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Did Frangible Pins Save Lives at Badminton?

By on May 22, 2014 9:00 am -
Peter Flarup and Calista E triggered the frangible pins at this fence when the mare caught a front leg on the back rail. Peter Flarup and Calista E triggered the frangible pins at this fence when the mare caught a front leg on the back rail.

Cross-country day at Badminton 2014 was a gnarly one, but without frangible pins, it might have been much, much worse. Giuseppe Della Chiesa’s course took out over half of the field and produced some nasty spills — if you can stomach it, we rounded up a few of them here. Yet for all the carnage, there were miraculously few serious injuries and zero fatalities.

As tough as the course was, safety considerations were at the forefront of its construction. Nine fences were fitted with frangible pins, four of which were triggered on multiple occasions. Badminton reported that the pins at fences 7, the Team GBR Silver Birch, and 8, the Rolex Grand Slam Triple Bar, were triggered three times; the pin at 14a, the Gatehouse New Pond, was triggered seven times; and the pin at 15, the Vicarage Vee, was triggered twice. That’s a total of 12 potentially rotational horse falls that were prevented by frangible pins.

riddle

A frightening moment for Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master. They broke the frangible pin but recovered well, only to later part ways at the Mirage Pond.

On two occasions, the horse/rider combinations triggered the pins but went on to the complete the course without additional jump faults. Bill Levett and Shannondale Titan took down fence 7, while Nicola Wilson and Beltane Queen survived a hairy moment at fence 15 thanks to the top rail giving way:

FEI rules dictate that penalties for breaking a frangible pin are awarded under the discretion of the ground jury, and the ground jury did award 21 penalties to Nicola and Beltane Queen — a small price to pay for making it through the Vicaragee Vee unscathed.

Others weren’t so lucky, except of course in the sense that they were able to walk off the course unharmed.

This video shows a frame-by-frame breakdown of the sequence of events that followed. It was still a scary fall, but imagine it without the pins …

Injury- and casualty-free events are the result of a number of factors, frangible pins being just one of them: improved course design, better educated horses and riders, innovations in safety equipment like air vests, etc. And, clearly, Badminton’s organizers have a lot of hard questions they’ll need to answer before the 2015 event. But it’s safe to say that without the pins, this year’s event might have looked much different.

From Skeleton to Superstar in 17 Months: High Octane’s Incredible Story

By on May 19, 2014 3:00 pm -
Carrie Mulks and High Octane at Southern Pines H.T. Photo by Julie Greene. Carrie Mulks and High Octane at Southern Pines H.T. Photo by Julie Greene.

When Carrie Mulks and High Octane head out onto a cross-country course, the obstacles they encounter pale in comparison to the obstacles they’ve already conquered.

Their story begins in January 2013, when one of Carrie’s clients saw a 16.3-hand OTTB gelding listed for sale on Craigslist. Foaled in Texas in 1999 and given the Jockey Club name Willow Springs (Pick Up the Phone X Chris’s Avenger, by Staunch Avenger), the horse had raced 17 times, earning just under $5,000 in his career.  The ad said that he had previously been a jumper but that his owner could no longer afford to feed him. Carrie’s client said she “had a feeling about him,” Carrie said.

“I thought she was totally crazy but called the next day to schedule an appointment to go,” she said. “I drove two hours to go check out this horse, and as soon as I saw the poor starving thing I knew I could not leave without him! I purchased Will (as he’s now known around the barn) within 20 minutes of stepping on the property for $400. Will was on the verge of starving to death, literally, and lame on at least two of four legs. Although he barely had the strength to walk into the trailer, he seemed very happy to jump right in.”

Untitled

High Octane, post-rescue. Photo courtesy of Carrie Mulks.

Afraid he wasn’t going to make it through the night, Carrie and her mother checked on Will every hour around the clock. Not only did he survive, he soon began to thrive in his new Michigan home. With groceries, regular vet and farrier care, and a slow start to a conditioning program, Will began to show signs of life. One day Carrie pointed him toward a small log in the pasture, and Will seized the opportunity to show his new owner what he was all about.

“The log was in a location where, if you jumped it straight, it was two strides out over a bigger, Training-size log. I very carefully presented Will at an angle to the small log with every intention to NOT come even close to the bigger log. Apparently, Will had a different idea, as he pulled the reins out of my hands, locked onto the out log, and over we went,” Carrie said.

Carrie signed him up for Novice at Spring Bay Horse Trials in April 2013 and, although he didn’t quite understand the dressage, he was brave and confident in both jumping phase. It wasn’t long before Will came around to the concept of flatwork; in July, he won the dressage at Cobblestone Horse Trials on a score of 30, adding one unlucky show jumping rail to finish 2nd in Open Training.

Will continued answering questions just as quickly as Carrie could ask them, wrapping up last season with a successful first Preliminary outing at the Hagyard H.T. at the Kentucky Horse Park. Carrie was careful to take their time cross country to give Will a chance to really understand each question, as the Prelim course shared several jumps with the CIC*. Despite one stop at the first water, Will rose to the challenge and proceeded to dominate every jump after that. They topped off the year at the annual Eventing Association of Michigan awards banquet, where Will — the starved horse who had never evented before that season — won both High Point OTTB and High Point Training Horse.

Carrie did her best to keep Will in training over the winter despite Michigan’s uncooperative weather, and the pair was out and about by March, contesting their second Prelim at Southern Pines. “I knew we would be pushing it getting Will fit enough that early in the year, but I figured if he felt tired, I would pull up or give him some trot breaks if needed,” Carrie said. She held him back in the cross country to be on the safe side fitness-wise, but they finished the weekend with two clear jumping trips.

After that it was off to Spring Bay H.T. in April at the Kentucky Horse Park, again posting a double clear on the cross country and finishing sixth overall in a big field. “This was the first time I allowed the Prelim speed, and he handled it with ease!” Carrie said. They then made short work of Penny Oaks H.T. in early May, where they finished second on their best Prelim dressage score to date (a 34.8) and two double clear jumping rounds.

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Carrie and High Octane at Spring Bay H.T. Photo courtesy of Carrie Mulks.

Next up is May-Daze H.T. this weekend, followed by an Intermediate move up at Lost Hounds H.T. in June and the CIC* at Stuart H.T. in July.

Carrie explains that while it feels like Will’s career path is on the fast track, she’s just letting her horse set the pace. “Our goals are to play it by ear, but I will move as fast as Will wants to go,” Carrie said. “He is the smartest horse I have ever ridden. If he has done something once, he knows exactly how to do it next time.”

Not quite a year-and-a-half after bringing Will home on the recommendation of a client who “had a feeling about him,” Carrie now has her own hunch. “I think Will is a very special horse, and I would not be surprised to see him at the upper levels within the next few years,” she says. “What started off as a rescue has turned into a horse that could possibly go all the way. I am very excited for this horse’s future, and my students seem to think this just might be my Rolex horse.”

Best of luck to Carrie and Will, and Go Eventing!

Allison Springer Eventing’s Top Secret Turnout Tips

By on May 16, 2014 9:00 am -

Alandra Halem, head groom for Allison Springer Eventing, spoke to Horse Nation’s Lorraine Jackson about how she gets Copycat Chloe’s gray coat to shine not just at Rolex, but every day of the year. Many thanks to Alandra for sharing her top secret turnout tips.

