Classic Eventing Nation

Thursday Video from Nupafeed: Area V Coach Will Faudree Jumps for Joy

By on Jul 26, 2018 4:00 pm -

Team Nupafeed had a pretty impeccable weekend at Rebecca Farm! Not only did the names of their sponsored riders — Frankie Thieriot-Stutes, Tamie Smith, Hawley Bennett-Awad, and Bobby Meyerhoff to name a few — dot the top placings of CCI3* and CIC3*, but their sponsored Area V Young Riders team consisting of McKinsey Wickman with Dassett Profile, Georgia Dillard with Galileo Wp and Georgia Phillips with Menue Rendevous took home team gold in the CCIJ1* too!

Another key to the success of the Area V team was the support of their coach Will Faudree, who jumped every single fence right along with them. Take a look:

We are so proud of the area V crew. Will jumped every jump with them

Posted by Will Faudree Eventing on Sunday, July 22, 2018

Length of Tryon’s WEG Cross Country Course in Question + Photo Gallery

By on Jul 26, 2018 2:48 pm -

Excavation work taking place in the area of the cross country course during the WEG Test Event at Tryon in April 2018. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

With fewer than 50 days to go until the eventing first horse inspection at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, the length of Capt. Mark Phillips’s cross country course at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina has been called into question.

The track was anticipated to be about 11 minutes in length, set over an estimated 5,200 meters with approximately 42 total jumping efforts, including an uphill pull at the end of the course to serve as an ultimate test of stamina and fitness. The uphill pull is a new addition to Tryon’s cross country course, with considerable earthwork required to create the elevation.

An FEI spokesperson confirmed to EN today that the length of the track may now be changed.

“Work on the cross country footing at Tryon is ongoing as there is an area on the course that has been impacted by recent heavy rain. This may have a bearing on the length of the course but will not affect the technical difficulty of the track,” an FEI spokesperson told EN. “A final decision on this will be made before the nominated entries deadline of 13 August, allowing National Federations to name their final selections. Definite entries for Eventing are on 3 September.”

Doug Outlaw, a spokesman for the National Weather Service’s Greenville-Spartanburg office, told EN that the rainfall total of 3.81 inches for July to date is “exactly normal” for the area surrounding Tryon during this time of year. It is about 1 inch below the 30-year average of 4.8 inches for the area during the month of July. National Weather Service models are currently predicting normal rainfall in the area for the month of August.

Excavation work taking place in the area of the cross country course during the WEG Test Event at Tryon in April 2018. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

While US Equestrian named the U.S. Eventing Team on June 26, multiple National Federations have not yet named their teams. Australian Chef d’Equipe Stuart Tinney confirmed today that Equestrian Australia is waiting to name their final team until the length of the cross country course has been confirmed.

“As the FEI have recently advised us that there may be some fairly significant changes to the length of the cross-country course this may have an impact on our selection tactics,” Stuart said, “and so we are awaiting final notification before we select the five combinations to represent Australia at Tryon.”

Equestrian Australia was told to expect “formal advice from the FEI and the Tryon Organising Committee of the details and distances of the cross-country course” on Aug. 10, three days before the nominated entry deadline for WEG.

Eventing at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games will run Sept. 12-16. Tryon is currently hosting the United States Pony Club East Coast Eventing Championships on July 25-29. An EN correspondent took the following photos of construction at the WEG venue today, July 26.

Switzerland Announces Team for 2018 World Equestrian Games

By on Jul 26, 2018 10:00 am -

Felix Vogg and Colero at Bromont. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Switzerland has announced the Swiss Eventing Team of four combinations for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. Congratulations to the following horses and riders:

Patrizia Attinger and Hilton P, a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Heraldik xx X Quickly P, by Quasi Roi) owned by Denise Egger and Peter Attinger, with Mooney Amach, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse (Cult Hero X Bing Power, by Tomgar Power Crest) owned by Erika and Peter Attinger, listed as direct reserve

Robin Godel and Grandeur de Lully CH, a 10-year-old Swiss Warmblood (Greco de Lully X Miola, by Apartos) owned by Jean-Jacques Fünftschilling

Ben Vogg and Noé de Vatys, a 17-year-old Anglo-Arabian gelding (Tresor du Renom X Tempete Guichoise, by Cap Martin) owned by Jürgen Vogg and Maurice Perret

Felix Vogg and Colero, a 10-year-old Westphalian gelding (Captain Fire X Bonita, by Bormio xx) owned by Jürgen Vogg

Felix Vogg has been based in the U.S. since February and earned his WEG qualifier at the Bromont CCI Three-Day Event, where he finished third with Colero in the CCI3*.

