Classic Eventing Nation

Monday News and Notes from Fleeceworks

By on Nov 5, 2018 12:01 am -

Over the weekend I was chatting with some friends about Daylight Saving Time and one of them referred to yesterday’s fall back of the clock as “the good day” as she was looking forward to the extra hour of sleep and having the light a little earlier in the day to help her wake up and get moving. I politely disagreed. As far as Daylight Saving Time goes, I see this as “the bad day” since now when I get out of work and head to the barn it will be pitch black. Indoor arena, here I come.

National Holiday: The second of two National Doughnut Days (the other is in June). Guess you really can’t have just one.

U.S. Weekend Results:

Virginia CCI, CIC, & H.T. [Website] [Results]

Rocking Horse Fall H.T. [Website] [Results]

Full Gallop Farm November H.T. [Website]

Galway Downs CCI & H.T. [Website] [Results]

Your Monday News and Notes:

This Wednesday, Mardanza Farms is hosting a jumper schooling show to support the Liz Cochrane Memorial Groom’s Award. Classes from Novice to Advanced, fabulous footing, a Chris Barnard-designed course, all supporting a great cause – what more could you want? [Mardanza Farms second annual fundraiser for the Liz Cochrane Memorial Groom’s Award]

The 2018 eventing season was full of surprises. As the eventing season has come to a close in Britain, Horse & Hound takes a look back on some of the moments that made the season such a memorable one. [When the unexpected strikes… 11 surprises of the 2018 eventing season]

In case you missed it, Accelerate won the Breeders’ Cup Classic this weekend. The 5-2 betting favorite broke from the far outside post and stalked the front of the pack before making an exciting push down the homestretch to give his trainer John Sadler his first Breeders’ Cup Championship win in 41 starts. [Accelerate Finds Top Gear to Win Breeders’ Cup Classic]

In other Breeders’ Cup news: a man was arrested for drunkenly riding a stolen horse after sneaking into a restricted area, jumping on a steed, and trying to ride out onto the track. I wish I were making that up. [Kentucky man arrested after trying to ride a horse onto the track during Breeders’ Cup]

Monday Video:

Martin and Wood Take CCI Wins at Virginia; Rutledge Crowned National Champion

By on Nov 4, 2018 8:46 pm -

Boyd Martin and Contesor. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.

The Virginia CCI/CIC & Horse Trials (VHT) wrapped up today at the Virginia Horse Center. The final phase of show jumping altered the top of the CCI leaderboards and the results of the 2018 USEF CCI1* Eventing National Championships. 

Boyd Martin picked up a second international win, having already won the CIC2* on Saturday. Today he entered the show jumping arena sitting first and second in the CCI2*. A rail down for Barry, a 9-year-old Canadian Sport Horse he owns with Nancy Hathaway and Kathleen Crompton, dropped the horse to third place. A clear round meant victory for Denise Lahey and Pierre Colin’s homebred Contestor. Boyd was pleased for Contestor’s connections but disappointed in himself for taking a rail on Barry.

“Barry deserved to win because he was jumping really well. I made a major error turning him in the air over a vertical. I heard him just tick it behind so that rail was definitely my fault. He wanted to jump clear,” said Boyd, who owns the horse with Windurra, USA. 

The 11-year-old KWPN Contestor has now added a second two-star victory to his record, having won the Bromont CIC2* in the summer. “I find a lot of pleasure in riding horses for owners that really love their horse. Denise Lahey and Pierre Colin bred the horse and love the horse like it’s their child. A win at this and Bromont is a thrill for me because it’s so satisfying for those guys that backed me for many years,” he said.

Ryan Wood and Ruby. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Australia’s Ryan Wood and Ruby, a 9-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Summit Sporthorses Ltd., commanded the CCI1*-A division throughout the competition. They had one rail in hand for show jumping, which they used up at the very first fence on course, but they finished without additional penalties and won by less than a point. 

“I tried to not think about the rail and just be efficient as time could be a factor. She woke up after that first fence and really came off the ground. It was really nice to see her lead from start to finish,” he said. “Thanks to her breeder, Ilona English, for breeding another top class horse. It’s great to have them coming through. Her half-brother Powell won this same event a few years ago.”

Colleen Rutledge and C Me Fly. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Finishing in second place in the CIC1*-A division and taking home the USEF CCI1* Eventing National Championship title as the highest placed American rider was Colleen Rutledge and 6-year-old Westphalian mare, C Me Fly, who started the competition in a three-way tie.

“She is a recent import from Germany and she has exceeded every expectation I have had for her this year,” she said. Tackling the mare’s first CCI1* this weekend, Colleen didn’t know how she would show jump after cross country. “She felt the terrain from yesterday and I had to be a little more aggressive with my leg and she just answered everything in spades. I couldn’t have asked for her to be any better across this entire  weekend.” 

