Become an Eventing Nation BloggerRichland Park wrapped up another great summer event this weekend, and Michael Pollard and Mensa came out victorious in a competitive division. RNS Video was on hand to capture the action, and they’ve got footage from the second water complex on course.
Keep an eye out for some scrappy rides and some effortless rides to boot. Who gets your vote for best ride through the water? Post your pick in the comments!
Team Canada has arrived! Photo via Sarah Braun.
The great migration has commenced, and the USA and Canadian contingents are packing up their respective layover spots and heading to Normandy. WEG week is officially here, EN, and we’re not sure we could be any more excited.
Jenni’s suitcase is overflowing with patriotic pride.
Wylie’s suitcase contains an equal amount of red, white, and blue ridiculousness.
Jenni and Wylie are putting the finishing touches on their packing for France and, while we’re not quite sure where the sequin skirt or the American flag bikini top will fit in, clearly the patriotism is through the roof for these two. Or perhaps it’s been brought on by sleep deprivation.
Wylie has promised that if Team USA can #bringbackthegold, all of these items will be worn at the same time for an epic photo op. Hear that, Team USA? Our hopes rest on your shoulders now!
Don’t leave the Canadians out of the mix! Photo via Sarah Braun.
Team Canada has arrived in Normandy and already has their team spirit on full display. Why do I have this strong feeling that Chinch will want some serious selfie time with the two Canadian mascots pictured above?
Gin & Juice settles right into her new digs in Normandy. Photo via Sarah Braun.
In case you’re wondering what Meg is referring to in her Facebook update, check this out:
Beautiful Stadium for World Championship in France #WEG2014@normandie2014 waiting for Hesters turn @HesterDressagepic.twitter.com/Ek2iQ9JB9p
— Ruy Fonseca (@RuyFonseca) August 25, 2014
That’s right, get your raincoats ready because it’s looking like a sloppy start to WEG week one!
Buck and Reggie take a spin in Normandy. Photo via Kathleen Blauth-Murray.
We’ll have much more from the first day of WEG, so stay tuned and go eventing!
Photo via Jennie Brannigan's Facebook page.
Another whirlwind weekend is wrapping up, and we’re once again amazed at our new number guru Maggie’s predictions for the Richland Park Advanced division. Earlier this week, Maggie predicted the top finishers in both the CIC3* and the Advanced divisions, and she successfully picked Michael Pollard and Jennie Brannigan to win it all. We’re beginning to think she’s just a psychic, so feel free to ask her for winning lottery numbers if you see her around.
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda took second place into show jumping, earning a 30.0 in the dressage and adding a handful of time on cross country. Marc Donovan’s show jumping course once again proved to be challenging and influential, and Jennie produced one of three double clear rounds to take over the top position from overnight leaders Erin Sylvester and No Boundaries.
Erin Sylvester had a rockstar weekend, continuing to show off No Boundaries as a truly competitive horse. Erin had two rails down in the show jumping but will still take home second place and plenty of bragging rights after winning the dressage. Maggie predicted that Erin would finish in third place with a score around 50.8; Erin finished on a 44.8.
Lauren Kieffer and Lucky Devil, Maggies fifth place pick, picked up third place, moving up from fifth after a double clear show jump round.
Richland Park CIC2*/3* & H.T. [Website] [Times] [Live Scores]
In the CCI2* at Colorado Horse Park, Tiffany Cooke and Patent Pending added a double clear show jump round to their weekend, solidifying the win over Cynthia Wiseman and Vote Yes.
Stuart Black and Tre Du Kernat produced one of just two double clear show jumping rounds today to win the CCI*. We reported in our Weekend Welcome that Stuart had been having a great year with this gelding, and their success continued this weekend.
Olivia Carter and My Mitch had one rail down to drop into second for the weekend, and Megan Noelle Wilson with Ghypsy moved from fourth into third overall.
Colorado Horse Park CCI1*/2*, T3D, & H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]
At Shepherd Ranch, Kimmy Steinbuch and Pikture This picked up the win in the Open Preliminary division, finishing on their dressage score of 27.8. Dressage leaders Tristen Hooks and Learning To Fly will take home the red ribbon, and Marissa Nielsen and Cicero Z round out the top three.
Shepherd Ranch SYVPC H.T. II [Website] [Scores]
Astier Nicolas winner of the CCI3* @BCIHT #Blair2014 pic.twitter.com/bGQ8cLO3YH
— Blair Horse Trials (@BCIHT) August 24, 2014
The leaderboard changed hands after each phase of the CCI3* at Blair Castle this weekend, making for an exciting finale in the show jumping today. Astier Nicolas and Quickly Du Duguet quietly moved up the leaderboard throughout the weekend, adding nothing to their dressage score to take home the top prize and a £4,500 purse. Astier earned a 50.2 in the dressage to sit in 18th place. After one of the handful of double clear cross country rounds, Astier moved into seventh place going into the final phase today. They went on to be the only pair who finished on their dressage score.
“She is an amazing jumper and really competitive, she is very fast on the cross country and I heard that Blair Castle was like the Tour de France in the mountains,” Astier said in the press conference, according to a Blair Castle press release. “So we thought it would suit her; it had a great atmosphere above the trees. It was also a good idea to come to Blair this year in preparation for the Europeans next year.”
Flora Harris finished in 2nd place in the CCI3* @BCIHT #Blair2014 pic.twitter.com/oewgw7MIaW
— Blair Horse Trials (@BCIHT) August 24, 2014
Great Britain’s Flora Harris and Amazing VIII, third after cross country, had one rail down but were still able to move up to finish second on the weekend. Also riding for Great Britain, Louise Harwood and Whitson also moved up a spot, from fourth to third, after having one down today.
The show jumping proved to be quite influential, with several pairs who were sitting much lower able to move into the top 10 once the dust settled.
Leading after cross country, Gwendolen Fer and Romantic Love picked up nine penalties on show jumping to drop into fourth place overall. Louise Svensson J Hde and Wieloch’s Utah Sun round out the top five, enjoying a clear round to move from 11th to fifth.
Blair Castle Links: [Website] [Live Scores] [@BCIHT] [Blair Facebook] [BCIHT Instagram]
Screenshot via CNN Equestrian.
CNN has been making a big effort to broaden its international sport coverage, and the Equestrian coverage has focused heavily on the World Equestrian Games recently. This morning, a preview of WEG was published, and the list contains some exciting highlights to be sure to watch over the next few weeks.
Eventers get a shout-out in the fourth bullet point on the list, “Relish the Royals.” Zara Phillips will be riding for Team Great Britain this year with her veteran partner, High Kingdom, just months after giving birth to her first child, Mia.
