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Sally Spickard
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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

Mustang Millionaire: 120 Days of Training, 1 Competition

By on Jan 4, 2014 4:30 pm -

Elisa and Fledge competing in the freestyle portion of the Extreme Mustang Makeover (photo by Aly Rattazzi of Rather Be Riding Photography)

Mustang competitions seem to be growing in popularity across the country. In order to control population, hundreds of wild mustangs are rounded up each year and auctioned off to the public to become domesticated. Mustangs have been a popular topic in the eventing community, thanks in part to the efforts of Elisa Wallace and her string of mustangs. In conjunction with the 2013 Mustang Million competition, Nat Geo Wild produced a reality TV miniseries called “Mustang Millionaire.” The show focuses on five trainers who worked with a mustang over the course of 120 days in preparation for competition.

A three part series, the show highlights many of the ups and downs of working with an animal that had been completely untamed previously. In meeting Elisa and her newest mustang, Rune, I’ve definitely come to appreciate the brain and temperment of a quality mustang. Mustang Millionaire is a great way to get to know the Mustang Million competition and the work that goes into 120 days of training.

Enjoy the clip below, and check out Nat Geo Wild for episode re-run schedules to watch more.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6_MjnWkysM[/youtube]

The Horse: Winter Farm and Horse Care Tips

By on Jan 4, 2014 3:00 pm -

Decisions, decisions…

As we settle in preparing for record breaking cold this weekend, I got to poking around for some farm management tips for the cold weather. Our beloved horses and their homes are definitely as risk when the temperatures drop, so ensuring that you are taking precautionary measures when preparing your barn for the elements is vital. The Horse published a handy checklist full of tips on making sure that your farm and its residents are taken care of when the frigid temperatures hit.

Frozen hoses and drafty barns are just the beginning of potential issues that can occur when you’re dressed in multiple layers and reminding yourself how much you love the equestrian life. Here are a few of the helpful hints brought to you courtesy of The Horse:

Water:

A critical element to keeping your horse healthy in winter months is ice-free water. A horse that stops drinking is more likely to suffer from impaction colic (caused by an obstruction in the bowel), or he might eat less. In winter a horse generally consumes about five to 10 gallons of water per day, and more if exercised.

Winter Feeding:

Nutritional considerations are important to help keep your horse healthy in all seasons. Scott is well-versed in cold weather care of horses. She points out that for every degree below freezing, your horse’s nutritional needs could increase as much as 5-10%. Provide good-quality grass hay that, through fermentation by large intestinal microbes, will generate heat from within, like an internal combustion chamber.

For much more on winter farm maintenance and horse care, head over to The Horse and check out the full article.

What Do You Never Leave Home Without?

By on Jan 4, 2014 1:30 pm -

Who would have guessed that WFP can't live without his Jelly Babies?

Horse & Hound recently published responses from several top riders on what items they never leave home without. Ranging from the horse itself to a lucky bag of gummy bears, it seems that many riders are superstitious when they are preparing to leave for a horse show. Check out some of the responses below. For the full article, click here.

5. Nick Skelton, showjumping
A horse
Its tack
My painkillers!

6. William Fox-Pitt, eventing
A neckstrap
My dogs
A packet of Jelly Babies

What about you, EN? What items do you absolutely refuse to leave home without when it comes time for a horse show? Are you more superstitious or practical?

Boyd Martin Acquires Shamwari 4

By on Jan 4, 2014 12:08 pm -

Big news coming from Camp Martin this morning. Boyd has announced that he put together a syndicate to purchase Shamwari 4, an 11-year old German-bred gelding that was competed on the Swedish Olympic team in London by Ludwig Svennerstal.

From Boyd:

“I’m blessed to have some great supporters who have got behind this horse; obviously to purchase a horse of this quality takes a massive amount of support from the owners and I can’t say how much I appreciate their generosity.  I’m trying to fill the Shamwari Syndicate with existing members from our other syndicates, as well as encouraging some new owners to join me on the roller coaster ride of being part of a big time four-star event horse.”

