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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

Equestrian Canada Names 2022 High Performance Squad Athletes + Fundraising Goal for WEG Set

By on Jun 4, 2022 11:13 am -

Colleen Loach and Vermont. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Equestrian Canada has named its 2022 High Performance Squad athletes as well as its Development Squad as the country looks ahead to this fall’s FEI World Championships for Eventing, where an all-important Paris Olympics qualification is on the line.

Named to the High Performance Squad are:

  • Hawley Bennett-Awad and the Jollybo Syndicate LLC’s Jollybo
  • Holly Jacks Smither and her own Candy King (More Inspiration was also named to the list)
  • Colleen Loach and Peter Barry’s Qorry Blue d’Argouges, Peter Barry’s Vermont, and Peter Barry, Amanda Bernhard and the rider’s FE Golden Eye
  • Jessica Phoenix and her own Pavarotti as well as Charlotte Schickedanz and the rider’s Wabbit
  • Karl Slezak and Kirk Hoppner and the rider’s Fernhill Wishes
  • Mike Winter and Jonathan Nelson and Emma and Mike’s El Mundo

Dana Cooke and Mississippi, who are currently overseas competing in Ireland, are one pair named to Equestrian Canada’s Development Squad. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Recently, Equestrian Canada released its fundraising goals for the season, identifying a goal of $250,000 to help bring the equestrian program forward to reach new heights. You can make a donation by clicking here, and stay tuned for more ways to get involved coming soon.

 

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EN Gear Grab Photo Challenge: Show Us Your Best Eventing Face

By on Jun 3, 2022 11:30 am -

After our most recent Who Jumped It Best poll went viral — not for the skill showcased by the riders but rather for the grimaces of comically extreme focus on each rider’s face — we’re here to give the people what they want: a “faces of eventing” photo challenge.

We know the fine faces pictured below won’t mind us using them as examples, mostly because we also know we ALL have at least one photo like this. I can personally attest that my face while riding looks like I am actually quite angry to be in the saddle and that you probably shouldn’t get on my bad side (RBF problems, I suppose).

Caitlin Davison and M Cloudy de Lune SE. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Lauren LoPiccolo and Csongor. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Tommy Greengard and Leonardo Diterma. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

So we’re putting it to you now. Send us or show us your finest eventing face and we’ll put a few of the best options up for a reader vote to win some EN gear. We know you’ve got some, so let’s see ’em! Send them to [email protected] or tag us on social (we’ll also put up a comment thread on Facebook for submissions). We’ll post a gallery of finalists on Monday!

Need some more inspiration? Allow these grimaces to send you into a spiral of show photo stalking to find a face that gives these a run for their money:

Exhibit A: Any photo of Tom McEwen, it seems. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Dom Schramm can typically be counted on for a good in-saddle stare. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

You can also follow the (unaffiliated but incredibly awesome) Faces of Eventing Instagram page for more inspo…

 

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Thursday Video: Badminton in the Rearview

By on Jun 2, 2022 4:30 pm -

Hard to believe Badminton is a month removed already, so I went digging for some highlight reels to relive the weekend. Lucky I did, as I stumbled upon this gorgeous min-reel from All I See Media that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of eventing and the tradition of the historic Badminton Horse Trials. Enjoy!

Don’t forget: you can still catch the archived replays from not just this year, but previous Badmintons as well, with your Badminton TV pass that’s good for a year with a one-time purchase. Click here to check it out.

Who Jumped It Best? Woodside Preliminary Challenge Edition

By on Jun 2, 2022 9:00 am -

Woodside’s annual Preliminary Challenge is a huge draw for the West coast, and to celebrate this year’s edition we’ve got a big field to sift through to find our next Who Jumped It Best champion!

This monster Who Jumped It Best was taken at fence 19B, a drop into the water on the Preliminary challenge cross country course. It was followed by a brush fence and then the final table on course.

Take a look at the photos below and cast your vote for the pair that presents the best overall picture. Eternal EN karma and bragging rights to the winner! Many thanks to Sherry Stewart for providing the shots for this column.

Tamie Smith and Crafty Don. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Grace Wechser and Raskadero. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

David Adamo and Baral Silversee. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

James Alliston and Flinterro Z. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Josh Barnacle and Skyrise. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Erin Kellerhouse and Bon Vivant GWF. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Katy Robinson and Teki to the Limit. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Lauren LoPiccolo and Csongor. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Tommy Greengard and Leonardo Diterma. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

India McEvoy and E’zara. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Jolie Wentworth and KF Klosterbrau. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Haley Dwight and WS Radagast. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Caitlin Davison and M Cloudy de Lune SE. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Sally Phillips and Dark Knight Royale. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Rachel Graham and Grey Moon Runner. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Julia Beauchamp and Playing the Game. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Miranda Olagaray and Tanqueray. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Quinn. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Grace Walker Alonzi and Frantz. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Aylish Arana and Rosso Bellezza. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Faith Farrell and Case Closed II. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Camille Forstadt and Perfect Synchronicity. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Grace Wechser and Girl of California. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Get in the Habit of Being Uncomfortable: Insights from Michael Jung and “Ride Big”

By on Jun 1, 2022 11:43 am -

In this excerpt from his book Ride Big, professional athlete performance coach John Haime talks about where we can find the opportunity to grow as riders and competitors, and shares valuable insights from 2022 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day winner Michael Jung.

Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Challenging what’s comfortable to you is uncomfortable.

Let’s be clear…

I am not asking you to “smash” your zone of comfort or make a huge jump outside of what you’re familiar with. That would be stressful and too much. We know through psychological models like Abraham Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs” and other theories of motivation that safety, security, and comfort are fundamental human needs. In fact, after food, water, and shelter, safety and security are next in line. Human beings want to feel safe and secure, and have some level of comfort. What I am asking you to do is to expand your area of comfort in calculated ways so that you can more fully express yourself, enhance your riding capabilities… and grow.

Your job as a rider when it comes to increasing your performance and exploring your abilities is finding your own balance between a passive state of seeking safety and comfort, which is normal (and a primary human need), and an active state of seeking growth and Riding Big. If you want to Ride Big, you’ll have to slowly loosen your hold on your security blanket. After all, while a basic level of safety and comfort is important, I think you’ll agree that missing your riding potential is not necessarily comforting!

“Why would I want to feel uncomfortable? Don’t I want to be comfortable to ride well?”

