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 been a long time since we’ve talked. It’s certainly been too long for John, who has been tearing his hair out waiting for me to write him a blog post for almost a month. If I wasn’t all the way over in Australia I’m sure he would have dropped in, pulled me off my horse and forced a laptop down my throat by now. I know that I have some making up to do.
2012 is already looking very different to 2011. This time last year I was making secret preparations for an assault on the Rolex Three Day Event – my gallop program was about to kick off and I was crossing my fingers that the equine transport company would call to say they had organised a flight to the USA for Tiger and I. It was an exciting time and kicked off a year that was highlighted by the achievement of turning up at some big events on the other side of the world, rather than by any actual success at them.
January 2012 has been interesting for different reasons. Just before Christmas I stepped out of the relative comfort of self-employment and plunged into the world of the fully employed. I now work as a writer in a large branding and advertising agency in Sydney, and as you can imagine, this has been quite a cultural shock for someone who has spent the best part of six years running their own horse business. I couldn’t help laughing yesterday when I caught myself walking into our inner-city office talking on the phone, drinking a takeaway coffee and carrying an umbrella. Life has definitely changed.
From setting off to work (at home) wearing boots, spurs and a helmet, I now ride a bus to the city in clothes which surprise me by still being clean at lunchtime. And while some bus drivers make me wonder whether I should continue to wear the helmet for safety reasons, I question whether this would be socially acceptable. Public transport is always an experience, but it’s an experience that I’m starting to quite enjoy, and one that us horse people are exposed to far too rarely.
I’ll admit that I’m struggling to come to grips with the fact that in my new line of work I’ve tumbled far down the chain of command. Unfortunately it seems that my self-titled position as CEO of the stable hierarchy hasn’t carried over to the new environment. However, despite the bus rides and the lack of status I have to admit that it’s a fantastic job and I’m having a great time. We’ve got some amazing clients, the work is always interesting (I named a bank, a kitty litter and a software company all in the same day last week), and most importantly I’m still finding plenty of time to ride.
I might not say it to my new boss, but the horses are still more important than work. Our eventing season kicks off during February and I’m preparing three horses for the season ahead. These include a 3-Star horse called Tahoe, a 1-Star mare called Starburst (who I have very high hopes for after she won a CCI1 Star at the end of 2011), and a youngster called Nemo who should be out running around Pre-Novice in the first half of this year. They’re a great bunch of horses and I’m hoping that at least one of them will turn out to be a champion (and perhaps a champion globetrotter) like Tiger.
Speaking of Tiger, he is secretly stoked that rather than spending a winter in dreary England he is back at home in sunny Sydney. He was released from quarantine in mid-December and had a few weeks of relaxation before having keyhole surgery on his anular ligament. This was a by-product of the tendon injury he sustained on course at Burghley, and means he will have to rest for the remainder of 2012. Hopefully by early next year he’ll be able to make someone very happy as they win all of the ribbons in low level eventing. I think he’ll be looking forward to it.
Elsewhere, 2012 has started with an epidemic of people falling off. I’ve only taught two clinics this summer but my pupils seem intent on throwing themselves off their horses and onto the ground in front of me. While I was on the bus the other morning I did the stats, and they didn’t stack up well for me:
17 hours of cross-country coaching. 40 riders. 8 falls. 1 inflated air vest. 1 petrified horse. 1 ambulance. No serious injuries.
Apparently, no amount of telling people to keep their heels down, keep their eyes up and sit back can keep them from falling off if that’s what they’re intent on doing.
Luckily, there’s a less stressful way to turn a dollar. You just have to catch the bus.
Horses aren’t perfect and mistakes happen. Trying to bounce a one-stride is a pretty bad idea and rarely turns out well, but some horses try it under certain circumstances (ahem, Murphy Himself and Molokai). This horse didn’t have much luck, either. But, at least he tried to make up for it by finishing the triple!
Hot off the presses, the USEF has just released the list of riders receiving grants this spring, courtesy of Land Rover, $33,500 in total. Congratulations to all.
Name (hometown) and Owner, Horse
Hannah Sue Burnett (The Plains, VA) and Jacqueline Mars’ Harbour Pilot Jan Byyny (Purceville, VA) and her own and Richard and Jo Byyny’s Inmidair Will Coleman (Charlottesville, VA) and Jim Wildasin’s Twizzel Tiana Coudray (Ojai, CA) and Jaital Inc.’s Ringwood Magister Buck Davidson (Ocala, FL) and Sharon Will’s Absolute Liberty, Carl and Cassandra Segal’s BallyNoe Castle RM and Sherrie Martin’s The Apprentice Phillip Dutton (West Grove, PA) and Team Rebecca LLC’s Ben, Bruce Duchossios’ Mighty Nice, Nina and Tim Gardner’s William Penn Will Faudree (Hoffman, NC) and Jennifer Mosing’s Pawlow Sinead Halpin (Oldwick, NJ) and Carriag, LLC’s Manior De Carneville Becky Holder (Palmetto, GA) and Melissa and Phil Town and Tom Holder’s Can’t Fire Me Shannon Lilley (Gilroy, CA) and The Lilley Group’s Ballingowan Pizazz Marilyn Little-Meredith (Frederick, MD) and Raylyn Farm’s RF Rovano Rex Boyd Martin (Cochranville, PA) and The Neville Bardos Syndicate’s Neville Bardos, The Otis Barbotiere Syndocate’s Otis Barbotiere and his own and Faye Woolfe’s Ying Yang Yo Clark Montgomery (Fairburn, GA) and Holly Becker, Kathryn Kraft and Jessica Montgomery’s Loughan Glen Karen O’Connor (The Plains, VA) and the Mr Medicott Syndicate’s Mr Medicott Julian Stiller (Thatcham, Berkshire) and her own and Jules Delvecchio’s Chapel Amble Jolie Wentworth (Martinez, CA) and Tracy Bowman’s Good Knight
The list of training sessions and Selection Trials is available here:
Helmet cam videos are always fascinating, and this one is no different. What you’ll enjoy most from this one (aside from the lovely standardbred hindquarters) is its smoothness! No shaking, no bobbing heads, just a cadillac-smooth ride.
