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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

Boekelo Beckons: Previewing the Netherlands FEI Nations Cup Leg + How to Watch

By on Oct 4, 2022 11:30 am -

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Team USA will look to pile on its collection of medals as a Nations Cup team heads to this week’s Netherlands leg at Boekelo; competition begins Wednesday, October 5 with the first horse inspection and will be followed by two days of dressage Thursday and Friday, cross country on Saturday, and show jumping on Sunday.

Graphic via US Equestrian.

This year’s Nations Cup team for the U.S., which claimed silver at this event in 2021, features:

  • James Alliston and Nemesis
  • Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C
  • Boyd Martin and Fedarman B
  • Alyssa Phillips and Oskar

In addition to the Americans, a field of 78 competitors will tackle the CCIO4*-L competition. The Nations Cup field includes teams for Germany, which currently holds the highest number of Nations Cup points, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden.

Daniela Moguel and Cecelia. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Notable entries include:

  • Mexico’s Daniela Moguel has aimed Cecelia here after the pair saw their World Championships trip cut short due to a poorly-timed bout of cellulitis
  • Competing as an individual for the U.S. will be Katherine Coleman with Monbeg Senna
  • Great Britain’s Tom McEwen will pilot Nicola Wilson’s 2019 European Championships winner JL Dublin
  • Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke Meier has re-routed Hermione d’Arville after a very ill-timed parting of ways early on cross country at Pratoni
  • After retiring early at Burghley, Great Britain’s Zara Tindall brings forward Class Affair
  • One of our favorite riders from Pratoni, Italy’s Giovanni Ugolotti, will compete with the delightfully-named Swirly Temptress, who did happen to win her first 4*-L at Ballindenisk this spring

Officials this weekend include Ground Jury President Christina Klingspor (SWE) and members Edith Schless-Störtenbecker (GER) and Merel Schurink (NED). Adrian Ditcham (GBR) is the cross country designer, while Kris van Gelder (NED) will design the show jumping.

All phases of competition at Boekelo will be live streamed on FEI TV/ClipMyHorse.TV — if you signed up for a subscription during Pratoni, here’s another great use for it! — here. The broadcast schedule is as follows:

Thursday, October 6 – Dressage: 3:00 a.m. EST / 8:00 a.m. BST / 9:00 a.m. local
Friday, October 7 – Dressage: 3:00 a.m. EST / 8:00 a.m. BST / 9:00 a.m. local
Saturday, October 8 – Cross Country: 3:00 a.m. EST / 8:00 a.m. BST / 9:00 a.m. local
Sunday, October 9 – Show Jumping: 4:30 a.m. EST / 9:30 a.m. BST / 10:30 a.m. local

Tilly Berendt will be our eyes on the ground all week at Boekelo, and you can of course find everything you need to know on Boekelo right here on EN. Go Eventing!

Military Boekelo CCIO4*-L: [Website] [Entries] [Leaderboard] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

Sunday Links from SmartPak

By on Oct 2, 2022 12:01 am -

We’re looking ahead to several exciting happenings in the coming weeks: first up will be both the FEI Nations Cup leg at Boekelo in the Netherlands and Morven Park’s second annual 4*-L in Leesburg, VA. The following week, we’ll head up to Maryland for the return of the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. We’ve also got FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships at Mondial du Lion later this month, as well as the final 5* of the year, also in France at Pau. One more month of madness commences!

U.S. Weekend Action

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (Millis, MA): [Website]

Fleur de Leap H.T. (Folsom, LA): [Website] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Jump Start H.T. (Lexington, KY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Maryland H.T. at Loch Moy Farm (Adamstown, MD): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Spokane Sport Horse 8th Annual Fall H.T. (Spokane, WA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Sundance Farm H.T. (Plymouth, WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

Tomora H.T. (Greeley, CO): [Website] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Sunday Reading List

Resources to help those affected by Hurricane Ian:

Florida Equine Evacuations | Hurricane Ian Relief Resources

Register to attend the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, happening in Savannah, GA December 7-11.

USEF Fund Helps FEI Deliver $100,000 in Veterinary Supplies to Ukraine

Brandi Cyrus: Her Own Star Power

Cancer, Horses, and Hope: Joyce’s Story

Nominations Now Open for EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Awards

Sunday Video Break

Throw it back to the 2000 Hickstead Eventer’s Grand Prix — buckle in!

Saturday Helmet Cam: Stable View CCI3*-S with Elisa Wallace and Renkum Corsair

By on Oct 1, 2022 3:00 pm -

Earlier this week, we shared Jennarose Ortmeyer’s helmet cam from the Preliminary division at Stable View Oktoberfest. Now buckle in for a ride around the CCI3*-S track designed by Capt. Mark Phillips aboard Renkum Corsair, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by the Corsair Syndicate and piloted by Elisa Wallace.

Elisa and Renkum Corsair are aiming for the CCI3*-L at Maryland 5 Star later this month, and an eighth place finish here sets them up nicely for a strong Long-format debut.

Next up at Stable View is the October Eventing Academy series, October 14-16. You can learn more and sign up by clicking the banner below.

Strides for Equality Equestrians to Sponsor Two Riders at Barnstaple Three-Day Event

By on Oct 1, 2022 9:00 am -

Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE) is excited to offer two riders the opportunity to attend the Barnstaple USEA Educational Program and Three Day Event, happening November 16th – 20th in Morriston, Florida with all expenses (including travel and hotel) covered. The application period for this scholarship closes October 10, 2022.

At the Peterson Smith BarnStaple Educational Three Day, riders from Starter through Training will have the unique opportunity to experience each exciting aspect of a traditional three day event. Throughout the six-day event, participants will learn from international riders, USA medal winners, respected authors, FEI officials, and sought-after clinicians.

ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION

  • Applicants may be of any age, but minor applicants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • Applicants must be willing to share their experience as part of SEE blogs, vlogs, social & print media.
  • Applicants must be committed to increasing access to equestrian sports for underrepresented groups.

Interested in this awesome opportunity? Click here to apply by October 10 and here to learn more about the Barnstaple USEA Educational Program and Three Day Event. For further inquiries, please contact Heather Gillette at [email protected].

Strides for Equality Equestrians is also pleased to kick of SEE Month, a two-year anniversary celebration, awareness, and fundraising drive happening all throughout October. Your support helps the SEE mission — and programs like this! — grow. Click here to learn more about SEE Month!

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Oct 1, 2022 12:01 am -

Did you hear?? We’ve teamed up with World Equestrian Brands, Ride iQ and Horse & Rider Books for an epic Maryland 5 Star cross country walk and giveaway spree! On the line are daily prizes from Thursday-Sunday during Maryland as well as an exclusive 5* course walk with Ride iQ coach Kyle Carter and a rider from the World Equestrian Brands roster. Sign up here — even if you aren’t attending in person, you’ll still be eligible to win a prize!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (Millis, MA): [Website]

Fleur de Leap H.T. (Folsom, LA): [Website] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Jump Start H.T. (Lexington, KY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Maryland H.T. at Loch Moy Farm (Adamstown, MD): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Spokane Sport Horse 8th Annual Fall H.T. (Spokane, WA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Sundance Farm H.T. (Plymouth, WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

Tomora H.T. (Greeley, CO): [Website] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Saturday Links

Strides for Equality Equestrians kicks off SEE Month all October

Is Capels Hollow Drift the next top British team horse?

Do you know your horse’s limits?

The latest research on equine eyesight is raising eyebrows

Massage vs. Magnetic: Which should you use?

Saturday Study Tip

Use this quick tip from World Equestrian Brands rider Sharon White next time you walk your cross country course:

The Pratoni Review with Bobby Costello: What Went Right for Team USA, and How to Keep the Party Going

By on Sep 29, 2022 11:00 am -

Silver never looked so sweet. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Before this month, 2006 was the most recent year that the U.S. had secured a medal in World Equestrian Games/World Championship competition. This honor was earned by the late and great Amy Tryon with Poggio II at the Games in Aachen, Germany. To find the last team medal won by the Amercians, you must flip back to the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, when the stalwart team of David O’Connor (Giltedge), Kim Severson (Winsome Adante), Amy Tryon (Poggio II), and John Williams (Carrick) pulled off a nail-biter of a finish to secure team gold. A smattering of Olympic and Pan American medals can be found in the recent records, but the pinnacle of achievement — the team gold — is an elusive prize.

It’s nearly impossible to pinpoint any absence of podium finishes to one root cause — and the truth is, each U.S. equestrian team has gone through its shares of ups and downs in recent cycles. The American eventers and para dressage riders, for example, were the only U.S. representatives to come out of this year’s FEI World Championships with a medal.

Nonetheless, a World Championships podium “drought” makes the fact that the U.S. collected a hard-fought team silver at Pratoni even sweeter.

No one was exactly sure what to expect of this team six months ago. US Equestrian leadership was dismantled at the end of 2021 with the non-renewal of contracts for former Director of High Performance Eventing Erik Duvander and Managing Director of Eventing Jenni Autry. It was then reassembled with the naming of interim chef d’equipe Bobby Costello, who took the reins in a mostly unprecedented management – rather than “coaching” – role. It was a lot of change — and while change is a constant, it can bring about uncertainty. Fellow wearer of multiple hats, Max Corcoran, was also named to a leadership role, taking on the tasks of Eventing Elite Program and Team Facilitator and once again using her extensive experience and expertise to guide the logistics and care of the horses.

“I honestly didn’t know, going into it, exactly what it was going to take for me to do this job successfully,” Bobby told me before Pratoni. “I’ve been lucky that I’ve seen every single part of [the sport], so nothing has been a surprise. But no one has done this job strictly just as a Chef d’Equipe. You’re slightly one step removed, kind of looking in and being of support when it’s necessary — and kind of knowing when to step back because riders know their programs are working on all cylinders.”

It’s a formula that seems to have worked. When asked about any factors that stand out as instrumental in the success Team USA found in Italy, Bobby talks about the strength of each rider’s individual program. It was a bit of a ‘don’t fix what isn’t broken’ scenario, which set Bobby up well to step in as a gelling agent with what could be labeled as quiet confidence ahead of the World Championships challenge.

“I have worn so many hats within High Performance for so long that it never felt like I was trying to make it up, what I was trying to accomplish,” he elaborated. “I felt very confident and clear in my own mind what it was going to take to bring a group of riders together.”

“There are a few things I keep going back to,” Bobby continued. Certainly helped by his previous experiences as both competitor and coach at this level, he, like the team, values the concept of respect. Everyone has a say. “Mutual respect, trust in the program that’s been set up for [the riders] to be a part of, and also every person feeling like they have equal opportunity. There has tended to be the perception of favoritism or that one person is ‘the chosen one’ – and I was one hundred percent not going to fall into that trap, perceived or not. And I think the riders appreciated it.”

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Earning the silver medal at Pratoni not only earns the Americans bragging rights, it also secures the qualification for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. This is an achievement that releases ripple effects, one of which is the fact that the federation can now send a primarily developmental team to the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago. In recent cycles, a more experienced team has been sent to Pan Ams with a need to qualify for the Olympics, having missed out on a berth at the previous World Championships. Having the privilege of sending a mostly developing team will only serve to bolster what could be a burgeoning American eventing program if proper attention is paid to said development.

“It’s such an incredibly positive knock-on effect, getting this qualification off our back,” Bobby noted. “And we can send maybe one senior or Elite rider and then have the luxury of sending more of a developing team [to Pan Ams]. I think that is an incredible positive for our program.”

Bobby also holds hope that Team USA’s achievement in Pratoni will help elevate the sport more, and incite more youngsters to buy posters to hang on their bedroom walls. “I remember being a kid and watching the LA Olympics, and just being so inspired by [Team USA’s] win there,” he said. “And then the next generation had the same feeling with David [O’Connor] at Sydney, and we just haven’t had that in awhile. So I’m hoping this is going to inject a bit of enthusiasm among the people getting into eventing.”

But success cannot be wholly attributed to one factor, and it cannot be sustained off of one achievement alone. The other ingredient to success – and the one Bobby says the U.S. will need to continue to focus on in order to continue as such – is the strength and depth of an athlete’s program at home.

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg filled the anchor role for Team USA — a choice chef d’equipe Bobby Costello explains was a simple one due to the pair’s extensive resume. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“I think what absolutely worked for this group is that they were a very well-established, seasoned group of athletes with known, successful programs,” he said. “What those guys did over the weekend – you have to be operating in an environment where there is not one detail overlooked.”

This is a factor that needs to be further developed – from Bobby’s perspective, there are too few programs that have been developed to the point of consistent production as exemplified by those represented on the team. There are also too many riders falling through the cracks between the Developing Rider and Elite Squad levels.

