Classic Eventing Nation

Mai Baum Wows in Day of FEI Dressage Highlights at Rebecca Farm

By on Jul 19, 2025 10:00 am -

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Counting split divisions, there are 35 classes running at The Event at Rebecca Farm this week, but it was the CCI4*-S dressage that riveted everybody’s attention on Friday.

That’s when Mai Baum and Tamie Smith earned a 22 score to lead the division by over 10 points. The numbers, however, tell only tell a sliver of the world-renowned pair’s story.

Mai Baum acted more the 19-year-old boy than the 19-year-old horse since arriving at The Event from his Southern California home. Smith was slightly worried how he’ll do without a show spotlight in the future, but no worries were evident in their fluid, fabulous, floating masterclass. True to form, Mai Baum exceeded the moment’s high expectations.

“Obviously he doesn’t know this is his last event and he doesn’t look like it should have been,” said Smith. She struggled with emotions. “I’m speechless. He’s in a class of his own and it’s been a privilege to ride him.”

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Owned by the Ahearn and Markell family, “Lexus” has a legacy that goes beyond his remarkable competitive resume. “He’s helped me with all my horses,” Smith explained. “He taught me how to ride on the flat. He taught me about self-carriage, power, uphill balance and cadence. He’s next level with all of that,” said Smith, who, perhaps presciently, named her business Next Level Eventing well before Lexus came into her life.

Mai Baum will retire Sunday afternoon (now scheduled for after the CCI4*-L division), but there’s plenty to do before that. “We’ve done some jumping shows, but he hasn’t evented since Maryland. I expect him to be a bit strong and cheeky. Most of all, he’ll be happy to be out there on cross-country.”

“It was a windshield wiper moment,” said Ground Jury member Bea DiGrazia (USA) of the tears that fell while judging Mai Baum’s last test. Fellow judges Helen Christie (NZL) and Jane Hamlin (USA) agreed with that assessment and with each other’s evaluation of the performance.

“It was a huge moment and really well done,” DiGrazia continued. “There was hardly a full point difference in our scores.” She recalled Mai Baum’s “presence and pizazz” – even during his “wiggly” days. Christie described him as always a horse who would “catch your eye if you saw him across a field. He’s got that star quality.” And Hamlin recalled a fellow 2019 Pan Am Games judge sighing after Mai Baum’s test – “Wasn’t that beautiful?”

One of the many horses to benefit from Mai Baum’s legacy is Jutopia, normally the ride of Smith’s talented student Molly Duda. Jutopia is 2nd on a 32.9 in the CCI4*-S. Cooler, windier and spookier conditions contributed to some score-costly bobbles on Thursday, but otherwise Smith was happy with the mare’s performance.

Tommy Greengard and That’s Me Z carried on their World Sport Horse Breeding Federation Young Horse Championships fame from last fall. Their 34.2 puts them 3rd doing into cross-country on Saturday.

CCI4*-S pairs start cross-country at 12:50 p.m. Mountain time Saturday.

Smith Atop the CCI4*-L, Too.

Tamie Smith and Lillet 3. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Smith didn’t have much time to absorb Mai Baum’s latest magical moment. Another horse owned by student Molly Duda, Lillet 3, was waiting for her close-up in her CCI4*-L debut. The elegant mare is intended as a long-term horse for Smith and their division-leading 28.1 bodes a bright future. “She tries so hard and is so intelligent,” Smith said. “When you move like her and have that kind of brain, there’s a lot to work with.”

Chris Talley and FE Marco Polo are 2nd, marking the Virginia-based professional as one to watch in his own new business, C Talley Equestrian. He was thrilled with their 32.2 start yesterday, which he attributed to the 9-year-old horse’s success in containing his energy.

He’ll need that energy on cross-country. “Everywhere you look it’s stunning,” said Talley of Jay Hambly’s long 4*-Long course. “The water at the beginning of the course is intense, and the new bank (at 21AB), the roller coaster and the moose will all be good challenges,” Talley predicted.

Smith sits in 3rd with Kynan on a 32.9. Going first in the 10-horse division on Thursday, Kynan gave in to some distractions outside the court before settling into “one of his best tests ever,” Smith said. “He came back to me after those bobbles and was so through and strong. I was very happy with him.”

CCI4*-L pairs start cross-country at 11:25 a.m. Mountain time Saturday.

Pelligrini Atop the CCI3*-L

Meg Pellegrini and Falcon Crown Z. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Meg Pellegrini’s place atop the dressage standings with Falcon Crown Z, on a 27.7, was all the sweeter coming after a rough Thursday with her second horse in the division, Cooley Wish Upon A Star. Riding first in the 12-horse class yesterday, Pellegrini “made some errors and let the pressure bubble over into some costly mistakes.”

With the support of her coach Will Coleman and his team, the 21-year-old Pellegrini turned the incident into “a way to light me up for today.” She spent time with coach and nervous system practitioner Natalie Hummel to reset her focus and be ready to respond positively in the moment. Like many horses, Falcon found the Arena 1 atmosphere a little spooky, so that came in handy in a few spots. “But overall it was probably one of our best tests.”

Pellegrini felt the benefits of strength building and a varied conditioning program paying off in Falcon’s performance. “I could feel him grow taller coming down centerline and he really had a great attitude.”

