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Sally Spickard

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About Sally Spickard

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

Latest Articles Written

Omega Alpha Reader Submission of the Month: March

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

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:

Best Memorial Piece: “When Horses Are More Than Just Horses” by Kelly Utter

“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.”

Best Tribute Post: “Healing and Fulfillment of a Dream at Red Hills” by Patricia Dileo

“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.”

Best Show of Determination: “The 47th Time’s a Charm” by Melanie O’Neill

“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.”

Best Working Student Diary: “My Working Student Diary” by Sadie Buchenau

“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.”

EN’s Got Talent: Kate Samuels and Absaluut Annabelle

By Sally Spickard on Apr 4, 2014 3:00 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. 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.

Rolex Rookies: Dana Widstrand and Relentless Pursuit

By Sally Spickard on Apr 4, 2014 10:30 am -

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.

Friday News & Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips

By Sally Spickard on Apr 4, 2014 12:01 am -

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.

[Part I] [Part II]

Events This Weekend:

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

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

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

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

Friday News:

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]

Best of the Blogs:

Ok, so maybe this isn’t exactly the best of the blogs, but John needs your help solving a very important question.

Friday Video Break:

I’ve been talking about the Grand National so much, I had to look up some video. Here is video of last year’s race.

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

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

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.

Thanks for playing!

Thoroughbred Legends Presented by Cosequin: 3 Sleets to the Wind

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

Thoroughbred racehorses that go on to second careers are unique in that they have two retirements in their lifetimes: the first from the track and the second from the show ring. Thoroughbred Legends, a new EN series presented by Cosequin, seeks to honor off-track Thoroughbreds that went on to accomplish great things as upper-level eventers and now enjoy a second retirement in their golden years. If you know of a great Thoroughbred for this series, email [email protected].

3 Sleets to the Wind ready to get to work at home. Photo by Mandy Alexander.

Mandy Alexander was just looking for a project horse to work with while she was in college. She rode for the equestrian team at Midway College and was in a team meeting when she half-jokingly said that she wanted to find a free lease horse to work with as a project. “One of the girls piped up and said she knew of a horse I should try,” Mandy recalled. “We laughed because we knew he was at a hunter barn and that I was looking for a potential event horse, but I decided to go look at him anyway.”

3 Sleets to the Wind had retired from racing a few years earlier. Racing under the name Triple Sleet, the 1996 gelding by Seattle Sleet out of Call Me Peach raced 21 times during a three year career, winning one race and bringing home around $28,000. “Cameron” was owned by Wyn Clark of Trackside Farm in Versailles, Ky., who wanted to find a good home for the horse after he retired from racing. Cameron ended up at a local hunter/jumper barn as a lesson horse when Mandy went to try him out.

“They told me at the barn that he was really sweet but that he didn’t really like to jump,” Mandy said. “I figured he would be a fun horse to just have around and learn on. If I didn’t go far on him, it was ok.” So Mandy decided to try her luck with Cameron and began working with him to find out if he had potential to be an event horse.

“When I finally decided to show Cameron, I thought I knew the ropes. I entered Novice at an unrecognized event, and off we went,” Mandy said. “Dressage was less than par, and he ran away with me on cross country. It was finally in show jumping warm-up that a dear friend came over and offered to introduce me to her trainer that I knew I needed assistance.” Mandy’s friend’s trainer helped her in the warm-up, and Mandy noticed a difference immediately after the adjustments were made to her riding. The biggest takeaway from this competition was that Mandy knew that she actually had a horse who loved his job, something that she wanted but had not expected to find in Cameron.

The pair moved up to Advanced in 2009 and consistently placed either in the top ten or well within reach at the Advanced and Intermediate level. They had also successfully competed at the CIC2* and CCI2* level prior to moving up to Advanced. Mandy commented on the boldness Cameron displayed on cross country. “He would have gone over any fence in his path. 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. I never felt in trouble or unsafe when we went cross country.”

Cameron was retired after competing at Millbrook in 2010. Some past issues with his feet were popping up again and causing him discomfort, and Mandy decided that her longtime partner owed her nothing and decided to retire him from upper level competition. He now helps teach riders at the lower levels of the sport and participates in intercollegiate horse shows from time to time as well.

“Cameron taught me to reach for the stars because it is achievable,” Mandy said. “Without the heart he showed in his career, I am not sure where I would be today. I learned perseverance, patience and poise from him. My greatest triumph with Cameron was taking a horse that was supposed to only be a fun project to the CCI2* and Advanced level. He helped me achieve a level in my riding that I always dreamed of but never really believed I could or would achieve.”

Thursday Video: Flatwork with William Fox-Pitt

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

Allison Springer and Arthur. Photo by Kate Samuels.

A few weeks ago, we posted a great video of footage from the William Fox-Pitt clinic last fall at Morningside Training Farm. The video included footage of the jumping exercises William had the riders working on. Today, Eventing Training Online and the USEA released a new video featuring flatwork from the clinic. Kate Samuels and Allison Springer are featured in the video, and I don’t know about you but it certainly is a treat to be able to see William’s training philosophies in person. A big thank you to EventingTrainingOnline.com and the USEA for sharing this video!

