Classic Eventing Nation

Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: The Hardest Thing About Riding Horses …

By on Jan 26, 2018 5:30 pm -

https://www.instagram.com/p/BebTuJvgXI0

… is the ground, natch. But just as there’s a million different ways to clear a fence — some more impressive than others — there’s a million different ways of hitting the deck, too. Sometimes, in the process of finding the ground with your face, you find a few skills you never even knew you had, too. This week, we’re ushering in the weekend with a selection of first-class falls – some remarkably acrobatic, some cringe-inducing, and mostly all just plain funny.*

*NB: no horses, ponies, or riders were hurt in the making of these videos. Okay, okay, perhaps there were a few dented egos. And maybe a couple of cameramen with aching sides. 

Ever dreamed of running away to join the circus? So has this intrepid soul, who has perfect her inter-species leapfrog routine. To complete the look? Just add tutus.

https://www.facebook.com/horsepeoplesMind/videos/1539019916134089/

Even at the best of times, handstands are hard. The bum-to-gravity ratio just never seems to stack up. No such problems for this kiddo, who not only gets beats the odds against momentum, but manages to look SO zen while doing it. Impressive. Props to her pony, too, who evidently has a second career as a cheerleading spotter.

Have you ever seen anything quite so meticulously planned as this horse’s scheme to shed his rider and head home early? As easily as placing the angel atop the Christmas tree, Barbie’s Dream Horse gets exactly what he wants, when he wants it. #BeMoreLikeBarbiesDreamHorse

Turns out there are plenty of horses out there with a point to prove. This happy chap decided it would be more fun to complete his showjumping round alone — but his rider didn’t give in easily. I’m not sure what’s more impressive; the fall, or the solo jumping.

Did you think we’d get through this without a resurgence of this, the best hatcam video of all time? Shamrock used to be a racehorse, and sometimes Shamrock likes to relive his glory days. There are some naughty words in this one (but let’s face it, we’ve all been there). WOAH, SHAMROOOOOCK!

Totally blown away by the runaway success of ‘Woah Shamrock’! 1.7 million hits and counting – thank you all so much for viewing and sharing the video in it’s infancy.

Posted by Woah Shamrock on Friday, March 24, 2017

Horses, eh — who’d have them?!

Best of HN: ‘New to Horses’ Meets ‘Been There Done That’

By on Jan 26, 2018 1:00 pm -

Pixabay/CC

I was recently inspired to write this following a conversation with my dear friend who is just diving — perhaps I should say cannon-balling — into horse ownership for the very first time. She had no previous experience with horses until last year, when her 13-year-old daughter began taking lessons.

Quite happily half-leasing my lovely mare, my friend was gradually wading into barn-life, one inexperienced toe at a time. She was pleased to see her daughter happy during lessons and content to shed any horse-related questions or concerns alongside her muddy boots until the following week’s session.

All that changed when an acquaintance — who had seen pictures of her daughter on Facebook riding a fabulous jet-black beauty — contacted her with a “special opportunity.”

This acquaintance was moving and needed a new home for her gelding.

Of course, my friend, having limited knowledge of horse-keeping, let alone how one determines whether or not an animal is healthy and of good temperament and would be suitable for a beginner like her daughter, did what most people would do when faced with a gift horse…

She put up a fence and built a lean-to.

Many of us take for granted the little things that occur while owning and caring for a horse, forgetting that inexperienced (adorably optimistic) beginners aren’t familiar — yet — with many of those normal horsey “events.”

Which brings me to the conversation (via texts) with my friend:

Friend: “Oh my gosh!!! When we went out to the pasture this morning, we found Novio [the gift-horse] with his feet like this…

[insert pic of rear hooves with white lines visible on coronary bands] …

“My uncle is visiting and he said he thinks it’s White-Line disease…”

[…continued expressions of dread…]

It had been raining for several days, and as Novio isn’t stabled, I explained that the white-ish band was a perfectly normal result occurring when a horse has his feet wet for an extended period of time. Crisis averted. But not before the bewildered gelding received a Clorox wash recommended by out-of-town-uncle-who-once-worked-with-a-guy-whose-brother-had-horses. Oy.

