Classic Eventing Nation

Friday News & Notes from Kentucky Equine Research

By on Oct 12, 2018 1:00 am -

Photo courtesy of Sara Sellmer.

Today’s N&N is dedicated to Kyra Barrett, a 9-year-old from British Columbia who truly defines “eventer tough.”

Kyra is legally blind but that hasn’t stopped her from pursuing the sport she loves. From wearing an audio earpiece to help with navigation to walking her course multiple times to having a crew of spotters run alongside her on cross country, she’s found some creative workarounds to help her stay on track. And she had a landmark moment at a horse trial at Maple Ridge Equestrian Center last weekend.

Her coach, Sara Sellmer of Z Eventing, rode side by side with Kyra as she completed her first cross country event from start to finish with no spotters.

Sara says, “So excited for this girl! Rocked around her first starter cross country and full event in the pouring rain! Kyra is legally blind and the bravest little girl I know!”

Check out Heels Down Magazine‘s recent feature on Kyra here, and watch videos of her cross country ride at the bottom of this post. What an inspiration to follow your dreams and never give up!

National Holiday: National Freethought Day

Major Events This Week:

Military Boekelo CCIO3*: Website, Entries, XC Start Times, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Hitching Post Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Maryland at Loch Moy H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Radnor Hunt H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

Paradise Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Fleur de Leap H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Las Cruces H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Your Friday News & Notes:

Voting is open for the 2018 Horse & Hound Awards, giving fans the opportunity to recognize their heroes of the year. Fans can vote for the winner in 10 categories, and naturally there are several eventers in the mix! The eventing nominees are: Ros Canter (Professional Rider of the Year), Arctic Soul (Horse of the Year), Katie Preston and Jane Buchan (Amateur of the Year), Heidi Coy (Young Rider of the Year), Jane Felton (Groom of the Year), Julia Goldbold and Keith Watkins (Volunteer of the Year), and Tim and Jonelle Price winning both British four-stars (Memorable Moment of the Year). [Cast Your Vote]

Our well-wishes are with all those affected by Hurricane Michael, horses included. Nearly 50 horses and other animals were evacuated from Hurricane Michael danger zones to Escambia County Equestrian Center, one of several shelters that have opened their doors to equine evacuees. Jacksonville Equestrian Center has also taken in horses. [Gulf Coast Horse Owners Prepare for Hurricane Michael]

The “USEA Events A-Z” series continues with Las Cruces Horse Trials in Las Cruces, New Mexico. This annual October Area X event offers Starter through Preliminary level competition, and it’s the only USEA recognized event in the state of New Mexico. Learn the history and meet the team behind Las Cruces in this week’s event spotlight. [USEA Events A-Z: Las Cruces Horse Trials]

Team North America beat Team Europe to to the top of the podium for the first time at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. Show jumping riders from the five nations making up the North American team – Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and USA — had everyone on the edge of their seats, battling for the gold medal in a nail-biting jump off. Team Africa claimed bronze. [Historic Gold for Team North America at Youth Olympic Games]

Hot on Horse Nation: This woman is a genius. [Equestrian Life Hack: How to Move Stall Mats]

Just in from Jumper Nation: “I figure if I’m going to be a mess, I might as well be a hot mess.” [8 Times Dr. Mindy Lahiri Summed Up My Thoughts on My Riding]

Go Kyra! Go Eventing.

 

Posted by Sara Sellmer on Sunday, September 30, 2018

 

Posted by Sara Sellmer on Sunday, September 30, 2018

Thursday Video from Nupafeed: Your Thoroughbred Makeover Helmet Cam Hookup

By on Oct 11, 2018 4:00 pm -

The Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover is a very different kind of horse show for a number of reasons. Perhaps the most obvious difference is the fact that there are 12 different disciples all competing together in one facility, but another notable feature is the scoring in some of the disciples, eventing included.

