Having grown up with two eventing-crazy sisters myself, I know firsthand what a “unique” experience that can be. Instead of fighting over clothes or boys, we argued over whose horse was “the best” and were perpetually trying to one-up each other in lessons and at shows.
Just below surface competitiveness, of course, we were one another’s biggest cheerleaders. Eventing brought us together in a way that transcended sibling rivalry and left us with memories that we’ll carry with us for a lifetime.
Family spirit is out in force this week at the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships. There are four sister combinations, as well as two mother-daughter duos competing. Among them…
Haley and Amber Curry
Haley, 16, and Amber, 18, are both competing in the Jr. Training division. And after the dressage and cross-country phases, they’re sitting in 5th and 6th places respectively, separated by just 0.2 point! We caught up with the sisters from Canton, MS, this afternoon.
Amber and Haley Curry. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Josephine and Anna Duggan
Josephine (Josie), 11, is competing in Jr. Beginner Novice 14 and Under, while big sis Anna, 16, is in Jr. Training. They hauled a LONG way to get here, all the way from Millbrook, NY, and their excitement about experiencing the AECs is evident. (P.s. We entrusted Josie and her friends Carina Ericksen and Isabel Finemore with a very special, top secret EN assignment this afternoon, so it won’t be the last you hear from this crew!)
Anna Duggan with Kildare’s Chesca and Josephine Duggan with Kildare’s Buster Keaton. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Jordan and Barb Crabo
What’s it like to have a top eventer as your mom/coach? That’s what we asked Jordan, from Scottsdale, Ariz., who is currently tied for 4th in the Jr. Novice division. Barb has several horses competing this weekend, including Eveready, with whom she is sitting in 4th place heading into cross country in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final division.
Oh, and also… happy birthday Jordan!
Jordan Crabo with Wildwych Eclipse. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Elizabeth and Emma Fettig
This sibling pair from Lake Geneva, WI, have the biggest age gap between them of any of the sisters we interviewed. Emma, 17, is competing in Jr./YR Prelim; Elizabeth, 10, is in Jr. Beginner Novice 14 and Under. Fun fact: Her pony, Hercules, is 27 years old!
Emma Fettig with Spanning the Globe and Elizabeth Fettig with Hercules. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Ashton and Kimberly Willnow
It’s clear that this mom/daughter duo from Burleson, TX, keep one other on their toes! Ashton is competing in Training Amateur; Kimberly is competing in the Novice Area Training Championships.
Kimberly Willnow with Ashes to Ashes and Ashton Willnow with Zydeco. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
I’m bound and determined to track down the final pair, Elise and Maddalyn Hunt of The Woodlands, TX, so check back with an interview with those two soon!
I get the whole ride-off-into-the-sunset thing now. If I was a Texas cowgirl — or a Texas eventer, for that matter — I’d go chasing that hunk of burning fireball off the edge of the earth every day of the week. I guess that’s one way to keep your horse fit.
My Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final course walk yesterday evening started out pretty normcore …
Fluffy white clouds, meh. I’ve seen a million of them.
… and ended up like that sunset scene in the The Notebook.
Edge of the earth, basically.
That moon makes me want to slow dance beneath it, or jump a great big trakehner.
All pastel-hued backdrops aside, it’s an interesting course. Relative to most Advanced courses, Texas Rose Horse Park doesn’t have a ton of room to work with, so the Capt. Mark Phillip-designed track snakes its way around, twisting, turning and doubling back on itself. Buck Davidson, who sits in second and third place after dressage on The Apprentice and Wundermaske, respectively, described it as a “more of a show jumping course.”
Indeed, the course will favor horses that are rideable, quick on their feet and swift through the air, as opposed to big galloping, lofty types. Riders looking to make the time will be shaving their turns, setting up efficiently and stepping hard on the accelerator upon landing. As Buck explained, “The accuracy isn’t so much there, but you have to be able to turn quickly and get on with the next fence.” (You can read the rest of Buck’s thoughts on the course, as well as those of dressage leader Jacob Fletcher here).
The line I’m most looking forward to watching is #15-#16-#17. While not technically a combination, the three offset fences — a narrow brush to an oxer to a narrow brush — reminds me of a triple exercise Phillip Dutton has used in clinics that has, say, the right standards of the first and third jumps in line with the left standard of the second jump. Since there’s no obvious line to keep your eye on, it catches out horses who tend to get ahead of their riders and take matters into their own hands and rewards those who keep their feet moving while staying 100 percent tuned in to rider guidance.
The first of 11 Gold Cup combinations, Joe Meyer and Sanskrit, set out of the box at 3:40 p.m. CST (4:30 p.m. EST). We’ll be bringing you all the action as it unfolds, so keep it locked here!
Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Just when we thought it was going to be The Buck Show, Jacob Fletcher swooped in and knocked the 2014 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final champion off his perch at top of the leaderboard.
Jacob was the final rider of the division and Buck’s scores — 32.0 for The Apprentice and 32.6 for Wundermaske — were the ones to beat. But a last-minute 27.6 sent Jacob and Atlantic Domino out front in the end.
“If this young guy hadn’t been here,” Buck lamented at the press conference with a gesture toward Jacob, “we’d be doing OK.”
Buck Davidson and The Apprentice. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Buck Davidson and Wundermaske. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Jacob has two horses in the division, both greys: Fly Away Ferro and Atlantic Domino. The latter is coming off a 6th place finish in the Richland Park CIC3* and an Intermediate win at Otter Creek Summer H.T. Jacob thought the AECs would be a good prep for his fall CCI3* at Galway Downs.
“He just keeps getting better and better,” Jacob says of the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse. “He’s not the flashiest thing, but he’s so rideable.”
