The calm before the storm. Photo via Kate Chadderton’s Instagram page.
Sometimes the cross country warmup is a relatively stoic place and sometimes it can be downright nerve wracking, when the going gets tough. When the announcer seems to be calling a never-ending stream of stops, falls and sticky rides, it can really ratchet up the tension back in warm-up. At a time like this, having some of your mates at your side can make a big difference.
In order to help everyone plan their lives, the USEA has released a tentative schedule for the AECs. Scheduled for the week before Labor Day, the AECs will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park for the first time. This is sure to bring a huge draw from all levels, and the USEA has planned accordingly with the schedule. [Tentative AEC Schedule Announced]
Black Tie, Oliver Townend’s ride for the 2014 WEG, has been retired from eventing. At 18, Black Tie has proven his worth despite his small stature, not only competing at WEG but also finishing in the top four at Luhmuhlen and winning Burnham Market. His owner, who competed him through the UK-Novice level, wants the Thoroughbred to retire on top. [British Team Horse Bows Out]
The Pan Americans might be more important to the U.S. but the European Championships are quite the spectacle. They’ll be held the weekend before Burghley but down at Luhmühlen. Treat yourself and make a week of it; start the week down at Luhmühlen and finish up at Burghley. [Tips for Attending the European Championships]
Many of the big guns were out at Pine Top this weekend completing essential spring preparatory runs. With levels through Advanced, the Thomson, Georgia venue was buzzing with action. We’ve rounded up some videos from the weekend that was. Enjoy!
Rosie was great at Pine Top, jumping around the intermediate! We haven’t been out at this level in quite awhile and we both needed to get back in the groove. We definitely finished feeling ready for more! Such a good girl! Thank you so much for coming and helping and taking videos Paula Colt!!
Congo was his usual fabulous self cross country today at Pine Top. We practiced being more efficient setting up for the jumps and in our lines, since it is still early in the season I did not gallop as fast as I know he can. Thank you to Pine Top Eventing for making the drive north worth it, with an improved show jumping arena. Thank you to our sponsors, EnviroEquine and Pet,Triple Crown Feed, Southern States Cooperative, HCS, USA Saddlery & Fittings, Forestier US, and Alberto Fasciani
@nikkimetz_4 and @jumpallthethings went out to Pine Top Farm today to watch our friends competiting in the Advanced. Here is a short video of Sally Cousins Eventing on Christopher through the final water. #learnbywatching #eventersofinstagram #gobigorgohome #wecandothat #bluenumbers
Posted by Ariel Grald on Saturday, February 23, 2019
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Alexis Helffrich and M Creme de la Creme SE had less than ideal conditions for their CCI2*-S dressage test at the Fresno County Horse Park CCI & H.T. two weekends ago.
“He went in during a torrential downpour — sheets of water were coming down,” Alexis recalls. “He should have been naughty in there, honestly, but he did not move an ear during the whole test. I just wanted to get the hell out of there but he was fine, he was happy. Even the judges commented on what a trier he was.”
The pair won the dressage on a 27.9 and held the lead throughout the event, adding 6.4 cross country time faults to top the 30-horse CCI2*-S division. (See complete event results here.)
Alexis Helffrich and M Creme de la Creme SE. Photo by Marissa Marcotte.
M Creme de la Creme SE’s professional demeanor belies his age — he’s only 7. The honey bay Belgian Warmblood gelding (Clair de Lune SE x Zathalida SE, by Cathalido) is owned by his breeder Rose Sullivan, who stands his sire at SE Farm in Newberg, Oregon. Clair de Lune, of Contendor/Calypso II/Alme lines, was evented by Marilyn Little and Robyn Fisher. He was named USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) National Champion in 2009 and competed through the former FEI one-star level prior to injury.
Alexis Helffrich, of Cheval Training in San Ramon, California, has been riding “Cooper” since the horse was a 4-year-old just started under saddle. Their partnership has only solidified as they’ve advanced up the levels, earning multiple blue ribbons along the way. Highlights of 2018 include a 1st at Fresno County Horse Park H.T., 3rd in Open Prelim at Rebecca Farm, 1st in Open Prelim at Twin Rivers Fall H.T., and 2nd at his first FEI outing, the Woodside CIC1* in October 2018.
