Classic Eventing Nation

Behind the Breeding: Arabian Influence is Strong within Vermiculus

By on May 21, 2024 9:30 am -

Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

If you asked someone to build the perfect CCI5* event horse, starting with pedigree, it’s fair to say that not too many people would pick a Canadian-bred Arabian stallion and a Thoroughbred mare. However, that’s the exact formula that produced Lauren Nicholson’s World Championships partner, 5* veteran, and our 2024 USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Champion, Vermiculus, better known in the barn as “Bug”.

Bred by Lawson Williams, Bug is the full brother of Lauren’s first CCI5* horse, Snooze Alarm, who Lawson also bred. Lawson’s breeding program started in Southern California, where he was a hobby breeder for many years, mainly breeding Arabians and Thoroughbreds for racing and endurance. In 1993, he made the decision to relocate to a more central location and settled on a farm in Southern Indiana, where his breeding program remained until its dispersal in 2013.

Bug’s dam was the Thoroughbred mare Wake Me Gently, who ended up being a fantastic producer of both racehorses and sport horses for Lawson. He recalls, “The first time I saw Gently was at the farm in Southern California where I had stationed my horses while waiting for the new barn and fencing for the farm in [Indiana]. She and a grey filly were in a paddock together, and wanting a closer look at the grey filly, I went to the paddock. While giving the fillies pats and rubs I remarked on their good conformation.”.

A deal was struck, and by the day’s end Lawson was Gently’s new owner. Born in 1990 and bred for racing, the bay mare was by stakes-winning stallion Unpredictable, out of a mare named Reville Song, by Battle Call. She trained and raced in California for two years until an ankle chip put an end to her career at the track. Gently made a total of 21 starts, winning once and earning a total of $5,772.

She came off the racetrack in the month of May, already fairly late in the breeding season for a Thoroughbred. She was sent to a nearby farm to be bred to a Thoroughbred stallion there, only for Lawson to find out that the stallion he chose had already completed his breeding season. Gently was already cycling and ready for breeding, so rather than wait until the following season, they instead decided to pivot and breed her to the stallion they had been using for teasing, an Arabian named Serazim.

Serazim had already proven to be a successful sire of Arabian racehorses and endurance horses, so Lawson thought that crossing him with Gently could potentially be a good match. The breeding was done, and Gently was confirmed in foal to Serazim.

Bred in Canada, Serazim was a 15.2h bay stallion with a very versatile background. A successful racehorse, he also won the Canadian National Exhibition Halter Stallion Championship, and was shown in show hack, hunter pleasure, and costume classes. His pedigree can be traced back through his sire line to the well-known Arabian stallion *Serafix, who was imported from the Crabbet Arabian Stud in England in 1954.

That first breeding between Gently and Serazim produced the chestnut colt that became known as Snooze Alarm, born in 1997. After that, Gently went on to produce six Jockey Club-registered Thoroughbred foals, and Snooze was sold to Lauren to begin his competitive career as an eventer.

Lauren Kieffer and Snooze Alarm. Photo by Michelle Dunn.

The elegant, pint-size Anglo-Arab began climbing up the ranks of the sport, taking Lauren to Young Riders in 2005, 2006, and 2007. At that point it was decided that perhaps the cross between Serazim and Gently was a good one, and the breeding was repeated, producing Bug in 2007 when Serazim was 31 years old.

According to Lawson, Bug stood out as special from the day he hit the ground. “He was easy going and fun to be around, and good mannered for a young colt. He loved the large pastures and loved to run around them like he was on a racecourse.”

As baby Bug was growing up, Lauren continued producing Snooze up the ranks, with the pair eventually making it to Kentucky CCI5* in 2010. When Lauren went looking for her next young prospect – on a limited budget yet again – buying Snooze’s younger sibling seemed like an obvious choice. “I’d gotten his brother to five star,” Lauren recalled, “so I figured I might as well try again!”.

A very small baby Bug.

While Lawson and Lauren saw Bug’s early potential, that wasn’t always true of everyone. Being small, plain bay, Anglo-Arab, and relatively unassuming, it would be easy to pass him by in favor of the bigger, flashier warmbloods. “David [O’Connor] always said no one would notice him until he went five-star, and he was right!”, says Lauren.

Now 17 years old, Bug is at the top of the sport and looking better than ever. He has seven CCI5* completions under his girth and was part of the US Team at the 2022 FEI World Championships at Pratoni. Among his CCI5* finishes he’s been in the top 10 at Burghley, Luhmühlen, and Kentucky.

While he’s never the flashiest horse in the warm-up, there’s no arguing that this little American-bred Anglo-Arab is one of the best event horses in the world, something that can be attributed in large part to his breeding. Lauren says, “He’s very intelligent and enjoys mental challenges, and his Arabian breeding certainly contributes to his longevity in the sport.”

