustang mare, Maybelline, is literally the most sane horse I’ve ever seen. So sane, in fact, that he was able to ride her on the first day she arrived. It’s insane to see how responsive she is to training, and it’s been really interesting to see first hand. Stay tuned for a full blog series following these mustangs over on our sister site, Horse Nation!

Events Opening Today:

Southern Pines H.T. (NC, A-2),  Red Hills International Horse Trials & Trade Fair (FL, A-3),  Full Gallop Farm March II H.T. (SC, A-3)

Events Closing This Week:

Pine Top Intermediate Horse Trials (GA, A-3), Full Gallop Farm February H.T. (SC, A-3),  Ocala Horse Properties Winter II H.T. (FL, A-3)

Tuesday News:

The USEA’s Grid Pro Quo series is an excellent resource for education and new ideas to spice up your training. The exercises can be made as high or low as desired, which is great because it’s useful for horses and riders of all abilities. Check out the latest edition featuring advice from Holly Hudspeth. [Grid Pro Quo with Holly Hudspeth]

We all know the risk that our gray horses run for melanomas. It’s a scary thought and unfortunately all too common in our fair skinned friends. There may be some good news out there, though, as testing is underway for the canine melanoma vaccine and its effectiveness on horses. [Canine Melanoma Vaccine Testing]

Superstar Valegro’s equally superstar groom, Alan Davies, was awarded the British Grooms Award last week in honor of his service to his charge. Congratulations to Alan! [British Riders and Grooms Honored at British Breeders Awards]

Tuesday Video:

I don’t know about you, but this is a much more exciting reveal than a fashion runway any day. Check out the new line of products coming up from Professional’s Choice in 2016!

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: Snowstangs

By on Jan 25, 2016 5:00 pm -

Elisa Wallace picked up a new mustang this past week in Jacksonville, Fl. to train for a client, Ginny Grigsby. Azogar, or “Ozzie”, is a 9-year-old from the Kiger HMA and he is already off to a great start in his new surroundings with Elisa.

This appropriately titled video blog catches up with Elisa and Ozzie as they begin their work together. The camera follows as Ozzie is picked up and brought back to the farm in Georgia and begins his training.

Be sure to follow Wallace Eventing for more updates from mustang land!

West Coast Riders Learn from the Best at Trifecta Event

By on Jan 25, 2016 3:00 pm -
Hawley Bennett-Awad and High Duty school the Galway keyhole with Ian Stark. Photo via Hawley on Facebook. Hawley Bennett-Awad and High Duty school the Galway keyhole with Ian Stark. Photo via Hawley on Facebook.

The third annual Trifecta Event at Galway Downs was held this weekend to knock the rust off for the upcoming season. Eventers of all levels ventured out to learn from Ian Stark and Boyd Martin.

The clinic also coincided with the West Coast ICP Symposium with David O’Connor and a Sport Psychology seminar with Shannon Thompson. Area VI also held their Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet — in all, a very busy weekend!

High Duty was super today!! Thank you Ian for a great lesson!!… https://t.co/fmJEYvZN9D

Posted by Hawley Bennett Eventing on Sunday, January 24, 2016

Organized by Robert Kellerhouse, the Trifecta Event is a popular winter event for riders seeking education. Seminar topics throughout the weekend included fear and performance anxiety management as well as a Q&A session with keynote speaker and clinician Boyd Martin.

Britt Sabbah's Saint Louie shows off his spoils from a successful 2015. Photo via Britt on Facebook.

Britt Sabbah’s Saint Louie shows off his spoils from a successful 2015. Photo via Britt on Facebook.

We’re looking for reader submissions on the Trifecta Event! If you attended and would like to submit a clinic report, we’d love to share it with our readers! You can email it to [email protected].

SmartPak Presents ‘Ask A Non-Rider’

By on Jan 25, 2016 1:00 pm -

We know horse equipment looks weird to the ordinary human. We get it. SmartPak does, too, and they decided to make an entire new video series on this concept. They’ve started the series by presenting some non-riders with a sleazy. From there, the non-riders try to figure out exactly what the item is.

The responses are pretty hilarious — a tutu for horses, yoga outfit for horses, swimwear … the list goes on. Enjoy!

