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AJ Dyer
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AJ Dyer

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About AJ Dyer

Visionaire is one of the foundation writers of Eventing Nation from the very early days in 2010. She has ridden up to Advanced level and spent six years as head groom for Dorothy Crowell. After a few years in the Thoroughbred industry, she now spends her time writing for EN, riding a few nice OTTBs, and working with her husband's hay business, A.T. Acres Farm.

Latest Articles Written

Kristin Schmolze: Galway Cross-Country

By on Nov 3, 2013 2:10 pm -

Thanks to Athletux, we’re thrilled to bring you a host of guest bloggers from Galway Downs this coming week.  Kristin Schmolze, one of those guest bloggers, is entered in the CCI3* with Ballylaffin Bracken.  Kristin and Ballylaffin Bracken, a 13-year-old, 17.3 Irish Sport Horse gelding finished Rolex this year in 25th.  After a long trip from the East Coast, Kristin and “Rox” have arrived in California.  Many thanks to Kristin for writing, and thank you for reading.

Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken at Rolex. Photo by Jenni Autry

From Kristin:

I love coming out to Galway Downs for many reasons. First off, the facility and the amount of work that Robert Kellerhouse and his crew put in to making this event run so smoothly for everyone is something to applaud! Ian Stark’s cross country tracks are always incredible, and this year I believe was the toughest of his courses that I have jumped around.  But also, it is so nice to be able to catch up with riders and friends from the west coast that you hardly ever get to see! Needless to say, it has been a fun week!
The pace picked up a bit in the barns as the week has rolled on. From jog to dressage to yesterday’s cross-country, we have all been running around keeping busy. The three-star track proved to be quite influential in the standings. The problems that occurred were spread out all around the course at different obstacles, and only two of the clear rounds made time.

East coast choice of studs, left. West coast choice of studs, right. The West coasters thought we were being ridiculous studding up so big!

I couldn’t be happier with Rox. He was on his game from start to finish, tackling each question with ease! Even when I wavered a bit in a line, he was absolutely solid for me and never takes his eyes and ears off of the flags you put in front of him. He really is an exceptional horse! He was on fire in the warm up and at the start box, which is more exuberance then Rox normally shows, but I could tell he just couldn’t wait to get out there on course and have some fun. He came home with only a few time faults and plenty of run left!
Thank you to everyone that has supported Rox and I on our trip out to Galway. I’m very lucky to have such a wonderful group of people in my life! Today was exactly what I came out here for: a positive and fast xc round over a tough technical track as preparation for our 2014 season. It’s been an exciting day for everyone involved with this talented horse! If you would like to find out more about how to be involved with supporting and owning a share in the Ballylaffin Bracken Syndicate (which also includes ownership in some promising young horses), please contact me at [email protected].
Fingers crossed for the jog and show jumping today!

Photo by Mallory Thompson

Videos from Indoor Eventing at the Royal Fair

By on Nov 3, 2013 10:59 am -
http://youtu.be/gvblVayO-Fk
EN reader Laura Aird  was lucky enough to be able to attend Round 1 of the Indoor Eventing held Friday night at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Two British riders participated this year: Oliver Townend (again) and yes, the amazing William Fox-Pitt! Ten competitors took the course Friday night, though unfortunately Selena O’Hanlon went off course and was eliminated.  Waylon Roberts emerged the victor after Round 2 on Saturday–stay tuned for the full report coming later today from Denya.
http://youtu.be/ijZaQNdlDDk
http://youtu.be/5WJ1gWyTRDA
View all videos on Laura’s Youtube Channel.   Many thanks to Laura for sharing them with us!

Video: Cross-Country at Galway

By on Nov 3, 2013 9:30 am -

Buck and Petite Flower, photo by Angela Beal

Thanks again to Frankie Theriot and Bright Horse Communications for a great recap video of cross-country day at Galway from the FEI divisions.  In Buck’s interview, he says Petite Flower could possibly be headed for Rolex next year.  Petite Flower was bred by his dad, and Bruce calls her “the horse of a lifetime.”  She certainly ate up the CCI3* course yesterday!

Emilee Libby said her plan was to “just hold the lines.  Just stay straight and don’t worry about the strides, just stay on the line.”  It clearly worked out for her, as she made the time and moved up from 11th after dressage to third after cross-country.

Liz Halliday-Sharp called the course “challenging, but fair.”  She noted that her horse, from England, had never run on dirt before, and found the turns a bit tricky.  She also had to slow up a bit to avoid a loose horse– seen in the video.

Congrats to Breeders’ Cup Winners

By on Nov 3, 2013 8:00 am -

Wise Dan, via Santa Anita’s Twitter @santaanitapark 

 

Saturday was a thrilling day for racing fans, with great storylines on display at Santa Anita in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup.  My favorites of the day were Lexington locals Groupie Doll and Wise Dan, who both repeated their victories in the Filly & Mare Sprint and the Mile, respectively.  Groupie Doll, a five-year-old mare by Bowman’s Band, has been bred and raced by her owner/trainer Buff Bradley and family.  The Bradleys take great care of their horses– Groupie Doll enjoyed her breaks on the farm, which she spent turned out with the hardknocking, $2-M earning gelding Brass Hat.  Groupie Doll made a huge run in the 7f F&M Sprint, calling on all her class to make it to the wire first.  Sadly, she’s on a plane tomorrow bound for Keeneland, where she is entered in the November sale.  The Bradleys would love to keep her, but her value is too much to pass up right now…her sale could finance their racing operation for years to come.  After her win, Buff announced that he would be happy to keep her in training for her new owner (if desired), to point her toward the Cigar Mile later in November.  If she were to win the Cigar Mile — against the boys– it could vault her into the Horse Of The Year category.  Even if she’s run her last race…it was a good one, and she certainly will go out a star.

