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.
It’s early March, which means two things: 1, NCAA Basketball Madness is here, and 2, Red Hills Horse Trials is upon us. Since the brackets aren’t out just yet, let’s see what Red Hills has to offer this weekend.
Red Hills is a fabulous event hosted in Tallahassee, FL. While most events in Florida are pancake-flat, Red Hills is delightfully hilly, as its name would suggest. It is known for being a challenging course with a “Big Time” event atmosphere. It is not uncommon to find boxes of (FREE!) Krispy Kreme donuts in the competitor’s hospitality tent each morning. Now THAT is big time, my friends. It is also the only event where I, a lowly prelim rider at the time, was asked to sign autographs by little kids. Really, I was a star. Even though I totally bombed in show jumping (they didn’t know that).
John and Samantha will both be on site this weekend to give us wall-to-wall coverage of the entire event. Unlike any other weekend, this time John and Samantha will have the added pressure of being ESMA-awarded famous superstars as they traipse around the show grounds. Don’t let us down, you two!
Other Red Hills notes:
Phillip Dutton is entered to ride 8 horses this weekend; three advanced, three CIC***, and two CIC**. Olympic prospects William Penn, Mystery Whisper, and Ben are in the CIC*** division. Phillip also picks up Buck’s ride The Apprentice in the Advanced. (Get well soon, Buck!)
The CIC*** division is full of big names, not least among them YouTube sensation HJ Hampton and Peter Atkins. Go Henny go! US Olympic selectors will also have an eye on Marilyn Little-Meredith’s RF Rovano Rex and RF Demeter, as well as Karen and Mr. Medicott. Michael Pollard looks to continue his quest for world domination after Pine Top, with Icarus, Hanni, and Wonderful Will all in the CIC***. Canada also has a few London hopefuls in the CIC***, with Diana Burnett, Selena O’Hanlon, and Kendal Lehari bringing their top horses.
This week, winners of different categories are being announced each morning via YouTube on the ESMA website. The Equestrian Social Media Awards were created to recognize the best horse-related websites from around the globe that do a superior job using social media to distribute information and connect with readers. Today, the winner of “Best Blog” was revealed, and that winner is… your favorite site for eventing news, notes, and insanity, Eventing Nation.
It was an honor to be nominated, and a privilege to win. Thanks to all who voted for us, thanks to those who read and participate each day, and I’m glad the “expert panelists” did not grade us as harshly as my last dressage judge.
17. Blog
1
Eventing Nation
2
Fugly horse of the day
3
Dappled Grey
4
Horse Junkies United
Thanks to Samantha, Lily, and Harry for filming our YouTube acceptance video (by the way, where was Leo?!). Congrats to Samantha as well for earning 4th place individually in the Twitter category.
I promise there will eventually be photos of John showing off his Versace on the red carpet. Perhaps he will even wear it to the competitor’s party at Red Hills. You never know!
JER has briefed us on the ins and outs of pentathlon before, but it’s worth re-visiting the sport before this summer’s London Olympics. Many thanks to JER for sharing her knowledge of modern pentathlon, and for pointing out this weekend is the inaugural World Cup competition held in Charlotte, NC. Go Pentathlon! —-
100% of Pentathlon Canada’s 2012 budget went to carrots and signage
From JER:
Welcome to Pentathlon Nation!
Mid-January, sliding over ice, it’s 4WD-only on city streets. The outside temperature is hovering at -14, and that’s -14 C. C as in Canada. Vancouver at its winter worst.
If I didn’t have the weather to remind me that I’m north of the 49th parallel, I’ve got CBC radio playing in my truck and the current program is a museum-quality piece of Canadiana. The in-studio guest for this hour’s chat show is a gentleman who is identified as an ‘asexual activist.’ There’s not a lot to talk about, because although you can’t really talk to an asexual activist about sex, you can’t really not talk about sex either. But every time the topic comes up, the asexual guy opines that everything ‘doesn’t really have to be about sex, does it?’ The ensuing dialogue is a model of Canadian politesse. It’s the sound of one eye on the clock, pleading for the hands to make it to the top of the hour, while the other eye rolls back into the head. The awkward silences are as loud as Don Cherry’s sport coat.
At this point, you’re thinking there must be a pony in this somewhere. I’m thinking that, too, because I take a smart-ass shortcut that puts me on a street that’s no longer wide enough for my truck.
Actually, there are four. Horses, not ponies, probably the only four horses in the greater Vancouver area out in this frigid weather. Right now. they’re trotting around in the covered arena at Southlands Riding Club. The banner out front, which is apparently brought to you, Sesame Street-style, by the number 5, says ‘2012 UIPM Riding Camp.
UIPM, right. Another one of those Frenchified acronyms for an international athletic governing body, this time for the Union International de Pentathlon Moderne. Sport at its most obscure. And moderne.
Modern pentathlon, as we all know, is fencing, swimming, riding, shooting and running. Modern pentathlon is one reason why you should never believe anyone who tells you that a sport (eventing, anyone?) will achieve worldwide popularity and shower vast riches upon its luminaries if it’s included in the Olympics. Despite being invented for the Olympics and included in one hundred years’ worth of games, pentathlon has yet to emerge beyond WTF status.
Let’s put that in perspective. Triathlon debuted as an Olympic sport in 2000, roughly one century after modern pentathlon. In 2011, 2.3 million Americans entered a triathlon. In that same year, a grand total of 30 individuals competed at the open-to-all USA Pentathlon National Championships.
2,300,000 vs. 30. The math, any way you spin in, does not look good. And even worse, triathlon is an unrelenting procession of suffering. You don’t get to fence, shoot or ride a horse.
The UIPM Riding Camps came about as part of the sport’s attempt to raise the standard in riding in international competitions. The television coverage from recent Olympics has shown the world some appalling horsemanship, and the sport is anxious to change that image in time for the London games. To that end, the UIPM is funding week-long riding camps for qualified athletes. The federation pays for everything – meals, hotels, airfare, instruction, horses – all the athlete has to do is show up.
Mysteriously, the two invited Americans don’t show up. At a very late hour, their federation cancels on their behalf. No one is sure why. All I know is that if someone offered to pay for all my travel expenses and food, plus give me horses to ride all day, I’d be there even if I was in a coma, and I probably would be in a food coma if someone was footing the bill for my meals.
With a flurry of calls and emails, the crisis is averted. The stars-and-stripes void gets filled by two more members of the Canadian women’s team, so now the camp roster is Canadians Melanie McCann, Donna Vakalis and Mathea Stevens, plus the 2011 Pan Am Games men’s champion, Oscar Soto.
Oscar just might be the bravest man in Mexico. He’s also got an excellent chance at a medal in London.
Let’s meet our pentathletes:
Mathea Stevens; Donna Vakalis; Oscar Soto; and Melanie McCann.
Rick Maynard, also known as the father of eventer Tik Maynard, is the instructor for the week. The camp is a lot like a regular showjumping clinic, except that the participants ride a new, unfamiliar horse for each twice-daily session. Rick schools them on riding lines, choosing the correct canter, making accurate turns, and knowing your stride. There’s a lot to think about, and there’s no blaming the horse. The job is to get the job done. You ride the horse you’re sitting on. You have to fix it going forward.
There’s no do-overs, no next week, no next lesson – it’s all right there in the moment.
Not bad, eh?
Especially not bad when you realize how hard these athletes train in five sports. Five very different sports. Unlike in eventing, there’s no professional career to be had in pentathlon. For most athletes, there’s little, if any, money or sponsorship. The Canadian girls are almost entirely self-funded; Oscar joined the army in Mexico to train with their team. It’s not easy to stay competitive in the sport, and it’s tiresome to have to keep explaining your sport to everyone.
Pentathlon: it’s not about the bike. Really, it’s not.
This weekend, the first pentathlon World Cup of 2012 is taking place in Charlotte, NC. The finals are on Saturday and Sunday; the riding phase will be in the afternoon on both days. For more information, go to the Charlotte World Cup website.
At EN, we are happy to promote events…without the tireless work of organizers, secretaries, and volunteers behind the scenes, this great sport would not exist. We are delighted to share the preparations and excitement for the upcoming Southern Eighths/Nikon Three-Day Event. Read an earlier introduction to So8ths here. Thanks to Diana De Rosa for sending this article to us.
Eventing Nation Hears From Southern Eighths Farm
by Diana De Rosa
As Southern 8ths Farm approaches its upcoming So8ths/Nikon Three-Day Event in the “Heart of the Carolinas” May 3-6 preparations continue to move along. Even the local community is feeling the positive impact of having this major event in their neighborhood.
“By offering the ultimate location for equestrian training focusing on riding skills, Southern 8ths Farm brings an exciting new dimension that enhances the charm of Chesterfield County,” noted Brenda Workman, Executive Director of the Chesterfield County Economic Development Alliance. “Southern 8ths has ramped up the attractiveness and vitality of our area by creating awareness about equestrian sport, inspiring us to embrace and support the global horse community.”
