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An Exercise In Trust: Preview Derek di Grazia’s 2026 Defender Kentucky CCI5* Cross Country Course

By on Apr 24, 2026 11:22 pm -

The final fence on course is a newly-built design that really feels like a homage to Kentucky. Photo by Sally Spickard.

It’s 2026 and while many things in our lives may seem uncertain, theres one thing that is constant like the rising of the sun: Derek di Grazia is going to make one beautiful cross country course for the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event.

After spending some time cruising around with Derek and chatting with him a bit about this year’s cross country, I have some thoughts.

If I had to choose a theme for this year’s course I would say it is trust. Derek’s courses always reward bold, forward riding but this year Derek has also put more of an emphasis on quiet careful distances in which the rider must trust their horse to make the right decision and more importantly, wait for them to make it.

Harry Meade himself says, when asked his thoughts on the course going into Saturday, “I didn’t think there were as many bold attacking questions on forward distances…there are perhaps some more blind turns on slightly quiet distances.” With combinations on steep angles and corners on blind turns, any rider inclined to get ahead of the motion is poised for runouts. That isn’t to say riders can pull to every jump (which is a shame, I would really love that) but careful footwork and quiet, patient riding will reward the riders.

For some of these combinations, riders will have to put the clock completely out of their minds and instead focus on impulsive, bouncy canters that will set their horse up for success. Oh, but don’t worry there’s plenty of chances for riders to make up time on some of the course’s many gallop sections.

“Right in the beginning of the course,” Derek says when asked when riders can make up time, “[The riders] want to try not to be late at the third minute but after that you have to be able to take advantage of the places you do have to gallop.”

Let’s take a closer look at some of the interesting combinations on Derek DiGrazia’s course this year.

MARS Sustainability Bay 4ABC

Fence photos below via CrossCountry App

The first combination for the horse and rider pairs will come early in the course, only four jumps in, they will have to navigate a combination through the first water, getting their feet wet both literally and figuratively.

Derek did not want to catch any riders out at the first combination, there are no alternate routes as Derek anticipates everyone will be going well by this point. A straightforward cabin will need a confident ride but the horses won’t be dropping into water this early. A simple crossing through the water and out over a narrow cabin to an even narrower stump will let the horses know this is a serious event but for the green horses a successful navigation of the water will put some money in the confidence bank going into the rest of this course.

Care Credit Question 7ABCD

The coffin question also comes up early on the course, which Derek says was on purpose “it’s either going to come early or it’s going to come late” (a true Derek-ism, if there ever was one).

The direct line is pretty straightforward, in over rails, one stride to a ditch and two strides out over the double brush. Derek wants riders to emphasize a correct coffin canter so that horses don’t have the first fence down (as it is on MIMs clips): “If a horse drags its hind legs on the rail, the rail will come down, so the riders really want to make sure they ride this with the right canter.”

As per usual, Derek doesn’t want riders to struggle too much and the Care Credit Question has numerous alternate options for those that might need them. “There are a few ways for them to bail themselves out if they need to,” he said. “We really don’t want them to have a bad fence, so we’d rather give them time and have them jump an easier fence even though it’s going to take a little bit of time.”

This combination, to me, sets the tone for the course. For success at this coffin the riders cannot be worried about the time. They have to let their horse jump carefully and correctly to find the best success and I think horses will gain confidence after navigating a coffin so early but it’s up to the riders to give them the ride they need.

Opposing Corners 9AB

For this year, Derek really went all out on the corners. “We went back to the drawing board,” he said. “You’ll probably notice each one of these corners is up on a little hill. We raised the ground a little bit and makes it a bigger fence.” Which is totally fine, Derek, you’re right. Last year I thought the corners were so teeny tiny you had no choice but to make them bigger. No, they aren’t massive at all. Child’s play.

Accuracy plays a key role in this question and riders will have to “accept the angle and make sure they have their line.” This combination feels more like a typical Derek question as it emphasizes bold and decisive riding. Riders have to get the horses across these massive corners so they cannot have a weak pace. “I think the distance won’t be difficult to make, but they don’t want to get there weak,” he said.