Rideability will be at a premium on cross-country tomorrow, as the twisty, Captain Mark Phillips designed course will reward horses who set up readily and hit the ground running on the other side. Buck describes the track as “more of a show jumping course… The accuracy isn’t so much there but you have to be able to turn quickly and get on with the next fence.”
That’s Atlantic Domino’s wheelhouse, Jacob says.
“He strokes along very efficiently and I can shave off all the turns and he’s very straight, so a turn-y course as much as it could fit any horse fits him,” he explains.
The fences also tend to have a vertical face, which Jacob says works in the horses’ favor: “I think the shape of the fences encourages horses to wrap around the fences coming off the turns.”
Buck has been riding Wundermaske while owner Sharon White recovers from some herniated discs in her back, and he predicts that tomorrow’s course will play more to that horse’s strengths than to The Apprentice’s. Whereas Wundermaske is fast off his feet and adjustable, The Apprentice is a big-strided, galloping type who tends to spend more time in the air.
The Gold Cup division cross-country begins tomorrow at 3:40 p.m. CT; we’ll have a course preview posted first thing in the a.m. so you can check it out!
Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final photo gallery:
Joe Meyer and Sanskrit. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Joe Meyer and Clip Clop. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Jacob Fletcher and Fly Away Ferro. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Ellen Doughty and Sir Oberon. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Barb Crabo and Eveready. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Avery Klunick and In It to Win It. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Angela Gryzwinski and Novelle. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final standings after dressage:
Chinch is live on the scene at the Nutrena American Eventing Championships, and if you’ve ever wanted to see the world through his beady little eyes, this is your chance.
We’ve hooked him up to a camera so you can see what he’s up to throughout the week. From watching the water complex to lurking on people picking up their packets, we invite you to tune in and enjoy a few moments of rando eventing voyeurism, Chinch-style.
NOW PLAYING: Alright Eventing Nation, who’s ready to throw up their breakfast? While we wait for Chinchcam to go live on some Friday AEC action, here’s some nauseating footage from his walk around the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final cross-country track from yesterday evening.
No matter where you put the Nutrena American Eventing Championships, eventers WILL show up, emerging from every nook and cranny of the nation.
This year’s edition, the third and final AECs to be held in Tyler, Texas before moving back east to Tryon, N.C., has drawn competitors from 27 states. When my flight yesterday got delayed and I suddenly found myself with a few hours to kill, I entertained myself by stalking each and every competitor on the USEA database to find out where they were from.
Here’s the breakdown:
Graphic by Leslie Wylie.
Texas was by far the most represented…
Photo by Leslie Wylie.
..but Tyler is within a long arm’s reach of both east and west coast eventers and several made the trek from the far extremes of each.
Honorable mention goes to the New York contingent, whose journeys averaged about 1,600 miles — that’s between 25 and 27 hours not including stops. But the longest road trips of all belong to the northern Californians, with Delaney Vaden of Nevada City, Calif., collecting the most frequent eventer miles.
Delaney, who is competing RedRocks Jazzman in the Jr./YR Preliminary division, traveled over 1,800 miles to compete here this weekend. That’s 29 hours according to MapQuest, but with a horse in tow — plus two overnight layovers and the inevitable horse trailer misadventures like blown tires — it took Delaney and her family about three days.
Source: MapQuest.
Delany Vaden and RedRox Jazzman at the 2015 AECs. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
I caught up with Delaney this morning after her lovely dressage test to inquire what it was about the AECs that made her want to brave the trip:
I politely skirted the question I really wanted to ask, which was how much they spent on diesel!
Best of luck to Delaney and all of this weekend’s competitors. We’ll be reporting live throughout the week, so keep it locked here!
No matter what corner of the vast Eventing Nation you inhabit, one truth is universal: #EventerProblems happen. Where there are horses, there shall be struggle, and no one is immune.
#EventerProblems do, however, vary by location. Example: For those of us living in the U.S., the chance of encountering a kangaroo on one’s cross country course or while out hacking is probably slim-to-none. (Although one did show up at last week’s Plantation Field competitors’ party …)
For our Down Under readers, however, the struggle is all too real.
What’s YOUR problem? Tweet it, Instagram it or share it on Facebook with the hashtag #EventerProblems for inclusion in the next edition of this series.
…always remember that when it comes to #eventerproblems, you’ll never walk alone. Here are a few more #eventerproblems from around the Eventing Nation.
What’s YOUR problem? Tweet it, Instagram it or share it on Facebook with the hashtag #EventerProblems for inclusion in the next edition of this series.
All systems are go for a beautiful day of cross country at Plantation Field International Horse Trials. The first CIC3* combination, Jessica Phoenix and Patras VR, set out on course at 12:20 p.m. EST.
There are plenty of ways to keep up with the action. John Kyle is manning the PRO Tour Radio livestream, we’ve got Jenni Autry on the ground so be sure to follow her on social, and of course we’ll be bringing you live updates right here throughout. Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage from the Best. Event. Ever., and stay tuned for much more from Plantation Field.
3:52 p.m.: And here are your top 15 CIC3* finishers…
3:48 p.m.: And she does it! Picking up just a pinch of time, it will be Tamie and Maui Baum for the win!
3:45 p.m.: Marilyn home clear with 4 time penalties — they can finish no lower than 2nd. Now, it’s all on Tamie … come on, West Coast!
3:44 p.m.: It’s all on Marilyn and Tamie now…
3:43 p.m.: A wayyyyyy-long spot at a table for Tamie and Maui Baum. “They saw that stride from their base in California!” exclaims ever-entertaining livestream announcer John Kyle.
3:42 p.m.: Leader Tamie Smith and Maui Bum now setting out on course.
3:40 p.m.: No! A stop for third-placed Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM at 19b in the Foundation. The pair now walking off course, Buck having elected to save his longtime partner for another day.
3:39 p.m.: Second placed Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous now leaving the box, clear fence #4.
