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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

Mackenna Shea and Landioso Win at Woodside

By on Aug 9, 2015 6:48 pm -
Mackenna Shea and Landioso. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart. Mackenna Shea and Landioso. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart.

West Coast riders gathered in Woodside, California for the Summer Event at Woodside this weekend, where divisions from Beginner Novice through Intermediate were offered as well as Future Event Horse classes.

Mackenna Shea and Landioso, fresh off a third place finish in the Intermediate at Rebecca Farm in July, took home a solid win in the Open Intermediate this weekend, finishing on a dressage score of 25.8. Mackenna and Landioso have been on a comeback surge since having an early end to their weekend at Rolex this spring, and we’ll be looking for more success in the near future — I believe Mackenna is planning to head back East for the fall!

Frankie Thieriot gave the reins to her friend, Tamie Smith, this weekend aboard Chatwin — Frankie is well along in her first pregnancy and has been planning for Tamie to take over the ride for the summer. Tamie did a great job with her catch-ride, who Frankie describes as a unique ride, to notch a second place finish on their dressage score of 28.3.

Alexis Helffrich and Leonado SE, a 10-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Rose Sullivan, moved up from fifth to third overall with a double clear show jumping round this afternoon.

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We also have two wire to wire finishes in the Preliminary divisions: Kimmy Steinbach and En Vogue in the Open Prelim and Kasey Holmes and Heart of Gold SE in the Prelim Rider — congratulations ladies!

Dragonfire

We also have to give a shout-out to Team Dragonfire, which completed a sweep of the FEH divisions thanks to some fancy young hoses and the presenting skills of Earl McFall. Two Dragonfire homebreds, Soul Twain DF and Simple Dreams DF (owned by Natalie Jensen), won the Yearling and 2-year-old divisions, while Caroline Dein’s Tropic Delight won the 3-year-old divisions. Be sure to check out the beautiful photos from Sherry Stewart and Nancy Dein below!

Summer Event at Woodside H.T.  [Website] [Live Scores]

Weekly OTTB Wishlist from Cosequin

By on Aug 9, 2015 5:00 pm -

I sure hope someone out there is horse shopping this week, as it’s getting increasingly difficult to not pick up the phone week in and week out of “window” shopping! We’ve selected three more OTTBs for your perusal this week — don’t forget to let us know if you decide to take one of these fantastic horses home with you, we’d love to hear all about it!

As always, thank you to the numerous organizations who dedicate so much time, energy and resources to helping these horses find their new homes. We applaud you!

Photo used with permission from CANTER Illinois.

Photo used with permission from CANTER Illinois.

Our first featured listing this week is Wholedifferentgig, a 4-year-old gelding who stands 15.2hh. Wholedifferentgig (Political Force – Mississippi Lights, by Majestic Light) raced 14 times, most recently at the end of July at Fairmount Park. He won twice and earned over $18,000. He’s said to be a kind guy and definitely has the looks factor in the bag!

Wholedifferentgig on CANTER

Photo courtesy of New Vocations.

Photo courtesy of New Vocations.

Our next horse is an attractive 2011 gelding by the name of Military Tradition, who is currently available through the Lexington, Ky. location of New Vocations. Military Tradition (Colonel John – Guiding Star, by Touch Gold) is unraced, so he’s a clean slate who is ready to go in any direction! He’s been started over fences already and is said to be a quick thinker who will enjoy a challenge (ahem, eventers!).

Military Tradition on New Vocations

Photo via PA Racehorse Rehoming on Facebook.

Photo via PA Racehorse Rehoming on Facebook.

Last up this week is Wild Magic, a 4-year-old 16.1-16.2 hand gelding with just two races under his belt. Dapple fans and Forestry fans just sat up with interest — this guy has the good looks to go with his nice breeding! Wild Magic (Dunkirk – Magical Mood (GB), by Forestry) was retired early with a bow on his left front and is currently on stall rest, but he would do well with an experienced home who can help him through his rehab and into his next career!

Wild Magic on PA Racehorse Rehoming

Buck Davidson Wins at GMHA + Other Scores

By on Aug 9, 2015 3:00 pm -
Buck Davidson and Legion Kat on their way to the CIC* win at GMHA. Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto. Buck Davidson and Legion Kat on their way to the CIC* win at GMHA. Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

What a wonderful busy weekend around Eventing Nation! We have many events to recap, as well as a Woodside recap to come later in the day, and many congratulations are in order for the top finishers this weekend. Let’s get started!

Buck Davidson and Legion Kat, a 9-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Natalie Sandler, were the winners of the CIC* at the GMHA Festival of Eventing, adding just one rail in the show jumping to finish on a final score of 38.9. Buck, in true Buck tradition, also had another ride in this division with Amy Tunney’s Riviera, who picked up second place on a dressage score of 43.0.

This weekend marks Legion Kat’s first win at the one-star level and also Riviera’s highest placing at this level, and they certainly did it in fine form throughout all three phases.

Paige Skipper and Birch Hill Investments Inc’s Wauwinet, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding, picked up third place on a final score of 43.1. This was the first start at this level for this pair, who most recently won their Prelim division at Huntington Farm.

