Classic Eventing Nation

Friday Video and UK Notes from World Equestrian Brands: A Horse of a Different Colour

By on Oct 12, 2018 6:00 pm -

The equestrian community exemplified. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

One of the best things about working in the horse industry is the people in it. Okay, okay, hear me out here — I know we’re all absolutely bonkers, and we drive one another mad, and we all need an astonishing amount of gin to tolerate each other sometimes, but we’re all here for the same reason. We just, well, bloody love ponies. And that deep-seated love is the driving force behind the life choices that see us all merrily spending our time in the freezing cold, the pouring rain, and the odd relentless heatwave, all because our charges need us.

When it comes to those who have chosen a career in the equestrian industry, or some derivative of it, I always find it fascinating to learn why they chose the route they did, and the path they took to get there. For example, I met someone the other day whose eleven-year-old sister has decided that she wants to go into equine dentistry when she grows up. Unbelievably specific, not at all glamorous, but so necessary — I definitely was not a similarly sensible eleven-year-old. Either way, I love talking to grooms, riders, massage therapists, photographers, whatever equally, because the driving force is always the same.

My best friend, Freya, is a brilliant example of a seriously left-field show of passion, and it all started in a delightfully normal way — after university, where we met, she sacked off her plans to become a French teacher and moved in with me, spending a year indulging her lifelong love for horses by working on a couple of seriously busy producing and hunting yards. But she wasn’t sure that being a career groom was the right path for her, and so she took herself off (to a sailboat in Greece, natch) to figure out what, exactly, the right path was.

When she figured it out, she surprised everyone around her — she was going to become a zookeeper. Anyway, to cut a long and marvellous story short, she made it happen for herself, despite a wildly unsuitable degree and no previous experience wrestling lions, or whatever zookeepers do. She took everything she’d learned throughout her horsey life and transferred it over to exotic hoof stock, and now, she’s an absolutely brilliant and astute keeper of rhinos, giraffes, various exciting deer species with increasingly hilarious and spindly legs, and much more.

Pictured: the best ears we’ve ever seen. Photo by Freya Bellew.

What has this got to do with anything? Well, today, folks, you get a brief but brilliant Friday video, courtesy of Zookeeper Freya’s exceptional career choices. Say a big hello to the as-yet-unnamed brand new Grevy’s zebra foal born last night at Marwell Zoo — suggestions for names are welcomed and will be passed along, so get commenting!

UK Weekend Preview:

Friday Video: A Horse of a Different Colour

Welcome to Hampshire’s Marwell Zoo, where keepers were greeted this morning by something better than a cup of coffee in the mess room – instead, they met the long-awaited foal of Grevy’s zebra Imogen for the first time.

A matchy-matchy aficionado’s dream. Photo by Freya Bellew.

Okay, so it may never event (though we’d love to see a stripey take on Badminton’s BE90 Championship), but lil’ knock-knees here is all you need to see you into a very merry weekend. Even better, its birth is the latest in a series of coups for Marwell’s team, who work tirelessly on the conservation of the endangered Grevy’s zebra in northern Kenya, and who manage the European studbook for this fascinating species, too. You can follow their work — and all their updates on this gorgeous bubba — on their Facebook page.

Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal Dance to 12th at Boekelo; Doug Payne 38th

By on Oct 12, 2018 3:49 pm -

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

The top three remained unchanged today at Military Boekelo CCIO3* in Enschede, Netherlands, with Tim Lips and Bayro still leading the way on 19.2 — the lowest score ever recorded by a Dutch rider, according to EquiRatings.

Today all eyes turned to the two American combinations in the field, and Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal rose to the occasion as the first pair out for the U.S. “Rory,” a 9-year-old Holsteiner mare (Riverman X Marisol, by Corofino I) owned by Judy McSwain, scored 26.8 to sit in 12th place.

The mare delivered a personal best score of 26.7 two weeks ago in the Stable View CIC3*, and she just narrowly missed matching that on the international stage today. Tamie said she is absolutely thrilled with how Rory handled the biggest atmosphere she has faced yet.

“That’s what happens with young horses — they keep getting better and better. She just clicked up to another level. … The wind was blowing quite strong during our test, so the flags were whipping and you could really hear that. She can be a bit sound-sensitive, but she wasn’t bothered at all.”

Tamie’s dressage trainer, Niki Clarke, flew out to the East Coast to help her ahead of Stable View, and Tamie said U.S. Performance Director Erik Duvander was also extremely helpful this week in the lead-up to her test at Boekelo.

