Classic Eventing Nation

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.

A Tribute to Roger Bannister & Breaking the Mental Barrier

By on Mar 5, 2018 9:00 am -

Embed from Getty Images

News that Sir Roger Bannister, the first person to run a mile in under four minutes, had passed away began to circulate yesterday. His achievement of breaking the 4-minute mile is one which has inspired many generations of athletes across all disciplines. Experts said for years that the human body was simply not capable of a 4-minute mile. It wasn’t just dangerous; it was impossible.

A medical student at Oxford who ran in his spare time, he used his medical knowledge to devise his own training regime and investigate the mechanical aspects of running, turned his sights on becoming the first person to run inside four minutes for the mile, twice coming close in 1953, and finally, in 1954 in Oxford, achieving the “impossible” — running a mile in three minutes 59.4 seconds.

Forty-six days later, someone else ran a mile in under 4 minutes. Then some more runners did. Now, it’s almost routine; even strong high-schoolers today run 4-minute miles. We are now down to 3:43.13 — set by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999.

So, what can we learn from it? It’s a truth universally acknowledged across the sporting world that the toughest obstacles to surmount are those we erect in our own minds. It took a sense of extreme certainty for Roger Bannister to do what was considered un-doable. He alone was able to create that certainty in himself without seeing any proof that it could be done. But once he crashed through that barrier, the rest of the world saw that it was possible, and the previous record that had stood for nine years was broken routinely.

The right attitude to overcoming obstacles is laid out clearly by the king of self-help books, Norman Vincent Peale, in The Power of Positive Thinking: “Just stand up to it, that’s all, and don’t give way under it, and it will finally break,” he says. “You will break it. Something has to break, and it won’t be you, it will be the obstacle.”

What obstacles have we put up in the equestrian world? Sure, we have to think differently — we are managing not just our own mental and physical limits but also those of our horse. But are we a world guilty of doing things the way things have always been done? Secretariat holds the record for the fastest Kentucky Derby — that was achieved in 1973, 45 years ago. It doesn’t matter whether you look at the 100m or the mile, humans don’t run the same speed today as they did in 1973.

It is often said that while footballers, tennis players and golfers of generations gone by may possess all the natural talent of today’s athletes, they simply wouldn’t survive in the modern game because training has progressed so much. What time would Sir Roger run the mile in today had be been born 60 years later? Hypothetical of course, but this man was a game-changer.

Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

In eventing, we are witnessing our version of Bannister at work. Michael Jung’s 75 consecutive clear cross rounds at international three star level defies the odds, and defies what should have been possible. His top horse, La Biosthetique Sam, has an average finishing score at three and four star level of 38.8 penalties. No other horse at that level averages below 42.5. A game-changer.

At the top end of the sport, the next Olympics in Tokyo will have no discard score, which means the margin for error has gone. The last two major championships (2014 and 2016) have both produced clear cross country jumping rates of 42%, which would make the odds of producing three clears from three athletes just 7.4%. While some teams will perform well above average, other will perform well below it. Team medals in 2020 will require one of two things: either chance or change.

But the Bannister effect applies to everyone. While Mr Jung quietly continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, we must all challenge ourselves. Analyze past performance. Draw an honest line of expected performance and the likelihood of producing that performance. It doesn’t matter which country you are in or what level you compete at; the reality is that, if you haven’t seen it yourself, you’re vulnerable.

Bannister was a game-changer. He broke the barrier which broke the mental barrier for those that followed. The impossible becomes possible when you believe that it can be achieved. 75 consecutive clear rounds. Now you’ve seen it. Do you still think it’s impossible?

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Monday News and Notes from Fleeceworks

By on Mar 5, 2018 12:44 am -

And guess who forgot her test…… TWICE.

Posted by Heather Morris on Saturday, March 3, 2018

Forget your test, miss a jump on cross country, enter the ring before the bell, forget your number or armband (I have done all of these). It happens to the best of us–including pros like Tamie Smith–but live and learn, I suppose! I’ll never forget the time my mom cantered right by the finish flags on cross country but never went through them. She was eliminated but so elated with a great round, it didn’t matter. Years later it makes for a great story, and ever since she and I have always included the finish flags on our course walks.

