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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

Allie Knowles Earns a ‘Sound’ Win at New Jersey + Other Scores

By on Jun 28, 2015 5:00 pm -
Allie Knowles and Sound Prospect. Photo by Ivegotyourpicture.com Allie Knowles and Sound Prospect. Photo by Ivegotyourpicture.com

The Horse Park of New Jersey hosted the New Jersey H.T. 1 this weekend, welcome starters from Advanced down through Beginner Novice — a busy weekend on all accounts! Allie Knowles and Sound Prospect LLC’s Sound Prospect earned the top placing in the Advanced division, moving up from third to finish on a final score of 42.4.

Allie and “Sounder” re-routed to Jersey Fresh after retiring at Rolex, finishing 17th in a very competitive CCI3*. The ground at Jersey certainly seems to suit this pair, as it appears they made quick work of the cross country.

Emily Pestl-Dimmitt and Michelle Pestl’s Airlington, who have previously competed through Advanced on the West Coast, ended their weekend in second place, picking up 17.6 time penalties for a final score of 49.2.

Buck Davidson and Lisa Darden’s Wiley Post round out the top three at New Jersey, rocketing up from 15th place after a quick footed cross country round that accumulated just .4 time penalties. This weekend was Wiley Post’s first competition since the CCI3* at Jersey Fresh, where he finished in 13th place.

New Jersey H.T. 1: [Scores]

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Down in Georgia at Chatt Hills, Michael Pollard and Christine Turner’s Tsetserleg solidly clinched the wire to wire win in the Open Intermediate A on a final score of 41.1. This is Tsetserleg’s first full season at Intermediate and he collects his first win this weekend.

Kyle Carter and Cooley Nothing Better B moved up a couple of spots from fourth to second on a three phase score of 56.7. This was the first start since April for the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding who shares the same sire as Ballynoe Castle RM.

Alex Green and one of her up and coming horses, Fernhill Bold Gesture, finished third on the weekend with a score of 57.5. This year is also this pair’s first full season at Intermediate together.

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Michael Pollard wasn’t done yet with his one win — he picked up the win in the B division as well aboard the stallion Halimey. After earning a 25.6 in the dressage, Michael and Halimey were the only pair in this division to finish on that score.

Second in the B division are Alexander O’Neal and Rendezvous With Charly, who moved up from fifth after a double clear to finish on a 40.5. This is a newer partnership, and this weekend was Alexander and Rendezvous With Charly’s third event together. Evidently things are heading in the right direction, as they’ve placed continually higher as time goes on. Perhaps a blue ribbon next?

Danielle Ditching Busbee and First Lyte complete the top three in the B division, finishing on a score of 40.6. This was a step up to a new level for First Lyte, a 9-year-old Thoroughbred mare owned by Alese Lyle.

Chatt Hills Summer 1: [Scores]

Screenshot_9It was a tough day for Open Intermediate competitors at Inavale Farm H.T. in Oregon, with six out of 11 pairs retiring or suffering elimination on cross country. It is Karen O’Neal and Barbara Flynn’s Hollywood Diva who will take home the win this weekend, finishing on their dressage score of 34.4.

In second for the weekend are Andrea Neilsen and LC O’Shawnisee, who also finished on their dressage score of 34.8. This is this pair’s highest placing at the Intermediate level to date — congratulations!

Rounding out the top three are Jen McFall and High Times, who added some time on cross country and a rail in show jumping for a final score of 45.1. Jen will be very pleased with “Billy’s” dressage performance this weekend though — he earned a 28.3 to take the early lead. Rebecca Farm will be the next stop for these two.

Inavale Farm H.T.: [Scores]

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Sunday Video: ‘If Horses Were People’ Outtakes

By on Jun 28, 2015 1:00 pm -

We all have blooper moments in life, but we don’t all put them on video for the world to see. Here’s where we tip our cap once again to SmartPak for putting together this hilarious outtake reel from the various videos they put out throughout the year.

This has us thinking … maybe we should put together our own blooper reel, perhaps from press conferences where the wine is flowing freely or from the EN tailgate at Rolex where all sorts of ridiculous activity can be seen. Or maybe we’ll just keep our embarrassing moments locked away…

What footage would go on your outtake roll?

Vote for the 5th Annual EN Blogger Contest Winner

By on Jun 28, 2015 11:00 am -

The time has come! We’ve had too many quality applicants to count this year, and we had the difficult task of narrowing the field down to three finalists. We’ve posted all three of their entries on Bloggers Row over the last few weeks, so we hope you’ve had a good amount of content to analyze when it comes time to pick our newest team member.

We now would love to hear what your thoughts are on our finalists. We ask for your votes now, and while the votes alone will not determine the winner, the results will certainly be taken into account in our final decision making process.

We’ve listed each finalist’s entries below, so take one last glance through and vote for who you think should be the next member of the EN team. Voting will end on Wednesday, July 1 at midnight.

So, who will it be EN? Ash Hayworth? Seija Samoylenko? Or David Taylor? Each of these writers has proven their skill and talent — as well as their sense of humor — throughout this process, and we can’t thank each of them enough for their hard work.

Click here to read a bio on each finalist.

Ash Hayworth

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Seija Samoylenko

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

David Taylor

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Where Are They Now, Presented by Merial: Port Authority

By on Jun 28, 2015 9:00 am -
Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch and Port Authority. Photo by Samantha Clark. Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch and Port Authority. Photo by Samantha Clark.

It’s been nearly two years since Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch’s longtime partner, Port Authority, has competed at the upper levels, but he’s far from retired in a field. Some horses — the ones that are truly meant to teach — end their upper-level career and go on to become lower-level masters, and that’s exactly what Port Authority has done.

Prior to his retirement, Port Authority, or “Ollie”, enjoyed a storied career with Steph in the irons. Ollie was Stephanie’s Young Rider mount in 2008 and the pair moved up the three-star level successfully, finishing outside of the top 15 just once. In 2010, Stephanie was selected to the Canadian WEG team and placed ninth individually.

Unfortunately, Ollie then sustained an injury and was eventually retired after Stephanie attempted to bring him back to competition. “We had brought him back (in 2013) and had plans to step back up to Advanced, but we were told that his suspensory wouldn’t hold up,” Stephanie said. “He flexed really well, it just showed up on the ultrasound and we couldn’t risk it.”

So Stephanie made the difficult decision to retire her partner on which she had had so much success. Stephanie then suffered another terrible blow, suddenly losing her promising young horse, Seahawk.

“Once we lost Seahawk, reality kind of set in,” Stephanie said. “At some point, I needed to treat this as a business and stop hemorrhaging money. So it was a natural transition to start to look for something for Ollie to do to take some of the strain off.”

Enter Margaret Nelson, who had been looking for a horse on which to learn. Through mutual friends, Stephanie and Margaret came to an agreement for the lease of Ollie, who got along swimmingly with his new rider.

“It’s great for both Ollie and Margaret,” Stephanie said. “He’s super quiet and generally easy to ride, but he still makes you work correctly to put him together. When she rides him properly, he rewards her with really nice work. At the same time, he’s quiet and she can go on trail rides or throw him on the trailer easily.”

Margaret Nelson and Port Authority. Photo courtesy of Steph Rhodes-Bosch.

Margaret Nelson and Port Authority. Photo courtesy of Steph Rhodes-Bosch.