California-based international rider James Alliston sits second with HRM Rolan on a 28.9. The 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse was 2nd in the CCI2*-L here last year and has had consistently strong outings over the past year. Lucienne Bellissimo and Qatar M are 3rd on a 30.1, followed closely by several top professionals on horses who could upset the apple cart after cross-country.

CCI3*-L pairs start cross-country at 10:10 a.m. Mountain time Saturday

Audrey Sanborn Leads the CCI3*-S

Audrey Sanborn and Lex D. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Young California professional Audrey Sanborn and her own Lex D lead 21 pairs in this division, on a 29.2. Sanborn’s three-year partnership with Lex D has progressed steadily. Competing here in the same division last year contributed to a “really professional” test today, said the longtime student of international rider Bec Braitling. “He showed off all is special moves, kept his cool and listened.”

As for tomorrow’s cross-country, Sanborn echoes the excitement many riders express about the adventure and development opportunities that await. “It has technical spots for sure. We’ll have to go fast to make the time, but I like how the designer set it up. I think it will ride well and it should be exciting.”

Idaho-based professional Stephanie Goodman and Elwenda DP are 2nd on a 30.7. This pair were the wire-to-wire CCI2*-L winners here last year and the mare has racked up many top placings in the interim. Sitting in 3rdon a 31.1 are Tommy Greengard and Balladeer Kilbrickens Lad.

Gabriella Ringer leads the CCI2*-L

Gabrielle Ringer and Get Wild. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

“Always!” answered coach James Alliston when asked how often his student, Gabriella Ringer, beats him in the dressage court. “Gabby” and Get Wild’s 25.2 test on Thursday kept a solid lead after the rest of the field’s 29 horses finished today. (It was also the 2nd best score across all 6 FEI divisions.)

“We’ve worked really hard on the flat and he’s been consistently strong in dressage,” said Gabby, a recent college graduate with a communications and media production degree. “But any time you are in an atmosphere like this, you never know.”

“He’s my horse of a lifetime,” the 21-year-old Northern California rider said. The pair has some 3*-S mileage and Gabby opted for the 2*-L to let Get Wild “take a breath out there on cross-country, gain some confidence and have some fun.”

Colorado professional Dani Sussman sits 2nd with Water Valley Royal Guy on a 27.4. “He’s the whole package,” Sussman said of her new ride and their prospects over the weekend. “The course looks great, the footing feels fantastic, which will help us cruise around efficiently. I think my horse is going to eat it up!”

2023 USEA 2*-L National and 2*-L Young Rider champions Hanni Sreenan and Ebenholtz sit third on a 27.6.

CCI2*-L pairs start cross country at 2:00 p.m. Mountain time Saturday

Alyssa Phillips and Isabella Degner tied atop the CCI1*-L

Alyssa Phillips and Centerfold. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Pennsylvania professional Alyssa Phillips is making the most of having only one horse here. She’s been white water rafting, dipped into Foys Lake and attended a rodeo. But Centerfold’s dressage performance this morning is the highlight so far. Their 31.5 ties them with junior pair, Isabella Degner and Supah Heat, at the top of this division.

Centerfold, a 6-year-old Irish Sport Horse is still “getting all the pieces together.” Despite a few “bobbles,” Phillips is thrilled with how hard he tried to stay composed in the impressive setting.

Targeting the 2026 WSHBF Young Horse Championships qualification, Phillips expects Saturday’s cross-country to be a great learning experience. She’ll give the naturally spooky horse time to look at the “water monster,” (Ogopogo). “Then from there, I’ll let him flow and find his pace. I think the course is going to set him up very well for the future.” Purchased last summer from Amy and Austin O’Connor in England, Centerfold “has a massive stride and I think he’s going to love it out there!”

Elle White and Biscotti are third on a 34.6 third in the 17-horse field.

CCI*-L pairs start cross country at 3:25 p.m. Mountain time Saturday.

Free Spectator Fun, Food and Excitement

Spectators are welcome at no charge. The Event’s Shopping Fair and Festival are open Saturday and Sunday, including the free Kids Zone from 10 to 4.

An Impactful Event

The Event’s impact goes beyond the horse world with Halt Cancer at X. The charitable initiative was launched in 2012 by Sarah Broussard in honor of her late mother, Rebecca Broussard, who founded the Event at Rebecca Farm in 2002.

Funds are raised by donations and an auction featuring premiere stabling and RV camp sites for The Event in 2026, plus vacation opportunities in Montan and California. Donations and bids on these items can be made via a campaign button on the RebeccaFarm.org home page here. (Auction bidding closes Saturday, July 19 at 8:30 p.m.)

The Event at Rebecca Farm (MT): [Website] [Halt Cancer at X] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Official Photographer] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Saturday Links from World Equestrian Brands

By on Jul 19, 2025 12:01 am -

We are just over three months away from the final CCI5* on the North American calendar, the MARS Maryland 5 Star, presented by Brown Advisory! If you haven’t gotten your tickets or VIP/tailgating passes yet, you can find options here.