I don’t know much about harness racing, but wow those horses go fast. For perspective: a two-minute mile (“standard”) is about 800mpm! I’ve always enjoyed watching their rhythmic strides, and the extension they have through the shoulder. My dressage trot mediums are pitiful in comparison.
We love your clinic reports! If you attend a clinic, send us your review: [email protected]. Here’s a recap and post-clinic perspective, from an aspiring adult event rider…
By Mary Getsey Bernier
I avidly follow and support the community and sport of Eventing–the horses and riders competing at all levels. Like many aspiring riders, I stand in awe of the talented and athletic pairs who reach the highest levels of our challenging sport. They inspire us. They break records and win prizes; they clear incredible obstacles with seemingly effortless grace. I marvel at the true grit of those who emerge victorious through the roughest of rides, overcoming the odds. When they jump, I jump. When they extend the trot down the diagonal, I float with them. When they clear the water jumps, I feel the splash in my face. I love this sport!
For me, the here-and-now is that I’m a stay-home-Mom and horseless rider with two young kids. I have 30 years of off-and-on again riding on all sorts of horses, in some unusual circumstances in America, and abroad, along with only a handful of what one would call “formal” training. I ride whatever horses I can, whenever I can. I strive to maintain balance as an individual, a rider, a Mom, and a wife. When asked, I describe my riding experience and horse knowledge as a block of Swiss cheese: substantial, but with enough small holes that I work constantly to fill them with every learning opportunity I can find. I attend local clinics, horse trials and shows, volunteer, and of course, my annual trip to the Rolex Three Day Event. When out of the saddle, I’m the proverbial “sponge,” soaking up as much as possible. While I’ve ridden the separate parts of Eventing in my cumulative years of riding (cross country over all sorts of natural obstacles and terrain as a young fearless rider; some show jumping here and there; a bit of dressage), I have yet to do my first “real” competition, combining all three. My goal is to have a horse, to enjoy the process of training and riding, and to Event.
Colleen Rutledge Clinic, January 14-15, 2012
I enrolled to audit a clinic with Advanced **** rider, Colleen Rutledge, over the weekend of January 14 -15. Just days before the clinic, the phone rang–there was a horse for me to ride!!! Thrilled, with butterflies in my stomach, I arranged kid care, and hightailed out to Turnabout Farm, in Mt. Airy, Maryland. I had never ridden with an upper level rider instructor before, so I had no idea what to expect. To make the opportunity even more nerve-wracking exciting, this was the first time I had ridden in over two and a half months, after fracturing three ribs last November, as well as injuring my rotator cuff, just two months prior in September (fortunately, neither injuries were riding related). Before my down time, I had only been riding about twice a week, and had not jumped in over a year. I had no idea I’d be back in the saddle this soon–might as well dive in with both feet and start swimming, right?
Here we are, warming up on the flat…literally warming up! The high temp for both weekend days hovered just above 30F; I think the indoor ring temperature in the morning was a balmy 40F. I had a short time to hack around and get to know the horse. He was a wonderful 6 year old, with beautiful movement, a great mind, playful, and wonderfully fun!
And then we started jumping…We started with a line down the center of the ring. First, a simple vertical; then two; then three; then, three jumps followed by two strides to the fourth. My recent time out of the saddle was showing. I had trouble keeping my lower leg on, my leg still, I forgot to breathe, (“oh yeah, we’re supposed to breathe…”). My shoulders needed to be back, my chest open, etc. I had to remind myself to lighten up and relax.
Colleen quickly pointed out I tended to freeze over the jumps. Also, I found myself either correct in my upper body position, or my lower leg contact, but wasn’t keeping the two together, consistently. Colleen could see right through me: I was thinking too much, and trying too hard! Time to pull it all together! I rode on, and by the end of the hour and a half ride, I was loosening up.
Colleen is an excellent instructor. She communicated her instructions clearly, making me think about my riding in a new way. In this case, the horse knocking down the pole was a result of him trying to figure out the jumping exercise. It had been drilled into me in the past that a dropped pole was always a reflection of a jump ridden incorrectly by the rider. When my position was correct, it was “not your problem” as Colleen explained. The horse was trying to figure out where to put his feet in between the jumps. Colleen emphasized my job as a rider is to stay balanced, keep the rhythm, straightness, keep him ahead of my leg and forward, and let him do his job: jump. Notice she said he was the one jumping, not me? As I said at the end, “we’re getting there!”
