I stumbled on this video yesterday and couldn’t stop laughing when I watched it. Have you ever wondered how it would look if we performed everyday horse tasks on other people? Now I’m beginning to understand why I get strange looks from my non-horsey friends if they accompany me to the barn.
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Friday News & Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips
How many of you got this for a Valentine's Day gift? Illustration by Lindsey Kahn.
Happy Valentine’s Day! I don’t know about you, but I’ve never fully bought into this “holiday” as I feel that it is rather corporate and tacky. However, I do accept gifts in the form of SmartPak gift cards and I supposed any excuse to receive one of those is just fine. I’m also hoping that today brings better weather for those of you who are locked in by the snowstorm that ravaged the East Coast this week. We here at EN hope you all are safe and at least somewhat warm. By the way, if you see our own Kate Samuels hitch hiking or otherwise scrounging for food and power in Aiken, do us a favor and help her out. We will send the chinchillas with thank you cards and an alcoholic beverage of your choosing as a token of our gratitude.
Events This Weekend:
Rocking Horse Winter II [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Paradise Farm [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Scores]
Fresno County Horse Park HT [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Friday News:
For all competitors competing in the Advanced division at Rocking Horse Winter II this weekend, only Advanced Test B will be offered. Due to recent clarification that the Advanced Test A is more technical, organizers felt it best to offer Test B to avoid confusion.
The Carolina Horse Park has announced that the Pipe Opener II has been cancelled. The severe weather has forced the organizers to cancel the event, scheduled to be held tomorrow, February 15. Due to the rare nature of such an occurrence, the park will offer 50% refunds on entry fees. Check out the Facebook page for information on how to obtain your refund. [Carolina Horse Park Facebook Page]
Beezie Madden demonstrated her epic stickability skills yesterday. While competing Coral Reef Via Volo in the Ruby Et Violette WEF 6 Challenge Cup at WEF, Beezie found herself in a long spot that sank her into the middle of an oxer. After being unseated into a position in which most of us would likely throw in the towel, Beezie somehow got back into position and completed the course. [Beezie is Stickable]
Chinese eventer Alex Hua Tian has signed on as the ambassador for tailor Gieves & Hawkes. The top-notch company is sparing no creative juice for this campaign, bringing in Oscar nominated director Mike Figgis to direct the upcoming commercial. [Alex Hua Tian Signs On With Gieves & Hawkes]
Do you have a horse with Cushing’s disease? The Horse is hosting a live discussion on ways to treat this disease, with several experts joining to offer their advice. Participation is free, and the event will be held on February 27. [Managing Cushing’s Disease]
Here’s a Valentine’s-worthy post for you. Horse Nation posted this yesterday, and I think it sums up a relationship with a horse person quite well. Let’s face it, we’re all just a little crazy! [HN: Fit to Ride]
Best of the Blogs:
Ever wondered what it would be like to work for Colleen Rutledge?
Friday Video:
In honor of Valentine’s Day, check out this epic marriage proposal:
Throwback Thursday: And the Rider Is …
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].
This week, we visited the West Coast for our mystery rider. How did you fare in the guessing game? Let’s find out!
The rider pictured below is…
Did you guess our mystery rider this week?
…Tamra Smith! Tamie sent us her photo warning us not to poke fun at her, although she credits Jennie Brannigan for her inspiration to send it in. Many thanks to Tamie for participating in our fun!
Tamie and Fleeceworks Fernhill at Rebecca Farm. Photo by Samantha Clark.
Throwback Thursday: Guess the Rider
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].
What future eventing star are we featuring this week?
We hope you had as much fun as we did in last week’s EN staff edition of our Throwback Thursday posts. This week, we bring you another West Coast rider. While she was on the verge of not sending us this photo due to her feelings about her chosen hairstyle, she took the plunge and sent it in anyway! Now it’s your turn. Who are we featuring this week?
Be sure to post your guesses in the comments and check back later today for the answer. Good luck!
Thursday Reader from Devoucoux
A very rare sight in North Carolina: snow and ice covered fields. Photo via Thalia Farm on Facebook.
I’ve come to the conclusion that this is quite possibly the worst winter I’ve experienced in a very, very long time. While I am still fairly buried under eight inches of snow, I at least have heat wave worthy temperatures of 50 heading my way this weekend to look forward to. For all of you iced in on the East Coast, I send you my deepest sympathies! For those stuck in the more southern parts, it’s difficult to recover quickly from a snowstorm as there are no plans in place for road treatment or snow removal since this type of weather is so rare. Here’s hoping for a quick thaw and better weather for the rest of the winter months! Just remember, spring is only a few weeks away.
Events This Weekend:
Rocking Horse Winter II [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]
Paradise Farm [Website] [Entry Status]
Fresno County Horse Park HT [Website] [Entry Status/Times]
News from Around the Globe:
For all competitors competing in the Advanced division at Rocking Horse Winter II this weekend, only Advanced Test B will be offered. Due to recent clarification that the Advanced Test A is more technical, organizers felt it best to offer Test B to avoid confusion.
