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Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Get Ready for the Big Bs with Piggy March

By on Feb 2, 2022 6:27 pm -

We’ve been missing seeing Piggy March‘s super vlogs on our YouTube feed, though we hear her web-based training academy is a seriously good way to get yourself in gear for the season — almost as much, in fact, as the still reigning Badminton champion has been missing that most iconic of events. She caught up with the Eventing Podcast’s Nicole Brown for a jolly good natter about all things Badminton and Burghley, giving us all plenty to get excited about for the year ahead. This one’s a bit like meeting up with friends down the pub, so pour yourself a glass of something nice and enjoy!

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The horse that matters to you matters to us®.

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US Equestrians Reveals Riders Shortlisted for 2022 Eventing Development Program

By on Feb 2, 2022 3:35 pm -

Caroline Martin and Islandwood Captain Jack. Photo by RedBayStock.com.

As we head ever closer to the start of the global eventing season, all eyes are on the forthcoming World Championships in Pratoni, Italy this fall – and to that end, we’re starting to see the pipeline for rider development make its early moves. Today, US Equestrian released the names of the horse-and-rider combinations who’ll take part in the assessment sessions that act as a feeder for the Eventing Development Program, which is helmed by Leslie Law and provides vital support and resources to up-and-coming team riders for the United States. Law will team up with fellow members of the Performance Advisory Program to evaluate and assess the combinations for their suitability for the 2022 USEF Development Program, after which they’ll continue to train under Law for a further six months.

The Development Program is designed to create a progression onward to the Pre Elite and Elite programs, and as such, athletes that have ridden on Olympic, World Championship, or Pan Am teams aren’t eligible to take part. But because of the program’s intention to create a pathway for both promising riders and developing horses, more experienced riders can take part with up-and-coming equine stars, as you’ll see in this exciting list.

The following athletes have been chosen to take part in the assessment stages of the program:

Woods Baughman (Lexington, Ky.) and C’est La Vie 135, a 2008 Hanoverian gelding owned by Woods Baughman, James Baughman, and Kim Baughman

Dan Clasing (Lovettsville, Va.) and Onley Uncle Sam, a 2007 Trakehner gelding owned by Jennifer Larkin

Ariel Grald (Southern Pines, N.C.) and Forrest Gump 124, a 2011 Hanoverian gelding owned by Anne Eldridge; Diara, a 2014 Hanoverian mare owned by Anne Eldridge; and Isla de Coco, a 2014 Holsteiner mare owned by Anne Eldridge

Lillian Heard (Cochranville, Pa.) and her own Dassett Olympus, a 2013 Irish Sport Horse gelding

Amber Levine (Petaluma, Calif.) and Cinzano, a 2011 Holsteiner gelding owned by Cellar Farm Corp.

Caroline Martin (Miami Beach, Fla.) and Islandwood Captain Jack, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Caroline & Sherrie Martin; Redfield Champion, a 2014 Hanoverian gelding owned by Caroline & Sherrie Martin; and HSH Vamonos, a 2015 Zangersheide gelding owned by Caroline & Sherrie Martin

Kurt Martin (Marshall, Va.) and D.A. Lifetime, a 2012 Holsteiner mare owned by Debbie Adams

Alexanda MacLeod (Marshall, Va.) and Newmarket Jack, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Alexandra & Carla MacLeod

Andrew McConnon (Vass, N.C.) and Ferrie’s Cello, a 2012 Warmblood gelding owned by Caroline Martin & Jeanne Shigo

Allison Springer (Upperville, Va.) and Crystal Crescent Moon, a 2013 Connemara cross gelding owned by Nancy Winter

Additional athletes invited to an assessment:

Maya Black (Clinton, Wash.) and Miks Master C, a 2012 Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Laurie Cameron

Alyssa Phillips (Fort Worth, Texas) and Oskar, a 2009 Holsteiner gelding owned by Alyssa & Julie Phillips

Caitlin Silliman (Kennett Square, Pa.) and Ally KGO, a 2011 Trakehner mare owned by Ally KGO Syndicate, LLC

To learn more about the Eventing Pathway Program, please contact Christina Vaughn, Director of Eventing Performance and Program Support, at [email protected].

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOPC, and USEF sponsors and members.

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feed

By on Feb 1, 2022 4:48 am -

 

 

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Well, here it is, folks: the first of February has finally graced us with its presence, and that means you’ve survived all 4,824 days of January, you little rockstar. I’m fond of February, actually – not only is it a petite month, a calendrical hors d’oeuvres, it’s also the final month of preparation before the British eventing season gets underway, and so it’s the point at which all those canter sets and chilly days out to local jumping shows feel doubly valuable. On a non-horsey note, it’s also Black History Month in the US, and while all of us here at EN are firm in our stance that Black history should be celebrated year-round, I do really enjoy deep-diving into all the fascinating content that comes out at this time of year and learning more about the world and culture around me. In honour of that, we’re going to be celebrating the ideas, insights, and contributions of Black equestrians in all of our News & Notes round-ups this month, and with bonus content across the site, too. A huge part of allyship is taking the time to learn and sit with your newfound knowledge, and we can’t wait for you to join us on this ongoing journey!

Events Opening Today: Pine Top Spring H.T., Copper Meadows Eventing, LLC H.T., Ocala Winter II H.T.

Events Closing Today: Stable View Young Event Horse Qualifier, Jumping Branch Farm H.T., Rocking Horse Winter II Advanced H.T., Ram Tap Horse Park H.T.

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

Often, when you begin a conversation about the lack of coverage of Black equestrian accomplishments, the pushback you’ll hear is that “there just aren’t that many Black people who ride horses.” But we all know that’s not the case – instead, there’s been a long and complex history of erasure in our sport, and it’s one we need to acknowledge before we can build a better, more equitable industry. Author Katherine Mooney sat down with NPR’s Ailsa Chang to discuss this erasure – listen along or read the transcript to find out what she had to say on the matter.

The busy bees at EquiRatings have released their latest metric, and this one’s all about keeping us safe in the saddle. The Horse Form Index (HFI) has been developed in conjunction with the FEI, gives out grades to riders depending on their record, allowing competitors to look beyond whether they’re qualified for a move-up and instead assess whether they’re ready to safely take that step.

In the aftermath of the Second World War, philosophers and artists waxed lyrical about the state of the human condition. Now, in the aftermath of the golden age that spanned through the 1990s and into the early part of the millennium, folks in our industry use their brainpower to ponder the state of US eventing. What’s it getting wrong? What’s it getting right? And at this undeniable crossroads, which turn should we be taking? One person who’s well-situated to consider these questions is Liz Halliday-Sharp, who split the last two decades of her career between the US and the UK, and now resides full time in the States. Her debut column for Sidelines proposes the notion that none of us are focusing enough on the great things we’ve got going for us in the US eventing scene – and as we sprint headlong into a major period of change and rebuilding, I think there’s something to be said for that viewpoint.

