Hearthstone Farm of Urbana, Ohio shared this photo on its Facebook page a couple days ago. I photoshopped in the flags to illustrate how the combination is intended to be ridden: up bank, bounce the steer, then another bounce down the back–a solid Advanced-level question.">Hearthstone Farm of Urbana, Ohio shared this photo on its Facebook page a couple days ago. I photoshopped in the flags to illustrate how the combination is intended to be ridden: up bank, bounce the steer, then another bounce down the back–a solid Advanced-level question.
One thing I love about eventers: They’re some of the most gullible suckers in the world when it comes to jumping cross-country. It doesn’t matter what it is–a wheelbarrow, a sinkhole, livestock–if you put red and white flags on either side of it, somebody out there is going be like, “Well, that’s kinda random but I reckon we’ll get it done.” I was at an event a few springs ago and the course designer had jokingly flagged a tall, skinny tree stump, maybe two feet wide, with an Easter basket on top. And sure enough, competitors were buzzing around like, “Do we really have to jump that? Maybe we should ask the TD.” It was some sort of weird Pavlovian response. Insanity in the middle… it’s a state of mind.
As Jenni mentioned yesterday, George Morris and David O’Connor are teaming up to teach our Eventing High Performance riders today at Boyd Martin’s Windurra Farm in Cochranville, Pa. I’d love to be a fly on the wall for that! Luckily, Jenni has promised us a full clinic report. [EN]
Blenheim International Horse Trials (Sept.12-15) has posted its entry list, which includes 150 entries from 16 nations across the CCI3* and the 8/9-y/o horse (CIC3*) divisions. Representing the North American contingent in the CCI, we’ve got Julian Stiller on Sintra BK and Pandora X, Phillip Dutton on Ben, Jessica Phoenix on Pavarotti, Clark Montgomery on Loughan Glen, Meghan O’Donoghue on Pirate, and Cindy Rawson on Mocharabuiee. [Entries] [Website]
A party is being held to honor the life of Tom Gadsby during Burghley week next month. Gadsby, 27, was competing at Somerford when he suffered a fatal fall on Aug. 17. Those wishing to attend are requested to RSVP by Aug. 30. [Horse Talk NZ]
What would YOU buy with a $5,000 shopping spree from SmartPak? Click HERE to enter today and you could be the lucky winner! Don’t wait–the contest ends 8/31/13. [SmartPak]
Here’s wishing Madeline Parisan from Area 2 a very happy 15th birthday from her gang her in Maryland! A friend writes, “This was a big birthday for Madeline after coming back and placing 3rd in her first team competition at NAJYRC in Kentucky in July. Look for her more this fall competing on three of her other OTTB horses!”
Video: Here’s Madeline riding Hope to Star in the CIC* at Plantation Field last September. Wow Madeline, for someone who’s not even old enough to drive a car, you sure can ride cross-country. Happy birthday!
British young rider Pumbaa Goess-Saurau posted this on Twitter today and it made me giggle: Clearly, heinously early horse show mornings are a universal eventing truth. Pumbaa isn’t a snooze-button kind of girl–she piloted Killcoran Blue to a 12th place finish at the Pony European Championships last month; you can check out a video of them ripping around the cross-country course here.
Here are a few ways to blow all those lazy weekend mornings…
Heading to the American Eventing Championships? Entries postmarked by today receive a discount of $100 off the entry fee. Online entries made through Xentry will automatically offer the discounted rate until midnight Central Time. [USEA] The event takes place September 26-29 at the Texas Rose Horse Park. [Qualified horse list] [Qualified rider list] [Omnibus listing] [AEC webpage] [Xentry] [Ride share]
A great big EN “cheers!!!” to Doug Payne and Jessica Hampf, who just got engaged!
Hannah Sue Burnett Eventing is now accepting students of all levels, horses in training and sales, and scheduling clinics for the winter. For more information email [email protected].
Only one week after his sale to U.S. owners, Tabasco TSF and new rider Marilyn Little finished sixth in Germany’s Hambach CIC** on their dressage score. As Jenni reported last week, Tabasco TSF was formerly campaigned by Ingrid Klimke through the 3* level. A big thanks to Fiona Lloyd for the tip! [Hambach]
Tickets are available for the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, to be held at Baltimore’s Pimlico Racetrack Oct. 5-6. The event includes educational seminars, meetings, demonstrations, and the culmination of the Thoroughbred Makeover, in which 26 trainers from 15 states in 10 equestrian disciplines will demonstrate what their horses have learned in just three months of second career training. [RRHT]
SmartPak Product of the Day: A girth is a girth is a girth, right? Wrong. I took the SmartPak Air+ Neoprene Girth for a test-drive–check out my review here. [SmartPak]
Video: Canadian eventers Lindsay Traisnel and Jessica Phoenix, who participated in the WEG 2014 test event at Le Pin National Stud and Caen over the weekend, recap their experiences. Team coach Clayton Fredericks discusses the importance of participating in test events such as this, and his focus for Team Canada. [Equine Canada] Check out the USEA’s report on the test event here.
A toast to Ruth Crennell, who recently become the Dressage Foundation’s newest Century Club member at the Silverwood Dressage Show in Camp Lake, Wisconsin. Crennell, age 81, rode a borrowed 26-year-old ex-eventer named St. George to meet the requirement that rider and horse must have a combined age of 100 years or more and compete in a recognized dressage competition.
The tip comes to us from reader Sarah Bates, who took dressage lessons from Ruth years ago while studying at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Sarah says that when she emailed Ruth to ask about her ride, Ruth responded,
“A lot of people at the show knew George and his abilities and I never felt I really did him justice… Anyway, it’s over and fun to look back on. The judge, who has a reputation for scoring low, signed the back of my ribbon and added: ‘You are an inspiration!’ Yikes! I never thought I’d live to become one of those!”
Sarah counters, “I think we’d all disagree.”
The Kenosha News did a great write-up on Ruth’s Century Club ride–check it out here. Go Ruth!
