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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

Heather Morris Sits Pretty Atop Rebecca Farm CCI2*

By on Jul 24, 2015 2:00 pm -
Heather Morris and Charlie Tango. Photo by Sally Spickard. Heather Morris and Charlie Tango. Photo by Sally Spickard.

It’s been a beautiful morning of dressage here at the Event at Rebecca Farm, and we were treated to some great riding and beautifully presented horses in the CCI2*. All remaining FEI divisions are riding dressage today — with the CCI3* still to come this afternoon — and the CCI2* riders were the first to go this morning.

Heather Morris and Team Express Group LLC’s Charlie Tango will be your leaders heading into tomorrow’ cross country after scoring a 42.7 today. Heather was the second in the ring after the first judges’ break, and she remained unchallenged throughout the remainder of the division.

Charlie Tango is a 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse who is making his second CCI2* start — he also won his first CCI2* earlier this year, no big deal. Since he moved up to the CIC2* and CCI2* level, Charlie Tango has finished out of the top three just once in four starts.

Tamie Smith and Fleur de Lis. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Tamie Smith and Fleur de Lis. Photo by Sally Spickard.

In second and continuing her great weekend so far is Tamie Smith and the Team Milton Syndicate’s Fleur de Lis. They had tons of presence from the moment they entered the ring, and a smooth test earned them a 46.5 for second place. Fleur de Lis will be seeking his first CCI2* completion after ending his weekend in show jumping at Jersey Fresh earlier this year.

I must give a big Area IV shout-out to Elena Hengel and Zipp, who are holding their own in their CCI2* debut together in third place on a score of 48.9. Zipp, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding, previously campaigned through the two-star level with Will Coleman before moving to Elena. They then competed in the CH-J* at NAJYRC in 2014, where they finished eighth individually. Elena will be over the moon with Zipp’s performance today, and they’re in excellent position to make a statement over the next two days.

Elena Hengel and Zipp. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Elena Hengel and Zipp. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Tamie Smith is enjoying a total of four horses in the top five of their respective divisions, as she also added Dempsey to the list, currently in fourth on a score of 49.4. A 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by the West Coast Dempsey Syndicate, Dempsey is making his CCI2* debut here at Rebecca. He finished sixth in the CIC2* at Copper Meadows as his final prep for this event.

Completing the top five in the CCI2* are Barb Crabo and Over Easy, a 9-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare. Over Easy is another of Barb’s experienced partners competing at Rebecca, as she also has Eveready in the CIC3*. Barb and Over Easy finished 11th in the CIC3* here in 2013.

We’re about an hour away from the start of the CIC3* dressage, which has 10 entries, so stay tuned for a recap of that division coming up next!

#RF: Website, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Instagram, Twitter

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Rebecca Farm CCI3* Cross Country Course Preview

By on Jul 24, 2015 9:00 am -
The final water complex. Photo by Sally Spickard. The final water complex. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Ian Stark’s cross country course for the inaugural CCI3* here at Rebecca Farm is causing plenty of buzz this weekend. With cross country set to be run on Saturday, there’s plenty of time for the riders to hammer out their final plans to attack what is sure to be a challenging and technical course.

I walked the course yesterday afternoon and found the galloping lanes to be supremely inviting for both horse and rider. The ground is a bit dry, but the crews here are working hard to ensure the best possible footing for the horses come Saturday. Check out the course preview video below:

The Broussards have done a fantastic job with this facility, as everyone who has ever attended will surely attest. The effort put forth is evident in the attention to detail in the jump decorations, and this is truly a top class, one of a kind course.

It’s not to be taken lightly though — the tricky combinations come early and often. In particular, the coffin and the last water seem to be two of the more interesting questions, and certainly ones that we’ll be keeping an eye on throughout the day.

The CIC3* course does differ slightly from the track pictured, but the riders will be jumping some of the same questions. Here’s a great drone fly-through of the course with more commentary from designer Ian Stark:

Please enjoy the photos of the course, and stay tuned for more thoughts on how it will ride as Chinch seeks out some coaching for his new mount! Go Eventing.

#RF: Website, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Instagram, Twitter

Rebecca Farm Thursday Wrap-Up: Kelly Pugh Leads CCI* + Other Leaders

By on Jul 23, 2015 8:39 pm -
Tamie Smith and Under Wraps. Photo by Lisa Takada for Eventing Nation. Tamie Smith and Under Wraps. Photo by Lisa Takada for Eventing Nation.

It’s been a great beginning to competition here at Rebecca Farm! It was a busy day of riding, and the first complete day is officially in the books. We also can’t forget about the Future and Young Event Horse divisions who competed yesterday, so here’s the full scoop on day one.

In the CCI* this afternoon, Kelly Pugh has overtaken the lead aboard Corazon, a relatively new ride owned by David Garrett. An 8-year-old KWPN gelding, Corazon was originally campaigned by New Zealand’s Lucy Jackson through the two-star level. In their first start together, Kelly and Corazon placed fourth in the Prelim at Shepherd Ranch in June.

Kelly and Corazon earned a 41.3 to take the lead in a strong field going into the cross country portion of competition. Lying in second after the dressage are Tamie Smith and Under Wraps, her second ride of the CCI*.

Owned by Beth Lendrum, Under Wraps is an 8-year-old KWPN gelding making his FEI debut after most recently winning his Open Prelim division at Copper Meadows last month.

Auburn Excell Brady and Pinotage. Photo by Lisa Takada for Eventing Nation.

Auburn Excell Brady and Pinotage. Photo by Lisa Takada for Eventing Nation.

Rounding out the latest top three in the CCI* is Auburn Excell Brady and her second ride, Pinotage. A 7-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Lo Olbin, Pinotage is also a CCI* first-timer, having most recently coming fourth in the Open Prelim at Copper Meadows.

Tamie and Auburn now have two rides each in the top five, so Saturday is sure to bring some exciting moments as the leaders duke it out for the eventual winnings.

All of the Novice divisions, excluding the Three Day divisions, who rode dressage only, completed their dressage and cross country competition today. The Novice course is definitely a true Novice course, with plenty of challenges and tricky questions.

What caught my eye the most was the final water complex, which features jumps for every other division as well. This made for a lot of navigating through the various fences to reach the Novice question, and it was really neat to see the riders and horses figuring it out (and making it look easy!).

