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Sally Spickard
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Sally Spickard

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About Sally Spickard

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

Latest Articles Written

Ocala Horse Properties Rebecca Farm 4*L Flight Grant Awarded to Jules Batters

By on Jul 13, 2022 9:00 am -

It’s hard to believe it, but we are just a week away from the hottest summer destination event of the season: The Event at Rebecca Farm. This week, Ocala Horse Properties announced that original runner-up for its first-ever Rebecca Farm Flight Grant, Jules Batters, will now receive the prize after original recipient Allie Knowles withdrew her entry, Business Class, due to a minor setback.

Jules and Cooley O will now join 3*L Flight Grant recipients Brittany Crandall and Cooley Almighty on a much shorter trip than originally anticipated, and we’ll look forward to seeing them compete next week. You can take a look at all the entries for Rebecca Farm here. And if you’re heading to Montana and have some time to spare, be sure to sign up for volunteer shifts! This helps the volunteer coordinators organize and plan, so even if you don’t know your exact availability yet you can still let them know they can count on you.

We’ll once again be assisted by Erin Tomson for our boots-on-the-ground coverage, and we’re particularly keen to catch up with the two recipients of the Ocala Horse Properties Flight Grant. Stay tuned for much more next week — and yes, there will be a live stream coming to you from our friends at Ride On Video and Athletux! More on that to come.

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Jul 13, 2022 12:01 am -

Exciting news! It’s that time again: Ever So Sweet Scholarship applications are open for the next cycle, Fall/Winter 2022! This scholarship from Strides for Equality Equestrians and the USEA Foundation provides one rider with funding and support during a three-month immersive training experience with Sara Kozumplik in Berryville, VA and Ocala, FL. The Ever So Sweet opportunity is intended to open doors for riders from diverse backgrounds, who may not have had the chance to get a foothold in the sport and are eager to learn the ins and outs of program management as well as fine-tune their riding.

Summer ESS recipient Nora Huynh-Watkins is settling in at Sara’s Overlook Farm base in Virginia, and you can follow along with her adventures on the ESS Instagram or Facebook pages.

Once you’ve sufficiently picked up FOMO, head on over to Strides for Equality Equestrians to fill out your application, which is due October 15, 2022. And spread the word — this is a fantastic opportunity that deserves to be shared!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Champagne Run at the Park H.T. (Lexington, KY): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

The Maryland H.T. at Loch Moy Farm (Adamstown, MD): [Website] [Entry Status] [Scoring] [Volunteer [FEH/YEH Volunteer]

Wednesday News & Reading

Exciting news out of Kentucky! The Horse Park has been granted $10 million from the state of Kentucky to renovate the competitor stabling on site. To that end, the Park is soliciting feedback from patrons as to what areas they feel should be prioritized for improvement. You can fill out this survey to share your thoughts.

Fancy an extra pile of cash in your pocket? We’ve extended the submission deadline for our 9th Blogger Contest after learning that our news didn’t reach as many readers as we intended! You’ve now got until July 22 to submit, so get cracking! More info here.

Want to make sure your horse is appropriately fit for his or her age and experience level? This and other considerations are important for any event horse, and 5* rider Jon Holling has some insights to share in the latest Ride iQ Office Hours Q&A.

How do you teach kids to handle disappointment and mistakes? How do you encourage riders to take responsibility and have empathy? Francesca Mulligan shares her philosophy for fostering empathetic riders in this Q&A with The Plaid Horse.

Tack Facts: During the summer months, how you store your tack can have a big impact on how it holds up to use. Sterling Essentials founder Teal Shoop shows us some storage hacks:

Sponsor Corner

When that steamed hay is fresh out of the Forager…

Wednesday Eye Bleach

Bet you never got to ride your pony to school (or, at least, I didn’t and I’m salty about it):

Tuesday Video: Versatile Vermont Takes on the Hunters

By on Jul 12, 2022 5:00 pm -

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Colleen Loach (@colleenloach)

Horses are nothing short of multi-talented, and Colleen Loach’s two top horses, FE Golden Eye and Vermont, each showed off their versatility this weekend at the 2022 Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments. We’ll give the slight nod on versatility to Vermont, who is owned by Colleen as well as Peter Barry, for his chops in the $10,000 Hunter Derby Class. The 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding finished seventh for his efforts — not a bad day at the office!

There’s a lot to be said for getting in some practice at hunter/jumper or dressage shows for us “jack of all trades” eventers and we enjoy seeing pros like Colleen out there dabbling!

 

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A post shared by Colleen Loach (@colleenloach)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Colleen Loach (@colleenloach)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Colleen Loach (@colleenloach)

Go Eventing.

Weekend Winners: Arrowhead, Chatt Hills, Genesee Valley, Huntington Farm, MDHT, Round Top, Coconino

By on Jul 11, 2022 2:00 pm -

There’s just something magical(ly hot and sweaty) about eventing in the summer, isn’t there?

This week’s Unofficial Low Score Award was hotly contested, but in the end it was Hailey Patno with Quality On Trend, who won their Novice division at Arrowhead H.T. in Billings on a score of 18.9.

Arrowhead H.T. (Billings, MT): [Website] [Results]

Open Preliminary: Alessandra Allen-Shinn and Fool Me Once (24.1)
Open Training: Hailey Patno and Burleigh Grimes (26.6)
Open Novice A: Katherine Van Alstyne and Fun and Games (19.4)
Open Novice B: Hailey Patno and Quality On Trend (18.9)
Open Beginner Novice A: Avery Calder and Lismore (23.1)
Open Beginner Novice B: Ann MacDonald and Rock Rabbit (22.5)
Starter: Ben Nevis and Emma Campbell (20.0)

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, GA): [Website] [Results]

Open Intermediate A: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Be Cool (26.2)
Open Intermediate B: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C (24.4)
Open Preliminary A: Leslie Law and Castle Howard Romeo (24.2)
Open Preliminary B: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Alina SD (30.8)
Preliminary Rider: Solomon Edwards and Graffique (33.7)
Modified Rider: Emma Spring and Fernhill Copas (23.5)
Open Modified: Leslie Law and Really All Good (23.8)
Jr. Training Rider: Olivia Moore and Kubota (36.1)
Open Training A: Joe Meyer and Gold de Riverland (24.4)
Open Training B: Bobby Meyerhoff and Cabin Crimson LF (30.8)
Sr. Training Rider: Henley Fletcher and Fernhill Kujwana (33.1)
Jr. Novice Rider: Katelyn Smith and Lisbane Spartacus (28.6)
Open Novice A: Chelsea King and Olympus (30.1)
Open Novice B: Mary Bess Davis and Mendelssohn (23.6)
Sr. Novice Rider: Molly Adams and Zenith Almost Got Away (26.6)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Julia Bryant and Mac Creiche (26.3)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Carolyn May and Big Bear’s Coriana (34.4)
Open Beginner Novice: Lauren New and Zenith Diamond (30.3)
YEH 4 Year Old: Erin Farrell and Atavious (78.950)
YEH 5 Year Old: Cole William Horn and The Wellerman (83.750)

Genesee Valley Hunt H.T. (Geneseo, NY): [Website] [Results]

Open Training: Katherine Fegan-Organ and Heartbreak Kid (30.1)
Novice A: Carol Kozlowski and Kieran (30.4)
Novice B: Sharla Englerth and Holy Land (38.3)
Beginner Novice A: Emilija Zygelyte and Carriage House Dirk (30.9)
Beginner Novice B: Carolyn Wehle and Scorecat (31.3)
Foxhunter’s: Meg Lloyd and Heracles (26.5)
Intro Junior: Maeve Green and River (36.2)
Open Intro A: Rylee Delaney and Gypsy West (26.5)

Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, VT): [Website] [Results]

Jr. Preliminary: Chloe Johnson and Chilli Bean (38.3)
Open Preliminary: Anna Loschiavo and Fernhill That Guy Jack (37.6)
Jr. Training: Eleanor Winter and Figlio (28.9)
Open Training A: Stephane Jackson and Ballycapple Fernhill (29.7)
Open Training B: Eliza Quigley and Contaro (25.3)
Open Training C: Alexander Conrad and Amore (32.2)
Jr. Novice: Ava Applebaum and FE Bail Me Out (23.6)
Open Novice A: Julia Hulett and Ardeo Krafty Warren (31.4)
Open Novice B: Jane A. Hamlin and Fernhill Nicholas (25.8)
Open Novice C: Alyssa Lapierre and Witten Valley (31.7)
Jr. Beginner Novice: Geneva Rumi and James Bond 007 (31.2)
Open Beginner Novice: Andrea Flannery and The Last Kiss (30.0)

