The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event entry list has only been out for a week, but we can already see that the OTTB will once again be well-represented amongst contenders. Last year, the Thoroughbred was the second most represented breed and over half of them were former racehorses.
What do you think — will we see even more OTTBs strut their stuff down the centerline and gallop across the bluegrass this year? We’ll find out soon! In the meantime, check out these available OTTBs. Could we see one of them at Kentucky one day?
It’s difficult to argue with the good looks of this shiny bay gelding, but despite the success of his sire, who earned over 6-million dollars, Charismic isn’t making the cut as a racehorse. After 15 starts, his connections are retiring sound with the hopes he’ll find his calling elsewhere. Charismic is described as a gentile giant with lots of potential — he’s clearly well-bred for sport and has a very athletic look.
If you’re looking for a horse on the smaller side, but still with presence, then this regal-looking mare could be for you! Goldie is a very dark, nearly black bay who’s described as having a gentle way about her. After 25 starts, she’s retiring sound and with clean legs and no stall vices.
There’s no two ways about it — Candy is a diva. She’s gorgeous and she knows it and expects her adoring fans to appreciate her good looks as well. But there’s more to her than what meets the eye — she’s also a smart mare who enjoys work. She’s already been restarted under saddle and is proving to be a quick learner. Plus, in free-jumping she’s already very bold to the fences!
Maya Black and FE Black Ice at Red Hills. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Since returning to the East Coast over the winter season and starting a new business venture with Brian and Sara Kozumplik Murphy, Maya Black has also begun the daunting task of building her own string of horses with a goal to represent the U.S. on the world stage.
It is no secret that aspiring team riders need multiple horses to compete. For a young professional like Maya, the question of how to acquire and ultimately fund such a string is one without an easy answer.
Maya produced Doesn’t Play Fair from Novice to CCI4* level, which culminated in finishing third at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2016 and being named the alternate for the U.S. Olympic team in Rio de Janeiro. An injury ultimately forced his withdrawal from Rio, and Doesn’t Play Fair returned to Washington state with his owners at the end of 2016.
Since then, Maya has worked diligently to produce another horse to the highest level of the sport. She has successfully brought her off-track Thoroughbred Mowgli from Novice to CCI2* level over the past three years, and he is stepping up to compete in his first Advanced at The Fork at Tryon this coming weekend in Mill Spring, North Carolina.
Maya Black and FE Black Ice at Red Hills. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
In looking for another horse to add to her program, Maya has found a perfect match in FE Black Ice. Now thanks to a creative fundraising strategy, Maya has the opportunity to call FE Black Ice her own and have two upper-level horses for the first time in her career.
Maya first met “Nigel,” an 8-year-old German Sporthorse (Stakkato’s Highlight X Co-Co, by Compliment), at the Murphys’ winter base, Mardanza Farms in Micanopy, Florida, where Caroline Merison had sent the horse to be sold.
“Part of my deal with Sara and Brian was to ride the sales horses, so I started riding Nigel in November,” Maya said. “I was riding him with the intention that he was for sale. I know not to let myself get very attached to the sales horses. I enjoyed riding him, but I never really thought he would be a horse for myself.”
Maya and Nigel’s partnership quickly blossomed. She took him to his first Intermediate at Rocking Horse Winter I Horse Trials in January, where he added one rail to his dressage score to finish second. At Ocala Winter I Horse Trials in February, Maya and Nigel added only cross country time penalties to finish sixth in his second Intermediate.
After she then took him to his first CIC2* at Red Hills International Horse Trials, where Nigel again added only time penalties on cross country to finish 10th in a competitive field, Maya started to wonder if it might be possible to keep him for herself.
Caroline Merison has kindly agreed to give Maya the time to raise the funds required to purchase Nigel, who will officially stay in her program.
“Over the last month we’ve been thinking maybe we could make it work out. I’ve been getting more and more excited about it and the possibility of having another horse. Nigel is the same age as Mowgli and technically more green, but they could not be more different horses,” Maya said.
