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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

Ryan Wood, Nicholas Hansen Win at Virginia + Other Scores

By on Nov 2, 2014 4:25 pm -
Nicholas Hansen and Will Smith with their winnings. Photo via Nicholas on Facebook. Nicholas Hansen and Will Smith with their winnings. Photo via Nicholas on Facebook.

The CCI* at Virginia Horse Trials has wrapped up, and it was Ryan Wood and Nicholas Hansen who took home the wins in the two divisions. Ryan and Powell held onto their overnight lead with a double clear stadium round in the spooky Coliseum today to clinch the win.

Many riders often comment on the unique factor of having the show jumping indoors at this event. As eventers, we’re used to being outside in the elements for all three phases, so coming inside is always a change. Rails fell frequently in the CCI* divisions, with just three out of 35 jumping clear with no time in the CCI* and two out of 10 jumping double clear in the junior CCI*.

Ariel Grald and GHF Jonah picked up second place in the CCI*, steadily moving up from 10th after dressage to sixth after cross country. You can view this pair’s quick and clean cross country, courtesy of The Horse Pesterer, below:

Click to enlarge.

Click to enlarge.

Nicholas Hansen has his eye on an Intermediate move-up this winter after picking up the win in the junior CCI* aboard Will Smith. Nicholas posted on his Facebook page that Will was “foot-perfect” through the whole weekend, and it looks like this pair is heading to Florida to work on the skills needed to make the step up a level.

Ema Klugman and Bendigo had the other double clear round of this division to move up from fifth to take second place. Annelise Aurillo and Peace Proposal had two rails down to finish their weekend in third place.

The junior CCI* division was significantly pared down after cross country, with seven pairs failing to complete and one withdrawing before show jumping.

Virginia CIC2*/CCI1* and H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Times] [Scores]

Click to enlarge.

Click to enlarge.

Michael Pollard and Halimey returned to their winning ways at Rocking Horse this weekend, picking up first place in the Open Intermediate division. After retiring on cross country at Fair Hill, Michael re-routed the Trakehner stallion here and likely picked up some more confidence for this horse with two clear jumping efforts.

Jonathan Holling and our favorite named horse this weekend, Tequila Persuasion, also put in two clear jumping phases to take home second place, followed by Hallie Coon and Celien.

Rocking Horse Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Scores]

Screenshot_5

Vote for Your Favorite EN-Style Pumpkin

By on Nov 2, 2014 10:30 am -
Chinch thinks these pumpkins need a face lift. Chinch thinks these pumpkins need a face lift.

Well, Halloween has come and gone again. We didn’t get much in the way of trick-or-treat kids this year, and I will say that was quite disappointing. But, I did entertain myself by looking through all of the amazing pumpkins you sent our way.

We announced a pumpkin decorating contest last week, inviting you to send in your creatively decorated pumpkins for a chance to win prizes from ERS-Eventing and Omega Alpha.

We’ve received several great entries, and we’ve got them right here for you to vote on to decide the top two finishers. First place will receive a pair of Ovation Rhona Country Boots and a liter of Omega Alpha’s Sinew-X. Second place will receive a liter of Omega Alpha’s Sinew-X. Who will the lucky winners be?

The poll will close on Wednesday, November 5 at 5 p.m. EST, so be sure to get your votes in early. We’ll announce the winner shortly after the poll closes. Good luck to all of the finalists!

"The Headless Horseman Goes Eventing" - by Grace Netter.

“The Headless Horseman Goes Eventing” – by Grace Netter.

One-handed Headless Horseman, inspired by Andrew Nicholson - by Brittnie Chidsey.

One-handed Headless Horseman, inspired by Andrew Nicholson – by Brittnie Chidsey.

By Maren Kernan.

By Maren Kernan.

By Beth Johnson.

By Beth Johnson.

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

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

By Michelle Pestl.

By Michelle Pestl.

USEA pumpkin by Sarah Buchanan.

USEA pumpkin by Sarah Buchanan.

 

Sunday Videos: Action from Galway Downs and Virginia H.T.

By on Nov 2, 2014 9:00 am -

It’s been a busy weekend across Eventing Nation, as the West Coast hosts the Galway Downs International Three-Day Event and the East Coast holds Virginia Horse Trials. Ride On Video has been posting video footage from Galway, while our good friend Thehorsepesterer has been providing us with great videos from VHT.

Here’s a smattering of footage to kick off your Sunday morning. Click here to see Thehorsepesterer’s full playlist from VHT, which now includes videos from dressage, cross country and show jumping. Click here to see Ride On Video’s full lineup of footage from Galway Downs.

Ryan Wood Claims Virginia HT CIC2*

By on Nov 1, 2014 5:00 pm -
Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett at Richland Park. Photo by Kasey Mueller. Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett at Richland Park. Photo by Kasey Mueller.

It was Ryan Wood’s day to shine today on cross country in the CIC2* at the Virginia Horse Trials, coming home clear with just .2 time penalties to clinch his overnight lead. The cross country mainly just took time, with three pairs managing to come home double clear.