Silva Martin and Rosa Cha W have been named to the US team for the Wellington Nations Cup CDIO***. This competition will be a final test of the new Pan American Games format that mixes small and big tour competitions. Best of luck to Silva and Rosa Cha! [Nations Cup Teams]
The famous Big Ben was posthumously awarded the Hickstead Trophy at Equine Canada’s Awards Gala last week. Big Ben was campaigned by Ian Millar, and together the two racked up countless accolades while representing Canada around the world. [Big Ben Awarded Hickstead Trophy]
Horse Nation’s Carley Sparks recently started a new series entitled “Texts From My Horse.” If you haven’t checked out these hilarious screenshots, do yourself a favor and click over immediately. I’m not sure the people standing behind me at Target today appreciated my unabashed belly laughs, but I think they were well worth it. [HN: Texts From My Horse]
A second UK event has been forced to cancel due to unsatisfactory weather conditions. The Somerford Park event, held in Cheshire in March, was cancelled due to weather preventing work from being done on the cross country course. We feel you, UK! [Somerford Park Cancelled]
In some tragic and heartbreaking news, missing pony Tic Toc was found dead this week. The gelding went missing in December, and his owners launched a viral hunt in an effort to find their companion. Unfortunately, Tic Toc was found a mere half-mile from where he disappeared. [Tragic Ending for Tic Toc Disappearance]
Best of the Blogs:
Kate Samuels’ updates us on her Pine Top experience.
Video Break:
Check out this mad dash for the finish from the jockey’s point of view. Quarter Horse races are ridiculous!
Working Student Diaries: Zach Brandt
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].
Zach Brandt and Cavallino Cocktail at Jersey Fresh. Photo by Jenni Autry.
When I asked Zach Brandt what the biggest difference was between West and East Coast eventing, his response came with no hesitation: “It’s freezing!” Zach is a California native who relocated to North Carolina to work for Will Faudree last year. Needless to say, the Polar Vortex is definitely not what Zach had in mind when he moved, but he now has a better appreciation for the temperate weather in California. “The other day it was 40 degrees, and I was mucking stalls in a T-shirt when I knew people at home would have their jackets and gloves on!”
Zach and his striking mare Cavallino Cocktail finished out a strong 2013 season, their first at the three-star level. The pair finished tenth in their CCI3* debut at Jersey Fresh and, after returning home, Zach began entertaining the idea of moving east to experience eventing on the other side of the country. Zach and Will Faudree had made their acquaintance at Jersey Fresh, and after some encouragement from mentors Gina Miles and David O’Connor, Zach packed his bags and made the long trek to North Carolina.
“Will is the ultimate horseman, and he has a sense of humor to match mine, which is important,” Zach said. “There are very few people who are consistently successful in all three phases, and so I felt that Will was the best person to learn from.”
Zach and Cavallino Cocktail.
As the story usually goes with horses, even the best laid plans sometimes don’t come to fruition. A mere two weeks after Zach’s arrival at Will’s Gavilan Farm, Cavallino Cocktail suffered a tendon injury. While this put a hold on Zach’s competition plans, he was thankful to be under the watch of such a great horseman while rehabbing his mare. “I’ve never had to rehab a horse before,” Zach said. “Will told me that he’s never had a horse injure the same tendon twice, which put me at ease. We took it really slow and meticulous, and now I feel that she’s stronger than she has ever been.”
While working for Will, Zach has been responsible for much of the horse care. “Everything is very structured here,” Zach said. “No matter what, we make sure that everything gets done.” Along with two other working students and a barn manager, Zach has learned the inner workings of a truly well-oiled machine. “Will’s property lends itself nicely to the size of his operation. With 17 stalls and the same number of paddocks, he’s lucky enough to have individual turnout for each horse. You can really focus a lot on barn management and fitness schedules because there is more time for individualized attention.”
Zach plans to stay on with Will for the foreseeable future and plans to bring his mare back into competition this spring. The pair will continue to compete at the three-star level in hopes of making their Rolex debut in 2015.
A Horse of a Different Color: Giving You the Business
"A Horse of a Different Color" features horses and ponies that have been successful in the sport of eventing while representing a unique breed. Do you have a horse that you think would be a great feature subject? If so, email [email protected].
Lisa Bauman and Arvo during a Deborah Rosen clinic. Photo by Brandy Savarese.
American Saddlebreds can be traced back to the cavalry horses of the Civil War, progressing into the elegant breed they are today. Saddlebreds can commonly be found competing in the pleasure ring, but Lisa Bauman had a different idea when she first began her search for a Saddlebred of her own. “About eight years ago, some friends of mine and I were shopping for Saddlebred stud prospects to breed sport horses with,” Lisa said. “We were looking at foundation lines that weren’t super ‘up’ in the neck and that had free shoulders and good brains.” Her original plan was to infuse the Saddlebred breeding with Hanoverian mares to refine the warmblood build and retain the presence and temperment of the Saddlebred.
In stepped Giving You the Business, known around the barn as Arvo, whom Lisa purchased as a weanling with the intent of eventing him at some point. As a 2-year-old, Arvo displayed his jumping prowess by jumping from one arena into another from a standstill. Arvo, who is now 8, continued his training with Lisa and is now a full-blown event horse.
One challenge that arose when Arvo began his training was his conformation. Saddlebreds tend to be a bit longer in the back than what one would normally look for in a sporthorse, so Lisa utilized exercises to help him engage his hind end and use his back more in the flatwork. “He’s not as ‘type-y’ of a mover,” Lisa said. “The dressage is where we have really seen the breeding differences come up, as his movement tends to be more up front, and we’ve had to work to get his hind end caught up with his shoulder. He has a shorter stride, so we’ve also worked on lengthening his stride.”