U.S. Weekend Preview

The Event at Rebecca Farm (MT): [Website] [Halt Cancer at X] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Official Photographer] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Kentucky Summer H.T. (KY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Horse Park of New Jersey H.T. II (NJ): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Silverwood Farm Summer H.T. (WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Course Brook Farm Summer H.T. (MS): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Full Gallop Farm July H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Links & Reading

USEA Now Accepting Coach Applications for EA21 Program

An Unforgettable Experience at the USEA Classic Series at Coconino HT

The Science Behind USEF’s New Hair Testing Rule

Discounted Burghley tickets are on sale now – with options including course walks – but hurry if you don’t want to miss the biggest savings

Cascamara NRW leaves Ingrid Klimke’s stable

Sponsor Corner: World Equestrian Brands

Don’t miss an all-new 1% Better interview with eventer-turned-Grand Prix dressage rider David Zeigler, who’s also part of the World Equestrian Brands team!

Video Break

It’s cross country day at Rebecca Farm! Tune in live all day on the free live stream:

Take a Virtual Walk Around the Rebecca Farm Training Three-Day Cross Country with Bec Braitling

By on Jul 18, 2025 12:30 pm -

Photo courtesy of CrossCountry App.

CrossCountry App has been hard at work bringing you preview content of courses all over the world, and if you’re riding this week at Rebecca Farm or are aiming at a USEA Classic Long Format in the future, this guided preview of the Training Three-Day track with Australian 5* rider and USEA ECP coach Bec Braitling will provide you with some valuable insights.

Did you know that CrossCountry App is free to use? You can also upgrade to a Pro membership to gain access to even more tools, such as self-recording of your course walks complete with minute markers, adding notes to fences for things to remember, downloading maps for use when signal is poor and much more. Learn more about the Pro membership here.

Click here or use the embedded map below to go on a fence-by-fence walk with Bec around this beautiful Training Three-Day course, and good luck to all competitors this weekend!

The Event at Rebecca Farm (MT): [Website] [Halt Cancer at X] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Official Photographer] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

First Half of FEI Dressage Kicks Off Exciting Sport at Rebecca Farm

By on Jul 18, 2025 11:55 am -

Chris Talley and FE Marco Polo. Photo by Marie Cobb for Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Blue skies, white clouds and green grass painted a beautiful backdrop in the Flathead Valley as international dressage phases began in the showcase Arena 1. Half the field in each of The Event at Rebecca Farm’s 6 FEI divisions — from CCI1* to CCI4*-L — were put through their paces today.

The second half of each division will take place Friday, July 18, beginning with the CCI1*-L at 8 a.m. Mountain time.

Elite equine and human athletes, pairs stepping up to new levels and dazzling pink decorations promoting the breast cancer research campaign — Halt Cancer At X — intensified the brilliant Montana summer day.

Virginia-based Chris Talley and FE Marco Polo top the CCI4*-L standings after 7 rides from what will be 14 competitors in this division. Their 32.2 from Ground Jury members Helen Christie (NZ), Jane Hamlin (USA) and Bea DiGrazia (USA) reflected nicely contained energy in the distinct atmosphere of Ring 1.

“It’s unique because you are kind of by yourself out there,” says Talley, a three-time Rebecca Farm competitor. “Yet there’s so much going on around you. First, we walked through cross-country warm-up (for lower levels) to get to dressage. In the test, you can hear people cheering in other rings and out on cross-country. I thought he handled it really well.”

Tamie Smith is right behind Talley with Kynan, one of her 5 international rides. They earned a 32.9 and are followed by Karen O’Neal and Clooney 14 on a 35.6. Several-time Rebecca Farm champ, and the division’s defending champion, Jennie Brannigan, is fourth in the day-one pack, this year riding Kismet to a 37.3.

New Track Drops

Talley echoes his fellow riders in expressing excitement over Saturday’s cross-country track, designed by Jay Hambly. The Canadian stepped into the top course design role this year after assisting his renowned predecessor Ian Stark and being part of the Rebecca Farm crew often since The Event’s beginning in 2002.

An imposing new drop fence (to a corner) at 21AB on the 4L track highlights challenges Hambly has been brewing for the past year. A good gallop, pinpoint control and guts will determine success over a course that clocks in close to the format’s 11-minute edge: the optimum time is 10:56 seconds.

Surveying several course questions from “Spectator Hill,” Hambly said, “Even if you think I’m making you go slow, if you have the inside line, you let your horse travel and carry pace through the turns – and be brave and good!! — you’ll be rewarded. I don’t want the mistakes to come from going too fast. I want them to come from being off the line.”

The inspiration for the new drop fence is to ensure that Rebecca Farm has all the major course questions that pairs will likely face at international championships and 5* events around the world.

“We’ll see!” concludes Hambly, whose resume includes building for the Tokyo and Hong Kong Olympics. “I hope it works!”

The international divisions tackle cross-country Saturday, July 19, starting with the CCI3*-S at 8:40 am.

Praise O’Plenty

Tamie Smith and Jutopia. Photo by Marie Cobb for Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Riders were universal in their praise for Rebecca Farm as a venue and as a core of the eventing community. Talley is among the 23 riders allocated a total of $64,000 in Rebecca Farm Travel Grants to help defray the cost of getting to Kalispell.

For Talley, the atmosphere, the courses and the genuine welcoming vibe were all reasons to travel from the East. It all fits perfectly into the development of both FE Marco Polo, who is doing his first 4*-L, and MBF Firebrand, who sits 5th in a tightly-bunched first half of the CCI3*-L.