National Holiday: National Cheese Doodle Day

U.S. Weekend Action:

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

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

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

Monday News and Notes:

Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farm has taken the plights of ex-racehorses and Thoroughbred racing stock into his own hands and formed the National Thoroughbred Welfare Organization in the hopes of saving racehorses from slaughter and reducing the number of breakdowns. The mission is to “pull from all available resources to be a comprehensive welfare organization that protects racing’s greatest asset–the horse–for the overall benefit of the sport.” [Porter Forms Organization to Save Horses]

A statistical risk report of eventing has been released by the FEI ahead of the upcoming FEI Sports Forum in Lausanne, Switzerland. The report reveals the percentage risk of a fall and serious injury at the 1* to 4* level. Click for a numbers summary. [Eventing risks laid out in just-published FEI report]

Come see Poplar Place Farm’s fresh new look with 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. Enter the March 24-25 Horse Trials by the March 6 closing date! [Omnibus]

Congratulations to Amanda Knutson, winner of a Success Equestrian Correction Half Pad in EN’s #FabFreebie giveaway. These no-slip saddle pads have four Velcro pockets and two inserts each to allow you to adjust saddle fit. [Success Equestrian Correction Half Pads]

Monday Video:

Best of HN: Facing the Mortality of My Senior Horses

By on Mar 4, 2018 5:21 pm -

Mac (left) and Marley (right). Photo by Morgan Matters.

For most “normal” people, watching their relatives age is one of life’s most difficult tasks. We horse people, however, must deal with the aging not only of our human relatives, but our equine ones as well. And as for me, I’m currently staring down the mortality of two of my horses, ages 28 and 22.

I got Mac when I was 16, at the end of my sophomore year of high school. He was essentially given to us for free, and my parents begrudgingly decided to accept the gift. It was only later that we discovered Mac — also known as Marvin — had been quite the fancy hunter in his day, showing at Devon, Harrisburg, and Capital Challenge to name a few.

By the time I got him, though, he was already a grumpy old man and had little interest in complying with our lesson program. If he wasn’t pulling like a freight train towards the jump, he was slamming on the brakes at the last second and watching me sail over his head. He would most often just stand there looking down at me, and most certainly chuckling to himself, but sometimes he would saunter back to the barn at a slow, comfortable pace.

Photo by Amy Latka

For as much as he loved to teach me a thing or two about keeping my heels down, he took me to my first rated show (he dumped me in all but one class but it still counts!), stood patiently while I practiced my standing wraps, and quietly hung his head while I unbraided him. He gave me my first taste of the hunter ring, and when we decided it was time for me to move on to a horse more willing to actually jump the jumps, Mac took on a smaller job packing an amateur around the cross rails in her twice-weekly lessons.

Enter Marley, Mac’s complete opposite. Though they look similar — plain bays with white stars — their personalities are wildly different. While Mac was a smooth mover, Marley was as bouncy as what I imagine riding a T. Rex would feel like. While Mac got great entertainment in testing my limits, Marley got me out of every terrible distance I put him in and never held a grudge. His heart is bigger than his belly, and that’s really saying something, since his nickname is “Meatball” for having a perfectly round stomach.

Marley rocking the .85m jumpers at age 20. Photo by Josh Winslow

Marley pulled through double colic surgeries, came to college with me, and even returned to showing at the 3′ level. After I got Waffle (the 12 year old “baby” of my herd), Marley took care of two fabulous leasers in all three rings up until November of 2017, when he was retired due to arthritis.

So, here I am, the proud owner of three wonderful horses, two of which are geriatric. Though their minds and personalities may not show any signs of aging, their bodies do. I do my best to keep the oldies comfortable; they are both on SmartPak’s SmartCombo Senior Ultra Pellets, they get plenty of turnout, and they are well taken care of when I can’t be there. But I know that one day, maybe soon, I will be forced to make a decision that I may be selfishly not ready for.