Supporting the local community is key to Southern 8ths owner Brad Turley who is thrilled to hear comments like Brenda’s.
“We have worked closely with the Economic Development staff to help bring others to the area and enjoy Chesterfield County. Being in ‘The Heart of the Carolinas’ has a lot of benefits and we appreciate all the community has done for us,” he commented.
“Brad’s spirit for community is evident not only in the unique equestrian venue he has brought to Chesterfield County and the local horse community, but his software company, Continuum Performance Systems, has partnered with Northeastern Technical College to establish an Entrepreneurship Development Grant to assist promising entrepreneurs in achieving their dreams,” Wylie Bell, the College’s public relations coordinator, said. “We envision this grant creating many success stories and driving economic growth in rural South Carolina.”
That same energy that Brad brings to his business, he has also brought to his farm to ensure that the venue is up to the close scrutiny of the competitors. If last year’s riders are any indication of how the riders feel about all he has done, then the future is promising for those competing at the Beginner Novice through Training levels.
Jim Baker
For this update on Southern 8ths I mostly wanted to focus on an interesting note from one of last year’s competitors, Jim Baker. I think Jim offers a great perspective from someone who has been to and competed at Southern 8ths. He goes to other events as a volunteer and/or competitor and was amazed at what an incredible job Southern 8ths Farm did for its first recognized event in 2011 and is already planning to attend again this year. In 2011, Jim competed at Beginner level on a horse named Wings who needed to get some experience. Jim asked if I would mind having him share some of his thoughts. So, here goes.
“This past spring and fall I had the chance to work the boxes for my daughter at some other events where she competed. All those other events were run by people with vast experience in doing Three-Day events. The events were well organized from the competition standpoint.
“However, there were differences beginning first with stabling. The temporary stalls used at the other events were small and usually laid out in some pasture with uneven ground. Larger horses, which are a trend in Eventing, do not fit into a temporary stall well. There are issues with the horse lying down because there is not enough room. When it rains, which it did at all events, including Southern 8ths, the water runs through the stalls.
“The temporary stalls in a pasture become a sea of mud quickly in front and around the stalls. Some of the permanent stalls are well worn with probably a great history (if the walls could talk) but held together with bailing twine and nails. Water is usually a spigot outside or a water truck which means washing your horse bucket by bucket.
“Compare that to the Southern 8ths permanent stalls, which are new, big, dry and very homey for a horse. The wash stalls are like at home with a full complement of hoses, hot water and cross ties. There are graveled areas, which means little to no mud being an issue in and around the stabling.
“The food served at Southern 8ths was gourmet level. The typical competitor party, if they serve food at all, involves something easy to produce in large quantities such as spaghetti, certainly edible but not the catered meals offered at Southern 8ths. I have always thought it a bit odd that riders are athletes who are competing over a series of days, but there is no thought put to what they should be eating to maintain performance – calories or carbohydrate replacement, protein intake, etc. The quality of natural foods offered at So8ths did allow for picking and choosing what an athlete should have beginning with the fruit and yogurt offered in the morning to the salads and proteins offered in the evenings.
“Another comparison is the Roads & Tracks at the other events, which are well worn trails through the woods or around the edge of a pasture. The footing is what is there. So8ths made the effort to truck in sand on their trails and to groom their trails before the event, meaning no wash outs, no slippery corners, and well-marked.
“The C & D boxes at the other events were just areas in a field – there was no formal fencing, temporary or otherwise. This means things get spread out some. The vets are usually qualified due to their certification, but the vet techs took an unnecessary amount of time to get temperature, respiration and heart rate – like 3+ minutes of your 10 minute box. This delayed icing and walking and cooling of the horse and upset the game plan for the 10 minute box. This was sort of unnerving to the competitor because of not knowing if you could get out on time. The vet techs were new and inexperienced – which contributed to the delays. The So8ths techs were experienced and done within a minute, very smooth operation at So8ths.
“Competitor interaction at other events was no different than a short format event. You get to know those around your stall but not really anyone else. The So8ths meetings, social activities and entertainment lent itself to interaction with lots of others and with the officials. So8ths was a more festive atmosphere over the number of days. At So8ths they had a nightly camp fire, a Nikon Scavenger Photo Hunt and all was great.
“One very significant advantage of So8ths was the large grassed pasture next to stabling where you could graze your horse. The 3 day format means 4+ days in a stall and allowing a horse to stretch it legs and graze is very comforting and relaxing for the horse. At other events one has to catch grass alongside a road or wherever you can.
“One drawback of So8ths is the appearance of no nearby accommodations. I stayed in my trailer but I have no clue where anyone else stayed or would stay. This year they’ve indicated they are going to supply the exhibitors with a list of local accommodations, restaurants and other necessities.”
Of course we are thrilled with all that Jim had to say because a lot of time and effort was put into last year’s event and will be put into this year’s event to give amateur riders and training level horses access to topnotch facilities just like the professionals have when they are competing in the upper level events.
When Brad created his farm he too had experienced all the things that Jim has indicated; very well-run events by competent people but not enough thought put to what happens behind-the-scenes.
“I believe that the Long Format is special and that we owe it to our riders to make it a memorable experience. We couldn’t be more pleased that the USEA agreed and helped by recognizing the BN and N levels this year. We hope that the 2012 So8ths/Nikon Three-Day Event creates some very special memories …and of course a lot of smiles,” noted Brad.
We’ll continue to update you on a regular basis to give you a look at what it takes to prepare for the So8ths/Nikon Three-Day Event. And if you’d like to get a sense of what last year’s event was all about, go to So8ths YouTube page and take a video tour: http://www.youtube.com/user/So8ths or check out the wide selection of photos showing every facet of the event here: www.tinyurl.com/presslink-so8ths. And make sure to visit the recently revealed new web site: www.so8ths.com and “like” us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/so8ths.
It is with great pleasure (relief, actually) that we welcome another wonderful writer into the EN fold: Abby Gibbon. Abby brings with her a vast wealth of journalistic experience, and a great deal more credibility than the rest of us put together. But that doesn’t get her out of cleaning chinchilla cages, or sprinkling John’s path with rose petals at Rolex, among other favorite EN hazing rituals. Nonetheless, we expect Abby to do an excellent job adding wall-to-wall coverage of our dear sport and all its insanity within. Thank you Abby, and welcome to the team!
Hey there, Eventing Nation. Pull up a stool. I’ve taken the liberty of ordering you a Boyd Martini–shaken, of course–I hope that’s not too presumptuous. What’s that? You’ve long savored the debonair aroma and courageous finish of an afternoon Boyd Martini? Well, well, Eventing Nation. I thought we’d see eye to eye.
See, I’m new around here, but you may’ve seen my handiwork over at theChronicle of the Horse, that hallowed equine publication to which I enjoy contributing. Pretty soon I hope you’ll come to rely on me for all the EN news that’s fit to print. Did you pull a Pollard and dominate at your last event? Then you might expect a little call from yours truly. Did you tie the knot in a gangsta wedding just days after a wipeout at Plantation Field? You might expect a call from me on that occasion, too.
Likewise, if you’ve got an eventing story you’ve deemed newsworthy, send me your tips at [email protected]. And keep an eye out for me on that booming sister site of ours, Horse Nation, too.
I’m looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship, EN. And on that note: Bartender? These Boyd Martinis should go on John’s tab. That’s right, all 6,007 of them.
I’ve gotta run Eventing Nation, but until next time, I think you know what to do.
EN reader Diane competed at Sporting Days in Aiken this past weekend, and was kind enough to send us her helmet cam video:
From Diane:
I gave myself a helmet cam for Christmas! This video is of the XC at Sporting Days HT on March 3 in the Training Rider C division. My horse is Mister President (Lincoln), a Percheron-TB-Paint cross. If you check out around 3:50 you’ll see us take an “alternate” path to avoid the mud. The idea was to go through the baby pine trees, but Lincoln jumped them instead. Good times. Props to my barn-mate Wade for the video editing.
And, because there’s no such thing as too many helmet cam videos…here is the novice course at Twin Rivers HT, courtesy of Rachel and Vinny:
If you’d like to submit an Eventing profile, follow this link for more information, fill out the form, and send it to [email protected].
Sara Mittleider, with Katie on Piccolo
Name– Katie
Age– 15
Location– Meridian Idaho
Horse’s Name– Heres Awesome, AKA “Owl”
Info– Owl is a 16.2hh off the track thoroughbred; he raced and was a pretty good race horse before he came to an eventing barn called “Mittleider eventing” the home of Sara Mittleider herself. Where he went on to compete to the CCI2* level and advanced in eventing. He was actually in a horrific trailer accident when the trailer was sandwiched in between two semis, with two other horses in the trailer, he broke his pelvis, and the others were okay. He went on to have a swell recovery and went back to compete advanced at Rebecca farm, but then he got a horrible nose infection where he couldn’t compete for 2 years, until we finally fixed it. And I am Sara’s working student and she is allowing me to compete him to training level this year, then up to preliminary next year, i am so excited, but bummed because Sara will be in Germany.
