Classic Eventing Nation

Will Coleman & Gideon Win $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational

By on Mar 6, 2018 6:00 pm -

Will Coleman and Gideon. Photo by Lisa Thomas/Mid-Atlantic Equestrian Services.

Will Coleman and KBLB Event Horses’ Gideon set the bar right from the start in the $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational at Southern Cross Equestrian, jumping a fast and clear round over Marc Donovan’s 1.30m course as the first pair in the order of go to secure a spot in the jump-off.

Will and Gideon then turned and burned as the first to go in the jump-off, setting a blistering pace of 35.317 seconds that none of the other riders could ultimately catch and securing the win.

Gideon, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood/Irish Sport Horse (Aldato X Hesa Cruella, by Cruising), competed to the CCI2* level, finishing ninth at Fair Hill International in 2016, but Will felt the horse didn’t want to be an eventer. He last competed in eventing at Red Hills in 2017, where he won the Open Intermediate division.

“He just didn’t really love eventing, and he wasn’t the most natural galloper,” Will said. “We decided after jumping him in some 1.30m and 1.35m classes that he might be better suited as a jumper. This is the first class I’ve done with him, and I think he’s enjoying it.”

Will also competed Gideon at the U.S. Open $50,000 Arena Eventing Team Competition at the Central Park Horse Show in New York City last year, where he finished eighth individually.

“He’s a really fun horse to have in my barn. I have amazing owners, and they were fantastic about doing what we thought the horse wanted to do the most. He’ll go jump at HITS next week. I’m aiming to jump some 1.40m classes in the late spring and through the summer,” Will said.

“It’s great practice for me. We’re blessed to have the people in our camp that we do, and they understand the process.”

Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Delta Queen. Photo by Lisa Thomas/Mid-Atlantic Equestrian Services.

Sara Kozumplik Murphy, who won the Eventing Prix Invitational last year with Rubens D’Ysieux, subbed in Edy Rameika’s Delta Queen at the last minute to defend her crown and nearly pulled it off — crossing the jump-off timers 1.363 seconds too slow to settle for second place.

Sharon White and her own Cooley On Show skipped around the jump off in 39.163 seconds to finish in third place. Shanon Baker and her own Ballingowan Zeal delivered the only other clear round in the jump-off, with a time of 40.936 putting them in fourth place.

Sharon White and Cooley On Show. Photo by Lisa Thomas/Mid-Atlantic Equestrian Services.

Eleven combinations in all jumped clear in the first round to return for the jump-off. Lauren Kieffer and D.A. Duras finished fourth with the last fence down and a time of 34.776 seconds. Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino round out the top five with one rail down in a time of 35.418 seconds. Click here to view full individual results.

Team Unstable topped the team results once again, with Sara and Delta Queen’s speedy first round time of 74.840 securing the victory. Sharon and Cooley On Show also contributed to the team result, as did Bobby Meyerhoff and Dunlavin’s Token, and Joe Meyer and Catchascatchcan.

Team Unstable pictured with Matt Varney of Ocala Horse Properties. Photo by Lisa Thomas/Mid-Atlantic Equestrian Services.

The Ginja Ninja team lead by winners Will Coleman and Gideon finished second in the team standings, with the Under 25 team finishing third. Click here to view final team standings.

We have to send a massive thank you to Scotty Keach and Max Corcoran for hosting what has become one of the highlights of the winter season in Ocala.

“We’re so grateful Scotty and Max take time out of their own schedules to let people come to the farm and jump the beautiful course in a high-level atmosphere,” Will said. “The entire eventing community owes them a huge debt of gratitude. The fact that Ocala Horse Properties puts a significant amount of prize money behind the event makes it that much more awesome.”

You can rewatch the live stream of the Eventing Prix Invitational at this link.

Tuesday Video from SpectraVet: Eventing’s Western Wonderland

By on Mar 6, 2018 3:30 pm -

Is four months ahead too soon to get excited about an event?