I’m a glass-half-full kind of gal, and I know that worrying about when and how I’ll have to say goodbye to the two horses who made me isn’t exactly productive. But my goodness is it difficult to see the years take their toll.

The fact of the matter is that we can’t prepare for death, but we can celebrate life. They’ve lived long, happy, and relatively healthy lives. Every day that Mac and Marley get to go outside and just be horses is a victory in my book. While they won’t be here forever, the lessons they have taught me and the love they have given me will last far beyond their physical time on this earth. And for that, I am oh-so-thankful.

Kate Kosnoff is a recent college graduate and founder of Riders for Well-Being and Glam Glitter Gal. She competes with Waffle, her hunter-turned-jumper, across the Midwest. Visit her at glamglittergal.com or @glamglittergalkate on Instagram.

Sunday Video from Total Saddle Fit: Water, Water, Everywhere

By on Mar 4, 2018 3:29 pm -

Rocking Horse Winter III Horse Trials hosted three Intermediate divisions this weekend in Altoona, FL. One of these divisions ran a one-day format on Friday. Watch these competitors navigate the water complex on cross country, brought to you by official videographer RNS Video Media. Check out our full report of the Intermediate divisions here. Go Eventing.

Rocking Horse III H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

Specifically for eventers, the StretchTec Shoulder Relief Girth now comes in two shades of brown to match monoflap jump saddles! Let your horse move more freely and breathe easier by using the same girth as Tamra Smith. See them all here: totalsaddlefit.com.

What’s In Your Arena? Presented by Attwood: Simple Gymnastics to Start the Season

By on Mar 4, 2018 12:07 pm -

What’s in Your Ring? is an EN series sponsored by Attwood Equestrian Surfaces in which riders share their favorite jumping exercises. It’s easy to get stuck in a training rut, and we hope this will inspire you with fresh ideas that you can take home and incorporate into your own programs.

Everyone deserves a break now and then, including our hard-working horses. It’s not unusual for eventers to pull shoes, throw the horses out and let them have a well-earned month or so off during winter. While this is great for their mental and physical health, your horse may have lost quite a bit of fitness on vacation, which is important to remember when legging back up for the spring season.

My own young horse got the entire month of December and most of January off. As a result of a nice long break, he got good and dirty, plumped up a bit and might have even grown a little. When I stuck him on the lunge one sunny January day to see where we were, he looked darn good.

We got back to work, taking is slow and steady. For the last month we have picked our way through the mud, taking long walks around the pastures, on the trails in the woods, up and down hills. Then we sandwiched short bursts of trot work over ground poles in the arena between our long hacks. Finally, last week, we started doing a tiny bit of canter work. As I consider a return to jumping over the next couple of weeks, I don’t want to ask too much too soon.

A deep dive in the Evention TV archives unearthed this simple, three-part gymnastics exercise that incorporates trot poles, a low, easy bounce and a one-stride to a vertical. This is a great grid to get the jumping muscles working, get your horse thinking about where he’s putting his feet and allow you to practice your position. It can be built up or down for any level and jumps added to it as time goes on.

While the eventing season is in full swing in Florida, South Carolina and California, many areas of the country are still stuck in the indoor or just getting back in the saddle after a long winter. As you and your horse start back to work, remember everyone’s muscles have had a long rest, so build up the workload slowly and we’ll see you out eventing soon!

Equestrians vs. ‘Beast From the East’

By on Mar 4, 2018 9:45 am -

Storm Emma led to high level snow and wind warnings by the UK’s national weather service (Met Office) late last week and into the weekend, and the conditions were severe enough to delay the start of the 2018 British Eventing season.

The unusually cold temperatures in the United Kingdom and Ireland are a result of the destructive ‘Beast from the East’ that has marched across Europe from Siberia, leaving both beauty and chaos in its wake.

Equestrians, however, are a resilient bunch. It doesn’t matter what the weather is doing; the horses still need to be fed and watered and the barn mucked out. We’re glad to see our friends across the pond keeping a cheerful face on and making light of the situation wherever they can.

