Classic Eventing Nation

Weekly OTTB Wishlist from Cosequin: Turkey Transformation Edition

By on Sep 20, 2018 9:00 am -

Photos courtesy fo Kate Samuels.

The 2018 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover is fast approaching and the Nation Media team is extra excited this year because a few of our own will be competing with their project ponies. Horse Nation and Jumper Nation’s Meagan DeLisle will be competing with Flashback Justice in field hunters and competitive trail, while EN’s own Kate Samuels will be competing with Turkomani (Jockey Club name) AKA Felix Felicis (USEA name) AKA Turkey (barn name) in eventing and show jumping.

Kate obtained Turkey from Big Lick Racing Retirement one year ago this month and has been dutifully and carefully bringing him along since. Not only has his physique changed, but he’s also learned the ropes of his new job and gone from this:

Turkey is back and feelin' fresh after his holiday vacation! He got some chiropractic work from the incredible Dr Rob Goldsmith for his neck and lower back, and he's really limber now. He's still working out how this whole "jumping" thing goes….but he doesn't like to make mistakes! Sometimes training young horses is just funny 🤣

Posted by Kate Samuels Equestrian on Thursday, January 11, 2018

To this:

Photo courtesy of Kate Samuels.

No scope, no hope, right?

Thinking about an OTTB of your own? Here are our three weekly picks:

Sidney’s Uncle (SIDNEY’S CANDY – HIGHTSHIFT, BY ST. JOVITE): 2016 16.0-hand Kentucky-bred gelding

If you’re looking for a real young one to bring along and make you’re own, then Uncle Sidney could be for you! This two-year-old is unraced and showing no promise in training and thus he’s on the market to non-racing buyers. His handlers say he’s currently just a super goofy, overgrown toddler who, like most young horses, doesn’t quite know where all his limbs are at any given time yet. If you give him some time to grow and mature before restarting him, Uncle Sidney could handsomely reward you by growing into the horse of your dreams.

View Uncle Sidney on CANTER Illinois.

Artitude. Photo via CANTER MN.

Artitude (ARTIE SCHILLER – POWDER ROCK, BY ROCK HARD TEN): 2015 15.3-hand Kentucky-bred filly

This three-year-old filly just hasn’t been able to break her maiden in nice starts, but with some maturing and a career change she’s got some great potential. This lovely lady not only has a nice uphill build, but she has completely clean legs and feet and is said to have always been sound. Artitude is nicely bred with El Prado and Rock Hard Ten as grandsires.

View Artitude on CANTER Minnesota.

Under and Over. Photo via CANTER Delaware.

Under and Over (TRAPPE SHOT – UNDERSTATED, BY FIRST SAMURAI): 2015 15.3-hand Kentucky-bred gelding

This sweet guy looks like a total tank — check out that shoulder in particular! He’s one of his exercise rider’s absolute favorites to ride, and he has nothing but good things to say about this horse. Classy, sensible, and easy are just a few words used to describe this solid citizen, but you’ve really got to head to his CANTER page and read his rider’s full glowing testimonial. Oh, and not to mention he was a pretty decent racehorse earning over $90,000 in 32 starts!

View Over and Under on CANTER CA.

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

By on Sep 20, 2018 12:03 am -

It was definitely still #WardWednesday yesterday with McLain Ward placing 8th individually aboard Clinta. Photo via USA Jumping FB.

So now the excitement over the dressage and the eventing is over, but the game goes on with show jumping for three days in a row! I watched a fair amount yesterday, and while I’m an admitted moron when it comes to the finely tuned details of that sport (give me a big advanced cross country table any day over those jumps), I still really enjoyed it. I can see why it holds so much thrill! Everything is built on hair breadths of a second, and there are some seriously incredible horses.

