Earlier today, EN published a post by Shannon Lilley regarding the Area VI Young Rider preparations in California. We thought we’d follow it up with a post from one of the Area VI Young Riders themselves, Teresa Harcourt, who has been blogging about her team’s journey to NAJYRC throughout the spring for Horse Nation.
ATTENTION NAJYRC TEAMS EVERYWHERE: Are you guys just going to sit back and let Area VI get all the attention? Send your team rosters and updates to EN at [email protected].
From Teresa (pictured above):
The title of this blog gives it away but all that is going through my mind is the song, “The Final Countdown” by Europe.
Editor’s note: We NEVER turn down an opportunity to post a good ’80s music video, so here it is.
I don’t know if the whole meaning of the song is entirely appropriate due to the talk about leaving for space, etc. However, we are officially 10 days away from leaving on a jet plane and landing in the Blue Grass State. Cue the excitement, packing chaos, bubble wrapping of horses, and complete denial that this is actually happening.
This last weekend was Area VI Young Rider Camp held at the Baxters’ wonderful Twin Rivers Ranch. Although the weather provided for the beginning of a tan on my horrific white legs (common in the Eventing World), it was brutally hot which was a great preparation for Kentucky.
Young Rider Camp was a great opportunity to meet our fellow young riders who aren’t candidates and get to work with wonderful coaches. On Friday, the Area VI Team members had an incredible opportunity to ride with Dressage (R) Judge Vicki Matisi, who watched and made comments throughout our ride. This was an extremely educational and helpful experience. She pointed every fine detail out and gave us ways to improve.
Later that day, Sarah and I show-jumped with Dayna Lynd-Pugh (AREA VI Queen of all coaches). As usual, it was a wonderful lesson that focused on the fine details of our rounds and improvement on those details.
Saturday followed with each of the team members working on either dressage or show-jumping. My favorite part of the whole lesson was seeing many of the young riders including my teammate, Sarah Braun, there to watch and learn from my lesson.
Camp was a true statement to how wonderful AREA VI is. I would like to thank Jodie Renk and Margie Molloy for a wonderful camp experience. Everyone was more than welcoming and extremely helpful the entire weekend. All the parents who are involved with AREA VI; THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO! Also, AREA VI would like to give a huge shout out and THANK YOU to our awesome sponsors: Western Saddlery, Toklat, Fleeceworks and Ride On Video!
With NAJYRC being so close, I wanted to introduce the rest of the AREA VI TEAM! The next blog will be from Kentucky! How exciting is that?!?!? Thank you Horse Nation for all of your support and letting AREA VI share our journey! Until next time!!!
Is it too soon to JibJab the freshly-named U.S. Olympic squad? Nah.
While we were busy freaking out over the naming of the U.S. team, here’s what was going on in the rest of the world:
The man behind the Greenwich curtain: Can you imagine being handed the task of organizing the eventing portion of the Olympics? But Alec Lochore, eventing manager for the 2012 London Olympic games, seems to have everything in hand. With just 60 days to go before Opening Ceremony, Lochore reports on his many, many plates in the air, including facility construction, cross-country course design and how he narrowly escaped the doghouse by securing his wife a last-minute Olympic cross-country day ticket. [EQ Life]
News from New Zealand: Pippa Cuckson, equestrian correspondent for The Telegraph, says New Zealand “could be the dark horses of eventing” at the Olympics. She points to Andrew Nicholson’s smackdown at Barbury and suggests that Mark Todd and Jonathan Paget’s blunders (Todd was eliminated for forgetting a x-c fence; Paget for a parting of ways in the water) will only make them more determined not to screw up in London. “A stung Kiwi,” she says, “is a very dangerous beast.” [Telegraph] On an unfortunate note, Clarke Johnstone’s Olympic ambitions ground to a standstill after his horse Orient Express (Blue) sustained a leg injury after a good run at Barbury. It was the third of Johnstone’s Olympic qualified horses to succumb to injury this year. Johnstone wrote on his Facebook page, “Was really on a high after he went so well XC at Barbury yesterday but it was not to be.” [Stuff.co.nz] By the time you read this, the NZ team will have been named as the announcement was set for 8 p.m. NZT Monday evening, which equates to 3 a.m. (Update: 4 a.m.) Tuesday ET.
Britain reshuffles its team: Britain’s Piggy French is out of Olympic contention as her horse, DHI Topper, is injured. French was initially named for the team with two horses; the other, Jakarta,was also ruled out due to injury two weeks ago. “What can I say, I am devastated,” French told Horse & Hound. “My dreams are shattered, but most of all I feel so sorry for my support team that have been such a vital part of my success and also for my family and joint owners, the Underwoods. I wish the team all the best for the Games and look forward to being back on the team in the future.” Her spot has been filled by Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz. [H&H]
Colorado’s horses need your help: Hundreds of horses have been displaced by wildfires in Colorado and rescue and relief efforts are strained. The USEF encourages donations to its Equine Disaster Relief Fund, earmarked for devastating circumstances such as these. [USEF] In “An Action Plan and a Bottle of Rain,” SmartPak employee Kassidy Burnett recounts the story of being 14 years old and watching helplessly as the Cerro Grande Fire crept toward her family’s home and animals. [SmartPak Blog]
Get your Olympic info here: The FEI has launched a new online hub, fei.org/olympic ,dedicated to all things Olympic and Paralympic. The site contains Olympic history as well as technical information regarding the upcoming games, including links to schedules, results, news and a photo gallery. The hub will soon be expanded to include biographies for athlete and officials at the London 2012 games, as well as a history of equestrian events at the Paralympic Games. [USEF]
Found on Facebook: “Having been through the Olympic selection process, I don’t think anyone can comprehend, how tough that last meeting is… What a high, if you hear you and your horses name.. And the shallow feeling, if you don’t. But, if you got to that point, especially now, look up and keep moving forward… YOU ARE THE FUTURE!” —Jill Henneberg (U.S. Olympic event team, 1996)
It’s Barbury Castle week, and you’d better believe our riders in England understand precisely what’s at stake. Come next Monday, we’ll have an official U.S. Olympic Eventing Team. Until then, it’s still anybody’s game.
Will Coleman says there’s “hardly any laughing” at the Lavender Hill Farm compound where he, Boyd, Clark, Phillip and Will F. are staying. He reports that Twizzel is “stoked,” and he and Boyd have been filling the void where a barn full of horses to ride should be with long runs. “All in all,” he writes in a blog entry for The Horse Exchange, “I feel very privileged and fortunate to be over here, trying out for a spot on this Olympic team with such a talented group of horses and riders. Barbury Castle is as far forward as I am looking though, and all my concentration is bent on producing a good test and weekend with my horse. Here’s hoping we can do it, and that this journey will continue for a few more weeks. ” [The Horse Exchange]
Sinead Halpin thought it best to remain at Maizy Manor through Barbury, even if it meant missing out on “being a part of the goings on with the American team.” They’re packed up and ready to move to Lavender Hill with the rest of the gang on Sunday, though. She wrote a great blog entry for the Chronicle about her decision-making process and training/competition gameplan in the months leading up to now. She concludes, “My game is tough, my horse is great, and I feel ready to compete for a spot on this team. You can make your own destiny, if it’s all you see, taste and smell. But the only way to get there is to put one foot in front of the other with thought, patience and extreme focus.” [COTH]
Other nations, being in the position of having already selected their teams, are using Barbury Castle as a last run before the Games. “Barbury Castle Horse Trials is about to become host to the most exciting pre-Olympic warm-up event ever seen. The Olympics being held on home turf has attracted the world’s biggest names to camp in the UK during the build up to the games,” TalkingHorse.net enthused. “Taking a look through the entry list for the CIC*** it’s really hard not to get excited about the Olympics – it reads like a who’s who of eventing.” [TalkingHorse.net]
The event, which includes lower-level divisions in addition to the CIC***, reached a bumper entry of 900 horse/rider combinations. Nigel Bunter, owner of the Barbury Estate commented, “We are delighted that this year’s event has received such a strong entry. The final preparations are now being made to the venue and we want to ensure it provides an excellent competition for Olympic bound horses and riders.” [British Eventing]
Hot on Horse Nation: Abby Gibbon brings us a video of Team Great Britain’s Tina, Piggy, William, Mary and Zara at a press conference at Greenwich, “wherein they made much of their horses’ good looks.” [GB Eventing Team: Our handsome horses]
Stateside news: Gemwood Horse Trials, scheduled for July 21-22 in Fairborn, OH, has been cancelled on account of the impending heat, humidity and drought conditions, as well as dwindling initial entries. A cross-country schooling day at Twin Towers Park will remain in place for July 3. [US Eventing]
Found on Facebook:Marilyn L. Meredith‘s status update: “Marilyn has arrived in the UK with RF Rovano Rex and RF Smoke on the Water to compete in several top events in Europe for the summer/fall season.”
Top of the Tweets: Barbury Castle @Barbury Castle: @markpid143 Many thanks – fingers crossed for sunshine!
