Where there are #EventerProblems there are #EventerSolutions, as we horsefolks tend to be a pretty crafty, resourceful and frugal (read: broke) bunch. In this spinoff series we spotlight some of your most inventive problem-solving masterpieces. Be sure to tag your photos with the hashtag #EventerSolutions on social for inclusion in future editions!
Anyone who is currently facing the frustrating winter woe of frozen water troughs will want to pay close attention to this clever #EventerSolution courtesy of EN reader Alice VanBokkelen.
Which horse will win the coveted Golden Chinchilla?
It’s time to kick off the voting for 2018 Eventing Nation Horse of the Year! Now in its sixth year, ENHOTY gives us the opportunity to recognize the achievements of standout horses in North America during the prior season.
This year we evaluated all horses who completed a spring and fall long format event at the CCI4*-L (formerly CCI3*) or CCI5*-L (formerly CCI4*) levels. (Note that the FEI’s new star system came into effect on Jan. 1, 2019. All levels have now shifted up. Click here for a detailed breakdown of the new star system.)
There were four horses that clear stood out to us. Three of them finished in the top two at two CCI4*-L events (formerly CCI3*), while one was the only horse in the U.S. to deliver clear cross country and show jumping rounds at two CCI5*-L (formerly CCI4*) level competitions during the 2018 season.
Before we unveil the nominees for 2018 EN Horse of the Year, please join us in saluting the past recipients of the Golden Chinchilla:
Without further ado, read on to peruse the season highlights for our four nominees, listed in alphabetical order. Scroll down to the bottom of the post to cast your vote for 2018 ENHOTY. The polls will close at 10 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Jan. 9. We will honor the winning horse on Thursday, Jan. 10.
Good luck to all! Go Eventing.
2018 EN HORSE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Frankie Thieriot Stutes and Chatwin. Photo by Shelby Allen.
CHATWIN
10-year-old Oldenburg gelding
(Contendro I X Oktav, by Oldtimer)
Owned by The Chatwin Group
Chatwin was the only horse in the world to win two events at the CCI4*-L (formerly CCI3*) level or higher during the 2018 season — an impressive statistic that saw him face off against reigning World Champion Allstar B as the wildcard for 2018 EquiRatings Horse of the Year. Adding in the fact that Frankie Thieriot Stutes is an amateur rider who balances motherhood and a full-time career makes Chatwin’s stellar season all the more impressive.
In his eight completed runs at international and national level in 2018, Chatwin won five times and never finished outside of the top five. His dressage score of 22.7 at Twin Rivers was the lowest score posted at any Advanced horse trials in the country in 2018.
Chatwin won his last four events in a row, starting with the Rebecca Farm CCI4*-L (formerly CCI3*) and concluding with the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI4*-L (formerly CCI3*). 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 also the lowest at a CCI4*-L (formerly CCI3*) in North America in 2018.
Caroline Martin and Islandwood Captain Jack. Photo by Jenni Autry.
ISLANDWOOD CAPTAIN JACK
9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding
Jack of Diamonds X Suir Touch, by Touchdown
Owned by Caroline Martin and Sherrie Martin
The youngest of our ENHOTY nominees delivered six clear show jumping rounds at the Advanced and four-star (formerly three-star) levels during the 2018 season — more than any other horse in North America. When you consider that 2018 was also Islandwood Captain Jack’s first season at the Advanced level, it’s clear Caroline Martin has a serious horse for the future.
In his five runs at international level in 2018, “James” finished outside the top 10 only once. He finished second in his CCI4*-L (formerly CCI3*) debut at Jersey Fresh, adding only cross country time penalties to his dressage score. His cross country pace increased in speed in each of his last four consecutive outings, resulting in a sixth-place finish in the FEI Nations Cup at Great Meadow CICO4*-S (formerly CICO3*) with one of the fastest rounds of the day.
James was the only horse to finish on his dressage score in the Rebecca Farm CCI4*-L (formerly CCI3*) to place second on 35.3. By far the greenest horse of the ENHOTY nominees, James held his own amongst more experienced horses in his inaugural season at Advanced level and is a horse to watch in the 2019 season and beyond.
