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Sally Spickard

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About Sally Spickard

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

Latest Articles Written

How You Can Help Jane Sleeper after Serious Riding Accident

By on Jul 11, 2023 10:00 am -

Jane Sleeper and UN. Photo by Heather McGeer.

Olympian and 5* rider Jane Sleeper, one of the eventing community’s beloved own, needs some assistance, and we’ve pulled together some resources on how to do so.

Jane needs little introduction to the EN community: she’s perhaps best recently known for her beaming smile as she pinged around Kentucky after Kentucky with her self-produced and scrappy mare, UN. She was also a part of the squad sent to the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 1991 Pan American Games. She’s also a well-respected coach and has produced several horses she bred herself, including a few from UN.

Near the end of May, Jane was involved in a riding accident that has left her with numerous medical costs and an inability to work, according to a GoFundMe published by Elisabeth Harpham and Kathy Dress. The fundraising page has set a target of $25,000, with just under $8,000 raised ahead of this article’s publication. Click here to view the GoFundMe.

There is also an online auction that has been organized and is now accepting bids through July 24. A wide variety of items are available, including lessons with 5* riders, entries, bodywork certificates, and tailgating passes at the Maryland 5 Star. New items are still being added, and if you’d like to donate something to the auction you may do so by contacting Niamh O’Connell. Click here to view the auction.

Additionally, Kennett Brewing Company will host an event on July 23 from 4-7 pm, and you may see some celebrity guests bartending for the cause.

We’ll do our best to keep you updated on Jane’s recovery and are pulling hard for positive news.

A Full Circle Meeting for Mai Baum at Aachen

By on Jul 7, 2023 9:00 am -

Oliver Klingebiel, nephew of Mai Baum’s breeder Gunter Gerling, accepts the LRK3DE award for winning breeder. Photo courtesy of Ellen Ahearn.

It’s quite a feat to produce a horse to the pinnacle of sport. When a horse achieves success such as a CCI5* win, the credit is rightfully distributed amongst the rider, the groom, the coaches, the owners, the support crew, and the breeders — a literal village.

In winning the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, Ellen and Alex Ahearn’s and Eric Markell’s Mai Baum earned his place in history, his longtime rider Tamie Smith also solidifying hers as the first U.S. winner of LRK3DE in nearly two decades. His breeder, Gunter Gerling of Germany, was also honored as the breeder of the winning horse.

Though Gunter Gerling has sadly passed away in the years since he chose the Holsteiner stallion Loredano to breed to his Leoni mare, Ramira, his nephew, Oliver Klingebiel, was able to connect with ‘Lexus’s’ connections over the years. When Tamie won Kentucky, she reached out to Oliver — who provided the photo below of a very young Mai Baum a few years ago after Tamie won the Fair Hill then-3* — to arrange a time for him to accept the breeder award on behalf of his uncle.

A very wee baby Mai Baum. Photo courtesy of Ellen Ahearn and Oliver Klingebiel.

That meeting happened at CHIO Aachen just last week, when Oliver and his wife drove four hours to meet Ellen and Eric as well as Tamie and Lexus. It was a meaningful award and a special full-circle reunion of sorts for all of Mai Baum’s connections.

A full circle reunion! Photo courtesy of Ellen Ahearn.

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum finished third individually at CHIO Aachen and were members of Team USA, which collected silver in the team SAP Cup competition.

Tuesday Video Break: ‘You Got It, Pal’

By on Jul 4, 2023 2:00 pm -

Can’t see the embedded Instagram post above? Click here to watch the video directly on Instagram.

You don’t *really* know if you have a 5* horse until, well, you’re out there on a 5* cross country track doing the damn thing. Boyd Martin minted two new 5* horses at Luhmühlen’s 5* earlier this month in the Annie Goodwin Syndicate’s Fedarman B as well as the Luke 140 Syndicate’s Luke 140. Now you can get a real view between the ears as Fedarman B or “Bruno” as he’s known at home makes his debut.

Missing more of the Luhmühlen rehashing? You can view the Horse & Country Luhmühlen highlight show that just launched via your H&C+ subscription here!

Three 4th of July Deals to Snag from EN’s Sponsors

By on Jul 4, 2023 10:30 am -

Call me jaded, but many a major holiday brings with it its share of retail sales, and I am here for it. I’ve spied a few deals from EN’s stable of sponsors happening this week in honor of Independence Day and/or summer, so I thought it useful to share with you so you can take advantage for yourself!

Achieve Equine:

Today (July 4) only, purchases over $20 on flairstrips.com will receive a free USA Flag FLAIR Strip.

Breeches.com

Breeches.com is a perfect solution for the rider on a budget or the eventer just getting started and feeling the pain of having to have three separate outfits for each show (who came up with this rule, anyway, a rich person?). Now through July 10, you can shop the Breeches.com Summer Sale with items as low as $5 and a whole slew of other items available in this warehouse sweep.

In honor of the 4th, if you make a purchase from the Breeches.com Fourth of July collection, you’ll receive a free fly bonnet. You can also save 20% on top brands such as Tipperary, Lettia, Le Mieux, and WeatherBeeta!

SmartPak

SmartPak can always be counted on for a great sale, and this week you can use code 4JULY23 to save 20% on your order, plus receive a $50 gift card with your order of $150 or more.

20% off, plus a FREE $50 Gift Card with orders over $150! Use code 4JULY23

Germany Unveils Long List for 2023 FEI European Eventing Championships

By on Jul 4, 2023 9:00 am -

Following competition at both the German National Championships at Luhmühlen as well as CHIO Aachen this month, Germany has named a long list of athletes from which the federation will select its eventual team for the FEI European Eventing Championships. This cycle’s Championships will be held in France at Haras du Pin, August 9-13.

Definite entries are due on July 24. Many nations will wait to name their teams until after the next leg of the FEI Nations Cup at Haras de Jardy (FRA), July 13-16.

The German long list has been divided into three Blocks, ranging from multi-medalists to top young riders who are ready to have a shot at the big leagues.

Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Block 1

  • Sandra Auffarth (Ganderkesee/Landesverband Weser-Ems) with Viamant du Matz
  • Malin Hansen-Hotopp (Gransebieth/MEV) with Carlitos Quidditch K
  • Michael Jung (Horb/BAW) with fischerChipmunk FRH or Kilcandra Ocean Power
  • Jérôme Robiné (Warendorf/Darmstadt/HES) with Black Ice
  • Christoph Wahler (Bad Bevensen/HAN) with Carjatan S

Emma Brüssau and Dark Desire GS. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Block 2

  • Nicolai Aldinger (Egestorf/HAN) with Timmo
  • Calvin Böckmann (Warendorf/Düsseldorf/RHL) with The Phantom of the Opera
  • Emma Brüssau (Warendorf/Schriesheim/BAW) with Dark Desire GS
  • Libussa Lübbeke (Warendorf/Wingst/HAN) with Caramia

Anna Siemer and Lillybelle EA. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Block 3

  • Arne Bergendahl with Checkovich
  • Calvin Böckmann with Altair de la Cense
  • Libussa Lübbeke with Darcy F
  • Elena Otto-Erley (Warendorf/WEF) with Finest Fellow
  • Anna Siemer (Salzhausen/HAN) with Lillybelle EA

EN’s coverage of the FEI European Championships for Eventing is brought to you with support from Kentucky Performance Products.

SAP Hale Bob OLD Formally Retired at CHIO Aachen

By on Jul 2, 2023 9:00 am -

Click here if the Instagram post above does not display in your browser.

The storied eventing career of SAP Hale Bob OLD (Helikon xx – Goldige, by Noble Champion) came to a formal close at CHIO Aachen as Ingrid Klimke celebrated the two-time Aachen 4*-S winner (2017, 2019) in a ceremony following conclusion of the eventing competition Saturday afternoon.

The achievements earned by “Bobby” and Ingrid during their time together are numerous: four individual podium finishes at Aachen, a team Olympic medal (silver – 2016), a WEG individual medal (bronze – 2018), and four European Championships medals (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021) decorate their trophy cabinet, to name just a few.

SAP Hale Bob OLD began his international eventing career in 2010, having come to Ingrid’s stable as a five-year-old having formerly done a bit of show jumping. It was a task of development, both physically and from a partnership standpoint, for Ingrid and Bobby — Ingrid even admits initially considering selling him on as a horse for someone else. In the end, it was fortuitous that she stuck it out, and a lesson for all of us who find ourselves feeling frustrated in our own development process!

Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD take Aachen. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

You can read much, much more about Bobby and his incredible career in Tilly’s tribute published when Ingrid originally retired the gelding from competition following an injury picked up in 2022. We’re sure he enjoyed his last hurrah at the place where he saw so much success — though he may have been wondering why on earth he was kept from jumping the cross country jumps in the arena!

Happy well-earned retirement, Bobby, and thanks for the multitude of memories.

You can see some more highlights (you can turn closed captioning/subtitles on) below:

Early Bird Gets the Aachen Action: CCIO4*-S Cross Country Live Blog

By on Jul 1, 2023 3:30 am -

Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Rise and shine, all my fellow eventing nerds (and good reasonable-time-of-the-morning to all of our friends tuning in from the UK and Europe!) — it’s cross country day at one of my personal favorite events, CHIO Aachen.

If you aren’t sick of hearing us say it already, definitely add this event and its weeklong festival to your bucket list. Today’s cross country is just one small part of a World Equestrian Festival that spans all major disciplines and boats the absolute cream of the crop in terms of competition.

ANYWAY, enough poetic wishful thinking about actually being there this year — for now, I’ll settle for tuning in with you all for some cross country day fun.

The course designer here at Aachen is Rüdiger Schwarz, assisted by Kai-Steffen Meier, and he’s built a 4*-S track of 25 numbered fences, comprising of 39 jumping efforts. The optimum time is 6 minutes and 55 seconds – that works out at an average speed of 570 meters per minute. You can get a bit of a view of the track here.

In most countries, you’ll want to grab a subscription to ClipMyHorse.TV to be able to view the action both live and on-demand. FYI, your USEF account connection to ClipMyHorse.TV will not grant you access to Aachen live streaming – you must have a separate subscription to CMH (monthly or annual). Click here to see ClipMyHorse.TV subscription options.

How will today’s events fit with the form? Follow along with EN’s Form Guide here.

Keep scrolling to see my live blog, and keep this page refreshed periodically for the latest updates. Here’s to safe rides to all, and Go Eventing!

EN’s Coverage of CHIO Aachen is brought to you with support from Kentucky Performance Products and Ocala Horse Properties.

CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

6:54 a.m. ET: And that will do us for cross country at Aachen. Yasmin Ingham, who was the original leader after dressage, will claim the individual title here with Banzai du Loir, all but stamping her ticket to Europeans (with which horse though?!). Michael Jung finishes second with fischerChipmunk, and Tamie Smith will take third overall with Mai Baum (with Liz and Phillip not far behind in 5th and 6th). Team Germany will take the SAP Cup, followed by Team USA and Team GB. This is the first British winner EVER at Aachen, and what better way to do it than with the reigning World Champion! Here’s a look at the final finishing scores — and stay tuned for Tilly’s report to come later today!

6:51 a.m. ET: Tom is currently riding for both a British individual and team win here – he’s got about 4 seconds to afford to make this happen. OH NO! He has a 20 at the B of the Sunken Road, and it will be Yasmin Ingham who wins the glory individually today! That will also drop GB out of the gold spot on the leaderboard, I believe, moving the U.S. up to second.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

6:50 a.m. ET: Oh my goodness – Michael Jung picks up just one second too many, guaranteeing Britain will win for the very first time here – either Yasmin Ingham or Tom McEwen! Here’s a quick look at Michael through the corners at 18:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

6:48 a.m. ET: Michael is through the final water, Tom is into the Rolex water with JL Dublin.

6:46 a.m. ET: Ah man. The wheels fall off a bit for Tim Price and Falco, who pick up two late 20s, one each at the two final combinations. Tom McEwen and JL Dublin, overnight leaders and last of the day, are away!

6:44 a.m. ET: Tim Price and Falco are still flying! Michael is clear through the Rolex water.

6:43 a.m. ET: Will is well into time as he finishes and he will be sorely disappointed about this result today. Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH are now on course.

6:40 a.m. ET: Oh no! Will has picked up 20 at the A element of the Sunken Road after Timmy slipped on the turn. What a bummer. Ah, he’ll be really kicking himself there. Now, for the team, this means Phillip Dutton’s score will count and Tamie’s will be the top U.S. individual score. Germany has taken over the top spot, so it will come down to Michael Jung’s finish with Chipmunk. Tim Price and Falco are clear through the Rolex water. Will was given a 40 for crossing his tracks on the long route at the Sunken Road.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

6:38 a.m. ET: Will may not have much team pressure at the moment, but he is riding for a shot at the individual podium here this weekend. He’s only about 4 penalties out of first place as it stands right now.

6:36 a.m. ET: Kevin McNab and Miss Pepperpot run into trouble again at the A of the Sunken Road at 16. Gireg le Coz has been Eliminated for missing the jump at 21. Will is clear through the Rolex water complex.

6:34 a.m. ET: Gireg le Coz and Aisprit de la Loge pick up a late 20 and are the first to have trouble at the angled combination at 21. Will Coleman is away with Off the Record.

6:30 a.m. ET: The final pair for Australia, Kevin McNab and Miss Pepperpot are away. Next to see will be 2021 Aachen winners. Will Coleman and Off the Record, who will have little pressure riding on their shoulders with three clear rounds from the U.S. so far. Sadly Miss Pepperpot picks up 20 at the A element of 5, similarly to teammates Bill Levett and Sligo Candy Cane.

6:29 a.m. ET: Joseph Murphy and Calmaro were evidently given 15 penalties for the out of the sunken road at 16, but it was so quickly removed that I never saw it on the scoreboard. They’re home clear with time. Gireg le Coz has a bold ride through the Normandy Bank complex.

6:28 a.m. ET:

6:25 a.m. ET: Robin Godel is the latest to just get the wider part of the second corner at 18B after taking a direct line to make the three strides happen. Grandeur du Lully CH slides over the second corner a little, and they’re given question marks for the score there. I think those will be removed pretty quickly, from my view. Joseph Murphy is clear through 14 and French rider Gireg le Coz joins us now with Aisprit de la Loge.

6:24 a.m. ET: Last out for the Irish, Joseph Murphy and Camaro are away. Really love this horse, just a real “true event horse” look about him, if you know what I’m talking about.

6:23 a.m. ET: A peek at the environment in the Aachen stadium:

6:20 a.m. ET: A look at updated team standings:

6:18 a.m. ET: Yasmin is home with just three seconds of time! She’ll finish the weekend on a score of 27.1 and takes the clubhouse lead. Robin Godel is the final Swiss rider to start the fourth rotation, aboard Grandeur de Lully CH.

6:16 a.m. ET: Yasmin Ingham is clear through the brush corners at 18. We may see some question marks for their jump at 18B, but we’ll see. Here’s a look at her and Banzai du Loir through the Sunken Road.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

6:13 a.m. ET: Another thing to remember here is that some of these pairs, particularly the Brits and Germans, will be looking ahead to the European Championships, which means not every round will be one that is used to chase the time and the glory this weekend. Sandra Auffarth is going to pick up enough time to give the U.S. the top spot on the podium!

6:12 a.m. ET: Looks like the way things are shaking out, the U.S. will finish at least on the podium as a team, and they’re currently in silver position. They could yet improve this stead if Germany picks up any jump penalties or a significant amount of time.

6:11 a.m. ET: Caroline Powell is home with 7.6 time faults. Yasmin is away!

6:10 a.m. ET: Catching up a little — things move fast here! — Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz, 2022 winners at Aachen, are on course for Germany and New Zealand’s Caroline Powell is making her way home on a clear with Greenacres Special Cavalier. Reigning World Champ Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir will be the next starters.

6:08 a.m. ET: Tamie is home clear with 2.8 time! She’ll finish at least in the top 10 on a final score of 33.7 and keeps Team USA in the running to at least hang on to third as a team.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

6:05 a.m. ET: Tamie is probably going to get into time here as well; they’re approaching the final combination before the arena and are clear at 21.

6:03 a.m. ET: Shenae Lowings has also been given 15 now for fence 18. An influential one this year! Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier are on course and clear through 4. Tamie is clear through 16.

6:01 a.m. ET: Haven’t seen her yet, but Tamie is on course and clear through 6. Shenae Lowings is clear through 16, and Ben is home clear with some time.

5:58 a.m. ET: Ben Massie has taken some interesting and economic lines here, so we’ll see if he can get a little closer to that time. Australia’s Shenae Lowings is on course and at the Rolex water with the OTTB Bold Venture. Tamie Smith will be the next starter.

5:55 a.m. ET: Cathal is another pair to not hang around one bit, but yet will still get into time faults as he heads to the arena questions. No one has made the time here at Aachen in at least the last two years, to give you an idea of how influential it is.

5:54 a.m. ET: Clear jumping with time for Melody Johner and Toubleu de Rueire for the Swiss. We’re also joined by our next French rider, Benjamin Massie and Edition Fonroy. Cathal Daniels is clear through 15. We are just one more rider away from our next U.S. pair, Kentucky winners Tamie Smith and Mai Baum.

