Classic Eventing Nation

Saturday Links from Tipperary

By on Nov 10, 2018 12:01 am -

Photo courtesy of Stable View.

With the 2019 Eventing Academy Series starting in December, November 17 & 18 will be the final opportunity for participants in Stable View’s 2018 Eventing Academy to improve their scores prior to the awards celebration on December 8th in Stable View’s new Pavilion.

Those attending November 17 & 18 will be also able to use the new Rider Lounge located in the Common Kitchen area of the Hunt Boxes, located between cross country start and the grass dressage area. Family and friends are also welcome to use these facilities which have coffee, tea, and other refreshments. These accommodations, which have been designed for participants of the Eventing Academy, include indoor toilets and seating area.

Stable View’s Eventing Academy Series complements its recognized horse trials by allowing competitors to enter a full Horse Trial, a combined test, or ride a USEF dressage test in a schooling show atmosphere.  This series runs every month when there is no USEF/USEA sanctioned event. As with its Recognized HT, Stable View’s focus is on safety with all jumps staked and EMS as well as human and horse ambulances onsite.

Levels provided for the Horse Trail are Sprout (18″) through Training Level (3’3″) and the organizers can accommodate Combined Tests through the Advanced Level and competitors can choose any USEF Dressage Test to ride in front of a judge.

Taking place on November 17 & 18, riders can stay overnight in Stable View’s apartments with their horses being accommodated in the new stalls.

National Holiday: National Vanilla Cupcake Day

U.S. Weekend Action:

Full Moon Farms H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

River Glen Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Poplar Place Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Saturday Links:

Grand Oaks Horse Trials Cancelled

Zone Of Zero Recall

Practical Biosecurity Tips to Protect Your Horses

Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies offered online in world first

Making Winter Manageable on Horse Farms

Sitting Down With Mental Skills Coach Annette Paterakis: Success, Being Adaptable, And The Talent Myth

Saturday Video: Belle Meade Hunt of Thompson, GA opened their hunt last weekend. Among them was ‘Mighty Maren’ Hanson!

Opening meet today. Denise McCollum Carmichael

Posted by Christie Hanson on Saturday, November 3, 2018

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Splish, Splosh, Give Your Pony a Wash

By on Nov 9, 2018 6:39 pm -

I am firm in my belief that, whether you’re three, thirteen, thirty, or some derivative thereof, if you have a pony (or, indeed, a horse that you lovingly refer to as a pony), then you’ve been tempted, at some point, to bring it into your house. Yeah, okay, it would be impractical. HELLISH on the carpets, possibly the end of your soft-furnishings, perhaps the end of any co-habitation situation you might be otherwise enjoying. But: ponies! Ponies on the sofa! Ponies binging The Good Place! Ponies curling up like lil stinky lapdogs at the foot of your bed, merrily farting their way through the night. Um, blissful.

Anyway, little Harriet the hero took what has merely been a long-standing daydream for those of us who are chronically bonkers and made it a reality, bringing Wicked the pony (sorry, is that not THE best name for a pony?!) into the downstairs loo for a spa day. The best bit?

“Not.

Again.”

Harriet, we salute you (and your high-fashion horsey wardrobe).

Product Review: Rambo Supreme Turnout + Game-Changing Liners

By on Nov 9, 2018 5:07 pm -

The Rambo Supreme Turnout — note the Surefit neck design and V-front closure. Photo courtesy of Horseware.

‘Tis the season to shop for turnout sheets and blankets, and EN has been hard at working putting top brands to the test. If you live in a climate where temperatures and weather patterns can be all over the map for six months of the year, having options in your blanketing system is a godsend. Having options can also be obscenely expensive — or so you thought.

The Rambo Supreme is Horseware‘s best-selling turnout thanks to superior heat retention and a comfortable cut. Made from ballistic nylon and featuring Aquatrans technology, the turnout is highly durable, waterproof and breathable. Features include Horseware’s signature Surefit neck design, V-front closure, leg arches, reflective strips, wipe-clean tail cord, liner loops, three secure cross surcingles, shine-enhancing polyester lining, thermo-bonded fiber fill and a detachable hood.

