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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

Remembering Seacookie

By on Mar 6, 2024 1:00 pm -

William Fox-Pitt and Seacookie TSF at Pau. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Seacookie, one of the past stars of British Olympian William Fox-Pitt, has passed away at the age of 25. The Trakehner gelding was living out his retirement at Catherine Witt’s farm, and she shared the news on social media earlier this week.

OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN HERE AT ROOKERY..We have said our last goodbyes to our Beloved Seacookie . So thankful that I had…

Posted by Catherine Witt on Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Seacookie (Helikon – Sonnenwende) came to William after being purchased from Ingrid Klimke, who had produced him since his 4-year-old year, finishing 8th in the World Young Horse Breeding Championships at Le Lion as a 7-year-old. With William, Seacookie accumulated multiple strong results at the now-5* level, including six finishes within the top 10 and podium finishes at Pau (1st – 2013), Kentucky (2nd – 2013), and Burghley (2nd – 2010). Seacookie was also 6th in his debut at Kentucky in 2009.

William Fox-Pitt & Seacookie winning Pau CCI4* 2013. Photo by Kate Samuels.

Enjoy a few highlights from a brilliant career. We will remember Seacookie fondly!

Who Jumped It Best? Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field

By on Mar 3, 2024 9:00 am -

It’ll be awhile before we’re fully recovered from the action (in a good way!) at this year’s Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field, so to keep the party going we’ve put together our first Who Jumped It Best? of 2024 for your consideration!

Take a look at the following pairs captured over the fence 19, the Palmetto Golf Club. Most of the fences on course are built and designed to pay homage to the local area of Aiken. Captain Mark Phillips designs the course at Bruce’s Field, and the jumps are all built by the immensely talented team of ETB Equine Construction.

You can cast your vote in the poll at the bottom of this post. Eternal EN karma to the winner! We can’t wait to see next year at Grand-Prix Eventing!

Catch up on our full coverage of #GPE2024, with support from Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt Real Estate, here.

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Liz Halliday and Miks Master C. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Boyd Martin and Commando 3. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Shannon Lilley and Eindhoven Garette. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Sharon White and Claus 63. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Doug Payne and Quiberon. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Liz Halliday and Cooley Quicksilver. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Colleen Loach and FE Golden Eye. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Doug Payne and Camarillo. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Colleen Loach and Vermont. Photo by Sally Spickard.

We’re pleased to team up with Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, with her robust expertise and portfolio of property options in the Aiken area, as the sponsor of our coverage of the Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field. Seasonal or year-round, southern charm and the sporting lifestyle await you in Aiken!

Two for the Road: Coleman Swoops to 1-2 Finish at Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase

By on Mar 2, 2024 7:00 pm -

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Shelby Allen.

It’s always a safe bet that the cross country finale of the annual Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services stands to shake up the standings. Indeed, this year’s course — beefed up by Capt. Mark Phillips to up the ante for the increased $100,000 prize fund — held true to tradition and exerted its influence to ensure a nail-biting conclusion to the weekend.

Despite this influence, though, one pair stood above the rest: Will Coleman and Hyperion Stud’s Chin Tonic HS. After earning the lead after dressage with a flowing test worth a 26.5 from the judges (Paris Olympics Ground Jury member Xavier Le Sauce and the USA’s Valerie Pride), Will and “Chin” never looked back.

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS. Photo by Shelby Allen.

A hard-to-come-by double clear over Michel Vaillancourt’s show jumping course yesterday in the rain set them up for the win today, and though Will was cagey all week on how hard he’d try to make the time, he needn’t have worried much about that element. As the last to leave the start box today, he had a luxurious 16 seconds in hand and a guaranteed win after piloting the Off the Record Syndicate’s Off the Record to a quick clear that secured him a lead that could only be beat by “Timmy’s” stablemate.

He needed about 10 seconds of that time in hand, coming home handily with the all-class Holsteiner gelding by Chin Champ to earn his first Grand-Prix Eventing victory — and $53,000 worth of the prize pot.

“It was a pretty good week at the office,” Will commented. “A little different for us. We aren’t used to doing that [type of course], but it’s great. It’s good for the sport, I think, for other events to see that as possible. And what they’ve been able to create here is pretty, pretty cool. So it’s an awesome legacy for Bruce [Duchossois].”

Will Coleman and Off the Record. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“I think for everyone it’s probably a little outside their comfort zone,” he continued. “It’s 28 fences, packed into four minutes. You feel like you’re in a tumble dryer. You have to think fast, and the horses have to react. And I think it was helpful, I mean, even just the crowds, and some of the technicality that Mark laid out, I do think that there’s something the horses will take away from it, that’s very positive. So I was really pleased with both of my guys, and it served its purpose 1,000% coming here. I mean, it’s nice to win as well, but I think even if they hadn’t won, I still feel like I got what I wanted out of coming here. I do think championships are becoming a bit more like that — the modern sport is going a little bit more that way. I still really love the five-stars, but this is going to be a part or at least a taste of what the maybe the sport might be trending towards.”

With two horses well-positioned to make a bid for the U.S. team heading to the Paris Olympics this summer, Will circled this event on the calendar early on as he was making his plan for the season. Ordinarily, he told us this week, he wouldn’t necessarily put this event on his calendar when preparing for a 5* event. This year, he’s setting his horses up with strategic runs to help them peak just in time for a team selection, should that be how the cards fall.

Will Coleman and Off the Record. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“I still had a job to do for the last horse, for Chin, to give him a good ride and be responsible about how I took him around. And this is something we’re using for preparation for things down the road. So there was really no change in approach. It was more just, I probably backed off a little bit, given the fact that I had a little cushion with the time but I still wanted to go out there and give him a bit of a strong ride so that I could learn and see how he was thinking.”

Off the Record had one of the classiest rounds of the day, displaying just how strong his partnership is with Will. “Yeah, he’s just an amazing horse,” Will agreed. “He was really thinking with me the whole way. And I felt like he was on autopilot. Honestly, it was a really cool experience just how he was just almost reading the questions before I did. And you don’t often have those opportunities, but I think as horses get older, and they’ve been with you for a long time, you do start to feel like it’s kind of one mind out there. And it’s sort of what we had today. It was very, very cool.”

The extra dollars in the bank account certainly make the drive home tomorrow that much more enjoyable — after Will enjoys a round of golf as a part of the GPE Silent Auction put on over the weekend. As an extra and very well-deserved addition to the monies won, #supergrooms Hailey Burlock and Erin Jarboe took home the Groom’s Prize this weekend, which was funded by several generous donors from the Aiken area. Well done, ladies!

Boyd Martin and Fedarman B. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Finishing in the money again with the Annie Goodwin Syndicate’s Fedarman B is Boyd Martin, who bases in the Aiken area at Stable View this time of year. Boyd had a shot to finish second, but picked up 10 seconds of time with “Bruno” to finish on a score of 35.3 in third place overall. Boyd’s also taken a similar approach to Will with his season planning, as he’s well-sat this year to make a strong run at the Olympic squad. Fedarman B would be one horse he’s preparing to make a bid with, and en route to a potential team selection the 14-year-old Dutch gelding by Eurocommerce Washington. He’ll aim for the Lexington 4*S at the end of April.

“It was for sure a much more challenging, demanding course this year and it took a fair bit of riding actually,” Boyd said. He finished in 17th with Yankee Creek Ranch’s Commando 3, who activated a frangible pin at fence 8. The Turner family’s Tsetserleg TSF had a trip up the bank at fence 21, after which Boyd opted to retire.

“I was on three top horses and my green one sort of misread the corner, but then jumped the rest of the track well and then Thomas had a bit of a mishap at the bank. I dusted myself off and Bruno had a fantastic round. He’s such an honest horse. He’s light in the mouth, and he’s quick and he’s agile. I sort of went about the speed that I felt comfortable at without sort of taking too many risks.”

