Those lucky enough to be out competing at Grand Oaks H.T. in Weirsdale, Florida have some really super swag to look forward to as prizes! I’m extra jealous this weekend because my region is bracing for what looks to be our first big pounding of snow this season. How is it that Massachusetts has had less snow than Virginia at this point in the season?
Saturday Video: Well, well – look who it is! EN’s own Jenni Autry was out and about at Grand Oaks this weekend. Please join the rest of the EN family in cheering Jenni on this season! #OneStarOrBust (ahem…CCI2*-L now, actually)
Nupafeed® is proud to be a small part of the success of Frankie Thieriot Stutes’ mount Chatwin, who was voted the 2018 EN Horse of the Year by the readers of Eventing Nation. Chatwin and Frankie won their last four events in a row ending with the USEF National Championships at the Fair Hill International CCI3* finishing on a score of 27.3, the lowest 3* score in North America in 2018. Frankie has been a long time customer of Nupafeed and we couldn’t be more excited for the success she has had with Chatwin!
And here it is, all 7 ways to catch a horse, to better help you choose a method that may work for you (we'd be surprised 🤔) … plus a bonus one, how it all started.
Just in case your horse is the lone sadomasochist who delights in whizzing away from you across the field (presumably to spend an extra hour or two clenching his bumcheeks against misplaced gusts of wind), the fabulous folks of Brookby Heights International in New Zealand have treated us to this very educational video. (You may remember the Brookby crew — and remarkably bombproof denizens Pumba and Kevin — from their brilliant sales ads, which quite rightly earned owner Karen Teague the unofficial title of Sales Ad Queen.) Can’t catch the quick-heeled little bugger? There’s every chance you just haven’t stumbled upon the right method yet. Don’t worry: there’s seven to choose from.
(An EN disclaimer: maybe leave this one to the pros, eh?)
Buck Davidson and Archie Rocks in the 2018 Fair Hill CCI3*, where they finished 3rd . Photo by Shelby Allen.
High-achieving Thoroughbreds in the sport horse world were honored during USEF Horse of the Year Awards, which took place on Jan. 12 at the US Equestrian Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Rood & Riddle Sport Horse Awards are given each year to Thoroughbreds participating in their second careers as performance horses in jumper, hunter, eventing and dressage competitions.
Competitors earn points toward the awards at USEF-sanctioned events during the show season, and the open divisional awards go to the highest point earners. There are two awards per discipline, open and rookie. A Horse of the Year is chosen among the open winners by a panel of celebrities, to be presented at the annual Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association awards banquet held in September.
The 2018 Eventing Open Division trophy was awarded to Archie Rocks, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred developed by through the three-star level by Maya Simmons, campaigned in 2018 by Buck Davidson, and recently sold to Felix Vogg. Bred in Michigan by Sharon Smith, he won $32,176 in 30 starts, racing under the Jockey Club name Smittys Messiah (Le Monde x Unbridled Diva, by Unbridled Jet).
He found his calling as an event horse and has had a phenomenal past year with Buck, finishing 8th in the Jersey Fresh CCI3*, winning the Plantation Field CIC3*, and finishing 3rd in the Fair Hill CCI3*. We wish this special OTTB continued success in 2019 with Felix in the irons! EN recently caught up with Felix for an interview and we’ll be bringing that to you very soon.
2018 Eventing Rookie Division winner Rebel Soul, who was the 2nd highest placed OTTB in the 70-horse CCI1* field at Ocala Jockey Club. Photo courtesy of Isabel Holden.
The Eventing Rookie Division trophy was awarded to Rebel Soul, an 8-year-old Thoroughbred gelding owned by Isabel Holden who made his FEI debut in late 2018. The pair finished 22nd in the Ocala Jockey Club CCI1* and had several top 10 finishes at Prelim horse trials throughout the year. Bred in Kentucky by Samuel Bayard, Rebel Soul (Bernstein x Bronze Abe, by Two Punch) earned $21,198 in 14 starts on the track before embarking upon his eventing career.