“Erik was super about letting me do my thing but then giving me pointers about what he saw, and I was able to remember those things in the ring. It was just the right amount of help from him,” Tamie said. “I was hoping that it would all fall into place today, and it did. She handled everything like a pro. I’m so proud of her.”

Doug Payne and Getaway. Photo by Libby Law Photography.

Doug Payne and Getaway, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Contendro X Ladula, by Lady’s King) owned by Lisa Wall, scored 32.8 to sit in 38th place at the conclusion of dressage. “Flynn” has averaged 30.0 since stepped up to the three-star level this season, and Doug said he was happy with how the horse handled himself in such an an electric atmosphere.

“I would have liked a better score, but in the grand scheme of things with where he is right now in his career, I think he was really good. He’s still not 100% strong enough to hold the movements. You’ll get five strides where he has it now and then he can’t hold it anymore, but he is making a lot of progress,” Doug said.

“As he continues to get stronger and accustomed to bigger atmospheres, it’s going to keep getting better. You don’t get better without exposing him to atmospheres like Boekelo, so this is a big step forward for him.”

A field of 77 horses will go forward to the cross country tomorrow. When you consider that Chris Burton and Cooley Lands moved from 69th up to 10th place last year as the only pair to make the optimum time, we are poised to see plenty of movement on the leaderboard.

Boekelo has dry, sunny conditions for the first time in recent memory, and temperatures are expected to rise up to 80°F (27°C) tomorrow in the afternoon. Doug said he thinks the warmer temperatures could play an advantage to the two American horses, who have been competing in hot, humid weather on the East Coast.

Tamie said the ground feels a bit firm today, and as it has a sand base there is a question as to whether the footing will get deep later in the day. While the riders won’t be facing deep mud like they usually do at Boekelo, as Tamie pointed out: “Galloping through sand isn’t necessarily great either.”

Sue Benson’s course is reversed this year (click here for a fence-by-fence preview) and Tamie said she really likes the flow in this new new direction. “The thing about Boekelo is it has to be your day. You have to be ultra focused. There just isn’t a lot of room for mistakes on a course like this.”

You can watch cross country live tomorrow at this link starting at 10:30 a.m./4:30 a.m. EST. Click here for cross country start times. Times for Tamie and Doug are as follows:

  • Tamie Smith and Fleeceworks Royal: 1:46 p.m./7:46 a.m. EST
  • Doug Payne and Getaway: 2:50 p.m./8:50 a.m. EST

As we look ahead to cross country, Germany tops the Nations Cup leaderboard on 80.0, with Great Britain close behind in second place on 80.7. The Dutch team sits third for the home nation on 82.1. Click here to view team scores.

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

#EventerFailFriday: Well, That Was Awkward

By on Oct 12, 2018 2:00 pm -

Happy #EventerFailFriday! All aboard the strugglebus, choochoo! Here we go … don’t forget to tag your strugs on Instagram for inclusion in a future edition!

View this post on Instagram

NOPE! not today! #failfriday #eventerfailfriday

A post shared by Lauren Weitz (@royal_rose_eventing) on

From Amanda Sims:

From Sarah Cowan and her OTTB Track It Up in the Training division at Dan Hobyn Horse Trial: “I saw the long spot and my horse went for the short distance … oops lol. Save brought to you by my horse who stayed straight, Kerrits Griptek FullSeats, and the determination to not end on a letter!!!!!!! (Especially over one of the easiest jumps on course!”

Go Eventing.

When the Circus Comes to Town: Boekelo CCIO3* Cross Country Course Preview

By on Oct 12, 2018 1:00 pm -

The Boekelo CCIO3* cross country course looks serene today, all rustling autumn leaves and sapphire skies and riders wandering about quietly pondering their gameplans. But make no mistake: tomorrow, the circus comes to town.

Boekelo is a party event and cross country day is the fever pitch of festivity, with crowds pressed up against the galloping lanes like they’re on the frontlines of a rock show. There are bounce houses and screaming children and enough pop-up bars to keep some 60,000 spectators well watered — the joke is that riders who don’t make it around can stop for a drink during their long walk back to the barn.

The soirée gets rowdier as the day wears on, and our two U.S. combinations go in the afternoon: Tamie Smith with Fleeceworks Royal at 1:46 p.m. local time (7:46 a.m. EST) and Doug Payne with Getaway at 2:50 p.m. local time (8:50 a.m. EST).  To turn lemons into spiked lemonade, however, Boekelo’s electric atmosphere offers invaluable mileage that will serve both horses well in future international competition. Plus, those of us following along stateside needn’t set our alarm clocks too early to watch live!