And then there’s Dan the Man– Wise Dan, Morton Fink’s homebred by Wiseman’s Ferry, trained by Charlie LoPresti.  Charlie’s as good a horseman as there is, and what else can be said about Wise Dan?  A month ago, he seemed unbeatable…but then he suffered a rare loss to Silver Max in the Shadwell Turf Mile on rain-puddled Polytrack.  You knew the loss was only due to the surface, but…would the real Wise Dan come back to Santa Anita?  Duh, yeah.  Despite being well off the pace (a good thing, as it was suicidal), Wise Dan was forced wide the whole way and determinedly struck the front in the final furlong and held strong for the win.  He’s a beast.  And as a 6-year-old gelding, we’ll probably see more from him next year.  As of now, he’s possibly the favorite for Eclipse Award HOTY again.  Go Dan!

Now, the Classic– the big race of the year.  The California money was all over Game On Dude, the Bob Baffert-trained gelding who has earned a comfortable (!!) living in California.  It seemed this was the Dude’s year, ridden by Mike Smith.  It was a wide open field, with all 3 top finishers from last year– including winner Fort Larned, and runner up Mucho Macho Man.  Mucho Macho Man is a big, lanky horse who always seems to be around in the big races, but never in the winner’s circle.  Gary Stevens, in his “comeback tour” picked up the mount on Macho Man, the second time he’d ever ridden him.  Then add in a couple hot three year-olds, Palace Malice and D. Wayne-trained Will Take Charge.  Will Take Charge was my dark horse in this race; by Unbridled’s Song out of the fantastic mare Take Charge Lady, he’s a half-brother to Take Charge Indy, and is simply gorgeous.  A big, strapping chestnut colt dressed up in chrome with a big blaze down his face…he’s fancy, and he’s just finally growing into himself.  Could he get it done against the older campaigners?

It was a thrilling race with Mucho Macho Man eeking out the win, a head-bob photo finish with late-charging Will Take Charge.  Gary Stevens gave the ride of his life, keeping Macho Man in the clear (he hates kickback) and saving just enough horse to hang on for the wire.  Believe it or not, it’s the first Breeders’ Cup Classic win for the Hall of Famer; it caps off a spectacular year for 50-year-old Stevens, who won the BC Distaff on Friday with Beholder, and the Preakness earlier this year with Oxbow.

The Europeans had a fairly nice time as well; the Coolmore conglomerate’s Declaration of War made his first start on dirt in the Classic, and finished a well-earned third by half a length.  And, as usual, the Euros dominated the turf races.  Trainer Aiden O’Brien won earlier in the day with another Coolmore horse, Magician, in the mile and a half BC Turf.  James Wigan’s four-year-old filly, Dank, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, took the Filly & Mare Turf, and both divisions of the Juvenile Turf went to horses from across the pond.

The one other turf race that stayed “home” went to defending champion Mizdirection.  Owned by famed sports radio host Jim Rome, the 5-year-old gray mare by Mizzen Mast beat the boys once again to take the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.  That makes three repeat winners this year, of their respective races…plus Beholder, the 2012 Juvenile Filly, who won the 2013 Distaff.

 

Galway CCI3* Scores After Cross-Country

By on Nov 2, 2013 6:57 pm -

Emilee Libby and Nonsensical moved up to 3rd. Photo by Bill Olson.

The CCI3* leaderboard has changed a lot at Galway, but the same name remains at the top:  Buck Davidson.  Buck and Petite Flower went double clear today on cross-country at Galway Downs to take the lead on 55.2.  Jolie Wentworth and Good Knight are second (59.7), followed by Emilee Libby and Nonsensical who moved up from 11th with a double clear.  Guest blogger Kristin Schmolze had 4.8 time with Ballylaffin Bracken to sit fourth going into show jumping.  Buck’s overnight leader, The Apprentice, added 14 time penalties to drop to fifth, while his former second-place ride Absolute Liberty had trouble at fence 16 and retired.

 

Six horses of the 17 starters did not finish; Allison Springer had two stops and then a fall on Copycat Chloe at fence 19, the sunken road.  Pam Fischer fell off Sea Lion at fence 2. Lauren Billys and Ballingowan Ginger had two stops at fence 6, a big corner question, and a third later at 15 (the second water) resulting in elimination.  Andrea Baxter and Indy 500 were eliminated at fence 6 for three stops.  Geriann Henderson and Kingslee had trouble at 10 and retired.

 

Bill Olson reports live from Galway:

Buck Davidson moves into first with a fast & clear cross country on Petite Flower. The ride of the day in the CCI3* belongs to Emilee Libby and Nonsensical. They had a foot perfect cross country round within the time to move up to 3rd place!  It was impressive to watch! (I’m not just saying that because she’s my good friend, a teammate or because I’m her groom for the weekend)!  

[CCI3* Results]

 

Kristin Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken. Photo by Bill Olson

 

Buck Davidson and Absolute Liberty. Photo by Bill Olson

Bill Olson: Galway CCI* Update

By on Nov 2, 2013 4:48 pm -

Tami Smith and Fleur de Lis, photo by Bill Olson

From Bill:

Tami Smith holds her overnight lead in the CCI1* on Fleur de Lis after posting a double clear on Cross Country.   This was a difficult test; 8 horse & rider combinations failed to cross the finish line (all ok, no injuries).

Galway Downs Links: [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores] [Facebook Page] [EN Coverage]

Hawley Bennett-Awad riding Bodark in his first CCI1*; no jump penalties and just a few time. Photo by Bill Olson

 

Not to be forgotten: VA Horse Trials

By on Nov 2, 2013 3:45 pm -

From Brian Ross: "Another beautiful Virginia day. 475 horses competing. Today we have 5 dressage arenas, 1 show jumping course and 2 cross country courses all running at the same time. God Bless Volunteers!"