The Maryland International + H.T. (Adamstown, MD): [Website] [Results]

CCI3*-S: Alyssa Phillips and Oskar (33.2)
CCI2*-S: Kirsten Schuitema and One Sly Fox (37.0)
CCI1*-S: Conner Ann Clark and Second Chance McFly (36.9)
Open Intermediate: Jan Byyny and Beautiful Storm (39.2)
Open Preliminary: Lauren Nicholson and Landmark’s Jungle’s Gold (25.3)
Modified Rider: Casey Poe and HHS Tiger Lily (32.3)
Open Modified: Lauren Nicholson and Ziggy Stardust (26.0)
Jr. Open Training: Jacob Rozga and DeAngelo (33.1)
Open Training A: Mackenzie Parks and Mr McGoey (23.9)
Open Training B: Alexa Gartenberg and Cooley Kildaire (31.1)
Training Horse A: Jebb Simpson and Grantstown Coney Street (28.3)
Training Rider B: Susan Gehris and Steddy Eddy (23.3)
Jr. Open Novice A: Abigail McGowan and Mystic Serenade (28.2)
Jr. Open Novice B: Bailey Kent and Scooby Dooby Doo (27.9)
Novice Rider A: Ally Sobera and Casper (32.5)
Novice Rider B: Kelsey Hamilton and Eyes of the World (25.0)
Open Novice A: Kristen Merala and Excel Star Kerry Pippin (28.3)
Open Novice B: Boyd Martin and Fast Forward (30.8)
Open Novice C: Kim Severson and Cooley Corraghy Diamond (24.7)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Gillian Smith and Red Cloud (29.7)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Susan Thompson and Legion of Honor (27.7)
Jr. Beginner Novice: Peyton Travis and Badger (23.2)
Open Beginner Novice A: Jennifer Hoey and Candy Cigarette (27.7)
Open Beginner Novice B: Autumn Rae and C’adagio (24.1)

Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, CO): [Results]

Training: Madeline Backus and Baratheon (30.9)
Novice: D. Santistevan and Vegas (30.0)
Beginner Novice A: E Sletten and New Song’s Freedom (29.1)
Beginner Novice B: Madeline Backus and Slew the Blues (25.0)
Intro: Mary Guthrie and Lone Maverick (23.8)

Summer Coconino H.T. (Flagstaff, AZ): [Website] [Results]

Preliminary: Heather Drager and Winnsome (48.9)
Open Training: Erin Contino and Handsome Ransom (29.7)
Training Rider: Razieme Iborra and Mother of Dragons (30.7)
Open Novice A: Taylor Lindsten and WonderElla (30.0)
Open Novice B: Laura Worl Kober and Sterling Impression (21.1)
Novice Three-Day: Brittany Caflisch and Balance Due (27.9)
Jr. Beginner Novice: Sierra Warner and Jurisdiction (21.9)
Open Beginner Novice: Eileen Morganthaler and Chicago GS (31.9)
Beginner Novice Three-Day: Jaeli Uselding and My Fair Prince (31.8)
Intro A: Micaela Masino and Buzz (32.7)
Intro B: Jessica Kammeyer and Sully (28.7)
Pre Competition: Carylann Williams and Dem Poco Hancock (22.3)

#ICYMI: Courtney Carson and Vandiver Enjoy the Moment at War Horse (and Beat the Boss Man, Too!)

By on Jul 11, 2022 9:00 am -

Ever since we got word that #supergroom Courtney Carson would be taking the reins on Doug Payne’s Tokyo and 5* partner, Vandiver, after the 17-year-old Trakehner gelding’s retirement this spring, we’ve been eagerly awaiting this very weekend.

Doug watches Courtney and Vandiver on course.

Courtney and “Quinn” made their first trip out of the start box together in the Modified division at the War Horse Event Series July leg at Carolina Horse Park — and they even won the boss-vs-groom showdown in the division as a bonus.

Courtney, who competed through the former 1* level before she began working for Doug and Jess Payne, had mostly hung up her riding boots — save the all-important fitness and conditioning work she puts on Doug’s horses — to focus on caring for the competition horses. But it has always been at the top of her list to leave the start box on Vandiver, whom she has cared for nearly since the beginning of his time with Doug, just one time.

Photo courtesy of Courtney Carson.

Quinn’s old man mascot even made the occasion! Pictured: Madelyn Leahey, Beasley Turegon, Courtney Carson, and Kelly Lulaj.

It would wind up being a big piece of cake for Courtney, who ticked up the leaderboard after sitting seventh after the first phase and eventually finished the weekend in fourth place on their dressage score of 29. Meanwhile, bossman Doug also competed in the Modified with Wendy Luce’s Cadillac Ranch, but we’re sorry to say he was just no match for Courtney and Vandiver, finishing just behind them in fifth. Better luck next time, Doug.

The next stop for Vandiver will be owner and breeder Debi and John Crowley’s farm in Huntsville, Alabama, where Debi is looking forward to enjoying taking the ride on the horse she’s watched from his first steps all the way to the Olympic stage. And we certainly can’t wait to follow along!

Friday Video: From the Ground Up with Elisa Wallace

By on Jul 8, 2022 4:00 pm -

We’re big fans of Elisa Wallace’s vlog because it gives us a chance to go behind the scenes at big international events — but we also enjoy following along as Elisa puts in the time with the young or green horses she has in her program.

You can always depend on Elisa to have one or a few horses she’s working with at various stages in their training, and in her latest vlog we meet Dobby, a three-year-old Thoroughbred she’s had since he was a yearling. Slow and steady is the name of the game, and in this video we get to see Dobby’s first experience with a saddle on.

Turn the volume up and gather some pointers as Elisa walks us through her process, what she’s looking for from the horse, and what she learned about him in this session — then give her a follow on YouTube for more content.

It’s Back! Enter the 9th Eventing Nation Blogger Contest

By on Jul 8, 2022 1:00 pm -

If you can believe it — I know I couldn’t — it’s been since 2018 that EN has held its famous Blogger Contest, in which we cast a net to the corners of the horse internet, looking for the most desperate creative, eventing-rabid souls who wish to join the insanity and become a part of Team EN.

This year marks the ninth year of the Blogger Contest, which first began in 2011 and has yielded several EN team members, including former Managing Editor Jenni Autry, current Managing Editor yours truly, Leslie Wylie, Tilly Berendt, Maggie Deatrick, and many others.

When people ask how I got started with this gig, it often feels silly to say “well I entered this blogging contest on the internet and then they sort of liked my story about inflatable cross country jumps” — but that’s exactly what happened.

My first assignment after finishing in the top four of the 2013 Blogger Contest (see? you don’t even have to win!) was to venture down to Texas for the American Eventing Championships, where I promptly walked in on Michael Pollard changing, called three people Tamie Smith who were not, in fact, Tamie Smith, and essentially got a baptism by fire as an introduction to the world of event reporting.

Nearly ten years later — five trips to Kentucky, one trip to Tokyo for the Olympics, and plenty of air miles in between — and I’m now looking for more creatives to join myself and our small-but-mighty team of eventing diehards.

The fine print: You should want to write part-time for EN — at least two to three posts per week. This is a paid position, with potential to grow into additional work. This is not a “make a million bucks” position, but it’s a great side gig for someone looking to get a foot in the door and earn some extra horse show/vet bill money.

All are eligible to enter (including previous contestants), and no prior journalism experience is necessary. We recognize that not everyone has had “education” in this field, and we instead focus on creativity, understanding of basic writing, and passion. A personal style and voice of your own is an absolute must. Take risks. Laugh. Entertain. Create something only you can create.

Your Round 1 entries should include a short bio (name, age, background, character-defining qualities, embarrassing tidbits, etc.) and a 300- to 600-word sample of your best eventing-related work. This word count is NOT a hard limit, and we realize that’s a challenge! So don’t feel stuck in a box. And don’t worry: in future rounds, finalists will have many more words to work with! We’ll be publishing tips & tricks as well as Instagram stories with Tilly Berendt, myself, and other members of the team this month to give you a full backstage pass into how our team works and what it’s like to work in equestrian media. Any questions? We’re happy to answer! You can email [email protected] or send us a DM on Instagram.

The EN team will judge by the same standards as the past years (interesting, funny, informative, creative) and factor public opinion into our final decision. Keep in mind that you’re writing for a large audience of well over a million readers, and we’ll be selecting finalists based on the quality of entries.

And remember: when in doubt, add a bit more ridiculousness, and you might be close. We don’t take ourselves too seriously here, and neither should you.