3:34 p.m.: The top 10 getting shaken up now as 9B catches out Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Kim pulls him up… looks like they’ll be calling it a day as well.
3:30 p.m.: Jessica Phoenix and previously 5th-placed Abbey GS have a refusal at 9B, then elect to retire.
3:25 p.m.: Holly Jacks-Smither and More Inspiration show us how it’s done around the course, picking up just 0.8 time.
3:23 p.m.: Ryan Wood and McLovin (best name ever?) clear with 4-and-some-change time penalties. Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Cubalawn now sprinting out of the start box.
3:19 p.m.: Things seem to be clocking along much more smoothly as we approach the top of the leaderboard. Holly Payne Caravella coming home clear with 7.2 time aboard Santino.
3:14 p.m.: Reverse order of go is the best! We’re now breaking into the top 15, with Holly Payne Caravella and Santino heading out on course.
3:06 p.m.: Local girl Jennie Brannigan makes her way around with just 4.8 time penalties on Catalina, which could move her up into the top 15. She’s still got one ride to go aboard Cambalda, with whom she is sitting in 8th place.
2:59 p.m.: Bummer.. Jenny Caras and Fernhill Fortitude now on course but picking up 20 at fence #12.
2:57 p.m.: Cross-country now running just under an hour behind schedule on account of multiple lengthy holds to repair broken frangible pins. Quit pressing the buttons, y’all!
2:50 p.m.: While we wait for the competition to resume, check out David Taylor’s wrap-ups of the CIC1* divisions. The winners: Elizabeth Bortuzzo and Omina (Division A) and Phillip Dutton and Icabad Crane (Division B).
Go Icabad! Photo by Jenni Autry.
2:49 p.m.: About 20 horses left in the CIC3* division, and you can bet the scoreboard at the end of the day is going to look a lot different than the one we started with this morning.
2:46 p.m.: Another pause to repair a broken frangible pin at fence #6… that will be 11 penalties for Jessica Phoenix.
2:42 p.m.: Ditto for Jessica Phoenix, who’s now out on course on her third ride of the day, Bentley’s Best. She’s had a day of mixed fortunes, jumping clear with 9.60 time penalties on A Little Romance before taking a spill from Pavarotti.
2:39 p.m.: Allie Knowles will be looking for some redemption aboard her second ride, Sound Prospect, after a fall earlier with The Dark Mark. They’re clear through #18…
2:35 p.m.: I funneled this question from a reader…
…straight to Jenni, who responds, “It seems like they’re pretty spread out.”
2:33 p.m.: Oh dear… loose horse! Colleen Rutledge has parted ways with Escot 6 at fence 7, with “Monkey” being the latest horse opting to take a solo tour of the countryside. Colleen is up and OK.
2:26 p.m.: Back underway now with Hallie Coon and Celien.
2:22 p.m.: Stop, start, stop, start… lots of holds on course today, the latest being for a frangible pin repair at the behest of Maggie Deatrick and Divine Comedy. On the bright side, this live update post is seemingly possessed (sorry for the technical difficulties!) so I’m appreciative of having a bit of time to get things sorted out.
2:02 p.m.: Rachel Wilks and River King parting ways. Hold on course while the medics take a quick look at Rachel, who seems to be OK.
1:54 p.m.: Meanwhile, Pavarotti has decided to “do his own thing,” jumping the galloping track rope for a romp across the scenic Pennsylvania countryside.
1:51 p.m.: Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti part ways … Jessie is up and appears to be fine.
1:42 p.m.: Meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, can we circle back around to the fact that Clark Montgomery and Loughan Glen just won Blenheim? A super weekend for the U.S. across the board, with four Americans finishing in the top 12. We just posted Samantha Clark’s wrap-up report — check it out!
Go Clark and Glen! Photo by Samantha Clark.
1:39 p.m.: Cody being transported to the local hospital for observation — well wishes, Cody! Competition now resuming, with Phillip Dutton and Mr. Candyman now heading out on course.
1:22 p.m.: Cody is up and talking to the paramedics and his horse has been wrangled, but we’ll be looking at about a 10-minute hold on course.
1:16 p.m.: Undeterred by the fall of her rider, Cody Sturgess, at fence #12, Imperial Melody kept running, finally acquiescing to being caught at fence #14.
1:11 p.m.: Maya Black and Doesn’t Play Fair finish with 40 jumping penalties.
1:04 p.m.: With the exception of a handful of glance-offs (Karl Slezak/Arctic Law, Madeline Backus/P.S. Arianna, Buck Davidson/Be Mine) and a couple falls, lots of nice trips happening out there. Going to knock on some wood now.
12:59 p.m.: Boyd Martin and Crackerjack have turned in the only double clear so far.
12:53 p.m.: An unfortunate fall for Allie Knowles and The Dark Mark will result in an MR. Thankfully both are OK.
12:48 p.m.: So on other front …. guess who just freaking won Blenheim? CLARK MONTGOMERY!
12:45 p.m.: And we’re back! Ryan Wood and Fernhill Classic now setting out on course.
12:40 p.m.: While we wait for things to get up and running again, check out this drone flyover of the course, with narration by Doug Payne.
12:34 p.m.: Sadly, it’s an RF for April Simmonds and Impressively Done after a fall at the Footbridge. A hold on course while they gather themselves. Thankfully both horse and rider are OK.
12:26 p.m. EST: Jessica Phoenix and Patras VR are through the finish flags, clear but with 21.2 time.
12:22 p.m. EST: A glance-off at 9B for Buck Davidson and Be Mine. Jessica Phoenix pulls up briefly, perhaps to adjust a bit of tack? Continuing on now…
12:20p.m. EST: Trailblazer Jessica Phoenix and Patras VR now on course. Except for a few riders with multiple horses, cross country is running in reverse order of go which always adds an extra bit of excitement to the mix.