The thing is, when you don’t know for yourself, it’s quite natural to accept the advice of someone with more “experience.” However, confirming said expertise before using Uncle Jim-Bob’s peppermint-and-moonshine remedy is definitely a wiser course of action (and all the horses say amen).

Before you scoff at my silly friend… let’s be honest, most of us have experienced similar situations along our own journeys.

The thing is — I didn’t write this to shame my friend. It’s more of a friendly reminder for those of us in the equine “been there, done that” crowd to reflect on our days as “newbies” and the horsey-freak-outs we experienced ourselves… so we can encourage our beginner pals instead of rolling our eyes at them.

It’s also a salute to those “new-to-horses” folks, for recognizing a special passion and being brave enough to build a barn in their backyards.

SO, to you moms who do not have the horse-bug, but whose children definitely do…

Thank you.

Without those of you — like my newbie-friend — willing to plunge into this crazy world of saddles, helmets, fences, and farriers, there would be kids sitting at the beginning of their journey with bags packed full of passion flung on the dusty ground beside them.

Without someone to care enough to “book the trip,” these young people, born with an invisible link between horses and themselves, wouldn’t have the chance to even begin their greatest adventure.

I was one of those kids on that platform of dreams! My parents knew nothing about horses, but they understood that my heart would know its most happy state only if I could fill it with horses.

And here’s to all the “later-in-life-newbies,” just beginning their own journey with these amazing animals. All the accompanying highs and lows will no doubt make you laugh and cry (a lot)… good luck and hang on tight!

Now for those of you who eat, sleep and breathe all things horse, who have more pictures of old Lightning than of your children, and whose car retains hint-of-barn no matter how many air fresheners you have dangling from the mirror… if you know a newbie who ends up in a “free horse” situation, or does the proverbial leap before looking when buying one… try not to have your first observation be that the horse is slightly pigeon-toed, or that they’re totally gonna need a trainer, when the amateur calls upon you for advice.

Instead, try to help this person make the best choices they can, knowing that soon enough they’ll find out if the horse really is the best gift ever, not suitable at all, or indeed, if they even want to stick with the whole “horse thing.”

Whatever happens, offer kind advice, remembering that not all people are horse people like you, but everyone should have the right to hop aboard the Equine Express, even if it’s only for a brief trip or they are just traveling as baggage attendants (the boot polishing, hair braiding, girth tightening mommas).

Be patient and understanding… especially when the newbie calls in a tizzy over the tiny yellow things stuck on their horse’s legs, or when she discovers the chestnuts and assumes they are tumors.

Sometimes all you can do is laugh and then thank the good Lord that your newbie days have long since passed.

Go riding.

Pixabay/CC

Sara Shelley is a writer, who enjoys her family of “nineteen” (husband, three kids, one horse, one dog, three cats, six chickens, a turtle and three fish) surviving the resulting chaos only through faith, and a well-developed sense of humor. She spends as much time as she can riding her horse, and making memories with her clan.

Get to Know Tsetserleg: Boyd Martin’s Small But Mighty Mount

By on Jan 26, 2018 11:00 am -

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg at Fair Hill International 2017. Photo by Shelby Allen.

It’s fitting to equate one of Boyd Martin’s newer mounts, Tsetserleg, to Clark Kent. Day by day in training he’s good, but unassuming — even mediocre at times. It’s not until he’s at a competition does the 16.1-hand gelding show his true colors and transform into Superman … but only for the right person.

“He can be a mediocre performer at the barn, but he loves his job and turns it on at shows,” says Tsetserleg’s owner, Christine Turner of Indian Creek Farm. “He would do anything for his rider — if he likes them — and he loves Boyd.”

Boyd echoes that Thomas has been a bit of a “sleeper,” only truly showing what he’s capable of in competition: “He doesn’t ‘wow’ you at home, but when he gets to a competition he grows to 17.2-hands and jumps as high as you want to jump and moves like Totilas.”