This is a question I’m asked often, and it makes sense to ask it.

Chances are you are in the habit of being comfortable when you are in the ring or on the field. It just feels good, so you stay there. This false feeling of comfort is short-term thinking driven by a natural instinct to feel safe, secure, and comfortable. But if you want to break the habit of
being comfortable and riding in that confined little space, you must take a longer-term approach, test the limits, challenge yourself in a practical, step-by-step way, and build a new habit of feeling uncomfortable.

Michael Jung and fischerWild Wave. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Michael Knows Growth

Eventer Michael Jung learned about the idea of comfort zones in the barn when he was a little boy starting to ride. One of the leading riders of this generation knows a thing or two about inching forward and stretching the limits. After all, you don’t become one of the world’s leading equestrian athletes living in the confined spaces of a small comfort zone. Nobody in the past 20 years has highlighted Riding Big more than Michael Jung. This well-rounded eventing champion owns three gold and one silver medal from the Olympic Games, including individual gold medals in both 2012 in London and 2016 in Rio. He also has two gold medals and one silver from the World Equestrian Games, and seven gold medals from the European Championships. In 2016 he became only the second rider in history to win the Grand Slam of Eventing.

Michael grew up on horses on his family’s farm in Horb-Altheim, Germany. “I grew up in the barn and got to ride all sorts of horses,” Michael says. “And, no, it wasn’t easy. I had many mistakes, many problems and I fell off 1,000 times — but I was always willing to learn and always found a little step that made me happy to do better.”

Michael believes that many people don’t push the edges of the comfort zone for a number of reasons:

1. Riders think that they didn’t really learn it and therefore can’t do it.

2. Mistakes are essential to growth and riders are often afraid to make them.

3. There are many things that don’t work right away and riders give up too easily, even though they know it’s the right way.

I talked to Michael about some steps he would recommend to help you expand your comfort zone. Here are a few he says are key:

1. You have to decide to go through the problems and not around the problems. Michael believes that even though riders know they are doing the right thing, they don’t persist and too easily look for other ways around the problem. He suggests you stay with it and solve the problem. “This is where you gain confidence — when you go through the problems and not around them,” he advises.

2. Don’t be afraid to fall off. “I fell off 1,000 times, and I learned from each one.”

3. Never be too shy to make mistakes. This is the way you learn, develop, and grow. “If you don’t make mistakes, it’s very difficult to get better.”

4. You always have to try and push forward. Failing is always a step forward to improvement and getting closer to where you’d like to go. If you don’t fail, you don’t have defined reference points to evaluate and improve.

5. Sometimes you need to go one, two, or even three steps back. “To build confidence, I believe in backing up to go forward,” says Michael. “This builds confidence for both you and your horse — it takes pressure off both.”

Michael Jung and fisherChipmunk FRH. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Build the Habits

I love what Michael shared about mindset in training and the idea of “going through a problem instead of around a problem.” This is what the idea of being uncomfortable is about. Are you willing to stay with a challenge and experience the pain of doing it again and again until you get it right? Let’s face it, it’s far easier to go around the problem, do what’s easy and what’s comfortable — even though it may be wrong or won’t last or won’t advance your abilities.

Building a habit is about repetition. If you don’t have the staying power to continue the repetition, push up against the perimeter of your area of comfort, and work to make it automatic, the habit doesn’t stick. The first habit for you to develop is the habit of practicing becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable.

This excerpt from Ride Big by John Haime is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books.

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on Jun 1, 2022 12:01 am -

June 1 marks the beginning of LGBTQ Pride Month, designated as such to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. I joined a book club a few years ago and one book that came up in our discussion was The Stonewall Reader, which takes readers through the fight for LGBTQ rights and the events that led to the uprising. It was really educational and a useful tool for learning more about the LGBTQ community and its history — if you’re up for a good nonfiction read, you can pick up a copy here.

To honor our LGBTQ friends and fellow equestrians, we’ll be sharing bits of cultural history and significance, stories on and by LGBTQ riders, and more all month long. Have something you want to share? Email us at [email protected] (and yes, our allyship extends well beyond the confines of a single month!) to let us know. In order to gain greater understanding of the world around us, including our sport, it’s important to understand those who make it up — their history, their personal stories, their voices. We look forward to learning more this and every month!

U.S. Weekend Preview

Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club Spring H.T. (Geneseo, Ny.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

GMHA June H.T. (South Woodstock, Vt.): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

IEA H.T. (Edinburgh, Ind.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

The Spring Event at Archer (Cheyenne, Wy.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

MCTA H.T. at Shawan Downs (Cockeysville, Md.): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Ocala Summer I H.T. (Ocala, Fl.): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Major International Events

Millstreet International H.T. (Millstreet, Ireland): [Website] [Scoring]

Wednesday News & Reading

The role of the cross country course decorator is one that’s often unsung. Yet decorations and the skill with which they are applied can have a massive effect on how a question is presented and subsequently rides. There’s an awesome book on this exact subject: Cross Country Completion: Considerations About Jump Decorating and you can read a really informative excerpt from it here.

US Equestrian will consider proposed amendments to bylaws at its 2022 Mid-Year Meeting, including one proposal to designate Modified instead of Preliminary as the lowest USEF-recognized eventing level. You can read more about the proposed amendments here. All Senior Active members are invited to comment on the proposed amendments by submitting comments through the proposed amendments form, email, or mail. All comments must be received by USEF on or before June 14. Your membership number must be included along with your comments.

Does your horse suffer from, er, low energy? I’ve had a few of those myself. Practical Horseman is here to help you motivate your energy-saver in this article.

Listen, it’s a real issue that helmets (in horse sports and beyond) simply are not inclusive. This isn’t a fashion issue — it’s a safety issue. A new advocacy group led by Caitlin Gooch is drumming up awareness about this very real issue and how it can be fixed. Follow Saddle Up, Helmet On here and read more about helmet inclusivity here.

Watch This on H&C+

Lots of live streams in your future!

Wednesday Video Break

How Ingrid Klimke uses Haygain for her horses:

Tuesday Video: Twist and Turn Around Devon’s Arena Eventing Track with Boyd Martin

By on May 31, 2022 5:00 pm -

Arena eventing isn’t quite the same as the traditional three-day, three-phase format, but we have to admit: it’s definitely fun to watch. We don’t often get crowds up close and personal in our sport, and the return of Arena Eventing at The Devon Horse Show provides that thanks to its location in the famous Dixon Oval.