UPDATE: You asked, and we listened! We have learned from some applicants that quite a few people didn’t see this post until late. So, in celebration of the return of our Blogger Contest, we’ve decided to extend round 1 entries until July 22! If you’ve submitted an entry already and would like time to make further review/revisions, you may do so and resubmit your entry by the new deadline of July 22.

We’ll narrow the field down from there and will notify all applicants if they’ve been moved forward or not. Use the Google Form linked here to submit your entry, or you can email it to [email protected].

We are also thrilled to announce that in addition to work opportunities, we’ll be offering a $500 cash prize for this year’s Blogger Contest! The winner of this three round contest will receive $300, and two runners-up will each receive $100.

If you want to peek behind the scenes a bit (there isn’t much to see, but we’ll show you!), head over to our Instagram story beginning Wednesday, June 22 for regular takeovers from EN team members who hail from all walks of life. Some work full-time outside of the horse industry, others are fully immersed in this gig. We’ll be answering questions and showing you some of our work, so be sure to tune in — Tilly Berendt will kick things off on June 22.

Go Eventing!

Thursday Video: Fly Around Aachen with Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos

By on Jul 7, 2022 4:00 pm -

Time for a fresh new Hoy Helmet Cam! We can always depend on Aussie Olympian Andrew Hoy to tack on his helmet cam for cross country, and the latest video comes to us from his run around CHIO Aachen with Tokyo partner Vassily de Lassos, owned by Paula and David Evans.

Andrew’s earned himself a reputation for being one of the quicker cross country riders, and his partnership with Vassily de Lassos has made them a formidable pair in competition, typically quite reliable to deliver a fast, clear round.

And this one is no different: though no one would catch the optimum time around Rüdiger Schwarz’s cross country at Aachen last weekend, Andrew and Vassily de Lassos came the closest, adding just one second of time as the fastest of the day.

Did you miss any of our coverage from CHIO Aachen? Click here to catch up — and you can also watch on-demand rounds sorted by horses/riders on ClipMyHorse.TV here.

How to Follow Nations Cup Eventing at Avenches + Barbury International This Weekend

By on Jul 7, 2022 1:30 pm -

Cornelia Dorr and Daytona Beach 8. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

This weekend brings us two international events, both of which you’ll be able to follow along live and on replay after the action concludes.

First up is the next leg of the FEI Nations Cup, which this week stops in Switzerland at the 2021 European Championships site in Avenches. The Nations Cup CCIO4*-S class will play host to representatives from five countries, and we do have one American pair competing as individuals in this division as well: Cornelia Dorr and Daytona Beach 8 earned a 37.2 today in dressage.

To follow live, you can use the IENA Facebook page and/or the FEI YouTube channel here for coverage from all three phases. The 4*-S competition schedule is as follows:

Thursday – 2:30 p.m. local / 8:30 a.m. EST: Dressage (Startlist)
Friday – 2:30 p.m. local / 8:30 a.m. EST: Dressage (Startlist)
Saturday – 12:45 p.m. local / 6:45 a.m. EST: Cross Country
Sunday – 1:00 p.m. local / 7:00 a.m. EST: Show Jumping

FEI Nations Cup of Eventing CCIO4*-S (Avenches, Switzerland): [Website] [Schedule] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

Meanwhile in the UK, the Keyflow Feeds Barbury Castle CCI4*-S is set to begin tomorrow with two full divisions headlining the event. With familiar names and faces such as Zara Tindall and Class Affair, Christoph Six and Totem de Brecey, Pippa Funnell and Billy Walk On, Tom Crisp and Liberty and Glory, and plenty more the action is sure to be exciting and you can follow along all weekend with your H&C+ subscription.

The provisional timetable for this weekend’s CCI4*-S is:

Friday – 9:00 a.m. local / 4:00 a.m. EST: Dressage
Saturday – 9:00 a.m. local / 4:00 a.m. EST: Dressage
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. local / 3:30 a.m. EST: Show Jumping
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. local / 5:00 a.m. EST: Cross Country

Keyflow Feeds Barbury Castle International CCI4*-S (Marlborough, England): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [Live Stream]

How to Get Your Hands on an Equilibrium Massage Hotspot from World Equestrian Brands

By on Jul 7, 2022 12:00 pm -

Listen: if you haven’t gotten your hands on the new Equilibrium Massage Hotspot, distributed by our friends at World Equestrian Brands, you are absolutely missing out.

The Hotspot is the new solution for on-the-go therapy and relaxation, and the addition of heat treatment with this Hotspot gives you an even greater ability to release tension and achieve relaxation with your horse. Heat also leads to increased metabolic activity, meaning that the muscles are more efficient in receiving more oxygen while quickly removing waste products. This can help aid recovery and means more oxygen and nutrients are available for the muscle cells.

Massage at your fingertips will be the name of the game if you’re the lucky winner of this week’s World Equestrian Brands giveaway, and here’s how you can win:

1. Join the World Equestrian Brands email list so you’re the first to see our blogs, specials, and giveaway contests! *If you’ve already joined, move on to #2.
2. Like and share this post or this post on social media.
3. For an extra entry, tag @WorldEqBrands on Instagram or @WorldEquestrianBrands on Facebook with a photo showing how you pamper your horse!

Entries for this giveaway will close on Sunday, July 11 so don’t wait!

See the full line of Equilibrium therapy products available through World Equestrian Brands here.

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: The #Pratoni2022 Hype Video is Here

By on Jul 6, 2022 4:00 pm -

We are just a shade over two months away from this year’s FEI World Championships, which take on a different format this year as the disciplines have been divided up among venues instead of gathering at a single place.

WEG, or at least this year’s version of it, for eventers and combined drivers will be held mid-September at Pratoni del Vivaro, just to the east of Rome, Italy. Meanwhile, the dressage riders, jumpers, vaulters, and para-riders will all competed for their respective World Championships in Herning, Denmark next month, and the endurance riders will compete in Verona, Spain in October.

So it’s three months full of the top-class horses and riders in the world, and this hype video is sure to get you amped to follow along.

Equi-Jewel®

Simply put, horses need energy.

Energy is traditionally supplied by cereal grains such as oats, corn, and barley. These feedstuffs deliver energy as carbohydrates or starch. But what if you want to supply more energy to your horse without increasing the feed intake? Feeding a fat supplement is an excellent way to achieve this.

Fat is considered a source of “calm” energy and is thought to modify behavior in some horses, making them more tractable. This, in turn, allows horses to focus their energy on work rather than nervousness.

Learn more at https://kppusa.com/2017/10/20/high-energy-advantages/

The horse that matters to you matters to us®.

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Two Riders Added to Complete Host Nation Italy’s Long List for FEI World Championships

By on Jul 6, 2022 11:30 am -

Italy’s Pietro Majolino is one of two riders added to the potential squad list for Pratoni. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

After initially releasing a short list consisting of six horse-and-rider combinations, this year’s FEI World Championships host nation, Italy, has now completed its prospective list for Pratoni with the addition of two riders.

Evelina Bertoli and Leitrim Orient Express at WEG in 2014. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Pietro Majolino, a former European Young Riders medallist, and Evelina Bertoli, who represented Italy at the 2014 WEG, have been added to complete the list of eight riders, from which the final squad will be named in mid-August. The final team will be named with a total of four team combinations and one individual pair.

Stay tuned right here on EN for more Pratoni news coming your way as we look forward to September!

Equestrian Canada Releases Declared and Qualified List for Pratoni 2022

By on Jul 6, 2022 9:00 am -

Equestrian Canada has announced its list of Declared and Qualified eventing riders for the FEI World Championships at Pratoni del Vivaro in Italy this September. As with all long and short lists, the final squads for this year’s WEG — which will host eventing and driving at one venue, endurance at another, and dressage, show jumping and vaulting at a third — will be named by August 15. Each federation can send a total of five combinations: four team members and one individual pair.

Holly Jacks-Smither and Candy King. Photo by Shelby Allen.

The Canadian declared long-list is:

  • Hawley Bennett-Awad with her own and the Jollybo Syndicate LLC’s Jollybo
  • Dana Cooke with the FE Mississippi Syndicate’s FE Mississippi
  • Lisa Marie Fergusson with her own Honor Me
  • Holly Jacks-Smither with Candy King Eventing Limited Partnership’s Candy King
  • Jamie Kellock and her own Summer Bay
  • Colleen Loach with her own, Amanda Bernhard and Peter Barry’s FE Golden Eye
  • Colleen Loach with Peter and Susan Berry’s Vermont
  • Jessica Phoenix with her own and Charlotte Schickedanz’s Watson GS
  • Jessica Phoenix with Jim Phillips’ and Colleen Mitchell’s Wabbit
  • Karl Slezak with his own and Kirk Hoppner’s Fernhill Wishes
  • Lindsay Traisnel with Patricia and Craig Pierce’s Bacyrouge
  • Mike Winter with his own, Emma Winter, and Jonathan Nelson’s El Mundo

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Jul 6, 2022 12:01 am -

Photo via Cathy Wieschhoff on Facebook.