“He’s a funny little character — he’s got a bit of an awkward jump, but he’s a real trier and a pleasure to have,” says Boyd.

A ‘Dark Horse’ Prospect

Christine first laid eyes on Tsetserleg as a 5-year-old at Tim and Cheryl Holekamp’s New Spring Farm, where he was bred. A mentor to Christine, Dr. Holekamp is a longtime supporter of the USEA’s Instructor Certification Program as well as the American Trakehner Association, and their Missouri farm has been home to a number of clinics and inspections over the years. It was at one such inspection that the young black horse turned Christine’s head — but he wasn’t what they were there to see that day, nor was he even being inspected.

The Turners had originally come to the Holekamps’ farm to look at Tupelo, a 3-year-old Trakehner mare who would end up taking reserve champion at the inspection after the Turners agreed to purchase her. Dr. Holekamp had tried to pique Christine’s interest in another Trakehner gelding at the farm, but Tsetserleg, a half-brother to Tupelo out of the same dam and sired by the famous stallion Windfall, caught her eye instead. When Christine learned that Tsetserleg’s barn name was Thomas, she knew it was meant to be.

“My husband is Thomas E. Turner IV and my daughter is Tommie, so it’s very much a family name,” she explains.

Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg at Fair Hill International 2017. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Shooting for the Stars

Thomas was campaigned to the two-star level by Michael Pollard. After the 2015 season, the Turners handed the reins over to Boyd Martin. Boyd got to know the gelding over the 2016 season, competing at the Intermediate/two-star level for the majority of the season before stepping up to Advanced at Stable View in October.

Through ups and downs, 2017 proved to be Thomas’ breakout year. Things started out quite promising with an Intermediate win at Pine Top and then a 4th place finish in Advanced at the same venue a couple of weeks later. The step up to three-star at Red Hills in March didn’t go quite as planned, with Boyd taking a tumble off the gelding at a triple brush near the end of the course.

“He couldn’t make the jump at Red Hills toward the end, but it was good for him to get the experience,” Christine recounts.

But Thomas bounced back with a vengeance and zipped around the Advanced track at The Fork a month later — probably the biggest course he had seen yet, according to Boyd — and claimed 2nd. His second CIC3* attempt came at Jersey Fresh later that spring. He and Boyd added only cross country time, on an exceptionally stormy day, to take 2nd again. The trend of success continued for the rest of the season, with the pair never finishing further down the leaderboard than 7th. They ended the 2017 season with an impressive 3rd in the Fair Hill International CCI3* thus crowning him USEF CCI3* National Reserve Champion, and subsequently Tsetserleg was awarded Performance Gold by the American Trakehner Association.

The Belief Pays Off

Thomas’ current success is made that much sweeter for the Turners as they remember the journey it took to get the slow-blooming gelding to this point. Christine has always believed that Tsetserleg was destined for great things — it just took some time to find his match.

“He has had to put up with a lot of trainers that were inexperienced or never believed in him,” she says. “Here I am going, ‘Look, I know he can do it!’ but who am I to them to tell them this? He came from being something that people never believed in to being a powerhouse with Boyd.”

Though it’s taken time for the gelding to blossom into the fierce competitor and proper upper-level horse that Christine knew he was capable of becoming, the sky’s the limit for the gelding with Boyd now in the saddle.

“I think he’s a proper four-star horse, but the biggest thing is he’s such a gutsy trier. At Fair Hill he impressed me in every single phase,” says Boyd. “Chris kept telling me over the last year that this horse was capable of anything. She was right. We must never underestimate a horse’s desire! It is very hard to measure at first sight.”

Photo by Shannon Brinkman via Der Trakehner.

Looking Ahead 

2018 is already off to a good start as Boyd and Thomas are the cover boys on the January issue of Germany’s Der Trakehner magazine. If all goes well, Thomas may get his four-star shot come April at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event.

“I leave it up to the professionals, Boyd and Erik Duvander, our new High Performance Coach, to decide what is best for Thomas and Boyd. We totally trust our rider and support them with whatever they decide,” Christine says.

