Classic Eventing Nation

Classic EN #TBT: Boyd Martin Live Blog (2009)

By on Mar 15, 2018 2:00 pm -

Overgrown Pony Clubber: Boyd in 2013. Photo by Jeff Beshear.

During last week’s soak in the Eventing Nation Hot Tub Time Machine, we revisited EN’s very first live bog, er, blog, a hit-or-miss feat of experimental sports journalism broadcast from cross country day at Fair Hill 2009 during EN’s first week of existence. A few days later, John took another stab at live blog technology to host an interactive Q&A session with Fair Hill CCI3* winner Boyd Martin.

The near decade since this interview has been a wild ride for Boyd, who has since represented the U.S. at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and was the top-placed rider at both the 2010 and 2014 WEG.  The wisdom he dispenses in this 2009 interview, however, is timeless, as is his sense of humor.

After a brief technical glitch, wherein John’s name was showing up as “Boyd” …

… it was full speed ahead. You can check out the original blog here, or enjoy the edited-for-length highlight reel below!

John: Alright, sorry about that, lets jump right in and talk about your big win at Fair Hill. You finished dressage on Neville Bardos in 16th, with a lot of big names in front of you. Did you think you could win Friday night, or when did you think you had a great shot at winning?

Boyd: When the heavens opened and it started pouring with rain and all of the overweight, shiny showponies started withdrawing before cross country.

John: Sweet, let me ask this, how did Neville feel in all that mud?

Boyd: He traveled across the mud on Saturday as softly and smoothly as Michael Jackson moonwalking.

John: Pretty damn smooth then. Alright, let’s try a few questions from our viewers.

Comment From Guest: How did you first meet Silva? (For you John, you owe me.)

John: Yeah, I need all the advice I can get in that department. So how did you land such a great catch?

Boyd: I had a broken leg at the time, long hair and no real direction in my life. Then I saw the light in the dark when this long legged, German supermodel-dressage rider landed in my backyard in Australia. John, you just have to treat ’em like a lady.

John: It’s amazing how you produce so many great horses. I remember you telling me about you really believe in taking the time to develop horses. You said you took about a year at each level with Neville and Thomas (Ying Yang Yo), could you talk the development process for a few moments?

Boyd: Johnny, the fastest way to produce a horse is to go slow.

John: Karen told me once that Phillip’s secret to making the time is that he can collect without slowing down. I can see that in your riding as well, so let me ask you, what is a pointer that can help riders at the lower levels make the time safely?

Boyd: Get rid of any bit that you’ve got that isn’t a snaffle and work on slowing the horse in front of the jump with everything but your hand.

Comment From lsa: We saw you do it at FHI, we see you do it so often, what is the key to safely making the time around really tough cross country courses?

Boyd: Well Isa, feel what’s happening underneath you, roll with it … if he wants to run, let him run, if he wants to slow down, let him slow down.

Comment From yound and dumb: What advice does Boyd have for a young trainer trying to make it? How does he find owners and supporters?

Boyd: I’m still trying to work this out. This is a long, hard goal that everyone has but one thing is for sure, you have to work hard and be honest.

Comment From pizz: Was it cool to ride for the U.S. for the first time officially?

Boyd: It was wonderful knowing that I had the Stars and Stripes behind me.

Comment From Guest: Why did you come to the U.S. instead of England like most NZ’ers and Aussies?

Boyd: I think America in the sport of eventing is getting bigger and better every year and I felt that England is over-populated with too many riders … and all English people are a bunch of whingers.

Comment From No Fear: What’s your favorite beer?

Boyd: Non-alcoholic beer only, I can’t be trusted on the hard stuff.

Comment From LisaB: One Aussie in the entire universe that doesn’t drink, John?

John: For all you Pony Clubbers out there. Boyd’s secret to riding success is temperance and a great work ethic.

Comment From Rugby Grey Horse: I believe the work ethic part.

Comment From Terrey Hills Pub: Just a reminder, Boyd, you and your mates are still banned.

Comment From Lochinvar Pub: Here too, Boyd.

Boyd: Sounds like we’ve got a few Australian viewers online who know me from my old life.

