Eventing Nation

Know Your Rules

So how can a 52-page book (or pdf) help your horse look snazzy? Well, it won’t polish your brass, or braid a mane. But without it, your horse won’t be going very far. Today’s topic is inspired by a writer on this site, who has texted me frequently asking various rule-related questions (I won’t give his name away, but it begins with a “J” and ends with “ohn”). It made me realize that, as a groom, knowing the rules isn’t specifically MY job, but it helps me do my job better– serving my horse and rider. And since most of us are riders anyway, we may as well know every thing we can!

I am admittedly a rules-freak. When the book arrives, I read it cover to cover, noting the changes marked in bold. Then the book resides in my show trunk, where I always have it with me at competitions. There are MANY ways to get eliminated in this sport, and it’s your responsibility to know them! The online version is available here.

True, it may not be the most enjoyable, or exciting reading you’ll ever do. But it will tell you anything you need to know regarding Dress (EV 114, pg 9), Saddlery (EV 115, pg 11), descriptions of tests, and parameters per level (jump height, course length, etc). And the super-fancy drawings in the Appendices are not to be missed.

Obviously, we are familiar with a lot of the common rules. On cross-country, a runout is 20 penalties. A fall is elimination (well, since 2009 anyway). A fall of horse is Mandatory Retirement (MR). But what about some of the “fine print” many of us gloss over?

FASHION POLICE

At a competition, you may school your horse on the flat without ASTM-approved headgear, but you must wear a “hard hat.” An ASTM/SEI helmet, with chinstrap properly secured, is required for any jumping. Failure to wear appropriate headgear is penalized by elimination at the discretion of the Ground Jury.

Spurs and gloves are compulsory for dressage at the Intermediate and Advanced levels, and may be worn at any level. Spur length must not exceed 1-3/8″. The popular “roller-ball” spurs are allowed. Gloves may be any dark color, or white. (Note: if you have busy hands or a fussy horse, wear black. Don’t draw attention to your flaws!)

“Chaps and half-chaps” are not allowed… however, a “full-grain leather leg piece and matching leather boot” is acceptable. I’m guessing the “half-chaps” they refer to are the suede ones, particularly in bright colors. Many of the upper-end leather half-chaps really do look like tall boots, and I’m happy to know that you can now show in such a “leg-wear system.”

Your cross-country shirt does not have to have a collar, but it must have sleeves. Leave the tank tops at home, please.

At one-day events where you may feel like a fashion model stripping and changing back at the trailer, the Rules Committee has kindly allowed us to condense our apparel for the day. Coats and neckwear are not required; at the competitor’s option, he or she may compete in dressage and show-jumping phases wearing a long- or short-sleeved shirt, with collar, of a conservative color. This same shirt is also acceptable when coats are waived, at temperatures (heat index) above 85-degrees. In inclement weather (I think we’ve seen some of that this season…) windbreaker jackets and rain gear are allowed, just make sure your pinney is visible on cross-country.

SADDLERY

True or false: you cannot ride your horse bareback on the show grounds after 3pm the day prior to the start of competition. TRUE. You must use an English saddle, and some type of bridle; running martingales (with rein stops!) are allowed at any time during schooling. Side reins, chambons, and running reins are permitted only while lunging an unmounted horse. Most other “gadgets” are forbidden under penalty of disqualification.

See Appendix 4 for diagrams of dressage-appropriate bits and nosebands. (Remember those pretty pictures I was telling you about?) Many types of snaffle mouthpieces are allowed, so long as it does not have rollers, twists, or any sort of leverage– no gags or pelhams. (It is debatable whether bouchers have actual leverage properties… I’d say it’s very negligible, if any). Double bridles are permitted at Intermediate and above.

If you have any questions at all about permissible equipment, ask the TD (after you’ve read the rule book!) and he or she will be happy to help you. Generally, only basic essential equipment is allowed: no martingales, blinkers, reins with loops/handholds, boots/bandages, ear plugs, seat covers, nose nets, etc. Ear covers may be allowed with the ground jury’s special permission under certain circumstances.

Bits are generally checked before you do your dressage test, but you may have it checked immediately after if the procedure upsets your horse. If your bit is illegal, you will be eliminated. I will admit to skipping bit-check once… it was the most sinking feeling I’ve ever had when I got back to the barn and realized my mistake. It was a 7:30am ride, and actually the volunteers weren’t there when I went in the ring. I explained my error right away to the show secretary, who asked me what I used– a french link– and she smiled and told me to go have fun on cross-country. Since that day, I will absolutely not leave the dressage area without a bright-colored sticker on my boot!

For jumping, pretty much anything goes. I think it speaks ill of the rider to see a horse with half a hardware store on his face, but technically it’s within the rules. Running martingales must have rein stops. Standing martingales and blinkers are not allowed. Stirrup leathers must hang free, meaning that the overgirth (if used) must go UNDER the stirrup leathers.

DISQUALIFICATION

This is different than elimination. The big E means that the horse is done for the weekend. Disqualification means the RIDER is done for the entire event– on all horses. DQ is usually a more serious offense, an obvious disregard for sportsmanship, or abuse of horse. Things such as:

Anyone schooling the horse other than the competitor. (A groom may walk the horse on a loose rein.)
Riding in the dressage/sj arena prior to competition; showing your horse cross-country obstacles.
Jumping practice fences that are not flagged, or in the wrong direction; or higher than allowed.
Inspecting the obstacles of XC or SJ before the course is officially open.

NEED-TO-KNOW RULES:

In dressage, you must enter the ring within 45 seconds of the bell under penalty of elimination at discretion of the ground jury. Other ways to get eliminated in dressage: horse completely leaves the arena with all four feet; marked lameness observed by the judge; any prolonged resistance exceeding 20 seconds; unauthorized assistance; third error within a test. Even after elimination, the competitor may finish the test, “marks being awarded in an ordinary way.” Despite the rule for jumping phases, a fall in dressage does not result in elimination.

Cross-country– ah yes, the phase in which getting eliminated is almost easier than completing the course. Let us count the ways:

Exceeding the Time Limit (twice the optimum time). Make sure you cross the finish flags!
Jumping an obstacle out of order; jumping it backwards; or jumping the same obstacle twice (unless part of a lettered combination).
Unauthorized assistance (whether solicited or not). This particularly includes using another competitor’s horse as a “lead” on course; anyone assisting the rider in negotiating an obstacle or correcting deviation from course. Authorized assistance is limited to: handing the rider headgear or spectacles at any time; clarification of jump penalties by the jump judge (for example, knocking a flag down at a corner– was that a jump or a runout?)
Third consecutive refusal, runout, or circle at the same numbered obstacle.
Fourth refusal, runout, or circle on the course.
Fall of horse (defined as shoulder and hip touching the ground) results in Mandatory Retirement (MR). MR also applies if the horse should become trapped in an obstacle and require assistance to escape.

Show Jumping

As in dressage, competitors must start (pass through the start flags in the proper direction) within 45 seconds of the bell. When that 45 seconds is up, your time automatically begins (you aren’t eliminated). After the bell, if you cross through the start flags again, it is counted as a disobedience (see Bettina Hoy, Athens 2006). Starting before the bell results in elimination. In American horse trials, you are not required to salute– only wait for the signal. However, saluting is the proper way to acknowledge the judge and gives you something to do while you wait impatiently for the jump crew to rebuild half the fences the horse in front of you knocked down. When horse trials are run in “hurry-up mode,” competitors are often discouraged from saluting, instead cantering straight into the ring as the whistle blows and beginning the course right away.

If you have a run-out or refusal in a combination, you must re-take the entire combination again. If you have any faults on a re-jumped obstacle, those faults will count. Only displacement of the top element counts for faults; if you somehow happen to knock over a decorative tree, shrub, or flower box, you are not penalized.

As with cross-country, you will be eliminated for unauthorized assistance, jumping obstacles in the wrong order, failing to cross the finish flags, omitting an obstacle, or jumping an unflagged obstacle. Also, under current USEA rules, a fall of rider or horse in show jumping is elimination. At Preliminary, Intermediate, and Advanced, competitors are eliminated after their second disobedience on course. Below Prelim, elimination occurs after the third disobedience.