Rebecca Farm has just released an inspiring promotional video ahead of their annual summer competition held in Kalispell, Montana. Here at EN, we’re constantly raving about the magic of Rebecca Farm, and that really can’t be oversold. This video gives you a little taste of just what makes this venue so special.

Go Rebecca Farm. Go Eventing.

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Watch the $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational

By on Mar 6, 2018 1:00 pm -

The big day is finally here! The $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational will start at 2 p.m. EST today, and you can watch live here on EN thanks to EQTV Network. Cathy Wieschhoff and Sinead Halpin will be bringing you live commentary.

The first round will determine team results, and the top 10 combinations — or all pairs that jump clear in the first round over Marc Donovan’s 1.30m course — will return for the second round jump off. Click here for live scores and here for team standings.

Cleaning Out the Tack Room

By on Mar 6, 2018 11:00 am -

    Cleaning the tack room. Photo by Holly Covey.

There is a rhythm to life with horses. We are one with universe when we are with our horses, or in our barn and peace space. Except … when we have to clean out the tack room.

I’m not afraid. I waded right in today, loins girded, full measure of courage loaded. I was going to scour that tack room from top to bottom, sweep, cobweb, wipe, clean, pick up, fold, organize and arrange. Yes, that was the initial plan.

But. Of course, the courage leaked out and wandered down the barn aisle, looking for an empty feed sack to put the swept-up dirt in, and found an old magazine it really needed to look in. I didn’t get sidetracked. Oh no. I had to make sure all the boots were paired up correctly and the velcro was all picked out, that was really important. And fold up all the pads and sort the good ones from the show ones, and put the show ones in the horse trailer. And there were some programs and literature in the horse trailer from last year’s events, and I needed to read them.

So, there was all this stuff I took out of the tack room and threw/placed carefully in the aisle, and then I did the cleaning stuff, and then … it was time for checking my phone. And I put a few more things away onto shelves, and found a few things I hadn’t seen for a while, and … so that’s how the tack room cleaning went. I should know better than to think I could do it an hour or two.

Of course, it took all day. And I don’t really have that much stuff. Or do I?  The last halter my best ever horse wore, the day we put him to sleep, and the last saddle pad he won, a white embroidered one from Surefire Horse Trials where he won a Training Level division on a hot Sunday afternoon, and we were almost the last trailer out of the field that day as the sun set in Virginia. What do you do with such things, so precious? What drawer do they go in?

Photo by Hal Microutsicos.

And the leather halter and name plate of the lovely young horse I sold on, and heard he was euthanized just a year later from an accident. The sad memories of my former horses, the leg wraps they wore, the bits they liked (and didn’t like), medicine that was labeled for a horse long gone. Leftover things, bits and pieces, memories that slide by of horses that helped me be the rider I am today.

Of course, I’ve been letting it go for a while, just because I knew I’d find stuff that made me sad, and in the middle of the winter — it’s hard to be motivated in the cold to be wiping stuff and cleaning. Same for the middle of event season, you’re busy, you’ve got stuff to do and can’t spare the time to dive into a big project. In the fall, the light is leaving and you don’t have time. It’s too hot in the summer to be moving things around and cleaning under them. Oh, the excuses. But the real reason was I didn’t want to see that halter, that saddle pad, that nameplate, that medicine jar, those bits, those bridles, the things that reminded me of great times with great horses past.

There are two ways to handle a tack room. Clean it all the time, throw things out, purge and glean constantly. Keep it so clean you could cook on the top of the plastic saddle pad keeper and do surgery on the floor. Hmmm. Well, it’s a goal.

Or the other way. Hang a bridle, then hang another bridle. Throw a pad. Throw another pad on top, and yet another. Unrolled bandages. A wee bit of dirt in the corner … more dirt near the door because the welcome mat got moved over for some reason and didn’t get put back where it belonged … a couple of things that belonged elsewhere but ended up on the floor, in a stack, on top of a cabinet or falling out of a drawer. You don’t do it on purpose — it just gets away from you. Like your life. You let things go, because you don’t want to put your hands on the sad stuff.

