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.
Good news coming from Camp Martin this week. Boyd posted an update on his blog with encouraging news that his recovery is going well and is, in fact, ahead of schedule.
While there is still no word on whether or not eventing’s Iron Man will be back in the saddle long enough to contest a spring four-star, the news is nothing less than exciting nonetheless. Boyd’s doctor has instructed him to begin riding as soon as he feels comfortable, as there is no risk of re-injuring the leg. Rather, it’s more about how well Boyd feels he can ride and how effective he can be.
“I’m pleased to say I’m ahead of schedule in the healing process; I recently went for my checkup, a couple weeks after surgery, and Dr. Phillip Principe is encouraged by the re-growth of bone around the fracture. He instructed me to start riding as soon as I can, as there’s no risk of re-injuring the leg; it’s more a matter of my effectiveness with my leg and my pain tolerance.”
We will continue posting updates from Boyd as they become available. As always, both Boyd and Silva’s full recoveries are in the forefront of our minds, and seeing Boyd in the saddle in time for Rolex or Badminton is simply an added bonus. Best wishes to the Martin family.
Spot the puppy! Photo from Jordan Lindstedt's Facebook page.
Ah, it sure is nice to wake up and not immediately dread the ice cold temperatures that inevitably await outside. Spring is officially here, I think we can safely say. I am more than ready to put this winter in the books as one of the worst I’ve ever seen, so let’s hope the spring and summer are among the best we’ve had to make up for it!
It’s a busy weekend around Eventing Nation, with big events running on each coast and plenty of others in between. Don’t forget, you can send your photos and videos from the event you’re at to [email protected]. Best of luck to all who are competing this weekend!
Tipperary Equestrian has announced the “Dash for Cash” for riders competing at Rolex this year! This exciting contest gives riders who wear Tipperary gear at Rolex a chance to win an additional $5,000 in prize money. All three phases have a $5,000 which riders can qualify for. The winning rider must be wearing a new Tipperary 3015 Eventer Pro vest in the cross country phase of competition. In the dressage and show jumping phase, the winning rider must be wearing a Tipperary T-Series helmet to qualify for the bonus money. Be sure to read up on the full guidelines and rules here. Good luck to all Rolex riders who plan to participate!
Rolex course walk alert! FLAIR Nasal Strips has announced that their Rolex cross country course walk will begin at 4:15 pm on Friday, April 25 at the start box on course. Stay tuned for more information. [FLAIR]
We hear all the time about horses at the top of the sport, but what about the next generation of equine talent? EN’s Got Talent introduces the future superstars of the sport, interviewing riders about how they’re tackling training with these youngsters. Have you spotted a spectacular young horse at an event you think should be highlighted in this column? Tip me at [email protected]
Kate Samuels and Absaluut Annabelle at Pine Top. Photo courtesy of HoofClix Photography.
Last week on EN’s Got Talent, we met Absaluut Annabelle, a 5-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Jane Dudinsky and ridden by Kate Samuels. Kate told us more about the gray mare, who oozes talent but needed some training on how to think through challenges without getting too emotional. With the help of more lateral work and groundwork, Annabelle began to relax more in the ring and showed a natural ability when it came to competing.
Jumping has proven to be one of Annabelle’s strongest suits as her eventing career progresses. “She’s a very careful jumper and quite aware of her own body for her age,” Kate said. “She’s certainly never seen a jump that is challenging athletically. You can set up almost any grid and she can use her fancy footwork through the whole thing.”
Kate has been working with Annabelle to slow her rhythm through courses, as she previously had a tendency to run with her head in the air and rush the fences. “She’s a good mix of brave and a little spooky, so when you’re riding down to a fence, she looks at it well enough to change her own balance, which allows you to just close your leg and she goes right over.”
Kate took Annabelle to compete in the Open Training division at Carolina International at the end of March, where the mare scored a personal best in the dressage with a 29.6. “She really put it together at Carolina. She was super in all three phases, and I really felt like we were clicking. It was her first sleep away competition, so I was pleased with how she handled the constant atmosphere.”
Annabelle went on to finish second in her division at Carolina International, adding only a rail to her dressage score. Kate plans to move the mare up to Preliminary at the Loudon HT in May and then take it from there. “I like to compete my horses on a monthly basis, unless there is something they just really need to school constantly. However, Annabelle just needs to work on strength and consistency in dressage, and we can work on that at home. Our year-end goal is to take her to a CIC*, and I think that’s reasonable.”
Are you ready for the latest Evention TV episode? I’ve been waiting on pins and needles, personally. This one had me absolutely rolling. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lost a pair of scissors around the barn or even in my own home. While I do question the safety of this method, you have to admit it’s a unique idea. Major props to Dom and Jimmie for pulling off yet another hilarious Evention episode.
Scenes from the International Riders Luncheon at the Ocala Horse Properties HT. Photo from Tobitha Yeomans.
