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Friday Video from SmartPak: Behind the Scenes at the London International Horse Show

By on Dec 24, 2021 6:21 pm -

 

I’m still not quite over all the festive buzz and excitement at the London International Horse Show, which wrapped up on Monday evening, and if you’re not either — or you’d like your first taste of this delectable little nibble of equestrian excellence, this new video from the FEI in conjunction with a slew of horsey vloggers will certainly whet your whistle. Catch a few vibes, check out the shopping, and get the spectator experience in this great round-up — and then dive headlong into the happiest of holidays!

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Every Equestrian’s Christmas List

By on Dec 22, 2021 5:44 pm -

Look, we’ve all been there. We’ve all been that kid that begged for a pony and swore up and down that they’d never ask for anything else, ever again, if that pony were to materialise on Christmas morning. We’ve all also been the filthy little liars who brazenly asked for a new saddle, five saddle pads, a monogrammed jacket, and a trailer the very next Christmas. But after that? Of COURSE we won’t ever want anything else! Never ever ever!

Parents, run for the hills.

Leave your horse a 5-star review to win!

2021 is coming to an end. It is time to take a look back at how the year has gone. If you had to leave your horse a review, would it be 5 stars? Leave us a review about your horse for a chance to win custom stickers with your horse’s name on them. Be creative!

Submit your review at KPPusa.com/5-star. All entries must be submitted by 12/31/21.

Winners will be drawn in early January.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®.  Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.

An Olympics for Everyone: Paris 2024 Announces Plans for City-Wide Opening Ceremony

By on Dec 22, 2021 3:00 pm -

An artist’s interpretation of the Opening Ceremony flotilla. Image courtesy of Paris 2024/IOC.

We feel like we’ve been daydreaming about the Paris Olympics for years. Cities don’t come much better than France’s sexy, moody capital, and as a previous host of the Games way back in 1924, it knows a thing or two about putting on a spectacle. For us equestrian enthusiasts, we’re certainly being spoiled: the announcement that the equestrian facility would be built at the opulent Versailles Palace made major waves across the disciplines, and rightly so. The impeccably maintained parkland and fairytale spectre of the palace itself will work in tandem to make this arguably one of the most iconic modern-day sites of our sport.

The IOC and Paris’s own Olympic committee has been hard at work over the past months planning the infrastructure and logistics of their Games, which take place in just a scant two-and-a-half years, and the most recent box they’ve ticked is that of the Opening Ceremony. Ordinarily, we see these ceremonies take place in the main athletics stadium, where athletes, connections, and those spectators lucky enough to nab a pricey ticket get to watch cultural displays celebrating the host country and cheer in the parade of athletes and, of course, the Olympic flame, which finishes its long trip around the world and officially starts the Games.

This cycle, though, Paris wanted to do something a little bit different. Instead of restricting access to the ceremony to those able to purchase a ticket, they’ve opted to open it up to the city at large for the first time ever, using the Seine as their venue and allowing everyone the chance to experience a piece of the Olympics. The idea, which was floated — thank you, I’m here all week — as early as March of this year, was confirmed at an IOC press conference on December 13th.

The opening ceremony will take place largely on boats, which will ‘parade’ athletes from a starting point at the Pont d’Austerlitz in western Paris’s 11th arrondissement to the Pont d’Iéna, in close proximity to the Eiffel Tower in the east of the city. Athletes and performers will then move to the Trocadéro Gardens, with the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop, for the finale of the Opening Ceremony. This spot already has significance to the Games: it’s the site of the official handover, which took place as part of Tokyo’s closing ceremony earlier this year.

A floating orchestra will add some extra ambience to the proceedings. Image courtesy of Paris 2024/IOC.

“This Ceremony will be an exceptional experience for all the athletes taking part, but also, and above all, for the people of Paris, for France and for the whole world,” says Thomas Bach, President of the IOC. “We started discussing this Seine option with the Paris 2024 team and its President, Tony Estanguet, after the great success of the Opening Ceremony of the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games. There, over 200,000 people gathered around the iconic Obelisk monument. We were all inspired by this magical moment, but we also recognised the challenges it could create. Today, I am happy that the French authorities on all levels have carefully considered this opportunity and come to the conclusion this will happen, under the premise of all necessary security precautions. The IOC has full confidence in the creativity, flexibility and sense of innovation demonstrated, from the beginning, by the Paris 2024 team. They will ensure that the Opening Ceremony is a truly unique and emotional Olympic experience for the athletes, who will be surrounded by the public, being welcomed and celebrated by the French people. It will be a spectacular spectacle on the Seine.”

Over 600,000 people are expected to spectate at the ceremony, which will take place on July 26, 2024. Though the artistic director hasn’t yet been confirmed, the committee is planning for a spectacle that combines Paris’s rich history — including monuments such as Notre Dame and the Louvre, both of which will feature along the route — with new, bold, creative embellishments. Boats of performers and orchestras will float along the 6km route, too, and screens will be erected to allow spectators to watch the whole parade and performance from any vantage point. It’s expected that some parts of the riverside will be ‘free’ zones, with no ticketing needed, while others — presumably those with grandstand seating — will require a ticket. This will allow for roughly ten times more spectators than would fit into a stadium — a major objective of Paris’s 2024 committee President, Tony Estanguet.

The planned route for the Opening Ceremony parade. Image courtesy of Paris 2024/IOC.

Paris’s Mayor, Anne Hidalgo, gave the project her full and vocal support.

“On 26 July 2024, a truly spectacular Opening Ceremony will mean the eyes of the world are on the city, proudly promoting the values of Olympism,” she says. “The ambitious project, which is the result of intensive collaboration between hundreds of stakeholders, will bring joy to Parisians, Île-de-France residents and tourists alike. This Opening Ceremony will mark the history of the Games. For the first time ever, rather than being contained in the stadium, it will take place in the heart of the capital. Along the quays and bridges of the Seine, against this grand and unique backdrop, the athletes will be carried by a majestic flotilla of boats. The ceremony will be accessible to one and all. The choice to launch the Paris Games on the Seine is a bold one, which is part of a long-term strategy. Beginning with the opening of the embankments to pedestrians in 2016, the idea is to give Parisians and local residents back their river banks, to walk along, engage in sports, or simply admire the beautiful surroundings. The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will mark the beginning of a new chapter in this story, with swimming in the Seine itself.”

