Forgive us from straying temporarily from the white light of eventing, but for those of us in the UK, the mourning period of a Christmas at the London Olympia Horse Show hasn’t quite ended. Taking place over a cold December week in the centre of the city, the show brings together some of the world’s best dressage and showjumping combinations in the atmospheric main arena – well fleshed out with appearances from stunt riders, racing Shetlands, the song ‘Sweet Caroline’ and, of course, Santa, among others. But though its most famous attraction may be the spine-tingling puissance competition, it’s also been the stage for some of equestrian sports most poignant moments.
So special is it, in fact, that it was the place of choice for the retirement of Valegro, Charlotte Dujardin‘s extraordinary record-breaking partner (and, possibly, the world’s biggest fan of sugar cubes). In this new video from FEITV, Charlotte reminisces about that special night under the bright lights and Christmas cheer of every Brit’s favourite horse show. We can’t wait to be back in the champagne bar with some of our favourite eventing friends before too long – but in the meantime, remembering Christmasses past is a pretty good substitute.
Fight back against an energy crisis that can impact condition and performance.
Equi-Jewel® is a high-fat, low-starch and -sugar formula developed to safely meet the energy needs of your horse.
Whether you have a hard keeper that needs extra calories to maintain his weight, or a top performance horse that needs cool energy to perform at her peak, Equi-Jewel can meet your horse’s energy needs. Equi-Jewel reduces the risk of digestive upset, supports optimal muscle function, maintains stamina, and helps horses recover faster after hard work, all while providing the calories your horse needs to thrive.
The horse that matters to you matters to us®.
Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? Kentucky Performance Products, LLC is here to help. Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.
Lauren Sprieser‘s Facebook post yesterday resonated hard with me. As a writer, photographer, or ‘content creator’ of any kind, it’s so, so common to see your work divvied up and reposted sans credit. Often, this is done with the best of intentions and not with the end goal of destabilising someone’s livelihood, but unfortunately, that’s just what it does.
So what can a creative do? Use huge watermarks that obscure their images? Put their stories behind a paywall? The thing is, we want the world to see, enjoy, and share our work, because we pour our heart and soul into it – but as a consumer of digital media, it’s up to you to ensure you share responsibly. Seen an article you loved? Share it from the source, so your friends click back to the original published article to read, ensuring the writer is given credit and the publisher is able to generate the ad-based revenue that allows them to pay their contributors. Love a photo? Share it from the photographer’s own post or website, linking back to their page with a credit. Don’t just save and repost or copy and paste – because by doing so, you help to dilute the connection between the work and the person who spent time creating it. Over time, that also minimises their ability to make money from their labour – a death knell for full-time, often self-employed creatives and the publications they work with.
National Holiday: It’s National Maine Day — big up for the weird place I used to live — and also National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day. This is a crap year for all of us, but particularly hard for those who are sleeping rough and having a hard time accessing resources. Consider brightening up your own Christmas by donating to your local food bank this week.
Your Monday Reading List:
UK readers, Christmas has come early: the BE fixture list for 2021 has dropped. Time for some well-earned daydreaming with an empty calendar, several coloured pens, and an absolutely enormous coffee to hand. Is this…a sense of normalcy? Weird. [Event Calendar 2021]
Remember Baz Luhrmann’s slightly odd epic film Australia? You’d be forgiven for not remembering the plot, like, at all — but you probably remember that it featured an array of rather lovely horses. Head behind the scenes to find out more about the illustrious equine cast, training Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman to ride, and Luhrmann’s insistence on saying ‘lights, camera, apples’ to avoid upsetting the horses. [The Secrets Behind ‘Australia’]
I’m currently obsessed with the story of the Pack Horse Library. This roving group of mounted librarians emerged out of the Great Depression and criss-crossed Kentucky, providing literacy opportunities to isolated families. You know what that reminds me of? Our gal Caitlin Gooch of Saddle Up and Read. [The Women Who Rode Miles on Horseback to Deliver Library Books]
If all this pandemic kerfuffle has distracted you from the ongoing Brexit nightmare, you’re out of luck. Now it turns out that grooms and riders travelling from the UK to Europe won’t be insured – and apparently, it’ll be very difficult to nail down any cover. Great. [Grooms and riders warned travel insurance may not cover them in Europe]
Showjumper Georgina Bloomberg has been battling a debilitating spinal condition throughout her career. Now, on the other side of surgeries, fusions, and intense physical therapy, she’s reflecting on the nature of injuries in equestrians – and sharing what she’s learned about letting your body heal rather than pushing through the pain. [Georgina Bloomberg: Finding Her Way Back to the Top]
Morning Viewing:
Someone find me a team of Shetlands, because this is my kind of good time.
A couple of weeks ago we took a look at the first episode of the new #SweatWithSmartPak series — and today, we’re back with the second instalment. As I mentioned in the last post, I’ve recently gotten into a fitness regime – a totally new concept for me, a naturally curvy gal who’s always relied on my riding and barn chores to keep me fit. But I’ve learned that it’s not enough, and these days, I’m not riding multiple horses through the day, either.
I never really expected to enjoy working out, but I’ve surprised myself – now that I’m in the habit, I actively look forward to heading to the gym every evening. It’s an hour of my day that’s totally self-indulgent, and every time I go, I notice the marginal gains. The trick, if you’re not a natural-born gym bunny? Ease yourself in and make it fun. I started with long walks around scenic parks near my house, and then started running to make the outings shorter and more manageable. I picked up yoga via free YouTube lessons (three cheers for my gal Adriene!) and then started adding in workout videos. Now that I feel like I know what I’m doing, I do it all at the gym instead – and the difference in my riding over the last five weeks or so is already huge. My mare is jumping better than she ever has, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence; for the first time in a long time, I feel totally in control of my own reactions in the middle of a course, and I can help, rather than hinder, her.