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice…Or as I heard Jimmy Wofford say in another recent clinic I audited: “Practice doesn’t make perfect – perfect practice makes perfect.”
We added a fourth jump to the line. Notice I rounded my shoulders and I crouched in my jumping position at the end? He popped over the last jump and my position was behind the motion. Not pretty, but it gives me a good idea of what I need to work on. Colleen pointed out I tend to round my position when I’m not secure, or when I’m thrown off-balance by the horse knocking a rail on a previous jump in a line. I need to leave the dropped rails behind me and focus on jumping the rails ahead of me.
A bit better, but always room for improvement.
After we finished this line, we practiced over a wide jump, getting the horse to lengthen. (Where was my leg?! I think I was beginning to tire, but was still having fun!)
After that, we moved on to a line of bounces, to get the horse to shorten his strides. Colleen taught us to start stretching and lengthening over the jumps first to get the horse to extend, and then move to the bounce line, to get the horse to contract. We rode both days for a bit over an hour and a half. The camera battery died at the end, so sadly no footage of those exercises. In the end I was sore, but I learned so much, and had such great FUN!
By the end of the clinic, I had acquired so much useful information, and I left the clinic thinking about my riding in a completely different way. More importantly, I took home lessons I felt confident I could work through on my own (such as the gymnastics, my position), until I have a chance to return and train with Colleen again. I must work on the foundation of my riding, my position. I plan to spend more time on the flat, trotting in jumping position, working without stirrups, strengthening myself, stretching and staying flexible. I must be steady and not block the horse’s movement by pinching him with my knees, or throwing him off balance by being too much ahead of the horse: a direct result of my weak lower leg, lack of calf contact, and fatigue.
Colleen helpfully pointed out I tend to not look at the top rail of my fences as I approach them. How can I see what I’m jumping if I don’t look at it? Colleen explained I must focus on the top rail of the fence, on the approach, until it cleared my horse’s ears. At that point, I had less than a stride to jump, and if I didn’t have it right by that time, I got what I prepared for, good or bad. I also learned I tend to completely ignore or look beyond things that made me uncomfortable (insert whistling sound here, “la la la, nothing to see here, move along…pretend there’s nothing there, just get over it….la la la”). It is funny how these things seem so blatantly obvious, but only after they are pointed out to you. Another “light bulb” moment.
Taking this knowledge with me was important, as I don’t always have access to a trainer when I ride at home. When you’re horseless, and initially learned to ride in group lesson formats on school horses, or in an environment where you’re constantly told how to ride (but not always why to ride in a certain manner), you tend to become too reliant on being told what to do, without learning what to do, instinctively. Jumps and poles were always set up for me in a lesson, without explanation of distances. I knew the basics of how far apart to set poles and jumps, but Colleen spent time going into detail about why the distances were set as they were, for the whichever particular exercise we were working on, at that particular moment. While working with Colleen, I also learned I have a very good sense of “feel.” I know when a ride is right; I know when it is wrong. Having that sense of “feel” is very helpful for when I ride and practice on my own. What I undeniably need was more time in the saddle, more mileage. Being able to take home the lessons I learned from Colleen, and not only know how to apply them, but the sequence in which to apply them with the needs of the particular horse I was working with, the “why, what, when, and how,” on my own, was very important to me.
I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed the clinic. Colleen has a keen eye for evaluating each rider and horse, gauging their strengths and weaknesses and knowing just what is necessary to motivate them, setting them on the right course. From my BN perspective, Colleen was incredibly helpful in teaching me how to work on the basics I need to master, before I am in a position to safely take myself and a horse to our first BN competition. I had a great time. She’s not only a terrific rider and competitor, but also an enthusiastic educator and excellent communicator. The clinic was challenging, but also fun, inspiring, and simply put, she was an all-around awesome person to ride with. I met some new horse friends, and enjoyed watching the other classes in the clinic over the two days. The other riders who rode with me appeared to enjoy it as much as I did, having their own one-on-one moments with Colleen, to focus on their positions and horse’s particular needs.
Catch Colleen’s next clinic, support her on her path to Badminton and beyond, have fun, and go ride. For more information, visit her website and blog at: http://colleenrutledgeeventing.com/. Go Colleen and Shiraz! Go Eventing!
2009 Preakness winner and Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra delivered a healthy bay colt on Sunday afternoon, 1/22/12. His sire is 2008 HOTY Curlin. This little guy has a bright future ahead of him! [Full Bloodhorse story]
2010 HOTY Zenyatta is expecting her first foal, by Bernardini, sometime in early March.
Foaling season is such an exciting time of year! Now if only I could decide who to breed my mare to…
I met Kristin Michaloski a few years ago when I was working for Doug. Kristin had a gangly palomino with a sweet temperament, and was looking to see if he would be her one star horse. What was meant to be a brief few months of training quickly evolved into Kristin being one of Doug’s most valuable owners, and one of my best friends.
