Classic Eventing Nation

Record Number of Trainers Accepted for 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover

By on Feb 1, 2018 11:00 am -

Emily Daignault-Salvaggio and Gin Joint, winners of the Field Hunter division at the 2015 Thoroughbred Makeover. Photo by Heather Benson.

The Retired Racehorse Project announced today that a record 794 trainers have been accepted to compete at the 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, held Oct. 4-7 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

The record number of trainers highlights the growing popularity of the Thoroughbred Makeover, which accepted 578 trainers in 2017 to give a 37% increase in trainers that will compete in 2018.

“The feedback on applicants from the selection committee was overwhelmingly positive, and we’re thrilled to welcome another class of quality trainers to this special community we’ve created,” Kirsten Green, RRP’s Director of Operations, said.

“Over the coming months, each of these 794 talented trainers will invest hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars in the future of their chosen horses. When you add all that up, that’s a pretty remarkable impact on the value of these horses.”

The Thoroughbred Makeover is a training competition open to professionals, amateurs and juniors, in 10 different disciplines: barrels, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, field hunters, polo, ranch work, show hunters, show jumpers and freestyle. A winner is crowned in each discipline, and then spectators vote for the horse that most inspires them to become America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred.

Of the 794 trainers, 231 have entered to compete in the eventing category, including Elisa Wallace, Sally Cousins, Cathy Wieschhoff, Richard Picken, Nick Larkin, Clark Montgomery, Erika Nesler, Natalia Neneman, Jacob Fletcher and Maya Simmons. Click here to see the full list of accepted trainers.

In addition to four-star event riders, the trainers also include U.S. Dressage Federation gold medalists, A-circuit hunter riders, Grand Prix show jumpers, high-goal polo players, decorated barrel racers and prominent members of the racing industry.

The trainers represent 40 states and the District of Columbia, as well as three Canadian provinces. Professionals make up 46% of the trainers, with 42% declared as amateurs and 12% declared as juniors. The youngest trainer is 11 years old, with the oldest trainer 71 years old.

The 2017 America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred Old Tavern with trainer Charlie Caldwell. Photo courtesy of Retired Racehorse Project.

Polo player Charlie Caldwell, who trained the 2017 overall winner Old Tavern, said to him the Thoroughbred Makeover is about “quietly and patiently giving my horse a chance to succeed” in a second career after the racetrack.

“Winning the Makeover came with national support, which definitely encouraged me to continue my interest in making my own polo ponies,” Charlie said, “but more importantly, the true winners of the Makeover were the hundreds of Thoroughbreds who have and will continue to find careers after racing. This competition brings great awareness to our horse community.”

A new website dedicated exclusively to the Thoroughbred Makeover launched today at www.tbmakeover.org. Accepted trainers can now manage their entries on the website and can now start registering the horses they intend to compete.

The horses selected to compete will all have a maximum of 10 months of retraining by the time the Thoroughbred Makeover takes place in October. About one-third of the horses that compete will also be available to purchase through the Thoroughbred Makeover Horse Sale. Asking prices at the 2017 sale ranged from $3,000 to $30,000, with an average sale price of $9,100.

“The Thoroughbred Makeover has clearly engaged the commercial and recreational sides of the horse industry in the important work of transitioning these horses to secure futures,” RRP President Steuart Pittman said.

“It has also become the greatest horse shopping event of the year. Nowhere else in America can buyers view hundreds of sport horse prospects at reasonable prices with proven soundness and a solid foundation of training. The 2018 Makeover will be bigger and better than ever.”

Click here to read more information about the trainers selected to compete in the 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover. We wish the best of luck to all the trainers!

[794 Trainers Accepted to Compete at 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover]

Event Rider Masters Announces 2018 Series Calendar

By on Feb 1, 2018 9:22 am -

The 2017 Series Championship Prize Giving with Gemma Tattersall (middle), Sarah Cohen (right) and Sir Mark Todd (left). Photo credit to Event Rider Masters.

Event Rider Masters has unveiled the 2018 series calendar, with three legs in the United Kingdom and three legs in continental Europe, including a new leg added at Concours Complet d’Arville in Belguim.

The 2018 Event Rider Masters prize fund of £350,000 makes it the richest series in the sport. With a prize fund of £50,000 for each UK leg and €57,000 for each European leg, the riders also compete for an additional £50,000 prize awarded to the 2018 Series Champion.