“What I get worried about down the road is that program development and rider development,” Bobby said. Athlete and program development go hand in hand, and while robust programs exist for younger riders, there is often a gap where talent (and program) goes undeveloped.

“What Leslie Law has done with the Emerging Athletes is incredible. I wouldn’t change anything. But that 21 to 25, even 30 to 35 group – that’s the time when it’s very easy to get lost. So what I feel strongly about is that the next group of athletes coming along have got to really look at their programs and really have an honest conversation with themselves on if their program is good enough, thorough enough.”

Vermiculus finds his way through all the flags for Lauren Nicholson. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

“I was in that boat in my late twenties, early thirties,” he recalled. “I never felt like I was going to get there. Mark Phillips kind of plucked me out of obscurity a bit and put my name forward for training lists, and without that I don’t think I ever would have made it. So, yes, these guys have to put themselves in a position where they can’t be denied, they have to go out there and show they’re on the pathway – but you’re also trying not to lose those very talented people that maybe just don’t have everything quite buttoned.”

Development also comes from experience, and Bobby encourages riders who are eager to make their mark on the sport to put themselves out there for Nations Cup opportunities.

“I think we have to use these Nations Cup competitions more,” Bobby explained, noting that on many recent Nations Cup decisions, the selectors were not choosing from a large group of applicants. “I believe USEF puts every good effort toward fielding these teams, there is just a depth issue. I’m often surprised that more people don’t target these. Nothing gets you experience faster, and at the very least you’re getting your name out there. Right then and there, you’re putting your name in front of the selectors, and you give yourself a good chance if you just put your name forward and take a risk.”

Exemplary of the depth on the roster was individual rider Ariel Grald’s stellar performance. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

It was pure team effort that brought the team medal and an overall excellent weekend home for the U.S. Off the bat, Bobby gives credit to his colleagues at USEF as well as fellow technical advisor Ian Stark for his strategic planning ahead of cross country.

“When I took on this role, I said as part of my proposal that I would like to employ Ian as the cross country advisor,” he said. “Even though riders had their own coaches, Ian was the filter for all of the information about the course, and from that we had a plan for the day. Lucky that everyone went out and had the same plan – go the straight ways, go fast, try not to have any time – and the day went well so we didn’t have to go to any plan B.”

Will Coleman and Off The Record brought back valuable intel for the U.S. as pathfinders. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Show jumping would be the bone to pick, with the team collectively adding eight rails to their final tally (and – not that anyone’s doing the math, but to do the math and assuming Germany still finishes on a 95.2 – losing out on a potential gold medal), but both Bobby and the team remain adamant that no stone will be unturned in pursuit of improvement, both for this and squads yet to come.

“My job, if I were to keep doing this, is to sit down individually with all these riders and ask a million questions,” Bobby said. Previously non-committal on whether or not he’d consider applying to keep the chef d’equipe designation on a more permanent basis, he says now he’s planning to keep his name in the hat. A leadership trio of Graeme Thom, David O’Connor, and Bobby could certainly yield some hefty results. “I want to delve into how the riders see themselves being successful like the team was this weekend. Ask tough questions.”

“The riders, at some point, have to become supremely confident in what they have built,” Bobby continued. That confidence translates into a quiet mind in the saddle – that elusive not-so-secret weapon when it comes to competitive success.

The feelings are hopeful and positive as life returns to its normal frenetic pace at home. There’s a lot to feel good about this current generation of Team USA, but there’s also much to be done to keep the trajectory heading forward.

“This was about the riders and the work they did to be there. It was a very uncomplicated plan that we had for the weekend, and I think that’s something to learn from the past: believe in your program, keep it simple, go out and do your job well.”

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Sep 28, 2022 12:01 am -

It seems to be peak scholarship season, and the opportunities are ample if you’re looking for some help developing your riding or horse career. One opportunity worth exploring is the Optimum Youth Equestrian Scholarship, which is currently accepting applications for its Fall cycle through October 15. Young equestrians age 17-27 who are facing challenges in becoming involved or staying involved in horse sports are invited to apply for the OYES scholarship. The scholarship is valued at $1,000 and is proudly sponsored by the Pittsburgh Polo Club, Mare Goods, and ‘Straight from the Horse Doctor’s Mouth’ Podcast by Springhill Equine Veterinary Clinic.

[Learn more about Optimum Youth Equestrian Scholarship]

[Apply Here]

U.S. Weekend Preview

Apple Knoll Farm H.T. (Millis, MA): [Website]

Fleur de Leap H.T. (Folsom, LA): [Website] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Jump Start H.T. (Lexington, KY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Maryland H.T. at Loch Moy Farm (Adamstown, MD): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Spokane Sport Horse 8th Annual Fall H.T. (Spokane, WA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Sundance Farm H.T. (Plymouth, WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

Tomora H.T. (Greeley, CO): [Website] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Wednesday News & Reading

Virginia Horse Trials has run for the final time at Virginia Horse Center in Lexington after event organizer Andy Bowles and the venue ownership were unable to reach new terms. While Andy hopes to continue running the event at a different venue, the Virginia Horse Center has also made moves to host an event on the same dates. More developments are yet to come with this story. [VHT and Virginia Horse Center Part Ways]

Longstanding equestrian publication The Chronicle of the Horse has come under new ownership after the company was sold to Global Equestrian Group. The Danish-based GEG has been steadily expanding its equestrian holdings in the U.S. and now owns a portfolio that includes Wellington International, Helgstrand Dressage, Beerbaum Stables, ShowGroundsLive, and other entities. Development of the publication’s digital offerings will be top of mind, GEG representatives said. [Global Equestrian Group Acquires COTH]

What matters most when it comes to producing a young horse? Their happiness, health, and longevity, naturally — but what are the things you should prioritize in order to cultivate those factors? Burghley winner Piggy March knows a thing or two about producing young horses not only to competitive success but to peak mental health, as well. She’s Caroline Culbertson’s latest guest on the excellent Noelle Floyd podcast, Equestrian Voices. [Staying Focused on What Matters with Young Horses]

It’s about that time to begin thinking about moving your horses onto a more supplemented diet as pastures begin to thin ahead of colder weather. But switching from primary pasture to more hay does require some considerations so as not to tilt the scales of the often-sensitive equine digestive system. [Safely Switching from Pasture Grass to Hay with KPP]

#TackFacts from Sterling Essentials: I remember having to just grit my teeth and deal with “helmet smell” when I was growing up, given the sad lack of options there were at the time for proper helmet de-smelling. I was all about the dryer sheets and Febreeze — kids, you’re lucky these days to have so many options to keep your helmet funk-free! Sterling Essentials recently added a helmet spray to their line-up of fresh-smelling natural products and let me tell you: I am HERE for it.

Hot on Horse Nation: In a new series, “Barn Aisle Chats”, Horse Nation is getting to know equestrians from all types of backgrounds. In the latest edition, HN writer Amanda Uechi Ronan sits down with Numa about (re) learning to ride as an adult and removing systemic barriers at the barn. [Barn Aisle Chats: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Numa]

Sponsor Corner: Keep an eye out for a new ebook from Haygain all about optimizing your barn for the cold months.

Wednesday Video Break

Amelia Newcomb’s YouTube channel is full of gems, like this one on developing following elbows (a struggle I know all too well!).

Tuesday Video: Stable View Oktoberfest Preliminary Helmet Cam

By on Sep 27, 2022 4:00 pm -

There’s nothing quite like a good helmet cam to give you the lay of the land at events all over the country. We’re big fans of Jennarose Ortmeyer and her super mare, Primrose, who always share their cross country videos. Jennarose and Primrose finished eighth in the Preliminary Rider division at Stable View Oktoberfest last weekend, and we’re along for the ride!

To view full scores from Stable View Oktoberfest, click here. Next on the docket for Stable View will be the October date for the popular Eventing Academy series — click the banner below to learn more!

Through the Lens: Stable View Oktoberfest

By on Sep 25, 2022 12:00 pm -

Leslie Law and Lady Chatterley cruise to the 4*-S win. Photo by Christine Quinn.

Saturday brought cross country day and the conclusion of upper level competition at Stable View Oktoberfest, held each fall in Aiken, SC. It’s a festive event that heralds cooler weather and the peak of fall season, and the organizing crew at Stable View is among the best in the business, integrating the event with the local community and making a true destination out of the competition.

Tailgaiting and a car show? A real neighborhood event at Stable View! Photo by Christine Quinn.

Stable View is also appreciated by competitors for its robust prize money offerings, and Leslie Law is the recipient of a healthy chunk this weekend after taking the $30,000 CCI4*-S win aboard Jackie and Steve Brown’s Lady Chatterley (Connor 48 – Jucy, by Mytens). This is a start-to-finish victory for Leslie and the 11-year-old Holsteiner mare, who finished the weekend on a score of 31.4. In case you were wondering, here’s how you celebrate in the Law family!

Well. I really wanted a photo at prize giving but I was wrapping legs and packing up.

So instead we have this winning…

Posted by Lesley Leslie Grant-Law on Saturday, September 24, 2022

Leslie Law and Voltaire de Tre finish fifth in the 4*-S in prep for the Maryland 5 Star. Photo by Christine Quinn.

Doug Payne and 2022 USEF National 5* Champion Quantum Leap (Quite Capitol – Report to Sloopy, by Corporate Report) moved into runner-up spot in the 4*-S in the pair’s last prep ahead of next month’s Maryland 5 Star.

Looking to the remaining FEI divisions, your winners are:

CCI3*-S: Will Coleman and Hyperion Stud’s Chin Tonic HS (Chin Champ – Wildera, by Quinar Z) secured a very competitive finishing score of 18.5, adding a handful of time penalties to their jaw-dropping dressage score of 15.7.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Ocala Horse Properties’ Shanroe Cooley prep for their next outing in France. Photo by Christine Quinn.

Meanwhile, Le Lion-bound Shanroe Cooley, owned by Ocala Horse Properties, wrapped up another solid prep for France with Liz Halliday-Sharp, earning a 21.9 on the flat and only adding four seconds of time to finish second.

CCI2*-S: Jenny Caras and Elyse Eisenberg’s Trendy Fernhill (ARS Vivendi – Cruising Girl) made a successful first FEI start since last year, clinching a wire-to-wire victory on their dressage score of 24.1.

Doug Payne and the Oldenburg stallion Quiberon jump clear in prep for the 3*-L at Maryland next month. Photo by Christine Quinn.

Many thanks to the sponsors and supporters of Stable View for another successful weekend of eventing! Let’s take a look at some more sights and sounds from social media:

Stable View Oktoberfest (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Scoring]

Three Things to Love About OTTB United, the New Marketplace for Thoroughbred Lovers

By on Sep 24, 2022 9:00 am -

Photo courtesy of OTTB United.

I’ve purchased two off-track Thoroughbreds in my day, and each time the story went something a little like this:

Step 1: Idly scroll Facebook and see a horse for sale. It’s cute, the photos aren’t amazing but you can tell it’s cute. It’s a few hours away, so I’d have to find shipping, but the price is right…
Step 2: Convince my significant other that buying a horse IS, in fact, good for the economy (and my mental health). He is less than convinced, but the eye-roll without an accompanying emphatic “absolutely not” is enough for me to obtain tacit acceptance of what’s about to happen.
Step 3: Exchange questionable messages with the seller, again via Facebook, arrange equally questionable payment terms (this was before the days of Zelle and Venmo).
Step 4: Peruse the internet for viable shipper solutions, some of which seem legitimate and some of which seem like legitimate scams, especially at my paltry budget.
Step 5: Wait at the barn until 3:30 a.m. for said horse to arrive via said shipper, who inexplicably took 10 hours to drive what would ordinarily be just 3.5.

If this scenario sounds familiar to you, then I think you’ll be pleased to know that there’s now, in these modern times we live in, a better solution for buying and selling ex-racehorses. It’s called OTTB United, and it’s a new app designed to not only provide a marketplace for OTTB aficionados to network their horses and find new partners but also to create community around a shared passion.

OTTB United is an app-based platform released late in 2020. The concept was simple: create a space for OTTB lovers and placement professionals to network, while also promoting the overarching goal of quality racehorse aftercare.

Over this column and two more follow-ups to come, I’ll be diving in to various features of OTTB United as they pertain to buyers, sellers, and the Thoroughbred placement market in general. Aftercare is top of mind for these racehorses as they come off the track, and having reputable networking opportunities is invaluable in ensuring the proper placement of each horse.

Right off the bat, I’ve identified three features that stuck out to me as a first-time user of OTTB United:

1. The user interface is simple and clean.

One thing I can’t stand about some apps is the lack of intuition when it comes to the user experience. I don’t want to have to go searching for what I need, and I really don’t want to have to deal with an app that frequently quits, bogs down, or throws up so many ads that I can’t get what I’m looking for. OTTB United makes it easy for even a casual browser to see what horses are available AND who’s selling them (and what the seller’s profile looks like — which is something I’ll come back to later).