 

Lost a bit in Galway, the Breeders’ Cup, and the Royal, this weekend is also the Virginia Horse Trials, hosting it’s own CCI* (3 divisions!) as well as CIC** and beginner novice through intermediate HT levels.  Brian and Penny Ross always do a phenomenal job running these events, creating the best show possible for their competitors.

[Live Results]

CCI* Division A has finished cross-country, and so far Ryan Wood leads with Woodstock Bennett on a 43.7.  Linda Dahlgren with AFW Ami Fidele and Jennifer Simmons with Fernhill Shannondale are tied for second (47.8).  Alexandra Knowles and Komik are in fourth (52.5), followed by Caitlin Silliman and Ballyneety (53.4).

 

 

 

 

Denya Massey: Indoor Eventing at the 2013 Royal Winter Fair

By on Nov 2, 2013 2:44 pm -

Canadian reader Denya Massey is in attendance at the 2013 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, in Toronto, Ontario.  Each year the Royal hosts an Indoor Eventing competition that’s always a big hit, and this year is no different.  Here’s an account of Friday’s action, with a few photos and video interviews as well.  Many thanks to Denya for writing, and thank you for reading. 

 

 

From Denya:

The Horseware Indoor Eventing class at this year’s Royal seemed more like a playoff game in one of the arena sports like hockey or basketball –the roar, the thundering music, crowds on their feet –than a horse jumping contest. It was LOUD! Not only did the horses and riders have to cope with the vibration and energy of an arena sport, but consider they usually compete in a respectful silence. The class didn’t start until 11:05pm, though the riders were up early for “schooling privileges” at 5am, so it made for a very long day.Yet despite that, all the horses put in a great effort, and had an average time of roughly 70 seconds over 15 obstacles, with fences built to encourage horses and riders to push hard. The crowd roared its appreciation with every big effort…and only a few gasps at some of the heroic but scary ones!

Only 7.82 seconds separated the winner from the last-placed horse, including those four horses with the 4-second penalty, and the course demanded very precise riding with quick clever turns. Kendal Lehari on her mother’s horse Daily Edition won the class with sharp riding on an experienced campaigner, and thwarted Waylon Roberts plans – at least on the first night – of winning the class yet again. Ed was responsive, brave and showed the advantage of a long partnership with Kendal. Lindsay Beer, 2nd place, had never done indoor eventing, even though El Paso has once. Two riders came from Britain, Oliver Townend and William Fox-Pitt, who were on horses generously loaned to them for this class, and both were going super well until each had the last rail down, a sneaky square oxer with rails that very nearly matched the colour of the footing. Still, Kendal had the better time, even without the 4-second time penalty for a knockdown. In his video, William said he was impressed that the crowd was so loud that he wasn’t sure if the bell had rung – he had to look up at the timer to make sure his time hadn’t started! The horse that put in the hugest jumping efforts was Jess’s mare Abbey – they probably lost time because Abbey “took so much air!”

All the riders complimented Capt. Mark Phillips’ course, noting it was demanding because of the speed required, but a fair test with a bounce bank, keyhole, corners, rails, a wooden pig and big sloped spreads.Tomorrow night (well, tonight as it’s now 2 am!) will be exciting, because the combined scores will determine the overall winner. If indoor eventing comes to a neighbourhood near you, go see it!

Go Indoor Eventing! Go Royal! Go Eventing!

Jennie Brannigan Goes Out On Her Own

By on Nov 2, 2013 12:58 pm -

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda, photo by Jenni Autry.

 

Through Athletux, Jennie Brannigan has announced the creation of Brannigan Eventing, and she will be stepping out on her own. Since 2008, Jennie has been a member of the True Prospect Farm team, working under Phillip Dutton. Now, she branches out with her own business, saying, “I am very excited to officially start out on my own, taking my coaching and training business to new heights. I look forward to focusing on the growth and development of Brannigan Eventing as my own endeavor as well as continuing to take my riding to the next stage.”

Jennie will still ride her top horses under the watchful eye of Phillip and has rented a 12-stall barn at True Prospect Farm for the summer. This winter, Jennie will spend the season in Reddick, Fla., at Matt Flynn’s new place.

Jennie has nothing but good things to say about her relationship with Phillip: “I could never thank Phillip enough for all that he has taught me not only as a rider, but as a horseperson and business woman. Phillip is one of the most incredible horsemen in the world, and I am fortunate to call him my coach and friend, having worked for him for many years.”

Best of luck to Jennie and Brannigan Eventing!

Must Read: Sports Illustrated Story About Jeff Lukas

By on Nov 2, 2013 11:30 am -

Tabasco Cat won the 1994 Belmont Stakes. Click to watch video.

If you have half an hour to spare of your day, check out this awesome story from Sports Illustrated about Jeff Lukas, the son of D. Wayne Lukas, the famous Thoroughbred race trainer. Working under his father, Jeff was executor of the powerful Lukas stable in the ’80s and early ’90s and managed such runners as Lady’s Secret and 1988 Kentucky Derby champion Winning Colors. In December of 1993, an accident happened that would forever change the lives of Jeff, his family and his father.

Tabasco Cat, a hotshot 2-year-old at the time, got loose in the barn area after a bath. Jeff did what most of us would do; he jumped in the horse’s path and waved his arms, trying to get the horse to divert his direction. Unfortunately, Tabasco Cat charged on and trampled him. Jeff was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, including a fractured skull. At first, it seemed like he would make a miraculous full recovery, but it was not meant to be. It’s a long article, but well worth the read.

From SI writer Tim Layden:

Twenty years ago, Jeff Lukas was the top assistant to his legendary father, thoroughbred trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Then, one morning at Santa Anita, site of this weekend’s Breeders’ Cup, he stood in the path of a charging horse and lost everything. Or did he?