Boyd Martin and Long Island T. Photo by Jenni Autry.
LONG ISLAND T
12-year-old Oldenburg/Thoroughbred gelding
Ludwig von Bayern x Haupstsbuch Highlight, by Heraldik xx
Owned by the Long Island T Syndicate
As 2018 USEA Horse of the Year, Long Island T has already claimed a top honor in what proved to be a strong season that saw him rack up more top-five finishes at the Advanced and four-star (formerly three-star) levels than any other horse in the U.S. “Ludwig” battled the elements to win his CCI4*-L (formerly CCI3*) debut at Jersey Fresh on a record-setting weekend for Boyd Martin.
He delivered a personal best dressage score at Millbrook of 22.9, the second best Advanced score in the country during the 2018 season. Ludwig also delivered clear show jumping rounds in his final three international runs of the season, starting with a strong third-place finish at the Bromont CIC4*-S (formerly CIC3*) in an all-star field full of horses heading to the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
Ludwig increased his cross country speed at each consecutive international run in 2018, culminating in adding only 4.0 time penalties to his dressage score at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI4*-L (formerly CCI3). He finished in second place at Fair Hill to take the USEF National Reserve Championship.
Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Jenni Autry.
Z
10-year-old Zangersheide gelding
Asca X Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z
Owned by The Z Partnership
Z was one of 12 horses in the world nominated for EquiRatings Horse of the Year thanks to one of the strongest seasons we saw from a 10-year-old in 2018. He won the World Equestrian Games Test Event at The Fork CIC4*-S (formerly CIC3*) after adding just 0.4 cross country time penalties to his dressage score. Z then went on to finish on his dressage score at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event for a fifth-place result in his CCI5*-L (formerly CCI4*) debut.
After being named as Phillip Dutton’s mount for the U.S. WEG team, Z delivered a personal best dressage score of 27.1 at Bromont in the squad’s final outing, where he finished sixth. He then finished 13th in his championship debut at WEG as the highest-placed U.S. horse, adding only cross country time penalties to his dressage score and delivering the only clear show jumping round for the team.
Z didn’t have a single show jumping penalty all season at Advanced, four-star or five-star level, accumulating five clear rounds in all. That achievement is the second best in the U.S. behind Islandwood Captain Jack’s six clears, though two of Z’s rounds came over CCI5*-L (formerly CCI4*) level courses at Kentucky and Tryon. His season culminated in being named the #1 event horse on the 2018 World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) Rankings.
Many thanks to EN’s data analyst Maggie Deatrick for contributing statistics for this article.
The annual Windchase Polar Dive! Photo courtesy of Phyllis Dawson.
Working students at Windchase farm dove head first into 2019! Annually on New Year’s Day, these guys take the icy plunge. This moment is my favorite — they’re just inches from hitting the water and the inevitable chill that follows. Swim on, 2019!
#LÆ Training Tip: Teaching a young or green horse to lunge and don’t have access to a round pen? Find a fenced corner of your arena or pasture and place three jumps as the border where there isn’t fencing in order to create a positive learning environment for your horse! Lunging is a great way to teach your horse to stretch, self-carriage and eventually begin collection so it’s never too soon to start! Here’s 3 yo Flynn demonstrating his first attempt in lunging!
Charlie Unwin speaking at the 2017 IEF. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The countdown is on for the 2019 International Eventing Forum (IEF), which will take place on Feb. 4, 2019, at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, England. Since its inception in 2004, the IEF has grown into a top pre-season educational event in the UK that consistently brings together an all-star lineup of top equine professionals.
This year’s IEF theme of “Better — Not More Education” will address the concept that not all training is created equal: “Training can only be of value if pupils are in a receptive place and educators understand what is of value to teach. So often pupils think that just because they are there and attend training, things get better! Training and trainers so often go through the motions with little perception that they are in fact making things worse, because they are confusing the message.”
The talented dressage duo of Adam Kemp and Matt Frost, who founded AM Dressage in 2009, will kick off the IEF with their session “Simple Still Works.” British Eventing Team performance manager Dickie Waygood will then speak on “Direct Riding.”
