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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

Christina Klingspor Named President of Paris Olympics Eventing Ground Jury

By on Dec 19, 2023 9:30 am -

Christina Klingspor (SWE) presides over the LRK3DE proceedings. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

A change has been made to the Ground Jury presiding over the eventing action at next summer’s Paris Olympics. Sweden’s Christina Klingspor, a frequent fixture of Ground Jury panels both in the U.S. and abroad, will now replace Anne-Mette Binder of Denmark after an update was made to the officials appointment list on December 15. Eventful Life first reported the changes.

Christina Klingspor served on the Ground Jury at the postponed 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The other Ground Jury members remain as originally appointed: Xavier le Sauce (FRA), Robert Stevenson (USA) are on the Jury, while France’s Gaston Bileitczuk will take Assistant TD duties. Pierre le Goupil is the cross country designer.

The full list of official appointments for Paris can be found here.

Friday Video Break: Riding with the Reddens

By on Dec 15, 2023 2:30 pm -

In case you missed it, Horse & Country has a brand new series ready for you to binge! Riding with the Reddens is the latest creation from Horse & Country, featuring one family as they pursue their goals of becoming top riders. The show features 6 full episodes following the journeys of cousins Abigail Bennett and Emma Redden. Through a series of highs and lows, the Redden family learns what it means to be a part of equestrian sport as they, with the help of 5* rider and Olympian Kyle Carter and their trainer, Madeleine Scott, chase their dreams,

The first episode of the series is available in full above, and you can watch the full series with your H&C+ membership or a season pass here.

‘Tis the Season for Neck Straps: London 52’s First Post-Vacation Jump School

By on Dec 13, 2023 2:30 pm -

I kid you not when I tell you that team EN begins Instagram-stalking Laura Collett every year around this time. Cheg clued us in a bit this morning that the time was near, and now we’ve officially been blessed by the patron saint of neck straps with London 52’s first jump school antics after vacation. [Click here to watch the video above on Instagram]

Of course, when you’ve won multiple 5* events and multiple medals, you earn the right to take your training sessions however you see fit. London 52 certainly had another standout year, taking the title at Luhmühlen (that’s three 5* wins in as many starts, beginning with Pau in 2020 and Badminton in 2022). Great Britain may have depth to spare ahead of the upcoming Olympics in Paris, but there’s only one London 52.

If you’re just catching up with us, welcome. No, we typically don’t share every video of a horse enjoying himself after a vacation, but yes, it’s become an annual tradition here on EN. Here’s a look at a few of these posts over the years:

London 52’s Got the Moves
Just a Few London 52 Antics to Brighten Your Day
London 52’s First Jump School Since Tokyo

We’re here for it, Dan, as long as we’re not the ones who have to ride you. Never change.

ERHOTY Final Round: Ballaghmor Class vs. Colorado Blue

By on Dec 13, 2023 12:00 pm -

It’s the battle of the gray boys in the final round of voting to crown this year’s EquiRatings Horse of the Year. After two rounds, which thinned the field from 8 to 2, we now have our top two contenders:

Ballagmor Class

Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class add another five-star win to their record. Photo by Libby Law.

Ballaghmor Class tallied his third five-star win this year at Burghley, making him one of only 12 horses in the history of the sport to win three or more. The win came six years after Ballaghmor Class’s first five-star victory. That is one of the longest five-star-winning careers in eventing history (second only to La Biosthetique Sam’s seven-year span between first and last five-star title).

Ballaghmor Class is arguably the most consistent five-star horse of all time, having produced ten top-five placings at the five-star level, including a second-place finish at Badminton this year. His true-to-form consistency this season has given Ballaghmor Class the highest Elo of his career as he climbed with every single 2023 result. After his Burghley win, the 16-YO passed fischerChipmunk to top the Elo table for a while. Ballaghmor Class is, simply put, a five-star warrior and absolute workman.

Colorado Blue

Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue: Your 2023 MARS Maryland 5 Star winners! Photo by Sally Spickard.

This year at Badminton, we saw Colorado Blue go head-to-head with Lordships Graffalo in the cross country phase. It was Colorado Blue who was the fastest on the day in those notoriously testing conditions; 10.8 time penalties for him, 11.6 for Lordships Graffalo, and everyone else?: Twenty-one-plus time penalties. The result was a deserved climb up the leaderboard and the first Badminton podium from an Irish combination in 40 years.

Colorado Blue is in fact one of the top-rated cross country horses in the sport. His five-star XC jumping reliability puts him in the top 0.1% of horses worldwide and his five-star speed is among the top 0.05%.

Five months after Badminton, Colorado Blue went on and did it. At Maryland, he jumped double clear (XC and SJ) to produce the first five-star win for Ireland in 58 years. He had added just 1.2 XC time penalties on a day when only one horse was under the time and he was the only double-clear SJ round on the final day.

A classic sporting story – highs (Badminton and Maryland) and lows (Burghley) and when it ended with that big win, we could practically hear the whole eventing world cheer.

Learn more + cast your vote for the champion by Thursday, December 14 by clicking here!

Sunday Video Break: A Galway Downs Vlog

By on Dec 10, 2023 2:00 pm -

Want to see what it’s like to compete at Galway Downs (Temecula, CA) for a weekend? You’re in luck, as vlogger Shayna Chapman has shared a vlog on her Shay’s Way YouTube channel to take us along for the ride. Shayna lives in southern California, competing with her 13-year-old Connemara gelding, Lookout Volvic Rocket. See how Shay’s weekend shook out as she competed in the Beginner Novice Rider division at Galway in the video above!

UPDATED: More Show Jumping, CSI4* Status for 2024 Kentucky Invitational during LRK3DE

By on Dec 7, 2023 9:30 am -

2023 Kentucky Invitational champions Daniel Bluman (ISR) and Gemma W © Red Bay Group

Since 2018, show jumpers have joined the roster of sport during the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event for the Kentucky Invitational Grand Prix. It’s an opportunity for these riders to jump in major atmosphere, which is harder to find outside of the Wellington, Ocala, and Tryon, while also providing additional entertainment to the throngs of spectators in attendance.