Isabel bought Rebel directly off the track in Minnesota from Cyndi Loomis four years ago, when he was a 4-year-old. “He had been spotted by trusted advisors while still racing as a great eventing prospect, and so of course I jumped on the chance when he was ready for his next career,” Isabel says.
“He spent his first year off the track mostly relaxing, and then started his training,” she says. “I am fortunate enough to work at Law Eventing, so Rebel and I as a pair have had coaching from two of the greats in our industry over the past three years.”
From 2015 through 2018 Rebel went from his first show to the one star level. Their plan for the winter is to put in a good season at the Prelim/1* level, with a move-up to Intermediate in the summer if all goes as planned.
Isabel Holden and Rebel Soul. Photo by Lee Ann Zobbe.
“So far he’s showing no signs of having reached his limit,” Isabel says. “He’s great in all three phases, extremely easy to handle, and has an excellent worth ethic. Rebel is competitive against the warmbloods and all other breeds. Thoroughbreds have amazing athleticism and heart. I have a young off the track mare that I will be starting to bring along in 2019 as well. I feel very fortunate to ride Rebel, and thankful to those that have mentored us.”
Many thanks to Rood & Riddle, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and the USEF for their support of Thoroughbreds in second careers.
“Rood and Riddle is pleased to join with TOBA and the USEF to sponsor awards that highlight the usefulness of Thoroughbreds as sport horses in the hunter, jumper, dressage and three day event disciplines,” said Dr. Tom Riddle, co-founder of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. “We congratulate all the winners and thank them for choosing a Thoroughbred to ride.”
Additional 2018 Rookie Winners:
Hunter Division: Unbridled Logic (Jockey Club Name: Unbridled Logic), by Lion Heart, out of Aheadnotatail. Owned by Oliver Brown of VA.
Jumper Division: Double Clear’s Flat Sexy (Jockey Club Name: End Zone), by Wild Zone, out of Colonial Sue. Owned by Anne Ayers Warner of NE.
Dressage Division: Rare Air (Jockey Club Name: Osceola Gal), by Tenpins out of Keen Scent. Owned by Katie Malensek of FL.
Additional 2018 Open Winners:
Hunter Division: Irascibull (Jockey Club Name: Irascibull), by Holly Bull out of Aerobatics. Owned by Susan Semen McDaniel and Frank Semen of OH.
Jumper Division: Jet (Jockey Club Name: Reckless Cat), by Cat’s at Home out of Love Whisper. Owned by Lila Sessums of MS.
Dressage Division: Raphael (Jockey Club Name: Red Phase), by Monreal Red out of Joyful Pat. Owned by Rebecca Sturdy of IL.
You hear nice-to-a-fault people all the time bemoaning “I can’t say no!” As a species, we’ve perfected the old nod-and-smile: “Of course I’m excited about wearing this bridesmaid dress that makes me look like a pregnant manatee!” or “Of course I’d be happy to cover your shift so you can get a head start on your amazing beach vacation!”
Horses don’t have this problem. They have no qualms about saying “no,” “hell no,” “this activity is stupid,” “you are stupid,” “everything is stupid,” and/or “I quit, bye-bye.” You never have to wonder where a horse stands on an issue, because they’ll straight-up let you know.
Kids these days….they have a lot more motivation to ride in this weather than me!
I heard yesterday that by January 17th, most people have already broken or given up on their New Year’s Resolutions, so if you’re here with me on the 18th still going strong, congrats! You are already better than average, and it’s not even 1/12 of the year gone yet. In other news, do people actually follow resolutions for the entire year? Do you know people like that? Is that a real thing?
