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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

Tuesday Video from SpectraVET: Remembering Opposition Buzz

By Sally Spickard on Nov 11, 2014 4:30 pm -

The global eventing community continues to mourn the loss of Opposition Buzz, who was euthanized Sunday after suffering a seizure.

Friend of EN Harveywetdog put together a tribute video of Nicola Wilson and “Dodi” at the Gatcombe Festival of British Eventing earlier this year; they finished sixth in the British Open division with a double clear cross country round.

Dodi will be remembered as one of the greatest cross country horses of our time, and we continue to send our condolences to all who knew and loved him.

For more footage of Opposition Buzz, check out Horse & Hound’s playlist here.

Why SpectraVET?

Reliable. Effective. Affordable.

SpectraVET is committed to providing only the highest-quality products and services to our customers, and to educating the world in the science and art of laser therapy.

We design and manufacture the broadest range of clinically-proven veterinary therapeutic laser products, which are represented and supported worldwide by our network of specialist distributors and authorized service centers.

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: Irish Pony Club Championships

By Sally Spickard on Nov 10, 2014 6:30 pm -

Ireland is well known for producing top quality event horses and riders, so it should come as no surprise that the Irish Pony Club Championships attract a large number of entries. Held at Tattersalls, the Championships had over 300 entries this year, which made for some stiff competition.

Irish Horse TV produced a wonderful recap video that takes a look behind the scenes of this event where some future stars of the sport were able to show off their skills.

[Irish Pony Club Championships]

Do you have a young rider who’s looking for some new equipment? Be sure to check out Tredstep Ireland’s Donatello Junior tall boot, the perfect solution for the young rider who is looking for a great quality tall boot to take to their next competition. Click the banner below for more information.

Monday News & Notes from Success Equestrian

By Sally Spickard on Nov 10, 2014 12:01 am -

EN reader Tessa Archibald sent in this gorgeous photo from "between the ears."

According to my weather app, today is the last warm day for the foreseeable future. 70 degrees today, followed by the rest of the week in the low to mid 30s. Wonderful. I suppose we’ve had it relatively good here in the Midwest, with a pretty mild summer and fall thus far. So I guess I shouldn’t complain too much, and instead will take advantage of the day with as much horse time as I can squeeze in.

Weekend Scores:

Poplar Place Farm November H.T. [Scores]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. [Scores]

Monday News:

If you’re planning to head to Texas for the USEA Annual Meeting and Convention, be advised that today is the last day to receive a discounted rate on your hotel room. It’s a hefty discount too, and the Omni Hotel is mighty nice if you ask us! The discounted rate is $149 per night, and after today it will go back to the regular rate of $279 per night. [USEA Convention Hotel Discount]

Are you currently participating in No Stirrup November? We sympathize. There really needs to be some sort of support group. Luckily, Horse Nation has a weekly collection of no-stirrup inspiration (and outtakes!), so at least we know we aren’t alone. And just think: legs of steel. [No-Stirrup November]

Have you ever wondered how horse stress levels compare between home and away at shows? Obviously, travel and staying away from home is a stress factor for horses, but how exactly does it affect them? Researchers from Denmark have been studying heart rates, respiratory statistics, and other factors in order to put a more concrete idea in place regarding stress. [Stress at Competitions]

Raise your hand if you have an inner caveman! Not sure what that means? Some of us tend to focus too much on the negative parts of our riding, which sport psychologist Daniel Stewart points to as a trait that can be traced back to the caveman days. How can you let go of this thought process? He’s got some great tips on how. [Letting Go of Mr. Caveman]

Monday Video Break:

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit this great Evention video, which focuses on that elusive galloping position:

These Shetland Pony Racers at The Royal Are Today’s Cuteness Overload

By Sally Spickard on Nov 9, 2014 4:30 pm -

Future eventing stars? Photo courtesy of Denya Massey.

These Shetland pony riders make us wish we were back in our youthful days, racing hell-bent for leather for the glory at The Royal this weekend. Thanks to our weekend’s correspondent, Denya Massey, we’ve got video evidence that this is one of the best parts of the whole show.

What we really want to know, though, is where this guy was, who also has shown affinity for ponies in the past:

Photo by Jeff Beshear.

