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.
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.
Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST. Photo by Julia Rau.
Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST didn’t miss a beat in yesterday’s German Masters Indoor Derby at Stuttgart, easily taking home their second win in a row against a tough field of competitors and his seventh overall victory at this competition.
The duo scored 66.81 to win handily over Mark Todd and NZB Land Vision, who stopped the clock at 69.51. Michael and his World Equestrian Games individual silver medalist torched the course, which was predictably twisty and demanded accuracy over solid cross country obstacles and show jumping fences.
Watching Michael’s ride, he keeps his mare well in hand throughout the course, allowing her to come forward to the distances and smoothly collecting her back for a tight turn. The ride was smooth and efficient, as you can see in the video below:
Jonelle Price and Classic Moet,who finished 4th individually at WEG, turned in a solid run for third place with a time of 70.12. Other notable names such as Sandra Auffarth, Laura Collett and Tim Price also competed in the indoor derby, with Tim being the highest placed of the bunch in fourth place on a time of 70.76.
Two pairs were eliminated: Sven Lux fell from Chica B and was immediately up on his feet, while Stuart Fitzgerald missed a jump with Dream On Doni. Two combinations retired on course. In all, 17 of the 21 starters completed the course.
As another indoor derby wraps up, much discussion has been taking place on social media regarding the safety of this type of competition and whether or not it presents a good representation of eventing. The FEI has made several recommendations regarding the regulation of indoor competitions since The Royal.
What do you think about indoor derbies, EN? Is this type of competition a good way to spread awareness about eventing? Or do you think the risks outweigh any benefits? Should changes like what the FEI has suggested be made to boost safety at these competitions? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
BBC anchor Jonathan Agnew is learning to ride with UK eventer Jo Ward in preparation to commentate on the equestrian events at the 2016 Rio Olympics. And, luckily for us, he’s documenting the whole experience via helmet cam. After learning to trot and canter, he experienced his first fall when his horse took off with him in a field. Hilarity ensues:
We’re glad to see the fall didn’t damage his sense of humor: “I’m a proper rider now!” Yes you are, Jonathan! Welcome to the world of riding. You can watch his first two riding lessons here and here. He’ll surely be ready for his first BE80 next season. Come to the dark side, Jonathan. We have margaritas!
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Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST. Photo by Julia Rau.
As the German Masters at Stuttgart approach tomorrow, we’re gearing up for more indoor action featuring some big names in the sport. Will Michael Jung defend his title, or will a newcomer take home the title this year?
We dug into the archives and found a video of Michael’s winning run last year; skip ahead to the 1:40 marker when the round actually starts. His future WEG individual silver medalist fischerRocana FST looks game and raring to go, and can we talk about some of those hairpin rollback turns he executes flawlessly?
The cheering from the crowd makes it sound more like a reining competition! It’s definitely a far cry from galloping around the countryside hunting the flags. We found a few more videos from the German Masters in years past, which you can check out below:
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Wintertime. For most of us, that word is synonymous with indoor arenas, layers upon layers and dressage boot camp. It’s a great time of year to really hone in on those pesky leg yields that have been evading you this season or to get your transitions on point to really impress the judges in the little white box.
Whatever your goals are, more often than not we eventers approach the thought of endless dressage lessons with something other than pure excitement and closer to pure dread. We thought we’d illustrate these emotions for you in GIF form:
1. Lack of Motivation
“Try and make me go!”
It’s well below freezing out, your bed is awfully warm, and there’s a foot of snow on the ground. Say goodbye to motivation, EN. Bundle yourself up in as many pieces of clothing as you can manage, don your muck boots and a hot cup of coffee, and get out there! Those 20-meter circles aren’t going to spin themselves.
2. Anxiety
“My right leg goes where?” The impending sense of doom when you realize your leg needs a lot more work than you originally thought. Suddenly you begin questioning your existence as an eventer, because you clearly can’t remember which aid does what anymore, and the FEI still hasn’t responded to your requests to remove dressage as a phase from the sport.