John: Folks, theres noooooo way I can publish some of these comments, but for the record, they are hilarious

Comment From NZTB: Could you ride a NZ TB or would that be blasphemy?

Boyd: I’ve ridden plenty of NZ TBs. I especially like the Sir Tristam bloodline in NZ. Tough horses that are good jumpers (Ying Yang Yo).

Comment From LisaB: You seem to have quite a few young horses, how do you know they will be good eventers? What do you think is the key to a successful horse?

Boyd: I try and pick out good moving, rangy horses that have a good attitude and a good jump — it takes some time to work out if they’re the real thing.

Comment From Terrey Hills Pub: Hey Boyd — a mate of your called Craigie just rode a horse into the bar here. Says you lent him the frogman’s gear. Should we serve him? It’s only 10:17 am.

Boyd: Let Craigie have one beer, as it’s late in the day for him. Mongrel.

Comment From bucked naked: I’m curious what Boyd thinks of the short format CCI versus long format. It seems Neville would have been a great long format horse.

Boyd: Well it is what it is … there’s no use wondering about CCIs long or short. Nev’s won a long format two-star and now a short format three-star, a good horse is a good horse, good riding is good riding, the winner should still be the winner.

John: Your parents were both Olympians (Dad cross country skiing, and Mom speed skating I think), what would it mean to follow in their footsteps?

Boyd: I’m my own man, Johnny. I don’t think my Mom and Dad would mind if I was a busker down at the Circular Quay playing a guitar for spare change. I love what I do and I chose this path because it’s what I’m into (and not busking).

Comment From Circular Quay Buskers A$$: Stick to the ponies son. Your singing voice is dreadful.

Comment From Ginna: Boyd, you are a gentleman and a scholar.

Comment From Jen: For a young rider how would you recommend getting started in the horse industry?

Boyd: Honesty, integrity and the urge to ride any horse that comes your way despite its height, color and attitude.

John: You and Phillip both have scary good eyes. I have watched you jump thousands of jumps and you almost never miss. In a few sentences, what is the key to having a great eye.

Boyd: Well Johnny, I think that I probably jump 50,000 fences per year. Slowly but surely, it becomes subconscious, I suppose.

Comment From Auntie Jan: Oh Boyd I just want to say you are wonderful.

Boyd: Ohhh, Auntie Jan, what time is it there? Please don’t mention any of my childhood stories.

John: The power of the internet, bringing people together, incredible.

Comment From Kentucky Blue: Is it true you escaped from the ambulance after your fall at Rolex in 2008 and got back on Ying Yang Yao before the EMTs got to you?

John: I’ve heard this story a couple of times, you took a hard fall and it would be like you to try to hop right back on.

Boyd: To be perfectly honest, I don’t remember much from that day as I had a few head injuries but some call me a human pigeon … always looking to return back to my nest.

Comment From TG: Boyd, for daily riding, do you have a preferred bridle set up, and do you have anything unique for your own set up for working horses?

Boyd: Snaffle — keep it simple. The softest bit that the horse you’re riding will allow, no tricks, no gadgets. Just classical training.

Comment From Rugby Grey Horse: Can you tell us the backstory about Nev — what was he like as a young horse, how old was he when you got him, did he race and was he any good as a racehorse? When did you know he was a good jumper?

Boyd: I had a broken leg in nine places at the time and my good mate Gordan Bishop was trying a horse that a racehorse trainer was trying to ditch. Gordo didn’t think the horse had the ability but I liked the look in Nev’s eye. He was $500 and he came with his own headstall so I thought bugger it. I’ll take a chance, no vet check, no ride — I just took him. The first time that I took him out was a jumping day and I unloaded him off of the trailer and he took off for the hills. It took me two days to catch him and he still had his shipping boots on. I knew that he was a good jumper when he jumped the six foot wall in the round yard when I was trying to start him up.

Comment From Becca: Do you offer working student positions at your stable?

Boyd: The working students that go through the barn come out with hair on their chests … they’re ready for Afghanistan when I’m done with them.

Comment From TG: Have you ever worked with a horse that is ADD in cross country, but lovely in dressage and show jumping? If so, other than time what helped most?

