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.
Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro. Photo courtesy of FEI / Arnd Bronkhorst / Pool Pic.
The BT Sport Action Woman of the Year nominations are out, and dressage darling Charlotte Dujardin is one of 10 finalists for the year end award. Eventing great Lucinda Green will also be honored at the awards ceremony, and she’s jumped aboard the Valegro wagon as the public vote draws near.
The national television show in the UK is hosted by Claire Balding and will broadcast the results of a public vote for the Action Woman of the Year, among others. The nomination for this award carries significance for Charlotte, who said that “it is also great for the sport we love to be recognised in the mainstream … This would open up channels for investment which would be great for the next generation and this is so important to me.”
Lucinda Green has voiced her support of Charlotte and all of her and Valegro’s achievements, saying “Charlotte has that feel through her bones and being of how to bring out in a horse when she’s riding him what he can naturally do when free in a field. She can give a horse the balance, confidence, trust and understanding, gradually over the years, to be able to perform these different movements exactly on request.”
Host Claire Balding is also thrilled to have equestrian sport represented in this year’s awards. “Just three years ago, when I was asked what the ‘dark horse’ of London 2012 would be, I said ‘dressage’. The men on the panel all laughed,” she said in a British Eventing release.
The BT Sport Awards will air on December 10 for all of the UK readers. Voting is live now, and you can vote for Charlotte by clicking here.
Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping… especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? As an enthusiast of all products equine, I LOVE trying out new gear. Which is why I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to try out products, so that I may share my many adventures with all of you! Please join me as I narrate my personal journey of trying out all of the products featured. While I will make no recommendations, I hope that you simply have fun and find entertainment while reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences might help give you factors to consider when you are on your own quest for new gear!
Photo by Sally Spickard.
The search for the perfect half-pad is always a frustrating one. With so many options on varying price points, boasting different benefits, it’s quite easy to get overwhelmed with the options. All we want is for our saddle to fit our horses correctly so that they can comfortably do their job. Not asking anything unreasonable, right?
I spent much of my life in hunter/jumper land, where Beval pads (which are now being replaced by Ogilvy) reign supreme. I held onto that dang Beval pad for years, even though I came to realize it was doing nothing for saddle fit, especially when it came to riding multiple horses. So in the interest of education and finding something new, I began looking for a new half pad.
Enter the Total Saddle Fit Six Point Sheepskin Half Pad. This half-pad is advertised to have the ultimate comfort and protection for your horse’s back and comes with six shim pads that can be inserted as needed. There are three pockets on either side of the spine in which you can insert the shims.
Photo by Sally Spickard.
Common saddle fit troubles come in several forms: rocking/bouncing, bridging, lateral shifting, twisting, and low behind or in front. The shims pockets are placed strategically to allow the rider to use their discretion on what problem needs to be fixed.
The first thing I noticed about the pad upon unboxing is how stylish and low profile it is, while still promising plenty of cushion with its thickness. I ride multiple horses throughout the week between my lesson program and my own horse. I was excited to see how I could improve my saddle fit on each horse, and was pleased to find that it was easy to insert or take out shims as needed to achieve that nearly custom saddle fit that we all crave.
During my rides, I noticed that the pad offered a lot of support, even with paired with two different saddles and various saddle pads. I used it underneath a close contact, a monoflap close contact, and a dressage saddle with no trouble with fit or displacement.
Photo by Sally Spickard.
On a horse ridden in lessons, I used a shim pad on either side in the middle pockets to help alleviate some minor bridging. The shims are thin enough to not be obstructive, but thick enough to create enough of a difference to where I felt the saddle fit more correctly.
When used without shims, as I did on the horse I was leasing, the pad still fit correctly and did not interfere with an already secure saddle fit. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel that as long as a half-pad does not make the saddle fit differently, even if the saddle fits right without it I feel that the extra cushion still helps with comfort. I was pleased to find that the Total Saddle Fit pad worked well with both a well-fitted saddle and in situations where some extra help was needed.
Versatility is always important when it comes to riding multiple horses. Nothing is more frustrating that having to have different tack combinations that work for each horse. In the interest of efficiency, I was quite happy to find that the Total Saddle Fit pad met all of my needs with very little extra work on my part.
Photo by Sally Spickard.