It’s a little bit belated, but I had to share this awesome float on this weekend’s July 4th parade in Lexington. Cathy Wieschhoff, much-loved and respected coach, designer, trainer, drummer, and all around expert-on-all-the-things and her “RelationShip” made an appearance representing Pride Month on the parade route:

Fourth of July 2022 ✅✅✅
🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Posted by Cathy Wieschhoff on Monday, July 4, 2022

We love it — literally!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Arrowhead H.T. (Billings, MT): [Website] [Volunteer]

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, GA): [Website] [Entry Status] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Genesee Valley Hunt H.T. (Geneseo, NY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scores]

Huntington Farm H.T. (South Strafford, VT): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

The Maryland International + H.T. (Adamstown, MD): [Website] [Entry Status] [Scores] [Volunteer]

Round Top H.T. (Castle Rock, CO): [Scores]

Summer Coconino H.T. (Flagstaff, AZ): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scores] [Volunteer]

Major International Events

FEI Nations Cup of Eventing CCIO4*-S (Avenches, Switzerland): [Website] [Live Stream]

Keyflow Feeds Barbury Castle International CCI4*-S (Marlborough, England): [Website] [Entries/Times/Scores] [Live Stream]

Wednesday News & Reading

It’s the final week of EN’s 9th Blogger Contest! We’re accepting first-round entries through Friday, July 8 and have added a $500 cash prize for the winner and two runners-up! We can’t wait to see what talents we’ve been missing out on — you can learn more and submit your entry here, and if you’re looking for some tips and tricks for entering, click here.

There aren’t many tack malfunctions worse than discovering your beloved breastplate or saddle has come down with “the scum”. With summer in full swing and with it, plenty of moisture and funk coming home on our tack every ride, it’s no wonder our tack could use some extra love this time of year. Luckily we’ve been high on the Sterling Essentials wave, as its simple and natural formulation caught our eye as a way to reduce skin irritants while nourishing the leather, too. [Learn more about Sterling Essentials]

Get to know Swiss Olympian Melody Johner, who will represent the home team this weekend at the FEI Nations Cup leg at Avenches. Melody, along with the very talented Swiss team, will be vying for a spot at this fall’s FEI World Championships, and her Olympic partner Toubleu de Rueire might just be the horse to stamp her ticket. [Melody: The Quiet Force]

What’s it like to take part in intercollegiate eventing? I, for one, am green with envy that eventing in college is even a thing these days. You can follow along with a day in the life of intercollegiate eventer Hannah Warner, who attends and rides for the University of Kentucky, in the latest USEA profile piece. [A Day in the Life with Hannah Werner]

What happens when you’ve built a career, served your country, and find a new sporting passion at age 40? Well, you dive in with both feet, of course! At least that’s what Army veteran Ty Burke decided to do after discovering eventing — in fact, his first action was to Google “best eventer in the world” and call one of the top hits: Boyd Martin. Now, he’s a full-time eventer in training with Lillian Heard and he isn’t regretting his decision in the least. [Amateur Spotlight: Ty Burke]

Sponsor Corner

Now through July 17, Haygain is celebrating Independence Day with a 20% discount on the HGONE with the purchase of a HG2000 or HG600 Steamer. It’s a deal you won’t want to pass up!

Watch This on H&C+

Don’t miss Barbury International in the UK all week long with your H&C+ subscription!

Wednesday Video Break

Preview this weekend’s FEI Nations Cup leg in Switzerland, the site of last year’s European Eventing Championships:

#TrainingTipTuesday Video: Walking Cross Country with Lucinda Green

By on Jul 5, 2022 4:00 pm -

It’s cross country day! You’ve ticked all the preparation boxes, gotten through your dressage test, and now it’s time for the fun stuff. But are you properly prepared for this phase?

Walking and preparing for cross country is a skill all event riders should possess, but sometimes we skip over some details when things get busy or our nerves begin to cloud our thinking. Through her online XC Academy program, British eventing legend Lucinda Green provides loads of useful information on a variety of cross country riding and training techniques; the latest video she’s released centers on walking your course.

How many jumps should you jump in warm-up? What happens if you sun’s shining directly in your eyes at your ride time? How can you walk your course with your horse and where you are in your training in mind? These are the details Lucinda talks through in great detail as she takes viewers through a course walk, and I guarantee it’ll change the way you look at your next walk.

Watch, listen, learn, and sign up for Lucinda’s XC Academy for more content like this here.

Weekend Winners: Twin Rivers, Coconino, Chatt Hills, Essex

By on Jul 5, 2022 2:00 pm -

Horse showing over 4th of July weekend is a popular way to “officially” ring in summer, if you ask us. There were only a handful of events running this weekend, but let’s dive right in to our weekly winner recap.

This weekend’s Unofficial Low Score Award was earned at Essex H.T., the first two phases of which were held at the historic USET Headquarters facility in Gladstone, NJ. What a cool opportunity for those who competed! Isabelle Bosley and Karen Martin’s homebred Hanoverian mare, Paper Doll, were the eventual winners of the notoriously tough Open Prelim at Essex, finishing on their dressage score of 22.1 to take home the lion’s share of the $10,000 prize pot for this division.

Take a look at Isabelle and Paper Doll’s show jumping in the Gladstone arena:

Posted by Isabelle Bosley on Sunday, July 3, 2022

Twin Rivers Summer H.T. (Paso Robles, CA): [Website] [Results]

Advanced: Tamie Smith and Solaguayre California (35.4)
Open Intermediate: Helen Alliston and Ebay (26.8)
Open Preliminary: Taren Hoffos and Regalla (28.3)
Preliminary Rider: Gabriella Ringer and Get Wild (29.3)
Open Training: Tommy Greengard and Cappachina (25.5)
Sr. Training Rider: Sarah Ross and Fernhill Heart Throb (24.8)
Jr. Training Rider: Lauren Crabtree and Excellence (26.2)
Training Horse: Nicholas Cwick and Lowmax (26.2)
Open Novice: Helen Alliston and Call Me Rudi (26.7)
Sr. Novice Rider A: Mackenzie Davison and Lockdown JPL (27.8)
Sr. Novice Rider B: Carrie Finno and Zahara (28.9)
Jr. Novice Rider: Gracie Pitts and Valeureux (32.5)
Novice Horse: Haley Turner and Remember Me (26.4)
Open Beginner Novice: Tommy Greengard and Shark (29.1)
Sr. Beginner Novice Rider: Julienne Biglin and Reverie GWF (23.1)
Jr. Beginner Novice Rider: Marilyn Schackner and Georgie Z (35.0)
Starter: Ellen Gudiksen and Kilkenny Fugitive (35.3)
FEH-3: Megan Bittle and Nevadas Ember BDF (88.3)
FEH-4: Celina Sanchez and Solaguayre Dina (81.3)
FEH-Yearling: John Lyons and Chatsworth Sea Hawk (86.8)
YEH-5: Sigourney Jellins and Catlina PJ (82.4)

Summer Coconino H.T. I (Flagstaff, AZ): [Website] [Results]

Intermediate: Travis Atkinson and Don Darco (50.6)
Preliminary CT: Denise Krause-Spangler and Venture’s Finale (38.7)
Preliminary: Ghislane Homan-Taylor and Mt. Whitney (46.1)
Open Training: Erin Contino and Handsome Ransom (31.9)
Training Rider: Jennifer Achilles and Excel Star Lance (34.7)
Open Novice: Ghislane Homan-Taylor and PSH Donna Tella (26.7)
Novice Rider: Jennifer Achilles and Excel Star Solstice (25.6)
Beginner Novice Junior: Lauren Field and Balou’Quill (33.8)
Beginner Novice Rider: Eileen Morgenthaler and Chicago GS (24.1)
Open Beginner Novice: Dana Sitzman and Chesapeake Blue (30.0)
Intro A: Sydney Penilla and Haymish (26.7)
Intro B: Terri Cooper and Pumpkin Spice Latte (34.3)
Pre-Comp: Darci Stahl and GES Major Leaguer (27.0)

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, GA): [Website] [Results]