Anxiety is a real you-know-what. So many of my friends have been caught up in its clammy little clutches recently, and it’s an insidious thing that seeps into every part of your life unless you get some robust coping mechanisms in place (and we totally recommend seeking help for this, by the way – no man is an island and all that!). This insightful piece shares one rider’s experience of saddling up despite a misbehaving brain.

The USEA Interscholastic Eventing League is back for its sophomore year – and its calendar of team challenge events has just been released! Get those planners out, gang.

Listen to This: The gang at the USEA Podcast are back for the first time in 2022, and they’ve got lots to discuss, from the upcoming ICP Symposium, the year’s 5* calendar, and new developments in safety science. Listen here!

 

Video Break:

Enjoy a history lesson with this look back at the formation of the iconic Badminton Horse Trials. No, you’ve got butterflies.

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Jan 31, 2022 6:55 am -

 

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A post shared by Camilla Speirs (@camillaspeirsbt)

Huge congratulations to Irish eventer Camilla Speirs and her partner, show jumper Ethen Ahearne, who welcomed their first child, baby Tilly (great name), into the world on January 19th. We’re not sure which discipline baby Tilly will end up choosing when she’s older, but we’re ready and waiting to coax her over to the fun side. One of us! One of us!

National Holiday: It’s National Hot Chocolate Day. Bonus points if you add a dash of amaretto.

US Weekend Action:

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

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

Your Monday Reading List:

A new leading rider prize from Animalintex, awarded to the rider who accrues the most points throughout the event, will be among the prize pot on offer at this spring’s Thoresby International Horse Trials. The new British fixture, which got a trial run as the temporary home of the British Young Horse Championships last season, replaces the much-loved international season opener at Belton House, which closed its doors to eventing after the 2019 renewal of the event.

Speaking of Britain and its horses, an official update has been made to the Highway Code, which should make a major difference for riders hacking on roads. Though common sense has always dictated a ‘pass wide and slow’ approach to cars and horses, the new rule adds in some specificity – cars will need to leave a 2 meter gap and pass at no more than 10mph. With four horse deaths already recorded on British roads in 2022, this modification is widely welcomed.

Half my friends are in sunny Ocala at the moment (and, okay, I do feel a little bit smug that the state has seen record low temps this month!), while the rest of us are here just trying to survive the worst of the winter weather. I’ll be real with you: I’m feeling a wee bit better about the gale blowing outside while I sit here with a steaming cuppa, reading about a serious set of winter woes.

Mind you, if you’re having a similar winter to the one depicted in the above blog, you might have been considering heating your horses’ water troughs. But how can you do so safely, without risking a rogue electrical current? Here’s everything you need to know.

Finally, if your coping mechanism is simply a bit of escapism, join dressage rider Kasey Cannon as she embarks on the trip of a lifetime to train in Germany. Though I must tell you that I was in Germany just last week, and it’s not warm there, either.

The FutureTrack Follow:

 

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Okay, okay, I know you’re all already following British team gold medallist Laura Collett. But in case you missed her recent hunting excursions with youngster Moonlight Charmer, they’re so worth revisiting – and her write-up in Horse&Hound is super stuff, too. (By the by, if you’re hankering after some H&H in the US, you can find it on the Readly app – you’re welcome!)

Morning Viewing:

How great is it to see Will Coleman and Off The Record back in the ring for the first time since that incredible Aachen win in September? They popped around the 1.35m at Split Rock like it ain’t no thang – what a way to start the year!

Friday Video from SmartPak: Lucinda Green Explains it All

By on Jan 21, 2022 6:38 pm -

There are a few real legends of our sport who’ve earned the respect of everyone around them — their contemporaries and competitors, officials, organisers, the next generations, and so on, and so forth. Among them? The perennially passionate and ever-so-clever Lucinda Green, whose own sparkling career as one of the sport’s best-ever competitors has been followed up by a considerable stint as one of our industry’s most generous educators. The doyenne of horsey cool recently made an appearance on the Jon and Rick Show to chat about the sport’s past, present, and future, her new eventing academy, and some super memories from decades at the top – and it’s well worth diving in for a good catch-up.

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Don’t Panic, But the French Took Their Clothes Off Today

By on Jan 19, 2022 5:31 pm -

 

Look, I don’t know what to tell you about my decision here. I could have shared some exciting competition footage with you; I could have picked out one of any number of educational training videos so we could all learn something together. There are some inspiring vlogs and rider interviews floating around on the World Wide Web at the moment, and yes, I could have picked any one of them. But when I opened Facebook earlier and nearly dropped by phone in shock because of all the naked chests suddenly on my screen, I knew — after WhatsApping the link directly to several of my nearest and dearest — that there was only one way we could close out this day together. Right now, we all need to just watch France’s best eventers strip off and do…whatever it is they’re doing. Switching from very cold to very hot temperatures, I think, for some reason. But do we need to know the details? Do we need to understand the conversations happening in this big vat of Frenchman soup? No. It is enough, dear reader, to observe and learn to understand the true natures of these men, like it’s a very compelling David Attenborough documentary. What does it say about Karim Laghouag that, in the face of apparently extreme human discomfort, he simply performs a little breathing exercise and then puts his feet up like he’s having a lovely time at a spa? Is the Olympian a master of mind over matter or merely a psychopath in disguise, with no actual nerve-endings and, most likely, a dastardly plan to take over the world up his (currently absent) sleeve?

Watch them. Learn from them. Fear them. Fancy them a little bit? IDK, you do you.

Fight back against colic and digestive upset.

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®.

Have you grabbed your winter running horse stickers?  Check them out at KPPusa.com/winter.

 

 

Wednesday Wisdom: Buy the Horse You Need, Not the Horse You Want

By on Jan 19, 2022 3:13 pm -

One of the really fun things about being an equestrian journalist is the opportunity to pick up side hustles. For me, that’s ended up being agent work: I make the most of all my contacts within the sport to help motivated buyers find their dream horses. Today, I’m preparing for a weeklong trip around Europe with a rider and friend from the US on one of these exact trips, and it’s got me all in my feelings about my own previous experiences trying to find my dream horses (on much, much slimmer budgets – I bought my first horse with coins I’d collected in a Folgers can!). In this excerpt from his book Know Better to Do Better, horseman Denny Emerson gets frank about horse shopping with your head on straight – and I think it’s something we could all do with reminding ourselves of the next time we whip out our chequebooks.

Photo courtesy of Denny Emerson.

There are thousands of horses and ponies out there, all over the world, and many of them are for sale. There are thousands of potential buyers. There are numerous methods of putting these horse buyers in contact with the horse sellers, the internet being the big game in town. There’s also word of mouth, and there’s print advertising, but whatever the method, at some point, some of the shoppers actually find themselves in the physical presence of some of the animals that are for sale.