After 18 years, 2018 marks course designer Sue Benson’s last year at Boekelo. She gives us the grand tour in the course walk below, talking through the challenges of dry weather and building on farmland. She explains this year’s course plot twists, which include a new arena, a new direction and a completely different look for some old standards. The van Deinse Triple at 12AB is a serious three-star question and the water complex at 16ABCD has four possible routes, all with their own risks.

As usual, Boekelo features a twisty, at-times claustrophobic track with lots of dips in and out of the woods, which will make time a big factor. Last year there were nine double-clear rounds out of 88 starters, and only four out of 85 the year before that. Riders looking to beat the clock will need to keep their foot on the gas throughout. It helps that Saturday’s forecast looks uncharacteristically not-at-all-soggy: high of 80 with a 0% chance of rain.

There are also plenty of surprises along the way. Several jumps come up suddenly off turns, and the horses won’t have much time to get their eye on the fence before willing their feet to leave the ground. Mercifully there are a number of happy-go-lucky galloping fences tucked in there as well to give everybody a quick mental breather and confidence booster in between the more technical questions.

Cheers from tens of thousands of spectators partying it up on the sidelines isn’t a bad confidence booster, either! If you’re doing it right, they’ll just be a blur as you gallop past. And you’ll definitely be a blur to many of them.

Many thanks to Dutch amateur eventer Willy Leysen for this course recording, and to CrossCountry App for sharing!

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

The End of an Era: Badminton Horse Trials Loses Title Sponsorship

By on Oct 12, 2018 11:00 am -

2018 Badminton winners Jonelle Price and Classic Moet make light work of the iconic Mitsubishi L200s at the lake. Photo by Kit Houghton/Mitsubishi Motors.

The 2019 iteration of Badminton Horse Trials will be its last in partnership with longtime title sponsors Mitsubishi Motors, who will have supported the Gloucestershire fixture for a record-breaking 28 years. This year’s competition boasted an unparalleled spectator footfall of 185,000, the summit of what has been a year-on-year climb in ticket sales.

“We have had an outstanding collaboration with the Badminton Horse Trials, and it has played an important part in raising the profile of our brand and our vehicles over the years,” says Rob Lindley, Managing Director at Mitsubishi Motors. The brand was awarded the Animal Health Trust’s Eventing Award in 2011 in recognition of its contribution not just to Badminton, but to the sport at large, too.

“It is always sad when a very successful partnership comes to an end, and especially when, over the years, event and sponsor have developed a genuine friendship,” says Badminton’s Event Director Hugh Thomas. “However, when one door closes, another one opens, and it will be exciting to see where that leads.”

Pippa Funnell takes her second consecutive Badminton title — and the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing — in 2003. Photo by Kit Houghton/Mitsubishi Motors.

The long-time partnership has enjoyed a number of highlights, including Michael Jung‘s Rolex Grand Slam win in its 25th anniversary year, consecutive wins in 2002 and 2003 and the first ever Grand Slam for Pippa Funnell, and Mark Todd‘s 1996 victory with Bertie Blunt, a year after riding most of the iconic course with one stirrup.

The news of this dissolution comes just over a year after Kentucky’s CCI4* announced that it had lost its title sponsor, Rolex. Shortly thereafter, the competition was adopted and rechristened by current title sponsors Land Rover, who also fly their flag at Burghley Horse Trials.

Mary King and King William were the first winners of Badminton under its Mitsubishi Motors title sponsorship in 1992. Photo by Kit Houghton/Mitsubishi Motors.

2019 will also see Badminton celebrate its 70th anniversary. The feature event was first held in 1949, offering British riders the chance to train for major championships. It was inspired by the 1948 Olympics, which hosted Britain’s first-ever three-day event, held at Tweseldown Racecourse in Hampshire. Now, it not only hosts one of the world’s foremost CCI4* competitions, it’s also the home of the Mitsubishi Motors Cup, colloquially known as ‘Badminton grassroots,’ which presents the country’s toughest challenge for BE90 (Novice) and BE100 (Training level) competitors.

The conclusion of Mitsubishi’s partnership with Badminton will mean that the grassroots championship also loses its title sponsorship but, says Amanda Gibson, Mitsubishi’s PR Manager, “it has grown enormously in stature and popularity in recent years, so we hope to see it continue and flourish.”