3. Frustration
Knowing what needs to be done, yet somehow not being able to execute it is one of the most frustrating feelings. Whether your base of fitness or your knowledge is just not quite where it should be, or if you’re just having one of those days, we all know how it feels to want to crush a soda can out of sheer frustration while trying not to scream four-letter words.
4. Clarity
You’ve been struggling for the past 45 minutes, your lesson is about to end, and you want to end on a good note. Suddenly, the stars align, your aids seem to come together, and you realize that you actually do know what you’re doing. That imperfect shoulder-in you’ve been drilling? All at once, it’s the easiest thing you’ve ever done, and you finally are able to memorize the feeling of correctness. Which then leads to…
5. Satisfaction
Your lesson is over, you nailed it, and you feel like you could take on the world. You hop off, immediately planning your indoor dressage show schedule for the winter and chattering excitedly to your coach about signing up for more lessons. Two a week? Sure, why not! You’ve got this. Until next week.
Team Tredstep rider Elisa Wallace recently added a new Mustang to her stable, a gray mare named Hwin she’s training for the 2015 Mustang Magic competition in Fort Worth, Texas, in January. Elisa is known for her training skills thanks to many demos done with her other mustangs, Fledge and Rune, and now Hwin is getting ready to follow in their hoof prints.
Elisa has been video blogging her training with Hwin, starting with day one, documenting the mare’s reactions and getting her to the point where she is ready for full training. It’s really interesting to watch Elisa’s training methods at work with Hwin, who seems to take everything in stride.
Katelyn Gurbich and Kaptain Jak competing in the Preliminary Rider division at FCHP. Photo via Lauren Billys on Facebook.
It’s about that time of year when we’re all wishing we were on the West coast or in Florida (or somewhere else warm), and we’ve been looking at all of the West coast eventers’ social media pages longingly as we freeze our toes off in the Polar Vortex.
Fresno County Horse Park ran Intro through Preliminary divisions, and Lauren Billys aboard Ballingowan Ginger were the winners of the Open Preliminary division. The pair scored a 23.0 in the dressage and went on to finish on that score to finished ahead of David Robel and High Light in second place.
Bea di Grazia and Ringwood Isabelle finished their weekend in third place on a score of 36.5. This is the Irish Sport Horse mare’s first run at Preliminary after running primarily at Training this year.
Ocala Horse Properties kicked off their winter series this weekend, and Leslie Law with Unborn de Lelo took home the win in the Open Preliminary A division, finishing on their dressage score of 22.7. This Anglo-Arab gelding owned by Beatrice Ray-Herme is nearing the end of a full year competing at Preliminary, as Leslie usually likes to give his young horses plenty of time at the level before eyeing a move up.
Kyle Carter and Sayyida were good for second place on a score of 23.2, followed by Michael Pollard and Tsetserleg on a 29.2.
In the B division of the Open Preliminary, Shanon Baker and Lansdowne lead wire to wire to finish on their dressage score of 26.8, a comfortable lead over second-placed Daisy Trayford and Exmoor Denver on a 35.1. Shanon and Lansdowne are coming off of some disappointing results in two CCI* attempts and will likely feel a big boost of confidence from a solid outing this weekend.
Jamie Alnwick and Factor Five bring up third place with a score of 59.7.
Cathryn Green and Coin Toss III took home the win in the Open Intermediate at River Glen in Tennessee, which was sure to be a bit on the chilly side this weekend. Cathryn had 15.2 time on cross country but was still able to move up from second place to finish on a score of 55.0. This is the pair’s first Intermediate win.
Selena Pope and Vanity finished their weekend in second place on a score of 60.9. Selena and Vanity have been very successful at this level, not finishing out of the top five in eight completions.
Rebecca Gall and Can Ya Dig it were the third place finishers with a final score of 64.4. This was this pair’s second start since moving up to Intermediate at Otter Creek in September.
The next Olympic cycle will be upon us before we know it. The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are approaching, and EN is already outlining our plan of action to bring you the best eventing coverage there is.