Chef d’equipe Dominik Burger said, “From our point of view, we have a very strong team this year and we are curious to see what we will achieve together.”

[Swiss CC Riders Selected for WEG]

Australia Names Short List for WEG Amidst Questions Over Course Length

By on Jul 26, 2018 7:04 am -

Chris Burton and Quality Purdey at Aachen. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Equestrian Australia has announced the Australian Eventing Team short list for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, which will take place Sept. 12-16 at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina.

The short list of eight riders is as follows:

  • Chris Burton and Claire Poole’s Quality Purdey or Kate Walls’ Cooley Lands
  • Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh, owned by Steve and Dinah Posford, Jules Carter and Sam Griffiths
  • Andrew Hoy and Paula and David Evans’ Vassily de Lassos
  • Bill Levett and Elisabeth Murdoch’s Lassban Diamond Lift
  • Emma McNab and Fernhill Tabasco, owned by Kevin McNab, Dom and Poppy Worcester, and Julia and Jamie Dougall
  • Rob Palm and Cassie Lowe’s Koko Story
  • Shane Rose and Michelle Hasibar’s Virgil or Elizabeth and Felicity Wischer’s CP Qualified
  • Amanda Ross and Koko Popping Candy, owned by Christine Brown and Fraser Brown

Equestrian Australia will confirm the final team of five combinations and three reserves combinations “when it receives formal advice from the FEI and the Tryon Organising Committee of the details and distances of the cross-country course on August 10, 2018.”

Australian Eventing Team Chef d’Equipe Stuart Tinney said, “As the FEI have recently advised us that there may be some fairly significant changes to the length of the cross-country course this may have an impact on our selection tactics and so we are awaiting final notification before we select the five combinations to represent Australia at Tryon.”

EN has reached out to the FEI and Tryon Organizing Committee for clarification as to what changes may be made to the length of Capt. Mark Phillips’ cross country course. The track was expected to be a grueling fitness test set at an estimated 5,200 meters in length with approximately 42 total jumping efforts.

Stay tuned.

[Australian Eventing Eight for 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games]

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

By on Jul 26, 2018 12:03 am -

Photo via the THIS FB page.

Do you ever just act like a real and total stalker, but to yourself? In this instance, basically obsessively refreshing the page for the photographer from a show because you just know in your bones that they got some REAL gems and you really wanna laugh at them? That’s me right now, sorry, hold all my calls, I’m busy hitting the refresh button and refraining from messaging the company about their expected release date.

National Holiday: National Chili Dog Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Stoneleigh-Burnham Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Horse Park of New Jersey II CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Hunt Club Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

Biggest news from yesterday: Justify is officially retired. There have been mumblings about the possibility for weeks now, as he was removed from training due to some filling in an ankle. However, the swelling isn’t responding to treatment, and trainer Bob Baffert says that without 60-90 days rest, he just can’t be sure of the outcome. That takes the colt out of any fall races, and we already knew he wasn’t going to race as a four-year-old. (Cue keyboard experts freaking out left right and center). [Justified Retires]

A website that helps you find proper boarding and training in your area? Hold the phone. I know I’m not alone in saying that people are constantly asking me where to board their horses, or send them for training, or just find a nice retirement home for the oldies. It’s impossible! However, horse loving entrepreneur Tori Sullivan has started a new way to navigate this old problem, with BarnWhiz. Easy to navigate and expanding soon, check it out! [BarnWhiz]

Tickets to the gala celebrating the participation of horses, riders, coaches and supporters from Africa in the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games are now on sale.The event honors contributions to equestrian knowledge, history, sport and tradition made by residents of African nations – as well as by persons of African heritage living in Europe, Asia, the Americas and throughout the world. Buy your tickets now here! [Brown Paper Tickets]

Cayla Stone and Atalanta haven’t had the most normal path to the AECs, considering that two years ago, Atalanta was completely untouched as a wild mustang. After quite a rocky start, they placed 5th overall in the Fort Collins Extreme Mustang Makeover, and Cayla bought her back to be her eventing mount. They’ve qualified for the Novice level this year, and hope it will be a good stepping stone for Training level! [From The Plains to the Arena]

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Fitch’s Corner 25th Anniversary Rewind

By on Jul 25, 2018 5:38 pm -

Fitch’s Corner, located on 150 acres in the heart of Millbrook Hunt Country, belongs to Fernanda Kellogg and Kirk Henckels. It’s a private boarding facility that opens it’s gates to the whole of the eventing community every July. Fitch’s Corner is a much loved Area I venue, described by participants as “magical” and “perfection.”