Margaret’s primary focus is on dressage, which Ollie has had success in throughout his career. “I had been taking lessons at a riding school,” Margaret recalled. “But I felt like I wanted more riding time. My cousin knew that Steph was looking for someone to ride Ollie, and as soon as I rode him I just knew it would work out. It was kind of a love at first sight.”

The benefit of riding Ollie, who is well schooled and experienced, is that as Margaret progresses, Ollie can step up and present new challenges and lessons for her. It’s an evolving process, and Margaret can continue to learn as time goes on. “Ollie’s been a really good teacher,” Margaret said. “He won’t give me anything I don’t ask for.”

Stephanie couldn’t be happier with how everything has worked out. “It’s a very simple situation,” she explained. “I needed to move forward, and Margaret loves him and takes great care of him. She’s been a great find.”

Stephanie has set a goal for Margaret to earn her USDF bronze medal aboard Ollie, a goal she believes is perfectly attainable. “She’s been doing eventing dressage tests, but we’re going to progress to doing USDF tests and working towards the medals. I think it’s a perfectly attainable goal.”

As for Ollie, who is now 17, he loves having a job and another person to take care of. “I’ve had him since he was five,” Stephanie said. “He’s always been the same kind of horse, really quiet and easy to be around. I’m happy that he’s found someone to take care of now, it’s perfect for him.”

Queeny Park a Homecoming for Area IV Eventers

By on Jun 27, 2015 5:00 pm -
Riders enjoy the scenery at Queeny Park. Photo courtesy of Kick On Photo. Riders enjoy the scenery at Queeny Park. Photo courtesy of Kick On Photo.

Queeny Park is the St. Louis area’s only event, nestled in the heart of Area IV. Looking back on my childhood, some of my fondest memories are of walking our horses across the street to go school cross country at Queeny.

This event is a homecoming of sorts for eventers in the St. Louis and surrounding areas. The park itself holds many memories (and probably some of my skin from the various falls I managed while schooling), so when I was offered the opportunity to be the event photographer this year I jumped at it.

There is something to be said about your “hometown event.” There’s a feeling of familiarity, walking around a park that recalls so many memories. As with every other event I’ve had the privilege of attending, the organizers and volunteers were as friendly as could be, despite the blistering hot temperatures and, true to Missouri fashion, rapidly incoming thunderstorms and downpour.

Spectators gather on the bank to watch some cross country. Photo courtesy of Kick On Photo.

Spectators gather on the bank to watch some cross country. Photo courtesy of Kick On Photo.

There are always familiar faces to be seen at Queeny Park, as it’s a community effort to organize and run. Organizer Jill Wagenknecht did a fantastic job of ensuring the event was run smoothly — no easy task with several locations to manage and temperamental Missouri weather to contend with.

For those of us eventing in the Midwest, it’s pretty neat to see a Rolex rider among our ranks — we don’t have Boyd and Buck here in Missouri! So when Meghan O’Donoghue brought out one of her young OTTBs, it added even more flair to the event. Meghan and Scottiforgottee won the Open Beginner Novice as well, no big deal.

Meghan O'Donoghue and Scottiforgottee. Photo courtesy of Kick On Photo.

Meghan O’Donoghue and Scottiforgottee. Photo courtesy of Kick On Photo.

There was a lot of great riding to see, and horses and riders alike handled the hike to the various competition areas and the weird weather with maturity. One thing that’s always interesting to observe is a dressage test ridden in a grass ring on relatively uneven ground. Once again, the organizers did a great job of ensuring the dressage areas were as even as possible, but riding on grass always poses different challenges.

Cross country day was hot and sunny, but all horses and riders came home safely and everyone looked to be enjoying themselves on the course designed by Cathy Weischhoff. Divisions ran from Starter through Prelim/Training, with a healthy mix of seasoned pairs, young horses, and amateur riders.

Stadium day presented a challenge in itself, with torrential downpour threatening just minutes before the P/T began. Sure enough, the floodgates opened just in time for the show jumping to start, presenting a big challenge for photos and, more importantly, for staying in the tack!

Course designer Brody Robertson was on hand to supervise the footing and the course, skillfully pointing out areas that needed some reinforcement from the growing mud and even jumping under the rope several times to assist the jump crew.

Hannah Stohr and World Beyond. Photo courtesy of Kick On Photo.

Hannah Stohr and World Beyond. Photo courtesy of Kick On Photo.

Fortunately, the rain cleared in time for the lower levels to complete their last phase, holding off until the last courtesy rider had been ushered through the out gate. It was the end of another perfect weekend for St. Louis eventing.

Though the community is small, it’s close knit, and many people are involved in ensuring the long term success of the event. Thank you to each and every one of the hard working volunteers, organizers, judges, designers, riders and grooms who made this weekend run so smoothly.

It’s hometown events such as this that are the backbone of our sport. Everyone has an event they call “home” — and Area IV eventers are fortunate to be able to have Queeny Park as one of their own.

[Queeny Park Equestrian Events]

This Video of American Pharoah as a 2-Year-Old Will Give You Chills

By on Jun 27, 2015 3:00 pm -

Watching American Pharoah triumph in the Triple Crown this year was a thing of beauty, but it’s always interesting to see where these great horses came from. This video of a private workout by the Pioneerofthenile colt as a 2-year-old is sure to give you a good case of goosebumps.

No wonder there was such a buzz around AP — after seeing this work, there were several exclamations, including one person saying he was “scared of this horse.” Slap some chill-inducing music on the video, and you’ve got a pure spectacle of equine locomotion.

What do you think, EN? Would you have hedged all your bets on American Pharoah after seeing this workout? Chinch says he would have been all in.

 

USEA Cardiopulmonary Research Group Conducting Study at New Jersey H.T.

By on Jun 27, 2015 1:00 pm -
Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Photo by Mark Walter Lehner. Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Photo by Mark Walter Lehner.

The USEA Equine Cardiopulmonary Research Group has been working hard to collect important data that will aid the insight we have into cardiac issues in our equine athletes. They are conducting a study at New Jersey Horse Trials I, held this weekend, and have purchased additional equipment in order to allow them to include more horses in their study.

The Research Group published its latest findings in a report earlier this year, and more data is always needed to continue the success of the studies.

Made evident from the numbers studied previously, a big initiative research group this year has been to study as many horses as possible. The study at New Jersey this weekend will be the first of many planned studies to occur over the summer.

The Research Group may still be in need of participants, and competitors can find sign up sheets on the grounds. All findings will be kept confidential, and priority will be given to horses competing at the higher levels.

Participating in studies such as these is a great way to help further our sport, as knowledge is our biggest weapon when combating incidents that can drastically affect our competing horses.

[USEA Cardiopulmonary Research Group Seeks Participants]

Relive Great Meadow with Buzzterbrown

By on Jun 27, 2015 11:00 am -

One of our favorite videographers, Buzzterbrown, has finished uploading his footage from Great Meadow last weekend, and in true Buzzterbrown form it’s a compilation you won’t want to miss.

You can relive the action from Virginia in the 14-minute highlight reel above, complete with slow motion footage and glimpses of many riders competing in both the CIC3* and the Pan Am Prep Trials.

Many thanks to Buzzterbrown for sharing his videos, and thank you again to all who made Great Meadow a great success!

Great Meadow: [Website] [EN’s Coverage]

 

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Pony Club Camp Hawaii

By on Jun 26, 2015 5:00 pm -

First off, how cool would it be to go riding in Hawaii? I’ve done it once before, a little scenic beach tour in Kauai when I was pre-teen. I thought I was the bee’s knees because I remember the trail ride stopping for lunch and then we could go and untie and mount our horses on our own if we felt comfortable. Trust me, I thought I was so super cool because I could do that little task all on my own.