Cleaning out the tack room, then, becomes a metaphor for your life — having the courage to dive into a mess, fix it, get it better, deal with the sad stuff, empty out your soul a little bit. And when you turn off the light, and close the door, there is nothing left but the satisfaction of a long-put-off job done — finally — “There. The tack room is cleaned.” Not just the tack room, either.

Nick Cwick Heads West to Join Next Level Eventing Team

By on Mar 6, 2018 9:00 am -

Photo courtesy of Nick Cwick.

Next Level Eventing is taking it to the Nick level with the new addition of Nick Cwick. Nick is an upper level rider with experience coast-to-coast, having worked for big names such as Dayna Lynd-Pugh at Flying Tail Farm in Gilroy, CA, and Buck Davidson on the East Coast. Eventually, Nick decided to head for the Birmingham area, beginning his home program outside the city in Anniston, AL.

“This move back to the West Coast has really brought things full circle for me,” Nick says. “I’m from Scottsdale, AZ, and have family there. I grew up riding in Scottsdale basically through Young Riders, and then headed to California to get some work experience. I learned a lot from a lot of really talented people, and then the opportunity to get qualified for Rolex came, so I went to go work with Buck and then eventually got settled outside of Birmingham.” He has spent over a decade in the Southeast but felt the change was the right move for a variety of reasons.

“I had a really great group of young riders and adult amateurs in Alabama, but I was watching the market dwindle a bit,” he explains. “I was also coming to realize that I wanted to make a life change and be closer to my family.” Making the move wasn’t a decision that happened overnight though: “I came back to Arizona around Thanksgiving and just spent time with family and friends I hadn’t seen in a long time. It gave me some time to think about what I wanted to do next, and ultimately I realized I really wanted to be around the top tier of the sport again. Luckily, I was going to be teaching a clinic for Tamie Smith at Next Level Eventing in Temecula, CA. And from there things just started to fall into place.”

Tamie Smith, Heather Morris and their team at Next Level Eventing are some of the brightest stars in Area VI, with Tamie and Heather consistently topping the scoreboards. Next Level Eventing has put itself on the map, and for Nick, the decision to join them wasn’t difficult. “When I was there for the clinic [Tamie] approached me about potentially joining her team and I just thought, ‘Here is someone who is really at the top of her game, she has incredible horses and I’ve always admired her and her program.’ I really wanted to be around that atmosphere again. When I moved back to Arizona I wasn’t really sure about my next move, but when this offer came up it just was the right thing to do.”

“Being back in California is just a wonderful opportunity for me and my career. I know, and really like, a lot of the people here. And obviously the weather is an added bonus,” Nick says with a chuckle. “Really it is just a wonderful place for eventers, the facilities are perfect for what we need. There’s lots of land for hill work and conditioning, plenty of events to attend and the coaching is top notch. Add to that the quality of life increase just being in the sunshine and warmth every day. The East Coast was great and I learned a lot and have great memories of being there, but this is home for me, it’s good to be back.”

Nick is excited to campaign his horses as well as be an additional pair of eyes for the Next Level Eventing crew. “It’s great to be able to bounce ideas off each other when you have lots of talented riders and trainers in one place. I look forward to being a resource for Tamie and her clients when she’s traveling. I look forward to building Cwick Eventing here in Temecula, as well as being a part of the Next Level team.”

With the addition of Nick, Next Level Eventing is really looking to take 2018 by storm.

Tuesday News & Notes from Chillax

By on Mar 6, 2018 12:01 am -

Footing improvements going in at the Horse Park of New Jersey. Photo by Marilyn Payne.

We are happy to report that the arenas at the Horse Park of New Jersey are getting a major facelift! It has been a long road to this point as the park receives no funding from the state, but the board was able to take major initiatives last year thanks to generous donations to get the renovations going. They are still accepting donations if you’d like to help. Click here for more information.