12:19 p.m. EST: We’re just seconds away from the start of CIC3* cross country. Here are your top 15 heading into the event’s final phase…
Eric Winter has been designing the cross-country at Blenheim Palace Horse Trials since 2007 but he keeps riders on their toes with a good switch-up each year. This year’s CCI3* course is longer, he explains, with fewer combinations and significantly less brush than the last time it ran in this direction.
Here he is joined by Irish four-star rider Elizabeth Power for a stroll around the track, discussing strategy and the various decisions riders will have to make on course.
We’re excited to see how the course lives up to Eric’s vision, and we’ll have our answer soon enough! Keep it locked on Eventing Nation as Samantha Clark will be bringing us updates from Blenheim throughout the weekend.
This year’s PRO Bareback Puissance competition takes place on Sunday and we’re all looking forward to seeing who will soar the highest. In addition to earning a lifetime supply of respect from his or her eventing peers, the winner will take home $1,000 in prize money courtesy of vet-turned-4*-eventer Dr. Kevin Keane and Sports Medicine Associates.
A look back at the past couple winners:
Willie McCarthy cleared 6’1″ aboard Ibella to win it in 2013….
Willie McCarthy and Ibella. Photo by Jenni Autry.
… and last year Justine Dutton cleared 5’11″ with Casino Royale.
Justin Dutton and Casino Royale. Photo by Alec Thayer.
Who’s going to be this year’s winner?
As inspiration to all the 2015 Bareback Puissance hopefuls, we present this video Robert Whitaker breaking the world bareback puissance record in 2011.
The spectacle took place at the Stockholm International Horse Show. The jump is 2.12 m (6’9″), and the horse is Waterstone II. Robert Whittaker is the son of legendary showjumper John Whittaker.
Keep an eye on Eventing Nation throughout the weekend as Jenni Autry keeps up updated on all the Plantation Field action.
Eventers are a special breed. To quote the late, great band Chumbawamba’s 1997 hit “Tubthumper,” they get knocked down, but they get up again, and you’re never going to keep them down. In fact, they’re known for bouncing back with a smile on their face and two thumbs in the air.
Speaking of the resiliency of eventers, we’ve noticed a running theme:
A photo posted by Prairie StipeMaas (@prairiestm) on
The thumbs up is universal eventerspeak for “don’t worry about me, all good, I’ll be back on my horse in a week or two.” We think eventers around the world deserve credit for their indestructible will and relentless optimism. Here are a few of our favorite thumbs up photos.
In the spirit of our “Who Jumped It Best?” series, have a look and vote for your favorite in the poll below!
Laine Ashker after breaking her arm when a young horse kicked her on the farm. Photo via Laine Ashker’s Facebook page.
Dana Cooke after breaking her pelvis at Five Points H.T. Photo via Dana Cook’s Facebook page.
Will Faudree after breaking two vertebrae in his neck at Five Points H.T. Photo courtesy of Will Faudree.
Jon Holling after breaking his leg in a cross country schooling accident. Photo courtesy of Jon Holling.
Boyd Martin after breaking his tibia at Southern Pines. Photo by Amber Heintzberger via Boyd’s blog.
Dani Sebastian after tearing her lung due to getting run over by a horse on the farm.
OK, so this last one isn’t exactly a thumbs up … but we had to include it.
Peter Atkins drinking a beer in the hospital after breaking his leg during a hack at home. Photo courtesy of Peter Atkins.
Did we miss any good thumbs up photos? Let us know in the comments below! Go Eventers.
From Glenn Wilson, Pine Top Farm: “Robert Wilson on Pine Top George going Training at our February Horse Trials. George was just feeling so good! He’s still here at 19 and he still has his ‘fun’ moments. #EventerProblems!” Photo by Hoofclix.
What’s YOUR problem? Tweet it, Instagram it or share it on Facebook with the hashtag #EventerProblems for inclusion in the next edition of this series.
Being arguably the world’s toughest CCI4*, Burghley certainly has its fair share of #EventerProblems. But it’s not just the competitors who have to deal — it’s the spectators as well. Here’s a roundup of struggles from cross country day at this year’s event. Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage from #LRBHT.
Shocked to see Michael Jung fall? Probably not as much as he is – 10th April 2010 was the last time he parted company at an international — EquiRatings (@EquiRatings) September 5, 2015
When it’s a good thing you’re Mark Todd because anyone else would’ve:
Mark Todd and Leonidas are living dangerously but those many years of experience keep them hanging on in there #LRBHT
…or experience various other assorted equipment failures:
Tack failures on course today with flapping boots, broken martingales and loose bandages adding to heart failures in the press room #LRBHT — An Eventful Life (@eventfulifebook) September 5, 2015
Happy Times v quick thru Trout Hatchery, looks like he may lose his saddle pad
What’s YOUR problem? Tweet it, Instagram it or share it on Facebook with the hashtag #EventerProblems for inclusion in the next edition of this series.
Friendships come in all shapes and sizes. “Fun-sized” is perhaps the best descriptor for the unusual relationship between Caitlin Romeo’s event horse Audacious Comet and her BFF, a mini donkey named Baby Kong.
The story of Baby Kong begins in August 2014, when Advanced level eventer Caitlin Romeo began leasing an 80-acre farm in Voss, North Carolina. When she moved in the owner still had a couple retired show jumpers on the farm, whom Caitlin cares for, as well as four mini-donkeys, three jennies and a jack named Donkey Kong.
It was unclear whether the jennies were pregnant or not so Caitlin moved them to paddocks by the barn in order to better keep an eye on them. In November, one of the jennies gave birth to a sassy ball of fluff who came to be known as Baby Kong.
Photo courtesy of Caitlin Romeo.
In an adjacent paddock Caitlin’s green event horse Audacious Comet (“Addie”) looked on with curiosity. The 5-year-old Thoroughbred/Irish mare, by Formula One out of a full sister to Courageous Comet, was just beginning her eventing career with Caitlin.
