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Sally Spickard
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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

Friday News & Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips

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

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

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

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

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

U.S. Weekend Preview:

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

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

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

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

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

Encore H.T.  [Website] [Ride Times]

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

Friday News:

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

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

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

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

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

Friday Video:

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

Weekly OTTB Wishlist from Cosequin

By on Jun 25, 2015 5:00 pm -

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

Photo via After the Races.

Photo via After the Races.

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

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

Medford Blue on After the Races

Photo used with permission from CANTER Illinois.

Photo used with permission from CANTER Illinois.

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

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

Slew Slam on CANTER Illinois

Photo via Finger Lakes Finest.

Photo via Finger Lakes Finest.

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

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

Smokin Racer on Finger Lakes Finest

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

By on Jun 24, 2015 5:00 pm -

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

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

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

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

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

Barbury International: [Website] [Entries]

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Helpful Hands: Managing Sport Horses Through Bodywork

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By on Jun 23, 2015 5:00 pm -

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

Posted by Equestrian Australia on Tuesday, June 23, 2015

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

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

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

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Nana Dalton’s Uwald Euthanized After Bramham Injury

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

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

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

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

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

Nana and Ollie at Bramham. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Nana and Ollie at Bramham. Photo by Samantha Clark.

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

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

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

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

Rest peacefully, Ollie.

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

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

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

The rankings of the alternates are as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We’ll see you in Toronto!

[USEF Names Ranked Alternates for Pan Ams]

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

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

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

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

Photo courtesy of Eric Bull.

Photo courtesy of Eric Bull.

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

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

Photo courtesy of Eric Bull.

Photo courtesy of Eric Bull.

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

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

Photo courtesy of Eric Bull.

Photo courtesy of Eric Bull.

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

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

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

Meet Your 2015 Blogger Contest Finalists

By on Jun 22, 2015 1:00 pm -

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

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

Ash Hayworth

Photo by Cheryl Stephens.

Photo by Cheryl Stephens.

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

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

Round 1 Entry

Seija Samoylenko

Seija

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

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

Round 1 Entry

David Taylor

David taylor 2

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

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

Round 1 Entry

Great Meadow CIC3* and Pan Am Prep in Photos

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

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

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

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

Go #LandRoverGMI. Go Eventing.

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

Fab Freebie: MOJO Future Tech Wristband and Halter Band

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Weekly Training Tip from Kate Chadderton: Wrapping

By on Jun 21, 2015 1:30 pm -

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

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

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

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

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

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

Schooling

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

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

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

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

Standing Wraps

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted by Eventing NZ on Saturday, June 20, 2015

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

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

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

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

girls gif

girls 2 gif

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

Screenshot (63)

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

ingrid sj

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

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

jonelle sj

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

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

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

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

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

clark sj

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

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

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

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

rebecca sj

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

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

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

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

dirk

5:43 a.m. EST: Today’s theme song:

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

ludwig

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

willa

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

tim price

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

blyth still

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

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

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

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

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

Screenshot (62)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Screenshot (61)

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

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

michael 3

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

6:40 a.m. EST:

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

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

dibo

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

6:27 a.m. EST:

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

6:22 a.m. EST:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

clark

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

6:07 a.m. EST:

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

mark

5:57 a.m. EST:

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

5:55 a.m. EST:

5:49 a.m. EST:

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

5:45 a.m. EST:

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

andrew

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

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

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

5:37 a.m. EST:

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

rebecca 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

5:17 a.m. EST:

5:16 a.m. EST:

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

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

5:12 a.m. EST:

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

jonelle 2

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

Screenshot (60)

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

Screenshot (59)

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

5:02 a.m. EST:

5:00 a.m. EST:

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

4:48 a.m. EST:

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

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

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

Screenshot (58)

4:40 a.m. EST:

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

11

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

4:35 a.m. EST:

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

fraser

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

4:30 a.m. EST:

4:26 a.m. EST:

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

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

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

4:14 a.m. EST:

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

julien d

4:12 a.m. EST:

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

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

Screenshot (58)

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

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

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

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

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

michael

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

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

Screenshot (57)

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Mark Todd and Blyth Tait Head to Head

By on Jun 19, 2015 2:00 pm -

Mark Todd and Blyth Tait are in attendance this year at Luhmühlen, and they sat down in a candid head to head to reminsce about years past when they competed (and won!) at this popular German three-day.