Happy Friday! Rolex is edging closer and closer. In fact, I checked my calendar today and had to do a double take at exactly how close it is. Are you looking for a last minute getaway to the Bluegrass? If so, then be sure to check out our contest to win two four-day admission passes to Rolex. EN reader Laura Millerick generously donated her tickets and will transfer her hotel reservation into your name if you need somewhere to stay. For more info on how to enter, check out the contest details here.
There is plenty of action coming your way this weekend from around the country. Out on the West Coast, Twin Rivers is holding their spring HT, and down south Ocala Horse Properties is running a big competition as well with a record 382 horses entered across the board. If you are competing in or attending any events this weekend, we want to see your photos and videos! Send in whatever you have to [email protected].
Do you know of a rockstar Thoroughbred? If so, we want to know all about him or her! Our series, Thoroughbred Legends, tells the stories of eventing legends in Thoroughbred form. As one of the staple breeds to our sport, we love to hear about the Thoroughbreds who have helped make the sport so meaningful. If you or someone you know has a story to share, contact me at [email protected].
World Equestrian Brands has signed on as a sponsor of the Triple Crown JRYR PRO Scholarship Program. The highest ranked junior rider on both the east and the west coast will be fully outfitted in World Equestrian Brand gear. According to a press release, each of the winners will be awarded an Amerigo Saddle, girth, stirrup leathers and irons; a Vespucci bridle, reins and breastplate; an E.A. Mattes sheepskin half pad; and Equilibrium Products Airlite cross-country boots and Stretch & Flex wraps. The award is valued at $7,500 per rider. For more information on this program, be sure to check out the website.
Tredstep Ireland + Eventing Nation + Rolex Kentucky = Pure Magic. The EN cross country tailgate is going to be bigger and better than ever this year, with the help of Tredstep Ireland. Both EN and Tredstep will have swag available, raffles for winning awesome stuff from both parties, and even the chance to win the new Da Vinci Stretch tall boots! Did I hear rumors of a dunk tank too?? Hmmm…..[Party In The Middle]
Peter Atkins and Henry Jota Hampton are headed to Badminton. I am knocking on wood, crossing my fingers, and throwing salt over my left shoulder in hopes that Peter stays healthy this time around. In the meantime, Peter has begun fundraising for Henny’s trip. There are different levels of support, and one of the higher levels even includes a lesson with Peter! I bought a bag of grain for Henny with my donation, and I expect the grain will go to good use! [Run Henny Run GoFundMe]
Are you looking for a better way to wrap hooves? Equus Magazine has some helpful hints on hoof-wrapping, something I have never been adept at. Here’s hoping I won’t have to do this in the near future, but if I do I plan to have this site bookmarked. [Hoof-Wrapping Tips]
Chris Welton will replace John Long as the CEO of the USEF. Current CEO John Long announced his retirement last year, and Welton was unanimously voted in to take his place effective June 1. Chris has extensive experience in sports management and worked closely with the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. [Welton Named USEF CEO]
Welcome to Throwback Thursday! Each Thursday, we will be bringing you some vintage eventing photos of horses and riders. Do you want to show us your first horse or a photo of your early riding days? Email [email protected].
Hopefully this injury wasn't a residual result of too much kid-lunging.
I’ve got half a mind to stick a lunge line on my little brother after seeing this week’s photo. I’m sure he could benefit from the exercise. We certainly are glad that this rider stuck with the lunging, though; eventing wouldn’t quite be the same without him!
The rider pictured below is…
…Boyd Martin! Apparently Boyd got much entertainment from hopping over ground poles as a kid. Hopefully, his broken leg will heal in time to be out there hopping around with the best in no time!
Ah, the dressage freestyle. One of my favorite spectacles to watch. After seeing Andreas Helgstrand and Blue Hors Matine dance to some Moulin Rouge so many years ago, I’ve always longed to see a freestyle with a nod to more modern music. Don’t get me wrong — the music chosen is almost always a wonderfully fitting piece, but sometimes I want to see something different.
Enter Carolina Roffman and Her Highness, who wowed the crowd this week at the Global Dressage Festival with a trendy freestyle that included music from the Spice Girls, Christina Aguilera and Katy Perry, to name a few. I was dancing along the whole time, and I was left wanting more from this adorable pair.
What do you think, EN? Is there room for more trendy music in the freestyle world?
Bobby Meyerhoff and Dunlavin's Token at Fair Hill. Photo by Alec Thayer.
Bobby Meyerhoff has had Rolex in his sights for quite some time now. After moving from California to the East Coast to work for Stuart Black, Bobby went on to found his current business, Meyerhoff Show Horses LLC, in 2006. Alongside his wife, Danica, Bobby has made it his goal to produce top quality show horses for the elite levels of equestrian sport.
Dunlavin’s Token, a 2000 Zangershiede gelding imported from Argentina by Dunlavin Eventing, was produced from Training level to Advanced by Danica before Bobby took over the ride. Danica, who was working for Rebecca Howard and Dunlavin Eventing when Token was imported, eventually took the horse all the way through the CCI3* level, successfully completing Jersey Fresh in 2011. Bobby then took over the ride and began preparing to qualify Token for Rolex.