There are two very broad, often overlapping methods of thinking that describe the horse-shopping experience, which I will call “Rational Thinking” and “Fairy Tale Thinking”: RT and FTT. Most of us use both. Even the most hard-bitten, cynical, “been there, done that,” curmudgeonly old pessimist will find something to hope for in the occasional horse. Even the most Black Beauty-ized, dream-struck, “I love his cute little ears” fantasizer doesn’t fall in immediate love with every horse. But if you use a 1–to–10 scale on people, with 1 being the straight realist and the 10 the total dreamer, it might be a useful exercise to try to figure out where you might fit on this hypothetical scale.

Why? Because buying the right horse brings great satisfaction and joy, and buying the wrong one brings just as much dissatisfaction and distress, and even though choosing wisely can still lead to mistakes, choosing foolishly is more likely to turn out badly. If you know, deep in your heart, that you are an 8, 9, or 10, prone to gasp in delight at a glorious forelock, hiding two bright brown eyes, and overlooking the crooked left pastern, you might want to get a “3” friend to go with you. Even more important, sit down with that “3” friend, someone who knows you pretty well, and do the single best thing you can: write a list. That list can contain “wishful” items and practical ones.

One of the most important questions to struggle with before you get started on your list will also be the hardest question to face honestly: “How competent a rider and trainer am I?”

Another hard question to answer honestly is: “What are my goals with this horse?”

If you fake the answers to these two questions, God help you, because nobody else can.

Example: You are at this point in your riding (which you refuse to face) an inexperienced rider who lacks stability, hasn’t done much jumping, hasn’t spent long hours hanging around barns and warm-up rings, so doesn’t know much about horsemanship, and isn’t very physically fit. Every one of these facts about you can be remedied, but they have not been addressed yet.

But you fantasize that you want a horse that can jump 3 feet 8 inches, and allow you to compete at the Preliminary Level of eventing. He must be a splendid mover, have a great gallop, and be beautiful and “electric” in dressage. Your goals are not in sync with your riding capabilities. Not yet. And if you buy a horse that’s too far above your capabilities who won’t let you fumble around and make all kinds of mistakes while you gradually become a better rider, you may get scared or discouraged or injured, or all of the above, so that you may never become the rider that the right horse for you, at this time, might have allowed.

So make a list of the things in this new horse that you actually need, instead of the things that you want. Obviously, if you are multiple gold-medalist Michael Jung making the list, or some other great rider, the qualities you want are also those that you need, but that’s not the case for most horse shoppers. So try to list those things that you need—in reality, for this particular stage of your riding—knowing that in a few years, or less, you may need something very different.

Or not.

This excerpt from Know Better to Do Better by Denny Emerson is printed with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.HorseandRiderBooks.com).

Sponsorships Secured for British Grassroots Championship and Returning International Fixture

By on Jan 19, 2022 9:25 am -

Eventing will return to Floors Castle in 2022. Photo courtesy of Floors Castle Horse Trials.

As we’re all achingly aware, the generous patronage of sponsors is truly the lifeblood of our sport – and after a couple of fallow seasons, we’re so excited to announce some major new partnerships and really exciting additions to the British eventing calendar in 2022.

The first of these is a long-awaited grassroots championship for BE80 combinations (that’s Britain’s equivalent of Beginner Novice, for anyone tuning in for this news from across the pond!). Though BE90 and BE100 (akin to US Novice and Training) riders have long been well-represented with the Science Supplements Cup championship at Badminton Horse Trials, the BE80 championships have been in something of a state of flux since their introduction in 2018. That year and the following year they were held at national venue Kelsall Hill, and although an exciting move to Burghley was planned for 2020 onwards, the pandemic meant that this never happened.

Now, though, all is well in championship land, and our BE80 riders will have just as much prestige and glamour to look forward to for their championship venue as their BE90 and BE100 counterparts. This year, and in 2023 and 2024, the BE80 National Championships will take place at the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials (7-12 June), with dressage to take place over the Tuesday and Wednesday, and both jumping phases will run on Thursday. This gives competitors the chance to soak up the atmosphere and mingle with some of the sport’s leading competitors, while enjoying their own dedicated competition area in the grounds.

This new home for the championship was announced at the tail end of 2021, and now, it has gained a suitably big-time sponsor in NAF, already a major supporter of British Equestrian and one of the UK’s leading supplement and horse care companies.

“We couldn’t be happier to be welcoming NAF on board as title sponsors for the championship,” says Helen West, CEO of British Eventing. “[They] have consistently been long-time supporters of equestrian sport on the whole, as well as being an official partner of the British Equestrian Federation, with whom they also assist [in delivering] the Clean Sport Message. We look forward to working alongside the team at NAF as well as the team at Bramham, who are committed to giving our members a fantastic championship event to remember.”

For this year only, there will be a direct qualification route to the event. From 2023 onwards, the system will return to qualifying classes at Area Festivals. To qualify for this year’s championship, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Eligible combinations who are placed first in any BE80 section run between 3 May 2021-1 May 2022
  • Riders need to be an Introductory, Standard or Premier BE Member and Horses must possess a Season Ticket to enter the Championship (Pay as You Go members are not eligible to compete at National Championships)
  • In the last 20 years Riders must have not competed at either 4* level in 2018 and earlier or at 5* level in 2019 and thereafter
  • For BE80 National Championship, Riders must not have competed at Intermediate or higher for the current or preceding 5 seasons
  • Downgraded Horses are not permitted
  • Combinations must never have gained Foundation Points at any BE100 Class or above

In other exciting sponsorship news – and, indeed, returning fixture news – Scotland’s Floors Castle International Horse Trials is making a welcome return after the sad announcement in 2020 that 2019’s renewal was its last run. Floors Castle, which is the ancestral seat of the Duke of Roxburghe, is best known in horsey circles for being the family home of 2018 Blenheim CCI4*-L winner Bella Innes Ker – and also for being the site of what’s widely considered a jolly good event. Now, with a new organising team in place, helmed by event management company Kick On Events, it’s back and planning to be better than ever. Helping it along enormously is new title sponsor The Malcolm Group, a family-run logistics, construction and maintenance company that celebrates its centennial in 2022. We can’t think of a better way to mark the occasion than a seriously good eventing knees-up, frankly.

“We are delighted to be supporting Floor Castle as it is an event which is dear to our hearts, and my wife Fiona and I have ridden there for many years,” says Andrew Malcolm, CEO of the Malcolm Group. “It is a premier event in an amazing location and we hope to see it go from strength to strength.”

The event will run from May 13-15, with classes on the roster from BE80 to CCI3*-S. Go Eventing!