Boyd Martin donned a Cambox to ride around the track, designed by Captain Mark Phillips, aboard the Annie Goodwin Syndicate’s Fedarman B; the pair finished in second behind winners Sara Kozumplik and Rubens d’Ysieux. Boyd also finished third with Nancy Hathaway’s Fernhill Prezley. Want to relive Sara’s winning round? Click here to watch it!

Memorial Day Weekend Winners: Virginia, Coconino, Equestrians’ Institute, Flora Lea, May-Daze, Mill Creek, Mystic Valley, Willow Draw, Woodside

By on May 31, 2022 3:00 pm -

A long weekend filled with horses is always the marker of a good one, and we’ve got loads of Memorial Day weekend results to dive into. This weekend, our Unofficial Low Score Award was earned in Washington at the Equestrians’ Institute H.T., where Lauren Boriotti and Captain Alfred won their Beginner Novice division on a finishing score of 19.7. Well done!

VHT International & H.T. (Lexington, Va.): [Website] [Results]

CCI3*-S: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley HHS Calmaria (37.4)
CCI2*-L: Lucia Strini and Kevin G (29.5)
CCI2*-S: Nicholas Beshear and Rio De Janeiro (34.4)
CCI1*-L: Lisa Chan and Fernhill Picture this (39.9)
Advanced/Intermediate: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z (34.2)
Open Intermediate: Lauren Nicholson and I’ll Have Another (46.5)
Open Preliminary: Lisa Barry and Rosie’s Aventadora (31.3)
Preliminary Horse: Julia Fanello and FE Clooney (31.2)
Preliminary Rider: Alan Montemayor and AZ (28.0)
Modified A: Leslie Lamb and Mr. Puff Higgens Jr. (27.3)
Modified B: Liz Halliday-Sharp and Maybach (22.7)
Jr. Open Training: Lainey Phillips and Global Exellencia Z (30.0)
Open Training: Sharon White and Jaguar Duende (30.1)
Training Horse: Jane Jennings and SF Vancouver 2 (27.6)
Training Rider A: Cate Engle and Armoni (34.4)
Training Rider B: Natalie Epstein and Lickity Split (31.9)
Jr. Open Novice: Scout Knull and Ron Juan (29.6)
Novice Horse: Ashley Adams and Global Halcyon (20.8)
Novice Rider A: Ina Kamenz and Hang Time (35.0)
Novice Rider B: Sarah Meek and Scherzo Di Notte (32.2)
Open Novice: Morgan Hiller and Drumloman Lad (26.1)
Beginner Novice Horse: Hayley Norfleet and SRF Rose-Colored Glasses (26.8)
Beginner Novice Rider: Katelyn Thomas and Call Me Waylon (25.0)
Jr. Open Beginner Novice: Nicola Villarino and Boogaloo (29.7)
YEH 4 Year Old: Gabby Dickerson and Frijole (75.6)
YEH 5 Year Old: Gabby Dickerson and Dark Angel d’Avalon (79.1)
Starter: Lauren Nicholson and Jakimba (22.7)

Spring Coconino H.T. (Flagstaff, Az.): [Website] [Results]

Intermediate/Preliminary: Josey Thompson and Pistol Annie (47.2)
Preliminary Open: Sean Wornall and Osito (47.8)
Training Open: Jennifer Achilles and Excel Star Lance (29.8)
Novice A: Anastasia Keyser and Bellatrix (35.6)
Novice B: Jennifer Achilles and Excel Star Solstice (30.3)
Beginner Novice A: Sharadevi Abrahamson Wolvekamp and Smiley Riley (36.3)
Beginner Novice B: Megan Martin and Lba Otis (32.2)
Intro A: Amy Vinik and Garrison Fjord (42.8)
Intro B: Katherine Daigle and Donna Prima (28.1)

Equestrians’ Institute H.T. (Cle Elum, Wa.): [Website] [Results]

Intermediate: Jordan Linstedt and FE Friday (49.6)
Preliminary Open: Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14 (21.6)
Preliminary Rider: Lilly Linder and Vergano (38.3)
Training Amateur: Julia Ellison and Tennyson Swing (35.3)
Training Junior: Kendal Smith and Ardeo Upload (32.6)
Training Open: Wendy Hsue and Fantom (29.8)
Novice Amateur A: Madison Flanders and Ketchup (28.9)
Novice Amateur B: Eliana Thompson and Rox Star Archie (33.1)
Novice Junior A: Macy Hale and Ardeo Audacity (28.6)
Novice Junior B: Caterina Ritson and This Lad is Gold (30.3)
Novice Open: Kelsey Devoille and Ashwood Just Right (30.3)
Novice Rider: Bobbie Smith-Ede and HS Cool River Jane (33.1)
Beginner Novice Amateur A: Sara Mackenzie and Golden Knight (27.7)
Beginner Novice Amateur B: Lauren Boriotti and Captain Alfred (19.7)
Beginner Novice Junior: Kate Gerth and Strauss – SVF (27.7)
Beginner Novice Open: Jordan Linstedt and Liberty R (24.3)
Starter A: Anni Grandia-Dodson and Sensational Suzy (31.0)
Starter B: Kensingtin Ford and Tidbit (48.3)

Flora Lea Spring H.T. (Medford, NJ): [Website] [Results]

Open Preliminary: Matthew Bryner and Quaden AF (29.3)
Preliminary Rider: Julie Pifer and HRH Judgemental (52.5)
Open Training: Sophie Middlebrook and Bonhunt Bertie (28.5)
Training Rider: Jessica Gehman and Ray Price (31.9)
Novice Rider: Abigail McGowan and Mystic Serenade (29.4)
Open Novice: Ryan Wood and Ben Lomond (25.8)
Beginner Novice Rider: Jenny Morris and The Golden Ticket (22.4)
Open Beginner Novice: Maya Chinana and POPSTAR (30.6)

May-Daze at The Park H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Results]

