Classic Eventing Nation

USEF Annual Meeting Highlights: Verdades Named 2018 International Horse of the Year

By on Jan 13, 2019 11:00 am -

Photo courtesy of USEF.

Dressage superstar Verdades was named the 2018 International Horse of the Year at the 2019 USEF Annual Meeting. “Diddy,” the 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Florett AS x Liwilarda, by Goya) joins his rider, Laura Graves, on this special podium as she was named 2018 Equestrian of the Year earlier this week.

Lauren and Diddy, who is owned by the rider and Curt Maes, shared many accomplishments in 2018 including winning the Grand Prix at the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Finals in Paris, earning team silver at the FEI Equestrian Games™ in Tryon, and becoming the first U.S. pair to earn an individual silver medal at a global championship. In recognition of this, they also became the first American combinations to sit #1 on the FEI Dressage World Rankings. You can read even more about Diddy at this link.

There has been much celebration and discussion at the US Equestrian Annual Meeting this week in West Palm Beach, Florida. EN wasn’t in attendance this year, but we’ve been following along to make sure you don’t miss any of it. Read on for highlights from Friday and Saturday, and click here for our other recaps.

Highlights from Friday, Jan. 11 and Saturday, Jan. 12

Verdades and Cobra Win at the 2018 Horse of the Year Gala presented by Aon

Effective Coaching for Sustained Success: Learning Tools from 2018

Equine Transaction Task Force Aims to Educate Members to Buy, Sell, and Lease Horses with Confidence

Consensus Emerges from Affiliate Roundtable

Growing the Grassroots: Advisory Group Takes Inventory of 2018

2019 US Equestrian Annual Meeting Links: Website, Meeting Schedule, Broadcast Schedule, Live Stream, Meeting App for iOS/Android, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

Image via US Equestrian.

Mayzie: One of The 52 Thoroughbreds

By on Jan 13, 2019 9:00 am -

Mayzie and Madalyn Rusinoff. Photo courtesy of Trinity Farm.

It all started with a Facebook post: 52 Thoroughbreds who needed immediate relocation. The story was spread far and wide and concluded with a happy ending as all horses were homed. But that success doesn’t stop the annual resurgence of the post across social media, much to the chagrin of the horse world.

Every year we pick back up where we left off, kindly explaining to the well-meaning pubic that these horses found homes, including one pregnant gray mare. Jockey Club registered as Gray Hot Momma (Magnificent One x Hot Plate), “Mayzie” found a soft landing with Joanne May. Joanne took the mare in and helped her deliver a healthy colt.

Once the colt was weaned, Joanne also helped Mayzie find a new career with Katherine Trimble at Trinity Farm, a non-profit therapeutic equestrian facility. Katherine visited Joanne’s barn in search of new horses for her program, but she couldn’t ignore the gray mare.

“We were going to see a couple horses at that barn that had potential and it just so happened that we fell in love with Mayzie,” she said. “She was very friendly and had great ground manners and was very inquisitive. We were drawn to her personality right away.”

Mayzie. Photo courtesy of Trinity Farm.

Mayzie settled into home at the Streetsboro, Ohio farm where she was folded into therapeutic riding program and began her eventing education.

“We have an inclusion program where we teach riders with and without special needs. Some of our eventing students have special needs, some don’t, but the upper level riders all volunteer back in the therapeutic riding program. They either ride alongside riders with special needs in the special olympics or volunteer to help at horse show or as walkers or leaders, so the program is all intertwined,” Katherine explained. 

Mayzie has taken to eventing like a fish to water, Katherine says. “Anything that we’ve ever shown her, she’s just taken in stride. It’s almost as if she’s made for it. The first time we introduced her to a water complex, she took to it naturally. She just wanted a little explanation, then she went right at it.”

While she mostly caters to the more advanced riders at Trinity Farm, including Madalyn Rusinoff, who currently leases her, Mayzie has a temperament that makes her a perfect candidate for many riders and handlers.

Mayzie. Photo courtesy of Trinity Farm.

“She loves working with all the different students. She has phenomenal ground manners and is very attentive to whoever is leading her,” Katherine said. “So if we have a brand new volunteer who hasn’t learned to lead yet, she’s very patient with them and she’ll take her time and she’ll stay right along side them. If she’s with a student that maybe has some physical disabilities with walking or having trouble holding the lead rope she’s very patient with all of that. She really meets every person where they are with their skills.”

Katherine admits they don’t typically go for green Thoroughbreds as new members of their program, but Mayzie has been an outstanding exception.

“She has been quite a unique horse to add to the program. Anybody who sees her immediately falls in love with her.”