Daniel Clasing and Crimson were one such double clear, finishing on their dressage score to take home second place after holding third overnight. This mare is a promising talent for Daniel’s string, and this marks her second runner up finish in an FEI division to date. We talent-spotted this mare earlier this year, so be sure to read up on her here.

In third place in the CIC2* are Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett, moving from fourth into third on a double clear run. What a weekend for Ryan – many congratulations are in order!

Screenshot_13

Meanwhile, the CCI* divisions ran cross country today, which proved to be influential in the overnight standings. Ryan Wood has taken the lead, moving up from second, aboard Powell after turning in a double clear run.

Sitting in second overnight are Marc Grandia and Indio BMW, who were able to move up from third to second. Overnight leaders Allie Knowles and On the Rocks elected to retire on course after picking up 40 penalties.

Moving up from fifth to third after cross country are Cindy Anderson Blank and Two Tickets, on their way to their best FEI placing to date in their CCI debut should they hold onto or improve on their position.

The scores are not updated in order currently, so visit this link to view the current standings after cross country.

For the junior CCI* division, Nicholas Hansen and Will Smith climbed their way from fifth to first after cross country today. Will Smith was formerly piloted by Danny Warrington, and Nicholas is making his first FEI start with Will this weekend.

Also making moves up the standings are Victoria Hain and Carpe Diem VII, who added seven time penalties to their dressage score for a two-day score of 58.4. Annelise Aurillo and Peace Proposal moved from 10th into third overnight.

Just one of the top four riders after dressage completed cross country, thus cementing this weekend’s competition as anything but a dressage contest. 11 pairs will move forward to the final inspection tomorrow.

Visit this link to view the current standings in the CCI*JY division.

Be sure to visit The Horse Pesterer on YouTube to check out videos from the weekend. We’re very glad to be able to live vicariously through him as the East coast season wraps up in style.

Virginia CIC2*/CCI1* and H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Times] [Live Scores]

Andrew Nicholson Steps Down from New Zealand High Performance [Updated]

By on Nov 1, 2014 4:10 pm -
Andrew Nicholson and Nereo at WEG. Photo by Jenni Autry. Andrew Nicholson and Nereo at WEG. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Andrew Nicholson has voiced his dissatisfaction with the New Zealand high performance program by stepping down following a public falling out with the vet charged with the care of his WEG mount, Nereo, in August.

In an interview with the New Zealand Herald, Andrew said that he is removing himself from future affiliations with the high performance program after the standard of care for Nereo after a grueling cross country run did not meet his expectations.

“I was so disgusted I decided to take myself out of the high performance programme,” Andrew said. “My dissatisfaction with the vet was purely over Nereo’s welfare, which I make no apology for prioritizing at all times.”

According to the Herald, Nereo was placed on a routine IV drip for rehydration following the cross country competition. Andrew does not believe that priority was placed on Nereo’s welfare on a day that claimed many victims on the cross country.

Andrew told the Herald that Nereo was left without veterinary care on multiple occasions. “That’s not what you expect at a world championships for a horse of that caliber,” Andrew told the Herald.

What implications will this decision have on the future of the New Zealand program? Certainly Andrew is a staple for this team, and his absence from future world teams will most certainly be noticed. We’ll provide more updates on this story as it develops.

[Nicholson Stands Down]

Update: Equestrian Sports New Zealand has posted a statement:

A statement from Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance director Sarah Harris regarding an article in today’s Herald on Sunday.

“We have two formal processes under way at the moment – one a debrief about the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and the other our annual performance review with High Performance Sport New Zealand.

Once that review and debrief are complete, we will look closely at any feedback to ensure we continue to improve all of our programmes.

It is incorrect (in the HOS article) that a complaint was made to the world’s governing body’s judiciary committee. Any complaints would firstly be dealt with by ESNZ, but no official complaints were laid following WEG.

The welfare of our horses and riders are of the highest priority to us and our riders. Andrew Nicholson is one of our most celebrated athletes at elite level.”

Galway Downs CCI3* Live Cross Country Updates: Buck Stands Alone, Boyd Retires

By on Nov 1, 2014 4:02 pm -
Fence 23 Fence 23

The cross country for the CCI3* is just about to get underway at Galway Downs, and we’ll have live updates coming through here. Will Buck and Boyd duke it out for the lead, or will another pair step up to challenge? We’ll find out shortly!

Optimum time for the CCi3* is 10 minutes.

#GalwayDowns: Website,Schedule, Entry Status/Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, CCI3* Preview, CCI3* Course Preview,PRO TV

5:03 p.m. EST: Mackenna Shea and Landioso are the last on course and are home with just the one unlucky 20 early on. Jolie Wentworth and Bunnie Sexton both withdrew, so that wraps up the day. Stay tuned for updated scores and a full report!

5:01 p.m. EST: Buck’s done it! He didn’t quite get the fastest trip but he will retain his lead with just 5.6 time added for a two-day score of 50.0.

4:59 p.m. EST: Buck Davidson turning for home with Copper Beach. Can he come home quick enough to keep his lead?

4:54 p.m. EST: Boyd and Trading Aces have a refusal at 19A and will retire. It’s all on Buck now to retain the lead.

Fence 19

Fence 19

4:53 p.m. EST: Mackenna picks up an early 20 at fence 3, the first combination.

4:52 p.m. EST: Buck and Boyd joined on course by Mackenna Shea and Landioso.

4:51 p.m. EST: Buck is really putting the gas pedal down on Copper Beech.

4:50 p.m. EST: Buck Davidson and Copper Beech are out on course to duke it out with Boyd.

4:46 p.m. EST: Boyd Martin and Trading Aces have set out on course.

4:45 p.m. EST: Kaitlin Veltkamp and Flashpoint D have a fall at fence 12. Both are up and ok.

4:44 p.m. EST:

4:43 p.m. EST: 3.6 time for Barb Crabo and Everready – they’ll take over the lead and the honors of the fastest time.

4:40 p.m. EST:

4:39 p.m. EST: Maya and Doesn’t Play Fair are also just a few seconds over – she’s taken the lead on a 54.8. Well done, Maya!

4:38 p.m. EST: Plantation Field winners Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair having a very smooth round, they’ve just gotten home and are really just putting the icing on top of a great season here.

4:35 p.m. EST:

4:34 p.m. EST: Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek now own the fastest time of the day with 7.6 time penalties.

4:31 p.m. EST: Time is proving impossible to get. Definitely going to be influential today. Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato have the quickest of the day so far, just 16 seconds over time.

4:31 p.m. EST: Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek showing their professionalism through this course.

4:27 p.m. EST: Olympian Gina Miles and SVR Ron are on course.

4:24 p.m. EST: David Acord and Reins for Justice have 40 penalties but are back on their way after re-presenting.

4:23 p.m. EST: So far the three-star is riding superbly. Lots of positive rides coming in.

4:23 p.m. EST:

4:18 p.m. EST: Clayton Fredericks helping commentate now and reminding us that Ian encourages riders to think positive from the outset and keep moving forward.

4:17 p.m. EST: Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato are also having a lovely round so far. Attack the course – seems to be a good plan so far.

4:15 p.m. EST:

4:08 p.m. EST:

4:05 p.m. EST: Jen McFall and High Times are the first out on course.

Galway Downs CCI2* Live Cross Country Updates

By on Nov 1, 2014 2:16 pm -
The track at this fence has been altered for both the CCI2* and CCI3*. The track at this fence has been altered for both the CCI2* and CCI3*.

It’s been an unusual day at Galway Downs today – rain forced the delay of the start of cross country today due to some changes being made to the course to account for the standing water and mud.

The cross country was originally scheduled to get underway at 9:20 a.m. PST, but it was pushed back two hours to begin at 11:20 a.m. PST with the CCI2*. The CCI3* will follow, and the day will end with the CCI* cross country.

Optimum time for the CCI2* after the modifications is 8 minutes and 5 seconds.

We’ll be bringing you live updates off of the PRO radio broadcast right here in this post, so you’ll want to refresh this page to see the latest updates. Here’s to fast, clean, and safe trips around Ian Stark’s challenging course today!

#GalwayDowns: Website, Schedule, Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, PRO TV

3:55 p.m. EST: We’ll have a two-star report coming after cross country for the CCI3* concludes.

3:48 p.m. EST:

Screenshot_10

3:46 p.m. EST: We apologize for any errors in the live updates, as there was a bit of confusion as to who was where on the course. Dana Chase, it turns out, did not fall from Aerolite as reported earlier.

3:44 p.m. EST: Top 3 after cross country: Marilyn Little – 56, James Atkinson – 56.7, Dana Chase Aerolite – 60.4

3:43 p.m. EST: Check out the detailed cross country results here.

3:49 p.m. EST: Castle Larchfield Purdy making light work of the first half of the course.

3:36 p.m. EST: Lauren Billys and Castle Larchfield Purdy will be the last pair on course.

3:36 p.m. EST: Marilyn Little and RF West Indie keep a .7 lead over James Atkinson and Gustav with 12 time penalties. What a nail biter tomorrow will be!

3:30 p.m. EST: Marilyn Little and RF West Indie on course now.

3:17 a.m. EST: A fall at 8A for Dana Chase and Aerolite, they’re both on their feet.

3:16 p.m. EST:

3:14 p.m. EST: Kimmy Steinbuch and Pikture This have retired and will walk home.

3:11 a.m. EST: Megan Lepper and De Mello retired at fence 13.

3:09 a.m. EST: The riders are going out of order, so we apologize for any confusion here or on the Twitter page.

3:01 p.m. EST:

2:59 p.m. EST: Bea di Grazia and Lad’s Night Out came home with 24.4 time penalties

2:57 p.m. EST:

2:54 p.m. EST: Back underway now – Martha McDowell and Bea di Grazia were both held.

2:52 p.m. EST: Correction: It looks like the hold was for repairs after Gina had a hairy jump in and moved the log.

2:49 p.m. EST: Gina Economou and Calidore have a fall at the Charles Owen Splash, causing the course hold. Will provide more updates as they are announced.