Your Novice leaders after the first two phases are as follows:

Senior Novice

A: Karen O’Neal and Briena 21.8)

B: Shari Peterson and Oliver Money (26.5)

C: Lauren Boriotti and Slingshot (28.0)

D: Leigh Mesher and Finally DG (24.0)

E: Robyn Fisher and Erusa (23.0)

Junior Novice:

A: Genevieve Kirsch and Fleeceworks Cinco (21.8)

B: Lilly Linder and Pele (23.3)

Your Novice Three-Day leaders after dressage are:

A: Taress Hsu and Gideon (26.8)

B: Kathryn Canario and Ringwood Little Imp (20.5)

Some of the Training divisions completed their dressage tests (can you tell it was a busy day today?) and will move on to cross country tomorrow, beginning with the Three Day divisions in the morning.

Your Training leaders following dressage are:

Senior A: Bonner Carpenter and Darkside (20.2)

Training Three Day:

A: Erin Kellerhouse and Rondelet (25.3)

B: Katelyn Grubich and Kaptain Jak (27.2)

C: Dana Todd and MMS Amadeus (26.2)

Earl McFall and Let's Go DF. Photo via Hawley Bennett on Instagram.

Earl McFall and Let’s Go DF. Photo via Hawley Bennett on Instagram.

Earl McFall and Let’s Go DF are your Four Year Old YEH winners, earning a total percentage of 78% throughout the three sections of Conformation/Type, Dressage and Jumping/Potential.

Let’s Go DF, a Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding by Linaro out of Rani D, was bred by Dragonfire Farm and was the West Coast 3-year-old Future Event Horse champion in 2014 — suffice it to say this one is one to keep your eye on!

Kelsey Horn and Tomlong Ratatouille, a Thoroughbred gelding owned by the Pinnacale Syndicate LLC, earned the top marks in the 5-year-old Young Event Horse class with a final percentage of 81.4.

Catie Cejka and Clarity Redefined are the sole entrants in the Future Event Horse Yearling division and they earned a solid 78.2% for Conformation and Type. In the Future Event Horse Two Year Old division, it’s Marc Grandia and Quantum Theory who will take home the top honors with a total percentage of 79.3.

We’ll be adding photos to this post from the day, so refresh this page for a better look at the day’s action! Much more to come tomorrow, as the remaining FEI divisions commence their dressage.

Many thanks to Rebecca Farm, Ride On Video and Frankie Thieriot Stutes for the great coverage from each day of competition. Check out day two’s coverage here:

#RF: Website, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Instagram, Twitter

Who Jumped It Best? Rebecca Farm Open Novice Edition

By on Jul 23, 2015 5:00 pm -

The competition may have just commenced, but we’ve already seen riders out on cross country this afternoon. The Novice divisions rode their dressage tests this morning and also are running cross country this afternoon, so they’re the first ones to get a taste of the beautiful course here at Rebecca Farm.

There are two Junior Open Novice divisions and six Senior Open Novice divisions to see this weekend in addition to the two Novice Three-Day divisions — definitely the largest division by far.

I had the opportunity to go out on cross country for a bit today to watch some of the Novice action, so I’ve put together a Who Jumped It Best? for those that I saw. Please take a look at the following photos and vote for your favorite overall presentation. Eternal EN karma to the winner! Good luck!

#RF: Website, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Instagram, Twitter

Amy Dery and Cusco.

Amy Dery and Cusco.

Jennifer Smart and Aloan.

Jennifer Smart and Aloan. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Ashley Nielsen and Mya. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Ashley Nielsen and Mya. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Kathy Rundhaug and Skye Full of Stars. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Kathy Rundhaug and Skye Full of Stars. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Renate Price and SpeeDee Dee. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Renate Price and SpeeDee Dee. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Sara Mackenzie and Sweetsinginanita. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Sara Mackenzie and Sweetsinginanita. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Tara Hogan and Gone With the Wind. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Tara Hogan and Gone With the Wind. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Tamie Smith Celebrates Her Birthday By Leading Rebecca Farm CCI*

By on Jul 23, 2015 2:44 pm -
Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal. Photo by Sally Spickard. Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal. Photo by Sally Spickard.

What better way to celebrate your birthday than with a killer dressage test to take the early lead of your division? That’s how Tamie Smith celebrates! We’re at the halfway mark of the CCI* dressage here at Rebecca Farm, and Tamie and Judy McSwain’s Fleeceworks Royal took the lead as the last of the morning session on a score of 46.4.

Fleeceworks Royal is a 6-year-old Holsteiner mare who is contesting her first CCI* this weekend; she most recently place second in the CIC* at Copper Meadows last month. By Riverman out of the Corofino mare Marisol, this mare is a full sister to Kristi Nunnink’s former four-star campaigner R-Star and was also the USEA Young Event Horse West Coast Champion as a 5-year-old.

This is one of several rides for Tamie this weekend, including one more to come in the CCI* in Under Wraps. She also has two rides in the CCI2*, as well as Ellen and Alex Ahearn’s Mai Baum in the CIC3* (who EN has predicted to win), so the birthday girl won’t have much in the way of downtime this weekend. Somehow we feel she won’t mind spending her birthday here in beautiful Kalispell, Montana.

And beautiful it is! Driving in this morning literally took my breath away, and while I haven’t had a look at the cross country yet (I’m heading out to do that now!), the atmosphere is buzzing with excitement at how great it looks. Really, if you haven’t had the opportunity to come out to Rebecca Farm then you should definitely put it on your bucket list.

Back to business in the morning’s CCI* action, we saw some fresh horses today who were feeling good in the crisp mountain air (and perhaps due to catching a glimpse of some cross country in the distance), but we also saw some classy riding to really squeeze as many points as possible out of the judges.

Auburn Excell Brady and Royal Lux. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Auburn Excell Brady and Royal Lux. Photo by Sally Spickard.

The trailblazer this morning was Auburn Excell Brady and Royal Lux, who looked calm, cool and collected for the first CCI* of his career. Owned by Auburn and R. Lawrence Sawyer, Royal Lux is a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding who most recently finished 10th in the CIC2* at Fresno County Horse Park.

Auburn and Royal Lux took the early lead and held onto it all the way through the end of the morning session with their score of 47.0. There are still plenty more combinations yet to come, but Auburn and Royal Lux find themselves in a solid position, currently in second behind Tamie.

In third are Ruth Bley and the lovely Silver Sage, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding. This pair earned a 48.3 nod from the judges to shave a few points off of their score from the CCI* at this event in 2014. This pair should be a fun one to see out on cross country on Saturday — they’ve not had a jump penalty on cross country in their entire FEI career together, so be on the lookout for this pair to finish close to their dressage score.

Ruth Bley and Silver Sage. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Ruth Bley and Silver Sage. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Jennie Brannigan made the trek out to Montana with Tim and Nina Gardners’ homebred OTTB, Mixed Blessing, who is also making his debut at this level. The 6-year-old gelding stepped up to Prelim this year with consistent success and looked every bit the part of a competitor in the white box today. Jennie will be pleased with his score of 49.0 to slot into fourth place at the moment.

