View Classifieds
Sally Spickard
Articles Written 4,649
Article Views 12,312,802

Sally Spickard

Achievements

Become an Eventing Nation Blogger

About Sally Spickard

Sally Spickard is a Korean adoptee living in San Diego, California. Sally joined the Eventing Nation team in 2013 and has subsequently written for Noelle Floyd, Heels Down Mag, and other publications both in and out of the equestrian world. Sally is an eventing fan through and through and enjoys telling the stories of riders who are not well-represented within equestrian media.

Latest Articles Written

France Leads Nations Cup CICO3* at Ballindenisk

By on Apr 13, 2014 9:00 am -
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill by Night at Ballindenisk. Photo from Liz's Facebook page. Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill by Night at Ballindenisk. Photo from Liz's Facebook page.

The Irish leg of the Nations Cup is being held at Ballindenisk this weekend, and the French team came out to play in the dressage and show jumping yesterday. Currently, the French team leads on a total, top 3 score of 130.2 after show jumping, followed by Great Britain and Ireland. There is still plenty of room for things to shake up a bit, as 18.4 points separate first from third right now.

Screenshot_21

In the individual competition, Oliver Townend is leading the CICO3* aboard Cooley Master Class, a 9 year old gelding who is relatively new to this level. This pair won the dressage decisively and show jumped double clear, scoring a 33.6 to top the leaderboard ahead of Izzy Taylor and Allercombe Elle, who sit in second on a 41.1. Ollie also leads the CCI2* with Shearwater Touchingwood, a horse who is making his CCI debut.

U.S. riders Liz Halliday-Sharp and Julian Stiller are each riding a handful of horses this weekend at Ballindenisk. Liz has three rides in the CICO3* and Julian Stiller has one. Liz is currently sitting in fifth after show jumping double clear aboard her lovely Fernhill By Night. Liz commented on her Facebook page that the ground was quite sticky for the dressage, which leads me to believe that her score may very well have been much lower in better conditions. Nonetheless, Liz is still in a great position to contend for the lead on cross country today. Liz also rounds out the top 10 aboard HHS Cooley, adding just one rail down in show jumping. Liz’s final three-star entry, Red Letter Day, also jumped double clear in show jumping and sits in 24th going into cross country. Julian’s Charlie Weld had three down in show jumping, and they will sit in 34th after the first two phases. Past results would indicate that show jumping is not this horse’s favorite phases, but his last two events out he turned in clear cross country rounds, so I’m sure Julian is looking forward to running and jumping today.

Stay tuned for more from Ballindenisk, but in the meantime here is a quick write-up on Saturday’s action.

Ballindenisk: [Website] [Scores]

Twin Rivers and Ocala Score Update

By on Apr 12, 2014 6:10 pm -
Lauren Billys and Jitterbug in the CCI* at Twin Rivers. Photo by Emilee Libby. Lauren Billys and Jitterbug in the CCI* at Twin Rivers. Photo by Emilee Libby.

Derek di Grazia’s cross country courses at Twin Rivers are riding just as expected this weekend: challenging and appropriate for the level and time of year. Matt Brown on one of his three-star first timers, BCF Belisco, secured the win in the CIC3*, moving up from first to second with a round just a hair faster than overnight leaders Lauren Billys and Ballingowan Ginger. Matt was quite pleased with both of his horses’ efforts. “We came into the weekend just wanting to have a good outing and finished with confident horses. It’s great to get their first three-star under their belts, and to come away with first and fourth is just icing on the cake,” Matt said. “We definitely have a lot more to work on, but I think this was a great result. Derek (di Grazia)’s course was a proper course with real good questions. In true Derek fashion, it always seems like he is trying to set you up for success with questions early on that are doable but set you up for more difficult things to come.” Matt will prepare his horses for Woodside next, followed by Rebecca Farm. I was thrilled for Lauren and Ballingowan Ginger and plan to try to catch up with her this weekend so talk about her lovely horse as well.

Twin Rivers HT:  [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Fence 10BC on the CIC3* course. Photo from Jordan Lindstedt's Facebook page.

Fence 10BC on the CIC3* course. Photo from Jordan Lindstedt’s Facebook page.

The CIC3* course claimed a couple of victims: Emily Pestl-Dimmitt and Arlington retired on course, and Natalie Rooney fell from Jefferson at fence 15. A few others picked up 20s, and fence 10 seemed to be the fence that caught the most riders out. Jordan Lindstedt posted a photo of 10BC on her Facebook page earlier, saying that the angled brushes came after a sharp right turn from a hanging log on a hill. I’m not sure whether or not the runouts came at the B & C elements or not, but this gives you a general idea of what riders were facing at this point on course.

