The use of horses as therapy animals goes back a long time, with a number of proven applications – and as far as mental health therapy uses go, we’re still discovering just how much power they wield. A great friend of mine, who runs a yard and trains competition ponies, enrolled herself in an equine facilitated therapy course and found so much comfort, and made such progress in it, that she then underwent the long process of training to be a facilitator herself – and although many might find the idea of connecting with horses on a ‘vibrational’ level a touch woo-woo, there’s an awful lot to be said for the magic that happens when we slow down, shelve our egos, and learn to simply communicate with an animal. This documentary on Equinisity, which runs spiritual therapeutic retreats, certainly lends itself well to an interesting conversational jumping off point about how much horses can actually help us.
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Burghley to Bid for World Championships Hosting Role in 2026
Pippa Funnell and Majas Hope. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
In the wake of a successful FEI World Championships of Eventing at Pratoni, Italy last year, all eyes are on which of the eligible venues worldwide could play host to the next iteration, set to take place in 2026. Very excitingly, the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is in discussions with UK Sport about accessing funding in order to host – a job it’s done on two previous occasions.
Those occasions were back in 1966 and 1974 — and though the sport has changed considerably since then, Burghley remains at the forefront of the industry. It has also hosted six European Championships (1962, 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989 and 1997) and one Young Riders European Championship (1978).
Land Rover Burghley is globally renowned for its stunning setting in the grounds of the historic Burghley House outside Stamford, and for the outstanding level of equestrian sport it delivers at its annual autumn event — due to be held from 31 August — 3 September in 2023.
Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
Event Director Martyn Johnson says: “Burghley is synonymous with the pinnacle of the sport of eventing. Hosting the FEI World Championships in 2026 would bring huge benefits to Burghley and the local community. It would also focus our longer-term vision for the event as we continue to invest in upgrading the permanent infrastructures for athletes and horses to improve further a world-class venue.
“As we experienced with the London 2012 Olympics, the legacy of a British World Championships would not only help our British teams win medals for years to come but also provide inspiration, opportunities and facilities for the next generation of equestrian stars through our associations with the Pony Club and grassroots riders.”
The FEI Eventing World Championships is held every four years, and since 2022, has reverted to a single discipline championship, rather than the popular World Equestrian Games format that previously required a single venue to host every discipline. The World Championships are ordinarily held in early autumn, roughly coinciding with Burghley’s first-week-of-September calendar spot, and though the venue hasn’t yet clarified what that would mean for its popular five-star in 2026 if it is successful with its bid, Britain does now have a successful ‘back-up’ five-star location in Devon’s Bicton Arena, which held the ‘pop-up’ pandemic five-star in Burghley’s stead in 2021.
The bid process for the 2026 FEI Eventing World Championships is open, and will conclude by June. Keep it locked on EN for further updates and news of competing venues!
Coming Up #OnStrider: Learn from Erik Duvander in Ocala
Boyd Martin debriefs with Erik Duvander. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
There’s nothing that wiles away the winter better than jumping on some seriously cool learning opportunities – and embroiling yourself in a clinic with Erik Duvander definitely qualifies as one of those. The former US team trainer, who remains in situ as the coach of choice for many of the country’s leading competitors, will be heading to Ocala at the end of this month for a jam-packed two-day clinic, which will incorporate showjumping and cross-country across the sessions, as well as individual long-term plans to build upon the work done in the lessons.
Spaces are limited: just sixteen riders will be able to take part, and the clinic is aimed at Prelim+ riders, though inexperienced horses are welcome. To secure your place, head over to Strider, where you can also register to audit the clinic – a super opportunity to take in a ton of great intel at a bargain price of just $30 for both days, and a great option if you’re not yet at the required level. The clinic will take place on February 27-28 at Liz Halliday-Sharp’s brand new Southern base, Horsepower Equestrian. As always, we’d be delighted to share your clinic experiences here on EN, so if you’re planning to attend as a rider or auditor and want to pitch a clinic report, pop us an email at [email protected]!
Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Honestly, Just International Velvet in its Entirety
Nothing at all could have made me happier today than discovering that some kind soul has uploaded International Velvet in its glorious, cheesy entirety to YouTube. There are few among us who didn’t grow up watching and rewatching the 1978 classic, which features an improbable eventing fairytale, a young Anthony Hopkins as the British team chef d’equipe, and Christopher Plummer as a rather yummy honorary father figure who writes erotica to fund his kiddo’s riding pursuits. It’s a truly perfect film, and one that you’ve probably been desperate for a rewatch of — so settle in, put your phone on silent, and remember what it’s like to be a pony mad prepubescent with a well-worn VHS tape and a head full of dreams.
Wish your horse was calmer?
Spooky, tense, edgy, unfocused. If these words describe your horse, a calming supplement could make training easier and riding more fun.
Trouble Free is scientifically formulated to support healthy nervous system function and help your horse maintain a more confident, focused, and relaxed disposition.
Trouble Free:
- Contains alpha-lactalbumin, a unique ingredient that supports normal nerve function and maintains calmness.
- Helps horses maintain a relaxed attitude and supports a positive experience for both horse and rider.