Pete’s Hollow 14ABC

“It’s quite steep going down that slope,” Derek says, pointing to a hill that looks like a small mountain at the start of Pete’s Hollow. Riders will, of course, have to be accurate, but Derek emphasized that riders will “have to trust their horses, so they just have to be patient” as they navigate the terrain.

No horse handles terrain exactly the same so it will be up to the riders to know their horse and make sure they set them up for success. Oh don’t worry guys, it’s not just steep going into the Hollow. It’s also steep going out. That steepness is going to absolutely suck all of the power out of the horse’s canter and riders will have to make up for that by being there with their leg.

The jump out is “every bit of a meter 45” so riders cannot be lazy going up the hill (which we all know is a classic problem with 5* riders, they’re just so lazy all of the time).

EEI Root Cellar 15ABC

“We actually increased the drop this year,” says Derek, out of his mind with power. Riders will drop off of what really looks like a sheer canyon to the first brush and will have to “maintain control” after the first brush to make the turn to the second.

Control will be a necessity because these aren’t very wide jumps at all and will require absolute accuracy. “The faces on those brushes aren’t that big,” Derek admits. “Riders will have to make sure they don’t slip on by one.” Personally, bouncing off a jump would be the least of my worries after dropping from orbit and hitting terminal velocity before I hit the ground, but to each their own.

Also you’re not reading this incorrectly, it is back to back combinations for the horse and rider pairs. This drop comes right after the Hollow, making this section of the course (the sixth minute) the most intense on course. Fortunately, the seventh minute is the least intense. This carousel from CrossCountry App has this stat and more:

Owl Hole at the Mounds 16

Gang, I don’t want to talk about this fence. I thought these crazy owl holes would only haunt me at the Maryland 5 Star but they have followed me like a spectre of doom to Kentucky (which I had previously considered a safe place).

“This is one of their straightforward jumping fences,” says Derek, seemingly unaware that he has cursed this land with a demon. Sure, it’s not in combination with anything, and sure this owl hole doesn’t have eyes (wow what a gift) but it also has a TAIL which, while an impressive feat of topiary, is terrifying.

“To make it a little more interesting,” (ok Derek), “I made them have to go over the mound” (OK DEREK) “to then jump this…they’re going to have to make sure they keep the horses organized so they have a nice ride forward to this.”

It’s not a particularly large fence, which I suppose we just have to be grateful for in the grand scheme of things. You won’t catch me within 200 yards of this fence so ya’ll let me know how it goes.

Defender Head of the Lake 18AB & 19AB

I won’t lie, this year the Head of the Lake is a doozy. Riders will have to drop in (the drop is the height of a full grown man by the way) and quickly navigate 7 strides to two offset cabins that ride in 3 strides on an angle.

It looks impossible, but Derek was clever. The two cabins are not, in fact, a combination themselves. “If they do decide they don’t want to jump the direct offset they can make circles,” he describes, which honestly, was pretty chill of Derek to include. Especially considering after the second cabin (19A) riders will have only 4 strides to make it to a massive corner on a blind right turn (though Derek doesn’t consider this a blind turn. I do. It comes up fast and horses are not going to see it unless the riders are extremely diligent in showing them the way).

This, in my opinion, will probably one of the most challenging combinations on course. Riders will have to be “on” the entire time and navigate their horses deftly without getting in their way.

Normandy Bank 21ABC

For our last combination of the article we will take a look at the Normandy Bank. This year instead of bouncing in, riders will have to navigate the bank to an open oxer which “will come up quite quickly and [the riders] will have to make sure they’re quite accurate.”

This combination comes up pretty late in the course and Derek wants riders who are going well “to keep going well” but they’ll have to work for it. They’ll have to get right to the base of the oxer to make their job to the corner out easier (relatively, none of this is easy).

