For this week’s edition of “What’s in Your Arena?,” we thought we’d revisit one of Evention TV’s most popular training videos ever for obvious reasons. What … an event horse that rushes? Who’d have thunk it!!
Check out more back episodes on the Evention TV YouTube channel here, or go straight to the source and visit the Schramm Equestrian website here. Go Eventing!
Do you have an exercise to share or is there an eventer you would like to nominate for the “What’s in Your Ring?” series? Email [email protected].
In August 2017 writer/rider Leslie Wylie will be attempting her most fearsome feat of #YOLO yet: a 620-mile race across Mongolia. Riding 25 semi-wild native horses. Carrying only 11 pounds of gear. Relying on nomads for food, water and shelter. On a mission to help stop deforestation.
The Mongol Derby is widely regarded as the toughest horse race in the world. Inspired by the Genghis Khan’s original “pony express,” there’s no trail or set route, just 25 GPS checkpoints/horse exchange stations to hit over the course of 7-10 days. Keep it locked here for weekly updates from Leslie as she prepares to embark upon the ride of a lifetime!
“Apocalypsepony, this is chardonneighneigh. Do you copy?”
When I told my husband I’d been picked to ride the race a few months back, he went online and started doing some research like the rational, thinking, adult human being that he is. That’s when he noticed this warning:
“Ha!” I guffawed, nearly spitting out my mouthful of wine. “Where’d you find that, honey?”
Tommy glared at me through his dark-rimmed Warby Parker glasses. “It’s on the Mongol Derby website.”
“Fake news,” I laughed, playing along with his little joke. My husband, always the comedian.
“No, I’m serious. It’s in the fine print at the bottom of the homepage,” he said, spinning the laptop around and jabbing his index finger menacingly at the screen. “Right HERE.”
I squinted and frowned. He was right. Guess I didn’t scroll down that far.
Alright. I’ll admit that on paper, this Derby thing seems like a pretty bad idea. Injury, illness, isolation … it’s kind of a “buy one get two free, whether you want them or not!” sort of a deal.
Erik is a 2012 Mongol Derby survivor who now participates in the race each year as part of the search and rescue crew. They trail along in a Soviet-era, four-wheel-drive Furgon lovingly referred to as the “bloodwagon,” responding to SOS calls and scraping felled riders’ body parts off the ground.
I am unclear about Erik’s official profession is but he is for damn sure living his best life and basically cooler than all of us combined. I highly recommend following him on Instagram (@erikcooperadventurist), where you can find photos of him riding reindeer, befriending elephants, gazing into distance with majestic birds of prey perched on his shoulder, wrestling bears, building treehouses in South Africa, and literally/metaphorically galloping willy-nilly into the great unknown. (*One of the above is not true but you have to guess which — find the answer below!)
Erik Cooper, Commander of Leash-Trained Eagles, Warden of the Steppe, Master of un-PETA-Sanctioned Fashion, First Sword of the Blood Wagon, Savior of American Girls in Over Their Heads.
A couple months ago, when I was still in obvious denial, I interviewed Erik on my weekly Horses in the Morning segment alongside HITM co-hosts Jamie Jennings and Glenn the Geek. It was an illuminating experience, let me tell you, and shed some real-talk light on this “unique situation” I’ve gotten myself into.
You can listen to the whole interview on this player (skip forward to 1:04:40), or here is an edited-for-length version of our chat.
Leslie: So what was your race experience like?
Erik: My race was pretty insane. The horses were feral, you know, semi-wild. The race has been modified over time. Now we have a highlighted route, a suggested route you can follow or not follow, but the year I did it there was really just like ‘There’s point A and there’s point B — get this horse and figure out how you’re going to get to the next station.’ You’ve really got to navigate yourself. There’s no Waze app in Mongolia, so you’re kind of looking at this gray screen with your dot and then the dot you need to get to, and what’s in between all that.
Leslie: Whoa.
Erik: And you’ll find out there is a lot of crazy shit in between all that! There are mountain ranges, sand dunes, flooded rivers, marmot-hole ridden steppe which claims a lot of riders every year … Yeah, so it was an interesting experience for me. I barely was able to complete but I did it. A guy broke his neck my year, and I was with him when he got thrown off and broke his neck.
Leslie: [Strangled moaning sound]
Jamie: At least you beat him!
Erik: Yeah, right? So it really is an adventure first, horse race second. The special thing about the Derby is you’re doing it alongside the nomadic horse herders, and they’re saving your ass left and right and they don’t even know your name. So it’s a really, really cool experience. And now I live there every summer so clearly it’s something special.
Leslie: Did you manage to keep the horse between yourself and the ground the entire race?
Erik: It’s so funny because between day three and four I was getting a little cocky, which is stupid, and I was like, “Ha! I haven’t been thrown off yet!” And the next thing you know we’re racing across this flat area and my horse fell into a marmot hole burrow and we did a somersault at the same time, both of us. That was my only tumble, thank God, but it was definitely an epic one. I wrenched my back pretty bad and was in back therapy for like three years. But anyway, it’s safe enough. Aren’t you excited to do it?
Don’t worry: If I can stay on a mechanical bull for 30 seconds after half a pitcher of margarita, I can stay on anything, right?
Leslie: Oh man, I really am excited. And I’m entrenched now in the process of acquiring some basic survival skills. Which I would say has been a little hit or miss.
I went to do this day-long orienteering course in the mountains on Saturday because I can get lost between, like, my house and the grocery store. But I left at the lunch break because I was so bored. Oops. So now I’m definitely going to die.
“Siri, I need directions to anywhere on earth other than this stupid classroom.”