Both Mark and Blyth have previously won at Luhmühlen, although as they say, things have changed since then! They fondly recall a great beer tent — obviously a key component of any event’s hospitality — and other things from years past.

The two eventing legends chat about everything from the dressage scoring this weekend to what they would have done had it not been eventing — Blyth admits he would have been a jockey, if not only to avoid the dressage!

You won’t want to miss any of this video; there are plenty of gems, both funny and sage, to be found. Enjoy, and happy Friday!

 

Tryon Equestrian Center, Colorado Horse Park to Host American Eventing Championships

By on Jun 18, 2015 9:10 pm -

After a much anticipated wait, the USEA has announced Tryon International Equestrian Center in Tryon, North Carolina and Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado as the new host sites for the American Eventing Championships. These parks will play host for a three-year term with Tryon hosting the 2016 competition in late summer.

Colorado Horse Park will host the AECs during one of the three years — the host site for 2017 and 2018 have yet to be named between the two venues. Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Texas has played host to the AECs for the past three years, with 2015 being the last year of the current term.

Since its grand opening, Tryon International Equestrian Center has hosted multiple equestrian competitions, including Grand Prix show jumping, and offers 10 rings with all-weather footing, 850 permanent stalls, cross country from Beginner Novice to Advanced, and a vast array of amenities for competitors.

“We are thrilled and honored to be chosen as the site of the AEC,” said managing partner of Tryon Equestrian Partners, Mark Bellissimo in a USEA release. “When we built TIEC, we envisioned bringing championships and major events for multiple disciplines to Tryon, and we are excited to host the sport of Eventing. The Colorado Horse Park has a history of running fantastic Eventing competitions, and hosting the AEC there will be a great way for more eventers to experience top sport in Colorado.”

Colorado Horse Park, also well-received by eventers who frequently make the trip, features 13 rings, 300 permanent stalls in addition to ample temporary stabling space, and a cross country course designed by David O’Connor. Both venues seem well equipped to handle the “festival of Eventing” envisioned by the USEA and organizers of the American Eventing Championships.

To read more information about this announcement, click here to visit the USEA. Stay tuned for more updates on the new sites of the American Eventing Championships as they become available.

Go Eventing.

[USEA Selects Tryon International Equestrian Center and the Colorado Horse Park for American Eventing Championships]

 

Land Rover Great Meadow International CIC3* Cross Country Preview

By on Jun 18, 2015 4:06 pm -

Thanks to the wonderful organizers at the Land Rover Great Meadow International and MyCourseWalk , we’ve got our first look at Mike Etherington-Smith’s cross country course. Riders will contest the course on Sunday, with dressage on Friday and show jumping Saturday.

It’s promising to be a great weekend at North America’s newest CIC3*, and it’ll also be an opportunity to see Pan Am contenders from many nations getting in their last preparations.

Stay tuned for much more from Jenni as she is on the ground at Great Meadows this weekend. Go Eventing.

Great Meadow International: [Website] [Ride Times]

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Luhmühlen Drone Flyover

By on Jun 17, 2015 5:00 pm -

Happy Luhmühlen week, EN! The CCI4* officially kicked off today with the First Horse Inspection, the report for which you can check out here. We’re eagerly anticipating this weekend’s action, what with Great Meadow and many other events stateside and Luhmühlen in Germany — dare we say we’ve gotten to eventing heaven?

We’ll have live coverage coming your way from both Great Meadow and Luhmühlen this week, so stay tuned for much, much more. In the meantime, get an early preview of the Luhmühlen cross country course with this drone’s eye view video.

Luhmühlen: [Website] [Entry List] [Schedule]

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Announcing the 5th Annual EN Blogger Contest Final Three

By on Jun 17, 2015 1:00 pm -

We’re feeling very lucky to have so much quality and talent to sift through as we move forward to the final round of our Blogger Contest. Once again, we received some really great submissions from our Round 1 finalists, and we spent a lot of time debating the finalists that will move on to the final round.

Please join us in congratulating this year’s Blogger Contest Final Three!

Ash Hayworth [Round 1 Entry]

Seija Samoylenko [Round 1 Entry]

David Taylor [Round 1 Entry]

We’ll be posting their Round Two submissions on Bloggers Row in the coming days. In the meantime, they’ll be hard at work on our final prompt for this year’s contest, the one that will crown EN’s next blogger/chinchilla cage cleaner extraordinaire.