All cuteness gushing aside, we’re seriously impressed with how well these young riders handle the tight turns and traffic. Will that gutsy riding transfer over into some future eventing greatness? We can’t wait to find out!

Thanks to Denya for all of her support through the weekend, and thanks to The Royal for putting on a great indoor show for jumpers and eventers alike!

Sunday Videos: Poplar Place Open Intermediate

By Sally Spickard on Nov 9, 2014 3:00 pm -

Friend of EN, The Horse Pesterer, is at Poplar Place this weekend, and he’s posted a few videos from the Open Intermediate division. Andrew Palmer and Tatendrang are the current leaders after dressage and show jumping, earning a 31.9 in the first phase and remaining on that score going into today’s cross country.

Shanon Baker and Ballingowan Zeal are currently in second place after dressage and show jumping, also on their dressage score of 34.8. Shanon has brought this Irish Sport Horse gelding up through the levels, and this weekend marks their first Intermediate start together. They’re coming off of an 11th place finish in the CCI* at Hagyard Midsouth last month.

Opposition Buzz Euthanized After Suffering Seizure

By Sally Spickard on Nov 9, 2014 11:38 am -

Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz at Badminton 2013. Photo by Jenni Autry.

It is with great sadness that we report that Nicola Wilson’s longtime partner, Opposition Buzz, was euthanized yesterday at the age of 17 after suffering a seizure. Nicola posted the following statement on her Facebook page:

“Our beloved Dodi sadly passed away yesterday after several weeks of enjoying his well deserved retirement. He had a seizure in the morning and was put to sleep on veterinary advice. A shock to us all. A very special horse who will be missed beyond belief. He made so much possible and opened so many doors for me. Rest in peace Dodi and Thank You.”

“Dodi” was officially retired in September in an emotional ceremony at Allerton Park. Completing 11 CCI4* events throughout his career, he and Nicola represented Great Britain on the world stage at both the World Equestrian Games and the Olympics. He completed Burghley five times, and graced the U.S. with his presence in 2009 with a trip around Rolex Kentucky as well as in 2010 as a member of the British WEG team.

We are heartbroken for Nicola and all who knew and loved Dodi, and we extend our sincere condolences in this tragic time. Rest in peace, Dodi.

Leahona Rowland Starts Fundraiser to Purchase Glencento

By Sally Spickard on Nov 9, 2014 10:30 am -

Jordan McDonald at Bromont in 2013. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Glencento is a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse that caught Jordan McDonald’s eye in the catalogue for the Goresbridge Go for Gold sale as a four-year-old. The mare was brought back to Canada, where she and Jordan quickly formed a strong bond.

Since Jordan’s passing, friend of the family Leahona Rowland has been working with the talented mare, who previously competed to the CCI2* level. Leahona has obtained Shandiss’ blessing to pursue the purchase of Glencento, a cause near and dear to the family’s heart as it would be meaningful to keep “Gwen” with a friend and fellow Canadian.

On an IndieGoGo page that has been set up, Shandiss posted the following statement:

“Jordan first saw Gwen as a five year old in an online catalogue from the Goresbridge Go for Gold sale in Ireland. He recognized her potential immediately. We were fortunate enough to make the trip to Ireland and bring her back to Canada. From the very beginning Jordan and Gwen just understood each other.

Through shared admiration, trust and respect they saw many successes together. Jordan and Gwen had a special partnership and it’s been amazing to see that same bond starting to form between Gwen and Leahona.

Leahona is a talented, compassionate rider and I know she will be able to showcase Gwen’s abilities enabling them to reach the top level of the sport.

Leahona has always been such a good friend to Jordan and me and I would love nothing more than to see her accomplish her goals in partnership with a horse that is so special. For me, this would be like keeping Gwen in the family.”

Leahona was longlisted for the Canadian National Team in 2013 and has successfully competed through the CCI2* level. “I have had the opportunity to get to know this special mare over the last few months,” Leahona posted on the IndieGoGo page. “Although it has been a very challenging few months mentally and emotionally for everyone involved, being able to work with a horse that was so important to Jordan has been an amazing experience.”

Leahona hopes to work with Gwen to unleash the talented mare’s full potential, and she’s asking for support to make this partnership a reality. You can check out the fundraising page on IndieGoGo here.