Colleen acknowledged that show jumping is a difficult phase for her and she’s been determined to get better. “I’ve been working really hard not only to improve my eye but to improve my horses’ elasticity and flexibility and their ability to stay on a 12-foot step. C Me Fly is naturally an exceptionally good show jumper and I’m so fortunate to be able to keep working on myself with something like her that is just starting her career. She gives me so much more confidence to know that even if I screw up she’s going to be there and help me out.”

Boyd Martin and Ringo Star. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Adding another accolade to his performance  this weekend, Boyd Martin and Ringo Star, an 8-year-old Thoroughbred owned by Helle Goodrich, were named USEF CCI1* Eventing National Reserve Champions and finished third overall in the division. 

Isabel Finemore and Rutherglen. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Looking to the CCI1*-B division, 15-year-old Isabel Finemore took top honors in her very first one-star riding Rutherglen, a 15-year-old Hanoverian. They also won the USEF CCI1*-JR/YR National Championship. Isabel had two horses in the division so had already gotten a shot at Chris Barnard’s show jumping course with her pony, Craig More Tom. 

 “With the pony it’s very different. I made some mistakes and having that practice round really showed me that I needed to get my act together and go do what I’m actually capable of doing,” she said. “Rutherglen was great. Just calm and steady and slow. My trainer, Booli Selmayr, was absolutely fantastic; she’s always there and helps me. She told me when I was walking up, ‘stick to the plan, and don’t change anything.’ And she was right as she always is.” 

Rutherglen competed at the 2012 London Olympics with Australian eventer Andrew Hoy, so he brings a ton of experience to this relatively new partnership. Isabel said, “He is a four-star horse so I wasn’t sure if I was going to be big enough or strong enough but he’s so kind to me. He’s very thoughtful and it was very easy to build a great partnership with him.”

Coming second in the USEF CCI1*-JR/YR National Reserve Championship and in the CIC1*-B division was Kelsey Ann Quinn and Julie Quinn’s 12-year-old Thoroughbred, Dandy Longlegs. They led the division through the first two phases but unfortunately added faults in show jumping.

There were several special awards given in the FEI divisions. The  winners are: 

Best Turned Out CCI2*: Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride and Favian.
Best Conditioned CCI2*: Jeff Beshear and Say Cheese
Best Conditioned CCI1*: Claudia Sarnoff and Callan Quinto
Kildonan Tug Memorial Trophy: Dylan Philipps and Fernhill Fierce

Eight teams participated in the Intercollegiate and Alumni Team Challenge. Although Randolph-Macon College led after the first two phases, the University of Virginia edged ahead to win. Full team challenge  results are available here. 

Virginia CCI, CIC, & H.T.: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores

Sunday Video from Total Saddle Fit: No Stirrup November Inspo

By on Nov 4, 2018 4:30 pm -

Are you tackling No Stirrup November? Here are 4 videos to inspire you this month!

1. No stirrupless conversation is complete without mentioning Mark Todd’s epic Badminton completion with one stirrup. There are a million reasons to ride like Toddy, but this one has to top it:

2. Then of course there’s Louise Van Dijck, who reminded us a lot of Toddy this year at the Europeans where she also completed with one stirrup.

3. If anyone can set you straight about no stirrups, it’s George Morris:

5. A broken ankle could’ve sidelined Sydney Luzicka for the season, but she embodied her inner eventer to kick on without them.

Whether you’re hanging your stirrups up completely or just dropping them more regularly, Happy No Stirrup November!

Specifically for eventers, the StretchTec Shoulder Relief Girth now comes in two shades of brown to match monoflap jump saddles! Let your horse move more freely and breathe easier by using the same girth as Tamra Smith. See them all here: totalsaddlefit.com

Madison Temkin Leads Galway Downs CCI2*, Tie at The Top of CCI* After Cross Country

By on Nov 4, 2018 1:42 pm -

Madison Temkin and Dr. Hart. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Galway Downs is the final Area VI competition of the year, drawing in west coast riders for a world-class competition to close out the season across CCI2* and CCI* divisions.

Madison Temkin piloted her own Dr Hart to the top of the CCI2* leaderboard at Galway Downs after a foot-perfect cross cross country performance in the 11-year-old Thoroughbred’s debut at the level. The pair ride into the final phase on their dressage score of 32.7.

James Alliston and Pandora. Photo by Shelby Allen.

James Alliston and Laura Boyer’s Pandora follow in second place. The 8-year-old Swedish Warmblood has a pony-like appearance, but dismisses that quickly with her incredible talent over fences. She and James also remain on their dressage score of 34.6.