I’m super picky about how hoods fit and the Rambo Supreme comes with one that checks the boxes — not too tight and long enough to reach the ears. Photo courtesy of Horseware.

The Rambo Supreme has a slew of features to get excited about, but I bolded my favorite above. The fact that Horseware provides the option to attach different liners in their turnouts is a total game-changer. It gives you the option to use your turnout as a sheet throughout the warmer months and clip in liners as the weather turns colder to convert it into a toasty rug for the winter months. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing through the fall season with my Irish Sport Horse, Derry, and it’s worked beautifully.

I started out with using the Rambo Supreme Lite as my staple turnout sheet. Currently on sale for $359, it may not be the cheapest turnout on the market, but Horseware guarantees that all Rambo turnouts will remain waterproof and breathable for a minimum of three years, so your investment is protected. Horseware’s Turnout Trade-in promotion is also currently underway, which means you can trade in your old turnout from any brand and get $50 off a new Rambo while your old turnout goes to a horse in need.

The liners attach by Velcro loops to the neck of the outer blanket, and clip onto the back corners to prevent the liner from slipping. Photo courtesy of Horseware.

Horseware sells a slew of liners at affordable prices that you can clip into the Rambo Supreme to create a tough-as-nails turnout in a variety of weights. The liners attach by Velcro loops to the neck of the outer blanket, and clip onto the back corners to prevent the liner from slipping. Here’s the most exciting part — the liners are on sale right now! Horseware’s liners are currently priced at $64.95 for a 100-gram liner, $74.95 for a 200-gram liner, $84.95 for a 300-gram liner and $89.95 for a 400-gram liner.

Switching the liners out is super easy. I used the 100-gram liner before Derry was clipped and switched to the 200-gram liner after he had his first haircut of the season. He is staying super warm and dry even in the worst of the Pennsylvania weather currently, and I have the 300-gram liner at the ready for when the temperatures really start dropping. I wondered if the liners would slide around, but I am happy to report that they don’t budge at all. You can’t even tell I have a liner clipped inside the Rambo Supreme in the photo below. It also fits like a glove and hasn’t caused a single rub — two thumbs up for design and quality.

Horseware also sells other liners featuring Vari-Layer technology, which uses additional layers of thermo-bonded fiber across the back and hip to provide maximum heat retention and comfort with less weight. The 250-gram Vari-Layer liner is currently on sale for $89.95, with the 450-gram liner on sale for $104.95. You can also really spoil your horse with a Rambo Ionic therapy liner, which is currently on sale for $214.95.

If you’re not a fan of the liner system, the best-selling Rambo Supreme is also on sale in a 200-gram medium weight at $389.95 and 420-gram heavy weight at $424.95 — with all the same fabulous features discussed above. Click here to view all of the options available in the Rambo Supreme line. After thoroughly testing the Rambo Supreme and Horseware liner system, I’m happy to give this blanket full marks. Have you tried the Rambo Supreme from Horseware? Let us know in the comments below.

Best of HN: 8 Words That Make Breaking In a New Phone Tough For Equestrians

By on Nov 9, 2018 3:10 pm -

Photo via Barbara Lane/Pixabay

Autocorrect stepping in where it isn’t needed has certainly been responsible for more than one gaffe in the smartphone age (expect for the whole “covfefe” thing — you really let us down there). Fortunately, with enough furious repetition and backspacing, it’s possible to train one’s autocorrect to recognize certain words unique to one’s own areas of interest.

But the first few days or so with a brand new phone? Those days are rough. Speaking from recent experience, here are a few equestrian words that really gave my phone a hard time for the past week or so.

1. OTTB (no, not itty. How can you even recognize THAT as a word?)

2. SMZ (no, not SMH, I don’t even say that)

3. Percherons (yeah, phone, I really wanted to ask my father-in-law if he was planning to drive the persons this weekend)

4. Bute (no one knew what I was talking about when I said “let’s cut him to one scoop of sure in the morning”)

5. AQHA (no, we’re not following aqua rules)

6. Pastern (not the pattern)

7. Withers (I don’t have a horse with high withered. That doesn’t even make sense)

8. Forecart (this might be a bit of a fringe word for draft drivers only, but it’s a thing… not a forecast)

And, of course, woe betide you if you have a horse with an unusual name. The phone now recognizes “Jobber” but for awhile he was “jibber” no matter what I typed in there. Is jibber even a word? We’ll never know.