We are saddened to report that a 22-year-old Scottish eventer, Natasha Galpin, died after an accident while galloping a racehorse on Jan. 15. Natasha, winner of the 2018 Scottish and Northern Novice Championships, was on the grass gallops of a training yard in Carrutherstown, Scotland, when the horse she was on ruptured an artery, caused by Gutteral Pouch Mycosis. Galpin was taken to the hospital where she passed away on Wednesday. The horse also did not survive. Our deepest condolences to Natasha’s family and friends. [Young Eventing Rider, Horse Die After Race-Training Incident]
Looking for some serious mid-winter inspiration for the upcoming season? I got you covered. Or rather, Buck does. International three-day eventer and top-ranked U.S. rider Buck Davidson, aided by Silvio Mazzoni, shared his thoughts on how to ride a well-prepared show-jumping warm-up for different types of horses. “Training horses is about consistency,” Buck says. “If you want to teach your horse to jump a barrel without a bridle and saddle, you can do that. As long as you train your horse the same way, he will understand what’s expected.” [Show Jumping Warm-Up Strategies That Work]
Tickets are now on sale for the 2019 Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. The box office is now open for the Gloucestershire event, which runs from Wednesday 1 to Sunday 5 May. Early bird discount personal admission tickets range from £8for the Mitsubishi Motors Cup and the first horse inspection on Wednesday to £30 on cross-country day (Saturday). Vehicle passes are £10 with discounted prices for season (whole event) passes. Children aged 12 and under go free. All admission prices rise by £2 on the gate. [Go To Badminton! Do it!]
Relive the 2018 USEA Convention with this video of five expert course designers discussing the future of cross country. James Atkinson led a panel including course designers Captain Mark Phillips, John Michael Durr, Gretchen Butts, Morgan Rowsell, and Cathy Wieschhoff in a discussion about the responsibilities of the course designer and the many factors that influence course design. The panel educated attendees on how the horse’s vision works and provided examples of how designers use decoration to help the horse see all four corners of the fence. The conversation then turned to terrain, covering how and why designers use terrain and how they use it to influence how the horse sees a fence. They explained how the horse’s balance and stride length relate to the degree of slope. [Education Friday: Cross Country Designs for the Future]
After watching this helmet cam on Horse Nation of a snow white, 14.2-hand Connemara named Prince gamely tackling cross country, I had to know more: WHO IS THIS PONY?!?!
A little research turned up that he belongs to a British young rider named Gracie, who events him at the BE105 level. “He really is the sweetest, and loveliest pint I’ve ever met and I’m so proud of how far we have come as a partnership this year,” she writes of her 2018 recap video. “We ended on a high yesterday as well completed our first ever 110/115cm — I am so excited to see what happens next year!”
Watch this vlog of them cross country schooling earlier this week. That fence is as big as you are, Prince!
Best of luck, Gracie and Prince. You can find more footage of Prince and his fellow Connemara buddy Dan on the Pony Nuts YouTube channel, and on Instagram.
Phillip Dutton has confirmed he will compete in Aiken’s inaugural eventing showcase. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
General admission tickets are now on sale for the $50,000 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing on March 1-2 at Bruce’s Field in Aiken, South Carolina. The competition will run in a showcase format, with dressage and show jumping held on Friday, March 1, followed by cross country on Saturday, March 2.
The biggest names in North American eventing are expected to compete, and a number of top international riders have expressed interest in crossing the pond to take a crack at the prize money. (The organizers are currently in search of Advanced event horses who can serve as catch rides for international riders. Click here for more information.)
General admission tickets cost $12 per day, or you can purchase a weekend pass for $20. Click here to purchase general admission tickets.
VIP tickets cost $375 and include a champagne breakfast on Friday morning during dressage, drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres on Friday afternoon and evening during show jumping, and lunch with an open bar on Saturday afternoon during cross country. Click here to purchase VIP tickets.
Sponsorship packages that include VIP access start at $500. Click here to view sponsorship information.
Are you planning to attend Aiken’s inaugural eventing showcase? Let us know in the comments below!
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!
Photo by Grace Busse.
Hello everyone, and welcome to the very first part of my winter weather journey. If you are anything like me, or what I would consider the “average” eventer, you are currently debating whether or not your winter break should come to an end. It’s easy to get lost in the funk that is shorter days, colder weather and sometime a downright boring ride. That’s right, I said it, BORING. Even the most obsessed horse riders have their mundane days.