2010 was a particularly rough year for me on many levels. One of those years that is a bitch day in and day out. But hindsight allows to you appreciate those hardships that have brought you to where you stand today. (even though you still think, “Screw you 2010, you’re a bitch.”) Pardon my language. Kristin was there for me every step of the way. She was a voice of reason when I was overreacting, and the fuel to my fire when I was underreacting. Most of all, she helped me believe I was as good as the rest of them.
I have always wanted my own operation, but don’t quite have the competitive resume to branch out on my own. I also don’t quite have the bankroll to develop the competitive resume, nor the four legged friend to compete… and after a few disappointed pre-purchase exams, I put those thoughts on hold. In the meantime, my good friend and boss Sinead has allowed me to compete when she can, but it’s hard to hand out rides when people are paying a professional a pretty penny to help develop their own horses resumes, and who can blame them?
When the stars aligned this fall, I finally had the opportunity to rent some stalls down the street and thus officially begin Kepferle Equestrian LLC, a company I had started years ago. And while my student list steadily grows, it has yet to have any horses in its roster, which plainly just blows. I finally had one horse coming to me for training, but he needed a friend. When Kristin found out I needed another horse, she immediately offered to send her baby to me to start. Bimba, who Kristin had bred and originally was hoping to be a big fancy gray gelding, turned out to be a scraggily little chestnut mare. Bimba arrived to Kepferle Equestrian in November. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was grateful to have the ride. Baby Bimba adjusted quickly to life in Pittstown, and was sweeter than any chestnut mare I’ve ever seen and smarter than all hell. Bimba played on line, and with the help of Sarah we had her trotting under saddle and over poles in no time. Because of her age, and her seeming growth spurt, she went on vacation, and was due to return after I got home from Ocala to continue her education.
When I heard the news of the barn fire over the weekend, I was devastated. As a head groom, manager, rider, student, and person, a barn fire is one of my worst nightmares. And it seems to be coming more and more of a reality in the recent months. Bad things happen to good people, and bad things happen to good horses. And despite the exciting start to the 2012 season, my heart is saturated with sadness. I will be eternally humbled by Kristin’s friendship and support, and forever grateful I got to be a part of Bimba’s short, but special life. Thank you Kristin for sharing her with me.
Pan Ams Team Gold Medallist Hannah Burnett has been a regular guest blogger here on EN. We’ve followed her throughout 2011, from Rolex to the Pan Am Games. Today she catches up with us in Ocala: going out on her own, attending David’s 50th birthday party, and the fun of PRO Derby Cross. Thanks, Hannah, for writing and thank you for reading!
Back in Ocala! Although I am here with some of the same horses as last year, the same dog, the same friends and the same goals, there is something different about my trip south this year. As many of you know, I have recently branched out and started my own business. With the O’Connor’s support and guidance we have decided it’s time for me to be a grown up and be in charge of myself. For those of you who know me, you are probably a little worried about this decision! Truth be told, it is a scary venture but I feel ready and excited for the challenge. Over the last couple months, along with my horses, I have been taking some time off. I am so blessed to have the wonderful staff at OCET to take care of William and Nike in Ocala while I goofed off and taught a couple clinics up north. Max Corcoran, Rachel Goff, Dr. Ober and Randy Pawlak along with Karen and David have kept them safe and sound and when I arrived they looked fantastic and happy.
I have my three other horses at a neighboring farm to OCET, with Dressage rider and fellow Kentuckian, Chrissa Hoffman. She’s so fantastic and a very talented rider and teacher. I’m excited to get some help on the flat from her this winter. Although the horses obviously take precedence in my schedule, the social agenda has been fierce here so far. Slowcala has really been buzzing this year, with David’s 50th Birthday bash, the Derby Cross in Wellington and getting together with the many friends in the area to catch up.
David’s party was a blast. Karen did a beautiful job putting it together and there were so many fun people there that I didn’t even get to see and talk with all of them! Sinead (you don’t really need a last name for her, do ya?), Rebecca Howard, Lynn Symansky, Lauren Kieffer and I threw together a little presentation we titled “The Faces of David” for the party. We thought it was hilarious…hopefully everyone else did too! Lauren and I made T-shirts (Lauren did all the work while I watched), and we had props and a power point with pictures of David’s face and some a couple of, you could say, slightly inappropriate and awesome pictures thrown in there. I asked David the morning of his party if he was excited about it and all he said was that he heard we were putting something together and was “very afraid!” The party had great food, lots of laughs and roasts from Brian and Sally O’Connor and of course a rocking dance floor.
Derby Cross was a bit of a whirlwind this year but also a blast. The Calcutta was great and lots of money was raised for Operation Homefront and the teams. PRO did a great job putting on the whole event and the course was beautifully designed by David O’Connor and built by Eric Bull.
