The latest episode of the Jon and Rick Show might be more aptly called the John and Elisa Show, as Elisa Wallace takes on co-hosting duties while Rick’s off on a safari holiday — but as always, it’s packed full of interesting insights. This week’s guest is David O’Connor, the new Chief of Sport for USEF, and he’s got plenty of updates from behind the scenes, where he’s been working on new programs and exciting developments for the upcoming year. Tune in and find out what he’s been working on!
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Badminton Box Office Opens for New-Look 2023 Renewal
Germany’s Christoph Wahler delivers a classy round with Carjatan S at Badminton in 2022. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.
Nothing says ‘New Year’ like the first inbox announcement that an eventing box office has officially opened for business — and in this dreary first week of January, it’s Badminton Horse Trials that’s done us the honour of offering up a bit of cheer.
Okay, okay, so there’s a catch: the box office is only open right now for priority booking, which is available to those who’ve previously purchased tickets. But if you’ve done that, you’ll be able to sign into your account here and get your mitts on general admission passes, Members’ badges, passes for the expanded campgrounds, and more before the box office opens to the public at large next Wednesday, January 11.
Pre-purchasing tickets for this year’s event, which takes place from May 4-8, is essential: just as the event did last year, there won’t be any tickets available on the gate for this year’s running. That’s part of a bid to minimise the backlog of traffic that tends to fill the surrounding villages, which previous attendees of the event will be all too familiar with. (The key? Aim to arrive early, bring a picnic breakfast to eat in the car, and tune into Badminton radio to make the inevitable standstill feel a bit brighter.)
The eagle-eyed among you will notice that the dates of this year’s event span a Thursday to the following Monday, in a rare departure from the Wednesday-Sunday schedule we’d ordinarily see at a three-day. That’s because Saturday — historically cross-country day — is also the date of King Charles’s coronation, and so, in order to accommodate the whole shebang, the first horse inspection will now take place on Thursday, May 4, while Friday, May 5 will host a full day of dressage tests. On Saturday, we’ll see day two of dressage start earlier than normal, allowing for a pause in proceedings wherein the coronation, which is expected to be roughly an hour long, will be shown on big screens around the venue. Then, Sunday can be devoted wholly to cross-country, while the final horse inspection and showjumping finale will take place on Monday, May 8, which is a national Bank Holiday.
That’s not the only change in store for the first Big B of the year, as Event Director Jane Tuckwell and Commercial Director Andrew Tucker shared on the first episode of The Eventing Podcast’s Inside Badminton series. This year, we’ll see the course expand into an area of the estate’s parkland that hasn’t previously been used — and, even more tantalisingly, it’s a much more undulating piece of ground than we might expect to see at the relatively flat spring five-star.
Almost as exciting? Jane and Andrew have also promised much-improved phone signal and Wi-Fi across the event site — so with any luck, this year we won’t need to check ourselves into the lost children tent in order to locate our friends. Maybe.
Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: One Great Documentary to Get You Over the Hump
Though the racing world intimidates me in so many ways — the betting, the form guides, the punters, the seriousness of it all — it’s certainly not actually that far removed from our funny old world. Well, the similarly mad environs of jump racing aren’t, anyway! Though the numbers-driven public image of racing has never really drawn me in, the characters certainly do, and so this hour-long documentary with Grand National winner Daryl Jacob was a really interesting watch for me, a self-confessed beginner to jumps racing spectating. If nothing else, I’m very ready to head out to a local point-to-point now with a much more finely-honed idea of how the whole world works. And even more than that? I’m inspired to keep battling on with my own goals, just as Daryl has.
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
I’m thoroughly enjoying going ‘behind the scenes’ in Tamie Smith’s string as she introduces all her horses — quirks and all — on her Instagram page. It’s a great chance to get to know characters beyond the big boys like Mai Baum and Danito, and frankly, I’ve already fallen in love with up-and-comer Kynan as a result!
Events Opening Today: Jumping Branch Farm H.T., Ram Tap H.T., Ocala Winter I
Events Closing Today: Stable View Aiken Opener H.T., Grand Oaks H.T.
Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:
Our sister site, Horse Nation, continues to mythbust some of the horse world’s longest-standing assumptions — and on the chopping block today is the subject of alfalfa. Namely, that is, whether or not feeding it’ll turn your horse into a raving loony. Find out the science, the benefits, and the truth of the whole matter with this fascinating read. [Is alfalfa a stimulant?]
Most of us grew up as bona fide barn rats. But now that we’re grown up, who’s taken our place? Theres so much nostalgia packed into this piece — those barn parties where we all bobbed for apples and then climbed up into the upper levels of the hay barn to gossip and eat snacks; the fearless rides on naughty school ponies who took full advantage of the chance to plonk us straight onto our bottoms; the dog-eared horse magazines we all read cover to cover before dumping them in the tack room to discuss. And then, of course, there’s the very real question: in a much more litigious society than the one we grew up in, is the era of the barn rat over and done with? [Let horse-child spirit never die]
I love the Equestrians of Color Photography Project, because it mixes two of my favourite things: gorgeous photos and fascinating stories. The latest instalment features Ateasha Baltodano, who grew up feeling like the odd one out at 4-H, and Josh Boggs, who has tips for pushing through when the going gets tough. [Meet the equestrians]
We’re no strangers to the concept of picking up a cheap-as-chips Thoroughbred. But seldom do those Thoroughbreds come from the rodeo, as jumper rider Kimberley Harker’s Just A Dream did. Though his origin story is an unusual one, his eventual blossoming into a much-loved competition horse feels comforting and familiar for all of us who love OTTBs just a little bit extra. [This Thoroughbred can]
And finally, a retired firefighter is looking forward to making his eventing debut — with a difference. 60-year-old Dave Farrington is planning to use his experience as a way to fundraise for Motor Neurone Disease and Alzheimer’s research, and he’s already roped in some big names to help him out along the way. [Check out his story]
Sponsor Corner: Got a hard keeper?
Kentucky Performance Products has a whole stable full of science-backed nutritional support products, and one tried-and-true helper for the one who could *just* use some extra help is the popular Equi-Jewel®. Equi-Jewel can meet your horse’s energy needs. Equi-Jewel reduces the risk of digestive upset, supports optimal muscle function, maintains stamina, and helps horses recover faster after hard work, all while providing the calories your horse needs to thrive.
[Managing Metabolically Challenged Horses During Winter]
Tuesday Video:
I love a yard tour — and this one, from Helgstrand Dressage’s German base, has me reaching for a lottery ticket today!
Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack
I’ll admit I’ve not been particularly productive over the last few days, but I have been giving my thumbs a jolly good workout on Instagram, where I’ve been thoroughly enjoying scrolling through eventers’ recaps of their 2022 seasons. Ups, downs, learning opportunities, and a shared commitment to using it all to make 2023 the best year yet are all commonalities — and that’s something I can totally get on board with. We’re all learning as we go in this funny old game of life!
National Holiday: It’s 55mph Speed Limit Day. I dunno, man. According to NationalToday.com, “55 mph Speed Limit Day is observed on January 2 to remember former U.S. President Nixon’s 55 mph speed limit proclamation. If you drove a car in the United States between 1974 and 1995, you had to adhere to this law unless you were a daredevil rule breaker. In 1974, President Nixon signed the wildly controversial law intending to cut down gas usage in America and make roads safer. Two categories of people celebrate 55 mph Speed Limit Day: the first and most popular category remember the former nationwide speed limit with fondness and believe it should be reinstated; the second category did not experience the limit but agree that it would do some good today. Regardless of your thoughts on the speed limit, 55 mph Speed Limit Day is a day to think about road safety and energy conservation and make smarter and safer decisions on the road.” If this is a big priority for you, I’d like to prescribe you a long session at the barn to cure you of what ails you.
Your Monday Reading List:
Nobody ‘gets’ winter quite like Canadians. And although here in England, we’ve emerged from our serious cold spell into a period of much milder (and wetter) temperatures, none of us can be sure another one isn’t on the way — and so I’m taking every bit of advice I can to prepare for round two. [The Canadians share their wisdom]
I love reading riders’ letters to their younger selves. And although this edition, which features hunter judge Rob Jacobs, doesn’t come from our corner of the industry, it’s a salient read about growing up as a young black man in an industry that’s predominantly made of up white folks. [Keep opening the doors]
Every time I watch a film or a show with horses in it — even tangentially — I find myself wondering how I could get into stunt riding. This interview with prolific British stuntman Ben Atkinson, who’s worked on shows such as Peaky Blinders, The Witcher, and more, has made me realise that it’s perhaps a little more involved than I expected — but even more fascinating, too. [On training and trick-riding]
Running upper-level event horses ain’t cheap. Part of it, then, necessarily involves getting owners on board — but more and more riders are turning to syndicate options to make it work for them and, in many cases, to allow people who can’t afford to be outright owners to get access to the upper echelons of the sport. Here’s a few riders — including the USA’s Hallie Coon — who are doing just that. [Joining the club]
The FutureTrack Follow:
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If you loved cartoonist Lisa Hanawalt’s recent New Yorker cartoon on why she’s chosen horses over kids, you’ll love following her account, which has plenty of horse-girl content for your brain box to absorb.
Morning Listening:
Get your 2023 goals in order with an inspiring listen from Irish Olympian and EquiRatings co-founder Sam Watson, who’s on the US Eventing podcast this week to explain how to set sustainable, actionable goals and see them through. Just what we all need after weeks of non-stop cheese consumption and stasis.
One-Eyed Horses, Spectacular Saves, and Star-Spangled Suits: EN’s Top Nine Instagram Posts of 2022
We could spend hours sifting through our own content, picking out our favourites stories and photos from our extensive annual oeuvre — but EN is all about you guys, the fans and the heartbeat of the sport, and so we’re much more interested in what you loved this year. We’ve been sharing your best-loved stories over the past couple of weeks across our social media channels, but today, we couldn’t resist diving into our Instagram stats to find out which nine photos made the biggest impression — and why. Here’s how the year stacked up on the grid.
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#1: Sweden’s Therese Viklund pilots one-eyed Viscera around the CCIO4*-S Nations Cup at Houghton Hall, England.
Photographer: Tilly Berendt (@tillyberendt)
Caption: “Never tell an eventer they’ve got limitations — because as one-eyed Viscera and her gutsy pilot, Sweden’s Therese Viklund, prove, there’s no such thing. They finished fourth in Houghton’s jam-packed CCIO4*-S today with one of the fastest rounds of the day 💪🏼”
At a whopping 20,752 likes, this black and white snap of Therese and her one-eyed wonder, Viscera, inspired everyone in May — whether you ride an unlikely champion yourself or simply love to cheer on the underdog. The fourteen-year-old Hanoverian ultimately finished fourth at Houghton, her first FEI event since a trip to the Tokyo Olympics the year prior, after which she sustained suspensory injuries that required a slow recovery process. But as always, gutsy Viscera and her devoted rider came back with a bang, and although Therese has decided to focus on taking the pressure off and having fun around CCI4*-S tracks, they’ve certainly not lost their edge. They were among the fastest combinations of the day, adding just 1.2 time penalties in the tough Nations Cup competition.
The dressage-bred mare has had an unusual trajectory; she was rejected as a prospect for her intended discipline because it was felt she wasn’t a good enough mover, and then had a foal quite young before joining Therese’s string as a six-year-old as a sales prospect. Three years ago, the now fourteen-year-old had her left eye removed after a two-year battle with uveitis, and in the years since has picked up a number of four-star placings, several team spots, and a trip to last year’s Olympics, seemingly without missing a beat.
“From day one, it’s like she hasn’t noticed. She’s very confident, so I think that helps a bit, but she just thinks she knows it all and just does it. I’m so impressed with her — every time she does the cross-country, she’s so straight,” says Therese, who suspects that the mare’s sight had begun to wane prior to the removal of the eye, indirectly helping the transition process. “I’m thinking, ‘is it harder to have the flag on the left side or the other side?’ but she’s so straight between my legs that she just goes for it either way. She’s the bravest little horse.”
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#2: France’s Sebastien Cavaillon becomes Monsieur Stickabilité aboard Sarah d’Argouges at Les 5 Etoiles de Pau.
Photographer: Tilly Berendt
Caption: “Save of the day, or save of the season?! 🤯 France’s Sebastien Cavaillon sticks a serious one with Sarah d’Argouges at Pau, and will go into the final day in the top 25.”
There’s nothing quite like a five-star to bring the inner superhero out of riders — and when his longtime partner Sarah d’Argouges did what so many horses in the field did at Pau and hung a leg while jumping the second of two hanging logs after the final water crossing, Frenchman Sebastien Cavaillon temporarily put the laws of gravity to the side and found his way back into the saddle. Sarah, for her part, continued following the track downhill, at speed, and around the turn, keeping her focus on her job and her head up, allowing her rider to scramble back upright. We’d love to know what core exercises Sebastien works through in the gym — and 6,783 of you agreed. That, or you, like us, just loved how well his Willberry Wonder Pony stuck out the ride, too!