The dressage phase of the CCI4*-L resumes Friday at 1:25 pm

Overnight FEI Top 3s

CCI4*-S

  • Tamie Smith and Jutopia – 32.9
  • Tommy Greengard and That’s Me Z – 34.2
  • Rebecca Braitling and Caravaggio II – 36.3

This division resumes Friday at 12:35 pm

CCI3*-L

  • Asia Vedder and Mameluke – 31.5
  • James Alliston and Irish Pop – 33.5
  • Meg Pellegrini and Cooley Wish Upon A Star – 34.7

This division resumes Friday at 4:50 pm

CCI3*-S

  • Erin Kellerhouse and Bon Vivant GWF – 35.1
  • Andrea Baxter and The Big Easy- 35.7
  • Harper Click and Graphite 54 – 39.6
  • This division resumes Friday at 3:05 pm

CCI2*-L

  • Gabriella Ringer and Get Wild – 25.2
  • James Alliston and Made by Leontine EB – 27.6
  • Tamie Smith and Kareena K – 27.7

This division resumes Friday at 9:35 am

CCI1*-L

  • Brianna Rasmussen and de la Renta – 35.2
  • Analise O’Brien and Hilcrest Hero – 37.5
  • Stephanie Goodman and Cord Johnson – 38.0

This division resumes Friday at 8 am

An Impactful Event

Asia Vedder and Marmaluke. Photo by Marie Cobb for Shannon Brinkman Photography.

The Event’s impact goes beyond the horse world with Halt Cancer at X. The charitable initiative was launched in 2012 by Sarah Broussard in honor of her late mother, Rebecca Broussard, who founded the Event at Rebecca Farm in 2002.

Funds are raised by donations and an auction featuring premiere stabling and RV camp sites for The Event in 2026, plus two local vacation opportunities. Donations and bids on these items can be made here. (Auction bidding closes Saturday, July 19 at 8:30 p.m.)

Free Spectator Fun, Food and Excitement

Spectators are welcome at no charge. The Event’s Shopping Fair and Festival are open Friday through Sunday, including the free Kids Zone fun. Kid Zone hours are 10-4 on Friday and Saturday and 10-3 on Sunday.

The Event at Rebecca Farm (MT): [Website] [Halt Cancer at X] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Official Photographer] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Friday News & Notes from Stable View

By on Jul 18, 2025 12:01 am -

It’s SEE Camp Week! The Strides for Equality Equestrians Ever So Sweet camp brings together riders from all walks of life for a week of learning at Sara Kozumplik’s home base in Virginia, Overlook Farm. The first days of camp included Fix-A-Test riding and lessons with pros like Heather Gillette, Janelle Fleming and Deonte Sewell and there’s much more on the docket in the coming days. Follow along with camp on Instagram here, and learn more about SEE here.

U.S. Weekend Preview

The Event at Rebecca Farm (MT): [Website] [Halt Cancer at X] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Official Photographer] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Kentucky Summer H.T. (KY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Maps] [Volunteer]

Horse Park of New Jersey H.T. II (NJ): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Silverwood Farm Summer H.T. (WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Course Brook Farm Summer H.T. (MS): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Full Gallop Farm July H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

News & Reading

Did you know there are multiple types of fear? That may seem overwhelming, but the truth is, identifying the type of fear that’s plaguing you can help you make more headway in getting ahead of it. In his latest “Pressure Proof” column for the USEA, Coach Daniel Stewart educates us on identifying fears — particularly two specific types — and how to move past them. Read it here.

Ever wanted to get inside David O’Connor’s brain? Now you can, thanks to a new reflection piece from his time as an Olympic rider. David’s experience did, of course, include medals, but the experience went far beyond that. Read his reflections here.

You can use your voice to influence rule changes within the US Equestrian Federation. How? Things like attending the newly-launched public Town Hall meetings centering around welfare, joining a committee, proposing and commenting on rule change proposals and more avenues exist. Exercise your voice here.

Sponsor Corner: Stable View

What’s it like to work in the show office at Stable View? Follow along for a day in the life with Show Secretary Rachel Morrall, and find your next event at Stable View here.

Video Break

No reins, no problem?

CHIO Aachen: A First-Timer’s Observations

By on Jul 17, 2025 9:00 am -

I admittedly didn’t have the full-blown Wellington experience the first time I visited the south Florida equestrian hub. I’d grown up reading about WEF, “Welly World” as many call it. Scrolling the beautiful photos, palm trees featuring prominently in every background.

But the first time I visited, I distinctly remember leaving feeling…underwhelmed. I’d visited to gather some b-roll for a film shoot, and granted, it was a slow day on site. There were fewer classes actively competing, less buzz. What stayed on me, though (and I’m very sorry to my Wellington-ite friends who are probably raising their hackles as they read on), was the feeling I left with. Like I had been sprayed with a mixture of suncreen and shame, unable to rinse off the feeling that I was simply not good enough. Not rich enough. Not pretty or skinny enough.

I’ve always loved eventing for many reasons, but chief among them is the sense I have of its blue-collar tendencies. Of course, to be involved in equestrian sports – especially at a recreational level – requires some form of disposable income. But I love eventing for its heart. The roll up your sleeves, push the bill collectors off another couple weeks, stretch the tall boots to their thinnest, grin and bear it.

Disclaimer: I do not believe this is a healthy lifestyle. I could write more pages on the lack of balance I know exists in our industry. But since when is everything you love completely healthy? I also love macaroni and cheese. And the occasional cigarette.