Anyway, earlier this month was an even better experience for Hawaii Pony Clubbers: Pony Club Camp! And what better backdrop to have? If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to go riding in Hawaii, here’s a great look. All three phases of eventing, plus a little swimming for good measure — sign us up!

If you happened to participate in this year’s Pony Club Camp Hawaii, we’d love to hear about your experience! Email [email protected] if you’d like to share your story with us.

 

Friday News & Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips

By on Jun 26, 2015 12:01 am -
Kathy Noffsinger, left, and Trudy Richardson at the Florida Horse Trials Association's Spring Event Camp awards ceremony. Photo courtesy of Lori Reed. Kathy Noffsinger, left, and Trudy Richardson at the Florida Horse Trials Association's Spring Event Camp awards ceremony. Photo courtesy of Lori Reed.

Happy Friday! It’s not too thrilling of a Friday for me, as it’s moving weekend. Moving weekend, and I only started packing just before I began writing this. Go ahead and judge, everything is fine. I’m a master procrastinator when it comes to important things like moving into a new home and such. There’s also a cross country schooling this weekend that I’m missing, but everything seems to have worked out for a reason since my horse is enjoying a few days of vacation while he awaits a stifle injection.

At least that’s what I’ll keep telling myself. Everything happens for a reason. Procrastinating happens for a reason. Sure, that sounds…fine.

In other (more relevant) news, the Florida Horse Park Spring Event Camp was a big success. EN happily donated hats for the campers to wear, and they were a big hat! The Florida Horse Park will be hosting its 12th annual Awards Luncheon and Silent Auction on August 16 at the Ocala Hilton, featuring keynote speaker Clayton Fredericks.

The Horse Park is looking for silent auction donations as well as other support, so check out their website here for more information on how you can help. Go Florida Eventing!

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Groton House Farm H.T. [Website] [Ride Times]

Genesee Valley Hunt H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Horse Park of New Jersey I H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Inavale Farm H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Encore H.T.  [Website] [Ride Times]

Abbe Ranch H.T.  [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]

Friday News:

FLAIR Nasal Strips is a sponsor of this weekend’s Encore Farm Horse Trials in Area VIII. All riders who place first through sixth in each division will receive a FLAIR strip as a part of their prize. For those of you who are new or unfamiliar with FLAIR strips, you can check out their new application videos on their YouTube channel for more information. [FLAIR Nasal Strips]

Coach Daniel Stewart is channeling his inner John Mayer. Ok, maybe not, but the title of his latest column brings to mind one of the crooner’s songs. A renowned sport psychologist who specializes in equine work, Daniel discusses the conversations we all need to have with ourselves when riding and competing. If you haven’t check out his column over on USEA, you’re missing out! [Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say]

Recently, both Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton were featured in the Washington Post in a write-up on their preparations for Toronto next month. It’s always cool to see eventers getting “mainstream” media coverage. Keep it up, guys! [Boyllip in Washington Post]

We all love watching horse and rider tackle the famed Hickstead Derby Bank. Horse & Hound compiled a list of the best ways not to handle this formidable obstacle. #FailFriday? [How NOT to Jump the Hickstead Bank]

Will Triple Crown winner American Pharoah tackle the Breeders Cup Classic this fall? We’d all like to hope so. After all, it’s a huge treat that this horse will continue racing through the season, so we can’t imagine it’s off the radar. Yahoo! Sports tackles the subject and gets us all excited to see him take on another field of challengers. [Will AP Run in the Classic?]

Friday Video:

Need some inspiration? Look no further than Danish Para-Dressage rider Stinna Tange Kaastrup, who was born with no legs. This doesn’t stop her from reaching for the top, though, and she’s even competed at WEG. Mind blowing, awe inspiring, and incredible. Just a few words to describe this girl.

Weekly OTTB Wishlist from Cosequin

By on Jun 25, 2015 5:00 pm -

There are so many lovely OTTBs on display this week, it was very difficult for us to just pick three. It’s also difficult for us not to pick up the phone and snatch one of these up, so the sooner you give these horses a new home the better!

Photo via After the Races.

Photo via After the Races.

Our first handsome horse this week is Medford Blue, who is a 2010 gelding available through After the Races in Pennsylvania. Standing 16.1-16.2 hands, Medford Blue (Southern Success – Brighter Blue, by Clever Champ) with 21 starts under his belt and four wins. He earned nearly $80,000 on the track and last raced in November 2014.

According to his listing on After the Races, Medford Blue has a great personality and is sound for his next career. This one won’t last long!

Medford Blue on After the Races

Photo used with permission from CANTER Illinois.

Photo used with permission from CANTER Illinois.

Next up is this hunk of a horse from Arlington Park who is listed with CANTER Illinois. Slew Slam (Grand Slam – Slew of Comfort, by Seattle Slew) is a 6-year-old stallion bred in Kentucky who won three times in 18 starts. He laced raced on June 19 and has been described as a chill horse who is mentally balanced.

CANTER Illinois lists Slew Slam as without injury or vice, although he is a ridgeling, meaning he has at least one undescended testicle.

Slew Slam on CANTER Illinois

Photo via Finger Lakes Finest.

Photo via Finger Lakes Finest.

Finally this week is a lovely mare from Finger Lakes Finest by the name of Smokin Racer. She’s a bit of an older model — foaled in 2004 — but she’s proven to be as sound as the day is long in a jaw dropping 101 starts. She’s earned more than $150,000 on the track and is well deserving of a new home where she can put her athleticism to work.

Smokin Racer (Smokin Mel – Broom Boss, by Kohoutek) is said to be a barn favorite and has lovely conformation to boot. She’s got a great work ethic and is sure to be a rewarding partner for her new owner. Scoop her up today!

Smokin Racer on Finger Lakes Finest

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Avebury Aims for Fourth Barbury Win

By on Jun 24, 2015 5:00 pm -

Our tribute to the wonderful Avebury who is aiming for a 4 timer in the 3 star in July at Barbury. Can he & Andrew Nicholson do it?

Posted by Barbury International Horse Trials on Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Barbury International is approaching July 9-12, and Andrew Nicholson and his veteran partner, Avebury, are aiming for a mind blowing fourth win in a row this year. Evidently, ths 15-year-old gelding owned by Andrew and Mark and Rosemary Barlow prefers to win events in hat trick form: he’s won Burghley three years running as well as the CIC3* at Barbury.

Andrew says that Avebury likes the atmosphere at Barbury, with its location close to home and throngs of cheering spectators. If there was ever a horse that preferred certain events more than others, it’s this one. Now, he’ll be aiming for the CIC3* again this year in his first FEI competition since (winning) Burghley last fall.

The entry list is chock full of superstars and up and comers this year, so Andrew and Avebury have their work cut out for them. You can view the full entry list, which is currently 124 strong, here. What do you think, EN? Can Avebury pull off a four-peat?

Barbury International: [Website] [Entries]

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Helpful Hands: Managing Sport Horses Through Bodywork

By on Jun 24, 2015 11:00 am -
Charlotte Morris works on Dorothy Crowell's Radio Flyer. Photo via Charlotte Morris.

Charlotte Morris works on Dorothy Crowell’s Radio Flyer. Photo via Charlotte Morris.

Charlotte Morris, creator of Phoenix Bodyworks, has always seen the world through the eyes of an athlete. A former triathlete, Charlotte found success before a herniated disc changed the course of her life. Now, she’s transferred her knowledge of the human body to those of her equine clients and she’s making a difference, one session at a time.