Major Snowstorm Continues to Wreak Havoc on East Coast

By on Jan 25, 2016 9:00 am -
Phyllis Dawson's crew digs their barn out of 39 inches of snow. Photo via Phyllis on Facebook. Phyllis Dawson's crew digs their barn out of 39 inches of snow. Photo via Phyllis on Facebook.

So. Much. Snow. That seems to be the theme of the weekend as #Snowpocalypse2016 slammed the East Coast that has claimed as many as 14 lives and left thousands digging out from beneath huge snow drifts.

One of the biggest concerns with this much snow is the collapsing of roofs under the additional weight. Horse people all over have been working hard to keep snow cleared from their roofs to the best of their ability. A barn in Poolesville, Md. was reported to have partially collapsed, displacing over 30 horses.

The big dig at Summerwind Farm in Damascus.

Posted by The Equiery on Sunday, January 24, 2016

The blizzard has passed with no further snow in the immediate forecast, but it’s still left many travelers stranded and a lot of snow to dig out from underneath.

Several areas have declared a state of emergency following a shutdown of many services such as travel and road clearing due to hazardous conditions. As Monday begins, most cities are beginning to the arduous process of cleaning up.

But hey, we’re all resilient individuals. We’ve survived more than one #Snowpocalypse, and we can do it again! If you are in need of assistance with clean-up or supplies, please post in the comments here and we will get the word out for you. Stay tuned for a special edition of #EventerProblems, and let’s all stay strong!

Go Eventing.

Equestrians Band Together In Aftermath of Old Friends Barn Fire

By on Jan 24, 2016 1:00 pm -

We’re relieved to report that the horses who were in the barn that caught fire at Old Friends retirement farm in Kentucky were safely evacuated yesterday. Blood-Horse is reporting that Alphabet Soup and Archie’s Echo were in the barn at the time of the fire and were brought to safety.

The horses were led to safety this cold January morning by a brave farm volunteer who went into the burning structure…

Posted by Old Friends on Saturday, January 23, 2016

The fire came on top of the massive winter storm that has left many feet of snow in its wake, and firefighters had to struggle through snow drifts to get to the fire.

In a press release issued yesterday, Old Friends confirmed that no horses or people were injured in the blaze. Now, supporters of the retirement farm have put together a GoFundMe account to assist with the costs of rebuilding the damaged and lost structures.

In operation since 2003 and founded by Michael Blowen, Old Friends supports retired Thoroughbreds and has housed the likes of Silver Charm and Game On Dude. The farm attracts many visitors who wish to visit famed horses in their retirement, and the foundation continues to support the Thoroughbred breed and the horses who need a soft place to land.

The EN team extends its best wishes and relief that no one was harmed in what is one of a horseman’s worst nightmares.

[Old Friends Barn Destroyed By Fire]

[Old Friends Support GoFundMe]

4 Things You Can Do While Surviving Snowpocalypse

By on Jan 24, 2016 9:00 am -

We get it. There are multiple feet of snow on the ground and you’re really only doing the bare minimum to get by until the thaw. Historic amounts of snow are pounding the East Coast this weekend, and horses and people alike are feeling the ill effects.

So after your horses are safely tucked away in their shelter, here are a few things you can do to pass the time while you wait for the fluffy white stuff to disappear and wonder why you didn’t hop on the Florida bus when you had the chance.

1. Get your education on.

A quiet day at home is always a good opportunity to learn something new. While it may be too brutal outside to get any riding done, you can still have your to-do list ready to go for the next time you hop aboard.

2. Can’t jump outside? No problem.

Come on, you’re telling us you’ve never set up a “course” of “jumps” in your basement? We call shenanigans. Trust us, we won’t judge you. We might even join you.

3. Better yet — grab your unsuspecting indoor pet and show them a whole new world.

4. If you’re still feeling ambitious, we challenge you to a snow horse making competition:

Go ahead and try and top that.

In all seriousness, we hope you all are staying safe and warm with your horses during this big blizzard. Spring will be here before we know it! Stay strong, eventerland.