Liz Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Though she couldn’t quite get the hat trick of victories done, 2022 and 2023 GPE winner Liz Halliday secured a fourth place finish in the money with Ocala Horse Properties‘ and Debbie Halliday’s Cooley Nutcracker, who handily jumped around with 7.2 time penalties for a finishing score of 38.8.

“I was absolutely thrilled, he’s still young and he’s never done anything like this before,” Liz, who had the chance to ride in front of her full group of owners (“That never happens that we’re all in the same place!”), said. “It’s his first run of the year, and I sort of of said to his owners that I was just going to listen to him and give him a good run today rather than chase the time like a madwoman, and he was just absolutely brilliant. I think it was a great experience for him to have to do the twists and the turns with the crowds. I was really over the moon with how he jumped that drop — he’s a very careful, good jumper and in the past he would have really over-jumped everything, and so I was just thrilled.”

Cooley Quicksilver has a neat trip down the Broken Bridge question. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Liz admits she was one of the critics of the Barton’s Pond Broken Bridge jump that had everyone buzzing all week as the newest addition to Capt. Mark Phillips’ arsenal on course this year, but was pleased to find all three of her horses read and jumped the question quite well. The advice from the designer was not to bounce the bank, which was set to be a short one-stride, but after the first few horses bounced the drop neatly, almost everyone went on to do the bounce.

“I ranted and raved about hating the bank but then all my horses jumped it great!” Liz laughed. “We all learned something this week — what we all learned is that the longer distance gave them enough room and they all jumped it really well.”

Liz has a busy few weeks ahead of her with her string, with all three horses heading next to Carolina International in two weeks’ time. Cooley Nutcracker is preparing for his 5* debut at Kentucky at the end of April, while Cooley Quicksilver will hit the Tryon 4*-L and Miks Master C will do the 4*-S at Kentucky.

Monica Spencer and Artist. Photo by Shelby Allen.

New Zealand’s Monica Spencer also enjoyed a successful weekend in her first big run since becoming a semi-permanent resident of the U.S. with her off-track Thoroughbred, Artist. Monica sold off most of her horses and moved her operation to the U.S., basing out of Sweet Dixie South in Ocala for the time being and planning to stay here in the States for at least the next two years. Monica is yet another rider here this weekend vying for a coveted Olympic spot, and with a strong performance at World Championships in 2022 as well as the Maryland 5 Star, she’ll certainly be on the map for the Kiwis.

For her efforts with the nippy and good-galloping Artist, Monica also took home awards for Top Rookie and Top Thoroughbred. We’ll see her head for the Defender Kentucky 5* at the end of April, where she’ll stand to make a strong bid for a podium finish there.

Will Coleman, Doug Payne, and Sharon White gather intel before their rides. Photo by Shelby Allen.

In total, 19 of the 30 starting pairs produced clear rounds today, though the 4:18 optimum time proved, as always, difficult to catch. So much so that Canadian rider Waylon Roberts with the Koppin family’s OKE Ruby R were the sole pair to catch the time, finishing bang on it in fact.

Waylon Roberts and OKE Ruby R storm to the sole clear inside the time. Photo by Sally Spickard.

The most influential fences would wind up being the Broken Bridge at 10, which unseated Phillip Dutton from Possante and Sara Kozumplik from Rubens d’Ysieux, the Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt Corner of Whiskey & Easy at fence 8, which caught out a handful of riders with runouts and also had an activated frangible pin by Boyd Martin and Commando 3. The Aiken Post Office corners (fence 18 and 27) also caused a bit of trouble, unseating Ireland’s Austin O’Connor from Carlson 119, who came up lame on a foreleg but is reported to be uninjured, as is his rider. Austin collected the Annie Goodwin Sportsmanship Award as well.

I look forward to this event every single year, and if you haven’t had a chance to experience it in person I suggest you put it on your bucket list. While of course it’s a much different format than the sport we’re familiar with, it’s an excellent showcase of eventing in a very spectator-friendly way.

Shannon Lilley and Eindhoven Garette catch some air. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“It’s fantastic that Aiken’s got this sort of premiere event,” Boyd Martin concurred. “I think it’s sort of the first proper, big time competition for the season for all the event horses that have been building their fitness up in December, January and February and I think because it’s a short course it doesn’t put any too much too much strain on the horse’s legs.”

The atmosphere here at Bruce’s Field is unrivaled and the energy is electric, and I have to say a big thank you to the organizing team, the Aiken Horse Park Foundation, the incredible sponsors who support this event, and the volunteers who spent their days (especially in the slop yesterday!) helping ensure things ran smoothly.

EN now kicks on for Carolina International, with remote coverage from Bouckaert International’s 4*S next weekend coming your way as well as we look ahead to a very big year. Thank you as always for following along with us — Go Eventing.

$100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Final Scores] [Live Stream Replays] [EN’s Coverage] [Ultimate Guide]

We’re pleased to team up with Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, with her robust expertise and portfolio of property options in the Aiken area, as the sponsor of our coverage of the Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field. Seasonal or year-round, southern charm and the sporting lifestyle await you in Aiken!

Revised Eventing Format Submitted to IOC for LA 2028 Consideration

By on Mar 1, 2024 2:41 pm -

The new proposed format for eventing in the Olympics would see cross country held as the final team phase of competition. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Horse & Hound has today reported that the FEI has confirmed its submission of a revised eventing format to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which, if approved, will change the look and feel of the sport as we know it in Olympic competition.

Originally proposed in this year’s FEI Eventing Seminar — “The message of the IOC president was very clear: change, or be changed,” FEI president Ingmar de Vos said then — the proposed format will shift to a mixed short-format and long-format event, with cross country being the final phase of team competition. It’s been emphasized that the cross country would still adhere to a longer, championship level of around 10 minutes’ optimum time, but this phase would be run as the final, medal-deciding phase. For individual medals, a fourth day designated for a final show jumping round would be added, making it a long-format — though not in the traditional sense, as competitors competing in the full run of the competition will showjump both the day before, and the day after, cross country.

“The details pertaining to the technical aspects of the proposed format will be discussed in detail next year in the framework of the revision of the FEI regulations for equestrian events at the Olympic Games, once the IOC has provided its feedback,” an FEI spokesperson told Horse & Hound, who reported this news first.

The motivation for placing cross country as the final phase comes from a desire to increase spectator and broadcast appeal, and given the popularity of cross country, making this the finale of the team event is intended to heighten excitement and fan engagement.

It’s to be expected that if approved, this format will take a healthy dose of acceptance as the traditional format of eventing would be pushed further back into the history books. Many riders and sport stakeholders have also expressed a desire for the FEI to abandon its IOC affiliation altogether, at least where eventing is concerned, and instead throw its full support behind the seven CCI5* events around the world.

The next step now will be to wait for the IOC to make its determinations as to the approval of the sport in the LA Olympics – a process for which there’s no clear timeline. There is also the question of a venue that can host the sport — the Eventing Seminar in January made it clear that using an existing all-in-one facility is now a priority for the sport at the Games – though there are several suitable venues that are capable of hosting in the LA area and, in some cases, a pitching process has already begun.

We’ll provide more on this developing story as it becomes available.

Read More: Eventing at LA Olympics Unconfirmed; Subject to Format Change

EN’s Ultimate Guide to the 2024 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field

By on Feb 29, 2024 9:30 am -

Kendal Lehari and Audacious. Photo by Shelby Allen.

While the season has been well underway for several weeks, it feels very much like the annual Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field is an unofficial opening to the eventing year. Title sponsored by Conceal and presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services with a $100,000 pot of prize money on the line, this year’s festival promises to be top quality and full of some of the best riders in the world.

The action gets underway in earnest tomorrow, with dressage and show jumping kicking us off on Friday and concluding with cross country on Saturday. The “condensed” showcase format means the cross country will be much shorter than you’d typically see — the optimum time is generally under 5 or 6 minutes, and oftentimes jumps are jumped in both directions to maximize the use of space — which also means the event is incredibly spectator-friendly.