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In the Open Intermediate, it was Buck Davidson again with Sharon White and Richard Weber’s Wundermaske who took home the win on a final score of 24.7 with four penalties added in show jumping. This is “Patch’s” first start since retiring at Bromont — previously, he won his Prelim division at MCTA in May. Buck kindly took the ride this weekend for Sharon, as she’s been battling a bit ofback pain this week. We hope you feel better soon, Sharon!

Kylie Dermody and Lup the Loop. Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Kylie Dermody and Lup the Loop. Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Kylie Dermody will take home second and third in the Intermediate aboard Lup the Loop (29.8) and Sacramento (32.5). Kylie has become quite the household name with a very talented string of horses, and this weekend is another example of the success she’s been enjoying lately.

GMHA Festival of Eventing H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]

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Two Intermediate divisions ran at Fair Hill this weekend, with Hannah Sue and one of her newest rides, Jitter Bug, taking home the win in the A division. Hannah moved up from third to take first after putting in one of the quicker cross country runs of the division, finishing on a final total of 35.4. This is Hannah Sue’s third win aboard Jitter Bug since obtaining the ride on the mare earlier this year.

Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF returned to competition for the first time since their fifth place finish at Bromont in June to take second in the A division on a final score of 43.1, but Boyd Martin and Ballyneety were hot on their heels to finish fourth with a 43.2.

Boyd began riding Gretchen Wintersteen’s Ballyneety this year, and this is their highest placing together to date. Ballyneety is a 9-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding.

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Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border continued their successful season this weekend to take home the win in the B division of Intermediate competitors. They finished on their dressage score of 22.7 to take home the win after overnight leaders Matt Brown and BCF Belicoso picked up time on cross country.

Boyd Martin and Steady Eddie were good for second place on a final score of 31.0, also making their return after a top 10 finish at Bromont earlier this year. Jennie Brannigan Eventing member Stephanie Cauffman and Diligence finished their weekend in third, moving up from ninth with a double clear cross country run, one of just three in the division.

Fair Hill: [Scores]

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Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino are your Open Intermediate winners at Otter Creek, taking the lead in the dressage and never looking back to finish on a final score of 33.2. Jacob also won second place with his other top mount, Fly Away Ferro, who finished on a final three phase score of 43.8.

The top three remained unchanged throughout the weekend at Otter Creek, and Melissa Schielein and Born to Boogie II took home third place with a final score of 44..3. This weekend was the first Intermediate start of 2015 for this pair.

Otter Creek Summer H.T.  [Website] ][Live Scores]

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Sunday Video: Check Out This Vintage 1982 Rolex Footage

By on Aug 9, 2015 1:00 pm -

What a gem we’ve found today, thanks to a post on Facebook by our friend Bill Kraatz. This documentary footage from the 1982 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event is one for the ages, and a great example of the “old days” long-format that eventers used to tackle.

Keep an eye out for riders such as Jimmy Wofford, Mike Plumb, Torrance Watkins, and Karen Stives in this video, which explains the intensity of the A through D phases of cross country. The fences are big, bad and unforgiving, and the horses are fierce athletes with huge hearts.

What is still so crazy to see is the fall rule, where a rider was able to continue even after a heavy fall. Just a quick leg up (in the middle of a water jump, even!) and they were sent back on their way. It’s also interesting to observe how much less equipment is used and the absence of safety vests and modern helmets — completely normal for this era of the sport.

Enjoy this vintage video for your Sunday entertainment! Go (old school) Eventing.

Chris Burton and TS Jamaimo Win Festival of British Eventing CIC3* Thriller

By on Aug 9, 2015 11:35 am -

It was a thrilling finale at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park today, where the Open CIC3* pairs contested a very challenging course that shook the leaderboard yet again. At the end of the day, the last on course Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh took an unfortunate tumble to sacrifice their lead, giving Australia’s Chris Burton and TS Jamaimo the win on a final score of 43.7.

The course, designed by Capt. Mark Phillips, was challenging due to the intense terrain — riders were faced with many steep hills and undulating terrain throughout the entire course. We saw a lot of trouble on course and a lot of tired horses coming to the start, but the good news is that on first report it appears that everyone is back in the barn in one piece.

Tied for the lead after show jumping, Oliver Townend withdrew Mr Hiho — one of 11 pairs to withdraw prior to cross country. Presumably with the Europeans approaching next month, many riders elected to save their horses after completing the CT. A few of the riders also commented on Twitter that the ground was rather hard today, which factored into their decision to run or to take it slower on the clock.

Chris Burton and TS Jamaimo, a 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by the TS Jamaimo Syndicate, are quite the experienced pair — you may remember them from a catch-ride win in the CCI4* at Adelaide in 2013. They laid down second fastest rounds of the day, adding 2.4 time to their dressage score for a final winning score of 43.7.

“It’s a really great venue and place that always gets us very excited,” Chris said in an interview with Rupert Bell. “And to be able to win it is something that I will be very proud of to have in my career. Capt. Mark Phillips has changed the course a bit this year, and I think it certainly made it tougher. It looks like it’s made the time hard to make, and a few more drop fences which is perhaps a bit more taxing on them. But it’s a nice course to ride … and so when you have a nice ride like that, you feel happy that you’ve done it.”