Jumping has proven to be no issue for Arvo. “He took to jumping like he’s been doing it his whole life,” Lisa said. “Cross country is so nonchalant for him; he was just so impressive.” Lisa has observed many Saddlebreds that are natural and exceptional jumpers. “I actually think for some reason that Saddlebreds just love to jump. Because of the way their hind end is structured, you can really get them to sit back and use themselves over fences. It’s like they’re spring-loaded.”
Arvo’s intelligence has also helped him succeed as an event horse. Lisa commented on his mental capacity, saying that he will stand in the warm-up and watch other horses go through their rounds. “His mental capacity is what I think really sets him apart,” Lisa said. “When you interact with him, you can feel him processing everything.” For that reason, moving Arvo up through the levels has been easy, and he competed at Training level in 2013 with the ambition to move up to Preliminary this year. “The harder it gets, the smarter he seems to get,” Lisa said. “The goal is to qualify for a one-star later this year and make the call after that on where to go from there.”
Around the barn, Arvo is “a lab trapped in a horse’s body.” Definitely a barn favorite, Arvo displays great ground manners and an outgoing personality. Lisa is an advocate of Saddlebreds as sport horses and hopes Arvo can continue to be an ambassador for the breed. “People know he’s a Saddlebred at shows,” Lisa said. “He always draws attention with his glowing chestnut coat and flaxen mane and tail.” Eventually, Lisa hopes to revisit her plans to breed Saddlebreds with some warmblood influence to create a new generation of elite sport horses.
For more information on Lisa and Arvo, check out the Austin Eventing Facebook page or website.
Silvio Mazzoni Named U.S. Eventing Show Jumping Coach
Silvio Mazzoni and Doug Payne. Photo by Kendall Church used under Creative Commons License.
In November, the USEF announced that a show jumping coach would be brought on to assist the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team in their training. In a press release issued today, Silvio Mazzoni was named as the newly hired show jumping coach.
Silvio previously represented Argentina as an eventer in the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome and has also successfully competed in the Grand Prix show jumping arena. The new show jumping coach will now be working with the Training List riders, as well as Chef d’Equipe David O’Connor in preparation for the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy and 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Silvio operates Keyna Run, his training and sales business, out of Senmila Farm in Middleburg, Va., and Ocala, Fla. Here’s an excerpt from his bio on the farm website:
Silvio began his riding career in his native country, Argentina. Trained by top jumper professionals as a junior, he competed in his first Grand Prix at 18 in 1990. His obvious talents brought him an opportunity to train and show horses as the professional for the top breeding farm in Argentina. His talent in the jumper ring combined with his strong background in dressage earned him a place on the Argentina’s eventing team in the 1998 Rome World Championships.
Moving to the United States in 2002, Silvio brought a couple horses and showed as high level “AA” jumpers and in the Grand Prix. He has since also trained horses and riders for both the hunter and jumper rings from Baby Greens to Grand Prix in California, Kentucky, Virginia and most recently Florida.
Welcome to the team, Silvio! Click here to read the full press release from the USEF.
Oliver Townend Fit and Ready for 2014
Oliver Townend and Armada at Badminton. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Oliver Townend had a forgettable 2013 plagued with injuries and less than stellar luck. Now, Ollie is ready to come out guns blazing to aim for a coveted top spot in the British Eventing rankings this year. He told the Yorkshire Post recently that his goal was to come back to Badminton this year aboard Armada, and he believes that his unlucky 2013 was actually a blessing in disguise.
From the Yorkshire Post:
“I’ve got the horse power, I’ve got the support and I just need to put the time and work in now and get the mileage that these horses need. Then, when they do get to the top, top level, they will be ready to be competitive.”
To read the full interview, head on over to the Yorkshire Post.
Pine Top Horse Trials: Intermediate Score Report
Arthur says "Where's the Advanced fences?" Photo via the Allison Springer Eventing Facebook page.
The Intermediate divisions at the Pine Top Winter Horse Trials wrapped up today, with numerous top pairs running to get the season started. It looks like everyone for the most part had a great run, with mainly time penalties showing on the score sheets, as would be expected for this time of year. Here’s a look at the top three in each section:
Open Intermediate 1
1. Allison Springer – Arthur – 37.3
2. Will Faudree – DHI Colour Candy – 37.4
3. Alexandra Green – Fernhill Cubalawn – 40.7
Open Intermediate 2
1. Peter Barry – Kilrodan Abbot – 35.9
2. Becky Holder – Frodo of the Shire – 43.2
3. Waylon Roberts – Yarrow – 44.1
Open Intermediate 3
1. Jan Byyny – Inmidair – 42.4
2. Boyd Martin – Sir Donovan – 42.4
3. Ariel Grald – Fernhill Cove – 43.3
Intermediate Rider
1. Sarah Dunkerton – Matapeake – 34.2
2. Erin Renfoe – De Cordova – 38.5
3. Meghan Perry – Nicos – 52.5
A Horse of a Different Color: Wapentake
"A Horse of a Different Color" features horses and ponies that have been successful in the sport of eventing while representing a unique breed. Do you have a horse that you think would be a great feature subject? If so, email [email protected].
Andrea Johnson and Wapentake. Photo by Le Tilghman.
Who doesn’t love a colored sporthorse? When I first laid eyes on Wapentake, an 8-year-old Thoroughbred/Appaloosa gelding, at the Hagyard Midsouth Three-Day in Kentucky, I had to find out more. Megan Moore and Andrea Johnson hail from Team CEO Eventing in Lexington, Ky. Megan is a long-time friend of EN, and her working student, Andrea, adds to a great team and a successful competition and sales operation. Andrea and Wapentake, or Jerry, have formed a solid partnership that has taken them up to the CCI* level with aspirations to go Advanced at some point.