The 2018 Event Rider Masters series calendar is confirmed as:

May 12-13 – Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials – Derbyshire, England

May 18-19 – Internationales Wiesbadener Pfingstturnier – Wiesbaden, Germany

June 23-24 – Concours Complet d’Arville – Arville, Belguim

July 7-8 – St. James’s Place Barbury Castle International Horse Trials – Wiltshire, England

July 14-15 – Haras de Jardy – Marnes-la-Coquette, France

August 25-26 – Blair Castle International Horse Trials – Perthshire, Scotland

“I enjoyed the pressure of the 2017 series and cannot wait to set my season around the 2018 series with my team of horses,” 2017 Series Champion Gemma Tattersall said. “The new event at Arville will be a challenge, and the even mix between UK and Europe will definitely increase the International competition within the series.”

All legs of the series will once again be streamed live for free on eventridermasters.tv, incorporating SAP technology like the Spectator Judging app for dressage and live virtual tracking of riders on cross country. We also expect to see EquiRatings return as the Official Statistics Providers.

Henrike Paetz, SAP’s Global Head of Equestrian Program, said, “ERM is a great way to demonstrate SAP’s approach to sports sponsorship. The innovations we are creating with ERM are an exciting way to bring fans and media closer to the sport and showcase the power of SAP technology.”

Chris Stone, CEO of Event Rider Masters, said the 2018 series will continue to “push the boundaries” of how eventing is showcased to the world.

“The expansion into mainland Europe with the addition of Arville embraces the truly global nature of eventing and will definitely make the competition more intense,” Chris said. “With the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon in September, we are expecting to see international eventing superstars and their teams using the competitive ERM series as part of their build up.”

Click here to read the full announcement about the 2018 series calendar. Go Eventing.

Follow Event Rider Masters: www.eventridermasters.tv
Twitter: @EventRiderMstrs
Facebook: @Event Rider Masters
Instagram: @EventRiderMasters
YouTube: www.youtube.com/eventridermasters

Thursday News & Notes from Nupafeed

By on Feb 1, 2018 12:10 am -

Trying to take your horse’s photo when he has no concept of personal space. Photo by Madison Davies.

Look, I love young horses, maybe more than the average person. What I don’t necessarily love is when they discover fun new ways to become airborne during normal type activities. My OTTB, Turkey, is feeling really great lately, and has developed a love for acrobatics worked into everyday life. He can kick out one hind leg, throw one front leg out front, squirrel his head, and continue trotting on the bit all at one time. Sometimes, when he’s feeling really hilarious, he also throws in a black stallion style rear in the middle too. Like, dude, we get it, it’s nice to be flexible, but enough already.

National Holiday: National Baked Alaska Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Three Lakes H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

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

Galway Downs Winter H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Results]

News From Around the Globe:

Advanced is a go at Carolina International! The event issued this clarification: “Due to an error in our Omnibus listing, we would like to clarify that an Advanced division WILL be offered at this year’s Carolina International CIC & Horse Trial. The Advanced division will have dressage on Friday, March 23, cross country on Saturday, March 24, and show jumping on March 25.” [Carolina International]

Allison Springer was spreading her knowledge at a clinic recently about communicating with all ages of horses. “As trainers, we need to ask questions that they can answer. Deliberate, simple questions.” Allison worked with a group of riders on the turn on the forehand to increase their responsiveness to aids, and help the horses wait for their riders before jumping to conclusions with their bodies. [Video: Eventing Training Online]

Did you recently get a new horse? Yeah, we can tell. You’re in the honeymoon phase. You know, the one where you can’t stop taking “cute” photos of him/her and telling everyone about their funny quirks (please note the photo and paragraph above about MY cute new horse) and you lie awake at night fantasizing about what you’re going to do tomorrow with the aforementioned cute new horse. Who needs a real honeymoon when you have this? [6 Signs You’re In The Honeymoon Phase with a New Horse]

Stretching your horse before riding: yay or neigh? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist). Seriously though, when done correctly, stretches for your horse on a daily basis can really improve their performance under saddle. Like anything though, you kinda have to know what you’re doing, and just randomly stretching them doesn’t really help as much as having an equine physiotherapist tell you how to get the most out of your time. [How to Stretch to Improve Suppleness]

She got ELEVEN 10’s on this test. Eleven!!

 

Wednesday Video from Kentucky Performance Products: Rocking Horse Helmet Cam Triple Play

By on Jan 31, 2018 4:00 pm -

At her first event of the year, Elisa Wallace was busy competing four horses at four different levels during the Rocking Horse Winter I Horse Trials. She’s uploaded helmet cam footage from three of the four cross country rounds, so sit back and enjoy the rides!