While the dressage phase was scored in the traditional manner, the jumping phases needed to assess the horse’s training and suitability for the job, rather than just using the usual go/no-go penalty system. Each jumping effort was awarded a score from 0 to 3 and a score from 0 to 10 was given for three Overall Impression categories: Rideability, Between Fences, and Open Gallop. The course also had Novice and Beginner Novice options for each fence — riders could earn bonus points by demonstrating a higher level of training and taking all Novice options.

We’ve rounded up four of the top five cross country rounds for your viewing pleasure. Above, you’ll find the helmet cam for Elisa Wallace and Reloaded, owned by Michelle and Madison Chisholm. Elisa and “Sniper” were third going into the finale, but went on to win the eventing division before being crowned America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred.

Okay, I twisted the truth a little for the sake of alliteration in the title of this post — I don’t just have helmet cams for you! Here’s a spectator’s view of second place finishers Alison Wilaby and Big Ralph:

Elisa was leading the preliminary round on her other ride, Sharp Decision, owned by Susan Day. She and “Sharpie” slipped to third after the finale. Here’s his cross country round:

Additionally, we have EN’s own Kate Samuels and her own Turkomani who finished in fifth place. Kate and “Turkey” had the best XC score out of the top five finishers! Watch their round here:

New Dutch Dressage Record: Tim Lips and Bayro Lead Boekelo on 19.2

By on Oct 11, 2018 1:15 pm -

Tim Lips and Bayro. Photo by Anja Veurink.

Tim Lips and Bayro came to Military Boekelo on a mission to become the first Dutch winners in the 48-year history of the event, and they are well on their way after scoring 19.2 to handily lead on the first day of dressage in Enschede, Netherlands.

EquiRatings confirmed 19.2 is the lowest dressage score ever recorded by a Dutch rider at any international level, besting Eef Hamers and Balou’s score of 21.1 at Barroca d’Alva CCI* in 2015.

Tim and Bayro, a 12-year-old KWPN (Casantos X Vanya, by Corland), also set the Dutch CCI4* dressage record at Luhmühlen this year, and he credited his trainer, Nicole Werner, for strengthening their performance in the first phase.

“Bayro was quiet in the bridle and remained extremely relaxed. Whether I have a chance to be the first Dutchman ever to win the Military Boekelo is an open question,” Tim said. “Dressage no longer counts as much as before in relation to the cross country on Saturday and the jumping on Sunday.

Time penalties on cross country cost Tim and Bayro the Boekelo win last year, when they finish second to Tim Price and Cekatinka, and he said he is determined to go faster this year.

“The footing is perfect, and we showed that Bayro can handle this competition last year,” Tim said. What matters is to keep my focus and to keep the attacking the cross. If I don’t do that I’ll run into time penalties, and I want to avoid them.”

Germany’s Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot, a 12-year-old Selle Francais (Milor Landais x Melitos du Thot, by Flipper d’Elle), have been widely tipped to challenge Tim for the win and sit second on 22.6 after dressage.

After uncharacteristic trouble on cross country at Aachen over the summer, Julia and “Sam” bounced back to win the Nations Cup at Waregem CICO3* last month. Having won three of their last four international runs, Julia and Sam are serious contenders to watch this weekend.

Great Britain’s Laura Collett and London 52, a 9-year-old Holsteiner (Landos X Vernante, by Quinar), won the Blenheim CIC3* last month and sit third on 23.1, a personal best at three-star level for the horse. London 52 is making his CCI3* debut at Boekelo.

After the first day of dressage, Sweden tops the Nations Cup standings on 54.6, followed closely by Great Britain and Germany in equal second place on 54.9. Click here to view individual scores. Click here to view team standings.