Video: Scenes from the Barbury Castle CIC*** in 2011
What 4* rider is this, pictured here on her 2nd birthday with her gifts, a bridle, brush and helmet? (What, you weren’t into grooming tools and complicated bits of leather strapwork when you were two years old?)
Answer: Kelly Sult, who’s celebrating her 26th birthday today.
Australia has nominated its Olympic team! But wait… Eventing Australia nominated the following horse/rider combinations to the Australian Olympic Committee for selection to its team: Andrew Hoy (Rutherglen), Chris Burton (Holstein Park Leilani), Clayton Fredericks (Bendigo), Lucinda Fredericks (Flying Finish) and Shane Rose (Taurus). However, a corresponding statement has been released saying that the athletes lodged an appeal against the nominated team within the 48-hour appeal period. The grounds upon which they are appealing remain undisclosed. The appeal will be heard by an independent tribunal in due course. If we hear anything that makes this all seem less cryptic, we’ll let you know. [Australian Equestrian Team] [An Eventful Life]
Six animal protection groups have called for the revoking of plans to use horses in the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games. As it stands, the ceremony’s opening scene portrays an idyllic scene of the British countryside, replete with 70 sheep and 12 horses. The animal protection groups object on the grounds that: “Subjecting these animals to more than 62,000 cheering people, bright lights, high sound levels and the frenetic atmosphere of the event, while preventing them from exercising their natural instinct to remove themselves or hide, will be a highly stressful and probably terrifying experience for them.” [Horse Talk NZ]
There will be no “special treatment” for Zara Phillips during the Olympics. She’ll stay in the Olympic village with the rest of her team, and no additional security precautions will be taken to protect the royal athlete. “Security is going to be so tight that every athlete will be treated like the queen was their grandmother,” said Anthony Glees, director of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at the University of Buckingham. “Around the Olympic venues there will be a so-called ring of steel that will replicate the sort of security surrounding a head of state. London will swamped with security personnel, and the amount spent on security at the Games will the biggest ever.” [MSNBC]
Heard on Eventing Radio: Samantha Clark and John Kyle discuss Luhmuhlen with special guest Pippa Roome from Horse and Hound; Brian Rutledge explains what it’s like to be left home alone with three kids on Father’s Day weekend while your wife adds another CCI**** to her bow; and an interview with Rachel Wakefield of Uptown Eventing. [Listen]
Found on Facebook: From Jennie Brannigan, “What company writes you a get well card from every staff member, gets your boss new tails overnighted from Europe before he goes to the Olympics, and sends you a care package when they know your riding a lot of horses in an event that’s hot???” Answer: SmartPak, of course!
All eyes on Zara:
Some days, compiling N&N requires some scraping of the bottom of the barrel. Like, “Hey! A horse got stuck in a swimming pool in Oklahoma City–that’s news, right?”
Today isn’t one of those days.
The big news, of course, is the announcement of the US’s eventing short list, a.k.a. the 11 horse/rider combinations we’re turning loose in a manmade forest to vie for a spot on the final squad Hunger Games-style sending abroad to compete at Barbury Castle. If you haven’t already read it, EN has got all your Team USA info here. Can’t wait to follow these guys in the coming weeks as they plot to drop killer bee hives on one another’s heads while sleeping pour themselves into preparations for what could be the summer of their lives. Safe travels, everybody, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
On other Olympic fronts, the Brits have named their eventing team as well–check out the EN announcement here. We’re not really seeing the brunt of it here in the United States because we’ve got bigger celebrity fish to fry (Miley Cyrus is engaged-whaaaa?!?), but justsoyaknow, the rest of the world is FREAKING OUT that Zara Phillips, the queen’s granddaughter, made the squad. (My Google Reader feed turned up 397 news articles.) Zara churned out a strong spring and sealed the deal with a third place finish at Bramham last weekend. Royalty or not, it’s a good storyline: Zara was selected for the ’08 squad but narrowly missed the opportunity to compete due to injury, and it seems poetic justice that she’s been dealt a second chance on home turf. [Associated Press]
One final piece of news you’ve already heard, but it’s a big deal so we’re going to repeat it here anyway: The FEI announced that five countries are confirmed as bidders to stage the WEGs in 2018. The five bid cities are Rabat (MAR); Bromont (CAN); Budapest (HUN); Vienna (AUT) and Wellington (USA). Where do you think it should be held? [FEI]
Luhmuhlen CCI****, CIC*** and host of the German eventing championships takes place this weekend. A link to the cross-country course map is here, and FEI TV is broadcasting it live Saturday and Sunday here. With regard to the North American field, there are a few familiar faces in the mix, among them Boyd Martin, Colleen Rutledge, Julian Stiller and Peter Atkins. More on Luhmuhlen later the week. [Website] [Entry List]
If you’re a ICP Certified Level III instructor currently competing at the Advanced level who doesn’t mind putting up with the kind of drama that inevitably emerges when you cram a bunch of highly-competitive teens (and their parents!) in the pressure-cooker that is NAJYRC, consider applying to be the USEA Area II Young Rider Team Coach for 2013. The current team coaches are stepping down after the 2012 season, and Area II is opening up the search to anyone who is qualified and interested in the position. [USEA]
Two Saudi Arabian showjumpers are back on track for the Olympics after their respective eight-month bans, imposed by the FEI tribunal, were shortened to two months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Al Eid, 43, is the 2000 Sydney Olympics bronze medalist in showjumping. Al Sharbatly, 29, won silver at the 2010 WEGs in showjumping. The FEI bans were a result of their horses testing positive for NSAIDs phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone (a metabolite of phenylbutazone). [Horse Talk NZ]
Horse Nation has Olympics Fever: HN grills Carley Sparks of GetMyFix.org on her picks for the US showjumping Olympic team, and wonders whether there’s a way to disguise Steffen Peters, rider of the #1 and #2 seed dressage horses in the country, so that he can compete both of them in the Games. [HN]
Best Bloodiest of the Blogs: From Sara, who is in Germany babysitting Ying Yang Yo until Boyd gets there for Luhmuhlen: “There is one technique that is used here that catches me a bit off guard. One of Elmar’s riders asked if I could pull out one of the horses so that she could ‘do the snakes.’ Wait, say what? Snakes? Turns out she meant leeches… a little less shocking but almost as bad. Apparently this technique is still pretty commonly used in Europe, I’m glad I got to witness it but far more grateful that we don’t do this in the USA.” Grode!! [Boyd & Silva]
Found on Facebook: It’s easy to be classy and full of grace when you’re on top of the world, less so on life’s more overcast days. In this Facebook post following a less-than-stellar weekend at Bromont, Selena O’Hanlon shows us what she’s made of: “Three cheers for Mr. C!!! The horse that took me to my dreams and goals and then exceeded them:) What a ride! Don’t be sad… remember ALL the great times we had and amazing places we saw thru the eyes of one of the greatest horses in the world! no bias;) He is happy and sound as a bell. We are both happy and healthy, in the end that’s all that matters. As Bruce says a good show is where you and the horse both come home healthy and safe.”
“No matter what, nobody can take away the dances you’ve already had.” –Gabriel García Márquez
No moose have been sighted at Bromont, yet, but I’m holding out hope. As a random bit of eventing triva, horses registered with the USEA bearing Moose-themed names include: Chocolate Moose, Moose Tracks, Moose on the Loose, Minnie Moose, Magic Moose, Mr. Moose and Pine Top Moose. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
6/10: Genessee Valley Riding & Driving Club Spring Horse Trials (NY) [Website] [Live Scoring]
And, of course, Bromont is underway in Quebec. After Day 1 of the dressage, Jon Holling is leading the CCI*** aboard Downtown Harrison while Allison Springer leads the CCI* riding Eclipse. The CIC*** dressage begins today at 8 a.m., and the CCI** at 9. John is there all weekend bringing us the latest. [Website] [Live Scoring]
Samantha is in the UK covering Bramham–you can keep up with her coverage throughout the weekend via SamanthaLClark.com and Eventing Nation. [Bramham Results]
Ireland has named an Olympic shortlist of 10 riders and 11 horses. At present Ireland is assured of a team of at least three riders at the Games, but their allotment could increase to four or five depending on whether other countries who have secured places have sufficient eligible combinations to take up the places. A final selection decision will be made on July 2 following the event at Barbury Castle. The shortlist includes: Aoife Clark/Master Crusoe, Capt. Geoff Curran/Shanaclough Crecora and The Jump Jet, Jayne Doherty/Ravenstar, Sarah Ennis/Sugar Brown Babe, Mark Kyle/Coolio, Joseph Murphy/Electric Cruise, Elizabeth Power/September Bliss, Michael Ryan/Ballylynch Adventure, Camilla Speirs/Portersize Just a Jiff, and Sam Watson/Horseware Bushman. [Horse Sport IE]
Every month, SmartPak tallies customer reviews from eventers like you to find its customers’ favorite products. Check out this month’s Top-10 Eventing Products to find some great picks for you and your horse. [SmartPak]
In recognition of their participation in International Helmet Awareness Day 2012, the folks at Gatehouse Hats are offering UK residents the chance to win a Gatehouse Blouson Jacket or one of four Gatehouse Baseball Caps. To win, enter the caption contest on the Riders4Helmets website. The photo, of a very shirtless Paul Tapner, happens to have been taken by EN’s very own ESJ. The competition will run until June 30th, after which time the winners will be decided by none other than Paul Tapner himself. [Riders4Helmets]
A petition in support of reduced journey times for animals going to slaughter in Europe garnered over a million signatures. The charity that organized the petition, World Horse Welfare, says current European Union legislation makes it possible for animals, including horses, to be transported for days on end in cramped conditions with little food or water. The petition was handed to the European Commission. [Horse Talk NZ]
Hot on Horse Nation: Anita Marchesani helps us understand the function of gag bits; McKenna Oxenden cheers on her buddies at Waradaca; and Abby Gibbon explains why this is a great weekend to paint your toenails purple.