The view from inside the main Aachen stadium.

I harbored some worry that I would leave CHIO Aachen with the same sticky feeling on my skin. Here I was, attending arguably the best horse show in the world, which plays host to some 350,000 spectators every year and unifies most FEI disciplines together over a ten-day festival. There should be the show jumpers with their ritz and glamour, the dressage riders with their six-or-seven-figure horses.

Your first impression of walking through the ticket gates at Aachen is the sheer size of the place. Everywhere you turn, a stadium or yawning arena looms in the background, with retail tents stretching down enticing rows, displaying their wares. In short, it feels much like any other sporting event, but when you consider the scale of most equestrian competitions outside of racing, in the U.S. at least, it gives you that heightened buzz often accompanying a larger event like a football game (American or otherwise, take your pick).

If I were choosing an event to spectate at, Aachen would be at the top of my list. Yes, the crowds are teeming, but generally it’s a good crowd — you’ve got your retiscent slow-walkers and the stop-in-the-middle-of-the-walkway types, but it’s a respectful crowd who just wants to collectively join in the experience of spending loads of money on saddle pads and, if you’re into it, lingerie. The main stadium itself holds about 40,000 people, so there’s plenty of room for large crowds, and trust me: you’ll need at least a week to make it through the 200+ tradestands on the grounds.

You always have the chance to get up close and personal with the athletes and horses, with Aachen laying out bridle paths throughout that stream their way to the various collecting rings, lunging areas and the stables.

Through all of this, I was left with the distinct feeling that I did, in fact, feel like I belonged there. Sure, everywhere I turned there were Hot People™ dressed in clothes that I would need an entire quarter’s worth of pay to afford, not unlike Wellington…but it just felt different. It felt more accessible, and like all of the walks of life mixed together into one sweaty, currywurst-smelling fervor about horses.

I felt less sticky when I left. Despite the sweat, and the faint film left behind by overconsumption of currywurst (ok, that is my only other bit of feedback: could we perhaps have SLIGHTLY less sausage options in terms of cuisine?).

Like a Mini-Olympics

Aachen’s “wall of fame” – which features some quite funny photo choices if you keep looking.

Casting an eye down the start lists for each class, be it jumping, dressage or eventing (also on the docket are combined driving and vaulting, which I regrettably didn’t have the chance to take in for myself) is like reading through an Olympic roster. It’s no secret the best in the world frequent CHIO Aachen, and particularly this year, just over 12 months from the upcoming FEI World Championships for all of these disciplines, it seemed each country was keen to gain some key intel on the venue and the environment to use in their preparation.

Personally, I’d love to see something like this festival come to the U.S. While I understand we don’t always have the numbers that our UK and European counterparts do, I think we are also underselling ourselves in terms of spectator draw. Let’s look at Kentucky, for example, which attracts a few hundred thousand spectators throughout the spring, between the Keeneland spring meet, the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event and the Kentucky Derby. There IS horse culture in America, and maybe pulling the threads of these often heavily segmented satellite sports would result in a similar-feeling celebration of the horse. The Kentucky Horse Park has the infrastructure to support multiple disciplines (as demonstrated by the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, as well as the simultatneous 5* show jumping and eventing that take place during Kentucky Three-Day week). Creating even a bi-annual festival (the Europeans have their European Championships every two years — and yes, we have the Pan American Games every four years as well — this could be come North, Central and South America’s version of this, in some ways). That’s a guaranteed bi-annual multi-million dollar economic impact, epsecially if this festival coincided with other major events like the Kentucky Three-Day or the Kentucky Derby.

(If anyone institutes this, I’d love a credit and corresponding compensation; even better, let me know if you’d like to back this idea.)

I sadly only visited the Lindt candy bar ONE TIME, which offends even me.

There are also a lot of takeaways gleaned from my experience as a member of the media. Athletes (and owners, grooms — people with credentials, basically) and media had access to a special area of the grounds that featured a VIP Area, an open bar, a Lindt candy bar and catered lunch every day. We were situated just behind the main stadium and its collecting/warm-up ring, and we had a dedicated media center with decent WiFI available to us as late as we needed it every day.

Listen: everyone working a horse show works hard, long hours. As media, our days are typically in the 15-18 hour range (made all the more exhausting by the fact that while the riders and owners are tucking into their open bar beverages upon competition completion at the end of the day, we’re really just beginning our work day), and there is nothing worse than having to battle the food lines in the spectator area, fight your way into some sort of workspace, pull your hair out from slow internet, and meanwhile be all at once dehydrating and starving yoursel for lack of provisions. We’re tasked with telling the stories of the week — having proper infrastructure with which to do this makes a massive difference, and makes the long days feel less all-out draining.

The entrance to the building that houses the media center.

A very swanky open bar for riders and media that, again, I only visited once.

It wasn’t all perfect — I was a bit stuck chasing riders down toward the barns like an annoying little duckling if I wanted quotes after dressage (luckily event riders by nature are VERY NICE and I love them for it) because there was no dedicated mixed zone, and on more than one occasion it was difficult to find seats in the press tribune seating, clearly marked for press and media only but inexplicably always occupied by riders and owners (who had their own dedicated section) with no enforcement of who could sit where happening — but it was pretty damn close.