#dawnofthedavidsons: Buck and Andrea Tie the Knot

By Sally Spickard on Nov 9, 2014 9:00 am -

Thumbs up for Mr. and Mrs.! Photo via Andrea Leatherman on Facebook.

It’s a weekend full of festivities and celebration, as Buck Davidson and Andrea Leatherman headed down to Charlotte, Nc. with their family and friends to tie the knot in a beautiful, intimate ceremony.

Photo via Laine Ashker on Facebook.

Thanks to several friends who documented the night on social media, we’ve got some lovely photos of the celebration, and we’d like to wish Buck and Andrea happiness and success in their new marriage. We couldn’t be happier for you both!

: Photo via Hawley Bennett on Instagram.

: Photo via Hawley Bennett on Instagram.

: Photo via Hawley Bennett on Instagram.

: Photo via Hawley Bennett on Instagram.

Retired Racehorse Project TV: East Meets West

By Sally Spickard on Nov 8, 2014 4:30 pm -

Anyone with experience in multiple equestrian disciplines knows there are numerous similarities in the foundations of training between each discipline. In the Retired Racehorse Project’s new docu-series, western trainer Dale Simanton travels from his ranch in South Dakota to Steuart Pittman’s farm on the East coast, where they share the similarities and differences in the training philosophies of restarting an ex-racehorse.

“The first day…if I can get him to just walk, I’m happy with that,” Dale says of his training of OTTBs. “I want them to keep their head together and focus on where we’re going.“

Dale does a lot of flexing and circle work to get the horse stretched out and in tune with his aids. He tries to spend time out in fields, exposing them to the elements of ranch life. He also teaches them to jump ditches and will eventually start them in cattle work.

“Some of them take a couple of months, some of them a couple of days,” Dale says of introducing his horses to cattle work. “The first thing is to get them used to swinging a rope over their head. Be damn sure you don’t hit them in the head with that rope! That’ll set you back three months.”

We call to mind Laine Ashker’s OTTB, Anthony Patch, who has a very strong aversion to cattle. Perhaps it’s best he ended up in the event world rather than doing ranch work!

[Retired Racehorse Project]

Does Placing Affect Likelihood of Cross Country Falls?

By Sally Spickard on Nov 8, 2014 3:00 pm -

Andreas Dibowski and FRH Butts Avedon at Malmö. Photo by Julia Rau.

With safety being the primary concern for anyone involved in the sport, research into the causes of falls on cross country is always being done in an effort to improve the safety element of eventing.

The Horse has published the findings of a study done by Heather Cameron-Whytock and Charlotte Brigden of Myerscough College in Preston, United Kingdom, which studied data surrounding cross country falls. A total of 2,002 horses and riders participating in one-day events at Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced levels were studied.

While many factors such as horse and rider age and experience level were taken into account, a strong correlation between the rider’s placing going into cross country and the likelihood of a fall was found. Heather and Charlotte were able to deduce that a rider who was in fourth through tenth position were half as likely to have a fall on cross country than those in the top three positions.

What contributes to this? Perhaps these riders were more willing to take risks, Heather pointed out in the findings. The pair also found that nearly 75 percent of the falls studied were due to rider error and/or inexperience.

It’s an interesting take on the ongoing study of the safety of the sport. You can read the findings of this study in the full article on The Horse. We want to know your thoughts, EN! What would you like to see studied as we continue to look for ways to improve eventing?

[Cross Country Falls Studied]

And the Best EN Decorated Pumpkin Is…

By Sally Spickard on Nov 8, 2014 1:30 pm -

Splashing into the Head of the Lake - by Collyn Smitherman.

We received a lot of great submissions for our pumpkin decorating contest. With prizes from ERS-Eventing and Omega Alpha up for grabs, you all certainly had fun with the contest and let your creativity show.

We put the finalists to a vote, and we’re pleased to announce the winners of the contest!

1st Place: Collyn Smitherman with her pumpkin depicting the big splash at the Head of the Lake. Collyn will receive a pair of Ovation Rhona Country Boots as well as a liter of Omega Alpha Sinew-X.

By Michelle Pestl.

2nd Place: Michelle Pestl with her Napoleon Eventing pumpkin. She’ll win a liter of Omega Alpha Sinew-X for her efforts.