This pad is fancy enough to use for competition and versatile enough to use every day. I’ll most likely be purchasing another to save for competitions, as I’ve found a pad that works in every scenario for me. Ensuring my horse’s comfort and ability to work is paramount for me, and this pad helps me achieve those goals.
Total Saddle Fit offers a 110% money back guarantee with their products, so you can try this half-pad without risk. You can view more information on fitting your pad in this handy video:
Go Saddle Fitting. Go Fancy Half Pads. Go Eventing!
Our readers loved our last Texts From My Horse post that you began sharing your own creativity in text conversation format. We’re so glad we can unite in this crazy world that is having full conversations with our horses. Don’t forget, you can send your text conversations to [email protected] for a chance to be EN-famous!
First up from CANTER PA’s Sue Smith:
Screenshot via Sue Smith.
Shannon Brown’s horse evidently just views her to be a walking feed bag:
Screenshot via Shannon Brown.
And finally this week, Keith Robertson has a horse who must be the origin of all ideas:
As we all begin to migrate indoors for our training through the winter, here’s a great video from British Eventing with tips on recreating cross country questions using poles at home.
Many of these exercises can be made using ground poles or actual jumps, making it easier to practice indoors and spice up your winter training routine. Keeping the questions to poles or smaller jumps also reduces the amount of wear and tear on your horse, which is always a big benefit.
What are some of your favorite exercises to use indoors? Collaborate in the comments to get some fresh new ideas!
Queen Elizabeth II receives her award from Princess Haya. Photo courtesy of Anthony Devlin/PA Wire.
As a longtime supporter of equestrian sport, it comes as no surprise that Queen Elizabeth II has received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the FEI. Princess Haya presented the award at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, and the story has since picked up quite a bit of mainstream attention.
The Queen has been involved in many equine industries, from racing to the mounted police. She’s heavily involved in the Thoroughbred industry as a breeder and has enjoyed great success with the horses she has bred.
And, of course, horses run in the family as well, with Her Majesty’s granddaughter, Zara Phillips, rising to eventing stardom, representing Great Britain on the international and Olympic stage. The Queen’s daughter Princess Anne also achieved international success in eventing as the first member of the British Royal Family to compete at the Olympic level.
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is a lifelong lover of horses who has inspired millions around the world, and I am honored to be able to present the first-ever FEI Lifetime Achievement award to Her Majesty on behalf of the FEI today,” Princess Haya said after the presentation.
“She is a true horsewoman, who still rides whenever State business allows, and her knowledge of breeding and bloodlines is incredible. The bond between The Queen and horses is truly extraordinary, and I can’t think of anyone more fitting to receive this very special FEI award in the Year of the Horse. I am very proud to be giving this award on behalf of the FEI family.”
Last year, BBC’s Margaret Rhoades interviewed The Queen for the documentary The Queen: A Passion for Horses, saying, “when she became Queen, she had to sacrifice an awful lot of emotions and thoughts of the future, but with horses it’s another world in that it reduces you to just the person in relation to the animal, and you’re not a Queen, you’re just a human being.”
Check out the gallery below of photos that tell the story of the Queen’s relationship with horses.
Queen Elizabeth II attracts the attention of Ed, a two month old Irish Draught colt foal, shown by Katherine Montgomery from Augher, County Tyrone at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Show, Balmoral on the final day of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee visit to Northern Ireland. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II braves the adverse weather conditions as she presents rosettes to the Services Team Jumping contestants at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images.
The Queen taking the salute as the Scots Guards marched past at Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony on the Horse Guards Parade marking her official birthday. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images.
The Princesses enjoyed an off-duty break from the royal tour of South Africa when they went riding on the golden sands of Bonza Beach, East London, Princess Elizabeth (centre) is riding Yvonne Hayhoe’s ‘Jill” while Princess Margaret rides ‘Treasure’ owned by Pat O’Reilly of East London, who is seen escorting the Princesses. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images.
Princess Anne helps her mother Queen Elizabeth adjust the bridle of the pony ‘Greensleeves’ in the grounds of Balmoral on their summer holidays. Photo courtesy of S&G Barratts/EMPICS Archive.
Queen Elizabeth II and her son, the Prince of Wales, out riding at Windsor Castle. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images.