If you’re wanting to take in the sights this weekend in Aiken, you can still grab a general admission ticket by clicking here. The event is also seeking a few more volunteers, particularly for cross country crossing on Saturday. Click here to sign up — you will also receive free admission to the entire event.

The event will be live streamed on Horse & Country, and you can either use your H&C+ membership or buy a one-time event pass to follow along. Click here to view your options and access the live stream.

The schedule is below:

As you can see, there is plenty on the docket to take in, including demonstrations, course walks, and the return of the “Cowboy Up!” challenge.

Below you’ll find links to all relevant information, including entries, order of go, and more. Be sure to follow along on Instagram with @goeventing and @grandprix_eventing for much more from on the ground. Shelby Allen, Taleen Hanna, and I will be your eyes on the ground all weekend, and we’ll have more for you coming soon.

NEED TO KNOW INFO

We’re pleased to introduce Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, with her robust expertise and portfolio of property options in the Aiken area, as the sponsor of our coverage of the Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field. Seasonal or year-round, southern charm and the sporting lifestyle await you in Aiken!

Scholarship Alert: Maryland International Equestrian Foundation

By on Feb 22, 2024 9:30 am -

Eventers can use all the help they can find to make ends meet in this sport, and so we’re eager to share opportunities for scholarships or grants that someone who reads EN might benefit from. If you have a verified opportunity we can spread the word about, please tip us by emailing [email protected]. 

Valerie Pride, a 2022 MIEF FEI Scholarship recipient, and Favian at the 2022 Maryland 5 Star. Photo by Abby Powell.

The latest open opportunity comes to us from the Maryland International Equestrian Foundation (MIEF), which sponsors a variety of scholarships throughout each year. You can view current opportunities on their website here.

Two scholarships are currently open for applications:

MIEF FEI Scholarship

The Maryland International Equestrian Foundation (MIEF) will award four $1,000 scholarships to riders wanting to compete at the 1*, 2*, 3* or 4* levels at the July Maryland International Horse Trials. The scholarship funds will used entry fees, stabling, travel costs, and other associated competition expenses up to $1,000.

Applications are open from January 15, 2024 to May 1, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Recipients will be announced May 15, 2024.

Applicant Criteria:

  • Open to riders who are USEF and USEA members in good standing.

  • Horses and riders must be capable of competing at the level of scholarship they are applying for.

  • Riders may apply for more than one scholarship level as long as it is a different horse/rider combination.

  • Riders and horses who have competed in a 5* competition and/or outside of North America are not eligible.

  • Horse and rider combination may not have competed above the level for which they are applying.

  • Previous applicants are encouraged to re-apply

  • Members of the MIEF Board of Directors and members of their families are not eligible. Family members or current clients of the Scholarship Award Committee are not eligible.

  • Incomplete applications without a video submission and letter of recommendation will not be considered.

Merrylegs Junior Rider Scholarship

The Merrylegs Junior Rider scholarships are geared towards diverse, young equestrians who are competing at a grassroots level. Scholarship recipients will receive a credit of $500 towards Highland Series Horse Trials, Twilight Events, Pick Your Time/Test Dressage & Blue Ribbon Jump Round show entries and any schooling opportunities at Loch Moy Farm over the next year. The scholarship period is one year after the date the recipient enters their first event. After this period, unused scholarship funds will expire. Loch Moy Farm offers a variety of fun and accessible opportunities throughout the year for grassroots riders to learn and compete.

Applications for this initial round are due May 1, 2024. TWO scholarships will be awarded during this round.

Applicant Criteria:

  • Junior riders* age 13 – 17 riding at a grassroots level who would like to compete or are competing at the elementary, beginner novice, or novice levels. *{as defined by USEF and USEA Rulebook)

  • Local to Loch Moy Farm and able to arrange a suitable horse and travel to the venue. Scholarship funds can also be applied towards stabling. Recipients do not need to own their own horse, or use the same horse throughout the year. Participants in riding school lesson programs are encouraged to apply!

  • Ready to tell us how this scholarship would help them advance their riding goals.

  • Enthusiastic about increasing access to equestrian sports for underrepresented groups.

  • Willing to share their experience on Maryland Horse Trials and MIEF social & print media.

  • Able to further their equestrian education by volunteering 8 hours at any Maryland Horse Trials event. The volunteer hours may be split up.

Scholarship recipients will be subject to the rules and requirements of the events they enter.

To submit your application or share the form with a friend, click here. 

Remembering More Inspiration

By on Feb 21, 2024 10:36 am -

Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Holly Jacks-Smither’s longtime 5* partner, More Inspiration, this week at the age of 19. More Inspiration, or “Morris” as many knew him, was the horse of a lifetime for Holly, who began her FEI career with the Thoroughbred gelding and would eventually reach the top of the mountain with a 5* debut in 2017.

“My $2000 sales investment who I couldn’t sell, stuck around to change my life. If it wasn’t for you, Morris, I would have been on a totally different career path,” Holly wrote in tribute to More Inspiration on social media. “You taught me that hard work truly pays off; that thinking outside the box is a must to be successful with the tricky ones; that a big heart matters more than confirmation; and that hard work and perseverance get results.

Holly Jacks and More Inspiration. Photo by Kingfisher Media Services.

“From a gallop girl at Woodbine Race track where we met, to my first Nations Cup in Aachen, Germany, my first 5 star [sic] at Kentucky, and my first European 5 star in Pau, France… we did it all together. I’ll never have another horse like you. Thank you for challenging me, teaching me and giving me so much joy. But most importantly, thank you for being my soul mate and making me believe that life can be changed because of one special Ottb and a dream. I hope that you are playing bite-the-hand with all the people we have lost the last few years. Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough . Make sure you have a good buck and squeal as you gallop through heaven’s doors. I’ll meet you on the other side.”

More Inspiration
(April 3 2005- February 19 2024 )

My $2000 sales investment who I couldn’t sell, stuck around to…

Posted by Holly Jacks-Smither on Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Holly first became acquainted with More Inspiration when he was a two-year-old still on the racetrack in Canada. When his racing career ended at the age of four, his trainer contacted Holly for help restarting and selling him. In the end, Holly’s grandfather helped her purchase the gelding for $2,000 (out of her college fund, no less!) when a buyer didn’t materialize (and she’d begun to take a liking to him, at any rate).

Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

As his training progressed, Morris revealed himself to be careful and (as most top athletes are) quirky, to the point where many close to Holly advised her to sell him and move on. He would be too careful for the sport of eventing, they said. Cross country penalties dotted their record as they moved to the Advanced and then-3* level.

Morris was also swaybacked, making him unique and also challenging when it came to fitting tack. “He has to work a lot harder than the average horse because of the way he’s built,” Holly said in an interview with Heels Down Magazine.

But then, things began to click.

Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration at Aachen. Photo by Jenni Autry.

It was a trip to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and its famous indoor eventing class that would be a catalyst for a strengthened partnership between the two.

“[Coach Jon Holling] was hard on me,” Holly told The Chronicle of the Horse back then. “It was, ‘You’re either going to make it work, which I don’t think your horse is brave enough, or you’re going to sell him,’” she said. “I brought him out at Pine Top and jumped him around Advanced, and he was just a different horse after being at The Royal. He’s the bravest he’s ever been.”

The rest was yet to be written. Holly was invited to compete at CHIO Aachen (Germany) by the Canadian team, where she finished 30th individually in what would have been the toughest and most technical test of their skills to date. They’d have their growing pains, but all came to fruition a few years later when Holly achieved a lifelong goal of cantering down centerline in Rolex Stadium.

“You kick yourself now for taking the option because you want to be competitive, but it’s our first four-star and he’s amazing and I didn’t want to make him do something he couldn’t do,” Holly said of her first 5* cross country round. “He came home sound and happy and this horse owes me nothing. He carried me around — I didn’t help him.”

Holly Jacks and More Inspiration. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The pair’s most competitive result at the 5* level came at Pau in 2019, where she and Morris finished 12th. “I’m thrilled with my horse and thrilled with my weekend in general,” she told Tilly Berendt that year. “I’m so glad I made it here – not just to be at the show, but because of the people I’ve met along the way, these amazing connections that will stay with me forever.”