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#3: Laura Collett celebrates — or gently loses her mind, tbh — in this mad GIF after a clear round inside the time at Badminton with London 52.
Credit: Badminton Horse Trials live-stream
Caption: “That @bhorsetrials finish line feeling — especially when you’ve stopped the clock inside the time to hold your lead! @laura_collett is on cloud 9 after a scrappy ride around what she called a 6* cross country with her Tokyo partner, London 52. #goeventing“
Laura Collett’s Badminton win in May felt like the stuff fairytales are made of — she’d persevered even through a tough, educational year in 2019 with the extraordinary London 52, and that was after sustaining a laundry list of injuries in a horrific accident aboard another horse while out eventing in 2013. Though she’s only got 10% of her vision left in one of her eyes, she’s gone from strength to strength over the last few years and has become a real poster girl for aspiring competitors who need an idol who proves that you don’t have to have it all to, well, have it all. When she celebrated after crossing the finish on Saturday, we all celebrated with her.
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#4: Boyd Martin delivers a stone-cold LEWK at the Land Rover Kentucky CCI5* final horse inspection.
Photographer: Abby Powell (@ashequine)
Caption: “It was a drama-filled jog this fine, rainy Sunday but at least @boydmartineventing came to party…or something.”
You can always count on Boydo to make a fashion statement (I mean, who didn’t Google kitty Christmas jumpers after his holiday post on social media?), and on the final day of Kentucky this year, he…really made one. The star-spangled suit of dreams (nightmares?) was made worth it purely to see Tsetserleg look more embarrassed than we thought a horse could actually look. We reckon next time, he’ll be begging to be dropped off around the block and left to do the trot-up on his own. Ugh, you’re so embarrassing, dad!
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#5: Pippa Funnell and her five-star debutant Maybach deliver the goods on the final day at Kentucky.
Photographer: Abby Powell
Caption: “That feeling when your horse jumps double clear on the final day in his first 5* 🤷♀️”
No matter how long we all spend in this profession, we’ll never stop idolising Pippa Funnell — and it’s not even really because she’s a total bad-ass on a horse, although she certainly is that. Instead, it’s really because, despite being very open about her lifelong battles with confidence wobbles, she always seems to be having the most fun with her horses of just about anyone we know. That was exemplified on the final day of Kentucky, when she and her first-timer Maybach made it happen, earning themselves a sixth-place finish and cementing the 12-year-old as a real one-to-watch for the years to come.
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#6: EN’s April Fool’s joke breaks a few hearts.
Caption: “Have you heard?? Hot on the heels of the success of ‘Formula 1: Drive to Survive’, Netflix has a new show on its roster. Tap the link in our bio to see more! 🤔😉 #goeventing“
Sorry, folks. We wish we didn’t have to do this stuff to you, but lying to you on the morning of April 1st is a tradition, and we love our traditions here at EN. Our Netflix eventing series might not have been real, but we wish it could be — and we’re quietly hoping that maybe some savvy documentary producer will see how much you all wanted it and jump on the bandwagon of our little pocket of insanity.
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#7: Great Britain’s Andrew James sits a long one through the water at Houghton Hall.
Photographer: Tilly Berendt
Caption: “A treatise on strides: you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you just might find you get what you need. Thanks, Mick Jagger (and Andrew James and Celtic Morning Star)”
In eventing, there’s rarely such a thing as a Plan A that goes off without a hitch — and sometimes, when things go a bit pear-shaped, you’ve just got to get in the back seat, keep your eyes up, and trust in our eventing overlords (and a very good horse) to see you through to the other side. Andrew James exemplified that approach when his horse, Celtic Morning Star, saw the long one in the water at Houghton Hall CCIO4*-S in May, and his trajectory through was a (comedic) masterclass in how to remove interference and let your horse sort himself out.
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#8: German one-two Christoph Wahler and Sandra Auffarth celebrate as they log another valuable clear en route to team gold in Pratoni.
Photographer: Shelby Allen (@shiiibbyyy)
Caption: “Teamwork: it does, in fact, make the dream work 💪🏼 German pathfinder Christoph Wahler slaps a high five on second out Sandra Auffarth as she crosses the finish line with her Aachen champ, Viamant du Matz 🇩🇪”
Months later, I’m still in awe of Shelby’s impeccable timing when she got this super shot of German team anchor, Christoph Wahler, darting out of the crowd to high-five second-out Sandra Auffarth as she zoomed through the finish on Viamant du Matz. Neither knew, at that point, that the weekend would end with them standing proudly atop the team podium with gold medals around their necks, but they definitely knew that their incredibly solid rounds had paved the way for the rest of the team to confidently tackle the challenges to come. Seeing the once-dominant German team return to its very best was a cool moment, and watching Christoph lead the way in his championship team debut was even better. A star is born.
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#9: Cross-country day at the FEI World Championships at Pratoni — immortalised in one heck of a reel.
Creator: Juliane Barth (@juliseventer)
Caption: “Well, THAT was a cross-country day! We’re coasting through on the afterglow — so join us to relive it all over again 🤩”
This year, we were delighted to welcome German media superstar Juliane to our team in Pratoni, where she created reels throughout the competition that somehow packed ALL the excitement, drama, and emotion into under a minute a piece. You loved all her work — and so did we, as we rewatched them over and over again in the press office and at our Italian party villa — but cross-country day was a definite stand-out. Point very much taken: we all need more Juliane in 2023!
Catch more behind-the-scenes shots, stories, inspiring images, video interviews and reels, and much more on our Instagram — and, as always, Go Eventing!
Friday Video: A Deep-Dive Into the History of the Kentucky Three-Day Event
Today’s video post is actually what I’d call a visual podcast – so it’s great to stick on while you’re cooking dinner, finishing up the yard, or taking down the Christmas tree (a job that most of us are only bothering with because we’d like to use it as a jump filler before it loses all its needles, to be honest). This episode of Late Night Riders features Margaret Ostrowski, a longtime fence judge at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event who has also plied her trade at a number of World Championships, too — and she’s sharing her insights into the history of the sport. It’s fascinating stuff!
What’s On Tap for Paris: Summaries from the FEI General Assembly
Last month’s FEI General Assembly covered a wide gamut of issues across the global equestrian sporting industry — but at the forefront of discussions was the swiftly-approaching 2024 Paris Olympics and, crucially, what they mean in the face of the ongoing battle to win public approval for horse sport.
“We have an incredible sport and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognises the value of equestrians — but we’re only as good as our last Games,” says Ingmar de Vos, who was re-elected for a third and final term as FEI President at the Assembly. “We’re judged on our performance, and so we need to continue to keep our sport safe, attract new fans, engage youth and do what is necessary to appeal to a global audience. Like all other sports in the Olympic programme, we’re constantly under review — and again, context is everything, as we have to compete with new sports, new media landscapes and new trends.”
The addition and removal of sports from the Olympics is par for the course in every cycle, and the IOC tends to try to keep its finger on the pulse of what the next generation of sports fans — the very people who will engage with valuable sponsor campaigns — are interested in. That push saw four new sports added to the roster for the Tokyo Olympics — skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, and karate all made their debut at that Games — while Paris will add break dancing, now known as ‘breaking’, to its line-up. The perennial conversation on equestrians’ lips, of course, is how long we can guarantee that our own sports will stick around; a conversation that’s been intensified by the social license debate. Paris, which will stage the equestrian disciplines at the sumptuous Palace of Versailles west of the city proper, is a guaranteed stronghold — but beyond that, all depends on public perception and the success of this Games.
De Vos, who has named continued inclusion in the Olympics as one of his major priorities as President, was bolstered by the success of the FEI Eventing World Championships in Pratoni this year, which was similarly used as a way for the IOC to determine the sport’s risk and reward balance as an Olympic sport. IOC President Thomas Bach attended the event, and delivered “very complimentary” feedback, citing “the willingness of our community to embrace change” as one of his overwhelmingly positive impressions. But that doesn’t quite put eventing — or its sibling sports, dressage, jumping, and para-dressage — in the clear: though the FEI has sent representatives to Los Angeles to scout out suitable venues for the equestrian sports, their inclusion will only be confirmed if Paris goes off without a hitch. And after the pentathlon debacle at Tokyo, which saw the sport swiftly lose its mounted phase — mercifully taking public attention away from eventing’s equine fatality? Nothing is guaranteed.
But, says de Vos, increasing mainstream media attention and coverage is essential, even if it comes with a greater risk that the wider public will see an accident, thus damaging social license.
“One of the biggest challenges for us, but also many other sports, is around broadcast figures,” he says. “There were issues with Tokyo 2020, as many fans were unable to find or understand where they could watch our sport, on top of the unfavourable time zone differences. This is something we have already started to address, and will actively work to mitigate for Paris, and ensure equestrian fans and new audiences know where to watch our sport during these Games.”
Continuing to embrace change is key, he continues: “The future is on everyone’s lips, and although this future seems to be uncertain, there is one certainty: the youth of today will become the future of equestrian sport tomorrow. They already dictate the popularity of sports online, and so this is a key demographic we must invest in and listen to.”
Change will be a watchword for Paris, which announced in its timetable that the eventing dressage will be held over one jam-packed day. That’s 65 tests in one day, and although they’re the much shorter Olympic tests that we saw in action in Tokyo, it’s a big change from that Games, where 44 tests were performed on the first day, followed by 21 on the second. Eventing dressage will take place on Saturday, July 27 from 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. CEST. Cross country will be held the following day from 10.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., while the jumping finale, with its separate rounds for team and individual medals, will run from 11.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on Monday, July 29.
Teams of three, sans a drop score, and substitutions are here to stay, despite mixed reactions at Tokyo, though there’s some refinement to the substitution process, and minimum eligibility requirements — or MERs — have been tightened up for the qualification period, which runs from January 2023 to an as yet undetermined date in 2024. The addition of a ‘confirmation’ result prior to Tokyo, which was introduced in order to allow athletes to maintain their qualifications after the delay of the Games, but also required them to prove that they were still safe and competitive to run, has encouraged the FEI to vote in favour of an additional MER for Paris that must be garnered in 2024. The new MERs will require one CCI5*-L or one CCI4*-L plus a CCI4*-S, and then an additional qualifying result (at any of the three aforementioned levels) to be achieved in 2024, thus proving that the horse and rider remain competent and safe to compete.
There’s also a change to the tie-break decider for individuals: in the first instance, the best cross-country score will take precedence, but now, if both are on the same cross-country score (for example, if both athletes have finished clear and inside the time), the athlete who earned the most good marks in the dressage phase will step ahead.
And what of the running of the Games themselves? We’ve been treated to several exciting mock-up images over the last couple of years, showing how the arena itself might look — and the Assembly confirmed that it will be situated at the far end of the sweeping Grand Canal, which spans from the Palace itself well out into the grounds of the estate. GL Events has been appointed as the organising team on the ground, and their equestrian director, Sylvie Robert, explained their vision for maintaining the integrity and beauty of the parkland while also providing a top-end sporting experience for competitors and spectators alike.
“The grandstand and the main arena are fully integrated into the landscape to protect the site and its spectacular trees,” she explains. “A very large part of the park will be dedicated to the cross-country track, with the majestic Grand Canal to highlight this magnificent event.”
An aerial view of the Versailles site and the distance between the Etoile Royale — the site of the arena and grandstands — and the Palace itself. Photo courtesy of the FEI/Paris 2024.
The course, which will be designed by Pierre le Goupil — also the designer for the 2023 European Championships at Haras du Pin — will be 5.3km long, with an optimum time of 9:18, and will feature 25 numbered obstacles, three water jumps and two pontoon crossings, making use of the Grand Canal itself. The course will be longer than that seen at Tokyo, where extreme heat conditions meant that the organising team presented a shorter track.
The Etoile Royale as it looks from overhead currently…
…and the planned layout for the Etoile Royale when the grandstands and arena have been installed. Photo courtesy of the FEI/Paris 2024.
Pierre le Goupil’s map of the cross-country warm-up, cool down, pontoon crossings, and more. Photo courtesy of the FEI/Paris 2024.
Ground preparation has already begun, with many galloping lanes closed off to pedestrians — and that’s because the site will need to be made largely ready by September 2023, when the cross-country test event will be undertaken. Further test events, which will be largely staged in order to put the organising team through their paces, and to test the intended arena footing, will be held at Fontainebleau in the spring of 2024.
Ground preparations are underway at Versailles. Photo courtesy of the FEI/Paris 2024.
The first round of access to tickets has already opened, so if you’re planning a trip to Paris in 2024, make sure to get your name in the draw. We’ll be bringing you lots more Olympic news soon — including a refresher course on how teams can qualify over the next 12 months.
EN’s pre-coverage of the Paris Olympics in 2024 is brought to you with support from Zoetis Equine.