Rounding out the top five at the lunch break are Sydney Johnson and Ols Take Time, who earned a 49.3 and the only remaining score in the 40s so far. This pair will be seeking their first CCI* completion this weekend, and they most recently placed eighth in the Preliminary Rider division at Woodside.

There’s still much more to come from Thursday at Rebecca Farm — there’s so much happening at all times it’s hard to know where to even begin! Big thank you to Brian Schott and the wonderful staff here manning the press tent, which is nice and shady and very close to all three phases. I’m about to hop on a dirt bike to check out some cross country, so I’ll be back later with much more. Go Eventing!

#RF: Website, Schedule, Ride Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Instagram, Twitter

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All Horses Pass First Inspection at Rebecca Farm + Photo Gallery

By on Jul 23, 2015 9:00 am -
Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against. Photo by Lisa Takada for Eventing Nation.

Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against. Photo by Lisa Takada for Eventing Nation.

FEI competition officially began yesterday at the highly anticipated Event at Rebecca Farm with the first horse inspection, and we’re pleased to report that all horses were accepted and will proceed on to dressage.

The crisp mountain air here made for some frisky horses, and sure enough there were a few moments of excitement on the jog strip. The wonderful Lisa Takada was on the ground to shoot photos for EN yesterday while I completed the last legs of my travel, and we’re lucky to have (adorable preggo) Frankie Thieriot Stutes on the grounds bringing us fantastic video interviews.

Here’s what went down yesterday on the jog strip: In the CCI*, Ashlynn Meuchel’s mount Tatiana jogged twice and was accepted upon re-inspection. There were no holds or second passes down the jog strip in the CCI2*.

For the CIC3*, two horses were asked to jog twice: Rebecca Buehler’s mount Brighton due to freshness and Anni Grandia’s mount Chaos. Novelle, one of the horses coming off of competing at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event this spring, was very frisky for Angela Grzywinski, but they managed to keep all six legs on the strip.

In the CCI3*, James Alliston’s horses may have been the freshest there, with Parker being the more amped up of the pair. All of the horses were accepted, and we can’t wait to see them strut their stuff in dressage Friday.

The dressage commences today with the CCI*, while for the lower levels the Novice and Novice Three-Day competitors also will ride their tests. We’re excited for a great weekend here in Kalispell. Thank you to Rebecca Farm for this amazing event. Go Eventing!

Rebecca Farms CCI, CIC & H.T. Links: Website, Entry Status/Ride Times, Live Scores

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Early Arrivals at Rebecca Farm

By on Jul 22, 2015 5:00 pm -

Why do so many competitors arrive at Rebecca Farm early? I remember speaking with Jen McFall last year about her trip, and she said that it was a family trip as well as an event. And this is true as many were already moved in on Sunday or Monday of this week.

The competition kicked off this afternoon with the Young Event Horse divisions as well as the jogs for the FEI divisions. We’ll be back with a jog report later on today, but for all of you East coasters out there, plan an later bed time this weekend as we bring you all of the up to date coverage from the mountain time zone!

Rebecca Farm: [Website] [Ride Times/Scores] [Instagram] [Twitter] [@sallyspickard]

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Fitch’s Corner Enjoys Another Successful Weekend

By on Jul 22, 2015 3:00 pm -
Ferial Johnson and Bali Hai won the Open Preliminary division. Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Ferial Johnson and Bali Hai won the Open Preliminary division. Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

While some were in Canada for the Pan American Games and others were in Kentucky for the North American Junior & Young Rider Championships, much of the rest of the eventing world on the East Coast was at the Fitch’s Corner Horse Trials Weekend in Millbrook, New York.

Strong entries, packed social events, top-notch shopping, a grand Collector Car Parade and the Millbrook Hounds all served as highlights of this much-anticipated event on the Area I summer calendar.

Rebecca Coffin-Vickery and Sir Zirr won the $2,000 Novice Masters Challenge. Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Rebecca Coffin-Vickery and Sir Zirr won the $2,000 Novice Masters Challenge. Photo courtesy of Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

The inaugural $2,000 Novice Masters Challenge presented a custom Stubben saddle to winner Rebecca Coffin-Vickery, who won with her Irish Thoroughbred gelding Sir Zirr. These two have now won their last four Novice events in a row. Congrats, Rebecca!

Watch the video created by Marion de Vogel to see the Fitch’s Corner action on film:

Many thanks, as always, to good friend of EN Joan Davis and Flatlandsfoto for providing the win shots from Fitch’s Corner!

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Mary May and Walla Walla Bing Bang won the Training Rider A division. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

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Allison Springer and Fairvoya S won the Novice Horse division. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

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Emma Weir and That Was Then won the Junior Open Beginner Novice A division. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

It’s (Almost) Go Time at Rebecca Farm: A Social Media Roundup

By on Jul 22, 2015 1:00 pm -

Ah, Montana. Big skies, green grass for days, and hordes of gorgeous event horses to feast our eyes on. What more could an eventing journalist ask for? Not to mention, this weather forecast:

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That’ll do, Montana. That’ll do.

Eventers began their trips to Rebecca Farm over the weekend or earlier this week, so most everyone is checked in and enjoying the sites. EN will be on the ground beginning tomorrow, and in the meantime our superstar photographer, Lisa Takada, will be providing shots from today’s Horse Inspection.

Jessica Kerschbaumer's Hard Sun takes in the cross country. Photo via Jessica on Facebook.

Jessica Kerschbaumer’s Hard Sun takes in the cross country. Photo via Jessica on Facebook.

We just can’t get enough of the scenery!

Photo via Jen McFall on Facebook.

Photo via Jen McFall on Facebook.

Photo via Lisa Takada.

Photo via Lisa Takada.

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And just one more, for posterity:

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Many Rebecca Farm attendees make the trip into a week long adventure, meaning there is a bit of downtime before the competition begins in earnest. So what better way to kill some time than a nice relaxing spa trip? Jen McFall and her crew agree.

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Meanwhile, Tamie Smith’s CIC3* ride, Mai Baum, is happy to just chill out in his grass filled stall — a horsey spa day if there ever was one:

The Black Stallion says he's so happy to be at Rebecca Farm!!

Posted by Tamie Smith on Monday, July 20, 2015

I will be Snapchatting from Rebecca Farm all weekend, so be sure to add Eventing_Nation on Snapchat for even more updates. Go Rebecca!

Tuesday Video from SpectraVET: Rebecca Farm Rewind

By on Jul 21, 2015 5:00 pm -

Hundreds of horses and riders are settling in or en route to Montana as we speak to get ready for one of the biggest events of the year. We’ll be seeing everything from Training 3 Day riders to heavy hitters in the CCI3* and CIC3* — truly something for everyone!