“Nigel is extremely laidback and very workmanlike over the fences. He’s probably the easiest horse I’ve ever jumped because he has a longer neck and I’m tall. It’s amazing how much easier I find him to jump than Mowgli, who is a bit more short-coupled and a spitfire. It’s exciting to think about having two horses to jump around top tracks.”
In addition to offering ownership shares through the Black Ice Group, Maya has also set up a PayPal link to allow anyone interested in helping her to make a donation directly towards the purchase of the horse.
“Trying to raise the money to buy this horse is really out of my comfort zone,” Maya said, “but Sara encouraged me that I just need to do it because I need another horse.”
“Maya has built a well deserved reputation for herself. We’ve got to put a priority on having riders like her well mounted,” Sara said. “We don’t have to be millionaires to be owners of event horses. We can all come together and give to help each other out. All of us can give a little bit.”
While there are many characteristics that define the eventing family, our ability to band together in support of fellow riders is surely one of our strongest. Please consider donating through PayPal to help Maya raise the money she needs to purchase Nigel.
If you are interested in purchasing a larger ownership share in the Black Ice Group, please contact Maya at 360-320-9540 or [email protected] for more information.
There is an exciting summer on offer to anyone who joins in the journey to help Maya raise the funds to purchase Nigel. She is aiming him for the CCI2* at the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event in May, with an aim to move up to Advanced in the autumn.
Colleen Rutledge and 20-year-old Shiraz jumping at Tryon last week. Photo by Brian Rutledge.
It has been nearly three years since Colleen Rutledge’s legendary four-star partner Shiraz completed the final horse trials of his storied career, finishing 14th at the 2015 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.
A horse who thoroughly loves having a job, Shiraz retired sound and has remained in work ever since to keep him happy. Now 20-years-old, Shiraz recently returned to the show ring to jump the colored poles and prove that age is just a number.
John Michael “JM” Durr, whom Colleen recently started training with in show jumping, had the idea for Shiraz, better known as “Luke,” to return to jumping in a competitive atmosphere.
“JM has been helping me with Covert Rights, and he wants me show jumping at 1.30m height as much as possible,” Colleen said. “When he saw a video of Luke jumping at home, he suggested we start jumping him at shows.”
Luke officially returned to the show ring last month at the $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational at Southern Cross Equestrian in Ocala, Florida, where he jumped in the $1,000 1.15m speed class.
“Luke thought it was the best day ever, so this is his retirement,” Colleen said. “He hates not having a job. He just switched from ‘we get to jump the big solid things’ to ‘now we get to jump the big colored things.’ He is loving it.”
Colleen took three horses to the Welcome Series at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina last week, including Luke. He jumped in two 1.20m Open Jumper classes, as well as the 1.30m Open Jumper Stake.
Watch below for a video of Luke in the 1.30m Open Jumper Stake courtesy of Brian Rutledge. Luke had one rail down in a time of 67.007 seconds to finish fifth. (Shout out to fellow eventer Doug Payne and Vandiver, who won the class.)
“He thinks that this is the time of his life, and the best part is he doesn’t have to do dressage anymore,” Colleen laughed. “You gotta love a horse that wants to do a job 110 percent.”
Luke’s stint in the jumper ring is now his third successful career. He completed six CCI4* competitions during his eventing career, and became the first horse in history to complete every CCI4* in the Northern Hemisphere, which he did without any cross country jumping penalties.
I’d like to start by apologizing to my friends in the north. I see the photos with the snow, and I really feel for you, but I rode in a t-shirt today and it was pretty darn fantastic! Really enjoying these two weeks of spring before the weather goes straight to unbearable summer heat.