Check out the video above for footage of Boyd’s trial ride on Shamwari 4. To read the full announcement, check out Boyd’s blog. Congratulations to Boyd and his syndicate members!

 

Saturday Links from Tipperary

By on Jan 4, 2014 12:01 am -

Elisa Wallace's mustang phenom, Rune, also doubles as a four wheeler.

Good morning! Today marks the official beginning to NFL playoffs, so my mood for the rest of the weekend will depend on the outcomes of the Chiefs vs. Colts game. Stay tuned. It’s also getting ready to dump more snow and possibly record-breaking low temperatures on the Midwest this weekend. It’s looking like my best bet will be to hunker down with some good old fashioned internet stalking to bring you all of the news I can squeeze out.

Saturday Links:

No stirrups at the George Morris Horsemastership Training Sessions.

Do you know what special care your horse needs when the temperature drops?

Next Level Eventing and Tamra Smith are looking for a working student.

Experts have begun to identify horse facial expressions.

The USEA celebrates the late Molokai. 

Get to know 2013 Rebecca Broussard Grant recipient Katy Groesbeck. 

Switzerland has banned hyperflexion.

Best of the Blogs:

Flying Solo Eventing: Riding Proactively

Saturday Video:

Horse Nation posted the latest EventionTV video which focuses on the concept of being “on the bit.” Check it out below.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzpm-zKpj58[/youtube]

Friday Video: Isabell Werth and Satchmo

By on Jan 3, 2014 1:30 pm -

[youtube]http://youtu.be/FMo-w69I0WA[/youtube]

Here is a special moment captured on film to start your weekend off right. Isabell Werth’s former Olympic mount, Satchmo, retired from competition in 2011, but he clearly has not forgotten everything he learned. Isabell stated at the time of Satchmo’s retirement that she planned on continuing to ride him, and this must be an example of what she meant. I’m sure that if any of us were blessed to have such a special horse, we wouldn’t be able to stay off either. There is hardly a Grand Prix dressage move that doesn’t make an appearance in this video. I think the only movement she missed is an extended trot, which is understandable considering the lack of a saddle!

In the sprit of Flashback Friday, take a look at Isabell and Satchmo’s star performance at the 2006 World Equestrian Games. This is still one of my top freestyles to go back and watch to this day. Go Satchmo.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/TvIacP-Yl7M[/youtube]

 

Friday News & Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips

By on Jan 3, 2014 12:01 am -

What a novel idea!

I will usually make a few generic resolutions at the beginning of each new year. I will be the first to admit, however, that I am absolutely terrible at sticking to them. So my resolution this year is to stay away from the gym until the initial January crowd clears out. I think that’s achievable, don’t you? Very little effort involved. Are you sticking with your New Year’s resolutions? Do you want to share your resolutions with us? I am putting together a reader submission fueled post that will hopefully help keep us all motivated and accountable as January drags on. If you’d like to share your resolution and the story behind it, email [email protected].

Friday News:

The 2014 George Morris Horsemastership Training Session continues in Wellington today. The young riders are no doubt learning more than they could have hoped for during this boot camp. I’ve been trying to catch up on the sessions all week, but my OCD has not allowed me to get past the first session since I don’t know all of the horses and riders by heart yet. [USEF Network]

The days of the New York City carriage horse may be coming to a close. The incoming mayor, Bill de Blasio, has promised throughout his campaign to shut down the carriages. Horse drawn carriage businesses have come under much scrutiny over the years after several horses passed away. While this movement will undoubtably be met with both support and ridicule, it appears that the fabled New York carriage horse is soon to be no more. [NYC Carriage Horses’ Days are Numbered]