What would you add to the list?

Go riding!

#EventerFailFriday: Airs Above the Ground

By on Nov 9, 2018 11:00 am -

Gravity is a drag. As eventers, we’re always looking for ways to defy it — jump higher, leap further. Yet, gravity will always defy us in the end. What goes up, as they say, must come down.

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How do you like our new dance move? #eventerproblems

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Today was less than spectacular…RJ decided to flip over on me about ten minutes into our workout. I had been working him just after sunset, and the arena lighting is shitty at our current farm. He found a corner that apparently displeased him (it was wet, footing a little deep, and full of shadows) and stopped from a walk. I added seat, then leg, and felt him tense up. His back humped, his ass dropped, and then he went pretty much straight up. I think if the footing was better we may have worked out of it, but he got tangled in back and went over. He landed pretty much on my leg and hip, which saved the Stubben we just paid off from serious damage (you’re welcome @hollynanne ) but I’m pretty sure he stepped on my calf on the way up. Torqued back, pretty fat leg, and some apologies to the wife for adding some flavor to her saddle. He came back over acting contrite, so I hopped back on and we worked for another ten minutes. Gonna be sore tomorrow. #thoroughbred #ottb #juicedeventer #eventer #jumper #eventerproblems

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Go Eventing.

Capt. Mark Phillips Receives Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement Award

By on Nov 9, 2018 9:13 am -

Capt. Mark Phillips receives the 2018 Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo by Peter Nixon/Horse & Hound.

Capt. Mark Phillips received the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement Award last night as the 2018 Horse & Hound Award winners were crowned in a glitzy ceremony at Cheltenham racecourse in Gloucestershire, England.

The announcement of his name triggered a standing ovation, and Mark said he was “overwhelmed” by the response. His children, 2006 world champion Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, were both present to watch him accept the award.

“It’s a privilege to have had so many great people and horses in my life,” Mark said, “from winning 26 medals as coach to the U.S. team, to those who rode on British teams with me, to those who helped me.”

Mark won Olympic team gold and silver medals for Great Britain, as well as Badminton four times and Burghley once. He has designed the cross country course at Burghley for most of the past 25 years and also laid out the track for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games at Tryon this year.

An awards video played in Mark’s honor included praise from fellow Olympic medalists Phillip Dutton, Andrew Nicholson and Andrew Hoy, as well as Burghley director Liz Inman and fellow course designer David Evans.

Phillip commented: “He’s never one to brag or talk about the incredible success that he had as a rider and now even as a course designer. He is truly a great man and we are all very fortunate to have had him in our lives.”

Mark is also one of six new inductees who will join the USEA Hall of Fame during the 2018 Induction Ceremony, which will be held on Dec. 8 during the USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Other winners at the third Horse & Hound Awards last night included double world eventing gold medalist Ros Canter, who was named Neue Schule Professional Rider of the Year. Gemma Tattersall’s stalwart partner Arctic Soul was also named Feedmark Horse of the Year.

There was an emotional moment when Jane Felton was given the Horseware Groom of the Year award. Jane works for Irish eventer Jonty Evans, who is continuing his recovery from a traumatic brain injury and was in attendance at last night’s awards.

The full list of winners for the 2018 Horse & Hound Awards:

  • Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement Award: Captain Mark Phillips
  • Absorbine Inspiration of the Year: Daisy Sadler
  • Feedmark Horse of the Year: Arctic Soul
  • Saracen Horse Feeds Young Rider of the Year: Charlotte Fry
  • Neue Schule Professional Rider of the Year: Ros Canter
  • Pikeur Amateur Rider of the Year: Katie Preston
  • Horseware Groom of the Year: Jane Felton
  • Griffin NuuMed Memorable Moment of the Year: The Price phenomenon with Jonelle winning Badminton and Tim winning Burghley
  • Evetdrug Vet of the Year: Alastair Field
  • HorseDialog Club of the Year: Aberdeen Riding Club
  • Balanced Horse Feeds Volunteer of the Year: Keith Watkins

[‘Truly a great man’: Mark Phillips wins Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement Award]

Friday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Nov 9, 2018 12:03 am -

I know Halloween is over, but I just couldn’t resist using this photo and showing you all this Grade A quality Side Eye this pony is serving up. I think the pony is a ladybug, but honestly I don’t know what’s going on at all, but I laughed out loud looking at his expression. Oh ponies, what would we do without them!