While Lawson’s program disbanded in 2013, Bug’s successes continue to bring a deep sense of fulfillment to his legacy as a breeder. “For any discipline I feel there needs to be a purpose and an objective when a breeding is made.” He says. “And there’s a great deal of satisfaction when it’s successfully accomplished.”

Lauren Nicholson shares a moment with Vermiculus after winning the USEF CCI5* National Championship. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Although he is retired from breeding, Lawson continues to keep up with Bug and Lauren’s storied career. While he’s proud to take credit as the breeder of two exceptional horses, he’s also quick to give credit where credit is due, especially when it comes to Lauren. “She has accomplished so very much with both Bug and Snooze. [It} would not have happened without the tremendous care, training, and expert abilities of Lauren.”

Breeding a good horse is only one part of the equation… getting that horse into the right hands is another. When asked for his advice to breeders or to people looking to buy a young horse, Lawson responded “Wow. A book could be written on these points!”.

“For breeders, ask what are your main goals? Identify the objectives you want your breeding program to accomplish. Be realistic. For riders, when shopping for a nice young horse, ask yourself what is the main objective for the horse? Once identified, does the pedigree say yes? Identify the correct form to function of the young horse – conformation knowledge is very important! And if needed, seek assistance from knowledgeable advisors”.

While the legitimacy of the Thoroughbred mare in producing top-level event horses has been proven time and time again (2024 Defender Kentucky winner Cooley Rosalent, anyone?), the success of horses like Snooze and Bug also lends credence to the intelligence and durability that a good Arabian can bring to the table. There is no better eventer than a blood horse, after all.

This article is brought to you in partnership with EcoVet, because while horses named Bug may be the best possible additions to a barn, the winged versions aren’t quite as welcome. Learn more about EcoVet’s unique formulation below:

The Final Countdown to Paris: Luhmühlen Entries Go Live with Two Red-Hot Line-Ups

By on May 21, 2024 7:23 am -

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo head up a formidable line-up at Luhmühlen. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

When we think about the final stepping stones to the Olympic Games, a couple of key competitions come to mind – and chief among those, both for its perfect final-prep dates and its convenient Northern European location, is Germany’s Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials. This year, the event — which hosts both a CCI5* and a CCI4*-S — takes place from June 12–16, which sits it at just about six weeks out from the eventing at the Paris Olympics. That makes it a key final selection trial ahead of the late-June deadline, and it also sits pretty as a crucial fitness outing, too.

In short? You can expect to see a serious line-up in each class – and, actually, particularly in the CCI4*-S, which also serves as the German National Championships. But don’t take our word for it: the entries went live today, and you can see for yourself just how stacked the list is looking.

The five star currently has 50 entries, which span ten nations. As always, we’re seeing a massive British front here and a very limited German one, as most of the home crowd tends to aim for the CCI4*-S instead, but we do have two exciting home-side entries in Nico Aldinger and Warendorf student Libussa Lübbeke. There are some surprises to be found on the list: likely Olympic partnership Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, who won both the European Championships and Badminton last year, are entered for the five-star rather than the four-star, which several of their fellow short-listed Brits have chosen, and the USA’s Will Coleman and his Kentucky CCI4*-S winner Diabolo, who have likely also earned themselves a nod on their country’s own as-yet-unreleased shortlist, are also currently aiming for the five-star.

That’s not the only US entry in the CCI5*, either: Alyssa Phillips will be making a hotly-anticipated five-star debut with her stalwart partner Oskar, while Emily Hamel and high-flying Corvett will aim to add a fifth event to their global five-star tally, having previously contested Kentucky, Maryland, Badminton, and Burghley across their six runs at the level.

Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Hermione d’Arville. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Both Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Ireland’s Susie Berry have an embarrassment of riches where qualified Olympic horses are concerned – each has a solid handful who have dotted their i’s and crossed their t’s and now just need to wait for the selectors’ nod for Paris. But both riders have also opted to push forward some of their horses’ personal development campaigns, and for now, each has two apiece of their Olympic candidates entered for this feature class.

The CCI5* entry list is as follows:

BELGIUM

Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Hermione d’Arville

Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Hooney d’Arville

Joris Vanspringel and Creator GS

DENMARK

Sara Bech Ström and Dicte Aldrup

FRANCE

Arthur Duffort and Toronto d’Aurois

Cedric Lyard and Unum De’Or

Julie Simonet and Sursumcord’Or

GERMANY

Nicolai Aldinger and Timmo

Libussa Lübbecke and Caramia

GREAT BRITAIN

Laura Birley and Bob Cotton Bandit

Katie Bleloch and Goldlook

Alex Bragg and Ardeo Premier

Alex Bragg and Quindiva

Georgie Campbell and Global Quest

Ros Canter and Izilot DHI

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo

Alice Casburn and Topspin

Tim Cheffings and Gaston

Laura Collett and Hester

David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed

Caroline Harris and D.Day

Yasmin Ingham and Rehy DJ

Bella Innes-Ker and Highway

Melissa Joannides and Patch Ali

Fiona Kashel and Creevagh Silver de Haar

Lauren Lillywhite and Hacien

Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality

Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser

Will Rawlin and The Partner

Kate Rocher-Smith and HHS Dassett Class

Storm Straker and Fever Pitch

Mollie Summerland and Flow

Alex Whewall and Ellfield Voyager

IRELAND

Susie Berry and Kilcandra Capitol

Susie Berry and Monbeg By Design

Ian Cassells and Master Point

Robbie Kearns and Ballyvillane Obos

Jennifer Kuehnle and Polly Blue Eyes

Jennifer Kuehnle and Sammy Davis Junior

ITALY

Pietro Sandei and Rubis du Prere

Giovanni Ugolotti and Cloud K

NEW ZEALAND

Jesse Campbell and Diachello

Samantha Lissington and Lord Seekonig

Muzi Pottinger and Good Timing

Tim Price and Viscount Viktor

SWEDEN

Christoffer Forsberg and Con Classic

Christoffer Forsberg and Hippo’s Sapporo

USA

Will Coleman and Diabolo

Emily Hamel and Corvett

Alyssa Phillips and Oskar

Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The CCI4*-S boasts a whopping 82 entries across 17 nations. The Polish contingent appear to be out in full, as do the Swedes, and Germany’s no slouch in this department, either: their formidable line-up is helmed by the likes of Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH, Ingrid Klimke and SAP Asha P, who make their return to the top levels this year after nearly three years on the sidelines, Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz, Christoph Wahler and Carjatan S, Julia Krajewski and young gun Nickel 21, and Warendorf student Jerome Robine, who put himself well in contention for selection this year with a spate of good results including a top ten on his five-star debut here last year with Black Ice.

The Price family has four horses in this class: Jonelle will ride Hiarado, who was seventh at Pau last year, and Senor Crocodillo, last year’s Kilguilkey CCI4*-s winner, while husband Tim will pilot his Pratoni World Championships mount and five-star winner Falco alongside the exceptional ten-year-old Jarillo, who hasn’t been out of the top ten in his last five FEI runs.

The British Olympic shortlist is well-represented here: Laura Collett will come forward on last year’s CCI5* winner, London 52, as will European Vice Champions Kitty King and Vendredi Biats, who were also second in the five-star here last summer. Yasmin Ingham rides her reigning World Champion, Banzai du Loir, in this class, while her short-listed Rehy DJ will enjoy another crack at the five-star, in which he finished third last year.

Both Belgium, too, sees bids for selection on the cards: for the former nation, Tine Magnus and Strzegom CCI4*-S winner Dia Van Het Lichterveld Z go up to bat against the likes of young Jarno Verwimp and Mahalia, who helped to clinch Belgium’s Paris ticket at last summer’s European Championships, as well as stalwart team rider Karin Donckers and Leipheimer Van’t Verahof and up-and-comer Cyril Gavrilovic and Elmundo de Gasco.

Tom Carlile and Darmagnac de Beliard. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

The French opposition is helmed by Tom Carlile and Darmagnac de Beliard, seeking redemption after an abortive spring campaign, and Olympian Astier Nicolas and Alertamalib’Or, who were second at Saumur CCI4*-L last month. Australia, too, looks very strong: Kevin McNab will ride both Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam and Scuderia 1918 A Best Friend, and we’ll see another outing for eventing returnee Chris Burton and new ride Shadow Man. Andrew Hoy will come forward too, though not with recent Marbach CCI4*-S winner Vassily de Lassos – instead, we’ll see him pilot Cadet de Beliard in this class. US-based Ryan Wood, too, will line up with Cooley Flight.

To check out both classes in full, head on over to the entry list here. As always, we’ll have boots on the ground in Germany covering the nitty gritty of both of these crucial mid-season classes – so heels down, kick on, and join us as we Go Eventing (Deutsch-style!).

EN’s coverage of the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials is presented by Kentucky Performance Products, your one-stop shop for science-backed nutritional support for all types of horses. Click here to learn more about Kentucky Performance Products. 

Longines Luhmühlen: Website | Entries | Live Stream | EN’s Coverage

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on May 21, 2024 6:28 am -

Eventing fam, it’s time to rally around one of our own. Much-loved West Coast announcer and course builder Louis Blankenship is on the road to recovery following a serious motorcycle accident, but he needs our help as he faces the prospect of multiple surgeries and rehabilitation. You can chip in and help him and his wife Kristi with the not at all insignificant financial burden by contributing to, or simply sharing, this GoFundMe created by Debi Ravenscroft. Anyone who knows Louis knows that he’s the kind of guy who’ll save the day in any situation – now, it’s our turn to return the favour and get him back in the metaphorical saddle. Get well soon, Louis!