Country superstar Shania Twain has been quite vocal about her love of horses recently. In a new interview with HRTV, Shania tells stories about the horse that appears in her video “Any Man of Mine.” Named Slick, the horse certainly stole plenty of hearts, including Shania’s. [Shania Twain Talks Horses]

Australian rider Elizabeth Sobecki is attempting to reach the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Her journey has not been an easy one, as she battles Multiple Sclerosis and Fibrous Dysplasia. After having to retired her Para Olympic mount, her hopes of competing at WEG and Rio seemed dashed until a new horse walked into her life. Check out the full story for more on this amazing rider. [Unbridled Determination]

Several horses in North Carolina were diagnosed with EHV-1 recently. Neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is not something to be taken lightly, and the affected facility has been quarantined while veterinarians work to reduce risk to other horses. [EHV-1 in North Carolina]

Best of the Blogs:

Meg Kep reflects on 2013.

Friday Video Break:

The best trained horses you will see today.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/p4X13Fjhp84[/youtube]

Throwback Thursday: And the Rider Is…

By on Jan 2, 2014 4:30 pm -

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 are quite impressed by your guessing skills this week. The featured rider and I shared quite a few laughs when she sent me the photos for this week’s Throwback Thursday post. The baggy breeches may be my favorite part. The rider pictured below is…

Cute as a button and still one of our favorites!

…Jennie Brannigan! That smile is recognizable almost anywhere, so we didn’t think you’d have too much trouble guessing. Thank you, Jennie, for sharing your photos.

The smile and the keen sense of fashion remain unchanged!

Celebrating the Life of Claire Davis

By on Jan 2, 2014 3:00 pm -

In a touching and tear-inducing gesture, Claire Davis was honored yesterday in a ceremony celebrating her life. Claire’s horse, Graphite, was the centerpiece of the ceremony. Graphite was led into the arena and untacked for the last time. Claire’s parents received the cooler Graphite was wearing and Claire’s saddle, and a candlelit vigil followed. In the face of such unspeakable tragedy, the celebration of Claire’s too-short life is a testament to the incredible support the equestrian community offers. Rest in peace, Claire.

Throwback Thursday: Guess the Rider

By on Jan 2, 2014 9:00 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]. 

What fashion-conscious youngster is pictured above?

Another Throwback Thursday is upon us! This week I feel may be an easy one, but the photos are just oozing cuteness (plus, who doesn’t love a dose of baggy breeches?) so we thought we would share them with you. As always, post your guess in the comments below and check back later for the answer. Happy guessing!

Short stirrup champion of the world!

EN’s 2013 in Review

By on Jan 1, 2014 11:30 am -

My kind of resolution!

It’s that time of year, EN. Get out your memo pads and write those resolutions down and get ready to conquer 2014. It’s been an incredible year here at EN, and we owe all of our success to you. I thought I’d take a trip down memory lane and recap some of our biggest stories from this year. So sit back and enjoy, and get ready for an even better year in 2014. Don’t worry, we have the chinchillas working nonstop to make 2014 the best yet! Did we leave your favorite story off the list? Comment below and let us know what you will remember from 2013.

Neville Bardos and Theodore O’Connor Named to Horse Stars Hall of Fame.

Established by the EQUUS Foundation and the USEF, the Horse Stars Hall of Fame seeks to honor talented horses throughout the many equestrian disciplines. Neville Bardos and Theodore O’Connor were two of the inaugural inductees into this new Hall of Fame.

April Fool’s! The FEI now recognizes gay horses.

In one of our most popular April 1 posts yet, we announced that the FEI would be recognizing gay horses, repealing its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. We were also told that Manoir de Carneville was quite pleased with this announcement.

Andrew Nicholson Wins Rolex Aboard Quimbo.

The show jumping portion of Rolex was tough this year, allowing only five clear rounds. Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo came out on top after delivering a nearly flawless weekend.

EN’s First Annual Rolex Tailgating Party.