 

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feeds

By on Jan 18, 2022 7:51 am -

Is it just me, or is it particularly crisp this week? I know Libby Head can’t be the only person who’s got one finger looped through a neck strap at all times right now. If your horse has also been possessed by the ghosts of raves past, future, and still to come, do please upload the footage to the ‘gram and use the #eventerproblems hashtag so we can all cheer ourselves up as we nurse our own bruises (and chilblains). Happy January!

Events Opening Today: Sporting Days Farm March H.T. II, Chattahoochee Hills H.T., Rocking Horse Winter III H.T., Twin Rivers Winter H.T., Full Gallop Farm March Wednesday H.T.

Events Closing 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 & Notes from Around the World:

Didn’t catch the US Equestrian Annual Meeting Last Week? Here’s what you need to know about the organisation’s plans for 2022 and how they built momentum in 2021.

Ludger Beerbaum’s rapping habit – and no, not the fun kind – is the hot topic of the horse world at the moment. And rightly so; while a zero-tolerance attitude to animal cruelty is unlikely across the industry, we’ve come on in leaps and bounds over the decades. But equine osteopath Alena Jenn shares another interesting perspective: that many of Beerbaum’s detractors are equally guilty, without even realising it.

Even if you’re not a resolution maker, we’d be willing to bet you’ve got some goals in mind for 2022. Check out Daniel Stewart’s handy four-part system for turning those goals from intangible daydreams to actionable plans.

British-based readers, rejoice: Ingrid Klimke will be returning to England for a masterclass at Hampshire’s Wellington Riding, followed by an evening talk, on March 12. You can get your tickets here.

Video Break:

Elisa Wallace shares her latest Mustang desensitisation session — and we reckon this would be a great bit of work to do with any young horse.

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Jan 17, 2022 6:11 am -

The Christmas engagement rush is behind us, and we’re now heading into Sunny Florida Wedding Season! Starting us off for 2022 is Hannah Sue Burnett, who married Matthias Hollberg yesterday and displayed absolutely no hint of a farmer’s tan in her stunning sleeveless dress. Congratulations to the happy couple, and Hannah, let us know your secrets when you’re back from your honeymoon!

National Holiday: It’s Martin Luther King Jr Day. To celebrate, remind a bigot in your life that they’re wilfully misinterpreting the man of the hour when they say that we should stop talking about the color of people’s skin (and, in fact, if they say that MLK wouldn’t have condoned the actions of BLM, when in fact he ultimately dismissed the notion of peaceful protest as a way of ‘muzzling the voiceless’. Here’s some interesting reading for you.) Meanwhile, the fight against voter suppression rages on.

US Weekend Action:

Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (Reddick, Fl.): [Website] [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

Meet Canadian show jumper Anna Wilks, who began her career as a successful eventer under the watchful eye of Pippa Funnell, becoming the Junior European Champion along the way. Now, she’s globetrotting with her horses – and she’s shared her story so far and the reason she made the switch.

The former riders of 33-year-old Walnut, who launched the competitive careers of five-star riders Laura Collett, Nick Lucey, and Imogen Gloag, have paid tribute to the gelding following his passing last month. A 15.1hh cob who beat all the big guns? We’re huge fans of that.

It’s not uncommon for feelings of fear to materialize out of nowhere – particularly after the birth of a child. But learning to manage those feelings and repurpose them into something more productive is essential, and Margie Sugarman has plenty of advice to help you do just that.

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to improve your knowledge and management skills? Then don’t miss a free, three-part webinar series hosted by Rutgers University next month, which will cover recent advances in veterinary medicine, genetics, and nutrition.

The FutureTrack Follow: 

 

Cornelia Dorr is the latest of our US contingent to head across the pond for a season, and you’ll want to give her a follow to check out what she gets up to while basing with Aussie superstars Kevin and Emma McNab!

Morning Viewing:

Refresh your braiding skills with this foxhunter-approved method that’ll last you through all three phases, if that’s what you’re into:

Friday Video from SmartPak: If Equestrians Did ASMR

By on Jan 14, 2022 6:16 pm -

These days, none of us are immune to the TikTok and YouTube recommendations for endless videos of curiously unblinking women who whisper into microphones and scratch away at their cameras, which I think is meant to make you feel like you’re getting a facial, but is probably actually the opening of a special portal directly to hell. But for all I raise an eyebrow at some of the ASMR oeuvre’s oddities, I do kind of get it. Is there anything more relaxing than watching a shoddy looking hoof get turned into a work of art by a farrier? Or that perfect first line in a clip, which cuts through inch-long fluff like a hot knife through butter, leaving a shining, rippling coat in its wake? I reckon I could watch braiding tutorials for hours, not because they make my scalp tingle (does that not feel like you’ve got lice? Please feed back and let me know), but because there’s absolutely nothing more satisfying than watching totally uniform, utterly frizzless plaits appear along a scrupulously clean neck. I’d love to take the credit for gathering all these deeply soothing notions into one video for you, but I cannot: instead, we must all thank this random person on YouTube. Random person, I appreciate you for giving us all a seven minute meditation on the finer things in life. I also appreciate that you didn’t turn your camera on and pretend to braid my forelock while whispering threateningly at me. Namaste.

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Back to Burghley

By on Jan 12, 2022 5:15 pm -

Badminton has gotten plenty of airtime over the last few weeks, partly because we’re so wildly overexcited about its return this spring and partly because its box office opened today — but there’s another Big B returning to the calendar in 2022, and we’re equally as delighted to return to its iconic grounds. What better way to reacquaint oneself with the Cottesmore Leap and the Leaf Pit than in the company of six-time victor William Fox-Pitt, who was kind enough to take us all along for the ride back in 2015 aboard the excellent Parklane Hawk?

Heels down, eyes up, leg on — let’s jump some big fences, baby.

Fight back against colic and digestive upset.

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®.

Have you grabbed your winter running horse stickers?  Check them out at KPPusa.com/winter.

Sport Horse Nation Spotlight: Imports Who May or May Not Whinny with Accents

By on Jan 12, 2022 3:29 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.

This pandemic has been a bit of a bummer for the travel-minded, hasn’t it? Between cancelled flight routes, surprise travel bans, and curfews popping up like rampant moles in the garden of life, it’s been a lot easier — and in many cases, much more sensible — to stay at home. But if you’re pining for foreign shores, perhaps your wanderlust might be temporarily sated by the very best kind of souvenir – an imported event horse. Here’s a selection of European honeys currently advertised on Sport Horse Nation.