Returning to the west coast after a stint east, Mallory Hogan and Clarissa Purisima are in third with a super performance under the clock. They carry 35.1 points into the final phase.

Many in the division came out of the cross country relatively untouched as seven in the 10-horse division jumped double clear, but rails tend to fall easily on the third day, and no one at the top has room for error.

Megan Sykes and Classic’s Mojah. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

The tie for first place in the CCI* remains shared between Megan Skyes and Charlotte Babbitt after cross country — both remain on a score of 25.

Megan and Classic’s Mojah, a former dressage horse turned eventer, came home inside the time. The 9-year-old Oldenburg had a time of 6:54, which puts them slightly closer to the optimum time of 7 minutes 5 seconds if the tie continues after the final phase.

Charlotte and 2AM in the last combination of the CCI*

Posted by Chocolate Horse Farm on Saturday, November 3, 2018

Charlotte Babbitt and 2 A.M. looked fresh and ready in this morning’s horse inspection and will be looking to finish on their dressage score in their first CCI* completion.

Asia Vedder is waiting in the wings with Isi. They carry a 26.6 penalty points for third place. Auburn Excell-Brady is in fourth with BSP Tuxedo on 27.7, and Leigh Mesher is fifth with Finally DG on 27.9.

The one-star will jump in reverse order of standing at 11:30 a.m. PST/2:30 p.m. EST, and the two-star will follow at 2 p.m. PST/5 p.m. EST. You can watch the finale live thanks to Ride On Video.

Galway Downs CCI & H.T.: Website, Entry Status, Ride Times, Live Scores, Live Stream

 

Lauren Kieffer Takes All in Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge at The Royal

By on Nov 4, 2018 12:33 pm -

Lauren Kieffer and Glendening Avis. Photo by Ben Radvanyi.

Lauren Kieffer surpassed a stable of other Olympians and distinguished riders to capture the win on the final night of the $20,000 Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge at Canada’s Royal Winter Fair and Horse Show. Kieffer, who says she was very honoured to be invited to compete in Toronto at this prestigious event, gives all credit to her mount, Glendening Avis, loaned to her for the occasion by Callie Evans. Callie is a Canadian rider who has trained the 13-year-old  buckskin mare to the three-star level.
“She is a sweet mare” said Kieffer after their stellar performance in the ring. “I was just saying, ‘ Please like me.’” She rode the Canadian Sport Horse for the first time at 5:00 a.m. the previous morning in a ring with about 40 other horses and only had  about 5 jumps with her to get acquainted.
Captain Mark Phillips, the designer for this Indoor Eventing Challenge, made Saturday’s course even more difficult for the finale than it had been the previous evening.
“Any time you got a course with double skinnies and double corners even if you are running around a 10 minute course you think its difficult then let alone doing that many fences in 80 seconds is even more challenging,” stated Kieffer. “If you are not thinking about the third fence by the time you are jumping the first fence then you’re late. Mark was super clever in his design everywhere. He set an out for the horses so if you made a mistake at the solid cross-country fences they just ran out and you get to slap yourself in the face and carry on.”

Lauren Kieffer and Glendening Avis. Photo by Ben Radvanyi.

The spoiler fence of the first night of the Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge was the very last fence: a wide show jumping oxer that saw many riders have a rail here to spoil an otherwise clean ride. The final night’s very first fence, a wide show jumping oxer, very close to and at a ninety degree turn from the start box, proved to be another source of frustration for the riders many of whom had that fence down at the very start of their run.
Selena O’Hanlon, first to challenge the course and a crowd favourite, blazed out of the in gate at a dead gallop on Unique, a mare borrowed from Sondra Blair-Bevridge for the occasion.  O’Hanlon, going for speed on the course, was unable to persuade her new acquaintance to jump all the jumps.  Although O’Hanlon was unable to obtain redemption for the previous night’s ride, she left the ring with a huge smile on her face giving Unique hearty pats on the neck showing what a good sport and a great horsewoman she is.
Manny, Diana Burnett’s  bay gelding, expertly ridden by Burnett, was really amped up  by the cheering crowd but was on a clear round until the last fence where he had an unfortunate  rail.
Next in the ring, Lindsay Beer riding El Paso, had the very first rail down. Beer’s strategy was to ride the rest of the course at a more moderate speed but taking really tight corners in order to keep the rest of the round  successfully clean.
Candy King,  Holly Jacks Smither’s sweet bay mare and Karl Slezak riding the impressive Irish Sport Horse Fernhill Choco Royale put in great efforts but were not rewarded by clean performances over this very tricky and demanding course.
Colleen Loach and Serendipity had the first rail down but since nobody had gone clean up to this point in the evening,  Loach ‘threw down the gloves’ and sped around the rest of the course taking the corners “in a stylish manner” as the Irish accented announcer commented.  The crowd roared as the bay thoroughbred mare cleared the last fence in blazing time to take the lead after 5 riders.  It is Loach’s third time at the Royal and she thinks that events such as the Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge, “display the sport to a lot of people in a shortened version but they can get the idea a little whereas a lot of these people wouldn’t necessarily go out to a cross-country course or event.”
“The atmosphere in the arena is great” Loach says.  The whole event provides the riders with an adrenaline rush.
Up next was Lisa Marie Fergusson, a former Pony Clubber in British Columbia when growing up, riding Honor Me, a chestnut Welsh Sport Horse, described by Fergusson as her ideal horse for Indoor Eventing.  “Pretty brave. Not bothered by distractions on the course. A horse that focuses on the jumps,” she described.  Clear over that first bugaboo fence at one, the pair were off to a good start.  They took the offset corners at an angle and, with little room to spare, the horse powered up and off the bank but  jumped from a long spot at the final fence on the course and took down a rail.