Elisa and the Simply Priceless Syndicate’s 17-year-old Australian Thoroughbred, Simply Priceless, better known as ‘Johnny,’ knocked the rust off at Intermediate level, adding 2.4 time penalties to finish in tenth place. We can’t wait to watch them run around Kentucky in April!

Elisa and Riot Gear, a 9-year-old Oldenburg owned by Vicki and Steve Sukup, scored a 23.7 in dressage (wow!) and added a handful of time on cross country (Riot apparently took some issue to a flock of birds) to finish seventh in Open Preliminary.

‘Baby horse’ Reloaded, a 5-year-old Thoroughbred owned by Hooked on Ridin, rocked around his first Novice double clear and finished on his dressage score for eighth place.

Elisa’s fourth ride, Hooked On Ridin’s 6-year-old Thoroughbred Fly With Me, also went double clear on cross country at Training level.

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Sorry, Folks: No Budweiser Clydesdale Super Bowl Commercial This Year

By on Jan 31, 2018 1:00 pm -

If you’re one of the many equestrians who watch the Super Bowl expressly so you can eat junk food and watch the annual masterpiece that is the cinematic Budweiser Clydesdale commercial, I have a bit of bad news this year: there is no Budweiser Clydesdale commercial.

For some of us (such as myself) this is kind of good news, because I usually have to excuse myself from the room so I can dab at my eyes in private. (The draft horses, man! They just GET me!)

For most of us, however, this is kind of a rip. Budweiser did attempt to mollify what it probably foresaw as a wave of public outcry, however, and released this Internet spot, featuring a noble Clyde thundering all over the country like some sort of harbinger of beer:

Well, it’s better than nothing. (This ad will also run on TV on the days after the game.)

Budweiser has also promised that it will again be hosting its Clydesdale Super Bowl party, so you can keep an eye out for a quick spot during the game’s many commercial breaks that will let you know where you can watch the big horses on live cam just being horses. (Or, you know, you can go outside and look at your own horses. That works too.)

Until 2019, when we hope that the Clydesdales will be back for some Super Bowl tear-jerker action, here are the best big-game commercials from the past few years. Enjoy!

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009 (bonus: there were two this year!)

2010

2011 wasn’t very Clydesdale-y, so we skipped it… moving on to 2012:

2013

2014

2015

Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section!

As seen on …

On the Road Again with Eventing 25 Emerging Athlete Hallie Coon

By on Jan 31, 2018 11:00 am -

The Emerging Athlete Eventing 25 winter training session wrapped up earlier this month in Ocala, Florida, January 8-11. We are excited to introduce you to some of the riders making their debut on the E25 list, which can be viewed here. Today: Hallie Coon!

Hallie Coon and Celien. Photo by Jenni Autry.

When you think of eventing microcosms, Maine is about as far from the opulence and opportunity of the Ocala scene as it gets. But for industrious Hallie Coon, location has always been a mere detail in her quest to build a career as one of the country’s most promising talents.

“I had two older sisters who evented, and my grandmother and aunts evented too, so it definitely ran in the family,” she explains. “We got to ride at Ledyard Farm, which was so influential in the sport in Area I, so it was a great taste of what international eventing was really like. You don’t get to experience that a lot up north.”

The family influence offered valuable connections and education as Hallie became more entrenched in the sport. Her older sister worked for Mark Donovan, now showjumping course designer at the Carolina International, and when she was 16 Hallie got her first taste of wintering in Ocala.

“I trained with someone different every year, and took different things from everyone. I started to spend my summers wherever I could base myself and my horses — Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts — and then I’d come down to Ocala and use all of those resources and further my career.”

Now, she splits her year between Hollis, New Hampshire, and Ocala, basing herself with Shannon Baker and training with E25 coach Leslie Law and the O’Connors, who are next door neighbours to Shannon’s Ocala base.

“They’ve been really helpful, and I’m looking forward to learning more from them this year,” says Hallie. The 2018 season is set to be her biggest one yet: With her top horse Celien, she has her sights set on accomplishing some huge career goals.

Hallie Coon and Celien. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

“I’ve applied for the Karen Stives Emerging Athlete Grant, which, if I’m successful, I’ll use to go to Bramham in the United Kingdom,” she says. “It would be my first time abroad and to do the two competitions would be a great experience.”