A Reminder of Just How Global Equestrian Sports Are

No better view in the world!

It’s very easy to get sort of stuck in your chamber, feeling like the silly “horse stuff” you do doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.

And let’s be clear before I go too much further: in the context of the world at large, where unspeakable atrocities are occurring with every word I type, where people suffer from unimaginable inequality and abuse — the context of a miffed dressage test or a run-out on cross country falls into stark contrast. Yes, we work in a very privileged environment. It’s our livelihood, but damn — what a livelihood it is. We are lucky. We cannot forget this, and we cannot forget that all-important context against the broad spectrum of troubles that plague our word.

But sometimes, at least for me, it can feel like what I do is too silly to legitimize. I struggle to name or even describe what I do for work in the company of my higher-educated, corporate job-working friends.

Is there a better office view??

My trip to Aachen reminded me: we work in a global sport that reaches millions of people each year. It’s so well-recognized in some areas that people come from far and wide to take it in — and even the non-horsey among them leave feeling bitten by a bug or one sort or another. It was a good, validating reminder for me — and yes, I’m the type that needs that sort of validation, just every once in awhile, when my own self-confidence is flagging a bit.

As we look ahead to Aachen’s World Championships in 2026, it’s valuable for us all to remember: Our sports matter, they have an impact. We should protect them, nourish their growth, and always ensure the horses are the top of every decision made. I witnessed that at Aachen this year, and it gives me hope for the future.

Thursday News & Notes from Virginia Horse Center Foundation

By on Jul 17, 2025 12:01 am -

Big-screen news for eventing fans: Phillip Dutton: Leap of Faith — a new documentary from Double 11 Productions — has been named an Official Selection of the Woods Hole Film Festival! 🎬 The documentary will screen on August 2 at 5:15 p.m. in scenic Woods Hole, Massachusetts. If you’ll be in the area—or need a good excuse for a weekend trip to Cape Cod—don’t miss this chance to celebrate one of the sport’s most enduring legends. Click here to grab your tickets. No word yet on when this documentary will be available to stream, but we’ll keep an eye out and let you know when we have more information!

U.S. Weekend Preview

The Event at Rebecca Farm (MT): [Website] [Halt Cancer at X] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Official Photographer] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Kentucky Summer H.T. (KY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Horse Park of New Jersey H.T. II (NJ): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Silverwood Farm Summer H.T. (WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Course Brook Farm Summer H.T. (MS): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Full Gallop Farm July H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

News & Reading

US Equestrian has released a new white paper outlining best practices in sport horse medicine, following a summit of 28 veterinary professionals earlier this year at WEC Ocala. The paper covers a wide range of topics—from preventative care and injury management to wearable tech, treatment modalities, and research priorities—and emphasizes the collective responsibility of vets, trainers, and owners in safeguarding equine welfare. Click here to read the full paper.

Less is more, says John Michael Durr—and his latest jumping exercise is all about proving it. In this new column for Practical Horseman, John Michael walks riders through a scalable exercise that challenges them to use subtle, guiding aids rather than forceful commands. Whether you’re riding a green bean or a seasoned campaigner, this adaptable setup focuses on improving communication, consistency, and your ability to stick to a plan. It’s the kind of quiet work that leads to big breakthroughs—on course and in partnership. Read the full article here.

It’s officially Rebecca Farm week, and the Western Wonderland is buzzing with anticipation. Set against the breathtaking Montana backdrop, The Event at Rebecca Farm draws riders from across North America for one of the most beloved stops on the eventing calendar. This year’s competition is packed with star power—including the final competitive appearance of Mai Baum with Tamie Smith in the CCI4*-S—and a stacked CCI4*-L lineup featuring 14 pairs from across the U.S. and Canada. With Olympic riders, rising stars, and eight horses stepping up to the level for the first time, it’s a field worth watching. Add in travel grant recipients, major championship qualifiers, and the philanthropic heartbeat of Halt Cancer at X, and you’ve got yourself a can’t-miss weekend. Get more Fast Facts here.

Sponsor Corner: Virginia Horse Center Foundation

Alyssa Phillips and Centerfold compete at Virginia Horse Center. Photo by Veronica Green-Gott

Mark your calendars for an educational weekend of eventing fun! The Virginia Horse Center invites riders of all levels to its Fall Schooling Horse Trials and Combined Test, happening August 23–24 in Lexington, VA.

Saturday’s Open Schooling Day offers the perfect opportunity to school all three phases—dressage, show jumping, and cross country—with flexible scheduling and trainer-friendly jump ring access. Sunday’s unrecognized Horse Trials and Combined Tests provide a low-pressure competition experience, with divisions ranging from Starter through Training and CT options up to Modified.

Whether you’re introducing a young horse, polishing your partnership, or prepping for the fall season, the Virginia Horse Center is the place to be. Get more info and enter now at vahorsecenter.org.

Video Break

Miks Master C is back in action with Boyd Martin, who’s taken the ride while Liz Halliday continues her recovery!

Mai Baum Returns to Rebecca Farm for His Farewell

By on Jul 16, 2025 12:07 pm -

As the equestrian world looks to Rebecca Farm for the next leg of the US Equestrian Open, all eyes will be on a 19-year-old gelding whose name has become synonymous with American eventing excellence.