In the CIC2*, the leaderboard remains unchanged after stadium jumping.

Screenshot_16

In the CCI*, the cross country looked to ride extremely well for most riders, with only a handful picking up refusals and two being eliminated. The leaders all went double clear and the leaderboard still looks tight going into cross country.

Screenshot_17

At the Ocala Horse Properties International HT, Michael Pollard will maintain his lead after a double clear cross country aboard Halimey. Leslie Law and Tout de Suite and Elinor MacPhail with RF Eloquence bring up the top three. Overall, the two-star cross country ran smoothly today, but four riders retired on course, there was one rider fall, and one pair was eliminated. For the most part, time penalties were the biggest score changer today.

Twin Rivers HT:  [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

I spoke with Michael briefly today, and he was quite pleased with how the course rode. “I thought it looked a bit tough actually, but it rode really well. If the horses were jumping well, the time was pretty easy to get and I think that made a difference because everyone wasn’t rushing or pushing for the time.” Michael and Halimey have been working through some confidence issues, and a year ago Michael thought that running Preliminary on the Trakehner stallion was difficult, but he’s taken his time and let the horse let him know what the next step should be. “He’s really getting to the point where he’s trusting me to put him in a good spot, and I think in another six months he will start really going for it on his own. He’s such a talented horse, and if I can continue on this path and don’t rush him too much I think we could move up later on.”

Screenshot_18

In the CCI* divisions, many pairs were able to move up the leaderboard considerably after clean and fast cross country rides. Elisa Wallace and Corteo ran a smoking double clear round to move up from sixth to second in the CCI*-A division after cross country, and Elisa commented on her Facebook that she was positively thrilled with Corteo’s performance today. Kelly Prather and D.A. Duras also moved up, leaping from seventh to third, after also going double clear. Overnight leaders Julie Richards and Fernhill Splash will hold the lead going into show jumping after a double clear round as well.

Screenshot_19

In the CCI*-B division, the leaderboard remained relatively unchanged after cross country, with Buck Davidson, Jessie Phoenix, and Clayton Fredericks holding their top three position going into show jumping.

Screenshot_20

Twin Rivers and Ocala both wrap up tomorrow, so stay tuned for more updates. As always, don’t forget you can send your photos or videos to [email protected].

Caroline Hawkins: Collegiate Eventing Team Challenge at Chatt Hills a Success

By on Apr 12, 2014 3:00 pm -

We love to see college athletes representing the sport of eventing, and the team concept has really taken off recently. Last weekend, many college teams converged on Chattahoochee Hills for a Collegiate Eventing Team Challenge. Many thanks to University of Georgia Eventing Vice President, Caroline Hawkins, for sending in her recap of the event. Do you have a college team or event you'd like to share a story on? If so, tip us at [email protected]. Thank you, Carolina, for writing, and thank you for reading!

School spirit on display at Chatt Hills. Photo from the UGA Eventing Team. School spirit on display at Chatt Hills. Photo from the UGA Eventing Team.
While much of the eventing world was focused on The Fork this past weekend, collegiate eventing took center stage at the Chattahoochee Hills April Horse Trials. Five colleges: University of Georgia, Auburn University, University of Alabama, Clemson University, and the University of North Georgia, made up nine teams consisting of 32 riders who competed over the weekend. The barns were decorated with school colors and school pride was in the air as flags hung proudly above the arena.
Saturday was a long, action packed day, with the first college rider entering the dressage ring around 8:00 a.m. The competitive spirit continued until the last rider galloped through the finish flags at 4:30pm. The cross country action was incredible to watch, with riders geared up in school colors and supporters lined up around the course cheering on their classmates and teammates!
Collegiate award ceremony. Photo from the UGA Eventing Team.

Collegiate award ceremony. Photo from the UGA Eventing Team.

Overall, it was a very successful weekend for teams as well as individual riders. College riders were in the ribbons in nearly every division, and each college went home with team ribbons. Winning the overall team challenge was the University of Georgia Red Team consisting of Ashley Greene, Elizabeth Lee, and Caroline Hawkins. Second place was a Clemson/Georgia team made up of Leigh Casacelli, Haley Doyle, and Callan Littrell. North Georgia riders Kelsey Stark, Devon Olivier, Karolina Sabonaityte, and Hannah Chapman took home third. The best scoring college rider was Georgia’s Ashley Greene, and tied for second were North Georgia’s Devon Olivier and Clemson’s Haley Doyle.
In addition to students representing their schools,  alumni teams were formed in support of collegiate eventing. We owe Chattahoochee Hills and Hugh Lochore a big thank you for hosting another successful challenge and creating enthusiasm about college eventing as a whole! We continue to see intercollegiate eventing grow in popularity and we are looking forward to the next team challenge this weekend at FENCE. Go college eventing!