5:50 a.m. ET: Great Britain drops into bronze position now — pending Gemma’s 15 penalties, if those were to be removed. Cathal and Rioghan Rua are clear through 5.

5:49 a.m. ET: Cathal Daniels and the #supermare Rioghan Run are next away.

5:48 a.m. ET: Next out for the Swiss and clear through the water complex at 8-10 are Melody Johner and Toubleu de Rueire. Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI are making their way towards the arena now.

5:47 a.m. ET: And now the Germans go into gold as Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI have a very surprising 20 at the Normandy Bank. This is also contingent on Gemma Stevens’ 15 penalties, which are still on the scores right now.

5:45 a.m. ET: Christoph and Carjatan S are among the quickest of the day, stopping the clock at 6:59 just four seconds over. This will slot him in front of Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C and also keep the pressure on for the current silver-placed Germans.

5:43 a.m. ET: Also on course now are the next for the British, Kristy Chabert and Classic VI, who were also at Kentucky this spring.

5:41 a.m. ET: For Germany, Christoph Wahler and Carjatan S is having a cracking round thus far and is clear through the Normandy Bank at 11. Here’s a look at Jonelle’s tumble, which she valiantly tried to save!

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

5:40 a.m. ET: Here’s an updated look at the team standings in the SAP Cup competition:

5:37 a.m. ET: Liz is clear through the brush corners at 18. It looks like Jonelle has fallen from Mclaren at the Rolex water at 9. Noooo! This will be a big blow for the Kiwi team. Liz Halliday is nearly home, she’s going to have several seconds of time as Mikki looks quite strong still. She stops the clock 11 seconds. This clear, plus Jonelle’s fall, puts the U.S. back into a podium spot. Liz will take the clubhouse lead on a score of 36.5.

5:36 a.m. ET: Here’s a replay of what happened with Liz at fence 6:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

5:35 a.m. ET: Jonelle Price and Mclaren are next away, riding the wave of a stellar show jumping round yesterday. Liz is through the Rolex water and clear through 11. Bill Levett finishes with the 20 penalties and a little over 40 seconds of time.

5:33 a.m. ET: Iiiinteresting — I am going off commentary here as I didn’t see it fully in real time, but it looks like a part of the MIM rail at the vertical MIM rail at 6 dropped when Liz jumped it. But since the top rail did not break, this should not be 11 penalties. I’ll have a GIF shortly.

5:32 a.m. ET: Carouzo Bois Maroutin slips a little on the turn to the final fence, but he and Maxime are home clear with just a bit of time. Liz Halliday-Sharp is now away for the U.S. aboard Ocala Horse Properties’ and Debbie Palmer’s Miks Master C.

5:30 a.m. ET: Patrick Ruegg’s elimination has been updated to a fall of rider instead of a fall of horse. Gemma’s 15 penalties are still present on the live scores. Maxime Liven and Carouzo Bois Maroutin have about 20 seconds as they enter the arena.

5:29 a.m. ET: Sligo Candy Cane is another to look almost a little surprised by the ditch at the coffin at 4, but he and Bill use their footwork and experience to navigate safely. Now they actually slide past the A element of 5 — perhaps just not seeing the fence in time after a quick turn? They’re clear with a hard ride on the direct route. This will drop the Australian’s pretty well out of the sights of a podium finish.

5:28 a.m. ET: 10 seconds over for Susie, plus she now has question marks for that moment at 18. Bill Levett and Sligo Candy Cane are now away for the Aussies, now without a drop score after the elimination of Bec Braitling and Caravaggio.

5:27 a.m. ET: Susie kicks out the right flag at the brush corners at 18 — honestly hard to tell in real speed if the horse’s shoulders were over the fence or off to the right.

5:25 a.m. ET: Next out for the French are Maxime Livio and Carouzo Bois Marotin, who some U.S. fans will recognize as one of the top 10 finishers at Kentucky this spring. Here’s a belated look at the speedy Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

5:23 a.m. ET: After a couple of hairy moments, now it looks like Patrick Ruegg and Fifty Fifty have fallen at fence 15, a Trakehner fence. It looks like they are both up and walking away.

5:21 a.m. ET: This could be important – Gemma comes home just 3 seconds over, but she’s been given 15 for a missed flag at 18B. We’ll see if that stands! The next of the Irish is away in Susie Berry with Kilcandra Capitol.

5:20 a.m. ET: Gemma gives Flash Cooley some vocal encouragement as she comes through the angled combination at 21. She’s still flying as she comes into the arena and is going to be fairly close to the time.

5:19 a.m. ET: For the Swiss, Patrick Ruegg and Fifty Fifty hesitate a little at the ditch at 4A, but they’ve over it without penalties. Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley should be making their way into the final part of the track at the arena now.

5:17 a.m. ET: Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K makes her smashing Aachen debut complete with just 5.6 time collected today. Nicely done!

5:15 a.m. ET: Gemma is certainly not out to hang around and have a walk in the park today, and she’s got Flash Cooley thinking forward and bold from the beginning. Malin lives a little dangerously at the Sunken Road but gets away with it!

5:14 a.m. ET: Clarke Johnstone is home with a little more time than Phillip. That puts Clarke and Menlo Park onto a finishing score of 45.5. Next out for the Brits are Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley. Malin is clear through 15.

5:13 a.m. ET: 5.2 time and a total score of 38.0 for Phillip and Z, confirmed.

5:12 a.m. ET: Phillip’s time is currently listed as 10:03, which definitely isn’t right so we’ll see if he actually got a little closer to the optimum. Germany is on course now, with Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Quidditch K clear at the Rolex water.

5:10 a.m. ET: Phillip is clear and adds 15 seconds of time; he will have wanted to go a little quicker, but that’s a good score to go on for the U.S., currently the drop score for the Americans.

5:09 a.m. ET: First of the Kiwis is underway, Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park. Phil is clear through 21 and should be in the arena by now.

5:06 a.m. ET: Ah no! Bec and Caravaggio part ways at these tricky corners at 18, when they just got off their line and “Ernie” twisted a little in the air to make the wider part of the corner happen. Bec tumbles out the right door and she looks no worse for the wear but will be bummed to end her first trip overseas this way. Here’s a look at Phillip into the Rolex water:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

5:04 a.m. ET: Bec is clear through 13, while she’s joined by the first U.S. team rider, Phillip Dutton and Z.

5:01 a.m. ET: U.S.-based Australians Bec Braitling and Caravaggio II are now on course, making their Aachen and senior squad debut this weekend.

5:00 a.m. ET: Sarah Ennis and the very keen Action Lady M are home with no jump penalties added, coming home about 35 seconds over the clock. Here’s a look at this pair through the penultimate combination at 21:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

4:59 a.m. ET: Nadja Minder now has 15 penalties showing on her card at fence 18A, the first of two brush corners.

4:57 a.m. ET: Nadja Minder and Aquila B puts in a good round for the Swiss, collecting just a few time penalties to go onto her mark. Right now, she’s the drop score for the Swiss but that could change depending on how the rest of her teammates’ rides go. For France, Luc Chateau is away with Cocorico de L’Ebat.

4:55 a.m. ET: The first Irish rider, Sarah Ennis and Action Lady M, are on course now and navigating the big, circular water at fences 8-10 (that’s how you know you spend a lot of time at one complex, when there are 3 questions in one place!).

4:53 a.m. ET: Frida Anderson’s 15 penalties have been removed, which puts her into the clubhouse lead on a score of 39.7.

4:51 a.m. ET: Cross country adrenaline, in one video:

4:50 a.m. ET: Frida Anderson adds 4.8 time to her score as she crosses the finish. We now move into the team rotations, with Switzerland first of the bunch, sending Nadja Minder and Aquila B first away. Here’s a look at team standings ahead of cross country:

4:48 a.m. ET: Frida Anderson and Box Leo have question marks on their score box for fence 8, likely the B element of the water combination, a narrow arrowhead in the water.

4:46 a.m. ET: Lara is the quickest of the bunch so far, stopping the clock just 2.8 time penalties’ worth ahead of the optimum time. Belgium will be eyeballing the riders here as potential European Championships representatives as they aim for Paris qualification this year — and Lara just made more than a small statement.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

4:45 a.m. ET: Lara Liedekerke-Meier also takes a left-handed line to the second corner at 18 with Ducati d’Arville, jumping just the wider part of the second corner with a big effort.

4:42 a.m. ET: A couple finishes to update you on — Jarno Verwimp and Mahalia are home clear, as are Hector Payne and Dynasty. Frida Anderson and Box Leo as well as Lara Liedekerke-Meier and Ducati d’Arville are out on course and both clear so far.

4:36 a.m. ET: Hector Payne and Dynasty, the first of our British riders, are the next away. Church’lle rattles the MIM-clipped vertical at the final combination, but it stays up and they’re home safely with about 51 seconds of time.

4:35 a.m. ET: I didn’t see either on the live feed, but Arthur Marx has been assessed 15 for a missed flag at 12B and a 20 penalty incurrence at 16B.

4:33 a.m. ET: Dan and Carmango are safely home, and he’ll be more than irritated about that 20 but he still pumps his fist with a finish at his first CHIO Aachen!

4:32 a.m. ET: Also on course now are France’s Arthur Marx and Church’lle as well as Jarno Verwimp and Mahalia.

4:29 a.m. ET: Dan and Carmango have picked up a 20 at the brush arrowhead at 16A, part of the Sunken Road. This is a tricky area of the course, that sits right in the middle of a combined driving obstacle, and it looks like “Fritz” just didn’t quite lock on to the strategically narrow and easy-to-miss fence.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

4:27 a.m. ET: Dan Kreitl is clear through the ring-around-the-rosey Rolex water at 9 and 10.

4:27 a.m. ET: You can see how gray it’s looking out there today in this shot of Samantha Lissington at fence 5.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

4:25 a.m. ET: And here is our first U.S. rider! Dan Kreitl and Carmango are on their first big overseas trip and represent the U.S. as individuals this weekend. Nicolai Aldinger and Timmo are home with about 29 seconds of time.

4:23 a.m. ET: Ricker Ridge Sooty has to get his front end up quick to nip over the MIM Rail at 6, with Samantha glancing back to make sure the rail has stayed up (it did).

4:22 a.m. ET: Our next individual representatives to see will be New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington with Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ. I really hope his barn name is Sooty.

4:20 a.m. ET: Timmo leaves a bit of a knee jumping into the Rolex water but he’s safely clear through here. I know almost nothing about this horse, but he looks like a good, agreeable type that I’d quite like to ride around a big track like this.

4:19 a.m. ET: It looks like both Calvin and Altair de la Cense both took a tumble at the A clement of the Rolex water, but they both look to be ok. Our next starters are Nicolai Aldinger and Timmo for Germany.

4:18 a.m. ET: Looks like Calvin and Altair de la Cense will end their day much earlier than planned with a parting of ways at the Rolex water at fence 10. Rebecca-Juana Gerken and TSF Solara are home clear with some time, but they were also pretty speedy especially as one of the earlier pairs to see.

4:15 a.m. ET: Anna Siemer shows us that the time may be gettable today, stopping the clock just a few seconds off the optimum. Calvin Böckmann and Altair de la Cense are our next to see and our penultimate Germany individual pair.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

4:13 a.m. ET: FRH Butts Avondale jumps more the left side of the righthand corner at 18, and Anna’s foot actually hits the white flag as a result. She gives FRH Butts Avondale a big pat, and they actually aren’t too bad on time here with about 35 seconds to get home as she enters the arena. The rain is a little heavier now!

4:11 a.m. ET: Anna Siemer and FRH Butts Avondale are clear through the Rolex water complex at the top of the track and are joined by Rebecca-Juana Green and TSF Solara — who has a U.S. sire in the great Windfall II. Pathfinders Lubissa Lubekke has been assessed 15 penalties for missing a flag at this time, at the right-handed corner at 18B.

4:07 a.m. ET: Next to see as Lubissa makes her way home via the questions in the arena — she’s clear with about 34 seconds of time — are Germany’s Anna Siemer with FRH Butts Avondale. They also rely on a bit of footwork to navigate the early coffin at 4.

4:04 a.m. ET: Lubissa is having to ride in some morning rain, but it’s not enough to have a huge effect on the going right now. This track, with its notoriously tough time, is a tricky balance between riding forward and boldly, while also maintaining the ability to control and turn tightly. Not every horse will be suited for this track, but the ones that will will really relish the challenge.

4:01 a.m. ET: And we are officially underway as Libussa is away and has a bit of a rough ride through the first combination at 4AB but is on her way!

3:59 a.m. ET: The CrossCountryApp preview of the 4*-S course here is now available! Click here for a fence-by-fence preview. Our first riders to see today will be the individual riders, with the team rotation starting a little later. Germany has the largest number of individual slots as host nation, and we’ll see a handful of their riders out first beginning with Libussa Lübbeke and Caramia 34.

Your Guide to the Teams and Competitors at CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S

By on Jun 30, 2023 8:37 am -

There’s plenty of time left to get to know the field of competitors at this week’s CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S, part of the World Equestrian Festival held each summer in Germany. It’s a spectacle to put on your bucket list, if there ever was one, giving off Championship vibes and featuring competition from the best horses and riders in the world.

Eventing is just one sport featured at Aachen each year, and we’ll have full stories from the action – which for us kicks off on Friday, with dressage and show jumping, followed by Saturday’s cross country action. You can follow along live on Clip My Horse TV all weekend — click here if you missed our Live Stream Guide.

We’ve done some digging on the competitors you’ll see this week, so without further ado take a deep dive into our Form Guide. Enjoy, and Go Eventing!

EN’s Coverage of CHIO Aachen is brought to you with support from Kentucky Performance Products and Ocala Horse Properties.

CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

AUSTRALIA
Team:

  • Rebecca Braitling and Caravaggio II
    Twelve-year-old British Sport Horse gelding (Vangelis-S – Courtesan, by Handstreich). Owned by Arnell Sporthorses.
  • Bill Levett and Sligo Candy Cane
    Ten-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Sligo Candy Boy – Castlemly Lass, by Visa Aldatus Z). Owned by Rider and Elizabeth Murdoch.
  • Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture
    Thirteen-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Devaraja – Royal Zam, by Zamoff). Owned by Rider, Leanne, and Mark Lowings.

[Jump & Drive]

  • Andrew Hoy and Cadet de Beliard – Eleven-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Eleven-year-old Selle Francais gelding), owned by Odaria and Shane Finemore

Bec Braitling and Caravaggio II. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

With Olympic qualification secured at Millstreet earlier this month, Australia can take a bit of a breath now and focus on cultivating its to-be-named squad for Paris around this time next year.

One rider who had a hand in earning that qualification berth is Shenae Lowings, who also won the Millstreet CCIO3*-L qualifier division individually with her World Championships partner Bold Venture (fun fact: Bold Venture is a former racehorse who raced under the name Hell On Wheels and who Shenae first found in a Facebook ad – as if you needed any further excuse to keep window-shopping OTTBs, you didn’t hear it from us). She’ll come in to Aachen with a strong chance to finish well individually.

Accompanying Shenae are Australian team veteran Bill Levett and the 10-year-old Sligo Candy Cane, currently in his second year of 4* competition. This pair did have some uncharacteristic trouble at Bramham this year, but will be looking to rebound nicely and make a solid bid for Australia’s first Aachen podium since 2019.

Making her Australian squad debut is California-based Rebecca “Bec” Braitling with Arnell Sporthorses’ Caravaggio II. This pair received word of their call-up on fairly short notice, but Bec is nothing short of #superwoman and together with her clan was able to get “Ernie” on a flight to Germany, basing with dressage wizard Joann Hinneman in the lead-up to this week. Word on the street is she’s also got secret weapon/good friend Tamie Smith helping her out on the flat, which would be the phase Ernie would prefer to discard if given the option.

This mix of veteran and up-and-coming experience, both on the part of horse and of rider, represents a positive-looking future for the Australians, who stand to have some depth to choose from in a year’s time.

BELGIUM

  • Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Ducati d’Arville
    Thirteen-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Diarado – Pricilla, by Perpignon). Owned by BG Five Star Eventers sprl u.de Liedekerke.
  • Jarno Verwimp and Mahalia
    Eleven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Elvis ter Putte – Cohiba, by Condrieu xx). Owned by Rider.

[Jump & Drive]

  • Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Pumpin de la Liniere
    Eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Gemini xx – Litchi de la liniere, by Filou de Muze). Owned by Joris de Brabander, Five Star Eventers SPRL, Jeroen Lissens.

Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier gives Ducati d’Arville a kiss. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Aachen is one event to pick up an MER for individual Paris qualification, and Belgium will be looking to bolster both the strength of its individual riders as well as that of its teams – it currently holds the lead in FEI Nations Cup competition, and will qualify for a team berth if they can manage to hang on to that through five more legs. Belgium sent individual riders to the last Olympics in Tokyo (2021).

Lara de Liedekerke-Meier was one representative of Belgium present at the last Olympics, and she also competed at World Championships in Italy last fall. She’s aiming for another Championship berth this year, with Europeans looming in August. This weekend, she’s got the 13-year-old Ducati d’Arville, who was 13th at Aachen last year, ready to go for an impression with another year of experience under his belt. She’s also brought her younger horse, 8-year-old Pumpkin de la Liniere, for a shot at the popular night class, the Jump & Drive.