Following the lunch break, international course designer Tom Holden will team up with former show jumping world champion Dermott Lennon for “The Jumping Test” and “The Solution” in the feature afternoon session.
Tickets cost £55 at the door and £40 for groups of more than 20. Click here to book tickets.
EN’s UK correspondent Tilly Berendt and guest columnist William Micklem have covered the IEF for EN for the past two years. Be sure to revisit their coverage for a bit of light winter reading:
The Banksia Bank will serve as one of 20 jumps on the cross country course for the $50,000 LiftMaster Invitational. Photo courtesy of Bruce’s Field.
Eric Bull and his team have been hard at work building the cross country course for the $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Invitational, presented by LiftMaster, which will serve as the inaugural eventing showcase at Bruce’s Field on March 1-2, 2019, in Aiken, South Carolina.
Invitations will be extended to the top 40 riders in the world to compete in a two-day competition featuring a morning of dressage and an evening of show jumping on March 1, followed by an afternoon of cross country on March 2.
Capt. Mark Phillips designed a 2,500-meter cross country course that will include 20 jumping efforts, all of which will have Aiken-themed names and serve as a tribute to the iconic equestrian community. Click here for a sneak peek at the fences, which have names like the Carolina Bay water complex, the Banksia Bank, The Willcox table, the Hitchcock Woods Fox Squirrel and St. Mary’s Church.
The Carolina Bay water complex is taking shape. Photo courtesy of Bruce’s Field.
When the late Bruce Duchossois purchased the land that would become Bruce’s Field in 2000, he had a vision to grow it into South Carolina’s premier equestrian facility while also maintaining its historic character and paying forward the spirit of generosity.
The Aiken Horse Park Foundation announced yesterday that the showcase will also serve as a Ride for Charity, with the riders representing local non-profit organizations. During the Thursday evening welcome party, each rider will be partnered with a charity. The winning rider will receive $2,500, with second place receiving $1,500 and third place receiving $1,000 — all of which will go to the corresponding charities. Local charities can apply to participate here.
“Because of the late Bruce Duchossois’ support of my career and the ensuing success of Aiken’s eventing community, I am particularly honored to recognize Bruce’s legacy through the creation of what will be an annual highlight to Aiken’s equestrian season,” Phillip Dutton said.
“The eventing showcase format provides a unique experience for both horse and rider while allowing spectators a close and personal perspective.”
Boyd Martin, the three-time undefeated winner of the Wellington Eventing Showcase, has also announced his intent to compete, and we are expecting an all-star entry list. The weekend will also serve as a fun-filled event for the community, with a beer fest featuring local craft beer and other activities for the whole family.
If you can’t make it to Aiken to watch the inaugural eventing showcase in person, EQTV Network will also be streaming all the action live.
A slew of sponsorship opportunities are available, including sponsorship of the one-of-a-kind cross country jumps being built for the showcase. Click here to view sponsorship opportunities and contact Tara Bostwick at [email protected] for more information.
Let’s be honest — in a sport as humbling as eventing, having the ability to laugh at ourselves is practically a prerequisite for participation. That’s why we love Australian eventer Maryanne Wallace’s comic series called Horse on the Run, which captures all the highs and lows of horse ownership and competing.
Click here to browse through her extensive list of comics — here are six only horse people will understand.
Emily Daignault-Salvaggio and Gin Joint, winners of the Field Hunter division at the 2015 Thoroughbred Makeover. Photo by Heather Benson.
When the Retired Racehorse Project raised the trainer application fee for the 2019 Thoroughbred Makeover to $300 — a $100 increase — not everyone took the changes in stride. Following heated debates on social media, Emily Daignault-Salvaggio decided to step in and create the Give Back to Go Scholarship to refund the application fee for one lucky trainer.
“Paying it forward has always been huge for me,” she describes. “We were the kind of family where our parents took us to soup kitchens at the holidays and taught us that it was our responsibility to help. My parents led with a really good example.”
Describing herself as “lucky in life and lucky in horses,” Emily has always made it a point to give back, selecting charities including CANTER Pennsylvania as an annual recipient of funds from her family’s foundation.