I came to this story expecting to find a tragedy. A man lost his health, his family, his career. An idyllic life was replaced by a seemingly lesser one. Many others share this assessment, but after using the word sad, they tack qualifiers onto the ends of their sentences, struggling to reconcile Jeff Lukas’s two lives. They are confused.

Dallas Stewart is typical. “Aw, it’s a sad story, man,” says Stewart. “Jeff never got to come into his own as a trainer. He would have been a superstar. The accident changed all that. I wish he and Linda and their kids had the chance to experience all the great things that Todd and Kiaran and me have had. But I don’t know, he’s got two great kids that love him and he says he likes it where he is.”

Lukas, who can no longer drive because of his injury, works with a colleague as a courier and a building inspector for a bank in Atoka. “I’m proud that I stayed determined, focused and worked my way back to be here working with these people,” he says. “I couldn’t be in a better spot.”

David Burrage, who has shared almost every important moment of Lukas’s life in the last 20 years, says, “You know, it’s a sad story. He had a beautiful wife and two beautiful children and he was making sound financial decisions and advancing his career. And then it’s like he got robbed. He got robbed of who he was. But Jeff will tell you that it’s a happy story, and I believe he is happy.”

Bill Caton has been treating brain-injured patients for more than four decades. “Thousands,” he says, sitting behind a spectacularly cluttered desk in his Pasadena office. His perspective is different from everyone else’s. Caton knew “virtually none” of his patients before their injuries. We talk for more than 90 minutes and I explain to him that I have a dilemma. A man has escaped death, yet he has lost a life. I am a sportswriter who doesn’t know whether he’s writing about a win or a loss.

Caton smiles beneath a head of light grey hair. “You’re writing about a huge win,” says Caton. “Looking at the severity of Jeff’s injury, to survive so well, is extremely rare. Looking at what could have been . . . well, we could have had Jeff die and there would have been a huge void. But look at this: Jeff, I think, is happy. I’ve found him to a be a smiling, happy person, a good companion. In fact, I understand that he was rather abrupt before the accident. Now he is kind, considerate, caring, a lot of good things.

“I understand that the loved ones did not have their expectations met,” says Caton. “But look at those loved ones. Linda has formed a new life, Wayne has continued to be very successful, there are two wonderful kids. The story may not have ended the way it was supposed to end, before Jeff was hurt, but to me, it’s ended in a very happy fashion. There is more to life than money and perceived success.”

[Read Full Story]

 

The Breeders’ Cup gets underway today with first post, the Juvenile Turf Sprint, at 10:15am PT (1:15pm ET).  The Classic goes off at 5:45pm PT/8:45pm ET.  [Full Race Card]  Watch online all day at breederscup.com and catch the big race on NBC.

Video: Dressage Day at Galway

By on Nov 2, 2013 9:49 am -

Frankie Theriot takes us through dressage at Galway on Friday, including ride highlights and interviews with Buck Davidson, Lauren Billys, Barb Crabo, Jolie Wentworth, Allison Springer, Liz Halliday-Sharp, Kristin Schmolze, Maya Black, and Tamra Smith.

 

 

Alandra Halem: Thursday and Friday at Galway

By on Nov 2, 2013 8:23 am -

Thanks to Athletux, we have several exciting guest bloggers lined up to bring all the action from Galway Downs.  Alandra Halem, a former California native, is grooming Copycat Chloe for Allison Springer and just arrived at Galway yesterday.  We’ll enjoy hearing about the West Coast’s premiere three-day event from a groom’s perspective.  Thanks to Alandra for writing, and thank you for reading.

Waiting for dressage.

From Alandra: 

After a couple of days that seemed to drag on forever, the show finally got underway. People arrived, horses started taking their humans for walks, there were schedules to keep, and the vendors opened up shop. Meanwhile, back in my area of the barns, the number of baths increased, each hair was fussed over, and tack was cleaned and polished.

First up, jog day. Allison and Chloe started out the day with a dressage lesson. Then yet another bath for Clo (with an extra scrub for her tail). Time for braiding. I ended up with two additional horses to braid, so that took care of any extra time I might have had. I usually like it better that way, as I have always been terrible at playing hurry up and wait. Chloe went for a brisk hand walk and after a couple practice jogs and some last minute primping, off to the jog lane they went. “Copycat Chloe accepted.” Always a welcome phrase. Then back to the barns to let Chloe have some chill time before a light jump school later that afternoon. Although I was only gone for about forty minutes before returning to get her ready, Chloe managed to get thoroughly disgusting, which then required a quarter bath (specifically the right rear quarter) as part of the tacking up process. Then followed by a full bath afterward.

Dressage day is here and I am faced with hurry up and wait till our 3:00pm dressage test. Cue pre-rides and additional horses to braid to occupy me. And of course, bathing. Once we finally made it to the dressage ring things got a little bit discombobulated. Allison almost went into the ring without me taking her boots off! Fortunately we managed to quickly remedy that situation without any consequences. Whew! With everyone recovered from that incident, we then hit another snag. The judges ended up taking a break before Allison’s test, thus sending Chloe back to the warm-up for about fifteen minutes. The extra time was not what Chloe needed. She managed to hold herself together though (with Allison supporting her) and put together a test that scored her a 55 and left her in sixth position going into cross-country. Good luck to all!

What the Hay? Part I

By on Nov 1, 2013 2:30 pm -

Orchardgrass hay cut and drying. Photo by Ivegotyourpicture.com

Where does hay come from?  The obvious answer is grass. We think little of cutting open a new bale, throwing the horses a few flakes, dusting our hands and moving on with our horsey lives. But let me tell you — a LOT of work went into producing your hay.