We thought we’d take a trip back to the 2014 event with this recap video from Ride On Video. Enjoy and we’ll see you in Montana later this week!

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Monday Videos from Tredstep Ireland: NAJYRC Cross Country

By on Jul 20, 2015 5:00 pm -

The Horse Pesterer, as usual, captured some great footage at the Adequan FEI National Junior and Young Rider Championships, and it looks like all videos from the weekend are now uploaded.

We took a few minutes to pick out some cross country rounds from the leaders, but you can view the full playlist, which includes both dressage and stadium as well, by clicking here. Many thanks to The Horse Pesterer for sharing his videos!

Monday News & Notes from Event Clinics

By on Jul 20, 2015 12:01 am -
Only the best for Chinch's horse! Photo by Mia Farley. Only the best for Chinch's horse! Photo by Mia Farley.

With all of the hustle and bustle from this weekend, we can hardly forget that another big summer event is coming up next: Rebecca Farm! We’re so thrilled to be covering the event no one can stop talking about this year — Chinch got so excited that he decided to enter the CCI3*. Naturally, we told him he was far from qualified, but he still intends to give it a go.

To that end, we’d like to thank Mia Farley for sourcing Chinch’s new mount. She’s safely on her way to Montana, and once Chinch recovers from his NAJYRC party weekend, he’ll be joining her for what’s sure to be some epic failure antics.

I will be on the ground beginning Thursday to cover all of the action I can muster from Rebecca Farm, so keep it locked right here on EN as the coverage party continues!

Weekend Results:

Fitch’s Corner H.T. [Final Scores]

Maryland at Loch Moy II H.T.  [Final Scores]

Hunter Oaks H.T.  [Final Scores]

Aspen Ridge H.T.  [Website]

Coconino Summer II H.T.  [Final Scores]

Monday News:

We’re launching a new reader-driven survey series, so we need your input! Keep an eye out for new questions here in News & Notes — we’re kicking off the series with a survey of what event horses you would like to take a spin on. Click here to take the survey.

Giveaway alert! Total Saddle Fit is offering a chance to win one of three six point saddle pads, and all you have to do is fill out this quick survey. So obviously you should do that, and win some awesome saddle pads! [Total Saddle Fit Survey]

We all know that many horse ads should be taken with a grain of salt. This article from Horse & Hound definitely hashes out many interpretations for horse ads — some funny, most very true! [What Ads Say Versus What They Mean]

There’s been a lot of drama surrounding the status of the NCAA equestrian program. The good news, however, is that the NCAA is supportive of the equestrian programs’ efforts. Here’s hoping this means the teams will be allowed to remain without losing their athlete status and support. [NCAA Resolves to Support Equestrian Sport]

Are you feeling extra inspired from this weekend? Here’s your opportunity to work with U.S. Chef d’Equipe David O’Connor! David will be teaching a clinic at Waredaca on August 4, and riders and auditors are welcome! Thank you to Event Clinics for providing such great opportunities such as these. [David O’Connor Clinic]

Monday Video Break:

What happens when you get chased by a drone on your horse? Charity Paashaus and Horsemanship4Life demonstrate:

Sunday Pan Ams and NAJYRC Social Media Wrap: Gold on Gold on Gold

By on Jul 19, 2015 9:18 pm -
Mission accomplished. Photo via EN's Instagram. Mission accomplished. Photo via EN's Instagram.

It was a golden weekend for North American eventing, as representatives from all over North, Central and South America competed on the world stage for the glory of a gold medal.

Both up in Toronto and down in Kentucky, we saw horsemanship and class from all spectrums of the sport, and this weekend can fondly serve as a reminder of why we all do what we do.

At the end of the day, big dreams are the fuel that keeps the fire going for the riders who are working towards the next big thing. Big dreams are what inspires the adult amateur to rise early on show day to put their best foot forward in their event. Big dreams and, as David O’Connor put it, belief are what this sport needs — and this weekend was proof of that.

Without further ado, here are some social media musings from the weekend:

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From EN’s own Facebook page comes a comment that warms the heart. It’s all the more inspiring to know that Lauren Kieffer was just another horse crazy kid, just like we all were. #startedfromthebottom …. you know how the rest goes.

Photo via Sean Fitzgerald on Facebook.

Photo via Sean Fitzgerald on Facebook.

Jessica Phoenix, aka #superwoman, celebrated with her friends and family after wrapping up what can only be called the best comeback ever. After not only having a baby earlier this year but suffering serious injuries at Jersey Fresh, Jessie shook it off and casually won team bronze and individual silver in front of her home crowd this weekend. Two thumbs up, Jessie.

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This is probably one of the most adorable photos from the weekend. Evie Dutton and Silva Martin show off their husband’s hardware. Gold looks good on you, ladies.

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#nailedit is definitely the best way to describe Marilyn Little’s double gold medal winning weekend. Just think, just a few years ago, Marilyn was an internationally competitive show jumper. Don’t leave us, Marilyn. Don’t even try.

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We’d like to once again give a big, massive shout-out to Cindy Lawler, who has wowed us with her photography skills all weekend. And there’s still more to come! Thank you for sharing your art, Cindy!

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These sort of statuses are a dime a dozen this afternoon — we could make an entire post with just these! Team USA definitely had an army behind it this weekend.

We couldn’t be happier for Ruy Fonseca, who capped off a weekend with a spot on the podium both as an individual and as a team member for Brazil. Brazil is one to watch as we hurtle towards Rio next summer — and their riding this weekend was pure class.

Meanwhile in Kentucky, we’re all wishing Sinead hadn’t booked it out of the park so soon. Perhaps her team will converge on her at Rolex next year and make this happen:

No big deal, ya'll. Camilla Grover-Dodge wins double gold in the CH-J*. Photo via Camilla on Facebook.

No big deal, ya’ll. Camilla Grover-Dodge wins double gold in the CH-J*. Photo via Camilla on Facebook.

Deservedly so, Area II is on Cloud Nine this evening as they wrap up a dreamy weekend at Kentucky Horse Park. As Area VII’s Madison Temkin put it on Facebook, we’re all sad to see the weekend over!

I spoke to Sinead this afternoon as she drove home, and she couldn’t have been prouder of the girls who pulled out all the stops this weekend. Proud coach indeed!

Let’s not forget about all of the other hard working junior and young riders who made us excited for the future of the sport this weekend. They all deserve medals for their efforts, and we can’t wait to see them making waves in the near future.

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And finally, it wouldn’t be a celebration without a little victory celebration. Cheers to all winners this weekend! We won’t be forgetting this one for awhile.

Victory Gallop! #PanAmGames USA!!!