2. You can complete the whole shopping process within the app (minus payment).

There is a native messaging feature within each listing that allows an interested party to contact a seller directly. This removes the need to hunt down an email address or phone number and wait for a response on yet another platform. It’s a simple feature, but I imagine cutting out the middleman in terms of communication helps a lot with closing sales and building seller reputations!

3. You can also network with shippers directly in the app.

No more sketchy shipping! Granted, in the seven or so years it’s been since I made the purchase referenced above, there has been a vast improvement in the vetting process for shipping companies (and there are a massive amount of professional, quality shippers for us to use now!), but it can still be nothing short of a migraine to find and book a shipper. OTTB United’s developers thought of this, too, and integrated a way to find shippers right there in the app.

These days, it’s all about convenience and saving time, and OTTB United has created a one-stop shop for buyers and sellers — and Thoroughbred lovers, in general — with a greater mission to tie it all together.

The OTTB United app is available with three tiers of membership: Free, Premium Buyer, and Premium Seller. Click here to learn more about each tier and to download the app and see for yourself!

Capt. Mark Phillips Previews the Stable View Oktoberfest 4*-S Cross Country

By on Sep 23, 2022 2:00 pm -

We are moving right along into the full-fledged fall season in the U.S., and next on the docket is the popular Stable View Oktoberfest CCI4*-S, happening now in Aiken, SC. This event is an annual destination for horses and riders prepping for fall move-ups or three-days such as the Maryland 5 Star and USEF 3*-L National Championship.

Leslie Law and Lady Chatterley lead the headlining 4*-S division after two phases. Photo by Christine Quinn.

The 4*-S this weekend has completed dressage and cross country and will take on Capt. Mark Phillips’ cross country track tomorrow. Great Britain’s Leslie Law and Jackie and Steve Brown’s Lady Chatterley are the pair in charge of the division after two phases, adding no show jumping penalties to their leading dressage score of 26.6.

Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire are second in the 4*-S. Photo by Christine Quinn.

Liz Halliday-Sharp adds one rail to her dressage score for third overall in the 4*-S. Photo by Christine Quinn.

They’ve not got much room to spare, however, as Sydney Elliott and Carol Stephens’ QC Diamantaire are currently in second on a 28.0, followed by Liz Halliday-Sharp and The Nutcracker Syndicate’s Cooley Nutcracker in third on 31.9. Reigning USEF National 5* Champions Doug Payne and Quantum Leap are in fourth on a 32.0.

Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS take a 15.7 into today’s cross country. Photo by Christine Quinn.

A quick note on the 3*-S: Team USA rider Will Coleman slid back into stateside competition with a cool 15.7 on the flat with Hyperion Stud’s Chin Tonic HS. And yes, we’ve asked for video!

We can expect more than a few of these pairs to be more using tomorrow as a prep for a fall destination, so time penalties on cross country are to be expected. Nonetheless, it’s quite a challenge Capt. Phillips has set out for tomorrow. We were able to obtain a narrative of the course — which can be viewed with fence-by-fence photos on CrossCountryApp here (also, all levels can be found here) — from the designer himself, and we’ll let him take it from here:

The Log Box (1), Cabin (2) and Hammock (3) are a short warm up to settle riders’ nerves and put a smile on horses faces.

The first test comes early and involves a splash. Photo via CrossCountryApp.

The GL Williams & Daughter Water (4) gives horses an early opportunity to get their feet wet, but riders will need a good shot at the Step Up before sailing out over the Boat.

The Blanchard combination at 6AB will require commitment and bravery. Photo via CrossCountryApp.

The Metal Oxers (5) are large but relatively straight forward. The Blanchard Combination (6) in front of the Pavilion is a different matter, as riders will need real commitment for the three strides to the Corner.

The Derby Field Water (7) is a little speed bump and all will enjoy flying over the Cross Question (8).

Photo via CrossCountryApp.

Horses then climb up to the massive Double Brush (9) en route to the Dog Kennel Water (10). The drop into the water is not too frightening but riders will need to take care at the MIM Rail Corner four strides later.

The Step Down (11) looks familiar but the angled rail one stride later is anything but easy. It’s then back through the valley over the Tiger Trap (12) before climbing up to the Derby Field Alp (13). The Brush on top looks massive and needs pace, but riders will need to take their time to the Brush Corner at the bottom.

The Sunken Road at 16 will require “A” game focus from horse and rider, with a very narrow triple brush arrowhead coming at the end. Photo via CrossCountryApp.

It’s then holiday time over the Hayrack (14) and Barry’s Desk (15) before coming to the daunting Sunken Road (16, 17) where riders will need to be on their “A-Game” for the Triple Bar.

Final combination! But it’s not one to take lightly: riders will need to be on their line to make the skinny table at B work. Photo via CrossCountryApp.

The Step Table (18) holds no fears in the Cut Through. The Chevron Table and Corner at the Academy Alp (19) looks impressive but should ride well. Riders can now start to think of home over the Aquaduct (20) and the MIM Tables in The Meadow (21).

Finally, the last climb up to the MIM Log Pile (22) and the run toward finish over the Diamond Brush (23) before splashing through the FITS Water to the Stable View Village (24) and the welcome sight of home.

Stable View Oktoberfest (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [XC Maps] [Scoring]

The Road to Le Lion: Courtney Cooper’s Aiming for the Top with Excel Star Time to Shine

By on Sep 22, 2022 1:00 pm -

Courtney Cooper and Excel Star Time to Shine. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

It was Saturday night, post-cross country at Kentucky, and the barns were bustling. But instead of the hand-walking, icing, and poulticing one does when they’re looking ahead to Sunday’s show jumping, Courtney Cooper was sitting with her friends feeling, primarily, disappointed.

In 2016, Courtney and her homebred, Who’s A Star, successfully completed their first five-star at Kentucky, but in 2017, as she describes it, “the wheels just sort of fell off.” Courtney had retired after encountering trouble on cross country in what would end up being the pair’s final attempt at the level.

Without another horse coming behind “Tag”, Courtney thought about what would come next. “I just sat there thinking, how do I get back here?” she recalled.

In the intervening years, Courtney went back to the drawing board. She was already well-established as a source of horses through C Square Farm, but now she began widening the net. Finding a true upper-level event horse is more akin to finding a needle in a haystack than anything else, so she busied herself searching for suitable horses to sell as the core of her business while she also kept one eye out for a promising horse for herself.

Courtney entered into a fruitful relationship with Cathal McMunn and Jonathan Reape in Ireland to create Excel Star Sport Horses. The moniker, a combination of “Excel” for Cathal and Jonathan and “Star” for her own breeding and sourcing program, can be seen on a growing list of horses registered with the USEF and USEA. It’s no wonder: Excel Star has brought in and made matches for nearly 150 horses in the past five years.

One horse has Courtney counting her blessings more than usual, and it’s one she’s now tapped to take her first trip overseas to compete at the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships for 7-Year-Olds in October. Held annually at Le Lion d’Angers in western France, the championship for 6- and 7-year-old event horses draws top talent from all over the world. This year, Courtney is a part of a strong American contingent targeting the event with Excel Star Time to Shine (Luidam – Lismore Bella, by Cavalier Royale). For his part, the gelding has the breeding for jumping: his dam, Lismore Bella, jumped through 1.30m herself, while the sire line boasts a history of 1.60m jumpers.

 

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“I saw this guy in December of 2018, which would have been his three-year-old year,” Courtney said. “He’d just been backed. I watched him free jump and just loved him. He was a part of a group of six that I’d brought over that year. I hadn’t decided I would keep him, but it worked out, and he was the one I liked the most.”

The model for Excel Star Sport Horses has been simple: find quality young horses – “mostly three-year-olds that have just been started and four-year-olds who have been taught the basics and have jumped at home and at shows, and sometimes the odd five- or six-year-old” – with excellent temperaments, work ethics, and athleticism. “Good, solid citizens,” as Courtney describes them. It’s a model that’s proven successful – the sales market can never have enough safe, quality horses, and Excel Star Time to Shine stood out as one that had the makings to go further.

“David” (so named after his import-mate was nicknamed “Harry” – if you know, you know) finished his first year eventing stateside by winning the 2019 USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships for 4-year-olds; he came back the following year to place sixth in the Championships for 5-year-olds in 2020. Moving through the levels seemed to come naturally for the youngster, and he and Courtney made steady, intentional progress and stepped up to the Intermediate/3* level this winter, winning at their first Intermediate horse trials at Pine Top.

 

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Courtney credits the support from Excel Star Time to Shine’s ownership group, the Dare to Dream Team, who came together after the retirement of Who’s A Star to support her efforts to find another top horse. The group owns several horses for Courtney, under the idea that there can always be ups and downs with an individual horse, but when the support is spread among rides, there is always something to be looking forward to. As a result, Courtney finds herself in position to make another crack at the top.

“It’s funny, as I’ve been going back up the levels, people have asked ‘are you going to try to ride at the upper levels again?’ And I have to laugh because it’s like, ‘yeah, I never wanted to leave, but it just takes a while to get one there!’,” she explained.

And, as any rider who’s been around long enough knows, it’s the truth. In between 2017 and now, Courtney’s lost horses to injury or illness, soundness issues or rider injuries – you name it, she’s probably got a story to match it. “But that’s just a little bit the journey,” she said.

For now, she’s going to make the most of the partnership she feels grateful to have cultivated with Excel Star Time to Shine, and the support she’s had to come to this point.

“It’s just really nice to have the support I have,” she said. “My husband has been through it all with me – the good, the bad, the ugly, the horses getting hurt, me being hurt. All of the stuff that happens that is just a part of this. You can have the most fantastic group of horses and take care of them the best you can and then bad things still happen.”

Courtney Cooper and Excel Star Time to Shine. Photo by Liz Crawley Photography.

Next on the docket is the flight out of JFK airport on October 11.

“It’s quite different traveling to go and compete overseas,” Courtney admits. “Unlike from going over to buy horses!” She will be the one traveling with both her horse as well as a horse of Lucia Strini’s heading to France, and she’s ready to tick off something that’s been on her competition bucket list with a horse she feels has all the makings of a “Star”.

If you want to help support Courtney and David’s trip overseas, there are many ways to do so! Courtney and her team have gotten creative and are hosting two online auctions, one of which ends TODAY and features riding lessons with top pros such as Jennie Brannigan, Jon Holling, Andrew McConnon, Susie Beale, and many more, entries to events such as Waredaca, schooling passes to Windurra – and tons more. That auction can be found here. A second auction featuring goods and other services will kick off a week from today on September 29. You can follow Courtney on Facebook for more updates on the next auction.

It’s Safety Awareness Week at SmartPak! How to Save 25% off Helmets and Vests

By on Sep 21, 2022 3:00 pm -

 

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Safety remains paramount in our sport and all sports involving horses, and our friend at SmartPak are helping you save big all week with their Safety Awareness Week sale on select helmets and protective vests.

 

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Helmet safety and the newly-created ratings and research from the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab have given riders more options than ever when it comes to minding their melon — and looking stylish while they’re at it. And yes, even riding on the flat should be an instance where you don a helmet — take it from Silva Martin, who says her helmet saved her life when she sustained a head injury after falling on the flat several years ago.

But despite all this, the fact remains that quality equipment can be difficult to find at an affordable price. Take advantage of SmartPak’s savings on your favorite helmets from brands like Champion, Uvex, Charles Owen, One K, Trauma Void, and more here. And if you’re in the market for a new vest, you can also save 25% on those here.