National Holiday: National Dentist Day

What’s On Today:

$15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational at 2 p.m. EST [Order of Go] [Live Scores] [Live Stream]

Events Opening This Week: Longleaf Pine H.T. (NC, A-2) River Glen Spring H.T. (TN, A-3) Holly Hill Spring H.T. (LA, A-5) Plantation Field April Horse Trials (PA, A-2) Sporting Days Farm H.T. III (SC, A-3) St. Johns H.T. (AZ, A-10)

Events Closing This Week: Carolina International CIC and H.T. (NC, A-2) Stable View Spring H.T. (SC, A-3) Poplar Place Farm March H.T. (GA, A-3) Southern Arizona H.T. (AZ, A-10)

Tuesday News:

Cutting a few words from your vocabulary could be the key to managing the mental part of your riding. Words like “can’t” and “hate” are easily identified as negative, but don’t forget about the sneaky ones like “think,” “try,” “hope,” and “not.” Positive thoughts can have a lot of power! [Daniel Stewart’s Tip of the Month: Am – Am Not]

Poplar Place Farm is sporting a new look and feel with its new owners. They’ve got a new cross country track and jumps, refurbished all weather footing, updated stabling, a brand new show jumping course and more. Beginner Novice through Preliminary/Training plus Starter levels offered. Today is the closing date for the March 24-25 Horse Trials! [Omnibus]

Best of Blogs: $900 Facebook Pony’s EQ3 helmets and MIPS Technology

Hot on Horse Nation: 17 Random Things Readers’ Horses Spook At

Sunday Video: So fun to see Ecko out again!

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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Weekend Results Roundup: Twin Rivers, Rocking Horse, Sporting Days

By on Mar 5, 2018 8:00 pm -

Through rain, hail, and sun we had a pretty good weekend!!!

A post shared by Lia & Donovan (@ld.eventing) on

Eventing’s tough mudders came out to play at Twin Rivers H.T. over the weekend. The Paso Robles, California, venue got the beatdown from Mother Nature — a drenching rain the whole week leading up that resulted in flooding, mud and standing water, and culminated in a grand finale of hail. And yet, they still managed to pull off the event.

Event coordinator and resident trainer Andrea Baxter reflected on Facebook, “What a weekend … reminded us that it’s easy to run a good show when you’re dealt a hand full of aces to play … not so much when you get 2s. Anyways, thank you to everyone who helped us make lemonade out of lemons. Everyone kept smiling and most of all, had a safe and fun experience. Seriously took a village — volunteers standing in hail, officials allowing us to make decisions, competitors staying calm and optimistic, staff to work their asses off, teamwork to keep everyone and everything running smoothly.

Eventing tough. Everyone who made it through the finish flags was a winner, but here are the ones who went home with blue ribbons:

Advanced – Tamra Smith & Wembley (39.1)
Open Intermediate – Heather Morris & Charlie Tango (33.3)
Jr. Preliminary Rider – Sarah Ertl & Utah B (35.7)
Open Preliminary – Jennifer McFall & Stoneman (27.4)
Preliminary Rider – Megan Sykes & Classic’s Mojah (27.6)
Jr. Training Rider – Devon Hughes & Paint By Numbers (35.7)
Open Training – Rebecca Braitling & Frankie (30.2)
Sr. Training Rider – Molly Gibbons & Zero Gravity (32.3)
Training Horse – Auburn Excell Brady & Whitethorne Ailton (25.0)
Jr. Novice Rider – Katherine Hill & The Pied Piper (31.1)
Novice Horse – Shannon Harger & King of Hearts (30.7)
Open Novice – Anne Thompson & Tanqueray (29.5)
Sr. Novice Amateur – Golly Martin & Kaptain Jak (22.9)
Sr. Novice Rider – Amanda Zeddy & Power Puff (25.2)
Jr. Beg. Novice Rider – Pip Hayes & Fuerst Nino R (26.9)
Open Beg. Novice – Madeleine Scott & Automatic (30.0)
Sr. Beg. Novice Rider – Tania Senter & Petra (32.5)
Introductory A – Emily Schmitz & Beau Soleil (38.3)
Introductory B – Debbie Fosmark & Larapin II (30.0)

Twin Rivers Winter H.T. [Website] [Live Results]

Rocking Horse III in Altoona, Florida, saw about a gazillion competitors contest approximately one million divisions. Mega-props to organizer Jeanne Merrill and show secretary Rick Dunkerton, who both deserve a stiff drink.