It all starts with growing, planting quality grass and maintaining nutritious soil. Grass is only as good as the ground it comes from. A good hay farmer takes soil samples annually and adds necessary lime, fertilizer or potash as needed. The field will likely be sprayed for weeds as well. Then it’s up to the weather — hopefully a good balance of rain and sunshine. But growing it isn’t so bad; sit back and let Mother Nature do her thing with just a little supplemental help.

It’s the cutting part that puts food on the table. Timing is crucial: harvesting when the grass is at its peak nutritional value, yet within an opportunistic weather window. You can have the best quality hay in your field, but if it’s cut and then rained on, chances are it’s worth little more than cow hay. Hay needs at least a day and a half of sunshine to dry; bale it wet, you get mold. The hay can be tedded or spread around to assist the drying process, flipping it over to expose the moist places.

Morning dew will collect on it, and it is important for that to burn off before raking and baling. A technologically advanced hay farmer will have a moisture tester to give an immediate digital readout; anything over 25 percent is way too wet; 15 percent or less is ideal. Anything over 15 percent should be sprayed with a preservative as it’s baled to guard against mold. Once dry, the hay is raked into windrows where it can be picked up by the baler.

Hay raked into windrows. Photo by Ivegotyourpicture.com

Baling. That’s often my job. I would consider myself in the novice or training level of tractor driving; I can maintain basic direction, balance and speed on moderate terrain. I drive the tractor and baler, sucking up the hay rows and spitting bales out the back where they gather in a Kuhns accumulator. The accumulator is a fancy device that arranges (accumulates) bales in groups of 10 or 18, depending on model.

Later, another tractor with a grapple attachment picks up the group of bales and stacks them on a wagon; from there, they are unloaded with the same grapple into a barn for storage. The accumulator is a marvelous invention; without it, all bales would be picked up and stacked by hand. Now that’s a lot of work!

Bales falling into the accumulator.

Ok, so I mentioned weed killer and preservatives. Not all hay is organic, despite growing from the same dirt. Everyone wants soft, leafy, clean hay — no thistles, no dockweed, no pigweed, no johnson grass — nothing but palatable, yummy forage. A modest application of herbicide will eliminate unwanted broadleaf species and give the grass a boost. And it is safe for horses; many Kentucky Thoroughbred farms use it on their pastures annually.

Regarding preservatives — propionic acid is a common one, as well as Crop Saver and HayGuard (mixed with citric acid). These won’t hurt your horses either. Propionic acid is actually a fatty acid produced by bacteria in your horse’s hindgut. But it also has the ability to inhibit mold growth in hay that’s a little high in moisture when baled.

At moistures of 17 percent to 30 percent, mold, fungi and yeasts start to multiply in untreated hay. Mold growth also causes heating.  Preservatives may also retain the hay’s bright green color. You certainly have the right to avoid “chemically treated” hay, but keep in mind how the overall quality may be affected.

After it’s baled, hay should be stored in a dry, ventilated area, preferably stacked on edge to assist drying.Hay will finish out to around 8 to 10 percent moisture after curing (drying) for two to three weeks. If fresh, wet hay is stacked tightly in the barn, it will heat up! Hay baled at moistures of 17 percent to 22 percent will heat to over 115 degrees, enough to cause discoloration and loss of the hay’s fresh smell.

Between 23 percent and 26 percent, hay can reach temps of over 125 degrees in storage, causing brown to black hay with caramelized mold. Moisture levels of over 27 percent can result in heating to more than 140 degrees and above and may even combust. Don’t worry — so long as your hay has been baled more than a month ago, your barn won’t burn down,  and it’s safe to store in your loft. If hay is going to mold from improper drying, it will show it within the first few weeks.

Coming up: How to select your hay. What should you look for in a bale? Is timothy the best? What about alfalfa? We’ll discuss different types of forage and what might suit your horse. Always keep in mind that your eyes are not connected to your horse’s taste buds. What looks pretty to you may not taste as good to him and vice versa. Have a hay question? Email it to [email protected], and I’ll pass it on to the hay expert.

 

2014 Rolex Kentucky Tickets On Sale Today

By on Nov 1, 2013 12:00 pm -

Rolex 2013 Winners Andrew Nicholson and Quimbo, photo by Kasey Mueller

 

Rolex may be six months away, but it’s never too early to get ready.  Starting today, tickets for the 2014 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event are now on the market.  This advance ticket sale ends April 9, but you know you won’t wait that long.  Rolex passes make an excellent Christmas gift, for all you significant others reading out there (wink wink, nudge nudge).  Oh, and they ship out on Valentine’s Day.  See?  Better than roses!

[rk3de.org]

If this mess with Jock Paget, Clifton Promise and reserpine were to clear up, Rolex could be set for another dramatic Grand Slam opportunity.  But with or without Jock, I’m sure it will be packed with North American riders hoping to punch their tickets to Normandy.  Go Rolex!

Bill Olson: Thursday at Galway

By on Nov 1, 2013 9:00 am -
Thanks to Athletux, we have several exciting guest bloggers lined up to bring all the action from Galway Downs. Bill Olson has been a regular West Coast contributor, sending photos and updates to Eventing Nation from Twin Rivers, Copper Meadows and Woodside. We’re pleased to have Bill on “official” duty this weekend at Galway, where he’ll be competing at Training level. Thanks to Bill for writing, and thank you for reading. Go Galway! [Read Blog 1] [Read Blog 2]

Erin Hofmann's Macchiato. Happy Birthday, Erin!

From Bill:

The first full day of competition at the Galway Downs International has come to a close, and it was a full day! As is usually the case at an event, our morning started very early — 5 a.m. to be exact. When I heard Katy Groesbeck’s alarm on her phone go off in the room down the hall, I did everything I could to ignore it. Unfortunately I could not ignore it for long, as we had stalls to clean, horses to feed and ride, braids to do, tack to clean and cross-country courses to walk.