Saturday Video from Nupafeed USA: More Sydney Olympic Footage

By on Jan 23, 2016 5:00 pm -

We’re bringing you more Sydney throwback footage thanks to our good friend, David Robinson, also known as harveywetdog on YouTube.

Last week, we looked back on Ingrid Klimke and Karen O’Connor’s brilliant rounds. Now we take a look at Matt Ryan riding Kibah Sandstone as well as Ian Stark with Jaybee.

In the end, it would be Australia who would take home the team gold medal, followed closely by Great Britain. Check out these nail biters of rounds as the final riders for each team head out on course.

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Leslie Law on Rein Slipping

By on Jan 22, 2016 5:00 pm -

Lesley Leslie Grant-Law at Eventing 18.

Posted by David Frechette on Thursday, January 21, 2016

Leslie Law has been hard at work instructing the E25 and E18 riders in Ocala for the last couple of weeks, and our good friend Thehorsepesterer has been working just as hard to bring us video footage of the clinics.

This interesting video features Leslie’s thoughts on slipping the reins over cross country fences. It’s a technique that we often see, but Leslie thoughtfully explains his opinions on it in this short lecture. As always, he’s very clear in his explanations and definitely leaves you with a lot of food for thought.

Check out Thehorsepesterer on YouTube for more from sunny Florida!

Why Is Boyd Martin Running Rampant Through Wellington?

By on Jan 22, 2016 1:00 pm -

Some ridiculous videos of Boyd Martin galloping about on foot through Wellington have surfaced on social media this week, which left us wondering why. Has he officially lost his marbles, quit riding, and decided to start on-foot eventing? Is he trying to be more zen and get in touch with his horses’ brains by spending time in their shoes?

Not quite, but he was putting on a show for an upcoming promo for the Wellington Eventing Showcase, which will be held the first weekend in February at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

“I flew down on Wednesday to do a promo with Mark (Bellissimo),” Boyd said. “It was basically me ‘interviewing’ Mark, stealing his car, and other funny things.”

Evidently, the cross country course for this year’s Showcase will run through the VIP tent, which is where the inspiration for this video came from:

Mr. Boyd Martin hahah. Another reminder of why eventers are the best group. Credit: Esp_wef snapchat.

Posted by Jj Kansas Jayhawk Sillman on Thursday, January 21, 2016

But why stop there? The ridiculousness continued as Boyd ventured to the arena:

Reasons why I love eventers haha Boyd Martin everyone! Hahaha Credit: Esp_wef on Snapchat

Posted by Jj Kansas Jayhawk Sillman on Wednesday, January 20, 2016

It was a Boyd takeover on the Equestrian Sport Productions Snapchat (follow them @esp_wef), and now we’re anxiously awaiting the finished product. Don’t forget, EN will be in attendance at the Wellington Eventing Showcase, so stay tuned for much more from Wellington!

2016 Adequan FEI NAJYRC To Be Held at Colorado Horse Park

By on Jan 22, 2016 9:00 am -
Nicole Doolittle and Tops celebrating their CCI* win at NAJYRC in 2013. Photo courtesy of Ivegotyourpicture.com. Nicole Doolittle and Tops celebrating their CCI* win at NAJYRC in 2013. Photo courtesy of Ivegotyourpicture.com.

After several years in Lexington, Ky., the Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships will move to Colorado at Colorado Horse Park. The dates of competition will be July 26-31.

Colorado Horse Park is seeing a great boom of action after also being selected as a host site for the Nutrena American Eventing Championships, alternating with Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina.

This year will be the fourth time Colorado has hosted the top Junior and Young Riders in North America, and their top quality facilities and challenging courses will surely present a true championship atmosphere.

[Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships Dates and Location Announced]

Kristine Burgess Making Her Hometown Crowd in Area IV Proud

By on Jan 20, 2016 9:00 am -

With the recent naming of the 2016 Eventing 25/18 Training Lists, there are a lot of talented young riders who are ready to take the eventing world by storm. This winter, we’ll be spotlighting the E25 and E18 riders as they prepare for their training sessions with Leslie Law.

Kristine Burgess and Regatta at NAJYRC in 2015. Photo courtesy of Brant Gamma. Kristine Burgess and Regatta at NAJYRC in 2015. Photo courtesy of Brant Gamma.