Winners, PLUS some bonus categories:

  • Best smooch:

    • https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf6LtWEHEBT/

  • Lowest finishing score: 22.6, scored by Tik Maynard & SW Taleyo in Novice Horse B (22.6)
  • Best horse name: The Brave Little Toaster, ridden by Isabel Turner in Sr. Novice Rider-B
  • Favorite moment: Clark Montgomery loaned the ride on his four-star veteran Loughan Glen to Kelsie Bricker, who gave him a beautiful ride to finish 4th in Open Novice A on a 28.6. Sunday also happened to be Kelsie’s birthday!
  • Intermediate Rider – Kimberly Keeton & Keysoe (37.9)
  • Open Intermediate – Caroline Martin & Pebbly Maximus (32.7)
  • Open Intermediate (1 day) – Lynn Symansky & Under Suspection (30.3)
  • Open Preliminary-A – Bethany Hutchins-Kristen & Bronte HVF (26.9)
  • Open Preliminary-B – Jessica Phoenix & Eric GS
  • Open Preliminary (1 day)-A – Jordan Linstedt & Staccato (22.9)
  • Open Preliminary (1 day)-B – Get Gaudi (29.6)
  • Preliminary Horse-A – Kurt A Martin & Compromise Elsewhere (25.6)
  • Preliminary Horse-B – Hallie Coon & Captain Chacco (29.4)
  • Preliminary Rider-A – Emma Joan Green & McDreamy (29.2)
  • Preliminary Rider-B – Maddie McElduff & Lamondale Graciana (32.4)
  • Jr. Training Rider – Georgia Dillard & Galileo WP (25.9)
  • Open Training-A – Sam Kelly & Robinstown Ballivor (27.3)
  • Open Training-B – Andrew McConnon & Bossinova (23.4)
  • Sr. Training Rider-A – Emily Szokol & Franco SSF (30.0)
  • Sr. Training Rider-B – Chantil Ruud & Landmark’s Ginger Rogers (33.6)
  • Training Horse-A – Maya Black & Miks Master C (27.3)
  • Training Horse-B – Sharon White & Juneau (26.4)
  • Training Horse-C – Sinead Halpin & Stakkato Bronx (22.7)
  • Jr. Novice Rider – Hannah Page & WHF Wilhelmina (25.2)
  • Novice Horse-A – Nicole Carroll & Crisscross PCH (25.7)
  • Novice Horse-B – Tik Maynard & SW Taleyo (22.6)
  • Novice Horse-C – John Michael Durr & Gotta Have Faith (26.9)
  • Open Novice-A – Dani Sussman & Windchase Radiance (24.5)
  • Open Novice-B – Zachary Brandt & City So Cool (26.9)
  • Sr. Novice Rider-A – Susan Martin & Canadian Exchange (27.9)
  • Sr. Novice Rider-B – Alston Kerr & Sir Earl Grey (29.1)
  • Sr. Novice Rider-C – Cora Frisby & Don Tirso Q (27.9)
  • Jr. Beginner Novice Rider – Dale Olivia Hubbard & Isadora (28.7)
  • Open Beginner Novice-A – Stephanie Cauffman & Revonne (27.3)
  • Open Beginner Novice-B – Jamie McAllister & Shotgun Willie (24.0)
  • Sr. Beginner Novice Rider – Alston Kerr & Stolen Silver (25.8)

    • Rocking Horse III H.T. [Website] [Results]