In cross-country (except ditches, drops, obstacles without height), if your horse jumps from a standstill it is still counted as a penalty. However, this is not the case in show jumping. Immediately jumping from a halt, provided the obstacle was not displaced by the stop, is allowed.

Here is one that I didn’t know: while on course, if you halt, voluntary or not, it should be penalized as a refusal (except to report an incorrectly-built obstacle, or unforseen circumstances to the ground jury). I have known several instances of halting on course– sometimes by accident (rider jumped out of the tack) or for training purposes (horse running off), but I have never seen it incur a penalty in real life.

Magic Potions

I won’t go into the wide open world of drugs and permitted substances, but think of it this way: if you are giving your horse ANY substance, legal or not, testable or not, with the intention of gaining a competitive advantage, you are breaking the rules. The bute debate rages on in the FEI, and doesn’t look like it will settle any time soon; the FEI’s original status is a zero-tolerance policy, allowing NO trace of any unnatural additive. In USEF events, some specific drugs are allowed at therapeutic levels. These “therapeutic levels” are not intended to alter the horse’s behavior, or make a crippled horse sound. Just because a supplement is labeled “all-natural” does not mean it is safe. Consult the USEF drug and medications staff for more information. Do not rely on a product’s endorsement or a trainer’s suggestion, insisting that it is “safe” or “untestable”— get the regulations straight from the source (USEF) and consult with a trusted, experienced vet about proper usage.

Road to the Roses Weekend Update

By AJ Dyer on Mar 6, 2010 12:45 am -

Well, last weekend was a major letdown. The EN League standings didn’t change at all, as the Borderland Derby was full of unknown horses and little-used trainers. The Sham was supposed to run at Santa Anita; but “global warming” continues to wreak havoc on the awful synthetic surface, and racing was canceled that day. The Sham (G3) will run Saturday March 6, instead. Also on the slate is the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct.

Haven’t joined? Still time to sign up! Have your horses picked by noon Saturday to earn full points.

EVENTING NATION League
Identification # 2211565550
Activation code: 976127638

The Gotham holds a special little place in my heart, as that is where my namesake, Visionaire, punched his ticket to the 2008 Kentucky Derby. The track was sloppy, but the race was thrilling as dense fog covered the track and no one could tell the horses’ position for over half the race. Then suddenly Visionaire charged to the wire and barely got a nostril in front. He would later run a disappointing 12th in the Derby (though I think that distance was a bit much for him), but finish his career with a resounding win in the G1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga.

Lower-Level Event Rider Profile

By AJ Dyer on Mar 5, 2010 7:00 am -

Here at EN, we aim to please our audience. Ask, and ye shall receive! The most popular new suggestion from the Census was a segment featuring lower-level event riders. What a fantastic idea! And the response has been wonderful. I am greatly impressed by the questionnaires I’ve received so far– so interesting, thoughtful, and fun. Our readers rock!!

If you would like to be featured in an upcoming profile, please fill out the Questionnaire and email it to [email protected]. Thanks again to all our participants…there are many profiles to post, and hopefully we will get to yours soon!

FEATURED RIDER:

Holly & Rugby at a local dressage show (photo by Paul Johnson)

Name: Holly

Age: 52

Location: Greenwood, Delaware

Primary horse’s name: Rugby

Age, breed, pertinent info:
13yo TB, 16h grey…”Sparkle Pony” when he is clean, braided, and good…
Also The Red Horse (still no name) a young chestnut, and Unbridled Lad

Level currently competing: training level

Short term goals this spring/summer:
Figure out that “release” the reins thing and work on more and more roundness

Year-end goals:
Move Rug up to prelim

Overall goals?
Be the rider my horse needs me to be — to get a few prelims back under my belt — last prelim ride was over 20 years ago. I want to get all of my horses going forward. I need to get them all rounder and extending and collecting upon request!

What’s the best thing you’ve learned recently?
That the contact is the way, the truth, and the light. Horses have to accept it, and live by it and the riders die by it! Soft hands, ready legs, and contact.
Ed. note: Truer words have never been spoken!

Any big epiphany or light-bulb moment?
That contact thing!

What are your strengths/weaknesses?
Dressage, probably, and competitiveness — I usually can get a horse over the obstacle the first time and never give up trying to get there when I can get my leg
on. I had a terrible warmup for stadium at MCTA last year and my trainer was holding her hand over her eyes when I went in the ring, but I managed a double clear and clinched a win — she’s a believer now.

Favorite eventing moment/story? (can be anything, something you did, felt, witnessed, realized…?)
Oh this is a favorite. Eventing in Oregon many years ago at Kevin Freeman’s farm — they had a water jump that was, well, really a cattle “lounging” (well, think relaxation) area. The bottom of the water jump was, well, bovine excrement. Nice landing for horses, but not so hot for people with boots and breeches on….my ex show jumper knew NOTHING about water, and I finally got him over the log and down into the water, a huge maximum drop. He stuck on the landing and off I went. Got up, got back on, finished the course….had to drive home. Didn’t have any other shoes to wear so had to drive back up to Seattle four hours with the window rolled down and my head stuck out in the wind. I could not get the wet boots off….and breeches that smelled like cow poop…. That smell was in the truck for YEARS. I have pictures some where of this exciting loss of proper vertical order, but thankfully the years have hidden them from all my friends! Ha ha!

Link to blog or website, if applicable:
http://retreadeventer.blogspot.com

Ed. note: Holly’s blog is great fun to read, full of lessons for riding and life. Here’s an excerpt from 2/27/10 entry about riding her new project horse, Unbridled Lad:

He excitedly hopped up and down when I clumsily gave him a canter aid. I can see now he must be saying something like this to himself:

“There she is up there in the saddle again, that fat one. My goodness, why does she kick me. I can feel her leg but it’s nothing like the nice long leg I used to have on my sides. I appreciate the treats and grooming, but lady, you have got to get your s**t together up there. I don’t WANT to bend, or get under myself. That’s for dressage sissies. I am an EVENT horse, you heathen!” So he gave me a little warning about thunking down in the saddle and being clumsy with the leg aid. I will watch out and control it a bit more next time, but until the ring is a bit better I don’t plan on cantering him. I need to set it up a little better so I can have a bit more success.

* * * *

Thanks for the profile, Holly! Good luck to you and your equine partners this year. And may you always stay afloat in cow ponds! If only the inflatable air safety vests were around back then…

Lower-Level Event Rider Profiles: Questionnaire

By AJ Dyer on Mar 3, 2010 12:43 am -

I’ve already received several responses for the lower-level event rider profiles. To save me some repetitive emails, I would like to ask readers to kindly fill out the questionnaire below. If you would like to be featured, please copy/paste it into an email and send it to [email protected].

Your Name: (first is sufficient)

Email: (will not be published, just a way I can contact you)

Age:

Location:

Primary horse’s name:

Age, breed, pertinent info:

Level currently competing:

Short term goals this spring/summer:

Year-end goals:

Overall goals?

What’s the best thing you’ve learned recently? Any big epiphany or light-bulb moment? What are your strengths/weaknesses?

Favorite eventing moment/story? (can be anything, something you did, felt, witnessed, realized…?)

Link to blog or website, if applicable:

Photo(s) or videos: Links or attachments are acceptable. Please no Facebook links that require sign-in to view.

Thanks for your participation.

UPDATE 3/3/10 12:45pm

The emails I have received so far are excellent! Good stories, admirable goals, and great learning moments. Keep them coming!

EN Census Results (part 2)

By AJ Dyer on Mar 2, 2010 9:58 pm -

The Nation has stood up and been counted; at least 93 of them, anyway. I know we’ve already said it a hundred times, but let me say it again (because we REALLY mean it): Thank You to all who participated. You, dear readers, are what keeps this site running…without it, it would be a nerd and two chicks rambling incoherently about random horse stuff.

So, what have we learned from this exercise?

1) EN is equally-loved by Young Riders as well as riders who enjoy their birthday cakes with fire extinguishers on hand. But apparently the site must be rated PG-13 by the MPAA, as our youngest readers are 15. Good to know.