To view the video, visit the USEA website here.

EN’s coverage of William’s clinic:

Flatwork and Horse Sense with William Fox-Pitt

Focused, Committed and Thoughtful: Jumping with William Fox-Pitt

Why Being Intimidated By Upper-Level Riders is Overrated

What the Fox Says

Throwback Thursday Presented by Ice Horse: Guess the Rider

By Sally Spickard on Apr 3, 2014 10:30 am -

Welcome to Throwback Thursday! Each Thursday, we will be bringing you some vintage eventing photos and posts. Do you want to show us your first horse or a photo of your early riding days? Email [email protected].

Too cute for words! Can I have this pony please?

We are very pleased to welcome Ice Horse as the new sponsor of Throwback Thursdays. This series has really been a hit, and we can’t wait to bring you even more vintage photos from back in the day. Remember, we love reader submitted photos and stories for Throwback Thursday, so please send yours in if you feel so inclined!

This week’s mystery rider has represented Canada in international competition and is quite well known on the eventing circuit on the East coast. Any guesses for this week’s vintage photo? Don’t forget to post your guesses in the comments, and we will reveal the mystery rider later on today. Happy guessing!

Social Media Roundup from The Fork

By Sally Spickard on Apr 3, 2014 9:00 am -

The view from The Fork. Photo from the Phoenix Equestrian Team Facebook page.

The Fork officially commences competition today, and many of our favorite horses and riders are gearing up for one of the marquee spring events. Jenni is on site this weekend and will be bringing you more of her fabulous coverage, but in the meantime, here are some tidbits from around the social media world as the eventing world turns its attention to the last big Rolex prep.

Don’t forget, Fitness at the Fork will have many fitness options for any who are interested this weekend.

Photo via Sinead Halpin Eventing.

6 Minute Abs sounds appealing to me, as I am not sure I could last longer than 6 minutes in any sort of strenuous exercise. CrossFit with Michael Pollard? Whew, I don’t know if I’m cut out for it, but I encourage you all to try and let me know how it goes so I can be vicariously fit.

At least Meg knows how I feel. Minus the whole running 10 miles part.

How Bobby Meyerhoff checked in on Facebook today. Clever, Bobby, very clever.

Many riders spent their afternoon hacking on the lovely grounds at The Fork, located in Norwood, NC.

If you are competing, attending, volunteering, or otherwise hanging out at The Fork this weekend, be sure to send us your social media posts. You can tweet them to @eventingnation, post them to our Facebook wall, or email them to [email protected]. Also, don’t forget that we are now on Instagram, so you can also tag us (@goeventing) in your Fork photos. Go eventing!

Saying Thank You

By Sally Spickard on Mar 30, 2014 4:30 pm -

Grounds crew members keeping a show jump course safe. Photo by Samantha Clark.

It is easy to become wrapped up in competition. Whether you are a spectator, a parent, a friend, a hapless significant other, or a rider, the charged atmosphere at an event is unmatched. The hustle and bustle of the stabling area, the warm-ups that require precise steering and a lack of claustrophobia, and the adrenaline rush as you come out of the start box are all contributing factors that make eventing one of the best sports around. Let’s take a few moments, though, and raise a toast to all of those working tirelessly to make that atmosphere happen. I’m looking at you: the organizers, officials, judges, volunteers, sponsors, and everyone else who makes this sport so amazing.

I know I have a biased opinion, but I am constantly amazed at the amount of times I hear “thank you” or see a smile on the face of a jump judge who has been manning the Beginner Novice coop all day. In my travel to cover multiple events, I have yet to meet an organizer or staff member who was not welcoming and accommodating. So this is my way of saying thank you to each and every one of you who dedicate hours of your life for weekend after weekend of competition.

Can you imagine the amount of time it takes to schedule hundreds of ride times over the course of a weekend? Or how sharp the person who coordinates the jump judges must be; that is a lot of people to manage in multiple places at once! How about the foresight it takes to order enough refreshments to stock the concession stand, or the power of persuasion required to bring sponsors on board?

It is a job that this sport truly relies upon. Without these tireless individuals, our sport would not have a foundation on which to stand. So, next time you are at an event, make sure to give a big EN thank you (and maybe a high five – chinchillas love high fives) to the people who literally give us something to ride for.

Sunday Video: CIC3* Cross Country at Galway Downs

By Sally Spickard on Mar 30, 2014 1:30 pm -

The CIC3* division at Galway Downs wrapped up yesterday with a thrilling win by Kristi Nunnink and R-Star, who are headed to Rolex next. Be sure to catch up on the action with the recap video, brought to you by the USEA.

The national divisions will run cross country today, and it looks like Galway has, as always, put on a spectacular event on the West Coast. Many thanks to Frankie Thieriot, the USEA, and the many organizers, volunteers, and officials who put together a great event and some great coverage to go with it.

[Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Chatsworth Stud Aims to Take Sporthorse Breeding to New Heights

By Sally Spickard on Mar 30, 2014 12:00 pm -

Chatsworth Stud stallion Rusticus (Favoritas-Rispe IV, Bartholdy). Photo courtesy of Tammo Ernst.

In 2012, Michael Pollard took to his keyboard to voice his opinions on the state of the eventing in the United States. While there is much good to say about the sport, it remains an evolving entity, which opens the door for ideas and opinions on what could be improved upon to keep the sport growing at a healthy and productive rate. Michael wrote a column for The Chronicle of the Horse to put forth his ideas on changing the eventing scene for the better, which included improvements to breeding programs. He firmly believed that if the U.S. riders were able to access quality horses without having to import from Europe, that would be an essential first step in improving the overall performance of the High Performance squad, as well as those who strive to succeed at other levels of the sport.

Chatsworth Beginnings

Formula One. Photo courtesy of Chatsworth Stud.

Formula One (Beau Royale-Crokoon Lady, Tresco). Photo courtesy of Chatsworth Stud.

Enter Chatsworth Stud, which has joined the movement to breed quality sporthorses on U.S. soil. “I was just like everyone else. I went horse shopping in Europe for my next top horse,” Michael said. “I felt like I wanted to buy younger horses, as I noticed that the older horses either had some sort of problem or that the good ones were so picked over it was hard to find what you wanted. When you import, the cost of importing is a much larger percentage of the horse’s overall value, especially for the younger, unproven ones. With the young ones, you almost have to buy two or three to potentially get one superstar. It becomes expensive rapidly, and it is really an unnecessary, expensive tax that we put on ourselves.”

Together with his wife, Nathalie, Michael worked with longtime mentor Denny Emerson when the time came to get more heavily involved in the breeding industry. “This was eight or nine years ago, and Denny was looking to move some of his breeding stock. We took over handling the books for Formula One, and it just went from there. The Chatsworth brand has been in operation for about six years now, and it’s really grown from having quality stallions and doing more advertising.”

Michael and Nathalie made a strategic decision to buy stallions and mares with breeding potential on any trips to Europe so that they could build their stock at home. “The idea is to have enough Thoroughbred blood to inject a little warmblood in order to create more movement. Eventually you’ll end up with a hybrid somewhere down the line that meets all criteria for event horses,” Michael said. “In the end, the four-star horses will need to be good enough where they could succeed in the higher levels of strictly dressage and show jumping. That’s where it gets into a numbers game to be able to produce those types of horses. What I’ve been happy with so far is that the horses who have come through our program and have gone through the Young Event Horse program have done quite well. We haven’t had any that I didn’t think had a shot of making it to the top.”

Business Strategy and Future Plans

Halimey Go (Askar-Hamamelis Go, Pardon Go). Photo courtesy of Dr. Timothy Holekamp.

As the Chatsworth brand continues to grow, the goal is to have eight to ten foals produced each year. “It will be easier to show what our breeding program is doing as the numbers get bigger. So far we’ve gotten great feedback on what we have bred, and everything we have had come through our program is something I would be proud to show somebody. What we have stacks up with everything you could see in Europe,” Michael said.

As far as plans for the future are concerned, Michael still has his eyes fixed upon improving the availability of elite sporthorses to alleviate the added cost and inconvenience of traveling to Europe. “I would like to get together with other breeders and perhaps do a sales week or a winter auction. Long term, I think that’s what we need: an outlet where people can come and see nine or ten horses and feel like they have options. That is one advantage that going to Europe offers; you can see numerous horses in one day, whereas here you would have to travel long distances to see an equal number of horses. Offering something similar is something I would like to see here.”

A believer in “work smarter, not harder,” Michael and Nathalie are focused on their ultimate goal of producing the best possible horses. “Ultimately, it’s a labor of love. We love eventing and we want to create top event horses. We have to keep things moving and make sure we don’t end up with a herd of 40 horses,” Michael said. “Our goal is to be a viable option for people who want top quality young horses. One day we will hopefully start using the Chatsworth prefix in competition. I would love to have bred enough horses someday to supply everyone in need with an elite string of horses.”

A Special Opportunity

Songline II (Summertime-Schwalbenspiel, Exclusiv). Photo courtesy of Beate Langels.

Among many other fantastic breeding opportunities that are available through Chatsworth is the stunning Trakehner stallion, Songline II. You may remember this stallion from his stunning dressage test at Ocala Winter II earlier this year, where he scored a 21.7 on his way to winning the Open Intermediate division. The 10-year-old dark bay son of Summertime out of Schwalbenspiel came to Chatsworth Stud in 2013 from owner Gustav Schickedanz, and his lessee, Tim Holekamp. Songline II competed in Germany, winning the Six Year Old Champion Event Horse in 2010.

It has been decided that 2014 will be Songline II’s final breeding season, as his owner has plans to geld and re-train the stallion for driving. “He is a seriously special horse,” Michael said. “He needs to be with mares with a bit more Thoroughbred blood. If there are people who have that kind of horse, definitely don’t miss the opportunity to breed to him. We are very fortunate to have had him in our barn this year.”