In 2013, Bobby and Token qualified for and entered Rolex, but the gelding came up a bit sore the Monday before competition. “We didn’t want to ruin him by running him anyway,” Bobby said. “I wanted to have a horse for next year, but I was devastated.” Bobby and Token went on to finish the year strong, completing the CCI3* at Fair Hill to end their season.
This year, Bobby once again set a goal to compete at Rolex. “I was really pleased with how he ran around (at Fair Hill),” Bobby said. “So I decided to have another go at Rolex this year. He feels great; actually he feels healthier and sounder than he did last year, so I think we’ll have a good go.”
As most other riders are also doing, Bobby is not looking at Rolex differently than any other event to prevent the nerves from escalating. “I know it’s going to be tough, and there’s a lot of atmosphere,” Bobby said. “This horse isn’t too great in dressage; he is pretty tough and hot, so I know it’s going to be a challenge. I don’t anticipate to blow anyone out of the water, but I am aiming to have a smooth test with no explosions.”
Bobby is most looking forward to the jumping phases, where Token really excels. “He’s a horse that’s really fast on cross country, and he’s going to be raring to go coming out of the start box. I plan to take the first couple of minutes to kind of be there for him and let him settle in, and once that happens I am going to let him go a little and let him do his job.”
Bobby took Token to the CIC3* at The Fork this past weekend, where he withdrew after jumping a double clear show jumping round. Not to worry, though, as this was all part of Bobby’s plan. “I’m going to make the decision to run cross country while I’m there,” Bobby said prior to The Fork. “If the stars align and the footing is perfect, I may let him run for fitness reasons, but if not there is no reason to push him. I’ll work on fitness back home on the hills in Virginia and then ship to Kentucky.”
Bobby and Token are well prepared for their CCI4* debut, and Bobby is confident that they can put in a good showing. “It’s going to be a new experience for both of us, and I know it’s going to be tough. But I know that we are both capable of putting in a good performance.”
Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Our good friend, The Horse Pesterer, was out and about at The Fork this past weekend, camera in hand to bring us footage from one of the premier spring events. He recently finished uploading his video playlist to YouTube, so be sure to stop by and check out the action. Here are a few videos from the competition this weekend:
Talent spotting is an important part to producing eventing’s next international competitors. In the U.S., programs such as Eventing 25/Developing Athletes and the Eventing 18/Advancing Athletes are instrumental in developing talented horses and riders for the next level of competition. Along those lines, Equine Canada has announced a new talent spotting program called Eventing – No Boundaries.
The process and details of this program are still being worked out, but talent spotters for Canada will be out and about at events around North America this year. The goal of the program is to create opportunities for developing athletes who aspire to represent Canada on the international stage in the future.
The Phoenix Equestrian Team posted an update about the Eventing – No Boundaries program on their Facebook page. The Ocala Horse Properties International HT will run this coming weekend, and it is one event where talent spotters will be on hand representing Canada.
“Part of this initiative is to offer clinics and lectures to help broaden the information available to Canadian riders. At Ocala we are privileged to have Tracy Giesler of Sable Marketing speaking regarding the self promotion of individual riders. Tracy works with the Canadian High Performance athletes and has some very basic but effective ideas on how each of us should be marketing ourselves to increase visibility and therefore our marketability for sponsorship.”
Canadian riders who are interested in participating in this initiative at Ocala are encouraged to RSVP to Jenn Holling at [email protected].
More information on the Eventing – No Boundaries program will be made available as it is released. In the meantime, keep an eye on the Equine Canada website for updates.
In the wake of the passing of both Powderhound and Conair at The Fork this past weekend, the USEA has released a statement. Posted on the USEA website earlier today, the statement provides not only empathy for those affected by the deaths, but also statistics on the accidents as well as some information on the USEA Equine Cardiovascular Research Study and the USEA Equine Welfare Research Program. The statement also reminds readers that the tragedies occurred during or following two different phases of competition, and emphasizes that jumping to conclusions is unproductive without knowing the facts surrounding the circumstances.
“Event horses are the best-cared for horses in the world. And yet it is a sad fact of life that horses, like humans, are susceptible to all sorts of health conditions and latent injuries that can crop up or become active at any time. Indeed many horses suffer serious injury or fatal aneurysms just playing in their paddocks. And sometimes, through sad coincidence, unrelated tragedies happen in the same place and at the same time. As most eventers are aware, several celebrated event horses were tragically lost this past winter, i.e. during the off season, from a variety of health issues that had nothing to do with competition or even being ridden. By comparison, during the entire 2013 American competition season, four horses were lost, three on course and one from an aneurysm suffered after completing the cross-country. Horses started in USEA/USEF competitions 42,615 times in 2013. The percentage of equine fatalities compared to that total number of starters is thus 0.01. Calculating an average of 21 jumps per start, that comes out to one equine fatality per 223,729 jumps.