My team was sponsored by the fantastic Devoucoux Saddles (my personal favorite). They generously provided saddles and supported our team who was comprised of myself, Shannon Lilley, Jon Holling, show jumper Candice King and polo player Doug Barnes. I had never met Candice and she is flipping amazing. Such a good rider, team player and such a go-getter! No wonder she’s so successful and everyone speaks so highly of her. The bogey fence for the show jumpers was an up bank, 2 strides to a skinny brush and she totally rocked it on a green show jumper! Doug Barnes also did a fantastic performance, and put up a great time and score for our team. I think he’s the best jumping polo guy out there (I’m paid to say that… 😉 Shannon Lilley had a catch ride on a fantastic mare in Buck’s program. She literally jumped a few jumps and went in the ring and put up the best score of the eventers on our team! She rocks! Jon and I had the bogey fence down but he rode a greenish horse and did a fantastic job and put in a fast round. I had a bit of a scary moment at the terrifying ‘Key Hole’ where Danio thought he’d rather go around it than through it, before deciding that I’m scarier than any fence he’ll ever see and thought better of it. All in all, we had a great time, an awesome sponsor and game horses so we can’t complain with 3rd place. Derby Cross is something I have started to really look forward to every year and we need to get more people involved because it’s a great promotion for our sport and gives us Eventers a chance to give back with it being a Fundraiser.
I’d like to thank Cavalor for their recent sponsorship. I’ve been pining to put my horses on their feeds for a while now and I’m so excited to promote their great products and represent the company. If you see someone wearing “I heart Cavalor” shirts with a picture of Michael Pollard’s face on the back, you’ll know that’s me.
I’m looking forward to our first event at Ocala in February and then the Pine Top Advanced in late Feb. Hope to see y’all out there!!!
Over this weekend, there were some pretty important winners. The Patriots and the Giants move on to the Super Bowl, while the 49’ers and the Ravens go home empty-handed. Oh, and let’s not forget mighty Florida State and Notre Dame in NCAA basketball (sorry, Duke and Syracuse, my blue blood runs deep!).
And, this weekend produced a lucky Nunn Finer contest winner. Congratulations to McKenna and her “out on the town” outfit, she is the proud recipient of $400 worth of NF products! I’m sure many of us can give her spending suggestions, if she needs any help!
Thanks to all who participated, all who voted, and especially to Nunn Finer for their support of EN. Go Eventing!
Horse people love dogs, that’s no secret. So, to finish your work week with a smile, here’s a silly doggie video. I want to know how to teach mine to ride a bike, or a skateboard!
Thanks to Morag O’Hanlon for the photos, video, and write-up!
Ocala in the Winter really does feel like the horse capital of the world. There is something horsey going on every day if you know where to look. The highlight of my one and only weekend in Ocala was watching Bruce Wayne, er, I mean….Davidson, riding the range. Bruce Davidson and Chuck Waters were splendidly mounted on two of Chuck’s beautiful Western horses. Bruce had gone over to ‘Waterworks’ for a sneaky practice or two and on Sunday, he and Chuck were having a great time doing ‘Ranch Sorting.’
It consists of two big roundpens with a gateway between them. 10 little cows come in, all wearing numbers on their backs from 0 – 9. The trick is to get the little cows through the gateway in the right order. One of the two man team parks his horse in the gateway and spins it right or left to either make a gate or a passageway depending on whether or not the right little critter is galloping toward them. This person also has to do a great deal of ‘Ya Ya’ with sufficient volume to turn the wrong little critters back! Meanwhile the second member of the team is cutting his calf out of the herd and chasing it’s ass to the gateway and through. When you see a practiced team working together it’s very fast and done against the clock. Wrong number goes through – you lose.
Originally I was meant to be flying back home on the Sunday but there was nothing going to make me miss seeing Bruce Davidson done up in his best Western duds and cutting cattle.
Bruce and Chuck did three ‘sets’. The first one was OK, the second one was AMAZING and the third one had a few recalcitrant cows in the herd.
Andrew McConnon sent us this view from Midsouth Team Challenge. Nothing says “Kentucky” quite like rows of white four-board fence. If you’d like to submit an ears photo, please send it along with a caption describing it to: [email protected].
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As always, be sure to check out World Equestrian Brands’ online shop here to show for their selection of great products. We have mentioned this before, but we also want to give a quick shout out to World Equestrian Brands rider Buck Davidson for his tremendous year last year as well as Alexandra Slusher, who rides for WEB and received the $10,000 Endowment Trust Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant.
Well, it appears EN has been honored with nominations in the 2012 Page Play Equestrian Social Media Awards. Until a couple days ago, I didn’t even know there was such a thing as the “ESMAs.” Apparently, it’s right up there with the ESPYs, the Tonys, and the Oscars, for horse-related websites. As we speak, I know John is busy sorting through dress ideas with Versace, so look for him to make a real statement on the red carpet. He’s having a hard time deciding between the shipping boots and the heels!
All kidding aside, we are really humbled to be nominated in three categories: Facebook, Most Informative, and Best Blog. And a big congratulations to Samantha Clark, for her individual nomination in the Twitter category (she is the Tweet Queen!). This site is a lot of work, and a lot of fun, and it’s neat to be unexpectedly recognized as “Top Ten” by any measure. We certainly would not be where we are today without the loyal readers who keep us on the path to insanity each day.