Many of the top rankings belong to the ladies today. We saw some top notch riding from Jonelle Price with Classic Moet and Nicola Wilson with the very fun looking Beltane Queen, whose quick and clear rounds were rewarded with a second and third place finish on the weekend.

Oliver Townend kept his second mount, Armada, in the mix and produced the sole double clear round of the day to move into fourth place overall. Armanda was originally third after dressage but tumbled down to 23rd after show jumping — another indicator of just how influential all three phases were this weekend.

Completing the top five are Louise Harwood and Whitson, jetting up from 16th to finish on a final three phase score of 53.5. Just two of the top 10 after show jumping finished in the final top 10, with the rest of the high finishers moving way up the board with quick and clear rounds.

Andrew Nicholson had a fall from Cillnabradden EVO at the last fence, I believe (I did not see it on the live stream) and subsequently withdrew his second ride, Perfect Stranger. I have not yet seen any updates on how he is feeling, but from the announcer’s comments he took a “hard knock”.

I must give a shout-out to William Fox-Pitt for his top class ride aboard Luxury FH. Luxury FH is newer to this level and had a green moment or two on course, but William took his time and gave them both educational rides that will make for a more confident horse the next time out. Even with a glance-off at a downhill combination, he gave many pats to give his ride an extra boost of confidence. Just another example of why he’s one of the best at what he does.

It was a very exciting day of cross country riding, so I hope you all enjoyed the fabulous live stream provided by British Eventing! We’ll be on the hunt for quotes and photos to add to this post, so keep checking back for more.

British Festival of Eventing: [Website] [Times] [Schedule] [Live Scores]

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Festival of British Eventing Open CIC3* Cross Country Live Stream

By on Aug 9, 2015 9:00 am -
The Gatcombe start box. Photo via EHOA on Twitter. The Gatcombe start box. Photo via EHOA on Twitter.

Oliver Townend had a bang up day yesterday at the Festival of British Eventing, taking home wins in the Novice and Intermediate Championships. After a show jumping course that shook up the leaderboard, Oliver now finds himself in first place once again aboard Mr Hiho heading into this afternoon’s cross country. He’s not got any breathing room, however, as Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh are tied for the lead.

Mr Hiho, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Patsy Mason, earned a 32.6 in the dressage to lie second and added four penalties this morning in show jumping to overtake the first place tie. Paulank Brockagh, a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse Mare owned by Mr. and Mrs. S. Posford, Mrs. J Carter and Sam, added nothing to their dressage score of 36.6.

Overnight leaders Andrew Hoy and Rutherglen sadly picked up 12 penalties to move them down into 15th.

Surprisingly, William Fox-Pitt withdrew 2014 Rolex winner Bay My Hero prior to show jumping today. This pair is slated to contest Burghley this fall, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the reason for withdrawing is not serious. We’ll provide more information as it becomes available.

Also withdrawn are Jock Paget’s Clifton Lush as well as Emilie Chandler’s Coopers Law, both of whom were also in the top 10 after the dressage.

The absence of clear rounds from the leaders paved the way for many others to move into the top 10 going into show jumping. 2014 Badminton winners Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh moved into their tie for first up from eighth with a double clear round, followed by a one-two punch from Andrew Nicholson in Perfect Stranger and Cillnabradden Evo. William Fox-Pitt also has two more entries in this division and will take fourth and fifth into cross country with Luxury FH and Fernhill Pimms.

Cross country is set to kick off at 9 am EST, so tune into the fabulous British Eventing live stream by clicking here. I believe the stream may have had some issues earlier in the day, so hopefully those will be resolved for this division. We’ll be back later with a recap from the afternoon’s events, and don’t forget to check out the CIC3* course below courtesy of our friends at CourseWalkApp!

British Festival of Eventing: [Website] [Times] [Schedule] [Live Scores] [Live Stream]

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Oliver Townend Picks Up Two Wins at Gatcombe, Andrew Hoy Leads CIC3*

By on Aug 8, 2015 5:00 pm -

Oliver Townend decided to stroll home with two winners at this weekend’s Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park. He will take home the spoils in both the Novice and the Intermediate Championship divisions aboard Sonic de Sermentol and Note Worthy, respectively. Just for kicks, Ollie also took home second in the Novice division with Ridire Dorcha.

Sonic de Sermentol, a 9-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding owned by Stephanie Andrimont, has been a consistent performer for Oliver this season, also finishing fifth in the CCI* at Tattersalls earlier this year. He finished on his dressage score of 27.7 to secure the win over Ridire Dorcha, a 7-year-old gelding owned by Karyn Shuter.

“I hoped we’d have a winner here,” Oliver said in an interview with Rupert Bell. “It’s not so much that you have the two winners on the day, but you look at the amount of horses and the quality of horse and the quality of riders that you’re against at this place. That’s what makes it special, to think that there was however many in each class and yet you’ve come out on top — that’s what, to me, makes it feel very, very satisfying.”

In the Intermediate Championship, Oliver took home the win with Note Worthy, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Andrew Cawthray. This is a seasoned campaigner for Oliver and has also done a stint campaigning in Australia in years past. This pair added just 1.2 time penalties to their dressage score for a final of 24.5, winning handily over second placed Vittoria Panizzon and Chequers Play the Game.