For those who miss the Emerald Isle and its dusky-brogued gents, try:

TOP CLASS AMATEUR WINNER

Ballybolger Anchorman
Lovely JOEY 16.3HH DARK BROWN 8 year old homebred gelding by Puissance hoping to find his forever home. He is a 90/100 winning machine having super form at this
level, he has completed 2 novices and is now ready to be a Superstar grassroots winner.
His 100 results include:
1st lisgarvan 27.3
5th Frankfort 30
6th kilguilkey 27.3
3rd Blackstairs 31.5
1st Tattersals 14.9
He has the sweetest temperament, easy to do in all ways, lives in or out, hacks in company or on his own and doesn’t have to be ridden everyday. Super on the flat, moves really
well and easy to ride , very unflappable jumping with plenty of scope. He is snaffle mouth and would suit a tall child coming off ponies or competitive amateur who wants to win.He is 100 % to clip , shoe, load and travels well, incredibly chilled to deal with . Joey has had very easy to manage very mild sweet itch under his mane which we just shampoo regularly and keep a DustBuster / sweet itch hoody on during spring and summer. Never an issue or problem just a little TLC needed.
Plenty of videos on request
Special home wanted for this lovely boy.
Based co Carlow. Ireland
00353872211041

Sybil AB- beautiful talent and temperament in this imported ISH

Sybil AB- 2017 16.3 hand gray imported ISH mare by Nazar out of a Kings Master mare. This horse is the total package of brains and talent and it doesn’t hurt she’s beautiful too. She’s ready to continue her education with a jr or AA in a program. She will go far. She’s done two A rated hunter shows with an ammie and is entered at Majestic Oaks. No soundness or health issues or any special care requirements.

Contact Information
Angela Bowles 817-944-2535 [email protected]
Adjectives
Beautiful sweet talented
Price
$45,000
Youtube Video
Visit Link Here
Location
Citra FL
Connemara super star!

🦄 ☘️ Gentry Irish Clover- (Fortrane Stuart CP x Rantis Diamond ISH ). Coming 6 year old 15.3hh imported Irish Sport Horse mare. “Trish” is a beautiful, talented and super forgiving mare that is wise beyond her years! If you’re looking for something with a packer mentality to quickly move you up the levels with confidence, Trish is your ride! She is easy, sweet, and the type of horse every trainer wants in their barn.

Have a grudge against owning a girl? She will change that. This mare is zero drama and with her adorable personality, will make you the center of her whole world! That’s right, she will whinny when she sees you. It’s like owning a little squeaky toy that lights up when you’re around. You can’t say no to that! ❤️ 🧸

Trish is so good she won her first horse trials in the USA out of a large division! She has competed in Ireland through the Novice level and schools cross country through the Training level! She is brave, scopey, and will jump anything from any distance with very little input needed from her rider. She’s quiet enough to be a hunter, but forward enough to do the jumpers. This horse could do multiple jobs for you!

Here is another unicorn. These horses don’t come by very often! Trish is UTD on everything and has zero vices. This is the first horse I’ve had in my barn that I can’t give you a single bad thing to say about her…and we have some nice horses! Trish can be ridden every day or pulled out of her stall with a week off and is the same horse. She walks off the trailer at a show as the same horse you put on, easy and quiet.

Serious inquiries only. Yes, seriously…please. Budget suits the quality of horse. Priced in the mid-five figures. Located at Gentry Sport Horses in Spring City, PA.

Contact us privately for more information and videos.

If you’re aching to pop on your dirndl and head to Germany, these options are sehr gut…

Peddersson

“Peddersson” 16.2 hand 2015 imported gelding from Germany. Ended his 2021 season at preliminary level. Always very competitive with eye catching movement and jump. Great show temperament, never buzzy or tense in the ring, fantastic galloper on cross country and careful show jumper. Ready for 2 star this spring. Available to try in Bay Area California. Lots of videos on RideOnVideo.

Top quality with an outstanding temperament

RHS Temptation 50 (Potato)

Age: 6
Breed: Westphalian
Height: 16.2
Gelding
Sire: Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve (1.60m show jumper)

Dam: Tinette (1.55m show jumper)

Show videos available upon request

Temptation 50 is a 6 yr old, 16.2 Westphalian gelding. He has competed through 1.30 both in Europe, and the States.
He truly has an outstanding character both under saddle, and to be around in the barn. He is instantly a favorite of anyone upon first meeting with his sweet, and kind nature, and fun to ride in every way. Safe and suitable for a wide variety of riders.
Three good paces, that are comfortable to ride, with a solid education both on the flat and over jumps.
Currently competing successfully at 1.30m, with scope and ability for more.
Very easy and comfortable to ride, truly automatic lead changes, point and shoot jumping.
His Sire was a successful 1.60m jumper, and has been a prolific sire of highly successful elite sport horses. His dam herself competed successfully through 1.55m.

Ready to don your clogs and get down with the freaky-deaky Dutch? Meet…

Top quality 4 year old

Lots of video available upon request!

RHS Mandiamo.
4 yrs old, KWPN 17.0 gelding.

The best 4 yr old I have ever sat on! Has competed 1.0m to 1.05m prior to import. We have done xc on a line with him, and he does all the things without batting an eye. Brave, has incredible movement, and is extremely easy on the ground, and to ride. He has all the star quality for upper level for a pro, but also has an A/A or YR friendly disposition.

And finally, missed flag-watching outside Buckingham Palace and kilt-shopping in the Highlands? You’ll have plenty to chat about with…

ULTIMATE EVENTING SCHOOLMASTER/JNR/YR DREAM

16.2hh 13 year old mare by Warrant. Ridden by small girl and placed in all her novice events last season in the UK.

She has beautiful paces & is an absolute double clear machine. She has jumped round intermediates clear with ease and has scope to go on further.

Only for sale due to university commitments.

Can be seen on professional yard where other eventers are available. Edinburgh airport is under an hour away.

Videos available via WhatsApp

17.1 2013 Irish Gelding

The Nobleman a.k.a. Norman, was imported from the U.K. In May of 2021. He loves cross country and fox hunting, and is in a dressage program 4-5 days a week. He has a wonderful attitude, and very nice work ethic. He hacks out alone or in company, and is happy living out or in.
Norman is the whole package, he has beautiful uphill gaits, not spooky or silly, and has the cutest personality. He is wonderful with hounds and stands quietly at meets. He prefers first or second field, but can be easily managed hill topping.
Norman is patient for vet, farrier, dentist. Easy to ship and clip.
He passed a 5 stage vetting in May and has had no soundness issues. Radiographs available.

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.

Badminton’s BACK, Baby, and the Box Office is Open for Business

By on Jan 12, 2022 12:24 pm -

Piggy French and Vanir Kamira win Badminton 2019. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.

Think back to the last time the Badminton box office opened. Who were you back then, in early 2019? A baby-faced, bright-eyed cherub, unencumbered by the emotional burden of two years of lockdowns and cancellations and border closures? Yeah, us too. But the fantastic news? The box office has finally reopened once again, like a jollier version of Pandora’s box that releases our jollier and more youthful selves back out into the world. Or something like that, anyway.