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe at Rolex. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe at Rolex. Photo by Jenni Autry.

From Alandra:

As a professional groom, one of the most rewarding experiences I get is to have my horses complimented on their condition and turnout when they are out competing — especially on the international scene, such as this past Rolex. A lot of work goes into the everyday care of my horses. Arthur is naturally a good looking guy, but good care helps him to be his most handsome self. Of course it takes just a little bit extra to keep miss Copycat Chloe looking her best.

You can’t cheat and just put in the extra effort on show days when it comes to getting a truly well turned out horse. It all starts with our daily routine. Good nutrition is definitely important, and Chloe gets the best of the best from Buckeye Nutrition, eating a combination of EQ8 Gut Health, Gro ‘n Win and Ultimate Finish 25. The Ultimate Finish is an extruded fat supplement and helps to keep Clo’s skin and coat at its healthiest.

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe. Photo by Jenni Autry.

In addition to the excellent feed, she has her individualized SmartPaks to ensure that she gets her fresh vitamins and supplements in the right amounts every day, and keeping these things consistent really does make a difference in their health and appearance. Then, of course, comes good, old elbow grease when grooming on a daily basis. Nothing beats daily currying and toweling. It is also a lot easier to keep a freshly clipped horse clean, so as long as she is growing hair, I am constantly clipping her.

As you can imagine, Chloe likes to have a good roll every night in the pasture (or a good lie down in her stall at shows), resulting in plenty of baths, thanks to the fact that at the end of the day she was inevitably destined to be a grey horse. When you have to bathe a horse so often, it really is essential to have good bathing products to help maintain skin and coat condition.

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe. Photo by Jenni Autry.

My favorite line of shampoos and grooming products are from a brand called Bardsley. Chloe gets bathed with their White Wash shampoo both at home and at shows — full strength for any particularly dirty spots, as well as her mane and tail, and diluted to wash the rest of her. To help keep her skin and coat moisturized, I like to add a bit of their Tonic conditioner to my diluted wash.

My show prep tends to be pretty minimal due to consistent daily care. I add a few extra tail washes the last couple days before a show with a super secret whitening solution that was passed on to me by one of my previous employers that had a grey horse. One of the main ingredients is Bardsley’s White Wash shampoo. Ok, it’s really not that secret. If you want to know the other two ingredients, you can just ask me!

To appreciate how much Chloe shines, see her in motion courtesy of Thehorsepesterer:

After bathing at shows and as a last once over before handing Chloe over to Allison, I like to give her a good coating of Bardsley’s Horse Shine spray and then wipe her down with a towel. It really gives that little extra bit of glossy shine and helps keep her dust free. I do keep a white touch up spray handy for those last minute “Oh no I missed a spot!” moments.

In the long run, last minute tricks are nice, but it’s more about good nutrition, daily care and grooming products that really help me keep Chloe looking her best every day! I truly love taking care of these amazing athletes, and I have made them my life. They are more like my children than anything else. How they look is a direct reflection of the time and effort I put into my daily job, and I take great pride when they can enter the ring looking their absolute best.

Alandra Halem and Chloe, courtesy of Allison Springer Eventing

Alandra Halem and Chloe, courtesy of Allison Springer Eventing.

Go Eventing.

Badminton at 300 Frames Per Second

By on May 14, 2014 4:30 pm -
Screenshot from Screenshot from "Badminton Horse Trials 2014 - Speed, Stamina and Stregth V 4" by Centaur Biomechanics.

Watching cross-country in realtime, everything happens so fast that it’s hard to comprehend the countless turning cogs that ultimately produce a successful — or unsuccessful — jump. The more experienced and educated your eye, the better your ability to deconstruct that blur of motion into an assembly line of actions that culminate in a specific result. But even the best eye in the world can’t physically slow down time in order to get a better look. A high-speed camera, however, can.

Centaur Biomechanics made a big splash when it came onto the equestrian scene in 2006 because its purported purpose was to do exactly that: take horse and rider performance analysis to a new level using the latest video technology. Led by British biomechanical scientist Russell Guire, the company uses high-speed cameras 20 times faster than the human eye to objectively quantify equine behavior. The footage Centaur has gathered has helped advance research and further our understanding of the equine biomechanics. For instance, did you know that the force going through a horse’s limbs on landing from an Advanced-level jump equals about two-and-a-half times its body weight?

badminton-o

But to me, what’s more fascinating than watching fetlocks hyperextend is the opportunity to watch a horse’s expression as it reads a question…

badminton1-o

…and study the nuances of rider position.

badminton3-o

Centaur’s 2013 Badminton footage received over 65,000 views on YouTube, and they were out again at this year’s event. Check it out:

[CentaurBiomechanics]

Go Eventing!

 

 

 

Tuesday Video from SpectraVet: The Definitive Jersey Fresh XC Coldplay Remix

By on May 13, 2014 3:00 pm -

Everything is better when set against the audio-backdrop of a soaring Coldplay ballad. Sing it, Chris Martin. Take us to the light.

[Charmingtorri]

Many thanks to videographer Julia Cameron for sharing her work. Check out her Facebook page, Charmingtorri’s Equine Cinematography, here.

Go Eventing.

 

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The 9 Lives of Irishman Mark Kyle (Now 8 Lives, Post-Badminton)

By on May 13, 2014 12:00 pm -

When it comes to riding cross-country, the Irish are among the toughest in the world. Check out this video of Mark Kyle’s epic Badminton tumble, from which both horse and rider emerged virtually unscathed.

The incident occurred at the troublesome Mound jump, which claimed a number of victims throughout the day.

[Mike Baker]

Unbelievably, the pair got up and walked off the course unhurt — they must have had a little luck on their side as well! Nonetheless, no one is built tougher than the Irish, and we look forward to seeing them back on course soon.

Between the mud, the rain and a thoroughly grueling track, this year’s Badminton course rewarded the toughest of the tough — so, not surprisingly, the Irish contingent fared relatively well. Seven Irish pairs started the field — Mark Kyle with Coolio, Austin O’Connor with Ringwood Mississippi, Capt. Geoff Curran with Shanaclough Crecora, Sarah Ennis with Sugar Brown Babe, Joseph Murphy with Sportsfield Othello, Jim Newsam with Magennis and Clare Abbott with Euro Prince — of which four finished.

Austin O’Connor held the top spot, moving up from 63rd after dressage to finish in 15th, adding cross-country time penalties and just one show jumping rail to his score. Check out this video of Austin, sounding quite breathless after a scrappy but effective cross-country round in an interview with IrishHorse.TV. Capt. Geoff Curran finished close behind in a very respectable 20th despite his horse having lost a shoe early on the cross-country course. Clare Abbott finished 27th in her Badminton debut, and Joseph Murphy got the job done to complete the event in 30th place. [Full results]

All were mounted on Irish Sport Horses. The breed dominated the top of the leader board, with half of the top 10 horses listed as ISH. These included the winning horse, Sam Griffiths’ Paulank Brockagh, a 10-year-old mare by the Grand Prix showjumper Touchdown, as well as Harry Meade’s Wild Lone (3rd), Paul Tapner’s Kilronan (4th) and Tim Price’s Ringwood Sky Boy (9th). Not surprisingly, the ISH studbook currently sits atop the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) Eventing Studbook Rankings.

Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh win Badminton! Photo by Jenni Autry.