“It’s really important to make sure the horses are in a good balance here and when you land keep the control.” There is an alternate route here but it is pretty far away and will add some significant time penalties. Riders that want to make the time will have to go direct but do it carefully.

So what do you think? Obviously this is no walk in the park but I will be extremely interested to see how the riders handle the balance of patience, trust, and chasing the clock. There’s going to be some quick thinking and even quicker footwork. I admire Derek’s ability to keep things fresh every year and this course is no different. Good luck to all the combinations! Lock in!

To view the full course with guidance from Derek himself, click here to visit CrossCountry App. We’ll also drop a video preview below. The first horse in the Cosequin Lexington CCI4*-S (view that course here) will be out of the start box at 9:30 a.m., and you can view full scores here.

EN’s coverage of Defender Kentucky is supported by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for all the science-backed nutritional support your horse needs. Learn more about KPP here.

Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event: [Website] [Tickets] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer] [CrossCountry App XC Map] [Venue Map] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] [Support Our Sponsor: Kentucky Performance Products]

The Amateur Experience: Rachel Mulvey and the Art of Doing It All

By on Mar 26, 2026 9:00 am -

Welcome one, welcome all to The Amateur Experience with me, your host, Sydney: a semi-successful online influencer, full time horse weirdo who has big dreams and seemingly no regard for the risk both financial and physical.

I, as the resident pinnacle of the adult amateur (you may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like), have been tasked by Eventing Nation to bring you the real stories from life as an adult amateur — from my own trials and tribulations (which are never-ending and ridiculous), to those of my peers. We’ll even be taking a look at amateurs in other horse disciplines to see if there’s anything to be learned from them.

This sport would crumble and dissolve like sugar in a bottle of rum were it not for the adult amateurs carrying it on their backs. Yet, we often do not hear their stories.

Why is that?

Well, it doesn’t matter anymore because I’m bringing you the stories. The real stories of the literal blood, sweat, and tears that amateurs pour into this sport for literally no monetary gain. The term amateur, which is so often derisively flung at anyone not deemed a good enough rider to hang with the cool kids, actually just means someone who does something without getting paid.

I ask you, is it not more admirable to do something for money or because you love it? In today’s world, where money is quite literally everything, is it not actually a little brave to do something for the sheer love of the game?

To read more Amateur Experiences, click here.

Rachel Mulvey and Reminisce. Photo by JJ Sillman.

Bear with me for my first entry into this series because we are going to be talking about one of my personal heroes: Rachel Mulvey. Hey! I wanted to start the series off strong. I met Rachel because she works part-time at the barn I board at in addition to being a small animal vet at an emergency clinic. See? You doubted me, but Rachel rules. She has a whole degree AND she happens to be riding Preliminary (as well as Prix-St-Georges level dressage) with her chestnut mare, Remi (short for Reminisce).

Rachel has been riding since “…before I was born. My parents both rode, and I was on horses pretty early on.” However, she decided to become a vet rather than a professional rider. I asked her if she had any regrets becoming an amateur and her only regret is that she wished she “had done a working student gig in high school.” Which is understandable, being a working student is a canon event for most horse kids.

Rachel bought Remi seven years ago. After her first eventing horse, a 17-hand Shagya Arabian/Thoroughbred cross, passed away her senior year of high school Rachel focused on veterinary school and it wasn’t until her senior year she was able to start riding again. The barn owner at Freedom of Movement had Remi and suggested Rachel lease her while riding there.

“She was only seven and had done dressage and some jumping before. I fall in love with pretty much any horse I meet so it wasn’t hard to love her,” she says on first meeting Remi. When Rachel graduated she asked if she could buy Remi on payments from the barn owner who, I’m sure sensing Rachel’s extremely good vibes, said yes. Since then the two have formed quite the relationship.

That is actually what strikes me most about Rachel as a horsewoman. Even with how very busy Rachel is, she always spends extra time to make sure Remi feels her best. Rachel often works long hours at the clinic and is only able to ride Remi four days a week. She isn’t particularly worried about this: “Thankfully, my mare now is well trained and really doesn’t need five or six days of work.” Even with such a time crunch Rachel takes the time to give Remi a thorough groom and have her sit in her BEMER blanket for 20 minutes. There is no feeling of being rushed, just Rachel quietly talking to Remi as they get ready. This is what I think makes Rachel so special.