While we generally wouldn’t recommend swimming in the Seine unless you’re really into giving cholera a go, this forward-thinking and accessible approach to the Games is widely welcomed and feels like the perfect antidote to the Olympics in the Time of Covid, with its firmly closed doors. Roll on Paris!

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feeds

By on Dec 21, 2021 6:51 am -

Okay, okay, so I might not be leading with a look behind the scenes of some horsey hero’s life — but this Christmas tree tucked away in Badminton House is fuelling my festive fire so heartily. I reckon all those oil-painted ladies are smiling down on it while they daydream about the Vicarage Vee, too.

Events Opening Today: Three Lakes Winter I H.T. at Caudle Ranch, Sporting Days Farm February Trials H.T. I, Galway Downs 2022 Kickoff H.T.

Tuesday News:

In an effort to allow more people the chance to enjoy the spectacle, the Paris 2024 committee have announced their intention to hold the Opening Ceremony on the Seine. Athletes will ‘parade’ through the city by boat, and ticketed and non-ticketed zones will be in operation, making this a real citywide celebration. Mind you, the Seine does smell pretty ferociously of pee, so there’s that. The finale to the ceremony will take place at Trocadero, in full view of the Eiffel Tower — perfectly timed, we expect, to coincide with the Tower’s hourly twinkle. Magic.

The winter months don’t have to be a slog — instead, they can be among the most fruitful of your year. ICP instructor, US team selector, Olympian and all-round legend Phyllis Dawson is a woman who knows how to extract the good stuff from the off season — here are her tips.

We can all get so caught up in our goals that occasionally, it’s possible to forget why we fell in love with horses in the first place. But for nine-year-old Maeve Rae-Bognar, it’s all about the love — and she’s helping the riders on the Cornell Equestrian Team reconnect with what really counts as she battles leukaemia with gumption and an unfaltering smile on her face.

If you’re horse-shopping at the moment, we know you know how insane the market is right now. Good horses are getting snapped up in minutes, prices are through the roof, and finding the perfect horse feels a bit like the London dating scene right now: gross and grimy and full of threes. So here’s a reassuring tale from someone who got it done — and the details of how they made it happen, too.

Listen to this: The new episode of the Practical Horseman podcast features a candid conversation with Buck Davidson — perfect for listening to while you’re wrapping presents today.

Video Break:

The London International Horse Show — or the Artist Formerly Known as Olympia — came to an exciting close last night with 22-year-old Harry Charles doing a remarkable double by taking both the World Cup and Grand Prix victories. Here’s his exceptional World Cup effort:

Monday Video from SmartPak: Catch Up with the London International Horse Show Action

By on Dec 20, 2021 5:30 pm -

Though it’s a far cry from eventing, with its capacious fields and wide open spaces, the London International Horse Show is always a gathering point for champagne-drunk event riders — and, really, anyone with so much as a passing interest in horses, all of whom gather together under the lights in the Thameside venue to ring in the holiday season to the sound of ‘Sweet Caroline.’ This year, the show has made a welcome return after a year out due to the pandemic, and though it’s relocated from its iconic home at Kensington’s Olympia to east London’s ExCel Centre, all the magic has made the journey too. (No word, yet, whether the magic found the Docklands Light Railway or the Emirates cable car a quicker entry point. I, for one, took a boat, like the true Bond villain I am, and I highly recommend doing so and getting a leetle beetPinot Grizj drunk en route.)

If you’re not able to get to London for the show this year, you can follow along with all its major classes on Horse&Country TV and the BBC — including the entertainment line-up, featuring the Shetland pony Grand National, the Household Cavalry, and an appearance from Santa himself. Alternatively, catch up with the action so far with these highlights reels from the past two days of competition, featuring a 2.10m puissance wall, a special prize for Olympic showjumping gold medallist Ben Maher, a look around the venue, and much, much more. In the words of Noddy Holder in that awful Slade song, IIIIIIIIIT’S CHRIIIIIIISTMAS!

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Dec 20, 2021 6:30 am -

 

‘Tis the season — the season for big bucking fits, that is. Even those who ride older, ‘wiser’ horses aren’t safe from a case of five-minute madness, as demonstrated by Tiana Coudray‘s 2012 Olympic mount Ringwood Magister, who’s been busy teaching Morgan Evenett the true meaning of stickability. Ahh, they’re so sweet and sensible when they’re in their 20s, aren’t they?

National Holiday: It’s both National Caroling Day and National Sangria Day, and I fully condone combining the two to create an adrenaline sport I like to call ‘Danger Caroling.’

Your Monday Reading List:

Despite considerable backlash from the jumping community in particular, the three-to-a-team rule at the Olympics looks like it’s here to stay. But how did that vote get through — and is horse welfare being negatively impacted by the sway of ‘ghost voters’ in the form of smaller national federations? Pippa Cuckson investigates.

The extraordinary Rachael Blackmore has been named the World Sport Star of the Year at the BBC Sports Personality awards. This comes after an awe-inspiring season that saw her become the first-ever female winner of the Grand National and the first female leading jockey at Cheltenham. My own trainer discovered that the best way to get me to see a stride to a fence is to bellow “PRETEND YOU’RE RACHAEL BLACKMORE” at me as I turn onto the line, so she truly is magical.

After an Olympic Games, there’s always valid concern about what will happen to those expensive, purpose-built venues. Now, we know how Tokyo’s Baji Koen equestrian venue will be utilised going forward, and it’s a huge win for riders with disabilities at the grassroots and competitive levels.

Irish eventer Jonty Evans continues to make great strides in his ongoing recovery from the 2018 fall that left him with a traumatic brain injury. He and Cooley Rorkes Drift have been out showjumping recently, delivering what a round that Jonty describes as his first proud moment in competition since his return.

The FutureTrack Follow:

Travel the world, go behind the scenes at the biggest events, and learn a few useful tips from superstar vet Chris Elliott.

 

Morning Viewing: 

Watch recently retired jump jockey Lizzie Kelly and the Grade One winning Tea For Two tackle their post-track training with a bit of help from Piggy March — it’s perfect OTTB inspo for a gloomy Monday.

Best of 2021 Video Countdown: #13 – From the Back Stretch to the Barn with Elisa Wallace

By on Dec 19, 2021 9:00 am -

Each day between now and the New Year we’re counting down the top 20 most popular videos shared on EN in 2021. The #13 spot goes to this video, which garnered 1,609 views when it was originally posted on May 28, 2021.