Badminton winners Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh, an ISH. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Go Irish Eventing!

 

Alex Green Gets Back on Course at Poplar Place H.T.

By on May 6, 2014 10:30 am -
Alex Green swept 1st and 2nd place in the Open Intermediate division at Poplar Place H.T. Photo courtesy of Alex Green. Alex Green swept 1st and 2nd place in the Open Intermediate division at Poplar Place H.T. Photo courtesy of Alex Green.

Alex Green has had a bummer of a month. After a fluke fall at the Fork derailed her Rolex debut, she found herself with a super-fit horse and a freshly open spring calendar. A week after she should have been cantering up the center line in Kentucky, the 21-year-old Tennessee girl loaded up her horses and drove down to Georgia instead. “That’s the sport,” she says, exuding a pragmatism that is uncommon in riders her age. “You lose a lot more than you win. That’s why the good rides, the ones you fight for, are special.”

If getting their groove back was the goal, Alex and her would-be Rolex partner Fernhill Cubalawn accomplished it in spades at Poplar Place H.T. “There will be no catching this pair today,” the announcer said after a one-rail show jumping round confirmed their place at the top of the Open Intermediate division, from which they’d held a solid lead throughout the weekend. The only horse who nearly caught them was Alex’s other ride, Falkonet, who finished just a point behind to place second. She was equally excited about the greener horse’s finish as their relationship has taken some time to build.

“Cuba is just a tanker and he’s good at everything he does,” Alex explains. “Falko is my underdog. He has so much scope and so much talent, but I got him when he was 12 and because he’s the product of a variety of training methods it’s been harder for things to come together.”

Carol Gee of Fernhill Sporthorses sourced both Cuba and Falko for Alex, as well as a third horse she was competing this weekend in Open Preliminary, Fernhill Bold Gesture. Unfortunately, the pair got a technical elimination cross-country when Alex accidentally galloped past a jump. “I forgot how to count!” Alex laughs.

With Rolex off the table, Alex intends to reroute Cuba to the three-star at Chattahoochee Hills in May, focus on jumper shows and finessing their dressage during the summer, and hit up Fair Hill in the fall. She’s got some OTTB projects and the pursuit of a college degree to keep her busy as well. And, of course, her eye is still on the prize: coming out even stronger at Kentucky next year. “I don’t want to just go and complete; I want to be successful,” Alex says. “I want to give my horse the best ride I can so we don’t leave anything on the table.”

Speaking of highs and lows, it was a roller coaster of a weekend for many riders at Poplar Place. Although there were no serious injuries, nearly every division was plagued with eliminations, retirements and falls. With its hilly terrain and winding routes, Poplar’s cross-country courses are always challenging, but on this weekend the finger-pointing was directed toward a couple of particularly troublesome jumps.

For Training, the bogey was a downhill chevron along a treeline that horse after horse crashed into or clattered over until eventually it was removed from the course. The jump didn’t seem to cause much mayhem during the March event, but this Saturday dawned bright and sunny, making the light-into-dark question significantly more difficult. One rider who fell victim to the fence stopped by the warmup on her way back to the barn to warn other competitors that she hadn’t been able to see what she was jumping into on account of the shadows. After three holds on course for the jump to be repaired, it was finally removed altogether.

Training riders hang out beneath a shade tree during a hold on course to repair the chevron.

Training riders hang out beneath a shade tree during a hold on course to repair the chevron. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

The difficulty of Prelim’s trouble-maker fence may have been exaggerated by shadows as well. Fence #4, a combination called “Woodland Animals,” has previously appeared on the two-star course and most recently showed up near the end of the Prelim course in March, where it caused significantly fewer problems. A downhill bending line of upright, somewhat airy verticals with negligible ground lines, the line deviated from the galloping track to dip into and out of the woods, catching many horses (my own included) off-guard.

#4B, the second element in the combination that gave many Prelim competitors trouble early on in the course. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

#4B, the second element in the combination that gave many Prelim competitors trouble early on in the course. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

In addition to regular horse trials divisions, Poplar hosted the Area III Championships. With nearly all of the championship divisions having fewer than 10 entries, and several having fewer than five, it may be worth questioning why area championships, in this case one very centrally located within the region, seem to be losing their prestige. Nonetheless, a hearty congratulations to the 2014 Area III winners:

Preliminary Horse Championships: Julie Richards and Lawnvale Irish

Preliminary Rider Championships: Taylor Dileo and Rebel’s Legacy

Junior Training Championships: Laurel Massey and In High Heels

Senior Training Championships: Julie Pate and Catch Me If You Can

Training Horse Championships: Lauren Eckardt and Shenandoah King

Junior Novice Championships: Haley Curry and Resolute Protector

Novice Horse Championships: Monica Spitzer and Bogart

Senior Novice Rider Championships: Craig Peterson and Sportsfield Ryan

Beginner Novice Horse Championships: Katie Bryant and San Diego Dash

Junior Beginner Novice Rider Championships: Leila Saxe and Bigtime Grafitti

Senior Beginner Novice Rider Championships: Jenny McNamara and WHF Titus

[Full Results]

Go Eventing!

Check out more photos from Poplar Place H.T. on Eventing Nation’s Instagram feed here.

 

Survey: 9 Out of 10 Eventers Don’t Really Give a Crap About the Kentucky Derby

By on May 3, 2014 10:30 am -

Relative to the general public, you would think that horsepeople would have some idea about what is going on with the country’s most high-profile equestrian event of the year — eventers in particular, seeing as many of us ride thoroughbreds. But you’d be wrong.

I decided to conduct an informal survey at Poplar Place H.T., taking place this weekend in Hamilton, Ga., to see if anyone was up to speed on this year’s Derby. The answer, overwhelmingly, was no.

Kentucky Derby FAIL. So what about that lonely one out of 10 who DOES know what’s going on? Even though I didn’t run into any of them at Poplar, I know these people are out there, and they’re kind of amazing. Not only can they tell you who is running, they can tell you their post positions, racing records, pedigrees and which of them are distantly related to their own OTTBs.

Ah well, if any of you guys get curious, Horse Nation is on Derby overdrive this week — you can scroll back through the week’s content for betting guides, horse profiles, Derby history, Mint Julep recipes and much, much more. Post time is approximately 6:24 p.m. and race coverage kicks off on NBC at 4 p.m. ET. You can also find the stream on the NBC website and more info at the Kentucky Derby website.

Go Racing AND Eventing!

The Faces of Rolex 2014

By on May 1, 2014 9:00 am -
Sharon White and Wundermaske. Photo by Megan Stapley. Sharon White and Wundermaske. Photo by Megan Stapley.

A cross-country course is a pinball chute of highs and lows that can sending riders crashing from ecstasy to defeat at any given second. To locate where a rider — or a horse — is at on that journey, all you have to do is look at their face. From determination to surprise to unfettered joy, these photographs by Megan Stapley of Megan Stapley Photography beautifully articulate the range of emotions Rolex riders experience between the start box and the finish flags.

Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Kim Severson and Fernhill Fearless. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Jan Byyny and Inmidair. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Kyle Carter and Madison Park. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Kyle Carter and Madison Park. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Alexandra Knowles and Last Call. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Alexandra Knowles and Last Call. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Marilyn Little and RF Smoke on the Water. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Marilyn Little and RF Smoke on the Water. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Caitlin Silliman and Catch a Star. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Caitlin Silliman and Catch a Star. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Libby Head and Sir Rockstar. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Libby Head and Sir Rockstar. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Andrew Nicholson and Avebury. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Andrew Nicholson and Avebury. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Kristen Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Kristen Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Kristen Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Kristen Schmolze and Ballylaffin Bracken. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Selena O'Hanlon and Foxwood High. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbott. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbott. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Marilyn Little and RF Demeter. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Marilyn Little and RF Demeter. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Allison Springer and Copycat Chloe. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Buck Davidson and Park Trader. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Buck Davidson and Park Trader. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Ruy Fonseca and Tom Bombadil Too. Photo by Megan Stapley.

Ruy Fonseca and Tom Bombadil Too. Photo by Megan Stapley.

William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero. Photo by Megan Stapley.

William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero. Photo by Megan Stapley.

William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero. Photo by Megan Stapley.

William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero. Photo by Megan Stapley.

William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero. Photo by Megan Stapley.

William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero. Photo by Megan Stapley.

And... a bonus face! Photo by Megan Stapley.

And … a bonus face! Photo by Megan Stapley.

Many thanks to Megan Stapley for sharing her work with EN. Megan, of western New York, is a spectacular talent and truly passionate about her work. She explains, “I run a therapeutic riding facility to help people with disabilities (this is my full-time job) and I do photography on the side. A portion of all my photography sales goes to the riding program — typically I give 20 percent. I do travel for photography work (just got back from Luhmuhlen a couple weeks ago) and do portrait work as well as shoot clinics and shows. I love to get out there and shoot for people, not only because it’s fun for me and fulfills my creative side, but also because it lets me help the therapeutic program and horses there.”

We encourage you to check out Megan’s website, Megan Stapley Photography, to view more of her work. Go Eventing!

How Would You Have Fared in Rolex Trivia?

By on Apr 30, 2014 12:00 pm -
Photo by Shara Rutberg. Photo by Shara Rutberg.

Rolex Trivia has become something of a EN tailgate tradition, but this year we stepped it up a notch with tougher questions, swanky prizes from Tredstep Ireland and hosts who hadn’t been drinking all day.

OK, I take that last part back. Photo by Shara Rutberg.

OK, I take that last part back. Photo by Shara Rutberg.

For those of you who missed it, we wanted to give you an opportunity to see how you would have stacked up. Here are the 20 questions we asked — jot down your answers on a piece of paper, then scroll down and see you how did!

QUESTIONS

1. The first time she won Rolex, Kim Severson had a different last name. What was it?

2. In what year did Rolex host its first four-star event? Bonus point: Who won?

3. Who won “Best Conditioned Horse” at Rolex last year?

4. How tall is William Fox-Pitt?

5. Four-star event pony Theodore O’Connor will always be remembered for his spectacular performances at Rolex. In the two years he competed, how did he finish?

6. Who was this year’s cross-country course designer? Bonus point: Who was the designer before that?

7. In 1978 Bruce Davidson won Individual Gold in the World Three-Day Championships, held here at the Kentucky Horse Park. Who was he riding?

8. What is the name of the movie that culminates in a three-day event at the Kentucky Horse Park? Bonus point: What real-life event horse/rider combination performed as doubles in the movie?

9. The top U.S. rider closest to the optimum time wins what? Bonus point: Who won it last year?

10. In addition to Rolex, how many other four-star events take place each year around the world? Bonus point: What are they and in where do they take place?

11. Kim Severson has won Rolex a whopping three times. In which years did she win?

12. In 2012, EN’s sister site Horse Nation ran an April Fool’s story about Rolex that fooled so many readers they had to run a retraction. What was the storyline?

13. In which year did Rolex, the brand, sign on as the event’s title sponsor? Bonus point: Pre-Rolex, what was the event called (excepting the World Championships year)?

14. How many flying changes are required in the FEI Eventing 4* Dressage Test B?

15. What is the optimum time on the 2014 Rolex cross-country course? Bonus point: What is the dictated speed?

16. What is the max allowed height of a solid four-star obstacle? Bonus point: What about a four-star brush obstacle?

17. How many water-dwelling animals must riders jump on the 2014 Rolex cross-country course?

18. How many jumps are on the 2014 cross-country course? Bonus point: How many of them are combinations?

19. In what year did the Kentucky Horse Park host its very first horse trials?

20. What is the best eventing website in the land?

Photo by Shara Rutberg.

Hosts Glenn the Geek from Horse Radio Network and Tredstep Ireland-sponsored rider Rick Wallace. Photo by Shara Rutberg.

Photo by Shara Rutberg.

Look at all those hands raised! You guys are way too smart. Photo by Shara Rutberg.

ANSWERS

1. Vinoski. Severson-Vinoski is also an acceptable answer.

2. 1998. Bonus: Nick Larkin and Red.

3. Lynn Symanski and Donner.

4. 6’5″

5. 3rd (2007), 6th (’08)

6. Derek Di Grazia. Bonus point: Michael Etherington-Smith.

7. Might Tango.

8. “Sylvester. Bonus point: Kim Walnes and The Gray Goose.

9. The winner of the “Land Rover Best Ride of the Day” wins a 24-month lease of a brand new Range Rover Evoque. Bonus point: Buck Davidson.

10. 5, not counting Rolex. Bonus point: Pau (France), Adelaide (Australia), Badminton (Great Britain), Luhmuhlen (Germany) and Burghley (Great Britain).

11. 2002, 2004, 2005

12. It was an announcement that Rolex had been cancelled on account of giant sinkholes that had opened up throughout the Kentucky Horse Park, even swallowing the Bruce Davidson statue whole.

13. 1981. Bonus point: Kentucky Horse Trials.

14. Four

15. 11 minutes, 17 seconds. Bonus point: 570 meters/minute

16. 3’11”. Bonus point: 4’9″

17. Three — a goose at 5b, a fish at 18b and a duck at 19b.

18. 27. Bonus point: 11.

19. 1976.

20. Eventing Nation!

 

How did you score?

If you got 0-5 answers correct, you’re a… 1* Level Rolex Enthusiast! 

one-star

If you got 6-10 answers correct, you’re a… 2* Level Rolex Enthusiast!

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If you got 11-15 answers correct, you’re a… 3* Level Rolex Enthusiast!

three-stars

If you got 16-20 answers correct, you’re a…  4* Level Rolex Enthusiast!

four-stars

If you got OVER 20 answers correct, they probably ought to make you a title sponsor because you’re a Master Rolex Enthusiast!!!

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Photo by Shara Rutberg.

If you missed Rolex Trivia this year, no worries — it will be back again in 2015! Go Eventing.

Rosie Napravnik, Future Event Rider?

By on Apr 30, 2014 9:00 am -
Rosie Napravnik and her horse, Sugar. Photo by Megan Stapley. Rosie Napravnik and her horse, Sugar. Photo by Megan Stapley.

She may be the #5 jockey on the North American leader board, but this 26-year-old racing phenom can do more than gallop horses around in a circle.

Rosie was a featured guest at this year’s edition of Thoroughbreds For All, the popular OTTB celebration and symposium held in conjunction with Rolex. Rosie is not only a champion jockey — in 2012, she become the first woman in history to win the Kentucky Oaks and broke Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone’s 20-year-standing year-end earnings record — she is an OTTB enthusiast as well.