Tina Cook is racing the clock to fully recover after a fall at Burnham Market last weekend. She and Billy The Red took a tumble at fence five which dislocated her shoulder. She’s looking forward to 10 days of immobility in her arm before the training continues. We wish her luck as Badminton looms closer. [Top British rider in ‘race against time’ to be fit for Badminton after suffering injury in fall]
Tryon International Equestrian Center needs volunteers! There are many positions available for The Fork Horse Trials this week. Whether you want to serve as a jump judge with a front-row seat for cross-country competition or work behind the scenes, there’s a spot on the team for you! [Volunteer at The Fork at TIEC & WEG Eventing Test Event]
Tuesday Video: Shedding hack for all you budget friendly folks like me!
Which product does Olympic medalist Phillip Dutton trust to keep his horses calm and focused at the biggest events in the world? Chillax. Learn more.
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Did you know that European and European-based eventers head south to get in early-season competitions too? C.H. Barroca d’Alva in Portugal is a favorite early FEI event that riders from many different nations use to get their feet wet for the season. One only needs to take a peek at the 2018 results to get a feel for the diversity of competitors.
The riders and their horses may have gotten their feet a little too wet this year, however, as several of the competition days saw particularly windy and rainy weather.
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But the show went on! Take a look at the video below courtesy of EquusPix Photography for a look around the C.H. Barrocca grounds and scenes from the competition:
Sarah Goodyear and Flagmount’s Harmony on course in Senior Training Rider. Photo by Kate Boggan.
When people say everything is bigger in Texas, they aren’t kidding. The Texas Rose Horse Park held its March horse trial this past weekend, March 29-31, in Tyler, Texas. Riders from the Starter level all the way through Intermediate were welcomed by newly redesigned courses and a plethora of additional events and activities to enjoy.
A Big Weekend for Ponies, Pups …
Thursday featured USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) and Future Event Horse (FEH) competition while the horse trial ran Friday and Saturday. Texas Rose also hosted its first Intercollegiate Challenge with the TCU Horned Frogs and the Texas A&M Aggies facing off. Friday evening’s headline event was the Pony Challenge, wherein teams of one pro, one adult rider and one young rider donned crazy costumes and competed for crowd approval to benefit Area V rider programs.
If all of that wasn’t enough to keep you entertained over the weekend, the United States Dog Agility Association hosted an agility trial in the Horse Park’s indoor arena Friday and Saturday. Check out the local paper’s report on that here.
Congrats to the following horse trial division winners! See complete results here:
Open Intermediate: Ryleigh Leavitt & MoonLight Crush (35.0) Open Preliminary: Kadi Eykamp & Ole Boy (31.7) Preliminary Rider: Georgia Dillard & Galileo WP (25.9) Junior Training Rider: Harper Petty & Obi-Wan Kenobi (29.1) Open Training: LeeAnn McQuade & Corp Trip (35.5) Senior Training Rider: Rebecca Hunt & Snowflake Lane (26.7) Training Horse: Angela Bowles & Rocktop Dreamer (29.1) Junior Novice Rider: Vienna Allport & Caramel Macchiato (31.0) Novice Horse: Tayler Owen & Joint Ventures Remy Martin (27.6) Open Novice: Nicole Hatley & Fernhill Fearless des Terdrix (27.6) Senior Novice Rider-A: Angie Mitchell & Smiling’s My Favorite (34.0) Senior Novice Rider-B: Katie Grace Bond & High Class (32.9) Junior Beginner Novice Rider-A: Makenzie Lowe & Addie Okie (36.4) Junior Beginner Novice Rider-B: Miriam Copeland & D’Stinctive (22.8) Open Beginner Novice: Angela Bowles & Woodstock Classic Rock (28.6) Senior Beginner Novice Rider: Janet Taylor & Zarpazo (26.4) Starter: Elle Snyder & You Have A Friend In Me (26.1)
The lowest finishing score in the country of the weekend belonged to Miriam Copeland and D’Stinctive, who scored a 22.8 in the Junior Beginner Novice Rider B division. Well-done, Miriam!
… and Frogs!
