The USEF Network is live streaming the eventing show jumping today.  The CH-J* begins at 9am EST.

Click here to watch (it’s FREE!).

Cross-country is ongoing right now for the one-star division.  So far the difficult course seems to be riding okay.  I’ve witnessed two three stops/runouts at the double corners, but most riders have done a great job.  This is a pretty tough question for the one-star level– two right-hand corners on a bending line, forward five or quiet six strides.

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Post-XC Update: 

Cross-country has finished for the day.  I didn’t see everything on both courses, but they seemed to be of championship caliber– some serious questions out there for each level.  The weather was about as perfect as can be for July in Kentucky: the ground was softened by 6″ of rain in the last week, and the sky blessed us with overcast clouds and an occasional breeze.  Temps were in the upper 70s for most of the morning.  I saw a few horses looking tired at the end of the course, but the weather can’t be an excuse today!

My “ride of the day” goes to #40, Sean McIntosh and Wild T’Mater of the Ontario/Quebec team.  They looked brilliant, smooth and clever through the one-star coffin.  The coffin walked in a two-to-two strides, but lots of horses shuffled in a third stride here and there, as the line was a bit curved from A to B to C.  Sean had his horse set up on a great line, jumped right out of stride with no hesitation whatsoever.  Great to watch!  Other riders had to work a bit at the coffin, and a couple were bailed out by some generous horses, but all in all it rode pretty well.

I spent another large portion of the day out in the Hollow, where the one-star riders had their choice of a bounce question: bounce steps down (the short route) or a bounce of rolltops (the long route).  The rolltops only added about 10 seconds (if that), so quite a few went that direction and it was fairly forgiving.  The bounce steps down were a bit daunting (yes, they’ve been on the Rolex course before! ) but many made it through easily.  Most trotted in, a smart decision that allowed horses to look down and step off carefully.  While I was there, only one horse refused– caught off guard by the drop and the rider jumped up the neck.  They made it through on second approach, a bit hairy but successful.

As seen in the scores, there was some trouble scattered throughout the course, but I didn’t hear reports of anything unusual or dangerous.  I saw a lot of very nice horses and very nice riders today– Congrats to all and good luck tomorrow!  Again, I apologize for the poor quality photos…Samantha is very much missed here in Kentucky!

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CH-J* Top 3 teams after XC:

1.  Ontario (156.8)

2. Area V (157.9)

3. Area III (169.1)

[CH-J* Scores] [CH-J* Team Scores]

CH-Y** Team Standings after XC:

1. Area VI, VII & IX (168.2)

2. Area II, III & IV (177.4)

3. Ontario & Quebec (246.2)

4. Area V (246.6)

[CH-Y** Scores] [CH-Y** Team Scores]

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Careful, don't lean forward!

Eyes up!

Shoulders back!

A very brief clip before the camera shut down.

The CCI** cross-country just finished here at the Kentucky Horse Park.  Unfortunately my camera froze, and I cannot bring you all the wonderful photos and videos I had planned.  Somewhere in England, Samantha is deeply disappointed in me.

Nonetheless, it was a fairly good morning for the CCI**.  Here are the results after xc:

Full Results

1. Kendyl Tracy – Ever So Lucky 53.3  (double clear)

2. Connor Husain – Piece of Hope 53.9   (double clear)

3. Lizzie Snow – Coal Creek  55.1  (+4.4 time)

4. Lexi Scovil – Sky Show 55.9  (double clear)

5. Sarah Braun – Perfect Intentions  59.8  (double clear)

Two riders withdrew before cross-country.  Four riders had trouble on course, including one rider fall.

The one-star has just started… time to get back on course!  Go Young Riders!

Lizzie Snow and Coal Creek at the Fork, photo by Samantha Clark

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The CCI** dressage has finished at the Kentucky Horse Park and here are the top 10:

1. Lizzie Snow – Coal Creek   50.7

2. Teresa Harcourt – Bonza Twist of Fate  51.9

3. Kendyl Tracy – Ever So Lucky  53.3

4. Connor Husain – Piece of Hope  53.9

5. Erin MacDonald – Tobiaz  54.1

6. Emma Kate Fisher – Carlingford’s Forever  55.7

7. Lexi Scovil – Sky Show  55.9

8. Sable Giesler – Evil Munchkin  56.7

9. Jacob Fletcher – The Prof  57.2

10. Rachel McDonough – Irish Rhythm  58.2

[Full CCI** Results]

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The USEF is live streaming some portions of Young Riders (not just eventing).  Currently, individual show jumping rides from this morning are available On Demand.  Click here to view.