While successful competitively — they made it to the East Coast Championships for both the Future Event Horse and Young Event Horse series and moved up to Training level this summer — Addie’s social skills were somewhat less developed. “I was unable to put her with any other horses because she played too much and would dominate,” Caitlin says.
A video posted by Caitlin Romeo (@woodlawnfarmeventing) on
The baby mini donkey next door, however, was a different story.
Addie became, says Caitlin, “quite attached.” “We started having really cold nights, so we had to bring Baby Kong in at nighttime and out during the day in a small dog-sized Amigo blanket,” Caitlin recalls. When he was that small, she could just pick him up and carry him all over the farm. “I think that was his favorite way of transportation. Once you held him he would relax like a dog, even when he was 60 pounds.”
Photo courtesy of Caitlin Romeo.
Addie didn’t like having her new friend next door taken away, though. “She wasn’t too happy with the situation and started breaking boards when he would leave,” Caitlin says. When it came time to wean Baby Kong from his mother, moving him in with Addie seemed like the logical next step. With Baby Kong as Addie’s new pasturemate, Caitlin says, “her whole personality changed, and she became much happier having him.” The pair has been keeping Caitlin entertained ever since.
“Baby Kong is a riot,” Caitlin says. “They have now become such close friends that every time we go to grab her he will either try to steal her halter from us or bite the lead rope. If we are quick enough to sneak them away, he will start running in front of her and try to bite her chest, and she will just walk right over him.”
“He then started playing with her tail — which is a big no-no — so I put a tail wrap on,” Caitlin says. “Now that he’s not afraid of the wrap, he starts to play tug of war with it.”
“When we put her back in the field it’s almost like a fairytale, the way they run to one another. When we aren’t taking her away from him, you almost catch them daily running around in the field together, and Addie will be jumping over his back or he’s chasing her,” Caitlin says. “If I wasn’t afraid of getting in trouble, I’m sure this donkey would travel to events with us to keep her company, but they make a little more noise then your typical mini pony.”
Addie and Baby Kong: best friends forever. Be sure to follow their adventures (and misadventures) on Instagram (@woodlawnfarmeventing), and you can learn more about Caitlin’s and her program at caitlinromeoeventing.com. Go Eventing!
What’s YOUR problem? Tweet it, Instagram it or share it on Facebook with the hashtag #EventerProblems for inclusion in the next edition of this series.
Ronald Zabala and Che Mr. Wiseguy at Richland Park HT. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Many of us have thought, or even said aloud, of a special equine partner, “I wish I had three more horses just like this one.” For Ronald Zabala-Goetschel, however, the sentiment was more than a passing thought experiment. Today he is the proud owner of three clones of his own horse of a lifetime, Che Mr. Wiseguy.
The colts, who turned 4 in April, are near carbon copies of their “sire”: dark, athletic powerhouses with super-sized personalities and presence to spare. Wiseguy Too was born first, followed by Wiseguy Two Too and Wiseguy Two Top, all birthed via surrogate mares through Austin, Texas-based ViaGen Inc.
Ronald says it’s been fascinating to watch the colts grow up. In comparison to Che Mr. Wiseguy, who is a gelding, they’re slightly smaller in stature but bulkier, with strongly-crested necks. “The clones are stallions and will stay stallions,” Ronald explains.
Wiseguy Too Two. Photo courtesy of Ronald Zabala.
Wiseguy Too Top. Photo courtesy of Ronald Zabala.
Wiseguy Too. Photo courtesy of Ronald Zabala.
One of the clones has already been bred to Sally Cousin’s four-star horse Tsunami. “We have a surrogate mare carrying their baby,” Ronald says. “We have ‘eight-star’ genes there — four from Wiseguy, four from Tsunami.”
Both Che Mr. Wiseguy and Tsunami were out competing in the Richland CIC3* last weekend:
Sally Cousins and Tsunami III. Photo by Bailey Moran.
The clones inherited Wiseguy’s coloring, but subtle differences in their white markings make it a little easier to tell them apart. “Their blazes change a little bit,” Ronald says. “I’ve noticed that the babies tend to get the blazes and socks of the surrogate mares carrying them.”
The colts also inherited Wiseguy’s conformation and movement, which was rewarded with top finishes in USEA Future Event Horse 3-year-old division last year. The colts were neck-and-neck at qualifying competitions, with Wiseguy Too and Wiseguy Too Two being named the top two 3-year-old colts at the 2014 USEA FEH Championships at Loch Moy in November.
And then there’s their big personalities and drive. “There is research that suggests clones have no energy, due to the mitochondria they didn’t get from their mom,” Ronald says. “But I’ve never seen horses that age who play like they do. They play all day. It never stops. You see them in the paddocks and they’re always racing each other.”
From L to R: Wiseguy Too, Wiseguy Too Two and Wiseguy Too Top. Photos courtesy of Ronald Zabala.
They relish goading the older horses — Wiseguy and Ronald’s 2012 London Olympic partner Master Rose (“Big Boy”) — into duels as well, taunting them from the other side of the fence. “The clones are like, ‘Come on, let’s do it.’ Last year the clone was faster than my Olympic horse.”
Ronald tells the story of one of the clones going up against his old man, Che Mr. Wiseguy: “They were racing each other like crazy, trying to prove who the man was, who was best.” Neither colt nor sire backed down, which came as no surprise to Ronald. “Wiseguy doesn’t have giving up in his system.”
Indeed, the 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood (Jolie—Noblesse) has never had a cross-country stop or runout in his life. They jumped around Rolex in 2009 and bounced back from a near career-ending diagnosis of neck arthritis to resume competing at the three-star level earlier this year. In May they won a CIC3* in Argentina and competed in the CIC3* at Richland Park this weekend, although Ronald scratched him before cross country to save his legs for another day.