TCU White Team rider Hannah McKee and Ultimate Element. Photo by Kate Boggan.
The Texas Rose Horse Park’s first Intercollegiate Challenge brought in three teams of collegiate riders, two from TCU and one from Texas A&M. The TCU White Team — Clara Cargile (I), Caroline Madden (P) and Hannah McKee (T) — led the competition from start to finish ending on a combined score of 101.3. #GoFrogs! The TCU Purple Team took second and the Texas A&M Team took third.
Flagmount Babies Abound
Janet Marden and Flagmount’s Top Cat. Photo by Kate Boggan.
Many of us saw Doug Payne’s helmet cam video of the lovely mare Flagmount’s Mischief at the Carolina International. While “Missy” enjoyed her CIC3* debut last weekend, several of her siblings were competing at Texas Rose over Easter weekend.
Natalie Lester and Flagmount’s Patronus Charm. Photo by Kate Boggan.
The Flagmount babies come from Dr. Janet Marden’s ISH stallion Flagmount’s Freedom. Janet had always wanted to breed an Irish horse, as she admired them for their big bones and soundness. After vet school she shipped frozen semen from Ireland and bred one of her own Thoroughbred mares. Flagmount’s Freedom was the result.
“Flag” and Janet competed through the two-star level and the grey stallion then went on to take Janet’s daughter, Natalie Lester, through her first Intermediate as a barefoot 17-year-old. Flag has been a breeding stallion since he was four and has produced upper level professional mounts as well as horses suitable for amateurs to move up the levels on. At any given show in Area V you’re sure to see at least one Flagmount horse entered and more often, like at Texas Rose, there will be a whole list of Flag babies in the field.
Flagmount’s Allstar has got some hops! Photo by Kate Boggan.
Janet and Natalie were both aboard Flag babies this weekend. Janet competed Flagmount’s Allstar in the Open Intermediate and Flagmount’s Top Cat in the Training Horse Division. Natalie, who has started her own training and coaching business named after their wonder stallion – Flags A’Flying Equestrian – competed Flagmount’s Patronus Charm in the Open Intermediate. Flagmount’s Harmony and Flagmount’s Rebel both competed in the Senior Training Rider division with their respective riders, Sarah Goodyear and Clarissa Bliss. Even the FEH competition had a Flagmount horse.
Flagmount’s Rebel and Clarissa Bliss. Photo by Kate Boggan.
Flagmount’s Worth the Wait is appropriately named, says owner Alexandria Larue. Alex purchased the breeding five years before they were able to get a live foal. The black yearling filly is everything she could have dreamed of and Alex plans for “Saoirse” to be her next upper level mount. She competed against Flag when he was going Intermediate and fell in love with him: “He was always easygoing, always easy to handle at shows, he was always competitive and from there we knew we wanted a Flag baby.” Saoirse’s dam is a spicy Irish Thoroughbred who has a tendency to be a little hot, so Flag’s easygoing attitude was the perfect complement to produce an upper level event prospect with a lot of blood and a great brain.
Flagmount’s Worth the Wait competing in the FEH division. Photo by Kate Boggan.
Texas Rose Horse Park hosts two more USEA events this year: its Summer H.T. May 11-18, featuring Starter through Advanced-Intermediate horse trials as well as a CCI1* and CIC2*, and its Fall H.T., featuring Starter through Intermediate horse trials.
This week’s edition of #EventerProblems comes courtesy of Area II eventer Abby Foltz, who explains: “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my Prelim event horse, who upon finding out that his paddock entrance was re-done with gravel while he was in Florida, cannot figure out how to get onto the grass. His paddock mate is over to the left eating and he doesn’t know how she got over there.”
When not stranded and left for dead on a few square feet of gravel, Everett (competition name: What Everett Takes) is a super brave cross country machine. Abby has owned almost 15-year-old OTTB for five years and she reports that while he will jump anything in front of him on the cross country course, “he really, really hates when the ground changes color or texture. Like, a lot.”