Eventing Nation writer Lauren Nethery was a guest on the Horses in the Morning radio show yesterday, talking about her smash-hit post “Select Your Mate Like You Select Your OTTB.” Listen to the episode here (Lauren is on about an hour in), and listen to HITM every morning, Monday through Friday from 9-10:30 a.m. ET, here!
The 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will introduce a new team eventing format, with only four riders competing instead of five (three scores will be used and one will be dropped). Each team may bring an official reserve; however, the reserves cannot be accommodated in the Olympic Village, and securing suitable accommodations for rider, horse and groom will be expensive. Britain is dealing with this problem via its Horse Trials Support Group, which will cover travel expenses with fundraising efforts including a raffle for an all-expenses paid trip for two to the Games. [Horse Talk NZ]
Michael Jung‘s bad luck has taken a turn for the worse. Jung’s arm is in a cast, reportedly due to an infection in one of his fingers, and he has been advised by doctors to stay out of the saddle. With the European Championships fast approaching at the end of the month, will Ze Terminator be in a position to defend his title? Stay tuned. [The Jurga Report]
Tickets are available for the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, to be held at Baltimore’s Pimlico Racetrack Oct. 5-6. The event includes educational seminars, meetings, demonstrations, and the culmination of the Thoroughbred Makeover, in which 26 trainers from 15 states in 10 equestrian disciplines will demonstrate what their horses have learned in just three months of second career training. [RRHT]
My homegirl Mary Hollis Baird sent me a link to a must-read interview with Jock Paget in the New Zealand Herald. Favorite Paget-ism: “When you bite off more than you can chew, chew like #$%^. In other words, don’t be afraid to bite off too much.” [NZ Herald]
Chris Wallace, Steward General for Eventing in Australia, talks shop about the perks and caveats of her job. [An Eventful Life]
SmartPak Product of the Day: Foil the barn polo wrap thief with a set of custom monogrammed SmartPak Polo Wraps. Available in four different colors–black, white, navy and pink–your wraps will never be “mistaken” for someone else’s wraps again. P.S. All SmartPak-brand tack and apparel is 20% off today! [SmartPak]
Like anybody is going to need electrolytes in 2056 anyway because we're all going to be robots, DUH.
So many SmartPak Lite AP Saddle Pads that, if you rode seven days a week and used a new clean saddle pad each day, you wouldn’t have to do laundry for 10 months …
Peter Atkins & Henry Jota Hampton. Photo: Mandy Collins.
Eventing Nation has the best, most brilliant readers in the world. Exhibit A: This photo by Mandy Collins, a graphic designer by trade who “dabbles in photography.” Thank you for so generously sharing your work, Mandy–what a stunning image.
Here at EN we’re always curious to see the world through your lens. Have a photo or video you’d like to share? Post it to EN’s Facebook page for all to see! If you haven’t checked us out on social media lately, you’re missing out–it has really become a dynamic forum for exchanging experiences and ideas. Come play!
Individual gold at the inaugural FEI Asian Eventing Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, was claimed by Annie Ho–a Hong Kong eventer who trains in England riding a New Zealand-bred horse. How’s that for a cultural intersection! [Horse Talk NZ]
Preparing for a world-class annual sporting event like Badminton is no walk in the park. Event director Hugh Thomas discusses his strategies for getting the event’s site–which exists as a historic park the rest of the year–up to snuff. [pitchcare.com]
Molly Sorge recaps the weekend that was in the sports of dressage, show jumping and eventing, including the results of Millbrook Horse Trials. [Chronicle of the Horse]
Eventing Worldwide reports on GatcombeHorse Trials, where Jock Paget claimed the British Eventing Open Championship CIC3* on Clifton Lush. Oliver Townend and Armada earned the reserve title. [Eventing Worldwide]
SmartPak Product of the Day: Ball caps are an equestrian’s best friend! Say “see-ya” to unsightly helmet hair with a SmartPak Hat. Navy blue and embroidered with a SmartPak logo, this hat makes it clear whose team you are on! [SmartPak]
Best of the Blogs: Jump judge Irene Beck tells the story of a nerve-wracking spectator situation she encountered at a horse trials over the weekend. [Haynet]
Found on Facebook: Tuning in to a horsey podcast during those long trot sets is easier than ever with the new Horse Radio Network app. Download for free today! IOS (Apple) here and Android here.
The EN founder added just 24 time penalties to a dressage score of 50.6 to finish 5th in the Starter division at River Glen Horse Trials, held over the weekend in Newmarket, Tenn. John, a formerly successful 2* rider, has been on hiatus from eventing since discovering he had “no talent whatsoever.” But when his girlfriend recently asked him to take her new OTTB Freeport Bay to his first event, John figured, what the heck. I caught up with him afterward to see how things went.
Dressage, he explains, was OK — “There was no canter in the test, thank goodness” — but the young horse was a star over fences. The cross-country course was a stiff one. John said he was worried about two fences in particular: #8, a faux-ditch he described as “intimidating,” and #10, a mini brush-box that proved treacherous for several competitors. (Seriously, I was jump judging and there were like six or seven refusals.) “That probably could have been frangible,” John says.
But if John was nervous, he didn’t let it show. Freeport Bay sailed over all over the fences like a seasoned eventer. Unfortunately, the combination of John’s upper-level experience and Freeport Bay’s raw talent wasn’t enough to defeat the competition, which was largely dominated by little girls on ponies. “I got soundly beaten,” John admits. Sounds like a rematch is in order!
So, can we expect to see John in the competition ring again sometime soon? “No,” he says. “Definitely not.” The rush of a start-box countdown, the thrill of thundering hooves, the adrenaline of defying of gravity … that didn’t suck him straight back in? “Nope.” Despite the fact that his girlfriend had only glowing praise for her horse’s eventing debut, John explains that campaigning a horse for an owner is stressful. “It’s too much pressure,” he says. “I can’t handle it.” Oh well, John, if you ever change your mind, you can always… Go Eventing!