“We are never let down when he says that he wants to take it easy, and we get excited when he wants to move up. We are hoping for Kentucky, but we know Boyd has a few others who may take that spot. We are just excited for whatever may happen!”

The Ins and Outs of the Test Ride

By on Jan 26, 2018 9:00 am -

Kathleen Murray and Ballynoe Castle RM performing the test ride at Kentucky in 2017. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Want to to ride at an FEI event or the AECs without “officially” qualifying or paying the entry fees? Consider doing the test ride. I rode three test rides last year that were invaluable. I got to expose my horse to an atmospheric venue, see how I might stack up against the competition, and improve my dressage scores in the events that followed.

The first time my name was put forward to test ride I was so excited. You mean I get to try out the cross country course before anyone else does? Heck yeah I’ll do it! Turns out the test ride is for dressage only. (What can I say? I was naïve but hopeful.)

Test riding takes place at competitions that require a panel of two or more judges: namely the CIC/CCI tests or the Preliminary through Advanced tests at the AECs. Judges use the test ride to get on the same page. More on the purpose of the test ride below from judge Mark Weissbecker.

Horse and rider requirements

You don’t have to be a professional or ride a fancy horse. Amateurs who can put down a clear and hopefully accurate test at the Preliminary+ levels are eligible.

I’m an amateur with a wonderful, steady OTTB. We’re solid in our partnership and he is willing and competent in the dressage phase (on most days). I was experienced riding the tests I agreed to ride and would not have felt comfortable doing them for the first time as a test rider. Other competitors who get tapped to test ride, especially at the Intermediate and Advanced levels, have never performed their test rides in competition and do just fine. Remember the terrific job done by Ballynoe Castle’s groom Kathleen Blauth Murray for last year’s Kentucky test ride?

I was nervous before my first test ride. But unless it’s a sentimental pair at a big-time event, the reality is that no one shows up to watch a test ride at the crack of dawn. My dressage coach, who is also a judge, told me my only goal was to ride a pleasant test. Basically, don’t go out there and try to make your horse into Totilas.

How the test ride works

The test ride takes place about 20 minutes before the first horse in the competition comes down the centerline. Your ride plays out as if you were competing in the dressage phase at the competition. You are assigned a time, pick up a packet with a number, complete a bit check, and leave your whip ringside (you are free to use it in warm-up). I braided. Later my tests were available for pick-up. They were marked and scored fully including summarizing comments. Big plus.

For one of the competitions I received complimentary tickets to the competitor meetings and parties. It was so nice to enjoy a few glasses of wine without the anxiety of competing the following day.

Kelly performing the test ride at the AECs: 

The purpose of the test ride

According to FEI licensed eventing and “S” judge Mark Weissbecker, one reason is for the judge at C and the judge on the side to familiarize themselves with the flow of the test. Another is to establish the critical relationship between the judge and scribe. “It can become a very long day in a very short period of time if good communication is not established early on.” (Also true for horse and rider!) He sees the test ride as an important part in “the ongoing effort to create a fair and equal field of play.”

While the judges may not score every movement the same, they want to agree on the requirements of the test and discuss any of the subtler aspects related to movements, directives or collectives.

Often the reason for different scores on a movement is the location of the judge.

“A shoulder-in on the long side,” Mark says, “might be scored higher by the judge at E who sees the quality of gait, fluency and outline as quite good — whereas the judge at C might note the lack of bend, position and suppleness which is not as evident from the side, thereby justifying a lower score.”

After one of my test rides, my husband watched the two judges come out of their booths and talk for a good five minutes. He saw the head judge at C mimicking the steps of the rein back, perhaps to review the essential requirements (good rhythm and active steps shown in diagonal pairs). For what it’s worth, mine received a 7.0 from the judge at C (“slightly hesitant”) and a 6.5 from the judge at E (“slight resistance”).

The best part for me was hearing the comment from the judge at C as I completed my test and left the ring. “What a pleasant start to the day. Thank you so much for doing this.” Exactly the goal my coach told me to focus on. The judge, coach and rider ended up on the same page.