What list wouldn’t be complete without mention of Andrew Nicholson? As the equine sport world looks ahead to the 2016 Olympics in Rio, New Zealand powerhouses Andrew Nicholson and Mark Todd get a mention on this list as notable names to watch for both Normandy and Rio.
CNN also makes mention of countries that are sending athletes to WEG for the first time. 12 countries will be represented for the first time, which is a great nod to the growth of equine sport internationally.
You can check out CNN Equestrian’s full list of things to watch at WEG here.
What would you add to the list, EN? We want to know what’s on your must-see list. Post your suggestion in the comments below!
An adorable Yorkie named Elvis has become eventing’s biggest canine fan, and he’s following along with the happenings in Normandy as Team USA looks to take a stand on the podium next weekend. Elvis is owned by Mary Ann Ghadban, who is a big eventing supporter and the owner of Sharon White’s ride, Under Suspection.
Elvis poses with his new best friend, Phillip Dutton, at Great Meadow. Photo by Mary Ann Ghadban.
Elvis attended the WEG Prep Trial at Great Meadow last month, rubbing shoulders with some of the best and making friends with some of the members of the USA’s WEG eventing team.
Elvis’ snazzy outfit for Great Meadow.
Elvis is always finding new ways to show his support for eventing. From making sure the cross country crowd at Jersey Fresh sees his profession of love for Sharon and Under Suspection (“Pippy”) to donning the red, white and blue to cheer on Team USA, he’s always ready to take his super fan ways to the next level.
Elvis showing some love for Sharon at Jersey Fresh this year. Photo via Mary Ann Ghadban.
In true WEG spirit, Elvis wants to wish Team USA the best of luck as they compete in Normandy next weekend. Mary Ann and Elvis are big supporters of the sport, and we appreciate all that they do to show their spirit and have a few laughs while they’re at it.
If you’d like to become an Elvis fan, be sure to check out the Elvis Loves Eventing Facebook page for the latest updates. Many thanks to Mary Ann for sharing her photos and adorable dog with us!
Go Elvis!
All (horse) paths lead to Normandy. That was the undercurrent of the opening ceremony for the 2014 World Equestrian Games yesterday. After a colorful and exuberant National Delegations Parade, the party kicked off with 30 acts of visual effects and fluid choreography depicting both Norman and equine history.
No stone was left unturned, and the latest technology was embraced as lights and projectors painted pictures of oceans and deserts on the floor of d’Ornano stadium. No less than 300 exhibitors, 100 or so of which were mounted, danced, spun, and galloped their way through the stadium, displaying everything from the Vikings to Pegasus.
You can view photos from the opening ceremony on the Normandy 2014 website. Last night’s festivities marked the official open of the World Equestrian Games, and we couldn’t have asked for much more from the opening ceremony; it was fantastically produced and a real treat to witness.
If you missed the live show, the replay is available on FEI TV here if you are a subscriber. Also, don’t forget that Universal Sports will be showing 14 hours of WEG coverage, so check out the broadcast schedule here.
Earlier this week, we somehow acquired five FEI TV subscriptions to give away to five of our readers. All that you needed to do in order to enter was either subscribe to our weekly newsletter or email us to let us know that you already receive it. Pretty simple!
We’ve drawn five names to be the lucky winners of a one year subscription, just in time to catch all of the WEG action! The winners are:
Katy Schroeder
Amy Frey
Kaila Orr
Holly Caccamise
Nancy Jones
Congratulations to all winners! You’ll be receiving an email containing your subscription code.
If you’re already an FEI TV subscriber, or you plan on subscribing in order to watch WEG, click here to check out FEI TV and here to see the broadcast schedule for WEG.
It’s finally here! The moment we’ve all been waiting for — the 2014 World Equestrian Games are upon us, and the opening ceremony is starting momentarily.
Refresh this page for all of the action, and if you’re an FEI TV subscriber, the ceremony will be streaming live here.
Go WEG!
All Things WEG: Website | Definite Entries | WEG Facebook | @normandie2014 | EN’s Coverage | EN’s Preview | FEI TV
5:09 p.m. EST: “Goodnight to all, and long live the World Equestrian Games!” That’s a wrap from Normandy. Let the games begin!
5:08 p.m. EST:
A beautiful opening ceremony. As the chains break, the night is over and the games begin #WEG2014 pic.twitter.com/RgrXC6rCxx
— PhelpsSports.com (@PhelpsSports) August 23, 2014
5:04 p.m. EST: Wrapping up a fantastic and mind blowing display in Normandy.
5:02 p.m. EST:
The constellations came to life in the Stade d’Ornano tonight. @Alltech #WEG2014
— Alltech (@Alltech) August 23, 2014
4:59 p.m. EST: Pegasus.
4:57 p.m. EST: Spectacular.
that’s something ! #WEG2014 vous pourrez dire que vous y étiez ! #JEM2014 https://t.co/xyskU3hsmm
— Normandie2014 (@normandie2014) August 23, 2014
4:55 p.m. EST: Call me a basket case, but I might be getting a little misty eyed over here.
4:53 p.m. EST: Freedom!
4:49 p.m. EST:
From mountains, to Vikings and art to sport, we have seen nothing short of extraordinary #WEG2014 pic.twitter.com/IiBEe076Yg
— PhelpsSports.com (@PhelpsSports) August 23, 2014
4:47 p.m. EST: Now this is a chess game I can get on board with!
4:44 p.m. EST:
La tapisserie de Bayeux à l’honneur #JEM2014 #WEG2014 #normandy https://t.co/m8N5PWXbES
— Normandie2014 (@normandie2014) August 23, 2014
4:42 p.m. EST: How cool is this?
4:38 p.m. EST: Battle ready!
4:32 p.m. EST: We agree.
Amazing opening ceremony so far #WEG2014
— TrotOnline (@TrotOnline) August 23, 2014
4:31 p.m. EST: Vaulting demo!
4:25 p.m. EST: Synchronized half-passes! Is this even real life?
4:21 p.m. EST: Fancy, fancy. And some airs above the ground.
4:20 p.m. EST: What’s your favorite color? All of them!
4:13 p.m. EST: New dressage idea: Perform your test under these lights:
4:12 p.m. EST: Reiners in the house!
4:09 p.m. EST: Holy cow, the Vikings are here! The visual elements of this ceremony are incredible.
4:05 p.m. EST: Horseball demo!
4:03 p.m. EST: So You Think You Can Dance: Normandy Edition. Way better than anything on FOX.
3:58 pm EST: Goosebump factor: max.