Alexis Helffrich and M Creme de la Creme SE. Photo by Marissa Marcotte.
Alexis Helffrich and M Creme de la Creme SE. Photo by Marissa Marcotte.
Alexis Helffrich and M Creme de la Creme SE. Photo by Marissa Marcotte.
Alexis Helffrich and M Creme de la Creme SE. Photo by Marissa Marcotte.
Alexis Helffrich and M Creme de la Creme SE. Photo by Marissa Marcotte.
Alexis Helffrich and M Creme de la Creme SE. Photo by Marissa Marcotte.
“He’s super in all three phases,” Alexis says. “He has a great brain, and he’s the happiest horse I’ve ever met. His ears are always forward — in three years I don’t think I’ve ever seen him put his ears back. He’s very brave, not scared of anything. If he sees something spooky he goes and tries to eat it. He loves horses, he loves people, he’s always doing funny things around the barn. He’s the kind of horse you look at and he makes you smile.”
Alexis’ Advanced horse London Town, with whom he won the Woodside CCI4*-S (former CIC3*) last May, is currently sidelined with a minor injury — “He’ll be back sooner rather than later,” Alexis reports — but in the meantime he has been keeping busy with his up-and-coming horses.
Alexis Helffrich and London Town. Photo by Jenni Autry.
The spring plan for Cooper is to do the Twin Rivers CCI2*-L in April and then move him up Intermediate. Their big goal, if they can get some help from grants: the 7-year-old Championships at the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses at Le Lion d’Anger in the fall.
It would be a sweet homecoming for Alexis, who grew up in France before moving to California in 2005 as a dual citizen. His experiences abroad include a two-year working student position with Andrew Nicholson in England and earning his instructor certification from the the Ecole Nationale d’Equitation in Saumur, France.
Alexis sees big things for Cooper’s future. “He just surprises me more and more,” he says. “I have a lot of hope for him.”
William Fox-Pitt is coming to Aiken! Photo by Jenni Autry.
The countdown is on for the inaugural $50,000 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing Invitational at Bruce’s Field in Aiken, South Carolina, and we can now officially confirm the final entry list and schedule.
Dressage will start at 7:30 a.m. EST on Friday, March 1, and will run through 1:40 p.m. Christian Landolt (SUI) and Robert Stevenson (USA) will serve as the ground jury. Click here for dressage start times.
Show jumping will run from 4-5:40 p.m. EST on Friday in reverse order of standing. Cross country will run on Saturday, March 2, from 2:30-5:30 p.m. EST in reverse order of standing.
Here are the horses and riders you’ll be cheering on in Aiken:
Jennie Brannigan and Cambalda (USA)
Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle (USA)
Kate Chadderton and VS McCuan Civil Liberty (AUS)
Will Coleman and OBOS O’Reilly (USA)
Will Coleman and Off the Record (USA)
Will Coleman and Tight Lines (USA)
Hallie Coon and Celien (USA)
Buck Davidson and Carlevo (USA)
Buck Davidson and Erroll Gobey (USA)
Phillip Dutton and Fernhill Singapore (USA)
Will Faudree and Pfun (USA)
Lisa Marie Fergusson and Honor Me (CAN)
William Fox-Pitt and Sandro’s Star (GBR)
Clayton Fredericks and Luksor (AUS)
Sara Gumbiner and Polaris (USA)
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night (USA)
Emily Hamel and Corvett (USA)
Lauren Kieffer and Paramount Importance (USA)
Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus (USA)
Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue d’Argouges (CAN)
Kylie Lyman and Da Vinci Code (USA)
Boyd Martin and Kyra (USA)
Boyd Martin and Ray Price (USA)
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg (USA)
Caroline Martin and Quantum Solace (USA)
Nilson Moreira da Silva and Muggle (BRA)
Ellie O’Neal and Zeta (USA)
Waylon Roberts and Lancaster (CAN)
Doug Payne and Vandiver (USA)
Colleen Rutledge and Confidence Game (USA)
Allie Sacksen and Sparrow’s Nio (USA)
Dom Schramm and Bolytair B (AUS)
Allison Springer and Business Ben (USA)
Felix Vogg and Colero (SUI)
Ryan Wood and Woodstock Bennett (AUS)
VIP passes are now sold out. General admission tickets are $12 per day, or $20 for the full weekend. Saturday tickets also include access to the Craft Beer Festival that will run in conjunction with cross country. Click here to purchase general admission tickets.