“Badminton 2019 will be as prestigious as ever, and we wish the event the greatest success for the future,” says Lindley. The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials will take place from May 1–5, 2019, with the Mitsubishi Motors Cup preceding the CCI4* competition.

3 Drool-Worthy Horses You Can Buy at the Goresbridge Go For Gold Sale

By on Oct 12, 2018 10:27 am -

The countdown has officially begun for the highly anticipated Goresbridge Go For Gold select event horse sale, which will take place Nov. 12-13 at Barnadown in Co. Wexford, Ireland. Run by Ireland’s premier sport horse sales company, the Go For Gold sale has a stalwart reputation for sourcing top eventing prospects.

Numerous Goresbridge Go for Gold graduates have gone on to successfully compete at the upper levels in the U.S. and Canada. You can browse a full list of the top graduates and their achievements here. Three Go For Gold graduates achieved top 10 results at CCI4* events this year, including a very familiar face to U.S. eventing enthusiasts.

Buck Davidson and Copper Beach at Kentucky 2018. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Buck Davidson’s longtime partner Copper Beach finished 10th at Kentucky CCI4* this year — his third CCI4* completion. Purchased through the Go For Gold sale in 2011, Copper Beach won his first international the following year at Bromont CCI*. Two years later he won the Jersey Fresh CCI3*. He has won six internationals in all to date, including the Rebecca Farm CCI3* in 2016 and Plantation Field CIC3* in 2017.

Oliver Townend and Cooley SRS at Badminton 2018. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.

Cooley SRS, another graduate of the 2011 Go For Gold sale, finished second at Badminton CCI4* with Oliver Townend this year, as well as 12th at Burghley CCI4* last month. He also won Ballindenisk CCI3* in 2015 and represented Great Britain at the 2017 European Championships at Strzegom.

Ciaran Glynn and November Night at Burghley 2018. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Ciaran Glynn’s lovely mare November Night came through the Go For Gold sale in 2010. After knocking on the door of a top result at CCI4* level in past performances at Badminton and Pau, she delivered an impressive top-15 finish in her Burghley debut this year.

Numerous other three-star winners and four-star performers have been sourced through the Go For Gold sale — it truly has become synonymous with excellence. This year’s lineup features 60 top young horses carefully chosen on pedigree, performance and potential to excel in eventing.

The preview videos for this year’s sale horses are now available to view on the Go For Gold website, and three in particular caught our eye.

Boleybawn Freedom, a 5-year-old gelding (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet X Boleybawn Corbel, by Courage II) is unbeaten in his two career starts with Sophie Richards. He won the EI90 at Grove in June on his dressage score of 22.0, as well as the 5-year-old Young Event Horse class at Kilguilkey House. Check out his game attitude for cross country in the video above — ears pricked and loving it!

Emerald Emoe, a 4-year-old mare (Orestus X Miss Lola C, by Touchdown), was crowned this year’s Dublin Young Event Horse Champion with Ita McDermott. You have to watch the video of her popping around the show jumping course in the video above — scope for days!

Stonehaven Penhills Cobra, a 5-year-old gelding (Cobra X Karla, by Guidam), received the highest jumping score — 37.5 out of a possible 40 points — at this year’s Burghley Young Event Horse Finals. He placed third out of 35 horses with Bernie Wharfe. (Click here to view a full breakdown of results.) You absolutely have to watch his power over fences in the video above.

Those are just a few of the horses to check out from this year’s sale. There are three 6-year-olds, seven 5-year-olds, 21 4-year-olds and 29 3-year-olds. You can view preview videos of all 60 horses available at the 2018 Goresbridge Go For Gold sale here.

The sale takes place at Barnadown in Co. Wexford and at the Amber Springs Hotel, which is about an hour south of Dublin. Lots 1-36 will be shown on the flat, over show jumps and on cross country on Monday, Nov. 12. Lots 36-65 will be free jumped on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

There will also be the opportunity to trial the ridden horses at Barnadown, both on the flat and over fences. All lots are sold with a veterinary certificate and a set of X-rays. The auction and gala dinner will take place at the Amber Springs Hotel on the evening of Tuesday. Nov. 13.

Whether you are shopping for a top eventing prospect, want to experience a top auction firsthand or simply want an excuse to take a trip to Ireland, the Goresbridge Go For Gold sale has so much to offer. Visit the Goresbridge Go For Gold sale website for much more information. Go Eventing.

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.”