National Holiday:  National Scrapple Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Full Moon Farms H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

River Glen Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Poplar Place Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Grand Oaks has cancelled their November horse trials in Weirsdale, Florida due to a lack of entries. All entry fees will be refunded. “We are looking forward to hosting our January horse trials and are working hard to find a better date for our fall event.” [Grand Oaks November H.T. Cancelled]

Irish Olympian Joseph Murphy is returning to Kealani Farm in West Grove, Pennsylvania on Dec. 1 and 2 for another of his highly popular indoor clinics combining cross country and show jumping exercises. A portion of clinic fees will go to the David Foster Injured Riders Fund in support of Jonty Evans. [Event Clinics]

Have you joined the Happy, Healthy, & Horsey Facebook group? They’re having a 30-day-challenge right now to become, you guessed, it happier, healthier and more horsey! From time management to weight loss to sports psychology, this group has everything. Check out the guidelines for the halfway point on this Horse Nation article. [Happy, Healthy, & Horsey]

Real talk from the dressage world: why is Isabell Werth so good? The 45-year-old world champion is currently ranked 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 20th in the world with a variety of horses in her barn, and just keeps getting better every year. What’s her secret? With ten individual and team Olympic medals hanging in her tack room, Isabell has become the most decorated equestrian of all time, and we’re not even counting World Cups, World Equestrian Games, and European Championships. [What’s Isabell Werth’s Secret?]

Equestrian businesswomen unite! The Equestrian Businesswomen Summit will be held on January 9th, 2019, from 9am-5pm at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. There will be thought provoking and inspirational speakers talking about timely, relevant topics to help engage, support, and inform equestrian businesswomen. Get you tickets today! [Buy Tickets Here]

Former USEF and FEI official Andrew Temkin has been permanently banned for violating SafeSport laws and has been found guilty of sexual misconduct with a minor. A former S-level eventing technical delegate and FEI two-star technical delegate, Andrew competed through the CCI3*level and served on the USEF SafeSport Ad Hoc Task Force earlier this year. Temkin will now be banned from coaching, competing, attending or officiating at any USEF-recognized events. Temkin is also suspended from the FEI, as all individuals suspended from the USEF are reciprocally. [SafeSport Bans Eventing Official]

Friday Video: Flash Back Friday to Vermiculus in 2012 at one of his first Training level events!


North Americans Source New Mounts at Ireland’s Monart Event Horse Sale

By on Nov 8, 2018 4:00 pm -

Monart 2018 sale topper CBI Aldo, purchased by Caroline Powell (NZ) for €45,000. Photo courtesy of the Monart Sale.

The Monart Select Elite Event Horse Sale, held in Co. Wexford, Ireland, Nov. 5-7, is among the equestrian world’s most well curated auctions. Every horse in the catalogue has been selected by a panel of four-star event riders — Polly Jackson (GB), Niall Griffin (IRL) and Bill Levett (AUS) — and vetted by former Team Ireland vet Marcus Swail.

Previous sale graduates have gone on to big things, one U.S. import example being Charlie Tango, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan x Our Queen Bee, by Ricardo Z) purchased at the 2011 sale, who has had wins and top finishes at the three-star level with Heather Morris. Others include Bill Levett’s 2018 WEG mount Lassban Diamond Lift, Paul Tapner’s long-listed 2016 Rio Olympic mount Prince Mayo, Jonty Evans’ top 10 2016 Rio Olympic finisher Cooley Rorkes Drift, among many accomplished eventers and show jumpers.