Posted by United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) on Sunday, July 19, 2015

Area II Repeats CH-J* Win, Diane Portwood Tops CCIYR2* in NAJYRC Finale

By on Jul 19, 2015 2:33 pm -
Area II stands in gold medal position, Area V in silver and Area VIII in bronze. Photo via Wayne Grover on Facebook. Area II stands in gold medal position, Area V in silver and Area VIII in bronze. Photo via Wayne Grover on Facebook.

Big congratulations are in order to your 2015 Adequan FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships CH-J* winning team: Area II! Area II picked up back to back wins after also winning gold in the CH-J* in 2014, and the team combined for just four jumping penalties today to take the win.

The day began on an unfortunate note for Area II as second placed individual rider Morgan Booth elected to withdraw Twizzel from the holding box during the trot-up. Morgan later posted on her Facebook page that Twizzel had some sore skin from the mud on cross country, but it sounds like he is well and will be back to fight another day.

Even without Morgan, who then became the team’s dropped score, Area II easily clinched the win over Richard Jeffery’s show jumping course in Rolex stadium today. Their final penalty score ended up 148.0, giving them a handy victory over Area V. Camilla Grover-Dodge and Remington XXV led from start to finish and jumped a double clear round to ultimately finish on their dressage score of 38.3.

Camilla wins Gold!!!!!!!

Posted by Wayne A. Grover on Sunday, July 19, 2015

Camilla and Remington have been top class all weekend, and they pick up their first CCI* win in a quite memorable way. In silver individually are Area VII’s Madelynn Snoozy and Udealer, who also jumped double clear to move up from fourth place. Picking up individual bronze is Alberta team member, Shelby Brost and Crimson, a former ride of four-star rider Daniel Clasing. In total, 15 pairs in the CH-J* added nothing to their two day score.

Area V also enjoyed a phenomenal weekend, picking up team silver on a total penalty score of 157.4. This team steadily moved up the board, beginning the weekend in fifth after dressage and third after cross country. Big congratulations to Margaret Stocker, Caroline Testi, Olivia Alland and Barrett Phillips!

Also grabbing a spot on the podium are “home” team Area VIII consisting of Jackie Lemastas, Hope Walden, Emily Hagan and Mary Peabody Camp. This team also slid into a podium spot with today’s efforts after lying fourth following cross country. Area VIII ends on a total penalty score of 161.9.

Despite picking up eight jumping penalties in today’s show jumping, Diane Portwood and Cinerescent held on for the win in the modified CCIYR2* division. Diane and her gray mare moved into first place following cross country when overnight leader Nicole Doolittle picked up a few too many time penalties on course.

Diane and Cinerescent will end their weekend on a 68.5, followed by Nicole Doolittle, the 2013 CH-J* individual gold medalist, and Tops who finished with 12 jumping and four time penalties for a three day total of 84.5. In third place and completing the division are Paige Pence and Class Action, who picked up 16 jumping penalties for a final score of 94.0.

Certainly this year was quite a bit different from what we’re used to seeing at NAJYRC with the modified two-star format. To that end, the USEA is seeking feedback on how to make the CH-Y** more feasible for the young riders who are working hard to qualify before they age out. You are encouraged to contact your area coordinators with constructive feedback on the future of the NAJYRC.

We’d once again like to thank Samantha and Lily Clark for all of their hard work bringing us coverage from NAJYRC this year. It’s always a privilege to see the next generation of event riders competing in a team environment, and we’d like to congratulate all on a successful (albeit hot!) weekend.

We’ll be updating this post with quotes from the riders, so keep checking back for more. You can also check out both RNS Video and The Horse Pesterer as they upload their videos from the weekend. Go Eventing!

NAJYRC: Website, Schedule,Instagram, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, @samanthalclark

Pan American Games Cross Country Live Updates: USA Throws Down 4 Double Clears

By on Jul 18, 2015 10:53 am -
Start box. Photo by Jenni Autry. Start box. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Who’s ready for an exciting day of cross country action? We sure are! It’s promising to be a scorcher in Caledon today, so we’re wishing everyone safe rides and fast cool downs. Jenni is providing updates from the cross country course, which will be put in this thread, so stay tuned for as much live action as we can provide in lieu of a conspicuously missing live stream.

Cross country officially kicks off at 11 a.m. EST, and Columbia’s Juan Carlos Tafur and Quinto, an 11-year-old Columbian stallion, will be our trailblazers. The North American ride times are as follows:

USA:

11:24 Phillip Dutton / Fernhill Fugitive

12:12 Lauren Kieffer / Meadowbrooks’ Scarlett

1:04 Marilyn Little / RF Scandalous

1:44 Boyd Martin / Pancho Villa

Canada:

11:08 Waylon Roberts / Bill Owen

11:48 Colleen Loach / Qorry Blue D’Argouges

12:40 Kathryn Robinson / Let It Bee

1:34 Jessica Phoenix / Pavarotti

It’s going to be a day of gritty riding, as the U.S. has just .7 penalties worth of breathing room to maintain its gold medal position ahead of Canada and Brazil. The U.S. is currently on a score of 130.0, followed by Canada (130.7) and Brazil (136.70).

Refresh this page periodically for the latest updates from cross country day. We wish safe, clear and fast rides to all! Go Eventing.

#PanAmGames: Website, Entries,XC Start List, Schedule & Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, Twitter,Instagram, Course Preview, @jenniautry

2:00 p.m. EST: Mack gets a ride along with the fourth double clear rider for Team USA, Boyd Martin.

Photo via EN's Instagram.

Photo via EN’s Instagram.

1:58 p.m. EST: Well, there you have it folks! Team USA maintains its gold medal position going into show jumping with four double clear rounds. Talk about delivery! Unfortunately the live scores are not up to date at the moment, but we’ll have the full recap for you coming shortly. We do know that your top four are Ruy Fonseca, Marilyn Little, Jessica Phoenix, and Boyd Martin. Stay tuned for much, much more!

1:58 p.m. EST:

1:55 p.m. EST:

Our 1st Canadian rider Waylon Roberts (Official) is on course here at the #TO2015 and looking strong! #oefhorse #ontarioequestrianfederation

Posted by Ontario Equestrian Federation on Saturday, July 18, 2015

1:55 p.m. EST: Boyd and Pancho Villa are sent back on their way and are clear over 17.

1:54 p.m. EST:

Canadian rider, Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue D’argouges over the Goldern Horseshoe on her way to clean round!! #gocanada #TO2015

Posted by Ontario Equestrian Federation on Saturday, July 18, 2015

1:54 p.m. EST:

1:53 p.m. EST:

1:52 p.m. EST:

1:51 p.m. EST: Screenshot_20

1:50 p.m. EST: Hey, even chinchillas need to hydrate.