Erik: You need go and do a geocache thing where your friends hide something, and you’re on horseback in the middle of nowhere — it’s got to have some terrain, like mountains and rivers to cross — and they hide it but they mark the coordinates. And then you take the GPS you’re going to use in Mongolia and you go out and that’s how you test it. Maybe grab a friend, maybe drink a little bit, and go out and look for it. That’s the best way to really practice the GPS.
Helpful hint — always make sure when you’re on that GPS … [something about zooming in and out on the GPS depending on terrain, or something].
Leslie: Uh, OK.
Jamie: Let me jump in here. Leslie, you’re going to have to go back and listen to that because I know you did not pay attention to any of that. You just totally checked out while he was saying that. I know you did.
Leslie: Yeah, the whole time, I was thinking about that app, the one where you go out and catch the little Japanese creatures?
Erik: Pokemon Go?
Leslie: Pokemon Go! So that’s pretty much like the Mongol Derby, right?
Erik: Mmmm … not really. Sounds like you might be in my blood wagon. Don’t worry, we serve cocktails.
Pfft, I guess so if you consider an IV drip of morphine a “cocktail.”
Glenn: I’ve got to ask you, Erik, what are the chances of Leslie actually dying?
Leslie: I don’t like this line of questioning!
Erik: Leslie has a really good game face. I think she’s going to do really well. And she has the right attitude. She just has to not get lost.
Jamie: And maybe not dip out at lunch breaks of orienteering classes. That was probably not your best idea.
Leslie: It was just boring. We were learning to use maps. And I’m like, ‘Maps, who uses those? I have Google Earth for that.’
From my notes: Cliffs. Bad. Don’t accidentally gallop your horse off one.
Erik: Lord. Your horse skills are on point, but you better work on your navigation. That’s definitely a huge factor.
Glenn: Will she have a GPS tracker on her so if she does end up in China, somebody can go find her?
Erik: Yeah, there will be a live race feed and map that you can follow and her dot will be on there. Provided she brings the right batteries.
Glenn: We are so screwed.
Jamie: She’ll be like, ‘Hey local people, can I use your charger? Can I plug into your tent wall?’
Leslie: ‘Um, what’s your WiFi password?’
Jamie: And don’t go to Russia. I know it’s tempting, it’s right above you. Don’t do it.
Erik: Keep it together. Keep it on course.
You guys, I’m not even kidding. Erik really rides reindeer.
Leslie: Do you have any more, like, survival top tips?
Erik: I think the biggest thing is making sure you’re mentally prepared. So get out there and rough it. Ride in the cold, ride in the rain, ride in the lightning, see how your kit does. Go get completely soaked and then see how long it takes for everything you have on to dry.
Say you’re in Mongolia and it pours all day long. And then you get into the ger [this round, animal skin teepee type deal the nomads sleep in], and there are no trees there so they really are burning horseshit and that only lasts for half an hour, so your clothes aren’t going to be dry in the morning. So get used to that and desensitize yourself to discomfort.
Leslie: Practice suffering. Check.
Brainthought: What if Erik Cooper is actually … SANTA CLAUS.
Glenn: How about the food? All the winners we’ve had on over the past six years have gotten violently ill at some point. Is there a way she can prepare? Can you ship some of the fermented mare’s milk over so she can get used to it?
Erik: That’s not going to be what makes you sick, per se. I’d get over there a week early and eat everything and drink everything local that you can. Get in there, and honestly get the diarrhea and all that out of the way the first week. Because you don’t want to be dealing with that while you’re on a horse.
Note from Leslie: Yep, definitely I did not do that. Flying in the day before orientation.
And you aren’t going to be throwing back tons of shots of mare’s vodka the whole time. That’s really kind of a special, ceremonial thing. But watch me say that and you get there, and there are some dudes being like, ‘Here you go.’
Jamie: She’s kind of cute.
Glenn: She is kind of cute.
Erik: Cute and tough.
Leslie: Grrrrrrr.
Glenn: Leslie has found this contraption, Erik, called the wine rack. It’s basically a bra that you can put about a liter of wine in.
Leslie: That was supposed to be my secret weapon, Glenn! You blew it!
Erik: She can do that but we’re going to weigh her so it will count toward her rider weight. Throughout the race maybe you can fill it up with airag [aforementioned fermented mare’s milk booze] or whatever, but I don’t know if you want to be sipping on that the whole time. Basically bring a lot of flavored electrolytes. They’re going to be your friend, because everything else is going to taste like goat.
Leslie: I like goat cheese.
How Erik packs for an adventure trip.
Erik: Have you figured out what you’re bringing in your survival kit?
Leslie: Uh …
Erik: Besides a GoPro and a wine bra?
Leslie: I mean, I think I’m set with that, right? No, actually I have a little box going of things I want to bring with me but it’s not all super practical.
How Leslie packs for an adventure trip: Wine Rack (“cheap alternative to a boob job, and way more fun!”) courtesy of Kate Samuels, intimidatingly large knife, peppermints for horses that don’t buck me off, Noble Outfitters combo hoofpick/wine tool and American flag flask courtesy of Lindsey Kahn, giant French press I definitely don’t have room for, mini SOL (“Survive Outdoors Longer”) survival kit and Batgirl action figure from my sister-in-law Trish, mustache duct tape, glow stick for possible Mongolian raves or when I get lost in the dark, GPS handheld navigator I have no idea how to use, protractor thing they gave us at the orientation course which I also don’t know how to use but looks tough, rope so I can tie myself to someone who actually knows where they are going, sleeping bag.
Erik: If it’s not going to save you, don’t bring it. Bring duct tape to tape your ass back together, vaseline or anti-chafe, definitely flavored electrolytes …
Leslie: I have this little batgirl action figure I was going to bring but maybe I can replace that with electrolytes.
Erik: The action figure might be necessary, though. You might need that as a morale booster. I’d say keep that.
Glenn: Tell her the story about the girl who got stuck at the top of a mountain you had to go rescue.