If you can’t be in Aiken to watch the action live, the full competition will stream like on EQTV Network and here on EN.
Ryan Wood and Ruby, winners of the $20,000 Preliminary Essex at the 2018 Mars Essex Horse Trials. Photo by i{mpack}t studio courtesy of Mars Essex Horse Trials.
The iconic Mars Essex Horse Trials was reborn in 2017 after a near two-decade long hiatus and has since been welcomed back by the eventing community with open arms. After offering Beginner Novice through Preliminary divisions the past two years, the event has announced that an Advanced division will be added for the 2019 edition.
“Following the success of our first two years back, we’ve had many requests to add an Advanced division,” said Ralph Jones, President of Mars Essex Horse Trials. “This event has attracted some of the sport’s top horses and riders in the Beginner Novice through Preliminary divisions and adding this elite division is another step forward in returning the event to its glorious past.”
Morgan Rowsell, a Long Valley resident, is the cross country course designer for all levels.
This year’s event will take place June 21-23 at picturesque Moorland Farm in Far Hills, New Jersey. The weekend provides a rare opportunity to go behind the gates of this historic 230-acre property, which is only open to the public two weekends a year. It is also home of the annual Far Hills Race Meeting, a steeplechase held each October.
For three decades, the Essex Horse Trials was one of the highlights of the equestrian calendar, attracting top American and international competitors as well as thousands of fans who enjoyed its social aspects as well.
In addition to competitor hospitality, the event is family friendly for spectators. In addition to cross country tailgating, weekend activities include a classic car show; a variety of equestrian and artisan vendors; a farm stand, offering fresh farm-to-table food from local markets; and the Willow School children’s activity center, offering a fun and creative diversion for younger spectators and their parents.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Greater Newark LifeCamp in nearby Pottersville, a day camp for inner-city youth.
EN is delighted to partner with EquiRatings to bring you thought-provoking analysis on the future of eventing. Thank you to EquiRatings for allowing EN to share these articles. Click here to read more from EquiRatings, and be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Go Eventing.
Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST at Kentucky 2018. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
“Since the removal of the dressage multiplier, show jumping has become so influential — you just can’t afford to have a fence down if you want to win.”
Let’s qualify this. From 2014 to 2017 there were 2,650 international events and 69% of them were won with a clear show jumping round. In 2018, there were 703 international events and 72% of them were won with a clear show jumping round.
What about the more competitive internationals? Let’s look at internationals with 20 starters or more. From 2014 to 2017 there are 1,604 internationals that meet this criterium and 78% were won with a clear show jumping. In 2018, there were 418 internationals and 82% were won with a clear show jumping.
Since the removal of the dressage multiplier there has been an increase in the percentage of internationals won with a clear show jumping round. It is statistically significant, but the percentage increase is probably not as high as people thought. It has always been important to jump clear in order to win. It is vital to jump clear cross-country if you want to win, but do we say that cross-country is very influential because of this? No, we don’t. It is more about the overall contribution of penalties, but it must be relevant to winning because that is what drives the sport.
How we describe the phase influence in this article is based on how the top 50% of performers within each phase score penalties, using international results from 2014 to 2018 (the usual dressage multiplier adjustment applies). We break it down by class type because there is a big difference. For the dressage phase, we put the best score on zero so that we can compare it on the same scale as the other phases. The best score is usual in the mid-teens and the median score is usually in the mid-30s, so the plot usually goes from 0 to 20 rather than 15 to 35.
Why do we analyse only the top 50%? This approach focuses on the what it takes to win angle. In order to win an international, the sport should be aiming to require a competitor to perform in the top 50% within each phase – it’s not really an all-round sport otherwise. There is a cost to not performing in the top 50% but focusing on this is actually more of a distraction. Take a hypothetical situation where half the competitors go clear and inside the time on cross-country and the other half get eliminated. On one hand, the phase has been uninfluential because half of the field are on the same perfect score of zero, but on the other hand, the other half of the field are now out of the competition.