- Provides supplemental thiamine (B1), taurine, inositol, and magnesium.
The horse that matters to you matters to us®.
Have you grabbed your winter running horse stickers? Check them out at KPPusa.com/winter23.
Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products
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You know it, I know it, we all know it: we’re a little bit insane, but in a nice way, and now I’m going to need you all to go to my Instagram and like some photos of my horse, okay?
Events Opening Today: Texas Rose Horse Park H.T., March Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks
Events Closing Today: Three Lakes Winter II H.T. at Caudle Ranch, Pine Top Advanced H.T., Full Gallop Farm Mid February H.T.
Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:
Young horse producers and breeders, heads up: there are some changes to the FEH program for 2023. The program will now be overseen in part by the Young Horse Show Series, who will help to develop and promote the concept and, hopefully, create an even firmer foundation for US sport horse breeding programs. [Prepare those elite babies]
The conversation rages on about safety at the upper levels. I’m delighted to see that ‘soft option’ qualification routes to five-star were a huge part of the conversation at the FEI Eventing Forum, where attendees discussed a number of factors that could help to ensure riders don’t tackle the uppermost level until they’re truly ready — not just qualified. [A step in the right direction]
Take heart if you feel like you’re having a string of frustrating rides lately. While those days can feel like you take one step forward and roughly eighteen steps back, they’re actually the periods you learn from the most. USHJA judge and coach Rob Jacobs explains why mistakes are a great thing – and why they tend to bog us down so much mentally, too. [An encouraging read]
And finally: if your gateway into living, breathing, sweet-smelling real horses was the Breyer variety, you’ll love this. You’ll also probably end up in the attic, unboxing all your own childhood memories. That’s fine. [The horses we loved first]
Sponsor Corner: There are lots of reasons why a horse might need to consume limited starch and sugar – and particularly for pony owners, a big one is the risk of laminitis. Find out more about the impact of these common components, and how to feed a balanced diet while reducing their presence, in this useful piece from Kentucky Performance Products and Horse Nation.
Watch This:
Watch and learn as Hailey Burlock gives Off the Record a good stretch:
Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack
Do I dare to hope? Is spring, perhaps, finally on its way? The sun is making just enough of an effort this week that even though we only reached 8 degrees Celsius yesterday here, I still felt happy swinging rugs off and giving my mare her first naked session of the year. I think she was delighted, too: when I brought her in, she was covered in dirt and had done such a good job of kickstarting her shedding process that I’ve been picking horse hairs out of my teeth ever since. Now, though, it really feels like we’re out of the thick of it and speeding towards glorious, wonderful spring.
National Holiday: It’s National Frozen Yogurt Day! While it might be less popular than ice cream, frozen yogurt deserves recognition as a non-dairy, semi-healthy alternative. Obviously, that cancels out the potential negative health impact of the toppings you put on it.
U.S. Weekend Action:
Galway Downs 2023 Kickoff H.T. (Temecula, CA): [Website] [Scoring]
Sporting Days Farm February H.T. (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Scoring]
Three Lakes Winter I H.T. at Caudle Ranch (Groveland, FL): [Website] [Scoring]
Your Monday Reading List:
We tend to focus so much on what the pandemic took away from us that we forget the gift it gave to some horses: time. When you start really dissecting the development of many horses, though, their riders will admit that the removal of pressure and the endless expanse of time to simply focus on education and fun has been truly transformative – and that’s not a phenomenon that’s exclusive to the upper levels. For this rescue pony, it was also a great healer. [Time turns the corner]
I’ve loved this winter’s European indoor cross-country series for one big reason. It’s been absolutely dominated by equine OAPs. Maxime Livio’s Boleybawn Prince, who won three of them back to back, is nineteen, while Karim Laghouag’s faithful team stalwart Punch de l’Esques won at Bordeaux at the weekend at twenty years old. That final victory marked his retirement from the sport in which he’s shone for so long — and what a treat it was to see him going out on such good form. [Thanks for the memories, Punch]
TikTok has a tendency to formulate ‘microtrends’ of extraordinary specificity. But we’re not too focused on ‘coastal grandma sleaze-core’ or ‘times Harry Styles split his trousers on stage’ — instead, we’re very into the hugely specific ‘mare stare’ trend that’s currently on the go. [Check out some of the frontrunners]
A trauma centre in Germany has begun collating data about riding accidents. Right now, we reckon every trauma specialist in the country is sighing into their hands at the suggestion of providing extra counselling and advice to a group of people who will happily climb back aboard while still glued into a selection of casts. [Good luck, doc!]
The FutureTrack Follow:
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Our pals over at Irish Eventing Times are a bit like us — they’re totally unconstrained by national borders, so you’ll find content on their page from events all over Europe, and featuring a wide range of riders. But their bread and butter, of course, is the scene in Ireland, and I love keeping an eye on their Insta to get to know horses, riders, and competitions I may not otherwise have encountered. My favourite posts? The high-flying ponies and kiddos who are learning the ropes at the lower international levels. VERY cool stuff.
Morning Viewing:
Here’s that final round for the exceptional 20-year-old Punch de l’Esques. Au revoir, champ!