I always thought it was silly when actors proclaimed, “It’s just an honor to be nominated…” when they speak of awards shows. (Really, George Clooney, was a nod that unexpected?) In this case, EN is more like Zach Galifianakis from The Hangover (we are a wolf pack) taking on the stars of the stage. And in this case, it truly IS an honor just to be nominated.
You know it, you love it– wonderful eventing items from Nunn Finer. Whether it’s their yummy Soft Grip reins, or one of their stylish, effective breastplates, Nunn Finer makes quality products with eventers in mind. Thanks again to our fine, creative minds of EN readers who participated in this contest. $400 of Nunn Finer goodies are on the line… view the photos and vote below! Poll closes Saturday at midnight (EST). 10 photos were selected, only one will win!
1. Tesla
Deep in the backwoods of VT where indoors don’t always reside, we ride when we can, and let our horses get some much deserved time off. We browse our Bit of Britain catalogs and check Tack of the Day at 12 o’ clock sharp, doing our best to prepare for the spring, which feels oh so far away. To my surprise (not really, I knew I was laking the good stuff) the only Nunn Finer product I posses is my beloved reins; everything else, is well… bailing twine, duct tape, and shavings bags!
2. McKenna
Items used: Polly pad, galloping boots, brush boots, breastplate, and Nunn Finer tack grip spray (the best!!!).
Caption: ready for the clubs.
3. Kim
Item: Nunn Finer Brushing Boot Description: This is BooBoo, modeling the latest in protective vests for eventing cats. She has spent many hours reading EN (on my lap) and wants to try the sport for herself.
4. Jen B.
Nunn Finer soft grip reins in black and brown for unruly children, and grip spray for keeping them where you want em’. *no children were harmed in the making with this photo*
5. Lynsey
Nunn Finer sports tempi boots (borrowed – as chest armor), nunn finer bridle photoshoped onto Loper, Nunn Finer XC boots as arm guards (borrowed)! EN photoshoped into the clouds.
6. Emily
Explanation: Rider fitness has been stressed more and more recently, so I figured that I’d lace up my running shoes and start running! Of course, I use my Nunn Finer armband to hold my iPod so that the run doesn’t get boring.
7. Jennifer O.
Making good use of my lovely Nunn Finer Superior Brushing Boots – like I always say “There are others … And then there is Nunn Finer :)”
I will go NO where without my Nunn Finer products, and on NO XC course without my Nunn Finer Boots. They really are the bomb!
8. Victoria
One of those awkward moments when you don’t have a belt and your pants are to big. But I know I can always count on my Nunn Finer 5-Point breast plate to help keep my saddle and pants in place!
9. Lauren
Using my Nunn Finer Soft Grip draw reins to “long line” Showshoe the reindeer!
10. Sally
Modeled here is our new 5-Duct Breastplate, Figure-Duct Bridle, No-Slip Duct Reins, Wuct XC Boots, Duct Boots, and Charles Duct helmet, however the market seems to not favor disposable equipment. We have decided to abandon this in favor of some Nunn Finer product-unless Mr. Nunn would be interested in investing in our Line?
Aside from participating in Live Blogs, being a wonderful father, and successful upper level event rider, Jon Holling is now hosting a Cross Country Derby at his lovely Willow Run Farm. It sounds like a fantastic outing for those in the Ocala area!
The 2012 season in Ocala is well underway. There are loads of opportunities to compete and school the young horses in the local area. One of those opportunities is the Ocala Horse Properties cross country derby being held at Willow Run Farm tomorrow, January 19. The competition will be held at both the training and preliminary levels. Both courses will be set all day starting at 8:30am and finishing up around 2pm. The format is simple, clear round closest to optimum time wins. There will be prize money, food and music all day. Come on out for a great oportunity to school your young horses or just watch some of the best riders in the country have a great time. Check www.equiventures.com for more information or call Jon at 352-875-8622.
It’s an Olympic year, and equestrians all over the world are vying for a spot on their respective teams. However, as of yet the FEi does not recognize the fabulous sport known as “coon jumping,” or mule leaping. Athleticism comes in all shapes and sizes…and with long ears.
Coon jumping is a class named after the practice of jumping mules over fences during a hunt for raccoons with the dogs. During the hunt, there were often fences in the way of the chase. The rider would dismount and place a blanket over the fence (which was often barbed wire) and then have the mule jump the fence from a standstill. In the National Miniature Donkey Association coon jumping class, the donkey has to come to a complete stop after stepping inside of a box drawn 10 feet in front of the jump. The handler can put a towel or blanket over the jump if he/she chooses to do so. After coming to a stop, the donkey can move around inside of the box before jumping but if it steps outside the box, or knocks down the jump, it is eliminated. It has 45 seconds or 3 attempts to make the jump. After all the donkeys in the class jump (or have attempted to jump) the bar is raised in 2-3 inch increments. The donkey clearing the highest jump wins the class.
Craigslist is such a strange, and rarely wonderful place. You just never know what you’re going to find. Searching for “trades” frequently discovers the odd, the unusual, and the clueless. And sometimes, you wish you just hadn’t clicked on a listing.
late 1800’s early 1900’s horse drawn surrey. fully restored by amish, new convertible top, new upholstry, wheels and rubber tires etc. pics available on request. serious inquires only, this aint your average surrey. possible trade for vehicles, solar panels and freeze dried food.