Rachel Mulvey enjoys a learning session with 5* judge Peter Gray.

She certainly hasn’t always felt the most confident. This is something many riders struggle with and Rachel isn’t immune. However, she works incredibly hard on herself to help overcome these feelings. Ultimately, this is why she decided to settle at Overlook Farm training with Sara Kozumplik.

“I met Sara at a clinic I rode at in Texas, right around the time I was starting to lose confidence because of an accident I had with my OTTB at the time,” she says. “The positive way she taught just really worked with my brain. She has an ability to get me out of my head, and ride more effectively.”

They got along so well that when Rachel had an opportunity to move to Florida to be closer to her husband’s family she also decided to train with Sara full time. Though Sara’s training has certainly helped, Rachel has also posted about working with a sports psychologist to continue to improve her own confidence. My favorite part about this is that you will now frequently hear Rachel singing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” while tearing around cross country to help calm her (and Remi’s) nerves. I can’t actually describe to you how delightful it is to hear. It works too, Rachel and Remi recently finished up another Preliminary at Rocking Horse Winter III and are on course for the CCI* at Terranova this weekend.

To me, this is the spirit of the adult amateur. Though she is not paid to ride (and thus isn’t technically a professional) the way in which Rachel conducts herself around this sport is nothing short of top notch. She works to improve herself, she spares no expense in making sure Remi always feels her best, and she is, above all, incredibly kind. I know when I ask Rachel’s opinion on something I can trust her to tell the truth but she will do it with empathy. She is quick to help and even quicker to cheer for everyone. She rides with a soft hand and is quick to forgive. It is clear in the way her mare adores her that Remi is extremely grateful to have a mother like Rachel.

To discount a rider like Rachel as “just an amateur” would be a mighty shame, wouldn’t it? When asked how she wished the sport would support amateurs like her more she said, “Grants would be fantastic! Maybe I’m missing them but then only ones I’ve seen have been education based, or for upper levels. The majority of us amateurs are doing lower levels – it would be nice to have the support there as well.”

Rachel Mulvey and Reminisce. Photo by JJ Sillman.

While I wouldn’t consider Preliminary a lower level as it still frightens and haunts me, I understand what Rachel is saying. It would be nice for there to be opportunities for growth within the amateur group of riders. There’s certainly plenty of us and we do all have big dreams worth funding. Sure, we may never ride for an international team, but we are doing everything we can to support the growth of the sport. Isn’t that worth an investment? I think amateurs deserve to get as much out of the sport as they put in every day. This isn’t just the sport “giving back” it’s the sport actively investing in the foundation that keeps it running year after year.

Ultimately, I’m happy for now if we just take the time to acknowledge riders like Rachel who are doing incredible work in multiple sectors. Sure, she can ride incredibly but she can also fix your cat’s diabetes. What range! Did we not once praise the Renaissance Man? Is a Jack-of-all-trades worth nothing?

Yes, it’s exhausting but it’s important. What Rachel is doing is meaningful. I asked her what keeps her motivated. “I like to have goals. My favorite thing about riding with Sara Kozumplik is she helps outline your short term and long term goals, then we work to achieve them. If we fall short, we re-direct. She always has a plan. I’m a planner and I like having some sort of direction at all times. If I know I’m aiming for a one-star or Prelim, then I work that much harder to achieve it. And knowing she knows we’re capable, gives me confidence.”

Rachel Mulvey and Reminisce. Photo by JJ Sillman.

Rachel, and many riders out there just like her, are athletes with drive and ambition the same as any professional. They just also have a whole other job. It’s an incredibly difficult balance and one that isn’t always the most successful. By her own admission, Rachel does not balance the rest of her life that well. “Other life stuff happens when I have time and energy for it,” she says.