National Holiday: National String Cheese Day

Major Events This Week:

Plantation Field: Website, Start Times, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Twin Rivers Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Aspen Farms H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Marlborough H.T [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]
Flora Lea Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
MeadowCreek Park H.T – The Fall Social Event [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]
FEH Qualifier at Loch Moy Farm [Website] [Entry Status] [Times]
FEH Championships at Loch Moy Farm [Website] [Entry Status] [Times]
News From Around the Globe:
Quick whiplash from WEG to Plantation Field, as we do a quick turnaround to action in Pennsylvania. With so many competitors, the action actually started yesterday with dressage of the CIC2* more than halfway done. I hope Boyd slept both Monday and Tuesday, because he has no less than six FEI horses competing this weekend over two divisions. [Plantation Field Fast Facts]
Fair Hill has big plans to host a four-star in 2020, but now state officials are saying it will be at least 2022 before a five-star is possible. The state is continuing design for a $20 million state-of-the-art equine facility, complete with an irrigated turf field and an eventing cross country course, with plans to go to bid by spring of 2019. Construction is targeted between June and December 2019. In the meantime, Hasseltine said that Fair Hill International could see a mixture of four-star and three-star competitions in October 2019. [Four and Five Star Futures at Fair Hill]
Jonty Evans continues to defy all the odds and astonish his doctors with his recovery. After a terrible fall only three fences from home at Tattersalls in June, Jonty spent six weeks in a coma, but he’s back home and pursuing intensive physical and speech therapy as part of his ongoing recovery. And don’t worry, he aims to be back on a horse as soon as he can! [The Aim is to Ride Again: Jonty Evans Recovers]
No need to wonder what kind of horse will go best with your personality, Horse Nation has it on lockdown. We’re submitting for your consideration a very tongue in cheek serious list of breeds and the types of oddball humans that they match. Are you a control freak? A desperate housewife? A retiree? We’ve got a breed of horse for you. [Horse Breeds to Complement YOU]

WEG Happy Hour, Sept. 19: Vaulters, Jumpers & Para Dressage

By on Sep 19, 2018 8:00 pm -

Each day Horse Nation presents a pint-sized recap from the World Equestrian Games. Today: The action is heating up in Tryon with three disciplines on the schedule today: get the pint-sized recap on the day’s vaulting, jumping and para dressage action.

Katharina Luschin of Austria on Fairytale. Photo FEI/Martin Dokoupil.

The inaugural Vaulting Nations Cup Team Championship has gone to Germany. When you watch clips of their performance below, you’ll understand why. Part acrobatics, part gymnastics and 100% skill, the well-executed routines impressed both judges and fans. [Germany Celebrates Perfect Performance]

Winning Team – Vaulting Nations Cup Team Championship | FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018

Somebody give us CPR…because that was BREATHTAKING 😲 😲It was the closest thing we’ve seen to a faultless performance from Team Germany in the inaugural FEI Vaulting Nations Cup Team Championship at Tryon2018. They showed some superb acrobatics and beautiful theatrics – what more could you want? 🥇 Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung e.V. (FN) / Team Germany 🇩🇪🥈 SVPS – FSSE / Team Switzerland 🇨🇭🥉 Team Austria 🇦🇹

Posted by Fédération Equestre Internationale on Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Rebecca Hart became the first U.S. rider to earn a medal in Para-Dressage, winning Grade III individual bronze. Her mount El Corona Texel was competing in his first ever championship, impressively as were several of the other winning horses. Overall, the para dressage riders have been totally rocking competition with horses that might be on the biggest stage of their lives, and to watch the performances is to be inspired and reminded that there is no limit to what is possible on horseback. [Hart Wins First Ever WEG Para-Dressage Medal For Team USA]

An impressive 124 entries faced off in today’s speed round, kicking off the show jumping phase of the World Equestrian Games. The United States currently rests in fourth place with three more rounds of jumping to go over the next four days; McLain Ward and Clinta are the highest-placed U.S. individual pair in eighth. With plenty of jumping to go, strategy will become important; Team USA, which also includes Laura Kraut and WEG rookies Devin Ryan and Adrienne Sternlicht, have plans in place for tomorrow. Catch plenty of post-round interviews here. [FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018: Show Jumping, Day One]