Bringing home a new OTTB? You’re in great company – Elisa Wallace just did the same thing. Whether this is your first or thirtieth ex-racehorse, though, you can almost certainly benefit from a bit of extra advice and guidance, which is exactly what she provides in her new vlog. Meet her new arrival, and find out more about her process of buying and caring for a freshly retired racehorse – our only tip? Don’t watch it if you’ve been trying to talk yourself out of that CANTER cutie you’ve been eyeing up. It’s not going to help your self-control.

(Oh, go on, watch it anyway.)

Best of 2021 Video Countdown: #16 – Meet Caroline Clarke, the 5* Dentist

By on Dec 16, 2021 9:00 am -

Each day between now and the New Year we’re counting down the top 20 most popular videos shared on EN in 2021. The #16 spot goes to this video, which garnered 1,468 views when it was originally posted on March 26, 2021.

Competing at the uppermost echelons of the sport is an extraordinarily time-consuming undertaking – for every hour spent in the saddle, there are countless others spent working on your own fitness, managing and seeking vital sponsorship deals, mapping out season plans for your string and, of course, contributing to the huge amount of labour that keeping horses healthy and happy requires. On top of all this, the vast majority of riders need to put considerable time and effort into making ends meet financially. For many, this comes down to teaching, training, and selling horses – but for some impressive multitaskers, a busy career off the yard helps to fund exceptional efforts in the saddle.

This is the case for Caroline Clarke, British CCI5* eventer and NHS dentist. In this interview with Ruth Gregory, she shares her exciting story so far and the balancing act she’s perfected to make it happen. Turns out it really does take a village!

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Take Us Back to Badminton

By on Dec 15, 2021 6:05 pm -

 

What a funny couple of years it’s been — but on the eve of the first London International Horse Show (ordinarily colloquially known as Olympia) in two years, I’m thinking ahead to all the wonderful competitions returning to the calendar in 2022, all being well. Chief among those — in my heart, anyway — is Badminton, which always feels indescribably magical. I can’t wait to step through the archway into the sport’s most beautiful old stable yard; nor can I wait to feel the emotional pressure cooker of the mixed zone operating at full-tilt once again. The laughter, the tears, the cheers, and the adrenaline will be the perfect antidote to a couple of cautious years, and I can think of no year that summed up all those extremes better than 2014. Often remembered as the toughest Badminton in modern times, it was set upon by tricky weather conditions that allowed the war horse Paulank Brockagh to climb and climb and climb again to an eventual win with Australia’s Sam Griffiths. This highlights reel has my springtime butterflies hatching from their cocoons early. And no, it’s not because of Ludwig Svennerstal‘s Jason Derulo impression.

Leave your horse a 5-star review to win!

2021 is coming to an end. It is time to take a look back at how the year has gone. If you had to leave your horse a review, would it be 5 stars? Leave us a review about your horse for a chance to win custom stickers with your horse’s name on them. Be creative!

Submit your review at KPPusa.com/5-star. All entries must be submitted by 12/31/21.

Winners will be drawn in early January.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®.  Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.

US Equestrian Names 2022 Emerging Athlete Eventing 25 Assessment Participants

By on Dec 15, 2021 4:30 pm -

Previous members of the USEF Eventing 25 Program.

US Equestrian has announced the athletes chosen to take part in the 2022 Emerging Athlete Eventing 25 assessment sessions, which will take place in Ocala, Florida, Aiken, South Carolina, and Temecula, California in order to decide the final Emerging Athlete Eventing 25 programme list. The programme is intended for riders aged 25 and under who have a Minimum Eligibility Requirement (MER) at CCI3*-L, though there is also a chance to make it onto the list if they’re talent-spotted by a member of the Eventing Sport Committee. Once selected, riders will benefit from coaching, high-intensity training sessions, and mentorship, all designed to help prepare them for, and produce them towards, a career at the top levels and on US teams. At the helm of the programme is Olympic gold medallist and USEF Developing and Emerging Athlete Coach, Leslie Law. 

The following athletes have been invited to participate in the 2022 Emerging Athlete Eventing 25 Assessment Sessions, with talent-spotted riders denoted by an asterisk (*):

Charlotte Babbitt
Alexandra Baugh
Isabelle Bosley
Sarah Bowman
Sophie Click
Jack Curtis*
Cornelia Dorr
Mia Farley
Victoria Garland
Alexa Gartenberg
Cosby Green
Tommy Greengard*
Savannah Gwin
Cole Horn
Gabrielle Hutchison
Ryleigh Leavitt
Katie Lichten
Benjamin Noonan
Alina Patterson
Meg Pellegrini
Georgia Phillips*
Rebecca Roth*
Audrey Sanborn
Cassie Sanger*
Sydney Shinn
Madison Temkin
Haley Turner*

We’re excited to follow these talented athletes’ progress through the 2022 season and beyond — congratulations to all selected!

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feeds

By on Dec 14, 2021 6:47 am -

 

 

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A post shared by Laura Collett (@laura_collett)

I love the eventing community — and, indeed, the equestrian community at large — best when it bands together as a watertight support system. We’ve seen the ‘family’ come together so many times before when a fellow rider has faced a life-changing injury, or a top horse has nearly been sold on, but never do we see our folks doing more fervent good than when one of the next generation leaves behind an unfulfilled dream.

We’ve seen eventers around the world embrace the Willberry Wonder Pony charity in honour of the late Hannah Francis, who in her lifetime and following her incredibly sad passing, made a colossal impact on the industry as she battled an aggressive form of cancer. Now, following the death of young Irish talent Tiggy Hancock, whose undoubtedly huge career to come was cut short by a training accident earlier this year, a whole lot of familiar faces have once again come together to support Tiggy’s Trust, a foundation that will help young riders lacking in resources to get the training and support they need. That’s just the tip of the iceberg where this incredible foundation is concerned, and we’ll undoubtedly see it change lives over the years to come just as Tiggy herself would have liked to — and every step of the way, it’ll be boosted and bolstered by the great and good of the horse world, many of whom convened at Cheltenham Racecourse for the launch party and a day of racing, where they turned the iconic venue yellow in honour of Tiggy.

If ever we lose faith in our sport and the foundations it’s built upon, it’s these moments we need to return to to understand that together, we have the power to do so much good.