For more information on Songline II and the other top quality stallions Chatsworth Stud has to offer, please visit their website.

Weekend Score Update: Texas Rose, Morven, Rocking Horse

By Sally Spickard on Mar 30, 2014 10:30 am -

Julie Norman and Consensus at Texas Rose Horse Park. Photo by Ashley Hays.

Several events are running around the country this weekend. We’ve been keeping you updated on Galway Downs, but here is a quick roundup of scores from the other events as well. As stated earlier, the weather seems to be affecting many of these events, but we know how tough eventers are when it comes down to it! Good luck to all competing this weekend.

Texas Rose Horse Park HT

Advanced:

1. Bonner Carpenter – Basco – 37.8

2. Tiffany Cooke – Patent Pending – 43.1

3. Julie Norman – Consensus – 47.4

Intermediate:

1. Danny Warrington – Will Smith – 31.9

2. Heather Morris – Europop – 36.7

3. Katherine Rivera – Royal Lufttanzer – 41.9

Open Preliminary:

1. Heather Morris – Charlie Tango – 32.7

2. Stuart Black – Balmoral Archibold – 31.7

3. Kadi Eykamp – Tridium – 35.9

Preliminary Rider:

1. Laura McEvoy – VIP – 30.9

1. Elizabeth Bohling – First Mark – 30.9

2. Elizabeth New – Uppercrust D – 34.0

Morven Park Spring HT

Open Intermediate:

1. Philippa Humphreys – Rich N Famous – 54.6

2. Amanda Wilson – Cool Decision – 61.6

3. Colleen McKitrick – Rocmaster – 74.5

Laine Ashker and Calling All Comets at Rocking Horse.

Rocking Horse Spring HT

Open Intermediate A:

1. Buck Davidson – Wiley Post – 29.4

2. Jennie Jarnstrom – Penelope – 30.8

3. Lisa Marie Fergusson – Honor Me – 32.1

Open Intermediate B:

1. Emily Macauley – Canadian Exchange – 29.6

2. Lesley Grant-Law – What Law – 32.1

3. Jonathan Holling – Proper Timing – 32.5

Open Preliminary

1. Susan Moessner – Satin Art – 24.4

2. Michael Pollard – Tsetserleg – 26.5

3. Allison Thompson – Merlot 325 – 28.3

Winter Refuses to Let Go, Nasty Weather Affects East Coast Events

By Sally Spickard on Mar 30, 2014 9:00 am -

White-out snow conditions at Virginia Horse Trials this morning. Photo via Emily Daily.

Can winter give it up already, please? I’m getting quite fed up with holding my breath each time I check the weather forecast just in case there is some impending doom headed my way involving cold temperatures and freezing precipitation. Fortunately, the Midwest appears to be holding steady, but the East Coast is a different story. A freak storm is currently pelting Lexington, Va., with snow, forcing the Virginia Horse Trials to just hold a combined test today due to the white-out snow conditions. They’ll be offering cross-country schooling on Wednesday now instead.

A sad eventer selfie at Virginia Horse Trials. Photo via Emily Daily.

Yesterday, my social media was full of stories of rain delays and lower than average temperatures at various events. I must give a big shout out to the organizers at Rocking Horse, who have been dealing with absolutely torrential downpours this weekend. They have had to change the competition schedule as they go, so if you are competing please keep a watchful eye on their Facebook page and website for more updates. Fortunately, it looks like the sun came out to play today, so hopefully competition can go off without a hitch. [Website] [Facebook]

I also must give some mad EN props to Katy Groesbeck and her crew for pulling off what appears to be an epic ensemble of borrowed items so that Katy could still compete yesterday at Rocking Horse. And the crazy rain affected events further up the East Coast too, as Morven Park had standing water across much of the grounds yesterday, leading many riders to ultimately scratch. Eventers just can’t a break!

Best of luck to all who are still braving icy temperatures and uncomfortably cold precipitation this weekend — not to mention freak spring snow storms — to compete this weekend. I feel like this just can’t continue, but I’ve been quite wrong about weather before so I’ve decided to just not hold my breath anymore. When will it end? Send in your own #sadeventerselfie photos to [email protected], our Facebook wall and Twitter @eventingnation as you battle the elements this weekend.

Go (winter) Eventing.

Kristi Nunnink and R-Star Lead Wire to Wire to Win Galway Downs CIC3*

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 6:51 pm -

Kristi Nunnink and R-Star. Photo by Liz Hall.

Broken thumb be damned, Kristi Nunnink and R-Star romped on cross country today at Galway Downs to win the CIC3*. Kristi and Rosie never let go of the lead from start to finish, and added 5.6 time penalties to their overall score to finish on a 57.5. “Usually I kind of start off a bit slow, but today I went fast enough early that I could take time to set her up for the last two combinations,” Kristi said, according to a press release from the Galway press office. “I think that was the best round I’ve ever had on her. I was very happy with her ability to go forward and come back to me today.” Kristi had a rough start to 2014, losing her promising horse Astro and breaking her thumb in a mishap with a tractor, so I couldn’t be more sincerely pleased for Kristi and Rosie, who have firmly stamped their ticket to Kentucky in a few weeks time. Well deserved, Kristi.