[Storm Emma Triggers Another Red Warning for Snow]

[There’s Snow Way: First Weekend of British Eventing Season Cancelled Due to Adverse Conditions]

[‘Beast From The East’ Brings Beauty, Cold And Chaos To Europe]

Sunday Links Presented by One K Helmets

By on Mar 4, 2018 12:01 am -

He’s beauty. He’s grace. Photo by Shelby Allen.

The weather over the last few days has been an absolute delight in the Southeast! (Sorry to rub it in to all my friends who are farther north). The rain has moved out and made way for sunny skies and 70 degree afternoons. Can it stay like this forever please?

National Holiday: National Grammar Day

U.S. Weekend Action:

Rocking Horse III H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

Sporting Days H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

Twin Rivers Winter H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Results]

Sunday Links:

Grid Pro Quo with Stephen Bradley

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Five Apparel Trends That We Can Live Without

Horse Show Pets: Meet Shadow The Cockatoo!

Improve your horse’s agility with Laura Collett’s simple grid exercise

First all-female farrier class admitted to Cornell University

Eventing risks laid out in just-published FEI report

Third of US households harbor horse enthusiasts, study reveals

U.S. Equine Industry Has $122 Billion Economic Impact

Sunday Video:

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Rocking Horse Winter III Intermediate Score Report

By on Mar 3, 2018 9:12 pm -

Three Intermediate divisions have wrapped up at the Rocking Horse Winter 3 Horse Trials in Altoona, FL on this sunny–albeit windy–weekend.

On Friday’s one-day format competition, Lynn Symansky won the 25-horse Open Intermediate division riding Mary Ann Ghadban’s 14-year-old Holsteiner mare, Under Suspection. The pair led from start to finish, adding only 2.8 cross country time penalties to their dressage score of 27.5. Lynn also picked up fourth with the Donner Syndicate’s RF Cool Play, sixth with Tim and Nina Gardner’s FE Lifestyle and eighth with her own SpectraVET Tempranillo.

Kurt Martin and the GSC Syndicate’s 12-year-old Holsteiner mare, Anna Bella, had a great first run back since placing fifth at the Ocala Jockey Club CIC3*, finishing on their dressage score of 31.1 for second place. They were followed by Sharon White‘s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse, Cooley On Show, in third on 33.9. Rachel Wilks and her own 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse, Great Expectations, wrapped up the top five on 40.7.

In the Open Intermediate two-day format division, Caroline Martin and Sherrie Martin’s 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse, Pebbly Maximus, haven’t run since Boekelo CCI3* last October. They came back in top form, adding nothing to their dressage score of 32.7 to take the win.

Cornelia Dorr claimed the next two positions with her 12-year-old Zweibrucker, Sir Patico MH (32.9), and her 13-year-old Rheinlander, Louis M (36.0). Joe Meyer finished fourth and fifth with Madison Foote’s 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse, Clip Clop (38.6), and Denise Rath’s 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse, Jay of Diamonds (42.1).

The winners of Intermediate Rider were Kimberly Keeton, DVM and her and Hope Thomas’s 8-year-old Thoroughbred, Keysoe. They were fourth after dressage with a 37.9 and while they lowered a single rail, they produced one of only two double clear cross country rounds in the division to move into the top spot.

Cecilia Lundberg and Kathleen Lundberg’s 12-year-old Oldenburg, July’s Wild Idea, earned the only other fault-free cross country round in the division to take home second on 39.5. Haley Carspecken and her 12-year-old Holsteiner cross, Center Stage, moved all the way up from eighth after dressage to finish third on 45.9 in their first Intermediate appearance as a pair.

Hannah Leahey and Cassinova, a 9-year-old Holsteiner owned by Jackey Leahey, finished fourth with a 47.7 followed by Ryan Keefe and Rumsey Keefe’s 18-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred, Flintstar, with 49.7.

Thanks to David Frechette aka The Horse Pesterer for your filming expertise! Go Eventing.