“When I was doing triathlon, I was racing hurt all the time,” Charlotte explained. “When I was diagnosed with a herniated disc, all the doctors did was give me medication. I eventually tried massage, and it changed my life. I decided to go into massage school, thinking I’d be there for three months — I ended up staying for a year and a half.”

Charlotte has always had horses in her life and knew she wanted to be able to work on horses using her newfound knowledge. A big hurdle she found early on was that there is no licensing in place for equine massage therapists, but there was a certification program that she went through.

“I started working on horses in 2006,” she said. “I had an old, broken down racehorse that went through a lot of soundness issues that probably could have been avoided with good bodywork. I named my business after him and it’s been my full-time job ever since.”

Without a licensing program, Charlotte took courses that she knew would transfer well to horses, such as sports rehab. She’s found that many techniques used on humans can often be too painful for horses, so she has adjusted them in order to make them work for horses while reducing the amount of pressure she has to use.

“A lot of bone problems are due to tight soft tissues,” she explained. “If you address the soft tissue problem to take the pressure off the joint, a lot of times you have a fully functional joint.” She gives an example of knee problems that have plagued her throughout her own life. “I had big quads. My quads were overpowering my knees, pulling my patella to the side. My bodywork therapist told me that if we released the quad and strengthened the hamstrings, it would help. In that case, it cured the whole problem.”

When Charlotte first works with a new client, she first requires veterinary permission to work on the horse, unless the client is at a competition. She then looks at the horse’s history, or at least what is available, to look for any previous accidents or injuries.

Charlotte hangs out with Wundermaske at Rolex. Photo via Charlotte on Facebook.

Charlotte hangs out with Wundermaske at Rolex. Photo via Charlotte on Facebook.

She will palpate the entire horse, listening objectively to the owner’s description of any problems. “I don’t chase the pain,” she explained. “Sometimes, what can appear to be one problem can actually be something different. A history definitely helps, but my hands are going to tell me the most.”

Indeed, there are many glaringly obvious differences between human and equine muscular structure. For example, a horse essentially uses every muscle in its body to perform one task. “You can have one small problem that turns into a huge problem because the horse requires almost every muscle to move. If there is one ‘problem area’, I will look at the entire body to try to pinpoint a specific area.”

Charlotte’s methods have proven successful, and she soon built herself a roster of clients such as Sharon White, Jon Holling, Dorothy Crowell, and several reining riders. This year, she traveled to Kentucky to work on horses at Rolex, both eventers and reiners.

Now, she spends most of her time on the road, working on client horses and teaching classes alongside veterinarians. She is also a saddle fitter, as she feels the two concepts go hand in hand. “I like to address the whole team, human and horse. You need to know about saddle fit — that’s a huge part of bodywork.”

When asked what type of symptoms may lead a horse owner to call her, Charlotte is quick to list many. “A lot of seemingly simply issues can indicate a need for bodywork. If the horse goes with its head tilted to one side, is heavier on one side that the other, or is displaying any out of the ordinary behavior such as refusing jumps or just having a bad attitude, that can be a sign of discomfort somewhere. Everything has an explanation.”

Charlotte is a firm believer that every horse should have bodywork from a professional. “There really needs to be some sort of licensing,” she said. “Some people will go to a short course on human massage and go directly to horses, and that does not always work out.”

She’s doing her part, though, hosting educational workshops in an effort to educate others on her profession. She’s involved with a clinic series called Arion, which is an equine biomechanics and bodywork certification course. She’s got big plans for the future of her profession and wants to ensure that horses all over the country are exposed to quality work.

At the end of the day, Charlotte has found her niche in the sport horse world — even finding time to compete herself sometimes! — despite the long days and weeks away from home. “You’re on the road all the time, and you go without eating a lot,” she said cheerfully. “But it’s very rewarding. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Tuesday Video from SpectraVET: Celebrate #OlympicDay with This Throwback Video

By on Jun 23, 2015 5:00 pm -

#OLYMPICDAY WATCH the video of Neale Lavis, member of the four-man Australian team that made history by winning gold in Eventing at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games. Riding Mirrabooka, he was almost faultless over the three days of competition. Another legend ! #equestrian Australian Olympic Team

Posted by Equestrian Australia on Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Happy Olympic Day! Olympic Day is known as a day to celebrate and learn about the Olympics and the tradition they carry, and Equestrian Australia posted this great video in honor of the day. The video honors Neale Lavis, who was a decorated Australian eventer who helped his country win team gold and individual silver in the 1960 Olympic Games.

After his involvement with eventing, Neale went on to the racing world and was a part of the success of Melbourne Cup winner Just A Dash. Neale was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1989.

It’s always fascinating to go back and look at the sport so many years ago — how much has changed since then! Enjoy this throwback video as we celebrate the rich history of the Olympic Games.

Why SpectraVET?

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Nana Dalton’s Uwald Euthanized After Bramham Injury

By on Jun 23, 2015 3:00 pm -
Nana Dalton and Uwald at Bramham. Photo by Samantha Clark. Nana Dalton and Uwald at Bramham. Photo by Samantha Clark.

UK eventer Nana Dalton’s three-star ride, Uwald, owned by Sheila Barker, was euthanized last week after sustaining an injury to his hind suspensory at the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials earlier this month, where he was competing in the CCI3*.

Uwald, a 14-year-old Dutch gelding, first began his British Eventing career with Nana in 2011, making their CIC3* debut together in 2012 at Hopetoun, where they finished 11th.

“He was my sister Tricia Price’s horse and she produced him brilliantly from Pre-Novice through to 2* level,” Nana reflected in a tribute on her Facebook page. “They also had lots of fun filled winter days hedge hopping in Leicestershire — he was a dream hunter including leading the kids ponies off him at a children’s meet two days before competing at Osberton 2*!”

“My favourite event on him was when we went to Hopetoun in 2012,” she continued. “It was his first 3-star and the first time I’d ridden back at that level for almost ten years. It was the same time as the London Olympics and sitting watching the big screen of the opening ceremony was moving and inspiring.

Nana and Ollie at Bramham. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Nana and Ollie at Bramham. Photo by Samantha Clark.

“The ground was bottomless and the course tough but I had one of my best rides ever — he was absolutely brilliant, jumped superbly, looked after us both and we crossed the finishing line with massive smiles,” Nana said.

Uwald, or “Ollie,” had battled back from a stifle injury several years ago. “We headed to Bramham with him looking and feeling better than ever — we were never going to be competitive so the plan was to give him a relatively easy run with no time pressure so we could build on this in the autumn,” Nana said. “I was so proud of him for jumping clear but it soon became clear that he wasn’t right. The vets at Bramham were excellent and the leg was bandaged up for him to travel back.”

“Unfortunately on further examination the scans revealed the extent of the injury — ironically it was his ‘good’ leg, but the years of wear and tear compensating for those other injuries had obviously taken its toll.”

The decision was made to humanely euthanize Ollie. “He leaves a massive hole in the yard and in our hearts but will always be thankful for the times we had together,” Nana said.

Rest peacefully, Ollie.

USEF Names Ranked Alternates for U.S. Pan American Games Team

By on Jun 23, 2015 1:22 pm -
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo by Jenni Autry. Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The USEF has just released the rankings of the alternates for the U.S. Pan American Games Eventing team. The first ranked alternate, Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda are hot off a win in the CIC3* at Great Meadow this weekend and will travel with the team as the traveling reserve to Toronto.