2) EN is represented by 26 states in the union, 3 Canadian provinces (shouldn’t y’all be playing hockey?), and 2 loyal readers abroad in the UK and Australia. I will also use this moment to mention that my blessed state of Kentucky was the most-represented state…proving that the Big Blue Nation will take over the world (muahahaha). The mathematical scientist in me will comment that only a limited number of our actual readers participated in the survey, so it is quite likely that some other state is more popular; but, I can only skew the numbers which I was given, so that’s what I’ll do.

3) We have a wide range of readers here, from all levels and facets of the sport. I LOVE that this site can speak equally to the Beginner Novice adult amateur, to the Advanced rider, to the event organizer, and the Pony Club Mom…as well as refugees from other disciplines, too. (We see you h/j riders! Take yer boots off and stay awhile!). We all share the love of this sport, and want to see it succeed… no matter our differences, this is our one common goal. That, and laughing hysterically whenever possible.

4) As my inner mathematical scientist alluded to earlier, it is possible our census results reflect a particular segment of our reader population: the die-hard fan. The majority of responders have been following this site for over four months, since it first began with Fair Hill 2009. John can confirm that the site has seen tremendous growth in the last month or two– and while plenty of those people commented, too, a lot of them are still the silent-type. We hope to change that… we hope every reader becomes completely addicted and inspired to assist us in world domination. (Sorry John, I didn’t mean to give away our master plan, it just kinda slipped out). Seriously, though, your loyalty is humbling and we appreciate it.

5) Your site suggestions were great! It is wonderful to hear what you like, and how we can improve. Nearly half simply said, “Keep up the good work!” which I promise we will. Other popular topics were the Training Sessions, Grooming Tips, and Videos/Photos. Many of you suggested profiling lower-level riders, or up-and-coming riders, and that is a fantastic idea. If you would like to be featured, or know someone who should be, please email [email protected]. Riders should be competing at Training level or below.

And if I may, I would like to make a desperate, hopeful, pleading request of our readers: please keep commenting! We have a few dedicated souls (Retread, Subk, and lse) who often leave a little note on a few posts, and we appreciate it very much. Tell us if you liked something, if you hated it, if we were wrong, or if it made any sense at all. We don’t delete “negative” comments, and we try to respond to most of them. Clearly, readers like a lot of what we do…but we had no idea just how much until the comments poured in from the Census. We don’t just want to inflate our egos–John’s is large enough, thankyouverymuch– we want to shape the site to reflect the whole “Eventing Nation,” and we can’t do that without your voices, too.

Thanks again for reading, and Go Eventing!

The Sunday Jog-Up: Tips from a Groom

By AJ Dyer on Feb 28, 2010 7:00 am -

Previous entries: Odds & Ends

What About Tack? Part I , Part II

Safety First

This week’s entry was inspired by my close call on Wednesday, in which a normally-placid, well-behaved yearling colt suddenly spun, reared, and Hi-Ho Silver’ed on top of me. He grazed my skull, protected only by a ball cap; his hoof came down hard on the brim of the ball cap which smashed my nose. Serious swelling, bruising, and two black eyes were the result, but the situation could have been so much worse. I’m not sure how I avoided a concussion, or broken nose. It was one of those things that happened in an instant, no time to react, and no way to prevent. I was leading him in from his paddock, two hands on the lead rope, paying full attention to him, and yet it still happened. Bruises will always remind you that these animals are big, do dumb things without warning, and they can hurt you.

Yeah yeah, we all know the standard safety rules when handling horses. But, especially as we work with them daily, we tend to get a little too relaxed and careless at times. You may get away with it 99 times, but it only takes once to do serious damage to you or your horse. Silly little things, like leading with your hand on the halter instead of using a shank, or leaving your horse standing untied “just for a second” could save you a few extra minutes…or you could waste another 20 minutes chasing your loose horse around the property and praying he doesn’t injure himself. (Speaking of loose horses…always think about this possibility: keep the stable area neat, keep feed room doors shut securely, keep gates latched, and minimize the risk of danger even when the unexpected occurs.)

I’m not trying to be hypocritical here– certainly, I’ve done dumb things. And then I’ve suffered the consequences for it, too. Which has taught me to play by the rules, unless I’m willing to take a very calculated risk in a special situation.

There are countless ways to get hurt around horses; almost all my hospital-worthy injuries were not the result of a riding accident, but rather on the ground. I’ve been stepped on, bitten, plowed into, head-butted, and kicked– even while pulling out a newborn foal, he struck me with a slimy front hoof and sliced open my eyebrow, needing seven stitches. And it’s not that I’m careless or accident-prone; I’ve just worked with a whole lot of horses (many young ones) and they do dumb things. But, as horse people, it’s our responsibility to learn from these instances to improve our own safety.

Being prey animals, we all know horses have a strong flight instinct and are prone to startle. Most of the time, just the sound of your voice can alert them and prevent an overreaction; touching or rubbing them further desensitizes, and is especially helpful before you throw a blanket on or some other physical invasion of space. I’ve learned the hard way to keep a hand on the knee or cannon while applying hoof dressing– getting knocked in the forehead hurts! Similarly, be careful when working on the horse’s legs during fly season…stomps and belly-kicks can occur at any time. Keeping a hand on the horse is a good rule to follow whenever you’re working on him: it gives you early warning when the horse is about to move, and lets him know where you are.

Following the Pony Club Way, I prefer to use leather-crowned halters and tie with twine, in the classic quick-release knot. Seeing a hard-tied horse struggle can be gut-wrenching. Most of the time, it’s better to deal with a loose horse than possibly a dead one. I understand the argument for tying horses fast, so that they don’t learn to break away…but it makes me uncomfortable and is not my method of choice. If you have a difficult horse, Blocker Tie Rings are a godsend. They allow the rope to slide with measured resistance, and go slack when the horse stands still (unlike a bungee, which keeps pulling). Speaking of bungees, if you’ve ever seen a horse break one (and have it slap back in stringy pieces, creating more havoc), you probably won’t use them anymore. There is no one right way to tie a horse; but the better trained he is, the more successful you will be. I hate leaving them unattended, especially when tied to the trailer at shows– that is just begging for trouble. And it seems like many of these unattended horses are left alone with a low-hanging haynet, asking the horse to get its foot caught. If you must use a haynet, hang it HIGH! And if you plan to leave your horse back at the trailer for a while, put him inside and secure him safely.

When leading, insist that the horse stay at your shoulder. Bad leading is a huge pet-peeve of mine (I warned you there were many!). A horse that lags can be startled into jumping on top of you; a horse that drags is out of control. Use whatever tools you need to enforce proper leading behavior: a dressage whip for laggers, possibly a chain for draggers. I will “test” a horse by stopping suddenly while leading; I expect the horse to halt promptly. If he doesn’t, I shank him and make him back up several steps. Relax, walk forward, and stop again. If horse listens, praise. If he dribbles forward, shank and back up again. I may do halt transitions a hundred times on the way to the barn, whatever it takes to make the horse respect me. I expect the horse to walk calmly on light contact, at whatever pace I choose.

Along the lines of respect, biting and kicking is absolutely never ever tolerated. These crimes are classified as “threats against person” and are treated as a capital offense. John Lyons advises to “kill for three seconds” after a horse attempts to bite. What this means, is your reaction must be IMMEDIATE and effective– go wild as a banshee, but only for three seconds (really, how much damage can you do with your bare hands in 3 sec? Avoiding the eyes, of course). Hit, slap, punch, scream, growl, whatever you can muster in those three seconds. More than likely the horse will be extremely surprised and (hopefully) a little scared of you. Then go back to normal and pretend it never happened. I don’t particularly like being “physical” with a horse, but sometimes you have to back up your warnings with action to earn respect. Life isn’t all sugar cubes and horse cookies.