Screenshot_19

1:48 p.m. EST:

1:47 p.m. EST: I apologize for the lack of updates towards the end here – we are missing a lot of scores on the scoresheet at the moment, but let’s cheer Boyd and Pancho Villa home!

1:46 p.m. EST:

1:41 p.m. EST:

Maple Syrup Posted by Phoenix Equestrian Team on Saturday, July 18, 2015

1:40 p.m. EST:

Jessica Phoenix has a clear round for cross-country! Way to go #TeamCanada!!#oefhorse #ontarioequestrianfederation #TO2015 Posted by Ontario Equestrian Federation on Saturday, July 18, 2015

1:40 p.m. EST: Live scores seem to have stopped refreshing for the moment so I apologize for any delayed updates.

1:38 p.m. EST:
Screenshot_18

1:38 p.m. EST: I’m not going to lie, I’m sitting here getting all choked up watching the video below. What the heck. #thefeels

1:37 p.m. EST:

First water Posted by Phoenix Equestrian Team on Saturday, July 18, 2015

1:34 p.m. EST:

1:33 p.m. EST:

1:33 p.m. EST:

1:32 p.m. EST: Great shot!

1:31 p.m. EST:

1:29 p.m. EST: Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti are clear through the first water.

1:26 p.m. EST:

1:25 p.m. EST: Here is the live score link in case you need it – it’s also listed above in the main body of this post.

1:23 p.m. EST: Jhonathan F Rodriguez and Nilo (COL) are clear with 4.0 time.

1:16 p.m. EST: A few updates on scores, and I apologize for these if they are super late. The live scores are a tad hard to keep up with.
Juan Francisco Gallo and Remonta Nunhil (ARG) – clear with 27.6 time
Rodrigo Abella Lemme and SVR Arbitro (URU) – 20 jumping, 19.2 time

1:14 p.m. EST: Marilyn and Kitty will be in silver position overnight behind Ruy Fonseca.

1:13 p.m. EST: That’s 3-3 on double clears for Team USA! Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous come home in 8 minutes 31 seconds with no jumping penalties.

1:12 p.m. EST:

1:09 p.m. EST:

1:09 p.m. EST: Juan Larrazabal Simon and Atlanta show as eliminated.

1:07 p.m. EST: Marilyn and RF Scandalous are clear through 7. This mare has won four two-stars in 2015, no big deal.

1:06 p.m. EST:

1:05 p.m. EST: Ecuador’s Carlos Narvaez and Que Loco also double clear – they remain on a 56.8.

1:02 p.m. EST: Two more U.S. riders and one Canadian to go: Boyd Martin, Marilyn Little and Jessie Phoenix.

12:59 p.m. EST: Carlos Villarroel and Paradigma (Chile) are showing as eliminated.

12:57 p.m. EST:

12:57 p.m. EST:

12:51 p.m. EST:

12:48 p.m. EST: Mack is such a ladies man. Shown here with Lauren Billys.
Screenshot_17

12:46 p.m. EST:

12:43 p.m. EST: Working hard or hardly working?
Screenshot_16

12:42 p.m. EST: Columbian pair Anna Charlotte Brieke and Picaron picked up 40 jumping and 42.4 time. 12:41 p.m. EST: Aw, man.

12:41 p.m. EST:

12:40 p.m. EST: Screenshot_15

12:38 p.m. EST: Next on course are Canadian’s Kathryn Robinson and Let It Bee, in second on a 39.8 at the moment.

12:36 p.m. EST: Omega Alpha rider Lauren Kieffer wanted nothing more than to pose with Mack after her brilliant cross country round!
Screenshot_14

12:36 p.m. EST:

12:33 p.m. EST: Unfortunately, Stefanie and Claudius are eliminated on refusals at the Owl Hole.

12:32 p.m. EST: You may remember Stefanie for her courageous comeback from a broken collarbone after a fall at Chatt Hills earlier this year.

12:32 p.m. EST:

12:31 p.m. EST: El Salvador’s Jose Romano Hijo and Buecefalo are also showing eliminated. 12:27 p.m. EST:

Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrooks Scarlett clear and in the time #PanAmGames Posted by United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) on Saturday, July 18, 2015

12:26 p.m. EST:

12:25 p.m. EST:
Screenshot_13

12:20 p.m. EST: How’s that for clutch? Lauren Kieffer and Meadowbrook’s Scarlett mark their championship debut with a double clear! USA USA USA!

12:20 p.m. EST:

12:17 p.m. EST:

12:16 p.m. EST:

12:15 p.m. EST: Lauren and Scarlett are clear through fence 7. 12:14 p.m. EST:

12:13 p.m. EST: Ecuador’s Nicolas Wettstein and Onzieme Framoni are also home double clear! This pair scored a 60.5 for 22nd in the dressage.

12:12 p.m. EST: Go Canada!
Screenshot_12

12:06 p.m. EST: Jose Mercado and Romana, riding for Mexico, are home with 20 jumping and 6.4 time.

12:05 p.m. EST

12:04 p.m. EST:

12:02 p.m. EST Add another double clear to the pile: Brazil’s Henrique Plombon and Land Quenotte, in 17th on a 55.4 after dressage. That’s two each for Brazil and Canada and one so far for USA.

12:00 p.m. EST:

Cooling off after cross country #PanAmGames

Posted by United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) on Saturday, July 18, 2015

11:59 a.m. EST:

11:57 a.m. EST:

11:57 a.m. EST: Colleen Loach is two from home and clear so far!

11:55 a.m. EST:

11:54 a.m. EST:

11:53 a.m. EST: Uruguay’s Edison Quintana Valerio and SVR Capoeira II are home with 20 jumping and 19.2 time.

11:52 a.m. EST: Chile’s Sergio Iturriago and Versailles came home clear with 10.4 time penalties.

11:51 a.m. EST: Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue d’Argouges are clear through 8.

11:51 a.m. EST:

11:49 a.m. EST:

11:48 a.m. EST:

11:46 a.m. EST: Screenshot_11

11:43 a.m. EST That’s better!

11:40 a.m. EST: Blast! Guatemalan rider Tiziana Billy Prem and Luccio have been eliminated on refusals. Columbia’s Santiago Medina Negrete and Ritmical EJC picked up a 20 and 9.6 time penalties.

11:38 a.m. EST: The fastest trip of the day so far belongs to Carlos Parro and Caulcourt Landline with a time of 8:16.

11:37 a.m. EST:El Salvador’s Sofia Baussan Augspuer and Durango are clear with 12.4 time.

11:36 a.m. EST: Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Fugitive score shows no jumping and 72.8 time – unsure if this is correct or not. Waylon Robert’s 20 has now been removed!