Wapentake was purchased by Megan as a foal from Rugby Creek Farm. Sired by the Appaloosa stallion Wapuzzan, Wapentake is out of the Thoroughbred mare Just Cool, who evented through Training level. “Wapuzzan is a full Appaloosa, but he is extremely well built; he looks like a sporthorse,” Andrea said. “He has a great hip and a really nice uphill balance, so the combination of him and the Thoroughbred made for a great looking foal.” Megan brought Wapentake home as her competition prospect, but he eventually took a great liking to Andrea.
Andrea and Wapentake cross country schooling. Photo by Megan Moore.
“He really is kind of a one-person horse,” Andrea said. “He really only likes me and Megan’s dad!” As Andrea began to ride Wapentake, their partnership began to solidify, and Andrea took over the ride full time in the spring of 2012. At the time, Wapentake was competing at Novice, and the two moved up through the levels steadily, culminating in the CCI* at Midsouth last season.
Since Wapentake is half Thoroughbred, his athleticism really shines through. “He’s a hot horse, and his Thoroughbred really comes through in that,” Andrea said. “He’s a little bit hard to ride on the flat, but he’s got an incredible gallop, so cross country has always been his strong suit. Over the past two years, he’s gotten a lot stronger, and his dressage and show jumping have really come along. He’s becoming quite the machine now, which is nice!”
Andrea and Wapentake at the Hagyard Midsouth Three-Day. Photo by Megan Moore.
Andrea said Wapentake’s Appaloosa breeding lent itself nicely to his overall soundness as well. “He’s got amazing feet and strong legs, which I think really shows his sire’s side.” Built for the hard work that is eventing, Wapentake’s stamina and fitness is also unrivaled as well. “He holds his fitness really well; I don’t really have to do a ton of fitness work on him. I do think he is better suited for the three-day format versus the horse trials format because of this,” Andrea said.
Around the barn, Wapentake likes to work hard and spend the rest of the day relaxing with his pasture mates. “He’s not a touchy feely kind of guy,” Andrea said. “He can be a bit of a grump sometimes, but he works hard and knows his job.”
With Megan’s continued coaching, Andrea and Wapentake plan to compete at the one-star level this year with plans to move up to Intermediate in the near future. “I do think he can do Advanced eventually,” Andrea said. “He’s very scopey, and with his gallop, I think it will be easy for him. I don’t know how it happened, but it’s just very easy for him to move up.”
Here is a video of Andrea and Wapentake competing at the Midsouth Hagyard Three Day Event, courtesy of RNS Video.
To keep up with Andrea and Wapentake or for more information on Team CEO Eventing, visit their webpage or Facebook page.
Ellen Doughty Recaps the USEF High Performance Ocala Training Sessions
Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon. Photo by Ivegotyourpicture.com.
Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon, her 10-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding, had a breakout year in 2013, leading to their designation on the 2014 USEF Winter/Spring Training Lists on the National level. Ellen traveled from her home base in Texas to Ocala to participate in the training sessions with U.S. coach David O’Connor and brought her undying thirst for knowledge with her.
Most recently finishing sixth after dominating a cross-country course that took many victims in the CCI3* at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International, Ellen and Sir Oberon have proved they are determined to make it all the way to the top in the sport. Ellen and “Obie” also finished third in Advanced at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships in 2013 to finish out a strong campaign at the Advanced level.
“I was floored to have made the list,” Ellen said. “I did not expect to make the list at all; I didn’t even know I had a chance! But it’s such a great opportunity, and Obie absolutely deserves to be there.” Ellen drove overnight to Ocala and arrived ready to immerse herself in the Florida training culture.
Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon. Photo by Ivegotyourpicture.com.
Working with David has been very instrumental for Ellen, who does not work with a coach back home. “David has had me working on straightness in my horse and has changed my position a little, which has been really helpful. With jumping, he had me working on using more seat and leg and less hand while keeping Obie’s feet moving more as I collect him to ensure that he’s good with his footwork,” Ellen said.
David also worked with Ellen on her dressage position, repositioning her so that her tailbone was more underneath her, which allows her to utilize her core more. “I think that was the big thing he changed with the dressage,” Ellen said. “It feels a little foreign to me, but I did feel a difference once I began using it.”
Ellen is excited to be in Florida, where she will remain for the remainder of the training sessions and also partake in lessons from others when she can. “I’m going to take as many lessons as I can while I’m down here,” Ellen said. “I plan to use these five weeks to absorb as much knowledge as I can.”
David teaching Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon on Monday at the Ocala Training Sessions. Photo from the USEF Eventing High Performance Facebook page.
This spring, Ellen plans to bring Obie out slowly before making their CCI4* debut at Rolex in April. “He’s pretty consistent, and I don’t feel like I need to put a lot of runs on him,” Ellen said of Obie’s fitness. “We will do some dressage and jumper shows, which really help him. At dressage shows, we do fourth level and Prix St. Georges, which make me feel much better about our eventing dressage tests.”
Ellen’s itinerary for Rolex doesn’t just include time in the saddle, though. She and her fiance, Alistair, will be tying the knot on the fabled Rolex cross-country course during the weekend of competition. “I’m not really a typical bride,” Ellen said of her upcoming nuptials. “I don’t have a ton of plans besides a simple ceremony on the cross-country course.”