Yet amateurs like Rachel manage this difficult schedule and still put the horse first. Isn’t that the true sign of a horseman? To me, being a good horseman is more important than any professional accolades and for that Rachel, and riders like her, deserve to be commended.

You can also check out Rachel and Remi tearing up cross country in the first person on Rachel’s channel @DVMEventer on TikTok and @dvm_eventer on Instagram. (Though she doesn’t do funny commentary because I threatened her to the fullest extent of the law. Let this be a warning).

The Amateur Experience: Meet Your Host, Sydney Steverson

By on Feb 16, 2026 12:00 pm -

Welcome one, welcome all to The Amateur Experience with me, your host, Sydney: a semi-successful online influencer, full time horse weirdo who has big dreams and seemingly no regard for the risk both financial and physical.

I, as the resident pinnacle of the adult amateur (you may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like), have been tasked by Eventing Nation to bring you the real stories from life as an adult amateur — from my own trials and tribulations (which are never-ending and ridiculous), to those of my peers. We’ll even be taking a look at amateurs in other horse disciplines to see if there’s anything to be learned from them.

This sport would crumble and dissolve like sugar in a bottle of rum were it not for the adult amateurs carrying it on their backs. Yet, we often do not hear their stories.

Why is that?

Well, it doesn’t matter anymore because I’m bringing you the stories. The real stories of the literal blood, sweat, and tears that amateurs pour into this sport for literally no monetary gain. The term amateur, which is so often derisively flung at anyone not deemed a good enough rider to hang with the cool kids, actually just means someone who does something without getting paid.

I ask you, is it not more admirable to do something for money or because you love it? In today’s world, where money is quite literally everything, is it not actually a little brave to do something for the sheer love of the game?

Some background on me, in case you do not know who I am (disgusting, how dare you, I am so famous, etc, etc.).

I’m Sydney. I’m 32 years old and I have two horses currently competing. I have a gelding going Modified and a mare competing for her dressage bronze medal. I have been riding competitively for a little over six years now. I started riding as a child, my parents said stop that and go to college. I went to college, got two degrees (in Statistics and Religious Studies, in case you were wondering) and immediately bought an OTTB from a friend. I’m crazy and I refuse to be stopped.

Do I have aspirations of competing at the upper levels? Yes of course! Would I love to be a professional myself One day? Certainly! Will I give up the well-being and love of the horse to accomplish these goals? Absolutely not.

I subsidize this insane endeavor with help from family, as well as side gigs like editing, working for Eventing Nation, and this whole social media affair (though don’t let these influencers fool you, it’s not as lucrative as you might think).

The aim of this bi-monthly column is to shed light on the struggles, the triumphs, and all the moments in between that exist for the adult amateur. There is so much true and raw beauty in the work that the amateur puts into this craft that it feels like a crime to ignore their stories. The goal is not to sugarcoat how incredibly hard this industry can be for those who pay to be a part of it, but rather to shine a light onto the dedication that these women, men, and sometimes kids display everyday in the pursuit of something they love.

I can’t wait to share these stories with you, and hope you find them as inspirational as I do. I also hope you’ll accompany me on my continued journey with my own horses as we scratch, claw, and kick our way to the top.

Stay tuned for more columns and videos from Sydney, coming your way all year long here on EN. And because we’re severely underpaying Sydney, give her a hand and follow her on TikTok here and on Instagram here.

‘It’s Pretty Juicy’: Riders React to Defender Kentucky 5* Cross Country

By on Apr 26, 2025 10:00 am -

Fence 11 on course. Photo via CrossCountryApp.

While scores of children, rightfully, have pictures of their favorite riders adorning their walls, if I could redecorate my childhood room I imagine I would adorn it with pictures of Derek Di Grazia.

It’s not creepy. I promise. I just have a healthy respect for his ethos around course design.

Derek has been course designing at Kentucky since 2011, so what has he come up with this year to keep things fresh (and sufficiently intimidating)?