Open Intermediate: Jenny Caras and Sommersby (29.8)
Open Preliminary: Erin Pullen and Theodoor (32.1)
Preliminary Rider: Elle Choate and Paddrick (29.2)
Modified Rider: Savannah Miller and Langcaster (29.8)
Open Modified: Leslie Law and Tullibards on Tour (26.8)
Jr. Training Rider: Livy Chambers and Fernhill Destiny (26.9)
Open Training: Leslie Law and Really All Gold (22.5)
Sr. Training: Kathleen Abrams and Spintastic (39.3)
Jr. Novice: Addie Miller and Fernhill Leroy Brown (28.6)
Open Novice: Sierra Shurtz and Mantua (26.1)
Sr. Novice: Gibsen Kaye and Chances Are (40.0)
Beginner Novice Rider: Jessica Schabert and Pineapple Express (25.9)
Open Beginner Novice: Bobby Meyerhoff and Diakar (24.1)

Essex H.T. (Far Hills, NJ): [Website] [Results]

Open Preliminary: Isabelle Bosley and Paper Doll (22.1)
Open Training: Sophia Middlebrook and Monbeg Odyssey (23.3)
Training Rider: Katherine Maroko and Rosie’s Little Miss Liberty (27.1)
Novice Rider: Peyton Brienza and The Brave Little Toaster (28.3)
Open Novice: Megan Kepferle and HSH Hillside D’Artagnan (24.2)
Beginner Novice Rider: Susan Kozlowski and Jersey Girl (25.9)
Open Beginner Novice: Beth Durden and Dusty Dazing (30.9)

Germany Releases Long-list for FEI World Championships at Pratoni del Vivaro

By on Jul 5, 2022 9:00 am -

Olympic gold medallist Julia Krajewski and Amande de b’Neville are named to the top tier of the German long-list.Photo by Tilly Berendt.

With CHIO Aachen in the rear view and most selection trials for the upcoming FEI World Championships / WEG / whatever we’re calling it these days done and dusted, it’s now time to start watching the airwaves for long-list and team announcements. Nominated entries for Pratoni are due to the FEI on August 15, with definite entries due by September 5, meaning we’ll be seeing more announcements like this one coming over the next few weeks.

Germany is the latest to confirm its senior list, and has done so in four tiers, which were named as follows:

Tier 1

Sandra Auffarth with Viamant du Matz
Michael Jung with fischerChipmunk FRH
Julia Krajewski with Amande de B’Neville

Tier 2:

Sophie Leube with Jadore Moi
Dirk Schrade with casino
Christoph Wahler with Carjatan S

Tier 3:

Nicolai Aldinger with Timmo
Alina Dibowski with Barbados
Malin Hansen-Hotopp with Carlitos Quidditch K
Ingrid Klimke with Equistros Siena just do it
Anna Siemer with FRH Butts Avondale

Tier 4:

Arne Bergendahl with Luthien
Andreas Dibowski with Brennus
Heike Jahncke with Mighty Spring
Andreas Ostholt with high flight TSF

The final German team for Pratoni will be named following the final German selection trial at Haras du Pin, August 11-14.

Tuesday News & Notes from Ocala Horse Properties

By on Jul 5, 2022 12:01 am -

It’s almost that tiiiiiime…..
Screenshot via stalking Courtney Carson on Instagram.

We’re ticking down the days until the debut of Vandiver and Courtney Carson, who will be tackling the Modified at War Horse this weekend as their first event together. Doug Payne announced Vandiver’s retirement and the subsequent plans for Courtney to take the ride for a few events before “Quinn” heads off to his retirement years with breeder and owner Debi Crowley. We’ll call that quite the swan song!

Vandiver isn’t the only horse we’ve seen stepping down and taking on the role of professor…

Here’s a look at Holly Payne’s former 5* ride, Never Outfoxed, competing with Ginsie Smith at Essex this weekend:

As well as a peek at Lauren Billys two-time Olympic partner, Castle Larchfield Purdy, out romping about with young rider Maddie Smith:

Events Opening This Week

[Caber Farm H.T.] [The Event at Archer] [Genesee Valley Riding and Driving Club H.T.] [Waredaca Farm H.T.] [Huntington Farm H.T.] [Applewood Farm YEH/FEH/Mini Event]

Events Closing Today

[The Event at Rebecca Farm] [Silverwood Farm Summer H.T.] [Course Brook Farm Summer Event] [Full Moon Farms H.T.]

Tuesday News & Reading

How does footing, rider balance, and striding correlate with horses’ soundness and performance? Top show jumper and self-professed footing nerd Karl Cook has some opinions, and as always they’re fairly interesting and educational to read. [Picking Karl Cook’s Brain on Arena Footing, Rider Balance, and Keeping Horses Sound]

Bitting is always a topic we’re eager to learn more about. For any rider, it can be rather intimidating to try to pick the right solution for your horse, and while most coaches will tell you less is more sometimes the decision requires more. The latest USEA podcast dives into this subject Lisa Waterworth of Expert Bits. [Selecting the Best Bit for Your Horse]

A total of 12 Area III champions were crowned at Stable View late last month, including two wins for Jennie Jarnstrom-Dennis and plenty of great stories to look back on. [Twelve Area III Champions Crowned]

Are you a rider in the UK looking for a shot to be on Horse & Country’s latest show, All Star Academy? You won’t want to miss the audition deadline, which closes in just about a week! [All Star Academy Hosting Auditions]

Sponsor Corner

Photo via MLS / Ocala Horse Properties.

Photo via MLS / Ocala Horse Properties.

Our Ocala Horse Properties #dreamfarm of the week is one for the design aficionados reading this. The main residence is inspired by mid-century design household name Frank Lloyd Wright, and on top of the unique home you’ll also get fully functioning equestrian amenities, a private tennis court, and an eight-car garage. Let me know when you’re ready to send me an invite to your housewarming party. [Ocala Horse Properties #dreamfarm]

Team America’s Mimi Gochman earned individual bronze in the final round for the FEI Youth Equestrian Games, which were held at CHIO Aachen over the weekend. The Youth Equestrian Games riders were paired with drawn catch-ride horses and given a few days to familiarize before the start of competition, and riders represented federations from all over the world on a mix of teams. [Mimi Gochman Earns Individual Bronze]

Tuesday Video Break

Catch some pretty highlights from CHIO Aachen and headlining sponsor ROLEX:

CHIO Aachen Live Cross Country Updates

By on Jul 2, 2022 3:00 am -

Welcome to cross country morning, on German time at least! We’ve got a few hours of incredible cross country on tap this morning — the entry list is so star-studded that it nearly feels like it’s World Championships. If nothing else, it’s a solid preview of some pairs we’re very likely to see heading to Italy in September — and maybe even a few who could top the podium at the end of it all.

Today’s cross country course is designed once again by Rüdiger Schwarz, and we’ll see a total of 42 horses and riders over the next few hours, with the first pair out on course at 3:30 a.m. EST / 9:30 a.m. local time in Germany. You can view all ride times here; some notable times include:

4:38 a.m. EST / 10:38 a.m. CEST: Will Coleman and Off the Record (13th – 32.5) – CLEAR 2 time
4:46 a.m. EST / 10:46 a.m. CEST: Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire (34th – 41.6) – CLEAR 7.6 time
5:06 a.m. EST / 11:06 a.m. CEST: Meghan O’Donoghue and Palm Crescent (15th – 32.8) – 40 jumping / 24.4 time
5:54 a.m EST / 11:54 a.m. CEST: Buck Davidson and Carlevo (7th – 29.9) – 20 jumping, 24.8 time
5:58 a.m. EST / 11:58 a.m. CEST: Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS (6th – 29.8) – CLEAR, 10.8 time
6:10 a.m. EST / 12:10 p.m. CEST: William Fox-Pitt and Little Fire (3rd – 27.2) – CLEAR, 7.6 time
6:14 a.m. EST / 12:14 p.m. CEST: Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser (2nd – 26.4) – CLEAR, 6.4 time
6:18 a.m. EST / 12:18 p.m. CEST: Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH (1st – 22.2) – 15 missed flag penalties, 1.2 time

Keep this page refreshed often for more updates! If you want to start from the beginning, scroll all the way to the bottom — I update this from the top so the latest update shows first. My updates are nothing compared to the real thing, however, so be sure to spin on over to ClipMyHorse.TV — you can sign up for a free month-long trial if you’re a new member, or pay for a single month for about $16 if you aren’t. I believe you may also be able to access the live stream in a small player — but don’t quote me on that! The English commentary cross country stream can be found here if you want to try. The phases are also made available on demand and can be sorted to watch a specific rider/horse — pretty cool!