Leaping over brush into water … no problem! Stepping from gravel patch onto grass … impossible. Photo by Brant Gamma.
It took poor Everett a full hour to escape his gravel prison, eliciting the hashtag-able comment “Everette to Harvard” from friend Jaclyn Burke when Abby posted the video to Facebook.
Abby says that while her horse is quirky and has a LOT of opinions, she loves him dearly. Although, she notes, “Apparently we could have saved lots of money on fencing.”
There is a bit of magic in selecting a new halter for your horse. From the glint of the shiny nameplate to the smell of new leather, choosing the perfect halter is a time-honored tradition that has been passed down through generations of horse owners.
SmartPak proudly produces their own line of tack and adds new pieces each year. This season they have added a navy leather option to the line of Harwich halters and bridles. Harwich halters are crafted from vegetable-tanned leather and feature a padded noseband and crown, rolled throat latch and raised design. The superb craftsmanship is reflected in the fine details and stainless steel hardware.
Details on the Harwich Navy Halter By SmartPak.
The Harwich Navy Halter retails for $99.95 and is available exclusively at SmartPak. We are excited to partner with SmartPak so one lucky EN reader can win a Harwich Navy Halter this week! Enter to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Entries close at midnight EST Friday. Good luck! Go Eventing.
Not unlike the Easter bunny, there was much hopping to be done in the event world this weekend! Easter weekend saw five USEA-sanctioned events around the U.S.: Galway Downs CIC & H.T. in Temecula, CA; Morven Park H.T. in Leesburg, VA; Rocking Horse Spring H.T. in Altoona, FL; Full Gallop H.T. in Aiken SC; and Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. in Tyler, TX.
The lowest finishing score in the country of the weekend belonged to Miriam Copeland and D’Stinctive, who scored a 22.8 in the Junior Beginner Novice Rider B division at Texas Rose Horse Park H.T. Well-done, Miriam!
Without further ado, let’s issue a shout-out to this weekend’s winners!
Open Intermediate: Allison Springer & Lord Willing (34.4)
Junior Young Riders Open Preliminary: Nicholas Beshear & It’sakatthing (44.2)
Open Preliminary: William Coleman III & Cooley Mahgeeta (27.4)
Preliminary Rider: Cali Johnson & Black Label (38.1)
Training Rider: Austin Skeens & Rocmaster (25.0)
Open Training: Alyssa Peterson & R-Perfect Storm (32.3)
Training Horse: Paul Ebersole & Waterline (29.3)
Training Rider-A: Samantha Erwin & Conquistadora (38.0)
Training Rider-B: Sara Schulman & Not for Nothing (40.7)
Training Horse: Paul Ebersole & Waterline (29.3)
Training Rider-A: Samantha Erwin & Conquistadora (38.0)
Training Rider-B: Sara Schulman & Not for Nothing (40.7)
Junior Novice Rider: Cadence Clucas & Lookover Erin (30.2)
Novice Amateur Rider: Kristin Linder Carpenter & Stiletto (23.6)
Novice Horse: Leslie Lamb & Banjo (27.1)
Novice Rider: Susan Gallagher & Chacco Chip (30.0)
Open Novice: Lindsay Kelley & Ricochete (27.1)
Beginner Novice Rider: Penny Neault & Cooley Grand Finale (27.8)
Junior Beginner Novice Rider: Madison Davis & King Congo (28.3)
Open Beginner Novice: James Moore & Marnie (27.5)
Intermediate Rider: Heather Jane Morris & Jos UFO De Quidam (45.0)
Open Intermediate-A: Brandon McMechan & Oscar ‘s Wild (26.4)
Open Intermediate-B: Clark Montgomery & Takine de la Barbais (35.6)
Open Preliminary-A: Natalia Neneman & Electric Lux (27.4)
Open Preliminary-B: Jonathan Holling & Dalanteretto (25.1)
Preliminary Horse-A: Robin Walker & SBT Clover Road (30.8)
Preliminary Horse-B: Holly Jacks Smither & Signature Moves (38.2)