In 2021, Holly announced she was retiring Morris from competition after a heart condition was discovered by a vet ahead of the Kentucky Three-Day Event. He continued to be a large part of her life for the rest of his life, remaining an eternal source of inspiration and gratitude for the thousands of miles traveled and lessons learned.

“You have been with me through thick and thin,” Holly wrote when Morris was retired. “You took me from a gallop girl to a 5-star event rider. You taught me that 5-star horses don’t need to be fancy and well bred. They can have crooked legs, sway backs and huge hearts.”

Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Entry Update: Nearly 40 Top Horses + Riders to Compete for $100k

By on Feb 21, 2024 9:30 am -

Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist. Photo by Sally Spickard.

We’re pleased to introduce Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, with her robust expertise and portfolio of property options in the Aiken area, as the sponsor of our coverage of the Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field. Seasonal or year-round, southern charm and the sporting lifestyle await you in Aiken!

We’re nearing the end of the entry period for the $100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services, and the roster has boomed into arguably the most competitive in the event’s young history. At the time of publication, we’ve hit almost 40 entries with some exciting late additions added over the weekend for the March 1 and 2 showcase event.

Highlighting the entries is Maryland 5* winner Austin O’Connor, who will ride Amanda Beale Clement’s experienced 4* horse, Carlson 119 in his first appearance at Grand-Prix Eventing.

Austin, riding for Ireland, ups the international flavor of the entry list along with recently-relocated rider from New Zealand, Monica Spencer, who will compete fan-favorite OTTB Artist at this event for the first time.

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Double Sixteen. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Pan American Games individual gold medalist and team silver medalist Caroline Pamukcu has also thrown her name in the hat as one who will certainly be vying for that hefty prize pot, tapping HSH Double Sixteen (owned by Caroline and her mother Sherrie, as well as the Baltodano family) for the task.

Fellow speed demon Doug Payne will also bring three horses: Quiberon (owned by Doug and Jessica Payne), Quantum Leap (also owned by Doug and Jessica), and Camarillo (owned by Doug Payne and Patrice Jennings-Rado). Fun fact: all three Payne rides were bred right here in the USA by Elizabeth Callahan.

Doug Payne and Camarillo compete at the 2023 Grand-Prix Eventing Festival. Photo by Shelby Allen.

You can view the full and most up to date roster by clicking here.

General admission and VIP tickets are still available for this event, which really should not be missed if you’re in the area or within range! Click here to scope out your options.

For those of you unable to join us in person, H&C+ will carry the live feed. Bookmark this page (and don’t forget to check out our just-launched live stream hub for all your viewing needs!) for direct access to the live feed. Watching on Horse & Country requires either an H&C+ subscription (good for live and on-demand viewing) or a one-time event pass (good for live and on-demand viewing for 30 days). If you aren’t already an H&C+ subscriber, you can save 15% on an annual membership using code EVENTINGNATION15.

Audit Opportunity Available for Jonelle Price’s Canadian High Performance Clinic in Ocala

By on Feb 20, 2024 9:30 am -

Jonelle Price and Grappa Nera. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

An exciting opportunity to learn from one of the best riders in the world has emerged! New Zealand Olympic rider Jonelle Price will be teaching a clinic for the Canadian High Performance squad February 27-29 in Ocala, FL. Here’s the scoop on how to pick up an auditing pass:

Canadian Eventing High Performance welcomes Jonelle Price from February 27-29th in Ocala, FL, where she will work with the Canadian National Team Program Athletes in their preparations for the upcoming season and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Winner of multiple CCI5*s, including Badminton and Luhmuhlen, as well as Medalist at the Olympics and World Championships, Jonelle brings a wealth of knowledge, passion and enthusiasm to Team Canada.

In support of the Canadian Eventing High-Performance Program, we’re opening this unique experience up to auditors for a cost of $150 USD per person (includes all three days)

The schedule for this clinic includes:

  • February 27, 2024: Dressage
  • February 28, 2024: Cross Country
  • February 29, 2024: Show Jumping

All three days, each auditor will receive full access to the training sessions, lunch, and refreshments. The cost for auditing is $150 for the three days. If you’re interested in registering to audit this clinic, please click here, and the organizing team will contact you with payment and venue details!

Don’t delay; spots are limited!

Remembering Courageous Comet

By on Feb 15, 2024 9:30 am -

Becky Holder and Courageous Comet. Photo courtesy of Michelle Dunn.

We were saddened to learn of the passing of the great OTTB ambassador and 5* event horse Courageous Comet, who was partnered with the equally great Becky Holder through his lengthy career. The Thoroughbred gelding by Comet Shine was 28 years old. He had been in retirement residence with Becky at her North Carolina farm.

He’s a horse that needs little introduction, especially for Thoroughbred fans (and who isn’t, really?). A few years ago, I posted a query on my Facebook page: what horse would you dream of taking for a spin around a big track like Kentucky? Courageous Comet was the first response for multiple people.

While a packer he may not have been for just anyone, he certainly enjoyed some time as “professor”, taking Becky’s husband Tom for a spin after stepping down from the upper levels.

Tom and Becky Holder with Courageous Comet. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

“Tom bought Comet for Becky as a ‘quasi-wedding present,'” Leslie Threlkeld wrote at the time. “And while she increased the vested ownership shares to 49%, Tom maintained a 51% majority ownership. Wanting to make sure he had a chance to sit on his future investment, Tom rode Comet some even in the early days. Today, Tom stays busy with work but Becky encouraged him to find the time to practice riding so they could take Comet to a low-key competition. ‘I wasn’t quite sure how excited Comet would be, but he was an angel!’ Becky beamed.”

In addition to his accolades as a family member, Comet certainly had plenty of bragging rights as a competitor. He and Becky made their first then-4* start together at Luhmühlen and would quickly become stalwarts at the level; they completed five then CCI4* events, including a top-5 finish at Burghley in 2006 and a second place finish at Kentucky in 2008 that earned them a berth to the 2008 Olympics. They also finished on the podium at Kentucky in 2010 and represented the USA at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. Before his career as an eventer, Comet was also a decently successful racehorse, with 36 starts, multiple wins, and nearly $75,000 in purses earned from his first job.

Look back at Becky and Courageous Comet show jumping at Kentucky in 2008, when they finished second overall:

You can harken back to the “OG” days of Eventing Nation, when John Their himself was still writing the words, for an interview with Becky at Comet’s final Advanced competition, by clicking here.

It’s safe to say that this incredible horse gave many of us today “the bug”, and instilled (or confirmed) in us the love of the gutsy ex-racehorse. He will be sorely missed by all of us here at EN and well beyond.

Read more from the USEA’s In Memoriam here.

How to Support the Canadian Eventing to Paris Fundraiser

By on Feb 14, 2024 9:30 am -

The Canadian team impressed with a come from behind gold medal at the 2023 Pan American Games. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

The Canadian High Performance Advisory Group and supporters of Canadian eventing have announced a new fundraising effort as the bolstered team aims for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris.

“After winning gold [in 2023] at the Pan American Games in Santiago, the Canadian Eventing Team has their sights set on the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and they need your help to get there,” a press release stated.

The fundraiser consists of a “Canadian Eventing to Paris Online Auction”, which is underway as we speak and will close on February 17. You can choose from a hearty selection of nearly 200 items with a combined value of $40,000 CDN — a good chunk needed to send the Canadians hopping to Europe!

The auction closes at 4:00 pm (PST) on February 17th. More items are being added daily — click here to access the auction on Facebook!

5 Reasons We’re Looking Forward to the 2024 Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International

By on Feb 12, 2024 9:30 am -

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

A big season cometh, as the 2024 Olympics loom closer and we look ahead to the roadmap that will lead us all the way to Paris. Olympic hopefuls will have worked their way backward from late July, earmarking the pathway they and their advisors feel will set themselves up well for eventual selection and success on a team.