Many thanks to Anni Grandia and Team Chaos from Gig Harbor, WA for sharing their adventures with Marbles at Rebecca Farm. From all accounts, Marbles did a great job raising awareness and funding for breast cancer. Go Marbles!

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I’m sure you’ve seen dog agility before– an elaborate course of obstacles that includes a few showjumps.  And long ago, we introduced you to the sport of miniature horse jumping.  What do you get when you combine the two?

This.

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+1 for the helmet!

(Thanks to Marjean for the tip!)

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We are very proud to welcome Kentucky Performance Products as an EN sponsor.  Kentucky Performance Products makes a fantastic electrolyte product and you can win a year’s supply simply by clicking the banner below and entering promo code EN2.  Just click the banner below and fill out the form.  Many thanks to KPP for joining the team and stay tuned for much more.

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Sixteen-year-old Mikaela has been spending her summer as a working student for Jan Byyny at Surefire Farm.  This week, she is grooming for the Area II Young Rider Team.  Good luck to Area II and thanks to Mikaela for writing.  If you have something to share with EN, send it to [email protected].  Thanks for reading!
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From Mikaela:

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This year I am grooming for Area 2, which has eight competitors running this weekend. I am so excited to be given this opportunity. We have such a great group of riders this year, they all were so welcoming even though I was not able to be at YR Camp because of my duties at Surefire. I am so lucky to be helping this group and I am looking forward to having a blast in Kentucky!

Day one mostly involved driving to the Kentucky Horse Park. I was fortunate to travel with my good friend and Area IX competitor Jacqueline Larouche  and her wonderful horse the Gingerbread Man. We pulled out of Allison Springer’s farm at around 6:45, though the riders from Area 2 left camp in Southern Pines at 4am and arrived before us. I had been keeping up with Woodge Fulton through camp and had been hearing really good things. Everyone on the team who I had met prior was super nice and I was excited to meet the rest of the girls. Area 2 always has an amazing team atmosphere and it’s so nice to be a part of an awesome group. All the girls and Connor had arrived before me and already unpacked and had just started to set up camp so I got there just in time to help set up the valences and make it cool, Area 2-style. I still can’t get over how nice everyone is and they are all so inviting.

The fun starts with in barns and opening ceremonies.  Tuesday involved lessons and in-barns for the most part as well as barns lock down, which means non-credentialed people cannot get in. All the horses looked great in their lessons and ready to go down the centerline Thursday. Jogs are Wednesday after ring familiarization in the AM so the pace of things will pick up quickly. The opening ceremonies were lots of fun getting to watch everyone parade in followed by an amazing party at Spy Coast Farm. The farm is AMAZING and so beautiful. Area 2 looked mighty fine I must say and our golf cart was spectacular!!!! It was decked out in pink for the cause and we are very proud of it!!  Our team motto is Save Them All Big Or Small for breast cancer this year.  We even have a unicorn and anyone who tries to take her watch out!!!

Until next time Save the Ta-Ta’s, Go Area 2 and Go Eventing!!!!

Then EN inbox receives many goodies each day, and like Forrest’s chocolates, we never know quite what we’re gonna get.  If you have something to share, send it to [email protected].  Today’s submission comes from Ann Bellinger.

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Hey Eventing Nation,

My name is Ann Bellinger; I was a working student for Kelli Temple last year. I was just out at Maryland ll watching her and some friends and we convinced her to do a plank to support EN! But here’s her version — one handed!

Here are two perspectives from across the country: the CIC*** at Rebecca Farm (MT) and training level at Champagne Run (KY).

Jeanine Allred and Snap Decision (Fuzzy) at Rebecca Farm-

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SPF’s Big Idea at the Kentucky Horse Park-

Marbles the breast cancer awareness pony wasn’t the only one sporting pink at Rebecca Farm.  Thanks to EN reader Gina for sending us this photo of Pepperwood Riding Center horses showing off their ribbon quarter marks.