Events Opening Today: Summer Coconino HT and Western Underground, Inc. TR,N,BN 3 Day Event, Mile High Horse Ranch H.T., Bouckaert Equestrian H.T., Arrowhead H.T., The Maryland International + Horse Trials

Events Closing Today: Apple Knoll Farm H.T., Mill Creek Pony Club Horse Trials, Middleburg H.T., Cobblestone Farms H.T. I, Golden Spike H.T.

Tuesday News from Around the World:

For Jen Moody, competing at Kentucky was just the final chapter of a serious odyssey. She travelled all the way from Montana, where she’s based at the Broussards’ Rebecca Farm, in order to tackle the CCI4*-S with her Thoroughbred, Eye of the Storm. Find out how they got on, how they first partnered up, and where they went from Kentucky, in this piece from USEA.

When you play let’s-plan-your-dream-barn, do you think much about the feed room? If you’re anything like me, probably not — I spend so much time daydreaming about an indoor arena, a derby field, hundreds of acres of turnout, and, obviously, a jacked and stacked tack room. But if you were to daydream about feed rooms, or if you were, perchance, on a mission to improve your existing one, you’d definitely benefit from taking into account these top tips for maximising the space and making sure it’s actually a nice, clean, and safe area to use.

An oldie, but a goodie for those of us who just can’t let our horses go, even when we buy them to resell. Hey! It happens! We’re all big-hearted saps, really! And so we’ll all relate to writer Justine Griffin, who learned that the selling thing is just not her bag.

And finally, here’s something practical we can all take into our Tuesday. A lot of us are probably guilty of going into autopilot on circles and letting this handy shape take care of itself. And it does do that, kind of — a good 15m or 20m circle will help engage your horse’s hind end and restabilise his balance. But you can do better than that — you can bring the ‘wow’ factor and use it to positively impact the rest of your ride. Here’s how (with tips that are really brilliant for visual learners!).

Golden Great Britain! Tom McEwen, Laura Collett and Oliver Townend. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Sponsor Corner: Great Britain has unveiled 12 nominated entries for Paris! Notable pairs include Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir and Tom Mcewen and JL Dublin among others. Meet the 12 pairs that could be going to the Olympics in this article sponsored by Kentucky Performance Products.

Watch This:

Rewatch the cross-country leaders at Badminton, Tim Price and Vitali, as they tackle Eric Winter’s challenging course:

 

 

The Weekend Update: Fair Hill Offers Starter – Advanced HT Heading into Summer Season

By on May 20, 2024 12:00 pm -

Fair Hill International Horse Trial ran this past weekend, offering divisions from Starter to Advanced, for all levels of horse and rider duos.

We saw ten entries in their Advanced division this past weekend, and while it wasn’t the largest group, it was filled with plenty of experienced 4* pairs.

There were a few Advanced entries this weekend that had rerouted from Kentucky – Shannon Lilley brought both Eindhoven Garette and Ideal HX after a withdrawal and a retirement at Kentucky last month, as well as Boyd Martin with Miss LuLu Herself after they withdrew from Kentucky. These pairs are all headed for the CCI4*-L at Bromont (June 13-16).

After sitting towards the bottom of the field in 7th after dressage on a 33.2, Shannon Lilley and her own Eindhoven Garette (Iowa – Rose Rouge Garette) jumped one of the only show jumping clears to slide into 3rd heading into cross country. They finished the weekend with the win in the division after the fastest cross country round of the group. Shannon started Eindhoven Garette’s FEI career in 2022 with a 15th place finish in the 1* at Tryon. Since then, they’ve developed to the 4* level, having completed three 4* events, including a 5th place finish in the 4*L at Morven this past October. This win comes after their reroute after a withdrawal from Kentucky.

Adding a rail and a bit of jumping and cross country time to their leading dressage score of 29.3, Matthew Brown and Shelley Onderdonk’s Alderwood (Flex A Bill – Calandra Z) finished on a 47.3 to clinch 2nd place. We saw these two finish three 4* events in the 2023 season, most recently with an 11th place finish in the 4*L at TerraNova in November. After a 10th place finish in the Open Preliminary at Morven and then withdrawing from the Advanced at Fair Hill in April, this is their first completion back at the level for the 2024 season.

Rounding out the top three, we saw Boyd Martin with Bonnie Stedt’s Miss LuLu Herself (Stolzenfels – Noisette). Although Boyd had LuLu aimed at the Kentucky 4*S this spring, he withdrew her to reroute to the 4*L at Bromont coming up in June. These two saw a 30.9 in dressage to sit in second, before adding a rail and some time in the jumping phases to finish in 3rd.