Erik: It was one night, I was setting up my tent, we’d made it to horse station #18 — it looked liked the Grand Canyon of Mongolia. We thought the day was over and then we got this distress call and there was a rider stuck on top of the canyon because her horse wouldn’t come down it.
We had to snake up there in the bloodwagon. She was only a kilometer away, but it was so high up it took us like two hours to finally get to her. It was about midnight when we found her. It had been freezing rain, cold … she was a bit hypothermic and miserable. As you know you don’t bring a heavy coat because of the weight limit, so imagine your down poofy jacket gets soaking wet and it’s 35 degrees outside.
So we get her in the jeep and now we have this horse on our hands, right? Well we can’t be leaving the horses behind, hello, top priority. So I rode the horse home. It was kind of funny because my translator was like, ‘Erik, you ride horse through dark, you die.’ I was like, ‘Yanja, I got lost my entire Derby in the dark, I’ll be fine.’ I think I got back to the camp at 2 or 3 a.m.
It was fun. I mean, it sucked for the rider and she learned a valuable lesson, but for the crew we live for the rescue missions. We had a great time.
Glenn: So it sounds like if you screw up, Leslie, he’ll be happy to come find you in a puddle somewhere.
Erik: Yeah, if you’re going to press your SOS please make sure it’s something really cool and important so I can write a story about it.
Leslie: Yeah, like, ‘Guys, I’m hanging by one hand to the rim of this volcano, I’m about to fall in, I really need some help.’ That seems like a good premise for a story.
Erik: That will work. That will get us some views.
One thing to point out about how the SOS works: This is the middle of Mongolia, and riders are crossing things on horses that vehicles can’t get across. So if someone presses their SOS it could take quite a long time for us to get to you.
That’s something to keep in mind when deciding which route you’re going to go, which risks you are going to take. This isn’t a ‘I’m going to press the SOS on my tracker and a magical helicopter is going to come out of the sky and save me and pull me out of here.’ No, it’s going to take us time to find you, and we’re probably going to have to use local herders on motorbikes to help in that effort as well.
Yanja and Erik atop the bloodwagon, scanning the horizon for dead bodies while saying important things into a walkie-talkie.
Glenn: What I’m picturing in my mind is Hunger Games, and we have our own Katniss Everdeen right here.
Erik: Katniss Everdeen and her magical wine bra.
Glenn: That’s it! That’s our new super hero.
Erik: You’ll save a lot of lives out there.
Jamie: Leslie, you mentioned hanging off the side of a volcano — when you hit that SOS button, Erik is telling you you’re going to have to hang on for a while. Nobody is going to come and get you. So you better have some strong hands and be ready to hold on because it’s going to take, like, two days to get you.
Leslie: Whatever, I don’t even need that SOS button. I’m sort of a pony whisperer so I’ll just be like, ‘Pony! Come here! Throw your tail down! You know, like Rapunzel. And he’ll pull me out. And then we’ll hug and we’ll ride off and win the race.’
Glenn: Aw, we lost Erik. He dropped out.
Jamie: We didn’t lose him. He hung up.
Glenn: He is now calling the people at the Adventurists saying, ‘You need to cancel that woman. We need to find a replacement.’
Jamie: Did you ever see that ‘80s movie Sheena, Queen of the Jungle? What happens is Sheena is born and raised in the jungle. And she has this magical power where she can call animals, and she takes her hands and puts them together and presses that to her forehead and she can call elephants, zebras, giraffes, etc. to come over. You need to watch that movie and perfect that move, and then you can call the animals to come save you.
Leslie: Yeah! Or like a falcon, just swoop down and pull me out of that volcano and fly me straight to the finish line. I mean, I don’t think there are any rules against that.
Wylie was an innocent in a savage world …
Erik: Hey! I’m back! The call dropped.
Glenn: Are you in Mongolia? Where are you at?
Erik: I’m in Brooklyn.
Leslie: Hey Erik, a question did come up in your absence. So I have a new plan for the volcano scenario, which is I am going to use my animal whispering skills to summon a falcon who is going to come snatch me up and fly me all the way to the finish line. Is there a rule against that?
Erik: There isn’t but I think you mean a golden eagle. You’ve been looking at my Instagram too much.
Another Instagram photo of Erik and his falcon, I mean golden eagle.
Leslie: Oh right, a golden eagle. Got it.
Erik: That’s using the bush hustle. You can totally do that. Just make sure it saves your horse, too, because you can’t leave your horse.
Leslie: I’m going to need a big golden eagle.
Glenn: Or two eagles.
Erik: Maybe a whole flock of them.
The closest I’ve ever gotten to being abducted by birds was when I tried to feed my sandwich crust to some pigeons in London’s Hyde Park. #neveragain #homealonepigeonlady
Glenn: We need to have Erik back for an entire episode. We could just let him talk for an hour and a half and I’m sure we wouldn’t hear all his stories.
Erik: I’ve got a few stories. I’ll come back.
Glenn: Alright, good. Thanks, Erik, talk to you later!
Leslie: Thanks Erik! See you in the bloodwagon.
Glenn: Any second thoughts here, Leslie?
Leslie: Nah. Good talk, guys. Very encouraging. I’m going to go cry into my pillow now.
Glenn: Honestly though, I know you left halfway through the orienteering course, but you really ought to consider some one-on-one consulting with the whole direction-mapping thing. China is not hospitable to strangers and neither is Russia.
Leslie: It was just so … like, did you know there are three different kinds of north? It was just exhausting.
Glenn: Maybe at least learn about the north star so you have one point of reference.
My secret to cross country success: When they’re counting me down in the startbox, I lean forward and whisper in Princess’ ear “second star to the right, and straight on ’till morning” and then I just close my eyes and hang on for the ride. So, don’t tell Glenn, but I’m banking on that working in the Derby as well.