Level currently competing– Training
Short Term goal– To make a relationship with Owl, and to become a team.
Year end goal– Do the training 3 day at Galway Downs International event.
Overall goal– Go Preliminary with him, and to keep him happy and healthy and to eventually do a preliminary 3 day!
Best thing I’ve learned so far– How to ride a horse into the contact and make them use their hind end, Owl is a lot like a noodle, since he got in his trailer accident, so I’ve been working on keeping him at straight as I can.
Favorite eventing moment– Last year I was competing a chestnut thoroughbred that has never evented named Piccolo, and the first event we went to was Rebecca farm, may I remind you this was his first one ever, and we got first in all three days, he was amazing, I wasn’t going there to try to win or even place, just to have a good time, and a good experience, but instead I left with 500 bucks and a big blue ribbon!
The opening date for Rolex was last Tuesday, and the first entries are already in! Closing date is March 27. (Thanks to rk3de for the tip in this morning’s News & Notes comment section.)
This video is Natalia Gurmankin and Hail II in show jumping. They were riding in their first Advanced together and had a beautiful round on Sunday. Natalia is based at Kingsway with Hawley Bennett-Awad, and works harder than anyone I know. It is always a pleasure to get to see her ride, and watch her hard work and endless barn hours pay off. Plus she is one of the nicest people out here on the West coast! She plans to head back East with Hawley and I hope for her that she and Hail are able to compete at Jersey Fresh this year. Thanks!
-Taren
James Atkinson and Gustav, 4th place in the Advanced division
A few days ago, Kentucky was hit with dangerous storms and devastating tornadoes. Thankfully the worst of the weather avoided Lexington, but there are still thousands of people affected by the damage throughout the region. Having seen some of West Liberty firsthand on Saturday, it is truly awful wreckage. Please keep the storm victims in your thoughts and prayers, it will be many weeks before the area is restored and liveable again. Many are without electricity, and the weather has turned cold and snowy for the first time since January 2nd.
On a lighter note, the snow made for a beautiful drive through the Bluegrass this morning, and I couldn’t help but take some photos. Tomorrow it’s supposed to be 50 degrees again!
CAEventMom has done a fabulous job covering Twin Rivers for us, and we owe her our sincerest thanks. From preview to the showjumping, she has made us feel like we’re all out there with her in sunny California. Also, many thanks to Sherry Stewart for the lovely photographs throughout the weekend. We welcome reader-submitted event reports! If you would like to share something with Eventing Nation, send it to [email protected].
Advanced winners Barb Crabo and Eveready finished on their dressage score of 25.0. (Photo by Sherry Stewart)
Twin Rivers Wrap Up
The final day at Twin Rivers was sunny and warm and I am exhausted, but will try to pull my wits together and give a competent report of the day. Despite a pretty tight show jumping ring, the Top 5 Advanced riders proved they belonged there with 1 single rail down – a rail that had no impact on the standings.
Barb Crabo and Eveready looked totally in control as they finished the show on their dressage score. MacKenna Shea with perhaps a bit of nerves, dropped just one rail with Landioso to hold onto 2nd. Third, fourth and fifth places were held, with double clear rounds, by Hawley Bennet-Awad on Gin & Juice, James Atkinson on Gustav and James Alliston on Jumbo’s Jake respectively.
Barb felt confident going into today’s round knowing that Eveready is a phenomenal show jumper, and he did not disappoint. Looking ahead, their next outing will be the CIC*** at Galway Downs the end of March and then on to Rolex.
MacKenna went into today’s round with her focus on applying the things she’d worked on this past week in the training sessions with Capt. Mark Phillips. She will also be headed to Galway for the 3* and if things go well, on to the CCI*** at Bromont.
Talking with Hawley, she mentioned that she’d been working on the show jumping with Lane Clarke out at Thermal this winter and it clearly paid off as both of her rides (Ginny and 5 O’Clock Somewhere) went double clean. All of her upper level horses will be leaving CA in about 10 days headed for Poplar, the Fork and then Jersey Fresh.
Both of the Jameses will be headed to Galway, with James Alliston then taking his two “big boys” off to Rolex.
The Intermediate division had a few mores rails drop and they shook up the standings a bit. Kaitlin Veltkamp’s double clear round with Flashpoint D moved her from 2nd into first place. Kim Liddell pulled 1 rail to drop to 2nd, and a double clear round for John Michael Durr on V.E. Finnegan gave him a 3rd place finish.
Other points of interest from the week-end: Jolie Wentworth rebounded from a disappointing pop off in her advanced round to win the Open Prelim division on The Governess. Ali Smallpage’s potential new boyfriend Joe McKinley shook off some show jumping penalties to run double clear XC on Mr. Brightside in Open Training for a 3rd place finish, while the Junior Training division was won by 11 year old Madison Temkin (what were you doing when you were 11?)
Many thanks to the riders for sharing their week-end with us, to Twin Rivers for hosting a terrific show, to the grounds crew who worked late into the night on the XC tracks, and to EN for for giving us the chance to let you all know what we’re doing. Have a great week & GO EVENTING!
CAEventMom
MacKenna Shea and Landioso took second place in the Advanced division (Photo by Sherry Stewart)
Hawley Bennet-Awad and Gin N Juice finished third in the Advanced (Photo by Sherry Stewart)
Kaitlin Veltkamp and Flashpoint D, winners of the Intermediate division
In this edition of Meg’s Update, we learn that she is not invincible, and WEF really is quite a spectacle. Thanks for writing, Meg, and thanks for reading. Hope you heal quickly, Meg!
From Meg:
I would love to update you on what is happening at Rocking Horse, as I am supposed to be there competing myself. Alas, the black injury cloud which followed me pretty much from 1994-2005 has found me once again. I fell off yesterday (or as I like to say, “went dancing with a jump standard”) and had to scratch from the show.
So for the next day or ten, I will sit here doing budgets and entering the next year’s events as I watch Baby Sarah grow into Big Girl Sarah as she does my job, her job, and the ex-working student that we wish we had’s job (apply within). Now opening funds for the amount of dinners I owe Baby Sarah the super star, and thank you to our awesome Florida client visitors Laura and Genie for helping!
Sinead, Tate, Foxy, VDL Tommy and I just returned from a few days in Wellington. After trying our hardest to arrive in the daylight Saturday, we failed due to the need for diesel during an inconvenient stretch of Florida’s Turnpike and arrived in the dark. Many expletives later, we got our inconveniently long trailer over what we now refer to as “The Death Bridge” and tucked ourselves and our horses into a secret and undiscovered hiding spot that I cannot reveal. All I can say is, my next job may just be Supreme Travel Agent.
Sunday was spent at White Fences for a dressage show. One word: Wow. We arrive, Tasmanian devil style, after following our GPS to a dead end, and then navigating our way around a large safari over about 1865392 speed bumps, just in time for a nice quick 15 minute warm up for our first ride time. We arrive and the first word out of the secretary’s mouth was, “Oh, You’re the eventers.” I maybe would have cared, but I was in shock at the warm up area – about 345 bagillion dollar horses randomly placed throughout the ring piaffing and staring at themselves in the upright outdoor mirror. It could have been the most bizarre thing I had ever seen.
That being said, it was a fun day. The ring stewards were hilarious and each ring was immaculately dragged and decorated. We won all of our classes (1st out of 1). and no one slashed our tires in the parking lot for parking perpendicular to everyone else. I think they liked us. By the way, if you ever go to a real dressage show – make sure you have a USDF number.
Monday and Tuesday were spent lessoning with Lauren Hough. She is pretty darn cool, and really helped Sinead’s show jumping without changing her whole instinct. We are excited to continue working with her for the season. We showed on Wednesday at WEF. That place is also a Wow. I would like to be on the income side of that conglomerate. The ring steward/ingate/announcer man there was also really awesome, and decided he was going to call Sinead – Shenaynay, to which I agreed was appropriate. I have to give a shout-out to the girls in Lauren’s barn who were all very welcoming and helpful to us outsiders – and let us shack up our horses in between classes. I swear they picked stalls and swept hourly.
So several lessons, a dressage show, a jumper show, a Middleburg reunion, and 8 trips over the death bridge later – we are home in Ocala. Sinead has forbidden me to ride until the fall, and Sarah shoots me with her air gun every time she passes the open doorway to where I am ‘cripped up.
Good luck to everyone at Rocking Horse this weekend and give Big Girl Sarah a high 5 when you see her.
PS I just realized i am wearing the same shirt I was wearing in my USOC photoshoot….but I promise I washed it.
EN would like to thank CAEventMom for her coverage at Twin Rivers HT in California. Reader-submitted content is always appreciated and encouraged! Best of luck to all competitors this weekend. Thanks CAEventMom for writing,and thanks for reading!