Events Opening Today: Rocking Horse Winter I H.T.

Tuesday News:

Thoroughbred owners, look away for this one. Those of you whose horses come with a little extra spinal padding, this winter could be a great opportunity for you to experiment with bareback riding. Not only does it provide central heating to your undercarriage, it also apparently has plenty of benefits for your riding. If you can stay on, that is.

Planning to compete in FEI events next season? You’d better get abreast of the FEI’s updated horse health rules, then, because it’s easy to fall foul of the rules if you don’t read the fine print, and we’d really love to save you from making an annoying (and expensive!) error.

The fight for safer roads for riders continues on apace in the UK. And following the largest-ever survey of mounted road users, it’s being helped along by some shocking statistics that won’t come as much of a surprise to anyone who’s ever been nearly mown down by a Tesco delivery van on a country lane.

Sometimes you climb aboard an ostensibly perfect horse and feel…nothing. Chemistry is a complicated thing, and it’s so often the glue that holds our relationships with our oddball horses together — but where does it come from? Can you make it from nothing? Or is this the magic we all spend our lives chasing?

Video Break:

If the weather outside is frightful, improving your riding from the sofa is SO delightful. I’m enjoying rewatching masterclasses on YouTube at the moment, like this one with Harry Meade and Laura Collett:

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Dec 13, 2021 6:30 am -

 

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A post shared by Robin Godel (@robin.godel)

 

Although I was disappointed not to find a way to sneak over to Geneva to check out the legendary CHI Geneve, thanks to Omicron and some delightful new travel restrictions, I’ve loved following their indoor cross-country challenge, which was ably won for the home nation by Olympian Robin Godel and his Europeans mount Grandeur de Lully CH. I’ve been totally and utterly convinced for a few years now that this exciting young rider is the next megastar of our sport, and though he’s had a turbulent year, his riding at the weekend only cemented my conviction further. Don’t take your eye off this one as we inch closer to next year’s World Championships.

US Weekend Action:

Full Gallop Farm Jingle Bells H.T. (Aiken, Sc.): [Website] [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

It’s Olympia week in the UK, and everyone knows that Christmas can’t really begin until this iconic show has begun. Though it’s a little different this year — and, in fact, not ‘Olympia’ at all after its move to London’s ExCel Centre — it’s still set to be beyond brilliant, with appearances from some of Britain’s top riders, alongside the likes of Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat. Even better? Thanks to a new broadcasting deal, you can tune in from home and ensure you don’t miss any of the action.

The US Olympic Endowment recently named the recipients of its three major awards, and an equestrian has made history by taking one of them for the first time. The horsey chap in question has played a pretty colossal part in modern-day US eventing, and was honoured for his service and commitment to the country’s efforts.

We all want to learn and improve, but are you accidentally standing in your own way? In this excerpt from his new book, Daniel Stewart shows you the learning ladder and how to implement it — and crucially, how to repurpose anxiety and nerves so they serve you.

Sometimes, people are pretty disappointing. Other times, they really are heroes beyond words. That was certainly the case when a team of rescuers spent five hours working through the debris of a Missouri barn, which had been destroyed by a tornado, in order to free the terrified horses trapped under the rubble.

The FutureTrack Follow:

 

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A post shared by Jonelle Price (@jonelle_price)

For wanderlust and pure, raging envy, it’s got to be Kiwi superstar Jonelle Price, who’s currently on holiday in Mauritius and not at all abashed about sharing her sunny views.

Morning Viewing:

Check out Elisa Wallace and Let It Be Lee’s cross-country round in the CCI4*-s at TerraNova, which helped to earn them fifth place!

Friday Video from SmartPak: Catching up with Camilla Speirs

By on Dec 10, 2021 4:31 pm -

 

Irish superstar Camilla Speirs became a hugely popular figure in the sport during her partnership with the practically pony-sized Portersize Just A Jiff, with whom she made plenty of team appearances, finished sixth at Pau in 2016, and rode at Badminton an impressive five times. But since his retirement after the 2017 season, Camilla’s hardly been resting on her laurels — and now, with a string of carefully-produced horses building up in her yard, she’s as hungry as ever to succeed in her sport.

Horse Sport Ireland went to her homebase this summer to find out what she’s been up to, where she hopes to go next, and what you can expect from her current rides — so settle in and catch up with Ireland’s golden girl as we all look ahead to another busy championship year.

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: The Ultimate Discipline Swap

By on Dec 8, 2021 7:34 pm -

We all spend so much time mired in our own respective disciplines that it can be a bit of a shock to the system to venture into another world – and it turns out that that’s the case for the superstars of equestrian sport, too, and not just us mere mortals. Ben Maher and Oisin Murphy need little introduction to keen horsey folks: Ben took individual showjumping gold in Tokyo this summer with the exceptional Explosion W, while Oisin has taken the Champion Flat Jockey title an impressive three times. But though they’re both among the very best in their fields, their disciplines couldn’t be more different – so Great British Racing decided to engage them in a swap of epic proportions.

Oisin might have had the advantage in this scenario – he competes recreationally in showjumping when his busy racing career allows – but we reckon both chaps made a jolly good go of their big switcharoo. We’re also pretty sure we’re not the only ones eyeing up Ben’s borrowed Thoroughbred as rather a nice stamp for our own sport, if anyone fancies orchestrating another kind of job swap…

Leave your horse a 5-star review to win!

2021 is coming to an end. It is time to take a look back at how the year has gone. If you had to leave your horse a review, would it be 5 stars? Leave us a review about your horse for a chance to win custom stickers with your horse’s name on them. Be creative!

Submit your review at KPPusa.com/5-star. All entries must be submitted by 12/31/21.

Winners will be drawn in early January.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®. Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®.  Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feed

By on Dec 7, 2021 4:09 am -

Girth Tension — Too Tight vs Just Right

“Jason Momoa Edition”

It may be hard to focus here, but I want you to take a…

Posted by Stubben Custom Sales and Saddle Fitting – North Carolina on Thursday, December 2, 2021

We all like to be educated, but from now on, I fear that this is the only way I can take any information in. Bravo, Stubben, and what a way to start the day.

Events Opening Today: Stable View Aiken Opener H.T., Grand Oaks H.T., Fresno County Horse Park Combined Test

Tuesday News:

Marietta Fox-Pitt, mother of William and an old-school eventing legend in her own right, has lots to celebrate today. Her homebred mare Snow Leopardess won Aintree’s Unibet Becher Chase on Saturday in fine style, making her a favourite for the Grand National.