Pay more attention to your horse, don’t cut corners, and many accidents can be avoided. “But Rowdy never does [insert behavior here]…” is not a valid excuse for neglecting safety protocol when you knew better. Your horse is always looking out for himself; not always looking out for you. It’s your job to look out for both of you. Awareness of your surroundings, a little preparation and good communication goes a long way. Still, things will go wrong…they are horses, after all. Which is why, at major three-days, it is quite common to see horses hand-grazing in Woof boots: a horse can knock himself doing a silly “I-feel-good” leap, and possibly cause a competition-threatening injury to a lower limb. As the saying goes, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

RTTR: Road to the Roses weekend preview

By AJ Dyer on Feb 26, 2010 12:00 pm -

Compared to last Saturday, this weekend is a relative snooze. There are two scoring races, the Sham Stakes (G3) and the Borderland Derby (entries unavailable at this time). None of the really top Derby prospects are entered, but if you happen to have a dark horse in your stable, perhaps you can score some points. The Thoroughbred Times has a nice Triple Crown section that details some of the best horses and where they may run next. Keep this in mind for your power picks.

If you haven’t signed up yet, be sure to do so by Saturday at noon to earn points this weekend. Still many more races to come!

EVENTING NATION League
Identification # 2211565550
Activation code: 976127638

Early EN Census Results

By AJ Dyer on Feb 25, 2010 6:32 pm -

First off, let me say a big huge THANK YOU to all the EN readers who have already participated in our little census exercise. It has been really interesting reading your comments, getting a true idea of who our “nation” really is, and what you like about the site. Please keep commenting (positive or negative!), it really helps keep us motivated and focused on what to do next.

I have spent a portion of this evening playing with Excel, and have a rough tabulation of Census Results as of 6pm EST. I realize this is not a FULL reflection of our audience, but it’s at least somewhere to start. So, from the preliminary responses we have received…

Most popular location: Kentucky (5). (This does my big blue heart proud!) I know we have TONS more readers from the east coast area, particularly VA (Feedjit does not lie), but until those readers respond we can’t count them accurately. Tied for second: Massachussets, Michigan, and North Carolina (4). Also shout out to our 5 Canadians and 1 Australian checking in.

Average Age: The average age is about 33 yrs. Breaking this down further: about 19% Young Rider audience (16-21), 35% age 22-30yrs, 25% 30-45yrs, 21% 45-60yrs.

Eventing Experience: Averages out to about 12 years, but ranged from nearly none to over 40 years. Quite a diverse group!

Average Level: Preliminary was the most frequent response, but here again was a wide range from intro to Advanced and CCI****.

How long have you visited the site? Many of you have been reading since the beginning, at Fair Hill 2009. But there are lots of new readers, who have jumped on the bandwagon within the last few months (we did receive a huge spike in traffic in early January, I think most of you know why). I hope we can keep growing, but more importantly maintain the quality and spontaneity that keeps people coming back for more. Speaking of what you like…

Suggestions: a huge number of responders simply said “Keep up the good work!” We appreciate your attention to our efforts, and we’ll do our best to produce more of the same. The Training Sessions clinic reports have also gained a great response…I admit, I love them too! Also, there were many readers that requested lower-level rider profiles and inspirational stories– this is a GREAT suggestion and I promise we will work on it soon. We’ll keep on going with the humor, funny videos, and grooming tips, and we’ll try to expand our coverage for more West Coast and International views. I loved everyone’s ideas, and we will try to incorporate them as we can.

Thanks again for your participation. The number of comments we’ve received to this point has far exceeded our expectations. I can’t stress enough how much we appreciate your feedback, and getting to know you will help us better to provide the content you crave. Please keep responding to any and all topics you like (or don’t like); send us emails, photos, stories, suggestions to make the site better. We’re just everyday eventers running this site for fun, and we don’t pretend to know what we’re doing…we need your help sometimes!

If you haven’t added your comments to the Census, it’s never too late. I expect many more responses in over the next few days, and I’ll still be compiling the results. 🙂

Very Bad Day Avoided

By AJ Dyer on Feb 24, 2010 8:28 pm -

The Pony Horse

Today was almost a very bad day. Well, actually it was a bad day anyway because a yearling colt reared up and struck me in the head, smashing my nose, which has now swollen twice its normal size. (I’m typing this during 20-minute breaks between icings.) But it was almost worse than that.

I almost lost The Precious, my phone. It isn’t a BlackBerry, it isn’t an i-phone, it doesn’t have a slide-out keyboard or a touchscreen. It’s a Samsung Rugby, and it is the BEST PHONE EVER. It takes pictures, video, music, all that standard modern stuff. It allows me to check my email and browse most websites. Oh, and it makes phone calls, too!

The email and internet, though, is what I value most. It spares me from boring moments throughout the day, like waiting for the vet/farrier. It allows me to stay current on news and sports scores, even in far-reaching locales. I can read and respond to emails instantly, which John appreciates (among others). Suffice to say, I am addicted to it. It’s like phone crack.

So earlier today, I was hacking the Pony Horse. He’s a fat, furry QH that I use for beginner lessons and ponying other horses. He’s completely bombproof, exceedingly lazy, and at the moment, extremely fat. With the slight break in weather, it’s time for him to find his inner Richard Simmons (I think he ate him) and hit the hills. As with all rides, I had my cell phone with me. We were ~~hacking~~ ambling out in the back country, when my phone alerted me I had an email. I whipped out the ol’ phone, signed in to email only to find more spam to delete. While the phone was out, I decided I may as well check EN and see what John had to say this morning.

Unfortunately, at this very moment, fat Pony Horse arrived at a tiny creek crossing. No big deal, he’s cool with water. He also likes to drink it…and he ripped the reins down jostling My Precious from my desperate grasp. Like a slow-motion cartoon, swiping at thin air, I helplessly watched my phone land face-up in 3″ of muddy running water. I vaulted off Fatty faster than a Pony Clubber at Games Rally, scooped up The Precious and sent a desperate survival prayer heavenward. The previous Precious (an LG), suffered an untimely death drowning in a water bucket, so I knew the utter fatality of what I had witnessed.

I quickly (with wet, cold fingers) rescued the phone, shook it off, and removed the battery. To my extreme relief, the battery and internal pieces were dry. I tried not to get my hopes up, yet. I had a pair of soft, thin deerskin gloves in my pocket, which can be fashioned into a semi-effective chamois cloth. The buttons leaked water, and there was no telling if it had seeped into the screen. I cursed the thirsty Fatty (looking at me stupidly with water dribbling from his chin), shoved the Precious pieces into my pocket, remounted and continued the hack.

A few hills later, I was too impatient to wait for home, and put the phone back together (Fatty on autopilot). Crossed my fingers, held my breath, and turned it on… it worked!! It had a little short-term memory damage (insisted a text was unread, despite my reading and responding to it six hours prior), but since then it has been back to its old Precious self. I’m not usually big into product-endorsement, but this Rugby phone is truly a horse-person’s dream item. It is extremely well-sealed, around the edges and the battery, which must have spared it a near-certain liquid death. I can also attest to its ability to withstand significant shock, as it has been dropped with regularity, including an unfortunate slip from the 20′ hayloft onto the paved barn aisle. Nary a scratch! It isn’t invincible, though…it probably would not survive the death of Nokia Phone 1 (stepped on by shod hoof) or Motorola Phone 2 (fell out while on the tractor mowing, shredded to tiny pieces). But for day-to-day hazards, it has held up remarkably well.

What can we learn from this story? Don’t browse EN while riding! Or, at least, not while riding through creeks. See John, it’s all your fault.