Queen Elizabeth II on Burmese during the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London. On the left is the Duke of Edinburgh. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Image.
A ‘well done’ pat for Doublet as the Queen congratulates Princess Anne and her mount after they had taken fifth place in the Badminton Horse Trials. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images.
U.S. President Ronald Reagan goes riding in Windsor Home Park while staying as a guest of the Queen. Photo courtesy of PA Archive/Press Association Images.
OTTBs are among the most prominently represented breed in the eventing world. Each day, hundreds of ex-racehorses find themselves at the end of their racing career and in need of a new home. Luckily, organizations such as CANTER, New Vocations, Recycled Racehorses, and many more are always on alert for new horses that are ready for second careers. Each week, we'll be bringing you a few OTTB ads that caught our eye. Keep an eye out here for your next eventing superstar!
Christmas is edging closer and closer — do you have an OTTB on your wishlist yet? If you don’t, then this week’s selections are sure to change that quickly! Check out our favorite OTTBs currently available for adoption below.
Photo courtesy of MMSC.
Our first featured OTTB this week is available for adoption through the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center in Lexington. This is a great program that does a thorough job of getting to know each horse before putting them up for adoption. These horses are also put into training, ensuring that new horse has some training after coming off the track.
Jazz Fest (Smart Strike – Miss Shop, by Deputy Minister) is a 16-hand, 2010 model who raced just once in 2013. He’s described as level headed and bold all at once, definitely a great start to be an eventer!
Visit the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center here to visit Jazz Fest’s listing.
Photo courtesy of New Vocations.
Alright, this photo did us in. You have to admit, seeing a horse standing wrapped in Christmas decorations without a care in the world is a pretty good sales pitch. Meet Parkinson Field (Strategic Mission – Edey’s Village, by Silver Deputy), a 7-year-old gelding who is available in Hummelstown, Pa. He’s already been started in his re-training and is considered suitable for any discipline.
Don’t forget that New Vocations offers 50% off adoption fees during the month of December, so keep your eye out for your next horse here!
Photo via Recycled Racehorses.
Any chestnut fans out there? Here’s one for you! Grand Prelude (Grand Slam – Tiny Decision, by Ogygian) raced 26 times between 2010 and 2014, with his last race in May of this year. Since retiring, “Gram” has been working with the Recycled Racehorse program in Sewell, N.J., and has proven to be quite the level headed guy in his second career.
Described as suitable and sound, this guy is ready to start his next career. Click here to check out Gram and the other horses available from Recycled Racehorses.
Niklas Lindbäck celebrates the win. Photo via the Sweden International Horse Show Facebook page.
Sixteen pairs contested the indoor derby at the Sweden International Horse Show yesterday, where Niklas Lindbäck and Mister Pooh came home with a time of 68.6 seconds across Gerd Heiber’s course to win individually for the home team over Tim Price and Xavier Taer.
New Zealand was not to be outdone, though, as the Kiwis clinched the team victory with Jesse Campbell, Jonelle Price, Tim Price and Mark Todd. Germany and Great Britain followed suit in third and fourth place in the team standings.
Helping Germany’s cause was Peter Thomsen and Clifford M, who stopped the clock on a 69.9 seconds for third place individually. Mark Todd and NZB Land Vision and Jonelle Price aboard Classic Moet round out the individual top five.
Three pairs were eliminated on course: Jesse Campbell and Apart VD Hoefslag 2, Ludwig Svennerstal and Franzipan, and Gemma Tattersall with Dinky Inky. You can check out a video of the end of Niklas’ winning round above.
The action continues at the Sweden International Horse Show through the weekend, and it looks like there is plenty of action to keep the spectators entertained. If you want to watch some dressage over the holiday weekend, the Reem Acra FEI World Cup streams live on FEI TV on Sunday.
Ready or not, the biggest shopping day of the year is almost upon us. We’ve teamed up with our amazing sponsors to gather some of the best shopping deals around. We’ll add more as they become available, and we’ll also have a final list of all of the Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals later in the week.
Check your bank accounts (or maybe don’t), stretch those legs, and get ready for some serious shopping! Buying horse stuff is always more fun anyway, right?