Go Mayzie. Go eventing.

 

Sunday Links Presented by One K Helmets

By on Jan 13, 2019 12:01 am -

The first competitors of 2019 left the start box yesterday! Stable View and Majestic Oaks are first up on the calendar. I live near Aiken, and let me tell you: it was COLD today. So well done you winter warriors!

National Holiday: National Rubber Ducky Day

U.S. Weekend Action:

Majestic Oaks H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Stable View H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Sunday Links:

The Unique Meaning Behind the Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grants

PODCAST: Safety First + Better Management for Better Results

We Are All Individuals

21 of our favourite horse memes of all time

Equestrian mega centre releases 3D ‘tour’ of luxury facilities

Sunday Video:

Best of JN: Olympic & WEG Jumpers to Be Auctioned Online Following FBI Seizure

By on Jan 12, 2019 1:31 pm -

Photo by Alissa King / JN.

After being sentenced to ten years in prison for money laundering this past November, Alejandro Andrade’s string of top showjumpers are set to be sold via online auction. The horses were seized by US authorities on November 17th after Alejandro plead guilty to money laundering. As part of his plea agreement, he agreed to forfeit $1 billion and any assets related to the corruption. Those assets included real estate, vehicles, watches, aircraft and fourteen top-notch performance horses.

The horses, previously ridden by Alejandro’s son, Olympic showjumper Emanuel Andrade, will be sold February 19th-26th through CWS Asset Management and Sales.

Before you get too excited thinking you might get the deal of a lifetime on some exceptional horses, there is a catch. According to an article by Horse & Hound, interested buyers must submit a deposit of $50,000 to participate in the eight-day long auction.

That makes sense when you recognize that one of the horses listed for sale is Emanuel’s 2016 Olympic mount, Hardrock Z. Another interesting listing is Clouwni, whose resume boasts several Nations Cups performances and the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Rounding out the list of available horses are Ricore Courcelle, Reus De La Nutria, Anastasia Du Park, Boy IV, Bon Jovi, Cortina 186, Dipssy, Jenni’s Chance, Joli Jumper, Leonardo RGS, Quilina VD Laarseheide Z and Tupac Van De Vrombautshoeve Z.

Registered bidders may preview the horses at the Delray Equestrian Center in Florida January 28th-February 4th. CWS Asset Management released a statement that the horses are currently being brought back into work by a professional and are receiving first class care.

Sport Horse Nation Spotlight: 5 Saddles for A Super Ride

By on Jan 12, 2019 11:30 am -

In the market for a new four-legged partner? You may find your unicorn on our sister site, Sport Horse Nation. To help with the search, we’re going to feature a selection of current listings here on EN each week. We include the ad copy provided; click the links for videos, pricing and contact information.

Sport Horse Nation has more than just horses! There’s also saddles, trailers, employment opportunities and more! Check out five of our current saddle listings:

Amerigo Basso Pinerolo Monoflap. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

2014 Amerigo Basso Monoflap

Black 2014 Amerigo Basso Pinerolo Monoflap. 17.5″ -1 (med narrow), very good/excellent condition. Forward flap. It’s consigned at Sprucewood Tack Shop in Ontario, Canada (519-655-3165, website below). It’s available through Sprucewood for trials/purchase. I’m happy to answer any questions though. Priced at $5000 CDN, Americans, take advantage of the weak Canadian dollar. In US $ the saddle is approximately $3756US, depending on the exchange rate per day. Open to reasonable offers through Sprucewood.

Link is to the listing at Sprucewood
www.sprucewoodtack.com/used-amerigo-2014-basso-monoflap-1-17-5.html

Sprucewood does ship to the US. Located in Ontario, Canada.

Prestige 17” Jump Saddle

Beautiful, basically brand new 17” Prestige X Meredith Jump Saddle.
It is Tobacco colored calfskin leather, very supple and secure.
+2 long flap
34cm tree
Wool flocked
Just made in Italy this summer, got it home and rode in it less than 20 times before horse was injured.
Paid $4200 brand new, asking $3800 OBO and can include the new Bates leathers if you want. Located in Olympia, Washington.

Niedersuss Olympik dressage saddle 17.5/ Med. Cover incl. Jet black. Great cond!

Beautiful dressage saddle by Karl Niedersuss. This is the Olympik model with the upgraded leather on the seat and knee pads. It has seen little use and is in excellent condition. The tree is straight and solid. There are only a few cosmetic points to mention: small scuff on cantle, wrinkles on seat from seatbones, missing plastic on nail head. The original green KN saddle cover is included. Located in Florida.