For the course this year, Derek is incorporating more twists and turns into his usual flowing course design in a track designed to keep riders on their toes until the very last fence. Just don’t get lost!

But who cares what I think, what do the riders think?

You can view much more, including embedded course maps, in our full preview here.

Defender Kentucky (KY): [Website] [Tickets] [Official Schedule] [Entries & Ride Times] [Scoring] [XC Maps – Coming Soon] [ClipMyHorse Live Stream] [USEF Network on ClipMyHorse Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage] [Ultimate Guide] [Form Guide]

Michael Jung: 1st (18.6)

“He’s a big horse with a big stride, so for sure it’s better for him to gallop more straight and open. I walked the course twice—it’s really important to find good lines through the turns so you don’t have to slow down too much. You need to keep a steady rhythm and take good lines to avoid losing time. You have to trust your horse and maintain that rhythm. You can’t ride everything 100% safe, or you’ll be too slow. So yes, it’s about finding that balance — trusting your horse, keeping the rhythm, and taking a bit of risk. I think it’s a tough course, but it’s really nice and straightforward.”

Boyd Martin
2nd – Commando 3 (26.2)
6th – Luke 140 (27.9)
11th – Fedarman B (29.8)

“It’s pretty juicy—quite challenging. It’s a big course, and it’s relentless from start to finish. There are a couple of alternate routes that won’t cost too much time, so I think strategy might play a role in how it all pans out.”

Tom McEwen: 3rd – Brookfield Quality (26.2)

“It’s a fantastic course. It might look easy [editor’s note: it does not look easy], but as we know, it’s never straightforward. There are plenty of places to be caught out, like that bounce step up to the hedge, which is a really tough question. These courses often feature big drops and technical combinations, so it’s as much a test of the rider as the horse. Overall, it feels like a true championship challenge.”

Libussa Lübekke: 4th – Caramia 34 (27.1)

“It looks amazing. We’re very motivated—and I think [Saturday] will be a really fun day.”

Tim Price
5th – Falco (27.8)
=7th – Jarillo (28.4)
9th – Happy Boy (29.1)

“It’s definitely a proper five-star course—big and relentless. I’ve only had one casual walk so far. I’ve got three horses here, and I defaulted to thinking like I would with Falco, who’s more experienced. But this is a whole different challenge, with undulation and technical questions everywhere. I’m actually happy to take Jarillo out first—he’s a bit of an unknown, but I hope he stays with me and keeps his focus out there.”

Clark Johnstone: =7th – Menlo Park (28.4)

“It’s definitely the biggest track I’ve jumped in a while. It’s beautiful but demanding. My horse is a great jumper and easy to ride, so I’m hopeful we’ll handle it well.”

Monica Spencer: 10th – Artist (29.3)

“There’s a lot to do out there. We’ll need to stay switched on throughout, but we’re looking forward to the challenge. The course has changed a lot since last year—there are more twists and turns. The time will be tough to make with all the bendy lines, but there’s still plenty of room to gallop, and we’ll make the most of that.”

Jonelle Price: 12th – Hiarado (30.0)

“It’s the first five-star of the year, and it definitely feels like a ‘Welcome back to five-star’ kind of track. At first glance, it looked quite busy and a bit twistier than usual. You’ve got that early ebb and flow across the coffin line, and I think time will be really influential this year. Historically, galloping horses have really thrived here, but this year you might need something a bit more economical on the turns. That said, it’s a really good track, and the park looks magnificent. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do out there.”

Calvin Böckmann: 13th – The Phantom of the Opera (30.2)

“You can’t really compare it to last year—there are quite a few tough combinations. It’s going to be exciting, for sure.”

Sharon White: 14th – Claus 63 (32.3)

“As usual, I love Derek’s courses. It looks amazing—there’s a lot to do. You definitely get that nervous, stomach-drop feeling like, “Oh God, I hope we can do this! But I can see how everything could work. I just hope I’m one of the riders who makes it all happen smoothly. That’s the plan.”