Saturday Video: A Deep & Meaningful Chat (Mostly) Between RideIQ and EN
It feels just a touch self-congratulating to share a video I’m involved with for this evening’s viewing slot, but I’m such a fan of RideIQ‘s Ask the Experts and Office Hours series that I can’t help but feel quite pleased that I got the chance to take part. In our long and wine-fuelled (on my part, solely) chat, me and Amanda Chance – who’s also a regular contributor here at EN! – discussed all sorts of aspects of the equestrian journalism world, from the tough bits to the fun bits, via the tequila-fuelled bits. I hope it offers some insights into the job for those of you who may be aiming to join us mad media lot some day, and provides a bit of entertainment for the rest of you!
Unfortunately, embedding the video here isn’t possible – but if you’d like to tune in for the conversation, click here to be redirected to RideIQ’s YouTube channel.
Thursday Video: The Jimmy Wofford Philosophy, In His Own Words
Earlier this afternoon, I received a text that left me reeling: it was the great Irish horseman William Micklem, who shared with me the incredibly sad news that Jimmy Wofford had died. I was never lucky enough to know Jimmy personally myself, but he certainly made an enormous impression on me: his firm belief that riding could be learned in an academic way gave me so much hope, as a kid with access to books but seldom to horses, and never to good training, that everything I dreamed of could still happen for me. I learned an enormous amount from his books, and his columns, and dreamed of one day, perhaps, getting the chance to ride with him myself. I can only imagine how those who knew and loved him must be feeling right now — but how lucky are we all to have his words of wisdom to continue taking comfort from and learning from?
It’s only right that this evening’s video should be an interview with the great man himself. Here’s the philosophy and educational foundation of one of eventing’s finest, in his own words, and packed full of wit and wisdom as always. Rest in peace and knowledge, Jimmy.
The Horse-Craziest of Them All: Goodbye to Eventing Pioneer Jimmy Wofford
Jim Wofford and Chinch share a moment. Photo via EN’s Instagram.
We’re deeply saddened to share the news that Jimmy Wofford, five-star winner, Olympian, leading equestrian intellect, and consummate horseman, has died at the age of 78 following a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. His extraordinary, forward-thinking and wide-reaching vision for the sport of eventing has helped to shape it in innumerable ways over the last number of decades, and his passing leaves an enormous void in our industry.
Jim Wofford as a 14-year-old Lance Corporal at the 1959 Round Barn Horse Show in Barrington, Illinois, doing a pretty good imitation of the U.S. Cavalry seat. Photo courtesy of Culver Academies.
The youngest son of an Olympic show jumper and U.S. cavalryman, Jimmy was, perhaps, predestined to be a horseman himself. Certainly, it was a deep-rooted love that coursed through the family, almost all of whom were involved with riding or breeding horses to the uppermost levels. It was Jimmy’s father, Colonel John Wofford, who was one the founding fathers of the U.S. Equestrian Team in its modern iteration, taking equestrian sport from a purely military activity to a civilian one and heralding a new age for the industry. Jimmy’s mother, for her part, was a crucial figure in the founding of the United States Eventing Association (USEA), then the United States Combined Training Association (USCTA), and Jimmy would grow up to be one of its greatest stars.
But before all that, there was a childhood in which horses, dogs, and books became the cornerstones of a vivid world — and one often inhabited by Jimmy alone. His siblings, all much older than him, left when he was young; his father, after achieving so much, succumbed to cancer when his youngest son was just ten; his mother, deeply impacted by the loss, receded into her grief. Jimmy would learn early on to take comfort in the relationships he created with animals, and to find solace in the world of words, both of which would become hugely important parts of his career. At 13, he left home to attend military school, where he spent his free time reading riding handbooks from cover to cover; after that, he pursued further education at the University of Colorado. Soon after, he was named to the U.S. Equestrian Team for the first time, and would remain a part of it — whether as a rider, a coach, or a formative part of the sport itself — for the rest of his life.
Jim Wofford and Kilkenny on their way to clinching team silver and individual sixth place at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Photo copyright Werner Ernst.
Though the early years as part of the USET training squad were hardly crowned with glory, they allowed Jimmy to receive the formal equestrian education he’d previously only read about, while competing a variety of not-quite-suitable mounts. And then Kilkenny came along.
Kilkenny had already made a name for himself as part of the Irish Olympic team, and he was something of a bargain basement purchase due to his iffy x-rays, but he and Jimmy quickly gelled. Together, they earned a national championship title in 1967, a gold at the Pan-American Games the same year, and team silver in Jimmy’s Olympic debut in 1968 in Mexico City. They repeated the feat in 1972, and picked up an individual bronze medal at the World Championships in 1970, too — though in many ways, all of those early team experiences were educational ones rather than the pinnacle of Jimmy’s achievements.
James Wofford on Carawich, 1978. Photo courtesy of Gamecock Photo.