You can take a quick spin around the track with Team USA below (or here if the embedded post does not show up for you):

 

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And here is a map view of the track — you can also follow along for a cool live tracking on SAP Equestrian Analytics here. Optimum time is 6 minutes, 59 seconds with 35 efforts across 25 numbered obstacles.

CHIO Aachen CCIO4*S: Website, Eventing Info Hub, Timing & Scoring, Live Scoring, ClipMyHorse.TV Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

8:10 a.m. EST: An update for you: after a very lengthy review and delayed press conference, Michael Jung has been assessed 15 penalties for a missed flag at fence 14, a right-handed brush corner. This will drop him down to eighth overall and give fellow German and 2014 WEG champion Sandra Auffarth the win with Viamant du Matz. What a dramatic finish! View final scores here.

6:38 a.m. EST: Here’s a look at the final team standings — this isn’t a formal FEI Nations Cup Leg, but there is a Nations competition here, which Team GB takes the title for. Tilly will be along later with the full final report — thank you for following along with me!

6:35 a.m. EST: And here we go: now we see confirmed that Chipmunk was given a clear at 14. This confirms Michael’s win — here’s a look at the final board — you can also see final scores here.

6:34 a.m. EST: Still no update on scores — I keep missing the replay so I can’t show you, but it was a poor angle on the stream and makes it hard to see whether the right side of the fence was jumped.

6:28 a.m. EST: Wait just a moment – Michael’s going to be under review for a hairy jump at 14. It’s hard to say whether he got through the flags or not. If he didn’t, Sandra Auffarth would win with Viamant du Matz.

6:26 a.m. EST: Michael finishes his Novice round, not quite catching the time but with 11 seconds in hand he didn’t need to rush to get home. fischerChipmunk picks up the win here at Aachen and we’ll be most likely to see him next in Italy. What a pair!

6:24 a.m. EST: Michael shaves off a second here and there, taking a more angled, daring line from the keyhole to the arrowhead that has caught out quite a few pairs and of course makes it look like a schooling exercise.

6:24 a.m. EST: Toledo de Kerser won’t catch the time, but he’s home with another clear for Team GB. He’ll be third for now.

6:21 a.m. EST: William Fox-Pitt collects some time with Little Fire but is home with a superbly chill-looking clear. Tom and Toledo de Kerser are clear through 17, and Michael is clear through 10.

6:19 a.m. EST: And away we go with our overnight leader, Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH! Quite a showdown out there at the moment.

6:18 a.m. EST: My GIF app is a bit lagging today, so here’s a belated look at Will and Chin Tonic at the final water:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

6:16 a.m. EST: Yikes, very quick thinking from Tim Price as Falco gets hung up in the keyhole at 16C. As Falco scrambles, Tim popped off and helped guide him off the jump. They both look ok but that was a bit scary. Meanwhile, William Fox-Pitt is now on course with Little Fire, as are Tokyo silver medallists Tom McEwen with Toledo de Kerser.

6:14 a.m. EST: We’ve barely seen her on the live stream, but 2014 WEG champion Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz is barely off the optimum time, picking up three seconds of time to be the second quickest of the day so far. She’ll go into the provisional lead now on a 29.5 for Germany.

6:12 a.m. EST: Chin Tonic HS stops the clock with 10.8 time accrued, but man what a cool horse this is. He has answered every question put in front of him this year — I may be wrong here, but I don’t know if it was the original plan to run this horse here at Aachen. But what a champion — keep an eye on this one!

6:10 a.m. EST: Tim Price and Falco are away as we get into the meat of the top 5.

6:10 a.m. EST: Carlevo is home safe — Buck, riding with a broken foot, will be kicking himself for the trouble and we’ll await the decision on the score at 14. Meanwhile, Will and Chin Tonic are clear through 16.

6:08 a.m. EST: Buck has taken the foot off the pedal on Carlevo after that trouble, opting for the long route at the open corner question just before the Main Arena.

6:07 a.m. EST: Bummer – Buck comes up on the feed with a runout at the D element of 18, a right-handed brush fence. He also has question marks for his jump at 14.

6:06 a.m. EST: A handful of a team and a round that looked like a walk in the park for Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ — you’ll remember Yasmin, of course, from her runner-up Kentucky finish with Banzai du Loir.

6:05 a.m. EST: A look at Andrew over the last:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

6:05 a.m. EST: Now also away are Will Coleman and Chin Tonic HS who could go into the lead with a quick round. We have not seen much of Buck, but he’s clear through 10.

6:01 a.m. EST: Into the lead for now on a 30.5 for Andrew and Vassily de Lassos — what a horse! Just one second over for the fastest of the day so far.

5:59 a.m. EST: 8 seconds over for Joseph Murphy and Calmaro and into the clubhouse lead on a 33.6. And we have Buck Davidson away with Carlevo! Great to see Buck out here on a team again.

5:58 a.m. EST: Okay, Rehy DJ getting a bunch of face pats from Team Ingham in the start box is probably the best thing I’ve ever seen and will forever be my biggest GIF-ing missed opportunity.

5:56 a.m. EST: A peek at Joseph and Calmaro at the Rolex Water — you can just see their experience and Calmaro’s keenness here:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

5:55 a.m. EST: Next to see will be Australian individual bronze medalists Andrew Hoy with Vassily de Lassos — one of my favorite cross country horses and also one of the most consistent performers out there. Andrew’s another who can be counted on to wear a helmet cam, let’s hope he’s got his Cambox on this time!

5:52 a.m. EST: Now away are Irish pair Joseph Murphy and Calmaro — this is another pair we saw at Kentucky earlier this spring.

5:45 a.m. EST: It looks like Allstar B is on the horse ambulance — we’re really hoping he’s going to be ok. I’ll keep you posted on anything else I hear. We should be back underway shortly with Joseph Murphy and Calmaro.

5:43 a.m. EST: We’ll be on a hold now while Allstar B is attended to.

5:39 a.m. EST: Allstar B looks to maybe have hit his leg on the arrowhead after the coffin and unfortunately has come up very lame. I’ll report back as soon as I can tell more — Ros has popped off and it looks like the horse ambulance is on its way over.

 

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5:35 a.m. EST: Here’s a look at Ingrid’s jump through into the Rolex Water with EQUISTRO’S Siena Just Do It:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

5:34 a.m. EST: Here we go now with defending WEG champions from Tryon, Ros Canter and Allstar B. This pair is on a 30.5 coming into this phase.

5:32 a.m. EST: Whew – another heavy landing in the final water, this time for Gespard Maskud and Zaragoza, only this time we see a parting of ways. They both appear to be fine — I’m still voting you post the helmet cam, Gespard!

Sponsor Break! Another #dreamfarm for your vision board from Ocala Horse Properties:

 

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5:30 a.m. EST: Here we go now with French rider Stephane Landois and Chaman Dumontceau. We also have another French rider on course, Gaspard Maksud with Zaragoza.

5:27 a.m. EST: Bummer! Ingrid has a very similar issue to Meghan (hopefully that’s maybe a bit of salve for you, Meghan! Olympians, they’re just like us?) at the arrowhead following the coffin at 16D. She now has another drive-by at the second angled brush at 18C, the Turkish Airlines Complex.

5:25 a.m. EST: Ingrid uses all her strength and experience to sit tight on Siena Just Do It after a huge jump over the oxer ahead of the Rolex Water. After an equally huge jump in to the water, Ingrid uses her body strength to get back on her line — what a masterclass. I can’t wait to watch this helmet cam! Meanwhile, Clarke survives a similar hairy moment in the final water to Julia’s with Leopard’s Action. They’re now safely home clear with some time.

5:21 a.m. EST: Next to see will be German Olympian Ingrid Klimke with EQUISTRO’S Siena Just Do It, currently on a score of 34.0. We have yet to see anyone make it within the optimum time of 6:59 and may well not see one until we get closer to the top of the leaderboard. Michael Jung has about 11 seconds of time in hand and theoretically should only need about 3 minutes to get home with fischerChipmunk.

5:18 a.m. EST: We’ve just seen a replay of Camille Lejeuene and Good Size des Quatre Chenes surviving a very hairy moment through a fence I couldn’t quite recognize, but they’ve since gotten home with one broken pin at fence 16. Ireland’s Cathal Daniels is also on course with Barrichello, clear through 17. This pair is another Badminton re-route, having had quite a tumble near the end of cross country at Badminton but no worse for the wear, fortunately. New Zealand’s Clark Johnstone is also out with Leopard’s Action and clear through 8.