For the first time, the faces behind Eventing Nation were able to converge upon the cross country course at Rolex. The tailgate was a huge success, and we got to meet many of our loyal readers. Definitely a whole new meaning to “Insanity in the Middle.”

Jock Paget and Clifton Promise Win Badminton.

Jock dethroned Ze Terminator to win a thriller at Badminton this year. Jock also won Badminton on his first attempt, and this was also his first CCI4* win.

Rick Wallace Demonstrates True Stickability.

Blogger contest finalist and upper level rider Rick Wallace stuck to his guns, literally, in a close call at Chatt Hills over the summer. The video quickly went viral, so of course we posted it for all of EN to see!

Jock Paget and Clifton Promise Take Burghley.

Jock and Clifton Promise continued their world domination by winning Burghley this year. Unfortunately they have since been stripped of the title, but at the time we were on the edge of our seats waiting for a Grand Slam finale at Rolex 2014.

Laine Ashker and Anthony Patch Win the Advanced AEC

After saving Al for most of the year, Laine and her trusty OTTB stormed through the fall season, culminating with a win at the American Eventing Championships. Laine is now looking ahead to Rolex as Al’s next goal.

Clifton Promise Tests Positive for Reserpine at Burghley.

Unfortunately, the Grand Slam dream for Jock Paget was quickly stamped out as he and Clifton Promise have been suspended from competition after the Badminton and Burghley winner tested positive with two samples for a banned substance.

Two words: Dressage Skillz.

Wylie was kind enough to break Evention TV’s hit down in GIF form. This video definitely goes down on my top 10 list for the year.

Omega Alpha Reader Submission of the Month: December

By on Jan 1, 2014 11:00 am -

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]!

Mark and Wally meet for the first time.

We here at EN would like to congratulation Meika Decher for sending in her heartwarming story about her husband’s first horse, Christmas Wally. There’s nothing we love more than surprise horse stories, and this one is no different.

The plan was on Christmas Eve to dress Wally up in red, green and ribbons and then go find Mark and somehow get him into the barn. I concocted a story that there was a pipe leaking, and he needed to help repair it. With a look of dread and pipe wrench in hand, we walked to the barn, and a group of boarders, working students and groom sang “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” and watched Mark’s confusion and then smile.

Meika will receive a free supply of an Omega Alpha supplement of her choice for sharing their story. 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 December’s giveaway. (Month to be determined by date of publishing, not date of submission.) Many thanks to Meika for writing and to Omega Alpha for supporting Eventing Nation. Go eventing!

Here are a few notable submissions from our readers for the month of December:

Best Argument for Fox Hunting: “Take Your Eventer Foxhunting” by Laura Millerick

“I know, I know, it may seem crazy, but hear me out. What to do when the competition season ends and it gets cold is a question that plagues all of us. Like most, I will not be making the Great Migration to the south for the chillier months, but that’s okay with me since I look forward to hunt season as much as the start of event season.  There’s a lot of reasons why trying hunting with your eventer may be a really great thing for both you and your horse, and they may surprise you.”

Best Memorial Post: “A Tribute to Mighty Military” by Brooke Schafer

“Thank you Ghost for sharing your life with me and taking me to new heights I never thought possible. I am sure you are galloping away over the clouds somewhere, swapping leads as you go.”

Best “Crazy Horse Lady” Testimonial: “No Such Thing as a Free Horse” by Sarah Clark

“Smart pony in need of stimulation and a JOB! He starts to look more like a little gentleman. The owner’s niece wants to try my techniques. Good little pony listens to her. The nephew wants to go for a ride. Pony tolerates said child grasping his neck and poking his heels into his flank. “This is a good pony you have here, he just needs someone to be the boss,” I tell his owner. They think I am the horse whisperer and insist I take him home with me. Free.”

Best Pony Tale: “A Pony Named Richard” by Erin Kimmer 

“Some ponies are worth their weight in gold because of their show records or breeding.  Matty is priceless to me because of the person whom he shaped me into and I feel so lucky to have been able to share him and his life lessons with others.”