Jamie: Don’t listen to anything Glenn says, you just own it, girl. If it’s easy and successful, it’s not going to be a good story. I’m all about the story.
Glenn: I will be honest, we would rather you not end up in the bloodwagon.
Leslie: This is my one motto: No SOS button. If I am conscious, I will get to the finish line.
Each Derby competitor’s $12,995 entry helps benefit the Mongolian families whose generosity with their horses and their homes makes the race possible, as well as Cool Earth, a charity that works alongside indigenous villages to halt rainforest destruction.
Can you help? Please visit the Wylie vs. Mongol Derby GoFundMe page — all donations are deeply and eternally appreciated! Corporate sponsorships are also available and include ad space on EN, HN and JN, product reviews and usage during the Derby and much more. Email [email protected] for details.
Join me in giving a warm welcome to TaggCode, my newest sponsor for the race! And a more fitting sponsor there could not be. TaggCode makes these super-smart bracelets embedded with all your medical information and emergency contact info in the form of a Quick Response Code.
They are USEF legal to wear as a substitute for medical armbands in competition, but of course I’ll be taking mine a bit further afield! I am excited and honored to have TaggCode as a sponsor, and I can’t wait to tell you guys all about my experience with this innovative product as I put it to the ultimate test in coming months.
Daryl Kinney and Cabin Society topped the Open Prelim division at Hitching Post Farm H.T. (South Royalton, VT) over the weekend. The pair led from start to finish, storming the early lead on a dressage score of 22.7.
“Jumbie,” an Irish Sport Horse mare by Jumbo, is owned by Denny Emerson.
Congrats, Daryl and Jumbie! Here’s video of all three phases of their ride, courtesy of The Horse Pesterer.
SpectraVET is committed to providing only the highest-quality products and services to our customers, and to educating the world in the science and art of laser therapy.
We design and manufacture the broadest range of clinically-proven veterinary therapeutic laser products, which are represented and supported worldwide by our network of specialist distributors and authorized service centers.
Where there are horse people, there are dogs — and we love showing them off. Here’s your latest batch of canine Instagram pics — plus, as always, a non-dog honorable mention!
Be sure to tag your ‘Grams with #DogsOfEN for inclusion in a future edition!
Hubba Hubba! Here is a striking young gelding that oozes class.
Meet Ispep (or “Pepsi” spelled backwards as the owner pointed out to us”! This leggy 3-year-old is 16 hands and still has plenty of growing to do.
This guy is athletic with clean tight legs. He has only had four career starts. When CANTER asked the trainer why he was for sale, the trainer said, “He’s a really cool horse but he’s just slow!” Ispep has been with the trainer/owner since the horse was a yearling.
Ispep is great under saddle with nice ground manners and a laid-back personality. The trainer said he is a good boy and also a “goober”. Ispep loves to find ways to entertain himself or get attention. He has no vices — just a fun personality.
Ispep has great breeding as well. He is sired by Dunkirk by Unbridled Song out of Goldeni sired by Gone West. A couple generations back we see A.P Indy (known for having great brains) and Mr. Prospector. We predict that with the right training, this horse will go on to be very successful in a sporthorse career.
This horse will sell quickly so don’t delay. Bring him home today! He is currently located at the track in Colorado.
Your Last Warning (Exchange Rate – Whiplash Warning, by Pioneering): 2012 16-hand Minnesota bred mare
Yes, please! Check out this stunning girl! Your Last Warning is a gorgeous 5-year-old gray mare that currently stands 16 hands. She is very eye catching especially with her unique gray and white spotted coloring.
She has only had 10 career racing starts and in a barn with 100 other horses this season, she’s just not making the cut as a prospective racehorse. She is sound and has never come back from racing or workouts with heat or lameness.
Your Last Warning is a little nervous at the track environment. She is very kind and sweet. Due to her nerves at the track she weaves a little in her stall. The trainer had her at Turf’s Paradise in a paddock and she was more comfortable.
The trainer told CANTER she is great under saddle, and her connections think she will make a great sporthorse prospect especially after she can gets some turnout off the track. This girl is phenomenal and will sell very quickly so don’t delay!
Photo courtesy of Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.
Doctor Ralph (Alphabet Soup – Dr F Laparco, by With It): 2014 15.3+ hand New York bred mare
This beautiful, solid-bodied and well balanced homebred young daughter of Alphabet Soup, after only five starts, is letting her owner/breeder/trainer know that racing is just not her best game. But with her excellent conformation, very nice movement, good temperament, and great sport horse bloodlines, we think she can excel in many other disciplines.
She is clean legged, described as sound, and she was perfectly behaved for her photo session. Jogged by one of FLF’s volunteers, she displayed very nice balanced movement with excellent behavior. They pegged her height as 15.3+ / 16 hands. and she is likely to grow some more, likely topping out at over 16 hands. And with her solid body and strong shoulder, she will surely take up the leg of a taller rider.
She was turned out all winter at her owner/trainer’s farm, and he said she is very relaxed in that environment and turns out well with other horses. He says she gets more nervous in the racetrack environment, although FLF did not see that in her demeanor as she posed and jogged for them politely.
Her sire, Breeder’s Cup winner Alphabet Soup, is from the Cozzene/Caro sire line, much coveted in the sport horse world, and he is known for siring later maturing horses who are durable and good jumpers. Her dam is from the Buckpasser line, which is also known for durable, good brained sport horses.
Young, sound, grays are very popular, so we recommend calling fast if you are seriously interested.