Enough about what we’ve all been through, anyway — let’s talk about what you’ve got to do if you want to catch the action at Badminton this spring (May 4-8). The box office opened for general sales today after a week of priority access, and there are plenty of options: you can book daily passes for any of the days, or a weeklong season pass that’ll get you in on all three days. You’ll also be able to prebook your parking, campsite spot, and members’ passes, lunches and boozy brunches as needed, plus get your hands on a Badminton radio access voucher – highly recommended if you want extra insights from expert commentators and interviews with the riders, too.

One major change that’s been brought in this year is the lack of on-the-gate ticket sales. That means that you’ll need to book your tickets in advance – but on the plus side, it should speed up the notorious queues through Little Badminton village, which means more time perusing the trade stands and scoffing pheasant goujons. A win-win, really.

Until March 31, Badminton’s box office will be offering Early Bird prices, which can notch you up some decent savings – for example, a weeklong parking pass is £10 cheaper. You can check out all the options and book all your passes here (and yeah, we really do recommend a Bellini breakfast on cross-country day. You’re worth it.)

Not going to make it to the Cotswolds in person this year? You can also purchase access to Badminton’s own livestream service, Badminton TV, which will produce top-quality coverage throughout the event in a pay-per-view package. Currently, the package is priced at just £14.99, which will increase to £19.99 from April 1. Both horse inspections will be included. More information can be found here.

Are you planning a Badminton trip — or a top-notch viewing party — this year? Let us know what you’re most excited for in the comments. Go Eventing, and Go Badminton!

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feeds

By on Jan 11, 2022 6:55 am -

It’s a jolly good week to be British eventer Bubby Upton! The talented young rider, who made her five-star debut at Pau and is currently finishing her final year of university, has been given three exciting new rides. Two of them come from the string of Australia’s Chris Burton, who she shares a yard with at the Chedington Estate, owned by the Guy family. Their horses Jefferson and Clever Louis, the latter of which won the 2019 Blenheim eight- and nine-year-old CCI4*-S in 2019, will now be campaigned by Bubby, as will the former Sam Griffiths ride Billy Liffy, who was produced to the upper levels by Liv Craddock. Expect big things to come from Team Upton this season!

Events Opening Today: Three Lakes Winter II H.T. at Caudle Ranch, Pine Top Advanced H.T.

Events Closing Today: Full Gallop Farm January H.T, Rocking Horse Winter I H.T.

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

A tack trunk injury, a comically misplaced marching band, and perhaps the most fortuitous auction win ever – these are just some of the plot points that form the incredible story of Beth Perkins, who finished sixth in the 1974 World Championships with Furtive. Read all about her adventures at Burghley here.

If you’re anything like me, you spend the winter months guzzling iron supplements, hoping for a little bit more get-up-and-go as a result. But can feeding iron have similarly beneficial effects for your horse, or is it a potentially harmful minefield? Horse Sport explains it all.

Kiwi superstar Clarke Johnstone is heading to the UK for the 2022 season. This adds a formidable string to the Kiwi squad’s bow ahead of this year’s World Championships, though the team currently remains without a chef d’equipe after Graeme Thom stepped down at the end of 2021.

OTTB fans in the south-east, rejoice: New Vocations is officially opening an Ocala base, which will be located at Trillium Sport Horses in Anthony, and spearheaded by eventer Erin MacDonald.

And now, over to you: what’s your best advice for heading south for a winter of training? What do you wish you’d known the first time you went sun-chasing? Let us know, and your words of wisdom could be featured in a forthcoming article.

Video Break:

Relive 25 years of Pony Club Championships in Great Britain– and some fences that are a real throwback to another era! — with Total Recall.

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Jan 10, 2022 8:07 am -

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ingrid Klimke (@ingridklimke)

Okay, okay, so we try not to use this top spot in our News & Notes for advertising – but when I saw this post on my Insta feed, I actually audibly gasped, and I know a lot of you will be just as excited as I am about it. Lucinda Green and Ingrid Klimke on one webinar? Explaining to me why dressage schooling directly impacts cross-country performance? Oh my god, sign me up! The webinar will be tomorrow evening at 3.30 p.m. Eastern time, and I’d be willing to bet it’ll be one of the most valuable things you do this off-season.

National Holiday: Put your hand up if you’ve ever felt personally attacked by National Clean Your Desk Day.

Your Monday Reading List:

There was some hot debate on social media among some of the sport’s biggest names after EquiRatings released its list of 2021’s top event horses, ranked by their Elo rating. Now, in an effort to shed further light on the Elo and how it works – and why our current European champion and the Tokyo gold medallist don’t even feature on the list – they’ve teamed up with Horse&Hound to delve into the science behind the list.

Have you got your sites set on the top? Then you’ll want to read these nuggets of wisdom, collected through the year from the stars of equestrian sport.

If you followed Ireland’s Goresbridge Go For Gold sale this year, you’ll have noticed something – an awful lot of horses with an MBF prefix. Not only did an MBF horse become the top seller of the sale, they also dominated the catalogue – and the Irish Farmers Journal sat down with MBF’s Meabh Bolger to find out how they did it and why she loves a great Thoroughbred dam line.

Get to know Favian, Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride’s top-level partner-in-crime. He has an emotional support mini, and that’s pretty much all I needed to start crying this morning.

One can’t help but feel we’re heading closer to a major reckoning and the implementation of a SafeSport system in the UK. Certainly something needs to change, and the recent rape charges against showjumping coach John Sillett prove that point in spades.

The FutureTrack Follow:

 

Follow the Ebony Horse Club and see what life is like at a riding school in the heart of London – plus, you can check out the adventures of the resident riders, several of whom are pivoting into the racing industry after the success of Ebony rider Khadijah Mellah, who won the Magnolia Cup in 2019!

Morning Viewing:

Join Elisa Wallace as she heads across the pond in search of a superstar.

Friday Video from SmartPak: Behind the Scenes with Padraig McCarthy

By on Jan 7, 2022 5:32 pm -

One of my favourite success stories is that of British-based Irish eventer Padraig McCarthy, who you likely know as our 2018 double silver medalist at the World Equestrian Games. But did you know that that extraordinary performance came after only a handful of years in the sport? And did you know that Padraig actually has a PhD? The former show jumper and all-round clever clogs is my vote for president of the world, frankly, and in this in-depth video — the latest in Horse Sport Ireland’s Meet the Riders series — you’ll find out exactly why. From dealing horses around the world to the dizzying heights of academia, Padraig’s a top-notch bloke with a lot of medals yet to be won.

Plus, if you click play, you can cancel your Calm app subscription and let his Irish lilt soothe you to sleep instead. A bonus!

#WaybackWednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Big, Bold Badminton (and Some Perms)

By on Jan 5, 2022 5:22 pm -

Sometimes, you’ve got to look back to fully grasp how monumental the things yet to come will be — and that’s certainly how I feel about the return of Badminton this year, which must be the eventing world’s most discussed topic this week. That’s because priority booking opened up this morning for 2022’s event — the first since that magical running in 2019, when we saw Piggy March take top honours — and from what we hear, camping spots are going like hotcakes and the team behind the scenes are getting ready for the biggest Badminton ever.

But then again, when has Badminton ever been small, either dimensionally or in status and feel? Today’s video takes us back nearly three decades to 1993, a year jam-packed with familiar faces and familiar fences — and all that indescribable magic that comes as part of the package with this iconic event. Tune in and get excited for May (oh, and if you haven’t bought your tickets yet, head to the priority link now or set an alarm for next Wednesday, when the box office will open for general sales!).

Fight back against colic and digestive upset.

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®.

Have you grabbed your winter running horse stickers?  Check them out at KPPusa.com/winter.

It’s a New Year – What’s Your ‘Oh Crap!’ Plan? An Excerpt from ‘Fit & Focused in 52’

By on Jan 5, 2022 3:19 pm -

What can you do when you’ve done everything right but it still goes wrong? In his new book “Fit & Focused in 52,” Coach Daniel Stewart gives us a few tools to use when your totally tubular ride suddenly feels like it is totally going down the tubes.

Photo by Cindy Lawler.

You’re having an amazing ride but your super handy horse uncharacteristically refuses a fence, causing you to end up on his neck, lose a stirrup, and drop your crop! Pick yourself up (and your crop) because it’s time for Plan D.

Your Plan D is known as your “Oh crap!” Plan. This is the plan you put into action every time you get yourself into trouble and hear yourself say something like, “Oh no,” “Oh my gosh,” or “Oh crap!” You’ve only got a split second to figure out how to recover, so you’re going to need to have this plan committed to memory. Repeating a mantra like, “Shake it off,” while shaking your shoulders might be all you have time for and might be all you need to keep your train of thought on the correct track.

Try One of These on for Size…

You only have a short period of time to complete your oh crap plan so you might want to consider some of the following:

– Use a thought-stopper and thought-replacement. With thought-stopping, you teach yourself to disrupt the flow of those bad thoughts by yelling a thought-stopper word at yourself, like “Whoa!” or “Halt!” Once you’ve stopped the bad thought, you replace it with a good one. Here’s an example. The next time you recognize yourself saying,

“She’s better than me,” stop the flow of that negative thought by yelling the word “Halt!” at yourself (inside or outside voice), take a deep breath, and replace it with, “Do your best, forget the rest.”

– Whisper a calming cadence like, “Breathe, believe, bedazzle;” or “Keep calm, breathe on.”

– Briefly recall a memory when you successfully coped with a similar situation.

Blower Breathing

A few deep breaths are an important part of your Oh Crap! Plan. Use something called blower-breathing—that is, take in a deep breath and force it out while making the blowing sound of a horse. By the way, horses do this by fluttering their nostrils but you don’t have to. Just fluttering your lips will be fine.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

You’re going to breathe about 20,000 times today. Make sure you don’t skip any, especially when the pressure goes up.

Weekly Homework

This week, come up with one or two split-second techniques you can use to keep your head in the game after an unexpected problem. Memorize them and practice them as much as you can.

This excerpt from Fit & Focused in 52 by Coach Daniel Stewart is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.horseandriderbooks.com).

Tuesday News & Notes from Legends Horse Feeds

By on Jan 4, 2022 7:19 am -

 

Need something to cheer up the prospect of heading back to work this week? How about a BIG SALE KLAXON: Our pals at SmartPak are currently hosting their major winter clearance event, and the deals are plenty spicy. You can save up to 40% on tack and gear, and there are some super prices to be found on iconic products such as the Piper breeches and, yes, saddle pads to suit every variety of matchy-matchy. Click here to shop now!

Events Opening Today: Rocking Horse Winter II Advanced H.T., Jumping Branch Farm H.T.

Events Closing Today: Stable View Aiken Opener H.T., Grand Oaks H.T.

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

Still confused about the tumult surrounding the FEI’s one country, one vote drama? Pippa Cuckson is back in the fray with all the details you need to understand the hot button drama of the moment — and the huge impact it could have on global equestrian sport and horse welfare.

Are you a high school or college student with an interest in equestrian photography? Don’t miss your chance to apply for the Andrew Ryback Photography Scholarship, which awards grants to help fund your education. Applications close on 3/31.

Take a look around the home of Swedish show jumper (and former eventer!) Peder Fredricson. I’ll be thinking about his fireplace all day – and the fact that both he and his wife are actually also artists! We love an equestrian with hidden talents.

Listen to This:

We’re all beside ourselves with excitement over the return of Badminton this spring, and there’s plenty of excitement behind the scenes, too, with a new event director at the helm and plenty of fresh ideas on the table. EquiRatings’s Nicole Brown headed to the Cotswolds to find out more about what’s coming. 

Video Break:

At last month’s USEA Annual Meeting and Convention, Ashley Johnson presented her fascinating research into the ‘flow state’ of elite event riders — that is, the psychological state of total immersion in an activity. For event riders, she looked specifically at resilience levels and performance strategies. You can watch the whole talk and find out her conclusions here!

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on Jan 3, 2022 3:24 am -

 

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A post shared by Kentucky Horse Park (@kyhorsepark)

 

Now that we’ve made it through the holidays, emerged from our cheese coma, and kicked our way through to a new year like the Kool-Aid man, it’s roughly the sort of time that I start getting really excited about the season to come. That feeling is fed, of course, by the hard-working event social media managers around the world, all of whom are making  a jolly good effort to remind us all that they exist as box offices begin to reopen for the year ahead. But this pensive picture of a sleepy Kentucky Horse Park didn’t just get me daydreaming about the event to come — one that I hope I’ll get the chance to see in person for the first time! It also made me think back to the extraordinary effort the eventing community made to ensure it happened in 2021, and it’s exactly that can’t-hold-us-down communal spirit that encapsulates the vibe I want to bring into 2022. Screw resolutions; let’s just keep on changing the world the only way we know how — by rolling up our sleeves and getting our hands dirty.

National Holiday: It’s Women Rock! Day, which celebrates gals who are just a little bit rock & roll. I’ll be listening to Hole while I muck out, but that’s not really a change from the norm, if I’m honest.

Your Monday Reading List:

At just 19, Alice Casburn is basically the embodiment of a pony novel heroine. Riding a second-generation homebred, she finished second at Blair Castle CCI4*-L in 2021, then made her five-star debut at Pau, jumping two excellent clear rounds and continuing to be a generally excellent person. Learn more about her here.