So if you’re just diving into your fitness journey, join in with this super series from SmartPak – it’s designed to help you learn correct form and will target the muscle groups that’ll most help you as a rider. And if you start now? You’ll be a completely new competitor by the time the season rolls around.
Michael Jung, Ingrid Klimke and Cathal Daniels celebrate their individual medals at the 2019 Longines FEI European Eventing Championships. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The FEI has agreed to reopen the bidding process for the 2021 European Eventing Championships after a social media campaign led by Michael Jung gained traction over the past weeks. The Championships, which were originally set to be held in France at Haras du Pin, were cancelled earlier this year in line with the postponement of the Olympic Games, but after early campaigning, both the dressage and showjumping championships were reinstated. Eventing, however, was not.
Horse&Hound reported last week that the FEI had explained eventing’s lack of reinstatement after Jung’s initial call for the Championships to be reinstated in the 2021 calendar. A spokesman told the magazine that an initial bidding process had been opened with a July 21, 2020 deadline, and three venues had applied to host the Championships through that process – Haras du Pin, Ireland’s Millstreet, and an unnamed third venue.
“Due to the third organising committee’s relative inexperience of hosting an event on the scale of the European Championships, this expression of interest did not proceed to the formal bidding/applicant stage,” the spokesman said, continuing on to explain that the other two bids had been reviewed, with the FEI offering significant financial support to ease the burden on the organisers.
But, the spokesman explained, “ultimately, Haras du Pin and Millstreet voluntarily withdrew from the process, due to their limitation to hold the championships on the selected dates and ongoing concerns around Covid-19. Following the withdrawal, and on the understanding that the Olympics would go ahead in 2021, the FEI board agreed not to re-open the bidding process for the eventing Europeans.”
Piggy French and Quarrycrest Echo at the 2019 European Championships. Photo by William Carey.
Jung’s plea via social media for a reinstated Championship named the Swiss CCI4*-S venue at Avenches as a viable and prepared location, with a “motivated and experienced” team. He went on to explain that the new Olympic format, which sees just three combinations represent each qualified team, furthered the necessity for these Championships as a way to progress the next generation of team competitors and continue the development of young eventing nations. But, said the FEI spokesman, Avenches had never come forward in the official bidding process.
But today (December 17) the FEI has made a U-turn in its seemingly final decision to pull the plug on the 2021 European Eventing Championships, and has agreed to reopen the bidding process for a final time.
“Further to the numerous requests received from a number of European eventing stakeholders, including national federations and athletes, and with the full support of the European Equestrian Federation and the FEI Eventing Committee, the Board agreed to reopen the bidding process for the European Eventing Championship 2021,” said the statement. Bidding will open from December 18 and will close on January 15, 2021. The decision will be made in March 2021 via a teleconference.
Come one, come all: early spectators flocked to watch the first phase in its old location on the north side of Badminton House in the 1950s. Photo courtesy of Badminton Horse Trials.
Some considerable excitement from Badminton Horse Trials this morning – we’ll be looking ahead to a new (old) look event for 2021, as the dressage and showjumping phases are temporarily relocated to an arena in front of the house. The location, which has been used as the Duke of Beaufort’s driving range in recent years, was the site of the original arena from the event’s inception in 1949 until 1960, when the current, much-loved main arena with its cavernous stands was built.
But cavernous stands aren’t much use without enthusiastic crowds to fill them, and though the COVID-19 vaccination has hit the ground running, it’ll be a while yet before we see the kind of mass inoculation that’ll allow the world to return to normal. As such, the event is set to run behind closed doors in 2021, which required some creativity from Event Director Jane Tuckwell and her organising team to ensure that that almost indescribable Badminton magic would still be in situ.
“I am very grateful to the Duke of Beaufort for giving over his golf driving range to the event for this very special one off occasion,” she said in a statement released yesterday (December 16).
David Somerset, the Duke of Beaufort, and Countryman knock a rail to narrowly miss the win at Badminton 1959. Photo courtesy of Badminton Horse Trials.
Henry Somerset, the 12th Duke of Beaufort, is no stranger to the enormous importance of this extraordinary event: after all, it’s in his blood. The event itself was born just three years before he was, and so his life as the heir apparent to the Beaufort legacy has been inextricably linked with it – but in many ways, it’s even closer to home than that. His father, the 11th Duke of Beaufort David Somerset, was the former president of the British Horse Society and himself a second-place finisher in the event in 1959 aboard Countryman III.
“It is very exciting after last year’s cancellation that the horse trials will be going ahead next May,” the Duke remarked. This renewal will see Badminton’s rebirth in its post-Mitsubishi era; now, without a traditional title sponsor, it will be supported by Mars Equestrian and Science Supplements.
The grassy lawn in front of Badminton House is usually well-used during the event for grazing and hacking – as demonstrated by Amy Akehurst, head girl to Tom Crisp and seen here aboard Coolys Luxury. Next year, though, this will be the heart of the action. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The cross-country course, again designed by Eric Winter, is set to follow a similar route to previous years, though the usual main arena start and finish points will simply be parkland locations without the installation of the stands.
Pippa Funnell, who won in 2002, 2003 and 2005, applauded the decision to relocate the first and final phases for 2021: “Badminton has a really special place in my heart and moving the main arena to the front of the house will make the event even more extraordinary if that is possible. I am thrilled the event is able to go in these most difficult of times and I cannot wait to get there in May.”
Dressage gets underway in front of the house in 1954. Photo courtesy of Badminton Horse Trials.
Further announcements are expected in due course regarding the additional coverage planned for 2021’s event, ensuring that fans of the sport get an ‘access all areas’ feel from home. As usual, you’ll be able to rely on EN for full coverage of all the action and plenty of behind-the-scenes coverage, too.