Best Fitness Blog: “Preparing for an Ironman” by Margie Kinsinger

“Many have probably heard of the Ironman World Championships held every November in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. Kona is the “Rolex” of triathlons. In order to race at Kona, you must qualify at one of only a handful of Ironman races held in different locations around the world. The race consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112 miles on the bike, and a 26.2-mile run (a full marathon), one after the other, and there is a time limit for each phase.”

 

 

2013 via Flipagram

By on Dec 31, 2013 11:30 am -

In the spirit of the year end recap, I decided to play around with an awesome new app called Flipagram. It’s free and it’s a great outlet for creativity. I collected some moments from the past year that I put into this collage. Look out for some familiar faces!

Note: All photos were taken by Eventing Nation photographers or were used with permission. 

2014 George Morris Horsemastership Training Sessions Begin Today

By on Dec 31, 2013 8:00 am -

Get ready for five straight days of George Morris, EN. We look forward to the Horsemastership Sessions each year, and I plan on spending the days camped in front of my computer with some popcorn. Since George missed most of the sessions last year due to illness, I’m sure he will be back with a vengeance this year. I’ve provided the necessary links for watching the sessions below. Remember that if you are unable to watch the live stream, it will be available on demand.

The complete schedule for the training sessions can be found here.   First session begins TODAY (12/31/13) at 8am and runs through Saturday (1/4/14).

To check out the live stream as well as rider profiles and archived videos, head on over to the USEF Network.

 

Show EN Your Ink: Reader Submissions

By on Dec 28, 2013 10:30 am -

We recently asked you to send in your horse-inspired tattoos, and the response has been overwhelming. We will be posting your photos in several reader submission posts over the next few weeks. Would you like to show off your ink? Send a photo to [email protected]

EN reader Chelsie Kosir's first tattoo. We wouldn't recommend any other way to go the first time around! EN reader Chelsie Kosir's first tattoo. We wouldn't recommend any other way to go the first time around!

We’re back with another installment of reader submitted tattoos to show off. I am sitting over here getting lots of inspiration for a new tattoo, so I hope you all enjoy these as much as I am.

Brittnie Chidsey sent us a photo of her horse-inspired tattoos. “My mom grew up riding, and had my sister on horses before either of us could walk. My little sister was actually the first person in our family to get a tattoo at age 18, and she quickly convinced our Mother and me to go with her for her second piece of ink. Each of us now has a tattoo dedicated to horses. My sister, Hillary, has her favorite horse’s name on her wrist as a memorial (he passed away after a freak pasture accident–but they had competed through training when she was 13 and he was 8, 6 yrs before). My mom has a knot design (I believe its celtic, but I’m not positive) of a horse and woman rider on her ankle. And lastly, I have a modified celtic knot/triptec of 3 horses on my thigh. Each is a little different, representing the slightly differ ‘hairstyles’ of each phase of eventing.”

Photo from Brittnie Chidsey.

Photo from Brittnie Chidsey.

Brandi Williams sent us her colorful tattoo, “three horseshoes (with some flair). One for each phase!”

Photo from Brandi Williams.

Photo from Brandi Williams.

One of my personal favorites from this go-round comes from Kayla Muller. “I am an eventer from Maryland. I am the barn manager and assistant trainer at Fox Hill Eventing. Last year, the working students at the time, one of which was Rebecca Stewart, who has already been featured, and my self decided we were getting tattoos that same day, I believe the quote was “Let’s get tattoos!….. Tonight.” Famous last words. Needless to say we all got some form of ink and will always remember that crazy horse loving friendship we formed. And I may have taken EN’s motto a little too literally? Once an eventer, always an eventer.”

Photo from Kayla Muller.

Photo from Kayla Muller.