Congratulations to our winners, and many thanks to all who sent in their pumpkins. We’d also like to sincerely thank ERS-Eventing and Omega Alpha for their support of this contest. Keep an eye out for many more contests as the holidays get into full swing.

Saturday Video: Maryland H.T. Cross Country

By Sally Spickard on Nov 8, 2014 12:00 pm -

Buzzterbrown was able to capture many of the Preliminary rides at Maryland Horse Trials last month. We love seeing videos from varying levels, as it really gives the opportunity for education as well as entertainment. Enjoy these 12 minutes of great footage, and be sure to stop by Buzzterbrown’s YouTube channel to see many more videos.

Danica Meyerhoff on Taking a Step Back

By Sally Spickard on Nov 8, 2014 9:00 am -

Danica and Utah B at Fair Hill in 2012. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Danica Meyerhoff is no stranger to the eventing scene. Competing with Utah B, Danica reached the three-star level while she and husband Bobby resided on the East coast. Although they had measured success at the level, something was still missing for Danica.

“I’m a pretty competitive person. We were doing well at the CIC level, finishing in the top five or top ten,” Danica said. “But I just couldn’t seem to duplicate it at the CCI level. It’s like I couldn’t quite get over that hump and finish super clean in the top ten or five in the CCIs.”

After picking up an elimination in the CCI3* at Fair Hill in 2012, Danica made the decision to step away from eventing for the time being. “I felt like there were some inconsistencies in my riding, particularly with the dressage and cross country,” she said. “I didn’t feel that I was in the right place, and it was really getting to the point where I wasn’t enjoying the sport anymore.

I kind of had the thought in the back of my mind that I wanted to do something else for the last year we were competing, but I just felt like I should keep pushing, and I felt like I was the only one who felt that way.”

Danica grew up in Canada and made frequent trips to Spruce Meadows to watch the jumpers compete. “I think I always knew that jumpers were really where my heart was, but I evented when I was a kid and it just seemed like a natural progression. But I knew I wanted to do more with the jumpers.”

Danica transitioned to the jumper ring, which was a difficult change. “I knew it was going to be hard, but not as hard as it was!” she recalled. “But I really wanted to improve my riding, and I was ready to take on something new.”

While competing as a jumper, Danica still kept an open mind when it came to eventing. Then came the cross country schooling fall that injured Bobby’s leg to the point where he would need several months out of the saddle to recover.

When we spoke with Bobby after his injury, he mentioned, halfway joking, that he was going to try to convince Danica to make a return to eventing in order to keep some of his horses in work. Sure enough, last weekend Danica dusted off her vest and took the young mare Celeste out at Twin Rivers in the Training division. The comeback was a success, as Danica piloted Celeste to a first place finish after finishing on her dressage score of 34.1.

Does this signal a return to the sport for Danica? “I think if the right horse came along, and I had the opportunity I would take it,” she said. “I would want to try to get back up to the upper levels, seeing how competitive I am.

That event was great because it really gave me confidence and I could feel that the holes in the my riding felt like they were filled in. I’ve always enjoyed all three phases, but after that event, I really enjoyed riding all three together.”

Taking a step back from the sport was instrumental for Danica. “Before, I would have feelings leaving the start box like ‘what if I screw up?’ or ‘what if I don’t get the perfect distance?’ I didn’t have the confidence, and I was afraid of not being perfect. (At Twin Rivers) I felt a difference in that I knew it was going to go well instead of wondering if it would, because I was much more confident in my riding.”

Danica still plans to continue her career in the jumper ring, but she’s happy to have made the return to eventing, even if it ends up being a temporary one. “I think it was really important for me to take a step back. I was feeling like I was giving up, and that I was the only eventer who felt that way, but when I made the decision I was shocked to find how many people could relate. For me, it was the right decision. Sometimes it’s good to step away and do something different for awhile, it really helps you improve and grow as a rider.”

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Eventing Cinema 2014 Winner

By Sally Spickard on Nov 7, 2014 4:30 pm -

British Eventing’s Eventing Cinema competition provides videographers the opportunity to showcase their skills by capturing the essence of the sport. The YouTube competition garners many entries, and this year’s winner has been crowned.