We can’t think of a better setting to say “I do” in; after all, what better place than your first CCI4* competition? Thank you to Ellen for taking the time to recap her experience at the training sessions so far, and best of luck to both her and Obie as they venture down the road to Kentucky.
Friday News & Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips
Kate Chadderton is back in the saddle!
Kate Chadderton recently suffered a concussion and a broken jaw, which has kept her out of the saddle for a few weeks. She sent us this photo, though, to let us know that she was officially back in the saddle and wired for safety thanks to “polo extraordinaire” Liv Stringer. We are glad to hear you are doing well, Kate!
Events This Weekend:
Full Gallop Farm Feb. HT [Website] [Results]
Pine Top [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Ocala Horse Properties Winter II HT [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Friday News:
Today is the last day to vote for the ESMA Awards! Eventing Nation has been nominated for two Equestrian Social Media Awards! Go vote for us in categories #14 and #15, Best Blog and Best Social Network. [ESMA Voting]
The annual Heritage Days Fork CIC2* and CIC3* are being held in Norwod, Nc. from April 2-6. This year’s competition theme is “Norwood To Normandy” and will feature several international officials, including Alain James, who has been tapped as a member of the ground jury for the World Equestrian Games. Don’t miss out on this spectacular event which features a breathtaking facility and top-class competition. [The Fork]
Horse Nation’s Carley Sparks recently interviewed George Morris. His answers may surprise you, if you are surprised by a lack of sarcasm and quick jokes. The interview is a sound look into George’s philosophies and opinions. Definitely worth a read. [6 Questions With George Morris]
Have you ever wondered how a horse’s genes affect their movement? Scientists at Texas A&M University recently conducted a study on the characteristics of movement and genetic mutation. [Gene Testing and Horse Movement]
Show jumpers raised $2.5M for Florida charities at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Competing in the FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge, riders from many disciplines rode for designated charities to surpass the previous record for amount raised. [Great Charity Challenge]
The Moreton Horse Trials, scheduled to be held in the UK on March 1-2, have been cancelled due to severe weather. Rain prevented work from being performed on the cross country course, and the water-logged ground has many concerned that this only the first of many such cancellations for this year. [Moreton HT Cancelled]
Friday Video:
Check out this Flashback Friday video of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Throwback Thursday: The EN Staff Member Edition Winner
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].
Well, EN, how did you fare in our epic matching contest? We got some pretty funny responses, and are pleased to announce that Hannah Reppert and Samantha Repp both correctly matched the highest number of matches with 6 correct guesses. The chinchillas weren’t feeling up to a tie-breaker, so Hannah and Samantha are both our winners! Congratulations, ladies, we will be in touch regarding your coveted trophies.
Now, for the those of you wondering who is behind the vintage photos we posted, here is the big reveal (from left to right):
1: John Thier, the mastermind behind the wonderful EN. (As if you all didn’t guess this one correctly right off the bat!)
2: Erin Critz, resident fruit company employee and Morgan aficionado.
3. Kate Samuels, who wins our vote for best outfit of the week.
4. Leslie Wylie, best known for her mastery of the art of creating GIFs and her Horse Nation expertise.
5. Ellie Thompson, who also runs the EN Pinterest board. Check out her obsession here.
6. Colleen Peachy, our resident product reviewer. Best job ever? I think so.
7. Jenni Autry, our fearless managing editor. Her Throwback Thursday photo may be our favorite. It’s also known as “Angry Jenni.” We promise she doesn’t give us that look unless we’ve done something seriously wrong.
8. Lila Gendal, who has perhaps the best riding position I personally have ever seen. You go, girl!
9. Visionaire, another of our rockstar editors. Currently in Florida enjoying the sunshine, she keeps busy by competing against the pros and letting us all know how warm she is while we wipe snow off of our cars.
10. Sally Spickard, who had a serious affinity for Palominos as a kid. Maybe that explains my vast collection of Palomino Barbie horses?
11. Lindsey Kahn, most likely the most artistic person on our staff. If you haven’t checked out her artistry website, do so immediately!
Thank you to all who participated, we hope you enjoyed our vintage photos as much as we did!
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- We’ll bet this one is (not) the most difficult picture to guess!
USEA Podcast: Karen O’Connor Remembers Biko
Karen and Biko. Photo via the USEA Archives
Chris Stafford touched base this week with Karen O’Connor in the wake of the death of her beloved partner Biko. Karen fondly remembers her first time meeting Biko on a trip to find horses in Ireland and how she had to begin slowly as the big Thoroughbred grew into himself. “There was a lot of foundation work we had to do; I didn’t take the horse to a competition until he was 6, and we bought him as a 4 year old,” Karen said on the podcast.
Karen thanked all of Biko’s connections over the years, and remarked that she had been contacted by people from the world over who wanted to pay tribute to the horse who helped ignite Karen’s illustrious career. “I literally traveled the world with this horse,” Karen said in the interview with Chris. “It was a true, true privilege to be a part of his life.”
To listen to the full USEA Podcast interview, including background on what type of ride Biko was in competition, click here.
Throwback Thursday: The EN Staff Edition
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].
We'll bet this one is (not) the most difficult picture to guess!
This week, we are bringing you a very special edition of Throwback Thursday. Obtaining photos of John is a special occasion in itself, so the chinchillas thought up a great idea to test your recognition skills with our trusty EN staff. While we realize John will be the most matched simply through process of elimination, we’re anxious to see who can guess the most staff members correctly.