Kelley Shetter-Ruiz sent us a photo of her impressive back piece. “I am both a horse trainer and yoga instructor.  I got this tattoo when I started my own business.  I use the body awareness and alignment that one develops practicing yoga with the fundamentals of riding to better connect horse and rider.  My tattoo is an image of a horse with the yoga symbol OM on its hind quarters.”

Photo from Kelley Shetter-Ruiz.

Photo from Kelley Shetter-Ruiz.

I always am amazed by the intricacy of some of these tattoos, so this next one absolutely blew me away. Jen Bishop wrote in with a photo of her amazing tribal horse tattoo. “My tattoo isn’t a traditional horse.  I got this tribal horse to represent many different things in my life.  The tiki mask is in honor of my ottb, Tiki! The other stuff is symbolic for different things, family, etc.  It’s still my favorite one!”

Photo with Jen Bishop.

Photo with Jen Bishop.

 

 

 

 

 

Clemson University: Kim Severson Clinic Recap

By on Dec 28, 2013 9:00 am -

Collegiate eventing is a growing sport among college athletes, offering an alternative to the traditional hunter/jumper, saddleseat and western options typically seen in athletic programs. The Clemson University Eventing Team recently hosted a clinic with Kim Severson and kindly sent us this recap. Do you have a tip about a college team or rider? Email [email protected].

Clemson riders learning from the best. Clemson riders learning from the best.

From Christina Kearse, Leigh Casaceli, and Sarah Rains:

Last month the Clemson Intercollegiate Eventing Team hosted a clinic with three time Rolex winner and Olympic Silver medalist Kim Severson at Stoneridge Equestrian Center in Liberty, SC. We had seventeen riders ranging from the Beginner Novice to Intermediate level.

The first day of the clinic focused on show jumping. Kim set up several exercises including a line of three bounces, an angled one stride, and a two stride to two stride oxer line. Each exercise demanded accuracy, straightness, and often repetition in order for horse and rider to correctly achieve the task at hand. Kim created a desire within each rider to strive for perfection when completing the exercise, but also demonstrated the importance of making mistakes to find our weaknesses and to better our riding. For those riding lazier horses, Kim stressed forwardness from the second we ask the horse to canter, as we travel through the turn, and right up to the base of the jump. Kim demonstrated the importance of the rider correctly supporting and guiding the horse through these exercises, which helped form a strong foundation for our cross country ride the following day.

Practicing exercises laid out by Kim Severson.

Practicing exercises laid out by Kim Severson.

The second day of the clinic was spent on the cross country course. Before going over any jumps, riders were first tested on their feel of their horse’s speed. Kim set up a pre-metered track and asked riders to travel at a set speed until they reached the one-minute marker. The rider was not allowed to use a watch and therefore had to determine their horse’s pace by feel. We then began jumping four or five jumps in mini courses to again practice pace and moving forward in between fences.  Kim added technical elements by using stadium jumps around the ditch and water complex, which utilized the same skills we practiced in the ring and enforced accuracy and precision. One of the key points that Kim stressed was the importance of practice. Both the repetition and versatility of the exercises allowed the riders to give their horses the tools to perform at the best of their ability.

Cross country day with Kim Severson.

Cross country day with Kim Severson. 

Kim knew when to push and challenge a horse and rider pair, and she knew when to give them a mental brake and praise them for the small accomplishments and progress they made. There were many pats for each horse as well as smiles for each rider. Everyone was tested mentally and physically in their abilities, but Kim also used each situation as a positive learning experience. Thank you Kim for spending the weekend with the Clemson Intercollegiate Eventing Team and for sharing your abundant knowledge and love of the sport with us!

Here is some footage from the clinic for your viewing pleasure:

Saturday Links from Tipperary

By on Dec 28, 2013 12:01 am -
All packed up and ready to go! Doug Payne and Co. on their way to warmer climate for the winter. All packed up and ready to go! Doug Payne and Co. on their way to warmer climate for the winter.