This year’s running on July 21-22 was particularly special as it celebrated the event’s 25th anniversary. Marion de Vogel captured the spirit of the competition on camera and kindly shared it with EN. Congratulations to Fitch’s Corner on 25 years. Here’s to another 25.

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For more information on this new product, visit KPPvet.com.

Brazil Names Long List for 2018 World Equestrian Games

By on Jul 25, 2018 5:04 pm -

Nilson Moreira da Silva and Magnum’s Martini. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Brazil has named a long list of seven combinations for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, including U.S.-based Brazilian Nilson Moreira da Silva with L & N Equestrian’s Magnum’s Martini.

Márcio Carvalho Jorge has been named to the long list provisionally with Coronel MCJ pending the outcome of Camphire International Horse Trials in Ireland this weekend, where he must secure a WEG qualifying score in the CCI3*.

The Brazilian long list has been named in the following order:

1. Henrique Pinheiro and Land Quenotte do Feroleto, a 15-year-old Holsteiner mare (Landritter X No Limit, by Caretino) owned by Ana Paula Arósio

2. Luciano Miranda Drubi and his own Riviera Lu, a 10-year-old Brazilian-bred mare (Rembranat X Ranfena, by Diapason des Gaves)

3. Marcelo Tosi and his own Glenfly, a 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Presenting X Dorans Glen, by Over The River)

4. Márcio Appel and Iberon Jmen, a 16-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Indoctro X Landina Jmen, by Landino) owned by Samantha Tonello

5. Márcio Appel and PP Tarca, a 13-year-old Brazilian-bred mare (Intocavel Terral X PP Nirvana, by Landritter) owned by Marco Antonio Blanco Vidotti

6. Márcio Carvalho Jorge and Coronel MCJ, an 11-year-old Brazilian-bred gelding (Fugitisso X Cotton Girl) owned by the Jorge Family

7. Nilson Moreira da Silva and Magnum’s Martini, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Magnum X Momos Girl) owned by L & N Equestrian

Congratulations to all the horses and riders named to the Brazilian long list! Go Eventing.

[Convocação – Jogos Equestres Mundiais – WEG 2018 Long List Equipe Brasileira de CCE]

Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo Are Fighting Fit

By on Jul 25, 2018 1:00 pm -

This article is brought to you by Athletux Equine. For more Athletux articles, please click here.

Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo finished 4th in the Rebecca Farm CIC3*. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

While some of us may be slowing down now that summer temperatures are rising, that is not the case for Hawley Bennett-Awad and her mount, Jollybo, as they have this little event called the World Equestrian Games penciled in on their calendars for September. Fresh off a fourth place finish in the Rebecca Farm CIC3*, where they posted the fastest cross country time in the their division on a course where time is notoriously difficult to make, they’ve made a solid case for themselves to be included on the Canadian team as Tryon WEG is expected to be a serious fitness test. 

Preparing for such an event is a yearlong process, explains Hawley, and “you can’t just do two gallops and expect a horse to be fit.” So while teams haven’t been named and the end goal is still two and a half months away, there is no rest for the wicked at Cooper Meadows Horse Park, where Hawley bases herself.

Photos courtesy of Hawley Bennett-Awad.

For Jolly, she has been spending lots of time taking swim lessons at the Trifecta Equine Athletic Center in Bonsall, California. Jolly loves visiting Dr. Korin Potenza and spending time on the water treadmill to help her get fit and strong. Jolly’s facial expression lights up when she steps off the trailer at Trifecta for her two-to-three day stay when Hawley is off teaching clinics. While the boss is away the ponies will play!

Another element of Hawley’s fitness plan is doing all her gallops on some sort of hill. Photo by Hawley Bennett-Awad.

Hawley fondly remembers her working student days at Bruce Davidson’s where he would bark “the fastest way to break a horse is to gallop on flat ground,” and they are words Hawley still lives by all these years later. In keeping with the planning ahead theme, Hawley explained she worked back from the end goal, cross country day at WEG, to determine the days she needs to gallop and the rate she needs to increase the time of her gallops. Between galloping every five days and using the water treadmill, Jollybo is likely to be the fittest horse out there!