5:16 a.m. EST: Here’s a look at the epic save from Julia and Amande de B’Neville:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

5:13 a.m. EST: Ugh, Meghan will be kicking herself after that 20 and now she picks up another in the Main Arena at 24B with just a bit too open of a stride on the approach. But, this is Palm Crescent’s biggest challenge to date, at least from a technical standpoint, and there was a LOT to like about this gutsy round.

5:11 a.m. EST: Rats! Palm Crescent just doesn’t quite lock on to the arrowhead after the coffin owl hole. SUCH a bummer — I don’t think he saw it until it was a little too late. That’s 20 on the team for U.S., and Meghan will now be the drop score as it stands now.

 

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5:10 a.m. EST: Julia and Mandy somehow stay on their feet after a trip in the water in the Main Arena, but they’re home with some time. Palm Crescent absolutely flies past the camera on their way to the coffin.

5:08 a.m. EST: Here’s our next Team USA rider, Meghan O’Donoghue with the OTTB Palm Crescent, currently on 32.8 with one of the rare clear rounds yesterday in show jumping.

5:05 a.m. EST: Camilla Speirs is now showing as eliminated on three refusals, having been given a 20 instead of a flag penalty (I misreported the flag penalty earlier — it was always a 20 on scores). Jesse Campbell also has question marks at 11. Meanwhile, Julia is clear through 15.

5:02 a.m. EST: And here she is! Julia Krajewski is away with “Mandy” — this is the first major event we’ve seen this pair in since Tokyo, and we trust Julia will make a strong bid to book her ticket to Italy today.

Clip via ClipMyHorse.TV.

4:59 a.m. EST: Camilla Speirs survives a trip through the arrowhead at the Deutsche Bank Complex at 11 — scores show a ??? for now while the ground jury reviews whether the horse successfully cleared the flags. Also on course are New Zealand representatives Jesse Campbell and Gambesie. Camilla does have trouble at 18B and 18C, and it does look like she’s been given a flag penalty at 11.

4:56 a.m. EST: Catching up quickly, we have French rider Ben Massie on course with Climaine de Cacao and clear through 22, as well as Irish rider Camilla Speirs and BT Angelo. We’re also just one rider away from seeing the Tokyo individual gold medalist, Julia Krajewski with Amande de B’Neville.

4:54 a.m. EST: 7.6 time accrued for Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire, who have quickly established a reputation of reliability on cross country for Team USA. Here’s a look at them through the final water:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

4:51 a.m. EST: Jonelle is home clear with Kilbunny Andy, and Sydney is now clear through fence 17.

4:48 a.m. EST: A bit of a peeky jump into the Rolex Water for QC Diamantaire, but they’re clear through 6.

4:47 a.m. EST: Next away are our second pair of Americans, Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire, currently on a score of 41.6. Jonelle Price and Kilbunny Andy are through the Rolex Water.

4:45 a.m. EST: 5 seconds, 2 time penalties for the quickest of the day for our defending Aachen champions! What a blasting ride from our American trailblazer. We’ll see him back later with Chin Tonic HS. Off the Record goes into clubhouse second on a 34.5.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

4:45 a.m. EST: Will has about 30 seconds as he tackles the final water…can he get closest to the time so far?

4:43 a.m. EST: Now away is our first for New Zealand, Jonelle Price and Kilbunny Andy. Meanwhile, Will is through the coffin complex at 17.

4:41 a.m. EST: A look at Will and Off the Record at the Rolex Water:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

4:39 a.m. EST: Now we have our first U.S. pair of the day and our 2021 winner, Will Coleman with Off the Record. They come forward in 13th on a 32.5.

4:36 a.m. EST: Michael has a green moment with Kilcandra Ocean Power, just ducking out to the right at the brush following the owl hole at 16D.

4:34 a.m. EST: Whew……Felix and Cartania are very lucky. They come in too long and hot to the fruit table in the Main Arena and catch front legs, somersaulting over and pinning Felix momentarily. Thankfully they are both up and appear to be ok.

4:32 a.m. EST: Michael sits chilly and lets Kilcandra Ocean Power find his feet as they wind their way through the Rolex Water.

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

4:30 a.m. EST: Michael Jung is now away with his first ride, Kilcandra Ocean Power, the first Aachen cross country for this 9-year-old.

4:28 a.m. EST: Felix is beautifully through the Rolex Water — no issues with the jump in here for this pair.

4:26 a.m. EST: Ok, we’re back underway now with Felix and Cartania. This also means Louise Romeike and Waikiki 207 have also withdrawn.

4:25 a.m. EST: William Fox-Pitt says “lemme take a look at what y’all are messing with here”:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

4:21 a.m. EST: Interesting. They appear to have moved the sprinkler to where it’s now splashing on almost the exact landing spot of the rail into the water. To me, this looks like it would be more of a distraction? But there have been quite a few to have very funky jumps from here so we’ll see if this affects anything going forward. India’s Fouaad Mirza has withdrawn Siegneur Medicott, and I think Felix Vogg, winner of Luhmühlen last month, with his WEG hopeful mare, Cartania, will be out next.

4:19 a.m. EST: The grounds crew is checking out that rail into the Rolex Water to just check out the landing side — they seem to be maybe moving the sprinkler to hit the surface of the water and agitate it for visibility purposes.

4:16 a.m. EST: Wow, not one you’d expect to have trouble but Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa has called it a day with two stops at the in to the Rolex Water at 6 with the very experienced Calle 44. When it’s not your day, it’s simply not your day unfortunately. Meanwhile Lea Siegl has about 18 seconds left on the clock as she comes into the Main Arena with DSP Fighting Line.

4:13 a.m. EST: Ooo! Lara and Ducati D’Arville survive a little stumble in the final water in the Main Arena, but she’s home clear after a gutsy round. She’ll collect about 25 seconds of time.

4:10 a.m. EST: We’ll now see another Olympic pair, Austria’s Lea Siegl and DSP Fighting Line. Meanwhile, Lara de Liedekerke-Meier takes the long route after a funky jump into the Rolex Water at 6.

4:09 a.m. EST: Well Nadja and Aquila B have had quite the round here on their Aachen debut — they’ll certainly have some time, but she’s got a very impressive clear under her belt now as she makes a bid to represent the Swiss at Pratoni in a couple of months.

4:07 a.m. EST: Next out will be Belgian Olympian Lara de Liedekerke-Meier with Ducati d’Arville.

4:03 a.m. EST: Sarah Bullimore and Corouet finish — Sarah had to work for that one with just how enthusiastic of a ride Corouet is — collecting 22.4 time penalties. We’re joined by Swiss rider Nadja Minder and Aquila B, making their Aachen debut this weekend.

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4:00 a.m. EST: Another one to take a big peek at the rail into the Rolex Water for Sara Algotsson Ostholt and Chicuelo. Sara came around to attempt the long route, but Chicuelo says no again and this will sadly be a very early end to their day.

3:58 a.m. EST: Oof, not the feeling you want up a huge bank: Corouet leaves a leg taking off up the bank at 11, the Deutsche Bank Complex. It makes for a funny jump over the big, skinny arrowhead at the top of the hill. Sarah’s air vest also appears to have popped — always fun trying to breathe with that going on.

3:57 a.m. EST: Gosh I just can’t get enough of this horse’s expression — he jumps huge into the Rolex Water but handily makes his way through. Meanwhile, it sadly looks like Anna Siemer has pulled up FRH Butt’s Avondale just before fence 21. I didn’t quite catch it, but it looks like perhaps the mare took a funny step just ahead of it. I’ll keep an eye out for more.

3:55 a.m. EST: Now comes Sarah Bullimore with the absolutely cheeky and adorable Corouet, who you may recognize from Kentucky earlier this spring.

3:54 a.m. EST: Anna Siemer navigates the final two elements of the Rolex water at 6:

GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.

3:53 a.m. EST: We’ve yet to have anyone come close to the time, and Sophie’s going to be one of the quickest so far but still collects about six seconds to add to her clear round.

3:51 a.m. EST: Anna Siemer now tackles the track with FRH Butts Avondale, while Sophie now winds her way through a combined driving question to tick off questions near the end of her course.

3:50 a.m. EST: A strong finish for Jan Matthias, who finishes just with time at Granulin 2.

3:48 a.m. EST: Sophie is very handily through the Rolex Water at 6 — one of those twirly, spaghetti-feeling complexes that spins you around and dares you to stop coming forward at the same time. Questions like this really set the tone for what Rüdiger Schwarz has up his sleeve as you continue on.

3:46 a.m. EST: Ah, now the mare has ducked out at the first angled brush at 18, the Fendt Complex. She’s lost her rhythm and confidence a bit after the trouble earlier on and will now have to walk home. Meanwhile, Sophie Leube and Jadore Moi are now on course for Germany, on a score of 31.5 after two phases. This pair has rerouted here after a spot of trouble on cross country at Luhmühlen in June.