Kendal Lehari and Totally Frank. Photo by Ben Radvanyi.

Kendal Lehari and her own bay thoroughbred gelding, Totally Frank, were next to go.  As only one of three clears on the previous night, they were set to put the pressure on the next two riders. Lehari  skillfully steered her big fellow around the course putting in a great jump up the bank at a slight angle and leaving all the poles in the cups and jumping through all the flags to go clear again.
Brandon McMechan, a full-time chiropractor as well as a competitive rider at the three-star level, was second last to go on his big bay Thoroughbred gelding Oscar’s Wild. “ I just love this horse,”  said McMechan. “He can be a little cheeky on the ground, but I can’t say enough good things about him. Part of the reason we do so well is because he’ll just do anything I ask of him and he’ll do it with his whole heart. If I really mess up he’ll let me know and if he stops its for a very good reason and he probably saved us both.”

Brandon McMechan and Oscars Wild. Photo by Ben Radvanyi.

McMechan and Oscar demonstrated their partnership to great effect on the big, challenging course. Starting off at a more moderate rate of speed, the pair sped up over the latter part of the course to finish as the fastest clear round to that point. Discussing his strategy McMechan stated: “ I want to make sure he has a very positive experience. I’m not going to gun him at anything. I’m just going to take my time and make sure he’s happy.”
Glendening Avis and Lauren Kieffer, the final partnership on the course cantered into the ring knowing that in order to win they have to leave everything up and they have to be very quick. This mare and her rider put in a perfect fast round shaving more than a second off McMechan’s time to win the title.
Speaking later Kieffer said: “Brandon and Kendal certainly put the pressure on us.  But the mare tries her guts out. With so little warm up it’s hard to figure out where you are as a pair. I felt so in sync with her.” Kieffer joking told Callie Evans, the mare’s owner, that she might be trying to stuff the mare into a suitcase to take her home to The Plains, Virginia.
All the riders were asked if they thought that Indoor Eventing is a good showcase for the sport of Eventing.  All agreed that it is very different from what Eventers do on a regular basis, but that it is a good way to promote the sport.  “It’s fun. It’s energetic. If you get even 1 person to go eventing and get into it then its done its job,” said Kieffer.
Everybody also agreed that the fans are great, very supportive and knowledgeable.  Indoor Eventing gives people a chance to see just how skilled and careful Eventers really are. The revamped scoring system rewards careful riding not just speed.  The horses look like they are having fun along with the riders. Good horsemanship was demonstrated by everyone invited to ride.
McMechan summed it up best. When asked if Indoor Eventing is a good way to promote the sport he replied: “I do. Just look at the stands. I think with the atmosphere and exposure and the other riders are all so amazing so I think its really good for the sport.”

Best of JN: 8 Times Kent Farrington Stole Our Hearts

By on Nov 4, 2018 11:42 am -

Kent Farrington: the man, the myth, the legend. A phenomenal rider, he held the world number one spot for what seemed like forever prior to having to take some downtime as he recovered from an injury. Kent seems to win all the things (like this week’s $135,000 Jumper Classic at the National Horse Show), not excluding the hearts of his fans. Check out eight of our favorite Kent moments on Instagram from our sister site, Jumper Nation!

1) Every time he makes challenging horses look easy…

2) When he takes time to acknowledge his youngest fans. 

3) That one time Kent and the Queen became besties.

4) When Kent wins all the things and celebrates like a boss.

5) When the sass is strong, but Kent doesn’t care. 

View this post on Instagram

Mood 💃🏼 Brought to you by Kent & Dublin

A post shared by Centerline Style (@centerlinestyle) on

6) Baby Kent, enough said. 

7)  When he handles bloopers with grace and poise. 