Take a midweek trip back to the 1980s in this hour-long documentary, which follows USET horses and riders in all three disciplines as they tackle the greatest challenge of all: the Olympics. There’s something about a slightly grainy video of a long-format competition that makes me feel a bit teary-eyed – and if you, too, like a good recreational weep to kickstart the second half of your week, you’ll be very into this.
Go (old school) Eventing!
Fight back against an energy crisis that can impact condition and performance.
Equi-Jewel® is a high-fat, low-starch and -sugar formula developed to safely meet the energy needs of your horse.
Whether you have a hard keeper that needs extra calories to maintain his weight, or a top performance horse that needs cool energy to perform at her peak, Equi-Jewel can meet your horse’s energy needs. Equi-Jewel reduces the risk of digestive upset, supports optimal muscle function, maintains stamina, and helps horses recover faster after hard work, all while providing the calories your horse needs to thrive.
The horse that matters to you matters to us®.
Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? Kentucky Performance Products, LLC is here to help. Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.
The happiest of holiday seasons from Kirsty Short‘s stalwart CCI5* campaigner Bouncer, who swapped his usual duties for a starring role as the donkey in the nativity play at the school at which Kirsty teaches. The 18-year-old gelding, who has completed every European CCI5*, was reportedly a ‘complete professional’ about the experience. You can read more here.
National Holiday: It’s Green Monday – so named for all the, um, green we’re all going to drop on this, one of the biggest days for last-minute Christmas shopping. I’ll be real with you; I’ve barely started mine.
He’s one of the best jockeys the world has ever seen these days – but once upon a time, he was just a tiny rebel who fell off in his first-ever race. The Racing Post takes a look back at Frankie Dettori’s inauspicious start on the eve of his fiftieth birthday. [‘He couldn’t speak a word of English. He could barely speak a word of Italian’]
Sure, it’s annoying when your horse kicks his stable door for his dinner – but it could be a sign of significant stress, too. New research suggests that off-schedule feeding could be posing a welfare concern for your horse, so if you’re habitually a bit late to start each day, consider this your Monday motivation. [Study: Off-Schedule Feeding Compromises Horse Welfare]
The British Horseracing Association is reviewing its process for approving horse names after a runner named for a racial slur caused outcry over the weekend. Though the horse’s trainers claim the mistake was an innocent one, with the name coming from a computer game, it’s a stark reminder of the fallibility of the current systems in place to spot problematic nomenclature. [BHA to conduct review after racehorse runs with racial slur as its name]
It’s a racing-heavy sort of Monday, but if you’ve been following the curious case of Oisin Murphy and his positive (and then negative) cocaine tests, you’ll enjoy this interview. 2020 has taken us from positive equine tests after a sneaky stable wee to positive jockey tests after an illicit liaison – be careful out there, kids. [Oisin Murphy exclusive interview: Sex, drugs, Justin Bieber – and why he will not succumb to self-pity]
We’re so delighted to see Caitlin Gooch of Saddle Up and Read in the spotlight after her charity and mission got a huge shout-out from Oprah Winfrey. We’ve sung the North Carolina-based equestrians praises before for her brilliant work in providing both literacy and horsey opportunities to underprivileged kids, and we’ll keep on doing it. Check out this great piece published by CNN over the weekend. [Meet the Black cowgirl who inspires children to read]
And finally, it’s a piece behind a paywall, but if you’re among the many eventers wondering why the discipline won’t get a European Championships next year, the FEI has released a statement explaining it. Though a social media campaign by Michael Jung has enjoyed some traction and put Swiss CCI4*-S venue Avenches into the spotlight, no formal bid was ever made to host the Championships. [Decision to cancel eventing Europeans explained following social media debate]
What I’m Listening To: If I’m honest, I currently spend most of my time revisiting the questionable music of my early teenage years, because as it turns out, screamy lip-ring music is absolutely ideal for smashing out a good gym sesh. But in between guitar solos, I’ve been loving The Worldwide Tribe‘s podcast, Stories About Refugees. Each episode focuses on a different person or works to demystify global conflict or more home-grown legislature that contributes to the ongoing refugee crisis, with one crucial message at the heart of their work – refugees are more than just their search for a safe home. They are, ultimately, people.
Morning Viewing:
Curious about how young horse classes work, or have a youngster of your own you’d like to debut in 2021? This helpful primer from Martin Douzant explains the conformation and turnout that’s expected.
We’re looking back on the wild year that has been 2020 and counting down the top-viewed videos shared on EN this year. Here’s #8!
In the face of adversity, some men crumble, and some men host pretend international competitions from the comfort of their own homes, or something like that. Welcome to the inaugural Wood Lane Stables International, which takes us to the heart of Hardy country in deepest Dorset, and to the home of eventing legend William Fox-Pitt.
Here he is in all his glory! Today, he hangs up his hat and acts instead as international dressage judge. We’re pretty confident his test sheet comments are going to be something to behold.
And here’s the illustrious test writer – none other than award-winning groom and all-around gem Jackie Potts. We reckon this woman of many talents can probably outpace us in the shorthand stakes, too, and we’re not even mad about it.
First in the ring is Bella Innes-Ker, who won Blenheim’s CCI4*-L in 2018 with Carolyn. Today, though, she’s riding this striking grey, who’s just shot to the top of our Christmas lists.
Travelling groom and Geordie free spirit Adam Short delivers his first test of the day aboard Secret Night. Here’s his post-ride interview with Wood Lane head honcho Alice Fox-Pitt.
Who would dare argue with the judge? But William turns out to be less scarier than expected, offering advice and even allowing riders to view their test sheets before they bring forward their second rides.
The next test is a special treat for everyone – it’s double WEG medallist Cool Mountain, still looking excellent at the age of 20 and teaching the Wood Lane students a thing or two about life and dressage. Sign us UP.
Team USA throws its hat in the ring next, with Lexi Scovil delivering a smart test on Fox-Pitt homebred Atlantic Vital Spark. Not too shabby for a catch ride.