3:56 p.m EST: This adorable little girl and huge Percheron are walking around a map on the floor of the stadium.
3:55 p.m. EST: OK, this is really cool.
3:53 p.m. EST: Pitch black in the stadium as top secret ceremony about to kick off! The title scene is called “Sagittarius.”
3:49 p.m. EST: Our friends with the cool hats are back now.
3:45 p.m. EST: Kevin Staut taking the sportsmanship oath on behalf of the athletes.
3:44 p.m EST: And the flags are up!
3:42 p.m. EST: Prime Minister Manuel Valls has officially declared the 2014 World Equestrian games open!
3:35 p.m. EST: #CHINCHFORPRESIDENT
3:33 p.m. EST: Princess Haya takes the podium. Will it be Chinch up there four years from now? #chinchforpresident
3:28 p.m. EST: We’re feeling the love.
Wow! The atmosphere has reached a whole new level as the crowd welcome the home team into the stadium #TeamFrance #WEG2014
— Alltech Equine (@AlltechEquine) August 23, 2014
3:25 p.m. EST: So beautiful.
3:23 p.m. EST: The crowd goes wild for their home team.
Entrée de la délégation française sous les applaudissements nourris du public #JEM2014 https://t.co/Q55FCpxYMk
— Normandie2014 (@normandie2014) August 23, 2014
3:21 p.m. EST: These guys are here to party:
3:20 p.m. EST: And the home team has gotten the crowd in a frenzy!
2:11 p.m. EST: Something special, indeed.
Impressive. Fantastic. Great. Seriously, we’re gonna live something unique Twitter #WEG2014 pic.twitter.com/nFHqAsSYU7
— Normandie2014 (@normandie2014) August 23, 2014
3:07 p.m. EST: Those Stars and Stripes sure do look good!
3:05 p.m. EST: Team New Zealand in the house!
3:04 p.m. EST: Anyone else have goosebumps?
3:00 p.m. EST: Go Team Ireland!
2:55 p.m. EST: In comes Great Britain, definitely one of the key teams to beat in eventing.
2:54 p.m. EST: GO USA!!!!! #MERICA Everyone looking very sharp in their Hermes jackets.
2:52 p.m. EST: Well-known eventing commentator Ed Holloway is doing the FEI TV commentary for the Opening Ceremony, and he’s giving a nice shout out to all the countries competing in eventing. Thanks, Ed!
2:48 p.m. EST! GO CANADA!!!! #camericanpride
2:47 p.m. EST: Shout out to the Brazilian eventing team!
#selfie #WEG2014 @normandie2014 @MinderhoudHP pic.twitter.com/vYG1dLAoLo
— Edward Gal (@edward_gal) August 23, 2014
2:44 p.m. EST: Heads up in the main arena! Loose child!
2:42 p.m. EST: HUGE cheer for Team Australia. No glimpse of the eventers this time either. C’mon, FEI TV!
We wish everyone an enjoyable #WEG2014 opening ceremony! Now LIVE on FEI TV http://t.co/Dte4Vbk4ZK — The FEI (@myfei_home) August 23, 2014
2:40 p.m. EST:
We didn’t get a glimpse of Michael Jung on FEI TV when Germany came by, but we know he’s there, just waiting to kick major butt next week.
2:39 p.m. EST: South Africa leads the way as the first nation out.
Belle ambiance pour la cérémonie d’ouverture ! #JEM2014 #WEG2014 https://t.co/B5Q3732Fcc — Normandie2014 (@normandie2014) August 23, 2014
Team GBR delegation ready to march @normandie2014 opening ceremony pic.twitter.com/cndxb12jVZ — Team GBR (@TeamGBR) August 23, 2014
2:35 p.m. EST: Nice hat! The Republican Guard of France kicks off the Parade of Nations, which will feature a whopping 74 countries.
2:30 p.m. EST: The festivities are about to begin!
Michael Pollard and Mensa at Richland CIC3* in 2013. Photo by Samantha Clark.
We’re officially handing the title of Number Nerd Queen to Maggie Deatrick, who successfully predicted the top two finishers in the CIC3* at Richland Park this weekend. We’re still scratching our heads to figure out exactly how she did it, but we’re impressed nonetheless!
Maggie predicted a top finish from Michael Pollard and Mensa with a score around 56.1 based on their past performances. Michael did one better and beat Maggie’s predicted score, ending the weekend with just two time penalties on cross country for a 51.6. Michael had one rail down over Marc Donovan’s show jump course yesterday and turned in one of the quicker cross country runs today to move from second into first overall.
Michael was thrilled with his weekend, and equally impressed with Maggie’s winning prediction. “It pretty much went right to plan,” he said. “(Mensa) was quite good on the flat, especially considering he’s had a pretty easy summer since I’ve been gone a lot. He had a great show jumping round, we had the second to the last fence down when he rolled the pole coming out of the double. We’ve been working a lot with Silvio, getting ready for the (WEG) Selection Trials, and while we didn’t get to use him there it definitely came in handy here. He jumped really well.
“Today he was just a dream; I was really able to run him out of stride and I was fast without really having to push anywhere, which is really what you want. We had a couple of hard rains in Thursday and it softened the ground just enough. The ground here is really well established and they do a great job with the footing. It’s nice to have a well put together event like this in the summer, so I love it.”
Michael will let Mensa have a lighter fall season, targeting Poplar and Morven Park. “I thought about trying to take him to Fair Hill, but with his age and him going so well I want to preserve him and see if I can’t get him back to Kentucky next year and work on a few things that will get him even better placed than this year.”
Sharon White and Under Suspection likely came out with a vengeance today over Ian Stark’s cross country course, and they also proved Maggie right, finishing second on a score of 53.1. Sharon also bested Maggie’s predicted score of 58.0, which is never a bad scenario in our opinion. Sharon is taking “Pippy” to Boekelo for a crack at the CCIO3* this fall, and this was a great prep run for the mare as she prepares for Europe.
Overnight leaders Emily Beshear and Shame On the Moon had a clean run today, accumulating 12 time to take home third on the weekend. As we stated before, this is the mare’s first three-star attempt, so Emily was likely going for education over time, and she’s sure to be thrilled with a solid showing for “Delta.”
Maggie’s dark horse pick, Mackenna Shea and Landioso, picked up fourth place, picking up just time to finish in fourth place. Mackenna and Landioso are also heading to the CCIO3* at Boekelo this fall on a USEF Land Rover Competition Grant, and this pair has to be feeling confident in preparation for their first trip overseas.