Don’t pain your head trying to account for these situations – we have done it for years! We don’t want half of the field eliminated – well, some might but the sport doesn’t. It doesn’t look good and it messes up TV and spectating when half of the field don’t jump the last fence. So, focus on the solution and the why. A competitive eventing result should be one where a competitor performs in the top 50% of each phase – that is hard to argue with, Now, let’s see what that looks like.
5*-L – Old CCI4*
This is the level of the sport where cross-country matters. Notice the difference between dressage and show jumping though. The top 50% range in dressage is about 15 penalties from the best performer to the median performer. In show jumping, nearly half of the field that remain will score less than 8 penalties. 20% of starters in the show jumping will add zero penalties. The top 20% of dressage performers will be almost 10 penalties behind the leader.
4*-L – Old CCI3*
The most notable difference is the drop in cross-country penalties when assessing the median. Regarding the top performers and what influences winning, the dressage phase has already become dominant. With regards to show jumping, we are seeing even more clear rounds, and the median value is now only 4 penalties. Show jumping might be the final phase and leave a recency bias – but already its influence is clearly way below the other phases.
3*-L – Old CCI2*
The percentage of competitors that pick-up zero penalties in both show jumping and cross-country is increasing noticeably. So much so that we don’t need statistics to point this out to us. We are entering the levels where a different ‘type’ of horse is preferred. Perhaps this is why show jumping feels so important, because more and more people jump clear. It adds pressure and non-clears feel expensive. But look at cross-country diminish. Are we really eventing at these levels?
2*-L – Old CCI1*
Where is the cross-country line? Most of the top 50% score zero so the impact of cross-country basically disappears. Hence the evolution of the phrase ‘dressage competition’. Again, show jumping feels important but it pales in comparison to dressage – however, the influence of show jumping notably overtakes that of cross-country in this class type. The problem for the sport is that this level has the highest volume.
This graph explains in one image why most young eventers spend hours trotting in circles and then blast dressage horses around the cross-country, picking-up zero penalties but not necessarily riding well. If the sport has a future then change should start here. This is not balance – this is domination. We can’t really lament the the art of cross-country disappearing if this is how the majority of the sport is weighted and influenced. If you want people to train a certain way or breed/produce a certain type of horse, then make the attributes matter.
Conclusion
What feels or what appears to be influential is susceptible to our flawed human perception at times. Ingrid Klimke lost the gold medal at WEG in the last second of the entire competition. It carries the most amount of recency bias. While her show jump cost her gold, don’t ignore the phenomenal advantage that she built up in the first phase. She still finished ahead of Andrew Hoy who scored above 70% in dressage and finished on it. In the international sport over the past five seasons, 58% of competitors have finished between 0 and 4 penalties in the show jumping. That is not a large amount of influence. Next time Ingrid does a low 20s, or even teens dressage, don’t expect 58% of the field to be within 4 penalties of her!
Team USA at the 2015 Pan American Games. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Though we aren’t looking forward to the Olympics or WEG, 2019 is still a championship year! We’re looking forward to the Pan American Games to be held August 1-4, 2019 in Lima, Peru. Last week the USEF outlined the selection procedures for the yet-to-be-named squad. The qualifying period began last year, and continues through this spring with Bromont being the final opportunity to qualify. You’ll remember that the U.S. now relies on the Pan Ams for Olympic qualification. Four pairs will be submitted to the FEI no later than June 26th. The USEA has laid out the selection objectives in layman’s terms, and you can check it out here.
Alejandro Andrade’s stable of top show jumpers have officially gone to auction. All fourteen horses are receiving online bids following their seizure due to Andrade’s money laundering case and the auction will remain open until tomorrow, Feb 26 at 4:00 p.m. [Bidding under way for elite showjumpers seized in money laundering case]
Snaffle bits may now be seen in more dressage competitions. A new rule has allowed for competitors to choose a snaffle bit, rather than the formerly required double bridle, in one-star, two-star and Junior/Young Rider classes. The rule quietly went into effect January 1, 2019. [FEI Makes Snaffle Optional Up to CDI 2* Level as of 2019]
Laura Vandervliet thinks you may not know your dressage test well enough. Your horse spooking in the dressage ring is bad enough, but then suddenly you realize you don’t know what movement you’re meant to do next. She shares some tips that will make you even better at your next competition. [Help Me Stay on Course!]