Emily is no stranger to the Thoroughbred Makeover, having won the field hunter division with Gin Joint in 2015, and knows the journey to the Kentucky Horse Park is an expensive one. With that in mind, Emily launched the Give Back to Go Scholarship, which will refund the Thoroughbred Makeover trainer application fee for one deserving individual.
Keeping in line with Emily’s philosophy of paying it forward, each scholarship applicant must make a donation to a horse-related charity as part of the application process.
“I hope that by encouraging others to pay it forward, I can help people realize how awesome it can be to help change the world positively,” Emily said.
Full details for the scholarship are on the scholarship’s website. Here’s a breakdown of the application process:
Scholarship applicants should apply to the Thoroughbred Makeover first. The Retired Racehorse Project will refund the entry fee of the winning scholarship applicant.
The scholarship should be applied for separately from the Thoroughbred Makeover — there is no automatic entry for the scholarship.
Scholarship applications must include either a written description or a two-minute video of what it would mean to the applicant to receive the scholarship, plus proof that the applicant has made a donation to a horse-related charity.
Finalists will be selected by a panel of judges consisting of other 2015 Thoroughbred Makeover division winners, with one winner selected by a group of well-known Thoroughbred-related individuals.
Get ready to Go Eventing in sunny Florida – dates for Red Hills International Horse Trials have recently been announced! The annual event will be held March 7-10, 2019, underneath the picturesque Spanish moss at Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park in Tallahassee, Florida. With three days of competition, tailgating, a shop-’til-you-drop vendor area and other exhibits, Red Hills is the perfect excuse for a warm weather getaway. Spectator tickets go on sale beginning January 14.
If you’re based in the States, you may be lucky enough to avoid riding on the roads entirely. But if you’re a UK-based rider, it’s likely that roadwork is unavoidable, as privately-owned parcels of land tend to be much smaller and access to bridlepaths is dwindling constantly. Those who ride out regularly know all too well how risky it can be: despite high-visibility clothing, frequent warning signs, and a number of campaigns, many motorists continue to drive too fast, too close, and too recklessly around horses. The results? Often frightening, and occasionally tragic.
Manchester-based student Holly Woollock was fed up of seeing the grim statistics playing out, and so she decided to take action. She created this tearjerker of a video as part of her coursework, showing the heartbreaking reality that far too many riders have had to face. A fair warning: it’ll make you have a bit of a cry — but it might also persuade your non-horsey friends to slow down when driving through the countryside. And that, frankly, is a big win for riders everywhere.
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.
The age of 4 is pretty golden for event horses. By that time, they’re starting to get a hang of the basics and old enough to start exploring the sport with all the wonder of a preschool kid discovering the world around them.
Here are six fabulous 4-year-olds currently featured on Sport Horse Nation!
CeCe is a clever, willing, and incredibly talented 4 year old mare that demonstrates the intelligence and athleticism needed to bring along an upper level prospect. She completed her first Beginner Novice at Shepherd Ranch Horse Trials in August, along with several Novice one day derbies. She has schooled extensively throughout SoCal at facilities such as Twin Rivers, Galway Downs, Ironwood Ranch, and El Sueño Equestrian Center – she’s been exposed to water, coffins, ditches, up and down banks, and trail riding. It is easy to forget that CeCe is only 4. She’s a thinker, which makes her a quick learner, and she’s brave and honest without being careless. She aims to please, and quickly picks up on new experiences and skills, making the process of working with her very rewarding. Up to date on everything, currently only shod in front. No tattoo, great bloodlines and bred to race, but never made it to the track. In full training, price will continue to increase as her training progresses.
Grove Hill Bob is a 4 year old, 16.3 hand gelding with great potential for the upper levels. He is by the Cruising sire Cougar and out of a Painter’s Row mare. He was imported in December and started under saddle and is currently competing novice (winning his last start and finishing top 3 nearly every outing). In addition to his ability and breeding for the upper levels he has a genuine attitude and temperament for all 3 phases!
Imported 16.2h, 4yo ISH/TB (Cruising & Clover Hill). “Jake” has all the right pieces to be a competitive upper level horse, yet easy and chill enough for a YR or Ammy to bring along. Brave, Scopey, and can take a serious joke. Good in the mouth and sound. Competing Novice level Eventing, has shown up to 1.0m jumpers. Nice enough to be an Eq horse. Comes with clean X-rays.