We’ve shared the video creations of YouTube user David Robinson (harveywetdog) here on EN previously, and we’re pleased that he’s been named the winner of this year’s Eventing Cinema competition with his compilation video from the Gatcombe Festival of British Eventing earlier this year.

David also won the “Winner of the Month” competition in August, which scored him tickets to Burghley this year. By winning the cumulative competition, David will receive a £1000 prize package from British Eventing and HorseHub.

“There are two principle motivations behind my videos,” David said in a release from British Eventing. “Firstly I simply want to attract viewers to the Harveywetdog channel but secondly, and more artistically, I’m looking for that perfect combination of light, horse, rider, action and background sound that gives you goose bumps when you watch it.”

You can read about David’s submission on British Eventing here, and be sure to stop by his YouTube channel to check out all of his other great videos. Congratulations, David!

Where Are They Now? WEG Horses Enjoy Vacation Time

By Sally Spickard on Nov 7, 2014 3:00 pm -

Shamwari 4 hams for the camera. Photo via the USEF Eventing High Performance Facebook page.

Another WEG year has come and gone, and the U.S. horses are enjoying some well-deserved downtime before being brought back into work. Horses are unique in that each individual requires a different training program. While some horses can come home from competition and go right back to work, others prefer to have some time to roll around in the pasture and be as lazy as possible before the work begins again.

Reggie looking scruffy and quite pleased with himself! Photo courtesy of Buck Davidson.

Fortunately, we as riders know our horses inside and out, and we know what program works best for each one. While some of the WEG horses have competed since traveling to France, others are still on vacation or are just now coming back into work. No matter what the plan is, it looks like they’re all happy and healthy – the biggest win at the end of the day.

So, how exactly are the WEG horses spending their downtime? We’ll give you three guesses, and we’re fairly confident you won’t need them all!

Tate with his Irish Draught friend. Photo courtesy of Meg Kep.

Manoir de Carneville with his Irish Draught friend. Photo courtesy of Meg Kep.

Looks like most of the horses’ days are filled with sunshine, grass, and maybe a pasture mate or two. Although it seems that Ballynoe Castle RM (Reggie) may have an extra babysitter keeping an eye out for him:

Riley, super groom Kathleen Blauth-Murray’s daughter, and Reggie. Photo courtesy of Buck Davidson.

And don’t forget everyone’s favorite Flying Deer, who’s just coming back into work after taking a vacation after WEG. We think he’s sharing some insight with himself on how to continue to take over the world:

Donner returns to work after two months off. Photo via USEF Eventing High Performance Facebook page.

We can’t wait to see these horses and their riders back out in action this spring, but in the meantime we’re happy to see everyone enjoying some much needed downtime after another grueling season. We’ll see you next year!

Katy Groesbeck Spreads Her Wings in Ohio

By Sally Spickard on Nov 7, 2014 10:30 am -

Roman Place and Oz the Tin Man settled in at Redtail Ridge Farm. Photo via Katy Groesbeck on Facebook.

Katy Groesbeck packed up her life and her most prized possession in Laine Ashker’s trailer last year after completing the Nutrena American Eventing Championships, bidding farewell to her California life to start a new chapter with Buck Davidson.

A year and many professional milestones later, Katy is ready to move on to the next chapter, settling in at Redtail Ridge Farm in Johnstown, Oh. to branch out on her own. “The plan was always to work with Buck for a year,” Katy said. “It’s been a little over a year now, and I feel ready to take on the next step as I work towards becoming an international rider.”

The idea of Ohio first came about when Katy’s boyfriend, Brett, took a job in Columbus. Since Katy’s time with Buck was winding down, she began to look at the possibility of moving her up and coming business to Ohio.

“It came up when Brett visited me at Caroline Martin’s farm, the time time when Conor Rollins was there,” Katy recalled. “Brett and Conor got to talking about how they were both from Ohio, and when the idea came up of me moving there, Brett suggested I talk with Conor about finding a barn.”

When Katy spoke with Conor, it was mentioned that Elinor MacPhail’s former home base, Redtail Ridge Farm, had open stalls. “I was put in touch with Sally Crane, and I was welcomed to come out with my horses to Redtail Ridge. I have the opportunity to ride, train, and teach here, and the community has just been amazing with making me feel welcome.”