8) Does this one really need a caption? 

Go Kent and Go Jumping!

This originally appeared on EN’s sister site Jumper Nation.

 

Boyd Martin Wins Virginia CIC2*, Sharon White Leads USEF CCI* Championship

By on Nov 4, 2018 9:01 am -

Boyd Martin and Kyra. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

It was a good day at the office for Boyd Martin at the Virginia CCI/CIC & Horse Trials as he went went one-two in the CCI2*, while also winning the CIC2*.

Boyd stalked the top of the leaderboard after dressage, and after two masterful performances he sits first and second in the CCI2*. Division leader Barry, a 9-year-old Thoroughbred owned by Martin and Windurra USA, added 9.6 time penalties to sit on a score of 37.5. Second-placed Contestor, an 11-year-old KWPN owned by Denise Lahey, was a bit speedier with 8.8 time penalties for a day two score of 39.7.

“Barry is a legend. A year ago he was all over the shop. I had experts tapping me on the shoulder telling me it’s time for him to move on, but I knew he was just green and inexperienced,” he said. “[Today] he galloped strong all the way around and pulled up fresh. I think he’s in good shape to jump tomorrow.”

After a soggy rain, competitors battled muddy conditions which made the notorious Virginia Horse Trials terrain even trickier.

“Hats off to the course designer. Initially when I walked the track I thought he made it too soft. When I rode it I got a sudden change in mind. It rode a lot tougher than it walked,” Boyd said. “The direction of the track was much better going starting at the base of the hill and working your way up the mountain. It was a test of endurance and stamina and the rider that could pace their horse. It made the cross country phase more important than in past years. Especially for CCIs, it shouldn’t be a dressage show.”

Boyd also had the fastest round of the day with Christine Turner’s Kyra in the CIC2*, which secured him the win of the division. The 11-year-old Canadian Warmblood had 1.6 time penalties for a final result of 33.4.

“She’s a feisty red-head mare. It’s been up and down all year for her so it’s rewarding to finish the year well,” he said. “She’s a fantastic show jumper and cross country is her tougher point, so we’ve been schooling a lot. The rain overnight made the course challenging and to Kyra’s credit, she went out and fought hard all the way around.”

Allison Springer sits third in the CCI2* with Sapphire Blue B. The pair had 11.6 time penalties for a score of 40.9. Skeyler Voss and Argyle are third with 42 points after 9.2 time penalties, and Dasha Ivandaeva and DB Cooper are fifth on 42.6.

Sharon White and Masterel. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.

John Michael Durr’s cross country course dissolved the three-way tie of the USEF CCI1* Eventing National Championship, and Sharon White emerged as the new leader with her and Denis Glaccum’s Masterel.

Sharon and the 9-year-old Italian Thoroughbred were fifth in the CCI1*-A group overnight and took over the one-star championship after a double clear cross country, which Sharon said felt easy for the leggy Thoroughbred. They remain on their dressage score of 28.8.

“This is the first time I have ever let him run because I basically have had 30 time penalties everywhere I’ve taken him,” she said. “He is a real racehorse, and I have spent all of this time just trying to help him relax and really be with me. He is an unbelievable horse. So it was really satisfying today to see if I could let him go and it was wonderful.”

Colleen Rutledge is currently second in the championship, which is awarded to the highest placed U.S. rider who is 22 or older, with C Me Fly. The 6-year-old Westphalian holds a score of 30.3.

Overnight leaders of CCI*-A, Ryan Wood and Ruby stayed in the top spot after cross country. Riding for Australia, Ryan isn’t eligible for the USEF championship, but he and the Summit Sporthorses’ 9-year-old Oldenburg had a fantastic 2.8 time penalties on cross country for a two-phase score of 25.4.

Kelsey Ann Quinn and Dandy Longlegs. Photo by Brant Gamma Photography.

Kelsey Ann Quinn also kept her lead of both the USEF CCI1*-JR/YR Eventing National Championship and the CCI*-B division with Dandy Longlegs, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred owned by Julie Quinn. 5.2 cross country time penalties gives them a current score of 32.9.

The show jumping finale gets underway this morning. You can follow the live scoring at this link.

[Sharon White Pulls Ahead After Cross-Country in the USEF CCI1* Eventing National Championship; Kelsey Ann Quinn Maintains the Lead in the USEF CCI1*-JR/YR Eventing National Championship]

[A Banner Day for Boyd Martin at Virginia CCI/CIC & Horse Trials]

 

 

Sunday Links Presented by One K Helmets

By on Nov 4, 2018 12:01 am -

Grooms are such an absolutely integral part of our sport, and the Liz Cochrane Memorial Award is one small recognition of their huge efforts. Help support this award by taking part in a jumper show at Mardanza Farm in Ocala, or you can donate at this link. Thanks to the many super grooms that keep eventing running!