Nothing thrills me like a top athlete dragging their kid out in front of the press. At the very least it makes the proceedings more adorable, and at best the kid ends up upstaging their parent altogether. A la:
Polish eventer Paweł Spisak, who represented his country in the past four Olympic Games, finished third in the CCI2* at Strzegom over the weekend. Both times the event interviewed him, he was accompanied by son Wiktor, and while my Polish is a little rusty it is still pretty stinking cute. I’ve queued the interviews up to the Wiktor bits:
UK-based U.S. eventer Tiana Coudray recently had a huge weekend at Badminton — not over four-star fences, but in the 4- and 5-year-old Dubarry Young Horse Qualifiers hosted earlier in the week.
Her first win was with Donna Sion, by Don Diarado, in the 4-year-old class, followed by a claiming of the top spot in the 5-year-old class with Royaldik son Hullabaloo.
Tiana has a gift for identifying and producing young talent. In 2015 she won the 5-Year-Old Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse final with Cavalier Crystal.
As for this year, she is off and running, In addition to her stellar Badminton results with the youngsters, she is aiming the talented 6-year-old G and 7-year-old Cancaras Girl at the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Angers in France in October. Tiana extends her gratitude to the horses’ owners, whose support is so critical to the development of these rising stars.
She recently took the time to introduce us to the brightest up-and-comers in her yard. Here are five to keep your eye on in 2017 and beyond!
Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl. Photo courtesy of Golden Eye Photography.
Donna Sion
“DD is a beautiful 4-year-old by Don Diarado who was bought from the Brightwells sale last December by Lucinda Campbell. We got her going for a few weeks under saddle and then turned her away in the field to be a baby for a while longer.
“Since coming back into work she has proved to be incredibly brave and level headed making her such an easy baby to work with. She is so balanced and developed for a 4-year-old that she finds the work easy and has been a real star in every way. She will do a few events and the 4-year-old championships later this year but otherwise have a fairly easy year.
“Since she finds it all so easy and has a ‘been there, seen that’ attitude, the temptation would be to do lots with her. As much as youngsters need to get out and see lots of things for their education, I believe it’s really important with the ones that are ‘ahead of the class’ that you don’t take it for granted and keep going for more and more. Although they are keen to work and excelling at every turn, they are still growing and mentally they need to be allowed to be babies some of the time. Once she has done a bit, she will go back out on holiday for a few weeks or a month and carry on like that until next year.”
Tiana Coudray and Hullaballoo. Photo by Top Shots Photography.
Hullabaloo
“Baloo is a 5-year-old gelding by Royaldik out of a Burgraff mare owned by Nicola Burton who owns Wrestow Stud. He is a really handsome, big horse who attracts attention everywhere he goes. He has the breeding and the looks of a proper event horse. Nicola has sent him to us to give him a solid foundation for her son to take over the ride down the road.”
Tiana Coudray and Happenstance. Photo by Golden Eye Photography.
Happenstance
“‘The Prawn’ is a 5-year-old mare by Quality Time and owned by Annabelle James. She is a scrappy little whippersnapper who thinks she runs the show and knows it all! Annabelle bought her sight unseen last year in memory of her good friend Karen Hughes who sadly lost her battle with cancer. Annabelle decided that life is short and she wanted to take a chance and enjoy it.
“She arrived a completely feral, scrawny little thing and hence we started calling her Scrawny-Prawny, which eventually became The Prawn. We backed her last autumn and she was turned away in the winter. She has been quietly coming on this spring and just did her first event last weekend, scoring a 29 double-clear to win so we’re excited for her season ahead.”
Tiana Coudray and G. Photo courtesy of Tiana Coudray.
G
“Rupert we bought together with Diana Chappell as a raw 3-year-old as a project to get going under saddle and then sell. As it turned out he took a long time to back and have riding away reliably and in that time we became quite enamored with him and so he still hasn’t been sold!”
“He’s made child’s play of everything so far and in only six runs last year had already gotten to Novice (Preliminary in America) scoring a 21 double-clear! That was in July and I said, that’s it, he’s going on holiday as he was still only a 5-year-old and he didn’t need to do anything more for his age! He has continued to excel this season at Novice and will hopefully do a 1* this summer with the 6-year-old World Championships at le Lion in mind for this October.”
Tiana Coudray and Cancaras Girl. Photo courtesy of Tiana Coudray.
Cancara’s Girl
“Cara is a 7-year-old mare that I saw advertised on Facebook having done a little bit of show jumping. I wasn’t at all in a position to buy a horse but something about her just struck a cord and I was on a plane to Aberdeen the next day. With the help of Diana Chappell we bought her that week.”
“A week after that, and with Cara having no clue what dressage was or why you would ever be ridden on grass in an open field, I took her to her first event which she jumped around like a legend! She has taken everything we’ve thrown at her like a champ and is proving me right for thinking she was something special. While she is very green in some ways and still catching up on parts of her education, she’s proving to be a very good horse, and a natural at cross country. She will go Intermediate at her next event and aim for a 2* later this summer. If she continues to succeed we will aim her also for le Lion in October.”
There was plenty enough going on out there in the great sovereign state of EN this weekend. Here are a few citizen snapshots from Kent School Spring H.T., Fair Hill May H.T., Chattahoochee Hills H.T. and Otter Creek Spring H.T.
Don’t forget to tag your event photos on Instagram and follow EN!
In the immortal words of Outkast’s André 3000: “You can paint a pretty picnic but you can’t predict the weather.”
Or stop your horse from rolling in the mud. Or keep birds from giving birth inside your helmet. But you CAN take photos of it and post it to Instagram.
Where there are #EventerProblems there are #EventerSolutions, as we horsefolks tend to be a pretty crafty, resourceful and frugal (read: broke) bunch.
In this spinoff series we spotlight some of your most inventive problem-solving masterpieces and determined DIY efforts. Be sure to tag your photos with the hashtag #EventerSolutions on social for inclusion in future editions!