In the Open CIC3* division, it’s Andrew Hoy and Rutherglen who have taken over the lead after dressage on a score of 31.5. Earlier leaders William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero set an early standard with their 35.2 (an error during their test cost them some precious points), but they’ve since been moved to fifth place after the remaining riders.

Oliver Townend has a very strong shot to take home a third win at Gatcombe this weekend, currently lying second and third with Mr Hiho (32.6) and Armada (33.5). Nicola Wilson is in fourth with Beltane Queen on a dressage score of 34.3.

The Open combinations will tackle show jumping in the morning followed by cross country in the afternoon, which will be live streamed beginning at 2 pm local / 9 am EST. We’ll be posting the live stream again first thing in the morning for you to follow along.

In the meantime, check out the CIC3* course preview below thanks to our friends at CrossCountryApp:

British Festival of Eventing: [Website] [Times] [Schedule] [Live Scores] [Live Stream]

Saturday Video: Elisa Wallace’s Millbrook Prelim Helmet Cam + Analysis

By on Aug 8, 2015 1:00 pm -

Elisa Wallace piloted Di Stebbins Borneo Shady, an uniquely colored skewbald Irish Sport Horse gelding, to a 13th place finish in the Preliminary division at Millbrook last weekend, and she donned her helmet cam for the cross country trip.

Elisa and Borneo picked up just a few time penalties on cross country, and the helmet cam video also shows you various factors such as speed, elevation and distance traveled. There’s also a handy map in the upper corner showing the pair’s location on the cross country course.

Check out the video and share any observations you have from the data tracking as Elisa and Borneo make short work of the course. For more on Elisa’s progress with her horses, check out Wallace Eventing here.

Watch Live Cross Country from the Festival of British Eventing All Weekend

By on Aug 8, 2015 8:30 am -
#67. William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero. Photo by Jenni Autry. #67. William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The Festival of British Eventing is an annual event that is a destination for British eventers. Held at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire and features the British Open, Intermediate and Novice Championships.

We’re in luck, as the cross country phases are currently being live streamed right here for our viewing pleasure all weekend!

Today, the Novice and Intermediate horses will take on the cross country portion of their competition — the Novice riders have already completed their cross country, and the Intermediate began around 1:15 pm local / 8:15 pm EST.

Oliver Townend and Note Worthy are your Intermediate leaders heading into cross country today, currently on a score of 23.3 after adding nothing in the show jumping. William Fox-Pitt and Ramdam de Mons are very close behind on a 23.5, followed by Tom McEwan and Toldedo de Kerser on a 24.4.

The top 16 are all on scores in the 20s after show jumping, and the top 50 are all in the 30s — it should be an exciting day of cross country for this division!

You can get a peek at the course the riders are tackling in today’s Intermediate division thanks to our good friends at CrossCountryApp:

The Open CIC3* riders are currently riding their dressage tests, and William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero are holding the early lead roughly halfway through the division of 45.

In second are Sir Mark Todd and NZB Campino on a score of 36.1, followed by Jock Paget and Clifton Lush on a 36.5. This is a truly star-studded entry list, and the top six all scored in the 30s today, with many more pairs still to come!

We’ll be back later on with a recap from the day, but in the meantime enjoy the action thanks to this great live stream from British Eventing!

British Festival of Eventing: [Website] [Times] [Schedule] [Live Scores] [Live Stream]

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Fair Hill Is Coming

By on Aug 7, 2015 3:30 pm -

The fall season is just kicking off, and many riders have Fair Hill as their big destination. Appropriately dubbed “Mini Rolex” by many riders, Fair Hill is a marquee weekend for the sport, boasting entries from Olympians and four-star hopefuls to three-star first-timers and up-and-coming stars.

The buzz has already started for this year’s event, which will run from October 15-18. We already know of many pairs who are headed to Maryland in the fall, so we can’t wait to see everyone’s plans solidify as the date draws closer.

This just-released hype video and promo for Fair Hill is just what the doctor ordered as the fall season gets underwat. Take a look and tell us you don’t get some goosebumps!

[Dutta Corp Fair Hill International Website]

Kerry Millikin Bids Farewell to Out and About

By on Aug 7, 2015 11:30 am -
Kerry Millikin and Out and About at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Photo via Dean Graham / USEA Archive.

Kerry Millikin and Out and About at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Photo via Dean Graham / USEA Archive.

The U.S. eventing community lost a legend this week, as Kerry Millikin’s 1996 Olympic partner Out and About, one of the greatest Thoroughbred event horses of our time, was humanely euthanized Wednesday at 28 years old due to the complications of old age.

Together, Kerry and “Outie, a 1987 off-track Thoroughbred gelding by L’Amour Rullah out of Incarnadine, represented the U.S. as individuals at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, where they won individual bronze. They competed on the U.S. team at the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome, where they finished 15th individually and won team bronze.

Outie won his bronze medal at the Olympics at the young age of 8, showing poise and class in a performance that Kerry will always remember. “When we finished (showing jumping), the crowd realized we had won bronze and the applause just exploded,” Kerry recalled in this story. “And Outie took off around the ring. That was a moment I’ll never forget.”