Preliminary/Training: Ciaran Thompson and Ooh La La SCF (36.5)
Modified/Training: Jennifer Coleman and SS Palantir (29.8)
Open Training: Jane Musselman and Bentley’s Best (21.7)
Training Rider A: Lauren Buhrmann and Currahee (27.5)
Training Rider B: Katelyn Ross and Midnight Krogh (31.4)
Training/Novice: Ciaran Thompson and Raggedy Anne SCF (35.1)
Jr. Novice: Kaylianna McMorris and Fernhill Future Star (26.4)
Novice Horse: Jennifer Coleman and SS Full Of Hope (31.2)
Open Novice: Hannah Reeser and Ltl Ireland Summr Soldier (22.5)
Sr. Novice Rider A: Karen Strow and Spatzel (32.2)
Sr. Novice Rider B: Mary Clare Owdziej and City of Ember (25.3)
Beginner Novice Horse: Gillian Stover and Broken Cloud (34.4)
Jr. Beginner Novice A: Riley Jones and Endgame (37.1)
Jr. Beginner Novice B: Caraline Cathcart and Relentless (31.8)
Open Beginner Novice: Bennett Adkins and Way Early (31.2)
Sr. Beginner Novice A: Christine Pasko and Essential Elegance (28.8)
Sr. Beginner Novice B: Anna Wallace and Kalaska (20.3)
Jr. Starter: Ana Young and Go Right Guppie (25.0)
Sr. Starter A: Diana Heagarty and Online Romance (35.0)
Sr. Starter B: Corinna Lewis and Antebellum Potrakka (25.0)

Mill Creek Pony Club H.T. (Kansas City, Mo.): [Website] [Results]

Preliminary: Julie Wolfert and HSH Bitcoin (32.1)
Training: Lesa Cafferty and Bay Drummer (33.7)
Novice Open A: Nancy Dailey and RendezVous (33.9)
Novice Open B: Lauren Schiller and Chairman of the Board (31.4)
Novice Junior: Paige Borylo and Talisker (31.1)
Beginner Novice Open A: Jamie Hill and Rearcross Clover Q (26.6)
Beginner Novice Open B: Jennifer Jantz and Forty Proof (27.5)
Beginner Novice Junior: Mia Scott and Remember Me (31.8)
Beginner Novice CT: Abbey Clark and Smokin Star (43.4)
Green As Grass CT: Caitlin Quinn and RexaMillion (35.0)
Starter CT: Addison Wheeler and Gingersnap (35.7)
Starter Junior: Cayla Bethea and Impressed by Sunrise (28.3)
Starter Open: Nicole Clarkson and MU From The Galaxy (28.7)

Mystic Valley Hunt Club H.T. (Gales Ferry, Ct.): [Website] [Results]

Training/Novice: Cassandra Lorusso-Smith and Iceman (36.1)
Novice Amateur: Ashley Conway and Wicked Huntsman (38.7)
Novice CT: Gwendolyn Braglia and Oveta (34.2)
Novice Junior: Luci Bialek and Fenway (38.9)
Open Novice: Kate Hornbecker and Monoxide (35.9)
Open Beginner Novice: Kimberly Sevigny and Cruiser (33.0)
Beginner Novice Amateur: Connor Pearson and ET Tylord (31.1)
Beginner Novice CT: Kathryn LaRose and Bato Loco (36.8)
Beginner Novice Junior: Katie Rector and Angus (36.1)
Starter CT: Marietta DeJulio-Burns and UC Ambassador (29.7)
Starter A: Jillian Hoag and Dark Secret (26.3)
Starter B: Emily Atwood and Aurora (37.9)
Starter C: Angela Cunard and Lodi (26.0)

Willow Draw Charity Show (Weatherford, Tx.): [Website] [Results]

Open Training: Sarah Dawson and DPH Kontiki (30.8)
Novice Rider Jr.: Stephenie Villines and Two Out Rally (28.1)
Novice Rider Sr.: Rachel Mulvey and Reminisce (29.7)
Open Novice A: Amanda Merritt and Apparition (26.9)
Open Novice B: Lauren Lambert and Fernhill Liverpool (22.2)
Beginner Novice Jr.: Avery Stroud and Valedictorian (31.5)
Beginner Novice Sr.: Elise Marshall and MCP Dauntless (29.4)
Open Beginner Novice: Margaret Kitts and Rubinaire (23.2)
Starter Test: Abbie Driscoll and Houdini (26.5)

The Spring Event at Woodside (Woodside, Ca.): [Website] [Results]

Advanced: James Alliston and RevitaVet Calaro (45.3)
Open Intermediate: Tommy Greengard and Joshuay MBF (32.0)
Open Preliminary: Megan McIver Sabo and Kapitan Sparrow XII (34.9)
Preliminary Horse Challenge: Tommy Greengard and Leonardo Diterma (26.1)
Preliminary Rider: Sami Clark and Woodland’s Be Dignified (34.5)
Preliminary Rider Challenge: Grace Walker Alonzi and Frantz (33.5)
Jr. Training Rider: Molly Duda and Disco Traveler (28.1)
Open Training: Marissa Nielsen and Ozzie (28.3)
Sr. Training Rider: Payton Piearcy (26.1)
Training Amateur: Ruth Bley and Frankfurt (26.1)
Jr. Novice A: Gracie Pitts and Valeureux (31.9)
Jr. Novice B: Fiona Holland and Dancing On The Moon (31.1)
Novice Amateur: India McEvoy and Justiz-ESH (32.5)
Novice Horse: Madison Temkin and The Great Gatsby (27.2)
Open Novice: Olivia Putrino and Eli’s Coming (25.0)
Sr. Novice Rider A: Caitlin Mulvihill and Cabela (29.7)
Sr. Novice Rider B: Kelly Schwisow and Kahlua & Cream (30.5)
Jr. Beginner Novice A: Josephine Clark and Champion of Menlo (31.3)
Jr. Beginner Novice B: Jules Thompson and The African Queen (29.4)
Open Beginner Novice: Tommy Greengard and Ben (20.9)
Sr. Beginner Novice A: Kimberly Jones and BFF Penny Royale (32.9)
Sr. Beginner Novice B: Jeannette Robb and Be Mine (26.2)
Starter A: Meadow Stempek and Romeo’s Dream (33.3)
Starter B: Kelly Schwisow and Redfield Out Of The Blue (29.3)

Photo Recap: Tommy Greengard & Grace Walker Alonzi Take Woodside’s Annual Prelim Challenge

By on May 31, 2022 12:00 pm -

Tommy Greengard (Leonardo Diterma) and Grace Walker Alonzi (Frantz) take their victory tour at Woodside. Photo by Sherry Stewart

The annual Preliminary Challenge at Woodside Horse Trials in California’s bay area is a popular stop for West coast riders. Offering both a Horse and a Rider Challenge and $15,000 worth of prize money, Woodside attracts both amateurs and professionals eager to tackle the division that offers prize money and eternal bragging riders for its yearly champions.

