Classic Eventing Nation

Weekly OTTB Wishlist: Big Money for Cali OTTBs at RRP!

By on Jul 16, 2018 11:00 am -

There’s another special award on the table for this year’s Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) Thoroughbred Makeover trainers – and this one is for all you West Coasters!

The Georgia B. Ridder Foundation is generously sponsoring a $2,500 award for the top-scoring California-bred at the 2018 competition on behalf of After the Finish Line. In honor of the California-breds competing this year, let’s take a look at three currently available for adoption through CANTER:

Alpine Blue. Photo via CANTER CA.

Alpine Blue (SWISS YODELER – BLUEGRASS GIRLS, BY BLUEGRASS CAT): 2015 16.0-hand California-bred colt

This good-looking guy is, yes, still intact, but if you don’t mind gelding him he’s definitely worth a look. With a great bone structure and some good sport horse-producing names in his pedigree, Alpine Blue has got some serious potential as an eventer. Oh, not to mention he used to casually jump out of his paddock as a two-year-old. He bowed a tendon before he ever got to race and therefore remains untested on the track but it’s now fully-healed and he’s ready for a job to do!

Located at Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley, California.

View Alpine Blue on CANTER CA.

Remy Set Go. Photo via CANTER CA.

Remy Set Go (BLUEGRASS CAT – R LUCKY STRIKE, BY IN EXCESS (IRE)): 2016 16.0-hand California-bred filly

Who doesn’t love a shiny chestnut? This glowing young filly still has been in training for four months and just isn’t showing any promise on the track, so her connections feel it’s best to let her move on to another career. With a quiet disposition and kind eye, she looks like she wants someone to be her person. At just two years old, Remy is a bit sore from training but is otherwise sounds and could use some time off to grow before starting her next chapter.

View Remy Set Go on CANTER CA.

Bella Ronski. Photo via CANTER CA.

Bella Ronski (VRONSKY – C. R. BALLERINA, BY MOSCOW BALLET): 2013 16.1-hand California-bred mare

There’s nothing plain about this bay – she’s truly eye-catching! With a nice uphill build and gorgeous neck and shoulder, you just can’t help but picture this mare neatly jumping fences and fancy-prancing her way into the ribbons. Bella has 34 career starts and just shy of $40k in earnings – a respectable career, but she’s just not fast enough to be very successful. She seems to know he has an elegant presence, as she stood perfectly for her CANTER photoshoot and she seemed to be gentle, sweet mare to the volunteers who saw her. Clean legs and sound – come get her!

Located in Tracy, California.

View Bella Ronski on CANTER CA.

2028 Olympic Talent Watch: William Slater, Age 6

By on Jul 16, 2018 9:00 am -

The 2028 U.S. Eventing Team is already out there somewhere, and it’s up to us all to nurture their talent and their big dreams. “2028 Olympic Talent Watch” is an (adorable) new series in which we identify junior eventers who are already exhibiting the heart and the guts to lead American eventing to glory in the (distant) future. Any short-stirrup riders you know come to mind? Email us their story at [email protected]. Let’s meet William Slater! 

William and Mark Twain. Photo by Ellie Ellis Glaccum.

Being born into a horsey family meant 6-year-old William Slater would spend a huge chunk of his life in a barn, and now he’s followed right in his parent’s footsteps with a love of horses.

“My husband and I grew up eventing, but now we do racehorses, so he’s kind of just been born into it. He was on a horse about a soon as he was born. He grew up with them,” said mom, Brianne Slater. 

William first made it on EN’s Talent Watch radar via Facebook where we were enamored by his natural talent and his cute pony, Mark Twain. William began schooling cross country this spring before taking on his first competition at Elementary level, all under the watchful eye of his coach, Jennie Brannigan.

William with coach Jennie. Photo courtesy of Brianne Slater.

“Jennie is such a great coach and teacher and a good person. She came to get on a racehorse for us at our barn, and she offered to help Will out. He’s been going every week now for a lesson with her,” Brianne said. 

Riding with Jennie has given William riders to look up to and emulate, Brianne says. “He takes a lesson with Alexa (Lapp) on Cambalda. He’s doing the same kind of things these horses are doing. Not the same height, but in the grid work he’s doing all the combinations. I think it helps him too to watch better riders ride, Jennie, Alexa, Steph (Cauffman) and see how they do it.”

William and Mark Twain jumping a keyhole at Windurra. Photo by Ellie Ellis Glaccum.

William has been practicing over the summer too, and he enjoyed the chance at taking a clinic with  one of his riding idols, Boyd Martin.

“He was by far the youngest there, and I though it might be a bit much for him. They went to Boyd Martin’s the first day and had a big group lesson with Boyd. He was jumping keyhole jumps and going through the water and he jumped a training level ditch. It was insane,” Brianne said. 

“Later in the week they went to Bruce Davidson’s. He was jumping massive fences there it was insane the stuff he was doing. Me growing up, I did Pony Club, and I never jumped that kind of stuff until I was a lot older. I definitely wasn’t as brave I know that, but he rises up. He doesn’t really have fear it’s really crazy especially in a group situation like that if the bigger kids are doing it he’s going to want to do it.” 

Brianne’s goal is for William to have fun riding, but even at age six, she’s seen her son’s competitive side, which has already earned him two blue ribbons. “He’s really really competitive—sometimes a little bit too much. He likes to win. He wants to go clean when he jumps. He’s all about that. There’s not a nervous bone in the kid’s body. He just really really enjoys it,” she said. 

Here’s a winning cross country round at Plantation Field (Make sure you pay attention for a mid-course thumbs up to dad, James Slater, 56 seconds in!):

Even more than being a good rider, William is a great horseman. From Brianne: “If he messes up over he fence he’ll say, “That’s my fault. That wasn’t my pony’s fault that was my fault. He always blames himself. He never says, ‘My pony was bad.'”

Standing at 12.2 hands, the 14-year-old Welsh Pony has been a perfect match for William, but the young rider had to work hard to get as far as he’s come. “This pony can be a bit of a handful. You have to ride him. You can’t just sit there and he’s going to do it for you. He was bucking him off this winter. He wasn’t confident because the pony kept running off with him, but its crazy in six months time he’s cantering all the way around the course,” Brianne said. 

The sky’s the limit for this talented rider, and it sounds like William is ready to go for it.

“He said was ready for the Maryland Hunt Cup because my husband rode in it,” Brianne laughed. “I said, ‘Buddy do you realize how big those fences are?’ He said Mark and I are ready!”

Go William. Go Eventing.

Monday News and Notes from Fleeceworks

By on Jul 16, 2018 6:17 am -

Over the next few days the eventers will descend upon The Event at Rebecca Farm en masse. The event nestled beautifully in the Flathead Valley is one of the most picturesque of the entire world. In addition to the FEI and horse trials divisions, some of the country’s most promising Young Riders are coming together to compete for top team and individual honors in the NAYC. It’s going to be an incredible week!

National Holiday: National Corn Fritter Day

U.S. Weekend Results:

Gennessee Valley Hunt H.T. [Website] [Results]

Riga Meadow H.T. [Website]

Maryland at Loch Moy II H.T. [Website] [Results]

Champagne Run at the Park H.T. [Website] [Results]

Coconino Summer II 3DE & H.T. [Website] [Results]

Monday News and Notes:

Riding gear is expensive and safety is important. But the most expensive safety equipment may not necessarily be the best, an insurance company determined during a recent study of riding helmets. [Price No Guarantee of Greater Safety]

Area VI Young Rider Lisa Takada is heading to the NAYC this week. She recaps what she and her fellow team candidates learned at Summer Camp and how the team bonded for the big event. [The Road to NAYC]

When Esther Roberts got her first horse trailer, her grandfather gave her some sage advice on safety, preparation, resourcefulness and more. Now is your chance to learn them, too! [Tom’s 20 Trailering Tips]

The Longines FEI European Championship for Juniors and Young Riders took place this weekend in Fontainebleau with more than 600 competitors representing over 30 nations in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines. In eventing, the up-and-coming young French dominated on home soil. [Next Generation of Athletes Showcase]

Monday Video:

Alexander Bragg Takes Event Rider Masters Win at Haras de Jardy

By on Jul 15, 2018 3:30 pm -

Alex Bragg and Zagreb. Photo courtesy of Event Rider Masters.

Great Britain’s Alexander Bragg wrapped up a wire-to-wire win of the penultimate leg of the Event Rider Masters series today at Haras de Jardy aboard Sally Ellicot’s Zagreb.

After a personal best in the dressage yesterday, Alex and the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Perion x Renera, by Nagano) were under pressure to perform in the jumping phases, and they delivered with two clear rounds.

“I am over the moon. I was riding a bit like a demon out there, I really, really wanted it. I can’t believe I was faster than Izzy and Gemma (on the cross country), they are absolute speed queens,” he said.

Tim Price and Wesko. Photo courtesy of Event Rider Masters.

Despite having not competed at the three-star level since 2015, Tim Price and the late Christina Kundsen’s Wesko, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Karandasj x Kolien, by Mittens xx)  looked like they hadn’t missed a beat, finishing second today on their dressage score of 25.2. Today’s result moved the New Zealander into third place in the cumulative ERM series standings.

“I don’t think I’ve had another one like him, it’s so much fun having him back,” Tim said of his old friend, Wesko. “You don’t know until you know when you bring a horse like him back out at the top levels, but I guess now I know. It all came flooding back out there–he is just so much fun.”

Izzy Taylor and Be Touchable. Photo courtesy of Event Rider Masters.

Izzy Taylor (GBR) and Sophie Dodd’s Be Touchable, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Untouchable 27 x Ureka, by Indoctro), earned a third-place finish. Two extra seconds on cross country cost them second, but they hung on to a sub-30 finishing score with 25.9 points.

The achievability of the cross country varies from year to year at Jardy, but eight riders managed the time around Pierre Michelet’s track today. Chris Burton was among this group with Kate Wall’s Cooley Lands. Their sixth place finished, edges him even farther ahead in the 2018 series rankings.

Laura Collett‘s dreams of taking back her lead of the series were dashed today after a rail and cross country time penalties. But an 11th place finish with Keith Scott, Karen Bartlett and her own London 52 still has her in second overall.

Now we look forward to the series finale at Blaire Castle in Scotland August 25-26, 2018.

RMeventing at Jardy: Website, Live Stream, Live Scores,

U.S. WEG Team Out and About This Weekend at MDHT

By on Jul 15, 2018 1:00 pm -

Members of the U.S. World Equestrian Games Team stretched their legs this weekend at the Maryland Horse Trials held at Carolyn Mackintosh’s Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, MD. Horses were fresh and full of running after their summer break, and have begun to get back into the swing of competition ahead of the big event this fall. Luckily for us, David Frechette was on site to film the action!

Four of the five U.S. horses were in attendance. We saw Lynn Symansky and The Donner Syndicate’s Donner as well as Marilyn Little and RF Scaldalous in the Open Intermediate division.

Lynn and the 15-year-old Thoroughbred (Gorky Park x Smart Jane, by Smarten) finished sixth after a 29.8 in the dressage, and an easy cruise around the cross country.

Marilyn and “Kitty,” a 13-year-old Oldenburg mare (Carry Gold x Richardia, by Lario) owned by Jacqueline Mars, Michael Manders, and Phoebe Manders finished just behind in seventh with 19.6 cross country time penalties added to their dressage score of 28.5.

Boyd Martin piloted Christine Turner’s Tseterseg to a fourth place finish in the CIC2* class. The 11-year-old Trakehner (Windfall x Thabana, by Buddenbrock) picked up 6.8 cross country time penalties for a final score of 35.9.

Lauren Kieffer also had Jacqueline Mars’s Vermiculus in this division. “Bug,” an 11-year-old Anglo-Arabian (Sazeram x Wake Me Gently), earned third place on a 33.8 with only 6.8 time penalties added. Lauren also had Team Rebecca’s Veronica in the CIC2*, but the two retired on cross country.

Team alternate Sharon White took this weekend as an opportunity for a combined test, withdrawing her own Cooley On Show before cross country. The 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse earned a 34.7 on the flat and had a clear show jumping round.

Boyd earned the win in the Open Intermediate division with the Ray Price Syndicate’s Ray Price, the 10-year-old Thoroughbred’s first outing since a top ten finish at the Jersey Fresh CCI3*. He was the only horse in the division to finish on his dressage score (27.6). Boyd was also third with Christine Turner’s On Cue, a 12-year-old Anglo European (Cabri D’Elle x On High, by Primitive Rising), on 34.9 points.

Caroline Martin took first and second in the competitive CIC2* division with Cristano Z and Jump Jet, respectively. Christano Z, a 9-year-old Zandersheide (Chippendale Z x Nala VH Schoterhof, by Omar), finished with 2.8 cross country time penalties for a final result of 30.70, and Sherrie Martin’s Jump Jet, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Captain Clover x Kilmullen Cruisalier, by Cavalier Royale) had a three-phase score of 33.8.

We would like to thank David again for these awesome videos from MDHT! You can see even more on his YouTube page.

Maryland at Loch Moy II H.T.: Website, Live Scores, The Horse Pesterer

#EventerProblems Vol. 150 from Ecovet: Happy Anniversary?

By on Jul 15, 2018 11:00 am -

One-hundred fifty editions of #EventerProblems in and still going strong. That’s worth a congratulations … or something. Keep ’em coming, EN — we know you will (because as long as there are horses, there will be problems). Here’s to another 150!

my strange addiction: raking pretty patterns in the barn aisle #eventerproblems

A post shared by Lila Brown (@labeventing) on

Happy effing Monday 🤷🏻‍♂️ #eventerproblems

A post shared by Brooklyn Currier (@caladoniacaraway) on

Hay day sweat angel. #sohotoutside #eventerproblems #hayingseason

A post shared by Lauren Fetner (@lrkrame2) on

Go Eventing.

Early Bird Gets the ERM Cross Country Live Stream

By on Jul 15, 2018 7:30 am -

Up with the sun? You’re right on time to catch the Event Rider Masters CIC3* cross country action at Haras de Jardy. The first rider leaves the box at 12:30 p.m. local time/6:30 a.m. EST. Don’t forget you can watch all the ERM action at Haras de Jardy for free at this link.

Show jumping has already wrapped and dressage leader Alexander Bragg (GBR) and Zagreb is still out front, having turned in a foot-perfect round. Alexander and the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Perion x Renera, by Nagano), owned by Sally Ellicot,  a personal best of 23.6. You can find the rest of the scores here. Check out a cross country course preview here.

#ERMeventing at Jardy: Website, Live Stream, Ride Times, Live Scores, Cross Country Preview

 

Sunday Links Presented by One K Helmets

By on Jul 15, 2018 12:01 am -

Lynn Symansky and Donner. Photo via Lynn Symansky Equestrian’s Facebook page.

WEG horses stretched their legs this weekend at the Maryland Horse Trials. It was a nice preparation for these guys as they come back from downtime after their spring events. It’s hard to believe we’re two months away from the big event in Tryon!

National Holiday: National I Love Horses Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Gennessee Valley Hunt H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Riga Meadow H.T. [Website] [Ride Times]

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

Champagne Run at the Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Coconino Summer II 3DE & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Sunday Links:

Enchantez (2000-2018)

British rider breaks collarbone in fall but aims to be back for Burghley

Through the Lens: 2018 Great Meadow International

Volunteer at the 2018 USEA American Eventing Championships!

Keep Your Show Horses Happy With Badass Super-Groom Max Corcoran

Price no guarantee of greater safety with horse riding helmets, study findings suggest

Sue’s historic day: 40 years since NZ woman’s horse racing milestone

Event Rider Masters: Two Big Questions at Leg 5

Sunday Video: 

Enchantez Euthanized at Champagne Run Horse Trials

By on Jul 14, 2018 5:40 pm -

Clare Walker and Enchantez. Photo courtesy of Erin Walsh.