Nonetheless, we will keep striving to improve those statistics. From the USEA’s standpoint, all health incidents involving our beloved horses underscore the importance of the work being done through the USEA Equine Cardiovascular Research Study. That study is directly relevant to finding the cause of—and eventually preventing—rare but often tragic equine cardiovascular events. Equally important is the new USEA Equine Welfare Research Program. Thanks to that program, $1 of every single starter fee—more than $40,000 annually–is being reserved for the financial support of studies into many other diseases and conditions affecting event horses. Thanks to the generosity of individual donors, the USEA was able to kick off the Equine Welfare Research Program in December with a contribution of $21,000 which was forwarded to the Morris Animal Foundation to support certain deserving studies already underway.”
To read the full statement from the USEA, click here.
Jackie Smith, of Stone Gate Farm in Hanoverton, Oh. sent us this video of her son, Kyle, running Training level at Spring Bay this past weekend. While it may start out like your usual, run of the mill video, Kyle puts his own twist on it by beginning to narrate the video as he rides.
As his mare got more confident and “in her groove” on course, Kyle could take the time to tell viewers a few notes about the upcoming fence, or how the course was riding in general. I found it quite entertaining, and the round looked lovely from my view. Well done, Kyle. The narration begins at about 2:19. Peter Atkins: if you’re reading this, you can only imagine what your task will be at Badminton! Many thanks to Jackie for sending in this video.
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We love to receive clinic reports from around Eventing Nation. Jessica Agner sent in this report on a clinic she recently attended with Sara Mittleider, who won the Highest Placed Young Rider Award three times at Rolex Kentucky - the only rider to win the award three times. Many thanks to Jessica for sending in her clinic report. Do you have a clinic report or other submission you'd like to share? Send it to us at [email protected].
Sara Mittleider and Harry Houdini. Photo by Samantha Clark.
On March 8th and 9th, 2014, Anne Ward and Jessica Agner, of Sapphire Shadows Farm, and Jennifer Corby, of Blue Horizon Training, were delighted to host Sara Mittleider in Corvallis, MT at C-Max Stables. Having such a successful and knowledgeable clinician was an awesome treat. Several riders had expressed their concern the week before because western Montana got over a foot of snow! However, the clinic went off without too many obstacles and was an overwhelming success.
Most riders chose to ride in semi-private or group lessons since it is early in the season and some horses (and riders) were not very fit yet. On Saturday, Sara had a gymnastic/bounce set at each end of the arena and a jump in the center. The goal was to achieve a balanced and impulsive approach and a fluid departure through the bounce, then a controlled turn to the center jump followed by a balanced corner to the opposite bounce. The exercise was very helpful and emphasized balance, accuracy and organization while allowing and insisting the horses be forward and fluid.
Sunday was a mix of flat work and some small cross rails. Sara helped the riders to recognize when their seat or hands were ineffective, when their leg needed corrected, two-point position flaws and the always needed “eyes up” reminder. Sara asked riders to continue through each movement until they rode it comfortably and confidently. It was exactly the repetition they needed to help both horse and rider feel the difference between how hard or easy the ride could be. Perhaps most endearing was how Sara would say “Good! Now pet him/her!” after every pair took their turns. She was firm and did not hand out flagrant compliments or praise, so when she announced a “good job,” it meant a lot.
The next clinics are scheduled for April 18th-20th and May 24-25. Anne is hoping to continue hosting Sara through the summer whenever her schedule permits. The horsemen and women in the western Montana area are in for a treat if they ride with Sara, as the participants in the first clinic can tell you.
Legendary actor Mickey Rooney passed away yesterday at the age of 93. While I will most fondly remember him from his adorable role in National Velvet, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this list of Mickey’s best equestrian roles. I hear a movie night in tribute to Mickey calling my name. Rest in Peace, Mickey.
Rolex bound Team Tredstep rider Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken ran their final prep for Kentucky this weekend at The Fork. Kristin and Rox had a great, clean weekend, finishing 10th in the Advanced Test B after adding only time penalties to their dressage score. Kristin posted on her Facebook page that she was thrilled with their run, and now she is off to bubble wrap Rox for Rolex.
The Horse Pesterer was on the grounds in North Carolina this weekend, and he caught some footage of Kristin and Rox’s cross country. Part 2 is below. Enjoy!
Powderhound and Conair. Photos by Brant Gamma and Jenni Autry.
I spoke with Mandy Alexander recently when I was working on a Thoroughbred Legends article about her OTTB, 3 Sleets to the Wind. Mandy said something that resonated with me and got me thinking:
“There were many times, especially at Advanced, when we would be marching to a huge fence and I’d have a fleeting thought, ‘Why do they do this for us? What makes them jump this stuff?’ The answer was because he loved it, not because he was stupid or had no sense of self-preservation. He just loved his job. He tackled every fence like he owned it.”
When I learned of Powderhound’s passing this weekend at The Fork, a feeling of helplessness immediately set in. Today, I breathed a quick sigh of relief after the announcer said that both Will and Conair were up on their feet after a fall on course. Minutes later, I found out that Conair had also passed away. My gut twisted, and tears welled in my eyes. I spent the remainder of the live stream holding my breath and praying that the remaining horses and riders would get safely home.