Meanwhile, there’s been incredibly sad news for racing elsewhere, as Medina Spirit — who finished first in this year’s Kentucky Derby, but whose win remains in flux in an ongoing trial — collapsed and died during exercise at Santa Anita Park.

Is there anything a Thoroughbred can’t do? The Western lot don’t think so — in fact, they’ve adopted the versatile breed for ranch work, with great success.

84 Devon-based horsey folks and farmers have stripped off to raise money for brain tumour research. Their benevolent bare-bummed act comes after their friend was diagnosed — and now, they’re selling saucy calendars to raise vital funds.

Video Break:

Head back to Blenheim 30 years ago with Andrew Nicholson, who retired from the top levels there this year.

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Dec 6, 2021 8:14 am -

 

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A post shared by Ben & Sarah Way (@teamwayeventing)

 

Have you posted your letter to Santa yet? Millie Way, daughter of British five-star eventers Ben and Sarah Way, made sure to get in there nice and early — and she did it in style, too. Frankly, all I want for Christmas is for my farrier to be paid off in advance.

National Holiday: It’s National Gazpacho Day. Yes, it’s meant to be cold.

US Weekend Action:

Rocking Horse December H.T. (Altoona, Fl.): [Website] [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

British-based Jamaican eventer Lydia Heywood continues to blaze trails in the industry. Check out this great feature on the fierce and fearless young rider who wants to make the sport more accessible for everyone.

There’s a secret Hermès museum in Paris, and I really want to go. The hidden atelier is packed full of the inspirations behind some of the world’s most prestigious (and expensive) tack and accessories.

Are you an artsy type who fancies a career drawing horses? Find out what it’s like with Emily Cole, whose cheerful, witty illustrations have made a big splash in the horse world.

If you live in Philadelphia, you could live my dream: order books, and have them delivered to you by horseback. Owner Jeannine A. Cook has teamed up with the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club to do something way, way cooler than Jeff Bezos ever could.

The FutureTrack Follow:

 


Love reading? Then you’ll want to follow the Horse Girls’ Book Club, which is full of reading inspo for these cold, dark evenings. Bliss.

Morning Viewing:

 

Burghley’s back, baby — and I can’t wait to return to one of my favourite places in 2022!

Friday Video from SmartPak: Meet Fred Scala, Ireland’s Next Big Thing

By on Dec 3, 2021 6:33 pm -

 

 

When Ireland released their Tokyo eventing long list, it had plenty of names on it that you likely already know well — Sam Watson, for example. and Cathal Daniels, and Sarah Ennis, all titans of the sport and household names to fans. But if you didn’t immediately recognise the name of British-based Fred Scala, that’s only because he’s been quietly putting in the hard graft behind the scenes in preparation for his time in the spotlight — and we’d be fairly confident that that moment is on its way very soon.

Today’s video is such an interesting deep dive into Fred’s career, his horses, and his journey so far that we reckon you’ll be fully on board Team Scala after you watch it — and then you can enjoy OG fan status when his medal-winning moment comes to fruition.

 

 

Sport Horse Nation Spotlight: Ten Tantalising TBs

By on Dec 1, 2021 3:00 pm -

In the market for a new four-legged partner? You may find your unicorn on our sister site, Sport Horse Nation. To help with the search, we’re going to feature a selection of current listings here on EN. We include the ad copy provided; click the links for videos, pricing and contact information.

There’s nothing that lights my fire quite like a good Thoroughbred, and I know I’m not alone in harbouring a not-so-little obsession with these kind, endlessly generous, talented athletes. Luckily for all of us, particularly in this crazy market, Sport Horse Nation has plenty of excellent examples of the breed advertised at the moment, whether you’re looking for a project or an established partner to take you to new heights. There’s even a potential lease opportunity in there, which is never easy to find! Here are ten that caught my eye while I was writing my Christmas wishlist today…

Talented 2014 TB Event Horse

TEMPTER – Chestnut 2014 Thoroughbred gelding by Speightstown, over 16.2 hands. This elegant horse is well schooled and responsive to the aids. He has done several Starter events, and is ready to climb through the levels. (He won his last outing, finishing on his 25.8 dressage score.) He has an uphill balance, good movement, and a bold athletic jump. He is straightforward and easy to ride, and ready to begin his serious competition career. Suitable for an ambitious amateur or Young Rider with some experience. $18.500.

We also have many other excellent horses available, from green prospects to experienced Eventers. We can also help you sell your horse. Visit www.teamwindchase.com/forsale.htm for more info. Phyllis Dawson, Windchase, Hillsboro, VA E-mail: [email protected]. Phone: (540) 454-3834 cell, (540) 668-6024 stable, (540) 668-6548 home.

Lovely 2016 thoroughbred gelding ready to take on the 2022 eventing season!

Overwork aka Leon is a 5 year old 16hh thoroughbred gelding with a kind disposition and incredible talent. He has 3 great gaits that have mistaken him for a Warmblood and a powerful jump.

Leon is very honest and has competed beginner novice and will easily move up the levels in the right hands. He is sensitive to the aids and has an incredible work ethic. Snatch him up and have an awesome athlete to compete in 2022!

Competitive 3* Packer with Advanced Miles

For Sale- “Capability Brown”

Capability Brown is sadly offered for sale, to a perfect home! 16.2hh, 2010, Thoroughbred Gelding. Bane has competed all over the country at the intermediate/3* levels, moved up to the advanced level last year and completed his first 4*-Short this year at Jersey Fresh! A wonderful horse to bring a talented young rider up the levels. Bane is a serious cross country horse, he is experienced, confident, fast, brave, and light in the hand. Very safe and will give a rider tons of confidence on the cross country! Obedient and extremely well trained on the flat, scopey and honest jumper! Competitive 3* horse with more advanced miles for the right rider! No vices, no previous injuries or soundness issues. Will consider lease to own for the right person. Berryville, VA. Priced 6-Figues. 703-463-7457

Career Highlights-

⭐️2021-
Red Hills OI- 5th
Jersey Fresh 4*-S – 11th
Millbrook Advanced- Completion
VAHT CCI3*-L – 9th

⭐️2020
Red Hills OI- 7th

⭐️2019
Groton House Prelim- 1st
Bromont Canada 3*-S – Completion
Millbrook OI- 7th
AEC OI- Completion
Morven Park OI- 3rd
Ocala Jockey Club CCI3-L 12th

⭐️2018
VAHT CCI2-L 7th

Perfect Petey – YEH ready for 5yo year

Perfect Petey is ready to find his perfect person, and bring more smiles to the people around him. Resurgent (Sky Mesa – Galloping Ami) is a stunning 2017 TB gelding who was the highest priced Sky Mesa to ever sell. Standing at 16.1hh, he is impeccably bred, raced lightly, and then retired sound before journeying into sport horse land in spring of 2021. Petey has competed in a handful of recognized events and YEH qualifiers, and never finished worse than 4th at a YEH qualifier, stacking up against some of the top warmbloods in this country. He is ready to run novice, and will be moving up in just a few weeks time.