What’s in it for you?
The reader who correctly matches the highest number of throwback photos to the correct staff member will win an EN hat and a T-shirt fresh from the official EN store!
Visit the staff bio page and do some studying, get your guessing hats on and email your guesses to [email protected].Your guesses are due by 5 pm EST today, so get them in early! Please list your guesses in order, from right to left in the gallery below.
We will announce the winner later on this evening. Only one guess per person, please! We don’t want to overwhelm the counting chinchillas with multiple entries.
We realize that most of this game will be pure guessing, so have some fun with it. Any commentary on our old-school haircuts or fashion choices are more than welcome. Good luck and happy guessing!
Note: The following EN staff members are not pictured: Abbie Golden and Shara Rutberg
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- We’ll bet this one is (not) the most difficult picture to guess!
Working Student Diaries: Cobie Sheehan
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].
Cobie and Atlas out for a hack in Aiken.
Cobie Sheehan had taken a bit of time off from riding in her home country of Australia when she decided to get back in the saddle in a big way. After losing her event horse in an accident, Cobie wanted a fresh start and an opportunity to travel and learn from the best, so she sent resumes to several riders here in the U.S. “I probably sent resumes to about 30 or 40 people and got in contact with Phillip (Dutton). He made me a great offer, so I packed my bags and came to the U.S. for my university holiday,” Cobie said, in her quite delightful Aussie accent. “I remember having posters from the Sydney Olympics of Phillip when I was a kid, so it was a dream come true.”
In Australia, Cobie had previously evented through the equivalent of Training level and had been riding and competing for about 10 years. When she arrived at Phillip’s home base in Pennsylvania, she was put right to work fulfilling the normal everyday duties of a working student, such as mucking stalls and handling turnout. Coming from an environment where keeping your horse at a boarding facility was not the norm, Cobie was interested to see the structure of a true training facility. “At home, we mainly keep our horses at home and haul away for lessons,” she said. “I wanted to improve my horsemanship skills and understand the finer details and behind-the-scenes work of working with-upper level horses.”
A Mighty Nice day. Cobie out for a hack in Aiken.
Cobie has enjoyed the bonding time with the other working students, as well as the opportunity to hack out some of the best horses in the country. I asked her for the inside scoop on which of Phillip’s string was her favorite, and she immediately responded with Mighty Nice. She also has had the opportunity to hack most of Phillip’s upper-level horses. “William Penn is dead quiet and such a gentleman,” Cobie said. “Atlas is pretty chill too. Mighty Nice is super spooky; my instructions when I first rode him were just to hold on tight! Mr. Medicott acts like a seasoned professional and marches around like he has somewhere very important to be. Fernhill Fugitive is the laziest horse on the farm but deceptively spooky when he wants to be; he’s the only one who has managed to dump me so far!”
Cobie recently posted on her blog about her slight misadventure with Fernhill Fugitive, who spooked after another horse shied into him. By putting too much weight in one stirrup and becoming off balance, Cobie sprained her ankle and found herself utilizing ice boots for a short while.
Getting used to the American ribbon colors!
Cobie will head back to Australia in a few weeks to resume her studies. “I’m hoping to specialize in equine physiotherapy down the road, so one of my goals for heading over (to the U.S.) was to network and get a feel for the industry and how they use complementary therapies.” Cobie has been fortunate to learn from one of the absolute best in the business, and she is excited to take her newly found knowledge home with her as she begins her search for her next event horse.
To keep up with Cobie’s adventures, check out her blog, Across the Ditch.
Thursday Reader from Devoucoux
Alison Wilaby's first Devoucoux product made: a business card holder! Photo from Alison's Facebook page.
I’ve been following the adventures of Alison Wilaby as she ventured to France to go through training at Devoucoux to become a saddle sales rep. The photos she has posted made me green with envy as I see all of that rich, luxurious leather being crafted into some of the best saddles and tack ever made. I thought I’d share one of Alison’s photos from her trip, a snapshot of a handmade business card holder that she made during training. Can you sign me up for that job, please? And it comes with hands-on training in France? Done deal.
Events This Weekend:
Full Gallop Farm Feb. HT [Website] [Results]
Pine Top [Website] [Entry Status/Times]
Ocala Horse Properties Winter II HT [Website] [Ride Times]
News from Around the Globe:
Voting for the Equestrian Social Media Awards ends tomorrow! Eventing Nation has been nominated for two ESMA Awards, so please go vote for us in categories #14 and #15, Best Blog and Best Social Network. [ESMA Voting]
Area VII is accepting applications for the new Young Rider coach. The term will run from 2014-2016, and applicants must have obtained an ICP Level III certification. [Area VII Looking for a YR Coach]
Oregon State University recently opened a new veterinary teaching hospital. Features include a state of the art CT machine, advanced surgical technology, and an intensive care unit. This hospital will afford veterinary students the best opportunities for learning in an advanced environment. [Tour of OSU’s New Teaching Hospital]
Dressage superstar Charlotte Dujardin will be teaching her first U.S. Symposium in LA next month. Teaching with Judy Harvey, Charlotte will teach a two-day symposium at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Tickets for this event are on sale now. [Dujardin to Teach US Symposium]
A Shetland Pony was awarded the top prize at Australia’s Royal Melbourne Horse Show. Otway View Eloise was competing for the first time in this competition and was awarded Best of Show honors. [Royal Melbourne Horse Show]
Best of the Blogs:
Check out Silva Martin’s dressage lesson with dressage legend Debbie McDonald.