We’re really excited about this deal from Total Saddle Fit, who is offering a FREE pair of Calf Stirrup Leathers with every purchase of $150 of more. These leathers retail for $90 and are made of nylon wrapped with soft calf skin to prevent stretching. They’re available in black or brown, and Total Saddle Fit also provides a 110% money back guarantee with all purchases.
Click the banner below to shop for Total Saddle Fit products.
Professional’s Choice is having a site wide sale in preparation for the holidays. Everything from saddle pads to wraps and blankets will be discounted, so you’ll want to check out these great savings opportunities on Friday.
Visit Professional’s Choice by clicking on the banner to find out more about their Black Friday sale.
You may recall the review we did on Success Equestrian’s monoflap cross country pad. If you do, you’ll remember how much we love this pad, and now is your chance to get one for yourself. Success Equestrian is offering free shipping on all orders placed through Sunday, November 30. Just use the code BLK2014 in the cart to redeem this offer.
You can select from dressage, jumper or monoflap styles, and there are also other items that are definitely worth checking out from this line.
Be sure to visit Success Equestrian this week and stock up on all of the essentials!
Hamilton BioVet is also running a site wide sale for the holidays to the tune of 15% all products. From the versatile StayOns to the ever useful UltrOZ therapeutic laser system you’re sure to find products that find your horse care and rehab needs.
Click the banner below and check out the great products that Hamilton BioVet carries.
Our friends over at Point Two have marked down their demo stock for Black Friday, and there are some great savings to be had. If you’re in the market for a new vest, look no further for a top of the line option. Now is the time to spring for a Point Two, with up to $300 in savings offered this week!
Visit Point Two by clicking the banner below to check out all of their holiday offerings.
Last, but most certainly not least, SmartPak has launched a 15% site wide sale for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The 15% applies to clearance items at well, so this is your chance to stock up for the upcoming season. Don’t forget, SmartPak also offers FREE shipping on orders over $75. Click the ad below to start shopping!
Earlier this month, Italian eventers competed for the top placings at the Italian Championships at Ravenna. It’s always interesting to take a look at cross country courses the world over, and we were able to preview Benoit Marchand’s CIC3* cross country course thanks to Ancce on Facebook.
At the end of the weekend, it was Pietro Roman who secured the win aboard the Irish Sport Horse Barraduff. Pietro scored a 44.4 in the dressage and had one rail down in the show jumping to squeeze out of a tie for first with Karim Florent Laghouag, who had just .6 time penalties too many for a final score of 49.0 and second place. Pietro Sandei and Rubis de Prere rounded out the top three.
Horse Live TV has uploaded highlights from Pietro’s weekend, and we’ve also got helmet cam footage above from Francis Clement, who placed 19th aboard Prestige des Clotins. We love the opportunity to see Francis’ helmet cam footage, as these videos are in short supply these days! Click here for results from the Italian Championships.
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Last week we met Elisa Wallace’s newest Mustang prodigy, Hwin, who has been in training for the 2015 Mustang Magic competition in Texas. Elisa has had Hwin for seven weeks and has already progressed enough to bring her out to a schooling event at Chatt Hills last weekend to get her feet wet.
Hwin took to the new challenge with ears pricked, trotting around the white box with no worries and cantering around the cross country with just one hesitation at the water. While she’s still learning, the mare got her first eventing completion, finishing in eighth place at the schooling show.
You can follow along with Elisa and Hwin’s journey to Texas by viewing their YouTube channel.
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Shortly before the great stallion, Cruising, passed away, his owner Mary McCann took a few minutes to chat with Showjumping Ireland about the legacy the horse had created.
Born a chestnut before turning gray, Cruising was never an easy horse to work with. “As a two year old, he started this business of roaring his head off every time he saw a mare, which I can tell you is very annoying in a yard,” Mary recalled. “So I got a bit annoyed, and I was going on my holidays in the February that he was coming up to three, and Edward Doyle was with us at the time.
“I can remember saying to Edward, ‘If you don’t teach that horse to lunge before I come home and see that he jumps a pole, because if he doesn’t jump a pole he’s going to be castrated because I’m sick of him!’ So I hadn’t even gone on my holidays when Edward came over and said ‘Well, he’s learned to lunge in two days’ and he said ‘You’d better come and see this because I’ve just jumped him over a foot high pole and he gave it six feet.’ So, he wasn’t castrated.”