On Friday evening, Rosie delighted the crowd with a jumping demonstration aboard her own retired racehorse, Sugar, to showcase the versatility and athletic ability of the Thoroughbred.

Megan Stapley of Megan Stapley Photography says she was blown away by Rosie’s own versatility and athleticism. “Rosie Napravnik is more talented than I ever imagined — not only is she an incredibly talented jockey, but that girl can jump!” Megan says. “She brought her horse Sugar, shared the heartwarming story of how she acquired him, and showed us all how talented the two of them are. Oh and did I mention Sugar’s list of injuries, to include still-intact screws? Rosie did a phenomenal job of advocating for the breed, and Sugar demonstrated how resilient OTTBs can be. The Thoroughbreds For All event was a definite must do on our list for future Rolex trips.”

Oh, and one more thing: Rosie expressed an interest in pursuing some eventing in the future. Seeing as she probably has the best galloping position of any female IN THE WORLD, if she ever got out on a cross-country course — watch out!

Photo by Megan Stapley.

Photo by Megan Stapley.

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Photo by Megan Stapley.

And a snatch of video:

[Melissa Bauer-Herzog]

As the announcer mentioned, Rosie will be making a run for the roses this Saturday in the Kentucky Derby aboard Vicar’s in Trouble, winner of the Louisiana Derby earlier this year. Back in her racing silks, she talked racing strategy with The Blood Horse yesterday:

[The Blood-Horse]

Best of luck to you, Rosie, and remember: Whenever you’re ready, the sport of eventing will welcome you with open arms!

How Did OTTBs Fare at Rolex?

By on Apr 29, 2014 1:30 pm -
Michael Pollard and Mensa, the top placed OTTB finisher. Photo by Gretchen Pelham. Michael Pollard and Mensa, the top placed OTTB finisher. Photo by Gretchen Pelham.

Fourteen off-track Thoroughbreds started the competition and eight of them finished, four in the top 20. Throughout the weekend, nobody was cheering louder for them than our friends at Retired Racehorse Project, who kindly provided us this recap.

From RRP:

After day one of dressage on Thursday, Thoroughbred lovers everywhere were thrilled to see the name Mensa G on top. A 16-year-old son of Belmont Stakes winner Colonial Affair, Mensa G and his rider Michael Pollard had put in the best dressage test of the first 31 pairs, beating out the imported warmbloods that traditionally dominate this portion of eventing. Mensa G, who raced as Merisa G, was all class on the track as well, a winner of five races from 41 starts and earning over $92,000. Here’s To You also put in an excellent test in front of a panel of tough judges to end the day in 7th place.

[USEF Network]

The second day of dressage saw some big shooters come in, ultimately placing Mensa G in a tie for 4th place and Here’s To You in 15th. The other OTTBs found themselves anywhere from 35th to 57th place after dressage, leaving for a lot of room to be made up in the following day’s cross country portion. And they did not disappoint. The fastest time on the course for the day was Parker and rider James Alliston. The others to run the course double clear were Pirate, Tsunami, Shiraz, Irish Rhythm, Sir Rockstar and Ziggy. These fast and clean rounds set the stage for the Thoroughbred contingent to move up in a big way going into show jumping, and by day’s end, they had taken seven spots in the top 30.

James Alliston and Parker SLIGHTLY overjumping the brush. Photo by Gretchen Pelham.

James Alliston and Parker SLIGHTLY overjumping the brush. Photo by Gretchen Pelham.

Meghan O'Donoghue smiling after Pirate jumped the ditch at the coffin. Photo by Gretchen Pelham.

Meghan O’Donoghue smiling after Pirate jumped the ditch at the coffin. Photo by Gretchen Pelham.

Four of the OTTB group did not move on to the third day due to on-course eliminations or withdrawals, including the grand 17-year-old mare Expedience. After suffering a freak accident at the Head of the Lake, she walked onto a trailer and was later diagnosed with a fractured foot. She underwent a successful surgery the following day, and a full recovery is expected.

The final day of show jumping proved to be a nail biter for the 11 remaining Thoroughbreds. The course proved very tough on the horse and rider pairs, and many had a rail down on the first fence. These rails proved costly in a tightly contested round and allowed several horses to improve by huge marks. The only Thoroughbred to make a clean round was Sir Rockstar. That vaulted him from 28th to 19th place.

While the rest all had at least one penalty, like most horses on the day, they still ran clean enough and fast enough to move Pirate and Tsunami into the top 20. Down rails cost Mensa G the top-five spot he held going into the final day, with an eventual finish of 14th. In all, four OTTBs placed in the top 20. A special mention needs to also go out to Thoroughbreds Imidair and Gin and Juice. While neither raced, they are still both pure Thoroughbreds and did a great job representing the breed by taking 7th and 16th places respectively.

The final placings of the 14 off-track Thoroughbreds that competed in this year’s Rolex:

Mensa G – 14th

Pirate – 17th

Tsunami – 18th

Sir Rockstar – 19th

Parker – 22nd

Irish Rhythm – 25th

Ziggy – 27th

Houdini – 34th

Withdrawn before second horse inspection – Shiraz

Eliminated on cross-country – Relentless Pursuit, Madison Park, Collection Pass

Retired on cross-country — Expedience, Here’s to You

Hats off to them all! A video tribute:

[Retired Racehorse Project]

We want to thank each and every member of Team OTTB at Rolex — the horses, the riders, the trainers, the owners, the grooms and all the people that helped these horses find their way from the racetrack the highest achievement possible in their second career. As we say, it “takes an army,” and it is amazing what that army can do when we all work together. Well done!

Many thanks to Retired Racehorse Project, both for the insightful OTTB updates they provided throughout Rolex and for the good work they do each and every day. Check out their brand new website here and keep up with them on Facebook here.

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Phillip + Boyd + CMP + Trading Aces = Adorable Finishline Lovefest

By on Apr 29, 2014 9:00 am -
Photo by Gretchen Pelham. Photo by Gretchen Pelham.

Gretchen Pelham sent us this heartwarming sequence of photos from the Rolex cross-country warmup. The backstory, of course, is that Phillip stepped in just weeks before to take over the ride from his broken-legged buddy Boyd. It was a proposition only one of the best riders in the world could pull off — by the time they got to Rolex, Phillip had sat on the horse a handful of times.

Gretchen walks us through the photos: “The first few pics are of Phillip waiting on deck at the start box, with Boyd talking to him, not quite keeping up with Trading Aces’ stride. Phillip smiled at some girls who wished him luck, then seemed to look up at the sun and … pray? Capt. Mark Phillips gave him some last minute tips at the start box. Upon his return, Boyd almost ran out of the tent, grinning from ear to ear. Hugs were for everyone. Big grins and silly faces on all three.”

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Awwwwwww!!!! But wait, there’s more: Not only did Phillip guide Trading Aces successfully around the course, they were clear and hit the optimum time perfectly, winning the Land Rover Best Ride of the Day for the top U.S. rider closest to the optimum time and claiming a two-year lease on a new Land Rover Evoque. The pair finished 8th overall — check out this USEF Network video of their cross-country round.

[usefnetwork]

Many, many thanks to Gretchen for kindly sharing her photos with EN. Go Eventing!

Sights & Sounds from the 2nd Annual EN Rolex Tailgate Party, Presented by Tredstep Ireland

By on Apr 28, 2014 6:00 pm -
Red on right, white on left, party in the middle! All photos by Shara Rutberg. Red on right, white on left, party in the middle! All photos by Shara Rutberg.