If you want to test ride

Talk to your coach or instructor. Sometimes they get contacted to put names forward. I don’t see any harm in contacting the show organizer directly if you’re confident about doing a test ride. Ask around. Organizers and judges genuinely appreciate the test rider.

Friday News & Notes from SmartPak

By on Jan 26, 2018 12:03 am -

OK. I have to have one.

You guys. This is not a drill. You can have one of these unicorn bonnets. There is a real Etsy shop that sells “horse fashion, fly bonnets and unicorns”. I’m really, really tempted to get one, because not only are they really affordable, but imagine the photo shoot magic that I could have with a damned unicorn bonnet. I just think it would be the most incredible Instagram post ever. Hold me back, y’all.

National Holiday: National Peanut Brittle Day

U.S. Weekend Preview:

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

Full Gallop H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Live Results]

News From Around the Globe:

USEF has issued a clarification that in cases of FEI provisional suspensions, USEF reciprocates FEI rules. Specifically, FEI General Article 169.5.1, which states that suspended athletes may not participate in, or be present at, public events in any other capacity than as a spectator and/or auditor. I.e. An athlete’s suspension extends to events under the jurisdiction of the USEF as well as FEI events. [USEF FEI Reciprocity suspension rules — see page 78, GR615] [FEI Case Status Tables]

Even if you don’t follow show jumping, you should know who Harrie Smolders is. Even if it’s just because you know his unbelievable horse Emerald. Harrie had what can only be described as a phenomenal 2017 year, winning the Longines Global Champions Tour overall and ending the year as the second highest ranked rider in the world, amongst other big wins. He recently did an in-depth interview about his philosophies behind the success, his horse management techniques, and his competitive edge. It’s totally worth reading. [Smolders Smashes 2017]

Important Reminder: Horses Can Grow Insane Mustaches

Looking for a rags to riches, mustang to DQ story? Look no further than Marsha Hartford-Sapp and her mustang Cobra. Cobra was returned the to BLM three times prior to meeting Marsha, and was deemed unadoptable, but with some help he competed through Prix St Georges level, and also has now taken on the world of Western dressage. Oh, did I mention there is a country song about him? Yeah. [From Wild to World Champion]

The OTTB pre purchase exam: let’s open this can of worms. Just about everyone has a different opinion on PPE’s, and doing one on a racehorse is definitely recommended, because despite their relatively young age, they’ve had more miles than most other horses starting a new career. There are lots of considerations, and certainly no one right answer, but The Horse got Dr Janik Gasiowroski to talk about components to consider when getting a new OTTB. [OTTB Pre-Purchase Exams]

 

Thursday Videos: Equestrians Speak Out Against Bullying

By on Jan 25, 2018 5:00 pm -

Anti-bullying campaigns have garnered support within the eventing community. Photo by Tudor Rose Equine.

Social media has made it all too easy for people to speak negatively and indiscriminately toward others under the guise of relative anonymity. The breadth of cyber-bullying is boundless and sadly extends to our equestrian community — I’ve felt it here at Eventing Nation and have experienced the pain and anxiety of having been personally attacked on social media myself, and I’m sure many of you reading this have as well.

Despite anti-bullying campaigns like #NotOnMyYard which have gained momentum within our community, online assaults ranging from careless to downright cruel persist. Eventing Nation stands against bullying of any sort, and we salute those who are speaking out.

Among them: U.S. Dressage Olympian Robert Dover, who recently addressed the participants of his Horsemastership Training Week in January after learning that spiteful comments had been posted online about one of his students. He called on social media users to think before they post, especially when young people are involved.

“No matter what one tries to do that is good, there’s someone out there who’s a critic,” he said. “We’re looking for people to find their better angels.”

Equestrians of all ages and from all walks of the sport have voiced their concerns about bullying. A young rider, who posts on YouTube under the name JM Eventing, created and shared this video earlier this week:

We can all play a role in helping to “stop the hate” by being considerate and compassionate in how we choose to interact with others both online and in person.

Go Eventing.