Each Thursday we take a trip down memory lane to a favorite EN post from over the years. It doesn't get much more old-school than this hilariously accurate chinch GIF collection, narrated by Wylie and originally published on Sep 16, 2013. Enjoy!
… When your horse is bouncing off the walls in the dressage
and then you walk back to the barn and everyone asks how your test went.
…When you’re getting counted down in the start box
and then your horse jumps the course like a total boss.
…When you get to the competitor’s party and see all the friends you haven’t seen in forever and there’s free wine
and then your friends are gone and the wine is empty and you still need to walk your horse but you can’t remember which barn he’s in
When they decide to drag the stadium warmup right before your division starts…
and then people keep cutting you off to the jumps.
…When you get home late from the event and have to go to work the next day
but you secretly can’t wait to do it all over again.
The whole #EventerProblems social experiment has been pretty interesting. As of this moment a total of 6,681 photos have been uploaded to Instagram with the #EP hashtag, and I’ve looked and laughed at every last one of them. And I can tell you this: No matter how bizarre you think your own eventer problems are, I promise you someone else out there in some corner of the eventing world is experiencing the same thing.
Think you’re the only one who sees cryptic messages embedded in fortune cookies?
A post shared by Katrina Martin (@forevernatural99) on
t=”_blank”>This is what happens when you leave little girls with the intermediate level horse #ottbofinstagram #ottb #horses #horsesofinstagram #eventhorse #eventer #eventerproblems #unicorn
A post shared by Sam Bielawski (@redmarechronicles) on
Dog watching at Rolex is ALMOST as fun as horse watching! You guys were out and about with your pups in full force. Here are a few of your canine postcards from Lexington, Kentucky!
A big, splashy blaze is the ultimate equine statement accessory. Here are three OTTBs with serious chrome that are in the market for a new career!
Photo via CANTER PA/Rough Coat Photography.
Photo via CANTER PA/Rough Coat Photography.
Pom Pom Pistol (Pomeroy – Central Moves, by Pico Central (BRZ)): 2012 15.1-hand Kentucky bred mare
This one has some smokin’ guns! CANTER found this girl to be a fun type; she was bright and playful for her listing, yet sweet and interested in being messed with. We’re told she was awesome to handle and ride at the track, and it’s clear that this one really loves having something to do. A solid runner, this girl is athletic, a pretty mover and so light on her feet her connections describe her as “catlike.”
A nice choice for jumpers, polo, gaming, etc. but also so fancy we could see riders from any sport take note. No known issues, this girl is on the farm beginning to be turned out and is ready to start a new lease on life. Ridiculously cute!
Tomthebomb (Courageous Cat – Island Beat, by Pleasantly Perfect): 2014 16.2-hand New York bred gelding
This adorable young guy has had a few workouts on the track but has shown no aptitude and was never raced. He is not tattooed. Tom is currently at the track, but has been wintered at the farm where he enjoys turnout with friends. Tom is described as a stall “runner” and would likely benefit from turnout time to help relax this behavior. A new home with ample turnout with a buddy would be a must for Tom.
He has a gorgeous, uphill build with a long reaching walk and demonstrated correct, sound movement when he could be coaxed into trotting. On a blustery spring day when most horses were quite “up,” Tom demonstrated a laid back, quiet, gentlemanly demeanor coming off the walker for his meet and greet. Adorable markings, a kind eye, and movement to boot? Don’t miss this one — he surely won’t last long!
Dinny Dinosaur (Pico Central (BRZ) – Sainted Lady, by Saint Ballado): 2008 16.2-hand Florida bred gelding
“A racehorse is an animal that can take several thousand people for a ride at the same time.” A local celebrity and exceptional racehorse, Dinny has meant so much to so many people that it is an honor to be part of his transition to his next career.
Earning over $400,000, Dinny is a multiple stakes placed horse who has dominated the local racetrack, winning hearts everywhere he goes. He retired due to a right hind ankle injury, which was surgically repaired and given the best of rehab for the last 18 months. Rather than returning to racing, his connections have decided he’s earned his retirement and wish to see him enjoy a second career.
He is currently being ridden by his owner’s family, with this video showing Dinny being ridden in an open field beside a busy highway. Great home a must and owners request the ability to stay in touch with his new family. X-rays are available for a serious buyer.
Part of the fun of survivalist genre books and film is imagining yourself in the characters’ shoes. When life takes a turn toward do-or-die and it’s just you versus the world, how would you fare?
What if?
Personally, I’ve always figured that I’d be the first to go: the Hunger Games tribute who gets wiped out in the opening scene, the first sucker to get eaten by zombies in the Walking Dead, the settler who dies of dysentery in Oregon Trail as soon as you press play. I have the basic survival skills of a 10-year-old Girl Scouts dropout, and yet here I find myself, a soon-to-be-competitor in a horse race wherein just making it out alive and more-or-less intact is an accomplishment in and of itself.
Taking place Aug. 6-19 on the Mongolian steppe, the Mongol Derby is inspired by Genghis Khan’s original “pony express” — there’s no trail or set route, just 25 GPS checkpoints/horse exchange stations spanning some 620-miles. The horses are semi-feral, riders are in the saddle 13 hours a day for 7-10 days straight, and nights are spent with nomadic herding families in yurts.
This is no holiday trail ride. Maybe half who start the race make it to the finish line each year. Last year a couple folks got airlifted to Hong Kong with serious injuries, and one co-winner doesn’t even remember a couple days of the race because she was concussed from being trampled. A couple years before that eight riders were held up by motorcycle bandits. Even the luckiest folks come home with accounts of being bucked off, chapped by the elements, plagued by hypothermia or food poisoning, and chased by dogs.
I’ve followed the Derby in previous years with a mix of horror and awe. Why would anyone in their right mind want to put themselves through that sort of thing? And yet another part of me craved the experience for myself. How would I fare out there?