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Sep 21, 2022 12:01 am -

Just a few weeks until Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE) begins SEE Month! All October, SEE will be celebrating its two-year anniversary with a fundraising and awareness drive that includes a fundraising auction the second half of the month, a cool gift with donations, and more. The organization dedicated to raising visibility for riders from diverse backgrounds through the amplification of stories and the support of aspiring horse professionals will use the funds raised to grow programs such as the Ever So Sweet Scholarship and more opportunities soon to come. Full disclosure, I am on the steering committee of SEE, and I’m likely to harass you for a donation in the coming days! If you’d like to contribute a donation to the auction, click here.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Stable View Oktoberfest (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Twin Rivers Fall International (Paso Robles, CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

ESDCTA New Jersey H.T. (Allentown, NJ): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

Larkin Hill Fall H.T. (North Chatham, NY): [Website] [Scoring]

Meadowcreek Park Fall Social Event (Weatherford, TX): [Website] [Scoring]

Old Tavern H.T. (The Plains, VA): [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]

University of New Hampshire H.T. (Durham, NH): [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer]

Major International Events

Ballindenisk International CCI4*-L: [Website] [Entries/Times]

Wednesday News & Reading

Puerto Rico has once again been devastated by natural disaster as Hurricane Fiona cut off power and clean water to most of those on the island. There are many ways to help, and every little bit helps. [How You Can Help Puerto Rico]

We’ve all heard of biosecurity protocol when it comes to protecting our horses from spreading and contracting infectious diseases. But what’s actually involved in these measures? With the FEI requiring a greater amount of responsibility from competitors in terms of tracking temperatures and travel health, it’s good to know what’s gone into preventing disease spread in other areas such as veterinary clinics. [Stop the Spread of Equine Infectious Diseases]

Team Canada didn’t quite nab the Olympic qualification they were aiming for at FEI World Championships last week, but there is still a lot to look back on positively, says chef d’equipe Rebecca Howard. [The Canadian Debrief]

Captain Mark Phillips takes a moment to share his thoughts on the major competitions happening overseas, and his latest Horse & Hound column dives into the nitty-gritty at Pratoni. [Mixed Emotions and Tight Margins]

#TackFacts from Sterling Essentials: Got moldy tack? No judgement here. See below (or this Instagram post, if the embedded post below doesn’t show up in your browser) for some helpful tips:

Sponsor Corner

I thought this post from Robyn Fisher at Pratoni was a prime example of just how big a role Haygain plays in many horses’ feeding programs:

Wednesday Video Break

A pit stop for Vassily de Lassos en route back to the UK:

Pratoni Performance Look Back from KPP: Yasmin Ingham Seals the Deal

By on Sep 20, 2022 4:30 pm -

I’m still floating on a Pratoni high, so naturally I’ve spent the last few days perusing YouTube for more highlights to share. We’ll surely have more to come — personally, I’m holding out for a Sam Watson helmet cam video and hoping he wore one! — but for now let’s revisit the epic weekend had by British rising (can you even call it “rising” anymore?!) superstar Yasmin Ingham, the new individual eventing champion crowned at Pratoni this weekend. I mean — just take a look at the girl’s Instagram bio:

Missing just one teeny, tiny title…

A star, indeed — and the first rider not on a team to win individual gold in the history of FEI World Championships:

A few more nuggets from Yasmin:

Tuesday News & Notes from Ocala Horse Properties

By on Sep 20, 2022 5:00 am -

What do you do after you win double bronze at World Champs? House dad duties, of course. Photo via Jonelle Price.

Ah, the life of top-class eventers: glamorous, eh? In case you thought the World Championship podium-toppers were too busy popping champagne and jetting off to vacations after their hard work over the weekend — here’s proof that life as usual goes on, medals or no medals. Luckily, the Price clan has plenty to occupy them when they aren’t out dominating the world…

Events Opening Today

VHT International (VA), Galway Downs International (CA), Rocking Horse Fall H.T. (FL), Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. (TX)

Events Closing Today

Heritage Park H.T. (KS), Hitching Post Farm H.T. (VT), Middle Tennessee Pony Club H.T. (TN), Radnor Hunt H.T. (PA), Ocala Fall H.T. (FL), WindRidge Farm Fall H.T. (NC)

Tuesday News & Notes

Yesterday, Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest in a public funeral after an extended period of mourning in Great Britain. Queen Elizabeth was well-known for her love of horses, and her beloved animals were also included in the funeral proceedings. [Queen Elizabeth II: A Century with Horses]

Australian rider Kevin McNab’s left rein broke right at the point it joins to the bit while on cross country at Worlds this weekend. What is one to do? Grab the cheekpiece, tie a knot, and carry on naturally. [Read the breakdown]

Professionals in the horse industry have had a lot of experience in what not to do. STRIDER has gathered up 15 top tips from their ongoing professional development webinar series, and it’s full of insightful nuggets. [15 Tips from Top Pros Across Disciplines]

The FEI’s maternity leave policy has come under scrutiny after a public conflict with German Olympic dressage rider Jessica von Bredow-Werndl. The FEI had previously determined that a points freeze would be allowed for women on maternity leave, but does not leave any provisions for them to return to competition before the initial six-month leave period ends. It’s a bit of a “one step forward, two steps back” situation, and Jessica has taken to public platform to express her disappointment. [FEI and Olympian at Odds Over Maternity Leave Rule]

Sponsor Corner — Ocala Horse Properties find of the week

Let’s see…

  • Close to the incredible World Equestrian Center in Ocala
  • Aqua treadmill
  • A relaxing pond and boat deck
  • A 7/8 mile training track

Who’s ready to move their operation down to Florida? This massive facility could be just the ticket!

Tuesday Video Break

A Jockey Club tribute to Queen Elizabeth II:

Pratoni in the Rearview: (Some Of) Our Favorite Photos from FEI World Championships

By on Sep 19, 2022 1:00 pm -

FEI World Championships has come to an end (already!) and we’re going to be looking back at this incredible weekend for a long time to come. Of course, there is only so much room for so many photos in each article we publish, so we thought we’d wrap up the action with just a few of our favorite shots and moments from Italy. Enjoy this look at Pratoni through the lenses of Shelby Allen and Tilly Berendt!

[Want to catch up on all of EN’s Pratoni coverage? Click here]

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum take a moment before collecting a gutsy double clear cross country. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Mike Winter and El Mundo represent Team Canada and a variety of social causes in Pratoni. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Spotted: A Lithuanian flag cheering on individual rider Aistis Vitkauskas. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Celebrating a great day for Team USA on cross country! Photo by Shelby Allen.

Ros Canter and the impeccably youngster Lordships Grafflo show why they’re meant to be a World Championship pair. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Full-time dentist, Dr. Harald Ambros, represented Austria at this year’s World Championships. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Holly Jacks and Candy King trot up for the Ground Jury on Sunday morning. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg had a rough day in the show jumping track, but it didn’t dim Boyd’s pride for his friend — a true “trier” as he’s apt to say. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Susie Berry and Monbeg By Design make their World Championship debut for Ireland. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Tim Price pats Falco after a double bronze medal performance. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

FEI World Championships for Eventing: [Website] [FEI TV] [Final Individual Standings] [Final Team Standings] [ EN’s Ultimate Guide ] [EN’s Coverage]

One Last Party in Pratoni: Sunday Social Media

By on Sep 18, 2022 6:47 pm -

The moment that Yasmin Ingham Eventing realised that she was the new FEI Eventing World Champion, taking the title with…

Posted by British Equestrian on Sunday, September 18, 2022

Another whirlwind eventing weekend is in the books, and it’s basically nothing but a party over on the ol’ social media. And for good reason! On all accounts, it was a successful weekend for the sport and now we look ahead to yet another Olympic Games looming in two years (with a handful of regional and continental championships in between, of course). But first: let’s take some time to appreciate the moment. We hope you’ve enjoyed following along with us as much as we have enjoyed covering this magical weekend for you!

Go Eventing.

FEI World Championships for Eventing: [Website] [FEI TV] [Final Individual Standings] [Final Team Standings] [ EN’s Ultimate Guide ] [EN’s Coverage]

Slightly sideways photo but here we are celebrating Team USA silver!!!!
Since we have a Kiwi among us we are also…

Posted by Sara Kozumplik on Sunday, September 18, 2022

THIS… is even better – Sally Robertson, Alyssa Dobrotin, Hailey Burlock, Stephanie Simpson and Meredith Ferraris – the…

Posted by Max Corcoran on Sunday, September 18, 2022

The Finale Awaits: Pratoni Top 25 Show Jumping Live Chat

By on Sep 18, 2022 8:22 am -

Good morning, EN! It’s hard to believe, but it’s already Sunday at the 2022 FEI World Championships and I, for one, am ready for what is sure to be a nail-biter of a finale in the final show jumping session.

We’ve got just the top 25 individuals coming forward for a shot at team and individual medals in this session, which will kick off at 2:30 p.m. local time / 8:30 a.m. EST. In lieu of live updates here, I’m going to be doing my updates in the live chat embedded below. I would love if you’d join me in chatting it up — let’s nerd out together!

We’re still testing this chat platform out, so the number of users allowed will be limited. If you get a “Chat Full” message, just try again later!

The U.S. sits in silver medal position heading into today, and they do not have a rail in hand as Great Britain breathes down their neck just 3.5 penalty points behind. Germany also does not have a rail in hand, currently on a team score of 76.1 — so it’s purely anyone’s game at this juncture. Time will tell, but let’s see what you think will happen:

FEI World Championships for Eventing: [Website] [Definite Entries] [FEI TV] [ EN’s Ultimate Guide ] [EN’s Form Guide] [Live Scoring] [XC Order of Go] [Daily Digest Email] [EN’s Coverage]

In the Riders’ Words: Top Takeaways from Pratoni Cross Country Day

By on Sep 17, 2022 6:57 pm -

Photo by Shelby Allen.

Cross country day dawned on the 88 combinations set to take on the mostly-unknown track designed by Giuseppe della Chiesa at FEI World Championships for Eventing. Held at the park-like Pratoni del Vivaro with a relatively incomparable landscape and soil makeup, this year’s Championships presented a unique challenge on cross country.

Giuseppe was in many ways the ideal designer for this track — because he’s spent his life learning from it. “I have a long history with Pratoni, because I began by riding here,” recalls Giuseppe in an interview with Tilly Berendt. “I’ve always lived in Rome, and I started in racing before I moved to eventing. As an eventer living in Rome, Pratoni is your home. You’re training here, you’re competing here — and this famous slide is so interesting, because we always did it with young horses. Our five-year-olds were going down it, walking to start with, and then trotting down, and then you’d add in a little log, and then you jump down and the horses know how to do it.”

The famous “Pratoni Slide” proved to be influential — but perhaps not as influential as its 2007 counterpart due to modern event horses’ exposure to skinnies. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

What emerged from his design work (this was Giuseppe’s first World Championships design, but he built at Badminton for three years and also designed Pratoni’s European Championships track in 2007 at this venue) was a challenge that received mixed reactions upon the riders’ walks around. It was true: the track wound and twisted on itself, and many riders worried they’d not have the stretches of galloping their horses needed to achieve a rhythm. World Championships track are set at four-star dimensions but are typically more of the five-star technicality; other riders mused at the concept of a true five-star horse perhaps losing respect for the “smaller” size of these questions.

Of course, you don’t know what you don’t know, and there was only one way to find out exactly what awaited out there today. Tilly and Shelby spent the day debriefing with riders as they came in from cross country, and we’ll share some of their thoughts below. But first, let’s hear from Giuseppe himself:

“The idea was to try to more or less, find the root for everybody and in general, I must say that I’m happy. Clearly the best one had to work hard to get the time, but that was achievable. And I think that everybody more or less had time.

“I think that the conditions of the day were very good. So the horses jumped well, and that is good. Maybe, as I must say that riders are getting better and better. I thought that maybe the two corners up there would be a bit more difficult, a bit more demanding, but also there was a fair amount who did a fantastic job at it. So I would say it’s interesting. I designed here in 2007, the European Championships. And on the Slide there was something that was quite similar, or slightly different but was similar to this. But after 15 years of skinnies, horses seem, more or less, to jump them much easier.

“Clearly there are different elements that come in the design of course. And there are some technical elements, some elements that regard how comfort you want to make the course, how you how spectator-friendly…and also some technicality. Clearly if you run a course on this, you know, flat land you must also use a bit of what are the characteristics of the nature of the place. So I think that yes, there is more land to use, for sure. You can design many different courses here. For this championship, this was the course that I thought I wanted to design.”

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Michael Jung (GER)

“I have to say sadly the ground wasn’t perfect, what we said also before this is not great for championship but yeah, in the end the course is tricky. The beginning is nice. You have a nice open gallop but then the middle part is very, very tricky. Turn left, right, forward, collect, up the hill, down, angle — and this is very difficult for the horses to, with this speed and gallop, still be so quick in the reaction and concentrate and keep the brain on. And you get a little bit the feeling when you get out of that and you have a longer gallop and then the horse thinks, ‘Okay, now we’re finished’, but then you still have to do two, three minutes. So you definitely have to try to keep the motivation and the power in the horse that they don’t think too early that they are finished and that’s a bit the tricky thing here.”

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Yasmin Ingham (GBR)

“It was hard work actually, it was very intense. I think it was the terrain more than anything. You’re just constantly on the camber, up and down. But as I’ve said from the beginning, I’m just so glad that I’m sat on Banzai — he just really took it all in stride and just felt like he was really at home up in the hills.”