Best of the Blogs: Doug Payne picked a fine day to have his first dressage error of the year, and he’s kicking himself for it. His score of 45 was still good enough to be tied for second place in the Bromont CCI* aboard Tribute. [DP Equestrian]
Video: Secretariat winning the 1973 Belmont by a whopping 31 lengths. Go I’ll Have Another!!!
That’s right–you can blame Canada all you want for the fact that this weekend is going to be AWESOME!! Dressage kicks off this morning with the CCI* division at 8 a.m. and the CCI*** division at 10, continuing on Friday with the CC1** and CIC***. The weather people are calling for a high of 70 F with a 40% chance of showers, so pack a raincoat. Other advice: Keep an eye out for Quebec wildlife including but not limited to moose, caribou, black bears, beavers, snow geese, and humpback whales. P.S. If anyone spots a humpback whale, please take a picture and email it to [email protected]–I’ll be keeping a close eye on my inbox all weekend, just in case.
Anyway, John is up there covering all the action, so keep it tuned to EN for all the latest. [Dressage times] [Entry list]
If you’re in the market for a future event horse, a yearling filly out of British eventing supermare Headley Britannia is up for auction. Brittania’s Jewel (Ruby) is owned by Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks. Online bidding has reached £6500 with another six days to run on the auction. Just to review, Brit is one of only two horses in history to have won all three of the world’s top four-star events (Rolex in 2009, Badminton in 2007 and Burghley in 2006). Ruby’s baby-daddy is the trakehner stallion Grafenstolz, who also made history by being the first horse to qualify for the German finals of jumping, dressage, and eventing in the same year. All of which is to say, it’s probably a pretty nice filly. You can place your bid here. [Horse Talk NZ]
The USEA is now accepting nominees to its 2012 Eventing Hall of Fame. Qualifications for nomination: “Those persons and/or equines who have made a difference to the sport of eventing (i.e. Past Presidents, volunteers, riders, founding fathers, course designers, officials, organizers, horses, horse owners, coaches).” Visit the USEA site for full details and criteria. [US Eventing]
Belmont fever is in full-tilt. Yesterday, post positions were released–I’ll Have Another will break from post 11, to the outside of the 12-horse field. The Triple Crown hopeful was also made the 4-5 morning-line favorite. [BloodHorse.com]
The Kiwis aren’t out for blood but rather looking for a solid pre-Olympic outing this weekend at Bramham. The New Zealand contingent includes Mark Todd, Jonathan Padget, Caroline Powell and Andrew Nicholson. [www.stuff.co.nz] Samantha is on the scene to keep us updated all weekend.
Hot on Horse Nation: Abby Gibbon pens a lovely tribute to Jim Ligon; find out how many calories you’re burning at the barn; and, take note eventers, book critic Erin McCabe reviews a training manual that has the words “soft” and “sane” in the title.
Best of the Blogs: How do you gear up for Bromont with a rack full of cracked and bruised ribs? Kristin Schmolze reveals her secrets (hint: they involve ibuprofen and hot showers). [Update from Bromont]
Runner-up: Look! It’s baby Eventing Nation covering Bromont in 2010. Take a trip down memory lane: [Thursday Morning Bromont Reader]
Video: Seriously, keep your horse’s bum turned away from nearby Ferrari’s. As for Ferrari drivers, please try not to drive your Italian sportscar into a crowd of horses. Thanks, Matthew Kiener and Victoria Smith, for the tips!
I kid, I kid. Bruce and Buck warming up for dressage at Flora Lea Horse Trials in Medford, NJ last weekend. A giant thanks to the ever-fabulous Helene Gallagher for her mad paparazzi skills!!!
Tattersalls International Horse Trials is underway in Ireland. Britain’s Ruth Edge aboard Rogersdale leads the CCI*** by a fifth of a point, with William Fox-Pitt and Bay My Hero nipping at their heels. It’s a star-studded field (Mark Todd, Oliver Townend, Matt Ryan, Zara Phillips, Polly Stockton) with plenty of Olympic hopefuls looking to impress selectors and earn spots for their team. The sole U.S. representative is Logan Rawlings, who is presently tied for sixth place in the CIC*** on Jaybee Star Celebrity. Also, this made me giggle: A British horse named Fernhill Whatever is sitting in third place in the CCI*. [Website] [Scores] [CCI*** XC Coursewalk]
Weekend Event Links:
IEA Horse Trials, Classic Training & Novice 3-Day [Website]
Also, with Bromont fast approaching (June 7-10), we’ve got your entry list right here.
And, a friendly reminder that Genesee Valley Horse Trials is open for entries. This is the 58th running of the horse trials, which is one of the Genesee Valley Hunt’s biggest fundraisers for the year. Reasons to add it to your event calendar: 1) beautiful terrain, 2) laid-back show atmosphere, 3) a John Williams cross-country course that is in its second phase of a two-phase renovation plan, and 4) it’s a great warmup for Stuart Horse Trials, which runs a week later. A big thanks to show secretary Kathleen Kirkwood for the head’s up. [Website]
Belmont Update: A loose horse nearly collided with I’ll Have Another en route to his morning workout on Thursday. Disaster averted, the Triple Crown hopeful went on to successfully complete his mile gallop. [USA Today] And New York race officials have authorized strict security measures for the run-up to Belmont. The extraordinary precautionary measures appear to be directed toward I’ll Have Another trainer Doug O’Neill, who has a history of more than a dozen doping violations in four states. Last week, he was served a 45-day suspension by California regulators for another violation. (He won’t be forced to serve the suspension until after the Belmont.) [NYT]
Today on Horse Nation: Rider blogs from two NAJYRC-bound eventers, Jacob Fletcher from Area V and Teresa Harcourt from Area VI, and an update from junior rider McKenna Oxenden, a soon-to-be working student for Emily Beshear this summer. [HN]
Best of the Blogs: I KNEW my barn wardrobe was missing something. I just didn’t know it was a gold sequined mini-skirt. Another gorgeous fashion shoot by Three Days Three Ways–check it out. [3D3W] And… Jamie Jennings, co-host of the Horses in the Morning radio show, is enjoying an equestrian vacation in Spain. Her exploits, including dressage lessons and galloping Andalusians on the beach, were featured today on Darley Newman’s travel blog. [Equitrekking]
Tattersalls promo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g67KKGsuoH8
FLAIR is giving away a VIP cross-country pass for Bromont!The pass grants its winner access to the VIP tent and all the fabulous amenities therein. All you have to do is leave a comment on this FLAIR website post, answering the question: What are three ways FLAIR strips benefit an equine athlete? The contest begins this morning at 8 a.m. Eastern and runs through 8 a.m. Monday, June 4. [FLAIR]
Clayton Fredericks’ hospital stay, following his fall at the Saumur CCI*** in France, is cramping his style. “I’m absolutely fine, frustrated to be lying here in hospital,” he wrote on his Facebook page. “It is just cautionary as it appears Lottie stepped on my stomach.” [Horse & Hound]
VOLVO has signed on as title sponsor of the Bromont CCI3* Three Day Event, taking place June 7 to 10, 2012, in Bromont, Quebec. [US Eventing]
The 2012 Paralympic Games will be the largest ever, hosting 165 countries participating in 21 sports over 17 days. Para-dressage riders from 26 countries have qualified for the games. [Horse Talk]
British eventer and royal personality Zara Phillips will carry the Olympic torch when the relay arrives at Cheltenham racecourse on Wednesday. She’ll be aboard her World Championship-winning mount Toytown. [London Telegraph]
Australian Chris Burton is one step closer to making the Olympic team after his one-two sweep at Saumur. The rider relocated to England after missing out on making the Bejing team, hoping to maximize his chances for 2012 selection. [The Australian]
Hot on Horse Nation: The ripple effect of an undercover video capturing Tennessee Walking Horse soring abuse; the science behind a genetic mutation that results in larger-than-average racehorse hearts; and the story of I’ll Have Another jock Mario Gutierrez. [HN]
Top of the Tweets: From I’ll Have Another #Ill_HaveAnother: “I am hearing that Belmont is already sold out! If that is true, I feel like a true rockstar. Only thing we won’t be adding more dates!!”