AEC Advanced champs Barb Crabo and Eveready are in the lead at Twin Riversafter dressage
Showing why they won the AEC’s, Barb Crabo and Eveready put in a very consistent test to take the lead – with an impressive score of 25 – in the Advanced division at Twin Rivers today.This is a terrific launching point for her Rolex preparation.A mere 2.5 points behind we have a three way tie between Jolie Wentworth on Killian O’Connor; Hawley Bennett-Awad on 5 O’Clock Somewhere; and McKenna Shea on Landioso.The judging appeared to appreciate the expressiveness of Jolie’s horse, the consistency of Hawley’s, and I’d say McKenna had a fair amount of both for her test.James Alliston and Jumbo Jake are just 0.3 points behind, so the top 5 are very tight.
Barb took a minute on her way out to walk the cross country course to tell me that she was obviously happy with his test “He was a little tense and felt tight going in but he stayed rideable and I was very pleased with that.”
I caught Jolie on her way back in from walking her XC course. “Connor was good for his second test back.I worked with Mark earlier in the week during the training sessions and I was going for it today.We just had a couple baubles but some really good moments as well.”When asked about the XC, she said “I think Derek has done a really good job, the course may be a little on the forgiving side, but for the first advanced of the year, I think that is appropriate.”
Finally, I had a moment to catch up with Hawley who was thrilled with “Chunky’s” first go at advanced.She described him as a worker bee.Looking at tomorrow’s cross country Hawley said “There are a lot of good questions – early on the course there is a drop down from a house to a chevron on an angled line and then later the water drop to the corner, both should be influential combinations.”
The Intermediate division is led by Teresa Harcourt on Bonza Twist of Fate with a commanding 26.8, putting her 6 points ahead of the 2nd place team of Florence Miller and Tuscan Sun.
One final note for the stalkers at EN – and you know who you are – the low dressage score of the day went to Full Metal Jousting heart-throb Joe McKinley on Mr. Brightside with a 20.9.
Advanced Cross Country starts at 1:10 Saturday afternoon, with Intermediate starting at 11:40am. Go Eventing!
CAEventMom
Jolie Wentworth and Killian O’Connor (photo by Sherry Stewart)
Hawley Bennet-Awad and Five O’Clock Somewhere (photo by Sherry Stewart)
James Alliston and Jumbo’s Jake (photo by Sherry Stewart)
James Atkinson and Gustav (photo by Sherry Stewart)
The USEA has just announced that the AECs are heading to Texas in 2013. Texas Rose Horse Park in Tyler, Tx (that’s on the eastern side) is hosting the event, a pretty centralized location for most of the country. Dust off your Stetson, turn up the George Strait and watch out for cactus! [USEA press release]
Don’t forget, Twin Rivers HT is going on this weekend out in California. Teresa Harcourt and Bonzo Twist of Fate are first in the Intermediate with 26.8 The advanced dressage just started, led so far by Jolie Wentworth and Killian O’Connor with a 27.5. [Scores]
Here’s a brief Friday recap of EN, in case you missed anything this week:
Mary Getsey Bernier attended the Retired Racehorse Retraining Project trainers challenge and provided us with a detailed report, including photos and videos. Eric Dierks was the official winner…but all the horses were truly the winners!
Amy Wells wrote a brilliant essay describing her first Rolex experience. How Rolex Changed My Life: a must-read!
ESJ gave us his predictions on Team USA heading into the London Olympics. Some choices were no brainers: Boyd and Neville, Sinead and Tate. Other picks, like Tiana Coudray, caused a bit of a stir in the comments section.
Samantha introduced an exciting Rolex opportunity: walk the cross-country course with Buck, Boyd, Doug Payne, or Sharon White, donations to benefit the JustWorld foundation.
Good luck to anyone competing this weekend, and congratulations Texas on your acquisition of the AEC’s! Have a happy weekend, and Go Eventing.
The FEI has announced the list of countries qualified to compete in the Olympics in dressage, show jumping, and eventing. Most of what follows should come as no surprise, thanks to the Olympic ranking updates and commentary from the wonderful Austin Ligon and his Montelibretti CCI*** reporting.
Fourteen nations will compete with teams in eventing: ARG, AUS, BEL, BRA, CAN, FRA, GBR, GER, IRL, JPN, NED, NZL, SWE, USA. Australia qualified 5 riders individually, giving them a spot in team competition. Ireland and the Netherlands also managed 3 individuals, earning each of them a team as well.
Additionally, the following countries will be represented by individuals: AUT, BLR, ECU, ITA, JAM, RUS, RSA, THA.
For the Olympic individuals ranking list, click here: [PDF] Note: riders of nations already qualified are not included in the list.
Counting all three disciplines, there will be 200 riders from 41 nations participating in the 2012 London Olympic Games. 147 days remaining!
The Retired Racehorse Project Trainer Challenge gained some great publicity for off-track Thoroughbreds, but many of us already knew OTTBs make fantastic partners! Thanks to Eventer79 for sending us this video on her retired racehorse-turned eventer, “Encore.” Thanks for reading, watching, and Go Eventing!
From Eventer79:
Don’t know if you’d be interested in this or not, but given all the OTTB press lately, I thought I would share a success story. This is my 6 y.o. OTTB named Away Again (Encore). He raced for three years and was then donated (sound) to Canter Mid-Atlantic. They let him down from racing and I bought him last September (2011). At that point, he could (sort-of) steer and had never jumped a vertical until our trial ride. This is the helmet cam recorded this past Saturday from his first BN cross-country course, at Running Start Horse Trials on a Gina Fiore-designed course in Vass, NC at the beautiful farm of Roger and Mari Secrist, who very generously just started offering horse trials there. Encore has been back under saddle, post let-down, for about seven months and did one schooling Maiden HT last fall and almost all of his training has been done by me, an adult amateur rider with a full-time job (and a horribly sad paycheck). A pro would have been much faster, I expect, but I’m poor and I enjoy the process. He had a great run, we just had to do a little “brake check” in the middle before barreling down a hill! It was a challenging course for BN and he stepped up to every question; I have fallen hard for the magic of the OTTB.
In the last couple days, our EN inbox has received some renewed interest in the Parent’s Perspective series. We began these sharing these stories in response to results of the 2011 EN Census, where we found many supportive parents of eventers. Today, a very proud Mom would like to wish her daughter a very happy 18th birthday, and reflect back upon their journey with horses. I’m sure my own mom can relate to a lot of these moments! Thank you, Kristina, for sending in this great story. And Happy Birthday to Julia! Thank you for reading EN! If you have thoughts or experiences to share, please send them to [email protected] with “Parent” in the title.
Eventing: A Parent’s Point of View – Yikes my baby is turning 18!!!
Yep, the dreaded day has come. March 3, 2012. That day that every Eventing parent inevitably has to face…the day they are no longer required to sign as trainer and parent on the USEA entry signature page..their child’s eighteenth birthday. I thought the toughest day of my life was watching my daughter ride her first competition at training level. I was actually more relaxed for her first prelim. Then I thought I would never be able to watch her jump Intermediate. I had to walk cross country AFTER she and her horses safely crossed the finish. I decided to toughen up mentally and be more supportive…so now I huff and puff through CIC** course walks while keeping my “holy $!@T, can a horse possibly jump that high?” comments to myself. But the idea of my baby being a legal adult is harder to stomach than all of that.
Besides the “firsts” at each of the eventing levels, memories of other firsts throughout the years flood back. Her very first pony who the first time without the lead line left my four year old daughter hanging from the rail after running off under the perimeter fence. I have to hold back the happy tears as I remember the cute little blond pig tails and huge smile at her first show in the leadline class and the first blue ribbon at walk/trot. And boy was I proud as she and her precious gray pony, Penelope, smartly cantered around their first hunter course.
Trying not to gasp as I watched her jump solid obstacles and maneuver drop banks during her first cross country schooling, I had no idea of the challenges ahead of her. Then, trying not to cry the first time we got a bad prognosis from the vet the week before their first horse trial that her horse had EPM and could not walk a straight line. Watching with pride as my eleven year old child responsibly rehabbed him back and within a few months competed in her first USDF dressage show, then within a year rode at the AEC’s and won the MCTA Novice rider of the year. Injuries and rehab seem to come with the territory. You cannot just throw a broken horse away and get a new one. Over the last seven years, I have watched in amazement as my baby has nursed and nurtured her horses through so many injuries (severed tendons with blood pulsing from the arteries, broken cannon bones, bowed tendons) and carefully followed the vet’s instructions to give her horses the best chance at recovery…and recovered they have. That first rehab with months of walking certainly broke us in for future rehabs.
There were other gut wrenching firsts…such as the first time she wore tall boots and white breeches for dressage and because it was raining and they were already wet, she decided not to change for cross country. Yep, you guessed it, she ended up in the muddy ditch of the trakehner jump and I freaked out as I watched the horse run loose across the cross country course wondering if my kid was okay. I slowed down from my frenzied run when I saw the EMT eating donuts in the ambulance at the top of the hill. That was before the one fall rule and I think she finished the course with around 200 penalty points.