    Sporting Days in Aiken is one of my favorite events. Friendly courses, friendly faces, friendly sport. Your winners, PLUS some:

    • Lowest finishing score: 19.3, scored by Vantastic ridden by Doug Payne in Open Novice-A.
    • Best horse name: Bradley Cooper, among the best celebrity horse names ever, ridden by Rebecca Lee in Open Preliminary-A
    • Favorite moment: Own it, girl!

    thanks for putting up with me and all my purple crazies

    A post shared by allison sharkey (@allisonsharkey) on

    • Intermediate Combined Test – Tiffani Loudon-Meetze & Class Happening (32.4)
    • Intermediate/Preliminary – Jan Byyny & Inmidair (24.2)
    • Junior Young Riders Open Preliminary – Olivia Dutton & Icabad Crane (32.8)
    • Open Preliminary-A – Phillip Dutton & Sea Of Clouds (27.8)
    • Preliminary Rider – Michael Pendelton & R Valentino Himself (29.8)
    • Junior Open Training – Rylie Galbraith & Zeta (32.3)
    • Open Training-A – Meaghan Marinovich & Subtle Punch (27.5)
    • Open Training-B – Meaghan Marinovich & London ROF (25.9)
    • Open Training-C – Elizabeth New & Newmarket Auto (33.4)
    • Prelim/Training – Erin Risso & Devon Fantasie (32.0)
    • Training Rider – Stephanie Davis & Cooley Quality Q (24.3)
    • Junior Open Novice – Campbell Jones & Aura CF (26.8)
    • Novice Rider-A – Elizabeth Kantra & Vegas Run (28.6)
    • Novice Rider-B – Anne Wilson & Call Me Waylon (32.7)
    • Open Novice-A – Doug Payne & Vantastic (19.3)
    • Open Novice-B – Jessica McCabe & Third Regiment (33.3)
    • Open Novice-C – Carol Kozlowski & Wild For Summer (28.6)
    • Open Novice-D – Valerie Vizcarrondo & Diablo Guapo (33.1)
    • Beginner Novice Rider-A – Susan Luria & Hastening Lily (30.3)
    • Beginner Novice Rider-B – Jordan Golen & Cellar Door (36.8)
    • Junior Open Beginner Novice – Rebecca Hagy & Boogaloo (23.8)
    • Open Beginner Novice-A – Jasmine Hobart & Strongest (31.3)
    • Open Beginner Novice-B – Valerie Vizcarrondo & Slick Moves (23.3)

    Sporting Days H.T. [Website] [Results]

    Congrats to all. Go Eventing!

    Order of Go for $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational

    By on Mar 5, 2018 7:30 pm -

    Lynn Symansky and Donner are one of the returning combinations in the 2018 Eventing Prix Invitational. Photo by Jenni Autry.

    We are counting down to the $15,000 Ocala Horse Properties Eventing Prix Invitational! The 1.30m show jumping competition over Marc Donovan’s course will take place tomorrow, March 6 starting at 2 p.m. at Southern Cross Equestrian in Ocala, Florida.