2:49 p.m. EST:

2:48 p.m. EST: Buck Davidson’s strategy for later today? “I think I’ll push Boyd out of the tower.” #inittowinit

2:46 p.m. EST: Buck Davidson stopped by to comment on Martha McDowell and Nabouco De Lessay’s ride through the water complex – he gives the ride a thumbs up.

2:45 p.m. EST: Bea di Grazie and Lad’s Night Out are clear through the first water at 10 and making everything look like cake so far.

2:41 p.m: Second place overnight Bea di Grazia and Lad’s Night Out are on course now.

2:40 p.m. EST:

2:37 p.m. EST: Lucia is back on her feet.

2:36 p.m. EST: Lucia Strini has fallen from Petit Filou II and the horse is currently lose. Medics are attending to Lucia.

2:34 p.m. EST:

2:33 p.m. EST: 12.4 time for Caroline Martin with a time of 8 minutes and 36 seconds.

2:31 p.m. EST: A runout at 13b for David Acord and Sasha Fierce. Caroline Martin is home, waiting on her time now.

2:30 p.m. EST:

2:29 p.m. EST: Caroline Martin still having a great go aboard Spring Easy. James Atkinson and Gustav as well as David Acord with Sasha Fierce are also on course.

2:27 p.m. EST:

Screenshot_9

2:26 p.m. EST: Caroline Martin and Spring Easy easily through fence 8.

2:24 p.m. EST: Lauren Billys retires Ballingowan Ginger after two refusals at fence 8.

2:21 p.m. EST: Here are your CCI2* top 10 before cross country. Lauren Billys and Ginger are clear through 4.

Screenshot_8

2:19 p.m. EST: Lauren Billys and Ballingowan Ginger are the trailblazers for the CCI2*, and they’re on their way.

Ryan Wood Flies High in Virginia HT CIC2*

By on Oct 31, 2014 4:00 pm -
Ryan Wood and Woodstock Wallaby at Bromont. Photo by Leslie Wylie. Ryan Wood and Woodstock Wallaby at Bromont. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

A big season-end destination for many East coast eventers, Virginia Horse Trials ran dressage today, with the CIC2* also show jumping. In the CIC2*, Ryan Wood and Woodstock Wallaby brought home one of just three double clear rounds to take over first place after lying second after dressage.

Taking the lead after dressage with a score of 51.1, Whitney Mahloch and Military Mind had 20 penalties during show jumping to drop them down into 12th place going into cross country. This is Whitney and “Milo’s” third two-star run, and they’ll be looking to improve upon a 59th place finish at Plantation Field in September.

Tiffani Loudon-Meetze and Hap will take second place in the two-star into cross country day after a clear round today in show jumping. This is Hap’s second start at this level, having moved up to Intermediate this year.

In third place overnight will be Daniel Clasing and Crimson, who moved up from 14th with the third double clear of the division. 20 horses in all will move forward to cross country tomorrow.

Screenshot_3

In the CCI*, Allie Knowles and On the Rocks take the lead after scoring a 38.4 in the dressage, the only pair to break into the 30s in the 46-horse division. This is the Dutch Warmblood mare’s first full season at Preliminary, and this event is her FEI debut, so Allie will be over the moon with such a great first day showing.

Ryan Wood and Powell scored a 43.1 for second place overnight. P0well, an Oldenburg gelding, is making his CCI debut this weekend in the one-star, coming off of a second place finish in the Prelim at Morven Park earlier this month.

Marc Grandia and Indio BMW are in third place going into tomorrow, scoring a 45.9 in what is another FEI debut. This is an exciting field full of young and promising talent, so we’ll be keeping an eye on Virginia as the weekend progresses.

Screenshot_4

There is also a Junior/Young Rider CCI* running, Paige Crotty with Cooley Dawn Raid will take the lead after dressage on a score of 51.9. This pair has accumulated several wins at the Preliminary level this year, including a win in the CIC* at Plantation Field last month.

Kaelen Speck and Sweet Rebellion are in second on a 53.4. This pair finished seventh in the CCI* at Bromont this summer and will be looking for an even better finish this weekend as they look ahead to the jumping phases.

In third overnight is Paige Crotty’s second ride, Bantry Bays Winston. This horse was first in his last run at ESDCTA New Jersey in the Prelim, and they’ve chipped away at their score from their last FEI start at Plantation Field, scoring a 56.3.

Screenshot_5

Virginia CIC2*/CCI1* and H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Times] [Live Scores]

Vote for the Caption That! Contest Winners, Presented by Tredstep Ireland

By on Oct 31, 2014 1:30 pm -
Photo courtesy of Shanon Baker. Photo courtesy of Shanon Baker.

We launched our latest Caption That! contest this week, and we got some downright hilarious responses for the photo sent in by Shanon Baker. The winner will take home a top-notch Tredstep Ireland Futura Sport Top, so the competition is definitely fierce.

So, we want to get your input on who submitted the best caption suggestion. Please vote for your favorite in the poll below. The poll will close on Monday, Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. EST, so vote early!