When such unspeakable tragedy occurs in our world that is filled with these incredible animals, there is a feeling of shared grief. It is the sympathy you feel no matter what your connection was to the horse. As bad as we as onlookers feel, the grief of all who were directly connected to these horses is something that should not have to be experienced by anyone.
Mandy’s question comes to mind again: Why do they do this for us?
The simple truth is that we are given a gift when we are able to form a partnership with a horse. There is something special about seeing a horse who knows it’s cross country day and practically leaps out of the start box. It is a gift to be able to see the horses who are at the top of their game galloping gleefully across country, ears pricked and hunting their next fence. It is a gift to see the smiles on the riders, owners, grooms and spectators’ faces as a horse crosses the finish after a clean run. It is a gift that these horses love their jobs and that we are able to enjoy their company.
On days such as today, it is difficult to move on, and it is easy to place blame or consider all of the what-ifs. It is beneficial to remember that accidents and tragedies occur in every arena and in any situation. It is a harsh reality that these horses, who become so integral and vital to our existence, are placed on this earth for such a short period, and some are gone far before their time. It is incredibly important to remember, then, that we have been given a gift — and that gift should be treasured until the very end.
Give your four-legged companions an extra hug tonight, EN. We are so deeply sorry for Andrew and Will, all of their connections and for all others who have experienced loss this year.
Jana Lyle is an eventer from Area IV who recently spent some time training with Jim Graham at his farm in Florence, Al. She kindly sent us a report from her experience with Jim. Do you have a clinic report or other story to share? Send it to us at [email protected]. Thank you, Jana, for writing, and thank you for reading.
Jana Lyle and Tupelo schooling cross country with Jim. Photo by Chris Gavin.
From Jana:
Living in the Midwest, my season begins in May and ends in October. I spend almost every moment from November through April planning and counting down to that first event of the season, but it always sneaks up on me as I wait for the weather to clear and the ground to dry. All of my conditioning and training opportunities pass by due to the nasty weather, and I inevitably end up at that May event completely un-prepared. This year, in an attempt to be more proactive, I asked my friend Jill Wagenknecht if I could join her on her annual spring training trip to spend four days riding with Jim Graham at his lovely Meadow Run Farm in Florence, Alabama.
We wanted to be on the road by 6:30 am, so I started out the trip by sleeping in my trailer at the barn in order to save time driving and hooking up in the morning, and was still up at 3:30 in order to pick Jill and her mare up by 6:00. It was worth it; we made good time and arrived at Meadow Run by early afternoon. We were able to take a few hours to let our horses settle in and stretch their legs a little before our dressage lesson that evening.
Tupelo and Eowyn enjoy some downtime at Meadow Run Farm. Photo by Jana Lyle.
Even though Jill is light-years ahead of me in dressage, we choose to ride together so we could watch and learn from each other. Jim asked what I wanted to work on. I’ve been struggling to learn to sit the trot so he started by giving me exercises to try to get my seat to relax: reaching one arm up, then back between my shoulder blades while leaning back, intermittently closing my eyes, and sitting 5-10 steps then posting once. He encouraged both of us to ride with a more active seat, and this gave me something to work on and think about so the sitting started to come a little more naturally and my horse’s gaits immediately improved as a result.
I struggled the most in our jumping lesson on Friday (video evidence below), but that’s the day I learned the most. In warm up, Jim wanted to see us adjust our horses’ strides so we could quickly put them on a 9’, 12’ or 15’ stride, using collection and frequent halts and half-halts when our horses became heavy on the forehand.
The jump ring at Meadow Run Farm. Photo by Jana Lyle.
We started with a low oxer, and Jim explained today wasn’t about riding to a distance. Unfortunately, it took more than an explanation for me to get it. I could establish a balanced canter through the corner and approach but as soon as I saw my distance I would completely abandon the canter, which allowed my horse to pop his right shoulder out and fall on his forehand. To try to break the habit and show me what he was looking for, Jim instructed me to look somewhere besides the fence on the approach to avoid seeing a distance.
My horse had become so responsive to the half-halts that, by the time we added other jumps to the line, he came back to me so quickly it took me by surprise. This was huge for us as he typically lands and pulls. We were thrilled to see all the ground work paid off when both our horses came out on Saturday where we had finished the day before so we were able to add a lot more to our course work. The weather and the footing were perfect for a cross-country school on Sunday morning. I had glimpses of the balanced canter I had in the ring but was struggling to maintain and add speed to it – lots to work on!
While I feel like my horse is more fit earlier this year, we haven’t really jumped all winter so I was thrilled with him. He really didn’t put a foot wrong all weekend, allowing me to make the most of our time with Jim. It was such a great experience, and I love Jim’s teaching style. He worked as hard as I did to get the best out of us, and I hope I’ll have another opportunity to ride with him soon!
I could take a page from Meg Kep and her fellow fit friends.