The rankings of the alternates are as follows:

Jennie Brannigan and Nina Gardner’s Cambalda, a 2002 Thoroughbred Cross gelding

Lauren Kieffer and Jacqueline Mars’ Vermiculus, a 2007 Anglo-Arabian gelding

Matt Brown and Blossom Creek Foundation’s BCF Belicoso, a 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Will Faudree and Jennifer Mosing and Sterling Silver Stables’ Pfun, a 2007 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Tamra Smith and Eric Markell, Alexandra and Ellen Ahearn’s Mai Baum, a 2006 German Sport Horse gelding

Michael Pollard and Carl, Nicolas and Stanislas Bouckaert’s Cyrano Z, a 2001 Zangersheide gelding

Congratulations are in order for Jennie and the Gardners after her big win with Ping at Great Meadow and subsequent naming as the traveling reserve. We must also congratulate the remainder of the alternates as well as Team USA, who just put in a great showing in the Pan Am Prep Trials.

We’ll see you in Toronto!

[USEF Names Ranked Alternates for Pan Ams]

Pan Ams Cross Country Brings New Flavor to Will O’Wind Farm

By on Jun 23, 2015 9:00 am -
Pan Am jumps on their way to Will O'Wind Farm. Photo courtesy of Eric Bull. Pan Am jumps on their way to Will O'Wind Farm. Photo courtesy of Eric Bull.

Course builder Eric Bull has been hard at work putting the finishing touches on the new jumps that will adorn Will O’Wind Farm’s cross country course this summer. A big benefit to Will O’Wind farm, which hosts horse trials throughout the year, is that the new fixtures on the cross country course will become a permanent part of the landscape once the Pan American Games are completed.

“The Pan Ams organizers wanted the course to be as level as possible for those who have not competed here before,” Eric explained. “So we brought in essentially all new fences to level the playing field.”

Photo courtesy of Eric Bull.

Photo courtesy of Eric Bull.

All 36 jumping efforts on the Pan Ams course are now in place, and course designer Wayne Copping (AUS) is now tasked with the final touches on bringing his course vision to life. Eric, who builds for many U.S. events, including Fair Hill and the Wellington Eventing Showcase, spent the majority of the winter season crafting the new obstacles.

When you look at it, it’s very Canadian,” he said. “Maple syrup, beavers, maple leaves, Canadian geese, and more. It was quite a history lesson for me, which made the design of the jumps that much more interesting. It took most of the winter to build everything, probably a day or two per jump.”

Photo courtesy of Eric Bull.

Photo courtesy of Eric Bull.

Now that the cross country course has begun to take shape, Eric is looking forward to seeing how riders will tackle the two-star competition. “It had to be demanding enough to be a solid two-star, but also give options to those who may not be as prepared as others,” he explained. “Wayne has put in quite a few optional routes for those who may not be as prepared, but they are going to be very lengthy. I think he’s done a good job of balancing things; he wants everyone to get home safely.”

Eric and his team spent a little over a week in Toronto laying out the course, and the grounds were already prepared as much of the landscape work and ground preparation had been done over the course of the last year. “The thing with maintaining a course is that you get (the ground) where you want it, and you just say off of it. Let the grass grow. This course is really a luxury — the footing is great, and the weather is fairly even and should be pretty welcoming during the Games.”

Photo courtesy of Eric Bull.

Photo courtesy of Eric Bull.

While Will O’Wind is not described as having a lot of extreme terrain, Eric uses the term “rolling” when talking about the elevation changes on course. “There are a few big main fields that are quite flat, and then a few fields off to the side that get pretty rolling,” he said. “It should ride quite nice for everyone.”

Accustomed to building courses for several levels at each event, having the luxury of building for just one at the Pan Ams has given Eric the opportunity to soak in the experience and the atmosphere with time on his side. He’ll return to Will O’Wind two weeks before the Games to finish some painting jobs and landscaping. “There’s really no building left, it’s just going to be roping, flagging, and dressing,” he said. “The best thing you can do for  a course is stay off of it so it looks fresh and new when it comes time to get the horses running on it.”

Eric is looking forward to seeing another course he built in action, and he’s pleased with how well the design is shaping up. “Wayne has done a really great job with the design, and I think the goal for the Pan Ams is to further Canadian sport. I think this course will do what it needs to do and represent Canada well.”

Meet Your 2015 Blogger Contest Finalists

By on Jun 22, 2015 1:00 pm -

We announced our 2015 Blogger Contest final three last week, and we’re pleased to bring you a collection of their bios so that you may get to know them a bit better. Each one of our finalists is talented in their own right, and we are flattered that they’ve chosen to send us their work.

We will be posting each finalist’s round two entries on Bloggers Row this week, and their final entries are due this week so stay tuned for much more from this year’s Blogger Contest. Once again, we can’t thank you enough for your continued support of this contest — we can’t wait to see who our next EN team member will be! Chinch, for one, will be happy to have another person to harass.

Ash Hayworth

Photo by Cheryl Stephens.

Photo by Cheryl Stephens.

Ash Hayworth is an Area V Young Rider with big plans for an equine filled future, big plans that some (and by some I mean her parents) qualify as irrational, but nevertheless, I’m sure she’ll work something out eventually. She’s headed off to college next year, though not headed off too far, for she couldn’t possibly leave her best friend behind. By ‘best friend’ do you mean boyfriend? Of course not! I mean horse.

Said horse is an OTTB named Oliver. The two of them are looking forward to their upcoming Intermediate debut. On second thought, Ash is looking forward to their upcoming Intermediate debut and Oliver is groaning about those walk-to-canter transitions.

Round 1 Entry

Seija Samoylenko

Seija

Hey there, I’m Seija Samoylenko.  Pronounced say-a.  I’m a twenty-year-old preliminary-level event rider from Massachusetts (Area 1, the great-white north).  My family runs a dressage and eventing facility outside of Boston.  I’m lucky enough to have a feisty black mare (Roxanne) and some cool baby boy horses (Eddie and Stewie or Edward and Stuart on their better days). 

Last summer I was a working student–now just a college student, part-time restaurant employee, and struggling CrossFit newbie.  

Round 1 Entry

David Taylor

David taylor 2

David Taylor, 31, considers himself an up and coming adult amateur with sights set on Rolex and beyond. Living in the heart of Area II, he currently events his 7 year old TB mare, Serendipity, at training level. Making a living in the horse world as well, he is the facility manager at Sunset Hill at McCuan Farms in Woodbine MD.

He is married to a professional dressage trainer who has been his #1 supporter. Being truly encapsulated in this estrogen filled horsey world has put him in touch with his inner horse crazy girl. Dave is also the current undisputed Eventing Nation Chinch Toss world champion.

Round 1 Entry

Great Meadow CIC3* and Pan Am Prep in Photos

By on Jun 22, 2015 11:00 am -
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon. Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon.

Great Meadow successfully kicked off its inaugural CIC3* over the weekend, with Jennie Brannigan winning the CIC3* and Lauren Kieffer taking home the crown in the Pan Am Prep Trials.

The U.S. Pan American team was sent off in style to Toronto, all placing in the top five at the end of the Pan Am Prep Trial. We are excitedly looking forward to seeing this solid team compete for gold in Toronto, and this prep trial was more than enough to get us amped up for next month.

Our good friend, Valerie Durbon, was in attendance this weekend and has kindly shared her collection of photos from the event. Please enjoy these spectacular photos, and don’t forget to check out Valerie’s website here.