**Placed 3rd in a big Novice Horse group at VAHT November 3/4th finishing on his dressage score of 31.
***“Garbo STF” has been competing at BN this season and ready to move up to N. She has received dressage scores of 20 and 26, won 2 events and placed 3rd!
Ths is an exceptionally talented young horse that has been groomed for and is ready to show in the Dressage Young Horse classes or USEA Young Event Horse this year! She has the gaits to be an FEI dressage prospect and the talent for the 4* level in Eventing. Currently she stands 16.1+ and should finish at 16.2. She is a lighter more modern type horse. Her strong Holsteiner pedigree also contains 50% TB blood needed for the top levels in Eventing.
She naturally has an uphill way of going and prefers to carry herself in a higher level carriage. She has a phenomenal canter that is extremely adjustable and sits on her hind legs. Dressage horse trot that uses her hocks and can easily be taught piaffe and passage. Ground covering walk with over step. Forward thinking, light off the leg, and soft in the hand.
Joe Money is an exceptional 16.2 hh 4 year old with an unmatched temperament and quiet but eager nature. He has three beautiful gaits with an easy, fluid jump and is absolutely as brave as can be. Joe is a barn favorite with an in your pocket personality, great for the vet and farrier, clips, ties, bathes etc with a 10 for behavior in or out of the tack. Joe retired completely sound from his short racing career. He was given proper down time after the track and has had a correct, flawless introduction to Eventing taking everything in stride including competing. He’s been trained by a professional but ridden by multiple kids and adult amateurs including friends who have barely ridden. He hacks out alone or in groups. His easy going nature and lovely gaits makes him very trainable for all types of riders. Call Anna at 802-274-6289 for more info and videos. Relocated to Ocala, FL for the winter, price will increase with training and competitions. This horse is a MUST SEE in person, he’s too much of a gem to pass up.
Celtic Thunder, aka “Fergus”: 4 y/o 16 and ½” hh, strikingly handsome steel grey gelding with a compact frame. He is in the midst of a growth spurt and suspect he may mature to 16.2 hands. Fergus has had extensive experience foxhunting in Ireland and was recently taken to one horse trial, during which he came in fourth in good competition. Fergus has also done several hunter trials very well. This horse can be a speedy high jumping quick turning machine, and never touched a rail in the 2 days I jumped him in Ireland, despite jumping him higher than he had in an arena before. When I tried him, it was getting dark out and I could barely see, yet he most certainly locked on to every single jump! He has been trained for one year at a very prominent equestrian center which holds tons of shows and events, and therefore he has been consistently schooled over “the real deal” types of xc and stadium jumps. He has a workmanlike attitude and is very sure footed. This horse had a whistle clean PPE including x rays. The report and x rays are available for you to view. Fergus was trailered for 2.5 hours into the place I was staying at for his PPE, behaved like a gentleman during his PPE in a strange place in the dark, and seemed to not have a care in the world about being in a new place. He also jumped around a course of jumps in an indoor arena at said place as if he had lived there his whole life. He is naturally good at dressage, and as such, he was the easiest horse of all the horses I rode in Ireland over 4 days to lengthen or shorten with, and on the double, even when there were fences in front of him. He has unusually good balance and strength for his age, and handles horrible footing in tight turns at speed like it is million dollar footing! He is truly the best athlete and most versatile 4 y/o horse I have ever sat on. 4 year olds are not supposed to be able to do what he can do in the manner in which he does it. Period. He jumps any fence at any distance for any reason at any time and is as honest as the day is long. He is about ¾ Irish Draught and ¼ TB, but his body looks to be more like the 50-50 ID/TB or 25-75 ID/TB type as he is quite refined. He is well bred and is out of Clonregan Clover (out of the TB Freeway) and is by WRS Elvis. He has excellent feet as well. I can’t say enough about this horse and he carried my Adult Amateur self around first experiences for him like he was a 12 y/o horse being ridden by a pro. His former owners felt that he would succeed the best at hunting or eventing, but I actually think he is sooooo talented in show jumping, that he could do best at that.
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.