Emilee Libby and Nonsensical. Photo by Liz Hall.

The course claimed a few victims, but the majority of the riders came home clean with time. Two riders turned in double clear rides: Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice and Emilee Libby and Nonsensical. Hawley moved up from fifth overnight to take third place, and Emilee moved up a couple spots to finish fifth.

John Michael Durr and Esprit De La Danse. Photo by Liz Hall.

Debbie Rosen and The Alchemyst sadly picked up a Mandatory Retirement on course, and Lauren Billys and Ballingowan Ginger picked up 20 a fence 4 before retiring. Avery Klunick fell from In It to Win It at fence 9, and we are sending all of the chinchilla jingles her way and hoping both she and In It to Win It are ok. Sitting in second overnight, Jolie Wentworth withdrew Goodknight and did not run cross country.

Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice. Photo by Liz Hall.

John Michael Durr and Espirit de la Danse picked up .8 time penalties to finish second for the weekend. This appears to be this horse’s three-star debut, so the performance this weekend should make John quite pleased.

As noted earlier, Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice moved up to third after posting a double clear round today. Hawley said that Ginny was full of run yesterday, so it comes as no surprise that the little pocket rocket made the time look easy today. This pair will head to Rolex next, and I’m sure Hawley is pleased with this final prep for the mare.

[Website] [Times] [Scores]

: Barb Crabo and Over Easy. Photo by Liz Hall.

: Jen McFall and High Times. Photo by Liz Hall.

: Helen Bouscaren and Ben. Photo by Liz Hall.

: Debbie Rosen and The Alchemyst.

: David Acord and Reigns for Justice. Photo courtesy of Liz Hall.

: John Michael Durr and Esprit De La Danse. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart.

: Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart.

: Kristi and R-Star. Photo courtesy of Sherry Stewart.

Matthew Brown and Happenstance Win Galway Downs CIC2*

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 6:17 pm -

Matt Brown and Happenstance. Photo by Liz Hall.

The leaderboard shuffled in the CIC2* at Galway Downs today after cross country. A few issues popped up on a course that looked to ride well throughout the day, according to the leaderboard. Fence 17 caused the most problems, with four riders picking up stops. Overnight leaders James Atkinson and Man on a Mission II picked up 60 penalties at fence 17 and dropped down to 13th.

Aside from that, the course looked to ride fairly well, and about a third of the riders went double clear, while the rest picked up a few time penalties. Matthew Brown and Happenstance stayed within striking distance all weekend, scoring a 51.5 in the dressage and adding two rails in show jumping to lie in third overnight. A double clear cross country round secured the win in the Holsteiner gelding’s first CIC2* appearance, which I’m sure Matt is positively thrilled with. “Just in the last three shows, he’s stepped up in a way that made me say, ‘This is a serious horse,’” Matt said in a press release from Galway. “(Owner) Mary (McKee) has ultimate faith in him that he could go all the way, and after these last few shows, I’m on board with that.”

Leah Breakey and Master Plan. Photo by Liz Hall.

Leah Breakey and Master Plan jumped up the board from 13th after dressage to second overall, finishing on their dressage score of 60.5. It is also worth mentioning that Leah was one of just two double clear rounds in a tough show jumping yesterday.

Martha McDowell and Nabouco De Lessay. Photo by Liz Hall.

Coming in third are Martha McDowell and Nabouco De Lessay, who formerly competed at the three-star level with Jennifer Wooten. Martha took over the ride in 2012, and this weekend’s finish is the horse’s third top-3 finish in as many starts. This pair came home with just 2.4 time penalties today to move up from fifth overnight to third overall.

Jordan Linstedt, who jumped clear with 2 time penalties to move up from eighth to sixth on RevitaVet Capato, was thrilled with how the course rode, and felt it was a great start for Capato. “The course was fantastic! It flowed extremely well with very open gallops, but had plenty of questions to test the horses’ rideability and adjustability. It was one of my better runs and a great first two star for the year,” Jordan said.

In the CIC*, Alexandra Ahearn and Mia Baum led from start to finish (although they did tie with Tamie Smith and Sunsprite Syrius after dressage) to win after going double clear on cross country. The CIC* course looked like it rode extremely well for the competitors today, and about half of the riders finished double clear. A few riders picked up 20 penalties on course, but it appears that the course rode smoothly overall. Alexandra, 18, will be thrilled to pick up her first one-star win with Mia Baum, a 7-year-old German Sport Horse. Lauren Billys and Jitterbug also went double clear today to pick up third place, adding just a rail to their dressage score to finish on a 49.3.

Many, many thanks are in order to Liz Hall and Mallory Thompson, who have graciously sent me some the photos and videos in this post. As always, if you have any photos, videos, or general updates you’d like to share, you can send them to us at [email protected], share them on our Facebook wall or tweet them to @eventingnation. The chinchillas thank you in advance!