Go #LandRoverGMI. Go Eventing.

Great Meadow: Website, Ride Times, Live Scores, Schedule, USEF Network, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, Instagram

Fab Freebie: MOJO Future Tech Wristband and Halter Band

By on Jun 22, 2015 9:00 am -
Have you tried MOJO? Photo by Sally Spickard. Have you tried MOJO? Photo by Sally Spickard.

When I first walked by the booth at Rolex last year, I’ll admit I was skeptical and kept walking. I saw the MOJO reps doing demonstrations on customers, and I just couldn’t buy into it. But then I stopped to chat with one of the owners of the company, who told me to stop by so he could do a demonstration on me.

I did, and I was convinced enough to take home a wristband and a horse band to try for myself. What exactly IS MOJO Future Tech? It’s a company that began researching the effects of holograms on both human and equine athletes. The idea was to reduce static interference using holographic discs implanted within the wristband to encourage core strength, stamina, reflexes in energy.

While riders such as Mark Todd and William Fox-Pitt endorse MOJO, one of the things I must emphasize here is that this product will work differently for each person (and animal). For me — and stay tuned for my full review coming this week — I have noticed a distinct decrease in back pain as well as an increase in balance as well as an overall calmness in my horse while I pull his mane or do other annoying things. I did not, however, see a difference when I used the patch on my dog, which has been done before.

So, do your research and come to your own conclusions, but I personally have become a big fan of MOJO and will continue to use my wristband. Are you curious now? Then you’ll want to enter our Fab Freebie this week! We’re giving away two wristbands and two horse/dog patches this week, which means we’ll be drawing two winners!

Entries close on Friday, June 26 at midnight, and we’ll announce the winner in Friday’s News & Notes. To learn more about the concept behind MOJO, click here. To visit MOJO’s U.S. distribution site, click here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Information given in the Rafflecopter widget, including email addresses, may be shared with the corresponding sponsor at their request. You will also be signed up for our weekly EN eNews email newsletter, if you aren’t already. Don’t worry — you’ll just wonder what you’ve been missing out on — and you can unsubscribe if you don’t want it.

Weekly Training Tip from Kate Chadderton: Wrapping

By on Jun 21, 2015 1:30 pm -

Kate Chadderton is an Australian native who operates a competition and training business in Maryland. She recently began offering weekly tips and advice, and we're pleased that she's graciously allowed us to share them here on EN. Keep an eye out for a new tip each week from Kate!

Kate Chadderton and Buckharo. Photo by Jenni Autry. Kate Chadderton and Buckharo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

No, I don’t mean rap battling with 2 Chains on a Saturday night. I’m talking about protecting your prized possession’s most breakable body part: his legs.

In a 24 hour period there is an almost innumerable number of ways your horse can jeopardize their eventing career. He can kick himself on the trailer, your half pass could be so exuberant and have so much cross over that he nicks his tendon, he could cut himself on the way from the barn to the indoor spiking at a butterfly, he could use his stall as a jungle gym and cut himself, he could extend his trot so hard he strains a tendon, the list goes on and on.

Wrapping your horse correctly can help to prevent any one of these ghastly scenarios.

There are two types of wraps I use on a daily basis:

Schooling

I use wraps while schooling for two reasons: to protect against bumps and scrapes, and to provide support for the tendons and ligaments. For most horses your regular polo does the job effectively. But for horses in a high level of work, for example Civil Liberty, I use elasticized wraps and underneath we use padding.

These provide support for your higher level movements and more intense work. It’s very important when wrapping to do so correctly as incorrectly wrapping creates as many problems as they prevent. I teach my girls to wrap firmly but not tight.

You should always wrap the tendon in (e.g. left legs are counter clockwise and right legs clockwise) and start from just under the knee progressing down to half way along the fetlock and back up to just below the knee. Each rotation should progress one third of the width of the bandage and tightening should be done along the cannon bone as opposed to the back of the tendon.

Another thing I’m fanatical about is that the wraps must come off immediately after schooling to allow the tendons to cool. Done correctly schooling wraps will help to save you some serious heartache.

Standing Wraps

I use standing wraps for several different purposes, one being trailering, I find them useful in offering protection and support. I will also use them at night time on horses in three-day event preparation to help support and protect their legs.

Very fit horses can do very weird things in there stalls and I like to be prepared! For example, I had a horse who was prone to weaving who, in his tall prior to cross country, clipped himself with an opposing shoe. It was very minor injury but enough to prevent him from competing that day.

Standing wraps can be used for a multitude of injuries, to prevent excessive swelling which in turn put pressure on tendons and ligaments. I am also forever poulticing my horses after cross country, a hard jump session or a gallop, so I use the standing wraps on top of the poultice.

As with schooling wraps it is imperative that you wrap correctly. The same rules apply to standing wraps as with working wraps: you start from the top and go down and back up, etc. You do however want to make sure you are using thick, seamless padding underneath your standing wraps.

I highly recommend getting practical experience from someone well known for their wrapping skills. Wrapping correctly could mean the difference between that show you’ve been eyeing up or a couple of months hand walking!

Luhmühlen Show Jumping Open Thread: Ingrid Klimke Wins, Clark 6th, Rebecca 10th

By on Jun 21, 2015 5:00 am -
Photo by Leslie Wylie. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Good morning, EN! It’s another early morning, though not quite so bad as it was yesterday. We’re getting ready to kick off show jumping at Luhmühlen for the CCI4* pairs just after 5 a.m. EST, and we’re eagerly anticipating what surely will be a nail-biting conclusion to the weekend.

German rider Ingrid Klimke scored one for the home team yesterday, laying down one of 13 double clear rides to take over the lead from Belgian rider Julien Despontin. Julien picked up some time to drop him down considerably into 19th place, but he was still thrilled with the way his ride turned out.

In other very exciting news, we have our North American riders proudly situated within the top 10! Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen are currently 7th after a tense finale in which he was initially eliminated for missing a flag. Photos from a head on angle saved the day, though, and Clark was restored back to his rightful position on the board.

Here’s Clark Montgomery over the jump where initially he was eliminated for jumping outside the flag but that decision…

Posted by Eventing NZ on Saturday, June 20, 2015

Canadian rider and fan favorite Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master are currently 10th, still on their dressage score of 42.5. This pair looked brilliant the whole way through yesterday and are poised for a great finish today.

As is the standard for many top European events, we have seven riders still on scores in the 30s after cross country, and not three rails separate the top 10. We’ll see 25 riders show jump as they have all passed the final horse inspection, so hang on tight for an exciting finale!

Luhmühlen: Website, Live Scores,Entry List, Schedule, FEI TV, EN’s Coverage, Twitter, Instagram

6:17 a.m. EST: Finally, I leave you with this:

girls gif

girls 2 gif

6:16 a.m. EST: Here’s your final leaderboard from an exciting conclusion. We’ll have a recap for you shortly! Let’s get three cheers for our North Americans, Clark and Rebecca, for their stellar top 10 finishes!

Screenshot (63)

6:14 a.m. EST: Ingrid literally has no room to spare to take the win. You’d never know it, she looked like she was schooling at home, and she’s WON! Ingrid picks up her second CCI4*, and FRH Escada is the first mare to win Luhmühlen ever! Two girls, two mares in the top two. #whoruntheworld #GIRLS\

ingrid sj

6:13 a.m. EST: Big cheers for hometown hero Ingrid Klimke.