It’s never easy to grow up riding in an area that isn’t saturated with eventing. Kristine Burgess, a Minnesota native, knows this quite well, but it hasn’t stopped her from shining as a young talent of the sport through hard work and consistent results.

Kristine first began riding when she was four, joining Pony Club at the age of six and thereby getting her introduction to eventing. “At that age, I looked up to riders doing Training level,” Kristine said. “I never imagined doing that level and beyond.”

It happened, though, and she looked through the ears of both BFF Tiara and Regatta as she tackled her first FEI events. BFF Tiara, a 13-year-old Thoroughbred cross mare, was campaigned by Kristine through the CCI1* level. Together they finished in the top 20 individually at the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in 2014, Kristine’s first appearance in Kentucky.

BFF Tiara has since moved on to compete under a different rider, and now Kristine focuses on Regatta, an 8-year-old Thoroughbred/Oldenburg mare. This pair began their partnership in 2014, competing all over Area IV as well as circulating on the East coast. They also took a spin at NAJYRC in 2015, finishing 26th overall in the CH-J* division.

“We purchased (Regatta) from Ann Bower, who is the owner of the barn that I board at,” Kristine recalled. “‘Gretta’ had been at our barn since she was quite young, but I never thought she would end up being my horse. I took her to her first Training in May of 2014, and I knew that she was special.”

“She’s extremely brave and talented in the jumping phases but can be quite a challenge in dressage. Although we have made leaps and bounds in our training, she is still quite a sassy opinionated horse, but I don’t think that I could love any other horse as much as I love her.”

Kristine Burgess and Roza CMF at Roebke's Rub. Photo courtesy of D&G Photography.

Kristine Burgess and Roza CMF at Roebke’s Rub. Photo courtesy of D&G Photography.

As the E18 training sessions get underway this week, we’ll see Kristine with her mother’s horse, Roza CMF or “Rosie.” “Gretta is currently at dressage bootcamp with Adam Steffans,” Kristine explained. “She’s doing so well right now that we talked to Leslie (Law) about keeping her in this program for another month.”

While Gretta spends more time in dressage camp, Kristine will saddle up Rozie, a 9-year-old Oldenburg mare whom Kristine previously competed before she sustained an injury. She has since recovered and is “ready to put her big girl pants on for E18,” as Kristine puts it.

When the E18 training lists were announced, Kristine couldn’t quite believe it. “I was so excited when I saw that my name was on the list that I didn’t even know how to react,” she said. “Once I read through the other names on the list, I was ecstatic to see that my roommate from Becky Holder’s and great friend, Makenna Rold, also made it onto the list. We called each other nearly in tears out of excitement.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming week and beyond, Kristine is hoping to work on improving her flatwork and also getting a good handle on Leslie’s strategy for riding the technical elements of the jumping phases. For Gretta, Kristine wants to become “more consistent in the dressage ring.”

“I’d also like to hopefully make our first Intermediate debut. If this season goes well, I would love to aim for the two-star level at the end of this year or next year.”

As an Area IV member myself, it’s great to see some familiar names on the roster for this year’s E18 sessions. Good luck to Kristine and all of her teammates as they head down to Florida this week for their first session with Coach Law.

Niklas Bschorer Recounts the Best Save of 2015

By on Jan 19, 2016 1:30 pm -
Nicklas Bschorer and Tom Tom Go 3 at Luhmühlen 2015. Photo by Leslie Wylie. Nicklas Bschorer and Tom Tom Go 3 at Luhmühlen 2015. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Niklas Bschorer ran away with the reader voting for our 2015 Stickability Awards, and we caught up with this up-and-coming German rider to learn more about his heart-stopping save at Badminton aboard Tom Tom Go 3.

Nik and Tom Tom Go 3, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Tristan Bschorer, were contesting their first CCI4* at Badminton this year, and their dressage score of 42.1 put them into eighth place heading into cross country. Unfortunately, they ran into trouble early on at the main water complex.

“Jumping into the big lake, I drifted a bit to the left and the distance from the drop to the step up was too far,” Nik recalled. “He tried his heart out; he got one leg up and stumbled and there was just no way he could have jumped the fence.”