Braden Speck with BSF Liam and Caitlin Silliman and Ally KGO finish in 4th and 5th for your top five.

In the Open Intermediate, we saw Boyd Martin with Barney Rubble in first, and Maya Clarkson finish second with Clueso and third with Maks Mojo C. You can find results from the rest of the horse trial here from the Starter to the Advanced divisions.

Fair Hill International Recognized H.T. (Elkton, MD): [Website] [Results]

Reigning Olympic Champions Great Britain Reveal 12 Nominated Entries for Paris 2024

By on May 20, 2024 9:00 am -

Golden Great Britain! Tom McEwen, Laura Collett and Oliver Townend. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Buckle up, folks, because the pathway to Paris is swiftly becoming a multi-lane highway, and the party bus just merged right onto it. Great Britain has today revealed its list of 12 horse-and-rider combinations who’ll make up their nominated entries, and from which the final team will be drawn, ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris. Great Britain goes to Paris as the reigning champions, having won gold three years ago in Tokyo, and all three of those team riders are once again up for selection.

The British list is unsurprisingly strong: it features five CCI5* winners, our reigning World Champions, and our reigning European Champions and Vice Champions, among their collective accolades.

The twelve nominated combinations are as follows, listed in alphabetical order:

Rosalind Canter (38) from Hallington, Lincolnshire, with Alex Moody and her own Izilot DHI (bay, gelding, 11yrs, 16hhx, Zavala VDL x Cavalier) or Michele and Archie Saul’s Lordships Graffalo (bay, gelding, 12yrs, 17hh, Birkhof’s Grafenstolz x Rock King, Breeder: Lordships Stud, Writtle College GBR)

Laura Collett (34) from Salterton, Gloucestershire, with Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott and her own London 52 (bay, gelding, 14yrs, 16.3hh, Landos x Quinar, Breeder: Ocke Riewerts GER)

Yasmin Ingham (27) based in Nantwich, Cheshire and originally from the Isle of Man, with Janette Chinn and The Sue Davies Fund’s Banzai du Loir (chestnut, gelding, 13yrs, 16.2hh, Nouma D’Auzay x Livarot, Breeder: Pierre Gouye FRA) or Rehy DJ (bay, gelding, 14yrs, 16.1hh, Tinarana’s Inspector x Big Sink Hope, Breeder: Noel Russell IRL)

Emily King (28), based in Halkyn, Holywell, Flintshire and originally from Sidmouth, Devon, with Phillipe Brivois, David King and the Valmy Biats Syndicate’s Valmy Biats (bay, gelding, 14yrs, 16.2hh, Orlando x Aurelie du Prieure, Breeder: Phillipe Brivois FRA)

Kitty King (41) from Chippenham, Wiltshire, with Diana Bown, John Eyre, Sally Lloyd Baker and Samantha Wilson’s Vendredi Biats (grey, gelding, 15yrs, 16.2hh, Winningmood x Camelia de Ruelles, Breeder: Phillipe Brivois FRA)

Tom Jackson (31) from Godalming, Surrey, with Patricia Davenport, Milly Simmie and Sarah Webb’s Capels Hollow Drift(grey, gelding, 12yrs, 16.2hh, Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvar x Lucky Gift, Breeder: Jeanette Glynn GBR)

Tom McEwen (33) from Stroud, Gloucestershire, with James and Jo Lambert and Deirdre Johnston’s JL Dublin (dark brown, gelding, 13yrs, 16.2hh, Diarado x Cantano, Breeder: Volker Göttsche-Götze GER)

Oliver Townend (41) from Ellesmere, Shropshire, with Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan’s Ballaghmor Class (grey, gelding, 17yrs, 16.2hh, s. Courage II, Breeder: Noel Hickey IRL) or Paul and Diana Ridgeon’s Cooley Rosalent (grey, mare, 10yrs, 16.2hh, Valent x Roselier, Breeder: JW Rosbotham IRL)

Isabelle ‘Bubby’ Upton (25) from Newmarket, Suffolk, with Rachel Upton’s Cola (brown, gelding, 14yrs, 16.2hh, Catoki x Contender, Breeder: Peter Boege GER)

“Selection decisions are subject to the athletes and horses maintaining fitness and performance, and this list may be amended at any point up to 25 June 2024,” continues the announcement. The final selection of four combinations – three on the team, plus a travelling reserve – will be named in late June.

View more of EN’s coverage of the Paris Olympics here.