You can’t keep a good man down, and you can’t keep this Geordie out of the ring – Adam Short returns for his second ride of the day, this time aboard Olympic Test Event competitor Summer at Fernhill.
Team Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto puts superstar Bernadette Utopia through her paces ahead of her test, proving once again why he’s one of the most formidable new names on the circuit.
Kazu catches up with Alice, and look – it’s really, truly okay if you have a little cry over this one. On a serious note, the postponement of the Olympics affects everyone, but it’s particularly heartbreaking for Team Japan’s eventers, who have given up their lives to their team’s medal efforts. Even so, Kazu is all class in the face of disappointment, and he shows here exactly why he’s one of the sport’s best-loved characters. Stay sunny, Kazu:
And that’s all from a very exciting first annual Wood Lane Stables International! Thanks to the gang at Fox-Pitt Eventing for the laughs — and remember, folks, this is proof that even if you can’t go eventing, you can still Go Eventing. Happy Friday!
There are certain names – and certain nations – that all eventing fans can name a laundry list of fun facts about where our sport is concerned. But in those countries considered ‘developing’ eventing nations, there are superstars just waiting in the wings for the world to know their names.
Enter Alberto Hermoso Farras. The Spaniard headed to his first Olympics in 2016, realising a dream he’d had since watching the Barcelona Games back in 1992. FEI TV went to meet him, and they’ve released the throwback video today for your entertainment – so settle in, pour yourself a sangria, and meet the man who’s helping to pave the way for Spanish eventing.
Fight back against an energy crisis that can impact condition and performance.
Equi-Jewel® is a high-fat, low-starch and -sugar formula developed to safely meet the energy needs of your horse.
Whether you have a hard keeper that needs extra calories to maintain his weight, or a top performance horse that needs cool energy to perform at her peak, Equi-Jewel can meet your horse’s energy needs. Equi-Jewel reduces the risk of digestive upset, supports optimal muscle function, maintains stamina, and helps horses recover faster after hard work, all while providing the calories your horse needs to thrive.
The horse that matters to you matters to us®.
Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? Kentucky Performance Products, LLC is here to help. Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.
A quieter Burghley than usual, as seen from the Lion’s Bridge. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
This is such a strange and unfamiliar holiday season, but something about that is making me lean into it more than I have in years. I’ve somehow become some sort of manic Martha Stewart mini-me, drying orange slices for hours in the oven to make garlands, festooning my entire cottage in delicate little copper-wire twinkle lights, and concocting an endless assortment of mulling spices and festive gin infusions. (Do we need a hip-flask recipe post, EN? I feel like we do.) I’m spending this entire strange month seeing off this entire strange year with wonderful friends near and far, old and new, meeting up for socially-distanced walks and talks and coffees in red cups, and it’s honestly already the best Christmas I’ve had in years.
What has this got to do with eventing, or with your own Monday plans? Well, not a lot, admittedly, but for the fact that I felt that all this making merry needed to include an appropriate send-off to my homes away from home, most of which I never got to see this year. And so I hopped into the car, headed three hours due north, and met up with two of my very best friends – both exceptional journalists at Horse&Hound and all-around good eggs – for a jolly good stomp around the hallowed turf of beautiful Burghley Park. I’ve been coming to Burghley for years – it was the first five-star I ever attended, and years later, my first-ever press accreditation – but I’d never been to the estate or house at any other time of the year.
The easiest way to make equestrian journalists giddy in the off-season? Take them to their favourite venues and let them jump logs on the ground. On foot. Photo by Lucy Elder.
Reader, it was surreal and magical and all I can say is this: if you’re missing all the eventing that wasn’t this year and you’re in reasonably close proximity to the home of one of your favourite internationals, do try to pay it a visit. Driving in the usual press entrance by the house gave me actual tummy butterflies, and seeing its gilding and ALL. THOSE. WINDOWS. sparkling in the crisp winter sunlight made everything feel as though it would be alright eventually. Off we trotted from the house to the Lion Bridge, where we watched the estate’s resident herd of sheep clamber around the Collyweston Slate Mine fence. Then we picked our way down to Discovery Valley, confirmed that none of us fancied jumping its cavernous open corner, and headed out into an eerily empty field to find the jog strip – extraordinarily small without its usual fanfare of crowds, grandstands and marquees. Now, in its off-season, it’s just a tiny sliver of hard surface in the middle of an expanse of surprisingly undulating green. It all felt quite remarkably peaceful (until, of course, we wandered over to the Leaf Pit, which somehow looks even bigger when found in the wild).
It’s been a funny old year without so many of our favourite events, but visiting Burghley in its hibernation period reminded me of one unshakable truth: they will be back, and when they are, they’ll be even better than we all remembered. And honestly, I’ll raise a hip flask of mulled pomegranate gin to that.
National Holiday: It’s National Cotton Candy Day. I’m not sure I’ve ever eaten cotton candy outside of the months of July and August, but okay.
The third and final week of the Portugal Winter Tour came to a close in Barocca d’Alva, with the long-format divisions joining the array of short-format divisions on the roster. The premier class, the CCI4*-L, was won by experienced British-based Aussie pair Sammi Birch and Hunter Valley II, while Belgium’s Karin Donckers took the CCI4*-S with her stalwart partner Fletcha Van’t Verahof. The US was well represented with a fourth place finish in the CCI3*-L for Hallie Coon and new partner Global Ex.