We all talk a lot about the downsides of Covid — and truly, there have been many. But in the grand spirit of making the best of a bad situation, how about the unexpected good things that have come out of this pandemic? Horse&Hound ponders the positive in this piece, and I have to say, I’m totally with them on the improved state of warm-up rings at British Eventing competitions.

In terms of celebrity deaths, I’m not sure any have been as universally rued as that of legendary comic actress Betty White. But she doesn’t just leave behind her a legacy of unproblematic wit — she also made an impact on the horse world that you probably haven’t heard about. Here’s more from EQUUS.

A lot has changed for equestrian sport in the last year. COTH is looking at the year ahead with a neat little summary of what’s in, and what’s out, for 2022.

16-year-old Zoie Brogdon is making a name for herself on the West Coast jumper circuit – and she’s inspiring plenty of other young riders along the way. Find out more about the Compton Junior Posse rider, who sat down for a chat with Sports Illustrated.

The FutureTrack Follow:

 

The OYES Equestrian Scholarship is committed to supporting diverse talent in the horse industry — and there’s no better time to follow them than right now, as they head closer to their January 15th deadline for the next round of awards.

Morning Viewing:

Meet 18hh(!) Hillcrest, who’s taking the world of jumps racing one enormous stride at a time.

Friday Video from SmartPak: No, Really, This Time It’s Actually Called Horse Ballet

By on Dec 31, 2021 6:42 pm -

Good evening, fine folks, and a happy tail-end to 2021, another thoroughly weird trip around the sun. I suspect I’m writing to a diminished audience right now as many of you head out into the real world to usher in 2022 (2020…too?) with a bit of pomp and circumstance. But if you’re giving going out-out a miss this year, you might fancy something to watch that allows you to steadily slip deeper and deeper into a cozy red wine torpor, all while feeling a bit cultured at the same time.

Enter this delightful ‘horse ballet’, set to the Mozart cantata “David Penitente” and performed in the most remarkable venue in Salzburg, Austria. I’m not sure what I find more captivating — the grace and precision of these highly-trained horses, or the fact that the orchestra is on display like a candy store window, but what I do know if that the whole thing is so hypnotic I might miss the big countdown. In case I do, I’ll say it now: a very happy New Year to you all. I can’t wait for the adventures we’ll go on together next season.

Best of 2021 Video Countdown: #1 – Here’s What a 5.5 Dressage Score Looks Like

By on Dec 31, 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 #1 spot goes to “Carrie Skelton Sets British Eventing Dressage Record of 5.5 (Yes, Really),’” which garnered 28,834 views when it was originally posted on April 10, 2021.

It’s not often that an early-season one-day event becomes the stage for a history-making ride, but that’s exactly what Norton Disney Horse Trials in Lincolnshire was transformed into in April , as one of its competitors set a new British Eventing dressage record under the critical eye of judge Christine Pappa.

“I thought it was a typo at first and kept waiting for them to change it to a 25.5,” admits Carrie Skelton, who scored an eye-watering 5.5 (no, still not a typo) in the BE100 Open [Training level] section aboard the Lancer Stud’s Ramesses B. “I usually get a 24 dressage, which I’m always over the moon with!”

Though British Eventing’s database of all-time scores isn’t wholly comprehensive, a quick text to EquiRatings’ Diarm Byrne put the score into context: it’s the best score since the database was conclusively pulled together, and with the progressive increase in quality in this phase over the last number of years, it’s highly unlikely that this has been bested. Carrie overtakes previous record-holder Rosie Bates, who scored a 6.3 aboard Forrest Dot Com in a BE80(T) [Beginner Novice] section at the same event last year and Michael Owen and Direct Galaxy, who posted a 7.3 in a BE80(T) at Kelsall Hill in 2019.

“Just make sure you tell everyone I was enjoying a Campari Soda in my white socks watching Messi when the call came,” says a mildly harangued Diarm.

Here it is, folks: the most framable test sheet anyone has ever received. To put it into quite startling context, it bests Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro‘s world record 94.3% by two-tenths of a percentage point. Courtesy of Carrie Skelton.

Carrie took over the ride on Cairo, as he’s known at home, in 2020. Prior to their union, the eleven-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Ramiro B x Wannabe G) was produced by India Thompson, then competed for two seasons by five-star rider Richard Jones, before Martha Craggs, daughter of owners Emma and Marcus, took the reins for the 2019 season.

Though Carrie’s intentions for a full debut season were thwarted by the national lockdown, they still managed four events last year, forming a swift and successful partnership to end the year with a clear round at Novice under their belts as well as two placings and a win, which they notched up in a BE100 Open section at Little Downham Horse Trials.

“Cairo has a wicked sense of humour and will definitely let you know if you’re not on your game, but he gives me 110% every time and is an absolute joy to train and ride,” says Carrie, who has adapted her training regime to suit the horse’s unique needs. “I don’t school him much at home as he’s better fresh, so he does loads of schooling on hacks instead. He finds the dressage so easy and is so correct that it means I can concentrate on being super accurate.”

It’s always tempting to look at an achievement like this under a microscope to try to find out how it was done – and in this case, it probably doesn’t take much searching. Carrie, who worked as an event groom from the age of 16 until she was 24, also worked at a dressage stud, which allowed her to hone her flair for the flatwork.

“I got some amazing experience on seriously top dressage horses with top trainers, which I think has really helped,” she explains. Now, with her grooming days behind her, she’s focusing on her own riding career. Without abundant funding behind her, she’s relied on that finely-tuned work ethic to make it happen, gaining teaching qualifications along the way to help make the financials work. A dream alliance with The Lancer Stud, based in Suffolk, has helped make her dream a reality.

“I ride solely for them now, and they have some seriously special homebreds coming through which is very exciting,” says Carrie, whose role includes backing, bringing on, and competing a selection of the stud’s youngsters. She’s in good company there, too – among the Lancer Stud’s roster of riders is another British record-breaker, Piggy March.

Though Carrie and Cairo’s day at Norton Disney didn’t end quite how they’d have liked – they incurred a frustrating technical elimination on cross-country for missing out a fence in what was otherwise a classy clear round – the pair have their sights set on bigger things to come.

“I would love to go 2* later this year with him as he’s more than capable – I’ll definitely walk the xc a lot for that,” laughs Carrie, who regrouped to compete at the event after a crashing fall while riding at home two days ago. “I’m hugely grateful to Lancer Stud for letting me have the ride on him as it’s such a treat to ride a more experienced horse after doing youngsters for so long and I hope I can do him justice!”

Carrie has very kindly shared a video of her test with EN – though she admits wryly that “the funny thing is I can still pull the test to pieces when I watch it and see a million things I could have done better!” Here’s how they made it happen:

Go Carrie and Cairo, and Go Eventing!