Sharon White’s second ride, Wundermaske, rounds out the top five, finishing on a 59.4. Dressage leaders Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair unfortunately picked up a Mandatory Retirement. We are awaiting word and will update this post once we have more information.
UPDATE 2:15 PM EST: Bloggers Row writer Courtney Carson let us know that Maya and Doesn’t Play Fair fell at a big table near the end of the course. Both were up and OK. We will continue to provide more updates as we have them.
Richland Links: [Website] [Entry List] [Live Scores] [CIC3* By The Numbers] [CIC3* Competitor Preview] [Advanced By the Numbers]
Cross country at Blair Castle. Photo via the Blair Castle Instagram page.
Cross country has completed at Blair Castle, and France’s Gwendolen Fer has taken over the lead after a clear and fast run today. Gwendolen was sitting in third place after dressage and added nothing to her score of 44.6.
Five pairs were able to produce double clear runs today. Overnight leaders Liz Halliday and Fernhill By Night unfortunately picked up a heartbreaking 20 on course, dropping them down into 22nd going into stadium jumping.
The new leaderboard contains several pairs that enjoyed a good bump up after turning in strong showings on course this morning. Lucy Wiegersma and Mr. Chunky moved up to second from sixth place, and Flora Harris with Amazing VIII will lie in third going into show jumping after moving up from fifth.
A glance at the scores reveals that the cross country appears to have ridden fairly well. Six out of 27 finishing pairs picked up jump penalties, three riders chose to retire on course, and one was eliminated.
The Scottish Open Championship CIC3* is also running this weekend, and Nicola Wilson with One Too Many currently leads after show jumping. This is a huge division, with 64 horses moving on to cross country, so it’s sure to be a hotly contested championship.
Nicola only has .5 penalties worth of breathing room, with Lucinda Fredericks and Flying Finish hot on her tail. Emma Dougall with Belcam Bear are in third going into cross country, followed by Kevin McNab and Clifton Pinot.
Blair Castle Links: [Website] [Live Scores] [@BCIHT] [Blair Facebook] [BCIHT Instagram]
Up close and personal with the Caber Farm cross country course. Photo via the Caber Farm Facebook page.
Now that we’re tailing towards the end of summer, I’ve got one extra reason to get excited about the weekends: football! You may have figured this out last year, but football is one of my favorite weekend pastimes, especially during the eventing off-season. It’s definitely a good way to pass the time while waiting for the next event coming up.
Fortunately, though, the eventing season is far from over! So football will stay on my back burner while the season is in full swing, and I’m not complaining about that! We’ve got Richland Park updates coming to you later on as the three-star and Advanced divisions take on cross country, and don’t forget about Liz Halliday leading the CCI3* at Blair Castle after dressage. USA for the win!
Richland Links: [Website] [Entry List] [Live Scores] [CIC3* By The Numbers] [CIC3* Competitor Preview] [Advanced By the Numbers] [CIC3* Cross Country Preview]
Blair Castle Links: [Website] [Live Scores] [@BCIHT] [Blair Facebook]
Colorado Horse Park has a busy weekend: they’re running divisions from Beginner Novice through CCI2*, with a Novice and Training Three-Day thrown in the mix as well. Phew! Hats off to everyone who has worked hard to make this staple mid-country event.
Competition got underway on Friday, and Tiffany Cooke with Patent Pending currently lead the CCI2* after scoring a 52.8 in the dressage. Cynthia Wiseman’s Vote Yes scored a 63.8 for second place.
In the CCI*, Olivia Cliver and My Mitch lead on a 45.9, followed by Stuart Black and Tru de Kernat on a 49.1. This is Tru de Kernat’s first CCI*, and Stuart has had a solid year with the Selle Francais gelding so these two should be well prepared to have a competitive weekend. Erin Kober and Tommy Two round out the top three on a 50.3.
Colorado Horse Park CCI1*/2*, T3D, & H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]
Shepherd Ranch, in Santa Ynez, Ca., also has a busy weekend, running Introductory through Preliminary divisions as well as a team challenge. Tristen Hooks and Learning to Fly scored a 26.5 in the dressage to lead going into cross country in the Open Preliminary. Tristen has been campaigning this horse at the Preliminary level for a couple of years now, and the Holsteiner gelding has proven to be quite the solid citizen at the level. The pair have finished no worse than second in every event since 2012 – quite impressive!
Kimmy Steinbuch and Pikture This aren’t giving Tristen much breathing room, however, earning a 27.8 to take second place into cross country. Frankie Thieriot and Chatwin are also well within striking distance in third on a 28.3.
Shepherd Ranch SYVPC H.T. II [Website] [Live Scores]
In the Pacific Northwest, Caber Farm is hosting its annual horse trial, which also includes Championship divisions. Mary Burke and Prince William currently lead the Open Intermediate on a 35.6. This Thoroughbred gelding has had success at this level after moving up late in the 2013 season, so expect this pair to be tenacious with the lead as the weekend progresses.
Ashley Loucks and Dominic Q are lying in equal second with Anna Collier and Gleaming Road after scoring a 35.9. Both Dominic Q and Gleaming Road bring loads of experience to the table, so this division will be exciting to watch unfold.
Rebecca Buehler and Brighton lead the Intermediate Championship division on a 28.2 after dressage. This is another experienced pair who bring a lot of experience to the table. They’re pursued in second place by Anni Grandia and Chaos, followed by Allison Sparks and Mystic Mojo.
Caber Farm H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]
EN loves photos shot between the ears! If you happen to be out for a hack, are riding in some obscure place or just take some cool photos aboard your mount, send them to [email protected] with a quick blurb about the photo’s story. This week’s View is a two-fer, coming to us from Amy Raczkowski of Okatie, S.C.
From Amy:
Roscoe (owned by Holly Evans) and I out on a wonderful hack on Spring Island in Okatie, S.C. I think Roscoe is in pony paradise with all that green grass!
Out on a morning hack along the water with Tucker (owned by Shelly Karol) on Spring Island in Okatie, S.C. Tucker seems to like the view too!
Emily Beshear and Shame on the Moon at Millbrook. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It was all about a flashy gray mare on an overcast gray day at Richland Park. Marc Donovan’s course proved not to be an issue for Emily Beshear and Shame On the Moon, who are contesting the mare’s first CIC3* this weekend.
Emily and “Delta” moved up from third to first with one of five double clear rounds for the day. Emily has said in the past that she was still in the earlier stages of her partnership with this mare, and it appears that the cylinders are really clicking for these two as they prepare for cross country.