Ronald says his Richland dressage test was a bit of an experiment — he tried a double bridle to improve Wiseguy’s flying changes, which it did but at the expense of the test’s overall quality. They followed it up with a clear show jumping round, save a couple time penalties.
Ronald also competed his new ride Jolliyat, formerly campaigned through the CCI3* level by Caitlin Calder, at Richland in the CCI2*. They picked up 20 in the first water — they took the long route, as the horse is just getting his confidence back after some water issues — and accidentally crossed their tracks. “He was amazingly brave. I was amazingly stupid,” Ronald laughs.
As for who he’ll end up riding at the 2016 Olympics for his native Ecuador, Ronald says the three contenders are Wiseguy, Big Boy and Jolliyat. At the moment, Wiseguy is his top-ranked horse, having won the CIC3* Olympic qualifier in Argentina earlier this year. Rio de Janeiro would be a perfect swan song for their partnership, as Ronald says the horse will be retired after the Olympics whether he competes or not.
Ronald Zabala Goetschel and Che Mr. Wiseguy at Richland Park HT. Photo by Bailey Moran.
In the meantime, he is doing everything he can to give his beloved horse that opportunity. “He turned 16 in March, and I usually retire them when they’re 16,” Ronald says.
To save wear and tear on Wiseguy’s legs, the horse has something of an unorthodox conditioning program. He is worked six days a week but typically on a walker or in the swimming pool Ronald built especially for Wiseguy. “I only ride him for gallops, and one time for dressage and one time for jumping before a competition,” Ronald explains. “He gets a rider on maybe four or five times a month — that’s it.”
As for a fall CCI3*, Ronald has his sights set on Galway rather than Fair Hill in favor of its milder terrain. “I think Fair Hill would take too much out of him,” he says.
Big Boy taking a lead from Wise Guy in the pool. Photo courtesy of Ronald Zabala.
Mostly, though, Ronald is just savoring every moment in the saddle he gets with Che Mr. Wiseguy: “I’m happy Wiseguy is back, and I could not ask for more. He will tell me what he wants to do.”
In the meantime, Ronald has plenty of other projects to keep him busy, including working with Wiseguy’s clones. While Ronald has started breaking the colts, they’ll be sitting out of the USEA’s Young Event Horse series, aiming instead for some Beginner Novice events next year. “We do everything a year late,” Ronald says. “I think it helps them last longer, mentally and physically.”
In a perfect circle sort of way, it seems fitting that Wiseguy’s eventing career will be winding down just as his clones’ careers are beginning. We wish Ronald and his horses all the best in their preparations for the Olympic Games, and we’ll be keeping a close eye on Wiseguy’s clones for the future!
Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border. Photo by Kasey Mueller/Rare Air Photography.
A whiz kid can have all the talent in the world but it takes a special teacher to develop those gifts to their highest potential. Cooley Cross Border was lucky enough to find a mentor in one of America’s best event riders, Kim Severson.
After Cross won the dressage on Thursday we recapped his coming-of-age story. The synopsis: Under Kim’s tutelage the now 8-year-old ISH gelding has gone from being a Young Event Horse Champion to the capable, confident competitor he showed himself to be this weekend, handily winning his Advanced-level debut. There have been some bobbles along the way, of course, but Kim recognized his potential early and has worked diligently and patiently to shape him into an athlete with international potential.
Just as Kim has challenged Cross, the horse has challenged her. Adapting to Cross’s power and physique, for example, has been a process.
“He is very different for me, and I often times think that I don’t ride him very well,” continued Severson. “He has a big step, and he is harder for me to ride, but he is such a lovely horse and he is genuine and we know each other very well.”
It all came together for the pair this weekend, when they added just one show jumping time fault to their dressage score of 30.90. Today’s cross-country track wasn’t easy but Cooley looked super where I saw him, eating up each new riddle he encountered.
“I knew that he could jump the jumps, it was just a matter of whether he was going to put it all together,” Kim says. “He was terrific — out of the sunken road he was especially good and he was great everywhere. No complaints… he is such a nice horse.”
As with the CIC3*, the Advanced division was dominated by clear rounds. Time became the “sorting hat,” with only two out of the 22 finishers posting a double clear. The top five were reshuffled as follows:
Holly Payne Caravella and Santino moved from 6th to 2nd…
Holly Payne Caravella and Santino. Photo by Kasey Mueller/Rare Air Photography.
Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF moved from 7th to 3rd…
Matt Brown and Super Socks BCF. Photo by Kasey Mueller/Rare Air Photography.
Lillian Heard and Share Option moved from a tie for 2nd to 4th…
Lillian Heard and Share Option. Photo by Kasey Mueller/Rare Air Photography.
Holly Payne Caravella and Never Outfoxed, having posted the only other double-clear trip besides Kim and Cross, jumped from 12th to 5th.
Holly Payne Caravella and Never Outfoxed. Photo by Kasey Mueller/Rare Air Photography.
On a side note, Kim also won Open Prelim on Michelle Parker’s Hope Cove on their dressage score of 22.70. You can watch a video of their show jumping round here.
Advanced Top 15:
CCI2*, CIC2* and CIC1* Results
Coincidentally, the winners of three out of four of the FEI divisions led from start to finish: Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM in the CIC3*, Clayton Fredericks and FE Bowman in the CCI2* (you’ve got to watch this horse trot!), and Alexander O’Neal and Rendezvous with Charly in the CIC1* (check out a video of their show jumping round here).
The CIC2* was won by Jennie Brannigan riding Catalina, who has competed through the CCI2* level with owner Candace Kircher.
“It is my second event with that horse,” Jennie says. “It is my best friend’s horses so it is a great honor to get to ride her, and it is one thing to say ‘I think this mare is really special and I think I can do some great things with her’ and it’s another thing to actually go out there and it to actually be true. So we are pretty excited for the future.”
Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM. Photo by Kasey Mueller/Rare Air Photography.
When the horse Buck Davidson was riding in the Richland CCI2* hung a leg and fell on cross- country yesterday, Buck did exactly what you’d expect Buck to do: hop on an Advanced horse and jump a double-clear show jumping round.
Less than an hour later.
With broken ribs.
And then compete six more horses cross country the next day.
(For the record, he was wearing an air vest but forgot to put in the canister. Oops!)
Today was, admittedly, kind of rough. He had five in the CIC3* — Ballynoe Castle RM, Carlevo, Wundermaske, Copper Beach and Be Mine — plus Park Trader in the Advanced. He woke up this morning in pain, no doubt, but also leading the Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* on Reggie.
Good thing the pair can practically jump around with their eyes closed. They collected a carefully calculated 4.8 time faults, keeping them at the front of the pack for the win. “I did the math and figured Jennie (Brannigan) would make the time, and figured that some others wouldn’t, so it gave me a bit of a cushion,” Buck explained.
At the end of the day Buck expressed, almost apologetically, that he “was not on his A game.”
“I’m not joking when I say I usually let Reggie go at his own pace, but today I was just too sore to go that fast,” he said.
We forgive you, Buck. This time.
“For sure it was not as smooth as it could have been; once you pull on [Reggie] he starts to pull on you,” he said. “My goal was just to get balanced and try to survive today. He is a champ. He looked after me.” #LoveWins
Buck Davidson and Park Trader. Photo by Kasey Mueller/Rare Air Photography.
As prophesied by Buck, Jennie and Cambalda did move up from 5th to 2nd thanks to a double-clear trip. The pair made today’s course look like a (really fast) canter in the park, finishing just 1.7 points behind Buck and Reggie.
“I have been joking around for ages that I have always wanted to win this event, and I have been second a lot,” Jennie said. “I have been second to Buck before in a tie at this event so I am laughing. Buck is a great guy and we have gone head-to-head a few times on these horses. This was his weekend to win and Ping feels great so it is like a having a good ol’ friend.”
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo by Kasey Mueller/Rare Air Photography.
Here’s some crappy iPhone footage of them at #18AB, the double of oxers. Warning: I just got an iPhone 6 and am obsessed with the hilariously dramatic slow-mo feature, so apologies in advance. EN’s favorite unpaid videographer buddy The Horse Pesterer was wandering around all over Richland this weekend so perhaps he’ll show up with better videos that we can sub in later.
Emily Beshear and Shame on the Moon came into cross country tied for 2nd and slipped to 3rd having collected 5.20 time faults. The pair looked sharper than ever and we’ll all be cheering them on at Blenheim next month.
Emily Beshear and Shame on the Moon. Photo by Kasey Mueller/Rare Air Photography.
More terrible iPhone footage of them making short work of the first water:
Rounding out the top five were Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High, who turned in another of the day’s 10 double-clear rounds to move from 7th to 4th…
Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High. Photo by Kasey Mueller/Rare Air Photography.
…followed by Caroline Martin and Center Stage, who moved from 8th to 5th on their double-clear.
Caroline Martin and Center Stage. Photo by Kasey Mueller/Rare Air Photography.
Here they are coming through the #17AB, the offset ditch-and-rails:
Overall the CIC3* course rode beautifully and according to plan. For many of the veterans it was a perfect knock-the-rust-off run before fall CCIs, while less-experienced horses came off the big, galloping course feeling like stars.
The few problems that cropped up, mostly consisting of a glance-off here and there, were scattered. Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless retired after collecting 20 at the #9ABC, the sunken road; Nilson Moreira da Silva/Muggle and Buck Davidson/Be Mine bowed out after running into a bit of trouble as well.
A few of the more interesting questions included #15AB, a double of corners…
…#9ABC, the sunken road…
…and #13, the ditch-and-wall keyhole.
Sharon White and Cooley on Show. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Ronald Zabala withdrew Che Mr. Wiseguy after show jumping to save his 16-year-old partner’s legs for another day — perhaps, he said when we spoke with him yesterday, the Olympics next year. Ronald has some exciting stuff in the pipeline that you can look forward to reading all about on EN this week.
CIC3* Top 15:
The show is wrapping up and I’d kill for a sandwich, so I’m going to take this party to Panera Bread and finish up my Advanced report there. (Spoiler alert: Kim Severson and Cooley Cross Border won.) Check back soon!
When I say Richland is in the middle of a cornfield, I mean that Richland is LEGITIMATELY in the middle of a cornfield. (OK, there are some soybeans too, but mostly corn.)
But you can’t help but love that, instead of getting all uppity-up wine-and-cheese dog-and-pony show with their event, Richland has opted to just embrace its inner Farmer Joe.
And judging from these reader-submitted #EventerProblems, it’s just as real in whatever corner of the Eventing Nation you live in as well! Here are a couple dozen more to help you guys feel a little less alone in your pain.
I can put a diaper on a horse’s foot perfectly every time but please don’t ever ask me to put one on a baby #eventerproblems — Tess Lesesne (@donTESS_me) August 18, 2015
I have officially become an eventer. I saw a hedge line on someone’s property and thought ‘that would be a great jump!’ #eventerproblems — Olivia Binstead (@HorseDancerLiv) August 20, 2015
Do not use SaddleTite if you are riding in chaps and shorts with some inner thigh exposed. Especially do not post. #psa#eventerproblems — D.LeeArt (@DLeeStudio) August 22, 2015
And a couple videos by David Taylor for the grand finale!
What’s YOUR problem? Tweet it, Instagram it or share it on Facebook with the hashtag #EventerProblems for inclusion in the next edition of this series.
Justine Dutton and Jollybo. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Red on white, white on left, insanity in the middle… that’s the Eventing Nation way. But it takes an extra-special sort of crazy to get the job done in style.