National Holiday: National Candy Day

U.S. Weekend Action:

Virginia CCI, CIC, & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Rocking Horse Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Full Gallop Farm November H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Galway Downs CCI & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Sunday Links: 

‘He was a glass half-full kind of guy’: eventer says sad farewell to four-star horse

Champions galore — the next generation of jockeys lines up at Olympia

There is More Than One Way: Thinking Outside of the Box to Finance Your Eventing Dreams

USEA Rule Refresher: Rule Changes Effective December 1, 2018

New independent testing lab for drug testing US sport horses

Sunday Video:

Lauren Kieffer Wins Night One of Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge at The Royal

By on Nov 3, 2018 2:30 pm -

Lauren Kieffer and Glendening Avis. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography.

Lauren Kieffer, the Olympic rider from the United States, is in the lead of the $20,000 Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge at Toronto, Canada’s Royal Horse Show. Riding the buckskin Canadian Sport Horse mare, Glendening Avis, loaned to Kieffer for the two day competition by Callie Evans. Kieffer rode a careful round taking the longer routes to go clear with the fastest time of the night. Giving all credit to the mare and Evans’ careful training, Kieffer, who only sat on the horse for the first time at 5:00 a.m. that morning, modestly claimed that she, “just went along for the ride.”

The words ‘Indoor’ and ‘Eventing’ do not usually appear together, but once a year for two consecutive nights, The Royal Horse Show produces an exciting and thrilling exhibition of top calibre riders and horses challenging each other over a mix of cross country fences and show jumping rails. Spectators are on the edges of their seats as the talented riders steer their brave horses at a speedy pace over the type of solid cross country tables, banks and brush fences usually seen only at outdoor events as well as delicately poised show jump rails that may be almost blown off their cups by the sheer speed of the horses as they jump over them.

This year’s $20,000 Horseware Indoor Eventing Challenge has a distinguished line-up of Olympians from both sides of the border who have recently competed at the World Equestrian Games as well as several other Canadian Equestrian athletes keen to prove their mettle over the course designed by Captain Mark Phillips.  The confines of the indoor arena space makes for some tight lines to fences, and as Kieffer claims the course, “rides a bit like a washing machine.”

The crowd is always thrilled by the solid imposing fences and the bank jump, but perhaps the biggest challenges are the show jump rails which can catch out even the best of riders.  The final fence on course, a wide spread with show jump poles painted the colours of Ireland, home to Horseware, the event’s sponsor, proved to be the nemesis for several partnerships.

Lindsay Beer was first into the arena riding El Paso, a chestnut Trakehner gelding owned by her Mother, Penny Beer. El Paso and Beer, as the pathfinders on the night, had a successful round until the very last fence where they had a rail down to the groans of the crowd.

Diana Burnett riding her own horse Manny, an elegant bay thoroughbred, were unfortunately eliminated when they went off course.  They will be looking for redemption tonight in the second round.

Selena OHanlon and Unique. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography.

The audience was on the edge of their seats with excitement when Selena O’Hanlon galloped into the ring riding Unique, a Paint mare loaned to her for The Royal by Sondra Blair-Bevridge. O’Hanlon was named Canada’s Equestrian of the year in 2017 and has had a busy, successful year riding at Badminton in England, winning the Bromont Horse Trials in August and competing at the World Equestrian Games in September. Unique and O’Hanlon, having had very little time to get acquainted before the show, will also be looking for redemption tonight as they had a couple of run outs on the course.

Next into the ring, Karl Slezak put in a well ridden round on Fernhill Choco Royale, owned by Katlyn Hewson-Slezak, cutting a few corners to cut time and pouring on the speed but again the final rail of the course came down despite the strong efforts of the dark bay Irish Sport Horse.

Colleen Loach, a member of Canada’s Pan American, Olympic and World Equestrian Games teams, charged into the ring riding Serendipity, Brooke Massie’s  bay Thoroughbred mare. Loach burned up the arena, turning up the speed, jumping several fences at an angle and looked like having a clear round until the rail at the very last fence fell again.

Riding into the ring next was Lisa Marie Fergusson on Honor Me, a chestnut Welsh Sport Horse owned by Fergusson herself. Fergusson, another member of Canada’s World Equestrian Games squad who rode in her first event at the age of 12, had a speedy round giving the crowd a shiver when Honor Me almost had a tip up at the bank.  Her clear round was marred by that pesky last fence as they dropped a rail at the oxer.

Brandon McMechan and Oscars Wild. Photo by Ben Radvanyi.