6:10 a.m. EST: Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo, who was actually bred to be a dressage horse, had two time in hand over Michael Jung. She didn’t need it, as she flies over the last with feet to spare on her little 15.3 mare. She’s in strong position to put the pressure on Ingrid in second place. Can she pull off her first CCI4* win? #girlpower

jonelle sj

6:08 a.m. EST: Ze Terminator and La Biosthetique Sam make it look easy as usual, staying on 34.2 for third place at the moment.

6:05 a.m. EST: Christopher Burton and Graf Liberty make this course look like a hunter round and have finished on their dressage score of 36.4. They’re in fourth with three more to jump.

6:03 a.m. EST: Mark Todd is a cool cucumber under some big time pressure with NZB Campino, rattling the penultimate but pulling off the top clear. He’s guaranteed himself at least a 5th place.

6:01 a.m. EST: Jesse Campbell and Kaapachino have a bit of a bowling game today unfortunately. This moves Clark up into 6th at the moment, and Rebecca Howard is back in her 10th place spot.

5:59 a.m. EST: USA! Loughan Glen gets his first CCI4* completion and will finish no lower than 7th with a magnificent double clear!

clark sj

5:57 a.m. EST: Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen will take their turn next.

5:55 a.m. EST: Andreas Dibowksi and FRH Butts Avedon could not afford any rails, but they lowered two. That’ll drop them from 8th to 12th, allowing Rebecca and Riddle Master to move up a spot.

5:54 a.m. EST: Aw, man! Nick Bschorer add the first penalties all weekend, lowering just the last fence with Tom Tom Go. He’ll still be thrilled with this top 10 finish though!

5:51 a.m. EST: Rebecca and Rupert drop just out of the top 10 with just four jumping penalties and one time. She gave a couple fences a good rub but they decided to stay in place. Rebecca will be in 12th for now.

rebecca sj

5:50 a.m. EST: Here we go! Rebecca Howard kicks off the top 10.

5:48 a.m. EST: UK rider Coral Keen and Wellshead Fare Opposition don’t have the best time in the ring today, they’ve dropped down considerably with 16 jumping. She made the time though!

5:47 a.m. EST: Tim Lips and Bayro pick up a double clear since they’re handing them out. Very, very nice round from this pair. We’re edging toward the top 10!

5:44 a.m. EST: Dirk Schrade and Hop and Skip has the second double clear of the day! He’ll remain in 13th place for the moment. Dirk showed his considerable experience there, almost taking a fence but getting through it clear.

dirk

5:43 a.m. EST: Today’s theme song:

5:42 a.m. EST: Ludwin Svennerstal and King Bob are also going to drop with the pressure from Nicky’s double clear round not giving him any breathing room. Four jumping and one time drops him two places to 16th.

ludwig

5:39 a.m. EST: Willa Newton and Newmarket Vasco give a couple of hefty rubs but gets home clear. Some time will drop her a spot, though. 51.9 to finish for Willa.

willa

5:37 a.m. EST: Last year’s winner Tim Price and CCI4* first-timer Bango get home with four jumping and four time. What a tight time for this course!

tim price

5:35 a.m. EST: Nicky Roncoroni and Stonedge are our first double clear! With the way this is going, she may rocket up the standings with that classy round. Lovely.

5:33 a.m. EST: So close! One down and two time for Johan Lundin and Johnny Cash

5:32 a.m. EST: Two down and time for dressage winner Julien Despontin.

5:28 a.m. EST: Claas Hermann Romeike and Cato 60 had a brilliant cross country yesterday and go clear today with time.

5:25 a.m. EST: Michael O’Toole and the flashy Greenfort Endeavor have two down but are the first to go inside the time.

5:23 a.m. EST: Andrew Nicholson and Qwanza just barely go into time but leave all the poles up.

5:20 a.m. EST: Blyth Tait and Xanthus III end on a 94.3 for the weekend.

blyth still

5:18 a.m. EST: Kevin McNab and Fernhill Quality Street pick up 20 jumping and 8 time for a final of 117.00.

5:15 a.m. EST: Emily starts us off strong with a clear round just over the time — of course this could later be adjusted.

5:14 a.m. EST: And we are underway with Emily Lochore and Hexmaleys Hayday!

5:09 a.m. EST: John Kyle confirms that Michael Jung plans to run both La Biosthetique Sam and fischerRocana FST at Burghley!

5:00 a.m. EST: Here is your leaderboard going into show jumping:

Screenshot (62)

Luhmühlen CCI4* Cross Country Open Thread: Ingrid Klimke Leads Overnight

By on Jun 20, 2015 3:44 am -
Fence 28 of Capt. Mark Phillips' cross country course. Photo by Leslie Wylie. Fence 28 of Capt. Mark Phillips' cross country course. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

It’s cross country day at Luhmühlen! Capt. Mark Phillips has designed a great course for the riders, and we’ve got a brilliant group of competitors to see this morning.

The official start time will be 9:54 a.m. local time / 3:54 a.m. EST, and you can watch live on FEI TV or follow along with our open thread below.

If you’re awake with us this morning, refresh this page periodically for the latest updates. The optimum time is 11 minutes 10 seconds. We’ll see our sole U.S. pair, Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen at 6:15 a.m. EST.

Three pairs have withdrawn overnight: Andreas Dibowski and It’s Me, Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Ducati van den Overdam, and Tom McEwan and Diesel. Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam will be our first pair out. Here’s to safe, fast and clear rounds for all!

Luhmühlen: [Website] [Entry List] [Schedule] [Start Times] [Leaderboard] [FEI TV]

 

7:49 a.m. EST: Clark’s appeal goes through, as head-on photos clearly show Glen’s shoulders over the jump. USA! The scoreboard has been updated: zero jump and one time penalty will send him into 7th place.

6:46 a.m. EST: John Kyle says Clark was eliminated for not clearing the flag – this may very well be appealed so we’ll keep an eye on that. Stay tuned for the full report coming your way!

6:44 a.m. EST: That’s a wrap on the cross country! 14 were clear in the time, and while several problems were evident everyone got home safe and sound. There was just one fall on course, and not a severe one. We’ll call this a big win. Ingrid Klimke and FRH Escada will lead going into show jumping.

Screenshot (61)

6:43 a.m. EST: Oh No!! Rocana stumbled badly coming into the water of 17, both of them made an incredible save to stay on their feet. They were unable to make the B work, and they’ve retired. How heartbreaking, but Michael surely knows his mare will be back to win another day. Might as well save her legs. What a horseman. “Nothing even the great Junginator could do” – John Kyle

6:42 a.m. EST: What Michael does for fun.

michael 3

6:41 a.m. EST: Michael Jung’s a man with a plan with Rocana. The mare looks like she could do this course in her sleep. Actually, she probably could.

6:40 a.m. EST:

6:36 a.m. EST: Last to go for the day, Michael Jung and Rolex winner fischerRocana FST are on their way out of the box! They’re in third at the moment.  

6:33 a.m. EST: Andreas Dibowski and FRH Butts Avedon neatly through the water at 5.

dibo

  6:27 a.m. EST: Owner of the best save ever at Badminton Nick Bschorer is on course with Tom Tom Go.

6:27 a.m. EST:

6:24 a.m. EST: The scores are now showing Clark was eliminated. Again, we did not see or hear of a problem on the feed, so we aren’t quite sure what is going on.

6:22 a.m. EST:

6:21 a.m. EST: Clark’s score is now showing a 20, a 57.4 total. We will update if this changes but it looks like he was awarded the 20 at the last combination at 28. The camera did not show what happened, we only saw him make it through.  