Just in case you missed it, here’s Dani Goldstein’s winning round aboard Lizziemary during this weekend’s #SaturdayNightLights! 👀 This lightning-fast performance was definitely one to remember 🙌🏼 #WEF2019
The National Squad is made up of combinations “committed to and capable of producing individual performance results” at CCI4*-S, CCI4*-L and CCI5* competitions, “and who show the ability to contribute to a top-six team result at major games.”
The following combinations have been named to the 2019 Canadian National Squad:
Hawley Bennett-Awad with her own and The Jollybo Syndicate’s Jollybo
Lisa Marie Fergusson and her own Honor Me
Colleen Loach and Peter Barry’s Qorry Blue d’Argouges
Selena O’Hanlon and John and Judy Rumble’s Foxwood High
Jessica Phoenix and her own Pavarotti
The Development Squad consists of “combinations committed to and capable of progressing to National Squad. Horse-and-athlete combinations named to the Development Squad are those which have achieved targeted performance results at eligible international competitions in the previous 12 months.”
The following combinations have been named to the 2019 Canadian Development Squad:
Waylon Roberts with Michelle and John Koppin’s Lancaster and Kelecyn Cognac, owned by Anthony Connolly and Skye Levely
Shelby Brost with her own and Wayne Brost’s Crimson
Dana Cooke and The FE Mississippi Syndicate’s FE Mississippi
Sabrina Glaser and Patricia Yust’s Remembrant
Holly Jacks-Smither with her own and Bruce Smither’s More Inspiration
Brooke Massie and her own Serendipity
Jessica Phoenix and Amanda Hoppner’s Bogue Sound
Karl Slezak and his own and Kirk Hoppner’s Fernhill Wishes
Mike Winter with Jessica Pidcock’s Shannondale Arlo and El Mundo, owned by Jonathan Nelson and Mike and Emma Winter
The Canadian Eventing National Team Program is led by Technical Advisor, David O’Connor, and supported by the EC Eventing High Performance Advisory Group and EC Eventing Manager, Fleur Tipton. The 2019 program consists of training camps and individual training sessions for targeted athletes and horses, as well as competition coaching support.
The focus of the 2019 program is to achieve team qualification at the 2019 Pan American Games, which will be held Aug. 1-4 in Lima, Peru, as well as individual qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games at eligible competitions.
“We have a skilled group of horses and riders that comprise our High Performance program,” Dr. Rob Stevenson, Chair of the EC Eventing High Performance Advisory Group, said. “Through our partnership with data analytics company, EquiRatings, I do think that we have a better understanding of our High Performance Squad and targeted athletes.”
“We are very pleased to continue under the technical leadership of David O’Connor,” Rob continued. “His experience, understanding of the athletes, and commitment to our team’s success will give us the best possible opportunity to attain our targeted results. Through this partnership, we plan to both strengthen and broaden the depth of our squads. This is a good time for eventing in Canada, and we are looking forward to a productive year in 2019.”
The National Training Program “provides a pathway that supports the progression of targeted Canadian athletes in the Train to Compete and Learn to Win stages of the Long-Term Equestrian Development (LTED) framework to achieve international podium performances.” The program also aligns with EC’s overall High Performance strategy and is supported by funding partners Sport Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee.
How does a five-star eventer feel before her first Advanced run of a new season? Like she’s gonna throw up, apparently. #Relatable, although that’s me before every run and I’m definitely not going Advanced.
Elisa Wallace had nothing to worry about though, as she and Simply Priceless, a 2001 OTTB gelding owned by the Simply Priceless Syndicate, rocked around the course at Rocking Horse Winter II Horse Trials two weekends ago. Ride along as they slice and dice their way though the course and be sure to also check out the view from the ground of that crazy angle combination at 6:06:
Johnny making light work of the angle combination. #gojohnnygo #bestcrosscountryhorse #gearingupforkentucky #fivestarhorse #SimplyPriceless #sliceanddice #holdtheline #accuracyandspeed
Are you an ammy-adult eventer who struggles with motivation during the winter months? Madison Givens feels your pain. She is embarking upon her own winter fitness and accountability journey, and taking EN along for the ride. Check back weekly for updates, encouragement, camaraderie and tips to help you come out swinging this spring! Read previous editions here.