Previously held as a CSI3*, the Kentucky Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute will now upgrade to CSI4* status for 2024. In addition, there will be a new $35,000 1.45m Two-Phase held during the lunch hour on cross country day (Saturday, April 27). There will also be a 1.45m Welcome Speee Cup Ranking Class on Friday after the completion of dressage for LRK3DE.

“With many of the world’s elite horses and riders gearing up for the 2024 Paris Olympics, next year’s event promises to be one of the most exciting ever,” said Erin Woodall, recently-appointed Executive Director of EEI in the announcement. “We are thrilled to offer a new CSI4* Grand Prix and 1.45m Two-Phase alongside all our usual activities, and we greatly appreciate Split Rock Jumping Tour for serving as our show jumping manager while we take this event to the next level. We look forward to welcoming another spectacular line-up of horses and riders in April!”

“We are excited to continue as presenting sponsor for such an incredible event as the Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix,” said Luke Fallon, DVM and Medical Director of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute. “As presenting sponsor since its inception, we believe the increase from a Three Star to a Four Star is an exciting step for both competitors and spectators. We look forward to next year’s event and are excited to be involved in events of this caliber with the quality of veterinarians encompassing our performance horse team.”

Even more excitingly, in 2025, the Hagyard Invitational will upgrade to a CSI5* — the top level in the sport of showjumping and a fitting partner to the CCI5* event.

Equestrian Events, Inc. is now accepting management proposals for 2025-2027 for the show jumping competition held each April in conjunction with the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian™. The deadline for management proposals is January 15, 2024.

“We are excited to elevate our show jumping Grand Prix with a move to the Five Star level,” said Erin Woodall, Executive Director of EEI. “We will move to Four Star this coming spring, and we look forward to celebrating our first CSI5* Grand Prix in 2025. We are now seeking proposals for show management to help us establish the Kentucky Invitational as one of the nation’s premier show jumping competitions.”

Management of the new CSI5* will include working with EEI on promotions, sponsorships and other competition details. Proposals must be submitted by January 15, 2024; the successful candidate will be notified by May 30, 2024.

More information on the Kentucky CSI4* Invitational Grand Prix presented by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute can be found here. Grab your tickets to the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event here.

Thursday News & Notes from Achieve Equine

By on Dec 7, 2023 12:01 am -

Joan Addison, Jimmy Elder, Ann Heukendorff, and John and Judy Rumble at the 2023 MARS Bromont CCI4*. (Michelle Dunn photo)

We’re starting off today with some sad news: Olympic rider and longtime supporter of the sport John Rumble has passed away at the age of 90. Casual eventing fans may recognize John’s name as an owner of Selena O’Hanlon’s WEG and Pan Ams partner Foxwood High. For his part, John was a Pony Clubber-turned-engineer who won a team bronze medal in the 1956 Olympic Games (Stockholm), finishing 16th inidivudually.

Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

[Read much more about John in this obituary on Horse Sport]

U.S. Weekend Preview

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

USEA Annual Meeting and Convention (St. Louis, MO): [Information Hub] [Schedule] [Fast Facts]

News & Reading

During the FEI General Assembly in November, David O’Connor encouraged other equestrian disciplines to begin tracking horse and rider fall data. This came from the observation that a good percentage of falls reported at events do not happen on cross country. [A Call to Track Fall Data Across Disciplines]

Know your proposed rule changes! USEA members can comment on all proposed changes to the rules for eventing, which is valuable feedback as the initiatives go forward. The commenting period ends on December 11. Learn more about the changes on the table here.

Young event horses are so exciting. Whatever their future may hold, it’s fulfilling to produce them and watch them take to their jobs naturally. That’s the case for Arden Augustus, who recently won his division in the Event Horse Futurity for owner and breeder Anita Antenucci (“Gus” is piloted by Sharon White). Personally, I love Anita’s breeding philosophy: “I never set out to become the breeder who breeds the next Olympic team. That is a numbers game—you have to breed a lot of horses to find that raw talent. I like to breed something with good bloodlines and some blood because I like the Thoroughbreds, and think we should be showing the American Thoroughbred and their usefulness in our sport. I am really, really happy if what I breed are horses that I, as an adult amateur who used to be competitive, wanted to ride.” [Arden Augustus Exceeds All Expectations for Antenucci and White]

#GoEventing in: Jamaica

The FEI Eventing World Challenge was established to encourage development of the sport in smaller countries. It’s a pretty cool format, done so to take into account the fact that riders in these smaller countries may not be riding regularly or have access to training opportunities. Therefore, the events are run in a one-day format in three categories of varying technicality:

Category A : 1x Dressage Test + 1x Jumping Course (1m maximum height) followed by a Cross Country Course (95cm-1m maximum height)
Category B : 1x Dressage Test + 1x Jumping Course (90cm maximum height) followed by a Cross Country Course (90cm maximum height)
Category C: 1x Dressage Test + 1x “Derby” course with Jumping & Cross Country Fences (80cm maximum height)

You can check out more about the Eventing World Challenge here, and some scenes from the first Challenge held in Kingston, Jamaica below:

Welcome the Revival Of Eventing 🇯🇲

Jamaica competes in the first FEI Eventing World Challenge on November 12th at The…

Posted by Equestrian Federation Jamaica on Friday, December 1, 2023

Sponsor Corner

Saddle pad hoarders, this one’s for you! Achieve Equine’s BOGO sale on the Iconic 2-in-1 saddle pads is still going! With every purchase of an Iconic 2-in-1 pad (read our review of it here), you’ll receive a FREE white Iconic pad! Get yours now before supplies run out.

Video Break

I’m a BIG Connemara fan, personally, and given the breed’s popularity in eventing I think you’ll find this USEF Learning Center video as great as I did!