Bloggers Row writer Courtney Carson was in attendance for the show jumping today and reported that the footing was rather slick and that rails were flying throughout the division. Aside from Emily, four other pairs produced double clear rounds: Sharon White with Under Suspection, Jessica Bortner-Harris with Win the War, Kendal Lehari with Totally Frank, and Avery Klunick with In It to Win It.
Several other pairs came home with no rails but some time, including Mackenna Shea and Landioso and Sally Cousins with both of her rides, Tsunami III and Westerly.
Overnight leaders Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair had one rail down to drop them to second going into cross country, but they’re still ahead of Maggie’s prediction of third place for the weekend. Maggie has predicted a score right around 58.9 for Maya this weekend, so she’s right on target going into cross country.
Sharon White and Under Suspection enjoyed a nice bump up in the standings after also producing a double clear round, moving them into third place. Sharon and “Pippy” were picked to go home with second place on the weekend by Maggie’s shiny new database, and she’s certainly well within striking distance to make good on that prediction.
Michael Pollard and Mensa bring up fourth place with one rail down going into cross country, and Mackenna with Landioso round out the top five. The top five are separated by 5.8 penalties, so it is still anyone’s game with Ian Stark’s cross country course up next.
Photo courtesy of Courtney Carson.
Today also marked a big day in EN history, as it was the official debut of the shiny new EN jump designed by Brody Robertson Show Jumps! Brody’s jumps were used at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington and have appeared at major events all over the country. If you’re in need of some well built and creatively designed jumps, be sure to check out Brody’s products, and keep an eye out for the EN jump at upcoming events.
We’ve heard from some sources that our jump caused a bit of trouble on course in the CIC3*, and the chinchillas would sincerely like to blame the liverpool underneath for any inconvenience caused.
Cross country will kick off tomorrow morning, so stay tuned for much more from Richland Park!
Thank you to Tamie Smith for video of Avery Klunick and In It to Win It’s beautiful trip:
Richland Links: [Website] [Entry List] [Live Scores] [CIC3* By The Numbers] [CIC3* Competitor Preview] [Advanced By the Numbers] [CIC3* Cross Country Preview]
Jock Paget and Clifton Promise at Badminton. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Jock Paget has just posted a statement on the Paget Eventing Facebook page addressing the FEI ruling concerning Clifton Promise’s positive test for the banned substance, Reserpine.
Both Jock and Kevin McNab were exonerated from the charges by the FEI on Aug 7. Both riders had returned to competition already after their competition ban was lifted, and Jock will be representing New Zealand at WEG next week.
For the last 10 months I have not been able to speak about my personal situation because of the on-going legal process associated with the contamination of Clifton Promise during Burghley 2013. I’d like to take the opportunity now to firstly thank all of those who have supported me, up close and from afar from the very start.
The thing which has humbled me most is the people that have supported and believed in my innocence even though I have been unable to provide you with any facts or information; it’s been completely overwhelming.
For many months I’ve had to deal with inaccurate information being circulated and it’s a relief that I am now able to discuss the facts with people who want to know the truth which is supported by the FEI ruling. If you love the sport as I do, I only ask that you judge the entire unfortunate situation on the facts, as the truth will clarify all the issues perceived and prevent the sport we all love from falling into disrepute.
For those who haven’t read the FEI tribunal ruling, Promise tested positive for reserpine in an anti-doping test at Burghley because of a contamination arising from one of the ingredients in a supplement, LesstressE, that I was using for him.
There are some things I would like to clarify:
I would like to apologise to the riders who have been named in the final ruling. I never wished for anybody to be publically involved in this case. I’d like to also thank those riders who came forward and helped me by submitting their supply of LesstressE for testing, this played a major role in the case and I’m grateful for that!
It has been carelessly stated that our sport needs cleaning up. I really disagree with this statement. This was a contamination not a doping. My experience from the top level of our sport has been that there is a lot of camaraderie amongst the riders and a desire to compete fairly and with a level playing field. It is a unique sport in the way that fellow competitors, from a wide range of countries, work together with a high level of trust. In my experience, eventers are hardworking, highly motivated individuals with the welfare of their horses their first priority.
I’m so relieved that it has been proven that this is a contamination which I believe maintains eventing’s reputation as a clean sport. Some have made comments to the contrary but I believe the facts show them to be misguided.
I’m hugely grateful for the support from my owners, sponsors, fellow riders, family, friends and my federation. If it wasn’t for their support, I wouldn’t have been able to find out how Promise came into contact with Reserpine.
I’m grateful for the things I have learnt throughout this process but obviously glad to close this chapter on a positive note. Promise is on top form and we’re very much looking forward to representing New Zealand at the world championships.
Cheers,
Jock
Here on EN, we love reading your stories of life as an eventer. Rachael Walker lives on a farm in Wisconsin and has a very unique perspective of being a "farming eventer." Many thanks to Rachael for sending in her story, and thank you for ready! Do you have a story you'd like to share? Send it to [email protected].
Rachael and Liliana X, one of her rescue horses. Photo courtesy of Diane Stoffel.
From Rachael:
My name is Rachael, and I am an eventer. I have been addicted for nearly ten years now, and it doesn’t seem like there’s much hope for recovery. Ha! But truly, anybody who events knows about struggle, both within our training and with balancing our ‘real’ life with our ‘horse life.’
Eventing is a very consuming sport, and it takes dedication, hard work, and (sadly) a bit of money to make it go. And probably some understanding family members, too.
My ‘outside life’ is a bit different from most. I am a farmer. My husband and I raise grassbased livestock, including (but never limited to!) cattle, hogs, sheep, chickens, turkeys and ducks (and cats and dogs and goats and this useless mini mule, but we won’t go there!).
We are also a small boarding/lesson/training stable, and my hubby is a fabulous farrier (yes, this comes in very handy). We do some of our farming with draft horses: four beautiful Belgian mares that do everything from plowing and planting to cutting and raking hay, plowing snow, and feeding round bales. In a word, we’re unorthodox. Eccentric. Even the farming
community thinks we’re a little nuts.
Getting some work done!
Kudos to me, since because we are a boarding stable, I have my own indoor! It’s the size of a coaster, and on a good day with a horse that can turn, I can squeeze a one-stride down the long side. It’s easy to get caught up in looking longingly at people who have a bigger, better indoor arena, especially in the northern Midwest where winter lingers forever and ever, wishing the money would just magically appear for me to increase the size of my sandy playland. But then I remind myself, “You have your own indoor, with your horses right outside your window.”
That’s pretty lucky.