Good morning! I hope your weekend is off to a fantastic start as usual. The competition is fierce at The Fork, where many riders are running their final prep for Rolex. Phillip Dutton, as only Phillip could do, is currently leading the CIC3* on Shamwari 4, one of Boyd’s horses that Phillip had not ridden before this weekend. If that isn’t impressive, I’m not sure what is. Between Buck riding 17 horses at every event and Phillip winning three-star dressage on a catch-ride, I think we have a new definition of the term “superhero” on our hands.
Today the CIC3* horses will show jump. The remainder of the competition will be stiff, as less than 20 points are spread across the entire leaderboard. To tighten that statistic up a bit more, less than 10 points separate first place from the horse in 32nd after dressage. I can’t wait to see how the next two phases affect the leaderboard, so keep it locked right here for much more from North Carolina.
Tipperary Equestrian has announced the “Dash for Cash” for riders competing at Rolex this year! This exciting contest gives riders who wear Tipperary gear at Rolex a chance to win an additional $5,000 in prize money. All three phases have a $5,000 which riders can qualify for. The winning rider must be wearing a new Tipperary 3015 Eventer Pro vest in the cross country phase of competition. In the dressage and show jumping phase, the winning rider must be wearing a Tipperary T-Series helmet to qualify for the bonus money. Be sure to read up on the full guidelines and rules here. Good luck to all Rolex riders who plan to participate!
EN isn’t just your leading source for eventing news, results and commentary; it’s a community where fans of this crazy sport come together to share their war stories. We love hearing from readers and, in turn, sharing your thoughts with the world. All reader submissions are eligible for the Omega Alpha Reader Submission of the Month in which they are published. All winners will receive an Omega Alpha supplement of their choosing. Have something to share with EN? Send it to us at [email protected]!
Briggs Surratt and Hat Trick at Rocking Horse. Photo by Patricia Dileo.
There were a lot of wonderful submissions to choose from this month, but we had to give the submission of the month award to event dad Andy Surratt, who wrote the piece “A Dad’s Reflection on Red Hills” about watching his son, Briggs, compete at Red Hills earlier this year. Briggs trains with Rick Wallace and has been eventing for about two years. Andy wrote in about the feeling of pride he felt while he and his family watched Briggs compete in the CIC*:
“Once we heard he finished with no jump penalties, a sense of pride hit us. The overwhelming pride made it very hard to button our jackets. As Briggs made his way over to the sponsor tent, shaking hands as family, friends and colleagues congratulated him, I realized I watched my little boy turn into a young man overnight.”
Andy (or perhaps Briggs?) will receive a free supply of an Omega Alpha supplement of his choosing. Want to win an Omega Alpha supplement? Send in your story, clinic report, video or other article to [email protected]. If it’s published this month, it will be eligible for April’s giveaway. (Month to be determined by date of publishing, not date of submission.) Many thanks to Andy for writing and to Omega Alpha for supporting Eventing Nation. Go eventing!
Here are a few of our other favorite reader submissions from March:
“As we approach a decade of taking in horses after their racing careers and finding them new homes and lives, please take a minute to thank this wonderful horse, thank the universe for bringing him and Allie together, and also to think about the horses who have changed your own lives for the better. May they all stroll through fields like these forever.”
“Can horses heal a broken heart and make you relish life once again? ABSOLUTELY! Taylor started her life on the back of a Tennessee Walker, running dogs with her father, watching him compete in field trials and scouting for him when he trained. Taylor was blessed to have ridden on some of the most exquisite plantations in the South. If she wasn’t fishing in the Gulf with her father, she was on the back of a horse.”
“The outdoor had not been plowed since we had the indoor available to us. There were now 8 inches of ice out there. Even the plowed farm paths were too icy. My trailer was at home, down my 500 foot driveway which we had not plowed all winter. So yet another break in work…and another comeback. I hitched rides to trailer to a nearby indoor twice and when the weather broke this week I was ready to work. The ring was still partially icy. On a couple of the warm days the barn had a snow stomping rides.”
“I have learned to work quickly and efficiently and how to be precise and not leave anything left untouched. There is not a moment in my day where I am sitting still or don’t have anything to do. I have learned that there is always work to be done and how to do it well and with a smile on my face.”
We hear all the time about horses at the top of the sport, but what about the next generation of equine talent? EN’s Got Talent introduces the future superstars of the sport, interviewing riders about how they’re tackling training with these youngsters. Have you spotted a spectacular young horse at an event you think should be highlighted in this column? Tip me at [email protected].
Kate Samuels and Absaluut Annabelle. Photo by Carrie Meehan.
Jane Dudinsky has been a longtime supporter of eventers, owning several horses, both past and present, ridden by the likes of Bruce Davidson Sr., Doug Payne, Kim Severson and our very own Kate Samuels. Kate acquired the ride on Absaluut Annabelle in December 2013 and has been nothing short of thrilled with the mare’s progress so far.
Absaluut Annabelle is a 5-year-old Holsteiner mare by Saluut out of Larkspur (Merano). Jane bred the mare herself, and the dam, Larkspur, was actually Jane’s favorite hunt mare. “Anna,” as she is known around the barn, took to eventing quickly and competed through Training level before coming to Kate’s barn. “I just started riding her in December, and she’s come a long way,” Kate said. “She is certainly a horse that needs to know and trust her rider before she can relax.”