One important step along that preparation path — both for the Olympics as well as the various spring three-day events — is the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI & H.T., arguably among the biggest early-season challenges and a true “let’s see where we’re at” test set among the trees in Raeford, NC. This year’s Carolina International, held at Carolina Horse Park, will take place March 14-17.

But it isn’t just about the big names and the top level of competition. In fact, one of my personal favorite things about this event is its attention paid to the other levels, including a popular CCI1*-S and National divisions from Novice to Advanced.

Here are just a few of our other favorite things about Carolina:

A true challenge for all, no matter the level

Sandra Holden and Evil Munchkin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

We wrote an article about the CCI1*-S division after the 2023 event, and I feel strongly that including newer levels like Modified and 1* are important for education and for giving riders an attainable goal. As someone who has no aspirations to go above Preliminary level, the 1* is such a cool goal to have. It feels like something I could do safely and confidently, perhaps en route to Prelim, or perhaps as my top goal — who knows and who cares? It’s a great option to have, and it’s also beneficial for the production of younger horses. 5 stars (it felt inappropriate to give it a “1 star” rating).

For a new challenge this year, the event will host the Lumbee River EMC Festival Pro-Am Challenge, teaming up professional and amateur riders. There is no cost to join a team, so click here to learn more.

A convenient and well-laid out venue

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

There is something to be said about a venue that uses its space smartly (and one that has permanent bathrooms available!). I always love visiting venues like Carolina Horse Park, which are nicely laid out and well-kept. There is a decent amount of atmosphere, which of course wouldn’t be every horse’s favorite, but I find it to be less overwhelming and more exciting. It’s just the right amount of “things going on” for horses (and riders) to gain some experience in busier environments.

A star-studded roster

Sarah Kuhn and Mr. Cash Van De Start. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Ok, yes, you’re also right — the roster in the 4* and Advanced divisions is always a big draw for the sporting fans among us. This is a big stop on the road to Kentucky’s spring 5* event, and many of the horses we’ll see in these divisions will be prepping for a major spring event. You also typically get to see some horses and/or riders who are newer to the level, giving you a glimpse of “ones to watch” for the future.

Entries will continue to populate through the event’s closing date on February 27, but the list is already promising. We’ll see the return of three-time winning rider Will Coleman, who so far has entered the Diabolo Group LLC’s Diabolo. Ariel Grald, who is based not far from this venue in Southern Pines, has entered Annie Eldridge (also the owner of Setters’ Run Farm) horses Diara and Leamore Master Plan, who is returning to competition after being sidelined most of 2023. Another Southern Pines rider, Andrew McConnon, will swing back into action with top horses Ferrie’s Cello (owned by Jeanne Shigo) and Wakita 54 (owned by Andrew). You can preview the full entry list here.

A strong challenge on cross country

The much-talked about water question on the 2023 CCI4*-S course. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

We’re getting into the final days of Ian Stark’s designing career, so we’re going to enjoy these brilliant courses while we still can! Ian Stark has been the designer for Carolina’s 4*/Advanced track for nearly a decade, and his tracks here are given an extra boost of difficulty by the terrain and wooded areas scattered throughout the park’s acreage. For those in the other divisions, the course’s are designed and set by Beth Perkins, who also sets a technical and challenging track that’s appropriate for each level, making this truly an event not to be missed for the well-prepared and practiced.

You can take a glimpse at some action from last year’s 4* cross country below.

Plenty for the horse husbands and kids to do

We all appreciate the long-suffering horse husbands and horse wives and horse kids, who typically spend their days at horse shows as stand-in grooms or wishing a drink cart would magically appear alongside them, golf course style. Well, sign those wonderful family members up for a trip to Carolina International, because there’s a full weekend of family-friendly activities, plenty of food and drink options, and a beautiful locale to spend time in when you’re not at the show.

If you’re visiting the area for the first time, be sure to check out neighboring Southern Pines, which is full of amazing restaurants (I’ll go ahead and throw in my favorite recommendation, Red’s Corner, formerly owned by 5* rider Jurgens) and beautiful scenery to enjoy. Carolina International also coincides with the annual Painted Ponies Art Walk & Auction, which is an event not to be missed.

And if you’re the VIP type, the Carolina Club is a great way to experience all that Carolina International has to offer. These tickets tend to sell fast, so don’t wait to get your hands on them here.

Entries are open for the SRF Carolina International CCI & H.T. Get yours in before February 27 and join us for the fun!

EN is proud to partner with Carolina International for pre-event promotion and media services on the ground. Interested in joining us as a member of the media for this year’s SRF Carolina International? Click here to submit your credential application.

$100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Entry Update: Defending Champs Return

By on Feb 9, 2024 9:30 am -

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Two of the three riders who have won the Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field (this year sponsored by Conceal, with $100,000 in prize money) will return this year (March 1 and 2) to square off — but they’ll certainly have plenty of competition from others as the entry list continues to grow.

Liz Halliday has entered this popular showcase event that’s the first major stop on many a top rider’s calendar — and carries a rare six-figure purse to up the appeal — with three horses: 2023 winner Miks Master C (owned by Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer), Cooley Quicksilver (owned by The Monster Partnership + Ocala Horse Properties), and Cooley Nutcracker (owned by Nutcracker Syndicate + Ocala Horse Properties). Liz also won this event in 2019 (its inaugural year) with Fernhill By Night and in 2020 with Deniro Z.

Boyd Martin and Fedarman B en route to the win in 2022. Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.

Squaring up for the challenge will be 2022 winner Boyd Martin, who will bring back the horse he won with, Fedarman B (owned by the Annie Goodwin Syndicate) as well as stalwart veteran Tsetserleg (owned by Christine, Thomas, and Tommie Turner) and rising star Commando 3 (owned by Yankee Creek Ranch LLC).

These former winners aside, the entry list continues to grow with plenty of contenders for the top prize. That list includes riders such as Will Coleman, Phillip Dutton, Colleen Loach, Ariel Grald, Will Faudree, Sydney Elliott, Doug Payne, and many other 4* and 5* horses and riders. We anticipate more entries to pile in as the closing date draws near — and we’re still awaiting confirmation of some international entries coming to catch-ride!

It’s also not too late to grab your tickets for this event, which truly puts spectators front and center with the action, right in the heart of Aiken, SC. Click here to learn more about Grand-Prix Eventing and to buy your tickets or VIP experience.

We’re pleased to introduce Deirdre Stoker Vaillancourt, with her robust expertise and portfolio of property options in the Aiken area, as the sponsor of our coverage of the Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field. Seasonal or year-round, southern charm and the sporting lifestyle await you in Aiken!

Magical Mustangs: Catching Up with Elisa Wallace

By on Feb 2, 2024 9:30 am -

Photo courtesy of Elisa Wallace.

What began as a bucket list tick evolved into a full-fledged adventure for Elisa Wallace. It was a friend, fellow mustang trainer and eventer Rebecca Brown, who first encouraged Elisa to sign up for the annual Mustang Magic competition. For Elisa, it was an opportunity for a new challenge: if she could train a mustang, surely it would solidify her prowess as a horse trainer and perhaps give her the opportunity to become an ambassador for the once-wild horse.

Fast forward to today, over a decade later, and now about 10 mustangs are in residence at Elisa’s Ocala, FL base. She’s taken multiple mustangs out eventing, including the famous Fledge and Rune as well as the gray mare Hwin. Elisa gains much fulfillment from promoting the mustang as an excellent horse for any discipline, and now spends some of her time (when she isn’t also producing and competing event horses) training and re-homing mustangs to other riders.

“In training them you just get addicted,” Elisa explained. “Each one kind of teaches you something new, and you just want to keep doing it. I think they’re great horses for people to have, too. They can fit that little niche, so that’s my goal. I train one and try to fulfill that with someone.”