Found on Facebook: You’re doing it wrong… but we’re impressed. A video of Rochelle McGregor jumping the 2* water backwards at the National Three Day Event in Taupo, New Zealand over the weekend. [Big thanks to Amber McGovern-Wilson for the tip!]
Best of the Blogs: What is up with all these Fair Hill cross-country burger photos, seriously? [Boydblog]
Runner-up: Just another day lounging around the barn, looking like a supermodel. [Three Days Three Ways]
Our hearts go out to the family and many friends of Jim Lewis, husband of dressage judge Linda Zang, who has passed away from an apparent heart attack. After retiring from a successful career as a racehorse trainer in Maryland, his friendly presence and genuine interest in the sport made him a welcome figure at dressage shows around the world. [Dressage News]
Applications for the Rebecca Farm Travel Portion of the 2012 Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant are now available. The grant awards over $50,000 annually to event riders competing at the Advanced level to help compensate for training, travel and competition costs. The application deadline is June 1. [US Eventing]
Mainstream media is abuzz with speculation about Zara Phillips’ Olympic prospects, or lack thereof.The Telegraph reports that the royal eventer was left “burnt” after bad luck kept her out of the last two games, and thus isn’t getting her hopes up. Fox News describes her Greenwich ambitions as “a big ‘if’,” noting that with Badminton cancelled, Zara’s window of opportunity for impressing selectors is fast shrinking. Haters gonna hate, Zara–don’t listen to them. And just to be contrary, we’re sending a big batch of EN karma your way.
The great show-jumping mare Sapphire has been retired. Her rider McClain Ward wrote on his Facebook page, “While it is the end of her incredible career, I refuse to be sad. Sara is retiring healthy, happy and at her best.” We’re counting on you now, Sapphire, to find yourself a nice, handsome stallion and get knocked up. [COTH]
Canadian Olympic hopeful Rebecca Howard along with her mount Riddle Master and groom Dana Cooke are having a bang-up season and may soon be packing their bags for a trip across the pond. They welcome financial support to offset expenses and lost income and have set up a fundraiser campaign toward that end. Donate here, or take part in the “A Day at the Farm” on June 2. According to its Facebook page, the event will include “shooting, guided trail rides (with your own horse), lessons with Rebecca, x-country schooling, lunch and more!”
Found on Facebook:Will Coleman recounts the horrific story of how his CIC3* mount Cool Connection was impaled on a wooden flag at Jersey. The horse is going to be OK, but as Will explains, “Something like this should never, ever happen, especially when you consider that a similar incident, with almost the exact same sequence of events, killed a horse at Badminton six years ago. I don’t know why the FEI didn’t make the appropriate changes to insure the flags on skinnies or accuracy questions don’t pose any risks to either horses or riders then, but the fact is, this clearly can happen again, and we barely escaped a real tragedy this weekend.”
Best of the Blogs: Britain-based U.S. rider Colleen Rutledge has had it with the rain, which at one point she describes as “the crapola… falling from the sky.” At least, in lieu of Badminton, she got to squeeze in a little sight-seeing. “The more I’m here,” she writes, “the more I love the history you see around every corner.” [Enough already.]
Video: A tribute to Old Road, the Irish four-star veteran ridden by Michael Ryan that helped clinch Ireland’s invitation to the Olympics with a second-place finish at the Ballindenisk CIC*** earlier this year.
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From Horse Quencher: Anytime a horse moves to a new barn – whether to live there or just stay a few days to compete – the natural order of things is upset. And that’s enough to slow or stop water intake, especially for the new kid on the block. So get him a welcoming drink, with Horse Quencher.
As Denis O’Brien, Assistant Manager Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Stud, Norfolk, says, “We use Horse Quencher when new horses arrive at the farm, or when horses have undergone surgery and return to us from hospital. At these times the horses can be unsettled for a few days, often going off their food and water. Horse Quencher has been excellent in helping to reduce the risk of impaction colic, a very costly and distressing condition. The hydration of horses when traveling can be overlooked and Horse Quencher will assist those who reduce their fluid intake while being transported nationally and internationally. In a nutshell Horse Quencher has helped whenever the horses have a change of routine, or environment, when moving from trainers to the farm, for pre-and-post sales, for traveling and while recovering from injury and confined to the box.”
Horse Nation recently introduced a new blogger, eventer Teresa Harcourt. Between now and mid-July, we’ll be following her journey to the North American Junior & Young Rider Championships. Teresa recently completed her final qualification for Young Rider Eventing at the Twin Rivers CC**, where she and her horse Skip finished fourth.
Welcome, Teresa!
This week, we’ve asked Teresa to introduce herself and her horse. She writes:
Hello Horse Nation.
My name is Teresa Harcourt and I am a twenty-one year old who was bitten by the Eventing bug at a young age. Some would say I have a problem but I would not have it any other way. I am a true California girl who was raised in a small Northern California town of Penn Valley. I was six years old when my mom gave me the wonderful gift of a pony. My dad said time and time again, “This is only a phase.” Boy, was he ever wrong. Fifteen years later, I am twenty-one, I have competed up to the CCI** level, I have lived in Kentucky, evented on the East Coast and been a working student twice.
I currently have one trusty steed known as Bonza Twist of Fate, a.k.a. Skip. He is a 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse who has been in my life for a little over three years now. I am currently a working student for Shannon Lilley and Dayna Lynd-Pugh in Gilroy, CA.
You all are probably wondering why I am writing this blog for Horse Nation. Well, I am currently on a challenging, rewarding, exciting and unbelievable journey to the North American Junior Young Rider Championships in Lexington, Kentucky this July. I am looking forward to sharing stories with all of you!
It’s the only explanation. He keeps winning everything on a horse that, six months ago, most of us hadn’t even heard of, and you’ve seen him ride cross-country, right? I was observing his flawless rounds at Rolex and the thing that really struck me was the expression on his face–it never changes. It was like he was watching a nature documentary on coral reefs or something on his living room couch, not guiding an unpredictable animal over giant obstacles that had already taken out half the competition. So I’m just calling it like I see it: Phillip Dutton is a prototype rider-simulation robot commissioned by the USET and manufactured by Bit of Britain to eventually replace event actual human event riders. (Not all event riders–just the ones we need to not screw up in international competition.) Remember, Eventing Nation: You heard it here first. Photo: Abby Gibbon
The FEI has opened nominations for its 2012 awards and invites the international equestrian community to weigh in with their picks. Categories include “Reem Acra Best Athlete,” “HSBC Rising Star,” “Development,” “Against All Odds” and “Best Groom.” The FEI will inform the winners in September and invite them to the awards ceremony, which will take place in Istanbul on Nov. 8. [FEI Awards]
With prolonged rain wreaking havoc on the British eventing calendar, Bramham International Horse Trials (June 7-10) will host an extra 100 horses next month in order to give Olympic hopefuls a run before the London games. Britain’s team selection has been deferred until after the Horse Trials, which includes CIC** and CCI** divisions. Bramham Park’s course rests on limestone-rich soil that is actually in good condition after the heavy rain. The event build-up is on schedule and has not been affected by the weather. [Horse Talk]
EN Correction: We blogged about the four horses that were looked at by US Team vets on Monday morning after Jersey. Update: The vets also performed an abbreviated inspection on Pawlow on Sunday morning right after the CIC4* jog since Will Faudree was unable to stay in Jersey until Monday. [EN’s updated report]
Flora Lea Horse Trials is still accepting entries for their spring event on May 26 and 27. Saturday is Preliminary and Training, with the Preliminary being an entirely new course. Sunday is Novice and Beginner Novice. Post entries will be accepted through Friday, May 18. [US Eventing]
The USEF helped sponsor a “Salute To Champions” honoring local Olympians who have represented the country over the years at the Willowdale races in Kennett Square, PA. In attendance at the procession were Bruce Davidson, Donnnan Sharp Jones, Jane Sleeper, Jessica Ransehousen, Todd Flettrich and Michael Matz. They were paraded onto the course in a four-in-hand driven by Mike Gracie and later signed autographs. [Bruce Davidson Eventing]
Seen on Sport Horse Nation: Sugar is a 6-year-old, 17-hh TB mare owned by a reader who has a medical condition and is looking for a home for his horse quickly. [SHN]
Video: Know what really bites? Doing something totally amazing… and then falling off. Like this video of Tim Stockdale, who’d just cleared the final fence in the Land Rover Six Bar class at the Windsor Horse Show when he lost his balance and topped off. Honorable mention in this category goes to Denis Lynch, who plummeted head-first into a decorative wheelbarrow during his victory lap at the La Baule Derby, fracturing ribs and requiring stitches in his head and elbow. [H&H]
The thrill of watching top riders from around the world tackle a four-star course is second only to the thrill of maxing out your husband’s Visa card at the Rolex Trade Fair. Our report from this year’s Fair:
The best way to kick off a shopping spree you can’t afford is a stiff drink. Bloody Marys and mimosas are always a classy breakfast choice, and other 2012 Featured Rolex Beverages are The Man O’War (“a refreshing spring cocktail featuring Jim Beam bourbon, lemonade and muddled fresh strawberries and basil”) and The Lily (“a Kentucky tradition, this bright cocktail features Kamchatka vodka, cranberry juice, sweet & sour mix and triple sec”). Yum.