Plenty of riders are making their world championship debuts in Tryon; Chronicle of the Horse caught up with four of them after today’s show jumping speed round. Get the scoop on the horses, the nerves, representing their home countries and the thrill of riding at the World Equestrian Games, these four rookies — including Japan’s Karen Polle, Canada’s Erynn Ballard, USA’s Devin Ryan and Macedonia’s Luka Zaloznik — share all. [Four First-Times From the FEI World Equestrian Games]

Horse and Hound‘s Polly Bryan describes why she has a soft spot for para-dressage: “It can be a tricky sport to understand and follow, with athletes split into five grades according to their disability, and the individual, team and freestyle championships to make sense of. But those who choose not to get involved are missing out — especially the media. Para dressage is the dream sport for a journalist — our job is to hunt out the very best stories, and convey the drama of the action, and here is a discipline absolutely bursting at the seams with drama, emotion and characterful competitors.” Read the rest of her excellent editorial. [Polly Bryan’s WEG blog: why para dressage is the dream sport]

Go riding!

Box Qutie Euthanized Due to Injury Sustained at WEG

By on Sep 19, 2018 6:18 pm -

Anna Freskgård and Box Qutie (SWE) on course at Tryon. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

We are devastated to report that Box Qutie, ridden by Sweden’s Anna Freskgård in the eventing competition at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, was euthanized today due to complications from an injury sustained during the cross country phase on Saturday, Sept. 15.

The 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare (Quite Easy X Lady Like LKT, by Little Boy 756) completed the cross country course with 20 jumping penalties and 18 time penalties. When she crossed the finish line, she suddenly pulled up lame on her right front leg and was transferred to Tryon Equine Hospital for treatment. She was subsequently diagnosed with a soft tissue injury.

A statement from the FEI explained, “Initially the mare was improving, but despite receiving the best veterinary care, her condition worsened yesterday due to circulatory complications. As a result, the horse’s owner, Therese Örup, together with the athlete, groom and veterinarians, elected for euthanasia today.”

Box Qutie and Anna have been competing at the FEI level together since 2013. They enjoyed a strong season in 2018, including a win at the Strzegom CIC3*, a third place finish at the Saumur CCI3* and a 16th place finish at the Aachen CICO3*.

Please join us in extending sincerest condolences to Therese, Anna and all of Box Qutie’s connections.

[Statement On Box Qutie (SWE)]

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Inside Charlotte Dujardin’s WEG Stable

By on Sep 19, 2018 5:43 pm -

Great Britain’s dressage darling Charlotte Dujardin and her rising star Mount St John Freestyle, a 9-year-old Hanoverian mare (Fidermark X Donna Gracia, Donnerhall) owned by Emma and Jill Blundell, earned double bronze (team and individual) for Great Britain at the FEI World Equestrian Games last week.

The talented young mare was undefeated at the FEI level prior to the Games (and two bronze medals at her first major championship is nothing to sneeze at!) and is proving a promising partner for Charlotte following her success with the record-breaking Valegro.

Charlotte’s groom Alan Davies runs a tight ship back at the barn. He looks after every inch of the horses to make sure they feel fit and well. During WEG, Alan also made special preparations in advance of the severe storms caused by Hurricane Florence. Go behind the scenes in Charlotte’s stable, meet the famous Freestyle and hear more about Alan’s important duties.

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Thoroughbred Makeover Master Class to Feature Top OTTB Trainers

By on Sep 19, 2018 1:30 pm -

Featured commentary Richard Lamb. Photo: Anne Litz.

The off-track Thoroughbred, or OTTB, is experiencing a huge resurgence in popularity: more and more equestrians are rediscovering the breed’s versatility and athleticism in a variety of disciplines, and adoption groups, rehoming services and social media are making it easier than ever to bring an ex-racehorse home.