Final prompt, due on Wednesday, June 24 at 8 p.m. EST:

You’ve seen EN’s popular #EventerProblems series. Now we want to hear your problems. Write a post with at least three #EventerProblems and provide supporting visuals (photos, videos, memes, GIFs, etc.) for each one. Please be sure you have permission to use any photos and properly credit any photos used in your articles.

Good luck to all of our finalists and, as always, thank you for your continuing support of Eventing Nation.

How to Binge Watch Great Meadow and Luhmühlen This Weekend

By on Jun 17, 2015 9:00 am -
Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice at Great Meadow. Photo by Jenni Autry. Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice at Great Meadow. Photo by Jenni Autry.

An action packed weekend is on tap for you this weekend, with both the Luhmühlen CCI4* as well as Great Meadow International running this weekend. If you’re not able to attend one of these events this weekend, you’re in luck because both events will be streamed live.

Land Rover Great Meadow International

The USEF Network will be streaming the action from the Land Rover Great Meadow International beginning with the dressage on Friday. Both the CIC3* as well as the Pan American Prep division will be included on the live stream. The streaming schedule is as follows and can be found here.

Friday, June 19
4-9 p.m. ET: Dressage 

Saturday, June 20
6:30-9:10 p.m. ET: Show Jumping

Sunday, June 21
9:30 a.m. ET: Cross Country 

Jenni will be our eyes on the ground this weekend, so stay tuned for much, much more from #LandRoverGMI.

#LandRoverGMI Links: Website, Entries, Schedule, Tickets, Volunteers, Sponsors, USEF Network

Tim Price and Wesko. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Tim Price and Wesko. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Luhmühlen

Wylie has donned her globetrotting pants, as she turned right around from Bromont and headed to Germany to cover Luhmühlen for us. Don’t lie, Wylie, you just wanted to check out that Biergarden. We can’t blame you.

The CCI4* at Luhmühlen begins with the First Horse Inspection today at 5 p.m. local time/11 a.m. EST. Dressage will run on Thursday and Friday, followed by cross country on Saturday and show jumping Sunday.

If you are a subscriber, you can take advantage of FEI TV’s live stream of the cross country and show jumping by clicking here. The schedule, for all you night owls or very early risers, is as follows:

Saturday, June 20

3:20 a.m. ET: Cross Country

Sunday, June 21

4:20 a.m. ET: Show Jumping

We’ll also have live reports coming in straight from Germany, so keep it locked here all weekend for as much eventing coverage as you can possibly handle.

Luhmühlen: [Website] [Entry List] [Schedule]

Tuesday Video from SpectraVET: Relive Kings Temptress Winning Rolex

By on Jun 16, 2015 3:30 pm -

Witnessing Mary King take home first and second at Rolex in 2011 was a privilege. That was a banner year for Mary, who won Rolex with Kings Temptress and placed second with Fernhill Urco. She announced yesterday that she is retiring Kings Temptress after many years of upper level competition, so we thought we’d take a look back at the Rolex we will all remember for a long time.

Mary and “Tess” earned a 47.7 in the dressage and initially was placed below Fernhill Urco, who earned a 41.7. Mary ultimately went double clear on cross country with Tess, and they were one of just two pairs to end the weekend on their dressage score (Jessica Phoenix and Exponential were the other pair).

We continue to wish Tess the happiest of retirements.

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A Horse of a Different Color: Shakespeare In Love

By on Jun 16, 2015 1:30 pm -

"A Horse of a Different Color" features horses and ponies that have been successful in the sport of eventing while representing a unique breed. Do you have a horse that you think would be a great feature subject? If so, email [email protected].

Shakespeare In Love demonstrates his versatility. Photos courtesy of Jane L. King and JJ Sillman.

Shakespeare In Love demonstrates his versatility. Photos courtesy of Jane L. King and JJ Sillman.

Often times, we see a horse who struggles in its first career, whether it be racing, western pleasure, or driving. From there, the horse switches paths and finds its niche in the sport of eventing. Suddenly, a horse who previously showed little to no talent or success was an exciting event horse.

This was not the case with Karen Thompson’s Shakespeare In Love, a 16-year-old American Saddlebred gelding. “Will” is a horse of many talents, and he’s got a collection of ribbons to show it.