Katy settled in for the first time out on her own, having worked hard under both Hawley Bennett-Awad and Buck Davidson until this point. “I decided to do the year of ‘higher education’ on the East coast with Buck instead of diving headfirst into going to Europe, and I feel like I’ve learned so much from both him and Hawley that I can take forward with me with this new start.”

Red Tail Ridge is “almost too good to be true” for Katy, who has hills, trails, schooling cross country fences, and arenas galore for her training needs. “I just couldn’t be any luckier in finding this. I’m so thankful to everyone who helped me find it and get settled in.“

What about Katy’s plans for her first few months as an Ohioan? “My six month plan is to get a truck and trailer, as I don’t have one now and that’s a big hang-up with competing. I plan to work hard and just kind of start from the bottom and go up from there. A year from now, I’d love for this to be my full-time job. I’d love to fill my days with riding and teaching.

I’ve already inquired about taking on more responsibility at the barn with things such as cleaning stalls and horse care, because I want this to be more than just my horses and my business. I want to really contribute to the local horse community here. There’s a Pony Club here that I plan on reaching out to so I can try to get involved with that, and I really just want to make this my livelihood.”

It’s a big move, but Katy’s already made the first big step away from her home in California, and she feels ready to take on this next step. “I’ve always found a way to make things work, and this time is no different. At first, moving to Buck’s, in the back of my head I thought I’d end up back in California.

But it’s kind of like stretching your hamstrings; when you first start, you can’t even touch your toes, and by the end of the year you’ve got your palms on the floor. Now that I made that big step to go East, I feel much more confident and comfortable with going out and spreading my wings.”

You can learn more about Katy by visiting her website, and be sure to check out Redtail Ridge Farm here. We wish Katy the best of luck in her new venture!

Weekly OTTB Wishlist Presented by Cosequin

By Sally Spickard on Nov 6, 2014 4:30 pm -

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 so many OTTB listings to sort through each week, the chinchillas are starting a savings account to take home all of the horses they love. While we aren’t quite sure they know exactly what it takes to be a horse owner, we sure do appreciate their dedication! In the meantime, check out our favorite listings from this week, and take one home with you so the chinchillas don’t have to.

Opera Hall. Photo via CANTER Ohio.

Our first listing this week is a 2009 filly by the name of Opera Hall. Standing 16.2 hands, this dappled filly (Monarchos – Sweet Potato Queen, by Tactical Advantage) will certainly turn heads in her next home. She’s been retired sound after 29 career starts and is currently at Thistledown Racing awaiting her forever home. Check out Opera Hall on CANTER Ohio.

Sorcerer’s Kid. Photo via CANTER Mid Atlantic.

Next up is a listing from CANTER Mid Atlantic, which always has plenty of eye candy to pore over. Sorcerer’s Kid (Sorcerer’s Stone – Cailoto, by Let’s Go Blue) is a 2010 gelding standing 16.2 hands with 20 career starts. He’s currently located at Mountaineer Park in West Virginia, and his trainer believes he will make a great partner for his new owner. Check him out on CANTER Mid Atlantic.

Johnny Meatballs. Photo courtesy of New Vocations.

It must just be the week of gray horses, as our final listing this week is another eye-catching gray. Johnny Meatballs (Dunkirk – Flip Cat, by Maria’s Mon) is a New Vocations horse with just two career starts. She’s a 2011 mare standing a petite 15.1 hands. She’s been declared sound for any discipline, and would be a great addition for a smaller adult looking for their next horse to bring along. Check out Johnny Meatballs on New Vocations here.

Wednesday Videos from KPP: Galway Downs Rewind

By Sally Spickard on Nov 5, 2014 3:00 pm -

Galway Downs has come and gone as the last big three-day of the season. It was a great way to send off 2014, with horses and riders traveling from all over the U.S. traveling to compete in California. Ride On Video has now posted recaps of both the cross country and show jumping competition, and you can also watch the entire PRO broadcast below. Miss any of our Galway coverage? Not to worry; you can catch up by clicking here.

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Eventing Community Rallies in Support of Nicole Hyden

By Sally Spickard on Nov 5, 2014 9:00 am -

Nicole Hyden and her family. Photo via Hope for Nicole on Facebook.