Boyd: Well TG, you’ve got to get inside your horses head, get a feeling for what makes him tick. I recommend sleeping in his stall for a night or two. You’ve got to bond with him.

Comment From Becca: Do you think that listening to music while you ride is beneficial?

Boyd: The music I recommend is music like AC/DC, Nine Inch Nails and Nirvana to get yourself into a nice settled mood.

Comment From WI Girl: I know that in the months of November/December, a lot of event riders do gymnastics and dressage training to prepare for the winter show season. Is there anything as riders that we should work on especially?

Boyd: WI girl, keeping yourself mean … I like to keep myself mean in Nov/Dec. — running barefoot in the snow, riding dressage outside with no shirt on. It’s easy to fall into taking the easy road and sitting in front of the fire and not being out there training your horses.

John: Alright Boyd, I promised to only take an hour of your time and we are well past that now, its been a blast, is there anything you would like to say before we wrap up?

Boyd: I’d like to thank all of the people that have taken the time to join us on eventingnation.com. I’d also like to thank Jeff Beshear for being a sponsor of this new website. I’d also like to say Good Morning to all of the Australian viewers back home. Thanks for having me on here, Johnny. I’d love to do it again sometime.

John: We would love to have you back Boyd, thanks for joining us and don’t be a stranger. Goodnight everyone, thanks for coming.

Go Eventing.

Valentine, My Friesian Event Horse

By on Mar 15, 2018 11:00 am -

Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Valentine, a Friesian mare with more personality than she knows what to do with, was my first horse. She gave me confidence as a rider that I didn’t know I could have, and made me love her more than I knew I could. She​ ​kept me safe over countless jumps, challenged me when I needed it, won ribbons that made me so proud, and is the reason that I was capable enough to buy a second horse. ​

As a Friesian, she’s not really built to jump and she would point out that she’s certainly not built to do dressage. Why put your head down when you can tiptoe around the arena with it straight in the air? But we worked hard and pulled off a PR of 32.8, jumped clean rounds and ribboned in all except one of ​our competitions together. Val took me from Intro to Beginner Novice and would have happily taken me Novice if her ​ankles had allowed it. I know Intro to Novice doesn’t sound big, but for a nervous rider who missed the first year of college because of a bad fall, it’s huge. Before Val, I was a “rider”; after Val I can confidently say that I am an eventer.

Photo by Sherry Stewart.

After college, I spent a couple of years looking for a new barn while saying with conviction that I would only ever flat and only ever ride geldings. Famous last words. That lasted maybe three months after finding myself at an eventing barn where not only do all the people love to jump, the horses do, too. When one of my trainers went to the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2015, I cautiously asked to go over a cross rail, caveating it with, “but I don’t want to really jump….”

Next thing I knew, I was in group lessons, going cross country schooling, and offered the chance by Val’s then-owner to take her Intro at Shepherd — my first show ever. When I came off the cross country course breathless, elated, hopeful that I hadn’t done anything to get myself accidentally eliminated, our trainer said, “Val’s perfect for you, you just bought a horse.” We came in 7th at that event and it was love at first ribbon!

Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Val and I spent the next year really learning how to ride together. She taught me how to jump again and I taught her that an unsolicited piaffe across the arena is not an alternative to bending around a circle. I finished more lessons huffing for breath and practically seeing stars than I care to admit. But I walked away from every day with her loving everything she’d given me and feeling just a little more confident in myself.​

Photo by Sherry Stewart.

A 15.3-hand Friesian mare made me find the ability to get the job done and offered me the opportunity to fall in love with a sport I wouldn’t have thought myself capable of. The hard work, the hours of lessons (“Get her head down.” “You’re running, why are you running?” “Is she coming through her back? That wasn’t a rhetorical question”), they all made our personal wins that much sweeter. Val gave me the experience, trust and belief in my own riding that enabled me to buy a 9-year-old mare to move me up when she needed to step down. When challenged to be the trainer, it was really exciting to realize that I could be.