Elisa Wallace and Fledge. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Elisa’s latest mustang project was a return to the Mustang Magic competition. This competition, held in Texas, during the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, gives approximately 25 trainers the opportunity to bond with a train a mustang over the course of a 100 days. The event then culminates with a Trainer’s Challenge consisting of a handling and conditioning class, a maneuvers class, a trail class, and a freestyle for finalists. The prize pot of $50,000 sweetens the deal, and the mustangs are then auctioned to the public following the competition.

Initially, Mustang Magic was not in Elisa’s plans for the year. She laughed when I asked what changed her mind. “You’re going to laugh at me, but,” she began. “I had a dream. [Four-time Mustang Makeover champion and respected horseman] Bobby Kerr was in it. In this dream I was a working student for Bobby. He asked me if I was going to do the Magic and I said ‘no’ and he goes ‘well you should’. And so I woke up and said ‘well I guess I’m going to do Magic this year!’ So that was my reasoning for it.”

Dior’s glow-up. Photo courtesy of Elisa Wallace.

In September, Elisa traveled to Texas to make her selection from a group of recently rounded-up mustangs. The 26 trainers drew numbers to make their selections; naturally, having an early pick is beneficial, but you must be prepared with a list of alternates. Elisa, luckily, had a few on her list as she drew #20.

“It was tough because you’re going through strategy-wise of who to pick,” Elisa said. “I analyzed for hours and when it came down to it, I had Dior on my list. She was the boss mare of her pen, I just went ‘screw it Elisa, go for color!’ She was already on the list, but it was just one of those things.”

“Dior”, as she came to be known, is a beautiful palomino color. Elisa, for this competition, knew she would be giving the horse up for auction/adoption following the competition, so she was looking for a horse that would be a suitable all-arounder, perhaps one that could also do some Western riding. The mare seemed to tick the right boxes.

“I tell you – that mare cracks me up,” she laughed. “She was like ‘finally!’ [upon getting into the barn]. The first night mustangs are in a stall they normally don’t sleep. That mare slept — she was covered head to toe in shavings. The name Dior kind of fit. She’s kind of ‘bougie’ and Dior also means ‘gold’.”

Elisa chronicled her training process with Dior in a full playlist of videos on YouTube — I’ll drop the playlist below for you to watch at leisure:

“She was a very fun mare to train,” Elisa said. “She was very confident in some ways and I’m still super busy because I also had a three-day in November, so I was glad that she was special. It takes a special horse for the makeover. I didn’t have any of the flashy tricks on her, but she was very good about very practical things, which I thought was very handy. I was able to go and work her on cows and I took a roping lesson off of her. One thing I really love about doing the mustang stuff is it kind of pushed out of my comfort zone. I get to learn so much more, I feel like, and break things up. She did a little starter event at [Florida Horse Park] and it was basically underwater; her first time in a dressage ring and she scored a 34. Won her little starter division. She loved going out on cross country. She was just a little star.”

The competition yielded a strong result for Elisa, who made the finals and finished in sixth overall, out of the 26 original trainers. Elisa was impressed with how Dior handled the intense atmosphere, even staying calm when a prop got stuck in her girth during their final freestyle performance.

The bittersweet part came at the end, when Dior would be auctioned and meet her new owner.

Dior meets her new owner, Sierra Gowen. Photo courtesy of Elisa Wallace.

“Dior was one of the last to go and the girl that ended up getting her wants to do eventing,” Elisa said. “Her name is Sierra and she’s also a bodyworker and Dior is going to be her first mustang. And it just so happens she lives back where I used to live in Canton [Georgia], so she has a lot of connections to a lot of my old students who are her trainers. So it worked out. I was happy with the outcome with it and I think Dior is where she needs to be. I was happy and pleased with myself that I produced a good horse. I cried, I had poor Sierra crying, but that’s just so I can train another one. I try to train one and just do the same thing.”

Elisa always emphasizes that each horse teaches her something new. I asked what she had learned during her time with Dior. “Really utilizing the horse’s strengths,” she said, after a moment of thought. “Try not to focus too much on their weaknesses; it’s more minimizing their weaknesses and maximizing their strengths. When I ignored some of the weaker things that I didn’t necessarily like, that would just kind of go away if I just focused on the more positive things. And really the lesson for me, which oftentimes can get lost, is that horses are supposed to be fun and we’re supposed to enjoy our time with our horses. The training process gets frustrating, we all get frustrated, but you want to have fun and that’s kind of what we lose.”

Photo courtesy of Elisa Wallace.

Here, she compares the level of trust and bond that’s required to compete in an event like Mustang Magic to that required to go out on cross country with an event horse.

“These horses that are previously wild, because of the bond you’ve built, they trust you. It’s what we want to attain with any of our horses. The mustangs and Thoroughbred stuff — it’s why I like to do it. Your event horses aren’t going to push for you if they don’t trust you. It’s the same thing when you get the trust of the mustang. Those horses try for you and at the end of the day, that is all you can ask for.”

Clinic Entry Contest with William Fox-Pitt: And the Winner Is…

By on Feb 1, 2024 5:30 pm -

Sierra Lesny rides cross country in front of William Fox-Pitt. Photo by Lisa Madren.

Last month, we announced a contest to give away an entry to William Fox-Pitt’s February clinic in Ocala, FL. The clinic will be hosted February 27 and 28 at Overlook Farm South (show jumping) and Barnstaple South (cross country). We asked you to submit an entry detailing the story of why you love eventing, what got you into the sport, or anything else pertaining to the love of the sport — and you delivered!

We received almost 50 entries to this contest, making the final decision that much more difficult. But after much deliberation amongst our team, we’ve landed on our winner, who will receive a complimentary spot in the clinic on both days at their chosen level.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Clark.

Please join us in congratulating Sarah Clark! Sarah’s essay, “I Was Lucky to Be There” on how she got into eventing is a story we’ll be sharing in the coming days here on EN, and it’s one that shows us just how much eventing and horses can bring us together, heal wounds, and make us believe we are capable.

Thanks to the generosity of the clinic organizers, we’ll be offering free auditing passes to the other five finalists who were chosen from the initial pool of applicants. You’ll receive an email from EN this week if this applies to you!

Thank you to all who took the time to enter and share their stories with us. We’ll be on site for the first day of the clinic at Overlook Farm South and will bring you much more from on location.

Go Eventing!

Sneak a Peek + Snag a Ticket: $100,000 Conceal Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field is Coming Soon

By on Feb 1, 2024 9:30 am -

Will Faudree and Pfun. Photo by Shelby Allen.

There has come to be no better way to open the eventing season in what feels like an unofficial, official way than the annual Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field (Aiken, SC), happening March 1 and 2.

Designed to be a spectator-friendly pipe-opener for horses that are on the handier side (or, practice for those who could use some more of this!), Grand-Prix Eventing is a condensed event run over two days and consisting of a dressage, show jumping, cross country format. Cross country, designed by Capt. Mark Phillips, is an arenacross-type course, much removed from its long format predecessor but nonetheless an exciting “taster” of the thrill of the sport. In my opinion, this format is a natural way to invite newcomers to the sport of eventing — the fact that it takes place literally in the center of Aiken at Bruce’s Field is the icing on the “welcome to eventing” cake.

This year, the prize pot grows from an initial $50,000 to now be a $100,000 purse — in eventing, you don’t often see prize money like this outside of CCI5* events — thanks to the incoming title sponsor, Conceal. Taylor Harris Insurance Services also returns as presenting sponsor.

We won’t have a final roster of entries for a few weeks yet, but a few have begun to sprinkle in to the entry status here. The crew at Grand-Prix Eventing also tells me there will be some exciting visitors from overseas.

As of publication, the confirmed entries for this year’s GPE are:

  • Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way + Pfun
  • Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan
  • Lillian Heard and Dassett Olympus + LCC Barnaby

Liz Halliday-Sharp celebrates the taste of sweet, sweet victory in 2023. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Other tentatively committed riders include previous winners Boyd Martin and Liz Halliday, Sharon White, Emily Hamel, Doug Payne, Caroline Pamukcu, Jennie Brannigan, and more. We’ll be sure to keep you up to date with the latest entry confirmations, so stay tuned for more. Riders will also be riding for the benefit of local charities (to be named for 2024).