Your Monday Reading List:
The team at EquiRatings have launched a new rating system designed to definitively determine the best event horses of all time. The Elo system – named for Hungarian physics professor Arpad Elo – has been reworked from the world of chess, and the horse who takes the lead for the all-time best record probably won’t come as much of a surprise. [Who is the best event horse in the world? Data experts build a ranking to find out…]
Have you been obsessively watching the new series of The Crown? If so, you’ve likely been loving the focus on Princess Anne’s equestrian career (discipline switch and venue change aside, of course). But do you know the young British rider who stepped in to play the character in those nail-biting riding scenes? Meet 23-year-old Amy Inglis. [How Amy Became a Star of ‘The Crown’]
I’m never more glad to have a plain brown wrapper mare than I am in mud season. If you’re not so lucky, keeping those white legs clean – and that sensitive skin healthy – is probably one of your biggest stressors at this time of year. Fortunately, Heels Down has got some tips to help you. [How to Keep Those White Legs…Actually White in Winter]
In your riding life, you’ll occasionally encounter those horses who are just, well, tough. Whether it’s because they’re naturally just tempestuous characters, or whether they’ve been made tricky through bad experiences, working with them will be among your biggest challenges – but they can be extraordinarily rewarding, too. Here, Tik Maynard explains how he approached three such characters. [My Three Toughest Horses, and How I Addressed Each One]
Morning Viewing:
Have you got to grips with travel-induced ulcers? The team at Fox-Pitt Eventing explain their tried-and-tested preventative measures for keeping your horses happy and healthy when hauling.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve never been a natural gym-goer. For years, this wasn’t much of an issue – or so I thought. To my mind, working full-time with horses, doing hours of physical labour and riding three to eight horses per day was more than enough. And it was, kind of – but it took changing careers and having to come to terms with my loss of fitness to understand that by neglecting to give my body regular help in the form of workouts, I was actually only contributing to wonkiness and uneven strength through my body.
Now, I’ve decided to try to find the fun in fitness, by going for a run to Starbucks before my first Zoom meeting of the day, scheduling in some yoga me-time a few times a week, and picking things up and putting them down again now that the gym has reopened. But I’m not yet ready to say goodbye to the in-house personal trainers I used while in full lockdown and forced to attempt to fit a set of burpees in on my living room floor. While YouTube has been a great resource for general workout routines, this super new series from SmartPak is my recommendation of the week if you want to follow along with a great fitness plan that’s designed for equestrians of every age, shape, and fitness level. Just get it up on the big screen, grab your water bottle, and get sweating. Like me, you might just find that in a couple of weeks times, you’re seeing some serious gains in your riding.
What a remarkably quiet December this is so far. Sans the usual excitement of indoor cross-country derbies around the world, it’s free to be a festive smorgasbord of advent calendars, hot booze, and softening waistlines – and let’s be real, it really is what we all deserve as a reward for making it to the tail end of 2020.
But even though the indoor derbies are off the table this winter, I’ve still been enjoying going back through the archives and rewatching some of my favourite moments from these fast and furious competitions. And so I stumbled upon a forgotten classic: arguably 2016’s save of the year, it features a very nimble Falk-Filip-Finn Westerich somehow dismounting and remounting Giaccomo YSK in the Stuttgart Indoor Derby without ever touching the ground. Is it great watching? Absolutely. Does it inspire me to stop stuffing Quality Street into my mouth by the fistful and try to mimic his athleticism? Not even a little bit.
Fight back against an energy crisis that can impact condition and performance.
Equi-Jewel® is a high-fat, low-starch and -sugar formula developed to safely meet the energy needs of your horse.
Whether you have a hard keeper that needs extra calories to maintain his weight, or a top performance horse that needs cool energy to perform at her peak, Equi-Jewel can meet your horse’s energy needs. Equi-Jewel reduces the risk of digestive upset, supports optimal muscle function, maintains stamina, and helps horses recover faster after hard work, all while providing the calories your horse needs to thrive.
The horse that matters to you matters to us®.
Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? Kentucky Performance Products, LLC is here to help. Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.
Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border take Blenheim in 2017. Photo by Libby Law.
The fate of the UK’s SsangYong Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials, which has long been run as British Eventing’s sole self-organised competition, has been secured after a bidding process that’s been ongoing throughout the latter half of 2020. From 2021, the event – which hosts a CCI4*-L alongside the prestigious CCI4*-S for eight- and nine-year-olds, will be run by the Jockey Club in an exciting first foray into eventing for the organisation.
A five-year contract has been signed for the running of the event, which was cancelled in 2020 as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with its classes relocated to Norfolk’s Burnham Market International, run by Musketeer Events – one of the expected frontrunners of the bidding process.
“The international horse trials is one of our most prestigious events, attracting world-class riders to compete in this iconic competition,” said Blenheim Palace Estates Director Roy Cox in a statement released this morning (December 1). “We are delighted its future has been secured and have every confidence the Jockey Club, with its rich history and wealth of experience, working alongside British Eventing is the perfect combination to ensure this great event, which contributes so much to the local area, continues to thrive.”
Sarah Bullimore rides Lilly Corrine during the Event Rider Masters finale at Blenheim. Photo by Libby Law Photography.
The Jockey Club, which was founded in 1750 and boasts Her Majesty the Queen as its patron, has considerable experience staging world-class competition: with over 340 fixtures in its remit, including industry stalwarts such as the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National, it’s the largest commercial group in racing, turning over an extraordinary £201.1 million in revenue each year.
Ian Renton, Regional Managing Director of the organisation, hopes that Blenheim’s proximity to Cheltenham – dubbed ‘the home of jump racing’ and responsible for an estimated £100 million annual boost to the local area – will allow for further opportunities to broaden eventing’s scope as a spectator sport.
“It truly is a great honour to be appointed to organise the Blenheim Palace Horse Trials for the next five years,” he said. “We look forward to working closely with Blenheim Palace and British Eventing to ensure the event has a fantastic future.
“As a company, we welcome nearly four million people a year to events at our venues and our team are excited to put on a fantastic show at Blenheim in keeping with the international prestige of both the horse trials and the palace itself.
“With he Home of Jump Racing just 40 miles away, I’m also confident there are economies of scale and cross-promotional opportunities from this partnership,” he continued. “Overall, we’re thrilled to be involved and thank the Blenheim Palace and British Eventing team for placing their faith in us.”
