Classic Eventing Nation

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.

Wednesday News & Notes from Attwood Equestrian Surfaces

By on Oct 10, 2018 12:01 am -

Lauren Sprieser and her mountain of magical footing. Photo via Lauren Sprieser’s Instagram.

I used to live in Virginia and was lucky enough to trailer into Lauren Sprieser’s facility to take dressage lessons. The indoor there was what dreams were made of: beautiful, full of light with windows in the winter that retracted in the summer for breeze. And of course, footing so incredible that you had to actually pick out your horse’s feet upon leaving the ring. I had never heard of such a thing and fell in love with the footing, only learning years later that it was none other than Attwood. Lauren does her footing right too, re-fluffing and refreshing once a year.

National Holiday:  Emergency Nurses Day

Major Events This Week:

Military Boekelo CCIO3*: Website, Entries, Start Times & Live Scoring, 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] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

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

 

Your Wednesday News & Notes

Hold onto your hats because everything you know about FEI nomenclature is changing. Every rider with star tattoos is about to need another star added because eventing is about to match the other two Olympic disciplines by going to a 5* system. The current four-stars will now be 5* and now we’re just denoting CCI-L and CCI-S instead of CCI and CIC. It sounds crazy but my fingers which often typo between the two will thank the FEI shortly. [New FEI Star System Explained]

Can you believe Pippa Funnell is turning 50? Seems like just yesterday she was at Rio with Billy the Biz. Or winning Bramham CCI3* in 2010 with Redesigned. Or clinching third with Ensign at the first Pau CCI4*. Or rocking around the Athens Olympics in 2004. Or clinching the Grand Slam with Primmore’s Pride and Supreme Rock. Or winning her first Badminton in 2002. Or winning Blenheim CCI3* in 1995 with the paint superstar Bits and Pieces…Hmmm. [Happy Birthday, Pippa!]

The legendary Arctic Soul has a sweet spot and you better keep to it if you don’t want to get chomped. The famous British Thoroughbred has no problem with petting but it must be between the eyes on his head and it must only be there. He is such a fan of turnout that he makes his displeasure known when he doesn’t get it and one of the easiest things you can do on his back his hack out. [Behind the Stall Door]

Attwood Wisdom of the Week: safety | performance | innovation

We’re not like other equestrian surface suppliers and installers.

Our background is in science and technology, and this has enabled us to create and develop carefully balanced products that perform consistently in any climate. We continue to invest in research and development to provide riding surfaces that perform day after day, week after week.

We use innovative scientific testing to characterize these properties so we can use objective assessment to create truly exceptional footing for the safety and well being of your horse.

We collaborate with the world’s leading independent equestrian surface academics to ensure we remain at the forefront of both technical and governance developments.

We are chem nerds and we are proud of it.

But we’re not just scientists. We have been an integral part of the equestrian community for over 25 years, working with amateurs and professionals, Olympians and Pan Am medal winners, and equine assisted therapy programs.

Hundreds and hundreds of installations later, from dressage courts to jump arenas, round pens and gallops, we believe we have the best and safest footing solutions available today.

Want to know more about the most advanced footing solutions on the market today? Please call Attwood Equestrian Surfaces at 888-461-7788.

#EventerProblems Vol. 162: A Cinderella Story

By on Oct 9, 2018 4:15 pm -

Who just “loses” their shoe? Never once in my life have I been out running errands or whatever, and I get home and my husband points out that I’m only wearing one shoe: “Oops, must have kicked it off at the grocery store!” Nope, just doesn’t happen. Not in real life. Only in fairytales (hey Cinderella) and whatever alternative reality it is that horses live in.

Exhibit A:

Try harder, horses. And now, for a few more mercifully un-shoe related #EventerProblems:

View this post on Instagram

Every horse person #eventerproblems

A post shared by Area 8 Eventer (@saragrace1290) on

Don’t forget to tag your #EventerProblems on Instagram! Go Eventing.

Tuesday Video from SpectraVet: WEG Silver Medalists, They’re Just Like Us!

By on Oct 9, 2018 2:30 pm -

Horses will keep you humble, just ask Padraig McCarthy. One second you’re on top of the world, and the next you’re on the ground (most often literally). Riding high after double silver medals at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, he and Liz Scott’s Fiveberry had a miscommunication in the Open Novice show jumping at Weston Park.

Padraig said, “For those of you wondering whether I’ve come back to earth after WEG; the answer is most definitely yes!” We’re sure they’ll be back on top in no time.

Go Padraig. Go Eventing.

Why SpectraVET?

Reliable. Effective. Affordable.

SpectraVET is committed to providing only the highest-quality products and services to our customers, and to educating the world in the science and art of laser therapy.

We design and manufacture the broadest range of clinically-proven veterinary therapeutic laser products, which are represented and supported worldwide by our network of specialist distributors and authorized service centers.

Let’s Discuss: Do You Have a ‘Type’?

By on Oct 9, 2018 11:30 am -

Photos courtesy of Barrett Diehl. 2006 on left: photographer unknown. 2018 on right: High Time Photography.

Just as some people date the same “type” over and over again, some eventers are magnets for a certain type of horse. Sometimes it’s a matter of personality, way of going, or look, and sometimes it’s the full package.

After almost 20 years of eventing, EN reader Barrett Diehl of Top Flight Equestrian (Raleigh, North Carolina area) recently made this discovery: “I took my young horse out to a horse trial this weekend, and when I got the pictures back I saw one and realized it looked eerily similar to another one I had of my old Intermediate horse. So I decided to pair them side by side, and it’s pretty cool at how similar my horses are. The horse on the left, Topper, is 8 in this pic; my current horse is on the right, Tru, who is 7. Also what’s interesting is seeing the different styles between the years. “

Our “Let’s Discuss” topic for this week: Do YOU have a type? Tell us (or show us) in the comments!