TRADE STREET BIKE FOR ROPING HORSE (GALLATIN, TN )
Date: 2012-01-11, 10:35PM EST
2000 BUELL LIGHTNING X-1 STREET BIKE, HAS HARLEY 1200 ENGINE, SIGNED BY ERIC BUELL, RUNS AWESOME AND WAS RECENTLY SERVICED AT HARLEY DAVIDSON, TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 100 MILES ON THEM, 10,500 MILES TOTAL ON BIKE, LOOKING TO TRADE FOR A WELL BRED ROPING HORSE, TEXT ME AT (615)394-****
(QUARTER HORSE, ROPING HORSE, AQHA, TEAM ROPING HORSE, HEELING HORSE.)
Location: GALLATIN, TN
it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
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******THRIPLE REG TWH STUD****** – $1500
Date: 2011-12-13, 3:13PM EST
I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BLACK WALKING STUD. HE IS STRAIGHT OUT OF THE PUSHER CG. THATS RIGHT THE PUSHER IS IS FATHER!! HE IS REG IN THE TWHA, THE BREEDERS ASS. AND THE RACKING HORSE ASS. HE IS VERY CLAIM AND A GOOD BOY, HE WON THE WGC IN RACKING IN TENN. THE BLOODLINE ALONE SHOULD SPEAK FOR THEMSELF. THE ONLY REASON I NEED TO SELL HIM IS MY SON HAS STARTED RIDING AND HE CAN NOT SHOW A STUD, AND I DONT HAVE THE HEART TO HAVE HIM CUT FOR NO REASON AS I SAID HE IS A GOOD BOY. I HAVE NO PROBLEM LETTING MY SON RIDE HIM ANYWHERE AND NOT HAVING TO WORRY. WE WOULD EVEN TRADE FOR A GELDING OR A MARE. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING.
HORSEPOWER 4 HORSEPOWER???=Make A SERIOUS Reasonable Offer!!! Thought I would see if this is a Wanted option for anyone!
I have REAL *Horse*power & I NEED a vehicle w/horsepower! (paid for) & some cash (prefer a truck/suv) I have 2 BEAUTIFUL Fabulous Friesian Horses!! 1 is a 1997 FPS Registered Imported Ster Mare from the Netherlands – paid $30,000 in foal, the other horse for sale is her foal…registered FPS mare born & imprinted in 2004 – her first Kuering she received 3rd Premie & was micro-chipped. BOTH are excellent breeding prospects and as sweet as they come, natural horsemanship trained, beautifully animated & ready for whatever riding/driving discipline you desire! In this business many years, we’ve raised them all from babies, they’re happy & healthy horses with excellent vet records, they are my babies and MUST go to a GOOD HOME *IF* a deal can transpire. I do have more pictures & I’m currently working on a video too. $20,000 OBO Cash/Trade = PLEASE…SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY!!! ~Happy Trails~
Location: Kingsport, TN
it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Stunning Buckskin Appaloosa Colt 7mo. May TRADE (Greenville Area)
Date: 2011-12-02, 8:17PM EST
Bullseye is 7mo. And has been handled since birth. He’s been around kids, dogs, 4 wheelers, etc. He’s already leading my small children around. Dam is a small paint racking horse. Sire is unknown. He’s all buckskin besides the spots on the rump, and a black mane & tail. Dosen’t look like he’s going to rack. Beautiful mover! Gonna be a nice looking horse. Great temperment. He belongs to a 4 year old so please don’t lowball us. Will entertain $$$ offers or a trade on a good racking horse…mare, gelding, or stud. May throw in a tobacco setter if it’s a decent horse.
Location: Greenville Area
it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
In today’s culture, we seem to need a way to do something, without actually doing it…a “virtual experience,” if you will. Apparently riding is no exception. The iGallop was presented a few years ago, and never seemed to really take off. But there is still a series of simulators to do just about anything you want, without riding the horse.
The famous iGallop
Dressage
Jumping
Racing
Polo
Me? I’ll take the horse. I’m not saying rider exercise is a bad thing, by any means– I’m committed to my New Year’s Resolution and my stirrups are still hanging on the tackroom wall. I used to do this every winter, but it’s been a little while since my junior years, when equitation-legs-of-steel could ride for hours without stirrups. It’s been two weeks, I’ve worked up to 15 minutes of posting trot and I’m sore. My junior self hangs her head in shame. But I can feel my legs getting stronger and more secure…and I didn’t even need a fake plastic horse to do it.
A Celebration of Lesley Long and Silent Auction to take place this weekend in MD
(Written by Meg Kep)
photo by Shelly Millet
Many of you heard of the tragic passing of our dear friend Lesley Long in December. I met Lesley in the beginning stages of my eventing career at Water’s Edge Farm years ago. This sport truly lost an exemplary family member. She was always a patient, informative, and friendly face willing to lend a helping hand.