One of the first vendors you pass walking into the Trade Fair is Dubarry. Featuring attractive young people, gorgeous boots and clothing, and complimentary champagne, Dubarry is always a crowd favorite.
A few Lillies in, I stopped by to interview Josh Buchanon about his illustrious career as a smokin’ hot Dubarry rep. Filmography by Devan “corndog in one hand, champagne in the other” Cottrell.
Gersemi brand clothes seemed to be everywhere, except in my own shopping bag (they’re a squeeze on the pricey side). We especially love this show jacket, which is lightweight, water and wind resistant and made of a lovely stretchy material. Available from multiple vendors–this photo was taken in the Bob Mickler’s tent.
Fleeceworks was out in full force debuting its new line of wool pads. Now, you would think that someone would have cut me off after the interview with Josh, but oh no–here I go getting all tipsy Barbara Walters again on Jen, who was representing Fleeceworks in the Bit of Britain tent.
Here’s a group shot of Fleeceworks rider reps Kristi Nunnick, Tamie Smith, Heather Morris and Danny Warrington. They were signing autographs at The Tack Trunk after cross-country.
I tried to put one of these Equine Motorcoaches, which combine “the comfort and amenities of a luxury RV with the accommodations for horse transportation,” on my husband’s credit card. Then I remembered that I don’t have a husband or a credit card.
Here’s something exciting from Wise Equestrian: A raffle for a cross-country saddle that has been blessed by Phillip Dutton’s bum.
Hats by Katie is your #1 source for outrageously beautiful Derby hats. Her hats have been worn by multiple combined driving champions and celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey.
I stopped in to ask her what stylish people will be putting on their heads next weekend.
Geez, Boyd, don’t you have anything better to do than email me creepy stalker memes of yourself? So unprofessional.
The big news of Thursday was, of course, Boyd Martin and Remington’s late-afternoon lead. Their score of 45 will set the bar for today’s competition. Team Martin seemed pretty jazzed about Remi’s performance; Silva commented on their blog, “It was obviously an awesome day for us – I think Remington did his best test and I have to say Boyd rode his best test too.” As John said yesterday, there will likely be a fair bit of shuffling about on the scoreboard by the end of the day. Keep it tuned here for the latest. And to the riders: May the odds be ever in your favor. [Live Scores] [Ride Times]
Dubarry Contest (Update): Today is the second day for the Dubarry contest, which will end in someone winning a trip for two to Ireland! Click here for details. Today’s photo prompt is “Dubarry Bling” – In recognition of the Kentucky Reining Cup find us at the Dubarry Booth or find your own location and create the ultimate Dubarry Western Look. Enter your photo on the Dubarry Facebook page.
Jimmy Wofford tells COTH what he really thinks about Derek di Grazia’s cross-country course. Spoiler: It’s all really nice, complimentary stuff. [COTH] And if you haven’t already, check out his USEA course walk here.
Course walks! Course walks! Course walks! (Thanks Abby Gibbon for doing the dirty work here.)
Friday, 10:30 a.m.: Eric Dierks and Ralph Hill, full course walk. Meet at the start box. [FLAIR]
Friday, 11:30-12:30: Boyd Martin and Allison Springer will lead the SmartPak Course Walk. No need to check in, just meet them at the start box. Rescheduled from Thursday.
Friday, lunch break: Doug Payne and Sharon White walk the course for Just World International. Meet at the start box ten minutes after the last ride of the morning session, and bring a donation to Just World that you’re comfortable with. The first 25 to arrive will receive a hat from Sharon’s sponsor Kerrits, and the first 10 will receive a coupon for a free Course Walk App.
Friday, 2:30: Laine Ashker is leading a course walk at 2:30 on Friday–open to all, meet at the start box.
Friday, 4 p.m.: Marilyn Little-Meredith, hosted by Bit of Britain and Cavalor. Meet at the Bit of Britain tent in the sponsor village.
Friday, after dressage: Buck Davidson‘s Just World International walk. Meet at the start box ten minutes after the last ride of the afternoon session with your donation to Just World. The first 10 in attendance will receive a coupon for a free Course Walk App.
Friday, after dressage: Jim Wofford’s annual walk. Meet at the first water jump 30 minutes after the last ride of the afternoon session. From Practical Horseman: “Plan to spend at least two hours on course. Wear comfortable, waterproof footwear, and come prepared for the weather conditions with an umbrella, jacket, sunscreen, bug spray, water and, if you wish, a portable chair or blanket to sit on.” [Practical Horseman]
Nightlife! OTTBs! Lyle Lovett!!
Friday, 6 p.m.: Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup’s $100,000 Concour de Reining International. Country music star Lyle Lovett is amongst the competitors. Alltech Arena. Tickets required. [AKRC]
Friday, 6 – 7:30 p.m.: A reception for stakeholders from both the thoroughbred racing and thoroughbred sport horse industries will be hosted by Keeneland, as which is the last day of Keeneland’s Spring Race Meet and the second day of Rolex dressage. The event is presented by the USEF, the Jockey Club, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Keeneland. The venue is the Limestone Cafe at the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, and it is scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free food and drink, and the first 100 people receive tickets to a “Concert on the Lawn” afterwards. If you are interested in attending or send a message to Shealagh Costello at [email protected].
HorseMart posted a nice video roundup of some of Great Britain’s top Olympic eventing contenders: Mary King (Imperial Cavalier and Apache Sauce), William Fox-Pitt (Cool Mountain and Navigator), Piggy French (Jakata) and Nicola Wilson (Opposition Buzz). [Horsemart.co.uk]
Best of the Blogs: British eventer Lauren Shannon is blogging for Horse & Hound about being on the home stretch to Badminton. Today’s subject matter was the “glorious British weather.” She writes, “The one thing we can be certain of is it’s not going to be hard ground this year — I’ve already packed Louie’s snorkel and flippers….” [H&H]
Lauren Giannini from Sidelines is also out and about, getting her blog on. Check out Lauren’s Rolex blog here.
Hot on Horse Nation: Earlier this week, the USHJA issued a statement that is is “a strong advocate of allowing a horse to show expression, not to the point of it being a safety issue or significantly disrupting the round, but natural and enthusiastic about the job at hand.” As opposed to, you know, looking like it’s been lunged and drugged within an inch of its like. USHJA, the Horse Nation salutes you. [Goodbye, Zombie Hunters]
Top of the Tweets: From Leslie Threlkeld @LAThrelkeld, “One of my favorite parts about visiting Kentucky. Love. This. Beer. #rk3dehttp://pic.twitter.com/MHWJ2Nvj” Me too, Leslie! I always grab a case on my way out of town. Leslie also posted a lovely gallery of Day 1 dressage photos for US Eventing. [USEA]
Found on Facebook: From Heather Morris, “I want to thank Judith McSwain with Fleeceworks for the ribbons she made honoring Amy Tryon which us riders are proud to wear throughout the weekend.”
Update: Thursday Rolex video, courtesy of Josh Walker, Frankie Thieriot, and the USEA—
Eventing Nation tip of the day: If you actually own a Rolex, for Pete’s sake, don’t let your puppy chew on it.[Rolex Blog]
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of looking at pictures of Rolex horses being hand-grazed (No offense, Samantha. They’re very nice pictures.) My point is, the Eventing Nation is ready to get this show on the road. Only one day until the jog… What are they going to wear? OMG, the suspense.
Your news & notes:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be attending the final day of Badminton (May 3-7) to present prizes to competitors after show-jumping. William’s equestrian endeavors are well-documented; Kate, on the other hand, is allergic to horses. [H&H]
Learn how you can be a part of eventing as an owner at the Experience Eventing Reception. The event takes place Sunday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Kentucky Horse Park Visitor Center and is free and open to the public. [Experience Eventing]
A reception for stakeholders from both the thoroughbred racing and thoroughbred sport horse industries will be hosted by Keeneland on Friday, April 27, which is the last day of Keeneland’s Spring Race Meet and the second day of Rolex dressage. The event is presented by the USEF, the Jockey Club, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Keeneland. The venue is the Limestone Cafe at the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, and it is scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free food and drink, and the first 100 people receive tickets to a “Concert on the Lawn” afterwards. If you are interested in attending or send a message to Shealagh Costello at [email protected].
Horse-Canada.com catches up with William Fox-Pitt on his way to the airport to see Parklane Hawk off on the plane. His immediate plans? “It’ll be all about Rolex this week and then we’ll focus on Badminton and the big dream of winning the Rolex Grand Slam.” [Horse-Canada]
The USEA Membership Department has a few friendly reminders for you. Check them out here.