[Website] [Times] [Scores]

Jordan Linstedt and RevitaVet Capato. Video courtesy of Mallory Thompson.

Tamie Smith and Twizted Sister. Video courtesy of Mallory Thompson.

Joa Sigsbee: My Working Student Diary

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 5:00 pm -

Life as a working student is anything but glamorous, but there are still countless hard-working individuals knocking at the door for the opportunity to work for one of their idols. We've often wondered what it's like to work for riders such as Phillip Dutton and Hawley Bennett, so we are introducing a new series called "Working Student Diaries." Do you or someone you know work for an upper-level rider? If so, tip me at [email protected]. Thank you to Joa Sigsbee for submitting her Working Student Diary, and thank you for reading.

Joa and her horse, Kestral, always take a bow after their dressage tests. Photo by Chris Chakas.

From Joa:

My decision on becoming a working student was not an easy one. I had gone to college for a year, and was planning on going back as a sophomore when, halfway through the summer break, the school lost its accreditation. I was scrambling, trying to figure out what to do. I am originally from upstate New York, and I knew I did not want to stay there and go to community college. It was too late to reapply to other colleges, so I decided to take some time off and focus on applying for working student positions. I talked to many different people, but I knew exactly what type of situation I wanted. I had been a working student throughout middle and high school, and knew what it would entail. I mostly wanted the chance to get to ride and show horses other than my own. I understood it was going to take time to find the right situation and the right one finally came along!

I have been a working student for Colleen Rutledge for almost seven months now and my life is nowhere near where I thought it would be. After doing a trial run for her at the Millbrook Horse Trials I knew she was the one I wanted to work for. She was open and upfront, and I enjoyed her riding and teaching style. Working for her that weekend gave me a good idea of what I’d be getting into and it allowed me to get a good feel of how she runs her operation.

Joa schooling at home for Colleen. Photo by Tajana Pellet.

I was originally a hunter/equitation rider with a cute little devil of a pony that was sadly sold so my family could afford a horse for me. We were planning on buying a horse for me to continue showing in the hunter/equitation ring but those plans quickly changed. Kestrel was the first horse we looked at, and we knew instantly he was the perfect horse for me. He was a nine year old Arabian-Trakehner that had no eventing experience at all but had a personality like no other. We moved up the levels slowly with several bumps and hiccups along the way. When we started running Preliminary in the fall of 2011, he had already surpassed our expectations; we never would have thought (even after being told by some) that he would ever be able to do any solid Prelims. We continued running Prelim successfully, but I wasn’t planning to push for a CCI* or an Intermediate.

I moved out to Colleen’s farm in Maryland in September of last year with Kestrel and was thrown right into working and riding. Kestrel went into boot camp to prepare for the Virginia CCI* that fall, and I went into boot camp to fix my overall position. The difference in Kestrel is amazing! His entire body profile had changed within four months. He was stronger and really starting to push from behind. He always has had a nice trot, but getting him to really sit down was a challenge. Colleen gave me new tools and exercises to do with him and every day I can feel the power more and more. Colleen had me really drop my leg down and had me work on wrapping my leg around the horse. I have to retrain myself every day to open my knee and thigh and allow the horses back to come up under me. I have not had a set trainer or consistent lessons for about three years, so the consistent training went a long way with Kestrel and I. Kestrel flew through the CCI* with ease and all mistakes were my own. After that I had no doubt in my mind that Kestrel would be able to run an Intermediate.

Joa jumping Shiraz in front of Jimmy Wofford. Photo by Colleen Rutledge.

I am lucky enough that Colleen allows me to ride and take lessons on many of her horses, even letting me show two of them when we were in Aiken. Riding so many horses has allowed me to really work and focus on my position, on top of giving me the tools and knowledge to one day have my own successful business. I am also quite fortunate that her mother is a veterinarian and chiropractor and that I am able to work closely with her. I am not only learning how to better my riding and training, but my overall horse care. I frequently learn new stretches I can do for all the horses and I can feel the difference it makes.

Going into this season, Kestrel and I have already completed our first Intermediate, and are aiming for the CIC2* at Fair Hill and Jersey Fresh to qualify us for NAJYRC CCI2*. I never would have thought that Kestrel would be the horse that would take me this far. Being a working student has opened so many doors and given me the confidence and knowledge I need to take the next step in my career. Working with Colleen has opened my eyes and has shown me that as long as you work hard enough, anything is possible!

To keep up with Joa’s riding and working student adventures, visit her blog.

Wellington Withdraws Bid to Host 2018 World Equestrian Games

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 2:40 pm -

Photo by Sally Spickard.

Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP), the company heading up the host bid for Wellington, Fl. has withdrawn its bid to host the 2018 World Equestrian Games. This leaves just two cities in the running to host the games: Bromont, Quebec and Lexington, Ky. Some may feel that Lexington has the draw in its favor considering the city hosted the 2010 World Equestrian Games, but Bromont plays host to an annual international three-day as well so the race will definitely be a close one.