PRESTIGE OPTIMAX DRESSAGE SADDLE

17″ Seat, Med. Tree (adjustable by qualified saddler), this saddle is in excellent condition with no blemishes – soft supple Italian calfskin which has been well maintained. This is a perfect saddle for someone who doesn’t want to buy ‘new’ but looking for good quality. Willing to offer a 3 day trial. Located in Southern Pines NC.

Prestige Passion 17/33 (M) Chocolate brown, forward flap, grippy leather

Beautiful and high quality saddle by Prestige Italy. This is the Passion model which has wonderful grippy leather and gorgeous stitching. It was widened from the original 32cm to the current 33cm. It has a forward flap and deep seat. Located in Florida.

Listings included in this article are randomly selected and confirmed to be current and active before inclusion. Sport Horse Nation features user-generated content and therefore cannot verify or make any warranty as to the validity or reliability of information.

Out of The Mouths of Babes: ‘7 Reasons to Be A Horse’

By on Jan 12, 2019 9:00 am -

7 Reasons to Be A Horse.

There’s something magical about the love a little girl has for horses. Often the catalyst for a lifelong passion, afternoons in the barn spent spent brushing and riding and squealing with glee are not easily forgotten by grown-up horsewomen. Those early days around horses are the foundation of your barn knowledge, where you learn the basics like ‘don’t stand right behind the horse.’ Some kids are much more intuitive than others, like this Area VII eventer.

Now grown, she shared some creative writing from her childhood that’s equal parts hilarious and relatable. Start your Saturday off right with this Kids Say The Darndest Things/EN mashup:

7 Reasons to Be A Horse

  1. No Matter what you look like, you’ll always be either beautiful or cute.
  2. You can be as loud as you want and no one will question you.
  3. People only ask you for about an hour of your day and spend the rest of it feeding and petting you.
  4. You can openly dislike one of your human’s friends and they will steer clear of you.
  5. You can freak out for no reason whatsoever.
  6. You have someone to give your heart to…
  7. … and that same someone to give you theirs right back.

Go eventing.

Saturday Links Presented by Nupafeed USA

By on Jan 12, 2019 12:01 am -

Top: Stark Direwolf, Lower Left: Lannister Lion, Lower Right: Targaryen Dragon. Photos by Mika Polniaszek.

“I clip and I know things” should perhaps be Mika Polniaszek’s new motto! Mika, a Game of Thrones fan and third year veterinary student at Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Veterinary Medicine, kindly shared these photos of her impressive handiwork with us. Mika and her Thoroughbred Brego competed across Area VI from 2010 to 2015 through Training level until the gelding’s retirement from eventing. Brego remains an important part of Mika’s life as she pursues her studies and she has clearly been having some fun with his annual winter clip job! Anyone else participating in the #GameOfClipping? Let us know!

National Holiday: Kiss a Ginger Day (Chestnuts included!)

U.S. Weekend Action:

Majestic Oaks H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Stable View H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Saturday Links:

We Are All Individuals

PODCAST: Safety First + Better Management for Better Results

Olympian Laura Graves’ valuable dressage lessons for jumper riders

4 Lessons From the Equestrian Businesswomen Summit

Dressage Schooling Notebook: An Exercise of Circles

‘Disagreement Among Doctors’ Has Comebacking Victor Espinoza In Holding Pattern

Poor Trailering Behavior in Horses: Risk Factors and Solutions

Saturday Video: Relive the excitement of Grand Oaks Inaugural Horse Trials in 2018 and get pumped for their next iteration next weekend!

Grand Oaks Inaugural Horse Trials

Grand Oaks Resort is pleased to present a video recap of our Inagural Horse Trials that took place January 19th-21st 2018!We look forward to seeing everyone back on property November 23rd-25th for our second Eventing Show, if not sooner.Tom Warriner Shelley Howerton Page Kacy Tipton-Fashik Marilyn Hunt Monica Lea Clayton Fredericks Tyson F Rementer Codie Fravel Phillips Buick GMC Scott Adcox Katie Reynolds 父 Wentz Joel Wiessner

Posted by The Grand Oaks Resort on Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Nupafeed® is excited to be a sponsor of the Grand Oaks Horse Trials Jan. 18th -20th as well as the Landsafe Clinic to follow on the 21st and 22nd.  We look forward to seeing you there as a competitor, a volunteer or a spectator!

Photo courtesy of Nupafeed USA.