Photo by Madison Givens.
Hi everyone and welcome back!
I am going to stop counting weeks, because honestly at this point, I would start looking like a prisoner in a jail cell scrawling tally marks in the wall with a pebble I found behind my bunk-mates bed. And what I mean by that is, as with all horses, the delicately formed plan that I had created for myself this winter has gone painfully awry. I almost have to laugh at the fact that only a few weeks ago, I jokingly wrote an article about how horrible the weather was. Oh how naive I was. If only I would have known what was to come.
Those are my knees, and this image was taken BEFORE two more snow storms that graced us later in the week. Photo by Madison Givens.
As we approach the end of February, I find myself scrambling to piece back together a bit of my sanity. I also feel the need to make a formal apology for all of my optimism at the beginning of January, when I called myself out for trying to stay fit and keep Finn fit. Here’s the deal. I ain’t fit. Finn ain’t fit and my budget sure as hell ain’t fit. Frankly, I am barely coherent. I didn’t really have the opportunity to get to the barn for a combination of reasons, and as a result it has become the hardest two weeks to date.
I also do NOT recommend starting a new diet when the weather is at its worst, and you aren’t getting regular sunlight. Talk about an instantaneous drop into a pit of sadness. You guys. Bread it good. Bread makes you happy. Why would I choose to punish myself by not allowing myself to eat it for just over three weeks. It was the worst 25 days of my life.
So on that note, I decided to try and take some control over my life. I had plenty of time to reflect while I shoveled, over and over and over again. (Think of the Buddhists and their sand art, finishing the task, before destroying it and starting over. You know, patience is a virtue and all that junk.) To follow the note of my last article, I have spent the last two weeks over-evaluating my life and trying to plan as far ahead as I can, in things that I KNOW I can control. (Well, to an extent.)
Iowans are literally running out of places to push snow. I have even seen people loading the snow into dump trucks and hauling it away. Photo by Madison Givens.
Budgeting. (Oh my god, no, please, anything but a budget.)
Guess what people, I know it might not feel like it but show season is only two months away. And with show seasons comes: bills, bills, bills, bills, unnecessary horse-related purchases and MORE BILLS. Our sport is not cheap. It may be cheaper than the hunter/jumpers or even the dressage queens, but it’s not cheap. Especially when I now have the looming weight of trying to qualify for the American Eventing Championships. While I would love to get this done in the first two shows in May and be done, this is not a realistic goal nor should I plan on it.
So I have assessed the opportunities and have eight shows that I can use to qualify myself for the championships.
Please understand that the idea of trying to pay for eight shows this year PLUS the championships makes me want to puke. So if you can’t seem to find any outside motivation to try and qualify for the championships as soon as possible: do it for your wallet. Your poor wallet, whom you are about to squeeze the ever living daylights out of, draining it of all life in the process.
Please understand that I am not trying to go and pay for all these shows, but that they are just the many options and desperate last attempts to get qualified, so I may need to go to quite a few to fall into the running for the AECs.
So here are the things you need to think about when accessing the costs for each show.
Entry & Office Fees: Area IV’s generally average around $270-$370.
Stabling Fees: Sometimes included in your entry fee. Sometimes an extra $130
Heath Certificates: Most shows require you to have one on hand. My vet charges $20.
Extra Bedding: Bring your own, or buy directly from the show, either way add $20
Stall Deposit: $25 — You can get this back at the end of the show if you clean your own stall.
Hotel or Camping Fees and/or Parking Fees: Depending on where you end up and how long you stay, this could be $100-300.
Food & Alcho-….I mean Water: I always give myself a wide range here $75-200. This will depend on what the event provides versus how you choose to fend for yourself.
And lastly, gas…
8. Gas: $70-250. This is a little harder to plan for. But I am going to average out the farthest show and go from there. It is 245 miles from my house to Wheeler, WI. Home to the Otter Creek Spring, Summer and Fall Horse Trial. Also the one that is the farthest away.