Mary recalled Cruising being particularly difficult in his younger days, with many of his riders, her daughter Jenny included, spending more time on the ground than in the saddle. But the stallion was talented and, as we all know, ultimately achieved much international success.
We will always remember this handsome gray stallion for both the competitive legacy he left behind as well as the offspring who are competing at the top levels in multiple arenas around the world. Even into his final days, he was still full of the sass and fire that we all loved about him. Rest in peace, Cruising.
Anna Robinson and Oz the Tin Man. Photo by Katy Groesbeck.
After moving her fledgling business to Ohio, Katy Groesbeck set about making plans for her future, with the first order of business being to figure out what’s next for her upper-level partner Oz the Tin Man. Coming on 18 in the spring, the Anglo-Arabian gelding has partnered with Katy at the Advanced level since 2012, collecting six Advanced completions, four CIC3* completions and one CCI3* finish.
“Wort” traveled with Katy to work at Buck Davidson’s barn for a year, and now she is ready to let a young rider step up to take the reins from her. “He’s not ready to just retire,” Katy said. “I think it will be a great way to keep him competing and teaching someone.”
Katy had entertained the idea of finding a young rider to lease Wort for the year, but had only casually begun looking when a mutual friend mentioned Anna Robinson. Anna, who will be 18 this year, has her sights set on competing in the CH-J* at NAJYRC this year, and she needed a horse to get her there.
“This is my last year to do the one-star, and I haven’t been to Young Riders yet, so I have been looking for the right horse,” Anna said. “I’ve wanted to go to Young Riders for a long time, but I’ve just never had the right horse. I’ll be looking to qualify this year, so I’m really excited.”
Katy Groesbeck and Oz the Tin Man at Millbrook. Photo by Jenni Autry.
When Anna came out to try Wort for the first time, everyone knew it was a good fit. “He’s like a sports car!” Anna said. “He’s quick on his feet, and he’s smaller than what I’m used to, and he’s a really fun ride and can take care of you but will let you know when you aren’t doing it right.”
Anna plans to train with Katy to prepare for Young Riders and has also ridden with Elinor MacPhail, the resident trainer at Redtail Ridge Farm. “I used to work with Ellie, and I’d travel with her to Florida, but with school coming to an end, I wanted to stay closer to home this year,” she said.
Katy is also excited about Wort’s new job for the year. “I didn’t want it to just be anyone or someone who was just looking for horse to use and then dump at the end of the season,” she said. “Anna has the right attitude and really got on well with him. I think they both have things to learn from each other, and she’s a capable rider that she won’t be just a passenger up there.”
Anna will ride and compete Wort at least through the summer, and then the plans are open ended. “He’ll let me know what he wants to do. Either he can keep teaching at the lower levels, or maybe he’ll step back out with me again,” Katy said. “It’s up to him at this point. He’s not young, but he doesn’t know it.”
It seems that every horse person’s dream is to go riding in Ireland. We see countless equestrian vacations geared towards the Irish at heart and constantly find ourselves drooling over Irish sale ads or auction pages. But what does it actually look like to take a ride in the Irish countryside?
For those of us who haven’t experienced this bucket list experienced, SmartPak employee Kristin provided footage from her GoPro documenting her ride through Dingle on the Dingle Peninsula. Now, if she could just throw in a few big cross country fences, the eventer’s dream would be complete!
We've all seen Texts from My Dog and all of the other hilarious text conversations out there. If our animals were able to send us text messages, what would they say? Fortunately, we've dug up some great examples, and will be sharing more throughout the winter. Do you have a funny text message to add? You can send it to [email protected].
We’ve all, at some point, experienced a sassy horse who has their own opinions on what they should and should not be required to do. What would happen if our horses could express their feelings via text message? Admit it, we’ve all had the conversations in our head already.
These eventing inspired texts come from Tor Heard, who originally posted these on her Twitter and Facebook page and tells us she’s writing a whole book of texts from her horse. Lucky us!
Pedro Gutiérrez (MEX) Racques Biats. Photo courtesy of Phyllis Dawson.
Medal positions remained unchanged after the cross country competition yesterday at the Central American games. Guatemala leads the way in gold medal position on a cumulative score of 148.10 over Mexico, who is close behind on a score of 150.6. Venezuela remains in bronze medal position, bringing home three riders clear for a score of 156.9.