Mai Baum, known to his connections as ‘Lexus’ will compete in his final upper-level competition this weekend at Rebecca Farm—the very same class he won 10 years ago at this Montana venue, marking what was only his second four-star with rider Tamie Smith and their first four-star victory together.

The poetic symmetry of Mai Baum’s farewell couldn’t be more perfect. A decade ago, he launched what would become a legendary partnership with Smith by winning the Rebecca Farm CCI4*-S. Now, after one of the most impressive US eventing careers, he returns to the same competition, for his final farewell.

Listen to the ‘Mai Baum Special’ on US Equestrian Open Podcast here.

A Career Defined by Excellence

The numbers alone tell an extraordinary story. With 33 international starts, 20 podium finishes, and 13 wins, Mai Baum achieved a peak EquiRatings Elo of 833—the highest of any U.S. event horse in the past 15 years and ranking among the top 15 worldwide over that span.

The horse’s international career began in 2013 with Alexandra Ahearn. The next year at only his second international event, he had his first win in the CCI2*-S at Galway Downs. That victory marked the beginning of what would become a special relationship with the California venue—Tamie returned with him four times, in which they took the win every time.

For all of Mai Baum’s accolades and podium finishes, his story was never written with medals in mind.

Dressage Mastery

Perhaps no statistic better illustrates Mai Baum’s consistency than his dressage record with Smith. Across 29 internationals together, they never scored in the 30s. Their best test came at Tryon in 2021 with a score of 20.4, while their worst was still a respectable 29.9 at Arville in 2021.

Five-Star Prowess

Mai Baum’s five-star record reads like a masterclass in big-competition performance. Across five attempts at the level (Kentucky 2021, Badminton 2022, Pratoni 2022 World Games, Kentucky 2023, Maryland 2024), he finished in the top 10 four times. Only a mid-course retirement at Maryland 2024 disrupted their otherwise perfect record, with Tamie choosing to pull up when Mai Baum showed signs of fatigue.

The pinnacle came at Kentucky 2023, where Mai Baum and Tamie Smith became the first American pair to win since Phillip Dutton in 2008. Pre-competition, EquiRatings had highlighted them as the ones to beat, giving them a 66% win chance and an 88% shot at the podium. Despite this, it was still no easy feat. Sitting in third after dressage (24.2), they delivered a textbook cross-country round where they made the time — a decisive move that secured their 3.6-penalty victory.

The Final Chapter

Rebecca Farm is a fitting stage for Mai Baum’s farewell — the site where his brilliance at the highest-level first truly emerged. In 2015, it was here, in the mountains of Montana, that Mai Baum won the CCI4*-S on just his second start at the level.

According to the EquiRatings Prediction Centre, they arrive this weekend with a 61% win chance and an 85% podium chance, practically identical to their Kentucky odds in 2023.

A Legacy Beyond Statistics

While Mai Baum’s achievements speak for themselves but his impact extends far beyond ribbons and rankings.

This weekend at Rebecca Farm, the eventing community will witness the end of an era. Mai Baum may be stepping down from the upper levels, but his legacy will endure for many years to come. That it happens where his greatest chapter began makes this farewell all the more fitting.

To read this story and more on the US Equestrian Open website, click here. View current US Equestrian Open leaderboards here.

The Event at Rebecca Farm (MT): [Website] [Halt Cancer at X] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Official Photographer] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Cornbury House Gets Ready to Host Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup

By on Jul 16, 2025 9:00 am -

Former racehorse Bhodi, with rider Mike Jackson, owner Emily Oppenheimer, Piggy March and David and Fiona Howden. Photo by Boot Creative.

As Cornbury House Horse Trials (September 10-14) approaches its sixth anniversary, the Oxfordshire event provided further proof of its position in the front ranks of the British equestrian scene with the official launch on July 4 of the Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup.

This new class, with its £45,000 first prize – a reward unprecedented in the sport at British Eventing Novice level – is a joint initiative between the Howden family’s Cornbury House Horse Trials and Jayne McGivern of Dash Grange Stud. It is designed to encourage and promote second careers in eventing of racehorses who have come off the track and those thoroughbreds who didn’t make it to the racecourse.

The Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup will run alongside the British Eventing Young Horse National Championships, supported by The Howden Way, Cornbury House Horse Trials’ immensely popular under-21 classes at Young Rider, Junior and Pony level, open CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S sections and national intermediate classes.

Jayne McGivern, who stands the brilliant Derby winner Golden Horn at Dash Grange Stud, said: “I have been trying to launch this class for more than four years, so words cannot describe how thankful and delighted I am that Cornbury House Horse Trials is as invested in creating value for ex-racehorses as I am. Thoroughbreds are especially suited to high-level eventing, being fast, athletic, intelligent and brave. I can’t wait for the best riders in the UK to showcase the skills of these fantastic horses to the world.”

The Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup winner will be awarded a George III silver perpetual trophy, and each year the successful owner will receive the silver-plated horse shoe of a Derby winner – the first of which, for 2025, will be that of Golden Horn, who took the world’s premier Classic race in 2015.