This week, a $70M Powerball ticket was sold in Missouri. While I failed to purchase a ticket, I immediately began fantasizing about what I would do with the jackpot if I were to win. Plans include a whirlwind horse shopping trip (and maybe a couple of cars for the loyal boyfriend) and a rig twice as big as Doug’s shown above! If only it were that easy. While I am waiting for my lottery winning dream to come to fruition, I will continue stalking perusing the web for photos of sunny beaches and shiny horses.

Saturday Links

Horse & Hound recaps the top 20 BE eventing horses.

Protecting veterinary students from horse-related injuries. 

3D printed horse shoes?

Purdue University will welcome a new state of the art equine hospital.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner New Year’s Day has been retired.

Does your horse have unusual eating habits?

Saturday Video:

The USEF Network put together a playlist consisting of their top videos from 2013. Coming in at the number one spot is Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo’s stellar cross country round from this year’s Rolex.

Tipperary-Eventing-Nation-Horizontel-Banner225

Friday News & Notes from FLAIR Nasal Strips

By on Dec 27, 2013 12:01 am -

Good morning! I hope your holiday hangover is receding. I’m still working on mine! Great news coming out of the Colleen Rutledge camp today. Colleen’s husband, Brian, sent us our lead photo today, where you can see that Colleen has officially been cleared to ride by her doctor. As we all know, as soon as we hear those words, we make a beeline for the saddle, which is exactly what Colleen did!

Friday News:

Are you as overwhelmed as I am when shopping for a new cooler? I used to think wool was the best option, but then I discovered that there were countless other options for styles and material. Thankfully, I stumbled upon an article on Practical Horseman that gives some tips on what to look for when choosing a cooler. [How Do I Select a New Cooler?]

In some sad news, 2009 Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird has passed away. The 7-year-old Thoroughbred suffered a bout of colic that proved too difficult to overcome. Summer Bird was standing at stud in Japan at the time of his death. [Summer Bird Passes Away]

Showjumper Georgina Bloomberg has given birth to her first child. Born on Christmas Eve, Jasper Michael Brown Quintana was born in New York weighing 7.7 pounds. The child almost certainly has horses in his future, as Georgina’s boyfriend is Argentinian showjumper  Ramiro Quaintana. [Welcome Baby Bloomberg]

New Zealand is the latest country to hop on board with Express Eventing. Currently, the Equestrian Sports New Zealand is working on a set of rules and guidelines to govern the compressed version of the sport. Express Eventing started in Britain and has been a hit, especially in areas where space is more limited and spectators are needed. [Express Eventing Coming to New Zealand?]

Andrew Nicholson certainly is having a good holiday. He finished another impeccable season in 2013 atop the HSBC Rankings. He received a $50,000 HSBC Rankings bonus, his second bonus in as many years. Can anyone stop him? I’m beginning to think not! [Nicholson Celebrates HSBC Bonus]

Best of the Blogs:

Deanna Castro writes about three simple training techniques for your horse.

Lauren Keeton: Will you make it happen?

Friday Video Break:

This makes my artistic skills look non-existent. Ok, maybe they were non-existent to begin with, but this makes me feel even worse!

FlairBuck-Horizontal

Throwback Thursday: And the Rider Is…

By on Dec 26, 2013 6:30 pm -

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 brought you a hockey themed Throwback Thursday. Did you guess the well-known rider correctly? Let’s find out! The rider pictured below is…

We're certainly glad she decided to pursue a career in eventing!

We’re certainly glad she decided to pursue a career in eventing!

…Hawley Bennett-Awad! Hawley generously contributed several photos of herself when she was younger, and we couldn’t pick just one. Congratulations to those who guessed correctly!

Hawley and Gin & Juice. Photo by Kasey Mueller.

Hawley and Gin & Juice. Photo by Kasey Mueller.