Kerry and Outie competed in the Open European Championships at Burghley, finishing seventh in 1997. They also finished third at Badminton in 1999, adding one more accolade to a long list of achievements. Kerry retired Outie in 2000, and he lived out a long and happy retirement in a 90-acre field at her farm.

We are deeply sorry to hear of Outie’s passing. Our thoughts and condolences are with Kerry, Liz and the entire Millikin family, of which Outie was a treasured member for 25 years, ever since coming off the track as a 3-year-old. We will always remember the triumphant moments this pair achieved together.

Rest in peace, Out and About, a true legend of the sport.

Wednesday Videos from Kentucky Performance Products: Millbrook Rewind

By on Aug 5, 2015 3:30 pm -

RNS Video is in the process of uploading the full videos from Millbrook Horse Trials! We love getting to see the entire cross country course, thanks to many strategically placed cameramen, as well as the riders’ dressage tests and show jumping rounds, so many thanks to RNS for uploading this footage.

Sarah Kozumplik-Murphy had one of her nicest dressage tests to date with Debbie Foote’s Fly Me Courageous and added just 1.2 cross country time penalties to their dressage score to finish in eighth place on 36.4. Lots of hard work with her dressage trainer Linda Zang is definitely paying off for “Ziglet,” an off-track Thoroughbred that did his first four-star at Rolex in April.

We’re also loving this video of Alice Roosevelt and Annie Jones’ The Foreman, who Phillip Dutton campaigned at the upper levels with much success at events like Burghley, Rolex and Fair Hill. Alice and “Chip,” who is now 19, finished their weekend in fourth in the Junior Training A division. (You can vote for Alice and Chip at this link in Who Jumped It Best?)

Stay tuned for much more on the former upper-level campaigners that were out and about at Millbrook this past week! To view the full playlist of Millbrook videos as they become available, visit RNS Video on YouTube here.

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Hunt Club Farms Becomes New Kid on Area II Block

By on Aug 5, 2015 11:30 am -
Tackling the Viking-themed cross country at Hunt Club Farms. Photo courtesy of Jess Howard. Tackling the Viking-themed cross country at Hunt Club Farms. Photo courtesy of Jess Howard.

It’s no small undertaking to start a new USEA recognized event from the ground up. Putting together the details for Area II’s newest USEA recognized event, Hunt Club Farms, has been a labor of love for property owner Tracy Zack and the team who has helped put the wheels in motion.

Located in Berryville, Virginia, Hunt Club Farms was purchased by Tracy about eight years ago with the vision of one day hosting eventers. “I just had small shows to start off with,” Tracy recalled. “Tremaine Cooper started working on the cross country course and Tyson Rementer building about two years ago.”

“I love eventing. We initially wanted to build (the cross country course) just to have schooling, but then as the course started to progress, we thought we’d go ahead and try to get a recognized event going.”

The process to have your event approved for recognition from the USEA is a long one, requiring many board meetings and votes — Tracy and her team worked for close to a year and a half to get this year’s first event off the ground. “I started with starter trials and we had quite a few,” she said. “Then you have a lot of paperwork to fill out, and the USEA has to come out and inspect your facility. Then it goes to a board meeting and once your event is approved, they then vote on your date.”

Photo courtesy of Jess Howard.

Photo courtesy of Jess Howard.

August 22 was the winning date for the inaugural Hunt Club Farms Horse Trials, which will just be held over one day this year. Entries have been a bit light, but Tracy knows that being the “new kid” has contributed to that. To that end, she’s extended entries through August 11 in hopes of attracting more Intro through Prelim/Training riders.

“I think just people knowing we’re here has been a challenge,” she explained. “A lot of people just didn’t know we were having a recognized event. I’m a small fish in a big pond, but I know we have a lot to offer and can be competitive.”

Hunt Club Farms will over Intro, Beginner Novice, Novice, Training and Prelim/Training. The plan is to continue building a full Prelim course through the winter with the hope of hosting a full two-day event through Prelim in 2016. Another neat feature of this event is the Norse theme that is seen throughout the cross country course.

“Tyson was who brought the whole Viking/Norse idea to life,” Tracy said. “My family is from Norway and we just thought it would be a fun theme.” The course indeed looks fantastic, and has garnered compliments from the likes of Boyd Martin who has taught clinics at Hunt Club Farms in the past.

Photo courtesy of Jess Howard.

Photo courtesy of Jess Howard.

As the first event rapidly approaches, Tracy is quick to thank those who have helped her get this event off the ground. “I think it just takes a lot of people being on your side to make this happen,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of people helping me: Sharon Williams from Morven, Jan Bynyy, Sharon White, Phyllis Dawson and so many others — they’ve been so supportive and helpful. You really have to have the eventing community behind you.”

You still have time to submit your entry for Hunt Club Farms — the deadline is currently extended through August 11. The event is also still in need of volunteers, who will receive lunch, a t-shirt and a schooling pass in exchange for their time. You can find out more information by visiting the Facebook event here, the Hunt Club Farms website here, or the USEA Omnibus listing here.

Welcome to Area II, Hunt Club Farms!