11:33 a.m. EST: Phillip Dutton does that P-Dutty does and brings Fernhill Fugitive home clear. We’re also hearing there was a correction to Waylon’s score. Will confirm once it reflects.

11:32 a.m. EST:

11:31 a.m. EST: Phillip and Jack are clear through 19.

11:30 a.m. EST: Argentina’s Luciano Claudio Brunello and Erevan came home clear with 16 time.

11:30 a.m. EST:

11:28 a.m. EST: Venezuela’s Elena Ceballos Alvarez and Nounour du Moulin also came home double clear with a time of 8:32.

11:27 a.m. EST: Phillip and Jack are clear through 8. This pair is in 8th on 48.4 after dressage.

11:26 a.m. EST:

11:25 a.m. EST: Live scores now show 20 jumping penalties for Waylon Roberts and Bill Owen. Bummer! They’ll go forward with a total score of 85.10.

11:24 a.m. EST: Now we are hearing that Waylon had a 20, but unconfirmed as to where. Live scores still showing no penalties.

11:21 a.m. EST:

11:20 a.m. EST: The first Brazillian pair on course, Carlos Parro and Caulcourt Landline are clear and four from home. They were in seventh after dressage on a score of 45.6.

11:19 a.m. EST: Lots of spectators have gathered to watch the action.

Via EN's Instagram.

Via EN’s Instagram.

11:18 a.m. EST: Waylon Roberts and Bill Owen are home clear and within the time, provisionally. Live scores are showing a time of 8 minutes 26 seconds.

11:16 a.m. EST: Chile’s Guillermo Garin and Ubago came home with 20 jumping and 26.4 time. This pair scored a 65.7 in the dressage.

11:15 a.m. EST: Waylon is now clear through 17 and looking strong.

11:14 a.m. EST: Waylon Roberts and Bill Owen are now clear through 11.

11:12 a.m. EST:

11:11 a.m. EST:

11:08 a.m. EST: Waylon Roberts and Bill Owen, the first Canadian pair, are on course and clear through four. This pair is on a 65.1 in 33rd individually for silver placed Canada.

11:06 a.m. EST: Trailblazers Juan Carlos Tafur and Quinto are on course and receiving big cheers as they clear the first water. This pair represents Columbia and are currently in 26th place individually on a 61.6.

11:01 a.m. EST: Mack, Chinch’s All-American cousin, is ready for the start! Follow EN on Instagram for more! Screenshot_9

10:58 a.m. EST: Here is the course map for the cross country:

Pan American Games Dressage Photo Gallery

By on Jul 18, 2015 10:22 am -
Photo by Cindy Lawler. Photo by Cindy Lawler.

Eventing dressage concluded yesterday afternoon with Brazil’s Ruy Fonseca atop the standings and Team USA in gold medal position. We’re getting set to kick off the cross country action at 11 a.m. EST, so we’ll have plenty of updates coming your way shortly.

In the meantime, Cindy Lawler is on the grounds at Caledon this weekend and has generously allowed us to share her photos from yesterday. Keep an eye out for more photos from Cindy as the weekend progresses.

Go Pan Ams!

Preview the NAJYRC Cross Country with MyCourseWalk

By on Jul 18, 2015 7:38 am -

More torrential rain blanketed Lexington overnight, and while the weather is calling for mostly clear skies today, it’s going to be a hot one. Samantha Clark is on the ground for cross country day at NAJYRC, and she’ll be bringing us updates on EN’s Twitter, @eventingnation, as well as on EN’s Instagram.

Due to the heavy rain overnight, the fences at the Head of the Lake for both divisions have been removed from the course. 

Fence 14C, the last element of the sunken road, has also been removed from the CH-J* course. Time and distance has also been adjusted. 

Cross country will begin at 8 a.m. EST, and we have course previews for both the CCIYR2* and the CH-J1*. Many thanks to MyCourseWalk.com for providing these course previews. Simply click each image to view the course walk for each division.

CCIYR2*:

Screenshot (8)

Click image to view course walk.

CH-J*:

Click image to view course walk.

Click image to view course walk.

Wishing everyone safe and clear rides today! We’ll be back later on with a full report on the action.

NAJYRC: Website, Schedule,Instagram, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, @samanthalclark

Friday Pan Ams and NAJYRC Social Wrap: Dressage Skillz

By on Jul 17, 2015 7:21 pm -

It seems only fitting to start our dressage day social media recap off with what every rider certainly listened to before they hopped on their horse today:

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s take a moment and congratulate all of the Pan American Games and NAJYRC riders on some really lovely dressage today! Team USA is atop the standings in Toronto, and it’s all Area II who leads the way in the CH-J* in Kentucky. Both the CCIYR2* and the CH-J* will run cross country beginning at 8 a.m. tomorrow and the Toronto horses will set out at 11 a.m.

We also must, once again, wish Jenni Autry a wonderful birthday as she closes up her laptop (who are we kidding, though, she’ll still be attached to her phone) to go and celebrate after a hard day’s work in Toronto:

Screenshot_2

Team USA had plenty of support for their top-notch performances today. We couldn’t be more pleased with the standings after dressage, and it certainly always helps to have the encouragement of all of their friends, fans and other supporters.

Screenshot_4 But we can’t forget the great performances from the other nations as well — this will definitely be a hard fought battle to the very end!

Friend of EN Carolyn Drover landed the gig of a lifetime this weekend, grooming for Ecuador’s Ronald Zabala Goestschel:

Screenshot_3

Down in Kentucky, it was once again a day of professional riding from some of the younger competitors in the sport. You wouldn’t know it watching them ride and cheer on their teammates, though!

Best idea ever? Morgan Booth painted her nails with two gold nails, just in case she gets to throw up the gold with an Area II win!

Photo via EN's Instagram.

Photo via EN’s Instagram.

Meanwhile, Meg Kep engaged in some friendly smack talk with Boyd Martin:

Screenshot_6

We think Chinch has his celebrity crush selected for the weekend: Madison Temkin and Kingslee!

Photo via EN's Instagram.

Photo via EN’s Instagram.

Back in the barns, it’s never a bad time to take a selfie with your whole team, as Area III demonstrates:

Photo via Diane Portwood on Facebook

Photo via Diane Portwood on Facebook

Best of luck to all competitors as they take on cross country tomorrow! Stay tuned for much more from your Pan Ams and NAJYRC headquarters.

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: NAJYRC #FlashbackFriday

By on Jul 17, 2015 3:00 pm -

We dug up this video from past years of the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships, and with cross country looming tomorrow it’s enough to get us excited for both Toronto and NAJYRC!

We’ve been searching high and low for any news of streaming from NAJYRC, but unfortunately it looks like there will not be any video service for the eventing. You can catch some live streaming of the dressage, para-dressage and show jumping tomorrow here on USEF Network.