For those of you wondering who is pictured in the photo below, the answer is (from left to right) Hawley, Rebecca Howard, Sinead Halpin, and Maya Studenmund. As Hawley put it, “a recipe for trouble!”

Dream Team?

Dream Team?

 

Hollywood Park Closes Its Doors

By on Dec 26, 2013 4:30 pm -
The Palm Beach Post published a photo piece on the final days of the storied racetrack. The Palm Beach Post published a photo piece on the final days of the storied racetrack.

Hollywood Park has been host to many famous Thoroughbreds in its 75-year existence. Greats such as Seabiscuit, Affirmed, and John Henry have set foot on the track, and thousands upon thousands of people have walked through the gates to take part in the Sport of Kings. The California landmark has now closed its doors, and the track and stables will be demolished to make room for residential and business buildings. The Palm Beach Post published a wonderful photo piece that highlight the final days of Hollywood Park.

You can check out the photos and accompanying story from the Palm Beach Post here. In addition, enjoy the recap of the park’s history in the video below.

Rest in Peace, Seahawk

By on Dec 26, 2013 3:00 pm -
Steph Rhodes-Bosch and Seahawk at Waredaca last year. Photo by Pam Patton. Steph Rhodes-Bosch and Seahawk at Waredaca last year. Photo by Pam Patton.

It is with great sadness that we report that Stephanie Rhodes-Bosch’s young ride, Seahawk, passed away on Christmas Eve from injuries incurred during a pasture accident. We featured the off-track Thoroughbred gelding on EN’s Got Talent earlier this year, and Steph believed he was destined for greatness.

Stephanie posted this tribute on her Facebook page:

“To my beautiful, goofy genius child. There are so many things I will never forget about our far-too-short not quite 4 years of fun together. You were the 2 year old who let me crawl up into the saddle in a stall unassisted, and then you stood while I opened your stall door to head to the training track. You were the 3 year old who managed to suck at racing (good boy!), and be perfect on all our sporadic rides throughout the summer you were mine all mine. You were the 4 year old who brought light to my darkest days and gave me a reason to get out of bed every day, and the 5 year old who surprised and delighted me over and over with your train ability and athleticism, and put a smile on my face every single day with your hilarious personality. I’m so proud of you for putting up such a fight and never giving up and I’m so sorry that your body couldn’t keep up with your fearless efforts to heal yourself. I’m so grateful for you and you will always be loved. Rest in Peace Seahawk.”

Losing a partner is an unspeakable tragedy, especially around the holidays. The EN family extends our most sincere condolences to Steph and her connections.

Evention TV’s Spoof Episode Winner

By on Dec 26, 2013 12:00 pm -

Dom and Jimmie Schramm had more tricks up their sleeve in the holiday season and created a contest for all aspiring Evention TV stars to send in spoof episodes of the popular show. The winners were recently announced via a mini-episode of Evention TV. The winners will receive a lesson from Dom. Enjoy the winning video above, as well as clips from the runners-up. My personal favorite is a tip on how to deal with pre-cross country nerves.

Evention TV Facebook

Evention TV Website 

Throwback Thursday: Guess the Rider

By on Dec 26, 2013 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].

We're certainly glad she decided to pursue a career in eventing! We're certainly glad she decided to pursue a career in eventing!

I hope you all are having a fantastic holiday so far. I am currently going through my annual self-examination as to the reasons why I decide eating copious amounts of turkey on multiple occasions is a good idea, but I haven’t come up with a good reason yet. In between turkey sandwiches, I thought I’d peruse our growing archive of Throwback Thursday photos. Seeing how it’s quite cold out in most of the country, I thought this week’s was rather appropriate. I’ve provide another photo for you to use in your guessing below. Happy guessing!

Our Guess the Rider subject is on the right in this photo.

Our Guess the Rider subject is on the right in this photo.

You will also receive many EN bonus points if you can name any of the people pictured below. Good luck!

The good old days!

The good old days!