I can’t say I was thrilled the first time she had a more serious fall and broke her arm. To my relief her father was home and drove us to the emergency room. On the way to the hospital my daughter explained to her concerned dad how she lost the reins and with them control of the horse. What she failed to tell him was that she was going over a home-made ghetto jump and shouting “Look Mom, no hands. Whee!!!” Which I actually caught on film. However, I promised her I would keep the photo private and never post it on the internet. Once he found out she was going to be okay, (just no riding for four weeks) her father saw the whole experience in a positive light because now he has life time permission to tell her not to do anything stupid like the time she broke her arm.
I think the toughest weekend that I have observed was watching her first try at earning her B Pony Club rating. Luckily she was successful. But not without the help and kindness of other Pony Club kids. She was the only passing candidate left after the first day, but unfortunately her horse had sustained a stone bruise. Maddie Fleit, a member from Iron Bridge Pony Club, loaned her horse to my daughter to perform the over fences and cross country portion of the test and Jen Price of Seneca Valley Pony Club stayed so there would also be a switch horse. These young ladies were extremely noble and unselfish to lend their horses to my daughter. They exemplify the many wonderful traits of most Eventers we have come in contact with.
When I got back into horses as an adult, my desire was to ride as a family out in the open. The first time foxhunting with my daughter was a real thrill. I got a real kick one summer watching her learn to rope and cut with a local cowboy on the Eastern Shore. It was also a joy to watch my elegant “dressage-y” daughter barrel race Pixie, a spunky 13.2 hand 27-year-old pony, for the second fastest time at the rodeo at the Queen Anne’s County Fair. On the other hand, I derived very little joy and lots of butterflies a couple years later as I watched her drive off for the first alone with truck and trailer and horses in tow.
Barrel racing and roping may be fun, but true bragging rights were earned the first time she scored under 30 in the dressage phase of a horse trial. After that, the ante was up to keep improving the dressage. Which leads to one of the most recent firsts, the beloved and beautiful shadbelly!
The shadbelly also comes with the responsibility of getting you and your horse fit as well as technically prepared for the cross country phase of a two star. I knew my daughter was on the right track when Denis Glaccum praised her for effectively riding the coffin at Plantation Field this Fall and then the vet exuberantly declared her horse extremely fit while wishing her luck in stadium jumping the next day. During stadium warm-up she didn’t feel so lucky as she couldn’t see the distances to the jumps. It seemed like her luck was up and nerves took over all her careful training and preparation as they crashed through the first jump…but then everything kicked into place. The distances came back into focus, her amazingly talented horse was up to the task, and they ate up the rest of the course finishing in fifth place against a field of seasoned professionals! Man, you gotta love eventing!!!
And so, now I am wishing my daughter a happy eighteenth birthday, knowing that she still has so many more firsts to come in her life…just not always with me physically by her side. She and her horse, Walstraed will be heading for Hartpury College in England this Fall working towards a degree in Equine Sports Science and having the opportunity to train with Carl Hester, Nick Burton, and other amazing riders in Great Britain. Of course whether she likes it or not, I will be flying over to watch her compete for the first time at Burghley, Badminton, and other amazing venues. Then, God willing, attend her first Rolex after she graduates and comes back home.
Every moment and every penny spent on horses and Eventing has made my daughter into the beautiful , mature, responsible young woman she is today. Our time together with the horses has been priceless.
Happy birthday, to my amazing daughter, Jules Ennis. I love you.
EN would like to thank CAEventMom for sending us this preview of Twin Rivers HT. Event coverage is always appreciated and encouraged! We look forward to photos and reports from this event as the weekend progresses. Thanks CAEventMom!
James Alliston and Jumbo’s Jake, Galway CCI*** winners, entered at Twin Rivers this weekend. (Photo by Samantha Clark)
The season heats up in California as this weekend brings the first chance the year to run at the advanced level on the West Coast.There are some very experienced pairs set to run this weekend, including 2011 AEC Advanced winners Barb Crabo and Eveready; featured Rolex rider James Alliston and both of his Rolex mounts from last year, Parker and Jumbo’s Jake; Hawley Bennett-Awad and her WEG/Rolex/Burghley/Badminton fireball Gin and Juice; plus another former Rolex pair of Debbie Rosen and The Alchemist.
We will also be seeing a couple Pan Am partners making the move to Advanced including Gustav with James Atkinson, and Five O’Clock Somewhere with Hawley Bennett-Awad.Ballingowan Pizzaz with Shannon Lilley were hoping to compete but Shannon’s recent surgery has them sidelined – we are all hoping for a speedy recovery for Shannon!
Pan Am alternate Jolie Wentworth has her 2009 Rolex partner Killian O’Connor back in form, and Andrea Baxter will ride her 2010 Rolex horse, Estrella.Finally we will also see Pan Am shortlister (is that a word?) & Young Rider Max McManamy moving Project Runway up to his first advanced outing.
Focusing on Young Riders, the Intermediate division features Sarah Braun on Perfect Intentions, Maddy Mazzola on Man on a Mission, and Kaitlin Veltkamp on Flashpoint D, all looking to forward their qualifications for the NAJYRC’s.
Dressage starts on Friday, and we are assembling a team and will make every effort to send you pictures and coverage each day of the competition.Go Eventing!
Shannon and Ballingowan Pizzazz at the California Training Sessions (photo by Kate Erickson)
We introduced Shannon Lilley as EN’s newest guest blogger on Monday. Unfortunately, Shannon will be out of the saddle for a while. We heard from Shannon that she had emergency back surgery on Tuesday. Apparently her L5 disk exploded and filled up the spinal column, leaving her with no feeling in her midsection and legs. Shannon is still in the hospital, but recovering well and in good spirits. Shannon said that the doctors expect her to make a full recovery but she could potentially be out of riding for up to 6 months. The injury could potentially be related to riding, but wasn’t the direct result of a fall. Fortunately Shannon is much improved today over the past couple of days.
We would like to thank Kelly Pugh for the tip and, as Kelly writes: “Shannon is staying positive and trying her best to keep her spirits high! Some EN karma would be greatly appreciated as these next few days weeks and months are going to be incredibly rough on her.“
We’d like to send Shannon a Get Well Soon card with a big basket of EN Karma!
One of the best American mares in recent times, The Good Witch is finally hanging up her studs and retiring from international competition. With Jennifer Wooten-Dafoe, “Pooh” enjoyed a long, successful Advanced career spanning the country and overseas. Thank you Jennifer for sending this lovely tribute, and we wish you and Pooh all the best in the future.
From Jennifer:
The Good Witch Retires
The Good Witch has retired from international and upper-level competition. She had a long and successful career, and together we achieved things that most riders only dream about. The decision to retire her was tough, but she owes me nothing, and I owe her everything. Her owners Donn & Daisy Tognazzini and I felt it was in the best interest of my amazing partner to retire her now while she is happy, healthy and sound.
In 8 seasons, The Good Witch and I completed 30 competitions at the Advanced through CCI**** level. We traveled to Europe 5 times, and contested 5 of the 6 CCI**** competitions in the world. We completed four CCI****: Pau 2007 finishing 11th, Rolex 2008 finishing 7th, Burghley 2009 finishing 31st and Luhmuhlen 2010 finishing 18th. We completed 4 CCI*** at Blenheim, Malmo, Jersey Fresh and Galway, and 12 CIC***, finishing in the top 3 five times and the top 10 ten times. We were short-listed for the Olympics in 2008, and The Good Witch was the 2008 USEA Mare of the Year. In 2010, we were the Adequan USEA Advanced Gold Cup Champions. It’s been a fabulous journey for me and my little partner.
The Good Witch has changed my life and made my career. For that I owe a debt of gratitude to her wonderful owners, Donn & Daisy Tognazzini. I thank you Donn & Daisy, for allowing me to compete your fabulous mare all of these years. It has been an honor and a privilege. You have encouraged and supported me throughout my time with The Good Witch, and for that I am eternally grateful.
No one makes it in this sport without a great team of people behind them, and I’d like to thank my team, the best around. To my parents, Nancy & George Robinson; thank you for sticking by me through it all, and for your unwavering support in helping me pursue my dreams. To my coach, Ginnie Bryant; thank you for all of your wisdom and guidance, for believing in me, and for never giving up. To my long-time friend and super groom, Char Eurick; thank you for taking such good care of me and “Pooh” all of these years. You always made sure that she looked and felt her very best. To my amazing veterinary teams; Dr. Paul McClellan of San Dieguito Equine, thank you for coming all the way to Rolex to take care of us, I appreciated that more than I can say. To Dr. Andres Macouzet of Santa Lucia Farm; thank you for your wonderful care of Pooh and keeping her happy and healthy at home. There are so many amazing friends, supporters, and sponsors that have helped me over the years, I simply cannot name you all, but you know who you are. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
My partner may be changing, but my goal has not…. I’m still working on my goal of representing the USA on an International team and I’m excited to report I found a new mare that I hope can step into the Witch’s shoes….. Her name is Anika, and I’m feverishly working on raising the funds to purchase her. If you are interested in helping future efforts, please email me at [email protected].