The U.S. does not have a team in the Nations Cup but is still represented by two strong pairs in Tamie Smith and Judy McSwain’s Fleeceworks Royal and Doug Payne and Lisa Walls’s Getaway. Both are scheduled to go tomorrow in dressage at the following times:

  • Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal: Friday at 11:04 a.m./5:04 a.m. EST
  • Doug Payne and Getaway: Friday at 2:32 p.m./8:32 a.m. EST

You can watch Tamie and Doug’s tests live on the Boekelo live stream at this link. Cross country and show jumping will also be streamed live; you can view the broadcast schedule here.

Stay tuned for much more from Boekelo. Go Eventing.

Boekelo CCIO3*: Website, Entries, Thursday Start Times, Friday Start Times, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage

Phillip Dutton Covers All Angles at Middleburg Jumping Clinic

By on Oct 11, 2018 8:56 am -

Phillip Dutton at Rutledge Farm. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

“There are all different kinds of approaches to all kinds of riding,” said Phillip Dutton to a mixed group of riders yesterday at a jumping clinic in Middleburg, Virginia. And if the Olympic gold medalist has shown us anything throughout his own star-studded career as a rider, it’s that clear consistency leads to consistent success.

Phillip came to Rutledge Farm just outside the village of Middleburg to lead four sessions from Beginner Novice to Intermediate during a one-day clinic. Rutledge, a new clinic venue set on several hundred bucolic acres, welcomed Phillip as its first eventing clinician.

Organized through EventClinics.com, the day was attended by groups of up to five riders at each level. Auditors lined hay bale seats along one side of an open, rolling grass field set with a mix of stadium fences, pole corners and solid obstacles.

Phillip gave all the riders clear goals to accomplish in their flat warmup. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Phillip doesn’t waste any time in his own riding, and he passed that mindset onto the riders straightaway. A mixed Advanced, Intermediate and Preliminary group kicked off the morning at 8 a.m. and set to work with clear goals to accomplish in their flat warmup.

“Teach your horse to get up in front of you so that when you go to jump it’s going to be good,” Phillip said. “The common thread through all phases is flatwork — you want your horse quick and sharp.”

Leg yield at the trot and canter, shoulder-in, and lengthening and collecting set the horses up for what was to come. To warm up over fences, Phillip sent the riders over a low oxer, and had them ride away from the fence while asking the horse to yield away from the lead they had landed on. Keeping the canter, they rolled back and jumped the fence back in the other direction.

“Do it so that it’s just a habit: leg to hand, forward and back,” Phillip said. “Use that leg yield to come back to the jump to square up. Look at your jump and create your distance early. If you haven’t got a distance, hold him together and squeeze him.”

Jumper rider Kelsey Sullivan doesn’t usually jump solid obstacles and enjoyed the challenge. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Kelsey Sullivan is a jumper rider, but she took the opportunity to ride her horse Coco Chanel with Phillip in the Training section of the clinic because, “I feel like there’s something to learn from everybody,” she said. “I didn’t think I’d be asking my horse these questions, but it was fantastic.

“I loved the flatwork that we started with — it wasn’t a long warmup,” Sullivan said. “When I go to a jumper show, the warmup is to warm the horse up, it’s not to school. So I really liked that today it was quick; it was each direction, leg yield, shoulder-in, lengthening, shortening. We didn’t drill it, but it was all the buttons we needed to successfully complete what was asked today.”

From that straightforward starting point, the questions took on a new angle — literally. Phillip incorporated corner fences built with poles and short combinations jumped on an angle into every subsequent exercise.

Local hunter trainer Jonelle Mullen was another rider who participated in the clinic to give her horse some out-of-the-box experience, like jumping this corner built with poles. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Different approaches heightened the difficulty, and not everyone was successful on their first go-round.

“It’s important to teach the horses to stay on the line you ride so they learn to trust you,” Phillip said. “There will be a time to come on course where there will be reason to stay on the inside line.”

Whenever a horse glanced off a corner, Phillip backed the exercise down in either pace or height to give horse and rider the confidence to successfully complete it. Then the fence went back up, the horse went back to canter, and everyone moved on with a positive experience under their belt.