This year being a clearinghouse for top-notch prospects, the auction was well attended by a who’s-who of European eventers. Among the 2018 shoppers: Michael Jung, Oliver Townend, Astier Nicolas, Caroline Powell, Mary and Emily King, Austin O’ Connor, Sam Watson, Kevin and Emma McNab, Sam Ecroyd, J.P. Sheffield, Bill Levett, Tom Rowland, Lauren Blades, Michael and Trish Ryan, Richard Jones, Kathryn Robinson and the list goes on.

This year saw a clearance rate of 75% of the 109 horses that came forward to auction with an average price of €10,850. We were excited to see several North Americans in the mix as well!

Johan Westerberg (USA) purchased Joeys Reward (video):

Kathryn Robinson (CAN) purchased this unnamed 3-year-old (video):

Nicola Sainz-Xatzis (USA) purchased RNG Q E Two (video):

Katlyn Hewson-Slezak (CAN) purchased Vandan (video):

Karl Slezak (CAN) purchased First Venture (video) …

… Poynstown Jaguar (video) …

… and Lassban Royal Minstrel (video).

Caroline Teich (USA) purchased Emperors Clover (video):

Missy Miller (USA) purchased Shirsheen Fun Time (video):

Peachstone Syndicate (USA) purchased Gran Torino (video):

Clasing Equestrian (USA) purchased this unnamed 3-year-old (video):

Tiana Coudray/Jatial Ltd. (USA) purchased Boleybawn Genevieve (video):

Sharon King (USA) purchased this unnamed 3-year-old (video):

Oaks Farm (USA) purchased OSH Dream On (video):

Looking forward to following all of their careers, whether stateside or abroad! Click here for complete sale results.

Another major auction, the Goresbridge Go For Gold Select Event Horse Sale, is set to take place Nov. 12-13, also in Co Wexford, Ireland.

Thursday Video from Nupafeed: Go XC With Rocking Horse Fall Intermediate & OP Winners

By on Nov 8, 2018 3:00 pm -

Whereas some parts of the country are on fire with colorful autumn foliage right now, Rocking Horse Stables feels winterproof with its palms and Spanish moss, and it’s already firing up for snowbird season. The Altoona, Florida, venue hosts five USEA-recognized horse trials each year — a fall event in November, a three-part winter series in January through early March, and a spring event the last weekend in March — as well as schooling shows.

Rocking Horse Fall H.T. took place over the weekend, featuring Beginner Novice through Intermediate divisions. Thanks to Elisa Wallace’s helmet cam and videos by The Horse Pesterer, we can relive cross country day with the winners of the Open Intermediate and Open Prelim divisions.

Open Intermediate-A: Elisa Wallace & Simply Priceless (29.6)

Open Intermediate-B: Elisa Wallace & Riot Gear (31.9)

Open Preliminary-A: Jonathan Holling & Prophet (28.9)

Open Preliminary-B: Kylie Lyman & Xuanatu (31.7)

More winners from the event:

Preliminary Rider: Savannah Blackstock & GarryNdruig Albie (32.5)
Open Training-A: Zoe Crawford & Francelia (28.9)
Open Training-B: Clayton Fredericks & FE Friday (26.1)
Preliminary / Training: Ashley Baehr & OT Bandini (41.8)
Training Rider-A: Haley Hughes & Igor S (28.4)
Training Rider-B: Gabbie Sacco & Ultimate Opportunity (30.7)
Jr. Novice Rider: Kathleen Abrams & Spintastic (33.1)
Open Novice-A: Alexandra Green & Fernhill Regal B (31.2)
Open Novice-B: Elinor O’Neal & QC Wanderlust (27.6)
Sr. Novice Rider: Tracy Ferguson & R. Chumley (30.7)
Beginner Novice Rider: Brenda Hutton & WYO Dun Maid (31.3)
Open Beginner Novice: Tik Maynard & Galileo (26.8)

View full results here. Congrats to all. Go Eventing!

#EventerSolutions: You’re So Money

By on Nov 8, 2018 12:00 pm -

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 Instagram for inclusion in future editions!

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#eventersolutions

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Go Eventing.