It was 1997, I was 12, I had my mom’s camera and used up seven rolls of Kodak film; I was captivated for life. I’m sure most of us remember our first trip to Rolex, and how it left an indelible impression on us in some way. Amy Wells has put that experience into words and sent it to our EN mailbox to share with the rest of Eventing Nation. Never been to Rolex? After reading this essay, you’ll be dying to go. Thanks to Amy for writing, and thank you for reading. Entries opened yesterday– Go Rolex! www.rk3de.org
Rolex Changed My Life. – Part One
By Amy Wells
Here’s me in the Spring of 2008: I’m a wife, a new mom, have adecent9-5 career, andI’m a resident of a newly built hobby farm on 10 acres with a cute little red barn with 3 horses.Riding consisted of organized trail rides, 4th of July and Christmas parades and the occasional ride around the fields by my home in my trusty little western saddle on one of my trusty little quarter horses. Life was good.
I get a call from a good friend who is as crazy about horses as I am. She wanted to get together a group of horse enthusiasts to go to this thing called ‘Rolex.’ Me: “Isn’t that an expensive watch or something?” I had no idea what ‘Rolex’ was…. where it was, who it was, but she told me it involved horses and jumping so I thought, why not, I used to watch Katie Monahan (now Prudent, of course) on NBC sports on Saturday mornings in the 80’s, not knowing a THING about jumping, but it was horses, and all I wanted was a horse, so I sat there glued o the TV anyway. I digress. Me: “What? It’s WHERE? To get there we’re doing WHAT?” “Um…sure….count me in to split a hotel room in Georgetown, Kentucky with 4 other girls. And yeah, I’ll eat out of a cooler (to save money for the trade fair I knew nothing about of course), and I’ll sleep on a pull-out couch in a hotel room. And…. sure, I’ll fork over $90 bucks for a ticket that I don’t even know what the ticket is for. Oh, and yeah, I’ll drive 650 miles through the night on Wednesday from central Wisconsin to get there by 9am on Thursday. Oh, and you want to take my car? Um…yes, I guess?!”All I can think of is, “Suckerrrrrr!!!!”
So we drive through the night and arrive at the hotel to get a couple hours sleep before we arrive at the park.We watched most of the Dressage diligently all day Thursday and Friday. Now, mind you, I had never seen a dressage test in my life, in fact I didn’t even know what it was. I asked a bazillion questions to the incredibly patient friend saint sitting next to me. I was like that annoying mosquito buzzing around your ear at night, that you just can’t smack.Me: “What’s an extended trot? What’s shoulder in? What’s the difference between a free walk and a medium walk? Was that a good trot? Oh, you want a low overall score, but you want high individual marks? What? I don’t get it.” As discreet as I was being, I’m sure the people sitting behind us wanted to kick me in the back of the head (you know, by accident, when you cross your legs in a bleacher-type setting). I couldn’t have whispered any more quietly. Me: “Is this it? Is this what we’re watching all weekend? You’ve got to be kidding me. Could someone PLEASE give me a plastic fork that I could poke my eyes out with?”
However, by the late afternoon on Friday, I really started to get it, and could actually start to recognize good scores before they would appear on the big green board. I figured out the difference between a ‘6’ on the extended trot vs. an “8.“ Me: “Okay, I’m starting to get dressage, but when are they going to start jumping over semi-trucks and dog-houses?“
Saturday morning finally arrived, and so did the crowd. There’s a reason why the attendance grew by the gajillions. Droves of people were filtering into the park geared up with fannie-packs, water bottles, and mini lawn chairs. Most people adorned some sort of horsey-attire, whether it was a straw bent cowboy hat, a pair of Dubarry’s, a horse T-shirt, and Ariat jacket, etc. Oh, and the dogs, lots and lots of dogs.
My friends positioned me perfectly at the Head of the Lake. MaryJean said, “Sit right here, and when it starts, look right over there.” Then it was all about waiting for the big moment that everyone talked about. I heard things like, “It’s amazing.” ” It’s insane.” “Wait until you see what these horses can do.” Sure, I saw the jumps on the other side of the white roping, and yeah, they were big, but until you see a horse jump over them, they look like pretty park ornaments. Crouched down on the wet ground in the midst of a boatload of people, I kept looking down at my watch. Between overheard conversations about weather, riders I had never heard of before (Phillip Dutton, who?) dressage scores, and stranger’s personal stories that started out similar to, ‘One time, at band camp…’ it just built up this incredible anticipation that made my heart pound, but I had no idea what for. My friends were busy looking at the map of the course deciphering where we were to go next. I just sat there waiting for the unknown and thinking, “Man, I hope I’m not disappointed…I just sacrificed three vacation days and a whole lotta miles on my car to see this.”
Finally, I heard an announcer come over the loud speaker saying that a rider was in the start box (whatever that meant) and of course reminding people to keep dogs on leashes. A few minutes later I heard a whistle blow, and an eerie silence fell over the crowd. My friend whispered, “Just put your camera down for this first one and just watch….trust me…..just watch.” I heard a faint gallop and heavy breathing get louder and louder and closer (insert goosebumps here). I looked at the crowd to see which direction they were all looking and suddenly this amazing animal with a rider atop leaped over the biggest log I’d ever seen and plunged into the water. (I wish I could describe a cool water word here, but all I can think of is Sploosh!) Water gets sprayed everywhere as they gallop through the lake, and they float over some other massive object in the middle of the lake (I think it was a duck), take a couple more strides in the water, leap out, jump another huge ‘thing’and gallop off to the next one (or something like that, it’s still a blur). I just sat there with my mouth wide open and I unconsciously clapped because everyone else was, but it was like I got hit with a tazer (not that I know what that feels like), because I was stunned. I looked at my friend, and with the biggest smile on her face, she waited for me to say something. I couldn’t speak. Finally, I said, “I HAVE to do that.”
Jump after jump, and the galloping lanes, and the whistles, and the horses breathing, and hearing the riders say, “Good Boy” and the crowd cheering and saying “ooh” with a close call – ALL OF IT, was simply amazing. We made it to nearly every jump that day, and even managed to watch a couple combos race into the finish line area and get cooled off. Every single jump, every galloping stretch, and watching the fury of the grooms dumping buckets of ice water on the horses was next to amazing. I couldn’t say anything intelligent other than, “Holy $%&*!” each time I saw a horse jump. After the last horse was through the course, we walked the entire course again and rubbed our hands over the nick marks on the logs, and set our feet into the hoofprints of where the horse landed at the Normandy Bank. We took pictures of the five of us standing next to at least a dozen different jumps. “What do they call that 90 million foot log, a Trakehner?““Who does this?““Are they nuts?“
We managed a quick bite at a restaurant near the hotel on Saturday evening (because if we ate another ham and cheese sandwich from the cooler we’d throw up). I’m like a 4 year old asking question after a question, after question….again to my patient and informative friends. “What does it mean to come under the time? What happens if they fall off? What’s a refusal? How many miles is it? How can a horse gallop for so long? What is that white arm thing they have on and the yellow watch all about? Why is there Crisco-looking stuff on the horse’s legs? What are those grey things on their nose? Has anyone ever been killed doing this?” By nine o’clock we were all comatose in the hotel room from the awesome day we just had.
Sunday morning we head to the Trade Fair. I don’t normally shop. I hate shopping. But this kind of shopping? Me:”Hello little credit card, it’s nice to see you. Are you warmed up? If not, you will be.” I kept saying to myself, ‘My husband is going to kill me.” I came home with two pairs of Kerrits breeches, a Kerrits jacket, a lovely pair of Ariat half chaps, a crop, a saddle pad(even though I didn’t have an appropriate saddle), and a helmet – all this English stuff without even sitting my butt in an English saddle before. Ever. I just started buying…..
Sunday afternoon came, and I finally understood what “You could have heard a pin drop” really meant (insert goose-bumps here). The way the crowd fell silent immediately once a horse began the course, and let out a subdued “Awww” after a rail fell was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Then my questions started, but this time, not to disturb anyone, they just circled around and around in my head. “How do they know which jump to jump? How do they know when to take off? Why are some of the horses wearing little bonnets? Why do some riders wear red jackets, and some wear navy? How can the rider still be in the air and already be looking at the next jump?” So many questions. I barely remember who the top ten riders were that year. I barely remember who even competed. But I remember how I felt during the ride back home. I had to learn how to do this. I wanted to learn everything I could. I have so much to tell my husband (minus the shopping incident). I didn’t care if I jumped a log, a fence, or my dog’s rubber toy that was lying in the middle of our yard. I had to jump something, and soon.