Meet Boyd Martin’s New OTTB

By on Dec 6, 2023 12:00 pm -

There’s a new OTTB in Boyd’s barn! While it’s far from uncommon for riders to pick up a new horse or three this time of year (listen, we’ve added at least 3 new horses to team EN in the last month, so it’s definitely a trend), we always love to see an ex-racehorse begin its new career with a top rider. Lucky for us, Boyd’s media team is helping us follow the journey through some video updates as Boyd restarts Gold Czar for eventing.

“Remi” is a 2017 model by the prolific racer Medaglia D’Oro and out of Pleasant Review. His racing career wasn’t entirely unsuccessful — he hit the board once to win big, but otherwise would eventually leave the racing world and originally went first to another rider before Boyd laid eyes on him at a clinic with the Cheshire Hunt.

Now, the rangy 6-year-old is beginning to learn the ropes of his second career, and we can’t wait to follow along!

Click here to watch the embedded video above directly on Instagram.

Tip Tuesday Video Break: 5 Step Post-Competition Horse Care with Lee McKeever

By on Dec 5, 2023 3:00 pm -

Want to care for your horse like a top groom? Really, the top grooms don’t use many “secrets” — it’s all about time, attention to detail, and understanding what horses need to feel well in their bodies.

For Olympic show jumper Mclain Ward, Lee McKeever has been a right hand source of horse wellness for multiple years. In this USEF Learning Center video, Lee offers up five steps in his post-competition care routine:

1. Walk the horse for 10-15 minutes to allow their mind and body to cool down. Don’t just head straight back to the stall.
2. Go over and check for any cuts/scrapes or other issues on the skin and body/legs, then, weather-depending, do a mild soap bath — use mild soap, especially during a competition week when your horse might be getting bathed more frequently than usual.
3. Icing — this helps reduce inflammation and reduce heat build-up. Lee prefers an ice boot with velcro, icing for at least 20 minutes.
4. Poultice — further draws out heat and inflammation in the leg. Leave overnight to tighten the leg.
5. Packing the feet — no foot, no horse! Pack those feet to address any soreness and supply relief from the hard work they’ve done throughout the competition. Most hoof packs contain Epsom salt.

It’s Time to Vote for the EquiRatings 2023 Horse of the Year

By on Dec 3, 2023 11:30 am -

Each year, our pals at EquiRatings gather up their massive stores of data to pull out a handful of contenders for their fan-voted Horse of the Year award. This year, we’ve got a strong roster of horses to choose from, including several from this side of the pond. Here’s the skinny:

Eight horses will start us off, bracket style, with three rounds of voting determining the eventual champion. Click here to view the full ERHOTY page and to cast your vote.

Here are your first Quarter Final contenders — cast your votes for this round at this link by December 6.

Quarter Final 1: Ballaghmor Class v. Mai Baum

Photo by Tilly Berendt.

BALLAGHMOR CLASS:
Ballaghmor Class tallied his third five-star win this year at Burghley, making him one of only 12 horses in the history of the sport to win three or more. The win came six years after Ballaghmor Class’s first five-star victory. That is one of the longest five-star-winning careers in eventing history (second only to La Biosthetique Sam’s seven-year span between first and last five-star title).

Ballaghmor Class is arguably the most consistent five-star horse of all time, having produced ten top-five placings at the five-star level, including a second-place finish at Badminton this year. His true-to-form consistency this season has given Ballaghmor Class the highest Elo of his career as he climbed with every single 2023 result. After his Burghley win, the 16-YO passed fischerChipmunk to top the Elo table for a while. Ballaghmor Class is, simply put, a five-star warrior and absolute workman.

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

MAI BAUM:
Mai Baum ended the USA’s wait for a Kentucky win. Before this year, the US had waited 15 years to win their own home major.

At 17 years old, Mai Baum delivered one of the most-special victories of the year at Land Rover Kentucky, topping the field by 3.6 points and beating the likes of JL Dublin, Banzai du Loir, Z, Viamant du Matz, and Miks Master C.

The winning performance registered a 106-point High Performance Rating (HPR) which was four marks ahead of this year’s Pau-winning HPR and six marks ahead of the 2023 Burghley-winning HPR. In fact, Mai Baum’s win was one of the top three 5* HPRs this season (Badminton 111, Luhmühlen 108, Kentucky 106) and one of the highest-rated Kentucky performances we’ve seen.

A 2023 season made of: Galway Downs CCI4*-S. Won it. Land Rover Kentucky. Won it. CHIO Aachen. Podiumed it. That is one great season.

Quarter Final 2: Diabolo Menthe v. Vendredi Biats

Boekelo winners Nicolas Touzaint and Diabolo Menthe. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

DIABOLO MENTHE:
This year’s Boekelo was the strongest non-championship 4*-L field of the past nine seasons (based on Elo Field Strength ratings) and Diabolo Menthe is the one who came out on top, beating 111 opponents to earn the title.

The win was achieved with a finish-on-dressage score of 25.4 and that result alone boosted Diabolo Menthe’s Elo rating by a major 28 points. He is now the highest-rated 10-year-old in the world based on Elo ratings, ahead of the likes of Izilot DHI, Greenacres Special Cavalier and last year’s ERHOTY winner, Zaragoza.

The Boekelo win followed a second place finish at Chatsworth 4*-S earlier this season where Diabolo Menthe was one of just nine horses to show jump clear (jump + time) of the 112 who tried. The Boekelo victory also registered a High Performance Rating (HPR) of 102, the same rating Amande de B’Neville earned for winning Saumur 4*-L just three months before she became Olympic champion…Paris here we come.

Kitty King and Vendredi Biats (GBR). Photo by Tilly Berendt.

VENDREDI BIATS:
At the Europeans this year, in the face of tough cross country conditions and after disappointment in similar conditions just three months before (Badminton), Vendredi Biats dug in and rose to the occasion to lay down a cross country performance that was key to earning the European individual silver medal. His XC run as the team pathfinder, over tough ground, on a tough day was also critical to Team GB’s gold. A selection to any British team is hard-won but Vendredi Biats proved his mettle and punctuated his place on the team.