Kentucky Three-Day Event Has $14.2 Million Economic Impact

By on Jan 25, 2018 3:00 pm -

Jessica Phoenix and Pavarotti at the 2017 Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

It’s called the “Best Weekend All Year” for a reason. A recent study from the University of Kentucky found that last year’s Kentucky Three-Day Event resulted in a $14.2 million impact on Kentucky’s economy.

More than 80,000 spectators from all 50 states attended the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2017. More than 80% of those who attended the event traveled from states outside Kentucky, and 35% were recurring visitors who had attended the event for more than six years. Just under 70% of visitors stayed for three nights or more during the event and spent $244 per day.

Mary Quinn Ramer, president of Visit Lex, said the event “is a sell-out weekend for Lexington’s hospitality community. It’s always a great pleasure to welcome riders and fans from across the globe to the Kentucky Horse Park every April. Our hotels, restaurants, and shops all appreciate the business generated during the three-day event and have come to know the fans and competitors as friends over the years.”

Lori Saunders, executive director of Georgetown/Scott County Tourism, said the event “has always been one of the busiest weekends in Georgetown. All of our lodging options are booked to capacity, and many of the event guests visit our location attractions. From our downtown shops and galleries to places like Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center, our community definitely feels the impact of this world-renowned event.”

While the local economy gets a big boost from the Kentucky Three-Day Event each year, charitable organizations also benefit from the mammoth impact of the competition. Equestrian Events Inc., the non-profit that organizes the event, has donated over $900,000 to local charities, such as New Vocations, Equine Land Conservation Resource and Kentucky Equine Humane Center.

The Kentucky Horse Park and Kentucky Horse Park Foundation have received more than $1 million in gifts and contributions from Equestrian Events Inc. over the last 40 years.

“A big part of our mission here at Equestrian Events is to donate to charities both local and national, equine and human,” Stewart Perry, president of the EEI Board of Directors, said. “We’ve been fortunate to have a wonderful, lasting relationship with the community, and it’s very important to us that we, in return, support the community that does so much for others in need. It brings us great joy to be able to give back to the community and support so many wonderful charities.”

The event has also named an “Official Charity of the Year” since 2014 to raise awareness and financial support for a local charity. Past charities have included Central Kentucky Riding for Hope in 2017, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in 2016, Horses and Hope in 2015, and Partners For Youth in 2014. The 2018 Official Charity of the Year has not yet been named.

Other fundraising efforts during the event also benefit the Official Charity. The fourth annual “Head Up Heels Down 5K” will take place on Friday, April 27 at this year’s event, with a portion of proceeds benefitting the Official Charity. Riders competing at the event also visit the University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital to spend time with patients undergoing treatment.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the 1978 World Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park, which developed into the Kentucky Three-Day Event. The Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event will be held April 26-29, 2018. Will you be there? Let us know in the poll below!

[Equestrian Events Inc. Makes Big Strides for “The Horse Capital of the World”]

Documentary to Chronicle Extraordinary Story of Kim Walnes and The Gray Goose

By on Jan 25, 2018 1:00 pm -

Kim Walnes and The Gray Goose at the 1986 Raynella Horse Trials in Australia. Photo by Peter Gower.

“I am a very ordinary person, who happens to have had a very powerful dream.”

Kim Walnes and The Gray Goose’s journey to the top is the most unlikely story. A young mother who didn’t start eventing until she was 28 years old, Kim competed in her first horse trials with “Gray” when he was an unruly 6-year-old.

Two years later they were competing at the Advanced level, and heads turned when they were the only pair to make the time on the Intermediate course at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 1979, which had hosted the World Championships the year prior.

That speedy cross country run earned them an invitation to train with the U.S. Eventing Team in Europe. Kim and Gray finished second at Rolex in 1981, and they won the event in 1982 to become the new National Champions and land a spot on the U.S. team for the World Championships at Luhmühlen. Despite breaking two vertebrae in her back in a jump school six weeks prior, Kim and Gray won individual bronze and boosted the U.S. to a team bronze medal.