Road to the Roses: Week 1 Scoring Update

By AJ Dyer on Feb 22, 2010 6:54 pm -

It was a busy first weekend for Derby hopefuls, and some of our RTTR participants scored more points than a Totilas freestyle (while others flirted with Courageous Comet’s average horse trial dressage score). Complete race results show Todd Pletcher with the hat trick, so I hope you have him as one of your stable’s trainers. He has YET to win a Derby (I think he’s stuck in the P-Duddy Rolex Funk pre-2008), but he always has a barnful of nice horses. Here are the Top 10 EN League standings after Week 1:

PLACE SCORE STABLE

1 97 Bourbon Bliss Barn

1 97 Matis

1 97 HoosYourDaddy

4 80 Matis 3

5 63 Kelso’s Kennel

6 59 Oakridge Farms

7 56 C-Horse

8 55 Vision of Roses

8 55 Matis 2

10 54 Muddy Goggles Racing Stables

Obviously this thing isn’t rigged right–no way should I be in 8th place! Just kidding. Kudos to “Muddy Goggles Racing Stables,” that is an awesome name…honorable mention to “Bourbon Bliss Barn” as well. Currently, 18 stables are signed up. If you haven’t joined yet, now’s the time! (I’m looking at YOU, John!) Those at the bottom-end of the standings, don’t panic yet– there are still many more races to come, and many more horses to run. I’m still working out ideas for prizes (other than your name up in lights here on The Hottest Eventing Site Ever), so stay tuned. Good luck!

EVENTING NATION League
Identification # 2211565550
Activation code: 976127638

Best of Craigslist, Third Edition

By AJ Dyer on Feb 22, 2010 12:00 pm -

This photo has nothing to do with this post, but I’m sure you can find a LLAMAPILLAR for sale somewhere on Craigslist.
What’s the woolly worm weather prediction on this one?

Some things in life are forever certain: death, taxes, disappointing dressage scores, and stupid people trying to sell horses. Once again my Craigslist storage bin is full of the ridiculousness that you all crave. Here you go, dear readers, enjoy the feeling of superiority while it lasts.

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In this grand World Wide Web invented by Al Gore, there happens a unique, bizarre bazaar phenomenon of Craigslist. Part eBay, part flea market, part redneck yard sale, Craigslist is a free-for-all classified site where good deals can be found in any category from cars to dishwashers to llamas. It’s like treasure hunting from your keyboard, and you never quite know what you’ll find. Craigslist frequently has a few equine-related listings; the quality and content of which may vary widely. Thus, for your entertainment, we now bring you THE BEST OF CRAIGSLIST.

Today’s theme: Female horses under 4 years of age.

These are ACTUAL listings… you can’t make this stuff up!

paint filley quarter horse looks great – $200 (oliver springs)

she is a 2yr old been turned out in paster fat and nice got to many to train she is big built and going to make a nice mare call anytime 865-661-6347

Obviously this guy isn’t one to waste words. Or commas, or periods. In addition to “filley” (is that French?), “paster,” and incorrect version of “too,” he is hereby issued a level 3 citation from the Internet Grammar Police.

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*TN Walker Philly (AL)

19 Month old TN Walker Philly ready for training. Sire Pushers Black Thunder 926497, dame Pushers Peachy Stride 19903340. This Philly has great potential in the show ring this year. Must see to appreciate. Asking 500.00 OBO, Phone 606-668-6286
or 859-771-6965 for further information

Tennessee Walkers from Philadelphia? Are you sure? There are some creative naming opportunities though, with the cross of Black Thunder and Peachy Stride. Perhaps…It’s Raining Peaches? Surely you readers can suggest better….[comments!]

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Little Paint Philly – $500 (Casey county)

I HAVE A LITTLE PHILLY FOR SALE SHE WILL BE 2 YEARS OLD IN MAY, THE PHILLY’S MOM WAS A WALKING PONY, THE PONY’S DAD WAS A REGISTERED TWH PAINT. HER SIZE IS IN BETWEEN A HORSE AND PONY. SHE IS VERY GENTLE, I AM ASKING $500.00 FIRM, IF INTERESTED GIVE ME A CALL (606)787-7014 (SERIOUS CALLS ONLY PLEASE) THANKS

Well, despite the broken Caps Lock key, I will give this poster credit for use of complete phrases, including commas and even periods. Once again, we have a Philadelphian equid, most likely of the gaited variety. (Nothing against the gaited lifestyle, how you walk is your business.) I’m not really sure what comes between a horse and a pony though…? Is there a mysterious portal between 14.2 and 14.3 that I’ve never discovered?

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Reduced Parelli started filly-Mia – $500 (Richmond)

Serious inquires only, no boot kickers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Parelli started horse for sale. I do beleive Mia is a Left-Brain Introvert and at times shows a bit of an Extrovert side. If you don’t know what this is I recomend you go to the parelli website and look up horsanality under horse training, it describes her perfectly. She is very confedent horse, during our training it only took her a few trys to confadently cross a teeter toter, cross huge tractor tires, cross platforms, over logs through tarps, she loads well in the trailer, ties well, loves to splash in water, don’t know about baths because where she has been staying we have had to haul water in and out. She is to go to a great home ONLY, the right person will have a lot of horse exsp. and a lot of natural horse exsp. Her biggest prob right now, is unless you prov to her that you are going to be a better leader then her, she will try to be dominent. I will not lie to you, I will tell you every flaw she has, it is just so important that she go to a good home, I don’t want her to be ruined with some idiot, she does great with natuaral, so I want her to stay with it, she is around 21 months and stands 14hands tall I will have aplication for reg to be sure. I prefer to be contacted through e-mail at first, I have a 2 yr old son, and if you call I can’t garentee that I will have time to talk then. We are moving to Fl in about 3 wks, and I have a 30 old gelding I have to take too, so can’t afford to take both. Thank you for your interest, must be to a good home!

Mama Mia. My spell-check is lit up with red underlines all over this listing. Internet Grammar Police has confiscated her keyboard. Beyond that…I’m frankly scared. Perhaps I need an expert in “horseanality” (that reads a little dirty, doesn’t it?) to examine my own animal and determine why my horse will not complete a dog agility course. Teeter-totters? Really?? So that’s what I’ve been missing…how ’bout no. Keep your carrot stick to yourself, thanks.

The Sunday Jog-Up: Tips from a Groom

By AJ Dyer on Feb 21, 2010 7:52 am -

Previous entries: What About Tack? Part I , Part II

Odds & Ends

I promise I will get to the “glamor” topics like braiding and tails, but I am waiting for a good opportunity to do them justice. Those entries will feature extensive illustrations, photos, and perhaps video of various techniques; right now my horses are embarrassingly furry and not suitable for public viewing. When the weather warms up and the horses are closer to competition I will produce the necessary media to accompany the topics. Braiding, especially, is something that is best learned through observation and not rambling incoherent sentences with stick-figure drawings.

Today, we will explore a collection of random hints and tips that aren’t easily classified, but make your life a little better in some way or another.

Things like diapers and baby wipes. Huh? Disposable diapers make excellent padding for wrapping a bruised or abscessed foot; the 30-lb (kid) size fits most horses’ feet. Keep several in the trailer for shows in case your horse loses a shoe, until the farrier can fix it. Baby wipes are very handy for touch-up spot removal, especially when you don’t have time (or it’s too cold) to give a bath. Continuing in the child-care theme, baby oil gel is an easier, less messy way to shine up faces or hooves.

Tape: duct and electrical. Like most horse people, duct tape is one of my most favorite versatile items ever created. It’s like The Force: it has a light side, and a dark side, and it holds the world together. I have about four rolls of it any given time: one at large, one in the grooming box, one in the stud kit, one in the trailer, etc. And it now comes in colors! Use a small piece of white duct tape on the cheekpiece of your show halter instead of a bridle number. Use it to tie up unattended children* or to tape your trailer dressing room door shut when the latch breaks half-way through a 10-hr drive. (*ed. note: EN does not condone the capture or detainment of children. Unless they are posing a safety hazard. Or really obnoxious.)

Contrary to common belief, electrical tape was not created for electrical wiring…it exists solely for the obsessive-compulsive eventer to label everything she owns. All brushes, hoofpicks, buckets, scrapers, boxes, hooks, racks, anything that can be claimed by a half-inch strip of colored tape is so afflicted. Colored duct tape may also be used, but beware its sticky residue; also, while identifying color is handy, gobs of 2″-wide neon duct tape is a little gaudy. Black electrical tape is also very useful in tack repair, for missing strap keepers in particular. I like to double the tape back on itself, so that there is no stickiness exposed to the leather strap itself. Electrical tape, of course, is standard cross-country equipment to secure velcro on galloping boots, and to tape all strap buckles for three-days. Again, while I like color as much as anybody, please don’t go overboard on the super-color boot taping. A little is nice, a lot is ugly.