The Euros performance boosted Vendredi Biats’ Elo by an impressive 25 points in one fell swoop, such was the quality of the competition he bested. That makes him one of only seven horses in the world right now to have an 800+ Elo rating (802). The silver-medal performance also registered a High Performance Rating (HPR) of 106, making it one of best 4*-L/5* performances of the year.

It was Vendredi Biats’ second major podium of the year, after placing second at Luhmühlen in June. Two major placings and delivering for Team GB make it a standout year for Vendredi Biats.

Quarter Final 3: Lordships Graffalo v. HSH Blake

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

LORDSHIPS GRAFFALO:
Lordships Graffalo won Badminton by 15.0 points, the largest 5* winning margin in the modern era of the sport. He then went on to win the European individual gold by 6.7 points and that was against international competition with renowned low-scoring ability and, indeed, against one of the strongest fields on record according to the Elo Field Strength rating (second only to Pratoni 2022).

Registering a High Performance Rating (HPR) of 113, Lordships Graffalo’s European gold set the new standard for 4*/5* performances, the best HPR ever (rating starts in 2008).

We’ve seen this horse coming (it’s not even his first ERHOTY rodeo): Lordships Graffalo was the highest Elo-rated horse for his age as both a 9-YO and 10-YO and is now the highest-rated 11-YO ever (rating starts in 2008). It’s a table-topping Elo trend that mimics La Biosthetique Sam-FBW’s record. Plus, Lordships Graffalo was only the third combination since 2008 to win Badminton from the front as did a certain La Biosthetique Sam in 2016.

Lordships Graffalo is, on many metrics, one of the best we’ve ever seen. For this point in his career, he is going toe-for-toe with La Biosthetique Sam who is arguably the greatest horse of all time…for now…

Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

HSH BLAKE:
HSH Blake is the newly-minted Pan Ams individual gold medallist…and he’s only 8 years old. In fact, HSH Blake is one of the top ten 8-YOs of all time based on the Elo rating (which goes back to 2008), he is the best ever 8-YO for the USA, and he is the number one 8-YO in the world this season.

Having just stepped up to the four-star level this year, HSH Blake finished top three in both of his four-star appearances, including a second-place finish at the Strzegom Nations Cup where he led dressage and added just XC time to his score. Of all HSH Blake’s six international runs this year, he was never out of the top five, including two wins.

HSH Blake boosted his Elo rating with each successive international appearance this year. Continually upward. Consistent. While not quite having the top-level experience yet, a good showing at the CCI4*-L U.S. selection trial might put this horse in the Paris conversation. And as far as Los Angeles 2028 goes…watch out.

Quarter Final 4: Virgil v. Colorado Blue

Shane Rose and Virgil lead the way going into the final phase at Adelaide. Photo by Michelle Terlato Photography.

VIRGIL:
Eight years after his five-star debut, 18-year-old Virgil won Adelaide 2023 by 9.5 points and became the oldest five-star winner of the last 16 seasons. It was Virgil’s first five-star win and he delivered it on a 28.5, adding just one second on the XC to his dressage score.

Adelaide was Virgil’s second international run of the year, having won a CCI4*-S before the five-star victory, giving Virgil a two for two record this season.

Virgil is particularly appreciated in context. He’s been to Tokyo: top 10. Pratoni: top 15. Burghley: asked and answered, top 20. Luhmühlen: top 10. And here he was in Adelaide, still competing at the very top level 8 years after his five-star debut…and he wins it. Seven times, Virgil has produced a 95-or-higher High Performance Rating (HPR). A 95+ is an elite achievement and top do it over and over is a testament to a top-level stalwart.

Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue. Photo by Sally Spickard.

COLORADO BLUE:
This year at Badminton, we saw Colorado Blue go head-to-head with Lordships Graffalo in the cross country phase. It was Colorado Blue who was the fastest on the day in those notoriously testing conditions; 10.8 time penalties for him, 11.6 for Lordships Graffalo, and everyone else?: Twenty-one-plus time penalties. The result was a deserved climb up the leaderboard and the first Badminton podium from an Irish combination in 40 years.

Colorado Blue is in fact one of the top-rated cross country horses in the sport. His five-star XC jumping reliability puts him in the top 0.1% of horses worldwide and his five-star speed is among the top 0.05%.

Five months after Badminton, Colorado Blue went on and did it. At Maryland, he jumped double clear (XC and SJ) to produce the first five-star win for Ireland in 58 years. He had added just 1.2 XC time penalties on a day when only one horse was under the time and he was the only double-clear SJ round on the final day.

A classic sporting story – highs (Badminton and Maryland) and lows (Burghley) and when it ended with that big win, we could practically hear the whole eventing world cheer.

Click here to view the full voting on EquiRatings, and to cast your votes by December 6!

Watch Boyd Martin Take the Lead at Sweden International Agria Indoor Eventing

By on Nov 30, 2023 5:17 pm -

Boyd Martin reunited with the horse he piloted in 2022 at the inaugural Agria Top 10 Indoor Eventing, part of the program for the Sweden International Horse Show, for this year’s two-round competition. In 2022, Boyd finished fifth overall with the now-8-year-old Caruccio Paradise (Bravour 1197 – Niki Paradise), who is owned by Jl Häst and Tyga Equestrian AB. This year, he’s off to a great start with a lead after the first round of competition today.

Boyd jumped a clear round, which was relatively uncommon in this first round, which saw several fall victim to the tight turns and a particularly spooky and dark liverpool jump. His time of 34.28 was enough to secure the lead and not let it go, despite a strong challenge from Sofia Sjoborg and Eastbourne. Last year’s winner, Maxime Livio and Boleybawn Prince, are currently in third with the liverpool down today.