In her honor, there will be a celebration of life this Saturday, January 14th from 12:00-4:30 pm at Thorpe Woods in Thurmont, MD. It will be a potluck affair as well as an opportunity to swap memories. Those interested in attending we request that you RSVP and sign up for food items at http://www.punchbowl.com/parties/3357517-celebration-of-life-in-memory-of-lesley-long?375399
Those closest to Lesley are organizing a silent auction to benefit Lesley’s family. From custom cakes, to lessons on 4* star horses, there is a little something for everyone! A website should be up and running by the weekend for everyone to browse and bid over the next few weeks. Additionally, Lesley’s three horses – Bugatti, Kudos, and Mardi Gras are bunking up with Nat and Kerry until they can find new owners and start a new chapter in their lives! If you are interested in donating your goods or services please contact Natalie Hollis at 410-615-3673 or Kerry Blackmer 240-626-3105. Go Eventing. Go Lesley.
You should remember Meg from her chronicles of Sinead and Tate at Burghley, and from her official introduction as a regular contributor here at EN. Meg’s landed in sunny Florida and sounds like she’s having a blast. Thanks for sharing, Meg!
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LIVE! From Camp Taterball – Ocala, FL
Well Well Well. SHE has officially landed and settled in Ocala, FL. Just in time, too – NJ reported highs of 8 degrees Fahrenheit the day we left. WELP, see ya later NJ.
This week has been spent de-winterizing here at Winter Quarter South. Everyone is getting their hair did and their toes did and are beginning to look fresh – to -death as my friend Dellsie would say. The barn is perfect, and the only complaint I have is that there isn’t a lazy river flowing through the property to take Sarah and I (and Baloo) to and from our apartment.
The owner of the barn, Frances Robinson, is a riot – and has somehow conned us into frequenting semi private Pilates classes. Health is the name of the game here at SHE…that is until 6 pm when the 99 cent margaritas call us to El Toreo.
Today was our first baby outing – we took Cathy Dudick’s Baby Nore – a lovely young TB who shows real promise as an eventer – and BWFurlong’s fancy young irish horse D-Lux, over to Kyle Carter’s XC field for some edjumikashun. Once they both realized, woefully, that Christmas vacation was over, they went straight to work. We are excited to debut next weekend at the Longwood Starter Trial, which will be the perfect pipe opener for the young horses this season.
The older horses have gotten to begin practicing in our new (courtesy of mama Cogdell) dressage ring which we put together early in the week. Namely our first trying task, requiring a team effort in counting meters and strides and white pieces and letters A + 66 meters plus EXB plus 4 paces – 1 corner piece equals ???
Our special guest for the month, Belle, owned by Kim Harrar, is gearing up for domination at DerbyX next week. If you guys aren’t busy I highly recommend heading to Wellington for this entertaining affair. Not only will you feel like a minority for not wearing a visor helmet, you will have a grand time rubbing shoulders with some of the best show jumpers, event riders, and most notably some very good looking world renowned polo players. (for more info – head to www.derbycross.com)
That’s all for now here at Winter Quarter South. I am going to begin working on a video blog segment for my next installment. I cannot divulge too much information…mostly because any information I would divulge at this point would be a complete fabrication, but I want to make sure everyone that had to stay north this winter – gets to see firsthand what they are missing here in the great big city of SlowCala.
The eventing 2012 Short List and Long List have been announced by Equine Canada.
Update: This is the Canadian Short List and Long List for the National Eventing Team, and not the Olympic team. Essentially, it is the list to shape spring training program and the final Olympic lists will be named much closer to the Games. This list is from the end of 2011 and will likely be updated.
The Short List is comprised of horse/rider combinations proven at the 3-star level or above within the designated time period. They are listed in alphabetical order:
RIDER HORSE QUALIFYING COMPETITIONS
Peter Barry Kilrodan Abbott CCI4* Rolex KY ’11, CCI3* Fair Hill ’11
Hawley Bennet-Awad Gin N Juice CCI4* Badminton ’11, CCI4* Burghley ’11
Diana Burnett Shigatzi CCI3* Bromont ’11, CCI3* Fair Hill ’11
The Long List includes horse/rider combinations proven at the CCI2* and/or CIC3* level within the designated time period, with the potential to become short listed in 2012.
RIDER HORSE QUALIFYING COMPETITIONS
James Atkinson Gustav CCI2* Colorado ’11, PAGs ’11
Joelle Baskerville Malibu CH2* NAYCs ’11
Hawley Bennet-Awad Five O’Clock Somewhere CCI2* Allentown ’11, PAGs ’11
Melissa Boutin Siamese Kat CCI2* Allentown ’11
Diana Burnett Diamond Cut II CCI2* Fair Hill ’11
Kyle Carter Madison Park CIC3* Rebecca Farm ’11
Kim Crawford Choccoo de Pomme CCI2* Florida ’11
Sandra Donnelly Buenos Aires CIC 3* Woodside ’11
Rebecca Howard Roquefort CCI2* Bromont ’11, PAGs ’11
Have you ever used a leaf blower instead of sweeping the barn aisle? It works great. Unless you have a dirt aisle, then I wouldn’t recommend it. But a leaf blower apparently has other hidden uses, as seen below. I actually knew a horse who loved having his face blown with it– would stick his nose as close to the blower as he could, lips flapping and forelock blown back. Silly horses!