Here are the nominees for the best caption:

  • “You’ve got a little something there…no, right there….here, let me get it for you” — Celeste Hotze
  • “Yum, love when you wear the apple moisturizer!” — The Parker Family
  • “Not enough money for a facial? Here, let me help you out.” — Lizzie Sauter
  • “Hmm…tastes like chicken!” — Jill Fischer
  • “She suddenly regretted using that apple lotion…” — Lindsey Burns
  • “Keep calm and give me your peppermint lip balm.” — Diane McNelis
  • “Equine french kiss – it’s all about the tongue!” — Lisa Vesper
  • “How many licks does it take to get to the center?” — Amelia Proto

Many thanks to all who submitted captions — it was far too difficult to select our finalists! We did also get a few identical submissions (great eventers think alike!), so in the interest of fairness, we chose the one that was received first.

Who gets your vote for best caption?

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Galway Downs CCI3* Course Walk

By on Oct 31, 2014 12:00 pm -

Walk the CCI3* cross country course with designer Ian Stark and Frankie Thieriot as they highlight the changes and challenges in this year’s track, as well as talk about some of the CCI2* and CCI* courses. Be sure to also check out our fence-by-fence preview of the CCI3* course here and follow along with all our coverage of the event so far here.

Go Eventing.

#GalwayDowns: Website, Schedule, Entry Status/Times, Live Scores, EN’s Coverage, CCI3* Preview, CCI3* Course Walk, PRO TV

Weekly OTTB Wishlist Presented by Cosequin

By on Oct 30, 2014 1:04 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!

The time has come for us to check our savings accounts and the number of empty stalls in our barns, figuring out if there’s a way to add a new horse to the herd. We’ve got our eye on some top-notch OTTB prospects this week. Don’t forget, if one of these horses finds its way to your barn, we want to hear from you!

Esson. Photo via CANTER Ohio.

Esson. Photo via CANTER Ohio.

First up this week is a listing from the Ohio chapter of CANTER. Esson is a 5-year-old Kentucky Bred gelding by Derby winner Afleet Alex (whose show of heart on the track went down in the history books). He was still racing at the time this listing was published, but had been deemed sound to continue in any discipline. Visit Esson’s listing here to find out more information.

Photo via Retired Racehorse Project.

Photo via Retired Racehorse Project.

This leggy mare is a 2008 mare offered on the Retired Racehorse Project’s classifieds page. Meg has A.P. Indy in her bloodlines and was retired sound from racing in June. She’s now looking for her new forever home – could your barn be it? Visit the RRP classifieds to find out more!

Photo courtesy of New Vocations.

Photo courtesy of New Vocations.

Our final listing this week is a handsome gelding by the name of Langley Field, offered for adoption from New Vocations. Langley Field won $14,211 on the track and last raced in August. He was retired sound and has been declared suitable for any discipline. This guy has personality to boot, and will really thrive with an owner who can spend the time making him their own. Stop by New Vocations to check out Langley Field and many more available horses.

Rolex Kentucky Tickets Go On Sale Friday

By on Oct 29, 2014 4:37 pm -

As you’re preparing for your winter eventing lull, here’s a reason to look forward to spring: Rolex tickets will go on sale this Friday, October 31 at 9 a.m. EST.

Just in time for your Christmas wishlist or your year end bonus, general admission and reserved tickets will be available for purchase. You can visit the Rolex website to purchase your tickets.

If you’ve not yet made the pilgrimage to Lexington, mark 2015 down as the year to do it. The entry list is always packed with seasoned veterans such as William Fox-Pitt and Phillip Dutton, as well as newcomers who are making their four-star debut.

As we did in 2014, we’ll be profiling the newcomers to the level as well as bringing you the latest news and coverage from the event itself.

It promises to be yet another exciting year in the Bluegrass State, so get your tickets early and start planning your trip. We’ll see you there!

USEF Prohibits Use of Helmet Cameras [Update: Banned at Galway Downs]

By on Oct 29, 2014 3:19 pm -
Maya Black and Doesn't Play Fair at Plantation Field. Photo by Jenni Autry. Maya Black and Doesn't Play Fair at Plantation Field. Photo by Jenni Autry.

The USEF has made an announcement today that the use of helmet cams has been prohibited at all USEF licensed and/or endorsed competitions. This ban is pending the completion of an independent expert report examining the safety impact of using the devices.

Shortly after British Eventing announced the suspension of the use of helmet cams due to research showing that safety may be compromised by, competitors at Fair Hill were informed that helmet cams would not be allowed during competition.

British Eventing released a statement after the announcement of their ban that the decision came after researchers pointed to a helmet cam as the possible cause of a ski competitor’s helmet shattering, resulting in a brain injury.

As more information on the safety study is released, we will provide more information. In the meantime, you’ll want to tuck your helmet cams away until further notice.

Update: Galway Downs announced in this afternoon’s rider meeting that the event has banned helmet cams in all divisions, no exceptions, per the request of the USEF and FEI.

[Announcement from the USEF Regarding the Use of Helmet Cameras]

[British Eventing Statement]

Wednesday Video from KPP: Get Excited for Galway Downs

By on Oct 29, 2014 12:00 pm -

We posted a promotional video that Ride On Video put together a few weeks ago in anticipation of Galway Downs. If you live in a non-saturated area of eventers, it’s always fun to see how events in other areas are being promoted.