Also looking to make a stamp for the Europeans selectors is 23-year-old Jarno Verwimp, who’s making a bid for his first Senior Europeans squad with the Belgian mare Mahalia (though you could say they just skipped over that bump en route to repping Belgium at Pratoni last year). If they can make a strong bid this week on the notoriously championship-caliber Aachen track, the result will be a nice complement to the competitive results this pair has collected so far.

FRANCE
Team:

  • Luc Chateau and Cocorico de L’Ebat
    Eleven-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Propriano de L’ebat – Nela des Bruyeres). Owned by Rider and Caroline Queval.
  • Gireg le Coz and Aisprit de la Loge
    Thirteen-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Quppydam des Horts – Image de la Loge, by Dollar du Murier). Owned by Augustin and Frederique Grand.
  • Maxime Livio and Carouzo Bois Marotin
    Eleven-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Kannan – Orchidee de Mai, by Flipper d’Elle). Owned by S.C. SOIXANTE SEIZE ET COMPAGNIE, Gilles Saiagh, Celine Frontreau.
  • Benjamin Massie and Edition Fonroy
    Nine-year-old Selle Francais mare (L’Arc de Triomphe – Starlette Fonroy, by Quick Star). Owned by Rider and Jean-Luc van Hoenacker.

Individual:

  • Arthur Marx and Church’lle
    Eleven-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Birkhof’s Grafenstolz – Ile D’ohe, Apache d’Adriers). Owned by Philippe Marx.

Maxime Livio and Carouzo Bois Marotin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The French riders will be looking to repeat or improve on their third-place finish here at Aachen in 2022, all while sharpening their tools for the Europeans and, on the horizon, an Olympics on their home soil.

Luc Chateau, who also runs the riding school at Haras des Chateaux and breeds horses alongside his wife, Caroline, brings forward the 11-year-old Cocorico de L’ebat, who’s already shown himself to have the prowess for the Long format events and who can also be handy at these twistier Short formats.

Also appearing on the French team is Gireg le Coz and Aisprit de le Loge, who’s impressed with two top-20 finishes at Badminton. This pair didn’t have a great trip to Aachen on their last trip here in 2021, parting ways on cross country, but two more seasons of experience together will have solidified their preparedness for the task ahead.

Sixth at Kentucky, Maxime Livio and the 11-year-old Carouzo Bois Marotin have already been long-listed for Paris (along with their other teammates this weekend) and will join Benjamin Massie and the 9-year-old Edition Fonroy to round out the French team. Edition Fonroy would be the greenest on paper at the 4* level of the bunch, but has some impressive results in two 4* starts, finishing cross country clear and inside the time at both.

GREAT BRITAIN

Team:

  • Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI
    Fourteen-year-old Anglo-European mare (Calvaro – India Summer). Owned by Carole Summers, John Johnston, Kate Ward.
  • Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir
    Twelve-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Nouma D’Auzay – Gerboise du Cochet, by Livarot). Owned by The Sue Davies Fund.
  • Tom McEwen and JL Dublin
    Twelve-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Diarado – Zarinna, by Cantano). Owned by Mr & Mrs J Lambert and Mrs D Johnston.
  • Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley
    Eleven-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (CSF Mr Kroon – Castlefield Ruby, by OBOS Quality). Owned by Pru Dawes.

Individual:

  • Hector Payne and Dynasty
    Fifteen-year-old KWPN gelding (Whitesnake – Cleopatra, by Calvados). Owned by Jeremy & Judith Skinner,David & Margie Hall.

A super-speedy Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Defending Aachen winners twice over, Great Britain fields a very experienced team well-capable of topping the podium this weekend. The Brits will also have Europeans on the mind, with three the just-named long list riders (Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir, Tom McEwen and JL Dublin) competing in Germany aiming to make the final squad.

Two of the aforementioned riders are also reigning medalists – Tom McEwen earned team gold and individual silver in Tokyo, and most will know Yasmin Ingham as the current World Champion as determined in Italy last fall. Yasmin will ride her Pratoni partner, Banzai du Loir, while Tom will pilot Kentucky runner-up, JL Dublin.

British Senior team veteran Gemma Stevens – who also just came 12th overall in the prestigious Al’Shira’aa Hickstead Derby over the last weekend, which I have to say has to be excellent prep for Aachen – will ride the 11-year-old Flash Cooley, who was second in the 4*-L at Millstreet at the start of June (and who also was formerly campaigned by U.S. rider Liz Halliday-Sharp). Rounding out the squad will be Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI, who also delivered a strong performance at Millstreet, finishing second individually in the 4*-S.

The team will be joined by individual rider Hector Payne and Dynasty, an experienced pair making their first start at Aachen.

GERMANY

  • Nicolai Aldinger and Timmo
    Thirteen-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Timolino – Windgold, by Carlos DZ). Owned by Judith and Michael Spethmann.
  • Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz
    Fourteen-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Diamant de Semilly – Heralina, by Voltigeur le Malin). Owned by Nikolaus Prinz von Croy.
  • Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K
    Eleven-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Quiwi Dream – Amsterdam, by San Patrignano Cassini). Owned by Bodel Ipsen.
  • Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH
    Fifteen-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Contendro I – Havanna, by Heraldik). Owned by DOKR, Klaus and Sabine Fischer, Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff.
  • Christoph Mahler and Carjatan S
    Fourteen-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Clearway – Kajenna, by Galant Vert). Owned by Rider and Lena Thoenies.
  • Calvin Böckmann and Altair de la Cense
    Thirteen-year-old Selle Francais mare (Jenny de la Cense – Ninja, by Harlem). Owned by Jason, Liam, and Simone Bockmann.
  • Rebecca-Juana Green and TSF Solara
    Ten-year-old Trakehner mare (Windfall II – Sexta Z, by Birkhof’s Graefenstolz). Owned by Christof Zimmermann.
  • Libussa Lübbeke and Caramia 34
    Thirteen-year-old Hanoverian mare (Comte – Floretta, by Fabriano). Owned by Annelie & Dr. Martin Lübbeke.
  • Anna Siemer and FRH Butt’s Avondale
    Sixteen-year-old Hanoverian mare (Nobre xx – Heraldik’s Amelie, by Heraldik). Owned by Prof. Dr. Volker Steinkraus.

[Jump & Drive]

  • Calvin Böckmann and Crunchip M
    Fourteen-year-old Rheinlander mare (Cassini Boy Junior – Finess M, by Feiner Stern). Owned by Liam and Simone Bockmann.
  • Anna Siemer and Pirate Smile
    Seven-year-old Hanoverian mare (Cicero Z Van Paemel – Pialotta, by Heraldik). Owned by Detlev Elgeti.

Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K (GER). Photo by Tilly Berendt.

As host nation, the Germans receive the most slots in the CCIO4*-S SAP Cup. Germany will be eyeballing its next Senior Europeans squad, and fields several likely members or, at least, heavy contenders this week.

Notable among the German roster is 2022 Kentucky winner Michael Jung with fischerChipmunk FRH, who’s been kept quiet this season and saved for a run at the Europeans and, ultimately, Paris next year. Last year’s Aachen winners and Kentucky fourth-place finishers Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz will also represent on the team. Malin Hansen-Hotopp and the exciting 11-year-old, Carlitos Quidditch K (great name) have also been named to the squad and will look to improve on a 12th place finish at Aachen in 2021. Also on the team are podium threats Christoph Wahler and Carjatan S, coming off a 4*-S win in Poland at the beginning of May.

Germany will also send a full roster of individual riders to Aachen, including 2022 Strzegom 4*-L winners Calvin Böckmann and Altair de la Cense, Rebecca Juana-Gerken and the Windfall mare TSF Solara, Libussa Lübekke and Caramia 34, and Anna Siemer and FRH Butt’s Avondale.

IRELAND
Team:

  • Susie Berry and Kilcandra Capitol
    Ten-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Orestus VDL – Beavers Bugsy Malone, by Hallodri). Owned by TruckEast Limited.
  • Cathal Daniels and Rioghan Rua
    Sixteen-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Jack of Diamonds – Highland Destiny, by Flagmount King). Owned by Frank and Margaret Kinsella.
  • Sarah Ennis and Action Lady M
    Nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Plot Blue – Action G, by Acorado). Owned by Andrew Cox.
  • Joseph Murphy and Calmaro
    Twelve-year-old DSP gelding (Carpalano – Elster W, by Elsurimo xx). Owned by Richard and Tanya Ames, Claire and Charlie Mayne, Annette O’Callaghan.

[Jump & Drive]

  • Joseph Murphy and Belline Fighting Spirit
    Nine-year-old Anglo-European gelding (Freeman VDL – Zominga, by Lupicor). Owned by The Kindred Spirits Syndicate.

Cathal Daniels and Rioghan Rua. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Ireland will send a team of exciting horses for the future and seasoned campaigners to Aachen this week. We’ll see familiar faces such as longtime veterans Cathal Daniels and #supermare Rioghan Rua, who helped Ireland to a third-place team finish in 2021 and finished 13th here in 2022. Susie Berry will compete the 10-year-old Kilcandra Capitol, with whom she finished fifth in the Blair Castle 4*-L last year. Sarah Ennis will also compete a up-and-coming future star in the 9-year-old Action Lady M, facing a step up in intensity at Aachen but nonetheless campaigned well with some tougher tests under her belt such as a sixth place finish in the 8- and 9-year-old CCI4*-S at Blenheim last year. Joseph Murphy rounds out the Irish squad with the experienced Calmaro, third in Millstreet’s 4*-S Nations Cup leg at the start of June, fourth here at Aachen in 2022, and fifth at Kentucky earlier that year.

This is a well-balanced enough squad that will also field a drop score with four members, so you wouldn’t want to count them out as potential podium finishers in the SAP Cup team competition this weekend.

NEW ZEALAND
Team:

  • Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park
    Thirteen-year-old British Sport Horse gelding (Berlin – Faerie Queen, by Rock King). Owned by Rider, Jean, and Rob Johnstone.
  • Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier
    Ten-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Cavalier Royale – Greenacres Touch, by Touchdown). Owned by Chris Mann.
  • Jonelle Price and Mcclaren
    Sixteen-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Clarimo – Toni I, by Landjungle). Owned by David & Katherine Thomson.
  • Tim Price and Falco
    Fourteen-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Cardenio 2 – Witta, by Weinberg). Owned by Rider and Sue Benson.

Individual:

  • Samantha Lissington and Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ
    Twelve-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding (Caretino – Quantum Flash, by Tristaking). Owned by Rider and Pip McCarroll.

Jonelle Price and McClaren. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The Kiwis will this weekend call up the world #1 and #3 riders, Tim and Jonelle Price, to anchor their squad on two horses that should put in competitive runs this weekend.

McClaren, former Mark Todd ride and current World Championships partner of Jonelle Price, should be ready to make a strong bid for some competitive finishes this season with another year of partnership-building gone. At 16, McClaren is quite light on mileage and joined the Price clan on a trip to Spain for some Sunshine Tour show jumping this winter, which should make him even more well-rounded as this year progresses. Stablemate Falco was third individually for the Kiwis at World Championships last fall (also contributing to the gutsy team bronze medal won by the New Zealand contingent that weekend) and has finished as good as sixth at Aachen in the past. It’s be a solid thought to think he could surpass that finish this weekend.

Olympic rider Caroline Powell also joins the Kiwi squad with the 10-year-old Greenacres Special Cavalier, who was fifth in her 5* debut at Pau last fall. Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park round out the team; this pair is coming off a fifth place finish at Millstreet earlier this month, and were also members of the bronze medal World Championships team in Italy last fall.

Competing as an individual for New Zealand will be Samantha Lissington and her recent Mallow (IRL) 4*-L winner, Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ. After starting her career in New Zealand, Samantha moved to base in the UK, and she’s built herself a nice string of upper-level horses in the intervening years. Ricker Ridge Sooty has some impressive results on both continents, and at just 12 years old could be a real consideration for the Paris squad or future World Championships.

SWEDEN

  • Frida Anderson and Box Leo
    Thirteen-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Jaguar Mail – Box Qutie, by Quite Easy). Owned by Therese Örup.

Sweden’s Frida Andersen and Box Leo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Sweden will be represented by a sole rider this weekend in Olympic rider Frida Anderson and her World Championships partner, Box Leo. It’s a pretty impressive accomplishment to take the ride over on a horse (Ludwig Svennerstal rode Box Leo up until 2021) and then take it to a World Championship little more than a year later. But that’s what Frida has done with Box Leo, and she didn’t just “get around” – she finished in the top 20 on a tough and testing weekend.

Sweden is another country that secured Olympic qualification at Pratoni, and Frida will have that goal looming in her mind if she can make a statement and a good result at the next big milestone: this summer’s European Championships.

SWITZERLAND
Team:

  • Robin Godel and Grandeur de Lully CH
    Fifteen-year-old Cheval Suisse gelding (Greco de Lully CH – Miola, by Apartos). Owned by Jean-Jacques Fuenfschilling.
  • Melody Johner and Toubleu de Rueire
    Sixteen-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Mr Blue – La Guna de Rueire). Owned by Peter Thuerler and Heinz-Günter Wickenhäuser.
  • Nadja Minder and Tolberone
    Sixteen-year-old Swiss Warmblood gelding (Yarlands Summer Song – Medelyne). Owned by Nicole Basieux.
  • Patrick Rüegg and Fifty Fifty
    Fifteen-year-old Hanoverian mare (Fidertanz 2 – Meerfuerstin, by Friedensfuerst 1). Owned by Angela Häberli.

Melody Johner’s Toubleu de Rueire, representing Switzerland, shows the photographers what he thinks of them. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Switzerland is represented by an experienced team that includes two Olympians and World Championships experience across the board. While the Swiss wouldn’t have the largest number of up-and-coming horses and riders, those they do have are certainly capable of strong performances in this team competition.

Individual competitive performances could come from the likes of Roben Godel, whose partnership with Grandeur de Lully CH includes multiple 4*-S wins and a World Championship completion (2018). This pair also knows each other quite well, having been together since the Swiss-bred gelding was young. It’s safe to say that this zippy, technical track should suit this pair quite well on Saturday.

Also on the Swiss team this week are Tokyo Olympians and Pratoni top-10 individual finishers Melody Johner and Toubleu de Rueire, who capped off their spring season with a top-five finish in the Strzegom 4*-L at the end of April. Nadja Minder and her Junior Europeans partner Tolberone are another pair that will know each other quite well, which will come in handy during this week’s mental challenge. Patrick Rüegg and Fifty Fifty, who represented Switzerland in the 2021 Europeans, round out the Aachen team.

UNITED STATES
Team:

  • Will Coleman and Off the Record
    Fourteen-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Arkansas – Drumagoland Bay, by ARD Ohio). Owned by The Off the Record Syndicate.
  • Phillip Dutton and Z
    Fifteen-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Asca Z – Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z). Owned by Evie Dutton, Ann Jones, Suzanne Lacy, Caroline Moran, Tom Tierney, David and Patricia Vos.
  • Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C
    Eleven-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic – Qui Luma CBF, by Flying Quite Easy). Owned by Ocala Horse Properties, Deborah Palmer.
  • Tamie Smith and Mai Baum
    Seventeen-year-old DSP gelding (Loredano 2 – Ramira, by Rike). Owned by Ellen and Alex Ahearn, Eric Markell.

Individual:

  • Dan Kreitl and Carmango
    Ten-year-old Westphalian gelding (Chirivell – Taramanga, by Templer GL xx). Owned by Kay Dixon.

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Half of the silver medal-winning U.S. team at last year’s FEI World Championships at Pratoni del Vivaro will reunite this weekend in Aachen. The pairs absent from the original Pratoni team would be Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg, who just wrapped up a trip around Luhmühlen’s CCI5* earlier in June, and Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus.

The team members are joined this time by Kentucky podium finishers Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C, owned by Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer, who’ve been on an impressive streak this season so far. It’s certainly exciting to see the increasing amount of depth on the U.S. team, and hopes are high for a strong squad to send to both this fall’s Pan American Games as well as next year’s Olympics.

Bolstered by Kentucky winners Tamie Smith and Mai Baum as well as 2021 Aachen individual winners Will Coleman and Off the Record, as well as the experience of Phillip Dutton and Z, Team USA could be a real threat to top the podium or at least finish on it this weekend. One thing to remember is that the U.S. won’t be concerned with European Championships implications, so where some pairs may choose to save some energy for the bigger goal, the U.S. will likely be under instructions to go for the gold.

Also representing the Stars & Stripes this weekend as individuals are Dan Kreitl and Carmango, making their first overseas trip (for both of them!) thanks to the support of a Dutta. Corp flight won at the USEF National 4*-L Championships in 2022. This pair picked up the first cross country penalties of their partnership at Luhmühlen’s 4*-S earlier this month and will be looking to shake that off as learning experience as they focus now on this new challenge.

EN’s Coverage of CHIO Aachen is brought to you with support from Kentucky Performance Products and Ocala Horse Properties.

CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Wednesday Videos from Kentucky Performance Products: Two Trips Around Aachen with Ingrid Klimke

By on Jun 28, 2023 5:51 pm -

Aachen week carries a lot of excitement, which means I’ve been fooling around on YouTube for most of my work days looking back at different views of this incredible venue. I chose two helmet cams of Ingrid Klimke’s to share today, not just because they’re cool views, but because I always love and learn a lot from Ingrid’s commentary.

While neither trip shown (2018 – SAP Hale Bob OLD, 2022 – Equistro’s Siena Just Do It) was a clear round, Ingrid walks us through her thought process and reactions even when things don’t go perfectly. As much as we all love the triumphant videos, I find these to be even more educational.

You can catch up with all of our Aachen coverage from this year here.

CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

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Your Live Stream Guide to CHIO Aachen

By on Jun 27, 2023 11:00 am -

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

It’s officially CHIO Aachen week, and we’ll be coming to you live from Germany later this week when the eventers take center stage. Aachen is not *solely* about eventing, though, as it’s an all-encompassing equestrian festival that occurs on an annual basis. Look at it as a mini-World Equestrian Games, with each major discipline featuring on the event schedule along with a few “just for fun” type of classes.

You won’t want to miss the action, which also features a bid at the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping by none other than U.S. show jumper McLain Ward, who’s brought three horses for a shot at some titles this week, including the champion mare HH Azur as well as Olympic partner Contagious. On the dressage side, we’re looking forward to watching Great Britain’s current leading lady, Lottie Fry, and the nearly-full-brother to the legend Glamourdale, Everdale, competing. Reigning FEI World Cup champions Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB are also entered to compete this week.

Dressage, driving, and vaulting are also represented on the schedule this weekend, and you can view the full roster of international entries here.

Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

In most countries, you’ll want to grab a subscription to ClipMyHorse.TV to be able to view the action both live and on-demand this week. FYI, your USEF account connection to ClipMyHorse.TV will not grant you access to Aachen live streaming — you must subscribe to a separate subscription to CMH (monthly or annual). [Click here to see ClipMyHorse.TV subscription options]

For those of our readers outside of the U.S., Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, and Spain, the live stream will be carried on Horse & Country. Accessing the Horse & Country website from a browser in your country of residence should bring up the options to watch CHIO Aachen live.

Once you’ve signed up, the world of Aachen streaming will open up to you. The full Aachen homepage can be found here — bookmark this page! The live stream page will have a schedule of events, and you can also view the full event daily program here. Since I know we’re all eventers here, I’ll drop the specific eventing schedule below:

Eventing (SAP Cup)
These times are subject to change. Please keep an eye on the live stream hub + the timing & scoring page for the latest schedule.

Friday, June 30 – Dressage
8:30 a.m. local / 2:30 a.m. EST / 11:30 p.m. (6/29) PST

Friday, June 30 – Show Jumping
5:45 p.m. local / 11:45 a.m. EST / 8:45 a.m. PST

Saturday, July 1 – Cross Country
10:00 a.m. local / 4:00 a.m. EST / 1:00 a.m. PST

We’ll have our traditional Form Guide to each nation contesting the SAP Cup for eventing coming later this week, and Tilly Berendt is our roving reporter on the ground all weekend. I’ll be running live updates for cross country on Saturday, and you can always follow us at @goeventing or also the event at @chio_aachen for the latest from Germany. Go Eventing!

EN’s Coverage of CHIO Aachen is brought to you with support from Kentucky Performance Products and Ocala Horse Properties.

CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Lea Siegl, Dutch Team Take Wins, Team USA Solidly Silver at Strzegom

By on Jun 25, 2023 2:00 pm -

Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

It was a good day to be sat on a good show jumper as the final phase of competition got underway in Poland at the LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials. Strzegom’s ring is not one for the faint of heart — it gives off a sort of “fish bowl” feeling, with its low boundary fences and tightly designed track. There is much atmosphere to take in, and the time on the clock is always hard to beat — especially if your horse is prone to distraction.

To that end, just five of the 32 finishers in the CCIO4*-S FEI Nations Cup division managed clear rounds inside the time allowed. Polish designer Lukasz Szustorowski’s jumping track required finesse and attention as well as a commitment to continuing to come forward through each and every turn and related distance. It was a true test on the final day of competition, and in the end the two top spots would remain unchanged as both Lea Siegl (AUT) and van Helsing P as well as Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and HSH Blake delivered emphatic clear rounds to cement their individual podium finishes.

Lea Seigl and van Helsing P. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

Lea moved into the lead following Saturday’s cross country with the 13-year-old DSP gelding van Helsing P (Van Gogh – Carisma P, by Carismo), who was her partner for the 2021 FEI European Eventing Championships in Avenches (SUI), thanks to a quicker trip around than dressage leader Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake (Tolan R – Doughiska Lass, by Kannan). With a 4* win in her pocket already this season, earned at Montelibretti with her Olympic mount DSP Fighting Line, Lea now finds herself well-supported for a bid at this summer’s European Championships at Haras du Pin.

The Netherlands’ Olympic bid remains alive with an important win in Nations Cup team competition this weekend, earning 100 points while current Nations Cup standings leader Belgium collects 80 points for their third place finish. This will push the Dutch into second in the points standings with a total of 285, swapping spots with the Italians who will collect 60 points for a fifth place finish today. Belgium will maintain their lead with 350 points in total. Dutch Chef Andrew Heffernan cited the upcoming Nations Cup legs at Haras de Jardy (FRA) and Avenches (SUI) as well as August’s FEI European Eventing Championships (which stand alone as another chance to earn Olympic qualification — the two top teams without existing qualification will earn their ticket) as the immediate focus for his team.

“These guys performed so well,” Andrew said in a post-event press release. “It was a really tough competition and it was really refreshing to see such a strong and forward thinking and demanding cross country course. It also gave us good pictures. There were no nasty falls or moments and that was really good for the sport. These guys performed fantastic and that is why we won. I am very proud.”

Merel Blom, who piloted the 8-year-old Chinuk R to a top-10 individual finish today, summed up the driving force behind the Dutch effort: “There is not a bigger motivator than Paris. We stand up every morning just pushing for Paris and we will keep pushing until we are there, for sure.”

Silver for Team USA

Team USA, helmed by Chef d’Equipe Leslie Law. Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński.

Caroline Pamukcu might be sitting on the most consistent horse — HSH Blake — in the U.S. at the moment, with accolades ranging back to his debut eventing season as a 5-year-old. Beneficiaries of the Holekamp/Turner Le Lion d’Angers Grant via the USEA in 2022, Caroline tested the then-7-year-old by Tolan R against the best in the world at the FEI WBFSH Breeding World Championships, finishing 10th overall and on the pair’s dressage score that week.

“Tim Holekamp really encouraged me to do Le Lion,” Caroline said earlier this week, noting that HSH Blake is a prime example of a horse that’s followed the pipeline laid out in the States for up-and-coming elite event horses. “It’s really cool for America because we’re really developing a pipeline for horses and riders, and I think we need to push for programs like this to continue. Kudos to Leslie [Law] because he’s the one who’s been fighting for this all along, and it’s really showing how much it boosts our whole sport in the end.”

Caroline is hoping to be selected for the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile this October with HSH Blake, who was purchased with the help of Caroline’s mother, Sherrie, and Mollie Hoff. With the U.S. already earning its qualification for Paris at World Championships last year, the opportunity stands to send a developing team for some additional experience and — especially with the help of a strong development program — a healthy prospect of another Pan Ams medal.

“I just feel like I was made for this sport,” Caroline commented. “This is my career. I’m very grateful for this country and for this support. I want to represent my country so badly — it’s really what I love for, and I really hope I get that chance soon.”

Long lists for the Pan American Games are expected later this summer, with the final team announcement to follow.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

The U.S. was helped to silver medal position by Jenny Caras and Cassie Sanger, who each contributed clear rounds with just a shade of time today to leap up in the standings, finishing just outside of the final top 10. Jenny and Trendy Fernhill, owned by Elyse Eisenberg, moved up to 11th from 18th after cross country on a final score of 52.4, followed closely by Cassie and Fernhill Zoro, who started their week in 27th and finished in 12th on a score of 54.7. Andrew McConnon and Ferrie’s Cello would be the dropped score for the team this week but nonetheless will have gained valuable experience and team exposure, finishing their weekend in 26th overall.

“I’m great!” Leslie Law said as we began our post-event debrief this morning. The British Olympian has been associated with Developing Rider programs and their various iterations since 2014, but his passion for continuing education and proper development is something that’s always been a fundamental part of his philosophy. “By nature, I’m a very competitive person and you know, I just want to give these youngsters a chance to taste what I had the opportunity to do,” he said. “It’s really rewarding to try and identify the young talent in the in the USA do your very best to mentor it and bring it through, and hopefully give us more and more depth in the end.”

Jenny Caras and Trendy Fernhill. Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński.

The USEF Development Tour is a new addition to the program pipeline in 2023, and its specific target of Strzegom (which was chosen for its location on the calendar when accounting for preparation events and travel, according to Leslie), provides a way to mirror the experience of selection, training, preparation, and competition for a major Championship on a senior squad. Whereas previous Nations Cups teams might have been a blend of Developing riders and riders not a part of the pipeline, the Development Tour — which is also supported by funding from the Karen Stives Endowment — is a specific goal for Developing riders who have participated in the Eventing Pathway Program.

“The team experiences is so important,” Leslie continued. “And you know, it’s not easy to get that back in the U.S. compared to what the European countries are able to do. They’ve got Nations Cups, I feel like almost in they’re in their back gardens. So it allows them to experiment with up and coming riders on Nations Cup teams before they’re brought up to an Olympic Games or World Championship. And I think, if that’s your first team experience that’s a lot to take on. So the more we can get our athletes into that space, they’re only going to be better for it, having experienced it in a different slightly different situation. I think the team experience is probably the most important thing, but then to take them out of their comfort zone and to even experience the whole the whole traveling part — the flying of the horses, the grooms — it just puts you ahead in the future.”

Silver for the USA! Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

To me, the responsibility of a developing team’s Chef is almost more nuanced in some ways than that of a senior squad Chef. As Leslie pointed out, he’s as competitive as anyone — “I wanted us to come here and be competitive” — but he’s also responsible for cultivating the skillsets each rider will need if they want to be successful on senior teams in the future. Here he credits the mentorship he gained from British team manager Yogi Breisner and his philosophy on team strategy.

“I think I had a great mentor Yogi Breisner. I think he used to get the strategy pretty good. I think that experience in being in and around that when I was riding on the team, I learned a lot from that the balance of being competitive, but not being reckless. Sometimes it can be hard — it was hard for Caroline to have to go the long way a fence four [on cross country] when she was in the lead after the dressage — it isn’t always easy. But in a team competition, the team does have to come first, and that’s all part of the strategy and that’s my job to make those decisions and hopefully get it right. And then you stand by it, even if you get it wrong then you take that on. You have to be strong enough to do that, and I see that as that’s what I’m here for.”

The Development Tour squad will now travel on to Germany and next week’s CHIO Aachen, where they’ll have the opportunity to observe the top-flight competition and U.S. senior squad comprised of Kentucky 5* winners Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, Kentucky third-place finishers Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C, 2021 Aachen 4*-S winners Will Coleman and Off the Record, and Tokyo Olympians Phillip Dutton and Z.

If you want to catch up on the Nations Cup action this week, I’ll drop the replays from each phase below. Thanks for following along, and Go Eventing.

Dressage – Thursday:

Dressage – Friday:

Cross Country:

Show Jumping:

LOTTO Strzegom H.T. / FEI Eventing Nations Cup (Poland): [Website] [Live Stream] [Timing & Scoring]

Dutch Riders Shine, Team USA Holds Silver after Cross Country at Strzegom Nations Cup

By on Jun 24, 2023 4:30 pm -

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński.

U.S. eventing followers tuning in for cross country at the LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials in Poland were treated to a showcase of next generation skill from riders sent to Europe as a part of the new USEF European Development Tour. The efforts of the U.S. team, anchored in individual second position by Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake and bolstered by clear jumping rounds from Jenny Caras (Trendy Fernhill) and Cassie Sanger (Fernhill Zoro), saw them hang on to the silver medal position in the FEI Nations Cup competition.

Both of the other Nations Cup shifted, with the Netherlands taking over the gold position and Austria moving up into bronze. Originally holding gold, Germany’s wheels fell off with the elimination of two riders on cross country, dashing their hopes of completing a team.

Nations Cup competition carries Olympic weight this year, with the winning country earning a berth in the upcoming Paris Olympics (2024). Belgium currently holds the points lead, but the Dutch are 85 points behind in third position currently. A win this weekend, coupled with the potential of Belgium finishing off the podium — they’re currently in fourth, 11.6 penalties behind Austria — would edge the Dutch closer to securing Olympic qualification with five Nations Cup legs remaining.

The Dutch certainly have some talent to be excited about as they seek out that Olympic berth. Notably today Merel Blom showed off the promise of the 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding Chinuk R (Clarcon – Believe, by Heremes d’Auth) with a confident clear round, making marked improvement from the gelding’s first 4*-S here at this venue earlier this year. Experienced World Championships pair Sanne de Jong and Enjoy (Cartano – Next Joey, by Haarlem) also delivered a clear round to sit third overnight. Janneke Boonzaaijer and ACSI Champ de Tailleur (Quidam de Revel – Vera, by Oberon du Moulin), another pair with a long list of experience at this level, moved up from 11th into fourth individually with a strong clear. [Click here to view current FEI Nations Cup standings]

For the U.S., the weekend is not about qualification but rather team building and exposure. Led by chef d’equip and Olympic gold medalist Leslie Law, the USEF Development Tour provides a chance for developing riders to gain valuable education in both overseas competition as well as team pressure. And on a day where cross country riding was paramount and the Marcin Konarski-designed questions just kept coming, the U.S. riders rose to the occasion and provided an exciting validation of the patience-demanding process of creating a pipeline.

Under team instructions to take the long route at an early combination as well as the internal drive to ensure the 8-year-old HSH Blake‘s confidence was in tact elicited the handful of time penalties for Caroline Pamucku, ultimately causing her to yield the individual lead to Austrian Olympian Lea Siegl and van Helsing P. But taking into consideration the priority of the team’s result and the fact that she was riding a young horse who is still early in his Advanced career, Caroline was proud both of her horse and of her ability to ride well under pressure.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

“I think I just can’t be greedy, I have to keep thinking about the big picture,” Caroline, who owns “Blake” along with her mother Sherrie and Mollie and Lizzie Hoff said. “I’m so competitive and I want to win — but how upset would I have been if I hurt him or did something to wreck his confidence? He deserves to be produced nicely. And it’s more important for us to be in silver medal position.”

As for the growth she’s felt with HSH Blake, who was originally sourced by Caroline’s friend and business partner Kelley Hutchinson and ultimately secured for Caroline’s string thanks to the help of the Hoff family after the gelding won the 6-year-old 2*-L championship at Morven Park in 2021, Caroline can’t say enough good things. “He’s going to be a five-star horse,” she enthused. “I said all along this track was going to ride like a five-star Short, and it definitely did. Some of the things out there he hasn’t even seen, and he just looks for the flags.”

It’s a challenge, though, to balance the ambition that comes with having such a consistent and talented horse that is also still quite young in his career. Here, Caroline, gives much credit to the time she spent with British Grand Slam winner Pippa Funnell, who preached the value of low-intensity conditioning work. Caroline has spent most of “Blake’s” time building slow fitness through trot sets and road hacks rather than frequent schooling and drilling — and she says that has paid off not just in his mental wellbeing, but his physical health. After running the 3*-L at TerraNova in the spring to pick up a final MER needed to be in the running for the upcoming Pan American Games, Caroline gave the gelding a long break and a slow build-up to this trip.

“We brought him back, trotted the whole time, jumped once before Devon [Arena Eventing at the end of May], one flat school with Leslie, a Combined Test at Essex and that was it,” Caroline explained. “So I’m really excited that what Pippa told me, how much you can do with just trot sets carries over. We’re not drilling him, we’re keeping him happy. Pippa taught me a lot about road work, and so leading up to this we were trotting on the roads, up and down hills, lots of walking, for two hours. No spurs, a snaffle bit — that’s how all the horses go, which has really improved on basics. On trot sets, you do good transitions, stretching necks, lots of pats. It keeps the pressure off, and it was huge.”

Cassie Sanger and Fernhill Zoro. Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński.

Cassie Sanger sits in individual 20th place with Fernhill Zoro with a strong chance to move up on Sunday if they can jump a clear round. At 19, Cassie is the youngest member of Team USA this weekend — but the grit and maturity she showed on cross country today go well beyond her age. This weekend marks Cassie’s fourth Advanced/4* event, all of which have come with the 15-year-old “Zoro”.

“It was a huge step up for me,” Cassie said. “Doing some tough tracks — at Maryland [CCI3*-L] and I did the Chatt Hills Advanced as my second one and that was very tough — was a really good warm-up and prep for this. I also did the three-star Long at Bromont with my other horse, and that was a really tough track. It got me ready to go and because it went well, I felt confident in how my cross country riding was going.”