Thursday Video Break:
Ever wanted to go behind the scenes of a Budweiser commercial?
Horse Super Bowl Ads: Who Did It Best?
One of our favorite Budweiser commercials to date.
I look forward to Super Bowl commercials each year because I am constantly looking for one that someone incorporates a horse. Yes, I am a nerd in every sense of the word. Last night’s big game yielded two results, one of which we have already seen thanks to Budweiser’s early release.
I pulled up the other ad, a Diet Mountain Dew spot that plugs the benefits of the drink when it comes to (freestyle?) horse competition. Take a look for yourself and vote for which commercial wins for best horse-related for the year. Happy voting!
Diet Mountain Dew:
Budweiser:
EN’s Got Talent: Transitioning Bailey to Event Horse Life
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].
Lindsay and Baileymenta Z. Photo courtesy of Brant Gamma Photography.
Last week on EN’s Got Talent, we got to know Lindsay Kelley’s newest eventer, Baileymenta Z, a 7-year-old Zangersheide mare. After discovering Bailey at a hunter barn, Lindsay quickly realized that the mare had loads of talent for the event world. After acquiring the mare, Lindsay set about transitioning her from the hunter world to the event world.
The first thing Lindsay learned about Bailey was that she was very much an alpha mare. This combined with the fact that Bailey was seemingly not afraid of anything, Lindsay had to learn how to effectively communicate. “She is very intuitive,” Lindsay said. “On cross country, she barely bats an eye at any jump. It’s almost to the point where I think ‘You do know that jump is solid and won’t come down, right?'” Lindsay has done a lot of jump schooling on the mare, balancing a slow and proper progression of her training with ensuring that the fences are of enough size that Bailey will respect them. Competing at Training level has been challenging for the pair since Bailey clearly thinks she is above jumping these “small” fences.
Dressage has also been a focal point of Bailey’s training for her new career. As we know, hunters tend to go in a lower and longer frame than what would be expected in the dressage ring. “Her neck is set quite high, so they were constantly working to get her head down on a loose rein and this was very counter intuitive for her,” Lindsay said of Bailey’s former career. “Now, it’s a matter of getting her to accept contact and teaching her that it is ok and that it’s not going away. She wants to push from behind and be correct, but you can tell that she questions whether or not this is correct. Everything is going to be really simple once she understands the contact.”
Photo courtesy of Brant Gamma Photography.
Lindsay and Bailey have been working with Will Coleman and Allison Springer as Bailey learns to accept the basics of dressage work. As a hunter, Bailey also has a lot of bascule with her jump, and while the scope is there, Lindsay has started working on training Bailey to jump more efficiently. “We are working on her not throwing her back in the air. More cross country miles will help her with that, as she has to learn to land and gallop in order to make time. Once she figures out that it is more effective to jump with less bascule, it becomes more of a handy hunter ride and shorter lines to be able to make time. But I would rather work with a horse with too much jump than one that is too flat!”
As 2014 gets going in full gear, Lindsay has her sights set on running another Training event to get Bailey’s motor running. From there, the plan is to move up to Preliminary. “The bigger everything gets, the better she will be. But I don’t want to rush and miss any of the building blocks that she needs just because she can do the bigger things. I just want to make sure that she is solid and smart about it. A horse with heart is a huge necessity for eventing, but I can’t override her just because she will do it when she has no idea what she really is doing.”
Lindsay and Bailey’s first cross country school together. Photo by Evan Coluccio.
One of Lindsay’s favorite things about this mare comes from her alpha mare attitude. From this type A personality comes a distinct sense of self-preservation, which is an important part of an event horse’s personality. “Her personality is one thing that really drew me to her,” Lindsay said. “She is going to take care of herself no matter what. I think that’s what I’ve realized I like about mares; they are brave and smart and know how to think. I know she will always take care of herself and me when we are together.”
Kendal Lehari Retires Daily Edition
Kendal Lehari and Daily Edition at Rolex. Photo by Kasey Mueller.
Kendal Lehari is an up and coming rider who first stormed onto the Rolex scene in 2013, placing in the top 20 in their CCI4* debut. Kendal and Daily Edition, a 15-year-old OTTB, went on to be named to the Canadian 2014 Short List alongside established riders such as Hawley Bennett and Kyle Carter. It comes as an even bigger disappointment, then, that Kendal announced on her Facebook on Saturday that she had made the difficult decision to retire Daily Edition.
From Kendal’s Facebook:
“On Thursday I had to make the decision to retire Daily Edition. He had been schooling really well and feeling ready to start the 2014 season in top form, but after our first XC school he sustained a soft tissue injury. He is sound and happy and will get to cheer on his buddy Frank as I try to make WEG qualifications on him! Ed is the first horse that I competed in a CCI*** and last spring we finished our first CCI**** at Rolex in the top 20 with a clean and fast XC. He also brought me numerous top 5 placings at the Advanced/CIC*** level and I am currently short listed with him for the Canadian Eventing Team. Ed was a machine XC and it will be hard to match his boldness and love of the sport! Such an amazing horse!”
Kendal will now focus her WEG aspirations on Totally Frank, another OTTB gelding in her arsenal. We would like to express our sympathies to Kendal, as these decisions never come easy, but we rest assured that Ed will be perfectly happy in his new life as a cheerleader. Best of luck to Kendal and her family as they move forward.