One of Kate’s favorite attributes about this mare is that she is a genuinely hard worker. “She comes out of the barn every day and goes to work,” Kate said. “She can, however, be a bit reactive and tends to over think things in a way that gets her a bit worried and worked up.” Kate worked with Anna on the ground as much as possible to establish and build upon their relationship. Her goal with the groundwork is to help teach Anna that, while it’s acceptable to be worried or scared, there is a way to work through it and move on. “She is incredibly smart and wants to please so much that it’s relatively easy to teach her new techniques for managing her state of mind.”
Kate and Anna survey the scene at Sporting Days. Photo by Carrie Meehan.
When it comes to flatwork, Anna displays excellent movement and potential. Her tendency to get worried and tense carries over into the dressage ring, though, and Kate has worked with the mare to teach her how to relax more, especially at the canter. “When I got her, she struggled immensely with cantering to the left; she tends to jackknife her body when she gets tight through her back, making it impossible to relax through her topline,” Kate said.
To alleviate this, Kate began introducing more lateral work into Anna’s training and has also utilized the services of Keelin Redmond of Avoca Equine for chiropractic help. “She’s learned quite a lot in a small amount of time, really, and she’s much steadier in the bridle and is figuring out how the leg and the hand connect the whole body. She finally put it together at Carolina International, scoring a 29.6, which is her personal best.”
Next week on EN’s Got Talent: We will learn more about Absaluut Annabelle’s eventing career with Kate, including more information on her recent weekend full of improvement’s at Carolina International.
It's that time of year again: spring flowers, warm weather and, most importantly, Rolex Kentucky. This year, we will be highlighting riders who are making their first appearance in North America's only CCI4* event. We recently touched base with Rolex Rookie Dana Widstrand and got to know a bit more about her OTTB, Relentless Pursuit. Thank you for your time, Dana, and thank you for reading.
Dana Widstrand and Relentless Pursuit at Fair Hill. Photo by Jenni Autry.
In order to succeed at any level in this sport, you must be hard-working, dedicated, and a tad bit crazy. They don’t call it “insanity in the middle” for nothing, do they? Sometimes, the most inspiring stories are those of people who have really had to make things work on their own, with little to no assistance from others. While she is certainly not the only one in this situation, Dana Widstrand is still a shining example of what it means to fulfill your own destiny.
Dana and her 17-year-old OTTB, Relentless Pursuit, are headed to their first CCI4* in Kentucky this year in a culmination of many years of preparation and work. Dana bought “Rover” as a 3-year-old off the track, where he raced under the name Super Rover, and can count how many people other than herself have been on his back. Together, Dana and Rover began their trek to the Bluegrass, running everything from their first Novice to their first Advanced together.
In 2008, Dana was a full time barn manager, groom, and working student while campaigning Rover at the upper levels. The pair qualified to compete at Rolex in 2008, and unfortunately the bay gelding suffered an injury that kept them out of competition that year. “In 2008, I kind of re-evaluated my life,” Dana said. “I decided I couldn’t be a working student forever. My parents helped me out when they could, but the reality was I couldn’t afford to do what I was doing any longer. For the last six years, I’ve been trying to find a balance of having a job that will allow me to afford the horse and the spare time to allow me to actually ride the horse. Fortunately, I now hold a position that has allowed me to achieve that balance.”
Dana shows Rover a copy of the USCTA magazine previewing the 2000 Rolex. Rover’s response? “Consider it done, mom!”
While Rover recovered from his injury and Dana tried to find the right solution for her career, the pair took some time off from actively competing. “I didn’t have a trainer who I worked with at all from 2008 through 2011 because it was not financially feasible and the trainers were all over an hour away from me,” Dana said. “I had to figure out my professional life before I could even think about returning to compete at the upper levels. I did a lot of self-education; watched a lot of videos, read a lot of books, and basically tried to learn as much as I could while I didn’t have a trainer who knew me or Rover very well.”
Dana and Rover came back out in 2011, starting slowly and finishing at the two-star level by the spring of that year. The pair had previously competed at Young Riders, which was Dana’s original goal. “He was never supposed to be a Rolex horse. I was looking for a Young Riders horse, and we were successful in 2003 and 2004,” she recalled. “After we moved up to Advanced, people began telling me that he was my Rolex horse. I laughed it off at first, but after he finished third in his first Advanced, it started to become a reality for me.”
Coming back from her hiatus from competition was more challenging that Dana originally thought it would be. “When I was a working student, I lived, ate, slept, and breathed horses. Now, I only have the one horse to ride, and I am also a bit older so coming back I was perhaps not as brave. It’s been a mixture of him getting older and not wanting to run him too much, even though he’s just been perfect.” Dana began working with Heather Gillette as she set her focus on Rolex once again, and Heather has been extremely helpful in Dana and Rover’s preparations.