Despite that confidence, Cassie says she still felt herself get a bit rattled. Following her dressage test on Friday, she felt herself focusing on the mistakes she’d made — “mistakes are bigger here, when they aren’t just yours and they affect the whole team” — and feeling out of balance about her confidence for cross country. “But when I woke up this morning, I felt oddly really calm,” she continued. “We had to wait all day to go, so I stayed a little to myself and went to walk the course again with Leslie.”

Here Cassie gives much credit to the team environment at Strzegom this weekend. The support she felt from her teammates would launch her out of the start box on a mission, and she delivered a strong clear round with time to help cement the U.S’ silver position.

“The one word I would use to describe it is it’s an electric feeling,” she said. “The entire day you’re worried about yourself, your teammates — you want them to come home just as well and I think after today and after we all left cross country coming through the finish flags…the camaraderie makes me hungry to do more.”

Jenny Caras and Trendy Fernhill. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

Also delivering a confident clear round were Jenny Caras and Elyse Eisenberg’s Trendy Fernhill, who will be in 18th position going into tomorrow’s final phase. With the course’s intense, motocross feel, Jenny knew the challenge would be stiff for “Joey”, who she calls a stronger, long-striding type that would generally prefer to have more galloping lanes and letup fences. Despite some disappointment with her time penalties, Jenny was pleased with the outcome of the day, especially considering her horse’s type.

“Joey was fantastic today — I was really pleased with him,” Jenny said. “There weren’t many letup fences or galloping lanes to let go and kick because you were always sort of seeing up for the next combination. But he’s as honest as they come and I am privileged to ride him and our partnership is so strong. I know him so well. I’m disappointed to have not been able to go faster and have less time, but I needed a clear round for the team and that was my first priority, so it was going as fast as I could while making sure I went clear.”

After watching some riders on the CCI4*-L — which went early in the day and shared several key combinations with its Short counterpart — the team opted to go under orders to take the long route at fence 4, a tricky turning question with multiple MIM-clipped obstacles. “I tried to be as efficient as possible around the long route and I don’t think there was much time in it really, and definitely much safer,” Jenny elaborated.

She echoed the strength of the team camaraderie this weekend, and how much the support bolstered her confidence in her own performance. “I’ve really enjoyed being a part of the team,” she said. “It really felt different than competing in the U.S. — it felt like a different type of course than we’re used to and I really feel like I’ve learned a lot coming out of today. I’m just really proud of everybody on the team and feel really fortunate to be a part of this whole experience.”

Andrew McConnon and Ferrie’s Cello. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

First to go in the team rotation of riders, Andrew McConnon and Jeanne Shigo’s Ferrie’s Cello did encounter some trouble on course, breaking one of the MIM clips at fence 4D and later incurring 20 penalties at the C element of fence 21.

Lea Seigl and van Helsing P. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

Taking over the lead individually after delivering the quickest turn of foot today are Austria’s Lea Siegl with the 13-year-old DSP gelding van Helsing P (Van Gogh – Carisma P, by Carismo). Despite being quickest of the day, they still collected 3.2 time penalties, indicating the toughness of the track in its difficulty to make up time. Lea’s score of 33.3 does not give her a rail in hand over Caroline Pamucku (35.7). Dutch rider Sanne de Jong and Enjoy also remain a strong threat to move up from their third-ranked score of 35.8.

“It was quite fun, Van Helsing was in a good mood, he was galloping very fast,” Lea commented. “Some parts were a bit difficult, and it was not an easy course. Sometimes you had to take the horse out of the rhythm and do some sharp turns, that made it demanding, but overall, I’m very happy with my horse and how he managed it. I’m very thankful for what he does for me every time I ride him in cross country.”

While this weekend’s ultimate goal isn’t necessarily to medal — the Development Tour is designed for education and experience above all — it would be silly not to think that a podium finish in Poland would be the ideal ending. The U.S. doesn’t have much room to breathe — both Austria and Belgium lay within striking distance should any rails begin to fall. The U.S. does, however, still have one score to drop, while the Netherlands, Austria, and Belgium are all left with just three scores to count after each losing one team member today.

Full team standings can be found here.

Michael Jung and Kilcandra Ocean Power. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

Looking to the CCI4*-L division, which fielded several riders hoping to secure points contributing to their FEI Olympic Group rankings (the top two ranked riders in each FEI Group will secure one individual berth for their country in Paris), Germany’s Michael Jung piloted Kilcandra Ocean Power (BGS Ocean View – Bonnie Dolly, Bonnie Prince) to a clear round with time to maintain the lead.

Just five of the 13 4*-L starters completed the course, with six opting to retire after incurring penalties and two eliminated (one for missing a fence, one on refusals). Rerouting from Luhmühlen, U.S. rider Matt Flynn picked up 40 time penalties and finished the day in fourth position with Wizzerd (Wizzerd – Amai, by Oklund).

Show jumping for the Nations Cup division will begin Sunday at 2:30 p.m. local time / 8:30 a.m. EST. You can watch this division jump for the win for free on the FEI TV live stream here. If you’re a ClipMyHorse.TV subscriber, you can also watch the 4*-L division stream here.

Miss the cross country action today? Never fear — there’s a replay! I’ll drop it below:

LOTTO Strzegom H.T. / FEI Eventing Nations Cup (Poland): [Website] [Live Stream] [Timing & Scoring]

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Jun 24, 2023 12:01 am -

While much of our attention has been focused on the Nations Cup competition at Strzegom this weekend, let’s also not forget that the Central American and Caribbean Games are getting underway, where eventing is well-represented! A total of 18 horses and riders representing 7 nations (Barbados, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico) will be competing in Santo Domingo. You can view the full equestrian entry list here.

Competition begins today (June 24) with dressage, with cross country to follow Sunday and show jumping to conclude the event on Monday. The start list for dressage can be found here. There is not a live stream for the Games, but you should be able to follow the action via scoring on the main Eventing Hub here. You can also follow the San Salvador 2023 Instagram here. We’ll do our best to keep you updated with the action from afar!

Major International Events

LOTTO Strzegom H.T. / FEI Eventing Nations Cup (Poland): [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream] [Timing & Scoring] [Scoring]

U.S. Weekend Preview

Stable View Summer H.T. (Aiken, South Carolina): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Midsouth Pony Club H.T. (Lexington, Kentucky): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. (Barrington Hills, Illinois): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Woodloch Stable Young Event Horse Qualifier (Hugo, Minnesota): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Loudon Hunt Pony Club Summer H.T. (Leesburg, Virginia): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, Colorado): [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Valinor Farm H.T. (Plymouth, Massachusetts): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Bucks County Horse Park H.T. (Revere, Pennsylvania): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Saturday Link List

Attention all college students! Do you love social media? Athletux is on the hunt for a social media intern! This is an incredible opportunity to work remotely for one of the longest running, most established marketing firms in the equine industry! Gain valuable hands-on experience, boast your resume, and even obtain school credit where applicable! Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected] along with a sample social media reel!

USHJA Announces $825K Campaign To Test Safety Vests

How the Multifidus Muscles Influence Lameness in Horses

Jena Antonucci: Hunter Kid To Belmont Winner

A Grooms Blog with Top Groom to Yasmin Ingham, Alison Bell – Living a Jet Set Life

Conditioning for a Classic Three-Day Event: Area X Prepares for the Summer Coconino H.T. and Western Underground, Inc. T, N, BN 3-Day

Helgstrand Dressage Launches Legal Proceedings Over TV Production Company’s Undercover Filming

OEEEP: Supplying Employees for the Horse Industry

Out-Horse Your Email (Seriously)

Sponsor Corner

Amateur race car driver Janine Shoffner in her AMG GT3 race car at the 2020 Nurburgring 24 hour race.

On behalf of World Equestrian Brands, we interviewed amateur Janine Shoffner to discuss the similarities between her two hobbies: race car driving and eventing at the two-star level. Our conversation took us from her career teaching competition-level skydiving to how the first horse she ever sat on was an unbroken three year-old. Don’t miss the full story here.

Video Break

A quick training tip for ditch training from World Equestrian Brands rider Kim Severson:

Team USA in Silver Position at Strzegom FEI Nations Cup; Caroline Pamukcu Holds Dressage Lead

By on Jun 23, 2023 4:30 pm -

Caroline Martin pumps her first after securing the individual lead and current second ranking for Team USA aboard HSH Blake at Strzegom’s FEI Nations Cup leg. Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński.

Germany will lead the way in team competition at this week’s FEI Nations Cup leg in Belgium at LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials, securing a team score of 89.3 after the first phase of competition. Hot on the Germans’ heels are Team USA, made up of several rising stars competing as a part of the newly-established USEF Development Tour. Selected riders for Team USA are Jenny Caras and Trendy Fernhill, Andrew McConnon and Ferrie’s Cello, Carolina Pamukcu and HSH Blake, and Cassie Sanger and Fernhill Zoro.

The development tour team made good on the first phase of competition, with Caroline Pamukcu sliding into the overnight lead individually on board the 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HSH Blake (Tolan R – Doughiska Lass, by Kannan), who is owned in partnership between Caroline and her mother, Sherrie, as well as longtime supporter Mollie Hoff.

A score of 28.1 from Caroline and Blake will anchor the U.S. effort, which currently stands on a cumulative score of 92.9 to give the Germans some pressure ahead of cross country. For Caroline, who spent the majority of 2022 studying under Pippa Funnell in England thanks to support from the Wilton Fair Grant, opportunities like this are both vitally necessary for the country and also proof that the pipeline is coming.

“It’s really cool for America because we’re really developing a pipeline for both horses and riders,” she said. “[HSH Blake] is one of the first horses to really follow that pipeline.” And indeed, the trajectory of the talented Irish gelding has seen him collect accolades such as USEA Young Event Horse champion, USEF CCI2*-L National Champion, and top 10 in the world as a seven-year-old at FEI Eventing World Breeding Championships. She moved “Blake” up to the Advanced level in 2023, and this weekend marks their second CCI4*-S start; they previously were third in TerraNova’s 4*-S this spring and also finished fifth in the 3*-L at Ocala International at the end of April.

Caroline Pamukcu is always greeted by husband Deniz at the out gate. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

“These grants have opened up doors not just for opportunity but for connections,” Caroline continued, noting the importance of these experiences for developing riders who come overseas to compete for the first time. In addition to the added pressure of overseas competition, riders must also contend with a culture change and venues they’ve never seen before. This adds a layer of complexity to a challenge that already carries plenty of weight — and it’s good practice for U.S.-based riders to, as Caroline puts it, step outside of their comfort zone. “Think of the Bruce [Davidson Sr.] and Jack [le Goff] eras,” she said. “They were so pro-Europe, I don’t want to sound like a crazy person but we do really need to put ourselves out of our element a little.”

Here all the riders are quick to credit Leslie Law for his efforts as longtime developing rider coach and mentor; the dedication he shows to cultivating up and coming talent are unmatched, and this Development Tour is something he had a hand in bringing into reality. You can hear from Leslie himself in the interview below:

Watch Caroline’s leading dressage test below or on Facebook here:

Caroline Pamukcu

Once again – Caroline Pamukcu with Hsh Blake – currently the best pair in CCIO4*-NC-S competition. Check out their dressage test.

#LOTTO #shtstrzegom #WKKW #eventing #FEIEventingNationsCup #LOTTOStrzegomHorseTrials LOTTO. Radość wygrywania

Posted by Strzegom Horse Trials on Friday, June 23, 2023

Next up for the USA on the leaderboard are Jenny Caras with Elyse Eisenberg’s Trendy Fernhill (Ars Vivendi – Cruiseings Girl, by Cruising), a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding who has numerous competitions at the 4* level under his belt to date and is far from short on experience to prepare for this First Nations Cup outing.

Jenny may have been hoping to squeeze out a sub-30 score today — their current PB at the 4* level in the dressage is at 27.0 — but a 30.0 in strong company is still enough to slot this pair into sixth ahead of cross country tomorrow.

“Joey was really amazing today,” she said. “I was really happy with how he stayed light and uphill for the test; I felt that a lot of the work was better than I’ve done in the past. Unfortunately, we had a bit of a miscommunication in the second flying change, which really cost us, but he recovered very well and besides that I would say it was a very good test for him and for us. I’m very proud of how he handled everything. It’s pretty nice and very spoiling to ride a horse that is so quiet and calm — I think we literally were the most concerned for warming him up for too long and I think I got on him 20 minutes before my ride. We basically went down to the warm-up and went straight to the final warm-up and had two horses before I went and could have done with less time, to be honest. He was really good.”

Jenny Caras and Trendy Fernhill. Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński.

After a light season in 2023 while both Joey and Jenny got back into full fitness after injuries, Jenny ramped up with the 4*-S at TerraNova and an Advanced run at Tryon to prepare for this weekend. “He was foot-perfect at Tryon so I’m hoping to sort of replicate that this weekend. That was the perfect final run for him, I think — a very twisty, intense course, which this track definitely is tomorrow.” A 2023 recipient of the Karen E. Stives Grant through the USET Foundation, Jenny has put the opportunities presented to her to good use and is hoping to put that practice to good use on Saturday.

“It’s maybe not dimensionally the biggest track that I’ve seen, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in technicality and it’s a thinking course — it’s very intense,” Jenny said of the Marcin Konarski-designed cross country course. “So I think it will actually ride big. I anticipate it to be hard work, to be honest. I have a plan with my horse. He’s genuine, so if I do my job, he’ll do his. I’m looking forward to it and just hoping to do the best we can for the team. This has been a huge learning experience for me, and I’m really excited that this opportunity was given to Joey and I.”

Andrew McConnon and Ferrie’s Cello. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

Andrew McConnon will be in 24th individually aboard Jeanne Shigo’s Ferrie’s Cello (Chello III VDL – Karelza, by Wolfgang), scoring a 34.8 from the judges (Nick Burton (GBR) and Katarzyna Konarska (POL)) on Friday. This is the second Nations Cup team appearance for this pair, who also were named to the U.S. squad for the leg at Bromont (CAN) in 2022. They improve on the dressage mark from that competition by nearly six penalty points today and put themselves into strong stead to make some moves up the board with a competitive trip around cross country tomorrow.

“I was very happy with Jeanne Shigo’s Ferrie’s Cello today in the dressage,” Andrew said. “He was likely the most relaxed and rideable I’ve had him thanks in part to Leslie Law’s coaching and direction during these last ten days or so overseas. Looking forward to doing our best to finish on that score!”

Cassie Sanger and Fernhill Zoro. Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński.

Last but definitely far from least are Cassie Sanger and Fernhill Zoro (Verdi – Oronia 2, by Voltaire). A 35.5 will place them into 27th individually ahead of tomorrow’s cross country.

“So far this trip has been super educational!” Cassie, who finished in third place overall and was also the highest-placed young rider at Maryland 5 Star’s USEF CCI3*-L National Championship last fall, commented. “Coming across the world for a competition and competing on a U.S. team is a completely new experience for me so I’m trying my best to learn as I go. Today I thought my horse and I put in some of our best work yet but I’m a bit disappointed with a few of my mistakes as they were quite expensive. It’s a huge track tomorrow and it won’t be a dressage show so me and Zoro will be giving everything out there so we can get it done for the team.”

Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

Team USA, unlike leading Team Germany, has a fourth team member and, as a result, a drop score. This could give the team the edge they need to swoop ahead of the Germans tomorrow and Sunday, but for now the focus is on having a strong experience to build for the future.

“I know we’re going to be told to go for it tomorrow,” Caroline Pamukcu elaborated. “And we’re also learning life lessons and trying to come up with ways to win big medals. Tomorrow is a totally different day. And the standard is different here. You have how many different countries always raising the bar — they just push each other naturally. So it’s a great environment for us to be in, and Leslie’s done great work to make sure we’re sharp and ready to execute our plans.”

Current team standings after dressage can be found here. Individual standings can be found here.

Tomorrow’s cross country brings a new challenge, and the action gets underway at 7:00 a.m. EST / 1:00 p.m. local time. We’re in luck this week as the FEI is generously providing a free live stream to bolster support for these Nations Cup events, and you’ll be able to view the cross country on YouTube here. You can find a starting order here, and I’ll go ahead and list team USA’s times below. Poland is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

  • Andrew McConnon and Ferrie’s Cello – 2:06 p.m. local / 8:06 a.m. EST / 5:06 a.m. PST
  • Cassie Sanger and Fernhill Zoro – 2:30 p.m. local / 8:30 a.m. EST / 5:30 a.m. PST
  • Jenny Caras and Trendy Fernhill – 2:57 p.m. local / 8:57 a.m. EST / 5:57 a.m. PST
  • Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake – 3:24 p.m. local / 9:24 a.m. EST / 6:24 a.m. PST

The Strzegom Facebook page is full of excellent content, ranging from interviews with riders and officials such as Eric Winter and Derek di Grazia. If you want the full experience, head over to the page to watch all the videos. Below you can see a preview of the cross country course, designed by Polish designer Marcin Konarski (click here to view the video directly on Facebook):

Everything is ready. Check out our map of LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials 2023 Nations Cup cross country test and get ready for tomorrow’s emotions 💪🏻🐎

#LOTTO #shtstrzegom #WKKW #FEIEventingNationsCup LOTTO. Radość wygrywania

Produkcja: Dominik Mielcarek

Posted by Strzegom Horse Trials on Friday, June 23, 2023

You can also hear directly from Marcin on his design process this year:

LOTTO Strzegom H.T. / FEI Eventing Nations Cup (Poland): [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream] [Timing & Scoring] [Scoring]

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Jun 23, 2023 12:01 am -

Michael Jung and Kilcandra Ocean Power lead the CCI4*-L at Strzegom. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.