Venezuelan coach Sara Kozumplik-Murphy sent in her thoughts on yesterday’s competition:
What a day…It’s hard not to be disappointed that Natascha and Peekie didn’t have their fairy tale ending today, but they were still fabulous. A small mistake by Natasha certainly shouldn’t take away from the horsemanship that she showed.
She rode amazing 90 percent of the time, made one mistake, and learned a lot…go eventing! We have been blessed with the fabulous teachers we have had in Tatton Winter, Clifton Peekachu, and Irish Diamonds; thank you to the ponies!
Alasca also stepped up to the plate for Juan (Larrazabal), despite being the least experienced horse of the bunch. He came home the second fastest round for Venezuela with .4 time penalties.
All of our riders rode exceptionally well and put in very good rounds on a course that took its toll. I loved the cross country that John built, it was a true, fair test, and we are headed into tomorrow in a strong position having had 3 clear rounds and one 20…go Venezuela!
Guillermo de Campo and Quelite moved into the lead from third after dressage with a double clear run around John Williams’ course, holding a score of 49.2. He’ll go into holding the tiebreaker between himself and Stefanie Brand Leu and Claudius, who are also on a 49.2 as a result of a handful of time penalties.
The course rode well for those who completed, with four out of 16 picking up one refusal, seven pairs coming home double clear, and five clear with time. Eight pairs were eliminated on course, and one elected to retire.
The eventing competition will conclude today with the show jumping at 12 p.m. EST. With a Pan American qualification on the line, all competitors will have their best game faces on as they look forward to the day’s competition.
Emily Rusinyak and Reatta HW. Photo via Emily on Facebook.
The EN team is extending its condolences to Emily Resinyak, whose lovely mare, Reatta HW, broke her leg in what appears to be a pasture accident last night. Reatta HW was transported to Auburn University this morning for evauluation, but unfortunately it appears that the injury was too extensive and the mare was euthanized.
Emily and Reatta had just completed their CCI3* together at Fair Hill, finishing in 37th place. This pair worked with Julie Richards, and Emily has brought the dark bay Oldenburg mare up through the levels since starting out at Training level in 2012.
Emily posted on her Facebook page that “she’s not just a horse, she’s my best friend.”
We’ll update this post with more information as we receive it, but in the meantime, please keep Emily and all who knew and loved her wonderful mare in your thoughts during this difficult time.
Colleen Rutledge and Shiraz. Photo by Jenni Autry.
One of the most popular chestnuts on the scene, Shiraz, has officially made his return to work after suffering a shoulder strain at Rolex this spring.
Colleen Rutledge and “Luke” went over to Sharon White’s farm last week for some lessons with Jimmy Wofford, and Luke looked positively gleeful as he bounced through some simple exercises.
Colleen and Luke will be targeting a return to Rolex in the spring, just needing to get a CIC3* under their belts in the spring as a qualifier.
We’re thrilled that Luke is back in full work, and we know Colleen’s large fan base will be cheering this pair on as they look to take on their sixth four-star competition to date.
To tide us over, we dug through the archives and found some video highlights of Colleen and Shiraz’s partnership through the years:
Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon for Eventing Nation.
Mary King’s clinic at Morven Park, hosted by Kelly Gage of Team EnGaged Clinics wrapped up yesterday with the various groups doing a bit of jumping. Although there were just a handful of jumps being used, Mary came up with several exercises that focused on accuracy and sharp communication rather than using a long course.
The USEA posted a great recap of the clinic, in which Mary emphasizes the two primary responsibilities of the rider: effectiveness as a rider and having a horse that is responsive to the leg. Mary highlighted the importance of being methodical and precise in what riders asked their horse, as consistency was the best formula for success later down the road.
Mary used a triple combination to test riders, asking them to jump just the first and last jumps, swinging around the middle fence using smooth turns. She also had the riders jumping the middle fence on a figure eight, another exercise that would tattle if the riders did not have a responsive enough horse or if they were not utilizing their position enough.
Mary also used a barrel in between two standards as a skinny fence and an airy corner along with a bounce to help riders work on getting their horses on their hind end and responding to leg aids. It’s interesting to observe how much adjustablity comes into play, even with just a few fences to get over.