Ride On Video also put together a TV spot for this weekend’s events in an effort to attract spectators and more supporters of the sport. We know we’d come running if we saw this commercial on our screens in between Walking Dead episodes.

Competition will officially commence tomorrow, and Jenni will be on the ground today to bring us the latest updates. Go Galway!

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Galway Downs Approaches: A Social Media Collection

By on Oct 28, 2014 4:30 pm -
Another thing eventers are good at: organization! Photo via Jennifer Wooten on Facebook. Another thing eventers are good at: organization! Photo via Jennifer Wooten on Facebook.

Galway is almost upon us, and we’re thrilled to be heading out to California to cover the event alongside PRO TV. It will definitely be a great way to wrap up the bulk of the season, and we can’t wait to get on the ground and get started!

We’re getting the feeling that our sentiments are echoed by those who are competing this weekend. Many riders are making the trek to the West coast (or returning to their old stomping grounds) this weekend, which means plenty of long-distance travel was involved.

SM Galway Ellen Doughty

Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon will be contesting the CCI3* this weekend, which required a lengthy haul from Ellen’s base in Texas. We’re positive that the trip will be worth the trip, Ellen!

SM Galway Lizzie Snow

The weather is looking promising for the weekend, as we’ve come to expect from sunny California.

SM Galway Emily

Other heavy hitters will be on hand, even if they don’t have horses in the three-star.

Karen O’Connor is also making the trip west…

Meanwhile, even though some didn’t have quite as far of a distance to cover, they still arrived with relief that the trip had gone without incident. Jordan Linstedt has had more than her fair share of trailering issues this year, so we’re happy to report that she arrived safely at Galway with no incidents to report!

SM Galway Jordan

Meanwhile, we’re all counting down the days until the event officially begins. You can find a schedule of events and much more on the Galway Downs Facebook page. In the meantime, keep your eyes on EN for the latest and greatest coming from California!

SM Galway

Tuesday Videos from SpectraVET: Waredaca Three-Day

By on Oct 28, 2014 3:00 pm -

It’s always a great feeling to watch a long-format event. It brings back memories of watching (and, for some of us, riding!) the different phases of cross country at Rolex and the other events around the country.

While there are a plethora of opinions on the concept of bringing back the long format at upper levels, the fact remains that this format is still a great learning opportunity for those competing at the lower levels.

This past weekend, Waredaca held its annual Novice and Training Three Day competition, and the competition was fierce throughout. Thanks to RNS Video, we’ve got footage from both the Novice and Training divisions. You can visit the RNS YouTube page for even more videos from the weekend.

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.

 

A Horse of a Different Color: Austin

By on Oct 28, 2014 12:00 pm -

"A Horse of a Different Color" features horses and ponies that have been successful in the sport of eventing while representing a unique breed. This week, Melissa Laird shares the store of her off-colored horse, Austin. Do you have a horse that you think would be a great feature subject? If so, email [email protected].

Melissa Laird and Austin at Pre-Training Championships. Photo courtesy of Ian Woodley. Melissa Laird and Austin at Pre-Training Championships. Photo courtesy of Ian Woodley.

From Melissa:

Austin is not a rare breed, but he is a lovely shade of blonde. He is a 7-year-old Palomino gelding by Guaranteed Gold (Cremello TB) out of Bauhaus (Dutch WB/TB). I bought Austin three days before his third birthday as an unbroke, scrawny little guy from his breeder, Christine Hahn of Ontario.

I backed him myself and have been his only rider ever since. He was a dream to break, acting as if he’d been a riding horse his entire life! He’s always had an excellent work ethic and loves to be ridden. I always thought people were crazy when they would say their horses enjoyed going in the show ring, but Austin really is one of those horses.

We can have a bad warm up, or run out of time, or something might throw us off our game but he goes into the dressage ring, or show jumping or leaves the start box and he just perks right up. It’s really funny because he will be the biggest grump in the barn, but as soon as he’s tacked up, he goes to his happy place.

I took him to a couple schooling shows as a four-year-old, but he didn’t do his first full event at Entry level until he was five. He handled everything like an old pro except for maybe over-jumping a few of those little jumps. We ended up coming home with first place after a great dressage test and going double clear.

Melissa Laird and Austin at OHTA Championships. Photo courtesy of Andrew Bailini.

Melissa Laird and Austin at OHTA Championships. Photo courtesy of Andrew Bailini.

I suffered a back injury that summer and was unfortunately unable to ride at all for six months immediately after that event. Winter came along, and I was able to start riding again and worked slowly to gain my strength back. We worked diligently all winter to get back to where we were originally, even debated upgrading him to Pre-Training in the coming season.

When show season rolled around, Austin was handling everything we were throwing at him so we decided to just go for it and see how he did. Yet again, we came home with first place. I was so proud of him! We continued to compete at Pre-Training for the 2013 show season, continuously winning or placing in the top three.