Tickets are still available for this not-to-be-missed event, so come on down March 1 and 2. You can purchase yours starting at just $30 for two-day admission by clicking here.

Opportunity Alert: Apply Now for the Waredaca Eventing Foundation Jimmy Wofford Legacy Fund Scholarship

By on Jan 31, 2024 11:30 am -

Photo courtesy of Waredaca.

We’re always on the lookout for opportunity offerings from around the eventing community, and here’s one that should be on your radar if you’re aiming for a Classic Three-Day competition this year! Here’s the skinny:

The Waredaca Eventing Education Foundation (WEEF) is pleased to announce an expansion of the 2024 Jimmy Wofford Legacy Fund Scholarships thanks to the generous donations of WEEF supporters and several USEA Classic Three-Day event organizers. This year’s scholarship funds will be awarded to several riders from across the country and includes entries to various USEA Classic Three-Day events spread out from coast to coast!

The Jimmy Wofford Legacy Fund Scholarship was created in 2023 to honor the late Jimmy Wofford. Wofford was influential in creating the Classic-Three Day series and was a strong supporter of these events. Like Wofford, previous scholarship recipients showed a dedication to the sport of eventing here in the U.S. through volunteering, continuing education, and competing. You can read more on Jimmy’s thoughts about the classic long format here.

Novice Three-Day competitors Emma Keahon and Wil’Ya Love Me on course at the 2015 Waredaca Classic event. Photo by Kate Samuels.

The 2024 Jimmy Wofford Legacy Fund Scholarship winners — at least one adult amateur and at least one junior rider — will each be awarded $1000 cash support to be used towards training and expenses related to competing in a 2024 USEA Classic Three-Day Event. In addition, Scholarship winners will also be awarded one entry to one of the following participating Classic Three-Day Events:

  • Indiana Eventing Association (IN) May 31-June 2
  • The Event at Rebecca Farm (MT) July 17-21
  • Spokane Sport Horse 10th Annual Fall HTs (WA) September 26-29
  • Hagyard Midsouth Three-Day Event (KY) October 16-20
  • Waredaca Classic Three-Day Event (MD) October 25-27
  • Note: additional events may be added to the above list should they choose to participate in the Wofford Scholarship program

James Wofford on Carawich, 1978. Photo courtesy of Gamecock Photo.

The 2024 Jimmy Wofford Memorial Fund Scholarship is open to adult amateur and junior riders competing at any level within USEA. Applicants must be working towards competing in a 2024 USEA Classic Three-Day Event and be in need of financial support to achieve this competition goal. Applicants must also demonstrate their commitment to the sport of eventing through proof of volunteering. Those who have previously participated in, or are currently participating in any other USEA/USEF grant or development program are not eligible for the Wofford Scholarship.

The application deadline is April 1, 2024. Please click HERE for more information and online application.

If you would like to support this scholarship and other WEEF projects, please donate HERE.

About the USEA Classic Series

The USEA Classic Series keeps the spirit of the classic long ­format three­-day events alive for Beginner Novice through the Preliminary levels, including the Modified level as well. Competitors can experience the rush of endurance day, including roads and tracks, steeplechase, the vet box, and cross­-country, as well as participate in formal veterinary inspections and educational activities with experts on the ins and outs of competing in a long ­format three-­day event. Riders who compete in a USEA Classic Series event during the year will have the chance to win a variety of prizes at the events from USEA sponsors. Click here to learn more about the USEA Classic Series.

The USEA would like to thank bronze sponsors SmartPak Equine and D.G. Stackhouse & Ellis Saddles, as well as contributing sponsors Bates Saddles and Parker Equine Insurance for supporting the USEA Classic Series.

Remembering Bendigo

By on Jan 30, 2024 9:30 am -

Ema Klugman and Bendigo. Photo by Shelby Allen.

EN reporter and 5* rider Ema Klugman announced this week the passing of her veteran partner, Bendigo, following complications from colic surgery last week. The Saddlebred/Thoroughbred gelding was 22 years old.

Bendigo was the type of horse that was quickly written off as “not much” but “safe enough” when Ema first found him when she was just 14, with help from coach and mentor Packy McGaughan. 10 years old at the time, Bendigo had done some show jumping but was for all intents and purposes a diamond in the rough, and a horse Packy figured would be suitable for his student to do her first events and move up through Preliminary on.

Hold my beer, said Ben.

Ema Klugman and Bendigo. Photo by Shelby Allen.

“He’s full of surprises,” Ema told me ahead of her 5* debut at Kentucky in 2021. “He doesn’t have the scope or the raw ability of a horse like (Marilyn Little’s 4* winner) RF Scandalous or (Liz Halliday Sharp’s five-star horse) Deniro Z, so he kind of has to make his way. He just has a huge amount of heart.”

It’s a story we’ve heard many times, and it’s one that — speaking for myself, at least — we can find in our memories when asked why we love eventing as much as we do: The horse that wasn’t supposed to amount to much, but continued to surprise.

This was Bendigo.

We #BelieveInBendigo! Photo by Elena Perea.

He didn’t love dressage, but when Ema cantered down center line for the first time in Rolex Stadium, he was with her. He pulled average scores on the flat, but you could almost always count on him to jump right up the standings with his skills across the country and over the show jumps. Ema, as any other rider with a horse moving to 5* for the first time, was ready to learn whether or not she’d created a 5* horse over the better part of a decade.

Ema Klugman and Bendigo. Photo by Sally Spickard.

I was positioned on cross country on the back third of the course. The question was two open corners at the top of a hill, following a long pull up from the famous infield section at Kentucky. I was nervous, as one is for a friend on cross country. Would Ben look winded at this point — probably almost 9 minutes into this grueling cross country test — doing his first 5* at the age of 19? But then I heard it:

“Whoaaaa, Ben…easy, buddy…whoaaaa, Ben.”

I heard it before I saw them, and nearly before I could focus my camera lens, Ema and Ben were through the combination and galloping away, the horse on the bridle and on the bit, ears flat and stride long. I shouldn’t have worried.

I know Ema would have wanted to finish what would be Bendigo’s final 5* at Maryland that year, but at the final water complex just a few questions from the finish, she pulled him up. He would have kept jumping and galloping, and they could have finished, but Ema made a decision in the moment. He owed her nothing, and he had begun to tell her he was tired. It was an anti-climatic finish on paper, and certainly a disappointment for any competitor, but that decision will continue to live in my brain as an example of what it means to finish with integrity — whatever that may mean on that day.

After he was retired from upper-level competition, Bendigo went on to teach other riders. He competed at the Area II Championships and the American Eventing Championships with amateur rider Julie Bigham at Training level.

He even took me for a flat ride last fall, thanks to Ema’s generosity.

I watch the video of myself riding Ben often. It was nothing major. I am very rusty, and it was wet outside. We worked on some basic canter pirouette work, and as I went back out to the long side, I could hear Ema on the other side of the camera, her voice full of fondness.

“Good boy! Good boy, Ben!”

We will all miss you, Bendigo.

My words are just mine. You can read some of Ema’s reflections on Bendigo’s career here. An excerpt from Ema feels like the most fitting ending to this tribute:

“The best way I can describe Bendigo is that he has imposter syndrome, ADHD, anxiety, stage fright, and probably several other unnamed demons that he had to overcome to become the horse he became for me. He was never “meant to be” a 5* horse, or even a four- or three-star horse for that matter. He is half-Saddlebred, after all! He (and we) attempted to go beyond who he was meant to be -— and he did that not for himself but for me. I won’t ever meet a horse with more generosity of spirit.”

Ema Klugman and Bendigo. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Try This Strength and Balance Drill for All Disciplines from Pippa Funnell

By on Jan 27, 2024 10:00 am -

In a true exemplification of the “never stop learning” adage, Rolex Grand Slam winner Pippa Funnell shared a training exercise that’s useful for all disciplines as we prep for another season. Using just a few poles set up strategically and a few small jumps, Pippa demonstrates a technical exercise ridden without stirrups to strengthen the rider’s balance and position.