A great big cheers to everyone who stopped by EN’s Rolex Tailgate Party!!! Fun was had by all. Endless thanks to our fabulous co-hosts from Antebellum Farm, especially Leah Omeara and Brooke, Susan and Craig “The Tattoo Guy” Waldron, for the amazing setup and first-class hospitality. And, of course, a toast to the party’s generous presenting sponsor Tredstep Ireland!

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Co-hostesses with the mostesses Leah and Brooke.

Co-hostesses with the mostesses Brooke and Leah

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Friends new and old checked in throughout the day to snack…

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Sip…18

And mingle.

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The EN Photo booth was a popular new addition…

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…and there were nearly 200 people walking around the Horse Park Saturday sporting new “tattoos,” applied by EN’s resident tattoo artist.

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This year’s edition of Rolex Trivia was bigger and better than before, featuring Tredstep Ireland-sponsored rider Rick Wallace…

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…as well as our good friend Glenn the Geek from Horse Radio Network. The questions were tough this year, but those who knew their stuff were rewarded with Tredstep Ireland and EN swag!

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Jimmie and Dom Schramm, co-creators of the wildly popular Evention video series, were practically mobbed when they showed up for an autograph session…

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Several top riders dropped by to visit with their fans…

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Michael Pollard, still walking on air after his spectacular cross-country round.

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Laine Ashker can’t get enough of the EN chinchilla.

And the tailgate seemed especially popular with dogs this year.

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The grand finale of the day was a Creepy Dance Party hosted by the one and only Meg Kep of Team SHE. And yes, we captured it on video — we’ll post it here in a day or two but, to tide you over, here’s a sneak preview:

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All things considered, you might say there was just a whole lot of insanity in the middle.

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Once again, many thanks to our amazing hosts and sponsor Tredstep Ireland for making this year’s tailgate the most epic ever! Go Eventing.

Tredstep

Chinchillas Gone Wild: 2014 Rolex Photobomb Disaster

By on Apr 28, 2014 3:00 pm -
All chinchbombs, all day. All chinchbombs, all day.

The EN chinchilla was on the move all weekend at Rolex, eliciting responses ranging from “awwww, cute!” to, as one Instagrammer put it …

UntitledJohn is in the latter camp: “From a distance he looks all cute and furry, but then you look into his eyes and the dark beady blackness just bores into your soul.” Readers, you be the judge — here are postcards from few of his adventures.

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It’s always happy hour at Rolex.

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Lean back, little Chinch!

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This horse is more his size.

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Chin-chillin’ during dressage.

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Getting some love from Laine Ashker.

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Creeping on the Trade Fair.

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Live from the press conference.

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Yes?

On the air with host Glenn the Geek from Horse Radio Network.

On the air with Horse Radio Network.

Sinead Halpin and Tate, you just got chinchbombed.

Sinead Halpin, you just got chinchbombed.

Chinch-bombing Buck.

Dropping bombs on Buck Davidson.

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Boom!!! A Hawley Bennett chinchbomb just went off.

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Can you spot the chinch? Hint: Insanity in the middle.

The chinch is EVERYWHERE.

The chinch is EVERYWHERE.

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Chinch and chinchilla-esque dog.

Oh no... PARTYFOUL!!!

Oh no … PARTY FOUL!!!

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Here’s to you, chinch!

By the end of the weekend, the chinch had amassed a sizable fan following, with EN readers stopping him in the street to pose for pictures. Did you snap any good chinchbombs? Share them on EN’s Facebook page! Speaking of which, check out this slice of social media insanity:

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There was a Jack Le Chinch, Chinch Davidson and Winsome Chinchante in there. Too much, IT’S JUST TOO MUCH. #ChinchingTheWin #BestRolexEver #GoEventing!

Keep up with the chinch’s adventures by following EN on Instagram. The handle is “goeventing” — run a search or click here!

13 Mind-Blowing Products We Saw at the Rolex Trade Fair

By on Apr 28, 2014 12:00 pm -

Is that a pink-piped Devoucoux with matching stirrups? Why yes, yes it is. (There’s a dressage version, too.) The Rolex Trade Fair is always epic, but here are a few products that jumped out at us in particular this year.

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Finally, someone has invented glitter-covered bell boots. Thank you, Professional’s Choice.

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If you want to see grown-a$$ adults careening around on toy horses, visit Pony Pal Stable.

A sweater with a Corgi's face on it? Yes, please.

I mean, it’s a sweater with a giant corgi face on it. Enough said.

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Are 4-point breastplates the new 5-point breastplates? Southern Stars’ new design features a wider band across the chest to more evenly distribute pressure.

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Why are all these strangers crowded together on a tiny platform? It’s actually a TheraPlate, a technology that uses whole-body vibration for therapeutic benefit.

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Riders looking to take a walk on the wild side will be all about these unique custom boots by La Mundial.

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From fuschia tops to swarovski crystal inlays to patent leather everything, Fabbri has a spectacular selection of fashion-forward boots as well.

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Purple is a bit of a divisive color — you’re either all up in it, or it’s not your thing. If the color IS your jam, I dare to you resist this riding jacket from Shires Equestrian.

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Bracelets and tiny horses made of rubber braiding bands? Mind blown.

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Kentucky Ale. That is all.

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As usual, Hats by Katie was out in full force just in time for the Kentucky Derby next week.

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Not that you really have to water cacti and palm trees anyway, but these Desert Steel creations take low-maintenance landscaping to a whole new level.

Go Eventing!

EN’s 2nd Annual ‘Insanity in the Middle’ Rolex Tailgate Party, Presented by Tredstep Ireland

By on Apr 26, 2014 9:00 am -

Eventing Nation has the best readers in the land, and because nothing says “thank you” like free refreshments and swag, we’re throwing Eventing Nation’s 2nd annual reader appreciation tailgate party!

Consider this your official invite.

What: All the fun, all day long. In addition to the most ridiculous lineup of contests and activities EVER, Rolex competitors and EN friends will be stopping in throughout the day to sign autographs and party with the people. The guest list includes several of EN’s favorite riders, including but not limited to Michael Pollard, Allie Knowles, Caitlin Silliman, Allison Springer, Erin Sylvester, Jon Holling, Emily Beshear, Libby Head and more! Take a selfie in the EN photo booth, meet the EN crew, and get your game face on for a chance to win awesome prizes. With Tredstep Ireland as the party’s presenting sponsor, this year we’re taking the sport of tailgating to a whole new level.

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You know you want the cookie cake. Come and get it.

When: Saturday, April 25, during cross-country. (The first rider heads out on course at 11 a.m. and the last one goes out at 3:12 p.m. but we’ll start partying around 10 a.m. because 11 is just too late.)

Where: The infield at the Kentucky Horse Park. We’ll be in tailgating space #89 — it’s to the right of fence #12, the Tobacco Stripping Bench/Whiskey Corners (near the sunken road and  the fallen tree jump, neither of which are on the course this year). Look for the red and white cross-country flags and the crowd of people who look like they’re having the best day of their lives.

Why: Because you’re awesome.