He is such a reliable partner and even without having a ton of experience under his belt, he would regularly save me on course if I made a mistake. He genuinely loves being out on cross country and really keeps looking for the next fence. We ended up going to the Ontario Horse Trials Championships at Cedar Run Horse Trials and we were in second going into show jumping.

The course was very difficult with a ton of rails and only two clear rounds for the entire division. Yet again, Austin proved that he was a competitor and my little super star and we pulled off a clean round winning us the Champion title. I was absolutely thrilled and couldn’t stop smiling. We ended the year as the Year End High Point Champion for Senior Pre-Training.

Melissa celebrating her win with Austin. Photo courtesy of Alain Arroyo.

Melissa celebrating her win with Austin. Photo courtesy of Alain Arroyo.

This year, we did one event at Pre-Training to start us off, but decided he was ready for  the upgrade to Training.  After competing for the last 12 years of my life, I have never competed at Training and was pretty terrified to be honest. I was confident that Austin would always try his best though and thought ‘why not?’

Sure enough, we entered our first Training level event at Grandview Horse Trials and put in a solid dressage test and actually went double clear in both jumping phases. We came home with first place again. What an accomplishment! I was thrilled, Austin was tired… He pulled out all the stops for me, he attacked whatever I pointed him at, and we had never felt like more of a team than that day.

We did three more Training level events, the last one being the OHTA Championships again – this time placing fourth over the hardest course we’d ever seen, going clear cross country, but an unfortunate rail dropped us from second place. He is a phenomenal partner to ride out there and I can always trust that he will try his hardest in whatever I ask him to do, even if he’s unsure.

Austin is one of a kind with a huge personality that takes some getting used to. He likes to think that everything is his idea, and as long as I pretend it is, everything goes perfectly. Just don’t tell him I fake it!

He always stands out in the show ring and people always tell me how much they wish they had a Palomino. I think his colour matches his personality perfectly. He’s a stand out guy that wants everyone to look at him – as long as he’s not eating his grain!

I couldn’t have done this well without my excellent coach, Sarah Roberts, who has taught Austin and I so much over the last couple years and given us a ton of confidence and my awesome barn mates at AwayzAway Farm in Ontario. Now it’s time to buckle down for the winter again and hope we come out just as strong as we went in.

We Love Volunteers: Carolina Horse Park

By on Oct 28, 2014 10:30 am -

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. We'll kick it off this week with some volunteer stories from Carolina Horse Park. This week, Margaret Crevar sent in some great stories surrounding the long-time volunteers at the Carolina Horse Park. Do you have a volunteer story you'd like to share? Send it to [email protected].

Pat Gibson and Vicki Reynolds at Carolina Horse Park. Photo courtesy of High Time Photography. Pat Gibson and Vicki Reynolds at Carolina Horse Park. Photo courtesy of High Time Photography.

From Margaret:

Let me tell you about a few very important volunteers from the Carolina Horse Park.

Pat Gibson: Pat is the Volunteer Coordinator for all the recognized Horse Trials (four each year), unrecognized Starter Horse Trials (six each year) and Pipe Opener Combined Tests (two each year).  She recruits all the volunteers, makes sure they get the jobs they want, work with their “conflicts”, and even fills in for slots that she cannot get filled.

Without her, Carolina Horse Park would not be able to run these events because, as you know, these events don’t happen without volunteers.

Now for a few stories. Earlier this month, Carolina Horse Park had a Starter H.T. where they offered Beginner Novice through Training (on the same courses as their earlier recognized HT), but they added Maiden and Green as Grass divisions.  The two stories I have are from volunteers who helped with these lower divisions:

Vicki Reynolds was the jump judge at the large water jump.  With the lower divisions, there were several horses who did not want to go through the water. She allowed the riders to try to get them through the water until they were eliminated due to refusals.

Instead of telling them to leave the jump, she got up and helped the riders get their horses through the water. This extra effort on her part made the unexpected end to a cross country ride a very happy experience for these competitors who are new to eventing.

There was also a Technical Delegate who requested not to be named. Towards the end of the day we had a long time volunteer who was doing her very first Horse Trial. She was very, very nervous. She got around her stadium course in a very slow manner and then headed out to cross country.

This particular TD saw that she was nervous and was going to be slow, so he followed her in his golf cart so that he could pull her to the side as other riders passed her. This extra support for this competitor meant the world to her and she came off the course with a grin the size of Texas.

Decorate Your Pumpkin EN Style and Win from ERS-Eventing and Omega Alpha

By on Oct 27, 2014 4:40 pm -
Chinch thinks these pumpkins need a face lift. Chinch thinks these pumpkins need a face lift.

Halloween is right around the corner, and the chinchillas been been busy carving pumpkins and getting candy ready for the neighborhood kids. We got to thinking about pumpkin decorating and how creative people are getting these days.

So, what better way to commemorate fall and Halloween than a pumpkin decorating contest? We thought so, too. Here’s the scoop:

What do you need to do?

Decorate a pumpkin as creatively as possible – carving, painting, magic marker, any method you’d like to use is acceptable. Think zombie chinchillas, the headless horseman diving into the Head of the Lake, or a creative take on insanity in the middle.