“There’s some aggression required, but it’s not all aggression,” Phillip said to rider Autumn Rae when her mare Luna overshot a corner in the morning session. “Show your horse the line she needs to be on. Think about what it felt like to get her back underneath you. Give her time to see where she’s got to go.”

A separate line of corners was used to practice different strides using the leg for control. In six, five or four strides, each rider worked on angling their line and changing their horse’s step. “The more you can have the ability to ride it however you want, from leg to hand, the better off you will be,” Phillip said.

Nicolas Beshear and El Mesano put the pieces together to jump a confident course. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

No matter their level, each rider met the questions with confidence and rode forward on a rolling pace. Riders ran the gamut, from professional Jan Byyny, who rode a different horse in three sections of the day, to junior Nicholas Beshear, whom Phillip applauded as a rare, up-and-coming male rider in a sea of female eventers.

Everything that Phillip covered circled back to good habits: having them, and keeping them. “I am just trying to make sure that everyone gets into the right habits of riding correctly, getting themselves and their horses prepared before they compete,” he explained.

“Horses are creatures of habit, and if we get them in the right habits of how to go and being obedient, it should be like two carpenters working together or two people working side-by-side — it shouldn’t be a battle. That comes from constantly working together so that your horse is understanding what you’re asking because you’re being very clear and consistent with it.”

Thursday News & Notes from Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS)

By on Oct 11, 2018 12:01 am -

Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal at Boekelo 🇺🇸

Don’t let the poof-ball hat fool you in the photo above — the sun is shining at Boekelo and weather conditions are even being described as “balmy.” The sun never shines like this in Holland during Boekelo, so naturally Instagram is peppered with horses, riders, grooms and spectators alike enjoying the clear skies. Surely the sunshine is a good omen for Tamie Smith and Doug Payne, our sole Americans competing this year.

National Holiday: International Day of the Girl

Major Events This Week:

Military Boekelo CCIO3*: Website, Entries, Thursday Start Times, Friday Start Times, Live Scoring, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Hitching Post Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Maryland at Loch Moy H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Radnor Hunt H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

Paradise Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Fleur de Leap H.T. [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Las Cruces H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Your Thursday News & Notes:

US Equestrian has canceled the 2019 George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session to “allow for a revitalization and refresh of the program.” The training session is designed to identify and develop the next generation of show jumping talent who may one day represent the U.S. on the world stage. US Equestrian intends to continue the program in 2020. [George Morris Training Session]

Can painting jumps a different color bolster safety at high speeds? That’s the question raised by a new study from the University of Exeter, which worked with the British Horseracing Authority and Racing Foundation to test fence colors. The jump jockeys who participated in the study felt that fences painted fluorescent yellow and white spurred better jumping form from their horses. The next trial in the study will test these two colors on fences at British racecourse training grounds. [New Jump Colors]

If you’ve never made the trip to the Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale in Ireland, this is a fabulous year to start. The preview videos for the horses in this year’s sale have now been released, and you could waste an entire afternoon watching the footage. (Ask me how I know.)  The sale takes place in Co. Kilkenny on Nov. 12 and 13 and is a highlight of the season for eventing enthusiasts. [Goresbridge Go For Gold]

Edge Brewing Barcelona, one of EN’s favorite breweries, is presenting the $5,000 Charity Jumper Classic on Oct. 26 at Foothills Equestrian Nature Center in Tryon, N.C. Edge Brewing believes in “saving horses one beer at a time” and donates a portion of profits to select equine charities. Tryon-based charity HERD (Helping Equines Regain Dignity) has been named the beneficiary for the Charity Jumper Classic. [Edge Brewing Equestrian]

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: A Groom’s Life

By on Oct 10, 2018 5:00 pm -

Grooms are integral to top equestrian programs around the world. While the riders focus on training and performance, grooms tend to the needs of their charges around the clock. Not only do they make sure the horses are all spiffed up and looking their best, they also ensure the horses are relaxed, happy and healthy whether they are at home, at a show, on a trailer or on an airplane.