    Here is the drawn order of go …

    1. Will Coleman and KBLB Event Horses’s Gideon
    2. Bobby Meyerhoff and Danica Meyerhoff’s Dunlavin’s Token
    3. Michael Walton and Jim and Katie O’Brian’s Casarino
    4.  Dana Cooke and Kingfisher Park’s FE Mississippi
    5. Jacob Fletcher and Frank Fletcher’s Atlantic Domino
    6. Jessica Phoenix and Don and Anita Leschied’s A Little Romance
    7. Elisa Wallace and the Simply Priceless Syndicate’s Simply Priceless
    8. Shanon Baker and her own Ballingowan Zeal
    9. Liz Stewart and Cindy and Steve Stewart’s Elusive
    10. Mara DePuy and Mimi and David Regamey’s Congo Brazzaville C
    11. Joe Meyer and Edy Remeika’s Catchascatchcan
    12. Allie Knowles and the Sound Prospect Syndicate’s Sound Prospect
    13. Lauren Balcomb and her own SL Belly
    14. Woodge Fulton and her own Captain Jack
    15. Colleen Loach and Peter Barry’s Qorry Blue D’Argouges
    16. Kyle Carter and Kyle and Riley Carter’s FR Trust Fund
    17. Ashely Kehoe and Kehoe Enterprises’ Kiltealy Toss Up
    18. Lauren Kieffer and Jacqueline Mars and Debbie Adams’ DA Duras
    19. Sharon White and her own Cooley On Show
    20. Lynn Symansky and the Donner Syndicate’s Donner
    21. Jordan Linstedt and her own Revitavet Capato
    22. Hallie Coon and her own Celien
    23. Holly Jacks-Smither and the More Inspiration Syndicate’s More Inspiration
    24. David O’Connor and Jacqueline Mars’ Cooley Dream
    25. Kristen Bond and Liz Bond’s Enough Already
    26. Karen O’Connor and Michelle Donnelly’s Tremolo
    27. Kurt Martin and the Martin Family’s Delux Z
    28. Sara Kozumplik Murphy and Edy Remeika’s Delta Queen
    29. Buck Davidson and Carlevo LLC’s Carlevo
    30. Clayton Fredericks and Kingfisher Park’s FE Stiff Upper Lip
    31. Caroline Martin and Sherrie Martin’s Islandwood Captian Jack
    32. Selena O’Hanlon and John and Judy Rumble’s Foxwood High
    33. Jon Holling and the Two Doors Down Syndicate’s Sportsfield Two Doors Down
    34. Colleen Rutledge and her own Confidence Game

    The first round will determine team results, and the top 10 combinations — or all pairs that jump clear in the first round — will return for the second round jump off.

    The $1,000 Welcome Stakes sponsored by Dougie Hannum Equine Therapy kicked off the action today. Click here to watch videos courtesy of David Frechette. Here are the results from the speed class …

    1. Bobby Meyerhoff – Fortuna – 52.56
    2. Clayton Fredericks – Amistoso – 59.69
    3. Kyle Carter – FR’s Trust Fund – 59.84
    4. Colleen Loach – Foreign Quality – 61.10
    5. Jon Holling – Dalanteretto – 62.16
    6. Colleen Rutledge – Covert Rights – 63.66

    Tomorrow’s Eventing Prix Invitational is free to attend and open to the public, and spectators are encouraged to bring a chair and picnic. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase on the grounds from Humble Pie Pizza. Beer is free!

    Thank you to the event sponsors: Ocala Horse Properties, title sponsor; Doug Hannum Equine Therapy, Welcome Stakes sponsor; Peak Performance and Stellos Electric, prix partners; and jump sponsors, Equijet, Wordley Martin Equestrian and Chester County Farrier Associates.

    If you can’t be in Ocala to watch the Eventing Prix Invitational live, Joel Wiessner of EQTV Network once again will be live streaming the competition, and you can watch right here on EN. Southern Cross is located at 13440 NW Highway 225, Reddick, FL 32686.

    Monday Video from Tredstep Ireland: Get a Glimpse of the 2018 USEA Educational Symposium

    By on Mar 5, 2018 4:00 pm -

    The USEA’s Young Event Horse and Future Event Horse Program are growing and gaining in popularity thanks both to the hard work of organizers and the continued educational offerings from the USEA. In this vein, this year’s USEA Educational Symposium, which took place from February 19-22 at the Ocala Jockey Club and Longwood Farm South in Ocala, Florida, focused very much on the training of young horses. Thanks to Andrea Manley, who has been a driving force behind the YEH, FEH, and NEH program’s success in Area I and attended the symposium, we have some great clips from the clinics!

    The first two days of the symposium were dedicated to the Instructors’ Certification Program and were led by clinicians Leslie Law and Kai-Steffen Meier. Last year the USEA unveiled two new ICP certifications: the YEH Instructor and YEH Professional Horse Trainer certifications.