Val is now happily giving other riders confidence over smaller fences by day and keeping the barn safe by eating down all the grass by night.​ If you had told me five years ago that I would be in love with eventing and two mares, a tack sale junkie, and writing in to get a sassy little Friesian recognized for making me a confident jumper, I would have said you’re crazy. But here we are, and all thanks to a very special Valentine.

Photo by Natalie Kavaler.

Is a Booth in the 2018 WEG Vendor Village Worth $9,000+?

By on Mar 15, 2018 9:30 am -

The Trade Village at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

One of the best parts of big events, IMO, is the vendor village. I love to wander around and buy/lust over/eat/drink all the things. For exhibitors, it’s a win-win. They have the opportunity to get their product in front of its target horse-loving audience, who may or may not have had one too many Bloody Marys and be susceptible to expensive lapses in judgement.

The golden ticket destination for equestrian vendors in 2018 is, of course, the World Equestrian Games at Tryon International Equestrian Center in September. With an estimated attendance of 500,000 over the course of two weeks, the vendor village will be prime shopping real estate.

It’s also rather expensive.

A Breakdown of Cost

Here’s what you’re looking at for a booth in the World Equine EXPO Vendor Village throughout the 13-day duration of the event:

9′x10′: $8,118.34
10′x10′: $9,020.38
18′x10′: $16,236.68
20′x10′: $18,040.75

Additional fees apply for prime location: $533.75 for a corner, $1,067.50 for an end, and $2,135 for an island. A 48’x10′ bulk trailer space will run you $26,644.80. RV parking spots are $1,868.13 for the duration.

Not included is pricing for power, which starts at $170.80 for 500watts / STD 110v svc through $2,401.88 for 24-hour heavy duty motor/machinery needs. Additional fees for lighting, wifi, flooring, walls, build outs etc. is not yet available.

Advertising is another add-on. If you want your business listed in the printed program, that will cost $213.50 extra, or $320.25 with your logo. Full-color ads in the program are $2,688.75 for a half-page or $4,803.75 for a full page.

Entrance tickets are also extra — a 13-day discounted employee pass costs $249.80 — although one parking pass is included.

Find more WEG vendor information and an application here.

Bottom line:

To get your foot in the door as a WEG vendor, with the smallest available spot ($8,118.34), minimal power ($170.80), a basic program listing ($213.50), and a couple employee tickets ($499.60), you’re looking at $9,002.24 … plus travel expenses and the cost of lodging for two weeks.

Is It Worth It? 

To recall, there was quite an uproar about trade fair pricing in advance of the 2010 WEG in Lexington. Despite fees ranging from $10,000 to $17,500, all 300 spaces sold out. Once WEG was underway, vendors complained that there was very little traffic into the trade fair due to inadequate signage, upon which games officials rerouted the main gate exit through the trade fair. 2018 WEG organizers have already clarified that the vendor village will be located between the two entry and exit points to the venue, through which all attendees must enter and exit.

2010 WEG vendors expressed a mixed bag of reviews. “Their success varies widely,” an article in the Lexington Herald-Reader, “Vendors Take a Big Risk at WEG,” reported. “Booths selling equestrian gear and souvenirs seemed to be doing well; high-end jewelry and other expensive items not directly related to riding or caring for horses — not so well.”

Bottom line:

With half a million spectators coming through, you’re going to get traffic, but will you do enough sales to balance out the hefty vendor village price tag? That’s the $9,000+ gamble.

Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event Trade Fair. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

In Comparison

Vendors have plenty of options when it comes to where and how they market their products to the equestrian world. Start-ups and vendors on a budget may find that setting up a tent at a local horse trial is a great way to get their feet wet, and many bigger events have been working hard to draw both horsey and non-horsey spectators.

Looking at spring events: Last week’s Red Hills International Horse Trials, which expected to draw about 20,000 spectators over the course of the event, made 10’x20′ spaces available for $400-$450 including power and a lighted tent. Jersey Fresh International (May 9-13), another community-minded event, offers options ranging from a $150 for a 10’x10′ bring-your-own-tent setup to $510 for a 20’x20′ four-sided tent, or vendor/sponsor packages for $1,250 . Electric is $55 extra. Carolina International (March 21-15) ranges from $350 for a 10’x10′ bring-your-own-tent space to $800 for a premium 20’x20′ space with four-sided tent. A bit further into the calendar year, Great Meadow International (July 6-8) has some affordable options, ranging from $500 for a 10’x10’ to $1,600 for a 20’x20′ space; tents are included, electric and program ads are extra. Many other opportunities abound — visit event websites for details.