Kilkenny’s career as an upper-level event horse wound down to a close shortly thereafter, but Jimmy wouldn’t be off the Olympic radar for long: in 1977, he joined forces with the great Carawich, who he rode at the famously tough 1978 World Championships at Lexington, helping the U.S. team to bronze. In 1980, the pair were named for the Olympics following a spectacular fifth-place finish at Badminton in 1979, but the US’s boycott of those Moscow Games meant that they rerouted to the ‘alternate Games’ instead at Fontainebleau, France, where they won individual silver, finishing second to Denmark’s Nils Haagensen. In 1981, they won the Kentucky Three-Day Event, closing the book on Carawich’s exceptional career.
Jim Wofford competing with The Optimist at Kentucky in 1986.
The retirement of Carawich, who had sustained an injury at Luhmühlen months after his Kentucky win, looked set to be the close of Jimmy’s own competitive career, too — but although he made every effort to step away from the sport and into ‘normality’, working as an insurance salesman and enjoying time spent just being a dad, when he was offered a catch ride on Karen O’Connor’s (then Lende’s) The Optimist for the 1986 Kentucky Three-Day Event, he couldn’t pass up the chance. The decision was a wise one: the pair won in fine style, despite their short partnership.
Later that decade, Jimmy would put his extraordinary experience and intellect to work at an even higher level: in 1988, after serving as Vice President for the American Horse Show Association, he became its President — a role he would hold until 1991. He also served on boards across the sport, including the USCTA and USET, did two years as part of the FEI’s eventing committee and was part of the US Olympic Committee as its first-ever equestrian representative. His influence went further than just the US, too: he was the chef d’equipe for the Canadian eventing team from 2001 to 2004, and has been a mentor and coach to many of the biggest names in eventing throughout his life, including David O’Connor, Bea and Derek diGrazia, and Wash Bishop.
“At least one rider on every U.S. Olympic, World Championship, and Pan American team since 1978 has been a graduate of Jim’s program,” reads his Hall of Fame biography, and when you begin to break down those lists, it’s truly remarkable: his students included Kim Severson and John Williams, who won team bronze — and Kim won individual silver — at Athens in 2004; in 2000, at the Sydney Olympics, every single member of the bronze medal winning team, including individual gold medallist David O’Connor, had trained with him.
Even those who couldn’t ride and train with him in person were able to benefit from his academic, theoretical view of the sport – and that was an enormous encouragement to riders who, like Jimmy, didn’t grow up surrounded by trainers in the confines of a school. His belief that talent could be learn through reading and applying that knowledge was a breath of fresh air, and there are few eventing enthusiasts in the U.S. — or beyond — who won’t have picked up a copy of his venerated book, Training the Three-Day Event Horse and Rider. He was also a popular columnist for The Chronicle of the Horse and was inducted into the USEA Hall of Fame in 2010.
Jimmy is survived by his wife, Gail, daughters Jennifer and Hillary, grandsons James, Hudson, Lewis, and Theodore, and countless supporters, students, friends and colleagues across the breadth and depth of the equestrian industry, all of whom will be feeling keenly the absence of one of eventing’s true greats. Our thoughts are with you all.
Enjoy an EN Exclusive Discount for Horse&Country TV – Plus Member Rewards!
Laura Collett and London 52 take the win at the 2020 edition of Les 5 Etoiles de Pau – one of the great events streaming on H&C+. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Always fancied getting your hands on a subscription to Horse&Country TV, but conscious of wanting to save money? We’ve teamed up with the streaming giant, whose service provides live coverage of competitions around the world, training masterclasses, documentaries, reality TV shows, and much more, to give you an EN exclusive deal throughout the month of February. To get 15% off an annual subscription, head to this link and use the code ENMR15 at checkout.
Photo courtesy of Dapplebay.
Becoming a member of H&C+ doesn’t just give you access to all the horsey programming you could need — it also means you can enjoy special discounts across a number of brands. This month, the member rewards include 15% off Strider’s Digital Waiver service (a seriously useful tool to protect yourself legally in a number of situations!), and two great competitions. You could win an Equestrian Lifestyle Box from Cavali Club, or an oversized, highly covetable tote bag from EN – perfect for getting all your bits and bobs to the collecting ring, for schlepping a week’s worth of groceries home from the shops, or for carrying up to a small, juvenile Labrador, we reckon. Head to the Member Rewards page to get involved and reap the rewards!
Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Mental Health Matters
I often find myself gravitating towards a bit of nostalgia for the Wednesday evening video slot, or to something silly and comedic — but today, I couldn’t help but highlight the British-based charity Riders Minds, and the important work they’re doing for mental health awareness and action for equestrians. The charity is the legacy of top rider Matthew Wright, who sadly took his own life in 2021, and is spearheaded by his widow, Victoria, along with a super team of industry pros who all understand the struggles that us horsey folks can find ourselves up against. Get to know what they do, and why, in this documentary film — and then check out their website here, as well as the free resources available if you need some extra support.
Wish your horse was calmer?
Spooky, tense, edgy, unfocused. If these words describe your horse, a calming supplement could make training easier and riding more fun.
Trouble Free is scientifically formulated to support healthy nervous system function and help your horse maintain a more confident, focused, and relaxed disposition.
Trouble Free:
- Contains alpha-lactalbumin, a unique ingredient that supports normal nerve function and maintains calmness.
- Helps horses maintain a relaxed attitude and supports a positive experience for both horse and rider.