Brandon McMechan, an amateur rider competing very successfully at the Advanced level of Eventing, was next in the ring with his own bay thoroughbred gelding Oscar’s Wild. McMechan was going for the win as he and Oscar navigated the course, not appearing to speed but taking the smart routes and corners. The last fence stayed up to give McMechan and Oscar the lead momentarily until the next pair, night one leaders Lauren Kieffer and Glendening Avis.

Owned and ridden by Holly Jacks Smither, Candy King was the next horse in the ring. Riding for breast cancer awareness in honour of her friend Amanda Davidson, Jacks Smither braided her bay mare with pink braids and the horse wore a fly bonnet with a pink ribbon printed on it.  Candy King was both speedy and careful but again had the unfortunate last rail on the course.

Kendal Lehari and Totally Frank. Photo by Ben Radvanyi.

The final horse on course was Totally Frank, a bay Thoroughbred gelding owned and ridden by Kendal Lehari who began her eventing career at the age of eleven and has ridden in the Indoor Eventing class at The Royal since it’s inception.  Lehari rode an exciting course making tight turns on her big horse and taking many fences at an angle but taking a slightly longer route to the bank cost her time despite a clear performance with no rails down.

Talking to the riders about why they enjoy Indoor Eventing, they all talked about the adrenaline rush of the ride, the camaraderie of the group of riders at the event and, for those coming from the local area, the fun of having family, friends and supporters come out to cheer them on.  

The Royal Horse Show, now it its 96th year as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, is a huge tradition for Canadian horse enthusiasts.Everyone is looking forward to another great night of Indoor Eventing tonight. Stay tuned for the wrap up tomorrow!

Best of HN: Where Are They Now? 5 Breeders’ Cup Graduates

By on Nov 3, 2018 12:00 pm -

The Breeders’ Cup is the crown jewel for North American racing (with increasing participation from Europe as well). Many owners, trainers, breeders and jockeys dream of their horses capturing the elusive title of Breeders’ Cup Champion, and every year another crop of potential stars enters the starting gate hoping to get their piece of the glory.

Champion or not, however, the Breeders’ Cup graduates are all in need of a second career when their racing days are over: some go on to be breeding horses, but plenty of others find their second career in the show ring and beyond. We caught up with five former Breeders’ Cup runners to get the scoop on their post-racing careers!

Theory
2014 gelding by Gemologist
Bred by Fred W. Hertrich III and Ronald K. Kirk
Formerly owned by WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International Ltd., SF Racing LLC, Head of Plains Partners LLC
Formerly trained by Todd Pletcher
Breeders’ Cup history: 10th in the 2016 Juvenile

Theory won his maiden start at Saratoga and followed up that victory with another in the Grade 3 Futurity Stakes at Belmont. He finished tenth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile behind winner Classic Empire. He never saw the top three again on the track, and after one start early in 2018, his connections made the decision to retire him and seek a second career. Restarted by Carleigh Fedorka as agent for Carolyn Walsh, Theory caught the eye of Clare Walker of Walnut Farm in Kansas.

Theory and Carleigh Fedorka. Photo by JJ Sillman

Walker purchased Theory in July. “We are currently working on instilling good solid dressage basics and relaxing in this phase,” describes Walker. “He is a forward thinking and smart horse but is naturally a bit of a worrier so I’m mindful not to rush him. He is brave and clever about the jumps, but I have focused more on pole work to make sure he gets the footwork basics he needs along with the rideability on the flat.”

As an upper-level eventer herself, Walker allows herself to dream about long-term goals: “Well, we’d all like another upper level horse, wouldn’t we? I have run horses through 2*, so it would be super if he was the one that went on to surpass that, but who knows, really?”

“Theory is a very sweet horse, has some wisdom for his age and is quite affectionate. However, his favorite thing in the whole world is to eat and he gets quite excited at meals times. He had tieback surgery as a two year old so he doesn’t really have a voice, but if he did he would shout at me for his breakfast!”

Theory and Clare Walker. Photo courtesy of Clare Walker

Radiohead
2007 gelding by Johannesburg
Bred by Redmyre Bloodstock and S. Hillen
Formerly owned by Antonacci Racing and Gerald Antonacci
Formerly trained by Danny Gargan
Breeders’ Cup history: seventh in the 2009 Juvenile

Bred in Great Britain, Radiohead showed early promise as a juvenile, winning the Grade 2 Norfolk Stakes at Ascot and placing in several other Grade 1 and 2 stakes in England. He placed seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which was won that year by Vale of York. After his Breeders’ Cup attempt, Radiohead stayed in the States and never quite captured his early potential. Moving down the ranks of racing through the later years of his career, Radiohead retired from the track and was placed through ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption with Tristan Francar in February of 2015.