Preliminary Rider-A: Rylee Gailey & Dukes Up (28.0)
Preliminary Rider-B: Sami Crandell & Fernhill Chaos (36.1)
Jr. Training Rider: Zoe Archer & Millridge Z Two (35.0)
Open Training-A: Victoria Garland & FE Hard Day’s Night (29.4)
Open Training-B: Madigan Murphy & Willdebrandt (23.0)
Sr. Training Rider-A: Ellen Super & Seattle’s Finest (40.0)
Sr. Training Rider-B: Maria Brazil & Pas de Panique (28.9)
Training Horse-A: Maria Brazil & Pas de Panique (28.9)
Training Horse-A: Jonathan Holling & Toxicodendron (28.3)
Training Horse-B: Holly Jacks Smither & Big Pretty (30.0)
Jr. Novice Rider: Diana Craven & Mr. Fernhill (29.8)
Novice Horse-A: Beth Murphy & It’s Me (29.3)
Novice Horse-B: Leslie Law & Bandit Boy (27.6)
Open Novice: Anna Loschiavo & Aberdeen Dream (25.5)
Sr. Novice Rider-A: Robin Barr & Tout Fini (28.6)
Novice Horse-A: Beth Murphy & It’s Me (29.3)
Novice Horse-B: Leslie Law & Bandit Boy (27.6)
Open Novice: Anna Loschiavo & Aberdeen Dream (25.5)
Sr. Novice Rider-A: Robin Barr & Tout Fini (28.6)
Sr. Novice Rider-B: Rosemarie Albrizio & Tequesteris (35.0)
Beginner Novice Rider: Rachael Whiteley & Avogadro (26.3)
Open Beginner Novice: Elizabeth Stewart & Innsbruck VDO (25.3)
It’s foal season! Beau says he’d like a foal friend, please.
April Fool’s Day is EN’s favorite holiday of the year. We always have fun drumming up fake news to post and yesterday we went all out with several silly stories. How many times were you fooled?
Tryon International Equestrian Center needs volunteers! There are many positions available for The Fork Horse Trials this week. Whether you want to serve as a jump judge with a front-row seat for cross-country competition or work behind the scenes, there’s a spot on the team for you! [Volunteer at The Fork at TIEC & WEG Eventing Test Event]
Matt Brown is the incoming Chair of the Professional Horseman’s Council. In a recent letter to the USEA membership, he says a “passion for our sport and a belief that we can evolve into a safer modern sport, while still maintaining our foundational principles” will drive the council to achieve its goals and ensure the future of the sport. Read more about the PHC’s mission. [A Letter from PHC Chair Matt Brown]
We’re loving getting to know college and university eventing teams around the country that bolster the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program. Meet the University of Louisville Eventing Team which competed in its first team challenge last fall. They are hoping to compete for the first time at the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships at Virginia Horse Trials in May! [Cardinals Introduce Eventing to the University of Louisville]
EN is updating our working student listings! If you are looking for a working student, please email the details to [email protected]. Here are two opportunities in Ontario to get us started:
Dasha Ivandaeva (Ontario): Looking for a part-time competition groom with a possibility to become full-time and travel to all the best events on the east coast and winter in Ocala! Young professional three-day event rider with a great string of horses. Looking for someone reliable, happy, self-motivated and knowledgeable. Riding opportunity available for the right person. Located in Palgrave, Ontario. Looking to start in April/May. Contact Dasha at [email protected].
Penny Rowland (Ontario): Full live-in for student and one horse. Horses available to ride and show if no horse. Daily lessons, shipping to shows and coaching there. Contact Penny at [email protected].
Monday Video: The most positive Beginner Novice round ever.
We can’t forget a G-stringaling’s GoPro of his very first show bringing home third place AND peeing in his BN dressage test! ♀️