Even the best riders in our sport get knocked loose every now and again. The scrappiest of them not only find a way to sit tight, but proceed to carry on with their course as though nothing happened at all.
Here are a few amazing saves on some of the toughest cross-country courses in the world:
Andrew Nicholson & Mr. Smiffy at Burghley in 2000 (they went on to win the event)
Karen O’Connor & Park Hall at Rolex (early ’90s?)
Gwendolyn Fer & Leria Du Ter at Badminton in 2011
Clayton Fredericks & Walterstown Don at Barbury in 2012
Allison Springer & Arthur at Rolex in 2008
Michael Jung & La Biosthetique Sam at Aachen in 2013
William Fox-Pitt & Cool Mountain at the European Eventing Championships in 2011
Jessica Phoenix & Exponential at the World Equestrian Games in 2010
I saw a link to this Chronicle of the Horse forum post on Facebook and had to share because it’s pretty hilarious. Several eventers on the forum chimed in with their own measurements (“Training is my hip, Prelim is my belly button, Intermediate is the bottom of my bra”), personal anecdotes (“I remember one event I was upgrading and, after walking the course with my friend, we went and cried to our coach because one fence was boob height. My jumping comfort zone is crotch height.”) and insights (“Well look, when you get older this will all sound less intimidating because boob height will approach crotch height. So don’t give up.”) If at some point today you’re in need of a good laugh, go read the human-tape-measure thread in its entirety here.
Team Ireland: Ireland has named its squad for the European Eventing Championships, to be held in Malmo Aug. 29-Sept. 1. The combinations are: Aoife Clark/Master Crusoe, Jonty Evans/Double Dutch, Joseph Murphy/Electric Cruise or Sportsfield Othello, Elizabeth Power/September Bliss, Austin O Connor/Ringwood Mississippi, Sam Watson/Horseware Bushman, and Sarah Ennis/Sugar Brown Babe (reserve). [Horse Sport Ireland]
Weekend Recap: Coverage from the Event at Rebecca Farms continued wrapping up on Monday with stories from local news outlets KPax.com, Daily Interlake, and NBC Montana.
British Eventing remarks on Hopetoun International Horse Trials in Edinburgh, Scotland, which was dominated largely by Britain’s Charlotte Agnew and Australia’s Paul Tapner. [BE]
Yasmin Ingham, age 16, secured two gold medals (Team and Individual Eventing) for Great Britain at the European Pony Championships in Arezzo, Italy, riding Craig Mor Tom. [BBC] British Chef d’Equipe Sarah Hancox said, “We brought a very talented squad of six girls who have bonded into a great team. They all achieved personal bests in dressage and they all finished on their dressage scores.” [FEI]
Thailand claimed Team Gold at the first ever FEI Asian Eventing Championships, with Indonesia and India taking home Silver and Bronze. Hong Kong rider Annie Ho, riding Super Combed, claimed Individual Gold. The event was held over the weekend in Pattaya, Thailand. [Asian Eventing]
Tendon Injuries and Genetics: New research suggests that some horses may have an inherited predisposition toward tendon injuries. A recent study, published in the Equine Veterinary Journal, compared the genotype of horses with and without superficial digital flexor tendonitis and identified a genetic link. [Horse Talk NZ]
SmartPak Product of the Day: Give your next dressage judge the ol’ razzle-dazzle with the help of a Nantucket Swarovski Crystal Browband by SmartPak. When you look snazzy, you feel snazzy, and snazzy riding equals snazzy scores. [SmartPak]
Best of the Blogs: Reese Koffler-Stanfield offers “10 Tips to Improve Your Dressage Test” on Kentucky Performance Products’ Tips & Topics Blog. [KPP]
Found on Facebook: Hope you are sleeping in this morning, Kristi!
Video: David O’Connor talks about the state of U.S. eventing at NAJYRC. [usefnetwork]
Yesterday’s big news was the arrival of Britain’s much-anticipated royal baby, a boy who’ll be third in line to the throne. Horse Nation got into the spirit by chronicling the evolution of Kate’s style at equestrian events–polo matches, races, horse trials and even the Olympics. In my “research” (a.k.a. Googling) I ran across several shots of her tromping around cross-country courses, looking enviably stylish, of course.
The above photos warmed my heart a little, not because of her outfit (which is adorable), but because of the story behind them. Kate was freshly single at the time–it was just a month after she and William split up after their initial four-year college romance. Kate had been drowning her sorrows with benders on the town; the night before, a minidress-wearing Kate was spotted out partying at the clubs until 3 a.m. Yet she rallied a few short hours later to attend cross-country day at Badminton with her mom. Maybe she knew that there’s nothing a day of eventing can’t improve–horses are the best kind of therapy. And obviously her life has since come around!
Craig Crowder sent us a note to say that Rick Wallace‘s now officially famous video (it’s up to over 240,00 views) was featured on Fox News. [Fox News]
NAJYRC: Coverage from the weekend is still rolling in. Practical Horseman has a recap here; the Chronicle of the Horse covers it here; and the USEF Network has posted video highlights here.
Laura Collett is recovering from her fall at Tweseldown earlier this month at Oaksey House, a rehabilitation center for jockeys in Lambourn. Her stay being paid for by the Lottery-funded World Class programme for elite riders and the British Olympic Association’s Athlete Medical Scheme. Eventing performance manager Yogi Breisner said that Laura will not compete again “in the forseeable future” but was in “good spirits.” [Horse & Hound]
SmartPak Product of the Day: I love the glossy bloom of a dark-colored horse, ranging from milk-chocolate brown to rich espresso. Not like my own bay horse’s sun-bleached summer coat, which is the color of a piece of wheat bread left in the toaster too long. Note to self: Get him started on SmartDark & Handsome, a special blend of Omega 3 fatty acids combined with Paprika and Nutmeg help bring out a deep, dark shine in black, bay and brown coats. [SmartPak]
Found on Facebook: Eventers have begun their descent upon the Event at Rebecca Farm, which kicks off Thursday in Kalispell, Montanta. Safe travels to all! [Website] [Entry Status & Times]
">">Video: Katie is right–it’s time to get pumped!