I returned to Rolex 3 more times after that. Each time I knew nearly every horse and rider combination from stalking research I’ve done on the internet. I began listening to The Eventing Radio Show faithfully every week, and Glen and Chris even invited me to be a guest one year at Rolex. I started obsessing over following “EventingNation.com” religiously. I’m one of those people that risks getting fired to watch some of the great videos posted.I researched other events like Rocking Horse, Pine Top, Jersey Fresh, The Fork, Southern Pines, the event at Rebecca Farm…..you name it, I looked it up. I found out where riders trained, who their horses were, who the owners were, who their grooms were, and what their plans were for the upcoming season. I even do it today. To say I have the “bug,” isn’t even fair, I would call more like a terminal disease.
So now what? I’ve since moved from my little hobby farm in WI to Minnesota where people actually know what eventing is. Western tack – SOLD! My three quarter horses have found homes with friends who know what trusty trail horses they are, and I now have a fantastic little Thoroughbred who loves to jump. I’m slowly but surely affording enough lessons and equipment to really get started. My journey has officially begun…
EN would like to thank Mary Getsey Bernier for her report on the Retired Racehorse Training Project Challenge. Three trainers worked with off-track thoroughbreds for five weeks, displaying their progress at the Pennsylvania Horse Expo where Mary was witness to the event. This was a wonderful project to showcase the talent and ability of OTTBs. Thanks for writing, Mary, and thanks for reading!
“Ambassadors” for the Breed: the Retired Racehorse Trainers Challenge, Off-the-track-Thoroughbreds, and trainers Challenge winner, Eric Dierks
By Mary Getsey Bernier
The post-weekend buzz kicking off the week was off-the-track-Thoroughbreds (OTTBs), and the folks who love them: specifically, the RetiredRacehorseTrainingProject‘sTrainers Challenge;Brazilian Wedding (owned by Pat Dale, Three Plain Bays); and winner of the Trainer Challenge, EricDierks (Renovatio Farms, Tryon, NC).
Trainers Challenge winner, Eric Dierks, riding Brazilian Wedding, owned by Pat Dale.
Photo credit: Mary Getsey Bernier
The Trainers Challenge Demonstration
Nearly 3,000 spectators filled the seats and standing room areas of the Equine Arena, eager to catch the final phase of the Trainers Challenge.
The crowd watches Tiffany Catledge, riding High Level, owned by Jim Falk.
Photo credit: Mary Getsey Bernier
Trainer Challenge participants Eric Dierks (Brazilian Wedding, owned by Pat Dale), Kerry Blackmer (Four X The Trouble, owned by Robin Coblyn), and, Tiffany Catledge (High Level, owned by Jim Falk, and Solidify, owned by MidAtlantic Horse Rescue)had five weeks to demonstrate the progression of the horses’ training. The first demonstrationkicked off in mid-January,when the trainers first met and rode the horses at the Maryland Horse World Expo. Over the five-week period, the trainers posted training updates via blogs and videos on the RRTPTrainers Challenge web site, the RRTP YouTube channel, and the RRTP Facebook page. The RRTP YouTube videos were viewed over 56,000 times in the course of five weeks. The RRTP Facebook page gained over 2,500 devoted followers, in the same period of time.
The crowd simply could not get enough. Here, Four X the Trouble, ridden by Kerry Blackmer, enjoys a pat from a young fan. Photo credit: Mary Getsey Bernier
Many spectators in the crowd admitted driving several hours, just to catch the final demonstration of their favorite RRTP horse and trainer. The trainers rode one at a time, using a microphone to explain to the audience his or her training methodology, why they chose the training methodthey did, and demonstrate the horses on the flat, and over fences. The final rides showed a notable and impressive amount of progress in the training of each horse, allowing RRTP fans the chance to see their favorite horse and trainer combinations, in person. (And, in some cases, to enjoy a pat on the nose!)
Tiffany Catledge started the demonstration, riding the first of the two horses she trained, High Level. Following Tiffany was Kerry Blackmer, riding 4 X the Trouble (also known as “Tempyst”). Eric Dierks was next, riding Brazilian Wedding. The demonstration ended with Tiffany riding the second horse she trained, Solidify. (See several videos of each trainer’s demonstration, here.)
No one envied the judges’ difficult task of choosing a winner, as all three trainers did an excellent jobconsidering the unique and variable training challenges of each horse. There was no question each horse and trainer made remarkable progress in the five-week training period, but ultimately the judges (Olympian James Wofford, CANTER Mid-Atlantic Founder Allie Conrad, and Alex Brown, author of Greatness and Goodness: Barbaro and his Legacy) awardedthe winning title to Eric Dierks. Jimmy Wofford commented on Eric and Brazilian Wedding, saying “I thought that horse was the most typical of what people think of in an off-the-track Thoroughbred. She’s a difficult ride, and Eric has done a very good job of bringing her along.”
Following the demonstration, the RRTP booth on the trade floor was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, as the crowd followed the trainers, the owners, the Trainers Challenge judges and the RRTP representatives for a press conference. Eric was awarded the grand prize, donated by internationally–renowned artist and photographer, Leland Neff: a 30 x 40″ portrait paintingof the winning trainer’s favorite horse. (Trainers and horse owners also received assorted generous gifts from Dover Saddlery, Cosequin, Ultimate Side Reins, Spursuaders, as well as copies of the books, Greatness and Goodness: Barbaro and his Legacy, and Raja, Story of a Racehorse.)
Smiles all around at the post-Trainers Challenge Press Conference. From left to right: Tiffany Catledge, Kerry Blackmer, Eric Dierks, Steuart Pittman.Photo credit: Mary Getsey Bernier
When asked at the press conference which horse he would select for the personal horse portrait, Eric immediately replied, “Stonehedge Heritage, also known around the barn as ‘Kibbles,’ an OTTB literally straight off a meat truck…” Eric explained the horse was pulled off the wagon, and turned out to a field, where they watched his extraordinary trot. He was purchased on the spot for about $800. Kibbles was the horse that took Eric up through the levels, all the way to Eric’s first CCI**** Rolex competition. Eric recounted the moment he realized how special Kibbles was, when competing him years ago at Fox HallCCI *** in GA. After a stirrup leather broke on–course, Kibbles and Eric managed to complete the remainder of the demanding course with one stirrup, conquering the most anxiety-inducing portion: a long ascending hill— followed by an equally long descent to a mushroom jump at the base of the hill.
Eric said he knew after that round that this horse would jump for him, “to the ends of the earth, regardless…Such is the heart and athleticism of these horses, these Thoroughbreds….I am so grateful to everybody who organized this event…Thoroughbred horses made me what I am as a trainer, and being part of an effort to showcase the trainability of these horses is an honor for me.” Today, Kibbles resides at Eric’s parents’ farm in Kenosha, WI, giving starter lessons to riders. Eric said he moves well, and everyone who rides him gets to see what is like to get a horse to go on the bit for the first time, and “stretch and dance.“
Training Challenge Winner, Eric Dierks, and his winning training technique
Throughout the Trainers Challenge, some dubbed Eric “the professor,” for his succinct educational training video blogs. Eric clearly has a passion for teaching, for educating, and a passion for OTTBs. During an interview following the Trainers Challenge, Eric explained he adjusted his teaching methods to accommodate today’s culture, where people sometimes tend to observe something in a riding training video, take a “snapshot of a moment,” and immediately make a judgment, without the trained eye of understanding what is not obvious to the viewer. He said he explains what he is doing in the videos with such detail in order to give them the educational slant, so people can follow the process of his riding and training, then learn and apply the techniques. Everything Eric does while riding is for a specific reason, in relation to how the horse moves, or how Eric wants to influence the horse to move. Eric wants riders to rediscover the fun of training, rather than just riding to show. He is concerned today’s riding community may become so caught up in showing, and forget about the fun of training, and what the horses give back to us in the training process.
Eric believes his method of consistent, patient, and disciplined training, following the classical training system, is the key to training a horse well. He also believes it helps the rider reach their goals, but equally, if not more importantly, it will build up the foundation that respects the horse, and conditions and prepares the horse for any discipline. He emphasizes rider education and accountability, insisting that one can not skip the basic foundation of balance and rhythm–the two building blocks of training–whether working with OTTBs, or any other horse. This type of logical and progressive systematic training, and patience, is crucial to success, even though it requires absolute commitment and discipline, on behalf of the rider. For the riders who want it badly enough–those who want to ride, and truly “dance” with their horses–the commitment and discipline (which Eric said are not always “bad” things, as some may think) must be part of the training program.
Eric encourages riders to keep their minds open, to educate themselves, either through taking lessons, participating in clinics, riding with a trainer, or sending their horses off for a training period, if they feel someone with more experience may fine–tune in areas where they are less qualified. He recommends riders read training material, watch videos, spend time observing, listening to other trainers and riders in similar training situations. Riders should tap into the resources of the OTTB organizations, such as RRTP. These groups are the ones who want to help new OTTB owners, educate them, and they sincerely want to find the best situation for the OTTBs they re–home. He encourages riders to not be intimated or afraid to ask for help and advice, as even the best riders and trainers know they don’t know every single thing there is to know about riding and training, and they aren’t afraid to keep learning.