- Provides supplemental thiamine (B1), taurine, inositol, and magnesium.
The horse that matters to you matters to us®.
Have you grabbed your winter running horse stickers? Check them out at KPPusa.com/winter23.
Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products
Here in the UK, I’m basically living in a mud tornado of sadness right now, so I’m not sure whether sunny training clips from Florida make me feel bitter jealousy or give me a much-needed dose of escapism, but I’m aiming for the latter and trying to learn a thing or two from the clips in the process, too. Ahh, who am I kidding — Andrew McConnon, you can cash me ousside, how ’bout dat?
Events Opening Today: Ram Tap National H.T., Pine Top Spring H.T., Ocala Winter II, Carolina International CCI & H.T.
Events Closing Today: Jumping Branch Farm H.T., Ram Tap H.T., Ocala Winter I
Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:
Horse lovers in Britain have long been fighting for safer roads — and figures show why. Despite amendments to the Highway Code, intended to increase safety for vulnerable road users, a striking number of riders and horses were injured last year while hacking on the roads – and already, two horses have been killed in road accidents in 2023. [Crunching the numbers — and what can be done]
Maybe you’re lucky enough to be somewhere where cross-country schooling is already viable – or maybe you’re just preparing for that glorious day. Either way, there’s no time like the present to solidify your position for this pivotal phase, and to understand the mechanics of your body and how it can work to help you balance and cue your horse while jumping solid fences over variable terrain. There are few people more equipped to teach you all this than Karen O’Connor, who’s done a video lesson for USEA to help us all get ready to excel. [Sharpen up that position]
Your horse’s posture at the time of imaging could have a huge impact on a kissing spines diagnosis. It sounds kind of obvious now that I type it out, but it’s actually the discovery of a recent study, which examined horses’ backs while engaged and disengaged. [If you’re into x-rays and vet chat, this one’s for you]
You might’ve heard of ‘quiet quitting’, the ‘new phenomenon’ that’s hitting corporate America. Of course, if you own and run a barn, you may well be achingly familiar with it as a concept already. [This one’s satire, folks]
Best of Horse Nation: In this week’s Mythbuster post, HN examines whether horses can actually learn stereotyped behaviour, such as cribbing, from one another. [Nature v nurture]
Sponsor Corner: Are carbs the enemy when it comes to feeding your horse? No – but they can only be digested in limited quantities, so it’s crucial that you learn exactly how to feed them to reap the maximum reward. KPP has the info you need.
Watch This:
Back to England, and back to 4* rider Ashley Harrison, whose vlog this week shows what a day in her busy life is actually like:
Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack
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Ever wondered if there was an easier way to ice your horse’s legs than boots, which warm up quickly, or those tricky rubber wellingtons? Course there is — just train your horse to get in an ice bath! YMMV.
National Holiday: It’s National Croissant Day. Consider doing a coffee shop run for your barn’s staff this morning – they’ll always appreciate some caffeine and a pastry!
U.S. Weekend Action:
Full Gallop Farm January H.T. (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Results]
Rocking Horse Winter I H.T. (Altoona, FL): [Website] [Results]
Your Monday Reading List:
Here’s something interesting to consider: is it actually a little bit insensitive to get a Jockey Club tattoo? I’m a tatted rider myself, and although I don’t have an OTTB at the moment, I used to — and when I was a teenager, I definitely wanted to get his number inked on me as a tribute to a horse who meant the world to me. I’m glad, in hindsight, that I didn’t, because as this thoughtful piece points out, the history of numerical tattoos is considerably darker than us well-intentioned pony-mad folks and our four-legged fur-babies. [Skip the numbers]
Contact is one of the wiliest concepts in the horse world. What does it actually feel like when it’s good? How do we know if we’ve got too much — or too little? What’s the ratio between leg and hand actually supposed to feel like? [Here are some answers for ya]
From working part-time at Applebees to fund her eventing to running two thriving businesses, Liz Lund has figured a few things out. Check out her story, and bottle a little bit of her relentless positivity to take into your week. [You go, Liz Lund]
We’re a month into 2023, and that means that riders with spring five-stars on their calendars are gearing up, big time. For some, that doesn’t just mean scheduling in some more dressage lessons or beginning to ramp up the fast work – it means focusing hard on fundraising, too. For California’s Lauren LoPiccolo, that’s at the forefront of her mind as she aims for Kentucky with her horse, Diego. Fortunately, this hard-working trainer and mom has plenty of great ideas to raise the funds. [Check out what she’s up to]
The FutureTrack Follow:
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Want to make 2023 the year you become the best horseperson you can be? I love this account for its horse-first training tips and insights that remind me to discard any shred of ego and listen to what the horses in my life are telling me – even when they’re telling me uncomfortable truths.
Morning Viewing:
Bid farewell to Caroline Powell’s extraordinary Burghley winner and Olympic mount Lenamore, who died yesterday at the age of 31, with this compilation of clips.
Saturday Video: Testing Equestrian Life Hacks – So You Don’t Have To!