Nicole Hyden and her Dutch Warmblood gelding, Regalo, were competing at Fair Hill at Training Level in August when they had a rotational fall. Regalo, known as “Rebel” in the barn, walked away from the accident with no injuries, while Nicole was airlifted to Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del.

Doctors found that Nicole had fractured her C6 and C7 vertebrae and underwent two surgeries in three days. While the surgeries were successful, Nicole has now been diagnosed as a quadriplegic. She is currently undergoing three hours of physical therapy each day at Magee Rehabilitation Center in Philadelphia with her husband, Fred, by her side.

“There is substantial damage,” Fred said. “We just have to keep working and fighting to keep her spirit up, and she has been making great progress with her rehab.” She’s now been given the green light to take off her neck brace and has also been experiencing some ability to engage her quadricep muscles while attempting to stand without assistance.

This progress is encouraging, and while Nicole still has a long road ahead of her, her friends and family are bolstered by her vibrant spirit and refusal to give up, character qualities that also defined her life in the saddle. Nicole has years of experience as a horsewoman, having served as a mounted officer for the Newcastle County Police Department in Deleware in addition to competing in eventing.

“She was a Pony Clubber in her early days,” Fred said. “After college, she knew she wanted to join law enforcement because her father and uncle were both in the industry. She went on a ride-along and was hooked. She wanted to be an officer, and she wanted to be in the mounted unit. She spent some time as a detective working on domestic violence cases and continued to ride and compete outside of her career.”

Nicole and Cisco during her mounted years. Photo via Hope for Nicole on Facebook.

Nicole was promoted to Sergeant in 2000 and set her sights on joining the mounted unit. “She focused on creating a more proactive unit,” Fred said. “She soon had them out writing tickets and going on warrant attempts; before, they were more of a parade unit, and now they were writing as many tickets as a patrol squad. She really helped keep the unit going, and her focus was on keeping the horses in the forefront.”

She often went out on warrant attempts herself as a mounted officer, and she once led a chase on horseback of an individual who decided to flee. Nicole served with the Newcastle County Mounted Police Department until her retirement after 21 years on the job. She later worked with the University of Delaware Police Department and was promoted to the rank of Corporal last November.

Nicole and Fred are now preparing for their new life once she is released from the rehabilitation center, as their home will need equipment for outpatient therapy, as well as wheelchair accessibility. “We have an elevator to purchase and put in, and more modifications need to be made to the house,” Fred said. “Our house is pretty well set up, so once we get these modifications completed, it will be quite accessible for her.”

Nicole’s family is hosting a pig roast on Nov. 15 in Hockessin, Del., to help raise funds for the elevator and other modifications to the house. A 50/50 raffle and silent auction will also be held at the pig roast. Those interested in attending can visit the event page on Facebook here.

There is also a general fund set up to assist Nicole. Online donations can be made here, and checks can be sent to:

FOP Lodge 5
PO Box 652
Newcastle, DE 19720
Please write “Nicole Hyden” in the memo line of checks

The Fraternal Order of Police is a non-profit organization, and Nicole’s husband is the president of the Delaware chapter. All proceeds donated and sent to the lodge will be used to purchase what Nicole needs when she is released from the rehab center.

As eventers, we are a close-knit community. When one of us experiences tragedy, we all hurt. We reach out and help in any way we can, and Nicole’s case is no different. We are all pulling hard for Nicole as she goes through her recovery. The EN family would like to extend its most sincere well wishes to Nicole and her family.

You can follow along with Nicole’s progress on her Hope for Nicole Facebook page, where updates are regularly posted. You can leave an encouraging message for Nicole over on her Facebook page or in the comments below.

Go Nicole!

Tuesday Video from SpectraVET: Pacific Indoor Eventing

By Sally Spickard on Nov 4, 2014 3:00 pm -

The Pacific Indoor Eventing series in Southern California kicked off a few weeks ago, with divisions ranging from Starter to Intermediate. Riders from multiple disciplines competed to enjoy the new twist on eventing, and we’ve seen some great feedback about the show.

With winter rapidly approaching, indoor competitions can help keep our event horses on their toes through the long offseason. Integrating both stadium and cross country elements under one roof, indoor eventing has also helped many shows increase exposure and spectator enthusiasm for the sport.