Monday News & Notes from FutureTrack

By on May 20, 2024 6:45 am -

He is back on board! The audio demonstrates what wonderful support he is receiving from his team! 🤣😂

Bates Saddles
TRMAustralia
TRM Equine Nutrition
Ariat Australia
Abbey Animal Health
Lumiere
Zilco – Equestrian Products

Posted by Shane Rose Eventing on Sunday, May 19, 2024

Guess who’s back in the saddle? Naysayers be damned – Aussie Shane Rose might have suffered 18 total fractures to his ribs, femur, elbow and pelvis in a riding accident just two months ago, but after doing his stint in a hospital bed, he’s ready to crack on with his goal of making it to Paris this summer.  We suppose that if anyone was going to make it happen, it’d be bionic man Shane, who’s got a track record of returning with a big grin on his face from a surprisingly nippy rehab process after the sort of fall that would make most people hang up their boots. Bonza, Shane – and allons-y, and all that!

National Holiday:

US Weekend Action:

Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. (Fairburn, GA): [Website] [Results]

Fair Hill International Recognized H.T. (Elkton, MD): [Website] [Results]

Hitching Post Farm H.T. (South Royalton, VT): [Website] [Results]

Hunt Club Farms H.T. (Berryville, VA): [Website] [Results]

Otter Creek Spring H.T. (Wheeler, WI): [Website] [Results]

Spokane Sport Horse Spring H.T. (Spokane, WA): [Website] [Results]

Spring Gulch H.T. (Highlands Ranch, CO): [Website] [Results]

The Vista Spring YEH/NEH Qualifier (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Results]

UK Weekend Results:

Aston-le-Walls (1) (Daventry, Northants.): [Results]

Frenchfield (1) (Penrith, Cumbria): [Results]

Major International Events:

Longines Pfingsturnier Wiesbaden (Germany): [Website] [Results]

Your Monday Reading List:

One of the quite nice things about being a writer is that occasionally, one of your old pieces resurfaces from the annals. That’s happened for me over the last few days as COTH has revitalised one of my pieces from 2018, when I spent the day with William Fox-Pitt discussing brain injuries, chicken farming, and what retirement might look like. Now that that retirement is here, it’s fun to revisit what he thought of the whole thing six years ago (although the adaptation of the old star levels to the new hasn’t been wholly successful in this new re-editing of the piece, so try to ignore that!). Check it out here.

We all spend a lot of time worrying – rightly – about our horses’ legs. But they can find really creative ways to injure their other body parts, too, so maybe start worrying a bit more, if you’ve got the bandwidth. Just kidding (sort of) – this piece from Horse&Hound is actually pretty optimistic, as it features a reasonably rare neck break, but also, on the flip side, a remarkable recovery for the young and promising Poppy. Find out how it happened, what the vets did, and how Poppy and her owner are getting on with life post-accident here.

Great news: Britain’s National Eventing Championships have found a home for 2024. They needed reallocating after the sad loss of Gatcombe’s Festival of British Eventing from the calendar, and now, it’s been announced that Hartpury, which hosts a major international each summer and has been the site of countless championships, will put these classes on alongside their international horse trials in August. Get all the deets, and the dates in your diary, here.

Following his trip to Badminton, Jessie Phoenix’s Wabbit has been featured in the Paulick Report. They might not be totally clear on whether Britain’s autumn five-star is called Burghley or Burleigh, but it’s still fun to see our sport unpacked for a different audience, and the insights into Wabbit’s early, failed career as a racehorse and how he’s been retrained is really interesting. Give it a read.

And finally, the discovery of a last, lost straw of Heraldik’s love-juice, which was auctioned on May 11 at the Marbach Auction, has got me thinking about the late, great stallion. There’s a pretty compelling argument to suggest that the Thoroughbred is the most influential sire in modern-day eventing, and if you’re wondering why that might be, it’s well worth diving into this long read that goes all the way back to the stallion’s inauspicious beginnings at a Czech riding school.

Morning Viewing:

We’ve been sharing lots of vlogs from 26-year-old amateur eventer Evie Llewelyn-Smith and her £1 horse Donut on their path to the Badminton Grassroots Championship – now, settle in to catch up on how the week itself went for the dynamic duo:

Video Break: Boyd Martin Narrates His Badminton Cross Country Round

By on May 19, 2024 12:30 pm -

Watch some of the highlights from Thomas' cross-country at the Badminton Horse Trials and hear my initial thoughts afterwards.

Watch what you missed at https://watch.badminton-horse.tv/ featuring other behind-the-scenes content and lots from the archive!

Posted by Boyd Martin on Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Here’s a cool video for you this afternoon! Boyd Martin shared some highlights of his cross country round with the Turner family’s Tsetserleg TSF at MARS Badminton Horse Trials last weekend, and we’ve got the video for you.

If you can’t see the video embedded above, you can view it directly on Facebook here.

If you’re a Boyd Martin subscriber, you can also listen to and watch a full round narrated by Boyd as he reflects back on the weekend. Click here to learn more.

It’s always fascinating to listen to a rider recap their rounds, especially after they’ve had some time to watch it back and reflect. So often, we’re talking to the riders in the mixed zone directly after their ride when they haven’t had much time to process what happened, good or bad. Going back and rewatching things gives more perspective, and that’s what Boyd gives us in this video.