Saturday Video: Michael Pollard and Halimey at Ocala International HT

By on Apr 12, 2014 1:30 pm -

I think I’m becoming far too attached to this fancy stallion that Michael has been campaigning. A 9-year-old Trakehner stallion, Michael has been working through some confidence issues with Halimey since picking up the ride. The pair is contesting their first CCI2* together, and they are coming off a great finish in the CIC2* at Carolina International, where they finished second.

Michael and Halimey won the dressage in the CCI2* at Ocala decisively, scoring a 39.1 to move into the lead ahead of Leslie Law and Tout de Suite. My favorite part about this dressage test? Halimey’s floppy ears and the way he simply seems to be enjoying what he is doing.

Many thanks to The Horse Pesterer for this video; be sure to swing by his YouTube page for more from Ocala.

Twin Rivers Score Update

By on Apr 12, 2014 10:30 am -
Kaitlin Hall and Given Half a Chance in their first CCI* jog. Photo by Liz Hall. Kaitlin Hall and Given Half a Chance in their first CCI* jog. Photo by Liz Hall.

It looks like a beautiful weekend for some eventing in California (then again, it looks like most weekends are good for eventing out there! Heads up, Hawley, I’m moving!). The CIC3* division completed show jumping and dressage yesterday, and the CCI* and CCI2* divisions rode dressage.

Twin Rivers HT:  [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

The show jumping in the CIC3* took many victims in the form of rails down, with only the top three horses jumping double clear. The top three after show jumping remain the same: Mackenna Shea and Landioso sit in first on a 49.2, Matt Brown and BCF Belisco are on a 51.9 in second, and Lauren Billys with Ballingowan Ginger are in third on a score of 52.5. Matt Brown also finds himself in fourth as well aboard Super Socks BCF, who added just one rail for a score of 57.4. Lauren and Ballingowan Ginger retired on cross country at Galway their last time out, so I’m sure they are out for a much better run this weekend.

I spoke with first and second placed riders Mackenna Shea and Matt Brown, both of whom seem thoroughly pleased with their horses’ performances so far this weekend. “This is my second event back with (Landioso) in 11 months,” Mackenna said. “He was amazing in the show jumping; he was using himself so well and he was so rideable throughout the whole course. I think the cross country course looks fantastic; the footing and jumps look super and it looks a bit tougher than I’ve seen it the past few years.” Landioso was previously sidelined by a pesky injury, and Mackenna is thrilled to have him out again. “I’m really excited to go out and have a good time on my horse. I just feel really lucky every time I’m on him.”

Matt, who is piloting his two mounts in their first CIC3*, was also pleased with his horses. “They are both green to this level, and there is still plenty to be improved upon in the dressage, but I think they both put in solid dressage tests that are true to where they are in education and strength right now. (Super Socks BCF) is a work in progress for me with the show jumping, and I’m still figuring out how he wants me to ride him in other to get the best out of him. (BCF Belisco) is just sort of a freak of nature and tries so hard for me; I was happy he stayed true to himself and jumped a great round for me today. I’m excited to ride Derek (di Grazia)’s course tomorrow. With both of my horses new to this level, I’ll just be looking for a solid, educational round for them to build on in the future.“

In the CCI2*, it’s a literal three-horse race in a small division. Dana Estes and Worthy Opponent V.E. will take the lead on a 52.2. Leah Breakey and Master Plan, who last finished second in the CIC2* at Galway, are in second on a 55.6, and Kaitlin Veltkamp and Flashpoint D are in third on a 57.2.

In the CCI*, the top five are tightly bunched after dressage with just a handful of time separating them. Elizabeth Mahon Temkin and Castle Larchfield Purdy will lead going into cross country on a 45.3, Lauren Billys and Jitter Bug hold down second on a 47.5, and Derek di Grazia and Ringwood Justice will sit in third on a 47.8.

Cross country begins with Preliminary at 8 am local time at Twin Rivers, followed by the FEI and remaining National divisions. Stay tuned for much more from Twin Rivers, and don’t forget that you can send your photos or videos to [email protected].

Boyd Martin Recovering Ahead of Schedule

By on Apr 12, 2014 9:00 am -
Boyd working hard in physical therapy. Boyd working hard in physical therapy.

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.

From Boyd’s blog:

“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.

Saturday Links from Tipperary

By on Apr 12, 2014 12:01 am -
Spot the puppy! Photo from Jordan Lindstedt's Facebook page. 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!