As I got in my truck and drove to Galway, a big smile came to my face as I realized it would be another beautiful sunny Southern California day, and I am doing what I love. It really doesn’t get any better than that. After the horses were taken care of and schooled, our focus shifted to getting the FEI horses ready for the jogs.

The nerves and excitement of those doing their first FEI jog brought yet another smile to my face. This is why we’re all in this sport; we love our horses and growing and competing as a team. Hearing the word “accepted” at your first jog, well, they might as well say, “Congratulations, all your sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears are paying off!” Everyone at Hawley Bennett Eventing was accepted, so let the fun and competition begin.

Here I want to give a special shout out to all the non-FEI riders at Galway Downs (myself included). It’s just as much fun to see young riders and adult amateurs progress throughout the year and do so while having so much fun. There are so many of us who participate just for the love of the sport. It doesn’t matter if you’re running Beginner Novice or Training for the 20th time; the most important thing is that we’re progressing at our own pace and having fun while doing it.

When the jogs were over, I had a few minutes to walk over to the trade fair to grab something to eat and do some window shopping. (Yes, I made sure that I left my wallet in the truck.) I grabbed a hard cider and a BLT and sat down with a few friends in the VIP tent next to the main ring to watch some of the Training 3-Day and Preliminary dressage. It was a gorgeous, sunny day with temps in the 80s; I took a drink of my cider and smiled yet again. Nope, it just doesn’t get any better than this!

Angela Sallee: A Tribute to Mary Ann Baseheart, Owner of Wise Choice Tack

By on Oct 31, 2013 9:00 am -

We were saddened to hear about the passing of Mary Ann Baseheart, the owner of Wise Choice Tack (along with husband Dave). Wise Choice is a staple in the Lexington, Ky., horse community; despite being such a horse-crazy area, it’s really the one and only place to find a variety of eventing tack and apparel. The Wise Choice trailer is faithfully at each Kentucky Horse Park event to supply competitors with last-minute needs; and even if you aren’t from Kentucky, you’ve probably browsed their booth in the indoor at Rolex. Mary Ann was always at the store to greet you with a smile and an offer to help; I was just in there a month ago looking for a new helmet and she determinedly dug through boxes trying to find my odd size. It’s hard to believe she’s gone; she will be very missed. Thanks to Angela Sallee, a former employee, for writing this tribute.

Mary Anne Baseheart and Angela Sallee. Photo by Lesley Ward.

 

From Angela:

Last Thursday, the central Kentucky equestrian community lost an important member. Mary Ann Baseheart started Wise Choice Tack and Supply in 1994. The store was named after Mary Ann’s first horse, and the store became an extension of Mary Ann. Many people sometimes say, “Oh, go to Dave’s, he will have it,” when they really don’t realize that store was Mary Ann’s dream and her baby.

Upon getting the horse bug, I, like many young girls, made my maiden voyage to Wise Choice to be completely outfitted for my new passion. Mary Ann scooped me right up and outfitted me in breeches, boots, helmet and continued to do so until she passed. In 2008, I was lucky enough to be chosen as “one of Mary Ann’s girls,” one of the chosen few who got to work at Wise Choice.

I probably learned more working with Mary Ann on how to run a business than in my business classes at the University of Kentucky, and I even did a sales project about her and the store. My time at the store came to a close in 2011, and looking back I cherish so many memories and met so many great people because I was given the chance to work there.

Mary Ann was one of the first people I told about my engagement, and we would spend hours scouring bridal magazines, and she ultimately helped me select where I should get married. We saved a small kitten from Georgetown Road who became the beloved store cat, Paul Neuman. I loved listening to stories of when she was a model in New York and worked with Dave at Duck Head Apparel. Daily I would go to the store next door and get us bologna and cheese sandwiches and Bugles, and she loved her Diet Pepsi.

Walking into the store won’t ever be the same, but Mary Ann touched so many young riders’ lives. The outpouring on Facebook has been amazing to see with everyone’s stories of how Mary Ann helped them in the riding careers. Our thoughts are with Dave; Trent; Joy; and her granddaughter, Josie, as they go through this difficult time, but they should take comfort knowing what a positive and strong impact Mary Ann had on the equestrian community. Whether hunter, eventer, dressage or pleasure rider, we will all miss her the same.

Tuesday Video from SpectraVet: Get Ready for the Breeders’ Cup

By on Oct 29, 2013 5:45 pm -

There’s a big competition coming up this weekend in California– other than Galway Downs.  Coming up this Friday and Saturday is the Breeders’ Cup, at Santa Anita Park.  I’m hoping to see Lexington fan favorite Wise Dan repeat again in the Mile, but he’ll be coming in off a rare loss at Keeneland.  Royal Delta looks for her third win in the Distaff (aka “Ladies Classic,” thank goodness the name Distaff has returned).  The only other 3-time BC winner?  Super mare Goldikova, who beat the boys three consecutive years in the Mile.  The Classic field is pretty wide open, with hot three-year-olds Will Take Charge and Palace Malice going up against older campaigners Game On Dude and 2012 winner Fort Larned.  And let’s not forget the Lazarus-like return of Paynter, who battled colitis and made it back to racing’s main stage. [Check out all the entries at Breederscup.com]

 

Today’s video is courtesy of EquiSight; ride along with Jose Valdivia Jr. on Jeranimo as he puts in his final work before the Turf Sprint on Saturday.  Jeranimo worked five furlongs in 1:00.4.