(Note: The RRTP web site announced tentative plans to post the complete Livestream video of the Trainers Challenge from Pennsylvania. For additional information about the other trainers in the Trainers Challenge, and to learn more about their specific training techniques, please see the comprehensive summary recapped by the folks at Chronicle of the Horse, here.)
What does the future hold for RRTP, now that the Trainers Challenge has ended?
All four horses have returned to their owners, or OTTB organizations, and will be offered for sale. Steuart Pittman confirmed RRTP is working on plans for an event held during the week of Rolex Kentucky CCI****, in April 2012. He also hopes there may be another Trainers Challenge, as well as a program with an extended training period, open to both amateurs and professionals. All involved in this project agree, there is a wealth of endless opportunities for the OTTB horses.
The Trainers Challenge may have ended, but not the activity with RRTP. Pittman encourages the public to follow RRTP, to make the most of the online resources. One of these tools is the OTTB Bloodline Brag: an online database to track the use of Thoroughbreds in sport, and to track how performance characteristics can relate back to pedigree. (Such as, which stallions make great sires of dressage horses? Eventers? Jumpers?) RRTP hopes the database will become a useful vehicle for people doing pedigree research on OTTBs prior to buying them.
Erin Pittman, RRTP Board Member, shared a touching anecdote about the OTTB Bloodline Brag. She recounted an OTTB owner who recently entered information about their OTTB to the Bloodline Brag database, proudly posting the horse’s bloodline, a brief summary of the horse and rider’s recent accomplishments, and a comment on happy the owner was with their OTTB. A racetrack person browsing the database saw the listing, recognized the horse from its racetrack days, and relayed how happy they were to learn of the OTTBs “new life.”This coincidental connection would be no surprise to Trainers Challenge Judge Alex Brown, who commented the racehorse community has been following the RRTP Trainer Challenge with interest. Jim Falk, thoroughbred breeder and owner of High Level, ridden and trained by Tiffany Catledge in the Trainers Challenge, commented that the RRTP was an excellent resource, to educate and encourage the public about post-career options for OTTBs. Mr. Falk was impressed to learn of the large amount of community interest in the project, and was encouraged to learn the riding community had sincere interest in finding OTTBs for competition in other disciplines, such as Eventing, Show Jumping, or Hunters.
“The Retired Racehorse Trainer Challenge has already accomplished what we hoped for,” said Pittman. “All three of these trainers set a very high bar for the rest of us to aspire to in our work with horses off the track. They shared their methods and proved their skills. The horses themselves, however, were the stars of the show. They proved beyond any doubt that Thoroughbreds are well prepared for second careers when they come off the track, and that there are no limits to what they can do and learn. All four horses were relaxed in the arena… each horse showed the balance, suppleness and rhythm that we strive for with riding horses, but do not normally expect from a horse that raced recently. It was an extraordinary demonstration.”
Brazilian Wedding owner, Pat Dale concluded on the success of the program, saying with enthusiasm: “Many have kicked around the idea for such a program in the past. Steuart and Erin [Pittman] made it happen. RRTP understood the Trainers Challenge would be the ideal opportunity to make the horses the “ambassadors” for the Thoroughbred breed and off-the-track-Thoroughbreds. The program showcases what you can do with these horses in the sport. While not every horse is going to be suitable for every job, you have the resources like RRTP, or other organizations like MidAtlantic Horse Rescue, CANTER, and even my farm, Three Plain Bays, to guide first-time OTTB owners in making the most appropriate match in the best interest of both horse and rider. We also provide the educational resources; we want the best for these horses. It is as if those of us who have been working for years with OTTBs have always known what these incredible OTTBs have to offer riders and trainers in all disciplines, at all levels. We can help riders find good, sound, athletic and affordable horses, help these horses find a second career. The training resources and support resources are out there, these horses are affordable, they have great potential, and with the success of this five–week Trainers Challenge program, as well as the extraordinary response and support from the public, now we finally feel as if rest of the community is catching on. They finally get it!”
EN is proud to announce our most recent addition to the guest blogger stable, Shannon Lilley. With Ballingowan Pizzaz, Shannon represented the USA at the 2011 Pan Ams, helping win the team gold medal. From California, she will bring a little more West Coast flavor to the site and we look forward to following her progress throughout the eventing season. Shannon recently participated in the California Training Sessions– see photos and read Kate Erickson’s report. Welcome to EN, Shannon!
Shannon and Mango, photo by Kate Erickson
From Shannon:
John called me the other day to ask if I would be a guest blogger for Eventing Nation, and while I was thoroughly honored to write for the best website for Eventing ever, I also was struck with a dilemma. He said write some things about yourself to make sure everyone knows who you are, which I will, but I also want to make sure I represent the loyalty to my roots, the west coast.
I was born and raised in Portola Valley, CA, which is in the heart of the Bay Area. To know me is to know that I am loyal. I have grown up riding with the same person, mentor, trainer and friend with whom I share a business with now, Dayna Lynd-Pugh. We have been together for 23 years, which is almost unheard of in this day and age but something of which I am very proud. Sometimes I am embarrassed to say that it has been that long because people think, maybe I don’t get out much, so to speak. The truth is I do, and have experienced other programs and businesses but have always come back to Flying Tail Farms and Dayna, as it is my true home.
Presently, Dayna and I work together and have Flying Tail Farms, which is located at Red Fox Farm in Gilroy, the best facility with incredible owners, Jim Hoffman and Barbara Larsen. We have several fantastic clients who may or may not compete, but all help make up a team-like atmosphere within the barn. At the competitions, FTF thrives on working together to support each other as teammates would by jumping in to lend a helping hand, cheer on another barn-mate, or to volunteer advice if Dayna and I are not around.
I, myself, just came home from being a part of the Gold Medal winning team at the Pan American Games, where I learned how imperative it is for all the members of a team to work as a cohesive unit. As riders, we were five people who came together as one and the experience was unimaginable. The energy of that team was exponential making us unbeatable. Not only that, all the US grooms, coaches and staff worked together so well that people said it was the best team experience in almost 20 years. At FTF we try to cultivate that same “team-like” atmosphere, which has always brought us much success.
The Area VI Young Rider program is also a huge part of my life as well as Dayna’s as she is the coach and I am the Chef d’Equip. 2012 will be my 5th year and each of the past four years Area VI has dominated; bringing home either gold or silver medals in the one star or two star! I am so proud to say that our hard work and dedication has turned the Young Rider program around and it now is something that kids strive to be a part of. A good example of the success of the Area VI Young Rider Program is Kelly Pugh. She competed at NAJYRC in 2010 and brought home the individual gold medal in the 2star as well as team silver.
Kelly is Dayna’s daughter, like a sister to me and I am so proud to see her doing so well with her horse Copycat Chloe, even though she is on the East Coast! Last year, she won the Markham Trophy for the highest placed Young Rider at Fair Hill International in October. Flying Tail Farms misses her so much as she is part of our team!
Currently, I have two horses that I am competing, Ballingowan Pizazz (Mango) and Forgotten Emblem (Michael). Mango was the horse I rode at the Pan Am games last year and he is nothing short of a super star. Michael also did two 2-stars last year at Rebecca Farms and Galway, finishing 6th and 5th, respectively. This coming season they will both move up to Advanced and, ideally, do a three-star but, let’s be real, we are in the horse business, and they tell us the plan!
With this opportunity to blog for EN, I will talk about myself, but as I said, I will represent the West Coast proudly! Everyone should know how fantastic the events, people, courses, competition, and horses are out here. That being said, we are off to Twin Rivers Ranch this weekend for a horse show. Thank you to Connie, Jeff and Andrea Baxter for organizing such a great event and Katie Trafton for all your thankless work in the office. Preceding the event, Mark Phillips will be doing training sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for myself, Max McManamy, Mackenna Shea, and Jolie Wentworth, which will be a fantastic learning experience.
Thank you for reading!
Go Eventing!
Shannon and Ballingowan Pizzaz at the PanAms (photo by Alex Lilley)
Shannon and Forgotten Emblem (photo by Sherry Stewart)
Katie and Owl schooling
Advanced winners Barb Crabo and Eveready finished on their dressage score of 25.0. 
MacKenna Shea and Landioso took second place in the Advanced division
Hawley Bennet-Awad and Gin N Juice finished third in the Advanced
Kaitlin Veltkamp and Flashpoint D, winners of the Intermediate division
Jolie Wentworth and Killian O’Connor (photo by Sherry Stewart)
Hawley Bennet-Awad and Five O’Clock Somewhere (photo by Sherry Stewart)
James Alliston and Jumbo’s Jake (photo by Sherry Stewart)
James Atkinson and Gustav (photo by Sherry Stewart)