“I think [the horses] take security in having the same person caring for them all the time,” said British Eventing Team groom, Siobhan Sharples. “I wouldn’t change it for the world. I absolutely adore what I do. It’s a way of life and a complete passion for me.”

Watch the video to get a closer look at Siobhan’s busy life during an event week.

While we’re on the topic, there were thousands of nominations for the 2018 FEI Best Groom Award but there are only four finalists. Meet the incredible grooms that contributed to the success of the horses and riders they help and cast your vote.

Fight back against vitamin E deficiencies that can cause muscle soreness and stiffness

Elevate® Maintenance Powder was developed to provide a highly bioavailable source of natural vitamin E to horses. Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, limits the damage caused by everyday oxidative stress. It maintains healthy muscle and nerve functions so horses are more likely to perform better and recover faster after training or competing.

Vitamin E requirements vary from situation to situation. Multiple research studies have shown that vitamin E is often deficient in the diets of horses that do not have access to continual grazing on fresh green grass, or those grazing on winter pasture. Performance horses with demanding workloads, growing horses and seniors can be exposed to increased levels of oxidative stress and therefore require higher levels of vitamin E in their diets. Studies reveal that horses challenged by neurological disease benefit from natural vitamin E supplementation.

The horse that matters to you matters to us®. Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? Kentucky Performance Products, LLC is here to help. Contact us at 859-873-2974 or visit our website at KPPusa.com.

Event Horse Names: Pumpkin Spice All the Thingz

By on Oct 10, 2018 3:00 pm -

Pumpkin spice isn’t just for Starbucks lattes anymore. Kristen Kovatch of Horse Nation posits the philosophical question, “If you’re not pumpkin spicing everything, are you even really experiencing fall?” She considers all possible equestrian pumpkin spice applications in this post over at Horse Nation: pumpkin spice bit wipes, pumpkin spice dewormer, pumpkin spice helmet spray … indulge me for a moment to imagine pumpkin spice stall bedding, and every time your horse shuffles its feet a scent comes wafting up like your grandmother just pulled a warm pumpkin pie out of the oven.

So. Much. Pumpkin.

There’s even a subset of event horses (largely chestnuts, as you might imagine) with a pumpkin namesake.

Pumpkin-theme names in the USEA horse registry database. Graphic by EN.

The most recent addition is Pumpkin Spiced (AKA “Hank”), a 14.1-hand Arabian/Morgan cross gelding owned by Tennessee eventer Laura Cox. The pony came to her about four and a half years ago as a resale project, which turned into a three-year vacay on 50 acres of pasture with a little groundwork thrown in. But when it came time to retire Laura’s horse, Twister, from eventing late last summer, it was time for Hank to step up to the plate.

“This began what has become an incredible ride, both literally and figuratively,” Laura says. After two weeks under saddle and several trips to her trainer Lauren Romanelli’s Three Ring Farm, Laura and Hank made their eventing debut at Learn to Event at Nashville’s Percy Warner Park. They finished on their dressage score in the Amoeba division. “Crazy, I know, but he seemed to enjoy every second of it.”

The next step: “A year and a half later, a few more schooling shows, and many hours in the saddle, along with endless encouragement and support from my husband Josh, Lauren, family, and friends, I decided to enter our first USEA recognized horse trial as a pair, his first ever, and mine in 12 years.”

Photos courtesy of Laura Cox.

But first, the pony needed a proper show name — something that spoke to his personality. “I had sent my mom a list of potential names, and we finally had it narrowed down and I thought I had the perfect one. Then, while scrolling through Facebook, I saw a post regarding pumpkin spice something, and it hit me, with his liver chestnut color, it was suddenly so obvious. His winter color reminds me of my favorite fall latte, and after a call to my mom, I knew we had his name: Pumpkin Spiced. With that, we are officially entered in River Glen’s Fall Horse Trials, which seems fitting for his fall inspired name.”