Bramham’s Under-25 CCI3* is one of the most prestigious competitions at the level, and a good result at the Yorkshire venue can be the catalyst for a very successful senior career. Hallie hopes to pair the trip with an entry to the CICO3* at Norfolk’s Houghton Hall — the UK’s Nations Cup competition.

Despite a stop-and-start 2017, Celien relishes a challenge and Hallie has high hopes for her this year.

“I’ve had her since she was a coming-six-year-old,” she says. “I bought her sight unseen off of a very blurry video from Belgium, and I never even saw her trot before she hit the ground here. It was all just a gut feeling that I had about her.”

The gut feeling paid off as Celien climbed the levels at an astronomical pace, completing her first Advanced just a year and a half after her Novice debut.

Hallie Coon and Celien. Photo by Kasey Mueller.

“Nothing could hold her back and she just wanted to be challenged. I’d never normally do that with a horse, but nothing was hard for her — I kept moving her up and she kept answering the questions. 2017 wasn’t our best year to date, I’d say — our season started a bit late as Celien had a minor injury in the spring. I got her back for the three-star at Bromont and she ended up choking on her hay on the morning of cross country. She was cleared to go but in hindsight, I shouldn’t have run her. I ended up retiring her early on course as she just wasn’t quite herself.”

An easy spin in the Intermediate at Jersey Fresh saw her back on form, finishing second on her dressage score, and another strong performance at Great Meadow — “a fantastic venue, which we both love” — put the pair on track to finish their season on a high, until a minor tweak while galloping downhill at Millbrook knocked them out of contention for Fair Hill. But Hallie isn’t one to feel sorry for herself — instead, she has focused on her plans for 2018, and on her talented string of up-and-comers, too.

Both Lansdowne, owned by Shannon, and Hallie’s own Azrael finished the season with strong two-star results — Lansdowne placed third in the CCI2* at Virginia and Azrael finished well at the Ocala CCI2* in November. The two OTTBs — half-brothers, out of the same dam — will contest their first three-star at Jersey Fresh in the spring.

Hallie Coon and Lansdownne. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

No matter which way her season goes with Celien, Hallie is optimistic and excited about the opportunities that the year ahead will bring. She is also planning to do an embryo transfer out of Celien this year and is currently researching stallions to make the the right match.

“I think it’s going to be an absolutely fantastic year, between the E25 and all my young horses — I don’t get much more excited about anything than that!”

Go eventing, and go Hallie!

A Hollywood Story: May 2, 1992 – Jan. 30, 2018

By on Jan 31, 2018 8:45 am -

The longtime partnership of Kelly Sult-Ransom and her OTTB four-star mount Hollywood filled many within the eventing community with inspiration, and we were saddened to learn of his passing at age 25 yesterday. Carleigh Fedorka penned this tribute to the great horse on her blog, A Yankee in Paris, and kindly allowed EN to share with our readers and fellow Hollywood fans. 

Kelly Sult-Ransom and Hollywood, AKA “Reggie.” Photo by Lisa Tossey.

There are horses you love for yourself. There are horses you love for others. And there are horses that you have never met and feel a connection to. And when we lose that love, that connection to one of the greats, it hurts more than a shot to the heart.

This morning, we lost one. And today, so many of us are feeling that pain.

A few weeks ago, while lamenting at the decline of our sport of eventing, I got into an argument with a group of friends. They argued that our sport has become one of money. The wealthy can afford the imports, the FEI events, and the fancy trainers. And while the wealthy rise, us lowly average middle-classed people stays stagnant.

We can’t afford to go south for the winter. We can’t afford to buy a 3* horse, or go shopping in Europe. And because of that, our chances at the big leagues are infinitesimal.

But I argued. I had seen it happen. I had seen one get there – both rider and horse. And I had had the honor of following it simply by luck.

Kelly Sult and I had grown up in Pony Club together, both members of the Lost Hounds Pony Club. We competed against each other on similar type ponies – hers named Hooter and mine named Chocolate, and we both outgrew them at roughly the same time. And then as so many do, we both moved onto bay thoroughbreds.

Kelly and Hooter. Photo courtesy of Kelly Sult.

Only hers was different.

Because I remember Reggie before he was Hollywood. Before he had jumped around some of the largest tracks in North America. I remember him as the recusant maverick of the barn. The horse no one wanted to ride, nonetheless own. I remember his tall lanky body, and his feared hind legs. I remember his owner lamenting of her fear of him, and the trainer’s response that he was nuts.

And I remember Kelly coming and taking him, and beginning their journey. She wasn’t a professional rider by any means; in fact, she was just a kid. But in a family where a retired 4* horse or an import wasn’t an option, she took a chance.