6:19 a.m. EST: Ingrid Klimke has taken the lead overnight with a clear inside the time! Can she win her second CCI4* tomorrow?  

6:18 a.m. EST: Correction, unsure if Clark went clear yet. The scores are showing a 20 with a question mark at 28B. Stay tuned.  

6:17 a.m. EST: Clark and Glen drift right over the B element of fence 28, one of the more troublesome combinations on course, but they’ve got it done and they are home CLEAR! Just one second over for a time of 11:11. He’ll stay in 8th or better on a 37.5. USA! USA! USA!  

6:15 a.m. EST: Ingrid had an amazing ride through the water at 17. FRH Escada is as game as ever and I now have goosebumps.  

6:12 a.m. EST: Clark is a bit down on his time but he’s looking super keen through the arena. clark 2

6:11 a.m. EST: Ingrid Klimke, in second currently, is on and clear through 6 with FRH Escada.

6:10 a.m. EST: Clark and Glen looking sharp so far. You jump those jumps, Clark.

clark

6:08 a.m. EST: Clark and Loughan Glen are away!

6:07 a.m. EST:

6:01 a.m. EST: This camera angle is weird. And it makes this fence look more intimidating than it probably is.

mark

5:57 a.m. EST:

5:56 a.m. EST: For those of you tuning in, Chinch would like to apologize for some spacing issues you’ll see below. He’s too busy in the biergarden to pay attention to my internet woes.  

5:55 a.m. EST:

5:49 a.m. EST:

5:46 a.m. EST: Joseph Murphy and Electric Cruise have retired.

5:45 a.m. EST:

5:44 a.m. EST: Andrew Nicholson picks up 20 at the same place Blyth Tait did at fence 28. He cleared on second attempt and is now home, surely just a bit over time.

andrew

5:42 a.m. EST: Just five more to go before Clark Montgomery’s start time.

5:38 a.m. EST: Joseph Murphy and the lovely Electric Cruise are away.

5:38 a.m. EST: Andrew Nicholson and Qwanza are on course and clear through 12. Qwanza is also making his return to the four-star level; his last completion was his 7th place at Rolex in 2012.

5:37 a.m. EST:

5:32 a.m. EST: Looking great, Rebecca! She’s home clear and inside the time in 11:03! She’s in fourth at the moment on 42.5.

rebecca 2

5:31 a.m. EST: Rebecca and Riddle Master dig deep and show their experience at the water a 17 after a sticky moment at the B element. She’s clear through that and back on her way.  

5:28 a.m. EST: Just now hearing that Jonelle Price’s time was 11:09 – one second under the time with the pull up at the penultimate. She will take the lead on a 32.8 at the moment.  

5:25 a.m. EST:  Blyth Tait have a refusal at the B element of fence 28 and are clear on the long route. They seemed to have a miscommunication approaching the fence. What a bummer!  

5:25 a.m. EST: Oh Canada! Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master are away!  

5:20 a.m. EST: Blyth Tait is all business. As he should be. “Let me show you how it’s done.” Fun fact, this is Blyth’s first CCI4* since Burghley in 2011, where he retired with Santos. Before that, it was 2004 and Burghley/Athens.  

5:18 a.m. EST: Germany’s Kai-Steffan Meier and Sunny Side First go for a swim at the water after 17A. Both are up on their feet and looking grumpy but otherwise healthy.

5:17 a.m. EST:

5:16 a.m. EST:

5:14 a.m. EST: Andrew Hoy has retired on course. John Kyle calls him “Hoy Boy”. Catchy, John. Catchy.  

5:12 a.m. EST: 4 clear inside the time so far, not counting Jonelle who is still pending final time due to her flag down.  

5:12 a.m. EST:

5:10 a.m. EST: Jonelle has evidently been let go and has finished. Unsure what happened there. Maybe the steward wanted to tell her how obsessed we are with Faerie Dianimo. #justsayin

jonelle 2

5:08 a.m. EST: Jonelle has been flagged down at the second to last fence. No info yet.

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5:05 a.m. EST: Look at it! Just look at it. This horse is fantastic.

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5:05 a.m. EST: Jesse Campbell and Kaapachino are bang on the optimum time!

5:02 a.m. EST:

5:00 a.m. EST:

4:53 a.m. EST: One completes, one retires. Kevin McNab and Fernhill Quality Street are the fifth combination to finish. Lizzie Brown and Henton Attorney General retire after problems at 17.

4:48 a.m. EST:

4:47 a.m. EST: Kevin and Fernhill Quality Street are having some come to Jesus moments setting up for some of these questions. The horse does not want to set up and sit back, and it’s costing them a good amount of time.  

4:43 a.m. EST: Kevin McNab and Fernhill Quality Street are looking great so far. In case you were wondering, there are 11 combinations on course. I feel like that’s a lot. Lizzie Brown and Henton Attorney General are on and clear through 5.  

4:42 a.m. EST: Claas Hermann Romeike and Cato 60 are having a REALLY good go.

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4:40 a.m. EST:

4:38 a.m. EST: Strong riding for Germany’s Claas Hermann Romeike and Cato 60.

11

4:37 a.m. EST: Another has retired: Fraser King and Nadal. The last four horses on course have retired. Fraser’s came after a loss of impulsion at 17B.

4:35 a.m. EST:

4:32 a.m. EST: Fraser King and Nadal has just picked up 20 at fence 10. Looking game everywhere else so far.

fraser

4:31 a.m. EST: And another retires, Kirsty Johnston at Opposition Detective after two refusals at 12B.

4:30 a.m. EST:

4:26 a.m. EST:

4:20 a.m. EST: Elmo Jankari and Duchess Desiree pick up a 20 at fence 9, as did Victoria Carlerback and Volt at Kallstorp.

4:19 a.m. EST: Just under a minute over time for Julien and Waldano’s second CCI4* completion. A big fist pump as he crosses the finish! 12:06 is the final time.

4:16 a.m. EST: Julien Despontin and Waldano slipped badly coming out of the arena, but they righted themselves in the #saveoftheday so far. Well sat! I would GIF it for you, but you know. Technology hates me.

4:14 a.m. EST:

4:12 a.m. EST: Julien Despontin is clear through 12.

julien d

4:12 a.m. EST:

4:05 a.m. EST: Michael and Sam are home in 10:54, well inside the time as usual. Just another day at the office. Our third starters, Annabel Wigley (NZL) and Frog Rock, have retired after two refusals at fence 5A. Overnight leaders Julien Despontin and Waldano are on course! Can they keep up their incredible weekend?

4:01 a.m. EST: Michael and Sam make quick work of the arena, basically bang on the time so far too. Michael O’Toole is clear through 11.

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3:59 a.m. EST: Michael Jung is just ridiculous. Not human. Hasn’t put even a hair wrong so far on course. He’s clear through 15.

3:58 a.m. EST: Ireland’s Michael O’Toole and Green Fort Endeavor are now on course.

3:57 a.m. EST: Sorry my GIFs are apparently not working. Working on it. #technicaldifficulty

3:54 a.m. EST: And we’re off! Michael and Sam are on their way. 2b60ee0e5476a6bc367cd9a56523c81a

3:51 a.m. EST: Michael and Sam look like they’re out for an afternoon gallop, not warming up for a four-star. No big deal.

michael

3:48 a.m. EST: Hey, someone is awake! Maybe.

3:47 a.m. EST: Here is your overnight top 10 following dressage:

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