How to participate?

Send a photo of your creation to [email protected] with the subject line “Pumpkin Insanity” no later than Friday, October 31 a 5 p.m. EST.

How will we choose the winner?

We’ll be selecting the best photos and putting them in a poll over the weekend.

What’s up for grabs?

Ovation Rhona PS

Our gracious sponsors ERS-Eventing and Omega Alpha are putting in prizes for this contest. First place will receive a pair of Ovation Rhona Country Boots, which are a great option for a boot to stylishly rock around the barn.

Omega Alpha Sinew X

The winner will also receive a liter of Sinew-X joint supplement from Omega Alpha. A runner-up will also be chosen to receive a liter of Sinew-X.

Let’s see those insane pumpkins, EN! Happy Halloween!

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: Negotiating Skinny Fences

By on Oct 27, 2014 3:00 pm -

The skinny fence is a popular option used by course designers to test a horse and rider’s communication and ability to stay straight. They can look rather unassuming, but the width of the fence makes it much more of a technical question that a standard galloping fence.

The positioning of horse and rider, as well as the pace and balance, all must be efficiently managed in order to safely negotiate a skinny fence. British Eventing published a brief tutorial with some insight on these fences, and it’s definitely worth a watch.

What is your favorite type of fence to jump on cross country? Do skinnies make you quake in your boots? Are you a skinny master? Share your stories in the comments below!

PRO and EN Join Forces for PRO TV Live Broadcasts

By on Oct 27, 2014 12:20 pm -
Buck Davidson and Absolute Liberty at Galway Downs last year. Photo by Bill Olson. Buck Davidson and Absolute Liberty at Galway Downs last year. Photo by Bill Olson.

After a successful first PRO TV broadcast at Plantation Field International Horse Trials last month, we’re excited to announce that PRO and EN have teamed up as partners to further the goal of bringing live streams of major U.S. events to eventing fans everywhere. The next broadcast is scheduled for Galway Downs this weekend, with a full schedule in the works for 2015.

Spencer Sturmey and Samantha Clark will continue to lead the commentary team, and new feature segments with our own Jenni Autry will be introduced. Live Twitter feeds will also become part of the broadcast so that eventing fans can interact with the broadcast.

“This is a solid partnership for PRO TV,” Buck Davidson, Vice President of the Professional Rider’s Organization, said. “Each of the partners brings their strengths to the table and we believe that we complement each other very well.” We’re very excited about the new partnership and can’t wait to get started at Galway Downs. Maybe Chinch will make an on-camera appearance too!

The PRO TV broadcast from Galway Downs will feature the CCI3* division, which is part of the PRO Tour Series, with the live stream set to begin at 2 p.m. PDT/5 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Nov. 2.

PRO TV is broadcast on the PRO TV Livestream channel, and the live stream will also be embedded here on EN. A Livestream app for TV, iPhone, iPad and Android can also be downloaded from the iTunes Store and Google Play. Just follow the PRO TV channel to receive automatic updates on any schedule changes.

There are sponsorship opportunities available for segments and in-stream video advertising for the PRO TV 2015 broadcast schedule. Anyone interested in these opportunities can contact either PRO or Eventing Nation.

[PRO and EN Join Forces for PRO TV]

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Watch 22 Minutes of Fair Hill CCI3* Cross Country

By on Oct 27, 2014 9:00 am -
Click image to view video.

Click image to view video.

Fair Hill International has come and gone again this year, and just when we were hankering to relive the action, Buzzterbrown comes through with some great video footage from the CCI3* cross country.

Fair Hill is a great way to preview some of the pairs who may be headed for Rolex in the spring. We spotted Jimmy Wofford out and about throughout the weekend, and we know he’s probably working on his Rolex preview even as we speak. This event was a great prep run for some and left others knowing they needed to head home to work even harder.

We particularly like Buzzterbrown’s style of slowing down the footage after some jumps so that we can see them both at full speed and in slow motion. It’s a great educational experience to see every little detail in action for these talented combinations.

Many thanks to Buzzterbrown for recording some more great video, and you can check out our coverage of Fair Hill by clicking here.

FEI Classics: Pau Wraps Up in Grand Fashion

By on Oct 26, 2014 4:30 pm -

It was a great weekend in France, as Ingrid Klimke finally got her first CCI4* win and the North American contingent put in solid efforts to finish well up the leaderboard in the top 10.

“I’m very proud,” Ingrid told FEI TV. “He was superb on cross country and in the stadium, although he was quite excited, he was still listening, and I really enjoyed it. I really tried to stay in my box and say ‘wish it, dream it, and now do it!'”

It was a great showing for the German team, with Ingrid and Andreas Dibowski taking the top two placings, further solidifying the country’s reputation as some of the best event riders in the world.

We’d once again like to thank all of those who helped Pau go off successfully, sending all horses and riders home safely, which is the biggest goal at the end of the day. Thanks to John Kyle for his great commentary throughout the weekend – we had a great time following along!

#Pau2014: Website, Cross Country Times, Live Scores, Free Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, USEF Eventing High Performance Facebook, @LesEtoilesdePau