That is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their story. Kim and Gray also competed at Badminton in 1983, were named alternates for the Olympics in 1984, finished second at Boekelo in 1985, and represented the U.S. at the 1986 World Championships in Australia. They were fitting stunt doubles when Hollywood went looking for a gray Advanced level event horse for the film Sylvester.

While the documentary covers the fascinating aspects of Kim’s life, it also details the tragedies she has faced, including the shocking murder of her daughter. American filmmakers Sybil Miller and Tory Kelly have teamed up to tell Kim’s story, and project organizer Julie Johnson said she hopes Kim’s fans will support the production of the documentary, called The Mother Goose Project.

“Kim’s fans all know why she is called ‘Mother Goose.’ The captain of the eventing team for the USA, Jack Le Goff, nicknamed her this because she had such a special bond with The Gray Goose, her only horse, and because she usually had both her small children, Andrea and Brian, near by no matter where they traveled in the world. That is a rare thing for any world-ranked sport woman, but somehow Kim managed it with her usual positive energy,” Julie said.

“(The documentary) has something for everyone — edge-of-seat excitement with death-defying sport scenes from World Championship and Olympic level events; positive, uplifting and thought-provoking interviews about how we might want to better experience our own lives; a taste of what it’s like to rub elbows with Hollywood filmmakers; inspiration for those who have dealt with the same kind of pain Kim has had, both with her near-fatal car crash and the rehab to build up her broken body; as well as what most of us would see as insurmountable grief and despair from the shocking murder of her only daughter.

“So many of us have gone through less dramatic peaks and valleys and yet handle the experiences badly, but Kim is always looking ahead and remaining centered, true to herself and open and humble when reaching out to help others.”

The filmmakers are hoping to raise $10,000 Canadian, or about $8,100 USD, to fund the first phase of the project. Donations can be made through Kickstarter, and there are only 18 days left to raise the funds needed to move forward with the film. There are a variety of rewards for donating, including a week of training with Kim herself.

“No one is making any money from this film,” Julie said. “We just want to see this beautiful, inspiring story of a very brave woman told.”

Click here to donate on Kickstarter. You can read more about Kim’s life and incredible adventure with Gray on her website. You can also watch footage of Kim and Gray in the video excerpt below from Riding for America.

#TBT: EN’s First Ever ‘News & Notes’ Post

By on Jan 25, 2018 10:30 am -

Eventing Nation readers have been waking up to “News & Notes” posts 365 mornings a year since Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2009. John penned all the early editions himself, and they include plenty of John “flair.” Today we’re hopping in the EN time machine and revisiting the very first N&N post ever! 

Actual first N&N photo unknown, but it was probably something like this. Photo: Wikipedia/CC.

Tuesday News and Notes

Welcome to our first “News and Notes” posting.  Lets jump right in!

Boyd Martin will be Co-Hosting the Eventing Radio Show starting after Fair Hill.  Attention all Eventing Radio Show downloaders: you are in for a real treat. Boyd is one of my favorite Eventers, and a truly fantastic personality who can always make me laugh.  Boyd, a native Aussie, is a top-notch rider who works closely with Phillip Dutton and recently started riding for the US.   I guarantee that he will be both knowledgeable and funny, if sometimes PG-13 funny.  But, the show is on time delay, so, as Boyd would say: “No worries mate!”

In an email sent out to all Long Listed Riders, Sarah Ike from the USEF explained that US Eventing Chef d’Equipe Mark Phillips will be leaving the position in 2013: “As some of you may know, Mark Phillips’ contract expires in 2013.  He is not seeking to extend it.”  Mark leaving is pretty old news, but this the first public acknowledgement from the USEF that I have seen.  The email also mentioned that there will be an open rider forum at Fair Hill this coming Wednesday.  I have several thoughts on Mark leaving and the future coach, but I will save them until after the forum.  Stay tuned.