There’s nothing I love better than a life hack, especially if it saves me money – but with so many voices on the internet touting all sorts of mad solutions to problems I didn’t even realise I had, it can be hard to work out what’s actually worth doing, and what might just cause you a bigger headache in the long run. And so I thank the horsey heavens for YouTuber Equine Helper, who did the grunt work of watching hours and hours of vlogs, pulling out the tips and tricks, and then putting them all to the test to see what’s actually worth your time. I’ve definitely found a few that I’ll be trying out ASAP (including that olive oil one, because I’ve thrown caution to the wind and put my saddle on the floor just for a second one too many times), and in exchange for her hard work, I’ll give you a few bonuses: sack off the sock idea and get a double-ended oven glove to house your stirrups and repurpose leg cooling clay into a purifying face mask if that barn dirt is giving you spots. You’re welcome.
Friday Video: The Curious History of Team GB Head Honcho Dickie Waygood
You probably know the two chaps in charge of the British eventing team — Dickie Waygood and Chris Bartle — as a pair of slightly mythical figures, able to swoop in and turn the very good into world-beatingly great. Under their care, the Brits have become the most dominant force in the sport, holding Olympic, World, and European medals consecutively until Pratoni this year (and can we just take a moment to remember when they won the Europeans as a team AND took all three individual podium places?!). But behind the medals are fascinating men — and this long-form interview with Dickie proves just that. Previously a member of the Household Cavalry, and then a top-level event rider who piloted a horse for the Queen, he gained a huge wealth of fascinating experience in all aspects of the horse world before becoming the chef d’equipe that turned the fate of the British dressage team around. Now, as half of eventing’s golden duo, he’s one man you need to know.
Olympics in the Time of Inflation: No Test Event for Paris – and the Horse Inspection’s Off-Limits, Too
Ground preparations are underway at Versailles. Photo courtesy of the FEI/Paris 2024.
The eventing competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics will not be put through a full trial run, as was revealed at last week’s FEI Eventing Forum.
Previous iterations of the Olympics have seen a full test event – generally staged a level below the Olympics themselves, which is held at a modified four-star level — take place a year or so prior to the Games, allowing officials to fine-tune any potential issues with the field of play and backstage logistics. Test events also allow national governing bodies to get a sense of the venue, which can impact selection and preparation decisions over the following year, while in many cases, the buzz and excitement of an Olympic test event also draws in enthusiastic spectators, plenty of whom come without any prior familiarity with the sport.
Next year’s Olympics organisers, though, have cited cost-cutting measures as the reason behind their decision not to host a tradition test event. In many ways, it comes as little surprise: the equestrian disciplines are due to be held in the grounds of the Chateau de Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of France’s most significant tourist attractions, and while we can only speculate about the costs involved with both building the temporary arenas and closing down part of the site to visitors for the duration of the test event, they’d likely be significant.
Instead, GL Events Equestrian Sport, who were appointed as the organisers for the equestrian disciplines at last month’s FEI General Assembly, will host a cross-country test event at Versailles, which will be open to national federations and national Olympic committees. That will offer them a chance to ensure the footing, and the planned pontoon crossings, work as intended, as well as the proposed layout of warm-up and cool-down areas. The arena-based phases, however, will be held in the spring of 2024 at established competition venue Fontainebleau, which will be outfitted with the same footing earmarked for Versailles, and will be used to ensure the officials are au fait with their tasks during the Games themselves.
It was also announced at the FEI Eventing Forum that the first horse inspection will not be open to the public as it ordinarily is. For more of the latest from Paris, check out our summary of last month’s General Assembly, complete with proposed course maps.
EN’s pre-coverage of the Paris Olympics in 2024 is brought to you with support from Zoetis — Long Live the Horse.
Thursday Video: The Story of the Irish Thoroughbred
It feels like a near universality for young, horse-mad folks in the US to dream of running away to Ireland — the Emerald Isle of horsepower and horsepeople, where riding across the country is something that’s in your blood and in the blood of your sure-footed horse, too. Certainly, I spent much of my teenage years delving into documentaries, articles, and books on Irish horse culture and bloodlines, and still feel a bit wide-eyed with wonder when I get to pop over to look at good young stock. If you’re hardwired a bit like I am, this documentary on the Irish Thoroughbred industry will make for a great bit of evening viewing indeed!
Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: All Hail Boleybawn Prince, Indoor Eventing Superstar
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You don’t need to be fluent in French to understand the gist of Maxime Livio‘s latest Instagram reel: the nineteen-year-old Boleybawn Prince has begun the year as he finished the last, picking up his third consecutive win in a row in an indoor eventing competition. This one came at Saumur, and follows on from decisive victories at Geneva and Stockholm — proving that age truly ain’t nothin’ but a number. Check out his lightning fast round and get inspired!
Challenge: Winter weight loss.
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Have you grabbed your winter running horse stickers? Check them out at KPPusa.com/winter23.
Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products
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Here at EN, we truly believe that grooms are some of the real superheroes of our industry, and we love every opportunity we get to pick their brains and see them in action at events all over the world. And one groom in particular has been a real celebrity for anyone who wants to be a better groom, or simply a better horseman: the ineffable Jackie Potts.