We’re looking forward to following along with this weekend’s action at the LOTTO Strzegom Horse Trials taking place in Poland. Featuring a CCI4*-L division as well as a CCI4*-S FEI Nations Cup competition, a developing U.S. team is also competing this weekend.

Under the direction of USEF Eventing Emerging and Development Coach Leslie Law, the USEF Development Tour is designed to give riders additional team experience in an overseas environment. US Equestrian targeted this event as well as the CCIO4*-S at Boekelo in October as two stops for the U.S. to target in 2023 — look for a more seasoned team to take the reins at Boekelo, but for now it’s to the sport’s next top stars for this weekend.

Dressage got underway in the 4*-S on Thursday, and we’ll have the conclusion of the division’s tests ridden today. All four of the U.S. horses and riders will compete beginning today, and if you’re an early bird I’ll list the times below as there is a free live stream provided by FEI TV on YouTube all week. Friday’s dressage will begin at 4:30 a.m. EST here. You can view the full list of Friday’s start times here and the full timing & scoring list here.

Belgium’s Maarten Boon is the current CCI4*-S leader with Gravin van Cantos, a 12-year-old KWPN mare. In the CCI4*-L division, Michael Jung leads the way following dressage with the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Kilcandra Ocean Power (BGS Ocean View – Bonnie Dolly, by Bonnie Prince) after earning a mark of 31.5. This weekend mark’s Kilcandra Ocean Power’s first CCI4*-L start. The USA’s Matt Flynn has also rerouted to Strzegom with Wizzerd following a fall early on cross country at Luhmühlen last week and will sit in sixth place on a score of 35.8 ahead of cross country.

Major International Events

LOTTO Strzegom H.T. / FEI Eventing Nations Cup (Poland): [Website] [Entries] [Live Stream] [Timing & Scoring] [Scoring]

U.S. Weekend Preview

Stable View Summer H.T. (Aiken, South Carolina): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Midsouth Pony Club H.T. (Lexington, Kentucky): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Fox River Valley Pony Club H.T. (Barrington Hills, Illinois): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Woodloch Stable Young Event Horse Qualifier (Hugo, Minnesota): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Loudon Hunt Pony Club Summer H.T. (Leesburg, Virginia): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, Colorado): [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Valinor Farm H.T. (Plymouth, Massachusetts): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Bucks County Horse Park H.T. (Revere, Pennsylvania): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Volunteer]

Friday News & Reading

Attending this weekend’s Stable View Summer H.T.? Here are a few “Early Insights” for you:

  • Ice and water will be on hand all weekend to help stay cool — look for brown ice containers as well a well-stocked Rider Lounge for water. There will be also misting station for horses (or humans — no judgement here).
  • Don’t forget to join the Stable View team for the always-lovely Graze and Gaze social hour with food and drinks, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings in the pub behind the Pavilion.
  • Find more information about the weekend in the Show Program here, or in the links list further up in this article

Arielle Aharoni and her CCI4* horse, Dutch Times, have been together since very nearly day one. Having purchased “Dutch” as a weanling, Arielle has been working on her partnership with the supremely athletic gelding, culminating most recently in a second place finish in the 4*-L at Bromont earlier this month. You can read all about her journey with Dutch in the latest Nancy Jaffer column here.

We love a clinic report, and this one brings a double bonus: a clinic with both Tik Maynard and Sinead Maynard! The Green Horseman blogs about the experience here.

Got a graduating senior in your household? Be sure to have them apply for a USEF Higher Education Scholarship. Applications are due on July 31. This scholarship program awards five $1,000 scholarships each year to US Equestrian members from any breed or discipline who are committed to continuing their equestrian involvement in college. College classes in equine subjects, participation in an intercollegiate equestrian team, or a horse-related job, internship, or volunteer position are among the ways that scholarship recipients can continue their participation in the equestrian community. [Apply for a USEF Higher Education Scholarship]

In his latest column with the USEA, sports psychologist Daniel Stewart dives into the concept of transforming from “worrier to warrior”. One form of “doubtful thinking” Coach Stewart refers to is the “pre-excuse”. What, exactly is that, besides my early justification for not making it to the gym today? Find out here.

Friday Video Break

Get a preview of what the riders at Strzegom will be tackling this week with a replay of the 2022 Nations Cup cross country:

#TrainingTipTuesday Video: Up Your Corner Game with 5* Champ Laura Collett

By on Jun 20, 2023 4:00 pm -

Did you know you can learn from newly-crowned Luhmühlen winner Laura Collett without having to fly to England to beg her to teach you her ways? Laura carved some time out over the off-season to film a Masterclass with Horse & Country, a preview of which you can view above. If you’re ready to begin practicing corners with your horse, this clip will give you some advice for setting up a practice exercise at home — no cross country course needed!

You can view the rest of Laura’s Masterclass using your H&C+ subscription here. Topics include jumping skinnies, pole work, and working with young horses. Want to save some dollars on an H&C+ subscription? You can use the code EVENTINGNATION15 to save 15% off the price of an annual membership. Click here for more info.

Coming Soon to Kentucky Horse Park: New Barns!

By on Jun 20, 2023 12:00 pm -

If you paid a visit to Kentucky Horse Park for LRK3DE this year (or any other horse show that utilizes the main stabling complex), you might have noticed a very different setting to greet you. The older barns that have played host to hundreds of incredible horses over the years have been razed with plans for brand-new stabling in the works from GH2 Equine Architects.

Click here if the Instagram post above does not display in your browser.

“The new construction, planned to start this fall, includes two 100-stall pavilions that combine shed-row and center aisles to maximize the number of stalls and provide ample access for trailers and exhibitors,” GH2 Equine Architects shared in a social media update. “A comfortable eave height and overhead HVLS fans encourage proper ventilation for horses (and people) attending Kentucky Horse Park’s action-packed warm season events. Restrooms, wash racks, and muck pits located in each barn help reduce the number of steps caretakers need to take, maximizing their time with their horses!”

The Horse Park took into account numerous responses from patrons collected during a public survey process, and the resulting ideas will be put into place in time for the spring show season in 2024.

An artist rendering shows an estimate of what the inside of the new Kentucky Horse Park barns will look like.

You can follow the Kentucky Horse Park and GH2 Equine Architects on social media for the latest construction updates. We’ll be looking forward to an official unveiling later this year!

Monday Video: Ride Aspen Farms’ Prelim with Madison Langerak

By on Jun 19, 2023 4:00 pm -

Aspen Farms Horse Trials Prelim Cross Country! It started pouring as we walked to the box, but I think Norman was happy for the challenge 😊

Posted by Madison Langerak on Sunday, June 18, 2023

Time for a Monday afternoon helmet cam ride! Today we’re joining Madison Langerak and Normandy Kivalo (Kalaska de Semilly – Carina) as they tackle Morgan Rowsell’s Preliminary track on the West coast at the gorgeous Aspen Farms H.T. Situated in Yelm, WA, Aspen Farms features incredible forestry and winding cross country tracks with a distinct Pacific Northwest feel to them.

Madison and “Norman” collected the Preliminary Rider win, adding just six time penalties to secure the win on a score of 35.3.

You can view full results from Aspen Farms here.

Farewell to The Good Witch

By on Jun 19, 2023 9:00 am -

Jennifer Wooten and The Good Witch. Photo by Samantha Clark.

We’re very sad to report that The Good Witch, former 5* horse for Jennifer Wooten and the catalyst for many an eventing legend, has passed away at the age of 27.

Together with Jennifer, “Pooh” traveled the world, contesting 24 FEI competitions including seven at the now-CCI5* level. Her highest placing at the top level was a seventh-place finish at Kentucky in 2008. In her 5* debut, The Good Witch finished 11th at Pau (France). Jennifer and Pooh completed a total of 30 Advanced through 4* events during their time together, traveling to Europe five times and also earning accolades such as a short-list berth to the 2008 U.S. Olympic team and an award for USEA Mare of the Year, also in 2008. In 2010, Jennifer and Pooh won the USEA Adequan Advanced Gold Cup.

“Thank you for the last 17 years,” Jennifer wrote in a moving tribute on her social media. “You were my heart ❤️ horse and I will never forget the adventures we went on and the amazing village we built. You were fierce, brave & forgiving. We exceeded expectations and learned together.

“You & I were a magical example of when timing, opportunity & preparation meet. Our partnership tested every aspect of character & ability, celebrating the highs & crying through the lows. You were my teacher and then went in to teach others.

“Your heart was as big as the Ocean and always full of confidence. You loved to run & jump. I am so grateful to the people who were hugely influential in our lives:

“My mother, Nancy Wooten, for instilling your love of horses in me and for introducing me to Donn & Daisy Tognazzini. Daisy for taking a personal interest in helping me develop my riding career & Donn for purchasing Witchypoo.
Carol Gee, for trusting me with “Pooh” who was the start of “Fernhill Sport Horses”.
Ginnie Bryant, for mentoring, coaching, traveling & most of all pushing me to try my very best even when I felt way out of my comfort zone.
Charlene Eurick, for the hours upon hours, days, years you devoted to care for the two of us.
Auburn Brady, for your incredible friendship, adventure buddy & soul sister.
Paul McCellen, for the impeccable care of Pooh. She was so tough; you knew her so well.
Margo Jolly, you always kept her shoes on to perfection.
Becky Leisz, for caring & hacking her through the years.
Mia Farley, for taking over the ride when Pooh needed to step down.
Amanda Volk, filling in as Poohs groom and travel buddy when needed.
Andres Macouzet, the first day we met was when you were examining Pooh after we suffered a fall at Rolex Kentucky 5*. Our story began because of her.

“Witchypoo, your spirit leaves an impression, you defined my life.

“As your story came to an end yesterday morning, I am honored to have been there with you when you took your last breath. A kiss on your velvet nose and a long hard cry as a goodbye. I’ll you on the other side of the rainbow one day with ruby slippers on. I love you always and forever.

“Rest In Peace my friend 🐎.”

Mia Farley and The Good Witch at the AECs in 2014. Photo by Sally Spickard.

But the story wasn’t over from there. After finishing her time at the top, The Good Witch went on to be a teacher, notably for Mia Farley, who took over the ride when she was just 12 years old and won almost every event she started with the Irish mare.

“I really do give all credit to her for me wanting to do this sport as a career,” Mia said. And indeed, how many of us should be lucky enough to have “that horse” — the one that puts to bed any doubts or inhibitions you had about doing this incredible sport. For more than one person, “that horse” was one Good Witch, and she will be sorely missed.

Sunday Videos: Luhmühlen XC Highlights + Two Winning Jump Rounds

By on Jun 18, 2023 12:00 pm -

It’s the Sunday of a big three-day, which means the only activity I want to be doing is reliving all the highlights from the weekend. If you share this enthusiasm (depraved obsession?), I’ve got just the ticket for you: Luhmühlen highlights!

Let’s dive in, starting with cross country day.

Cross country day highlights:

Watch Laura Collett win the CCI5* division — her third 5* title with London 52:

Watch reigning Olympic individual gold medalist Julia Krajewski win the 4*-S division and German National Championship with Ero de Cantraie:

Miss any of our coverage of Luhmühlen this week? You can click here to catch up.

Longines Luhmühlen: [Website] [Entries] [Final Scores] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] []

EN’s coverage of Longines Luhmühlen is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products and Ocala Horse Properties.

The Grand Finale: Live Updates from Luhmühlen CCI5* Show Jumping

By on Jun 18, 2023 4:29 am -

Photo by Leslie Wylie.

It’s time to find out who’s going to take the spoils at this year’s Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials! Show jumping will kick off at 4:30 a.m. EST (that’s 10:30 a.m. in Germany), and I’ll be bringing you updates here in this thread if you keep it refreshed periodically.

You can also tune in to the Horse & Country live stream here (where all the dressage and cross country is available on demand as well!).

The order of go can be found here, and scoring will be updated here for the 5*.

Longines Luhmühlen: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [How to Watch] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Form Guide]

EN’s coverage of Longines Luhmühlen is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products and Ocala Horse Properties.

5:39 a.m. ET: Well that wraps up the action from the 5* at Luhmühlen, and what a weekend it was! Tilly will be along later today with the final report, and we still have the 4* to finish up in the show jumping. That division will jump after this prize giving — you can still tune in live on H&C+ here. Let’s do a bit of analysis on Marco Behrens’ track today:

Fence 3 – an airy liverpool – came down the most (8)
Fence 4 came down 7 times
Fence 5A came down 5 times

Otherwise, the rails were pretty scattered, with very nearly each fence coming down at least once.

A couple of fun facts about Laura’s score — this score of 20.3 is just barely behind the new record for 5* finishing score set by Michael Jung at Kentucky in 2022. Before that, Laura had actually held the record herself for a 21.3 finishing score at Pau in 2020 — her first 5* win.

5:37 a.m. ET: HERE WE GOOOOOOO – Laura Collett wins her third 5* aboard the INCREDIBLE London 52 and finishes on her dressage mark of 20.3. What. A. FREAKING. LEGEND.

So your final top three is ALL British — way to go ladies! — and Boyd Martin will be the best of the rest in 4th place with Luke 140, super impressive for this pair.

5:36 a.m. ET: London 52 has rubbed a couple but so far so clear…

5:34 a.m. ET: Kitty nearly has the last of the triple down and just goes barely into time — she will retain her position despite that and finishes on a 27.2 Now Laura Collett – she DOES have a rail and time in hand to keep the win in her clutches.

5:33 a.m. ET: Kitty does not have a rail in hand to stay ahead of Yas, but she will have one to stay ahead of Boyd.

5:31 a.m. ET: Yasmin goes over the time but had that .4 in hand, but she does leave the poles up despite a pretty strong right drift at the out of the triple. Yasmin will finish no worse than third on the podium. Just two more now, and we’ll start with Kitty King and Vendredi Biats. The UK will win this weekend, it’s just a matter of which leading lady will nab it!

5:30 a.m. ET: Next in, into the top 3 here, are reigning World Champion rider Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ. She does not have a rail in hand to stay ahead of Boyd.

5:30 a.m. ET: WOW! Boyd finishes JUST inside the time and collects the 4th double clear. I wager that will move up too — let’s goooooo Boydo!

5:28 a.m. ET: Luke 140 wasn’t going ANYWHERE near those liverpool rails and gives them plenty of room.

5:26 a.m. ET: Oliver is the latest to have the oxer at 6A down after just getting there a bit lacking in energy and long. He’s also had the rail at 7 down and will finish on a score of 39.1. This will make Swallow Springs the highest placed Townend horse this weekend as Tregilder drops down a few. Now we’ll see Boyd with his final horse, Luke 140, who was placed 4th ahead of show jumping.

5:26 a.m. ET: Lovely! We have our third clear round of the day with Harry and Teneraze, who finish their weekend on a score of 30.7 (their dressage score). We’ve just got five more to see, and I would wager Harry has a couple spots left to climb yet! next will be Oliver with his third and final ride, Tregilder.

5:23 a.m. ET: Well that’s another disappointing one and Muzi won’t be thrilled about that finish with 4 down and 4 seconds’ worth of time. Just Kidding just looked a little lacking in upward momentum today. Next in are British rider Harry Meade and the very impressive Tenareze, coming forward on a score of 30.7.

5:21 a.m. ET: Muzi gets off to a rough start with three rails down, including the liverpool at 3 and the oxer at 4 that seem to be bogey fences (but really, what isn’t on this course??).

5:20 a.m. ET: Highs and lows, eh? Felix will be sorely disappointed with that finish, as he and Colero add 5 rails to drop out of the top 10 and finish on a 53.3. New Zealand’s Muzi Pottinger with her superstar OTTB Just Kidding are the next to jump. Just the two clear rounds so far!

5:19 a.m. ET: Well, I spoke too soon as Colero has three down so far. He does seem to have a pretty strong distaste for this arena, after a less than pleasant experience during the prize giving last year and a mild meltdown on dressage day this year.

5:18 a.m. ET: Our 2022 winners, Swiss pair Felix Vogg and Colero, will be the next to see. This pair will need a clear round and a lot of rails from the pairs placed ahead of them to defend their win this weekend, but Felix will be doing what he can to finish on what he can control.

5:17 a.m. ET: Jerome and Black Ice get a little too far away from the oxer at 7 and have that down, as well as the final of the triple. They add a few time faults too and will finish on a 44.1. That’s another spot claimed by Tom and Farndon then.

5:15 a.m. ET: Well that was just a lovely round for Tom Jackson and Farndon, who finish on their dressage score and are the first pair this weekend to do so! Giving major vibes from Tom’s epic Badminton finish with Capel’s Hollow Drift. This pair should probably finish inside the top 10, at least, with the way this course is riding. Germany’s Jerome Robine is next in with Black Ice — another pair that really impressed on cross country yesterday.