Best of luck at River Glen, Laura and Pumpkin Spiced!

Here are some more pumpkin ideas for your fall:

In case you missed them, check out these previous editions of Event Horse Names: Authors, Books & Characters, Battle of the Booze, The Empire Business, Monster Trucks, Celebrities, Snow, Valentine’s Day, St. Paddy’s Day, Fourth of July, Christmas and What’s For Breakfast?

 

 

 

 

Small But Mighty U.S. Contingent Ready for Military Boekelo CCIO3*

By on Oct 10, 2018 11:07 am -

Doug Payne and Getaway and Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Both American pairs passed the first horse inspection at Military Boekelo CCIO3* today in Enschede, Netherland, with 77 pairs in all moving forward to dressage. Widely considered the most prestigious CCI3* in the world, Boekelo also serves as the FEI Nations Cup final.

The U.S. unfortunately does not have a Nations Cup team this year at Boekelo, as Liz Halliday-Sharp withdrew Deniro Z, a 10-year-old KWPN (Zapatero VDL X Zonne-Trend, by French Buffet xx) owned by The Deniro Syndicate and Ocala Horse Properties, on Monday due to a minor injury sustained in turnout.

“Unfortunately he managed to knock himself in the field on Friday, and while he is still feeling fit and fabulous and has been going well, he is not quite where we want him to be to be heading off to a big competition,” Liz said.

Doug Payne and Getaway. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

The U.S. is now represented by Doug Payne and Tamie Smith, both of whom received USET Foundation Jacqueline B. Mars International Competition Grants to compete at Boekelo.

Doug Payne and Lisa Walls’s Getaway, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Contendro X Ladula, by Lady’s King), have finished inside the top eight in their last seven consecutive international runs. “Flynn” finished sixth in his CCI3* debut at Bromont in June and makes his second start at the level at Boekelo.

Tamie Smith and Judy McSwain’s Fleeceworks Royal, a 9-year-old Holsteiner mare (Riverman X Marisol, by Corofino I) won the Rebecca Farm CIC3* over the summer and are also making their second start at the CCI3* level. “Rory” finished 17th at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International CCI3* last fall.

Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Dressage starts at 10 a.m./4 a.m. EST on both Thursday and Friday. Doug and Tamie will both go on Friday at the following times:

  • Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal: Friday at 11:04 a.m./5:04 a.m. EST
  • Doug Payne and Getaway: Friday at 2:32 p.m./8:32 a.m. EST

Click here for Thursday start times and here for Friday start times. You can watch all the action on the Military Boekelo live stream.

In addition to the U.S., riders representing Australia, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden will compete at Boekelo.

As for other pairs to watch, all eyes will be on Germany’s Julia Krajewski and Samourai du Thot, who are coming off a win in the Nations Cup at Waregem and are heavy favorites to take the Boekelo victory. “Super Sam” is slated to go in dressage on Thursday at 12:31 p.m./6:31 a.m. EST.

Reigning Dutch National Champions Tim Lips and Bayro finished second last year and will also be ones to watch as they look to become the first Dutch winners of Boekelo. Bayro goes down centerline on Thursday 2:08 p.m./6:08 a.m. EST.

With one leg to go in the 2018 FEI Nations Cup Eventing series, France tops the overall standings with 490 points, followed closely by Great Britain with 480 points — well out in front of the other countries. The stage is set for a thrilling finale as France and Great Britain battle for the 2018 series title.

Keep it locked on EN for all things Boekelo. Go Eventing.

Military Boekelo CCIO3*: Website, Entries, Thursday Start Times, Friday Start Times, Live Scoring, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage

Who Jumped It Best? Woodside Junior Beginner Novice Rider Edition

By on Oct 10, 2018 10:12 am -

It’s time to play a special edition of Who Jumped It Best starring some super cute kids and ponies from the Junior Beginner Novice Rider division at Woodside International Horse Trials.