Schedule of Events:

12 p.m. Haven’t you always wanted to party with Jimmie and Dom Schramm, Advanced-level eventers and celebrity hosts of the award-winning Evention video series? Now’s your chance! Check out their just-released Rolex special:

1 p.m.  Attention Rolex know-it-alls: Horses in the Morning hosts Jamie Jennings and Glenn the Geek and producer Jennifer H. will be stopping by to emcee in a round of EN’s world famous Rolex Trivia. Can you take the heat?

Last year's trivia extravaganza.

Last year’s trivia extravaganza.

2 p.m. Come party with Tredstep Ireland sponsored father-daughter eventing duo Rick and Elisa Wallace. This pair is an EN favorite, continually wowing us with their mad riding and horsemanship skills. Like, for instance, here she is performing advanced dressage movements on a 4-year-old mustang bareback and bridleless, no big deal.

3 p.m. Meg Kepferle may be best known as the brains and brawn behind Team SHE, but she’s probably fourth or fifth best known for her Creepy Dance Party videos. I don’t know how to explain it — you’ll just have to watch. Anyway, we’re having a Creepy Dance Party Dance-off at the Tailgate; lord willing and the creek don’t rise, Meg will be on hand to judge. This thing is going to go down in EN history, trust me, you do not want to miss it!

Creepy Dance Party, Volume 1 (The Fork, 2012):

Creepy Dance Party, Volume 1 (The Fork, 2014):

See you there and Go Eventing!

Rolex by the #s: Dressage Gear

By on Apr 25, 2014 11:17 pm -

Like many riders, I’m always interested in top eventers’ tools of the trade. From bits and nosebands to helmets and flair, here are the stats on what competitors were sporting in the Rolex dressage ring this year.

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Photo by Jenni Autry.

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Photo by Alec Thayer.

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Photo by Jenni Autry.

 UntitledOK, we made that last one up, but it’s probably true! Best of luck to everyone on the cross-country tomorrow. Go Eventing!

The Secret Past Lives of Rolex OTTBs + Thoroughbreds For All!

By on Apr 25, 2014 2:08 pm -
Michael Pollard and Mensa, an OTTB who won over $92,000. Photo by Jenni Autry. Michael Pollard and Mensa, an OTTB who won over $92,000. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Nobody shows up to Rolex like a thoroughbred and this year’s field is full of them. As we mentioned in our Rolex By the #s: Horse Stats post earlier this week, there are 24 thoroughbreds competing this weekend, comprising over a third of the entries, and many of them are off-track.

That inspiring statistic wasn’t lost on the Retired Racehorse Project (formerly Retired Racehorse Training Project), who took it upon themselves to do a little digging into the horses’ racing backgrounds. Erin Pittman researched their racing names, pedigrees and track records and was so kind to share with us what she found out.

Rolex Three Day Event – Thoroughbred entries:

Competition Name (Rider/Owner)             Country
Jockey Club Name (Place of Birth), Year of Birth sex, Sire-Dam-Damsire
Race Record: Starts-Win-Place-Show, $earnings
USEA Competition Record:  CCI4*-CCI3*-CIC3*-Advanced HT (USEA Points) ß only completed events counted; Eliminations, WD, etc. not counted in totals. NOTE: some horse/rider combinations may have competition points outside the US that are NOT included in this listing.

Collection Pass (Kate Chadderton/Rege Dvorsky)       AUS
Collection Pass (PA), 2002 gelding, Collection Agent – Winged Passage – Assault Landing
Race Record:  6 – 0 – 0 – 0, $0
USEA Competition Record:  0 – 1 – 3 – 5 (84)

Expedience (Kaitlin Spurlock/rider)       USA
Aye Promenade (WV), 1997 mare, Aye’s Turn – Promenador – Cannonade
Race Record:  2 – 0 – 0 – 0, $0
USEA Competition Record:  0 – 4 – 6 – 15 (187)

Here’s To You (Emily Beshear/Deep Purple Eventing)      USA
Supplize (KY), 2000 gelding, Will’s Way – China Sky – Skywalker
Race Record:  3 – 0 – 0 – 1, $1,290
USEA Competition Record:  1 – 3 – 4 – 8 (198)

Houdini (Katie Frei/rider)             USA
Rocky Times (WV), 2004 gelding, Hot Rock – Nancy’s Star – Big Sal
Race Record:  5 – 0 – 0 – 1, $1,180
USEA Competition Record:   0 – 1 – 2 – 5  (117)

Irish Rhythm (Rachel McDonough/rider)           CAN
Daniel Alexander (ON), 1999 gelding, Vice Chancellor – Dawnsari – Dawn Flight
Race Record:  43 – 1 – 3 – 4, $25,923
USEA Competition Record:  0 – 1 – 2 – 5  (26)

Madison Park (Kyle Carter/rider  & Jennifer Carter)      CAN
Magic Retribution (WA), 1998 gelding, Monaco Magic – Mistress of Mine – Band Practice
Race Record:  11 – 1 – 0 – 0, $2,744
USEA Competition Record:  5 – 3 – 12 – 14 (362.5)

Mensa G (Michael Pollard/rider, Nathalie Pollard & Carl Bouckaert)      USA
Merisa G (KY), 1998 gelding, Colonial Affair – Fire the Secretary – Stop the Music
Race Record:  40 – 5 – 7 – 4, $92,901
USEA Competition Record:  1 – 4 – 9 – 13  (527)

Parker (James Alliston/rider)           GBR
Eastside Park (NJ), 2002 gelding, Marquetry – Hello Mom – Caveat
Race Record:  15 – 0 – 0 – 3, $8,145
USEA Competition Record:  2 – 4 – 3 – 11 (290)

Pirate (Meghan O’Donoghue/rider)        USA
Pirate’s Gold Star (IL), 2002 gelding, Pirate Stronghold – Stars Heir – Risen Star
Race Record:  10 – 1 – 0 – 2, $3,840
USEA Competition Record:  1 – 2 – 5 – 7  (260.5)

Relentless Pursuit (Dana Widstrand/rider)        USA
Super Rover (IL), 1996 gelding, A Lee Rover – Sumptious Gal – Super Hit
Race Record:  3 – 3 – 0 – 0, $13,201
USEA Record:  0 – 2 – 2 – 11 (232)

Shiraz (Colleen Rutledge/rider)             USA
Bold and Burley (FL), 1998 gelding, Gallapiat – Bold Blossom – Fountain of Gold
Race Record:  14 – 2 – 0 – 1, $10,862
USEA Competition Record:  5 – 2 – 9 – 15 (226)

Sir Rockstar (Libby Head/rider)        USA
Sir Rock (KY), 1998 gelding, Rockamundo – How Unusual – Great Sun
Race Record:  16 – 1 – 1 – 1, $12,016
USEA Competition Record:  0 – 1 – 3 – 8  (100.5)

Tsunami (Sally Cousins/rider)        USA
Tsu Tsu Ro (PA), 1999 mare, Roanoke – Tsu Tsu Slew – Tsunami Slew
Race Record:  24 – 3 – 2 – 4, $35,170
USEA Competition Record:   0 – 6 – 5 – 11 (591)

Ziggy (Rachel Jurgens/rider)           USA
Ziggy’s Berry Boy (MD), 1996 gelding, Ziggy’s Boy – Berry Blush – Foolish Pleasure
Race Record:  2 – 0 – 0 – 0, $0
USEA Competition Record:  0 – 1 – 3 – 5  (170)