5:14 a.m. ET: Well that won’t be the round Seppe wanted with 3 rails added, mostly with the hind end, as well as a shade of time for a final score of 50.5. British rider Tom Jackson and Farndon will be the next to see.

5:11 a.m. ET: We’ve still just seen the one clear round from Emily King and Valmy Biats, as Seppe and Kawa de la Cour Z go ahead and join the liverpool club and have it down.

5:10 a.m. ET: Sydney goes into time faults too, and adds two total rails for a finishing score of 47.4. Seppe Vilain and Kawa de la Cour Z are the next in the ring for Belgium.

5:10 a.m. ET: Sydney has that pesky plank down at 4 and will need to kick on a bit if she wants to get inside the time here.

5:09 a.m. ET: Felicity finishes her weekend on a score of 46.5 with those two disappointing rails down. Everyone moves up a spot or two as a result, and we’ll now see the U.S.’ Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire. Another pair who made the time yesterday!

5:07 a.m. ET: Rats, Felicity have the liverpool at 3 down — that one’s come down quite a bit already today. They add another at 5A.

5:07 a.m. ET “Squirrel” looks to be a little strong again today and adds two rails to finish on a score of 46.7, dropping her a couple of places. Our next Irish pair, Felicity Ward and Regal Bounty, will be in the ring next, who did make the time on cross country yesterday and will look to finish on their starting mark today.

5:05 a.m. ET: Susie takes a bold inside turn to 6 that closes up the gap to the in and out line. She does lower 10A, the first of the triple, and finishes on a score of 44.5. Our resident Burghley winners, Pippa Funnell and MGH Grafton Street, will be the next to see. This pair added 15.6 time penalties on cross country yesterday (Pippa said he was quite strong out there, which always eats into the clock).

5:01 a.m. ET: Blast, the plank strikes again for Boyd, who had the same fence down with Tsetserleg. That’s their only fault, and they’ll finish Bruno’s 5* debut on a score of 36.4, which will drop him below Oliver and Swallow Springs. Ireland’s Susie Berry and Monbeg by Design, a 5* debutant and also Susie’s World Championships partner last year, are next in the ring.

4:58 a.m. ET: The first of the double at 6 comes down for Oliver. That line seems to be riding just a little long and gappy; it comes out of a turn away from the in-gate, which creates some distraction for some horses, and has ridden a little long on both the A and B for a few pairs, including Oliver and Swallow Springs. The one down puts him on a score of 35.7. We now have Boyd with Fedarman B, also riding out of order as Fedarman B is currently placed 9th and has a chance to move up later if he can manage a clear. “Bruno” is historically a pretty good show jumper.

4:56 a.m. ET: The penultimate fence falls for Fiona, to put her on a score of 44.7. Creevagh Silver de Haar has quite a unique style over the fences, but he’s very tidy and quick on this last day of competition. Now we’ll have Oliver riding out of order (he’s currently placed 8th) with Swallow Springs.

4:54 a.m. ET: One down at fence 3 down for David and Ferro Point to finish on a score of 44.8. We’ll next see Fiona Kashel and Creevagh Silver de Haar. This course is really rewarding a strong forward ride, though you also can’t be too keen at some of these fences coming out of turns!

4:53 a.m. ET: Next to see are British rider David Doel and Ferro Point.

4:53 a.m. ET: Gosh, this mare jumps show jumps like she does cross country: feisty and bold! A bummer of a rail at the triple, but she enthusiastically finishes the job inside the time to finish on a 45.1. Consider me obsessed, y’all.

4:49 a.m. ET: Unum de’Or has a big nap at the in gate while turning to 6A and is assessed a refusal. He’s also had the red plank down at 4. Unum de’Or is a big boy who requires a lot of putting together, and he looks to be ready to finish this phase and get on with his vacation! They finish with a good bit of time and finishes on a score of 56.2. Next to see will be Germany’s Arne Bergendahl and Luthien 3, who really impressed yesterday on cross country and who you can learn a bit more about here!

4:47 a.m. ET: Two rails down for Emma and more than one rubbed but left up for a final score of 54.1 — four seconds of time additionally. France is back in the ring next with Cedric Lyard and Unum de’Or.

4:46 a.m. ET: A really nice round with 4 jump penalties and one infuriating second of time for Will and The Partner. A nice completion for this pair that they’ll be keen to build on from here. Next up are exciting young German rider Emma Brüssau and Dark Desire GS. She’s had two rails down so far, at fence 3 and 8.

4:43 a.m. ET: Florian finishes on a score of 71.5 with just those two early rails down — they settled into a much better rhythm after that. Will Rawlin and The Partner are next in, having brushed off a tense horse inspection this morning where they were temporarily held by the Ground Jury but ultimately passed.

4:41 a.m. ET: Emily turns in the first clear round of the day! Valmy Biats’ sire, Orlando, was a show jumper himself who has produced a fair amount of both eventers and pure show jumpers. A very, very nice jumper is rewarded with no faults and a finishing score of 67.6. We’ll next have France’s Florian Ganneval and Blue Bird de Beufour. They’ve had fences 1 and 4 down so far.

4:40 a.m. ET: Gireg comes in three seconds over the time allowed and lower one fence — #3 — en route to a final score of 81.3. We’ll now move to Great Britain’s Emily King and Valmy Biats. Will they be our first clear of the day?

4:38 a.m. ET: RLE Limbo Kaiser just didn’t seem to quite settle into a rhythm in there today, but this is a 5* debut for this horse, who will have gained a lot of experience this weekend. Katherine and RLE Limbo Kaiser lower fence 5B and 10B and added 4 seconds of time for a finishing score of 111.6. Next in are French pair Gireg le Coz and Caramel d’Orchis.

4:34 a.m. ET: Well that was a really nice round from Boyd and Thomas, who also have show jumping icon Peter Wylde in their corner this weekend. One down — the red plank atop fence 4, comes down to add 4 to their mark, but a solid effort nonetheless. A final score of 68.3 for them. Next in will be our next U.S. rider, Katherine Coleman and RLE Limbo Kaiser.

4:33 a.m. ET: German designer Marco Behrens, who’s designed at this venue for many years, is the designer for today’s show jumping. Oliver and Cooley Rosalent lower one rail at 6A and finish within the time allowed for a final score of 74.2. Next to see will be Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF. “Thomas” has historically struggled a bit in the show jumping, and a clear round here would help make up for the sting of an early mistake on cross country yesterday.

4:30 a.m. ET: And we are underway with our first of the day, and it’s Oliver Townend with Cooley Rosalent. This 9-year-old is our youngest horse this weekend, and she made a really nice debut at the level yesterday with one green blip that will surely get sorted with more experience.

A Homebred, A First 5*, and a Family Affair for Arne Bergendahl at Luhmühlen

By on Jun 17, 2023 12:32 pm -

Arne Bergendahl and Luthien 3. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

For much of German rider Arne Bergendahl’s career, making it to the pinnacle level — CCI5* — wasn’t really a part of the plan. Sure, he enjoyed riding and grew up in a family that lived and breathed horses — his family is well-respected for producing top quality show jumpers and eventers — but he wouldn’t have categorized himself as a top-level, career rider. After all, he also works full-time in an office, which leaves less time for full-time horse production than some of his professional counterparts.

But Arne made good on this goal he wasn’t sure would factor into his CV on Saturday at the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials, where he stamped one of the rides of the day in the CCI5* division aboard the homebred 11-year-old Westphalian mare, Luthien 3 (La Calido – Taramanga, by Templer xx).

“She’s a little bit of a crazy mare in this family!” Arne described. Earlier in the day, all you could see on Mike Etherington-Smith’s cross country was a streak of white as the mare gleefully leapt from question to question (sometimes leaving a stride out in her wake!). Her efforts were rewarded with a move from 36th after dressage (“The dressage is always complicated,” Arne admits) into the top 20 following cross country. The pair picked up just two seconds of time over the optimum time of 11 minutes.

Many eventing fans would know this equine family quite well, in fact. The family Bergendahl is represented this weekend not only by Luthien 3, but also by Arne’s 4*-S ride, Checkovich, as well as Antonia Baumgart’s Lamango and the USA’s own Dan Kreitl’s partner in the 4*, Carmango (who shares the same dam – Taramanga – as Luthien 3 and Lamango). One more fun fact about this particular mare line: the fourth foal from Taramanga is Cascamara, who currently competes at the 3* level with one Ingrid Klimke.

Arne Bergendahl and Luthien 3. Photo by Alex Jeffery.

Arne works full-time for the city council of Wesel, having earned both his Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree from the University of Münster. This busy schedule means he must balance the riding on the odd hours, before and after work. Because of this demanding schedule, and the fact that he rides many of his family’s young horses to help bring them up, the prospect of a 5* seemed like a very uphill climb.

“I have a normal job in office,” Arne explained. “And my father is breeding. I’m riding a lot, of course, but a lot of young horses. But that’s why five-star wasn’t really all the time my aim to go there. I was several years on two- and three-star level and a three-star was almost a highlight of the year. But the last two, three years it became really good.”

Since the mare’s early eventing days, Arne has been able to cultivate a partnership with Luthien 3. The pair did move up to the 4* level in 2020 but were eliminated in their first attempt, so they opted to go back to the drawing board and gain some more experience during and beyond the pandemic. That extra time has paid off, as they’ve finished closer and closer to the top placings as they go. As with many elite horses, patience and understanding is key. “In the beginning the cross country was even a little bit complicated with her, because she has her own mind and always keeping her on line is not that easy,” Arne reflected, noting the improvements the mare has made just since 2021 to bring him now to this achievement.

A solid performance in Sunday’s show jumping for Arne and Luthien 3 will solifidy a goal that’s already been mostly accomplished: bring a homebred, self-produced horse all the way to her first (and your own!) first CCI5* event — on home soil, to boot. Add in a rare clear round inside the time on your second ride in the 4*-S, and we’ll call this a weekend to remember, no matter what.

Longines Luhmühlen: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [How to Watch] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Form Guide]

EN’s coverage of Longines Luhmühlen is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products and Ocala Horse Properties.

Thinking Caps + Big Girl Britches On: Live Updates from Luhmühlen CCI5* Cross Country

By on Jun 17, 2023 3:10 am -

Fence 13

Gooooood morning to you, fellow insane eventing fans!

It’s just before 1 a.m. here in Northern California and I’ve had a bit of an early-evening nap and a weird-feeling latte to get me back up and running for one of my favorite activities: cross country live updates!

I’ll be posted up here to bring you updates from the action as the 5* cross country gets underway at Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials, live from Germany. The better experience, if you’re able to, is to tune in to the live stream via Horse & Country. You will either need a H&C+ subscription(good for live and on-demand viewing) or a one-time event pass (good for live and on-demand viewing for 30 days) to watch Luhmühlen. If you aren’t already an H&C+ subscriber, you can save 15% on an annual membership using code EVENTINGNATION15.

H&C+ subscriptions start at $12.99/month or $99.99/year. A pay-per-view event pass for Luhmühlen only costs $19.99 and provides access to the event for 30 days, including the live stream. Click here to select the option you’d like to purchase.

Germany is one hour ahead of British time, six hours ahead of Eastern time, and nine hours ahead of Pacific time. I’ve gone ahead and converted times for all you other early birds to keep track of.

Top 5:

  • (3) Kitty King and Vendredi Biats (26.8): 10:02 a.m. local / 4:02 a.m. EST / 1:00 a.m. PST — CLEAR inside time
  • (2) Pippa Funnell and MGH Grafton Street (23.1): 10:12 a.m. local / 4:12 a.m. EST / 1:12 a.m. PST — CLEAR, 15.6 time
  • (5) Emily King and Valmy Biats (28.4): 11:26 a.m. local / 5:26 a.m. EST / 2:26 a.m. PST — 20 penalties, 39.2 time
  • (4) Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ (27.5): 11:46 a.m. local / 5:46 a.m. EST / 2:46 a.m. PST — CLEAR inside time
  • (1) Laura Collett and London 52 (20.3): 12:02 p.m. local / 6:02 a.m. EST / 3:02 a.m. PST — CLEAR inside time

U.S. Riders:

  • Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg – 9:38 a.m. local / 3:38 a.m. EST / 12:38 a.m. PST — 20 penalties, 33.2 time
  • Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire – 9:58 a.m. local / 3:58 a.m. EST / 12:58 a.m. PST — CLEAR inside time
  • Katherine Coleman and RLE Limbo Kaiser – 10:18 a.m. local / 4:18 a.m. EST / 1:18 a.m. PST — 40 jumping, 66.0 time
  • Hallie Coon and Global Ex – 10:26 a.m. local / 4:26 a.m. EST / 1:26 a.m. PST — Retired
  • Boyd Martin and Fedarman B – 10:54 a.m. local / 4:54 a.m. EST / 1:54 a.m. PST — CLEAR inside time
  • Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California – 11:34 a.m. local / 5:34 a.m. EST / 2:34 a.m. PST — Retired
  • Matt Flynn and Wizzerd – 11:42 a.m. local / 5:42 a.m. EST / 2:42 a.m. PST — Eliminated (RF)
  • Boyd Martin and Luke 140 – 12:10 p.m. local / 6:10 a.m. EST / 3:10 a.m. PST — CLEAR inside time

You can follow live scores, including a running fence report, here and see the starting order here. And be sure to stick around for the 4*-S division following this one — I won’t be doing live updates for that division, but the live stream will continue on H&C+ and you can find live scores/starting orders here.

For reference, the U.S. ride times in the 4*-S are as follows:

  • Dan Kreitl and Carmango – 2:33 p.m. local / 8:33 a.m. EST / 5:33 a.m. PST
  • Hallie Coon and Cute Girl – 2:45 p.m. local / 8:45 a.m. EST / 5:45 a.m. PST

Mike Etherington-Smith’s track will run in a different direction that recent years, with an optimum time of 11 minutes. There are 46 total jumping efforts set across 28 numbered obstacles. You can read more in Tilly’s analysis here and in the rider reactions summary here.

The first pair out of the box this morning will be Great Britain’s Oliver Townend with the 5* debutant Cooley Rosalent at 9:30 a.m. local / 3:30 a.m. EST. Keep this page refreshed periodically for updates! Here’s to safe and clear rides for all. Go Eventing!

Longines Luhmühlen: [Website] [Entries] [Timing & Scoring] [How to Watch] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] [EN’s Form Guide]

EN’s coverage of Longines Luhmühlen is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products and Ocala Horse Properties.

6:25 a.m. ET: I was wrong! Boyd finishes 4 seconds inside the time with Luke 140 and will go into fourth place overnight as the top-placed U.S. rider. What a smashing debut for both of Boyd’s first-timers here. Laura Collett will hold her lead with London 52, followed by Kitty King and Yasmin Ingham filling out the podium. A look at the top 20 is below.

The cross country will continue with the 4*-S division beginning at 1:15 p.m. local time / 7:15 a.m. EST. I won’t be running live updates for the 4*, but you can follow along live on H&C+ here. Tilly will be along later today with the full report! Thanks for tuning in.

6:21 a.m. ET: Boyd has about 20 seconds to get home as he comes to the last couple of fences. I don’t think he’s going to quite get there..

6:19 a.m. ET: Luke is clear at the final water and really impressing me here. I think this horse just needed a 5* to get his brain working at the right speed!

6:17 a.m. ET: Swallow Springs finishes really strong here with plenty of time and gas left in the tank. A nice rebound for this guy after an unfortunate end to his Badminton weekend. Boyd is clear through 20 and approaching the final water.

6:16 a.m. ET: I missed the GIF, but Luke had a really handy and bold ride through the water at 13. Luke would probably be one of the toughest rides on Boyd’s string — he’s always a bit of a powder keg and his smaller stature makes him very maneuverable (in a way that makes him quick to get out from underneath you!). BUT, that nippiness actually lends itself quite well to a track like this, and if Boyd can manage rideability this is going to be a serious 5* horse for the future.

6:14 a.m. ET: Boyd showing me why I’ll never be a 5* rider — just look at him carve this distance out of stride early on course:

GIF via H&C+.

6:13 a.m. ET: Luke 140 is very strong with Boyd at the first combination but is able to get back in time to make the distance work. London 52 is well inside the time as he finishes and Laura will hold the lead overnight.

6:12 a.m. ET: Laura is clear through the final water and has only a few fences left to jump. It’ll be interesting to see where she ends up on time — she has about 16 seconds in hand.

6:10 a.m. ET: Laura relies on her partnership with London 52 to hustle him through the turning questions at the arena. Oliver has a big jump into the water at 13 with Swallow Springs and is clear here. Our final pair in the 5*, Boyd Martin and Luke 140, are on course.

6:09 a.m. ET: Lots of shuffling through the water at 17 for Laura and Dan, but they’re still clear! Felix and Colero are home clear and 8 seconds inside the time to remain on their dressage mark of 33.3 and current seventh place.

6:08 a.m. ET: A look at an elated Jerome Robine finishing:

GIF via H&C+.

6:07 a.m. ET: Laura has a strong ride into the first water at 13 with London 52 and is clear there. Colero uses his footwork a bit up the step at 15 but is clear still. Oliver Townend is away with Swallow Springs.

GIF via H&C+.

6:05 a.m. ET: Jerome Robine comes home clear with a handful of time and looks absolutely thrilled! A nice round from this pair. Laura is clear at the coffin at fence 11.