Twine. It’s always helpful to keep some string around, whether it’s from hay bales or just a roll from the hardware store– keep extra in your tack box, don’t just rely on a bale of hay you brought. Use it to hang buckets, stall guards, tack hooks, and random items (like tarps, when it pours down rain right into your tent stall).

Scissors. Another item of which you can’t really have too many. Even labeled (yay electrical tape!) scissors frequently grow legs and walk off with your neighbors, leaving you to open a bale of hay with a set of car keys (MacGyver would be proud). Keep a pair in your groom box, tack trunk, and trailer. And a separate very sharp set in your braiding box that is ONLY used for braiding, and lent solely to trusted associates with the proper password and secret handshake.

Permanent markers. The more the merrier. Pens don’t always write vertically on stall cards, if they write at all. Use the sharpie to write your number on your labeled halter, and to create extra bridle numbers. Save your old bridle numbers. Flip them over, write your new number on the backside, and you now have a spare for schooling. Or in case you lose the real one.

Extra shoes. If you’ve done a three-day, you know this drill already. Save your horse’s shoes each time they are replaced, take them with you to shows in case your horse loses one on course. It’s much simpler (and less risky!) for the show farrier to tack on a shoe that already fits your horse, instead of making a whole new one. Use duct tape to keep each set together, and use your sharpie to label them with the horse’s name and the date.

Stud plugs. I really like the white foam ones; they’re easy to insert (just push them in), and easy to remove (use a pointy pick, or old horseshoe nail). But why I really like them? I haven’t had to buy stud plugs for about four years. They come in packages of 100, punched out of rectangular stencils. The leftover stencils still contain a LOT of material– if you are committed enough to cut out each little piece, you can make about 40 more plugs from the stencils. My farrier uses the plugs for his clients, and gives me his leftover stencils (he even saves them for me, stacks of 3 or 4 a month). Even if you aren’t blessed with such a conscientious farrier, you can still easily get double-duty out of the foam plugs by snipping the leftover stencils.

A hammer. It’s one of those things you rarely use, but you’re really glad when you have it. A good Pony Clubber checks her stall at every away show, looking for dangerous nails or staples. Use the hammer to remove eye-poking pointy things. Also handy to break ice off your back trailer doors when they’re frozen shut. And can pound-down a raised nail clinch when necessary. I keep mine in the stud box, so I always know where it is.

Electrical cord and power strip. Useful for hanging fans in the summertime, while also allowing you to plug in a radio, charge your cell phone, the video camera, etc. Speaking of fans, keep some bungee cords around for wind-device installment. Like twine, bungees have 1000 uses.

Chains and double-end snaps. I have four or five 20″ lengths of smooth-link chain leftover from my Pony Club days, when we weren’t allowed to hang our water buckets with twine. You can buy it at any Wal-Mart or hardware store. Twine can sometimes break under load of a full bucket, spilling water everywhere and soaking your nice clean $8-a-bag shavings. The chains won’t break, and thus are also useful for stall guards, or as a little extra security latching the stall door at night. Double-end snaps–you know what to do with these…anything you want. Always have extras, because inevitably your stable buddy will have forgotten them. (and label them with your tape, so you hopefully get them back!)

Speaking of chains… always have a chain shank in your trailer. I know, Muffin is always so sweet and would never need such a torturous leading device. But properly used, a stud chain can be a great enhancement to your safety when necessary– a snorting wild horse dragging you around the showgrounds is most unsightly, not to mention dangerous. And I have seen a gentle lip chain work miracles getting a stubborn beast onto a trailer, calmly and peacefully. Along those lines, always have an extra halter in the trailer. Muffin may never pull back when tied, but maybe you need to catch the loose horse that (was) tied next to you. Be prepared for any situation, and you (or your neighbors) will thank yourself later.

Do you have any other can’t-live-without random items? Let me know what I forgot in the comment section!

RTTR: Road to the Roses

By AJ Dyer on Feb 19, 2010 12:06 pm -

Last week, we welcomed you to the world of fantasy racing with an introduction to Road to the Roses. Thanks to all who have signed up and joined our Eventing Nation league. Currently, 17 stables are entered, so it’s shaping up to be a competitive division! There’s still plenty of time to sign up if you want to share in the fun. And remember, you can create 3 different stables with one account, so you don’t have to have all your eggs in one basket.

This weekend (Saturday, 2/20) is the first scoring race day, and it’s a big one. It includes the Hutcheson Stakes, Fountain of Youth Stakes, El Camino Real Derby, Risen Star Stakes, and Turf Paradise Derby. Be sure to check the entries and look for any of your horses– remember to select them as “power picks” by 12:00pm Saturday to be eligible for double points.

Good luck to all participants tomorrow! If you haven’t signed up yet, please do! Join before noon tomorrow to get in on these first races. But even if you miss out on tomorrow, there are still plenty of scoring opportunities left as we march toward May. The final day to join is 4/24.

EVENTING NATION League
Identification # 2211565550
Activation code: 976127638

From the Thoroughbred Times here are some top contenders that are running tomorrow:

Aikenite, trained by Todd Pletcher, entered in the Fountain of Youth.
Buddy’s Saint, trained by Bruce Levine, entered in the Fountain of Youth.
D’Funnybone, trained by Rick Dutrow, entered in the Hutcheson.
Discreetly Mine, trained by Todd Pletcher, entered in the Risen Star.
Drosselmeyer, trained by Bill Mott, entered in the Risen Star.
Eskendereya, trained by Todd Pletcher, entered in the Fountain of Youth.
Hotep, trained by Mark Frostad, entered in the Risen Star.
Jackson Bend, trained by Nick Zito, entered in the Fountain of Youth.
Ron the Geek, trained by Tom Amoss, in the Risen Star.
William’s Kitten, trained by Michael Maker, entered in the Fountain of Youth.

Also to note: other good horses, like Conveyance, Dublin, and Pleasant Storm, are running in the re-scheduled Southwest Stakes (G3) on Saturday. The race was postponed from Monday February 15, after the Oaklawn (Arkansas) track was frozen. I’m sure many of us can relate to that…! Since the race was originally planned before this weekend, it is not a RTTR scoring race. However, keep an eye out on those horses as they will appear later on down the Derby trail.

Lentenor, Barbaro’s 3-year-old brother, is also questionable for the Derby trail. He ran in a grass allowance race yesterday, finishing second by a length. Michael Matz is not sure when the horse will run next, but it is possible he will pop up in a later Derby prep.

Event Rider Look-a-Likes

By AJ Dyer on Feb 15, 2010 1:30 pm -

The world’s top event riders and their celebrity alternate identities… you be the judge!

Phillip Dutton vs. Roger Federer (tennis)

Olympic Gold Medallist Olympic Gold Medallist

Lost count of number of USEA Lost count of number of consecutive weeks ranked ATP #1
Leading Rider of the Year titles.

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Jon Holling vs Michael Westen (played by Jeffrey Donovan in Burn Notice)

At home in Ocala, FL At home in Miami, FL

Hobbies: shooting sporting clays Hobbies: shooting bad guys

Originally from Wisconsin; appreciates dairy, Favorite food: yogurt.
mac & cheese.

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Holly Hudspeth vs. Debra Messing (Will & Grace)

Completed North Georgia One Star at age 18 Was Junior Miss Rhode Island at age 18

Member of the US Pan Am team in 2003 Named TV Guide’s “best dressed woman” in 2003

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Andrew Nicholson vs. Bond. James Bond.

Rider in England Spy for England

Accomplished horseman Accomplished womanizer

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Darren vs. Zoolander

Eventing superstar Fashion supermodel

Dick Francis dies at age 89

By AJ Dyer on Feb 14, 2010 6:54 pm -

Dick Francis, popular best-selling author of mostly crime/suspense novels, passed away on Sunday, February 14. A former British steeplechase jockey, he wrote with a real inside knowledge of racing and horses, beautifully interwoven within the story’s plot. He published 42 novels; I think I’ve read at least half of them, and it’s hard to name a favorite. Tales ranged from insurance fraud, to kidnapping, to wine, to gold…but almost all of them related to horses or racing in some way. The Francis books truly are a must-read for horse lovers– entertaining, fun, will keep the pages turning, but won’t bore you with dumbed-down horse scenes.