You can see Pippa demonstrating the exercise in the video below (can’t see it? Click here to watch it on Instagram). Notice how she uses her seat, leg, and body to collect and execute downward transitions, using this change in balance to affect the horse’s stride without leveraging on the bit.

Watch, then try it for yourself!

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Jan 26, 2024 12:01 am -

Wintery weather conditions didn’t keep the eventers away last weekend at Stable View’s season opener horse trials, which ran nearly 300 starters braving the cold weather. Thanks to the hardworking grounds crew at Stable View, the water jumps were kept unfrozen and the footing was kept aerated to keep it from getting too wet and frozen over the weekend. It was a true team effort, and it’s one Stable View owners Barry and Cyndy Olliff are proud to be a part of. “The easy thing would have been to cancel, but it’s not down to us,” Barry noted, expressing his gratitude for the officials and helped make decisions to keep running in a safe way.

Here’s to warmer weather for the next eventing competition at Stable View, which will be the first Eventing Academy of 2024, February 16-18. Check it out here.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Full Gallop Farm January H.T (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. (Altoona, FL) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

News & Notes:

Here’s a useful analogy to think of when it comes to balance in the saddle. When you carry a bag of feed over your shoulder, your weight shifts to compensate and balance. This is a tip Buck Davidson brought to a recent clinic from Practical Horseman’s Win a Day Clinic Contest. [11 more tips from Buck here]

USEA members! There’s a very valuable survey currently being circulated in an effort by the USEA to collect sentiments and data points pertaining to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Your opinion is valued and important, so take a few minutes to fill it out here.

What the heck is the Equine Activity Liability Act, and why should you care about it? Well, we all know riding horses is, well, not the safest choice of activity in the world, but there are other facets of liability that pertain to even being on property at an equine facility. Read up on how this can affect you and your business here.

Customers and employees alike were surprised to hear news that Haygain Ltd. has entered administration, appearing to cease business operations and laying off employees. No word yet on what the future of the company, best known for its heavenly hay steamers that fill your barn with enough aroma to make you strongly consider adding hay to your own diet, considering the cost of a bale these days. [Haygain Goes into Administration]

Video Break:

EN writer Amanda Chance recently shared an experience she had with her horse after listening to this excellent “Ask An Expert” on Ride iQ, focusing on the topic of equine ulcers. Here’s Amanda:

And here’s the episode of “Ask An Expert” that got her spidey sense tingling:

Systems Nearly Go for West Coast AEC in 2025; Championship to Return to Kentucky 2026-2028

By on Jan 25, 2024 12:30 pm -

Galway Downs’ main arena boasts unique spectator seating and a backdrop of flags representing an international array of competitors. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

After soliciting expressions of interest to host the next USEA American Eventing Championships, the US Eventing Association (USEA) has announced it has begun contract negotiations to host a fully West coast-based Championship in 2025 at Galway Downs in Temecula, CA. The 2025 AEC would be held from Tuesday, August 26 through Sunday, August 31, welcoming qualified competitors from the newly-recognized Starter division up through Advanced. The qualifying period for the next AEC typically begins each spring for the following year’s championship (for example, qualification for 2024 AEC began on May 22, 2023).

The announcement brings AEC fully to the West coast for the first time; to this point, the host sites furthest west were Rebecca Farm (Montana – 2022) and Colorado Horse Park (2019), along with a multi-year stint at Texas Rose Horse Park. It’s a representation of the strong eventing population that lives and competes west of the Mississippi, and particularly up and down the massive state of California.

You can read more about eventing in California in our deep dive from 2023 here.

Galway Downs, located in Southern California’s wine country of Temecula, has experienced much development and improvement over the past few years, thanks in large part to the efforts of Equestrian Facility Manager Robert Kellerhouse. The venue has also played host to multiple top-level jumper and dressage competitions, many of which under the banner of Nilforushan Equisport Events, that continue to drive the consumer experience to the next level. Some extra fun? Galway Downs is also home to a bustling race community, with a full training track and several race stables based there year-round.

Kick for home! Photo by Sally Spickard.

Galway Downs also features 400 permanent stalls and a total of 14 arenas, alongside its full cross country course that is equipped to host all levels up through its annual CCI4*-L in the fall. The venue hosted the 2023 USEF CCI2*-L and USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championships and the 2023 USEF Eventing Young Rider National Championships, presented by USEA.

“Galway Downs is excited to bring the 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships to the West Coast,” said Robert Kellerhouse. “We wish to thank to the USEA for the opportunity and are looking forward to working together with them in furtherance of a successful event.”

“We want to run the type of event where people would be tempted, regardless of their location, to make the trip out,” Robert elaborated. “We want to try and make this thing as great a success as they had in Kentucky. It’s incredible, I’m so happy. It’s a recognition of the success we’ve had in Temecula, what my buddy Ali [Nilforushan] has done with his jumper shows and a higher frequency of top shows, what the dressage community has brought here, what Ken [Smith] has done with the wineries, and the ranch homes on campus adds to people’s experience. Couple that together with the fact that Tamie [Smith] wins Kentucky, and it all morphs itself into getting more attention. All of them carry heavy weight.”

Part of Robert’s vision is an event that entices riders to make the trip, even from the East coast. Galway Downs remains a large part of the eventing tapestry on the West coast, and will be front and center as one of the most prominent venues close by to the LA Olympics in 2028 (which of course, we know the status of eventing is yet to be determined, but we’re holding out hope). “The whole world’s attention is going to be on a region. People are going to talk about Southern California and I’ll tell you what: when I was a kid during the 1984 Olympics, all of the sudden people weren’t calling me a jockey anymore. They knew what equestrian sports were. That’s the impact that this platform can have.”

Further to this announcement, the USEA also confirmed that Kentucky Horse Park has also entered contract finalizations to host AEC in 2026, 2027, and 2028. Galway Downs will have the option to apply for another hosting of AEC for 2029. The Horse Park makes much sense in the eyes of many competitors, both from a logistical (the venue is nearly as centrally located as one could be in a country the size of the U.S.) and a sentimental perspective (who doesn’t want to gallop through the iconic “Head of the Lake” — but without all the hooplah of having to make it to a 5* event like Kentucky?). The dates, pending contract finalization, for the 2026-2028 AEC would be:

  • 2026: Tuesday, Aug. 25—Sunday, Aug. 30
  • 2027: Tuesday, Aug. 31—Sunday, Sep. 5
  • 2028: Tuesday, Aug. 22—Sunday, Sep. 3

You can read more on this news in the USEA’s release here.

Meet Phillip Dutton’s Newest Ride

By on Jan 17, 2024 12:30 pm -

Phillip Dutton’s got a new ride in his stable ahead of this new season, and he’s spending some time sharing his “getting to know you” days on social media.

Jewelent (Valent – Bellaney Jewel, by Rosalier) is a 10-year-old Irish gelding most recently campaigned by Ireland’s Clare Abbott through the 5* level (the pair started Badminton in 2022, but withdrew ahead of show jumping following a clear cross country). Claire and Jewelent also represented the Irish at the 2021 FEI European Eventing Championships, finishing in the top 15 individually.

Clare Abbott and Jewelent. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Carol Gee of Fernhill Sporthorses eventually connected Phillip to “Julian”, whom Phillip describes as “a real blood type of horse, but he is also quiet and sensible. A lot of the training has been done, so now it’s just a case of creating a good partnership and getting his trust in me.”

With the support of the “Jewelent Group”, comprised of longtime supporters Ann Jones, David and Patricia Vos, Tracy Egan, Tom Tierney, John Ingram and Caroline Moran, Phillip added this promising youngster to his string and now sets to work forming a partnership.
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You can view a few videos of Phillip and Julian below or over on the @duttoneventing Instagram page. We’ll look forward to following along!