Boyd Martin, USA, and Caruccio Paradise was the fastest combination in the Agria Top 10 Indoor Eventing warm-up in Stockholm. Photo credit: Roland Thunholm/SIHS

What a fantastic, fantastic horse, Boyd Martin said of Caruccio Paradise. “This horse is a champion. He got in there and we had a couple of lucky moments and he really fought for me. He’s a fantastic jumper and I’m very, very lucky to be riding him here in Sweden.”

You can view the full standings here.

The riders will return for the final competition, carrying their scores forward from today, on Sunday, December 3 at 8 p.m. local time / 2 p.m. ET. You can watch the Agira Top 10 Indoor Eventing live on Horse & Country here.

Paris Olympics to Release Additional Tickets for All Sports on 11/30

By on Nov 29, 2023 9:30 am -

Jesse Campbell and Diachello. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

If you missed out on the chance to snag tickets for the upcoming Paris Olympics (July 26 – August 11, 2024), there’s one more shot coming tomorrow (Thursday, November 30). Paris officials have announce that 400,000 additional tickets for all sports, including the equestrian disciplines, will be made available beginning on the 30th at 10 a.m. local time. That’s 4 a.m. EST, and these tickets will sell out so you’ll want to get in line, Eras Tour style, to have the best shot.

You can create an account on the Paris 2024 website in advance to save time on the day of (and you’ll also receive updates should any additional tickets be put on offer). Click here to create your account, and use that link as well to make your ticket purchases.

The equestrian sports at Paris 2024 will take place at the Palace of Versailles.

You can view the full sport schedule here. The equestrian sports are scheduled as follows:

Eventing
July 26 – First Horse Inspection
July 27 – Dressage
July 28 – Cross Country
July 29 – Final Horse Inspection / Show Jumping

Dressage
July 30 – 1st Team & Individual Qualifier
July 31 – 1st Team & Individual Qualifier
August 3 – Grand Prix Special, Team Final
August 4 – Grand Prix Freestyle, Individual Final

Show Jumping
August 1 – Team Qualifier
August 2 – Team Final
August 5 – Individual Qualifier
August 6 – Individual Final

When you shop for tickets, you can search by venue and event to select the sport(s) of your choice. Best of luck!

Follow along with all of EN’s coverage of the Olympics here.

EN’s pre-coverage of the Paris Olympics in 2024 is brought to you with support from Zoetis — Long Live the Horse.

Training Tip Tuesday: Ways to Improve Responsiveness

By on Nov 28, 2023 2:30 pm -

I remember a time when all of the virtual education options available at our fingertips now did not exist. I wish I could find the book I read religiously when I didn’t have the opportunity to actually ride — I feel like I learned so much just from studying that little book. Now, there are whole courses and curriculum dedicated to fine-tuning our riding. Of course, it’s important to vet the sources you’re getting information from — that’s the flip side of the internet, to be sure — always make sure you’re doing things that are appropriate for your level and experience, and that are coming from reputable places!

In this video from the Ridely app, learn from British Grand Prix dressage rider Nicola Buchanan on an age-old dilemma for many riders: riding an.. erm… less forward-thinking horse. Responsiveness to the aids is something that benefits us in every phase of eventing, so take some bits and bobs from this short lesson to add to your toolbox.

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: First Prelim Feels Helmet Cam

By on Nov 22, 2023 3:00 pm -

There’s not much better than having a great run at your first attempt at a new level. If you’ve put the hard work and prep in, the moving up should feel more natural — but that doesn’t stop it from being an intimidating step. I stumbled upon this helmet cam from Texas-based Brett Youssi, who stepped up to his and his horse, Finny’s Macho Man’s, first Preliminary at MeadowCreek’s schooling event over the weekend.

Finny’s Macho Man originally competed with Allison Springer in Young Event Horse and Training level competition before moving to Brett, who’s taken the reins and stepped up from the Novice level now to this Prelim debut. Many happy returns on your successful step up — hopefully the first of many!

Why choose Equi-Jewel?
Equi-Jewel was developed by Kentucky Performance Products to safely meet the energy needs of today’s horses. It reduces the risk of digestive upset and supports optimal muscle function, while providing the calories your horse needs to thrive.

Stabilized rice bran supplies a highly digestible and safe form of calories to the diet.
The fat found in rice bran is an extraordinary source of dietary energy. In fact, fat contains more than two times the energy that carbohydrates and proteins do, thereby fueling horses more efficiently. Fat is considered a “cool” feedstuff because it does not cause the hormone spikes that lead to excitability. Adding stabilized rice bran to your horse’s diet allows you to decrease the amount of starchy concentrates (grains) you feed, reducing the risk of colic and laminitis resulting from grain overload. It is an excellent source of energy for horses struggling with RER (tying up) and PSSM.

  • Equi-Jewel’s all-natural ingredients are high in fat and fiber
  • Equi-Jewel’s balanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio means you don’t have to worry about mineral imbalances
  • Equi-Jewel’s unique stabilization process ensures freshness

Don’t Forget to Snag Your Tickets to Ingrid Klimke’s Southern California Masterclass

By on Nov 22, 2023 9:30 am -

 

Ingrid Klimke (GER) riding Franziskus FRH – winner at the FEI Dressage World Cup 2022/23 – Stuttgart (GER) Photo: ©FEI/Leanjo de Koster

If you’re within range of Temecula, CA (or if you’re just craving a sunny getaway), there are still a few tickets left to see 5-time Olympian Ingrid Klimke at her Masterclass put on by Entrigue Consulting at Galway Downs December 2-3.

Well-known and respected for her success both on eventing as well as the dressage stage, Ingrid brings a wealth of knowledge and an intuition for training horses to these Masterclass events. Handpicked riders will receive lessons in front of an audience as a part of this event, giving you the opportunity to learn all about how Ingrid approaches training for all types of dressage horses.