In the meantime, both RNS Video as well as The Horse Pesterer are busily taking video from the weekend, so we’ll have much more coming your way from the eventing competition.

Go NAJYRC!

 

Thursday Pan Am and NAJYRC Social Wrap: Getting the Party Started

By on Jul 16, 2015 6:35 pm -

It’s go time, EN! The eventing portion of the Pan American Games in Toronto kicked off with the First Horse Inspection this afternoon, while the CCIYR2* riders rode their dressage tests at NAJYRC down in Lexington.

It’s a very busy weekend for eventers, but luckily they’re keeping us all up to date with the happenings on social media.

Screenshot_16

Boyd Martin and his social ways are still at it, and it’s only day two! He took the opportunity to make friends with some members of Team Chili after the jogs today.

All the USA horses flew through the jog today thanks to all the great work from our grooms and team! They looked super.

Posted by USEF Eventing High Performance on Thursday, July 16, 2015

Team USA looked fantastic on the runway jog strip today, thanks to the hard work of the grooms who have been tirelessly working to keep their charges in top form.

We can’t forget to thank all of the volunteers who are ready to tackle a busy weekend! ">Screenshot_17 Canadian reserves Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High successfully passed the jog, and they’ll be cheering on their teammates now as the remainder of Team Canada also passed the jog. Don’t count this pair out for a future spot on the team, however! Screenshot_20 We are loving the bright yellow from Team Ecuador! Meanwhile in Kentucky, the CH-J* riders spent their days cheering on their 2* peers and preparing for their dressage tests tomorrow.

Pretty cool view for the day! There was a lot of dressage to behold today with both the eventing and the team dressage taking place.

Screenshot_18

The CH-J* riders also were able to hack about and familiarize their horses with the ever grand Rolex stadium this afternoon — how’s that for a big atmosphere? Just preppin’ for the big R, ya’ll.

Screenshot_19

Meanwhile, in honor of #ThrowbackThursday, check out these sweet jog outfits circa 2006 for Area II — thanks for the laugh, Ashley!

Stay tuned for much more coming your way from your #PanAms and #NAJYRC2015 headquarters!

2015 Rebecca Broussard Travel Grant Recipients Announced

By on Jul 16, 2015 9:00 am -
Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Jenni Autry. Jordan Linstedt and Revitavet Capato. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The Rebecca Broussard Travel Grant recipients were announced yesterday, enabling several riders to complete the trip to Montana to offset some cost of competing  at Rebecca Farm next week.

[UPDATE]: The USEA has released an updated list as of today of the riders who have been awarded Rebecca Broussard Travel Grants:

Andrea Baxter
Anna Collier
Anni Grandia
Avery Klunick
Barbara Crabo
Bunnie Sexton
Ellen Doughty
Emily Pestl-Dimmitt
Heather Morris
Jacob Fletcher
Jennifer McFall
Jonathan Holling
Jordan Linstedt
Julie Norman
Sydney Elliot
Tamra Smith

Riders must meet certain qualifications to be eligible for this generous grant, which also aids developing riders in traveling internationally to compete. The riders who apply for these grants must not have represented the U.S. in CCIO3* or CCI4* competition in the past.

The Rebecca Broussard Grant was created in honor of Rebecca Chaney Broussard. Rebecca generously supported the sport of eventing throughout her life, and The Event at Rebecca Farm was the achievement of a dream of Rebecca’s and is now one of the most popular events on the calendar.

Congratulations to all riders who have received the Rebecca Broussard Travel Grants — we look forward to seeing you at Rebecca Farm!

Wednesday Pan Ams and NAJYRC Social Wrap: Calm Before the Storm

By on Jul 15, 2015 5:00 pm -

It’s a bustling weekend for eventers in North America this weekend as horses and riders prepare for both the Pan American Games and the FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championships.

The Pan Am eventers are gearing up for the First Horse Inspection, which has been moved from the originally scheduled time of 10 a.m. EST to 3 p.m. EST tomorrow. NAJYRC riders had their First Horse Inspection today and will begin their dressage rides tomorrow.

The NAJYRC jog completed around 3:30 p.m. EST, and we’ll have a full report from the day’s activity from Samantha Clark coming your way shortly.

Screenshot_8

Screenshot_9

Last night, the NAJYRC competitors had their opening ceremony, and naturally the eventers brought the party — or is it just Area II coordinator Meg Kep and coach Sinead Halpin? That remains to be decided…

Our good friend, The Horse Pesterer, is at Kentucky Horse Park and has already uploaded videos from each area’s opening ceremony — thank you, David! We applaud you. You can check out the full playlist here.

We also have to give a big shout-out to Samantha’s daughter, Lily, who has been uploading photos left and right to EN’s Instagram. Be sure to follow us here for more behind the scenes action.

Meanwhile, FEI Steward Bill Kraatz is definitely not Chinch’s biggest fan, but we have a feeling we’ll convert him before too long. Watch out, Bill!

Tsk tsk, Bill. Photo via EN's Instagram.

Tsk tsk, Bill. Photo via EN’s Instagram.

In other news, Chinch’s badass, All-American cousin, Mack, has just landed in Toronto and is already rubbing elbows with Pan Am athletes.

Mack is ready to represent Team 'Murica all the way. Photo via EN's Instagram.

Mack is ready to represent Team ‘Murica all the way. Photo via EN’s Instagram.

What can we say, he’s kind of a big deal. Just don’t tell Chinch while he’s off rubbing furry elbows in Kentucky.

EN Insta

All is relatively quiet in Team USA’s barns as the Pan Ams team settles their horses in and prepares for the first trot-up tomorrow.

A quiet day for Team USA before we get rolling with the horse inspection tomorrow

Posted by USEF Eventing High Performance on Wednesday, July 15, 2015

The horses still got out to stretch their legs today, though, and look to be taking in the sights quite well, as we expected!

Some scenes from Tuesday at TORONTO 2015 with the Land Rover U.S. eventing team.

Posted by USEF Eventing High Performance on Tuesday, July 14, 2015

We’ll have much more coming your way as both competitions begin in earnest. We can’t wait to get this party started! Go Eventing.

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Barbury Rewind

By on Jul 15, 2015 3:00 pm -

Barbury International was nothing short of thrilling this past weekend, with Andrew Nicholson and Avebury clinching their fourth consecutive win in the CIC3*. In case you missed the awesome live stream from our friends at EquiVideo TV, you can check out some highlights in this video — and we spy some awesome drone footage!

Not only is the event picturesque in itself, but we also witnessed some top-notch riding from world class riders. What say you, Andrew? Shall we go for a fifth win in 2016?

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