Tuesday Video from SpectraVET: Don’t Miss This Stunning Millbrook Recap

By on Aug 4, 2015 5:00 pm -

Drop what you’re doing and click play. Seriously. This is one of the most gorgeous recap videos we’ve ever seen — this video captures the pure essence of the sport, giving us chills in the process. Thanks to Marion de Vogel for showcasing her videography skills in this Millbrook video that everyone has been talking about today!

From the perfectly chosen music to the choice sound bytes from the announcer’s stand, with stunning footage in between, this video is everything we love about the sport of eventing. The smiles and pats for our horses, the camaraderie between competitors, the spectators, the volunteers — everything about a weekend of eventing in a five minute video.

We certainly hope to see Marion out and about at some other events! Many thanks for sharing this video, and congratulations once again to all Millbrook competitors.

Go eventing.

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Equestrians Rally to Support Memory of Beloved Polo Player Will Tankard

By on Aug 4, 2015 9:00 am -
Photo via Will Tankard's GoFundMe. Photo via Will Tankard's GoFundMe.

The equestrian community continues to mourn the loss of polo player and Aiken local Will Tankard, who was killed last Thursday in an accident in Ohio along with his dog and three horses. A founding member of Team USPA and a collegiate polo star, Will continues to be greatly missed by members of the equestrian community where he had such an impact.

Will collected many accolades throughout his professional career, including wins in the 2012 and 2013 National Copper Cup, the 2013 National Chairman’s Cup, and a member of the team competing in the 2015 FIP World Championship finals. At the young age of 31, Will left a legacy on both his sport and those who knew him.

At the time of the accident in Ohio, Will was hauling 10 horses, seven of which survived the crash with serious injuries. Through the generosity and help of many, both friends and strangers, these horses are now under constant care and a GoFundMe page has been set up to assist with the costs of the treatment. In just one day, nearly all of the $30,000 goal has been met — just another example of the magnitude of support that has been shown in Will’s memory.

Update on horses: Bullet – Head injuries are improving daily and leg injuries looked great this morning! Hocus -…

Posted by In Memory of Will Tankard on Monday, August 3, 2015

We’re relieved to hear that the horses are receiving the care they need. Meanwhile, a ceremony celebrating Will’s life has been tentatively scheduled for October 3. You can receive the latest updates on the care of the horses injured in the crash as well as share memories of Will’s life by visiting the memorial Facebook page here.

The EN team sends its deepest condolences to Will’s family, friends and loved ones.

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: American Pharoah Wins Again!

By on Aug 3, 2015 5:00 pm -

He did it again, guys. In pure casual fashion, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah romped home in the Haskell Invitational yesterday in his first race since the Belmont in June.

In an interview before the race, owner Ahmed Zayat said that it was never a question on whether or not the Pioneerofthenile colt would race again after the Triple Crown — he wants America to enjoy their horse, and that’s exactly what they did yesterday.

Victor Espinoza basically eased American Pharoah the whole way down the stretch after making his move at the top of the final turn to overtake early leader Competitive Edge. After that, American Pharoah cantered home with his ears pricked to take home the win by about three lengths over a hard closing Keen Ice.

The objective was to save some gas in the tank for the next race, which may be a final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in October. We’re still in awe of everything this phenomenal horse has accomplished, and it’s a treat to see his owners letting him continue his racing career when he could easily be raking in the millions in the breeding shed.

Where do you want to see AP race next on his way to the Breeders’ Cup?

 

C4 Photo Challenge: Eventers Love Color!

By on Aug 1, 2015 9:04 am -
Colors galore! Photo by Colleen Peachey. Colors galore! Photo by Colleen Peachey.

It’s a widely known fact that eventers are almost too obsessed with color coordination. You call it a sickness, we call it a labor of love. Say what you will, but whenever you glimpse that perfectly coordinated pair out on cross country, you get a little weak in the knees, just admit it.

To that end, we know that C4 completes the outfit of virtually every eventer out there, and now it’s time to show us your level of color OCD! We’re starting a new photo challenge for your chance to add a new C4 belt to your collection! Here’s the scoop:

Submit a photo in one of the following ways during the entry period showcasing your color coordination as well as your C4 hardware. This month, we’re selecting BLUE as the color we want to see. Navy blue, sky blue, royal blue — you name it, we want to see it!

Ways to submit your photo:

Email it to [email protected] with the subject “C4 Blue”

Tag us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook using #C4ColorLove

Entries are due no later than Saturday August 15 at 8 p.m. EST.

Get those photos submitted and keep an eye out for them right here on EN!

If you need to add to your C4 wardrobe this year, we’re also offering an exclusive promo code this month! Simply use “ColorLoveC4” at checkout to receive 10% off for the month of August.

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Pan Ams Cross Country

By on Jul 31, 2015 3:00 pm -

While we may not have had any streaming whatsoever of the Pan American Games, we can at least enjoy some of the artfully produced highlight videos from creative YouTube users such as Abby Avaria!

Abby used photos and a few video clips to create a picture of what cross country day at the Pan American Games was like, and we thoroughly enjoyed watching it. There are quite a few opportunities to identify some of the horses — how many can you name?

Bella Mowbray Joins Ranks of Relocated Aussies with Eyes on Rolex 2016

By on Jul 31, 2015 1:00 pm -
Bella Mowbray and Star Vision. Photo by Sally Spickard. Bella Mowbray and Star Vision. Photo by Sally Spickard.