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

Selected to ride with Ingrid during this event are riders such as Tamie Smith, who will ride Kentucky 5* winner Mai Baum in the Masterclass, and Amelia Newcomb, who runs her own online training platform, Amelia Newcomb Dressage, and contributes some training content to EN. We’ll also see rides from Taren Hoffos and Regalla, Chloe Smyth and Nite Life, and Sabine Schut-Kerry and Mr. Speilberg. You can see the full list of riders here.

Tickets are very likely to sell out, and while there are some currently available as this goes to publication we cannot guarantee their availability. You can find more information on what’s available here. You can also purchase raffle tickets to enter for a bunch of top prizes here.

Training Tip Tuesday: Body Position on Cross Country for Training Young Horses

By on Nov 21, 2023 12:30 pm -

This training series on YouTube is a few years old, but good training advice never goes out of style. In this clip, Heidi Woodhead of DHI Event Horses advises us on our body position when working particularly with young horses on cross country. Our position has an effect, for better or worse, on our horses, so when training a horse it’s important to be stable.

A few takeaways from this video:

  • It’s important to use undulation and uneven ground for training
  • Practice galloping/cantering out of the saddle to strengthen your gallop position
  • Allow your body’s balance going with that of your horse

Of course, these tips are applicable no matter what, so take a look and listen — and check out the rest of the training tips here.

Phillip Dutton Announces Retirement of Z

By on Nov 21, 2023 10:02 am -

Phillip Dutton on Tuesday morning announced the retirement of his WEG and Olympic partner, Z, from top competition at the age of 15.

Phillip reported that the Zangersheide gelding (Asca Z – Bellabouche, by Babouche GH Gehucht Z) sustained some injuries at Pau last month (he withdrew the gelding following cross country) that will require rehabilitation and recovery. “At 15 years old, it would not be in Z’s best interest to try to bring him back to the level of fitness and training needed for the international level. He will get all the medical attention and rehab that he needs to set him up for the next, easier chapter in his life,” he wrote on social media.

Z is the type of horse who comes into your barn full of stories of tell. He began his career in Portugal under the tutelage of Francisco Seabra, who sadly passed away in a riding accident on a different horse in 2015. At that point, Z, who had competed through the then-CIC1* level of eventing, went to Francisco’s brother, Duarte, finishing seventh in the Young Horse World Breeding Championships at Le Lion d’Angers as a 6-year-old. Duarte then made the switch to pure show jumping, but he knew something special lay in this horse in a plain brown wrapper. “I liked the way he looked at you,” Duarte told me a few years ago. [You can read the resulting story here on NöelleFloyd.com]

Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Sally Spickard.

It was then that Phillip connected with the younger Z via longtime friend Carol Gee of Ferhill Sporthorses, traveling to Portugal to meet the horse. Z wouldn’t be the most impressive horse you’ve ever seen on the ground, and Duarte knew this. “I told [Phillip], ‘I’ve ridden a lot of horses in my time, and this horse has the heart of a lion,’” Duarte recalled. “He was a bit worried, a bit insecure at times, but on cross-country, he’d jump a house.”

Sending the horse his brother had piloted away was a tough moment for Duarte. “It was probably the hardest thing to do,” he told me. “My brother always believed in the horse and wanted him to be my next top one. And so for me, it was very important that he went to the right place. I felt at peace knowing that he was going to one of the best riders in the world.”

Once stateside, Phillip and his team began the process of starting a relationship. Z has also been classified as “introverted” or “within himself”, especially at the beginning, standing at the back of his stall and taking some time to engage with his new world. But one thing was clear from the outset: this horse loved to compete.

Phillip Dutton and Z at WEG in 2018. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Three years later, Z debuted at the CCI5* level at Kentucky, greenly leaping his way around cross country with Phillip’s expertise guiding him home and finishing an impressive fourth overall. He was then tapped as a member of Team USA for the 2018 World Equestrian Games — where Phillip reuinited with Duarte Seabra, who was competing for Portugal in the show jumping at WEG — finishing 13th individually. He’d go on to finish five more 5* events, finishing outside of the top 8 just once at Badminton (2022). He was also a member of the U.S. team for the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021, finishing 21st individually.

Z get’s some congratulatpry ear rubs from Emma Ford. Photo by Abby Powell.

“I would like to firstly thank Carol Gee who flew with me to Portugal to try Z as a 6-year-old and also Duarte Seabra, who produced him. I want to thank as well his loyal owners: Tom Tierney, Suzanne Lacy, Annie Jones, Caroline Moran and Dave & Patricia Vos. We couldn’t have asked to have a more fun and understanding partnership to ride for,” Phillip wrote. “Big thank you as well go out to his vet, Dr. Kevin Keane; his farrier, T. R. Serio; and his grooms, Emma Ford, Sidnee Ledyard and Grace Harris. I would also like to thank the many coaches who guided us throughout his career.”

He may have made getting into the start box a “choose your own adventure”, but once he was on cross country his energy was channeled. “I will never have a horse with a bigger heart!” Phillip concluded his tribute.

It remains to be seen what the future will hold for Z once he recovers from his injury — whether he’ll join the retired ranks with Phillip’s other former partners or he’ll go on to teach other rider how to ride a muscle on cross country — but we’ll be wishing him a successful and comfortable recovery and will miss seeing him out on cross country at the biggest events in the world.

It is with a lot of sadness that I am announcing my great partner, Z’s, retirement from international competition.

Z…

Posted by Phillip Dutton Eventing on Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Ground Jury Named for Eventing at the 2024 Paris Olympics

By on Nov 21, 2023 9:30 am -

A view down the Grand Canal from the front of the Chateau de Versailles, the venue for equestrian events at the Paris Olympics. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

As we move forward toward the next Olympic Games, we now know who will be presiding over the eventing competition as Ground Jury members. During the FEI General Assembly, happening this week in Mexico City, the following officials were named to the Ground Jury for Paris:

President: Anne-Mette Binder (DEN)
Member: Xavier Le Sauce (FRA)
Member: Robert Stevenson (USA)

Anne-Mette Binder, who has served as Team Manager for Dressage for the Danish federation, as well as Elite Sport Chief, was also this week appointed as a member of the FEI Eventing Committee for the term from 2023 through 2027, replacing outgoing member Andrew Bennie (NZL).