The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event (April 26-29) is another price point up:

Indoor Booth Space Rental
10’x15′: $1,750
20’x20′: $3,875
20’x30′: $4,950
30’x30′: $6,450

Individual Tented Space Rental
10’x10′: $1,450
20’x20′: $4,400

Outdoor Exhibition Space
20’x20′: $2,200

The rentals include: space for four days, two parking passes, four worker passes, one 20-amp electrical circuit, link on event website, listing in program, discount on program advertising. Tables, chairs, pipe and drape, wifi and telephone lines are extra. Find more information and an application here.

Bottom line:

From start-ups on a shoestring budget to established retailers, there’s a perfect trade fair fit for everyone somewhere. Find your place in the world and go get ’em!

Thursday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Mar 15, 2018 12:03 am -

Leslie Law & Tre de Kernet. Photo by Christine Quinn.

It’s never too early to think about the fall season! Stable View’s Oktoberfest 2018 is forecast to be one of the East Coast’s major contributions to rider’s preparations for Fair Hill. The combination of over $75,000 in prize money including Land Rover/Jaguar leases for the winners of Stable View’s first CIC3*, 2* and 1*,  with world renowned course designers and elegant setting, will set the stage for Stable View’s first FEI level Horse Trials.

Positioned three weeks before the Fair Hill CCI3*, Stable View’s Oktoberfest is the ideal event for horse and rider combinations to test their preparedness for Fair Hill. Captain Mark Phillips cross country courses are always challenging, asking technical questions for the upper levels. International show jumping course designer Mark Donovan will be designing the show jumping courses for all levels.

Intended to be run over three days, and depending on entries, possibly four, Stable View will also run all of the national levels, BN through Advanced. All divisions will receive prize money to third place.

National Holiday: National Everything You Think Is Wrong Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Pine Top Spring H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

Ocala Winter II H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

MeadowCreek Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

Copper Meadows Winter H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

News From Around the Globe:

The YEH seminar is coming to the west coast! The USEA announced that Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California will be hosting a Young Event Horse seminar to instruct judges, competitors, owners, breeders, and anyone else involved or interested in the program in the new judging and scoring system that was introduced at the beginning of 2018. [YEH Meets West Coast]

For your weekly educational video, we bring you Buck Davidson coaching a group of riders in California over jumps. Buck coached the riders through a course containing a series of exercises designed to build confidence and sharpen fundamental skills prior to competing at an event. He emphasized the importance of riding forward, having a good canter, riding a proper line, and moving the horse’s shoulders to maintain straightness and a true connection through the outside rein. [Eventing Training Online]

A lot of times, when you’re buying an OTTB, a conformation photo is all you get before you make the decision. Therefore, the ability to have a little knowledge of what you’re looking for before you buy is a great skill for every horse man and woman. This OTTB Critique from the USEA features Another Gulch, and he is reviewed by John Michael and Kimmy Durr of Durr Eventing. [OTTB Critique: Another Gulch]

Jumper Nation Jamz: Greys For Days

TBT 2017 Oktoberfest with the OG Joanie Morris:

 

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Riot On Course at Red Hills

By on Mar 14, 2018 4:00 pm -

Of course we don’t mean an actual riot, but a riotous band of slightly insane, horse-obsessed, adrenaline junkies wouldn’t be an inaccurate description of eventers.

Take a guided tour of Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park with Elisa Wallace and Steve and Vicki Sukup’s 9-year-old Oldenburg, Riot Gear (affectionally known as Rye Bread), as they cruise between the tendrils of Spanish moss to finish eighth in the gelding’s first CIC2* at the Red Hills International Horse Trials.

Check out Elisa Wallace Eventing on YouTube for more helmet cam action!