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Tamie Smith (USA)

“We had spotters at the beginning of the course. We had a really good meeting last night with Ian [Stark]. We’d walked the course and we had our ideas and if it rides this way, great, if it doesn’t ride that way and the rider didn’t mess up, let me know. But it rode the way we had planned and the Slide rode better than — obviously I’d never done anything like that, and I only got to watch the video from like 1853 where they were trying to kill themselves. And I was like, well, they’re not gonna have that, they won’t put that one on the course. So then when I got here, I was a little bit pooping my pants — it I had my heart racing a little bit this morning again! But it rode great and what a great thing for the Americans to have Ian. He’s a legend. So we have confidence and he showed us how to ride fast.”

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Oliver Townend (GBR)

“A different test to normal, but I think a very fair and cleverly designed test. I don’t think it particularly suits some of the older horses such as London, Ballaghmor Class, Toledo de Kerser that have been around those big five-stars like Badminton and Burghley because this is definitely smaller, dimensionally, and you’re up and down the hills and the terrain is tough. So you know, they want big open courses that they can attack. So the distances didn’t suit my horse, and he’s so genuine, even when he didn’t want to listen, he eventually did and the one thing he does love is jumping between the flags, which makes my job a lot lot more relaxing. If he sees the fence, then you know he’s gonna try and jump in for you.”

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Julia Krajewski (GER)

“Yes, it’s a twisty course. But it’s a championship. Tokyo was, for me, more intense and more stressful to ride. Here, they were difficult questions, but you always had some time in between to reorganize yourself, pet your horse. I gave her quite some pets and in Tokyo there wasn’t much time to do that! And I find the course built in a way that we as the more experienced riders have to work, but if you’re not quite up at the level you have the chance to get home because you can just slow down a bit in the end and the horses have the chance to jump and make it home in a good way. So I have to say, well, I know that some riders complain, but for my horse it was great.”

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Boyd Martin (USA)

“This track doesn’t suit him. He’s so suited to the five-stars. You know, the Kentucky’s that are just long gallops and I can get him settled in. Here, it was sort of like Tokyo where it’s a bit sort of turning and stopping and starting and the sunlight was a bit weird by the end of the day. But I have to give the horse credit. He just tries and tries and tries, and you know, it’s his best attribute with a horse that’s done as much as he has. Just a legend.”

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Tim Price (NZL)

“It’s just the ground is the ground and so I think I just had to focus on the ground a bit more than the jumps. Probably the terrain, the lumps and bumps, and being on a camber and just knowing — and I think I’m quite lucky to have done Burghley a couple weeks ago, because it’s all about riding the ground rather than the jumps — and so even though this is quite different ground, a similar thing where there’s just moments where you just want to take your leg off them. And there’s moments when you’ve got to give them a squeeze and it sort of relates to where you are on the ground and things.”

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Ros Canter (GBR)

“I knew he’d be able to keep his speed or accelerate up the hill. And I think that’s key because once you’ve done the hills, it gets very twisty. And if they feel a bit tired, that’s when they’re going to be hard to steer. So I was fortunate in that sense that he kept galloping,
No, it actually rode as I walked it, but again I think it helps having a horse like Lordships Graffalo to be sat on. You know the big horses that aren’t as easy to ride as him that it will probably become harder work.

Gaspard Maskud and Zaragoza are the bright spots in an otherwise turbulent day for the French. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Gaspard Maksud (FRA)

“It was hard work…And I felt all the way she was good, little bit of a bad jump coming out the first water, but the way she jump out it’s better to just turn on and just let her working out the strides. Sometimes you got to make a quick decision and, well, this time it worked so we won’t complain.”

Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Tom McEwen (GBR)

“I just think the camber’s real unnecessary for horses. Personally, I know they need it for media, for TV, and keep us in a small space but we’re in the most beautiful park and to me, that seems — that’s definitely where I lost most of the time. And to be honest, if I had two, five more minutes I would’ve been back on time again. He just needed those last minutes on the flat. And to be honest, all the striding was short, honest, and it doesn’t suit a — everyone thought he wasn’t a Burghley horse when he’s younger — he sure is that big striding, galloping horse. So yeah, just had to tinker around for a little awhile.”

On the ground:

“I was pretty wrong, it was fantastic. They’ve done a great job; coming out the water was spot on from the work they did. Everywhere was, to be honest, not far different from how it walked. So good on them. They knew what their ground was and they did a great job.”

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Shenae Lowings (AUS)

“Well, it’s funny because when I was out there riding it I didn’t go, ‘well, I’ve never done these questions or ridden anything like this’. Yeah, the Slide was very different, but you couldn’t really plan how that was gonna ride. You just had to react to it as it came. But overall, the questions I had been asked before, but it was definitely probably the toughest track that I’ve jumped.”

Photo by Shelby Allen.

Sam Watson (IRE)

“I really enjoyed that, even though it was hard work. If it’s not hard work, we all go clear in the time and today doesn’t matter so much. Today we’re out of our comfort zone. I think people will be out of the comfort zone today. There’s nothing wrong with that — it’s high performance sport. And I think Giuseppe is — you have to be a genius now to push us out of the comfort zone and make it horse friendly to jump around. The speed we go, the time penalties is we get is our decision. It’s our responsibility. We must know how much energy the horses have, we must know how fit they are. We must manage that from the start to the finish. And if we don’t, it’s on us. It’s our responsibility. So the course designer for me has done his job. It’s a very safe track to jump. It’s a hard track to ride. Congratulations, Giuseppe, I think.”

Photo by Shelby Allen.

Christoph Wahler (GER)

“I think Michi said some very true things about the course designing yesterday already and that’s pretty much my opinion, too. They didn’t want to hear that before, so I guess they don’t want to hear it afterwards, but I didn’t think it rides well. My horse tired out quite quickly because of all the turns. He jumped jumped amazingly well over everything that I put him in front of. And I think then he just got a little bit tired and had to play it safe at one or two routes where he just didn’t feel bouncy enough and powerful enough in the canter to rode the direct lines. But in the end, it is what it is. It’s a clear now for the team. I would have liked to go faster, but today I couldn’t.

“It takes a lot out of the horses because then you turn them away, you turn them back, you have them jump maybe a close distance. And that stuff, that just tired him. He’s a big horse with a big stride and big jump. You put him in on a course like that, at Luhmuhlen, he just flies. You put him on this course, he just has to dig really, really deep.”

Photo by Shelby Allen.

Senne Vervaecke (BEL)

“It was a bit of a roller coaster, and of course the terrain is quite hard and I think you normally have a very fit horse. I never really have a trouble with them being very tired at the end of the course but now at minute five, I felt okay, this course goes a lot of uphill, definitely in the beginning, It’s a lot of questions. I had to take it a notch down to bring her very safe home. She’s so honest and on all the questions, even if I didn’t come 100%, she’s like, ‘don’t worry. I’ve got you. I know what the flags are. I will just go through it.'”

Hawley Awad and Jollybo. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Hawley Bennett-Awad (CAN)

“Actually I was proud to go out first. For them to have that much belief in me to go around is kind of special. You know, to be on Jolly — she’s absolutely amazing. I lost my rein coming down the Slide. I literally came down the Slide with one rein. Any other horses would have run out and looked for an out; she went straight. And, you know, that’s why we give her carrots, right? You know, it’s just that bond and relationship I have with her.”

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Laura Collett (GBR)

“He was very keen the whole way, I just think having jumped around Badminton it felt a bit small and it was quite difficult. Even just the straightforward fences I was having to really make him listen because he just wanted to go flat out. He’s very well and he’s come home safe and sound and that, for me is the most important thing.

Holly Jacks and Candy King. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Holly Jacks (CAN) – Candy King

“Honestly it’s probably one of the best rides I’ve had on him. I think it was set up for success where I had the uphill to kind of blow some steam off and I was able to let go and it’s been awesome. I have to say, Matt Ryan’s been our new technical advisor and he was on the phone to my coach, Buck, a lot and it was just like having Buck here. So I think I’m really appreciative of having a new technical advisor come in who has spent the time learning how I need to learn. I felt like it went slow motion and things went to plan.”

FEI World Championships for Eventing: [Website] [Definite Entries] [FEI TV] [ EN’s Ultimate Guide ] [EN’s Form Guide] [Live Scores & Schedule] [Daily Digest Email] [EN’s Coverage]

A Spicy Saturday Instagram Recap from Pratoni

By on Sep 17, 2022 4:55 pm -

It wouldn’t be cross country day without the plethora of post-ride recaps from riders and fans alike. We’re here for it, as one benefit of social media is the way it gives us a glimpse into the happenings at cool places like the FEI World Championships. Let’s dive right in and see what the chatter on Instagram is this evening!

FEI World Championships for Eventing: [Website] [Definite Entries] [FEI TV] [ EN’s Ultimate Guide ] [EN’s Form Guide] [Live Scoring] [Daily Digest Email] [EN’s Coverage]

Rise and Shine, It’s Pratoni Cross Country Time! Your FEI World Championships XC Live Updates Thread

By on Sep 17, 2022 4:00 am -

The final combination on course presents a wide variety of options, but the straight route is a direct line between two brush horses.

Well, it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for: cross country day at the 2022 FEI World Championships! The stage is set for some exciting cross country action today, and we’re wishing safe, clear, and fast rides to all competitors.

If you’re just tuning in, here are a few things to catch up on:

Click the image to view the full course map.

Today’s challenge stands to be an interesting one. Riders will be up against a tight optimum time of 9 minutes, 50 seconds — and there is a whole lot of terrain on the first part of the course. Couple this with the twisting, turning nature that has some riders thinking it may not allow for as much of a gallop rhythm as their horses may prefer, and this is a test unique from its course counterparts around the world.

The full list of starters can be found here, but I’ve pulled times for the North American riders + the top 10 individuals:

  • Hawley Bennett-Awad (CAN) and Jollybo – 10:38 a.m. local / 4:38 a.m. EST – CLEAR, 20.4 time
  • Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist (=7th) – 11:06 a.m. local / 5:06 a.m. EST – CLEAR, 4.4 time
  • Will Coleman (USA) and Off the Record – 11:10 a.m. local / 5:10 a.m. EST – CLEAR, .8 time
  • Yasmin Ingham (USA) and Banzai du Loir – 11:26 a.m. local / 5:26 a.m. EST – CLEAR, 1.2 time
  • Karl Slezak (CAN) and Fernhill Wishes – 12:02 p.m. local / 6:02 a.m. EST – Eliminated
  • Lauren Nicholson (USA) and Vermiculus – 12:34 p.m. local / 6:34 a.m. EST – CLEAR, 5.4 time
  • Laura Collett (GBR) and London 52 – 12:42 p.m. local / 6:42 a.m. EST – 20 jumping, 18.8 time
  • Dana Cooke and Mississippi – 1:10 p.m. local / 7:10 a.m. EST
  • Ariel Grald (USA) and Leamore Master Plan – 1:30 p.m. local / 7:30 a.m. EST – CLEAR, 0 time
  • Holly Jacks (CAN) and Candy King – 1:54 p.m. local / 7:54 a.m. EST — 11 jumping, 32 time
  • Tamie Smith (USA) and Mai Baum (5th) – 2:26 p.m. local / 8:26 a.m. EST — CLEAR, 0 time
  • Tom McEwen (GBR) and Toledo de Kerser (=7th) – 2:34 p.m. local / 8:34 a.m. EST — CLEAR, 4.8 time
  • Kevin McNab (AUS) and Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam (9th) – 2:38 p.m. local / 8:38 a.m. EST — CLEAR, 24.8 time.
  • Alex Hua Tian (CHN) and Don Geniro (4th) – 3:06 p.m. local / 9:06 a.m. EST — Retired.
  • Michael Jung (GER) and fischerChipmunk FRH (1st) – 3:18 p.m. local / 9:18 a.m. EST — CLEAR, 0 time.
  • Mike Winter (CAN) and El Mundo – 3:26 p.m. local / 9:26 a.m. EST — 31 jumping, 26.4 time
  • Karin Donckers (BEL) and Fletcha van’t Verahof – 3:54 p.m. local / 9:54 a.m. EST — CLEAR, 11.2 time
  • Boyd Martin (USA) and Tsetserleg TSF – 3:58 p.m. local / 9:58 a.m. EST — CLEAR, 0 time
  • Oliver Townend (USA) and Ballaghmor Class (6th) – 4:06 p.m. local / 10:06 a.m. EST — CLEAR, 0 time

Our first out of the start box will be Germany’s first team rider, Christoph Wahler with Carjatan S at 10:30 a.m. local / 4:30 a.m. EST. I’ll be updating you as frequently as I can, but I highly encourage you to pick up a pass to watch yourself on FEI.TV, which is a part of ClipMyHorse.TV. You can learn more and sign up here (there is a free trial for new members!).

Want more Pratoni news? Head over to our Ultimate Guide to FEI World Championships for Eventing, and be sure to sign up for the #Pratoni2022 Daily Digest email, which will be delivered straight to your inbox each day through Sunday, September 18.