Piggy French and Brookfield Inocent win the CCI4*-L in 2019. Photo by William Carey.
Eventing first came to Blenheim Palace, the Oxfordshire seat of the Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill, in 1990. That fledgling competition was won by Lucinda Fredericks on Just Jeremy, and by 1994, the young event had grown roots sufficient to host that year’s European Championships for Young Riders. In 2005, it stepped up to host the Senior European Championships, and in 2009 – following the event’s only cancellation prior to the pandemic – the much-heralded CCI4*-S class was introduced. In its eleven runnings, the class has produced an extraordinary roll of honour, with winners going on to success at the upper echelons – including five CCI5* victors. After some speculation this autumn that bids for the fixture included plans to potentially relocate the event, it’s a great relief to see it stay in situ at its home of three decades.
Jude Matthews, Chief Executive of British Eventing, said: “Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials is a key fixture in the British Eventing calendar, showcasing some of the most talented horse and rider combinations in the world. The event has been established over many successful years and we look forward to working with the Jockey Club to continue this development and to potentially bring our sport to a wider audience.”
British Eventing’s decision to step back from organising the event – the only one it organises directly – came in August of this year to allow the body to “focus on the delivery of core sport.”
The 2021 renewal of the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials is set to take place from September 15–19.
Huge congratulations to Kaylawna and Tyler Cook, who welcomed their first child into the world over the weekend (and a big congratulations to newly-minted grandmother Tamie Smith, too, of course!). We can’t wait to see all three generations out there tearing up the West Coast scene before too long.
One of the biggest topics of conversation over the weekend has been the newly-rehashed debate about the fate of the 2021 European Eventing Championships, originally scheduled to take place at Haras du Pin but ultimately cancelled in favour of the Olympics. Both dressage and showjumping have seen their Europeans reinstated, but eventing is facing a fight for their own competition, led by some chap called Michael Jung, who divulges that Switzerland’s Avenches team is ready and able to host the competition, giving developing riders, horses and nations the opportunity to step up to the world stage. You can add your voice to the conversation using the hashtag #eventingwantseuropeans, and stay tuned for the full story on EN.
National Holiday: It’s both Personal Space Day and Stay Home Because You’re Well Day, which is like, the ultimate panny-D combo. Oh, and it’s also Cyber Monday, so treat yourself to an online splurge with a super small business. Here are some ideas.
Week two of the Portugal Winter Tour wrapped over the weekend, with Germany’s Andreas Dibowski riding Brennan to a win in the top class of the week, the CCI3*-S. You can check out the full results here.
Your Monday Reading List:
Over To You certainly earned legend status in his storied career, in which he became the most capped British event horse of all time. Jeanette Brakewell shares some of her fondest memories of the horse in this piece – it’s available exclusively to H&H Plus members, but you can access it by signing up for a free trial on the site. [Legends of the sport: Over To You — ‘I came home many times thinking that was his best round ever’]
20-year-old Kanane Francis is making impressive moves in the world of racing, while working to shift perspectives on what a jockey ‘should’ look like. The young rider has graduated from the British Racing School and started his first industry job just a year after riding a horse for the first time – and he’s calling for the industry to put in the work to further diversity. [‘It doesn’t matter what colour you are’]
Look, don’t lie, we know you’ve definitely punched yourself in the face while girthing up at least once. In fact, you might have ticked off a fair few of these universal embarrassing moments for equestrians… [Embarrassing Mistakes All Riders Have Made]
We’ve all had that one saddle that’s become a part of who we are. It might have been the first one you owned, the one that you loved a little too hard like a functional Velveteen Rabbit. Or it might be your first custom bit of kit, or the ancient old thing that starts all your breakers out. Either way, they carry more than the weight of their riders – our saddles carry all our memories, too. [Selling a Saddle After 16 Years of Rides and Memories]
Morning Viewing:
Never let anyone tell you you can’t make your dreams come true. Take a little Monday morning inspiration from In Shaallah Saad Hameed’s journey to become Iraq’s first-ever Youth Olympian.
There’s nary a soul on the planet who hasn’t been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and horse people have had some unique conundrums on their hands – we’ve had to keep our four-legged pals happy and healthy too, while balancing fitness and production against a period of time out of the competition ring that had no definable end point.
In this video from FEI TV, Australia’s Andrew Hoy divulges how he structured his year, the challenges he faced and his hopes for 2021, when he hopes to contest his eighth Olympic Games. If you, like us, are getting quietly excited about an Olympic year – for real this time – you’ll thoroughly enjoy this one.
You might best know Pontus Hugosson for his viral videos showcasing the absurdities of horse people – as seen above – but what you might not realise is that the affable Swede is also a 4* event rider with serious ambitions in the sport. Fortunately for all of us, he’s got a vlog that gives us the chance to snoop around his yard and meet his string of horses. In the latest instalment, he takes his cross-country schooling into the indoor school, which would give me plenty of ideas for winter sessions, but I live in the UK and don’t have an indoor. Hopefully it’ll inspire you to do more than curl up on the sofa to live vicariously through someone else, anyway.
Fight back against an energy crisis that can impact condition and performance.
Equi-Jewel® is a high-fat, low-starch and -sugar formula developed to safely meet the energy needs of your horse.
Whether you have a hard keeper that needs extra calories to maintain his weight, or a top performance horse that needs cool energy to perform at her peak, Equi-Jewel can meet your horse’s energy needs. Equi-Jewel reduces the risk of digestive upset, supports optimal muscle function, maintains stamina, and helps horses recover faster after hard work, all while providing the calories your horse needs to thrive.
The horse that matters to you matters to us®.
Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? Kentucky Performance Products, LLC is here to help. Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.