Equi-Jewel®

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The fat found in rice bran is an extraordinary source of dietary energy. In fact, fat contains more than two times the energy that carbohydrates and proteins do, thereby fueling horses more efficiently. Fat is considered a “cool” feedstuff because it does not cause the hormone spikes that lead to excitability. Adding Equi-Jewel is rice bran to your horse’s diet allows you to decrease the amount of starchy concentrates (grains) you feed, reducing the risk of colic and laminitis resulting from grain overload. Equi-Jewel is an excellent source of calories for horses on low sugar and starch diets. The horse that matters to you matters to us®.

Not sure which horse supplement best meets your horse’s needs? Kentucky Performance Products, LLC is here to help. Call 859-873- 2974 or visit KPPusa.com.

#EventerProblems Vol. 134 from Ecovet: Adventures in Self-Medication

By on Mar 14, 2018 11:00 am -

Earlier this week I finally went to the doctor about an infection that wouldn’t clear up, despite putting myself on a course of expired SMZs my friend found in her tack truck and was about to throw away. “Hey, can I have the rest of those?” I asked just before they hit the trash can. Score!

When my doctor asked where I’d gotten antibiotics, I stuttered that I had a few left over from something else, and she raised an eyebrow but said nothing. But I know I’m not the first horse person who has self-medicated via some variation on this theme — I mean, we’re used to treating our horses for every ailment under the sun, and so it’s not a huge leap to doctor ourselves, right?

I don’t recommend borrowing your horse’s meds; I think those SMZs gave me a stomachache more than anything. But there are other ways to treat what ails us, both physically and emotionally. From caffeine, ice cream and wine to borrowed ice wraps and assorted therapeutic goops, we do what we must to make it through the day — ditto for our horses, except hopefully sans the booze bit. Exhibit A:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BduiZftHre4/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bdfvhn6FIsN/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgIHCBoFYcM/

When you find a beer hidden in your tall boot… #eventerproblems #ridersofinstagram

A post shared by allbetsareoff82 (@allbetsareoff82) on

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfrZSpCH4tn/

Go Eventing.

My Chilli Morning Stallion: A Breeding Dream Come True

By on Mar 14, 2018 8:58 am -

Andrea Baxter and Say Grace. Photo by Connie Baxter.

It all started when my mom, Connie, sent in a bid to a stallion service auction for the Olympic silver medalist Starman, by Calypso. We figured there was no way we’d win and had long since forgotten we even sent it in. Then we got a call saying, “Congratulations, you are the lucky winners of breeding a future star!”

Say Grace was a big, beautiful chestnut mare that my mom got at the Barretts Thoroughbred Sale for $750. She came pregnant, ready to foal any day, with a free breeding back to the stallion. She turned out to be a great horse but battled a few injuries, which slowed down her otherwise promising career. So when we won the auction, she was our broodmare candidate.

The resulting foal was Estrella, who I immediately claimed ownership of — not exactly what my mom had in mind. Estrella and I were like sisters. I did everything with her from the minute she was born — made her carrot pies for every holiday, slept in her stall, led her all over hill ‘n dale … you know … the usual horse crazy kid stuff. When it came time to break her, I was of course the first one on and quickly, the first one off … usually resulting in a few war wounds.

While Estrella was still growing up, I got twitchy and wanted to go to the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships. So I busted her mother Say Grace out of the field and at 19 years old I competed her in several one-stars, Intermediates and a successful trip at NAJYRC.

Andrea Baxter and Estrella at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2010. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Once Estrella finally decided to stop teaching me how to properly sit a huge buck, I found her to be growing up to be quite the superstar. She was blessed with her mom and dad’s fabulous jump and desire to attack the jumps. I was able to travel all over the U.S. with her, competing in all the big three-stars and jumper shows. She never had a rail, and we always won our money back in the jumper classics.

We went to our first Rolex together and dreamed of getting back there to finish unsettled business, but injuries kept us from giving it another try. Ultimately I decided that it was time to try to breed another eventing superstar. With Estrella’s bloodlines and competition record, I knew it was destined to be.