Thanks to Valerie Durbon, our eyes on the ground, we’ve got four minutes of video footage that shows many of the exercises Mary implemented yesterday:
Mary will be teaching her second stateside clinic this weekend in Midway, Ky., and we’re sure it will be a wonderful learning experience for all who are riding and auditing. If you are in attendance, you can send us your reports, photos, and videos at [email protected].
Many thanks to Valerie Durbon for contributing her wonderful photos from this week’s clinic.
As winter sets in, it’s a great time to set about preparing for the impending cold weather by clipping your horse. A sweaty horse in the cold weather is not only time-consuming but, more importantly, dangerous. To avoid the problems that can arise with a horse who has long hair and a lot of sweat from a good workout, Evention TV has some clipping tips for you.
Some clipping novices may not realize that there are other options for clipping aside from a full body clip. These clipping styles eliminate long hair on the areas where a horse may be more prone to sweat, and look attractive when done properly.
Since Jimmie Schramm is apparently the resident clipper over husband Dom, she provides a visual tutorial on one of her favorite winter designs, the quarter sheet clip.
A three-year-old chestnut stallion struts his stuff at a YEH Symposium. Photo by Ivegotyourpicture.com
The Young Event Horse series here in the U.S. is a growing program, and one that is an integral part of producing the next generation of eventing stars. All over the country, young horses who exhibit promise for the future are put through their paces to measure their talent for competition in the sport.
This February, a three-day symposium, “Evaluation of the Young Event Horse Prospect”, will be held in Ocala. Well-known authorities on the subject such as Marilyn Payne, Susan Graham White, Robin Walker, and David O’Connor will be present to discuss the evaluation of these young horses.
It’s a great educational opportunity for those who are interested in becoming more involved with Young Event Horse competition, and will be free for USEA members. Non-members can pay a $50 fee to attend the symposium. A classroom segment will be held at the Marriott Courtyard in Ocala along with demonstrations at both Longwood Farm and Meredyth Farm South.
Those interested in obtaining certification for both Young Event Horse and Future Event Horse judging will be able to do so through this symposium as well. The event will be held February 16-18, 2015 and those interested can register using this form.
Come out and enjoy the warm weather while learning about a vital part to ensuring the continued growth and improvement of the sport. Go Eventing!
Francisco Mendoza, General Ruben Rojas, Sara Kozumplik-Murphy, Gabriela Suarez, and Natascha Barrientos. Photo from Sara Kozumplik-Murphy.
The eventing segment of the Central American Games has gotten underway, with the 26 riders presenting their horses to the ground jury yesterday and riding their dressage tests today. Sara Kozumplik-Murphy is coaching the Venezuelan team this weekend, and the stakes are very high for the team as a medal will ensure a slot to compete in the Pan American Games in Toronto next year.
“I have been involved with Venezuela Eventing for a little over a year,” Sara said. “I was working without a roadmap for the first few months. The Bolivarian Games in Lima were definitely trial by fire! I was quite naive, and had no idea that there were going to be so many obstacles to overcome in order to produce a team that would work together.
Team Venezuela turned out for the first horse inspection. Photo by Hector Garrido.
“Nothing ensures defeat so completely as a bad feeling within a group that should be supporting each other. Having said that, I am extremely lucky that General Ruben M. Rojas, who runs the Venezuelan Equestrian Federation, read all of my emails after the trip and not only listened to my ideas for our team but stood behind them 100 percent.
“This year (General Rojas) has given me an excellent Chef d’Equipe in Francisco Mendoza, and they also enabled me to hire Max Corcoran and Katie Strickland to run the barn. I believe that this year we have it all: riders who are working happily together towards their common goal, excellent horses and a seriously good support system behind the scenes.”
John Williams is the cross country course designer, and Sara was kind enough to send in photos from her team’s course walk, which you can view in the gallery below. Her initial impression is that John has designed a great course that will really test the horses and riders.
Sara also reported that all of the Venezuelan riders trotted up well and were sent through to today’s dressage competition.
After the first day of competition, it’s a Venezuelan rider on top of the leaderboard. Natasha Barrientos and Clifton Peekachu scored a 44.8 for the overnight lead, one of just three pairs to break into the 40s today.
Guatemalan rider Stefanie Brand Leu and Claudius earned a 45.6 nod from the judges for second place, followed by Mexico’s Guillermo De Campo and Quelite who scored a 49.2.