#FlashbackFriday Video from SmartPak: The Oddest of Olympics

By on Jan 11, 2019 5:30 pm -

I know I’m not the only person who’s prone to falling down a seriously nerdy online rabbit hole. It usually happens when I’m researching a topic in earnest, and I stumble upon an article that conveniently links back to a million-and-one other articles. Before I know it, I’ve gone from writing a magazine feature about the importance of faecal egg counts to reading all about how Tom Cruise has a tooth that perfectly bisects his face. Wondering how I got from one to the next? Yeah, me too, pal. Me too.

Anyway, I was in the middle of one of these internet deep-dives the other day when I fell down an even more interesting — and relevant — well of information. I know what you’re thinking — more interesting than Tom Cruise or anything containing the word ‘faecal’? But somehow, despite the odds, it was more interesting than both of those things.

The subject matter of my (wholly incidental) choosing was the 1936 Berlin Olympics, colloquially referred to as the ‘Nazi Games’. They were most memorable, perhaps, for Jesse Owens’ historic athletics victories, which disproved the legitimacy of Adolf Hitler’s idea of Aryan genetic supremacy, and also helped to break new ground for people of colour in the US, where segregation and overt racism was still running rampant. And believe me — there are hundreds of articles and thinkpieces that are just begging to be written about what Owens accomplished. But I was on a deep dive, and there was no stopping for contemplation.

That is, until I discovered my new favourite piece of useless Olympics trivia.

I mean, we’ve all had our whoopsies, right? But one has to wonder who was responsible for stringing the cross-country course, frankly.

It might not seem particularly surprising that the German riders claimed every single gold medal across the three equestrian disciplines that year — after all, they’ve long been one of the strongest countries in the world where horse sports are concerned. But of course, that Olympics was a bit different to the rest, not least because the cross-country course harboured a few traps. There were holes in the water jumps, unseen dips in the middle of combinations, and all sorts of other tricks that turned rider after rider over — but rather curiously, not a single German rider had a problem through any of these dubious questions. Almost, some speculated, as though they’d been given an advance warning — or a secret schooling session.

It wasn’t all bad news — the equestrian competitions in 1936 clocked up some impressive and enthusiastic audiences.

 

Oh, and this happened to one of the French competitors:

The aforementioned could, perhaps, be attributed to a curious change of rules: teetotal Hitler banned the athletes from drinking any alcohol, but the Italian, French, Belgian and Dutch teams protested so vociferously that he had to lift the ban for them, and athletes from these four nations were served alcohol with every. Single. Meal.

There was also further speculation, when one of Japan’s early equestrian heroes took an uncharacteristic fall mid-course. How much of it was strategic? The truth is, perhaps, lost to history.

 

Check out this brilliant footage from the eventing at the ’36 Games — it was rough and ready, certainly, and sure, some of the riding leaves much to be desired, but each and every competitor was a military man on a military horse, and it’s remarkable to see how much of that training and skill has held up over the years. Fortunately, an enormous amount has changed since then, too — we’ve made huge advances in the sport’s safety, courses are designed and built with much stricter regulations, and the sporting world is, well, generally a bit nicer and less politicised of a place to hang out.

Chatwin Crowned 2018 Eventing Nation Horse of the Year

By on Jan 11, 2019 4:15 pm -

Frankie Thieriot Stutes and Chatwin at Fair Hill. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

We are delighted to announce that The Chatwin Group’s Chatwin has been named 2018 EN Horse of the Year after besting the field of five nominees and garnering more than 50% of the vote. As the only horse of amateur rider and mother of two Frankie Thieriot Stutes, Chatwin garnered international attention when EquiRatings highlighted that he was the only horse in the world to win two events at the CCI4*-L (formerly CCI3*) level or higher in 2018.

Chatwin, a 10-year-old Oldenburg (Contendro I X Oktav, by Oldtimer), won his last four events of the 2018 season, starting with the Rebecca Farm CCI4*-L (formerly CCI3*) and concluding with the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI4*-L. Frankie and Chatwin led Fair Hill wire-to-wire and finished on their dressage score to become the USEF National Champions. Their finishing score of 27.3 was the lowest at a CCI4*-L in North America in 2018.

Frankie Thieriot-Stutes and Chatwin, 2018 USEF National Champions. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

While Frankie, who was named the 2018 USEA Adult Amateur of the Year, acknowledges that she had a stellar season, she is also quick to point out that her season had a rather inauspicious start. She fell off at Twin Rivers in March — her first time hitting the dirt at an event in 14 years.

“No one remembers that I fell off early in the year, but my first couple shows were a little rough. It’s all just a matter of if you can pick yourself back up,” Frankie said. “Sometimes it’s your weekend and sometimes it’s not. This sport is about a lot of hard work and things coming together at the right time, and I was really lucky that things came together at the right time to win Fair Hill.”