Tuesday News & Notes from Ocala Horse Properties
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I love seeing eventers in unlikely places, and Italian Olympian Vittoria Panizzon riding through the streets of London is definitely one of those things! What a seriously cool opportunity — for her, and for the lucky folks who’ll be benefitting from a marvellously tuned-up mount after her schooling efforts.
Events Opening Today: Pine Top Intermediate H.T., Rocking Horse Winter II H.T.
Events Closing Today: Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks, Ram Tap Combined Test,
Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:
The future of Canadian eventing is looking bright. Get to know 24-year-old Shelby Brost, who’s got her sights set on next year’s Pan-American Games and then, she hopes, a crack at the Olympics. [Oh, Canada]
Though it’s been faintly divisive, with some women fairly pointing out that you can want horses and babies, I love this cartoon series from the New Yorker. As a woman who has no desire to have kids of my own, horses have become my big, goofy, expensive babies – and while loving something with a relatively short lifespan comes with its own stresses and heartbreaks, I know I’ve made the right call. [Read this one if you feel the same]
Australian showjumping had a very merry Christmas indeed. A cash injection of nearly $1.5 million has pushed the Magic Millions show into the spotlight well outside the horse world — and could be a huge boon for the country’s equestrian industry. [Money, money, money]
Still feeling those post-Pratoni pangs? Relive the excitement — and the drama, and the nerves — with the US team, whose silver medal was one of the standout moments from the competition. [The week the pieces fell into place]
You know what would really float my boat? Wearing a pair of rust breeches with a brown boot to event in. I know, I know — hardly a revolutionary idea to you yanks. But it’s not really been a thing here in England, and it’s a look that makes me weak at the knees. But even as clothing rules loosen up, it feels a bit as though it’s up to the pros to lead the way and be bold in their clothing choices so we can all follow suit. [Buy the funky coloured coat]
OHP Dream Farm of the Week:
One of my favourite parts of every week is going horse farm window shopping — and this week, I think I’ve finally found my absolute dream farm. One of the best things about the yard I live on at the moment is that we’ve got separate dressage and jumping rings, which means we’re able to keep courses and exercises up 24/7 but also run through tests whenever we like, and at this point, I’d be hard pushed to want to downgrade to one ring and all the heavy lifting that comes with it. This newly-listed farm not only has two arenas — it also has plenty of turnout space, a handy courtyard stabling set-up, and a beautiful layout that’s been designed to be as functional as it is impressive. This place will make someone very, very happy.
Watch This:
Not ready for the holidays to be over? Let this bit of pure insanity change your mind.
Gaspard Maksud’s Zaragoza Named EquiRatings Horse of the Year
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It’ll be a very merry Christmas indeed for British-based Frenchman Gaspard Maksud and owners/breeders Jane Young and Martin Thurlow, whose nine-year-old mare Zaragoza (Cevin Z x Saracen’s Pride, by Saracen Hill) has just been named the EquiRatings Horse of the Year for 2022.
Over 50,000 votes came in from a rather impressive 50 countries — and many of those, we’d hazard a guess, came in from France, who take their first-ever win in this bracket-style competition. The power of the popular vote allowed the nine-year-old to edge out a seriously formidable final-round competitor in Classic Moet, who retired this winter at the age of nineteen.
Gaspard Maksud punches the air after delivering a clear round with the nine-year-old Zaragoza at Pratoni. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
“She is the top-rated nine-year-old horse in the world right now based on the EquiRatings Elo (Elo: 684),” says the team at EquiRatings. “She placed 4th at one of the toughest CCI4* shows of the year in Haras du Pin. She finished on her dressage score at the World Championships to place 6th, the highest-placed 9 year-old in the Pratoni 2022 field. At every successive international outing this year, Zaragoza’s dressage scores got lower and lower, ending the season on a 27.1 PB in Pratoni. We are delighted she has gotten so much recognition and will be a fun journey for us all to follow over the next 18 months. Onwards to Paris!”
We’ve thoroughly enjoyed following ‘Zoe’s’ rapid ascent to the top this year, which has included fourth place at Burnham Market CCI4*-S and Saumur CCI4*-L — her debut at the level — and a top-ten dressage performance at CHIO Aachen on her own and Gaspard’s French team debut this summer. Now, as she heads into her 10-year-old season, she does so with 13 FEI starts under her belt and an exceptional nine top-ten finishes among them. Go forth and conquer, Gaspard and Zoe!
Thursday Video: Team GB Relives Tom McEwen’s Tokyo
I love it when the ‘mainstream’ media YouTube channels pick up on eventing’s great moments – though in this case, it’s totally understandable that Team GB would want to relish in the buzz of last year’s Tokyo Olympics, where the British eventing team took a long-awaited gold medal, and wunderkind Tom McEwen added individual silver to the tally, too. In so many ways, that Olympics feels as though it was a million years ago, in another land where masks, travel restrictions, and behind-closed-doors competitions were just… the norm. But while that’s all behind us now (we hope, anyway), Tom McEwen and his teammates remain at the top of their game. Relive the week that was now.
Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: The Horse-Shopping Survival Guide
I always think trying horses for myself will be great fun. I’ll get to ride loads of lovely eventers! I’ll get to explore other people’s yards! What larks and japes we shall have! In reality, though, I always end up finding the whole thing pretty stressful, particularly having to ride unfamiliar horses in front of their owners. Suddenly, it’s like I’ve never experienced a trot before. I am guaranteed to be at my absolute worst, because of course I am! That’s part of the, um, fun, I guess.
Anyway, if you’re embarking on a similar shopping spree (lucky you! But also, my condolences.), you could probably use a bit of a pep talk and some advice. I really enjoyed this video from dressage rider Joseph Newcomb, who shares plenty of tips for making the process a little bit less painful. May your next trial ride be aboard a unicorn.
Is your horse challenged by GI tract imbalances, diarrhea, and/or ulcers?
Neigh-Lox® Advanced provides a scientifically advanced blend of ingredients that work synergistically to maintain your horse’s digestive tract in peak condition by supporting both the gastrointestinal tissues and the beneficial bacteria that populate the gut. Maintaining a healthy digestive tract reduces the risk of colonic and gastric ulcers, colic, laminitis related to hindgut acidosis, and oxidative stress that damages digestive tract tissues themselves. Horses with a well-balanced GI tract have good appetites, absorb more nutrients from their diets, maintain a strong immune system, and stay healthier.