Apparently Buck Davidson is good at golf and John is terrible at golf? I don’t know, I’m just the messenger. Here is the accompanying explanation that got sent down from EN’s corporate chinchilla headquarters.
Chinchilla Note: We regret to inform you that John recently lost a bet to Buck Davidson over a game of golf. The prize was naming rights to this News & Notes post. In no way do we endorse John’s terrible golf play. It’s like dressage being a part of eventing. We all hate it and we all just have to live with the consequences.
The Adequan FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships kick off today at the Kentucky Horse Park with the Opening Ceremonies and annual *very important* Golf Cart Parade. (Check out photos of Area 6’s parade entry, “Bob the Golf Cart,” on their blog here.) Keep it tuned to EN throughout the week for competition coverage, rider/groom blogs and more. [Website] [Schedule] [Entry List]
Top British event rider Laura Collett is out of intensive care following injuries suffered in rotational fall at Tweseldown last week. The 23-year-old was placed in an induced coma to help heal a punctured lung but has since been brought out of sedation and is, according to British team manager Yogi Breisner, “already planning her return to riding.” Classic eventer. [Horse & Hound]
Polish researchers have discovered that, if given the choice, most horses will choose to go around an obstacle rather than jump it. Also, they concluded that “sport horses” are more willing to jump than “leisure horses,” and that the higher the jump, the less willing the horses are to jump it. Wow–that’s really… not surprising at all. [Horse Talk NZ]
A three-and-a-half months pregnant Zara Phillips had some paparazzi following her around at Brightling Horse Trials over the weekend. [Getty Images] The royal eventer rode two horses in the CIC2*, finishing 29th and 35th. [Horse & Country TV] Zara doesn’t look to be letting up on her riding anytime soon: She is also entered in the Aston-le-Walls Horse Trials this weekend and the Carlton trials on July 27. [Telegraph]
SmartPak Product of the Day: Don’t let sweaty, slippery reins ruin your ride. Get a grip with Harwich Rubber Reins by SmartPak. Supple, grippy and easy to clean, they’re a must-have item for eventers who have better things to do than get run away with. [SmartPak]
Top of the Tweets: NAJYRC is already running full-speed ahead on the social media front–keep up on Facebook and Twitter.
Found on Facebook: Wouldn’t your horse look smashing in a Custom Mattes Ear Bonnet from World Equestrian Brands? Click here to enter HN’s caption contest.
Video: Young Rider Connor Husain and Piece Of Hope turned in an individual gold medal winning performance at the 2012 NAJYRC. [RNS Video]
Last time I checked, the video of Rick Wallace’s showdown with gravity at Chatt Hills had over 80,000 views on YouTube–and he just posted it on Sunday. I think we can all agree that its celebrity is well deserved: When it comes to eventing cinema, what more could one want? A man fighting against the odds, struggling to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, clinging to his horse’s neck like whats-her-face at the end of Titanic, “I’ll never let go!”… followed by the inevitable tragic-yet-honorable release. That’s the good stuff, Rick. Eventing Nation salutes you.
Top young British eventer Laura Collett, 23, is in intensive care following a cross-country fall on Sunday at Tweseldown Horse Trials. A message on her website says that she has been stabilized and that they “will know more over the next 24 hours.” [Laura Collett Eventing] An unconfirmed report indicates that the accident involved a rotational fall on the Intermediate course. [Horse Talk NZ]
As we reported yesterday, royal British eventer Zara Phillips and husband Mike Tindall have just announced that they are expecting their first child in 2014. Horse & Hound raises the question of whether expecting mothers should continue to ride and compete–did you know that Mary King won gold at the 1995 Europeans when five-and-a-half months pregnant? [H&H]
Britain has selected its squad for the 2013 FEI Senior European Eventing Championships, which takes place in Malmö, Sweden, August 28 – September 1. The horse/rider combinations include: Kristina Cook/Miners Frolic, William Fox-Pitt/Lionheart, Piggy French/Tinkas Time, Tom McEwen/Diesel, Izzy Taylor/KBIS Briarlands Matilda, and Lucy Wiegersma/Simon Porloe. [British Eventing]
The Chronicle‘s Lisa Slade follows up on Tipperary Liadhnan‘s new life with amateur eventer Louis Rogers. Their partnership got off to a rocky start, owing to a freak trailer accident, but it sounds like everything is now happily back on track. [COTH]
USEF Eventing High Performance issued a reminder yesterday that Fall Grant Applications are due on July 15. For riders interested in competing at Blenheim, Burghley, Boekelo or Pau, now is the time to send them in. Applications are available here. [FB]
Best of the Blogs: The broken-ankled British three-star rider Jess Butler is taking a gracious approach to healing: “After all the bad news it was time for a much needed break, and what do broken eventers do? We volunteer at events.” [Eventing Worldwide]
Found on Facebook: Speaking of injuries, it sounds like Boyd Martin is on the mend. [FB]
Top of the Tweets: And… while Sinead Halpin is still in rough shape after her tumble at Chatt Hills, at least she’s got room service! Get well soon, Sinead! [Twitter]
Video: Happy birthday Mike Huber! Here is some rare footage of Mike haphazardly swatting at a pinata.
By all accounts, the Event at Rebecca Farm is something to behold. The ambiance is festive, the cross-country course is a work of art, the show jumping always counts, and the whole scene is pitched against a spectacular backdrop of Montana mountains.
Unfortunately, it’s also a pretty good haul for most riders. The Rebecca Broussard Travel Grant, awarded annually by the USEA Endowment Trust, makes the logistics a bit easier for a deserving few. Made possible through the generosity of the Broussard Family to honor the memory of Rebecca Broussard, the grant is intended to offset the cost of travel expenses of riders competing in the CIC3* division. To receive the aid the riders must compete at this year’s event, to be held July 24-28.