For more information, including comments from ESP on the decision to withdraw, check out the full article over on The Chronicle of the Horse.

Saturday Video: Galway Downs CIC3* Day One Wrap-Up

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 1:30 pm -

Frankie Theriot and the USEA caught up with several riders contesting the CIC3* at Galway Downs this weekend. A few of the riders are Rolex bound, including veterans Debbie Rosen and The Alchemyst and first-timers Jenn McFall and High Times. The FEI divisions will run cross country this afternoon, so stay tuned for much more from the West Coast.

For more on Day One from the USEA, click here.

Lisa Borgia: Roebke’s Run Is the New King of the North

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 10:30 am -

We thoroughly enjoy posting reader submissions, and Lisa Borgia's is no different. Roebke's Run has become a landmark Area IV event, and more improvements and additions are forthcoming in the near future. Lisa was kind enough to write in to give us the full scoop. Thanks to Lisa for writing, and thank you for reading. Do you have a story you'd like to share with us? If so, send it to [email protected].

Dressage rings at Schweiss Stables, home of Roebke's Run. Photo courtesy of Roebke's Run.

From Lisa:

Perched on the edge of the prairie, Roebke’s Run Horse Trials is set to become a new King in the North for eventers. This big dream has become reality at Mike, Julie, and Brook Schweiss’ Magister Equitum Stables, which boasts two hundred permanent stalls, competition for CIC* and Intermediate through Starter divisions, and a tough cross country course complete with three water complexes with pirate ships and sea serpents. Amenities include RV hook ups, two sets of permanent wash stalls, a permanent kitchen, and viewing patio. Oh, and one great competitor party with home-cooked food. All of these features have been developed in the last three years.

Lisa Borgia competing at Roebke’s Run. Photo by Derith Vogt.

What could possibly be next? Well for the Schweiss family, much more. They have a vision that includes the Adequan Gold Cup and a destination venue. To get there, Roebke’s Run now has a new course designer, Captain Mark Phillips, who starts work in April. Roebke’s Run will host add a CIC2* to their existing competition, to be held July 12 and 13, 2014. This is only the start of things to come. “We are looking to add the CIC3* and Advanced in the near future, possibly the Advanced coming as soon as 2015,” Julie Schweiss said.

One of the water complexes at Roebke’s Run. Photo courtesy of Roebke’s Run.

This is a real boon to Midwest eventers, both the young riders with big goals and the adults who have been waiting for this level of competition to return after the discontinuation of Maui Jim five years ago. If that isn’t enough incentive, Julie told me “we are not in this to make any money-it’s to support the riders. To promote interest in the FEI levels, we are keeping the entry fee the same as what the Intermediate and Preliminary fees are.”

Roebke’s Run has also changed the date of their other horse trials, to be held in September instead of October this year, which is a mixed blessing. The weather in a typical Minnesota October can be beautiful, or it can be 40 degrees and raining, so the move up date is good; however, the Halloween costume contest and hysterical decorations will be sorely missed.

For more information on Roebke’s Run, please visit their website.

Rock on Roebke’s Run, and Go Eventing!

Rolex Rookies: Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 9:00 am -

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. Here is a profile on Bunnie Sexton, who at the age of 52 will be making her Rolex debut with Rise Against, a 15-year-old OTTB. Thanks to Bunnie for her time, and thank you for reading!

Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against at Bromont 2013. Photo by Samantha Clark.

Bunnie Sexton, of Santa Ynez, Ca., didn’t expect to sit on a potential Rolex horse the first time she met Rise Against (“Ecko”). She had recently had her string of Preliminary and Intermediate horses sidelined, and in the meantime she was searching for horses who needed training or owners who needed riders.

Ecko was for sale by Ruben and Sonne Arse, not having shown talent or desire for the Grand Prix jumping career that lay ahead of him. Bunnie went to try the OTTB, who she knew to be a hot jumper and a more complicated ride overall. “I tend to like horses that are a little bit complicated,” Bunnie said. She said that she enjoys finding out what seems to bother the horses who are deemed “difficult”, as she studied sociology in college and thought that her analytical personality made her more interested in this type of horse.

“When I first saw Ecko, he was depressed and dejected,” Bunnie recalled. “It’s not that he wasn’t taken care of, you could just tell he wasn’t happy doing what he was doing.” Bunnie felt an immediate kinship with the horse and brought him home with her, but their partnership didn’t get off to the smoothest of starts. “When I got him home, at first I thought ‘Oh no, what have I done?'” Bunnie said. “I would go to jump and he was just all over the place. He wasn’t trying to get me off, it was just like he had ADD or something and couldn’t focus.”

Bunnie decided to slow things down, taking Ecko on long walks, riding him in ponds, and generally giving him exposure to the world without him feeling any pressure to perform. “I just let him be a horse,” she explained. “I didn’t want him to think that there was pressure associated with everything.”

Bunnie and Echo at Woodside International. Photo by Liz Hall.