The horse that matters to you matters to us®. KPPusa.com
Tuesday News & Notes from Ocala Horse Properties
Hello from the panicky end of the 20th of December, in which I’m suddenly realising how little I’ve actually got ready for Christmas. I’m about to do a raid of the supermarket and start gifting people cutlery sets, I’m telling you. Everything’s fine. Everything’s cool. This can all be fixed by just going to the barn and hanging out with my horse, right?
Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:
Don’t forget to enter our Ultimate LRK3DE Giveaway! You and three friends could win tickets, premium tailgating for cross country, a travel voucher valued at $750, and Dubarry gear for the trip. Entries are open until 12/31, so don’t delay! [Fly Away to LRK3DE]
The debate on conditions for grooms and working students continues on apace. This time, we’ve got an interesting insight from the employer’s perspective as dressage rider Lauren Sprieser pens an op-ed on what the hiring crisis looks like from her end and what degree of resilience is actually useful to build up as a young person. [It’s not a job for the weak]
Planning some Christmas Day treats for your horse? I’ve always been a fan of a hot mash and a snowy hack — and that hot mash is mixed with apple juice and studded with all sorts of snacks, including apples, carrots, parsnips, and, of course, festive peppermints. But for horses with certain health conditions, the innocuous mint could be a Christmas-ruiner. [Be treat-conscious]
My 96% Thoroughbred mare always drops off around this time of year. It’s a battle I fight every winter, particularly as she lives out: I up the forage, increase her hard feeds, and try a number of different conditioning supplements and balancers, all in the name of keeping some fat pads over her body. (FWIW, Keyflow Pink Mash and Bailey’s Outshine have been the best combo of ‘extras’ I’ve found so far). If you’re dealing with a similar problem, you’ll be glad of some advice. [Keep your pony nice and round this winter]
Researchers in Britain are developing a way to learn from footage of jockeys falling. The framework for analysing footage of falls will help them to ascertain how and why the fall happened in the first place, and the necessary steps to ensure safety in similar situations. This could be good news for eventing, which tends to pick up on many of racing’s safety developments a few years down the line. [How to make sport safer]
The OHP Dream Farm of the Week:
Once, a few years back, I was spending the week in Ocala, taking a busman’s holiday to stay with my great pal Hallie Coon, when she suggested we go fill an afternoon at Golden Ocala. Now, admittedly I’ve not spent a lot of time at country clubs, but I have such fond memories of the hours we spent soaking up the sun by the pool there, drinking Pina coladas and chatting about horses and life in that stunning, peaceful setting. So this absolutely 10/10 EXTRA chateau within the confines of the club is calling to me today as I watch the English rain melt all that English ice, let me tell you. I know there’s absolutely no way I’d be able to keep those white interiors that clean, but I would revel in the act of slowly mucking them up and then flinging myself into the pool. What a delight this spot is.
Watch This:
Check out 22-year-old Nadja Minder’s round from the Geneva indoor eventing class. This remarkable gal has been one of our favorite riders to follow this season, and there’s plenty more to come. Jump on board the fan club bandwagon now!
Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack
One of my favourite moments of the London International Horse Show — so far, anyway — has to be the return of the fancy dress showjumping relay, which took place last night and was just as delightfully chaotic as I remember it being in the ’90s (though devoid of Geoff Billington in drag, which is a shame or a relief, depending on how you look at it). It was particularly ace to see some of our eventing brethren come forward for this class, including Gemma Stevens and Laura Collett, whose spandex superhero garb made me feel fairly confident that our great city would be will protected from baddies, should those baddies happen to land in the week before Christmas.
National Holiday: It’s my high holy day today, folks: it’s National Emo Day. I feel well-qualified to preside over this special day, bearing, as I do, the lingering scar of the lip ring I had when I was fifteen; the La Dispute lyrics tattooed across the backs of my thighs; and the financial scars I earned while travelling all the way to Las freakin’ Vegas to attend When We Were Young festival this year. Stick on some 2004 bangers and ride like you’re sad about it today. Here’s a throwback to get you started.
Your Monday Reading List:
So much emphasis is put on purpose-bred, high-ticket horses in the competitive English disciplines. But what about the horses who come from less illustrious backgrounds? There’s plenty of room for them, too — and the story of Larisa Quirk and her rescue-turned-dressage-horse is a heartening one for all of us with unconventional horses in our stables. [You’re more than where you come from]
Speaking of rescues, here’s another one who’s found a second life in the dressage arena. Fair warning: the story of overo paint Charlie might make you feel a bit teary early on, but it’s worth seeing it through to the happy ending. [The kisses took me out, tbh]
More than 200 veterinarians have put their names behind a push to stop horse slaughter in the US. It feels like this conversation and this fight have been going on for my entire life, and that’s because it’s such a thorny and complex issue — but there’s an admittedly strong argument behind the push to ban it altogether. [Here’s what’s being discussed]
Are you one of the millions of people who found themselves becoming accidental football fans thanks to Ted Lasso? Then you might have taken some of the show’s more poignant messages to heart as an athlete, too. In this op-ed, Jessica Shannon argues that we all need to learn to be our own Ted in this funny old game. [No balls needed]
The FutureTrack Follow:
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Team NZ’s own Jacky Green is well worth a follow for her exploits with Tim and Jonelle Price, her sharp wit, and, of course, her boxer Kihikihi, who I would like to actually smother with kisses, please and thanks.
Morning Viewing:
Every time the new BE and FEI calendars come out, I always take a moment to think about some of the now-defunct events that I’ve loved in years prior. Among them? Belton, which came to an end in 2019 – but had a long history of excellence before that. Here’s a look back at 1999, with some familiar faces on the line-up:
Sunday Video: All the Highlights from the London International Horse Show
There’s been a big red wall, a sighting of Tom McEwen in a mad hatter costume, many sing-throughs of Sweet Caroline and, of course, a visit from Santa – and the London International Horse Show still isn’t done yet! Here’s a round-up of some of the action so far, from top-class jumping to daredevil performances in the heart of the city.
Canada Names 2023 High Performance Squad Athletes
Colleen Loach and Vermont. Photo by Abby Powell.
December might be a bit of a sporting hinterland for eventing, but one thing you can always rely on is this: the announcement of each major country’s high performance squad and Olympic talent-spotting pathway. The latest nation to release its 2023 lists is Canada, which has published a four-strong horse-and-rider line-up on the National Squad and a list of eleven riders and fourteen horses on the Development Squad.