My horses also live a bit different from most. They are outside all the time, 24/7. I have one stall for injured ponies (don’t make me use it!), but otherwise they live in small groups in their
paddocks, with shelters. They live right across from the sheep and goats and hogs, and the chickens, turkeys and ducks run free and love to share mealtime grain. I have a pet tom turkey named Norton who likes to fan his tail and gobble around all day, meandering between paddocks and fluffing himself at whichever horse comes closest. I think that’s called ‘desensitization
training.’
On any given day, I’m as likely to be slopping hogs or delivering lambs as I am practicing the dreaded ‘stretchy trot circle’ or jumping through a gymnastic. I might be wearing insulated bibs and driving a team of horses, or I might be wearing full seat breeches and working on my sitting trot leg yields (or better yet, wearing fullseat breeches while driving a team, as I am in the photo!). I butcher chickens, I teach beginners how to post the trot. I braid horses to earn money for show fees, but I can’t shear a sheep to save my life.
I love it. It is unorthodox, and sometimes a bit crazy. I’ve had sheep, cows, pigs and turkeys all run past my indoor while I’m schooling. In the spring, everything stops for a couple weeks while lambing is going on, and I get to deliver so many cute little sets of twin lambs.
The chickens get quite mad when I use the indoor for riding.
Three times per summer, we butcher 100 chickens. When a critter is sick, well, of course everything stops for that. I’ve waited for the vet for pretty much every species of animal we have, I’ve had to haul carcasses to the University for necropsies, and I’ve had to end the suffering of more than one duck, chicken and cat in the last ten years. And then I turn around and teach a nostirrups lesson or put a session on a training horse. It’s never dull.
Farming teaches a person how to ‘make do’. I don’t have a lot of money. My job has the potential to stretch into any of the 24 hours in a given day, but it usually takes up at least 14 of them. Once I tried to figure out my hourly wage, but I think I fainted first.
That new Ecogold pad? Not in the budget. Expanding the indoor? Looking into lotto tickets. My horses? All rescues. Not pedigreed or even necessarily started under saddle. I can’t afford the experienced horse/new saddle/fancy gear package. A lot of us can’t. So, I make do.
One of my many farm friends.
I once traded my brother-in-law a couch for a giant piece of plastic culvert pipe (read: jump). When the hay is mowed off the fields, we go gallop. I frequent tack swaps and stalk Ebay. I occasionally drool at horse shows in the presence of ‘fancy’ horses, new saddles, people in F.I.T.S.
But at the end of the day, when everyone is fed and happy, it’s the most amazing feeling in the world to sit on a hay bale while the sun sets and watch the horses munch and the chickens scratch and peck, pet a kitten and listen to the ducks quack at me as they walk by.
I wouldn’t trade delivering lambs for any office job in the world, and I couldn’t imagine a day without a conversation with the hens (if you have hens, you know how much they talk. Sheesh!). There’s not a lot about my job that’s normal. Heck, there’s no such thing as a ‘typical day’ when you’re farming! But I kind of thrive on ‘crazy.’ Insanity in the middle…and sometimes everywhere else, too.
Go Eventing! Go Farming!
Kaitlin Spurlock and Expedience. Photo by Jenni Autry.
While Kaitlin Spurlock’s Rolex Rookie experience didn’t end the way she hoped when Expedience sustained an injury at the Head of the Lake, the mare has been recovering well after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured right front pastern. And Kaitlin’s family is expecting a new addition too, as Expedience, 17, was successfully bred to the Oldenburg stallion Checkmate via embryo transfer.
“Right from the start, the doctors told us that if she were to compete again, she would be totally sound, but the plan was always to retire and breed her after Rolex,” Kaitlin said. “My mom has always been the breeding aficionado of the family, so she’s the one who did the research and selected the stallion.”
Kaitlin and her family are hoping for an athletic baby, perhaps one who will be successful as an event horse. Checkmate finished sixth overall in his 70-day stallion test in Oklahoma, and his sire and dam lines show much success in the jumper ring.
Due to the late season nature of the breeding, delayed by Spedy’s recovery from her surgery, the breeding was done via embryo transfer, and a surrogate mare will carry the foal. “We think Spedy might want to have a baby herself, so we’re keeping our options open to breed her in the spring,” Kaitlin said.
As for the plans for the foal, Kaitlin is keeping an open mind for now. “We’re definitely hoping for a nice event horse, but horses have a way of telling us what they want to know,” Kaitlin said. “There will definitely be a lot of sentimental attachment to the foal because it’s Spedy’s baby; she’s just been such a special horse for Melissa (Hunsberger) and myself and my family.”
Go Spedy!
2013 Adequan USEA Gold Cup winners Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch. Photo by Liz Hall.
The American Eventing Championships are rapidly approaching, and that means another exciting finale of the Adequan USEA Gold Cup at the beautiful Texas Rose Horse Park. Some of the country’s best horses and riders will converge in Tyler to duke it out for some of the biggest purses seen all year in the U.S.
The Adequan USEA Gold Cup is the richest division at the American Eventing Championships, boasting a $40,000 prize up for grabs. Last year, Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch were the first winners of this generous purse, provided entirely by sponsor funds and not membership dues.
How exactly does a combination qualify for the Gold Cup final at the AECs? Complete one of the Gold Cup series events with no more than 20 penalties on cross country, and you’re qualified for the Championship. There are a total of 11 events in the current qualifying period:
Nine of these qualifiers are CIC3* divisions, and there are several reasons why the USEA decided to go that route. Jo Whitehouse, CEO of the USEA, said that in many cases when an event runs both Advanced and CIC3* divisions, the entries for Advanced are either so low or so high that the organizers elect to split the division into multiple sections.
“We aimed for a lot of CIC divisions because we knew that most people riding at Advanced would likely do a CIC at some point during the year,” Jo said. “There would be some events in the past where we would use the Advanced division, and the division would be split up, and it was very difficult to have to choose a section to sponsor.”
Prior to the 2013 season, the USEA used a points scale to determine which events were included on the Gold Cup tour. “This idea worked well until 2009, when PRO began their PRO Tour series,” Jo said. “It then became more complicated to figure out who was sponsoring what division, and then some riders were unable to qualify for the Gold Cup due to competing in a different division.”
Joe Meyer and Sanskrit. Photo by Samantha Clark.
After a board meeting in which Jon Holling and Leslie Law pitched ideas to overhaul the tour, the USEA decided to approach the supporting sponsors and PRO about turning the Gold Cup into a qualifier series. “Essentially, we wanted to combine all of the prize money and offer it up at the Championship,” Jo said. “It really made the tour meaningful and gave the riders something to work towards throughout their season.”
A question has arisen recently, however, on the qualifications of a horse even if it did not complete a qualifier for the Gold Cup, as Joe Meyer had been planning on bringing his upper-level partner, Sanskrit, to Texas since the beginning of the season to run the Advanced division.