This year, Jackie celebrates 30 years as the head honcho of Fox-Pitt Eventing this year, a tenure that began for her right at the beginning of William’s international career. She’s been by his side as the architect of his success all the way through, and in the last few years, she’s been the lynchpin of Kazu Tomoto’s extraordinary career, too. My own interactions with Jackie have been numerous, and varied, and all completely brilliant: ‘Grans’, as she’s known on the circuit, is always quick with a smile and a chat at events, and will answer even the silliest of questions as she juggles her millions of responsibilities and basically keeps the world turning.
But I first met her not as a journalist, but as a teenaged eventing enthusiast spending three days trialling for a working pupil job at William’s. It was there that Jackie taught me several things that I’ve used consistently since — horse management tips, mostly, but above all, the concept of the ‘shit sandwich’. This pillar of Jackie’s much-loved and respected management style works like this: when you want to make a constructive criticism or point out a mistake, you begin by mentioning something that the person has done well. Then, you offer advice for improvement on the thing that’s not so good, before finishing with another positive point.
It works in every facet of life, because it leads with kindness and makes people feel even more motivated to improve and succeed. So from all of us at EN, happy anniversary, Jackie! Thanks for your wisdom and your positivity. We have no criticisms to put in this sandwich.
Events Opening Today: SAzEA Spring H.T., Southern Pines H.T., Chattahoochee Hills H.T.
Events Closing Today: Pine Top Intermediate H.T., Full Gallop Farm February I H.T., Rocking Horse Winter II H.T.
Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:
We’ve all been glued to the FEI Eventing Forum, which took place in France over the weekend. One of the major topics on the roster was safety within the sport, and how it can be improved — and some of the numbers crunched showed that although rotational falls are on the decline, the severity of those that do still occur is significant. Here’s what that means, and what the next steps could look like. [Eliminating rotationals]
One of my favourite parts of the season is seeing the Intercollegiate competition photos. Weirdly specific? Not if you’ve ever seen a truly hilarious photo of a college sports mascot invading a cross-country course, nor if you’ve ever felt your heart warmed by the sheer joy of a team of students absolutely smashing out a win. It’s a brilliant programme, and one I would love to see even more of this year — so if you’re a college student who loves eventing, check out the newly-released calendar and start planning! [The Intercollegiate Eventing League calendar is here]
Winter’s not good for much, but it is a chance to get your horse’s mane and tail in check. I’m a bit lazy, so I tend to let my horse have a bit of a free-growth period before I get the pulling comb out ready for early-season plaits, but even if your horse needs to look show-ready throughout the winter, you can use this time to tend to those scabby bits, the bald patches, and all the rest. [Here’s how]
It’s a tough call to make — but sometimes, stepping back from eventing is the right thing to do. That’s the call that five-star competitor Hannah Bate after discovering that eventing just doesn’t light her fire anymore. Her experience isn’t totally uncommon, and it’s an interesting one to read. [Hannah’s next steps]
Sponsor Corner: Could Vitamin E help horses with neurological disease? New research shows that the right vitamin E supplement could be beneficial! Check out this blog on the topic from Kentucky Performance Products!
Watch This:
Can’t cross-country school at the moment for whatever reason? Reap the benefits by tuning in for British eventer Ashley Harrison’s lessons:
Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack
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Wrap up tight in your winter woollies — for those of us in the UK, at least, temperatures plunged to -7C last night and I suspect we’re all dealing with frozen and burst water pipes, ice-rink fields, and solid arenas today. Sometimes, you’ve just got to embrace it and go for a potter down the line on your fluffiest pony, like Kevin and Emma McNab’s gorgeous kiddos Annabelle and Charlie have opted to do. Smart smalls!
National Holiday: It’s…Measure Your Feet Day! Which sounds an awful lot like ‘…and then buy new boots day’ to me, tbh.
U.S. Weekend Events:
Stable View Aiken Opener H.T. (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Grand Oaks H.T. (Weirsdale, FL): [Website] [Entries] [Scoring] [Ride Times] [Volunteer]
Your Monday Reading List:
Have you begun planning your 2023 season yet? If hours at the kitchen table poring over the fixtures list are your new normal, you’ll appreciate this update from Liz Halliday-Sharp, who knows all too well how overwhelming the process can be. She shares her thought processes for getting the year in shape, with insights she learned from her years spent competing in the UK as well as being based in various parts of the States. [Whip your calendar into shape]
If there’s one thing I really don’t enjoy, it’s lunging. (Okay, okay, and sheath cleaning.) Mostly, I just find lunging incredibly boring — but I do also understand the benefits, if I were to commit my time to doing it sensibly and properly. These tips from Fizz Tickridge-Marshall make use of poles, transitions, and sensible, actionable goals to turn any lunging session into something verging on — dare I say it? — fun. [Get your lunge on]
You probably know that the Lipizzaners of the Spanish Riding School narrowly escaped tragedy during WWII. But do you know the full extent of the story, and the characters involved in ensuring their safety? This book excerpt will take you down the rabbit hole, and once you get there, you’ll just want to keep on digging. [The dancing horses of Vienna]
Happy kind-of retirement to those top event horses who’ve found a second career. One of those is RF Demeter, formerly ridden by Marilyn Little and now having a delightful time as the dream young rider’s dressage horse. [Catch up with her here]
The FutureTrack Follow:
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I’m in full holiday-dreaming mode now, and my inspo of choice is Laurence Kellard Safaris, founded in Kenya by two former top-level event riders. Beautifully schooled horses and once-in-a-lifetime animal-spotting opportunities? Sign. Me. Up. In the meantime, I’ll get my fix from scrolling their ‘gram.