For those of you who are lucky enough to have an indoor arena to work in, you are dreaming of greener grass and a day when you aren’t stuck in an arena doing circles upon circles upon circles upon circles upon circles upon circles …. For those of you who don’t, you really just want one day where the footing isn’t crap, you can still feel your pinky fingers, and you’re not soaked to the bone in some sort of off yellow/brown colored substance. It is becoming easier and easier to head out to the barn, give your horse some love and turn around and head right home, without even opening your locker and saying hi to your tack.
If you are able to relate to this in any way, whether you are from the southern side of Texas to the most northern forests of Minnesota, then I encourage you to keep reading and join along in my journey. If you are one of the lucky ducks who enjoy wintering in Florida or Aiken, well then maybe join along, too? My hope in writing this, along with providing videos, pictures and articles, is to help any and all riders who are looking for an easy central source of developing fitness from “0” to competition, have some fun, and learn new tricks.
The Rider: Let me start by telling a little bit about myself. I am the epitome of your average Adult Amateur from Area IV. Hello, my name is Madison and I’m addicted to horses. It has been exactly 0 days since my last search on Dover for more things I don’t need, and I live in the heart of central Iowa. That is IOWA with the corn, not Idaho with the potatoes. I work full time at a law firm, waitress part time to support my horse addiction and go to school part time. No rest for the wicked, they say.
After my last competition at the end of October, one I had spent much blood, sweat and tears preparing for, I gave my little pony just over two months off. The first month was a breath of fresh air, only riding every now and then. December the holidays took over. And now it’s January of the new year, and I am sitting here kicking myself because my horse has lost a significant amount of topline/fitness and the only tool I seem to have to get it back is an indoor area. Not ideal.
The Victim: Finn the Finntastic wonder pony. Finnamon toast crunch, Finn the mudblooded cowpony I bought off the lot for $750 with less than 30 days on her and an attitude for life that did not match her size of 14.3. She has a heart of gold, and she is my soul horse.
I have been eventing for close to 15 years and I can tell you, she was not the horse I was planning on purchasing. In fact, what I wanted was a 17-hand OTTB(oh the irony). Everything about her, and how she is built works against her when it comes to staying fit and learning the game, but she TRIES, and I’m not really sure I would want it any other way.
We started the year trying not to careen around the arena at Mach 10, leaning harder than a Kawasaki around a race track, and finished our year earning an 8 on our canter work. I am ever so proud of it. We have competed together at many schooling shows, got TEed from our first two recognized events due to rider error (excuse me while I slam my head against the wall for my “learning the hard way” mistakes) and finally landed a finishing score of 33.3 at Windermere Horse Trials, our third recognized event ever, and the first event I ever finished in the 15 years I have been eventing.
Our second time jumping ever. Please note the terror on our onlookers’ faces. Photo by Derith Vogt.
Almost one year later, competing at Catalpa Corners Charity Horse Trial. Photo by Derith Vogt.
The Reality: I have been bitten with the competition bug and set my sights high for the American Eventing Championships in Kentucky. However, as a result of waiting for the weather to improve, the days to become longer and the season to start once again, I have become quite stir-crazy. At work I find myself letting my rump grow as wide as the chair I currently sit, and procrastinating everything so that I may instead spend my time looking and looking and looking for new and better ways to help us prepare for next show season. The countdown starts now, and our first schooling show is April.
So now let’s get to the point of my ramblings: The purpose of these articles first and foremost will be to keep myself accountable for getting both myself and my horse back into shape. Thus avoiding the April shock of “Oh my god I have a show in four weeks and I haven’t ridden in four months.” And allow an open discussion/portal into how I am choosing to get my horse fit, and how you can, too. I am hoping all my fellow eventers out there will find a touch of motivation out of this as I bare my soul to the world, and try and avoid those nasty winter blues.
Update by update I will key in on what Finn and I have been working on, provide videos and articles giving insight into why I chose to exercise the way I did, and what I am doing to help bring Finn back to tip-top riding shape. I would like to share our ups and downs, what works and what doesn’t, and cultivate different ideas. If anything, it will encourage at least one person who reads this to set goals, keep pushing and not lose enthusiasm. No shame in admitting that this time of the year is hard, so let’s all join together and set ourselves up for a productive spring.