The Technical Delegate for Paris eventing will be Marcin Konarski of Poland. We already knew French designer Pierre Le Goupil had the nod for cross country course design. Right now, there is no separate listing for an eventing show jumping course designer; Spain’s Santiago Varela is listed as course designer for show jumping, and France’s Gregory Bodo is listed as co-designer, so the task will likely fall to this duo for eventing as well.

You can see the full list of official and delegate appointments for Paris across disciplines here.

Follow along with all of EN’s coverage of the Olympics here.

EN’s pre-coverage of the Paris Olympics in 2024 is brought to you with support from Zoetis — Long Live the Horse.

Weekend Winners: The Event at TerraNova + Ram Tap Fresno

By on Nov 20, 2023 12:00 pm -

We’re winding down the busier weekends of eventing as we look ahead to the holidays, but we’ve still got a few winners to shout out from both coasts this weekend! Let’s get right to it:

The Event at TerraNova: [Final Scores] [Live Stream Replays] [Coverage]

CCI4*-L: Jenny Caras and Trendy Fernhill (35.3)
CCI3*-L: Alyssa Phillips and Cornelius Bo (28.0)
CCI2*-L: Meg Pellegrini and Gorgeous DHI (30.1)
CCI1*-L: Lucienne Bellissimo and Duke’s Jory (28.6)
Advanced: Waylon Roberts and OKE Ruby R (36.1)
Open Intermediate: Ariel Grald and In Vogue (30.8)
Open Preliminary: Matthew Brown and Riverview Starboy (25.5)
Open Training A: Kyle Carter and Reddy For Raine (29.4)
Open Training B: Declan Bast and FE Melody (28.3)
Training Rider: Brie Murray and Fernhill Ranga Tanga (27.5)
Novice Rider: Cherye Huber and Innsbruck VDO (23.3)
Open Novice: Sinead Maynard and Lightning V/Z (22.8)
Open Beginner Novice: Pedro Gutierrez and Fuego de la Galerna (30.5)
Intro: Sydney Morrow and Heart of Gold (37.0)

Ram Tap Horse Park H.T.: [Final Scores]

Open Intermediate: Helen Alliston and Call Me Rudi (26.2)
Open Preliminary: Bec Braitling and Conlino PS (20.5)
Open Modified: James Alliston and HMR Rolan (25.2)
Open Training: Alexis Helffrich and Casanova (26.6)
Training Rider: Shelby Murray and Mannoury vd Watermolen (24.1)
Training Three-Day: Michelle Wagner and Hillview Quality Control (31.0)
Novice Rider: Kayla Vladyka and Revonne (21.7)
Open Novice: Kendra Mitchell and Russian Roulette (19.2)
Novice Three-Day: Christine Poulos and Quality Beach (18.4)
Beginner Novice Rider: Nicci Guzzetta and Little Richard (23.4)
Beginner Novice Three-Day: Kate Flaherty and Eli’s Coming (21.7)
Open Grasshopper: Maya Burke and Napoleon (20.9)
Open Intro A: Lacey LoPiccolo and Paint Me a Picture (16.3)
Open Intro B: Jessica McKendree and Lumani (28.3)

Courtney Cooper and C Square Farm/Excel Star Sporthorses Announce Amateur Training Award

By on Nov 20, 2023 9:30 am -

USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo

It’s long been a topic of conversation. Amateur riders – the many cultural definitions of that term – have long been identified as the most overlooked subset of equestrians. This is a dilemma that transcends discipline, and within the sport of eventing there remains a yawning gap between the developing rider pipeline and the professional ranks and the amateur rider.

To be fair, options for the adult amateur community do exist. The USEA also has an Adult Rider Committee dedicated to ensuring amateur riders, who make up the bulk of membership, have a voice and a seat at the table. The USEA also offers some grant opportunities for which amateurs are eligible, including the newly-formed Kim Meier “Kick On” Memorial Grant.

In the opinion of many, however, there can never be enough opportunity for everyone – and Courtney Cooper of C Square Farm and Excel Star Sport Horses agrees. Last week, Courtney sent out an exciting press release: she’s decided to offer two amateur riders the opportunity to come and train with her for 7 days throughout the upcoming year. To make the award as amateur-friendly as possible, Courtney’s offering the option to split the training up into multiple weekends or other agreeable chunks of time.

“The time can be spread into multiple long weekends, or taken all at once,” Courtney wrote in the release. This will provide an opportunity for learning and mentorship with a five-star rider. The riders will have access to all Courtney’s program and facilities have to offer, including full courses of Jump4Joy jumps, top-of-the line footing, cross country schooling, dressage training, and horse management.

Courtney knows the grind of the amateur. Sales has always been Courtney’s jam – she first started out selling Cutco knives during college, following that up with a full-time career as an insurance agent.

Courtney Cooper and Who’s A Star. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

“I know what trying to balance everything is like, because I’ve done it. I’ve done trot and gallop sets on the shoulder of the road, in the dark, with a head lamp,” she says. “I had a full time career before I did horses full time, and I can’t imagine being a mom or dad and trying to do that as well as a full time career and ride and the balance needed for all of it. A couple of my amateurs get up at 5 am to ride their horses before they go to their day jobs so they can be with their kids after work for their children’s activities. I just felt like amateurs needed a break and some support.”

Amateurs are a vital part of the sport, and supporting them should be second nature to the professionals. “They keep the sport somewhat affordable in this country. Without them, there are a lot of FEI classes that wouldn’t run because they don’t have the lower levels to protect and finance the upper levels. The amateurs may not be filling the entries of the upper FEI level classes, but they support all the upper levels with their entries and therefore support the upper level riders — not to mention they do the bulk of volunteering .”

So what’s the skinny on this opportunity?