Tommy Greengard and Leonardo Diterma. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

This year, Tommy Greengard with Andrea Pfeiffer’s Leonardo Diterma captured the title in the Preliminary Horse Challenge, adding a few seconds of time in Sunday’s show jumping to finish on a 26.1. This was the third Preliminary event for Leonardo Diterma, a six-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Gullet HBC. Tommy’s an up-and-coming rider who’s built himself a solid string of horses; he also wins the Open Intermediate with his own Joshuay MBF, finished second in the Novice Horse with Simone van Ommeran’s Global Barouma, third with Rebecca Slater’s Cappachina in the Open Novice, and first in the Open Beginner Novice with Amanda Apesos’ Ben — we’ll call that a winning weekend!

Grace Walker Alonzi and Frantz. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Taking the win in the Prelim Rider Challenge is Grace Walker Alonzi with her own Frantz, finishing on a score of 33.5 with one rail added on Sunday. Grace comes from a dressage background, having worked in southern California for Marie Medosi as well as Steffen and Shannon Peters before moving on to work for Tamie Smith as her assistant rider. Frantz is an eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding originally sourced as a dressage horse while Grace was working for Exclusive Dressage Imports; Grace purchased the gelding by Farenheit in 2018 and began producing him as an event horse, making his eventing debut in 2020 and eventually stepping up to the Preliminary level last year.

 

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Faith Farrell and Case Closed II finished second in the Prelim Rider Challenge. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Erin Kellerhouse and Bon Vivant en route to third place in the Prelim Horse Challenge. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Gabriella Ringer and Get Wild jumped to a third place finish in the Prelim Rider Challenge. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Many thanks as always to Sherry Stewart for being our lens on the ground at Woodside this weekend — enjoy a gallery from the action and check out the full list of results here.

Woodside Spring H.T. (Woodside, Ca.): [Website] [Final Scores]

Watch Sara Kozumplik and Rubens d’Ysieux Win the $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing

By on May 30, 2022 9:00 am -

Sara Kozumplik and Rubens d’Ysieux claim vicory in the Dixon Oval! US Equestrian photo.

She did it again! Sara Kozumplik, winner of the first ever Devon Arena Eventing in 2017 with Rubens d’Ysieux, sealed the deal on a second victory tonight with a thrilling and bold clear, fastest of the final group. Besting early frontrunners Boyd Martin and Fedarman B, Sara and her beloved “unicorn” earned the blue and welcomed the historic Devon Horse Show back for the first time since 2019.

Watch Sara’s winning round:

Sara Kozumplik-Murphy gallops to the win in the $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing

Watch Sara Kozumplik-Murphy gallop to the win in the $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing 💨🥇

Posted by USEF Network on Sunday, May 29, 2022

And enjoy a few more scenes from an exciting night at Devon. You can also catch the replay on USEF Network, along with live streams from all of the other action at Devon Horse Show, here.

Catch the Return of Devon Arena Eventing Tonight on USEF Network

By on May 29, 2022 4:17 pm -

Boyd Martin and Contestor. Photo by The Book LLC.

We’re excited to see the return of Arena Eventing to the famous Devon Horse Show in Pennsylvania this evening. A star-studded roster of horses and riders are set to compete in this hybrid event that combines show jumping and cross country spanning two Devon arenas.

You can tune in live for the action on USEF Network tonight beginning at 7 p.m. EST. Click here to view the full broadcast schedule. If you don’t have a USEF Network membership or subscription yet, you can use code DEVON22 for a free fan membership so you don’t miss the action.

Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Rubens D’Ysiuex on their way to winning the 2018 $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing. Photo by The Book LLC.

This evening’s entry list is jam-packed with former winners and top names, including 2017 winners Sara Kozumplik and Rubens d’Ysieux as well as 2019 winner Boyd Martin, this year bringing Fedarman and Fernhill Prezley to play. EN’s own Ema Klugman has her old hand Bendigo out to play as well, and we’ll also see Jennie Brannigan with Connory and Twilightslastgleam, Phillip Dutton with Carlchen and Hachi, and Erin Kanara and Campground. In total, 18 combinations will compete. View the full entry list here.

$50,000 is up for grabs tonight as the competing pairs tackle a 1.15m cross country/1.20m show jumping course designed by Capt. Mark Phillips. Horses and riders must be qualified through at least the Intermediate level to compete here.

We’ll be back tomorrow with a recap, and if you want a glimpse of the grounds you can head on over to our Instagram where Sierra Lesny is taking over our story for Team Kozumplik! Go Eventing.

Friday Video from SmartPak: Houghton Hall Rewind

By on May 27, 2022 4:30 pm -

The FEI Nations Cup for Eventing continues this week at the Barefoot Retreats Houghton Hall International in Norfolk, United Kingdom. It’ll be the first weekend we’ll see a U.S. team for the 2022 Nations Cup; this weekend the U.S. is represented by Cornelia Dorr, Isabelle Bosley, Allie Knowles and Caroline Martin. Team USA will take third place in the Nations Cup CCIO4*-S competition on a total score of 99.3.

Take a look back at highlights from last year and stay tuned for much more from this year’s event!

Barefoot Retreats Houghton Hall CCIO4*-S: [Website] [Info Hub] [Entries] [Scoring]

SmartPak Deal of the Day: It’s a win-win as you can save 20% off Horseware products on SmartPak now through Monday, May 30! Just use code MemDay22 at checkout to apply the discount.

#EventerProblems Vol. 283: When Nature Calls

By on May 27, 2022 2:00 pm -

It’s about time we rounded up a fresh new batch of #EventerProblems, because we know they’re never ending! Keep scrolling for a whole slew of highly relatable problems we’ve all experienced. Tag your public posts with #EventerProblems and we might feature you next!

Nicola Wilson Moved to Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Unit

By on May 27, 2022 9:00 am -

Nicola Wilson’s recovery continues as the British rider was moved this week to a spinal cord rehabilitation unit at James Cook Hospital. Nicola suffered a heavy fall on cross country at Badminton Horse Trials on May 7 with her European Championship partner, JL Dublin. The horse was uninjured in the fall.