If there’s one thing I’m really, totally into, it’s democracy, baby. And that applies to your governing bodies, too – no matter where you compete, nor at which level, your needs are being looked after by a group of people who are largely voted in by members. So if you feel like you’re not getting your money’s worth from your membership, or you have concerns about the way the sport is going, make sure your voice is heard by participating in AGMs and voting for your board of directors.
Today’s the final day you’ll be able to do so for the British Eventing board of directors, so double-check your email for your voting links and cast your ballot for the person you want fighting your corner. You can find all the information on the candidates here. Then, be sure to tune into the Annual General Meeting tomorrow at 5pm via Zoom, where you’ll be able to put your questions and concerns to the Board, get insight into what’s to come in 2021 for BE, and cast an ‘in-person’ vote if you’re not able to do so today. Email [email protected] to register for your spot.
National Holiday: It’s National Cashew Day. Certainly in my top five nuts, the cashew.
The first week of the three-week Portugal Winter Tour kicked off with a bang, with a small but fiercely competitive group of international riders heading down to the sunny Lisbon suburbs to contest classes from 1* to 4*-S. Ireland’s Cathal Daniels rode Barrichello to victory in the top class, while Thailand’s Korntawat Samran and Bonero K took the CCI3*-S. Check out the report here.
Bad rides: they happen to all of us. But if a disappointing schooling session leaves you kicking yourself for the rest of the day – or even the week – it’s time to revolutionise the way you deal with the setbacks with this solid advice. [5 Things to Do After a Tough Ride]
There are few things harder than recognising that your horse just isn’t The One. Olympic eventer Sharon Hunt has plenty of advice for spotting when it’s just not going to work, and making sure your next partner is perfect for you. [What if my horse isn’t the right one for me?]
What’s actually happening with the 2020 — um, make that 2021 — Olympics, anyway? Our own Sally Spickard lays bare the facts and latest updates on the forthcoming Games, as well as the viability of inviting spectators into their midst. We remain on tenterhooks. [Eyes on Tokyo: The Latest Updates on 2021 Olympics]
Morning Viewing:
Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto gives you some great pointers on getting it right…
Fight back against an energy crisis that can impact condition and performance.
Equi-Jewel® is a high-fat, low-starch and -sugar formula developed to safely meet the energy needs of your horse.
Whether you have a hard keeper that needs extra calories to maintain his weight, or a top performance horse that needs cool energy to perform at her peak, Equi-Jewel can meet your horse’s energy needs. Equi-Jewel reduces the risk of digestive upset, supports optimal muscle function, maintains stamina, and helps horses recover faster after hard work, all while providing the calories your horse needs to thrive.
The horse that matters to you matters to us®.
Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? Kentucky Performance Products, LLC is here to help. Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.
However our differences of opinion may divide us, one thing that universally unites the eventing world is a good underdog story – particularly when that underdog story involves a cheap-as-chips ex-racehorse who goes on to become a world beater.
That’s exactly what happened when Australia’s Rebel Morrow joined forces with Oaklea Groover, who was on his way to slaughter following the discovery of blood clots in his skull. Rebel stepped in, paid the owners what they’d have made in meat money, and began an extraordinary journey with the horse who would become her Athens Olympics partner.
In this episode of the Thoroughbred Network’s show, you’ll get to know the Aussie rider, whose based at Shane Rose’s Bimbadeen Park and learn the whole story behind Oaklea Groover’s exceptional career. Plus, she shares her insights on sourcing and retraining your own Thoroughbred so you can create your horse of a lifetime, too. A whole lot of heart for a diminutive sum – we might not be betting folk, but we do like those odds.
How cute is this shot of 23-year-old Algebra, the ex-racehorse who partnered Australia’s Natalie Blundell and latterly Andrew Hoy to success at the top of the sport? He enjoyed a photoshoot to celebrate his birthday – and if you didn’t know how old he is, we reckon you’d struggle to guess. What a star.
National Holiday: It’s National Fast Food Day. Skip the chains and opt for a take-out from your favourite local burger joint to celebrate.
Other than Tryon, just one four-star took place over the weekend – a CCI4*-S at Australia’s Albury Wodonga International Horse Trials. Katie Taliana and Trevalgar II moved up from second after dressage to take the win – you can take a look at the results here.
Your Monday Reading List:
Some drama from the racing world, as a 100/30 shot finished seventh of eight in a handicap hurdle at Fontwell – but was awarded the win after every other horse was disqualified. The decision was made after a half-hour long inquiry and now jockeys and trainers are calling for better handling of similar situations in the future. [Fontwell fiasco as seventh home is awarded race after mass disqualifications]
Struggling to commit your tests to memory? There’s nothing that’ll send your scores plummeting more quickly than being insecure in your knowledge of the floorplan – that’s when you’ll find yourself rushing from one movement to the next, dropping marks for accuracy and expression as you try to find your way to the final halt and salute. These tips will make sure your next test is firmly lodged in your head. [8 Ways to Memorize a Dressage Test]
Strangulating lipoma is a type of colic that your older horse may be at risk of. But how much do you actually know about it? EQUUS gives you three fast facts you need to know. [3 important facts about strangulating lipoma]
What I’m Listening To: I’ve been deep-diving into You’re Wrong About…, which hones in on topics that have taken on lives of their own while part of the popular discourse. Fun and conversational, it’s nonetheless well-researched by its journalist hosts and makes for a great one to sink your teeth into while you’re mucking out. In honour of The Crown returning to our screens (now with added Princess Anne!), I’ve been working my way through the multi-part series on Princess Diana. I’m not generally that interested in the royal family, but this really is good listening.
We’re well and truly stuck into the off-season here in the UK, which can mean one of two things (lockdown permitting, of course): either you hang your body protector up in favour of a pair of white jods and the safety of the dressage or showjumping arenas — snore — or you find yourself another high-octane, completely and utterly silly sport to partake in.