Originally, Francar intended to show Radiohead at the 2015 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover in dressage but closer to the deadline felt that the horse was not mentally ready and made the horseman’s decision to scratch. Since then, Radiohead’s training has progressed through Francar’s individualized program; he has schooled work through second level. A few physical setbacks forced some time off, but he’s been cleared to work again and Francar is slowly rebuilding his fitness, with the goal to return to the show ring in the spring.

Photo by Shaana Risley

Cary Street
2009 gelding by Smarty Jones
Bred by Darley
Formerly owned by JBL Thoroughbreds LLC and Walsh Racing LLC
Formerly trained by Brendan Walsh
Breeders’ Cup history: winner of the 2014 Las Vegas Marathon, the first year it was dropped from the Breeders’ Cup card

While from 2014 onwards the Marathon was dropped from the Breeders’ Cup card, the graded stakes is still considered by many to be an “unofficial” Breeders’ Cup race — and Cary Street was the first post-Breeders’ Cup winner. Winner of multiple graded stakes, Cary Street was considered the horse that helped launch Brendan Walsh’s training career, and when the horse incurred a minor injury to his suspensory ligament in 2016, Walsh sought a great home.

Photo by Marissa Miller

Enter Steph Butler, an associate veterinarian at the time at a racetrack practice in Lexington, horseless and preparing to start shopping. “One of my friends who at the time was an exercise rider for Brendan with his string stabled at Keeneland for the summer found out that he was looking to find Cary a home since he needed a job. I brought Cary home in the summer of 2016 after talking with a lot of people who worked for Brendan, and what really struck me was how much everyone loved the horse.”

Butler took the rest of 2016 to rehab the ligament injury and let down Cary from racing life; Butler carefully and slowly strengthened the injured ligament and Cary has no limitations now. Over the following summer, Butler introduced jumping, and she and Cary Street competed at the 2017 Thoroughbred Makeover to great success, finishing fifth place and top amateur trainer in competitive trail and 11th in the field hunters (tied for tenth, dropped to 11th in the tie-breaker).

Post-Makeover, Butler and Cary won a Masterson Station hunter pace with a friend, and competed at some schooling shows over the winter. Cary also enjoys trail riding in both English and western tack. Butler hopes to take him to some recognized events in 2019.

Not only is the horse versatile and athletic in all of his careers, he’s just fun have in the barn. As described by Butler: “Cary, in a nutshell, is a 9-year-old-yearling. He is the barn clown, the obnoxious little brother in the pasture who loves to pester the other geldings to play with him (even though he’s 17 hands) and has a huge, goofy personality and is such a fun horse to be around.”

Photo by Steph Butler

Mr. Commons
2008 gelding by Artie Schiller
Bred by St. George Farm LLC
Owned St. George Farm Racing LLC (Banwell)
Formerly trained by John Shirreffs
Breeders’ Cup history: fifth in both the 2011 and 2012 Breeders’ Cup Mile

Mr. Commons is still owned by his breeders, the Banwell family of St. George Farm. They raced him to earnings of over $900,000 in a career that spanned six years and 29 starts, including two graded stakes wins. Mr. Commons ran eighth in the 2011 Preakness Stakes, plus finishing fifth two years in a row in the 2011 and 2012 Breeders’ Cup Mile on the turf.

“The Banwells opted to see what Mr. Commons could do in a second career,” shares trainer Emily Brollier Curtis. “They reached out to me to see if I would work with him as a dressage horse. Mr. Commons and I have competed through first level so far, most recently attending regional championships. He is schooling all of the third level and should be showing third next season.”

Brollier Curtis believes that Mr. Commons can be a Thoroughbred stereotype-breaker: “I hope to get him to the FEI levels and really see what an OTTB can do in that setting. He is a very sensitive horse, very particular. He likes what he likes and tells you what he doesn’t like. He is super fun to train because he is quick off the leg and hot to the aids. A very ambitious horse!”

Photo courtesy of Emily Brollier Curits/Wendy Wooley

Romp (ARG)
2004 gelding by Incurable Optimist
Bred by John T. Behrendt
Formerly owned by Sisters in Racing Stable and Jeff Siskin
Formerly trained by Kristin Mulhall
Breeders’ Cup history: ninth in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Marathon, eighth in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Marathon

Romp accomplished a long racing career with his last start in 2013 at the Jockey Club age of nine. He didn’t break his maiden until well until his three-year-old year, but seemed to get better with age with his first graded stakes placing as a six-year-old. With 55 career starts, Romp was well into warhorse status when he retired through New Vocations, where Leah Alessandroni became his next owner.

Romp showed talent over fences and enjoyed a brief stint as a show horse, but truly enjoys the quieter retired life, getting to simply be a horse out in the pasture!

Photo by Courtney Calnan

Go Breeders’ Cup. And go riding.