FEI World Championships for Eventing: [Website] [Definite Entries] [FEI TV] [ EN’s Ultimate Guide ] [EN’s Form Guide] [Live Scoring] [XC Order of Go] [Daily Digest Email] [EN’s Coverage]

To use this thread, start from the bottom — the latest updates will be posted at the top, so refresh periodically to see the most recent items.

11:25 a.m. EST: That was a really incredible day, honestly, and I am BLOWN AWAY by all our American riders in particular. As I was sitting here typing up a little assessment on the scores, Tom McEwan’s score has been updated and the 15 penalties for the flag at 7B has been removed! Tom had been sitting in 36th and the removal of those penalties now shoot him up to 13th.

The removal of that flag penalty doesn’t shake up the top 10, but it does shake up the team scores because it means Team GB bumps New Zealand off the podium:

Germany now takes the top spot in the team standings and THAT’S RIGHT, Team USA is just 1.3 penalties behind them in second. Team GB is hot on our heels though, also less than a rail back in third. This is going to be an exceptionally exciting show jumping finale tomorrow. We hope you’ll join us back here again! We’re signing off on this live thread, but make sure you stick around because we still have so much more to bring you today.

11:04 a.m. EST: And as Marcelo jumps the last, that’s a wrap! Hold please for an update on scores…

11:01 a.m. EST: Marcelo and Glenfly are the the only remaining pair on course now. They’ve had an early runout at 7B, but are looking good through the rest. Marcelo gets tipped forward at the jump into the water at 24A, but he’s quick to get back in the tack and over the B corner easily:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

10:58 a.m. EST: Lea brings it home with a very neat ride through the last complex and stops the clock 13 second over time!

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

10:56 a.m. EST: We’ve got word from the livestream commentators that Nicolas is being treated on site and isn’t bing sent to the hospital. Carlos is being sent to the hospital, but just for a precautionary X-ray. That’s excellent news. And again, both horses are confirmed to be OK.

10:53 a.m. EST: Oh man, this is really heartbreaking. After four basically perfect seasons, Vassily de Lassos has picked up not one but two refusals on course today — the second coming at 24C, the first element of the Longines Water Corner. They’ve therefore come home quite a bit over time too.

10:51 a.m. EST: Our final two riders are now on course: Lea Siegl (AUT) and DSP Fighting Line and Marcelo Tosi (BRA) and Glenfly.

10:50 a.m. EST: It’s a double clear for Oliver and the indomitable Ballaghmor Class! We get the classic Oliver fist pump at the finish line, and of course I miss giffing it.

10:46 a.m. EST: Oliver is picture perfect so far and nearly done with the course already. We haven’t seen much of him on the livestream since the first water (which, to be fair is all the way at fence 21). We’re now following Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos for Australia around the course, but they’e had an early problem that we didn’t get to see on camera! Looks like they ran out at 7c, the last skinny on the Slide.

10:44 a.m. EST: And oh yeah — another very big name is out there on course now in Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class. This is a very important ride for Team GB since we don’t yet know what’s going to happen with the review of Tom’s flag. Kazuma stops the clock 3 seconds over time!

10:41 a.m. EST: THAT IS A MIC DROP FROM TEAM USA. Boyd does it!! He stops the clock at exactly 9:50, the optimum time. Holy smokes. That means he and Tim both stay on their dressage scores of 26.2, but Boyd has the edge and jumps Tim in the standings since closest to optimum time is the tie breaker in these situations.

10:38 a.m. EST: Frida Andersen and Box Leo came home 5 seconds over time — an amazing ride! Meanwhile Tim stops the clock ONE second under time. That really will put the pressure on Boyd, though he doesn’t know it. Boyd will have to be exactly on the optimum time in order to move ahead of Tim in the standings.

Tim and Falco over the last. GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

10:35 a.m. EST: Kazuma Tomato and Vinci de la Vigne JRA, the anchor pair for Japan are fresh out of the box now. Boyd and Thomas kick a flag at 11D, but it shouldn’t be an issue. Nice riding to move up to the second element:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

10:32 a.m. EST: Here comes Boyd!

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

10:29 a.m. EST: Giovanni finishes his round with 13.2 time faults to big cheers again. Tim and Falco are easy peasy down the Slide.

10:26 a.m. EST: Double clear alert!!! Felix comes home four seconds inside the time with his mare. What a great showing from a promising young horse. Tim Price and Falco have now left the box for New Zealand.

10:24 a.m. EST: Frida Andersen and Box Leo are fresh out of the box for Sweden — this horse is a son out of 2018 WEG horse Box Quite. Giovanni gets huge cheers from the home crowd as they tackle the SAP Sunken Road beautifully.

10:22 a.m. EST: Felix is still having an excellent clear round two-thirds of the way around the course. Giovanni and Duke of Champions get the job done down the Slide:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

10:19 a.m. EST: Next on course now are Giovanni Ugolotti (ITA) and Duke of Champions, another enjoyable horse to watch in the dressage. Felix having a great ride through 11:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

10:15 a.m. EST: And we’re back again, Felix and Cartania are out of the box! By the way — there’s still a big ‘ol “??” on the score card for the flag at 7B for Tom McEwan and Toledo de Kerser. It’s going to be veryyyy interesting and influential to see how that review shakes out later.

10:11 a.m. EST: Felix Vogg (SUI) and Cartania are being held at the start. Here comes the storm:

Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.TV

10:09 a.m. EST: Oh dear, we have another hold. They brought out the ambulance for Carlos, but we have also heard now they let him out of the ambulance just as soon as they’ve trucked him off the course. Guess that’s a good sign?

10:08 a.m. EST: Karin had a super round, picking up right where she left off after being held. The live scores says she’s 28 second over time.

10:04 a.m. EST: OUCH. Carlos falls hard at 7B after very valiant effort to hang on to his pony’s neck. That airbag made quite a bang too.

10:00 a.m. EST: Ok, we’re back and running! Karin Donckers and Fletcha van’t Verahof are off and have resumed their run. Carlos Diaz Fernandez (ESP) and Taraje CP 21.10 are now about to head out of the box — I loved this little horse during the dressage.

9:59 a.m. EST: The ambulance is now heading off the course. We’ll be thinking of Nicolas constantly now and wishing the best for him. The livestream video is looking really dark all of a sudden and Tilly says it looks like some serious rain is heading their way!

9:55 a.m. EST: We’re still on hold and hearing from our team on site that Nicolas is being loaded into the ambulance. We’re thinking the best of thoughts for him and hoping all ends up well. His horse, Absolut Gold HDC is looking completely fine.

9:47 a.m. EST: Speaking of Tilly, she’s given us some intel from the mixed zone on Kevin’s ride. His reins did indeed break and he was able to stop Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam by reaching forward and grabbing the cheekpiece and then tie his reins back up and continue on! Likely would have made the time if that hadn’t happened.

9:45 a.m. EST: We’re still on a hold — Karin Donckers and Fletcha van’t Verahof are being held on course at fence 10 — and we’ll bring you an update on Nicolas as soon as we can. We’re hoping it’s just for a fence repair. Our eyes on the ground, Tilly, says the horse is up and looks fine.

9:42 a.m. EST: We’ve got word that Nicolas Touzaint has fallen from Absolut Gold HDC at 17B and we have a hold on course. Mike and El Mundo have finished their round and we didn’t see it, but they’ve collected a 20 at 26B, the Intesa Sanpaolo Skinny. That’s a major bummer for a round that looked to be going so well!

Mike Winter and El Mundo over the last. GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

9:38 a.m. EST: Mike is having a really super go — he’s through 24 already! Austin finishes clear and just two second over time! Nicolas Touzaint (FRA) and Absolut Gold HDC and Karin Donckers (BEL) and Fletcha van’t Verahof have also just started on course.

9:34 a.m. EST: Austin is clear through 26 and our anchor rider for Canada, Mike Winter and El Mundo are on course as well now. Team Canada is bringing some social issues into the spotlight with them this weekend — make sure to give this a read.

9:33 a.m. EST: MAGIC MIKE DOES IT AGAIN! He and fischerChipmunk FRH stop the clock 9 whole seconds under time. Just incredible to watch.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

9:30 a.m. EST: Chip makes Michael really work to get him straight through the Longines Water Corner at 24D. Austin O’Connor (IRE) and Colorado Blue have started on course, but we’re not seeing much of him on the livestream!

9:29 a.m. EST: Eek, Michi and Chip have a little hairy moment at Fence 15, a smaller gallop fence. They’re still clear though the water at 21.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

9:24 a.m. EST: Chipmunk looks as if he’s navigating the Hickstead Bank as he kicks up the dust down the KEP Italia Slide and Michael gives him big pats afterward! Jan and Jard are homewith that 20 and some time.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

9:22 a.m. EST: Here we goooooo…..

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

9:18 a.m. EST: Top, we didn’t even see Maarten Boon (BEL) and Gravin van Cantos start out on course and we won’t get a chance to either — they’ve had a fall at fence 6 and that will be the end of their competition. Major bummer. Jan is currently the only one on course now and he’s through 24. We’re awaiting Michi and Chip next to start!

9:16 a.m. EST: Aww man, the camera just catches up with Alex to see him raise his hand to retire at fence 23. The score sheet doesn’t show any jumping faults there, so Alex might just be deciding to save his horse for another time since that pin takes them out largely out of the running. An admirable horseman, Alex is. Jan has had an early runout at 7B.

9:13 a.m. EST: DANG it. Don Geniro just doesn’t pick up his hind end quite enough and takes the pin at 17B. Don is completely fine and didn’t even jump it particularly sketchily, that I could tell. Alex looks behind him, disappointed to see a dropped log. Jan Kamiński (POL) and Jard are out on course.

9:11 a.m. EST: Jordy has completed with just that runout and a handful of time. Miroslav is having a little trouble on course here and there, with a runout at 21A and then another issue at 24C, which is under review. Alex clear through 11.

9:07 a.m. EST: Alex and Don are straight as an arrow through the skinnies after the Slide:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

9:07 a.m. EST: Ooh lordy, Jordy Wilken (NED) and Burry Spirit, who have been on course for a bit now, and they pick up a runout at 23C. They circle and Jordy gives him a big pat for answering the question right the second time around. We’ve also just seen Alex Hua Tian and Don Geniro pop over fence 1 — they’re in fourth after dressage so this is another important round to watch!

9:01 a.m. EST: Carlos has finished a little while ago with two run outs: one early and one late on course. Alina, riding as an individual for Germany, is thrilled with her round as she crosses the finish flags seven seconds over time. She’d going to have fence 19D under review for a flag, however. Felicity Ward, individual for Ireland, will unfortunately have her weekend come to an early end as she collects a refusal at the last skinny of the Slide and then she elected to retire after another runout at the corner at 11B. Miroslav Prihoda Jr. (CZE) and Ferrolus Lat are currently on course as well now.

8:57 a.m. EST: Three pairs are on course now: Carlos Parro (BRA) and Goliath, Alina Dibowski (GER) and Barbados 26, and Felicity Ward (IRE) and Regal Bounty.

8:53 a.m. EST: Ohhh Dr. Harold, no!! He just tips a bit forward in an effort to help Mountbatten 2 jump the last, but he hits the breaks instead!

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

8:50 a.m. EST: I’ve got a lot of catching up to do all of a sudden. Kevin McNab (AUS) and Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam have already started and completed and this whole time I’ve been trying to figure out what’s been happening with his tack. It looked for a moment like his rein had completed broke, but that may not have been it because he’s continued on course and has now completed and jumped clear but he’s a full minute over time. It looks here like he’s had to stop and gather up his martingale maybe? Dr. Harald Ambros, the professional dentist out of Austria, and Mountbatten 2 are on course too now.

Something funky has happened to Kevin’s tack. GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

8:47 a.m. EST: Tom guns for the finish but comes in 12 second over time. This is going to be a verrrry important review, as 15 penalties would nock Team GB off the podium all together.

Tom and Toledo over the last. GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

8:42 a.m. EST: Ok, breathe, I’m still not over Tamie but we’ve got GB’s Tom McEwan out there have a great ride too. He really had to hold Toledo and help him through that first skinny after the slide, their scores are actually showing a “??” for 7b so that might be under review for a flag there.

8:38 a.m. EST: TAMIE SMITH AND MAI BAUM ARE CLEAR AND ONE SECOND INSIDE THE TIME!!

8:36 a.m. EST: Another important round, Tom McEwen (GBR) and Toledo de Kerser are just out on course. Jonelle and Mclaren are home clear of jumping faults, but 15 second over the optimum time.