As with many Australians who have relocated to the States, Rolex was what caught Bella Mowbray’s eye when she made her first trip to the U.S., and it’s been a goal of hers ever since.

Bella and her 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Star Vision, packed up and moved to the West Coast in April of 2014 to continue their eventing career. The pair enjoyed success in Australia through the three-star level and has now completed their first FEI event here in the States with a fifth place finish in the CCI3* at Rebecca Farm.

“I’ve pretty much been riding since day one,” Bella said. “My mother is a dressage rider and my grandmother was a dressage judge, so I originally started out in dressage. But then I borrowed a friend’s horse to win a High Point trophy at my school, where they had an eventing rally. After that I was hooked!”

Bella eventually went to work for Ryan Wood and spent a large part of her teenage years working and riding for him. Bella made her first trip to Rolex with Ryan and also was able to spend some time at Phillip Dutton’s, and she knew that this was a place she wanted to be and that Rolex was a goal she wanted to work toward.

“Rolex was sort of the goal that prompted (the move),” Bella said. “I was able to visit California to do some touristy things, and I was hooked on the eventing and also the quality of life there.”

California became Bella’s end destination, where she now bases at Chuck and Peggy Moore’s Graceland Equestrian Center in Castro Valley. Originally, Rolex this year was Bella’s goal with Star Vision, whom she has had since 2009.

Bella Mowbray and Star Vision. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Bella Mowbray and Star Vision. Photo by Sally Spickard.

“Unfortunately, getting my visa sorted took more time than I thought, so I ended up spending four months (back in Australia) over Christmas,” Bella said. “So that really set us back. So basically this year we’ll continue to work on show jumping and come back with the goal of Rolex in 2016.”

Bella certainly had a good first CCI3* run at Rebecca Farm, jumping clear on a tough Ian Stark cross country track on which Star Vision looked right at home.

“He’s a super cool guy,” Bella said of her horse. “He’s just gotten better and better with age, which is phenomenal. He really takes care of me and he loves his job. I’m very lucky to have a horse who loves what he does at the upper levels.”

Bella Mowbray and Star Vision. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Bella Mowbray and Star Vision. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Though Bella and Star Vision competed through the three-star level in Australia, Bella elected not to run their first CCI4* at Adelaide. “It’s a really spectacular event, but the track there just doesn’t suit my horse,” she said. “We did well in the two-star there, but I think he does better with more open space. I liked the Rolex track for that reason. I would love to have run at Adelaide but I think Rolex will suit him better.”

For this year, Bella will continue to keep her gelding’s confidence in top form as she looks ahead to the long trek to Kentucky in the spring. “For me, it’s just about keeping him really confident,” she explained. “I’ll probably go Galway Downs and a couple of Advanced as a lead-up next year, but he’s pretty simple. He keeps his fitness really well so I’m lucky.”

Bella has settled in well to her new life here in the U.S., and we couldn’t be happier to have her. She plans to keep her citizenship with Australia to continue representing them in competition, and we’ll be looking forward to seeing this pair work toward their debut in Kentucky next spring.

Weekly OTTB Wishlist from Cosequin

By on Jul 30, 2015 3:00 pm -

After Burghley entries went live yesterday, I got to thinking about the OTTB and how much of an impact these horses have had on our sport. There are two OTTBs from the U.S. entered at Burghley this year, Donner and Anthony Patch. It’s pretty insane to think of how much untapped potential is sitting on race barns all over the country, just waiting for the right person.

You may not be looking for a Burghley mount (but if you were, there’s probably one out there somewhere!), but the OTTB is one of the most omnipresent breeds in eventing, and with the right eye and a good amount of hard work and patience, you just may find your partner of a lifetime, no matter what your ambition is.

Here are three more OTTBs to get your shopping started this week!

Photo via CANTER Mid Atlantic.

Photo via CANTER Mid Atlantic.

Our first featured horse this week is Echo Bye, a 2010 15.3-16 hand gelding who is available through CANTER Mid Atlantic. Echo Bye (Fantasticat – Arcades Echo, by Eastern Echo) raced 16 times and earned nearly $50,000 during his time on the track.

Echo Bye is said to be adorable, smart and suitable for any discipline. You’ll love his photos, which seem to give a good clue to his friendly personality!

Echo Bye on CANTER Mid Atlantic

Photo courtesy of Finger Lakes Fintest on Facebook.

Photo courtesy of Finger Lakes Fintest on Facebook.

Our next horse this week is this lightly raced 2012 mare, Ocala Princess. Estimated to finish growing at 16.1-16.2 hands, Ocala Princess (Purge – Freei, by Honor Grades) raced six times is a lovely girl who will look even more majestic when she’s filled out with more muscle.

This filly has had many compliments on her movement and is said to be sound, just without a desire to be a racehorse! Snatch this one up quick!

Ocala Princess on Finger Lakes Finest

Photo via CANTER Michigan.

Photo via CANTER Michigan.

Our final horse this week is a 2010 mare standing 16.1 hands by the name of Russian Tweed. This girl is Canadian bred and raced eight times. Russian Tweed (Harris Tweed – Gal Luvs the Grass, by Bucksplasher) has the makings of being a jumper (or perhaps an eventer!) with her flashy looks and temperament.