The athletes and horses named to the National Squad are as follows:
- Dana Cooke (Mooresville, NC) and FE Mississippi, owned by the FE Mississippi Syndicate LLC
- Colleen Loach (Dunham, QC) and Vermont, owned by Peter Barry
- Jessica Phoenix (Cannington, ON) and Wabbit, owned by James Phillips and Jessica Phoenix
- Lindsay Traisnel (Maidstone, ON) and Bacyrouge, owned by Patricia Pearce
The athletes and horses named to the Development Squad are as follows:
- Hawley Awad (Aldergrove, BC) and Jollybo, owned by the Jollybo Syndicate LLC and Hawley Awad
- Melissa Boutin (Ascot Corner, QC) and Obeah Dancer GS, owned by Melissa Boutin
- Hannah Bundy (Toronto, ON) and Lovely Assistant, owned by Juliana Hansen
- Holly Jacks (Hillsburgh, ON) and Candy King, owned by the Candy King Limited Partnership
- Kyle Carter (Sparr, FL) and G Star Van de Klinkenberg, owned by the Barnstaple Group
- Dana Cooke and Quattro, owned by Kingfisher Park
- Jamie Kellock (Cedar Valley, ON) and Summer Bay, owned by Jamie Kellock
- Kendal Lehari (Uxbridge, ON) and Audacious, owned by Kendal Lehari
- Colleen Loach and FE Goldeneye, owned by Peter Barry, Amanda Bernhard, and Colleen Loach
- Jessica Phoenix and Isla GS, owned by Charlotte Schickedanz; Freedom GS, owned by Charlotte Schickedanz; and Tugce, owned by Jessica Phoenix
- Karl Slezak (Tottenham, ON) and Fernhill Wishes, owned by Kirk Hoppner and Karl Slezak, and Hot Bobo, owned by Karl Slezak
Both the Development and National Squad programs are part of the framework of Canada’s drive to improve results on the world stage, with the National Squad — formerly known as the Elite Squad — representing the pinnacle of the program. Now, Canada will be hoping to hone its team in order to take a much-needed win at the 2023 Pan-American Games, which will give them a direct qualification route for the 2024 Paris Olympics if attained.
European Championships Tickets Go On Sale (with Christmas Discounts!)
Gaspard Maksud and Zaragoza at Haras du Pin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The box office for the 2023 FEI European Championships of Eventing, set to take place at Haras du Pin in northern France from August 9-13, has officially opened for business – and there are some special discounts on offer for those who want to secure their place at this exciting event early.
Christmas discounts will be in effect until January 15th, and will allow buyers to nab some seriously good deals: tickets for Wednesday’s first horse inspection are just €5, while day rates for cross-country or showjumping are a real bargain at €15. There are a number of group, multi-day, and hospitality passes on sale, too — the cheapest of these, currently sitting at €40, is a five-day general admission pass, while those who’d like VIP access, privilege parking, and a dedicated bar and viewing tent can opt for hospitality packages for the week, ranging from €150 to €275. Those who enjoy turning an eventing holiday into a camping trip will also be able to book their spots, with or without electrical hookup, for a nightly fee. (This, for what it’s worth, isn’t a bad idea — EN travelled to Haras du Pin for the Nations Cup in 2022, and it’s in a pretty rural spot without a huge amount of hotels, so do get booking yours soon if you’re planning a trip!)
Mollie Summerland and Charly van ter Heiden at Haras du Pin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The event is working hard to reduce traffic in the area for the event, with planned shuttles from nearby towns.
‘’We’ve already worked with the Prefecture in order to set up a traffic plan to guarantee the arrival of spectators in the best conditions, in particular on Saturday, the day of the cross-country, when the crowd is always the largest,’’ says the organising committee. ‘’We want to encourage the use of shuttles, especially from Argentan station as well as carpooling. This is also part of our eco-responsible approach. A paying car park will be available close to the competition, but only if pre-booked. We’re also counting on spectators to anticipate their travel.’’
Haras du Pin has been undergoing a significant development project over the last year or so, with new stands, media centres, and a competition hub being installed in the centre of the beautiful site.
“Together with all the players in the equine industry, we want to make these European Championship a great celebration. For many months, the whole team has been investing a great deal of energy. It’s a huge challenge that we’ve taken up with the help of our partners, notably the Normandy Region, the Orne County Council, Argentan Intercom and the Haras National du Pin.”
Get your tickets here (but prepare your Google translate app if you’re not fluent in French!)
Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: How to Train Your Dragon
It’s always good fun to watch helmet cam footage of successful upper-level rides — but just as useful is seeing how the pros deal with a slightly trickier day out with the babies. In Elisa Wallace‘s latest helmet cam video, she heads out to Majestic Oaks schooling show with four-year-old Loukas T to tackle the Beginner Novice course. Along the way, the wide-eyed youngster has plenty of highlights: he jumps everything sweetly, despite worrying about his friend left behind at the trailer, but he also has a couple of big learning moments, too, particularly at the water jump. Watching how Elisa takes all the pressure away and employs a bit of help to give him a good experience — despite sacrificing a competitive result along the way — is interesting, useful, and heartening for all of us who’ve had similar situations pop up on that long training road.
Is your horse challenged by GI tract imbalances, diarrhea, and/or ulcers?
Neigh-Lox® Advanced provides a scientifically advanced blend of ingredients that work synergistically to maintain your horse’s digestive tract in peak condition by supporting both the gastrointestinal tissues and the beneficial bacteria that populate the gut. Maintaining a healthy digestive tract reduces the risk of colonic and gastric ulcers, colic, laminitis related to hindgut acidosis, and oxidative stress that damages digestive tract tissues themselves. Horses with a well-balanced GI tract have good appetites, absorb more nutrients from their diets, maintain a strong immune system, and stay healthier.
The horse that matters to you matters to us®. KPPusa.com
Tuesday News & Notes from Ocala Horse Properties
Oh, you thought we didn’t do winter over here in the UK? Our current snowfall would beg to differ. Okay, okay, so it’s nothing on the enormous piles we’d get when I lived in Maine or Virginia, but our little island is ill-prepared for this sort of thing and so we’re all hunkering down and waiting for it to go away, mostly. I’m about to put my tenth layer on to go and muck out and honestly, I’m dreaming of Florida today.
Events Opening Today: Rocking Horse Winter I H.T., Full Gallop Farm January H.T
Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:
How do you choose your horse’s supplements? Do you go by anecdotal evidence from your trusted friends, opt for what your barn owner recommends, or pick supplements that are promoted by riders you respect? For one writer and equestrian, getting a nutritionist involved ended up being a game changer in so many ways. Here’s what she learned.