Pure Thoroughbreds – unraced (and, in two cases, un-registered)

Enchantez (Lindsey Oaks/David Oaks)        USA
Devil’s Dante (IN), 2000 gelding, Devil’s Joy – Class Reunion – General Assembly
USEA Competition Record:  0 – 1 – 2 – 5 (58)

Gin &Juice (Hawley Bennett-Awad/rider & Linda Paine)        CAN
unregistered (CA), 2000 mare, Audio – Qtrpastree – Court Ruling
USEA Competition Record:  6 – 2 – 11 – 7 (804)

Inmidair (Jan Byyny/Rider, Jo Byyny and Richar Byyny)      USA
Unnamed (NZ), 1999 gelding,  Wallenda – Jasmine June (NZ) – Pompeii Court
USEA Competition Record:  0 – 5 – 12 – 9  (559)

Petite Flower (Buck Davidson/Caroline and Sherrie Martin)         USA
Unregistered (PA), 2002 mare, Amber’s Lust – Tears of a Loss (IRE) – Prince Rupert (FR)
USEA Competition Record:  0 – 1 – 2 – 4 (286)

I was sitting with one of eventing’s most enthusiastic thoroughbred cheerleaders, Laine Ashker (who sadly had to withdraw her own Anthony Patch due to an abscess) during the dressage the morning when she stopped by to chime in on EN’s live blog. She noted that although OTTBs have a reputation for being a bit hot and sensitive the ones competing this weekend seemed to be taking everything in stride, keeping their cool despite the electric atmosphere and volatile weather. And, of course, tomorrow will be their day to shine at exactly what they were born to do: run and jump.

We’ll be all be joining together to celebrate the breed this evening at Thoroughbreds For All!, an evening of education and fellowship for OTTB fans combined with an invitation to shop in Kentucky for the thoroughbred of their dreams. The event begins after Rolex cross country at 5:30 pm on Saturday, April 28 15 miles from the Kentucky Horse Park in the covered arena at West Wind Farm, 4787 Haley Rd., Lexington KY 40516.

From New Vocations:

This year’s Thoroughbreds For All! event star line up will include: Olympic dressage rider Linda Zang, Pan American Games eventing gold medalist Lynn Symansky, and Kentucky Oaks winning jockey Rosie Napravnik.  All three will share their experience in working with retired racehorses to an expected crowd of over 600 Thoroughbred enthusiasts. A southern style dinner and cash bar will be included in the evening festivities.

This year’s event will focus on the versatility of the Thoroughbred by incorporating a variety of riding disciplines throughout the evening. Linda Zang, who is best known as America’s most respected international dressage judge and a veteran of the 1980 Olympics, will lead a session on retraining the Thoroughbred for dressage. During her session Nuno Santos will ride one of America’s most promising and best-bred dressage horses, Ken’s Kitten, by leading sire Kitten’s Joy.

Rosie Napravnik, who currently sits at the top of the jockey standings at Fair Grounds Race Course, is ranked fifth on the North American leader board. She became the first woman in history to win the Kentucky Oaks in 2012 and broke Hall of Fame jockey, Julie Krone’s 20 year standing year end earnings record that same year.  She will not only share her experience but will also demonstrate it with her own retired racehorse, “Sugar.” Napravnik’s demonstration will include a tack change to showcase the versatility and athletic ability of the Thoroughbred.

Lastly, Lynn Symansky, who with her retired racehorse Donner, helped the United States win gold at the  2011 Pan American Games Eventing Competition and placed fifth at last year’s Rolex CCI**** will share her experience in retraining Thoroughbreds for eventing. Lynn will use one of New Vocations’ horses during her session as well as an advanced horse to demonstrate different training tips.

All sessions will be moderated by Steuart Pittman of RRTP and Anna Ford of New Vocations.The event will run from 5:30pm to 9pm and will include a southern style dinner and cash bar. Tickets are available for purchase online at http://thoroughbredsforall.eventbrite.com for $35 each.

Many many thanks to our friends at Retired Racehorse Project for their assistance with this post — they just launched a beautiful new website yesterday, go check it out!

The 5 Most Hilarious Soundbytes from the Thursday Press Conference

By on Apr 24, 2014 7:20 pm -
Will Faudree, Michael Pollard and Doug Payne at the Thursday Rolex Press Conference. Photo by Jenni Autry. Will Faudree, Michael Pollard and Doug Payne at the Thursday Rolex Press Conference. Photo by Jenni Autry.

If you could put a microphone and a live audience in front of any three guys at Rolex, this trio — Michael Pollard, Will Faudree and Doug Payne, sitting in 1st-3rd respectively — would rank among the most entertaining. After a few moments of obligatory thanking owners/sponsors and beating themselves up over less-than-perfect lead changes, things got real.

Here’s a sampling of the rider banter that had the journalists in the room LOLing:

On why Mensa’s dressage is in top form:

Michael: I have Nathalie at home telling me it’s bad all the time so that helps. She keeps it very honest — if you don’t want her opinion, don’t ask. I think Nat and I have worked very well together and we do a lot of video and stuff. [Will mutters under his breath, “We don’t want to hear about the videos you make together,” to which Michael responds, “Jealous!”]

On the last thing they did before they went in the ring:

Michael: Panicked. Had a good panic and then went in the ring.

Will: Dropped my whip… He’s typically a very lazy horse and he always knows when the whip is dropped so I try to do it at the last second possible. He is quite unaffected by the atmosphere and unaffected by his surroundings — I have to flail around on him like a pony clubber to keep him going.

On their strategy for cross-country:

Michael: To jump them all in order without having a stop…

Will: …and real fast.

On the advantages of going cross-country early in the morning:

Will: I’ll be really glad that I can go have mimosas with Doug at about 11:45.

On Michael’s opinion of this year’s course:

Michael: When you come to a four-star you hear people say, oh it’s harder, or it’s a little bit softer this year, but they always look big to me.

Doug: Doesn’t everything look big to you?

It was probably a good thing the moderator cut the riders off when they did because the conversation was deteriorating with each passing moment.

In all seriousness, though, it was great to see Michael enjoying such a happy afternoon. On the way to Lexington I was listening to an interview with him on the Eventing Radio Show and he was talking about how he really just wanted to do right by Mensa this weekend. Michael explained that the horse, now 16 years old, is in the twilight of his career and deserves to have a good four-star result in his crown. They pair is off to a cracking start, currently sitting atop the leaderboard on a score of 49.5.

“Thursday, well the dressage day in general, you certainly can’t win it but you can lose it and I just wanted to have a good start, so I think that we managed that today,” he explained. “I’m sure that tomorrow there will be some great combinations and I’m probably not likely to stay in the lead but at least I think it’s a competitive start. That’s really what I wanted and hopefully we’ll continue from here.”

Asked about the cross-country Michael responded, “It’s a four-star so it’s going to be hard for everyone, but I’m riding a very good horse and I feel good about our preparations so it’s just a matter of treating it like any other event and doing my best.”

Will is hot on Michael’s trail with a score of 49.8 and Doug rounds out the top three on a 51.2. It will be Doug’s last press conference of the weekend, unfortunately; he’ll be bowing out after the dressage in favor of the Saumur CCI3* in France next month for which he received a Land Rover competition grant. Nonetheless, Doug was glad to get Tali out in a ring with some atmosphere. “He’ll be better for today’s competition,” he said.