Events This Weekend:

Twin Rivers HT:  [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Plantation Field HT: [Website] [Times] [Live Scores]

Ocala Horse Properties International 3-Day Event [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

FENCE H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

St. Johns H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Pine Hill Spring H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Saturday Links:

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]

Who’s down to try this new thing called “equine yoga”?

Mark Todd resumes his winning ways at Belton.

FEI announces structure of Endurance Task Force.

Looking for a new job? How about British Eventing?

Land Rover extends sponsorship with Rolex.

Saturday Video:

A Flashback Friday video for you: Eric Lamaze and the great Hickstead.

Tipperary-Eventing-Nation-Horizontel-Banner225

EN’s Got Talent: Absaluut Annabelle Puts It All Together at Carolina

By on Apr 11, 2014 1:30 pm -

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. 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.”

Friday Video: Evention Presents Scis-O-Wiz

By on Apr 11, 2014 12:00 pm -

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.

Friday News & Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips

By on Apr 11, 2014 12:01 am -
Scenes from the International Riders Luncheon at the Ocala Horse Properties HT. Photo from Tobitha Yeomans. 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].

Events This Weekend:

Twin Rivers HT:  [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Plantation Field HT: [Website] [Entry Status] [Times]

Ocala Horse Properties International 3-Day Event [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]

FENCE H.T. [Website] [Ride Times]

St. Johns H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Times]

Pine Hill Spring H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Times]

Friday News:

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]

Best of the Blogs:

Check out Rolex featured rider Meghan O’Donoghue’s latest blog on her journey to her second Rolex.

Friday Video Break:

Check out Emily King and Brookleigh’s first CIC3* dressage test last weekend at Belton.

FlairBuck-Horizontal

Throwback Thursday Presented by Ice Horse: And the Rider Is …

By on Apr 10, 2014 4:00 pm -

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. 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…

TBT

…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!

IceHorse-BannerAd-600x100

Thursday Video: Modern Dressage Freestyle

By on Apr 10, 2014 12:38 pm -

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?

Rolex Rookies: Bobby Meyerhoff and Dunlavin’s Token

By on Apr 10, 2014 11:30 am -
Bobby Meyerhoff and Dunlavin's Token at Fair Hill. Photo by Alec Thayer. 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.”

The Fork Rewind: Videos from The Horse Pesterer

By on Apr 8, 2014 5:00 pm -
Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville. Photo by Jenni Autry. 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:

Phillip Dutton and Trading Aces:

Sinead Halpin and Manoir de Carneville:

Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM:

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda:

Equine Canada Rolling Out ‘Eventing – No Boundaries’ Talent Identification Program

By on Apr 8, 2014 3:30 pm -

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.

From the Phoenix Equestrian Team:

“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.

Go eventing.

USEA Speaks Out on Horse Deaths at The Fork

By on Apr 8, 2014 2:15 pm -

USEAlogo.jpg

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.

An excerpt from the USEA statement:

“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.

Tuesday Video from SpectraVet: Spring Bay Helmet Cam with Narration

By on Apr 8, 2014 1:30 pm -

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.

Why SpectraVET?

Reliable. Effective. Affordable.

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

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

SpectraVet

Jessica Agner: Sara Mittleider Comes to Montana

By on Apr 8, 2014 12:00 pm -

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. 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.

Horse Nation: Mickey Rooney’s 7 Best Equestrian Roles

By on Apr 7, 2014 3:00 pm -

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.

For the full list, head on over to Horse Nation.

#2 on Horse Nation’s list: The Black Stallion

 

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken at The Fork

By on Apr 7, 2014 1:30 pm -

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!

Tredstep

 

Cherishing This Gift We’ve Been Given

By on Apr 6, 2014 6:30 pm -
Powderhound and Conair. Photos by Brant Gamma and Jenni Autry. 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: Spring Training with Jim Graham

By on Apr 5, 2014 12:00 pm -

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. 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.

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.

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!

Saturday Links from Tipperary

By on Apr 5, 2014 12:01 am -
I could take a page from Meg Kep and her fellow fit friends. 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.

Events This Weekend:

The Fork HT:  [Website] [Live Scores] [Ride Times] [Facebook Page]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Spring Bay H.T. [Website] [Ride Times]

CDCTA Spring H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Saturday Links:

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!

HN: Who doesn’t love a celebrity who loves horses?

Check out this New Horse Shopping List from SmartPak.

Old Friends and New Vocations have entered into a partnership.

One-eyed horse rescued from a river.

Keeneland is replacing its Polytrack with dirt.

Saturday Video:

The Horse Pesterer is on site at The Fork this weekend, which means there are lots of videos to watch from the competition so far.

Phillip Dutton and Trading Aces:

Tipperary-Eventing-Nation-Horizontel-Banner225