There is plenty of advance planning going on for the Olympics, and they’re asking for volunteers to sign up for their duties by December 15. Volunteers will enjoy exposure to the Olympic grounds, plenty of Rio swag, provided meals on working days, and the once in a lifetime experience of working behind the scenes at the Olympics.
If you’re interested in being a Rio volunteer (we’re sure there will be equestrian opportunities!), here are the qualifications:
Must be 18 years old by February 28, 2016
Must be available for 10 days during the Olympics and/or Paralympic Games
Have completed basic education – this is not mandatory
Have availability during the selection and training process, which will take up to three full days
Visit the Rio Volunteer page here to find more information about the volunteer opportunities available, and don’t forget to sign up by December 15.
Phillip Dutton and Icabad Crane. Photo by Maggie Kimmitt.
Phillip Dutton and Icabad Crane were the triumphant winners of this year’s Retired Racehorse Project America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred competition, showing off their impressive adjustability to seal the deal.
The Retired Racehorse Project has uploaded videos of the competition to their Vimeo channel, making them available on demand so we can check out the other great Thoroughbreds and their newly learned skills in their second careers.
Complete with commentary from judges Ross Peddicord, Diane Crump and Chris McCarron, the videos provide education and entertainment for OTTB and equine enthusiasts across multiple disciplines.
Be sure to stop by the RRP Vimeo channel to view all of the videos on demand. Go OTTBs!
Tik Maynard and Dutch Times. Photo by Mackenzie Clark for BenRadvanyi.com.
The FEI has made some recommendations based on its Risk Management policies for Indoor and Arena Eventing, which has been growing in popularity in recent years.
The primary recommendation from the FEI is that these competitions should be designated as three-star competitions, meaning that horses and riders would have to meet the same qualification criteria. A three-star course designer would also be used to design the track.
There are also three competition formats that have been proposed for these events:
1. Indoor/Arena Derby: Competitions will be run with a time limit as opposed to a time allowed. This would decrease the risk of falls and errors caused by a rider’s attempt to make the time. Many opinions have been voiced regarding the number of falls at the recent Indoor Eventing Challenge at The Royal, many of which touch on concerns that the time allowed factor caused many of the falls. As another rule of this format, all jumps would be required to have a rail over the top line.
2. Indoor/Arena Eventing with Style Valuation: There would be no time factor at all in this format, and the horses and riders would jump cross country obstacles and points would be assessed based on style. Existing national rules and regulations would be used for judging.
3. Indoor/Arena Eventing in Two Phases: Cross country obstacles would be used in the first phase, with an optimum time designated by the course designer. There would then be a jump-off of 6-8 fences for the second round, which would include obstacles that draw similarities from cross country jumps but that would be constructed to be able to be knocked down.
The elimination of the speed factor has been a commonly heard request from both riders and observers, and the FEI’s recommendations seem focused on promoting safety over speed.
What are your thoughts on these recommendations, EN? Do you feel they will help attract more riders and make the competitions safer? Do you think Indoor Eventing is just fine the way it is? We want to hear your opinions in the comments!
You can read the latest FEI update containing the Indoor Eventing recommendations by downloading it here.
Jessica Manson and Legal Star. Photo courtesy of Julie Wilson/FEI.
Jessica Manson entered the show jumping arena in Adelaide with plenty of pressure. She had a rail in hand, but the rails were flying all day and just three pairs had gone clear or had just one rail down. Second placed Megan Jones and Kirby Park Allofasudden had just laid down a double clear round to put the pressure on the 22-year-old to finish the job.
She had no need for her rail in hand, though, as she jumped a clear round to take home her first CCI4* win aboard Legal Star, her Australian Stock Horse. Jessica had three rails down last year at this event, so she knew that this was the time to rise to the occasion.
Charlotte Price and Kinnordy Gambia. Photo via the Australian International Three Day on Facebook.
Megan Jones and Kirby Park Allofasudden finished on a final score of 70.7 in second, well ahead of third placed Soigne Jackson and Gold. Katja Weimann and BP Cosmopolitan were the owners of the only other double clear round, finishing in fifth place. Katja jumped all the way up from ninth place after cross country with her double clear round to improve upon her 10th place finish here last year.
Jessica Manson and Legal Star are all smiles. Photo via the Australian International Three-Day on Facebook.
It was a great eventing weekend Down Under, and it was great to see so many newcomers to the level out competing for the first time. Congratulations to Jessica on her big win – we can’t wait to see more from this talented pair.
Ocala Horse Properties kicked off their winter series this weekend, running divisions from Beginner Novice up through Preliminary. Many riders have already begun their southern migration for the winter, and Ocala is always a hot spot for eventers from all over the country.
The Horse Pesterer is on the ground in Ocala this weekend and is in the process of uploading videos from the weekend so far. We also got a sneak peek of the new covered arena that is under construction, which looks like it will be a great addition for future competitions.
Photo via The Horse Pesterer.
Be sure to check out the full playlist of videos here, as more are being added as we speak. Many thanks to The Horse Pesterer for sharing his videos. Go Florida eventing!
Without the volunteers who tirelessly work each weekend to make an event run smoothly, our sport would not be much to speak of. These hard working individuals are the backbone of each and every event, and we want to share the stories of these volunteers in our new series. This week, Beth Collier sent in this great story about volunteering at Fair Hill. We would love to hear more! Do you have a volunteer story you'd like to share? Send it to [email protected].
Burt standing next to his saved flag. Photo from Beth Collier.
From Beth:
When I’ve competed in horse trials, there are always wonderful volunteers who make it a great day. So, I volunteer at events to make it a great day for someone else. Plus, it’s a great way to learn all the rules. Here is one of my favorite stories:
Husband Burt and I were cross country jump judges for the Preliminary division at the Maryland Combined Training Association Horse Trials at Shawan Downs, north of Baltimore.
We had a big corner jump, although there was a non-corner option. Phillip Dutton came by and his horse whacked the corner flag and ran out. The flag was broken off and we didn’t have a hammer or nails or a twist-tie.
Phillip came to a screeching halt and almost fell off. He turned around and said, “Can you set up the flag?” I was thinking about how we didn’t have a way to easily fix it and the next horse will be coming in two minutes.
So, Burt tried to prop the flag up but it just tilted over. So, he stood there and held the flag for Phillip. The volunteer coordinator later asked me if I had taken a photo, and I said, “No, because I thought I was having either a stroke or a heart attack!” Burt said he only held the flag because of his faith in Phillip’s experience as a top rider!
Craig Barrett and Sandhills Brillaire in the CCI4* Adelaide 2012. Photo by John Lechner.
The cross country at the Australian International Three-Day Event in Adelaide is run through Victoria Park, which is nestled right in the heart of Adelaide, located in South Australia. This park, which is a popular destination for area residents on a sunny day, plays host to many sporting events throughout the year, and the Adelaide event is always a popular spectator attraction.
One thing we noticed while watching the live stream of cross country yesterday was how well the course was laid out with the park’s natural layout. Course designer Wayne Copping integrated the ponds and streams in the park to create water questions, and even wrapped the course around a playground in the center of the park.
Spectators were lined up along the galloping lanes and at the big questions all day, even braving rain to see the CCI4* riders go. Cars drove past on the roads bordering the park, most likely wondering why there were horses and their colorful riders gallivanting about the park.
While we realize that this park-like environment isn’t feasible in many locations, particularly in the U.S., we still hand it to the organizers of the Adelaide event for their creativity in bringing the sport to a city where more people can come out to watch.
Be sure to check out this helmet cam from the 2012 event, complete with commentary, of Natalie Blundell & Algebra for an idea of how the course is laid out in Victoria Park.
Ah, wintertime. We’re expecting our first snowfall here in Kansas City today, so I’m boycotting winter and staying indoors all day. Of course, a quick browse of SmartPak’s YouTube channel brought up the second episode of their hilarious “Stuff Riders Say” series geared towards blanketing.