Easy to flat with a massive canter, and point and shoot to fences with scope to spare, Petey would be best suited to a competent YR or amateur, or could go up the levels in a professional program wanting more. Hacks out in a group or alone, same off property as he is on, and has extensively traveled around the east coast – competed at places such as KHP, Chatt Hills, VHP, and Fair Hill.

Clean legged with no history of injury, and a full set of radiographs on file (including back) for interested parties.

Proudly offered for sale in Midlothian, VA: Gone Skiing

2016 15.3H OTTB Mare by Fed Biz out of Woodland Sprite (Grand Sire is Giant’s Causeway)

“Aspen” is a total sweetheart who was purchased as an event prospect. She is brave, smart, and a scopey jumper. She has been in professional training since 2019, loving every minute of her new job, and would clearly excel as an event horse. She requires a confident rider since she is still green, but she shows a lot of promise and will progress quickly with a confident rider. Extremely sweet on the ground, not at all mareish, and she truly loves her people. A good home is a must.

$8500 OBO

Please contact Lainey at (804) 301-5888 to indicate interest.

Slick Moves, FEI and Prelim 2014, 16.3 Thoroughbred Gelding

Zuko has all the makings of a horse that will reach the top level of sport. At 7, he has experience at prelim, multiple top 5 placings at training level, and top 5 at CCI*L. He has been an absolute joy to help produce. This horse will be someone’s career maker.

He has beautiful fluid gates, and a canter to die for. Zuko is a very competitive and consistent horse. He is brave XC, and careful in SJ. He has no disobedience or vices. And he is a joy to be around and travel with. He is suitable for a young rider looking for their first superstar, and he has the talent for a professional looking for an upper level mount to add to their string.

Zuko’s 2021 achievements include:
2nd Middleburg OT
4th Area II Championships OT
9th Waredaca OP
5th VAHT CCI* L

Zuko is now qualified for CCI** S and ready to make someone’s dreams come true for the 2022 season.

Your Next Best Friend!

Mr. Barron
Aka Ronnie

2008 OTTB 16.1hh Two-star Eventing machine. Looks for the flags and goes! Three elegant gates, dressage scores in the low 30s and an excellent counter canter. Safe, clear and fast on cross country. Ridden and competed by an adult amateur his eventing career with many ribbons including qualifying for AECs the last four years. Suitable for AA, Jr. or Pro. Hacks out alone or with buddies. Travels well. Very sweet guy that loves to cuddle. Only selling him because of his potential. Always sound and healthy. No Vices. Mr. Barron is ready to move up to Intermediate or take his next person up the levels. Ronnie is very quiet and relaxed at home, occasionally giving beginner lessons. He would benefit in a program that has regular stadium jumping practice. He is rideable even after sitting in a stall for a few days. He wakes up at shows but doesn’t need lunging or pre-rides to perform well. He is all go for cross-country with only one stop in 35 starts. Ronnie is a lighter build TB which has proven to keep him sound for six years of heavy conditioning and competing. Straight-forward, tough and uncomplicated feet. He is quiet in his stall and in the pasture. He does appreciate regular turn-out, preferably on grass. Ronnie is the sweetest horse I have owned. I would love to see him go to a home that would appreciate and love him.

Training packer ready to move up

2011 OTTB 17.2+ hh mare (JC name Affirmed Coed)

Sire: Prefer; Dam: Hopeful Coed; USEA Horse ID 201088

8 Training level competitions at recognized shows with no XC jump penalties

1st place at Texas Rose and 2nd place at Heritage Park in 2019 (Training level)

Selling because I realized I don’t have the bandwidth to compete two horses while working a full-time job with a commute. Mal has not been competed in ~1 year because I moved and am building out a new barn/facility. Had planned to move her up to Preliminary level before COVID hit and before I moved. Then life happened.

Mal has excellent ground manners. Clips/ties/trailers. Can hop on her from just about any object (necessary as she’s a tall girl!). Will carefully jump anything you point her at.

XC is her strength. She’s ready to pack a young person up through the levels or for an AA to move up to Prelim/Intermediate. Could also see her excelling in the Hunter ring.

Videos are of Mal running XC a year ago and packing around a beginner a few weeks ago.

Price negotiable to an excellent home.

Sale or lease on versatile 2015 TB gelding

Churro is a 2015, 16h2 OTTB gelding. He truly is a stunner, but his best attribute is his brain! This is the smartest, most quiet horse in the barn, yet he is a forward, sensible ride. He is the same wether he is ridden 5x a week or has had a month off, hop on and ride! He is the same at shows as he is at home.

He is easy for everything : vet, farrier, trailer, clip, trail rides alone or in group, you name it he does it.

Churro has lots of experience eventing up to Novice (Pre-Training) level, he is schooling Training level with ease. Always in the top 3 after dressage with scores as low as 25. Very consistent and well schooled on the flat, he could have a career in straight dressage easily. Has a spotless record on xc, this horse loves to jump and is very brave. Could also become a show jumper or probably even a hunter with the proper training. He is so trainable that you can direct him any way that you want!

Not an UL (Prelim +) horse due to a mild heart murmur. Full report available. Has been cleared to keep his current exercise level and has shown no limitations in that lifestyle.