I joked the last time I entered Kentucky that we were going to “let her loose” with Chilli Morning while he was there, but as funny as I thought it was, apparently that’s not something you joke about at an international CCI4*.  I had to pick a different stallion while I figured out how to get the Chilli Morning semen into the USA the legal way.

Chilli Morning needs no introduction after his multiple major FEI wins, top placings and vital membership of the British team success. Not only that, but helped William Fox-Pitt step back into international competition after his major head injury by nearly winning the gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Carrera

Putting the Chilli Morning breeding on hold, Estrella’s first foal, Carrera (Romantic Star-Ramiro) was born, a spicy chestnut mare just like her but moves 100 times better and jumps like the same freak that she was. Carrera possessed similar qualities to Estrella but seemed even better. So when she was 3, I bred her to Jaguar Mail to produce Cayman, a fancy chestnut colt — see the chestnut theme here? Cayman marks the fourth generation in my amateur chestnut breeding program.

Cayman, the fourth generation! Photo by Andrea Baxter.

Finally the Chilli Morning project was coming to fruition. Some similar-minded crazy breeder friends and I all chipped in to privately purchase and ship the precious goods to the U.S. We got 30 doses and used almost all of it, but somehow only managed to get one foal to be born. Coronado was the result, and beautiful he was from day 1.

I cried my eyes out when he was born a “he.” What was I going to do with “a boy” in my breeding program!? Was that it, the end of the line? Geld him and all theceffort I put into producing him would just go away? It cost me a fortune to get Estrella pregnant to Chilli, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to gamble with that again.

Andrea Baxter and Coronado. Photo by Connie Baxter.

I took him to the Oldenburg inspection as a foal and he was marked with star status, and I was given hope that he could one day be a stallion. I never wanted a stallion, but I decided he could keep his package as long as it didn’t annoy me … so here we are.

Coronado is a coming 4-year-old and still hasn’t done anything to deserve the claimed “ball removal ceremony.” He’s been well socialized, lives with neighbors, trailers with friends, and has done lots of in-hand shows as a youngster. He’s broke to ride and has wonderful, big, floating gaits and a seriously impressive jump.

Coronado, Andrea Baxter’s stallion by Chilli Morning out of her Advanced mare Estrella. Photo by Callan Weiss.

He luckily hasn’t tested his buck out on me under saddle yet, but I’m fearful for the day he does, as it’s a million times more serious than his mother’s ever was! Hopefully she trained me well and I still have access to my sticky monkey legs!

Coronado has Olympic blood from both parents and has a great amount of Thoroughbred blood at 63.5% from both sides. On top of all that, he is beautifully balanced, correctly built, big-boned, and sound-minded. He will be standing for stud in the USA with fresh-cooled semen this season only.

I’m honored to already have a line up of quality mares waiting for “their shipment.” For questions, contact [email protected] or catch me on Facebook Messenger.

Wednesday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Mar 14, 2018 12:01 am -

Etsy is a great place for accessorizing your eventing gear. Photo by Maggie Deatrick.

There’s absolutely nothing more satisfying than cruising Etsy and finding the most amazing stock-tie pin to go with your squid of a horse. Forty dollars later and I’m now not only the proud owner of a steampunk stocktie pin but also some amazing Cthulhu patches for bonnets and saddle pads and a single pin for my collar. Because what else do I have to do while waiting for the southern crowd to migrate their way north again?

National Holiday: National Pi Day (3.14159….)

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Pine Top Spring H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

Ocala Winter II H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

MeadowCreek Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

Copper Meadows Winter H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Your Wednesday News & Notes:

Wilton Fair and Rebecca Broussard grant recipient Madeline Backus has wasted no time in utilizing the grants. Already she has made the hop over to England with her two horses and journeyed to base herself at Attington Stud with Irish team member Austin O’Connor. With two Advanced runs on the docket with P.S. Arianna to prep for Badminton, Madeline has plans to make the most of her time across the pond. [Madeline Backus Arrives in the UK]

Gemma Tattersall is playing it safe after a nasty fall in the warmup of a show jumping competition. Although she initially felt she was fine, and in fact rode a full schedule at home for two days after, Gemma soon felt something wasn’t right. Despite an MRI scan that seems to indicate all is well, she’s taken the advice of her doctors’ and pushed back her season opener by a week. [Gemma Tattersall Injury]