Norfolk-based amateur eventer and vlogger Lucy Robinson‘s decided to opt for the latter, rounding up a group of her friends and heading out team-chasing. What’s better than riding pell-mell over solid fences? Riding pell-mell over solid fences with a few of your best mates in close proximity. Pre-drinks optional but advised — or, if you fancy partaking from the safety and warmth of your sofa, just settle in to join in with Lucy’s fast-paced day out.
Your high school French might not cover much more than a hasty ‘ou est la bibliotheque‘ and a claim to like playing football with your brother on Thursdays, but fortunately, you don’t really need to be able to decipher the narration to enjoy this emotive video following a day in the life of young French five-star eventer Alexis Goury. Seventh in both his CCI5* runs with Trompe l’Oeil d’Emery and part of the French front at last year’s European Championships, the 25-year-old is certainly making his mark as one of the next wave of formidable talents to fly the tricolour.
Oh, go on then, just because it’s Wednesday and we could all use a pick-me-up, join him for a cheeky ride around Pau last month too:
Fight back against an energy crisis that can impact condition and performance.
Equi-Jewel® is a high-fat, low-starch and -sugar formula developed to safely meet the energy needs of your horse.
Whether you have a hard keeper that needs extra calories to maintain his weight, or a top performance horse that needs cool energy to perform at her peak, Equi-Jewel can meet your horse’s energy needs. Equi-Jewel reduces the risk of digestive upset, supports optimal muscle function, maintains stamina, and helps horses recover faster after hard work, all while providing the calories your horse needs to thrive.
The horse that matters to you matters to us®.
Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? Kentucky Performance Products, LLC is here to help. Call 859-873-2974 or visit KPPusa.com.
Ingrid Klimke’s furry mascot poses with the Team Klimke haul at Pratoni.
Hands up if you’re suffering from post-Election Week insomnia? Maybe this is a unique phenomenon for those of us who had to stay up until 2.00 a.m. just to watch Biden and Harris’ speeches on Saturday night – and who may have been guilty of cat-napping through each prior night with CNN on so as not to miss the crucial moment – but man, it’s hard to shake now. I feel like I’m back at university preparing for exams, except now I have a big crush on news anchor Jake Tapper and no way to appease it.
Whether you watched religiously or picked up the highlights of each day’s news on social media, I think we can all pretty universally share in the relief that the longest week that ever was is over and done with, and we can focus all our time and attention on our horses once again. Having never been a big TV person, though, I’m finding it hard to adjust to life without its constant company – so any recommendations for unapologetically horsey viewing will be warmly received.
National Holiday: It’s World Freedom Day, which commemorates the fall of the Berlin Wall. We recommend celebrating with a good blast across the fields with your favourite four-legged pal – the best expression of freedom available to us horsey lot.
Italy’s Pratoni del Vivaro – the site of the 2022 World Championships for eventing – hosted a huge week of international classes, with every level between 1* and 4*-L catered for (yes, both short and long!). Germany’s Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD took the CCI4*-S class by a winning margin of 12.10 penalties ahead of second-placed Felix Vogg and Colero, back in action after some time out last year. Queen Klimke also took the CCI4*-L, this time riding spicy young mare Asha P, who’s gone from strength to strength since winning the Seven-Year-Old World Championship in 2018. Meanwhile, Michi Jung qualified a fifth horse for next year’s Olympics with a sixth-place finish with fischer Wild Wave. At what point is it just greedy?
Your Monday Reading List:
A 27-year-old showjumper has undergone a double mastectomy after discovering that she has a genetic anomaly that predisposes her to breast cancer. Now, she’s hoping that being vocal about her experience will help protect other woman – particularly those who consider themselves too young to be at risk. [Showjumper who underwent double mastectomy hopes her story may help save lives]
Warm-up routines are largely subjective, but could understanding the science behind preparing your horse for work help create a better athlete? That’s the question that Hartpury University researchers had in mind before embarking on a new study of warm-up practices across the disciplines. [The art of the warm-up: Riders reveal how they get their horses ready for action]
If, like me, you spent your Sunday in a pair of colossal coveralls, painstakingly giving your horse a back, sack and crack, you’ll appreciate this. Heels Down’s seven reasons why body-clipping is THE WORST is wholly #relatable. [7 Reasons Why Body-Clipping is the Absolute Worst]
It can be pretty hard to keep up with lockdown riding rules in England, particularly when governing bodies release contradictory guidelines. Horse&Rider has broken down the latest update – released by British Equestrian – and explains what you’re still allowed to do. [British Equestrian Updates Lockdown Advice for England]
SmartPak launched its 12 Days of Deals promotion today, which means you can save big each day! The first daily deal is a Buy 2, Get 1 Free promotion on the always popular Piper breeches and tights. Use code DayOne at checkout to redeem this deal. [12 Days of Deals: Day One]
Monday Viewing:
I’ve been missing France since returning home from my adventures at Le Lion d’Angers and Pau – but rewatching the entirety of Pau’s cross-country (with delightful French commentary) has helped ease my blues and reminded me what an incredible competition it was.
Happy Friday, folks — though I’m inclined to agree with EN’s Kate that this is just another Tuesday in this endless week of Tuesdays. With the weekend (or a couple of Tuesdays off work, anyway) looming, it’s time to make a master plan for what you want to accomplish with your horse over the next couple of days. I always like to pick one specific, attainable goal – like perfecting a particular movement — to work on over the weekend, which gives me that glowy sort of feeling of accomplishment on non-eventing days and makes me feel like I can get sh*# done.
This week’s installment of SmartPak’s super Ask the Trainer series will help me — and you! — do just that. Featuring Pan-American silver medal-winning dressage rider Shannon Dueck, it delves into the tips and tricks for sitting a big, bouncy trot, with handy in-the-saddle exercises you can use to make sure you’re working with sufficient suppleness and evenness. If you always feel like you’re squeezing your butt cheeks for dear life while your molars vibrate their way out of your skull, this is one for you.