I also appreciate Boyd’s willingness to talk about the mistake he says he made that resulted in jumping penalties at the tough sunken road complex. It’s a fact of sport that these moments will happen, and having the ability to look back at them frankly and with awareness is beneficial for everyone, including those learning by watching those who they look up to.

To view all replays of Badminton, click here. You can also view the rest of our Badminton coverage here.

Getting Back in the Saddle Can Pay Dividends

By on May 19, 2024 9:30 am -

Louis Rogers competes at Virginia Horse Center aboard One Plan. Photo by Swita Photography.

When Louis Rogers saddles up, you’d never guess that less than a year ago, he had a fall that left him unconscious, with thirteen broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a fractured collar bone and a cervical fracture. The placement of his injuries suggested the twelve-hundred-pound horse he’d been riding had also stepped on him.

“It’s a terrible thing to know that I heal well,” says Louis today. “I’m like the real estate industry that way. There are crashes. There are struggles. But over the decades, we keep trending better and better.”

Louis is founder and co-CEO of Capital Square, a vertically integrated real estate firm, specializing in tax-advantaged real estate investments as well as real estate development and property management. He is also an avid equestrian. As the son of a veterinarian, Louis grew up around countless animals. They were always in the house, in the barn and in the yard, and the same remains true for him today.

“Sometimes they growl. Sometimes they purr. Sometimes they stomp on your chest, making you question your sanity,” Louis laughs, putting a hand to his ribcage. “But the partnerships are also real, and they remind us that resilience is a skill always worth practicing, especially when the course isn’t always clear.”

In the past year, the real estate industry has had its own struggles. Skyrocketing insurance premiums, inflation and high interest rates created economic headwinds even experienced professionals found daunting. With forethought, Louis’ firm focused its resources into bolstering the company and controlling the controllable. By seizing intentional opportunities in a slower time period, Capital Square expanded the ways it could create its own exceptional product, including qualified opportunity zone (OZ) funds, Delaware statutory trusts (DSTs) and Capital Square’s growing real estate investment trust (REIT).

“We just get back up and keep riding, like Phillip Dutton at the Kentucky Three Day,” Louis continues. “One fall means nothing. That’s not the end of the story.”

Recovered from his injuries, Louis Rogers is back in the saddle, and he’s confident that the real estate industry will soon be there too. He’s quick to point out that Capital Square’s 28th DST offering recently went full cycle, resulting in an average 170.24% total return for investors. He often slides into the conversation that Capital Square’s tax-advantaged OZ investments elevated their sales in 2023, despite an industry decline.
Falls happen. Sometimes we can feel physically or metaphorically stomped on. The real estate industry has felt it, for sure.

Louis Rogers knows he was lucky, but he also knows that getting back into the saddle can pay dividends in the barn, at the office and for the quality of life we all aspire to.

To view more about the upcoming Horse Trials at Virginia Horse Center (May 23-26), click here.

Sunday Links from EcoVet

By on May 19, 2024 12:01 am -

With the dizzying hype from the last two weeks of 5*s finally calming down, I don’t think we’re talking enough about how utterly impressive Caroline Pamukcu is and how casually she’s tearing through the leaderboards. Not only is this woman’s FEI record disgustingly clean, she’s had her eye on the top of the sport and she is seemingly ready to stop at nothing until she reaches it (see the first linked article below). This week, Caroline & Co. have jetted off to Europe as members of the USEF European Development Tour, where they will compete at several Nations Cup events across the UK along with team members Alyssa Phillips, Emily Hamel, Cassie Sanger, Molly Duda, and Jenny Caras.

Amidst the beautiful chaos of Badminton last weekend, Caroline and HSH Blake — her Olympic hopeful who hasn’t seen an international finish outside the top 5 since 2022 — swept into Tryon’s 4*-L, facing a handful of our nation’s best and brightest, and soared right out with a win on their dressage score. Thanks to EquiReel, you can watch every fence of Caroline and Blake’s winning cross country round here on Caroline’s Instagram.

Best of luck to each of our athletes gearing up for an incredible summer. Enjoy a fun highlight of their quarantine facilities here via Alyssa Phillips!

U.S. Weekend Action

Bouckaert Equestrian H.T. (Fairburn, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times]

Fair Hill International Recognized H.T. (Elkton, MD) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Hitching Post Farm H.T. (South Royalton, VT) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Hunt Club Farms H.T. (Berryville, VA) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Otter Creek Spring H.T. (Wheeler, WI) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Spokane Sport Horse Spring H.T. (Spokane, WA) [Website] [Entries][Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Spring Gulch H.T. (Highlands Ranch, CO) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

The Vista Spring YEH/NEH Qualifier (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Scoring]

European International Events

LONGINES Whitsun Tournament Wiesbaden (Germany) [Website] [Times] [Scoring] [Live Stream]

Links to Start Your Sunday:

Ringside Chat: With Robust Mentorship Behind Her, Pamukcu Aims For Paris

Mark Phillips: ‘Badminton is still the one to win’

Will Isabel Werth add to her record-breaking number of equestrian Olympic medals?