Disclaimer: I am in no way a trainer or a vet. None of these training ideas are original to me. Anything and everything typed beyond this point should be taken in stride with your own plans that you may have already coordinated with your vet, physical therapist, trainer, etc. These are simply things that I am trying myself or with the help of my trainers, and wanted to share with the world. Remember: These are ALL suggestions only.
Before I continue any further, I must emphasize the importance of a properly fitting saddle. Having an ill fitting saddle will only inhibit your ability to build proper muscle, allow the horse to relax and keep your horse feeling comfortable and willing.
WEEK 1: Fitness Level “0”
Walk work. UGH – I KNOW
I know it’s not the fun stuff. But it’s EVER so important for giving yourself the base any and all horses need to build strength and character. The key here is remembering that energy does not equal strength/fitness. For all you hot blooded horse lovers out there, this means that just because your horse is constantly spooking and daring you to run him around the area because he just really wants to go, doesn’t mean he is in shape for it. The goal by starting with walk work is equivalent to slow and steady wins the race(and ideally prevents injury. (Quick, I said the “I” word! Everyone go knock on the closest piece of wood you can find. DEAR GOD knock on that WOOD)
Finn and I normally start off with 5-10 minutes of keeping my hand on the buckle of the reins letting her look around the area, taking in the environment, keeping a steady pace and practicing turning of my legs. Simple as that. Not really worrying about her being a the bit, but simply allowing her to let her brain settle a little her surroundings and making her she is aware of your aids. It’s pretty freaking cold in Iowa right now, and this also gives her muscles a chance to warm up and remember that they too, must work for a living.
Next it’s another 10-15 minutes of connected long and low stretchy walk. Constantly changing diagonals, doing 20m and 10m circles, figure eights, you name it. I change the bend constantly, keep her moving off my leg in a nice marching walk and try to allow her to relax and come over the back. The more the horse relaxes, the more you should feel the shoulders swing in the gate.
By now you are 15 to 20 minutes into your ride. Maybe throw in a little counter bend. If your horse is more advanced, lateral work is going to be your best friend. Make sure they are listening to your aids. The key here is not to get frustrated or fight when they don’t want to relax down. You don’t want to find yourself cranking your hands and pulling. Help yourself by thinking more about pouring the horse out in front of you, instead of pulling down and backwards.
The video below gives great insight on feeling out the stretchy walk:
After which, I do about 10 minutes of trot work and then begin to cool down. I know it doesn’t seem like much, but normally after about 10 minutes of the same long and low routine, all while constantly changing our bend, Finn is a-huffing and a-puffing.
My goal for the first to second week is simply to retune myself with my horse. The bottom line is that I haven’t ridden consistently in the last two months, so I cannot expect to grab Finn out of the pasture and be ready to perform. I am just trying to feel where her strengths and weaknesses are.
My goal is to be able to feel Finn take consistent purposeful steps while maintaining nice and low contact. The entire base of training starts from the walk. If I can’t do something at the walk, how should I expect to do it at the trot or canter? As this becomes easier I will incorporate more, but for now, this is all Finn needs. Riding like this, keeping everything long and low is enough to help build enough strength to keep progressing forward. My biggest fear is rushing her into collection and as a result making her back and hindquarters sore. That would set us back months.
Image via USDF.
For Me:
Guess what, we riders aren’t off the hook yet either. Rider fitness is just as important. How can we continue to improve if I can’t properly stay with my horse and support her through her movements. The two biggest pieces for me are cardio and core strength. So this week I’ll start there.
Stretching: Hip Flexor Stretch. One of the tightest areas for equestrians tends to be their hip flexors. I am no exception. Take a minute to warm up, and then give this stretch a try. Do NOT push yourself to look like the person in the video. If you can’t do the stretch right away, don’t fret. It’s something to work on.