The following riders have been named as recipients of the 2013 Rebecca Broussard Travel Grant: Andrea Baxter, Avery Klunick, Barbara Crabo, Ellen Doughty, Emilee Libby, Frankie Thieriot, Geriann Henderson, Heather Morris, Jacob Fletcher, Jeanine Allred, Jennifer McFall, Jordan Linstedt, Katherine Groesbeck, Katie Ruppel, Kelly Pugh, Lauren Kieffer, Leslie Chelstrom, Lizzie Snow, Mackenna Shea, Pam Fisher, Rick Wallace, Susan Beebee, Teresa Harcourt and Zachery Brand.
Congratulations to all of the Grant’s recipients! [US Eventing]
The FEI reopened the bidding process for the 2018 World Equestrian Games after Bromont, the sole bidder, failed to secure full financial support in time. Bromont resubmitted its bid, pledging to redouble its efforts. [EN] [COTH] [Dressage-News] [Horse Talk NZ]
Inspired by Michael Jung’s hairy moment on the Aachen CHIO3* 2013 cross-country course, from which he recovered to finish third individually, Horse & Hound takes a look back at other great eventing saves. [H&H] Meanwhile on Horse Talk NZ, photographer Paul Harding posts some striking images from cross-country day at the event. [Horse Talk NZ] And British Eventing weighs in on its team’s second place finish. [BE]
Mid-South Eventing & Dressage Association has a new website, with an improved calendar feature and a place to post entry forms and show bills. [MSEDA]
Take a 15-minute survey about your experience while in the Lexington area for the 2013 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event for a chance to win event passes for 2014! The survey is open through noon Thursday. [UK]
Four-star rider/all-around superstar Hannah Sue Burnett is available to teach clinics. Contact her at [email protected] for more info.
The Corvallis Gazette-Times was on the scene at Inavale Farm Horse Trials in Philomath, OR, over the weekend. [Gazette-Times]
SmartPak Product of the Day: One of my horse’s pasturemates has a SmartPak Classic Fly Mask embroidered with his name–ADORABLE! Way cuter than my horse’s, which has his name scrawled across the front in faded permanent marker and appears to have been assaulted by a cheese grater. A new one from SmartPak is definitely on our shopping list. [SmartPak]
Best of the Blogs: Do you know how to protect your horse from West Nile Virus? Our friends at Kentucky Performance Products share some preventative measures. [KPP]
Video: Speaking of the Event at Rebecca Farm, check out the 2013 promotional video.
Congratulations to Megan Grigsby from Citrus Heights, CA, who was chosen as this week’s Cavalor Premium Feed & Supplement’s Share & Win contest winner in the U.S.! You will be contacted by Cavalor shortly to redeem your 6 week supply of MyCavalor.com’s suggested feeding program!
Want to win a 6 week supply of Cavalor Premium Feed & Supplements?
You are only a few clicks away! Fill in your horse’s details, click on “Design Feeding Program” and click the “Share” on Facebook button on the top right of your final personalized feeding program screen – That’s it!
CONTEST DETAILS
Cavalor will announce one lucky winner per week (every Tuesday) on the Cavalor North America Facebook page and the Cavalor corporate website: www.cavalor.com
One lucky winner per week for four weeks from June 11-July 9, 2013
Prizes: A six week supply of Cavalor Premium Feed & Supplements suggested in your personalized feeding program
Eventing Nation has teamed up with sponsor Point Two to outfit one lucky reader with a brand new Point Two air vest! The question is: How bad do you really want it?
It’s time to pull out the duck tape, baling twine and… bubble wrap? Because Point Two would like you to make your own vest!
We welcome (and suggest) creativity, savviness, and overall skills in this competition. Make your vest and send a photo to [email protected] by midnight Wednesday, June 26 to be entered in the contest. The best vests will then be up for a reader poll where a winner will be ultimately chosen.
The USEF is stoked about the United States’ prospects for the Aachen CICO3*, which is fast approaching June 27-29. We’ll be represented by Tiana Coudray/Ringwood Magister; Will Faudree/Pawlow; Marilyn Little/RF Smoke on the Water and Clark Montgomery/Universe. Go team! [USEF]
Mary King is recovering from a heavy fall at Salperton Horse Trials on Saturday. Her horse, 2011 Rolex Kentucky winner Kings Temptress, rotated over a roll top near the end of the intermediate cross-country course. She was released from the hospital the same day with mild concussion and bruising. Kings Temptress was reported to be uninjured. Mary won’t be competing Imperial Cavalier at Aachen due to the concussion. [Horse & Hound]
Sharon White and Last Frontier Farm are hosting their 5th annual Derbycross-style schooling competition fundraiser this Saturday, June 29. “JUMP! Across the Pond” is being held to raise money for Sharon to compete Wundermaske (“Patch”) overseas. The event will feature a silent auction and raffle, vendors, course walks with Sharon, and levels from elementary to preliminary–repeat rounds are encouraged! Questions? Email Rachel at [email protected]. [Entry Form]
Equine Canada is pleased to announce that Desi Dillingham, MBE, has accepted the role of Special Advisor (Dressage). “We are thrilled to have Desi working with us at this crucial time for Dressage in Canada, said Jean-Christophe Gandubert, CEO of Equine Canada. “Her energy, drive and knowledge will help us set new standards and get back on track in this challenging international setting.” [Equine Canada]
Surefire Farm in Purcellville, Va., is hosting a cross-country schooling day today, Tuesday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The schooling fee is $50 per horse/rider combination. Please sign a release (in the mailbox by the scoreboard down at the trailer parking area) and wear helmet and safety vest. Email questions to [email protected]. [Surefire Eventing]
SmartPak Product of the Day: Like my eventers, I tend to gravitate toward horses that are one fry short of a Happy Meal–if you know what I mean. But while a little extra enthusiasm can be delightful when you’re galloping cross-country, during a dressage lesson… not so much. SmartCalm Ultra is an herb-free formula designed to support proper nervous system function, helping to minimize skittishness. [SmartPak]
Want to win a 6 week supply of Cavalor Premium Feed & Supplements?