Frankie said she is incredibly grateful for all the support she and Chatwin received during their fairytale season, which culminated in receiving the $50,000 Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant and landing a spot on the 2019 USEF Developing Potential Training List.

Frankie Thieriot Stutes received, among many other year-end awards, the $50,000 Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

“I had a wonderful season and 2018 was a year you can’t dream up, but it’s what we do in 2019 that matters now. When things don’t go right, I allow myself a little while to be really upset and then I move on. I think it’s important to have the same mentality about being successful,” Frankie said.

“I’ve taken time to enjoy what a wonderful experience it was to win Fair Hill, and I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to go because of the Jacqueline B. Mars Competition Grant. How it all unfolded was pretty magical. Now I’m firmly focused on the next season and our goals.”

Chatwin has started back to work after his winter holiday and is on a path that Frankie hopes will lead to her life-long goal of competing in her first CCI5*-L at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. She was entered to compete at Kentucky in 2010 with her former upper-level partner Fric Frac Berence, but he sustained an injury two weeks prior to shipping out.

She started Athletux, an equine marketing company, soon after, and for the past seven years she has attended Kentucky to represent and support her clients.

“When I had Fric entered for Kentucky, I’d never been before — not even to watch,” Frankie said. “I have a different view of it now that I’ve stood by the ring for the last seven years and had the privilege of being behind the scenes. I have pipe dreams of all my friends who I’ve been able to watch ringside and cheer for now being able to watch me.”

Frankie Thieriot Stutes and Chatwin at Fair Hill 2018. Photo by Jenni Autry.

While competing at Kentucky is her main goal for the 2019 season, Frankie is also thrilled to have the opportunity to compete overseas for the first time thanks to the $50,000 Rebecca Broussard International Developing Rider Grant.

“I definitely want to go overseas later in the year. If we go to Kentucky, that will determine so much of what the rest of our season looks like. We want to see where he measures up and how we do at Kentucky, which will decide where we end up competing overseas in the fall.”

No matter where her 2019 season ultimately takes her, Frankie hopes she and Chatwin can continue serving as ambassadors for adult amateur riders who have dreams to compete at the upper levels.

“At what point did it become this assumption that people who have a normal job can’t compete at the upper levels? If you can compartmentalize your life enough, then why can’t you? I’m not going to say it’s really easy, but it’s possible, and I’m really lucky to have incredibly supportive people in my life who are making it possible.”

Laura Graves Named 2018 Equestrian of the Year + USEF Annual Meeting Day 1-2 Roundup

By on Jan 11, 2019 11:00 am -

Laura Graves and US Equestrian President Murray Kessler. Photo by Taylor Pence/US Equestrian.

The 2019 US Equestrian Annual Meeting is well underway in West Palm Beach, Florida, where it will continue throughout the weekend. While EN sadly stayed home this year, we’ve been following along via the USEF Network live stream and taking notes for you!

Laura Graves Named 2018 Equestrian of the Year at Pegasus Awards Presented by Adequan

Dressage star Laura Graves took the top honor at this year’s awards, having enjoyed a stellar year with her and Curt Maes’s 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Verdades (Florett AS x Liwilarda/Goya). The pair led the U.S. to team gold at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games and became the first American combination to earn an individual silver medal at a world championship. Their success at the WEG boosted Laura and Verdades to the no. 1 spot on the FEI Dressage World Ranking List in October, marking the first time a U.S. dressage combination has been ranked as world number one. Congrats, Laura! A number of honors were awarded at the banquet — see the complete report here.

Highlights from Wednesday, Jan. 9 and Thursday, Jan. 10

President’s Report from General Session at the 2019 US Equestrian Annual Meeting: Members Make It Happen

US Equestrian Members are Making it Happen

US Equestrian Senior Staff Details Progress and Goals Moving Into 2019

The Power of Media and Membership: US Equestrian Taps into its Base with Effective Marketing

Building a Successful Equestrian Business: Four Common Themes

2019 US Equestrian Annual Meeting Moderated Forums and Workshops: SafeSport Panel – What You Need to Know

Major Rule Changes: News to Know Panel Reviews Proposed Rule Changes

Competition and Member Summit: Proposed Rule Changes for Competition Licensing Explained

US Equestrian Announces 2019 U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Coaching Team

2019 US Equestrian Annual Meeting Links: Website, Meeting Schedule, Broadcast Schedule, Live Stream, Meeting App for iOS/Android, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

Image via US Equestrian.