We all go through the same cycle of questions and criteria when figuring out which blanket to purchase and what layers to use in what order. This helpful graphic from Auburn University may be of some help for all of the blanket-aware horse owners out there:
Source: Auburn Agriculture
Even while we’re having constant conversations with ourselves, our trainers, and everyone within ear shot regarding blanket decisions, watch the video above and rest assured that you aren’t the only one!
For more help on blanketing, be sure to download SmartPak’s SmartBlanket app, available for Android and iOS.
Jessica Manson and Legal Star. Photo courtesy of Kangra.
It was a 22-year-old rider from West Australia aboard her Australian Stock Horse/Thoroughbred cross who flew home closest to the optimum time across country yesterday to take the lead in the Adelaide CCI4*. Jessica Manson and Legal Star were one of the first pairs on course, attacking the course from the outset with tenacity and determination.
The optimum time of 11 minutes and 24 seconds proved difficult, especially with the onset of a strong rain about halfway through the field. Jessica came home with the quickest time of the day, accumulating just 2.8 time penalties to take the overnight lead on a score of 64.6.
She enters today’s show jumping with one rail and some time in hand. Legal Star is a keen jumper, and this pair was quite fun to watch as they made quick work of their third trip around Adelaide.
“I’m extremely happy with him (Legal Star). He really couldn’t have done anything more,” said Jessica in a press release. “He is very quick and nimble and an easy ride, so it was quite easy for me to make time today. He is a pretty good jumper so as long as we are both on the ball tomorrow I am sure we can do it.”
Jessica and Legal Star were 15th at Adelaide last year and fourth in 2012, so they’re poised for their best CCI4* finish to date should they jump clear or with just one rail tomorrow.
Leading after the dressage, Megan Jones and Kirby Park Allofasudden came through the finish with 19.2 time penalties to put them on a 70.7 and in second place overnight. They’ve got a comfortable lead over third placed Elizabeth Lowery and KL Kismet with three rails in hand.
Although there was not an extreme amount of terrain on Wayne Copping’s course, it still held its own challenges with a twisting course that challenged riders to shave precious seconds off where they could in an effort to get close to the time. There were several questions on course that caused their share of problems, namely a corner combination at fence 6AB, the first technical question on course.
Photo via CrossCountry App
This combination caught five pairs out for refusals, the most troublesome question on the course. A corner combination at fence 20AB also caused a bit of trouble, causing one rider fall and one refusal.
Photo via CrossCountry App
There was also a nearly 20 minute hold on course relatively early on in the going while the ground jury made repairs to the footing that followed the second water complex. It appeared that the footing deteriorated quickly, turning from sand into slick mud and causing many horses to get their hind ends a bit stuck when they went to gallop away from the jump. The footing looked to be holding up much better once it was fixed.
Show jumping will commence at approximately 11:10 p.m. EST and will be broadcast live on FEI TV. Stay tuned for more from Down Under!
Ride On Video just uploaded some of the full cross country trips from the Galway Downs International CCI3* — just in time to binge watch over the weekend! We’ve posted a few here, and you can view the full playlist at this link. Did you miss any of our Galway Downs coverage? Catch up here!
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 in our Weekly OTTB Wishlist presented by Cosequin.
We’ll jump right into it this week with our OTTB wishlist, as we’ve got a special guy first up who desperately needs a new home before the winter sets in.
Photo by Kate Samuels.
Battering Ram, known in the barn as Rambler, is 9 years old and looking for his forever home, as his owner has decided that she needs to sell him before the winter. Rambler (Perfect – Rambling Tea, by Mugatea) raced 16 times, winning once. He was retired in 2010 with no injuries and has been in light work, showing potential to be someone’s great sport horse.
Rambler is for sale for $3,000 for a quick sale, and interested parties can contact Kate Samuels at [email protected] or Becky Pocock at [email protected]. Let’s find Rambler his new home, just in time for the holidays!
Photo via CANTER Mid-Atlantic.
Next up is an adorable 6-year-old mare by the name of Shea Ballet. Listed with CANTER Mid-Atlantic, Shea Ballet (Polish Miner – Phantom Storm, by On Target) is currently at Charles Town Track in West Virginia.