“He came to me as a 5-year-old as a sale horse,” Karen said. “I showed him in the saddleseat world for the owners at the time. I showed him under saddle and as a fine harness horse. From 2004 to 2006, I showed him under saddle, and then we spent three years under harness as a pleasure driving horse.”

Eventually, Karen decided to keep Will, and they’re now in their 11th season competing together, having taken just one year away from the show ring.

Karen and Will competing at the 2008 World’s Championship Horse Show, Louisville, KY — Country Pleasure Driving division. Photo courtesy of Doug Shiflet.

Karen and Will competing at the 2008 World’s Championship Horse Show, Louisville, KY — Country Pleasure Driving division. Photo courtesy of Doug Shiflet.

A natural show-off, Will collected many top placings and ribbons in competitions such as the Saddlebred Breed Horse Show during the Kentucky State Fair. Karen noticed that he took to driving more, given his personality and overall difficulty to ride, and she thinks he was more successful in the driving ring.

In 2010, Karen took the season off from competing, wanting to focus her energy elsewhere for a period of time. “I thought we would give Will some time off and maybe pleasure ride him, but that didn’t work out very well for him,” she recalled. “He was 11 and really fit, so it was hard for him not to work.”

Karen returned to competition with Will, focusing on hunter pleasure for the following years. “At the time, my goal was to go to the national hunter pleasure show, but we needed to be able to jump just a single fence in those classes. It’s kind of silly from a sporthorse perspective, but we needed to learn.”

This goal brought Karen to the doors of Go Big Eventing, Erin Pullen’s barn in Shelbyville, Ky. “My friend recommended Erin to me, and so I asked her if she could teach us how to jump one jump. She looked and me and said ‘Why just stop at one?'”

Famous last words. Karen first began working with Erin two years ago, and she hasn’t looked back since. Karen discovered that her Saddlebred loved to jump. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” she said. “I never got to that hunter national championship because I felt like we needed to focus on this. He really liked to drive, but if you were to ask him what he preferred to do all day, he would say cross country.”

As fun as this journey has been, there has been plenty of hard work involved to get to this point. “It was a lot of retraining,” Karen said. “I had never studied dressage before, but I was surprised to see how similar saddleseat and dressage are. Will was already familiar with a lot of the bending and lateral work, but it’s been learning to relax that has been the biggest struggle.”

Photo courtesy of JJ Sillman.

Photo courtesy of JJ Sillman.

In the saddleseat and driving ring, judges look for that fiery, flashy presence — clearly not the ideal for a dressage judge. “To teach him that he didn’t need to go into the ring and immediately prick his ears and snort has been challenging,” Karen said. “That was the biggest transition, and it’s not so much of a physical change as it is a mental change.”

Karen and Will continued to improve, though, and they’ve now completed four events at Beginner Novice, even adding one win in for grins. Karen notices Will beginning to embrace the relaxation that is involved with the dressage tests, and he has taken to jumping like a fish in water.

“He’s got an incredible work ethic, and he’s so smart, which is why I think he’s been successful in so many different areas,” Karen said.

As with many Saddlebred owners, Karen has had to work with conformation that is different from a horse that is more bred for sport. “Naturally, he’s more comfortable carrying his head higher than it should be,” she explained. “I think the upright neck carriage and shoulder makes it difficult for the horse to raise its back up, but we’re working on it and with the relaxation comes a better way of going.”

Karen and Will most recently moved up to Novice at IEA, placing 13th. Karen plans to let her horse tell her what he’s ready to do, although she feels Training level is not out of his reach. “I just want to be mindful of him,” she said. “I know that whatever I ask, he will give to me, so I need to be mindful of what is best for him. But for now, we’re just taking it one day at a time.”

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: This Kid and Her Pony Are Awesome

By on Jun 15, 2015 1:00 pm -

Maja Marchwicka i JARY zwycięzcami finału grupy A1, HPP-B DiM – Leszno 2015. Poniżej zwycięski przejazd z rozgrywki.

Posted by Świat Koni on Sunday, April 12, 2015

What’s cuter than a little girl and her pony? Better yet, what’s cuter than a little girl who can ride the snot out of a tricky jumper course on her game little pony?

That’s exactly what you’ll see in this video of Polish rider May Marchwicka and her pony, Jary. Yes, this gutsy pair won their class, in case you had any doubt.

We think May could give some valuable tips on shaving seconds off the clock. Hats off to you, May! Way to show everyone how it’s done.