8:33 a.m. EST: Toshiyuki Tanaka and Swiper JRA are on course for Japan and clear through fence 11. Tamie and Mai Baum are still clear as they near the back third of the course:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

8:33 a.m. EST: I’ll never ever get tired of watching Jonelle ride. Look how quickly she picks herself back up and gets Mclaren back on their line here at the Longines Water Corner:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

8:30 a.m. EST: Well done down the Slide for Tammie:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

8:29 a.m. EST: Jonelle is riding like the absolute boss she is so far, helping Mclaren navigate those tricky corners at 11. And we’ve got our next Americans Tamie Smith and Mai Baum on course now too!

8:23 a.m. EST: Jonelle Price and Mclaren are just out of the box now for New Zealand!

8:20 a.m. EST: Whoop, I’ve fallen a bit behind here. We’re not sure what’s happened with Robin — it appears he’s possibly circled near or within the fence 24 complex. Live scores are showing “??” there. He’s finished with a time of 10:08. Susanna Bordone (ITA) and Imperial van de Holtakkers very sadly end their weekend early after three refusals 11c. Aminda Ingulfson (SWE) and Joystick are on course as well and so far so good!

8:14 a.m. EST: Robin has a textbook ride down the KEP Italia Slide at fence 7. Antonio and Duque HSM ping through fence 19ABC the SAP Sunken Road.

Duque HSM goes BOING! GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

8:11 a.m. EST: So we now have two out on course: Antonio Cejudo Caro (ESP) and Duque HSM and clear through fence 13 and Roben Godel (SUI) and Grandeur de Lully CH are freshly out of the box.

8:08 a.m. EST: Holly and Candy King have finished 20 seconds over the time, plus they have that bummer of a pin. And we also have another double clear alert!! Gaspard Maksud of France and Zaragoza come in 4 seconds under time and the mare has her ears still pricked and practically looks ready to go around the course again!

8:05 a.m. EST: Oh this is heartbreaking: Lara de Liedekerke-Meier (BEL) and Hermione d’Arville’s weekend end at the very first fence. We’re not exactly sure what happened, but Lara is off the horse (standing up, both of them) with her airbag inflated and looks to be sorting out something with the tack. What an incredible disappointment that is.

8:04 a.m. EST: We also have Gaspard Maksud (FRA) and Zaragoza on course now and jumping clear through about halfway ’round. SHOOT, Holly and Candy King have an unfortunate pin at 19A – dang!

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

8:00 a.m. EST: Padraig has completed clear and seven seconds over time. Canada’s Holly Jacks and Candy King are on course and looking keen through 11:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

7:57 a.m. EST: SHE NAILS IT! The Olympic champs have gone clear and inside the time to remain on their dressage score! That’s a HUGE result for Germany and Julia goes into individual second provisionally.

7:54 a.m. EST: Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy and Fallulah join us on course as well. Balázs Kaizinger and Clover 15, sole representatives for Hungry, complete safely but with a little hairy moment at the last combination on course. Check out this long spot!

HOLD ON BALAZS. GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

7:49 a.m. EST: Patrick and Amanda have both finished the course now — we’ll have to wait for the ground jury’s decision on Patrick. The live scoreboard is showing “??” for 11C. Amazing clear ride for Amanda — just 6 seconds over time! Julia and Mandy are having a great ride down the slide:

Great balance form Julia and Mandy own the Slide. GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

7:46 a.m. EST: Our Olympic champions Julia Krajewski and Amande de B’Néville for Germany are just out of the box. Amanda and her little thoroughbred are still looking flawless late on course.

7:43 a.m. EST: Hello, hello! Sally and I have had successful hand off and we’re still following Patrick as he continues on course. Amanda is clear through fence 20.

7:41 a.m. EST: And with that I am going to bid you farewell and hand over the rest of the updates to Abby Powell. Enjoy!

7:40 a.m. EST: Well this just in: Ariel Grald has made the time! Scores showing her 10 seconds over after a very smart, efficient round. The Americans have enlisted the help of Ian Stark this week for cross country and his advice seems to be paying off (as well as the badassery our riders have shown so far, of course).

7:39 a.m. EST: Patrick did not clear the flag at 11 to my eye but he’s continued on at any rate. Amanda Pottinger is away with the TB Just Kidding.

7:38 a.m. EST: A look at Ariel making these angled brushes look like a gymnastic:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

7:38 a.m. EST: Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture finish clear with about 20 seconds of time while Patrick has quite a ride down the Slide but makes it through clear. A look at Ariel through 11:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

7:35 a.m. EST: Swiss individuals Patrick Rüegg and Fifty Fifty are away.

7:33 a.m. EST: Cyrielle Lefèvre and Armanjo Serosah make a statement and come home clear with just four seconds of time. Meanwhile, Ariel is clear through 10.

7:31 a.m. EST: Now away are the American individual pair Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan, making their Worlds debut.

7:29 a.m. EST: Ah bummer, Sanne de Jong and Enjoy mars an otherwise lovely round with a 20 at the Pratoni Horses. Meanwhile a scrappy ride through the Slide for Australia’s Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture:

Big pats for Bold Venture! GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

7:28 a.m. EST: Meanwhile, in the EN group chat:

7:25 a.m. EST: French combo Cyrielle Lefèvre and Armanjo Serosah leave the box and are hunting a clear as the individual pair.

7:24 a.m. EST: Ah, rats. Nicolas Wettstein ends his day early after a tumble at the Longines Water at 24.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

7:21 a.m. EST: Dana opts for the long at the Pratoni Horses and now finishes for Canada. She’ll be disappointed about the 40 penalties, but they will have learned a lot on this round and put forward a completed cross country.

7:20 a.m. EST: Dutch individuals Sanne de Jong and Enjoy are on course and clear through 6, coming to the Slide.

7:17 a.m. EST: Evelina finishes clear with Fidjy des Melezes. Dana has another spot of trouble at 21C, the angled brush after the water that’s caught out a few riders today.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

7:16 a.m. EST: Ecuador’s Nicolas Wettstein takes the long option at the Slide.

7:14 a.m. EST: Dana takes the long route at 11 with finishing top of mind — remember, Canada will no longer have a score to drop after the elimination of Karl Slezak.

7:13 a.m. EST: Dana Cooke has trouble at 7C, which is turning out to be probably the more influential question on course.

7:12 a.m. EST: Our next Canadians, Dana Cooke and Mississippi are now on course and clear through 6.

7:06 a.m. EST: Polish pair Malgorzata Korycka and Canvalencia as well as Italian pair Evelina Bertoli and Fidjy des Melezes are on course now.

7:02 a.m. EST: Katrin Khoddam-Hazrati and Oklahoma 2 finish with some trouble at the last combination.

6:59 a.m. EST: Catching up real quick, Brazilian pair Marcio Carvalho Jorge and Kilcoltrim Kit Kat are on course and clear through 15 with a heck of a ride down the slide. Danish rider Mia Hastrup and Shjabrina are also on and clear through 6 but have trouble at the C of the Slide. Lots of influence here at this question!

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

6:55 a.m. EST: Checking in with Lauren at the finish:

“He was super. I think this is like our ninth five-star and I know him really well, he knows me really well. I know when to throw in a trot step if we’re in trouble, and I knew all the questions were there for him and so it was more for me trying to hammer at the time from the get-go because he doesn’t have a huge gallop.

“It’s always a different kind of pressure riding for the team and you still want to be toeing the line of being gutsy but trying to do anything stupid that’s going to affect the team. So I’m just very glad to have it done. And Coleman got it done and that takes the pressure off.

“Ian’s been our cross country guy, and he’s been super and I told him ahead of time, I was like, ‘You know what, I don’t want pep talks or motivational crap,’ which everybody seems to want to do at this point in time. I was like, ‘just give me facts. Give me an order.’ That’s all I want before I go. So he was super, he just walked out and said ride the plan we talked about and hammer at it. So I did.”

6:53 a.m. EST: Heartbreaking for Laura as her individual hopes slip away, and now the pressure is on for GB to finish the remaining two members clear.

6:52 a.m. EST: Austrian pair Katrin Khoddam-Hazrati and Oklahoma 2 are now on course. Hazel is clear through 16 as Laura makes her way towards home.

6:50 a.m. EST: Calle 44 finishes looking quite tired with Yoshi.

6:48 a.m. EST: This track to my eye doesn’t seem to suit London 52 quite as well. This horse needs a gallop lane and this track doesn’t give you many of them, so he’s a bit more argumentative than I’m used to seeing him. Laura’s put her team hat on and takes a long route at 16 to prioritize getting home and finishing.

6:47 a.m. EST: Yoshi also shows with a pin at.. I believe 17C (the fence report is kind of hard to read). For Australia, Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford are on course.

6:45 a.m. EST: And Lauren is also home clear, the second of such for the U.S., with 5.6 time. Let’s goooooo!

6:44 a.m. EST: No!! Laura Collett’s world championship fight goes out the door now as she has a drive-by at the C of the KEP Italia Slide. What a heartbreaker.

6:42 a.m. EST: Ah man. Calle 44 has a stop at the B of the Slide:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

6:41 a.m. EST: Lauren is clear through the Sunken Road at 20. A look at her ride through the fischer Brush question at 11:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

6:40 a.m. EST: Tokyo Olympic pair Toshiyuki Tanaka and Calle 44 are on course.

6:37 a.m. EST: I haven’t seen them yet, but Lauren Nicholson is on course with Vermiculus and clear through 10. Clarke has a pin fall but I didn’t catch the fence.

6:36 a.m. EST: What a shot of Christoph and Sandra at the finish from Shelby Allen:

Photo by Shelby Allen.

6:34 a.m. EST: For New Zealand now we have Clarke Johnstone with Menlo Park. Marco finishes for Italy with just the one problem, and Sofia is clear through 25. Clark looks to have had a stop at the A element of the Slide but has cleared it on second attempt.

6:30 a.m. EST: Checking in with Sandra in the mixed zone:

“In Tokyo I also had a super great round, that was one unlucky thing you can have. I think it can always happen, like in a short term you can have always a mistake and still a good round. And in Tokyo I had already a super feeling, also so fresh and so motivated. My last run was in Aachen, where he gave me the perfect round as well and I had a good feeling to start here. There was not one fence I was worried about and it was a good feeling.”

Sandra said German pathfinder Christoph Wahler told her that she could come a bit off the lines the team had walked if needed, and she notes that she’s never had a horse as adjustable as Viamant du Matz, which enabled her to make those adjustments and still have fun on course. “I said when he would be a human he would do that ski thing! You’re always looking for the inside lines. I’ve never had a horse like this before, and that made it easy for me. Sometimes I just have to move to the left and he goes to the left. I don’t have to ask him. That made it for me easy and that is why it felt for me good.”

6:28 a.m. EST: Niklas Lindback is showing as having been eliminated at 24C.

6:27 a.m. EST: Now away for the Swedes are Sofia Sjoborg and Bryjamolga van het Marienshof Z.

6:24 a.m. EST: For Italy, Marco Cappai and Uter have a drive-by at the C of the KEP Italia Slide. Melody Johner is clear through 20.

6:21 a.m. EST: Well Gonzalo has opted to pull up after another issue at 16. Sie Veux d’Autize seemed to be losing a bit of confidence after starting off a bit nervous. Gonzalo made some great decisions to try to get around but now has chosen to end his day early. 21-year-old Jarno is home clear with about 21 seconds of time — nicely done!

6:18 a.m. EST: Next away and hoping to bring home a clear for the Swiss are Mélody Johner and Toubleu de Rueire.

6:15 a.m. EST: Here we go with our second Spanish rider, Gonzalo Blasco Botin and Sie Veux d’Autize. They take the left hand flag at 4, the IGA Picnic Table, and then get rather hairy to the Triple Bar, prompting them to then go long at the KEP Italia Slide. Nice decision-making here.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

6:13 a.m. EST: Tom unfortunately just pops off to the left after Darmagnac de Bellard just slides over the brush to the right at 19C. He lands on his feet, which has to be more infuriating than lawn darting, in my opinion.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

6:10 a.m. EST: For the French and riding just a nine-year-old comes Tom Carlile with the absolute class Darmagnac de Béliard. Clearly through the fischer Brush at 11. For Belgium, Jarno Verwimp and Mahalia are away. Jarno is the youngest rider in the field at 21.

6:08 a.m. EST: Oh no. Karl and Fernhill Wishes have two rather fussy stops at the B element of the fischer Brush question of 11. One last shot, and Chocy still says no so that will sadly be the end of the road for this pair. Canada will go forward with no scores left to drop.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

6:04 a.m. EST: Viamant du Matz looks maybe the fittest so far besides Ros’ horse coming home, and Sandra has three seconds in hand over the last!

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

6:02 a.m. EST: Susie Berry (IRL) and Monbeg by Design as well as Karl Slezak (CAN) and Fernhill Wishes are on course.