 

 

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Bill Olson: Stuck at Work Waiting for Galway

By on Oct 29, 2013 4:25 pm -

Thanks to Athletux, we have several exciting guest bloggers lined up to bring all the action from Galway Downs.  Bill Olson has been a regular West Coast contributor, sending photos and updates to Eventing Nation from Twin Rivers, Copper Meadows, Woodside, and more.  We’re pleased to have Bill on “official” duty this weekend at Galway, where he’ll be competing at Training level with his 5-year-old gelding Leo.  Thanks to Bill for writing, and thank you for reading.  Go Galway!  [Read Blog 1]

 

Bill and Leo, photo by Sherry Stewart

 

From Bill:

Just like 95% of the people reading this blog, I am stuck at work today… and yes; I’m completely & ridiculously distracted.

 

You see, to afford my very expensive addiction to passion for horses, I am forced to spend Monday through Friday in an office.  I live and work in Los Angeles and Leo (my 5-year-old event horse) lives at Kingsway Farm in Temecula, which is 95 miles south east of L.A.  Unfortunately, that means I am relegated to being just a weekend rider/competitor.  Of course, Leo is in good hands during the week; he is ridden by my good friend and HB Eventing teammate, Emilee Libby (who has been to Rolex twice and is running the CCI3* at Galway this weekend) and they are never far from the watchful eye of our trainer, Hawley Bennet-Awad (whose 4*, WEG and Olympic record needs no introduction).  Temecula is also the site of this weekend’s Galway Downs International Three Day Event. The biggest event of the year in CA and the only CCI3* on the west coast!

 

That brings me back to the point of my blog today.  Galway Downs is gearing up and I’m still not there!  Many of my friends (real and Facebook alike) are arriving and settling in, the trade fair (with all things dangerous to my credit cards and bank account), the food, the hospitality tents, the wine & beer gardens…it is all happening without me.  *sigh* It is probably for the best…the last time I had a few celebratory Bloody Marys after Hawley’s amazing cross country go at Rolex, I walked through the trade fair and bought a new saddle.  Oops.

 

So naturally, I am stalking Eventing Nation today.  I’m checking out the photos of Boyd Martin’s broken arm (OMG).  I’m constantly refreshing Facebook to see what all my friends are up to at Galway.  I’m texting my friends at Kingsway asking them how things are going for the 15th time, which I’m quite sure is annoying.  I’m checking out the photos of Boyd Martin’s broken arm…again (speedy recovery, Boyd!).  I’m watching video from the CCI4* in Pau, France.  I’m planning my next blog installment, which is tentatively titled “Name Dropping from Galway;” wherein I will stalk politely ask some of the CCI3* riders for their thoughts and impressions of the event at Galway Downs.

 

So, until the jog inspections on Thursday… GO EVENTING!

Abigail Lufkin: Coaching, a Sport Psychology Issue

By on Oct 29, 2013 1:00 pm -

Abigail Lufkin is a former CCI4* eventer who is now a sports psychology consultant and clinical social worker based in the Los Angeles area. You may remember seeing Abigail ride around Rolex on horses such as Lighter Than Air, Cameo or Jacob Two Two. She was a member of the 1999 Pan Am Team and was shortlisted for the 1992, 2000, and 2004 Olympics. We’re pleased to bring you a series of articles from Abigail about adapting your mental game to promote success in eventing. Have a question or topic for Abigail? Please submit it to [email protected] with subject “Ask Abigail” and be sure to check out her site at www.abigaillufkin.com. [Read previous articles]

 

Abigail Lufkin and Jacob Two Two at Rolex 1999. Photo by Matt Simpson.

 

From Abigail:

As I have said previously, research shows that athletes consistently have their best performances when they are in an optimal state of physiological arousal.  In other words, they are energized and confident without being over the top edgy and anxious or flat and lethargic.  Athletes work hard to control their thoughts and emotions going into competition.  Part of achieving this is to set up the environment to promote this optimal state..  This includes: getting enough sleep, eating well, having positive, competent help in the barn and yes, having a coach that fosters this positive feeling in you.

 

“Finding the best coach” means finding the best coach for you.  This person is not necessarily the best coach for your competitors, nor theirs for you.   And yet it is easy to get swept up in feeling that we need to ride with the “it” person of the day.

 

So often athletes who are experiencing problems with their coaches say to me, “She is really tough and mean, but if I want to be any good, I should be able to take it,” or “He doesn’t really seem to have any time for me, but everyone knows that he is the best trainer, so I have to stick with it.” And I always ask them, “ But how is it working for you?”

 

By that I mean that we all have different learning styles and different things that motivate and inspire us.  Some people do alright in a critical environment while others perform worse, which brings on more criticism leading to a vicious negative cycle.  The measuring stick I use for a good fit between coach and athlete is, “On the whole  (that is more often than not) when I leave a lesson with this person, do I feel more positive about my riding and my ability to work through my weaknesses, or do I feel less capable?”  If the answer is less, then you need to consider making a change.

 

Many of the things that hold athletes back from consistently producing their best performances under pressure, also hold coaches back.  In a previous post I described the importance of knowing what is on your mind and being able to manage your emotions to promote a positive outcome.  Sometimes a coach’s yelling is more about that coach’s frustration with her own riding or horses than it is about the student’s performance.

 

The old school of teaching in this country was to use fear and intimidation to motivate, a tactic used in the military from which our sport originated.  But it turns out that our brains don’t learn well when they are in a state of fear.  In fact, the part of the brain where learning occurs shuts down when we are afraid.  Students learn the best in an environment of mutual respect, positive fun and interest.  People improve faster when they spend time developing what is working, as opposed to perseverating on what isn’t.  We tend to do best with a coach who conveys not just with words but with his whole being, “I believe that you are capable of getting this and I am going to work with you until you do.”

 

I was once watching a showjumping lesson with a prominent trainer in Wellington.  She was shouting criticism after criticism at her student who was consequently riding worse and worse, at which point the coach yelled loud enough to be heard two fields away, “for God’s sake, R-E-L-A-X!”  You can imagine how well that lesson turned out.