Frangible fixes were the name of the day at Red Hills. The Chronicle has clarified scoring for Erin Pullen in the CIC3* division after photographs emerged of Tag breaking the frangible fence at 10A. Despite the protest period being closed, the ground jury felt that due to an inaccuracy on the jump judge report, she should be awarded the 11 penalties for breaking a frangible and the scoring was revised. [Frangible Pins Cause a Fracas]

SmartPak Product of the Day: After being gifted with a horse whose stomach was made of iron, I’ve now been gifted with one who wants to live on UlcerGard. Thank goodness SmartPak carries it, which makes it easy to re-order on a regular basis. [SmartPak]

Tuesday Video from SpectraVet: A Look Back Before We Forge Ahead

By on Mar 13, 2018 5:00 pm -

The group from Julie Wolfert Eventing is gearing up for their first event of the 2018 season this weekend, but first they take a look back on the awesomeness that they accomplished in 2017! This group of Area IV girls are pretty darn good at riding horses and having fun.

From Mallory Stiver, who created the video: “With Julie’s guidance a lot of us have been able to chase our eventing dreams and find lots of success along the way. Our first event of the year kicks off this coming weekend and we’re hoping to have an even better year than last!”

Why SpectraVET?

Reliable. Effective. Affordable.

SpectraVET is committed to providing only the highest-quality products and services to our customers, and to educating the world in the science and art of laser therapy.

We design and manufacture the broadest range of clinically-proven veterinary therapeutic laser products, which are represented and supported worldwide by our network of specialist distributors and authorized service centers.

Weekly OTTB Wishlist from Cosequin: 2K10 Edition

By on Mar 13, 2018 3:00 pm -

2010 was a great year; I graduated from college, landed a job, and started leasing an OTTB of my own. It was just me living my best life, yo. In this week’s edition of our OTTB Wishlist we have three bay gelding prospects for you, all of whom started living their best lives in the great year twenty-ten. Check ’em out:

Photo via CANTER Maryland.

Sombrero De Copa (El Prado (IRE) – Moya, by Lear Fan): 2010 16.1-hand Kentucky-bred gelding

“Mr. Sombrero” as he is affectionately known around the barn was very successful at the track, finishing in the money in many of his 39 career starts and earning $187,149. His connections call him a brave, been-there-done-that kind of guy and think he would be as amateur-friendly as an off-the-track horse can get.  Mr. Sombrero is one of the last sons of leading international sire, El Prado, who has been hailed for passing on clean legs, athleticism, and trainability to his offspring. He’s retiring sound and without injury or vices and is sure to make whoever is lucky enough to snatch him up a very happy person!

View Sombrero De Copa on CANTER Maryland.

Photo ia CANTER California.

Councilman (Tannersmyman – For My Angel, by Phone Saga): 2010 16.1-hand California-bred gelding

This classy bay boy started racing as a four-year-old and then had most of the 2017 season off to recover from bone chip removal surgery in his knee. With that, Councilman only has 20 starts over the span of his racing career but he did pretty well for himself in that time; 12 out of those 20 starts were in-the-money finishes with 5 wins. After his surgery, he recovered well and made a few more starts (he won his first race back after surgery!) and has raced as recently as this February. He has no issues with the knee in question and is otherwise sound. His owner has free jumped him at her farm and says he has nice form, plus his jog video shows a lovely reaching trot.

View Councilman on CANTER California.

Photo via CANTER California.

Cinco de Mario (Candy Ride (ARG) – Sweet and Clever, by Mr. Greeley): 2010 16.0-hand Kentucky-bred gelding

At 70 starts, Cinco de Mario is ready to retire from his long racing career and start a new one one in a different discipline. He is by the very successful stud, Candy Ride, and sold for $150,000 is a yearling! Described by his connections as a horse with tons of heart and try in him, Mario certainly has plenty left to give to his new person. He is sound on an old osselet, but hat certainly hasn’t stopped him from being competitive at the track and shouldn’t keep him from finiding success in a second career.

View Cinco de Mario on CANTER California.