Research opens doors: Equine research on display at 13th Alltech-Hartpury Student Conference

And, if you fancy a cry today: When Horses Have To Leave

Sponsor Corner: Ecovet is 5* tested and approved! 5* eventer Caitlin Silliman uses Ecovet on her horses. She’s clearly flying high this summer 🚀 with 6 year old Nia!

Morning Viewing: I hope you didn’t miss our EN Kentucky rider roundup reels, because Bruce Davidson saying “I’m an ice cream connoisseur” is going to be set as my new ringtone. Catch up below, because this is vital, hard-hitting investigative journalism at its finest.

First Winners of 2024 Jimmy Wofford Legacy Fund Announced

By on May 18, 2024 9:30 am -

The Waredaca Eventing Education Foundation is pleased to announce the first two winners of this year’s Jimmy Wofford Legacy Fund!

Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.

Courtney Calnan of Nicholasville, Kentucky has been awarded one entry to the 2024 Hagyard Lexington Classic Three-Day Event and a $1000 education stipend. Courtney, who is 35, has been eventing since 2000 and was first introduced to the classic three-day series in 2014 when she competed at the Indiana Eventing Association Classic with her pony. It was her final event with the pony she had been competing for 11 years. “I finished with a much better pony than I started with and I was sad that I had waited so long to take part [in a classic],” she said.

Courtney credits the lessons she learned at her first classic in training her current mount, Little Red Dragon, a 2016 Welsh-Thoroughbred gelding. The pair competed in the Park Equine Kentucky Classique in 2022 at the Beginner Novice level. “My proudest moment was proving that a 14.1 hand pony could win best conditioned against the bigger horses,” she stated. This year Courtney and Little Red Dragon have moved up to Novice with the goal of competing in the Novice division at Hagyard.

Courtney has been on the Board of Directors for Equestrian Events Inc. since 2014, giving back over 150 hours each year leading up to the Kentucky Three Day and the American Eventing Championships, which EEI has hosted for the past few years. She is also a MSEDA Board of Directors member since 2021, serving as Eventing Vice President for 2022 and 2023. Through that role, she has helped organize and host steeplechase clinics for members and non-members, allowing them to learn how to safely navigate steeplechase, the vet box, and how to prepare for long-format events.

When Courtney was informed of her scholarship, she said, “Wow… I’m speechless!” Courtney added, “I’m so grateful for this opportunity. Not only does it significantly help with the financial burden, it’s a huge honor as Jimmy [Wofford] was an idol of mine. My autographed copies of his books have pages practically falling out from how much they have been utilized.”

Photo by Cory Coulter.

Bonnie Coulter of Robinson, Illinois has loved the classic format since she learned what the A, B, C, and D phases were. Bonnie, who is 43, once hauled her retired Western Pleasure horse 13 hours to Southern Eights to compete in her first long format three-day at Beginner Novice. “I love making a conditioning plan, I love getting to know my horse better, I love gallop days and the aftercare, and I love planning jog outfits!” she said, adding, “It’s my Badminton, Olympics, and New York Fashion Week all rolled into one.”

Bonnie broke her back in 2017 after a bad fall and wasn’t sure she would ever be brave enough to jump again, and in 2020 she was diagnosed with cancer. “Three years ago, I completed the N3D at IEA about 45 days after completing active cancer treatment (16 rounds of chemo, surgery, and 25 rounds of radiation) and 4 years after breaking my back,” she explained. “I completed the Hagyard Training 3Day last fall, and to compete in the Training 3 Day at my “home” event of IEA would be a beyond a dream come true.”

Bonnie has been giving back to her home event for the past five years as IEA’s Leg Up schooling horse trials secretary. “I know how important those types of events are for our sport,” she said. She is retiring from this role this year but plans to continue as a volunteer.

Bonnie’s plan this year is to compete at Indiana Eventing Association’s Classic Three-Day, to which she receives a free entry as well as a $1000 education stipend, with her 2009 Thoroughbred gelding Network News. “Any proper schooling, instruction, or shows require hauling several hours and generally an overnight stay and time away from work. No close eventing activities also mean that medical care and oncologist appointments (I have 3 oncologists!) require time, travel, and funding (must meet that deductible!),” she said. “Juggling routine life, riding, and post-cancer care can be quite the challenge at times!” This is why Bonnie is “so excited and so very grateful” to be one of this year’s Wofford Scholarship winners. “It truly is an honor to be selected to carry on a very small part of the Wofford legacy,” she added.