Rover’s 18th birthday falls on the day of the first trot-ups in Kentucky this year. Dana is focusing on keeping Rover calm and focused in the dressage and is confident in their abilities to rock around the jumping phases. “If I can show him the way, we can get it done,” Dana said.
As far as future plans are concerned, Dana isn’t looking past Rolex quite yet. “I’m not unrealistic about his age. Even though people are usually in disbelief when I tell them how old he is, I still don’t want to overdo it. I will let him tell me what he wants to do. I would love to take him overseas to compete, but at this point it’s going to be all up to him.”
For those of you who are old or new fans of this Rolex-bound pair, Dana would like to remind you that she will be using the hashtag “#superrover” while she is in Kentucky, and she would love to get her horse’s racing name and nickname trending on social media while they power around their first four-star.
Many thanks to The Horse Pesterer for this footage of Dana and Rover at Fair Hill in 2013.
Badminton-bound Henry Jota Hampton surveys the digs at The Fork. Photo from the Run Henny Run Facebook page.
Happy Fork weekend! I’ve been having a lot of fun keeping track of the various Fork-related hashtags that have popped up over the last few days. My particular favorites are #GoForking and #ForkYeah, without going too far past the line of appropriate. Do you have a creative Fork hashtag? If so, use it in the comments!
Yesterday was a great day of dressage, and the weather looks to be holding nicely as opposed to the thunderstorm-ravaged Midwest. Currently in the Advanced, Emily Beshear and Here’s to You hold the lead on a 29.1, followed by Phillip Dutton and Mr. Medicott, Trading Aces, and Mighty Nice. As I’m sure you’re aware, Phillip has stepped up to help out the injured Boyd Martin so that his top horses don’t miss any spring preps. Phillip takes the reins on Trading Aces, Shamwari 4, and Otis Barbotiere this weekend in addition to his own rides. Emily Beshear also continued the great start to her weekend in the CIC2*, where she scored a 43.3 aboard Shame On the Moon to lead going into show jumping.
In the CIC3*, just a few pairs rode dressage yesterday, and unsurprisingly Allison Springer and Arthur are your early leaders. The pair scored a 47.1 to lead, followed by Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda tied for second with Holly Payne and Santino on a 48.9. The remainder of the CIC3* division will ride dressage today, and as usual Jenni will be bring you more updates from the scene of the action as the day continues.
In case you missed it, be sure to check out Kate’s wonderful stalking preview of the CIC3* entrants.
FLAIR has announced its sponsorship of a cross country course walk at Rolex this year. The walk will be led by Ralph Hill, with participation from FLAIR riders Buck Davidson and Hawley Bennett. The walk is slated to commence approximately 30 minutes after conclusion of dressage competition on Friday April 25. Be sure to check the FLAIR website and Facebook page for more details. [FLAIR Website] [Facebook Page]
In case you were wondering where Jan Byyny and Inmidair are this weekend at The Fork, Jan has decided to withdraw JR and head straight for Rolex. Jan’s website was recently updated with the following statement: “If you know what the paddocks are like in Virginia these days you can appreciate that I think the mud is what’s responsible for JR’s front shoe shifting a bit Tuesday and making him sore. I got that fixed but then he lost the other front shoe—blame it on springtime in Virginia! He’s better now that it’s back on but I feel it’s more important to save him for Rolex than risk his soundness by running him this weekend. I’ll miss The Fork, it’s one of my favorite events, but we’re completely ready for Kentucky. JR’s very fit and has been going great this year, so we’ll see you all in a few weeks!” Best of luck to Jan and her connections as they prep for Kentucky. [Surefire Eventing]
Ready for Badminton? Me too. To hold you over, here are some updated photos of the cross country course changes being made for this year. It looks like everyone is working tirelessly to ensure that this is the best Badminton yet. [Badminton Photos]
Do you want to immerse yourself in the world of top-level eventing? Windurra Eventing, Boyd and Silva Martin’s business, is offering an apprenticeship to the right person. They are looking for someone who truly wants to learn the inner workings of the upper levels. It sounds like a fantastic opportunity, so head on over to their blog to check out more details. [Opportunity at Windurra]
Ever wondered what it would be like to ride the Grand National course? Well, now you can get a better idea. A drone was sent out over the course to give you a “horse-eye” view of the course. I know I love to ride cross country fences, but those fences still make me more than a little nervous! Mad props to the jockeys and horses who are brave enough to tackle this massive course. [Grand National Horse-Eye View]
Speaking of the Grand National, eventer Ian Stark will be a steward for the event this weekend. This is Ian’s first time stewarding, and he will be responsible for keeping an eye out for any offenses or infractions. [Ian Stark a Grand National Steward]
Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch and Port Authority. Photo by Samantha Clark.
How did you do this week, EN? This may be one of my personal favorite photos so far in this series. That pony is just too cute for words!
The rider pictured below is…
Too cute for words! Can I have this pony please?
…Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch! Steph posted this photo on her Twitter account last week and I just had to ask permission to use it this week. The pony’s name is Tequila and Steph evented for several seasons on this bundle of cuteness.
Boyd working hard in physical therapy.