Lucienne Bellissimo: 15th – Dyri (33.7)

“There’s definitely a lot for [Dyri] to do. I just have to ride it well and be realistic—if he starts to feel tired, I might need to take a few options.
The weather could also play a role. He’s not a horse who tends to finish pulling, so I’ll need to really listen to him and manage him carefully around the course.”

Jessica Phoenix: 20th – Fluorescent Adolescent (36.8)

“It’s going to be a huge test—from the jumps themselves to how they’re situated on the terrain. And the fitness component is serious—we’re basically running uphill for six miles. It’s going to take real horsemanship to get it done well.”

Katherine Coleman: 22nd – Monbeg Senna (38.2)

“It looks good! Each jump and each combination look really good and really jumpable. Everything’s pretty straightforward, and it’s easy for the horses to read.
I think the real test is that there are so many combinations, and it’s a really long, intense course. The horses are going to be physically and mentally exhausted by the end.”

Cassie Sanger: =23rd – Redfield Fyre (38.6)

“It looks doable from everything I’ve seen so far. I’m working on really establishing a solid plan tonight. I have ideas about the lines I want to take, and I’ll finalize them soon.”

Emily Hamel: =23rd – Corvett (38.6)

“There’s definitely a lot to do—it looks tough. I’ve only walked it once so far, but I’ll be going out again, obviously. I think if you hold your lines with bravery and commitment, you’re good to go.”

Ema Klugman: 25th – Bronte Beach (39.6)

“It’s definitely pretty different this year compared to last year, so it will have a different feel, but I think it’s fair. It’s big, but it’s exciting. I’m looking forward to it.”

Mary Bess Davis: =27th – Imperio Magic (39.8)

“I feel good. As good as you can, really. It’s a long course, so I just need to protect him early on and make sure we don’t run out of gas before the finish.
But I feel like it’s well within his [Imperio Magic] capabilities—I just have to manage it right.”

Shannon Lilley: =27th – Eindhoven Garette (39.8)

“At first, honestly, the second fence looked huge! But I really like what Derek [di Grazia] did with the course. It’s tricky and hard, but very fair to the horses.
Every question he asks gives the horse a way out if something goes wrong — it might not be the fastest way, but it’s safe and smart. It builds really well — the course starts nicely and keeps building in difficulty. Walking it, I thought, “We can do this. The big question now is whether we can do it all and still make the time!”

Rebecca Braitling: 20th – Caravaggio II (40.2)

“I’m excited! It still looks massive and long and terrifying, but he [Caravaggio II] loves it. He’s not the fastest horse in the world, but just being here is such an achievement. Having a horse at a five-star is so hard, so I’m just thrilled to have him here. I’m excited about what’s out there. Recently back home in California, we had some really good course design leading up to this event with similar types of questions, so I’m hoping that preparation will pay off tomorrow.
Of course, the water complexes, like the angled brush into the water at the Hollow and at the Lake, are definitely on my mind!”

Matthew Brown: 30th – Alderwood (41.0)

“At first, there were a couple of things I thought were impossible. But now that I’ve walked it four times, it’s all starting to look pretty doable. Honestly, if I just trust him, we’ll be fine. It’s more about managing my own nerves.”

Arden Wildasin: 32nd – Sunday Times (43.3)

“Yeah, I walked it yesterday—and I actually love it. Derek Di Grazia does a fantastic job. From a perspective standpoint, the single fences look big—wide. But the faces look fantastic, and I know I can gallop down and see two strides out and feel confident. Still, I had to remind myself not [to] question it because I know he’s a great cross country horse. The width just makes you pause a bit. I even joked with [coach Heidi White] like, ‘Hey, can you talk to him about the width?’ And she was like, ‘If you jump well, have a good takeoff, he’ll clear it. He’s strong. You’ve prepared him for this.’”

EN’s coverage of Defender Kentucky is supported by Kentucky Performance Products. To learn more about Kentucky Performance Products’ science-backed nutritional support products, click here.