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From Bill Olson:

The HB Eventing team (Emilee Libby, Jordan Taylor, Bill Olson and Katy Groesbeck) at Rebecca Farm this weekend miss their coach!  We want to wish Hawley and Ginny the best of luck at the Olympics, London 2012!

The USEA has done a great job with their video coverage from Rebecca Farm.  Join U.S. Eventing and Frankie Thieriot on the jog lane at the Event at Rebecca Farm for the first horse inspection (Thursday) and out on the cross-country course for a tour with Ian Stark and Brittany Lunney.

John thinks he’s pretty sophisticated bringing you virtual course walks through photos posted here on EN, and youtube course “wanders” with lots of shaky-cam, Blair Witch-inspired stumbling around.  John, you’ve just been upped.

Rebecca Farm now has a course “walk” via helicopter camera.  Very cool!

And now the chinchillas are busy looking at helicopters on eBay.  Anyone want to sponsor an EN blimp?

If the video does not play in your browser, click here.  Go Rebecca Farm.

Anni Grandia of Team Chaos is reporting from Rebecca Farm this weekend.   In their preparation for the event, Anni Grandia and Team Chaos had a little inspiration to create a “Breast Cancer awareness pony” and this was the result. Team Chaos and the pony “Marbles,” travelled to Rebecca Farm from Gig Harbor, WA.  Thanks to Anni Grandia for sending this to us, best of luck to Team Chaos, and go Marbles!

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Richmond, VA news station Channel 8 WRIC-TV interviewed Nina Ligon about the upcoming Olympics and her quest to ride for Thailand.  It’s always great to see our sport getting attention on tv, and Nina does a great interview over the phone.  Go Nina!

For all you fellow Twitter freaks out there, here’s your chance to interact with two US Olympic team rookies, eventer Will Coleman and show jumper Reed Kessler.  #GoOlympics.

@ReedCat5000 and @ColemanEventing will be live on twitter answering your questions at 2 PM Eastern for the @USOlympic #GoTeamUSA send off

— Joanie Morris (@USEquestrianHP) July 11, 2012

In their preparation for Rebecca Farm, Anni Grandia and Team Chaos had a little inspiration to create a “Breast Cancer awareness pony” and this was the result. Team Chaos from Gig Harbor, WA has arrived in Kalispell, MT and this is what they saw!   Thanks to Anni Grandia for sending this to us, best of luck to Team Chaos, and go Marbles!

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From Anni:

This was what awaited marbles when she arrived at Rebecca farm. So far she has raised $500 worth of donations for the cause! More information on the halt cancer at x campaign can be found at www.rebeccafarm.org.
Marbles can be found in the L barn if you would like to come meet her. All of our other horses schooled well today after arriving (and resting!) early this am. Looking forward to in-barns, the young and future event horse competition and more Marbles tomorrow!
Anni Grandia, Marbles and Team Chaos

Photo: Ralph Lauren

EN reader Alden Murray found this link from the Franchise Herald detailing the attire for US Olympians in London:

The official suits of the U.S. Olympic team, which will be worn at the opening games’ ceremony on July 27 in London, were displayed on NBC’s “Today” on Tuesday.

The suits, designed by Ralph Lauren, will of course be tailored in patriotic red, white, and blue, as part of Lauren’s Team USA collection, which is also available for purchase through the designer’s official website. Lauren was chosen as the official outfitter of the U.S. Olympic and Paraolympic Teams, said NBC, for both the opening and closing ceremonies in London. Lauren also made casual apparel for team members to wear around London and the Olympic village.

Sixteen-year-old Mikaela checks in again from her summer as a working student for Jan Byyny at Surefire Farm. Last week, Mikaela’s blog was all about preparing for the horse trial. Today, she tells us how it went. Congratulations, Mikaela, and thanks for writing.  If you have something to share with EN, send it to [email protected].  Thanks for reading!
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The Surefire working student team

From Mikaela:

Putting on an event is hard work. I never fully realized how much work it really is until we put on Surefire Horse Trials. One of the main jobs was staining cross country fences. It is daunting when you see a big intermediate table and you have to stain the whole thing, but with seven people the job is much easier. Another big task was setting up the dressage arenas. At home I just wheel it out and set up some chain and stakes, but the amount of precision that goes into making sure everything is just right is amazing. The straightness and the exact measurements are crazy. It took us some time but by the third ring we were pros.