For sale, lease or lease to own. Priced in CAD$

Honest and correct 12 yo training level OTTB gelding

Fire For Effect (JC Aristarchus), Arty, is a sound and dependable 2009 15.3 hand OTTB gelding. Recently finishing 9th in the training division at AECs, Arty is the kindest and most hardworking horse I’ve ever had the pleasure of riding. I purchased Arty directly off the track in 2017 and he has remained my personal horse. He has accumulated an expansive and clean record through training level including the Retired Racehorse Project and American Eventing Championships. Arty consistently scores in the low 30s and has never had a jump penalty on cross country.

Arty would be best suited for an eager teenager or adult amateur looking for a dependable, but forward thinking mount. Arty is quiet enough for a beginner at home, but is forward and game at shows. He is a solid citizen; no vices, extremely well mannered, stands for the farrier, clipping, bathing, mane pulling, etc. He is kind in the pasture, quiet in the stall, and an overall easy keeper. Loads easily and hauls quietly. He truly checks all of the boxes.

Arty is proficient at second level movements and schooling prelim fences. He is very honest on course and deserves a rider that won’t take advantage of his eagerness to please. While Arty could take the right rider up to prelim, I believe he would be best suited running training and below.

With 23 career starts on the track, Arty has proven to be a sound athlete. He has correct conformation, plenty of bone, solid feet, and requires little maintenance.

I am willing to wait for the perfect, loving home for Arty. With a young daughter and a full time career, I simply do not have the time to give Arty the riding opportunities he loves and deserves. Serious, adult inquiries only. While I am happy to share current radiographs and exams, any further PPE will be at buyers expense. $30k. Located in Ball Ground, Ga. Contact Erica Addison for more information. 256.710.5535.

Listings included in this article are randomly selected and not confirmed to be current and active before inclusion. Sport Horse Nation features user-generated content and therefore cannot verify or make any warranty as to the validity or reliability of information.

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feed

By on Nov 30, 2021 3:20 am -

 

If you’ve ever dreamed of a career in equestrian photography, we’ve found one heck of an opportunity for you, courtesy of Shelley Paulson Photography and Eye Candy Jumpers. Want some industry leading mentorship and the chance to go to Wellington to hone your craft? Click on the post above for all the deets and to register your interest. Happy snapping!

Events Closing Today: Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks

Tuesday News:

The Holekamp/Turner Grant, which funds a trip to the Young Horse World Championships at Le Lion d’Angers, is one of the most coveted grants in US eventing — but what does winning it mean for a horse’s future? Check out some of the graduates and what they’ve been up to since making the trip to France.

Does your workout regime consist of riding, mucking out, and traipsing back and forth to the field? There’s a strong case to be made for adding in supplementary training — and if you’ve ever met an equestrian who’s tried Pilates, you’ll know that there’s a lot of love for this mixed discipline workout. Here’s why you — and your horse — should give it a go.

Everything Chris Bartle touches turns to gold, and that’s just the facts. Formerly the German team’s secret weapon, he’s spent the last few years turning the Brits into an unbeatable beast of a squad. But what’s actually behind his remarkable ability to transform the very good into the truly legendary?

Breeding is no joke, and if your precious mare is in foal, you’re more than likely quietly stressing out about the whole thing pretty much constantly. Save yourself a bit of anguish — and get prepared to spot the signs of anything amiss — with this comprehensive piece.

In need of some inspiration before you fire the clippers up this week? Check out these 50 artistic shave jobs and start planning how you’ll explain your motives to your yard owner.

Video Break:

Winter is coming, and Michael Jung‘s retirees La Biosthetique Sam and fischerRocana are certainly embracing it.

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Nov 29, 2021 7:07 am -

The season has been firmly put to bed, which means that the indoor cross-country circuit can begin — and the Sweden International Horse Show certainly delivered on that front. 12 combinations representing five countries came forward for the fast and furious class under the lights, which saw Sweden handily take the team competition and their leading rider, Frida Andersen, take the individual win with Box Leo. With all the uncertainty around the new COVID variant, which has already seen travel restrictions come into play in Europe, I certainly hope this won’t be the last of these classes we get to enjoy this winter.

National Holiday: It’s Cyber Monday, so if you’re not totally shopped out from the weekend, you could nab some serious deals online to finish up your Christmas shopping or stock up your tack room.

U.S. Weekend Action:

Pine Top Thanksgiving H.T. (Thompson, GA): [Website] [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

Another week, another slew of reasons why Brexit could be the biggest danger yet to the UK’s horse industry. This time, the criticism comes from the FEI’s veterinary director, Göran Åkerström, who points out that the long waiting times and administrative nightmare of the extra border controls is likely to stop people from travelling between Britain and continental Europe unless they absolutely have to. No man is an island, as the saying goes, but at this rate, the UK’s horse industry certainly is.

Virginia-based trainer Ally Smith doesn’t just focus on producing horses for showjumping and eventing — she also provides a lifeline for working horses heading to the slaughterhouse. This might be my favourite lockdown venture yet.

More and more, buyers in the market for a new horse are looking for the holy grail: a totally clean sheet from the vet. But do you actually need your horse to have perfect x-rays and no lumps, bumps, or oddities, or is learning to manage minor issues part and parcel of owning competition horses?

Heading down to the southern sun from one of the colder states this winter? Lucky you — but before you go, brush up on how the move might affect your horse’s health and what you can do to prevent any issues from arising. Oh, and have a margarita for me, please.

We’ve all had those moments when, after receiving a particularly disappointing score in a test, we assume the judge doesn’t like us, our horse, the brand of saddle we ride in, or something. But while some degree of subjectivity will always come into play, judges work hard to be as objective as possible — and as a rider, the best thing you can learn is to control the variables you can and do the very best you and your horse are capable of on the day.

The FutureTrack Follow:


I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone more badass than Danish vaulter Amanda Staalsø — and even if you don’t fancy ever doing flips on top of a horse, her content will definitely inspire you to go big or go home.

Morning Viewing:

Bicton CCI5* winner Gemma Tattersall is becoming a real force to be reckoned with on the showjumping circuit too, and she began her Oliva Nova circuit with a bang, winning the 1.40m gold tour with the excellent MGH Candy Girl. Catch their blazing round here:


Sunday Video: Meet the Eventers of the 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover

By on Nov 28, 2021 6:17 pm -

We’re huge fans of the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, which gives ex-racehorses a brilliant platform to show off their talents and offers fantastic incentives for riders to give one of these big-hearted horses a second chance at a second career. Last month’s Makeover finale was a bumper edition, combining two years’ worth of entries into one jam-packed event — that’s roughly 400 horses across the disciplines!