Because where others saw fear, Kelly saw the look of eagles.

Photo by Lisa Tossey.

And she will be the first to say that it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies at first. They were eliminated from their first event with three stops at the water. Added another 60 at their second event at that same obstacle. But once they got him over that fear, there was no looking back.
And she just ticked off the levels, one at a time.

Kelly and I moved into different phases of our lives at this time, but I always followed along from afar. I appreciated her try. I appreciated knowing that someone could get up the levels with little more than natural ability, help from family and friends, a good horse, and a whole hell of a lot of try.

I journeyed North for college while she kept riding. Kept trying. She didn’t train with the big boys, and she didn’t buy the fanciest tack. Her father, a truck driver, purchased every book he could find on eventing, and he became her eyes on the ground. Her mother and sister came and groomed at every event they could. And her team from back in Erie, PA, and its surrounding areas cheered from afar whenever we could.

Kelly and her father on the ground. Photo by Lisa Tossey.

And I remember sitting in my father’s hospital room in Pittsburgh in 2008 trying to convince him to watch Rolex. With one eye on the screen and the other on the chemotherapy dripping into his veins, I can vividly remember hearing the name “Kelly Sult” come over the quiet volume, and turning my eyes up to the screen. I remember my fathers lack of interest in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event suddenly being perked when he realized we knew “that girl” from home.

For a few hours my father pretended to be interested in eventing. For a few hours we spoke of horses without fighting. Without screaming. For a few hours, this daring young rider covered in purple and her rugged thoroughbred distracted us from the world. From the pain. And I will forever be indebted to them for that.

Soon after that inaugural Rolex (where she placed 14th and was the highest placed young rider) I moved to Lexington, KY, and got to see Kelly more often. With Area 8 eventing extending from Northwestern, PA, all the way to the Bluegrass, we attended many of the same events, and her family was always quick to lend a helping hand to a fellow Lost Hounder, or video a round for me. We would get to catch up, and I would always ask about Reggie, that bullish thoroughbred I had known since way back. She would always giggle, and say that Reggie was still Reggie. The man of the barn. Her heart horse.

And each April, my family would reconvene around the rolling hills of the Kentucky Horse Park, along with hundreds of other riders from my home grounds of PA, we would all search for that beautiful glistening bay with his ears up and his eyes searching. We would all cheer for Team Hollywood and scream as “one of us” made it around from one massive obstacle to the next.

Reggie ran his last Rolex in 2011, at the age of 19. He didn’t know his own age, but Kelly knew he was ready. He deserved a retirement of lush grass and turn out. Occasionally he packed around her kids for up/down lessons. Occasionally she swung on for a hack or to pony a young horse. But at the end of the day, he just enjoyed his time as the leader of the farm. The big man. The one who turned her into the rider she now was and forever will be.

Photo by Lisa Tossey.

And this morning, after a beautiful day of sunshine in Pennsylvania yesterday, Reggie took him last breath. He did it with poise. He did it with grace. Just like he had done so much of his career.

For almost 20 years now, we have all been blessed by this horse. And now, on January 30th, 2018, we are all heartbroken.

And I say “we” because this team, this duo of unlikely ability, was an emblem to so many of us. For all of us at Erie Hunt & Saddle Club. All of us at Lost Hounds Pony Club. All of us in the Tri-State Region, and all of us from Area 8 eventing.

Reggie and Kelly showed us that you didn’t need a last name. You didn’t need a fancy pedigree. You didn’t need to train with an Olympian. You didn’t need to have a team of working students, or a trust fund.

Reggie was a beacon of the heart and soul that the thoroughbred breed encompasses. He showed so many what was possible if the horse is matched with the right rider. He proved to so many that taking a chance doesn’t always equate failure. He was everything that we hope to find in our next mount, and more. And at the end of the day, Kelly allowed him to be that horse.

I am so saddened for Kelly.

I am so saddened for her sister and her parents.

I am so saddened for her entire support crew.

But at the same time, I’m so happy.

I’m so happy I got to witness this journey. I am so happy Kelly got to be on it. I am so happy that we got to see this unfold. To see the path that can be paved if you just match the right rider with the right horse, work your ass off, and believe.

I am so happy that Reggie found his girl. And I am so happy that he left us with grace. In peace.

They say that when horses die of old age, they are finally free. From the aches and pains of a long career. From the slow and steady gaits they used to never know. I believe that is true here, and that Reggie is finally freed of a body that has aged more quickly than a mind.