5:56 a.m. EST: Ok, let’s try to catch up a bit here: Miroslav Trunda (CZE) and Shutterflyke have one refusal at 21C — the same fence that caused trouble for Fouaad — Korntawat Samran (THA) and Uster de Chenay got home clear with 35 seconds of time. 2014 World Champion Sandra Auffarth starts the next rider rotation for Germany with Viamant du Matz and is clear through 13 after a scrappy ride down the Slide:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

5:54 a.m. EST: Well Commander VG’s day will sadly come to an end after another issue, this time at 19C, having also had trouble at 16A. A look at his trouble at the Slide:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

5:50 a.m. EST:: Let’s hear from Yasmin at the finish:

“It was hard work actually, it was very intense. I think it was the terrain more than anything. You’re just constantly on the camber, up and down. But as I’ve said from the beginning, I’m just so glad that I’m sat on Banzai — he just really took it all in stride and just felt like he was really at home up in the hills.

“All the combinations I wrote to my plan A, apart from the last water where the jump in was quite steep so we just didn’t land quite as far outside as I would’ve liked. And we just picked up the five strides instead of the four, so I think if I’d maybe been a bit quicker there we might have made the time but I’m just delighted with him.”

5:48 a.m. EST: Rats, Fouaad has a stop at the B element of the Longines Hydroconquest Combination. They’ll finish strong but he’ll be disappointed with that blip. Lithuanian individuals Aistis Vitkauskas and Commander VG are on course and have had an early refusal at, it appears, the A element of the KEP Italia Slide.

Trouble on course for Fouaad Mirza. GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

5:44 a.m. EST: Hanne Ramasgaard takes the longer option at the open oxer question towards the end. Amequ Torino looks a bit weary, so she’s choosing to get him home safely rather than push for time. She’s finished about 38 seconds over with a big fist pump over the last! Thai individuals Korntawat Samran and Uster de Chanay are now on course.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

5:42 a.m. EST: Fouaad has a bit of a wardrobe malfunction as his pinny decides it would rather not be along for the ride. Meanwhile, Siegneur Medicott really stands off from the very downhill Arturo’s Kennel at 12 but they’re clear so far.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

5:40 a.m. EST: Our inidividuals for India, Fouaad Mirza and Seigneur Medicott are on course as Niklas finishes with Focus Filiocus.

5:39 a.m. EST: “Oh, I couldn’t be more proud of him,” Ros says at the finish line. “He is just a phenomenal cross country horse you know, only 10 years old and it just feels like child’s play to him. He is green and he’s, you know, inexperienced, but he just treats it like a big kid and he just plays with it and focuses when he needs to focus. He’s fantastic.”

On his handling of the track and fitness:

“I was pretty confident after Badminton. I haven’t done as much galloping work at home because of the hard ground and we only go on grass, but he experiences hills like that all the time at home, whether he’s hacking or cantering. So I knew he’d be able to keep his speed or accelerate up the hill. And I think that’s key because once you’ve done the hills, it gets very twisty. And if they feel a bit tired, that’s when they’re going to be hard to steer. So I was fortunate in that sense that he kept galloping.”

5:37 a.m. EST: Niklas is really scrubbing his way around with Focus Filiocus. Also Hawley’s 20 looks to have been removed — yay!

5:36 a.m. EST: Yasmin is home clear with just three seconds of time. Time will tell if that’s enough to hold onto an individual medal position, but what a round for this young superstar.

5:35 a.m. EST: Danish rider Hanne Wind Ramsgaard and Amequ Torino, who have a really cool story, are now on course. Shane Rose came home just seven seconds over with Virgil and Yasmin, who I’ve seen once, is nearly home and clear through 28.

5:35 a.m. EST: Will checks in from the finish: “He was really good. I thought he answered all the questions very confidently. You know, he’s kind of a bulldog out there. He takes the bit and he really wants to go, but I was really pleased with just how sort of almost arrogant he was out there. He was really strong and he was almost telling me to ‘let me at it, dad!’ It was cool. He’s not the fastest horse to be frank. He’s a very efficient horse, and he’s quick, but he doesn’t necessarily have a tremendous gallop he loses a bit of step as he tires. I’m super happy with the round — I couldn’t fault him for anything. He did his absolute best.”

5:31 a.m. EST: Swedish individual pair Niklas Lindback and Focus Filiocus are away as Shane Rose is nearly home with Virgil and Yasmin is clear through 14. The cameras are showing some pairs for the majority of their round and some hardly at all, so hopefully we can get some balance as the day goes on. Eeek — Niklas lives very dangerously down the Slide and slips and slides his way through the B and C elements somehow.

5:28 a.m. EST: She’s done it! Ros has made the time — 7 seconds to spare — with Lordships Graffalo! A great start for the Brits. And now the British individual, Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir, are away.

Ros navigates the Pratoni Horses, the final combination on course. GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

5:27 a.m. EST: Ros has about a minute to get home with 4 fences left to go.

5:25 a.m. EST: Shane Rose and Virgil are now on course as Ryuzo finishes with Cekatinka, about 25 seconds over.

5:20 a.m. EST: Gosh, Lordships Graffalo just hunted down the B and C of the KEP Slide as he carefully picked his way down the hill. What a smart horse. Holy sh*t, Will is home with TWO SECONDS of time! What a round for the Americans!

5:20 a.m. EST: Well we’ve seen Will exactly twice, but he is showing clear as he heads for him with just three more to jump.

5:19 a.m. EST: Loving Ryuzo’s riding so far — quiet, tactful, and staying out of Cekatinka’s way. Ros Canter — reigning World Champ — is now away with the young gun Lordships Grafflo. A tall task to trailblaze for the Brits today, but we know this pair has it in them — they were fifth at Badminton, after all!

5:17 a.m. EST: Just 11 seconds over for Monica Spencer and Artist! What a smashing round from this pair. Will is clear through 23 and the Open Ditch.

5:16 a.m. EST: A neat, clean ride down the KEP Slide at 7 for Ryuzo, nice riding.

5:15 a.m. EST: Ryuzo Kitajima and Cekatinka JRA are also on course for Japan. Will showing clear through 16.

5:13 a.m. EST: An update: Will Coleman is now off for the U.S. and clear through the Triple Bar at 10. Meanwhile, Hawley’s 20 now looks to be under review, and she doesn’t seem to have said anything about it in her interview so I think that may get taken off. Malin Josefsson shows a broken pin at 18 and Monica is clear through 23. Arianna also made it home clear. There’s a lot to keep up with here!

5:11 a.m. EST: Monica Spencer and our new favorite Thoroughbred, Artist, are on course and clear through the fischer Brush at 11.

5:08 a.m. EST: Let’s check in with Sam Watson, our only to come home somewhat close to the time so far:

“I added in a few combinations on course which I don’t think many other people will be able to do. It really highlights A, his his footwork and B, his desire to do this job like so. I didn’t know because of the first phase if this was a horse who was going to be competitive enough to be at a championship. I came to Pratoni and I said I really want this horse to be in Pratoni, I think he can shine. And I hope today he has because he’s the type of horse that I love. And I really — I really enjoyed that. Even though it was hard work. It’s not hard work.”

And on the course itself:

“Today we’re out of our comfort zone. I think people will be out of their comfort zone today. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s high performance sport. And I think Giuseppe is — you have to be a genius now to push us out of the comfort zone and make it horse friendly.”

5:04 a.m. EST: So that’s some useful information. Nadja may have caught the time had she not fallen, but her horse looked to begin struggling as the last few fences came up. Meanwhile we are now joined by the first Swedish rider, Malin Josefsson and Golden Midnight. Arianna is clear through 22.

5:03 a.m. EST: Nadja will have to manage here as Toblerone did look a bit tired at the first element of 26. Ah, and blast it looks like they have parted ways at the Open Oxers that were next. Nadja looks to be fine — I can’t actually see Toblerone but I’m thinking he’s off to stabling on his own. Rats.

5:02 a.m. EST: Swiss rider Nadja Minder is NOT hanging around, and she’s clear through 24 with about a minute, 40 seconds left on the clock.

5:02 a.m. EST: A look at Arianna at the Slide:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

5:00 a.m. EST: Whewwwwww…Quefira de L’Ormeu almost says no at the C element of the KEP Slide, but Ariana uses all her experience to lift the French mare up and over. Esteban logs in a clear round for Spain, and a REALLY nice one at that!

4:59 a.m. EST: Home team on course! Arianna Schivo and Quefira de L’Ormeu are away.

4:56 a.m. EST: A gutsy ride down the KEP Pratoni Slide at 7 for Najda. You can really see the downhill element of this question on the live stream. Meanwhile, he’s a peek at one of the uphill pulls as ridden by Esteban and Milana 23:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

4:55 a.m. EST: Senne has about 40 seconds to get home with about 3 fences to go.

4:54 a.m. EST: Esteban also takes flags with him at the fischer Brush but he has a nice ride through this question. Senne is clear through 25 and we are also joined by the first rider for the Swiss, Nadja Minder and Toblerone.

4:53 a.m. EST: Esteban looks to be cooking a bit more in terms of pace early on (or it could be Milana’s diminutive stature and a shorter stride!).

4:52 a.m. EST: Now on course are Spanish pair Esteban Benitez Valle and Milana 23. Astier is coming to the final combination, the Pratoni Horses at 29.

4:51 a.m. EST: Senne takes the left hand flags as she tackles the fischer Brush question at 11 — this is a turning question set on the side of the hill, and I think this question may prove to be fairly influential as the day progresses. The good thing is it comes relatively early on course, before horses will be tired and less adjustable.

4:50 a.m. EST: Astier’s second 20 is no longer showing on live scores.

4:49 a.m. EST: Hawley is home with that 20 she’ll be kicking herself for and about 51 seconds of time for the Canadians. Also joining us now for the Belgians are Senne Vervaecke and Google van Alsingen.

4:47 a.m. EST: Ah, we’re really not seeing much yet while the cameras work out their kinks. But Hawley has shown as a having a 20 at the Hydro Water at 21D. Astier is also showing with another 20, the B element of 11, the fischer Brush.

4:46 a.m. EST: Astier is showing as having a 20 at the C element — the second arrowhead following the KEP Italia Slide — the first to run into trouble on course. The C does seem to come up quickly and has a rather lofty landing, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few more horses taking a peek and running by here.

4:44 a.m. EST: I think the time is absolutely going to be doable today as Sam comes home only six seconds over — granted, we didn’t see much of him, but he didn’t look to be absolutely pushing hard to make that time. He will also be on orders to bring back information for the rest of the Irish.

4:43 a.m. EST: There are a LOT of questions basically carved into the side of these hills, which are taxing in multiple ways: they shift the horse’s weight and encourage runouts, they affect a rider’s line, and they sap energy. There are many reasons why the riders are calling this ” a thinking course”. Hawley is clear through the Pagoda at 14.

4:42 a.m. EST: We’ve hardly seen any of Sam, sadly, but he’s clear through 24. Hawley is clear through 10 and Frenchman Astier Nicolas with Alertamalib’or are also on course.

4:40 a.m. EST: Just a few fences left for Christoph, who peeks back to make sure he hasn’t had a pin down at the KEP Italia Open Oxer question at 27/28. He’s about 24 seconds over the time of 9:50 as he comes home, but this is a really really nice pathfinder round. Meanwhile we’re now joined by Canadian Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo, all the way from California to trailblaze for the Maple Leafs.

4:38 a.m. EST: Christoph is clear through the water at 24, the Longines Water Complex.

4:34 a.m. EST: Clear through the Pagoda at 14 for Christoph. There is a LOT to do out there in just under 10 minutes: there are 42 jumping efforts (more so if you take any alternate routes) and 30 numbered fences, coupled with a lot of turning and navigating pulls uphill to add some more horse management requirements. And our second, Sam Watson for Ireland with SAP Talisman are underway! Sam shared some really interesting thoughts on the track in Tilly’s preview — check it out here.

4:32 a.m. EST: And…we’re off! Christoph Wahler is the first to see this track today — an unenviable task in some ways — and he’s clear through the KEP Italia Pratoni Slide at fence 7, getting a hair close to the second chevron but making it look very rideable. This is a pair you won’t see pushing hard for the time — Christoph’s job here will be a clear round and information to bring back to his teammates.

The Task Ahead: Wrapping Up Dressage Social Media from Pratoni

By on Sep 16, 2022 3:08 pm -

And just like that, a full two days of World Championships dressage is in the books — and it was certainly one for the ages! Now we look ahead to Giuseppe della Chiesa’s cross country course tomorrow, which includes two “throwback” original fences from the 1998 World Championships held at this venue. Plenty of views of the course walks and more in our social media wrap — let’s jump right in!

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