Here is some fun footage of Kendal and Daily Edition competing in Indoor Eventing this winter:
ttp://www.youtube.com/
Jenny Duke: A New Family Member at Hawley Bennett Eventing
Hawley Bennett recently sent me a link to her latest blog post, which was written by her client, Jenny Duke. This is the story of how a new family was brought into the Hawley Bennett Eventing family. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story, Jenny, and thank you for reading.
Nothing makes us happier than seeing a little girl realizing her dream!
From Jenny:
An act of sheer luck brought Hawley and my daughter, Elise, together. My husband and I were driving along all the horse ranches near Galway Downs in search of a new riding stable for Elise. We saw a lone rider on the side of the road and we asked her if she knew anyone who would teach a 7 year old. She told us that she taught lessons and she gave me her name. Being new to the eventing world, I had no clue who she was. She had to spell her name twice for me! One thing I learned very quickly about Hawley is that she’s very humble and down to earth. She didn’t give us a list of all her achievements, and she didn’t snub us because we didn’t know who she was. She just accepted us and brought us into her world. And what an amazing world she has shown us!!
Elise and Hawley out for a ride.
Elise began taking lessons from her shortly after our encounter. Hank (Livingstone) was her lesson horse! She was such a lucky girl! Hank was amazing. He took great care of her. He responded well and was very patient with her. You could see it in his big, beautiful brown eyes that he knew he was carrying precious cargo. Elise liked Hawley right away. She’s a fantastic instructor and she earned my daughter’s trust and respect immediately. Elise fell in love with the sport and was convinced that she wanted to be a champion eventer, just like Hawley. That’s when our lives changed.
Elise’s first teacher, Livingstone.
Shortly after that, Hawley told us that she found a great pony for Elise. Hawley told us that the pony was a sweetheart and would take Elise to the next level. I trust Hawley immensely, so I knew that this was the right move. Five days later, there was a beautiful Connemara pony waiting for my daughter. Hawley knew exactly how she wanted to present the pony to Elise. The great thing about Hawley is that she remembers what it’s like to be a little girl in love with horses. All the girls at the stables created a beautiful, blingy sign that said, “Congrats on your new pony, Cookie.” (Elise wanted to name her dream horse, “Cookie.”) They decorated the stall with streamers and balloons and put a large pink boa and bow around Cookie’s neck. Hawley brought Elise over to the stall and….SURPRISE!!! It was a day our whole family will never forget. Hawley was right. Cookie is one of the sweetest horses I’ve ever encountered. She’s such a good girl. Elise is in love!!!
The surprise of a lifetime. Elise meets Cookie for the first time.
All of the girls at HBE (Sarah, Holly, Chloe, Jordan, Ashlyn, Emilee, and the rest of the HBE crew.) went above and beyond to make that day special for Elise. They are dedicated, hard workers and they are always willing to lend a helping hand.They are wonderful role models for my daughter and it’s so much fun when we get to see them ride. They are all so talented! Elise also receives lessons from Sarah, who is wonderful. We spend almost every day at the stables and love every minute of it. We are surrounded by nice people and GORGEOUS horses. We are excited to see what the future holds for our daughter. We’ll be happy no matter what she decides to do. But as far as Hawley goes, she will always be our friend we found on the side of the road.
Omega Alpha Reader Submission of the Month: January
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]!
Julie Howard and her Thoroughbred mare Sweetie. Photo via Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.
We would like to send a big EN congratulations to Julie Howard, who got her submission in right under the wire for January. Her story, “Confessions of a ‘Master’ Event Rider”, was one of our favorite reader submissions to date.
Owning a horse is so different when mommy and daddy aren’t there to fall back on. I am responsible for it all. Not to mention I have to drive the dang horse trailer alone. I feel like putting a bumper sticker on the trailer a la the “Partridge Family”: Careful — nervous mother driving.”
Julie will receive a free supply of an Omega Alpha supplement of her 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 February’s giveaway. (Month to be determined by date of publishing, not date of submission.) Many thanks to Julie for writing and to Omega Alpha for supporting Eventing Nation. Go eventing!
Here are a few of our other favorite reader submissions from January:
Best Clinic Report: “Boyd Martin on ‘Riding the Horse Underneath You'” by Katherine Knauz
“When you ride with different trainers, you always gain a little more perspective. Sometimes you find out that they have very similar ideas to what you’ve already had yelled at you for hours on end; other times you pick up entirely new concepts. From this clinic, I know I need to refocus on “riding the horse underneath you,” as Boyd put it. He told me it’s very important to react to what the horse is telling you, since issues early on in a course could spell refusals later on, or worse.”
Best EN History Piece: “The Story Behind the Famous EN Picture” by Holly Covey
“I tried to have a plan, but the crowds being so large, much of my planned photo route had to be changed. I found myself still in the front half of the course about halfway through the day, so started to hike back through the middle of the course to jumps I had missed. I stopped, though, stood back behind the Hollow, looking south, and could barely fit the long string of spectators in the frame of the camera — it was simply amazing to me that so many people could love my sport of eventing.”
Best Text Conversation: “When Eventing and Physics Collide” by Samantha Stewart
Best Year of the Horse Breakdown: “2014, The Year of the Horse” by Rachel Helmbold
“With regards to health, “Horses will be prone to health issues.” What? Noooo! “They are more likely to be involved in accidents, too. To counteract such bad luck, Horses are suggested to donate blood.” Not sure about you, but typically the blood donation comes concomitantly WITH the accident when my horse is involved. Can I GET an Amen?”