Nik hung on with everything he had as he nearly toppled off the side, all while struggling with an inflated air vest. (If you’ve ever tried to ride with a vest that’s inflated, you know how exceedingly difficult it is!) “It took until I was going back to the stables for it to deflate; it took a bloody long time!”

Nik doesn’t remember exactly what was going through his head in the moment, but he knows he did everything he could to stay on his horse. “To be honest, it was so quick,” he said. “It’s a reflex — you just try to stay on and not fall off.”

Badminton was definitely the biggest challenge Nik and Tom Tom Go 3 had faced in their career so far, and while they ultimately retired later on course, Nik is proud of his accomplishments and can’t wait to get back out there and take another crack at the event.

“We bought (Tom Tom Go) as a 5-year-old stallion from a show jumping yard in Germany. I was young when we bought him and so I couldn’t ride him at the time, so we gave him away to a friend who did some work with him,” Nik said. “I got him back when he was 8 and produced him myself through the one-, two-, three- and now four-star levels.”

After Badminton, the pair bounced back to get a four-star completion under their belt, finishing ninth in a competitive field at Luhmühlen. “He’s 13 now so it’s taken us perhaps a bit longer than some others to get where we are, but our hard work is paying off,” he said.

Nik primarily worked with his father, Wolfgang, for training in the past and also spent some time with Chris Bartle before moving on to his current position with Mark Todd. The biggest lesson he says he’s learned from Mark is the importance of staying quiet and relaxed.

“At home, it’s mostly about staying quiet,” Nik explained. “Mark has so many years of experience, so walking a course with him, he knows every approach and how to jump every fence, but at home it’s focusing on keeping relaxed.”

Nik hopes to make a return to Badminton in 2016 — and hopefully keep his airvest deflated this time! “Hopefully we will go to Badminton again, only not make the same mistake again,” Nik laughed.

Let’s once again relive the best save of 2015:

Weekly OTTB Wishlist from Cosequin

By on Jan 17, 2016 1:00 pm -

Trainer applications for the 2016 Thoroughbred Makeover are being accepted through January 31, meaning it’s not too late to enter your OTTB for a chance at this year’s competition. We’re big fans of the OTTB here, and Wylie even put together this handy guide to competition for your reference here.

In the meantime, here are a few more horses to tickle your fancy this week!

Photo via the RRP Classifieds page.

Photo via the RRP Classifieds page.

Our first featured horse this week is Lady Aries, a 2010 mare who is a half-sister to a 2015 RRP competitor. Lady Aries (Nick (CHI) – Iron Lady, by Fast Gold) raced 15 times, most recently in September of 2015, and hit the board a total of three times. Now she is ready to move on to her next career!

Lady Aries on RRP Classifieds

Photo via Second Stride Inc.

Photo via Second Stride Inc.

After placing a record 21 horses in December, Second Stride Inc. in Kentucky now has some new arrivals who are ready for their forever homes. SS Sportzy is one such horse who is a newer arrival. SS Sportzy is by Zanjero out of Debi’s Sportscar and stands about 15.1 hands. She is a 3-year-old model and has been used as a companion horse previously.

SS Sportzy on Second Stride Inc.

Photo via New Vocations.

Photo via New Vocations.

Since we’re sticking with the mare theme today, our last horse for the week is Moon, a 2008 mare standing 16.1 hands available through New Vocations in Marysville, Oh. Moon (Pleasant Tap – Affirmable, by Affirmed) has 35 races under her belt with 16 finishes in the top three. She earned just over $78,000 in her career and was retired after her last race on 11/11 in 2015.

Moon is said to be a confident mare who is coming along well in her retraining. She was retired sound with no known injuries.

Moon on New Vocations

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Ninja Warrior, Mustang Style

By on Jan 15, 2016 5:30 pm -

If you’re looking for something fun to do this winter, look no further. Elisa Wallace has been working hard with her string of mustangs to get them as used to every possible distraction as possible. It’s basically like training for American Ninja Warrior, what with all of the obstacles and challenges she puts in front of her horses!

What do you think, EN — would you try it?