So today, I hope he is running that Rolex track yet again. Soaring over the hammock and diving into the head of the lake. And if we look into the sky tonight, maybe we’ll just see a streak of purple as the sun sets and the clouds fade on another day. I know that’ll be Reggie racing the clouds. Running free. Running happy.

We’ll miss you Reggie. You were truly one of the greats.

Wednesday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Jan 31, 2018 12:01 am -

Courtney Cooper knows it takes a village. Photo via Courtney Cooper’s FB page.

Like Courtney Cooper’s barn, the working students at my barn are absolutely the lifeblood of my trainer’s operation, keeping things flowing smoothly on a daily basis. Being a working student is a tough job, for those with grit and tenacity, with long days and lonely days off. So thank the ladies and gents who know the ins and outs of your horse better than you!

National Holiday: Backwards Day

On-going Events:

Stable View H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Three Lakes H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Results]

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

Galway Downs Winter H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Results]

National Holiday: National Peanut Butter Day

Your Wednesday News & Notes:

The USEA trophy for Adult Amateur of the Year is named in honor of Col. Allen D. Smith. Col. Smith was an avid amateur who chaired Area V in the 90s and was serving his second term on the USEA Board of Governers when he suddenly passed away at age 64. The award for our nation’s highest ranking amateur honors his legacy to the sport. [Trophy Tales]

Be extraordinarily careful when working around horses while they are still on the trailer. British eventer Anna Cheney was bandaging her horse on the trailer to stay out of poor weather before traveling home when the young horse panicked. Anna suffered some broken bones but is expected to make a full recovery due to the fact that she was still wearing her helmet when the incident occurred. [Horsebox Accident]

The Meyerhoffs stress the importance of a variety of footings. Eventer Bobby Meyerhoff and his wife, jumper-rider Danica, stress that mixing up the types of surfaces the horses ride on can be more beneficial in the long run to keeping the horses sound. A variety of surfaces puts the stress on different portions of the leg, instead of pounding on the same structures day after day. [Change Your Footing]

Best of the Blogs: A Hollywood Story

SmartPak Product of the Day: I know it seems warm-ish out there right now in some parts of the country but don’t worry…winter isn’t over yet! If you’re stuck in a cold or snowy climate for the next couple of months, think about some pants to go over your breeches and boots to keep you dry and warm. [SmartPak]

Rest In Peace, Hollywood

By on Jan 30, 2018 7:30 pm -

Kelly and Reggie at the Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Lisa Tossey.

We are saddened to share the news that Kelly Sult-Ransom’s OTTB powerhouse Hollywood passed away today at the age of 25.

By Mighty Adversary and out of Reckless Knight, Reggie raced under the name Mightyreckless. Despite the blood of racing legends Native Dancer, Nasrullah and War Admiral running through his veins, he didn’t excel on the track. After 12 starts and less than $700 earned, he entered the next phase of his life where he met Kelly.

It was love at first sight for 13-year-old Kelly, and despite Reggie’s nasty reputation, she and her father, Mark Sult, started training the young ex-racehorse. It was not smooth sailing initially — at their first event they were eliminated at the water — but Kelly didn’t give up.

Kelly and Reggie. Photo by Lisa Tossey.

She kept believing in her cheeky OTTB, and her persistence paid off. Soon they were tearing around at the Advanced level and earning a 6th place finish in the two-star at at NAJYRC in 2007. The following year they made their four-star debut, finishing 14th as the highest placed young rider at the Kentucky Three-Day Event.

After four more successful completions at the CCI4* level, Kelly retired Reggie sound and happy, taking pride in the OTTB that she and her father trained themselves all the way.

“He was my heart horse who started everything for me! Brought so many people together and brought smiles to everyone around him,” Kelly said in a Facebook post. “He was a quirky dude that I will never forget and will thank him daily for everything he has done for me!”

“He gave me wings to fly around Rolex four-star four times and gave me so many opportunities to be at the top of the sport while giving me his heart through everything! I LOVE YOU REGGIE!”

Go Reggie.

Tuesday Video from SpectraVet: A Little Trot Through the Water

By on Jan 30, 2018 5:00 pm -

Hang on tight! This Tuesday video may give you some sympathy whiplash. I’ve seen some eager beavers on their introduction to water, but none so eager as this…

Hats off to Margot Curtis for sitting this wild ride, and, like any respectable rider, for asking if her friend caught it on video. She’s definitely put herself in the running for the 2018 EN Stickability Award!

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