As we all know, the International Olympic Committee selected Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the 2016 Games, in a controversial decision against Chicago.  Rio is certainly less favorable than native soil, but Team USA Eventing’s last trip to Rio ended with a victory in the 2007 Pan American Games.  Also, because Rio is in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed, leading to some pretty decent average highs and lows during August.  Wow, middle school geography, science, and math all wrapped into one sentence.  Kinda makes me feel like riverdancing.  As a final note, several members of the ’07 Pan Am contingent have talked about how they were struck by the poverty and squalor in Brazil.  Hopefully the Olympics will be a good opprtunity to influence Brazil for the better.
Thanks for reading our very first News and Notes post!!!

‘Falling Into Now:’ Claire Smith’s Road to Recovery

By on Jan 25, 2018 8:30 am -

Illness takes away parts of your life, but in doing so it gives you the opportunity to choose the life you will lead, as opposed to living out the one you have simply accumulated over the years.
– Arthur Frank, At the Will of the Body: Reflections on Illness (New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002), p. 1.

Canadian Olympic eventer Claire Smith suffered a traumatic brain injury in a rotational fall at the 1997 Open European Three-Day Event Championships. She underwent three years of intense rehabilitation before beginning the Masters program at the University of Ottawa. Through her struggle Claire has found new purpose in life, which, among many diverse activities and interests, included chronicling her journey in a book titled, Falling Into Now: Memories of Sport, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Education.

From the very beginning of Claire’s powerful memoire you will be captivated by both her incredible story and vivid writing. Her raw, honest prose will pull you in for a close-up view of what life is like, both for the injured and for the family, when living with a traumatic brain injury. Follow along through Claire’s recovery and subsequent soul searching as she comes to embrace her new path in life.

While the catalyst of the story is a riding accident, Claire emphasizes that this book is not really about horses.

It’s about so much more. It’s about being driven to pursue a goal. It’s about life-changing loss. It’s about arduous recovery. It’s about a life evolving into something completely unexpected.
– Falling Into Now: Memories of Sport, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Education (Indiana: iUniverse, 2017), p. xi.

Claire told EN, “Healing from a head injury is never really over. To sit down and articulate my feelings and what I thought and what I went through is very important for me. Only in the last few years did I realize that I had to put feelings to rest and resolve within myself to feel good about myself.”

Horses had been Claire’s life’s blood, but a return to a riding life was impossible after her fall. So she went back to school in 2000 and studied survivors of head injury. She eventually earned a Masters (2004) and a PhD in Education (2010) from the University of Ottawa.

Claire Smith. Photo courtesy of Arranel Studios.

“I had a very singular identity. I was a rider. It didn’t occur to me I could be anything else. I latched on to a ‘student’ identity after rehabilitation,” Claire said. “When I finished school I was a bit lost because I didn’t know who I was. A lot of my research was about identities and it didn’t occur to me to look at myself. When I was riding and then a student my focus was so narrow. Now it’s a lot wider.”

Claire’s education, research and experience are now applied to her writing career and her community involvement. She is a board member of the Wings of Phoenix, whose mission is to raise funds for survivors of head injury. She is also on the Board of Directors for Brockville YMCA and is a pending Director of the Ontario Brain Injury Association. As Ontario aims to be fully handicap accessible by 2025, Claire serves on the Leeds and Grenville Accessibility Committee.

Claire has overcome so much since her accident but still suffers lingering effects of her head injury. Nearly ten years after the fall, Claire suffered another enormous loss when she developed a chronic brain illness known as Dystonia, which causes muscle contractions in her leg. She wears a brace and uses a wheelchair most of the time. Though her movement may be limited by Dystonia, she has learned never to allow it to hold her back.

Today, I believe that I evolve daily, always welcoming change and new experiences, continually creating new identities, constantly resculpting me. One of these identities is central: I’m a writer. I can, at long last, painlessly create stories from my memories. Writing has become an inextricable part of me, one with which Dystonia can’t interfere.
– Falling Into Now: Memories of Sport, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Education (Indiana: iUniverse, 2017), p. 239.

Falling Into Now: Memories of Sport, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Education is available online on Amazon.com and chapters.indigo.ca. Learn more about Claire and her work by visiting her website: www.clairesmith-author.ca.