Bunnie and Ecko at Woodside International. Photo by Liz Hall.

Gradually, the pair began making strides. Later on, Bunnie began training with Bea DiGrazia, who was complimentary of Ecko’s talent. “Bea just changed my world by letting me know what opportunities were out there,” Bunnie said. She had concluded that her time to compete at the upper levels had passed. “As soon as we did our first three-star, I realized that (Rolex) might actually be a possibility. I thought it would be ridiculously out of my league, but for him, moving up was just a natural stepping stone.”

Bunnie and Ecko finished their CCI3* debut at Bromont in 2013 with a sixth place ribbon. “After we did Bromont, I thought ‘Well, there’s no way I can’t do Rolex now’,” Bunnie said. Preparations for the pair’s CCI4* debut began, and Bunnie hasn’t looked back since. “It just amazes me that after all these years, I thought Rolex was this whole mystical thing, when in reality if you just do your homework it becomes an actual reality.”

Bunnie plans to continue working on Ecko’s fitness in the weeks leading up to Rolex. “The last month (before an event), I take everything down to basics. He tends to think the sky is falling most days, so I try to keep everything calm and methodical,” Bunnie said of her strategy. “The goal is to keep him focused and stable, and for me to continue not taking myself too seriously!”

At the end of the day, Bunnie is thankful that she found her OTTB who has helped her realize her dreams. “Rolex just feels like a natural next step. I feel like we are proof that you don’t need a million dollar horse to reach your goals. I consider it an honor to have a horse who really wants it the way (Ecko) does.”

Saturday Links from Tipperary

By Sally Spickard on Mar 29, 2014 12:01 am -

The final fence on the CIC3* cross country course at Galway this weekend.

Good morning! I hope everyone’s weekend is off to a great start. I will be sitting here obsessively refreshing the live scores from Galway Downs this weekend to bring you the latest updates. Kristi Nunnink and the stunning R-Star are your overnight leaders in the CIC3* after making quick work of a tough show jumping course yesterday. Kristi is riding with an injured hand this weekend, and we give major props to her as we know riding with any sort of injury is tough. Best of luck to everyone competing around the country this weekend. Remember, we are looking for photos or videos from Galway (and any other event as well!), so if you have something you’d like to share, send it to [email protected], tweet us at @eventingnation, or post it to our Facebook page. Thanks in advance!

Events This Weekend:

Galway Downs International H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. [Website] [Live Scores]

Full Gallop Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]

Morven Park Spring H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Rocking Horse Spring H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Saturday Links:

Attention all Rocking Horse competitors! If you are competing this weekend, please keep an eye on the Rocking Horse website and Facebook page for any schedule changes that may be made due to weather. [Website] [Facebook]

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!

Check out this heartwarming story of the horse who is blind in one eye and cleaning up at HITS Ocala.

Are horses “naturally vicious”?

Show jumping is returning to New York City in grand fashion.

Nine cases of EHV-1 have been confirmed in MN, WI, and IA.

Best of the Blogs:

Confessions from a Post Partum Horseback Rider

Saturday Video:

Here is some footage from last year’s CIC3* cross country at Galway Downs.

Boyd and Silva Update: Back Home, Both Recovering Well

By Sally Spickard on Mar 28, 2014 3:00 pm -

Silva at home at Windurra farm teaching lessons. Photo from Boyd and Silva’s blog.

A blog post has been published today with some updates on the respective recoveries of injured pair Boyd and Silva Martin. Silva sustained a head injury from a fall from a horse in Wellington earlier this month, and Boyd broke his leg in a fall from Steady Eddie on cross country at Carolina International last weekend. In his blog post, Boyd confirms that yes, his house does resemble a hospital ward, but also has some encouraging news.

From Boyd and Silva’s blog:

“I’m taking it day by day and not ruling anything out, so it remains to be seen whether I’ll be fit to ride at Rolex. Luckily at the moment I feel like I’m very fit and light in my body weight, due to the hard work I’ve put in so far this year, so it’s mainly a question of whether my leg will be strong enough. I’ll be starting physical rehab for the leg sometime soon…Silva is slowly getting to a point where she can start teaching a couple of lessons each day, and thanks to her girls, all of her horses are in work and looking in good form …

We’ve got all the four-star horses in full fitness mode; they went swimming at Mountain Meadows on Wednesday afternoon and my guys galloped them up the mountain this morning. Obviously I’m keeping an eye on how they’re doing, and teaching the odd lesson here and there. With Silva’s therapy each day, and my keeping an eye on my horses and teaching the odd lesson, we’re busy every day, but I’m enjoying being on cruise control for now, and spending what time I can hanging out on the couch with Silva.”

We are thrilled to hear that both husband and wife seem to be doing well. Boyd has horses entered in both Rolex and Badminton, and while his tone in his blog is positive, we still won’t know anything about his status for competition for a couple of weeks, it sounds like. At the end of the day, I’m sure Boyd will make the right call based on his fitness and the welfare of his horses.

Go Boyd and Silva.

Eventing Nation