Morning Viewing:
I started my day with a real case of the Mondays, but this video of a dancing dressage-bred foal showing off with his mum has slowly eked the bad vibes out of me. I can’t cope with his little attitude and flicky toes! May we all embrace the start of the week like this small kiddo embraced his first audience.
Tune In in 2023: Your Guide to USEF Network’s Collab with ClipMyHorse.tv
Holly Jacks and Candy King at Kentucky — one of the events that’ll be included as part of USEF Network’s merger with ClipMyHorse. Photo by Kristin Strehlow Photography.
There’s something about USEF Network, isn’t there? For years, it’s been the Old Reliable of streaming services, happily giving us all access to top-level eventing (and plenty of other disciplines besides, including my own guilty pleasure: equitation finals!) for low to no cost. And so when the announcement of its amalgamation with European-based streaming giant ClipMyHorse broke last week, there was an understandably mixed response: would viewers need to lock themselves into yet another contract to be able to tune into the sport? Would being an equestrian enthusiast soon start to price out everyone except the very wealthy?
The answer, thankfully, is no — and USEF has taken the time to clear up some of the primary concerns.
Why has the merger happened?
Primarily, to widen US equestrian sport’s reach. ClipMyHorse is a German company, and the primary streaming service around Europe, with competitions such as CHIO Aachen on its roster already. But it also has a handy functionality for riders, owners, and connections: you can easily search a horse or rider and find isolated clips of their participation in every competition that’s been streamed through the service. That’s a real boon to buyers and sellers of horses, who can easily access the content they need, but it’s got plenty of uses beyond that, too. (Sincerely, a woman who occasionally just searches ‘Corouet’ and sits there with hearts in her eyes.)
Do I need to make a new login?
Yes, but it’s not too tricky. Click here and create an account using your current USEF Network email address and a secure password.
Do I have to pay for a ClipMyHorse subscription to watch what I used to get for free?
Nope! Everything you streamed via USEF Network, using your competitor, subscriber, or fan account will still be free, you’ll just need that new login you just created to access it. If you want to rewatch legacy content on demand, you’ll be able to do so as part of your competitor or subscriber account, but if you have the free fan membership, you can upgrade to on-demand access for $25 per year.
What if I want to watch competitions that are outside the USEF Network schedule?
Great news: you get 10% off a ClipMyHorse premium subscription through USEF. The code is USEFCMHTV and it’ll save you some dosh on the annual subscription price of $179.99 per year, which gives you full access to the whole shebang, including FEI TV, National and international competitions, and training content, too. But if you just want the USEF Network content, you absolutely don’t need to pay!
If you’ve got any further technical questions about the merger, you can find the answers here. Now if you excuse me, I’ll be thinking about both the Maclay and Corouet, as usual.
Friday Video: Meet BE CEO Helen West (Chapter Two!)
Last week, we shared the first part of an interview with British Eventing CEO Helen West, conducted by sports journo supreme Andrew Baldock in the lush surrounds of the Badminton estate. This week, we’ve got our grubby little mitts on part two, where the pair talk about the organisation that Helen now spearheads, how her tenure there began, and what she’s working towards regarding the future of the sport, and of BE.
US Eventing Grooms Association Expands Winter Education Series to Aiken
Hallie Coon’s Global Ex gets some love from groom Tabby Fiorentina. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Shortly after the announcement of an absolutely stacked series of educational opportunities for grooms in Ocala, the US Eventing Grooms Association has announced another Winter Education series, set to take place in Aiken, South Carolina from early February through to mid-March. The seminars, which cover subjects such as leg care with Stephanie Simpson, head groom to Boyd Martin, rider wellbeing with five-star rider Emily Hamel, veterinary care with Dr Ashley Taylor, DVM, and much more, are all set to take place at Bruce’s Field from 6.30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and best of all, every single one of these hugely informative sessions will be completely free.
This is the second year that the USEGA is running these popular seminars, and in the interest of ensuring that whole-horse education can be as accessible as possible, we’ll be aiming to bring you reports and updates — and you can follow the Association on Instagram and Facebook to get updates, attendance information, and — potentially — live-stream access.
The Aiken seminars include:
2/7: All Things Veterinary with Dr Ashley Taylor, DVM
2/14: How Well Do You Know Your Horse? with Emma Ford
2/21: Leg Care 101 with Stephanie Simpson
2/28: Let’s Not Forget About the Rider! with Emily Hamel
3/7: The Importance of a Good Rehabilitation Plan with Maxine Emerich-Jaquish
3/14: No Foot No Horse with Dan Martial
Stable View
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FutureTrack
Sport Horse Nation
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Magnific Coco Chanel
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A Lotta Moxie
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Upper level eventing/show jumping prospect