But what do you look for in a sporthorse or pleasure prospect? How do you pick the right horse? And when you get your OTTB home … now what?

To help answer these questions and educate a new generation of OTTB enthusiasts, whether they’re brand-new to the world of ex-racehorses or returning after many years away, the Retired Racehorse Project has added the Makeover Master Class, an interactive session of demonstrations and discussions with four leading trainers and four adoptable prospects relatively fresh off the track. The Master Class is free to attend and will take place on Sunday, October 7 at the Thoroughbred Makeover, held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Featured trainer Clare Mansmann. Photo: Allison Howell.

The horses: Four adoptable prospects (who will all be 2019 Makeover-eligible) from four leading aftercare organizations: CANTER, New Vocations, Turning for Home and Mid Atlantic Horse Rescue

The format: Representatives from each aftercare organization will introduce the horses and what they’ve learned about them, including both their track history and their program history post-track; the four featured trainers will discuss conformation and personal preferences using the four horses as examples. Each horse will be evaluated at liberty and through a jump chute, and trainers will then be assigned a horse through random draw.

Trainers will then work with their horses for an hour in individual roundpens using whatever methods they feel will suit the horse best, then regroup for a summary of their observations and impressions plus what they might expect in the individual restarting process. The day will conclude with a Q&A session.

Featured trainer Elizabeth James. Photo: Retired Racehorse Project.

The trainers: Four trainers/trainer combinations who are not only specifically Thoroughbred Makeover veterans but longtime OTTB enthusiasts and horsemen. With four unique backgrounds and perspectives, the demonstrations and discussion are sure to provide plenty of insight!

  • Tik Maynard literally traveled the world in pursuit of horsemanship knowledge, spending time as a working student in Germany as well as an assistant trainer to Anne Kursinski. His own training business, established in 2014, focuses on eventing and horsemanship. His recently-published memoir In the Middle Are the Horsemen gives readers a glimpse at how much there is to learn in a well-rounded horse life
  • Rosie Napravnik is off the track herself: the first female jockey to win the Kentucky Oaks (she did that twice) and a Breeders’ Cup race, she has since retired and is now establishing herself as a sporthorse trainer, transitioning Thoroughbreds from the racing life to the sporting life
  • Elizabeth James is both an educator and a horsewoman, previously an equine professor at Laramie County Community College in Wyoming and University of Kentucky. She is now the manager of Double Dan Horsemanship
  • Tom and Clare Mansmann have a combined 65 years of experience in the horse world, including working horses both on and off the track. It might be easier to list what the Mansmanns haven’t done on horseback — the pair has competed up to the CCI3* level in eventing, plus hunter equitation, show jumping, dressage, cutting and field hunting. Clare Mansmann authored Horse Nation’s popular series “So You Want To Get An OTTB.”

Featured trainer Tom Mansmann. Photo: Anne Litz.

The commentators: To provide added insight, commentators will cycle around the trainers as they work with their horses and help narrate what’s happening in individual sessions.

  • Emily Brollier Curtis, USDF bronze, silver and gold medalist. Curtis has developed six horses to FEI levels and competed horses at every level of the sport
  • Dan James of Double Dan Horsemanship, originally from Australia and now based right in Kentucky, winner of the 2008 Way of the Horse colt starting competition and the 2012 Road to the Horse colt starting competition
  • Richard Lamb, coach and clinician with decades of experiencing, chef d’equipe and/or coach for the US Pony Club team at the USEF National Pony Jumper Championships

Featured commentator Emily Brollier Curtis. Photo: Anne Litz.

The Master Class will start at 10 a.m. in the TCA Covered Arena — it’s free to attend and there will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions! Learn more about the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover at the event website.

As seen on: 

10 Things to Do on a Torrential Downpour Day

By on Sep 19, 2018 11:30 am -

Thanks to Hurricane Florence, many of us on the east coast have found ourselves in a torrential downpour of late. It’s a fitting grand finale to one of the wettest summer in recent memory, which has manifested in cancelled events, flooding and bad footing that has made eventing a challenge in 2018. It’s time to turn lemons into lemonade. Here are some great ideas to keep yourself (and your horse) busy on a torrential downpour day!

1. Rain gear & puddles. Obviously you want to wait until the actual storm has cleared because there’s no need in risking getting struck by lightning. However, up and coming event horses, or even established ones, will benefit from practicing riding in the rain and through slop. This is the perfect exercise if you do not have an indoor arena!

For the young ones I will ride down our gravel driveway and introduce them to water for the first time by having them walk through the puddles all the way to our mailbox. For really green horses you can introduce them to a puddle on lunge line on a rainy day. Put on your rubber boots and hop in with them! It’s a nice easy day but gets their brain thinking about water crossings.

For the established horses find a spot that you don’t mind tearing up a little bit and practice riding in the mud. If you are feeling particularly saucy, put on your rain gear and ride in the pouring rain. All too often we skip this in training and are surprised when our horses are upset when it’s windy and rainy at a show … or they spook at the sound of rain hitting our rain jackets!

2. Grids, grids, grids. If you are fortunate enough to have an indoor arena, or an outdoor that drains quite well, grid work is the perfect exercise on a rainy day. You can practice your dressage with raised poles, set up jump grids, cavalletti, etc!

3. Ride bareback. If you don’t have an indoor arena, and the footing does not allow you to do more than walk, do a bareback ride. Again, this can be done down the gravel driveway, or dry path. Keep in mind if the footing is slick, you might want the security of a saddle! Challenge yourself to see how long you can ride in an actual good jumping position or dressage position without your saddle in the arena. You could even do this in the indoor over poles or cavaletti, or even jump depending on your experience level.

4. Clean and organize tack. It’s something we all like to avoid, but our trailers tend to look like an episode of “Hoarders” when we come back from a three-day event. Maybe take a rainy day to get everything organized in tubs and bins ,and clean what needs it, and sort out items you don’t actually need.

5. READ!! If you are unable to do any of the other exercises due to excessive storms or flooding, take the opportunity to stay inside and read your favorite Eventing Nation articles.  Most equestrians have a stack of magazines with great articles full of exercises, tips and excellent education that we always promise ourselves someday we will sit down and read. Now is the time!

6. Clean the house. Hahahahahaha just kidding. We all know that isn’t going to happen.

7. Go for a long hack. Walking is great for a horse’s body and brain. If you have a place where you can safely hack down the road, or on a trail that hasn’t washed away in the flood, let your horse have a brain break. It’s good for you, too. As competitors we tend to be so focused on skills and showing that we forget the bond we have with our horse.

8. Wash saddle pads. Take all your dirty saddle pads, horse blankets (winter will be here before you know it!) and wash them at your local laundromat … or at home when no one is looking. Drop off show coats at the dry cleaner — when was the last time you actually had that thing cleaned??

9. Suppling exercises. Stretching and softening are great exercises for your horse on a bad weather day. Practice a turn on the haunches, turn on the forehand, free walk to medium walk, or stretchy trot if the footing will allow. Again, these can be done outside at the walk if you don’t have an indoor and the footing isn’t the best.

10. Horse shopping!!! Go online and look at horses for sale, including Sport Horse Nation, Retired Racehorse Project, CANTER USA,  etc. Because you need another event horse. You NEED one.

CHIME IN! Has your local event, schooling day or show been cancelled? What did you do on the downpour day to stay busy?

Who Jumped It Best? GMHA Novice Rider Edition

By on Sep 19, 2018 9:06 am -

While all eyes were on the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games at Tryon over the weekend, we also had five USEA horse trials running across the country. Even World Champions had to start somewhere, so today we are celebrating the lower levels of eventing with a special edition of Who Jumped It Best? GMHA Novice Rider Edition!

Take a look at these beautiful images from Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto of horses and riders over the stone wall, and vote in the poll at the bottom of the post for which horse and rider you think present the best overall picture.

[GMHA September H.T. Results]

Marta Agrodnia and Thunderstruck. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Melissa Alaimo and Fascinating Rhythm. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Jennifer Bagley and Intrinsic. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Susan Boquist and Balmoral Mighty Legend. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Sarah Murawski and Kelly Carolina. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Margaret Sanford and Irish Gates Ace in the Hole. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Liza Teich and Moonstruck. Photo by Joan Davis/Flatlandsfoto.

Lauren Waite and Phoebe IV. Photo by Joan Davis and Flatlandsfoto.

Wednesday News & Notes from Attwood Equestrian Surfaces

By on Sep 19, 2018 12:01 am -

Andreas Dibowski and FRH Corrida (GER). Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Horse show hangover is REAL, you guys. I am in complete strugglesville this week and I wasn’t even at WEG in person! Thank goodness we have Plantation Field to get us through this next weekend. Phew.

National Holiday: International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Major Events This Week:

Plantation Field International CIC [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Dressage Ride Times] [Live Scores] [EN’s Coverage]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Twin Rivers Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Aspen Farms H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Marlborough H.T [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times]
Flora Lea Fall H.T. [Website] [Entry Status]
MeadowCreek Park H.T – The Fall Social Event [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]
FEH Qualifier at Loch Moy Farm [Website] [Entry Status] [Times]
FEH Championships at Loch Moy Farm [Website] [Entry Status] [Times]

Wednesday News and Notes:

Applications for the 2019 Worth the Trust Educational and Sports Psychology Scholarships are due in two weeks on Monday, October 1. Scholarships are earmarked for young adults and adult amateurs to provide financial assistance for the purpose of pursuing continued education in eventing. [Two Weeks Left to Submit Your Worth the Trust Scholarship Applications]

It’s a British invasion! And what was it like being a Brit on the grounds at Tryon to witness their eventing gold? Horse & Hound’s eventing editors tell us.[Pippa Roome’s WEG blog: Ros Canter, world champion? I still can’t quite believe it]

What does Allison Springer look for in a young event horse prospect? She tells us as she takes a look and tells us what she likes about at a four-year-old OTTB. [OTTB Critique Presented by Athletux: Uno]

Attwood Wisdom of the Week – The Importance of Drainage

No doubt about it this has been a rainy spring for most of the East Coast. But no matter where you live, we have all seen the negative effects of too much rain on a poorly constructed arena.

An arena’s drainage system is your first line of defense when the skies open up. Every outdoor should have the minimum of at least one designed French drain INSIDE the arena. Why inside? So that the water does not have to go under or over kickboards to drain away, washing away your footing creating gullies and puddles.

Designing your drainage system is as important as the choice of footing you put in your arena. Ideally your drainage system should let the water leave in a steady consistent manner.

The drainage system should reflect the use of the arena. If the arena cannot have any downtime, more drainage should be incorporated which translates into more maintenance of the footing. More watering and more dragging ensures the footing stays in tip-top shape.

There are always trade offs in creating a perfect riding surface. That’s why riders like Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin turn to Attwood for their expertise and scientifically proven formulas. Have any footing questions or photos you want to share? Attwood Equestrian Surfaces will be happy to post them on their Facebook and Instagram account. Just email them to [email protected].

WEG Happy Hour: Your Pint-Sized Sept. 18 Recap

By on Sep 18, 2018 10:00 pm -

Para dressage competitor Rodolpho Riskalla of Brazil on Don Henrico. Photo FEI/Martin Dokoupil.

Today kicked off the individual competition for para dressage and vaulting, making poise and elegance the theme of the day.

The competition was hot for the grade IV para dressage individual test, with the top three riders all within less than a single percent of one another. Sanne Voets of the Netherlands clinched the gold with a stunning performance on her 10 year old KWPN gelding, Demantur N.O.P. Voets finished just out of the medals for the individual test in Rio, making this gold extra sweet! Right on her heels, taking the silver was Rodolpho Riskallo of Brazil on Don Henrico, a 15 year old Hanoverian stallion. It was a repeat of WEG Normandy for Danish rider Susanne Jensby Sunseen, who again walked away with the bronze aboard Csk’s Que Faire, a 20-year-old Danish warmblood mare. See the full results for the grade IV para dressage individual test here!