You are only a few clicks away! Fill in your horse’s details, click on “Design Feeding Program” and click the “Share” on Facebook button on the top right of your final personalized feeding program screen – That’s it!
CONTEST DETAILS
Cavalor will announce one lucky winner per week (every Tuesday) on the Cavalor North America Facebook page and the Cavalor corporate website: www.cavalor.com
One lucky winner per week for four weeks from June 11-July 9, 2013
Prizes: A six week supply of Cavalor Premium Feed & Supplements suggested in your personalized feeding program
Speaking of Cavalor, they re-posted this ADORABLE image on their Facebook page yesterday (if you don’t already follow Cavalor, you can “like” them here). The photo is of 6-year-old Sally Featherstone competing at a jumping competition in the UK. I love the look on the faces of both horse and rider–so fierce!!!
It is also a reminder of the important role that young riders play in eventing. It’s all of our responsibility to support and mentor them–they are, truly, the future of our sport. From volunteering at a Pony Club rally to taking a kid at the barn under your wing, every little bit helps.
Barbury Horse Trials, taking place July 4-7, will feature two new fences on its cross-country course this year–but they might look familiar. The “Tower of London” and the “Cricket Jump” both came directly from the course at last year’s London Olympic Games. [Gazette & Herald]
Andrew Nicholson is looking unstoppable at the head of the FEI Classics leaderboard following his Luhmuhlen win. His 55 points are followed by William Fox-Pitt’s 36, and there are only 15 points left on the table for the winner of the sixth and final classic event, Burghley in September. If Nicholson wins, which now seems inevitable, he’ll pocket $150,000. [New Zealand Herald]
Top British riders say that the British Eventing Open Championship CIC*** is one of the most prestigious titles to be won anywhere in the world. The event takes place at the Festival of British Eventing, running August 2-4 at Gatcombe Park. [British Eventing]
Kim Severson’s Cooley Cross Border, winner of the 5-year-old division of the 2012 USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships, is having another bang-up year. Most recently, the 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse won the CCI* at Virginia Horse Trials at the end of May. [USEA]
Tweet of the Day: Just another day in the life of Phillip Dutton…
Congratulations to Andrea Balas from Lexington, KY who was chosen as this week’s Cavalor Premium Feed & Supplement’s Share & Win contest winner in the U.S.! You will be contacted by Cavalor shortly to redeem your 6 week supply of MyCavalor.com’s suggested feeding program!
Want to win a 6 week supply of Cavalor Premium Feed & Supplements?
You are only a few clicks away! Fill in your horse’s details, click on “Design Feeding Program” and click the “Share” on Facebook button on the top right of your final personalized feeding program screen – That’s it!
CONTEST DETAILS
Cavalor will announce one lucky winner per week (every Tuesday) on the Cavalor North America Facebook page and the Cavalor corporate website: www.cavalor.com
One lucky winner per week for four weeks from June 11-July 9, 2013
Prizes: A six week supply of Cavalor Premium Feed & Supplements suggested in your personalized feeding program
Jennie Brannigan posted this excerpt from a letter to competitors at Luhmühlen on Facebook–I love that they’re apologizing in advance for cutting people off at 2 a.m. Good grief! I’d love to be a fly on the wall at THAT competitor party. As Jennie put it, “Only in Europe.”
Otherwise, it sounds like all systems are go for this week’s big event. The U.S.’s four-star hopes are resting on the shoulders of Jennie/Cambalda, Marilyn Little/RF Demeter, Julian Stiller/Enjoy Me, and Jolie Wentworth/Good Night. Marilyn and Julian also have three-star horses competing, RF Black Pearl and Charlie Weld respectively. Check out the Luhmühlen website for a full entry list and timetable, and keep it tuned here throughout the week for all the latest updates!
British Eventing chronicled the “nail-biting” show jumping phase on the final day of Bramham, where William Fox-Pitt earned an impressive seventh title. [British Eventing]
The Chronicle of the Horse wrapped up its Bromont coverage with a show jumping recap and interviews with the top riders. [COTH] Equisearch was also on hand covering the event. [Equisearch]
Horse Junkies United captured some pretty great cross-country blooper photos at Bromont. I think my favorite is Melanie Rousseau on Menai Creek riding through the CCI* water combination with an inflated air vest–it looks terribly uncomfortable but she manages to scrap it out like a champ. [HJU] Speaking of “Oh Crap” moments, Horse Talk NZ has posted several slideshows of spectacular spills at Bramham. [Horse Talk NZ]
Practical Horseman is hosting a webinar this Wednesday with Phillip Dutton on how to be a successful eventer at any level. [Registration]
Surefire Horse Trials in Area II, held June 21-23, is accepting late entries until the end of the week. The horse trials offers Beginner Novice through Intermediate. See the omnibus listing and the Surefire Eventing website for more information.
In the first of a new educational series focusing on the welfare, care and maintenance of event horses, Kerry Millikin and Jim Wofford discuss the new FEI qualifications and rider categorization system introduced this year. Are these changes in the format of the sport, along with the rules and regulations now in place, leading us to ask too much of our horses? [USEA]
Have you been re-categorized after six months of the FEI’s new rider categorization system? The FEI has posted an updated list here. [FEI]
2014 Worth the Trust Educational Scholarships are now available for young adult and adult amateur event riders. The scholarships reward up-and-coming eventers by helping to fund their training—clinics, working student opportunities, private, or group instruction. The deadline for application is October 1. [USEA]
Ocala Horse Properties will be hosting Horse Shows in the Park in the Oaks at Longwood June 14-16. The prize list is posted here. [Ocala Horse Properties]
Buck Davidson has a sharp-looking new website–check it out here.