Shea Ballet raced 43 times with four wins — a war horse! She brought home $59, 825 in winnings and was retired sound with no injuries after her last race on Oct. 29.
Click here to visit Shea Ballet’s listing on CANTER Mid-Atlantic.
Photo courtesy of New Vocations.
Last but not least in our collection of bays, snatch this one up quick before someone else does! Groomitage is a new listing over on New Vocations, a 3-year-old model who has been declared suitable for any discipline.
Groomitage’s bloodlines (Run Away and Hide – Meritage Miss, by Saarland) can be traced back to Unbridled, Artax and many more household names. He raced twice, retiring sound at the end of June.
Click here to visit Groomitage’s listing on New Vocations.
"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].
Britt Sabbah and Saint Louie. Photo via Britt on Facebook.
Britt Sabbah grew up riding hunter/jumpers before taking an extended break from riding while she finished college and moved out to California. Once she settled in, she began riding again and soon enough was ready to start looking for her next horse.
“I was looking for something a bit on the smaller side and that was kind and easy going enough that I could have fun with,” Britt said of her horse search. “I wasn’t even really thinking about going out and competing right away. I knew I wanted to event since it had always been my dream, but I just figured I could find something to have fun at the lower levels with.”
Relatively early on in her horse search, Britt found Saint Louie, a 2008 Welsh/Paint cross stabled at Galway Downs. After a few trial rides, Britt fell in love. The first thing Britt learned about her new horse was that he needed a confident ride. “He’s very, very careful, and because of that he needed some confidence when we first started working together. We could barely go over trot poles in the beginning!”
Photo via Britt on Facebook.
Britt credits a lot of their partnership a year later to coach Jen Wooten. “She’s just been amazing, and I think she really helped us build trust and confidence,” she said. “After a couple of months, we really started to improve.”
After just a few short months together, Britt took Louie to Galway Downs for her first event. The pair ventured out at Beginner Novice and finishing seventh with a handful of rails and time in the show jumping. “Show jumping has always been our biggest challenge, and we’ve had to really work on it to get those clean rounds out of him,” Britt said.
The pair continued to work hard through the year, moving up to Novice because it seemed that the bigger jumps garnered more respect from Louie. After several top-10 finishes at the Novice level, Britt and Louie headed to Texas for the American Eventing Championships at Novice level, where they brought home a fifth place ribbon for their efforts.
After returning from Texas, Britt and Louie entered their first Training level event at Galway Downs at the end of October. “We had discussed moving up to Training before Texas, and we decided that if he thought cross country (in Texas) was no big deal, we’d go ahead and do it,” Britt explained. “We’ve been schooling Training level or higher at home, so the cross country was the big question.”
Photo via Britt on Facebook.
The pair finished in 16th place in their Training division at Galway with one bobble and some time on cross country, but it’s their show jumping round that really caught our eye! Everything appeared to be going to plan when Britt suddenly lost her left rein coming out of the triple combination.
The pair had a few moments of miscommunication in which Louie locked onto the first jump on course, which was an oxer that would have had to be jumped backwards, but Britt was able to grab her rein back and regain control.
“I’m not really sure how it happened,” Britt recalled. “I know I was trying to fix it going into the line because it had flipped over, and then I had it fine and lost it out of nowhere on the way out!”
Ride On Video captured Britt and Louie’s great save in their stadium round:
Despite the slight detour, Britt and Louie still came home clear inside the time, no worse for the wear. Britt was pleased with her move up to Training and is looking forward to gaining more mileage at the level next year.
“I never expected to be out competing this much, but he’s just surpassed all of my expectations,” Britt said. “I don’t know if eventually doing Preliminary is in his future, but I’m just going to let him tell me and have fun with him. I think he’s got the scope for it, but we’ll spend some time at Training and go from there.
“My ultimate goal is to do the Training Three-Day at Rebecca Farm next year, if not that then the Three-Day at Galway at the end of the year. So we’ll work to qualify for that this season and then see where he wants to go from there.”