Conversations with My OTTB on Show Day

By on Jan 12, 2023 9:00 am -

Born in 1993, Blogger Contest runner-up Sydney Steverson’s parents had dreams of her becoming a doctor. Or the president. However, much to their chagrin, she fell in love with horses and has made it everyone’s problem since then. After re-entering the competitive scene in 2019 to extremely mixed results, she still makes it her goal in her dream journal to become a professional. Some would say Sydney Steverson is “a bit off…mentally and emotionally” but those people are doctors and not horse people so they don’t actually know anything. Currently the proud owner of two OTTBs, both of whom can be described as “so so so very weird” and one Swedish Warmblood who is best known as “a literal angel from heaven who has done nothing wrong in her entire life.” We’re publishing her very first entry to this year’s Blogger Contest for your enjoyment.

 

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[I’ll be italicized, he will be bolded. I am a 29 year old aspiring professional rider. Currently an adult amateur. He is an 11 year old who raced for 5 years. Currently an eventing horse. Aspiring to be a racehorse again.]

[6:00am — Dressage day]

Good mor- oh my sweet lord in a tankini, what have you done to your stall?
Salutations mother! I did a little impromptu poop art. It’s abstract and really cutting edge!
It’s disgusting.
All art pushes boundaries!
Well, I have to clean this off. We have dressage in an hour.
We have WHAT.
Do not be willfully ignorant. I put you in a trailer-
Hated that, by the way.
Noted. I put you in a trailer. For 6 hours. Arrived at what is clearly a show venue. We have 3 phases to do.
Ah yes! Stick jumping and the one with the trees!
And?
And?
There’s one more.
I dare not speak it aloud, mother!
It’s dressage which we have in an hour so I have to clean your-
MY ART!
And braid you.
If you touch my mane, mother, I cannot promise your safety.

[8:53am — 45 seconds post Dressage.]

What. Exactly. Was. That?
EXPRESSION! FREEDOM!
You cantered sideways down the centerline.
Some would call it a half pass, and some would say it showed skill well above my level.
It was embarrassing.
I am a horse! I don’t know how to be embarrassed!
We have practiced this test so many times and we RAN through it.
I am built for speed. PLUS, the faster I go, the faster this dreaded dressage is over!
The judge asked me if I was “emotionally ok.” After the test.
You did seem a bit frazzled! Got to work on keeping it cool!
I hate you.
YOU LOVE ME.

[12:47pm — Show jumping warm-up]

THAT MAN INTENDS TO DO ME HARM, MOTHER!
He is literally just cantering.
BEHIND ME. A DIRECT THREAT TO MY SAFETY AND, FRANKLY, MY MASCULINITY!
Please stop screaming and jumping around. You’re making me look inept.
I would argue you ARE-
Stop. Look, ok, I’m letting you canter. CANTER.
MAXIMUM SPEED!
Please stop.
Not until I’m in the next county!
Look! A jump! I’ll aim you at the jump. You like jumps!
AHA! I DO. ACTIVATING REAR THRUSTERS!
Please, no, please. This is just a cross rail.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Well, we slammed into that going about 27 mph and there are poles everywhere, so that’s deeply humiliating.
Do not insult me, I definitely hit 30!
I’m having a literal panic attack.
Well, I’m having a great time. Can’t you just be happy for me? So what if we hit all of these little jumps? Relationships are about compromise.
How about this? You just hop over all of these little baby jumps. I don’t sell you to the circus.
Fair! I’m afraid of elephants!

[1:03pm — approx. 2 seconds after show jumping]

Well, that certainly could have gone better.
It also could have gone much worse!
What exactly about jump 6 did you not like?
The plank gave me horrifying vibes. Detested it.
We have jumped many planks at home.
This one had a cow on it. A cow that was giving me INAPPROPRIATE looks.
Well, I’m just happy we finished show jumping. We are in last place by 40 points but we’re still in it. We just have cross country tomorrow.
HA! I hope you like the taste of grass mother! For I intend to be a PROBLEM.
I would expect nothing less of my sweet child.