Best of the Blogs: Selena O’Hanlon posted some behind-the-scenes photos from Bromont. [Selena O’Hanlon]
Video: Alec Thayer sent us this very cool video he shot of Danielle Pagano and Two is Better than One at Plantation Field H.T. over the weekend. A big congrats to Danielle, who finished in 6th place in Junior Open Training. Check out more of Alec’s work at Facebook.com/ab3photography.
Congratulations to Elizabeth Fisher and her horse Miss MoneyPenny who were chosen as this week’s Cavalor Premium Feed & Supplement’s Share & Win contest winner in the U.S.! You will be contacted by Cavalor shortly to redeem your 6 week supply of MyCavalor.com’s suggested feeding program!
Want to win a 6 week supply of Cavalor Premium Feed & Supplements?
You are only a few clicks away! Fill in your horse’s details, click on “Design Feeding Program” and click the “Share” on Facebook button on the top right of your final personalized feeding program screen – That’s it!
CONTEST DETAILS
Cavalor will announce one lucky winner per week (every Tuesday) on the Cavalor North America Facebook page and the Cavalor corporate website: www.cavalor.com
One lucky winner per week for four weeks from June 11-July 9, 2013
Prizes: A six week supply of Cavalor Premium Feed & Supplements suggested in your personalized feeding program
Kate Chadderton sent us this photo of her horse Cole smelling the roses, er, geraniums at Bromont.
I can’t believe that this weekend is the Game of Thrones season finale Bromont. Did you hear about the Red Wedding yesterday’s dressage? Carnage! Some really nice tests. What’s going to happen next? Winter is coming, I mean, that cross-country course sure looks tough. Guess we’ll have to stay tuned to HBO EN to find out.
The USEA recaps two recent events in the SmartPak Equine USEA Classic Series: the Indiana Eventing Association Horse Trials, which offered long-format novice and training divisions, and the Colorado Horse Park CCI* and Horse Trials, which also offered a training three-day division. Last weekend also saw three Future Event Horse and Young Event Horse competitions, held in Maryland, Vermont and California. [USEA]
The competition is stiff this weekend at Bramham, where Maxime Livio, Zara Phillips and William Fox-Pitt aboard Doug Payne’s former ride Running Order are holding down the top spots in the CCI3* after Thursday’s dressage. [Wetherby News]
British eventing lost a supporter on Wednesday in David Rea, a beloved cross-country fence judge who volunteered at both the Sydney and London Olympics, the World Equestrian Games, Blenheim, Burghley and countless other events both in the UK and abroad. [Horse Talk NZ]
After falling at the final fence in Saumur last week when on course for a top finish, Kitty King immediately bounced back to winning ways at Tattersalls CCI** in Ireland this weekend. [Swindon Advertiser]
Best of the Blogs: I love Emily King’s blog, “The Olympian’s Daughter.” She uses so many exclamation marks!!! Check out her latest entry. [Eventing Worldwide]
Hot on Horse Nation: Check out Will Baxter’s behind-the-scenes video from the Badminton vet box. [HN]
Good morning Eventing Nation! Welcome back to the real world after your long Memorial Day weekend. It’s getting more summery by the day–hope you’re enjoying it as much as I am. The event season in my neck of the woods, Area 3, is slowing down, but it’s just now kicking into high gear elsewhere in the country. Check your calendar, choose an event, and send in your entry today!
Mother of Invention: A steeplechase fan’s experience with a rainy Aintree meet inspired him to go home and invent a new style of umbrella. Dubbed the “Rainshader,” it sits low on the head as not to block the view of those behind, blow inside out or drip on other people. [Horse & Hound]
Clever as a Mule: A new study has revealed that mules are excellent problem-solvers and flexible learners–and less stubborn than horses and dogs. [Horsetalk NZ]
Interstate Tragedy: A horse had to be euthanized in Kansas City after a trailering accident on I-670. The vehicle pulling the trailer broke down, and as the driver pulled horses off the trailer it was struck by another vehicle. A third vehicle then struck the rear of the second vehicle. [kansascity.com]
On the Defensive: With hurricane season looming, thehorse.com has posted a list of tips for hurricane preparation. [thehorse.com]
Best of the Blogs: Emma Ford demystifies studs on the SmartPak Blog. [SmartPak]
Found on Facebook: Jennie Brannigan’s former three-star partner Walkabout has a new home.
Lauren Romanelli's horse Doccie enjoys a well-deserved roll in lush Kentucky bluegrass at May-Daze Horse Trials, taking place this weekend in Lexington, KY.
We’ve been cheering hard for our U.S. riders at Saumur but we’re rooting just as enthusiastically for our riders here at home. There are loads of events taking place across the country on this beautiful Memorial Day weekend. Best of luck to everyone!!!
Video: John Crowell guides Distinguished around the novice cross-country course at May-Daze, alternately laughing and encouraging his horse along the way.
ERS-Eventing.com provides riders with an interactive online portal that showcases product information, demonstrations, tutorials and reviews from fellow competitors and top international riders.
Definitely the cutest thing that happened on Facebook this week was this picture posted by West Coast eventer Tamra Smith. Tamra explains, “This is the booklet that Tyler made me for Mother’s Day!! OMG I soooo wish you could buy me a 5 star horse too buddy!!!!” Totally adorable. It sounds like Tamra and her crew at Next Level Eventing are heading to Woodside this weekend–we wish them and everyone else competing this weekend across the country (and across the pond–go Team USA!) good luck.