Rocking Horse III H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

Sport Horse Nation Spotlight: Treat Yourself to a New Used Saddle

By on Mar 3, 2018 2:41 pm -

In the market for a new four-legged partner? You may find your unicorn on our sister site, Sport Horse Nation. To help with the search, we’re going to feature a selection of current listings here on EN each week. We include the ad copy provided; click the links for videos, pricing and contact information.

When it comes to saddles, a brand or style that works for one horse might not work for another. The same goes for riders; not everyone will like the same features. If you’re on the hunt for new equipment, check out the Tack and Equipment category page on Sport Horse Nation. Here are the five most recent listings.

Santis. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

Santis Dressage Saddle

This top selling saddle features an extra soft seat that is slightly wider for the seat bones with a moderate twist. The front blocks are on Velcro and can be adjusted for the individual rider. Uniquely designed panels add stability to the saddle and increase the horse’s comfort. The tree and the flocked panels can be customized for the horse for a precise fit. KB saddles are hand made to order in England.

This saddle had up-swept panels & are perfect for the shorter back or more sensitive horse. Nice channel width and depth means it can even fit that high withered horse! The seat is stamped 17 1/2, measures an 18, is very comfortable, placing the rider in the perfect position at just the right balance point.

The Y girting system and wool flocked panels mean comfort for your horse. This saddle is adjustable, and the wool flocking is ample. This saddle has been used less than a year as I have been unable to ride. Located in Florida.

Black Country. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

17.5 MW BC Vinici Tex Eventer Jump Saddle

From Black Country’s Web Site: Endorsed by Ralph Hill, USA. A favourite in the US, this exciting saddle is specifically targeted at event riders. The forwardness of the flap and the long sloping seat allow plenty of room behind the rider to move around in the saddle and have support when leaning back over drop fences – no more sitting on the cantle! The tree is designed as such that the extra length in the seat is not reflected in the panels.

The girthing system lies neatly above the cushioned sweat flap so as to avoid any discomfort. Small triangular blocks are standard. This saddle is designed with pure wool panels to help shock absorption when landing and also allowing the horse freedom to stride out without restriction on the shoulders. Located in North Carolina.

Voltaire. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

2012 18.5” Voltaire Palm Beach, 4AAAR- Perfect for the tall rider!

2012 18.5” Voltaire Palm Beach in chocolate, 4AAAR (15”) extra long/extra forward flaps, medium tree, 4.5” gullet, fin panels (made to fit a variety of horses), upgraded full calfskin leather. This is a very comfy, secure, medium-deep seat saddle. This saddle is perfect for the tall, long legged rider! One owner, this saddle was very lightly used and is in pristine condition, no flaws. Comes with excellent condition Voltaire saddle cover, no fittings. Located in Wisconsin.

Devoucoux. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

Devoucoux Socoa Jump Saddle

Great condition Devoucoux Socoa jump saddle. Soft leather, great condition. 17.5 inch seat, 2A flap. Trial available. Located in Wisconsin.

Passier. Photo via Sport Horse Nation.

Passier Optimum Dressage Saddle 17″

Year: 2002. Bought new in 2008 from Millbrook Tack in Michigan. Condition: Used. Size: 17″. Tree: Medium – 27.5cm. Kept in a cover and cleaned after every use. In great used condition, some minor flaws shown in pics. Any questions, feel free to ask. Taking a break from horses because of my career and don’t want this to sit! Super comfortable and stitching in excellent shape. More photos available.

From the manufacturer: This exclusive dressage saddle by Passier is designed to be particularly easy on the horse. It also conveys an exclusive feeling to the rider which is why it is chosen by professional riders. The Optimum is designed to ensure the perfect riding position. The panel design of this very good looking dressage saddle ensures an optimum fit to the horse’s back.

Located in Illinois.

Listings included in this article are randomly selected and confirmed to be current and active before inclusion. Sport Horse Nation features user-generated content and therefore cannot verify or make any warranty as to the validity or reliability of information.