Take a look at these beautiful photos kindly provided by Sherry Stewart. Then vote in the poll at the bottom of the post for which pair you think present the best overall picture over the jump.

Go Eventing.

[Woodside HT Results]

Natalie Barton and Foxy Lady. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Maddie Berry and Resilience. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Chloe Black and Chocolate Rocket Man. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Hadley Colwell and The Sundance Kid. Photo by sherry Stewart

Benjamin Heckman and Pluto. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Nicole Knauer and So Long As It’s Red. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Adrianna Kosmont and Banana Split. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Kaylan McCormac and Never Grow Up. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Elise Thompson and Infinite. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

On Being a Girl: An Eventer Goes Dress Shopping

By on Oct 10, 2018 9:00 am -

Say ‘I guess’ to the dress. Photo courtesy of Rachel Skirvin.

My awesome friend Sarah is getting married and I’m a bridesmaid. Sarah is an eventer, but Sarah is totally a girl. She knows about all things makeup, hair, heels and cuteness that are completely foreign to me. Dresses are kind of like Arabians: pretty to look at, a little unconventional, but sometimes you find one that’s kinda cool. It doesn’t help that I’m shaped like a sausage. There isn’t much going on other than a straight, short, boxy, cylindrical human. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. At all. I’m just not meant to model bikinis.

So I threw the kids in Carle, my F350 dually (a super feminine and petite flower of a vehicle), and headed to the granny’s house so I could drop them off and venture to the dress store. I reached in my purse and pulled out foundation, one of my four makeup items, the others being powder, eyeshadow and chapstick. Oliver, who never misses anything, immediately asked, “Mommy, what’s that?”

“Makeup.”

“Why?”

Um … I don’t honestly know. It’s a bit of a foreign concept to me. It’s clearly a huge staple in my life because my 4 year old child knows what a splint boot is, but is totally confused by me putting on makeup. My ambulance partner Val tries to help. She took me into Sephora and had me sign up for this deal that sends you samples of random facial war paints each month. Luckily, they come with a handout that tells you what they are. Otherwise, I would probably taste each one or use the truth serum as a hydration mask, which is obviously ridiculous. Obviously.

So I pull up to this dress shop, which is in a part of town where you don’t see many F350s as daily drivers. I jumped out, trying to hurry as I was already late, and a soccer mom and her kid stare in amazement. Carle got up-downed — I could see the fear and disgust in her eyes. Why would someone drive something so loud? So dirty? So eco-destructive??? Then I go in. Sarah meets me and tells me to pick a dress, there will be one color, but we can choose a style. There is a lady there to help. She disappears. I’m all alone. With all these dresses. What looks good on a 5’ Midwestern sausage with man shoulders and a slowly fading farmers tan? Nothing.

I eventually find my Arabian dress and the unhelpful lady asks me what size I need.

“Uh, extra medium short?” I know my Pipers, Levis, t-shirt, shoes and sports bra size. Other than that, your guess is as good as mine.

So she measures me, tells me to stand with my feet and legs together like five times (so unnatural), then informs me of my size. HOLD THE BUS NANCY. Where do you people come up with your size charts??? Way to make me feel like the subject of a Raffi song. Glad Carle has that extra set of tires to haul me back to Shelbyville. One more negative checkmark on the anti-dress spreadsheet …

I guess it’s good to be diverse. If all of my friends were exactly like me, it would be the most amazing thing ever bad for business. I’ll keep going along, all feral looking, while others grasp the wonders of femininity. Thank goodness Sarah planned wings and beer after dress shopping, and thank goodness I have a barn full of things totally unladylike that make me super happy and love me no matter what my appearance or dress size is.

Why did she keep telling me to stand with my feet together? Much more in my element after a successful Jumpstart H.T. Photo courtesy Jen Austin.