Aortic rupture is the most likely cause of death of Dirk Shrade’s German Olympic gold medal winning mount King Artus. The 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding collapsed at the end of a cross-country course Saturday in Weisbaden, Germany. [TheHorse.com]
The USEF previews our team’s prospects at the Saumur CCI3*, where the U.S. will be represented by Hannah Sue Burnett, Buck Davidson, Will Faudree and Marilyn Little, who have all received Land Rover Competition Grants to contest the event. [USEF]
The Chronicle outlines a few ways that we can help those in need following the tornadoes that devastated areas of Oklahoma earlier this week. [COTH]
Video: Practical Horseman posted a great interview with Phillip Dutton about his new book, Modern Eventing, available for pre-order from Amazon here. [PracticalHorseman]
Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tornadoes that swept through Oklahoma on Monday. At least 51 people, including 20 children, were killed outside Oklahoma city with many more hospitalized and some still missing. We’ve also heard reports of up to 100 horses feared dead in the area after a massive twister devastated the 106-acre Orr Family Farm.
If you can provide shelter or transport to horses affected by the storm, please post availability and location on the Horse Evacuations East Facebook page.
CHC International: Ever-talented photog Leslie Threlkeld has posted image galleries of the 1*, 2* and 3* divisions from last weekend’s event on the USEA website. [US Eventing]
Eventing in Big Sky Country: Montana’s Missoula Equestrian Park has its sights set on hosting recognized events in the not-too-distant future. It has already been hosting mini-events, the proceeds of which will be used to help the park build the cross-country jumps necessary to fulfill USEA requirements. Event organizer Drue Kerns says all is on track for the jumps to be built in the spring of 2014, with a debut recognized event in 2015. [helenair.com]
Kelly’s Ford: The local newspaper ran a brief profile of Kelly’s Ford Horse Trials, held Saturday in Remington, VA. More than 180 horses competed in Intro through Training divisions. [Fredericksburg Patch]
Interstate Tragedy: The Chronicle reports that a tractor-trailer carrying 30 horses burst into flames on I-81 in Lisle, N.Y. on May 6. The horses were being shipped from Shippensburg, Pa., to a slaughterhouse in Massueville, Quebec. The fire was likely caused by a fuel tank malfunction. [COTH]
Festival of British Eventing: The Festival, to be held at Gatcombe Park on August 2-4, promises to be bigger and better than ever. British Eventing previews the event. [BE]
Best of the Blogs: Those moments when everything finally comes together, precisely when you need them to the most, are far and few between. Courtney Cooper earned one at Jersey Fresh last weekend, where she and Who’s a Star finished 3rd in their first CCI3*. [C Square Farm]
Found on Facebook: Katie Ruppel has sold her Rolex partner Sir Donovan to 2012 Canadian Olympic team member Peter Barry.
SmartPak Featured Product: You can never have too many pairs of schooling breeches–especially if they’re SmartPak’s new Piper Schooling Breeches. Available in fun, summery colors in both knee patch and full-seat styles, they’re a definite summer must-have. [SmartPak]
Video: PRO talks to CIC3* winner Lauren Kieffer and CIC2* winner Buck Davidson about their impressions of the inaugural CHC International. [PRO]
A big congratulations to Oxbow, ridden by Gary Stevens and trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who led from wire to wire to win this year’s Preakness Stakes. I think a lot of us were rooting for Derby winner Orb, but it was fun to watch Oxbow completely dominate the field–and it was a great storyline nonetheless: a legendary Hall of Fame trainer, a 50-year-old jockey who came out of retirement to take the ride, and a horse that entered the starting gate at 15-1 odds.
Itsmyluckyday finished second, and Mylute, ridden by female jockey Rosie Napravnik, finished third. Odds-on favorite Orb seemed to lose his rhythm after breaking from the rail and finished a distant fourth. Full results here.
ERS-Eventing.com provides riders with an interactive online portal that showcases product information, demonstrations, tutorials and reviews from fellow competitors and top international riders.
Dance parties, beer gardens AND eventing? My three favorite things in the world, and they’re all coming together this weekend at the inaugural CHC International at Chattahoochee Hills.
Our friends at Cavalor are in on the action, sponsoring a VIP tent that will be offering SweetWater beer to the two- and three-star riders all weekend and a champagne-and-Belgian-chocolate reception open to ALL riders and owners on Friday. VIP tent ticketing info is available here.
Thank you, CHC International, Cavalor and the event’s other sponsors, for making all of our wildest dreams come true. For more information visit the CHC International website here and the event’s Facebook page here.
Adequan IM Shortage: The popular joint supplement will be in short supply in coming months as the pharmaceutical company that manufactures it is undergoing a renovation and existing inventories have been depleted. Shipments of the 5 ml vials are expected to resume shipment in early July, followed by the 50 ml vials in August. [COTH]
Ag-Gag Bill Veto: Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam vetoed his state’s so-called anti-whistleblower “ag-gag” bill, which calls for anyone taking pictures or photographs of animal abuse to turn over all evidence to law enforcement within 48 hours. In particular, animal welfare groups concerned about abuses within the Tennessee Walking Horse community worried it would impact their ability to investigate. [Horse Talk NZ]
Wrapping Up Jersey Fresh: Nancy Jaffer recaps the event and speaks with an assortment of eventing characters, including D.A. Adirmo’s owner Debbie Adams, course builder Morgan Rowsell, veterinarian Dr. Scott Palmer, and Karen O’Connor. [Equisearch]
Happy Birthday Bramham: The international event in Leeds is preparing to celebrate its 40th year running June 6-9, with more than 500 horses expected to participate in a range of competitions over four days. [Yorkshire Evening Post] In other British eventing news, the inaugural Brigstock International Horse Trials at Rockingham Castle takes place next weekend. The Philip Herbert-designed cross-country course includes the final fence from London 2012, on loan to Rockingham from Burghley. [Eventing Worldwide]
Video: The Olympic folks just posted this cross-country footage from the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, where the U.S. team of Michael Plumb and Blue Stone, Karen Stives and Ben Arthur, Torrance Watkins and Finvarra, and Bruce Davidson and JJ Babu won team gold. [olympic]
Kate then-Middleton at Badminton Horse Trials in 2007. Photos: 
Nice britches (via 
A real “rider-frightener” cross-country fence at the Event at Rebecca Farm, via 