However, Jollybo isn’t the only one who needs to be fit. Hawley wants to be just as fit as her super mare! Hawley’s brother introduced her to the program, Nine Round, which is a kickboxing class that only lasts for 27 minutes but kicks your butt. Don’t have time to spend two hours at the gym? Don’t WANT to spend two hours at the gym? This is the perfect alternative. Between her kickboxing classes and online live workouts with fitness guru Clint Hart, Hawley is getting toned and whipped into shape. Not only does she do Clint Hart’s online workouts but she also bought the DVD, so instead of sitting on the couch watching TV, she can watch a DVD and work out instead. One of Hawley’s favorite lines? “No excuses!”

Photos courtesy of Hawley Bennett-Awad.

What does Hawley use to keep her hydrated during her workouts and hot days at the barn? Detoxwater! Plain water can be boring so Hawley switches it out for this amazing Bio-Active Aloe Water full of Electrolytes and added health benefits including glowing skin. Detoxwater comes in six different flavors and Hawley drinks two to three per day to keep her body revitalized.

If you’re interested in giving Detoxwater a try you can order a FREE six-pack via their website starting July 20th through Labor Day! All you have to do is pay the $4.99 shipping. You can also find Detoxwater on Amazon or in your local stores, making it super easy to buy and restock on. Plus, it is available on Amazon Prime, so you can take advantage of the free two-day shipping!

Photos courtesy of Hawley Awad-Bennett.

While Hawley and Jollybo have been working on their fitness, JojoSox has been operating behind the scenes to create a special limited edition Jollybo sock in support of Hawley and Jollybo and their quest to get to WEG. Hawley wears these socks all the time whether it be in the saddle or at the gym and when JojoSox offered her the opportunity to design her own sock, it was an offer that she could not refuse! Hawley was so excited to pick out both the pattern and the colors, with the cheetah print being sassy like Jolly and the colors matching the colors Hawley rides in.

They are the best socks ever, and even better? JojoSox has been kind enough to give 100% of the proceeds to Hawley! She is extremely excited and as a thank you, she wants to give all those who purchase socks a special opportunity at WEG this fall, if she is lucky enough to compete with Jollybo. She wants to give something back to all those who have supported her so be sure to go check out and buy some #jollybo socks!

Photos courtesy of Jojo Sox (L) and Hawley Bennett-Awad (R).

With her preparations in full swing, planning is key. As Hawley makes her competition schedule, she always has her end goal in the back of her mind. Every day and every event is one step closer to the end goal and with every gallop and every workout, both Hawley and Jolly are gearing up to be in fighting form with the help of a very special routine, one that is helpful for horses and riders of all ages and levels.

Go Eventing.

Advancing Your Riding on a Budget: Five Benefits to Clinic Auditing

By on Jul 25, 2018 11:00 am -

Auditors take in a McLain Ward clinic held at Rutledge Farm in Middleburg, Virginia. Photo by Natasha Sprengers-Levine.

Horses are expensive. Competitive endeavors even more so. As much as we’d all like to think that we can teach ourselves, there’s a point at which we’re all likely to fall into the trap of repeating the same mistakes over and over again and failing to think outside the box to fix them. So, what’s a financially savvy equestrian to do? Get creative with maximizing opportunities!

Each season, there are bound to be tons of clinic opportunities with top dressage, show jumping, equitation, and/or eventing riders happening local to where you ride. The benefits to auditing a clinic with a renowned instructor are endless, but we’ve compiled our top five motivators here:

  1. Cut costs. Auditing a clinic is substantially less expensive than riding in one. By selecting to leave your four-legged partner at home, you can save on everything from truck fuel to stabling costs. Plus, there’s the major difference between packing for your noble steed and bringing along a notebook to jot down the pearls of wisdom that are bound to pour through the clinician’s microphone.
  2. Maximize your time-investment. Time is money, right? Taking the audit-only route is sure to cut down on your time commitment, especially if you’re lucky enough to have a Big Name Clinician teaching somewhere local to your home, barn, or office. Most organizers will send out a schedule to all registrants a few days in advance of the event, so you can even pre-select which sessions you think will be most interesting and beneficial to the pursuit of your own goals.
  3. Food for thought. Paying $40 or less for an all-day auditor ticket is a complete bargain if you can leave with even one tip or exercise that will help you improve your riding. So, remember to keep an open mind when participating as an auditor so that you can walk away with tons of good food for thought to help you set new goals for your riding or progress through something that has been challenging for you. Another great feature of auditing is the ability to ask questions of the clinician. Instructors will often open the floor to audience question in the time between lessons if she schedule allows. It’s a pretty exclusive opportunity to pick the brain of a top rider! Watching other riders work through problem areas or tackle something new can be pretty inspiring, too,
  4. Check it all out. Leaving your horse at home for an auditing experience can provide you with a great opportunity to scope out the situation for when you might decide to participate as a rider. If you’re lucky enough that this Big Name Clinician will be returning to your area in the future, you can consider whether his/her teaching and communication style will be beneficial to you when you’re in the tack. Learning about a different discipline from a clinician whose area of expertise falls outside of your area of riding focus can help you think outside-the-box for solutions to training problems or about ways to simplify things you’re working through. You never know the specific phrase that will help you magically grasp that pesky notion of a half-halt until you hear it! Auditing is also an opportunity to check out the facility, including trailer parking and stabling. Bringing your horse to a clinic is a huge investment of finances and time, so it’s a good idea to do some in-person research!
  5. Think local! Auditing a clinic shows support for your local horse community; sales from auditor tickets can help organizations and facility owners offset the costs of bringing you these types of opportunities. Help maintain the momentum by participating as an auditor! Remember to pre-register whenever possible so that facilitators know how much food to provide and chairs to set out!

Lisa Wilcox fields auditor questions during a clinic at Fairview Dressage Training Center in Millwood, Virginia. Photo by Natasha Sprengers-Levine.

So, where does one find all of these opportunities? I love platforms like www.eventclinics.com where I don’t have to create a password to see all the cool stuff going on, and I can search by specific clinician. You can also check out major equestrian organization websites such as USEA, USDF, USHJA and USEF, and keep an eye on EN’s “What’s Happening This Summer?” series, our to guide to lessons, clinics, schooling shows and other riding and educational opportunities during the summer (see last update on July 14). I also ask around to see what my riding friends are up to. Some clinics aren’t advertised so word-of-mouth is still the best way to get a foot in the door!

Go Eventing.

Natasha Sprengers-Levine is a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist based in Winchester, Virginia, who competes her KWPN-NA mare at Third Level and dabbles in lower-level eventing to stay humble. 

GVRDC H.T. Debuts Modified in Area I and Wants to Give You Gas Money

By on Jul 25, 2018 9:00 am -

Kelly Ransom riding Prince Cavanagh, winners of the 2017 Open Training A at GVRDC. Photo by Brant Gamma.

There’s something new coming to Area I this August. The Genesee Valley Riding and Driving Club (GVRDC) Horse Trials held August 17-19 in Geneseo, New York, will be the first and currently the only event in Area I to host the new Modified division, and they want to help get you there!

“We’re really taking a big step adding the Modified and want to get the word out as far and wide as we can,” said Carol Kozlowski, a member of the GVRDC H.T. organizing committee.

Introduced in 2017 as a stepping stone between the Training and Preliminary levels, the Modified level offers a bridge between what is thought to be one of the largest level-gaps in the sport. Riders in the Northeast looking to make the jump from Training level to Preliminary this fall can now consider GVRDC as a possible stop on their way when planning their fall competition calendar.

GVDRC will run the regular Beginner Novice through Preliminary divisions in addition to debuting Modified, but that’s not all — they will also be hosting NEH, FEH, and YEH classes on Saturday afternoon, a first for this venue and a testament to the growth of the Young Event Horse programs throughout the Areas. Horses competing in the YEH and NEH divisions are still eligible to compete in the horse trials as well.

Located in western New York hunt country bordering the beautiful Finger Lakes region, GVRDC is a unique location of Area I, given its proximity to parts of Areas II and VIII. It may be a bit of a drive for some, but its organizers are looking to make the trip worth the while to competitors by offering a wide range of divisions and rolling out a new program to entice those who may be facing a longer drive: the GVRDC Travel Incentive Program will award $100 to the competitor with the best score in each division — from the Young Horse divisions through Preliminary for a total of $600 — who has traveled a minimum of 200 miles one way to the competition.

GVDRC is ready to welcome competitors to enjoy galloping across the rolling hills and farmland of Ney York hunt country on their cross country course designed by Jeff Kibbie. Closing date for this event is next Tuesday, July 31st, so don’t delay in getting those entries in! View the omnibus listing here.

Go Eventing.