Kristi Nunnink Reflects on Pau, R-Star Entered at Galway Downs

By on Oct 29, 2013 10:30 am -

Kristi Nunnink’s weekend at Pau didn’t quite go as planned, when R-Star got a little too strong at the first water and she picked up a technical elimination by jumping the wrong option. However, that didn’t dampen Kristi’s spirits as she continued to cheer on her USA teammates. Since Rosie didn’t get to tackle the cross country, Kristi is express shipping her home to California and is entered to run the Galway Downs CCI3* this weekend. 

Kristi Nunnink and R-Star. Photo by Jenni Autry.

From Kristi:

Well our wonderful two weeks came grinding to a halt prematurely this past Saturday when I was unable to get enough control of R-Star to be able to make the turns needed for the first water complex. Although I am completely gutted over our performance, it was a thrilling day for the USA. We had five riders who rode successfully around the track, and they looked great doing it. All the U.S. horses looked great at the jog and show jumped their hearts out. Although it was difficult just being a spectator on Sunday, I was proud to be part of the USET effort. R-Star is in great shape, and I am hustling back to California to catch up with Astro my two-star horse at Galway.

Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: WFP and Seacookie TSF on XC at Pau

By on Oct 28, 2013 12:00 pm -

Want to see greatness in action?  William Fox-Pitt just won Pau CCI4* with Seacookie TSF, and finished third with Cool Mountain. We brought you Cool Mountain’s cross-country video on Saturday; here’s Seacookie’s round.  Smooth as can be!  Seacookie goes along on the lightest possible contact, William barely touches his mouth to set up for the fences, and the horse seems to turn as if by magic in the difficult curving combinations.

 

 

Alandra Halem: Arriving at Galway

By on Oct 28, 2013 10:30 am -

Thanks to Athletux, we have several exciting guest bloggers lined up to bring all the action from Galway Downs.  Alandra Halem, a former California native, is grooming Copycat Chloe for Allison Springer and just arrived at Galway yesterday.  We’ll enjoy hearing about the West Coast’s premiere three-day event from a groom’s perspective.  Thanks to Alandra for writing, and thank you for reading.

Copycat Chloe

Copycat Chloe settles in at Galway

From Alandra:

Hello from the fabulous Galway Downs in southern California! I am thrilled to return here after having moved out to the east coast almost two years ago. I have always loved coming to this show and I’m looking forward to seeing my house show family and to see what Robert Kellerhouse has been working on while I’ve been gone. It’s a bit of a California homecoming for Copycat Chloe as well and I can’t wait for the crew at Flying Tail Farms (Chloe’s California family) and the rest of the west coasters to see the partnership that she and Allison have been working so hard on.

 

Chloe and The Apprentice share a hay net

Chloe and I arrived Saturday afternoon after a long day of travel. We rolled down down the driveway at 5:00am (not nearly as early as some of our fellow east coast travel buddies!) for a two hour drive to the airport. Then we started the classic airport game of hurry up and wait. By 9:00am we made it into the air and were on our way. A little over an hour later we made a quick stop in Kentucky to pick up some more racehorses and then continued on. Four more hours of flying got us to our final destination. I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Tex Sutton crew on the plane who did a fantastic job handling all of the horses on the way over. Also a big thank you to Mackenna Shea for picking up the east coast horses from the airport and getting us to the feed store.

Chloe was definitely happy to go for a walk and then be tucked in bed for the night. So was I for that matter, though my bedtime was considerably later than the princess. My horribly accurate internal alarm clock reared its ugly head this morning, waking me at 6:00am EST, and despite my attempts to go back to sleep, or at least snooze, I was up for good by 7:30am, aka 4:30am here. I didn’t think Chloe would be pleased to see me so early a second day in a row, so I read for a couple hours before hitting a Starbucks and heading to the barn. Hopefully I can get my brain on board with the time change quickly.

The barn is almost all set up and it’s about time for me to start my repetitive task of cleaning and bathing and otherwise generally fussing over Miss Clo. I believe a full bath is on the list of things to do. I know someone who will have an opinion or two about that. Allison won’t be arriving until Monday afternoon, so I’ll take Chloe and her big ol’ donkey ears on a nice long hack and a bit of a trot Sunday and a long hack before Allison rides her on the flat when she gets here.

It’s a bit quiet in the barns for the time being, but I know soon they will be full of activity as people arrive over the next few days. There’s still plenty for me to do though, so back to work for me!

Bill Olson: Hello from Galway!

By on Oct 27, 2013 8:00 pm -

Thanks to Athletux, we have several exciting guest bloggers lined up to bring all the action from Galway Downs.  Bill Olson has been a regular West Coast contributor, sending photos and updates to Eventing Nation from Twin Rivers, Copper Meadows, Woodside, and more.  We’re pleased to have Bill on “official” duty this weekend at Galway, where he’ll be competing at Training level.  Thanks to Bill for writing, and thank you for reading.  Go Galway! 

 

From Bill:

Hello from Galway Downs!  It’s a beautiful day in Southern California with temperatures in the 80’s today.  Our home base is Kingsway Farm, which is literally across the street from Galway.  I know, we’re a little spoiled…! It was a perfect day to take my 5-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Leo (who will be competing in his first training division this weekend), out for a hack around the grounds.

The East Coast horses arrived yesterday and everyone else will begin to arrive over the next two days. Robert Kellerhouse and his crew are busy working the cross-country footing, flagging fences, and getting everything ready for what I’m sure will be another outstanding event!

I’m excited to share with you all the fun we’ll be having here this weekend…from the live bands, to the beer gardens overlooking the cross country course, the trade fair and of course the parties!

Ride on and go eventing!