I’ve re-read some of them five or six times. I think it’s time to read one again. Here’s to you, Mr. Francis. You will be missed by many.

The Sunday Jog-Up: Tips from a Groom

By AJ Dyer on Feb 14, 2010 10:19 am -

Previous entries: What About Tack? (Part I)

What About Tack? (Part II)

Alright, I apologize in advance for the slight lack of creativity in this edition of Jog-Up (hey, not everything about grooming is fun and glamor). Saturday, my usual writing day, was a Holy Day here in the Bluegrass, and I became overrun with ceremonial celebrations as College Gameday came to Rupp Arena. I’m still a little light-headed, hoarse, and sore-handed from the record-breaking pep rally that morning. But, never fear, I’m here to fulfill your quest for grooming knowledge with a little bit more about tack management.

When I was a working student, we were taught a specific way to clean tack; it’s pretty simple, but very effective. I’ve continued that method for years, daily, with excellent results: clean, supple leather that lasts a lifetime.

Cleaning materials: small bucket of water; dish soap; scrubby sponge; washcloth. Conditioning supplies: glycerine (melted into a tupperware tub*); Lexol conditioner; sponge.

Add a squeeze of dish soap to your bucket of water, and use this to wipe your tack down with the scrubby sponge. Take bridles completely apart, remove stirrup leathers and irons from saddles. Put bits and stirrups in the bucket to soak. Wipe the damp leather with the washcloth to remove dirt and sweat. Use plenty of scrubbing to remove grease spots (“jockeys” as pony club calls them); pay attention to the underside of particularly sweaty areas, like browband corners, breastplate chestpieces, and saddle skirts.

The dish soapy water does a good job getting leather clean, but it can leave it a little bit dry. Pour a small amount of Lexol conditioner into a tub of glycerine* (instead of wetting it with water) and apply to leather with a sponge. Use a bit more Lexol on the underside of leather, where it will be well-absorbed. In humid areas, where leather tends to get a bit sticky or gummy, use conditioner more sparingly. The Lexol and glycerine is very safe, won’t rot stitching, keeps leather soft, and helps a little bit to repel water. Be careful around rubber items– reins, especially. Leather conditioners of any kind are the leading cause of sticky rein death.

Personally, I stay away from beeswax-based leather products. The leather may feel supple, but also sticky. And the stickiness inevitably attracts dirt, making more work later to clean it all off. If you MUST use a “balsam” gooey conditioner, use it on a slick new saddle so at least it gives you some extra grip!

And finally… polish your hardware. I’ve tried various polishes, cremes, pastes, liquids, but my favorite is NevrDull hands down. The soaked-wadding polish is easy to use, less messy, and a can of it seems to last forever. A little piece goes a long way, though it does create black fingers. Applying the polish is only the first step, however. Next you must spend plenty of time buffing and rubbing the metal with a clean cloth. The polish merely breaks down the accumulated crud; your elbow grease and a rag actually removes it. Even the greenest, dingiest brass can still be restored to a bright shine if you’re willing to put in the effort. For shows, make sure ALL your brass is gleaming– halters, lead ropes, and those evil chain shanks. I’ve yet to discover a quick and easy way to shine chains, without spending hours rubbing link by link, ending up with numb black fingers. But one dull item seems to detract from all your other metal pieces, so put in the time!

*So what is this tub of glycerine? Well, it’s a bar of regular glycerine saddle soap, melted into a pint-sized, lidded plastic container (any tupperware or ziploc bowl will do). Use a microwave, on low power setting, to melt the glycerine. It will mold to the container’s shape, harden into a block, making for very easy storage.

Procedure for the melting process:
-Break bar in half, place in container. Covering with lid at this stage is optional.
-Place container in microwave, on low setting. Heat for ten seconds at a time.
-Nothing will happen. Heat for another ten seconds.
-Repeat above. Take bowl out, swirl gently. DO NOT POKE WITH FORK OR SPOON!
-Repeat above. It’s getting softer. Resist the urge to stir it, it won’t help.
-Keep going, another 10 seconds. Remember, no spoons!
-It’s probably starting to liquefy, DO NOT TOUCH IT. It is sticky, will burn your fingers. Ask me how I know this.
-Another 10 seconds, swirl the bowl to encourage the molten liquid to cover the remaining hard lumps.
-Keep going, 10 seconds at a time, until it is completely liquefied.
-Allow to cool overnight. With the lid on, if you think a cat may get into it.

Now, why all the fuss about ten seconds? Why not just put it in for a minute and leave it alone? You’re welcome to try it; but don’t call me when there’s glycerine all over your microwave and you’re scraping it out with a butterknife. As the glycerine gets hot, it bubbles viciously and will overflow easily; a break every ten seconds allows it to settle. DO NOT TOUCH THE BUBBLES; they will burn your skin, and it is impossible to “tame” them with any sort of implement. Ignore them, they will go away. Your first melting project may not look very pretty (usually lumpy, off-colored), but it works just the same. After a month of use it will be sufficiently smooth anyway.

Have fun, happy tack cleaning! I will continue to bask in the cold, snowy glory of basketball excellence, but I promise to return with an in-depth grooming topic next week.

Road to the Roses: Fantasy Racing

By AJ Dyer on Feb 11, 2010 1:00 pm -

Have you ever wanted your own racing stable? Are you looking for a fun way to pass the time until the first Saturday in May? The Road to the Roses is the official fantasy game of the Kentucky Derby. We’re creating our own “Eventing Nation” league, so come join us! Winners may (or may not) receive EN prizes!

What is it? How does it work?
Sign up to create your stable. It’s FREE! (There is a paying option eligible for fancy Churchill Downs prizes, if you so choose). Over 350 horses are nominated for the Triple Crown races; select 10 of them to be “yours.” Choose 2 jockeys and 2 trainers to complete your stable. Farther down the Derby trail, there are two extra “supplemental drafts,” which allow you to add 5 more horses to your stable. Each week (almost every Saturday) leading up to the Derby, there are prep races. You earn points based on how your stable performs in each race. Each week, you select 5 horses from your stable (“Power” horses) to potentially earn *double* points.

I’m really not into “fantasy” sports, but this Derby thing is pretty cool. It gives you a lot more rooting interest in the race itself, after following “your” horses all along the trail. I first joined RTTR in 2007, the year of Street Sense, Hard Spun, and Curlin. Since then, I’ve been hooked!

I don’t claim to be any kind of expert, but over the years I have learned a few tricks…

1) Do some research. Read Bloodhorse.com, Daily Racing Form, or Thoroughbred Times to get expert analysis. Knowing who the “big horses are” is very helpful in selecting your stable. While it’s fun to choose horses based on their names or breeding, remember: of the 350 horses nominated, only about 50 will be competitive in graded stakes; only 20 will make it to the Derby. Choose wisely!

2) Diversify. When selecting the trainers, I tend to pick guys with many horses in training– Todd Pletcher, Steve Asmussen, Bob Baffert, etc. That way, if ANY of their horses win a big race, you still get points…even if it’s not in your stable. 🙂 Jockeys are similar– pick ones that ride for the big trainers, or at big tracks (Santa Anita, Gulfstream, Belmont, etc). You ONLY earn points if the Trainer or Jockey WINS, so keep that in mind. (Horses earn points for first, second, or third placings; point value increases by Stakes rating: G1>G2>G3.)

3) Put a little effort in each week. Stay on top of your Power picks: you have to have your selections locked in by noon each scoring race day (usually Saturday). Take a few minutes Friday to make sure your selected horses *are running* that day. There are features on RTTR that allow you to view upcoming entries for races, so you know who’s running when. Also, read up on Bloodhorse or Thoroughbred Times to see how your horses ran, and what the trainer’s future plans are for them. I like to create a simple spreadsheet or mark on a calendar when my horses last ran, and tentatively mark when they’re likely to run again (according to trainer).