“Today Nicola was moved into the spinal cord rehabilitation unit at the James Cook hospital,” Nicola’s team shared on her social media. “We would like to thank everyone who has been so kind on the journey so far. The transfer team were a lovely crew who called in at our home to visit the horses on their way back to Bristol , Nic obviously had a bit of horse chat in the ambulance. Dublin has his photo taken with the ambulance, which he loved!!!”

British Equestrian released the following update on May 26:

Following her fall at Badminton Horse Trials, Nicola Wilson was transferred from Southmead Hospital in Bristol to the intensive care unit at James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough yesterday (25 May) and has subsequently now been moved to the Spinal Rehabilitation Unit there. This is one of the specialist spinal centres in the country so will enable expert support with her ongoing rehabilitation.

Although it was a long and tiring journey, Nicola is comfortable, in good spirits and is pleased to be closer to home. At this early stage Nicola’s recovery is progressing well, with sensation and movement returning to her lower and upper limbs. There will be a lengthy rehabilitation process ahead but with the support from experts, family and friends combined with her positive attitude she is in the best place to optimise her recovery.

Nicola, husband Alastair and mother Mary Tweddle would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of the staff who has looked after her so well at Southmead Hospital in Bristol. The care and attention she has had there really has been second to none and for that they’re very grateful.

They thank everyone for the numerous cards and messages of support; each and every one is greatly appreciated.

We continue to keep Nicola in our thoughts as she fights for her recovery. We will provide further updates as they are made available.

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on May 25, 2022 12:01 am -

Photo courtesy of Cornerstone Therapeutic Equine Center.

Today in advance of Memorial Day, we’re shouting out programs such as Cornerstone Therapeutic Equine Center, a San Diego-area equine therapy program that was founded in 2007 as an equine therapy program serving children, youth and adults with physical, cognitive and emotional special needs. The program’s commitment to service members began in 2008 when Cornerstone was invited to participate in a pilot program designed to identify and address the needs of wounded, ill and injured military personnel.

With bases for the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard within its boundaries, San Diego County has a large community of active-duty military and veterans. “In the early stages of the pilot program we learned that San Diego has one of the highest populations of wounded service members in the country,” explains Cornerstone founder Judy Beckett. “In addition, we found there is a tremendous need for alternative therapies that are non-clinical, non-pharmaceutical and non-psychiatric.”

While continuing to work with the broad population, the experiences and challenges of the military community became clear as distinct from those of civilians. In 2017, Cornerstone turned its focus exclusively to the military.

The remarkable results that emerged from ongoing research begun that year helped inspire Cornerstone’s focus.

These included:

· A 92% decrease in suicidal thoughts

· A 94% decrease in depression

· A 91% decrease in stress and anxiety among those participating in its equine assisted therapy.

“There are many programs in the area that do a great job with kids and others with special needs,” Judy explains. “We happen to be really good at the specialized services that benefit those with military-related PTSD.”

Certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, Cornerstone became the first equine therapy enterprise in San Diego County to stand up programs specifically for service members. “We felt we could best serve our country by serving them,” Judy explains.

PTSD, suicidal ideations, depression, anxiety, fear, survivor’s guilt, anger, paranoia and loss of a limb are a few of the conditions for which the Cornerstone team is trained to help its clients. Support for family members and care givers is also available, and frontline medical worker COVID fatigue was added to the roster of conditions addressed in 2020.

To learn more about Cornerstone Therapeutic Equine Center, click here. You can also read more about the program and its partnership with Haygain here.

U.S. Weekend Preview

VHT International & H.T. (Lexington, Va.): [Website] [Schedule] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Spring Coconino H.T. (Flagstaff, Az.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Equestrians’ Institute H.T. (Cle Elum, Wa.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Flora Lea Spring H.T. (Medford, NJ): [Website] [Scoring]

May-Daze at The Park H.T. (Lexington, Ky.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Mill Creek Pony Club H.T. (Kansas City, Mo.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]

Mystic Valley Hunt Club H.T. (Gales Ferry, Ct.): [Website]

Willow Draw Charity Show (Weatherford, Tx.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring]

The Spring Event at Woodside (Woodside, Ca.): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Major International Events:

Barefoot Retreats Houghton Hall CCIO4*-S: [Website] [Info Hub] [Entries] [Scoring]

Wednesday News & Reading

One of my favorite parts of spending a few months in Ocala was the sheer number of schooling venues and opportunities that were available. Coming from the Midwest, where you worked your schedule around planned schoolings (all of the events in Missouri and Kansas are held on public park land, so you can’t just go and school at any time), it was a literal eventer’s paradise. But there are some odds and ends to take care of if you’re going to haul in to a venue to school. This helpful article from STRIDER on the USEA’s website is good to keep handy.

Badminton Horse Trials annually awards a “Farrier’s Prize” for the best-shod horse (honestly, this would be such an incredible thing to have at all events/major events) — Burghley also awards a Best-Shod Horse prize. This year, Welsh farrier Jim Blurton took home the prize for his work shoeing Oliver Townend’s Swallow Springs. Jim has won this award four times in its 25 years of running — the most of any other farrier. Dive into the full story and details on the farrier work at Badminton on Fran Jurga’s blog, The Hoof Blog.

Did you know that vitamin E supplementation of broodmares can help their foals build a stronger immune system? Research suggests that this process, done in late gestation and early lactation, can help the foal receive a higher number of antibodies. Learn more in this research blog from Kentucky Performance Products.

Watch This on H&C+: Your H&C+ membership gives you access not just to a plethora of live streams, but also a full library of educational and entertainment content. For example, OTTB owners out there might enjoy the Back to Basics episode centering on nutrition for Thoroughbreds.

Wednesday Video Break

#TIL (today I learned) that in Belgium, horses are used for shrimp fishing!

Tuesday Video: Wren Blae Zimmerman – Challenge Accepted

By on May 24, 2022 4:00 pm -

We commonly describe horses as the purveyors of wings. For 32-year-old Wren Blae Zimmerman, the horse also provides her with eyes.

When Wren was 17, she was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy, a rare genetic degenerative eye condition that renders her blind. After discovering horses via a therapeutic riding program, Wren knew she wanted to do more.