For our Richland edition of “Who Jumped It Best?,” we’re pitting a select few CIC3* competitors against EN’s own motto-inspired hurdle.
Built by show jump artiste Brody Robertson, the fence made an appearance this weekend on Richland’s Marc Donovan-designed course. It was the second to last jump, off a slightly uphill four-stride related distance from another Brody original sponsored by the USEA.
Photo by Leslie Wylie.
While simple-looking, it caught a few horses out. The liverpool was on the landing side, leaving not much in the way of a ground line to back horses off the vertical. I noticed a few riders scratching their chins at it while walking the course: “Why would he put the liverpool on that side?” Best answer: “Because he wants us to have the rail down.”
Here, Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda demonstrate a stylish jump over the obstacle:
There were 19 double-clear rounds in the 44-horse CIC3* field, or 43%. (As an interesting compare-and-contrast side note, only four horses out of 25 had double-clear rounds in the Advanced division, or 16%.) Their prize? The unsolicited and possibly unwanted opportunity to be contestants on this round of “Who Jumped It Best?”!
Note: Of the 19 double-clears, we’re going to disqualify the top five placed horses since they already had their photos on EN yesterday and we want to spread the love around.
The CIC3* finalists:
Alexandra Knowles and The Dark Mark. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Babette Lenna and Little Oliver. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Buck Davidson and Copper Beech. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Ellen Doughty-Hume and Sir Oberon. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Jessica Phoenix and Abbey GS. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Joe Meyer and Clip Clop. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Lillian Heard and LCC Barnaby. Photo courtesy of Bailey Moran.
Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Sarah Cousins and Knight Lion. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Sarah Cousins and Tsunami III. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Savannah Fulton and Captain Jack. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Sharon White and Clifford M. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Sharon White and Cooley On Show. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Many thanks again to Bailey Moran for the use of her super photos. Making it all the more impressive, not only did Bailey stand in one place long enough to snap 44 photos of the same jump, she followed it up by immediately hopping on her Advanced horse and tackling it herself! That’s insanity in the middle at its finest.
Bailey Moran and Loughnatousa Caislean. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Yesterday’s Richland Park CIC3* leaders stayed strapped in tight for today’s show jumping competition.
The lovesong of Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM continued with a double-clear round. Buck/Carlevo and Emily Beshear/Shame on the Moon followed suit, leaving them still tied for 2nd, and 4th-placed Mikki Kuchta and Rubens D’Ysieux held fast to their position as well.
Buck and Reggie were foot-perfect around the Marc Donovan-designed course. Its undulating turf terrain kept things interesting, highlighting the weaknesses of some and working in the favor of others. Buck says Reggie falls into the latter category.
“He seems to like grass even more — he wants to know where his feet are all the time,” Buck explained. “He jumped spectacularly today. I was very, very proud of him, as I always am, but he was particularly good today.”
Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Buck Davidson and Ballynoe Castle RM. Photo by Bailey Moran.
As Buck explained yesterday, he and Carlevo are still developing their relationship as the horse was just recently imported from Germany. They had a couple rails at their first couple CIC2*s together earlier this year but everything seems to be coming together for them this weekend.
“I’m really, really, really excited with him because I’ve really been working hard on the show jumping and that’s been helping a lot,” Buck says.
“Funny enough, his record when I got him — his dressage was OK, his cross-country was OK, his show jumping was fantastic,” he recalls. “And since I’ve had him his dressage has been fantastic, the cross-country has been good and the show-jumping has been a disaster. I thought, oh my God, what am I doing wrong?”
“It just takes a little while. He jumped really, really well today, and he’s definitely got three good phases in him for sure.”
Buck Davidson and Carlevo. Photo by Bailey Moran.
Separating Buck from Emily on the scoreboard may well come down to time on cross-country tomorrow. Emily and Delta had a solid go today, which bodes well for their upcoming trip to Blenheim in September.
“Richland definitely seems to be one of her favorite venues to show jump in,” Emily says, referring to their clear trip in the CIC3* here last year.
At Blenheim both dressage and show jumping take place on turf so today’s course, which featured several related distances on a slope, was a good prep.
“I think a lot of what makes or breaks it on a course like that is just how you can ride the turns in between — trying to stay efficient but not rush the horses,” she explains. “[Marc Donovan] does set you up to be successful with all the related distances as long as you have a sense of jumping in a good canter
“I felt like the downs actually somewhat helped my horse, because she’s more careful on the downhills thinking about her balance,” Emily says. “The uphills are a little harder. That’s where I had some rubs because she tends to push at the jumps, so I think it’s just a matter of knowing your horse and knowing how to support them in the different terrain.”
Emily Beshear and Shame on the Moon. Photo by Bailey Moran.
There was a bit of a shuffle beneath them, with Jessica Phoenix and Bentley’s Best and Lillian Heard and Share Option moving up from a tie for 4th to a tie for 2nd.
A great big shout-out to Bailey Moran, who competed in the Advanced division and added just four faults to her score today, for letting us hijack her beautiful photos. Grab mane because you’ve got a whole lot of EN karma coming your way tomorrow, Bailey!
Bailey Moran and Loughnatousa Caislean. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Bailey Moran and Loughnatousa Caislean. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Advanced top 15 after show jumping:
And a quick look at the top three in the 2*/1* divisions (to view the complete scores click here):
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We’re all looking forward to Richland’s CIC3* grand finale on the cross-country course tomorrow. The schedule has been moved up a bit from what was originally scheduled, with the CIC3* running from 11:10 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. and the Advanced beginning at 1:10 p.m.
When the horse Buck Davidson was riding in the Richland CCI2* hung a leg and fell on cross- country yesterday, Buck did exactly what you’d expect Buck to do: hop on an Advanced horse and jump a double-clear show jumping round.