In a disappointing turn of events, grade II para dressage favorite, Lee Pearson of Great Britain made the last minute decision to pull his horse from the individual competition. Though she had no visible signs of injury, Lee felt something was off with his 9 year old mare, Styletta. He posted the following statement on his Facebook page regarding his decision to withdraw.

“Thank you for all the lovely messages of support about today’s competition. 😊 Sometimes you have to make a decision that you don’t want to and think of the long term bigger picture. I wasn’t prepared to push a horse I love when she blatantly wasn’t happy with something, even if it is the World Games. We’ve found nothing wrong with her but I do feel the 40* heat and humidity is not helping her. We train tomorrow where we’ll be assessing her closely and possibly compete in the team test on Thursday.  Unfortunately due to retiring today we can’t campaign the freestyle to music on Saturday which if she’s ok is a shame. I live to fight another day 💙”

Props to Lee for putting his horse first and we at Horse Nation are sending some positive vibes to his girl, Styletta.

One could quite literally say they saved the best for last in the grade II para dressage individual test. It’s a lot of pressure being the last rider in your class, but Denmark’s Stinna Tange Kaastrup didn’t buckle, putting in a stellar ride on the 17-year-old Danish warmblood gelding, Horsebo Smarties, to take gold! The difference between gold and silver came down to less than three tenths of point! Hot on her heels to take the silver was Pepo Puch of Austria on the 10 year old Hanoverian gelding, Salior’s Blue. Taking the bronze was Dutch rider, Nicole Den Dulk, and her 15 year old KWPN gelding, Wallace N.O.P. See the full results for the grade II para dressage individual here.

Great Britain’s Sophie Wells definitively took the gold in the grade V individual test. Repeating her individual gold medal performance from Rio and further solidifying her number one world ranking, Sophie and her 11-year-old KWPN gelding, C Fatal Attraction, took the win with a 75.429. Taking Silver was Frank Hosmar of the Netherlands on his 13-year-old KWPN gelding, Alphaville N.O.P. In the bronze medal position was Regine Mispelka and her 13 year old Rheinlander gelding, Look At Me Now. See the full results for the grade V para dressage individual test here.

It was compulsory day for the male, female, and squad vaulters! Can I just say that as someone who struggles to walk from one room to the next without tripping, the vaulting is completely mind-blowing! It appears the Austrian women are playing to win with with Katharina Luschin, Daniela Fritz, and Lisa Wild in the first, third, and fourth position respectively of the women’s individual competition. Rounding out the top five is Kristina Boe of Germany in second, and Sheen Bendixen of Denmark in fifth. See the full results here.

Thomas Brüsewitz of Germany put in a beautiful performance to take the overnight top spot in the men’s individual vaulting. His German compatriots also had a successful day,with Jannik Heiland landing in the number two spot, and Jannis Drewell in fourth. French vaulters, Lambert Leclezio and Vincent Haennel took the third and fifth place positions and you can bet that they’ll be fighting for a spot on the podium in days to come! See the full results here.

The Swiss squad is sitting in the top spot after the compulsory round with the Germans close behind in second! The Swiss and German squads dominated the compulsory round, leaving a large margin between the top 2 spots and the rest of the top 5. The Austrian, U.S., and Italian squads comprise the rest of the top five. While the Swiss and Germans appeared  dominant on day one, I wouldn’t count any of the top squads out for a chance on the podium! Check out the complete squad compulsory results here.

If you would like to get a deeper appreciation of just how skilled our WEG vaulters are, check out this video of two non-vaulters giving it a try!

That’s it for today! As always, enjoy your WEG responsibly!

Go riding!