The ever popular Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge at The Royal is coming up this weekend in Toronto. In the meantime, you can get your fix by watching the Pacific Indoor series courtesy of Ride on Video. What do you think, EN? Would you give indoor eventing a shot?

Why SpectraVET?

Reliable. Effective. Affordable.

SpectraVET is committed to providing only the highest-quality products and services to our customers, and to educating the world in the science and art of laser therapy.

Monday Videos from Tredstep Ireland: Icabad Crane Winds Down His First Season

By Sally Spickard on Nov 3, 2014 4:30 pm -

Graham and Anita Motion’s former star racehorse, Icabad Crane, has made waves in the eventing world this year after transitioning to a second career under the tutelage of Phillip Dutton. Not only has the 9-year-old gelding [Jump Start X Adorahy, by Rahy] had much success eventing this year, he also took home the big prize in this year’s Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover.

To bookend a successful first season as an event horse, Icabad Crane competed in the Open Training division at Virginia Horse Trials this weekend, finishing fifth in a competitive division with a double clear cross country run and two rails down in show jumping.

The Motions have already announced that Icabad will remain in training with Phillip for the 2015 season, so you can expect to see him out and about when the spring season kicks up. We can’t wait to see what else Icabad has up his sleeve, but in the meantime we’ll just sit back and watch his final 2014 event videos, courtesy of The Horse Pesterer.

Icabad Crane EN Coverage

Liz Halliday-Sharp Moving Operation to Florida for Winter

By Sally Spickard on Nov 3, 2014 3:00 pm -

Photo via Liz Halliday-Sharp on Facebook.

Liz Halliday-Sharp put an exciting announcement on her Facebook page this morning that she will be moving her training base to Ocala for the winter. She will be bringing sales horses as well as horses in training with her to compete in Florida through April 2015.

From Liz:

This month we will be taking the plunge and moving to Ocala, Florida with the horses until April 2015!! Very exciting and a little bit scary, but we are thrilled to take on a new adventure and opportunity! Along with a couple of my best horses that I will be lucky enough to have over to compete in the USA, Richard Sheane of Cooley Sport Horses and I will be bringing some fantastic Irish horses with us to sell that have been produced to a high standard in Ireland and the UK.

We are very proud of this new business venture – “Cooley Horses International” – and excited to see where this takes us! Photos, videos and information about all of the sale horses will be available on line soon on the Chailey Stud Equestrian Centre website and Richard Sheane International website. We are committed to showing top quality horses in an honest way and to let the horses do the talking. More information to come soon!

We’re excited to have Liz coming stateside for the winter, and we’ll bring you more updates on Liz’s new winter training base as it becomes available. Congratulations to Liz and all of her connections on this new development!

: Photo via Liz Halliday-Sharp on Facebook.

: Photo via Liz Halliday-Sharp on Facebook.

: Photo via Liz Halliday-Sharp on Facebook.

: Photo via Liz Halliday-Sharp on Facebook.

17 Combinations Set to Take On Adelaide CCI4*

By Sally Spickard on Nov 3, 2014 1:30 pm -

Chris Burton and Tempranillo. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The final CCI4* event of the year will commence on November 13 in Adelaide, Australia, and the entries have gone live with 17 pairs entered currently. Click here to check out the full entry list.

The Adelaide event has always been one on our bucket list, and the park setting the cross country is run in is unique in its own right. We can’t wait to see what new changes will be unveiled with the course this year.

Five pairs entered will be making their four-star debut, and there are also several seasoned campaigners returning for their shot at the top honors. With 2014 winner Chris Burton not returning this year, the door is open for Sonja Johnson and Belfast Mojito, who were second last year, to sweep in for the win.

There are also several pairs who have been around this event many times in the past. Jessica Manson and Legal Star will be looking for their third trip around Adelaide this year, while a few of the horses entered will be looking for their first completion here.

Sam Griffiths, an Australian native who trains in Great Britain, was also slated to appear in this year’s event, but an emergency trip to the hospital for appendix surgery has nixed those plans. We wish Sam the speediest of recoveries and hope to see him back out and about soon.

Adelaide CCI4* Links: [Website] [Entries]

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