Some of the little jobs take time when you add them all together. From roping off all the parking and vendor areas, to putting out sponsor signs; individually, they don’t take much time but when put together, they add up. One job was cleaning out all the ditches and making them pretty for the ponies to jump. Some were really not too pretty. By the end, though, they all looked amazing… if I do say so myself.  We were able to get everything done. The tents were in place, the show jumping was set and the cross country course was flagged and decorated.

Then on Friday night I witnessed the worst storm I have ever seen. Jennie Brannigan had just moved in with nine horses, we had just enough stalls and had just turned the night time ponies out. All of a sudden, the black clouds moved in and lightning struck the fields around us. We could tell it was going to be bad so we rushed out and tried to wrangle all the horses in and shut down the fort when it started to pour. It was not just any old downpour; more like a monsoon. McKenzie (our new working student) Kelty, Jan and I were all trapped in the barn as we watched the rain come down as that was all we could see. It lasted a good bit, and when the storm cleared we could see that every show jump was down and cross country flags were no longer upright. Thank goodness for our course builders because by the time the first horse ran the next day, everything looked perfect. The footing needed some rain anyway so it was not so hard which was a huge plus.

My weekend started on Sunday. We decided it would be good to get a confidence builder in to allow me to trust my horse and my riding. Text came out Sunday morning and was very rideable; on Saturday he was very “up” so it was a welcome relief that he had pizaz but was ready to work. I thought my test needed improvement as my accuracy was not as good as it could have been and my canter transitions were not my best, but it was a good, consistent test for us and I was pleased with how good he was. He did everything I asked and stayed focused the whole time. I came out smiling and Jan seemed pleased with it as well. I went back to the barn to finish putting studs in (I had already put outsides in for dressage) and I went to help at odd places around the event. I was glued to live scores. When I saw my score I nearly screamed! A 28.5!  My best score ever and good enough for the lead after dressage. I had achieved my goal and I was thrilled.

Heading back to the barn, I became nervous about my next phases. I tried not to think about anything but what I needed to do for the jumping. Meghan warmed me up for show jumping and THANK YOU so much to her for helping me. She got my jumping off to a great start in warm up and I was able to ride him well in the ring. Text was super and it was one of the most fluid rounds I have ridden, apart for the little spook before the start flags. All the work I had done with him and all the help Meghan and Jan gave me really allowed me to ride him through the spook and finish with a double clear round!

One down, one to go. I quickly threw on my vests and his boots and we hacked out to cross-country. Jan warmed me up and really helped me ride him through his spookiness. It might not have been the prettiest cross-country round but he was really honest and jumped terrifically, which is what we wanted and the course got better and better as we went. I came over the last fence with a huge smile plastered across my face. Was my day perfect? No. Were there a number of things upon which I could improve? Yes. But we jumped around and that was the goal and he came home sound and happy which is by far the most important. Coming home with the blue was just the icing on the cake.

It’s Tuesday; one day after Monday and still far away from Friday.  Need something to do at work?  Watch the Fasig-Tipton July Sale, streaming live from Lexington, KY.  Consignors are optimistic this should be a good sale; the first horse brought $200,000, so I’d say that’s not a bad start!  The sale began at 10am, and with 338 catalogued it should last until around 6pm.

This sale includes selected yearlings based more upon conformation and physical appearance, rather than bloodlines.  There are some young and “unknown” sires represented, and some pedigrees that appear a bit weak (low on black-type), but the Fasig team has a good eye for horses.  I stopped by there this morning, and the few I saw looked fantastic.  Take a look for your favorites!

[Link to Live Stream]

[HQ stream for i-Phone/i-Pad]

[HQ stream for Android/Blackberry]

[LQ stream for Android/Blackberry]

The unfortunate weather in Great Britain continues, forcing the cancelation of yet another major eventing competition.  Gatcombe hosts several national championships and was set to run this weekend, July 13-15, but will not take place due to the wet conditions.

The Horse & Hound included some comments from Capt. Mark Phillips and Mike Etherington-Smith:

Co-organiser Captain Mark Phillips said: “The unprecedented rainfall over the last month has produced exceptionally wet ground conditions. Due to the continuing unsettled weather we are unable to safely continue the preparations for the Festival.