We are heartbroken to report that Clare Walker’s Enchantez was euthanized today after suffering a broken leg at the Champagne Run Horse Trials held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

The 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Devil’s Toy x Class Reunion, by General Assembly) sustained the injury on the Intermediate cross country course. “Chinook” and Clare were competing in the Open Intermediate division. Clare was uninjured in the fall.

Lindsay Oaks and Enchantez in the galloping lane. Photo by Kasey Mueller.

The Thoroughbred competed though the CCI4* level with previous owner and rider Lindsay Oaks, who loved him as “Taylor.” Lindsay produced the horse from Novice all the way though the four-star level. The two earned a 35th place finish at the 2014 Kentucky Three-Day Event. Clare purchased the gelding in 2015 and competed successfully through the Intermediate level.

The entire team at Eventing Nation sends our condolences to Clare and all of Taylor’s connections.

This post has been updated to reflect a correction on the location where the injury was sustained. 

[Enchantez (2000-2018)]

Alexander Bragg Tops ERM CIC3* at Haras de Jardy

By on Jul 14, 2018 4:30 pm -

Alexander Bragg and Zabreg. Photo by Anna Franklin/Event Rider Masters.

Scores continued to drop lower and lower as day one of competition for the Event Rider Masters CIC3* division was underway at Haras de Jardy when Alexander Bragg (GBR) and Zagreb finally broke the barrier for first place. Sally Ellicot’s 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Perion x Renera, by Nagano) sits on a personal best of 23.6.

“Zagreb is feeling great after his summer break. Things didn’t quite go to plan in the Spring but the surface here gave him a great chance to express himself. He’s a really genuine jumper and he’s feeling amazing so I’ll keep pressing the buttons and we’ll see what we can do tomorrow,” he said. Check out their test:

Karim Florent Laghouag (FRA) took second aboard Entebbe de Hus, a 13-year-old Hanoverian (Embassy I x Cita, by Carbid) owned by Agnes Celerier and Karim Laghoug. They earned a score of 23.9, which means Alexander doesn’t have a single second of breathing room in tomorrow’s jumping phases.

Izzy Taylor (GBR) piloted Sophie Dodd’s Be Touchable into third place. The 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Untouchable 27 x Ureka, by Indoctro) earned a score of 25.1.

After a three-year hiatus at the level, the late Christina Kundsen’s Wesko, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Karandasj x Kolien, by Mittens xx)  posted a 25.2 for fourth place with New Zealand’s Tim Price.

“It just shows the showman that he is. You wouldn’t normally expect a horse to focus like that on their first time out. It’s like I think it and he does it. He’s a jumping machine and does this bit just to get through to the fun bits. We’re really looking forward to tomorrow,” Tim said. Check out their test:

Germany’s Michael Jung, who won here last year, also earned a spot in the top ten aboard Maria Stein’s Corazon. The 8-year-old Hanoverian, who is in her first season at the level, earned a 26.9 for ninth place.

It wasn’t only the top positions being fought over, there was a battle brewing between Laura Collett and Chris Burton, who are separated by only five points in the ERM cumulative series standings. Chris took over the lead from Laura after finishing third with Polystar I in Leg 3 at Barbury Palace. In today’s standings Laura edged just ahead in 12th place with Keith Scott, Karen Bartlett and her own London 52 on 28.3, and Chris sits in 13th on 28.6 points with Kate Wall’s Cooley Lands.

This competition is far from over. The show jumping here only had an 8% clear rate last  year—the lowest in ERM history. With only one rail separating the top 11, clear rounds will prove very influential tomorrow morning.

Don’t forget you can watch all the ERM action at Haras de Jardy for free at this link. Show jumping begins at 9:00 a.m. local time/3:00 a.m. EST, and the cross country will follow at 12:30 p.m. local time/6:30 a.m. EST. You can check out a cross country course preview here.

#ERMeventing at Jardy: Website, Live Stream, Ride Times, Live Scores, Cross Country Preview