What if?
One day, on a lark, I filled out an application for the 2017 race. It was a slow news day, I guess, and one does what one must to keep entertained. My own life at that moment, staring at a computer screen in suburban America, felt boring; racing ponies in the wilderness on a mission to stop deforestation, on the other hand — INFINITELY sexier and more noble.
What if?
The Derby selects about 40 riders from hundreds of applications each year, so I assumed that there was no way mine would get picked. But then, inexplicably, I got a phone interview. Which I assumed I failed miserably, having pondered aloud how a box of wine was going to fit into the 11 pounds of gear riders are permitted to carry. But then, even more inexplicably, I received an invitation email:
We’re very pleased to confirm that you’ve been offered a spot on the 2017 edition of the world’s longest and toughest horse race. Congratulations, you must be made of stern stuff.
Each Derby competitor’s $12,995 entry helps benefit the Mongolian families whose generosity with their horses and their homes makes the race possible, as well as Cool Earth, a charity that works alongside indigenous villages to halt rainforest destruction.
Can you help? Please visit the Wylie vs. Mongol Derby GoFundMe page — all donations are greatly appreciated! Corporate sponsorships are also available and include ad space on EN, HN and JN, product reviews and usage during the Derby and much more. Email [email protected] for details.
My deepest gratitude to the following individuals who, immediately and unhesitatingly, pledged their support toward my journey: Tricia Bateman, Lorraine Jackson, Alex Green, Linda Cochran, Katie Kelly, Brad Sellers, Jon Wells, April Kmiec, Nicole Rettino-Lambert and a few anonymous donors as well. Your belief in me is my inspiration to believe in myself.
For as serious and intense as this sport can sometimes seem, at the end of the day we all just want to have fun. And we can always count on you guys to bring the “insanity in the middle.”
Here are a few of our fave photos from weekend USEA horse trials from around the country!
What’s in Your Arena? is an EN series sponsored by Attwood Equestrian Surfaces in which riders share their favorite jumping exercises. It’s easy to get stuck in a training rut, and we hope this will inspire you with fresh ideas that you can take home and incorporate into your own programs.
Watching horse and rider tackle a massive corner, like this three-star question on yesterday’s Jersey Fresh cross country course, is always impressive. Corners are the ultimate test of accuracy, straightness and honesty.
Jennie Brannigan and Cool As Ice. Photo by Shelby Allen.
But every journey begins with a single step, and every horse that has ever sailed over a three-star corner was likely introduced to them with an exercise like the one featured in this video from Bernie Traurig’s excellent online training site Equestrian Coach.
In it, California-based four-star rider Olivia Loiacono explains the importance of introducing young horses to this obstacle in the correct way. She goes on to demonstrate the skills required for the successful negotiation of a corner jump, which remain the same whether it’s two-feet tall or nearly taller than your head!
Do you have an exercise to share or is there an eventer you would like to nominate for the “What’s in Your Arena?” series? Email [email protected].
Ryan Wood, the four-star rider, might be better known, but another “Woodsy” has been making her way up the ranks. We first introduced you to the 17-year-old Alabama eventer at the 2015 American Eventing Championships, where she and Galway Blazer finished 3rd in the Jr. Beginner Novice division. After the awards ceremony we surprised her with message from four-star Ryan Wood (see “Life Advice for Jr. Beginner Novice Ryan Wood from 4* Ryan Wood“).
Since then, she says, things have only gone uphill. Ryan and Galway are a freshly minted Prelim pair, with two double-clear (in both cross country and show jumping!) runs under their belt this spring. With a 3rd place finish at Rocking Horse H.T. and a 2nd at Ocala International, they are already qualified for this year’s AECs, which Ryan says she is looking forward to contesting.
Funny story about last year’s AECs: She found herself stabled across the aisle from four-star Ryan Wood, so the two finally got to meet.
“He was incredibly nice and found it funny that we had the same name,” Ryan says. “My mom and I may or may not have gone into their tack room after he had left and found that he had left some of his numbers and his schedule which we may or may not have taken as souvenirs. His entire team was extremely nice as well and thought it was hilarious that we had the same name.”
A while back we ran a piece called “11 Questions with Ryan Wood,” featuring four-star Ryan Wood, and we thought it would fun to turn the questions (mostly the same, with a few tweaked slightly) around on the “other” Ryan this time!
Ryan Wood and Galway Blazer. Photo by Mallory Briggs.
EN: Ryan isn’t just a boy’s name, obviously! What’s the story behind your naming?
Ryan: My parents had friends with a daughter named Ryan and found it adorable. My sisters, Taylor and Peyton, also have names that could be for a boy or a girl and also have the letter Y in them. Apparently this is a thing with my parents.
EN: Who is your riding idol(s)?
Ryan: Definitely Hilda Donahue. I bought Galway from her about five years ago and have been training with her ever since. Every time I see her ride she has a massive smile on her face no matter the situation. Through the years she has helped my confidence grow tremendously. I went from a young rider on a young horse who was scared to run cross country to only being slightly nervous for my first Prelim.
EN: If you could take a spin on any horse, past or present, who would it be?
Ryan: I have a horse for past and present. Past would definitely be Mrs. Hilda’s four star horse Extravagance. I have heard so many amazing stories and seen fabulous pictures of the gorgeous, massive chestnut. I just missed meeting him in person. I would love to take a cross country ride on him like the ones Mrs. Hilda has told me about.
For present I would have to say Lauren Kieffer’s Veronica. I have watched multiple videos of their events and just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to ride her if I ever got it.
Ryan Wood and Galway Blazer. Photo by Mallory Briggs.
EN: What’s one of the best pieces of advice you’ve ever gotten?