Both the 2020 and 2021 eventing finalists’ rides have been compiled into two action-packed videos, which provide some serious inspiration if you’re thinking of making an entry into next year’s Makeover — or if you just want to get the very best out of your own OTTB. We also highly recommend catching up on the Makeover Masterclass, which is a hefty watch at well over two hours, but will give you a priceless primer on how to pick your next project and begin the training process. Perfect winter viewing, we reckon.

Applications Open for the British CCI3*-S European Cup Team

By on Nov 28, 2021 2:16 pm -

If you’re a British rider competing at CCI3*-S and would like to try your hand at representing your country in a European Championship, the European Cup — formerly known as the Rural Riders European Championship — could be the perfect opportunity for you. Ordinarily held every two years, it was last run in 2019 as this year’s planned edition, set to run in Lausanne, Switzerland, was postponed. Now, the Cup will run in 2022 and 2023 before returning to a two-year cycle and running again in 2025.

The unique competition allows up to eight combinations to compete per country, with six team places and two individual places available. In a unique twist, all the team riders must perform a test together in a long arena, emphasising the need for some seriously good team bonding beforehand. Though the competition is held at CCI3*-S, cross-country is held prior to showjumping, giving competitors valuable experience of the championship format.

So who’s it for, anyway?

“There are generally two types of rider who can enjoy the journey through career progression when representing Great Britain in the CCI3*-S European Championships,” reads British Eventing’s guide to selection. Those are as follows:

  • Those who are no longer eligible for BE National or International youth teams (which are for riders 12 to 21 years old).
  • Riders who began eventing at a later age or those who, during their young rider years lacked the necessary horse power or opportunity to compete at CCI3*-S level.

The eligibility requirements are as follows, per BE:

  • Riders and Horses either separately or together must not have completed a CCI4*L or CCIO4*S in the last 2 years prior to the next European Cup unless this was as a Junior or Young Rider.
  • Riders and Horses either separately or together must not have completed a CCI5*L, European or World Championships or Olympic Games at any time.
  • Combinations should be able to ride as part of the Team dressage squad (6 x combinations in a 20×60 arena at the same time) as well as the usual individual/Team CCI3*S format.
  •  As a guide for competitors, they as a combination should aspire to achieve an average dressage score of 30 or below, an average show jumping score of 4 penalties or better and an average cross-country score of no more than 10 penalties slower than the fastest time in the class.
  • Athletes/combinations who wish to be considered for selection should be aiming at least one result at 2* or above of 28 or better dressage, maximum of 4 penalties in show Jumping and clear xc within 3-time penalties of the fastest horse in xc.
  • Riders must be a British passport holder.

Applications have now opened if you’d like to be considered for the 2022 competition, which will be held in Lausanne from September 1-4. Applicants will need to commit to training and selection days, and will be observed by selectors at national and international competitions throughout the selection period next season. To brush up on the full selection guidelines, click here — or, to go ahead and get your name on the list, fill out the form here. Applications will close on December 20.

Fitness Work on Hills: An Excerpt from ‘Training Horses the Ingrid Klimke Way’

By on Nov 27, 2021 12:31 pm -

In this excerpt from “Training Horses the Ingrid Klimke Way,” Olympian Ingrid Klimke shares why she feels hill workouts are necessary fitness builders for the equine athlete. Reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.horseandriderbooks.com).

Photo by Horst Streitferdt.

Training on hills is part of our regular working program. Going uphill and working on hills strengthens the entire musculature, promotes conditioning, and is good for the horse’s balance and surefootedness.

Ideally, we travel to hills for training every fifth day. There, we begin with a 10- to 15-minute stretching phase at the walk — good training for building up the horse’s entire musculature. When we begin uphill, the horse must strike off very energetically from behind and use his whole back. In the beginning, I must make sure not to ride up- or downhill when it’s too steep: a horse needs to adjust slowly to the new demand being made of him. With regular training, the overall steepness can be increased.

At the end of the stretching phase at the walk, I work in posting trot at an easy tempo for 10 to 15 minutes. In trot, I also work both uphill and downhill. Training on the hills is especially exciting for stallions as it presents many new sensations for them to process. Temporarily, this excitement promotes a dynamic through which you can enhance the horse’s entire way of going, making it more expressive, imposing, and cadenced. When riding uphill, you bend slightly forward and push your weight down into your heels. Of course, the horse must, at some point, learn to trot downhill and maintain his balance as he does so. As this takes place, you bring your upper body back slightly, in order to always keep your seat in balance with the horse.

After the trot phase, I canter on at a quiet tempo. Often, with young horses, the canter work on hills is often still weak. Most of the time, horses that are familiar with this exercise accelerate as the hill gets steeper. On the other hand, young horses often lose power quickly and, for example, break to trot. Initially, allow your horse to go in his chosen tempo and do not drive him uphill. You should always introduce this training to a young horse very slowly and carefully, so as not to overwhelm him. While the horse may have become accustomed to varying ground conditions while going uphill, coming downhill really requires the highest levels of concentration.

When cantering in a large group, it’s a given that there is the danger of horses egging each other on and getting hot. Therefore, it’s advisable to work in small groups. Only horses that fit together well based on their level of training should get to canter together. But it is not only the horse’s training level that needs to be considered: what’s “inside” your horse is also a decisive factor. For example, with my horses, ambitious Bobby always wants to try to pass the equally ambitious Escada. Therefore, at a certain point in their conditioning, they must go their separate ways, otherwise, they simply gallop much too fast. In contrast, the amiable Soma will happily canter more calmly with Geraldine, and they can easily take turns following one another when ridden. Along these lines, Weisse Düne is easy to regulate, even when she is following other horses (although, this may change with time).

The more regularly and often the horses gallop in the hills, the more conditioned and strong they become. This can definitely increase their motivation and ambition, and then the groups need to be reorganized to accommodate. Therefore, begin gallop work very quietly, not galloping for more than 2 minutes. If your horse still has enough strength, you can take a 3-minute walk break and then gallop uphill again one more time. Afterward, slowly transition down to a trot, spending 5 to 10 minutes at a slow trot before finally transitioning to the walk. We ride long enough at the walk for the pulse and breath of our horses to completely return to normal.

Pick up your copy of Training Horses the Ingrid Klimke Way from Trafalgar Square Books HERE!