Sanskrit is a seasoned Advanced competitor, having completed numerous CIC3* events in Europe as well as Advanced events here in the U.S. since Joe relocated to Ocala. Joe has had Sanskrit out at the Advanced level this season, but was slowed down when he broke his pelvis this spring. The injury derailed the majority of his spring and summer season, and he found he was unable to complete one of the designated qualifying events in order to compete in the Gold Cup final.
Upon submitting a request for a waiver based on both horse and rider experience to the USEA, Joe was denied and will now be riding in the Intermediate division with Sanskrit. “I knew the Advanced entries last year were a bit low,” Joe said. “So I thought perhaps they would allow a horse with a good record to compete. Similar to the British Open Championships at Gatcombe, I feel the qualification standards should be a bit more open, allowing good horses and riders to compete based on their prior results.”
Qualifications for British Open Championship, via the BE Rule Book.
Joe still has plans to make the trip to Texas and compete for the $15,000 prize in the Intermediate division, although it is not his ideal situation. “I want to go and support the AECs in Texas; I have friends and clients there, and I want to support it. I am so thankful that Adequan has taken on such a big role in the sport; I don’t want anything to take away from that,” Joe said. “I am perhaps a bit embarrassed, but who’s to say I won’t catch a fall at the second fence? It’s still going to be a challenge and a competition, and I still plan to do everything the best I can.”
The concept of having qualifier events in place is still an evolving idea, which is why the USEA reviews the process each year at the completion of the Gold Cup final in order to evaluate what could be tweaked. But at this point in the season, the decision stands to deny a waiver to enter the Gold Cup final without having qualified at a designated event, Jo said.
“We can’t set a precedent of changing our qualification criteria mid-season,” Jo said. “If we were to open up that avenue, it would create more confusion and conflict by creating the opportunity for other special circumstances to come forward. We would love to have everyone who wanted to compete enter, but we have to make it meaningful to the riders and support the rest of the Gold Cup events since they are so instrumental to the whole idea.”
Jon Holling and Zatopek B at the AECs in 2013. Photo by Liz Hall.
Jon Holling, who is active in numerous USEA leadership roles, believes the system in place now works well for those riders who want a shot at the Gold Cup final. “In my opinion, you can’t change the qualifying criteria partway through the season,” he said. “If the system needs to be tweaked, then we’ll take a look at it. But at some point, the USEA has to say ‘this is our criteria, and this how you get it done.’ It’s important to have some consistency.”
The current qualifier system also has many other benefits for both the designated events as well as the sponsors who support the series. “Each event receives a check from the USEA for $1,500 when it has a Gold Cup division,” Jo said. “Most of them turn around and put that money into prize money. In addition, we send a staff member to each Gold Cup event so that the coverage is there and the sponsors are getting the exposure. We hang banners and do a lot to ensure that we are fulfilling our contractual agreements with the sponsors.”
We want you to weigh in, EN! What are your thoughts on the qualification process for the Gold Cup final? Should the USEA stick to the current qualification system that relies heavily on CIC3* divisions? Should a waiver be allowed for seasoned pairs like Joe and Sanskrit a la the British Eventing Open Championships? Leave a comment below.
As some of you may know, I have become much more into health and fitness than I have ever been before in the past few weeks. The reasons behind this drive vary, but at the end of the day I am striving to become a healthier person and, in turn, a better rider.
In finding more ways to be creative with my fitness routines, I was introduced to a new fitness website for equestrians called The Active Rider. This is a membership site run by Carys Jackson, and it’s geared for riders who want to be more fit in the saddle.
Finding fitness routines geared towards equestrians is always an interesting concept. On one hand, overall fitness can be improved by a solid workout and nutrition routine, but what about those muscles you didn’t even realize you had until you began riding?
I’ve found that mixing in “normal” workout sets with some more focused exercises to target those riding-specific muscles works well. For example, I have always struggled with both my core strength as well as my left thigh and calf. These struggles have caused issues with my jumping position as well as correcting mistakes on the flat.
To that end, in addition to my usual fitness routine, I’ve begun the 12 week program offered by The Active Rider. A glance through the website offers many different educational opportunities on the various mechanics that go into riding a horse and keeping your body primed for the task.
Obviously, a big focus of the program is core muscles, as much of our strength comes from these pesky muscles. Since core is a huge struggle for me, further inhibited by a bad back, I am quite excited to see how this program helps me with my problems.
The first part of the program outlines several facts about the core muscles that are beneficial to know before you begin working them in earnest. Your abdominal muscle group contains several individual muscles that must be given attention in order to improve the entire group. Learning about how these muscles interact and how they play into your riding is the main focus of the beginning of the 12 week program.
From The Active Rider:
The movement of the horse’s back has to be absorbed by the seat of the rider and a supple, mobile but strong pelvis. If this is not possible then the back of the rider (and ultimately the horse) becomes jarred and sore. Movement is energy that is created and that energy must ultimately go somewhere!
As the weeks progress through this program, I will be introduced to new exercises that will target muscles that we as equestrians use. I am looking forward to implementing these exercises into my daily routine, and I will be back each week to report on my findings.
Many thanks to The Active Rider for the opportunity to experience their product. If you’d like more information on joining, visit The Active Rider or check out their Facebook page.
It’s Wayback Wednesday, and with that in mind we’ve been digging through the video archives to find some great World Equestrian Games footage from 2010. I went to the eventing portion of WEG in 2010 as a last-minute trip, and it was a truly unforgettable experience.
This year, we’ve got an equally promising and exciting team headed to Normandy to duke it out with the best. Need a little refresher on how exciting this competition will be? Check out this great montage of each cross-country fence on the 2010 course in Lexington, courtesy of Beth Brown.
Dom and some attentive clinic riders. Photo courtesy of Susan Horner.
I’ve always been a big fan of clinics. Even if I only audit one, the learning opportunities are endless. So, when I heard that Dom Schramm would be stopping in Columbia, Mo., on his clinic tour, I set about making plans to attend.
The clinic was held at the beautiful Greystone Equestrian Center, nestled in the heart of Missouri. Sharon Rose, the owner of Greystone, did a wonderful job facilitating the clinic, and when I arrived on Saturday morning, dressage lessons were already in full swing.
Dom has a way of putting his students at ease right away, asking questions about both horse and rider to get a sense of their experience and goals together. Dressage day saw horses that were seasoned competitors, coming back from some time off and nervously green in a new environment.