Australian sports opinion website The Roar observes that eventing is “a very expensive endeavour” and that “athletes must have a lot of money behind them in order to even qualify.” Despite the fact that it is clearly written by a non-horseperson, the article goes on to keenly suggest that the country needs more sponsors and scouts in order to get great, and not just financially well-heeled, athletes to the Olympics. [The Roar]
Best of the Blogs: From Carter eventing, “On a side note I’ve decided to start a special feature blog, it is called ‘The Real Road To The Olympics.’ Every 4 years there are articles written called the road to the Olympics covering the difficult final months of preparation to get to the competition. Really though this is exit ramp to the Olympics, and not much use for those who want to to develop top horses with that goal in mind.”
Runner-up:Behind the Bit makes the wise suggestion to take your horse’s measurements before you head off to Rolex, so you “don’t get to Rolex and wonder what size SMB boots you should get, or whether the snakeskin-lined halter will fit your horse.” She also recommends simply leaving your credit card at home if you don’t think you can resist temptation.
Found on Facebook: From Heather Youngblood, “Yep…it was that kind of weekend! Got some bad news about lil Reedy, but I’m really lucky to have great friends to help me deal…especially some that have a twisted sense of humor about it.”
This photo comes to us by way of Carl Segal, who writes, “As you know, the USOC had a 100 day countdown to London featuring about 75 hopeful Olympians (including Buck representing eventing) and one retired U.S. National 4* Champion Eventing Horse, My Boy Bobby. You’re seeing Buck and Jessica Kiener leading Bobby back to the van… Bobby spent about two hours in Times Square right in the center of the activity including numerous Olympic Sport demos.” Just another day in the life of an event horse.
So, things are getting a little crazy here around Eventing Nation. Visionaire is gearing up for Rolex like Anderson Cooper heading into a war zone; John could use a CC or three of Ace; Samantha is skulking around the Kentucky Horse Park in dark sunglasses; Abby is trying on derby hats in front of her bedroom mirror; Annie is feverishly applying for new credit cards to max out at the trade fair; ESJ is feverishly applying sunscreen; Abbie is watching that Rolex commercial over and over again; and Coren is Facebook creeping hot four-star riders.
Myself, I’m deeply involved in the process of figuring out whether bunnies are allowed at Rolex–there currently aren’t any provisions in the rules. They’d be in a little buggy thing, you know, out of Jack Russell snacking range. Seriously, if anyone knows the answer to this, it may save me the trouble of putting little bonnets and swaddling clothes on them in an attempt to convince security that they’re babies.
Onto the news from Eventing Nation: where all the grooms are strong, all the horses are good-looking, and all the riders are above average.
Horses in the Morning has got Rolex on the brain, too. Check out this morning’s show, Rolex Round-Table with Barb Crabo, Heather Morris and Deborah Rosen, for some entertaining and informative pre-game banter. [Horses in the Morning]
FLAIR will be sponsoring two course Rolex course walks. The first will be lead by Phillip Dutton, to be held on Thursday, April 26 at 4 p.m. It’s an abbreviated course walk focusing on four of the most difficult complexes on the course, and it will be limited to 50 participants. Participation credentials will be available on Thursday morning outside the Bit of Britain Tent between 10:30 and 1, prior to the course walk, from a FLAIR rep. The second course walk will cover the whole course and be lead in tandem by Eric Dierks and Ralph Hill. It meets at the startbox at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 27 and is open to the public. [FLAIR]
The popular helmet awareness campaign Riders4Helmets is celebrating its two-year anniversary with a monumental giveaway. Lucky equestrians could win one of 50 helmets, which have a combined value of about $10,000, or a new iPad3. Rolex visitors can stop by the Riders4Helmets area in the “old” indoor arena to register for the giveaway or can register online here. Registration closes at midnight ET on Sunday, May 6. [Riders4Helmets]
Vote for your favorite photo to grace the cover of the 2013 Burghley calendar. May we suggest a vote for: Claudette Mo’s fantastic photo of Boyd and Neville. [Burghley]
“The Hub” is a new initiative by the IOC that helps connects fans with their favorite athletes via social media. More than 1,000 verified Olympians have already joined the Hub, including dressage riders Carl Hester and Katarzyna Milczarek, showjumpers Laura Kraut, Eric Lamaze, and Nick Skelton, and eventers Mark Todd and Tim Lips. [Horse Talk]
Oliver Townend will be the first rider on course at this year’s Badminton, according to the recently published draw. He’s whittled his number of entries down from six to four. [Horse & Hound]
Oops:The San Francisco Chronicle writes, “An all-time record 73 race horses are registered to compete in this season’s Rolex Kentucky three-day event.” Good try, guys. [SFC]
Hot on Horse Nation: How much do you pay for lessons? [HN]
Top of the Tweets: From Lucinda Green (@LucindaGreenMBE), “Every time you ride, you’re either teaching or un-teaching your horse. –Gordon Wright”
Found on Facebook: A tribute to Amy in California, posted on the Facebook page of Sidelines Magazine. [Sidelines]
Thanks, Jon Holling, for this photo of “Ocala Horse Properties Pond,” the first water on this weekend’s Ocala Horse Properties International 3-Day Event CCI** course.
Today’s news is overshadowed by the news of Amy Tryon’s untimely passing. Amy was a force and an inspiration in American eventing and we send our very deepest condolences to her family and friends. What an incredibly sad day for the horse community. [EN]
In other unfortunate news, U.S. Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe George Morris will be undergoing treatment for prostate cancer this spring. According to a USEF press release, he “will remain in his position of Chef d’Equipe and will stay closely involved with the program, the selection process and the riders even though he will be unable to travel to the Observation Events.” Morris has asked Robert Ridland, who will be Morris’ successor beginning in 2013, to attend the Observation Events in his place. Morris is expected to be recovered in time to prepare the team in Europe for the Olympic Games. We wish him a swift recovery. [USEF]
A tentative schedule has been posted for the 2012 Adequan FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships. The event will be held July 17-22 at the Kentucky Horse Park. [NAYRC]
Badminton competitors can expect a completely fresh cross country course for 2012. Course designer Hugh Thomas has changed nearly every obstacle in an attempt to create new questions throughout the course and provide a “thrilling competition in this Olympic year.” [British Eventing]
Top of the Tweets: EN “favourite” eventing correspondent Samantha Clark (@samanthalclark) apparently spent her afternoon snooping about the soon-to-be Rolex cross-country course. She tweeted photos of the head of the lake, sunken road and the hollow. She also reports that the squirrels are, for now, “loitering near the @rolexkentucky cross-country course hoping to be picked, but so far no dice!”
Best of the Blogs: 21-year-old British eventer Gabby Cooke is trying her best to carry on after the loss of her horse, Sir Roscoe, at the Belton CIC*** earlier this month. [H&H]
Found on Facebook: An outpouring of love for Amy Tryon.
When HN contributor Katy won the Galway Downs CIC**, I encouraged her to indulge in some well-deserved bragging. Being the humble type, she let her horse do the talking.
Galway Downs International Horse Trials, April 2012: Straight from the Horse’s Mouth, or something like that.
As Leslie astutely said to me in a recent email, “Wins are far and few between” …unless you’re James Alliston or Phillip Dutton, at least. Speaking of which, whoever said that “it’s not about winning” has clearly never won anything because they are glossing over the whole part where winning is AWESOME. OK, all jokes aside, winning is really just the icing on the cake and I think all serious competitors know that the right attitude is everything and you can’t measure success in blue ribbons, or any color ribbon at all, for that matter. But still. It’s great every once in a while to have your hard work pay off.
Anywho, in an unveiled effort to drag out the euphoria of my latest great weekend, I hereby set forth the official Chronicle of Oz the Tin Man’s Big Adventure at the Galway Downs CIC2* (as translated by Katy Groesbeck).
Photo credit: Kate Erickson
Tuesday March 27, 2012:
My Person is a nutcase. This has always been an accurate assessment of her temperament, but now so more than ever. If she stares at my legs or feels my back or makes me practice a walk pirouette one more time, I might have to take matters in to my own hands. Fortunately I am saved for now; rains have put the arenas out of commission since Saturday evening. I can’t wait for her to ride me again… muahahaha.
Wednesday March 28, 2012:
Despite my better intentions, I was well behaved today under saddle. It’s not all that bad really: the human child seems to be extra generous with the carrots and licorice when I behave. I don’t understand why she enjoys practicing circles and zig-zags and such nonsense; doesn’t she know that I only want to GALLOP? I placate her for the time being. I can sense freedom on the horizon if I just bide my time.
I took a nice little trailer ride with a Mr. Kingslee; he is the master of a Miss Gerianne Henderson and family. I quite enjoyed my ride with him, though he himself did not seem to enjoy it all that much. Doesn’t he know that trailer rides always end in FUN??? There are almost always cross country jumps at the destination. My hunch has proved correct today: we’re at GALWAY!! I try to contain my excitement (for it’s just not manly to succumb to such infantile behavior), but alas I give in to my run-and-jump instincts and do a little dance of joy on my hack with The Pale One in the afternoon.