“Horses give me freedom from a disability,” Wren describes. “And I can do a lot on the horse that I can’t do by myself.”

Partnered with former grand prix jumper, Cassicasca or “Valentine”, Wren’s learned the ways of the show jumping ring with a few tweaks to her course walking technique. In a new arena, she’ll walk to divide the space into a grid using the outside, quarter-lines and half-lines. From there, she’ll walk to each jump with an aide, who helps point out landmarks and other jumps to create a “visual map” in Wren’s head. Then, they’ll draw the course onto a white board or sheet of paper, along with a description of the track written out.

“There’s all these different things that I’ve done to sort of make this stay in my mind so that when I actually go into the arena on my horse, I have a plan, I know exactly where everything is, and I know how to ride my course.”

Screenshot via US Equestrian.

“My hope is that what I’m doing will change the perception about what people with disabilities are capable of,” Wren says. “But also to push anyone to try horses. Your own strength comes, for the most part, from inside of you, so I think it’s important for people to believe in themselves and I think anyone can do anything they put their mind to.”

Wren is also involved with Para Show Jumping North America, which helps to recognize and grow this newer subset of para equestrian and welcome new riders into the program. You can follow Para Show Jumping on Instagram here.

Wren was featured in the latest video out of the I Am US Equestian series, and you can watch the full short feature here.

Thibaut Vallette Formally Retires Olympic Gold Medalist Partner Qing du Briot

By on May 24, 2022 2:00 pm -

Thibaut Vallette Lt Col and Qing du Briot ENE HN (FRA). Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Lt. Col. Thibaut Vallette has formally retired his team Olympic gold medal partner, Qing du Briot (Éolien II – Henriette, by Étalon OR), following a decade-long partnership that spanned the globe and saw the pair named to every senior French team since 2015. The Selle Francias gelding is 18 this year.

“Thank you Qing for all these years shared, for this mutual trust and this beautiful complicity,” Thibault shared on social media (translated from French). “You will teach me a lot and you first can be proud of how far you have come. [Longtime groom Yann Devanne], who knows you so well, and I won’t be far. You will always be our heart horse.”

Thibaut Vallette Lt Col and Qing du Briot ENE HN (FRA). Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Qing du Briot first made his mark on the international stage when he secured a podium finish — both an individual as well as a team bronze with Thibaut — at the 2015 European Championships at Blair Castle, his first time representing France in team competition. The gelding followed that up with a 13th individual finish at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, paired with a team gold medal. Thibault and Qing du Briot also helped secure team bronze for France at the 2018 World Equestrian Games at Tryon International.

The French team was set to reunite for the Tokyo Olympics last year, and Qing du Briot saw yet another selection to the senior team before a bone bruise was sustained the month before the Olympics, prompting the team to withdraw replace him with Karim Laghouag and Triton Fontaine.

Please join us in wishing Qing du Briot a very happy, comfortable, and well-deserved retirement!

US Equestrian Announces Team for CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S

By on May 23, 2022 5:25 pm -

Graphic via US Equestrian.

US Equestrian has announced the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S at CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany, from July 1-2, 2022. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello.

“It is important for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team to participate in such prestigious events as Aachen,” said Costello. “This event provides a great opportunity for our program to compete on the world stage. Thank you to the athletes, owners, and sponsors for your commitment to representing the U.S. at this Nations Cup.”

The following combinations have been selected to represent the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team and are listed in alphabetical order.

2021 Aachen 4*-S winners Will Coleman (Gordonsville, Va.) and Off The Record, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Off the Record Syndicate

  • Chin Tonic HS, a 2012 Holsteiner gelding owned by Hyperion Stud, LLC, will be Coleman’s direct reserve horse.

Buck Davidson (Unionville, Pa.) and Carlevo, a 2007 Holsteiner gelding owned by Katherine O’Brien

Sydney Elliott (Bossier City, La.) and QC Diamantaire, a 2010 Oldenburg gelding owned by Carol Stephens

Meghan O’Donoghue (Round Hill, Va.) and Palm Crescent, a 2006 Thoroughbred gelding owned by Meghan O’Donoghue and William Duhring

Competition will begin on Friday, July 1, with the dressage and jumping phases, followed by the cross-country phase on Saturday, July 2.

Tilly Berendt will be on the ground at Aachen for EN and you’ll be sure to find the most comprehensive coverage from Germany right here on EN. Aachen will also be streamed live on ClipMyHorse.TV — and you won’t want to miss the full slate of equestrian competition starting June 24!

Aachen CCIO4*-S: [Website] [Schedule] [Live Stream] [Tickets] [EN’s Coverage]

Tilly Berendt’s Luhmühlen Diaries Earn Finalist Recognition at American Horse Publications Equine Media Awards

By on May 19, 2022 9:00 am -

No, seriously. You cannot underestimate the importance of the schnacks, nor the sunny positivity of this cool horse. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

We are proud to be American Horse Publications members, and earlier this year we learned that Tilly Berendt’s Luhmühlen Tour Diaries series had been named as a finalist it the Equine-related Editorial Series division. The series placed third overall, receiving commendation for its humor, charm, and conversational qualities.

Fancy a look back through the Tour Diaries? See below! Want to see a new edition this year? Let us know which event you’d like a Tour Diaries series from!

A full list of AHP Award winners for 2022 can be found here — congratulations to all!

The Luhmühlen Tour Diaries, Part One: The Long, Hard Road out of Plague Island

The Luhmühlen Tour Diaries, Part Two: The One With the Border Police Kerfuffle

The Luhmühlen Tour Diaries, Part Three: The BeNeLux Sausagefest

The Luhmühlen Tour Diaries, Part Four: A Heartbreaking Tale of Unrequited Love

The Luhmühlen Tour Diaries, Part Five: In Which the Price is Right

The Luhmühlen Tour Diaries, Part Six: Two Girls, One Five-Star

The Luhmühlen Tour Diaries, Part Seven: In Which We Lead a Five-Star

The Luhmühlen Tour Diaries, Part Eight: That Time We Won a Five-Star

Wednesday News & Notes from Haygain

By on May 18, 2022 12:01 am -

Happy Wednesday! A few more positive-feeling missives from Ukraine to start the day off…

There is still help very much needed, however, and you can always learn more on how to do so on the Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation website here.