Dom quietly worked with each horse that came into the arena that morning, tailoring the exercises to each horse and rider’s strengths and opportunities for improvement. Quick to praise and just as quick to reprimand, Dom made sure that the rider fully understood the elements of each movement he asked for. Encouraging the horse to move forward and straight, referencing the training scale that is often overlooked, were paramount.
Alyssa Kendrick and Apollo working through their first coffin exercise. Photo courtesy of Susan Horner.
One exercise I found to be particularly interesting was one performed at the walk. Dom had riders walk in a square shape, managing each step of the walk in order to concentrate on straightness. It was a difficult exercise for most at first, as you don’t necessarily realize how difficult true straightness is until you really focus on it. Dom told a story of witnessing a Grand Prix dressage pair practice the walk using this exercise, only to find that they also looked rather like a “drunken sailor.” After a few attempts at the exercise, the riders came away with a better understanding of true straightness.
I was unfortunately only able to attend the dressage sessions, so I called upon Colin Palmer, who participated in the lessons for other phases. Colin and his horse, Calvin, worked hard to prepare for the clinic, he said, as the horse came into his possession with plenty of baggage to work through. Calvin was “reluctant to even let me get on” at first and would buck and rear without hesitation, Colin said.
Colin Palmer and Calvin. Photo courtesy of Susan Horner.
Watching Colin work with Calvin in their dressage lesson, it was apparent that the horse had some nerves and tension, but not once did he threaten any truly naughty behavior. Dom was highly complimentary of the work Colin had put into his horse so far, giving him some helpful tips on continuing to work on straightness and strength.
Colin had a wonderful experience with Dom in the jumping lessons. “(Dom) really focuses on adjustability of the canter in the show jumping,” he said. “(We were) doing four poles in a 20-meter circle and having to get the same number of strides in between each. Then he had three poles set up in a line, and it was five strides each.
“We had to practice getting five and then five. Then we had to get something like six then five. Then four and five and so on. Later, that became a jump where the middle pole was, and we had to get six from the pole on to the jump, then five after the fence. Then in cross country, it was mainly about rhythm and accuracy.”
Many thanks to Sharon Rose and Greystone Equestrian Center for hosting a great learning opportunity for us here in the midwest and to Dom for taking the time to stop in Missouri. I look forward to future opportunities to learn, and hopefully one day I will have a horse to bring.
Go Midwest Eventing!
The FEI European Junior Eventing Championships wrapped up at Bishop Burton College this weekend, with Anna Wilks triumphing for individual gold and Team Ireland taking home the team gold medal.
Thanks to a wonderful YouTube channel, we’ve been able to take in some sights and sounds from around the event, and the final day’s highlights have just been published. Take a look at the next European superstars of the sport, EN!
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"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].
Anna White and Southern Storm. Photo by Amanda Sylvia.
In search of a new horse several years ago, Amanda Sylvia ventured to the Chincoteague Pony Swim, returning home with a precocious 4-month-old colt she named Southern Storm. “Amanda goes to the pony penning every year,” Southern Storm’s rider, Anna White, said. “One year, she decided to try to buy one, and so she did some research on the island lines, as she wanted to end up with a horse that would grow a bit taller than most.”
The prices on the island ponies range from three to five figures on any given auction day, but Amanda was able to come away with her chosen foal successfully. “When she first got him, he injured himself so he was laid up for awhile,” Anna said. “Once he was grown up and ready to go, she sent him to a western trainer, so he was trained that way for a couple of years.”
Southern Storm, or “Hershey,” came back to Amanda at the age of 8, having matured to a height of 15.1. Amanda began to look for options to keep him in work, and Anna so happened to be looking for another horse to keep her own company when she went to college. “I’ve been good friends with Amanda for several years, and she offered to let me take Hershey with me to work with,” Anna said.
Southern Storm on auction day. Photo by Amanda Sylvia.
When Anna and Hershey began working together, he had never attempted a jump before and had only been ridden western. “He was terrified when he first started,” Anna said. “(Amanda) would put a fence in front of him, and he would just charge and gallop through it. At first, I didn’t know if it was going to work.”
Once Hershey began learning and gained some confidence, jumping started to come much more naturally to him. “I don’t know what truly clicked in his brain, but I gave him a month or two off, and when he came back, it was like he’d figured everything out.”
Anna took Hershey out to a Starter level horse trial to test the waters on cross country, and he quickly figured out that the fences were solid and that he had to respect them. “Once things click in his brain, he gets it. He realized that the fences are solid, but he was super brave. He’ll climb over something before he’ll stop at it,” Anna said.
Anna and Hershey. Photo by Amanda Sylvia.
Much to Anna and Amanda’s delight, Hershey is now successfully competing at Training level. “When I took him on, I wasn’t expecting him to go really far,” Anna admitted. “He’s built rather awkwardly, with a long back, and you’d never expect him to be able to run Training level if you saw him. He looks like he could get around Beginner Novice or maybe Novice, but he just keeps proving us wrong. At this point, I don’t think Prelim would be too big of a stretch for him.“
Since Hershey had western training as a foundation, he tends to have a very soft mouth and get behind the vertical a bit on the flat. One of the challenges Anna faced when working on his dressage was lifting his poll and encouraging him to sit on his hind end. “Since he’s not built like a Thoroughbred, he doesn’t have a big hind end to sit on, so that’s something we’ve really been working on. It’s still a work in progress.”
Hershey definitely has many traits of being an island horse that are beneficial to sporthorse work, including great feet and an overall hardiness. “He’s had no soundness issues, and he’s got wonderful feet. He’s also very level-headed, and it takes a lot to rattle him.”
Photo by Amanda Sylvia.
Anna is grateful for the opportunity to ride this talented Chincoteague Pony and said it has been a joy to work with Amanda. “She is just the most wonderful owner. She’s very supportive of him,” Anna said. She works for SmartPak and always ensures that he has everything he needs, she’s just been the greatest support for this whole thing.”
Anna plans to take Hershey out at Training level for the rest of the year, aiming for the Virginia Horse Trials as the final event of their season. “Fair Hill was his first sanctioned Training run,” Anna said. “We’ll see how he does and go from there. We won’t push him up to Prelim for awhile until he gets really solid at Training. There are definitely some questions about his athletic ability, but I thought he would max out at Novice, and he’s certainly proven me wrong. We will just have to let him tell us what the next step should be.“
Editor’s Note: Growing up, Misty of Chincoteague was one of my favorite books and movies. After learning that the Chincoteague Pony Swim was a real thing, I immediately added the annual event to my bucket list. When Anna sent us her helmet cam from Fair Hill with Hershey, I had to know more! Click here to watch the helmet cam.