Most barn-related items cost, well, everything. All of it. Even your soul. But there are plenty of ways you can creatively incorporate the items you see at the dollar store into your system with huge rewards — from pool noodles to petroleum jelly. Steal some ideas and go shopping.
There’s nothing like winter, is there, particularly if you’re a busy amateur rider. You probably won’t see the sun while you’re riding for the next few months, but on the flip side, you’ll earn plenty of brownie points for your dedication – even if those after-work lessons feel a bit like this.
Plenty of amendments to rules and new initiatives have come out of the USEA Meeting & Convention. Get the broad overview here.
And finally, horses have been helping people with memory loss and dementia. I’m beginning to think there’s nothing that they can’t do. Check out the story here.
OHP Dream Farm of the Week:
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Today’s property pick of the week doesn’t actually come with any equestrian facilities — but its close proximity to WEC means you won’t struggle to find a please to keep your horses, and it’s a rare gem of a thing in that it’s a seasonal rental that you can move into for the winter season! It’s got three bedrooms and three bathrooms, so you can bring along your favorite barn pals and make this a winter to remember.
Watch This:
Thoroughbreds — they’re the best! But after some time off, they can also be the spiciest. We can all relate to British vlogger Lucy Robinson‘s gentle trepidation at getting the ball rolling again.
Weekend Winners: Full Gallop Farm Jingle Bells Horse Trials
The holidays might be swiftly approaching, but resourceful eventers will always find time to go eventing – and plenty of you did so at Full Gallop Farm in Aiken over the weekend! Here’s who topped the leaderboards across the divisions, plus some snaps from across social media to recap the weekend that was.
Full Gallop Farm Jingle Bells H.T. (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Results]
Preliminary: Nilson Moreira da Silva and Elmo (34.5)
Preliminary/Training: Randy Lander and Deputy Flash (44.3)
Training: Jessica Schulz and Unfolding Blame (29.7)
Training/Novice: Margaret Schneck and Sky Road (33.6)
Novice: Kaitlin Clark and SLE Happy Hour (25.3)
Beginner Novice A: Jessica Schulz and Firefly (22.4)
Beginner Novice B: Jessica Schulz and FGF Margie Darest (31.8)
Starter: Laurie Michelle Wettstone and Redemption Song (24)
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Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack
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My favourite thing about December is the abundance of balls and galas on the calendar — and although I had to miss the British Eventing Support Trust ball at the Savoy in London the other day, I’ve gotten nearly as much joy from looking at everyone’s photos and outfits as I would have done if I was actually there dancing on the tables. Look at Piggy and Nic! Aren’t they a delight! A pair of angels atop the Christmas tree! Nothing gives me the warm and fuzzies more than a good eventing friendship, tbh.
National Holiday: It’s Gingerbread House Decorating Day. I’ll personally send a prize to anyone who can make a gingerbread replica of Badminton or Burghley.
US Weekend Action:
Full Gallop Farm Jingle Bells H.T. (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Results]
Your Monday Reading List:
Every horse has a different capacity for pain, and that can make it really hard to gauge whether a problem is behavioural or pain-related. Learning how to read even the most stoic of horses, though, will only level you up as a horseman — and allow you to spot those little issues before they become really big ones. [How horses perceive pain]
New research has shown that riding can benefit people with cerebral palsy. 343 patients in total spent time using a mechanical riding simulator across ten different studies, with marked improvements in overall gross motor function as a result. Though getting kids into riding for the disabled programs can be tricky if there isn’t one locally, or there are funding issues, riding simulators could provide a seriously helpful workaround in a physical therapist’s arsenal. [One more tangible use for our favorite animal]
Incoming USEA President, Louise Leslie, brings lots to the table: she’s a proud West Coaster, for one, and she understands the amateur perspective, too. Get to know her with this Q&A from COTH. [Meet the new Pres]
Want stables of your own, but don’t have the budget? Follow this resourceful owner’s lead — she built a beautiful set of internal boxes using pallets and screws. It might take a little while, but what a result! [DIY barns for the win]
The FutureTrack Follow:
I’m loving the look back at great horses past that Lucinda Green’s XC Academy is currently in the midst of. If you fancy learning about Regal Realm, Beagle Bay, Wide Awake, and the rest of Lucinda’s horsey heroes — plus learning lots of useful cross country tips in the process — you should definitely give the account a follow!
Morning Viewing:
Check out Boyd’s hatcam footage from his catch ride at the Sweden International Horse Show indoor eventing this month!
Thursday Video: Just A Bunch of Satisfying Horsey TikToks, TBH
Yesterday, our farrier popped to the yard to sort a touchy nail on one of our ponies, and sometime in the process, he happened to mention that he’d accidentally become TikTok famous. And I’m not talking a little bit TikTok famous: his video showing the shoeing process had racked up 270 million views on the platform, making it the most-viewed TikTok in the entirety of the UK for 2022. Like, the whole UK. Who knew that this was the way to make equestrians hit the mainstream! Anyway, this YouTube video compiles many of the day-to-day normal chores for us horsey folk that are actually seriously satisfying for the rest of the world to watch — and it starts with one of our Sam’s videos. A star is born.
Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Behind the Scenes at Cornbury 3*
While vlogging is becoming more and more prevalent in the sport, it’s still pretty rare to see an upper-level rider taking part (likely because nobody really has the time to fiddle around with endless editing while keeping a string of horses on the go!). That’s why we’re always delighted with the efforts of those who do, such as Elisa Wallace, Piggy March, or British four-star competitor Ashley Harrison, who brings her viewers along with her as she tackles the highs and lows of making a name for herself in the sport. In the latest episode on her channel, she takes us with her as she tackles the three-star at Oxfordshire’s Cornbury International with top horse Zeb. Find out how she got on — and add an event to your bucket list — by tuning in now.
Is your horse challenged by GI tract imbalances, diarrhea, and/or ulcers?
Neigh-Lox® Advanced provides a scientifically advanced blend of ingredients that work synergistically to maintain your horse’s digestive tract in peak condition by supporting both the gastrointestinal tissues and the beneficial bacteria that populate the gut. Maintaining a healthy digestive tract reduces the risk of colonic and gastric ulcers, colic, laminitis related to hindgut acidosis, and oxidative stress that damages digestive tract tissues themselves. Horses with a well-balanced GI tract have good appetites, absorb more nutrients from their diets, maintain a strong immune system, and stay healthier.
The horse that matters to you matters to us®. KPPusa.com
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“My Lucky Coyote” Prelim Packer
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“My Lucky Coyote” Prelim Packer
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