4) Use the supplemental draft wisely. It’s broken into two parts– you can add 3 horses, then 2 later; or skip the first part, and add 5 more later. Use this draft to add horses you *wished* you’d picked the first time around… the ones that keep beating yours! Remember, only the top 20 graded-stakes-money earners are eligible for the Derby; so no matter how great a horse is, if he doesn’t have the $$ he won’t get in the gate.

Sign up begins today. The first scoring race is 2/20/10. You can join at anytime between now and 4/24/10. If you wait a little longer, you have a better idea of the best horses to select for your stable– but you also miss out on scoring opportunities in the early races. New this year, you are allowed to create 3 stables, allowing you to try different combinations for success. Join us and have fun!

EVENTING NATION League
Identification # 2211565550
Activation code: 976127638

The Sunday Jog-up: Tips from a Groom

By AJ Dyer on Feb 7, 2010 7:07 am -

Previous entries:

What About Tack? (Part I)

So your horse looks beautiful: now make sure nothing detracts from that picture. Your tack should be spotlessly clean– the leather should glow and the metal should gleam. Often, less is more in the tack department: unless you have a specific need for added equipment, don’t use it! It’s just one more thing you have to clean at the end of the day. 😉

For trot-ups, a plain caveson noseband and simple snaffle bit is traditional attire. Some people prefer a newmarket shank instead of reins. Flash nosebands, while not as “classic,” are quite common…mostly because it’s already on the dressage bridle, and why buy a plain noseband purely for jogs unless you do a lot of FEI events? You see a few figure-8s in the jogs, but it’s generally less-preferred; it is not flattering to many horses’ heads, and it’s a more purpose-oriented tool (whereas the flash noseband has become almost “standard” for everyday riding). To be most correct, make sure your reins do not have rein stops– there’s no “rule” about it, but plain reins give a nice clean look. I have a set of “dressage reins” without stops, and “jumping reins” with stops. I use my dressage set for jogs.

Browbands. This is your opportunity for a little added style. Brass clinchers were all the rage in the late 90s through the 00’s…but plain browbands are starting to come back in popularity. Beads and rhinestones have set the dressage world ablaze, but thankfully (!!!) most eventers tend to pass on the sparklies. I personally love the classic look of a brass browband— traditional clinchers, or a moderate variation (wider, thinner, round, square, etc) to suit the horse. It is most appropriate for grays to wear silver-toned metal instead of brass. I’m not sure who came up with that “rule,” but I agree with it; something about yellow-toned brass and a white horse just doesn’t look as good. Whatever accessorized browband you choose, be sure that it is absolutely, positively, radiantly shiny. Nothing looks worse than a grungy, dull brass clincher. It just screams, “I don’t care about my appearance!” Get the metal polish and get to work; even the most hopelessly greenish brass can usually be restored to a bright finish.

This idea of gleaming metal also applies to every other buckle on your horse. Brass buckles on your bridle? Congrats, you have more polishing to do! Brass on the breastplate? Yup, that too! Of course, stainless steel should also be cleaned and buffed, but requires far less maintenance than its brass counterpart– keep this in mind when tack shopping. That brass-buckled bridle looks so pretty in the store…but not so much when it’s been sitting in the trailer and the buckles turned green. Brass IS beautiful, but it comes with the responsibility of keeping it polished! [As an aside: I was “raised” to believe that excessive brass usage on flashy horse faces is tacky. If your horse has a loud face, a big wide blaze and lots of white, he probably doesn’t need the added pizazz of brass buckles everywhere. He has enough to look at without artificial enhancement. True, it really doesn’t make a lick of difference…but that’s ye olde traditionalist in me.]

Ok, enough with metal. 90% of our tack is LEATHER, which requires its own dedicated care. I know all you good little Pony Clubbers clean your tack after EVERY RIDE (right guys?), as this is the best way to keep it in great condition. This is especially important in the summer time (“sweaty season”) and if you ride multiple horses a day. Hopefully, you clean your tack at least weekly, and give it a really throrough detailing before shows.

Take bridles completely apart; check buckles and bit attachments for signs of wear. Remove stirrup irons and leathers from saddles, check stitching for safety. When I was a working student/groom/manager for an Upper Level Rider, we cleaned tack and took it apart EVERY DAY. One Friday before a local event, I was exhausted– it had been a very long schooling day, and I *really* did not feel like taking everything apart to clean and put it back together…just as I had done the day before…but I did again it anyway. And THANK GOODNESS I DID: on one stirrup leather of her jumping saddle, the cross-bar of the buckle had cracked. The leathers were nearly new; stitching was perfect, leather was beefy; they were perfectly safe (except for the broken buckle!) which was so close to being missed. My rider was scheduled to go cross-country at 8am the next morning, and my diligence could have saved her life. [Of course it is the rider’s ultimate responsibility to check their tack…but often in the heat of the moment, rider trusts the grooms to have things in order, time is short you gotta get on and go. So, grooms of the world: THEIR SAFETY RIDES ON YOU, don’t forget that!!] In short: details matter!

I apologize for this column’s abrupt ending…I had spent the last hour writing an overview of how I clean tack daily and for the show ring, and the Blogging Editor just ate it. Apparently the “auto-save” feature was not working properly. So next week we will probably have more on tack cleaning and polishing methods.

Overbrook Farm

By AJ Dyer on Jan 31, 2010 7:00 pm -

Storm Cat. Anybody who knows modern Thoroughbreds knows that name. The $500,000 stud fee, the million-dollar yearlings, the incredible success his offspring enjoyed on the track. But unless you’re involved in the racing industry, you probably don’t know as much about his home, Overbrook Farm. I admit, I didn’t. Founded by the late William T. Young, it grew into a marvelous operation by the ’80s and ’90s. Overbrook horses won virtually every major race at least once during that time span– Derby, Preakness, Belmont, Breeders’ Cup (Juvenile, Fillies, and Classic). They won at Keeneland, Saratoga, and Santa Anita. Unfortunately, this past year, Mr. Young’s son decided that his heart wasn’t in the business anymore. All of Overbrook’s stock was sold this fall (& January) at Keeneland in a dispersal sale handled by Eaton Sales. That’s what sparked me to look into the grand legend of Overbrook, and I was stunned by the success and achievement. Even those who follow racing closely may have forgotten some of the Overbrook superstars– because there were so many!

In today’s Thoroughbred business (as with many in today’s world), it is all-too-common to “buy” into the winner’s circle. IEAH bought Big Brown as a racing three-year-old, Jess Jackson bought Curlin and Rachel Alexandra also after they started. It is standard practice to buy horses as yearlings, or at two-year-old sales, as racing prospects. But Overbrook was different. With a few exceptions, their racehorses were homebreds. Overbrook purchased mares; bred those mares; and raced the best offspring. When those racing fillies (Train Robbery, Seaside Attraction, Flanders, etc) retired, they joined the broodmare band and produced another crop of champions (Cat Thief, Cape Town, Surfside, etc). And so Overbrook created a dynasty spanning several generations, something that has become almost rare in today’s breed-and-sell, buy-to-race market. Their bloodlines were cherished, as evident by the $30M their stock brought at Keeneland this fall (in a poor market, no less). It was sad to see these grand old mares split up and sold off, but most of them stayed in Lexington and will certainly be well-cared for.

OK, enough with the sappy talk. Let’s celebrate the amazing performances of Overbrook’s extraordinary athletes. You may not recognize all these names, but I found many of them familiar. Enjoy the heart and courage displayed by these horses– it’s what horse racing should be. 🙂

Note: this is a 4-part series, about 25 minutes long. If you’re pressed for time, watch the first 5 minutes of Part 1, and skip Part 2. Part 3 is my favorite– I have a soft spot for Flanders and Surfside (both were SO CLASSY when I met them at Keeneland, real queens and they knew it). Part 4 is also great, one super stakes winner after another, culminating in Cat Thief’s Breeder’s Cup.

The Sunday Jog-Up: Tips from a Groom

By AJ Dyer on Jan 31, 2010 7:00 am -

Previous entries:
A Close Shave