U.S. Weekend Preview

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. / USEA Intercollegiate Championships (Fairburn, Ga.): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Fair Hill International H.T. (Elkton, Md.): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Hunt Club Farms H.T. (Berryville, Va.): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Otter Creek Spring H.T. (Wheeler, Wi.): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]

Spring Gulch H.T. (Littleton, Co.): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Wednesday News & Reading

We’re excited to be attending the USEA Intercollegiate Championships, happening at Bouckaert Farm / Chattahoochee Hills in Georgia this weekend. Shelby Allen will be on site for EN all weekend, so keep an eye out here for more. In the meantime, you can get all the must-know info here.

It was a summer to remember for Ever So Sweet scholarship recipient Sierra Lesny. Relive it with her in this wrap-up blog looking back on her time spent in Florida training with Sara Kozumplik.

Lauren Sprieser might be one of my favorite bloggers, as her writing offers a frank view at life as a pro rider with a good dose of humor added for good measure. Her latest blog is a tale of buying a horse sight unseen during the pandemic. As we all know, it’s not an experience for everyone, but in this case — with some smart thinking — it worked out quite well. Read the story here.

The Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse competition will make its return alongside the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, happening September 1-4 for the first time in three years. This exciting showcase of exceptional young horses has undergone a few updates this year, including an increase in prize money, format tweaks, and addition of judges such as Capt. Mark Phillips and new CEO for British Eventing, Helen West. Read up on the updates here.

Allergy season is upon us and somehow it seems this is my year to remember how incredibly fun they can be. Horses suffer from them too, so it’s good to keep up on what can be done to mitigate them. More from Haygain here.

Natalia Neneman went from desert camping to 4* eventing, and she’s managed to do these things while maintaining a busy coaching business, too. She’s the latest guest on the Major League Eventing podcast and you can listen here.

Watch This on H&C+:

All events carried on the H&C+ live stream can always be found on replay shortly after they are live. Here’s a clip from Chatsworth International last weekend, and winner of the 2*-S with the, in all likelihood, aptly named Brookfield Future News:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

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Wednesday Video Break: Anyone familiar with riding babies/spooky horses/horses can probably relate to this one…

Copper Meadows Will No Longer Host Recognized Event

By on May 17, 2022 3:00 pm -

Photo via Copper Meadows Eventing on Facebook.

Some sad news out of Area VI and Ramona, Ca. as the Hoffos family has announce that it will no longer run recognized events at Copper Meadows. A staple training, schooling, and competition facility in southern California, Copper Meadows had hosted recognized eventing up through the Advanced/4* level for over 20 years. The venue hosted its first event in 2000.

“It is with sadness but also a bit of relief that we have decided to cancel the Copper Meadows recognized horse trials indefinitely,” Taren Hoffos told the USEA. “Our team has enjoyed serving the Eventing community for over 20 years: thank you to the riders who supported us for so many years! Unfortunately the cost of running these events has proved to be unsustainable, and we need to do what is best for our facility and for our family. We will continue to offer schooling, clinics, and unrecognized events, and will of course see all our wonderful friends at other Area VI Events.”

Copper Meadows has been a family affair for Carolyn, Robin and Taren Hoffos. Carolyn, a San Diego-area native who grew up riding and dreaming of one day owning her own competition and training facility, shared the horse bug with Taren, who would later grow up to run Copper’s training program while also maintaining her own string of competition horses. After the purchase of the Copper Meadows property in 1999, it was all business for the Hoffos family: at their first event, it was Robin in the announcer’s booth, Taren on concessions, brother Drew Hoffos on the water truck.

From that point on, Copper Meadows hosted yearly recognized events and also grew its unrecognized and educational opportunities to the point where it’s now one of the most popular schooling events in the area. Never fear, local riders: the Sun Series and Look B4 You Leap clinics are here to stay, as are multiple other clinic opportunities and other events at Copper Meadows.

Thank you to the Hoffos family and the crew at Copper Meadows for all the dedication, hard work, and incredible memories. We’d love it — and we know the Copper Meadows family would love it that much more — if you’d share some of your favorite memories from over the years — post them in the comments and/or on social media! Enjoy a few photos we’ve collected in past seasons:

Remembering the Life and Legacy of Kim Meier

By on May 17, 2022 9:00 am -

The team here at EN was deeply saddened to learn of beloved eventer Kim Meier’s passing earlier this month. We were honored to make Kim’s acquaintance and were lucky that she shared some of her countless stories with us. We’ll be sharing some of these stories each day this week in tribute. Do you have a memory or story about Kim to share? Please send it to us at [email protected].

Kim Meier and Test Run at Rolex. Photo courtesy of Kim Meier.

From the word go, Kim was a horse girl through and through, sitting astride her first horse as a young girl and quickly picking up lessons and competing as she grew. Her mother enrolled her at the toughest Pony Club she could find: GMHA in Vermont, where she would eventually begin working with Denny Emerson. Kim would go on to be, among many other things, a successful eventer whose career spanned from 1969 to 2007.

She favored producing and competing her own homebreds, making six Advanced horses from the ground up — four of them were bred by her, five of them were first broken by her, and all of them began their careers with her.

In 2004, Kim competed at what was then known as the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event as a first-timer with the homebred Test Run (she had also bred Test Run’s sire, Test Pilot, and dam, Iron Gal, in addition to the dams of both parents), where she finished tenth, won the Bank One Trophy as top owner/rider, and Best Conditioned to boot.

“Merle and I had never been more in sync,” Kim wrote about the experience. “We didn’t argue about left-hand turns, I didn’t pick (maybe once early on) and if he saw an awkward question, the wheels upstairs just turned faster. It was a dream sequence, the kind you don’t want to end, but when it did you realized you were only two seconds over, so your dream had come true.”

Kim and “Merle” would also complete Burghley that same year, and had her sights set on Badminton to complete the trio of classic three-day events before the gelding came up with an injury in 2005.

A freak riding accident in 2007 left Kim paralyzed from the C5 vertebrae down. After the accident, her love for the horse never wavered, and she remained and friend and student of the sport for the rest of her days.

“Needless to say we weren’t at Rolex, but a year later I did ride him again, with someone behind me holding my limp body up,” Kim wrote in 2016. “He didn’t care if we were galloping down to the Head of the Lake or if we just walked around the indoor for 15 minutes. He was always there for me, and this time he came back to help me feel alive again.”

Take a deeper dive into the life of Kim Meier in this profile from the USEA in 2008.