    Leslie Law encouraged riders to help their horses find their balance by going forward, but without running:

    Posted by Stubben Custom Saddle Fitting – Andrea Manley on Monday, February 19, 2018

    More video from day one of the ICP portion of the young horse symposium. Leslie Law talks more about the canter for the young horse.#usea #younghorses #icp #younghorsedevelopmentprogram

    Posted by Stubben Custom Saddle Fitting – Andrea Manley on Tuesday, February 27, 2018

    Kai Steffen Maier explained that allowing the horse to go forward first should be a key element of focus in the canter as well:

    Allowing the horse to go forward first was a key focus in the canter, as Kai Steffen Maier so eloquently explains here! #usea #YoungHorseSymposium #younghorses #younghorsedevelopmentprogram #eventing

    Posted by Stubben Custom Saddle Fitting – Andrea Manley on Tuesday, February 20, 2018

    The last two days of the symposium were geared toward the YEH and FEH programs. Attendee’s were treated to discussions on event horses breeding and conformation as well as scoring systems and judging the YEH and FEH classes. Here, FEH Championship judge Robin Walker explains how he would asses this yearling:

    Interested in knowing what the judges are looking for when you present your Future Event Horse? Here FEH championship judge Robin Walker explains what he is looking at in this lovely yearling.United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA)#usea #younghorsedevelopmentprogram #FEH #younghorses

    Posted by Stubben Custom Saddle Fitting – Andrea Manley on Wednesday, February 28, 2018

    USEA Symposium: Website, FEH/YEH Registration, ICP Registration, Schedule

    A Rough-Cut Sneak Preview of Red Hills CIC3*, CIC2* and CIC1* Cross Country

    By on Mar 5, 2018 11:30 am -

    Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

    The 20th anniversary edition of Red Hills International kicks off later this week, March 8-11, at Elinor Klapp Phipps Park in Tallahassee. The cross country track is always a sight to see, a mossy-green scenic tour through open spaces and woods of live oak and pine — riders have been known to pick up billowing bridal veils of Spanish moss along the way.

    Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

    The 2018 edition marks Mike Etherington-Smith’s fourth year as designer of the CIC3* and Advanced courses; the CIC2*, Intermediate, CIC1* and Prelim courses are designed by David O’Conor. Shout-out to builders Tyson Rementer and Levi Ryckewaert for their work in creating a course that melds seamlessly with the landscape.

    Photo by Shems Hamilton/Red Hills.

    “Over the last few years I’ve been working with the team here at Red Hills to create as much versatility within the venue as possible, to give the opportunity to turn the course around, do some changes of direction and give a slightly different feel to the course from year to year,” Mike explains.

    EN outlined a few of the changes last week, the biggest being that the courses are turned around for all levels. Competitors have other improvements to look forward to as well. “Massive amounts of work have been done by the team here in improving the footing and opening up the rides … it looks so different now to when I first came here,” Mike says.

    Let’s have a first look, courtesy of the good folks at CrossCountry App. There is audio from Mike on the CIC3* — thank you for the recordings, Jane Barron! We’ll be along later this week with an updated gallery of the fences, dolled up, flagged and ready for action — Red Hills has already posted a few photos on its Facebook page here.

    CIC3*

    CIC2*

    CIC1*

    Elsewhere on the grounds, preparations are well underway! Hosting an event takes a village, and we salute everyone who is hard at work behind-the-scenes this week at Red Hills.

    A total of 39 combinations are entered to contest the CIC3*, which will serve as the first major competition on the 2018 calendar for U.S. and Canadian combinations as we look ahead to the World Equestrian Games at Tryon. Click here to view the entry list.

    The action starts Friday, March 9 with dressage for all divisions. Both show jumping and cross country will take place for the CIC3* on Saturday, March 10, along with cross country for all other divisions. Sunday, March 11 will feature show jumping for all remaining divisions. Click here for the full schedule.

    Tickets for spectators can be purchased on the Red Hills website.