Less than 20 penalties separate the top 10, making for an exciting competition out on the cross country course tomorrow. Be sure to check out John Williams’ course, photographed by Sara, to get an idea of what the horses and riders will be tackling tomorrow.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon for Eventing Nation.
Mary King is teaching a clinic hosted by Kelly Gage of Team EnGaged Clinics at Morven Park this week, imparting wisdom coming from many years as an international competitor. Mary did some work with younger horses and riders competing at varying levels yesterday, working on quality of gait and adjustablity with each student.
Friend of EN Valerie Durbon is in attendance this week and has been kind enough to share her beautiful photographs as well as video from the clinic, for which we are very thankful. The USEA has also been documenting the clinic on their Facebook page, so be sure to check there throughout the day for more from the clinic.
Mary spends much time emphasizing efficiency and keeping the horse active behind when working on transitions and adjustablity. She also touches on fitness and how it affects her training style throughout the year.
Drawing on her personal experiences and preferences, Mary had many valuable pieces of advice for riders and auditors alike.
Many upper level riders are in attendance this weekend, including Allison Springer with her new horse, Mr. Sydney Rocks. We got a glimpse of Allison in action with Mary this morning:
Many thanks to Valerie and the USEA for keeping us updated during this great learning experience. Please enjoy Valerie’s photos from yesterday’s session in the gallery below. You can view more of Valerie’s work by visiting her website.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon for Eventing Nation.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon for Eventing Nation.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon for Eventing Nation.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon for Eventing Nation.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon for Eventing Nation.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon for Eventing Nation.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon for Eventing Nation.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon for Eventing Nation.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon for Eventing Nation.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon for Eventing Nation.
Photo courtesy of Valerie Durbon for Eventing Nation.
Kelly Gage and Meghan Look, clinic organizers, with Mary King.
OTTBs are among the most prominently represented breed in the eventing world. Each day, hundreds of ex-racehorses find themselves at the end of their racing career and in need of a new home. Luckily, organizations such as CANTER, New Vocations, Recycled Racehorses, and many more are always on alert for new horses that are ready for second careers. Each week, we'll be bringing you a few OTTB ads that caught our eye. Keep an eye out here for your next eventing superstar!
With the holidays right around the corner, it’s a great time to be looking for your next prospect. Who doesn’t love buying themselves a Christmas present with four legs? Whether you’re looking for a fun all-around horse or a prospect with upper level potential, be sure to check out the OTTB listings scattered about the web. Plus, you’ll have all winter to work on forming a bond and getting ready for the spring season!
Photo courtesy of CANTER PA.
Our first featured horse this week is listed with CANTER PA. This cute girl was very settled when CANTER volunteers took her listing, which bodes well for a horse with a good brain. Secret Skills (Aptitude – Adinatha, by With Approval) is a 2006 mare who stands 15.3 hands tall and raced 51 times, winning six times. She’s been retired sound and is eager to find her new home, hopefully with an event rider!
Click here to check out Secret Skills’ listing on CANTER PA.
Wittle Wu Wu. Photo courtesy of New Vocations.
This adorable mare, Wittle Wu Wu (Corinthian – Mattiebluebreezing, by Dixieland Band), is available for adoption through New Vocations in Lexington, Ky. She’s a 2011 model and is 16.2 1/2 hands, making her a tall and elegant prospect for her second career. This mare is unraced, a clean slate for her new owner.
Wittle Wu Wu likes to be the center of attention and is described as “incredibly fun” to ride. Click here to check out her listing on New Vocations.
Photo via CANTER Ohio.
Our final featured horse this week is Bellardo (Bellamy Road – Miss Valid Storm, by Valid Appeal), a 2010 16-hand gelding who strikes a strong resemblance to his sire, Bellamy Road. Bellardo raced 25 times and came home with two wins. He last raced at Thistledown on Nov. 16, so this boy will likely do well with some let down time in his new home.
Bellardo has some minor ankle rounding, but is believed to be sound for any discipline. He sure is a handsome man, and we think he’d make a great project horse for someone.
Click here to check out Bellardo’s listing on CANTER Ohio.
Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro. Photo courtesy of FEI / Arnd Bronkhorst / Pool Pic.