“We know that riders and spectators will be disappointed — especially as so many events have been cancelled already this year. We did everything possible to ensure that the event took place, but sadly the hard-working ground crew at Gatcombe Park have been defeated by the weather.”

British Eventing’s Mike Etherington Smith added: “The organising team has explored all options to see if there is a way to make the Festival happen, but it has simply not been possible.

This new weekly series invites readers to send in photos and a description of your barn (or where you board).  What do you like about your setup?  What would you change?  There are some fabulous barns out there, from big and extravagant to quaint and workmanlike.  Tell us about yours!  It doesn’t have to be fancy or dressed up, in fact some of the  “bare bones” no-frills barns have been my favorite for horsekeeping.  Send us an email about your barn, with attached JPEG photo(s), to [email protected] with “Barn” in the title.

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To start off the series, I may as well use the place where I currently keep my two horses–it’s a great place, and I’m very lucky!  Out of respect for the farm owner (it’s a private farm), I won’t list the farm name, but it’s located in Lexington, Kentucky… a place that knows a thing or two about nice horse barns.  When visiting local stud farms, you’ll notice there are some very extravagant, fancy horse hotels around here…and some stalls that I would gladly move into!

I keep my horses at a pretty nice place, if I do say so myself.  The whole barn includes 12 stalls and an indoor.  Don’t get too excited about the indoor– it’s very small, just enough to trot some circles, but it’s quite handy during awful weather when you simply MUST ride.  I like the indoor’s footing, a sand/rubber crumb mix, but you must water it before riding or it gets incredibly dusty– a Bad Thing when your stalls are under the same roof!

The stalls themselves are rubber matted, with auto waterers in the corner.  It’s nice not having to fill two buckets in the summertime, or break ice in the winter.  But as with all auto waterers, it’s difficult to know just how much water your horse is actually drinking if you suspect there’s a problem.  But it’s still a nice feature to have, despite the two well-located aisle faucets.

Another useful aspect of the stall design is the “window” wall between the horses.  The extra contact and being able to see each other keeps them very happy.  It’s also nice to be working with a horse in one stall, and being able to look down the row and check on the others– if you notice a cough, or one may be cast, you can see who it is.  The barred “window” area is large, but there is solid wood wall between the horses at their feed corners, so no snipping and snarling at each other over grain or hay.  There are nice big windows on the back wall, too, allowing the horses to see outside.  Swinging wooden exterior doors can close the windows during bad weather when needed.

This rather fancy barn only has a dirt aisleway.  I believe the original intention was to blacktop it, but problems arose during construction and it was decided to leave the aisle as dirt.  Not my favorite surface…it’s dusty and keeping freshly-bathed white socks clean is a challenge!  But, it is easy to scoop poop with a fork and not make a mess; always a plus.

An unusual feature of this barn is a concrete “sidewalk” on the stall fronts; while it helps keep bedding inside the stall, it also is an annoying step up and down to and from each stall.  The path is only about 3′ wide, kind of an awkward distance for the horses to negotiate, but perhaps better than a single floorboard to step over as seen in some barns (that seems to always make horses trip!).

This barn has two nice tackrooms, and a good-sized wash stall.  It’s great to have a proper indoor wash stall with concrete floor and hot water.  There is also a small office area, heated in winter, with washer/dryer and bathroom.  I’ve spent many days in that little room on the laptop writing for EN, looking out the window at my horses.  Paradise?  You bet!

Michael Jung GER riding La Biosthetique Sam FBW, at the HSBC FEI World Cup Final Stezegom, Poland 2010, Photo with thanks to Kit Houghton, FEI

With the conclusion of a pretty successful event at Aachen, Germany has announced their team for the London Olympics.  Guess what?  It’s led by Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW.  Is anyone surprised?  Didn’t think so.  The rest of the team is pretty strong, too, with Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo just finishing fourth in the CICO*** today, just ahead of Dirk Schrade and King Artus in 7th and reserve-listed Frank Ostholt and Little Paint in 9th.

The 2012 German Team, from the Horse & Hound:

• Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW
• Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo
• Ingrid Klimke and FRH Butts Abraxxas
• Dirk Schrade and Hop And Skip or King Artus
• Peter Thomsen and Horseware’s Barny

• First reserve: Andreas Dibowski and FRH Butts Avedon
• Second reserve: Frank Ostholt and Little Paint
• Third reserve: Andreas Ostholt and Franco Jeas