Courtney will provide lodging for the recipients and board for one horse for a total of 7 days, taken a week at a time or over multiple shorter periods. The scholarship can take place either in Aiken, SC or Nottingham, PA The recipients will receive daily lessons from Courtney on their own horse(s), with a potential to ride some other horses if appropriate. Recipients may also compete during their time and get support at the competition

More details below.

Who’s Eligible:

Anyone who makes the majority of their living through means other than horses. We will not hold to the strict definition of an Amateur held by the USEA/USEF, so if you teach some lessons but have another career, please apply! You should be actively competing in the last 12 months at the BN level or higher.

How to Apply:

Please fill out an application at this link.

Applications should be submitted by December 15, 2023. Courtney and a panel of her Amateur clients will review applications and choose a winner by December 31, 2023.

What’s Not Included:

  • Transportation to and from C Square Farm
  • Outside facility fees
  • Entries to events

Preview The Event at TerraNova’s CCI4*-L Cross Country

By on Nov 17, 2023 12:00 pm -

 

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A post shared by Sara Kozumplik (@sarakm_overlookf)

We’re all set to watch some season finale eventing action this weekend at The Event at TerraNova, which will play host to both National and FEI divisions up through the headlining CCI4*-L. For this effort, Capt. Mark Phillips has designed a cross country course consisting of 30 numbered fences set on an optimum time of 10 minutes, 16 seconds.

Following two days of dressage, the 4*-L riders will tackle cross country beginning at 12:30 p.m. EST. You can view the event all weekend thanks to a free live stream that can be accessed here. We’ll be sharing press releases from the event, as well as a final recap report from Shelby Allen once the event concludes.

Take a gander at the course for the 4*-L below — and you can view the other FEI tracks on CrossCountryApp here.

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You can also view the course, including fence photos, here if you can’t see the map embedded above.

The Event at TerraNova: [Website] [Ride Times] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [FEI XC Maps] [All Course Maps] [Volunteer]

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Grooming and Horsekeeping with Emma Ford

By on Nov 15, 2023 3:00 pm -

#ICYMI, Ride iQ hosts weekly “Ask An Expert” live on YouTube with a variety of experts in their respective horse industry fields. I always get a lot out of these informative and candid sessions, and this week we’re treated with special guest Emma Ford, #supergroom to the stars and a part of World Class Grooming.

Listen and learn — and visit Ride iQ for more learning opportunities via their content offerings!

Go For Gold Prep: Buying Tips from Andrea Baxter + Performance Live Stream Replays

By on Nov 14, 2023 2:30 pm -

Photo courtesy of Goresbridge Online Auctions.

It’s nearly time for the 2023 Goresbridge Go For Gold Select Event Horse Sale, which features a full catalog of hand-selected eventing prospects for its annual auction. The sale will kick off tomorrow (Wednesday, November 15) at 1 p.m. local time in Wexford, Ireland — that’s 8 a.m. for those of you on Eastern time and around 11 p.m. for those of you in Australia (gotta cover our horse-shopping bases here, let’s be honest).

Ahead of the sale — which is held to support both in person and online bidding — the horses are introduced to buyers via a live-streamed performance event. Depending on the age of the horse, prospective buyers have a chance to see a horse go through a free jump chute or be ridden on the flat and over fences. It’s a great way to get a feel for the horse(s) you’ve been eyeing — or even if you aren’t shopping, like me, it’s a great chance to window shop and learn more about what you’re looking for in a young horse.

Andrea Baxter, who pushed “the easy button” to purchase the now 5-year-old The Big Easy (Mr. Lincoln B – PLS Hippo Q) at the 2021 Go For Gold sale. She details her process, which while she jokes led to an “impulse buy” shows how much you can learn even while bidding online:

“I’m kind of a nut bag about it! I study the videos ahead of time, and then I think it’s really important — I take notes on all of them — that you watch the live jump chute [ahead of the sale]. The hard part is that some of the horses are really produced for the sale and some are way more raw and not produced hardly at all. So some of the ones that aren’t as well produced don’t show themselves as well in the initial videos. [The Big Easy] was one of those, I had him on my list of ones that were interesting but would want to watch it jump again in the live stream. I had two different lists: ones that I was very interested in and ones that if I liked them better in the live jumping they’d be more interesting. He was on that list.”

Andrea also advises observing the horses on the live stream for more than just their talent and ability. What’s their temperament like?

“Live jumping, they video the whole thing start to finish so you can get a feel for: are they hard to catch? Do they buck or kick? Try to run through the handlers? Respect space/back away easily? So I think you can get quite a bit of feedback just seeing how they act in the live chute, more than you would think. So that’s important to watch that part and see how they all look.”

Andrea Baxter and The Big Easy competing in Young Event Horse competition. Photo by Tina Fitch Photography.

It was a bit of luck that caused “Ceasar” to end up on a plane to California — Andrea laughs that she initially assumed the horse would sell for much higher than her bid. The joke was on her when no one outbid her. But it would wind up being a solid purchase. The Big Easy finished the 2023 season by finishing second overall in the USEA Young Event Horse West Coast Championships (Twin Rivers), also taking home the Safe Harbor Award, given to the 5-year-old with the most graceful and rider friendly performance throughout the competition.

“He’s talented and gentle and sweet and well-behaved — anybody could ride him,” Andrea said. “But I also think he could go on and be a top horse also. In the meantime he’s just so easy going and trainable, rideable.”

Will you pick up your next “big easy” at this year’s sale? I’ll drop the links to the live streams from Monday and Tuesday — and here’s the full Go For Gold catalog — below for your study tonight. Let us know if you end up with a 2023 Go For Gold graduate, and happy bidding!

Lots 1-23 – Show Jumping

Lots 1-23 – Cross Country

Lots 24-99 – 3 Year Olds

This article is sponsored by Goresbridge Horse Sales.

More Go For Gold resources:

Website | 2023 Catalog | EN’s Wishlist | Tips for Making the Most of Go For Gold