Most truck’s gas/diesel tanks can hold an average of 26 gallons of fuel and get an average of 12 miles per gallon when hauling. Thus from full to empty, average 312 miles per tank. If gas costs an average of $2.70, each time you fill up, it can cost you close to $70 per tank. Yikes. That bites. Now assume that you are driving back and forth across the grounds, to get to dinner, to get to your hotel room. It is your main transportation vehicle. You will soak up the miles faster than you think, especially when you’re hauling several horses in a large steel trailer. Best to plan ahead and assume it will take you one extra tank of gas to get there and back than it might say on paper. DON’T FORGET that you have to come HOME. You don’t want to get yourself all the way there and then have forgotten to budget to get yourself home.
Phew. And this doesn’t even cover all the miscellaneous expenses and equipment that you have hopefully picked up along the way. This just covers the basics, and doesn’t include your costs for having a coach or groom with you, or is you have to pay someone to haul you there. Additionally, you always need to keep miscellaneous expenses in the back of your head, including emergencies like flat tires.
(Quick plug here, is you don’t have US Rider and you are trailering in the United States, seriously look into that. They don’t sponsor me or these articles, but could seriously save your hide if you are trailering long distances and don’t have anyone else to call. Like AAA, but they will help you find overnight stabling if you should need it. There is a yearly fee, but it’s worth it knowing that you are covered under emergencies.
Which brings me to my next game of choice.
Packing, Planning and Organizing.
Let me first start by asking you: When was the last time you opened your show trunk? Or storage bin, or wherever you keep all your precious equipment that is only to be brought out during the show seasons, and then stored once again during the six months of winter. If you have not opened it recently, and it is stored in a place where critters might get to it, then I suggest you do some checking.
My grand adventure for the week was opening my (what I thought to be an airtight, sealed and waterproof) storage trunk only to be met with the smell of mouse poop and urine. THE ENTIRE TRUNK and all its contents smelled god awful. As I began to pull things out of it to look for any damage, I found remnants of my dressage tests from last year’s shows chewed and shredded. Barely salvageable. Evidence that these creatures can literally survive on anything, including mediocre dressage scores.
I continued to dig, and found myself face to face with two mice sitting on top of one of my extra coolers that I had stored away. They were very much alive and panicked at the fact that they had been unearthed by a giant monster who was screaming and flailing.
The deeper I went into the trunk, trying to pull all of my precious items out, the worse it got. Two became three, then four. Then as I was finally able to empty it of all its contents, I found myself faced with six mice. All having transformed into little jumping beans as they tried to desperately to escape the trunk in which they had been living.
Photo by Madison Givens.
I am not proud to admit that I screamed and cried during this entire process, and eventually had to get help from my barn mates to help remove the creatures. I also tried enlisting the help of our local barn cat, but apparently he was too full that day, and watched the mice as they hurried to safety outside my trunk. Needless to say, no mice were harmed in the process of cleaning out my trunk. However, one very fat barn cat is being put on a diet and administrative leave.
So as I collected myself and moved on to the task at hand, I began putting together a list of what I currently owned, what may need to be replaced before the end of the year, and what I needed to have with me at each show.
There is zero reason for me to reinvent the wheel here, so below I am providing a few resources on lists you can use to help you get started on planning for the first show, and every show after that.
USEA is the first place to start and they have provided a great start-up list. I do not own or use everything on this, but it has some great suggestions on things you may normally not think about. Like chairs, extension cords and other low maintenance things that aren’t directly correlated to your horse and thus easily forgotten.
Next link comes from Sophia Montana with The Horse Network, and has provided some quirkier options and things you wouldn’t grab, but might want to start taking to your next show.
And finally, a versatile checklist that can be used across the board in all disciplines, by Alana Harrison from Horse and Rider.
I know planning ahead is taboo amongst the eventing community, and frankly, if your horse is a psychic I suggest trying to be stealthy about it. However, because I am an over-thinker, over-worrier, AND over-planner and the weather is keeping me cooped up inside, this became the only way to keep me sane. That and I have been watching oh-so-many cross country helmet cams. (Don’t tell my boss or my professors.)