Ryan: Most definitely (in a very serious voice) “just go double clear!” This came from one of my close friends that I met through eventing. I was nervous about a show jumping course and we were talking strategy when she looked at me with a dead serious look on her face and said that. Now it is a running joke that whenever one of us is nervous we tell each other that.
EN: Tell us about the most influential horse of your career to date.
Ryan: Most definitely Galway. Years from now even when I have (hopefully) had the opportunity to ride multiple horses, I believe this will still be my answer.
Galway has taught me the lesson of perseverance. About a year into owning him, we hit a wall. He was taking off and spooking at everything that moved. As a timid 12-year-old, I was scared to ride him. Despite this, we kept going and kept trying to figure it out. All of the sudden something changed. We started really clicking. I became more confident and so did he. And now, we have a bond that I wouldn’t trade the world for.
EN: If you weren’t an eventer, what would you be doing? Any other hobbies?
Ryan: I would probably be playing volleyball. As polar opposite as it is from eventing, I have always enjoyed the sport and would most likely play it.
EN: Was eventing always your sport of choice?
Ryan: I actually started by doing ballet, playing basketball and playing soccer, but riding was the first sport that I was truly passionate about.
Ryan Wood and Galway Blazer. Photo by Mallory Briggs.
EN: What has been your favorite event to compete at so far?
Ryan: I have to say it was AECs 2015. That show was our first event after his colic surgery on March 9, 2015. When he had surgery we were told there was no way he could make it back in time for AECs. But his recovery went extremely well and by August we were back in full work and got the all clear from the vets to compete. Yes I am happy that we finished well, but I was really happy about the fact that I had my horse there with me and that he was healthy. (Special thanks to Dr. Munsterman, Dr. Coleridge, and the Auburn Vet School.)
EN: What events are on your competition bucket list?
Ryan: I would love to one day compete at Rolex with the top level eventers. On the way to that goal I think it would be awesome to compete at Galway Downs because, well, my horse’s name is Galway.
EN: What is some good advice have you been given about making it in the horse world?
Ryan: Ryan Wood once told me to go and work for Michael Jung and said that his dad told him to be patient and work hard so I’ll go with that.
EN: What prompted your move up? How did it go?
Ryan: It has definitely always been a goal for me to move up the levels and our experience at Training was very positive so we decided that it was time to move up. I couldn’t have asked for a better first experience at Prelim! Galway was incredible, giving me an amazing effort in dressage and then jumping his heart out.
He really has changed from the little 3-year-old horse we bought and we have grown together. He felt at home on the course and was completely tuned in. I never imagined finishing in third at my first Prelim. It was surreal and I almost had to pinch myself. It’s an honor to be able to say that I own and ride this horse.
I would like to give a special thanks to my parents Rob and Kristina Wood for their unlimited support and love. They went from not knowing anything about horses to becoming the ultimate show parents. I would also like to thank my sisters Taylor and Peyton Wood who happily drive from their college to horse shows to watch us ride. They have also been extremely supportive and I cannot thank them enough.
Behind every beautiful dressage test is a smart, effective warm-up that prepares horse and rider to shine bright when they finally enter at A.
In the countdown to Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST’s much anticipated dressage test at Rolex, the best seat in the house may have been on the rail in the warm up, which was lined with students of the sport taking notes on his routine and technique. One astute spectator recorded the whole thing on film — watch and take notes! The mare looks cool as a cucumber, clearly benefitting from Michael’s emphasis on relaxation and true throughness.
Why SpectraVET?
Reliable. Effective. Affordable.
SpectraVET is committed to providing only the highest-quality products and services to our customers, and to educating the world in the science and art of laser therapy.
We design and manufacture the broadest range of clinically-proven veterinary therapeutic laser products, which are represented and supported worldwide by our network of specialist distributors and authorized service centers.
They’re unforgettable. Check out these three fine, fresh, fierce Cali-bred OTTB mares, all available from CANTER California.
Photo via CANTER N. California.
Silver Martini (Don’tsellmeshort – Improvisation, by Devil’s Bag): 2013 15.2-hand California bred mare
What a cute gray mare! Nice feet and bone, just too slow to race. This spicy mare could be great at anything and has a lot of presence and personality. A very powerful and confident way of going. Get a clean slate to work with!
Love The Kids (Marino Marini – So Happy Together, by Corslew): 2012 16.1-hand California bred mare
Love The Kids is a beautiful filly with a big presence about her. She was impressively quiet for her photos and seems to have a very sensible head on her shoulders. Athletic with legs for days, this girl was built to be a sport horse.
Blue Dasher (Distorted Reality – Pagan Baby, by Atticus): 2014 16-hand California-bred mare
Unplaced in three starts and recently restarted off the track, “Annie” is looking for her new person and new career. Extremely fancy mover with the looks the match. Currently in retraining doing walk/trot/canter and going over poles and small fences. Has been free jumped.
Annie shows the natural ability to be a sporthorse with some upper level potential. Very smooth gaits, knows where her feet are and has a very soft mouth. Recently vetted clean with no history of soundness issues. Needs a confident experienced rider and/or a professional to take her in the right direction.
Rolex is over, Badminton is over, season seven of Game of Thrones doesn’t start until mid-July … honestly, what are we supposed to do with ourselves between now and then?
If, like me, you are experiencing feelings of disorientation after two consecutive weeks of live streamed four-star coverage has come to a screeching halt, we offer this as a balm: replays of all three Badminton phases, plus horse inspections and end-of-day press conferences, available for free viewing on YouTube.
If you can’t quite decide which girth is right for your horse, we recommend checking out the “All Things English” playlist on Professional’s Choice’s YouTube channel, which has videos demonstrating the differences between various girths as well as tutorials on how to clean your girth (hint: it’s ridiculously easy).
Once you’ve made a decision, pro tip: From April 1 through June 30, Professional’s Choice offering $10 off any girth — so order yours today!