Thursday March 29, 2012: First Horse Inspection
The Pale One has quite obviously had too much caffeine this glorious morning: she has twisted my beautiful mane into annoying little knots by 8 a.m. Seriously, child? Luckily for her I can smell cross country in the air; I undergo her ministrations patiently in the knowledge that soon I will amaze all with my leaping ability.
I have to see the lovely People with the Stethoscopes now (why are you so shocked that I know what a Stethoscope is? I am brilliant) for some bureaucratic matter. They are always so friendly to me, though today I was not amused to be called “old”–I am a spritely 15, thank you very much!! Then on top of that, they commented on my fat! My Person seemed ecstatic; somehow fat across my ribs validates the hundreds of dollars she spends feeding me each month. Well no matter: I am a God among horses and my svelte physique is only further proof of my prowess. (But really, I am gorgeous. Have you seen me? People call me cute–ha!).
The child is putting slimy goop in my nose and wearing shoes that no sane person would wear around thousand-pound animals with iron on their feet. This usually means that the action is about to begin. My pulse quickens a little and I lift my tail a little higher. Time to go strut my stuff on the avenue! I love when when The Big Voice in the Sky calls my name and people turn their heads to watch me trot by–finally someone realizes my importance!!
Friday March 30, 2012: Dressage and Show Jumping
After a good night’s rest and a brisk gallop about the lunge line, My Person appears at my door in her Penguin Suit (I have never met a penguin in person, but I firmly believe that should I ever have the chance, this is what it would look like). I know this means it is time to prance around the sandbox and show off my circles and loopdy-loos.
I am being very well behaved. I am relaxed. Calm and confident is me. I should just get my award now. We walk over to the sand box–I used to perform here full-time, you know? I am a pro. As I walk towards it, though, I see a cross country jump!! I eagerly try to convince The Pale One that we should jump it. Right now. It is of highest priority, for God has clearly put this jump here next to me so that I can leap over it and know Heavenly joy!! Alas, The Pale Once pretends not to notice and we continue into the sand box. I cannot rid myself completely of the excitement I feel, however. At least I remember what I’m doing, though: My Person asks me to walk where I know I’m still supposed to be cantering. Clearly I was the only one paying attention when we practiced this.
My Person appears in her Penguin Suit again later that day. What is this?? I am confused but I oblige to come out to play again–I am a generous and willing soul (my humble opinion, of course). I soon discover that I’m in for a treat when I see the colorful jumps. I allow myself a moment’s excitement before I regain composure; I love to run and jump no matter what, but I know I need to save my energy for cross-country. THEN I’ll show them. I effortlessly leap over one jump and then another until I reach the last one (always slightly a bittersweet ending), at which point the child beats my neck with enthusiasm. I have learned in time that this is a good thing, and I flick my toes a little higher and prance back to my Adoring Fans. They think I’m wonderful (which I am! Have you seen me?) and I bask in their praise (and licorice!! Please don’t forget the licorice).
Saturday March 31, 2012: Cross Country
THIS IS IT!!! I arise, alert and ready. This is the day I live for, a day for running fast and jumping high and soaring with the birds. My heart beats faster and my eyes brighten as I watch the other Heavenly Creatures leave the barn. I CAN’T WAIT FOR MY TURN!!! My Person better have a word with whoever decides the schedule around this joint; I do not appreciate waiting.
FINALLY!!! My Person dresses us in our Battle Gear and buckles herself into the saddle. I am light on my feet and zoom down to the arena, eager to stretch my legs. I WANT TO GO FAST! An Adoring Fan stops me and asks for a picture–I stand quietly for the process, but all the time my ears are pricked toward the course and I quiver with excitement. I don’t want to miss my turn! One by one, all the other horses leave the arena and get their turn, until it’s just me and My Person waiting to go. Everything gets quiet as I walk towards the box–I am focused and ready and I WANT TO RUN! Even My Person is impatient, I can tell.
5…4….3….2…1….SWEET FREEDOM!!!!!!!!! I’m running and I’m jumping and then I’m running faster and jumping higher. Does life get any better than this?? I see the first water complex up ahead, I know this one well. I leave a stride out going in (a waste of precious time for my feet to touch the ground, I think) but it makes The Pale One up top squeal. It’s an unpleasant noise; I will remember to not do that again.
And the farther I go, the more jumps I see!!! The whole place is littered with square jumps and bushy jumps and skinny jumps and inside-out jumps (I think My Person calls them “ditches”). OH HOW I LOVE TO JUMP!!! We get to a big jump and I think the child is a little intimidated by it (silly thing doesn’t seem to know I do this stuff in my sleep); she kicks a little extra hard and I spring forward and up, whacking my hind leg as I go. It stings a little, and I can tell The Pale One is concerned, but I tug on the rein and let her know I LOVE TO JUMP!! I would probably do anything for her (but don’t tell her, she’ll get all mushy about it. Yuck) and I keep going–up, down, over–until we are back where we started and I see my Fans waiting. The Pale One is crying and blubbering up top; I think I warned you about the “mushy” tendency. As she gets herself together, I trot up to the crowd, full of energy and ready to go again. I’m really not even sure why we had to stop in the first place. Did I mention I love to jump??
I spend the next ten minutes being fussed over by my peons. They can’t keep their hands off me (and one of them keeps putting a thermometer in an unmentionable place; can’t a man keep his dignity around here??) The People with the Stethoscopes keep listening to my heart and lungs while The Pale One insists on fussing over my leg. She forgets that I’m a manly man and I don’t like to be pampered. Oh well, it makes her feel better. Eventually all my peons decide that I am fine (I could have told them that) and I am free to go back to my palace. I know what waits for me there, and there is only one thing I love almost as much as jumping–bran mash!!!!
Life is good.
Post-Script:
The Pale One would like to make sure she thanks all of her friends and family who have helped her get where she is. The list is long, but you all know who you are! Also, a great big thanks to the best sponsors ever: Dr. Joe Fanucchi at Meditrax, Louis Blankenship and Kristi Fetzer at Sonoma Saddle Shop, Martin Cohen at MDC Stirrups, Ride On Video, and Nan Rawlings at FLAIR Nasal Strips. And, as ever, a great big hug and whinny to her parents at Cedarhaven Performance Horses. Wish you were there!
For more news, commentary and ridiculousness, visit Horse Nation.
Hey you–yeah you, the idiot who couldn’t spare three seconds to strap on a helmet before you got on your horse. Megan Kaiser has something she wants you to hear.
From Megan:
Just wear the blasted helmet.
I boarded for a very long time at your typical hunter lesson/local show barn. One day I was trotting around the ring and I noticed a mom had gotten her kid on her lesson pony de jour. She was fixing her stirrups but the helmet was sitting on the mounting block on not on her child’s head.
I went around once: still not on her head. Twice: still on the mounting block not doing anyone any good. Third time’s a charm: “Best to put your helmet on before the trainer sees you” I said as I went by. I figured rather than be bossy I’d go with the blame it on the trainer route. Fourth time: nope. Fifth time: nothing–how long does it take, lady, to adjust stirrups, finish up and put your kid’s helmet on. Sixth time: Come on people! Seventh time: and I can’t hold it any longer, “It really is important to wear the helmet when on–rules of all barns.”
At this point the mother turns to me and says “Oh, it’s OK. I’m her mother.”
Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t realize that you were her mother. Yes, this means, because you are there that the hand of the all mighty will come down and create a protective force field around your child if something unforeseen happens. Sorry about that–please ignore the complete stranger who seems to care more about your child’s brain than you do.
Yes, the little girl was on a saint of a lesson horse–one that I had seen save an off balanced rider so many times and who tends to not to want to move unless made to–but you don’t know: bees sting, dogs run from the bushes, lawn mowers fire, batches of chinchillas drop out of the sky.
And this mother should have known better–she knew how to adjust stirrups (rather slowly, but whatever) therefore it is a good assumption she had ridden before and should know the most basic of safety rules. But there is a reason for the phase “knowing enough to be dangerous”–I will officially now add a second half, “…but not knowing enough to be smart.” The most sky diving accidents happen with the intermediates: Beginners follow the rules like crazy, and the veterans have seen enough to know they better follow the rules like crazy.
Fine; if you don’t want to wear it and you are a grown-up (or at least supposed to be), that’s your decision–but don’t make that decision for someone else, especially a child, especially especially for your child. And let’s face it, not only is it the barn’s policy for everyone to wear one while mounted, if you are under 18 it is also a state law.
Helmets aren’t that uncomfortable or hot–and if yours is then it’s time to get a new one. They have all sorts of styles, colors, venting systems. And no you don’t look silly wearing it; you look like every other person who participates in a rather dangerous sport but is smart enough to try and protect their noggin. So, just take the half a second and put the thing on.
I let the trainer know later that day the mother might say something to her about the nosy lady that yelled at her. The trainer was very happy I did say something and said I should feel free to call out anyone at any time for not wearing one and for that matter, anyone doing anything blatantly stupid.
And this is the part where I confess a couple things: For shows back in the day I wore the helmets with the bright orange tags on the inside that indicated they were only for fashion and not safety. And that for the cattle drive I wrote about last week I did not wear a helmet. I was a total idiot. I wouldn’t even think of riding without one at home so why didn’t I wear one then? I will chalk it up to being about 10 years ago, and I was young and stupid. Now, I’m the one with helmet, phone and vest on even when it’s hottest day of the year and I’m just going for a walk around the property. I completely understand that I am being preachy but it’s such an easy thing to do–embrace your helmet.
Yesterday I was trading emails with the friend I went on the cattle drive with and we decided that we might go again in a couple years but we both will be wearing helmets and crash vests. Heck, I’ll invest in a Point Two Vest (I’ve been meaning to anyway)–it should be good for a laugh with the cowboys. But I’m OK with that. Laugh all you want–I’ll laugh with you and I’ll be around to ride another day.
For more news, commentary and ridiculousness, visit Horse Nation.
EN Zombie vs. Eventer Defense Tactic #27: Rick from AMC’s The Walking Dead offers an excellent example of how to NOT to utilize your event horse to defeat an approaching stampede of brains-starved zombies. A better strategy would be to perform a turn on the haunches and take off galloping in the opposite direction, as though leaving a cross-country start box.
As an eventer, you obviously have an edge of over the rest of society in the event of a zombie apocalypse. You have a fast horse that you’ve already trained to jump pretty much anything, including but not limited to government barricades and piles of half-eaten bodies. You have guts, grit and quick responses. If you think about it, you’ve pretty much been training for the zombie apocalypse your whole life without even realizing it.
But what about other emergencies? Stuff like tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes… do you have a plan for those? And if so, does your plan include provisions for your animals? Thankfully, and just in time for the impending Doomsday, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters has taken out some of the guesswork for you. In fact, they’ve prepared a 19-page emergency planning guide to help you manage your pets during natural disasters. You can download a free copy here. [Horse Talk]
Cruel Jokes: On Sunday morning, while EN readers were gasping at Boyd Martin’s announcement that Silva was taking over the ride on Neville and HN readers were stunned by news that Rolex had been cancelled, British eventer Harry Meade had his own heart-stopping moment. The Belton CIC*** ground jury spun his horse, Wild Lone, looking very grim before shouting “April fools!” EN’s prank gets a shout-out in the story as well. [Horse & Hound]
Horses vs. Hot Air Balloons: Richland Park H.T. in August may seem like it’s light years away, but organizers are urging competitors to reserve hotel rooms NOW. Apparently, there’s a big hot air balloon competition taking place in town the same week as the event, and the balloon people are going to be booking the hotels where riders usually stay. [USEA]
You can have your armband back now, William: Later this month at Rolex, William Fox-Pitt will be sporting the red armband reserved for the leader of the HSBC Rankings. He last wore it at Burghley in 2011. Second in the rankings is Andrew Nicholson, with Piggy French in third. [Horse Talk]
Best of the Blogs: Have you ever seen a foal passage? Check out this video of Take It Easy on Behind the Bit. The foal’s baby daddy is none other than Totilas, of course.
Top of the Tweets: From USEF @USEquestrian, “There are only 8 days left to vote Bill Steinkraus into the @USOlympic Hall of Fame! Vote Today!”
Found on Facebook: From Tennessee eventer Lauren Romanelli, “Nothing inspires my confidence in my event horses more than when they do things like spook at their lead ropes or trip while walking downhill.”
Everything was going fine with Horse Nation’s little “Equine Planking Contest” until… you eventing people found out about it. Suddenly, our inbox is overflowing with photographs of people doing things with cross-country jumps that, frankly, I could have gone my whole life without seeing. Like this photo, of Dom and Jimmie Schramm. Insanity in the middle? UNDERSTATEMENT.
Now on to some real news:
EN’s John has been hospitalized after suffering a massive nervous breakdown yesterday, the result of complications from a site server switch. Those wishing to send him consolatory “Get well soon!” cookie bouquets, large sums of cash, three-star horses or Cayman Island timeshares can have them shipped directly to Wylie–email me for my address. I’ll, uh, make sure he gets them. [NOT]
The thoroughbred people are getting together with the sport horse people on Friday, April 27 in Lexington, KY. Depending on which camp you’re in, that’s either the last day of Keeneland’s Spring Race Meet or the second dressage day of Rolex. In any case, Keeneland will be hosting a reception for trainers, owners, breeders and riders to “provide industry stakeholders the opportunity to meet, network and capitalize on more opportunities for both sports and for Thoroughbred horses.” Complimentary cocktails? We’ll find out and get back with ya. [US Eventing]
As fuel prices climb ever higher, just a friendly reminder about the USEA’s seriously underutilized Ride Share program. It’s an easy to use, free service that connects folks who need rides to events/clinics/etc. with folks who have room in their trailers. That’s called a win-win situation. [USEA]
Rolex is OK if you’re into that kind of thing, but the REAL action is going down a week later at Southern Eighths/Nikon Three-Day Event. EN previewed this year’s event here, and it got a bit more press today over at Horse Talk. Have you got your entry in? Can you volunteer? Are you pumped? [Southern Eighths]
Thoroughbred stallion Montjeu died today at age 16 at Coolmore Stud in Ireland. He was widely considered one of the best racing stallions in the world and sired three Epsom Derby winners. [Horse & Hound]
Top of the Tweets: You’re never too good to be a lawn dart. Francis Whittington (@FWeventing) “Glamorous life of event rider..lying on floor of indoor school after horse has dropped us both onto my leg! Pain and lots of it!”
Jen O’Neill air-planking the advanced ditch-and-wall at Southern Pines.
What goes on at Five Ring Stable when Kyle and Jennifer
Carter aren’t looking? Plank wars. Submitted by prelim eventer Alden Leavitt to Horse
Nation’s Equine Planking Contest. Check out the latest entries here.
The four-star horses of tomorrow will be on parade at the USEA
Future Event Horse demonstration at Rolex. The event is scheduled to be held in
the Walnut Arena on Friday, April 27, during the dressage lunch break. This year
the demonstration will be narrated by Susan Graham-White, whose resume includes
being an FEI “I” eventing, USEF “R” dressage, “r” sport horse judge and
active FEI competitor/coach. [US Eventing]
A British side-saddle steeplechase is in the works for
February 2013. It will be the first race of its kind to be held since 1927, and
is open to both women and men. Go gender equality? [H&H]
SmartPak loves you. Let them count thy ways… all 200 of
them. [SmartPak]
Kelsey Brinegar is the second official winner of Bit of
Britain’s Cavalor Tail of Solutions Facebook Contest. Congrats, Kelsey! Kelsey’s
7-y/o TB experiences joint pain in his hocks from a previous injury and she received
the recommendation to try the following solution: Cavalor Arti Matrix. Enter for a chance to win this week’s drawing
by visiting Bit of Britain’s Facebook page.
Fourteen confirmed strangles cases at Saratoga Raceway have
brought harness racing at the track to a standstill,with all races cancelled
until April 11. [Horse Talk]
HN Today: Each week Horse Nation features an adoptable
horse. Meet this week’s horse, Fancy, here.
Found on Facebook: A brand-new fan page for Whitney Weston’s
Rock On Rose (otherwise known as Lusty, Lust-Bucket or Princess Lusty). Go give
her a “like.”
Top of the Tweets: From the Women’s Sports Foundation
(@WomensSportsFdn) “ATTENTION female #athletes! We are accepting applications
for the 2012 Linda Riddle /SGMA #Scholarship.” High school seniors are eligible
for this $3,000 scholarship, the goal of which is to provide young female
athletes of limited financial means the opportunity to pursue their sport in
addition to their college studies. Learn more here.
Novice eventer Katie Bartz, with a leg up from trainer Elisa
Wallace, successfully mounts her pony As You Wish… eventually.
Serious dehydration
is a common side effect of trailering. But does it have to be? Horse Quencher
gives you peace of mind that their body is ready to perform (outbound) and
nicely recovering (homebound). As Sarah Jane Prew, editor of Just Dressage Magazine, says, “I
tried five horses on Horse Quencher and all of them loved it. They are drinking
whenever Horse Quencher is offered which is brilliant in hot weather, or when
traveling as before it has always been difficult to ensure that they are
rehydrated at the end of a long day. Two of my dressage horses loved all of the
flavors but my husband’s horse, Major, definitely preferred the butterscotch to
all the others and as he is about to go to a big competition, we were keen to
stock up on this flavor for him as he rarely drinks when traveling or at shows.
It has made a big difference to them all.”?
Teresa recently completed her final qualification for Young Rider Eventing at the Twin Rivers CC**, where she and her horse Skip finished fourth.