Walking: I am trying to walk 15 minutes extra a day if I can. Around the block, on a treadmill, anything. I have to start somewhere. Trust me, walking/running is one of my least favorite things to do. And honestly, if you knew me, you would be concerned for my health if you see me exercising voluntarily. I am trying to find a way to do this five days a week, whether it’s a break at lunch, or taking the stairs more often.
The Plank: We all know this horrible exercise, but it’s the simplest one to start with. I have started doing it in the morning after I get out of bed. Got to get it out of the way early. I am just starting by holding it for 30 seconds at a time. Eventually I will work up to a minute. And then eventually two minutes. This is just one of many core exercises you can start with too. (Don’t worry — the more we go along with this, the more core work I will torture you with.)
Finally, while I sit here trying to type this all up, I found myself reading tons and tons of articles on winter fitness. This one jumped out at me, and I think it’s a great start.
My suggested article for the week is by Marcia King from Thehorse.com: “Winter Workouts.”
I am planning on taking periodic pictures of both Finn and I, and I encourage you to do the same. Slow progress is hard to see, and keeping track of where you started to where you are a month from now can be quite encouraging. Please feel free to suggest other ideas and stories about stretches and exercises that work for you. Thanks for reading. See you next time!
Yesterday I got on my young horse, and after three days off because of full snow coverage, I knew within approximately 10 seconds that I had to get off and go get the lunge line. I thought maybe I would survive just to ride him to the arena (it’s far away from the barn and I’m lazy) but nope. It was not meant to be. So, we lunged and roped over some little jumps and fillers, and called it a day. I’m not tryna start out my 2019 by being launched into the air, okay? Sometimes you just gotta go back to the basics.
Double WEG silver medalist Padraig McCarthy is teaching a clinic on Jan. 22-23 at Paradise Farm in Aiken, South Carolina. Tuesday is show jumping day, and Wednesday is cross country day. There are two spots left for the two-day clinic: one Preliminary and one Intermediate. There is also one Intermediate cross country spot available. The cost is $475 for both days. Contact Jane McDonald to book one of the final slots.
Looking for a European adventure combined with some inspirational equestrian education? Time to go check out the annual International Eventing Forum, held on February 4th this year at Hartpury Equine in the UK. The theme this year is “Better — Not More Education”. With five of the best trainers and riders in the world, all on the schedule to share their knowledge for a full day of top quality education, entertainment, and inspiration. [Attend the International Eventing Forum]
Retired Racehorse Project founder Steuart Pittman received the EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award this week. The EQUUS Foundation and the United States Equestrian Federation established the Humanitarian Award in 2009 to honor a member of the equestrian world who has devoted considerable personal time to making the quality of life of our equine partners paramount. Steuart recognized the value of Thoroughbred athletes, even as they seemed to slip out of fashion in some circles. Rather than bemoan that trend, he set about changing it. With a group of friends, he founded the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) in 2010. [RRP Founder Honored with Humanitarian Award]
Wow. Honestly I’ve never read a more comprehensive “Best of 2018” article ever. Horse & Hound has compiled an extremely detailed and organized product compendium for the best in every category from last year. From riding clothes to rubber boots, horse blankets, boots, saddle pads and shampoo. This is the list. THE list. [Best in Test Products 2018]
Silva Martin is planning a comeback for herself and homebred mare, Rosa Cha W in just a few weeks. The mare suffered a freak bout of Potomac Horse Fever in 2017, resulting in founder in all four feet, and a year of stall rest and aggressive management by everyone involved for a miraculous recovery. Last year, Silva struggled with her second pregnancy with son Leo and an emergency C-section, but now in January they’re both planning on competing together again at the Grand Prix Level. [Ringside Chat with Silva Martin: Overcoming Adversity and Changing Priorities]
Raising children is no easy task. Much like the horses in your barn, you’ve got to make sure to get them fed, watered and exercised. If you’re short on time, lunging your kids is a viable option. Great for parents on the go, or for the toddler that needs a pre-ride before day care, lunging is the preferred exercise method for parents, just ask Andrew Hoy!
Only kidding, but it looks plenty fun for Andrew and his daughter Philippa!
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