Russian Tweed on CANTER Michigan

Thursday Videos: Cross Country Action Clips from Rebecca Farm

By on Jul 30, 2015 1:00 pm -

Good friend of EN Chesna Klimek was out and about at Rebecca Farm this weekend, and she took some great video clips of the cross country action. We didn’t have a live stream at this event, so here’s a glimpse at some of Ian Stark’s challenging course and how the riders tackled it.

We also have some great recap videos from Ride On Video, which you can view on their YouTube channel here. Here’s the recap from cross country day:

Anyone else ready to go back?

EN’s Got Talent: Kelly Pugh and Corazon

By on Jul 30, 2015 11:00 am -

We hear all the time about horses at the top of the sport, but what about the next generation of equine talent? EN’s Got Talent introduces the future superstars of the sport, interviewing riders about how they’re tackling training with these youngsters. Have you spotted a spectacular young horse at an event you think should be highlighted in this column? Tip me at [email protected].

Kelly Pugh and Corazon. Photo by Sally Spickard. Kelly Pugh and Corazon. Photo by Sally Spickard.

The 8-year-old KWPN gelding owned by David and Candace Garrett is aptly nicknamed “Toddy” in the barn, after Sir Mark Todd, who won the Olympics the year he was born. He’s got the big shoes of his namesake to fill, but Kelly Pugh’s newest ride, Corazon, is well on his way to making big dreams come true.

Earlier this year, Kelly went on a horse shopping trip with the Garrett family as well as her mother and trainer, Dayna Lynd Pugh, who were also looking for a new ride for their daughter, Holly. “We usually go to Ireland, but this time we decided to try England,” Kelly recalled.

Using Mike and Emma Winter as their agents for the trip, the group saw many quality horses, making the end decision quite difficult for Kelly, who was new to the concept of shopping for a horse for herself.

“I’m not super used to trying horses,” Kelly said. “All my life, I’ve ridden whatever I’ve been given, so it’s a different experience trying them.”

Kelly found several horses she liked, making her decision all the more difficult — until she sat on Corazon.

Corazon, who is by Vaillant, was a former ride of New Zealand rider Lucy Jackson. He had been ridden by an amateur who started a family, leading Lucy to take over the ride and take the horse through the CCI2* level. Prior to the sale, Lucy was preparing to move Corazon up to the Advanced level.

Kelly has previously ridden to the three-star level aboard Copycat Chloe, and her goal with this trip was to find a new horse to potentially take her back to that level and beyond.

“I kind of went with a list (of criteria),” she said. “I found several horses that I liked, but when I sat on (Corazon), I just knew. People talk about getting ‘that feeling’ and that’s what I had, the one where you just don’t want to get off.

“I wanted something that enjoyed its job and was confident. I feel like I’ve spent a lot of time with other horses trying to ‘convince’ them that they wanted to do this — I wanted something that really wanted to do it.”

Corazon matched Kelly’s selective criteria, and he was soon on his way to California where Kelly bases her business. After arriving in the States in May, Kelly set to work getting to know her new horse, thanks to the support of her owners, David and Candace.

“David and Candace are phenomenal owners,” Kelly said. “They don’t put any pressure on. They want me to do well, but they trust my program and what my plan is, which is great.”

On a spur of the moment decision, Kelly decided to take Corazon to his first U.S. event, the Prelim division at Shepherd Ranch. “Toddy” added just four jump penalties in the show jumping to take home fourth place after scoring a 27.3 in the dressage, so the partnership definitely started off on the right foot.

From there, it was on to Montana to contest the CCI* at Rebecca Farm. Kelly played it conservative leading up to this FEI debut in the States, but she was starting to figure out that she had a very competitive horse underneath her.

“I’ve realized that as we get into the ring he lights up more,” Kelly said. “I think he wants to do well as much as I do, which is a really nice feeling.”

Next week on EN’s Got Talent: We’ll learn about Kelly and Corazon’s experience at Rebecca Farm, where they took home the CCI* win, as well as their plans for their future together.

Riders4Helmets International Helmet Awareness Day: One K Giveaway Alert

By on Jul 30, 2015 9:00 am -
One K rider Laine Asker celebrates her stadium round with Anthony Patch. Photo by Rare Air Photography. One K rider Laine Asker celebrates her stadium round with Anthony Patch. Photo by Rare Air Photography.

Riders4Helmets International Helmet Awareness Day is coming up on August 1, are you ready? Retailers all over the country are gearing up for a big sale to promote helmet wearing, and we’re excited to announce a flash giveaway in honor of #IHAD!

We’ve paired up with One K to give away the ever popular Black Matte Suede helmet in honor of International Helmet Awareness Day — because what better way to stay safe than with a brand spanking new helmet?

You'd look good in this. You know you would.

You’d look good in this. You know you would.

This giveaway will go quickly, so use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. Entries will close at 12 a.m. EST on Saturday, August 1 and we’ll announce the winner in Saturday’s News & Notes.

Good luck to all entrants and don’t forget to check the retailer list for the best helmet deals near you on Saturday!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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