6:03 a.m. ET: Now away are Laura Collett and London 52, your overnight leaders! They do have some time in hand, but we’ll see if they wind up needing it. This would be a different sort of track to what you’d generally peg “Dan” to relish, but Laura will know exactly how to get the best ride out of her Tokyo and World Championships partner. Felix and Colero are clear through 15.

6:01 a.m. ET: Cedric Lyard comes home 18 seconds over time with Unum de’Or.

5:59 a.m. ET: Joining us now are Jerome Robine and Black Ice as well as 2022 winners here Felix Vogg and Colero.

5:57 a.m. ET: Spencer updates us that Tamie said she pulled California up as she felt the mare wasn’t feeling up to the task to finish. No injuries or health issues, it appears, which is good news! Meanwhile, Yasmin stops the clock clear inside the time with Rehy DJ — what a ride from the World Champion!

5:55 a.m. ET: A lovely trip through the coffin for Cedric and Unum de’Or:

GIF via H&C+.

5:53 a.m. ET: Just five more pairs to see today after the two we have on course. Yaz is riding Rehy DJ pretty strong, but the efforts are paying off as they’re clear so far and coming towards home. Cedric flies over the ditch and brush on the Anglo-Arab Unum de’Or and approaches the coffin at 11.

5:50 a.m. ET: Yasmin is clear through the coffin and heading to the big water at 13. French pair Cedric Lyard and Unum de’Or are the latest starters.

5:46 a.m. ET: Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ are our next on course. Bill Levett’s day comes to an end with a runout now at the A element at the hedges in the arena. He came around to re-present before realizing he was now eliminated. Yasmin has the course to herself now.

5:45 a.m. ET: Wow, I guess Hubertus had actually jumped the wrong side of the hedge on the first attempt. Rats. He will carry on with 2 refusals now.

5:44 a.m. ET: Ah, man. Matt Flynn will sadly not get hardly any cross country done today after a fall at fence 2. What a gutting end for this pair. We also pick up with Bill Levitt, who’s had an issue at the angled hedge up the bank at 15. He’s jumped the wrong side of the flag on the re-attempt, which is another refusal.

5:41 a.m. ET: We aren’t getting much of Tamie on the feed, but I can tell you she has retired at fence 15. The problem is showing at the A element of 15, a big table before the step up, but it’s now showing that she incurred penalties here so I’m not sure. I’ll try to get an update for you. Meanwhile, Emma Brüssau and Dark Desire GS stop the clock about 30 seconds over but with an impressive clear round. Keep an eye on this pair!

5:39 a.m. ET: Emily King finishes with just under 40 time penalties – she’ll be disappointed with that outcome but hopefully will be leaving with that much more gumption for the next go. Now on course are Badminton re-routes Bill Levett and Huberthus AC, repping Australia. Tamie is clear through the big water at 13 as well as 14.

5:37 a.m. ET: Tamie has a nice ride through the first combination, a pair of narrow houses at 7AB. Emma and Desi are clear through 18.

5:34 a.m. ET: Spencer updates us that Imogen pulled up Roheryn Ruby ahead of the water at 17 because she felt the horse wasn’t quite right. We are now joined by Kentucky 5* winner Tamie Smith with 5* debutant Solaguayre California.

5:33 a.m. ET: No! Emily takes a half-halt on Valmy Biats and got way off her line to the arrowhead, and she has a drive-by here. That will drop her out of the competitive placing here this weekend. Real bummer. A look at the issue:

GIF via H&C+.

5:32 a.m. ET: Lovely up the big step at 15 for Emily and Valmy Biats. We’re also joined by German pair Emma Brüssau and Dark Desire GS.

5:29 a.m. ET: Just 4 seconds of time, pending the decision at 17, for Seppe and Kawa de la Cour Z. Super round from this pair, who clearly know each other exceptionally well! Emily is clear through the coffin.

5:28 a.m. ET: Seppe Vilain and Kawa de la Cour Z have a ?? on their score at 17C — the second water jump.

5:27 a.m. ET: Emily King and Valmy Biats are now on course and will look to hold or improve their current fifth place position. Nicolais Wettstein did withdraw Meyer’s Happy ahead of cross country, so we won’t be seeing them today.

5:25 a.m. ET: Monbeg by Design gets really clever at the final Longines Water — wow! Also, a really impressive ride so far from Seppe Vilain and Kawa de la Cour Z, who’ve been together all the way up from the junior rankings.

GIF via H&C+.

5:22 a.m. ET: This is, of course, a very different track to the likes of what we’d see at another 5* — each venue has its own characteristics that make it unique. That being said, I can’t say enough about how much I appreciate the influence of this track without there being much “scary” happening. I’ve seen most all horses finish very well in themselves and not looking gutted, and so far — touch wood — we’ve had no horse falls. Yet the leaderboard has changed considerably, so I would challenge any purists out there who believe cross country must still look like it “used to” to rethink what a successful day of sport looks like. Hopefully I’ve not spoken too early on that thread!

5:21 a.m. ET: Harry Meade stops the clock three seconds inside the time with Tenareze after a lovely round. Really nice.

5:19 a.m. ET: Belgian pair Seppe Vilain and Kawa de la Cour Z are the next to join us.

5:17 a.m. ET: Harry Meade and Tenareze are straight and clear through the water at 17.

5:14 a.m. ET: Lea looks like she pulled up with lots of pats after the water, so maybe this was a planned retirement. We will try to find out! I’m sad I missed the GIF of her ride through the water as she lost her right stirrup and still made it look like a gymnastic ride. Meanwhile, Florian’s question marks have been cleared and no penalties were applied. Susie Berry now joins us with 5* debutant Monbeg by Design.

5:13 a.m. ET: Whew, Lea Siegl and DSP Fighting Line have a wonderful and gutsy ride at 13, but now it looks like she may be retiring? Unsure. I wonder if this…was the plan for this horse? That seems not right, though.

5:11 a.m. ET: Florian Ganneval and Blue Bird de Beaufour have a ?? at fence 13C, which would be the final element of the Le Mieux water. Also on course now are Lea Siegl and DSP Fighting Line.

5:10 a.m. ET: Our next starters are Harry Meade and Tenareze.

5:10 a.m. ET: A look at Will and The Partner making things slightly more challenging:

GIF via H&C+.

5:07 a.m. ET: Wow, Will Rawlin and The Partner jump the very tall left side of the second angled brush at 21! This issue later springs up again but sadly results in a drive-by at the first hedge at the Longines Water. Also, a look at the big effort made by Florian Ganneval and Blue Bird de Beaufour at the out of the coffin:

GIF via H&C+.

5:05 a.m. ET: Six seconds inside the time for Boyd and Fedarman B; they’ll remain on their dressage mark of 32.4 ahead of tomorrow. What a debut for this incredible horse! For now, this pair will go into fourth.

5:02 a.m. ET: Boyd and Bruno are clear through the two questions in the arena. We also get an update from Spencer Sturmey in the commentator’s booth that Tim Price informed him that Happy Boy was withdrawn due to a slight cough picked up from shipping fever. No point in risking things at the horse’s first 5*, he says. Meanwhile, we’re joined by Florian Ganneval and Blue Bird de Beaufour on course. Boyd is heading for home.

5:01 a.m. ET: Oliver picks up three seconds (1.2 penalties) of time to go onto a 31.1 with Tregilder.

5:00 a.m. ET: A beautiful ride through the big water at 13 for Boyd and Bruno as we are also joined by Will Rawlin and The Partner. Oliver is on the way home with Tregilder, still sitting on a quick clear.

4:59 a.m. ET: A look at Boyd and Bruno through the coffin:

GIF via H&C+.

4:57 a.m. ET: Tregilder gets a big pat from Oliver after navigating the water complex at 17.

4:56 a.m. ET: Straight and forward through the first combination at 7 for Boyd and Fedarman B.

4:55 a.m. ET: Tregilder stands off from the right-handed corner at the Le Mieux water at 13, but has no trouble making it work and is clear on the direct line.

4:54 a.m. ET: Boyd Martin is underway with 5* debutant Fedarman B.

4:53 a.m. ET: Tom Jackson stops the clock 9 seconds inside the clock with Farndon — nicely done!

4:51 a.m. ET: Ah, sadly after a giant leap into the Le Mieux water Aistis Vitkauskas and Commander VG run into trouble at the right-handed corner. Aistis elects to retire here rather than keep going, and this is an experienced horse that doesn’t necessarily need the extra wear and tear with any chance of competitiveness now gone.

4:51 a.m. ET: Oliver Townend joins us again, this time with the more experienced Tregilder.

4:48 a.m. ET: Another candidate for Biggest Climber this year, Lithuania’s Aistis Vitkauskas and Commander VG, are now on course.

4:47 a.m. ET: Esib runs into more trouble with a duck out at the A element of the angled brushes in the arena. She’s put her hand up and will call it a day here.

4:45 a.m. ET: Ah rats, Senza Fine grinds to a halt at the top of the step up question at 15. They’re clear on the second attempt. David Doel comes home the quickest of the day so far, stopping the clock almost 20 seconds inside the time with Ferro Point.

GIF via H&C+.

4:43 a.m. ET: Esib clearly draws her line for the long route at the water at 13, and she’s reasonably quick through there even on the long route. Now joining us are Tom Jackson with Farndon.

4:42 a.m. ET: David Doel lives dangerously at the angled brushes in the arena but manages to close the door on the right side to stay true.

4:39 a.m. ET: Riding for Ireland and joining us now are Esib Power with Senza Fine — and major apologies to Esib, as it appears we’ve left her off of our Form Guide!

4:37 a.m. ET: Fiona Kashel is coming home clear and almost inside the time with Creevagh Silver de Haar. We’ve also been joined by David Doel with Ferro Point.

4:32 a.m. ET: Ok, some updates: looks like Hallie Coon has picked up 20 at fence 5 early on and looks to have retired. Katherine Coleman and RLE Limbo Kaiser have picked up another 20 at fence 23, an upright gate to an angled log.

4:30 a.m. ET: Pippa’s going to lose her position here with at least 30 seconds added on the clock here. “Squirrel” looked like he got a little strong out there, which of course can make it really hard to go fast, especially on a track like this! Katherine Coleman is clear through the water at 17. Fiona Kashel with Creevagh Silver de Haar are on course, as are Hallie Coon and Global Ex.

4:27 a.m. ET: Rats! Katherine has a nice bold jump into the water at 13, but she sadly couldn’t quite get there on the direct route and has to go long after picking up a 20 drive-by here. I also apologize as my GIF app has gone a bit funny so I’m a bit short on visuals at the time.

4:26 a.m. ET: Pippa really commits to the narrow brush arrowheads at the water at 17 and kicks away to get back up on her minutes.

4:24 a.m. ET: We’ve sadly not seen much of Felicity Ward today but she is heading for home on a clear round. She is our third home clear inside the time, which will be encouraging for the riders yet to come.

4:22 a.m. ET: Muzi Pottinger comes home just one second over the optimum of 11 minutes with Just Kidding. Our next U.S. rider, Katherine Coleman, is out of the box with RLE Limbo Kaiser. Pippa is clear through the water at 13, going the long route after a bit of a scramble in over the drop. She’ll have lost some time on the winding long route here.

4:19 a.m. ET: Pippa Funnell and MGH Grafton Street, 2019 Burghley winners and currently second-placed here, are now away. Muzi Pottinger is heading for home sitting on a clear with Just Kidding. Felicity Ward is clear through 17.

4:17 a.m. ET: Kitty is on a solid redemption trip here with Vendredi Biats as she heads for home sitting on a clear round. She should be pretty good to finish inside the time as well, and she puts herself well in line to have a hope to capture the podium — or maybe even the win — this weekend.

4:15 a.m. ET: Kitty King and “Froggy” are straight as an arrow through the angled brushes in the arena. Muzi Potting has a lovely trip through the coffin at 11, and we’re joined by Felicity Ward and Regal Bounty. Just Kidding has a rough jump into the big Le Mieux water, but what a gutsy little horse as Muzi is able to keep him on the line for the direct route.

GIF via H&C+.

4:13 a.m. ET: Sydney finishes INSIDE THE TIME – YES GIRL YES! She will remain on her dressage score of 37.8.

GIF via H&C+.

4:11 a.m. ET: Muzi Pottinger and her OTTB Just Kidding are away. Kitty is clear at the big water at 13. Sydney is just a couple from home and is not hanging about so I’ll be keen to see her time.

4:10 a.m. ET: Sydney is clear through the angled brushes at 21 in the arena that have caused some trouble so far.

4:09 a.m. ET: Sydney grits her teeth and really makes the direct route happen at the top water at 17. Nice riding! Kitty is clear at the combination at 7, two narrow houses.

4:07 a.m. ET: Ok, we’re back underway! Hopefully it was just a fence repair issue but if I do get an update I will let you know. Sydney is clear through the step up at 15. Kitty King is away with Vendredi Biats.

4:05 a.m. ET: Kitty King looks to be being sent back to warm-up to stay loose, so this could be a longer hold. No news yet on what’s happening, I’d only assume it’s due to Imogen as she would be the only one on course ahead of Sydney.

4:02 a.m. ET: Looks like Imogen Murray has retired Roheryn Ruby at the second water at 17. Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire put their first water demons to rest with a bold ride through the direct route at 13. Get on, girl! Sydney is also now being held — could be an issue with Imogen’s trouble at 17. Kitty King is also being held at the start with Vendredi Biats.

4:01 a.m. ET: Arne is home CLEAR and just barely over the optimum time, 2 seconds over. What a ride! They’ll go onto a score of 41.1 for tomorrow.

I’ll take three Luthiens please! GIF via H&C+.

4:00 a.m. ET: Luthien just makes this look like a Novice round. She and Arne are very nearly home and could be our first clear round. I’ll be curious to also see their time!

3:58 a.m. ET: Our next U.S. rider is away: Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire come to cross country day with a score of 37.8.

3:57 a.m. ET: Arne and Luthien are making good on my prediction that he’ll jump up the board after cross country, with a very quick and gutsy ride at this water:

GIF via H&C+.

3:56 a.m. ET: Next away will be Imogen Murray and Roheryn Ruby. Arne Bergendahl and Luthien are clear through 15.

3:54 a.m. ET: According to the live scoring, Gireg has picked up a refusal in the main arena at fence 21. A very interesting runout here as the pair really seemed to be on their line before the horse ducked his right shoulder.

3:53 a.m. ET: Gireg le Coz has a really nice trip through the big Le Mieux water with Caramel d’Orchis. What an interesting day so far! Sure we have only seen three come home, but that’s three Olympians (albeit, on two very green horses early in their 5* career) to pick up trouble on a track that won’t be buzzy for size, but more so for technicality.

3:51 a.m. ET: Next away are Arne Bergendahl and Luthien. Laura Collett is giving Dacapo a really skillful ride as they reach the last third of the course. Dacapo has looked a tiny bit green around this mentally taxing track, and now that comes to grief again with a runout at the angled brushes in the arena. Now he’s run out a second time and that will be it for their day today.

3:49 a.m. ET: Boyd and Tsetserleg are home in a time of 11:33. He’ll be more than disappointed about that glance-off in the water, but he’s got two more rides to get a better feel today.

3:48 a.m. ET: French rider Gireg le Coz is next away with Caramel d’Orchis. Boyd is through the arena questions and heading for home. Dacapo almost slides to a stop in front of the big, angled trakehner into the water but slithers over and Laura opts to go long.

GIF via H&C+.

3:46 a.m. ET: Boyd gives Thomas a strong ride through the gymnastic-looking water at 16 and 17. Laura Collett is approaching the Le Mieux water at 13.

3:43 a.m. ET: Oh no – Boyd and Thomas jump pretty big and straight into the big, buzzy water at 13 and cannot get to the corner on the right stride. That’s 20 here, and Boyd picks up to jump the long route. Meanwhile, Laura Collett is underway with her first ride, Dacapo.

GIF via H&C+.

3:42 a.m. ET: Boyd and Thomas are clear through fence 12. Cooley Rosalent comes home looking fresh, with those 20 penalties on the card but a decent debut for this 9-year-old mare today.

GIF via H&C+.

3:39 a.m. ET: And here we are with Boyd and Tsetserleg, coming forward on a dressage mark of 30.1. This course should suit Thomas pretty well. They’re clear through the first combination at 5ABC.

3:38 a.m. ET: Oliver now comes into the arena, where fences 20 and 21 await. Boyd Martin is next to leave the box aboard Tsetserleg TSF.

3:37 a.m. ET: Oops! Cooley Rosalent ducks to the left at the very skinny arrowhead at the water at 17, so Oliver comes around for the very long route around. Just a green mistake here.

3:36 a.m. ET: Oliver gives Cooley Rosalent a strong ride into the big Le Mieux water and goes long but he’s clear and now approaching fence 17.

3:32 a.m. ET: Ok, and I seem to have fixed my issues and we’re live! Oliver Townend is the first away with the debut mare, Cooley Rosalent, and they’re clear through fence 9.

3:25 a.m. ET: We’re off to a bit of an inauspicious start this morning as the H&C+ live stream seems to be a little late getting online today. I’ll start us off as soon as it’s up and running!