3:45 a.m. EST: The in to the Turkish Airlines coffin complex at 16 is quite offensive to Dame Decouer Tardonne, who essentially faceplants into the frangible open oxer at A, taking the front pin. She’s through on the second attempt.

3:43 a.m. EST: Now joining us is another German rider, Jan Matthias on the very keen-looking Granulin 2.

3:40 a.m. EST: Dame Decoeur Tardonne has a look at the big rail dropping into the water at fence 6, the Rolex Complex, and a big jump in on the second attempt prompts Camille to pull around for the option. This 9-year-old would still be a bit green at this level; this weekend marks her third start at 4*.

3:38 a.m. EST: Arne is going to finish with plenty of time accrued, but a really nice first round here at Aachen — this is their first appearance at this event together. Now we’re joined by French rider Camille Lejeune and Dame Decoeur Tardonne, currently on a score of 34.3. Time is always a factor at Aachen, with its tight roping, twists and turns, and technicality — so expect to see a bit of shuffling done on that alone today.

3:36 a.m. EST: You can follow each rider’s progress around the track here on SAP Equestrian Analytics — I feel like I’m suddenly back tracking Leslie as she traipsed around Mongolia on the back of a wild horse.

3:30 a.m. EST: We’re getting all set here with our first pair out on course, Germany’s Arne Bergendahl with Checkovich, coming forward on a two-phase score of 51.3.

#TBT Video Break: Klimke’s the Queen of Aachen

By on Jun 30, 2022 3:30 pm -

2019 was the Year of Bobby at Aachen, as the Nations Cup CCIO4*-S competition was handily won that year by German Olympian Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD.

We dug into the archives to bring back Ingrid’s narrated helmet cam from her cross country round aboard Bobby, giving us an excellent view of the twists, turns, and crowds at this unique German venue.

Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD take Aachen. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

This should get you pumped for this weekend’s action, which commences tomorrow (tonight, technically, in the U.S.) with dressage in the morning and show jumping in the evening, followed by cross country to finish on Saturday. You can view the full competition schedule here and catch the live stream on ClipMyHorse.Tv. here.

CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Eventing Main Page] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]

An Organizer Overhaul, but Eventing will Continue at Woodside Horse Park

By on Jun 30, 2022 9:00 am -

Grace Walker Alonzi and Frantz kick on for home on cross country at Woodside earlier this year. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Worry for another lost event rippled through the Area VI community late last week on social media as news spread that Robert Kellerhouse’s Woodside Eventing would no longer be organizing events at Woodside Horse Park in California. However, the Bay Area facility, which also plays host to recognized competitions in other disciplines such as hunter/jumper, reining, and vaulting, has confirmed that it plans to still host events going forward.

Kellerhouse Presents/Woodside Eventing had organized three-day events, including the popular annual Preliminary Challenge and international competitions up through CCI4*, multiple times each year dating back to 2004; the venue has hosted eventing competitions for nearly 40 years.

“It is with a heavy heart that we advise that our time at the Horsepark at Woodside has come to a close,” Robert wrote in an open letter announcing the change.

For their part, Woodside Horse Park has indicated that they were notified of the partnership dissolution at the same time as Robert’s statement was published. “Notification was provided to us in parallel with a social media post,” a letter, sent to Horse Park members on the morning of June 24, reads. “Woodside Eventing’s unilateral decision and subsequent announcement do not reflect our deep commitment to quality eventing offerings on the West Coast.”

Robert noted that facility improvements, particularly on the cross country tracks, were needed in order to continue hosting quality events. “While in the past we have made these long term investments, we have done so with the backing of the Horsepark through the length of time we were provided to operate,” he explained in the letter.

Steve Roon, Executive Director of Woodside Horse Park, confirmed that the venue is currently working to secure its own licensing to host USEA and USEF-recognized events (Robert Kellerhouse had previously held the license to run the event at Woodside, and has subsequently applied to use that license for an August Horse Trials at Galway Downs).

In the letter sent to Horse Park members, the facility’s Board of Governors explained the intention to continue hosting events at the facility, which is also home to trainers and competitions from a wide range of other equestrian disciplines. Steve stated that the Park management is currently working with Area VI, USEA and USEF leaderships to obtain its own license to host the originally approved August 12-14 and October 6-9 Horse Trials. “The Horse Park is committed to providing eventing competitions at Woodside in 2023 and beyond,” he said.

Steve also addressed concerns about cross country footing, as noted in Robert’s statement as well as in a few comments from riders on social media. Steve indicated that designer and builder Bert Wood would be returning to work on the course at Woodside for events going forward and was confident that the footing issues will be mitigated. Many of the issues, he explained, stemmed from a mixture of soil types along with some changes to how the ground was managed leading up to the event. Bringing Bert back, he said, will enable the Horse Park to provide an excellent cross country experience.

“I appreciate the time we were provided by the Horsepark Board and its presidents. I am forever grateful to the 20,000 starters we have hosted throughout our 18 years’ time in Woodside,” Robert concluded in his letter. “We could not have done so without the support from the teams we have in the office, XC/SJ design and build, show operations, competition safety, special event prep and planning, sponsorship and last but not least the amazing volunteers at Woodside. You all have been instrumental in our success.”

The latest update provided by Woodside Horse Park can be found here.

This story is ongoing and we will continue to follow up on this to provide more updates as they are made available.

Max Corcoran Named USEF Eventing Elite Program and Team Facilitator

By on Jun 29, 2022 11:21 am -

Max Corcoran. Photo courtesy of ERA of NA.

We’ve got some more changes to report in camp USEF, and they’re exciting ones: on May 1, 2022, Max Corcoran was appointed as the Eventing Elite Program and Team Facilitator. In her role, Corcoran will support the areas of communication, logistics, and management of the teams for the Eventing Programs to deliver sustained success at World and Olympic Games level. As the Facilitator, she will work closely with the interim Chef d’Equipe/Team Manager Bobby Costello and eventing staff to build solid lines of communication with athletes, grooms, owners, coaches, veterinarians, and all stakeholders linked to the athletes and develop the structures around the Elite Program and senior U.S. Eventing Team.

“I am really honored to be working with USEF and the Elite Program as the Eventing Elite Program and Team Facilitator,” said Corcoran. “The hope is that my years of experience grooming internationally and event organizing can help U.S. Eventing horses, athletes, grooms, and owners. I am looking forward to the exciting challenges ahead of us!”

Max has long been a huge part of US Eventing: she built her reputation as one of the world’s best grooms in her years on the road with the O’Connor Eventing Team, and actually began her career working for now interim chef Bobby Costello when she was 12. She’s been the USEA President since 2020 and also sits on a number of committees, is involved in event organising, has been an Olympic technical official, and continues to work in a hands-on capacity with many riders, most recently travelling to Luhmühlen with the US competitors. We look forward to seeing her tackle this exciting new role with the same wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm she has done with the rest of her roles. Congratulations, Max!

An Update from Nicola Wilson: ‘Bit by Bit, Day by Day’

By on Jun 29, 2022 9:00 am -

Nicola Wilson and Erano M. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Nicola Wilson continues her recovery from injuries sustained in a fall near the end of cross country at Badminton Horse Trials on May 7, and while the road ahead remains long her spirits remain intact and she’s generously provided her supporters with another update on how she’s feeling:

 

Here’s a little video update of what Nic’s been up to in the last week. We can’t thank the staff in the Spinal Cord Injuries Unit at James Cook enough for what they’re doing for her, and also to everybody for all of the lovely messages and gifts; Nic says it really is overwhelming! Thanks also to sister-in-law Hannah for putting the brilliant video together! Team Wilson x

Posted by Nicola Wilson Eventing on Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Last Monday saw the start of Nicola’s physical therapy, which has been challenging but positive as she works to regain balance and body control. She’s not able to walk at this moment but, as Nicola puts it, “we’re all allowed to dream”.

“We’re improving daily and really, really pleased with how I’m getting on,” Nicola says. The team at the Spinal Cord Injuries Unit at James Cook University Hospital have been instrumental in aiding her recovery, as have her ever-present support network of family and friends. “Bit by bit, things are coming back. And I couldn’t be more grateful to the team here, who are doing an amazing job,” she continued. “How they all work together is truly fantastic. They’re inspirational, and I’m so grateful to be here.”

Nicola’s unbreakable desire to carry gratitude and, well, carry on, is nothing short of incredible and we wish her the most positive of recoveries. We’ll continue to provide updates as they are shared.