The special guest at Cornbury House on Friday was Bhodi – a former Flat racehorse who is now being aimed at the inaugural 2025 Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup. Bhodi, a Niarchos-bred son of Dark Angel out of a Giant’s Causeway mare, was owned by Jayne McGivern and ran 10 times on the Flat when trained by Sir Michael Stoute and then Kevin Frost. Top British event rider Piggy March took Bhodi on when he was four and retrained him for eventing, and the pair won a Novice class at Cornbury House Horse Trials in 2022. He was then bought by current owner Emily Oppenheimer, who evented him successfully for fun before passing on the ride to Gloucestershire-based professional rider Mike Jackson, who has moved the sweet-natured 10-year-old up to Intermediate level this season.

Piggy, who was delighted to meet up with her former charge at Cornbury House last week, said: “I had Bhodi straight out of training, and he took to eventing and to a new way of life like a duck to water. He is very intelligent; a clever horse who had seen the world before and was always a pleasure to work with.

“I’ve had two racehorses for Jayne, who has been a great supporter of mine over the years, and both have been very successful as eventers. One is Bhodi, and the other is Our Old Fella, known as ‘Polo’, who went up to CCI3* level with me. Polo is a little bouncy ball of a fun, athletic chap who has now gone on to give [former Grand National and Gold Cup-winning jockey] Mick Fitzgerald’s son Oscar a real leg up in his career as an event rider. Oscar is the new junior national champion, and I’d like to think that Polo has given him a lot of fun and experience.”

She continued: “The Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup is being held at Novice level, which is achievable for a lot of people, and it is so exciting to have the chance to aim at an incredible prize like this. It will be great to see more people appreciate the aptitude that thoroughbreds naturally have for eventing and make this class a real target.

“The great thing about Jayne is that she is passionate about her racing, but she does everything for the love of horses and for the sport. The same is true of Cornbury House Horse Trials’ founder and president David Howden; they, and more and more people in racing are determined that their horses should have happy lives after their racing careers, whether that is in other equestrian sports, as pets or in retirement. Thoroughbreds love to run, they love to jump, they love to be busy and to have jobs, and eventing can be the perfect second careers for them.”

Mike Jackson added: “Bhodi is a joy to deal with and comes out every day with his ears pricked. Thoroughbreds are built for speed, which is obviously important for eventing, and they are very intelligent. For generations they have been bred to thrive in a variety of different circumstances and big atmospheres. The Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme (TAP), which David Howden launched last winter, and this amazing class at Cornbury are a great way of opening a door to second careers for racehorses and helping and supporting them towards and through that.”

As well as a feast of equestrian sport, featuring many of the world’s most famous riders alongside young up-and-coming talent, Cornbury Horse Horse Trials is unique in its offering with a focus on local, sustainable food and drink from its neighbouring farms playing a huge part, premium hospitality, and interactive children’s activities in the stunning setting of Cornbury Park.

Visit www.cornburyhousehorsetrials.co.uk for more information about the Racehorse to Eventer Challenge Cup, all of Cornbury House Horse Trials’ classes, the 2025 timetable and to buy tickets.

Wednesday News & Notes from Loch Moy Farm

By on Jul 16, 2025 12:01 am -

How’s this for a save of the day? Joan Davis of Flatlandsfoto captured this moment on cross country at Huntington Farm in Vermont last weekend — and there was a happy ending: the rider was able to safely put the bridle back on to continue with her round. We’d love to see the video! If you want to see your photos from Huntington, click here.

U.S. Weekend Preview

The Event at Rebecca Farm (MT): [Website] [Halt Cancer at X] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Official Photographer] [Live Stream] [Volunteer]

Kentucky Summer H.T. (KY): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Horse Park of New Jersey H.T. II (NJ): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Silverwood Farm Summer H.T. (WI): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring]

Course Brook Farm Summer H.T. (MS): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]

Full Gallop Farm July H.T. (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer]

News & Reading

5* rider Matt Brown is back with another think piece, this time touching on the feeling we all know too well: burnout. Most people in the industry live in a constant version of survival mode, and while it may look somewhat different by individual, the overarching theme is a lack of sustainability. Matt chews through the idea of the productivity paradox and “subtraction thinking” to pose some thoughts to his readers. Read the piece here.

Did you know that the USEA hosts a Youth Mentorship Program each year? This unique curriculum invites young riders from all over the country to see what goes on across a variety of roles within the sport. Led by long-time program coordinator Vicki Howard-Fine, the Youth Mentorship Program is a way for new people to access the sport and learn about what place or places they could take in the community. Learn more in the latest edition of the USEA Podcast here.

We love an amateur rider who makes their way to the top levels! Sara Schulman is one such example, living the professional work life alongside her riding career, which has now taken her to the Advanced level. Together with her special, self-produced horse, Cooley Chromatic, Sara’s reaping the rewards of the balancing act that is the amateur life. Read a special feature on Sara here.

Sponsor Corner: Loch Moy Farm

Don’t miss out on your chance to show off your young horse in the innovative Bred to Event Classic series at Loch Moy Farm. The series consists of three qualifiers, the first of which takes place on July 27, leading up to the Bred to Event Classic Championship in mid-September. The Bred to Event Classic, created by Loch Moy Farm and the Maryland International Equestrian Foundation, is a competition dedicated to the breeding of event-bred horses and serves as an opportunity for breeders and owners alike to showcase their decision-making. Entries for the first event of this year are due TODAY, and you can learn more / enter here.

Video Break

Fresh on the airwaves! Hear from #supergroom Max Corcoran on the latest episode of “No Stupid Questions” from the Dear Horse World podcast: